9/6 Horsebow moon
Byleth changed to his usual clothes and headed to the castle´s dining room. Most of the students were having breakfast there, his father enjoying a big jar of beer.
"Morning Teach. The fried eggs are fantastic. You must try some" Claude said, offering him.
"Good morning Claude, thank you"
"Since we are already here I thought that it would be nice going to Derdriu, just a couple of days. I´m sure you will enjoy it" he said smiling to him.
"I don´t mind that proposal Professor" said Lorenz, who was sitting next to Claude. "You can stay here as long as you want, but I must admit that the capital has its own glamour. The roses that are sold there are otherworldly"
"Since we have already completed the task of this month we could go, son" said Jeralt, picking another jar of beer.
"I have no problem then"
"Then it´s settled, I promise you it's going to be nice. Oh, morning Edelgard"
"Good morning Claude, Byleth"
Edelgard had just arrived, accompanied by Hubert. She sat next to him. Recently, every time she spoke his name, he could feel a small aching in his chest.
"I have just convinced our Teach to go to Derdriu. You are invited if you want to go too."
"I wouldn´t risk leaving my Teacher alone with you once again" smiled Edelgad. "Besides, seeing the Leicester Alliance capital with my own eyes will be surely a great experience for me"
"I feel honored" laughed Claude. "Let´s finish breakfast for now. A journey must start with a full stomach"
"I will ask my father for fresh horses. You are also free to leave most of your belongings here; it will make our travel smoother"
"You are unexpectedly nice Lorenz"
"I will take it as a compliment Claude. House Gloucester knows how to reward its benefactors"
After communicating to the rest of the students their new plans, everyone returned to their rooms to prepare. Byleth was about to leave the dining room when Lorenz approached him.
"Professor, I was talking with my father yesterday. I proposed him to give you this as a present from house Gloucester." He said showing him Acheron´s relic. "I am not sure how it ended in Acheron´s hands, but I am sure that it will be safer with you. Please I beg you to keep it. You are free to use it as long as you want it"
"Thank you Lorenz, I will make sure to give it a good use"
"No need to thank me. I am just returning the favor. Now if you excused me, I would like to share a cup of tea with Ferdinand before we depart. You are invited if you want to come too"
"NO!" Sothis shouted inside him, making him startle.
"Are you ok, Professor? You look surprise"
"Don´t mind. I´m sorry, but I will be busy preparing my things"
"No problem, another opportunity will arise. See you later" he nodded to him
"No need to shout" he thought
"If it weren´t for me, you would have entered another endless conversation with those two. You should thank me. I´m more interested about the trip to the capital. A change of pace is always welcomed"
"I´m looking forward it too"
…
After leaving the Relic in his room he went to the stables, where some of his students were already waiting.
"It´s been a while since the last time I was in a big city, I can´t wait to arrive to Derdriu" Dorothea greeted him with a smile
"Brigid´s capital is surrounded by forests. It´s a good place to hunt and rest"
"I´m sure that Brigid´s nature must be otherworldly Petra" Dorothea smiled to her. "By the way, have you ever been to Derdriu?" asked him Dorothea.
"A few years ago due to a contract"
"This time take it as a leisure activity Teach" said Claude, joining their conversation. "Derdriu is a beautiful city that deserves to be visited at least once in a lifetime."
"You should visit Enbarr then Claude." said Edelgard, approaching them. "I´m sure you will also find it quite fascinating"
"I will surely do so. If we leave now we will be arriving to the capital when the sun sets. Let´s get started"
They left the castle when everyone arrived. The roads to the Alliance capital were in good state, so their journey wasn´t uncomfortable the slightest.
"Nice weather and nice company, I can´t ask for more Teach" said Claude riding beside him.
"Nice for the compliment Claude" said Lorenz joining them.
"I guess that you are also included Lorenz. You handled the situation quite well the other day"
"If I wasn´t able to deal with someone like Acheron the future of House Gloucester would be at risk. It wasn´t something remarkable"
Byleth kept silent hearing their chatting. He looked around him. Seeing their smiles he couldn´t avoid to feel happiness inside him.
"What are you thinking of?" asked to him Edelgard
"I was just happy to see everyone getting along"
"Me too" she smiled to him. "We will eventually follow different paths, but for the time being I´m enjoying it too."
"Even if you leave the monastery I hope that I can see you again"
"You don´t have to worry about that my Teacher, even when I leave the monastery I promise to come to visit you. I won´t let you turn into a fleeting memory"
Hearing those words made his heart ache with happiness.
"Thank you Edelgard, I really appreciate what you have just said"
"What are you talking about Teach, Edelgard?"
"Nothing in particular" said Edelgard, toying with her hair.
"If you say so. Teach, since we are going to the capital I want to show you tomorrow the market. Merchants from all around the world gather there, from Sreng to Morfis."
"From Brigid too?" asked Petra
"Of course Petra, I bet that you will be feeling at home for a while" Claude said to her with a gentle smile.
"We must ride faster then. I want to teach everyone about Brigid"
"Tomorrow is going to be a good day" laughed Claude.
…..
They arrived to Derdriu when the sun was starting to set. There were some soldiers at the gates of the city, but they quickly let them enter when they realized Claude´s identity.
"Welcome to Derdriu, the city of the merchants!" announced Claude. "Please, accompany me to House Riegan´s stronghold"
They rode through wide roads, crescent moon banners could be seen to their sides.
"A crescent moon" murmured Byleth.
"Time for a history exam Teach, why do you think there are these banners here?"
"It must be the Crescent moon war." Answered Byleth, recalling the information he had read at the library.
"Correct" Claude smiled to him. "The Crescent moon war marked the independence from the Holy Kingdom when the nobles of the area refused the rule of the heir of the archduke of Leicester. The Duke Riegan had a pivotal role during the war and he was elected as the leader of the newly built Alliance. Since then we have had our fair share of problems, but nothing like a war. And now we have arrived. Welcome everyone"
They had just arrived to a giant square. A magnificent building could be seen in the opposite site, well illuminated despite the time of the day. When they arrived to the gates the soldiers opened the door to let them enter.
"Feel yourselves at home"
"As expected from a city of merchant´s their leader is next to the market" commented Edelgard.
"You have a point there. The merchants trust security above everything else. This city was built by merchants for the merchants. House Riegan´s protects the city and merchants make the city prosper. Working together we are stronger, that´s my saying" He then looked to everyone. "Let´s enjoy a meal and rest for today. There are a lot of places I want all of you to see"
They crossed an inner garden with all kinds of exotic species and arrived to the dining room. They had just sat down around the table when servants started to arrive, carrying all kinds of dishes. Byleth could recognize a few of them, but the others were completely alien to him.
"That´s Almyran cuisine Teach." said Claude, noticing his stare to the dishes. "I think you will like it"
He tried it. It was spicy, but surprisingly tasty.
"It tastes great"
"I´m glad to hear that" said Claude with a sincere smile.
"I would prefer something sweeter." Said Lysithea.
"You can try some date fruits Lysithea, if you want to"
They continued chatting and eating to their hearts content.
….
"Now it´s time to go to sleep, each one has a room for their use. I hope you will find the stay comfortable"
"Finally, I just want to sleep" yawned Linhardt.
"You won´t ever change" sighed Caspar
"I fear the same about you Caspar"
"Thank you for your hospitality" said Edelgard.
"Good night everyone, sleep well" said Byleth before opening the door to his dorm.
….
9/7
It was still dark when Byleth opened his eyes. He changed his clothes and picked the note where he had written the student´s birthdays.
"So it is today" he thought.
He planned to buy something for Petra as today was her birthday. Since it was still early he planned to buy a present for her in the market before leaving with everyone.
He was about to leave the building when a familiar voice came to him.
"Good morning my Teacher. I see that you have woken up early too"
"I plan to buy a present for Petra, since it is her birthday and you?"
"It seems that we had the same intentions." Edelgard smiled to him. "In that case we could leave together to choose a suitable present for her"
"I see no problem with that"
They left together and headed to the market. The place was already in full activity, with merchants of all kind of places offering their products.
"I think she would be happy if we find something about Brigid" said Edelgard looking at the different products around them.
They walked through the market until they came across with a merchant that had a familiar corporal marking.
"Excuse me, are you from Brigid?" asked Edelgard
"I am, how did you know young lady?"
"I have a friend that has a similar symbol under her eye. We are looking for a present"
"Then you don´t need to do more search. I have everything related to Brigid"
The merchant showed them all kind of things, from furniture to stones that according to him were able to keep bad spirits at bay. However, his attention was caught by a hair ornament that had a striking feather attached to it. He extended his hand to pick it.
But what he picked was Edelgard´s hand. It looked like they both had the same thought.
"My Teacher…"
He looked at her and realized she was blushing.
"I´m sorry, I think we just had the same idea". He released her hand, although he sensed that a part of him was unwilling to do so.
"It doesn´t matter" she said, avoiding his eyes, her cheeks still slightly red.
After a while bargaining with the merchant they finally bought a pair of those hair ornaments.
"I´m sure she will be happy" said Edelgard with a confident smile.
"I think so"
They were returning when Byleth saw a candy stall.
"We could go there before returning. What do you think Edelgard?"
"Eating something sweet will surely be a good way to start our day"
"I´m sure that Lysithea will enjoy it too. You can bring her to this place later"
In the stall was working an elder woman, who smiled to them when they approached.
"Good morning youngsters. Are you searching for something sweet?"
"We are"
"You can try some of these. I´ve just made them"
Byleth took one of them and Edelgard did the same.
"They are fantastic" said Edelgard
"I´m glad to hear that" the elder woman seemed please with the compliment.
"We will take a pair of them" said Byleth.
"It will cost 500 coins and take this too" she said offering them a box full of dangos. "You are such a cute couple that I don´t mind giving you this box."
"W-We aren´t…"
"Thank you. You are very nice" said Byleth, accepting the gift.
"…!"
"Thanks to you, young boy. I wish you a good day"
They continued their path, although Byleth noticed that Edelgard was more silent than usual, her ears and cheeks red.
"Are you ok, Edelgard?"
"I didn´t expect from you to accept such misunderstanding"
"It was an inoffensive confusion. Besides, the old lady was so nice to us that I thought it would be a pity to tell her otherwise. Are you upset by that?"
"It´s not that, but… nevermind" she said toying with her hair.
Byleth didn´t feel like pressing her any further so they remained silent for the time being.
….
"Morning Teach, I see that you have already went on a walk around the market" Claude was sitting on a bench in the central garden when he saw them.
"I was just checking some things with Edelgard"
"No problem. There is so much to see that I´m sure we will be the whole day out, but first we should take breakfast"
They entered the dining room, where some of his students were already having breakfast. Among them he could see Petra.
"Good morning Professor, Edelgard" she greeted them
"Happy birthday Petra" congratulated her Byleth
"I wish you have a great day. The Professor and I were searching for an appropriate present for you. I hope that you like this"
"It's wonderful! Thank you! Thanks for remembering it!" Petra thanked them, her eyes full of joy. She immediately took the hair ornaments and put them on her hair.
"It seems we already have something to celebrate. Even if we aren´t classmates, I hope you have a good day Petra" said Claude with sincere smile.
"Thank you!"
"Oh Petra, I was planning to be the first to congratulate you, but the Professor and Edelgard were faster than me. I have this accessory for you. I think it will match with your exotic look"
"Thank you Dorothea. In Brigid the order is not important, but the intention"
One by one the students congratulated her, although he sensed that Caspar was a bit uncomfortable when he had to face her.
"Time to leave! The market in front of us is a good place to start, but there is much more to it. The harbor is the place where you can see all kinds of strange things and the tales of the sailors are really interesting."
The market was even more crowded than when they were there early in the morning. The mixture of all kind of colors, accents and objects was fascinating. They separated themselves in different groups, each of them searching for unusual objects, food or accessories. He decided to walk around with Edelgard, Claude and Lysithea. When they were near the old lady´s stall, Edelgard started to walk faster, despite the complaints of Lysithea. "Don´t worry Lysithea, I saw another stall a bit ahead"
"This place has been used as a market for the last one hundred years. At first the market took place outside the city, but as it grew larger it started to take place within it. Look at that warrior; he is selling some Almyran´s bows"
Claude approached the warrior and so did Byleth. Claude was analyzing the length of the bow and its materials.
"You seem to know a lot about Almyra."
"Just a bit Teach, is to the east of the Alliance after all. The people of Fódlan doesn´t have a good opinion about them, since they have different customs to our own, but I think that we have more similarities than differences. Don´t you think that Teach? I know that, as a mercenary, you have travelled a lot around the world. Do you have a particular opinion about Almyra?"
"After all my travels what I can say is that despite cultural or linguistic differences we are similar to each other. Among my comrades were some Almyrans and I have nothing against them"
"Most people should join a mercenary group at least once in their lives to think like you Teach" laughed Claude. "Even here in Fódlan we argue between each other based on our families and stuff like that. It doesn´t matter what you are, there will always be someone that will criticize you"
Hearing him, Byleth thought that in some regards he had some similarities with Edelgard´s reasoning.
"Perhaps that will eventually change"
"I hope so, but now is not the time to turn into a philosopher Teach. What about going to the harbor? It is one of the few places in Fódlan where you can see all types of people"
"I´m ok with it, but where are they?" Byleth had lost sight of Edelgard and Lysithea.
"The little Princess and Lysithea? They are over there, eating some sweets"
Seeing them enjoying their time together made him smile a bit. He had the feeling that they had more things in common that just their appearance.
"Let´s just go ahead Teach. I will tell them later to follow us"
They headed to the harbor. All kind of ships were around them, the place filled with sailors carrying wares and shouting to each other in different languages.
"You could say this is the world as it's finest" laughed Claude. "Even without understanding each other they are cooperating between them. It sounds poetic to me"
One of the ships caught Byleth´s attention. It was a giant galleon. The wood employed to use it was of an unusual pearl color and its sails had strange motives that Byleth couldn´t understand.
"That´s a galleon from Morfis" explained to him Claude. "They are particularly strange folk, experts in all fields of magic. They have a lot of trade routes, but they don´t let strangers enter past the coast of their country. They have a warehouse over there and they usually offer their fortune telling services. We can go there if you want, although I must tell you that they aren´t really talkative"
"Me neither"
"Touché" laughed Claude. "Then let´s go"
They approached the warehouse, where the people from the galleon where carrying their goods. All of them were wearing white clothes with a multicolor prism hanging from their necks.
"Good morning Lord Claude" greeted him an old man with red eyes. "The people from Morfis send their regards"
"Thank you. I was just showing a friend the harbor. Are you still doing fortune telling around here?"
"Only oracles are allowed to do such thing Lord Claude." Said a younger man with bright blue eyes.
"Who wishes to know their fortune?" asked a young woman´s voice, the moment they heard their voice the rest of the crew bowed.
Byleth looked at the woman that was approaching them. He had the feeling they had the same age. Her skin was pale like Edelgard´s, but she was only a pair of inches smaller than him. Her hair was long and dark, but her most striking feature was the eyes. One of her eyes was navy blue like the depths of the sea, but the other was crimson red. They had a hypnotizing power in them. He realized that the eyes of the members of the crew were also red or blue, but she was the only one to have such combination.
"Oh, you must be an oracle" said Claude
"I am" she then looked at Byleth "If you wish to know your fortune you shall accompany me" she then entered into the warehouse without looking back.
He wasn´t sure if he should enter the building.
"Don´t worry Teach, I will be waiting for you outside. Take it easy, they are just like that"
He entered the warehouse. He followed her until they arrived to a room covered in tapestries with an empty fountain in the middle of the room. The room was illuminated by candles that had flames in different colors.
"Do you want to know something in particular?" she asked him as she picked a jug.
Byleth started to think about it. There were a lot of things he wouldn´t mind to know, but then the image of the strange events he had recently experienced came to his mind.
"The truth" he answered
Hearing his answer her eyes looked at him with renewed interest.
"The truth, such a beautiful yet terrible thing. As you wish" she then poured water into the fountain. "Take a closer look"
He approached the fountain. At first he only saw his own reflection, but before he realized he wasn´t in the room anymore. He was completely surrounded by shadows.
"Where am I?"
Then a star in the sky appeared. He could feel its brightness and warmth and felt in peace for a moment. Around the star winged beasts started to appear, singing to it. Suddenly the star was surrounded by a dark cloud that extinguished most of its light, only a few ashes falling to the ground, the winged beasts nowhere to be seen. The ground under him collapsed, making him fall into the Abyss. He tried to shout, but no sound left his lips. He closed his eyes thinking he was going to die.
But nothing happened.
When he opened his eyes again, he was in the middle of a great plain. An eagle was flying in circles around a lion and a deer. With a cry the eagle attacked from the skies, trying to blind the lion. The lion was trying to kill the eagle but at the same time was trying to devour the deer and the deer was trying to defend itself from its attackers. So focused they were in their battle that they hadn´t realized that an immense black cloud was approaching them. When the cloud arrived to them he could see nothing but darkness.
When it disappeared he was in front of a lake covered in red lotuses. He could see a maiden in the center of the lake. When he realized she was crying he tried to approach her, but the moment he touched the water he was trapped by an unknown hand, that sank him into the depths of the lake. He fought to free himself from its grip and tried to reach the surface. When he did he was inside the cathedral of the monastery.
"How can this be?" he asked himself completely confused. He looked to his surroundings. Snow was falling. The roof appeared to be partially collapsed and in front of him, he could see the statue of an angel that was holding a flaming sword on his right hand, pointing to the skies. Its left hand was trying to touch a rose next to it, that was quickly withering, but it was chained to a balance to its right. The statue was bleeding from its eyes and when he approached the angel, it fell on him. He didn´t have time to scream, he could only heard his heartbeat as he was engulfed by shadows.
When he opened again his eyes, he was in front of the fountain, heavily breathing.
"What did I see?"
"The truth" she simply answered the young woman. "But don´t trust completely what you have just seen, our eyes can deceive us. Even the most prepared oracles can fail"
"Did you see it too?"
"Only fragments since I wasn´t the one in front of the fountain, but you shouldn´t let these events mark your life Byleth"
"How do you know my name?"
"Your eyes told me. You are an honest being, but I feel something hiding below the surface, something different to you"
He remained silent for a moment. He wasn´t sure about what had just happened to him and he was still feeling confused.
"It´s normal feeling like that if you have never experienced such magic before. In Morfis we are specialized in visions and interpretations of dreams, but as humans we have our own limits. What I can say to you is this. Prediction is based on hypothesis and there is nothing set in stone."
"Then I will continue as I´ve been doing until now"
"A wise choice. Some of my citizens have fallen into despair and madness due to the visions they had, unsure if they were real or not. What I have just shown you is a tool. It shall never be considered the absolute truth. I paid a high price for that knowledge when I was younger"
"Thank you, I should leave then". He sensed a strange aura coming from her and he couldn´t trust her completely.
"Farewell Byleth, our paths may never cross again but if they do head south and the gates of the desert shall open for you" she smiled to him, although one of her eyes was cold as ice and the other one scorching as fire.
….
"Teach, you took a long time. I thought you had been abducted"
"Sorry for making you wait Claude"
"No problem. The people from Morfis are an interesting folk, but they are surrounded by too many mysteries. Don´t think too hard about they say to you, it´s like talking to a wall. Edelgard and Lysithea are over there, we should go too"
He followed Claude in complete silent, lost in thought.
"I don´t have any familiarity with that kind of magic" commented Sothis inside his head. "It seems that is a completely different branch of magic to the one that is practiced here, in Fódlan."
"What do you think about what happened?"
"About that? I have the same advice I gave you the other time. Don´t obsess over it. That strange woman said the same thing. When you aren´t sure about what is real and what is not it is better to avoid unnecessary risks. Besides, I´ve been thinking about that sword that you left at the monastery for this task"
"The Sword of the Creator?"
"Exactly. Right now you could say you were barely affected when you had those visions, yet when something similar happened with the sword you even lost your consciousness. I think that with the sword the visions happened within your body and in the case of what happened now the influence was outside."
"I have a connection with that sword, yet I don´t know why"
"I suspect of someone who may know"
"Rhea?"
"Correct. She wants you to use that Sword, but she isn´t transparent about her motives. Were you really chosen by the Sword or there is something more to it? Ahh, I´m growing tired again, I will be taking a nap"
"You are leaving me with more questions than answers" but she said nothing. "Rest well Sothis" he thought.
When they met again with Edelgard and Lysithea the latter one had her hands full of all types of sweets.
"Professor you must try these!"
"Thank you Lysithea" he said, picking one of the sweets.
"Be careful with these two Teach, or you will end up turning into a sweet addict."
"There is not something like too much sweet Claude" protested Lysithea "Don´t you agree Edelgard"
"I completely agree with you" said a smiling Edelgard.
They spent their rest of the time together. Claude showed them all kind of different places until they stopped in front of a fountain, which was in a smaller square next to the main market.
"This fountain is known to grant wishes. You just have to pick a coin, close your eyes and throw it to the water behind you. Why won´t give it a try?" Claude did as he said.
"What did you wish for?" asked Lysithea.
"If I told it would have no purpose." He laughed. "You have to keep it to yourself and it may come to true"
One by one they did as Claude did until it was the turn of Byleth.
"Come on, give it a try Teach"
"What should I wish for?" he thought. He closed his eyes and found his answer.
"For a world where they are safe" he thought, the faces of his dear students floating inside his head.
They met again with the others at the gates of Claude´s mansion. Petra was covered in all kind of exotic ornaments and Dorothea too. Lorenz was wearing a new rose that matched with Ferdinand´s. Caspar had bought a pair of battling gauntlets with strange glyphs over it and Linhardt had a cushion in his hands. Bernadetta was holding a small cage with a hamster in it and Hubert was holding in his hands what appeared to be coffee beans.
"It seems that everyone had a great time! Let´s return and enjoy a good meal"
"Go ahead without me Claude, I will search for my father"
"Ok Teach, won´t be too late"
Leaving behind his students he went to his father´s room and knocked the door. A few moments later the door opened, his father was yawning in front of him.
"Good evening son, I was recovering my energy. How was it today?"
"It was great. This city is full of life"
"I´m glad to hear that." He said rubbing his hair. "We should be preparing to return. If Seteth knew what we are doing now he would imprison me with another mountain of paperwork"
Their conversation was interrupted when some knocked the door.
"Come in"
"Sir Jeralt, forgive my intrusion" said one of House Riegan´s soldiers "But we have just received this message"
"Don´t worry about it and thanks"
After dismissing the messenger his father start to read the content of the letter, his face turning darker with every line he read.
Take a look at this
He started to read the letter and stood still when he realized what was happening.
"Flayn has disappeared"
"I guess that our little journey ends here. Tell your students we will be leaving tomorrow morning. We will need fresh horses if we want to arrive earlier"
"Why has something like this suddenly happened? And why Flayn?" he wondered as he headed to the dining room, feeling guilty of ruining the end of the day for his students.