Chapter 46 - Family matters

2nd Verdant Rain Moon; Imperial Year 1186


"No. That is a terrible idea. I prohibit you from visiting your family member." Edelgard said to both Flayn and Macuil while shaking her head.

The green-haired girl looked sadly to the ground. However, the Empress would not be convinced. Because they needed to prepare. They were going to march into Fhirdiad at the end of this month. And she needed the members to train. Because it wasn't going to be easy defeating the Immaculate One. And she didn't want to count on Macuil and Byleth.

However, Edelgard also had pity with Flayn. She looked really defeated and sad. She was probably hoping that she would allow their trip. It would have boosted both their morals. But she could do something else to boost at least her moral.

"How about we go fishing, Flayn? I recall you like it very much." Edelgard suggested.

"I am deeply sorry. But I am not in the condition of fishing, Edelgard." Flayn replied and turned around.

She left the room with a hunched head. The Empress sighed and closed her eyes before she snapped them open and her gaze focused on Macuil. He had crossed his arms over his chest and was frowning. Edelgard knew that he wasn't frowning in particular but rather… he was angry at her.

"Should I remind you that Seteth and Flayn are prisoners?" the Empress spoke.

"Should I remind you that no one treats them like that?" he shot back.

"Hub-"

"Do not mention the one person who treats them like prisoners! Despite this, Hubert is wounded and will probably never recover."

"He will recover!"

"What makes you so certain about that? His wounds are terrible. We could consider ourselves lucky if he survives this war." Macuil continued. "Which I, honestly, doubt."

"Don't underestimate-"

"I am over thousand years old! I participated in the War of Heroes! I have seen how badly wounded Gloucester was! And while I do not care about him, my older brother Indech did. And do you realize it? Gloucester has not survived! His descendants survived. I just say the obvious, Edelgard."

She gritted her teeth but remained quiet. Macuil took a deep breath calming his nerves. He muttered an apology. Meanwhile Edelgard closed her eyes. Deep down she knew that he was right. Hubert probably wouldn't survive this war.*

"Now… If you excuse me… I want to console my dear niece." Macuil said before leaving her.

It took only a few minutes to find Flayn sitting on a bench in the main hall. She looked sad because of the circumstances. The saint almost instantly regretted his offering. It had only caused his dear niece to be more depressed. He winced slightly at how she looked. Hunched over and eyes closed.

Macuil reached a hand out but hesitated. He clenched his hand to a fist and let it sank to his side.

"I… apologize, Cethleann…" he consoled her. "That was thoughtless of me. I know how much you love Indech… It is just… Edelgard is right… We cannot just leave this place to visit a family member."

"It is alright, uncle." she sniffled and rubbed her eyes with her sleeve. "In fact, me and my father are prisoners of the Adrestian Empire meaning that… we cannot just walk around so freely like you do. I am aware of that… And still… I want to see uncle Indech."

Macuil knelt in front of her and smiled slightly. He knew now just the right thing to console his niece.

"Remember then Indech made you a flower crown then your father and mother went to the sea because they wanted to spend some time alone?" he asked her.

Cethleann nodded her head.

"The crown was so beautiful… It was made of red roses and white lilies." she remembered. "I was very young and it was the first time then my parents left me alone."

"You were really sad and so afraid. Indech decided to cheer you up creating a flower crown. Then I let you ride on my shoulders." Macuil continued.

"But why red roses and white lilies? Together they are the symbol of undying love**."

"That is because… well… These were the only flowers your uncle found." he admitted. "However, Garreg Mach has a green house. How about I made you a flower crown with roses and lilies? Albeit, it will probably be rather bad."

"It does not matter, uncle. I am happy if you do that."

Cethleann smiled, happy that her uncle managed to cheer her up again.


4th Verdant Rain Moon; Imperial Year 1186


Seteth slammed a fist to the wall with so much force that the books on a shelf threatened to fall from it. He was clearly pissed at his brother. Yet again. What was he thinking about visiting Indech? And not only alone but also wanting to visit him with his daughter. In times of a war. Where he and his daughter were practically prisoners.

He didn't even want to imagine what might have happened. They could have run into the church's soldiers. And because they betrayed the Church, they would have been killed. Or they were captured and tortured.

He was, ironically enough, thankful that the Empress forbid them from visiting Indech. And he was also thankful that he got to know what his younger brother wanted to do.

"What were you thinking, Macuil? In times of war visiting a family member!" Seteth raved.

The urge to punch his younger brother almost became unbearable to him. He had always thought that Macuil was the most intelligent of the three of them. But apparently, he had mistaken. His younger brother was so foolish.

"Let me guess, you want to punch me now, my dear brother. But let me explain. Do you not think that asking help from Indech might be a good idea? With his talents to fix weapons, we would certainly save some gold." Macuil said smirking. "And not to mention his ability to craft weapons. With someone like him-"

"No. You know how Indech is… He is sometimes even more secluded than you, Macuil. Forcing him to join this war… I fear that he might not be able to overcome another war. Despite everything, Indech is fragile. You remember what had happened in Zanado… We would have died that day if it wasn't for Indech!"

"Do not remind me of that incident! Without Indech we would have died that day!" he shouted. "Our bones… and our Crest Stones… they would have turned them, turned us, into weapons. Just like… our family and our friends…"

Seteth nodded his head solemnly.

"I was only a few years old back then. I am incapable of remembering this day well. But part of me is thankful for not remembering it." Macuil wistfully stated and looked at his hand which he had balled into a tight fist. "I am only capable of remembering the cries of our brethren then they were slayed. And of the fire… which burned so brightly that day."

"Macuil…" Seteth said sympathetically.

"Anyway… It happened too long ago. We should focus on the present, not on the past."

A crushing silence appeared between the brothers. Macuil had closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He already knew what his brother was going to say next. And he despised him for being this perceptive. It actually ran in the family, now that he thought about it.

"Indeed it is, my brother. Lamine would have wanted this, would she not?" Seteth suggested.

"Yes, she would." he agreed wistfully and sighed. "Very well then… I will take my leave. I was planning on training my swordsmanship today."

He was about to leave his brother then the latter spoke:

"Macuil, please wait. I have something to ask you. This kept me occupied for quite some time, if I am being honest, brother."

"About what I want to do after this war, correct?" he assumed. "As for my answer… I do not know. I certainly do not want to return to my life in the desert. Maybe… I will go with Mercedes. I grew fond of her."

"With Miss von Martritz? How odd for you to form a relationship with her."

He blushed at this comment. They weren't really in that kind of a relationship. And he was quite certain that his love would be unrequited. Besides… Mercedes would die much earlier than him… And Half-Nabateas were really rare. His love for her would be doomed to fail.

"Or I will go with the both of you. Just like the old days…" Macuil mused. "That might be a better idea."

"And what if our plans are staying here and rebuilding the Church as it originally was? Would you still stay with us? After all, you despise the Church."

"I will stay with you. Someone needs to train the knights if they want to succeed in defending Garreg Mach." the saint replied smirking.

"Flayn will be delighted to hear that. You should know that she really missed you." Seteth said.

Macuil hummed and turned his head towards the door. He had nothing more to say to his brother right now. Not that he wanted to continue talking with him… It was just that he didn't know what to say to him. That was why he left him without saying much more. It had always been that way. Usually, then a conversation between him and one of his siblings ended, he would leave. Albeit it was rude, he simply didn't know better.

Then Macuil left his brother, he had an urge to go outside and watch some birds. So, he did. Once he was outside, he smiled upon seeing a bird on a stone wall. He whistled a specific tune causing the bird to look at him curiously. The saint reached his hand out and the bird landed on top of it. He whistled more and smiled. It was no wonder many people associated him with birds. He really liked these animals. They were free and could fly anywhere they wanted to. Something he envied.

Suddenly, the bird flew from his hand and into the sky. He furrowed his brows in confusion while looking after the bird. Who dared to interrupt this serene moment? According to the footsteps it was a woman. He slowly turned around and glared at the woman who had a small Crest of Indech. She squeaked and, at the same time, let go of the basket she had been carrying in her hands. The objects within the basket clattered to the ground.

"I'm… I'm… so sorry!" Bernadetta apologized in a high-pitched voice.

Macuil ignored her apology and knelt down. He turned the basket upwards so that the open side was now facing the sky again and began collecting the objects before putting them into it. Several elixirs… a handkerchief with a white flower on it… He could guess to where she had wanted to go. After he packed everything back into it, he handed the basket to her and straightened up.

"Everything is alright… I am not mad at you." the saint soothed her.

"I'm sorry I freaked out. Are you going to insult me again because of my Crest? Or are you going to eat me alive in your dragon form? Please, I don't taste well." the petite woman rambled.

"Calm down. I will not do this. Where are you going anyway?" he asked her.

He could already guess but if there was one thing he had learned from his brother Indech, it was that changing the topic was always a good idea in such a situation. Because of this, the one wasn't overthinking things and instead focused on the task. However, Macuil also knew that this trick only worked if the one wasn't too deep in panic.

"I… am going to Hubert…" she said rather quietly.

"I see… How is he?" he continued with his questions.

"Well… Better… But…" she trailed of gazing down to the basket.

She didn't need to say it. She feared that she might lose him to the wounds. It was clearly written on her face. Macuil sighed and gazed into the distance.

"Do not fret… People like him will not die easily. I have met some Vestra before and they all were eager to survive." the saint consoled her. "I think Hubert will survive his wounds. He has a reason to live on. And I do not think Hubert's will to live solely depends on serving Edelgard… I think that he will survive because of your presence."

Bernadetta's eyes widened. Tears started to form in her eyes. Macuil huffed. Such an emotional speech was pretty much out of character for him. But seeing that she actually cheered up made him somehow happy. The saint smiled and put a hand on her head. She, of course, flinched fearing that he might hit her. But instead, he just ruffled her hair and laughed then she complained slightly.


Author's note:

* This is a hint to the end of Hubert in Crimson Flower should you play on classic. He dies right after the war if he falls in battle. This actually happened to me then I faced off the Immaculate One, btw. And I was completely out of Divine Pulses, so I couldn't save him and I was kind of sad that Bernadetta's ending screen was depicted without him.

** Did I just make an Easter Egg regarding the anime Romeo X Juliet? Yes, I did. Then I was writing this chapter, I had played the same anime on my TV.