Good grief! I did not mean to take so long on the update. Work has been keeping me busy. Sorry if I wasn't able to respond back to any reviews! Promise to make it up to you by getting started on the next chapter soon.
Thank you Una Chica, Jessi gates, and Golden Zero16! Thank you also to my Beta, BrandedKing.
Without further ado, enjoy!
The wary gaze of her former student did not go away. Without any trust, it would be an uphill battle to convince the girl. Byleth understood that it would not be easy. Yet, the opportunity was too vital to shrug off. She felt committed to this path. "It was as I said. I could no longer follow Edelgard. I did not want this war," she reiterated the sentiment once again. It had to be said. Deep within her person, she was disgusted with her actions. She spilled the blood of her friends, people that fought for their motherlands.
Flayn absentmindedly hummed to Byleth's words, not completely convinced. Her almost innocent personality was eclipsed by disbelief. "That makes sense. You've said that you did not agree with the Emperor's actions." The words earned a fervent nod. There had to be no room to misconstrue her words.
Byleth bridged her fingers and composed herself. She was not in the position to trip over her words. It was likely only through fonder days that the cleric offered to listen. "I was a mercenary," she feebly began, "they called me the Ashen Demon. It's because... I did not blink at death. My expression never wavered as I cut down opponent after opponent." Her history was a sore subject. While not nearly as unsettling as her time in service to the Empire, Byleth looked back on those days with shame. She loathed the person she once was, hating her inability to emote or connect with others.
"Is that true? Were you truly fine with killing?" The cleric looked somewhat perplexed by the information. Her sheltered lifestyle likely had her ignorant of unsavory rumors surrounding the other.
Still, she found no pride in admitting her old nature. The woman wore a disconcerted expression. The topic was an uncomfortable one still. "It is, but it does not mean I liked it. To be honest, I never found an ounce of joy in taking a life." She only ever felt numbness. The lack of feeling made her cutthroat lifestyle easy. She never needed to grieve for her adversaries.
Flayn seemed unsurprised by the answer. She stared intently, watching every change in her former professor's face. "You didn't?"
A nod was quick to follow the query. "I never did. It was a job. I was talented and taught by the best instructor. And, it allowed my father and I to live good." As cruel as it was to make a child grow up on the battlefield, she never told him no. She had no qualms fighting if it meant getting stronger and supporting her old man. Her shoulders slunk down as her memory returned to Jeralt.
Byleth suppressed a dark chuckle at how she had few kind memories. When she thought of her mercenary days, she remembered the many people she slew. When she thought of her father, she remembered the day the assassin took him from her. She only found warmth when thinking about her tenure at the Officer's Academy. "I much preferred teaching. I felt my happiest in my classroom. I never smiled as much as I had during that year. I made friends, found purpose, and learned about myself."
That said, those days were too tainted. Dark emotions overwhelmed Byleth. She made a wretched expression, unable to suppress the burst of emotion in front of Dimitri or Flayn. "Since I awakened, it's been much harder smiling." The words left a bitter taste on her tongue. "I could not be happy when I was doing something that felt wrong. I hated what I had done while working for the Imperial army. Defeating the Alliance? I butchered my friends by doing so. I carved a bloody path through Fódlan."
The former professor's frustration with herself simmered. Her cool mint eyes glanced at her company. Dedue gave no notable reaction to the confession. Dimitri similarly did not react strongly, if anything he patiently waited for the conversation to continue. As for Flayn, her gaze dropped, obscuring her outward reaction to the other woman. "Didn't you feel confident about serving Edelgard? You chose to save her from Lady Rhea."
"That day in the tomb…" Byleth awkwardly began, "I had to make a choice. I was to either turn my blade on my best friend or her executioner." Whether or not she regretted her actions, the choice felt obvious that day. Who could will themselves to lash out at someone that they loved dearly? El was her closest friend. "How would you have reacted?"
There was a pause. Flayn took a moment to digest the question. "I see your point," she eventually conceded. "But still, you cannot deny her misdeeds. Edelgard had a hand in so many different tragedies. We mustn't overlook her complacency with Remire and with Sir Jeralt's death. Her silence and foreknowledge have her implicated in all those events." The cleric was not wrong. The Flame Emperor disavowed the massacre at the humble Adrestian village, but she knew of the villains prior to the atrocity.
Edelgard's involvement was undeniable. That fact took a lot of wind out of Byleth's sails. It was her error for overlooking those details. As much as she was willing to take responsibility for her lunacy, she also felt anguish thinking of her dear friend that way. "I know… I know all too well. I wanted to think she had a reason for her actions. Even if she helped me kill both Kronya and Solon, she was the one that allowed them in and gave them cover." Her excuse felt wasted. What did she have to gain in explaining herself? The cleric already knew how short-sighted the professor acted.
"Why did you stay with her? What made you think following her was wise?" Byleth noticed the hurt in Flayn's voice. Upon taking a better look, she noticed how the other's lip quivered. The memories seemed to upset the shorter girl too.
Byleth softened at the sight. She did not fight the feeling of vulnerability. She surrendered to her emotions as she relayed her thoughts. "I wasn't sure what else to do. By disobeying Rhea, I sealed my fate. My home at Garreg Mach no longer existed. I thought my only path forward was to assist Edelgard and trust in her dream. If what she promised was realized, there would be peace."
Before Flayn had her chance to retort, the woman continued her thought. She did not want this meeting to be about only her past actions. "That peace required so much death. I… could not stand for it. I want to end this war, even if it means putting Edelgard down myself. I will fight for His Highness. What I ask from you is to allow me to fight for you too." The determination in her voice drew the attention of everyone. She made her appeal. It was on Flayn to decide if she would believe in her.
"And what would happen if I were to decline your offer?" The cleric asked in an even tone. Her facade held back any tells. Her gaze was unyielding, unlike her usual youthful personality.
"I would accept my fate and let my death serve as an attempt at redemption. In fact… you should probably take the day to think about my words." Byleth had only a divine pulse to lose if the cleric did not trust her. By extending the offer, she would give the girl more reason to believe her intentions. Dedue did not look thrilled about the idea. Dimitri permitted the thought by waving for his retainer to open the door for her. His trust truly had the former professor feel more sturdy.
The gesture earned immediate suspicion. Rather than jump at the opportunity, Flayn meekly shuffled to the only exit. Neither the king nor retainer made any movements to detain her. Byleth remained in her seat and passively watched her current company inch away. "You really will allow me to go? Just like this? You cannot be serious, Professor."
"I am very serious. I have no intentions of harming you. It would go against what I want," Byleth gained nothing from keeping the girl captive. If anything, her approach would only isolate her new allies.
Flayn opted to stand beside the ajar door. Her eyes wandered to the empty hall before returning to her mentor. Her hesitation had the former professor holding her breath. "I am curious. Why even tell me? Surely you would only risk revealing yourself by doing so? I have half a mind to inform my brother."
Byleth frowned at the implications. She could stand to lose a divine pulse, but her rejection would still be a sore subject for her. She wanted her words to be the breakthrough between them. "Because… I believe you still want my help. I don't mean to sound presumptive, but I thought you would be happy to have me by your side again."
Her comment earned no reply initially. The cleric only blinked at the answer. "That is… irrelevant," she sheepishly replied. "My opinion will change the course of the war. You must understand the difficult position you've placed me in," the exasperation was evident in her voice. Byleth could not blame her. She was asking Flayn to willing harbor a fugitive.
It was obvious that she was asking for too much from someone she only just reunited with. Considering she was enemy number one to the archbishop, it was a tall order to have the cleric keep quiet. "I do. I don't blame you for being uneasy. I would feel the same way. What if I am lying? What if I came to infiltrate the Church? What if my objective was to get close and assassinate Rhea? You would feel responsible for being silent." Byleth began to slip back into despair. She found it far too easy to criticize herself.
"You're not very convincing, Professor." The girl frowned at the validation. The remark did little to save the former professor from further sinking into her distress. Her eyes were glazed over, absently staring at her once friend.
Like a marionette, her mouth moved on its own, pulled along by invisible strings. She struggled with the impulse to deposit her sorrow. It felt like months since she cried for the first time. Without her father as a catalyst this time, her eyes began to fill with moisture. Her mint orbs were obscured by droplets. "I've been grappling with these thoughts ever since I abandoned the Emperor. It is sheer luck that everyone has been accepting of me. I do not deserve any trust after I turned my back on the monastery. Even if I did everything to protect El, I still allied myself with the people responsible for kidnapping you, nearly killing the students, and murdering my father. I was more than wrong. I am an accomplice in so much sorrow and hardship. I do not expect any accolades or love. I expect to be executed once the Empire is defeated."
Flayn stared blankly at what she heard. Even with her vision clouded by tears, Byleth recognized the girl was at a loss on how to respond. Dimitri opted to interject and save the other girl from responding. "Professor, you needn't think like that," he looked perturbed by the confession.
His word did little to improve her mood. Her sullen expression remained. "Not like I truly wish to live once the war is over. I will never get to be a teacher again," she lamented the loss of the only position that made her happy. She would never be as cheerful.
"I don't quite understand what you gain from betraying Edelgard," the cleric bluntly added. The fear and doubt from earlier were replaced by disappointment. The girl appeared dismayed by what she witnessed.
While Byleth understood how pitiful she acted, she stood firm in her mindset. "I don't need anything. I only seek atonement," her even response looked to fail to get through to the girl.
Instead of reassuring her, the cleric furrowed her brow and shook her head. "If you allow me to be blunt, that sounds absurd. How can I place my trust in you if you have nothing to achieve for your services? Pray tell, what do you think of a mercenary that works for free?" The logic was sound, spoken in a way for the former mercenary to understand. Yet, she failed to understand. Why should she be allowed to ask for anything after reaping the lives of her friends?
"You don't get it. I must do this, to bring peace to the dead. Their tombs will not be used as footholds for the Empire's warpath." Her words appeared to strike a chord with the monarch. Dimitri's expression darkened as he listened intently.
Unlike him, Flayn was resolute, her arms were crossed and her gaze level. "Professor, you have changed. You are unlike yourself. You've lost your way."
Byleth did not disagree with the assessment. She was a husk. "I… I will bring justice for the fallen. The killing must come to an end, even if it means forsaking my dreams." Her path forward required personal sacrifice. Her hope of sharing tea and cookies with Edelgard between classes was gone. Her dream of returning to her original post as a professor was dead. All that remained was righting her wrongs.
The woman's reply once again did not get through to the cleric. The cleric turned her back on her mentor and proceeded into the hallway. No one impeded her path. "Perhaps it is you that needs time to think. You are not the professor I once idolized."
"Flayn…" Byleth hesitantly called for the other. Yet, the cleric still faced away from her.
"I cannot promise I will keep your secret, but I do need time to think." The girl conceded before disappearing down the corridor. Even with Dedue and Dimitri present, Byleth felt lonesome. The somber mood hung over the female like a miasma.
"Dedue," Dimitri chimed in, "would you please check in with Flayn soon?" His request was met with a curt nod. The retainer was more than eager to patch up the tense conversation, even if he was hardly a conversationalist. "Would you also allow me the chance to speak to Byleth alone?"
The knight again nodded and accepted the order with no complaint. "Of course, Your Highness." He appeared unbothered at the idea of giving the two some time alone. He proceeded to march in the same direction as the cleric.
"Would you be willing to walk with me?" The invitation had her freeze. Momentarily, she let her mind wander to an absurd thought. She was quick to ground herself and reason out his intentions. Her belief was that he would reprimand her for
Byleth did not budge from her spot. "I… didn't mean to ruin things. I thought I could get through to her," she responded meekly. Her clumsy approach toward Flayn likely brought her king untold stress.
"I am not going to scold you," he reassured her with a kind smile. He motioned for her to follow after him. "I wanted to see if you were alright."
Byleth did relent and marched after the blonde. She retrieved her helm and masked her face once again. "Ah," Her mind finally caught up with his words. She remembered exactly what she told the cleric moments prior. She gave everyone in the room a glimpse into her despair. "I'm fine. Please ignore what you heard earlier."
Dimitri frowned at the request. "It would be wrong to ignore a cry for help. Byleth, I can tell you are struggling. Allow me to aid you," he offered her his hand. The gesture tempted the female, but she did not feel right to accept.
She stubbornly clung to her self-deprecating thoughts. "After what I did to Claude, I don't think I'm worthy of your kindness. I had him and so many others killed because of my cowardice. Just because I thought my only path forward was with her, I murdered people that deserved better." Her voice was soft, not wanting to draw attention as they wandered from the empty corridors into the somewhat populated gardens.
"That's not true. You are working to avenge them. You will allow them to rest." His gentle reassurances transformed into something more delusional. "They cannot sleep until they are satiated." The darkness she observed before they arrived in the capital reared itself once more.
"Dimitri?" She called out for him. The serene setting made the monarch stand out like a sore thumb. It was a sobering moment seeing him flash such dangerous emotions.
In his azure eyes, he reflected a great storm. She observed the tempest that existed within him. "Only by cutting Edelgard down can we bring them peace. You must understand this."
"Understood..." She hesitantly nodded, unsure of what more to say.
The monarch went on without any awareness. He was wrapped up in his own delusions. "It is our duty to make her pay for her crimes. We mustn't allow them to suffer any longer." His hand formed a fist, ready to collide with an unseen apparition.
"I swear she will be punished. Just… please calm yourself, your highness." Her quiet plea was thankfully heard.
Dimitri blinked. His eyes scanned her concerned expression sheepishly. His hand moved to rub his forehead. A cold wind passed through them. It seeped through the gaps in her armor, causing her to momentarily shiver. The fleece that accompanied the steel plating did not do enough for her to simply shrug off the gale. "I am sorry you had to see that. I lost sight of myself." His humble apology failed to match his grandiose appearance. His shining silver armaments and flowing cape did not fit either his timidness or cravenness.
No matter, the knight was unshaken by the sudden change in mood. His very words were reminiscent of her own. "We are even now at least."
The monarch's ghastly display served as a reminder to keep her chin up. She did not come to Fhirdiad to simply relay her knowledge and beg for death. Her goal was to make Dimitri ruler over a united Fódlan. In doing so, she had to follow her vows. She would devote herself to the war effort and the effort to aid Dimitri. Behind his kind disposition, a monster existed within him. She did not blame his urges. Yet, she knew the continent needed a despot capable of nurturing friendship.
"This place is beautiful," she remarked passively. The gardens were nothing like Enbarr's grounds. It was no flurry of colors, the colorful selection of tulips was nowhere to be seen. Rather, Fhirdiad's greenery was an expansive maze of shrubbery. The hedges were adorned with crimson berries, tempting any onlooker to pluck them from their branches.
The innocent topic was welcomed gladly by Dimitri. "I should have brought you here sooner. I was so focused on business that I did not think it prudent to show you around," he returned to being compassionate. He motioned for her to bask in the decorated pines that lined the path onward.
Byleth shook her head. The war came first before all else. She came to Fhirdiad to stop Edelgard. "It's fine. I didn't mind. I just, wow, didn't expect all of this. Or well, I was lost in my thoughts and didn't realize all this existed." Her eyes wandered over the wonderland once more. Not yet touched by winter, the gardens were still a vagrant green.
"I've been exploring these grounds since I was little," Dimitri commented. He looked far more tranquil. "Did you know that Felix, Sylvain, Ingrid, and I all used to play here? We would pretend to be knights."
The woman imagined the scene of the children almost vividly. While not present in the royal's childhood, she saw how the friends got along at the academy. She was always so jealous of their close bonds. As prickly as Felix was toward the royal, he did care for the blonde. He just never liked to admit it. "It must've been nice having so many friends. I never got to be around people my age. I never got to play knights," she accidentally let her envy slip.
Her words had Dimitri raise an eyebrow. "Really now? I remember it being quite fun, especially when Felix would start pouting about playing the bad guy."
The thought of the swordsman being so juvenile had her chuckle. The dark emotions of earlier were suppressed by the pleasant thoughts. Her fears over Flayn vanished, if only for a second. "When I was that age, my father would only either practice with me or take me fishing. When he wasn't around, I would wander. We often camped so I would just walk the perimeter of the site. It was nice, but it was also kind of lonely."
"Would you like to play knights with me?" The king said with a chuckle and a grin.
The offer subsequently had Byleth shake her head. "Do I seem like a kid? Besides, I already am your knight."
Dimitri continued to smile whimsically. "I joke. I meant no offense to your position."
"You should be mindful of your position, your majesty." Byleth reminded the other. Her eyes lazily landed on the nearby clergymen. Even in the almost empty grounds, there were still members of Church within earshot. The unmistakable emblem of Seiros loomed over them at every corner of the city.
"Have I done anything that can be seen as improper?" He did not sound offended at the allegation. If anything, he appeared only curious.
The priests and knights had Byleth alert. In the king's company, eyes naturally were drawn to them. It was not wise to be in public with the monarch if she truly wanted to go undetected. Her armor sufficiently shielded her identity, but it could not obscure everything. A careful eye could spot her mannerisms. A careful ear could catch her voice. Still, she greedily took the chance to speak with him. Understanding Dimitri and, conversely, him understanding her mattered most of all. She could stand to expend one more divine pulse so long as it was toward her primary objective. She needed Dimitri to agree to her strategy.
His warm reception thus far allowed her more time to think over her approach. She could not clumsily expose her informant and collaborators brazenly. To do so, earning Dimitri's faith in her was essential. "Not really. I meant, do you think it's wise to speak so candid to me in public?"
"You're worried that we might get caught, right?" Dimitri caught on quick to her fears.
Byleth hesitantly affirmed the assumption. She did not mean to question the royal. After watching an alternate timeline where Flayn escaped him and Dedue, she had some right to be on edge. "I trust you. I don't mean to doubt your plan, but we don't even know if Flayn will keep quiet. And if anyone hears us, they will report back to Rhea." Given his ignorance of her abilities, he should be panicking. Dimitri proved her wrong. He continued to take her gambits in stride.
Much like before, he lackadaisically shrugged off her concerns. "Fret not, I have faith all will work out." His calm demeanor and soft gaze gave credence to his words. The king passively admired the nearby fauna as if to hammer in the point.
The woman frowned at his lack of concern. His cool was reassuring, but she still felt somewhat skeptical. The previous timeline Flayn would not be erased any time soon. "How can you be so certain?"
The question piqued the lord's interest. His azure eyes returned to her. His stare went right through the visor, causing her to adjust her posture. Dimitri withdrew into his thoughts before his expression softened. "Honestly, I've found that everything has seemed to work out with you. Whenever you are hit by an obstacle, you always seem to bounce back. I do not believe you would be defeated so easily."
Byleth blinked. His answer, while almost true, left her befuddled. No normal person would be content with that reasoning. "You can't be serious." Doubt was laced in her voice.
Prompted to say more, Dimitri dutifully nodded and took another second to organize his response. "All those years ago, you single-handedly saved us from a surprise attack by bandits. You managed to win the Battle of the Eagle and Lion without a single casualty. You escaped death twice. Your presence changed the course of the war, ending the deadlock between our forces and the Imperials. Whether or not it is truly you, you've experienced so many miracles." His examples did suggest that her successes were more than a coincidence. In all those instances, she made use of Sothis. Of course, he would not know that.
She struggled to refute his observations. She was unable to save her father. She was unable to prevent the war. She was unable to outright convince the cleric. She had limitations and was most certainly not infallible. Yet, she was willing to tentatively accept his argument.
Instead of outright doubting her liege, she sought to hear his thought process. "Is that why you trusted me to talk to Flayn? Why you so readily accepted me into your ranks?" Her miracle work could not explain his confidence in her.
"Partially," his blue eyes fell on the passing knights. He offered a curt nod and a kind smile to his allies. They in turn reflected similar warmth. The path they walked guided them back to the palace proper. "It is a bit embarrassing to admit, but I have been impressed by you for a long time too."
The vague wording opened Byleth to a lot of ideas. She readily discarded the thought of him having a crush. That thought was downright absurd. "Impressed by me? I'm not sure what you mean," she confessed. She spoke only loud enough for him to hear. More Knights of Seiros crossed paths with the royal.
Aware of their company, the blonde did not give an immediate reply. He kept his mouth shut until he found privacy in a hall connecting the grounds to a dimly lit foyer. "You always seemed so… undaunted," he settled on that descriptor. "You not only managed to overcome impossible odds, but you did so without looking back. I was a little jealous not to have your guidance."
While the compliment had her almost blush, Byleth found immediate fault in the statement. "Not to burst your bubble, but I did look back. I went against the Emperor. And, I've been doubting myself since I left." She would hardly call herself undaunted when she was straying from the path she chose. Her eyes scanned the entirety of the room as she spoke.
Dimitri chuckled at the rebuttal. "Yet, you still volunteered to talk to Flayn. You accepted my invitation to the capital. You vowed to fight against your former allies. You're committed to following your heart."
Her lack of a beating heart would shut him up. But, Byleth saw no point in arguing semantics. She grasped his point. "I guess you are right."
"I feel comfortable having someone like you by my side," the king gladly continued. His voice was softer, willing to placate Byleth's worries somewhat. "I feel that there will always be a path forward."
"Do you mean it?" She did not mean to be cynical of him with every comment. His wording had her curious. Her disbelief was slowly converted into interest. She was starting to get a better picture of why the blonde went to great lengths for her.
Dimitri seemed somewhat aware of her change in tone. He appeared more elated by his knight's harmless intrigue. "Before you arrived, I admit I was already preparing for the worst. The combined forces of the Kingdom and Church could never think to push back the Empire to its original territories. Fighting two fronts meant we were ill-equipped to do more than target the Emperor herself. I did not think there would be an attainable victory without a sudden turn of events. Sure enough, I heard from Arianrhod that you defected." Byleth could not tell if it was his hushed tone or not, but she thought the king sounded almost vulnerable.
There was still much to understand, but Byleth was hard-pressed to deny the psychological effect her choice might have had on him given his earlier thoughts. If he truly respected her and believed he needed a miracle to turn the tides, she represented a chance of victory. "I am touched that you believe in me. I wasn't expecting such a warm reception. I may not deserve your trust, but I really do appreciate it."
Her earnest return earned a bigger grin from the despot. "We both fight for the same cause. We will put an end to this needless killing." He had no qualms announcing that sentiment to the room.
Byleth was not that comfortable herself. "Thank you," her gratitude sounded faint, "you don't know how much I needed to hear that." Her sincerity was obvious.
"It's my pleasure." It felt as though the two of them reached some level of understanding in their brief exchange. The situation had changed little. Yet, Byleth thought herself able to emulate Dimitri's faith.
"What would you like to do now? I'd rather not hound you on your first day," Dimitri's courtesy was unnecessary. The woman's renewed spirits had her unwilling to sit around and let time pass. She came to Fhirdiad to make immediate progress.
Her eyes wandered to the corridor away from the outside. She assumed that would be the correct direction to go. "Well, let's first see if Flayn decided to tell anyone."
The monarch accepted the proposal obediently. "Just so you know, I am prepared to ship you out in the worst-case scenario." His words stole some of her fire. The comment was well-meaning, but it was a poor announcement to make.
Byleth attempted a meek smirk. "No need. You can put your faith in me." The helm hid the change in expression, but her hope reflected in her voice.
"Heh, using my own words against me. Let's see if anyone knows you're here or alive," Dimitri seemed so confident. His trust felt tangible. She found it all too easy to surrender to him, to embrace his confidence.
She stood taller than she had in a long time. Dimitri's initial invitation inspired apprehension. Hearing his true thoughts, she understood what made him seek her hand. His reasoning did not explain how she would succeed. She only learned why he wanted to believe her. His plan essentially relied on her dumb "luck." To Byleth, that flexibility would service her beautifully. It would allow her to get away with her risky gambits.
Her smirk grew as she realized what his approval could allow her to do. She would be able to make the most of her divine pulses. She only needed to remember her limited supply. So long as she had one to spare and prepared accordingly for destined events, she could make meaningful change. Her coordinated plan with her allies inside the Empire would be orchestrated flawlessly.
The search for the cleric went easy enough. They only needed to locate Dedue. Their presence garnered attention, but no one was the wiser to the female knight's identity. They all stared with only reverie and respect. The fortress knight was impossible to miss from down the hall. He silently ushered them into the nearby room.
Being a man of few words, his silence did not worry Byleth. She took the lead, stepping in front of Dimitri and entering the room first. While drunk on her resolve, Byleth did wonder just what she would say. How would she close the gap between them? That question was put on pause soon after entering. Her eyes widened as she took in the contents of the room. Flayn was not alone.
Her vision fell on the other figure, scanning him over with sheer disbelief. Her mouth opened, agape at the sight of him. Her eyes meekly wandered to the green-haired girl pensively. She looked oblivious of the individual.
Her newfound determination momentarily faltered. Even with Dimitri at her side, she minimized the presence of the other individual. Her stomach dropped as she took in his every detail before she thought back to the first apparition's words.
If you truly need me, I will appear.
It was not Claude, nor was it Hanneman. She recognized his attire instantly. Her mind went back to the Great Bridge of Myridin. She remembered vividly seeing him take a fatal strike from Hubert's arsenal of magic. The dark spell dealt irreparable damage to the innocent archer. He died that day. He was a victim of her heartless strategy. Why did he appear before her now? No one else noticed him.
"Please, Professor. No need to stare. No one else can see me."
Her eyes promptly snapped back to Flayn. Her attention divided between the cleric and the newest apparition. She only then took in the rest of the room. It was a small chapel, a private chamber meant for daily prayer. There was only a small shrine in the back, only a single pew available. The room was hardly spacious, but it was comfortable enough for a conversation. "You haven't told anyone?"
"Not yet," Flayn admitted meekly, "I am still torn on if it would be smart to be quiet on this." She stood beside the effigy to Sothis. It resembled the image of her in the immaculate paintings. Her mature appearance was a far cry from the appearance that the former professor knew.
Byleth's eyes trailed from the statue back to the cleric. "I am sorry for not giving you more time. Truthfully, I had enough time to think over what I said. And, you can imagine why I want confirmation sooner than later."
The other female was willing to concede to that point. "If my brother does learn of you, he will not rest until you are captured. And if Lady Rhea hears of you… she will not stop until you are dead. I can comprehend your distress." She bridged her fingers together absently as she spoke.
"I think…" Her words died as she noticed the ghost start to motion for her ear. Her response was put on hold until she heard his piece.
The spirit appreciated the gesture, but he was flustered by the sudden awkwardness he caused. "It would be a good idea to… I mean, I think you should speak with her alone."
While she was wary of her ghosts, her previous interactions had her willing to do what they told her. The spirit had all the reason in the world to scorn her and wish to see her failure. Still, he sounded earnest. There was not a hint of malice in his tone. "Your highness, Dedue, would you give us some privacy?"
Her sudden request confused all present. Yet, Dimitri gracefully nodded and did not inquire into her choice. "Certainly, you can seek me out in my chambers once you finish." The king and retainer disappeared without a complaint. The room was far less cramped without them.
"Thank you for believing in me. I am not here to bother you or ruin your conversation. I, uh, wanted to help you get through to her," the apparition sheepishly confessed to his enemy. His awkward mannerisms remained consistent, even in death.
His words had Byleth marginally more relaxed. Her lasting guilt over his fate would not be dispelled so easily. She channeled her earlier resolution. "It is not only my life on the line here, Flayn. It's the fate of the war. It's everyone here that is at risk. I can't sit idly and hope everything will work itself out."
The cleric was an empathetic individual. Many that dabbled in faith magic deeply cared and understood others. Byleth was lucky to have someone like Flayn hearing her out. "That makes sense. A lot is at stake. My choice may very well harm everyone I know and love. There is a chance I will regret my decision." She reiterated her point from their previous talk.
Byleth recognized the dilemma. Her pupil would either have to live with being complacent in a conspiracy or live with shooting down much-needed aid. There was no easy answer, especially when the girl understood to some extent that Byleth was risking life and limb to convince her. Edelgard's greatest asset and the key piece in the Alliance's collapse was deep in enemy territory, exposing her identity to her. Removing her helm, the woman thought to show her emotions, both self-assuredness, and fear.
Rather than speak and quell the girl's concerns, she instead listened. The apparition had more to say. "There is more than meets the eye. Flayn… She is no normal girl. I am sure you already know that much. She hasn't changed much in the past five years. You must speak to her differently. It is a theory, but… you must see her as fierce and impressive. So to speak I mean."
His advice did not make a lot of sense. It had her wanting to scratch her head at first. Still, she had to say something. She needed to end the long pause between them. "I understand that, but we cannot continue down the current course. To be blunt, the war will not end well for us if nothing changes. The failure to capture Arianrhod is only a small delay."
Her appeal appeared to resonate… somewhat. It was hard to say for sure with how Flayn openly contemplated what she heard. Byleth needed to double down on her point. "I was there for the war meeting. My death may be that change, but it's not enough. I am a single variable. The Empire only needs to wear down our defenses. Their war machine encompasses nearly the whole of Fódlan." The grim description looked to stress the cleric even more. Her face was positively pale.
"Maybe you are laying it on a bit too strong," the apparition interjected meekly.
Byleth wanted badly to voice her frustration over what he meant by "fierce and impressive." Alas, she knew that Flayn would not see him. She would think that her former professor was mad for yelling at the air.
"Again, it is only a theory, but I believe Flayn may be an alias. In actuality, she could be a historical figure. She could be… the Saint Cethleann. I'm only going off what I saw. It's only an educated guess at best." His lack of certainty was maddening. Should she trust his judgment? "She at least reacted well to being compared to the saint." He tacked on as if reading Byleth's mind.
Suppose she did believe his strange theory, what would she do with that information? Her knowledge of Church doctrine and history was lacking too. She thought back to the grand statues that sat in the back of the cathedral. Was Flayn truly that larger-than-life figure?
With another long pause, Byleth knew she needed to say more. She needed to say something. "We are in a war as great as the one a thousand years prior. And right now, we are being pushed into a corner. I'm not asking for you to decide who wins and who loses. I'm asking you to fight by your side. You not only are Seteth's sis- daughter, but you are powerful in your own right. I need you because you are strong."
"You think of me like that?" Flayn perked up to the words. She was far more receptive to those words. She only got more frazzled by the pressure, but the compliments relieved her of that stress. It was much like how the girl reacted to consoling over critiquing during her academy days.
"Need I remind you of your performance at the Battle of the Eagle and Lion? You provided a phenomenal service. It was your rescue that saved Bernadetta from elimination. It was your staff that restored Ferdinand after he took a hard hit from Leonie. It was your magic that whittled away at Dedue's defenses." The words rolled off her tongue easily. Recalling such moments was easy for someone so nostalgic for those days.
The memory truly registered with Flayn. She stared at Byleth eagerly, wanting to hear more praise. "I did play a pivotal role."
"You only needed to change your approach, Professor." The spirit whispered from his corner of the chapel.
This approach worked far better for Byleth. She was not falling back on dark emotions. She was not relying on her guilt or her fear. She was making use of her hope. Her faith in Flayn was strong enough to make her reveal herself. "You saved so many lives at Remire too. I've always been depending on you. For old times sake, will you lend me your staff?"
Flayn still hesitated, but she was no longer fearful. She began to match the knight's certitude. "What would you have me do?"
There it was. She was thinking beyond her decision. Byleth walked closer, taking a seat on the bench. "I will never ask you to go against your family. I want you to stand by my side as I put an end to this war. I want the same for Seteth, Alois, and everyone else. You will not have to hold this secret for long." Her ambition was to see a conclusion to the fighting sooner than later. "I promise we will be celebrating victory before Saint Cethleann Day."
Byleth hammered in the point still. "There will be a day when I no longer need this headgear. We both will be working together with your father, Dimitri, and the Knights to put an end to Edelgard's war."
The promise liberated Flayn from her remaining apprehension. For a moment, she showed her warmth to her mentor again. "So long as I needn't be quiet for long, I shall keep your identity a secret."
"Thank you." Both of you. Her gaze wandered to where the apparition once stood. His contributions were minimal, but they gave her the direction she needed to bridge the gap with her student.