Sylvain didn't like being in Abyss any more than he had as a student, but the towns surrounding Garreg Mach were still abandoned and he was in desperate need of a drink. Abyss had managed to survive throughout the war and was honestly just as lively as Sylvain had remembered it to be. And even the still-terrible ale of Abyss was better than nothing.
Really, he just didn't want to be alone with his thoughts. Ever since everyone reunited at the monastery, he found himself being devoured by guilt. While it was truly nice to know that those he had not seen in five years were still among the living, it only helped to accentuate the absences of others.
He had known Eve was gone. All those years ago when Felix found the flier the Empire had distributed with news of her execution, Sylvain had mourned the loss of their friend. But they had a war to fight and no time to dwell on the lives lost. So Sylvain and Ingrid and Felix had gone on fighting against the Empire forces. And then they returned to Garreg Mach and saw the Professor and Dimitri— two people who were supposed to be dead— and he had let himself get hopeful. And it wasn't just him; he had seen the anticipation in Felix's eyes, hoping that Eve would make an appearance. But she didn't.
Eve was dead.
And it was his fault.
Sylvain had been the one to send her away. He had told her to take His Highness and return to Fhirdiad. And it must've been on their arrival to the Kingdom capital that the two of them were separated and imprisoned. It was on his directive that Eve had flown herself and Dimitri straight to their deaths. Except only one of them was dead.
Dimitri was haunted by her absence as well, Sylvain was well aware. With all those living returning to the monastery, everyone had settled into their old rooms. And every night Sylvain could hear Dimitri in the next room calling out in anguish in his sleep. He would cry for Lambert and Glenn and Dedue and Eve and his grief would come pouring out in a way he would never let happen in consciousness. It was how Sylvain knew that deep down he was still the Dimitri he had grown up with. Despite the way he acted in his waking hours, somewhere within was the kindly prince Sylvain had known all those years ago.
"I know she's gone, but seeing you down here I half expected to see her sitting beside you."
Sylvain turned around to see Yuri approaching him, a melancholy smile on his face.
"How did you find out?" Sylvain asked as Yuri came to sit beside him.
"Some spies of mine intercepted a group of Empire soldiers disguised as bandits topside." Yuri motioned vaguely. "They had a letter from Hubert instructing them to return to the monastery and look for Eve's Relic."
"Her Relic?" Sylvain frowned in confusion. "You mean the Hero's Relic Lady Rhea gave her before the war?"
"Precisely." Yuri nodded. "My conjecture is they needed the Crest Stone within. After all, isn't that what they tried to steal in the Holy Tomb?"
"But she had those with her when she and Dimitri left Garreg Mach." Sylvain's brow furrowed as he thought back to that day. He was sure she still had them when she left.
"Well, my intelligence says that somewhere between her travels from Garreg Mach to Fhirdiad to Enbarr, they went missing." Yuri shrugged. "And the letter those soldiers had explained that since Eve died without ever telling them where they were, it was imperative the Empire found them before anyone else."
"Could they still be here?" Sylvain asked.
"I doubt it." Yuri shook his head. "If you remember her leaving with them, she wouldn't have made it back to the monastery before being taken to Enbarr."
"Yuri, what do you know about what happened to her?" Sylvain looked directly into Yuri's eyes as he spoke. The leader of Abyss had always been very knowledgeable. And there was no doubt in Sylvain's mind that in the last five years of war, the lavender haired tactician had gathered much intelligence.
"What do you know already?" Yuri asked in return.
"Next to nothing." Sylvain answered. "Last any of us saw or heard of Eve was the Battle for Garreg Mach. And then again when we captured a soldier with a flier announcing her execution."
"You know about how Cornelia betrayed the prince?" Yuri prompted to which Sylvain nodded. "Well, according to what I heard it all happened the second they arrived in Fhirdiad."
Sylvain's heart sank as he thought about the implications of that. Eve had left a harrowing battle to try and escape and save her husband only to walk right into a trap.
"My sources say that Eve and Dimitri requested an audience with the King Regent and told him what happened at the monastery." Yuri continued. "After they left the audience chamber, the next thing everyone knew the King Regent was dead. Of course, you know how Cornelia pinned the blame on Dimitri and had him taken away. As for Eve, when Hubert retreated from Garreg Mach he had apparently gone to the Kingdom capital. He then took Eve and made for Enbarr with her."
"Hubert was there?" Sylvain could feel the anger building in his chest.
"I think they counted on Eve being the one to take Dimitri back to Faerghus and that's why Hubert was there laying in wait." Yuri shrugged.
"But why not just have Cornelia imprison them together and have Eve transported to the Empire then?" Sylvain frowned.
"You know how important of a hostage Eve was to them." Yuri said. "Her Crest made her the most important asset to have on either side— there was no way Edelgard would trust anyone other than Hubert to capture her."
"I just can't imagine Eve going quietly…" Sylvain trailed off in thought. "I shudder to think what they did to her while she was in the Empire."
"Well, for better or for worse she's out of her misery now." Yuri sighed.
"You believe that?" Sylvain was shocked by his own question, not realising until now his own doubts about Eve's death.
"It doesn't help us to believe anything else." Yuri shook his head.
Sylvain simply nodded in response, turning his eyes to look down at his drink. There was no evidence that Eve was alive, but there was also no evidence that Eve was truly dead. Outside of the Empire's propaganda, there were no other accounts of Eve's death. So perhaps Sylvain could believe that Eve had escaped; or maybe they announced her execution so no one would come looking for her. But on the other hand, if she had somehow managed to escape nearly three years ago she would have found her way back to them by now.
He just wished he could see her one more time to tell her he was sorry.
Byleth walked into the cathedral after having a briefing with Seteth and Gilbert. She was nervous about their chances fighting Edelgard's fully formed armies, especially with the state that Dimitri was in. And so she had come to the cathedral where she knew he would be standing to try to talk to him. However, before she could approach him she was stopped by Felix who stood near the entrance.
"Hello. I have a request concerning that…creature." Felix's lip curled up with distaste as he cast a wary eye toward the prince. "I can hardly look at the thing in the state it's in. Do something about it."
"I'll see what I can do." Byleth nodded, knowing that despite his harsh words they came from a place of concern.
"Please do." Felix nodded. "We tracked the boar for five years. I thought he was dead. In the state he's in, he might as well be. He's gotten better at killing people, and in exchange, surrendered what little humanity he had."
"You tracked him for five years?" Byleth frowned in confusion.
"There were always rumours that he was still alive." Felix elaborated. "So we followed them to see if any held validity. As much as I hate to admit it, fighting for a kingdom with no King is pretty moot."
"What about Eve?" Byleth asked gently, knowing the topic would hit a nerve. "Were there any rumours about her surviving?"
"There were no rumours about her period." Felix shook his head, his eyes darkening. "No one heard anything about her until the Empire announced her execution."
"But them Empire also said Dimitri was executed." Byleth frowned. "Is it possible they lied about Eve as well?"
"I don't know." Felix answered rapidly. "But either way she didn't come back. Eve doesn't break promises and we all promised to be here."
Byleth glanced down to see Felix's hands balled into fists at his side, shaking slightly. She could tell he was trying to keep his composure despite the grief and rage consuming his heart.
"Thank you." Byleth nodded, deciding it was best she not press the issue any longer. "I'll go see what I can do about Dimitri."
The Professor walked away from one former student in crisis to make her way towards another. Even before she was close enough to hear him, Byleth could tell Dimitri was talking to himself. And by the looks of it, he seemed to be distraught.
"You're wrong." He grumbled as Byleth came into earshot.
Byleth opened her mouth to speak, but instead decided to see what he was saying.
"It's not like that, Glenn. I swear it. Any love I once had for my stepsister…has been tossed aside." Dimitri faltered, swallowing thickly before continuing. "Only hatred remains. If I could tear that woman to shreds right this very moment, I would. I don't care if she's the Emperor. It's no different than killing anyone else. So I beg of you…all of you… Do not worry about my resolve. Please, Father… And you too, Stepmother… Do not gaze at me with that look in your eyes… I will bring you her head soon. And when I do, you may finally rest in peace. I know it; yes, I know it…"
"Snap out of it, Dimitri." Byleth interjected when it seemed he was spiralling.
"What do you want?" He growled.
"I came to check on you." Byleth said gently.
"I see." He answered curtly. "We should make haste and prepare to move out at once. I must kill her as soon as possible…"
He trailed off, his eyes glazing over as he thought about killing
"We must first prepare." Byleth shook her head.
"We have no time to leisurely set up camp. If I must, I will go by myself." Dimitri turned towards Byleth, towering over her.
"Pardon the interruption." Gilbert said as he stepped between Byleth and the prince. "We must prepare a counterattack at once. The imperial army has caught wind of our position. It would seem they were patrolling this place, after all."
"The Imperial army, is it? Well, well." Dimitri began to chuckle, a sort of manic quality taking over his tone.
"Your Highness…" Gilbert looked at the prince with concern. "I ask that you please refrain from reckless behaviour in battle."
Dimitri did not reply, but instead pushed past Gilbert and Byleth to stride out of the cathedral. And as they watched him walk away, the two of them shared a look of worry. Dimitri was not in his right mind, and though everyone could understand why it did not quell their anxieties about his ability to lead.
Could he even function as an ally like this?