White Clouds: Strands of Ash and Snow
It's time for another update! This one is considerably short than the previous one since Lysithea doesn't have that much involvement regarding the events being covered in this chapter.
Nonetheless, we're gonna pick up the pace soon enough. I won't be covering everything in detail just so you all know.
Now on to the story!
Garland Moon of the Imperial Year 1180
"You need to concentrate." Lysithea told herself as she sat in class being taught by Seteth. It was the class concerning the History of Fodlan and its neighboring countries, one that many seemed to be versed with especially their families' history of being involved in such a way.
It wasn't like she didn't want to learn Fodlan's history unlike the majority of her classmates partaking the class. Lysithea was more bothered at the thought of what she and the other houses did in the end of the Harpstring Moon.
It was most of the students' first taste of a real battle that dealt with life and death. Sure, the Knights of Seiros were there in case things go awry for the students but…
Despite fighting merely untrained and undisciplined bandits, Lysithea and other like-minded students still couldn't shrug off the hesitance and the heavy feeling of bearing responsibility for ending the life of another human being just to survive.
It wasn't pretty but it was necessary is what she tried to tell herself and if she would assume what the others were thinking… the students tried to convince that to themselves as well. Claude himself wasn't even as easygoing like he used to when he shot a bandit to the head.
She heard that the other houses also had their own qualms in killing. The majority of the Blue Lions are battle hardened as they were considering that Dimitri and his other classmates led troops to quell rebellions and the like during his time in Faerghus prior to enrolling in Garreg Mach. Select members like Annette, Mercedes and Ashe were shaken by what they had to do.
Then, there was the Black Eagles who took the brunt of the bandits' forces in Zanado, the Red Canyon situated in the Oghma Mountains just near Garreg Mach. The place was meant to be sacred and as such people with ill intent would sully the sanctity of the canyon and as per Archbishop Rhea's absolute order: the bandits inhabiting Zanado were to fall by the name of the Goddess.
And as the Archbishop expected, Professor Byleth led the Black Eagles to victory while they sustained only slight injuries in ridding the world of filthy cutthroats.
Lysithea didn't know why the Church was so protective of Zanado, she heard that the canyon has what seems to be the ruins of a civilization long gone and forgotten. Not that she cared much, having expressed her disdain on the tenets of the Church of Seiros towards Flayn. The two never talked again after Lysithea shouted at her, not that they saw each other around Garreg Mach anyway.
"Lysithea."
Besides the uneasiness she is feeling on her first kill, Lysithea had something more to worry about than anything else now.
It's been a month since Hanneman told her of his discovery of her twin Crests, a phenomena that piques every fibre of his being. Lysithea could remember how Hanneman basically began speaking many nonsense on Crestology and that he was the first in Fodlan to discover a person possessing two Crests despite what the fundamentals of Crest research throughout the years has established that no one is capable of possessing two yet there's Lysithea.
The jubilance that Hanneman felt and expressed disgusted Lysithea yet she could only keep quiet on the dark nature that lies within the truth of her twin Crests. She didn't want anyone to know nor worry and make a fuss about her circumstances, she didn't want that kind of attention and inconvenience to her and to others.
"Lysithea!"
The Ordelia heiress snapped out of her thoughts, having lost herself again. It was only from Seteth's firm stern voice and Annette, who was sitting beside her, tapping her shoulder did Lysithea realize she was being called by Seteth.
Blushing in embarrassment, Lysithea abruptly stood up.
"Y-Yes?"
Seteth sighed while holding on to his text book, a pointing stick on his left hand that he uses to point out what he wrote at the blackboard.
"During the Crescent Moon War, what year in the Imperial calendar did the Leicester Alliance finally earn their independence from the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus?"
Lysithea and the members of the Golden Deer knew this very well, no one in the Alliance would dare call themselves its citizens if they didn't know the year that they gained independence from either nations.
"Imperial Year of 901." Lysithea responded despite not paying attention to Seteth's class.
Seteth nodded. "That is correct despite looking like you were off on your own thoughts. You may sit down." He told her before pointing on another subject on the blackboard.
"Now, we move on to the first invasion of Almyra… turn your books to page…"
Lysithea sighed, she knew all of this already. Everything pertaining to the history of the Alliance, Kingdom and Empire she knew already except for the more in-depth and meticulous details.
Seteth's history and theology class for the day offered nothing new to Lysithea as it focused more on the Leicester Alliance's general history that she is already familiar with.
Upon exiting the class, she sighed at the fruitless day of learning nothing new. She was aware of how unreasonable her pursuit of knowledge could be as the professors are taking into consideration those who haven't put as much effort as she did in their studies but she had hoped that each passing day in the academy would actually be fruitful to her endeavors.
It is now the third month of her enrollment to Garreg Mach and it seemed like she learned more from self studying than anything she learned from class except for her classes in military tactics.
Military tactics, the only time that she has the chance to have Professor Byleth as her teacher. It seemed fitting that someone with actual experience in battle than most professors in the academy would teach the students of battle tactics.
Being the son of Captain Jeralt and learning under him throughout his life further added credence to his credibility in such a subject as well as his experience fighting as a mercenary for a living.
Unlike most professors, Byleth was more strict than any other professor even surpassing Seteth on how he grades and teaches his students. He was blunt in pointing out mistakes and didn't seem to care for his students' social status when he addresses them. Everyone seemed equal in his eyes and Lysithea appreciated all those points she pointed out.
Sadly, his class wouldn't be taught until the day after tomorrow. It seemed like the only class where she could learn something new that she didn't know already from other professors.
Deciding to head off to her room to check on Ordelian, Lysithea found herself about to pass through the Black Eagles classroom when Edelgard came out of the doorway just as Lysithea was passing through.
Unlike the previous times, Edelgard quickly reacted and placed her hands on Lysithea's shoulders to spare her the small pain of bumping into her.
"We should really stop meeting like this." Edelgard giggled upon seeing Lysithea once more, finding humor in the same circumstances they meet every chance they get.
Lysithea looked up to see the Imperial Princess towering above her, her lavender eyes seemed more full of life than the previous times she's seen it.
"I apologize for the constant inconvenience Princess Edelgard-"
Edelgard raised her hand up, a gesture for her to stop.
"Lysithea, please call me by my name." Edelgard told her. "I maybe the Imperial Princess but during our stay here in Garreg Mach, I am simply Edelgard, a student much like everyone else."
The Ordelia heiress simply nodded, unsure of how to proceed with her conversation with the ashen haired girl.
"Besides, from what I have seen, you haven't given Claude the same honor of calling him of… whatever title he possesses." Edelgard briefly paused for a moment there, thinking of a title for Claude besides the heir to House Riegan. It wasn't as flashy as her title as the Imperial Princess or like Dimitri's title as Crown Prince.
Lysithea frowned at the mention of Claude, remembering the moments he would actively try to annoy her by treating her like a child or pranking her.
"Claude's insufferable." Lysithea grumbled, not having the thought of concealing her dislike towards her house leader. She may dislike him but a part of her respects his cunningness and ingenuity. Given the chance and if it weren't for Lorenz' foolish blunder, he might have pulled off something during the mock battle that could have given them a chance.
Edelgard raised her eyebrows at Lysithea's choice of words on her house leader, it seems clear to her that Lysithea was irritated on something that Claude does to her yet there's a hint of restrain in her voice as if housing some grudging respect. An assumption that was true if she only knew what Lysithea was thinking.
Lysithea sighed "We're getting off the topic." She continued before giving Edelgard an apologetic bow.
"I'm sorry for what happened last time, Princ- Edelgard." Lysithea apologized.
Edelgard lightly chuckled. "Lysithea, that wasn't something to be solely responsible about. Don't worry about it." She assured her with a gentle smile.
"I apologize as well for any pain that I may have caused." Edelgard finished.
Despite the assurance, Lysithea was still anxious around Edelgard for reasons that she's affliated to the Empire. She wasn't sure how to think of the ashen haired girl but there is something inside that tells her that it wasn't fair to judge and regard Edelgard on the same vein as those responsible for her and her family's misfortunes.
She still wasn't sure what to feel around Edelgard and this didn't go unnoticed by the latter after seeing her hesitation.
Edelgard knew better than to confront her about it at such an inopportune time, she had a hunch that no matter how gently she approaches the Ordelia heiress on what's gotten her anxious around her, Lysithea wouldn't like it.
"I think we both started on the wrong foot since we first met." Edelgard changed the topic for the better to at least find a way to ease whatever Lysithea feels about her.
Lysithea looked up at her.
"If it's alright with you, I would like to invite you to talk over a cup of tea soon." Edelgard invited, placing her gloved hand on her chin.
Lysithea stared at her for a brief moment, her grip on her books tightened, she could recall that someone else tried to invite her over tea and she ended up shouting at the person because of how ignorant he was, she then recalled that person to be Lorenz.
"Why?" Was only what came out of her lips in response to Edelgard's invitation.
It seemed Edelgard anticipated her question.
"I have a feeling that we have something in common that we can discuss…"
Lysithea wasn't convinced yet on why she would dedicate some time to spend with someone she is unsure to be around with.
"... over a plate of sweets of course."
Lysithea froze for a brief moment at the mention of sweets.
"Sweets?" She asked.
"Yes." Edelgard nodded, a sweat dripping down from her brow. She didn't know if she approached that one correctly considering how Lysithea asked the single worded question with an unreadable expression.
"Are you perhaps not fond of them? If so, I can…"
"I never say no to sweets!" Lysithea piped out all of a sudden at the realization that the opportunity of tasting whatever sweets a princess has access to would falter away.
Edelgard was taken by surprise at her sudden enthusiasm that she has been trying to dig out ever since they spoke.
"So you are fond of them…"
Lysithea frowned slightly. "Only a fool would dare say sweets aren't to their liking!" She said with zeal.
Somewhere in the training grounds, a certain man with dark blue hair suddenly sneezed after swinging his sword.
Edelgard giggled at the kind of unusual zeal Lysithea has suddenly shown the moment sweets has become the topic of their conversation.
"You know what they say… sweet eases the tension one feels." Edelgard quoted.
"Who said that?" Lysithea asked, unaware of the existence of the said quote.
"Me." Edelgard firmly said.
There was a brief moment of silence between the snow-white haired girl and the ashen haired girl until the former giggled for the first time in the latter's eyes. Lysithea didn't expect such a jest from Edelgard of all people, having apparently had the impression that she exudes the qualities expected of a princess such as strong self-confidence and being prim and proper.
Edelgard on the other hand was glad that Lysithea managed to at least ease up in her presence, she wasn't sure how Lysithea would take her banter.
"It is something I quite agree with though!" Lysithea continued giggling, momentarily forgetting any form of anxiety she felt around Edelgard.
"Edelgard, there's something I wish to ask you." A voice outside of their conversation suddenly spoke, both girls of ash and snow white turned to see Byleth at the doorway of the Black Eagles classroom.
Byleth was unaware that he interrupted what seemed to be a blooming conversation between the two girls until he noticed Lysithea upon leaving the doorway.
"Lysithea."
The Ordelia heiress nodded in acknowledgement before giving him a small smile.
"Professor."
Byleth realized that he had just interrupted a conversation upon noticing the position and direction of their bodies to each other.
With one of his infamous impassive expressions, "I'm sorry for the interruption." Byleth apologized.
Lysithea shook her head. "Don't worry professor. We were almost done." She then turned to Edelgard.
"Thank you Edelgard. I'll be going now." She said and gave the two a bow before leaving with her books as Byleth and Edelgard watched her leave.
"Interesting girl." Edelgard murmured to herself but Byleth still heard her but didn't pry his eyes from Lysithea.
"She is." Byleth agreed out of nowhere, having his own impression of the Ordelia heiress ever since the mock battle and how she's always at the top of his class whenever he gets the opportunity to teach her.
Edelgard smiled to herself before facing her house' professor.
"What is it you wanted to ask, my teacher?"
Byleth didn't respond at first and watched as Lysithea steadily went out of his sight until she was gone, something Edelgard noticed but never commented on.
"I want to ask about the subject of our mission this month, who is this Lord Lonato and what do you know of him…" Byleth asked.
As for Lysithea, she still has her own reservations towards being around Edelgard but at least… she feels lighter this time.
While at the end of the month of the Garland Moon, the Golden Deer were sent to protect a trade caravan from bandits, a mission that went without incident despite some of them having their own reservations of killing. Lysithea managed to harden herself in terms of missions like this.
She heard during their trek back to Garreg Mach of Lorenz arguing with some of his classmates, mainly Claude on Lonato's ill-advised rebellion to the Church.
Lonato's rebellion… the Blue Lions actually protested that such a task must be undertaken by them upon hearing of the Black Eagles being the ones to assist the Church as it is their duty as nobles and members of Faerghus to preserve whatever kind of peace remained in their nation. Ashe himself was adamant that he could talk Lonato out but was still rejected by Seteth who reasoned that their emotional investment on such a matter is exactly why they weren't chosen to assist in putting it down.
Claude argued that the Church shouldn't have had the right to execute Lonato's son as the crime that he was implicated with was within the bounds of Faerghus. Claude argued that such meddling from the Church of Seiros would actually give them more power and authority, going as far as making an implication that jurisdiction won't matter to them.
Lorenz argued that the Church is trying to bring order to a nation in need of it such as Faerghus considering that the Tragedy of Duscur left a power vacuum that is still felt until today.
Claude was still convinced that the Church shouldn't be given such power in the first place and should remain what it should be, a religious institution and nothing more. Not a magistrate that would serve its justice to anyone or anywhere as they please.
Despite Lorenz' defense of the Church, he and Claude did agree on one thing: Lonato's rebellion would serve to harm the people under him regardless if they are willing to die for him. Using a militia comprised of commoners who were swayed by speeches to lay their lives to Lonato's personal vendetta against the Church was unbecoming of a noble.
The nobility must strive to protect the common folk beneath their banner, not subject them to war as Lorenz put it.
Lysithea however, didn't care about what the two discussed, she just wanted to get back to Garreg Mach not listen to a political debate over one foolish lord who endangered his subjects due to his personal hatred against the Church.
That's something Lysithea has no plans on following when she finally grows of age to help her parents govern Ordelia territory. She wanted to at least give the people who still believed in her family some sense of relief and comfort when they renounce their titles. Lysithea wanted to make sure such a thing would be possible.
Upon arrival to Garreg Mach, they arrived only moments after the Black Eagles returned in dealing with Lonato's ill-fated rebellion. Despite coming out nearly unscathed, the members of the Black Eagles were mostly disturbed on what they had to do.
Caspar was verbally angry on what they had been forced to do, he had to kill militia from Lonato's army and he couldn't shake the feeling that he had to kill people who believed they were serving a just cause. The same could be said for Dorothea, Ferdinand and Bernadetta but less verbal in their outrage.
There seems to be no victory fanfare for the Black Eagles, Byleth himself was more silent than he used to be, there were still splatters of dried blood on his clothes and armor when he arrived. Lysithea heard it was ultimately Byleth, not Catherine who killed Lonato. Maybe taking down people who used to be peasants rather than actual fighters could have affected the professor?
Edelgard herself looked the most calm among all of her peers but this could be attributed to her as masking her emotions better than the others, Lysithea wasn't sure.
Soon enough, Byleth was asked to report to Rhea regarding what happened and what they discovered. Byleth and Catherine left together to submit their report, leaving the Black Eagles to clean themselves up and rest for the entire day.
Upon exchanging courtesies with Claude, Lysithea received a nod of acknowledgement from Edelgard before the latter left, most likely to rest up. Lysithea opted to do the same and also because she needed to care for Ordelian.
Blue Sea Moon of the Imperial Year 1180
Lysithea found herself grumbling on the first day of class in this month when Hanneman announced of what is to occur.
Besides her disinterest on the Rite of Rebirth that the Church plans on holding to pray for the return of the Goddess who obviously hasn't returned yet. They, the students also were ordered to assist in guarding the monastery to protect its sanctity and the believers from all over Fodlan to attend the holy ritual.
This meant that their time to study and train were drastically reduced, something she complained to Byleth when Byleth sat at the same table with her during dinner. Byleth instead suggested to her to study on her own free time if she finds lessons to be unhelpful.
Lysithea was touched by the professor's willingness to actually give her challenging assignments on his tactics class despite being busy in investigating and juggling his duties as a professor. She didn't have time to be modest and agreed to his proposal.
In one such occasion of her free time, Lysithea went on to study advanced theories of magic with the library in order to improve her handling of her arcane power. One such book within the library proved helpful for her despite its contents having something to do with the power of Crests.
She wasn't even aware that it was already dark outside as she read more into the book and writing notes of interest in her notebook.
"Ah, so I see... If one were to combine this incantation method with the power of a Crest, then in theory, it should─"
She heard footsteps from behind her but didn't give it any mind, wanting to keep her own thoughts intact just when she's near to reaching a conclusion in the page of the book.
"Hey there. Still studying, are we? Isn't it past your bedtime?" Claude greeted and asked her casually with his usual easygoing tone.
The sound of Claude's voice and what he said immediately soured Lysithea's expression. Closing the book, she turned around to glare at the Riegan heir.
"Claude, I really don't appreciate you interrupting me right now." She huffed, putting down the book on one of the shelves and crossing her arms below her chest. She didn't bother to hide her indignation towards him.
Claude faked a concerned look. "Ah, but if you don't get your sleep, you'll never going to grow big and strong!"
Lysithea has somehow gotten used to his antics these past few months, she didn't want him to rile her up as easily as he did. Not wanting to give Claude the satisfaction of getting a rise out of her ever again.
"Uh-huh. The last thing I need is you fretting over me as though I'm some child." She responded calmly but with a venomous hint. "I'm only a few years younger than you, you know. Hardly worth nothing."
She wanted to point out that despite being younger, she's far more mature than Claude thinks, wanting to prove that she is better than Claude in almost every way just so he would actually shut up.
"Furthermore, my grades in magic─and basically every other subject─are far higher than yours." She finished to prove her point, beaming in pride at her accomplishments in class. Something Claude didn't argue with considering how everyone brands the Ordelia heiress as the star pupil of the Golden Deer house.
Claude shrugged at the hostility of his classmate.
"Whoa, there! I'm not trying to treat you like a child, I promise." He tried to assure her but Lysithea wasn't foolish enough to actually believe him, she knew there was more for him to say.
"This is me treating you like... like a princess! Now, come along, princess. Brush your teeth and get yourself ready for bed. I could read you a story, if that helps?" He continued while faking a typical gentleman's tone and offering his hand towards her.
Lysithea swatted his hand away like a fly and rather painfully considering how Claude winced at the contact.
"Ugh, the audacity! Whatever it is you think you're treating me like, it's unendingly annoying." Lysithea didn't notice she was losing her cool once again, she just couldn't bear to hear more of Claude's verbal bullying towards her, especially since she had so little time to study in recent and upcoming days due to their task as glorified security guards of the monastery.
"If a child and a princess are out, what's left? Should I treat you as a noble hero?" Claude asked before adopting a tone that befits a noble knight. "Draw your sword, Lysithea! If you wish to continue studying, you must first defeat me in battle!"
Lysithea merely crossed her arms and impatiently tapped her foot on the library's floor, letting Claude finish.
"Come now! Face me like the hero of legend that you are!" Claude mockingly challenged.
The snow-white haired girl sighed in exasperation, she just wanted to get Claude to leave her alone to her own self-studying.
"I find myself speechless in the wake of your staggering ignorance. Now, please, leave me be." Lysithea said in a snarky way, wanting those to be the final words she shares with Claude within the scope of the day before she turned around and opened the book once more to read, her notebook and quill on one of the spare lecterns on the corner near the shelf she was near.
Claude chuckled in amusement. "Okay, okay. I can take a hint." He said but Lysithea didn't pay him any of her attention anymore. "But in all seriousness, you shouldn't neglect your sleep. You'll fall ill if you push yourself too hard."
Lysithea's expression softened, perhaps Claude merely came to the library and saw her. Then in his own stupid way, wanted to tell Lysithea to relax and take care of herself more… something she couldn't afford to do at the moment, considering the limited time she has recently.
"Oh, and just so you know... I heard a rumor that this library is haunted." Claude added much to Lysithea's shock.
She gasped quietly upon Claude's mention of the rumored hauntings of the library. If there was one thing that Lysithea was truly afraid of, its of the supernatural nature of ghosts and the stories that comes with it.
Abruptly closing the book and hastily returning it to the bookshelf, she turned to Claude with horrified wide eyes.
"It's probably not true. Right? Right." Claude rhetorically asked. "Anyhow, I'm off to bed. Good night!"
Lysithea blinked before responding what is her last words to Claude within the day. "You know... I am suddenly rather sleepy! Excuse me while I see myself out!"
On the same night, she bumped into a patrolling knight who asked her if she needed help. Lysithea instantly surmised the knight saw her as a little girl and promptly rejected his offer. Not too long after, she was mistaken for a lost girl by another knight only for Lysithea to correct the female knight in annoyance.
Upon leaving the main building, Lysithea was on her way to her dorm room when she realized something.
In her haste to leave the library earlier, no thanks to Claude's mention of it being haunted, she forgot her notebook on the lectern as well as her personal quill that her mother had gifted to her.
She wanted to turn back to get them back but found herself getting intimidated by the dark halls of the building.
She sighed, resigning to just wake up early to come and get her belongings rather than them getting thrown into the lost and found section of the monastery. But then again, her notes in that notebook was needed for her class first thing in the morning tomorrow and so she decided to at least try to go back to the library… the darkness and the knights treating her like a child notwithstanding.
"Honestly, what do they all take me for?" Lysithea asked herself while being annoyed when she remembered the subsequent events of her being regarded as nothing more than a child.
"Perfectly and completely fine. It's hardly different from daytime. I'm not scared." She declared to herself, she was about to take her steps back to the main building until she heard what seems to be footsteps from the darkness in front of her.
Her heart started beating rapidly within the ribcage of her chest as the sounds became more and more closer until a dark figure stepped from the shadows to reveal himself to her.
She couldn't handle the fear welling up within her and she ended up screaming.
"Ahhhhh! Guh-guh-GHOST!" Lysithea screamed out but immediately felt like a fool when the moon's dim light cast on the figure who approached her to reveal none other than Byleth.
"Uh... Hang on... Professor? Is that you?" She asked rather dumbly, her nerves were still frazzled from the scare she received. Lysithea then realized how embarrassing she must have sounded to the professor and decided to salvage whatever remained of self-esteem.
"Oh, well... Good evening! Hahaha!" She faked out laughter to maintain her nonexistent image of bravery.
Byleth frowned at her not because of her false bravery but more out of concern.
"What are you doing here so late in the night?" He asked her. "It's way past the curfew."
Lysithea didn't respond at first and noticed that the professor wasn't wearing any pieces of his improvised armor except for the gauntlets and armor around his waist, his billowing coat that always sways as he moves was nowhere around him as well.
"Well?" Byleth said, expecting a reasonable answer from Lysithea.
"Oh, I left something in the library, so I'm on my way to fetch it." Lysithea responded. "But you don't need to come with me or anything like that. I'm fine on my own–really!" She added rather foolishly to maintain her false facade.
Byleth raised an eyebrow in question.
"I wasn't planning on it." He said rather plainly.
Lysithea mentally slapped herself for making a fool out of herself.
"You weren't? Oh. Apologies for making an assumption." Lysithea apologized, knowing she couldn't maintain such a front to the professor of all people, his blue eyes seemed to see through her without fault, the same could be said to anyone.
Byleth placed a hand on his chin. "What's wrong? Something seems to be bothering you." Byleth asked out in concern yet his expression wasn't consistent with his words.
Lysithea sighed, she couldn't lie to him right now and decided to come clean with him.
"The truth is, everyone I come across ever since I left the library asks if I'd like some company." She admitted, remembering the knights who either judged or mistook her as a little girl.
"They all seem to think I'll be scared wandering alone at night." She continued before frowning. "So rude and presumptuous, you know? I'm perfectly capable of being on my own!" She insisted despite her earlier outburst.
Byleth raised his eyebrows before nodding.
"If that's the case. Good evening, then." Byleth said while in the process of turning his back on Lysithea to head to his room. "I advise you to get some sleep. Students are not allowed in the building at this time."
Seeing an opportunity going to waste, Lysithea hastily called out for him, maybe he could help her… she wished. But will the professor actually afford more time to waste on helping her mend her own carelessness of leaving her notebook behind?
"Hey! Professor, wait! I...um, well…" Lysithea mumbled, blushing at her request that she was about to relay to the professor.
"I thought it might be nice to walk and talk together to the library. Shall we?" Lysithea asked.
Byleth raised his eyebrows once more, he didn't have any particular business to the library so why would he have a reason to go there? But then again, the building is forbidden to students at night and it seemed important for Lysithea to get her things at the library.
"To be abundantly clear, this has nothing to do with my nonexistent fear of ghosts." Lysithea further added unnecessarily.
"Fine. I'd be happy to." He said, his words not matching his expression once more but it didn't bother Lysithea.
Lysithea blushed upon hearing of his willingness to help her and so the two began their journey to the library in the darkness of the night.
Walking past the halls, climbing up the stairs and talking to patrolling knights who ordered them to halt and reveal themselves. Byleth and Lysithea were nearing the library as they passed by Manuela's infirmary along the dark hallway.
Lysithea didn't notice but Byleth did as the former wrapped her arms around his left arm since they stepped foot within the darkness of the building. Byleth could feel her arms shaking not from the cold but from fear.
"Lysithea…"
Lysithea gasped out at his sudden voice following the long series of eerie silence they experienced throughout their journey to the library.
She nearly screamed if it weren't for Byleth placing a hand on her mouth to avoid causing a misunderstanding.
Byleth quickly let go of her mouth upon Lysithea realizing what Byleth prevented her from doing when she nodded at him.
"Maybe we never should have come here." Byleth remarked, seeing how Lysithea was such a terrified mess, a far cry of the model student that he has seen her show so far.
They were now by the library's door, Byleth opened the doors while Lysithea still clung on to his arm. They went inside only to be met by total darkness.
"Lysithea."
"Y-Yes?"
"You're holding my arm too tightly." Byleth winced in slight pain, feeling the intense hold on his arm.
Lysithea realized what she had been doing the entire time and promptly loosened her hold on the professor's arm.
"Oay, I confess. I AM scared of ghosts! The monastery is unnerving to me at night. So can we talk about something, please? The silence is so unsettling!" Lysithea admitted all at once, baring her very fears to the professor.
Byleth looked at her for a while and despite the darkness, he could see pinkish red eyes glistening with tears threatening to fall.
She looked… so vulnerable…
"Hang on, let me find a lamp. Stay here." Byleth ordered her, Lysithea reluctantly let go of his arm.
Byleth left her side for a brief moment, hearing his footsteps around the library until he stopped and picked up an oil lamp on one of the tables and turned it on, showing his location to Lysithea as light dimly illuminated his surroundings.
Lysithea followed his light to come to his side once more.
Deciding to fill the void with some talk, Byleth decided to humor Lysithea's request earlier.
"What is it you want to talk about?" He asked her as they went from shelf to shelf to slowly find what Lysithea had lost.
Lysithea looked up at him, not clinging to his arm as the light of the lamp has at least granted her some courage to walk all by herself. Lysithea thought of something to talk about until she remembered her earlier observations on how Byleth treats his students regardless of status.
"I've noticed for quite sometime now… you treat all your students equally, don't you?" She rhetorically asked.
"You think so?" Byleth asked. "I have always been taught by my father to regard everyone as such."
Lysithea nodded. "You've never treated me differently simply because I'm younger than the others." She admitted as much as she didn't want to, she then smiled at the professor.
"And I've always appreciated that." She finished, feeling warm.
Byleth wanted to smile after seeing her but something else stopped him from doing so.
"You're younger?" He asked, dumbfounded at the revelation. He always thought of the Ordelia heiress as simply a girl of short stature. The way she presents herself, her intelligence passing beyond that of those older than her… he had always thought of her as simply a remarkable student… he didn't think she was any younger than the rest.
Lysithea's smile faltered and was replaced with a surprised look.
"Isn't it rather obvious? I'm roughly two to three years younger than the rest of the class." Lysithea replied.
Byleth wanted to tell her that he initially thought she was just short but stopped himself from doing so, who knows how Lysithea would react if she heard such a thing from him.
"I see… I never knew that." Byleth admitted, dumbfounded.
Lysithea frowned, traces of her warm smile had all but disappeared. She had initially thought the professor treated her with respect and of equal standing as a student but to find out he was merely ignorant of her age… she's beginning to think that such treatment would change now that he knew. She felt betrayed of her expectations.
"Have you not been paying close enough attention to those you teach?" She asked, her frown gracing every feature of her face. "That's poor form for a professor…" She remarked.
Byleth merely stared at her as she berated him.
Lysithea wanted to say more until she found the lectern that held her precious notebook and beloved writing quill.
"Oh! There, I've found what I was looking for!" She piped out all of a sudden, finally achieving what she had hoped to accomplish. She went to the lectern and took her notebook and quill.
She momentarily forgot about her disappointment of the professor's lack of knowledge on who he teaches.
"Well, I'd better be on my way now." Lysithea said, giving Byleth a bow of thanks for his assistance.
"Good night professor!" Lysithea bid her farewell, leaving Byleth alone in the dimly lit library.
Forgetting something else entirely… She realized it too late as she descended down the stairs that she was alone in the darkness.
Lysithea screamed once more that night when a patrolling knight happened to pass by, alerting everyone else in the vicinity.
It was all only thanks to Byleth that she managed to escape punishment for the curfew, making an excuse that didn't seem so convincing to the knights but nonetheless let it drop.
Lysithea found herself standing in the middle of an ash and dust-filled smoke clouding the environment around her. She could hear the terrifying cries of pain, begging for life and prayers to a lost Goddess in a desperate attempt to keep on living.
The sound of blade tearing through flesh… blood splattering the ground.
Lysithea closed her eyes and covered her ears as the noise around her became more intense until there was nothing.
Nothing but the sounds of ocean waves crashing on the rocks and the sounds of seagulls flying above the sea.
The smell of ash and blood was replaced with the briny scent of the ocean's breeze.
She was familiar with this place… she expected what she would see when she opens her eyes.
Lysithea opened her eyes, expecting the mysterious girl that keeps on appearing in her dreams… her back facing her yet she wasn't there.
In her place were three slabs of stones, weathered by time and covered by growth of weeds and moss over it.
They seemed like graves yet she didn't know who they belonged to. Before she can peer closer to see what is the epitaph written on each grave, she heard a twig snap from behind her. When she looked back to see the identity of the person behind her-
She woke up, staring at the ceiling and greeted by the sleepy meows of Ordelian.
That was longer than I intended, this was merely a respite from what is to come on later chapters which you all know what will happen.
Yes, I altered Byleth and Lysithea's C-support here to happen right after Lysithea's funny C-support with Claude XD
I would be delegating my time on chapter 5 rather than writing Bubbly and Surly's next chapter because seriously, I really really want to progress on certain points of this story already! XD
Anyway, for those not aware... I mostly hang out on the Church of Lysithea discord server with Hazeel and SuperbOwl, both are amazing fellow writers and men of culture supporting Bysithea! Be sure to read their stories as well if you haven't!
Thank you and as always... kudos and comments are very much appreciated!