Day 29 of the Blue Sea Moon

"Yes?" Byleth turned in his chair to face Santaniel, a grim look on his face. "Xavien may have bitten off more than he can chew with this job…" He slid a contract for the job across Byleth's desk, so Sothis read it out to him, "This job is for slaying a monster that has been terrorizing a local town. It appears to be a large serpentine monster that oozes venom and has a thick, scale hide…"

"When did he leave for it?" Santaniel sighed and continued, "He left for the job a little over a week ago, normally I wouldn't be worried, but he isn't a front line fighter. I'm usually the one to take on the beasts, hell, even Arti would be better suited for this than him." Santaniel's worry was evident, spread across his face with his brow creased. "We can leave in the next two days, will that suffice?"

"Sounds fine, just… Please, I don't want to lose one of my brothers." For the first time, it felt like he was seeing Santaniel for what he was. He was a kid like Lysithea and Cyril, but he had the weight of many lives weighing him down, a certain sad pressure clear behind his eyes.

How long had he been like this? He was always just so cheery and playful with others, that it seemed reasonable to assume he had been used to it.

Then again…

No one could get used to killing, at least if they're human.

———

Day 31 of the Blue Sea Moon

Edelgard sighed as she rode on her horse, looking ahead to the horizon and the stench of venom carried in the air. "Professor, is there much known about the monster we are going to be fighting?"

The teal haired man nodded and spoke in his tone dead voice, "It's classified as what Santaniel called a Basilisk, its venom and glare is paralyzing and its poison is very potent. Santaniel said he'd recommend anyone who can fight at a distance should, he said he has a plan."

"I hope it's a good one. Sounds like a tough adversary." Hubert rode up next to them and reported what the scouts had seen; multiple smaller snakes had been spotted around the camp. Not nearly as dangerous but they still posed a threat. "Tell Santaniel and he'll reevaluate his plan."

"As you wish, Lady Edelgard." Those two men could never rest. The likeliness ended there though. Santaniel was there for strictly her friendship and company, Hubert served her with devotion. It'd be unfair to compare them in such a way.

She heard Santaniel growl in frustration, cursing colorfully in what she assumed to be Brigidian. She'd ask Petra to translate but she was so red in the face she didn't want to know at that point.

Once they arrived, Santaniel took the forefront on their plans, "Listen up. Unfortunately, Xavien attempted to take on a Basilisk nest by himself. If you don't want to risk your neck to save him, I'll understand. Me, Arti, and Hephaestus will be heading in with Byleth and whoever stays to clean up the rest after we're done. Have spears, bows, magic, or steeds, whatever you need to stay away." With that he turned on his heels and left them in the dust, sliding down the steep slope with his eyes aglow.

The same as a Basilisk.

She sighed and organized the Black Eagles and the rest of the extended class, the looming presence of a group of soldiers over the crest of the hill unknown.

———

Xavien had taken the last two days of limited food and next to no water so he could complete this job. He'd be damned if he failed now!

"Damn things! Get out of here!" Xavien shot with a bow at the mother serpent, avoiding its glare when he could. He knew it was unpleasant to get caught in that stare. Santaniel had used it on him before. "Coming through!" Speak of the Devil and he shall appear.

Xavien watched as the ball of destruction he knew and loved as a brother crashed into the serpent axe first, spilling its blood across the ground and it was thoroughly lit up with a slew of spells from those other idiots. 'Well, the contract is voided… Buuuut we can keep that delicious horde in the back!'

Xavien busted out from behind the jagged rocks and threw his daggers at the serpent's eyes, catching some of the delicate tissue as Santaniel attempted to cleave its head straight from its body.

Kid didn't have the most sound strategies, but when they were executed it was damn near amazing. Well, he could also adapt on the fly pretty damn well too.

Santaniel shot a Fire at the ceiling and the rest of the group followed suit, shooting down stalactites that crashed into and through the serpent and its children. "Back up is- oh. You guys already took care of it." The rest of the Black Eagles along with the new recruits came through the cave entrance, "Yep. Let's go and search through that loot!"

Xavien cheered with the rest, his mind running to the legends and his feet following its lead, happily arriving at the trove of treasures with Santaniel nearly on his heels.

The sound of whistling darts missed by the two ecstatic men who couldn't wait for the rewards!

He locked his eyes on a thick wooden box, his mind immediately wanting it and body flinging forward to open it.

'Come to papa!' He pried it open and found a set of perfect looking daggers, serrated edges and it seemed to have a natural venom leaking from it like actual fangs… This was perfect for him! The venomous stench rolled off in thick waves and it nearly made him gag, "Aye, Xav, what ya got?"

Santaniel strolled up to him and peeked over his shoulder, eyes glistening at the daggers in his hand, "Ooo, those look nice. Great find mate!" Xavien mock bowed and they shared a stupid laugh, their ears perking at a 'tut-tut' sound. Someone was here? Of all places? Wait… Shit shit shit shit!

"Santaniel draw your weapons, get ready to rock 'em!" The boy slung his war hammer from his back, pressing it to Xavien's. "Show yourself!"

"Oh don't worry sweeties, I'm out in the open for you all to see! Well, your friends may just be a tad bit occupied in their paralysis…" Goddess damn it. "That would be the former employer I just had, Lucile, the one who gave me this twisted job."

A mage with fluffy brown hair stepped out around the corner, an entourage of people following… Him? Her? He honestly never could figure it out. "Well, well, well… looking for them?" Practically everyone who came in had been darted and was on the floor still. Their breaths ragged and all in poor shape. If Lucile had the antidote they could just remain calm-

Santaniel was anything but calm. He took Xavien's daggers and sheathed them, taking off like a tempest wind across the deserts of Sreng.

The boy lunged forward, crushing the first man's head with his hammer, blood and bone flying like a gory explosion. He was ducking and dodging darts like an acrobat, no doubt he'd used Shatter, having it saved for practically the last three weeks.

It was a spell that came with the Holy Twins, but was engrained in him from a baby. He stored excess energy into his right arm, left it there until he needed it. The axes merely extended upon that ability taking actual adrenalin from his body and storing it.

He closed in on Lucile after leaving a destructive path and the purple and green glow of death glowed on his pale face. The mage screamed and tried to save himself, summoning Swarm which Santaniel swatted off like one would a normal fly. He cut through Miasma and Mire, washing over him like rain.

Santaniel slammed his hammer into their ribs, a loud crack ringing out, along with the disappearance of illusion soldiers. Santaniel jabbed the new daggers into his ribs, screams, the hissing of flesh, and the start of blood curdling filling his ringing ears as he witnessed a severely brutal kill.

"You have committed too many sins… You prey on the innocent… the weak… and my family."

Xavien looked away as he crushed his skull completely, red death painting the wall and the radius around the corpse.

Santaniel turned and looked straight out of one of his horror novels, blood covering half of his face and streaking up his hair and down his jacket, his eyes slit and glowed faintly. "Let's get these idiots to the outside and set up a camp."

Xavien nodded and helped pick up some of the smaller kids, watching as Santaniel knelt over Edelgard, gingerly checking her for injuries, pulling a dart from her shoulder. The kid really did consider these idiots family…

Maybe something more with the future Empress.

Huh, guess his brother had his first crush. Just like Hephaestus said.

———

Day 1 of the Verdant Rain Moon

Edelgard opened her eyes and felt sore all over. The hell happened… Wait. That cursed mage had darted them all! When her father found out- Wait… These were the tents they had brought in case of a storm happening. When did they…

Santaniel and Xavien had been the only ones separate from their group, did that mean..? She shuddered at the gruesome idea of the mage's death at the hands of Santaniel. She couldn't say they didn't deserve it though.

A faint rippling sounded through the tent as someone opened it, Santaniel's head poking through, "Oh, at least someone finally woke up. Me and Xavien are making dinner, go ahead and freshen up or whatever you need, if you just wanna eat in here gimme a shout."

How long had they been asleep?

She tried standing, shaky and she groaned at the simple prospect of being able to walk impossible right now. She called out for Santaniel and he returned, "You rang?"

She nodded and explained the situation to him, her legs still being numb and Santaniel laughed a bit at her predicament, making her flustered. "Sorry, last time someone was like this was… I think Xavien was building immunity to this kind of poison actually. It's very potent and causes a few days of paralysis."

Santaniel shrugged himself into the tent, "Luckily, the two idiots were carrying enough to make the anti-venom needed to wake you guys up a bit early. I'll spare you the details of how it was made, anyways, wanna eat outside or in here? Xavien just went to my brother's tent, so it'd practically just be us."

She sighed, "I don't feel the need to be carried, so I suppose I'll just eat in here." With that, Santaniel was gone and back within a couple moments, carrying two dishes of meat and potatoes. He set them down and tossed her a small pastry, one that you'd find at the monastery. "How did you sneak this away?"

"I can travel through mirrors and I drive the equipment cart, never leave without a full sized one. It'd make no sense to walk in at the dead of night to deliver you back to your rooms either, too much supplies and horses would be left behind." She nodded and pushed the instinct to laugh to the back of her mind, appreciating the small gesture of kindness.

"So, shall we eat, your highness?" She blushed at the title he addressed her by, he wasn't usually one for such formalities.

Hearing it sent a tingle down her spine, well, the part she could feel anyways.

He handed her some utensils and started digging into his food, she recognized it as wild game, probably rabbits, and the potatoes had been peeled haphazardly, more than likely Xavien's work.

"How's it taste?" She looked down at the plate and cut open the meat, mixing it with the potatoes and popped it into her mouth, the wild spices mixing perfectly. A small smile spread across her face and Santaniel laughed, "Guess that's a 'Good' then."

They talked quietly about practically nothing but pleasantries the entire time, Santaniel never having a taste for politics. He claimed that no matter who they were, no one could ever appear as perfect to him. He read deceitfulness too easily, that he could crack anyone open or get anyone to lower their guard around him.

Did this mean that this was the real Edelgard that he knew?

When they finished their food, they just talked for an hour until Santaniel brought up her legs again, "Oh, think your blood flow returned to your legs yet? Maybe you can stand again."

She tried moving her toes and couldn't, not even her legs would lift, she groaned in frustration, leaning back onto her pillow. "Well, there's one way I could help, but uh…" He rubbed the back of his neck and continued, his face hidden as he looked away a bit, "It'd require me practically massaging your legs. It isn't exactly the best way, but all the healers are still completely out, and Arti can't entirely move either from what Xavien told me. Apparently his tongue and arms are still numb."

She giggled at the idea and Santaniel joined in with her, "But, if you're willing to give it a shot, I can try." She blushed and nodded, "I'd like to be able to walk by tomorrow, it doesn't seem entirely fair that you and Xavien should be the only ones to take care of us."

Santaniel had a thick blush on his face and nodded, "Alright, I'm going to start rolling up your leggings, you sure you want me to do this?" His apprehension was comforting, something about him not wanting to just take advantage of her predicament just reassuring.

"I'll be fine, go ahead." Santaniel nodded and clenched his jaw as he started moving the soft fabric up and around her thighs, pale and scarred skin open to the cold fall air. He conjured a heal spell, rubbing his hands together like they were cold, and pressed his hands to her legs, a faint, distant warmth building up where he touched.

He moved from her ankle and up her calf, delicately to the edge of the thigh and back down.

He repeated the process several times until the feeling was starting to be regained, she relished the lasting contact between the two, feeling it as more intimate than she'd ever been.

How was she so… Contact starved?

She so regularly covered herself, either with armor or fabric as to not let her vulnerable self open to the world. And here Santaniel was assisting her in a way he no doubt felt embarrassed about. He edged farther up her leg while in the rhythm and she whimpered under the touch, "Uh, sorry, did that hurt? I can ease up-"

"N-no. It's fine. Please, continue." They both looked like tomatoes while he continued, silent whimpers as he edged up her thigh building in her throat. 'Too-too much…'

"Hey Edelgard, try moving your leg now." She nodded and she did, the limb moving perfectly, a little wobbly at first but fine nonetheless. "Great! Let's get started on the other."

———

Santaniel made another small circle with his hands and placed it on Edelgard's leg, running over her surprisingly well toned legs. Her skin was warm, just making his blush worse. He started at her heel and worked it all the way up to the top of her calf, another soft whimper escaping her throat. 'She is… Really enjoying this…' He brought his hands back down, pushing slowly up and to the top of her leg, a louder whimper escaping her mouth much to her chagrin.

"Edelgard…?" He locked his gaze with her's and her blush only worsened. Santaniel took his hands off her leg and took a deep breath, continuing his work, pretending he didn't just hear her thoughts whist talking to Arti. He should really be teaching her that ward soon.

He continued and her whimpers became louder, to the point he had to end it early otherwise anyone listening would get the wrong idea. "Try and move your leg." She heeded his wish and successfully did so, "Thank you Santaniel…"

"No issue, Princess."

———

Day 10 of the Verdant Rain Moon

"What's the debrief, Santaniel?" Ferdinand and the rest of the Eagles looked at him expectantly, "We'll be heading to Gautier territory as Sylvain's disowned brother stole the Lance of Ruin and they need help getting it back. They're holed up in a defensive tower towards the northern part of their territory where rain is heavy this time of year. We'll be leaving at the end of the month to launch our assault." Caspar signed and grinned, "I'm glad my family isn't so cold hearted."

"It's sad to see how people get treated just because of something they were born with…" Edelgard put her chin in her hand and looked lost in thought for a moment before Santaniel responded to it.

"Tch, I can relate to that one." Everyone stared at him confused, wondering what was so special about him. Then they remembered his blood allows him practically teleportation when a reflective surface is near and he offers blood for the spell. "I mean, if I hadn't been hunted like a rat for my entire life, I wouldn't have my brothers or you idiots. That's a blessing I'm happy to trade for."

A smile was noticeable on all but Edelgard's and Hubert's faces, instead grim expressions. The latter was understandable, but why Edelgard?

Maybe she just understood what it felt like?

———

Day 24 of the Verdant Rain Moon

"Goddess bless Fódlan, why does her vulneraies have to be fucking sour?" He still couldn't get the taste out of his mouth. Any time he visited the place he dreaded it. He sighed as he tossed the bottle aside into a bin and moved on with his day, the cuts on his arm already mending.

He had gotten into a scrap with some idiots bullying a guy named... Ignatz? His brother instincts just kicked in harder than a war hammer to their ribs. Goddess he needed better jokes than that. "Hey, you're Santaniel right?" He sighed and turned, "Depends who's asking."

It was a bigger guy, similar in stature to Balthus, and an orange haired tomboy, one of Lysithea's friends, both looked like commoners. "We just wanted to thank you for assisting Ignatz. He had been dealing with those idiots for months now, you're the first one who's been able to catch them in the act and, not only actually speak up about it, teach them their own lesson. Nice work!"

Santaniel gave them a mock bow and talked to them for a bit, just conversations about the dining hall and current endeavors, eventually asking him what he wanted to do when he graduated.

"That's… That's tough to answer actually. I haven't ever really thought about it to be completely truthful. I mean, I'd like to settle down here in Fódlan some time, but that's only after I completely stave the raids from the island. I love cooking, and Byleth says I have a natural leader personality, maybe something to do with those? I'm up in the air about it." Leonie and Raphael nodded, "Oh! Also, we'd like to tell you, you have officially gained three new classmates!"

Santaniel smiled and gave them another extravagant bow, "I'm thankful to have you, now, let's hit the training grounds!"

———

Day 31 of the Verdant Rain Moon

"Santaniel. Time to get up." He groggily opened his eyes and pulled himself out of the equipment wagon, his feet hitting deep mud. He had fallen asleep to the rhythm of the rain, "I'm up. Lemme get suited up and we can roll through these dolts." He pulled his tunic off and slipped a heavy chest plate on, his scars only visible for a brief moment but someone gasped from behind him. "Great. Prying eyes. Who's it this time?"

"S-sorry."

"Edelgard, you should've guessed I had these kinds of scars. Not only from the surgery," he pulled his helmet on and it echoed out from inside, "But because of many battles from island raiders. Now c'mon. Let's get ready to take on Miklan."

The duo walked in silence as they entered the tower, a heavier silence and gruesome look in his eyes. His brothers were there for him whenever no one else was… Miklan and Sylvain shouldn't be like this. They should know what it's like to have to put up with this shit, they shouldn't be envious or think they're better than anyone…

Maybe he could beat some sense into him.

———

"Santaniel, on the left!"

"Got it!" The man turned and fired Luna, sucking an ambush into the void and he turned to go straight back to fighting. Hephaestus casted Fire from behind and knocked some fighters off of Gilbert and allowed the man to keep fighting whilst the rest kept moving. Lysithea had to admit, the four islanders were a force to be reckoned with.

She conjured Dark Spikes and obliterated an armored knight, clearing the way for the Professor with the Sword of the Creator… How'd she manage to fall for the one person she couldn't have?

———

Felix grunted under the strain of a lance users attack, if the coward had just used a sword like someone else-

A single arrow found its mark into their forehead, dropping dead on the ground. He turned and stared at Bernadetta, small cuts on her arms and legs, a small whimper of fear in her eyes. His heart dropped and he grit his teeth, he'd have time to comfort her later.

———

Edelgard felt something fly over her head and a grunt from Santaniel afterwards, she turned around and he had an arrow stuck in his chest, just over his collar bone. "Goddess bless Fódlan… one… two… three- DAMN IT!" He ripped the projectile from his skin and mixed blood coated the arrowhead, emerald and ruby glittering in the dim fire light, "Aye Arti, hit me with a Heal spell real quick."

"Santaniel how the hell-"

"Focus on the battle, I'll be back in a second. Just back up Byleth for right now." She nodded and the two leaders of the Eagles took off the stairs. "Professor?"

"Yes, Edelgard?" The man lashed out with his sword, whipping it through men on the upper floors, cutting open veins and lacerating their arteries. "How do you think Santaniel is able to do… So much? He acts like pain is nothing to him, he's constantly working-"

"Edelgard."

"Yes?"

"He understands a mental space is as important as a physical one. He understands he has people around him to help him and fall back on. He exerts himself to the limit every day so he doesn't have to during a real fight, it has become a routine for him. His life is not so different from mine in the beginning, but I had Jeralt. I don't have nearly as strong of emotions as him, I don't have to deal with the constant duress of everyday nerves or duties of patrolling an entire island. Yet you should understand better than anyone what he goes through." She nodded and steeled her mind to go back to fighting.

She had people to rely on… Maybe they were becoming a part of that group. Maybe something more.

———

Santaniel sighed as he caught up with the duo, "Hey." He slammed his war hammer into someone's chin, breaking their jaw and sending them tumbling down the steps. "Hubert and Hephaestus are dealing with the troops coming from behind right now, let's just take out Miklan and end this."

Byleth gave him a nod and the trio took off like a tornado, tearing through damn near anything that stood in their path, axe blades and a serrated sword blade tore through flesh and armor alike until they stood face to face with the bandit leader.

"So, you're the ones the church sent after me to take back the Lance of Ruin… My brother wouldn't be able to use it anyways, why should he have the right to use it?"

Santaniel stepped forward, "You don't have the right to call him your brother either you dense dumb fuck." He took step after step, not a single bit of reservation towards him.

He'd die.

He sidestepped the first stab, ducked the sweeping strike, then came the flurry of jabs. His fighting style was identical to Hephaestus'. He took his silver axe from his back and jabbed the hilt into Miklan's stomach, a right hook following, then a vicious kick to his chin. "Not bad for a twerp…"

Santaniel noticed the gunk coming from the Crest stone in the weapon, opening his mouth to warn him, but he was cut off by the screams of terror. He stepped back and shuddered as the scene unfolded before him and he regrouped with his class, Caspar asking, "The hell is that thing?!"

"Demonic beast, me and my brothers have dealt with too many to care about something this mediocre. Byleth, on your command." The teal haired man nodded, getting the troops positioned and ready to go. He gazed into the beast's red eyes, his own growing in color.

———

Edelgard grunted as the beast swiped across her body, launching her onto the ground; she wasn't out but the beast was closing quickly. She readied her guard and was surprised to have Arti intercept the beast for her, a flurry of arrows pelting at its eyes.

The beast didn't appreciate it though, throwing Arti straight at her, both hitting a pillar with a crunch. Her armor had protected her as best it could, the metal denting and tearing in some places, cutting some skin open and letting blood trickle to the floor. Arti was in worse shape, his mask was cracked open and his breathing was ragged, he was just clinging to life.

A bright flash shined in her peripheral vision and she winced, fearing it was a fireball from the beast ready to snuff out her life.

It never came. A mind rattling roar did arrive in her ear, however, a fusion of mythological animals now tearing at the demonic beast. It was a mixture of a Griffin and Basilisk, its eyes a similar glow to Santaniel's…

Wait…

Was that thing Santaniel?!

It roared again as it threw the demonic beast into the air, flying high above the top floor and it flew towards an opposing pillar.

The hybrid picked it up in its talons, and a tongue of fire consumed the beast's head, uttering a death cry as he drove it hard into the ground, cracking and shattering the stones beneath their combined weight.

As the dust settled, Santaniel stood above Miklan's crumpled and broken body, his eyes still glowing and wings folded behind his body neatly. Talons gleaming in torch light.

He turned and faced Edelgard and Arti, his eyes' light dying out, returning to the familiar hazel. He walked steadily forward, his wings stretching out and flapping as he used Heal on the two, the wind soothing their frantically beating hearts and mending their wounds. His wings glowed in the darkness and disappeared shortly after, falling to a knee in exhaustion, "Well, that could've gone better…"

So it was confirmed. He was just like Rhea.

…But did that mean he was an enemy?

"Ugh, Arti, get your lazy ass up and go help Marianne and Linhardt with healing people. I need a nap." He seemed groggy and irritable, like he had just gotten over a hangover, or a difficult workout. He took off his punctured armor and stretched his left side where the arrow had been, a new faint scar appearing through the ripped tunic. "Uh, Santaniel?"

"Yes?"

"What was that?" He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Something I don't feel like talking about right now, but I'll sate your curiosity. We're lucky we had Arti around, otherwise I may have caused a massacre. I can control myself somewhat without some relics, but the Crest of the Beast allows me to be in total control without them.

As for what happens afterwards, I either pass out or get a horrible headache that results in me taking a nap. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take said nap in the equipment cart so I don't feel like murdering someone more than I usually do."

The man turned and left, descending the stairs while muttering about how people would treat him differently. She couldn't blame him. People always treated her differently when they found out she had dual Crests or was the heir to an Empire. Though he didn't, it was only right to return the favor