Author's note: I'm alive, good people!
It's been a while, I have been working on a project of mine. I don't want to bore you with the details yet, so just enjoy this chapter that I myself enjoyed so much writing and I'll see you in the bottom.
Chapter 11
Night of Everlasting Light
He could count the times he had visited the cathedral with only the fingers on both hands. Felix was not a devoted man after all. He did believe in the power of the Goddess to some extent, but never had he ever managed to grasp the concept of blind faith as most believers in the Kingdom.
Life wasn't about luck or divine intervention, it was about having the will and the strength to achieve your dreams, nobody was going to give you anything for free.
Being a member of the nobility made that statement difficult to prove since he was much more privileged than the abridge man. The divine right to inherit the crests proved that not all people were made equal, not in the eyes of the Goddess anyway.
But he just found himself in this cathedral sitting alone on a wooden bench.
It was almost dusk and most priests and nuns were just preparing for midnight service and the only students in the building were the ones looking to make confession. Felix wasn't one of them.
He didn't even know what he was doing there.
Looking for advice? From who? The Goddess wouldn't speak to him, he could ask a thousand questions every day for a thousand years without ever getting an answer.
But he needed to get away, away from the vision of Glenn, from his friends, from Annette.
She had awaken and felt some dizziness, but Manuela said she should return to normal in a few days with only an ugly scar.
But Felix was far from fine, he was happy for her of course, but a cold hand was grasping his heart and wouldn't let him go, a feeling of fear and apprehension.
Then the visions started, he tried to not look at the right side of the nave, where the Statues of the Saints stood.
He could see him from the corner of his eye, a tall black haired man, very similar to Rodrigue but with a slightly boyish face similar to Felix.
His cyan blue cape and dark blue clothes stained with dark blood and his gaze locked on Felix.
Felix felt a chill even though he was sweating. The vision slowly morphed into a small red headed girl.
"Don't look" . He said to himself.
The girl started walking towards him while his heart started to beat faster as if trying to get out of his chest by ripping his ribs open.
"Don't look"
The girl was leaving a trail of blood as she got closer.
Felix buried his face in his hands, his breath uneven.
"Make it go away, please"
He felt a hand on his shoulder and Felix almost jumped from his seat and gasped loudly staring at the girl.
It was actually Marianne, she had a surprised look.
"Felix! I'm sorry. Are you okay?"
"What. Oh, yeah, I'm fine." he said even though he was miles away from fine. "Sorry, did I scare you?" she said looking away "The same happened to Ashe when he saw me"
"No, it's okay, I'm just a little tired, that's all" he said trying to sound normal.
"I see. You could talk with Professor Manuela if you need some medicine for sleeping. I take it sometimes and it helps a little."
Marianne tilted her head with her gaze focused on him "Although it seems you're having more trouble while awake"
Felix saw a look of understanding in her eyes "You can tell?"
"I know…someone who has a similar problem, although he hides it better than you" Felix wondered if she was talking about herself. "May I sit?"
He hesitated for a moment giving a second glance to the empty corner where the vision had appeared before. "Okay"
She sat and stood in silence praying to the Goddess.
"I don't want to talk about it," he said.
"I didn't ask you to" she responded.
Some minutes passed in silence.
"Is just trouble sleeping" he said
"I see"
Another minute in silence.
"Is not about Annette" he said.
"Of course not"
"I mean, is not that I'm scared. I'm not scared of anything." he said crossing his arms.
"What should you be scared of?"
"Exactly! Nothing! I can cut through everything as long as I have a sword. And Annette knows that. She shouldn't be afraid of anything and me neither, is not like with Glenn"
Marianne didn't answer, she just kept praying.
"What happened in Remire was a mistake, I just need more training, that's it. Polishing my technique, sharpening my senses, it's all basic and in control." He found himself smiling a little "My strength is more than enough for the both of us"
"I don't think that-" she started but Felix interrupted.
"Maybe I could sign for special training with the knights, they have as much experience as the professor, maybe I could even get Captain Jeralt to train me"
Felix stood up feeling a new resolve "Thank you, Marianne. I was worried for a second"
He walked away before the girl could say anything leaving her with her mouth slightly open.
Felix saw Dimitri entering the Cathedral just as he passed by the giant door. Felix nodded in acknowledgement and kept walking.
His new idea had chased away those fears momentarily. He would have to wait until Jeralt came back, but he could at least get some training done with the knights.
He had been worried the last few days because of Annette and the lessons the Professor had imprinted in his head the first time they fought.
To have somebody to protect wasn't making him stronger, it was making him much weaker, foolish even, the last battle had been proof enough of that. The fears he thought were dead and buried along with his brother re-emerged like an ugly plant. But he could suppress those as long as he kept getting stronger, he could protect Annette and he would.
He just arrived at the northern end of the dorms when he heard some music from the side, it was coming from the classroom courtyard, and a crowd had gathered.
When he approached he saw a few students playing a song with the instruments of the orchestra while the rest were actually dancing in the courtyard.
He then remembered that Professor Manuela was imparting a dancing class that evening. Byleth and Hanneman were also there since they had to oversee the practice for the White Heron Cup.
The Black Eagles had selected Flayn since Annette wouldn't do it. Felix was almost glad, he knew that Annette could be a wonderful dancer but he also felt a little bit of jealousy with the prospect of other people watching her dance or sing her in her quirky manner.
She had asked him to keep the secret and he liked to share that with her, he liked to be the only person that could watch her sing and dance so happily. It was a little selfish he knew, but if she didn't want to dance, he wasn't about to encourage her to do otherwise.
Speaking of Annette, she wasn't there, probably taking care of one of her chores.
Felix approached the quite boring looking Byleth sitting on a wooden chair, he almost looked like he was about to fall asleep.
Constance and Dorothea were next to him watching Flayn and giving a few tips.
"Are you guys trying to kill the Professor out of boredom?" Felix said with a slight smile.
"Oh, Felix! Just in time, we needed a dance partner for Flayn to practice."
"Ah no" he said plainly "I don't dance"
"You don't or you can't?" Constance asked, letting out a laugh. "Strange, with your skill with the sword I could swear you would be a good dancer"
"I know how, I just don't want to"
Dorothea looked at Constance with a mischievous smile and then to Felix "Sure, you can tell that to Annette during the grand ball, I'm sure she won't get upset at all"
"She won't. I know her, she doesn't want to dance either."
"O, Felix. You know so little about a woman's mind, but that's okay. Most men are like that"
"Indeed" Constance said "They could not take a hint even if it was a thoron spell to the face."
Even Byleth gazed at him with an amused smirk.
Shit.
Felix growled softly and approached Flayn to take her hand.
-O-
Annette let out a sight when she looked at herself in the mirror. She was in undergarments and just about to put on her evening dress when her eyes hovered over the ugly scar on her abdomen.
To ching the rough skin with stitches she once again remembered how close she was to die, to just stop existing, right there in that river.
He had to shake away the image of a distraught Felix stammering about while healing her wound.
She couldn't even imagine the pain he would have to go through if he had to give the news of her death to Mercedes and the others, to her mother and father.
Would his father even care if she was gone?
Annette felt a cold sensation in her chest and knew her mind was wandering to a very dark place.
She shook away those thoughts.
The scar would fade more and more with the time and Felix would love her all the same, he liked scars, right? It made her seem tougher.
She put on the dress, it was similar to her normal uniform but a little more regal with the black cape over her shoulders. She put a small black and golden pin on her hair to match and blue earrings for contrast.
She let out another sight of expectation and went out of the dorm.
-O-
"Not bad, not bad at all," Sothis said with a wide smile.
"It feels weird," Byleth said, adjusting the neck on his jacket.
"You are way too used to the way of the wild. I expect you to behave properly on your first formal event. Oh and you are missing the hat"
"I'm not putting that thing on. It looks silly"
"Hmph" Sothis crossed her arms frowning, they had been arguing for the same thing for hours. He agreed to use his commander's formal attire, but he would not enter the great hall wearing the hat.
He could barely recognize himself as he was. The deep black color of his attire mixed with the silver details and his two medals on his chest, one for the Battle of Eagle and Lion, the other one was a small golden pin with the crest of Fraldarius that Lord Rodrigue had given him for his help and declared him friend of House Fraldarius, all that made him look like a completely different person, much older at that.
His appearance finally looked the part to how much he had changed over the last few months, it felt weird but not entirely unpleasant.
At last Sothis stopped pestering him about the damn hat so he took this opportunity to go out of the dorm. His boots made a strange light sound on the floor, he wasn't wearing gloves, his body felt light yet strong.
Is this what pride felt like, or vanity maybe? He thought.
He smiled a little, he was doing that more often, just like Edelgard had suggested. It was hard to put emotion into it but he was getting better.
Byleth found all the students gathered outside of the reception hall. The Houses were supposed to enter in procession and in pairs.
Most people of course had a partner they had invited, but Byleth didn't have time to look for one. He tried to ask Hapi to go with him since she wasn't asked herself, but she said that she didn't want to have all that attention preceding the whole parade.
He could have asked Edelgard but Byleth again didn't feel comfortable doing it, besides she probably already had a partner. Maybe he could get Lady Rhea to at least accompany him in the procession.
Before he could even think about it, the doors opened and every couple started making a line. Suddenly he saw Claude coming towards him.
"Come on teach, you need to get to the front" he said taking his hand, Byleth couldn't say much as the young man guided him while the music started playing.
He was just behind Dimitri and Marianne, well that was unexpected, Edelgard and Hubert were right at the front.
Claude and Byleth hooked arms and took position.
"You didn't get a partner?" Byleth asked.
"I did. But Leonie is running kind of late, she was taking care of a few weapons and time flew by. She should be dressing by now but I won't be entering the hall by myself, that would be too miserable."
At that last statement he smiled at Byleth as if he realized he didn't have a partner either.
The trumpets erupted in a magnificent symphony as they started entering the hall.
The place was illuminated with newly installed golden candelabras. The bright yellow light was reaching every corner of the room as if shadows were merely a myth, they had removed the big tables to put smaller round tables stacked with food and drinks.
The band reached a crescendo when the three main couples reached the center, as teachers of both the Golden Deer and Blue Lions, Hanneman and Manuela were also there ready to dance together.
There was silence for a moment and then the soft music started with violins.
Byleth recalled the way Flayn and Felix had danced and tried to replicate the moves.
Claude was of course a bit more skilled than him, but Byleth was a swordsman, he could adapt very quickly. Everyone was staring at them and he couldn't help to feel a little embarrassed.
Once again, Claude noticed "Come on teach. You can fight monsters but you can just dance without looking sick?"
"I think I prefer the monsters"
"Oh and it's about to get a little more complicated."
The music changed pace and then the dancers twirled, separating from each other and in a very accurate motion they joined with a different partner.
Byleth was now dancing with Marianne, her steps were soft and slow, her hair appeared better groomed and she had used makeup to cover the shadows of her eyes.
"You look starling terrific, Marianne"
"Oh…t-thank you," she said without looking him in the eyes.
Byleth looked at Dimitri dancing with Manuela, more couples joined them on the dance floor.
The professor saw the prince stealing a few glances towards them, just as Byleth stole glances from Edelgard and Hanneman.
He looked at Marianne again "I think Dimitri is very fond of you"
To his surprise the girl smiled, just a little and for a moment "You think so? How do you know?"
Because he has the same look as me.
But he didn't say that.
"You two had spent more time together than usual. It's just a thought, I don't mean to pry".
She didn't smile again but her pace seemed a little more energetic.
The exchange partners again until he had to make an effort not to stumble as he took Edelgard's hand. She was quick and help him keep pace without taking a misstep.
"Thank you," he said.
"You are welcome. I see you had been practicing, your skills are really impressive for someone who grew up in the wild."
Byleth could almost let out a laugh "Somebody I know said something similar to me today."
"Oh? Who might that person be?"
"A friend, just a friend"
That was the right and the wrong thing to say at the same time.
He felt his hands sweat and thanked the heavens Edelgard was wearing gloves.
The song was over way sooner than he would have liked, and he surprised himself by holding Edelgard's waist a little longer than he should have.
She noticed of course and she had to be the one to separate from him.
"Sorry, I am a little distracted today," he said.
"I can gather, we had been quite busy with missions this month, adding that to all the grand ball arrangements, that can tire anyone"
"I will go sit down go sit down for a moment"
"I'll go with you, I need to eat something anyway"
Byleth walked feeling more and more uneasy, his heart wasn't beating yet he could see a rush of adrenaline by just having Edelgard next to him.
He had known her for months and this had never happened. Why was this happening?
They sat down to eat on an empty table, the food was delicious, he made a mental note to thank the kitchen staff.
"Say, Professor" Edelgard said "Did you happen to have any friends before coming to the Monastery"
"Friends? Like with the mercenary corps?"
"Yes"
"Well, I knew kids that just like me grew up on the band, but I couldn't say we were really friends. I was…different"
That was the understatement of the century. He thought bitterly.
I took a drink before continuing "I don't know. I just never managed to fit in with the rest, as you can tell, I have the charisma of a rock so all the other kids though I was weird"
Edelgard arched both eyebrows in shock "Did they abuse you in any way?"
"No, nothing like that. It's just…well, they gave me a nickname, one I'm not to proud of"
He didn't look at Edelgard, the music of the band and the noises of the students sounded distant now. He barely realized that Edelgard had left her plate alone barely taking any bites.
"What kind of nickname?" she asked with serious eyes.
He knew the question was coming, yet it didn't make it easier to answer.
"They called me the Ashen Demon," the words came out like a poison arrow "a creature with no emotions and who kills his enemies effectively without so much as a blink"
He took a sip from the wine, it barely had any alcohol in it.
"They never talked to me outside of strategy meetings, they kept their distances, and they made sure to stay out of my way in battle"
Finally Byleth raised his gaze, Edelgard was looking at him with a stern look, so neutral and regal, like a mother who just heard that her son had done something bad at school.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked" she said "I wish I could be more tactful sometimes, I still have much to learn"
Byleth tried to smile a little "You are just not afraid to speak your mind, Edelgard. I wish people had more courage to say things that could make people uncomfortable. Sometimes we need to challenge ourselves and not be contemptuous with a bad circumstance. We can do something about it. Well, that's what I think anyway."
There was so much more he wanted to say, he wanted to share the pain of being alone in an intimate way, but it wasn't right, it was not his place to tell her how she felt about her. He was a damn hypocrite.
"Just know this" he continued "Since I arrived here there hasn't been a day where I felt lonely. I'm happy to have met you, I'm happy to have met all of you."
For the first time, Edelgard locked eyes with him, she had her mouth slightly open and Byleth wondered if he had said something improper. And for some reason, he started to feel hotter, his jacket felt tight and he had to look away.
A second later he stood up without finishing his food or drink. "I need to take some air, please enjoy the night" he said automatically, almost rudely, but he needed to get out of there.
-O-
Archbishop Rhea gave a toast for another great year and made mention of Professor Byleth, but he wasn't in his seat, apparently, he had gone out without anyone noticing.
"What do you think happened?" Annette asked Ashe who sat down next to her after dancing with Ingrid.
"Maybe he just went to the latrine?" said the young man.
"He looked a little distraught after talking to Edelgard"
Felix, who was to her other side looked at Edelgard for a moment "Maybe it had to do with Jeralt, he and the knights had been searching for missing students during the entire month"
"Do you think he's worried about the captain?"
"Probably"
A moment later Ingrid came while pulling out at Sylvain's ear.
"What did he do now?" Felix said with a sigh.
"What didn't he do!" Ingrid yelled, making Sylvain sit on the chair. "He had been flirting with like ten girls at the same time. He almost starts a fight with one of the girls' partners!"
"Sylvain! That 's awful!" Annette said frowning "Didn't you come with a partner already?"
Sylvain made an apologetic smile "Yeah, but she got tired of me"
Ingrid snorted "Yeah right. Maybe after you went to flirt with three other girls next to your table"
"So what, you are grounding me in this table?"
"Damn right I am! You are not allow to get up for the rest of the night"
Ingrid sat down and looked around "Where is Mercedes?"
Annette smiled and moved her head towards the dancefloor "She is dancing with Dedue"
Everyone looked at the couple and for a moment they just stared at them.
The stoic retainer was for a change smiling while looking at Mercedes, his moves were a little stiff in contrast with the soft paced of the woman, yet they looked so smooth and the contrast only empathized a nice harmony between the two.
Annette was almost hypnotized by the soft smile in Mercie's lips and her eyes were almost sparkling with joy.
Sylvain let out a low whistle "I knew they were spending a lot of time together, but I never realized they were a thing."
"Me neither" said Annette "She just told me today, I think she didn't want to made things awkward, with him having to look after Dimitri and all"
Sylvain smiled and looked at Fleix and then Annette again "More awkward than you two?"
Felix frowned "Shut up"
Annette laughed a little "Please, don't make him angry, Sylvain. If not he might take to the dance floor just to get away from you"
Annette said that in jest knowing that Felix didn't like to dance, and he would never-
"That's a great idea" Felix said suddenly and stood up taking Annette's hand.
"W-what?"
"Let's dance,if this idiot is gonna be the rest of the night suiting on that table I prefer to dance until my feet bleeds"
"I-Okay, I guess"
She followed him, feeling her heart racing. She didn't expect for Felix to be so forward and now she was taken by surprise and could barely contain a big smile. Her face grew red when Felix put a hand on her waist.
Though Felix didn't look that confident either since it was hard for him to look into her eyes.
"It's okay, you know" she said "I'm nervous too"
They were moving slowly to the Smith tune of violins and Felix's hand held hers with such tenderness that she could melt at every moment.
"I'm sorry, I have been kind of distant this past weeks" he said, lowering his head a little.
She shook her head "Don't worry. I know that our battles hit you differently. I guess you just need your own space some time"
Felix finally managed to cross eyes with her, she felt her other hand lightly rubbing her side, just where her new scar was. "It doesn't hurt at all," she said, smiling.
"I'm sorry, it must had been really painful and terrifying"
"Stop apologizing. You saved my life. And besides I need a scar to look tougher, I need to compensate for my height"
Felix rolled her eyes "If you learn how to properly use an axe, you won't need scars to look intimidating."
Annette laughed at that.
"What?" he asked
"Nothing. I just imagine myself like a two meter tall muscular woman dancing with a chum like you"
"I'm not that short!"
"Is that why you are so fast? Because you can move like a mouse?"
Felix's cheeks grew red and Annette knew that was enough teasing.
"I'm sorry" she said between laughs "I'm just joking"
"Well, anyway. We should be able to polish your axe technique by the end of the year" he said, changing the subject.
"And after the year ends?"
Felix looks as in deep in thought for a moment "If you want you can come to Fraldarius to keep on your training, there's never enough experience to gain"
Annette looked away for a second before focusing again on him.
"You really want me to go to Fraldarius? Would I meet your father?"
"I mean, yeah, that's a given. He would there most of the time when he is not in the capital"
She could hardly believe it, she could spend all the time she wanted with Felix, and he was completely open to the idea of them living in the same place as…as if they were married.
She felt her face grow red just before the song ended. "Do you think we can sit for now?" she asked and he nodded.
He was taking her hand again and started guiding her to their table, but then she started to walk quickly to one side of the ball reception hall.
"Annette, what are you-" he tried to ask but she wasn't stopping and just dragged him to the upper door and behind a big pillar, where she was sure nobody could see them she took his face between her hands and pulled him down to a kiss.
It was a long one and as sweet as one of her favorite desserts.
She separated from him only to hug him tightly burying her face against his chest.
"Felix, I think I might be in love with you"
Felix didn't say anything else, but she was rewarded with a tighter hug, so strong and warm that she could just die from happiness right there"
-O-
Lately, Edelgard didn't want to be alone with her thoughts. Her mind would normally wander to her plans, her logistics, her moves for the next battle.
Yet now she found herself thinking of her family often, her friends and of course the Professor.
He looked quite unsettled after their conversation even though he had said so many great things about her and the students. She couldn't believe how fast her heart was beating.
She sighed tilting her head back while sitting on the edge of one of the windows of the Tower of the Goddess.
She wanted to see this place since she arrived at the Monastery, the place her parents had met. Truly, the sight of the stars, the cold air and the contrast with the soft darkness of the place gave the whole scene a fairy tale feel to it. She could perfectly imagine two lovers, meeting here in secret, whispering to each other words of passion and eternal love, the thought was just…spellbounding.
"An outstanding view, isn't it?" said a voice coming from the right. Starling Edelgard a little, making her go for the dagger she had hidden under one of her sleeves,but she stopped when she saw it was only Dimitri. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you"
Edelgard smiled "You shouldn't sneak on people like that"
"I will keep in mind, I can be a little socially inept at times"
"A capital sin of a royal heir" she laughed.
"Indeed. Would you mind if I sat with you?"
"Not at all"
Dimitri sat on the next window with his legs hanging in the air just like Edelgard.
"Shouldn't you be with Marianne at the ball?" she asked.
"She started feeling a little tired so I escorted her to the dorms, it didn't seem right to be there without my partner"
That was a very chivalrous thing to do indeed, yet Edelgard couldn't miss the fondness in his voice, the young prince never seemed to be good at hiding his emotions.
"You seem interested in her," she said.
Dimitri smiled while looking at the stars "I wouldn't know about that, but she is a gentle soul and she is not as rigid as other noble ladies. I just wish she could love herself a little more. Not that I consider her a weak person, not at all. She just have to let out that strength she so casually uses to protect others"
By the Goddess, the boy was smithen!
Edelgard didn't point that out.
"We all need to know how to chanell our strength in time, some are slower than others but it always comes"
"How about you? I saw that Hubert is still in the ball"
"I just needed to get away for a bit. Hubert is not even my partner, he just wanted to keep and eye on me, and since I didn't really have a partner, I couldn't really refuse"
Dimitri looked at her with surprise "Really? I would think someone of your station would have a few invitations"
She shrugged "I think everyone thought just like you, that I already had a partner. Or maybe they were just afraid of Hubert"
They both laughed at that for a moment.
"Hubert is not a bad person. You can even say he is my partner in everything except romance, I had never been good with romance. I always heard stories about how my parents met right here in this tower when they were students. I wish I could experience a love as intense as theirs was at that moment"
Dimitri sat in silences as Edelgard kept talking.
"Well, I couldn't say I was always oblivious to the sentiment. I can still just barely remember the name of my first love. A young boy I met when I was kid. I don't remember his name or his appearance for that matter, but every time I thought about him it was as if a thunder struck me every time."
"I see," Dimitri answered with a strange emotion in his voice.
"But now, is diferent" she said closing her eyes "This new feelings I am having are so alien to me, like the taste of a new wonderful plate. Is intense and almost overwhelming"
Now Dimitri was staring at her "Sounds like an impressive individual if you find yourself on that state. May I know their name?"
Edelgard shook her head "Nobody would know until I tell him, which would be never."
"And why is that"
"It's just-"
Because she didn't wanted him to see how ugly her true self was, not only phisically, but her tainted soul. A soul that surely will be condemned for all eternity after all what she had do and what she was about to do in just a few months. It wasn't fair to drag him into hell with her, to the flames of punishment. No he didn't deserved that.
Dimitri let out a breath and pull his legs back inside, standing against the window.
"Knowing you, you are probably thinking on all the consequences of your love, on how many enemies would go againt you and him, or how lonely you would feel once he is gone." he said without looking at her but his gaze was dark "I know a pian similar to that one, it is almost unbearable, but that's why I choose to appreciate the people I have right now, and do everything in my power to protect them, and believe me, Edelgard, you might be the bravest person I know. So please, don't ever let fear dictate your actions, especially when it involves your happiness and the one you cherish the most. And every time you doubt yourself just remind yourself that he is worth the pain. "
Edlegar almost couldn't believe such words coming from Dimitri, the young man flushed and scratched the back of his head "That's why think at least."
Edelgard laughed again "Only you can deliver such a speech and try to act casual right afterwards. Still, thank you very much for the words, I truly needed them"
"I am happy to help. Now if you excuse me, I think I will be retiring to my room. Please don't take too long, we have classes tomorrow"
"You sounded just like Hubert." she said smiling "Have a good night Dimitri, and thank you"
Dimitri made a bow and walked downstairs.
She then took out the dagger from her sleeve and held it to the moon.
"I don't know where you are. But I would always love you in a way, I hope whenever you are, you find all the happiness you deserve. Because it is time for me to look for my own. I won't keep my feelings in check any longer"
-O-
Byleth heard the voice singing while having a conversation with Sothis. The voice was not only familiar, but he felt so engrossed in it, as if the music notes could dance around him.
It didn't take long to find the source.
Rhea. The archbishop was standing alone near the cemetery singing a beautiful tune, but it didn't sound intimidating like a spirit. The sound was so sweet and soft that it was as if she was soothing the dead's pain.
Byleth thought about what his mother would say if she could hear her. What would his mother say indeed?
What he said to Edelgard wasn't entirely true, he did feel alone sometimes, even with all the students and teachers, and all the bonds he had made. It was the moments that he thought about how different he was to others that he felt cold and abandoned. As if everyone else was in a place he could never reach.
"You are never alone, you know," Sothis said, surprising Byleth, her voice mixed with the music. "If somebody is as confused as you are right now, it is me. I can feel what you feel, and I know your pain is real, just share your burdens with me. I might tease you most times, but I would never think of causing you harm, so take strength in that and your students. After all, that's the advice you gave to that boy Felix, didn't you?"
He wasn't so convinced but Sothis had the decency to not say more, at least she knew him well enough to know when he needed space for everyone"
Rhea finished her song and just stood there in silence.
Byleth wandered around the Monastery until heard the guardsman sound the trumpet announcing the arrival of the knights.
When he arrived at the main gate, Jeralt almost ran towards him.
"We need to go, now!" he said in a hurry "The situation in Remire village had gotten out of hand, we will need your help and your student's"
Byleth nodded, finally, something the Ashen Demon was good for.
Author's Note:
Hello again! Oh boy I love this drama!
So I had played Fire Emblem Three Hopes and I quite liked it, but as I said I won't be using the whole story line with Shez and Arval, but I will use dialogue and combine a few of the plot points of Thee Hopes since that story was simply awesome.