Hephaestus' Dream

Hephaestus stood there, staring at himself at a younger age. When he was considered special, gifted, one of the best prodigies in the Empire.

And he was standing there on the day he was forgotten by history itself.

"Horus! I did it! I broke through! I casted the spell!" The younger mage bounced on his feet, happily staring at where the apple used to be. He had successfully used the spell of Zahras. A thick stench of blood soaked the air as he dried his hands of the pig blood. At least he thought it was pig blood then.

Horus looked over from his thick, wooden desk, a small smile cracking his stony features. "Congrats Hephaestus, c'mon, let's clock out for the day. Alright?"

'Santaniel is starting to look like him.'

Horus led him through the confusing passageways of the labs and later the upper corridors of the housing units. Hephaestus was still diligently attempting to learn the way back to his room he shared with Arti. He couldn't just burn his way through this problem, same as his last.

Fire did solve a lot of things though. Mainly by burning whatever was frustrating him.

Hephaestus followed Horus to the dorms for the younger magic users, happily giving him a hug like one would to their father and went to his bed where he closed his eyes. He had a big day ahead of him tomorrow… Or at least he thought it would end much differently. It was the day he, Arti, and Santaniel became brothers. It was the last time Hephaestus had seen Horus alive, that night was when they found out about the experiments on Santaniel.

They ran.

And they were caught. Maybe had he been there, he could have saved them. He could have done something… Maybe he could have found out sooner, maybe he could have stopped Mr. Sol from trying to stop them. He could have done something.

Something..

Something…

———

Day 1 of the Pegasus Moon

Hephaestus gradually drifted back into his fitful sleep, and was comforted by Santaniel the next day. They both knew it wasn't their fault for the deaths, but it was hard for either of them to believe it wasn't. They felt it coursing through their veins like blood, that it was. Such a thing always ended in tears and being late to everything.

Let's catch up with Santaniel now, shall we?

———

"Hey guys, what ya up to?" Santaniel showed up to the meeting a bit later today than usual, he'd rather keep the reasoning to himself if possible however. Due to him technically being the house leader of the Viridian Vipers, he had to attend these meetings. The only difference? He had no vassal or ally the leaders deemed trust worthy enough to let in, so he felt severely out of place… At least Yuri had Balthus and Claude had Hilds. "We were discussing what we believe to be going on with you three's Professor, and now, you'll be heading to the Holy Tomb at the orders of the Archbishop."

He looked over at Dimitri and shrugged, "There isn't much to discuss is there? You can take every single one of my classmates eye witness views, hell, even some of the knights. What happened is he broke through the sky itself. At this point, I just believe anything can happen." Dimitri put his chin in his hand, "I have already gathered the answers from Edelgard and Yuri. But how about this, what do you believe the Archbishop to believe she is accomplishing by taking Byleth down to the Holy Tomb?"

"Exactly what she says she is. No one could ever break out of that spell unless they had some ethereal or other worldly abilities far beyond whatever we know or currently have- I mean, hell, I can turn into a dragon- however, her truth seems to clear as crystal, as for after that? I have no clue, but I have my doubts about whether or not she'll let Byleth simply slip through her fingers. Before anyone gets the wrong idea, let me elaborate. You three all wanted to bring the Professor back to your respective kingdoms as a mercenary, now, if he truly has received a revelation from the Goddess, or will in the Holy Tomb, who in their right mind in the church lets him go without a fight?"

"He'll be their prized personnel, or, hell, maybe even possession. The reality of such a situation Dimitri, is that one cannot act with simple intuition and guessing alone in this scenario. It is a reaction test after we learn what they shall attempt to do, and for you three," he said this trailing his eyes across all three future leaders, "You would surely wish to have him as a residence in your own Kingdoms… No?" Santaniel leaned forward on the table in the Abyss, closing his eyes.

He was ready for Dimitri, Claude, Yuri, or Edelgard to respond and try to disprove him. Maybe even Hubert or Dedue would pop in with some wisdom? It's typically how these meetings went between the House Leaders, or at least since he joined them about three months ago. Apparently Yuri had been vying for him for the past six, and Edelgard for the past seven months. He knew they would have his back, but not necessarily agree with him every time. That would be absurd.

However, in this instant, everyone seemed to agree with him. "I see no flaw in that ideology. Though, I can't shake the feeling of something bad happening."

"Ok Dimitri, enough with the Holy Tomb talk. Do either of you have any transfers that could be ran through the system and confirmed now? Speak up if you do." Claude leaned forward with his hands under his chin and elbows on the table, listening intently. "Edelgard, Annette and Mercedes would like to transfer over to your House. Do you accept them?"

"I have no issue with such a wish. We will welcome them with open arms. We will also have Alois come with us to the Holy Tomb at the wishes of the Professor." Santaniel nodded and put his head back down, thinking of any issues he needed to run by them. 'Wasn't there something about Abyss a while ago? Something about thugs?'

"Hey Yuri. You guys are having an issue with a gang down in Abyss right? I can help you guys out this week if need be. I can even call on Xavien to help, the man is amazing in close quarters, so is Hephaestus." The purple haired man nodded, a slim smile growing on his face, "And here I was thinking you forgot."

"I did."

"Haha, we'll take care of them this weekend." Santaniel nodded and stretched his arms above his head, "Alright. If anyone has anything else to say, speak up about it." Claude shook his head no, Dimitri had nothing to offer, and Yuri had spoken his last piece. Guess it was time for- "This month I will be taking a trip to the Empire to talk with my father and see if he is in good health. We haven't had the time to write letters to each other this year unfortunately, and with the stress of the last month, I believe it would be a good choice just to take the trip on the weekend." Santaniel smiled and nodded, "So, with that, let us head to class. Good luck in your studies friends."

———

Santaniel hummed as he and Edelgard walked to their class, Hubert hanging off to the left of Edelgard. "Any idea what we'll be doing today? I've been wanting to do a practice battle, but I don't know if that would be within the mental capacity for everyone in the class currently."

Edelgard nodded and continued walking, it seemed she had plenty of things on her mind. "Hubert, you have any idea on what's going on today for class?"

"The Professor is in a faculty meeting today, we are supposed to gather at the classroom and see what he requests of us when he returns."

"I believe we are just having general studies. If not, he may have set us up for a lecture to attend to at our own leisure."

"Ah, ok. I may honestly skip it and just help Yuri out with those thugs. I've been feeling more energetic lately, have either of you felt the same?" Both shook their heads no, and Santaniel went back to an awkward silence. 'I'm not exactly feeling energetic… More paranoid, anxious. Something bad is coming and I can't shake that feeling.'

He felt Edelgard gently bump into him, and he smiled warmly at her. Hubert was looking away and Santaniel snuck in a peck on her cheek, slipping his fingers through her's. He had to trust in someone here, he had his brothers, but it wouldn't hurt to extend his trust to Edelgard.

...Would it?

———

Day 8 of the Pegasus Moon

Santaniel stood up and stretched out of bed, his hands grazing the ceiling as he made his way out of the bedroom. Santaniel walked over to the kitchen and cracked open a couple of eggs and started a small fire on the stove.

He poured the eggs into the pan and listened to the egg whites sizzle. He chosedly ignored the sound of footsteps toward the mirror and his brother Hephaestus' hushed voice. "Making breakfast. Have you seen Xavien by any chance? I need some help dealing with thugs in Abyss. Yuri said they've been causing trouble for a while and he'd appreciate the help."

"I'll help out." Santaniel rolled his eyes, "I get that you get into a lot of bar fights Hephaestus, but this is a bit different. These guys are actually going to try and kill us. I'd happily let you join us, however, just try and grab Xavien if you can. It's less about his brawling skills and more so about his daggers. They kill people near instantly."

"Alright. I'll find him, go ahead and keep making breakfast." Santaniel didn't respond but did slide the fried eggs out of the pan and onto a plate. He folded them over and cut it in half, letting the slightly runny yolks break and he took a hefty bite of the hot food. He hummed and prepared his brother's plates and an extra one for anyone who wanted it.

He walked outside and soaked in the warm air, letting it wash over his exposed skin and he took a deep breath. He let it out and took off his shirt to examine his upper body. Two of those veins had appeared since last week. Great, just fucking wonderful.

———

"So, just a couple thugs right? I bought a couple Vulneraries and I don't know if they would be enough."

"Yeah, that's fine." Santaniel passed them around and wrapped his hands in some medical gauze. The Abyss was somewhat cold, he didn't need his Holy Twins flying from his grip if he tried an overhead strike. "Hey Santi, why don't you have one?"

"Can't stomach them." Yuri gave him a strange look and shrugged it off, "Alright." Hephaestus knocked on the back of his head, "Hey, where's your armor?"

"It's too cramped down here, I don't even have Leistrung. Let's just hope it doesn't come to the point where I needed it." Xavien knocked his knuckles against the wall, much kinder than Santaniel's head at least, "Hey, we got word on where they are. Balthus is already getting his fighting in, let's move."

Santaniel stood and tossed his Holy Twins between his hands, "Let's get going then."

———

"Professor, do you believe you could come with me to Enbarr before the end of the month?"

"I can next week. I assume Hubert will be joining us for this trip?"

"Correct my Teacher. I will be expecting you next week."

"Of course Edelgard."

———

Santaniel blocked a haymaker with the blade of his axes and dug it deep into his opponent's skin, then through bone and muscle.

"Got one down, thought there was only a couple Yuri."

Yuri cracked a man's nose with the hilt of his dagger and turned toward Santaniel. "Eh, most have gathered more. Seems to be about forty, Hephaestus, can you clear this out with some magic?"

"No problem." Hephaestus casted Fire and wreathed his fists in the ethereal flames. He stepped forward with further fire coming off in licks from his skin, each one enough to give someone a nasty burn. Thugs closed in to try and get a hand on him, but only half of them got close enough to feel the point blank spells on their skin. Those who didn't were either taken care of by one of the several fighters around Hephaestus… Or unfortunate enough to be burned.

———

Narrator

You see, the flames come off whatever part of Hephaestus' skin isn't covered. What Hephaestus wears is very thick and isn't flammable, and the fire serves as a small barrier to physical attackers. It also makes his up close attacks much more potent and very painful. Santaniel had learned this when he was a child and burnt down their first house. It wasn't any sort of beatings of the sort, more so a slap to the back of his head when he both were young and Hephaestus was still learning about his own powers.

Thankfully it didn't leave any scars. Anyways, back to the fight.

———

Hephaestus could feel the magic surge through him and out into his surroundings, almost like he was a conductor. He lashed out and delivered a nasty hook to someone's jaw, his body crumpling in pain, resulting in either unconsciousness or death. Who cared? These guys were scum. If they had families, they would turn and run.

However, if they wanted to fight.

He would give them one hell of a fight.

The biggest one stepped up and loomed large even over someone like Balthus, it seemed he didn't mind the temperature rising a bit either. "Shrimp, better move out of the way. The underground is our-"

Hephaestus didn't bother waiting for any speech. Only fools did that, so he gave the man the feeling of an ulcer, a right handed jab with Fire on the end would assure that. He stayed standing, trying to give a solid punch to Hephaestus' face, passively gliding past his cheek. The mage simply drove it home harder than his fist into the idiot's nose.

"Anyone else want a fight?" The thugs whimpered back and Hephaestus smiled triumphantly, "Go ahead and call the knights Yuri. No one here would even try to run. Right?"

———

Day 10 of the Pegasus Moon

"Hey Felix, have you seen Edelgard?" Felix looked up from some of Bernadetta's writing, glancing over Dorothea and Petra, "No. Though I thought she had that thing in Enbarr."

"Oh, I guess her and Hubie left already then."

"Then why were you asking?"

"Santaniel said he was having a bad feeling and asked us to look around for her, we couldn't find the Professor either."

"Oh, he probably went with Edelgard then. Tell him there isn't much to worry about."

"Ok, thanks Felix."

"Sure."

———

Day 15 Pegasus Moon

"My Teacher, I thank you greatly for coming with me to Enbarr. I suppose I should now tell you that I will not be able to join you in the Holy Tomb this month as I must undergo my coronation as Empress. Hubert will join you however and witness the event in my place."

"I wish you luck in your transition Edelgard. I expect to see you at the end of the month."

"Of course… My Teacher. You certainly will."

———

Hey guys. Sorry if that felt a little underwhelming, but some many other people have done that scene with so much more justice than I ever could. So, let's get into the fighting now!

———

Day 29 of the Pegasus Moon

Santaniel put one foot in front of the other, making his way down the large stairwell. He took his time while looking at the walls, faded paint over the bricks made the atmosphere feel… Much more curious than the last time he was here. It still didn't mean he wanted to be in that place, radiated death that he didn't have adrenaline to block out now.

"Hey Lys, sorry I didn't tell you yesterday, but Happy Birthday."

"Oh, thank you! And it's fine, a majority of the time I don't often celebrate it. Mostly just due to the fact I'd rather study."

"Good thing you spent it with the Professor this time huh?" Lysithea blushed and punched Santaniel in the side and he laughed, "Eh, I'm just messing with you. Here's your gift by the way." He handed her a small dagger that was coated in poison from Xavien's own daggers. "It's just in case someone gets in way too close of range. Basically kills anyone it touches in mere minutes."

"Thank you! This will only increase my prowess on the battlefield."

"Yeah just put it in your sheath and it'll be good to go. Just uh, don't try and use it as a makeshift kitchen knife like Edelgard tried to." Lysithea laughed again and stopped abruptly as the duo entered the large tomb, a shudder going down Santaniel's spine. "Go ahead and catch up with Byleth, I'm going to find my brothers and organize our battalions."

"Alright, I doubt anything will happen though."

"My gut is never wrong." Lysithea shrugged and walked off, leaving Santaniel to find his brothers. He walked around for about twenty minutes, eventually finding them next to some of the coffins. He had to yell at Xavien about attempting to get into one, "Stop! We aren't grave robbers you dumbass!"

"Aw, but why can't I at least look?"

"Because we're in a holy fucking grave yard pretty much with the Archbishop of said Church currently escorting the person who received divine power of the Goddess."

"Fair point, but I don't like you for it."

"Never said you would. Now, go get your battalions before I yell at you more please." He looked over to Hephaestus and Arti who were just standing around, "Are you guys not going to get your's?"

"Our's are already ready, we just came over here because Xavien was being an idiot." Arti nodded in agreement and pointed over at the two groups of people in clunky armor just talking. "Ok, good. Xavien has a group of assassins, correct?" Once again, a nod from Arti answered his question. "Perfect. I don't have a battalion because I'm expected to be a back line fighter if this shit goes South."

Arti gave him a genuine look of confusion and Santaniel shrugged, "I have no clue either. I guess he wants me to protect the mages? Not really an issue if I just glide over them." Arti nodded and cocked his head towards the large, stone throne at the end of the room.

Looked like Byleth was scaling it.

Santaniel shook his head and looked toward the entrance. 'We already know he has the power of the Goddess. He has the Sword of the Creator as well, this is a pointless trip… Though I guess I could fulfill some curiosity.' Santaniel shoved a stone lid of a coffin to the side and dug inside of it, coming across a familiar orange stone. It was buried in the chest of a skeleton, long ago deceased, it felt… Icy, heavy.

Unnatural.

It pulsated in his hand and felt like it was alive. Hephaestus walked up behind him and tapped his shoulder, a feeble attempt at a scare, "We shouldn't try and get in trouble here. What are you doing?"

Santaniel didn't respond, instead he ripped a chunk of his jacket off and wrapped the stone in the scaly cloth. "Have your gem?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Take this." Santaniel shoved the cloth into Hephaestus' chest and pulled the coffin lid shut. "Looks like Professor is coming down from the throne, let's get ready to leave. Use that and your gem in case of an emergency, it'll come in handy, trust me."

"I don't know how to use it Sant-"

"You'll know when the time comes Hephaestus, you're smart as hell. Now let's go, this was a waste of time just like I expected-" A resounding applause of armored feet sounded throughout the tomb as soldiers crashed through the doors at resounding speed.

Seemed they were in for a fight after all. "Hephaestus, get to your troops. Listen to the Professor's orders."

"Got it, stay safe Sant."

"Can never promise that." With a final parting of words Santaniel took to the lofty ceiling of the tomb and took watch. Byleth had his Scry assistant on full blast and had them repeat his orders, 'They're going for the coffins. Protect the Crest stones.'

'Well Hephaestus already has one, and it isn't like Xavien will let anyone get away with something valuable. I should try and scout out the front of the battlefield, take out whatever Byleth would deem a threat to our infantry.' The hybrid tucked into a dive and scathed over the enemy, dragging Leistrung through troops that were in his way. It wouldn't do much but scatter them, it still helped archers pick out single targets however.

Santaniel kicked off the green stones and further into the air, then used downward momentum to run a beast halfway through with Leistrung. It's sickly skin hissing at the blade in its stomach and soon the skin was hissing at the flame charbroiling it. 'Nice job Lys.'

Santaniel pulled Leistrung from the beast and sheathed it, it had seen enough action today. His Holy Twins hadn't though, so he unsheathed them and put his shield on his wrist. He was going to cause a massacre.

———

"Damn it Xavien, run him down!"

"Got it!" The assassin let two sets of daggers fly into an infantry leader trying to escape with a Crest stone. Hephaestus sighed and pulled his gem from his chest pocket, focusing his energy into it, and feeling it become one with his body. "Wow, ok, uh…" The temperature dropped heavily around him, the moisture in his breath steaming. "That's a different feeling."

Hephaestus tried casting Ragnarok and ended up with Fimbulvetr, encasing his enemy in ice and then blowing them apart with twice as much force. "I like this."

———

Santaniel raked his claws across the chest of the man in front of him. The screams echoed in his ears but his eyes and mind narrowed into an alley when he locked eyes with the white mask of a demon. He would perform an exorcism tonight.

Santaniel slammed a man into the stone and cast them aside, taking to the air. He had the upper hand this time, no cheep tricks, no one to save them now.

Time for them to die.

———

Edelgard readied herself for this moment, a potential life or death situation with Santaniel. This wouldn't be a spar, this would be him coming for her throat. He tucked and dove at her, she stepped to the side anticipating one of his typical moves. She felt her armor lurch and she flew to the side, catching her feet on the floor with no leniency on his end. Seemed he never showed her what he was truly capable of.

He hadn't been as close to her as she had thought.

He slashed hard across her chest, narrowly blocked by her axe hilt, the metal letting off silver sparks as he brought the heat to a boil from his throat, letting it roll over her armor. He caught his Holy Twins in her armor and blood leaked through, the first she had bled in a month. He was stronger than the last time they had fought, and this time, no one was here to save her.

He pushed hard into her chest and she stumbled, catching her balance before she took a long drop to her death. He flew at her again, his wings supplementing his subpar speed. She took to the defensive and blocked the dual overhead strike, like a viper's fangs coming down to guarantee a kill. She twisted the shaft of her weapon and twisted his arms, now going on her own offensive. She bent her knee and slammed the blunt end of her axe into his side, getting him off of her. In her distorted voice she commented on his fighting, "You don't have to fight this. You are simply scared of-"

"I don't give a fuck what you think. I'm fighting to protect my family. You're the threat to it." He flipped down his visor and closed the gap, his Crest of Macuil flashing as he used Shatter, and she felt the effects first hand. He brought the hilt of his axes into her stomach and followed with a head butt. He kept pushing her towards the ledge, but it seemed he was refraining from showing his eyes too early, that was only his trump card. All she had to do was knock him down and she practically won- She lurched forward as an arrow planted itself in her back. A burning sensation of holy magic in her back.

She had forgotten there were people here to protect him.

"Go to hell."

———

Santaniel brought his fist into the porcelain mask they used to disguise themself, flattening them on their back. Blood dripped from his bare hand and purple blood flowed it's way in with the typical mixture of colors. They couldn't help but notice that while avoiding his gaze of blank features. He didn't need it. The swirl of colors around his Holy Twins couldn't even do it justice.

He was staring down at the person who he loved. The same person who wore the mask that signified death. The lips that he shared his first kiss with. The same lips that spat insults at him like he was a rat in an alley. The hands that he held on walks through a garden. The same hands that held an axe to dissect his body for the Agarthan's research. One of the main reasons he wanted to live and one of the reasons he considered ending it all. They were all one person… The predicament almost made him laugh, almost made him cry.

Without his Holy Twins he would have shattered every bone in her body. Or cry. It's hard for him to tell at that exact moment. All he knew was that emotions were flooding his mind and he couldn't afford it, he pumped it all into his weapon and took a large step back, his eyes trying to make tears and his shoulders itching to move forward. He couldn't. He couldn't do that. This fell to his Professor, yeah, his Professor could help out with that. Right? Why wouldn't he? His brothers would overreact, they would come to protect him. The Professor would be level like always, he would choose the right thing to do.

Edelgard was taken before the Archbishop and Byleth. He could hear voices raising above his clouded thoughts but he couldn't entirely make them out, he could feel his brothers shake him however, trying to check on him. He was blank though, however he was feeling at that moment was gone, it was in the Twins, ready to be fuel in his next fight. He turned his head to look at the scene unfolding before him, his senses returning enough to let him hear Rhea. "Professor, execute Edelgard for this treasonous act against the Church. She is a wicked child that much be disposed of."

"No. I'm her Professor. I'll protect her." His sentence continued with his movements, his fluid steps taking him to Edelgard's side where he raised his sword. It wasn't at just Rhea, but at the Church and at the rest of Fódlan. He would protect his student to the grave, and his students would follow. Santaniel couldn't. He couldn't force himself to. As far as Santaniel was concerned, Byleth had pointed his sword at him and his brothers as well.

The sound of a spell rang through the tomb and Rhea- no. The Immaculate One roared through the empty space, and Santaniel felt his brothers usher him through the door and up the stairs, letting his legs carry him up and through the passage.

He wouldn't fight for the Church in this war, no one would have his allegiance. He would fight to protect his brothers and keep them safe from any more pain to endure.

This was war.