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)

52. Chapter 51:Bloody Grail:Part 5:Peace

[ Part 2]

Sigh…...The fact that the battle against Pittacus and Aelfric came back to my mind after all these years honestly speaks volumes of how much not just me but everyone around me changed as the years went by. Arisa found peace, which I am honestly glad for. I didn't realize how bad her emotions had clashed with her back then. First off, I realized a bit too late that my sister died with many regrets when she passed on in our old world. Not even she realized it. When Arisa was alive on "Earth", she kept looking out the window. And no, I don't mean like seeing what people were doing. I mean she wanted to get out. Literally run away from the hospital even if it meant putting her life endangered. How do I know this? She later confessed to me about it. I was livid. But the only reason I didn't scold her about it was because Theresa had managed to talk her out of it. It was a secret the two kept with each other. She was suffering and kept bottling up with a smile. I hate to admit it but the old version of her reminded me of Edelgard, Dimitri, and Claude back when they were in their academy days. It's also why she cared so much about when she was reborn to this world. She did not want them to suffer like she did. I was able to live my life to the fullest and was satified with my life when I reached my final years in our old home. Arisa on the other hand, did not.

Bloody hell. I swear, she's too kind at times. But at the same time, she can be selfish, even if she doesn't realize it. And I'm actually glad she was finally thinking about what she wanted for once. But back to the battle. The reason Aelfric and Pittacus nearly won was because they turned Arisa's emotions to weapons against not just her but against everyone. That battle deeply scared the students that night. I think the worst was Edelgard and Dimitri. Jeralt also. Even more, that a positive change happened. Something that should have happened a long time ago. Distrust was still there but eventually it changed to something good.

AH! Shit I must end this short! If I don't get to the conference on time again, Edelgard and Heather are going to kick me to the moon! Worst because Yuri and Claude have perfected the art of poisons. Sothis, save me.

Diary Entry: Imperial Year 1189: Great Tree Moon: April 2nd

- 10 Minutes before midnight-

"Urrghhh...where are we...?"

Hapi opened her eyes slowly as light came into her view. Constance and Balthus began to stir as they looked around. Yet, their eyes went to the person that stood in front of them, holding a sword in their hands.

"Finally, you're all awake. Good morning sleepyheads. Or is it a good evening?" Yuri says as Constance glares.

"Yuri! You scoundrel! You are unfit to speak to us, liar that you are!" Constance hissed at him.

"Yeah, yeah, liar, blah-blah. Nothing I heard before." Yuri sighs.

"Look pal. Enough beating around the bush. What exactly are you trying to accomplish here?" Balthus growls.

Yuri began explaining that Aelfric was planning to react to the Rite of Rising and was preparing everything. That he was going to bring someone back to life by using the blood of the Five Apostles. That Saint Serios performed the ritual 995 years ago and because there wasn't enough blood, that something else was also missing. Aelfric discovered the documents about and no one knows what happened after that. Aelfric gathered the four of them, placing them directly under his supervision in the Ashen Wolf, so he ensured that the Rite of Rising would happen.

"You mean to say that he intends to drain our blood?! To kill us! Such an act would be unforgivable! And atrocity! I cannot die in this wretched hovel!" Constance yelled furiously.

"Yeah, that sounds painful...and permanent. Count me out. And Christian will never forgive you for this. Hang on- the number five includes you also? Who is the fifth? So, you're going to die with us?" Hapi says.

"Yep. That's the idea. As for the fifth..." Yuri looked up at the now black and red crystal ball that pulsed, the eyes of the rest of the Ashen Wolves went wide once they saw it. Yet...

"Evergreen?" Hapi choked out and Yuri quickly turned to her.

"What?!" Not even he knew of this.

"Arisa...Arisa! Are you in there?! Arisa!" Hapi yelled and Constance gasped as a hand reached out weakly from the sphere, dropping something before black ribbons wrapped around it and pulled it back in by force.

"I...I didn't know..." Yuri choked out.

"And here I thought... we were close, but all this time you've been sulking around, deceiving us. It hurts, Boss. Hurts bad...especially since you got the professor roped into this. You want to die, that's it?! Fine! I'll kill you myself. Just stop that crafty nonsense of yours and face me, fist to fist." Balthus growled.

"Shut it!" Yuri said angrily, "I've lived through hell and worse. After clawing my way here, you really think I want to die? Especially after just learning that the person in that thing is the professor?!" He raised his voice as he looked towards the item her hand dropped and quickly went to pick it up.

"Why throw your life away for the likes of Aelfric?" Balthus says.

"Some things are more important than my own life..." Yuri picked up the lily hair pin and gritted his teeth, "Some things are worth protecting."

"You're not making any damn sense!" The group yelled.

"It would seem you want to be punished severely Yuri." Aelfric appeared as he walked up with Pittacus.

Constance froze as her eyes landed on the woman and began shivering.

"Coco?" Hapi says and Constance spoke.

"I-Its her...the...the one...that killed my brother...it's her..." Constance choked out and Balthus looked at her with wide eyes.

"That some sort of threat? There's not much you and this woman can do to me that hasn't been done already." Yuri smirked as the woman turned to look over at the three Ashen Wolves.

"Hmmm...I remember you." Pittacus made one of her snakes slither to Constance, the girl shaking as it rose in front of her, trying not to break into tears, "Hmmm...to think you have Noa's blood. Your brother was quite fun to feast on. His screams were so sweet as you were hidden away and watched as I ate him alive." She giggled.

"You bitch..." Balthus growled and was slapped by her snake.

"Silence rat of Chevalier." Pittacus hummed.

"You took a wing from the mud into which you were born and rose to such great heights. To break your spirit would take far too much effort. Though if I must, I will kill your mother in addition to your dear people." Aelfric threatened as he looked up to the sphere, "The Professor as well. Her simple wish she has will be more than enough to use for this ritual." He says.

"Oh...So that's it. You were trying to protect your mom." Balthus says.

"What do you want?" Hapi says as Pittacus chuckled.

"Allow me to explain child of Timotheos." Pittacus chuckled as she began to walk/crawl towards the glass casket, "He wishes to bring back Sitri Eisner. The mother of Byleth and wife of Jeralt the Blade Breaker. Who knew that such a simple wish to meet her mother would be her undoing? Haha. Aelfric wishes to bring her back. No matter the cost." She laughed

"Wouldn't you do the same?" She turned back to them, looking down.

"Perhaps...Even so, never would we annihilate those we care for! How dare you use my mentor's wish?! Her blood! Her against her own will to do something like this?! Jeralt, Christian and Arisa will never forgive Aelfric! NEVER!" Constance roared and Aelfric only chuckled as he loomed over to the glass casket.

"There's nothing I wouldn't do, nobody I wouldn't trade to see the light in her eyes once more..." Alefric smiled warmly yet his eyes swirled with madness in them.

"That's Arisa's mother...she looks like she's sleeping...but she's dead..." Balthus says as they all looked up to hear scratching coming from the sphere.

"Sitri is dead for now. Once the ritual begins, the blood of you four and my doll's shall pour into the chalice and into the doll as well." Pittacus chuckled.

"I accepted the regret I might feel from this long ago. As long as she returns, nothing else matters." Aelfric smiled.

"Aaaahhhhhhhhhhh!"

A haunting cry was heard from the sphere Arisa was trapped in. Yuri gritted his teeth. He hopes the original plan works. Arisa was not the only person he told to let him at midnight.

"Yuri, if you think you'll be pulling anything funny, think again. The Knights of Serios won't save you. Not even Christian. I made sure that they were sent away to some mission or other." Aelfric chuckled as Yuri turned to him.

"Well that's a damn shame. The whole evil villain look really doesn't suit someone as "pious" as you, Aelfric. It suits Pittacus much better. Heh heh.." Yuri chuckled.

"Yuri-bird...I could..." Hapi whispered.

"Not yet." Yuri says back.

"Take them away." Pittacus waves her arms and the mages grab them, separating to the four corners of the Holy Mausoleum.

"You son of bitch...if I had known you would go after Arisa...I would have thought of something more..." Yuri internally snarled as he was made to stand on a glowing red tile with the symbol of Aubin. The same was done to the others.

"Your blood will pour forth, along with Byleth's, filling the chalice." Aelfric chuckled and suddenly stabbed Yuri with the dagger he took from Arisa.

"Ngh...You really are a fool..." Yuri choked out weakly as the man walked away.

The corners began to glow as blood began flowing out of the cuts that were made on the Ashen Wolves. It began to float into the air and split into two directions. One heading into the sphere while the other went into the chalice that floated above Sitri. Yuri gritted his teeth as he and the other felt their energy drained. Pittacus only watched as she held her hands together near the casket, where Aelfric joined her.

"You were diligent Yuri, along with Christian. You kept me abreast of all the Ashen Wolves' movements while he destroyed information regarding the Chalice of Beginnings. I never liked that boy. He was far too wise and knew too much. That boy did what I couldn't. He had knowledge and power that could be used but refused to give it up. And did everything in his power to make sure I never once saw Sitri's daughter. How annoying." Aelfric says.

"As a recompense for being such a good student of my flock, I will gladly hear any final words from you." He says.

"Heh, that's fresh." Yuri shook his head, "If you knew me at all, you'd know these won't be my final words. I'm simply biding my time." He smirked.

"For what..." Aelfric said slowly.

"Haha! For the descent of the God of the End. Can you hear it? He's coming to save his sister, the goddess. Along with the Saint of Shadows and Saint of Ice." Yuri laughed.

DING, DONG! DING DONG!

Bells began to ring through the place as Pittacus looked around. Blood keeps pouring from the students as well from the sphere yet...

"Bells? This late at night?" Aelfric muttered then.

"Yeah, you hear that Aelfric? That's the sound of your demise along with Pittacus! The knights are releasing my people as we speak. The ones you locked up and hid away." Yuri snarled as he quickly ripped away the rope that tied him.

"How did you know about that- Wait, the Knights of Serios?!" Aelfric yells.

"Heh...heh! Like I said, the evil villain look doesn't suit you. I know it was you who sent me on that mission that ultimately led me to landing in Abyss. Overall, your execution was lacking. Chris and Lady Rhea have been onto you as well. Oh, and just so you know, I've been working for Lady Rhea before I even began working with you. As for Christian, he helped me find all the information we needed. We found that body 2 years ago! Lady Rhea told me to keep an eye on you. Told me to inform her if you seemed to be planning anything. Christian has been investigating for 2 years and found everything we needed to make this plan. Don't think he and Jeralt are going to let you live." Yuri growled.

"You!" Aelfric yelled.

"Ufufufu~" Pittacus giggled, "The boy thought up to 15 steps ahead of you, Aelfric. The minute you chose to take his family and people hostage, the game was set. Even if he was forced to have limited options. Even If he debated in telling Rhea...Ahahahah!" Pittacus laughed as Yuri glared at them.

"You both chained up the Wolves and kept a tight grip on my routes in Abyss to ensure I wouldn't betray you. I struggled with whether or not to tell her everything. After all, my allies' lives were on the line. I deliberated on what to do next, knowing I'd have to rely on my own cunning to see this through. Chris and I waited for the chance to rescue my mother and allies! All while playing lip service to you and the role of the instructor. And he was right. You pulled all your forces today to attempt the ritual. The God of the End won't show any mercy to you." Yuri laughed while Aelfric was fuming.

"You're no villain, with that sticky conscience you call a heart tripping you up. Not like me." Yuri smirked.

"Not that it matters boy." Pittacus sneered as her hair began hissing, "The ritual had begun and will not be stopped! Not on my watch! I will bring Sothis back! YOU WILL ALL DIE!" She roared.

At that moment, one the mages began screaming when the shadows of the place began moving and ripping him apart. Pittacus's eyes went wide and more when an armored knight screamed that icicles were growing on the wall, firing like lances at them. Yuri laughed and Aelfric turned to him.

"Don't think-" Yuri began.

"That you're getting off easily, pal!" Balthus roared as he ripped apart the ropes that held him. The silence spell on Hapi and Constance faded away. With that, the two females quickly used magic to RIP the ropes yet all them were still being trained. Aelfric had used his personal funds, a vertail army. The two began to order the troops yet were met with other screams when a black and white wolf suddenly lunged out of the air vents and attacked the soldiers.

"Two actual wolves...damn..." Balthus says and then cackling was heard.

"Heheheheheh!" A fox laughed as he jumped around swiftly and cut the throats of archers.

"We made it!"

Pittacus growled as down the stairs Christian, Jeralt and the others arrived, armed and ready.

"Ugh, I don't know what's happening here but it doesn't look good." Hilda says as she holds her axe.

"Can this really be the Rite of Rising..What precisely is going on?" Dimitri says from on top of his horse.

"Their blood is being drained and then transformed into...raw power...urrghhhh! I...That's a lot of blood. Too much blood. This is hard to watch. Ulp!" Linhardt gagged as everyone saw the floating droplets of blood.

"Step on the vortices! Amir and Alex, you guys unfortunately can't get on them because they are repelling the Crest of the Apostles! Hilda, Ashe, Claude and Dimitri! Head to the four corners! This will stop the ritual! Dominic, Linhardt, Edelgard, Lestia! Guard those four! Fight off the soldiers! Amir, Alexandra and Dad! Head forward with me and take down the mages of Those Who Slither in the Dark!" He yelled and Lord's eyes immediately went wide.

"Lead us Christian!" Amir yelled.

"Aelfric!" Jeralt yelled and pointed his lance at him, "I'm here for my wife and daughter!" He roared.

"How did he find out about her body?!" Aelfric yelled.

"Isn't it obvious Aelfric?!" Chris pulled the sword from his arm, Sothis floated next to him as anger was in her eyes, "Because I told him! I told him everything you have been doing these past 10 years! You have committed the greatest sin of desecrating the body of Sitri Eisner! And using Arisa Byleth and my friends as sacrifices! I am here to answer Sitri's Eisner's last wish, to stop you! To help her husband and daughter! As the boy who was born with the sight of the other side, it is my duty to punish those who have desecrated the souls of the dead!" He roared as the sword flared with power, his eyes glowed mint green as they charged.

"No, no! Stop them!" Aelfric yelled.

"Cirina! Think you can show yourself as an ice soldier?!" Alexandra thought as Falco flew.

"With pleasure!" Cirina grins and appears in a tornado of ice, a faceless female warrior made of ice runs and jumps down to the ground.

Cirina held a scythe made of ice, the same shape as Alexandra's relic. Both females, despite one in the air and the other on the ground, spun their scythes and cut down their opponents, making sure the bodies shattered to pieces. Amir rode on Hyper as she threw her hammer at the armored knights, the impact crushing them from the inside out of black lighting devoured them. Hapi growled as her hands crackled with black magic and raised them.

"Time to use it...Sigh...Sigh...AID ME MY MONSTERS!" The ground began trembling and Amir cheered loudly as two Giant Sand Crawlers dug up from the ground.

They hissed loudly as the Crest of Timotheos manifested above them. Hapi raised her hands as the mages and archers that had surrounded her backed away in fear. She did a thumbs down.

"Devour them!"

The troops screamed in horror as the monsters roared and began lunging at them, eating them alive.

"She shouldn't be able to do that." Pittacus thought as she remained calm while Aelfric was becoming a mess.

She made one of her snakes' slither in the shadows and wait for the perfect moment to strike. A flash of white light blinded everyone.

"AREGHHH!" Dimitri roared as he and everyone else except Aelfric and Pittacus were suddenly hit with a wave a magic.

"Over here!" Balthus yelled as he punched a mage and Dimitri quickly rode his horse to stand on the vortice.

Balthus's stopped being drained and the one that accompanied Dimitri was Linhardt.

"How are you holding up?" Dimitri says as Linhardt gave Balthus a vulanry to drink.

"Not too bad but still drained." Balthus chuckled as he gulped down the bitter liquid.

"Where's the Professor?" Linhardt asked as he used Heal on him.

"Up there!" Balthus pointed up and the boy's eyes went wide when they saw the pulsing black sphere.

"No..No! Stop them!" Aelfric roared as Balthus and Linhardt fought the enemies on their corner to keep them away from Dimitri.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Chris nearly froze and quickly whipped around to look up at the ceiling, seeing the crystal sphere up in the ceiling. That cry sounded like Tiamat's. A primordial cry of a dragon in pain.

"Chris!" Sothis yelled, "I sense her! I sense Arisa is somewhere here!" She says and nods as he quickly cuts down a warrior.

Jeralt grabbed his javelin and threw it at an archer that snuck up behind Constance, right in the chest it hit.

"Thank you" Constance yells as Hilda and Ashe make it to her corner.

Ashe quickly jumped onto the vortices, stopping Constance's blood from being drained.

"Here!" Hilda threw the female a potion which she quickly gulped down.

"We just need Hapi and Yuri! Ashe!" Constance quickly turned her head to the sniper as he fired arrows at the enemies, "Fire an arrow up there!" She pointed at the sphere, "The Professor is being held captive in there!"

"Oh my goodness...that thing...the Professor is in that thing?" Hilda croaked out.

"On it!" Ash yells and quickly takes aim, firing the arrow.

Straight it flew but only a few inches till it hit, the arrow disintegrated to dust.

"Blast! It's protected by a barrier!" Ashe yelled and he and Constance defended Hilda.

On Hapi's side, Edelgard and Lestia quickly made it. Lestia stood on the vortices as she kept healing Hapi and Edel as the two females defended her.

"I can't believe you're able to control those monsters!" Edelgard yells as her jaw nearly drops as the two sand crawlers devour a group of mages.

"Silver taught me how to use the spell. It took some practice, but I got it down. I want to call a third one but that would be too much." Hapi says as she launched Gale at two sword masters.

"Shai (Everyone: You named them?!), go help Yuri-Bird!" Hapi ordered the Sand Crawler with green eyes.

It let go of a pleased growl and lunged at the ground of Dark Knights that were cornering Lestia and Dominic. The horses rose in fear, dropping their riders and quickly ran away. Their masters screamed before they were eaten alive.

(A/n: Just to be clear, it was the riders that got eaten. Not the horses. You may continue now.)

"Jesus Christ..." Dominic gawked as the sand Crawler burped from eating its human salad and then went back towards Hapi, "That image is never going to leave my mind..." he muttered as Lestia quickly stepped onto the vortices.

A loud clicking noise was heard as power flowing through the place halted. A wave of relief filled everyone as the wounds of the Ashen Wolves began healing.

"No, no! The ritual-it cannot fail!" Aelfric roared and his eyes went wide as something zoomed past his face, a cut on his cheek.

He slowly turned to the source and saw it was Jeralt. The older man's eyes burned with rage as Yuri tossed him another lance. Pittacus only smiled. Something within Chris's, Amir's, and Alexandra's mind clicked when the woman began walking down the stairs. For Chris, it was like the Shambhala theme began playing as she raised her hand.

"You may have stopped the ritual, but more than enough blood was collected." She opened her eyes and Edelgard screamed when the snake finally showed itself and clamped down its fangs on her right shoulder. At that moment, Dimitri's eyes went wide when he felt the same type of magic that Arisa would admit when she would use that spell of hers, coming from Chris. Time pulse activated.

"It...burns!" He had never once used it before in his life and now experiencing it for the first time, he understood the agony his sister felt when using it.

Time flowed back and the scene played once more. The snake lunged at Edelgard but he quickly warped in front of her and slashed at it with the Sword of the Creator. Pittacus screamed as her snake was cut and quickly retracted it. The 3 remaining snakes snarled loudly at them.

"The ritual we've stopped, all that's left on the agenda is defeating Aelfric and Pittacus!" Claude yelled then...

CRACK!

Everyone quickly looked up, the crystal sphere began cracking as blood poured from its cracks. A feeling of dread filled everyone as joy filled Pittacus. The glass began cracking more and more and the woman began cackling.

"Finally! Finally! It's time! Awaken my doll and unleash the rage of The DIVINE DRAGON!" Pittacus cackle and the sphere completely shattered.

Something fell from the sphere and when it landed, it cracked the stone floor.

"Grrrr...grrrrrr..." growls, snarls were heard as it began to take a stance on all four legs.

4 blood covered feather wings unfolded themselves, the inside of them looked at the stars, the lighting was crimson. The blood it began to absorb, revealing its features. Green, pink, white scales covered its body. Claws that would very much destroy all it touches. It raised its head, revealing four horns it had, but its head was like Corrin's dragon form. The beast was at most the size of Corrin's dragon form. It threw its head back, unleashing its roar as its long feather tail moved around. Dark and purple magic surrounded like flames as it roared furiously, shaking the place. Horses, wyverns, wolves, foxes and even the monsters shook in fear as it roared.

"Gods, what is that...? It's...beautiful." Aelfric muttered yet..

"That's not my doll."

Chris whirled around to see pure despair and disbelief was on Pittacus's face as her hands shook as she stared at the dragon before her.

"That's not my doll...that's not my doll...THAT'S NOT MY DOLL! THAT'S NOT MY DOLL! THAT IS NOT SOTHIS'S DIVINE DRAGON FORM!" She roared and turned to Aelfric furiously.

"WHERE IS SHE?! YOU SAID THIS ONE HAD THE BLOOD OF THE GODDESS! WHERE IS THE SOUL OF SOTHIS?!" She roared as she continued her tantrum.

"I do not understand! That is her! I swear!" Aelfric says and Chris begins laughing.

"You!" Pittacus turned to him as her hair turned crimson, "What have you done?!"

"(Oh I don't know...maybe because I AM the vessel of The goddess!)" He spoke in the language of the Nabateans.

"YOU SON OF-ULP!" Pittacus' eyes went wide as she looked at her hands, covered in her own black blood as she began shaking.

"AAHHHHHHHH!" She screamed as her skin suddenly began burning, her hair falling apart, "What have you done to me?!" She snarled as she began taking steps back, pieces of her flesh burned.

Even the healing spells Aelfric used were not working.

"(Isn't it obvious Pittacus...?)" Chris days as he fingered gun at her, Yuri began laughing, looking like the plan worked, "(There is a reason why my sister is called The Beginning. Because every beginning...there is always an end! And I am the End! We keep the balance! As the vessels of Sothis, it's our duty!)" Chris roared.

"Aahhhhh! Aelfric, I leave that THING to you! Use it and kill them all!" Pittacus roared in agony and warped away.

The dragon roared once more and lunged at the first people that came into its sight. It could not tell what friend or foe was. All it desired was to kill.

"Dad and the Ashen Wolves! I leave Aelfric to you guys!" Chris yells as he passed Jeralt and the man gave him a firm nod.

"PAIR UP FORMATION!" The two yelled and quickly the group did.

"It matters not whose blood it is anymore! Even if I need your blood to see this through, I will!" Aelfric roared as he and Jeralt lunged at each other, the Ashen Wolves joining.

"Grrraaaaah!" The dragon roared as it raised its wings and feathers were thrown like daggers as it flapped them.

"I've never seen anything like this before..." Claude says as Cirna threw her lance at it, it roared when it went through its third wing.

"Awwhooooo! Awhoooo!" Blanca howled at it and it turned its way, roaring.

"Blanca and Hessian! Be careful!" Amir yelled and quickly Hyper swiped down to evade a dagger feather that was thrown at them.

"Chris...that's..." Sothis's voice began trembling as the man stopped in front of the beast and quickly pushed Lestia and Linhardt back.

"What have they done to you...Arisa...?" Chris croaked as the dragon roared down at him.

Ashe and Claude quickly did a Curve Shot at it and the dragon used its tail to deflect the arrows.

"Edelgard! Have you noticed its movements?!" Dimitri yelled as he mounted off his horse.

"They seem sluggish. Dominic noticed something pulse around its neck. Do you see it?" She answered and pointed to the pulsing red vein on the right side of its neck.

"Yes. So, I'm assuming that's a weak spot. Wait...something is hanging on its neck." He says and notices some sort of stone.

"I got it!" Hilda yelled and ran towards the dragon, quickly sliding underneath it, and grabbed the stone.

Quickly she got it and used her axe to strike its ankle.

"RAAHHHHH!" It roared and the girl wasn't able to move on time.

"HILDAAA!" Claude roared as the girl was ripped to shreds by the claws.

Time pulse was activated quickly, and the scene replayed. Chris quickly made his sword turn to a whip and used it to pull Hilda back on time.

"Thank you!" The girl yelled and handed him the stone.

"That's...the Professor's necklace..." Hilda gasped and quickly looked at the roaring dragon that just got slammed in the chest by Lestia's punches.

"I need an opening!" Dimitri yelled as he pulled out the dagger Arisa gifted him and got into a crouching position.

"I have not wanted harm to befall on you Jeralt. You are Sitri's husband after all. I thought you of all people would understand and help me. Do you not want to see Sitri again?" Aelfric says and he yelled as Jeralt's lance was pulled out from his thigh.

"I love Sitri more than anything in the world. But I would never bring her back by force. I understand how you feel but not like this. You disrespected her wishes. You brought harm to our daughter. And worst of all, you brought harm on our family. Don't think you're getting out of this unscathed!" Jeralt said and quickly pulled back so Yuri could strike him.

"Heh. Seems I have no choice but to strike you down. Your daughter also put up quite a fight before I silenced her." Aelfric chuckled.

"YOU!" Yuri and Jeralt roared; they barely dodge Aelfric's Meteor spell.

"In the end, like all birds of prey, you'll turn on your Master as easily as you'd turn on your victims." Aelfric says and yells when Yuri's attack managed to cut him down the left shoulder.

"Nothing and nobody can shake me. A caged bird never sings!" Yuri yelled and quickly jumped back as Constance fired Thron on Aelfric.

"The bill has come due for your misdeeds, Aelfric." She roared and quickly commanded Opal to charge at him.

"It matters not. She is all that matters. Nothing more. She alone." He replies as her hand crackles with fire.

"Ahaha! Then if words shall not sway you, let us proceed to actions!" She yells and uses Fire on him.

The man screamed in pain despite his wounds healing from where he stood up; it was happening at a slow pace. Hapi jumped off her horse and ran at him, her hand glowed purple with dark magic she glared at him.

At the other side, the others were fighting the dragon, only Chris, Amir, and Sothis had figured out that it was Arisa. Chris trying to minimize the damage.

"You're not as angry as I'd expected, Hapi." Aelfric said as she smiled.

"I guess I'm used to betrayals by now. But that doesn't mean I'm going to sit on my hands and let you hurt me and friends." She glared and slammed her hands to the ground.

Hades Ω was cast and Aelfric roared in agony as the black magic burned his skin. He panted as the woman quickly jumped back. Finally, the last Ashen Wolf ran at him, his aura knuckles ready.

"I owe you a lot but not my life. Not an even trade in my book." Balthus says as he threw a punch at Aelfric.

"Cough! Cough...I feel...some remorse over...what I will require of you. But..." he quickly glanced at Sitri's body, " take it, I must...I will not shrink away...from what is necessary..." he coughed out blood.

"That is a fact? Then I guess this fight was inevitable." Balthus frowned.

"Ever...the bruthish thug." Aelfric smiled.

Two upper cuts and two slashes, for attacks in total Balthus did to Aelfric. The man roared as he coughed out blood and began laughing as Jeralt was now standing in front of him.

"Not yet...There's still time!" He yelled.

The dragon roared angrily once more as the others attacked. Lestia noticed that Amir and Alexandra were not using their relics as well as Chris. Confusion had filled her.

"Why aren't they using their relics?" She says and Claude nearby hears as Zarha uses her claws to slash at the beast.

"Now!" Edelgard roared and Dimitri sprinted as fast as he could towards the dragon.

Dominic used magic to raise him up, the prince roared as he jumped in the air, holding the dagger tightly.

"NO STOP!" Chris yelled but too late.

"GRRRAAHHHH!" The dragon roared as the dagger was plunged into the red veins of the neck.

"I'm not...letting you go!" Dimitri yelled as it trashed around, and he held on tightly.

"HALT AE-WHAT ON EARTH!"

Rhea and the knights had stormed down, everyone's eyes went wide as they saw the dragon thrashing around furiously.

"No...no...DIMITRI GET OFF OF HER!" Rhea screamed and the prince's eyes went wide as a familiar scent began to waft from the beast.

The scent of iron filled with lilies, cherry blossoms, ink, and mint, came from the beast as it roared.

"No..." The prince whimpered and was quickly warped away by Chris, the prince stood next to him, shaking, shocked.

"No...no...please..." he slowly turned to Chris, his smile crooked, filled with dread and fear, " Please tell me...that isn't her...?"

"GRAAAHHHH!" The dragon roared and quickly flew to stand behind Aelfric at his command, the dagger still lodged in the neck.

"You...Sitri lies here waiting! Waiting for you and your daughter! Why do not want her back to life?!" Aelfric roared as Jeralt's eyes finally landed on his wife.

"Jeralt, is that true, or is he just trying to freak us out? If so..it's kind of working." Claude says as the group runs to join the others.

"It's true..." Jeralt says as his wife looked like she was sleeping, "That is..my wife. Sitri Eisner...mother of our daughter..." he says softly.

The dragon growled lowly as it stood in front. It kept hissing at them, but Chris noticed a look of familiarity passed through it's eyes.

"She died giving birth to Byleth..." Chris says as the dragon hissed.

Dimitri trembled as he stared at it, it cocked its head a bit and chriped.

"You cannot expect us to believe that a body would remain so pristine after two decades...unless...a preservation spell was cast on it..." Edelgard says.

"Incredible isn't it? It's as though she was untouched after all these years..." Aelfric smiled.

"You found her body 10 years ago...How could you do something like this to her? Your friend?" Amir says and Aelfric only chuckled.

"I came upon her body deep underground...frozen time..." Aelfric snarled as he had a hand over his stomach, "I have worked tirelessly to solve...the riddle of her death and bring her back to life...you Jeralt...You of all people should understand!" He yells.

"What have you done...?"

The dragon roared the minute Rhea made her entrance and Aelfric raised his hand, to make it stop.

"Rhea! You...you are the cause of this! It was you who killed her! When she gave birth to a child who made no sound!" He roared and the dragon roared also.

"What have you done to the Professor?!" Rhea yelled back and Jeralt's and everyone's eyes went wide as the dragon growled.

"T-Teach..." Claude choked as the roar of the dragon became the scream of a young woman as its body glowed.

"Hahah...I only did...what needed to be done..." Aelfric chuckled as the dragon form denigrated to green dust, and standing where it once stood was...

"Byleth..." Jeralt choked out.

"Raaaaahhhh!" The female roared at them all as she raised her face, revealing her appearance.

Once forest colored hair was now white, her dress was replaced with black armor one, a dark coat, her ribbons on her hair were red and black. Light green scales had grown underneath her eyes. Two feather dragon wings, a tail, and the four horns. Her hands were like claws covered in scales, her eyes, despite mint green, glowed red. The girl snarled furiously at them as she was on all fours.

"What have...you done...?" Edelgard covered her mouth in horror as Hilda let out a sob.

"You..." Rhea growled, "I owe you no words on the matter...but I will tell you this...Jeralt deserves to listen as well..." she says as the man snapped out of it.

"She made the choice to die, that her offspring might live. I rescoeted her will. Nothing more..." Rhea says as the girl growled, "Aelfric.. Just as I viewed her...so did I view you... You are as my own child..Please...cease this futility..." she pleaded and Aelfric began laughing hysterically.

"Like I would believe your words anymore! You and Jeralt! The Professor! See her lying here, yet you "owe no words" to her?!" Aelfric yells.

"That is...enough..."

"Lady Rhea!" Alois quickly stood in front of her.

Everyone backed away as Pittacus appeared in front of Aelfric, she was covered in blood from head to toe, yet all her hair had fallen out. Pieces of her flesh were falling off, her eyes cried blood. She was beyond furious as she held a lance similar to Luin but it had two bone blades one the right and left and one the circled in the center of it.

"Pittacus..." Rhea hissed and Arisa lunged at the Agarthan woman.

In an instant, the woman raised her hand and Arisa screamed as chains went through her arms and legs, tying her down.

"Let go of her!" Jeralt roared and charged at her, only thrown back.

Alois managed to catch him on time.

"Pa...PAAAAAAAAAA!" Arisa roared and began clawing the ground.

"Despite the feral state you are in, you still have enough sanity intact?! You filthy beast! You will rue the day you lied that you hosted the soul of Sothis!" Pittacus roared as the chains tightened around her.

Arisa managed to rip the dagger from her neck and threw it at Chris, which he quickly caught.

"I am done with you Rhea! And you Jeralt! I will complete the ritual! Even if I must use Byleth's blood!" Aelfric yelled and he and Pittacus warped away. But not before, they made Arisa scream one last time.

"PAAAAAAPPPAAAAAAAAAA!"

No one could move. No one believed what they saw. Chris gritted his teeth as Yuri walked up, a grim look on his face as he handed Chris the flower lily pin.

"I'm sorry..." he muttered, and Chris shook his head.

"We did what we could...bit for now..." He smiled sadly, "We need to stop him."

[-]

After everyone was healed properly as well as planning out what to do, the unexpected happened.

"Lady Rhea, are you sure you wish to join us?" Jeralt says as the woman strapped on her Shield of Serios and the sword on her waist.

"I will. The lance Pittacus wielded...is made from the remains of my mother." Rhea sighs as she looks up to him.

"Why? Why did you fake Sitri's burial?" Jeralt said and the woman sighs as Chris approached them carefully along with Amir and Alexandra.

"Lady Rhea...Jeralt has the right to know...please..." Chris says and she nodded.

"Verdant Moon...The 23rd Day...I was there when Sitri had brought forth Byleth to this world. She had always been frail. Giving birth proved to be too much for her in the end..." Rhea closed her eyes as the memory resurfaced.

"On that fated day, it looked like neither of them would survive." She looked at Jeralt, a sad smile graced her lips, "In those final moments, she spoke, saying, "My heart...Give it to my child." The reason Byleth has that scar on her chest, the one that resides over her heart, is because it once belonged to Sitri. The heart that lies within her chest, that beats with so much love and life, is none other than hers. It was the only way Byleth could be saved." She says and Jeralt had closed his eyes.

"But Sitri loved others, much as a human might- and I loved her in return. I couldn't bring myself to bury her. Sitri looked upon me as though I was her mother, and I wished for her to have a bright future...I would not have her buried in the cold dark soil. Prior to her funeral, I arranged for a fake burial. Afterward, I brought her body to Abyss, where sometimes I would visit her." She shook her head a bit, "I never thought that anyone- especially Aelfric- would find her. I did not expect such tragedy to ensue..." she sighs.

There was silence for a bit and turned to Chris.

"Christian, you said you found her body two years ago. May I ask how?" She says.

"Right...Two years ago, I came to Abyss because of rumors I heard. However, also because as someone who was born with the sight...it my duty to make sure the souls of the dead rest in peace. I...was often referred as the one who brings an End by the fae. Blood of the anti-magic clan runs through my veins." He saw her stiffened, "But, through my time here in Abyss, I met the soul of someone. A faceless female soul who was fading away. At most, they had two more years till they fully passed on. That faceless soul led me to Sitri Eisner's body. A year later, I figured out who that soul was, it was Sitri's." He says and Rhea and Jeralt looked at him with wide eyes.

"Kid...you didn't tell me this." Jeralt says.

"I know dad. I chose to wait till Lady Rhea told you why she faked her burial." He says and Amir smacked him on the head.

"Punk ass son of a bitch! You had to wait that long?!" Amir growled at him.

"Ami..." Alex sighs.

"As I was saying." Chris rolled his eyes and turned back to Jeralt, "Sitri couldn't move on yet. They say a soul remains on the earth for a certain number of years, depending how they died. Sitri died giving birth. She wanted to make sure not only her daughter but also her husband and friends were safe. Thus, why her soul stayed here in Abyss, for 21 years. I made a promise to her. Her last wish. To protect her family. To help them. She was quite happy that someone could see and hear her. She also watched over the people of Abyss. At times, she would pull pranks on the bandits that tried to cause harm. Even going so far as making the passageways haunted with the help of other spirits. She also watched over the Ashen Wolves, making sure no harm fell on them. When she learned of Aelfric's plan, well...it's safe to say she made his life impossible. Turned his office into a disaster. Sent papers flying everywhere, even made many of his personal belongings go missing." He smiled.

"Haha." Jeralt chuckled, "That sounds like her alright. She would pull a few pranks often. Aelfric and Florencio would fall victim to them. Christian, thank you." He smiled sadly and turned to Rhea.

"For many years, I believed you killed Sitri. Thank you for telling me the truth." Jeralt says and Rhea nodded.

"I still feel she is hiding something. However, if I ask anymore, I'm sure she will change the subject. For now, this will do." Jeralt thought as the others were discussing the plan.

He let go of a sigh as he left them, had them conversation and decided to check on how the others were. Down the maze of hallways, he went and sure enough, the first group he found was the Ashen Wolves. Balthus gave Yuri a punch on the face.

"Why the hell didn't you tell us?! You and Christian!" Balthus said angrily.

He definitely was going to punch Christian next.

"I'm sorry we had to use you all. There wasn't much of a choice- someone would've died for sure otherwise. It could have been any of you. It could have been one of my rouges, someone from Abyss...Who knows." Yuri says as he couldn't look them in the eyes.

"You imply that you couldn't trust us enough! I'm incensed by you, Yuri! Once I get my hands-on Christian also, I will give him a piece of my mind!" Constance said angrily.

"Use me or don't, it would have been nice if you'd both asked us first. Christian better have his wallet ready. I'm going to make sure it remains empty." Hapi said bitterly.

"Look, I get it Yuri. Your people were being held hostage. You were between a rock and hard place. But I thought we were pals. Buddies till the end." Balthus grins.

"I..." Yuri looked at the three with wide eyes and turned when a familiar presence was felt.

Christian grinned as he walked and sure enough, Balthus punched him.

"I earned that one..." Chris whimpered as he rubbed his cheek.

"Hahaha!" Yuri couldn't help but laugh a bit and smirked to the group, "I need you...all of you. I've been a fool. Thank you for always being here for me. Even now." He smiled and the group nodded.

"Don't think you're off the hook also Eyepatch! Fess up!" Hapi says.

"I'm sorry also...like Yuri said, any of you could have been harmed. It would have ended up worse if Aelfric found out of our plans. He'd make sure to turn everyone in Abyss against me. The two years here, I learned many things. You're all important to me. I need you all in my life. I'm sorry for...being a...fool." he says and Balthus nodded in approval.

"Alright, I think these fools get the picture. Time to find that other fool and witch and take them out! We got a princess to save! Balthus cheers.

"Obviously I'm helping. Also, Arisa would be really pissed at you for calling her a princess. She doesn't exactly like being called a damsel in distress. I'm pretty sure when this is over, she's going to be blaming herself for this or she's going to throw a hissy fit because we just broke her streak of saving people. Pffft..." Chris laughed and got a smack on the head by Constance, using her fan.

"Hahah. That is what I like about you Chris. Let's do this Wolves. Also, Christian, don't you have something else to confess?" Yuri says as he turns to his friend.

"Huh?" Chris looked at him confused.

"Don't you "huh?" Me! And don't worry, the 4 royals aren't even close to this area. They're in the classroom." Yuri smirked.

"Do I have too?" Chris whines.

"Yes, you do!" Yuri and Hapi yelled at him.

"Sigh...Constance...Balthus...just promise me you won't kill me?" He says.

"Just say it." Balthus sighs.

"I am The Fourth Prince of the Adrestian Empire. Chris von Herslvelg. Also known as the Third Prince of The Holy Kingdom of Faerghus." Chris says and there was complete silence, a pin was heard dropping.

"Ufu...Ufu...Ufu...hehehe...heheh..." Constance began laughing lowly while Balthus looked at him with wide eyes.

"Damn...Umm...I figured out you were once a noble but...never that big. Does ummm... Arisa and Jeralt know?" Balthus says and Constance broke into a full out creepy laughter that the group backed away.

"Yes, they do. And...Constance you're scaring me!" Chris says, starting to get scared then...

"I STAY TRUE TO MY WORDS! THORN!"

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!"

- 30 minutes later -

"Christian, what happened?"

Edelgard says slowly as the Ashen Wolves and he met up with the others near the entrance of Abyss. The man was electrocuted, his hair standing up completely. Yuri, Hapi and Balthus were desperately trying not to burst out laughing as Constance had a proud aura around her.

"He got a well-deserved punishment." Constance said coyly as Chris let go of a sigh.

He sent a glare to the other three and told them to shut up.

"Anyhow, what's the meeting about?" He asked.

Rhea nodded and spoke.

"Aelfric's location has been found. It is at a cathedral that has been under construction for the past few years. The reason I called you all here today, is to tell you who exactly Pittacus is." Rhea said that last sentence bitterly.

Everyone was silent as they listened.

"Pittacus the Doll Collector. Maria the Ripper. Grave Robber of Bones. These are only a few of the names she has gone through. The Church of Serios has been hunting her down since the era of Saint Serios. However, she has escaped us for many years. Using the very lives of people, she had kidnapped and killed as her life force. That is how she has been able to survive to this day. Eating human flesh and dark magic to create an artificial immortal body." She grimaced.

"That is...deeply disturbing." Linhardt gagged a bit, "But...that lance she held...it looked like a Heroes' relic." He says.

"Pittacus over the years has desecrated graves and dug up the bones and bodies of those who have passed on. She has...either turned them into puppets or used them for battle. Or...uses the bones of the deceased to make weapons from them. That lance you all saw...was created 40 years ago...from the bones of my mother and...the bones of Emperor Lycoan I. It is the greatest sin she has done. Desecrating the graves of many. Killing innocent lives as well as using the bones of my mother and the past Emperor of the Empire." Rhea gritted her teeth as her fist shook.

Truthfully, that relic was created after the War of Heroes, 10 years after Lycoan passed away. She was beyond furious when she was informed that his grave was robbed. The body especially. Edelgard covered her mouth, feeling even more sick by what she was hearing. The only source of information she has had come from Lord Arundel, her uncle. Now she was questioning that information's credibility.

"Have you actually ever asked questions about the information you have been given?"

The cold voice of her older sister Heather rang through her mind as she and the others continued to listen to Rhea. Her head hurt. Especially with what they had witnessed hours prior. The pain and agony her professor were put through, forced to turn into...into that...thing! Of a beast. Forced to turn to a child of the goddess...even if it was only temporary. Edelgard will never forget the pure look of horror that fell on Dimitri as well as the others when they all realized they nearly killed their own professor. Something was changing. Now that she had also learned that Christian and Alexandra were also victims like her...

"Far too much information...Heather and Chris always said there was a hidden royal archive that only they and my father knew about...perhaps.." she thought and snapped out of it when Lestia spoke.

"By the way, Pittacus kept screaming you did something to her. What exactly did you do?" Lestia asked Chris.

"I want to know also. You just don't suddenly see someone's flesh start melting off. Whatever you did, you made her become bald!" Claude smirked.

"Well...I gave her a vial of my blood." Chris rubbed the back of his neck.

"Explain please Christian. You are not making any sense. How is giving your blood to her caused her to become injured?" Dimitri says as his hand shakes.

He was still shaken by the fact the one he nearly killed Arisa.

"Pittacus uses blood as her source of magic. So, to her, giving her the blood of someone possessing the Crest of Flames is basically ambrosia. However, not only does my blood possess the Crest of Flames, it also has mixed in the bloodline of the anti-magic clan. Anti-magic destroys any form of magic. If used properly, you can shut off someone's ability to use magic temporarily or permanently. That is why the clan was greatly feared. They can turn a mage into a regular human being. Not even Crest were saved. Someone with a Crest would be rendered useless. " He explained and everyone looked at him shocked and also a bit of horror.

"So, what happens when you feed a fake immortal the blood of the goddess mixed with the blood of a forbidden bloodline?" He smirked and Claude, Lestia and Yuri began grinning wickedly because they figured it out, "Pittacus willingly just drank poison. Her demise. Our advantage. That's why I gave her my blood." His face turned serious, "It's only a matter of a few more hours till my blood completely destroys Pittacus magic system. She'll be forced to face us head on. But I never thought my blood would cause that much damage. What do you know? Sothis was smiling upon me." He grins.

Indeed, Sothis was cheering gladly along with Cirina, and their pets.

"Awhoo..." Blanca whimpered and Ashe knelt to pet her.

"We'll get the Professor back. Just a little bit longer." He said softly and she licked his face.

"It's time to head out."

- Dream -

Reach for my hand,

I'll soar away

Into the dawn

Oh, I wish I could stay

Here in cherished halls,

In peaceful days

I fear the edge of dawn

Knowing time betrays

"Warm..."

She felt warm. Safe. Like if someone was holding her. Soft singing could be heard as she slowly opened her eyes. A grassy field, the scent of soil, a clear blue sky. Yet...

"Hmm...Where...Why can't I...who..am I?" She muttered as she stood up.

"You're awake." She turned around to see an older woman with olive colored green hair, the same colored eyes and wore the clothing of a nun, the same color as her hair.

The woman smiled softly to her and spoke.

"I was wondering if you were okay. It is not safe to be sleeping out on the field, even if near the cathedral. What's your name?" The woman asked.

"Name...hmmmm...Arisa...Byleth..pops in my mind...That's right. Arisa is my name." Arisa muttered and the woman smiled softly.

"Well, nice to meet you Arisa. I am Sitri. Why don't you come with me to the church? Rest for a bit?" She says.

"If it's alright..." Arisa shyly said and the woman squealed a bit.

"You're adorable. Now come. I think you'll fit right in." Sitri chuckled as the two began to walk towards the church.

The place was nice, but it felt familiar. Arisa felt safe for some reason as they continued to walk down the hallways. Students, nuns, priests, and many others walked around busy, yet it felt strange that none said a word when they could see her clearly.

"Sitri! There you are!"

The two females turned and headed their way was a young woman with light crimson hair, dressed in the armor of a wyvern rider. Yet, she looked familiar.

"Cherche...?" Arisa whispered and the woman stepped a few feet from them.

"I have good news! Your pegasus is ready! Ready to jump off the bridge? If things head south, just in case, Minerva will be on standby." Cherche grins.

"Is Sandy on board?" Sitri giggled mischievously and Cherche nodded.

"Ummm..." Arisa muttered and Cherche turned to her.

"Hello there! Are you new here?" She asked.

"Just...visiting. I'm Arisa." Arisa said a bit shyly and Cherche chuckled a bit.

"Then I welcome you. Now come and watch! Sitri is going to prank Aelfric, Florencio and Jeralt!" Cherche says and Arisa couldn't help but giggle as she joined them.

The pink haired woman and forest colored haired girl talked and chatted excitedly as Sitri walked behind them. A soft smile on her lips as she listened to the women talk. Yet...

Crack...

She turned back a bit and looked over to the stone floor. It cracked like glass yet dark smoke poured out of it. She walked towards it and raised her hand, light magic poured from it as she made the cracks heal. She let go of a sigh as she looked at her own hand, as it flickered.

"I don't have much time. Hurry Chris and Jeralt."

- Reality: Cathedral -

There she sat on the cold stone stairs; eyes closed as dark energy poured from her body. Her hair floated a bit in the air like waves of water as in her arms, she held the body of her mother. The Chalice floated above them as the blood boiled in it. Pittacus stood guard in front of Aelfric as the man chanted the incantations to start the ritual. It mattered not. Sitri was almost here. The sphere that contained the soul was absorbed by the chalice. It was time.

"Aelfric! Cease this at once!"

The man only smiled as he never turned to face the group that arrived. Pittacus snarled as she held her lance. Chris's and Jeralt's eyes went wide as they saw the two females were still.

"You think I didn't figure that spell you cast on Sitri's body Christian?" Aelfric chuckled as the boy narrowed his eyes, "I managed to undo it. Barely." He says.

"Aelfric, stop this. You will never forgive yourself." Jeralt said and Aelfric only chuckled.

"It is too late. The chalice is filled to the brim with the blood of the five. Should their blood prove insufficient, I will spill my own blood to finish this." Aelfric says as the power of the chalice grew more.

"The chalice cannot return her soul, Aelfric. It is incapable of even returning the body to life. Even if you captured it by force, if the soul does not desire to return, only their wrath will be unleashed." Rhea explains.

"Please, you must stop." Jeralt says.

"Be not afraid Jeralt. Today, the mother of your daughter returns to us. The time has come. Perhaps I am not an equal man to you Jeralt.. but I am here by your side, Sitri." He says and the blood from the chalice began to pour over the two females.

"Stop!" Chris yelled and Pittacus slashed at him, Rhea managed to pull him back on time.

"Do not interfere!" Pittacus roared.

The blood poured down the stairs and circled around Aelfric. Magic, malice, rage, sorrow unleashed from the magic circle as it formed with the symbols of the Crest of the Five Apostles and the Crest of Flames in the center. The blood turned black and began to change to dark energy, like how the Lance of Ruin devoured Miklan. It began to cover the girls and soon, grutose figures began to form.

"Sitri...Si...tri..." the chalice began to absorb all three of them and Pittacus began cackling despite how much black blood she coughed out.

"You planned this all along!" Rhea roared as the huge beast took form.

No scales. Only flesh and bones its body was made of. Its head is a skull with horns.

"The chalice...It absorbed them all!" Edelgard yelled in horror as any could not believe their eyes.

"That aberration...It cannot be... An..Umbral Beast?!" Dimitri choked out.

"How?! I thought those things were only legends!" Lestia yelled out.

"SSSIIIIITTTRRRIIIII!" The umberal beast roared as a wave of powerful winds was released.

"Byleth! Sitri! Gods, Aelfric...you are beyond salvation..." Jeralt gritted his teeth.

"So I see...It is just as the last ritual was performed..." Rhea muttered.

"Is this really happening?! Aelfric and the Professor...were turned..into that thing?!" Balthus yelled.

"Ugh...It does seem like some sick joke. Still, I sense Evergreen. She's alive. Seems her magic is rejecting what Aelfric did to her." Hapi explains as Jeralt had some hope in his eyes to save his daughter.

"This is the Rite of Rising? Quite the dangerous ritual if you ask me..." Yuri frowned.

"Still, you have said that the Professor is alive. If her magic is rejecting that horrid of a beast, then it is possible she is fighting it from the inside. We have a chance. My mentor...even like this, you are trying to help us..." Constance says.

"Oh Arisa...Heh. Even if you couldn't move from the bed back in our old home, you still found a way to help out the others. Nothing stops you." Alexandra says as the ice soldier Cirina appears next to her.

"You have done so much for me. Even if you don't like it when I call myself your retainer, you still respect my choices. I am who I am today because you helped me. Now, it's time I return the favor." Amir says as her hammer crackled with black lighting.

"Sis. Keep fighting." Chris says and brings out his sword.

"TO THE ETERNAL FLAMES WITH YOU ALL!" Pittacus roared as the group charged at her and the beast.

"You'll be facing me!" Rhea roared as her sword clashed with Pittacus lance, their eyes had become slits.

One the colors of mint green and the other, eyes of neon yellow that looked like they were made of poison.

"Formation! Pair up! And watch for the rise of magic! Mages keep a lookout!" Jeralt ordered as everyone began to pair up.

Three magic circles suddenly appeared next to the beast, revealing three figures.

"An...illusion? It looks like Aelfric. Yet...oh gods...uhhh..." Linhardt gulped at the second illusion stared at them with void eyes as they raised their hands.

"Sitri..." Jeralt said in a mournful as he raised his lance.

"That's just horrible..." Lestia muttered but screamed when she barely dodged a dagger thrown at her by the third illusion.

"Who is that? I had never seen her before. She looks like Petra and Claude." Ashe says as the third illusion held a dagger in their hands.

It was a young woman with long curly dark brown shoulder length, brown colored eyes, tan skin, and wore strange clothing. She wore a blue kimono shirt, black pants, and black boots.

"Jesus Christ...I didn't think I would see the old you again..." Chris says as he charged at the illusion of his sister and the two clashed.

"Byleth?" Jeralt says as another illusion of Aelfric appeared, and he quickly cut him down.

"What?" Dimitri gasped, he quickly jumped back as another illusion of the tan woman charged at him, "You're...Arisa? How...?" He says and spun his lance to counter attack but..

The illusion jumped back and suddenly appeared behind him, about to stab him up...it stopped. Dimitri took a step back as the illusion held the dagger but shook as it pointed it at him.

"Arisa...? Arisa is that you?! Are you in there?! Fighting?" Dimitri says as the illusion's lip began quivering.

"...I...I..." his eyes went wide as did Claude's who had ran up to him quickly.

Despite the fierce battle going on, it was almost still for and Dimitri as the illusion tried to speak despite being controlled by the beast.

"I...I..." it shakily looked up to them, the eyes began flickering between brown and mint green, "T-Take...down...U-Umbral...Beast..." it says and lunged at Claude.

The boy barely had time to register what had just happened; however, a dagger did not meet his chest, but hand that pushed him out of the way. The prince's eyes went wide when the head of the umbral beast devoured the illusion, where Claude originally stood. It's wounds began healing and it roared.

"Ugh...that's disgusting. It devours the illusions to heal itself. Take out the illusions! And Jeralt I'm sorry for killing your wife!" Lestia screamed as she cut down a Sitri illusion.

"Falco, up!" Alexandra yells and Cirina runs towards Rhea's and Pittacus' fight.

"What are you doing?" Alexandra yelled in her mind as Cirina came from behind at Pittacus and stabbed her scythe at her shoulder.

The Agarthan woman screamed and quickly turned; her lance clashed with Cirina's. Rhea quickly took the opportunity and thrusted her sword at Pittacus. The woman let out a human scream as the sword went through her left eye. She snarled and panted as she took a step back, glaring at both. Rhea wondered what the warrior ice was. She remembers Cirina used to create her own to help fight in the war. Yet...

"HcjKdnemIruIfnfk!" It made it a human sound, like it was trying to speak as it pointed its lance at the Agarthan woman.

"Use the book." Cirina mentally yelled back at Alexandra.

The girl took a deep breath as she made her scythe turn back to Crest stone and quickly summon the tome. She placed the stone in the center, making it now float in the air in front of her as she spread out her arms. The pages of the book fluttering as the text in glowed white.

"Keep me steady Falco." She ordered.

"I'll help you!" Constance yelled from the other side as she began to prepare her own tome to strike.

"This is what comes of meddling with a sacred tool commissioned by the Progenitor God. But clear it is too late to scold you at this point. For now, we must focus on dealing with the results! Ready?!" Constance yelled as her hands began cracking with blue magic.

Alexandra nodded as the Umberal Beast roared at them and everyone quickly began jumping away as fast they could. The blue haired girl's tome began to glow blue, Rhea and Pittacus recognized that power as snowflakes began forming the air. Streaks of her hair turned the sickly blue, but she did not care as she opened her eyes, they had her Crest.

"SEEK MY ENEMY BLIZZARD/FIMBULVERT!"

"GRRRGHHHH!" The umberal roared at the illusions and screamed as a huge wave of storm clouds formed above it and icles fell, destroying its wings.

The illusions were killed off in an instant as Chris quickly jumped back.

Bubump.

"Aghhh!" Chris suddenly fell to one knee as he held his hand over his heart.

"You used Time Pulse too fast! You have at least three more left. A couple hours ago was your first time ever using it, so it's a huge strain on you. You must be careful on when to use the remaining last three!" Sothis warned as more illusions spawned.

The umberal beast roared furiously at them and Chris went pale as power suddenly began to surge from it.

"EVERYONE RETREAT BACK QUICKLY! REMAIN IN PAIRS!" he yelled.

The beast stood on its hind legs suddenly and did slashes in the air and then spun, whipping its tail, letting out an ear shattering roar as red energy poured from its body. A blinding red light suddenly filled the place, everyone screamed as the positions they once stood, they no longer did. And with the damage that they took, agony filled their bodies.

"What the heck was that? We all got moved to different positions." Hapi yelled as the umberal beast was now at the right left corner of the cathedral.

"It's some brand of spatial-distortion magic. I haven't the faintest idea how to defend against it!" Constance yelled.

"Damn! Don't let that thing catch you alone. It's too risky." Balthis yelled.

"Yeah, don't be reckless. Stand united." Yuri yells.

Dominic and Ashe were cornered because the beast had teleported in front of them. It roared and unfortunately, they weren't able to move on time because of injuries. It slashed at the two, ripping them apart. Lestia and Dimitri screamed as their friends were killed.

"Not on my watch!" Chris roared and used time pulse a third time now.

Amir quickly made the shadows swallow the two boys on time and had them reappeared besides her.

"Thank you!" Ashe says and she nodded as she jumped off Hyper.

"Get on Hyper! You'll have a better aim!" She grins as Ashe nodded, despite how nervous he felt as he mounted her griffon.

"Hyaa!" Ashe snapped the reins to have Hyper join Falco, Opal and Zarha in the air.

"Dominic, heal the others! Jeralt and Chris are the closest! Go! Go!" Amir yelled and he quickly made his horse run to the two males.

She looked back to the beast, worry filled her as Dimitri cut down another illusion of the tan woman as well as Edelgard. She knows they felt sick to their stomachs because but now they realized they have been cutting down their teacher, even if they were just illusions. She recalled Arisa told her that a long time ago she looked like that.

"Arisa, if you're in there, give us a sign."

[-]

[Dream]

Months have passed since she arrived at the Monastery and she was able to get a job here. At first, she personally was against it since she had barely just met Sitri as well as the other. She was introduced to her friends, Cherche, Florencio, Aelfric, and Sandy. But also, her husband, Jeralt. Sitri had managed to convince her mother, Lady Rhea, to allow Arisa to stay and work in the monastery as her assistant. She hummed a tune as she was helping Sitri prepare her next magic experiment. It felt strange but also natural being there in the monastery. Like if she was home.

"Ufu. Reminds me when I first arrived here." Arisa chuckled as she recalled her first day.

She was introduced to Sandy and literally witnessed Sitri jump off the bridge. Arisa cheered for her along with Sandy and Cherche. The men looked like their soul left their bodies. Thankfully Sitri was caught by her favorite pegasus she would tend to when she had time.

A knock on the door she heard and yelled out that they could come in. The door opened and she turned, smiling seeing it was Aelfric.

"Good morning Aelfric. Something I can help you with?" She asked as the man smiled and walked towards her a bit.

"I'm alright. I have been wanting to talk to you for a while. You're always with Sitri and Jeralt that sometimes I think you're their daughter." He chuckled as did she.

"I know what you mean. I accidentally called Jeralt and Sitri, 'mom' and 'dad' the other day while we were walking together through the market." She says as she wrote down a few notes from the book she was reading.

She remembers their reactions. Sitri looked so happy and cried a few tears of joy. Jeralt could not help but blush at being called "Dad", but still felt happy. Sitri and Jeralt both cared for her. But what Arisa was unaware of is that Sitri doesn't want to leave her alone anywhere with Aelfric. Cherche has shown hostility towards him and was protective of her. While Arisa asked if there was tension between them, Sandy had said Cherche has always shown hostility to the man.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Arisa asked as the man grabbed a chair and sat across from her.

"How have you liked your time here so far?" Aelfric asked.

"I'm happy. Everyone here is so kind and I have learned many new things. Especially from Sitri. I know she is frail and sickly, but I admire how strong she is despite all that. Smart, kind, wise. I can't help but admire her so much. True, she's protective of me and scolds me when I do something stupid. I honestly can't help but think of her as my mother. Jeralt has taught me alot about being a knight and helps me train. Yes...I think of him like a father." She giggled a bit and Aelfric smiled.

"Do you want to live here permanently in the monastery?" He asked and Arisa froze.

Something unsettling she felt when he said those words.

"I feel I must not say that I should stay here forever. No matter what. I must not say it. But why?" She thought.

"Arisa?" He says and she snapped out of it.

"Well, first once I have fully recovered and gained back a portion of my memories, I wish to travel." She answered.

He didn't like that answer for his smile now seemed strain for some reason.

"But you have a wonderful life here. Why would you not wish to stay forever?" He insisted.

"Aelfric, what are you doing?"

The man whipped around quickly and paled a bit as Sitri came in with a scowl on her face.

"I was just speaking to Arisa. I asked if she would like to live here at the monastery permanently." He says and Sitri's eyes widened a bit, but her face became void of emotions.

"Aelfric," she let go of a soft sigh, " you can ask her such subjects. It is her choice. And if she chose not to, it is alright. Arisa is an adult like the rest of us and can make her own choices. A certain saying, there will be a time when a bird will leave its nest." She says and Aelfric gritted his teeth.

"But she would be happy here. With you and Jeralt. With Sandy, Cherche and Florencio. Do you not want her to remain close to you?" Aelfric says and the tension between the two grew more.

Arisa hissed lightly as a sharp pain went through her head. An image played before her eyes. It was blurry but she could hear multiple voices saying something.

"Professor!"

"I do want Arisa to be happy, but she is the only one in control of her life by the end of the day. If she wishes to travel the world then so be it. Now if you excuse us Aelfric, my daughter and I have to go shopping." Sitri huffed as she walked past him and took Arisa's hand.

"I thought you weren't allowed to leave the monastery." Aelfric says.

"Oh, on the contrary." She turned back as Arisa was out the door, "My health has improved quite greatly thanks to Arisa's healing abilities. Because of this, I have officially been traveling around the town for two months straight now." Sitri says in a smug tone and shuts the door, leaving the man stunned.

The flowers in the room began wilting as he began to emit anger.

"This should not be happening..."

- Market Place -

"I'm so sorry about that dear. I did not think that Aelfric would be aggressive towards you." Sitri says as the two were walking down the market streets, with their baskets.

"Thank you for standing up for me. Honestly, you came right when I was going to nicely tell him it was my choice. There were other words I wanted to use but considering he is my senior; I didn't want to be rude." Arisa sighs as she looks around and stops in front of a bridal shop. The glass window displayed a beautiful white dress that flowed beautifully. It was a tea length style. She couldn't help but see herself in it as she began humming a tune.

Daylights pass through colored glass

In this beloved place

Silver shines, the world dines

A smile on each face

As joy surrounds, comfort abounds

and I can feel I'm breaking free

For just this moment lost in time.

I am finally me...

Arisa let go of sighs as she closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them. But her own reflection wasn't looking back, but a young woman with red hair and honey colored eyes looked at her with worry.

"Wake up! You need to wake up!" The girl pleads.

She blinked multiple times and the girl was gone.

"Arisa, are you alright?" Sitri yelled out a bit.

"I'm alright!" Arisa replied and ran a bit to catch up to her.

The crowd was big and Arisa had lost Sitri in it.

"Excuse me! Pardon! Coming through!" She yelled out and still accidentally ran into someone.

"Ooff!" She heard the voice of the boy who had fallen on his behind.

"I am so sorry!" Arisa panicked as she helped the boy up quickly.

"I'm alright! Thank you, professor!" She froze once her eyes landed on the boy.

Green colored eyes and gray colored hair. He smiled at her kindly.

"Glad you are okay! But we need you!" He pleads and she blinked once more.

"Thank you, miss!" A little boy smiled at her and she waved goodbye, a bit in a daze.

She turned back to continue to walk since the crowd had dispersed a bit. Looking around, it seems she made herself to the weapon area. Axes, swords, daggers, and such were being sold. Wax and oils to maintain one's weapons.

"Hey, miss!" She turned the stand that was selling bows and arrows, "You got a good eye! See anything you like?" The vendor said as Arisa looked at the bows.

"Hmm...?" Her eyes landed a beautiful jade colored bow.

"Not bad Teach!" Her eyes went wide when the vendor called her that and quickly turned to him.

He was a young man with tan skin, verdant colored eyes, brown hair with a small braid, and grin she knows very well.

"Teach, it'll be lonely without you besides us." The young man smiled sadly to her, "Please wake up."

[-]

The umberal beast growled as it suddenly stopped attacking as illusions of the tan woman suddenly began glowing. Everyone's eyes went wide as the light faded, revealing now the form of Arisa when she was Kiana Kalsana. It blinked, eyes still void and then they turned, crouched, the rapier version of the Sword of the Creator she had when she was younger appeared in her hands. The illusions roared in union and lunged at the umberal beast that roared once more. The illusions of Sitri suddenly turned at the ones of Aelfric and used Thorn on them.

"Impossible...Impossible...Impossible!" Pittacus roared as Rhea could not help but smile sadly as the other continued their assault.

"She is fighting back." Jeralt chuckled and he lance penetrated the ligaments of the right ankle.

"You can do it sis!" Dominic yelled as he used Physic on everyone.

- Back to the Dream -

"I had no idea there was a festival." Sitri grinned as they saw a group of dancers made their way.

Many of the town's folk were cheering, some even being pulled into the circle by a few dancers. A male dancer clapped his hands, besides him, two female ones also clapped. They did it to encourage the towns folks, which worked. The town's folk began to sing along with the song the dancers and singers were chanting. Arisa gasped when the male dancer ran to her and quickly pulled her in to join. Sitri whistled and laughed as Arisa sent her a playful glare. The two female dancers cheered as they continued to sing.

There will come a soldier

Who carries a mighty sword

He will tear your city down, o lei o lai o lord

O lei, o lai, o lei, o lord

He will tear your city down, o lei o lai o lord

Arisa couldn't help but laugh as the male dancer spun her and gasped when she saw his face.

"Enjoying yourself Arisa?" The man had violet colored hair and eyes, a smirk on his face as the two danced together and spun her to the first female dancer.

"Wow! You're an amazing dancer Professor! Ohh! I bet you would look amazing in one of these dresses!" Arisa could only look in shock at the female dancer with bright pink hair in pigtails and pink colored eyes.

Then the girl sent her a wink and quickly switched places with the second dancer.

There will come a poet

Whose weapon is his word

He will slay you with his tongue, o lei o lai o lord

O lei, o lai, o lei, o lord

He will slay you with his tongue, o lei o lai o lord

The dance changed to slow and steady. Like a ballroom dance. Yet Arisa knew the steps as the dancer took the lead. The white-haired girl with violet eyes smiled sadly to her as they spun. The crowd was still chanting, clapping, singing. Arisa felt a shiver go down her spine as she quickly looked over to the crowd and saw Aelfric in the crowd. He was staring right at her and his eyes quickly went to Sitri, who was dancing with the violet haired boy.

There will come a ruler

Whose brow is laid in thorn

Smeared with oil like David's boy, o lei o lai o lord

O lei, o lai, o lei, o lord

Smeared…

"You need to hurry my teacher." Arisa looked back to the white-haired girl, "You must remember us. You must remember who you are!" The girl pleads and quickly twirls away.

"That was so much fun!" Sitri ran up to her but became worried when the girl was looking down to the ground with wide eyes, "Are you alright?"

Images played before your eyes and Sitri smiled sadly.

"I wanted to spend more time with you but...your memories are returning. That's good." Sitri thought and spoke again, "Arisa, can you hear me?"

"Oh!" Arisa blinked multiple times and turned to her, "Sorry about that. Something on my mind."

Sitri couldn't help but take the opportunity to tease her.

"Did you spot your knight in shining armor?" She smirked.

"Ehhhhh?!" Arisa looked like a shocked cat as Sitri began to skip away with her hands behind her back.

"I know when someone has that look in their eyes~ Ufu." She giggled and Arisa quickly ran after her.

"M-Mom! I swear it's not like that!" Arisa says and Sitri squealed in joy once more at being called mom.

"Ah! It is! I wonder who the lucky man or woman is! When will I meet them? Oh! I wonder how your father will react?" Sitri giggled mischievously and Arisa wanted to dig a hole and die.

"Now come, let-!" The sudden sound of cracking was heard from the sky.

Arisa quickly looked up, her eyes going wide. The earth began to shake violently as citizens began running for their lives. The sky began cracking like glass, dark magic pouring out.

Anger.

resentment.

sorrow.

Jealousy.

Lust.

Greed.

Pride.

.Envy.

More and more negative emotions poured out. Arisa could only stare with wide eyes as each wave of these emotions hit her like bricks. No. The description of bricks hitting her was nothing. The best way to describe it was the tsunami. She heard footsteps running behind and two knights stopped, panting.

"Wake up! This isn't like you! Where's the Queen of The Forest that has kicked my ass so many times?!" The bigger knight that spoke was a man with dark black hair combed back neatly and brown colored eyes.

"Come on Evergreen! You're going to let some sick crazy doll control you?!" She turned to her left and saw a female with tan colored skin, orange red hair and eyes, looking at her fiercely.

Bodies began to fall from the sky and rise. The rotting scent of flesh filled the air as running past her were the three dancers, the boy she met, the vendor, the girl of red hair.

"Come on Teach!" The vendor yelled and they began to fight the Rising corpses.

"I need to go...I need to help them..." she muttered and took a step forward, "I know you...I know you all.."

Another step she took. Running past, her was a young girl of blonde hair and heterochromia eyes, a grin on her face.

"Let's go Arisa! Time to take them bad guys down!" The girl yelled and joined the others as they fought.

She couldn't move. She shook. She was forgetting something. She needs to remember!

"Standing there isn't helping. I need a nap, but I suppose I'm needed." She turned to see a young boy with short dark green hair and green eyes and next to him a boy with brown hair and hazel eyes.

"I'm not holding back sis! I'll show you how strong I've become!" The brown-haired boy yells and the two charged using magic attacks on the Risen.

"I...I need to go..." she gritted her teeth and about to join but someone suddenly grabbed her wrist.

"You are not going anywhere!" It was Aelfric.

The man was furious as his grip tightened and Arisa tried to pull her hand back.

"This world is perfect. Sitri is alive. Smiling, living. I give you the chance to be with your mother. Stay!" He roared and Arisa screamed as dark magic poured into her arm, the skin cracking and glowing red.

"Let go of her!" Aelfric turned and saw Sitri's hands glowing white.

"Let go of my daughter Aelfric!" Sitri roared and fired a Wind at him.

Unfortunately, he only swatted it away like it was a fly. Her eyes went wide as vines wrapped around her; her scream filled the air.

"Stop it!" Arisa yelled and quickly spun, despite her arm breaking like glass, and did a kick at him.

Aelfric growled as he was thrown back and surrounded them with Dark Spikes.

"No!" Sitri screamed and quickly hugged Arisa tightly to defend her.

The next sound they heard was the man's scream. Arisa's eyes went wide as a young man with blonde hair and azure eyes stood in front of her, holding a lance.

"I won't allow you to harm Arisa. Please Arisa, be strong." He smiled sadly at her and charged at Aelfric.

"You alright?" The two females turned as a light green light covered them.

A young woman with pink silver hair and gray colored eyes, tan skin, smiled softly to them.

"You should be okay now. Arisa, remember I am always here for you." She smiled and turned with murderous glare at Aelfric and lined at him like a wolf. A Risen roared and charged at them but was quickly cut down by a young man with brown colored hair, forest colored eyes and light tan skin. In his hand...he held..

"The Sword of the Creator..." Arisa gasped and the man chuckled.

"Yup. Wake up sis. Time to go home." He said and went to join the blonde man and tan woman. She couldn't move as she watched the battle, pain filled her body as memories poured in. She screamed and cried as everything played in her eyes. Who each person she met was. When she grew up. Her past life. Her students and especially...her father.

" This is a dream..."

"Arisa, we need to go!" Sitri pleaded as the two stood up.

"No...I can't!" Arisa yelled and turned to her, "I can't run! I have to help them!"

"Arisa, please! I don't want to lose you!" Sitri begged and Arisa shook her head as she took a step back.

Her lip quivered as tears fell from her eyes.

If you need me I'm here

I've been waiting for you

I still remember your voice

It's now become a part of me

"My friends...my students...they are all waiting for me." Arisa's voice shook as she took another step back.

"I must go back. I need them. They need me." She says as Sitri looked at her with wide eyes.

"Dad...brother...everyone..." she sobbed as Sitri took a step forward, "Everyone is fighting! Everyone is fighting to stop Aelfric! To stop this tragedy! Everyone is crying and doing their best!" She sobbed as she held her hands together.

And right now, I won't lie

Even if it's a mistake

I will repeat it again, again

"They're all calling to me! Me! Their Professor! Their friend! Me who is an idiot at times and a greedy woman! Me, who wants them all to be happy and has hidden so many things from them. They have helped me so much!" Arisa wailed.

So tell me the meaning of your tears, please now

So I can hold you tight

"I must go back! Not only for their sake! But for my own sake!" She yelled as Sitri cried.

"Sitri...the time I spent with you and everyone...I truly am happy. I got to talk to you. I got to laugh with you. We drank tea and ate sweets together. I will never forget these moments." Arisa sobbed as she smiled and Sitri held her hands despite the two were shaking.

Just tell me now

Please tell me now

Please, I still want to stay

Even if all the flowers here are fading away

"I'm sorry I held resentment towards you. I was so confused. But...I always wanted to meet you!" Arisa sobbed loudly, "I always wanted to see you smile! Spend time together with you! Talk, and so much more! But we can't...I have to go..." Arisa smiled despite how much she was crying.

Sitri sobbed as she gently caressed her cheek and nodded, a warm smile on her face.

"Thank you...Thank you..." Sitri sobbed as Arisa nodded, "I am so proud of you Arisa...my sweet daughter...you grew up so much..." she smiled as they placed their foreheads together.

"Thank you...I..am proud...to call you my mother...I love you...Mom.." Arisa sobbed loudly as Sitri nodded and let go of her hands.

And you found me today, that alone is all I'll need

Even if everything fades, even if time itself decays

It's all so shallow

No one's here anymore

But I can still feel you now, your touch

"Go. Go. Return back. Stop Aelfric. I love you...Arisa." Sitri sobbed and hugged her daughter one last time and let her go.

Arisa nodded as she turned and ran towards the group fighting.

So unwind your tight rope, just hear me out

So I can embrace you tight

[-]

The umberal beast roared as cracks suddenly began to form all over its body. Thrashing and roaring. Pittacus screamed and Serios cut off her arm that held the lance. She began to scream even more when red veins began appearing all over her body.

"Finally." Chris grunts as he uses another time pulse to save Edelgard and Linhardt from getting crushed by a fallen pillar.

One more left he had. His chest was bruised but he did care. The illusions of Arisa glowed once more and changed.

So just tell me now

Just tell me now

Why are you crying now?

Even if it's empty wish that's dying here

"There's the Arisa I know." Chris grinned as the illusions changed to Arisa.

Her forest colored hair and eyes. The damn dress and cloak she always wears. The illusion opened its eyes and tears could be seen falling as the remaining 5 ran up to the damn and started healing them.

"She's fighting...we're almost there!" Dimitri yelled and they charged once more with how greatly the beast was weakened.

Inside the beast, Arisa pulled the Sword of the Creator from her chest. Power flowing into it as each of her students nodded and jumped back.

"I'm coming home." Arisa smiled and raised her sword.

At the same time, outside, Chris raised his own sword, Sothis lending her power and used the last time pulse to enhance it.

Just tell me now

Please tell me now

And touch me now

Even if we can never go, I have to know!

"Thank you for giving birth to me mother. Goodbye." Arisa smiled softly and raised her sword.

"It's over!" Chris and Rhea roared at the same time as they unleashed their final attacks.

I don't wanna wake up from this sweet sweet dream 'cause

Oh, you were always there and I could be myself and smile beside you now Even if this is the final scene, and we end without a trace I know it's all right,

oh I know

Their eyes snapped open, mint green as power flowed in them. Their scream is war cry combined.

"RAPTURE HEAVEN!"

"WRATH OF SERIOS!"

Chris and Arisa roared as they unleashed their attack at the same time. While Rhea unleashed her own on Pittacus, destroying the Agarthan woman's body completely. Only leaving a pile of black blood. Arisa roared as her sword cut through the sky.

"I need more!" She thought as she gritted her teeth and gasped when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

Sitri smiled and nodded, sending the last of the magic to her daughter. Aelfric roared in horror as the sky shattered like glass. Outside, Chris and everyone's eyes went wide when they heard Arisa's voice yelling, she was coming home. Chris couldn't help but grin as he poured everything, he had in. The two siblings roared as the heart of the beast was destroyed and Aelfric destroyed altogether. The umberal beast roared as it fell to the tile floor, defeated. Its body turned to black mud, a pile of gunk. Everyone panted and cheered loudly as the illusions completely disappeared to a shower of green dust. Chris panted as his left eye turned back to gray and the other red. He began to fall, tired from everything, but was quickly caught by Jeralt, who gently helped him sit.

"Go...go...find them..." Chris coughed and Jeralt nodded.

"Byleth!" The man yelled and ran to the body, using his hands to dig through the black mud, searching for his wife and daughter.

"I'll help you!" The man looked up and saw it was Dimitri and nodded.

Edelgard and Dominic quickly went to Chris to help him, but the man only shook his head and pointed to the body. All the students ran and began digging through the black mud with their hands.

So just tell me now

Please tell me now

Why are you crying now?

I feel you everywhere, so I

I gotta tell you now

Gotta tell you now

Why am I crying now?

Even if I can never go, I have to know!

The man gasped as he found the familiar colors of white and olive. He quickly pulled them out and his eyes wide. Sitri held tightly her daughter in her arms as the girl held her back. Jeralt rarely cried. He showed his affections in small forms like patting his daughter's head, praising her, when he trained with her. But today..the man couldn't help but let all his emotions out as he held his daughter and wife in his arms. For the first time in ages, since the death of his wife, he wept as he held them in his arms. Both felt so cold. Now, he lost both. Sobs and cries came from the students as they could only watch in silence. Edelgard gritted her teeth in sorrow. Claude was silent as he looked down to the ground. Hilda, Constance, and Lestia were sobbing quietly. Linhardt, Hapi, and Balthus closed their eyes in silence and respect. Dominic couldn't move at all along with Amir. Alexandra cried silently, only letting her tears fall. Dimitri was shaking, the voices laughing and sneering his mind. He flinched when he felt a hand on his shoulder and saw it was Yuri, who shook his head. As for Rhea, she only looked down to the ground, guilty.

"Are you happy?"

The voice of her consciousness said, and Rhea did not have the will answer. However, Rhea turned to the puddle that was once Pittacus' body, and saw it bubbling. The woman narrowed her eyes as her left hand glowed with magic.

"You...you..." a voice suddenly spoke, and everyone quickly turned.

"YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!" A metallic looking heart size orb flew out of the mud and straight at Jeralt.

"No!" Chris and the others had far too many injuries to move and he was out of time pulses but, always expect the unexpected.

Pittacus screamed as she was suddenly kicked away like a soccer ball and warped away. Everyone stared with wide eyes as an illusion of Sitri let go of a sigh and turned to her husband. The man could look back and forth between the woman in front of him and the one in his arms.

"H-How..." he whispered and shook her head.

"I am merely the last of my will. I will fade in a few minutes." Sitri smiled sadly as she knelt and held the hand of her husband.

"I missed you..." Jeralt wept and she smiled sadly.

"I do too my love..." she whispered as the two looked at their daughter, "She just like you. Stubborn and strong. Yet gentle. You raised our daughter beautiful, my love. I'm proud of both of you." Sitri smiled as she wept.

She placed her hand on Arisa's forehead. The last of her power went into her. The girl gasped for air suddenly and began coughing. Gasp, sobs and cries of joy filled the place as Arisa opened her eyes. It took her a bit to wake up, but she smiled warmly as her mother and father came into her sight.

"Mom...Dad..." she whispered and the two hugged her tightly.

It was a bad time, but Alexandra had secretly photographed that moment. Claude had to keep himself from snickering because he caught her.

"I'm so proud of you...you have amazing friends that love and care for you. You are never alone. I love you...both of you..." Sitri wept as she began to fade, and her body began to turn to dust.

"I understand..." Jeralt smiled sadly as they shared one last kiss.

Rhea walked up and Sitri smiled sadly at her.

"Thank you mother...for saving my daughter." Sitri said and looked at each of the children.

"All of you, thank you. Please keep watching over her. She can be a bit stubborn sometimes but make sure to knock some sense into her." She says and Claude couldn't but snicker along with a few others.

The woman turned to Chris, who nodded as he took out a jade stone.

"Thank you Christian. Thank you." She smiled and turned to her family.

"Love you all...thank you." She smiled as she closed her eyes as the jade turned to dust.

Sitri's soul and her body faded away. Despite the short time Arisa spent with her mother, she was more than grateful for it. She looked around to everyone and to her father, who smiled warmly at her as she spoke her next words.

"I'm home dad. I'm home everyone."

Just tell me now

Please tell me now

I really need you here right now

All alone, like a flower withering away

I'm dreaming 'bout you every night

But you're not by my side I need you,

I need you right here

Chapter 51: Bloody Grail: Part 5: Peace: End

[-]

Songs:

The soldier, poet and king: The Oh Hellos

Tell me: Milet

The Edge of Dawn: Caro

This Silence is Mine: Drakengard 3

And we are done! This chapter was honestly an emotional roller coaster for me while I was writing it. Arisa has finally found the closure she needed as well as Jeralt. Of course, he still doesn't trust Rhea because she knows she left something out when she explained why Sitri passed away. Sandy and the others will learn of what happened. Next chapter will be the aftermath as well as the setting for upcoming chapters. The next arc will start when we reach the time skip. That Arc will be about what took place during those five years.

Also, for future chapters on ahead, some of them will have diary entries. I won't say who wrote them because I do believe you guys can figure out by just reading them. We'll also be going more into the lore of the anti-magic clan as well as a few others. So, look forward to that. Lastly, one of my friends asked me this:

"Will your story have a beach episode?"

(Laughs like a maniac) Like all anime and manga, and video games, yes, this story will have a beach episode to look forward to some "sinful" things in either the middle of June of the beginning of July.