author's note : well it's time for the due long time reunion :)
have a good read.
Cyril was sitting on the left, while Byleth and Bernadetta were sitting in the middle and right respectively. He expected to take the wyvern to whatever destination they were suppose to go, but to his surprise it was a luxurious tourist carriage, which baffled him.
Once on the road, Cyril sighed "remind me why shouldn't we take t'old wyverns?"
the professor didn't bother to take his eyes off his book "you are not wrong that it would have been faster, but it would also be easier for them to take us down, now that the enemy know we are still alive. Nobody will suspect us if we travel inside of a carriage for tourist"
the young man brought the answer and simply wait. Bernadetta, who was admiring the view outside turned around as if they had forgot something "Byleth, don't forget to tell him what we are suppose to do"
Byleth closed his book and this time turn to the newcomer, who was lending his attention "listen Cyril, before meeting with the rest at Shambhala, we must make two stops in order to completly clean away our ennemies." Both Bernie and Cyril nodded. The professor continued "first we will stop to Fort Merceus. Assisting our soldiers who are trying to hold the demonic beasts there."
Cyril was surprised there was demonic beast at that the so called impenetrable fort. He didn't fought a lot of them, but knew what these beasts were capable of. He asked "so these beast didn't answer to Empress Edelgard?"
"not quite, they mostly answer to these dark mages. We simply used them as a temporary alliance during the war. Once the war was over, we immediatly throw ourselves into a shadow war againts our former allies to kill them once it for all. In fact this is why there was a vague law from Edelgard which is about the curfew. So that the war stayed out of the public's mind to let them rebuild" responded Byleth solemnly.
Cyril became more confused and fustrated "are those the same one who killed your father?"
Byleth stood silent. Bernadetta knew there would be tension out there. She can understand both point of view and thus the shy woman decided to intervene before it get out of hand.
She said "everyone, ca- calm down everyone" both looked at her. Bernadetta start sweating of shyness, but manage to recomposed herself quickly "I - I think this conversation won't go anywhere. Perhaps after dealing with Fort Merceus."
Both stood silent and nodded in agreement. The rest of the trip was the total silence, hearing only the breeze of the heavy winds and sad song of the birds.
When they arrived at the fort. They saw a lot demonic beast on behind barricades and there was around 6 six soldiers that are still alive one their side. The conductor of the carriage went into hiding. The trio were speechless, since it was worse than they thought. Cyril noted it was worse than what he had suffered in Almyra, as nobody died that gruelly.
Bernadetta panicked "wh-whoah what are we going to do! They look scary and hungry! Bernie don't want to become food!"
Byleth looked around and saw the remaining six soldiers struggling to contained the blockade which was able able to contain the demonic beast on the other side. The former professor said with assurance "calm down Bernie, we won't die here. Let's hurry to the soldiers first"
the other two nodded, and they run as fast as they could. Once there, the trio heard shooting from the leader named Mardi, a middle age war master man who is said to have a lot of charisma and he is loved by his troop. From Cyril's perspective, the closest person Mardi could be related to would be Alois despite not being that much similar.
Mardi was shooting "look, the professor is there! We have renforcement!" The others cheers and they retained the blockade harder. Cyril could still heard the screams of the 4 leg demonic beasts.
They went towards the group and Byleth asked "Mardi, what is the report!?"
"We are the only ones left. These beast caughed us off guard, fortunately the barricade allowed us to buy some time. Had you came later, we would be dead, along with the village"
"tsk!" replied the green haired man in anger. Everyone noticed the beast had calm down.
Byleth took the time to asked "what is on the other side?"
"One flying beast, one small four legs and one big two legs beast" replied the war master. Byleth closed his eyes for a while, thinking what they could do.
Cyril asked "do ya have a map out there?"
"That could be useful" admit Byleth. Once Bernie returned with the interior map, Byleth's brain was already coming with a plan.
The three of them listen to the plan "we must use swift and fast movements. Right now, we are in the north west, in the square here." Byleth pointed with his finger on the map. Then while sliding his finger towards the direction, he continued "We will separates in two. There is an oronger in south. Mardi, you are going down there with 2 of your man. Cyril and Bernie, you two are heading east to take the ballista and shoot the bird. In case there are enemies there, go south-east, which is close to the entrence of the other side of the fort."
He looked and saw the rest were one archer and the rest were forteress knight. He said lastly "the rest of you are with me, we are taking down the beast!"
Both Cyril and Bernie said "got it!"
Mardi and his boys replied "let's go!"
"We don't know the state on the other side, so once we crossed the blockade, wait for my directives before leaving. Lastly…" the professor stared at Cyril with a calmness that trumped even Rhea's. Cyril could see why everyone would follow Byleth. Was Lysithea swayed by his charisma? The almyran thought, but what surprised him the most was the following.
Byleth said "Cyril, I trust you with the live of Bernie in your hand. Protect her with everything you got." Cyril stood simply silent, but the former teacher ignored it and smirked nonetherless "Because when we will be able to trust each other, I will do the same for you and Lysithea. Let it be my first and final lesson to you. Trust"
She doesn't expected Cyril to protect her, not because she didn't think good of him, but because she was an adepted archer. She thought they will do fine.
Cyril seriously nodded and Byleth said "let's go!" They run and opened the gates.
Once there, they saw three demonic beasts carefully on the strategic points that everyone groaned in fustration. Suddenly they heard a laugh "hahahaha! You thought you could fool me professor?!"
They saw a warlock with a pale grey skin, alone at the east on the siege tome. Mardi replied "well I don't know who you are, but you're toast"
the mage replied "we will see!"
Byleth wasn't bothered in the slightess "They might have the siege weapon, doesn't mean they are invincible. Mardi, go south as planned. Cyril, Bernie, you two head south east, we are heading east. Take care of the beast. Leave the mage to me"
everyone replied in unisson "got it!" And they went into business.
Once Cyril and Bernie went where the bird patrolled, they saw the ballista behind the beast. Cyril said "what do we do?"
It doesn't look like it, but Bernadetta was smart. She was better at improvisation than organising plans however. Now it was her chance to shine. Bernie took her bow, which Cyril did the same, the violet haired girl said "we will bait it!"
Cyril was not expecting that level of calmness, as if she was hiding it on purpose outside of battles. Both shot at the wings, but the demonic beast counter attack by deflecting the arrows with a gust of powerful wind. The beast made a cry and charge at the most fragile of the two. He took another shot to distracted him, which allowed Bernadetta to run towards the ballista. The beast However still run towards the almyran and the latter move at full speed, adrenaline running through his blood. The almyran took his axe and blocks the eagle's claws trying to rip him apart.
Cyril was fortunately physicaly strong so stopping the beast wasn't the problem, but preventing it to rip him was another matter
"grr ahh!" Cyril growled in fatigue, couldn't resist much longer. Bernadetta shoot at beast just in time. The beast growled in rage.
"don't go near my friend anymore" Cyril was surprised that she called him a friend and since the beast turned around, letting him go, Bernadetta continued with confident smile "yeah bird I'm your opponent, not Cyril" the demonic beast, as if it understood what the archer said, rushed towards her. She made an accurate shot on it's wing. The beast couldn't react in time and hurled in pain, but didn't slowed down it's track, meanwhile Cyril gathered his remaining strenght to save Bernadetta this time by shooting another arrow in the other wing, making it fall. Bernie sighed in relief and both started shooting until the beast was no more. Both of then took their time to regain their breath while smiling at each other for the success.
Bernadetta said "yes! we did it!"
Cyril nodded with a smile "I agree, thanks for saving me up"
"sa- same for buying me some time." Cyril wanted to ask something, but was interrupted by the the cry of the mage. They turned and saw the mage lying dead, killed by the professor . The two other demonic beasts were no more either.
They reunite and the professor said "good work everyone. Now another lost for Those Who Slither in the Dark"
Mardi screamed "what a victory! You professor is the deal"
Cyril didn't disagreed and now wondered what else he missed five years ago. Bernadetta smiled "I- I haven't thank you yet for your help Cyril"
"thank you for protecting my fiancé" added Byleth with a smile. C
yril then asked Bernadetta for validation "Do ya really mean it? I mean that we are friend?"
"yes of course... I mean why wouldn't you be our friend. You are kind, hard worker" then Bernie blushed "oh my gosh! Now I'm giving embarrassing compliments. Forget what I said. I mean - Don't forget you are our friend"
Both Cyril and Byleth were thinking how much she was overreacting. Byleth added "if you need anything you can always relie on us. No matter what the past war devided us" Cyril felt warm again.
Mardi interrupted them by saying "we got reinforcement to secure the Fort!" The trio turned and saw soldiers coming.
"Well now we can really secure it for good and we can move now" said the professor happily.
Cyril was unimpressed, althought it's because he hardly care about them. Mardi said "these fine soldiers are ready to keep the fort. They encounted ambushes, but thanks to a fine mage and lord Mattias I believed. They made it intacted"
"is that so, send our thanks to them."
"The mage is outside the fort we where at the start. Waiting to speak to you. As for the lord, he is in the village checking casualities. Should return to you soon tho."
Byleth and Bernie decided to see the mage for expressing their gratitude, while Cyril went to help prepare the carriage to save time. When they saw her, Byleth immediatly remarked "well well what a surprised. I should have expected you would help however" happy to see his former student.
Lysithea, having finished giving directives to the soldiers, smuggly retorted "what did you expected? Of course I must involved myself in this, sorry we are late However. I hope nobody was injured"
"we are fine, we got good fighters" replied Bernadetta.
Byleth turned around and said "speaking of which..."
Cyril came not expecting anything and said "the carriage is ready!" And then both of them made eye contact. Surprised, mixed with other emotions came, nobody could say a word.
Suddenly, Mattias, who was in the village, was running towards the group and screamed "run!"
the four looked up and saw javelins coming towards them. While running Byleth thought to himself 'so this is what they were aiming for. Luring everyone considered troublesome here to wipe us out. No wonder there weren't many enemies there' every soldier manage to escape in time, but the village and the fort itself was completly destroyed. Now there was only desolation, ruins and corpses to rebuild and bury, much to the groups chagrin and shock…
Author's note : see you next time.
btw I should have asked this last chapter, but what do you think happen to overseer Rim? Why did he have to leave?
let me know in the comment section your guess