Day 31 of the Lone Moon
Santaniel wrapped his talons around Claude's throat, and he squeezed… Until a small tap on his foot made him look down on a struggling Arti. Relief flooded through the half breed."Thank the Goddess you're ok." The Reigan house leader was dropped from his grip, and Arti was picked up effortlessly. "You ok? Need healing? Are you bleeding?" Arti shook his head, pointing at Claude, he spoke through scry, 'Let him leave. He was protecting himself.'
"Ya sure? I can still make it-" Arti smacked him on the head, "Answer received." Santaniel sat the mage down on a step, and approached a struggling Claude. "If you feel like you won't make it, I can make it quick."
Claude cleared his throat, a long deep note as he tried to prepare for negotiations. "I- I would like to live please." Santaniel sighed, "Good. Arti left his wyvern by the corner over there, I saw it while I was flying in. If I see you again, I'll apologize for ruining your damn throat, but right now, I want some answers."
"Ok, shoot." Santaniel first reached over and snagged Claude's weapons. "I'll be taking some spoils of war, but I need to know your relation to Almyra. Not a damn person in Fódlan could summon such backup without having connections, so spill."
The Almyran man met his eyes and spoke quickly, "I'm heir to the throne in Almyra. Nader was my former combat instructor, so he came to help when I asked him to. I assume he..?" Santaniel grimaced, "Lived. Barely. Was gonna set his ship on fire, but decided against it. However, I have some non-negotiable qualifications for you to live. You won't reveal yourself in Fódlan again unless we allow you to, same with your army. If they wish to have skirmishes, they must do so within their own faction."
Claude nodded, "I assume you're planning on staying to keep everyone in line?" He shook his head, "Unlikely. My job is getting to live my life, so, I'm giving you an option to do the same. Do we have a deal?" Santaniel offered his hand… And Claude took it. "I'm sorry for such trouble being brought to your doorstep Santaniel."
"Be pretty boring without it, wouldn't it? Now go, I'll tell them you died."
--
Twenty Minutes Later…
"Yeah. Claude is still alive, it's a shame Hilda met that fate though…" Santaniel turned his head towards the now makeshift camp site the Empire army had made. "They deserved better." Byleth placed a hand on his shoulder, "You all do. Had we not been born in such a time of hate and mistrust, you all would have done great things and made such a wonderful future."
"Thanks Byleth. How is everyone? I know Felix is alright, our attack went off without a hitch." Byleth stepped forward and beckoned Santaniel to follow. They stepped back into the afternoon light as Byleth led the way back, "Edelgard suffered minor rib fractures, Xavien scraped a knee on the way here, Bernadetta broke a pinkie, and Raphael took a couple arrows to his left side… And you and Arti certainly got the worst of it."
The half breed looked down at the bolt he was still holding in place, "Oh uh, yeah. Should get that fixed. Running on so much adrenaline I didn't feel it, I uh, should probably have Hephaestus do it though…" Byleth rocked his head to the left and Santaniel frowned, "Goddess, you act like a puppy when you're confused. Condition, remember? I only have… Month or two left? Me transforming has been putting strain on my body, and it's starting to degrade. Only reason no one has noticed is because I've been working out almost religiously."
Byleth nodded, "I see. I would also like to talk to you about Lysithea-" Santaniel placed a hand over his former Professor's mouth. "No. You have to figure this one out on your own. After the war, you talk to her. I'm stepping out of your personal life, use that tactician head to think your way through." Santaniel left Byleth with a rustling of his hair and walked strong and proud for about twenty steps until the adrenaline wore off.
He limped the rest of the way to the portable mirror, and collapsed on a kitchen chair. Santaniel grabbed a napkin, bit down on the cloth, and yanked it out. He pressed the contents of a concoction to his wound and dressed the wound. "Goddess be damned-" He winced at the pain, and the purple, almost violet, blood seeping into the bandages.
"Good he didn't hit anything vital." Linhardt stepped through the mirror, Caspar close behind. "Hey idiots. Why ya here?" Santaniel draped his jacket over his back, trying his best to be subtle. It didn't work very well. "I know about your condition, let me see the wound." Santaniel rolled his eyes, tossing the jacket back on the chair, and let Linhardt go at it with his wound.
"Hm, even for a Relic this shouldn't have been that bad of damage. What happened?" Santaniel shuddered at the cold feeling in his skin as it mended, "Part Nabatean. That shit cleaves through me and burns like hell." Santaniel winced at the sour taste in his mouth as the duo went back through the mirror.
Linhardt had been muttering something, but Santaniel was too tired to care. He leaned back in the wooden chair and sighed. "Fifteen weeks. I'll be fine."
--
Day 3 of the Great Tree Moon
"How're you doing?" Santaniel and Arti had been put in charge of the medbay, Edelgard and Raphael were their patients. "I have certainly been better, thank you." Arti was running his rounds, taking care of them, getting them food, water, blankets, clothes, whatever they needed. Santaniel was here to take over during the night and keep guard, paranoia- Er, Hubert, had followed Edelgard since the war began.
It had been a decent while before he took care of himself, along with Ferdinand. "Santaniel, can you hand me that barbell?" The half breed gave the large man his weight as Arti yawned, "You sure you'll be ok?" Santaniel nodded and tapped his pocket, "Snagged a couple novels. I'll be up all night."
Arti snickered under his mask and walked through the mirror. "Alright, get your rest folks. You'll be out of here tomorrow, resume training, yada yada, you both know what's going on." Edelgard nodded sleepily, "Thank you Santaniel, good night." Raphael had already turned over in his bed, so Santaniel drew the curtains. "Sweet dreams El."
Soon, both of them had fallen asleep, and Santaniel stretched his arms over his head. He sat on the stool and rolled over to the window, setting a steel cross over the inner pane. No human was getting through there. He kicked the floor, and rolled over to the door, sliding the metal bolt to the right. "All locked up."
The half breed casted Scry and searched the room, cabinets were empty and so was the closet. "Another night of nothingness…" Santaniel yawned and pulled out a book, lighting a small oil lamp next to him, and started to read.
--
So. She was back here… A rat scurried past her feet, her insides tensed, and the sensation left her. She knew it was a simple nightmare, but they couldn't be controlled. She stepped through the empty stone tunnels, not a single non-damned soul in sight… Not one that was alive at least.
She was coming upon the first of her nightly horrors, one that always made her squirm. The sight of her dead brothers, slumped against a wall, some with gruesome scars, others with missing eyes, some already decomposing. Her sisters were just around the corner, and then she'd find her younger self. She would have a flare of ghost pain, and then go through another horrific scene.
She knew there wasn't a way out, no different route. She just had to- "Wake up Princess, you're having a nightmare."
--
Was it rude to pour water on someone having a nightmare? Yes; however, Santaniel felt she needed to wake up. "Hey, you were having a nightmare. First time in the past couple days at least." Edelgard roused from her sleep and Santaniel sat in a chair next to her, "Talk to me Princess."
"I- What-" The half breed smiled at her, tossing a towel into her lap. "Dry off, tell me what's happening." Edelgard gingerly took the towel and patted her face, "I apologize, but I don't know what you're talking… About…" Santaniel was giving her a glare, "You were muttering frantically in your sleep. That's a nightmare, Lys has 'em, I have 'em, you do too."
Edelgard sighed and laid her head back against the headboard, "You should know Santaniel. The labs, the stone tunnels, the experiments-"
"The dead children in cells with cuffs on their wrists, the screams… The screams." His eyes went distant for only a moment until he returned to the present. "I know how it feels, obviously, that's no secret. Guess you won't be sleeping for a while?" She shook her head, "No. I don't believe I've ever been able to fall back asleep after an episode."
"Wanna go spar?" She shook her head, "No. Arti still has to heal my ribs tomorrow, the fracture was worse than he believed so it will take an extra bit of magic to be fully repaired. Maybe I can later this month." Santaniel smiled, "Sure thing Princess. Want to borrow one of my books?"
--
Day 10 of the Great Tree Moon
Hephaestus stood at the head of the table, a map of Kingdom territory in front of him. He knew the place by heart, but the others didn't, so he stayed quiet and let them study for a while. Santaniel looked over at him, peaking an eyebrow, and nodded to the map. "Ideas?"
"Talitean plains is a good place for us to attack, but Arianhrod will be an issue. They can launch a counter if we do not take them out." Hubert snickered, Hephaestus having his attention drawn from the map, "Is something funny to you Hubert?"
"We have several implanted spies there. Agarthans and Adrestians alike." Santaniel shivered, "Alright, maybe the strike force should go for Fhirdiad after some of the forces attack Arianhrod? That'll not only weaken them, but we can occupy the fort until we march the plains and attack the capital. Dimitri has no underhanded tactics, so we don't have to suspect an ambush along the way. Worst comes to worst, we may have to fight Dimitri sooner than we expected."
Byleth put his hand to his chin, and it seemed Lysithea would be the one to speak his thoughts. "We discussed this a while ago, but it appears there may be an opportunity to lure Dimitri and Rhea out, then we can end the war there." Santaniel twisted the map a tad and stared at the plains, "We can ambush them. Talitean, we can use guerilla tactics and decimate the predictable Kingdom tactics."
"How would that work?" Santaniel grabbed a pencil and started scribbling, "They group up a lot while in the open, if we can get them to come to us, then we destroy them. No mercy." The kid looked up at Felix, the swordsman nodding with an understanding in his eyes. "It's a good concept, but I suppose you should hone the plan a bit more."
"Agreed."
--
Hephaestus had gone home, back to the island and to the graveyard, Santaniel and Arti having joined him. "Let's finish this war. For the fallen and for those who gave their lives for their own cause." He lit three candles for Horus, he would have been thirty. "Happy birthday Horus. We'll see you later."
"Happy birthday dad." Arti bowed his head in silence. Tomorrow, they left for Arendbhar.
--
Day 18 of the Great Tree Moon
Rain. Nothing but rain. Santaniel grumbled as he flapped his soaked wings, heavy with the downpour of water that threatened to water log him. "Fuckin' hell." He had weathered worse winds, but not such a cold shower.
'You doing ok?' Santaniel took a short dive to the ground, up to his ankles in mud. "Does i-it look like I'm o-ok? This fucking sucks." His teeth were chattering beyond control. "The last time I dealt with this was… I don't know. I just need some fire."
Arti pointed toward the back of the trail, "Hephaestus can make a torch for you if you need it." Santaniel glanced back at the caravan of people marching the muddy plains and held a grimace. "Goddess on a stick, fuck that. Where's the equipment cart? I'll just hole up in there."
"They had units divided the equipment up amongst themselves so we could move quicker, my horse is carrying a chunk of it." With shoulders slumped, Santaniel grumbled while walking towards the back of the caravan. He had receded his wings and pulled the hood over his head as tightly as possible, even tucking his amulet into his chest to try and warm the cold metal. "This is torture."
He had made it about a quarter of the way down the line before a larger than usual cart passed by. It was entirely enclosed, and a silver haired woman popped her head out to yell at him.
"What are you doing?! Get in here!" Santaniel rolled his eyes, "Hey Lys." He grabbed a handle on the door and pulled himself up, "I'm walking down to Hephaestus to grab a torch, I was flying above-"
"Shut up and grab something to warm up."
"If I roll my eyes again they'll end up in the back of my head. Hey El, Byleth. Where's Hubert?" Byleth shook his head whilst Edelgard explained, "He's in the midst of the group to keep an eye on the Agarthans. Ferdinand, Dorothea, and Petra are keeping him safe and warm."
"We were discussing the battle plan for tomorrow if you'd like to join us." Santaniel cocked his head, "Our planted spies open the gates, we storm the fort, move on with our day. That's it." Lysithea snickered and Santaniel gave her a light shock, "Simplified obviously, but still. I know the gist and my own part." Edelgard sighed, "You're correct Santaniel. Do you have any concerns before we get there? We'll be there within the day."
"Just stay safe. All of you. Need help? Call on me." Edelgard smiled, "Thank you. I will remember that." Byleth nodded sleepily and Santaniel caught Lysithea staring at him longingly. 'In due time, Lys.' Santaniel took a seat and sighed, "So…" Lysithea had nodded off while curled into herself, and Santaniel was biting back a yawn. Seemed Edelgard was more than wide awake.
"You can talk about fears y'know." Santaniel tossed his bag on the floor, plucked a boot scraper out, and went to work on his armor. "If I let them out now, then I won't be prepared for what is ahead."
Wordlessly, Santaniel pushed the hilt of a Holy Twin into her hand, "Then let it out silently. It'll make you feel better, just act like you're casting a spell, it'll drain you a bit though. You'll feel slightly tired and a bit drained, but you'll feel fine after waking up."
The Empress took the handle hesitantly, and looked up at Santaniel with confusion plaguing her gaze. "Copy me."
He gripped the well worn silver grip, then gathered the energy in his palm for a spell, and he felt his nerves calm. The aura built a small purple hue and he set it back through it's belt hoop.
When he looked back up, Edelgard had the calmest expression he'd ever seen, along with the brightest aura his axes had held.
With a quick motion he grabbed up the axe and absorbed the high amount of adrenaline into his own body. "Don't wanna wake them up with a miniature sun, now do we?" Edelgard shook her head and sighed, "Thank you Santaniel." He shrugged, "Meh, not many take up the offer, but now I feel like I had about three gallons of coffee." The Empress giggled, "I assume it's been a while since I've been carefree… Though it won't last long."
"If I had to choose between ignorant bliss and painful knowledge, I'd always choose the pain." Edelgard nodded, yawning silently as she slumped forward. "I apologize… I feel much more sleepy than before…" Santaniel went rigid as she laid her head on his lap, and after a few moments, he sighed. She was asleep.
"Well, Lysithea can get revenge for me calling her a midget yesterday at least… Goodnight El, you need as much rest as possible." He leaned back, a deep breath, and sighed. "Not much time left. I have to do this."
--
Day 19 of the Great Tree Moon
"Why am I the idiot handler?"
"Suck a fat one." Santaniel fit his helmet on and sheathed Leistrung to his back. "Stop whining and get on with it Xav, we got bitches to kill." Xavien cocked an eyebrow, "The hell has you all wired?"
"Too much adrenaline, let me burn it off. We have to deactivate traps and let the rest of the army approach? If so I'm tearing a hole through these assholes-" Xavien groaned and placed a hand over his mouth, "Shut. Stealthy, remember? I get you're feeling more on edge lately, but we need to get this done. We can move on soon enough."
'I can still yell at you like this- Ow!' Santaniel glared at him, and finally relented on his anxiousness. "Ok, I'm ready."
--
"We are at the ready, your Majesty." Edelgard simply bobbed her head, "Forward!" Her voice boomed over the troops and was swiftly drowned out by the war cries and then the creaking of the iron door.
The iron maiden was not invincible. With Aymr on her back, and a shield nearly her own height, she helped lead the charge into the stronghold. "Eradicate all those that may hold a weapon! For the Empire!"
Another round of battle cries and flaming projectiles poured over the walls. "Wyverns! Take the ramparts!" Soldiers were dragging themselves up the stairs into the ramparts, but were swiftly met with dragon hell fire. 'Get this done Santaniel.'
--
A Titanus. Goddess damn it. "Xav, go on ahead. I got this one." Leistrung cleaved the air as Santaniel wielded the venin greatsword. "Uh, ya sure? You won't transform right?"
"A hunk of metal like this needs just a tad bit of a makeover. I'm thinking a melting pile of scrap on the ground would look good." Xavien looked up at the titan looming over them, "No transformations. We're on a tight schedule as is." Santaniel shrugged, "Sure." The kid was off the ground before they could debate more.
Xavien unhooked Na 'Apala from their sheaths, and went to work. He hooked around the back side, leaping a spike trap, and bounded through a battalion. He was given a uniform for secrecy, but if he could lead these idiots back into themselves? It'd be a cleanup for the Empire.
Blood sprayed over his face as he cleaved through some poor man's neck. Another splash and his outfit was covered. "Gah- We need backu- ghphl…" A punctured windpipe never helped anyone. Xavien stepped over the last man's body, and gripped the lever. He grunted as he pushed up, a loud click rung out as he sheathed his daggers. "Phew, that could have gone much worse."
"Yeah." Santaniel was already back, a noticeable cut above his left eye, but no serious damage. "You'd be surprised how damn stubborn those things are, nothing to salvage. Wanna go kill that noble now?"
"Eh, sure."
--
"My Teacher, what is your report?" Byleth sheathed his Sword of the Creator, and spoke quickly. "Ferdinand and Hubert have eliminated a Titanus, Dorothea and Lysithea eliminated one as well. With our's, that means we should have one left." An explosion rang out in the distance and the entire battle seemed to pause.
"I suppose our stealth team is doing just fine. Are the traps down?" Byleth nodded, "Yes. They were taken down a moment or two ago, our forces are pushing the stairs now, though it seems the left side is… Vacant."
"Vacant?"
--
Blood gets everywhere. Santaniel flicked whatever he could off his body, his hair would take a couple hours. "Gah. Xav, do we have any extra soap at home?" Xavien was busy looting bodies as they encroached on the top.
"Uh, yeah, think so." He pulled a rapier off a body and held it up to the sun, the blade was gleaming beautifully. "Hm, didn't even swing the thing. What a waste." Santaniel shrugged, his feet tapping on the stones lightly, "Have you seen the hag that runs this place?"
"Hello sweetheart. You seem like a wonderful specimen, too bad you have such horrible tastes." Xavien looked up and snickered, "Goddess, didn't realise they could implant watermelons now."
"Same. I have decent tastes though, cause I know a damn mistake when I see one. The Goddess allowed your creation? I would not have let that pass." Santaniel now had the stupidest grin on his face, Xavien was about to play off him too. Or she was going to burst.
"I know horrible tastes when I see it. Just like Patricia… Ah, though I suppose it doesn't matter." Santaniel cocked an eyebrow and looked to Xavien, "Who?"
"She was the second consort to King Lambert, and Edelgard's mother I think? Been a while since I studied up on the Empire's history and news of recent events, though I have jack diddly on this."
"Talk before I remove your head, got a schedule to keep." Cornelia snickered, "Oh, that whore did anything to see her disgrace of a daughter again. She even helped kill King Lambert, she was a slave to us. Soon, Edelgard will suffer the same fate. Now be a good boy and-"
"Die." Fire burned on her hands, and extinguished just as quickly. "Burn in hell, I know I'll see you there." Santaniel retracted his hand from her stomach and flicked the blood off his talons. "You sure moved fast when she mentioned Edelgard."
"Eh shut it." Xavien rustled Santaniel's hair and the half breed sighed, "Too tangled right now."
"Your hair feels just fine to me."
"Dumbass."
--
Day 23 of the Great Tree Moon
"How long ya gonna stay here?" Raphael had come with him today, but he had plans taking place later. "Uh, later than you. No that is not a challenge Raphael, I am not grappling with you today. Xavien is free though, go surprise him at the island. I'm sure he'd love a random hug from behind!"
"I'm not so naive anymore Santaniel." The half breed shrugged, "Dang, guess you don't wanna help him with his business when he gets done with the war then?" Raphael's eyes lit up, and he bounded through the mirror. As his huge frame got through the… Well, big frame, Santaniel sealed the mirror. Sighing, he sat in the middle of the floor.
He closed his eyes and counted to thirty, when he opened them again, he saw nothing but faint white blips. They gathered like dust clouds, billowing around aimlessly, the spirits long since past. They were the ones who languished in the human plane, the physical one, and they always had some sort of unfinished business. The older they grew, the harder it was to see them, but some attached themselves to others.
The host soul was always tinted a certain way with the feelings those souls harbored. Xavien's was typically green, a bit of blue, and red from time to time. Green was envy, blue was sadness, and red was anger. Arti said that his own soul was blue, purple, green, and gold. Gold is the color of love, purple is jealousy.
Whoever was jealous of him, he did not know, but he knew who loved him. His parents were always with him. Hephaestus had his family, and Arti had his master and mother. A much stronger soul came around the corner, and it was certainly an… array of colors. "Santaniel?"
He broke the spell and looked up with bleary eyes, "Hey Princess. Ready for that spar?" Edelgard nodded and set a sack down, a couple concoctions and water skins spilling out. "See we were both prepared." Santaniel dropped his own bag of supplies down, his just including some food and bandages.
"Me and Raph grabbed a couple tins of water and left 'em in the corner. Ready to get started?"
"Of course."
Both brandished wooden axes and started pacing, Santaniel's head already wandering. It set out four scenes for him.
The first was back on the island when they wanted to kill each other, both scared kids who just wanted to survive. To prove they were useful.
Edelgard struck hard, her Crest activating, and Santaniel dipped low and took the blow just beneath the head of his axe. He shoved up and kicked Edelgard back. He jammed his wrist when taking the blow, but he dealt with worse, and dealt much worse.
The second scene was during the academy days. The hot beating sun, the drizzle of rain, the soft drift of snow… No matter what, they would fight each other week after week. Unrelenting to better and surpass the other. It was always fun, it's what brought them closer.
Santaniel struck this time. He drove his shoulder low into her stomach, she recoiled and stabbed the end of the handle at his head. He jumped back and they resumed their intertwining circle.
The third scene was during the battle of Garegg Mach. The constant motions had once again become a threatening posture of intimidation. Fires burned through the night, turning the night sky as red as the streets which were slicked in dust and rubble and blood. It was a horrible night of death, and neither of their hands were clean… They never would be again.
A sliver of moonlight lit the center of the room, and they met in the middle of it. Handle against handle, barely an inch of room between their faces as they fought in a war of attrition. Santaniel bent his knees and Edelgard dug her heels in. They weren't budging.
The fourth, and last, scene was the ball of tangled thoughts in his head. The constant entwining and untangling he was going through, the turmoil it forced upon his emotions. It was getting closer to being untangled again… If it ever was untangled. It felt like a maze in his own mind, and he was doing twenty at once, the one on the forefront of his mind? What he thought of Edelgard again.
Did he still love her? The answer was the clearest it had been in years.
Cliff Hanger :D
Not really but still lol, the chapter is getting too long. I hope you guys appreciate the uptick in production!
-Love Flame
