-1168 Harpstring Moon-
._._._._._.
He didn't remember falling asleep.
Beles blinked once. He found himself standing in his usual place in that dark endlessness. He looked and noticed that Byleth wasn't around either.
Maybe he took a nap? Then again, Beles did sleep when his eyes wouldn't stay open. Byleth would only appear in the night. He shrugged to himself and turned toward the steps. His light footfalls echoed in the silence as he made his way to the top.
Rhea lied about staffs. It was easier to cast without it. Well, to Beles. He wasn't sure if it was true of others. He raised his hands and cast a simple heal to see what would happen.
The girl in the stone throne hadn't moved.
He felt something prick at him, and at this point, Beles was almost sure it was disappointment. It wasn't the first time he attempted this. He had lost count of visits he spent trying to heal the girl - impromptu naps and long nights.
He didn't know if she was hurt or not, but he didn't know any other way to wake her. If he could bring his cream colored cat, then maybe he would have a chance. Byleth and him had already tried to shake her awake, or make enough chaos to rouse her - but those attempts only had them waking up instead.
To some degree, it frustrated him.
His dreams of fire weren't his. He started to understand those dreams were never his. They were the girl's dreams, maybe even memories.
Rhea told him over and over how his healing magic felt warm and gentle.
Beles wondered if the girl could feel that too.
The magic in the air gradually faded. He waited a little longer, a bit too hopeful to turn away now.
But nothing happened.
Beles dropped his hands and looked down at them. Was he not reaching her?
"You…"
A voice floated in the air.
Beles froze. There was a shuffle of clothes before him and lazy yawn.
"You… really are a cheeky brat."
Beles slowly lifted his head, and his gaze was meet with sleepy eyes as green as his.
"Oh my, look how you've grown…"
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Beles blinked and the sun blinded him. He shifted as far away from the sunlight as he dared. It was a dumb idea as he suddenly clambered to the to floor. He could only manage a painful grunt when one of his books landed on the small of his back. He laid there as he attempted to gather his thoughts.
He gritted his teeth as he finally opened his eyes. He stared down at the library floorboards in a daze. To say that he was surprised was an understatement. That girl - she woke up.
She actually woke up.
It almost made him forget that he couldn't name what he felt at that moment.
Did he actually reach her?
The afternoon sunlight shown through the stained glass of the library windows as the bells of the monastery rang.
Afternoon.
Beles' eyes widened. He scrambled to his feet, knocking more books to the floor. He did his best to clean up his space.
The books were haphazardly stacked, but it didn't waver. His papers were gathered in his arms and he pushed in his chair with his hip. His bell rang loudly as he bolted from his study space and down the steps of the second floor. He ignored the odd looks he got from students almost twice his age.
"What on Fodlan— Beles? You're still here?" came an old voice, "and no running in the library!"
Beles only gave the old librarian (Tomas, he believed his name was) an apologetic nod as he scampered out of the library.
"Beles!"
He was late.
He was very late.
Beles broke into a sprint as he hastily made it to his room. He dropped his papers (an essay Seteth made him write - it was probably out of order now) in a heap on his desk and grabbed the clothes laid out on his bed.
It was almost similar to the ceremonial robes Rhea always wore, but it was modified to fit his age and size. He clumsily changed into it. Unfortunately, the sleeves were still a little too long for him, even when he folded it up. He took a moment to untie the bell from his casual clothes. He didn't waste any time finding a place to tie it to, so he wrapped it around his wrist as left his room. Rhea made it a rule for him to never part with it.
He still wasn't too sure why.
Beles made his way to the Cathedral in record time, despite his face being flushed and huffing breaths from his sprint. He figured he was lucky that the choir had already started. They were loud enough to cover up the sounds of his bell as he hurried inside.
"Coming a little bit too late, don't you think, Beles," came a stern voice. Beles did not flinch when he felt someone grab the back of his cape. He looked up to see Seteth's unimpressed eyes. He wasn't actually trying to sneak in.
He just wanted to enter unnoticed.
Beles raised his hands, "I fell asleep. Sorry."
Seteth sighed for a moment, then eventually laughed a bit, "Come, it's almost time for your part."
Beles nodded, and followed him to the front of the nave and before the alter. The choir's part in the song was almost over when he gripped the staff that Seteth gave him. It almost towered above him, but it wasn't too heavy for him with its white ribbons swaying about. Seteth gently placed a gold circlet fitted with flowers similar to Rhea's.
"Now, just like you practiced. Simple, right?"
Beles looked at the open space before the gathered crowd. He knew it was just a dance: a few steps here, few steps there, then a simple swing of his staff to finish. He practiced it several times earlier this month. He nodded. The choir stopped and Seteth smiled.
"Just breathe and do you best, Bel," he wished him. Beles didn't respond as the organ played in the background, prompting his entrance. He gripped the staff with two hands and took his first step.
._._._._._.
Beles was late, and Seteth didn't know what to do with himself. He paced back and forth, straining his ears to hear the familiar sounds of a bell. He clearly remembered telling the boy to be on time, come about half an hour before the ceremony started. Of course, he already asked Rhea to delay the ceremony, or even to take his place, but the Archbishop only said, "Have faith, Seteth, our little dear will come soon."
The blessings ceremony of Saint Macuil Day proceeded without Beles. The opening remarks of Rhea passed smoothly, and the beginning of the ceremony to honor Saint Macuil eased into song.
Beles still wasn't anywhere to be seen. It was his first time that he would perform his duty as the Priest to pray for blessings of the Goddess. It was near the end of the ceremony, but honestly, that boy really pushed it.
By the time Beles' part came close, Seteth was about to walk out of the Cathedral to hunt for the boy, but it would be too late. He was surprised when he heard frantic ringing despite the choir singing loudly. Seteth immediately grabbed the cloak that tried to walk right past him.
"Coming a little late, don't you think, Beles?" He tried to put up a stern voice and unimpressed, but the way the boy's face was flushed and huffing to catch his breath almost made Seteth loose his composure. It was clear that he just woke up with how bleary his eyes were. Beles' hair was out of place and the sleeves were clearly too long for him.
"I fell asleep. Sorry."
Fell asleep.
Of course, the boy had to fall asleep. It was a trait that Beles happened to develop recently. It was a bit worrying, but it didn't seem too out of the ordinary. Seteth really wanted to be disappointed at him, but he found it funny instead. Beles had really made an effort to make it here on time.
"Come, it's almost time for your part," told him. Beles took his offered hand and kept up with his fast pace. Seteth took the time to quickly fix the boy's appearance, and handed him the ceremonial staff. Beles had only practiced once with it. The golden circlet that was prepared for Beles fit the boy perfectly, and Seteth almost froze. It was strange how Beles looked a little different with his new outfit. He looked more like a saint than the blank child he really was.
"Now, just like you practiced. Simple, right?" Seteth watched as the boy looked to the alter and nodded. When the choir stopped singing, he gave the boy an encouraging smile, "Just breathe and do you best, Bel."
The organ began to play and Beles slipped out of his reach.
Seteth watched from the sidelines. When Rhea said that it was time for Beles to take up the duties of the Church, he honestly wasn't expecting this. Surely it was strange for the quiet boy to take up the duty of a Priest on ceremonies like this. It was only now that Seteth had seen the boy in action did he understand.
The way Beles moved with confidence and fluidity in his graceful dance, Seteth was instantly reminded of the Goddess. It seemed like whole Cathedral lit up, as if the blessings were really there. It must've been just the trick of the light or something, but for a moment, Seteth could've sworn he saw something shimmer behind Beles.
Beles didn't sing, but he opened his mouth and the words formed on his lips.
The prayer to the Goddess for blessings.
There wasn't a sound, but strangely enough, Seteth could hear the words as clear as day.
._._._._._.
Rhea smiled as she watched from above. She had seen Beles slip in, and Seteth add the finishing touches. She knew in the the boy would make it on time. While Beles was not one to pay attention much, he was certainly one who kept with scheduled times - even albeit late.
She could see the surprised faces of some of the attendants. Those who were not already familiar with the boy had looked at her in confusion. The other Priest, who stood next to her, leaned a bit toward her and muttered, "Lady Rhea, are you certain that the boy is perfect for this job?"
Rhea almost wanted to laugh and ask herself that same question. Instead, she nodded her head confidently, "Yes."
The organ played and Rhea beamed like a proud mother. The atmosphere seemed to brighten at the mere presence of him. She had a leaking suspicion as what could've caused it - she felt it before in many of those healing lessons. Her uneasiness was shoved down in order to enjoy the moment.
Her decision of making Beles a Priest-in-training wasn't in vain. In fact, she knew that one day she wouldn't be able to continue as the Archbishop.
That, and her guilt drove her toward it. If she could forget what she had planned for this child, then maybe this could fix it. Maybe it could anchor him some way. She had seen how distant he would be, or how he struggled to interact with others.
It was no doubt that Beles didn't fit the role at first glance. Rhea herself wasn't too keen with the idea either. She wasn't quite ready to give up her ambitions, of her long running experiment.
But…
The more she looked at Beles, the more she wanted to give him a life - something to look forward to.
She needed to give him an anchor, a place to root himself so that he wouldn't slip so far out of her reach. Maybe starting him on this training was a bit much for a young boy, and maybe down the road she could give him that opportunity to leave her care.
Yet, Beles didn't seem like he wanted to leave the monastery anytime soon. He studied magic under Hanneman's watchful eye. He learned the basics from Seteth. He practiced healing with rhea. He had a place in the monastery, but she knew he didn't have to serve under the Church. She asked him if he wanted to do it before finalizing the decision. She asked him twice.
Beles' answer never changed.
As Rhea watched him wave the staff at the end of his routine and mouth the prayer, she came to realize something.
Beles' answer was not out of her request, but was completely and utterly out of his own conviction.
"I wonder..." Rhea whispered to herself as her eyes grew soft when Beles looked up to her with his pale green eyes, "Did your fragile heart give you your answer?"