Loads of fighting this chapter! Heavy gore warning!.
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Day 26 of the Red Wolf Moon
Santaniel sidestepped the demonic serpent's tail swipe, narrowly avoiding the scalding venom drenching it's entire body. He grunted as used Bladed Whirlwind, cutting a crevice through the ground and launching the thing, winding cuts gracing it's body and sending flicks of it's hideous blue blood everywhere.
It hissed horrendously loud and summoned forth even more of the damn things, just smaller. "Xavien?! How long has the damned quest even been available?!" He caught one of the snakes and tore it in half, the muscles straining against his grip and the lightning, making it spasm and convulse until he got the strength to do so. It's entrails covering his legs. "I don't know! As far as I'm concerned it was only last week it was posted!"
Lysithea casted a Sagittae, blasting it in the eye and drawing its attention. Byleth used the opportunity and wrapped the Sword of the Creator around its tail and cut off the lower fourth of its body. It let out a guttural roar as it soaked the ground with its blood, a fountain of spilling life. It made a mad dash for Lysithea and Santaniel flashed like a blaze, wings extending and taking him off the ground, crashing into the giant monster. "Leave her alone!"
The snake sunk its fang into his frill and he felt the thing release burning venom into his right arm, 'Won't kill me because it's metal but damn does it hurt in this form!' He drove his talons through its sides and gripped it, driving his fans through its thick hide, poisonous body salve entering his mouth and making him gag, he roared as he released the magma like venom into its veins. The thing was still whipping around like crazy though... "Clear out!"
Santaniel grabbed the thing next to its wind pipe, talons piercing it, and started to fly up, his wings straining against the soreness in his shoulders and mixture of venom and poison coursing through him, "Do it... for my family." His resolve was steeled and he dove head first. "DIE!" He drove the things head into a sharp stalactite and it's skull split, navy blood flying in all directions with shrapnel bone accompanying it. Santaniel hit the ground and crumpled, a flash shining around him as he heaved and threw up, globs of clumping blood flowing throughout it. "Flayn! Use Restore. Byleth give me some anti-venom!" Byleth uncapped the bottle and put it to his mouth and Santaniel drank, Flayn using Restore and purging the rest of the unholy venom from his body.
"I'm not going to be able to move, someone's going to have to stay with me or get me out to a cart or something." Santaniel tried to move but the venom from earlier was still somewhat in affect, pretty much affixing him in place. "Pretty shoon my tonge vill stap woking..." Santaniel frowned and laid his head down against the ground, closing his eyes to take a nap. 'Ugh. Today ain't my day.'
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Lysithea sat down next to him and brushed his hair from his forehead, doubting he could feel the action. "I'll stay with him. You guys go ahead and explore. I'll watch outside."
The group of her classmates left them alone, Flayn hesitantly agreeing, 'What's up with her?'
That was the last thought coursing through her head as someone hit her in the back of the head with the hilt of a sword, her body falling on top of Santaniel's. Both of them unconscious and in a load of danger.
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Xavien hesitantly nodded, taking Hephaestus by the collar into the cave before he could yell at the poor girl about something. "Let's go see what loot we just got!" He hopped down some stone pillars and arrived at the maw of a cave, filled with thick pieces of gold and in the center was a beautiful silver chest, no lock either.
An assassin's dream!
He went for the box first, listening to Byleth, Hephaestus, and the students drop down at the entrance and Hephaestus gasp of excitement as he saw the hoard of gold. Xavien cackled happily as he pried open the box and pulled out two bone white fangs, dripping in potent venom that burned to even smell, "Ooooo this will be a very nice toy to use~" he twirled the daggers and they were very light weight, he hummed as he sheathed them and started stuffing the box with gold, "There's gotta be tons of this stuff here! Ahhhh I'm just so excited!"
"As am I sweetheart~" A thickly Almyran accent echoed around the cave, a lone figure standing up at the top of the den. "And I believe you know the deal of the contract too?" Xavien nodded and smirked, "Of course Lucile! I get to take what I can carry and you get the rest. Plus, that sweet twenty thousand gold reward obviously!" Xavien was pumped!
He deflated noticeably when a large group of blank faced soldiers approached, holding Santaniel and Lysithea like puppies by the scruff of their necks, the small silver haired mage had a badly bloodied head, dried streaks running down her face. "And you read the fine print of course. No outside help. This was a solo mission and you know that." The illusionist had his creations throw the two teens over the fall and Xavien had a mini heart attack, Hephaestus sending of Rangarok beneath Lucile's feet while Flayn used Rescue to teleport them safely to the ground and tended to Lysithea using Fortify, all the while Hephaestus screaming "Don't you dare touch my kid!" His face going red when it missed Lucile.
"Fufufu... I would never hurt your children... but you were deceived by me once already. Would you dare to trust me again? If you think of me as scum and I've already bested you, what does that make you?"
"Oh. I am so going to kick your ass."
"Attacking the contractor is also in the fine print!"
Xavien scanned the area and saw stalactites... 'If Santaniel was awake I could have him bring them down on him, but I have a Byleth and some mages... also a pissed off Hephaestus.' He chucked a small poisoned dagger at Lucile, "Everyone! Focus on the stalactites and bring down the roof!"
Byleth unsheathed the Sword of the Creator and Hephaestus let loose on the stalactites, Claude assisting with arrows and Flayn shot Nosferatu. While they did that, he made a run for Santaniel and Lysithea, "I'm comin guys!" He was narrowly scathed by Fire, singing his arms as he threw himself to the side while Lucile descended upon them, shooting as many spells at them as possible. "Hey dumbass! Ready to get your shit kicked in?" Xavien jumped at the man, daggers ready, but was intercepted by a slew of illusion soldiers. He cut through vital points and dodged their attempts to cut him down. "Don't worry sweetie. I'll be taking my riches and your life whenever I feel. Now! Dance for me!"
He fired a Nosferatu at him, Swarm coming from his mages that he made. Xavien grunted at he was getting forced into a corner, Hephaestus coming to the rescue, 'Go figure. Now I have to get him another drink.' Hephaestus casted Death and annihilated the group attacking him, his eyes burning a hole into Lucile who was now at the disadvantage. He laughed nervously and backed up, making a run for Santaniel's unmoving body, still paralyzed from earlier's exhaustion and venom. He groaned in his sleep, no doubt feeling the effects.
Lucile reached his body first and summoned a thick black orb of Mire to point at them Miasma in the opposite hand, holding it point blank to Santaniel's face, a wild fire in his eyes, "Any closer and you lose your precious child, hand over the treasure and this will all be over~" Xavien and Hephaestus gritted their teeth, "Lil fucker, you play cheap..."
He brought the orb of energy closer to his face, "What was that hun? I don't think he could hear you." Xavien's mind was in overdrive and Hephaestus looked like he would bust a fuse if the guy said anything else. "Fine! Take the treasure you good for nothing weasel!" Lucile smiled brightly as he stepped over Santaniel and searched his body, taking his silver axe and hammer, 'Wait, where's Lysithea and the Holy Twi-'
"Leave him alone!" Lysithea brought the Holy Twins in a copy of Santaniel's grip down into the mages shoulders and caught deep into their flesh, crimson life dribbling down their pristine white robe, screaming in pain. Xavien knew an opportunity when he saw one, bolting forward unsheathing his brand new daggers driving them through his eyes and through the sockets, catching into his brain, "Your fate is to fall by my hand asshole." He pushed hard and then pulled in opposite directions, further torturing the man until he split the nose of his bridge with the thin and sharp metal of the Viper's Daggers, face blistering and bubbling under the effects of the poison.
"You don't dare touch my kids asshat."
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Day 29 of the Red Wolf Moon
Santaniel sat up in the infirmary, groaning in pain as he stretched his stiff muscles, "Ugh. What happened?" He rubbed the back of his head and retraced the events in his head, 'Something obviously happened afterwards, because the Holy Twins would be nearby if there hadn't been an altercation.' He looked around as his eyes adjusted fully to the darkness, the illumination faint from the candles. He stood up and stumbled as he walked for the first time in days he supposed. He rubbed his calf and thigh, grunting as he warmed them back up.
'I ain't going to sleep anytime soon. Might as well head to the library or something.' He shakily walked towards the library, the sight of him without his jacket a rare one, his heavily scarred arms and legs on full display. He stumbled through the door of the room and found another love story, smiling as he read the first couple pages, 'At least I can indulge on this right now.' The story was about a princess and her knight, the knight going on a journey to slay a dragon and find a cure for her sickness. 'Huh, if that doesn't sound familiar.'
He heard footsteps and judging by the sound they were short at least, maybe just light on their feet. 'Well it ain't my doppelgänger.' He mused to himself. He slid the book back onto its shelf and went to the other side of the library digging into a pile of books while the person walked closer, 'Maybe it's Byleth?' He asked himself, he grabbed a couple books about Crestology, plopping them down on the table. He went towards one of the shorter sections, the shelves working in the middle and pulled a book out about meditation, and anxiety control. He flipped open the cover and read for a couple minutes, unaware of the coral colored eyes hesitantly staring at him.
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Lysithea was very nervous right now. She clasped a small two toned whetstone in her hands, she'd heard Catherine and Shamir were bickering over one, and she bought one from Anna for an expensive price. 'I'm lucky she gave me a partial discount...' she quietly walked up to him while he was reading a book and pulled on his tunic, eyes catching on his scars for a moment, "Where's your jacket?" Santaniel finally seemed to notice her and scooted a bit away, Lysithea following him. "I woke up in the infirmary not too long ago. Didn't have it on and it wasn't here so I'm assuming it's getting washed on the island. Still have my stones though." He pulled out the icy blue and crimson red jewels, holding them up to fire light.
"Anyways. Why are you up?" He flipped his book closed and looked at her expectantly. "I... was actually looking for you." Santaniel tilted his head to the side, "Why's that?" He tucked the book back on it's shelf, sliding his hands back into his pocket, the clinking of the jewels echoing in the near empty library. She took a deep breath and pulled out the whetstone, wrapped in a colored foil. "I bought it from Anna, she gave me a discount because it's a gift for you..." she blushed slightly and turned her head away a bit, "I was going to leave it in the infirmary but you weren't there so..." Santaniel nodded and unwrapped it, revealing the dark grey stone and he tossed it up a bit, getting a feel for it's weight. "Lys, these things are extremely expensive. Anna probably scammed you out of your money. I know you're a noble and all but I can't accept this, it's too valuable to just-"
Lysithea cut him off, "It's a gift. Just... please accept it." Santaniel smiled lightly and resealed it, "If that's the case wait until my birthday. It's the twenty first of the Ethereal Moon. I'll find a gift for your's, when is it?" Lysithea smiled and spoke softly, "The twenty eighth of the Pegasus Moon. And I wanted to talk to you about something else." Santaniel tilted his head and smiled, "Yes?"
"It's about what happened with Cyril..." Santaniel's heart visibly sunk when she said that. His smile faded, replaced with a neutral expression fitting for someone more like Byleth. "Just, wait a minute." She grabbed his hand as he started to move away, he clicked his tongue and waited, facing her with piercing eyes. "Cyril got a note from someone else and they misled him into thinking I actually loved him. I've been teaching him to read and write because he's illiterate. I know you saw it because of the lilies you left." Santaniel tilted his head and asked a question she didn't know was coming.
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"If you're concerned with me seeing it, does that mean you'd have feelings for me?" Santaniel had his eyes closed. He held them there. 'Too good for it to be true. Nothing goes-' Lysithea threw her arms around his waist, silently holding herself there and Santaniel blushed. "Lys..." he was happy, but he knew the reality. He knew what it meant. "Are you sure...?"
He heard the small whimpers and felt the tears soaking into his shirt, 'Just shut up and embrace her.' his mind scolded. He stroked the back of her head and kissed the top, wrapping his left arm around her shoulders.
"It's alright Lys. It'll be ok."
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Day 30 of the Red Wolf Moon
"Huh, so this is how it feels to be a bird." Santaniel said, his wings flapping easily through the winds, eyes on the horizon. He was keeping pace with the pegasi watch which had Petra, Ingrid, and Constance in their company, "Hey Santaniel?" Ingrid called, having to shout above the wind. "Yeah?" He said looking over in her direction, "Need something?"
"If getting into your whole Draconic form drains you, why are you flying with us?" Ingrid questioned. "That's a fair question. Whenever it's just my wings, it isn't nearly as tiring. It's like swimming while I fly compared to where I feel like I'm sprinting at a near unstoppable level while lugging around a burlap sack of rocks when I pull the entire get up out. It's just something I need to train the stamina of." They flew on in silence for a bit, Santaniel quietly humming until Claude and Hilda joined them on Wyverns, Claude dragging a reluctant Yuri and Hilda had Ashe. Santaniel took his signal to drop back to the caravan and dived steeply next to road, dropping into a roll to land.
After waiting for a few minutes, he saw the first horseback riders come into view and he waved at them lazily, spying a sick looking Byleth discussing with Jeralt about battle plans due to the villagers growing increasingly violent. 'I should find Hephaestus and talk to him, he might be feeling down.' Santaniel waited as they passed, waiting until the tail end to see Hephaestus riding on his demonic wolf. "Hey Hephaestus! Wait up a minute!" The mage looked down at him and nodded, sliding off his Wolf and tossed it a treat, rubbing its snout, "Hey, what's the word?"
"Nothing important to the mission but I wanted to check on you really quick. Xavien isn't the best with this kind of thing so I figured I'd ask." Hephaestus shook his head, absent mindedly stroking his beasts head, "I don't think anyone could be with this situation. It's disturbing and I have a bad feeling that somethings going to happen soon, something horrible." Santaniel nodded and patted him on the back, "We'll he fine. Just stick to your Beast-" Hephaestus cut him off, "His name is Gizmo." Santaniel sighed and rubbed his face, "Ok. Keep close to Gizmo and just be safe, alright?" Hephaestus nodded and smiled, rubbing Santaniel's head, "I will. Don't worry."
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Santaniel flew high above the battle field, scry up and running while out of view of archers, "Hey, looks like Tomas is here too." Santaniel reported, "I'll land behind them and listen in, Xavien, make your way over here alright?" Santaniel grunted as he made impact with the ground, listening to Xavien, "Handle this by yourself for right now! Getting attacked by two villagers." He grimaced and dispelled his scry.
The winged boy leaned in close to the side, dispatching an armored enemy early on with his magic. He folded in his wings, trying to hear anything that's going on, finally able to hear at least Claude yelling at him. "Tomas! What are you doing here?" Santaniel's attention wasn't on that. It was on the mortal struggle between his friends and the Death Knight.
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Hephaestus' eyes widened as he witnessed the man who put Santaniel's family through hell appear. His hair stood on end and he wanted to stick a lance through the man's heart like a vampire taking a stake. "I'm not Tomas! My name is Solon, savior of all! What's the matter," a cloud of purple surrounded the old man until he unveiled the horribly ugly looking man having impersonated the small, knowledge loving librarian, "So shocked that you can't even speak? You were so easily fooled by my disguise..." He drew the glyphs for Bolting, "I was hiding away in Garreg Mach to get the blood of that little girl called Flayn. With her blood, we'll be one step closer to realizing our goal!"
Gizmo read his master's feelings and howled, ushering a couple normal sized wolves to his side from the forest. "Now! Attack!" He casted a Meteor over Solon and summoned his Crest of Noa, the ball of blazing fire crushing into the magical barrier around the mage, drawing his attention. "This is for Horus!" Gizmo jumped over the flames, Hephaestus warding off any magic attacks, "Witness perfection!" Gizmo dove into Solon and crashed into the barrier, cracking it even more, Hephaestus jumped off and drove his lance through, piercing magic and pale skin, causing Solon to wale, dispersing into smoke as he teleported away.
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The other side of the battle field was bloody. The wrong kind of blood. Innocent blood. Blood spilled by the Death Knight, he'd be damned if he didn't maul him. Santaniel dropped into the man like a comet. "Don't you dare touch them!" Santaniel's talons dug into the man's armor, piercing through and ripping into him, the Agarthium metal trying it's best to burn him, dispel him like he was nothing more than a nuisance, "Shatter!" He ripped open the man's armor, thick red blood spilling out onto the ground, the smell of life spilling into the air. Santaniel sank his needle like fangs into him, venom coursing through.
He gargled on his own blood but disappeared. "Lys! Heal Balthus and Raphael. They're alive but barely." Santaniel roared and shot a plume of fire into the advancing units, scorching their skin from bones and turning the barren skeletons to ash. 'Just a couple more. I got this.' He rolled to the right and transformed out of his draconian form, cutting down a mage and lodging his other axe deep in the chest of an archer who was taking aim, letting loose into the boy's neck. Santaniel felt the blood trickle down his throat and he started to choke, "I... I saved them at least..." he fell to the ground, life leaving his body as he was forced to watch Lysithea get cut down by the one he had missed, the sickle passing through her side.
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Byleth saw the scene and rewound, breaking into a sprint towards Balthus who he nearly sent on a suicide mission. The teal haired man jumped over a makeshift wall and intercepted the scythe of the Death Knight as he tried to bring it down on Raphael, wrapping his sword around the blade, yanking it free and leaving him open to be decimated by Balthus' strength, leaving a gouge in the man's side. Santaniel came next and pierced him with his axes, not needing to transform in this timeline. 'Good. Saved four.'
The units afterwards were dealt their fates, not a single one remained. "The villagers who were not affected have been evacuated. Go ahead to the exit and help Hephaestus. He's not injured but he's in hysterics. Xavien was forced to kill the family that had given him shelter, he's really shaken up right now." Santaniel nodded and jogged off, leaving Byleth alone until Jeralt approached. Their newest enemy showing up shortly after Santaniel left.
Fearing they'd be attacked without hesitation.
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Day 1 of the Ethereal Moon
"Please tell me you're not making me do that stupid dance competition."
Four Hundred Twenty Two Week Remain