Day 3 of the Horsebow Moon

"I'm sorry, what happened to Flayn again?" Santaniel was finally taking a week to relax and of course, of course, the local little gal everyone knew was kidnapped.

"She was taken at the end of the month while we were away on our mission. Me and Arti expect it's due to her major Crest of Cethleann. Only people with major Crests can transform, or have blood to make Manaketes after all." Santaniel groaned and slammed his head back down on the sand, "Great. I'll head back to the Monastery in a bit, I guess vacation will have to wait."

"I wouldn't recommend that, Sant." Santaniel turned his head back and looked inquisitively at Xavien, his eyebrow raised, "Why? Shouldn't I be one of the people who's investigating?" Xavien shook his head and sighed, "Byleth informed us that if we go, it'll have to be only to the classroom or training grounds. We're the number one suspects, even though we were taking care of Arti and Hephaestus' new pets…"

"They aren't pets, they're steeds." Arti finally came back from the waterfall cave, leading a demonic wolf and hawk, his legs slung over the side of the hawk's flank. "Meet Rihanna and Gizmo, our newest additions to the family."

Santaniel walked over and let Gizmo sniff his left hand, humming as started rubbing its head as he talked, "So, explain how us four are the main suspects, even though we have noticeably been around the Monastery. I've been the only one truly absent from there, and I still attend classes and extracurriculars."

"We're outsiders. That's it." Santaniel's face got tugged down at the gravity of it all, "Great. I'm gonna go tell Byleth, maybe I'll be off stable duty this month." He stayed for a few extra minutes, rubbing Gizmo behind his giant ears, the demonic beast more domesticated than a herding dog under the influence of Arti's Crest. It also had a larger tongue. He learned that as it gave him a sloppy kiss and soaked his face.

Santaniel gave his cackling brothers a two finger salute and slipped into the house and then through the mirror to the Monastery. "Hey Professor, so the guys… gave me the news… Uh, should I leave?" He walked in on the certification exams Byleth was giving this week and it was an awkward feeling to say the least. "You're fine Santaniel. And I have already taken you off stable duty for this month, here are your assignments, be ready to take your certification at the end of the month."

"Thank you Professor, I'll get on 'em soon. If you need any help let me know, I'll probably be mainly training on the island… Actually, think I could borrow you guys next week? I have a small mission to do." Byleth nodded, "If it does not take too long, I shall agree."

"Good. Because it'll allow us to use the island to its full potential. We're clearing the labs this week. We're taking it back."

———

Edelgard listened silently from her desk, the plans wouldn't be discussed yet obviously, but she'd have to warn the twins. Those labs couldn't fall until he and Byleth were securely on her side. The rest would follow.

———

Day 14 of the Horsebow Moon

"Alright, Raph, since Edelgard isn't here you'll have to suit up in armor. Ferdinand, don't count on a mount being very well suited for fighting here. The sand makes their hooves slide, just not built for it. Petra, try your wyvern for this. Me and my brothers will be taking on the northern expanse, you guys will be coming down hard on the south to crush their already tattered front line if it goes how we're expecting. Last thing to keep note of, is that there's two ballistae on the East and West. Bernadetta and Ignatz? Think you can take control of it?"

The two, noticeably scared archers nodded and he was mentally cursing, "Alright. Hmm, Felix goes with Bernadetta to cover her, Leonie, you can go with Ignatz right?"

"Yep!"

"Good. Alright, so next-"

"Why are you ordering us around again?" Santaniel groaned at Hapi's sudden interruption, "Because I'm the only damn person here who can one: give effective orders, and two: actually knows the island. If you'd like to take the next sixteen years to learn about it, I'd love to see you try." His gaze was paralyzing without the lights on, Hapi gave a hmph and turned, upset with his bluntness.

"Alright, so, any questions?" No one said anything, "Seriously guys. This shit is important, not only to me, but to my brothers as well. I know there's a lot of suspicion around me right now, but if Byleth can trust me, so can you guys. Let's get this done and go back to searching for Flayn, shall we?"

———

"Get to your stations you idiots!" Great. Now the twins were somehow reminding her of Santaniel. Though they were both the same age as him after all. "Noah. Michael. Behave yourselves and get to your positioning in the center of the camp. I will not tolerate your disobedience."

"Yes boss!"

Hubert slid from the shadows and stood next to her in silence, "They are mounting an assault on the South. The islanders are suspected to attempt an attack on the ballista. We have reinforced the troops on those positions and have taken a defensive stance. We commence our attack on your word Lady Edelgard." She nodded and waved Hubert off, "Be ready to Warp me if Santaniel confronts me or vice versa. He won't hold back." Hubert nodded and slipped back into the shadows, practically dissolving in the inky black.

———

"Raphael and Balthus, start the attack! Caspar, follow them closely. Petra, cover with bow fire! Lysithea with me, have Swarm ready to fire." Byleth unleashed a lethal strike down at a battalion approaching from the North West, Santaniel would be commencing his attack in three, two, on-

A large bang rang out as they blew a hole through the ceiling of the labs, a Demonic Wolf and Hawk diving through along with Santaniel's draconic form, crashing into the ground. A guttural roar as he started the massacre of his tormentors.

———

"Bernadetta! Get on the Ballista and be ready to fire, I'm covering you." Felix slashed up and through a man, slick crimson blood coating his blade, Bernadetta's battalion still fighting around them. "I-I-"

"Bernadetta. Please." She stared into his eyes, resolve hardened into iron and she nodded, "Got it!" She cranked the winch as fast as possible, the bolt pulling back and she aimed it, taking a deep breath and it fired into a battalion, clearing the way for Byleth. "I- I did it? I did it!"

———

Santaniel grabbed the skull of someone in front of him, hundreds of bolts following the length of his arm and into them, ending their life. "Sorry mate… Wrong side." His ears perked and he ducked a projectile, an arrow scathing his cheek, a thin trail of red and green dripping down it. "Rude… Xavien! On me!"

"Got it!" Santaniel blocked a slew of arrows with his shield, Xavien returning the same amount back, catching Noah's skin. He remembered hearing their name before, so let's use them, shall we?

He blocked a lance blow with his shield and his eyes lit up like bonfires, dragging his axe across Mike's chest, a scream ushered forth. "Arti, Hephaestus! Let your beasts off the leash and let 'em tear them to pieces-"

He grunted and tensed as his armor dented, a small cut forming from an axe. "Gah- Especially now." His eyes locked on a cold, fixated mask, not even a foot away.

He slung his hammer over his back and caught the next strike with the head, driving his shoulder up and into their stomach. "Can't you… just… LEAVE!?"

He drove his hammer into their stomach, drawing a grunt and he drove his fist into their mask, sparks radiating under his touch. He'd finish this.

He dropped his hammer and unsheathed his silver axe, "I can usually forgive, but not now. And I certainly won't forget this."

He stepped on their chest, his eyes cold and will-shattering. "Let's see who lies underneath the mask." He reached down and his metal hand grabbed the edges. A slew of arrows piercing his armor, a shadowy blob of Miasma sending him flying and grinding against the floor.

Hit before he could demask the Emperor.

———

Byleth lashed out against the flank of another battalion, the smell of blood now overpowering in the near pitch black halls of the lab. "Lysithea, use your scry and search for who's in danger."

"Yes Professor." She summoned the spell like Arti instructed her to, now visualizing people as souls and she took a moment to see Byleth's, a bright, fiery green. It was like a star… She had to focus. She scanned the battlefield for souls and finally found Santaniel, why was he lying still? "Santaniel's laying still."

"What?"

"I'll check in on him. Maybe Xavien can talk as well…" She poked at his soul and he answered nearly immediately, "Knocked the Flame Emperor asshat off in a fight, but practically got swarmed with projectiles when I tried to demask them. Shit hurts like hell, but I should be alright. Finish the mission through, and if you see a chest, open it. It'll have a shield in it more than likely."

She dispelled the scry and reported to Byleth, he grimaced and nodded, "Check in on Xavien and Hephaestus." Back to the spell she guessed. 'Xavien, you guys holding up?'

"By holding up, you mean already taken down the twins? Just get rid of the rest and we'll start clearing from the inside out. Good luck." She dispelled it once again and reported it to Byleth, "Good. Let's head to the West and assist Leonie and Ignatz."

"Yes Professor."

———

Santaniel grunted as he pulled another arrow from his armor, this one had gotten at skin. 'Why the hell are these idiots so cowardice…' He kept moving, thankfully he only looked like a porcupine instead of a pincushion, his back protecting him from most harm. "Hey Xavien, you guys find 'em yet?" The assassin grinned wildly and showed off the main prize, The Holy Twins.

Santaniel took them and fit their long chain to his back, able to throw it and drag it back, its aura springing to life as he poured adrenaline into it. "Perfect. Let's go- ow!" Xavien started pulling the rest of the arrows from his back and Santaniel grumbled, at least he wouldn't look ridiculous soon. Definitely felt that way though.

"So, what else are we here to retrieve?" Santaniel snickered and showed Xavien his left sleeve, the ice blue gem of Ernest inside of it, "We're here to make it so I can fully control my other half." Xavien nodded and pried the last arrow head out, making Santaniel yowl in some pain, mostly embarrassment, "Ok. Let's go and find the other two idiots of our quartet."

They walked through the halls and Santaniel hummed a couple of hymns he heard during the choir practices; he was fond of one, but he never remembered who it was for. They finally came into a chamber littered with corpses, Arti and Hephaestus digging around in a chest of what sounded like glass objects.

However… Santaniel knew what it was. He took off across the room and took a glance inside, one in particular catching his eye. The royal purple of Macuil, he picked it up and set it into his jacket, a wave of calm washing over him. "Ok, well, let's go and meet up with the Professor. We have a few new tricks to use after all. Arti, take Rihanna and the gems to the house. They'll be useful."

"Bernadetta I'm fine-"

"No. You're not. You nearly got impaled!" She was still shaking in her knees from the experience. Thankfully she had her lance and was able to just narrowly fight them off in time for her battalion to get there. Felix was fighting another lance user and they had stabbed him in the ribs, fresh blood still leaking from the haphazardly applied bandages.

"Seriously, just let me go to Linhardt to patch me up." She nodded and helped him walk over, a shadow passing over their head and she instinctively dropped to her knees, scared out of her mind something else would come to attack them. She felt another presence loom over her and when she looked up she saw Felix with his sword drawn, wincing in pain as he guarded her. Her eyes widened and she stood up behind him, drawing an arrow from her quiver, looking around.

"Guess who found their birthright."

Santaniel landed softly and his wings folded up behind his back, a slick smile on his face. "W-what?" A small flash lit up the corridor and the wings disappeared, he lifted his arm up and showed off the brand new gem, the Crest of… Macuil in it.

She thought. Maybe? "Also…" A pair of chained axes dropped to his side and glowed an angry red, yet Santaniel's face looked noticeably calmer… That was his "coping mechanism"! "Anyways, how'd the rest of the battle go?"

He stepped forward and placed a palm on Felix's bandages, a small glow lighting everything up. "We're heading back ourselves, we heard from Lysithea that we won, but that's about it." Santaniel nodded and he ran his thumb along the hilt of his axe, "Alright. Felix, put your weight on me, Bernadetta isn't exactly… Actually. Nah, go ahead and let her keep you up. I'll just walk ahead." Santaniel's eyes were playful and Bernadetta caught his message, a small blush coming across her cheeks. "Have fun, you two."

Too bad Felix was as boneheaded as Raphael.

———

"Hey." Santaniel dropped down next to Byleth and Lysithea, scaring the hell out of the small mage. "Where the hell did you come from?!" He flicked his wings and they seemingly stared in awe until he whipped up a gust that snapped them out of it.

"Results of the fight?" Byleth nodded and reported it to him, battalion casualties were unfortunately high, at least three had been wiped, but other than that they were in majority ok. "This would have been a lot easier with Hubert and Edelgard. Missed their raw power."

Byleth nodded and seemingly locked himself in a silent conversation with someone, he looked over at Lysithea with a scrunched brow and she simply shrugged. Strange.

"Ok, well, let's get you guys back to the house, you need to get back to searching for Flayn. Let me know anything that comes up, alright? I'd help, but I'm going to listen to my brothers for once and stay behind."

———

"Lady Edelgard, are you alright?"

"Yes, Hubert. Did you really feel the need to unleash a battalion's worth of arrows onto Santaniel? Not only is he an ally, but he is also one person. A simple Miasma would've allowed you to get close enough to Warp me away. What was the point of that attack?"

She was just… Flustered? Frustrated? Ugh, she couldn't figure out her own emotions, and she hated it. "Lady Edelgard, I am simply doing what I see is best for you. He is nothing but a distraction, the Professor can be considered as controllable. He simply relies on bare emotions and instincts to guide his decisions-"

"Then how did he beat our sound logic?"

He took a small arc around her and inspected the armor, careful as always. "He was lucky. Besides, we have this month's mission to worry about. We should focus on getting Kronya prepared and under control. The Professor is already on the right track, we should focus on getting him to the end destination soon."

She nodded and left the room via mirror, having purchased one of Santaniel's vials this month to make the emergency trip. Anna knew the spell, and she simply asked for her to recite it. Thankfully it would suffice that she assisted in their defense, they just needed to wait a bit longer…

———

Day 17 of the Horsebow Moon

Santaniel was going against Xavien's wishes, walking around the monastery to find Lysithea and talk to someone about something. He hated being alone during these times, his mind constantly wandering and he had nothing to do. Eventually he found her, "Hey Lysithea, so if I made this calculation for Bolganone, then I should-'' Him getting cut off would be the reason he was told not to come here. Bullies, and bigots… Wonderful.

He was about to make a couple well done idiots, "How does a filthy Almyran bitch like you have the nerve to show their face around here?" They attempted to slam into the wall, but he caught the attempt with his legs springing off and drove his knee into their stomach, their grip loosening considerably until the other two took his place, pinning him.

They were all taller, some with colored hair, so they weren't commoners. Maybe small nobles? "So why do you idiots think it's randomly ok-" Great. One threw a punch directly into his fucking eye. Just fucking peachy.

'Be calm. Don't overreact. I don't need to- Oh they're pushing their limits.' Another blow came and he absorbed it, he couldn't blow up. Not now. It would just make him look worse. Lysithea had taken off somewhere, probably to get a teacher. He just needed to weather it.

They weren't the worst storm he'd dealt with before.

———

Day 16 of the Guardian Moon, year 1172

Santaniel walked through the monastery market place, peaking over at random stalls. "Hey Hephaestus? What's that?"

"That's a stray cat Jay. Keep up, we're just buying some food supplies for the week because Rob is sick." Santaniel nodded at the fake names, and followed closely, his eyes still wandering and curious.

It was the first time he'd ever been to this marketplace, well, in reality it was his first time in Fódlan. When he was really little he'd been to Brigid and saw a parade, but that was when his mom and dad were still alive. He wished they were still here, but Hephaestus said they were gone for good.

He yelped as he tripped on a stray dog and fell hard to the ground, busting his chin against the stones. He felt his green blood coating the dust covered streets of Gautier territory. "Ow!"

"Santi, are you ok?" Hephaestus knelt next to him, setting the bags down and he started to wipe the blood away. Santaniel was grumbling at his fussing while someone started calling attention to him. "Hey… Isn't that the kid who has the bounty?"

What were they talking about? What was a bounty? Didn't Xavien say something about it? He felt someone grab his hair and he screamed, grabbing onto Hephaestus, "Hey! What the hell are you doing to my kid?!"

"They'll pay handsomely for you too!" Fire sweltered around him and Hephaestus as the mage casted Bolganone. Santaniel was clinging tightly to his arm, eyes wide with fear and he felt fire burning in his throat and smoke stinging his eyes.

What was happening? Why were people screaming? He felt more hands making their way towards him and he was too scared. Too out of control. He lashed out and blood spilled, "Get away from us!" Hephaestus picked up their bags and took off in a sprint, jumping through the mirror and he closed it rapidly.

"H-Hephaestus? What was-was that?" Santaniel felt hot tears welling up and he didn't like it, he wanted to be back with parents. "Those were bad people Sant. I'm sorry. I should have hid you better…"

That was the last time he and Hephaestus went to the market place for a long time. The next was many years later when he had started to dye his hair and was unrecognizable from his old wanted poster.

He was an afterthought, but his brothers had called him Jason in public to hide him. No one dared attack them afterward. He was still scared something like that would happen again, he didn't want it to. But it would be years later…

———

Present Day

"Get the hell away from me." This warning was their last chance. He would cook them if they didn't. Yet they still hit him, they still called him a slew of slurs and cursed him. He wasn't the person they said he was. He was Santaniel Horusl Blessing, not some lowly kidnapper that was too cowardly to even show their face around the Monastery… Show their faces… A mask. They wore a mask.

Jeritza's mask was found by their Professor. Arti never went without his own, so that meant that… Jeritza was their prime suspect. He shook off the men who had him pinned to the wall with a broiling flame, singeing their hair and leaving a nasty couple burns.

He cracked his fist against one's skull and broke their nose, the other receiving a headbutt that busted a couple teeth out. The third, their leader he presumed, drew his sword. He took a swing at Santaniel's head, the blade getting caught in his right arm as he kicked his knee so hard it crumpled underneath him. "Hmph, learn some manners assholes."

"Santaniel!" He turned his head and Lysithea returned with Alois and a couple knights, "What happened?"

"Three cases of assault and a trip to the medbay for 'em. Take them there and I need to talk to Byleth, I have a solid suspect for him to check out." He took off for the classroom, hearing something about how they left yesterday? Why'd they go without him? And where?

———

Day 21 of the Horsebow Moon

"Hey Professor! Where the hell have you guys been?" Santaniel had been trying to catch the teal haired man for the past week, then Lysithea went randomly missing as well, unable to find either of them at all. "We went with Ignatz and Raphael to handle some business with Lord Gloucester."

"Huh, neat. Anyways, I have a theory-" he was cut off by Edelgard, Hubert and Caspar following her, and he was getting annoyed. He grit his teeth and mentally groaned as Byleth seemingly forgot about him. 'Fuck this.' He grabbed Byleth by the wrist and forcefully dragged him along to the knight's quarters. "Santaniel. Why are you dragging me?"

"I think Jeritza is the one who we need to check out. So you're coming with me, and checking. Hephaestus has also been a worried mess because Manuela was last seen over two weeks ago. So let's just check the damn room, alr-"

He pulled the door open and stopped in his tracks, mouth hanging open as they found an unconscious Manuela. "Santaniel! What was the meaning- Manuela?!" Edelgard stopped in her tracks just behind them, Caspar and Hubert clambering to catch up, and she peered over his shoulder at the unconscious Professor.

"Is she hurt?" The Professor knelt and rolled her over, a small stab wound under her right arm.

"Quite obviously. Edelgard, help me with getting her to the infirmary. Santaniel, Hubert, contact your classmates and update them." Santaniel nodded at Hanneman's orders and did exactly that,

'Black Eagles, red alert. Come to the Knight's quarters. Manuela has been found and there's a small hole in the wall leading down to what Hubert and Professor are assuming to be a crypt in Jeritza's room. Grab your weapons, and alert my family by the mirror. Let's get moving on!'

"Ready Professor?"

———

Lysithea took off in a sprint, Thyrus strapped to her back as she slid down into the crypt with her classmates, coming onto Santaniel and the Professor who were already causing massive damage to their forces. "Balthus, Raphael, Xavien, Arti go help Santaniel. Me and Dorothea will assist the Professor. Felix, Bernadetta, Leonie, Yuri, watch our backside!"

"Yes ma'am!"

———

Santaniel danced from enemy to enemy, Holy Twins fueling his strength. 'Too many days without these things… Let's show 'em what they can do eh?' He ducked a flurry of arrows and lashed out with his axe, cracking the skull of another enemy. "Watch the tiles! They're the same as the Tomb!"

He jumped back as a soon-to-be dead man slashed at him with his sword, an arrow finding their jugular. "Thanks Arti. Stick on me, let's clear 'em out!" He ripped the key from the man's neck and unlocked the next gate, kicking it open. "The warp tiles will send us to our next destination. Let's use them."

Byleth caught up with Lysithea on his tail, "Nice of you to join us Lys." She rolled her eyes and they carried on to the tile, a flash of purple and some brief nausea later, they were in another room. "Hephaestus, go and hit the lever, Byleth, can you get on the next tile with Lys? Report to us what's coming up."

The Professor nodded and Santaniel ran a hand through his hair, flicking away some blood. "Ok. This is a nightmare to be in." His axes were surrounded by a thick blue swirl of fear, his memories reawakening of his time in the labs. 'Snap out of it. People need you.'

Arti patted him on the back and Santaniel read what he meant, his body relaxing and going back on full alert to check for enemies. "Let's get through the warp. Arti, Hephaestus, you guys first. I'll take Xavien on the next one." He heard another one activate and he shoved Arti into the group of three. He whipped around and cracked his iron fist on a brawler's face like a mallet.

"Ok, this'll be annoying…"

———

'That idiot. He knows I can help him.' Arti casted Aura and ripped through a battalion with a beast's wrath. "That's a rare flare of emotion…" Hephaestus covered his back with a Levin sword and cut through some arrows, "Make sure you can still sense him. We don't want him dead."

He nodded and flashed a Fortify over their small group, "Sounds like Santaniel is joining us…" He watched as Santaniel came through, his face a bit green with nausea. "Goddess I hate warp spells… Mirror travel over normal spells." Arti nodded and whipped up an Abraxas, obliterating another battalion and Santaniel flashed, his axes turning to talons and his wings sprouting out. "Been too long since I've fought like this."

———

The floor was a blur underneath him, tearing over it and turning with his talons, leaving gouge marks on the bricks. He pushed up and let a jet of flames loose over a battalion and nearly crashed head first into the next gate, opened by Byleth a split second beforehand. He tucked into a roll and felt a scythe's tip tear along his feathers. 'Damn it.' He pushed off the wall and avoided lightning, turning around and pouncing on top of the Death Knight. The man who made the last month the loneliest he'd felt since the year began.

Time to show some sheer strength.

He threw the man from his horse and he flashed again, axes dropping to his side, "Welcome to your final resting place." He absorbed the energy through the hilts, and his eyes glowed with power as he felt a burning building in his chest. He took a strong step forward and cut through the ground, cracking into the man's armor and he tore it upwards, launching him to the grimy ceiling.

Santaniel felt emotions build up, and he turned them to fuel.

Long, winding slashes decorated the man's armor, cutting the top of the horns off, and blood dripped down his blades as he pulled his axes back. The man still stood. He slashed at him with the scythe, cutting through his battered armor, small droplets of blood dropped from the wound.

He had to admit, his will was stronger than most, but that didn't matter if you were just a beast. Just a thing that craves a kill. He may have loved before, but with how he acted now… He may as well be hunted instead of him on the island.

"You've had your fun." Edelgard stepped forward and felt the flames of Hephaestus narrowly miss her. The next wouldn't. "Retreat. You will have another chance soon." A wave of magic pulsed over her and the Death Knight, disappearing in the darkness of the catacombs. Suddenly missing the warmth of the one person who'd held her.

———

"Well, that's annoying. Let's get these… two? I thought we only had one child to get." Santaniel scratched his head, looking down at the red haired girl, who he honestly had no clue about. He looked over at Byleth and Hubert, both offering nothing. "Huh. Well uh, I'll take the red head, get Raphael to take Flayn I guess."

He knelt down and slung the woman over his shoulder, feeling her stir slightly. "Well at least she's alive. Let's go topside." They walked in silence, the only sound the soft breathing echoing out from Arti's mask or the girls over their shoulders. They wound up outside the door to Jeritza's room, Santaniel partially blinded from the sudden change in light. "I'm bac- Oh. It seems you have already taken care of everything."

"Yeah. Could've used some help Princess." His tone was flat, he wasn't in the mood for pleasantries, he was in the mood to take a nap. "How's Manuela?"

Santaniel kept his feet moving and Edelgard fell into stride next to him, Raphael on their tails. "She's in a stable condition. Mercedes is tending to her now." Santaniel nodded and shifted the woman on his shoulder, something sharp jabbing into him. "Ok. That's odd." He reached under the unconscious body and pulled out a dagger, stabbing up and through his sleeve, "That's where that went. Guess I missed the sheathe."

Edelgard stared at the woman and he blinked, confused as to what was going on. "Let's find Alois to carry her. Hell, I need some patching up myself." The white haired heir seemed to notice the cut for the first time and her eyes widened, "How are you so careless?"

"Because I care for other people. You included." He bumped into her and carried on, a small blush spreading on her cheeks. A small murmur caught his attention and he turned to Raphael, eyebrow raised. "I didn't say anything." He looked to Edelgard but she gave a similar response. Santaniel felt the small redhead stir on his shoulder again, "Uh, you wakin' up over there?" A muffled response came and he rolled his eyes. "Let's get 'em to the medbay already."