Day 2 of the Lone Moon
Santaniel picked up the weights and hit more reps. 'I have to get stronger. I can protect them.'The events of last month had him on edge. Not to mention, Raphael and Balthus made him a workout junkie. He had been at the training ground the entire day and had the debrief that put his stomach to his feet, they were going to war. Just as he had guessed.
He set down the weights and got ready for more running with the shrine knight armor on. He rubbed his hands on his pants to be rid of the sweat, and he heard the doors open.
"If you're here to tell me to go to bed you can buzz off. I'm not done here until I can't do it anymore."
"Guess you could say you're dragon it on." Santaniel turned and saw Alois, who beamed proudly, and Catherine slapping her forehead. They were both on their night patrols.
"Yes. Very funny. Now go please."
Santaniel went back to his armor and fit it back on, tightening the chest piece when he heard someone else approach. "Who is it now?" Without a response, Santaniel went to his baseline and started his running, listening for someone to speak but nothing came.
'Guess I'm just getting tired.' He hit the wall with his fist and turned around, heading back to complete the rep. When he hit the other wall he heard something rustle and he was starting to get paranoid.
'I'm fine. Lysithea's fear of ghosts are probably wearing off on me.' He went without incident for a long while, getting back to his weights before he swore he heard someone breathe, just ever so slightly.
He silently summoned his scry and searched the room, finding an extra soul in the corner.
"Fire!" He shot the blazing orb into the corner and whoever was there shot out at blazing speeds. Santaniel unsheathed his Holy Twins, and took a defensive stance, listening.
"Who's there? Answer and I'll decide whether or not to flay you like a fish." He heard a steady walking from the other side of the room and he turned to Shamir. "I'm surprised you could find me."
Santaniel rolled his eyes and took back to his weights, "It's a spell called Scry. 'If you can't shield your mind as an assassin you're a worthless one'. Direct quote from Xavien." She scoffed in surprise, "And how does he know?"
"Because he's the best in the business. Has never been caught before, and that's because we supplied him with the tools needed. Now either make yourself useful and spot me or leave. If I want to win this war and protect people I need to get stronger."
He wrapped his hands in tape and looked to Shamir, "What?"
"I thought your power was in your emotions and how you drew upon them on the battlefield."
"I purge them when I need to be ready. Then, when I fight, I draw them out like a tidal wave. I've been purging them all of today." He laid down on the bench and huffed as he pushed the bar up. "That's not what I meant and you know it."
Santaniel took his turn to roll his eyes, "If I want to protect the people I love," He grunted as he pushed the weight off his chest, "I'll have to lay my life on the line. That's part of your job as a knight, is it not?"
"You can't protect someone if you're dead or so sleep deprived you can't stay on your feet." Santaniel finished his reps and sat up, his eyes cold. "Then I guess I'll just have to kill them before they have the chance to kill me, won't I?"
"You're distracted."
He replied sarcastically, "Really? What could have brought about that observation?"
"You're worried you'll fail. You can't have that in your mind if you're going to win a fight, much less a war. I can tell you never have had that feeling before now. Go get some sleep. If you want to protect your family and lover then you'll know it's best for you to be in the right state of mind. I won't take no for an answer either."
Santaniel sighed and smiled ever so slightly, just a tug on the corner of his lips. "Thanks. I've needed to talk to someone for a while but I guess I've gotten into my own head that I can't protect them like this. You'd be a good teacher."
"I already have enough of you brats to mentor."
———
Day 7 of the Lone Moon
Santaniel casted Meteor, forcing the Crest of Macuil forth, making the ball of death burn brighter and fall faster, making a mortar sized explosion as it impacted the ground.
"Ok. So. That's all my spells mastered. I've gotten my axe combat down, I just need to keep practicing with armor on and with my newest form."
"Not alone I hope." Santaniel turned around and saw Lorenz, waving at him. "Sup Lorenz." Santaniel took out his stolen Crest stones, fitting the combination of yellow and purple to his sleeves. "I apologize but I have to practice this right now, and you don't even have Thyrus. It wouldn't exactly be fair." He wanted to try a transformation, but Lorenz shook his head.
"If that were the case I wouldn't be here at the Academy. Now. Bring it on."
Santaniel pocketed the stones and took his paces, setting it up so him and Lorenz could still hit each other and he couldn't just sit back and cast a Meteor. "On your count my friend."
Santaniel stretched his arms and already had his strategy in plan. Lorenz started the battle off with a simple Fire and Santaniel ducked it, summoning a Lightning, firing it into the man like a spear. He shook it off quite well, he must admit.
Bolganone came next and Santaniel had to cut to the left in a wide arc to avoid the spell. He brought up his palms and shot a single Fire towards Lorenz' feet, shooting up a plume of smoke and Santaniel capitalized.
He started the process of discreetly summoning Meteor above him before closing in with dual Fire. He made a whip like motion as Byleth so often did with the Sword of the Creator. Lorenz was extremely focused on him and clipped him with a Fire, singing his tunic but not leaving a scratch on the jacket. "Now I have you!"
"Don't pipe up until you've won, jackass."
The ball of burning fire crashed down in the vicinity knocking Lorenz off his feet and Santaniel closed in leisurely, Fire broiling the air around him and he smirked.
"Nice fight."
—————
Day 11 of the Lone Moon
Hephaestus coughed into his arm as scanned the library, pulling a couple books on Empire battle tactics.
"So. This'll be helpful for us because Edelgard only learned from Hanneman and Manuela, and both hail from the Empire." He flipped through the pages and found that they commonly used Pegasus Knights and Armored Units, 'Gonna need as many archers and mages as possible then.'
He flipped the book closed and took a gander at the walls filled with books around him, hearing someone mumble to themselves in the art section. "Hm?"
Hephaestus took to the mentioned section and in the direction of the noise, and stumbled upon a very nervous looking Ignatz. He had his canvas and pallet of various colors on a table, reading from a book about battle tactics. "Uh. Ignatz?"
"Yes?" The response was audible enough but he was sounding more like
Arti did more than himself. "You ok?" Ignatz nodded, "Yeah. Sorry for worrying you. Just nervous I guess."
"Well. That's reasonable. We are going to war against the Empire. It'll be difficult but I have faith- You stress paint don't you."
"No, what's to make you say that?" While Hephaestus began talking Ignatz had drawn him standing there in just a matter of moments. "Kid. Let me ask you something. What do you notice about Santaniel?"
"He's confident and leads tremendously. He's a great fighter too!" Hephaestus nodded, "Yeah. You're right. Except one thing. He isn't confident in the slightest."
"What do you mean?" Hephaestus sighed and sat him down, "Don't tell Santaniel I said any of this otherwise he'll kill me, but I've been around the kid since he was born, right?"
Ignatz nodded and kept focused. "Santaniel isn't confident in himself in the slightest. He regularly falls into panic attacks during fights and hits heavy falls of depression after long fights. He has a toxic mind set of believing that his life isn't worth as much as anyone else's and I'm worried about him during this war. I'm not religious or devout but I'm praying to the Goddess wherever she rests that he comes out in the pieces he still has. He worries about everyone else more than you think and the only reason I think he's pulled through these past couple months is because of his Holy Twins and Lysithea, Arti isn't here to keep him safe this time or get him moving. So please, and I mean this, please keep as many people safe as you can, you'll be a general in this fight. I can feel it in my bones. Just keep my boy safe, alright?"
The Victor boy nodded resolutely, his eyes fierce with determination, "You can count on me." Prying eyes were witnessed though to Hephaestus' heart to heart with Ignatz.
Some people were out to make Santaniel's life a living hell, and the others were there to make his life better. As his family.
—————
Day 22 of the Lone Moon
Santaniel picked up a chair and scraped his foot underneath, trying to find the Holy Twins. "Ok. So this is bad." He had already searched the waterfall cave and the sprint track they so often used as training.
"So I left it in four possible places. The convoy, the classroom, the forge in Fhirdiad, or they're still on my back like an idiot." Santaniel reached around back there and gripped Leistrung, he scowled and huffed, "Ok. So at least I'm not an idiot. Guess I'll check the classroom first."
He stepped into it via the mirror and searched his seat, the bench clear and it wasn't on the table like he'd left it a couple months ago. "Ok, time to check the convoy."
He stretched his arms as he walked out of the double door room, the sun about 3/4ths of the way through the sky now. "Wonder how everyone else is right now. I've been kind of a shut in since last month... I'll check up on some people."
He hopped over the stairs and landed deftly on his feet, walking over to the dorms where he suspected Claude and Hilda to be hanging out at. "Hey guys. Was' good?"
They both looked at him and smiled, gleams in both of their eyes, "Uh yeah. You know what? Forget I asked." He turned to head towards the fishing pond and they both asked, both in creepy harmony, "How are you feeling today?"
"Annoyed because I can't find my mother's heirloom Holy Twins." He tapped his foot impatiently, he didn't need therapy, he needed his possessions to be brought back to him. "Well-" Claude began, and Santaniel covered his mouth.
"Guys. I have a sneaking suspicion Hephaestus told you idiots about me, so knock it off alright? I just want my axes back so I'm ready for the upcoming battle." They nodded and he resumed his speech, "So, if you guys see my axes, let me know, alright?"
They both nodded and ran off towards the training grounds, supposedly to search for his weapon and he groaned, "How many people did he tell?"
"Who told how many people what?"
Santaniel slapped his forehead and turned to Flayn, "Nothing. Have you seen the Holy Twins anywhere by the way? I've had no luck finding them and I was planning on sparring today with Alois."
Flayn shook her head and responded, "Ask the Professor. He tends to have a talent for finding lost items." Santaniel nodded but kept walking towards the convoy, unlocking it with the hidden key Byleth used to store their weapons, healing elixirs, shields, etc.
He hopped up and pulled himself to the top shelf, digging through the axes, "I doubt it's here but I might find something new to use in the meantime."
He didn't.
He locked up the convoy and scratched his head, "I'll go ask Byleth after I check the forge." He waved at Anna as he hopped through the mirror and outside the forge, walking through the doors casually.
"Hey boss. Ya seen my Axes?" His boss shook his head, a small frown on his face. "Sorry kid. Haven't. You workin on your project today?" He pointed to the bone white staff, missing all but a Crest stone and the axe of a similar color, missing the Crest stone as well. "No, they're practically done. I'll take them home though."
"Alright kid, take care."
"You too boss. Stay safe, alright?"
Santaniel reached the mirror again and sighed, holding the brittle staff in his hands and twirled it, making a large circle of fire, roasting the air around him. He set the Crest into it and made sure to affix it in place, next was the axe.
He turned it upside down and fixed it to the bottom, still able to remove it, but it'd make more sense for the people with the Crest appropriate to it use them. He mainly still needed them for experiments.
He walked through and gave Hephaestus a heart attack at the cabin, "Sorry. Here's your gift by the way." Hephaestus groaned as his heart rate slowed back to a healthy level and thanked Santaniel, "I'll put it to good use. Promise."
Next was Hapi. He hopped into the mirror and came out in Abyss' classroom, giving another scare to Yuri and Hapi who were discussing an escape plan for Abyss' inhabitants, and the Church goers. "Hey. Hapi, your new axe."
She took the bolt-axe-like weapon in her hand and it radiated a menacing aura, dark energy boiling off the Umbral steel. Santaniel smiled as they stared at it in awe, "You like it?" Hapi nodded and Yuri blankly did the same, "How did you even make a relic?"
"I've taken up an apprenticeship in forging, so I pulled a small heist on some bones and a couple crests, and here we are. I'd keep that thing hidden from Rhea and Seteth though. Things' dangerous." Hapi nodded and cut through the air with astounding speed and she smiled, "Hell. Yeah."
Santaniel saluted and dropped back through the mirror, popping back up in the classroom, "Hey Professor. See my Holy Twins around lately?" Byleth nodded and took the axes from his hip, handing them to Santaniel and he smiled, "How do you always find these things anyways?"
Byleth shrugged and Santaniel just took it as coincidence. "Hey do you think I could get permission into the Holy Tomb? I want to make more relics for the people who don't have-" Byleth shook his head, "No. Thankfully you didn't get caught by Rhea last time but you should just be happy you made two."
He nodded, "Yes sir. Hey where did you find these things anyways?" He motioned to the Holy Twins on his back, "Outside the Goddess Tower."
'What?'
—————
Day 28 of the Lone Moon
Santaniel sat in the sand and gazed out across the ocean, the studded sky ablaze with stars and the entirety of their galaxy.
He stared up at it while the lovely blue ocean went around his feet and back to it's main body, dancing harmoniously with the waves. He heard someone come out to sit next to him and he never turned, already knowing who it was.
She rested her head on his shoulder as they watched the sky, taking in as much of the beauty of life as possible before they were forced to extinguish whoever came across them on the battlefield.
"I love you Lys."
—————
Day 31 of the Lone Moon
The Center
Santaniel pulled his helmet on, his eyes dead set on keeping everyone safe. "I'll live for them. I refuse for my death to be here."
After kneeling in prayer, he took his positioning on the bottom center of the entrance hall, the courtyard already in flames, blossoms of crimson roses burning and wilting in the heat as Edelgard launched her assault.
She was wielding a silver axe, the same that took his arm and nearly his life all too long ago. Only Robert had saved him then. There'd be no such miracle worker this time.
Now it was Santaniel's turn to save his family. He felt Lysithea place her hand on his shoulder and he nodded, "I'm ready."
She had iron hard resolve in her eyes and Santaniel's wings unfurled, golden and preened. "We'll make them pay, let's get 'em." She climbed onto his back and he flashed again, much more brilliant this time, he had fully turned to his dragon side.
He stood taller on all fours, his eyes a combination of green and purple, burning into the souls of his combatants, and they were off. Santaniel shook the ground when he landed near the main front and slammed into them with his claws while Lysithea summoned powerful Dark Spikes and collapsed it on them.
It detonated and raised a magical explosion that was assisted by Santaniel's Ragnarok while Byleth took on the Death Knight to the East.
'Where's Xavien..?'
————
On the Western Wing
Hephaestus slammed a scythe through the Demonic Beast's wing and tore through its flesh, carving it as easily as a turkey. He felt Mercedes grip to his waist as he commanded Gizmo forward, "Attack!"
The Wolf bit into another beast while Hephaestus and Mercedes jumped off, confronting Hubert.
"Rat."
"Traitor."
"I can't be a traitor if I never sided with you to begin with, now can I? Nor have I ever been a Black Eagle. You have betrayed Fódlan and it's faith by attacking the Church. And as orders from the Archbishop I have full rights to execute you. No more chatter. We-"
A slew of daggers flew past him and into Mercedes, all charged with magical energy, blood leaking down her white dress. "I- Hephaestus…"
"Mercedes!"
Hephaestus felt fire licking up and down his body. Oxygen and rage fueling blood lust and the need to kill. He couldn't protect so many people… He lost Arti, Horus, Lisa, his family. Hubert was the perfect bitch to take the eternal flames.
He charged.
"Hephaestus get back here you idiot!" Yuri called to him, locked in a fight with a heavily armored soldier.
Hephaestus cut through a slew of Miasma with his scythe, his blood boiling and he could feel his Crest coming to fruition. He casted Ragnarok followed by Bolganone, slamming into a magical ward Hubert had set up.
Hephaestus cut through two soldiers who dared get into his way, "You've taken too much." He slammed into the Ward with his scythe, shattering it, casting Ragnarok again and again on Hubert, tearing into him like butcher knives until he got another ward up.
"You'll die here and now!"
"Unlikely... Lady Edelgard still stands so I shall retreat for now..."
Hephaestus took his opportunity and ran back to Mercedes, "Please tell me you're alright..." He felt for a pulse and felt a weak one, too weak… The daggers had been filled to the brim with Nosferatu's and she had barely hung on and he nearly wept.
He casted Heal and whistled Gizmo over, putting her on his back and he moved forward with Yuri and Ignatz towards Edelgard. "I'll kill her if Santaniel doesn't first. Wait… XAVIEN!"
—————
To the South
Edelgard commanded her front troops from the back lines, shouting orders and formations to her most heavily armored soldiers. "If we can win here we can crush the Church, and the Professor in one fell swoop."
Xavien crept forward cloaked in black cloth, his Viper's daggers already in hand as he crawled through foliage and readied himself to pounce. Images of his family being in trouble taunted him… He couldn't let it happen.
He launched into the small of her back and pierced the thin plating, biting flesh and assuring a slow death. He was thrown off though, but he did it! He won-
_
Xavien crept forward cloaked in black cloth, his Viper's daggers already in hand as he crawled through foliage and readied himself to pounce. Images of his family being in trouble taunted him… He couldn't let it happen.
He launched forward, at the small of her back… And he met cold silver. The flat of her blade cracking across his jaw, it was broken. 'H-how…'
He screamed as he felt cold steel bite into his back.
—————
The same moment:
Byleth rewound time as he watched Hapi be slaughtered by the death knight, her axe lodged in his throat. He wrapped his sword around the man's chest and threw him up into the air.
He mimicked Santaniel's Bladed Whirlwind art and put a flurry of slashes on the man, his body disappearing into smoke as he warped away.
—————
Santaniel was locked in a duel with Randalph, an Empire General, and he was putting up a fight. Not a good enough one though. Santaniel rolled back and kicked him hard into the air. Soon, he was blasted by Lysithea's Death, he survived to his credit.
But he teleported away with severe injuries. Felix was up ahead dealing with Ladislava, the last general remaining besides Edelgard, and he was in massive trouble.
So Annette casted Excalibur and blasted her out of the air, massacring her wyvern and she also teleported away, narrowly avoiding her life getting snuffed out.
'Almost done. Maybe Xavien did get Edelgard with-'
His mind froze, draining his emotions into the Holy Twins. His body nearly went slack as he stared at Xavien's broken and bloody body. Only small puffs of breath were escaping his lungs. 'No… Nonono not again.' His grip tightened around the shafts of his axes, his teeth mimicking the force of his grip. He felt a crack in the earth, if Arti's death caused a volcano…
This was the apocalypse.
"Why..? Why do you take everything and everyone I love?" Edelgard turned towards him, her face complacent. No emotions… "You are-" Santaniel stepped forward, "Shut the fuck up." His mind couldn't take anymore. He just couldn't do it anymore.
"You truly think of me as a monster, don't you? You vile bitch. You want a monster?!" His eyes were spotlights, the aura around his Holy Twins twisting around him like a storm. "THEN I'LL SHOW YOU A MONSTER!" His wings split from his body, and the adrenaline found its home, swimming through his veins.
He broke into a full sprint, and slammed into Edelgard, neither of their feet touching the ground. He pushed his arms out and dragged her head first across the earth. She finally came to a stop when she was thrown into a wall. She shook it off and tried to attack, but it was nothing. She was nothing.
"You aren't worth the dirt on my feet." He took her by the hair and slammed her into his metal plated knee, his metal arm making a resounding crack as he broke a cheek bone. She fell to the ground, still feeling the need to act better than him. She sat up and stared at him, a sick grin finding her lips. Something had happened to the Professor, and Rhea. He could feel it.
"Your life is a sad, futile effort Edelgard. The most you've ever done is work with the enemy. You tortured me yourself back at the island." He let a fireball conjure in his hand, holding it to Edelgard's face, daring her to move again. "Burn in hell."
"That will come another day Santaniel. You may as well be burning beside me, farewell. You may not even live until our next meeting." She warped away, the wall behind her a charred pile of cinders. He spat where she once was, tears spilling down his face.
"Santi…" Lysithea was pulling him towards the Monastery. They had lost. Horribly. He didn't want to go back. He didn't want to see Xavien bloody and broken. He didn't want to bury another of his brothers. Not yet. Not again… "Lysithea? Promise me something, please?"
The white haired mage looked up in his eyes, both welling with tears. "We'll win this war. No matter what." She nodded resolutely, no doubt showing within her.
"Tell Yuri we have to evacuate. We'll make our stand, we'll fight like hell."
--
Day 21 of the Ethereal Moon, Year 1168. Santaniel's 4th Birthday.
"Santaniel, baby, listen to momma ok?" Santaniel had grown wings, he didn't know what was going on. He hadn't seen his dad in a while… Where was he? "Listen to me. Don't let anyone near you, ok? You need to run when anyone comes by you. No matter what, ok? Wait for Hephaestus and Artimis. I love you baby boy."
His mom pulled him into a tight hug, wet tears went down his back. Mom was crying… "And remember baby boy," His mom made him look her in the eyes, his white hair blocking her eyes. They were glowing green. "Remember baby,"
"Fight like hell."
Four Hundred and Five Weeks Remain