White Clouds
The Sundered Clouds
Part A
This chapter is split into two parts, I had decided to do so due to the differing tones of each story and I figured if I released it in one go, it would take too long for you guys to wait for.
14th day of the Pegasus Moon of the Imperial Year 1180
Lysithea's brows were furrowed as she tried to concentrate hard on the notes she had been writing on ever since she began attending the Officer's Academy with the final exams to take place in the coming week.
Annette, her study mate looked on with concern at the frustrated look her friend had as she, Mercedes and Leonie were all collectively studying for their impending exams.
While Mercedes remained calm and serene, the opposite can be said for Leonie who seemed like she was having trouble putting two and two together with one particular subject she was studying for.
"Agh!" Lysithea exclaimed out in frustration at her apparent look of focus, slamming her notebook close, resting her elbows on the long dining table in the dining hall and placing her hands over her face.
Leonie and Mercedes both looked up at her, startled by Lysithea's sudden outburst when Leonie seemed like she was the one who was on the verge of standing up and lifting the table down of aggravation.
"It's been days since Edelgard and the professor left!" Lysithea grumbled, ignoring the stares she was getting from her friends, she was lucky that not many were currently in the dining hall and as such, she was mostly unnoticed with her outburst.
"They just left without so much of a word one day!" Lysithea continued with a groan. "Ugh, I needed to talk to the professor regarding some topics that would be covered for the exams!"
Annette discreetly raised an eyebrow in question to Lysithea, she somehow doubted her snow haired friend just wanted to talk to the professor considering the stunt she had pulled back in the ball.
With a sigh, Leonie closed her notebook too and laid the side of her face on it.
"Ever since that fight with Solon, he has been repeatedly hounded by several people." Leonie groaned. "Suffice to say, he didn't like the extra amount of attention he attracted with what happened."
Mercedes remained quiet with her ever so present serene smile, pouring warm tea into the cups of her friends, refilling them for their convenience.
"Thanks Mercie." Annette smiled at her, taking a sip of the tea and pairing it up with a piece of baked treats Mercedes had baked for them prior.
Lysithea looked at her friends in between her fingers before listlessly sighing, just when things are going back in some form of normalcy, the professor leaves at such a rare period nowadays. She heard that even Lady Rhea wasn't informed of the professor's departure and that it was only thanks to Alois checking his room did he find out the short note from him of his journey to Enbarr with Edelgard.
But what could have they done in Enbarr when even the rest of the Black Eagles don't even know why Edelgard decided to return home to the Imperial Capital in such short notice as well during the time of their impending exams when they should be all ready for it?
"Oh." Mercedes softly gasped as if remembering something. "Leonie, how is the wound?"
Leonie looked at the bandaged area of her left arm's bicep.
"It's fine, I guess. Doesn't sting anymore."
"Nonetheless, don't push that too hard on training. I know there are practical exams but still-"
"I know I know, Professor Manuela told me the same thing but still… thanks for asking and treating it regularly." Leonie replied with a thankful grin but such grin soon faded into the opposite.
"At least the one who did this is dead for the maggots to feast on." Leonie spitefully said as she remembered the one person she despised the most is now lying six feet under the ground.
Lysithea hissed at the memory of the person Leonie was referring to, Kronya. If she was to be crude with her language, Lysithea would have easily called her a pale white bitch with a pitch black heart that contrasts her skin color. Up until this time, Kronya had caused the professor and the many people who idolized Jeralt, much pain and that includes Leonie.
While Byleth was aching to get vengeance for Jeralt, Leonie too was hungering for it, she had personally requested the professor to allow her to join in when Kronya and Solon were spotted in the Sealed Forest.
All of it came from Edelgard, having apparently heard from some of the knights regarding the information and that Rhea intended to keep such information under wraps from the professor in a way of preventing him taking revenge while fueled with hatred against those responsible for his father's death.
With the Black Eagles eager to help their professor in their endeavor as well to get back at Kronya and Solon for the many pains they have caused over the past few months, Byleth seemed ready to mobilize them with or without Rhea's permission, a trait Lysithea found to be strange from the professor considering she always recognized him as a man of logical reasoning especially in battles but in that moment, he felt like… a man angered and resentful at those who wronged him.
While the Black Eagles saw more and more of his… human side, Lysithea expressed her concern that they cannot afford to charge in blindly with emotions clouding their better judgment, a sentiment that Rhea shared when she arrived with Seteth and her entourage, a frown of disapproval etched on her face after overhearing Byleth and his students' intention to mobilize without her permission.
"When you think about it, that look in Lady Rhea's eyes… it was scary." Annette mentioned as all eyes on their table went to her.
"I can agree, she always had those gentle eyes radiating with serenity but-" Mercedes noted.
"It seemed like for a moment, there was something else… right?" Leonie added. "Yet the professor…"
"He didn't budge one bit, he was adamant in defying her right on her face until Edelgard managed to swoop in and reason with her." Annette recounted, recalling the equally intense look in her teacher's azure eyes towards Rhea's.
Even Lysithea could attest to witnessing the staring contest between the two, it seemed like there was some form of resentment in Byleth's eyes during that time and it wasn't purely out of anger for Rhea withholding information from him about his father's killer but something else.
Lysithea didn't think the professor had some sort of strong feelings against the Archbishop due to what she had done for him and Jeralt, she could also remember how thankful she was for Rhea's leniency to her and Byleth when the rumors and accusations were hurled towards them despite them technically doing something wrong (on a minor degree).
In the end, Rhea relented and gave the order for Byleth and the Black Eagles to pursue Solon and Kronya, then known as Monica. It is at this point that Leonie was allowed to accompany them by Byleth despite Ferdinand's concern that Leonie's zeal would do more harm than good, the same concern extended for the professor and the other Black Eagles.
"Monica. You'll pay for what you've done!" Leonie declared in vengeful fury, dismounting from her horse and pointed her lance to Kronya with the intention to skewer her with it as they faced off in the middle of what appears to be a stone courtyard with four pillars on each corner within the forest while fighting can be heard from around them ranging from clashing weapons and magical explosions.
Kronya's smug and psychotic smile dissipated the moment she was addressed by the name she had used as her disguise as well as her skin during her deception. She frowned at Leonie as they encircled around in anticipation.
"I told you! I am not Monica, I am Kronya! Do not call me by that fake name!" Kronya exclaimed out in anger at how such a person she calls a vermin would dare to still address her as such with another vermin's name, it made her feel low as someone who primes herself superior than a mere human.
"I don't really care what your name truly is, all I care is killing you right here, RIGHT NOW."
With a roar of anger, Leonie charged towards Kronya, swinging her lance at the pale woman who tumbled back acrobatically to avoid the range of her adversary's lance.
After smoothly landing, Kronya used her speed to clash her short blade against the pole of Leonie's lance, the latter noticed Kronya's blade was already digging in the wooden pole of her lance.
Gritting her teeth, Leonie exerted much force in pushing her lance' pole towards Kronya in order to maintain her distance. Leonie knew she had to use her weapon's long reach as an advantage to keep Kronya away from her as the latter can prove to use her agile speed to overwhelm her in close range.
Sensing her enemy's hesitance, Kronya smirked smugly towards Leonie while flipping around her short blade.
"What's the matter? I thought you were going to kill me?" Kronya asked mockingly. "Are you perhaps, afraid?"
Leonie's hardened glare didn't falter as she held her lance in a defensive stance. She had to be careful against someone as dangerous as Kronya, she herself knew that her rage and hatred towards the pale woman would be her undoing if she made the mistake of letting it guide her.
She remembered overhearing Lysithea expressing her concern to Byleth and that she and the others didn't want to lose him just as when they were getting ready to move out from Garreg Mach. Leonie was also advised of the same thing by Ferdinand and Edelgard on their way to the forest, something Leonie understood.
The memory of Jeralt flashed across her mind for a brief instance, she knew what her mentor would do to such an opponent… in fact he had taught her how to fight against such opponents up close during the rare times he was taking a break from any mission sanctioned by Rhea.
The training involved sparring with Petra with Linhardt observing the fight as Jeralt instructed Leonie. While Leonie was starstruck to be taught directly by Jeralt that time, she did take his teaching to heart.
"Give me your best shot, you bitch." Leonie beckoned, Kronya's grin widened despite knowing Leonie was prepared for her attack, thinking she was still below her power to even defeat her.
Kronya let out maniacal laughter as she swung her dagger in fast succession towards Leonie who was forced into the defensive to avoid getting her life cut short (or stabbed) from Jeralt's killer.
"My powers are beyond your comprehension. You're just a filthy worm!" Kronya mockingly said in order to provoke Leonie to make a hasty and costly mistake but soon found to her dismay that Leonie kept her guard up.
Grinding her teeth in frustration, Kronya's strikes began more and more weighted as her blade's edge threatened to cut through the hard wood of Leonie's lance and with a roar, Kronya was poised to deliver one final slash to her opponent's lance only to be taken by surprise when Leonie met her strike with the pole of her lance before she can bring it down, losing her momentum midway.
Kronya could have sworn she saw Leonie smirked a little before she got dazed from tasting the very pole she was focusing her attack to her face.
Taking the opportunity to attack her stunned opponent, Leonie swung her lance to slash through Kronya's body, causing the pale woman to cry out in pain before Leonie stood ready to finish it by attempting to fulfill her threat towards Kronya by thrusting her lance to Kronya's chest.
Unfortunately, the slash she received from the tip of Leonie's lance was enough to awaken Kronya out of her daze which resulted from a furious counterattack to which Kronya spun around to avoid the potentially fatal thrust from Leonie's lance, and slash at Leonie with her dagger.
Blood sprayed on Kronya's face as she managed to deliver a deep wound on the bicep of Leonie's left arm. Leonie winced in pain from her wound but that did not stop her as she quickly let go of her lance and punched Kronya across the face with her right hand.
Being struck three times by now from a mere 'worm's' hands, Kronya was beyond angered as she tasted her own blood within her mouth, and promptly backhanded Leonie across the face to return the favor, causing the orange haired girl to fall on her back, the fact that she landed hard on her wounded left arm didn't help in Leonie's case for any hope of avoiding Kronya's coup de grace.
Despite being the victor, Kronya could only feel bitterness at how a mere 'worm' had managed to wound her, feeling some of her blood trickling down to her now damaged black bodysuit, her wound on the left side of her body just under her breast.
"You pathetic vermin! How dare you make a fool of me!" Kronya growled angrily as she raised her shortblade to impale Leonie's heart with it.
"I will kill you with this blade much like how I killed that pathetic old man you so adore!"
Leonie only glared at her with bared teeth grinding against each other, glaring straight at Kronya's eyes with no trace of fear, only resentment.
The defiant look was not what Kronya wished to see on her prey but nonetheless proceeded to bring down her blade only for Kronya to be forced to defend herself with it when the Sword of Creator's pointy edge extended towards her in it's whip form.
Being pushed considerably away from Leonie, Kronya could only look up with frustration from being denied her kill to see Byleth marching towards her, his divine weapon retracting back into its normal shape as it glowed with power resonating from within him.
"Kronya."
The professor's voice was deeply entrenched with hatred as he uttered the name of his father's killer, the one who caused so much pain and grief to him and the others for the entire month.
While she felt angered at being denied her prey, Kronya couldn't help but feel a shiver down her spine when she saw how Byleth's azure eyes pierced straight to her own eyes and the way he uttered her name with such unrestrained hostility.
Even Leonie looked intimidated by her savior as she stood up and watched Byleth pass by her wordlessly, Leonie certainly didn't miss the visceral trail of blood and corpses that Byleth left in his wake in order to get to the one person he had truly hated for the first time in his life.
"Get out of here, Leonie." Byleth ordered his father's pupil who didn't utter any words of refusal and left, fully knowing what kind of hell Byleth was about to unleash to everything around him, Leonie regrouped back with Caspar and Felix as the Black Eagles maintained their vigil to prevent any possible backup from Kronya's group to interfere in their professor's revenge.
Although, some of them kept a concerned look like Lysithea, Annette and Flayn, fearing possible recklessness from their usually disciplined professor in battle.
Byleth's azure eyes glowed with resentment as his hair shadowed his face as he made his way to Kronya with the sole intention to kill her without any shred of mercy. Even his students who could only see him as someone that wasn't their beloved professor, at least momentarily, but someone who was feared by many foes alike prior to meeting him in Garreg Mach.
In that moment, Professor Byleth ceased to be and was replaced by the entity known as the Ashen Demon, giving justice to his former moniker.
"You…!" Kronya growled as sweat dripped down from her brow at the narrow block she did to avoid getting skewered by his whip-sword.
Then without warning, Byleth rushed towards her in a blink, Kronya barely had time to react accordingly when Byleth was quickly in front of her with his glowing sword aimed to sever her head.
Blocking the attack but feeling the reverberation of her blade on her arm, Kronya was overwhelmed by the flurry of slashes Byleth sent on her way. Despite how big and heavy the Sword of the Creator seemed to appear, Byleth looked like he was carrying it like a feather by the way he swung it.
Getting constantly pushed back while unable to retaliate with her own attacks, Kronya was forced to jump back high in the air but this proved to be a mistake as Byleth swiftly changed his sword into it's whip form and thrust it forward to Kronya's direction who dodged it by moving her body on the side.
Kronya smirked at the miss, she knew that despite the versatility and raw power the Sword of the Creator has, using far reaching attacks with its whip form can leave its wielder open if it missed.
Plotting to take advantage of this, Kronya quickened her descent back to the ground until she noticed that the whip-sword was pulling its owner, not the other way around and by the time Kronya looked back to where Byleth was, she was met by his gloved fist directly to her face.
It turned out Byleth counted his attack missing and purposely misled Kronya with it, his intention was for the tip of the whip-sword to lodge itself on one of the four pillars around the stone courtyard and then pull himself towards it to meet Kronya head on in the air.
Kronya landed hard on her back as her nose was broken from Byleth's devastating punch, the latter having maneuvered himself on top of the pillar as he looked down on Kronya's damaged form, writhing in pain on her back as well as from her broken and bleeding nose.
As for the pale woman, she couldn't believe how she was so easily beaten by the professor. She knew that the professor harnessed such power but she was confident in her skill in combat that she could take him down yet…
Byleth descended down from the stone pillar and approached the fallen Kronya on the stone floor, his eyes unchanging on its glare towards Kronya.
"Stand up." Byleth ordered her, not wanting to be denied the pleasure of killing her while looking straight at her eyes.
"Don't… order… me… around… v-vermin…" Kronya feebly said as she stood up feeling dazed from the punch she took, wiping the blood from her nose with the back of her hand.
Byleth's slow and menacing march towards her shook her to the core even more so than before, she could feel fear coursing through every vein in her body after she had witnessed first hand the depths of Byleth's power and his unbridled wrath.
As he walked closer, Kronya backed away slowly only to trip from a dislodged stone on the ground, falling on her back again, she saw how Byleth towered over her as he slowly approached her.
Preventing herself from screaming in fear, Kronya propped herself up as she assumed a shaky defensive stance with her shortblade, her entire body trembled out of fear.
"But how? How could I really lose...to a lowly creature like you?" Kronya questioned in fear and confusion towards her current predicament that she was initially confident with.
"You're only good at stabbing people in the back." Byleth coldly replied, referencing how his father, a seasoned veteran met such an end from treachery, a coward's move with a blade… devoid of any sort of honor.
Raising his sword to renew his assault, this time with the intention to finish it once and for all, the cries from his students from afar as well as his own sight caused him to pause.
"We all knew what happened after that." Annette said.
"I thought Lady Rhea saying that the professor was blessed by the Goddess was just to raise morale and all... I didn't put much stock in it until I saw what the professor did." Leonie admitted, having had a reserved opinion towards the professor until that particular moment.
While most were amazed at the professor's latest accomplishment, Lysithea was one of the few if not the only one who was worried about the latest development especially in regards to his appearance-
Caspar rushed inside the dining hall, looking winded from running around the monastery doing whatever it is he does usually.
Panting, he approached the girls on their table with an excited grin that seems to be more so than usual.
"Hello Caspar, you seemed like you won something-"
"He's back!" Caspar interrupted Annette mid-sentence as his grin widened.
"And you expect us to know who is who?" Lysithea asked with irritation at the interruption of their conversation prior not to mention, Caspar had a stench of sweat all over him.
"You know who I'm referring to! The professor!" Caspar replied with energy, unable to notice Lysithea's vexation towards him.
Lysithea's mood suddenly changed upon the news as well the initial uninterested expressions of the others she was with.
"Really professor! You had us worried that Edelgard whisked you away for herself when we heard from Hubie that both of you went to Enbarr!" Dorothea teased with a playful wink.
Edelgard rolled her eyes. "Nothing as vulgar as you suggest, Dorothea." She sighed as she and the professor were encircled by the Black Eagles, most of which were eager to see them.
Dorothea merely giggled.
"Professor, we are being incredibly worrying you may not be returning to us to see our graduating…" Petra expressed with a relieved smile.
Lysithea and the others arrived to see the professor flashing a small smile of assurance to his students.
Though, his mint green hair still continues to alienate her with his appearance and his azure eyes changed into that of green eyes that reminds her so much of the same shade of color in Rhea, Seteth and Flayn's eyes.
She had once expressed a great deal of concern to Byleth over the lighter shade of his hair, she had feared he had paid the cost of attaining greater power with his transformation but Byleth assured her that he was fine but expressed sadness over missing someone which she assumed to be Jeralt.
If she was to take comfort on Byleth's hair, it was that it still retained a degree of pigmentation unlike what she has.
"Professor…"
Despite the many students calling him, Lysithea's call from the doorway caught Byleth's attention and their eyes met.
"I'm back." Byleth announced to her with a nod.
Lysithea breathed deeply before forming a frown of irritation.
"Honestly! You just suddenly went off without a word to any of your students!" Lysithea said as she made her way towards Byleth, any of her classmates moving aside to give her way out of some sort of fear of being the subject of her infamous sharp tongue.
"Lysithea, I should be taking the blame. I requested the professor to accompany me on short noti-"
"Despite being our house leader, you yourself acted so irresponsibly!" Lysithea gave Edelgard a pointed look, taking the latter aback that she was suddenly her friend's current target.
Lysithea shifted her glare back towards Byleth. "What if your students needed your guidance more than ever with the final exams coming? Will you take responsibility if they flunked their classes?"
Before Byleth or Edelgard could respond, Dorothea and Annette giggled within the silence of their classmates.
"Oh Lysie… do ignore her tirades against you two, it's her way of saying she misses you two." Dorothea stifled a laugh, earning a blushing glare from Lysithea.
"I... do not!" The snow haired girl protested.
"But in the past few days, you said otherwi-" Annette was immediately silenced as she became the recipient of Lysithea's glare.
"Annette!" Lysithea exclaimed at her friend to zip her mouth shut, having confided with her that she missed the professor during the days he was gone, Annette being one of the very few she had acknowledged her feelings to the professor.
"I see." Byleth replied with a small chuckle.
Lysithea merely looked back at him with a blushing frown as the other students all began catching up with their professor once again.
While Byleth remained preoccupied with his students, Edelgard and Lysithea locked eyes with the former giving her a nod and a smile.
A gesture Lysithea returned, despite her indignation towards the two, she was glad that they have come back to spend their remaining days together as students of the same class with the same professor that they care for.
Sometimes, Lysithea wished such moments lasted forever but she knew…
Things… good and bad must come to an inevitable end and forever is nothing but a fairy tale for her.
"In time's flow...see the glow of flames ever burning bright... On the swift river's drift, broken memories alight…"
Lysithea blinked open her eyes to see herself at the top of a canyon under the night sky as a strange song echoed around her, it sounded so serene… mysterious… mystical even…
The song sounded familiar yet at the same time she couldn't pinpoint why. Despite finding it to be serene and mystical, it sounded so sad… as if the one who sang the song was longing for something… for someone.
"That song… why does it seem like I knew it by heart?" She heard an unfamiliar voice speak from behind her, a voice of a girl that she couldn't recognize.
When Lysithea turned around to see the owner of the mysterious voice, a storm of dust blinded her as she found herself enveloped within it.
By the time it cleared, she had found herself within a city in ruins, burning as cries of help or that of anguish had nearly drowned the sound of battle.
The anguished cries shook her as the smell of ash and blood invaded her nostrils, children calling for their parents… people asking in desperation for help… it was becoming too much for her to hear.
"You took everything from me! I'll never forgive you!"
Lysithea closed her eyes, wishing the noise around her would disappear and it seemed it had when she reopened her eyes to see herself at a very familiar place that she hadn't been actually in.
She was at the cliffs overlooking the vast blue sea ahead, its waters seem never ending across the horizon as the sight and sound of seagulls along with the gentle waves of the sea crashing on the rocks below the cliffs were the only sound she could hear and the briny breeze what she could feel.
She had been in this place in these dreams many times and while she does not understand why it's always this place, she cannot help but feel serene… at peace if only it weren't for the three weathered stone graves that seemed to have been erected for so many years near the edge of the cliffs.
Lysithea tried to read the epitaphs inscribed on the stones but they were incomprehensible due to the passage of time.
A twig snapped from behind her, again, she turned around to see the identity of the person approaching from behind only to find herself within a dark abyss.
Voices of many kinds began to fill the silence of the void.
"Both sides of time are revealed to you…"
"GIVE HER BACK!"
"I'm sorry…"
"They said she had no legacy… That she left the world as its last scion."
Lysithea gasped as she awoke from yet another bizarre dream, drenched in sweat that dampened her nightgown despite the coldness of the night.
She found herself back in her room, dark and dimly lit by a candle that she had left burning on a candlestick on a night table beside her bed.
A concerned meow as well as the brushing of fur on her hand relieved her somehow as Ordelian climbed up to her bed and tried to comfort her once again from her dreams, his eyes looking up at her with worry.
Lysithea didn't say anything and simply gave her pet cat an apologetic smile, combing the white cat's fur with her fingers gently, she then gave the cat a gentle pat before lying back down once again but not before she looked at her side to see the Armored Bear Stuffy that Byleth had given her, lying beside her but not facing her.
Taking Ordelian's warmth at one side and hugging the Bear Stuffy on the other, Lysithea closed her eyes once again to sleep away the uneasy feeling she had from her friends, wishing she would be granted a peaceful rest for tonight.
The following morning, Lysithea managed to awaken from a restful sleep in the remainder of the night. Opting to momentarily forget about the dreams last night, she couldn't afford to lack sleep especially today as the first batch of her final exams was set to be taken.
After enduring the meal being served in the dining hall to keep her energy up that she needed to get high marks for her final exams to retain her spot as the top student of the Officer's Academy, a position she had steadily come to reclaim after a month of negligence due to the scandal she endured.
Lysithea made her way to her classroom that she shared with her friends, finding it mostly filled with her classmates, some of which were cramming for the exams with Caspar, Annette and Leonie (having joined after the battle of Kronya) being the notable ones in doing so. Lysithea found some mirth on the sight of Annette trying to do some last minute studying in an effort to also acquire the top marks among all the students, a feat she had accomplished once when Lysithea neglected her studies.
Lysithea sat herself in her usual spot, beside Edelgard who was solemnly staring at nothing in front of her, her lavender eyes unreadable as her hands rested on her lap.
"Good morning…?" Lysithea greeted her friend and house leader with uncertainty, thinking Edelgard was doing her own way of studying by recalling what she memorized or studied for in her mind.
Edelgard blinked and tilted her head to her side to see Lysithea, looking as if surprised that the Ordelia girl had suddenly appeared beside her out of thin air.
"Oh, good morning." Edelgard said after regaining her composure. "You seem to have an air of confidence around you today." she commented.
Lysithea smiled with pride. "Of course, I have to for today's exams." She replied with an air of confidence.
"How about you? You seem to be lost in thoughts all alone." Lysithea asked, taking note of Edelgard's solemn staring into nothing.
The heir apparent of the Adrestian Empire shook her head. "Just thinking of things."
"Such as…?"
"After exams and graduation, the inevitable farewells we would be giving to each other." Edelgard said as she stared in front of her once again.
Lysithea raised an eyebrow. "Maybe you should worry about that later and worry more of the exams to distract yourself?"
The ashen haired girl giggled lightly. "Yes, you're right though in my case, I too am confident that I have studied enough for this exam. Maybe enough to overtake you."
Lysithea smirked at Edelgard's playful remark in the end. "Better back that up later."
Edelgard returned the smirk and accepted the challenge. "Heh, maybe I will." She said as both friends and seatmates looked down on the surface of their wooden table.
"Say… Edelgard?"
"What is it?"
Lysithea glanced at her, pinkish red eyes to lavender eyes.
"Would it be okay if we could have tea before we graduate? I'd like to spend the final days in the academy with some memories." Lysithea said with a slight blush creeping on her cheeks.
Edelgard's normally composed eyes slightly widened at the invitation and the rather sentimental reason behind it, she had not expected such gesture from Lysithea.
"I would be glad to, when might I ask?"
"On the 28th day of the Pegasus Moon, a day before we go to the Holy Tomb to do whatever Lady Rhea wanted the professor to do." Lysithea clarified yet Edelgard could tell she was withholding something especially the way Lysithea looked when she mentioned the 28th of the Pegasus Moon.
It seemed all too familiar to Edelgard as if she read about it-
"Wait, isn't that the day of your birth-"
The doors to their classroom opened to reveal the beloved professor of the Black Eagles entering the classroom, acting like it was business as usual, walking towards his table.
"Everyone, please sit down for some announcement and some briefing before your exams." Byleth gently ordered as he watched his students return back to their seats or for those cramming, close their books or notes to listen.
Edelgard and Lysithea composed and positioned themselves accordingly to listen, postponing their conversation for another time to listen to what their professor will have to say.
As Byleth stood behind his desk, looking at each and everyone of his students from the ones he first had the privilege to teach and to those who came from other houses, Byleth felt a bittersweet feeling within his unbeating heart.
In the span of the remaining month of the Pegasus Moon, he would be bidding all of them farewell and send them off to walk their own chosen paths that they must carve with their own hands. While he knew he would feel pride and joy in seeing them accomplish the things they have chosen to do as adults, he could feel the looming sense of emptiness within him…
He had lost Jeralt and most recently, Sothis… two of the people in his life that had long accompanied him since the day he was born, his loss of the two left him feeling hollow as he had expected that once his students graduated, he counted both of them to remain at his side.
But now, he had no one to return to, he knew he cannot stay in Garreg Mach once this is all over.
That is until Edelgard had given him a solution to his woes while they were in Enbarr.
"As all of you are aware, today is the day of your exams." Byleth began. "I have no doubt that all of you will succeed on this final test to show the culmination of what you all learned and experienced during your time in the academy."
"If anything, we learned most of it from you, professor!" Sylvain said from out back, a sentiment most of the Black Eagles agreed with nods.
"Yeah! We wouldn't have gotten far if it weren't for your tireless efforts!" Caspar reinforced, standing up from his seat.
Another sentiment that was seconded by the rest.
"Be that as it may, one day, some of you will become politicians, some will become generals and some will become rulers. I have no doubts all of you will grow to achieve those goals." Byleth scanned each and every one of his students once more before continuing.
"But let me give all of you one last advice before your graduation: never needlessly sacrifice the lives of the people who have put their faiths in you. As impossible and idealistic as it sounds, never allow the people who serve you to be the casualties of your goals. Do not allow them to be just a number, care for them as I did to all of you."
The entire classroom fell silent upon Byleth's advice, most of which reflected upon his words especially the likes of Ferdinand. Lysithea glanced at her side to see Edelgard staring down at the table with a conflicted look, surmising that due to her responsibilities as the future Adrestian Emperor, Edelgard will have to make the necessary sacrifices for her choices… such is the burden of leading a nation.
"But… what about you, professor? What will you do once we all graduate?" All eyes went to Bernadetta.
Byleth turned to the row of seats where Edelgard and Lysithea sat together, eyeing the former specifically.
"I may go to Enbarr on Edelgard's request." He said with a smile towards Edelgard who flashed one of her own.
Lysithea looked down on the table upon hearing the professor's plan; she wanted to procure the professor's services after graduation. If she was to say the real reason, she only wanted him to be close to her during her time helping her parents govern House Ordelia but she knew that is self-centered of her to do so for she knew that with Edelgard, Byleth can help her… guide her continuously when she ascends the Imperial throne, he might rob Hubert of his position as her adviser.
The latter thought managed to make her internally laugh at the imagined expression of Hubert.
"Well, if that is the case, as Edelgard's subjects and members of the Adrestian nobility, we would be seeing you then." Linhardt said, strangely less sheepish than usual.
While the majority of the Black Eagles, specifically the original ones nodded in agreement, those who were initially from other houses had varying reactions with Felix being disappointed that his goal of defeating would be too far away from him, Annette wouldn't be able to see and learn more from him and Leonie thought that her promise to Jeralt to protect Byleth would be for naught if she can't even reach him due to her status as a commoner.
But most of all, Lysithea felt the most devastated due to her status as a member of the Alliance nobility whose house had a rather murky history with the Adrestian Empire, she can't just waltz in the Imperial Palace to visit the professor without any particular business with the Emperor, can she?
Byleth then decided to push things through.
"I would say good luck to your exams but I'd rather say, do your best and I am confident you will all succeed." Byleth said with a nod to his students and he began distributing the test papers that were meant for each student individually depending on what they have studied and specialized in.
And with that, the final exams began and may as well be the beginning of the end of Byleth being their professor.
26th day of the Pegasus Moon of the Imperial Year 1180
Lysithea was ecstatic when she received the results of her final exams as Byleth dismissed the class immediately after giving out the results of his entire class.
She came out of the classroom, clutching her papers full of checkmarks with only a single encircled part.
She only had one mistake in almost all of her subjects with the exception of perfect scores in some of her more well-versed subjects.
Her elation did not help when she found out from a proud Byleth that her results were the highest among every single student in all the houses of the Academy, a feat that earned her congratulatory praises and applause from her friends and classmates.
After letting her grades fall down in that one month… she had finally regained her spot as the top achiever not just in her class but also the entire student body. She had finally caught up on the likes of Ignatz, Edelgard and Annette, all of which were overachievers of their own right.
But the perfect reward besides the triumphant feeling? The proud smile of the professor over his student.
It only gave Lysithea more validation, her effort to catch up wasn't in vain and surely her parents would be proud of her once they found out.
And find out they will when she writes a letter for them in her room which she's planning to do later after she attends a small celebratory feast with her classmates, which in Edelgard's words was simply a 'prologue' to their grand celebration after graduating.
"Lysithea."
The snow haired girl froze, all traces of her smile dissipated at the sound of that one voice she had not heard for quite a while since the Ethereal Moon, back then she was full of resentment towards him and constantly rebuffed him due to what was happening…
But now… she doesn't know how to feel towards him, things have definitely cooled down but she couldn't forget the fact that a lot of things went down for her and the professor due to what he did.
Lysithea reluctantly turned around to see Cyril with his eyes looking down on the ground, unable to look at her as he hung his head in shame.
"Cyril…" Lysithea trailed off. "What is it?"
The Almyran boy tightened his clenched fists on his side, after she had rebuffed him for the last time back on the month of the Ethereal Moon, he had kept his distance from Lysithea, thinking that she will never forgive him for the consequences of his mistake in accusing the professor of sleeping with Lysithea.
The slap, her declaration of the end of their friendship and the scornful look she gave him discouraged him to approach her and thus, decided to just leave her alone.
That and when he saw from outside the windows what happened in the ballroom during the highly anticipated event. She was beautiful when he saw her, he was smitten until his blush faded when he saw what she did, thus confirming his suspicion that Lysithea truly held feelings for the professor.
But now, Cyril had heard of the day the students will graduate and depart from Garreg Mach, meaning he may never see her again and get the chance to at least reconcile before she leaves and thus, he was willing to take the risk of being rebuff and scorned at again if it meant at least repairing their friendship before everything comes to a complete end.
"I heard all of ya-" Cyril paused, remembering the lessons Lysithea taught him on speaking more properly. "All of you will be graduating soon and…"
Lysithea only looked at him with a solemn look and it was a consolation for Cyril, it was better than her shouting or outright rebuking him.
"I only wish to say sorry for what I did… and the troubles I caused you." Cyril apologized, closing his eyes as he bowed in apology.
"I'm sorry I acted rashly which caused you and the professor to suffer for what I have done." He added.
"Cyril."
"I was afraid you'll never forgive me but I have to try, we may never see each other again after you graduated so…"
Lysithea merely regarded him.
"You are one of the few people here who showed kindness to me and I don't wish for us to part on bad terms…" Cyril finished as he was met by silence.
Lysithea had not expected this at all, she had thought that Cyril had abandoned all hopes of ever attempting to apologize to her after she had rejected his attempts numerous times. That and all the subsequent events that had followed after made her forget all her prior anger towards Cyril as she had focused more on other matters.
But now that he was apologizing and she strangely didn't deny him the chance to do so unlike in the past, she was at a loss at what to do.
Cyril stayed still as he bowed, nervously awaiting for the snow haired girl's reply, if anything he was actually grateful Lysithea had not shouted at him to leave her alone. The silence was tense for him as sweat slowly dripped down.
Lysithea sighed, her eyes softening. While she still considered the backlash of what Cyril to be one of her worst times in the Academy, she can't really fully blame Cyril for what he saw… If she was being honest now, she and the professor were truly in a compromising situation but then again, he could have asked- no, she can't think of that anymore.
She felt she had let this dragged on more than it should and seeing as how things between her and the professor were fine now as well as the majority of the student body forgetting about that scandal… she felt it was only time to lay down the hatchet.
Besides, she too had considered Cyril to be a friend who had helped her many times in the Academy, he had done favors for her and their bond deepened when she had tutored him, enjoying the prospect of teaching him to read as she did so.
They used to be friends… and can be again even brief as it will.
"Cyril… I…" Lysithea slowly began. "I forgive you."
Cyril's eyes opened and looked up at her with renewed hope.
"R-Really?"
"Yes, I think for both our sakes… we need to move on from it." Lysithea acquiesced.
Cyril's eyes widened with joy and his lips curved to a smile.
"Yeah? Well...that makes me real happy, Lysithea. Thank you!" He gratefully thanked, feeling lighter more and more as he had leave to finally talk to her freely.
"Well, I'm glad we got that sorted out." Lysithea said wearily but with a small smile of her own. "Anyway, unless there's anything else-"
"Actually, if it wasn't too much trouble I was wondering, um, if you would consider bein' my teacher again?" Cyril asked,clutching on an envelope in one of his hands that went unnoticed by Lysithea.
"Your teacher?" Lysithea repeated slowly in confusion, before clicking her fingers in realization. "You mean for reading?"
"Yeah, that's it!" Cyril affirmed with enthusiastic nods. "I know there it's not long until you got to go, but I was wondering if you could teach me again."
"Haven't you been reading on your own?" Lysithea asked, beginning to wonder if Cyril had only apologized for more reading lessons.
"Oh yeah, a lot! I've gotten real good at it too!"
"Then why do you need my help?" Lysithea wondered with a slight frown.
"Well...I just thought it'd be nice. If you could see how much I've learned." Cyril replied. "I kept all your lessons to heart all these time."
"It's not really 'teaching' you but...I suppose there's no harm in it." Lysithea agreed. "I'll admit, I'm interested in seeing how much you've grown since I last tutored you."
"I promise you won't be disappointed!" Cyril exclaimed eagerly. "If you want, I can show you right now."
His high hopes for today dampened in the apologetic look Lysithea bore.
"I would but...I promised I'd accompany the professor to a celebratory feast the Black Eagle House is hosting to celebrate passing our finals. Maybe later." Lysithea said as she saw Cyril's smile fade slightly.
"Ahh, right...the professor." Cyril said dejectedly, his thoughts strayed to the professor that he was sure by now, captivated the Ordelia girl. "Well, I suppose I can-"
"And after that, I need to write a letter to my parents." Lysithea added, wanting to not waste time in writing her joyous thoughts to her parents.
"Right." Cyril muttered almost lowly. "Well, it sounds like you're real busy, I guess."
"I am, but I promise I'll find the time for you too." Lysithea assured him to give him something to look forward to. "In the meantime, keep practicing, and I'll stop by to come check on your progress."
"OK, then. I'll practice real hard and I know you'll be impressed!" Cyril nodded with confidence as he held on to an envelope.
"I'm sure I will be." Lysithea smiled. "Anyway, I should be going. See you later, Cyril." She said, waving him goodbye and took her leave as Cyril watched her.
Cyril sighed but nonetheless kept a smile on his face as he watched her enter her room, he looked down on the envelope he was holding.
"I really wanted to read it out to her but at least she promised she'll see me soon." Cyril said with hope, looking forward in the next few days.
Despite their remaining days together in the academy coming to an end, Cyril was glad to right a wrong and fix a bridge that he thought had been burned forever.
28th day of the Pegasus Moon of the Imperial Year 1180
Morning...
"I guess this is most of it." Lysithea said with a sigh of relief, overlooking her handiwork of packing most of her belongings into some of her bags, leaving only a few clothes and other utilities she will be using for the next few days until the graduation ceremony on the first week of the Lone Moon, days after their mission in the Holy Tomb for whatever Rhea intended for them to do.
While no concrete answers were given to them, the professor was only told that by going into some sort of pilgrimage in the Holy Tomb would he experienced a revelation from the Goddess akin to what Saint Seiros went through when she was endowed by the Goddess' blessing to fight in the War of Heroes.
What little the professor was told was that his students were suited to accompany him in his pilgrimage as well as Rhea who would be present to see such an important event to unfold.
Of course there were various theories among her classmates that Rhea intended to correct a wrong in history which was the story of Nemesis and the Ten Elites, legends and religious text says that they were blessed by the Goddess herself to combat against the wicked gods and their minions who sought to destroy Fodlan.
Everyone in Fodlan should know how such revered heroes met their fate, they were corrupted by the very same power that was given to them by the Goddess and as such, began to commit atrocities that forced Seiros and the Four Saints to combat them which ended with the demise of Nemesis and his Ten Elites.
T'was called the Tragedy of Nemesis and the Elites, a tale warning the people of Fodlan the burden of carrying power and the consequences of being lulled into its corrupting embrace.
If Rhea intended to remedy that then could she be planning to have Byleth's students receive some sort of blessing as well? Turn them to what could possibly be the professor's own version of the Elites? All for what? To combat against the people behind the Death Knight, Kronya and Solon? The Flame Emperor?
Lysithea scoffed at the idea of being a member of a new generation of the Ten Elites, she has no time nor intention to seek for glory, she merely wanted to push through with her plans for her parents.
Ordelian meowed as he approached the door as if knowing there was someone behind it which was confirmed when several gentle knocks came.
Lysithea approached the door, being careful in her steps to avoid hitting her bags, and opened the door to reveal her visitor was none other than her professor.
"Good morning." Byleth greeted with an impassive tone.
Lysithea was surprised by the professor's sudden visit especially at such an inopportune time when her room was a mess with drawers opened, bags scattered about and did Lysithea make sure she put away her undergarments?
She looked back for a bit and was relieved to see none of which were scattered about.
"Professor! This is a surprise, is there something you need?" Lysithea asked, keeping the door open enough to communicate with the professor.
Byleth nodded. "As a matter of fact, I wish to speak to you about something… may I come in?"
Lysithea merely stared at him for a few seconds before giving him an awkward smile.
"Give me a few seconds to fix my things." She said before closing the door on Byleth's face. She immediately scrambled about to check if there were delicate objects lying around and quickly moved aside her bags for the convenience of the professor when he walked in to avoid the hassle of him maneuvering around in her room.
After a few haste filled actions and nearly falling down on her face to the floor, Lysithea opened the door and welcomed Byleth in her room, closing it behind her as Byleth stood and scanned her room especially the bags scattered about.
For some reason, Byleth felt some measure of sorrow looking at how Lysithea was beginning to prepare for her departure after graduation had concluded, he had seen the same thing with some of his students as he passed by their rooms via their open doorways.
"Isn't it a bit too early to pack up?" Byleth questioned, glancing at Lysithea who had her back on the wooden door.
"I like to be ready, professor. It's my work ethic which I am sure you know by now." Lysithea beamed.
Byleth chuckled inwardly, Ordelia came to his boots and nuzzled his head on it prompting the professor to pick him up gently and sat himself on the side of Lysithea's bed, petting Ordelia's fur while the cat purred on his lap.
Lysithea smiled at the sight before sitting herself beside the professor, watching her pet cat and beloved professor interacting in what can probably be one of the final times she would be seeing them interacting with each other.
"Yes, you always have the best initiative among your peers." Byleth agreed with Lysithea's self-assessment.
"When will you go home? Right after graduation?" He then asked.
"I will be departing the day after we attend that grand feast Edelgard has planned for all of us in the Black Eagles. My parents have arranged my transportation for my return to Ordelia territory." Lysithea confirmed.
Byleth briefly stared at his soon to be former student, her pinkish red eyes staring somberly at the floor of a room that she will depart away from soon.
"I see." Byleth simply said and his green eyes drifted down back to Ordelian, the latter staring up at him signifying his desire to want to be pet by the professor.
Silence loomed between the two, it was obvious both of them wished to express words of great importance to each other yet for some reason, they couldn't relay such things.
"It has been one heck of a ride, isn't it?"
Byleth glanced at Lysithea. She didn't return the glance and looked up at the ceiling of her room.
"To think that nearly a year ago, you were just a wandering mercenary I have never heard of."
"And you were just a nobleman's daughter that I didn't care much to know if me and my father didn't come here." Byleth bluntly replied.
Lysithea giggled at the exchange, so much has happened in a span of a year, moments that she never expected and while it wasn't all pretty and had its hardships, she was nonetheless glad to have met people she would come to care about.
And mostly, she had this man beside her to thank for giving her a good time in the academy.
Lysithea finally looked back at her teal haired professor only he wasn't the same teal haired professor she knew by appearance.
"I still am not used to that color of your hair and your eyes." Lysithea frowned lightly, her eyes focused on Byleth's mint green hair and bright green eyes, having been accustomed to seeing his teal colored hair and his azure blue eyes that she almost mistook him as someone else after the Kronya and Solon incident.
Byleth gave her a confounded look. "You don't like it?" he asked.
"I'm just used to your appearance back then when I first met you." Lysithea replied as her frown dissolved into one of concern. "Professor, are you sure you didn't exchange anything to get that power to escape the void Solon sent you in?"
"You have to be specific." Byleth replied.
Lysithea pressed her legs together and tugged tightly on the hem of her skirt.
"Like… your life… health… well-being? Do you feel strange in a negative manner?" Lysithea asked.
Byleth briefly stared at her before looking at his hands.
"On the contrary, I feel better. I feel like I can do almost everything without ever tiring, when I wield the Sword of the Creator, I feel like I can control it even better unlike the past few times." Byleth replied and noticed Lysithea's concerned look. "You have nothing to worry about."
The Ordelia heiress merely nodded. "I'm sorry, it is a foolish question. I'm just a bit skeptical of Lady Rhea proclaiming that the change in you was due to Goddess' blessing, I was just fearing there's a catch to it… that's all. I was really worried when Solon sent you to that void, you know…"
Lysithea did feel a wave of relief upon hearing the professor's assurance, he had no reason to lie to her and the look on his eyes says he was being truthful instead of lying to assure her.
"So…" Lysithea began anew. "Are you really planning to go with Edelgard after all this?"
Her response was a quick nod. "Yes, I believe I have nothing else to go on in Garreg Mach after you all graduated. While I can return and lead my father's band of mercenaries, I think it is far better I can be of use to people I have grown to care about and Edelgard believes I can aid her in Enbarr for the betterment of the Adrestian Empire."
Lysithea went silent and nodded at his answer with a melancholic look upon her eyes.
Byleth, seeing that she had nothing further to ask, decided to go ahead and do the primary reason for his visit.
"Lysithea, I want to give you something." He said as he reached out from within his coat.
The star pupil of the Black Eagles, having apparently regained her top marks in the exams, turned to him.
"Close your eyes and hold out your hands." Byleth instructed her.
Lysithea was puzzled at the sudden request but nonetheless complied, closing her eyes and bringing her hands up with open palms. Shortly after, she felt a sudden weight on her palms and leathery feel on it.
"Now open them." Byleth ordered.
When Lysithea opened her eyes, she was astonished to see a leatherbound book on the top of her palms, it didn't look particularly special by the cover but when opened it and read a random page, she knew it meant a lot for her.
"I didn't know what else to give you for a present but I hoped that would suffice for you." Byleth said, his eyes looking uncertain of Lysithea's astonished reaction on his present for her.
"Professor, this is your-"
"I made a copy of my tactics book, everything I have chronicled about different tactics in my travels and from what I learned in Garreg Mach is all in there."
Lysithea managed to return herself from the shock and turned her gaze back to Byleth only to be met by a softened gaze and a warm smile he rarely shows to others.
"Happy Birthday."
While she still was confused how to feel to his bright green eyes, she was however brimming with delight with the sincerity in his eyes.
Without saying a word, she launched herself to him, wrapping her arms around him as she did so, unable to contain the feeling anymore.
She never liked celebrating her birthday as it served only as a grim reminder for her that each year that passes is one step closer to a fate that was predetermined for her.
Yet at this moment, she doesn't feel that much bitterness, there was joy… and sadness.
Happy that her professor was kind and considerate to remember her birthday. Sad because she knew the inevitability of their separation draws near.
As for Byleth, her hug surprised him but nonetheless welcomed her warm embrace. He knew this wasn't their first time doing so as he remembered the last time was when she comforted him for his grief for Jeralt, this time though… It was an embrace borne out of joy.
"You can write your own notes and correct them like you would in class if you wish it so." Byleth said in half jest, he had always loved it when Lysithea would take the initiative to correct him on a mistake or suggest better alternatives or theories during classes, it's what made him appreciate her more and more as his student… she makes him better with her brutal honesty compared to the ceaseless and unfounded praises he gets from others due to his connection to Rhea and the power he possesses.
Lysithea pulled away from her hug and nodded with a giggly smile.
"If you don't mind me soiling this book you wrote for me then I will." She giggled before lovingly smiling at Byleth, blush and all.
"Thank you, professor. You have no idea how this means to me." Lysithea said with gratefulness while Ordelian who has been ignored by the two, regarded the two with curious looks.
While she had no intention and hoped that she wouldn't have to use the battle tactics Byleth had written in the future days of helping her parents, the effort and how personal the gift was what she appreciated. She knew Byleth could have gone for the usual gifts such as sweets for her but instead, opted to give it a personal touch and this made it so special for her.
"Professor, I want to ask you one final thing." Lysithea requested.
Byleth gave her a nod, his smile never faltering. "What is it?"
Lysithea bit her lip in momentary hesitation, she knew what he was about to ask him was a question of selfish nature and his answer could potentially dampen down her mood but she wanted to know, selfish as it is.
"Would you have agreed to come with me if I asked you to continue being my teacher in Ordelia territory?" She asked, her eyes searching for an answer.
Byleth's smile changed to that of perplexion, his curved lips slightly opened at the sudden question. He had not expected this from her and it was certainly something he had no answers ready for unlike her questions of academic nature back in class.
He knew that regardless of his answer, he would still proceed to go to Enbarr with Edelgard by the end of the school year but there was something in Lysithea's eyes that she needed an answer as if it would validate something for her.
Swallowing, Byleth primed his mouth to respond only for gentle knocks from outside the door of Lysithea's room to interrupt them.
"Lysithea? It's me. I've come to see if you are alright. I have been waiting for you at the gazebo."
Edelgard.
Why is it she had to interrupt such a moment at such bad timing? Lysithea thought.
With a heavy sigh, Lysithea left the side of her bed and opened the door to reveal the Imperial Princess behind it, all smiles at her until she noticed Byleth sitting on the edge of the snow haired girl's bed.
"Oh! Did I interrupt something?" Edelgard asked.
Lysithea shook her head. "The professor and I were just discussing things-"
"And gave her my gift." Byleth added, standing up from the edge of the bed.
Edelgard looked back and forth from Byleth to Lysithea, noticing the unknown book that Lysithea was hugging to her chest, she could sense from the two that she had interrupted something basing from the sour look Lysithea had over her.
"I can wait for you there if you two need to discuss something…" Edelgard offered, despite being the one who had been wronged for being made to wait past the agreed upon time, she felt bad for the interruption.
Lysithea disagreed with a shake of her head. "No, it's alright. The professor and I were just finishing. Besides, it is my fault for being late."
Byleth looked unsure on Lysithea's decision to end their conversation for the day, she was still denied the answer she seeks but alas, couldn't do anything as Lysithea went out of her room in finality to end their interaction today.
"I'll come see you tomorrow, professor." Lysithea bid her farewell with a small smile, her hands still holding the tactics book he gave to her.
Byleth nodded and responded with his own smile.
"And I as well, my teacher." Edelgard nodded before she and Lysithea departed to do their appointed tea time to each other that would probably be their last.
While they went their own way, Ordelian followed closely with Byleth when they left Lysithea's room, accompanying the professor as he went about his own business.
"I am grateful." Lysithea thanked Edelgard after she poured her cup with a blend of Honeyed Fruit Tea.
The Imperial Princess gave her a smile before pouring her own cup as well, passing by a tea cart, sitting down on the chair opposite Lysithea, the latter already adding spoonfuls of sugar cubes in her tea, a common sight for Edelgard by now.
Which has rubbed off on her as she too added sugar cubes in her tea to enhance the sweetness but not to the ridiculous amounts Lysithea had put in hers, something she had once tried in private only to gag at how absurdly sweet it was.
It still remains a mystery for Edelgard how and why Lysithea's body can take such amounts of sweet without ever feeling sick of it.
But that doesn't matter now, Lysithea had invited her to tea in her own volition, a rare thing from Lysithea as it was always Edelgard who enlists her company for tea on a very specific day too.
"I'm sorry if I made you wait, that was rude of me." Lysithea apologized, admitting her fault that she had momentarily forgotten her scheduled time to meet with Edelgard due to the professor's sudden visit to her.
Edelgard didn't mind however, giving her a nod of reassurance.
"It's not a problem, the professor does do that from time to time. Visiting us in unexpected times." Edelgard mentioned. "Even checking in at night when he hears strange noises."
Lysithea nearly sputtered out her tea. "Wait, at night?"
"Nevermind that." Edelgard said, wanting to avoid the topic to not cause a misunderstanding of that one time the professor had checked in on her when she was having nightmares.
"Anyhow, why did you invite me?"
"What? I can't invite a friend out for tea?" Lysithea frowned, her arms folded over her chest.
Edelgard's eyes widened. "I didn't mean to imply-"
Lysithea giggled. "I was just kidding."
The ashen haired girl sighed at the snow haired girl but giggled as well.
"I never knew you to be one for jokes, Lysithea… you've changed." Edelgard noted.
"Hmm? How so?" Lysithea curiously asked.
"Back then you were more distant, always wary and easily irritable too…" Edelgard mentioned, remembering Lysithea's demeanor during their first months in Garreg Mach, things she had observed of her.
Lysithea fondly looked down at her tea. "I could say the same thing to you." She pointed which earned her Edelgard's attention.
"You kept people at arm's reach, you appeared arrogant and cold… that air of superiority dancing around you…"
Edelgard chuckled. "I guess a lot of us have changed and opened up during our stay here in Garreg Mach… Bernadetta comes out of her room…"
"Annette has a lot more self-esteem than before." Lysithea noted.
"Caspar has been less prone to making rash choices…"
"Ferdinand had stopped being as insufferable as Lorenz is…"
Edelgard smiled fondly. "All of that was thanks to the professor, don't you agree?"
Lysithea could only nod in agreement for she also credited the professor to the changes not just in her but to also the others as well.
Who would have thought that a wandering mercenary who became a professor due to the whims of the Archbishop would make such an impact in them? Nobles and commoners alike.
It felt like Byleth was the bridge that connected all of them in one class regardless of origin, status and homeland. The bond they all shared together as a class, their success and the improvement in each and every one of them can be attributed to him.
Edelgard, having built the mood for their tea, proceeded to move forward with her plan. She stood up from her chair and approached the tea cart parked near her and removed the white cloth concealing half of the surface of the cart to unveil slices of yellow colored sponge cake with creamy white frosting on the surface above and behind.
It seemed like a simple cake by its appearance yet there was something in it that Lysithea could feel.
Edelgard wordlessly placed a plate of the slice of cake on the table before Lysithea before placing one on hers, she sat down and gestured towards Lysithea.
"Edelgard… What is this…?"
The ashen haired princess nearly smirked. "It's the cake I kept telling you about." Edelgard presented and watched Lysithea's reaction unfold before her.
Lysithea eyed the cake, feeling underwhelmed at its presentation but then again, she knew better than to judge it by its appearance. Edelgard had spoken highly of it and it would be a shame if it's quality is just tall tales.
Taking a hold of her fork, Lysithea picked on a piece of the cake and ate it.
Edelgard watched as Lysithea's expression transitioned from being underwhelmed to shock and finally to utter joy as if she had tasted food from the heavens itself.
"This… cake! I-I've never tasted anything quite like it! I-It's… so divine…!" Lysithea praised as she took more pieces with her fork and consumed the cake as if she had been starved for days.
"Happy Birthday, Lysithea." Edelgard greeted her with a warm smile, happy to see such an ecstatic reaction from Lysithea after finally having her eat the cake she had been telling her about.
"Thank you!" Lysithea exclaimed in joy. First, the professor's thoughtful gift to remember him by and now this divine tasting cake from Edelgard.
She can't help but feel like the world stopped for a moment with how overwhelmed she was by the gifts of who are probably the two people that Lysithea cares the most in Garreg Mach.
Edelgard's smile never faltered in watching her friend be happy, Lysithea's smile really was something to behold.
"Enbarr Sweet Cake… A bit too sweet for my own liking but good to eat from time to time." Edelgard commented.
Lysithea swallowed. "Isn't that the whole point of cake?" She questioned. "Well, more for me."
The snow haired girl then combined what she was eating in her mouth with a sip of the tea which elicited more cries of joy from the delightful burst of sweet flavors in her mouth.
"Mmm, these are fantastic with this tea." She squealed.
Edelgard chuckled softly at Lysithea's continual reactions. "Heh, true. Well, there's no shortage of them. Help yourself to as many as you like, it is your birthday after all."
Lysithea fervently nodded, dropping all formalities as she took more slices of the cake from the cart and ate them in front of Edelgard who watched her gorge at the sweet cake. She patiently waited for Lysithea to enjoy feasting upon most of the slices of cake from the tea cart, leaving only a few remaining.
"What's wrong? Ate too much already?" Edelgard playfully asked after Lysithea set down her fork at her empty plate.
"You've always been watching out for me, Edelgard."
Edelgard's eyes slightly widened at the sudden warm and low tone in Lysithea's voice when she was praising the cake with whatever descriptions she could think of.
"And I always appreciated it." Lysithea said, looking down at her plate, a sincere smile gracing her lips.
The ashen haired girl remained silent yet deep within, her heart felt like it was melting from how sincere Lysithea was especially the smile that was meant for her. For some reason, it reminded her of a distant memory she once had but didn't want to revisit.
"You have always been there for me even before I joined your house. To tell you the truth, it wasn't just the professor that led me here." Lysithea said as she finally looked at Edelgard straight in the eye, lavender to pinkish red gazed at each other.
"You were also one of the reasons why I joined the Black Eagles and not a day goes by that I don't regret joining you and the professor. I genuinely love my time with you and the others… it made me feel joy that I haven't felt for quite a while."
Edelgard could only be at loss for words on how Lysithea was baring what she feels for Edelgard, she had been used to Lysithea baring her feelings to her about the professor but this was the first time that she had heard Lysithea speak of what she feels towards her for the first time.
"That and these delectable cakes… I thank you for making my time in Garreg Mach wonderful." Lysithea admitted, standing up from her chair and gave Edelgard a bow of thanks.
"I don't mean to be rude but I have to go back… I have letters to write." Lysithea excused herself and as such left the gazebo nary a word yet with a smile and bow of thanks.
Edelgard stood up from her chair and watched as Lysithea left, the sun setting down around them, enveloping Garreg Mach in a beautiful pale orange.
Unknown to Lysithea, a single tear flowed down from Edelgard's left eye down to her cheek as she sadly smiled at Lysithea, her beloved friend. A girl she never expected to feel so close and attached to, their days together were a welcome surprise and the kinship she felt towards her…
It reminded her of her own siblings.
"I'm sorry…" Edelgard lamented on the coming days ahead of them.
She knew… nothing would be the same as they were starting tomorrow.
As for Lysithea, upon arriving in her room. She felt happy with the turn of events in the last few days of her time in Garreg Mach.
She didn't know what came over her when she said those things to Edelgard, everything just came out of her lips as if they knew exactly what to say.
It felt surreal for Lysithea.
Yet despite the happiness she felt, her joyous smile turned to a sad one as she mentally lamented that such things were but a fleeting moment.
She knew she had no future compared to the professor, Edelgard or her classmates. She was now sixteen years old and by her estimate, she only had less than a decade to live.
She had long accepted her fate, the pre-written fate that was thrown to her. She refused to allow herself to cry as she came closer to her appointed mortality.
Yet why is she crying about it now?
Professor Byleth… Edelgard… the others...
They made her feel things she thought she wouldn't feel anymore.
They made her feel so alive.
They made her think there was so much that life has to offer.
The feeling of friendship.
The feeling of kindness.
The feeling of love.
It made her realize one thing she feared to feel one day.
She wanted to live.
Lysithea wiped the flowing tears in her eyes with the back of her sleeves, sniffling as she did so.
Until she realized she wasn't alone in her room.
Everything went so fast as an unknown person grabbed her from behind and placed a damp cloth of strange smell over her nose, she tried to struggle and muster her magic to fight back but found herself drifting into the realm of unconsciousness.
Lysithea's body fell all limp on the floor as her assailant watched her sleep on the ground, the assailant's accomplice approaching him.
"Good. It is as Hubert ordered, smooth with no complications."
"Is the way out clear?"
"Yes."
"Send her to the camp, she is to be brought there untouched and unspoiled as per the Emperor's orders."
"It will be done."
And that concludes Part A of the final chapter of the White Clouds saga! If you noticed, I wanted to give Kronya a hell of a time in this chapter than what she got in the canon game so I hoped you guys enjoyed my personal touch on that fight!
Apologies for the delay, I had to deal with a personal family loss these past few days which hampered my will to write as well as the stressful days of work the weeks prior. I will begin writing Part B as soon as possible, no breaks this time as I always do.
We're nearly at the end of the line for the White Clouds saga, my friends! And I for one am excited to move ahead!