Author's note No way! 2 chapters in a month? impossible! but it is!
To the guest reviewer, thank you for leaving a review first of all. However, no I won't. You can do it if you want, but I won't so sorry.
have a good read :)
They were in road towards the last destination, Shambhala. Scouting camps were already set up near their base to track down the entrence of the base. Everything will be play today. Bernadetta was nervous which the three understood the sentiment, but no words had been said. Byleth wasn't smooth talker man, so he took Bernadetta with his left arm and pull her close to him. Meanwhile Cyril pronounce while reading a book "this. - is a fair...fairy?"
"Yes, you got it! Come on. Continue" Cyril didn't object to that. In fact the activity was good to get rid of the negative stress in them and enjoy the moment while it last. Because nobody can predict who will die and who will come out alive, but the duo were optimisted about making it out.
"Yes, this fairy will guide you towards heeven, world of love and piece when you will die" Cyril said the sentence of the book outloud.
Lysithea was beaming with pride seeing her "student" doing so well despite the rustiness, but mistakes needed to be corrected and she won't show mercy on that
"Cyril, the word heaven is pronounce hea-ven, not hee-ven"
"wait so this word is the heaven?"
The white haired girl nodded. Cyril simply shrugged and Lysithea continued "the other mistake is the word peace. While they are homophones, you seemed to pronounce it piece instead of peace"
Cyril frowned and scratch his head in confusion "what is the difference?"
"Piece can be a sheet of paper who was tore apart and we call the remaining pieces for exemple. Peace is when this war will be over"
Cyril nodded in acceptance at the explaination. Byleth and Bernadetta smiled at the duo, glad to see them in good term again and in turn looked at the nature by the window of the carriage. Bernadetta was taking a nap during the travel. After a while, they went inside of a little trail out of the main road toward the forest, but not to far either and the carriage stopped. Cyril and Lysithea frowned in confusion while that woke up the violet haired girl.
Byleth ordered everyone to stay in the carriage and he got up outside to speak with the driver. After some minutes, Byleth returned and said "this is the limit he can go. We will borrow two of his horses and ride the rest of the road towards the camp, which shouldn't be that far."
The trio nodded and got out of the carriage. Once everyone outside, the old driver said casually "this is as far as I can go. However I will take the horses back after your business is over. Do you want me here tonight?"
Byleth replied casually "Tomorrow morning if possible"
"very well, good luck and finish this war once it for all" and left with the carriage.
Lysithea asked to Cyril, pointing at the horses "do you know how to ride one?"
Cyril scratched his head ashamed, but replied "Nah, I only know how to ride a wyvern"
Lysithea didn't laughed at him and replied with pride in fact "then I must teach you one day"
the almyran didn't expected this "ya know how to ride one?"
Lysithea shrugged "well, almost every noble do and I'm not exception to it"
Byleth, who was already on his horse with Bernadetta behind, interrupted their banter "you two will have all the time in the world after the battle is over"
the duo blushed a little bit of embarrassent, realising they weren't alone in the world. Cyril could swore he saw the professor smirking. Lysithea proceeded to climb on hers with Cyril behind. They didn't waste time and galloped in the forest toward the main camp. While galloping they didn't encounter anyone or any demonic beast and they noted the forest looked normal, probably because it allowed the enemy to hide better.
The black eagle were in meeting to revised their half ass plan, but they were waiting for Byleth. Edelgard gave orders right and left to the other soldiers, Hubert and Jeritza stood behind his liege, Petra was sharpening her swords and daggers, Caspar and Balthus were light practicing, Linhartd was reading, the three other ashen wolves were scouting and find a way in the stronghold enemy, the couple Dorothea and Ferdinand were talking and Mercedes was preparing the medical kit. Once the orders have been given, Edelgard took the little time to relax and wait. The group heard footstep of horses closing in. Edelgard knew who they were. The two horses stop and the four people got down to see them. Byleth greeted to his former student "sorry that we are late"
"at least you did make it" replied the house leader with a rare smile.
While they chat for some minutes, Cyril on his end noted they were like familly to each other, he wondered if it was the bond of classmates and would he felt that were he was a student, but for now he simply listen while separate from the group. Lysithea came to him and said "come on Cyril. You will have to confront Edelgard one day anyway"
Cyril replied "do you think I'm welcome here?"
Lysithea ignored his question and took his hand to drag him toward the group. Meanwhile Hubert, who was as straightfoward as usual, asked sharply "tell me professor, did you took care of those snakes on the way?"
"Yup. Better yet, we got a new reinforcement. An old acquitance of ours joined us to fight Thales's men."
Edelgard was curious, so is the rest of the group, until they saw Lysithea and Cyril coming in. The group, except for Ferdinand and Dorothea were surprised to see him. Cyril simply stare at them with mixes emotions althought he was calm.
Hubert stated with a provocative grin "so Rhea's lapdog survive. Interesting"
Cyril had some pride and he won't go down without a fight "I'm not a lapdog and besides ya aren't better"
"lady Edelgard, this boy could be dangerous, let me get rid of him"
Lysithea was about to go on his defence but Edelgard replied to everyone's surprised "Hubert, enough! We don't need to antagonized him futher."
Her vassal said his apologies and she turned towards the young almyran. Cyril realised how much she was a lady of power. Yes he knew she had the tenure of a leader, but didn't know how much it was true. Edelgard said with genuine interest "such potential, yet almost wasted on mopping the floors of Gareg Mach. Right now we have a fight to win, but we will talk afterward, questions will be asked and answered"
Cyril almost didn't have the strength to answer back. She was scarier than a mad dragon Rhea. He could simply nod which satisfied Edelgard.
Linhartd said "looks like the scouting party are ready to let us in. I will enjoyed robbing crest knowledge"
"indeed, let's go" said the emotionless Jeritza, who was craving a fight. Everyone nodded and went towards the gates of Shambhala.
Once there. They encounter Hapi, Yuri and Constance. They were sent to there to find an entrance and use Yuri's thief skills to unlock the doors in order to let everyone in. Needless to say, they succeeded with ease. They let the group in without saying a word since time was essence. Once inside, everyone was speechless. Cyril wondered how come it was that advance. They were so far above them in technology that they looked like cavemen in comparaison. Linhardt was thoughtful, wondering how different it was from the holy tomb. Caspard felt it was old and new. Petra wondered why the decorations weren't from Fodlan. Dorothea complained she would never live in this kind of city. Bernadetta mumured how it was awful to live safely and isolated, which her future husband Byleth agreed whoheartadly. Ferdinand put his wife closed to him to show his agreement and he added to himself that he would return to the surface as soon as possible.
Cyril saw Lysithea a bit afraid, probably because of her past trauma and couldn't blame her. He approached the white haired mage and said seriously "don't worry, I'm gonna protect ya, they won't let a finger while I'm here"
Lysithea smiled and regained her confidence however little it was lost and replied "thank you Cyril, I'm covering you, but be careful out there."
Cyril simply nodded. Lysithea knew this place and went there multiple time when she was little. She was determined to prevent futher victims. Edelgard and Hubert ordered with haste "let's advance, my fake uncle is waiting."
Once they advance futher, they saw a playground and heard children's laugh. These children were playing together. Hubert said viciously "well well..." they heard and saw the strangers. Cyril noted they were mostly afraid, and understandable so. He was like that when the Goneril took him. Lysithea did have a bit of pity, but maybe they can be safe if they clean fast enough. They started running before Hubert could launch a spell and the oldest of the group sound the alarm. The army heard a very loud noise that force them to cover their ears. Myson who was reading, took his tome and immediatly positions himself. Odesse was on the top of a platform. Bias in the control room for the titanus and Pittacus for the viskam. Thales was in his room waiting for them with some soldiers.
In the team Edelgard, they noticed no soldiers came towards them, which surprised everyone. Bernadetta asked "huh, what are we suppose to do?" Cyril scanned around to see anything worthwhile. He walked a bit around some conners, but not too far from the small army. The young almyran saw a passage well hidden via blending within the decor. He could thank his more than good average eyes for this. Cyril retuned to the others and remarked "there is a passage down there or something" they went to checked and saw the passage.
Lysithea replied "wow! That wasn't an easy one to find. Good job Cyril"
Edelgard and Byleth nodded in agreement and she said "let's go down."
"Wh- what do we do with the civilians?" asked Bernadetta, not cold enough to harm them.
"We will figure it out once our business is done" replied Hubert in matter of fact. There was no objection and they continued down. Once there, the Agathans were ready. Myson said with a smirk "boss, these gutter rats are there"
Thales came out and said toward his 'niece' "well, well it is time to settle this once it for all Edelgard"
the empress made a face of anger "you won't escape this time. I have enough of your tyranny. We will win Thales!" Her allies nodded in agreement.
Thales grunted and didn't hesitated to shoot the orders "Pittacus, activate the viskams! I don't care if we destroy Shambhala as long as our goal are fufill!"
Cyril and Lysithea couldn't believe he was sacrificing his civilians. He gave his last orders "Bias, unseal the chains of titanus, let their metal body be drench of blood!"
The old man disappear inside the room. 'Titanus...Cornellia must have been an associate.' Byleth thought. Just as Cyril was about to get bombarded by meteors, Bernadetta shoot all them before it could do damage. Cyril saw in surprised, which Bernadetta's stare is saying that it was for payback at the fort and they have his back. Edelgard gave the orders and they rush towards the battlefield. The arrows, swords, magic were swinging around. Cyril stood close behind Lysithea and cover her. Once they have taken care of some soldiers in the way, Lysithea saw a familliar mage at the top of a cubic platform. Lysithea rushed towards him and shot a hadesĪ©. Cyril followed her closely.
Odesse said "well I guess you aren't lacking in confiance."
Lysithea replied with conviction and said "you won't escape this time Odesse!"
"you even remember my name. I'm flattered."
"I don't know who you are, but ya won't touch Lysithea again" Cyril joined the conversation.
"..." Odesse looked at them and then stood silent for a while. After that he said "let's make a deal, defeat me and I will tell where is the secret archive for the crests. The recipe is there."
Lysithea launched a fire ball at Odesse, which told the dark Bishop her answer. He used his dark magic to create illusions of himself, but the young mage noticed the illusions weren't as strong as the ones in the forest, and conclude that he didn't have prep time to make such a massive damage like last time. In conclusion, the duo made short work of them. Then he threw some lightning at them, but Lysithea blocked the shot with a barrier. Cyril shoot an arrow on arm, them at the abdomen, which all of them hit. Lysithea and Cyril would celebrate the win if they weren't in the warzone. While Caspard, Linhardt and Jeritza were fighting the titanus, the duo went to the injured Argathan and hide from the battle for a while. Lysithea dispised the Argathan, but if there is someone she didn't dislike of the group, it was Odesse, who was the least bad of them, althougth she certainly won't miss him.
Odesse said weakly "the archive are under Thales's room. Inside his room, there is a secret underground place where all archive are kept" pointing the big cage. Lysithea nodded and said "do-"
"tell me Lysithea" he interrupted the woman since he knew what she was going to say. He looked at Cyril and returned his gaze on her "did you found to live for?" Lysithea sighed and replied proudly "Yes I do. Good bye Odesse" he nodded, althought the mask cover his expression, but he was somehow at peace and gave his last breath.
They returned to the battlefield and are rejoined by Ferdie and Dorothea who have finished their tasks. Ferdinand said "good job guys, now let's go sneak to find Thales" there was no objection to that and they run toward the door only to find an armor knight with an axe.
The man said "I see you are trying to reach our leader. Don't think it will be easy."
Cyril replied "we have fought tougher than ya. We aren't scared of you"
Dorothea added "now dear, if you would just stay aside or just die, it would be helpful."
The man started laughing "hahahaha! That is the spirit kiddo. You were quite a reserve one when I oversaw you" the man took his helmet off and the four people couldn't believe it. "I don't believe this. Overseer Rim? Is that ya?"
"What is the meaning of this? What did you do to my friend?" asked Ferdinand, shocked by what is happening.
"Ahh Rim never existed, I simply took the name for my spying mission which was a success Ferdinand."
Cyril couldn't believe it. He looked up so highly of Rim and seeing him down like that angered Lysithea "you will pay for betraying Cyril like that, playing with his feelings!" "Ah long time no see miss Ordelia. If that can console you. I really liked the lot of you. Unless you convert yourself to our civilisation, I must kill you for my country. My duty as knight. Cyril, Ferdinand, don't hold back!"
Ferdinand closed his eyes and acknowledge that Rim or whoever he was was the one of the most honorable of the enemies. "Very well my friend. Let's do this, but before that What is your real name?" asked the dashing cavalier.
Rim put his helmet back and said while preparing his bolt axe "My name is Chilon! Welcome to our home, Shambhala!"
Author's notes: come on guys, only 2 chapters left. We can do it!
like always, questions, comments, insults, criticism are appreciated
see you next time