Day 2 of the Guardian Moon
"Byleth, get the fuck up." Santaniel busted through the teal haired man's room, with assistance via the mirror. "You aren't going to finish grieving until you do something about it. You're angry, you're upset they took your father from you right?"
Byleth looked at him blankly, trying to muster an emotion that just wasn't there. Santaniel was pouring them out, evident through the glaring black and red on his axes.
"If you want revenge, you better get your ass up. Be ready. These are the same assholes that took Arti. They took Jeralt. They'll take more until you're left with nothing. If you want to take it back, you'll be at the training grounds in the next hour. Don't keep me waiting."
The man left with his jacket scraping against the wood. The most surprising thing was that Santaniel had evidently been crying, wet streaks went down his face.
'How does he just let his emotions go so easily..?' Byleth picked himself up, looking at his reflection in the now still mirror. "Claude told me a leader has to smile and keep everyone going, but Santaniel says I need to let my emotions go... what's right?"
"Both."
The green haired goddess materialized next to him, trying to produce a motherly act of rubbing his back but ultimately failing. He still appreciated the sentiment.
"You have to make the decision. Will you get up and fight them or stay here with me to grieve forever?" The Professor sighed and looked out his window, his resolve hardening into steel, picking up his sword.
"You're right. It's time I make my choice. I'll cut towards a future with my students. They won't take another."
Santaniel hit the floor rolling, panting as he dodged another wicked slash from Byleth, drawing upon the adrenaline and dopamine stored in his axes and charged.
They were both panting heavily, the sweat coating the floor where he landed. He grunted as Byleth punched him in the stomach, taking another strike to his left arm, stinging with every movement.
'I won't lose. Never.' Byleth shot Fire point blank and Santaniel struck him with one of the handles of his axes, fires burning on him and in his eyes. "I... won't... yield..."
Byleth stared at him silently, worn down as well, but his determination was anything but dulled.
'This'll decide it. Whether I win or not.' Santaniel feinted a rush right and cut back left, striking Byleth in the side with his hilts, cracking disgustingly, he staggered taking a nasty slash to his leg as well. Using his untouched leg to sweep Byleth, and he dropped the blade toward his neck. "Yield."
Santaniel was in horrific shape, large amounts of blood that was more green than red was attempting to clot, his right arm was mauled. Byleth was covered in bruises and had several broken bones, a couple of them were ribs, the rest were bruised. "I... yield..."
Santaniel slumped over at his win, casting a Heal over Byleth and he gasped as Byleth cast Recover. "Better?" Byleth nodded silently and looked at the rising sun, a new dawn beginning in his life. As well as Santaniel's.
Day 3 of the Guardian Moon
Santaniel groaned as he pulled himself out of bed, "Why'd I decide, 'All out duel with the best combat instructor at the Officer's Academy who also wields a relic,' was the best way to snap him out of it? Granted… It still worked."
Santaniel pulled his torn tunic off and tossed it in a pile that needed sewing, walking into the bathroom, dunking his head in a basin, screaming into it. He pulled his head up and shook his head of the excess water, getting undressed for a wash and hurried through it.
Slipping into his usual slacks with a brand new white tunic. "Wait. Where's my jacket... Oh. Yeah. Kitchen." He hummed as he walked through and slid it on, hopping through his portal into the courtyard near the classroom. "Free Day... What to do... I'll grab Lys and probably do some research or just grab a bite to eat. Maybe some relaxation for once?"
"Ooooh Santaniel~"
"Or not. What am I getting dragged into now?" He turned and saw Dorothea dragging an embarrassed Ingrid, holding a concealed note. "We need some help escorting Ingrid to do some research on a noble who wishes to marry her..."
Santaniel groaned and rubbed his eyes, "Let me grab Lys and-"
"That's actually the reason why we're asking you. Lysithea took a trip home for the week to check up on her parents, so we knew you'd be free today." Santaniel frowned slightly, 'Why'd she leave without telling me? Maybe I'm just being clingy. Probably.'
"Alright. Let me head to the forge to get this repaired," he pointed to his broken and disfigured prosthetic, "And I'm ready to roll when you guys are."
Day 4 of the Guardian Moon
"You know. When I heard we were helping escort you from and to Garreg Mach, I wasn't expecting Aillel to be where we cut through on the way home."
Ingrid sighed at Santaniel's statement, "Listen. I didn't even want to marry yet, complain to my father."
"Yes. Because the boy from an unmarked island complaining to a Noble who not only, keep this in mind, hates outsiders, but is willing to marry his daughter to a rich merchant is a good idea."
Santaniel flapped his wings above the lava, feeling undeterred from his position. "I'm just cranky cause I'm tired. Take what I say with a grain of salt." Ingrid nodded and squinted at something, "Hey. Do you see what I see over there?"
"The large group of men in brown and black clothing gathering around a merchant who looks awfully suspicious and angry? Yes."
Santaniel sighed and summoned his scry, "We have an ambush waiting. Do I have permission to go in?"
"Go ahead."
Santaniel flashed and shot forward, a vocal explosion ringing out as he flew overhead. They immediately started shooting at him, and he had his go ahead from Byleth. "You aren't worthy of my time."
He shot out a fierce fire stream and melted the men to their cores, landing heavily in front of the merchant. "So you must be the blood money boy... Let's see if you're prettier on the inside than the outside."
He cut through the man with his talons and spilled his hot blood onto the hotter rocks, hissing like a feral cat. He summoned his scry again, "Done. May I go home now? I'm tired."
Day 6 of the Guardian Moon
Lysithea hummed the lullaby Santaniel so often did while organizing her room at the Ordelian estate, having it stuck in her head.
"I wonder when he'll remember the lyrics..." She set a large book on the bottom of her bookshelf, grunting as she did so, sighing when she let it go. "Honey? I'm coming in." The trill voice of her mother, Angelina, ringing through the door. "Come in."
"Honey. I'm so happy to see you!" She threw her long arms around Lysithea and nuzzled her affectionately with her fit frame, "I'm happy to see you too mom."
She rolled her eyes as her mother started gushing over seeing her after almost a year, how she's gotten so much taller, only about a couple centimeters, and then she asked the most complicated question she could have.
"Have you met any boys yet?" Lysithea laughed nervously and responded with, "Mom. Remember. I don't have time for such frivolities..." Her mother seemed visibly disappointed, but cheered up again as she heard the heavy footsteps of her father clomping down the hallway.
"There's my beautiful family!" The stocky image of her father was the same as the way he was built now, his hair the same deep violet her's had once been. "Hello father."
She reached forward and hugged the man, squeezing him tightly, "We have good news Lysithea." The white haired mage leaned back a bit and tilted her head to the side, "What is it?"
"You'll be marrying another noble!"
"What?!"
"And he's coming over tomorrow to meet you!"
"WHAT?!"
Day 7 of the Guardian Moon
Santaniel groaned as he leaned back in his chair, watching Xavien get flirty with another patron of the tavern near the bounty board. 'This is so much more boring without the drinking.'
He looked over to Hephaestus who was nearly passed out and he slumped forward on the table, grumbling about how something went down with Mercedes.
"Aren't I near Orderlia territory?" He wondered aloud, a man he wasn't even talking to nodded and yelled a hearty, "Yep!"
He thanked the poor looking man and gathered his two drunk idiots, dumping them through the mirror and back home for rest. 'Well. I have my notes so I could drop them off to Lys. She's studying Swords and we went over that today... God why am I so useless without other people?"
He sighed and grabbed the papers, 'Not like anyone else is going to do it anyways.'
He walked slowly out of the tavern and turned to the bounty board, an irritably punchable face on it.
"Steven Griffen, huh. He seems desperate for an ass whooping. I'll drop this off to Xavien in the morning."
A couple hours after the sunset
Lysithea sat uncomfortably at the table, a man who'd she never met before draping his arm around her shoulders and getting much closer than she appreciated. Her dinner growing colder as his breath grew hotter on her face.
He said his name was Steven Griffen, he was somewhat tall, around Ignatz' height, which still let him tower over her. He had dirty blonde hair and wore a stained black suit.
She laughed uncomfortably when he made a comment about her hair, touching it and commenting on how it was very smooth. 'Where's a guardian angel when you-'
A loud knock could be heard from the front of the house, Lysithea hurriedly excusing herself to meet the new guest. Steven called out after her, falling out of his chair and she had to stifle the feeling of snickering at his display of clumsiness.
She jogged lightly, the taps of her shoes against the marble floors the only sound beside the butler talking to someone.
"Marcus? What's the matter?" The voice of her mother carried over the hall as she approached, the man blocked out the butler's body from her point of view but she easily recognized the voice. "It's nice to meet you. I'm one of Lysithea's friends from the Officer's Academy. I was in the area on some business with my father and brother, so I brought the notes from today."
'He's talking about Hephaestus and Xavien. He was probably at the local tavern with Hephaestus trying to keep him from hitting on someone, while Xavien was at the bounty board. So technically he isn't lying.'
Lysithea approached the small group and introduced the two, "Mom, this is my friend Santaniel Blessing. Santaniel, this is my mother-"
"My name is Angelina Ordelia young man," she shook his hand and Santaniel turned over to Lysithea, a small glimmer of happiness in his eyes. "Hey Lys. I brought the notes from today, as you probably overheard. I know you were done with the Black Magic material so I brought the one about Swords. You should be back in time for the Faith magic."
He offered her a neat bundle of papers tied in twine. She accepted the bundle and as she was about to thank him the heavy footsteps of her father could be heard behind her. He started calling out, "Honey? Sweetheart? Who's at the door?"
It was followed by the scuffling of Steven who was desperately trying to catch up with his 'Soon-to-be-wife' as he wanted to claim.
"May I step inside ma'am?" Her mother nodded and he stepped on the mat, crossing his arms behind his back, letting the butler close the large door. 'Seems an assassin raising you part time isn't so bad for getting in good with Nobility...'
"When I'm done here make sure I get your weight lifting routine." Santaniel joked, smiling at Marcus who happily returned it. His playfulness immediately dropped away into a Luna-like void as Steven wrapped his right arm around a very uncomfortable Lysithea.
A notable flicker of red emanating from his Holy Twins as he gently grazed the handle. 'Oh no.'
"Hmm? Who's this?"
Santaniel smiled at the count pleasantly, "My name is Santaniel Blessing sir. It's nice to meet you." Santaniel offered his hand for him to shake and Mr. Ordelia accepted it, "Count Orderlia."
Santaniel nodded and turned his attention to Steven, who appeared to have a grotesque look on his face, "Sorry. I wasn't paying attention. Who are you and why are you interrupting my time with my future wife?"
Santaniel disguised his brewing anger with a feigned playful smile, crossing his arms over his chest and retorted, "I could ask you the same thing sweetheart."
The man seemed to be visibly upset, more so than when he didn't know who Lorenz was. 'At least he mellowed out...'
The man stuttered and sputtered but nothing came out until, "Why you swine. I'm Lord Griffen! I unified my city under poverty and now lead it like a king! I have more territory in Orderlia land other than the lords themselves and soon it shall all be mine!"
He beamed proudly and Santaniel just cocked his head in return, "Oh please! Like you could do better!"
Santaniel dropped his smile and started, "Just what makes me better or the laundry list?" The man sniffed the air, "Let's see all you have."
"Let's see... I technically have an entire island that I live on, was raised on, defending it from countless raids, more than likely larger than your territory to add. I've slayed over seventy demonic beasts before I even joined the Officer's Academy," That was an exageration
"I've gone toe to toe with multiple generals, beaten the former captain of the Knights of Seiros or the Blade Breaker as he was referred to, in duels multiple times. I've beaten the assistant of the Archbishop, Seteth, in an all out duel. I'm one of the three star pupils of the Professor, Byleth Eisner or the Ashen Demon." These were all truths.
He paused to take a breath, unstrapping the Holy Twins from his back, tossing them into the air, a usual nervous habit. "I've beaten the Death Knight, who's claimed several lives of the Knights Of Seiros generals, in one on one duels twice now." That was a sadder fact, even if they didn't know who it was.
"My father is one of the best ever mages hailing from the Kingdom, one of my brothers was once the best Faith mage from the Alliance, and my other brother is the best assassin on the continent."This one had more venom to it. A threat. One that didn't go unnoticed.
Santaniel looked up and saw the man's jaw slacken at his increasingly luminous eyes, Lysithea looking amused, and her parents suddenly looking very much so disinterested in marrying their daughter away to the man who claimed to be noble.
That word... Noble. Steven was in every sence of the word, the entire damn opposite.
"But have you ever done this?" The man drew Lysithea in for a kiss, meeting the cold, flat, mythril blade of Santaniel's holy weapon. Now looking into a red tinted reflection of himsel, the glow of violet and viridian eyes in his peripheral vision. "I'm not even going to dignify a dirtbag like you with a response."
Steven threw a dainty punch at Santaniel and he just took it to the chin. "Have I also mentioned I have a steel arm?"
The cunt made his discovery very quickly, his jaw cracking under the punch, a tooth flying to the floor in an oil slick like puddle. Sparks were crackling quietly from Santaniel's punch.
"Now you have a new achievement to add to your list! Embarrassed. Badly." Santaniel strapped his right Holy Twin to his back
"Now that I think about it, you do look somewhat familiar. Oh that's right! You had a hit out on you for heavily taxing the citizens here, and sitting on your half ass doing nothing about it after forcibly taking said land. Maybe I should go back and give that contract to my brother eh?"
Santaniel pulled the bounty listing from his pocket and unrolled it, an uncanny illustration of the 'noble'. Steven scooped up the tooth he lost and ran out the door.
He started scrambling out to his horse at the stables. He didn't make it far before Santaniel lodged the axe in the back of his head.
"Scumbag..." Santaniel sighed and turned to Lysithea and her parents, "Sorry. I uh, I got overprotective, didn't I?"
Lysithea just smiled happily and mouthed, 'Thank you' to him. "Sorry Count Orderlia. Ms. Orderlia. I just believe your daughter deserves better for how much time she has left." Her parent's eyes widened and Lysithea shook her head, slapping it when it registered with Santaniel.
Santaniel knew he was in too deep now, wasn't he? 'The stress is getting to my head' He sighed, "Wow I just keep messing things up and letting things spill today don't I? But yeah..."
Santaniel summoned his two Crests and gestured to his brown and silver hair, "I'm... kind of similar." If their eyes could get wider they certainly did, "Please don't feel pity for me. It drives me insane when people do. Just... Promise you'll keep this secret too?"
"Son, we promise." Santaniel smiled and Lysithea shyly edged forwards, "Well if we're dropping secrets..." She turned Santaniel's face towards her and drew him in for a kiss, Santaniel turning a brand new shade of red, never kissing in front of actually sober or aware people.
His axe glowing a light shade of pink.
Love? That was… Certainly new.
When they broke it off Santaniel turned and coughed a bit, "Uh, yeah. There's that too." Santaniel was pretty sure they were in information overload and he ruffled Lysithea's hair, "Ya sent them into shock Lys."
She rolled her eyes and leaned on him, "You're just happy to be home aren't you?" Lysithea nodded and continued, "And happy I had my guardian angel show up."
Santaniel leaned into her ear and whispered, "I wouldn't say I'm your angel, but maybe something else sweetheart. Now let's just hope they don't ask how I got here otherwise they'll have a heart attack."
That drew a small giggle from Lysithea and Mr. Orderlia was the first one to speak, much less recover from what he just saw.
"So. Santaniel. It's getting quite late, would you like to stay the night?" Santaniel shook his head and smiled, "I'd love to, but I'll have to be back at the Monastery soon, I'm going to have to take my leave now. It was a pleasure meeting you three."
He shook the hands of the Orderlians and Marcus, leaving Lysithea with a small kiss on her cheek, "See you back at the Monastery."
Santaniel walked out the door and waited for the loud clunk of the wood fitting back into place for him to summon his wings and walked to the body of Steven.
"Now Xavien has a present for later. God I feel like a damn cat now, talking about bringing home a corpse as a present." He pulled the axe from the man's skull and the thick black blood of an Argathan poured out instead of the ruby or crimson blood of a human.
"Figures." Santaniel casted Luna and sucked the corpse to the void, along with the bounty. "No one deserves this fate. It's worse than death." He whipped up a tempest and took off towards the Monastery, anticipating some time to himself for once, 'I'm relaxing tomorrow. No matter what.'
————
Day 8 of the Guardian Moon
"So. About you not meeting any boys..." her mother teased, giggling at her own statement. "Mooooom." Lysithea groaned, leaning on her elbows at the table, a fresh baked pastry sitting in front of her, taunting her to take a bite.
"Well you could've said something about him! Otherwise we wouldn't have even brought that good for nothing lord over to harass you like that!"
Lysithea knew she was somewhat right, but Santaniel was hesitant on making it official until they were in the clear with their common, 'Condition'.
"I won't bother you about it anymore, but we will be heading into town today with Marcus to pick up more kitchen supplies for the chef, alright?"
"Yes mother."
————
Santaniel groaned as he was dragged along with Xavien to a job, "I just wanted a free day to read my novels but no, I have to help you with a job. What do you even need me to do anyways?"
Xavien rolled his eyes and responded, "Listen. I need someone to fix up the poison in the dish while I flirt with the noble, I can't do both for once so I offer my humble apology."
"You couldn't have told me that before we came here? I'm ninety percent sure this is the Orderlia's main town too, one of the sub capitals. Why today?"
Xavien groaned as Santaniel questioned him further, "I was drunk last night, grabbed my contract for the week, and figured out they were leaving tomorrow, so I don't exactly have much time." Santaniel landed on the ground with a large thump, dust kicking into the air, and Xavien hopped off his back.
"And unlike me, you help people with their personal problems."
"Yeah personal. Not personnel!" Xavien threw a disguise at him and made a 'hush' symbol, "Fine." Santaniel tossed his jacket on the ground and put on the waiter's top, a navy blue and gold uniform for the restaurant, "Hand me the poison."
Xavien complied and whispered, "I'll give the signal for you to come out, anything happens, just go." Santaniel nodded but knew in the back of his mind he wouldn't, "Who are you assassinating anyways?"
"Wait. Shit."
"Xavien..?"
"Uh. We might be doing a protection service actually..."
"I swear to the Goddess and her future envoys I will stab you if I'm correct. How many people accepted this hit?"
————
Lysithea wandered through the aisles of the market, looking for any books for her studies or treats of any kind.
'Maybe I should get a gift for Ingrid since I missed her birthday, maybe I can get one for Santaniel too because he somehow managed to be in the right place at the right time to save me from that troglodyte Steven...'
————
Santaniel huffed as pulled the formerly alive assassin out of the aisle, "Why do so many people take the same job..?"
————
Lysithea turned at the sound of something hitting the floor, "Hello?" She checked around a corner and didn't see anything.
"You're just creeping yourself out Lysithea. There's nothing to do with ghosts... after all it's day time!"
————
Santaniel narrowly blocked an arrow aimed at Lysithea with his side and watched it pierce skin, causing him to hiss in pain.
A familiar noise echoed out, the sound of hostile skin tearing as Xavien slit the woman's neck, her bow clattering loudly.
————
Lysithea decided it was best to meet up with her parents after hearing the sickly familiar noise, stifling the need to scream in terror.
She quickly found her mother and stuck to her like glue the rest of the day, joking with her, listening to her gossip about other lords, and just overall having a nice day.
"Hey Mom?"
"Yes sweetheart?" She replied, picking through berries at a stall, handing the ones that were to be good for a while to Marcus who was holding an increasingly heavy bag.
"What kind of gifts do you give a knight in training for their birthday?" Her mother thought for a moment and asked, "Man or woman?"
"Woman."
"I'd say something practical then dear, maybe a new hair brush that isn't entirely 'stylish' as you'd put it, but one that will last a long time without wearing down."
"Ok, and what about one for..."
Her mother was seemingly psychic for a moment, replying with. "Get him something you'd believe he'd enjoy. He seems practical but one that seems to run around a lot, maybe a satchel? He wasn't carrying one around yesterday but he seems like the boy that would use it to its full extent."
Lysithea nodded and thanked her, "Now go and look for one, you won't find it with me and Marcus now will you?"
————
Santaniel cracked another skull, finally yanking the arrow out of his side and grunted, "Goddess bless Fódlan that hurts..." Xavien dressed his wound with a bandage.
"Don't worry. It seems we got them all. I think we can..." His words dropped off as Santaniel saw what he was talking about, a man with a great sword glowing a sickly green. "Venin Ore. Very rare weapon and it looks like it takes a lot to even lift the thing..."
"More importantly, he isn't wearing the insignia of Orderlia, he isn't a knight. He's bee lining towards Lys too, we gotta get moving." Santaniel flashed and his left side turned scaly, a feathered leg and talon replacing his arm, he flexed it and felt the sting of the injury faintly.
'Just an extension. Not an entirely separate being.'
"That's a new trick." Santaniel rolled his eyes, "Sure is." He and Xavien moved out, quietly stalking the man until he was alone, the only person around was Lysithea. "We take him down, quietly. Understood? And when we get back, you owe me big time." Xavien groaned, "Add it to the tab..."
The duo lurched out of the shadows and Xavien went for the man's throat, Santaniel taking his legs, 'How the hell can anyone be bigger than Dedue?!' He drove his feet and rolled, taking him down.
Xavien slashed the man's chest with his Viper's Daggers and ensured the man's death, thick oily blood attempting to clot just flowed out and Santaniel quickly took the great sword away, summoning Luna to suck his body away.
"Here's your spoils of war, sir Xavien, now let's get the bloody hell out of here."
Santaniel found a mirror and they jumped through as he flicked droplets of blood on the surface, heading home successfully unseen.
Well. Almost unseen. Words spread quickly.
————
Lysithea picked out a cloud grey satchel and a wooden handled hair brush, "Great! Now I'll have Raphael carve the Galatea insignia into it when I get back."
She hummed as she found her mother again, "Hey. I'm ready to go home then back to the academy tomorrow." Her mother smiled and nodded.
"Oh! Did you hear that there were some skirmishes? One of them was even reported to have talons of some sort!"
"That's strange..." Lysithea felt like she knew exactly who it was too.
————
On the island Santaniel felt a shiver down his spine, "Someone saw us."
Xavien groaned and slammed his head into the table.
————
Day 15 of the Guardian Moon
Santaniel breathed in deep as he let the weight press down, breathing out as he pushed it back up, "C'mon Santaniel! Got one more in ya!"
Balthus was his spotter today and he was certainly making him work, he let it down again and grunted as barely got it up again, racking it. 'This is supposed to be stress management for me but Goddess...'
"Balthus. That was my max weight."
"Yeah?"
"I did ten reps."
"Yeah?"
"I was supposed to do one!"
The pale man scratched his head, "Huh. Didn't know you went for that long." Santaniel moved his left arm weakly, his chest burning after the bench press, "I won't be very useful as a spot now so you'll have to find someone else while I go ice up."
He nodded, "Eh, the King of Grappling has a tournament to attend to today anyways, that'll be my work out for today."
Santaniel cocked his head and asked, "Tournament?" Balthus nodded, "Yeah. Byleth hasn't told you about them?"
Santaniel shook his head and Balthus explained to him, "It's just a inner-house thing, I know there's one that's coming up, it's specifically for duos going against each other. Only rule? No magic. Anyone can enter and I heard Catherine is going with Seteth while Alois and Shamir are joining too. Byleth said he might join with Lysithea and Claude already asked Hilda."
Santaniel peaked an eyebrow, "That's strange. You said no magic, is she fighting with a Sword?" Balthus shrugged, "No clue. All I know is, teams of two, relics are allowed." Santaniel nodded and drummed his fingers, "I know exactly who I'm asking then."
Santaniel stood up and walked over to Felix who was whittling after his workout, "Hey. You wanna do the duos tournament with me? We're the best students with sword and axe, we'll cover each other's weaknesses just fine."
Felix eyed him and told him, "Can't. Going with Annette." Santaniel frowned, "Oh right. She has Crusher doesn't she?" Felix nodded and went back to whittling, 'Guess that conversation is over.'
Santaniel left the weight room of the monastery and thought of who to ask, 'Well. Hephaestus isn't available, he and Mercedes had some fallout last week and they're working through that rough spot. Flayn is... mediocre at best with a spear. Dorothea and Ingrid are unlikely to enter, maybe Ferdinand? Nah, I can't cover his backside very well when he wields a lance and that accounts for Dimitri and Leonie too. I could ask Yuri but he's adverse to coming up top, Balthus probably asked Raphael. Maybe I could rock it solo? Nah. I wouldn't stand a chance like that, especially with relics in play. Xavien is working double time because of that blunder of a contract against Lys. Bernadetta, Marianne, and Ashe seem like they'd hate the idea of fighting in a tournament style, Dedue would only enter with Dimitri. Sylvain is a no go. Hapi and Constance I don't know very well, so I doubt we could work in tandem, Lorenz and Ignatz are at Gloucester estate right now too.'
Santaniel sighed and sat on the dock to the fishing pond, having wandered all the way over.
'I'd ask Petra but we never fight together, I need to be testy with Edelgard and Hubert, so there goes two more. Hanneman and Cyril exist, but one isn't good with much except magic and the other can't even fill out his own participation form yet. Linhardt literally refuses extra curricular, and Caspar and Arti are well...'
He lied back on the dock and sighed, closing his eyes, "Well. Looks like I'm sitting this one out."
————
Santaniel's Dream
"Great. This shit, what painful memory am I reliving this time?" He walked around in the foggy dreamscape, its appearance a striking resemblance to a void. It typically was just like the flip side of the mirror, or maybe even the day of his accident.
Well, accidents. Ranging from current events, to losing his arm, to the bitter, nauseating last memory of his mom. Her voice always echoed in his head, so did his father's and Arti's. It was certainly haunting, but it was… Not comforting, but reassuring.
Like they were looking over him. His guardian angels. "Huh, guess I'm just scott free this time." He walked around in the void, directionless, simply walking until he woke up. He saw a dim light in the distance, it wasn't a nightmare…
He decided to amuse it. He took short strides towards the cloud of light. It was growing, becoming a firelight. "This is the place we found Flayn… No, not again, I can't live through this again-"
"Santaniel." He shook his head, "No, I won't look." The wispy image of Arti, broken and bloody floated in front of him. "Arti… I'm sorry. Just be at rest, please. You don't have to stay here. Go, be at peace."
"This wasn't your fault. It wasn't. Stop beating yourself up about it, I didn't die because of you. I died for you."
"That doesn't make it better Arti, why? You could have just called for help. I could have stayed, you didn't have to fight alone." Arti stepped forward, placing his hand on his right arm. Phantom pain flared so badly, it felt real. "Arti- Please- Just leave! Go! Take to the heavens-"
"No," Arti's mask faded, morphed, turned to that of the Flame Emperor. The phantom pain multiplied, it was crippling. His scars all opened, his whole body burned.
"Why… why… WHY?!"
--
Santaniel found himself in the fishing pond, pulling himself back up onto the dock, coughing up water under the moonlight. 'Just a nightmare...'
Thankfully no one was around, but he could still feel the burning pain of his scars opening up again mentally.
He laid his head down on the ground and whispered to himself Arti's instructions of when he had a nightmare, crying all the while. 'I need a break... so, so bad...' His arm was sore but he picked himself back up.
The nightmare that just plagued him still buzzing ominously around his head, "I need a break this week. I'm taking a vacation. Or I just need therapy..."
—————
Day 18 of the Guardian Moon
Santaniel walked up to Byleth's desk and wrapped his knuckles on it to get his attention, subsequently getting Lysithea and Claude's as well.
"Hey Professor. The uh, the stress has been getting to me lately. I've had a lot going on recently..." Santaniel paused and groaned at his own words, "Wow this is getting hypocritical isn't it. I was just talking to you earlier this month how you needed to get up and do something about taking revenge and now I'm here asking for a break..."
Santaniel sighed as he leaned back, "Listen. I think everyone needs a couple days break. You especially, you've had time to grieve but you always work yourself to the bone, same as you Lys." The mage pouted and tried to make herself look bigger but just made herself look cuter.
"I think you're right." Byleth answered, Claude continuing "I've been asking to take the class to Deirdru and Edelgard requested we take a trip with her to Enbarr so we could see all three capitals this year. She wants to draw some people in towards the Empire and maybe the Black Eagles I assume."
Santaniel rolled his neck, "No matter what, I just need some time to relax. Nightmares have been hitting harder than usual and I haven't had a correct amount of sleep in the past month." Byleth nodded, "I'll get the paperwork filed out and we can go. Just so long as we're back within the next couple of weeks."
Santaniel released a breath he'd been holding, "Thank you Professor. I think everyone will appreciate this big time. Lys don't give me that look, we've been studying nonstop for the last year just between the two of us, you could use some Enbarr sweets too."
————
Day 21 of the Guardian Moon
Santaniel found a private nook on the beach and laid out in the sun, positioning his right arm away from the sun. Even though it was Winter, Deidru was still exceptionally warm and very sunny around this time of year.
Santaniel was soaking in the sun as his classmates swam. He hummed as he let his wings out and let them soak in just as much sun as he wanted. 'This is nice... just relaxing for once.'
His thoughts were soon interrupted by a group of his classmates walking over, Santaniel pulling his wings back in. He leaned up and looked over, pulling his full body into the sun, as he left his right arm in the shade so it wouldn't hurt to touch his own skin with it.
Soon Claude and Hilda were at the private nook, waving at Santaniel as Lorenz, Raphael, Ignatz, Leonie, Flayn, and Lysithea caught up. They were all in actual bathing suits.
He waved at them, "Sup?" Claude held up a bucket of water and Santaniel leaned his head to the side, "You have to remember, sheltered life on a foreign island. Not exactly familiar with everything still, much less games you guys play."
Claude snickered as he dumped the bucket full of water on Santaniel's head, Santaniel summoned his wings and whipped up a gale wind to dry off.
He sent sand into Claude and Hilda's faces. He tucked his wings away and stared at the duo, "Bright idea idiots. Soak the guy who's sunbathing, who can also whip up tempests of wind on a beach filled with sand. Any more great strategies-"
Santaniel felt another bucket of water get dumped on his head, the bucket following with the sound of water. "Did I do it correctly?" Flayn asked, Claude was cackling and Santaniel was holding in the need to maul someone. He pulled the bucket off his head, "Next person who dumps a bucket on me is getting a bucket filled from Ailel."
Hilda laughed nervously at his statement but Claude knew not to push his luck any farther otherwise he'd be swimming a couple kilometers. "Can we just relax for once? Seriously. I don't think I've actually had a free day where I just sat down and took time to myself. Why don't we just tell each other how we're doing for once besides grades and certification exams?"
Lysithea finally caught up and sat down next to Santaniel under the shade, in a one piece swimsuit that pretty much covered her entire torso and upper body so no scars would be showing.
"Guess I'll start," Claude announced, "My grandfather seems to be in good health for now, at this pace I'll take over as Sovereign Duke in the next decade."
Lorenz scoffed, "My father has been busy with Acheron, apparently his wife was assassinated. He's been getting feisty and is threatening to fork over his land to the Empire." Santaniel kept silent on the subject but nodded along.
"How's things going with you Hilda?" Raphael asked. "They're going alright but I'm really glad we got this break. I've been overworking all year." Santaniel and Lysithea stared at her flatly in response, "But my brother Holst is finally feeling better! He's been happy to have zero Almyran invasions since then. Oh! And soon I'll be meeting Duke Edmund with Marianne while we talk about our territory lines this year!"
Raphael was next, "My lil sis has been doing great! She recently got a hunk of land that she'll be opening a restaurant at!"
"My year has been pretty slow, but I've discovered a new way of drawing. It's very helpful with still life, and I believe if I took enough time to hone it, I might actually end up with something special." Ignatz was getting very passionate about art which seemed to intrigue everyone but the two silver haired experiments.
"Hey." Santaniel whispered, "Yes?" Lysithea turned towards him and Santaniel gave her a brisk kiss to turn her red before the group returned their attention to each other. "How are you Marianne?"
"U-um..."
"Sorry, I shouldn't have put you on the spot like that." Ignatz apologized to Marianne, moving on to Leonie, "I've been speaking to Jeralt's band of mercenaries before he joined back with the knights and I'm planning on joining them when all is said and done here and I graduate."
The group turned their attention towards Santaniel who explained his year, "Thankfully I haven't had any raids on the island this year. It's all calmed down a lot recently and I'm hopeful it stays this way until I can fully explore the labs, then I might be able to settle down somewhere here in Fódlan. Xavien and Hephaestus honestly needed this break too, they've been getting worked to the bone by the church."
Lysithea was the last one, "I haven't had much time outside the monastery honestly, about a week ago I went back to Ordelia territory, and my parents were planning to be married to a minor lord in our territory. Turns out he didn't 'unify' his land, he took it over by force and was heavily taxing his citizens, more so than Duke Aegier does."
Lorenz made a sound that sounded like a harrumph and continued, "Well. I'm glad he's out of the picture now. But I have to ask Lysithea, how did you find out?" Santaniel raised his hand, "Xavien was doing his rounds in Leicester territories for bounties and while he was searching I found his hit paper. Asked a couple people where the Orderlia estate was and took a trip there, found him, he tried to escape and I lodged an axe in the back of his skull."
The nonchalance in Santaniel's voice was chilly but what did you expect from him? He didn't like taking life, but if it was someone who deserved punishment? Down to the eternal flames you go. He'd join them sooner or later. "Anyways. What's the plans today, gang? Grab the Professor and let Claude show us around the market? Heard it's massive."
The house leader took his handoff in stride and flashed a smirk, "Not a bad idea. I'll get Teach and we'll move out." Santaniel nodded and hummed, "I'll get Xavien and Hephaestus too, they'll want to come along. You guys go ahead, me and Claude will catch up."
Everyone but Lysithea and Claude left, "Lys, go with Claude to get the Professor, knowing Hephaestus he's out drunk and Xavien's just at the tavern." The two nodded and they split, Santaniel leaving his footsteps in the familiar fine sand.
————
"Hey Xavien." Santaniel slid in at a seat next to him at the bar, nudging him with his elbow, "Wanna come to the market with the Deer? Heard they have some nice weapons here like Morfian Daggers and Morfian Staffs."
Xavien nodded and took a sip from his glass of water, "Sure thing." Santaniel nodded and looked around, "Hey where's Hephaestus?" Xavien took a glance around and frowned, "Hm, he was just here a couple minutes ago with Mercedes... Take a look around back. I think he said they said they were going out to eat or something next door."
Santaniel nodded and stood, "Alright, I'll grab you when I find him."
The half-breed stood and took his time around the building, hearing the sounds of Hephaestus' voice from around the corner. "Hey Hephaestus..." His voice died and his cheeks burned at the very unholy scene in front of him, taking a turn on his heel and walked back inside.
"One please. Also, found Hephaestus." Xavien grimaced knowingly, "Shoulda know. Let's uh, let's let them sort their 'frustrations' out between themselves."
Santaniel nodded in agreement.
————
Lysithea groaned as she waited on Santaniel to get back from finding Xavien and Hephaestus. she finally saw him approaching with just Xavien, a fierce red coloring his cheeks.
"Hey. Hephaestus didn't want to go."
"Alright, let's get going! We don't have much time before the food stalls close for the day!" Santaniel rolled his eyes and grabbed her hand, "Alright. Let's find Felix and Annette though. Been a while since I've heard what that idiot's been up to."
Lysithea nodded and Santaniel hummed the lullaby he told her about, "Hey. Have you remembered the lyrics to that song yet?"
Santaniel shook his head, "Only a couple of words, something about a river and broken memories... It's very poetic."
'I've never heard anything like that before...' She dug into her memory but couldn't find anything about it either. "It sounds beautiful." Santaniel nodded, "I'll remember it one day."
Lysithea practically clung to Santaniel as a large dog ran out in front of them, spooking the poor girl, "And you'll get over your fear of ghosts one day too."
Santaniel ruffled her hair as she pouted, "Don't give me that look." The two prowled the streets, unable to find the Fraldarius or Dominic heirs, "Where the hell would they even be?"
Santaniel sighed, "Let's just go and grab some sweets. I think Claude said that they make loads of chocolates here, might be worth checking out."
————
"Well let's hurry then!" Santaniel rolled his eyes and let her lead him down the street, pushing past people. "Oh! There it is!" She rushed towards the vendor with Santaniel following behind, gazing at the sign for anything he particularly found interesting, Lysithea spoke to the man.
"Hi! We'd like to buy some chocolates..!" Santaniel's attention turned towards a faint noise that was coming from the other side of the plaza, 'Is that shouting?'
"Santaniel?" He turned his attention back to Lysithea, "Sorry, I thought I heard something, yes?" She held out a sample of a chocolate, having already popped one into her mouth, "Oh, thank you."
He took a bite and tasted the orange cream, the faint noise of shouting growing louder, "Get five of those, five strawberry ones, some mocha, and blueberry. I'm going to go see what's going on, give me a moment."
She nodded and turned back to the man, requesting the listed flavors.
Santaniel jogged off, unable to shake the feeling of something wrong, when he turned the corner, he finally found Felix.
He was shouting at a man who had Annette by the wrist. 'Oh that ain't flying with me.' He gathered his confidence and yelled, "Oi! Idiots! What the hell is going on?" Felix turned to him and started to explain, "Annette tripped over a barrel-
'Figures.'
Santaniel observed the man and found him well built, with some deep scars across his face one nearly going all the way across, he also was deeply tanned, likely Almyran. Brutish and very boisterous, underestimate their opponents, applies to a good portion of their soldiers and this guy looked like one.
"And spilled some damn paint on this guys shit, now he won't let her go." Santaniel rolled his eyes, gaining a purple and green glow to them, "Let her go. You don't want trouble."
"Oh yeah? You and what weapon?"
"I don't need anything special mate." Santaniel unsheathed a dagger from his sleeve, lodging it in the guy's gut from a simple throw, magic gleaming off it. The effects of Nosferatu took hold.
He grunted and let go of Annette, long enough for her to run to Felix. "Now. I'm going to say this kindly, and only once." Santaniel strolled up, lazily flipping another dagger, grabbing his chin, "You don't fuck with my friends."
A bolt of lightning shot him back and into a wall, making him groan in pain. "Keep the dagger handsome. Felix, Annette, would you like to join me and Lys with just walking around the shops?"
Santaniel came back to Lysithea and hugged her from behind, "Hey." Lysithea was evidently blushing and she grumbled a greeting, "Yeah, yeah. I'm affectionate, trust me, I know." He hopped over the bench and sat next to her, "Have the chocolates?"
"Yep. They taste really good." She handed a mocha one to him and he popped it in his mouth. "You have something in your hair." He grazed his fingers through her hair and pulled out the wilting leaf, letting it fall to the ground softly.
She gritted her teeth and thanked him, he was visibly confused, 'Did I do something wrong?' He heard Felix and Annette drifting their way over and he leaned his head back, "Hey."
Annette ran to Lysithea, pleading with her for chocolates, and she ended up with a blueberry and orange cream one. She handed the latter option to Felix. He thought it was cute how they did it. Opposites attracting.
"What's the further plan gang?" Santaniel leaned his head on Lysithea's shoulder after asking, displaying affection unknowingly. "I would like to train some..."
The three people around him gave him glares like none other and he rolled his eyes. "We could explore the Reigan estate." Santaniel nodded, "It'd be nice, though we'll be going back later tonight to see it. Then we'll head to Enbarr the day after tomorrow."
"Could always just relax for once..."
Lysithea suggested, Santaniel smirking at her suggestion, "I agree. All four of us are always working. Let's just retire early and enjoy company."
Santaniel yawned as he pulled the verdant yellow robe over his shoulders, a tunic and shorts underneath. "I'm going to sleep after I finish you..." Santaniel pulled the Crest stones of Gloucester and Charon out of his new satchel from Lysithea, a pair of marble orbs on the desk.
He transformed his hand into a talon and carefully cut their designs in, filling them with the purple and gold colors of the Orderlia home, "Petra gave me the leather and feathers, so I'll just need the branches next."
Santaniel clicked his tongue as he finished the center pieces, "Feels like it would still miss something though..."
Day 24 of the Guardian Moon
Santaniel lazed on the bed of his borrowed room, leisurely glancing over books of crests, finding something about a poison that targets and attacks the blood that carries it.
"That's interesting..." He made a note in his journal, marking it down for further exploration. "I'll take that on sooner than later. Still need my Crest for right now unfortunately, not being able to fly would be weird but then again I've only recently started using the ability."
He hummed as he set down his studies and took a step outside, the fresh air of Enbarr filling his lungs, the sweet scent of pastries and the sound of singing filling it
"I like this place... It's beautiful. I wish I could fly around... Eell, maybe I can." He summoned his talons and wings, leaping onto the roof and he sat down, taking in the city, the marine aqueducts lining the streets and feeding the lovely flowers and trees, almost like the entire city was a painting.
Santaniel took a large flap of his wings and took to the sky, hovering above it, "Wow." The only word that could come out while observing the giant capital.
He summoned his scry spell and poked around in people's consciousnesses, not finding any familiar ones. "Hmm. Maybe I'll just rest for the entirety of today. No one's gonna mess with me anyways."
Day 28 of the Guardian Moon
"Get prepared boys, we're moving into the Sealed Forest soon. Sightings of the Agarthans have been reported there." Xavien whooped.
"Finally! Haven't had a good fight in a while!" Hephaestus nodded and grinned, "I'm ready to get back out there. Let's sever these chumps' heads from their necks."
Day 30 of the Guardian Moon
"I forbid you from going."
"I know they are the ones who took Jeralt from you..., I know how you must despise them but I ask you to rein in your personal feelings just for now."
"You can't stop me."
"Please Professor, do not act carelessly. I ask that you leave this to us. Losing you so soon after losing Jeralt would be unbearable."
Santaniel grit his teeth, hiding behind the pillar, anger foaming at his lips, Holy Twins feasting on his adrenaline and trying to contain his rage.
'No more running.' He walked around the corner, dispelling the aura from the Holy Twins as he did so, as to not give away his emotions, slipping on a fake stoic look. "I-if..."
'Deep breaths.' Arti told him.
"If I might interject-"
"No." Rhea shut down his attempt at providing the Professor and Claude some support, quickly glazing over his existence seemingly.
'Speak clear.' Hephaestus echoed.
"Lady Rhea. If I might inter-"
"No."
'Do what you know to be right!' Xavien exclaimed.
"I SAID, IF I MAY SPEAK." He faced her, this time, emotions on full display and eyes growing luminous. Who cares if she's the goddess-be-damned Archbishop.
"It's a risky move but it provides us an opportunity to take down presumably two of their most powerful soldiers and leaders. We have more than enough firepower to take them down and we haven't failed a mission yet. This won't be the first. Not if I lay my word on Arti's grave."
The words echoed through the hall, silence ensuing his blatant disregard for Rhea's status, almost as if a bomb went off in everyone's ears and left them deaf. Everyone stood, waiting for someone else to tell them it was ok to speak.
"Very well." The relief over Santaniel's body was cold, shocking him out of the paralyzing fear that ensued his lashing out at the most recognized and feared leaders in Fódlan.
'Those aren't my thoughts. That's what everyone else thinks. She's just another person who dismissed me and called me a nuisance.' He stood firm when Seteth tried to object to such a move but was overruled by Rhea, giving them the go ahead to attack.
Claude was congratulating him but his attention was on the slit pupils of Rhea.
The eyes of an apex predator.
————
Xavien ended a mage as Santaniel engaged a Beast, Hephaestus riding Gizmo into battle against the one opposite Santaniel, clashing his lance with the bony exoskeleton of the thing.
"Damn things, move!" He casted Ragnarok and disintegrated the inconvenience. Hephaestus moved in against the rest of the units, Byleth in the front to take on Kronya, formerly known as Monica. The woman who took Jeralt. The woman he knew would die.
She took a slash at him, narrowly missing but got clipped by Hephaestus' Miasma, her face growing slightly green at the nausea. "You're nothing but a pest!"
She got cracked in the side by Byleth's whip blade, drawing her blood towards the ground that demanded the thick rain of life.
"And you're as good as dead!"
Xavien launched from behind, catching flesh with his Viper's Dagger's, ensuring death if she didn't treat it soon, she took off across the large stone platform, Byleth ensuing.
"Wait a minute... this area... it has magical properties. These are obelisks." His eyes widened and he pulled Gizmo toward Xavien, "We gotta go! Byleth get out of there!"
It was too late.
The spell of Zahras was summoned. The spell he helped study. The spell he deciphered from the elder times was now in use. They lost.
Well…
The bright flash could be seen from a mile away, a miniature supernova, Santaniel was fueled on adrenaline and blood lust now. He launched through the air hard and crushed through Solon's barrier, shattering like screeching nails against a black board that led to him clawing at empty air as he passed through the warp.
"Claude. Get everyone gathered and take defensive positioning. I-"
In the few minutes that passed a large sun like heat ensued the area, knocking Santaniel down as he was the closest, "The hell..." Hephaestus muttered.
"So the Fell Star consumes even the deepest of darkness..."
Byleth stepped through the cut in space time, green hair matching Rhea's now glowing brightly around his head. The same shade that Lisa had...
There were too many questions that needed to be answered and now wasn't the time. "Let's get moving! Attack!"
Hephaestus demanded the troops move forward. Reinforcements started teleporting in, mowed down by the combat art of Sublime Heaven and Santaniel's Bladed Whirlwind, assisted by Hilda's Apocalyptic Flame and Balthus' Eviscerate.
They didn't stand a chance.
Nor did Solon against the perfectionist that is Hephaestus.
"If it isn't the prodigy... You have stolen goods from us. I'll be taking him back."
"For Horus! For Lisa! And for Arti! You'll never get a hand on him! Never again you nasty ass bitch!" Gizmo launched at the man, taking a chunk of his arm off with his fangs and Hephaestus focused his magical energy into the lance, melting steel, shattering Solon's skull and letting ghostly flesh and the contrasting blood flow against the stone, ending the fight.
"Well done Teach... if that really is you." Claude teased, although Byleth didn't seem in the mood, passing out in the middle of his sentence. "Claude. Get Byleth over here, we can take him on Giz."
—————
Santaniel flew up to the third floor, curious as to what was going on with Rhea and her sudden extreme fascination with Byleth.
Except he already knew. It was the hair. He had gained a very light shade of green on it, the texture seemingly matching hers as well. 'Just what the hell is...'
"In time's flow... see the glow of flames ever burning bright..."
'No...'
"On the swift, river's drift... broken memories, alight."
'That's... That's the lullaby but that means-'
"Hello my dearest Professor..." Santaniel didn't stick around to hear the rest, it was already difficult enough to fly with tears clouding his eyes.
Four Hundred and Fourteen Weeks Remain