Day 1 of the Pegasus Moon

"My Teacher, how is Santaniel?" Byleth shrugged his shoulders, "Arti has been working on him since yesterday. He's at their house, likely recovering. Give him rest and he'll be back on his feet."

"I understand, thank you." Edelgard took her leave from the Cardinal Room as she had no need to reside there longer. She let a yawn escape her mouth and stretched. "Hubert, you may speak. You know you do not need my permission to do such a thing."

"I apologize, Your Majesty, I simply do as I was trained." He stepped out of her shadow and smiled, "But I must ask, why do you show so much concern for him?"

"He's an ally, and crucial for after the war. If we want the Agarthans out of the picture, it is best we use his hatred for them. Then, he can return to his island in peace. It is a win for both sides." Hubert had a sinister smirk on his face, "That is a wonderful idea Your Majesty, except, I must agree with our ally on one thing… You have never made a move without the possibility of succeeding another motive."

She stared through him with a murderous gaze and his meek smile faded, returning to stoic stone. "I apologize, Your Majesty, I have overstepped my boundaries." Letting out an exasperated sigh, she started walking, "You are forgiven. Now, give me the debrief of the last battle."

--

Day 3 of the Pegasus Moon

'Work it out, rest, work it out. I got this.' Santaniel swung back and moved his arms up, connecting the bar he swung from to the rack. He hated salmon jumps. He was coated in sweat and sand from failed attempts. His back muscles had been taken care of, but they felt weaker. "Thanks you stupid fuckin Crests…"

He supposed whoever had donated the tissue hadn't done so willingly, so he was back to working it out.

'Keep moving.' He had two more rungs left, once he finished, he was done for the day. He kicked his legs back and shoved up, catching the next rung. 'Come on! Push!' He kicked back again, and jumped at the feeling of cold water on his back, salt seeping into the cuts from his impacts with the sand. "Gah!" His grip slipped, but he hung on with his right hand.

"Who the hell-" Lysithea walked around into his line of sight, "Thought you said you were going to catch up with us over tea."

"One… Moment… Please?" Lysithea rolled her eyes and stepped back, "Go on. Continue overworking yourself." Santaniel shook his head and took a deep breath, kicking back and jumping up. The bar clacked against the rungs, and he dropped to the floor. He slammed his fists into the sand, his back aching horrendously. "Damn it."

Lysithea stifled a giggle, barely, and offered a hand to him. He accepted it, but pulled her into the sand, "What was that about overworking myself, Ms. Ordelia?"

"Oh shush-" Santaniel hopped up, pulling her with him, "I know, Felix and Berns waiting?"

"Yep, gardens." Santaniel nodded, "Lemme wash up, I've been working all morning. Don't tell Arti, he'll stab me and force it to heal naturally."

Lysithea left to go back to the Monastery gardens, Santaniel picking through his attire until he settled on a plain blue tee and black slacks. "Meh, it'll work." He slipped the Holy Twins into his belt loop and dropped his amulet around his neck.

Santaniel yawned and stepped through the mirror, straight into the gardens, getting a yelp out of Bernadetta. "Hey guys." He grabbed a seat and sat, "What have y'all been up to as of late?"

Santaniel snagged an eclair as Lysithea started a monologue and laundry list of new responsibilities that Edelgard dropped on her. "The only reason I accepted is due to the promise of her taking over the responsibilities of the Ordelia territory."

"Oh, that's great, Lys. What about you and Byleth? You two have been inseparable recently." Lysithea flushed and glued her eyes to her lap.

"Sorry Lys, not like we have more people here though. Besides, you two are practically the same age now." Santaniel took a bite of his eclair and Felix nudged Bernadetta, her attention seemingly just returning to the conversation. "O-oh. U-um…"

"Her mom has taken over the estate and is planning to pass it on to Bernadetta once the war is over. In other words, she's expected to inherit and make the Varley estate prosper." Felix finished, and Lysithea nodded.

"I had heard something about that, I know it can be stressful Bernadetta, but all we can do is put on a brave face and push onward."

Santaniel reached over and poured a cup of tea for everyone, "I have nothing to add on how to run an estate. Well, try and see it as an opportunity, not a burden. Think of how beautiful you could make the place, make it prosper, you have people behind you Berns-"

"I-I do!?" Turning quickly, she nearly knocked over the table and herself, Felix caught the chair and Santaniel grabbed the table. "Not literally. Poor wording. I mean you have people working alongside you. Think of it as a canvas to paint instead of marble to chisel… Redundancy aside, make it your own." He passed the sugar to Bernadetta and Felix, causing Lysithea to pout.

"You can have whatever is left, you'll use all of it anyways." Lysithea tried to form a retort, but gave up halfway through. "You're insufferable."

"Sure thing Lys." He popped a couple of sugar cubes into his tea and pushed the bowl to her. "I don't have much to add, I've mostly been busy training. Damn cancer could kill me any time in the near future and has been sucking my damn life away. Making my muscles deteriorate very quickly. This war was kind of a blessing in disguise though, it got the Agarthans to leave the island. The labs have been studied, mapped, and torched."

He set his cup down and eyed the mound of white crystals Lysithea had, "Want some tea for your sugar?"

"Hush."

"Fair enough."

--

Day 7 of the Pegasus Moon

"Hey Hubert, Professor, ya called?" Hephaestus had been working in the library for most of the week, just tending to the books and rearranging. "Hello Hephaestus, it seems we have an impersonator on the loose. Someone is trying to stir up the people here at our little home base."

"Oh? Why is that?" Byleth shook his head, "I don't know. They're impersonating the Death Knight. I know you killed him five years ago, but it seems a new person has gathered his armor and scythe. We need to stop the spread of fear."

"Ah, and I'm assuming Manuela heard the rumors?" Once again, Byleth nodded, "It seems Death Knight is a class of general for Agarthans, according to Hubert, and they're trying to use fear to keep civilians in line here. Maybe even our own troops."

"So, if I follow your line of thinking, we can kill two birds with one stone here, correct? That means we relax the nerves of the civilians and take out a higher ranking official for the Agarthans, we plead ignorance."

Hubert had a faint smile to his lips. "We need to make this discrete until we can prove the rumors were false. You and your brothers excelled at taking him out the last couple of times, can you do it again? Maybe set a trap?"

"Easy."

--

Day 8 of the Blue Sea Moon, Year 1164

Hephaestus whimpered in the back of a cold wagon, his wrists bound and his mouth gagged. He had been kidnapped by mercenaries. They wanted his Crest, it was rare amongst nobles.

He supposed some noble didn't want his blood to spread anywhere other than on the ground at his feet. He had been just sleeping in bed until a smell that was all too familiar woke him up. The smell of smoke.

His future was burning, and so were his parents, they had died in their sleep. Now he was alone, he guessed he had passed the borders of the Kingdom by now… Maybe his magic was working again?

He tried to focus, to spur some fire from within, anything, but a pounding headache was all he could conjur. He groaned in pain and a harsh string of curses was thrown back at him. He stared up and out of the wagon, he could only see the backs of their heads, and the moon.

He stared at it and focused, he was a prodigy with fire. He had already learned Bolganone. He could do this! He focused as intensely as possible, Fire churned within, but a headache snuffed any sparks he had.

"I said shut it you fuckin' mutt!" He had a thick accent, not of anywhere he knew however. He sounded like he wasn't used to speaking Fódlan tongue. Strange.

They were slowing to a stop, he had one more chance before he was turned over. He stared up at the face of his captor, his face ugly and pale, a bulbous nose and greasy hair. He felt sickened.

He'd burn his face into his memory.

Then, he'd burn his body to ash.

--

Present

Hephaestus yawned, knocking on the infirmary room, his smile lazy and relaxed as Manuela came around the corner. "Hello sweetheart-" Manuela put a finger over his lips, "You aren't facing the Death Knight without me. You know that."

Hephaestus rolled his eyes and left a quick kiss on her lips, "Never said I was. Came here to tell you to grab a couple of your Concoctions so Santaniel doesn't keel over."

She smiled and nodded, "Sure there isn't anything else you're here for?" Hephaestus stepped forward and locked the door, "We'll be leaving tomorrow, now come here."

--

Day 8 of the Pegasus Moon

"Why are we going to kick this guy's ass again? Seems like a one or two person job honestly." Santaniel shrugged, "Ask Byleth. Let's just get it done here." Santaniel scanned the foggy forest, "Nothin' but close calls here man. Feels like another trap, y'know?"

Xavien nodded, "Yeah, got that feeling too. Let's just hope Hephaestus and Manuela clear this shit fast… Actually, now that I think hard on it, why Hephaestus? And Manuela?"

"...We're setting a trap, Manuela is the bait. We gotta get moving quick. I'll contact Arti, keep an eye on our surroundings."

"Got it."

--

"My Teacher?" Edelgard tailed Byleth, Lysthea at his side. "Yes, Edelgard?"

"Do we truly believe such a plan is a good idea?" Byleth thought for a moment, "This is the most prime position we can put ourselves in. We will cut the Agarthan's fear mongering off at the head."

"I see. I don't doubt you my Teacher, I believe we shall succeed, it's just…"

--

"If Hephaestus gets hurt I'm biting Byleth's head off."

"Literally or metaphorically?"

"Ask me afterwards."

--

After a moment of walking, Hephaestus sighed. He drew himself up to his full height, and gazed over the steps. With locked eyes, he stepped forward, flames blazing on his palms.

"Come on asshole, I heard you wanted to spread some fear. Let's see what ya got on me bud." The red holes in the helmet glowed, burning, flames aglow. His palms picked up in heat, a fever pitch. "Gonna say anything, or just stand there?"

He removed the helmet.

--

Past

Hephaestus wiggled in the bigger man's grip, the hand tightened around his wrist. He was still gagged and weak, but he could feel fire building in his palms. He might now know much… But he knew this.

"You see my liege? Now there shall be no risk to your lineage! If you allow this brat to die, of course." The scythe he held in his other hand was brought close to Hephaestus' throat. It gleamed darkly, it hungered for more flesh.

The magic inside him reached a fever pitch and it broke. He screamed and Bolganone manifested under his feet, "Go away!"

The man dropped him and he heard metal clinking, he dropped the scythe. Grabbing the scythe, he hefted it and dug it deep into the man's burning leg. He had to go now.

Then…

He ran. He ran until he couldn't anymore. He ran into a small town on the border of the Empire, a small village named Remire.

He would always remember the man who killed his family, a man with a scar like melted wax.

--

Present

Hephaestus nearly gagged. Waxxy scar, bulbous nose, bad leg, and a scythe that hungered for flesh… It was like a nightmare. He was freezing up, now, the man had silver hair and a jewel embedded on his throat.

A relic and Crest had been implanted. "So, mutt, are you going to lay down and cry again? Just run away?" Hephaestus saw red, he was going to kill.

He had to kill him. Hephaestus put his fingers to his mouth and whistled, a shrill, piercing note. "I know you came from hell, so let me send you back home in an infernal blaze bitch." Manuela patted something off his back, guess he caught a bit too much fire.

A greasy, arrogant laugh echoed off the stairs. Behind his back, he could feel Manuela bristle, he was as well. "I see the mutt found his bitch, I'll take her like I did your mother after I leave you a bloody smear in the dirt."

With a swift movement, Hephaestus shrugged his relic off his back. A fearsome, brilliant glow came off the head. It was shaped like a bat, and he always admired Santaniel's craftsmanship. Including his word play, because he'd beat this fucker's head in with the staff like it was a bat.

Summoning three fireballs, he struck them with rapid fire at the man atop the hill. One struck, two struck, the third missed. Manuela put up wards as arrows pierced the air around them, but Hephaestus slammed the tail end of his relic into the floor.

He'd been practicing this one.

--

Sighing, Xavien followed a fuming Santaniel. "Aren't you overreacting here Sant?" The half breed whipped around and glared, "Shouldn't a general have a heads up if he's risking a brother in arms? Shouldn't I have been told that Hephaestus would be the fucking bait?"

Xavien opened his mouth to offer a reasonable explanation… But couldn't find one he believed in himself. "Uh… Maybe it was so short notice-"

"We're not even a thirty minute walk away from the strategy room, Xav." He pushed a branch up and let Xavien walk ahead of him, "I mean, yeah, true. You also haven't exactly been... approachable the past week. Kinda like a dog licking his wounds honestly."

"Not your best analogy, but I get your point. Yet it didn't cross anyone's mind that maybe, I mean, MAYBE, we could have had Arti on surveillance? He doesn't have a hawk anymore, but he's alright on a pegasus."

He didn't have an argument there. The duo was currently clambering through the thick forest towards Hephaestus. With the smell of smoke, it was hard to tell what state the battle was in. A quiet, barely noticeable crunch of twigs, sounded to their left.

"...It's not like I couldn't keep the watch myself either! I mean, seriously! Was this a damn suicide mission? It's just… STUPID!" Santaniel was still ranting as he cut aside branches and thick bushes. Xavien was now three paces behind and the opposition moved too quickly.

Launching out of the thickets, two women and one man clad in green and black brandished black and white daggers. The same as Kronya did years ago, it seems they had more. "Sant-" Reacting quicker than Xavien thought he could, Santaniel went to work.

With a flash of his gems, a metal fist cracked the jaw of a woman. The man took a shot at his stomach, and met the blade of a Holy Twin, embedding it deep into his sternum. The second woman lunged, swiping at him wildly with daggers, and the first attacker joined in.

Xavien jumped into action, digging a dagger into the first woman's calf, and Santaniel put her out for good with a wicked left hook. The man stood and now it was a fair fight, had the two not outclassed them entirely. "You assholes don't learn, huh?"

Talons replaced Santaniel's hands and he went to work digging them into the woman's arms. He shredded them to ribbons and, with a deep breath, put her down with a viscous magma stream of corrosive stomach acid. "That will never not be disgusting."

Xavien took the axe from the slower, bulkier man's sternum, handing it back to Santaniel. Taking a swing at Xavien's head, the man caught a high round house to his temple. With a flick of Xavien's wrist, blood spilled onto the dirt floor of the forest.

"Goodnight assholes. Let's go find Byleth now."

--

Hephaestus felt heat coursing through his blood, his entire being was on fire. Vines spread through the dirt and broke apart the stone, catching fire as they pierced through skin. Archers wailed at the sides of their leader, taking aim, several fell before they could pull the bow string.

The man at the top chopped away at his attack, but it was an onslaught, not a simple last ditch gambit. Hephaestus approached the steps, burning away Manuela's wards as he did. He stepped through swaths of enemies, all of them burning. Burning like they would in hell.

Manuela called out to him, but Hephaestus couldn't stop now. He lurched forward, thickly veiled pain tickled his consciousness. Reaching the apex of the stairs, he curled his fingers around his staff. The raven head's eyes glowed with a vicious red, and Hephaestus looked up to meet the man who murdered his family.

Ripping the helmet off of him, Hephaestus met his gaze again, wrapped in tendrils of vines. "So. Was the money worth it? Killing an innocent family, one not even from the Empire?" The man looked scared, but thick, oily blood leaked from a broken nose. Maybe he'd break it again.

"Hephaestus- Arti was calling for you, they didn't know it was a trap-"

"I'll talk to them later sweetheart, I knew what I was going into. I wouldn't let anyone hurt you anyways. Now… You, you deserve all the punishment in the world… I can't do it though." The little slack of vines at his feet coiled up and made a tendril, aiming at the man's eye.

"I will, however, offer you a quick death. Now, go home… Back to hell with your kind." He took the head of his staff off and jammed the blade through his jugular, "Goodbye." The tendril shot forward, a sickening crack as it pierced the skull and then brain.

Manuela's shoes could be heard clacking up the stairs as she ran to join him. He turned to face her and it seemed the veiled pain was now coming in at full force.

He must've looked like a porcupine.

"Hephaestus, your brothers are waiting at the bottom of the stairs, but first…" She reached behind him and started jiggling one of the five arrows from his skin.

Gritting his teeth, he gripped a stone step, and Santaniel came sprinting up the steps. "You know, I could seriously rip you a new one right now, but I'll wait until you get patched up. But first, I have some people to rip to pieces-"

"I agreed to it myself, they told me all of what could happen. I still volunteered. If you were here, you would've set off their suspicion, Byleth and Hubert have cleared out the rest of their troops already."

"Good, because me and Xavien got attacked by assassins and I don't feel like doing more until your dumbass is alright. Manuela, double time, 'k?" Manulea offered a nod and grimly went into the stitches.

"Not fun, huh? You need to stop being reckless, otherwise I will be too. Same with Arti and Xavien. You're kind of my role model, and you can't pretend you're not anymore. Mutual agreement to stop being stupidly reckless, alright?" Smiling, Hephaestus nodded and immediately yelped as the last of the stitches went in.

"Two weeks, no action, ok sweetie?"

"Yes sweetheart, thank you."

"You two are gonna make me throw up with your sweetness, let's get the hell out of here. But first…" Picking up the Scythe, he offered it to Hephaestus, "Give it a new history. You, out of everyone I know, can do it."

--

Day 17 of the Pegasus Moon

"Hello Professor, why'd you call me here?" Lysithea stood next to the hedges of the gardens, the air was clean and it was a nice day. The sky above was spotless and she felt full of energy, it was an amazing day!

"I figured we'd celebrate your birthday early, as we'll be marching on Myrdin then. I don't want you to miss this one." Lysithea felt her cheeks warm up and smiled brightly, "Of course Professor. I will gladly join you, but uh, have sugar please. Extra."

"I'm aware Lysithea, Dorothea helped me plan this out. I… Have little experience doing such a thing. Would you like to begin?"

"Yes please!"

--

"So, why am I here again?" Wringing his hands, Xavien looked at Santaniel and Dorothea, both peeking over the bushes.

"Listen, if things go south, you gotta be the one to axe the situation. Say Byleth says something insensitive or… Y'know, he does something like Hephaestus would." Xavien perked an eyebrow at Dorothea's statement, "That is one of the smoothest men I know. If Byleth is capable of doing something similar let it play out."

"Yeah, siding with Xav on this one." Making a shush sign at the two men, Dorothea leaned back over the hedge to listen.

--

"How have things been Professor? It's been a while since we sat down and just… Talked like this." Byleth took a sip of his tea and eyed her ungodly amount of sugar. "I've been fairly well, thankfully no ailments have afflicted me due to the stress. I was wondering how you and Ordelian have been handling this, I understand it can be very stressful."

"I… Haven't been extremely well. I've been feeling a bit weaker in the knees when running, though I must admit I slacked on my training since the battle five years ago. It was hard to get my motivation up since you left." Taking another sip, he spoke again.

"I apologize, I'm simply happy you made it through these last five years. I don't think I could handle the loss of my star pupil." Lysithea's heart fluttered and her cheeks reddened, but she couldn't help the small smile turning the ends of her lips upward into a smile. "Thank you for the kind words Professor…"

--

"Told ya if he was anything like Hephaestus he would be smooth. Now, may I leave?" Santaniel shrugged and poked Dorothea. "Hey, what did you tell Byleth to buy for his gift? I saw him buying shit in the marketplace earlier, though I didn't know what it was though. Seemed small."

"Oh, I told him to get her stuff like pastries, sweets, jewelry, you know, the works." Santaniel nodded and his eyes widened a moment later, "Please tell me you specified what type of jewelry."

"Uh, no? I figured he'd choose something practical like a… Oh no." Xavien snickered, "Oh, you two are fucked."

--

Lysithea scooted the plate of pastries closer, gingerly snatching one off the porcelain. "Thank you for the pastries Professor, they taste amazing!"

"I unfortunately do not have many skills at baking, but the ones in the marketplace are amazing. I'm glad you enjoyed them, I have one last gift for you…" Turning her head back towards Byleth, she nearly lost her breath from shock. "I, uh, I… Professor?"

He held up a small ring box with a deadpan face, and she felt the breath leave her lungs. "I- Professor- You know I have a shortened life span-"

--

Santaniel groaned as he covered Xavein's mouth, keeping the older man from cackling like a hyena. "You realize he gives out rings like candy before battle right? He thinks it's just… Y'know, typical? Thoughtful? Not ceremonious. And stop cackling!"

A soft thud rocked his skull as Santaniel thumped him. "I knew the Professor was dense, but this is a bit much." Xavien shrugged, licking Santaniel's hand, and the half breed jumped at the feeling. "The fuck-"

"I can go and break it up now. Maybe it's a good thing." Dorothea shook her head, "No, that'll leave Lysithea high and dry, the Professor has to figure this out himself."

--

"-I just didn't expect you to feel this way…" Byleth cocked his head to the side, "Hm? You're my star pupil and I believed I should get you an appropriate gift. It's a March ring, I believe it should…"

Lysithea tuned out, 'Oh… He… Doesn't feel that way, does he?' Lysithea dropped her shoulders and the floor suddenly seemed interesting. The Professor kept droning on in his monotone, and she didn't tune back in. "Excuse me Professor, I believe I have something to attend this afternoon."

Standing, she turned and walked as fast as she possibly could away from the gardens.

--

"I'll go after Lysithea. Dorothea, think you can get through Byleth's thick skull and explain what he did wrong?"

"Yep, Xavien, you're helping." The assassin perked an eyebrow and Santaniel explained, "You get into people's heads like a squirrel into nuts, you got this."

"This won't go well."