WARNING: THIS IS A DIRECT SEQUEL TO VIOLENT ENDS.

Figured it was better to get that out of the way first. Hello people. I was doing a little lore digging on the Rite of Rising and I figured it would make for an interesting idea. I did have a little difficulty making sure that everything fits in place, but it all should be within reason. If there are any glaring issues, please tell me. Anyway, let's go!

Summary: Parting is such sweet sorrow, one that Byleth didn't wish to feel. Now a dammed saint, an honourable villain, he approaches a holy shrine where his mother once lay. He will defy the stars.


Abyss was a rather strange existence. Buried deep beneath the Garreg Mach Monastery grounds, it had become a sanctuary for those detested by the surface. The unsavoury folk, the misjudged, those in need of a new home; all were welcome within the chambers of Abyss. Despite the eclectic nature of its inhabitants, the underground civilisation had managed to flourish. The sprawling cityscape was a testament to that.

Byleth wandered through the darkened alleyways with a morbid curiosity. In the five years he had been lost to the world, Abyss was miraculously unchanged. It seemed that though time and war had ravaged the surface, few had the will to invade the depths. Even if they had, Abyss was no mere village. Byleth doubted even his skills would have him last long against the many skilled warriors that resided within.

It was why Byleth showed no hesitation in walking through the subterranean landscape. The troubles of the surface were things that Abyss need not pay attention to. For the people who had been forsaken by Fodlan, what cause had they to fight for it? The chances of being attacked were minimal – at least, being attacked regarding his allegiance with the empire.

"Professor Byleth Eisner. I thought you had abandoned us like the rest of the surface. What a surprise to see you crawling back." The familiarity of the voice made the man pause. There were only so many people who would refer to him so familiarly. It was why Byleth didn't respond with more than a sound of acknowledgement as he turned to face Yuri, the purple-haired man rolling his eyes in response. "I see you're still a man of few words. With all the rumours that we heard from the surface, I was pretty sure you were dead. Then again, you always did seem rather difficult to kill. What brings you down here?"

"Business. Plans must be put into action." Was Byleth's response, eliciting a raised eyebrow.

"A shame. I would have thought after all this time, you would want to see your Ashen Wolves." Came the teasing reply, only for Yuri's expression to harden. There was only so long he could drag out the genialities, after all. "Though it does beg the question… what business could you possibly have in Abyss that requires a corpse?"

There was silence between them as Byleth shifted his burden's weight. How was he meant to reply to a statement so bold? He could give the same excuse he had given to Edelgard, but was there any need? Yuri had no obligation to pass his words to the surface; any secrets spoken would remain firmly in Abyss. At least, that was what Byleth could only hope.

"I am surprised. None have questioned me before." Byleth noted. A glance showed most of the residents passing by without a single word, a reaction Yuri could only shrug at. "Does this not appear strange?"

"No stranger than most of the things that happen down here." Yuri casually replied, though a hint of bitterness tainted his tone. Byleth agreed; though he had tried to improve their conditions, it seemed his efforts were in vain. "We're all fighting for our lives, all the time. With the mess that's happening above us, things have only gotten worse. We're no strangers to dead bodies, not anymore. I won't be so easily diverted though, Professor. Explain yourself."

"…Our first meeting. Do you remember?"

"How could I possibly forget?" Yuri replied with a snort. "All of a sudden, these kids and their teacher from the surface came barging down here. Before we know it, everything we knew about Abyss gets completely thrown on its head. Something tells me you wouldn't treat this place as your personal mausoleum simply because you knew we would be here though."

Had Byleth been more prone to showing his emotions, perhaps a wry smile would've appeared. As it was, he settled for a small huff. After all, compared to his peers, Yuri always was the more cunning and intelligent of the Ashen Wolves. The years had only sharpened his wit. Even if the idea seemed unfathomable, Yuri had the intelligence to not dismiss his unspoken hypothesis so quickly.

"If it fails, then her body can be stored as my mother was," Byleth explained, beginning to take a step forward. The hand that fell on his shoulder wasn't strong enough to stop him, but Byleth was polite enough to pause. "Is there an issue?"

"You do recall what your little plan requires, Professor?" Yuri questioned in return, his face far from the jovial personality he displayed before. The geniality that had once masked Yuri's features had completely melted away, nought but unbridled determination left in its place. "Things can be pretty peaceful if you head to the right spots and the chalice is still safe under our guard. Those things you don't have to worry about. I'm sure you can see what I mean, then, when I say the final criteria is a little more difficult to accommodate."

"That is not an issue. I will not let such an obstacle stop me." At first glance, the words were spoken with Byleth's usual lack of emotion. For one as acute as Yuri, however, the determination within was as clear as day. It was only natural that he would draw his blade against the blue-haired man. So long as he carried the girl's body upon his back, there was no way for him to fight back. With the reverent manner that Byleth carried the corpse, he wouldn't so casually toss her body to the ground, even in self-defence. A noble manner, but foolish all the same. "You intend to fight?"

"There are still only four who bear the blood of the Four Apostles. Considering our experience with the Rite of Rising in the past, we're not exactly eager to have our blood drained again." It took all of Yuri's willpower to keep his voice as steady as it was. Even then, the blade in his hand continually twitched, ready to slash at any moment. Against an enemy as strong as Byleth, it was a necessary precaution. "I would've thought that with Aelfric's actions all those years ago, you would be wise enough not to attempt the same thing. It failed a thousand years ago, it failed five years ago, and it will fail with you. Better to just give up while you still can."

"You don't need to give up your life. That was the issue." Such a statement spoken so simply nearly had Yuri hesitating. Regardless, he couldn't stop the tip of his sword from dipping slightly. Taking the sign for what it was, Byleth continued to push forth with his explanation. "Your blood contains a certain level of magic. That's because of your crests. The Rite of Rising requires a large quantity of magic. Therefore, they thought they needed large amounts of blood. That's foolish. They required blood with a greater concentration of magic. Additionally, four different blood types fighting caused chaos. That created a beast of Aelfric. Using one blood type will prevent the magic from reacting badly."

That was… logical, in a strange manner. After all, there was no specific reason why the Four Apostles' blood was required for the Rite of Rising. The texts in the Shadow Library had little to clarify, only that their blood had been deemed necessary. Considering that it had failed on two occasions, some might find such a statement difficult to believe. Of course, many would then point to the lacking quantity of blood used in both attempts, but that only helped another question arise. What difference did four litres make compared to two and a half if the crests alone were the requirement? After all, none of the Apostles' crests were related to resurrection in any manner. No, it could only be that the Apostles refused to use any other's blood, and that had been distorted into the Apostles' blood specifically being the requirement.

That still left one issue.

"That sounds all fine and dandy, but where in Fodlan do you think you can find blood like that? It's not as if you can just measure how much magic is in someone's blood." Yuri easily dismissed. "Even if you limited the search to people with crests, you have no way of determining who's got more magic in their veins. Besides, everyone on the surface is too busy with their war to give up their best magicians, and you're not going to find anyone worth a damn here in Abyss. Are you willing to risk becoming the monster Aelfric did?"

"It will not happen." Even an idiot would be able to understand Byleth's intention as he rolled up his sleeve. Gazing upon the scarred flesh placed on display, Yuri had no clue how to respond. Save for the rising of his eyebrows, words refused to come to his lips. "Do not underestimate me, Yuri. I will not let such an obstacle stop me."


The Chalice of Beginnings was a wondrous thing to gaze upon. Formed of gold with a wide variety of gems embedded within, it was a vessel worthy of being used in Sothis' name. That the jewels were all carefully selected magical gemstones carefully crafted in a pattern both beautiful and functional was simply a bonus. The Four Apostles who forged it had every right to be proud of the chalice. There was barely a soul alive who could even dream of replicating such a feat.

To know that such a precious item would soon be stained with his blood nearly brought a sense of disappointment to Byleth. If he were to be so easily swayed, however, he never would've descended to Abyss in the first place. It had taken countless hours of meticulous planning to ensure that none would notice his absence. The Professor wasn't exactly eager to throw all that effort away for the sake of preserving a single item.

Delicately placing the body upon the pedestal, Byleth couldn't help but reach out. With help from a small amount of ice magic, her body remained just as pristine as it had been in life. No longer pierced by the knife that ended her, the corpse's tender expression made for a scene straight out of a fairy-tale. A simple kiss would not bring her back to the waking world, though. If only it could be so simplistic.

"You don't have to do this." Yuri pressed once more, his plea falling upon deaf ears. Too busy placing the Chalice of Beginnings in the corpse's hands, Byleth refused to even acknowledge him. "You have no idea if this ritual could even restore her body, let alone the soul that's passed onto the next realm. There's no reason for you to believe this will work at all, Professor."

This kind of scene wasn't unfamiliar to Byleth. Far from it, Byleth could recall a perfect mirror to their current situation. A man, desperately attempting to revive the dead and those who tried to stop him. At that time, it had been Byleth who called for the perpetrator to stop. Now attempting the ritual himself, it nearly felt like a betrayal towards his mother. Unlike that time, however, the only sacrifice required was voluntary. With no one else endangered, there was little reason for Byleth to object this time.

It was clear that Yuri realised the same. Though his words reached out to prevent Byleth from enacting the Rite of Rising, Yuri did not move to physically hold him back. If the ritual failed once more, then the disappointment and blood loss would be punishment enough. Yuri's presence, if he could not sway the heart of Byleth, was to ensure that he didn't sacrifice his life in vain. The leader of the Ashen Wolves may not have been the best medic, but he had plenty of experience with healing magic. If the worst were to come about… then the other Ashen Wolves were on standby. They were ready to put their all into slaying the monster that would emerge.

"Prepare yourself, Yuri," Byleth said as he raised a knife to his wrist. So long as he cut true, the pain would only be minimal. Regardless, it was still pain in the end – the coming minutes would hardly be a pleasant experience. "You will bear witness to either a miracle or a nightmare."

"Something tells me the odds aren't exactly in your favour." Was all Yuri could reply with. It would explain why he was ready to draw his sword rather than cast any healing spells. Admittedly, if anyone else was in the same position, they would have the same reaction. None of the Ashen Wolves were ready to swoop in and stop Yuri, after all.

The important difference this time was that the other attempts hadn't been using blood infused with a goddess' power.

A sharp gesture was all that was required to have Byleth's blood flowing into the Chalice of Beginnings. At first, it seemed a fool's errand. As more and more of the precious liquid poured into the vessel, nothing changed. As his face grew paler, Byleth found his resolution wavering. It was a tiny amount - a minor sensation at the back of his mind – but he was far beyond the point of no return. The professor could only push his very being into the blood that came from his veins.

Unknown to anyone watching, the smallest tear began to form in Byleth's eye. Its origin was uncertain; in the history books, some would claim it love, and just as many would call it frustration. Regardless, Byleth was in no position to take note of it as the tear rolled down his cheek and fell. When it merged into the growing pool of blood, however, the glow it caused was much harder to ignore. Forced back at the intense light, Byleth could only watch in equal parts concern and awe as the entire Chalice of Beginnings took on a similar shine.

"…You lucky bastard…" Yuri muttered as his best healing magic went to work, but only half of his attention went to the act. He would've been an idiot to take his eyes away from the beams of light that shot from the Chalice, blood dissolving into pure magic that dove into the corpse beneath. When the subtle movements of its chest could be seen, Yuri's face didn't know how to react. "You actually made this death wish work."

Eyes bursting open, Lysithea gasped.

It was fortunate that the Chalice of Beginnings had emptied itself, for she surely would've poured the contents all over herself in her rush. Faced with unfamiliar surroundings and with her professor in a stranger's arms, it was only natural that Lysithea took up a combat stance as quickly as possible. With her body as weak as it was, however, her legs struggled to withstand her weight. It took less than a second before she was on her knees, barely able to breathe. Only when Byleth rushed over to her did Lysithea find the strength to speak.

"What… what happened? I died, I d-definitely died!" she gasped. The way she touched her skin, it was as if it would melt beneath her fingers. Though Byleth grasped her, the thought of being a ghost in someone else's body pervaded Lysithea's mind. "P-Professor? Where are we? Is this…?"

"Welcome to Abyss. I'd like to say we'd give you a warm welcome, but… I don't know how to react right now." Yuri muttered aloud, a wry grin appearing at Lysithea's confusion. "Your professor here just decided to partake in an incredibly dangerous ritual that threatened to drain him dry and/or turn him into a monster. Oh, did I mention that it's failed twice before?"

Faced with such a blunt greeting, Lysithea dissolved into nothing but stuttered mumbles. Suddenly, the blood staining Byleth's arm made sense. The strange location was somewhat more reasonable. Why she was holding a cup of all things became clear. She could hardly say that her mind was settled, but things were gradually falling into place. Despite that, it would still take several minutes for her heart to calm. Once it did, only one question could pass her lips.

"W-why?"

"I am your teacher, and you have much to learn. If I allowed you to sacrifice your life without knowing the truth, then I would be failing in my duties to you." Byleth stated, taking to his feet. To his credit, there was barely a tremble as he did so. Even healing magic couldn't restore so much blood without consequence, yet one would struggle to believe Byleth was in any pain at all. "To die for a false cause would hardly be a fitting end for one of your intelligence, Lysithea."

"The sky is burning Lysithea. Cities are being turned to smoke and death, to song. Danger and injustice are plaguing this continent, and most are blaming different people for it." Byleth explained, the two practically touching as the man approached step by step, the white-haired girl's body frozen until they were practically touching. "We shouldn't be fighting. There is no reason for us to fight, for any person on this battlefield to fight. Yet we must, for they defend an evil they have been blinded to."

"…You honestly killed me and went through a dangerous ritual to resurrect me, all for the sake of making a point?" Lysithea could only utter in disbelief. A quick pinch showed that it was no dream and from the evidence around her, the circumstances could not be denied. It was ludicrous. It was exactly the sort of unbelievable scenario Byleth would find himself in. "Fine. I'd be an idiot to say that you weren't certain of your truth after you've gone through all this. I should be way angrier considering you killed me, but… I just can't be bothered anymore."

"Very well. There is a library here in Abyss. I shall show you the lies upon which Fodlan has been built."


And we end here for now. If you'd like an idea of how these oneshots are roughly ordered, please take a look at the AO3 version of this story. There, I have a constantly updating timeline of when each oneshot takes place. Right now, I'm going through my gaming catalogue in order to ease the boredom, so there may be a small break from fire emblem, I'm not too sure.

Super hero time! See you next time!