In the darkness they dwell.
It is every living being's natural instinct to chase the light. When we are born, flashes of light are the first thing we see. As we are brought into this world, flames from candles, rays from the sun, light from lanterns, they are the very first thing that bathes across our eyes. They are the first thing we recognize. At birth, images are blurry. Faces impossible to decipher, nor remember. But, light? It is something we recognize instinctively. Something we never forget, even when we have no prior recollection of it. Even a newborn will cry or squint their eyes as light washes over their faces. Why? Because even though their fragile, undeveloped minds don't understand what, how, or why it is, their instincts realize its brightness, and react in kind.
Light is both the first and last thing we ever lay our eyes upon. It is the most important, most crucial aspect to any living being.
That is why when it is lost, it must be reclaimed. At all costs.
A shadow pushed a dagger into the girl's hands. She did not need to feel its weight to understand its importance. It was made of Agarthium. A dagger crafted for the sole purpose of spilling blood- be it mortal or immortal.
"You know what must be done," the voice said. "Do not fail."
Kronya nodded. Her hand tightened around its hilt as her lips twisted into a sneer.
In the darkness they dwell, yearning to reclaim their light once more.
Byleth looked towards the sky, watching as the edge of dawn poked its head out over the horizon. The great, orange orb hovered on the brink, casting its light across the mountain tops and down on the plains. Byleth always enjoyed watching the sun rise. It was unfortunate that the white clouds beginning to form obstructed such a beautiful sight.
The professor shivered, suddenly feeling quite cold. He hugged his jacket a little tighter to his body.
He tore his gaze away from the scene, angling his head down towards the gravestone he stood before.
"That about sums it up, Mother," Byleth spoke to the stone. "Things went… well."
Byleth smiled as he recalled the events of the prior night. The morning air was cool, but as he remembered the warmth of Edelgard's embrace, he felt his body temperature go up.
He took one final covert look around to make sure he was truly alone. The tiny graveyard was barren, and though he couldn't see much past the stairwell that led back to the monastery, there didn't seem to be any students, faculty members, or guards listening in on his conversation. He was still in the clear for the time being.
"I'm not entirely sure where things will go from here, but I'm hopeful," Byleth said, turning back to his mother. He would much prefer speaking face to face to the woman he had wanted to see for so long, but as things were, this was the closest he could have gotten. "There's still much to be done."
Byleth paused, imagining how a mom might respond to that statement. A smile and a pat on the back? A hug? Words of encouragement or of advice? He wasn't sure, but he liked to picture a combination of the three.
With a soft sigh, he placed his hand on the stone. It was cold and unforgiving. Nothing like he imagined how her love might feel like.
"I've had 'family' on the mind a lot, lately," Byleth murmured, his hand wiping away a speck of dirt. "I wonder if things were different, if the family we would have had would be similar to the one I envision…"
When he recounted his early days as a mercenary, all he could picture was red; the red of blood. The blood on his sword, the blood on his skin, the blood he spilled… He did not regret these things, as they were what they were; it was pointless to try changing that now. The people he killed always deserved it, one way or another. If he didn't do it, someone else probably would have anyways.
But now, he pictured what could have been. What could have been had his mother not perished. Whenever these imaginations took root, Byleth liked to picture a child-version of himself running around playing pretend in front of some home; pretending to be a gallant knight instead of the ashen mercenary he became known for. Or, perhaps, Byleth running into the arms of his mother, smiling and laughing as she held him. Byleth fishing with his father in the backyard. Byleth sharing a home cooked meal around a candle-lit table. These were the things he liked to picture.
Things he never once considered before, but now that he had, he realized how strongly he longed for it. Were he ever be lucky enough to form his own family, that would be the world he created for them. Now, more than ever, he wished to experience those things one day.
Byleth silently thanked Edelgard for providing him with such pleasant imagery. Even if those images painfully tugged at his chest, he was simply thankful he could think of them to begin with.
How different he had become… Instead of preparing for the next life he had to claim or preparing for the next lecture he had to give, he was preparing for a future brighter than this one. Again, he silently thanked Edelgard. That future was still a ways off, but he was grateful all the same.
As Byleth lifted his head, he noticed the light from the sun had lessened. The white clouds had drifted in front of it entirely, blocking it from view.
"Fancy seeing you here, kid."
Byleth nearly jumped out of his boots at the sudden voice. He had been so engrossed in his own thoughts, he hadn't even heard the sounds of footsteps approach him.
Byleth turned to see Jeralt standing behind him, his hands on his hips as he watched his son.
"Good morning, Father," Byleth greeted him. "I take it you're back from assignment?"
Jeralt smiled as he nodded. He took a few steps closer to him, his gaze shifting to the grave he now stood in front of. There was a twinge to that easy smile as he examined his late wife's tombstone. There was a fleeting flash of pain in his brown eyes until they rose to meet his son's.
"That's right. I was going to visit Sitri first before I came to find you, but as luck would have it, here you are."
"Seems we had the same idea." Byleth grinned slightly. "Like father, like son."
"So they say." Jeralt's smile became a little more genuine as he clasped his boy on the shoulder.
Turning his attention back to the grave, Jeralt reached into his tunic. He pulled out a carnation, placing it gently down in front of the stone. As he rose to his full height, his hand brushed against it.
Byleth watched his father enact this silent ritual. He noted how Jeralt's eyes seemed to retreat into himself. They had grown distant and murky as he seemed to be recalling past days. His father's choice in flower was not lost on Byleth, either.
Noticing his son's curious expression, Jeralt sighed, a hand scratching his neck.
"I told you how your mother, loved flowers, right?" He asked, glancing at his son without fully turning away from her.
Byleth did, so he nodded.
"Well, whenever I returned from whatever mission the church sent me on…" Jeralt paused, his eyes lingering on the single carnation. "I would always bring a single flower back with me from wherever I was sent. It was a bit of a routine between your mother and I."
He closed his eyes.
"Unfortunately, I missed a few years."
Byleth frowned, his own gaze hovering on the flower his father had left.
"How'd it go?" Byleth asked without breaking away. "Your mission, I mean. Seteth informed me the knights were dispatched to investigate those behind Remire Village."
Jeralt hesitated. Though he could not see his father look to him, Byleth could feel the weight of the eyes that were boring holes into him.
"Nothing worth mentioning," Jeralt murmured, his eyes returning to Sitri.
Byleth stole a glance at his father, raising an eyebrow.
"Anything interesting happen while I was away?" Jeralt continued before Byleth could question him. "If I recall, that 'grand ball' or whatever was last night, right?"
"It was."
"Have fun?"
"I did." Byleth nodded, coughing into his hand. "Matter of fact, there was something I wanted to discuss with you."
"Could this have something to do with the princess?"
Byleth's brows raised, his head shooting towards his father.
"How did you…?"
"I overheard you talking to your mother." Jeralt smirked. "I felt guilty eavesdropping, but my curiosity got the better of me, I suppose."
Eavesdropping? But Byleth had been so careful… He took a sweep of the surrounding area before talking, did multiple checks during… How could his father have avoided his last one? It was only minutes ago.
Well, that's Jeralt for you, he supposed.
"It doesn't matter much in the end." Byleth shrugged. "I was going to tell you, anyway."
"Tell me what?"
"You… You're going to make me say it?"
"Of course."
Byleth grumbled a few choice words under his breath, but he felt himself begin to smile as well.
"I told her how I felt."
"And?"
"She… returned them in kind."
Jeralt closed his eyes, his smirk turning into a full-fledged smile as he listened to his final response.
"I'm happy for you, son."
Reaching out, he ruffled Byleth's hair as he used to do when he was a boy. It was somewhat uncomfortable feeling his head being thrown around thanks to the sheer strength his father possessed, but he didn't particularly mind.
"And proud."
Byleth's eyes widened. He was… proud of him? He had always hoped his father felt that way, but Jeralt didn't say that often. He might complement his technique or tell him he did a good job during a mission, sure, but very rarely did he express his pride over something Byleth had done. Just like with Sothis, his father's words meant a great deal.
Jeralt didn't move his hand away from his son's head as he continued.
"When I wasn't watching, you've really grown into a man." Jeralt's smile turned wistful as he spoke.
When he shook his head, that expression disappeared with it. Jeralt brought his arm back down to his side.
"It seems that I might have to give you that ring sooner rather than later, huh?"
Jeralt reached into his tunic, pulling out the engagement ring that he wore around his neck. He slipped it over his head, letting it rest in the palm of his calloused hand.
He jostled his arm back and forth, his eyes cloudy as he watched the chain jiggle with the movement.
"Here you go, kid," Jeralt said, offering it to him. "Use it well."
Byleth's gaze was immediately drawn to it. The silver band with the purple gemstones embedded in its surface. They reminded him of Edelgard's eyes.
How incredible it was that such a small piece of jewelry could hold such significance… As he stared at it, his mind began to consider all of the possibilities that the small ring held. The oath, the bond, the life that such a tiny thing could forge.
And yet…
"One day, I will ask for that. But for now…"
Byleth pushed his father's hand back towards him.
"Byleth?" Jeralt frowned, looking confused.
"I think it's best if you held onto it." He paused, his eyes darting to his mother's grave before returning to his father. "I don't need it yet."
Byleth didn't want to take the last memento Jeralt had of his wife. He could never fully know the love, memories, and happiness that little ring bore, but as he thought of his own newly formed relationship, he understood how much that must have meant to him. While he truly did wish to give that very ring to Edelgard one day, he couldn't bring himself to ask his father to sacrifice all of that just yet.
"…Thanks, son."
He placed the chain around his neck, slipping the ring back down his tunic. He adjusted it a few times through the cloth of his tunic, eventually letting his hand rest against his heart.
"I appreciate that." Jeralt smiled when he met Byleth's eyes.
Byleth returned it.
Before the grave of the mysterious mother and the beloved wife, the father and son shared a look that only a parent could give their child, and vice versa. A look that only they could understand. A silent moment filled to the brim with words unspoken, not because they didn't feel them, but because they did not have to be said.
When the sentiments reached their peak, both men cleared their throats awkwardly and turned away.
"I guess I better get going, then," Jeralt mumbled, rubbing the back of his head as he examined a patch of grass.
"Huh?" Byleth blinked. "So soon?"
There were still so many things he wanted to discuss with his father. He had hardly forgotten the other thing Jeralt had let slip the day they had returned from Remire Village. Byleth wanted an explanation to that just as much as he wanted to share the events in the Goddess Tower. While his time with Edelgard had lessened it to some degree, there were still so many things Byleth wanted answers to regarding his past.
"Yeah." Jeralt nodded, glancing at his boy. "There are some things I need to take care of, but after that I'll come find you. Deal?"
"Very well…" Byleth trailed off, his brow furrowing.
"Alright, kiddo."
Jeralt clasped him on the shoulder, smiling as he nodded just once at him.
"See you soon."
Byleth watched his father turn and walk away, his confused expression turning into a frown. What more could he possibly have to do? Perhaps he still needed to check in with Rhea and Seteth… As Captain, he probably did have a lot of time sensitive obligations and duties.
Still… For him to leave in such a hurry, it must have been important.
As Byleth looked up to the now cloudy sky, he wondered what it must have been.
The first thing Edelgard noticed when she answered the door wasn't the two fishing rods propped up against the wall beside it, nor the wooden bucket next to the pair of boots that stood before her. Their presence was confusing, and slightly troubling, but they were hardly the first thing she noticed.
No, it was the man himself.
"Mornin', Princess."
Edelgard gaped at Jeralt, her eyes wide as saucers and her mouth hanging loosely open. She slowly looked behind her, double checking that Byleth was in fact not there in the room with her somehow.
"Sir Jeralt?" Edelgard mumbled. Of all the people to be at her door, Byleth's father was at the bottom of her list. "Is... is there something I can help you with?"
Her eyes were once again drawn to the fishing equipment he had with him. If she recalled correctly, both Eisner's very much enjoyed the activity. She was beginning to realize why they were there…
"There is." Jeralt nodded towards the fishing poles. "You could help me catch some fish."
"M-me?" She stammered, fidgeting in place. "You want me to assist you? With fishing?"
She was honored that he would ask such a thing of her, but she hadn't fished a day in her life! Just where was this coming from all of a sudden?
"That's right." Jeralt nodded again, the corner of his mouth curving into an amused smirk. "I was hoping you would, anyway."
Edelgard took a quick moment to compose herself before replying.
"Unfortunately, I doubt I'd make for a good partner. I've never fished before."
"Really?" Jeralt raised an eyebrow. "My son never taught you?"
Edelgard shook her head. She was aware that the professor would fish often out by the docks, but he had yet to invite her along. Edelgard assumed Byleth used that time to think and be alone, so she didn't want to intrude. It was important to have time to oneself, after all.
"No matter." Jeralt waved her off. "I'll teach you. Come on."
Her astonishment returned as she watched Jeralt grab his pole and the bucket without waiting for her response. He turned to leave, only to stop and motion towards the other rod.
"Mind grabbing that for me? I've got my hands full."
Edelgard hesitated, her eyes darting back and forth between the father and the fishing pole. Eventually, she relented with a nod, timidly grabbing the pole by its shaft. Closing her bedroom door, she took off after him. It seemed that she'd be fishing today… Not exactly how she planned this day to go, but no matter. She briefly considered informing the man of her fear regarding the sea, but she elected against it. Whatever fishing spot Jeralt chose, Edelgard doubted it'd be as tumultuous as the ocean.
As she had never held a fishing rod before, she wasn't entirely sure how to do so. Did one carry it by its pole? Or by its hilt? Wait… was that the correct terminology? Could a fishing pole have a hilt? And what was she supposed to do about the hook? The way it dangled so freely on the string seemed somewhat dangerous…
She looked to Jeralt, hoping he might have an answer for her.
However, the only answer she got was the sound of his throaty chuckle.
"You act like you've never seen one of these before, Princess."
Jeralt seemed rather entertained by her struggling to keep the hook from swinging as they walked.
"Because I haven't," Edelgard admitted quietly, snatching the line out of the air before it could swing her way.
"Here."
Jeralt took the string from her, attaching the hook to the pole itself.
He then snuck a glance at her, frowning slightly as he noticed her uncertain look.
"Sorry, I guess I got a little ahead of myself," Jeralt sighed. "You don't have to come along if you-"
"No, no. I don't mind," Edelgard cut him off as she shook her head. Truthfully, she really didn't. She had always wanted to spend a little more time with Byleth's father, she just… hadn't envisioned fishing to play a part in it. But, if learning how to fish was required, she would eagerly oblige, her own hesitations be damned. "I just hope you don't mind if I'm not very skilled at this."
"I'll catch enough for the both of us, so don't worry about that." Jeralt shrugged. Confidence must run in the Eisner genes. "Mostly… I just wanted a chance to talk with you."
Edelgard paled, her head slowly turning towards Jeralt. Of course, he was already watching her out of the corner of his eye. She had an idea of where this might be going.
The emperor cleared her throat, hurriedly averting her gaze.
"Oh?" She asked, hoping to appear aloof. "About what?"
"Let's save it until we get there. I don't want to use up all of our conversation topics before our lines hit the water."
Edelgard gulped as she quickened her pace to match his. Suddenly, she was beginning to feel somewhat nervous…
The two eventually found themselves standing before a babbling river, fishing poles in hand. The waters appeared calm on this day, but Edelgard didn't know if that would correlate to how many fish they might catch.
The sun was tucked away behind a veil of dark clouds. Birds chirping off in the distance hung on the air, their morning songs ringing loud and true. Despite the implication that the storm clouds had, it really was quite the slice of nature. Edelgard had always loved the outdoors, so she found Jeralt's choice in location to be very agreeable to her. And while she never really cared for large bodies of water, she still enjoyed the scenery.
The river that they stood before was the same one that weaved through much of Garreg Mach's domain. From the dock back at the academy, it snaked its way down to the town below and onward. A single tree towered over them. Their wooden bucket used to house the fish that Jeralt would catch was pressed up against its trunk. Honestly speaking, Edelgard didn't see herself catching all that many.
Edelgard was quiet and completely still as she listened to Jeralt's instructions.
"Hold the handle in both hands."
"Okay…"
"Bring it up over your shoulder."
Edelgard mimicked Jeralt's movements, lifting her arms behind her head.
"And cast it out."
She watched as Jeralt threw his arms forward, following the line with her eyes as it flew through the air. There was a small 'plop' as it fell into the water a dozen feet away.
Jeralt turned to her.
"Now, you try."
Edelgard nodded, planting her feet on the grass as she tensed the muscles in her arms.
With as much strength as she could muster, she swung her arms forward as if she were swinging her axe rather than an instrument to catch fish. The line flew several dozen feet before it too fell into the water. Edelgard was no expert, obviously, but she thought that was pretty decent. It went much further than his had, so she must have done something right.
The princess turned to Jeralt, waiting to hear if he approved.
Jeralt was biting his bottom lip, his shoulders trembling slightly. Given the noises he heard escape from his throat, he appeared to be trying not to laugh.
"T-That was good," Jeralt cleared his throat into his fist, hiding his growing grin behind it. "But you don't need to put that much force into it. The more line you give, the more you'll have to pull in."
"My apologies," Edelgard mumbled sheepishly, a blush forming in her cheeks.
This time, Jeralt really did laugh. It was boisterous and loud. It reminded her of her own father- that is, when he used to be capable of such things. Edelgard couldn't remember the last time she had heard her father laugh.
"No need to apologize, Princess," Jeralt told her as his attention returned to his own fishing rod. "Those arms of yours sure have some muscle, huh? I doubt even Byleth could cast his line that far."
Edelgard felt herself smile at that. She wasn't happy to hear it, of course. No sense of accomplishment whatsoever.
"What do we do now?" Edelgard asked, glancing over at the man.
"We wait." Jeralt shrugged. "Once you feel a bite, let me know."
Edelgard frowned, adjusting her grip on the handle.
"How do you know when there's a fish on the line?"
"You'll know." He nodded sagely.
Edelgard hummed softly to herself, turning her sights back to the water. While his explanation left something to be desired, she was content with the knowledge that Jeralt presumably knew what he was doing. He knew much more about fishing than she did, after all, so she could accept that answer.
"So, what did you wish to discuss with me, Sir Jeralt?"
Edelgard broke the silence first, as she feared it might grow awkward if one of them didn't say something.
"Jeralt."
She titled her head to the side, her confusion returning in full force. Edelgard didn't fully understand why he just repeated his own name.
Her confusion changed to surprise as she watched him reel in his first fish.
He had already caught one?!
Jeralt pulled the creature from the water, twisting the hook from its mouth and tossing it into the nearby bucket.
"None of that 'sir' crap with me," Jeralt clarified, wiping his hand off on his pants. "You can just call me by name."
Edelgard's eyes widened at that. Someone of his stature and pedigree should surely be referred to with the proper honorific! It would be disrespectful not to.
But, hearing his request made her somewhat happy… And Jeralt wouldn't have made it if he didn't mean it, right?
"Very well… Jeralt." Edelgard nodded. She was grinning slightly.
"And, to answer your previous question, I wanted to speak with you about my son," Jeralt grunted as he cast his line once more. He turned his head to her. "Though, I reckon you already knew that."
"I… had my suspicions, yes," Edelgard replied carefully. Seeing as he had invited her to go fishing out of the blue, that was her first assumption. "I'm assuming he's already told you."
It felt very odd confirming something that the both agreed had to be kept secret, but she highly doubted Jeralt would use such information against them.
"He did."
Jeralt grinned at her.
"I've known for a bit now, actually. Byleth brought it up not too long ago."
Edelgard felt her blush resurface, though this time, for different reasons.
"Did he now?" She couldn't help but press him for a little more explanation, as she was very interested in hearing more about it.
"When he started asking me about his mother and love, I had a feeling someone had snuck their way into his heart. Can't say I was all that surprised when he told me you were who he had in mind."
"He… he did that?"
Edelgard hadn't known that… By Byleth's own admission, she knew his feelings for her had gone back a while. She just wasn't aware that he had gone to her father for help on the matter.
As the princess stared at the older man beside her, she wondered how large a role Jeralt played in getting Byleth to open up to her. He was the one that spurred him forward, intentional or not. Though, as Edelgard thought it over, she was starting to think that perhaps Jeralt's little 'slip up' wasn't an accident at all. Something about the way he carried himself made Edelgard think that Byleth's father was much more intelligent and much more insightful than he would ever admit. It wouldn't come as a surprise to her if he had intentionally-
"Princess?"
Edelgard perked her head up, her thoughts returning to reality.
Jeralt nodded towards the pole in her hand.
"You've got a bite."
"Huh?"
Edelgard looked to the rod, only now noticing the fact that it was trembling in her hand.
"O-oh!"
The emperor tightened her hold around her fishing pole, tugging back on it.
It was then that she realized she had no clue on how to get the fish out of the water. Did… Did she just pull on it? That seemed like the logical solution, but perhaps there was some fishing technique she wasn't privy to.
"Sir- I mean, Jeralt?" Edelgard's head was bouncing back and forth between him and the submerged fish in the distance. "What exactly do I do now?"
Jeralt laughed. It seemed her inexperience was still quite amusing to him…
Lodging his pole into the dirt, he walked over to her.
"You'll want to hold it to the side so you've got a better angle on it. Like this-"
Edelgard flinched when she felt Jeralt reposition her arms with a careful, yet firm touch. Memories, memories she had so long suppressed all came rushing back to her as she felt him correct her stance. Memories of how her father would do exactly the same whenever it came to instructing her. Back when he had first taught her how to wield a sword… Back when he first taught her how to dance…
"You have it now. Perfect form."
"It's only perfect because you taught me, Father."
"Hah! Don't discredit yourself; you're a natural at this."
A large, strong hand fell upon her, rubbing her head affectionately.
"As expected of my El."
"There you go, Princess. Just keep doing that, and I'll pull the line in."
The memory shattered as Jeralt stepped out from behind her and made his way towards the suspended fishing line. She swallowed to wet her bone-dry throat, fighting desperately to repress the urge to shiver. She couldn't allow herself to break down and cry here in front of Jeralt of all people.
He grabbed the line with both hands, turning to her and nodding.
"Just keep yanking on it and I'll reel it in."
Edelgard steadied herself, pushing those painful memories aside as she did just that. Lucky for her, she had much more experience in repressing painful memories than she did holding a fishing rod.
"Heh, you're a natural, kid," Jeralt remarked with a subtle smile. "Damn, is he a big one!"
Ignoring the similar wording, Edelgard kept tugging it back. It was… surprisingly heavy, she had to admit. She wasn't expecting a fish to hold such strength. For a moment, fear gripped her as she worried that the fish might pull her into the murky water, but that fear was quickly dashed as she realized how irrational the thought was in the first place. There was no way a mere fish would top her in a struggle of power.
Jeralt, however, didn't seem fazed in the slightest. He just kept pulling the line in.
"Keep going; you've almost got him!"
As the splashes grew closer, Edelgard too got a glimpse of the fish she had hooked. As he said, it was quite large… and shinier than she expected. The layer of water along with the creature's gills reflected the sun's waning light like a mirror.
"And-!"
Jeralt grunted as he pulled the fish from the water.
"Would you look at that?" Jeralt grinned, holding the fish high in the air so Edelgard could see. "Bastard's bigger than my head!"
Edelgard felt herself get swept away in the accomplishment of catching her very first fish, as she too started grinning. It was rather large, wasn't it? She wondered if Byleth had ever caught a fish of that size.
The feeling was fleeting, however. Watching the fish flail on the line, helplessly struggling to free itself from the hook lodged in its mouth… Edelgard couldn't feel much glory after seeing a sight like that.
Jeralt twisted the fish, carefully removing the hook.
"This guy would make a hell of a meal," he commented as he rotated it back and forth. "Probably fetch a decent price at the market, too."
Jeralt moved to drop the fish in the bucket, but-
"Hold a moment, Jeralt."
Edelgard stopped him.
He lifted his head, raising an eyebrow at the approaching princess.
"May I see him?" Edelgard asked, holding her hand out.
Jeralt nodded, placing it gently in her gloved palm.
She frowned as she examined the poor, dying creature. It was still flailing, but considerably weaker than it was a second ago. The fish's beady eyes were wide, its mouth opening and closing rapidly as it gasped for life.
"Princess?"
Without a second thought, she tossed it back into the water. The fish was listless for a moment, and Edelgard feared that perhaps she had waited too long, but it eventually swam off.
"Hm," Jeralt hummed, glancing at her. "Why'd you let it go?"
He didn't sound upset or annoyed by the fact, just genuinely interested to hear her reason.
"Poor creature probably wasn't even aware of what was happening before it got pulled from his home…" Edelgard trailed off, her eyes following the fish as it swam out of sight. "I didn't want it suffering needlessly."
It was probably torturous for the fish to be out of the water. It wasn't a pleasurable experience being forced from your natural habitat… lost and afraid in some unfamiliar place, wanting nothing more than to return to what you know. Dying slowly as you pleaded for it to stop, only it never did. Edelgard could understand what that felt like.
"…Huh."
Jeralt tilted his head towards the bucket near his feet, and specifically, the single fish that was still flopping around inside.
Sighing, he tipped it over with his boot.
The fish rolled down the embankment, eventually finding its way back into the water.
"Jeralt?"
"Nothing wrong with a little catch and release." Jeralt shrugged, smiling slightly as he watched the fish swim away. "Besides, I could probably use a change in diet."
Edelgard smiled, looking back out to the river. The sight of such a large body of water still made her uncomfortable, but… she supposed that despite how unclear the water, it still held life, and life was a precious thing.
Jeralt frowned, scratching his beard.
"What were we talking about again? My age must be catching up with me."
Edelgard masked her chuckle with a hand.
"Your son."
"Ah, right. Right." Jeralt nodded. He hesitated for a moment, peeking at her before looking away. "Then, if you don't mind my asking, what are your intentions with my boy?"
"'Intentions?'" Edelgard mumbled the word back at him, her brows raising.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for you two," Jeralt was quick to assure her. "But I have to admit; I'm curious. As much as I love him, I doubt Byleth would be a proper suitor for the future emperor."
"That doesn't matter to me."
"Is that so?" Jeralt smirked at the instant response. "What does?"
Edelgard paused as she considered how to answer that.
"That he's Byleth." The princess nodded, content with that answer.
"Hah!" Jeralt snorted, shaking his head. "You two sure have a way with words, you know that?"
"I apologize that I can't articulate it properly. This is all… new to me, but that is how I feel."
"You don't have to apologize to me. That was the answer I had expected."
Edelgard raised an eyebrow at that.
"Then, why…?"
"Why did I ask?" Jeralt finished for her. She nodded. "I wouldn't be doing my duties as his father if I didn't double check."
"I see."
Just like Byleth, it seemed that Jeralt had a way of coaxing honest responses out of her as well.
"Byleth is lucky to have such a caring father, then."
"I wouldn't go that far," Jeralt sighed as he closed his eyes. "…There's a lot I've hidden from him over the years."
The last bit was added on quietly, almost as an afterthought. So quiet that Edelgard had almost missed it.
Edelgard watched him closely, but she didn't push the subject. It wasn't her place to ask those questions.
So, instead, she changed the subject to get the conversation back on topic.
"Regarding my intentions, I'm afraid I cannot answer that either."
Jeralt raised his head, staring at her curiously.
"Byleth… He already knows what he wants. I don't know how, but he does. He constantly surprises me like that."
Edelgard's voice grew soft as she continued.
"You know your son better than I. I'm sure you know how he can get when he sets his mind to something."
"He can be quite stubborn."
"Yes, and I am no different." Edelgard nodded, her eyes growing distant as she pictured that future. "Truthfully, they are things that I want as well…"
"But?"
"But I have no clue how to obtain them," she confessed. "I've distanced myself from that hope for so long, that I fear I won't be able to achieve it. That I won't be able to… deliver."
So strongly did she want those things… A future where it could just be her, Byleth, and whatever family they might create. It was all happening so fast, but she couldn't deny the fact that she secretly longed for these things as well. It was easy to allow herself to get swept away in the moment. Learning that Byleth had reciprocated those desires only made it that much easier.
But, as a new day dawned, Edelgard realized she had no clue how to reach such a height as great as that. She was born to rule. Her body was manipulated and tinkered with to kill and conquer. She was forged by those memories of torture, pain, and death. Edelgard yearned for a world where such things would never be enacted on another person again. She yearned for a world disposed of Crests.
Because of that, as she considered the brightness that her future might now hold, she realized how unprepared she was for it. Just like with fishing, she had no experience in it. Family, happiness, love… These were all things she wanted, just like Byleth, but she no longer knew the steps required to grasp it. Somehow, the prospect of waging a war across Fódlan sounded like the simpler task. It was a sickening thought, but it was true.
Edelgard sighed, shaking the thoughts from her head. Even now, with Byleth giving her all she ever could want, she still found herself plagued by doubt. Would that feeling ever leave her? Or was it bound to continue rearing its head?
"Princess, can I offer you a few pieces of advice?"
"Please do."
"Don't sweat the small stuff. If you're constantly worrying where each step might fall, you won't get very far."
Edelgard blinked, caught off guard by the surprisingly insightful answer.
"And make sure to always cherish every moment you have together," Jeralt murmured, his hand brushing against his chest. He seemed to be fiddling with something beneath the cloth of his tunic. "…Take it from me, in twenty years you'd rather be asking 'what now?' instead of 'what if?'"
It wasn't Byleth's father that offered that advice, nor was it a mercenary or knight with decades of experience. It was the advice of a man who had once stood in Edelgard's shoes. The advice of a man that had been in her place and lost it all.
As she watched the widower try so very hard to hide the pained expression on his face, Edelgard felt her heart crack slightly. As guilty as the thought made her feel, she was suddenly very grateful that she wasn't in his position. Her worries regarding their new relationship seemed so trivial, now.
"I understand." Edelgard nodded slowly. "…Thank you, Jeralt."
"Anytime, kid," Jeralt sighed, his hand dropping back to his side. He turned his head to her, that pained expression seemingly gone. "You've got a good head on your shoulders; I'm sure you two can figure it out."
"Coming from you, that means a great deal."
"You kids think too highly of me," Jeralt shook his head. "All that knight crap was way in the past."
"Your tenure as captain isn't the reason why I'm thankful for your praise." Edelgard smiled at him.
"Heh, is that right?" Jeralt snorted. "You've got quite the silver tongue-"
"Captain Jeralt! Lady Edelgard!"
Both the captain and the princess turned their heads to the fast approaching Knight of Seiros.
Edelgard couldn't see the knight's expression underneath the helm he wore, but his presence at all was troubling to see. It didn't take a genius to garner an idea as to why one of Rhea's knights was running towards them in such a hurry.
Jeralt seemed to pick up on it as well.
"What is it?" He asked sharply, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword.
"The archbishop requests your presence, sir!" The knight answered with a salute. His armor clanked as he turned his head to Edelgard. "Lady Edelgard, Professor Eisner asks that you meet him at the monastery at your earliest convenience."
"Understood. I will leave at once." Edelgard frowned, her hands clenching at her sides. "Thank you, sir knight."
"You are dismissed." Jeralt nodded at the man.
The knight gave the two one more salute before he turned and left. His pace was just as quick as it was before.
"It seems I barely set foot in the monastery before Rhea calls on me again. Out of the frying pan, into the fire…" Jeralt grumbled, shaking his head. He looked to Edelgard. "Go on ahead, Princess. I'll take care of the poles."
"Very well," Edelgard said, then bowed. "Though it was cut short, I greatly appreciated the time we had, Jeralt. Thank you for inviting me."
"Think nothing of it," Jeralt dismissed her with a wave of his hand. "Now, run along. I'll be right behind you."
Edelgard nodded again. She was about to make a swift exit when-
"Hey, Edelgard."
The emperor stopped on her heels, turning to Jeralt with a raised brow. That had been the first time Byleth's father had ever called her by name. It nearly left her dumbstruck, but thankfully she had the wherewithal to not let it show.
"Yes?"
Jeralt hesitated, his eyes avoiding hers for a brief moment. When he looked back to her, he flashed her his classic, easy-going smile.
"Thanks for choosing my boy."
Edelgard blinked, caught off guard once again. She had never seen it like that… She always saw it as Byleth had chosen her.
"I think you've got it the other way around."
So, Edelgard said as such. Jeralt, however, didn't seem convinced.
"I wonder…" He mused, his smile morphing into a smirk. "Take care, Princess."
"And you as well, Jeralt."
Edelgard gave the man one final nod before she turned to leave. She could feel the mercenary's eyes watching her as she left. She felt a pang of regret having their moment be interrupted like that, but there was nothing for it. Another mission was on the horizon, and with it, came another dealing with those that slithered in the dark- or, at least that's what her gut told her. As her uncle hadn't informed her of any incoming movements during this month, she wasn't sure, but her gut told her otherwise.
As the future emperor walked beneath the storm clouds that hung over head, she quickened her pace.
Byleth was sprawled out on the grass, his arms trembling by his sides. The temperature had dropped severely. The wool blanket his father had draped over him no longer fought off the cold of the night. He could feel his teeth rattling around in his jaw. Hugging the blanket to his body didn't help matters, either. The cold bit through it all.
Beside him, he could hear his father let out a heavy sigh.
"I guess we better call it a night," Jeralt remarked, rubbing his hands together as he stared up at the night sky. "Looks like a storm is rolling in."
The boy turned his sights towards the sky. As his father said, a wave of ominous looking clouds were slowly making their way across the starry night. With each inch they moved, another dozen of those bright lights were devoured by the encroaching dark. Byleth guessed that within another hour, the entire sky would be hidden away behind the thunderclouds.
Jeralt rose to his feet, dusting the grass and dirt from his trousers.
He held his hand out to the young boy.
"Let's head back."
Byleth nodded, readily grabbing his father's strong, warm hand. He pulled himself to his feet.
"We better hurry, too," Jeralt advised. "With how quick those clouds are moving, it won't be long before it starts raining."
He was right, so Byleth nodded.
Byleth always liked the rain. It was rhythmic, in a way. A storm's song was calming to him. He could sit and listen to it for hours.
However, on this day, the sight of those scary clouds left him with a sense of dread. It was not calming in the slightest. The rumble of thunder in the distance made him uneasy. He would have preferred having a few more moments with his dad as they stargazed, but it seemed the forces of nature had other plans for them.
"C'mon, kiddo!" Jeralt's voice broke out over the rumbling thunder. Byleth only now realized that he was already walking away.
The boy took one last look at the black clouds before he took off after his father.
He ran as fast as he could.
Byleth didn't want to get left behind in the coming downpour.
Thanks for reading everyone! The Jeralt and Byleth flashbacks reach their end... Gotta admit, though, I've really enjoyed using them these past three chapters.
This was most likely not what most people expected when I said a Jeralt moment, but I really, really wanted Edelgard and Jeralt to have a little bonding moment before, uh, things happen. Partially because it paints a nice picture we don't get a chance to see, and partially because it'll play some importance later on. Speaking of, MAN is it kind of a bummer Jeralt didn't really have any fatherly bonding moments with any of the other three lords. I would love to see him give out some fatherly advice to Dimitri, Claude, Edelgard, etc.
Before I go, one thing I wanted to discuss here before next chapter dawns is how AMAZING some of Three Houses chapter titles are and how wonderfully they reference specific characters. The Cause of Sorrow, Following a Dream, To the End of a Dream, Oath of the Dagger, etc. They're really, really good. In particular, the one I wanted to touch on is The Cause of Sorrow, for obvious reasons.
That is, honestly, perhaps my favorite chapter title in the game (little reference to it with The Effect of Love). It wasn't at first, but as I've written this story, I've really appreciated the title and what it means to Byleth. I actually love how 3H handles Byleth with a subtle touch. As the game progresses, you literally get to watch him smile more and more, express emotion more and more, then this chapter hits, and bam! It's honestly kind of an awkward sounding title to give a chapter, but when you realize who it's slanted towards, it all makes sense. All these emotions and expressions we all take for granted because we feel them daily, but for Byleth who probably has never experienced something as painful as losing a family member, his ONLY family member, he gets his first lesson in what causes sorrow.
The way the writers handle Byleth- this slow trickle of emotions leaking through, starting with him smiling in Chapter 6, then his anger in Chapter 8, and then his overwhelming grief a chapter later, is really something I just love. I've tried to emulate that in the latest chapters some, as you can probably tell with the fluff overload. A slow burn into a steady flame, finishing off with a giant bang. And boy, I'm really, really excited for what comes next!
As always, thanks for all of the love and support you've given me so far!
