Small hands, blackened by ash and dirt rummaged through an indiscernible rubble. A frenzied girl hysterically gripped the ground in desperation. Now without family, house, nor kin, she could not accept she was orphaned. She continued to crouch next to the riverbank, unearthing debris bare handed to search for a body.

"Alythia," A voice called from beside her.

"Don't worry, Byleth," Alythia laughed nervously, ignoring the voice. She refused to consider the grim reality, "I'll help you, don't worry."

Felix clenched his fists and exhaled slowly, as if to summon courage, "Alythia, the professor is gone."

"He's here, don't worry," Alythia shook her head, reaching for another piece of driftwood, "Don't worry, I'll find him again."

He grabbed Alythia's hand and carefully took the splintered lumber from her arms. He dared not look at her face, knowing he could not bear to see her shattered state.

"It's been days," Felix said in a gentle tone they both weren't familiar with. He continued to hold her hand but averted his gaze.

"Felix, don't worry," She pleaded desperately, reeling back her hand to resume her excavation, "I'll find him."

Now impatient and frustrated by her persistence, Felix grabbed her shoulders.

"You need to stop-" Felix raised his voice, but was cut short when he saw her face. He couldn't help but to take pity. She was broken in so many more ways than he thought. While other students fled back to their families, Alythia spent restless days and sleepless nights turning every stone to find hers. Her fingernails lined with mud and her eyes weighed down by grief were testimony to her futile efforts.

"He was all I had left of home," she whispered, tears welling, "and now I don't have one."

I'll be your home, Alythia. Felix thought.

Disturbed by the insidious thought, Felix suddenly released her shoulders. Alythia stumbled to find her footing, surprised by his reaction. He stared at the floor, avoiding eye contact again. Knowing that his father owed Alythia a favor and the other Blue Lions had no resources to house her… "I'll be taking leave for home this afternoon," He announced gruffly, shifting his gaze to Garreg Mach's destroyed entrance. "If you don't have your things packed, I'll force you on a horse with whatever you have on your person."

Felix left her alone, knowing he didn't have the emotional capacity to offer any more condolences. He revisited his thought, but didn't dare commit it out loud.

I'll be your home, Alythia.

At Jeralt and Sitri's graves, Alythia harvested the few remaining flowers from the greenhouse. She hesitated before shakily placing a third bouquet. This was the first step she took in acknowledging Byleth's death. Numbed by the sudden loss of her father and brother, she silently bid them farewell.

When she turned, she was surprised to see Claude standing behind her. He looked concerned for his friend as he stood there, arms crossed.

"I'm sorry," Claude shook his head. He too, had spent days searching on his wyvern. She gave him a weary smile, a part of her knew that nobody would find anything substantial.

"Thank you for trying. Be safe on your journey home."

When she tried to walk past, Claude grabbed her hand and reeled her back. Alythia gave him a puzzled look, wondering why he would stop her. As he withdrew his hands, her attention averted to their palms and to find Byleth's golden brooch.

"I'm sorry," Claude repeated, his breath shaky. He put his hand on Alythia's shoulder as she stood frozen. She silently caressed the edges of the pin, remembering a day at the market from years ago. With the other hand, she touched the matching badge that adorned her chest as a necklace.

After their first mission as mercenaries, the twins bought matching badges to commemorate their success. At the merchant's shop, Alythia was overwhelmed by the trays of choices. Silver? Bronze? Tin? Should they pick a pin with an animal? When Alythia couldn't decide, Byleth had picked for both of them the badge with the star, surrounded by an ornate decoration of a flame. Quietly, Byleth attached a red tassel to Alythia's badge. She recognized the accessory as the fishing lures Jeralt fashioned from yarn. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a grey tassel and affixed it to Byleth's pin.

Alythia beamed at her brother while he stared back, expressionless. While the other patrons could only see Byleth's vacant look, she saw a spark in his eyes that revealed joy, pride and love.

"Thank you," Alythia smiled through tears, clutching Byleth's brooch. She felt happiness, knowing that she had a piece of her brother. But misery overtook her mind as she realized this was all that was left.

I will always carry you
inside
outside

At my fingertips
and in my thoughts

and in centers
of who I am
and of what remains