A scheme for the Rite of Rebirth.
Time has passed and Byleth along with her students had managed to put an end to Lord Lonato rebellion. The battle was not as simple as they would have hoped, given Lonato's forces proved to be stronger than expected. Thankfully with the help of Catherine, the fallen noble was slain. Though they won, not everyone was so thrilled about it. It was painful to see a once noble ruler fall to such a level, all due to spite against the church for what happened to his son. His anger was understandable, but his actions were no less tragic.
"Nice work, Teach. Still...that fight left a foul taste in my mouth. That aside, did you see how Catherine fought? No wonder she is the only one who can give Esdeath some exercise during training" Claude asked.
Byleth nods "She's incredible".
"Agreed. I thought the power of the Heroes' Relics must be exaggerated, but I was clearly wrong. Makes you wonder about that legend..." Claude said.
"What legend?" Byleth asked.
"Oh, it's nothing. Just the usual fanciful nonsense. An ancient Relic that once cut a mountain in half with a single swing. That's what they say, anyway. But as amazing as Thunderbrand is, I don't think it fits that description. Apparently, Relics can harness tremendous power for those with a compatible Crest. Though you can technically use one so long as you have any Crest at all. I dunno. Long story short, I'd like to try cutting a mountain in half someday" Claude said.
Hilda approaches "Ooh! Are you talking about Relics? You'll be able to wield one soon, Claude! I just know it! After all, you've already been selected as the next head of House Riegan!".
"Easy there, Hilda. I don't know how apt "soon" is. My grandfather is still unbearably healthy. Oh? Is this news to you, Teach? Yours truly was recently recognized as a legitimate child of House Riegan. They possess one of the Heroes' Relics too, though I've yet to see it" Claude said.
"Just recently?" Byleth asked.
"I officially joined House Riegan only last year. Before then, I lived with my father. When I learned that my mother was the daughter of an Alliance noble, I was so surprised I thought the whole world was pulling a fast one on me for a week" Claude explained.
"So that means your mother is Duke Riegan's daughter, right? Where is she now?" Hilda asked.
"I can't say. My mother's currently living in a different world than the one she grew up in and has no desire to return home" Claude answered a little to simply.
"Um, OK. You sure have a lot of secrets, don't you?" Hilda asked.
"I'm just keeping a promise to my parents. Make of that whatever you will. In exchange for my so-called secrecy, I'm free to do as I please, which is why I decided to see what the other side of my family was like. That's how I found out about this strange Crest I bear..." Claude said before Leonie and Ignatz joined them.
"Professor, Claude. It sounds like the troops will be withdrawing soon. We should return as well" Leonie said, though her tone sounded sad.
"We won. We should be celebrating. Instead, we're heading back with heavy hearts..." Ignatz said.
"Whoa there! What's the matter? You look as sad as a kitten without any yarn. If we hadn't done what we did, the rebel army would have followed this road all the way to the monastery. And they would have crushed all the little villages along the way. We stopped that from happening. You should be proud" Claude said, his words made his friends feel slightly better, despite of the tragedy they had to take part in.
"Sorry to intrude, but this incident may be more serious than anticipated" Catherine said as she walked up with a scroll "I found this on Lord Lonato. It's a note that mentions a plan to assassinate Lady Rhea. We can't tell who sent it, so the source is suspect, but the content is too disturbing to ignore. We must report this to Lady Rhea right away. I hope that it's nothing...".
Byleth wondered who would be bold enough to try to assassinate one of the most well protected people in the world. Regardless, they needed to head back. Byleth hoped Akame was recovering well in her absence.
Once back in the Monastery, Byleth was on her way to speak to Rhea, but spotted Akame on the way "Akame".
Said girl looked at her "Byleth, you're back. Did the mission go well?".
"It did... though I took no joy in it. We didn't just fight enemy soldiers. Many of the enemies were civilians who were just following the leader they believed in... it was an unnecessary and senseless battle" Byleth answered.
"I see... well, you should talk Rhea about this. I'm sure she is expecting you" Akame said.
"I will. Want to meet up later?" Byleth asked.
Akame nods with a smile "Of course, see you soon".
Byleth smiled back and headed to meet with Rhea.
Once there, Rhea smiled at her "I am glad to see that you have returned safely. The goddess is gracious with her divine protection. But it was not only her divine protection that shielded you, was it? You are just as skilled as I had hoped".
"My students deserve the praise" Byleth said.
"I am not so sure. I heard some of the students were...hesitant about fighting militia. However, we must punish any sinner who may inflict harm upon believers, even if those sinners are civilians. I pray the students learned a valuable lesson about the fate that awaits all who are foolish enough to point their blades towards the heavens" Rhea said.
Byleth had no words to that. But she couldn't help but to disagree with Rhea on that. Killing everyone that offends the Church, regardless if they are civilians or not, it just didn't sound right to her.
"Our real concern is what Catherine reported. The secret message that was in Lord Lonato's possession. It contained a deplorable plot to target the archbishop on the day of the Goddess's Rite of Rebirth. The plan seems unrealistic at best... But a threat is a threat. We must maintain constant vigilance. To that end, I would like for you and your students to help with security on the day of the ritual" Seteth said.
"Won't that endanger the students?" Byleth asked, almost feeling like they are putting the students through to much danger to often.
"Even if they encounter an enemy whom they cannot best, they should be fine so long as they have you on their side" Rhea assured.
"The Rite of Rebirth is of paramount importance. It is when the Church of Seiros and its believers unite to pray for the return of the goddess. The archbishop and I will be confined to the Goddess Tower once the ritual begins. Of course, the knights will be on high alert as well, but there aren't enough of them to keep watch on every corner of the monastery. It is far from ideal to be forced to mobilize students, but the gravity of this situation requires that we all bend to avoid breaking" Seteth said.
"While there is no need to fear for my safety, we cannot turn a blind eye to those who would blaspheme so heinously" Rhea said.
"With any luck, this will all be for naught. Still, be on your guard" Seteth ordered.
Byleth nodded and left.
Blue Sea Moon: As the sun grows stronger and the nights grow ever shorter, the Blue Sea Star returns to the sky once more. Believed to be the goddess's home, her followers look to the star and commence celebrations of her rebirth. On the grounds of Garreg Mach Monastery, a grand ceremony is held in honor of this much anticipated event. Every true follower of the Church of Seiros is sure to be in attendance.
Early in the morning Akame went for a walk. But after a while she heard a voice "Akame, can I speak to you for a moment?".
Akame turned around "Of course Edelgard. What do you need?"
"I think it's better if we speak somewhere more privet. Care to come with me to my room?" Edelgard asked.
Akame couldn't help but to tease Edelgard a little "Your room? Come now Edelgard, at least treat me to a meal first".
Edelgard blushed "What? No I... wait, you're teasing me aren't you?".
Akame smiled "Dorothea taught me that".
Edelgard sighed "I need to have a word with her later. But I am serious, I need to speak to you somewhere privet, and my room is the most privet spot I know".
"Alright alright, lead the way" Akame said.
Edelgard nods and takes Akame to her room. Once there, Edelgard was silent for a moment before looking at Akame "I suggest you sit down, Akame. What I am about to ask you could be very personal".
Akame was slightly worried but sat down on Edelgard's bed "What is it?".
"I... want to learn more about your past" Edelgard said, and like she expected, Akame looked ready to stand up and leave "Wait! I am not going to interrogate you. I just want you to know that you can trust me with this. If you want I can tell you a little more of myself, it's only a fair trade. But only if you swear not to tell a soul".
Akame was silent for a moment before she sighs "Alright, tell me. And you don't need to worry about me telling anyone".
"Thank you Akame. My past... has been less than pleasant. I still dream about it today. I dream of...my older brother, paralyzed, helpless... my older sister crying for help that never came... the youngest babbling words beyond meaning. I see my family dying slowly, waiting in the darkest depths for a glimmer of light. I once had ten siblings, eight older and two younger. Such a large family, and yet I became the heir to the throne. Do you know why? Every last one of them was crippled by disease or lost their mind or died. I was the only one left who could inherit the throne" Edelgard said.
Akame looked shocked "That's... that's horrible".
"Things kept getting worse. The darkness kept getting darker. In the end, I was the only one who survived. The nightmares are a reminder...to never forget. To never allow such terrible things to happen again. Even now, I'm the only one who can carry the weight of the Adrestian Empire. The future of the Empire...of everything...depends on me. Hm... I shared more than I intended to. I've never told anyone about my past before" Edelgard said.
"Your secret is safe with me, Edelgard. I promise" Akame said.
Edelgard smiled "Thank you... Now if you feel ready for it, mind telling me about yourself? I remember you said something about your parents selling you?".
Akame felt some pain, but pushed it down. Edelgard trusted her with her past, so she knew she could do the same "They did... I was born in a very poor village. My parents didn't own much, just a small farm that yielded little food. I remember they would often spend what we had on drinking. I can't even count the number of times I saw my mother drunken cries and my father always passing out due to over drinking... but one day... they didn't have a single coin to buy more strong drinks... and that's when it happened".
Edelgard was starting to figure out what Akame was saying "Wait. You mean they...".
Akame nods "They sold me for drinking money. A man came by our house and waved a single bag of coins in front of my parents face. Without hesitation they sold me to him and did nothing as the man dragged me away while I was screaming and begging for them not to let him take me...".
"Akame... I'm sorry. I can't imagine that parents would throw away their child for something so petty" Edelgard said.
"It didn't get any better. I was going to be trained to become an assassin. They tossed me and several other chidlren in to a forest full of dangerous beasts... even today I can still hear the screams of the other children as they were killed and eaten... I survived, but had it not been for my older sister and new father, I might have become little more than a cold killer" Akame said.
Edelgard felt her rage build in her chest, but stayed calm "I'm sorry, Akame. No one should ever need to go through that".
Akame looked up at her, tears in her eyes "That was not the worst part. They did something that wounded me deeper than any blade ever could... Edelgard... I was not the only child".
"What?" Edelgard asked.
"Byleth may be my adopted sister, and I love her deeply... but before I met her I had a younger sister too. She was the light in my dark life, the reason I kept on living. If not for her I would've given up long ago... but then... they decided we shouldn't be together and..." Akame's voice was cracking as tears began to run down her face "Then they took her from me! She was all I had and they took her away from me! I never saw her again! And for all I know she must be dead by now!".
Edelgard was silent as Akame began sobbing, the pain of her past getting to strong. Edelgard closed her eyes before giving Akame a hug. This was not something Edelgard normally did. But she knew Akame desperately needed one. Akame hugged back, sobbing in to her chest. Despite Akame seeming calm and collected on the outside, on the inside, she is broken and it was clear that had it not been for Byleth and Jeralt, Akame would've given up on life completely. She was saved from a fatal wound, but the scars will be a part of her for the rest of her life.
Akame's story added another thing on the list of things Edelgard would correct as soon as she became Emperor. There were just to many things wrong with this world, and she swore she would set things straight and make it right again. Regardless of what gets in her way.
But for now, she was not a leader, she was Akame's friend, and a friend was what she needed.
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Tell me what you think.