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)

80. Chapter 79:Shattered Faith:Part 4

Shattered Songs of Faith: Chapter 79: Shattered Faith: Fall of Sirius

[—]

A heavy silence filled the war room up the third floor as Amir and Alexandra had explained what had happened. Of course, leaving out the part that Rhea had killed them at someone point. Crescent had his hands on the wall, gritting his teeth. Seteth was too stunned to speak as he hung his head. Flayn had covered her mouth in horror as well as Cyril. Hai was shocked to hear all this. But most of all, everyone had to hold back Chris, Jeralt, and Dimitri from storming into the Holy Tomb. Catherine couldn't believe what she was hearing but knew they weren't lying. Emily took a deep breath and stood up from her chair and walked to the bubble that was floating near the entrance.

"It seems my suspicions were confirmed." The girl said as she picked up the bubble and walked back to them, "Since all four houses are present as well as professors and staff, what you are about to see a replay of what happened days ago." She said and the bubble popped.

On the table formed small figures made of water, taking on the forms of the room, and furniture, but mostly Rhea and Arisa. They watched as Rhea and Arisa entered the room but...

"Pfft." Yuri laughed because "I know this is supposed to be serious but how can I take this seriously when the figures are adorable?" He said and Bernadetta pouted, "I'm the one that made that spell..." silence fell on the room and Yuri quickly apologized.

"Alright, enough." Emily rolled her eye, "It's starting."

The little figures of Rhea and Arisa went to sit near the window where the coffee table was. They sat, and Rhea served the tea. Their mouth was moving they could see the little figure's expression Arisa suddenly changed to an angry one and stood up. Rhea suddenly yelled and it looked very obvious it was becoming a screaming match. Before they knew it, Arisa said something that made Rhea freeze and watched as the woman turned to leave. Rhea remained still for a few seconds before grabbing the candle holder and...

"Oh my god..." Emily could barely speak as they watched Rhea deal three blows.

The first one caused Arisa to stagger, the second one made her fall to her knees, and the third one she managed to look up and witness Rhea deliver the final blow. Rhea had remained still, dropping the candle holder as if realizing what she had done before they saw Arisa's finger twitched and Rhea lunged. The woman straddled her, her hands wrapped around her neck, Rhea was saying something before Arisa's hand dropped. The woman was still before she looked towards the door where it made a motion as it was being banged on. That was when they figured out it was Cyril. Rhea got off Arisa, a magic circle appeared underneath them and the blinding light, at that moment, the door slammed open and they saw a figure of Cyril looking frantically around before running out the door to get everyone. A heavy silence fell in the room as Emily waved her hand to make the water go away.

"I'm going to kill her," Jeralt growled and at that moment, the air suddenly felt thin, colder was a better way to describe it, before them was the rage of Jeralt The Blade Breaker.

"No, Jeralt. You won't put her down." Emily spoke coldly, "I will." She said, the declaration made everyone stunned as the woman turned to the door, "Crescent, you know what to do. Give me two hours. I'll have it ready." She said.

"Wait, what do you mean, it?" Lestia said, "Emily, what do you mean?! You're keeping us out of the loop! Do you have some sort of connection to Rhea?!" The Princess yelled and Emily only turned to her with a hollow smile.

"You...could say that. In the meantime, I suggest you all prepare yourselves to fight Rhea to save Arisa. Also, how are the defense setups going?" She said and Seteth sighed, "We're almost done."

"Sigh..." Emily sighed, "Jeralt," the man raised an eyebrow, "You're in charge of leading the four houses into the Holy Tomb." She said.

"Wait, why are you suddenly taking charge?! Shouldn't it be Seteth?!" Catherine said and Emily stopped for a moment before throwing something at her, Catherine managed to dodge on time, only to see Thunderbrand lodged into the wall.

"Erik says hi." Emily snickered and left, having returned Thunderbrand to its rightful owner.

[—-]

"I know what happened but you two stay here." Jeralt said to the two women protested but both were having a hard time speaking because of just how damaged their vocal cords were from the force Rhea used on them, "Why didn't you tell us?" He said as he knelt, Rensen was doing some repair work on their relics.

Not just their relics, Rensen damned every relic holder to leave their relics at the blacksmith shop he had opened in Abyss and immediately got into repairing them. The man nearly cried seeing their state of them. Even Seteth didn't get away from his tongue lashing. Crescent wondered if Macuil had been human, this was how he would be.

"You all have done so much for us...We felt it was our turn to help her." The two said and Chris sighed.

"I understand how you two feel but going by yourselves would have gotten you killed..." Automatically the two flinched.

"...Rhea did kill you...didn't she?" Chris said and the two quickly avoided eye contact as he turned to them, "I see..." he muttered as Jeralt looked at him confused.

"Kid, what do you mean?" Jeralt said and it pained Chris keeping Jeralt out of the loop but explaining to him was not his role, it was Arisa's.

"It means that Rhea fully intended to kill them but they managed to get away thanks to Arisa using what little magic she had to get them out. You know how protective she is of all of us." He said and Jeralt went silent before he took a deep breath and nodded firmly.

"Kids, let's pray to whatever deity is up there in the sky, we're going to get through this." He said and they looked at them shocked, "Get your weapons, we got a dragon to slay." He Jeralt said and they nodded.

[—-]

Dimitri took a deep breath as he and everyone were gathered at the door that lead to the holy tomb. Jeralt came down the stairs with the trio, as well as Crescent.

"I thought you be up there with the others," Jeralt said and Crescent snorted.

"Nope. Emily put me here to help you all. Manuela is over there with Seteth and Hanneman is here with us. Also, I thought those two weren't coming." He said as Amir was talking to Chris Alexandra was talking to Claude.

"They convinced me."

"How are you holding on?" Claude said as Alexandra talked but her voice was hoarse.

"I'm doing alright..." Alexandra rasped, "But, we might have a slight advantage against Rhea. The wounds Amir and I inflicted should be taking effect. Especially the impact Amir gave her on the stomach..." She said and they looked at her shocked.

"I wish I could heal you right now but..." Claude sighed and Alexandra smiled softly, holding his hand, "Do not blame yourself. I understand your anger but right now we need to prioritize saving Arisa." She said.

"I know...I know..."

"How are you feeling, Dimitri?"

"I'm ready to strike Rhea down."

"Alright, you." Jeralt walked up to the prince and looked own at him, "You're with me. Lestia, you're in charge of the Blue Lions." He said as the Princess looked at him shocked, "Dimitri," Jeralt fully turned to the prince who gulped, "aim for Rhea's right hand."

"What?" The prince looked at him shocked as the now walked towards the door to the holy tomb, "You'll see." Jeralt muttered.

[[—-]

"Oh god, I hate this place." Hilda shuttered as they all carefully made their way through the tomb, "Crescent, how on earth do you all manage with these statues?!" Hilda whispered a sheik as the man rolled his eyes.

"Alright, now s-"

"Hmmm...Hmm...Lalala..."

"Oh...oh...Oh no." Lysithea began saying as they heard singing echoing all around them, "This is how all horror stories start!" The girl was shaking as the humming was becoming louder till it stopped.

"In time flows...S-S-See the glow...OF fLaMeS Ever burning bright." Distorted the voice sounds and Chris knew...they were screwed.

"Everyone... get ready to fight," Chris said and, they could hear it.

The tip of a sword dragged on the stone floor as they all looked toward the throne. There, at bottom of the stairs, was Rhea, looking at them with slits eyes. Her dress around the stomach was tattered, there were spots of blood, and crimson-purple corrupted magic surrounded her as throne-like vines covered her body, around her neck, and spread around her head. The magic energy around her made her hair rise like snakes. But nothing prepared them when they saw the horrible state Arisa was in. Jeralt eyes were wide and shocked, his heart pounding and shaking as he saw the blood, blue skin, and gashes on his daughter. The way her head hung, he couldn't tell if she was alive.

"Aha...Haha..." Claude was on the verge of going into hysterical laughter because of the grave seriousness but...

"I WILL HAVE YOUR HEAD RHEA!" Jeralt roared, scaring the daylights out of everyone, never before had anyone seen the man so enraged, the last time he felt such anger as the death of his wife.

Rhea blinked and smiled, grinning as her fangs showed.

"Have you come to take a mother away again...I won't let you," Rhea said and Crescent gritted his teeth and held Jeralt back as he stepped forward.

"I knew it...that black fog surrounding you. Degeneration. So you finally snapped." He said as the woman just laughed, "All of you, get back, it's my duty as her older brother to put her down." He said and Rhea broke into mechanical laughter.

"I think not! Traitor! Traitor! I will make sure mother returns! HYYYAAA!" The woman roared as the wind began to surround her like a hurricane, "Begone!" And Crescent roared and his body began to glow, both transforming before everyone's eyes.

"Holy...Shit!" Chris yelled because before him was The Immaculate one and..."EVERYONE RUN FOR IT!" He roared because, in his mind, he was watching damn kaiju's about to go at it.

The Immaculate one in real life was the most terrifying thing he had ever seen. He remembered vividly when he played Silver Snow in his past life but now facing the real corrupted version of The Immaculate one...pearl white scales no longer had the same shine they once had. They were marked with thorn-like veins that glowed a crimson hue of magic surrounding the white dragon. Golden eyes glowed red as dark energy swirled around. The wings were torn and bony, and the horns and backbones glowed red as The Immaculate one roared.

"I WILL TEAR YOU APART LERAJE!" Rhea roared and charged at the huge crimson-colored dragon with giant steel-like wings, four of them sharp as blades, his body long body was like a Chinese dragon, spikes on his head and long legs like rabbits but covered in scales allowed him to jump.

Arisa was nothing but a chickling compared to those two. Alexandra felt Cirina cackling like a madwoman, cheering her uncle on.

"LET'S GO! KICK HER ASK UNCLE!" Roared Cirina and then the woman screamed in terror when the dragons suddenly started wrestling, "NEVER MIND CHANGE BACK! YOU'LL BRING DOWM THE ENTIRE PLACE!" the woman yelled and flew back to Alexandra.

"Did she just call him Leraje?!" Claude yelled and Alexandra yelled, "FOCUS ON GETTING TO ARISA!" The woman yelled and the students started running towards the throne.

"I THINK NOT!" Rhea roared and at that moment, the ground began shaking and tiles opened, out came giant figures made of metal with strange faces, Golems.

"Shit! New plan! Take those Golems down!" Yelled Jeralt and the groups charged at them.

"Uncle, you both have to turn back! Everyone will be killed at this rate if you fight in those forms!" Hai yelled as Rhea and Crescent wrestled, the woman quickly jumped out of the way and blasted ice at Rhea.

"I'm trying!" Crescent's voice echoed all over, "You and Flayn and Alexandra come over her and blast Rhea with ice! NOW!" He roared and the three women roared as they launched Nosferatu at the white dragon.

"Aaaahhhh! Cethleann! You...how could you?!" Rhea roared and at that moment, Crescent summoned spikes of black glass and they stabbed into Rhea, however, no blood fell.

"Y-You!" Rhea roared and in a burst of light, both dragons reverted to their human form but Rhea looked like a deranged humanoid version of herself.

Her skin was cracked and growling red as her eyes, her wings were tattered and her hands were claws, two curled horns on her head. Crescent was in a similar state but his wings were like knives. The man laughed as he gave her a feral grin.

"You think anti-magic and Nabatean magic are the only things I know?!" He laughed loudly as the magic circle underneath him glowed, "DID YOUR FORGET SERIOS?! I AM THE ONE WHO CREATED SPELLS TO KILL DRAGONS! BY MOTHER'S ORDER, NOA AND I WERE CREATED TO KILL THOSE WHO FALL TO DEGENERATION! TODAY SISTER, YOU WILL FALL!" He laughed and disappeared to dust.

"I managed to create time for you all. Use it to stall! Go! Take that woman down!" His voice echoed in everyone's heads.

"YOU TRAITORS! ALL OF YOU!" Rhea roared and turned to see everyone going against her, "MOTHER WILL RETURN! I DON'T CARE IF I HAVE TO START OVER! I'LL RIP MOTHER'S HEART OUT OF THAT FAILURE AND START AGAIN!" And she charged.

The students were now truly going against Rhea. The battle prowess as well as the movements and quick sped showed how experienced the woman was. Rhea did not hesitate to go against them, using her strength to injure, cut, or even break some bones. The way she kept twitching scared them, the white of her eyes turned black. She was cackling and laughing as she cried tears of blood but they needed to get to Arisa, now.

"Spilt into two!"

"I'll take her on the right. You," she glared at Claude, "get her on the left. Dimitri, attack the front." Lestia said as the two nodded.

"I'll quickly get to The Professor. You three, live." Petra said and unleashed a roar as she charged at the Archbishop.

"Break a leg guys." Lestia chuckled as her brother rolled her eyes.

"Now really isn't a time to say that."

[-]

Jeralt gritted his teeth as he and the black Eagles stood against Rhea. He knew there would come a day when he would have to raise his hand against her but this...

The way her fingers twitched as well as the horns that formed on her head and the wings that sprouted on her back. She was snarling like a rabid beast.

"Emily better hurry up with whatever she was doing. Crescent won't be able to hold out longer on the spell he has on Rhea." Jeralt said as the woman growled.

They attacked and create the opening they needed for Petra to run towards the throne. She ran and ran, almost there when...

ZOOM!

It was as if time slowed down, a javelin of light-headed her way from one of the golems. Down it came on the verge of killing her when Dimitri did the impossible. Claude scolded him harshly for using more magic than he could and possibly damaging his nervous system. But at the moment his beloved was in danger or any of his family or friends, he wouldn't hesitate to save their lives.

At that moment, it felt like a burst of energy surged through his body. The pupils in his eyes transformed to the Crest of Blaiddyd, dark energy and lightning surged through his hand to his lance as he let out a roar, causing Rhea, Flayn, and Hai to freeze for a moment.

They knew that power…

The prince threw the lance and it collided with the pillar of light, knocking it down to crash to the side instead of Petra.

His glove was burned off, he felt tired, and his energy drained as he tasted iron. But he didn't stop. That moment was enough for him to run.

"Dimitri!" Yuri and Ferdinand yelled, placing their hand on their knees, and the prince ran to them.

They used all their strange to push him up to help him jump high in the air and land just a few feet from Petra. The princess was beyond shocked but the two nodded and ran up to the throne.

"Grrr! Damn you!" Rhea roared and managed to shake off Jeralt and the Black Eagles before running towards the throne.

"No!" Flayn and Hai yelled, both jumped in the air, lunging at her, their hands turned to claws.

But Rhea was quicker. She used her tail to swing at the girls but screamed when an arrow suddenly pierced her shoulder. She turned and saw Ashe, Bernadetta, and Ignatz but the one who did the shot was Ignatz.

"Don't you dare harm Flayn!" Yelled Ignatz and Rhea roared and charged at them and just when they were going to strike, she was suddenly in front of them.

Bernadetta's and Ashe's eyes slowly widened as they watched Rhea's claw penetrate through Ignatz's chest. Flayn screamed, her hand reaching out towards her loved one as she watched the life leave his eyes and drop to the ground. Rhea panted and gasped for air as the remaining archers quickly grabbed their friend and ran for their lives the woman didn't let them. They met the same fate as Ignatz. Chris roared and used time pulse to turn back time and used his magic to quickly teleport in front of the three and grabbed them out of the way on time. That moment that they were away, Rhea took and jumped in the air, to the throne.

[—]

"Oh goodness! Oh goodness!" Petra couldn't believe what she was seeing as she and the prince were trying to break the chains off but it wasn't working.

"Damn these bloody chains!" Dimitri snarled and suddenly another surge of magic filled his body, the chains in his hands turning black.

He and Petra watched in shock as the magic spread and turned the golden chains to rust and shatter before them.

"Professor! Professor! Can you hear me?!" Petra quickly knelt and placed their ears over her chest.

The pulse was weak but she could hear it, "She's alive!" She said and Dimitri let go a sigh of relief.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Both turned to see Rhea land 10 feet from them, bleeding and enraged, "Get away from mother!" She yelled and Dimitri, enrage, threw his lance at her before calling it back.

"Uriel, you...how dare you?! It's your fault your sister hanged herself! Did you know she and Elder Brother Erebus were planning to elope! But you and that bastard slaughtered him! Then you drank his blood and flesh! How does it feel to have the Rune of Grimm now Uriel!" Rhea yelled as Dimitri couldn't believe what he was hearing but...

"Rhea, I challenge you! Today, your reign of terror over all of us ends. A long time ago I would have stood beside the church. But over the years, you stood by and watched as darkness swept over Fodlan. Today, you stand down!" And he unleashed his roar, both charging.

The impact of their swords colliding caused the stairs to shake, many couldn't believe their eyes that they were watching the prince of Faerghus going again the Archbishop. From the shadows, a rat watched them and from deep in the forest, Henry couldn't believe what he was watching. He was cheering Dimitri on.

"The...air...!" Suddenly the air became thin and it felt like none of them could breathe.

Dimitri gritted his teeth as he was thrown back and Rhea walked towards him, furious.

"Die...die...die..." she kept repeating but Petra, even in pain threw a dagger at her and that was what Dimitri need.

The prince roared as he raised his right hand and grabbed her neck, screaming as he unleashed one final lighting spell, Thorn, at the cost of him also begin to hit. Rhea unleashed a blood-curdling scream as Dimitri did his best to not scream but the amount of magic he poured out... silence fell in the room, the air returning to normal but everyone was too weak to move. The golems were all destroyed and the people could move. Rhea fell to the ground, on her knees as did the prince. He could feel his vision becoming dark but he crawled, reaching out to the woman he loves till he finally reached her.

"Arisa...Arisa, beloved...speak to me..." Dimitri said and held her hand, "Beloved..."

"Di..."

His eyes widened as he slowly looked up and saw her eyes open just a bit, tears falling as she tried to speak.

"Dimitri...You..." Arisa whimpered and he cried, wanting to hold, her but...

"You...you..." Petra and Dimitri both shivered and slowly turned to see a black fog surrounding Rhea as she rose from the ground like a possessed woman, her boy glowing with red magic as the woman snarled.

"I'll KILL YOU!" Rhea roared and lunged at them, the prince quickly grabbed Petra and Arisa, hugging them both and using his body to shield them but suddenly...

"NO YOU FUCKEN DON'T SERIOS!"

It was like a firework exploded out of nowhere when Emily suddenly appeared from thin air and slammed a white-colored stone into Rhea's chest with tremendous force. The air was knocked out of the Archbishop's lungs as the stone made contact with her chest. The Crest of Serios burned itself into the surface of the stone and turned mint green as magic suddenly began to leave her body. Rhea screamed as she felt her magic drain all of sudden as if it was sucked out of her. It felt like something was pulled out of her chest and fell to her knees, panting, gasping for air like a fish out of water.

Emily gasped for air and gulped as she looked around, seeing the shocked faces of everyone present. But right now, she needed to focus as she heard Rhea's voice cracking as she spoke. The stone hummed softly in Emily's hands as she let go a sigh of relief. She could imagine Sothis smiling if she wasn't so busy trying to keep Arisa alive after the torture she went through. She looked back to the shaken woman who was trying to process what was just done to her.

"What...What did you do to me? W-Why can't...I transform?" Rhea whimpered as she looked at her hands, unable to turn them into claws or even make her wings sprout from her back.

Chaos. It was just pure chaos at this point.

"I..." she looked up to Emily, who was still gasping for air as she held the mint-colored stone to her chest, "Only did...gasp...what I had to do. Stop you from doing something you regret. And," she showed her the stone, "I finally delivered Mother's final gift to us...huff. The Dragon Stones she stole from her homeland...They were meant to be gifts." She looked over to the group of students running to Arisa to remove the chains on her.

"You..." Rage began to filled Rhea as she realized what had just been done, "YOU TOOK AWAY MY ABILITY TO TRANSFORM?!"

"I only did what Mother ordered me to do. To stop you from killing our family." Emily spat and the doors to the holy tomb burst open, Cresent ran in with Seteth.

"Rescue!" Yelled Manuela and quickly used it on Rhea, making them switch places.

Rhea was suddenly next to Seteth and Crescent while the woman was with the other three. Manuela did everything she could to start healing the woman, nearly passing out seeing the wounds she was suffering but...

"Help me...get to...Rhea."

Manuela slowly looked up and saw Arisa looking at her with void eyes, her voice hoarse. She could faintly hear Crescent and Seteth trying to keep the woman down as Emily roared furiously at the woman. Emily did not hesitate to cuss out the vilest things at Rhea, sending the three Nabatean siblings into absolute shock and silence and the same with everyone else around. Still, that didn't stop Arisa from trying to move. She shouldn't even be able to move, she did recount at some point Rhea broke her legs and then healed them. She heard someone running up the stairs before she knew it, carefully picking her up from the throne, she saw it was her father. She smiled weakly as she felt hot tears fall on her cheek, it had been a while since she had seen her father cry like this. All Jeralt could hold his daughter close to his chest, whispering "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry." Repeatedly.

"Do you still wish to speak to Rhea?" Sothis's voice ran in her head as Arisa closed her eyes, "Dad, take me to Rhea." She said as the man looked at her shocked but seeing how the life had returned to her eyes, he nodded.

[—-]

"YOU STUPID WITCH! I TOLD YOU TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO NOT TO DO THIS AND YET YOU DIDN'T LISTEN!" Emily kept screaming furiously to the point her hair was literally on fire, "NOW YOU WILL FACE THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR ACTIONS! I WILL MAKE SURE OF IT!" The woman roared as those like Gregory, Tharja, Sophia, Lucius, Gina, and Glenn teleported into the holy tomb and ran over to the students to start helping them.

"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE ORDERING ME?!" Rhea yelled and now Seteth was holding back Emily and Crescent holding back Rhea from both of them, trying to slit their throats.

"Wow..." Claude chuckled and still shocked by what he was witnessing, "This is...I think we got too much information today." He said as he watched Noire scream out, "Mom?!" As Tharja went to help her and the others.

"Glenn? How did you get in here?" Felix grumbled as the man rolled his eyes and helped him up with Ingrid, "I got connections. Anyway, we got more things to worry about. You all have a week left before the Imperial Army arrives. We're here to help evacuate students." Glenn said and stopped when he saw Jeralt but the state Arisa was in sent him and those that arrived, reeling.

Manuela with the help of Hanneman was supporting Petra and Dimitri and Emily used Rescue on them to get them down from the throne. Suddenly, the place began to shake and the sound of cracking filled the room. They all turned and gasped as The Throne of Sothis shook and crumbled to dust.

"N-No...No! No! No! MOTHER DON'T LEAVE ME! MOTHER!" Rhea began to cry hysterically as she reached out to the crumbling throne but stopping in front of her was Jeralt with the coldest glare she had ever seen but that wasn't what made her heart stop.

Jeralt carefully put his daughter down and helped her stand up, despite the pain she was in. All Arisa did was looked down at the woman with an emotionless expression as Rhea panted and gasped for air, tears falling down her eyes. As of now, the Archbishop was powerless.

"You...everything happened because of you." Rhea croaked and trembled, "You...changed everything. You ruined everything. You...it's because of you everything is falling apart. If only...if only...you were never born." The woman growled and Arisa remained silent and held her father's hand to calm him down.

"...You're right." Arisa muttered, "Everything changed because of me." She said and looked at her father and then at her students and everyone else, "But you know what's the difference between you and me?" She said and knelt, looking at Rhea in the eyes.

"I chose to keep moving forward and cut my path."

"I too created lies like you Rhea. But the main difference is that I am choosing to take responsibility for my actions. Rhea, you chose to close your eyes. I chose to open mine. Once upon of time, maybe we could have had a better relationship but...not now. Not ever...I don't even think it's possible to repair our relationship after everything you've done. And another thing..." she glared, "It was you wasn't it? That day from five years ago...You were the one that attacked me and the survivors of Duscur. It was Dimitri that cut off your right hand." She said and shock filled the room.

"Yes, it was her." Emily spoke up having turned back to adult form as she walked up, "As the eldest of Sothis's children, Arisa, I will take responsibility and discipline her." Emily sighed and bowed to her, "I'm so sorry...I should have made my move years ago."

"What...What are you talking about?! What do you mean elder sister?! What relationship do you have to Sothis?" Rhea yelled and Emily walked up and knelt, removing her glasses.

Rhea froze once she saw the mint green in them.

"My real name is Noa."

WHACK!

Rhea fell cold to the ground after Emily hit her behind her neck. Many were stunned except Crescent, who snorted, and Arisa who just rolled her eyes. Jeralt picked her up again and spoke softly.

"Sleep kid. Just...rest." He said and Arisa nodded, Sothis used her power to put her to sleep, "...Emily." He said and the said woman turned to him, "You got some explaining to do. Especially with how your people got in here." He said as he saw a couple more individuals teleporting in to help them out.

"It'll take too long." Emily sighed, "Take your daughter to the infirmary. I'll heal her." She said and turned to look at her people, "Members of Sirius!" She yelled and the people quickly stood straight, "Help the students up to the academy and heal them! As for those that are not on the medical team, go help the knights finish preparing the defenses! One week and the Agarthans and Imperial Army will attack! Help the knights with evacuation! Go!" Emily yelled.

"YES, MASTER!"

[—-]

"This whole time...This whole time...We were at war with you?!" Seteth said as Emily was doing everything she could to stay away as he, Crescent, Flayn, and Hai were in the audience chamber, "And to think this whole time you were Emily...Noa." The man felt betrayed but he had suspected it for a while because of the snarky attitude the girl had.

"Aunt...Wake up!" Flayn yelled and smacked Emily on the head, the woman woke up abruptly, frantically looking around till she remembered where she was.

"Sorry...Sorry..." Emily yawned and noticed Hai was knocked out, "I'm currently just exhausted. It was me, Hai, Chris, Amir, and Alexandra that used up all our magic to fully heal Arisa. She should be able to move again properly after a night's sleep. Same with the others." Emily yawned, "I had to hide my identity. Uuggghh...do you realize what went through my mind when I regain memories of my past life? Chaos!" The woman shouted as Seteth frowned.

"Reincarnation...so you were reborn 26 years ago. When did you regain your memories?" He asked and Emily sighed.

"The day Lady Cira...Mother died. The day I found her lying dead on the ground with a hole in her chest." Emily muttered as Seteth closed his eyes, "You were there...remember. I was crying and screaming and suddenly I was screaming in pain holding my head and then I clung onto Lady Cira's body." She will never forget the death of her mother in this second life.

"Aunt..." Flayn looked at her sadly as Emily fully undid her disguise, revealing an older woman with short curly dark green hair with red tips, pointed ears, and mint-colored eyes that faded to red.

"I'm so tired...I'm just so tired after finding out everything. All these years...when I learned everything that Serios did...I was just so angry." Noa said, now she truly looked her age.

"Imagine... an eight-year-old girl suddenly gaining the knowledge of someone of 1,000 years. Remembering everything even her death in the past... and somehow reliving that massacre again in this life." Noa whispered.

"Mercedes's mother...was the younger sister of my biological mother." Emily said, "She and my father left The E mpire to live in the kingdom. But my parents were founded by the Agarthans and killed. I ran and ran...I was five years old." She started to recount her life before she met Cira and her memories, "I lived in the slums of Faerghus. I tried to search for my aunt Charlotte. I was nearly killed again when Cirna found me. She took me in and raised me as her own. And just when I found happiness...it was taken away from me that day." Emily yawned and felt her eyes closing.

"Seteth...I went to war against Rhea because she didn't do anything to stop the sages...that's why...Zzzz..." Ans she was asleep.

"...By the gods..." Seteth just collapsed in his chair, "Again...Again...Again...why does misfortune always fall upon us?" The man just wanted everything to stop, "Noa was here the whole time...Why does she always do this...? Why won't you share your burdens...sister?"

"Father..." Flayn whispered as she walked up to him and held his hand, "I know how you feel. I'm tired too but we have to keep moving on. Not just for our sakes but for everyone's. The people know dragons existed but they don't know why." She said and Seteth nodded.

— The Next Day -

"Eat."

Arisa didn't even fight back and ate the vegetable stew without a word. Rhea had been locked up in her room and the students had just been pouring in, hugging her and thanking the goddess that she was alive. But once she finished her stew, Arisa pounced off her bed and pounced on her three friends, hugging them tightly as she could. She shaking and trembling in their arms because she witnessed them killed by Rhea. For the first time in her life, Arisa truly felt fear. She couldn't do anything because it never occurred to her that Rhea would go to such extreme measures. Sothis hugged them, sobbing because she nearly lost them. The group couldn't help but just fall to the ground and cry in each other's arms. Everything that they held back just poured out. At that moment, they didn't care if anyone saw them.

They were just so tired of fighting. They were just so tired of everything. Now, war was only but a few days away. The real battle was coming and there was nothing they could do to stop it. It was something they couldn't beat. In this fight, fate won. Fate won and the war was coming. In this fight, fate was going to them pay hell for their actions that changed its course. And they knew, it was only going to get worse from here on out.

From the door, no one dared come in as they could hear them crying their hearts out in Arisa's room. As of now, Dimitri let out a small sigh and walked away, leaving them alone.

"Hey, prince." Dimitri stopped and turned to see Jeralt calling out to him, "Come on. We're going to the tavern. And get the other house leaders and the Princess as well."

"Alright..."

[—-]

"So, these are the punks you wanted to have drinks with?" Pale pink-colored hair with a few grays, and some wrinkles, and wore a black long sleeve shirt, a corset over it as well as black riding pants with red boots and a red cloak, this woman looked like a much older version of Anna.

Truthfully, she was the same age as Jeralt. The woman's narrowed eyes looked at the now five house leaders (Petra was made the house leader of the black eagles for a while) with a judging gaze till she snorted and went to whip them some drinks.

"So, which one is the one that seduced your daughter?" The woman said and Yuri, Claude, Lestia were quick to point at Dimitri, outing him, "Bloody hell! How is it the church women always fall for the Faerghus men?!" She said as she flipped a bottle of gin and poured the liquid into a cocktail shaker.

"Mother, you really should stop teasing them," Anna said as she walked into the room and threw her coat onto the coach.

"Silence, Annabelle!" The woman only pointed her knife in her direction, "I already had to deal with the shit these damn nobles make!" She said and continued to mix drinks.

"Anna Ray, now really isn't the moment," Jeralt grumbled and Anna Ray snorted as she turned back to them with four drinks.

"Please! Jeralt, do you realize how much Emily paid me to get information on the bloody Agarthans?! Those sons of bitches are sneaky like rats and flies. I hadn't had this much work in twenty years!" Anna Ray growled and slid a drink to each of the house leaders.

"A Noa knocker for the Faerghus Princess and Prince." She slid Lestia and Dimitri a purple drink with a slice of Noa fruit, "Almyran Blueberry Sucker for the Riegan Heir." A half yellow-half green drink was slid at Claude, "A Brigid honeysuckle martini." A slight pinkish drink was slid down to Petra, "And Lastly, your usual, Wolf Boy, Citris Berry Blend with a shot of tequila." The woman said.

"Anyhow, this place is a safe haven for you kids to speak without being a judge." Anna Ray said as she crossed her arms, "Well, drink."

"Sigh...here goes," Lestia said as all the house leaders picked up their drinks and took a sip.

"Arreghhhhhh! Oh, my throat!" Dimitri and Lestia gasp for air as they felt the strong burning sensation in their throats but both blinked as it quickly went away, only a tangly sweet flavor was left on their tongues.

"Okay, this hit the spot." Claude grinned and licked his lips, it reminded him of home.

"Oh, I know this drink! My mother used to make it for grandfather!" Petra said as she took another sip, enjoying the gently sweet and bitter flavor.

"I haven't had this in a while. Thanks, Anna Ray." Yuri said and the woman laughed proudly.

"Glad you all like it!" She said and looked over to Jeralt, "How're your kids?"

"I've left them alone for a while. They're in my daughter's room crying their hearts out." Jeralt said.

"Good move. After all the shit they've been through, I can only imagine how tired they are." Anna Ray sighed and looked at the lords, "So, what are you all planning to do now that war is on the way?" She said and the lords were silent.

"Brigid will not stand by." Petra suddenly spoke up, "I have had the arrival of a letter from Edelgard. She is asking...that I join her side. She is making the decision...no, she is deciding if Brigid is a friend or an enemy of the Empire. But my choice is not to be friends. My choice is to fight beside you all." The Princess and the others listened, "Brigid is not a friend of the Empire. We will not be following again. We will be ready to fight with you all instead." She nodded firmly, Anna Ray nodding in approval.

"The Empire is moving quickly. Edelgard must have been preparing for this for a while now. If you think about it, she must have been planning for this even before the professor and Christian got the Sword of the Creator... Of course, she was always a step ahead of us. We were blinded by the ball and the Battle of the Eagle and Lion, and everything else... I refuse to go down like this, though. So let's do something about it." Claude said and Anna smiled as she lay on the couch.

"They'll just have to deal with the outcome. I figured as much, but I didn't anticipate it would happen so soon. If Garreg Mach becomes a battlefield, Abyss will have no choice but to get involved. Everyone here will have no alternative. They've got nowhere else to go." Yuri sighed and looked over to the twins, "And you two? What are your plans?"

"I'm going to kill Edelgard." Dimitri's tone dropped, "That girl betrayed us all. She chose to work with the people that assassinated our families and killed others. The dead will have their tribute. Once my sister and I return to the kingdom, we will go ahead with the coronation and prepare for war." He said and Lestia pursed her lips and then gulped down her drink in one go.

"Me...I...I want to talk to Edelgard." Lestia said and Dimitri looked at her furiously.

"Why would you want to talk with her?! There is nothing to talk to her about! We now know the truth that she is working with the people that are behind the death of our parents and you still want to talk?!" He yelled and Lestia snarled, turning to him furiously.

"At least I don't jump to conclusions as you do! I want to know the reason why she chose them! I want to know why she declared war on the world! I want to know why she never came to trust us despite everything we've been through! I want to know why she kept silent!" Lestia yelled back and they were on the verge of the lung in at each other when...

CLAP!

"Arrghhh! The twins screamed as they threw their heads back and covered their ears in pain, both slowly looking back at Anna who had sat with them from the couch with a sour expression.

"Can it. I'm trying to sleep." Anna grumbled and laid back on her bed, her mother had burst out laughing.

"Blaiddyds have always been more sensitive to certain sounds. All Annabelle did was tweak wind magic to create a noise that only Blaiddyds could hear." Anna Ray laughed as she took their empty cups and turned away from them as they sat back down.

"The Fodlan of the present is peaceful compared to back in the day. "Fodlan back in the day was much more violent." Anna Ray muttered as she cleaned their cups, her back facing them, "Especially during...the end of The Crescent Moon War." She sighed heavily.

"Turmoil left and right. Nobles tried to rebuild their houses after having lost sons and daughters during the war. The common folk at some point rebelled, demanding food and water. Of course, the Church couldn't intervene because it was in the process of acknowledging the building of The Leicester Alliance. Let's not forget the number of people from The Clans that were also affected." She turned to them and set on the table a basket of cookies, "On the house."

"You speak as if you were there," Claude said and the woman smiled sadly.

"Who knows?" Anna Ray said, "My point is, this war that the Empire is declaring, is just another repeat of history. War is just an excuse to go against each other. When people fight for a cause, all that's happens different ideals pitted against each other. And they are prepared to end someone's life on a battlefield for their own purposes. Who is to say it is righteous?" The woman's eyes became cold, making them still.

"The Emperor is ready to kill anyone that doesn't agree with her. The Archbishop was the same. Rage doesn't honor the dead. The dead don't care about it. The dead do not feel. Neither do they think, they require nothing from the living. Rage is only harming the living." She said and noticed how frigid the prince became before she looked at Claude.

"You can't impose ideals on a continent by force. You'll only prove the point the Emperor is making." Claude gritted his teeth, "And another thing, I say it will be a long time before Rhea realizes she needs to take responsibility for her mistakes than expecting Sothis to solve everything." Anna Ray said as she pulled back.

"Oh, and let's make an example of Arisa." She said as Jeralt raised an eyebrow, "Jeralt, you know your daughter isn't normal. I wouldn't say she is special either. Yet your daughter looks like she carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. As if she was given a role that was never meant to be hers. She's just one girl. And that girl, like Rhea, is finally being damned by the consequences of her actions. The only difference is that she is taking responsibility, unlike Rhea." Anna Ray sighed, her gaze looked over to the couch where her daughter had fallen asleep.

"I have seven daughters." Anna Ray said, "All of them named with Anna in their names." She said, "Annabelle here was born with a major crest but just because she has one does not mean I treat her any different from any of my daughters. I treat them all equally. But Anna here inherits a burden that only those born with the Major Crest of Ernest inherit." She said.

"Saint Ernest was one of the apostles and was exiled with the others for failing to resurrect The Goddess. However," she raised her hand "unlike the other apostles, Saint Serios saw Ernest as a threat because he could pass down his memories to the ones that inherited his crest." She explained, "Think of it as inheriting an entire library of knowledge into your brain. And because of this, Ernest knew everything. And knew of the lies Serios told." She hissed that last part.

"And because of this, like those who had the Crest of Leraje, anti-magic, and seers, Serios declared them heretics and had them hunted down." She said and the four looked at her shocked.

"The seers fearing for their lives left Fodlan and fled to Brigid, thus the first shamans were born and that's why Brigid and Dadga are the richest when it comes it spirituality and faeries. Those born from The Crest of Leraje and anti-magic lived in the shadows, others left Fodlan and scattered. And my people, the descendants of Earnest, found a way to live. We changed our names, we changed our ways, but we also became an information guild." She said and looked at Jeralt.

"Your turn." The woman grinned and the man rolled his eyes but nodded.

"I've seen many things through the years. I did tell you all how Florencio, Sandana, and I met." Jeralt said as he crossed his arms, "However, it wasn't till years later that I found out their origins. Florencio and Adam were half-siblings and originated from House Varley. Sandana was the sole survivor of the family that used to serve the Almyran royal family. Unlike Florencio, Sandana's hatred ran deep to the point the power of her crest became corrupted. And like my daughter, she would anything to protect us. That's why she went so far..." Jeralt muttered softly.

"Before I met Lady Rhea, I was once part of a noble house that used to serve The Royal Family of Faerghus." Jeralt said, making the students reel back, "I used to work directly under the Faerghus king. Over time, my house fell, and only I was left. I didn't agree with the methods of the king so I left and took what little belongings I had. Ironically, House Kalsana is where my old house used to be." Jeralt chuckled softly.

"I eventually ran into Rhea. In a similar way to how Florencio and Sandana ran into us except that time I killed the assassins and nearly got killed myself. Rhea saved me and that was when I joined The Church of Serios and served her." He said and looked down to the ground.

"The rest is history. But then I met Sitri, Byleth's mother." Jeralt muttered as he closed his eyes, "Rhea kept her isolated from everyone. Even the people of the church. She treated Sitri the way she treated my daughter. However, one of the main differences is that at some point, Sitri managed to escape her grasp." He said and Anna Ray nodded.

"Even if it was for a year and a half, during that time we got to know each other better and eventually we fell in love and I asked her to marry me. Of course, we were worried that Rhea wouldn't approve but surprisingly she welcomed it. It was during Sitri's pregnancy that she started to notice how obsessive Rhea was becoming of her. We knew Rhea was planning something but we didn't know what. Time passed, and our daughter was born. Sitri passed away..." Jeralt muttered softly.

"That was when everything went downhill. Rhea's obsession was starting to show and I swore to my wife that I would protect our daughter. Five months it took and we finally found the chance to escape." Jeralt sighed, "But let me tell you all, don't hesitate to take action. You'll be surprised." He said.

The silence was all there was.

[—-]

"How's everyone doing?" Arisa after they all had their mental breakdowns, cried their hearts out and talked, "I know this is a horrible time but we have to talk about what is next. Especially the role of Archbishop." Arisa said as handed them each a cup of hot chocolate.

"With everything that has happened, Rhea will be made to step down." Amir sniffed as she was handed a napkin, "I'm leaving to Faerghus and never looking back."

"Alliance for me." Alexandra sighed and Chris nodded in agreement.

"I'm fighting Edelgard." Chris said, "But now...I don't think the role of Archbishop is going to anyone else. Arisa, I'm pretty sure Rhea declared publicly that you were going to take over." He said and Arisa nodded.

"I know..." Arisa sighed, "I don't know what to do. I don't even want to go near Rhea...especially after..." she started shivering at the memories of those days locked up being tortured and the amount of touching...nothing inappropriate but the way Rhea kept hugging her then slapped her it just...she should stop thinking about before she goes into shock.

"...What's your experience with politics and dealing with nobles?" Alexandra suddenly said as she intertwined her hands together and rested her elbows on her legs, leaning forward and looking to the ground, hard.

"I have very little experience..." Arisa sighed, "The nobles I dealt with were with the kingdom but it was for a short while." Arisa admired.

"And don't even get me started on politics." Arisa sighed and Alexandra nodded.

"Okay. Then it's only natural I do it." Alexandra said and the three looked at her confused.

Alexandra rose her head and looked Arisa in the eyes.

"I'll do it. I'll take on the role of Archbishop."

3

2

1

"WHAT?!" All there, quickly stood up, "Are you crazy?!"

"Silence." Alexandra suddenly spoke firmly as she stood up and took a deep breath, placing her hands on Arisa's shoulders and spoke, "Arisa, you are the only one out of the four of us who had little to no experience in dealing with nobles as well as politics. Chris, Amir, and I have been dealing with nobles since we were kids. We know how the system works and we know how to play the game. But for me, I also know firsthand how to deal with corrupted nobles. Chris knows what I'm talking about." Alexandra said as she looked over at her friend.

"...I do." The man muttered as he closed his eyes painfully, "I didn't think you were heading that direction."

"I was a lawyer and Medical Examiner who worked investing homicides in my past life. That's why I know the system well." Alexandra smiled sadly, "Arisa, I love you more than anything. You've done more than enough. This time, it's time we take on the role of power." Alexandra smiled sadly as she hugged her.

"What about Claude?" Arisa whispered and Alexandra smiled sadly.

"I have no plans on telling him. If the story does progress like in the original, then he should think that you are in charge while I make a move in the shadows. It'll be a harsh lesson he needs to learn." She said and Arisa nodded.

"Now, let's go talk to Seteth and Crescent."

[—-]

"What?" Seteth and Crescent looked at the group shocked as Emily, Hai, and Flayn were with them, "Are you sure of this? Alexandra, think about this carefully. You are stepping into a battleground that will not be easy." Seteth said as the blue-haired woman nodded firmly.

"I know what I'm getting into Seteth. And, after everything Rhea has done, I think it's better for someone like me who has seen the state of Fodlan to step up. For too long Rhea kept that seat. Seteth, I know this is too much but I know that if I ever stray, you and Crescent would keep me in check." She smiled sadly and Emily couldn't help but chuckle.

"Alright then. It's decided, that Alexandra is the temporary Archbishop. Again, do you want to head down this path? It's going to be a huge culture shock for you. Especially if you have plans to completely reform the church." She said and Alexandra let out a shuttered breath, nodding.

"I do. Also, I'm sure Sothis would agree with me." Alexandra said and Sothis nodded in approval.

"Very well then...I'll inform Shamir, Celica, and Alm. As for Catherine, you don't have to worry. As of now, she's not speaking to Rhea." Seteth said he as looked at the four, "Your four shook her resolve."

"Speaking of Rhea...how..." Crescent shook his head and Emily proudly held up the green dragon stone.

"She's officially clear and the degeneration has been cured. Her mind is now clear and she's having a meltdown of what she has done." Emily said, laughing proudly.

"That's not something to laugh about, Aunt," Flayn grumbled.

"True." Crescent said, "But since you four were chosen by Sothis, then come. I'll take you to that place."

Everyone was confused but Crescent just told them to follow him.

A few minutes took to reach the courtyard till the four recognized that they were standing in front of the Amibo Gazebo. The Crest of Flames glowed underneath it a hue of green and brass metals with different cuts and gears glowed green and turned. Crescent gently placed his hand on it and sighed.

"This device is called The Sheild of Sothis. Many eons ago, Sothis, Noa, Erebus, Indra, and I made this device to defend Zanado should war ever break out again. Sadly, we weren't able to use it on that tragic day but...once the academy was built, I installed it here. Should the academy be attacked, a barrier will encase it, taking the hits of magic attack and the most powerful of them all, The Pillars of Light. I pray the Agarthans do not resort to such methods but you never know." He said and turned to them fully with an unreadable expression.

"Should you four activate it, this spell will connect to your very soul. It will do what you want. It will listen to your will only. And should you die in battle, the barriers will come undone. But as long as one of you lives, the barrier of the academy will not fall. Weaken it will be but not fall." He said, "Do you wish to activate it?"

"...We'll do it." Arisa said and Sothis manifested herself, "My son...I'm sorry I couldn't do more."

"It's alright Mother." Crescent smiled sadly, "And don't worry, I won't say anything to the others until you are ready." He said and Sothis smiled sadly as the four chosen ones surrounded the floating brass orb.

"Place your hands on it. Do you all have your relics?" He said and they nodded, Arisa and Alexandra tapped their chest, Chris tapped his right biceps and Amir tapped her left one, "Huh. So you figured those spells. Anyhow, repeat after me." He took deep breaths and spoke.

"Oh Mother Earth, listen to my plea"

"Oh Mother Earth, listen to my plea."

"Shadows and strength, support me."

"Shadows and strength, support me."

Their veins slowly began to light up in light green, making the eyes of the four widen. Before their eyes, it looked like strings grew from the brass ball and began to attach themselves to them.

"Starts of night, grant us protection."

"Starts of night. Grand us protection."

"By the order of Sirius, shield us from the wicked!"

"By the order of Sirius, shield us from the wicked!" The four yelled and the strings attached.

They grunted, feeling like I'd something just tied itself to their hearts. Panted, the light faded away and all four jumped back when something shot out of the ball and into the sky. They watched it silently explode and rain down like golden snow, gently. They watched as a barrier began to take form and create a dome around the academy. They were awed, amazed and Crescent nodded, walking up to them.

"May Sothis protect you all."

[—-]

Two days passed and only one day left. Left and right Seteth, Crescent, and Emily said their orders for their knights and people. Things were tense and Rhea was still in her room, but she only watched from the shadows. She watched how students were being evacuated and sent to their homes. She watched as her knights prepared the giant crossbows at the top of the towers and wooden spiked fences being set up. Tomorrow, the Imperial Army would arrive with the Agarthans. From her window she sat with void eyes and turned when she heard her door open to see Emily, or should she say, Noa, looking at her with a neutral expression.

"If you have any regrets, make sure to fight tomorrow," Emily said and placed the dragon stone on the table, and turned to leave.

"You're trusting me with this?" Rhea muttered, and Emily stopped and turned her head bit.

"Not trusting. It's your obligation to fight and fix the mess you created." And the door slammed shut.

Rhea stood up and picked up the stone, gently cradling it in her arms. Her lip quivered as she held it to her chest.

"So my time had finally come..."

[—]

"The Golden Deer will take charge of the west! Blue Lions will defend the South. Black Eagles will take charge of defending east and Ashen Wolves, you will guard the entrance to the academy with the knights." Arisa said as she had drawn out an entire map.

"Jeralt and his team will be finishing the evacuations with Sirius and available knights. Chris, you're with your house. Amir, be with Black Eagles and Hanneman. Alex, you're with the Golden Deer and Manuela. I'll be with my lions." Arisa said and the group nodded.

"How are defense coming?" Arisa said and Crescent placed a map on the table for them.

"Abyss has been secured and I blocked the entrances to keep any Agarthans or imperials, soldiers, from entering. The people will be safe." Crescent said and Yuri let out a sigh of relief.

"The Imperial Army will arrive mid-day tomorrow. Is everyone ready?" Arisa said and they were all silent.

"I know you are all scared. I am too but we'll make it. I won't let anyone die. Not on my watch. And if I have to...I'll transform." Arisa said as they took deep breaths.

- late at night -

"Dad, have you ever fought in a war?" Arisa said a Jeralt sighed as he and his daughter stood at the goddess tower, watching out to the forest.

"I have. It's not pretty." Jeralt said and both hugged, "Make sure to come back to me. I can't bear to lose you again." He said and Arisa could feel him trembling.

"I will...I promise."

[—-]

"Can't sleep?"

Claude jumped when he heard a voice from his window and turned to see Alexandra had jumped in. The boy smiled bitterly as she joined him on his bed, sitting next to him.

"No. The war is tomorrow. There's no way I can sleep." He said and both laid on his bed, and she let him rest his head over her heart, "I'm just glad you're okay."

"I'm happy you're okay." Alexandra smiled sadly, "Tomorrow is the war. Say, Claude...if we don't make it..."

"Don't." Claude said and the woman's eyes widened as he rose and was on top of her, his arms caging her, "Don't think like that. We'll make it through. I will make sure of it. And if we lose the fight but manage to escape...You're coming with me." He declared as Alexandra looked at him shocked.

"Cla...No..." she raised her hands me cupped his cheeks, "Khalid..." Claude looked at her shocking yet she smiled warmly as she rose and gently placed her lips on his.

Claude was too stunned to speak till she broke away and rested her forehead on his. The man smiled sadly and rubbed his nose against hers, both intertwining their hands and slowly laying back on the bed.

"I promise to always be with you. Even if not I am not there physically, I'll always be in your heart." Alexandra whispered as Claude grazed his lips on hers.

"We'll make it through."

[—-]

"Love..." Gina spoke as he rest her head on Chris's chest, "I'm worried. Tomorrow we'll be officially facing them." She said as Chris sighed.

"I'm not looking forward to it." Chris muttered and raised an eyebrow as his wife straddled him, "Tomorrow we fight."

"It may be our last," Gina said and Chris smiled sadly as he sat up and rest his forehead on jerks.

"It won't. I won't let anyone hurt you. I love you." He muttered against her lips as he felt her kiss him, "And I'm going to show you that now." He said and flipped them over, taking her lips and quickly devouring her as their hands intertwined.

"I love you."

[—-]

"How's Zander?" Amir said as Glenn stood beside her.

"Faerghus is prepared. We only hope, we have enough tools." Glenn said as the woman nodded, "We're not going to win this fight but I'll make sure to get the Blue Lions and you out of here should worse come to shove. I can't believe Beleth betrayed us all." He said and Amir sighed.

"He's going to regret it."

[—-]

"Dimitri, you came?" Arisa said as she arrived at her room and saw the prince at her door, "Come in." She said and the prince walked in, she closed the door and before she knew it, he slammed his hands onto the door, caging her.

"Why?" Dimitri's head hung as she was shocked, "How are you still walking normally? Aren't you afraid? I don't want to lose you again. Please, Arisa...Please...I thought I lost you..." Dimitri kept saying as she smiled sadly and both slid down to the ground.

"Dimitri, I'm scared." Arisa whispered as she cupped his cheeks and rested her forehead on his, "I don't want to die. I don't want to sleep. I don't want to leave any of you. But tomorrow is our fight." She whimpered as she shook in his arms and felt her eyes tear up, "I'm scared. I'm scared."

"I know..." Dimitri let out a shuttered breath, "When I saw you on that throne...I thought you were dead. I thought...I just felt my soul break seeing you in such a state. Rhea and the church...if we survive, she will be held accountable." He said and Arisa smiled sadly.

"Thank you...What are your plans if we survive?" She said as she rested her head on his chest.

"When we return to Faerghus, I will be ascending the throne. I will finish what my father started. I know I will be met with hostility from both sides of the church and nobles, not also mention Cleobulus is also at large." He said and looked at her with a soft smile, "I will not be alone. The Blue Lions, my brother and sister, Emily, my aunts, Rodrigue, and you..." he said.

"Another thing." He rests his chin on her head, "I will be declaring The Kingdom independent from the church. With what has happened over the year, they have long lost my trust, and with everything we learned...I believe this is the best course of action." He explained as Arisa looked at him worried.

"Are you ready to fight against Rhea?" Arisa said and Dimitri chuckled.

"I cut off her hand and managed to electrocute her when rescuing you. I can take her. I made an enemy of the church. Not the faith. It's the people that run the church that will not be happy." Dimitri sighed, "But yes...I am well aware I will be met with protest from both sides. But I have faith in those that stood by our side since way back." He smiled at her.

"I asked you when we first reunited if you would come to Fhirdiad with me." He aid and Arisa shut him up by kissing him.

The prince froze and Arisa enjoyed just how red he was turning before she broke away and licked her lips.

"You know my answer, you idiot. And I'll say it again. I'm going with y—!" And his hand flew behind her head, crashing his lips on hers.

Their breaths mingled, tongues swirling and exploring each other's mouths. Their hands intertwined as he pushed her onto the ground, not breaking the kiss. He kissed her as if she was the last drop of water on earth. Her hips arched, making him freeze for a moment before a growl escaped his lips.

They would have continued had it not been for…

"My...The prince takes it to a whole new level of devouring you."

Arisa quickly pushed Dimitri off as the prince was too stunned and frantically looked around, searching for the voice that spoke.

"Were you watching?!" Arisa yelled and both heard Sothis cackling, "Did you forget I was here?"

"Oh, but continue. I'm looking forward to having grandchildren." Sothis laughed and disappeared.

"Oh my god...I am so sorry." Arisa said and she covered her face in shame.

"But you two have my blessing." Sothis giggled as the couple just hugged each other and buried their faces in each other's neck, "But I promise you both this, I will make you all will see the sunrise the next day. I promise..."

"I promise..."

— The Next day: To War -

"Listen up, everyone! The Imperial army is upon us. If you can fight, pick up a weapon! Everyone else, hurry up and evacuate! We have the goddess's protection on our side. We have nothing to fear. Victory will be ours!" Alois yelled as all those that were fighting unleashed their war cries and raised weapons in the air.

People were scurrying as fast as they could. Crescent made sure to take in as many as he could into The Abyss before he sealed their doors and placed barriers. He won't fight in the battle because he has to defend Abyss. Emily ordered her people to stay and help as she prepared to return to Faerghus, taking as many Faerghus students as she could. Xina prepared her dark scythe and called forth her team, a group of dark knights she commanded.

"Professor, are you ready?" Cathrine said as she walked up, the students were with Arisa, "Not yet." Arisa said.

"Well, hurry up. I don't need to tell you that the situation is dire. We have some support troops from the local nobles, but the army we're facing is immense. No matter how you look at it, we're at a disadvantage. To make matters worse, the enemy is being led by Edelgard. Do not underestimate how extraordinary her abilities are." She said and she glared at The Black Eagles.

"Of course, we know, but we can't let her get away. Also, please cease your unwarranted glaring. We don't deserve your judgment." Linhardt said with his disapproving glare at the woman.

"We will stop Edelgard's rampage!" Lysithea said as she raised Thyrsus in the air.

"Hm, I should have made a move on the Imperial princess before things got this far. It could have changed everything." Sylvain said and got two smacks, one from Glenn and the other from Ingrid.

"Arisa, we're ready!" Tharja yelled out from above her wyvern, "The Imperial army is a few minutes away! Everyone get ready!" She yelled as everyone scattered but only Lestia, Dimitri, Dedue, Sadi and Arisa remained together.

"Your Highness, you do not seem...well," Dedue said Dimitri laughed in an insane tone.

"Unwell, you say? What's gotten into you? Nothing could be further from the truth. I'm so happy I can hardly contain myself. My father, my stepmother, my dear friends? They want the heads of those responsible for taking their lives! They want their lives! They've whispered as much to me. And the chance to answer their pleas has arrived, at long last!" Dimitri chuckled deliriously.

"Do not lose control," Lestia said coldly but the looked her brother had made her shiver.

"I'm always in control, Lestia! And I'll stay in control until I have the pleasure of killing those bastards and traitors!" He laughed dementedly.

"Dimitri, you're on defense."

Dimitri froze and slowly looked to Arisa, who closed her eyes painfully.

"What did you just say?" Dimitri said as Arisa took a deep breath and spoke again, looking at him coldly.

"You said you would listen to my command. Well, this one I want you-no. You have to obey. You, Lestia, Mercedes, Dedue and Felix will be with me. Sadi, you will be the others. Dimitri, your role is to watch our backs with Dedue till we get the opening we need to strike down Edelgard and Hubert. And I'm going to say this once. You. Will. Not. Kill. Edelgard." Dimitri was shaking with rage, "I want Edelgard...alive." Arisa said coldly and the prince gritted his teeth.

"Fine...I'll listen. But I can't guarantee I won't kill her." He growled and Arisa smiled sadly.

"I know. That's why I'm going to be there to stop you." She said and he nodded, chuckling dryly.

"The thing you do to me, Arisa."

"I love you, too."

— Enemy's side -

"They have Sirius by their side." Odesse growled as he looked at his crystal ball, "Still, the academy doesn't have enough people. We should be able to get them from behind." He said and Bias snorted.

"No can do. Looks like they are prepared." The woman said, "Chilon and Myson are ready to unleash the bombs and should be able to destroy their defenses." She said and the two turned to see Edelgard, Hubert, and Henry come in along with Beleth.

"Beleth will lead the army from behind with Myson and Chilon. I'll lead the front." Edelgard as Bias snorted, "I'm surprised to see you here considering the state Xina left you." She said and the Agarthan woman laughed.

"Thank Pittacus for that. The woman may just be a woman on a computer screen now but she's still useful." Bias said and the four looked at her confused.

"Computer screen?" Henry said and Bias rolled her eyes.

"Advanced technology." Bias waved her hand in dismissal, "But, let's go. Oh, and we have a wonderful surprise against the Nabateans. Look forward to it." She said and Edelgard raised an eyebrow as the woman left.

"I'm curious as to what you all have planned," Edelgard said and Odesse chuckled.

"You'll find out soon."

[—-]

"So it begins." Arisa muttered as she watched soldiers charge and roar as they charged at the imperial army with their weapons raised, "FORMATION!" She yelled, sword raised.

"Report! The enemy has taken the entrances there the reinforcements were heading!" A Knight yelled as Arisa gritted her teeth as she flew with Red Hare.

"We must retake the strongholds to the east and west so our reinforcements can get through," Dedue yelled.

"GOLDEN DEER AND BLACK EAGLES! RETAKE THE STRONGHOLDS!" Arisa roared as she saw de notice beast charging her group's way, "CHARGE!"

War had now truly come. Her worst fear had come true. Left and right, it was a bloody massacre. Students, soldiers, and knights fighting for their lives. At the entrance to the academy, Rhea was stationed with Seteth and Flayn, fighting the soldiers. Amir roared beside Hanneman and Black Eagles as they managed to push back and retake their stronghold. Arisa was surprised to not see the Death Knight but Henry was the one fighting them now. She could hear Thraja's furious roar at the mage, calling him a traitor of Sirius. Alexandra gritted her teeth as a group of wyverns riders were killed and jumping in front of the, was the one person she felt her blood boil.

"Odesse." Alexandra spat, "I see you are alive after you've been injured." She said and the man smirked under his mask.

"True. I guess I'm called, Lucky." And they charged.

At this point, the fighting had been going on for a few minutes but it felt like hours. Left and right, the students attacked yet the mange moved so fluid and easy. That was until she suddenly noticed that he was doing was dodging them. He didn't fight back, he was just playing with them. Her scythe turned to dust and before her was her relic time, making the mage suddenly look at her shocked.

"SOULS OF THE DAMNED! FORTRYDE!" Alexandra yelled and sprits made of dark magic began to rise all around them, cackling and screaming, she maneuvered her hand and had them charge at him.

"Get him!" She yelled and the man's hands glow as he was trying to sway them away, the souls of the damned cackled and screamed at him.

"Odesse Of Agartha!"

"Sinner!"

"Possessing a dead body is forbidden!"

"Trespasser!"

"BLOODY HELL!" Odesse yelled as the woman's eyes glowed red and ordered the golden deer to strike, "DAMMIT!" He roared as the Mages got around and began to chant a spell to encase in a magic sphere but...l

"Kri..."

"Huh?" Cyril looked around as well as the knights that had come around and again the strange sound echoed around them.

"No...No...No...We're all damned..." Alexandra quickly turned to look at Oddesse as the fortryde mangled him, "What did you do?!" Claude yelled and then...

"AHH!" A Knight screamed as he was suddenly grabbed and dragged away into a destroyed building the screaming became gurgling as sounds of flesh being ripped apart and bones being broken and eaten, were heard.

"LOOK OUT!"

It was too late.

Alexandra didn't even have time or make a move when she was suddenly thrown back like a ragged doll along with everyone. Her back collided with a brick wall and the air was knocked out of her lung. The impact was enough to kill her but she managed to use Wind on time to protect everyone and lessen the impact. She coughed, the taste of iron invading her tongue she spits and coughed. She heard the sphere cracking and Odesse breaking free. The souls of the damned screaming, disappeared as they were suddenly cut away by a scythe. The monster that killed the knight growled and hissed from where it was hidden. She looked up to see a figure of a Dark Knight on top of a zombified horse with armor.

The wretched scent of rotting flesh along with swirls of dark magic she could sense coming from the Knight. It's magic similar to Sylvain when he would activate his crest and when Miklan turned into a demonic beast. She suddenly heard the most hateful snarl in her mind as she felt her body trembling in rage as she tried to get up. A flash of bright light blinded them before they knew it, where Marrinne should have been now stood, Sylvain. Where Ignatz now stood Hapi. Where Manuela should have been was Felix and where Raphael was now Dorothea.

"What the hell just happened?!" Sylvain yelled and a dark female laugh was heard all around them.

"KILL...KILL HIM!" Cirina's vengeful soul screamed in her mind but Alexandra knew better than to let her take over.

Right now she needed to focus on getting the others to safety. Sylvain took a step back as the grip on his lance of ruin tightened. Felix along with Dorothea, Silque, and Boey was trying to remain standing up but their energy suddenly felt drained.

"So, she finally showed up." Odesse chuckled as he stood up, injured, and looked over to the Risen corpse, "So, she brought you all. No. Not all. I have an idea who she brought." He laughed and the group screamed when the monster in the building suddenly jumped out and head towards the direction Arisa was.

"Did...Edelgard resorted to using corpses?" Alexandra spat as she forced herself to get up.

"Wait...look at the weapon he is holding!" Claude yelled and she looked.

"Oh, the Emperor doesn't know of this. She doesn't command them. The Sage of Purgatory, The God Slayer, commands The 10 Elites." He grinned.

"...What did you just say?" Alexandra felt her heart drop once she realized the weapon the Dark Knight was holding...was the dark version of The Lance of Ruin.

"I must thank you humans for coming up with names for them in this current state. Yes, DeadLord is a fitting name." He chuckled and a growl was heard from the DeadLord.

"Now...Jose Gautier." Odesse spoke and the DeadLord Gautier raised his Lance of Ruin high in the air, "KILL THEM ALL"

"NOOOOO!" Alexandra screamed and lunged herself in front of everyone as time slowed down.

Red and black magic filled the corrupted and light engulfed them all.

[—]

BOOOM

Rhea froze and slowly turned in the direction the explosion came from. That surge of energy and power, she never forgot. Seteth and Flayn felt their hearts drop realizing what that power was as they watched the explosion disappear and only crumbled buildings and molten hot rocks were left where once the stronghold was. Standing there was Odesse and a Dark Knight they never thought they see again.

"THAT'S?!" Flayn screamed and quickly turned around to see a flash of light.

Behind them suddenly appeared students of the black eagles, golden deer, and blue lions.

"Medic! Medic!" Claude screamed as in his arms he held a burned Alexandra and Flayn ran over to him along with Seteth, "S-She just jumped! And before w-we knew we were all covered in ice and suddenly we're here?!" Claude was frantic as Dorothea quickly went to him and with Flayn, began to use heal on Alexandra.

She was burned, half her body covered in frost, the white of her eyes red, and blood poured from her mouth.

"Was that...really Jose Gautier?" Sylvain said, shaken.

"What did you just say?!" Rhea yelled and another explosion, the same kind except this made the ground tremble, and just like before, a mixture of students was suddenly with them.

"Medic! Medic!" Yelled Glenn and Ferdinand as they turned to help Amir, who was in the same state as Alexandra except she was drenched in black mud.

"Rhea...The Sage of Purgutiry..." Seteth shook as the Archbishop was trying not to break down...

"Is here."

[—-]

"What the hell just happened?" Arisa gasped as she looked at her group that was now, Yuri, Dimitri, Bernadetta, Mercedes, Dominic, Ignatz, Balthus, Ashe, Siegbert, Castor, Leonie, and Hanneman.

"Lady Edelgard! We're getting reports of strange individuals holding relics are the ones that destroyed the strongholds of the east and west! They are gone but we are victorious!" A wyvern rider named Ladislava yelled from the sky, "General Hubert was forced to retreat along with General Henry! It seems the Death Knight has chosen to betray us!" A wyvern rider named Randolph yelled.

"So, he chose to defect." Edelgard let out a shuttered breath as she closed her eyes and then snapped them open as she watched the professor's group had finally made it, "It's been a while, Professor."

"Edelgard..." Arisa muttered as they stood 10 feet away from each other, "I have one question. Why?" Arisa said and Edelgard sighed.

"You know why." She said again Arisa's hand balled into a fist.

"The next time we meet..." Arisa pointed her sword at her, "I will cut down everything in my path. Sound familiar, Edelgard?" The tears streamed down her eyes yet her voice did not waver.

"Yes...I told you those words a month ago during my coronation." Edelgard took a deep breath as she tried to steel herself, "You can still join me. You can still leave the academy and stand by my side. You know what Rhea has done." She was desperate.

She would do anything to make Arisa stand by her side but the woman only bit her lip, enough to break the skin. The taste of copper had never tasted so disgusting in Arisa's mouth. The scent of blood, her fear of it, she hated it all. Why? Why did things go this way?

"Yet you're no better than her."

"Do not compare me to her!"

"Ha." Arisa lowered her sword, looking to the side, "You're choosing to work with the very people who murdered your family. Rhea also used the forbidden arts to try to bring back the dead. Both of you toyed with life. Yet you both refuse to understand why so many are against you. You won't listen. You shut us out. You believe your own ideals are the only ones. You...you see us as your pawns in the chessboard." She raised her hand and balled it into a fist and opened it, showing a chess piece.

The Pawn.

"Did you know..." She turned to her while looking at the piece in her hand, "The pawn can become a Queen, Bishop, Rook, or Knight. There are no restrictions to how many pieces of a given type you can have via promotion." She looked up at her with cold eyes.

"Those who you see as pawns will soon choose to promote themselves. You're going down!"

"CHARGE!" Edelgard roared and hell ensued.

The remainder of her group went after Randolph and Ladislava while she and Dimitri charged straight at Edelgard. Weapons clashed and blood spilled, imperial soldiers were killed. It was during this war that Arisa truly got to see how stronger and more dangerous her students had become as well as her fellow professors. Hanneman unleashed Meteor on Ladislava and the women barely had time to have her wyvern dodge before Ignatz and Bernadetta shot their arrows at her. The wyvern was struck down and the woman was forced to retreat.

"Hya!" Bernadetta found the opening she needed and shot an arrow at Edelgard, making the white-haired girl scream when the arrow went through the opening of her armor and into her shoulder.

"You...Think very carefully about whether you wish to raise your sword against the Empire... or if you will offer it to us in fealty. And after you've thought it through, if you still wish to fight, I won't stop you. I will simply use the full extent of my power... and crush you." Edelgard snarled and jumped back barely on time when arrows of acidic water suddenly started to rain down on her.

Bernadetta's Crest had manifested in her eyes and water droplets floated around.

"So that's your answer." Edelgard sighed, "Too bad. I still need you and the Black Eagles alive. HUBERT! MYSON! NOW!" She roared and before Arisa had a chance, magic circles appeared underneath all the students of the Black Eagles and Hanneman, she had them wrapped away.

At that moment, Arisa and Chris both activated Time's pulse and managed to grab the Black Eagles that were closer to them, Bernadetta, Siegbert, Dorothea, and Ferdinand but unfortunately, they were not able to get the rest.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Dimitri roared as Randolph was forced to retreat and Edelgard looked at them with an emotionless expression.

"The Black Eagles we're once under my command. It's only right I bring them back to their homes." She said and Arisa roared as she charged at Edelgard, Aymr and The Sword of the Creator shook the ground.

Dimitri came on Edelgard's left and the woman shivered he saw his fist charged with lighting magic coming her way. She jumped back and spun to dodge Balthus's and Leonie's punches. Arisa came at her from behind and the girl waved her hand and unleashed fire at her. Arisa screamed as she was thrown back and used the sword to shield herself from the fire spell. Bernadetta, Ashe, and Ignatz jumped high in the air, both using the water spells that were taught to them on their arrows and unleashing another wave of them on the Emperor. Mercedes suddenly appeared behind Edelgard like a ghost, for a moment, the Emperor thought she was Jeritza because of how menacing she looked with the black scythe she was using. Again, she just managed to jump on time but screamed when she felt to part of the helix of her ear was cut off.

She panted and gasped for air, placing her hand over her ear and seeing the blood pouring. She was falling. And just when she was going to make her move, Dimitri was suddenly in front of her with an insane smile ready to plunge his lance through her chest but...

"I think I've let you humans have your fun."

CRACK!

[—-]

One second ago she was on the verge of watching Dimitri ram his lance through Edelgard's chest and a second later, a fist covered in dark magic punched him right in the right eye. Enough to crush it to a bloody pulp and send him flying to her. Had she not caught him on time, the prince would have collided with the shattered stone walls. The prince screamed, realizing what had happened to his right eye. But when Arisa tried to turn back time to save him...something prevented her. No, it suddenly felt like someone was messing with her powers. Suddenly, she could hear Sothis's breathing become rapid, her heartbeat becoming faster, and she started sweating more. Her palms felt cold and sweaty, her body trembling.

But it was more than that. It was as if a thick dark fog suddenly rained down on everyone, the air became thin, and their lungs suddenly felt like they were filled with smoke, unable to breathe. The feeling was similar when Rhea thinned the air in the battle to cause her opponents to enter a hallucination state but this time was different. The black fog was visible as if physically choking them. Even Edelgard was affected by it but as Arisa desperately tried to remain awake, she finally felt it.

No, she felt Sothis coward in fear.

"My, my, my."

Metal boots clicked on the stone floor as their owner clapped their hands slowly. They walked, stopping just in front of Edelgard as they looked at their bloody armored hand.

"I knew you were going against the descendants of Uriel, Roman, and Mila, but this is a whole level of pathetic." A deep, alluring, dark, yet sweet-like sugar voice spoke.

Their owner raised their hand and placed their index finger on their lips, their tongue licked the blood clean, humming in bliss. Edelgard felt her heart drop, her body shook as she looked up at the person who stood in front of her. She recognized them. No, she knew them yet...the smile they had was wrong.

"Sigh," they clicked their teeth and shook their head, "Such a shame you're all mere children compared to the others back in the day. Now..." Arisa felt her body freeze the second golden-colored eyes that faded to mint looked at her, "It's been so long...Sothis."

Long curly golden colored hair with streaks of purple that stopped mid-waist. Armor of a Dark Knight that was modified to look like it belonged to a Magil Knight. Golden eyes that smiled in glee and pale blue-colored skin. But it was what they wore on their head that made her blood boil. The sides of the crown looked like wyvern wings but they were made of bone. The front of the crown looked like the snot of a dragon with the spikes coming out from the head and crest stone with The Crest of Flames in the center.

"Such a mess." The woman said as looked over to the area where Rhea was and spotted the four Nabateans that suddenly felt like they couldn't breathe, "Oh my. So Rhea is alive."

"W-Who are you?" Edelgard rasped as the woman only smiled as she made the black fog disappear off Edelgard.

"Ah, so you must be Edelgard." The woman hummed as she turned to her, "You and I never really met but I suppose now it will do. As of now, I'm the one in charge of Agartha and..." she grinned wickedly at Arisa, "I'm here to take back what is mine."

"Mila. Come out."

A puddle of black mud formed next to Edelgard and she quickly stepped back as women rose from it. Her gremory dress was tattered and covered in grime. Her skin was pale and rotting away, some of her gloves have been burned off and the bones of her hands could be seen. The scent of rotting flesh was so overpowering that it made the Emperor gag. Arisa felt her heart drop once she realized, who that walking corpse was.

"Oh Sothis, how lovely to see that face of yours again even if your look different." The woman took a step forward and only moved her head to the right to dodge the lighting spell that came at her from the right.

"Get. Away. From. Them!" Mercedes snarled as she panted and gasped for air, her hand raised as it cracked with lighting magic.

"Hoooo? Mila look. That's your granddaughter." The woman said and Mila turned Mercedes's way, "Hm. She's your spiriting image. I would have thought you were both twin sisters if you were alive." She laughed and looked back at Dimitri and Arisa.

"I guess I should introduce myself since you are all going to die at Mila's hands. Expect Sothis. You're mine." The woman grinned and waved her hand, making the monster that attacked earlier head their way, "My name is Anacharis, the Sage of Purgatory. But I see myself more as a dragon killer. But also, I'm here to take back what is mine."

"Sothis does not belong to you!" Arisa yelled, "I don't care who you are but I'm not letting you kill me or anyone!" Arisa roared, "Well, since you introduced yourself! My name is Arisa!" She pointed her sword.

Anacharis raised an eyebrow but suddenly twitched, her golden eyes narrowing as she observed the magic around the girl when her smile suddenly became insane.

"Oh...Oh my! Now, this is an even better treat! This is much better than Sothis!" The woman took a step and before Arisa knew it, Anacharis was in front of her, cupping her cheeks, her grin insane and her golden eyes wide.

"Never in a million years did I think I've ever encountered one of your kind! Oh, I know this magic! A rarity among—-!" All she did was raised her hand to stop the students that lunged at her in mid-air, "Don't interrupt me." And she slammed them to the ground.

"AHHHHHHH!" They screamed, and Hubert used that opportunity to warp Bernadetta and Siegbert away.

"Why won't time pulse activate?!" Arisa internally screamed as she felt her body just frozen in place Anacharis just smile and gently caressed her cheek.

"In all my lifetime, I have only encountered two Outwolders. A woman named Mesuline and a man named Xeno. The rarest of rarest. Humans that come from beyond the gates with knowledge beyond the stars. Just like Sothis. Hmmm..." she hummed and Arisa finally, and slashed at her.

"Hahahaha!" Anacharis laughed as she jumped back and looked at Mila, "Mila, I leave it to you. Kill everyone else but make sure to bring me the woman, alive." She laughed and simply stepped back to stand beside Edelgard, "Now watch, Wilhelm's descendent." She smiled, "This is what it truly means to be a God Slayer."

"AAAHHHHHHH!" Blood-curdling screams filled the place as before Arisa's she watched Mila Lamine unleash her magic and raised everyone in the air, and...

Edelgard screamed as she watched them all ripped to pieces before her eyes. On the ground was only a blood-stained sword. Anacharis laughed as she walked up to pick up the sword but...

Bubump.

Time turned back once more and Arisa roared as she unleashed the full power of the crest and made them all retreat. Anacharis hummed as she saw them all disappear, feeling a small ache in her chest but all she did was close her eyes and turn.

"What a letdown." She said and began to walk away, "She's an outworlder but weak. But I did sense Sothis's heart inside of her. Hm...So like me, Sothis has a new vessel." She said and Edelgard gritted her teeth.

"You..."

Anacharis stopped and the woman barely had time to jump back when Edelgard warped away on time. Mila let out an inhumane scream and lunged at her. Confusion filled the Agarthan General as to why suddenly the DeadLord Elite was attacking her. She should be completely under her control. The same with the others. But Anacharis did recall that at some point she felt something pull on her be— her head suddenly snapped to her belt and saw that one stone out of the 10 she had on her belt was missing.

"Hahahahaha..." Anacharis laughed darkly as she remembered when she was holding Arisa's face, "So you do have some tricks up your sleeves." She said and looked up to the crimson sky with a smile and raised her hand.

With a snap of her fingers, black chains wrapped around Mila and held her down. The Deadlord screamed as she kept thrashing around but Anacharis just smiled.

"Alright, then Sothis! Let's play! It's been so long since we've played this game called fate!"

[—-]

"Gasp! Gasp! Gasp! BRUGGHHH!" Arisa was vomiting on the ground, blood, panting gasping for air as she and the others were now at the top of the hills away from the academy.

"We've lost..." Claude muttered as Alexandra hung her head, "All the Black Eagles except Dorothea and Ferdinand have been taken..." Alexandra muttered softly.

"I ordered the knights to retreat," Seteth said as he walked up and stood by Rhea and Flayn, looking down for the field to see more demonic beasts on the way and the one leading them was DeadLord Gautier and Lamine.

"Not yet."

Everyone looked up to Rhea who took a deep breath as she held her dragon stone tightly. In the distance near a town by the outer walls of the monastery, a large reserve of Empire soldiers was seen charging toward the monastery. Rhea smiled sadly at them before she took a step forward.

"All of you." She said and looked at the, one last time, "I know what I have done can never be forgiven but at least I will make sure you all live." She said and it finally dawned on Arisa what she was about to do, "Everyone here, young and old, is in your hands."

"RHEA WAIT!"

And Rhea jumped. No matter how much they called her name, Rhea hurled towards them, her eyes closeting as tears fell, her body glowing, "I will not allow another Red Canyon tragedy to happen here." She said and transformed into the Immaculate one, taking flight.

"She's not going to be able to fight them on her own." Arisa said as she got up as well as Amir and Alexandra, "Arisa wait!" Flayn yelled and was too late.

Alexandra and Amir followed and joined her. The trio ran as fast as they could towards Rhea and the demonic beast and right when Rhea was about to hit, then they slashed the monsters down. Rhea looked at them shocked. As the Immaculate One knocked away the Beasts, part of the wall overlooking a large abyss is destroyed, with a Beast falling to its death below. The remaining Demonic Beasts are crushed by rubble in the ensuing collapse of the wall. A bewildered Immaculate One glanced at the three women.

"What are you three doing here?!" Rhea yelled and gasped when she saw students running their way but...

"Oh, how lovely."

Arisa quickly turned to see Anacharis with her soldiers and the Deadlords watching them. The woman smiled and raised her hand, both DeadLords screaming as they launched a ball of magic at the students.

"NO!" The three screamed and quickly jumped in front of them, using everything they could to block their attack but feeling the raw power of the 10 Elites was too much.

The sheer volume of the blast was enough to erase a human from existence. Not even their bones would remain. But the girls were not ordinary humans. One, chosen by the goddess, and the other two, her chosen guardians of the shadows and ice. The moment, when the blast hit, they made a choice.

It was either them or students.

The barrier was cracking and at the rate, it was going, they weren't going to survive. Arisa took a deep breath and spoke, at that moment her eyes began bleeding.

"I chose my students."

Amir smiled softly as she closed her eyes along with Alexandra, who nodded.

"What do you mean you chose us?! We're getting out of here alive! All of us!" Dimitri yelled.

The barrier was cracking even more. Hilda hugged tightly Dorothea as Ferdinand and Lorenz were trying to use their magic to heal their friends. Claude and Lestia were in no condition to fight because their left arms were broken. Marianne held tightly onto Ashe. Dimitri pleaded that they would make it but suddenly he was in a white magic bubble along with the others. Everyone realized what was about to happen when their professors gave them smiles. A smile of reassurance.

"No..no! You can't do this!"

"You promised!"

"No! You have to come with us!

"Please don't do this!"

"You said you are with us!"

"Arisa please!"

Their hearts ache to hear their students beg them to come with them but it would be impossible. With one final smile, Arisa, Amir, and Alexandra said their final words to their students.

"Live."

It was as if all sound around them disappeared when they used the last of their strength to throw the students to safety. It was as if time slowed down as the last of the barrier finally shattered. The students could only watch in horror as they gave them, one last smile before the blast slaughtered them. They watch the blast destroy the left side of Amir's body. The blast ripped Alexandra like a ragged doll and Arisa...

Her body completely shattered like glass. The bodies of the three women, fell into the canyon as the students landed to safety.

"RRRRHHAAAA!"

The Immaculate One let out a horrifying roar and charged at them. The students landed in a safe area. Dimitri and Claude screamed as they ran to the cliff but Chris managed to grab them and the other before the entire area crumbled away.

"LET US GO! LET US GO!" Roared Dimitri but was hit behind his neck and knocked out.

Chris as sobbed as he and the remaining knights, soldiers, and students ran for their lives, scattering.

Anacharis burst into a fit of laughter as Rhea was forced to turn back onto a human and was apprehended by the imperial soldiers. The Agarthan General raised her hands and the monster roared and emerged from behind her, a breed of gargantuan spiders that is enlarged through the interference of fell magic.

"Now my sweet, Bael." She cooed as she turned and saw more of her baels emerge from the forest, "You know what to do. Kill all the survivors that are in the academy." The Baels roared and charged to the town and academy.

The woman only smiled as she watched the bloodbath. Humans, animals, and fairies alike that didn't escape were killed and devoured by the monsters. The woman grinned as she looked up to the skin.

"Today is my victory, Sothis. I look forward to seeing you again in five years." Anacharis said and turned away, walking back into the shadows as her footsteps left a trail of blood.

[—-]

In Imperial Year 1181, the New Adrestian Emperor, Edelgard von Hresvelg, led a strategic assault against the monastery at Garreg Mach. Though her own losses were great, her foes had no choice but to surrender. Archbishop Rhea commanded the Knights of Seiros, leading from the front lines against the Imperial Army. But amidst the chaos of battle, she vanished, and her whereabouts remain unknown. With this single attack, the Adrestian Empire officially launched its offensive against the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus and the Leicester Alliance. The unification of Fódlan has begun.

Yet, a new shadow has fallen over Fódlan.

Shattered Songs of Faith: White Clouds: Chapter 79: Shattered Faith: Part 4: Fall of Sirius: End

[—-]

And that is it! The White Clouds Arc of Shattered songs of Faith has officially ended. Thank you all for reading my story and sticking around. It has been nearly three years since this story was released and we have finally reached the end of the academy arc. I will be taking a break from this story, and waiting till Three Hopes comes out. The reason for this is, is because there are some things I want to confirm from the trailer before I continue. I will also be going back to my old chapters and fixing grammar errors as well as rewriting some parts.

The paralogues of this story will be deleted and moved to a different story I am working on called: Shards of Memories and Songs, which will be a series of paralogues, one-shots, and such that could not be fitted here or in Dark Saint's Heart, or Rubia. As well as a one-shot of an alternative reality of Arisa. As well as I will be dropping some clues on what I have planned when I am done with my stories.

Now, onto the main treat. The big bad of my story has now finally been revealed! I wanted to wait till we reached this chapter because of my plans. I've dropped hints of them before.

The next arc will take place during the five years and we will see how the war affected everyone.

Onto the next ARC: Wills of The Damned

[—-]

Feel free to comment and ask questions. The Q&A will be posted in Shards of Memories and Songs once I am done doing the final touches on it.

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