The Blue Lions gathered in their classroom before dawn even broke on the day of the Goddess' Rite of Rebirth. Last minute adjustments were being made as they reviewed the plan and made sure everyone was prepared. There was a sort of buzz in the air of anticipation and anxiety. Everyone was on edge for the day ahead of them. At best, they had an inkling of their unknown enemy's objective. At worst, they were headed blind into a situation of life or death.
Eve sat towards the back of the classroom, away from the others. She watched as Dimitri pointed something out to the professor on the map in front of them. He seemed so different when preparing for battle—like a true leader. Eve had her doubts about Dimitri as king. He was deeply affected by his past no matter how hard he tried to hide it from others. And Eve was worried that in the long run it would affect his ability to lead. But when she saw him like this, she wondered if she had been wrong. Perhaps his unwillingness to lose anyone again was what made him stronger. He wasn't the type of leader to believe that human lives should serve as sacrifices for the greater good.
"Eve." Felix had approached Eve while she was deep in thought, calling out to her when she didn't even notice him standing beside her.
"Oh, Felix." She blinked away her thoughts and looked up at the Fraldarius boy from where she sat. "Hello."
"Hello?" He squinted at her. "Is that all you have to say?"
"Is…there something else I should say?" Eve asked, perplexed. Once again, Felix seemed upset with her for a reason beyond her knowledge.
"Are we not going to talk about it?" He sat on the desk before her, blocking her view of Dimitri.
"Talk about what?" She asked innocently. Truthfully, she knew exactly what he wanted to talk about. But if he wanted to talk to her about it, Eve was going to make him be up front about his feelings.
"The ki-!" Felix's voice raised in frustration before he cut himself off, only continuing after he lowered it to a whisper. "About…what happened in your room the other night."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Eve asked, cocking her head slightly to look in Felix's eyes as he refused to meet her gaze.
"Like hell I want to talk about it." He scoffed though a blush started to form on his cheeks.
"Then I think this conversation is done." She said, moving to stand up and join the rest of the class.
"No!" Felix objected in a hushed tone, quickly reaching out to grab Eve's wrist and pulling her closer to him. "I-I want to talk about it."
"That's all you had to say, Felix." Eve let her tone soften.
"Don't patronise me." He hissed, still gripping her wrist. When Eve winced at his tight hold on her, Felix released her quickly. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm always like this with you."
"It's okay, Felix." Eve smiled slightly. "I didn't address what happened before now because I thought you might not want me to. I know you have a lot of mixed feelings about me and you don't particularly like me, so I knew it was something you did in the heat of the moment. You don't need to apologise or even talk about it if you don't want to."
Felix was about to protest when he realised that of course Eve would think he didn't like her. He had been nothing but rude to her, accusatory even. He doubted her, argued with her, and the only reason he had put up with her in the beginning was because she was an interesting sparring partner. And even now when all he had wanted was to have a civil conversation, he had immediately gotten irritated.
"Having a secret meeting here are we, little lady?" Another voice asked before Felix could figure out how to vocalise what he was thinking to Eve.
"Yuri." Eve regarded the lavender haired boy, clearly unbothered by the interruption. "I thought I told you to stop calling me that."
"Hm, I don't think I will." Yuri teased with a smirk and a wink, causing Felix to bristle.
"Is there something you want?" Eve asked. "Or did you just come over for a social visit?"
"The professor has something for you." He jerked his head towards the front of the class.
"We'll talk later, Felix." Eve said with a pat on his arm as she left with Yuri.
"I'd be careful with that boy if I were you." Yuri whispered as they walked away.
"Felix?" She frowned slightly. "You know I serve his family."
"I'm just saying if you're trying to move up in ranks by marrying the prince, canoodling with the Fraldarius heir may hinder your progress." Yuri shrugged.
"Canoodling?" Eve laughed. "Besides, I'm not marrying Dimitri for status."
"Whatever you say, little lady." Yuri shrugged again as they re-joined the rest of the class.
"Eve." Byleth looked up at the new arrivals. "I have these for you."
The professor held out two short swords for her to take. Each simple blade was about the length of Eve's forearm. They were light, yet sturdy and had a dull edge unlike the other swords Eve had used so that she could hold them with the tip pointed towards her elbow without harming herself.
"I had the blacksmith forge these the other day." Byleth said once Eve had inspected the weapons. "You said you were most comfortable with dual wielding, so I thought it'd be best if you had the proper weapons for that."
"Thank you, professor." Eve nodded.
"And it came with this." Byleth handed over a leather belt that had a scabbard on either side.
Eve took the belt and fastened it around her waist, sliding the two swords into their respective scabbards at each hip. And for a moment, as Eve inspected her new weapon and holster, each of the Blue Lions saw a flash of something unknown in her eyes. It was as if she was reliving something that had happened a lifetime ago; as if now, prepared for battle, she was reminded of someone she used to be.
"We should head to the cathedral now." Byleth said firmly.
As the class gathered and moved out together, Dimitri found his way over to Eve and took hold of her hand. She looked at him with puzzlement in her eyes as he regarded her with a look she couldn't place. He seemed worried, but not necessarily about the mission itself.
"Is something wrong, my love?" Eve asked and immediately noted it was the wrong thing to say. Dimitri frowned at the affectionate name, though just barely perceivable.
"No." He sighed, dropping her hand as if it were hot coals. "Nothing you need to worry about, darling."
"We'll have tea tonight." She said, though she wasn't sure he was listening. "And if you feel ready to tell me what's bothering you, I'll listen. Not as your fiancée, but as your friend."
Dimitri didn't reply, but instead addressed the rest of the class as they came to a halt just inside the cathedral, "The Goddess's Rite of Rebirth is finally here. Let's move ahead with our plan."
"Leave it to me." Dedue nodded firmly. "Professor, are you in as well?"
"Of course." Byleth nodded, sure as always which helped bolster her students' spirits.
"We've narrowed down our objective...kind of. So, let's show everyone that we can carry out our duties better than anyone!" Ingrid said with a clench of her fist, determined.
"We're counting on you, professor." Dimitri nodded in agreement.
At that point, Seteth and Flayn found their way to the class and Seteth found a way to berate the new professor as usual. However, Eve was too distracted to pay attention to the exchange. Things weren't right and Eve could feel a pit of anxiety forming in her stomach. Dimitri was acting odd and it was clearly related to their arrangement. Meanwhile, there was no telling what was going on with Felix. He seemed to dislike Eve very passionately, and yet he kept going out of his way to speak to her. And on top of all of that, Eve couldn't shake this feeling that things were all about to go terribly wrong.
There was no time for worries, though, because as the Blue Lions piled into the Holy Mausoleum, they were greeted by unexpected guests.
"It is as we suspected. The enemy is within." Dimitri said as they came through the entrance.
"Those Central Church dastards have spotted us... Buy me some time while I open the seal on the casket!" A cloaked mage at the back of the mausoleum ordered the soldiers that surrounded him when he noticed the Blue Lions.
"The enemy is after the casket of Saint Seiros. Do they intend to steal her bones? We must defeat those enemies before they open the casket." Dimitri called out.
"Follow the plan." Byleth nodded in response. "Move quickly and stop that mage from opening the casket."
With that, the students broke out into their formations, following the professor's orders. There weren't many foes, but they were some of the strongest the class had ever faced. A mysterious Death Knight appeared, but he appeared to take no interest in inciting any fighting. As such, Byleth ordered the students to steer clear of the knight and focus solely on getting to the mage at the casket.
"Yuri!" Eve called out, helping the leader of the Ashen Wolves dispose of his assailant as she came to his side. "I've got a plan, but I need your help."
"Hit me." He said through gritted teeth as the two of them fought back to back against the oncoming foot soldiers.
"You see those mages blocking the stairs up to the casket?" Eve said, using one blade to block an attack and the other to strike back.
"What about 'em?" Yuri asked.
"On my signal, I want you to cast cutting gale straight down the middle of them." Eve replied as she ran her blades through yet another enemy. "It should give me a big enough opening to run past them and up to the casket."
"Are you insane?" Yuri whipped around, but not before knocking a mage unconscious with the pummel of his sword. "Even if you make it up there, what are you going to do on your own?"
"I won't be on my own." Eve replied. "I've been paying attention to the professor on the other side. She's nearly to the top. I want to give her support once she gets there."
"Fine." Yuri sighed in agreement. "Just don't get yourself killed."
Eve nodded and the two of them continued to press forward along with Dedue. She watched the battlefield, hoping for the best moment to break through.
"Now, Yuri!" She shouted when she saw the opening she needed, sprinting forward towards the stairs.
Eve didn't dare look back, only trusting that Yuri had taken her cue. And as she dashed forward, a gust of wind passed her and forced the mages on the stairs to part. It was all Eve needed to push through just in time to see Byleth approaching the mage at the casket as well.
But they were too late. The mage had already successfully broken the seal on the casket and was pushing the heavy lid off. As Eve prepared herself to support the professor, the two of them watched as the mage pulled a sword out of the casket.
"No." Eve gasped, astonished.
Byleth didn't hesitate and charged forward, disarming the cloaked mage and catching the odd sword as she struck it out of his grasp. Eve watched on as Byleth unthinkingly used the strange weapon to block a magic attack from the mage. The weapon glowed as it cut through the spell and there was no doubt in Eve's mind that this sword was exactly what she thought it was. All she could do was watch on as Byleth cut down the mage without hesitation.
"That sword is…I see. What a pleasant surprise." Eve whipped around just in time to watch the mysterious Death Knight teleport away as Dimitri rode up to where she and the professor stood.
"He got away... We have no choice but to let them go for now. Professor... The way that sword is glowing. I wonder..." Dimitri didn't get to finish his thought as he was interrupted by Eve's scream.
"Felix!" She stood in horror, looking at where Felix stood with a sword plunged through his chest.
"No!" Ingrid shouted.
"Felix!" Sylvain also called out, trying his best to cut through enemies and make his way up to his friend.
Byleth was stunned, faltering in activating the divine pulse that Sothis' power allowed her. Meanwhile, Eve was sprinting forward, catching Felix before he could even fall to the ground. Without thinking, Eve pulled the sword from where it was buried in Felix's chest. But despite her efforts, Felix was unresponsive—his blood soaking through her clothing.
"Eve, no!" Dimitri called out, much to the astonishment of the other Blue Lions, with panic as she lifted her shaking hand over Felix's lifeless body.
Eve simply looked at Dimitri with tortured eyes as she activated her crest, the glow illuminating her face. The others watched on as Felix's assailant dropped to the ground without so much a scratch on his body. And as the soldier crumpled into a heap devoid of life, Felix's chest wound closed before their very eyes. He remained unconscious, but the healed wound and the sudden reanimation of his breath made it abundantly clear to everyone there that Eve had done the impossible. Somehow, beyond the comprehension of all but Dedue and Dimitri, Eve had traded the soldier's life for Felix's.
Felix began to float his way to consciousness as he became aware of a voice and a hand running through his hair. He couldn't open his eyes; his body still not as awake as his mind was becoming. But now, he could make out the voice that he heard.
"Open the door and hide away; never give in to the call of yesterday." It was Eve's voice that was singing softly as she stroked his hair.
Her fingers running through his loose locks felt calming and Felix almost wished that he could stay there forever.
"I'm in a lot of trouble, Felix." She muttered softly and Felix could feel her take his hand in hers. "Everyone is angry with me: Rhea, Seteth, Dimitri, Dedue."
She sighed softly and Felix wondered if he should fight to open his eyes or remain still as she spoke.
"But I don't regret it." Eve continued. "I was there this time; I couldn't do nothing. I don't think I could have faced Rodrigue if I let both of his sons die."
So that's why she did it. Felix found himself thinking bitterly. Of course she didn't save him because she cared about him. She did it for her stupid duty to his father. And like everything else in his life, of course it had to do with Glenn.
"It's more than that, though." She sounded troubled, and Felix could almost picture the small frown on her face. "I don't know what it is, but I'm drawn to you, Felix. You don't really care about me, and I guess I find that refreshing."
Felix could hear Eve chuckle at her own words. She withdrew her hand from his and he found the sensation of his empty hand far too cold for his liking. But soon she brought her hand back up to his hair, combing through the lengths as she absently hummed to herself.
"I feel terrible for Dimitri, you know." She sighed. Felix found himself annoyed that she would bring up the boar prince. "Right now, he's with Seteth trying to figure out their damage control plan. He got tied up in all this and has to suffer all because of my selfishness. All he's done is be gracious and try to help me, and this is how I repay him."
Shut up about the boar. Felix thought angrily.
"I promised him I'd be a good wife." Eve's fingers in Felix's hair faltered as she spoke. "But what have I done to do good on that promise?"
Shut up about him! Felix fought for consciousness.
"I don't know what to do, Felix." She sighed again, and finally Felix was able to open his eyes and force himself into full consciousness.
"Just shut up." Felix answered, reaching out to grab Eve's face and pulling to his.
This time, Felix was acutely aware of what he was doing. This kiss was intentional, deliberate. He wasn't harsh like last time, and he wasn't going to let Eve think this was just a spur-of-the-moment impulse. This time, he meant it. And even if he didn't know what exactly it was he meant, all that mattered to him was that Eve knew this was intentional.
(A/N: I'm so sorry this has taken so long to update! I've been busy this past weekend and on top of that I had some trouble figuring out how to write this chapter. I hope it's okay, though! Hopefully next chapter up much sooner.)