Time crunch yet again because of a birthday for an online friend requiring prep time to get what I wanted done… then other stuff came up that I don't really feel like talking about in depth. Stuff happens.
So, today's theme was kisses. So, naturally, ended up being post-timeskip. Did pad part of the opening out a little bit for length. Not much else to say.
Disclaimers: Fire Emblem belongs to Nintendo, Intelligent Systems, Koei Techmo, etc.
Byleth couldn't help but smile upon seeing his now former students standing nearby him. Claude was now a wyvern rider and was skillfully, and quite wisely, guiding the other members of the group in combat. Raphael, Leonie, and Balthus were all rather skilled in hand-to-hand combat and doing well in holding off their foes as they approached. Hilda had actually matured a bit and was now more willing to take action. Ignatz was doing fairly decently with some magic, but was nowhere near the powerhouses that Lysethia, Annette, and Constance ended up being. Yuri managed to aid in some combat as well, but acted as a bit more of a liaison between Claude and Byleth as combat went on. Hapi and Ashe worked as a fairly well oiled team, borderline romantic in a way. Then, Marianne was acting as another spellcaster, but also as a support for just about everybody.
"We're going to win! Just keep it up!" Byleth called out.
"My axe can cut through even steel!" Lorenz called out as he charged forward… only to get bopped upside the head.
"I got you!" Marianne responded, quickly casting a healing spell and then dancing, which renewed Lorenz's strength as he moved in on an enemy.
"In a hurry to die, are you?!" Lorenz shouted as he landed a killing blow.
"Everybody, keep moving!" Claude shouted, "We're almost out of here!"
The group nodded as they moved forward, only for a few more enemies to appear. Byleth quickly scanned the area and then charged forward, slashing through some of them with the Sword of the Creator.
"I'll support you," Marianne declared, quickly casting some ice magic at a few nearby enemies. She approached Byleth's side and they lead the charge forward.
The last enemy soon fell and disappeared into mists with no trace.
"Anyone else smell pine?" Claude questioned.
Byleth couldn't help but chuckle a little at the observation from the leader of the group. After a little bit of banter from some of them, Marianne gently tapped his shoulder to get his attention. Byleth turned towards her… only for her to suddenly kiss his cheek.
"Welcome back, Byleth. I… I really missed you," Marianne told him.
After returning to the monastery and getting a status update, Byleth simply looked back at the cheek that Marianne had kissed him on. He gently moved his hand by the cheek and just thought back to what Marianne had said to him. He soon sighed, getting up out of his room and heading out to try to find her.
A short bit of searching later made Byleth enter the room he frequently found Marianne in back when she was a student. He ended up approaching her and could faintly hear he say "I ask for guidance", which seemed to be implying she was in the middle of a prayer. Byleth patiently waited for her to finish speaking before he walked in.
"Hello, Marianne," he greeted.
"Oh, hello, Professor. Er… Byleth. Sorry, still getting used to saying that," Marianne informed, "Did you need me for something?"
"I just wanted to ask you… what was up with the kiss?" Byleth asked, which made Marianne blush a little, "Just curious is all."
"I just… wanted to do something special to welcome you back… because I really missed you. I'm sorry if it was inappropriate…"
"It's fine. I… kind of liked it…" Byleth admitted with a blush.
Marianne's blush grew brighter upon hearing that. She then nervously walked over and kissed his other cheek, "...do you mind if I keep doing that?"
"Go ahead if you want to," Byleth told her with a smile, "It's nice."
Marianne just nodded a little bit at that comment. Byleth soon headed out, but turned back and did a kiss to the air and blew it her way. Marianne grabbed the air kiss and held it close to her heart. Byleth chuckled a little before he headed out of the room, while Marianne was almost swooning.
I honestly thought the role reversal of the guy blowing the kiss and the girl swooning was fairly sweet and stuff. Just thought it would be cute to do. So, you guys already know my favorite part of this one.
I'll admit that the reason for the scene with Byleth going to where Marianne was praying was meant to include part of her A Support conversation, but I felt that would overbloat the chapter and lose the theme a bit.
Not too much else to say here. Hope you enjoyed it.
Just Live More.