When reading this chapter, I recommend listening to the Distant Worlds rendition of FF4's "Theme of Love". You can find it easily on Youtube.
Thank me later when you do.
Chapter 87 – The Goddess Tower (Ethereal Moon)
Byleth let out a loud sigh as she got herself outside the main hall. She had been dancing for a good two hours straight due to all the requests she had been getting, and she was quite frankly exhausted. She had only just managed to escape the festivities thanks to Balthus starting another fight, one that had been the result of one of several second-year students harassing Hapi. He hadn't beaten anyone up yet, but it looked like this time would be inevitable.
"Running away?" said Sothis as she briefly materialized before Byleth. "I understand. You hardly had the time to breathe in there. It must be hard to be the favorite teacher at the ball! Poor, poor you!"
"It… is difficult," Byleth whispered, thankful that there was too much noise for her to be heard talking to her spirit companion.
"So you do think you're the favorite! I might have known. No doubt Rhea's choice in your wardrobe had an effect on them too."
Byleth blushed again as she absentmindedly raised her right arm to cover her nearly exposed left breast.
"But where is there to run? This place is filled with joyful students looking for a dance."
Byleth had to ponder this for a moment. There weren't many places she'd be able to go where she wouldn't run into someone, even if most of the students were in the main hall. Several had already left and were no doubt roaming the monastery grounds.
A small gust of wind caressed Byleth's exposed skin, making her shiver briefly. While there was still snow in some places on the monastery grounds, the air wasn't below freezing, so Byleth wasn't likely to catch frostbite or hypothermia even while wearing so little.
Then, Byleth had an idea and looked up to a solitary tower just off the cathedral. The same place Rhea had gone during the Blue Sea Moon during the Goddess' Rite of Rebirth.
Something about that place was calling to her.
"Ah… I see," said Sothis. "The Goddess Tower waits for you…"
Sothis vanished from Byleth's sight as the teacher made her way toward the tower.
…
Dorothea paced around impatiently within the Goddess Tower. She had stepped out of the main hall about a half-hour ago and was now waiting for a special someone within the old tower. The level she waited on had a wide-open balcony that allowed one to see for miles in all directions, but also left one totally exposed. She was amazed one of the guards hadn't caught her yet. Maybe they weren't keeping an eye on the place, she thought.
The sound of footsteps coming up the tower caught her attention. Excitedly, Dorothea got to her position, as though preparing for a play.
A few seconds later, Dorothea smiled as her eyes met with Byleth's, who looked back at her in surprise.
"Professor, you showed up!" said Dorothea.
"Dorothea? What are you doing here?" asked Byleth. "Why are you so happy?"
"Well, because you're here, of course! You came here because of the letter I sent you, right?"
"What letter?" Byleth asked slowly.
The reply was not at all what Dorothea expected, taking the wind right out of her sails.
"The letter I put in your door," Dorothea said hesitantly. "Didn't you see it?"
"I didn't see any letter in my door today."
"Wait, are you saying this is… a coincidence?" Letting out a disheartened sigh, Dorothea continued, "How disappointing to think you didn't come here specifically to see me."
"I'm… sorry?"
"It's okay, Professor. It's not your fault. Still, if we're meeting by complete chance… that has a certain appeal too." Giggling, Dorothea said, "It's as if destiny brought us together! And on the night of the ball… Lucky me."
"Umm… okay…?"
"Originally, I wanted to see what you'd do when you read my letter. I just wanted to see if you'd come here like I asked. I had a feeling that you would. Though, I suppose you didn't even read the letter to begin with…" With another sigh, Dorothea said, "I should just be thankful I wasn't left here waiting. All alone. Forever…"
Byleth was about to say something when Dorothea flashed her a smile, letting the teacher realize the singer was joking. Byleth had to smile to response.
"Say, Professor, why are you here if you didn't see my letter?"
"I just had to get away from everyone for a bit."
"Oh, I get it. I saw you dancing with everyone almost non-stop. I know how exhausting that can be. Sometimes I'd be at parties in Enbarr where I'd be dancing all night long. That is, after I became an opera star, of course. And this place would be the perfect spot to get some alone time."
Byleth nodded at this as Dorothea strode out and looked at the night sky. Byleth walked up beside Dorothea to look out at the stars and the moon.
"It's beautiful tonight," said Dorothea.
"Yeah, it really is," said Byleth.
"Hey, Professor, it's been almost nine moons since you've come to the monastery. You must have found a special someone by now, haven't you, Professor?"
"I…"
"You have, haven't you?" Enthusiastically, Dorothea grabbed Byleth's hands and said, "Who is it? Is it someone from the Knights? I could tell you all about their–"
"What? N-No, Dorothea, I haven't!"
"You totally have! That look on your face says it all!"
"No, Dorothea! You're wrong!"
Byleth jerked her hands free of Dorothea's grasp and stepped away as the singer's vigor dropped in an instant.
"Professor?"
"I… I've never felt that way about anyone," said Byleth. "I've seen people in love before, but I… I'm not even sure what it's like to feel that way toward someone."
"You… don't know what it's like to… feel love?"
Byleth sighed and said in a tone of shame, "No. I mean, I love my father, but that's not the kind of… you know what I mean."
"So, you've never felt attracted to a man before like that?"
"No, I haven't."
Dorothea pondered this for a moment, but then she made a small grin as she asked, "Well, have you ever felt any kind of attraction to a woman?"
"H-Huh?!" Caught off guard by Dorothea's question, Byleth was left flustered. "W-W-What do you mean by that?"
"Professor, not all love is between the opposite sex, you know. I've known plenty of people who've fallen for their own gender."
"W-Wait, you think I'm–"
"There's nothing wrong with being gay, Professor."
"D-Dorothea! I–" Byleth was silent for a moment before she said, "I… I don't know, Dorothea. I don't know if that's what it is. I just… don't know how it really feels to love someone like that, man or woman."
"Oh… I just assumed you might be– Professor, I'm so sorry. That was so stupid of me."
The two were silent as they sat down on the floor of the Goddess Tower. Dorothea took the time to process the knowledge that Byleth was so confused about romance. It was pitiable but, given how Byleth had been raised and the circumstances of her birth, it made sense that Byleth would be clueless about love.
"Well, aren't we a pair, then?" said Dorothea. "You don't even know what it feels like to fall in love, while I'm trying so hard to find true love that I don't know if I'll ever find it. But, hey, if you ever do find someone you think you're in love with, come tell me, would you? I'd be more than happy to help you."
"You'd do that, Dorothea?" asked Byleth.
"Of course, Professor."
"Thank you."
It was then that the two heard the voices of the students coming from the main hall. The doors had been opened to allow some of the students out, but it was clear the festivities were still going strong.
"Well, I ought to get going," Dorothea said as she stood up. "I'm sure people will have noticed my absence by now, and I wouldn't want to keep them waiting. Professor, I hope you find your special someone someday."
Byleth looked to Dorothea with another smile.
"And, either way, I do hope you'll share a dance with me later."
Dorothea took only two steps toward the exit before stopping as Byleth said, "Wait."
"Professor?" Dorothea asked as she turned back toward Byleth.
"Why wait until later for a dance?"
Dorothea raised an eyebrow in confusion until Byleth stood up and raised a hand to the diva in an offer. The brunette's eyes widened slightly as she realized what Byleth meant.
"Oh… Ohh, Professor~" Dorothea said in magnanimous surprise. "How clever of you." Giggling at how Byleth was being so melodramatic, Dorothea answered, "I would be honored, Professor Byleth."
Dorothea took Byleth's hand and strode up close to her, and the two began to dance. At first, they started with a gentle waltz, much the same as what the others were doing in the main hall. But as they moved, the two found themselves with an unfamiliar energy. Byleth found herself increasing her pace, forcing the singer to keep up.
And then the dance began to change, no longer being a gentle waltz. Byleth stretched out her leg and leaned as she moved her right hand to Dorothea's hip. Dorothea followed through with a long-legged kneel, her right knee moving under Byleth's left thigh. Byleth would then stand and spin Dorothea around, the brunette masterfully matching her every step. Their dresses billowed and flowed as they moved in perfect rhythm, their shapely forms undulating in a passionate display of beauty.
Step, step, lean. Step, twirl, stride. Reverse, step, twist. Each move they made was familiar yet instinctive. The two were no longer consciously dancing but simply allowing their bodies to move, allowing rhythm and pure impulse to guide them through a sultry tango. Their minds, so caught up in movement, did not realize just how strong, how bold, nor how sensuous their dance had become compared to a simple waltz.
And then, as Byleth leaned forward with her left hand at the small of Dorothea's back, the singer leaned back as their ample chests touched, their faces mere inches from each other as they finished their dance.
They were still for several seconds, and only afterward did they realize just what they had been doing.
Dorothea was the first to gasp for breath as she said, "W-Wow, Professor. That was… umm…"
Catching her own breath, Byleth said, "That, uh…"
Both blushed as Dorothea said, "Who knew you were such a good dancer?"
"I… I didn't even know I…"
The sound of the main hall interrupted them again as they remained in their finishing position for a few seconds, and then Byleth pulled Dorothea back to her feet.
"We should get back to the others," Dorothea said as her cheeks retained a pink glow.
"Y-Yeah, we should."
Embarrassed at the dance they had just done, the two women made their way down the steps of the Goddess Tower, not knowing someone had been watching them.
…
A few minutes later, Byleth was the first to reach the bottom of the stairs of the Goddess Tower, which led immediately out of the structure. Dorothea was close behind her.
But as Dorothea reached the last few steps, Byleth turned and said, "Careful, that last step's–"
Her warning came a second too late. Dorothea's high-heeled shoe touched down on the icy surface and immediately she began to slip. The brunette let out a series of panicked cries and yelps as she toppled forward, and Byleth made a loud yelp of her own as Dorothea's body sent her crashing to the floor on her back.
A second later, the eyes on both women shot wide open as their faces began to turn bright red. Their gazes were mere inches from each other, letting them see deep into the other's eyes. Their bountiful chests pressed against one another, but only Dorothea's heart thumped loudly and fervently in hers. The sensation of their breath could be felt on the other's face. Dorothea's hair was draped over Byleth's head, creating a brown curtain of long luxurious locks that would've obscured the view of their faces from any prying eyes.
Their lips were on the verge of touching. Had they been any closer, the two would've met in a kiss.
They were petrified for a few seconds as they stared into each other's eyes.
Dorothea was the first to move, scrambling back until her back pressed against the inside of the Goddess Tower.
The singer stammered, "P-P-Professor Byleth, I…"
"I, umm…" Byleth couldn't find anything to say.
The two were stammering at each other for a good minute after Dorothea pushed herself off Byleth's body, letting the two kneel on the ground as they looked bashfully at each other.
"W-We'd better go…" Dorothea said sheepishly as she stood up.
Byleth could only nod as she and Dorothea made their way back toward the bridge to the cathedral.
As they passed the archway leading into the side of the cathedral, they failed to notice a certain white-haired princess who had slumped to the floor behind a pillar, clutching at her chest as tears of heartache began to fill her eyes.
…
Byleth and Dorothea were silent as they walked across the bridge of the cathedral, not making eye contact with each other nor with any students or soldiers that passed them. Dorothea knew well enough how to hide how flustered she felt, but Byleth was doing everything she could to avoid letting people see her bashful face.
The bluette didn't know just what she was feeling. On one hand, she was thankful the two hadn't actually kissed. Things would've become extremely awkward between them if they had. She was Dorothea's teacher, after all!
But on the other hand, being so close to Dorothea had left the bluette with an unfamiliar warmth in her chest. She had never felt such a thing before.
The two suddenly realized they were, for the moment, alone on the bridge. At that moment, Dorothea stopped where she was, prompting Byleth to turn to face her.
"Professor, I…"
Dorothea's words died in her throat as two suddenly heard a woman's voice singing.
Toki no yosuga ni tomoru honō
Kamawo ni tayuta kioku no kake-ra
Mystified by the words, the two looked up to see the one singing the words standing on a balcony above, at the top of the monastery's main structure.
It was Rhea.
The Archbishop repeated the verse.
Toki no yosuga ni tomoru honō
Kamawo ni tayuta kioku no kake-ra
Byleth and Dorothea were astonished by her voice.
"Rhea…?" Byleth said breathlessly.
"What is she singing?" murmured Dorothea. "I've never heard that song before…"
Then, in Byleth's mind, Sothis said, "That song… I feel I have heard it in the past… Actually… It is not that I have heard it. I… Did I once sing that song to someone? No. There's more. I wrote this song… Oh, but how could that be so? If that were true, then how could she be singing it? Unless…"
Rhea sung the verse again.
Toki no yosuga ni tomoru honō
Kamawo ni tayuta kioku no kake-ra
Byleth and Dorothea could only stand mesmerized at Rhea's song as the night continued.
Ah yes, the Goddess Tower scene. This was a very tricky one to write.
Firstly, it's very hard to write out how a tango would go in script. I am not a dancing expert, and I couldn't find any sources on how to write out dance steps, so if I've gotten it wrong, that's my reason why.
Second is writing out how Byleth is totally unfamiliar with what it feels like to fall in love. Given how emotionally stunted she is, and how I've never experienced such a thing (I'm single and not looking), it's very tricky to write it out in a believable fashion. I was actually thinking of having that fall-on-top-of-her moment end in the two accidentally kissing, but I felt it was too early for that. However, they came awfully close, so close that I don't think Edelgard could tell the difference.
Also, I apologize to anyone who thinks I screwed up the whole bit of Dorothea thinking Byleth is gay. Please don't freak out or try to flame/shame over it.
Finally, yes, I know I just had Rhea singing in Japanese, but for the purposes of the story, Japanese will basically be the Nabatean language. You'll be seeing it again later in the story. I just wish Rhea's song had more lyrics; even in soundtracks of the game, that's all there is to her song. If one could supply me with more lyrics in Japanese, even made-up ones, I may add them in.
Anyhow, this is going to be where the romance has really started, but it's still going to be a while before one of them is saying "I love you". After all, there's still the timeskip to worry about.