A New (Old) World
-ust in time too. I'll hand over control to him if that is alright with you."
"Sure." The voice sounded tired but kind. "Take care of yourself!"
Byleth felt his body lurch forward. Lights, scents, and textures hit his senses all at once as he grasped (not fumbled, reincarnates don't fumble) for his sword.
"Easy there!" Commander Anna called. "You're in Askr now."
Byleth blinked the stars out of his eyes. Sure enough, he was back in the Askrian countryside. Rolling hills spotted the horizon, not quite a healthy green and still sporting scars from the invasion of the dead. He relaxed his grip on his sword as his eyes swept over the Order of Heroes.
"Let me know if you have any questions," M!Byleth said.
Byleth nodded slightly to let the other (the real) Byleth know that he was heard. Rarely was there anything to discuss; each time Byleth was transported back to Askr he received all the memories and thought processes that M!Byleth had when he was in control of the Byleth avatar.
Byleth flexed his muscles slightly, trying to summon a small spark. As expected, nothing occurred: Breidablik's restrictions were cruel like that.
"Do you need to talk about your last run?" M!Byleth asked. He must have been sifting through Byleth's own memories; memories of broken dreams and failed runs.
There will be a time for that, Byleth shook his head, still blinking the dancing lights from his eyes. But now we must fight.
M!Byleth inclined his head, before fading back into Byleth's subconscious.
"The scent of daydreams floats on the air," A girl sniffed. Peony, M!Byleth's memories supplied. "Mirabilis must be close by now. Where could she be?"
Almost as if in answer, Byleth lurched forward, a metaphorical carpet being pulled from underneath his feet. Byleth's vision swam as a wave of fatigue passed over the Order. Cries of alarm were spotted with the ringing of swords drawn and the sounds of spells being readied. He moved towards who he assumed was Owain (Odin? No, Odin wasn't in the vanguard…), bringing his sword up into a defensive guard.
"H-huh? Wh-what was…"
"Is everyone alright?"
Through what little vision remained, he saw Alflonse slowly pick himself and make his way towards Peony. Byleth took a step forward and stumbled.
Too much light…
"Sothis thinks it's because you just came here. I'd imagine coming back from the dead couldn't be a pleasant experience."
Wonderful.
Byleth's face hit the cold soil.
Byleth is from my reincarnation fic on my AO3 account (Ashen Reincarnate). I use M!Byleth to describe the classic interpretation of Byleth. I decided to cut this chapter short so I could work on the next one. Thank you for reading!
