Great Tree Moon

-oOo-

Byleth dreamed of a war. The dream went the same as it always did, with a green-haired warrior woman - Seiros, as the soldiers called her - killing a gruff-looking man she called Nemesis. The dream always ended with the woman cradling a bloody sword, mumbling something about her mother.

However, his other dream, the one that always came right after the previous, changed. There was a throne in a black abyss; that was the same as before. However, the green-haired girl, the one who was always sleeping on the throne, woke up this time. Byleth stared at her as her eyes slowly opened, almost not believing that his dream had slipped from its normal routine. Most of the girl's hair was tied up in large, flowing pigtails, and the rest was woven into twin braids, each laced with pink and ivory ribbons, that fell down the front of her shoulders.

The girl's loud yawn cut through the silence. "Oh my, what could've brought you here?" She blinked drowsily.

Byleth just stared at her. Thankfully, the girl kept talking, her voice growing more animated as she fully woke up. "How did you get in here? Who are you, anyways?"

Not knowing how to answer the first question, Byleth opted to answer the second. "My name is Byleth."

The girl seemed to wait for him to continue, but soon realized that he was done speaking. "Not much of a talker, are you? You mortals are all so amusing," she said as she smiled. "Well, my name is..." she tilted her head in confusion. "I... can't remember. Even so, everything here feels so familiar."

Byleth spoke up, "It is familiar to me, as well. I dream of you sleeping on this throne almost every night."

The girl's eyes widened in surprise before slowly becoming half-lidded again. With another yawn, she said, "Is that so? How very... interesting. Speaking of sleep, it might be time for... yet another nap." Her words slowed as she drifted off.

Byleth opened his mouth to try to interrupt her, but noticed that she had already fallen asleep. Maybe next time, he supposed.

Byleth woke up with a start. "Hey, kid, time to wake up."

He opened his eyes to see his father, Jeralt, shaking him awake. Jeralt's light brown hair was tied back in its usual style, and he had his mercenary armor on. A job, then.

Jeralt looked at him with concern. "Were you having that dream again?"

Byleth nodded. Having slept in most of his battlegear, he quickly started putting on his armor and coat. "It changed this time."

Jeralt's eyes widened a fraction. "Really? Well, you can tell me about it on the road; our next job is in the Kingdom."

Byleth nodded again. As the two headed to the door, one of the mercenaries in their group ran into the room. "Jeralt! Sir! Sorry to barge in, but your presence is needed outside. I'll lead you there."

Byleth and Jeralt looked at each other. With a shrug, Jeralt moved to follow the mercenary, with Byleth not far behind.

The mercenary led them towards the edge of town, where Byleth spotted three people dressed in uniforms. He wasn't sure where the uniforms were from, but he could tell that these people were all just a few years younger than him. Students, perhaps?

The one in the middle had short blond hair and a long half-cape that was just a shade more blue than his eyes. He spoke first, "Please forgive our intrusion. We wouldn't bother you were the situation not dire. We're being pursued by a group of bandits. I can only hope that you will be so kind as to lend your support."

Jeralt seemed surprised. "Bandits? Here?"

The one on the right was a girl with long, white hair. A few strands of hair were tied with thin, purple ribbons - whose color matched her eyes - on both sides of her head. She wore a similar cape, but only about half the length and red. "It's true. They attacked us while we were at rest in our camp."

The one on the left, a boy with olive skin, green eyes, and short brown hair, chimed in, "We've been separated from our companions and we're outnumbered. They're after our lives... not to mention our gold." His cape was yellow and only covered his shoulder. At his remark, Byleth scrutinized the three more closely. They did seem rather wealthy, judging by both their remarkably undamaged clothes and the overly formal way in which the first one spoke. Maybe they were nobles of some sort.

Jeralt replied, "I'm impressed you're staying so calm considering the situation. I... Wait. That uniform..." Byleth wondered how his father recognized the uniform, as Byleth had never seen it before.

The mercenary, who had previously left to check on the situation, arrived just then. "Bandits spotted just outside the village! And damn, are there a lot of them."

"Well we're not about to abandon the village now," Jeralt said. He turned to Byleth. "Are you ready?"

Byleth nodded. Turning to the three nobles, he said, "We are happy to help."

All three of them smiled in relief.

Just outside the village, the five of them spotted the bandits. They ducked behind some trees and observed the bandits from afar. A few bandits took the lead, while one who seemed to be their leader stood in the back. Jeralt tilted his head toward Byleth. "There they are. Kid, you take the lead this time. These ones," he gestured towards the nobles, "can fight, you just need to guide them."

"Alright." Byleth wondered how Jeralt knew that, but maybe it had something to do with the uniform. Or the weapons they were carrying.

The brown-haired one piped up, "Hey, don't we get a say in this?"

The white-haired girl glared at him. "Now is not the time to argue, Claude." The boy, Claude, raised his hands in surrender, an easy smile still on his face. The girl looked at Byleth now, "Do not mind him. We would love to see what you are capable of." Her gaze was level, almost as if she were challenging him. "And you can call me Edelgard."

The blond boy's eyes widened. "Oh! Where are my manners? My name is Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd. For this battle, I am at your command." The name gave Byleth pause. Blaiddyd? He couldn't give it much thought at the moment, though.

"Yeah, yeah, your highnesses, we get it." Claude interrupted. "Do you have a plan...?" he hedged.

"Byleth," Byleth supplied.

"Right. Do you have a plan in mind, Byleth?"

Byleth looked at their weapons. Edelgard had an axe and a dagger, Dimitri had a lance and a sword, and Claude had a bow and quiver. "Yes. I will lead with Edelgard and Dimitri guarding the flanks. Claude, you follow behind with your bow. Father, round up any stragglers that we miss."

"Sounds good, let's move forward then." Edelgard said.

Byleth took the three nobles with him, and Jeralt trailed a fair distance behind on his steed. The bandits in the front were a group of three, and Byleth moved to engage. On his right, Dimitri struck one of the bandits with his lance, dodging the bandit's sword before striking again with a killing blow. One of Claude's arrows hit the bandit on his left, and Edelgard finished him off with her axe. Byleth easily took care of the bandit standing in front of him with his sword.

They soon approached the bandit leader, who stood in the back. The leader yelled, "You're just a ton of weak fucking kids! You're no match for me, the mighty Kostas!"

"Ruffians never have the most pleasant language, do they," Dimitri remarked.

Byleth heard Claude's voice behind him, "He's got a bit of an ego, too."

"That's an understatement if I've ever heard one," Edelgard quipped, slamming her axe into another bandit. Byleth was amused; these three really liked to banter. They were probably a little too relaxed for the situation, though.

The four of them fought through the majority of the bandits until they finally reached Kostas, who was guarded by a few of his goons. Claude helped Dimitri take out one of them, and Edelgard readied her axe for a large swing at another. Byleth moved to assist her, but, to his surprise, she took the bandit out in one good swing. Actually, "good" was a massive understatement; the bandit had flown back several feet before crumpling to the ground. The girl was a bit stronger than he expected, to put it lightly.

Byleth tore his eyes away just in time to parry another bandit's sword with his own. Right as they disengaged, the bandit lunged straight at Byleth, but he was prepared. Byleth easily sidestepped and grabbed the bandit's arm, pulling it and guiding the bandit's abdomen straight into the point of his sword. Byleth quickly pulled his sword free, letting the bandit fall unceremoniously onto the ground. He didn't bother wiping off the blood.

Byleth looked up and saw Edelgard and Claude engaging Kostas. Dimitri was locked in a battle a small distance away, but he didn't seem to be having any trouble. Claude had placed himself at what seemed like his own maximum range from Kostas; he took an extra moment to aim each arrow. Edelgard and Kostas exchanged several blows with their axes, but neither of them seemed to be injured.

Byleth ran to help with Kostas, but Kostas disengaged and ran the moment he spotted him. Edelgard seemed to be caught by surprise, but she quickly recovered and threw her axe at Kostas' retreating form. Not the smartest move, in Byleth's opinion, but the blunt side of her axe connected with Kostas' head and he fell. Byleth breathed out in a small huff. That was that, he supposed.

Most of the other bandits ran away after seeing their leader fall, and a few ran towards the body. Since there was no immediate danger, Byleth slowed his pace. However, to Byleth's alarm, the bandits who had gathered around Kostas cheered. Either Edelgard's axe hadn't hit very hard or Kostas had a thick head; whichever it was, Kostas jumped back up, even more angry than ever, "You'll pay for that, kid!"

Kostas broke through the small crowd of bandits and moved to attack Edelgard. Byleth started running, fearing that he was too late. Edelgard was strong, but her axe was wedged in the dirt a dozen meters away. She drew out a small dagger and lifted it in a defensive stance; Byleth knew it wouldn't be enough against Kostas' powerful axe. He couldn't make it in time, so he dashed in front of Edelgard, shielding her with his body. That's when the world froze.

It was the world from his dream again, but he wasn't asleep this time. He looked around, trying to find the throne, when he heard the green-haired girl's voice behind him, "Honestly! What are you accomplishing with that little stunt? It's like you're trying to get me killed, you fool!" He turned around to face her.

The girl put her chin in her palm and sighed. "Well, it's fine. After all, if you don't know the value of your own life, you're not going to protect it very well, are you? 'Course not." The girl sprung up from her chair and clapped her hands together. "Well, then, I guess it's up to me to guide you from now on. You can call me Sothis, but I'm also known as 'The Beginning.'"

Byleth looked up at her, "I thought you couldn't remember your name."

It was a simple statement, but the girl, Sothis, looked offended. "What? Do you think I am a simple child who forgot her own name?"

Byleth shook his head, "No, but I wonder what made you remember... and what made you wake up."

Sothis suddenly appeared thoughtful. She tapped her chin with her finger, "I wonder that as well. However, we have a much more important predicament on our hands." She looked at Byleth accusingly. "How do you suppose we get out of this situation? I am not sure how I managed it, but I was able to freeze the hands of time. The moment time starts again, though, that axe will still tear into your flesh and we will both die."

Byleth was surprised, but it only showed through the slight widening of his eyes. So, he was still going to die, then? He wasn't sure about the extent of Sothis' powers. Was pausing time really the only thing she could do? "Turn back the hands of time," he replied.

Sothis smiled, "Yes, of course! If I turn it back, you will surely learn from your mistakes and correct them. You really are quite troublesome." A yellow circle filled with patterns and runes Byleth had never seen before appeared in front of her. "Go, now. I cannot rewind time too far, so hopefully you are prepared." The circle glowed brighter.

Byleth watched Edelgard throw her axe at Kostas. Kostas fell, but Byleth knew better than to slow down. He kept running at full speed.

Kostas yelled, "You'll pay for that, kid!" Byleth had ample time to reach Edelgard this time, so he stood in front of her, holding his sword defensively. Kostas swung down with his axe, and Byleth used the momentum to disarm him. The axe went flying to the side. Byleth took a moment to check on Edelgard - unharmed, but giving him an appraising look - and when he turned back, Kostas had already scrambled away to his goons.

Behind him, Claude shouted, "Hey, over here!" and caught up to them with Dimitri at his side. "Are you guys alright?"

Edelgard answered for them both, "Yes, we are fine."

Dimitri inclined his head, "That is good to hear."

At that moment, Jeralt rode up to them on his horse. He looked at Byleth, "Did you just...?"

Jeralt was interrupted by the arrival of a group of knights. One of them yelled, "The Knights of Seiros are here! We'll cut you down for terrorizing our students." He seemed to be in charge, as he ordered the others to round up the bandits who were getting away. So, the three nobles were students, then.

Seiros was a familiar word to Byleth, since he had heard it in his dreams. It was the name of the green-haired warrior woman. He wondered how they were connected. Before, he wouldn't have given it any thought, but Sothis proved that his dreams may be more real than he thought.

Surprisingly, the leader of the knights, Alois, seemed to know Jeralt, calling him "Captain." Jeralt looked a little exasperated, and Byleth could see why. Alois seemed to be the epitome of the word "jolly." He seemed nice, though, and cracked a couple of jokes. He had short brown hair and a long moustache.

Surprisingly, Alois mentioned that Jeralt had disappeared about 20 years ago. Byleth didn't mention it, but stowed the information away for later. Jeralt agreed that he and Byleth would accompany the knights to "the monastery," and, before Byleth could ask what that was, the two walked off without him, leaving him with the three students.

Edelgard spoke first, "I appreciate your help back there. Your skill is beyond question. And your father... that would be Jeralt, the Blade Breaker?" Byleth nodded. "Former captain of the Knights of Seiros. Oft praised as the strongest knight to ever live. Have I missed anything?"

That was news to Byleth. "I didn't know he was a captain."

Edelgard seemed surprised at that. "How curious. I'd wager the explanation for that is fascinating indeed."

Claude cut in, "Hey, you're coming with us to the monastery, right? I'd love to bend your ear as we travel." That was fine with Byleth, as long as no actual ear-pulling was involved. "Oh, I should mention that the three of us are students of the Officer's Academy at Garreg Mach Monastery."

Claude kept talking, "We were doing some training exercises when those bandits attacked. I definitely got the worst of it."

Edelgard looked annoyed, "That would be because you ran off."

Claude grinned, "Too true! I was the first to make a strategic retreat." His face fell a little, "These two followed me, though, bringing all those bandits after us. Utterly ridiculous."

Dimitri spoke up, his voice laced with mirth, "Ah, so that's what you were thinking, Claude. And here I thought you were acting as a decoy for the sake of us all."

"His intentions were clear as day. You will prove a lacking ruler if you can't see the truth behind a person's words," Edelgard said.

Dimitri raised an eyebrow as he retorted, "You will be a lacking ruler yourself if you fail to trust those you rely on."

Claude turned to Byleth and winked. "Oh joy, a royal debate between their highnesses. I wonder how being completely predictable affects one's ability to wield power. Personally, as the embodiment of distrust, I'd say your little exchange smacks of naivete."

Edelgard snapped at that, "Me, naive? Tell me, are you actually incapable of keeping quiet, or is your lack of self-awareness a condition of some sort?"

Claude raised his hands in surrender, and that seemed to be the end of the bickering. Byleth watched the students as they kept talking back and forth trying to... recruit him? They made him choose a side; put on the spot, he chose the Adrestrian Empire. Edelgard seemed pleased for a moment before Alois called that they were about to head out.

Everyone left to make preparations to leave, leaving Byleth alone. Sothis' voice rang in his head, "My, my. They are in such a hurry. You know... each of the three is most unique." Caught off guard, Byleth jumped a little. "What, are you surprised to hear me? Well, you must become accustomed to my voice now, so you are not so shocked every time." Byleth nodded wordlessly and observed the three students from afar.

Claude had an easy smile, but the smile never truly seemed to reach his eyes. He had called himself "the embodiment of distrust," so Byleth wondered if it had anything to do with that.

Dimitri seemed very genuine, but something about him was a little off. Despite his sincerity, Byleth couldn't discern much more than that.

Edelgard was fierce and quick to anger, and something about her down-to-business attitude reminded Byleth a bit of himself. However, she always seemed to be evaluating him. He watched her as she packed up her things; he wondered what she thought about him saving her life. At that moment, she looked up at him, and he saw that calculating gaze again as they locked eyes.

Byleth found that he couldn't look away.

Hello!

I'm crossposting this story from AO3 (my name over there is jess_writes), so I'll be publishing chapters 1-10 pretty quickly here. This story will be eventually diverging from canon, although it'll take a bit of time to get there. I have big plans!

I appreciate any and all feedback, but pls be nice! This is my first fanfiction for any sort of fandom.