Day 12 of the Blue Sea Moon
"How's the leg?""Healed. How's the pride?"
"That's just rude." Santaniel snickered at Felix's remark, he wasn't able to fight last month due to a broken arm. "You sure you'll be able to face Thales?"
Santaniel rolled his eyes and hopped out of his dining room chair, "Well, yeah. I have to. My responsibility 'n' all that, I've seen their inventions first hand after all."
"True. What were the labs like before they were torched and rebuilt?"
"Very magically advanced. Imagine luminous moss but it's safe and doesn't get in your lungs, then trap it in glass. It activates with magic, so everyone down there is pretty adept at it, or at least controlling it somewhat. Speaking of magic, how's Annette? Haven't seen her since we found out Dimitri had died."
"She's at the Kingdom with Gilbert. They've been trying to bond more and reconnect. Also, they're handling the merging of the Kingdom and Alliance land, Dimitri stated that he'd step down after the war was done. He said he'd explore the world and try to refind himself. Too bad that won't come to fruition for the-"
Santaniel glared at him, "What'd I say about that shit?"
"That if I did it I'd get hit?" Santaniel rolled his eyes and slapped Felix on the back of the head.
"So. We're going to the Agarthan's capitol, and we're pretty much exterminating them. You, me, and Leonie will be a strike team to the bottom left. Byleth, Hapi, and Yuri will take bottom right. Claude, Lorenz, and Raphael will have top left. Then that leaves Lysithea, Hilda, and Marianne to the top right, that's correct?"
"Seems so."
"This'll be a cluster fuck if I've ever seen one. Just keep your head on a swivel and we should be ok. If Hubert's leads are to be believed, and Byleth said they are, it seems they built it like an upside down pyramid, meaning almost no one will have horses. Remind me, tell Leonie to bring the Inexhaustible."
"Will do." Santaniel scratched his head, eyeing the center room. Felix took note and asked him, "What ya thinking?"
"This doesn't look like a stronghold. It looks like a lab."
———
Day 17 of the Blue Sea Moon
"Hey Santaniel."
"Hey. What ya need?" He was on his knees at the green house and he started plucking flowers from his patch. "Oh uh, I was wondering if the island had any carnivorous plants?"
Santaniel tilted his head and ran it through his memory bank, "Mm. A few. If you want to, you can come with me to the island. I was dropping some flowers off at my parents and brother's graves."
"O-oh I w-wouldn't want to-"
"Bernadetta. It's alright. I'm inviting you. I can lend you a map of the island that Arti used on his foraging trips to find your carnivorous plants. Hell, I used to collect the damn things when I was little."
"Thank you." She bowed to him and he jokingly copied it, "No problem. Let's go."
They walked in silence and Santaniel stepped through the mirror, helping her up and through. "Maps are in the cupboard over there, mirror's going to be open all day pretty much. I'm heading to the graveyard."
"Ok!" She seemed at least bolder on the island.
———
Lysithea poked around the corner of the green house and groaned when she couldn't find Santaniel. "Where is he? The island?"
"Oh. Hey Lysi. Have you seen Bernie?" She turned around and shook her head to Dorothea, "Sorry. I haven't seen her, have you seen Santaniel?" Dorothea put a finger under her chin and shook her head,
"Mm. I saw him early this morning at the greenhouse taking care of the flowers he's been growing lately. Oh! I know what's going on!"
"What?"
"They have an affair-"
"Dorothea. You're getting in your dramatic tendencies again. Realistically, they were forget-me-nots for his family's grave."
"Hehe. Sorry." Lysithea grinned a bit and led the way to the mirror nearby, it was on the second floor of the dorms. She hopped through and startled somebody, "Wha- Don't hurt me pleeeeeeease!"
"Uh, Bernadetta. What are you doing here?"
"Oh. I asked Santaniel to take me here to look for carnivorous plants. He said he was going to the graveyard."
"I told you Dorothea." The songstress walked through and giggled, "Sorry Lysi. I'm a dramatic person after all. Bernie, would you like to share a meal?" The purple haired woman smiled and nodded, "Mhm! Ooo do you think Santaniel can cook something for us?"
"Well if that's the case I can ask him to. He wouldn't mind, I'm sure."
"Yay!" They both cheered and she giggled, it seemed her boy was getting popular for his cooking. 'Maybe we could open a restaurant…' The idea floated around in her head as she walked towards the door, taking off the shoes and stepped onto the warm sand, the wonderful feeling spreading throughout her body.
She walked along the shoreline and let the water rinse over her feet, finding a couple shells. "Hilda would like these…" She set them in her pocket and found the little outcropping of woods that held the graveyard. 'It's sad that this place even needed one…'
She hopped up the stone slabs and found Santaniel kneeling at one of the graves with the name 'Horus Santaniel' carved into it. It was weathered down from two and a half decades of weather, but it seemed in alright condition besides that.
She guessed he was here often then.
Her footsteps echoed on the stone and he looked up, tucking something in his pocket, "Hey." Lysithea looked around and saw that all the graves had Forget-Me-Nots on them.
Her prediction was right. "Hey. Me and Dorothea were looking for you and Bernadetta. How long have you been here?" Santaniel looked at the sky and hummed to himself, "About an hour probably. Bernadetta hasn't been outside yet has she?"
"Nope. She's been in the map room the entire time I guess." Santaniel sighed, "I'll get her some of her carnivorous plants soon I guess. Anyways, I'm assuming you needed something?" She pouted, "Yes. Some time between us. It's been a week since we've just talked together."
Santaniel laughed for a second and stood to his full height, "Sure thing Lys. I'm sorry it's been a while since I've taken time out for us, thankfully Linhardt is finally done mastering the spells, so I don't have to be his test subject anymore."
"I thought I told you to not have him test on you."
"Who else would he have to do such a thing?"
"I- mmm. Good point." Santaniel offered his hand to her and she took it, "Alright. What do you want to do today?" She hummed and thought hard, "Maybe we could do some baking? I kinda promised Bernadetta and Dorothea that'd you cook for them…"
Santaniel gave her a look that she'd become accustomed to, just conveying the message of, 'Really?'
She shrugged and he looked at the ground with his lips parted into a smile, "Alright. You can help me cook the meal. Deal?"
"Deal."
———
"Lys, can you hand me the knife?"
"Which one?"
"Rounded top with a flat bottom."
"This one?"
"Yep. You have the vegetables chopped yet?"
"Uh…"
"You don't know how to chop them up, do you?"
"No…"
"Want me to teach you?"
"Yes please."
———
"Hey Jay, did you get the flour measured out?"
"Not exactly-"
"It has to be exact to the recipe, otherwise it won't come out right."
"Sorry…"
"It's alright, let me show you a new trick! Hand me that cake knife."
———
Dorothea hummed as she fixed Bernadetta's hair, her little bear whining as she did so. "Dorothea…"
"Yes Bernie?"
"Why do we have to get all dressed up if we're just going to eat with Santaniel and Lysithea?" She grumbled further as Dorothea kept running the brush through her hair. "It's a date."
"I-It's a w-what?!"
"A date Bernie. It'll be ok. Santaniel has admitted to being bisexual and Lysithea is your friend. They'll have no problem with you dating me. Your father is not an issue anymore, you don't have to worry, ok?"
"A-alright. I trust you." Dorothea squealed and hugged her tightly, "Yaaaaaay! You finally had a breakthrough! This'll be an amazing night Bernie, you just wait!"
The small violette giggled happily and got a bit closer with Dorothea.
———
Santaniel set the plates in front of everyone and wiped his hands off, "Ok. Me and Lysithea worked hard on this, so I hope you guys enjoy it!"
He sat down and poured everyone a glass of wine, he didn't particularly like it, but it was something Lysithea could have that wouldn't get her drunk two glasses in. He took a sip and cut his pork chop into medium sized pieces, popping them into his mouth one at a time.
He's always eaten methodically, funny how it was the exact opposite of how he fought. He kept eating as Bernadetta started talking, "So, um…" He finished his pork chop and looked up, his gaze soft, well… soft as he could make it. "Yes?"
"I-I uh-"
"If it's about you two dating it's kind of obvious. I'm ninety percent sure that I made the guess of you being lesbian or bisexual when I met you." The two across from him stared blankly at him, Lysithea snickering at his bluntness, "H-how-"
"I can read people like a book, Bern. You aren't exactly a difficult one after all. Only ones I haven't read are… I ruined her reveal didn't I?" Bernadetta groaned and leaned forward, pressing her face into her hands. "Sorry…"
"Don't be. If anything you might've made it easier for her to tell other people."
Santaniel nodded and chewed on the inside of his cheek, taking a brief sip of wine. They continued on in silence that was almost comfortable, but the air was still a bit thick with guilt on Santaniel's part.
Lysithea decided to break it and spoke, "How's the food?" Dorothea smiled and Bernadetta tried her best to, but it was strained, "It's great Lysi. Thank you Santaniel." The main chef offered a warm smile and deflected it to Lysithea, "Lysithea did the side dishes. Well, once I taught her how to cut the vegetables correctly."
She blushed when Santaniel nudged her, and Dorothea teased her further until they finished the meal, "You guys want dessert?"
"Yes please!" Dorothea and Santaniel witnessed their sweet, loving girlfriends split up the cupcakes amongst them and both noticed the other, laughing at it. Santaniel got them all their drinks, this time ale in mugs and they made happy conversation, fantasizing about when this war would end.
"What are your plans for after the war ends?" Santaniel tapped his fingers to his chin, "Getting cured then… Well. I don't know." Lysithea went on next, "I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought of my life after the war. I'm going to give Lorenz the Ordelia territory then I was hoping to…"
"What was that Lysi?"
"I uh, I was wanting to open a restaurant." Santaniel smiled, "I'd be happy with that." Lysithea blushed and Dorothea giggled. "What about you two?"
"Oh! I wanted to become a professor here!"
"I wouldn't mind staying at the monastery…" Santaniel smiled as the two love birds talked about their futures, his hand drifting to Lysithea. "Love you Lys."
"Love you too Santi."
———
Day 25 of the Blue Sea Moon
"Ok Balthus. What am I here for? We should be getting ready to move out and attack the Agarthans anyways."
"Relax Santaniel! You're my tag team partner for this little tournament, alright? Raphael couldn't help me out today, too many chores." Santaniel rolled his eyes and rolled his shoulders, the tight fitting shirt uncomfortable. "Alright. You know I'm not a brawler though."
"You have a metal arm and you pack a mean punch. Just trust your gut like you're in a bar scrap."
"Ok. Let's hope this doesn't go awfully." He decided against putting on a gauntlet for his left hand, opting for a bare knuckle fist.
"Uh. That looks painful."
"Yep, more so for them." They walked into the training grounds and it was mainly full of shirtless men, including Professor. "Uh. Professor? Why are you entering?"
"Seemed like fun."
"You know what? Fair enough. You do you. Who are you entering with?" He pointed at Felix and Santaniel nodded, "You'll be a tough combo. No doubt." Balthus nodded and wrapped an arm around Santaniel's shoulders, "Too bad we'll be takin the crown again!" Santaniel grinned and locked eyes with Byleth.
The challenge was on.
"Round One, begin!" An audible crunch filled the air as Santaniel connected his first punch to a Brigid man's jaw, his second one into his chest knocking his wind out, along with his lights of course.
Balthus' opponent dropped nearly as quick, both men dazed and attended to by the healers. The crowd cheered for them and Santaniel gave Balthus a fist bump and grinned, 'Maybe this'll be fun.'
"Round Two, Begin!" Santaniel ducked a punch and leaned back, blocking a headshot and delivered a crushing punch to their jaw, bones breaking under his touch.
He watched Balthus laugh as he took on a man taller than him, his gaze wandering over the crowd, 'Wonder if anyone else is here.' The referee rang the bell and the crowd cheered again, Balthus giving them a flex and Santaniel rolled his eyes. 'Dude's dramatic.'
"Round Three, Begin!" Santaniel took a body shot and grunted under the force, the man smirking, that is until he took a left hook to the cheek. Santaniel kept up the onslaught, a flurry of jabs until he dropped his guard. A devastating right hook to the ribs.
He finished it with a solid left handed uppercut. Balthus grunted as he more or less pinned his opponent, 'Guess I can use my legs and other non traditional methods then.'
After the officiator gave the count, Santaniel pulled Balthus to the side, "Hey. We can use whatever we have at our disposal, as long as it's not lethal right?"
"Well, besides your arm you just can't use magic."
"Oh. This next one will be fun."
"It really will." Santaniel turned and gave a sweaty Felix a fist bump, "Don't take it badly when you lose, alright?"
"Don't be too cocky Santaniel." Balthus gave a chuckle and clapped both Felix and Byleth on the shoulders, "We aren't going to be any kind of easy. Give us what ya got!"
"Round Four participants, please get in the ring!" The pairs gave the other their praise and prayers of luck, standing across from each other now. "Round Four… Begin!"
Felix rushed Balthus and Santaniel took Byleth, the mint haired man was brutal with his blows. Santaniel parried a right jab and delivered a kick to his hip, a left hook following, dodged with a duck, and Byleth broke the assault with a head butt.
Santaniel wiped the blood from his nose and grinned, "This'll be fun…" The Nabatean brought a flurry of kicks into his block and gave a sweeping kick next, narrowly avoiding a punch that had the Crest of Flames powering it.
'He's wide stanced… Got it.' Byleth brought a knee into his block, Santaniel catching his leg, bringing a strong kick to his back foot and knocking him to the dirt floor. Santaniel dropped on top of him, delivering a cross face through his guard and rolled him.
The referee gave the count on Byleth being pinned successfully. Santaniel hopped up and narrowly avoided a sharp punch from Felix, "Guess Balthus lost, bring it!"
They exchanged body blows, the Crest of Ernest and Fraldarius powering their heirs. Eventually Felix got impatient and brought a full body weight punch towards Santaniel's head. He ducked it and grabbed under his tricep and wrist, bringing him over and into the ground, sending dust flying up.
"Match!" Santaniel helped Felix up and smiled, "Good fight man. Gotta work on that patience still I see."
"Shut it." He still smiled and bumped him on the shoulder, "At least I beat the 'King of Grappling'."
"Hey! You got a cheap shot in on me!"
"Not my fault you fell for checking your shoelaces when you're barefoot."
"I-"
"Balthus how did you..?"
"I'm not very bright."
"No shit. Stop listening to the opponent and only listen to your gut."
"I agree with Santaniel."
"Oh, C'mon Professor!" They all shared their laughs and listened for the results of the last fight. "Sounds like we'll be fighting Catherine and... Raphael?! That traitor!"
"Sorry your second choice is performing better than you thought." Balthus huffed and sounded very betrayed, "It isn't that! It's the brawler code that you don't betray your brothers!"
"Uh Huh. Well let's go and bring the pain. Don't lose this time." They took their spot in the ring and Santaniel cracked his left hand's knuckles, "Make this a fun one. Let's rock it!"
"Round Five, Begin!" Catherine closed quickly, jabbing Santaniel quickly in the stomach, bringing a knee to his chest. He took it and grunted, 'Patience is my virtue.'
She kept jabbing at his stomach and he snuck in his own blows when he could, quick kicks or jabs. 'I'm not beating her by boxing, I have to overpower her.'
She threw another punch into his chest and he wrapped his arms around her neck, head throwing her into the ground. He rolled her like Byleth, but she rocked him off. He rolled his way to his feet before closing in on her and delivering an uppercut to her chin, a left hook sealing the deal.
He turned and felt Raphael charging him, side stepping him like a bull and he waited for the next charge. Santaniel bounced lightly on his feet, he caught a powerful kick from Raphael, and Santaniel pulled him close, a blow to his forehead putting him clean out.
"Match!" Santaniel sighed as the crowd cheered and Santaniel bowed, his performance was over and he was exhausted. "Here's your prize!"
Santaniel waved it off and pointed at Balthus, "Give it to him. I did it for fun."
———
Day 31 of the Blue Sea Moon
"Killin all the ghouls, makin 'em fools, blood gathers in pools…" He sang as he killed the enemies, their black blood soaking his shirt. "These things aren't human. Neither am I, but at least I have the capability to feel emotions."
He cut through another one and ripped their key from their neck and unlocked the next door, transforming to take on a Titanus. It swung it's Katar over his head, taking a forge level fire to its face.
He pinned it to the ground and pierced its inner mechanisms with his talons, the blue light dying in it's helmet. "How are you two holding up?"
"Good. They're good with magic but they can't block arrows or a solid sword swipe." Santaniel flashed and landed on his feet, ducking as Leonie shot an arrow into an approaching Pegasus rider. "Two more layers, then we're the lab, stay on your toes!"
———
Byleth unleashed the Sword of the Creator on his foe, wrapping their leg in his blade and he ripped it off. Hapi launched a Death into their Titanus, knocking it over and Yuri erased its head with Sagittae. "Yuri, take care of the door please."
"You got it Teach." The trickster of Abyss started on the high tech door, picking at the magical advancements and Hapi nudged up against Byleth playfully. He smiled and bumped back into her, "Remember. Keep focused.
"I know Chatterbox."
"Quiet down love birds, I'm trying to focus."
———
"Sometimes I just want to relax. But no. I have to kill a mole-person race for the good of Fódlan because Claude said so…"
She slammed Freikrugel into the wyvern rider and the blood got in her hair and she groaned. A small wave of healing washed over her and she felt rejuvenated, "Thanks Mari~"
The blue haired mage blushed and smiled, casting Blizzard on a group of heavily armored soldiers. Lysithea did a fly by and slayed an entire Titanus by herself, the metal being consumed by the void of Luna and it disappeared. "On to the next layer!"
———
"Witness my perfection!"
"Ok."
"Can you two stop flirting for ten seconds?"
"Wow. You really took after Xavien."
"Well yeah he taught me a lot. Including social cues." Raphael grabbed the Agrathan attempting to stab him and cracked his neck to an unfortunate angle and killed him nearly immediately.
"Thankfully it looks like Santaniel's group took care of the mechs already. Let's move on to the next ones!"
———
Santaniel hummed as he slammed a hammer into another warrior's face, his teeth flying from his gums. He gagged at the smell of their burning bodies and moved on, summoning Meteor on a group of the ones guarding the door, "Hey Claude! Use Failnaught and take out those conduits! They're shouting electrical magic and it hurts like hell to get hit by."
"On it!" The wyvern rider took aim and pierced the first one, it's surplus of energy causing an explosion that shook the place to its core. He steered his wyvern to avoid the rubble and shot one of the last arrows for Failnaught he could use, soundly destroying the other conduit and shook the place again. Pieces of the ceiling falling to the ground and crushing enemy troops.
'Kinda like the Basilisk cave…'
Santaniel sent a throwing axe into the chest of a Dark Knight and nodded at Yuri from across the battlefield, "I'll protect you, get on unlocking the last door to the lab."
"Yep. Already on it!" The two extra house leaders stood next to the door and Byleth joined them, ready to take on Arundel… Or Thales. The man who set this into motion, and also the one who'd he would kill to end it.
The door released the pressure and Santaniel broke through, rolling in and lodged his Holy Twins into two mages, his sights set only on Thales. "So. If it isn't our little failed experiment. You could have done great things."
"I've done better than you could have ever dreamed for me asshole." Santaniel took Sturmrufer and stared the mage down, daring him to make the first move.
Santaniel deflected the first Miasma, the second, and dodged the third. He sent a Fire towards him and it cracked his barrier, the Sword of the Creator widening it. "Let's end this."
Santaniel closed in and shot fire from his mouth, blinding the white haired mage. Byleth jumped through them unscathed and slashed Thales gut to gill, making him back up as it all spilled out.
The man cackled evilly as he knelt at the edge of some glyphs, the circle glowing purple and Santaniel looked towards the sky, javelins of destruction arching towards their city. 'Damn bastard thinks I'm not ballsy enough to challenge him head on, huh? WELL BRING IT YOU CRUSTY CUNT.'
He flashed and took off rolling through the pillars, claws dragging against the Agarthium missiles, exploding behind him. He slashed another three but they just kept coming… He wouldn't be able to save them.
Though he guessed the Immaculate One could, the white dragon soared above him and let out a beam of energy through the bright light. It caused a mass explosion at the base that caught Rhea in the middle.
He'd lie if he said he didn't feel fear from both the presence of the dragon and the state she'd be in after such an explosion.
He dove back to the floor and watched from ground zero as the sky glowed bright orange at noon.
———
"Ok… This is the final test for my cure…" Santaniel tipped the vial back and chugged the liquid, his face grimacing at the sour taste. "Gah- Urgh!" He faced the mirror and stamped his foot, the veins hadn't even retreated an inch.
However, there were always contingencies
Fifteen Weeks Remain
Progress on Cure(s): 99%