Healing Broken Bonds.
Having secured a major victory over the empire, the Alliance were preparing their next move. For now everyone were resting, except for Claude and Byleth who were discussing a few things.
Suddenly Lysithea walked up to them "Professor? Claude? May I have a moment of your time?".
Claude looks at her "Lysithea, what are you doing up this late? Trouble sleeping?".
"That's understandable. We all have nights like that" Byleth said.
"Anyone would be shaken after such a brutal battle. If you're having trouble sleeping, you should drink some warm milk. That's a thing, right?" Claude asked.
Lysithea glares at him "Must you treat me like a child, simply because I am awake a bit later than usual? Actually, I can hardly muster any indignation right now. I wanted to tell you that I noticed something odd during that battle".
"What was it?" Claude asked.
"There were some strange mages among the ranks of the Imperial army. Did you notice them?" Lysithea asked.
"The ones wearing masks and dressed in black?" Byleth asked.
Lysithea nods "That's right. I have seen people dressed just like that before. It was a long time ago... House Ordelia was involved in a rebellion that took place within the Empire 18 years ago. After it was quelled, all of the key officials were caught and put to death. The Empire sent replacements, who they used to take control of House Ordelia. Among the people sent by the Empire were mages dressed in black, just like those we saw in battle".
"If they're Imperial mages, it would make sense that they would wear the same clothing, right?" Claude asked.
"Yes, but the mages from back then and today... I do not believe they are from the Adrestian Empire" Lysithea said.
Byleth thinks on this for a moment "Are they Kingdom or Alliance mages?".
Lysithea shake her head "No. I got the impression that they were from somewhere else. Somewhere completely separate from Fódlan. There's more. Those mages imprisoned the children from my house, and performed horrible rituals on them. Blood experiments".
Claude looked worried now "Lysithea... You can't mean... even you?".
Lysithea nods sadly "Yes. All of the others were deemed failures. They all died. And even I... It doesn't matter. The point is, that those monsters possess dreadful knowledge and power. I just thought you should know the sort of people who have allied with the Empire".
"Blood experiments... Does that remind you of anything, Teach?" Claude asked.
"The incident with Flayn and the Flame Emperor..." Byleth remembered.
"Exactly. There was that secret group who abducted Flayn and extracted her blood five years ago. The people involved back then were Tomas and Monica... Well, I suppose their true names were Solon and Kronya. So that eerie group has been slithering behind the scenes in the Empire for a while now... Lysithea... Thank you for sharing all of that with us. One day we will uncover the truth of who those people really are" Claude promised.
Meanwhile, Akame was laying awake, her mind going over everything that's been happening. She sits up and looks to her side where Felix was sleeping next to her. It was almost funny how they spent 5 years as enemies, but now they had almost picked up from where they left of. Felix had forgiven her faster than he should've, and so far no one has sought revenge on Akame for her role in aiding Edelgard... But Akame couldn't shake the feeling that the only reason she isn't dead yet is because of Byleth. Other than Byleth and Felix, everyone still looked at Akame with suspicion and distrust. Claude was good at hiding it, but it was clear even he had not grown to fully trust Akame yet and only allowed her to join because he trusted Byleth
Akame sighed as she stood up and walked outside, still only wearing her nightgown. She looked up at the stars. They looked so peaceful... so far away from all the pain and suffering in the world. Nothing could touch them, they were beyond anyone's reach... How Akame wished she could just fly up there and live among the stars... where she can be truly free... free from everything.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt something being placed on her shoulders "You'll catch a cold".
Akame looked and saw Byleth, who had placed her coat on her... a gesture she used to do back when they were younger.
"Thanks..." Akame said as she accepted the gentle gesture.
"Are you alright?" Byleth asked.
Akame looked down "You know the answer to that...".
Byleth sighed, of course she knew "Yes... I'm sorry for leaving you alone all those years, Akame. I can't even imagine how lonely you must've been".
"I was lonely... for a long time... But Edelgard, Esdeath and the rest of the Black Eagles... they saved me, Byleth. If not for them I would've been long dead... and without Edelgard, I never would've discovered by younger sister was still alive" Akame said.
Byleth looked surprised "You mean, Kurome?".
"Yes, she is alive, Byleth... And she along with the rest helped give me life again... they made me feel like I had a purpose again, that I was doing what's right... Then you returned and ruined everything... I don't even know what is right or wrong anymore" Akame said.
Byleth gently pulled her in to a hug "I'm sorry, Akame. I never wanted any of this... and I never meant to cause you so much pain. If I could go back and stop all this from happening, I would... But I can't undo the past, but I can help fight for a brighter future. I know you are worried about your friends, but we are doing our best to not kill them. With any hope, they too will see Edelgard's path is not the right one... Maybe you can help us with that. They trust you and so do I".
"I... I will try..." Akame said.
"That's all I'm asking of you" Byleth said as she hugged her closer, relived that Akame wasn't completely lost.
Akame finally accepts the hug. All her life had been full of hardships and pain. Her parents sold her and Kurome like they were cattle, and she was torn from her beloved younger sister. She might've ended her own life much sooner if Byleth and Jeralt hadn't taken her in and gave her a life and family. But she would loose that family too and end up serving Edelgard and her cause because she had nothing else to live for... but now Byleth was back... unlike her old family, Byleth came back to her. So she will stay for now and hope she isn't heading for another loss.
A while later, everyone had gathered to discuss their next move.
"We've managed to invade Empire territory and emerge victorious in our first battle. I hope to maintain our momentum and push onward to Enbarr, the Imperial Capital. Unfortunately, we are not legendary heroes in a fairytale. Our stamina has limits. The longer we fight, the harder the fight will become. It will take immense effort to secure the supplies and soldier we need to prevail" Claude said.
"Boy, you better not be saying this is as far as we go" Judith said.
Claude smirked at her "Of course not. However, the road ahead leads deep into enemy territory. It will be a difficult journey, strewn with hardship. I can't guarantee that we'll make it out alive. If anyone wants to leave, now is the time to do it".
"I shall accompany you to the very end. After all, someone must step up to take leadership should you fall" Lorenz declared.
"I'm coming. The future of my village depends on this. Besides... I have to protect the professor. For Captain Jeralt" Leonie said, throwing a quick but warning look at Akame..
"I'm not going anywhere! Because of the Empire, my little sis can't live in peace!" Rapheal said with strong determination.
Ignatz smiles in agreement "We can't leave the future of Fódlan to others. I'm sure that everyone here feels the same".
"I sure do. I've already enjoyed punching the Empire in the face, and I can't wait to do it over and over again until we win" Leone said as she punds her fist in to her palm.
"The Knights of Seiros will keep fighting the Empire. We won't rest until we rescue Lady Rhea" Alois said in pride.
"I feel the same as the knights. I've gotta rescue Lady Rhea no matter what" Cyril said.
"So, what - we're all supposed to take turns saying we'll do our best until the very end? And what about you, Marianne? What will you do?" Hilda asked.
Marianne looked worried but did her best to sound more confident "I... I'll fight too!".
Hilda smiled at her "Fine, fine. I suppose I'll tag along too... Until the bitter end".
"It's an honor to keep fighting alongside such stalwart allies. Right, Teach?" Claude asked.
Byleth smiled "I'd expect nothing less from my students".
"Hey now, when you put it that way, it almost sounds like you're just praising yourself!" Claude said jokingly before looking at Akame "And what about you? Teach trusts you, so normally that would be enough. But not all of us here are convinced yet".
"I don't blame you. Had it not been for my sister's return, we would still be enemies and I would still be trying to kill you all. I am only here because I trust my sister... and because one of your allies is someone I love" Akame said with a small blush.
"Appreciate your honesty" Claude said before getting back to the point "All right. Now that I know where each of you stands, I'm going to return to Alliance territory for a while. I intend to report this victory to Alliance lords and draw out even more support from them. Our next battle will be even more challenging, so brace yourselves for that".
"Hmm... I should write to my brother. He'll want to hear about our victory" Hilda said.
"Your brother, Lord Holst? How is he these days?" Claude asked.
"Oh, he's doing great. I even got a letter from him before the last battle. He wanted to come and join our fight too" Hilda answered.
Lorenz perked up at that "What's this? Lord Holst, come here? That would be a most reassuring development".
Hilda shakes her head "Sadly, it sounds like my father was against the idea. They wanted him to stay in case they need to fight the Almyrans".
"Their logic is sound. Though it is vexing that the Alliance's greatest general cannot join us on the front lines" Lorenz said.
"We should be glad that Holst is staying behind. Almyra aside, there's also no guarantee that the Imperial forces won't try to launch a surprise attack from the old Kingdom territory" Claude said.
"Um... If you have something you need to talk to my brother about, I'd be happy to send a letter" Hilda offered.
Claude shook his head smiling "No, that's OK. I'm just glad to hear he's doing well. Please send him my regards".
They may have won their first major battle within the Imperial territories, but the war was far from over. They will need all the skill and luck they could get if they were to have any chance of winning. But their victory had prove that Edelgard and her Empire are not invincible and can be defeated. They may be far from victory, but they are nowhere near defeated... And they will keep fighting, until they win.
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Tell me what you think.