Crimson Flower
Solace in the Dark
"Both sides of time are revealed to you…"
"You are just another failure."
Byleth had woken up from these strings of events that had played out in his dreams.
He knew of those voices he had heard but to suddenly dream of the past when he never once did so made him wonder why would he be dreaming about them now?
The last words that Sothis shared with him prior to her surrendering her entire being to empower him and escape the void.
The spiteful words of Rhea when he decided to take Edelgard's side years ago, his own suspicion of Rhea compounded with what Jeralt had written about her in his journal being one of the prime reasons why he did not take her side.
But what woke him up were these strange dreams of events that he had no clue of nor has he seen them play out in his memories. He couldn't decipher those strange hazy dreams only that he saw a cliff overlooking a sea and there was… someone standing near the edge but he couldn't quite picture who it was.
Sighing, Byleth stood outside of the dining hall and stared blankly at the fishing pond, already noticing some kitchen staff catching some fish to serve for tonight's dinner.
A dinner that may as well be the last for some of them. All because tomorrow is the day where they will finally march to Fhirdiad or if Edelgard's predictions will be correct, to the historical Tailtean Plains.
Either way, it is there that the battle that will be of great significance in this war, will be decided. The side who emerges the victor in such a battle will most likely be the victor of the entire war.
And everyone in the Imperial Army is tense about this upcoming battle, even the Black Eagle Strike Force and the Emperor herself.
"Rhea." Byleth murmured her name, the one person he had longed to see once again not for sentimental reasons but for answers he will demand for.
And he's not even sure Rhea would even give him the truth nor give him a chance to even ask.
The war council earlier is meant to be their last one because all of them betted Tailtean Plains will be where they intend to finish off Dimitri and Rhea's resistance against the Empire.
"With Duke Fraldarius' death, that only leaves Dominic, Galatea and Gautier being the ones staunchly loyal to Dimitri and Rhea. In the event that they will not be in the battle, we can force them to submit if we defeat both the King and Archbishop."
"They will bend the knee or die."
Was Hubert's response to Ferdinand's assessment of their current battle plans as Edelgard and her council gathered around the war table to iron out every little detail for their plan.
"And Rhea?" Byleth questioned how the piece that was meant to represent Rhea and the Knights of Seiros were missing on the war table.
"We're speculating she will appear once she confirms what front you are fighting in, professor." Hubert said, holding the piece that represents Rhea.
"Hence, why we are counting on you to lure her out away from where Edelgard is going to meet against Dimitri's forces." Ferdinand said, still unsure on this as Rhea can opt to be strategic on this battle.
"How can we be so sure Rhea will actively seek him out? What if she tries to outmaneuver us and strike from our flank?" Lysithea questioned, having her own reservation to essentially use Byleth as bait to lure out the enraged Archbishop.
"It's because like me, we're both aiming to confront each other in this battle with little to no interference from any combatants that may change the tide of our battle." Byleth said as if expecting what is to come.
"She specifically wants me, Lysithea. I know that perfectly well." Byleth added as he eyed his position in the map of Tailtean Plains, at the eastern flank away from Edelgard's forces that were expected to clash against Dimitri's.
Lysithea still looks unsure with this as this kind of misstep can possibly cause them this battle that will become the deciding factor for the participants of this war. If the Empire wins, their victory over Faerghus is all but guaranteed. But if the Kingdom wins, it will begin a string of counterattacks that the Empire may never recover from.
They all have a lot to lose in this battle.
"And taking away the personal aspects of this confrontation between them, by isolating the battle between two warriors of unfathomable power, either side can lessen the scales of the battle tipping on one side due to the amount of casualties the professor and Rhea can inflict on either side." Edelgard explained. "Even if there is no such personal history, I will even scheme on having the professor confront someone of Rhea's power to keep her away from changing the tide of battle."
"But Edelgard, this is the same Rhea we fought together way back and I know we all got stronger over the years but I'm worried because that Rhea handily defeated everyone in the Black Eagle Strike Force until only you and the professor remained!"
"You were there too, Lysithea." Edelgard pointed, remembering how Lysithea's magic proved instrumental in defeating Rhea albeit for just a brief moment.
"I can take her." Byleth said sternly as all eyes went on him. "She won't get the best of me again like last time."
The concerned look on Lysithea's face still remained, she was deathly worried of Byleth considering this plan involves him battling the Archbishop that so happens to be the Saint Seiros that defeated Nemesis, a fact that Edelgard has divulged to everyone in Fodlan, some believed her and some didn't.
While Byleth, he was confident that he can fight Rhea this time on more even footing. If there was something that he prided himself on, it is that his instincts compel him to learn as he fights and for Byleth, he was never the type to lose to the same person twice. He was sure his adaptability as well as his more versatile fighting style this time can make a difference.
He was sure he could surprise her this time. Especially with the things he had picked up along the way, all thanks to his training with Lysithea and honing his martial skills with Edelgard and the rest of the Black Eagle Strike Force.
That and this feeling of this power that Sothis has bequeathed to him, growing as days goes by, is making him confident in his next encounter with Rhea.
"And that leaves my own battle with Dimitri." Edelgard said as the planning of the upcoming battle continued.
Unknown to Byleth as he listened to Edelgard's plans of motion against the Kingdom's last stand, Lysithea's eyes never left staring at him, concern in her pink eyes.
"My Lysithea, you look rather dreary today."
Lysithea blinked and turned to Mercedes, walking towards her with Jeritza in tow, both seemed to go on a walk. A surprise that even Jeritza agreed as the man would rather be alone or disappear somewhere else until he is needed for battle.
"I… just have a lot of things on my mind right now." Lysithea replied as she looked down on Letho, Ordelian and Hresvelgion's kitten, all grown up now. She had been mindlessly petting the cat while she sat on the foundation of the dormitories.
In fact, Mercedes was the third person to tell this to her today. The first two being Ferdinand and Leonie, both seeing Lysithea's rather listless mood today.
"Oh my, I had thought you and the professor were out on a date today. Seems I was wrong." Mercedes pondered.
Lysithea's face turned red at how Mercedes casually mentioned her dates with Byleth as if it was a normal thing for her and Byleth to do.
Ever since Byleth had confirmed he had been asking her out a month ago, many in the army had seen them together more frequently and it started rumors and inquiries among the soldiers and their friends regarding their relationship.
It was strange as Lysithea had noticed how frequently Byleth had started inviting her out for mostly leisure besides training and tea. She even received winks of teasing from the likes of Dorothea and Sylvain while Edelgard and Annette would give some unsolicited advice to her.
Yet, despite all of that, Lysithea still doesn't know where her and Byleth's relationship really stands. Are they a couple now or is this dating acting like them testing the waters first?
She never had the heart to ask Byleth about it as she wanted to enjoy those moments with him first and foremost. She feared that Byleth would respond to it by saying he's merely asking her out as a treasured friend, something that he had once called her in front of her own parents when Lysithea introduced Byleth to them.
"Mercedes, it's not like we can just relax like tomorrow isn't a big deal." Lysithea replied after finding her bearings to reply to Mercedes' rather carefree statement.
"But the fact that tomorrow's a big deal is the more reason we all have to relax before it happens, right?" Mercedes asked as she turned to Jeritza. "Don't you agree, Emile?"
"I don't know." Jeritza flatly replied which made his sister frown at him. "Tomorrow is a big battle, Mercedes. Do not take it so lightly, we are not going on a stroll to Tailtean Plains tomorrow."
"See? That is exactly what I meant when all of us need to relax before the big battle tomorrow." Mercedes insisted.
Lysithea could only chuckle at the boundless optimism Mercedes has, something that only Annette can rival.
"It is quite strange to see Jeritza so… subjugated when he's with you." Lysithea remarked as she eyed the younger bearer of the Crest of Lamine.
Jeritza merely remained silent, looking away from Lysithea as if avoiding her gaze.
"You will have to forgive my baby brother, Lysithea. He did admit he has been afraid of you ever since you defeated him years ago–"
"Mercedes, you do not have to share that." Jeritza protested.
Lysithea blinked. Did she hear right? Jeritza? The guy who donned the facade of the Death Knight… was afraid of her?
"Oh my, it seems I have embarrassed my baby brother. Well then, we'll have to get going. Emile did say he wants to have one last tea time with me before the battle tomorrow." Mercedes giggled and Lysithea could swear Jeritza was beginning to lose his stoic facade in the wake of Mercedes' airheadedness and how easily she divulges such private information.
With that, the two siblings left her with Letho, Lysithea still dazed at how she has just witnessed Jeritza aka the Death Knight being so easily flustered in the wake of his sister's actions. She never did imagine that the man was capable of feeling that way considering he had been the Death Knight once.
She heard of the rumors that he reportedly apologized to Manuela in a bizarre but sincere manner after the latter confronted him for injuring her back in the Academy days. Maybe, there really was a human being hiding within that macabre helmet of the Death Knight after all.
But maybe Mercedes was right, the fact that tomorrow's battle is tense and big deal could be more of a reason to have some carefree time for the rest of the day. But the problem is… what should she do?
Edelgard made it clear she didn't want to interact with anyone at the moment, making a request not to be disturbed unless it is of great importance. Something that Lysithea understood as Edelgard is trying to get her resolve in facing Dimitri once again in the battlefield. The last time they battled, Edelgard won by surprising the Faerghus King with the power of her second Crest.
Byleth was nowhere to be seen, at least by her, ever since the day began. No doubt Byleth was also in heavy contemplation with what he has to do tomorrow, especially his most awaited battle against Rhea.
Lysithea remembered Byleth confiding with her in one of their dates that his personal motivation for this war is to confront Rhea once again with questions pertaining to his past and his mother whom Byleth detailed how Jeralt loved her to the point that it was the only thing that broke the former captain when Sitri died.
Yet at that same time, Byleth confided to her what has been truly troubling him recently and Lysithea never expected it was caused by a simple but difficult question to answer by Alois.
What will he do after the war?
Even Lysithea had to admit, the realization that she had no goal beyond aiding Edelgard in this war had also bothered her but then again, she had the excuse of just retiring in peace, living out the rest of her remaining days in peace and then passing on.
But is that what she truly wants for herself? A part of her is now telling her to continue living and she must admit, the prospect of getting her life back was something to have hope but it can also be her source of despair as a cure is still nowhere to be seen nor is it her and the other's collective goal to search for one.
She wagers even Edelgard would jump on the opportunity to have a cure to also restore her own life back.
"How is Her Majesty?" Ferdinand asked Hubert as the two walked together around Garreg Mach. Both of them are keeping an eye on the morale of their soldiers.
"Anxious." Hubert admitted, his hands around his back as he walked, spotting Caspar trading blows with Leonie in a sparring session while Bernadetta and Petra watched them.
"Who could blame her? Tomorrow is a big battle after all. Even a person of grand title such as Edelgard can feel the pressure of tomorrow's battle."
"That is exactly what is frustrating her." Hubert responded with a sigh. "She stubbornly refuses to feel such pressure."
"Why shouldn't she feel more confident, I wonder? Considering how whittled down the Kingdom's army is and especially after—"
"What happened in Arianrhod is not something we can truly consider a complete success, Ferdinand. You know that all too well." Hubert interrupted him with a scowl but not directed to Ferdinand.
Ferdinand's disposition looked saddened upon the mention of Arianrhod and what had occured in there.
"A sad state of affairs, Arianrhod that is." Ferdinand lamented. "I get what Edelgard was trying to do but–"
"You don't agree with keeping the truth confidential for now?"
Ferdinand nodded to Hubert's interruption. "Yes, I know leaders have to make difficult decisions but it just doesn't feel right to use the Church as a scapegoat for it, knowing full well that those truly responsible are our 'allies'."
Hubert merely grumbled at this. Even he wasn't comfortable with what he, Edelgard and the others agreed upon. Hell, it even made Lysithea argue with Edelgard over it for the first time in many months since they last had a verbal argument regarding difficult decisions in war.
While it wasn't as intense as the previous years, the argument between the two white haired women rang throughout the conference room where Byleth, Edelgard, Lysithea, Ferdinand and Hubert were, moments after the news were relayed to them that Arianrhod is nothing but a pile of rubble now after being utterly annihilated by a 'javelin of light' from the skies.
Right after the Imperial Army have taken Arianrhod and killed both Rodrigue and Cornelia, Edelgard and the others were all confident that they have gained a massive advantage over the combined forces of the Kingdom and Church of Seiros, as well as one-upping Lord Arundel and Those Who Slither in the Dark by depriving them of one of their chief members while disguising her assassination as collateral damage in taking Arianrhod.
The repercussions of Edelgard's actions against Arundel had provoked his ire that the only reprisal they could think of was a strike from the heavens.
Knowing that Edelgard couldn't yet reveal Lord Arundel's true identity and affiliation or else risked an internal struggle especially during such a critical point in the war, Edelgard had to make up an excuse and pin the blame to the Church of Seiros.
A decision that did not sit well with most of her advisors, Lysithea most of all. While Byleth also did not like the decision, he understood Edelgard's decision but made it a point to make her reveal the truth once they brought down Dimitri and Rhea. Ferdinand too, wanted to tell their allies the truth once this was over.
Lysithea, however, wasn't letting Edelgard off the hook that easily as she totally hated covering for their 'allies' and it disgusted her. She even went as far as to admonish Byleth for agreeing with this as he was effectively protecting the group of people who were responsible for Jeralt's death.
"You should know better than enabling this sort of thing!"
"I understand what you feel, I really do but we have to make do with this situation at the moment."
"While I understand the decision. I cannot allow this to be made into a habit of giving our subjects falsehoods regarding matters of great importance such as this." Ferdinand said, reinforcing his belief in Edelgard's decision while also offering his own insight. "If our own empire is to encompass all of Fodlan then it must be built on a foundation of truth and sincerity to its people. We shall be no better than the Church of Seiros and Rhea if we will be resorting more of these lies in the future."
"You have my word on that, Ferdinand." Edelgard responded to Ferdinand with a nod of acknowledgement, conflict within her eyes was very evident for everyone for the decision she had to make. She then turned her attention towards Lysithea.
"Lysithea, I cannot afford to fight a battle from within the Empire when we are at the cusp of defeating Rhea. You must understand I have to make do with the compromises I have made." Edelgard defended her decision. "Once we decisively defeat both the Kingdom and the Church, then we will rid Lord Arundel and his ilk. You have my word on that."
"As a matter of fact, countermeasures have been made in the event they act out of line again. They have shown their hand." Hubert added. "With victory so near, they're going to be full of their hubris and make a mistake. Their bombardment of Arianrhod may have given us a clue as to where they make their lair in."
"It will not be long until we seize victory in this five year long war. At long last." Ferdinand said with cautious optimism as he too began to feel the exhaustion that this war has brought to everyone both physically and mentally.
The release they would all feel once this is all over is going to be a breath of fresh air.
Or is it?
"Our work will only truly begin once it is won but for now, pray do not be complacent. Otherwise, you will lose your life in the heat of battle." Hubert coldly cautioned him.
"Oh I know. It's just something to look forward to when we finally grasp victory. The various reforms we will begin in Fodlan's new future and even if it may cost me my family's nobility in generations to come, I can take comfort that I took part in it." Ferdinand said with a hopeful smile.
"You are nauseatingly optimistic." Hubert shook his head before going ahead with his routine inspection of the soldier's morale.
Ferdinand only watched Hubert leave as the former looked on to gloomy skies forming in the Kingdom's direction, exactly where Tailtean Plains is.
"We have to be optimistic for one thing. It's what many of us cling to so we can fight for our lives and hope to move forward."
Byleth looked on with widened eyes at the torn pages of Rhea's journal after he had read them, on the table of Jeralt just beside him was the late captain's open journal, recently placed there after Byleth had cross referenced the contents of Jeralt's journal and the torn pages of Rhea's own.
"This is all we can find, professor." Edelgard said as she, Lysithea and Hanneman both looked unsure what Byleth was particularly feeling as he took the time to process what he had just read.
"Is this truly Rhea's handwriting?" Byleth asked Hanneman, wanting to confirm if all of this is sourced from Rhea's own penmanship.
The aged professor nodded affirmatively. "I have known her handwriting since I began my tenure as a professor here. I can confirm that's her handwriting in that journal and its torn out pages."
Byleth became silent as he read Rhea's journal once again, his eyes constantly shifting from disbelief, anger and shock as he read the words penned on them anew.
"Professor?" Lysithea called out worriedly as Byleth's expression turned to that of dejection.
"I should have been dead." Byleth muttered. "I was born already dead into this world."
With a sigh of frustration, Byleth set down the journal and pages beside Jeralt's journal on the table. He walked near the windows and blanklessly looked at the skies above Garreg Mach, processing what he had learned.
His mother was an experiment. It seemed she was the 12th one to be given life by Rhea by some means of artificial creation by which the means are unknown to them. That meant there were eleven more lives that Rhea decided to play god with in order to achieve her own agenda.
Did they die too? 'Born' with such frail health like Sitri was only for them to die a fragile life? They didn't choose to be born this way and this filled Byleth with some sense of rage.
While it is true that Byleth owes the very life he now is living through to Rhea, he cannot help but think Rhea merely agreed to keep him alive because she found another opportunity to continue these twisted experiments to create life at her whims. All those special treatment, the kindness she has shown and given to him and Jeralt, it was all because of some agenda.
His entire life, his Crest of Flames, his fate for all these years as well as Jeralt's and Sitri's were all by her machinations.
In some manner, his life and how it was tampered by the concept of Crests to fulfill some sort of selfish ambition was similar to the fate that Lysithea and Edelgard were subjected to.
Byleth's eyes then widened in realization as he gripped his chest tightly where his unbeating heart was.
Everything was coming together now why Rhea had taken such an interest in him and why she had persisted with these experiments to artificially create life.
He immediately remembered the fateful incident in the Holy Tomb when Rhea had requested him to sit on a throne that was eerily familiar to the one Sothis had sat on in his subconsciousness. How he could feel the near giddy anticipation within Rhea's voice as she asked him to sit on the throne of Sothis.
She was waiting for something to happen during that time. He knew this to be true, only for Edelgard to interrupt that moment when she finally showed her hand and intentions against Rhea.
"Well? It was supposed to be but a step away. What could possibly be missing?"
Byleth has an idea why Rhea had asked him to sit on Sothis' throne but he needs to be sure.
He needs to hear the answer straight from Rhea's lips the next time they meet. And he knew their meeting would soon come.
"Professor–" Lysithea tried to call out only for Byleth to interrupt her mid-sentence.
"Leave me be. Please." Byleth requested as calmly as he can, not wanting to project this silent anger welling up within him towards the ones who had paved the way for him to unravel his mysterious past.
"But–"
Edelgard placed a hand on Lysithea's shoulder making her turn to her. The Emperor merely shook her head, silently telling her to let Byleth be for now as he needed time to process all of this.
Without a word, Hanneman, Edelgard and Lysithea all left Byleth alone with Lysithea giving him one last worried glance before closing the door behind her.
After they left the room, it didn't take long for all three to hear the muffled sound of Byleth's fist punching the bookshelf within Jeralt's former office. All they could only do was leave and let Byleth vent out his frustrations.
After removing all forms of garments on her, Lysithea entered the bathhouse of Garreg Mach. She found it empty much to her relief as she prefers to clean herself alone. She passed by to a large mirror, seeing herself in all her naked glory, her eyes focusing on the ghastly scar on her back when she shifted her body to the side.
The very reason why she refuses to bathe with anyone else in the bathhouse was due to this everlasting reminder on her body of the horrors that were inflicted on her and her family. The pain, anguish and hopelessness, this hideous scar was meant to remind her of that.
With a sigh, she took the white towel she brought with her as she went inside the room where the baths are and as expected, it was brimming with the steam from the warm waters flowing on the pools of water.
Lysithea submerged her body up until the neck as she started splashing water on her face and soaking her hair with the warm waters, feeling relief as she felt like the waters were rejuvenating her body from the stress and anxiety she had been feeling all day.
Maybe for a moment, she can forget about what is to come tomorrow.
"It seems both of us have the same idea."
Lysithea yelped out as she realized she wasn' alone in the baths. Right on cue, some of the steam shrouding the baths cleared to reveal Edelgard, also submerged up until her neck, staring at Lysithea on the opposite side of the large pool of water.
"At least tell me you're here! Just when I thought I was alone in here!" Lysithea yelled at Edelgard who gave her a look.
"You're beginning to sound like Bernadetta." Edelgard said, briefly reminded of the former recluse. "Besides, the moment you knew I was here, you would have left anyway."
"You know I hate showing my scar to others, El. I'm sure you know that feeling too." Lysithea frowned at her 'sister'.
Edelgard rolled her eyes, splashing water to clean her face. Tilting her down to see her own scar on her chest.
"I know but I just needed some company today at the moment." Edelgard said, looking up at the damp ceiling of the bathhouse. "I felt like this place would be a great place to temporarily forget what lies ahead tomorrow but I was wrong. The loneliness can be crippling."
"Then, why not ask Dorothea?" Lysithea asked.
"I thought I would have handled this better by myself. I know she's my lover and all but sometimes, there are those moments you want to be left alone despite having people to count on."
The snow haired girl looked down on the warm waters, that's something she can sympathize with, that's for sure. Just because she has friends to count on, it doesn't mean that she has to always bare her feelings and thoughts to them. Sometimes, having some privacy is better than having company.
"Have you been feeling well?" Edelgard asked to which Lysithea knew what the Emperor was pertaining to.
Lysithea sighed in exasperation. "I keep telling you and the professor that I'm alright. I just overexerted myself in that specific battle."
The snow haired girl was only met by a suspicious look from Edelgard.
"I'm telling the truth." Lysithea insisted, not wanting to give Edelgard cause for concern regarding her condition.
But deep within, Lysithea was unsure of what her state of health truly is. Edelgard could only stare in silence, feeling guilt at having to keep something to hope for from her.
The hope of a cure being made. For now, even Edelgard cannot tell if it was possible with the efforts of Hanneman. The research materials and references acquired by Petra and her team in their infiltration of Arianrhod during the Empire's siege on it were just recently given to Hanneman and even then, the research they took was too much for the aged professor to quickly skim through. The professor of Crestology has to thoroughly pore through every note Cornelia and her ilk have written in them in search for what may become Lysithea and Edelgard's salvation from their 'curse'.
The only notable thing Hanneman has discovered so far is that Cornelia specifically experimented on someone during her time masquerading as the woman that the Kingdom revered as their savior from the plague. The experiments done to this woman were different to the forced implantation of Crests within Edelgard and Lysithea's veins but still of the nature of Crestology.
Lysithea gauged if Edelgard would come clean with what she had been hiding from her, something Byleth has been aware of from some time, but received only silence from the Emperor. It would seem judging from how Edelgard is still keeping it under wraps, there is still no progress of finding a cure.
Not that Lysithea was expecting one since the beginning.
"Hey Edelgard?"
The Emperor shifted her gaze at Lysithea.
"I'm just wondering if there ever comes a time that you wished you didn't become Emperor nor was born into nobility?"
Edelgard blinked, perplexed at the surprise question, having expected something else.
"You know I am never one to think of what ifs but if I will be honest, yes." Edelgard confessed. "I do wish I wasn't born into all of this and just lived out my life in a more carefree manner. Remember when I told you that there are just days that I'm not the Emperor or Her Majesty to people but just Edelgard, something only you and a select few could do for me."
Lysithea nodded, thinking it is hard for an Emperor to become close on a personal level to most of her subjects. The only reason why she has friends among the Black Eagles was because of Byleth helping to connect them to each other and the fact that during her time in Garreg Mach, Edelgard was given liberties to what she does and just become a student there rather than be the Imperial Princess as she is known for in Fodlan.
"Have you ever thought of… you know…"
"What?"
"Leaving your duty behind and just live life how you want it to be without being obligated to do something?"
Edelgard chuckled at this which Lysithea raised an eyebrow on.
"I'm not going to rule until I die, Lys. That wasn't the point of this campaign." Edelgard admitted, having never said such a thing to anyone except for maybe, Dorothea.
Lysithea's eyes widened. "Are you planning on abdicating after this war?"
This was news to her as Edelgard never fully said what she planned to do once she had set in motion her reforms that Fodlan will undergo when she assumes full control over the continent.
"Not as soon as you think but I will until the changes I have planned are set in motion and a successor is chosen. Plenty of things need to be ironed out before I do so." Edelgard responded, looking at the ceiling with a wishful look.
"Assuming things go smoothly following the elimination of all our enemies." Edelgard continued, putting emphasis on that specific word to hint to Lysithea about their enemies who they intend to wipe out after Rhea's defeat.
"Then, after all that… what will you do with your life?"
All that Lysithea received was again, Edelgard staring up at the ceiling of the bathhouse with a wishful look. The Emperor stayed like that for a few minutes as if formulating what her answer could be.
"It's funny that even the professor's own dilemma made me think about that as well and the irony is that even I don't know the answer beyond my own ambitions for Fodlan's future."
Lysithea sighed deeply, it seems all three of them have the same problem in one way or another.
Until a question popped out inside Lysithea's mind, something she had wanted to ask Edelgard about.
"Hey, El?"
"Yes?"
Lysithea hesitated for a bit, visibly uncomfortable in what she was about to ask.
"Do you believe what Cornelia… said about your mother?" Lysithea asked, remembering Cornelia's cruel taunts to Edelgard before the Emperor executed her following her defeat in Arianrhod.
Edelgard's expression darkened for a bit, as if being reminded of a terrible memory in her life, one which Lysithea is now fully aware of but if there's one thing Edelgard didn't tell her, it is what became of her mother.
"You really think I would just let you waltz in here, take me by surprise and kill me? Your Majesty?"
Edelgard snorted at her. "I have no idea what you mean. I'm just here to take Arianrhod and it just so happens you're here so I might as well just do that."
"Foolish girl, do you have any idea what this would mean–"
"Yes and I don't care." Edelgard cut her off. "You and your ilk will soon die, you're just the first one to cross out in my list, the rest will follow."
Cornelia merely laughed in amusement despite facing the trio of Edelgard, Lysithea and Byleth, all of which were given the opportunity to confront the court mage of Faerghus after the Imperial army and Black Eagle Strike Force kept the Kingdom defenders at bay, all of which were unprepared for such a siege to happen.
"Ah, a lab rat fated to die soon, the Emperor we created by our hands and the inheritor of that abomination's power." Cornelia scornfully said as her eyes went from Lysithea to Edelgard and lastly, Byleth, the latter one being the subject of much scorn.
Something struck a nerve within Byleth at the way Cornelia alluded to Lysithea. A lab rat, that's what this woman before them called her. Something burned within Byleth, Cornelia's particular insult towards Lysithea being what stoked it.
Edelgard was right, this deplorable person they're facing against knew of what happened to both Edelgard and Lysithea. Killing her here will be justice to the lives she and her kind had taken and experimented on throughout the years, all for what? To create the 'perfect' Emperor that is Edelgard? That Lysithea ended up becoming like a guinea pig for their agenda?
"You have some words to share for someone who is about to face certain defeat." Byleth told Cornelia, taunting her and pointing the Sword of the Creator, resonating with power, towards her.
"Don't think you can scare me by pointing that thing at me." Cornelia scoffed Byleth's intimidation off. "And did you think I am so defenseless? No, I had measures ready for such a scenario. In fact, I have long been excited to do this."
Lysithea didn't want to hear Cornelia talk anymore, quickly casting her Dark Spikes to conjure the namesake of the spell to turn Cornelia into a pin cushion only for something to suddenly emerge from the ground in front of Cornelia, effectively shielding the court mage of Faerghus from the spell that was Lysithea's signature spell.
The huge imposing mechanical figure rose, towering over all of them, looking down on the trio with its hollow black eye sockets.
"The best part is that it is not alone." Cornelia's smug smirk grew even wider as another burst out from the ground just beside the other one that came out.
Now, two of the mechanical monsters bar the way of anyone who would seek to harm Cornelia.
With a growl, Byleth assumed his stance, so did Edelgard and Lysithea as they realized they must now contend with the two hulking monsters made out of metal alongside the dangerous court mage of Faerghus.
"Titanus, my lovely dolls. Crush them all to paste!"
Perhaps Cornelia had overestimated her creations as she witnessed one of her mechanical monstrosities being felled by Byleth. Edelgard was still fending off the one she chose to fight with magical assistance from Lysithea.
That accursed sword Byleth carried could easily rend the Agarthium the Titanus were made of, or could it be because of the power that the abominable Goddess has bestowed upon which makes such a feat possible?
Regardless, Byleth looked tired, a cost of fighting a Titanus all by himself which made him vulnerable to be blasted away by Cornelia with a sphere of dark magic, sending him crashing to the stone walls of Arianrhod.
"Professor!" Edelgard cried out in concern just as she too just ended her fight with the Titanus, after Lysithea hit a bullseye to one of its 'eyes' with a Dark Spike, giving Edelgard the opportunity to sever its legs with the Aymr before plunging the axe on to the construct's head.
Cornelia hissed at the failure of her creations but nonetheless was thankful that it granted her the opportunity to hit Edelgard with her Death spell, knocking Edelgard away unconscious from the now irate Cornelia.
Just before Cornelia could shift her focus on Lysithea, she was nearly blinded by the lights of the two magic circles that suddenly appeared below and above her, the former glowing dark purple in its inscriptions and symbols, the latter glowing golden white.
Cornelia recognized these almost immediately but was too late as both magic circles both generated pillars and particles of dark and white magic that had begun to clash in between with Cornelia being in the middle of it.
The court mage began to scream in agonizing pain as her eyes shifted in horror to see Lysithea floating with the magical power she was generating, her arms outstretched on both sides as her right palm had a mini dark magic circle above it with her left palm having the white magic circle above it. The Crest of Gloucester manifested above, empowering her magic even further.
'How can this be?! She's combining two contradicting magic to– no… no… she's purposely causing both the Hades and Aura spell to clash and form an even bigger–'
Cornelia couldn't finish her train of thought as Lysithea closed her palms together, breaking the two magic circles between her palms and acting as its cue, the clashing Hades and Aura spell exploded with Cornelia at the epicenter, creating a massive explosion of dark purple and golden white proportions.
Byleth, having regained consciousness from being blasted to the wall, woke up from the explosion of light and dark, immediately stood up and went over to Lysithea.
Lysithea at this point had labored breathing from using two powerful spells simultaneously, both of which were considered one of the strongest forms of magic in their respective schools. The utilization of her Crest of Gloucester didn't help.
"Lysithea–" Just before Byleth could ask if she was fine, Lysithea violently vomited blood from her condition borne from overexerting herself. Byleth could only watch helplessly as the snow haired girl puked.
"Looks… like… the… lab… rat's life… is drawing to a… close."
Byleth was tempted to go up to the fallen mage just lying flat on the ground near them but was stopped short when he saw Edelgard dragging herself towards Cornelia, still exhausted but her eyes thirsting to slay the fallen mage.
"You…!" Cornelia growled weakly but could do nothing more than seethe at the Emperor looking down at her with hatred, her limbs either charred or blasted away from the magical explosion Lysithea has subjected her, most of her hair was burned away and lastly, one of Cornelia's eyes was melted away within its sockets.
It was even a wonder how she was even alive with the extent of her injuries.
"Tell me what you know about the experiments conducted on us." Edelgard coldly demanded her, Aymr at her side, ready to be swung down to kill Cornelia.
Cornelia wanted to chuckle but could only wince in pain when she tried to, not having the capability to do so anymore after Lysithea's fatal attack on her.
"Y-You waste… your… breath." Cornelia spitefully said, wanting to give Edelgard one final insult before she loses what flickering embers remained of her life.
"Your… mother… Anselma… She committed… treachery… just to see you again… Duscur, her… doing and what did… it… get… her? Only darkness. She never… got to see… her poor… little… dau–"
Before Cornelia could finish, Edelgard cleaved her head open into two, ending the vile mage's life once and for all, ridding Fodlan of her deceit and wickedness.
"Good riddance." Edelgard coldly said, dislodging Aymr from Cornelia's head before looking back at Lysithea and Byleth, the former being helped up by the latter after her puking episode. She gave them a curt nod before walking past them to declare their victory over the remaining resistance of Arianrhod to utterly demoralize them with defeat.
In the darkness of night…
"So what is your scarred ass gonna do after we beat the Kingdom tomorrow?" A soldier asked his fellow soldier as they patrolled around the monastery with their spears resting on their shoulders. Byleth is walking behind them, on his way to Jeralt's office in the main building.
"I think I'll just about settle with my wife. Lay down my spear, settle in a village and try for a baby, you know?" The other guard in question replied. "Think five years of war and guarding has sapped my will for thrills in my life."
"So you decide to just go for the boring option eh?"
"Boring but more stable option, yeah. I dreamed of getting big in the army after I volunteered but war has one hell of a way in showing how lucky the 'boring' people are that they don't have to constantly dance around with death to live another day. I want to be that kind of person with my wife after this. Plus, I promised her that we'll build up that family we had been talking about."
"Well well, looks like I'm gonna reach captain first then."
"Knock yourself out on that. I had too much excitement that can last a lifetime in these past few years already."
The two guards' conversation carried on to other matters but unknown to them, Byleth behind them was left to ponder even more to what has been bothering him even before they besieged Arianrhod a month ago.
He passed by a bonfire, ignoring his former students and current members of the Black Eagle Strike Force, all of which were conversing with one another while eating (and drinking for some). Byleth's own agenda for the night was to be alone somewhere, seeking solitude and coming to terms with what is to come tomorrow. Thankfully, no one noticed him as he passed by alongside other soldiers.
"Hey Dorothea?" Leonie asked the former songstress sitting beside her.
"Yes?"
"Do you think you can sing that song you sang for us before we besieged Garreg Mach?"
Dorothea blinked, Leonie's request having earned the approval of most of their friends with Ferdinand being the one in agreement the most.
"I'd rather we just keep this silent get together… silent? I wouldn't have joined if only Caspar didn't drag me here." Linhardt complained and voiced his disapproval only to be drowned out by Ferdinand's enthusiasm to Leonie's request.
"I must agree, such a song will lift everyone's hearts for tomorrow's battle! I daresay such a morale boost will be heavily credited by your song!"
Dorothea looked at everyone who were present, most of them looking expectantly at her.
"What's going on here?"
Everyone turned to see Edelgard and Hubert approaching from behind Dorothea, the two shared smiles and nods before turning their attention back to their friends. Edelgard sitting beside her secret lover.
"Oh nothing, Edie. Just our beloved friends here requesting I sing to them again." Dorothea said with a warm smile. "But I don't think I'll sing that song all of you are expecting from me."
Before the others could comment their disappointment, Dorothea stood up and gestured to them to be quiet.
"I think now is the perfect time for me to sing this song that I have been trying to compose ever since Edie gave me the idea–"
"Please don't." Edelgard firmly requested. Her cheeks flushing red as she knows that instance Dorothea was alluding to. Something that Lysithea has ceaselessly teased her about when reminded of the first time Edelgard has uttered the words to the song that Dorothea is about to perform now.
But it was too late, as Dorothea closed her eyes and readied her throat for the song that she had long wanted to sing but couldn't find the right moment to do so. She felt like tomorrow's battle, the march at dawn towards Tailtean Plains will be a monumental battle for the future of Fodlan that warrants such a song for her friends.
"Reach for my hand,
I'll soar away
Into the dawn
Oh, I wish I could stay."
As Dorothea continued her song, a song that resonated well within Edelgard despite her initial reservations against the song, all of those present were so taken in that they were unaware that there was some notable absence around the bonfire that has now been increasingly surrounded by soldiers of the Empire, captivated by Dorothea's song.
Lysithea had been walking around the monastery, even if it was dark out, there were many people still awake and hanging out around the place. It would seem tomorrow's battle had the soldiers tense and making them unable to turn in for the night just yet.
Good for Lysithea as she wouldn't be that brave to walk around Garreg Mach alone in the dark especially after that incident she once had that got her and Byleth in trouble years ago.
By now, that memory was something to reminisce, it may have damaged their relationship for a bit but they bounced back from such a scandal stronger than ever. Still, if there was a memory about that incident that bothers her, it is the… entity she saw on that night.
That one still sends shivers down her spine whenever she remembers it, she can just tell herself it's her sleepiness playing tricks on her mind or she may very well have seen an actual ghost that night.
Whatever the case, she shrugged away the thought of such a thing. All she wants to do now is walk around Garreg Mach and do a stroll of reminiscing old memories. Memories of more… carefree-like days before Edelgard plunged the entire continent into this war.
She decided to go ahead towards the classrooms and almost immediately she noticed the slightly opened door leading into the Black Eagles classroom, where she spent most of her days as a student learning years back.
She wondered who was inside the classroom at this hour as she remembered that everyone in the Black Eagle Strike Force, including Byleth, was invited to have one last get together tonight before they all turn in for the night. Most if not all of her comrades are probably there anyway, telling stories and chatting to one another to ease the tension for the upcoming battle tomorrow.
The opening of the double doors was enough for a person to go in without issue and as she went in, Lysithea was immediately met with the darkness of the classroom, the only source of light was coming from the moonlight passing through the windows at the far end of the classroom where the professor's lectern and table was.
And there, she saw Byleth looking up at the moonlight through the windows, his fingertips brushing the table that used to be his years ago as the light of the moon shone on him like a beacon for Lysithea to go to.
It was an eerily familiar sight for Lysithea as this was nearly the same moment she saw Byleth when he returned to them after five years. She couldn't tell exactly what the former professor was currently thinking and she thought: Maybe it isn't a good idea to disturb him in his state of reverie at the moment but then again, she is here already and a part of her has been looking for him ever since the war council earlier ended.
"What are you doing here?"
Lysithea gasped as Byleth noticed her presence without even turning around to see who just entered the classroom, she didn't even think she made a noise entering the room.
"How did you know–"
"I saw your reflection in the window's glass." Byleth plainly replied, still looking outside the windows and up towards the moon.
"O-Oh." Lysithea flatly said, her impression of Byleth having some sort of sixth sense on noticing his surroundings despite not seeing them with his eyes, falling flat.
Byleth wasted no time in asking his question to Lysithea once again.
"What are you doing here?"
"Same as you, perhaps." Lysithea responded, assuming Byleth's reasons for being in the classroom are the same as hers, walking around a place of memories and reminiscing them as some source of comfort for the dangerous and momentous event that is to unfold tomorrow.
Byleth was silent for a time, as did Lysithea, both unable to think of something to tell the other not knowing that the other was also thinking of saying something to ease what they're feeling, to ease the tension of tomorrow.
Byleth wanted to say something to Lysithea but as he was about to open his mouth, the words didn't leave the tip of his tongue and this annoyed him. It's not like him to be like this as many of his friends and former students, Lysithea included, had lauded him for being honest and speaking his mind about the various inquiries that are asked of him whether it's a positive or negative response.
"Lysithea… I–" Byleth stopped himself, hesitating to even tell her what's on his mind right now, Byleth knew this would no doubt be rebuffed by her but he had to try. Lysithea braced herself for what Byleth had to tell her, her right hand gripping the medallion above her chest as she waited for him to be out with it.
"I don't want you to march with us tomorrow." Byleth admitted, much to Lysithea's utter chagrin at his insistence for her not to fight.
Disappointment was quick to take over her nervous anticipation and soon enough, Lysithea's short temper was beginning to take over.
"Professor, we talked about this–" Lysithea said following a sigh of exasperation.
"Let me finish." Byleth said, his back still turned away from her. His tone was a command and a plea at the same time.
Lysithea went silent to allow him what reason or justification he has to warrant her staying behind, it doesn't matter anymore for her as she knows what her answer is.
"I'm worried about that happening to you again." Byleth admitted and Lysithea's guess was spot on as to why this topic was brought up.
"And you know my answer already–"
"I'm not saying this just because I don't want you to fall prey to an opportunistic enemy, Lysithea. It's because…" Byleth trailed and Lysithea could clearly see that he seems to have difficulty saying what he wants to say again.
"Whenever I see you hurt and in pain like that, I can't help but feel powerless being unable to do anything but just watch as you writhe in pain." Byleth admitted as he clenched his fists on his side, remembering the frustration and hopelessness he felt when he can do nothing but just hold and watch Lysithea vomit out blood after she had overexerted herself when she defeated Cornelia.
Despair filled him as flashes of memories of Jeralt's demise played in his mind. An event in his life that he didn't want to repeat once again, that despite his vast power to reverse time and change the outcome of history with his strength, he couldn't do anything to save his father, the only person he once thought to be the only one he had loved in his life at that time.
To feel that once more as he cradled Lysithea's weakened body and did nothing to stop it…
"P-Professor…" He could hear Lysithea call out to him but he ignored her, wanting to say more than what he already had.
"It hurts to see you like that." Byleth admitted, those memories triggered his reserved emotions to act out. "I get called the Ashen Demon, the Commander and a one-man army who feels no pain and remorse but at the exact moment when I held you, weakened and in such a dire amount of pain… I never want to experience that feeling of powerlessness!"
Lysithea tried to approach him but was stopped short when Byleth turned around to meet her with sorrowful eyes.
"I vowed to find a way to save your life from the cruelty that was done to you yet I am nowhere near in finding a solution as your life continues to smolder, as you continue to suffer. I hate it, this powerless feeling despite all the power I wield! I can't even save Jeralt from death and I…"
Byleth looked down on the classroom's floor with a mix of sadness and anger, he never wanted to show this vulnerable side of him to anyone but at this moment, in here with her… with Lysithea, it felt right, to let loose what he has been bottling up so far.
"Professor…"
Warm hands, smaller than his touched both sides of his face, Byleth could feel the soothing warmth within them as the hands gently tilted his face to make him look at her.
Beads of tears forming on the edges of pink eyes was the sight he saw. He did know why Lysithea's eyes threatened to spill the warm tears welling up in her eyes. Lysithea warned him that there will only be pain and suffering if Byleth continued to hope for the impossible, which is to find a cure for her curse. Now, Lysithea could see that Byleth was suffering the consequences of hoping for it yet she can't help but feel touched by it despite the ongoing futility of such a quest.
"L-Lysithea…"
"I'm sorry…" Lysithea apologized all of a sudden. "I-I know you're the one feeling such sadness but I can't help but feel… sad for you as well as… touched that you care so much about me."
Byleth's mix of saddened and angered emotions somewhat softened at the touch, sight and voice of Lysithea. All the frustrations he had in his personal mission to save her, being soothed.
"Do you love her, professor?"
Out of nowhere, Edelgard's words echoed within his mind, finally realizing the answer he had been looking for ever since it was asked of him two months ago.
"That's because I care about you, Lysithea. More than anyone else in this world." Byleth admitted as the floodgates that he had been keeping shut for now, out of reservation and contemplation, began to slowly open.
Lysithea's eyes slightly widened, shifting to that of someone who had received reassurance, that there was no risk of ruining something that she was about to utter back at him.
She needed to tell him, here and now, for there may be no more chances that shall remain should the battle of tomorrow go against their favor.
For so long has she held back on this, to the point that she even attempted in vain to stop herself from daydreaming a future to look forward to with Byleth at her side. For so long has she eschewed the very notion of her being in a romantic relationship, yet here she is…
Finally ready to let loose long bottled feelings she had kept tight behind her own floodgates within her heart.
"Profe–" Lysithea shook her head, it is finally time that she acknowledged him by his name now, to make sure that the message she's about to tell him is from Lysithea to Byleth, not one of a (former) student to her teacher.
"Byleth… For such a long time, I have held feelings for you. I-I didn't permit my heart to indulge myself with the possibility of ever being with you." Lysithea closed her eyes, her hands letting go of Byleth's face, she gripped her chest tightly instead as her entire body trembled at what she was ready to unleash.
The former professor was almost tempted to wrap his arms around her at this time, seeing how Lysithea's entire body shook as the tears that she had been keeping at bay in her eyes finally spilled.
"For the longest time, I didn't think I would be around to be a part of the future you and everyone are trying to create. That eventually, I have no place in it. But now, I cannot fight it any longer… I do care. And I do not wish to give up on chasing that future!" Lysithea exclaimed out as she looked up at him, her eyes spilling continuous tears yet burned with determination and passion for him.
"I do not wish to die! I want to be with you, be held by you, be loved by you! I-I…" Lysithea didn't want to end it here, she has to say it now for it was now or never for both of them.
"I love you, Byleth!"
It was at that declaration that she finally let her body buckle, only for her to lean towards Byleth for support who was quick to catch her despite the stunned look on his face upon hearing her confession.
For so long she held these feelings back, she doesn't care anymore if they would be rejected. It was better she had confessed to him rather than never for she doesn't know what tomorrow or the days after tomorrow would bring.
"Do you love her, professor?"
"What do you intend to do once this war is over?"
Those questions from both Edelgard and Alois played in his mind once more, all of which finally made him realize what his answers were.
But now, it was time Byleth gave Lysithea the answer she deserves after her heartfelt confession.
And there was only one answer to it.
He steeled himself with resolve and passion to respond, his arms placed firmly on Lysithea's shoulders, he gently pushed her away so Byleth could see Lysithea's teary-eyed face.
Byleth made it a point that he never wants to see her cry like this just to tell him what she feels. To make her feel assured with her decision to bare her feelings for him…
"I love you too, Lysithea." Byleth responded with such resolve that it felt like this was Byleth's toughest battle so far, with himself trying to figure out this feeling… this feeling that Jeralt had tried to espouse within him for Byleth's future.
To find someone he loves as much or even more than how Jeralt had loved Sitri in life and death.
By now, all is clear. What is this love to him, what it means, who should he share it with.
It was her, this woman before him now, staring astonishingly at him after hearing Byleth's own heartfelt response for her. It was a simple reply but it held such a strong impact within her.
Not just her but also Byleth as Lysithea saw for the first time, Byleth's face flushed red at his own admission of his feelings for her.
Not wanting to let this chance loose as passions ran high between them, Lysithea brought her hands up to gently cup Byleth's face, causing him to look slightly confused until his face was pulled towards hers.
Byleth knew what Lysithea wanted to do with him, he had heard, read and seen this firsthand with the other soldiers who flirted around, especially earlier.
He doesn't know what he would feel if he did this with her but at this point, he didn't care anymore.
Their faces inched closer and closer until their warm lips touched the other, feeling each other's warmth in their lips, dampening their once former dry lips with the kiss that finally sealed their standing to each other.
Lysithea's eyes shed a final tear as she kissed Byleth, finally reassured and vindicated that her feelings for him were not for naught. Her left hand coiled around his neck while her right hand rested on the back of his head, their kissing continued as if making up for the many days they have either bottled up or tried to figure out their feelings for one another.
Byleth could only feel elation, elation that replaced the nervous anticipation within him as he continued to kiss Lysithea back, in fact he never wanted to let go of her, relishing this joyful feeling in his unbeating heart, if only such a thing was possible. For Lysithea, the sensation and taste of Byleth's kiss felt better than any kind of sweet that graced her lips, ecstasy in all aspects of herself and Byleth had taken over them.
Soon enough, regrettably, the two parted their lips from one another to breathe again but neither let go of each other's holds.
Their eyes stared at each other, both glistening with this newfound passion for one another, finally realized upon their confessions.
It didn't take long for the two of them to lock lips again after they had catched their breath.
The light of the moon shone on them from the windows of the classroom they shared together as if the moon itself approved of such exchange between them.
The kiss they shared intensified as both found the other addicted, this time both their hands explored each other with Lysithea's hands caressing Byleth's chest and the latter's hands going up from behind of Lysithea's waist until they raced to her upper back.
Lysithea's eyes suddenly shot up in realization as to where Byleth's hands were about to touch, despite her back being covered by her clothes, the fabric in her clothes were still thin enough to feel the ghastly reminder of what was done to her years ago.
Out of reflex or something else, it didn't matter, Lysithea pushed Byleth away much to Byleth's shock, the latter thinking he may have overstepped his boundaries with the woman he loves.
"I'm sorry–" Both of them said at the same time, Byleth getting confused as to why his lover apologized just now despite his assumption that it was his fault.
"Lysithea?" Byleth called out, Lysithea protectively covering herself with her arms as if afraid of something that Byleth will discover about her.
"I'm sorry." Lysithea repeated, embarrassed at both her actions and to what she was now trying to hide from Byleth.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No!" Lysithea exclaimed out, taking Byleth by surprise from her sudden outburst. "It's just that… I-I'm afraid I would… disgust you if y-you saw…"
"Saw what?" Byleth asked, curiosity and worry melding together as to what it is that Lysithea was trying to hide.
Lysithea retreated for a bit, unsure if she has to be honest with this part of hers towards Byleth, she had already began to regret pushing Byleth away just as they were truly getting into their passionate kiss to one another and the hurt look on Byleth's face when she pushed him away.
Without a word, Lysithea loosened her sleeves to expose her shoulders, she hesitated for a moment, thinking if such a course of action was necessary, before ultimately loosening them.
As Lysithea did this, Byleth could feel something reacting within him at the sight of her loosening parts of her clothes to expose her skin but this soon came to a halt when Lysithea reluctantly turned and lifted her up to reveal a part of a huge scar on her back.
"I-I didn't want to…" Lysithea trailed off, feeling ashamed of the brutal physical reminder of her past besmirching the otherwise smooth skin of her back, something she doesn't even allow fellow girls to see except for Edelgard when they both shared each other's horrible experiences.
"I-I-k-know it must be d-disgusting for y-you to see…" She was a stuttering mess, the silence from Byleth was almost palpable to the point that her body trembled upon her scarred flesh being exposed.
A warm hand touched her scar, making Lysithea jolt at the fact that Byleth was now touching her the scar that she had hidden.
"Lysithea, it is all right." Byleth said in a comforting tone, his other hand making Lysithea turn around to face him, he could see it in Lysithea's eyes that she was in great shame and stress from exposing her scar to him, as if regretting it.
No words or explanations needed to be said about it as Byleth knew the story of the ghastly scar behind Lysithea. There was no point to dwell on it as ugly it might be in Lysithea's otherwise beautiful appearance, it is merely a scar of the flesh, not of the person that he had grown to love dearly.
"A-Aren't you bothere–" Lysithea was cut off when Byleth merely planted another kiss on her lips before staring back at her eyes filled with worry.
"That scar does not define you or even taint the beauty you possess." Byleth soothingly told her. "You are beautiful with or without it, be it body and soul."
Such words would have been seen as mere flattery by Lysithea if someone else said it to her, but she knew Byleth's words were sincere from his heart and she had no room to doubt him.
The scar became an afterthought as they resumed their interrupted kiss earlier, this time intensifying further to make up for the unintended interruption. Byleth gently pushed Lysithea to one of the pillars within the classroom, exactly the one where Lysithea sat with Edelgard during the days of the Officer's Academy.
Holding her right hand with his left, Byleth took advantage of Lysithea's exposed skin before him, he broke their kiss only to plant tender warm ones on Lysithea's neck, sending shivering sensations all over her body that Lysithea didn't know existed until now.
Byleth didn't know exactly why he did this, his instincts simply guided him to do so as he enjoyed the warmth and scent of Lysithea's neck as his lips made contact with it.
"B-Byleth…" Lysithea moaned out, unable to hold it in from the sensual kisses Byleth had been planting on her sensitive areas, she yelped out when Byleth kissed her ears before he assaulted her lips once again.
Unable to hold it in anymore, Lysithea began to undo what remained of Byleth's armor on his waist as Byleth tenderly kissed her neck and shoulders. Her body was heating up uncontrollably and she knew where this night was heading for both of them.
"Lysithea, wait…" Byleth tried to say but Lysithea had already lifted his shirt up to remove it only to gasp in shock at the sight of the scar on Byleth's chiseled chest.
Her hands covered her mouth in shock and awe seeing the gash on Byleth's chest and it seemed like the surrounding gash on his chest was… burned in a way?
"Jeralt told me I've had this ever since I was born." Byleth said, touching the scar, his eyes turning somber if only for a brief moment.
"But we both have an idea where I got this." Byleth finished, Lysithea meekly nodded as she recalled the contents of Rhea's journals that hinted at the circumstances of Byleth's birth.
Caressing her cheek, Byleth pecked Lysithea's lips once more.
"You're not the only one with scars to hide, Lysithea." Byleth told her but instead of a reply, Lysithea kissed his scarred chest to reassure him that she was in no way repulsed by it.
Instead, Lysithea worked on to plant tender hot kisses on Byleth's body, her hands exploring Byleth's slim but well-built body, particularly enjoying the feeling of his chiseled abs with her hands. Her kisses went higher and higher until she reached his neck.
A hint of mischievous vengeance was something she felt, wanting to get back at Byleth and make him feel the new sensations he made her feel earlier by kissing his neck which provoked grunts from Byleth the moment her damp lips made contact with the skin of his neck.
Lysithea went above and beyond what Byleth did to her by having her tongue glide up and down his neck which elicited louder and more frequent grunts from her former professor as Byleth's body shivered despite his body heating up further and further.
Without a word, Byleth grabbed Lysithea by her arms and suddenly laid her down on the table that the latter had been using in her studies years back when she was merely just a fledgeling student.
The two stared at each other, both huffing uncontrollably at their actions to one another, hot breaths intermingling as both either moaned or grunted at what they had done to each other.
Knowing that this is now the point of no return, Lysithea knew this is the time.
As this may probably be their last night together.
Byleth's eyes widened when Lysithea pulled down the part of her dress that was covering her chest to reveal her modestly sized breasts. Lysithea could feel the cool air tickling her bare chest, her face red at exposing her body even more to the man she loves, but a concern began to nag within the confines of her mind as she thought that her chest wasn't sufficient for Byleth's liking.
That concern was all for naught the moment she felt something hard touching her leg, she looked down to see Byleth's member had hardened to the point that it was threatening to protrude from his pants.
And this both excited and delighted her that her body was enough to elicit such a reaction from him.
Curiosity took over Byleth as his bare hands touched the mounds of Lysithea's breasts, eliciting a moan from Lysithea as she felt for the first time ever, her breasts being touched by someone else other than her.
"They're so soft…" Byleth remarked in amazement as he found himself addicted to fondling her breasts.
Having known the concept of such things from the stories he had heard from the mercenaries under his father's banner. He had always heard that at camp or the tavern, his father's men had boasted about inappropriate topics regarding their experiences with women, something that Byleth ignored due to his disinterest on the topic, finding the topic of women's bodies and sex as shallow.
"D-Don't describe i-it." Lysithea said in embarrassment as she watched Byleth fondle her, she could already imagine how red her face was as well, something that Byleth found…
"You're so cute."
Lysithea could feel her inner self screaming from Byleth's comment on how she looked until she moaned loudly when Byleth suddenly squeezed her breasts, sending shocks all over her body at the newfound sensation.
"R-Remove them…" Lysithea begged, Byleth was confused at first until he saw Lysithea motioning him to where her lower loins were. By now, the skirt of her dress was lifted up to the point that her panties were exposed, stained by some sort of liquid and vaguely showing a slit.
Without a word, Byleth slowly removed the fabric that covered what is probably a woman's most private part, but he himself did not know why Lysithea asked him to do so.
"I…"
Lysithea could see the genuine confusion in Byleth's green eyes after he had stripped her of her underwear, shocking her that Byleth doesn't seem to know the concept of what they are about to do.
"I don't know what to… do…" Byleth said, ashamed that he had no inkling of what to do next, his hands covering the growing bulge on his pants.
"R-Remove your p-pants…" Lysithea stuttered with her order.
Her eyes instantly widened and her face flushed even redder when she caught sight of Byleth's manhood as it sprung upwards after Byleth had stripped himself naked for her to see.
She had read these by accident in books or heard it from vulgar talk between some of the female soldiers or staff of Garreg Mach talking about their experiences with their own man. She never imagined a man's… manhood was supposed to be this big or is it just because of Byleth's own size?
Steeling herself with courage despite knowing what may lie for them onwards, Lysithea invited Byleth to climb up the table to be on top of her, their eyes gazing hungrily at each other with Byleth looking to her for guidance.
It was unusual, this predicament they are in as Lysithea herself was embarrassed at being the one who is actually the more knowledgeable one at the topic of sex while Byleth felt like the maiden of this ensuing exchange between them.
Her carnal instincts prevailed over this brief moment of embarrassment as she got a hold of Byleth's hardened manhood.
Swallowing, Lysithea guided Byleth's manhood on to her entrance down below and sure enough, she felt his stiffness when they made contact and it made her breathe heavily, even Byleth could also feel himself getting excited the moment his manhood touched her entrance.
"Put it in…" Lysithea said as if begging in between heavy breaths. "G-Gently–"
Without warning and without even letting Lysithea finish, Byleth had penetrated half of his manhood within her slit sending shockwaves of pain as Lysithea struggled to keep her voice down, feeling something within her rip open.
Contrary to what she was feeling, Byleth could only moan as he was suddenly hit by a wave of pleasure the moment his manhood went deep within Lysithea.
However, such a moment of pleasure was a fleeting one when he opened his eyes to see Lysithea tearing up from the pain of her maidenhood being taken all of a sudden.
"Lysithea?!"
Then, to his horror, he saw blood trickling down underneath where he and Lysithea had joined as one. His eyes widened and guilt immediately took over him as he made moves to pull himself out of her only for Lysithea to stop him, wrapping her legs around his body despite the pain she was feeling.
"D-Don't…"
"But you're in–"
"It will pass! I-It's supposed to be l-like this!"
Even Lysithea wasn't sure if the feeling of a woman losing her virginity was meant to be a painful one, from the stories she had read or learned, it was only supposed to hurt for a short moment until all became pleasurable for her.
And the only way to know for sure was to move forward and Lysithea sure as hell didn't want to end this night with Byleth at such a short note.
"J-Just keep m-moving… g-gently."
Byleth was still reluctant despite Lysithea's insistence that she was fine but nonetheless acquiesced, he gave slow and steady thrusts, analyzing Lysithea's expression as he did so to make sure he wasn't hurting her as he already had.
That is until he could feel with his manhood that the pleasure he was getting for each thrust into her was addicting to the point that he wanted to move faster if only his rationality wasn't holding back his carnal instincts from taking over.
As Byleth continued to push himself into her, Lysithea could feel the pain beginning to dull with the pleasure her entire body was feeling and soon it became an afterthought. As if knowing this, Byleth's movements became even faster as he finally allowed himself more leeway into his thrusts, twisting and hitting the depths of Lysithea as both moaned almost without end.
"B-Byleth… Byleth… Byleth…!" Lysithea kept moaning out Byleth's name which further turned him on even more alongside the increasing pressure that was beginning to build up within his manhood.
"Lysithea! Lysithea!" Byleth responded in kind, wrapping his arms around her and burying his head on her shoulders as he pounded into her more and more with animalistic thrusts, at this point Lysithea weakly wrapped her arms around Byleth the more the latter's manhood grinded against her inside's walls.
Both were already beginning to lose their minds over this from the continuous waves of ecstasy their mind and bodies felt.
"T-There's s-something t-that's about to… to…" Byleth couldn't finish as he grunted, feeling the pressure within his manhood reaching its peak, something was threatening to unleash itself from it and Byleth doesn't know why.
Lysithea fully knew what was to happen and she knew what such a thing would do to her but she didn't care anymore. If this was to be their last night together, she may as well take the leap of faith.
Besides, she didn't have the strength nor the will to tell Byleth as she had totally lost herself in carnal pleasure. She didn't want this to end, to be connected with the man she loves and making love to her.
She hoped tomorrow wouldn't come and that the two of them can just stay inside this classroom with memories they have sullied with this brazen act they are doing.
She doesn't care, she wants more, she wants him, she wants Byleth, she wants his love more so than before.
But she and Byleth knows, all things must come to an end.
"LYSITHEA!"
"BYLETH!"
Both of them screamed each other's names, not caring if someone hears them as Byleth released the warm and thick liquid within his manhood that has been threatening to come out since they began having sex.
Lysithea could only moan as her insides were filled, feeling the warmth of the aftermath of Byleth's climax within her. Beads of tears finally shedding from the corners of her eyes as their time together making love steadily ended.
Breathing and moaning heavily with the aftermath of their deed together, Byleth and Lysithea looked at each other, their eyes still yearning for more of each other.
Their lips crashed rather sloppily this time, they didn't know if this was because of exhaustion or the feeling of ecstasy weakening them but they didn't care, their lips crashed to each other, hungry for more.
"I love you…" Byleth told her after he parted his lips from her.
Lysithea merely responded with a kiss and embrace, perfectly satisfied with the outcome of this encounter.
"I love you too." Lysithea responded within her thoughts, too weak to say it back to her lover.
And so, the two lovers enjoyed their time together for what may as well be the final night of their lives.
At this moment though, both didn't care if there was a battle tomorrow or later, all they care about is one another in blissful ignorance, finding solace in the dark of night.
Holy shit that was probably the most intense chapter I've ever written! I'm mostly inexperienced in this sort of thing and I merely relied on my past collaborative works with SuperbOwl as inspiration for writing this chapter! Many thanks man and for the advices you have given me!
Also, besides this chapter being the hardest one for me to write, I took longer than I intended as I played through all of Three Hopes' routes and tried to get any lore I can get that may prove useful to this fic. And I must say, I may include some small changes or references brought by Three Hopes into this fic, one of which you have seen already with how Lysithea demolished Cornelia in their battle, took inspiration from Lysithea's warrior special from Hopes for that particular scene!