Day 8 of the Lone Moon

"Ok… Why are you wearing a kilt again?" Santaniel was fixing his tie, when Xavien waltzed through the house wearing a kilt. "Xav, this isn't one of those parties." Xavien shrugged, "I can keep more knives on me like this, so what's the harm in doing it?"

Arti shook his head, fitting his mask to his face. "Some days I regret saving you…" Santaniel smiled, tossing a pair of slacks in Xavien's face, "Go put those on and wear a suit jacket. You can slip some daggers in on the inside flaps." Xavien groaned, retreating back into his room to change, and Hepahaestus came out with Manuela on his arm.

"You two love birds ready?" Hephaestus smirked, but Manuela answered for him, "Yes, we are. You both look wonderful, I'm sure you'll make a wonderful impression." Arti's eyes crinkled in a smile, and he complimented Manuela. Santaniel dug his fingers through his mop of hair, "Damn it, stupid tangles-"

He finally got his hair straightened out from it's typical curly mess. "Ok, someone toss me a pair of scissors?" Hephaestus scoffed and Arti shook his head, "Right before a party? Really?" Manuela moved forward and told him to sit down. Taking the scissors and moving her hands skillfully.

"You have healthy hair Santaniel, I didn't expect as much from you." Santaniel winced at the cold metal touching his skin, "Yeah… Thank Xavien for getting my shampoo, I have no clue how he picks it."

After a solid fifteen minutes, Santaniel looked more… Tame. He didn't have his typical wild child look, but did look like a higher up. Maybe a young noble? Xavien thought so. "You look different."

"Good or bad difference?" Santaniel played with it in the mirror, making him look more so himself. Not a damn actor for a role he didn't want to play. "Good different, but yeah, downplay it so you don't get singled out by party goers. Now let's get going, I already set the mirror on course."

--

"Goddess I hate parties… I'll find Marianne. If you need us we'll likely be towards the refreshments." Arti stalked off in his suit to find the other beholder of the Crest of the Beast.

"Should've expected that. Manuela, shall we?" The couple left Xavien and Santaniel in the hall, looking down the stairs at the floor. "See anyone we know..? Damn it Xav."

The man was already trotting down the stairs, about to brown nose some nobles for future jobs. "Well, high and dry at a party. Shocker." Santaniel leaned up against the railing of the higher floor, gazing over people. His eyes darted from person to person to recognize people's faces.

He saw Xavien, weaving a web of lies and his way through the crowd as he made more and more connections. He was amongst his prey, a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Arti was stepping carefully in shadows, or just around the action to avoid his discovery. His mask typically made him a target for discussion and people often sought him out to befriend the 'loner'. He honestly just hated crowds, like Santaniel, they made him panic.

Hephaestus, on the other hand, had his focus solely on Manuela. He always had a thing for older women… Santaniel didn't get it. Maybe it was due to his soul being older than the freer bunch his age. Santaniel was just glad he was happier being back with Manuela.

"Santaniel." The half breed turned and nodded at Felix, "Yeah, parties ain't my thing either. Where's Berns? Hiding I assume?" Felix shook his head, "No." He joined Santaniel at the railing looking over the party, "The women of the army are helping her get ready. She was adamant about coming, but I doubt she will wish to do much dancing. Where are your brothers?"

Santaniel gestured vaguely towards the floor below, "Out there. I know you'd rather be fighting right now, or even training, so why come?" Felix shook his head, "I was asked to by the Professor, he said he needed me as the 'Kingdom ambassador'." Santaniel shrugged.

He didn't like politics. "I guess you kinda just have to grin and bear it, speaking of grinning, I spy tiny Berns coming this way." Felix looked around, and Santaniel took a mental picture of Felix's blush before he beat it down with blunt force.

"Have fun." Santaniel returned to gazing at the crowd. Byleth, Lysithea, Yuri, Balthus, Constance, Hapi… Raphael for some reason, Marianne, Lorenz, and his brothers. Those were the people he spied amongst the crowd so far.

Linhardt and Caspar were probably off somewhere, Dorothea and Petra were still getting ready, Hubert was probably off plotting somewhere while Ferdinand filled his coffee cup. "Weird, Edelgard ain't out there."

"Well, I suppose I should be." Speak of the devil. "Hey, I thought you had to be here, like, one hundred percent of the time. Ain't it bad manners to be late?" She joined him at the banister, "I had to assist Bernadetta with her hair. She has been getting better at caring for it, but she requested a more elegant style." Santaniel grinned and ran his fingers through his hair, "Yeah, had to borrow Manuela, sorry."

Edelgard spared a glance at his hair, and seemed to approve. The soft click of boots echoed behind him and Santaniel turned fully, looking down on Arundel. "Hello boy."

Santaniel nearly recoiled. "Hello sir, I believe we met a while ago on my birthday. How have you been?" Santaniel turned out, casting Scry, and spoke into his brothers' heads. 'Arundel, Agarthan, make a note for after the war.'

'Copy that.'

'Got it.'

'I think there's a hit out on him…' Santaniel tuned back in, and ground his teeth. He didn't listen to what Arundel said, but he focused on something else entirely. Whether it was the floor, the walls, or… Edelgard. There was a way out!

Once Arundel… Or whoever was impersonating him, finished talking, he offered a hand to Edelgard. "Excuse me Arundel, but I suppose her Highness would like to enjoy the party herself. Shall we?"

--

She got the hint immediately. "I accept your invitation Santaniel, thank you." She took his left hand and allowed him to lead her down the steps to the floor. "I apologize for my blatant distrust, but I can't hold myself to a respectable degree around him." Edelgard nodded in response, looking to the floor in front of them.

"Do you truly wish to dance Santaniel?" The half breed smiled, "I haven't danced since… The one night at the Monastery. The Ethereal Moon, a couple days after my birthday." She nodded, remembering the cheerful joy in everyone's eyes. All the excitement and bright music… And the tragedy that fell afterwards.

"If only I had known…" Santaniel seemed to hear her, and tightened his grip, just a small amount. He led her onto the floor. "I'm not the best dancer, but I'll attempt to entertain you… And, there was nothing you could have done Edelgard, you had nothing to do with the events that transpired. The past is gone, and the future will never be clear."

He settled his right hand on her hip, and she placed her right hand on his shoulder. "All you have power over is the present. If it were any other way… Life wouldn't be worth living, and no one would get anywhere." They began to move into the fray and Santaniel fell quiet, and she didn't know exactly what to say. "Do you remember the Scry spell?"

"I do, but I'm not too exact-" Santaniel smiled as he gazed over her shoulder. "Sorry, Hephaestus and Manuela are already getting deep into the refreshments… I might want to get them under control after this." She shook her head, Manuela had always been a reason for extra refreshments.

"Sorry, what were you saying about being exact?" She adjusted her hand on his shoulder, moving it up slightly to some showing skin. A long scar tracked down his shoulder to the small of his back. Where Seteth had Santaniel in his jaws, and he willingly ripped it off to escape and beat the fully grown Drake. "How did you even live…"

'Because I had to. I won't go until I tell my body it's time to go. Besides, that side of me is ethereal, I don't just suddenly have my entire anatomy change. It's like injuring someone's soul, you have to incinerate it all at once to kill them… I'm lucky he didn't go for my head or my chest, my skull is practically where my physical body resides… It's hard to explain. Think of it like surrounding yourself in magic and energy, then moving it like a body. Your body is in the neck or the head.'

A couple brushed past them as he was speaking, and he spun her in an attempt to get past them. A giggle escaped her as he continued, 'It's why me and Xavien went for the head and neck. You can damage the body as much as possible, but it's energy. It can't be destroyed. It will regenerate with rest and food, the more damage, the more it takes, the longer it will take to heal.' Edelgard nodded, her troops would need to know about this, or at least the strike force.

'Hey.' Edelgard looked up at Santaniel, cocking her head to the side, 'Yes?' Santaniel moved his head slightly to the side, 'Hubert won't murder me for taking the first dance, correct?'

'Not likely… As long as you don't step on my foot.' Santaniel grinned, then brought them over to the side of the floor. Hubert was at her side almost immediately. She couldn't remember the last time she had a moment alone with him… Besides when she confronted him out of the blue, then proceeded to uncork his pain of her betrayal upon her.

She had thought long and hard about those words… That she didn't believe what had been planted into her head, and he was right. She never did. However, sacrifices were needed to make the future she desired possible. One without The Church and The Agarthans underground and secret war constantly threatening Fódlan.

Maybe a couple of years ago, she would have said one without Agarthans or Nabateans… But not after she met Santaniel, Flayn, Seteth. They were trying to live peacefully. Now, she had to take out the Archbishop… And she had just the way to do it.

Santaniel had given her the instructions to kill Seiros.

--

Day 15 of the Lone Moon

"Oi, Arti, hand me the reins. You need some sleep." Hephaestus prodded his best friend, "C'mon. You can rest for now, I made ya some tea, I can drive for now." Arti finally relented and scooted over for Hephaestus to take over.

Hephaestus knew it would take about an hour for him to fall asleep, but it was better than battling with barely an hour of shut eye. Santaniel had driven them for half the day before the caravan stopped to make food and swap drivers. Then, Xavien took over for three hours or so while Santaniel slept in the back with Arti and himself to take care of weapon maintenance.

Arti hadn't slept yet, and Hephaestus slept on the way to the rest stop, so it was his turn now. They were on their way towards the capital of the Alliance, Deirdru, so they could scout it out. "Hey, Hephaestus, gimme a pick me up?" Santaniel had swooped down and landed on the roof of the wagon, and nearly given the man a heart attack.

"Goddess be damned- Sure. Why are you flying around?" Santaniel sat down on the lip of the roof and shrugged, "Couldn't sleep. Figured it'd feel good… Bad lie?" Hephaestus rapped against the wood, Santaniel slid down and sat on the bench. "What's up?"

"Feelings. Confusion. The future." Hephaestus shook his head, "Usual, huh? Alright. What do you want to start with?" Santaniel ran a couple fingers through his hair and sighed, "Future? Just worried about the war. I wanna have a world with you idiots still here to make it better." Hephaestus lolled his head to the right and sighed, "Yeah. I understand that kid. I worry about you guys every fight, but sometimes you have to worry about yourself first."

Santaniel leaned back, "Well, yeah. I know. Though, most of the reason I fight is to protect you guys. So how can I worry about myself when you guys are the reason I fight?" Hephaestus smiled, wrapping an arm around Santaniel, "Good question kid. Though, if you don't stay alive you can't keep us up, right?"

Santaniel had the ghost of a smile on his features, and Hephaestus couldn't remember the last time he looked like that. "Yeah, guess you're right."

"Now about those feelings…" Santaniel shook his head, a small blush spreading across his cheeks, "Maybe I'll talk to you about it when you're drunk again."

"Ah, so after we beat the Alliance in Deirdru, I got it."

--

Day 22 of the Lone Moon

"Arti? Are you here?" Marianne slowly stalked through the stables, cautious not to spook the sleeping horses. The moon shone overhead with a bluish light similar to her hair, tied back in a high ponytail.

She was supposed to be asleep, however, she couldn't shake the feeling of someone being in pain. Ever since she used Scry, she had been even more attuned to the feelings of animals, so she wasn't surprised when the feeling of pain radiated out towards her.

As she arrived, Arti's cloak disappeared around the corner. Now, she was searching for a pained animal and a silent healer… "Oh, there you are." Arti turned towards her, whipping his head back around, the faint chirp of a hatchling echoing in the empty rooms. Once it faded, the last noise was the soft breathing of the sleeping horses.

"Arti?" The mage set the hatchling atop his shoulder, wrapping a cloth around his head. "I apologize, I seemed to have forgotten my mask…" Marianne stepped forward and cupped the chick in her hands, "I've never seen this species… What is it?" Arti smiled, "A Demonic Hawk. It will grow up to be larger than an average hawk, bordering on an Eagle's size, but unless it eats the flesh of an older, actual demonic hawk, it won't be that large."

"Arti, why do you hide your face?" The young man smiled, his eyes crinkling at the side, "It isn't the only thing I hide Marianne. Though, my face is quite disfigured due to my father, he was…"

His sentence trailed off, and his gaze dropped back to the chick Marianne held in her hands. "Abusive?" Arti nodded, "My mother died somewhat early on. I was forced to work as a farmer for him, back breaking labor for a child. He decided I outlived my usefulness when I let out one of the cattle on accident. My only mistake I made whilst I worked for him… He attempted to kill me, left me on the brink in the middle of nowhere."

Arti took the chick from her hands, then set it back into its nest. "How did you live?" Arti's eyes crinkled again, "I met an angel. She blessed me with a second chance at life with a better education and the way of Holy magic. She read me the teachings of Sothis and the church, and she gave me my mask. It was a life line at first."

Arti moved around the stables, shushing many of the restless animals. "I had grand panic attacks, fits of awful insomnia, trouble breathing. I eventually stopped needing it, but it covered my scars, and it left me with a feeling of being home. Home with my found family…"

Marianne had drawn closer, eventually only a finger length away from the man. "I've only seen you without your mask on once, and it was during the heat of battle. May I see it now?" Arti reached around to the back of his head and undid the knot of cloth holding it in place.

--

Day 29 of the Lone Moon

"Alright, so, are we going in now?" Santaniel stood atop the crest of a hill, his foot tapping a rhythm, disturbing the dust. "Two days. Shamir and Arti have reported boats filling with people, so it appears Claude is preparing a retreat."

Santaniel stopped his stamping, taking a deep breath. "The blood of former friends may be spilled within a few days… Are you sure Claude has absolutely refused any sort of alliance or surrender?"

"I am. We recently sent a messenger, they returned with the message that Claude would fight until he was forced to bow." Santaniel's eyes gleamed, "So. I suppose you and Byleth have a plan? They have their backs to the ocean, and if my predictions are correct, Claude may have reinforcements. Mayhaps reinforcements from the Gonereil family through a surprise ocean push?"

"We have taken your worries into our battle plan. We will have wyverns led by you and Felix sweep over from the East, archers will reside in the walls once we take them and will rain down a flurry of arrows on any troops within range. Hephaestus, Hubert, Raphael, and Byleth will lead the charge through the main gates. Arti and Xavien will attack from the West with a few more… Surprises we have in store."

"I understand… After this, we will only have the Kingdom and the Church stand against the Empire, then the Agarthans will be reduced to nothing but cinders." The half breed beside her tensed his jaw, his nostrils flaring and eyes glowed with their ethereal touch. He shook his head.

"Then, I suppose we shall part ways once they are dealt with and cast aside." Edelgard tensed at the last part, "I suppose so. Will you simply return to the island?"

"I'm unsure. My brothers will reside in Fódlan, and I don't believe a solitary future is in my cards. I may stay here, help cities rebuild, make my home somewhere I know I'll be safe… For the first time I suppose. I know you'll have a country to run, are you more excited or anxious?"

She hadn't considered this, not yet. "I have my former classmates beside me, along with many trusted individuals who have a vast collection of knowledge-"

"I noticed that you said former classmates, not friends." Edelgard turned to her left and stared at him, he had turned his entire body to face her. "You won't be a very effective ruler if you can't bring yourself to feel compassion and love for those around you. The Edelgard I know isn't made of iron, she's still a human capable of love."

He strode past, stopping only to tell her, "I'll see you after the battle. Good luck, tell them to prepare some chicken for me when we win." After he left, she felt the first grin in a while crawl across her lips, "So, I suppose I can't fool him anymore."

--

Day 31 of the Lone Moon

Blue skies. They were always so beautiful. He didn't have much opportunity to admire them as he flew into a warzone however.

His eyes scanned over the ocean, the only thing upon the ocean he could see was the boats Claude sent away from the city days ago. If the leader of the Alliance fell here, there would be no hope of them withstanding the Empire. He was half way over the wall when something caught his eye, there were ships going full speed at the city.

Santaniel slowly descended upon the wall's ramparts and casted scry to his troops. 'Evasive maneuvers! We have ships wielding large harpoon guns and ballista coming from twelve o'clock, do not group! Scatter and attack both with fire and fury, do not relent!' Felix joined him upon the ramparts, his Aegis Shield awaiting blood to be spilled upon it. "So, it seems the Almyran Navy will be our opponents today, are you ready?"

Santaniel smiled evilly, "When am I not ready to make these arrogant assholes into fools? Let's turn them to ash." Santaniel kicked off the wall and sped ahead, his wings sending forth sprays of salty water into the air as he stayed close to the ocean's surface. 'Sir, it appears their main focus is you! Should we take out the guns-'

'Set the ships aflame. Drop your bombs on them and retreat, attack with your bows like I've instructed you to. Do not deviate from the plan.'

'U-understood sir!' Santaniel felt his stomach heat up, and his chest began to burn. "I only have a few months left, and this may take one from me…" His ethereal body stayed close to the surface as he worked his wings harder. As he approached, the yelling of commanders echoed in his ears. "Take that one out of the air! Use the nets!" He smiled in response.

Claude thought that nets would be capable enough to stop him. That was cute. The first net came at him, a small spread and weighted… The asshole was planning to drown him then. Coward.

He curled his wings into his body and spun to his left, the first one missed. He blasted the next one to cinders with Fire, and it seemed panic was seeping in on the ships. Their leader was screaming, trying to get his troops under control. He felt his body warm, and a flashbang went off, his wings now twice as long and his eyes spotlights.

"Hey bitches! Nets ain't exactly lethal, so, do you know what is?" With a strong push of wind ushered from his wings, he propelled himself into the hull of the ship. Wood cracked and splintered as he struck the ship with all his momentum. It was like a Meteor struck the ship.

All eyes were on him, his hands crackled with fire. "Now, who would like to live, and who would like to die?" He had shrunk down to his physical body and stared ahead at the mass of bodies, he had to feign control. "And what makes you think we'll just surrender bo-" Santaniel lashed out with a whip of fire, cleaving the man's chest open.

"Now… I suppose I have my answer. I hope you find it in yourselves to understand what I must do." He brandished his Holy Twins and started the massacre.

--

"So, what's our job other than taking out the pretty boy?" Arti shrugged his shoulders, "Take him out, it isn't in the realm of possibility he would join us. The boy has his own agenda." Xavien nodded and stretched high above his head, "Let's hope he doesn't do anything stupid like Santaniel would-"

A loud crash echoed across the town and a plume of water shot into the sky as a warship fell back down to the ocean. It had a decent chunk taken out of its hull, and it was taking on water fast. "You mean stupid as that?" Arti sighed and kicked his wyvern to go faster, before Santaniel killed himself doing too much. "The kid works himself to death… I'll get the painkillers for him after we get back, 'k?"

Arti nodded as they crossed the town walls, Xavien knocked an arrow and shot it through a wyvern's skull. The beast and their rider fell hard to the ground, both crushed from the gravity. "Take me down, I'll go on foot and keep the archers off you. Get after the Riegan kid-"

An explosion rocked the harbor, plumes of water shot into the air. "Guess one ship is sunk, didn't we bet that both ships would be on the ocean floor beforehand?"

Arti nodded, "Hephaestus said one would get away, you said Santaniel would sink them both." Xavien smiled, "Hey! I actually may win a bet for once!"

--

Santaniel wiped the blood from his cheek. The Almyran Navy was overrated, considering he massacred nearly two hundred soldiers on the ship with spells and axes, he supposed they didn't expect a Nabatean.

"Boy… You are a worthy test. Now, fight Nader the-'' The half breed looked away, summoning Scry, 'Felix, is the other ship underwater yet?' An axe whizzed by his head, "Rude. One moment Felix." Santaniel dipped his shoulder and jammed it into the man's exposed stomach. Metal scraped metal and the half breed had the older man on the ground, heel pressed to his windpipe. "Would you like to live or die today?"

The man weezed, his hands clawing at Santaniel's spiked boots. "Go still if you wish to live." Nader put his hands up above his head, Santaniel picking his pockets, then throwing the contents overboard. "I apologize for what I had to do today, Nader. If things were up to me, none of this would have happened."

The man rubbed his throat, afraid to speak. "If we meet again one day, and things end up differently, I hope you would show the same mercy I showed you today." The half breed stepped off the deck, and over the deep blue, and with a flap of his wings he sailed off to find his brothers or Claude, if he was lucky, he'd find both.

--

Snooze festival. That's all he felt as Gira stomped through the streets and trampled over the soldiers, the ones still fighting at least. Some groups simply surrendered after Santaniel and Felix sent the "unbeatable" Almyran army packing.

Hephaestus took a chunk of his apple out, the crunch echoing over the eerily empty streets. He had only been here once or twice, but it was sad to see a city formerly known for so much life and culture reduced to battle ground. "Yeesh, wish I got to come here more before the war."

"So, I see the Empire has learned to control these beasts." Hephaestus took a lazy glance around, he didn't recognize the voice. Fire trickled up from his palms and clung to his skin hungrily, it didn't hurt, but it did wake him up. "Either come out and surrender or get crushed. Your choice."

A burly man stepped from the shadow of a building, his chest exposed with tufts of light pink hair. A large war axe was on his back, two heft gauntlets with curved claws rested on his arms, "I'm Holst. The general of the Gonereil militia, I would like to know the name of the man I'm about to kill."

Hephaestus tossed his burnt apple over his shoulder, "I'll entertain it. Name's Hephaestus, a former noble of the Trinity house in the Kingdom. My house was razed and slaughtered, so now I'm here to make a world where my brothers may live in peace and where no one must die for having a Crest or not. So, do you truly wish to fight?" The mage's scythe gleamed in his hand, slowly becoming wrapped in flames.

"I'll add your name to my long list of kills. Sorry you won't see your desired future kid-" Holst slumped forward as an arrow sprouted from his chest, Xavien's grumble of annoyance echoing from an alley. "He talks too much."

"Agreed. Did I win or lose that bet by the way?" Xavien grinned, "I'll pay for a victory dinner and a room afterwards. Where's Manulea?" Hephaestus pointed toward the harbor, "Up around there. Healing people, I'm just subjected to clean up duty."

"Got any snacks?"

--

Arti had left the wyvern back at the city walls, and was now traveling on foot. He had borrowed Blutgang and the Inexhaustible for this mission, as he was stealthier than Santaniel, but much better at killing wyverns. Go for the throat, just like when Santaniel got pissed as a kid and threw tantrums.

It was very good at restraining them. Kind of like a goose… Now wasn't the time to be thinking about that. He had a leader to assassinate.

Arti crouched down at the outskirts of some raised platform, the lone leader of the Alliance perched atop it. Arti drew Blutgang, keeping it level to his chest, and advanced slowly. Two minutes had passed since he began his assent, and it seemed the boy was becoming impatient.

"I have to stay here, otherwise the Alliance will be lost. I have to go though, even if I survive, because of Almyra- '' Arti cocked his head to the side, 'Does he have relations that deep in Almrya? I could have sworn he may have been the kid of… Nader.' Arti shook his head, creeping forward, just one move and this was over.

He bent his knee, and lunged. Arti went for the kid's ribs, most people would simply go for the neck, so they protect it, they don't think about their heart. Although, most assassins don't think about poison being splashed in their eyes. Arti was nearly immediately blinded by the burning sensation in his eyes.

He ground his teeth and went again for the throat, he didn't need his eyes, he could see the soul. Arti slammed Blutgang in a downward arch and met wyvern scales, the white specimen wailing in pain. The pain was still flaring, and Arti heard a bolt of energy fly past his head. He was out drawn now, he just had to buy time. Arti twisted and met scales again, another wail, but pain flared.

The wyvern had struck back, and Arti was under its clawed foot. His mask had flown from his face, and the hot breath of death loomed over him. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't die yet, not until he saw his mother's grave again. Not before he said goodbye to his master. Not before Santaniel was healed- "YOU'RE DEAD MEAT!"

--

Red.

Red was all he could see. Santaniel slammed into the wyvern first, Claude flew from the saddle. The white beast got its jaws around Santaniel's shoulder, clawing desperately at his chest. The half breed growled a low note and his talons ripped at their throat. Blood covered his face and his chest. "I was going to spare you. We were going to spare you."

Green and violet tinted his vision, Claude's panicked face made his blood boil. "I spared Nader, we spared Lorenz, I didn't want to fight you. Yet you do this to Arti?!" Claude scrambled to his feet and drew a glistening blade, Mythril. "I see you paid my Uncle a visit." The Holy Blades left his hip and he stared down Almyran man.

"I hope you can understand why I'm doing this, Claude. Afterall, you would never show the same mercy to me." Claude fumbled with his Relic, a large metal bolt in his hand, and now an axe in his gut. Santaniel felt his ribs flair in pain as the metal rod was jammed into them. Santaniel grimaced and met Claude's eyes… "Goodbye." He wrapped his talons around his throat and squeezed.

--

Freikrugel slammed between her feet, her light weight armor scraped against the stone as she took a lunge to the left and retaliated with Aymr. It's frilled blade scraped across Hilda's stomach and drew a gush of blood.

Hilda grunted, but just struck the ground with Freikrugel, the stones splintered and flames spread from the mini fissure like a volcano erupted. Edelgard got tossed to her back, scrambling to get back up, "Gah!" Hilda was bleeding, but Edelgard was in worse shape, she had been battered over and over. Her armor was still in top shape, but going blow for blow with Relics was tough for anyone.

Hilda had a grim expression as she held Freikrugel loosely, her eyes were getting glassy, but she still had the upper hand. "Edelgard, you caused a lot of problems. So, so many suffering people left homeless and afraid after your countless attacks… It ends today." Hilda raised Freikrugel, it's boney surface glimmering a pale orange in the sunset.

"Goodbye." A sphere of Miasma pulsed through the air, slamming into Hilda's chest. "Professor! Get Her Majesty away to the backlines, she must not fall!" Byleth took a lightning quick approach as Hilda sat back up, her head slamming back down as Byleth pressed a boot to her chest. "Push forward! We must keep fighting!"

"Not much reason to fight now." Santaniel popped out from the secluded area Claude had retreated to, his armor slick in blood and his upper body was torn to shreds with claw and bite marks. "Claude's dead."

Santaniel had Arti in one arm, Failnaught in the other, and a long bolt that the Relic of house Reigan would typically fire off in his ribs. The half breed set Arti on the ground, his mask broken and his forehead bleeding. She grimaced at the new set of scars that would form on the man.

The man walked over to Hilda next, picking her arm off the ground. He pressed two fingers to her veins and shook his head slowly, "Gone. The Alliance is broken. We won the battle here."

"Santaniel- How did-" Santaniel shook his head, "I'll talk about it later. Just, go get patched up. We have a king to kill." Santaniel stepped over her and grabbed Byleth by the arm, "You, however, will be talking to me now."