Author's Notes: I wish I could have finished this chapter a bit sooner, but a little game called Three Hopes came out. I've already made a few minor changes here and there to help align with the expanded canon, but they aren't anything worth going back and trying to find. If you know of any other new canon misalignments, feel free to send me a private message! It will take a long time to track down every last new detail, so it would honestly be a lot of help. Thanks!

Chapter 31

Day 8 of the Ethereal Moon, Imperial Year 1180

Dimitri sat at a table in the Blue Lions classroom across from Annette as they studied for their upcoming exam. Professor Hanneman was requiring a baseline knowledge of magic principles for this test. It was an understandable requirement, but given Dimitri's complete dearth of aptitude for sorcery, he had neglected investing almost any time on the subject. Thankfully, Annette was a very useful resource to help catch him up to speed. He offered to aid her with her axe training in exchange, which she eagerly agreed to.

Dimitri was about to spin around his textbook to ask Annette a question when a newcomer slid onto the bench next to him.

"Well, well… It looks like I found Annette and His Highness right where Ashe said I would," Sylvain observed. "He left the classroom two hours ago, but I had a feeling you two hadn't gone far during that time."

"What is it, Sylvain?" Dimitri asked in exhaustion.

"Hey, what's with the tone?" Sylvain exclaimed in mock offense. "I haven't done anything yet, promise. It's just that I have a surprise to show you in the reception hall that you'll find interesting. It's going to be worth your time. Trust me."

Dimitri and Annette looked at each other, both still suspicious of Sylvain's intentions.

"Umm… could you just tell us what distraction you've conjured up?" Annette requested.

"If I did, that would ruin the fun. Come on… it won't take that long. If nothing else, your eyes will feel better if you give them a break."

Dimitri exhaled, "I suppose you make a fair point. So be it."

"Yeah… Alright," Annette agreed. "Honestly, I've given myself a bit of a headache from staring at tiny print for too long. But this better be fast!"

Sylvain continued to talk during the short journey to the reception hall, but Dimitri was too distracted by his eyes readjusting to the light outside to pay attention. Once inside the hall, Sylvain ordered his companions to sit at one of the tables. He then walked to the other side and paced back and forth.

"Alright. The truth is, there are actually two surprises here…" Sylvain paused dramatically and then revealed, "The two of you!"

"I'm… not sure I follow," Dimitri muttered. Annette nodded her head in agreement.

"Look at you! Hanging out with a couple of friends, no textbooks or weapons in hand…"

Dimitri sighed as he finally understood the scheme. Sylvain was out to "rescue" his uptight classmates from their responsibilities. Dedue had narrowly avoided falling into the trap because someone had requested his assistance in the greenhouse shortly before Sylvain's arrival. Ingrid probably needed the lesson, too, but Sylvain was too scared to involve her.

It was a terrible idea regardless. The last time the scion of Gautier attempted something like this, the story ended with Dimitri hiding in Sylvain's room in fear of his life from a girl he had accidentally wooed.

Dimitri told his old friend, "Sylvain… in case you've forgotten, we have important exams coming up tomorrow. Perhaps you should be following our example rather than the other way around."

Annette added, "Yeah, His Highness is right! I mean, I don't really know how much studying you actually need with that brain of yours, but still… It would make me feel better if I knew you at least had to try!"

Sylvain shook his head. "I was really hoping you would see the light when I, you know… literally brought you into the light. But I guess I'll have to reveal the true final surprise to impress you."

The heir to Gautier turned around and called out to a student at another table. On cue, Ferdinand jogged over with a tray full of treats. He set them before Annette and Dimitri.

"I heard Ferdinand asking around for volunteers to taste test some desserts he was working on, and I immediately thought of you two," Sylvain explained. "Dimitri had a soft spot for sweets as a kid, and Annette always seems to be carrying one around."

"Oh, so we're like part of a trial! That makes this kind of like a job, right? And here I thought you just wanted to waste our time…" Annette mused.

"I certainly hope that partaking of my confections is not considered a chore," Ferdinand noted in dismay.

Sylvain sighed as he buried his head in his palm. "Annette… your propensity for overthinking things is starting to seem deliberate at this point. Come on, it's just a chance to enjoy some food and converse a bit. The whole 'giving advice' thing is secondary."

Ferdinand's eyes widened. "Wha- Hey! That was not my inten-." He stopped when he saw Sylvain's expression. "Ah… well, it's no matter. Sylvain is right, of course. Though… please do let me know what you think. It's for a special project of sorts."

Sylvain begged, "Now come on, everyone. Less talking. More eating."

"Very well," Dimitri agreed. Annette did not require any convincing.

Ferdinand could not have been provided with a more useless analyst than Dimitri. Annette certainly had a thing for sweets, but that fact also called into question just how discerning her palate was.

Dimitri took a bite. If nothing else, the texture seemed right. He shared, "It's very good, Ferdinand. Consider your project a success."

Annette's face lit up as she tasted a piece. "Hey… this is good! The ingredients are really high quality! My only recommendation would be to work on the presentation. Mercie always makes little cute designs on the top of her treats. They make you smile before you even take a bite!"

Ferdinand slapped his temple and exclaimed, "Of course! I focused so much on the actual baking that I neglected presentation. An uncharacteristic oversight on my part, but it does demonstrate the wisdom of the testing process. Thank you for your input, Annette." As she chuckled in embarrassment at the praise, Ferdinand turned towards Dimitri. "And to think I've created a treat worthy of a prince! I am most honored."

Dimitri could not help but laugh. He staged his humor as embarrassment at receiving attention, rather than the fact that impressing Dimitri with food was not quite the achievement it sounded like it. He told Ferdinand, "The pleasure is mine. You may ask for my assistance again anytime."

"I've gathered all the information I need, and I alone must be responsible for the final preparation of the treats. Even so… your offer is most appreciated," Ferdinand said as he took the tray and stepped away. "You may finish the rest of your treats, but I must be going now to continue my work. I hope the three of you have the finest of days!"

Annette was busy chomping away at her dessert, but she paused when Ferdinand left. She asked Sylain, "Wait… shouldn't you make him stop working so much, too?"

Sylvain shrugged. "Ehh, maybe later… but not while he's making food for us. And besides… at the end of the day, the two of you are my friends, so it's not the same." He cleared his throat. "So… tell me this wasn't too miserable of a time, yeah?"

Annette shook her head. "Of course not! But you could have just started by saying there were sweets involved instead of putting us through all the theatrics!"

Dimitri shook his head with a genuine smile. He added, "Indeed. And as your friends, you are now obligated to join us on our next adventure… back to the classroom."

Annette cheered in support. Sylvain groaned, but he eventually allowed, "Alright. I guess that's a fair trade, Your Highness."

Dimitri never properly thanked Sylvain for his efforts, but that day went on to include some of his happiest memories at the academy… even if he did still underperform on that dreaded portion of the exam.

The Final Reprieve - Day 13 of the Lone Moon, Year 1186 (Fódlan Calendar)

It did not take long to receive confirmation that Darius, Spahbed Youtab, and Prince Abbas escaped from the Battle of Merv with their lives. The king's forces were unfortunately in no condition to pursue them, so the war would continue.

Because the reigning king held the responsibility of appointing the Mirza of the Tabarzin, Darius made no claim to his father's title. Instead, Darius was proclaimed the leader of the Tabarzin by acclamation of its foremost families. They revived a title of ancient history for him to use- the padishah. Ghalib successfully weeded out most of Elam's spies within his network prior to his death, leaving his son's motives and plans shrouded in mystery. It was generally accepted, however, that "Padishah" Darius would act in accordance with his father's wishes. It was as if Ghalib's ghost continued to haunt Almyra's fate.

Thankfully, the Tabarzin's army was too crippled to pose an immediate threat, just as Nader had predicted. Scouts reported that Darius's first move was to bolster his region's defensive fortifications and repair infrastructure damaged during Nader's campaign. The occupied territory in Elam that Ghalib had "cleansed of corruption" quickly reverted to the king's authority. With no army to back them, the mirza's collaborators were quickly being arrested, assassinated by angry commoners, or forced to flee to Tabarzin territory.

While Darius showed no signs of launching another invasion soon, the Meteorans had been reorganizing and expanding their army ever since the siege of Astane. Their forces had not yet approached the border and did not appear ready to do anything rash. Unless peace terms were agreed upon soon, though, it was only matter of time before either Meteora or Elam marched upon the other. Justinian now openly admitted that he made peace overtures to King Faruq before Merv but had been "unjustly spurned," blaming Elam for the continued conflict.

Apart from essential garrisons, most soldiers from Elam and Shomal were given leave to return to their families after the Battle of Merv. The New Year was approaching, and the king declared that the regular festivities would be held in Elam as always. He notified Meteora that they had until the New Year to submit; after that, Elam and Shomal would once again ready their forces for battle. Meteorans apparently celebrated the New Year on a day that aligned with the end of the Ethereal Moon in Fódlan, so Justinian returned a snide missive pointing out that Faruq's letter had arrived months too late. It also criticized Elam for always wanting things done according to their authority and customs. The main purpose of the king's warning went ignored.

A campaign into Meteora was not expected to occur immediately even if the cutoff date was not met, as there was no hurry to attack. The effects of the naval blockade would compound the longer the war dragged on, and it gave time for Meteora to question the wisdom of prolonged resistance. Ideally, Justinian would be overthrown by concerned parties that were more willing to negotiate on fairer terms. Perhaps most importantly, though, Elam and Shomal's forces were still depleted. A reprieve from the fighting would be beneficial for everyone.

It was likely safe to return to the Dunya for the time being, but the royal family decided to spend the New Year in the capital. The king was loathe to move again in his condition, and it was decided that spending the celebrations alongside the army and commoners would help boost spirits. Festivities had already begun, starting with the chaotic customs and bonfires on Scarlet Wednesday that Dimitri found particularly delightful. The king ordered a grand feast to be held on the night of the New Year, though the celebrations would apparently continue for almost two more weeks after that. Dimitri was astonished that the Almyrans could revel for so long without surrendering to exhaustion.

Despite the army being given a chance for recreation, war councils continued on a regular basis. Dimitri now attended regularly, which was an honor he treated with due respect. Because the next campaign was not being actively drawn up yet, though, most discussions were on mundane logistical matters that Dimitri had minimal input on.

Such was the case on the day of the Almyran New Year. Dimitri had slept poorly the night before, and he was at risk of dozing off until the council chamber doors were swung open in the middle of the meeting. Guards ushered in a middle-aged man who quickly bowed to the king.

"Kamran Al Bazargan at your service, Your Majesty," he greeted.

King Faruq nodded. "Sardar Soraya informed me that a member of Shomal's council would be arriving soon. I must admit, however, that I expected it to be someone with closer ties to the military. Might I ask why Grand Vizier Izemrasen selected you?"

Kamran obnoxiously bowed again. "Shomal's army is the largest client of my leather business, but that is not why I was chosen. It is a testament to the grand vizier's trust in me. I am here to not only represent my family or industry, but all of the council's collective interests. Disagreements are frequent, as you can imagine, but I have succeeded at maintaining healthy relationships with all its members."

Dimitri and Khalid briefly shared chary glances. When Soraya first informed them that a representative from Shomal's leading families planned to march with the army on its next campaign, the alleged reasoning was that the grand vizier feared they had appeared too uninvested in the war effort and the suffering the people; thus, sending one of their own would reaffirm their allegiances. However, the true reason was obvious to Dimitri- the merchants of Shomal sensed the eminent downfall of Meteora, and they wished to scavenge any advantage they could find from its corpse.

Kamran next provided details regarding the financial health of Shomal in the wake of Astane's besiegement, but most of it was information they had already heard. Obviously driven to boredom, King Faruq ended the meeting earlier than usual, citing the upcoming festivities as pretext.

As Dimitri and Khalid strolled back towards their quarters, a familiar teenage girl snuck up behind the Almyran prince and covered his eyes.

She began in a faux deep voice, "Guess who i-."

"It's Lydia," Khalid answered immediately. "And I've got a blade hidden on me somewhere, so you might want to reconsider the wisdom of jumping me like that next time."

The princess of Shomal sighed as she freed Khalid's vision. "Yeah, whatever. But you could have pretended to sound surprised I'm here, or at least pondered about your guess for more than a second."

"So you'd prefer that I treat you like a child that craves praise for every lousy joke or sketch they conjure up? I'll keep that in mind," Khalid said with a wide grin.

"Okay, fine, fine! I'd rather you be your usual pretentious self than do that," Lydia groaned. "Anyways… I assume you've already pieced the entire story together, but I came to visit my mother for the New Year. I had a good excuse since I could tag along with Sidi Kamran on the way here."

"Did anyone else join you?" Dimitri asked her.

Before Lydia could answer, Farjad stepped around the corner and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. He must have just caught up after Lydia ran off to intercept Khalid.

"What… are you thinking of me?" he asked. "I got roped into this assignment since my father was coming, but Princess Lydia was kind enough to let me join her detail instead. Hopefully he won't drag me to any parties tonight."

Farjad's relationship with his father was evidently as broken as ever. His beard had grown out during their journey at sea, and while Farjad had pledged at the time to clean it up when he got home, he had so far neglected to do so. The rougher style almost seemed like an act of rebellion against his father's sterile appearance.

Farjad continued, "But… it's not all terrible. It's good to see the two of you, actually. We hardly had the chance to speak back at Merv."

"Too true," Khalid agreed. "Are you holding up?"

Farjad shrugged. "Still alive… somehow. If this keeps up, I might start entertaining the possibility that I could actually survive this war."

"Hey! It's bad luck to joke about that!" Lydia interjected. "And bad manners to do it during a festival, too."

Dimitri knew Farjad was not joking about anything. Instead of addressing that, Dimitri asked, "I suppose Satiah stayed home?"

"I'm sorry, but yes. She requested to spend the New Year in Astane with her family," Farjad answered.

"That's too bad. I would have gotten my father to personally reward her for saving me at Merv," Khalid said. "Is the grand vizier putting together an unmissable party, or is she just looking for a reason to keep avoiding us?"

Farjad smiled knowingly. "She just wanted to be with her parents, honestly. I don't think Satiah ever exactly hated you. In fact, she was very impressed by your success at Merv. She heard about Pyli Kyma, obviously, but it's different to actually see it firsthand." Farjad bit his lip as he considered his next words. He finally shared, "She would never say this to your face, and she probably wouldn't want me to repeat it to you, either. But… I'm going to anyways. Satiah told me the other day that even though she could never be the person that Khabash was, she was beginning to understand why he believed in you."

Khalid was clearly affected by this, and he made no witty remarks. He said honestly, "I won't tell her you said anything. But… it means a lot to hear that. Thanks."

After Farjad bowed in acknowledgment, Lydia progressed, "Now, enough of all that. I barely remember the last time I visited Istakhr, so you should give us a tour, Khalid!"

"Well… I-"

"We haven't seen each other in months, and you're already making excuses avoid spending time with me?" Lydia accused.

Dimitri and Khalid had other plans, but the prince successfully hid his exasperation with a smile. Khalid reasoned, "Of course not, I just didn't want to overwhelm you with too much excitement right after your arrival. You'll be all worn out from fun before we even reach the feast. But… if you insist, I will be your humble guide to Istakhr. Maintaining friendly relations with the princess of Shomal is kind of in my job description, after all."

Khalid pivoted to his retainer and asked quietly, "Can you explain the delay back at home base?" After Dimitri nodded, Khalid added, "Thanks. I'll make this quick, I promise."

Khalid beckoned Lydia and Farjad to follow him as he began an improvised introduction, leaving Dimitri alone to fulfill his order. As Dimitri approached his room, he heard Ariella and Marianne conversing inside.

"There's one in particular I'd like to learn, though…" Ariella said. She held out a tome and explained, "I found this in your collection. It's for a warping spell. Is that something you can help me with?"

Marianne averted her eyes in shame. "I'm sorry… I've tried before, but I never even managed to produce a summoning circle. Our friend Lysithea always had to cast it."'

They realized that Dimitri was standing in the doorway around that time. Ariella greeted, "Dimitri! What do you know about the warping spell?"

Dimitri sat down as he shared, "I'm hardly the person to ask, but it's my understanding that it is very challenging. None of the senior students in my class ever mastered it. Lysithea was probably one of the very few in the entire academy. She was a true prodigy."

Ariella nodded. "Yes… Khalid mentioned that she saved his life in their final battle together using this spell. I think he would be very glad to have someone around who can use it again." She turned her gaze back to Marianne. "Even if you can't do it yourself, is it possible that you'd have any tips if you watched me practice? Demetrius isn't in any condition to help yet. If I can just get as far as the summoning circle, I think I could eventually figure out the rest."

It was nice to see Ariella animated about something again. She and Dimitri had trained together several times since the Battle of Merv; however, Ella had lost that spark of enthusiasm after her first taste of actual combat. Practicing with dangerous weapons and spells might offer some excitement, but it could never be the same after using those abilities to take a life. Ella was likely eager to learn a utility spell rather than something intended to kill.

Marianne had turned down Ella's overtures for lessons multiple times, and she was prepared to do the same yet again. "I really wish I could help, but I'm just not capable of-."

"I'm sorry, Marianne, but I don't think that's true at all," Ariella interrupted firmly. "I talked with some of our other healers from Merv. They didn't describe the timid mess you always call yourself. They said you were commanding and instructive."

Marianne blushed. "O-oh… I'm sorry… they must have been really annoyed. I didn't mean to be overbearing."

Ariella shook her head in exasperation. "That's not my point at all! They really respected you for it. You saved lives, Marianne. If you don't want to help me or don't have the time, then that's fine. But I don't want to hear anything but how you can't be a leader when there's plenty of evidence to the contrary. Don't you agree, Dimitri?"

Dimitri began to sweat. Ella was right, but she was arguably pushing Marianne too hard. Even a hint of criticality could validate all of the terrible things Marianne already believed about herself. Then again, he had reason to believe Marianne could actually respond well to "aggressive encouragement" if it was handled carefully.

He ultimately nodded and said, "I do. Besides, Marianne… what's the worst that could happen? Even if none of your advice works, the only change in the outcome is that you'll get to lord over us that you were right all along."

Of course, the worst that could happen would be for Marianne to be rendered deeply humiliated by her failure and scared off from ever attempting such a thing again. Thankfully, Dimitri had struck just the right tone.

"Ha, ha!" Marianne chuckled. "That may be true. Well… I-I'll do what I can to help, however little it is. But it might be up to you to tutor everyone else. I think you were born to be a teacher, Ariella."

Ariella had aided efforts to train additional mages prior to the Battle of Merv, and though they failed to make satisfactory progress in time, there were plans to resume those lessons once the army reassembled.

Ella blushed profusely at her friend's comment. "Are you serious? I haven't accomplished anything so far to suggest that."

Marianne pointed out, "Students at the Officer's Academy spent a year practicing these kinds of spells. You just need more time with them, that's all."

Dimitri added, "Your skills as an instructor are well established, Ella. Among other things, you somehow managed to turn me into a fine cook. That was a mission I believed to be nigh impossible, and you achieved it while still maintaining patience and a smile."

Ariella laughed warmly. "You weren't that bad! Though… I did really enjoy being your teacher. I think that's part of what scares me about getting deeper into it…" She shook her head after a brief melancholic expression. "A-anyways, I'm not sure how this conversation became about me. It sounds like we all have a lot to work on. Not today, though! Today, we celebrate! I don't suppose Khalid told you his plan, Dimitri?"

Dimitri shook his head. "We were going to pick you up and head out after the council meeting, but he was delayed by Princess Lydia. She's in the capital for the New Year. As for where he is actually taking us… I'm afraid it's a mystery to me as well."

Ella sighed, "Well, at least that confirms he isn't giving any of his retainers open favoritism. He must enjoy annoying all of us equally."

"I hope you all are commiserating in mutual anticipation rather than casting doubt on my methods," Khalid said as he rounded the doorway.

"Khalid!" Dimitri exclaimed. "I thought you were-."

"I did begin a tour for Lydia, starting in the direction I last saw the sardar heading. I found Soraya and guilted her into taking over."

"You know… Lydia probably would have wanted to join us if you asked," Ariella pointed out.

"I know. That's why I didn't ask." When he was met with disapproval, Khalid justified, "Hey, I'm just looking out for her best interests. We'll see her again tonight, so these next few hours would be better spent for her learning about the city. Besides… I'd rather not have to explain anything to Soraya."

Khalid mumbled that last part and was quick to usher his retainers out the door before they could ask any questions. It was early afternoon when they crossed the citadel's gates into the city.

Istakhr was busier than ever, and the mood was jolly. Music was played on street corners and from within various upper windows. As awful as the sights on the battlefield were, they had successfully spared most cities from the fighting. Many people they passed on the streets had undoubtedly lost family to the war, but the Almyrans were a proud people. They felt grief like anyone else, but they carried on with purpose. The king yet lived, and the invaders had been repelled. Nothing was going to stop a celebration.

Khalid eventually led them into a stone building that looked unexceptional on the outside but surely contained worthwhile surprises within. Ariella seemed to now know where they were going, but she did not ruin Khalid's surprise for the others.

After being ushered into a cozy lobby, Khalid spoke in traditional Almyran to someone who sat watch at the next doorway. The receptionist seemed rather confused at first, but after a bit of discussion, he reluctantly ushered the visitors down a hall. The air felt humid, as if they were in a sauna.

They eventually reached a door that the worker unlocked for them. He bowed and then left them to proceed inside alone.

Dimitri was well accustomed to beautiful Almyran tilework and windows, but what stood out to him here were the majestic frescoes that covered the ceiling. The room's centerpiece was a pool positioned under a hexagonal dome with star-shaped skylights. Traces of steam rose from the water's surface.

Khalid explained, "Most of the private baths here get leased out to the rich families of Istakhr. This room was gifted to the royal family in perpetuity. It's usually borrowed by my parents' friends for most of the year while we're at the Dunya, but I had it reserved for ourselves today."

"The water… how is it heated?" Dimitri asked.

"These rooms were historically kept warm like a sauna through meticulously planned air circulation. We still have saunas, but we've also recently developed ways of warming the pools directly using heated pipes in the floor."

"Remarkable…" Dimitri muttered.

"There's also a cold pool in the other room, but I doubt the weather is nice enough yet for that to inspire much excitement."

The other point of interest in the room was an arrangement of various objects on a cloth spread. Dimitri had seen several similar setups around the citadel. He did not understand why these particular objects were associated with the New Year, but he was beginning to memorize the typical contents- plates of foreign desserts, apples, spices, grasses, and eggs, among other things.

Khalid said, "You're welcome to test the food, Ella, but I actually had my mother submit the reservation under James's name. It's unlikely that anything has been poisoned for my sake."

That explained the confusion in the lobby- the receptionist was expecting a different prince. It was a smart plan. James would probably never find out, and even if he did, he was unlikely to make a fuss of it.

Ariella replied, "I heard as much up front, but yes… it's still best if you show a little patience so I can try it first." As she gazed at the display, she observed, "It's a very beautiful haft-sin, but it's a shame only we'll get to see it. I seriously doubt we can eat all of the food, either."

Khalid grinned. "I actually requested that the remainder be donated to a hospital down the street. I imagine they'll appreciate a gift from the royal family. They'll be spared from the knowledge that it came from the least beloved prince, of course. I already had a bit extra made for the people who work here, too."

The haft-sin was positioned close enough to the pool that it could be reached from the water's edge. The four guests removed their footwear and dangled their legs in the pleasant water while enjoying the food. As they ate, Khalid and Ariella explained some of the holiday's customs to their friends from Fódlan.

Dimitri was eating from a bowl containing some kind of brown paste that seemed filling when Khalid abruptly declared, "Well, I'm just about stuffed." He leaned forward and plunged completely into the pool fully clothed.

"Khalid! What are you doing?" Ariella asked in horror. "I know you like to make an impression, but do you really plan to show up in the royal court tonight drenched to the bone?"

The prince chuckled. "I'm once again a step ahead of you, Ella. I had fresh sets of clothes brought along with the food. It's a little unorthodox, I'll admit, but I knew this was the only way you'd even considering joining me in here."

"… Joining?" Marianne repeated nervously.

"Well, yeah. If the only goal was to eat some snacks, I would have brought them to your room instead of reserving this place. And no, gingerly dipping your toes doesn't count."

"With two women with us, wouldn't it be, umm… a breach of decorum in Almyra?" Dimitri questioned.

"Oh yeah, most definitely. There's an attached room intended for women. But… this is a private space, and no one is peeking through the skylights to catch us. Besides, how scandalous it can be when clothes are still on?"

Dimitri looked to Marianne and Ariella, both of whom were clearly hesitant at the suggestion despite Khalid's assurances. This was surely why Khalid did not want Lydia and her mother involved.

"Umm… I…" Marianne stuttered.

"Perhaps it's a bad idea," Dimitri declined, sparing the women from having to vocalize their reservations. They both nodded in agreement.

Khalid groaned as he floated on his back. "Come on… I even had them add some therapeutic bath salts! Scented oils, too. You wouldn't think it would make that much of a difference down here, but it really does. The aroma from the food washes it out up there. I'm making the three of you pay for it all if you keep this up."

"How is that remotely fair? You never even told us you were buying any of it," Ariella sighed.

Of course, Khalid's goal was not to construct his reasoning with flawless logic, and arguing with him would only encourage him more.

Khalid waded to Dimitri's side, rested his hands and head on the rim of the pool, and gazed at his friend from Faerghus with pleading eyes. "Come on, Dimitri. You don't actually think this would be salacious, do you?"

"Well, not really…"

"And wouldn't a bit of muscle and skin therapy be prudent before preparing for another campaign?"

"I don't doubt it's relaxing, but-."

"Okay, you've got five seconds to give me a legitimate excuse for why you haven't jumped in yet."

Dimitri blinked. "Five seconds? Just what are you getting at, Khalid? How would I even know what you consider a legitimate exc-."

"- Time's up," Khalid interrupted as he grasped Dimitri's arm and yanked him into the pool. The waterline only reached his waist, but Dimitri was caught by such surprise that he flipped over and completely submerged. Water annoyingly filled his nose and ears.

After resurfacing and spraying out some liquid that got in his mouth, Dimitri adjusted his eyepatch and grunted, "Was that really necessary?"

"I hoped it wouldn't be, but you are remarkably stubborn."

"But-."

"-But what? Are you going to tell me with a straight face that the water doesn't feel good? Seriously, Dimitri, I had better luck persuading Hilda to do my chores than I do getting you to perform anything that's for your personal enjoyment."

Dimitri opened his mouth to speak, but he promptly stopped himself. The water did, in fact, feel good. Immersing his feet alone did not provide the full potential of the experience. It was supposed to be a holiday, and yet Dimitri had apparently spent the entire day utterly tensed. His muscles shook with relief at the sensation. He had failed to grasp the purpose of "skin therapy" altogether, but he was quickly reevaluating that opinion.

Khalid's behavior was not the most decorous, but it was something Dimitri needed in his life. He needed friends surrounding him that were willing to take the initiative, just had Sylvain had once done before that exam that seemed so important at the time and so trivial in the long run. Were the dead truly so opposed to Dimitri taking a single moment of relaxation? Sylvain's spirit had said as much, but it was impossible to picture the living Sylvain ever saying anything remotely like that.

Sensing that he had won, Khalid winked and motioned his head in Marianne and Ariella's direction. Dimitri nodded, faced the two women, and beseeched, "Well… must I be forlorn in suffering this indignation?"

After quavering for a moment, Ariella grinned widely. "Ah, so be it!" she exclaimed as she slithered into the pool. She voluntarily submerged for a moment and resurfaced with an endearing laugh.

That left only Marianne still on the ledge. Khalid finally exhibited signs of guilt as he told her, "Marianne, I was just messing around. You really shouldn't feel any obligation to join us. It would be helpful to keep someone up there to toss us food, anyways."

Rather than take the out, Marianne nervously replied, "N-no… I… I think I want to…"

She measured the drop into the water apprehensively, so Dimitri offered a hand to help her down. She took it gratefully and slipped in.

"A-ah!" Marianne yelped in surprise at the warm sensation. After acclimating, she muttered, "… It does feel nice. It smells good, too."

"All this work to convince the three of you of what was obvious from the start," Khalid teased triumphantly. "Next time, do me a favor and take me at my word to begin with."

"You probably do need some muscle therapy after spending all day patting yourself on the back," Ariella mocked. "It's almost one-dimensional. Can you think of any aspect of your grand plan that was less than perfect?"

"Well…" Khalid uttered as he searched for an answer. He finally decided, "One thing I didn't consider was how heavy these clothes get when they're soaked. The buoyancy from the salt helps offset it some, but still… moving around like this is practically a workout."

Dimitri told him, "You joke, but it can be an actual training exercise. In fact, my instructor occasionally made me swim in full armor back in the day. This is quite tame in comparison."

Ariella and Khalid both looked at each other disbelievingly. Ella voiced their doubts by observing, "Umm… I'm pretty sure that's scientifically impossible, Dimitri, even with your strength."

Dimitri shrugged. "I assure you I did. But… perhaps my memory exaggerates some of the details. It would not be the first time."

"I guess we'll have to bring you back here in armor sometime to resolve this debate," Khalid decided. "I wish we could do it at the Dunya, but we don't have pools deep enough, and people wouldn't exactly appreciate us taking a dip in the lake."

This claim got Marianne's attention for some reason. "Is that not allowed?" she asked.

Khalid shook his head. "Swimming, drinking, fishing… all forbidden. That lake is considered sacred. The falls are remarkably beautiful, which of course means that people think a god had to be responsible for designing and protecting it." He noticed Marianne's expression getting even gloomier. "Marianne… You haven't actually been swimming in it, have you?"

Marianne's eyes widened. "N-no, of course not! But… well… I sometimes let Dorte drink from it while I'm out on a ride…"

Ariella and Khalid keeled over with involuntary laughter, while Dimitri only half smiled anxiously. Marianne's actions were surely not a serious offense based on the reaction of the two Almyrans, but she was probably still dismayed by the revelation.

Khalid finally put her apprehensions to rest by telling her, "It's my fault for not warning you, but don't worry. You won't be cursed for it or anything. Most water the palace animals drink comes from there, anyways. They apparently want us to believe that the water's sacredness wears off if it's scooped into a bucket and left out for a couple hours. Make sense, right?"

"I suppose you don't have many opportunities to swim without coming to Istakhr, then," Dimitri observed. "I see why this place is popular."

Ariella nodded. "I haven't been swimming since I left home. There was a small lake not far from where I grew up where all of the kids loved to swim. The Attalis would sometimes stock it full of fish for both food and recreation. The source of nourishment was always welcome, but it was pretty gross whenever slimy creatures would suddenly wriggle by your legs while swimming. Some of the boys thought it was hilarious, though." Her expression was more dejected when she added, "To be honest… it's not just a lack of accessibility that's held me back. I've been terrified of swimming ever since… it happened. I sometimes dream about having a seizure while out on that lake… and no one is there to save me."

Dimitri was not quite sure how to respond to that, but Khalid elected to avoid dwelling on the melancholy of the story. He proposed, "In that case, we'll have to plan yet another swimming outing once the war is over. If you're up for it, we'll all go to that lake together and make sure nothing bad happens. I'd drag you back to shore if I had to. That will hopefully help put those nightmares to rest."

Ella smirked playfully. "It's not a bad idea, but I think you'd be best suited keeping a close eye on me and shouting to Dimitri if I start to flounder. I'm not sure if I trust you to pull me to shore without both of us drowning."

"Hey, I'm not so weak myself!" Khalid shook his head and turned to his male retainer. "At this rate, Dimitri, no one is going to take me seriously again with you here. We need to do something before this gets any more out of hand. Maybe we can start misappropriating stories of your strength in my name or something."

"I would be happy to help, if only I could make such a lie sound remotely believable," Dimitri joked.

Marianne and Ariella both chuckled at Khalid's exasperated expression. He said, "Alright… I rescind my previous answer for my plan's greatest shortcoming. The true shortcoming was the misconception that I could plan a group outing without the three of you ganging up on me. James once mentioned that I was too casual with my retainers, and I'm starting to agree. I've allowed disrespect to brew for too long."

"Aww, poor Khalid," Ella teased. "He won't hesitate to disrespect and mock anything that breathes, but he can't handle a bit of light jesting from his friends. Should we head back early for tonight's feast so you won't have to be burdened with our company any longer?"

She was obviously still joking, but Khalid took the question seriously for some reason when he paused and replied, "There's no rush. We're already here, so we should enjoy it. I… really just wanted the four of us to spend the day together."

Ariella blinked in surprise. "… Are you alright, Khalid? Your affection today seems alarmingly earnest."

She was right. Khalid had understandably shed a lot of his humor and cheer since the war began. His mood that afternoon was more in line with his personality from the academy, but even that was a flawed comparison. His affection back then always seemed a little flippant or hollow, even if he was fun to be around. Khalid only spoke this earnest when he was at his most vulnerable after a battle or an intense debate. This, however, was a deliberate choice.

Khalid explained solemnly, "Ignoring that time I got shot like an idiot, it felt like we played the perfect game at Merv. Our strategies unfurled exactly as planned. And yet… so many people still died. I've watched friends fall in battle, but I always felt like what happened was the consequence of my own shortcomings. I can't control everything, though. Merv was a slap in the face to remind me that some realities can't outsmarted."

"Indeed. We are fortunate to have all survived," Dimitri agreed gravely.

"We were downright incredibly lucky, and it looks like we're about to go on campaign again," Khalid continued. "And, well… it's best to take nothing for granted. That's why I really wanted us to spend today together. I've lost friends without truly understanding or expressing how much they meant to me, and I won't let that happen again. The three of you are incredibly special, all for your own reasons. Tease me all you like for saying it out loud, but… I mean it."

Ariella waded to his side and gave him a hug. She usually avoided doing such a thing without invitation.

"That's not something I'd ever make fun of. You mean a lot to us, too, Khalid." She then glanced at Marianne. "You missed out on the last group hug. Now's your chance."

"O-okay, I'm coming…" Marianne said as she slid into the embrace.

"You, too, Dimitri. Just try not to crush anybody," Khalid beckoned.

Dimitri had been reflecting on all of the friends he had similarly taken for granted in life, but he smiled a little as he joined the hug. They probably looked like utter fools trudging around a pool in full clothing and getting sentimental on what was supposed to be a festive day, but Dimitri had to agree with Khalid- these three friends really were special.

"I've got to stop trying to control everything, so I'm going to trust you all with one request," Khalid said. "Whatever happens out there… stay alive. Just stay alive."