Chapter 6: Worthy
The blue lions were waiting in their classroom. They did not want to go to the cafeteria without their professor and classmates. They were all still stunned by the battle they had witnessed. Then Seteth entered the room. ¨I heard about the incident. Are any of you hurt?"
¨No, thanks to the Professor and Byra." Dimitri said.
¨That Professor of yours is very reckless. He has no right to put you all in a dangerous situation." Seteth complained.
¨But it is not his fault, Professor Seteth." Mercedes said.
¨I do not care. He is not supposed to be a professor in the first place." He snapped.
¨He is our professor." Felix said. ¨So deal with it…" I need to know what they did to get that strong. They slayed that beast like it is nothing and the Professor mentioned that he killed it before. He let out a smile. Thinking about their skills makes my blood boil.
¨Oh Professor Seteth, what brings you here?" A voice said, he turned and found Byleth. He was wearing a black sleeveless shirt and his green hair was tied into a ponytail. "I already made my report to Lady Rhea. Did I forget something?"
¨I am here to check on the students and also give you a piece of my mind. How dare you drag these students to that beast. Anything can happen. A student might have died or even worse." Seteth complained. ¨And why are you dressed like that?¨ Then Byra entered the room. She was wearing shorts and a sleeveless shirt as well. Her hair was in a messy bun. ¨Young lady, where is your uniform?¨
¨It is covered in blood at the moment.¨ She explained. Then Aether climbed up her head.
¨By the heavens, I do not understand why you two are in this academy. I believe that Lady Rhea made a mistake.¨ Seteth said. ¨You two do not even reach the qualities of a professor and student.¨ He negatively ranted on and on about the two, not even knowing that the Blue Lions were walking out the room. When he finally stopped, he realized he was alone. ¨PROFESSOR BYLETH!¨
That man… He has no right to say such things.
Sothis, it is fine. We are used to it. My sister and I were always judged because we are different.
But still. You did an amazing job with those students. He should be thanking you, both of you. Those students improved so much.
I am proud of them and I am happy to call them my friends. However, there are some people who do not see my brother as a professor. They see him as a weapon, a killer, an inhumane creature. This is the same image they see in me as well.
It must be hard for both of you.
It was but we eventually adapted to it.
¨Professor?" A voice said. He turned and found his students with a grim look.
¨We do not believe that you are a horrible professor.¨ Mercedes said.
¨You all do not need to worry. I know that I am the black sheep when it comes to the academy.¨ Byleth said.
¨But it is not right for Seteth to say such things." Dimitri said.
¨It is fine, we are both used to it." Byra said. Aether leaped into her arms. ¨It is a common thing we go through.¨
¨Byra is right." Byleth said, patting Dimitri and Mercedes' head. ¨You all have nothing to worry about. I am just happy that you are all okay." His students were not satisfied with his response. ¨Now then, let's forget all about what happened and focus on our victory.¨ And that is what they did. They walked in the cafeteria and ordered a meal fit for a party. Byra and their professor silently ate their meal but were happy to be a part of something.
This is not right. I feel conflicted with Professor Seteth´s words. Why is it so hard for him to see the Professor as a good instructor? Dimitri thought. Also Byra, she is not even a bad student. She does her assignments and is very skilled. Why are they not accepted?
¨Your Highness, are you alright? You hardly touched your food.¨ Dedue said.
¨Forgive me, I was lost in thought.¨ Dimitri said.
¨I know what you are thinking, boar." Felix said. ¨It is hard to enjoy a victory meal when you are sighing like a sad puppy. Also, I am concerned about how Seteth treated the Professor. ¨
¨Well, the Professor is not bothered with it but I wish I can say the same thing to us." Sylvain said.
¨Yup, there are a lot of stories going around after that battle." Ashe said. ¨They are calling them demons."
¨Well, that is their mercenary name right? The Ashen Demon Twins." Ingrid said. ¨If they give them a chance,they will see that they are very good people."
¨It is easier said than done. It is going to be very difficult to convince people." Annette said.
¨Oh Annette, we should not think negatively." Mercedes said. ¨I am sure we can come up with a way to show our perspective of our professor."
¨Let's not forget that Byra is always being judged." Dedue said. The twins noticed that the students were whispering to each other.
Byra, I wonder what they are discussing.
Brother, there is nothing to worry about. Byra thought, letting out a small grin.
You seem very cheerful lately. You are even smiling.
A smile really does suit you, Byra.
Oh you two, stop your teasing. But I am happy. I feel like I can belong in this world with them.
Then Alois stood in front of them. ¨Yes Alois, do you need something?¨ Byleth asked.
¨Yes, I need a favor." He said. He then moved to his ear and whispered.
¨Oh I see, I can help you with that." Byleth said.
¨I know that you finally got a break but I really need your help." Alois said, scratching his head. ¨No one will help me."
¨It is fine Alois, I was done anyway.¨ Byleth said, standing up from his seat. ¨I will be leaving the party early. I need to help Alois with something. Please make sure you all have proper rest."
¨Yes, Professor." They said,
Byra, call out to me if you need me.
Thank you but I will be okay, brother.
The two men left the room. Everyone crowded around Byra. She was confused yet kept on eating. What are they up to now?
¨Byra, can we ask you a question?" Mercedes said. She turned to them.
¨You may…"
¨How did you and the professor get your nickname?" Mercedes asked. Byra paused as she heard the question.
¨Oh, you mean the Ashen Demon Twins?" Byra said.
¨Yes, please I am curious." Annette said.
¨I want to know too." Ingrid added.
¨We all want to know." Ashe said.
¨It is a long story." Byra said. ¨I do not want to bore you all.¨
Well, I would like to hear it.
Like I said, I might bore you.
I disagree, you two are not boring. Your classmates are intrigued as well. Why not give in?
¨We insist. We want to know more about you two." Dimitri said.
¨I hate to admit but I am dying to know as well." Felix said.
¨Come on, Byra. Spill the beans." Sylvain said.
¨I am interested in hearing this as well." Dedue said. She stared at them for a bit. "You both are still a mystery."
They are not going to stop asking.
Yes, they really want to get to know you and your brother. What is the harm in telling them?
¨Very well. I will tell you all about it." Byra said, letting out a sigh.
¨Really?!¨ Annette and Mercedes said excitedly.
¨Yes, just promise me that you won´t tell the Professor this. It stays between us.¨ Byra said.
¨Of course, we promise." Dimitri said.
¨Alright then," Byra said. She snapped her figures and they all teleported to their classroom.
"Oh wow, how did you do that?" Mercedes said.
Her magic is on another level. Dedue thought. She was able to teleport everyone without breaking a sweat. What training did she go through to get this good.
"I think the best way to tell this tale is if I show you all." Byra said. "I am not very good at telling stories."
"What does that mean?" Sylvain asked.
"I need you all to make a circle and hold hands." Byra said. They did what they were told and Byra stood in the middle. She plucks a strand of hair from her head. "Alright everyone, do not let go of your hands until I say so." They nodded and the strand of hair started to glow. "Obliviate,¨The hair flew swiftly around the room. They teleported to an empty place. It was white. "You guys can let go now."
"Where are we?" Dimitri asked.
"In my head." Byra said.
"What really?" Sylvain said. "It is very well… empty."
"Of course it is. When you are a mercenary, the first thing you must learn is to conceal your thoughts and emotions." She said, "There are many skilled spellcasters that can read minds so we do intense mental training to conceal our thoughts and memories." Then a little girl appeared with long dark green hair. She was wearing a navy blue robe and black pants.
¨Hello everyone, I will be your guide." The little girl said. The Aether jumped towards the little girl. She cuddled the creature. ¨Hello Aether."
¨Byra, who is this?" Ashe asked.
¨Like I mentioned before, we mentally train ourselves for intruders and if they do enter my mind, they answer to her." Byra said.
¨But is she a little bit too… young." Sylvain said, smiling at the little girl. ¨Hey, little girl...¨ He was about to pat her on the head until she grabbed his arm and tossed him to the ground. She placed a dagger on his throat. ¨Please do not kill me."
¨Sylvain, it is very obvious that the little girl is Byra." Felix said, letting out a sigh. ¨You are such an idiot.¨
¨I agree, it is extremely obvious.¨ Ingrid said.
¨Even the younger version of Byra is deadly.¨ Dedue said.
¨Hello Byra, we are your friends." Mercedes said.
¨I know. I just wanted to mess with Sylvain." She said, pulling back the dagger. She then turned to Dimitri.
¨Is there something wrong?" He asked. It is like she wants to tell me something. She did not say a word. She clapped her hands and the empty room turned into a vast meadow. Aether jumped back to Byra as she disappeared.
¨Where are we?" Dedue said.
¨We are where you will all find your answer,¨ Byra said. ¨It was years ago. We were only children, highly trained mercenaries. We were traveling to our next job. Our father was the leader of the mercenary team. There were only 6 of us.¨ A little boy with dark green wavy hair and young Byra walked beside Jeralt.
¨Is that?" Ashe said.
¨Professor…" Dimitri said.
¨Correct,¨ Byra said.
¨Hey you two, we are almost close to a small village. It is called Remire. We will be there for a couple of days." Jeralt said. The two kids give him a thumbs up.
¨I do not get it, boss." One guy said. He had blonde wavy short hair and was short for his age. ¨Why are we protecting them? They cannot even afford our services.¨
¨Who is that?" Sylvain asked.
¨Every Mercenary has a codename so his codename is Gold. He used to be a thief but ever since our father saved him, he serves and fights for him.¨ Byra explained.
¨I really don't get it. I thought we were going to get a job with a king.¨ Gold complained. He got hit in the head by a woman with long red hair. ¨Ruby, what was that for?¨
¨A job is a job. So stop being a pain." Ruby said.
¨Another unfamiliar face...¨ Dedue said.
¨This is Ruby, she used to be in the magic academy but her practices in dark magic got her in trouble. So she ended up with us.¨ Byleth explained.
¨You two are always bickering. Can you guys be quiet like the twins?¨ A man said. He was very tall and had spiky silver hair. He had a lazy look on his face.
This is Silver. Do not let his looks fool you. He is actually very smart and skilled with axes and gauntlets." Byra explained.
¨Oh wow, I did not know that mercenaries have teams.¨ Annette said. ¨And you had a woman that went to the same academy as me."
¨Mercenaries create parties or teams to get the job done faster.¨ Byra said.
¨Oh wow, what was your job in Remire Village?¨ Sylvain asked.
¨Well, the village has been assaulted by a noble. His name was Frances del Versage.¨ Byra said.
¨I know him very well. My father took away his title and rank when he heard about his treachery.¨ Dimitri said.
¨Yes, he was furious with the king that he put out his frustration on this village.¨ Byra said.
They made it to Remire Village. The village chief offered us shelter and food for their services. ¨Thank you for accepting the job. I know that we do not have much.¨ The Village Chief said. He was an elderly man.
¨It is fine. We will do what we can." Jeralt said. While he was talking to the chief, we were in the backyard.
¨Come on Byleth, you can´t outmatch me again. This time I am going to win.¨ Gold said proudly.
¨Again, we are here on a job not to play.¨ Ruby scolded.
¨Chill Ruby, you know very well that I need to keep my skills intact.¨ Gold said, stretching his arms and legs. ¨It is just a practice round.¨
¨It is sad that you always have to pick on children.¨ Silver said, letting out a sigh.
¨Byleth and Byra are not normal children.¨ Gold said. Byleth threw a pebble at him and he dodged it in time. ¨Byleth, I was only joking.¨ He dashed towards Gold. Gold was about to swing his blade but he was too slow. Byra leaped over him and before he landed, he grabbed Gold´s shoulders and tossed him down. He disarmed him and placed a dagger on his throat. ¨Byleth, chill… I was only kidding."
¨Brother, please do not kill him...¨ Byra said.
¨See, listen to your sister." Gold said. He pulled his blade away and walked beside his sister. ¨Thanks, Byra. I owe you one." She blasted fire magic at him and almost hit his head. ¨What was that for?¨
¨I hope you sleep well tonight." She said, giving him an intense glare.
¨What does that mean?" Gold asked. They left, ignoring his question. ¨Byra, don´t leave me hanging. What do you mean by that? It is not like you are going to..¨
¨You know very well they are sensitive to not being normal." Ruby scolded.
¨Watch what you say next time. They will kill you." Silver said.
"Shit, I am not sleeping tonight." Gold complained.
As the twins walked in front of the hut¨By, you should not take his words seriously. He is an idiot." Byra said. He stayed in silence for a while.
¨Byra, are we different?" He asked. She turned to the children who were playing with a ball. She grabbed his hand and pointed to them.
"Let's have some fun for once." She said,
"They might turn us away like the other kids." Byleth said, giving her a frown. "Why will this be any different?"
"I do not know but let's try again. I will be with you." She said, ¨We will always be together."
¨Promise?" He said. She placed my fist in front of him.
¨Promise." She assured him. He let out a small grin and bumped his fist to hers.
¨It must be hard to be judged like this.¨ Ingrid said.
¨Like I said before, we were always judged for our differences.¨ Byra said. ¨We do not know why but all we know is that we had each other.¨
¨But you clearly can show emotion.¨ Dimitri said. ¨I can see the love you have for the professor. And the professor, I can see that he was very bothered.¨
"Of course we can show emotion, we are not lifeless objects. We just have a hard time showing it and trusting other people." Byra explained. "Our upbringing taught us to only trust the pack and no one else. But as you all can see, we wanted more."
They walked to the children and noticed there were a bunch of older kids with the ball. The other kids were in distress and were trying to get the ball back.
¨Muto, give me back the ball.¨ One kid said, leaping in the air to reach for the ball. But he failed countless times.
¨What is wrong, Kipo? Too short to get the ball." The bully teased. He tossed it to another bully. ¨I think we should keep it."
¨Please give it back."
¨Nah, we are going to keep it." The second bully said. He was about to throw it to the other kid but Byleth swiftly leaped to recover it. He landed in the middle of the conflict. ¨HEY YOU, WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!¨
¨Here you go,¨ He said, giving the ball to the rightful owner.
¨Thank you," The kid said, smiling at him.
"We were wondering if we could play." She asked.
¨Hey you, you have some nerve for ruining our fun." The bully said.
¨I have not seen you around. You must be new here.¨ The leader said. ¨My name is Muta and I own this place. I own everything here."
¨He is the Village Chiefś grandson.¨ The kid said, gripping on the ball. Then Byra passed them, making her way to her brother. But she was stopped by someone grabbing her shoulder. She turned and it was Muta.
¨I advise you to let her go.¨ Byleth said.
¨Oh, is this your sister? What is she going to do?" Muta teased.
¨Poor Muta." Sylvain said.
¨I kinda feel sorry for the guy.¨ Ashe said.
¨He does not stand a chance." Felix said, letting out a sigh.¨He does not know who he is dealing with.
¨What do you mean?" Byra said.
¨Byra, we all know that you do not like being touched." Dedue said. ¨Remember what you did to Professor Seteth?¨
¨I didn't mean too…" She said,
¨We know but it was kinda funny." Ingrid said, letting out a giggle. ¨You threw him across the room.¨
¨Well, what did you do to Muta?" Dimitri asked.
¨Nothing deadly...¨ Byra said.
Byra grabbed his arm and slammed him to the ground. The other bullies surrounded them. Byleth appeared beside his sister, holding her hand. ¨I am sorry."
¨It is fine. It is not your fault that he touched you." He replied. Muta stood back up, furious.
¨You two grass heads are going to pay for that." Muta snapped. Byleth will not turn down a challenge nor ignore threats.
¨How about a game?" Byra suggested.
¨A game?" Byleth repeated.
¨Yes, what game were you all playing?" Byra asked, turning to the kids.
¨We were just playing a game of kickball. You just kick the ball through the other team's goal.¨ The kid explained.
¨If we win, you leave these kids alone." Byra said.
¨So what do I get when I win?¨ Muta asked.
¨What do you want?" She asked. Muta stared at her for a brief moment. ¨Well?¨
¨Oh what did Muta want?¨ Ingrid said.
¨Well, he wanted me for some strange reason. He wanted my hand in marriage." Byra said, running her fingers through Aether´s fur.
¨WHAT?!¨ They screamed.
¨That kid has guts I give him that.¨ Felix said. They watched the bully grabbing her hand.
"There are not a lot of pretty girls here in this damn village but you, you meet my standards," Muta said. "If we win, I want you to be with me forever as my girlfriend, fiance, and wife."
"You want me?" Byra asked. Byleth was already gripping his fists.
"Yes, do you have a problem with that?"
"No, but just to let you know that you will be going home crying to your mother," Byra said. The game started and the opposing team was shocked by how skilled the twins are. They easily beat them.
"Oh wow, you two are amazing." One boy said.
"Yes, please teach us." One girl said.
"You two cheated." Muta snapped. He was furious that he kicked the ball so hard that it was about to hit Byleth. Fortunately, a muscular man stopped the ball in time. Muta froze in fear. "Grandpa, what are you doing here?"
"Muta, that is not how we treat our honor guests." The man said.
"Guests?"
"These two are a part of the mercenary team that the King hired for us." The man said, turning to the twins.
"Not hired, just a favor from an old friend." A voice said. They turned and found Jeralt.
"I am very pleased that King Lambert answered my letter." The Chief said. "I must be very lucky to receive the best mercenary in the business." He then turned back to the children. "And to think that your children follow your footsteps at such a young age."
"We are qualified." Byleth said.
"I do not doubt that, boy." Chief said. "Where are my matters? I am Chief Manuel and you all met my grandson Muta."
"These are my children, Byleth and Byra." Jeralt said. Then a little girl patted his arm.
"Mister, can Byleth and Byra play with us please?" The girl said.
"Yeah, they are so cool. Please…" A boy said. The twins were shocked with the children. They actually wanted to play with them. He nodded and the children were pleased. They pulled the twins away so they could play some more.
"They are something." Chief Manuel said.
"They are children." Jeralt said, smiling. "I am happy in this tough era, they can experience being children. "
¨The old friend that your father mentioned, it was my father." Dimitri said.
¨Yes, he mentioned to us one time that they met in the academy." Byra said.
¨It must be nice for a change. To play like normal children instead of being a mercenary." Mercedes said.
¨I do not regret being a mercenary but yes, it was nice.¨ Byra said. ¨However, the moment was short-lived when Francés del Versage made his move." The day turned dark. The villages were gathered in the square, frightened.
¨You damn fools missed your quota. For that, there will be a punishment.¨ Frances snapped. He looked like any noble. He stood in front of the chief with a mad look on his face. Behind him was an army of bandits.
"I will not give you the last of our rations. I'd rather die than give you anything." The Chief said, crossing his arms. "My people have suffered enough."
"Did you forget that I am the reason why the bloody griffins are not attacking your village?" Frances said.
"I am not going to let that happen," Jeralt said.
"You, how dare you show yourself here?" Frances snapped.
"It has been a while, Frances. I see that you are still up to no good." Jeralt said
"Griffins?" Ashe said.
"Yes, we got intel that two griffins will always attack the village," Byra said. The scenery changed to the twins rushing through the treetops. "We thought it was fishy."
"How so?" Sylvain said.
"Griffins do not come out in the open, especially towards humans," Ashe explained.
"Yes, so our mission was to figure out the griffin's attacks," Byra said. ¨My brother and i snuck around to investigate.¨
They stopped and found a group of bandits. They hid in the trees, spying on them. "Brother, look…" Byra said, pointing to a big cage. "The griffins that were attacking the village." A bandit walked to the cage and poked them with a spear. They could not do anything because they were chained up. "Brother…"
"I know, attend to them while I handle the bandits," Byleth said. He jumped off the tree and landed in front of the group of bandits.
"Hey kid, what are you doing here?" A bandit asked.
"Wait, that kid looks familiar." Another bandit said. The group of bandits surrounded him. He kept his silence as he mentally counted how many bandits that he had to kill.
"Wait, I know. He is one of Jeralt's kids." Another bandit said. But it was too late. Byleth walked by them with a sword in his hands. "What the…'' The second when he put his blade away, endlessly blood spattered in the air and bodies inertly fell to the ground.
"Amazing, even at a young age the Professor is very skilled," Ingrid said.
"He is incredible," Felix said. Makes me want to fight him even more.
The bandit at the cage raced to the screams and found Byleth, covered in blood. "What the? What are you?" The bandit was shaking in fear as he stared at the child and the dead bodies around him. Then he was quickly pinned to the ground. ¨ẂHAT THE?!¨ He found another child but a girl. He could not escape her deadlock.
¨How are you controlling the griffins?¨ Byra asked.
¨WHY WILL I TELL YOU?!¨ He snapped.
¨Be careful what you say to her. She is far more deadly than me." Byleth said. The bandit was scared for his life.
¨How many broken fingers will it take for him to give me what I want?¨ Byra said. ¨I say 5. How about you brother?¨
¨10, he looks like a tough guy.¨ Byleth said.
¨Alright, letś start with the first finger...¨ Byra said, grabbing one of his fingers. She slowly pulled it backward. The bandit was so filled with fear and anxiety that he burst into tears.
¨WAIT, WE USE AN EGG!" The bandit screamed.
¨Where is the egg?¨ Byleth asked.
¨It is in a protective case. It is in our quarters.¨ He said. ¨The key is around my neck.¨
``Sleep Hex,¨ Byra said, putting him to sleep. She grabbed the key and threw it to his brother. He nodded to her and left for the quarters. She let out a sigh and turned to the cage. "I believe it is time to set you both free," She cast a spell and unlocked the cage. The griffins growled as she approached them. She lifted her hands in the air. ¨Heal," The griffins paused as they noticed that their wounds were healing. Byleth appeared in front of the griffins and placed their egg carefully on the ground. "You are both free now,"
"Forgive them for our stupidity," Byleth said, kneeling in front of them. The griffins approached them and licked their faces. "You are very welcome."
"The Professor, he is so cool," Annette said, smiling.
"I agree, even as a child he is still charismatic," Mercedes said.
"I wonder what training that he went through to get it this far," Ingrid said.
¨Well, we started to wield a sword when we were 4;" Byra said.
¨What? That young?" Sylvain said.
¨Yes, between me and my brother, he is better with a sword.¨ Byra said. Then the scenery changed back to the village. Jeralt and the others stood in front of the village gates, armed and ready for battle. Frances and his army blocked all existence in the village. There was no escape.
"Jeralt, do you think you and your band of misfits can stop me?" Frances said. "I know all about your team. A wanted criminal, a crest-less noble, and a drop-out mage," Gold, Silver, and Ruby silently stood beside their leader. Dozens of bandits lined up with bow and arrows. "Fire," Arrows swiftly flew to the village.
"Safeguard," Ruby said, creating a shield out of magic. It deflected all the arrows.
¨I see you have a mage. Alright men, attack." Frances ordered. Men on horses raced towards the barrier. Gold and Silver walked out the barrier. ¨Kill that fool, kill Jeralt."
"I am going to say this once," Gold said, pulling out his twin blades. ¨You speak ill of me. I do not care." He then lifted his blade in front of the enemy. ¨But I will not let you insult our boss.¨
¨Let's get this over with Gold." Silver said, wearing his gauntlets. The enemy was a few inches close to them. The two mercenaries attacked swiftly. Every armed soldier fell off their horse and onto the ground. The villagers were shocked that two men took one third of the enemy´s army.
¨What is happening? It is just two men.¨ Frances said, frustrated. ¨If we cannot get through the village on land, letś attack another way. Pegasus riders, attack them." A team of pegasus riders flew above the battlefield and about to reach the field.
¨Oh no you don´t," Ruby said, summoning a tome. ¨Excaliber!" A huge gust of wind raced towards them. The pegasus riders were trapped and were sliced in every direction by the strong winds. In the end, many bodies fell from the sky.
¨That is strong wind magic,¨ Annette said shockingly. ¨She even used a tome.¨
¨And Gold and Silver, they are very skilled as well." Dedue added.
¨They are amazing,¨ Ashe said.
Frances stood there surprised and flustered. He could not believe that his army of bandits were being diminished by 3 mercenaries. Beside him were two armed bodyguards. One was a woman, she was wearing a beautiful kimono and holding a silver fan. The other one was a man, carrying a very large hammer. ¨As expected from that stupid Jeralt.¨
¨Milord, please do not fret. Those men you sent out are weak anyway. It does not change anything,¨ The woman said, letting out a giggle.
¨I will bring you his head on a silver platter,¨ The man a strong gust of wind rushed through the village. The two griffins hovered above them.
"WHAT!? WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE!?" Frances snapped.
"Jeralt, step back. They are dangerous," Emanuel said. Jeralt got off his horse.
"It is fine. So what did you guys find Byleth," Jeralt said. "Byra," The two griffins landed in front of them and the twins were on their backs. They climbed down and walked to their father.
"Our theory was correct," Byleth said.
"The griffins were under Frances' control," Byra said. "They control the poor things with their egg,"
"They are lying, the griffins are dangerous," Frances snapped. Then Jeralt closer to the mystical creatures.
"I trust my children with my life," Jeralt said, bowing in front of the creatures. "Your majesties, I am grateful that you are both safe." The creatures bowed in return.
"Why are you talking to these monsters like they are people?" Frances snapped.
"It goes to show that you never open a book," Byra said, turning to him. "Griffins are known as the King of beasts,"
"They are the rulers of all the mystical creatures and you fools ruined a sacred ritual," Byleth said. "The birth of the new heir," The villagers were outraged that they were tricked by Frances. They screamed at him, cursing his name in the wind.
"I see so I guess it can't be helped. Ever since that fool, King Lambert, took everything to me. I have to resort to this, stealing from these pathetic people. I was fortunate enough to come across the griffins." Frances said. He started laughing maniacally. "I will get my revenge on the king,"
"What a monster," Manuel said, gritting his teeth. ¨My people has suffered so much because of you.¨
Frances continued on laughing. ¨I do not care for you worms. You guys are only here on this earth to work for me, a noble of power.¨ Byra gave the griffins the egg.
¨I cannot allow a rat like you to continue,¨ Jeralt, mounting on his horse and gripping on his spear. ¨We will stop you.¨ He rode out to the battlefield. A group of bandits made their way to him but Gold and Silver cleared them away.
¨Get out of the way,¨ Gold snapped.
¨You guys are not worth his time,¨ Silver said. Jeralt dashed to Frances, cutting anyone in his path. He continued his way then a group of falcon riders speedily flew towards him. Ruby teleported above them.
¨You guys are getting annoying, Elwind,¨ Ruby chanted. She casted a powerful wind that blew the falcons far away from Jeralt. ¨Go on Jeralt, you have your back.¨
¨Right,¨ Jeralt said, speeding up to the enemy. When he was inches away from Frances, the bodyguards appeared.
¨I will not let you have an audience with our master,¨ The woman said, swinging her fan towards him.
¨It is time for you to die, Jeralt,¨ The man said, swinging his hammer. Jeralt did not bother to dodge, he kept on charging. As their weapons make their way towards him, both Byleth and Byra deflect it. ¨WHAT?!¨ The twins pushed them aside.
¨Father, you can leave them to us.¨ Byra said.
¨Kid, do you really think you can defeat me? The man said, glaring at them.
¨I do not think I can, I know I can,¨ Byleth said.
¨Don't get cocky! You two must be Jeraltś kids that we heard so much about." The man said. ¨My name is Gundahar the Hammer King.
¨And I am Veerle, the Fan Mage.¨ The lady said, covering her mouth with her fan and letting out a giggle. ¨You two are no match for us. Do us a favor and leave. We will spare your lives.¨
¨Please do not take us lightly,¨ Byra said. She looked at her brother. They lifted their blades towards each other and tapped it. Byra swiftly teleported Byleth behind Gundahar and he swung his blade. GUndahar was caught off guard and managed to deflect his blade with his hammer.
¨Wind Spirit,¨ Veerle chanted, summoning a celestial being made with a strong gust of wind. Byleth was teleported back to Byra and the attack ended up hitting Gundahar.
¨You witch, watch where you cast your spells.¨ Gundahar scolded.
¨You monkey, it is not my fault that you are not fast enough to dodge my powerful attacks.¨ Veerle rebuttal, turning her gaze towards the twins. ¨They are not normal children,¨
¨I do not care, I am not going to be bested by a bunch of babies,¨ Gundahar snapped.
¨This scene is giving me goosebumps,¨ Annette said nervously. ¨Gundahar and Veerle looks very strong.¨ She covered her eyes. ¨I cannot watch,¨
¨Oh Annette, we all know the outcome of this battle,¨ Mercedes said, smiling. ¨Byra is here with us, even the professor.¨
¨I know but it is just too intense,¨ Annette said.
Gundahar charged towards them. Byra was about to teleport Byleth but Veerle blew her away with her fan.
¨Sister,¨ Byleth said. He watched her fly into two trees. Gundahar slammed his hammer towards him. Byleth had no choice but to use his blade to deflect it.
¨I see, you need your sister to help you fight. I am not going to let that happen,¨ Gundahar said, using his free hand to punch him to the other side. ¨Veerle, handle the girl. I will take care of this kid by myself.¨
¨You do not order me around, brute.¨ Veerle said, watching Byra's body on the ground. ¨I believe my work here is done.¨
Gundahar smiled mischievously as he walked to Byleth. ¨I got to say kid, you are pretty good. You managed to block my punch. I would not mind sparing your life. I will make you live if you agree to work for me,¨ He said. Byleth forced himself up, gripping his blade. His right arm was dislocated by the punch. He grabbed his arm and popped it back in place. ¨So what do you say kid? Do you want to come with me? I can even spare your sister as well.¨ He watched as the little boy stood in front of him, silently. ¨You better say something, if not I will have the pleasure of killing you and your pathetic father.¨ Then Byleth dashed towards him. Gundahar froze in shock as he received a powerful punch from a kid. Gundahar flew and tumbled on the ground. Byleth appeared in front of him again and kicked him to the opposite side.
¨You little brat,¨ Gundahar snapped, gaining momentum. He dashed towards him. ¨YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE, I WILL KILL YOU!¨ Byleth dodged all of his attacks. ¨STOP MOVING,¨
¨I want nothing to do with you. My father is no fool and my sister is not weak,¨ Byleth said, swinging his blade. He infused magic with it and it was able to break the hammer into pieces.
¨WHAT?! IMPOSSIBLE?!¨ Gundahar screamed. Byleth swiftly cut him on his chest. His armor was also cut into pieces. Gundahar fell on his knees, gushing out blood.
"I will end anyone that tries to harm my family," Byleth said.
¨That fool, putting his guard down. Wind,¨ Veerle casted, waving her fan but nothing happened. ¨What? Why can't I cast a spell?¨
¨Silence,¨ Byra said, standing behind her. ¨Were you going to attack my brother?" Veerle quickly moved away from her and noticed her fan was missing.
¨Where is my fan?¨ Veerle said, checking her sleeves. She then found the little girl with her weapon. ¨You little thief.¨
¨Forseti,¨ Byra chanted, waving the fan. A vigorous gust of wind trapped Veerle. It cut her from every direction. She then tossed the fan away.
¨PLEASE STOP!"I SURRENDER!¨ Veerle screamed. She canceled her magic and Veerle fell to the ground. ¨How is this possible? How are you able to cast that spell?¨
¨I just can,¨ Byra said, pointing to her head with her finger. ¨Sleep Hex,¨ Veerle fell asleep. She flicked her nose. ¨You are very lucky, if you lay a hand on my brother, I will end your life.¨ More bandits came their way. However, they noticed that their generals were defeated.
¨I cannot believe those defeated Gundahar and Veerle,¨ One bandit said. Byleth and Byra turned to them. Their emotionless gaze struck fear.
"Fire," Byra chanted, casting a fire magic and blocking them from Frances.
¨THOSE ARE NOT KIDS. THEY ARE DEMONS!¨ The bandits shouted, running away. ¨DEMONS FROM HELL!¨
¨RUN AWAY, THE ASHEN DEMON TWINS!¨
¨THEY WILL KILL US ALL,¨
¨Wait, you mean to tell me that those scared idiots named you guys,¨ Felix said.
¨Yeah, after that mission we were stuck with it,¨ Byra said.¨I told you all that this story might bore you all.¨
¨Oh no Byra, this story did nothing of the sort,¨ Dimitri said, smiling at her. ¨It made us learn more about you two.¨ He then grabbed her hand and made her face him. ¨Also, you can never bore me… I mean us.¨ Byra pulled her hands away and patted him on the head.
¨Then I am glad,¨ Byra said. Then the scenery changed.
Frances was defeated and the rest of his men were arrested. The villagers rejoiced that their suffering was finally over. ¨You two did great,¨ Jeralt said, patting their heads. They had very disappointed looks on their faces. ¨What's the matter? What is with the long faces?¨
¨Father, we got those looks again,¨ Byra asked.
¨They called us the Ashen Demon Twins,¨ Byleth said, looking away from him. ¨We are sorry that we cannot be normal,¨ Then their father let out a chuckle. The twins looked at their father. He was smiling.
¨You two will always make me proud. I do not care if you're not normal. You two are my children and that is all that matters to me,¨ Jeralt said. ¨Also, not a bad nickname.
¨Really?¨ Byra said. ¨You are not mad?¨
¨Of course not, you two will always be my pride and joy,¨ Jeralt said. ¨The Blade Breaker is the father of the Ashen Demon Twins, what an awesome notion,¨Byra and Byleth hugged their father rightly. Jeralt was shocked with this but hugged them back. ¨You two are my blessing, remember that.¨
¨How adorable,¨ Mercedes said.
¨Even with your dangerous lifestyle, you guys had a family,¨ Ashe said, holding back tears. ¨I am happy that the Professor was loved.¨
¨Our father is the only one we can fully open up to.¨ Byra said. Then her young self appeared in front of them.
¨I am sorry but your brother is looking for you,¨
¨I guess it is time to go,¨ Byra said. ¨We do not want to keep our Professor waiting.¨
¨Everyone hold hands,¨ The young Byra said. They all hold hands and Dimitri offers his hand to Byra.
¨May I?¨ He asked, smiling at her. She grabbed his hand without hesitation. In seconds, everyone was back in the classroom.
¨There you all are, I was looking for everyone in my class,¨ Byleth said, walking in the room. ¨What have you all been up to?¨
¨We have been sharing childhood stories,¨ Byra answered. ¨Right, everyone?¨
¨Yes, I was about to share the story about my first time casting magic,¨ Annette said.
¨I see well Lady Rhea requested an audience with our class,¨ Byleth said. ¨It is about the incident in the forest. I want you all to answer truthfully and I will not mad of what you all have to say."
"But Professor…"
"Come on, we cannot keep her waiting," Byleth said. His students followed behind him quietly. As they made it in front of Lady Rhea, she greeted them with a smile. Seteth and Jeralt were standing beside her.
"Welcome Blue Lions, I am very pleased to hear that you are all safe," Lady Rhea said.
"Yes Lady Rhea, we were not harmed thanks to the Professor and Byra," Dimitri said.
"I would like to hear from you all. I have received some complaints regarding your Professor's methods. He has put you all in a very dangerous situation and even though no one was hurt, he shouldn't put you all in harm's way, " Lady Rhea said. "In addition, I also received complaints from other students regarding Byra. Numerous reports of her starting fights with other students on campus." Her smile disappeared and her expression became serious. "I want to know the truth. Is your Professor fit to teach you all? Is your fellow classmate worthy of being a student here?" Byra and Byleth exchanged looks.
I was starting to like being here, being a teacher.
Brother…
"As leader of the Blue Lions, I want to say that our Professor is worthy to teach us," Dimitri said. Byleth was shocked with his response. "Our Professor may be different from the others but he has a heart. He cares for each and everyone of us,"
"How so?" Lady Rhea said.
"He knew that I am not a violent person so he taught me how to protect myself and also others. He took time to listen to my troubles and come up with a solution," Mercedes said. "I am a stronger white mage because of him."
"He does not see our flaws as weaknesses, he helps us accept our flaws and make them our strengths," Felix added. "I will only learn from him. He is a worthy warrior and also a professor in my eyes. If you remove him, I will leave this academy as well."
"He does not only help us physically but also mentally. He makes us think and come up with solutions in difficult situations. I am with Felix, I will only learn from him," Sylvain said, crossing his arms.
"Also, he makes you believe in yourself because he believes in you," Ashe said. "He does not get mad when I mess up or fail an assignment. He will encourage me to do better,"
"I see, and he did not coach you all to say these things," Seteth said.
"No, we all speak the truth. I for one is grateful to be a student of his," Dedue said. "I will always put my life on the line for your highness but he taught me to value my own life and put faith in my classmates,"
"Even out of school, he looks out for his students," Ingrid said. "I had a conflict in my personal life and he was able to listen and provide advice."
"He is a very good professor," Annette said. "Look what we did earlier, we won the mock battle. We took over both Golden Deers and Black Eagles' bases. We never win anything and with a short amount of time being his students, we got stronger and won."
"You all have valuable points. I am not disregarding the wonderful work he has done to the Blue Lions," Lady Rhea said, smiling at them. "How about Byra?"
"Byra is an awesome mage. I learned most of my new spells from her," Annette said proudly. "
"She is also very smart. She loves to read books and never misses class," Ingrid said. "She is always on time,"
"She is slowly opening up to us and to trust us," Dedue added. "She was trained to not trust anyone but being here helped her with that."
"But the fighting. A lot of students reported her fighting them for no reason." Seteth said.
"Byra will never get into a fight unless she is defending herself. We witnessed a group of girls attacking her," Ashe said. "She may be a mercenary but she is not a bloodthirsty monster."
"She has been a target ever since she got here," Sylvain said. "She is being judged because of her past life and it is unfair."
"What? Why did she not report it if she was being bullied?" Seteth asked.
"How can she? She realized that she was being treated unfairly and reporting it would not make a difference. She and the Professor do not deserve such judgment and discrimination," Mercedes added. "If you were there in the forest, they did not forget about our safety. They made sure we were safe and destroyed a powerful monster. They were amazing. They are heroes."
"But it was dangerous," Seteth said.
"Of course it was, and we will be going into dangerous situations like that in the future. That is why we are here right? To learn how to survive. Byra is skilled just like the Professor and after seeing them fight, it motivates me to be stronger, to surpass them." Felix said.
"Byra, she is amazing," Dimitri said, blushing. "I hope she believes that,"
"Byra, I want to hear from you," Lady Rhea said, walking towards her. She stood in front of her and cupped her face. "I was surprised you wanted to be a student instead of a professor. I want to know how you are adjusting. I want to know how you are feeling right now?"
"I feel… belonged," She said. "I will never let anything or anyone hurt my friends," All of her classmates smiled and were touched by what she said.
"Then it is settled, Professor Byleth will continue on teaching the Blue Lions and there will be an investigation on Byra's case," Lady Rhea said.
"What? Just like that? They are not…" Seteth said. He was interrupted by Jeralt's chuckles. "It is not funny Jeralt, your kids are not fit to be here."
"If you don't mind Lady Rhea, I have to send my students to their quarters. They need their rest for tomorrow's lesson," Byleth said.
"Very well, I hope you continue the good work Professor," Lady Rhea said.
"BUT LADY RHEA!" Seteth said. The blue lions walked out the room. Everyone was relieved that the Professor and Byra were staying in the academy.
"Tomorrow we are going to have intense training, I hope you are all ready," Byleth said.
"Yes, professor," They replied.