Betrayal.
Betrayal.
It was betrayal after betrayal.
The events of the Holy Tomb chase chaos all over the monastery. When the doors that led them back to the monastery opened, Jeralt felt his heart shatter seeing his daughter singed, as if she was set on fire. Pale, sickly, her hair dirty and covered in grime. He didn't even have time to think when Manuela, Mercedes, Balthus, Marianne, and Linhardt ran past him with his daughter in Balthus's arms. Crescent came in roaring furiously at Rhea as the woman dragged her feet with her head hung down. He didn't know what language the man was screaming in but it was clear he had to be held back by Catherine, Anna, and Seteth before he did something he would regret. The grim atmosphere and look of furious insanity in Dimitri's eyes confirmed that something terrible had happened. The blood-red eyes Lestia had from crying, the way the Black Eagles hung their heads, Chris, looking defeated as he such sat at the nearest place and hung his head...
Betrayal.
It was a betrayal.
He couldn't move. All he could do was watch as the students were ordered to return to their rooms and the ones injured were taken to the infirmary. He wanted to be by his children's side. Chris, Amir, Alexandra, and Arisa. He wanted to comfort them and be by their side. But Manuela had kicked him out of the infirmary but reassured him that they would make sure his daughter lived. Rhea had disappeared and locked herself in her room. Crescent was cursing at her door non-stop but he stopped to go tend to The Ashen Wolves. For now, for the Black Eagles' safety, he had them come to Abyss. He worried Rhea would do something to them.
Then the news came to him what had happened.
Edelgard revealed herself to be The Flame Emperor and all the students could do was fight back to survive. They watched the peaceful life they had crumbled before their eyes as Edelgard's, Hubert's, and Henry's betrayal came to light. The academy no longer felt welcoming, and it was revealed that those like Kronya, Solon, and Edelgard - kind, reckless, sweet, passionate, rebellious- had infiltrated the monastery with dark intentions. Jeralt sat out inside the infirmary where he remained silent, thinking about how he should have just grabbed everyone in Remire village and left Fodlan all together. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves when in his sight, ribbons of pink, gold, and white appeared before him in a ghostly form. His eyes widened as before he stood a young girl with pointy ears, long spiky dark green hair and the dress and ornaments she wore was the same one his daughter wore earlier that day.
He didn't know what to say or speak as the young spirit girl looked down at him. She opened and closed her mouth as if struggling to speak.
"Who are you?" Jeralt whispered and the girl smiled sadly.
"I am...the spirit that has been contracted to your daughter since the day she was born. Before, I used to serve your wife, Sitri." The girl said and looked back to her door, "I'm sorry...I truly am. I wish I could have done more to prevent this tragedy." She whispered and Jeralt smiled sadly as he closed his eyes.
"No...it's not your fault. I've...had a funny feeling you felt familiar." He said and the girl's eyes widened, "There were times Florencio, Sandana, Sitri and I felt like there was someone else with us. That we would feel their warmth embrace us and comfort us during the darkest of times. We couldn't see you...but we felt you were there." He sighed and looked up, seeing the girl was crying, "I guess what I'm trying to say is..thank you for watching over us." He and Sothis broke.
The girl wept and wept, for so long she waited to be seen, and now here she was. Jeralt smiled sadly and looked back to the door.
"Will she make it?" He asked and Sothis wiped her tears, looking at him, and nodded.
"I will make sure she does."
[—]
"Oh...this stings!" Arisa gritted her teeth as she was helped to get into the herbal bath that was prepared for her, "Urgh!" She clenched her teeth, her hands balled into a fist as she felt the stinging effects of the medical herbs in the water.
Tears fell as Mercedes was on her left and Manuela on her right, both holding her by the arms to make sure she didn't drown.
"Breath...Deep breaths." Manuela said as the woman nodded her head quickly, "This going to sting. Mercedes, have her bite the towel." She said and Mercedes put the towel in Arisa's mouth so she would not bite her younger off.
"Just hold a bit longer, Professor," Marianne said as she, Lysithea, and Annette placed their hand and the water and used Recover, Heal, and Restore.
"AAAMMMMMMMHHHHHHH!" Had it not been for the towel Arisa was biting, her scream would have scared the living daylights out of everyone in the monastery.
Her muffled scream and with Flayn holding her from behind to keep her from thrashing around. It was hell. Her wounds were healing at a much slower rate, yet in some way, Arisa felt numb.
"How is she doing?"
In a shower of green dust, Sothis appeared before them but only Mercedes, Lysithea, and Flayn could see her. Lysithea nearly screamed when Flayn reassured her that the spirit was an ally and also was the one that was contracted to Arisa. Hymn, the little fairy that was contracted to Mercedes, cheered happily seeing Sothis and quickly flows up to her, nuzzling her cheek.
"Big Sis! Big Sis! You're back!" Hymn squealed and kissed her cheeks.
"...I wasn't imagining things." Mercedes sighed as she smiled sadly at the girl, "You're Sothi. This is your true form...isn't it?" She said and Marianne, Manuela, and Annette were confused.
"I'm glad we can finally meet properly." Sothis smiled sadly and said the others along with Flayn jumped.
"Did I just hear the voice of a little girl?" Annette said and Arisa chuckled as Mercedes removed the towel from her mouth, "No...You're not imagining things." Arisa hoarsely said.
"I'm sorry, but you all lost me. Are you kids seeing something I can't see?" Manuela said and they nodded, "Oh...Is a spirit here? Is this a thing only those with Crest can see and hear?" The woman asked.
"Actually...Even I'm confused..." Arisa said and tried to sit properly but Sothis floated down and gently pushed her back.
"Do not get up. I will explain everything once you are healed. For now, girls, please make sure she gets some proper rest. And...also hide the alcohol from her." Sothis said and Mercedes's smile suddenly terrified Arisa.
"Um...I don't mean to be rude Miss spirit, but what should we call you?" Annette said and Sothis giggled, patting her head.
"Just call me Sirius."
[—-]
He made it on time.
Chris made it on time before Dimitri and Lestia raided Edelgard's room. The brownies were shivering, terrified but they refused to move from their spot in front of the Emperor's room. Sylvain, Ingrid, Dedue, and Sadi tried to speak reason to the twins, but the anger that filled them refused to make them listen. Felix gritted his teeth as his hands were balled into a fist as he watched the four try to make the twins back away. Bernadetta was by his side, terrified. But the sound of footsteps made them all turn to see Chris stop.
"Return to your rooms. Now." He said and nodded to the brownies to reassure them that everything would be alright.
"Make us." The twins spat and Chris raised his hand a bit and...
SSSKKKREEEEEEEE!
Lighting filled his hand, making the twins quickly step back as did the others. The brownies ran for their lives and those in their dorms came out to see what was going on. But just seeing Dimitri and Lestia, they quickly went back to the rooms and slammed the doors shut except for those like Claude, Hilda, Ferdinand, and Dorothea.
"Did you just threaten us?" Lesti laughed coldly, "You knew...You and Arisa knew who the Flame Emperor was." She said and Chris looked at her with an emotionless expression.
The man turned to the door and spoke.
"I will not deny it. We knew." He said and Dimitri was about to speak but, "However, it's not what you think. Arisa and I figured it out during the attack of The Holy Tomb based on how the Flame Emperor moved in battle." He said and placed his hand on the doorknob.
"Oh, so it just so happened that you knew Edelgard's body language?" Dimitri scoffed, "Such a poor excuse."
"Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd." Chris's tone made the two flinch, "If you lived long enough as we have." Chris briefly looked at them, "You will learn to read your enemy." And he opened the door, "Claude and Ferdinand, you two can come in. Sylvain as well. The rest of you, leave." He said and the door opened.
Two quick walked in along with Sylvain.
"Aye, what the hell?! What about us?!" Lestia growled and Chris fully turned to them.
The two felt their heart stop seeing just how red his eyes were as well as the howl smile on his face. The dark circles have grown under his eyes from the few days that had passed. But it was his eyes that made them stop breathing. He wasn't wearing his eyepatch, he wasn't hiding his ghoul's eye.
"Please...just go you two. Just go." He said that he closed the door, leaving them to their tense silence.
[—-]
"So she did it. She really did it, didn't she? The lords and dukes of both the Kingdom and the Alliance have been called out, and now have to choose between the Church and the Empire. The seed of conflict was always there, and now we find ourselves in the middle of a war that will tear Fódlan in two." Claude muttered as they looked around the room.
"Half of the Empire's six great noble families have declared their support for Edelgard. Of the other three, Lord Vestra was assassinated. Hubert, his son, will succeed him. Bernadetta's father, Count Varley, was sent to The Narrows. His wife is now supporting Edelgard. And my father...he was stripped of his role as prime minister. As a result, House Aegir has lost all of its power, all of its lands. As for Count Zika, Urus, and Duchess Marry...They are currently being forced to support the Empire." Ferdinand sighed, "Lestia told me that Henry protected her and Dimitri from Hubert. It seems his family is being held, hostage." He said.
Edelgard's room was just like the others except for the banner of the black eagles hung on her wall as well as papers pinned. The drawers still had her belongings such as clothing and her uniforms but nothing worth value. Chris walked over to the old mirror and stared at it. This room used to be his in the past before he was made to leave it because of the insurrection.
"Things must be pretty crazy in Faerghus about now. My father must be beside himself. I don't get it. Why did Edelgard make enemies with the nobles?" Sylvain muttered and Chris spoke.
"I have an idea why." He said and punched the mirror, scaring the life out of the three and the shattered mirror revealed an old passage.
"I'll be damn...So this is how the soldiers managed to sneak in." Claude said and Chris knelt, placing his hand on the floor.
"No. This passageway leads to a flower field in the forest. Also, it's big enough for only one person to walk through." He said and muttered a spell, causing the rock to grow and seal away the passage, "Now, in case they try to sneak in, they won't be able to." He said.
"Christian, now that's we're...technically alone." Not really, he was pretty sure everyone could hear them because of the thin walls, "Just how did you and Arisa figure out The Flame Emperor was Edelgard?" Claude said Chris walked over to a certain shelf and found a wooden box.
He ignored Claude for a moment and opened it, his eyes sadden seeing the pile of letters in it.
"Christian?" Ferdinand said, the three walked closer as they saw him open a letter and Chris sighed, handing it to him.
Ferdinand carefully took it and began to read it.
"Dear brother," He began, "I may not be able to send you a letter as you do to me, but I hope you are safe."
It has been difficult not to snap at the seven lords as well as speak back to Count Aegir when he speaks your name. Chris, I worry about the future and I wish you were here by my side. The time has come for me to take a step toward the future. Loathly ambitions that were corrupted through time will be cleansed when I take the throne. The nobles that ordered the deaths of our mothers and siblings will be judged. Count Vestra who sold his daughter to the Agarthans will be taken down. Count Aegir who ordered our siblings to be experimented on will pay. The Church of Serios only watched from the sidelines and refused to do anything and stopped progress. They even said the reason our siblings were dying was that we have strayed from the teachings of the Goddess and their deaths were divine punishment. And finally, Rhea, who is the beast that has ruled Fodlan in tyranny, will fall.
"If you somehow find this letter, I hope you come stand by my side and help me create new dawn. For the future of Fodlan...Edelgard von Hersvelg." Ferdinand said as he slowly put down the letter and sat down on the bed.
"M-My father ordered the imperial family to be killed?" Ferdinand could barely breathe and comprehend what he had just read as Chris leaned against the wall with a clenched fist, taking deep breaths to calm him.
"So I was right..." Claude muttered, "Chris von Hersvelg is alive as well as...Gina von Vestra."
"Excuse me what?" Sylvain suddenly said, "Claude have you been investigating behind everyone's back? What do you mean Gina and Chris are alive?!" He said as he and Ferdinand also demanded an explanation.
"Ask the one that serves them." He said and the three looked back at Chris, who was still against the wall, gritting his teeth.
"You knew..." Sylvain said, "You serve Chris and Gina...You knew they are alive." He gritted his teeth, "Did the Professor, Alexandra, and Amir know as well?" Chris remained silent, "Answer me!"
"I made a contract." Chris spat as he turned to them fully, "I can not tell you anything."
"At least tell us that they are alive!"
"...They are." Chris said, "But they do not support Edelgard. They will be going against her. That's all I can say." He said and took the letter back and picked up the box, "Let's get out of here. I doubt there is anything else." He sighed and they all left.
But the ones that were outside the door earlier were still there. Felix, Ingrid, Lestia, and Dimitri were looking at him angrily and all Chris did was turn to leave but stopped for a moment.
"You can see His Highness tonight as well as Gina." He said and they looked at him shocked, "Under the bridge that leads to the cathedral. He'll meet you all there." And with that, he left.
Late A Night-
"Is this the place?" Lestia whispered as they wore their hood, "Sadi, and Dedue, you two didn't need to come with us." She said the two shook their heads.
"We would go with you even if you didn't want us." Sadi huffed as Dimitri smiled softly.
They walked carefully through the shadows with help of Sadi. It felt so strange to walk in total darkness yet they didn't feel like they were in danger. They could hear whispers and child-like voices till they saw a faint light. In just a few minutes they were under the bridge. The moon's rays shone down on and the monastery had never looked so far away. They gulped and wait…waited…who knows how long it took but they finally heard the activation of a magic circle. Hues of green and blue, human figures formed from dust, and it stepped out two individuals dressed in black robes and wearing wyvern masks.
"They should be here." The tall one, a man, his voice was distorted, "Are they late?"
"No. We're not."
The short one, a woman, quickly stood in front of Chris and summoned two charkarms in her hands. From the shadows walked out the four and the woman gasped, taking a step back and making her weapons turn to dust. The silence was tense, they were 10 feet apart but now…Lestia's lips quivered seeing them.
"Chris? Gina? Is it really you?" Dimitri said the two individuals remained silent and right when the twins were going to run to them.
"Stay where you are." Chris said, "Our meeting is only for a short while but I am glad to see you both are well. Dedue, and Sadi, correct?" the two retainers nodded, "Thank you for being by their sides."
"Chris, we have to go," Gina said, her voice distorted.
"Wait! Please!" Lestia yelled, "What happened?! How did you two survive? Are you planning to fight Edelgard?!" she said Chris was silent and nodded.
"I have every intention of fighting Edelgard as well as stopping the Agarthans." He sad and raised his hand.
In their hands appeared two folders with papers.
"One is for Ferdinand. The other is for you two. Once reading it, give yours to Zander. That's all. Goodbye." He said and before any could make a move, they were gone.
They had so many questions but for now, they would do as they were told. They went back to their doors and handed the folder to their friend. Ferdinand was confused but nodded.
Ferdinand did not sleep that night after reading the horrifying information about what his father and the seventh nobles had done to Edelgard and her family.
[-]
"Oh, Sothis! I am so happy to see you again!" Arisa wept as they finally had privacy.
"I missed you too." Sothis wept.
"How? How are you back?" Arisa asked as the goddess sighed as the woman sat on her bed.
"I don't know how but Rhea's spell awaken me. I don't know how to explain but when a divine being passes away, they never truly die. They can live once again but in a different form. Rhea must have modified her resurrection spell to bring forth my soul." Sothis explained and her expression became cold.
"I remember now. I forbade necromancy to be used to bring me back. I forbade all of Nabatea to not attempt to resurrect me. But now looking back, degeneration is not the only thing that can cause a dragon to descend to madness and lose control of their faculties..." she said.
"Despair."
Arisa muttered softly as she looked at her hands.
"Something not physical, but mental. Something that festers when left alone: despair." Arisa understood that feeling very well, "Once the seed takes root, despair can bloom into a crushing oppressive force if given the time to flourish." She muttered for a moment, she felt a cold rush of air go down her body.
The memories of her old life were blurs but she will always remember how much she hated being in the white rooms of hospitals. She will never forget the despair she fell into when she learned her disease came back. Perhaps she and Rhea were similar in many ways. Arisa understood her pain of losing a loved one and wanting them back but….
"I know I may sound like a hypocrite but…I don't think I can forgive Rhea for what she attempted today…" Arisa whispered as she hugged herself tightly, "I felt like I was being ripped apart. I felt like someone was trying to drown me. No, it felt like multiple hands just grabbed me and tried to drown me. It felt like someone kept stabbing and cutting me…" That moment felt like it made her relive the pain of old the surgeries she had in her past life.
"I'm sorry…I just…I can't…I'm sorry. I don't think our relationship can be saved!" Arisa cried and Sothis hugged her tightly as the woman wept.
"It's alright...don't force yourself…."
— Three days later -
Arisa finally had enough strength to walk despite the amount of protest she had received. Sothis urged her to rest but Arisa refused to listen since there was a war meeting going on without her. She cut her hair and wore the dress of a warlock to help her move around easier. She arrived at the audience room and the first thing she heard was...
"Unforgivable! I cannot believe that the Adrestian Empire would embark on such a violent course of action!"
Rhea's roar already made her want to leave. But when she walked in, she saw Catherine, Seteth, Crescent, Anna, Alois, Shamir, Cecilia, Alm, Jeralt, and the remaining house leaders along with Petra. Manuela, Gilbert, Xina, and Hanneman were also present. Amir, Alexandra, and Chris were there as well and Jeralt had quickly come to her side.
"Kid, what are you doing here?" He said and Arisa smiled weakly, "You should be resting."
"No. I have to be here." She said and helped to the war table and sit down.
"Granddaughter, you should be resting." Rhea crooned but Arisa's glare was cold, making her heart stop.
"I don't EVER want to hear you all me Granddaughter. My name is Arisa and that is that. You will address me as Professor, that is all." Arisa said coldly and Rhea froze, unable to form a word at what had just happened.
"About time." Crescent snorted and got a light smack on his shoulder by Anna.
"We shall discuss this, later..." Rhea hissed and Seteth coughed, breaking the tension.
"The fault is my own. I failed to see the wickedness within Edelgard's heart." Seteth sighed and Chris spoke.
"I don't think she is wicked." She said and Rhea looked at him angrily as Seteth looked at him with a disproving gaze.
"She plotted with ill-meaning strangers to achieve her own ambitions and defiled the Holy Tomb. If that is not wicked, what is?" Seteth said and Chris took a deep breath.
"Yes, what she did raiding the Holy Tomb is wrong. Also, the people she is working with are The Agarthans." He said, "I am not trying to defend her but...at the same time the reasons for her war make sense if you think about it. I agree with the idea that the church needs to be held accountable for its crimes and corruption but I do not agree with her methods. Edelgard believes that declaring war, was the only solution to do it quickly. But conquering all of Fodlan will not solve the problem." He said and looked at Rhea, "Also, let's take into account that we learned that Rhea locked up her son and erased his memories because he was going to tell Jeralt the truth about the birth of his daughter." He said and Rhea turned red.
"You did what to the boy?!" Jeralt yelled, "That explains why he kept avoiding me..." he muttered and Rhea took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
"Or perhaps her ambitions are even grander than we know. Perhaps she is planning to make herself a false deity by demonizing the Church of Seiros..." Seteth and Alexandra grimaced.
"I highly doubt that." She said, "Edelgard believes that when humanity stands strong and people reach out for each other, there's no need for gods." Alexandra said and she let go a small sigh, "And...in a way she is correct. There will be a time when humanity must stand on its own. This has been proven many times before." She said and shivered seeing Rhea glaring at her.
"Arisa, I know you're tempted to speak about the story of Mila and Duma but now is not the best time," Sothis said in her mind and Arisa let go of a sigh.
"We're getting off-topic." The woman said as everyone looked back at her, "Shamir.., how much time do we have till The Imperial Army arrives?"
"...Three Weeks. Their main troops are marching towards Garreg Mach. It is said that they will join forces with Edelgard's army and arrive within three weeks." Shamir said and Rhea slammed her hands on the table.
"Three weeks? That is not enough time! It will require all of our efforts just to prepare our defenses before then. We must send notice to all surrounding villages at once. We must order the residents of Garreg Mach to flee for their lives. Shamir, Catherine, Alm, and Celica, your team will be in charge of this." Seteth said and the four nodded.
"It will be done!" They saluted and left.
"Granddaughter..." Rhea spoke softly and Arisa took a deep breath to keep herself from snapping, "...listen closely. If our enemy invades the monastery, I will have no choice but to stand on the battlefield. If something happens to me...I am entrusting my sacred duties to you." She said and Arisa's nostrils flared.
"Rhea, you are trying to push the role of Archbishop onto me?" She said and the woman nodded, smiling.
"You must have guessed it by now. The truth of who you are. Or perhaps I should say, your lost memories are surely beginning to return. I have acted all these long years as a mere proxy for you. But the duty is yours and yours alone. Only you can lead the people of Fód-"
"I REFUSE!"
And Arisa finally stood up, breathing hard as she gritted her teeth, her hair standing up like a cat.
"Granddaughter, this is a role that you must take!" Rhea hissed, "Do you have any idea of the power you inherited?! It is only natural that you take on the role of Archbishop of The Church of Serios!" She yelled.
"No, it is not! You have kept pushing your agenda since the day I was born! I am not fit to be Archbishop! I am not fit to rule Fodlan! The Goddess did not give me her power so you can use me as your substitute!" Arisa yelled back, "Fodlan has many amazing leaders! Dimitri, Lestia, Claude, Yuri, Alexandra, Christian, Amir, my father! There are many more out there! The rulers of the nations, The Church of Serios could have worked with them to put down Those Who Slither in the Dark! We could have worked together despite everything! Yes, we have our differences! Yes, we have our ideas but at the end of it all, all we want is a better future!" Arisa said as she looked Rhea straight in the eyes.
"Yet you, have been holding back progress. Silencing anyone that dared speak out or point their blade! You have been in denial of Those Who Slither in the Dark, that the Agarthans, the Sages have returned and you did nothing! Instead, you declared people like Sophia's grandfather heretics. You banished Shade who was an amazing professor and saw the true potential in the students! You burned books that had history recorded as well as tried to control what Holy Magus do by using the Holy Magus system! You tried to silence your own family! You tried to keep Flayn from coming with us to the Holy Tomb because you didn't want her to interfere with whatever ritual you were trying to do!" Arisa gasped, trying to catch her breath after screaming so much.
Her throat hurt. Her lungs burned. But she didn't care she saw Rhea was shaking, gritting her teeth as she tried to catch her breath.
"You never loved me. You never cared for me. You never saw me as me. You never saw anyone here as a friend or loved one. Edelgard made an enemy of the church. The people who run it. People like you." Arisa growled, her hand turned to claws and she bared her teeth, "Florencio died stopping Solon. Sandana died killing Kronya, Periander, and leavening Thales beyond repair. Claude risked his life to find the truth. Yuri risked his life to stop Aelfric. Lestia endured the burden of her crest and rose to the top. Dimitri swore to bring justice down on the ones who killed our loved ones." She paused, taking a deep breath before she continued, "My mother gave her life for me to breathe. My father threw away his title to raise me. Petra, despite being a prisoner of war, learned and grew to expand her knowledge to become an amazing leader. Alexandra and Christian suffered the consequences of The Crest System you created yet they endured and continued to move forward. Amir, despite tragedy, stood up from the darkness and walked. Flayn, who chose to no longer live shielded, took a stand against everyone who told her to close her eyes. Seteth, who used to watch, has had enough and will no longer stand by the sidelines. Crescent, who lost it all, chose to stand tall not only for his sake but for those he loves. Beleth even chose to fight because he will no longer remain silent." She said as she felt all eyes on her and finally looked at Rhea.
"And me...I chose to keep on moving forward. To fight for all that is beautiful in this world. To end the story the way I want. A happy ending for all. Sothis trusted me with her power and I made I promise that I would protect everyone we love." She said and looked at everyone one by one except Rhea, "If you can't take no for an answer, then I pity you. Because you can't see what is before you." She said.
"I see..." Rhea took a deep breath, and turned her back to her, "You're just a failure as well." And Arisa stormed out of the room before she unleashed hell on the woman.
"Everyone, let's go. We've had enough." Jeralt spat as the students and his kids left the room but stopped and looked at Rhea coldly, "Now I understand why your relationship with Sitri was strained." And away he left.
The door slammed closed, echoing all around as Crescent let out a bitter chuckle.
"She really is one of us. Mother would be proud." He said.
[—-]
"Kid, I'm proud of you." Jeralt said as his daughter laid on her bed, her face buried in her pillow, "That's the first time I have ever heard you stand up for yourself against her. Well, there was months ago." He said as he sat beside her.
"Well, it's something Rhea needed to hear." Sothis said as she sat on top of the bedboard, "But her calling Arisa a failure because she didn't meet her expectations is wrong." She sighed, "Arisa, rest. I'll go see how the others are doing."
"How many can see you?" Arisa muttered softly as she turned towards her father and looked out to Sothis, hugging her pillow.
"Well, your father can see me now. As of now, only Mercedes, Lysithea, Balthus, Constance, and Bernadetta can see me. The rest can only hear me." Sothis said as another sigh left her lips, "I will inform you only those with a crest can see or hear me. As of now, I dare not let Rhea see or hear me because she would go insane at the sight of me." She said as Jeralt raised an eyebrow.
"Are you two related?" He asked and Sothis cringed but nodded.
"She's...My granddaughter's daughter's daughter." Arisa cringed at how Sothis said that.
Well...it was better than nothing.
"Have you spoken to the others?" Jeralt asked his daughter, "Arisa, will you tell me what happened down there?" He said and his pleading eyes made her weak.
"Dad...have you ever felt that Rhea never loved mom or me? As if...her love wasn't for us, but someone else? That she was looking for someone else within us?" She muttered and Jeralt looked at her sadly.
"Let me tell you a story about my group and me from back in the day." Jeralt said as Sothis laid next to Arisa to listen, "Years ago, when your mother snuck out of the monastery, Rhea went ballistic. Nearly turned Fodlan upside had Cherche not tracked us down and made your mother write a letter to her. Rhea demanded she return but your mom's best friend forged her writing and said that the journey back would take a year and a half because of the mission she gave me, Sandana, and Florencio. Cherche joined as well as Anna's mother, Anna Ray." He said, smiling fondly at the memories.
"Our first mission took place in The Alliance, where we took down a group of unknown mages who were trafficking people. Looking back, it was most likely the Agarthans." Jeralt sighed, "We ended up cornering them in The Forest of Never-Ending Forst. There, we entered an old temple and fought them. One of them used a strange staff. Your mother felt drawn to it and during the battle, she managed to her hold on to it and unleashed its powers on the enemies. Sigh...By the gods, I swear I thought the Goddess had come down before us when your mother held up the staff in the air. It was the most beautiful sight in the world and during that fight, I fell to my knees and just said, "Marry me." He sighed in bliss remembering it well.
There were bodies of the enemies all over the floor as well as the group fighting off enemies. Sitri in all her might had grabbed the strange a lance and unleashed its power. The Holy light burned away the enemies, the light around her made it look like a halo. At that moment, Jeralt felt as if the goddess had descended before him. He fell to his knees and just proposed right there.
"Pppffff...Hahahahahaha!" Arisa burst out laughing and he glared at his daughter, "Are you making fun of me?!"
"No! No!" Arisa laughed as she wiped a tear, "I'm just wondering how it's so natural for Faerghus men to be so romantic!" She said and Jeralt gawked.
"Romantic—-Did the prince pull a similar stunt?!" Jeralt said, ready to get his lance to take down the prince.
"No! No! Goodness no, Pa!" Arisa laughed as Sothis was howling, "Dimitri's form of romance is a bit shyer but I still love him." She grinned and it dawned on her that she just outright confessed that she loves Dimitri in front of her father, "I-I-I mean!"
Sothis was glad she undid the sound barrier that was on the wall that separated Arisa's rooms and Dedue's because as of now...The Faerghus five, Dedue, and Sadi were in there and are currently hearing...everything. Arisa had gotten so used to no one hearing her speak loudly in her room that she didn't notice how loud she could talk at times. In this case, Sothis decided to take advantage of it so the prince could hear her. It was honestly needed.
"I-I mean!" Arisa frantically tried to take it back but too late, Jeralt looked at her with a questioning gaze, "Please don't kill him."
"No, I won't." the prince let go a sigh of relief hearing that, "He'll have to defeat me in a traditional Faerghus duel to have your hand in marriage. And if he and his group of friends try to pull the silver love spoon on us," Jeralt pulled out his dagger and pointed it up, "the company will show no mercy."
"Oh, Dimitri!" Sylvain was howling as he used Felix as support, "You are so screwed! Hahahaha!" The man laughed as the prince just buried his face in the pillow Dedue gave him as Lestia was screaming into the one Sadi gave her.
"Dad...isn't that too much?" Arisa chuckled nervously.
"Listen, kid," Jeralt pointed, "I don't give a damn if he is Lambert's and Durandal's boy. He's still Rufus's nephew and I ain't about to see your heart broken by some rich boy. He'll have to prove to me he's worth the same way his ancestors did. A Faerghus Duel." He said and Sothis lost it at this point.
Her stomach was hurting from laughing so much.
"Not just him, Lambert's Oldest boy and Tiana's son are going to have to go against me too. Well, The Reigan boy is going to have to get past Rensen. And I'll tell you, Rensen maybe a blacksmith but there's a reason Alexander had him as his right-hand man." Jeralt grinned wickedly as now the Faerghus five feared for the Blaiddyd and Reigan bloodline.
"Oh, Dad." Arisa chuckled, "I love you too. But, if they do go against you, please don't go too hard on them." She said and pulled out her puppy dog eyes.
"Kid, even if doe eyes me, I'm showing no mercy."
[-]
The cold breeze of winter still lingered in the air during the night. Spring was close but there was still plenty of snow. Arisa breath into her hands to warm them up as she walked around the monastery. It had been a few days since her argument with Rhea and it seems both have cooled off enough. As she walked, she could hear grunting and huffing on the training grounds. She walked, making sure not to make a sound, and carefully went in. There, moving his lance quickly with his left hand and well as trying to channel lightning magic into his right, was Dimitri.
Left, right, the cold expression on his face made her shudder as she watched him thrust his lance. She smiled softly as she leaned on the wall. The boy suddenly stopped and turned her way, pointing his lance. But once he saw it was her, his eyes widened, and put his lance down.
"Arisa, you're awake." He said and she smiled softly, "You should return to your room. You are still recovering." He said as he walked up to her and placed his cape on her.
"A few walks won't kill me." She sighed and looked at him, "But your words back at you." She said, gently tracing her thumb under his eye, "You haven't slept."
"How can I...with everything that is going on...That woman's betrayal...finally being able to see Chris and Gina...How can I rest with everything that has happened and what we have learned?" He said and rested his forehead on her.
His left arm wrapped around her waist as his right hand cupped her cheek, he closed his eyes taking deep breaths.
"I missed you, I missed you. I thought I lost you." He said and took her lips, kissing her deeply.
It was their moment. No one was present. Not one was watching. They could hold each other tightly. Kiss without being judged. His hands held her cheeks as he nipped her lips, her hands tangled in his hair, nails digging just a bit into his scalp. He licked her lips, asking permission to let him in.
She did.
Arisa melted into his kiss, feeling his hand roam her back as she held onto his shoulders for dear life. Dimitri swirled his tongue around hers before gently sucking. A breath they needed to catch, breaking apart with a string of saliva connecting. Their breaths mingled together, both trying to catch their breath.
"That was...You're bold." She giggled softly as the man smiled.
"I'm just thankful to the goddess that you are alive but..." his gaze hardened, looking at her seriously, "We need to talk."
"I knew this day would come." Arisa thought and nodded as they came apart.
"Did Beleth speak the truth? That Rhea did something to you when you were an infant? And...did you know Edelgard was the Flame Emperor? I want to hear it from you, not anyone else. And..." he took a deep breath, "how long have you known about Those Who Slither in the Dark?" He said as they sat down at a bench.
"No more riddles. No more stories. I want to know why you hid all this." He said as Arisa nodded her head.
She let out a shuttered breath, trying to calm her nerves.
"I...learned about Those Who Slither in the Dark when...I saved Alexandra." She said and held out her hand, manifesting the USB flash drive, "This device is called a USB flash drive. It can store the information of an entire Libary." She said and the prince looked at her like she had gone crazy.
"I am not lying." Arisa said and this time manifested the tablet Florencio gave her, "This is a tablet. This can communicate, type, play music, and many other functions. But the point is, Alexandra, Amir, Chris and I have been fighting the Agarthans since we were young. And...my aunt and uncle as well." She sighed, "We've been fighting them for so long and when we discovered what they were planning something in Duscur, we tried to find out what it was and prevent it. The problem was...we didn't know when." She said as he looked at her shocked.
"You tried to prevent The Tragedy of Ducur..." he whispered as Arisa smiled bitterly, "That...explains why you gifted us those jewelry pieces years ago." He said.
"But we arrived too late. You witness what happened and the toll it took on me and the others." She said.
"As for your question on Edelgard, we did find out about her identity during the battle. We had our suspicions before but we couldn't confirm them. So, I had two plans. The first one was to investigate and observe her. And...I was hoping she would open up to me." She closed her eyes and smiled sadly.
"I'm the end, she became close to Chris but still chose the path she did. I do agree with Edelgard that the Church needs to be held accountable for its crimes as well as Rhea needs to step down. But what I do not agree with is that she believes whatever false history The Agarthans told her. And..." she sighed again and glanced at the prince that had an unreadable expression.
"War. Edelgard could have worked with all of you. She could have told you her plans of wanting to change Fodlan for the better. You all have similar ideals but have different methods of achieving them. For Edelgard...she believes war is the quickest way." Arisa sighed again as she leaned back on the bench and looked up to the sky.
"Chris was right about you." Dimitri said and Arisa smiled sadly and closed her eyes again, "You're a fool who didn't think about the consequences of your actions." Arisa snorted, "I've been told that my whole life. The consequences are finally coming to hit me back." She said.
"Everything comes at a cost. And if you aspire to things that most could never dream of, then naturally, there will be an unimaginable price to pay." Dimitri said then sighed as he had her turn towards him and rest his forehead on hers, "If you chose to give up your stance on something once, you'll have to compromise for the rest of your life." He closed his eyes and gently caressed her cheeks.
"My father told me these words years ago. I'm still conflicted about your actions but I trust you. I know you wouldn't betray me. I still have a feeling you are hiding something but I won't push it. Not now...and..." he smiled softly as they opened their eyes and looked at each other with loving gazes, "Like before...I hope one day you will tell me." He said and she smiled softly.
"I'll take you back to your room."
[—-]
Arisa smiled softly as she waved goodbye to Dimitri and turned to the right to walk the path that led to her room but...
"Just like Michelle."
"Whoa!" Arisa jumped from where she stood and turned to see Rhea of all people in front of The Black Eagle Classroom, "Rhea?"
The woman did not turn to face her but looked at the Black Eagle banner with void eyes. The Archbishop bishop turned her head towards her for a bit before looking back at the banner.
"1000 years ago, The Immuclante One formed a blood pact with Wilhelm I and Saint Serios. Together with her warriors, they founded the Adrestian Empire. To think such bonds were broken by Wilhelm's brethren..." the woman turned away from the banner as if it was poison, "I am surprised you are awake at this hour. Seems you and the Prince are getting along." She said and Arisa spoke lowly.
"His name is Dimitri. And he is my student and friend." She said and Rhea nodded softly before she walked past her.
"Come. We should talk elsewhere than out here. The cold is not for us that descend from The Dragon Kin." She said and Arisa sighed.
"Hopefully this doesn't end in a screaming match again. And Sothis is fast asleep at least." She thought and followed Rhea.
[—-]
Rhea's room, also known as the Archbishop's room was simple and lovely. The stained glass window of the goddess had a small shrine of lilies as well as a small wooden box filled with different colored stones. The bedsheets were the finesses and whitest of silks and pillows made of the softest cotton. A wardrobe made of maple wood with a carving of hearts and potted plants hung from the ceilings. But the scent of wisterias and lilies filled the room as candles burned. Rhea placed a cup of tea in front of Arisa before she sat down across from her. Both held their cups, the silence tense before Rhea spoke first.
"I am disappointed in you." Arisa had to restrain herself from getting up, "You have chosen to not take on the scared role of Archbishop that is entitled to you. Your actions have caused serious consequences for us all as well as many are questioning their faith in the church." Rhea said as she raised her cup to her lips.
"So I'll give you a chance to apologize and to take responsibility for your actions by taking on the role that was meant to be," Rhea said and drank.
Lavender tea had never tasted so bitter.
"Once more, I do not accept." Rhea's nose flared, "Rhea, there is nothing for me to apologize for. You are right about my actions having consequences and I will take full responsibility for it but I will not accept the role of Archbishop." She said and stood up, "Now if you excuse me, good night."
"Why do you keep doing this?!" Rhea yelled and Arisa stopped, only turning a bit her way as the woman stood up, "You were graced by the goddess and inherited her power! You could strike down all those that have stained out brethren! Why?!" She yelled and Arisa had it, storming over to her and jabbing her finger.
"BECAUSE I DON'T WANT POWER! I DON'T WANT TO BE GOD!" Arisa roared, "You have clung onto the ideals of that Sothis will return through me! That will never happen! Sothis is not the vengeance woman you make her as! Sothis is not a blood-cold murderer that you claim she is to be by so call killings in her name! Do you know why I am not close to you?!" She yelled, "BECAUSE YOU NEVER SAW ME AS ME! YOUR DELUSION NEEDS TO STOP!" She yelled and Rhea's eyes widened as Arisa took a deep breath and turned.
"I will never turn my back on those I love. I would never commit the heinous crimes you have committed. You're right, I'm a failure. And I'm proud of it...Saint Serios." Arisa growled making Rhea's heart drop.
"...You knew...You knew Nabatea's history..." Rhea whispered as Arisa let go of a huff and fully now turned her back, "Why...? You know...Why?"
"...Sothis told me." She said and Arisa began to walk.
Time seemed to slow down as Rhea's heart pounded in her ears. Her world spun as she slowly looked up to see Arisa's figure walking away. Her eyes shifted between human and slits, slowly she rose and panted. Arisa's back, her figure glitched before Rhea's sight. To Rhea, it looked like Sothis was walking away from her. No matter how much she reached out, Sothis never looked back and continued to walk away. Her breath became rapid as her hand traveled up the small shelf and her hand touched a candle holder. Rhea wouldn't allow it.
Mother would never turn her back on her.
Mother would never be angry.
Mother would never be disappointed.
"MoThEr LoVes ME! DoN'T lEaVe Me! GiVe HeR bAcK!"
At that moment...Arisa didn't even have time to comprehend what had happened. Before she knew it...a candle holder was smashed HARD against her head. She first staggered, trying to process what happened as she felt her head throbbing as crimson pour down her face. She tried to stand up, panting, but another blow to the head made her fall to the ground. She still hadn't recovered enough to use time pulse, but...the ache in her chest told her wasn't possible to use.
"Why now of all times...?" She thought as she raised her head and the last thing she saw was an insane Rhea before the final blow took her out.
[—]
Rhea's hands trembled as she looked at the crimson liquid that covered her left and the candle holder held tightly in her right hand. Her body shook as her eyes looked down at the body that lay on the floor in front of her. The blood began to stain her fur carpet as the realization of what she had done dawned on her like a bucket of ice. She flinched when she heard a light tap, her eyes zooming in on her granddaughter's right hand. The index finger tapped the floor a bit, and she felt the faint rise of magic about to be unleashed but...
"No!"
She lunged at the girl and quickly straddled her. Her hands wrapped around her neck, and the grip tightened, but not enough to kill her. But just to keep her barely conscious, to cut off a bit of air. Rhea chuckled softly as she felt Arisa's hands on her wrist, trying to scratch her but the impact from the candle holder was too much.
"You...everything was ruined because of you." The Archbishop hissed in a cracked voice, "The Agarthans wouldn't have been exposed. The secret that dragons live would have been still hidden. My..M-My Mother...you...you chose that traitor of the princess. You chose that delusional prince. Y-You chose that lunatic princess. You chose that scum of a schemer. Y-You chose that rat." She sobbed as she felt the woman's nails dig into her skin.
"WHY WON'T YOU CHOSE ME?!"
"Everything went wrong because of you. Y-You...Beleth would have..H-He would be still by my side. Y-You are both failures. Just like your mother. Just like my other vessels...If...Only you were never born!" She growled and finally, Arisa went limp.
Silence fell in the room as Rhea gasped for air, once again dawning on her what she had just done. All her life she had never once acted like this. But...
"Lady Rhea! Is everything alright!"
Rhea gritted her teeth as she heard Cyril's voice. No, she couldn't allow anyone to see what she had done. Arisa was alive. Rhea could still complete the ritual. Yes, no one should interfere anymore. No one. Rhea panted heavily, relishing the moment of silence, ignoring her name being called out as she stood up and waved her hands. A magic circle appeared underneath the woman, and Rhea watched Arisa sink into it as if she was in the water. She warped herself to the Holy Tomb and walked towards the stairs. The glowing fires were no longer a dark blue but lime green that lit up the place. Her face was calm as the anger she had left her body once she reached the top.
"My Mother...will return." She smiled and spoke softly as placed the woman gently down to the throne, her head slumped forward and the wound on her head healed, "I just needed to make your blood purer." She said.
"Chains of heaven."
The golden chains that the girl broke free from years ago, once again tied her down. They looped around her waist, tied themselves on her ankles and wrist, and crossed one another around her chest. With a murmur, the clothing the Professor had dissolved before her and turned back to the dress she had worn days ago for ritual. Rhea waited for so long, she had come so far.
Now that none of the students, especially Sandy and Florencio were out of the way, she could make her move. She took out a small dagger from her sleeve and cut the palm of her hand. With her right hand, she forced opened Arisa's mouth and held her head a bit up. Allowing her hand to hover over her mouth and the blood pouring in.
"Blood fed to you directly from the source is far more potent than the ones in the vials." She muttered and made sure the woman swallowed every drop.
There was no reaction at first till suddenly veins began to form on Arisa's chest and they spread all over her body. They glowed a faint light green, but there was no transformation. Rhea gritted her teeth.
"Change..."
Stab!
The first stab was in the woman's right thigh.
"Change..."
Another stab on the left.
"WHY WON'T YOU COME OUT MOTHER?!"
A stab to the shoulder...
[—-]
Two days later, Rhea and The Professor were declared missing.
[—]
"So, Emily is your contact...?" Jeralt said and he looked down at the tiny 5'2 15-year-old who just huffed as she crossed her arms, "So why are you in the form of a kid?"
"Rude." Emily snarked as she looked down at the dried puddle of blood on Rhea's floor, "I used a huge amount of magic for an experiment I was working on." The girl huffed as she knelt, "I have to transform into a kid to heal. Anyhow, this ain't Rhea's blood. It's Arisa's." She said and Jeralt looked at her shocked.
"What?!" He said, "Don't tell me my daughter is injured?!"
"Alright, so who was the one that found this?" Emily said as she stood up, placing her hands on her hips.
"Cyril," Seteth said and looked out the door as Crescent was looking down the stairs watching as Catherine, Cyril, and Shamir were keeping everyone out.
"Then what are you waiting for?! Bring the boy in!" She waved her hand and Crescent called out to Cyril that he was needed.
Cyril was very nervous as he came in but the nervousness turned to confusion when he saw a girl much shorter than him looking at him with arms crossed.
"So kid, explain what happened a few days ago?"
"I'm sorry but who are you?"
"It's me, Emily!" Emily flung her hands in the air, "And don't ask why I look like this! Just answer the question." She said and Cyril looked at her annoyed but nodded.
"So, a few days ago I stayed up late to water the plants in Lady Rhea's garden when I saw her and The Professor walk into her room. Everything looked normal but...I noticed how the Professor looked...uncomfortable." He said and Emily edged him to go on, "I think...not even ten minutes passed and I could hear muffled screaming. It sounded angry. Before I knew it...I heard something crash onto the ground. It sounded like something was hit...about three or four times I think? I think at that point I ran to Lady Rhea's room, yelling if she was alright. No answer and right when I opened the door, there was a bright light. Once it went away..." the boy gulped, "That was when I saw the puddle of blood."
"...Alright." Emily sighed, "Was there possibly anyone else awake that hour?"
"I do remember telling Claude to go back to his room because he was in the stables with his wyvern and mine. And Dimitri I told him to put his lances away once he finished training." The boy said and Emily nodded.
"Alright, bring in those two." Emily and Cyril went to do just that and a few minutes later, they were there.
"So, I heard you needed us?" Claude said and Jeralt immediately noticed the dark circles under Dimitri's eyes and how he was struggling to stay awake, "Oh, Emily."
"Don't even start." Emily said because she saw the gleam in his eyes, "What were you guys doing a few days ago?"
"I was in the stables with the animals." Claude said, "But..." he sighed, "I'm not sure I should be saying this..." He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Speak," Jeralt said coldly.
"I saw Lady Rhea walking around. I don't know but...she looked like she was muttering to herself and stopped by the Black Eagle classroom. I didn't know why she was out so I decided to keep an eye on her for a while. At some point, I heard her say, "Just like Michelle." He explained and noticed how Emily's pressed her lips together, "I did see the Professor appear at some point. She looked like she was heading back to her room when she noticed Rhea and stopped. After that, I couldn't hear their conversation and they left toward the direction of the building." He explained and Emily nodded.
"And you, princ—hey!" Jeralt snapped his fingers seeing how Dimitri was asleep, "HEY!" He yelled loudly scaring the prince awake.
"I'm awake! I awake!" Dimitri yelled and frantically looked around only to see everyone looking at him except Claude was trying not to laugh, "Oh...Um...My apologies. I haven't gotten much sleep."
"Geez, I wonder why?" Claude sang and the prince glared at him, "Come on prince, it's obvious why. Don't think I haven't seen you stay up past curfew to search for the Professor with a few others." He smirked, referring to Castor and Pollux.
"Speaking of those two, can you get them? They can help out."
[—-]
While that interrogation was happening, the little boy Kaimu gritted his teeth and quickly went into the crowd to find big sister Alexandra. The little boy noticed the pale blue fairy sitting on the haystacks that were near the building.
"Blue Fairy!" Kaimu yelled out to her, making the fairy jump, and nearly fall back.
"Who on earth?!" The Pale Fairy screeched and looked down to see the little one looking at her, "Oh...it's you. So you gained the ability to see me now." Cirina said as she let go of a huff, "Well, what do want?"
"It was the bad dragon." Kaimu said and Cirina raised an eyebrow, "It was the bad dragon witch! The lady of mint hair and creepy smile! It was her!" He looked at her confidently.
Cirina looked at him with wide eyes before she floated down and knelt, her voice no longer sounding possessed but...normal. She spoke calmly.
"Kaimu, why do you believe it was the bad dragon lady?" Cirina said as the boy nodded.
"The bad dragon lady had the smell of white lilies but whenever big sister Arisa is nearby, the bad lady's scent turns to rotten eggs. The scent of rotten eggs is coming from the doorway of the church that leads to the place called The Holy Mausoleum. The wind spirits also told me that something is keeping spirits away from there." He said and Cirina slowly looked over to the direction of the cathedral and then back to him.
"Kaimu, listen well." Cirina instructed, "Tell Ares to take you to town, near a tent that says "Lucky" and find a lady named Anna Ray. She's Anna's mama. Tell her and Anna everything you told me." She said and the boy nodded.
"Okay, Fairy!" And away the boy left, "Take Jaden with you also!"
"Okay!"
Cirina smiled and wave as the boy left before she slowly dropped her hand and the smile she had disappeared. She looked to the cathedral and muttered..."Looks like we got no choice."
[—]
"Holy shit! Since when were Xeno and Melusine alive?!" Emily screeched at the sight of the two twins who just quickly hid behind Claude and Dimitri.
"Alright, so who the hell are Mesuline and Xeno? I've heard Rhea mention them before but she never explained who they are." Jeralt said and Seteth groaned as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Melusine was Rhea's wife." Seteth said as this was new news to everyone but the Nabateans, "Xeno was Melusine's brother. So, they were were our siblings-in-law." He explained.
"I had no idea Rhea was married," Jeralt said and Crescent snorted.
"Melusine died many years ago protecting Rhea. And Xeno...ended up kidnapped by the Agarthans and turned into a demonic beast. Rhea was the one that put him down..." he muttered as the twins looked at each other worried.
"Oh, so these are the Agarthan kids Arisa saved." Emily said as she had the heirs move out of the way, "Huh... an interesting choice that bastard did. Anyhow, how good are you kids at anti-magic?" She grinned.
"I beg your pardon?" Crescent said and Emily grinned.
"This one." She pointed at Pollux, "I can easily tell she was created from the hair of someone who descended from the anti-magic clan. And that one," she pointed to Castor, "has Aubin blood."
"WHAT?!"
"I'll go into more detail later." Emily waved her hand dismissively, "Anyway, you two since you two were most likely taught anti-dragon magic, I assume you know the spell, Track?" She said and saw how the two flinched.
"...Yes." The twins looked down to the ground, guilty, "PERFECT!" Emily clapped her hands together, "Use it on this dried puddle of blood. It will tell us if it is Rhea's or Arisa's. Also, I'm set up a water spell that will show us what happened but that's gonna take a few hours." Emily said as she walked past them, "Seteth, watch over them." And with that, she went down the stairs where everyone could be heard yelling, "WHEN DID YOU GET HERE?!"
"In the words Arisa says, what the hell just happened?" Dimitri said and Jeralt couldn't help but snort.
"Okay," Pollux said, "Bother, let's start the spell." She said and Castor nodded as he moved to stand across from the puddle.
The twins closed their eyes as they raised their hands over the puddle, their lips began moving to mutter a spell in a language those around them did not understand but only Seteth and Crescent did. The dried puddle of blood began to turn to liquid again before everyone's eyes and rose from the ground. The droplets swirled above them till they suddenly zoomed past Jeralt and stopped above something behind a cabinet. Seteth moved the furniture and knelt, picking up a candle holder with...blood. At that moment the droplets of blood dissolved and revealed the Crest of Flames.
"It's my daughter's..." Jeralt felt his heart drop as Seteth walked back to them with the bloody candle holder, "That's the weapon that was used, isn't it?"
"It is." Castor spoke up as the spell faded away, "Track is used to track down people descended directly from the bloodline of The Goddess. In this case, it found the one that was closest to her...Professor Arisa." He said as he looked at the candle holder.
"Rotten eggs." Pollux said, "The scent of rotten eggs and lilies is strong on it." She leaned in closer and Seteth handed it to her.
The girl stared at it for a moment before she noticed Blanca and Hessian were near the door frame. She walked up and held it out to them.
"(Can you track this scent?)" She asked and the two wolves smelled but instantly began growling and pawing their noses as if it was a foul scent, "Huh...they hate the scent. It's threatening." She said and looked back to them, "I suggest getting the Blaiddyd hunting hounds. They should be able to help."
I hope so.
- Late at night -
Alexandra waited to make sure Claude was out of sight before she made her move and sunk into the shadows. The blue-haired woman let go a sigh of relief when she ran across the bridge and went to the cathedral. Sneaking past the knights till she arrived at the doorway that led to The Holy Mausoleum. But the woman nearly screamed when she suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Shh! I don't want Chris to find us!" Amir hissed and Alexandra let go a sigh of relief.
"Don't scare me like that!" Alexandra hissed back, "How did you find out I was here?" She said and Amir pointed to the shadows.
"The shadows are my territory. Also, you woke up Sadi and Hapi. I told them if you and I are not back when the sunrises, to get the four houses to come here." Amir said and Alexandra sighed.
"I'm guessing Kaimu told you..." Alexandra muttered and the woman nodded, "There's no going back once we go in. If it is Rhea..." Amir held up her hand to stop her.
"Rhea did nothing to hold accountable the ones who ruined my homeland. Only just now the ones responsible are paying. Arisa saved me when we were young and today, I will repay my debt by saving her. And...I'm not about to let you go in by yourself. The shadows have said that something sinister is down at the holy tomb." Amir said and Alexandra nodded, both taking deep breaths.
"Alright...let's go."
[—-]
Blurred memories of the past flowed through Alexandra's eyes as she and Amir went down using the elevator. Technology like this she had not seen in years so it brought back a strange feeling inside of her. But as of now, when the two heard the click, they got off and walked to the doors that lead to the holy tomb.
"Uuggghhhh..." Cirina's voice echoed around them, "This scent of rotten eggs and lilies...it's so overpowering. Urgh..." She gagged, "Unfortunately I can't come out until we get into the tomb. Rhea painted silver all over the door to keep faeries and spirits away. You can't see it but I can." She said and the two women were worried.
"Is this the only way in?" Alexandra asked and felt Cirina nod, "Alright...let's go." And the two friends placed their hands on the door.
The rumbling of stone was all that was heard as they began to walk down the stairs. Again, the dragon statues looked own at them, making their skin crawl but...they gasped when they noticed the light of the room illuminated the throne. There...seated was...
"IS THIS COME KIND OF TWISTED JOKE?!" Roared Alexandra when she saw the horrible stare her friend was in.
Seated on the throne, chained down by the golden chains that attacked Amir years ago, Arissa's legs, shoulder, and clothing were covered in dried blood. Blood painted the throne in different forms and dried at different times. The skin around her neck was bruised and her fingertips were blue. Clothing was ripped, dirty, bloody, and whisp marks around her chest and thighs. Not to lose mention stab wounds. Gashes that were most likely freshly opened had healed and only bruises remain. Some of her fingers were covered in blood, indicating at some point they were cut off and then reattached using magic. Her hair was matted. Her collar bones and cheeks were sunken...
"Arisa!" The two women yelled and were about to run up the stairs when blue flames suddenly came their way.
They barely managed to jump back on a time when the sound of heels clicking was heard. Before them descended an all too familiar figure.
"I see we have been found..." Rhea's dress was tattered as well as dirty and with spots of blood, her hair was a mess but the smile she had on her lips made every single fiber in their body scream "Run."
"Rhea, what is going on? What happened to Arisa?" Amir said, her voice trembling, "She needs medical attention!"
"It is alright..." Rhea spoke calmly, "She is fine."
"SHE IS NOT FINE!" Alexandra roared, "You tortured her, didn't you?! What have you done?!" She roared once again all Rhea did was look back to the throne.
"I did all for her...all for mother. I just want to see mother again...Did you come to take her away?" Rhea said and looked back at them.
"This is wrong!" Amir yelled, "I don't give a damn if you are Saint Serios! You tortured my sister and I will end you!" And the woman charged.
"Go!" Cirina yelled as Alexandra charged.
"Mother...why won't you come out?"
Both women roared as they jumped in the air, their weapons glowing brightly, answering their call to save their loved ones. Yet, Rhea raised her head and snapped her eyes open, they were slits. At that moment, they felt their body scream to run away but they didn't care. Amir twisted her body to spin like a top and her relic crashed into the ground, Rhea jumped. The Archbishop only stared at the ax that crackled with dark miasmas, the Duscur woman panted. Alexandra suddenly appeared behind Rhea, not giving the Archbishop enough time to dodge. With a enrage roar, Alexandra brought down her scythe, with full intent to kill. The woman screamed as the blade made contact with her wrist armor, feeling frost quickly coat her hands.
Rhea was sent flying towards a tomb but managed to twist her body on time to jump, flip and land in a crouched position with her leg out. The woman stood up, growling as she noticed the frost on her hand, it was spreading. Alexandra panted as she stood up, a pool of frost forming next to her from it rose and turned into a humanoid female figure, raising its hand, it created a replica for itself. Rhea let out a hollow laugh as her teeth turned to fangs and two curled horns formed on her head, the grip on her sword suddenly became tight.
"I knew it! You were always there Cirina! You wench! You filthy half-breed! It's all your fault!" Rhea roared as the two warriors gulped, noticing the more Rhea screamed her voice became distorted.
[—-]
How are you holding on?
...
Good.
...
I told you I refuse to take over your body.
...
I'm fighting off Rhea's hold chains as best as I can. I never taught her that. None of us did. I'm starting to wonder if at some point she managed to get access to the library in Zanado without us knowing.
... ... ...
Alright...I'll do as you say.
[—]
The battle was taking longer than it should have. Amir panted and gasped for air as she coughed blood, the impact of Rhea's punch would have killed her if she was a normal human. Her crest saved her. But as of now, she was terrified. Before she come to Fodlan, she had heard stories of the Saints that saved Fodlan and that a few of their descendants left and settled in Duscur. Thankfully her old home was not burned down and she had asked Kuza to take all of the Amyrilli's belongings and have them stored away. Should she ever return to her homeland, she should look at the family records. As of now, she didn't know what to feel about the Archbishop.
Rage was the easiest word to come into her mind. The Archbishop that standoff against Cirina and Alexandra before her had a moment to herself. Fodlan was different. Fodlan was beautiful. But its people were arrogant about the world beyond its borders. They were kept in the dark, and they liked it that way. But, then she met Arisa, she thought the girl was annoying at first but somehow got her to open up. Over time their friendship developed, they met new people, and together, they uncovered the truth of her powers. Amir loved Arisa. They were family. Even if they had different parents and people, those of Remire village welcomed them with open arms.
She admits, that when Arisa confessed to her about who she was, Amir was angry. She had to excuse herself from nearly punching the girl had it not been for Sothis. The anger didn't go away in just a day, it took Alexandra dragging them both to talk it out in a locked room. At first, the silence was exchanged then punches and curses, and then it turned to sobs, cries, tears, and hugs. It would take too long to put every detail. Amir gritted her teeth as she forced herself to stand, she crouched, gritting her teeth as she hissed, ordering the shadows to come into her. Cirina and Alexandra were working together, jumping left and left then doing across attack and that was the opening she needed. The cold was finally starting to slow down Rhea and that was the opportunity they needed. With Mjolnir raised, Amir called upon the shadows to devour her and become one with them. The waves of emotions, rage, and sorrow filled every fiber of her body and nearly drowned her in it. But the thought of her friends and family made her reach out of it.
"When darkness is acceptable and not rejected, new doors to the unknown are opened."
A voice rang in her mind. It was comforting as if guiding her.
"Child who has seen and faced atrocities all your life. You who learned to control the darkness in your heart. Embrace it. Control it. Weave it with your own hands. Emily made a wise choice in choosing you to use the relic forged from me and my brethren. Put a stop to my sister's madness."
"LET THERE BE DARKNESS!"
It seemed like time slowed down when Amir sunk into the ground and became one with the shadows. She watched as Alexandra and Cirina managed to stab a needle into Rhea's hand and...
"HYAAAAHHH!"
Rhea did not have any time to move when she saw a figure covered in shadows bring down a weapon crackling with black magic and lighting. Before she knew it, the impact hit her stomach brutally, completely knocking the air out of her lungs and couch out blood. Before her eyes, her silver pink eyes looking back at her with rage, within them, was The Crest of Timotheos. Away she was sent flying, crashing into the stairs of the entrance of the holy tomb.
"There! That's the opening we need! Go!" Cirina yelled as her body of ice shattered.
"Come on l-!"
The air around suddenly became thin. Too thin. They were struggling to breathe as they fell to their knees, their hands on their throats trying to gasp for air. But the entire place suddenly smells like lemongrass, lilies, chamomile, Crescent-Moon tea, and Angelica Tea, but the most overwhelming scent was rotten eggs. The sound of something crushing the ground as it walked their way, suddenly a shadow loomed over Amir, and when she looked up, slit golden eyes looked down at her, insane.
"You truly have Gaia's personality as well as that sinner." Rhea's distorted voice made her suddenly feel terror.
The stomach area of Rhea's dress was burned away by the impact yet the wounds on her were nothing but bruises, healing before her eyes. Rhea grinned down at the woman, leaning down till her eyes were mere inches from her. Amir could finally see it. The overwhelming black fog of souls that were damned by the woman, surrounded her like a plague. Dirtying everything they touched. They screamed, wailed, and roared curses as Rhea's voice became even more distorted.
"Goodbye, Timotheos."
Alexandra screamed as Rhea placed her hand over Amir's chest and turned to giant claws, stabbing right through her. Amir's eyes were wide as she looked up to the woman who just grinned before ripping her claws out. Down she fell to the ground, twitching as her blood pooled out. Rhea laughed and laughed before she broke into a burst of full historical laughter before dealing the final blow. The life was gone from Amir's eyes, Alexandra screamed and jumped in the air, letting Cirina's power flow into her body. But Rhea's movements were quicker.
"You-are-a-nuisance!" Rhea roared, channeling fire into her fist as she swung them at Alexandra, "You have no right to come and take away Mother! Everything happened because of you!" She roared and Alexandra jumped back on time before she was it.
The woman felt her soul leave her body when she heard the impact of Rhea's punch in an empty casket. The stone casket, shattered to pieces, along with the crater that was created. The most she could estimate was that it was ten feet deep and eighteen feet wide.
Rhea was trying to kill her.
No, she was going to kill her, as she did to Amir.
"Fool! You have to leave! That woman won't hesitate because you are my incarnation! Rhea is too far gone! Her obsession with Sothis blinded her! It doesn't help that degeneration and despair are also in play!" Cirina screamed but Alexandra refused, despite the broken ribs.
"I can't...I have to get Arisa and Amir out of here! No...I HAVE TO AVENGE THEM!" Alexandra yelled, looking over to Sothis's throne and then to her friend's body.
"You really think!" Rhea was suddenly in front of her with a feral grin, "I'M GOING TO LET YOU ESCAPE?!"
"GGHHHHAAA!"
Pain.
All Alexandra felt was a pain when she was grabbed by throat and slammed onto the ground. The force was enough to break the stone and make her cough out blood. She felt her left shoulder break and the air leave her lungs. The Archbishop only sneered down at her, her eyes, slits.
"No, I can not allow you to leave. If you do, you will everyone. Then Mother won't be able to return. I can not allow that...It's better if I silence you. Yes...it would be better..." the grip on her throat was tightening too much and...
Snap.
Rhea smiled but time froze at that moment, the world turning back in white. The movements and the battles, all turned back to the moment when their battle was about to start. She saw Amir once more standing up, the blood she lost returning to her body, the claws leaving her body, and then coming out, the wounds healing. Life had returned to her eyes. Again, the two were alive and standing together. They were scared. They were terrified because they felt time turn back. They felt the moment they were killed and it was real. They watched themselves die in that moment time was turned back.
Rhea did kill them.
She really did kill them.
Alexandra could still feel the grip of her hands on her neck and Amir could still feel the moment her claws penetrated her. At that moment when Rhea was about to charge again, a magic circle appeared underneath. The blue-haired and white-haired women felt the familiar magic, and gasped, looking at the throne to see Arisa's eyes cracked just a tab open and a ghost of a smile on her lips.
"Go."
Before they could scream, they wrapped away.
[—-]
"Ami..."
"Ale..."
"Wake..."
"WAKE UP!"
"AAHHHHHHHH"
Both women screamed as they abruptly sat up, panting and gasping for air, hyperventilating had it not been for the warm gentle hands on their heads calming them down. Alexandra quickly touched her neck, the dark almost blue bruises on her neck were very much present as well as three giant bruises over Amir's left lung, heart, and just underneath her right breast.
"Are you alright? It's a good thing you two had your pins with you or things would be different."
Alexandra and Amir slowly looked to see Sothis looking at them with a neutral expression.
"Sothis?" The goddess nodded and they quickly hugged her, they could feel her even if she was an astral spirit.
Wait, they could feel Sothis? Does that mean that Sothis officially was an astral spirit that feel, touched, and such? The goddess spoke soft words as Alexandra trembled and sobbed in her arms.
"I'm so sorry...I wish I could do more." Sothis whispered, "Go to Claude. After that, have him take you to Manuela and only summon, Hai, Flayn, Crescent, and Seteth." She said and suddenly Sothis began groaning in pain.
"What's wrong?!" Amir said but Sothis despite the pain she was feeling smiled.
"I'm trying everything I can to prevent Rhea from forcefully resurrecting me. Arisa is doing the best she can to endure the pain and I'm doing everything to remain locked in the back of her mind.
"Then Rhea did..." Amir whimpered as Sothis let out another hiss, her image flickering.
"Hurry...I beg you! GET EVERYONE!" Sothis screamed and disappeared into golden dust.
They were stunned to silence but...they obeyed.
[—-]
Claude woke up screaming and fell off his bed when someone pounded at his door like a mad man. The sound was enough to wake up everyone in the hallways but Claude was the first to open his door and right when he was about to yell a piece of his mind, he froze. The ghastly bruises on Alexandra's neck. The woman used her body to help Amir stand up, both were having trouble breathing.
"W-What happened?!" Claude yelled as he quickly fell to the ground with them, "Who did this?!" He said, his eyes darkening as his hand gently grazed the skin on Alexandra's neck.
But the fear suddenly made her think of Rhea again and at that moment, she instinctively slapped his hand away. Claude was too stunned till she realized what she had done.
"I-I'm sorry..." her voice, was hoarse but Claude shook his head, understanding why she acted that way.
"What happened?!" Hilda ran over to them as well as Lorenz, and Marienna had quickly begun using heal.
"Wake up...Everyone...We found Rhea and Arisa."
No time was wasted.
Chapter 78: Shattered Faith: Part 3: A Thorn in You
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One chapter left
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A heads up to everyone. The word count of Shattered Songs of Faith will be going down because I will be deleting the paralogues and interludes and moving them to a different book. The reason I am doing this is that there are a few chapters I will be editing or rewriting due to me going back and finding some errors or parts that felt unnecessary, or just felt forced and will be deleting, rewriting, or editing.