Shattered Songs of Faith

by Sakura108645

Now, one does not expect to wake up in another body when they die. She did not expect to come to such a world that she had only read and played through technology. What's more, that she wakes up as Female Byleth during her childhood days. "Come and see the world in different ways from the River of Time before it all shatters away!" (SI OC) (AU)

13. Chapter 12:Dual-Ego:Part 2:Buried Heart

[Chapter Warning: This chapter has mentions of depression, suicide, self-harm, gore, and other heavy topics. If you are triggered or are disturb by these topics, you may skip this chapter if you want to. Before anyone comes after me, I do have experience in the topics of depression, self-harm and suicide because I myself gone through it. If you are suffering from depression, please speak to a counsellor, go to therapy, or speak with someone you trust. Never be afraid of asking for help. Thank you for your time.]

- Dream -

"Hey, Arisa. Arisa...Wake up pendeja!"

With a violent push off her comfy bed, and a screech that would rival a bird's yell, Arisa groaned loudly as she just laid on the floor, trying to properly register what on earth just happened.

"Uugghh...Sothis...why did you wake me up?" The girl groans as she pushed herself up and sat.

"Sothis? Who is that? Arisa, don't tell me you have a worse hangover than I do?" A female voice said, and Arisa just groans.

"Wait...wha...?" Arisa finally snapped out of it and blinked multiple times as her eyes scanned the room.

Gray colored walls with anime and k-pop posters taped on to them shone nicely in the morning sun. Multiple shelves with textbooks, manga, magazines, and much more were lined up neatly on the walls. There were two big desks, one to the right and one to the left next to the two queen size beds. One was simple and neatly organized. An Acer nitro 5 gaming laptop was closed and to the right of it was a drawing tablet. There were a few books stacked and small shelves filled with office supplies. Also, a nice swivel chair, color black. The right one was covered in clutter. Boxes, papers, food wraps, and a few make up packages were on it. Plus, a pile of clothing on the chair. She looked to where the sunlight was coming from and turned to see a familiar balcony with slide open window doors. Outside, you could see a small garden of flowers. Arisa then turned to the owner of the female voice, who was tapping her feet, with arms crossed and a slightly annoyed look on her face.

"Theresa...?" Arisa whispered and the woman rolled her eyes.

"Pues claro! Now hurry up and take a shower! We're going to going to be late for our class! Did you forget, today is your class's final?" Theresa said.

Theresa was a young woman with light tan skin, dark brown colored eyes, red colored hair that she had dyed and wore sea turtle earrings. Currently, she was dressed professionally in a black female suite. Arisa blinked and looked at the mirror as she stood up. Her dark brown hair was a mess, and she wore only a t-shirt, no shorts, only her underwear and no bra underneath.

"I'm...should I be...here?" She thought for some reason and just yawned as she headed to the bathroom to shower.

- 30 minutes later -

"Theresa, my class does not start till 12 pm...it's 8 in the morning..." Arisa groans as she was driving her 2016 jeep wrangler into a Starbucks driveway, and ordered two matcha iced lattes along with two bacon gouda sandwiches.

She was dressed in a white blouse with black khaki pants, and a black tailcoat with black heels. Theresa sighed as it now their turn to pay and she gave her card to the cashier and got it back. They went to the next window, got their orders and drove off toward the highway.

"I know, but did you also forget that you have a doctor's appointment today?" Theresa said and it finally dawned on her.

"Shit. Thanks for waking me up." Arisa said.

The woman suddenly slammed her foot on the brakes, stopping the car in a violent halt, nearly crashing in some son of bitch that came out of nowhere.

"PINCHE PENDEJO! PON ATENCIÓN DONDE VAS!" Both Arisa and Theresa roared furiously as the car sped away. Luckily, a police officer in a motorcycle was nearby and saw the whole thing. He sent the woman's a thumbs up and sped off to catch the car. Arisa let go of a long sigh.

"For some reason the thought of I should be 7 years old and not 22 keeps running through my head..." Arisa sighed as she began driving again.

After 20 more minutes, Arisa entered the parking lot of the university she is teaching at and stopped in front of the criminology building.

"Thank you. Well, wish me luck because I made the test difficult for those kids." Theresa cackled as she got out the car and closed the door.

Arisa chuckled as she made her car window go down and spoke out.

"Don't go too hard on them Tere! And take care!" Arisa waved drove off.

- 4 hours later -

With a pile of papers in her hands, dressed professionally, a small box of extra pencils on her desk, along with snacks, Professor Arisa looked to her classroom of 200 students. Each one was nervous, trying not to be let it show.

"You all have 3 hours to complete your final. When you are done, come here to front desk along with your student ID. After that, you may freely leave and have a wonderful summer vacation." She said as she began to walk to the rows and gave the first student a certain amount of papers.

"Pass them down." She said and they did just that.

After handing out the final exams, she went back to her desk and looked at them once more.

"Make sure to turn off all electronic devices, cell phones especially. If I catch you with your cell phone, if it goes off, or you are sharing answers, it is an automatic zero and you will be asked to leave. If you need an extra pencil, I have a box here at the front so you may get one. To have you kids have a bit of a better concentration, I will be having jazz music softly playing in the background because I can't stand it being quite." She said and many chuckled.

"Now, everyone ready?" She said and half the class nodded, and the other half shook their heads.

"It doesn't matter if you aren't, you're still taking it." She said and heard a couple of her students' groan.

"Now begin!" She said and saw the students flip over their test.

"I'm fucked..." "Oh, I know this one." "Already the first question..." "This is easy." "(Whimpering)"

She had to keep herself from bursting out laughing as she heard those whispers among her students. She didn't blame them though. Even if she herself is a professor, she is still studying for her Master's degree. Her own final is in two days.

"If it makes you kids feel better, my own final is in two days and I'm fucked." She said and many could not help but laugh.

She was glad that help them relaxed a bit as she went to sit back in her desk and opened her laptop, plugged in her headphones. She needed to finish fixing some errors in her research report. The damn thing is 50 pages. She's fixed a few errors on 20 pages so far. She sighed as she began typing on her laptop and turned on the classroom speakers, letting it play softly the jazz music from the 24/7 live on YouTube.

"Goooooddddd...just end me.." she internally groans as she was editing her report.

During the 3-hour period, students came up to her desk, placing their test in the box she had prepared, showing her their student ID to validate them, and many said goodbye and hope she had a great time. She did the same and wished them good luck for the next semester. With the last student handing in his test, he said thank you and left. Arisa sighed as the once filled classroom of students was now empty and could not help but smile sadly as she looked. This was her first semester teaching and actually got a lot of positive feedback. Just as she was about to close her computer, the door to class opened and in came Theresa with a grin and also carrying a bag of Panda Express.

"Hooollaaa~ Ready for lunch?" She grinned and Arisa smiled.

"Yeah. Let me pack my things first and then we can eat lunch before we head home." She said.

"Home huh?" Theresa smiled sadly she walked up from behind her and hugged her.

"Theresa?" Arisa was confused.

"This world and life aren't your home anymore Arisa. You need to wake up."

- Dream Ends -

"NO! WAIT, THERESA!"

Her eyes shot open as she suddenly sat up awake, yelling the name of her former friend, hand stretched out, as if reaching out to her. Her heartbeat rapidly in her chest as she panted and her hand went back down. Arisa began to look around the room frantically and let go a sigh of relief.

"I'm in the cabin..." she sighed and looked over to the bed next to hers.

Amir was sleeping upside down with Puka on her chest. Feh was perched on the bird stand they bought not to long ago, also asleep. She sighed and looked out the window. It was early morning and the snow was falling. It's now been 5 months since they left Remire village. Sigh...it's July. Blue Sea Moon.

"Yyawwwwnnnn..." Arisa turned towards Amir's bed once more and saw the girl stretching like a starfish and yawn as she sat up.

"Morning..." Amir said and Arisa smiled to her.

"Morning. So, I'm planning to head to the bookstore again today. Ymir said she was going to be there again today. What time the shop open?" She asked and Amir yawned as she got off her bed and headed towards the bathroom.

"She said around 9 in the morning...two hours from now...yaawwnnn..." the Duscurian girl yawned and went in.

Arisa could hear the shower turn on and the shuffling of clothing as the girl was getting undressed to bathe. She sighed and just sat still for a moment.

"Why did I dream of my days as a Professor...?" Arisa muttered and jumped off her bed.

She slipped her feet into her slippers that were the shapes of sheep and headed to the kitchen, where she found Anna discussing a job request with her father. She was silent as she listened.

"So strange individuals are being seen around the town huh?" Jeralt said and Anna nodded.

"Yeah. Not only is it affecting trade but the townspeople as well. I spoke with Ares about it and a few of the town folk secretly gave this job request to him. Lady Cornelia has been implying heavy taxes, even workloads on the people. What's more, people are going missing." Anna said.

Jeralt was silent for a moment and spoke.

"Yofos mentioned to me yesterday that someone placed a curse on an individual's name. They can't call them by their real name. What's more, it's dark magic. I'm no expert in magic, Florencio along with Elder Bara would know more about it. But it is alarming. Do you think the situation in this town along with this curse could be connected?" Jeralt said and Anna nodded.

"Personally, I think it is. You just don't see black magic pop out of nowhere! Besides, the amount of taxes that needs to be paid is ridiculous!" Anna said.

Arisa was silent and walked away.

"Black..magic...strange individuals...Those Who Slither in the Dark." Arisa began to put two and two together and her blood ran cold.

Every fiber in her body suddenly had a strange feeling of anger and she began to take deep breaths. She knew this anger wasn't hers. That was a for sure, but it belongs to Sothis. Arisa made sure not to ever mention them when Sothis was present because she was worried, she would trigger something. Thankfully, Sothis wasn't awake yet but she could still feel the influence of the goddess in her body. She took several deep breaths and headed back to her room.

"If Those Who Slither in the Dark are here...then Cornelia is already making moves..." she thought as she arrived at her room.

Amir was combing her hair while Puka was still asleep.

"Bathroom ready for you Lady Arisa." Amir said.

Arisa had asked Amir to call her "Arisa" when it's just the two of them. Unfortunately, the "Lady" part will not be going away anytime soon. Now she understood what Dimitri feels when Dedue calls him "Your Highness." She really wished everyone dropped the formalities when they spoke to her. Her father didn't mind being called "Boss" "Captain" , but he too wished they dropped the "Lady" when they would address to his daughter. Honestly, there was a part of her that wanted to slam her foot down and yell at everyone to just call her "Byleth", at most.

"I'm an idiot for thinking that..." Arisa thought as she went to the bathroom and closed the door shut.

Still, what was bugging her more was the dream she had with her old friend. True, at times she would dream but they would mostly be simple things like food or traveling. But this dream in particular, she remembered it perfectly. It was a bittersweet dream of her days of being a professor and more, the times she would be with her friend.

"Why now...? Why am I suddenly having these dreams...?" She thought as she undressed and looked at herself in the mirror.

She gently touched the slash like scar on her chest and felt the small faint beatings of her heart. That was one of the main differences between her and Byleth. Byleth's emotions were cut off till Imperial year 1180 when she met Edelgard, Dimitri and Claude. Even her heart did not beat. But her, it's...very...very...different. "Arisa's" heartbeat. "Arisa" had emotions. "Arisa" had humanity in her eyes. The girl let go of a sigh and turned to the bathtub. She needs her bath to clear her head. As the girl went in and sighed in bliss as she sat in the warm water, a sudden thought came to her head. An activity she hasn't done since she left Remire village.

Singing.

She took a few deep breaths and thought. What song she could sing? She sighed and decided to sing the song that first popped up in her head. And it so happens to be Ballad of The Wind Fish.

Sleepers wake

Dreams will fade

Although we cling fast

Was it real?

What we saw?

I believe

Lost in dreams

We sleep on

Tossing and turning

Stay with me

By my side

Never leave

What if the worst comes?

If someday this sweet reverie ends

We too

Our memories

For real

Fade us by

Dream with me

By the sea

We watch the waves crash

Hold my hand

Think of me

And I'll fly

Unknown to the girl, Sothis appeared and was silent as she was watching the girl sing. She was amazed by how the girl's voice could hold so much emotion yet, she feels the song is telling a story. Funny how like books, a song can tell a story. The song was beautiful but also held a feeling of sorrow. As the girl finish, she noticed Sothis and smiled.

"Good morning, Sothis. Sleep well?" Arisa smiled and Sothis did the same.

"Surprisingly I did have a good sleep. Your father and you are going hunting today correct?" Sothis said and could not help but burst out laughing the second the girl began groaning and sunk half her face into the water.

You could see her blowing water bubbles.

"Get used to it Arisa~" Sothis sang as the girl got her face out of the water and pouted, "Or would you rather be stuck with Anna?" She said.

"You know what? Good point. Not saying I don't like Anna, but I get so confused when she starts talking rapidly about deals and money." Arisa said.

Once she was done bathing, she dried herself and dresses herself in a long-sleeved button up shirt with black baggy pants, her rapier on her waist, and her purse. Amir was dressed in a gray winter dress with black boots.

- 2 hours later -

Surprisingly, Jeralt decided to let the girls enjoy the day with their new friends they made. He and the rest of the team, minus Anna because she was going to set up a stall to sell goods in town, while the others went to hunt.

"So, these are all the things you are selling?" Arisa said as they were helping Anna set up her stall.

"Weapons, books, medicine, metals, fruits! All worth amazing prices and difficult to get! Aaahhh! I'm excited!" Anna said excitedly as she put down a box.

Both Amir and Arisa sighed as they began to set up the tables and put the merchandise on them till a particular small box caught her attention. It was a small wooden box and she opened it.

"Oh, I thought I sold that." Arisa heard Anna behind her, and she looked back to the strange looking fang stone with holes.

"What is it?" Arisa asked and Anna smiled.

"It's a vessel flute. The other term I heard for it is an ocarina." Anna said and Arisa's eyes went wide that Amir thought her eyebrows shot away.

"I'LL BUY IT!" Arisa turned to Anna with determination in her eyes, and Sothis was just wondering what value the strange fanged stone had.

"Uuhhhh...okay?" Anna said, taken aback by the girl's sudden mood change.

"How much?!" Arisa asked and Anna could not help but laugh.

"Whoa! Calm down Byleth. I never seen you this excited for a 12-hole stone. But, since you're Jeralt's and Rosa's daughter, I'll sell it to you for 25 copper." She said.

"Deal!" The girl said and gave Anna the money.

[ - ]

"What was that about Lady Arisa? What made you so excited over a vessel flute? They are quite common in Duscur among the younger children." Amir said as the two girls were walking through the town to the bookstore.

Arisa's eyes were sparkling and had a cheerful smile as she took the tip of the ocarina to her lips and blew into it. Her fingers moving naturally as she played a familiar tune of the song should just song this morning. Many of the town's people stared at the two as the girls walked. Amir was just gawking the whole time as her friend played the instrument. The tune of it played smoothly. Nothing like the annoying sounds they would make when children would just blow into it. Arisa finished her song and looked at Amir with a smug grin.

"I missed this instrument so much." She grinned while Sothis was just laughing her head off at the face Amir was making.

"Okay, never mind then. It's not an annoying toy." Amir said as they were now in front of the bookstore.

Truthfully, other than the piano and violin, the ocarina was one of the 5 instruments she learned to play. Piano, violin and the ocarina she learned to play by watching online videos. Guitar and the harp she learned in the music program in her middle school and high school years. So, having one instrument she used to play in her old world was a huge relief to her. The girls went into the store, but they didn't expect...

"I SAID NO!"

The two girls froze as the sight of Ymir stomping her feet repeatedly on the floor and her eyes furious. They were red and puffy, and obvious sight she had been crying. Rensen sighed as he looked down to his niece. Her hair was a mess, and frost was forming underneath her feet.

"I SAID NO! I DON'T WANT TO STAY HERE! I WANT TO LEAVE!" Ymir yelled out and a wave of ice spikes went towards the girls.

"Girls!" Rensen yelled and Amir spammed her hands onto the floor, and a wall of shadows formed around them.

The spikes denigrate and the wall disappeared, revealing a furious Duscur girl. Ymir gasped as she finally snapped out of it, and looked at the girls, horrified. While Amir gave her a look that she wanted to murder her, Arisa looked at her worried and sadly.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." Ymir began crying and Arisa could not help but see Theresa in the girl and unconsciously walked over to her and held her hands.

"It's okay. You're going through a lot and have a lot of anger pent up." Arisa smiled to her kindly.

"She has anger pent up alright! She released the power of the ice god!" Amir said and Arisa looked her confused.

"Ice god?" She said.

"In Duscur, The Ice God, Boreas, god of cold north wind and the bringer of winter. His name meant "North Wind" or "Devouring One". He isn't exactly liked in my homeland." Amir said angrily as she crossed her arms and glared at Ymir, who was shaking, looking at her hands.

Arisa honestly wanted to comment that Boreas was actually a God from Greek Mythology but then again, Greek Mythology doesn't exist in this world unfortunately. So, she'll just go with what Amir said.

"Sigh..." Rensen sighed and spoke.

"Please forgive Ymir ladies. She has been going through a lot lately with her family. I have an idea. Ymir, why don't you go around town with the girls? I'll clean up here." Rensen said.

"But Uncle..." Ymir sniffed and he knelt and patted her head.

"It's alright. Go enjoy yourself." He said.

The girl pouted but Arisa nodded and gently took her hand and lead her out the store, closing the door. Amir was a grumbling mess. Once the girls left, Rensen let go a long sigh of relief.

"She's losing control of her emotions..." he said as the palm of hands glowed and began to evaporate the ice on the floor.

He has been noticing that his niece has been becoming more violent and much more expressive with her emotions. It can either end badly or worse. Just like her father...his friend. He went through the exact same thing because of his Crest. The crest his friend was very connected to human emotions. It was also the very fuel of its power. What's more, one feature not even he could ever figure out. The Crest made its host hostile to people with certain Crest. Rensen sighed once more and just prayed to the goddess that his niece can be helped.

- Forest -

"So ummm...why did you bring me here?" Ymir was a bit nervous as Arisa brought (dragged) her to an open area deep in the forest.

"Well, no one can disturb us here." Arisa smiled while Amir sat on a log not too far away with Feh on her shoulder and Puka on her lap.

"I'm going to teach you to control the power of your Crest." Arisa said boldly and Ymir looked like she just walked into hell.

"I...I..." Before Ymir could run, Arisa gently placed her hand on her shoulder and spoke.

"No, it's not brutal training. Actually, quite the opposite. Have you heard of meditation?" She said and Ymir looked at her confused.

"Medi..wha?" She said.

"Oohhh! Now that we can teach her!" Amir said and jumped off the log, running over to them with a grin.

"In Duscur, many users of magic practice a type called zen meditation. It is said to stop the mind rushing about in an aimless (or even a purposeful) stream of thoughts. People often say that the aim of meditation is "to still the mind". In other words, stop over thinking too much!" Amir said proudly.

Ymir was just confused until Amir just groans and made the other two still down with their legs crossed.

"Let me just show you Ymir, correct?" She said and the girl nodded.

"Good. Now, close your eyes. Take small deep breaths." Amir instructed to Ymir and the girl was hesitant but nodded.

Sothis appeared and hugged Arisa like usual to watch.

"Hmmm...interesting method of training. Though it is my first time seeing this, I cannot help but feel I have seen someone do it before. The memory is a blur, but I see a young man doing it." Sothis said in her mind as Arisa watched Ymir close her eyes and take deep slow breaths.

"Focus. Breath slowly. In and out. Focus at the voices of the forest. Not mine." She said.

Ymir's once tense body began to relax with each breath. She could hear crickets, the little flaps of a bird's wings. The stream that was nearby, a few dragonflies flying by.

"Good. Now, try not to think of anything. Similar to z-and she fell asleep." Amir frowned when she heard light snoring from the girl in front of her and Arisa was just holding in her laughter along with Sothis.

"Well, it's a start." She sighed and Ymir woke up.

"Huh...? Oh! Sorry!" Ymir bowed her head to apologize.

"No need to apologize. It's your first time after all so it's understandable. Just, try not to do it again." Arisa snickered and Ymir nodded.

"Let's try this again, but all three of us together." Amir said and the girls held each other's hands.

They all took deep breaths and closed their eyes, relaxing their bodies, clearing their minds. As the girls began their meditation session, Sothis could not help but notice the turmoil of emotions all three had, begin to sync together. No, it was as if their powers were synthesizing together. Like two very different instruments. It takes time for a song piece to sound beautiful together when different instruments are used. It takes time to perfect the timing of each note. This was the case with these three girls. Sothis noticed three small sparks floating a few feet from the girl's chest. Arisa's was red, Amir's a dark purple and Ymir's a light blue. They grew a bit bigger and she could see three symbols, but Ymir's seemed disturbing. It was cracked. What Sothis did not know at that time was that symbol was Ymir's crest and it being cracked, was a sign of an omen.

The three girls spent the next two hours in silence. Calming their breathing, concentrating, only silence. During this time, the voice that would whisper in Ymir's ears frowned. Through her host eyes, she was angry. Who does her host think she is trying to lock her away? It smirked as it remembers when she would once whisper her words to Alexander. But the man was not the one she wanted to take over. All she did was bring forth his feeling that he buried away so deep.

"If only you had my relic with you right now, things would have become a lot easier to make you snap." "She" whispered.

By now, she should see the chains of ice around her cracking, but they didn't.

"Wha? Impossible, she can't hear me?!" She frowned.

"I thought I heard a familiar voice. Yet, I can't seem to recall your name."

Shock filled the voice inside Ymir as a familiar figure appeared floating above her, not too far away.

"You..." the voice went silent once she saw the owner of the voice.

Sothis looked at them sadly for some reason and the voice growled.

"DO NOT LOOK DOWN AT ME FELL STAR!" It roared at her, and Sothis flinched a bit.

"I DID EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO STOP THE WAR BETWEEN YOUR CHILDREN AND MY PEOPLE AND LOOK WHERE THAT LEAD ME!" It screamed as the chains of ice rattled.

"IF I NEVER WOULD HAVE MET YOU, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN BETRAYED! SLATHERED! LEFT TO ROT! LEFT TO DIE!" It roared at her.

Sothis was confused by what she meant her "children".

"Children? You...know my family...?" The goddess said and the voice suddenly began laughing as it finally registered why the goddess was confused.

"Oh...oh...hahahaha! So, she actually did it! So Serios really did go mad!" It cackled and just fell to its knees, laughing weakly.

It looked to Sothis, tears streaming down it's cheeks.

"Despite it being part my fault for being naive back then...I can't help but blame you Sothis..." it laughed weakly.

"Who...are you...? I know you! So, please, tell me!" Sothis said and the voice just gave her a weak smirk.

"Now Fell Star...that would be no fun if I just tell you who I am. Keep guessing Goddess. I'm not giving you answers!" It laughed and forcefully pushed Sothis out.

"AAAAHHHH!" Sothis screamed and that made Arisa snap out of concentration and run over to her.

Sothis was knocked down onto the ground, covered in frost.

"Sothis!" The girl yelled, scaring everyone as she quickly sat up and ran to the Goddess.

"What happened?! Are you okay?!" Arisa said, said worried and Sothis shook her head, making all the frost on her fall off like it was snowing.

"I am alright. Seems I...entered a territory I shouldn't have." Sothis smiled to her sadly.

Arisa couldn't help but worry for her friend. Even Amir was worried despite the fact that she could not see Sothis, but she could still feel the disturbance. As for Ymir, the girl was internally screaming as she heard the voice again in her ear.

"The Fell Star dare enter the mind of you my lovely host." It giggled and now Ymir felt afraid as she felt invisible like arms wrap around her neck and hug her.

The voice giggled sweetly as it spoke.

"Ufufufu~ But something good did happen. Soon, I'll finally have a fully form so I make myself present." It giggled and disappeared.

[ - ]

"I think it would be better if we do the meditation training every day from now on." Arisa declared as the three were heading back to the town to buy some food.

The two other girls looked at her and then each other confused.

"First off," Arisa began as she turned to them, "all three of us need to focus on controlling our magical energy. Second, if we could get you, " She pointed to Ymir, "To manage to properly control your Crest, you won't have so many emotional breakdowns, but it will also improve your physical and mental health." She said and Ymir nodded slowly while Amir just sighs.

"Ymir, I'm going to ask you a few personal questions. If you don't want to answer them, I understand. But I'm asking these based on medical information and as a doctor apprentice of my uncle." She said and the girl moved to an alleyway.

"O-Okay?" Ymir said.

"First question, do you have little interest or pleasure in doing things?" Arisa asked.

"Umm...well, truthfully, I rarely have anything interests me. My mother always had me studying and training. I used to love eating sweets and going out to swim but even I no longer have interest in that. Let alone... hobbies." Ymir answered.

"Alright. Second question, are you feeling down, depressed, hopeless?" She asked.

Ymir was silent and nodded.

"I...feel like a failure...my mother is so obsessed with me being successful and mastering my training...I really can't live up to such high expectations." She said.

"Third question, any trouble sleeping, staying asleep, or sleeping too much?" Arisa said.

"Yes, yes, and yes." Ymir nodded bitterly.

"I know this sounds like an interrogation, but I have to do it Ymir. Please bare with it a little longer. Fourth question, poor appetite, little energy, overreacting, or considerable weight changes?" She said.

"It is most rude to ask a girls weight!" Sothis huffed.

"Ummm...well...yes? I hardly eat anyway so I'm used to it. Also, I guess my mood swings have been...unpredictable lately..." Ymir said.

Arisa was not liking the answers, but she needed to ask the last few questions to confirm her theory. She was going to ask a couple other questions, but they have already been answered with her earlier replies.

"Fifth question, moving or speaking slowly that other people have noticed or being restless that you are moving around a lot?" She said.

"My uncle has told me that my speech pattern had become sluggish but also like I'm on edge all the time. It hard to stay still." Ymir said and Arisa finally noticed that the girl was tapping her right foot this entire time.

Even the shift in her body language showed it. Ymir would always flinch when someone raised their hand, or even the mention of training or sparring. What's more, whenever Arisa mention magic or Crest.

"Final question. This one is very serious, and you have to answer it. Ymir, have you ever wanted to harm yourself or even think you be better off dead?" Arisa said Ymir froze.

"I...I...I..." the girl was having a difficult time answering but how could she not?

Ymir has had those thoughts. No, they are still ones running through her head. But...they become much more violent. Not only those she wants to hurt herself or even be dead, it's becoming worse because thoughts of hurting others have crossed her mind. Especially the servants in her house. She wants them dead. She wants them gone. She wants everything to burn down. Even just looking at Lawson and her mother especially makes her want nothing more than for them to drop dead to the ground. It has gotten worse through these last four years.

"Yes..." Ymir answered bitterly as she gritted her teeth.

Arisa sighed into her hands and covered her mouth as she looked down to the ground and then back Ymir.

"She has depression. The question now is if she has Major or Dysthymia...I really wish I had my medical books from my old world right now...information on this doesn't exist in medieval times..." Arisa thought.

"Medicine for it doesn't exist yet here so the most I can do to help her out, especially since she is still a child, are natural remedies. Exercise, eating healthy, doing other activities like things she likes, setting goals, getting enough sleep and most of all, challenging those negative thoughts especially are the most I can do right now. I'm also worried she may have PTSD because of the grueling training she is put through. Another thing affecting her is her family. She mentions her mother a lot but even I have no clue who that woman is. The most I know is that Ymir is the daughter of a noble but who...? Which House?" She thought as Sothis listened to her.

Arisa turned back to Ymir and spoke.

"Thank you. Listen Ymir, what you have, is very serious." She said and Ymir was worried.

"However, it can be treated. You be surprised we can actually help you." She said and Amir was raising an eyebrow.

"How can we help her?" Amir said.

"Well, let's start with something simple." Arisa smiled, "Let's get something to eat. Anything you like Ymir? Recommendations?" She said.

"Ummm...The bakery near my uncle's shop sells really good sandwiches and chai tea with milk tea. But I'm n-" she said but was interrupted.

"Nuuuuhuhuuhuhuhu!" Arisa shook her head.

"You're eating! That's the first step to help you. You're eating properly young lady." Arisa said with arms crossed.

Sothis could not help but giggle as she saw the shocked faces of Amir and Ymir.

"You...sound like a mom..." Amir said and could not help but laugh as she saw her friend scratch her cheek, since her ears did turn a bit red.

"I...get that a lot..." Arisa chuckled and both turned when they heard Ymir giggling.

"Alright. I'll eat. If it can help me, then I understand." She smiled.

Arisa rubbed her eyes and blinked multiple times as she looked back to Ymir. She thought she was looking at Theresa for a minute there.

"Why do you keep coming to my mind Theresa...?"

- 2 weeks later -

"Dodge!" Arisa thought as she dodges the wooden lance that was coming her way.

"Nice job!" Jeralt said as he was watching the three young girls sparring.

Ymir had a look of concentration on her face as she gracefully spun her wooden lance to have it meet with Arisa's wooden sword. It's been two weeks since they have arrived in this town and also meeting Ymir and her uncle. Surprisingly, things have been going well. Ares had decided to introduce the young girl to the rest of the group. At first, Ymir was a bit afraid but after getting to know everyone with time, the girl had opened up to everyone.

"Hey, that's cheating!" Arisa said as Ymir created a second lance using ice and came at her.

Jeralt and Ares could not help but chuckle as the girl just grinned and charged at Arisa, who did the splits to dodge the two lances.

"What the f-*slapped*!" Temes was slapped by Jorah to keep him from yelling out that profanity when they saw the girl do the splits, which is very difficult to do unless you are flexible, which is a rare case.

Ymir was caught off guard by this and it was enough for Arisa to quickly get back up and knock the lances out of her hands. Ymir yelped as she was knocked down and a wooden sword was pointed at her chest.

"I win." Arisa panted with a grin on her lips.

"Grrr...I almost had you!" Ymir pouted as she was helped up.

"Not bad you two!" Ares clapped and Ymir shyly fiddled with her.

"You've improved a lot using the lance. I think you'll be an amazing paladin in the future." Jeralt said and Amir grinned.

One small change that happened during the two weeks. Ymir's mood and health had improved during the two weeks. Many noticed that the girl was now healthier looking even if it was a slow process, even smiling, and even engaging into things she loved to do again. One of those major things was training to use the lance but also mediation. Which has greatly improved her control in her magic that even the servants of the house have noticed that the girl seemed much happier and was not relying on them on anything at all. The only one that hasn't noticed yet is Cornelia and Rensen calls it a blessing. Though, back to one of the small changes.

"I'll become an amazing knight like papa!" Two small little wings like things have grown on her head.

Arisa couldn't help but think they were the little wing antennas from the Valkyrie Trio in Fate Grand Order. It still looked cute though because they would flutter to show she was happy, or droop when sad, or flutter rapidly when nervous. It was downright fucken cute. They fluttered happily as she said that, and Anna could not help but squeal and hug the girl.

"You're so cute! Yes, you are!" Anna said and Ymir could not help but squeal happily as Anna rubbed her cheek on hers.

"Seems she's getting along fine with everyone." Sothis appeared and could not help but smile as she saw the pink haired girl squealing with Anna.

Amir was pouting, obviously she was jealous and was then dragged in by Anna and hugged the same way. Amir could not help but laugh along with the other two.

"Yeah, I'm glad she is. We only got two weeks left here till July is over. I wish she could come with us." Arisa telepathically told Sothis and the goddess nodded.

"Then what's stopping you?" Sothis grinned and Arisa looked at her like she grew a second head.

"Sothis! If I did that, then that would land a target on all our backs! I'm not about to have police come after me!" She said and Sothis huffed.

"Hmph! Very well then! But I'm telling you, I really do think it would be better for us to take her with us. I'm just saying what has been running in your mind." Sothis smirked Arisa sighed.

"Also, next month is our birthday." Sothis said.

"That's one more year closer to experiencing puberty all over again...I am not looking forward to it." Arisa internally groans.

"Arisa!" She heard her name called out and saw Ymir and Amir walking towards her.

"Let's go swimming!" Ymir said.

"There's a nice pond not too far from here. I think we could relax a bit. Also, you kids earned it for helping Anna out." Jeralt said as he ruffles the girl's hair.

"SWIMMING HERE I COME!" Ymir cheered happily.

Ares could not help but chuckle as the three girls ran ahead while the adults walked.

"It's been awhile since I see you laugh like that." Jeralt said to Ares.

"Really? I thought I always laughed like this." Ares said.

"Yeah no. The majority of the time you act like an incubus when chasing women. I'm surprised some poor woman hasn't given birth to your bastard." Temes said and Jorah smacked him.

"Actually..." Ares chuckled nervously and everyone turned to look at him minus the girls because they were way ahead.

"Goddess, now you done it!" Temes and Yofos yelled while Jeralt just looked at him in disappointment.

"What's the kids name..." Anna gave him a void look.

"He's my son and was born 4 years ago. The problem is...Cele...is still missing. Yes, I know she is my ex-lover but I'm not going to abandon the boy! I didn't even know she gave birth because she didn't tell me anything before, I left!" Ares said in defense.

"Wait, the mother is missing?" Jeralt said.

"Remember that job request? Cele along with many more are missing. The main connection, they all used to work for Lord Alexander." Ares said seriously.

"Have any more people gone missing these past few days?" Jeralt said seriously.

"4 so far." He said.

Anna was silent as she heard this.

"Jeralt, I think it would be better if we left."

- Pond -

"Sing with me a song, of birthright and love, the light scatters to the stars above~

Dawn breaks through the gloom, Lost in Thoughts, all alone ~" Arisa and Sothis sang happily as they both dancing on the surface of the water.

She was dressed in a plain black shirt and short she had changed into. Amir giggled as she was floating pleasantly in the water, with Puka swimming close to her and Feh perched happily in a nearby tree. Ymir was swimming underwater happily and even spotted a few water spirits. She swam a little bit to the deeper side and spotted something gleaming on the pound bed. She swam to it and picked it up. It was the size of a golf ball and covered in mud. Using her fingers, she cleaned it and her eyes went wide, quickly swam to the surface.

"Gassspp!" She gasped for air, catching the attention of the two girls.

"N-no way!" Ymir shook as she felt her eyes water as she felt a sad smile come to her lips.

"Ymir, what's wrong?" Arisa said as she walked over to her and Amir swum.

"After all these years...Papa...you hid it here..." Ymir said.

The girl turned to them and showed them a strange stone.

"Wait...that's a Heroes Relic!" Arisa said and Ymir blinked.

"You know about these?" She said.

The strange stone was a Crest stone. It was embedded in a snowflake shape metal with moonstone surrounding it. It reminded Arisa of the relic, Rafail gem.

"This...it was my dad's...to think...My mother was searching for it...my father hid it from her...now...it's..." Joy was all Ymir felt as she held the relic in her hands and hugged it to her chest.

"It went missing a day before my father passed away..." she said, and the two girls hugged her.

"It's okay. You can cry. Let it all out." Arisa said and Ymir began bawling her eyes out as she held the necklace to her chest.

After so long, she finally has some relief.

- Later at Night -

She had returned to her mansion like usual (unfortunately) before her mother came to check on her. It was later at night; she had hidden the necklace in a secret area in her room. Currently she was twirling her wooden lance, practicing trusting it. She couldn't help but smile with joy because of what she had found today. What's more...

"Look at you. Glad to see you smiling."

Ymir turned to her mirror and smiled at the reflection of the faceless woman.

"You're back! It's been so long!" She walked up to it and the woman gave her a sad smile.

"Sorry, had to deal with a few things. I don't have much time left you know." The woman said and Ymir looked at her sadly.

"You're going away...?" Ymir asked and the woman shook her head.

"I wouldn't say that. I'll always live inside of you, even if I disappeared." The woman got out of the mirror, her body was completely seen through and gently hugged the girl.

"Will I ever meet you again?" Ymir said and the woman smiled sadly and kissed her forehead.

"Maybe one day. Till then, rest. The time for you to spread your wings is close." The woman said and disappeared.

Ymir smiled sadly and nodded.

"I hope that day comes." She muttered.

"My you're an utter fool."

The mirror again rippled, and she glared at the strange dark shadow that appeared in it. It was that voice that would whisper to her.

"You been shutting me out. Denying my existence! You think you can keep ignoring me for a long time?!" It said and Ymir pointed her finger at it.

"I'll keep ignoring you and won't let you win this battle! I met people who actually care about me. It's thanks to them I am happier and can control my power now! They care about me unlike mother!" She yelled and the voice just huffed.

"Hhmp. I used to think the same." It said and that threw off the girl.

It smirked slyly and smiled.

"I used to have friends, people I trust. And you know what that end like?" It said and pointed to her chest, "My heart ripped out and slathered! Left to rot!" It giggled and Ymir backed away as she felt once more the invisible arms hug around her.

"Remember [-], everything is a liar." It giggled and disappeared.

"No...the only liar is you!" Ymir said.

Unknown to the girl, Lawson mange to bear part of the conversation. He was sent to check on the girl, but he did not expect to hear the girl talking to herself.

"So, that woman is finally awakening..." he smirked and left to inform his master.

Oh, what joy this will bring her.

- 10 minutes later -

"I see...so that woman is finally awakening. But..." Cornelia, the most fake face in all of Fodlan, was hesitant.

"But what my lady?" Lawson said and she shook her head.

"No, it is nothing. What is concerning me is that her mentality and magic are becoming stabilized. We need her power to go out of control in order for the ritual to work. How is she able to learn to control her power?" Cornelia said.

"I manage to overhear that she has made... friends." Lawson said.

"Friends? That girl shouldn't have been able to speak to anyone else other than us and those other 6 brats! Who are these so-called friends of hers?" Cornelia said.

"We don't know. Also, the results of the experiments have come in." He said and handed her a document.

The woman growled at the results and threw the papers on her desk.

"Not even that woman Cele was compatible! An utter failure like the rest of them!" She said.

"They all became either demonic Beast, went insane, or died. None of them survive the Crest implements." Lawson said.

"Sighhhh...Lawson." Cornelia suddenly turned to her butler and spoke, "Investigate who these friends of Ymir are. We can't afford to take any more people from the town." She said and he bowed.

"As you wish." He said and left.

Once the door was closed, Cornelia stood up threw the papers all over the floor.

"Why did you make things so difficult for me Alexander?!" She roared furiously.

"We'll...never...tell you anything! My loyalty to Lord Alexander! Hail The Fell Star!"

Cornelia went to a stone medium box that she had hidden behind a bookshelf. It was strange staff. Despite it being made of bones, it was made similar to the shape of a snowflake. In the center of it, was a missing Crest stone.

"The stupid relic won't work without the Crest stone but..." her lips curved to a wicked smile that one could describe as the devil.

"Oh, I see how it is Alexander...it never had a Crest stone to begin with..."

- 1 week later -

"A lunar festival?" Arisa said as the girls were currently in the bookshop helping Rensen with a new order of books that needed to be in their proper sections.

"Correct. It is to celebrate the last week of the Blue Sea moon. Especially because of the legend of the Goddess in this land." Rensen said.

Arisa blinked and wanted to hear more.

"It is said that when the goddess came upon this land, she blessed it flowers. She took the soulless soil in her hands and wept. Her tears brought forth the first flowers to Faerghus. Let me show you quickly." He said picked up a book about flowers.

He opened to a certain page and showed a drawing of a beautiful star shaped flower with pink flower petals that faded to green to the center of it. The second drawing next to it was depicted to glow like a rainbow during the night.

"It's beautiful. What is it called?" She asked.

"The Heaven Wolf Star. Also called Sirius." He smiled sadly.

"Hmm...a reference to Sothis name in Chinese. Not bad." Arisa thought.

"I want to see one. Where do they grow?" She asked.

"Unfortunately, these flowers no longer exist. They went extinct as the years went by due to war and the bloody history of Fodlan. They say this flower had the ability to cure anyone. Much more, that that they were said to be the direct blessing of the goddess when new children were born. So, they may live a long and healthy life." He said.

"Such a legend... yet the flower looks familiar. Ooohhhh! I really wish I had a body right now!" Sothis grumbled in her mind and Arisa could not help but giggle.

"Arisa! Come on! It's time to go meditating!" Amir called out once she was done with her pile of boxes.

"Coming!" Arisa said and ran out the door to catch up with her friends.

- Forest -

"I want to show you guys something." Ymir said with a giggle while the other two looked at each other confused.

Ymir as she took out her father's necklace and instantly, Arisa was on edge.

"I have a bad feeling." Sothis appeared and stood in front of the girls.

"Umm...Ymir...I don't think trying to use your dad's relic is a good idea." Amir said and Ymir just shook her head.

"I got to! I need to see if I can call out that scythe he used to use." Amir said as her little wings flapped.

She's been using magic to hide them from her mother. Ymir took a deep breath and closed her eyes, remembering when she would watch her father call forth his relic. She held it to her chest, and felt it pulse in her hand.

"(Relic of the children of the goddess...listen to my songs... listen to my prayer...)" she spoke in the same language she communicated with Firo yet for some reason, Sothis could understand what she is saying.

"(Freeze all those her enter your place of ice and snow. Give your love to your children and show no mercy to those who dare harm your home. Hear my hear my plea...hear my song...hear my cries...come...and answer me, Skadi-Ondergoed!)" Amir said as the necklace glowed a bright unnatural blue and the ground froze beneath her feet.

"Guhhhh!" Ymir gritted her teeth as her hands were becoming covered in ice.

"Ymir!" Arisa yelled as he used her cloak to protect herself.

"Come...on!" Ymir yelled as she refused to let it make her fall.

Her energy was being drained and her head was beginning to pound.

"Grr...grr...RRRAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" She screamed a slammed the relic to the ground.

The blinding light hurt everyone's eyes and Sothis quickly disappeared for her safety. Arisa and Amir opened their eyes once the light settled, revealing a panting Ymir, with a long weapon in her hand. The hero's relic looked like a fusion between Death Knights scythe and the Lance of Ruin. It had bone like spikes like looked like a Demonic Beast Teeth on both sides of the blades, what's more, they twitched. The tip scythe curled in bit, almost like a spiral. Where the scythe began, there, glowing blue and pulsing, was the Crest stone but it had a much different look than the regular hero relics. This looked like it has veins growing out of the Crest stone and all over the scythe.

"I...I...I did it!" The girl looked up to them and both Arisa and Amir gasped.

Her orange pink pastel hair has streaks of a sickly pale blue, her left eye had become the color of blood and the pupil turned to the symbol of her Crest.

"Wait...I know that Crest...I know it...it's...one Crest is related to Ice...The Crest of Aubin...one of the...6 Crest Lost in History." Arisa said as she slowly walked towards her friend.

"Hahhahaha! I did it Papa! I did it! I can wield Skadi too! I did it!" She said happily, but what was scaring the girls more was that she was crying tears of blood.

"Ymir...you need to let go of the relic...now..." Arisa said softly and Ymir just grinned, her teeth had become a bit pointy.

"Be quite Fell Star. You dare order me?" And everyone's blood ran cold.

Ymir's joyful face had become one of horror as she screamed and threw the relic to the ground. Her eye and hair had turned back to normal as well as her teeth. Ymir shook as she fell to her knees and hugged herself.

"That wasn't me...that's wasn't me...that wasn't me..." she kept repeating over and over again.

"Ahahahahaha! I was so close! We were so close to becoming one of my vessels!" The voice laughed joyfully as the invisible arms wrapped around her like some sick grotesque feeling.

"Oh [-]...sigh...hahahahaha...we were so close...I would have given you the power to destroy and send this land to an ice age! We could have killed Cornelia and avenged your father! But my dear vessel, your body is not ready to wield such power! Look at the pathetic and weakling you are. We be damn now." It laughed as the scythe turned back to the necklace.

What the voice did not expect...

"Get your hands off her."

It froze as both looked towards the sudden voice and saw Arisa looking coldly not at Ymir, but at the one behind hugging her. Yet, the color of mint green was in Arisa's eyes. The voice smirked as it let go of Ymir and touched Arisa's face with a wicked smile. Its hand felt sick to the touch yet cold like ice.

"So, you finally did it Sothis. You took over your vessel just like Serios wanted." It grinned until Arisa smirked.

"Who said I was Sothis?" Instantly the voice backed away and snarled.

"Look you damn persona," Arisa pointed her finger at it, "I'm not going to let you hurt my friend nor try and take over her like you want to. Yeah, I admit, I'm afraid of you. After all, that's the natural reaction of a human. To be afraid. Honestly, you touching me, I wanted to run away and hide under a blanket. Honestly, I'm shaking right now and trying not to cry." Arisa said as the voice giggled and towered over her.

She really was doing everything not to burst out crying as the voice began to take one a shape of a faceless woman. Only her and Ymir could see her, but Amir could sense it and had taken out her daggers, ready to kill.

"Hahhah. You're older than you look. Very well then. I'll hold off for now since you had the balls to face me. But remember this vessel of the Fell Star." It smiled as its hands wrapped around her neck, "I always get my way."

With that, it shattered to snowflakes.

"Gasp! Gasp! Gasp!" Arisa fell on all fours, gasping for air, panting, and finally letting tears fall from her eyes, they had turned back to their shades of brown and green.

"Are you okay?" Amir ran up to her and Ymir was still in her place.

"I'm so sorry..." Ymir said whispered and Arisa was helped up.

"It's alright." She said and the girl shook her head.

"It's not alright. You saw...you saw...yo-!" The girl whined when Arisa suddenly gave her a karate chop on the head.

Ymir held her head and looked at her friend with teary eyes and a pout, while Arisa just huffed.

"I already know you're going to tell us that we should stop being friends but absolutely not! No way am I going to abandon you! We're getting you the hell out of this town! You're coming with us!" Arisa declared.

Both Ymir and Amir looked at her shocked. Arisa sighed and hugged her.

"You remind me too much of an old friend...I'm going to help you just like I help her. So, have some faith in me? Alright?" She smiled at her warmly.

Ymir could not help but mirror the smile back and nodded.

"Okay!"

- Later at Night -

"Okay, so you use a square formation for this then...umm...would that apply to use magic users?" Ymir had asked Arisa as the three girls were currently back on the bookstore.

The pink haired girl had her relic hidden under her shirt and also after a massive scolding from her uncle, was reflecting at her own stupidity at trying to use her father's relic when it was clear as day her body was not ready for such power. The good thing is, the girl wasn't afraid her friends would leave her. Both Amir and Ymir swore they wouldn't and were working together with Ares to help sneak her out of the town along with his parents and son.

"Unfortunately, no. Magic users true can be on the offensive side however the number one main weakness is how vulnerable we are. We don't have a weapon to defend ourselves and it can take time to cast a spell. That's why the majority of mages are in the back to support the others. Especially when healing. Remember, this is also a limit in the distance we can cast a healing spell. You also need to be aware of the range of your magic attacks." Arisa said as bath the two other girls were taking notes.

"I'm more of the offensive side so that would put me in the frontlines correct?" Amir said and Arisa nodded.

"Correct. Amir, you tend to focus a lot on speed when you use your swords. But you also focus on the amount of force you unleash when you use an axe." She smiled the Duscurian girl blushed hearing that.

"Yes, I caught you using the axe the other day when you were sparing Temes. Nice try hiding it from me." Arisa teased and Amir glared.

"I'm so going to knock you down tomorrow." Amir challenged.

Ymir could not help but giggle. Only one more week left in this Blue Sea moon. It honestly has been the most joyful time Ymir has ever had. It has been a long-time since she had smiled this much. She enjoyed going hunting with her friends and their group. Getting to meet Jeralt, Anna, Yofos, Temes, Jorah was the best. Reuniting with Ares who she always saw as an older brother, plus meeting his son, who she learned was his name Dominic. He's two years younger than her. Learning to control her emotions. Being allowed to cry when she wished. To be able to act human. To even enjoy studying because her mother was not making her train horribly. Her laughing slowed down. Now that she thinks about it...her mother has been...awfully silent. Even Lawson. She shook her head and went back to talking with the girls of a possible three-man formation. One, she would be the support while Arisa could be the defensive and Amir the offensive. And when needed to, they can instantly switch to each other's roles.

"Okay, I like that but there is a bit of a problem. We need to figure out how not to leave ourselves wide open." Arisa said.

"Why not work on your barrier spells for extra protection? It is possible to even extend the barrier to wrap around your body." Sothis said in her mind.

"True, but there is a time limit." Arisa said.

Rensen could not help smiling watching the girls as he was busy organizing documents at the counter. Every day of the month at the same time, the girls would meet in his store and engulf themselves in their studies and stories. They would talk about magic, things they liked, and much more. He would even bring them a few snacks and tea for them to enjoy. There were times the girls would even practice singing. Customers that would come in would smile warmly and didn't mind seeing the girls talking and chatting. It was funny seeing Jeralt's daughter teach music to them. Except when the arguments between Amir and Ymir began. It was amusing seeing Arisa trying to stop them. It took Rensen each to stop them because of how loud they would get. Since Ymir was introduced, Jeralt was happy to see the girls make a new friend. She would even join them on hunting trips. Poor a Ymir screamed at the sight of bugs. Arisa laughed as did Amir. Ymir pouted and them smiled as she pointed out the spider next to them. Now that made the other two girls scream for their lives. Jeralt and his men, along with Anna, laughed at the sight. The girls became closer and closer. A friendship that bloomed was a beautiful. The girls even thought themselves as sisters. Ymir was more than happy. To call this time nothing but a blessing.

However,...

Ding!

"Wel-!" Rensen had turned pale as paper when he saw who had come into his shop.

The bell that once had a happy ring, sounded dull as he looked at furious woman before him and her butler who had a smirk.

"Where is she?!" Cornelia said coldly and Lawson pointed to the table where the girls were chattering and turned towards the direction.

"Cornelia wai-!" He said but was held back by Lawson.

The said woman had already stormed to where the girls were. A few customers had turned pale once Cornelia was behind Ymir. None of the girls noticed her presence until the woman forcefully turned Ymir to her and slapped her. Arisa froze once her eyes landed on the one responsible for raising their hand on her friend.

SLAP!

The bookstore once filled with warmth, had turned cold. Ymir stood in shock as her cheek had turned red and she slowly looked up towards her mother. Arisa was covering her mouth in shock and Amir could not believe what she saw. Cornelia looked down at her daughter in disgust for being with the commoners. She was a noble and should know her place. She dares escape the mansion when she isn't supposed too?! She already has enough to deal with! Let alone the ritual is already a hassle!

"So, this is where you have been escaping too! Avoiding the training you have to do after your lessons you foolish girl! We're returning back to the manner right this instantly!" Cornelia yelled coldly down at Ymir.

Ymir wanted to cry. She just wanted to live her life. Any small form of happiness was enough for her. For her mother to discover her...for Lawson to have a smirk...everything was just crashing down.

"Stop it! Why would you treat your daughter this way?!"

Many gasped as they saw that it was Arisa who spoke back to Cornelia. The woman turned to her with a glare that screamed murder, but Arisa looked back the same.

"Child, stay out of this." The older woman said coldly.

Cornelia felt that the girl looked familiar but didn't know where. Lawson had raised an eyebrow as the girl floated up and pulled up her sleeves.

"No, I won't you bloody hag! I don't give a damn if you are the mage that cured the plague! What you just did is physical and emotional abuse! Apologize to your daughter and treated her like a human being!" Arisa yelled as she pointed at her like an executioner.

Everyone was stunned to silence and Ymir looked at her in shock. In all her life, only her father and Rensen defended her like this. Cornelia had turned red from anger and raised her hand to send a magic attack to her for such offensive words.

"CORNELIA DON'T!" Rensen yelled.

"Mother please!" Ymir yelled and pulled her left arm.

Cornelia noticed everyone around the shop staring and Arisa was being held back by Amir. The Duscurian girl was using her manic to cancel out the knives Arisa was trying to make using her magic.

"Let me go!" Arisa yelled as she trashed around.

"(You stupid idiot!)" Amir and Firo said.

"Please mother! I won't come back! I swear! Please!" Ymir got on her knees and begged.

Cornelia scoffed and put her hand down. The fact that her daughter is even begging is an insult to the nobles.

"Very well then. Let us leave this place Lawson. Be honored girl." Cornelia looked at Arisa coldly, "My daughter begged for your life to be spared." She said spat and about to leave but froze.

Only Arisa could see the look of pure coldness that befell over Sothis as she looked down at Cornelia. Her once mint colored eyes hold nothing but storms of anger as the shadows cast over her face. She floated above the woman, looking down at her like a disgusting parasite. Rage, she felt. Anger. This is when her own emotions and Arisa's became one. Both human and goddess wanted nothing more than to end the life of this woman.

"You dare harm this child woman? If I had a body of my own, I would have slaughtered you and your minions." Sothis's voice was colder than ice that Arisa shivered.

Cornelia place her hand on the back of her neck, and suddenly she felt very afraid for some reason. She needed to leave now.

"Let's go." Was all the woman said as Lawson followed behind her.

Ymir, with her head down in shame, waved goodbye to her friend and followed after mother. The door slammed shut and there was a tense silence.

"Let go..." was all Arisa muttered as Amir let her go.

Sothis still held the look of ice on her face as she looked out the window, towards the carriage that Cornelia boarded. The feeling of Cornelia's neck was getting worse by the second.

- 10 minutes later -

"It's not fair! If I knew her mother was that witch, I would have immediately helped her hide!" Arisa yelled frustrated in her room.

Rensen told Ares what happened after he took the girls back to the cabin. The former knight was furious and Jeralt tried to calm him down. He had to knock the man out because of how pissed he was. He wasn't the only one though. Jeralt and the rest were furious also. Amir was silent as she watched her friend pace back and forth in their room. Many said that Arisa was brave to have spoken to a noble like that. At this point, the girl did not care. She was definitely going to kill that bitch personally when she older, so Dimitri won't have to deal with her in the future. No...she'll definitely make that bitch spill everything about Those Who Slither in the Dark so Dimitri can learn who the true enemy is. Not Edelgard. She knows Edelgard is not the real enemy.

"We can't do anything Arisa! Cornelia is the noble that controls this area. We can't save Ymir...Besides...we only have a week left..we can't even get near the manor that she lives in." Amir said.

Arisa was just pissed. Sothis felt that anger that her vessel did.

"Did you forget we were already planning to help her espace!? No way an I am backing out of this or so call help me I'll never be able to face Theresa or my brother in the afterlife!" Arisa roared and Amir flinched.

"Calm yourself Arisa Byleth." Sothis said as she floated in front of her, placing her hands on her shoulder.

"Believe me, I am just as furious but acting on impulse would do us no good. If I wasn't a "holy" woman, I would slaughter Cornelia if I could. Then again, I don't have a body." Sothis sighed.

"Wait..." Arisa suddenly said and a crooked smile formed on her face as she slowly turned to Feh, as did Amir and Sothis.

"We may not be able to enter the mansion, but who says we can't have eyes watching?" Arisa suddenly grinned and Feh blinked.

"No no no no no!" Both Sothis and Amir said.

- 1 hour later -

Late midnight it was. Dressed in pure black cloaks along with a fire tomen underneath their clothing to keep themselves warm, Amir and Arisa had snuck out of the cabin and the woods. The night of Faerghus felt like winters and both girls were doing everything in their power not to run back to the cabin to escape the cold. The woods looked terrifying in the dark in this land in particular. The only ones not affected were Puka and Feh, who moved around like nothing. Arisa was using a light spell to be able to see the hidden path that Ymir had showed them before. Both girls hated the darkness but if it means they can save their friend, they would gladly walk into it. It was a bit of a funny sightseeing Amir's light pink silver colored hair glow a bit in the dark.

"Chirp." Feh chirped from her head and flapped its wings in order to gently land on her arm, and Arisa nodded.

They had arrived at a good distance close to the mansion. Arisa could see a few of the windows had lights on. Her face grimaced as she saw a couple of the servants.

"Skin pale like corpse...those who Slither in the Dark...driven underground by Sothis and her children." Arisa thought and turned to Feh.

"Sight of Nightingale." She whispered, her own eyes turning a shade of gold, the same color of Feh's.

"Amir." Arisa and Amir stepped close, Arisa looked into her own eyes, making them also turn gold.

"What spell is this?" The girl asked.

"I came up with this spell a year ago. I wanted to increase my range of vision and eventually it led to this. We're able to see what Feh can see. We basically have the eyes of bird right now." She said and turned back to Feh.

She took put a small pouch and tied around his feet along with small little rolls scroll.

"You know what to do. Now go!" Arisa raised her arm and Feh flew towards the manner.

"Amir, I want you to draw out the manor. We have 6 days. On the 31st is the day of the festival. We're leaving that day and breaking her out of here." She said firmly.

Amir nodded and prayed to the Goddess of the Forest to protect them.

- Inside the mansion -

Slap, whip slap!

The sounds of screams could be heard from Cornelia's room. The sound being hit brutally. The agonizing screams of a child. The servants merely continued their work like nothing while the head butler simply was silent. The goal was to make the girl break. To break her mind. Her mentality.

"You foolish child! You are the heir to the major Crest you bare! Know your place as noble!" Cornelia roared furiously as she whipped Ymir again.

The girl could only cry as her back was bloodily, covered in ashes. Her cheeks were red from the slaps she had received. Her hands were red from the amount of magic she used to rely and defend herself. Yet, she still held tightly onto the necklace of her father.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please stop mother!" Ymir cried.

Cornelia had enough and grabbed her by her hair.

"Remember Ymir! You are the heir to this household and also your job is to woo one of the Prince." She said and threw her back onto the floor, about to storm out till she noticed the girl holding something in her chest.

"No!" Ymir screamed as her mother ripped the necklace out of her bloodied hands.

Cornelia gasped and began laughing when she realized what the necklace was.

"To think you had the relic the whole time! Alexander you did well hiding it from me!" She laughed and left out the room.

Ymir cried as she hugged herself. She hated it...she absolutely hated it. The small amount of joy she had, now gone. She missed Arisa, she missed Amir. She is shaking as she stood up to leave to her room. A single strand of her hair had turned a sickly blue.

From the window, Feh was perched on a tree not far, frozen stiff as it was registering everything she saw and was horrified. Through her eyes, Amir was crying, and Arisa was shaking with anger.

"That...bitch...!" She roared and took out her sword and began slashing at a tree trunk to unleash her rage.

She gritted her teeth and spoke.

"Feh, follow her." Arisa ordered and the snowy owl did just that.

A few minutes later, Ymir was in her room, she had just finished bathing and was in pain. As she was limping to her room, many of the servants just gave her cold looks or mocked her. She was angry, in pain. Feh flew to window and lightly tapped on it with her beak. Ymir flinched but then her face turned to confusion, seeing the white owl there. She opened the window and it chirped.

"Hello?" She said horsey, her voice sore from screaming.

"Wait...you're Feh..." Ymir said as her eyes slowly went wide.

Feh gently nuzzled her cheek and gave her a small note, the girl immediately opened it. She began crying tears of joy when it glowed a bit, showing glowing letters. It was Arisa and Amir.

"We'll save you. We promise. But we can't do it alone. You're the only one who knows the place in an out. Think a map can help us?"

It read. Simple and short. Straight to the point. That was just like them. Ymir quickly ran to her drawer and pulled out a small dice, putting it in a pouch and tied it to Feh's foot with a note.

"It has the entire structure of the house. Only my father knew of this place before I was born. He mapped it out completely. I manage to take this dice before got her hands on it. Please, take this to them." She said.

The note glowed again more words appeared.

"Heard you loud and clear! We'll get you out. I promise. One week. You can do it."

Ymir smile and nodded. Feh chirped and nuzzled her cheek one last time before it flew off. The girl wept as she closed the window and prayed to the goddess that she will survive to escape this hell she has been imprisoned in. It hurt even more now that her father's necklace was in her mother's hand. She felt warm familiar arms wrap around and cried.

"You're here...you're here..." she wept and it was the faceless woman.

The woman smiled sadly and spoke.

"One week...you need to hold on. I promise this is almost over...just hold a bit longer [-]." she said.

[ - ]

Cornelia could not be more joyful as she held the lost relic of Skadi-Ondurgud! This weapon was said to be the second strongest weapons of the 10 no, 12 Elites! To think her husband had hidden it so well with his daughter. The woman could not help but laugh out loudly as she walked down the stairs that led to an underground lab beneath the mansion. Lawson listened as he kicked a cage that was near the entrance, only making the human inside of it laugh like a mad beast. There were multiple people trapped in cages, corpses aligned on tables, blades sticking out of them. There were humans chained by the neck. All these all either laughed in madness or each one dropping dead one by one.

"You...hag...pay...for...this..." both of them turned on a single cage where a lone man laid on it's floor.

"Oh, you haven't dropped dead yet Arc? I'm surprised you're even still alive." Cornelia said and the man just grunted.

He was unable to move a single muscle of his body other than a few movements of his lips.

"Stupid human. You dare speak to her that way despite being at death's door?" Lawson yelled and kicked the cage.

Arc gave a smile as blood began to seep from his lips.

"Hail...Sirius..." was all he said before his body began to twitch uncontrollably.

Cornelia's face held no emotion as his body exploded. Droplets of blood spattered on her face, organs on the floor. A leg and arm left. All that was left was a pool of blood. The woman turned to Lawson and nodded. That was the sign to clean up the mess.

"He was another failure as well. Well, no matter." She smiled at the relic in her hand, "It will soon be time for you to come back Cirina. To unleash your wrath." Cornelia chuckled as she placed the necklace in the center of the snowflake like staff.

The staff began glowing and there was a click as the necklace seems to fuse with it and shrunk to the size of a Crest stone. Cornelia couldn't be happier. Till the 31st day of the Blue Sea moon, they need to prepare her daughter.

[ - ]

- The Next Day -

"Un...fucken believable! I knew it, I knew it!" Ares roared in the forest.

Arisa had asked to speak privately with him once she made sure her father wasn't in the kitchen. She took him to the woods, where she made sure no one would hear them. She told him everything that she witnessed. She had asked Amir not to come with them because the Duscurian girl was not ready to hear such words. Arisa could only watch in sadness was Ares repeatedly punched a tree trunk.

"That's why I'm telling you this Ares. You're the only adult I can trust this information with. Not only that, I did some deeper investigation and found that Cornelia's servants have been kidnapping people for human experiments." She said and Ares froze as he slowly turned back to the young girl.

No. Right now, Byleth looked nothing like a child. She looked like a grown adult. Arisa walked up to him.

"Have you ever heard of an organization called Those Who Slither in The Dark?" She said.

"Or for fucks sake...I never thought I would hear those words again..." he said, and her eyes went wide.

"So, you do know! Then you can help us save Y-!" She didn't finish because he suddenly held her shoulders.

"That isn't her real name." He stated.

"What...?" She said.

"As much as I want to say it...I can't. Yofos was able to identify that a curse was placed on her name. This..." he took stick on the ground and began to write in the dirt "Is the most I can do. That is her real name." He said and Arisa was shocked and turned back to him.

"As for...those who Slither in the Dark...I don't know how the hell you know about them but it's the very reason why another organization was created in secret. Not even the Church knows about it. Byleth...this is real danger. We're up against Cornelia. One of the leaders. Jeralt will skin me alive if he finds out about this. Who else, can we trust?" He said.

He was desperate. He swore to protect his Lord's daughter. Look at him now...he felt like he failed. He felt a warm hand on his head and looked up to see Byleth smiling.

"I know. It's a risk I'm willing to take. You all took the risk of leaving the church for my sake didn't you?" She said and his eyes widened.

"Now, it's my turn to take a risk."

- 5 days later: Blue Sea Moon: 30th -

She took long deep breaths to as she sat alone in the forest. She had ordered Amir and Ares to begin preparing all the gear needed for this operation rescue mission. Ares's family has already been taken to a safe place and Amir had been using magic to spread rumors of Cornelia was involved in the death of her husband. If rumors could ruin at least a small part of that hag's reputation, she's hoping it can be enough to at least make The King have some form of distrust of her, and possibly, kick her out. Arisa was letting the side of Byleth take over. These past two years have been enough for her to learn a lot. Tactics, military formations, none which she had any interest in her previous life. Now looking at herself, even her mentality, despite that of an adult, was soaking up information like a sponge. This is where a tactician was born. She took another deep breath and opened her eyes, seeing Sothis floating in front of her. The goddess held a frown in her features and the girl have her a small smile.

"You're mad." Was all the goddess said.

There was a silence for a good 10 seconds before she spoke again.

"Are you truly ready for this? This battle against Cornelia will be real. Are you ready..to truly spill blood and accept the name, the Ashen Demon? Or...The Fell Star?" Sothis said.

Arisa chuckled dryly and spoke.

"No, I'm not ready...I'm very much afraid...I used to live a life where there was no need of constant survival yet look at me now...of course I am afraid. It is a natural human reaction. Like I told -'s other self, I want to cry. I want to run away. But what's keeping me from doing that...is a single memory of a friend I cherish with all my heart. Guess you can say she was my first love." Arisa gave her a sad grin, and Sothis could not help but gently cup the girl's cheeks and gave her a sad smile.

"I always knew..." Sothis said as she rested her forehead on Arisa's, "I recovered a few of my memories...Let's stop this woman...together."

- With Ymir -

"I hate this...how much longer...I want to leave..." with nothing but agony in her voice, she whimpered as each step she took stun.

Ymir limped emotionless to her room. The training that has been forcefully brought upon her has been nothing but a nightmare. The servant showed absolutely no mercy and enjoyed making her scream. Cornelia would simply watch, not matter how much she plead. Her only reason she has not gone insane yet is because if the sole promise her friends made to her. Her once pink oranges colored hair had streaks of white because of the stress, physical and emotional abuse she has been enduring. It was getting her. She wanted to disappear. She wanted to lash out at everything and destroy everything. The voice was becoming louder and louder and even she was losing control of her magic. Thankfully it hasn't gotten to the point she had killed someone. But deep down, she truly wanted to taste the blood of those that have made her suffer. Especially her own mother. She touched her own face, clawing it to get rid of the smile that was forming. A few more minutes and arrived at her room, closing the door, dropping to the floor. She didn't give a damn if they saw her on the floor. She was just in too much pain to move. Her body covered in cuts and bruises. Her back still fresh with gashes from the whips she had received from both her mother and Lawson. She really wanted the house to burn down.

"I want to leave...I want to leave...I...hate...this place..." she muttered repeatedly.

What she didn't notice was that her once gray eyes had turned a dark hue of red, her pupils turnig to her Crest symbol. Her eyes closed, allowing sleep to take her.

- Dream -

In darkness she sat, and in darkness she swam. Everything around her has the scent of iron. It made want to vomit.

"The nightmare of the light holding my life, falling down repeats~"

She heard singing and stood up, walking towards it. Each step she took, her own hair was becoming a ghostly sick pale blue. Each step, her skin becomes paler. But she did not know that.

"It will go on no matter where; till the time this world reaches its end."

Dancing in the shadows was a young girl figure with red eyes that glowed. Her dress was white yet covered in blood stains, ripped in different parts. Yet what was more disturbing was the hole in the center of her chest. She could see blood dripping from it. The girl stopped, seems it noticed her presence and slowly turn to her with a faceless face. It grinned evilly to her, showing its fangs. Ymir screamed and tried to run but the figure only appeared before her and cupped her cheeks. She shook. She wanted to run but she couldn't.

"Aren't you tired? Aren't you tired of waiting for those friends of yours? The pain your mother and this entire bloody mansion has caused you."

It giggled as it gently held onto her cheeks. Caressing them with a sick love and affection.

"Stop...just stop...I believe in them...they'll come for me...I will escape..." Ymir mumbled as her lip quivered.

The faceless girl giggled and circled around her, smiling.

"Are you sure? Come on now...Ymir...is that even your real name...? Don't you want to end it all...sink this place to an abyss?" It smiled.

It made her remember everything horrible things her mother did to her. It purposely held her head with both hands, Ymir screamed for it to stop. Once again, this time, Ymir was looking not at a shadow, but at herself. Both girls had the exact face. The strange marking Ymir remembered it was her Crest. It hurt...it hurt...it hurt...

"Don't worry. It is almost time."

And the darkness swallowed her whole.

- Dream Over -

"AAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"

She woke up screaming and completely out of breath, shaking and hugging herself. Making sure she was the same person.

"Where are you...where are you..." she kept repeating, wanting to find the other faceless woman that would comfort her.

"Just one more day...Just one more day..." Ymir said.

- The Next Day: Blue Sea Moon Lunar Festival -

The town was flourish with life surprisingly on this day. Arisa also learned it was [-] birthday. The citizens were dancing, drinking, and having fun. Some even having a little too much. While the town celebrated, Jeralt, Anna and the rest are packing their things. He allowed the girls with the company of Ares to go to the bookstore one last time. There was only one man who was not enjoying this day at all. Rensen. The man was beyond worried of what his friend's daughter. He couldn't do anything. He couldn't. He saw the other two girls discussing things and even a map. He knew the girls were planning to help their friend escape. Even Ares was helping them map out the final details before they left in 20 minutes.

"Alex...forgive me for what I am about to do..." he muttered and finally made up his mind as he went to the back and unseal vault that was hidden behind a shelf.

He took out a particular box with a strange marking on it. The engravings on it we're the color of a metallic blue and over the box, was the symbol of the Crest of Aubin. He sighed and walked over to the three who went silent when they saw him.

"Its alright. No one comes in after this time. Everyone, I wish to speak with you." He said.

Arisa was silent but nodded. Area's eyes went wide when he recognized the box. How many years has it been since he has seen it.

"That's..That's Lord Alexander's-!" He barely forms words.

Rensen places the box down and whispered a spell that opened it. Arisa could see the gears turning like clocks, each click meant a lock was undone. It reminded her of a steampunk music box. However, the contents inside were far from a music box. It was a set of strange tools that looked like they were made of bones. Each one had the Crest symbol carved on them.

"These tools belonged to Ymir's father, the holder of the lost Crest, Aubin. He was the last of his clan who was said to help build and create the relics that resonate with Crest. For many years, it has been believed to have been lost..but in reality...by my friend's wish...I hid these." He smiled sadly.

Arisa was silent as she listens to this and sighed.

"This explains many things...Cornelia is trying to awaken that power within Ymir. At this rate..." Arisa gritted her teeth and looked directly to Rensen, who flinched.

"Sir, I can tell you truly care about her. If you stay, it's also most likely Cornelia will come after you. Please," she extended her hand to him, "Come with us. Help us save our friend. I'm also sure my father would more than welcome you to our company once you explain the situation to him. Also, you're a minor Crest wilder of Aubin, aren't you?" Arisa said.

Rensen looked at her surprised.

"I have Crest before you ask." Arisa said bluntly and Ares began choking on his spit because not even he or anyone knew of that.

"You act more mature t-!"

BOOOOOMMM!

"AHHH! CORNELIA'S MANOR IS ON FIRE!"

The sudden sound of an explosion sent a tremor through the entire town. Every building shook. They all ran out and Arisa's and Amir's eyes went wide. A huge fire covered half the manor. Arisa at this point said, "FUCK THE PLAN! WE'RE GOING NOW!" she yelled.

"Sir Rensen, please get your belongings and go with my father! Amir and I are going to save Ymir! Ares, get Anna for back up!" Arisa yelled and both girls sprinted before Ares could stop them.

"Girls wait!" Rensen yelled but they were gone.

- hours before the explosion-

Ymir followed behind the servants of her household that were assigned to train her by her mother. But she also one of them was new. They wore a mask of a plague doctor and it unnerved her. She sighed and just prayed to the goddess that girls and Ares were coming for her. She knows they will. But something felt different today. Like an omen.

"Wait, the training room is this way." She said as they turned to a different direction.

"Today is different. You will go through "a different " kind of training." One magician said.

Ymir was getting a really bad feeling. They arrived at a door made of metal. Ymir felt nothing but dread and began to walk back but began screaming and thrashing as the magicians began to forcefully grab her and forced her to the room. There, tables of knives, needles, and other unknown tools were there. A single stone bed where she was forcibly tied down. Her eyes scanned the room and she froze once she spotted many familiar faces in a cage. They were the former servants of her home. They all looked dead, a few laughing in madness. Reality began to sink in when she realized that it was her mother the reason they were like this.

"LET ME GO! LET ME GO!" She screamed when she realized they were about to do the same to her.

"They'll kill you."

She heard the voice again as she screamed for them to let her go. The magician pulled out the Crest stone and placed it on her chest.

"AAAAAAAHHHHH!" She screamed as it began to crackle in blue light, vein like arms came out of it and implanted itself forcefully into her chest.

"Aaareghh! Aaahhhh!" She screamed as veins began to form around her body as they chained down her wrist, and ankles to the stone bed.

Her eyes rolled back as her back arched up, her screamed becoming louder and louder as her veins turned the unnatural color blue. Her hair becoming a sickly pale blue and one of her eyes had turned red. She screamed, begging for it to stop but not even words could leave her lips.

"Don't you want this to end?"

"STOOP!" She screamed as a blade was held above her heart. She kept screaming as the Crest stone pulsed. Yet the voice inside her smiled. It wanted to hear it from her. It can save her. All she had to do was say yes and all the pain would go away. Ymir screams were becoming gurgles of blood as her eyes landed on the corpse of Cele, who was mutilated. Her lifeless head, looking back at her.

"I don't want to die! I don't want to die!" Those thoughts plagued her mind as she saw the blade about to come down only a few inches from her heart. The girl, finally snapped and gave in.

I just want this to end.

"As you wish."

- Current time: Inside the Manor-

Back to the time

When I used to feel your hand in mine

Tiniest tenderness

Might it melt the ice into tears

Blood...blood...kill...kill every single one that caused her pain.

She laughed and cackled as her eyes had turned a bloody red with the Crest markings in her eyes. Her hair had turned a sickly pale blue, a scythe made of bones was in her hands. She cackled and cried tears of blood as she killed each person that crossed her path. Lawson was her first victim. Oh, how she enjoyed seeing him begging for his life before she cut of his head and crushed it in her hands. The taste of the droplets of blood on her lips was so sweet as she licked her fingers.

"Oooohh...it's been so long..." her voice was so different compared to her soft kind and timid voice.

This voice sounded demonic. Evil. She laughed in joy as she killed another servant, her scythe absorbing the blood as the crate stone was pulsing a sick blue color.

Outside the manor, Cornelia was barely able to escape the fire if it wasn't for a maid that helped her. The woman screamed as half her face was burned by the flames. Everything went wrong!

"This wasn't supposed to happen!" She internally screamed as healing magic was being used on her left side of her face.

The scarring was so bad that she will be forced to use a mask to hide the burn scars that disfigured her face.

"We got to hurry!" Arisa yelled as her and Amir bolted through the underground tunnels of the manner.

What Arisa hated more than anything was the rotting smell of flesh. She has a pretty good theory that they were underground labs. This is a bad timing but she's hoping she could manage to at least steal some information so she could begin research on removing Crest.

"Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!" Both froze at the haunting scream, yet it sounded almost like a song.

"That sounds...like Tiamat..." Arisa said and both girls began running again till they reached a brick wall.

Arisa was about to start putting in the combination but there was no need.

"Get back!" Amir yelled as both quickly jumped back as a door crumbled to pieces.

"Oh my god..." Arisa gasped as she saw the place was nothing but burning flames.

Colors of blue, red and green filled the place. The scent of burning flesh. The people that were in cages were burned to nothing but cinders. The girls coughed as they used a spell to create an air bubble around their heads to be able to breath. The flames were hot yet also cold. The two girls walked, despite the intense heat, then...

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

"GET DOWN!" Arisa screamed as a blade was on the verge of cutting off Amir's head.

Sothis quickly used time pulse, right when the blade was about to kill Amir and Arisa this time quickly grabbed and pulled her friend down just on time.

"Aaaaaahhhhh!"

"Oh Ymir..." Arisa felt hot tears filled her eyes as she saw her friend become something unthinkable.

Sothis eyes went wide as she saw the young girl now a cackling monster. Amir gasped and Arisa all she could do was grit her teeth in anger at was done to her friend.

With eyes a bloody red with the Crest markings in her eyes, tears of blood fell as she cried. She sang a sorrowful song, holding a scythe made of bones and covered in blood. Her once pink orange colored hair was now a sickly pale blue. Her dress was covered in blood stains. Ymir was nothing more like a demonic humanoid Beast. Her laughing immediately stopped once they landed on Arisa. There was tense Silence was the three other girls bent their knees, ready to run or defend themselves for their lives. Ymir began laughing once again and it suddenly became a full-blown wail of agony.

"Aaaaaahhhh! Hahahahahaha!" Ymir cry sent a powerful just towards them that made them nothing more than to run away.

"We're...too late..." Amir said.

Arisa gritted her teeth and refused to believe such.

"Ymir is still there. I know it." Arisa said and took her rapier out.

"Are you crazy?! She isn't human anymore!" Sothis said.

"You're right." Arisa said and stood tall.

She changed her position as if she was about to dance, her sword held almost like a dagger, "But she is my friend, and I swore I would change what I can that I was given this second life. And saving her, is one of those few steps." Arisa smiled to her.

Sothis was shocked at this but smirked.

"Alright then, but you're going to need something far more durable than that. Amir too." She smiled.

Sothis raised her hands, using what power she had to channel it into the girl's weapons. Arisa's rapier glowed red while Amir's double swords glowed black. Arisa noticed the appearances change, almost like heroes' relics they looked like, but they were counterfeit. Her own rapier liked like a thinner version of The Sword of the Creator while Amir looked like she was holding Blutgang and Thunderbrand.

"They aren't real relics, but these should last you're enough. This is the most I can currently do without damaging our body. Now go, save your friend." Sothis said and disappeared.

Both Arisa and Amir turned to each other and nodded, holding the replicas to their hands.

"Aaaahhhhhhhh!" Ymir sung again.

The two girls turn at Ymir. Arisa's eyes and hair had turned to a light pastel brown that faded to mint green, while Amir's hair had turned black. Arisa and Amir got into her position, bending their knees, and charged at their friend. The three girls, locking in a three-way battle.

[ - ]

Far from the world

That still makes both of my eyes blurred

Not a word could I say to wake up a dreamer

Call out my name

When you see the tide turn me away

The goddess could only watch from Arisa's eyes once more. All she could do was lend her power to the two girls, even if only for a moment. It was only temporary, but she and Arisa became one. Sothis's will was Arisa's and Arisa's will was Sothis. Through these past two years alone, she has learned more and more. She could see Arisa's rage. She could feel her sorrow. She can feel her uncertainty. But there was a part of her that she was proud of. How humans are able to continue forward. Yes, it is difficult to move on. It is difficult to forgive. It is difficult to let go of a grudge. No one can move forward immediately. And that is the small beauty of it. Because weather it is you or someone else, a loved one, friend, family, or even strangers, you are able to witness that transformation as time passes on. Both good and bad. The goddess snapped out of it when she heard the weapons clash. It was only for a moment, but even the girl Amir was able to see her. Perhaps she should allow the girl to see her. She will be deciding when this was all over. She watched as the two girls fought against the girl that suffered cruelly at the hands of time. It was destined to happen. Ymir was at some point in time fall into madness and turn her back against the entire world. But...meeting Arisa and Amir, that path cracked. It began to turn to something else. The possibility of her being saved. Sothis could not help but smile sadly as she saw the strings of fate that were tied around the girls begun to snap one by one. As time passes, the fate that was placed on these girls, will be rewritten and create their own.

"HAAAAA!"

"AAAAHHHHHAAAA!"

Swords and scythe clashed and created sparks against one another each time. Both girls could understand the anger that was pouring out of their friend. Just like a certain future student of Arisa's said long with many others "Let our blades speak our words." Each clash was becoming more brutal. Arisa and Amir were struggling.

"This is what it feels like to go against someone stronger than us..." Arisa whispered as she and Amir both jumped back.

It was getting harder to breath because of the smoke.

"Cough! Cough!" Amir coughed and was barely able to dodge the scythe that nearly cut off her leg.

"Search for the source!" She heard Sothis say.

They needed distance. Amir's eyes rapidly moved all over Ymir's body till she spotted one strange thing. The source. There in the center of her chest, was a Crest stone. It pulsated blue and looked like some sick sixteenth legged spider had implanted itself on her chest.

"There!" Amir yelled and Arisa's eyes zoomed in on it.

"If I could get yet one good shot at it...If it could be destroyed then perhaps..." her thought was quickly shattered.

"Ahhh!" Amir yelled as she was sent flying back to a stone wall, her breath knocked out of her lungs when her back hit it.

"Amir!" Arisa yelled and just barely blocked Ymir's attacked, that came for her head.

Ymir just laughed as she looked down at Arisa with a feral smile till...

Long ago buried heart

Right away torn apart

So it hurts how it lasts

Till I draw one more last final breath

Where to go when to come

Across a land bare and dark

May it be the one for all

Burning the horizon out into none

Drip.

Arisa's eyes went wide as single clear water droplet fell on her cheek. The smile on the face in front of her had turned to one of sorrow and lips quivering.

"P-please...run...let me burn..." Ymir's right eye had turned back to a gray color, the tears that fell from it were clear.

"Ymir..." Arisa's voice cracked as she was still struggling to block the attack.

She was there. Her friend was still there. Even in all this chaos, her friend was still there.

"Please...just let me...me burn..." Ymir wept before her face of sorrow turned to one of pure rage.

"You ask for salvation when this is what you wanted!" Everyone's eyes went wide as Ymir jumped back and began struggling to maintain her sanity. Her hand was on the right of her face, digging her nails in.

A very different voice spoke from her lips. The girl screamed and trashed around as she held her head. It was just for a moment, but she nearly let go of the weapon.

"I just wanted to be happy! That's all I ever wanted!" Ymir cried as she threw her head back.

"Fool fool fool! They were on the verge of experimenting on you! Those of pale skin as the dead!" The voice yelled.

Arisa suddenly went cold.

"Those who Slither in the Dark...that means...Cornelia is already starting working with them this whole time...regardless what route I took in the game." Arisa said.

"Amir, I need you to do me a favor!" She said she quickly ran to her friend and used a healing spell.

"Cough! Thank you..Let me guess, distract them while you make a move?" Amir weakly smirked as she was helped to stand up.

Goodness, she was in pain. She felt her shoulder was cracked but she didn't care right now.

"Yeah. I'm counting on you." Arisa said and they turned to their friend who screamed.

"Just go! Please!" Ymir cried once again.

"Sorry Ymir but we're going to destroy that Crest stone of yours! Hang on!" Amir yelled and charged at her.

"YOU STUPID CHILDREN! RRAHHHHH!" The voice screamed and lunged.

"Hhhhaaaaaa!" Amir yelled as she twisted her body to the right like an ice skater and locked her arms behind Ymir.

"What are you doing!" The voice yelled.

"DO IT NOW!" She yelled and Arisa appeared in front Ymir, her rapier ready to thrust.

"Let's end this now!" Arisa yelled and thrusted her sword at the centre of her chest.

"AAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" The voice screamed as a blinding blue light came from the Crest stone, but Arisa refused to stone.

[ - ]

Once in a while

Let my shadow stand by your side

Filling the emptiness of your mind

Then disappear

Dreams can be real

When a soul is armored in steel

No more fear of right or wrong

Embraced under my shield

Call out my name

When you see the tide turn me away

"What?"

In a pure white place, she was in. Not a single person but she was there.

"Amir! Ymir! Sothis!" Arisa yelled as she kept turning to different directions but nothing.

"Glad you could make it."

She turned to the source of the voice, seeing a faceless woman dressed in an orange summer dress.

"W-Who are you?! Where are my friends?" Arisa yelled.

The woman walked over to her and smiled.

"You'll see. But you really should be going back." The woman suddenly hugged her and Arisa's eyes went wide.

The faceless woman began to slowly have a face. Arisa body shook as she hugged her back. Younger form had turned back an adult and began crying.

"It...can't be...you're..." she wept.

"Yeah...it's alright now friend. Guess you can say this is my final message to you. You don't have to keep clinging to us. Yes, when you passed away, we were all devastated. Heck, it took me 4 years to finally able to move on. Even Christian had it rough. But..." she let go and wiped her friend's tears.

"Y-You're...You're...all...uuhhhh!" Arisa began sobbing uncontrollably.

The woman smiled as she saw more apparitions of people appearing around them. Arisa all she could do was cry loudly as they all hugged her tightly. They turned as they heard the weeping of a child and saw Ymir close. The girl looked up to them and Arisa reached out her hand to her along with the woman. Ymir was afraid till a warm handheld hers. She gasped as she recognized the man.

"P-Papa!" She cried and many more people appeared.

They were all familiar faces that she knew.

"Hey there snowflake..." he smiled and hugged her as the two groups joined together.

"Papa...Cele...Arc...Nightingale...Wu...everyone..." she cried.

Ymir gently took the woman's hand and both her and Arisa were hugged tightly.

"You two can't stay here...but...we want you to let you know, you don't have to worry about us. Live freely." The woman said as the two girls cried loudly.

"I live inside [-]. You'll meet someone close to us soon...now...go back to my friend. Don't be afraid of a new dawn."

[ - ]

"RRRAAAAAHHHHH! COME BACK TO US ALEXANDRAAAAAAAAAA!!"

She screamed with everything in her power as the Crest Stone cracked and ripped itself off Alexandra's chest. The scream of the girl died down as she dropped to the ground. Amir panted and quickly dropped her swords, hugged tightly her two friends, openly crying. Not giving a damn of her appearance right now.

"Arisa...Alexandra! Please open your eyes!" She cried as the two girls were motionless in her arms.

"You..." she gasped as she heard the voice of her friend.

Ymir...no...Alexandra weakly as her hands reached out to touch her two friends cheeks.

"Called me...by my real...name..." she smiled weakly.

Arisa opened her eyes and nodded.

"Yeah..." Arisa said weakly as her hair color had turned back to normal along with Amir's.

The said girl could not help but cry laughing a bit happily as she hugged tightly her two friends.

"Alexandra."

How long has it been since she was called her true name? How long has it been since she was called the birth name given to her by her father? How long has it been since someone actually cared about her? To go so far to put their lives in danger.

"Papa! Tell me of the story of the great Hero, Alexander the Great!"

"Again? It's an old story that was told to me by your grandmother. She named me after that great Hero. He conquered lands; his dream was to see the sea. To explore the world! He was a wise king!"

Fate took a cruel turn when she turned two years old. Her father and mother were always arguing but at most, her father was never cruel to her like her mother. He loved her, treated her with kindness, protected her. How she missed his warm hugs. How she missed greeting him by slamming her head on his stomach.

"See this necklace? It has been passed down from generations to generations for 1,000 years. Usually it was passed down between the females of our family, but plague took the lives of your aunts. Training was pretty harsh, but I managed. I want you to keep this. I'm sure, in time, you'll become a strong warrior like your grandmother."

"Alexandra was your grandmother's name. Named after Alexander the Great."

"Aaahhhh...aahhhhhhh!" Alexandra began crying as the shadows dripped away from her form.

She cried and cried all her emotions out, finally feeling relieved of pain. Arisa could not help but smile and hug her friend. Even if the flames around them burned. She didn't care. None of them did. Arisa along with Sothis and Amir, smiled and cried tears of joy as they held one another.

"Let's go home, together."

Long ago buried heart

Right away torn apart

So it hurts how it lasts

Till I draw one more last final breath

Where to go when to come

Across a land bare and dark

May it be the one for all

Burning the horizon out into none

Chapter 12: Dual-Ego: Part 2: Long Ago Buried Heart: End

[ - ]

HOOOOOLLLYYYY! This chapter was long! 18,945 words! Damn! Honestly, I was sobbing mess writing this chapter. Literally. We can finally see Arisa able to move on. Ymir, or should I say Alexandra, can finally be at peace. This chapter I really wanted to highlight how cruel Cornelia is. Her work with those Who Slither in The Dark. The effect it causes not just Byleth but everyone in the game. Especially if you played all four routes. Alexandra was a chartered I wanted to write about the most. Also, I apologies if this chapter did make any of you uncomfortable. Heavy topics that I wrote are no joke and can be very sensitive topics. Like before, if you ever want to have someone to talk to, feel free to message me.

gObliin: Thank you very much for your concern. Truthfully, when I was younger, my health was actually very sensitive. I was going through a difficult time with my family back then. Today in present time, I'm doing better and I am receiving help. I truly thank you for your concern. I'm sorry I was so late to respond.

The next chapter will be what is the aftermath of everything that went down. Also, our characters will meet someone unexpected. Hope you all look forward to it and thank you all for everything.