Day 11 of the Ethereal Moon, Year 1164
"Come on Santaniel! You can do it!" Lisa sat across from Horus, Santaniel feebly standing on his two wobbly legs. Hephaestus sat there, watching with great interest. Arti next to him, kicking his feet while watching the small family indulge in this great moment. "You can do it, Sant, just one foot after the other." Horus spoke softly to his son while Lisa was full of passion for his development. On feeble legs, Santaniel stepped forward, the next three steps seemed to come naturally.His last two ended in him stumbling into Lisa, looking up at her giggling face. His own smile spread widely in pride, or it seemed like it. Hephaestus didn't even know if a baby could feel pride. Horus came over in two short strides and hugged his family, it was honestly a beautiful moment.
One that didn't last long enough.
———
Day 17 of the Red Wolf Moon, 1181
"You got this Santaniel, just remember what it feels like." Santaniel had a piece of cloth in his mouth to help shrug off the pain of his recovery. His bone had finally mended, it had taken much longer than they all thought, the bone having been shattered. Nothing too irreversible that a combined effort of Arti and Hephaestus couldn't solve though.
"Come on, one foot after the other." Xavien had his body underneath the feebler side of Santaniel's body while Hephaestus watched. Ready with a Recover in case he fell. "Almost there bud, you got this." Santaniel left the support of Xavien and continued across on his own, pounding the wall with his fist when he reached it. His body heathed in pain, but his smile of accomplishment seemed to give him a second wind.
He had made the first steps to his recovery.
———
Day 30 of the Guardian Moon, 1181
"March!" Edelgard was leading an assault on the Monastery again, this time with her main force. She was at the tail end of the siege, yet her force was making great pace and it seemed they would be able to search for the Professor. If he was alive, he would make a great addition to the forces, maybe he could even convince Santaniel to come back.
They could end this war in mere months.
Her heart wanted that badly. To go back and redo it all in a different way. She didn't have that ability however, she had to push forward with what she had and what the war offered her. Hopefully, the Professor would be such a thing it deemed her worthy to offer her. "If you are hoping for a revelation that the Professor has been found, Lady Edelgard, I regret to inform you that he has not. Nor have his remains."
"What of my former classmates from the Alliance, Jean."
"Lysithea has returned to her home in grief of the Professor, as have Marriane Von Edmund, and Ignatz Victor. Leonie and Raphael are offering their skills in exchange for coin and protection." Edelgard nodded and sighed, Lysithea would have been a vital piece in this war.
"What of the Kingdom then?" Hubert responded instead this time, "It seems that the Kingdom has given the Church residence in this time. However, all of our former classmates have given their allegiance. That includes Felix, Mercedes, Ashe, and Annette."
"Good. I'm assuming the Wolves are neutral at this point, and would be willing to come to our side in exchange for protection and food?"
"Correct, your Highness."
"Give it to them. Shamir and Alois have already given their allegiance as well, they will be absorbed into our ranks as commanders." Edelgard massaged her temples as she ran many scenarios through her head, all of which having different outcomes.
"That is good news, your Highness. We shall give you news if we find any remains of the Viper house." Edelgard nodded and turned her attention back to the massive structure on the hill in front of them. "I doubt any of them died. They have a vast array of ways to escape."
'I wish them well… It is the least I can do for this torture I have given them.'
———
Day 9 of the Great Tree Moon, Year 1182
Santaniel grimaced as he pulled himself through the pain, he had to build his body back up. The bar creaked as it attempted to support his weight, "Sant, come and eat."
"Will in a minute." Xavien sighed as he leaned up against the door frame, "Told you not to overdo it. If you over exert yourself it'll speed up the process."
"If my body is unhealthy, it'll speed that up as well. Besides, Hephaestus and Arti have made a lot of- progress!" Santaniel finally reached his final rep and dropped to the floor on a sturdier pair of legs than before. "Have you gotten that wood sanded for me by the way?"
"Yep, had to hurry. The floor is starting to cave a bit, want to get that done after we all eat?" Santaniel nodded and took a large swig of water. "Any news you could gather from the market?"
"Alliance is neutral and the Kingdom has declared all out war with the Empire. Church is buddy-buddy with them as well, Dimitri has taken over as king." The younger man nodded, "Hm, interesting. Anything on the horizon?"
"Nope, no ships, nothing."
"Good." Santaniel rolled his shoulders and took a deep breath, "Mind cutting my hair before we eat?" Xavien peaked his eyebrow and looked at Santaniel's hair, "Thought Hephaestus did that with you."
"Well, when I need to dye it. No more hiding it, isn't needed after Fódlan is falling to shit." Xavien smiled and clapped him on the shoulder, "Of course I will man. Go and get the scissors."
———
Day 22 of the Lone Wolf Moon, Year 1182
It was another failed attempt at taking any ground in the Kingdom. Another round of useless negotiations with the Alliance. Jean had been killed in their last battle, Hubert had been struck with three arrows attempting to protect her. They needed the Professor's foresight back badly, and she had to hope he would come to her side.
He always had.
———
Day 17 of the Ethereal Moon, Year 1183
"See the ship on the horizon?"
"Yep, hand me the spyglass." Santaniel took the small tool and held it up to his eye, looking for any particular markings that would possibly give away its allegiance. A couple stripes of blue and a lion's head on the mast. It was either the Church or the Kingdom and he didn't care for either. "Tell Hephaestus to sink it with Meteor if they don't heed the warning."
"Got ya." Xavien slid down the ladder from the lookout and left Santaniel to fly across the sea and warn them. He let his wings flex and took a couple warm up flaps. They were longer and it had been a while since he had used them, having found out that transformations like this lowered his life expectancy.
He had only about… Give or take a couple years to find a cure. Nonetheless, trips like this were needed, and he was the only one who could do such a thing. At least until Arti's next hawk was ready to fly upon. As he raced across the wide open sea, he gained a glance at a glimmer of blonde hair. Seemed some familiar face was on board. He landed at the head of the mast and stared down Catherine, her hand already on Thunderbrand. "What do you want?"
"I came here on behalf of Rhea. She wants you and your brothers to help us out on the battlefield, she's willing to give you forgiveness if you do." Santaniel didn't feel impressed and it seemed he gave the impression of not being impressed as well, "We were ordered to take you back no matter what-"
"If you don't turn your ship around within five minutes, it will be sunk and then I will pick you off one by one while you're in the water." Catherine stopped her threat in its tracks, "I see. And by what means would you have to do that with?"
"Several Meteor spells from Hephaestus and myself. I gave Rhea several, nasty injuries years ago. I'm much stronger now and I can put more than a couple dents in your ship Catherine. Now leave before I gut you all like fish." She paled and nodded, "Alright."
Santaniel left and flew back to the island in a small amount of time, calling off Hephaestus' attack. While he flew back, the sight of greener water put a message from his time at the academy back in his head. "They turned around, we're fine. I'm taking a nap now. Also, be prepared for a little trip my friends. We're taking a visit to Sreng. We need to see my uncle."
———
Day 21 of the Ethereal Moon, Year 1184
The heat was killer to Xavien. He had always hated it. No use in complaining now however, he needed to keep watch for Santaniel, keep the place on lockdown pretty much.
"Any idea why we're here?" Arti shook his head and leaned against the lone tree in the area, soaking in as much heat as he wished. "As far as I know, only Hephaestus does. He said it's a personal trip. His uncle."
"Ah, I see."
———
Santaniel huffed as his blood leaked down his clothes, several tears in them now. His right arm was marked with several nasty cuts as well, the metal still sizzling from the wicked wind. He took a deep breath and spoke, "Macuil, Windcaller, whatever you wish to be named. I'm your nephew, Santaniel. I have the Crest of Ernest as proof and more than a potent enough bite to show you the hard way. Again."
Santaniel stepped forward and let his amulet glimmer in the sunlight creeping in via the cracks of the ruins.
"You… You certainly have the stink of Ernest. However, that does not explain why you are here." His right eye was marked with a three talon strike and his back had several puncture wounds from Santaniel's teeth.
"I'm in trouble. Deep in it." He pulled back his sleeves and showed off his deep purple veins, "I was experimented on as a child. My mother and father didn't know of it and it'll kill me within the year. We need to know how to remove a Crest, your own in fact. I'll give the details on how I was experimented on; after, you give me the spells to cure myself." Macuil seemed to huff in disapproval, like an adult being ordered around by a child. Well, he technically was. "Hand me the amulet child."
Santaniel took it from his neck and slipped it over the horn on Macuil's head, "You need someone to perform the surgery, and the correct blood." The young man stepped back as Macuil turned back into a more human-like entity, bright green hair similar to Seteth's atop his head. 'Uncanny.'
"My… Brother here is going to perform the surgery. He may be human, but he's the best mage in Fódlan by any standard." Hephaestus stepped through the doorway and bowed to Macuil, "I study the fire element of magic, less complex than that of your wind or even black magic, but it is what I am attuned to most. I will harbor as much of your instructions as possible and try my best to not mess up. I swear this on my family who died long ago."
Macuil nodded, seemingly impressed at Hephaestus' ability to acknowledge himself yet remain somewhat humble. "Alright, but how shall you supply your blood? Do you have any living relatives?"
"I was going to ask you about that actually. I don't really know. My mother was obviously Ernest, but my father Horus is a bit mysterious past wise. If he does, I would not be able to track them down. Does it have to be one of the two inside me already, or can an alternate be used? Like your's." Macuil shook his head, his long hair glimmering in the sunlight, "Unfortunately not. If you can locate either Ernest's blood or your father's, it will save you. However, you must find it soon, otherwise, you will die." Santaniel's shoulders slumped, but he nodded anyway, "Ok. I'll leave you with Hephaestus then-"
"Wait." Macuil reached his staff out, the one he had used as a soldier in the Great War many years ago. "That's…"
"Sturmrufer. It is my staff that I used for many years. I don't plan on using it anymore, and you may have many years of fighting left ahead of you. Now go, you will need all the time you have left to save yourself." Santaniel nodded, "Thank you once again. You're a very kind Nabatean, and I'll show the world exactly what we're capable of."
"I'm sure you will, young one."
———
Day 25 of the Ethereal Moon, Year 1185
Byleth groaned as he pulled himself up and out of the frigid river, his bones aching from the cold. He heard the voice of a villager call out to him, but his mind was stuck upon that of Sothis'. She had been the one to wake him from his slumber, but surely not too much time had passed, right?
After a few moments, he finally asked the question that had been bugging him, "What year is it?" The man raised his eyebrows, eyeing the strange mercenary garb around his body, the same that had been torn to reveal old battle scars. "The year 1185, the millennium festival is today. You hit your head or- Hey! Where are you going?"
"I have to go." The man reached out to stop him, but Byleth ripped his arm away, "My students need me." The man gave further protest, but Byleth ignored him. Pushing himself further up the hill to the monastery, avoiding simple thieves that may give his tired body trouble. "I have to see if someone is here."
———
"Professor? Professor!" Edelgard lunged forward and wrapped her arms around the wet and quite tired Professor, "Where have you been?"
"Asleep." Edelgard looked up at him blankly, confused, but found no glimmer of humor in his eyes. He knew he must have truly been asleep somewhere… Just as Sothis had once had been. "That is quite strange my Teacher, but that is of no matter. We must tell the others that you have returned!" Byleth smiled down at her and nodded, "We shall. I assume the original Black Eagles are still here?"
"Correct my Teacher, and it seems we had a few old classmates come and surprise us with their visits as well." She led him down the staircase, his eyes finally registering how she had decorated her hair, along with the blood red armor. It made her old persona seem like an outcry already. Have the others changed this much?
Nope. Not all of them had changed.
Linhardt yawned as he leaned off of Caspar, his eyes ringed with dark circles. Caspar was as lively as ever… And still quite loud. "Professor! It's great to see you!" Ferdinand gave him a hug, getting hair in his mouth. "Edelgard had said that if you returned, we would surely win this- Oh, I apologize. My hair has gotten much longer. Either way, I'm sure your return would shape the war to the vision we see fit."
Byleth smiled and nodded, "I hope I will." Hubert gave him a slim grin and nodded at him with much more refined features than he had at the academy. Almost like Dracula… He could see what Santaniel meant about him being like a vampire.
"Professor." His voice still had a touch of shiver inducing spite to it. "It's nice to see you too, Hubert." His smile seemed a bit warmer than the typical. "I expect that Bernadetta and Felix are here too-" His voice came out with a wheeze as he was squeezed by Raphael in a bear hug, "Professor!" Leonie smiled from behind him and Byleth ruffled Raphael's hair, "It's amazing to see you guys are still alive. Is everyone ok?"
"Lysithea is at the Goddess Tower, if you wish to see her of course. She was quite distraught when she found out you had fallen into that gorge."
Byleth nodded silently and felt his lips crease, "I didn't want to worry any of you." Edelgard shook her head, "What you did was brave, but I wish you simply hadn't been defeated." Byleth decided to leave the conversation there and left towards the Goddess Tower.
He needed to apologize to his former star pupil.
———
Lysithea sat upon a stone bench at the top of the tower. She had come back to the Monastery, just as she had promised the Professor five years ago. She had grown so much, but so had her condition in the worst way possible. She let out a breath and sighed heavily, "I'm sorry I didn't get to say goodbye."
"You didn't have to." Her heartbeat picked up and her face reddened heavily, "Pro-Professor?!" He didn't look like he had changed a bit in five years… But that was impossible. No one could stay the same for half a decade or survive that fall.
It was… She thought her heartbeat would pick up to the point it bursted when the Professor hugged her. "I'm sorry Lysithea. I did my best to protect you."
"You did, Professor. Just, don't scare me like that next time. Please." Byleth tightened his grip a bit, though she doubted even he knew why, "I won't." Her heart melted and she returned the hug, restraining her feelings… Just barely though.
It took all she had to not spill everything. Tears, and her love. That's all she could feel. A sad happiness and longing. Though, knowing that she would at least have the Professor for the last few years of her life. That. That brought her unfathomable joy.
It gave her that small happiness that she wouldn't let anyone take away from her. Even if it cost her life.
———
Day 28 of the Ethereal Moon
"Edelgard, what is the status of the war?" Edelgard looked up from the map in the Cardinal room, her eyes having lingered on the island just south west of Fódlan.
"It would be much better if we had more fire power. I never realized how much the Viper's made an impact on our battles. They work well together and Santaniel seemed to be the finishing force with Felix and Lysithea. They still have no issues taking out units by themselves, but it isn't at the same pace. Xavien took out pesky mages, while Hephaestus and Arti provided much needed magical support. Dorothea and Manuela can punch holes in defenses, yes, but it's just not at the same rate."
"Santaniel said himself that if we attempted to come close to the island, that they would attack us on sight. So, we'd likely have to force them to work with us, or possibly offer something they simply couldn't refuse." After Hubert offered his insight, a small thought bubbled up to the top of Edelgard's mind. "Professor, a word please." She led him to the tactics room next door, her eyes scanning the walls for maps.
"Santaniel's condition, it's a deadly one, just like the one Lysithea has. But, he doesn't have the resources needed to cure himself. I believe if we, the Black Eagle strike force, go to the island, he would hesitate just enough to hear us out."
Byleth found the map she had been looking for, one of Santaniel's from years ago. It thankfully hadn't been destroyed. "They have their house positioned on the south eastern coast, if we approach from the North, it is unlikely they will see us coming. If we can bargain with them, we might be able to bolster our forces just enough to end this war in months rather than years of attrition." Byleth nodded silently, seemingly running calculations through his head.
"If we do this, we leave in only a few days. Do you suppose you can buy some mirror magic from Anna and get us to Brigid?"
"I can, my Teacher. Hopefully, this will work."
———
Day 30 of the Ethereal Moon
"Goddess damn it… Xavien, get Hephaestus ready to cast some Meteors. I didn't realize they would be this desperate."
"Got it. Wanna go scare 'em? Seems like only one ship, not too many soldiers either." Santaniel nodded and stretched his arms above his head, his back straining in protest. "Yeah, I'll need a nap after though. Shit has started to wear me out." Xavien nodded and gave a two finger salute as he slid down the rough wooden ladder.
Santaniel's wings stretched out, nearly double that of his wings years ago. His own height had grown about sixteen centimeters, and his hair was close cropped like Xavien's once had been. He also traded in his father's jacket for something more practical. An amulet around his neck, however, he did wear the jacket when he felt like he wanted to. Just around the house.
Honestly, all his brothers seemed quite different from before. Arti had seemingly grown more… Not extroverted, definitely more talkative though. At least to them. His mask had been heavily cracked in the last battle five years ago, and it had a much more stylized starry-night kind of pattern.
Hephaestus had his auburn hair grow out much longer and his body slimmed down a bit. He started to grow a beard, which looked kinda shitty in his own opinion, but it was his choice. He gained a couple new wrinkles and some cuts from battles had made new scars. Looking more similar to Santaniel's face, almost like they were birthmarks shared between parent and child.
As for Xavien, well, he just became more of a gremlin in appearance. He had grown out his hair in an effort to annoy Santaniel and his garb became a little more ragged. His skills hadn't dulled at all though.
Santaniel decided to stop thinking about the past five years and to get a move on, one foot in front of the other. Well, one wing beat to the next in this case. He closed the distance on the ship in only a few moments, having only been an hour at the easy speed they were going. "The hell do you idiots want?" The crew looked up at him, shocked to see someone with wings he guessed. "Well? Answer the question."
"Santaniel?" He rolled his eyes and sat down on the mast of the ship, "No shit. Who else has wings and would give you idiots a moment to speak before I blow your ship apart and drown everyone in it?"
Ferdinand gulped and smiled nervously, calling for Edelgard and- "Professor?" His eyes took a moment to adjust to the familiar face, his front dropping just for a moment.
"Santaniel, I see you've grown." He grit his teeth and took a deep breath, he would not get drawn into this war. This wasn't his fight. "Whatever trick you want to play, I suggest you try it on someone else. If you don't want to be food for the fish, turn around within the next… ten or so minutes. Hephaestus already has several Meteors conjured up. It's just a matter of time before he drops them. I'll wish you luck, but that's it."
He took off from the mast and heard Edelgard's voice dying off in the wind as he took his place on his bed. He knew they wouldn't give up with that, he needed to rest his body for a fight.
One he didn't even want.
———
"Well… That certainly wasn't the effect we wanted by showing you to him, my Teacher. I would suggest getting our best mages above deck and conjure up as many barriers as possible. If Hephaestus still has that relic, we'll need all hands on deck." Byleth nodded and Hubert started the task of protecting their lone ship, the first Meteor striking five minutes after the hybrid left.
"We may have to go in without any mages… This will wear them out significantly." Byleth nodded next to her, conjuring his own spells to heal whoever needed a stamina boost. "How many fliers do we have? We can send them as a distraction."
"We have Petra and Bernadetta available, Bernadetta has learned over the last couple of years."
"Send them, along with Dorothea and Felix, for protection. We just need to keep them busy until we dock. If we successfully convince them to come to our side, we can leave via the mirror. If we don't…" She got the gist of his idea. They wouldn't be going back on a boat, that much is certain.
"Let us hope it doesn't come to that Edelgard." She nodded already knowing what he was referring to. She didn't want to leave by using the freshly spilt blood of someone she loved.
———
The fliers departed, and Byleth had nearly exhausted his Divine Pulse to correct any mistakes against Hephaestus' onslaught of Meteors.
There could be no mistakes heading into this mission.
———
Xavien sighed as he and Arti knocked bows around the house. They would be in charge of defense of the house while Hephaestus casted his Meteors, "Arti, anyone coming?" The man silently nodded and pointed to the Northwest. Fliers. "They aren't leaving without us… If they spill blood, so will we."
"Agreed. We won't falter. Now, fire!" They let arrows fly at a Pegasi and wyvern, both having two passengers. He guessed they were sent as an attempt to throw off Hephaestus' spells. Heh, like that'd happen.
Xavien hit two arrows and Arti hit three, no vitals had been pierced. Yet, it seemed that their shots had done more damage to the mounts, the Pegasi falling to the ground near death. The riders were Bernadetta and Felix, their orders were probably to talk to Santaniel. It would be a minute until they got there.
"Wake up Santaniel and tell him to get ready. I'll handle this." Arti silently went through the door and gently woke up their brother, getting Hephaestus to come outside as well. "Hey, ambush positions. Let's go."
Xavien scrambled his way over the sand into a tree, then hid in its leaves. Arti and Hephaestus took residence in the thicker part of the forest; they would more than likely attempt to attack the house first. That, or they would attempt a negotiation, which seemed doubtful.
The Empire had never been truthful.
Xavien sat in wait, tracking his prey like a wildcat, listening to each and every word. Bernadetta was one hundred percent nervous, Felix seemed on edge, his hand constantly brushing against the hilt of his sword. As if expecting Santaniel to rush out of the house and maul them all.
No, that wasn't it. He was afraid one of the other three would attack them, if they rushed them now, blood would be drawn or a head would fall. This was a stalemate. Until someone threw in the towel, the tension would be cuttable with a knife.
He heard footsteps approaching, more armored people he supposed that just came from the ship. This was giving him serious flashbacks to a couple years ago where they tried a head on assault on the house. Hephaestus didn't take them lightly, and blew their ships to pieces. It was near an exact replay, except they had the element of surprise and were lenient enough to let them retreat.
Well… Hopefully they'd take retreating as a serious option.
———
"My Teacher, it seems they may have abandoned their house in favor of more advantageous terrain. Such as forest, or the caves-"
"Hands where we can see them. Now." Edelgard sighed and raised her hands, looking forward to Hephaestus. The same person who saved Santaniel from having his life taken years ago, and would probably refuse any chances at talking.
That, or he would simply listen to Santaniel, she had to take a gamble on the latter. "We want to speak to-"
"Don't care. You won't be the one doing the speaking. You don't have the leverage." Hephaestus looked towards Byleth and beckoned him forward, the pale man showing no leniency for any tricks they could pull. Lysithea squeaked out quietly, "Don't hurt him please."
"Draw a knife and cut your hand Byleth. You should know exactly why we want you to do it." Hephaestus had his teeth grit and didn't move his eyes as the door creaked open behind him. Santaniel stepped out and fixed his jacket, red streaks dripping down his face.
He truly didn't see them as a threat, did he? "I'm checking everyone here. I don't give a damn if you refuse or not, if you do, well… That just gives me more reason to chop your head off right? Now come on Professor. Let's move on with this. Lys, don't show me a sour face, you know damn good and well you had your own doubts when he suddenly appeared again."
With his thumb, he wiped away the red fluid and flicked it into the sand. He licked his lips and looked down at them with eyes glaring with anger. Byleth nicked his palm, his facial muscles tensing as his ruby blood trickled from the sensitive skin. "Good. Edelgard should be fine, can't have the nation's ruler as a puppet, yet at least. Lysithea, you showed genuine care for Byleth. Raphael is staring at me like a mad dog wanting some food or some excuse to move, and Felix and Bernadetta are acting as they should…"
Edelgard kept her gaze on him, his movements were hesitant, but with how much he seemed to have grown, she doubted they were sluggish. Back at the academy, he only lied when he smiled. There was no hint of a playful joke or a successful getaway on his face now.
This was not an empty threat. He truly would kill them himself if they didn't comply.
He dropped off the wooden porch and the sound of metal clinked as a soldier rushed at him. A small exhale left his nose as dodged the swing for his neck, although… It was hard for her to put her finger on, but he seemed more reserved.
His emotions weren't readable, like he'd hidden his soul. His actions spoke for him as kicked the feet out from the soldier, placing his foot on his chest. "Hmph. Better make your way back to your ship if you don't want to get more personal with your weapon. Do you understand me?"
The soldier struggled under his cleated foot and swatted at him, a desperate man attempting to escape the squeeze of a python. "You know, Edelgard, I'm surprised you're standing for this out of everyone. Your own man is under the foot of someone you wish to make allies with, yet you don't even offer an apology." The creaking of bone reached her ears as Santaniel put more pressure on his chest, the metal of his chest plate denting. "I apologize for the brash actions of my subject Santaniel. May we-"
He lifted his foot and shooed the soldier away. "Just tell me what you want. If it doesn't have anything worthwhile backing it up, just leave now. Yes, that includes gold." Xavien huffed behind their group and Santaniel gave a cold stare to his brother, it seemed he wasn't totally grown out of his expressive ways.
"Anyways. What's the offer, I can make a guess as to what you want in return." Edelgard nodded, attempting to step forward a tiny bit, but the fire on Hephaestus' hand got a bit hotter. She took the hint and stepped back.
"Nah. It's fine Hephaestus. Let Byleth, Lysithea, and Edelgard in. They can even have Felix and Raphael come in as extra protection. Arti, you're coming inside as well. Hephaestus, Xavien, you make sure none of these idiots make a stupid move."
Santaniel made a move to open the door, but stopped to listen for something, that or simply think. "Actually, take them back to the ship." Hephaestus nodded and let the five of them come inside, Arti following and Santaniel closed the door.
Once they got inside, Edelgard's eyes widened in surprise. Nearly the entire house was different, stylized and redecorated. Santaniel exhaled loudly behind them and rubbed the bridge of his nose, picking a half eaten filled doughnut off the table. It dripped red and he took what seemed to be a second bite.
"Alright. Speak. What do ya want? I can't keep up the threatening villain act like you can Edelgard." Raphael stifled a laugh and Edelgard simply shook her head, "We need your fire power Santaniel. You and your brothers offer too much power not to want added to the army."
Arti rolled his eyes and set a kettle on the magical fire, waving at Lysithea as he got cups for tea. "Wait, Santaniel, what happened to your hair?" Felix seemingly felt more relaxed, as if he'd finally reunited with an old friend… Well, she supposed it was like a reunion between friends.
"Cut it a couple years ago. I figured since half of the continent knew I had two Crests I'd just stop hiding it." Felix nodded and took a seat, "Edelgard, start talking. Tell me what you're offering in return for our skills in battle." She nodded and opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by Lysithea, "Hey Santaniel, can I have one of those pastries?"
"Yeah. Here." He slid a box onto the table and Lysithea smiled as she grabbed a couple for her plate, "You need a relatives' blood for your surgery, correct?" Santaniel nodded, "Yes. I assume the Agarthans would have told you already, but as you know they slaughtered my parents years ago and I have no clue who my father's direct relatives are. As for you, I'm assuming your Dad looks like a raisin for after you finish the war?" Edelgard gave him a heavy glare but he simply smiled at her, he was just agitating her.
"Unfortunately, no. He's simply just very old and in poor health." Santaniel lost the glimmer in his eyes and shook his head, "I apologize. However, why do you feel this is an interesting talk, big enough to try and get the four people you betrayed years ago back on your side." He crossed his arms, looking at her with no shred of patience left. "The Agarthans gathered your mother's blood years ago. They're attempting to recreate a weapon like you."
Santaniel closed his eyes and leaned up against the wooden counter, Arti closing his eyes as well. She had no doubt that Xavien and Hephaestus were doing the same, conversing on what to do. She bit her tongue, not wanting to plead anymore. "Fine. Me and my brothers held it to a vote, and it was three to one in favor of joining."
Felix looked up from the small rack of weapons and cocked his head, "Who voted no?" Santaniel had a wry smile on his face, a shred of guilt in his eyes. "Me." Edelgard ground her teeth and nodded, "Alright. We'll be attempting to strategize at the start of next month. Will you attend the meetings?"
"I might be late."
"Thank you Santaniel."
"Thank my brothers, and then me when this war is over."
