Author's note: sorry for late update. I admit that laziness caught me so yeah, I hope this chapter can make it up for it.
spoilers alert: it is a reconciliation for Cyril and Lysi.
have a good read :)
It was the aftermath of the battle of Fort Merceus and it was a pretty traumatized experience for all of them. Lord Mattias stayed in the fort to help the villagers who were affected by the javelin of light, althought he will joint hem at Shambhala soon via wyverns. Meanwhile, the other four were now in the private carriage and while Lysithea and Cyril were sitting side by side, they were ignoring each other, avoiding eye contact. Byleth noted the tension couldn't have been higher then that. It didn't help that the four of them were traumatize by the javelin of lights. The carriage was moving slowly, as if it was a sad day. Soon they will have to stop in a village to rest. Because they are going to Shambhala the next day. Both Byleth and Bernadetta didn't said anything, but they knew they were still clinging in the past and Bernadetta could understand in a way. While she won't be completly cured from her shyness and tendency of staying in her room, she learned that one must let go on the past to truly move on and grow.
During the road, the boil of Cyril's anger couldn't be contained anymore and started the arguing "we didn't need Lysithea for this!"
"What! You think you are that important!"
"I don't betray my allies unlike you"
"as expected of a lapdog!"
"Coward!"
The couple beside them noticed this was getting out of hand. In fact the argument was starting to go beyonds insults and Byleth interfered before anyone get hurt. "You two, enough!" His autority voice made the duo stop. Byleth continued "both of you once said to me that you don't like being treat as a child. So stop acting like one and calm down!"
Byleth wasn't usually an angry person, but this was going too far this time. Cyril and Lysithea were shying away and stood silent this time, calming themselves down.
He continued "we are staying in the village near the bridge. Use this time to act like an adult and resolve the problem" both nodded and the rest of trip went good, in silence.
When the group arrived at the bridge of Myrddin, the first thing they notice is that the enemy weren't there. There was no attack at all. Lysithea noticed Byleth scrowling "what is going on?" and the professor left the carriage, ordering them to stay in until he grasp the situation. The green haired man noticed some local soldiers along with Adestrian ones doing a patrol. Byleth went to them…
The white haired mage found it was a eternity since her professor left, especially since there was no one to talk to, which was fine by her anyway, but as she was about to dive her nose in her book, Byleth came to them, with a smile on his face, which by the guess of everyone, meant good news.
"Good news everyone, the enemy had already been destroyed here, by Edelgard orders. We will stay in the nearby village to rest and immediatly departed tomorrow morning"
Needless to say everyone were relieved by that, Lysithea being the first. She couldn't accept such atrocities again, not to mention her health did deteriorate, althought not that badly and was negligeable at best. Lysithea and the others exited the carriage and they went to an hotel since night was coming soon. She didn't want to even look at Cyril for now since sleep, anger and pride was catching her.
flashback*
Lysithea was in a sort of tank, fluid flowing inside the cylindric container. She noticed it was a dark room and was naked. Multiple same cylindric container were installed across the room, lighting slightly the room. She was crying in sadness, reduce to this, a lab rat forced to endure the atrocities of the mysterious mages. A middle age gremory was preparing tubes and seringue for the experiment. She open a hole in the container to insert the tube and with skills of a doctor, implant the siringue in the left arm of the young girl.
The gremory smirked "if you are lucky and strong, you will be blessed with power. Not everyone can bear the power of two crest."
The child was under tranquiliser and couldn't respond, but it was clear in her face that she was resigned. The gremory injected a blood transfusion in Lysithea and at first there was no reaction. However, blood transfusion alone to gain a crest wasn't enough so the mysterious woman started chanting. The woman used a forbidden alchemy to combined with the blood and the results was astounding. Lysithea's hair started slowly to change from violet to fade white, she felt pain and her body felt heavier, but an aura of power came for a second before leaving the girl drained. Her life had been shortened, to Bias's disappointement. Suddenly a door open and someone with a mask came and dressed in black came and looked at the young girl.
His associate grinned "good timing Odesse, I was just finished the experiment on the girl here. Lysithea Von Ordelia, age 8, a young beast. I can say this time it was a semi success compared to her siblings. She can wield the power of two crest."
Odesse was thoughtful "I assume there is a price however"
"yes, she won't live long, but does it really matter when our demonic beasts aren't suppose to live long?"
"You got a point Bias"
she nodded in approval and turned around to exit the room "I'm going to see our leader to report, may you take the girl back to her home"
the dark bishop was taciturn by nature, but the gremory knew him well enough to know he wasn't againts her request. Lysithea was naturally afraid, but smart despite her age. She knew that from now on, time will be againts her, or an ally depending on the point of view. She noticed the man opened the container and she dropped on the floor, then his hand was about to grab her….
Lysithea immediatly woke up from sheer terror, painting. 'hrr again just a nightmare. The same damn one' she mumured to herself. She thought sleep would get her for once, especially since it was all good at first. The Ordelia girl noticed she should have slept three hours before the nightmare came which was a record since few weeks ago. Having realized that she won't sleep for now, the prodigee took a book and went to the terrace of the inn.
Cyril didn't fare better on his side. All he could do was shifting left and right and thinking about what Byleth said. True be told, he was right, their argument during the trip was petty and didn't resolved anything. In fact, it almost destroyed everything they have build so far, just to satisfied their ego. The almyran knew he was going to see her tomorrow and he would apologies to her. The only positive outcome is that his fustration was now gone because of the vent. Still, decided that sleep won't visited him tonight, the young almyran left his room and left for the terrace. It was surprisingly not cold and the night was perfect, stars and full moon was up, lighting the skies. Cyril felt the atmosphere and set up was almost like a fairy tail romance, if only Lysithea was there. He didn't need to look for long as when he sat on the chair, the young man spotted Lysithea reading at the other extreme. Cyril wondered if it was a right time to do, but he remember that Catherine once said to him that hesitation can kill everything. The young almyran convinced himself that it was now and never and went to her. He sat in front of her and Lysithea closed the book upon seeing him. Both were looking at each other with regret and sorrow.
Cyril started "ya know, I'm sorry Lysithea"
the white haired girl sighed "me too Cyril. I guess we were both in shock"
"yeah... but I think ya weren't wrong when you said I was a lap-"
Lysithea shushed him and immediatly replied "nonesense. Maybe you were at first, but the Cyril as I know can think on his two feet. You joined her out of kindness and your belief"
"ya know I still feel I do own you a lot. It was just petty I mean"
Lysithea sighed, but this time in relief "you haven't change at all, but you insist so much, all I ask is for you to listen. I owe you some explainations for my "cowardice" "
Cyril replied confidently "of course. Anything for the princess"
Lysithea started blushing "you can't just say things like that!"
Cyril tried not to laugh. Lysithea saddened grin returned to her face and that didn't go unnoticed by him. "I had siblings before and my familly and I were happy. Are you familliar with House Hyrm and it's history?"
Cyril frowned in curiosity. He know Jeritza was from here however. "Isn't Jeritza from here? Anyway I didn't learn history"
Lysithea sighed "huh why not? There is a reason I taught you how to read and write you know!"
He shrugged "didn't care about history that much, especially since it didn't helped lady Rhea. Ya know doesn't mean I wasn't glad you taught me" Cyril's heartbeat accelerated when he finished his sentence. He was more than glad. Lysithea was a bit upset, because she didn't have the time he had, however she understood he didn't know her shortenen life span and it was not tonight he will learn it.
The white haired girl continued "House Hrym wanted to join the alliance and defect the Empire. So they organised a rebellion and we offered our help. However, the rebellion had been quashed by the imperials and because of our interference, imperials took control of our territory by force."
She almost shed tears at the tragedy, and her friend trying to comfort her didn't help restraining them, but manage to stay strong nontherless. "Dark mages came and experiment on my siblings and me" Cyril was speechless. Those same mages they are fighting right now had done atrocities to her familly. His fist clenches at that.
She continued "the experiment killed all my siblings and I was the only one to get out alive. Because of that, I grew tired of nobility and I came to Garreg Mach to study and dissolved my house for my parent's health. The war came and we are here today"
Cyril was silent, his anger was boilling. Lysithea seemed to notice, but got the wrong impression "I didn't want to betray you Cyril, but when the professor proposed me to fight alongside them at Deidriu, I couldn't refuse. I'm sorry if I betrayed you this way, but please. I want to-"
"Lysithea, I've heard enough." Lysithea was strong, but when she rose her head, tears were raining into the ground, fearing rejection from Cyril, but instead he hug her and said "Lysithea, Stop apologing, doesn't suit you. I prefer seeing the usual prideful, stubborn, and strong woman that I used to know"
Lysithea sniffed and replied "you aren't angry?" "
I'm angry towards those mages, not you. Ya don't have to apologies to someone like me. I should be saying sorry to ya. You aren't coward. You are the strongest woman I've known"
"stronger than Rhea?"
"She is a dragon and ya aren't so of course she is stronger" Lysithea laughed. She missed and loved the bluntness of his words.
"But ya have the strength in your head, ya know the mmme-"
"mental" helped Lysithea happily. Being a long time she didn't help the almyran for a word.
"Yeah, mental. As much as I hate to say this. Lady Rhea became as crazy as an enraged wyvern"
Lysithea nodded as a thanks and suddenly she said "You dummy you better live no matter what. Promise me"
Cyril wondered what was that. "Lysithea I-"
"just promised me." Interrupted the young woman
"alright, I will."
There was a silence for a while until Cyril break the ice, feeling it was time. "Lysie I want to ask you something"
"hum?"
"it is true ya are going to marry a noble?" Lysithea wondered why he was asking this. After reaching a conclusion, she wasn't surprised that he knew the rumor "Why? I..." until it clicked her and butterflies and sadness took place "don't tell me you are-"
the young man nodded knowing she connected the dot "if ya aren't taken, would you marry me after everything's over? I don't have anything fancy, but-"
in a fairy tail story, she would have said yes and jumped on him, but this was only a dream, fleeting in the wind. It was doomed the moment she became an experiment. The white haired girl answered back "Cyril I...would you let me some time to thing?"
Cyril noticed something strange about her behavior, but decided to not push The issue. She had suffered enough to put his burden on her shoulders.
He simply answered back "...ok"
Lysithea was thankfull she was yawning because they could change the subject "let's go back to sleep. Tomorrow is the real challenge"
Cyril yawned and agree and they returned to their room. Both were glad that it did end up well and Lysithea in particular was now dealing with a deeper dilemma now. However the final fight againts Those Who Slither in the Dark is soon approaching.
Author's notes: I know it should probably have taken more than one chapter to resolve any differences between them, but due to time constraint, I had to do it in one, so sorry if this felt rush or..whatever.
Also quick unrelated note, I admit I had plan a mini character arc for Mattias, but had to shut it down because it didn't fit with the pacing of the story. However it doesn't mean it will not happen. What I mean is that once the story will be over, I plan to make a one shot for Mattias that will of course tie to this story.
having said everything, see you next time.