If there was anyone truly pained by the seemingly endless rain that drenched Garreg Mach, it was Byleth.

Upon his return from the battle against the Demonic Beasts in the chapel; after which he led his father's trusty steed by the reigns as it carried Jeralt's lifeless body; Byleth had been met by more love and support than he could have imagined possible just a year prior.

Not only were his students accepting of the time he'd require to grieve, so too was Archbishop Rhea. She offered him a month free of the usual humdrum tasks he had come to expect as a professor, with Hanneman and Manuela taking on all teaching duties.

It was nice — or as nice as it could be, given the circumstances.

He spent nearly a full week taking advantage of the isolated time he had been given: Doing nothing more than sleeping, eating and crying.

Every time he felt a pull deep in his core to finally stand back up and do something — anything really, the thundering downpour on the roof and walls of his room beat him back down into submission.

Though he was not outside and drenched like that afternoon where he watched his father's light fade, his soul felt just as heavy from the mere association.

But then, just the afternoon prior, things began to change.

During a rare break in the storm, Byleth managed to get his everyday attire back on and made his way out to get some food at the Dining Hall.

Yet he never made it there.

Instead he let his feet carry him outside the walls of Garreg Mach, figuring a little exercise and fresh air would do him some good. Wandering a nearby town offered him some perspective; a reminder that even as he stood still, the world kept spinning.

It was almost enough to break him out of that relentless rut.

And then he ran into Dimitri.

The two caught sight of their enemies hiding in plain sight just outside the town: Monica and Solon with the Flame Emperor, all awash in a fiery sunset that seemed to mimic the rage bubbling under Byleth and Dimitri's typically cool exteriors.

Byleth had restrained his student just long enough to avoid an encounter, though the Flame Emperor was suspicious enough to try and drive them out of hiding with a flung dagger.

Something about the strange sense of familiarity Dimitri expressed toward that discarded weapon, as well as the words they exchanged after, stuck with Byleth.

Even the next day, where he now sat half-dressed on the edge of his bed, those words bounced around Byleth's skull louder than the sounds of rain all around him.

Sothis was, of course, blatantly aware of his inner-turmoil.

"You are still thinking about him, aren't you?"

The ethereal girl floated before him in the middle of the dorm, her expression solely one of concern.

Neither party seemed to mind that Byleth was still shirtless, leaving every (rather well-built) inch of his battle-scarred chest and stomach exposed to cold air that left it covered in goose bumps.

"My father?" He asks as though her question was stupid, even if his voice remains as stony and contemplative as ever. "How could I not be?"

"No, not him!"

With a scoff, the silver specter twirls around in the air, momentarily getting lost in her waterfall of emerald hair. She floats backward until she could sit down on the bed beside Byleth. As she looks up at him there, the conversation felt a little more natural.

In spite of the fact that her slight pout and inability to reach the floor with anything but her toes made it hard to separate Sothis' wisdom from her youthful form.

"I mean the Prince. He may not have seen me, but you know I was there for everything yesterday."

She leans in and mouths "everything" again, just for emphasis.

Byleth rolls his eyes and reaches back to grab his shirt so he could throw it on as they talked.

"I've noticed, and frankly I wish you were here less."

Sothis offers a very over-dramatic gasp at his comment, and looks toward him with her mouth agape and a hand over her bosom until his shirt no longer obscures his line of sight.

"Doesn't it feel disingenuous to tell everyone I'd like to grieve alone, only to come back and find you lingering about?"

"I've given you plenty of time to grieve on your own!" She cries out, punching his bed with both hands. "You say that as if you have not enjoyed having my shoulder to cry on you… You… Ungrateful cur!"

When she hurls that insult, it counter-intuitively brings a small smile to his face.

"No, you're right."

He ruffles the top of her hair (much to Sothis' obvious chagrin) before standing.

"I have appreciated you being here for me, Sothis."

Though it takes her a moment to stop looking annoyed at his infantilizing gesture, the ethereal girl does eventually break a smile of her own thanks to his comment.

"Well it's not like I've had much of a choice," she retorts teasingly.

The Blue Lions' Professor moves over to the other side of the room, his every action observed by Sothis. He takes his armor-plated gloves off a coatrack next to his desk and starts to pull them over his bare hands and long sleeves.

"I suppose you're right about Dimitri taking residence in my head as well," he says with his back turned away from the girl's growing curiosity.

"Are you truly considering his... How do I say..." She briefly rubs her chin. "Vengeful condolences?"

"Well he wasn't wrong," Byleth responds as his right glove locks into place so he can focus on the left. "Those monsters took his family and friends years ago, just as they took Jeralt from me."

"And I can sympathize with the both of you," Sothis coos before rising up again and floating toward Byleth.

"But his offer, to find justice by pointing him at your foes like a weapon. Does that not seem extreme to you?"

Byleth turns around, causing Sothis to yelp as she halts face-to-face with him.

"I'm not sure that it does anymore."

His left glove locks into place, and the mechanical click makes Sothis wince.

"Obviously I would not send him into the abyss without at least a proper plan, nor would I for any of my students." He rests his hands on his hips and glances at Sothis with a determination burning deep in his emotionless eyes. "But I'm not sure I realized how similar Dimitri and I were until yesterday. Everything down to our thirst for justice by any means."

Next Byleth turns to pull his actual coat off the hanger.

Sothis has to float back to avoid being hit in the face as he throws the thing around his shoulders, and then moves to be in front of him while he ties it in place.

"Well it's certainly nice to see you back to some semblance of normal, Byleth. Even if I'm somewhat concerned that it's murderous intent which led you there."

"I'm a mercenary," he remarks with a chuckle. "It comes with the territory."

"Fair enough." With a smile, Sothis backs up until she's leaning against the wall beside the door. "I certainly can't fault you for pointing that intent at creatures who would experiment on children."

Byleth faces the door as he makes final adjustments to his outfit, ensuring it fit snugly.

"Where are you off to with this newfound energy then?" The ethereal girl asks.

He nods to her before grabbing the umbrella leaning against his desk. Another cold front blows into the room as he makes his way outside.

"Jeralt left me something in his office. I think it's about time I go pick it up."

Sothis follows, whimsical gliding like a bird.

"If it's a mission of closure, you can count me in!" It seemed her spirit was brightened alongside his, more evidence of their deep bond.

"I'm still hoping I'll be able to feel this rain eventually. Perhaps today's the day!"