A small disclaimer: I've fixed Byleth's age. Originally, I made the goof of making him twenty-two. I knew his canon age was twenty to twenty-one, so in my brilliant mind when he had his birthday chapter I thought "oh, well he's twenty-two now." Haha, whoops.
So, do not be alarmed when you see me refer to him as being twenty-one!
Enjoy!
"What is it you wanted to talk about, El?"
Their meal with Ionius concluded, the two had retired to their own, separate rooms for the evening. As the plan was to start their return back to the academy the next day, they both needed their sleep. Tomorrow would be an early morning, followed by a long day.
That had been the plan, but it seemed Edelgard had a different idea. She had pulled Byleth aside, asking to speak to him in the privacy of the guest room that had been offered to him.
And, given the look in her eyes, Byleth already knew full well what the topic of this coming conversation would be.
The door to Byleth's bedroom was closed and locked, the windows bolted shut, and the curtains drawn.
When Edelgard finally turned to meet his eyes, there was a sad, pained smile adorning her lips.
"You already know the answer to that, do you not, Byleth?"
Her voice was soft. Somber, even.
Of course, he knew what she wanted to discuss with him.
The coming war… Edelgard's vision, that in turn, had become Byleth's vision. It was a topic she had attempted to broach the night before, but Byleth had cut her off. In hindsight, perhaps it would have been wiser to let her finish, but he had valued that quiet, moment alone together immensely, so it was hard to feel regret.
There wasn't much time left. Byleth was vastly aware of that now. This synchronization with Sothis, partnered with this 'holy ceremony' put on by Rhea and her church likely spurred it all forward.
Byleth lowered his head, his green eyes searching the tile floor beneath him.
"The time has come, has it not?"
"It has."
Again, El's voice was low and remorseful, but Byleth quickly noted the lack of hesitation. Hearing that lack of a pause, a stutter, or any sign of doubt, had a calming effect.
It was a sticky situation, this war. When Edelgard informed him of her plans, Byleth did not hesitate to jump on board. Her words, thoughts, feelings, they struck a chord within him. Many of her ideals and aspirations to create a brighter, more equal world, were things that Byleth had felt internally for quite a while. Ever since that business with Miklan, that nagging voice in the back of his mind had grown to loud shouting.
Of course, he had many prior glimpses and assumptions about Edelgard's mindset when it came to the Church, the Crest system, and Fódlan, so seeing it all unfurled before him was of no surprise.
But, to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that his growing vision had so strongly mirrored Edelgard's long held one, was of great relief. There were others out there, others whom he respected greatly, that had the same questions and doubts regarding their world.
And knowing now, after all that happened and everything that had changed, she still held that same unwavering determination, was an even greater one.
"Very well."
The room he was accommodated with came with a desk, and a bed, so he promptly pulled out the desk chair and motioned for her to sit, while he hunkered down on the nearby bed.
Edelgard nodded her thanks, sitting down on placing her clasped hands together in her lap.
"So…" Byleth trailed off, suddenly finding himself without the words to move the conversation onward. It was a difficult thing to converse lightly over being the aggravators in a coming conflict. "With this 'ceremony' Rhea has planned, am I safe in assuming a declaration is not far off?"
At that, her brows raised slightly. It appeared he was right on the mark.
"Yes, but how did you know?"
"A few leaps in logic." Byleth shrugged. "Rhea's mind is elsewhere, and in turn, so is the Church's. If we were to strike, this would be it."
"If our cards are played right, the tides for this war could immediately shift in our favor," Edelgard agreed.
However, after that, her gaze jumped to the hands in her lap for a split second before meeting his once again.
"Though, nothing is set in stone yet. If you had another suggestion, I would happily listen. There is perhaps a better option than-"
"No." Byleth shook his head. "Your original instincts were correct; this is our best chance. The situation can change at the drop of a hat. There's no telling if a better opportunity would come along. I couldn't pick a better time than now."
Edelgard exhaled, relaxing slightly against the back of her chair. The prospect of this conversation seemed to weigh rather heavily on her… Unnecessary, Byleth thought. There was nothing she could do, say, or come up with that would make him stray from this chosen path.
"I am… relieved to hear you say that," Edelgard spoke, running a hand across her brow. "I have been feeling quite guilty for keeping you out of the loop until now."
"Out of the loop?" Byleth tilted his head to the side, raising an eyebrow. "We've barely had but a month since… the Sealed Forest."
Simply uttering the name dampened Byleth's spirit. Ignoring it, he pushed onward.
"These things shift on a day-to-day basis. I understand that."
"I know." Edelgard nodded. "But… along with being my partner, you are also an invaluable ally. I do not want to keep you in the dark."
"I appreciate the sentiment," Byleth cleared his throat, fidgeting in his seat. Things he knew of course, but the terminology still made his chest feel… warm. It was a stark contrast to the emotions he felt stir when he conversed with Rhea. "Then, when will the declaration of war happen, exactly?"
Again, he had a guess.
"The ceremony itself."
Again, what he had assumed.
"Makes sense. The tomb is secluded and isolated enough from the rest of the monastery that it will avoid plunging all of it into chaos, and it is unlikely that the archbishop will be surrounded by the brunt of her knights. From a tactical standpoint, it's as good a location as any…But…"
There were, however, two areas of concern with the holy tomb being the site of this war's first battle.
"Are you worried about a possible escape route?" Edelgard supplied Byleth's unasked question.
He nodded.
"As well as the route into the tomb itself. I do not see many clear-cut ways in which we could sneak in attacking force into the tomb without anyone taking notice."
"You are correct."
Edelgard twisted in her seat, opening one of the drawers in the desk. After rummaging around for a few moments, she pulled out a rolled-up piece of parchment. Given the color of the paper, worn with use, Byleth recognized it to be a map.
Rising from her seat, she motioned for Byleth to move aside. Doing just that, he rose to his feet.
She unrolled the map on the bedspread, using her hand and her dagger as makeshift paperweights.
"To bring you up to speed, I will inform you off our current position," Edelgard stated, her free hand moving to an area within the Empire. Byleth knew it to be Fort Merceus, the fortress city they passed just the other day to reach here. "Over the past few months, I have trickled some of our forces into Fort Merceus."
"Already?"
"Yes. Using training exercises to disguise my intent, I've been able to relocate a chunk of the Empire's army into the Bergliez territory."
Byleth blinked a few times, the dots connecting within his mind at the familiar terms.
That's right… The Bergliez territory houses Gronder Field, as well… The very location just a few months prior in which Garreg Mach had its own mock battle. It likely wouldn't raise suspicion for a sizeable force of the Adrestian military to take up residence in the Empire's most strategic asset…
"Nothing major. A battalion here, a few there. Nothing that could not be explained away should it have drawn suspicion. I have… simply neglected to recall any of those battalions," Edelgard continued, her finger drawing a circle around the territory that Caspar's family governed. "As it stands, the forces I have lying in wait are being commanded by Caspar's uncle."
"Uncle?"
Byleth had heard a handful of retellings regarding that family tree from Caspar himself, but an uncle didn't ring any bells.
"Randolph von Bergliez. Like his nephew, his position within the family is rather low. However, just like his nephew, he is dependable, and very eager. He is a fine ally, just like Caspar."
Byleth nodded. If Edelgard would entrust him with such a task, then he must be worthy of it. And, if he could be compared to Caspar in such a way, then Byleth would trust him, too.
"What do our numbers look like?" He asked, casting El a sidelong glance.
Edelgard hesitated, her eyes darkening as they traversed that main road that connected the fort with Garreg Mach.
"…With the added support from the nobility backing our cause, it'll be enough to launch a full-scale assault on the monastery."
Byleth's own eyes widened, his gaze shooting back to the map.
Truly? That many already…?
It made strategic sense, all things considered. The first battle did not equate to the entirety of the war. Edelgard didn't need to amass their entire standing army for this fight. This would be a surprise offensive, so the Church's military strength won't be much and would be underprepared. They wouldn't have nowhere enough time to call for aid- nothing that was substantial, at least. A quarter of the Empire's forces could even be overkill.
And this way, there would be a safety net in place should there be a counterassault...
"You've come prepared to this show and tell," Byleth sighed, a hand rubbing his temple.
"Indeed." Edelgard smirked slightly at his little joke before reverting to her determined look. "As you said earlier, the situation can change by the day. The difference between being prepared and caught unaware could mean death."
That word tugged at Byleth's heart. It reinforced that realization that this was hardly the same as their Gronder Field battle. Losing this coming battle meant death rather than a few sullen looks or bruised egos.
"The night before the ceremony, the order will be given for our forces to advance. Under the blanket of night, they'll be able to cover the distance undetected."
"And once they reach the monastery?" Byleth questioned. "How can they enter unopposed?"
Edelgard moved her finger to the area surrounding Garreg Mach.
"For the assault on the tomb, we will only utilize a small portion of our forces, while leaving the main force behind in preparation for the second stage, should it come to that."
Byleth nodded slowly. Edelgard was taking no chances in overcommitting. Probably wise.
"Still… How will they get in? Would it not be strange to parade Imperial troops through the academy?"
"My… uncle," Edelgard spat out the name as if it burnt her tongue on the way out. "Has a few men impersonating their guards, conveniently escaping the archbishop's watchful eye with all that's transpired. Said guards will lead the force through the grounds, and towards the holy tomb."
Given how Jeritza, Solon, and Kronya had been able to galivant around the monastery for so long, somehow this did not surprise Byleth in the slightest.
The emperor paused, exhaling as she ran a hand through her white hair.
"They will likely draw eyes, perhaps a few raised brows, but with 'members' of the watch escorting them, it shouldn't be a problem."
"Rhea likely won't even notice," Byleth murmured, recalling how… fixated she had been with him. For all intents and purposes, the archbishop was near blinder than a bat, now.
"That is the hope."
"So, then what? Should this go south, how might we retreat?"
It was dangerous business and could deescalate at the drop of a hat. While Rhea and her small force would have their back against the wall, Edelgard would have hers towards the only possible exit. Years of experience told Byleth how bad an idea that could be. It was too likely to be flanked from the rear, cutting off the only avenue of escape as well as pinching them between two forces. Too often had the predator became the prey in these scenarios.
"There are a few possible choices…" El trailed off, her eyes growing distant as she stared at Garreg Mach on the map. "Should the worst come to pass, we can always fight our way out."
"Or?"
"My uncle also has means to expedite that for us," Edelgard sighed, glancing at Byleth. "Do you recall those times I was masquerading as the Flame Emperor? Or our encounters with the Death Knight and Solon?"
"Of course I do, but what-"
Byleth froze, once again those dots connecting.
That's right… In those early fights, they all had managed to escape the scene in the blink of an eye, almost as if they had casted a Warp spell.
"I see…" Truthfully, Byleth didn't see, but clearly they had some way in which they could teleport here and there. "Well, I suppose that takes care of that conundrum?"
"Forgive me for not being able to make it clearer, but truly… It is quite hard to explain. It would be easier to show you when the time came," Edelgard gave a soft snort as she shook her head. "Does that answer your questions regarding the assault?"
"For the most part, though I do have one more question."
"By all means, ask away."
Byleth took one final look at the map, then lifted his head to meet Edelgard's eyes.
"What's our end goal?"
"'End goal?'"
"I assume your goal here isn't to end this war in one, single battle. You know as well as I that defeating Rhea in just one clash is highly unlikely. I imagine you had another purpose in mind with this surprise offensive."
"Ah, yes."
Retrieving her dagger and returning it to her side, she rolled the map up and set it to the side.
"You are correct in believing that our true aim should not be toppling the Church in one fell swoop. That would be ideal, but it is unfeasible."
Edelgard lifted her head, turning to Byleth.
"Rather, our purpose should be to bring light on the truthof the Church's misdeeds. The people deserve to know the truth of this world, and to know the truth about their archbishop."
"The truth?"
Byleth knew bits and pieces, as well as what Edelgard had informed him off not long after that business in Remire, but there was still much he was unaware of.
"Byleth, do you know the legends behind Seiros and the Ten Elites?"
At the two familiar terms, Byleth's cocked a brow. Of course, he was aware of the stories. They had been revered as heroes at one point in time.
As the legend goes, the Ten Elites and the King of Liberation were championed by the Goddess, chosen to defeat the armies of darkness. They were gifted Heroes' Relics and the original Crests in the pursuit of that task. Many of today's noble bloodlines were derived from the original Ten.
And, from Rhea's recounting, it is said that those same Relics turned Nemesis and the Elites corrupt with greed and arrogance, eventually leading to the group turning on one another and throwing Fódlan into a constant state of war.
Seiros, allied with the Adrestian Empire, were able to quell the conflict and bring peace back to the land with Nemesis's defeat.
"I do," Byleth finally answered after a pregnant pause.
"It is highly unlikely you would not have, at this point. However, do you know the truth behind them?"
Byleth shook his head.
"The Relics were created by the hands of mankind. Seiros collected them after killing the Ten Elites."
The tone in her voice grew more agitated as she continued.
"Seiros manipulated the people of the world into believing her deceit and defeated the all-powerful King Nemesis. The Church of Seiros maintains the false history that they were corrupted by this power and turned evil. However, in truth, it was little more than a simple dispute!"
Edelgard took a deep breath, composing herself.
"In the end, Seiros was victorious. With Nemesis defeated, the Immaculate One and her family then took control of Fódlan."
"The… Immaculate One?"
For some reason, the name sounded familiar to Byleth.
Edelgard nodded.
"I hate to answer your question with yet another question, but do you remember our mission in the holy mausoleum?"
"Of course. It's where we first met the Death Knight and where I received this sword."
"Correct. And, if you would recall, that Relic was all that was present within Seiros's 'tomb.'"
Edelgard paused, shooting Byleth a pointed look.
"Did that not seem strange to you, that Seiros's remains were nowhere to be found?"
"I…"
Byleth faltered. Truthfully, he supposed he did not consider it all that much. The days that followed their fight in the mausoleum were a blur of events and information. After that, he was gifted the Sword of the Creator, and it was discovered that Byleth bore the Crest of Flames. So much had happened that he barely even registered that there was nothing but the Creator's Sword in Seiros's supposed burial place.
"I'm sorry." Byleth frowned. "It did not occur to me."
"Don't fret, Byleth." Edelgard smiled at him. "It was not my intention to critique you in anyway, only to point you in the right direction."
"You're saying that Rhea and Seiros are one and the same?" Byleth wagered. "That she is this… 'Immaculate One' you speak of? And that this entire time she, and the Church, have pulled the wool over our eyes?"
"Precisely."
Byleth hummed softly to himself.
That sounded like something Rhea was capable of. Since the beginning of their relationship, she had fed him nothing but falsities and lies. She had lied to him, misguided him, used him. Hearing this information now was hardly a surprise. It was easy to believe.
If it suited her agenda, Rhea would absolutely lie about such things.
"I believe you."
Edelgard's brows shot up.
"You… you do?"
"You sound surprised?" Byleth tilted his head to the side.
"I suppose I shouldn't be, but I…"
Edelgard sighed. With it, her entire body seemed to deflate. The worry lines in her brow seemed to smooth out slightly.
"It is a great relief to hear, nonetheless."
Byleth would have smiled, perhaps even taken her hand in his own, but there was still one matter that required his attention first.
"Though, that leaves me with another question… What exactly is the 'Immaculate One?' Why does Rhea- or Seiros, have such a moniker?"
"She… is a child of the Goddess. A Divine Beast, a creature disguised in the flesh of a human."
A… a Divine Beast?
A… Divine Beast…
Byleth paled, his mouth running dry.
'Give it back!'
His hand snaked upward to his chest, gingerly rubbing at his armor. Beneath his hand, his heart throbbed. It ached. It rattled. When he closed his eyes, he could see the speckles of falling, grey ash play across the backs of his eyelids.
"Byleth?"
He heard Edelgard call out to him. She looked worried. Her brows were scrunched together. He was worrying her. His reaction worried her.
"You look like you've seen a ghost all of a sudden," Edelgard noted, that concern bleeding through in the tone of her voice.
Perhaps he had…
"Sorry." Byleth shook his head. "You were saying?"
His quick dismissal of his little reaction only seemed to intrigue Edelgard further. Clearly, she did not buy it. Her eyes scrutinized his expression looking for any tells, but with Byleth's poker face being what it was, it was something of a lost cause.
"Very well… Back to the task at hand," Edelgard cleared her throat, her previous demeanor returning.
Though, there was still a twinge to her eyes- a glint of curiosity as she examined Byleth. It was possible she saw the way in which his hand lingered on his chest, or the way his gaze seemed to grow distant like the clouds above, but there was no way in which she could see the inner turmoil at play within his heart.
"From an outsider's perspective, the people will not understand why the Empire has so suddenly declared war against the church," Edelgard continued. "Without context, they will be blind to the truth. They will not understand why we wage this war, nor will they understand why this is a battle that humanity must fight."
Edelgard paused, her expression darkening as she averted her gaze.
"I cannot change how history views me. What they decide in their hearts when they gaze upon me is for them to decide, and them alone. If at the end of the day, the people decide that I am a heartless, power-hungry dictator, so be it."
The emperor closed her eyes.
"But they will know the truth that has been hidden from them for far too long. They will know that the one leading the people of this world is not someone with a single shred of humanity, but a creature that merely masquerades as a human at will. They will know why we fight, and why we must. Every soul in Fódlan will know why we rebel against this cruel world that we were born into."
When they opened once again, those purple irises were illuminated by the flames that burned within them.
"In the holy tomb, we will declare our war and show everyone what Rhea truly is. Then, I will release a manifesto to announce our intentions. In it, we will expose not just the Church's corruption, but all of the nobility's. I will leave nothing out. After that… the war begins in earnest."
Edelgard exhaled slowly, her shoulders rising and falling. The fire in her eyes diminished, but it was far from snuffed out.
"Once they are made aware, it will be the people's decision on what to believe in." She looked to Byleth. "What are your thoughts on my approach, Byleth?"
"You've thought this out well. I see no glaring flaws in your strategy."
"Truly?"
Still, she sounded unsure and apprehensive, but that was to be expected. When it came to war, there were no certainties. There were no clear-cut solutions or plans- it was all speculation. It was planning for the worst, while hoping for the best.
With Edelgard at his side, however, he truly believed the best could be attainable.
"Yes." Byleth nodded. "If anything, you've only reaffirmed my faith in the choices I've made to follow you."
Edelgard frowned at Byleth's choice of the word 'followed,' but he still had more to say. More that he wanted to get out. More that he wanted to express.
"My 'informed decision' has yet to change, and I don't see it ever doing so. It would be my honor to walk with you until the very end, Edelgard. I would be… proud to do so."
Byleth wasn't quite sure what the proper etiquette was for these kinds of declarations, seeing as he had already made one such as this before. However, he wanted another way in which to express his loyalty and his trust to her. Something symbolic, perhaps. He wanted Edelgard to know with all certainty that Byleth was with her, just as she had been with him.
But, before he could even move a single muscle to kneel before her, Edelgard stopped him. She had crossed the distance between them in a second, her hand snatching his in a vice grip.
"Don't you dare."
Her eyes were glistening, her bottom lip quivering. She held his gaze without blinking, her hand never letting up.
Byleth nodded slowly. Right. That would have likely been a bad call.
"You get the idea," Byleth whispered. His knees remained locked.
"I do."
Edelgard ran her hand across her eyes in a vain attempt to wipe away the hints of the tears that had welled within them, but if anything, they had only become more prominent.
"I do," she repeated.
There was a strong urge to embrace her and once again reaffirm his choice in walking with her, but he had already said his piece. She already knew. Such physical gestures had a time and place, as well. Hardly fit for the aftermath of a serious, wartime discussion.
So, instead… as selfish as it may be…
"I only have one request."
Edelgard blinked, her eyes refocusing as they peered into his. They were close enough now that Byleth could see his own, distorted reflection in her eyes.
"Of course, my Byleth. What did you have in mind?"
Preemptively squeezing her hand, Byleth continued.
"Tell the others."
"The others?" Edelgard murmured. "You mean… the Eagles?"
"Yes."
Edelgard's frown returned. Her eyes grew stormy as they stared at the floorboard below. It was a look Byleth had seen quite often from her- whirlpools of self-doubt, fear, hesitation in her eyes. The way her upper row of teeth seemed to sneak but a centimeter out to gnaw on her bottom lip. The wrinkles that formed on her brow.
Byleth knew such a request could not be easy for her. It was no simple task open one's heart fully, especially to those that one cared the most about.
It wasn't that she didn't love or trust them, he knew that.
Byleth witnessed much of her love for them firsthand. The ways in which her gaze would gravitate towards Lyisthea sitting next to her, or how she might go out of her way to humor Ferdinand challenges or check in on distraught Bernadette. The amiable conversations with Dorothea, the chidings of Linhardt, the camaraderie with Petra. Byleth knew firsthand how much El loved and cared for them.
It was that fear of rejection holding her back. A fear that once she truly revealed all that she was, her dearest friends and comrades might not be just that anymore. It was the final, cracked and crumbling wall that kept them apart, albeit slightly.
While the list of Byleth's priorities, goals, dreams, and aspirations grew by the day, their happiness would always be at the top of said list. Their safety, their lives, their own goals and dreams, they would always be at the top.
Though he would soon be their professor no longer, while he still had the time, he would do all that he could to ensure these things. Ensure that they could achieve all of these things.
And he knew, without doubt, that Edelgard would be happier and more fulfilled if the Eagles were to stand beside her when she made her own. Deep down, he believed the Eagles wouldn't want to part from her, either. Their bond ran deep. No one wanted to see it severed.
So, if necessary, he would give her the slight push required to reach out a hand. Just as she did to him so long ago.
"What would I even tell them, Byleth?" Edelgard sighed, releasing her hold and stepping away. "That their trusted house leader is staging a coup? That at my call, the flames of war will burn Fódlan down to its very foundations?"
Edelgard turned away, her voice quieting to a whisper.
"…That their friend will soon claim thousands of lives on the path to her dream?"
Byleth was silent for a moment, pondering how to respond. It was surely a difficult thing to put into words. To Byleth, Edelgard, or Hubert, they would see this coming war as a necessity. For a broken bone to heal, sometimes one must fracture it again so it may realign properly. If not, it will only continue to fester or deform.
Others might not share that way of thinking. They might not believe something so radical must be done. They might believe that, in this case, words might speak louder than actions.
But, even so…
"Would you rather the alternative?"
At that, Edelgard turned her head ever so subtly back in Byleth's direction.
"I am not saying you need to tell them everything, but perhaps a… little warning," Byleth urged her gently. "Wouldn't you prefer that they heard it from their trusted friend rather than being blindsided by it when the moment comes?"
Edelgard shrunk beneath Byleth's gaze.
"Of course," she whispered. "Of course, I do… It is not my wish to hurt or betray them, I just…"
The emperor inhaled through her nose, then exhaled through her mouth. Her strength seemed to return slightly as her eyes bored holes through the wall in front of her.
"I have been preparing for this moment my entire life. As much as I do not wish to keep my friends in the dark, a pair of loose lips could destroy everything we've built. I cannot take such a chance, not when we are this close."
Byleth watched her back closely- the way it rose and fall with every breath, the way her shoulders had straightened, the way her chin lifted.
He would not push the issue- as, in the end, her point was valid. One misstep, one misspoken word, and this could all fall to ruin. There was a fine line between trusting those you loved and taking no chances. Edelgard seemed to be skirting that line very closely.
Byleth wouldn't object, nor tell her what she should do. He would follow Edelgard's judgement. He only hoped that this was a matter of proper judgement, rather than an excuse to avoid a difficult conversation.
Though, he was one to talk… Hypocrite that he was.
"I spoke out of turn. Forgive me."
"What?" Edelgard seemingly squeaked, shooting her attention towards him. "'Out of turn?'"
She shook her head profusely.
"As far as I am concerned, there is no such thing. Your input is always welcomed and encouraged…" Edelgard trailed off, eyes growing distant. "Truthfully, you have given me quite a bit to think about."
El sighed once again, her gaze drifting to the clock on the wall. Her brows rose when she noticed the time. The ticking of its hands had been drowned out by their lengthy conversation, but now that there was a relative degree of silence, Byleth could hear its rhythmic ticking.
It seemed that time had slipped away from them.
"I have kept you far too long. We should call it a night and continue this conversation a different time. We must depart early tomorrow, after all."
"Understood." Byleth nodded. "Sleep well, Edelgard. I'll see you in the morning."
"Yes…" Edelgard mumbled, meeting Byleth's eyes. She held them silently for a moment, the gears turning within her purple orbs. Occasionally, they'd sneak a glance at the door before returning to him.
The pointed look piqued Byleth's curiosity. He opened his mouth to ask if everything was okay, but closed it just as quick once Edelgard took a step towards him.
The professor couldn't restrain a gasp as her smaller arms wrapped around his back, pulling him in. She had been the one to pull him in for an embrace, yet… it was gentle. Tender. Delicate, even.
Part of him wanted to question her on the sudden display of affection, but Byleth decided such things didn't require questions and answers; it was one of the lessons that he had been taught through love.
In the simple action of a hug, it contained both the question and the answer.
Sinking his arms into her back, Byleth rested his chin in the crook of her neck.
"Good night, my… Byleth," Edelgard whispered.
"Good night, El."
They stood like that for a few moments, holding each other in the empty room, until they regretfully parted. Edelgard took a few steps back, smiling as she met Byleth's eyes. He tried to return it, but he feared that his eyes didn't get the message. This particular embrace felt… bittersweet.
"I will see you in the morning."
Byleth nodded.
He watched as El left the room, perhaps a little slower than she would usually walk, but he didn't comment. Though it was subtle, disguised by a movement of her hand to tuck her hair behind her ear, Byleth noticed her sneak one final look his way.
Then, she left the room, and he was alone. The sound of the doorknob twisting into place was comically loud.
The professor looked around the barren room, feeling himself deflate with each agonizingly slow second. It was a fine room, for all intents and purposes. Perhaps a little gaudy for his tastes.
It was just… entirely too lonely. Too similar to his own. The walls were too close. It felt like a prison cell rather than a room to sleep it. The noise of the wall clock, the only prevalent sound in the room now that El was gone, was entirely too grating. The incessant tick, tock, tick, tock, continued on and on.
It only reminded him of the Sothis-sized absence within his mind.
It was not the room's fault, he supposed… Still, Byleth did not like it. He already knew sleep would elude him on this night.
Sighing, he paced over to the desk he had been accommodated with. It already had his meager amount of belongings resting on the top of it.
Byleth pulled the chair back and sat down. Opening his bag, he retrieved his stack of envelopes and papers. Then, came the vial of ink and his quill.
As he unfolded the first letter he had been working on, his mind inevitably meandered back to Edelgard.
Truthfully, upon staring into El's violet eyes as she laid her plan out before him, Byleth felt a great deal of… pride. Pride, and respect.
For someone who went through all that Edelgard went through, it would not take much to lose sight of oneself and the path beneath her feet.
She had been betrayed, abandoned, tortured. Her family brutally maimed and killed. Everything that she thought she knew, everything that she loved, had been torn away from her. It was not just her faith that had been shattered in that dungeon, but the entirety of her life.
Edelgard could have taken that pain, grief, regret, her broken existence, and used it to fuel her desire for revenge and vengeance. She could have cast it all into the abyss in the name of retribution. She could have thrown away her humanity, content with becoming nothing more than a mere beast. Not even Byleth could ignore these things completely. Even he had given into those whispers.
Yet, while he had failed in some of those aspects, she did not. Her goal was not for personal revenge or to avenge the fallen. Her gaze was pointed forwards at the path before her, rather than those graves behind her. Her goal was to bring light to this world, instead of engulfing it in shadows she had been born in.
For El to take all that had been done to her, all of that pain, loss, anger, grief, and regret, and use it to fuel the winds of change rather than the fires of vengeance… It took a different kind of strength. A special kind. A unique kind.
Because, that's exactly what Edelgard was: unique.
She was different. Rare, even. It was hard to draw comparisons to her, because frankly, Byleth hadn't met anyone like her before. In his mind, there was no one similar; not even Jeralt. At a surface level, perhaps others shared similarities, but no one bore the heart that El did.
And there was no one he would be prouder to call his friend, his ally, or his leader.
Byleth smiled despite his heavy heart, once more feeling incredibly grateful for choosing the Black Eagle house so many months ago.
Using those words, thos human emotions as a motivation, he dipped his quill's tip into his ink and began to write.
"My teacher?"
Edelgard knocked on the door to the guest's room a little harder this time.
Still, no response.
How strange…
Usually, her professor was an early riser. Very rare was it for him to sleep in on days where there was work to be done. Though… like her, Byleth also had difficulty finding sleep in the night. It was an entirely too common occurrence that they would both run into each other in the dead of night when neither could sleep. And she was aware that as of late, he was having trouble sleeping through the night.
Perhaps he truly did oversleep? As hard as it could be to remember sometimes, he was only human, after all. They did have a long and heavy conversation the night before.
Ladislava had been standing off in the back with the rest of her troop, quietly watching the one-sided exchange play out in curiosity.
"Could he have overslept?" Ladislava suggested, airing Edelgard's conclusion.
"Possibly…"
Edelgard turned away from the door, nodding in her guards' general direction.
"You are excused, for the time being. We shall reconvene shortly."
The soldiers all saluted in unison, replying to their emperor with a collective 'Yes, Your Majesty!' before taking off to do exactly that.
With them gone, Edelgard allowed herself to unclench slightly, letting out a sigh that was barely audible. She was both grateful and appreciative of their service and loyalty, but it could be somewhat tiresome with them following her every step. It was unavoidable given her position, and it was something she would have to grow familiar with again.
Though, she felt that she had to adorn a certain mask in their presence- the mask of the emperor, rather than her own. And as always, that weight was quite burdensome.
Content that her guards were out of earshot, Edelgard turned back to the guest's room.
"Byleth?" Edelgard knocked once more, but still, no response.
Logic dictated that he was most likely slumbering away, but when it came to matters involving loved ones, 'logic' was often a small whisper in the back of one's mind. With Byleth not replying to her knocks or calls, Edelgard couldn't assuage the nagging worry and anxiety that gripped her heart.
Twisting the knob slightly, she noticed that it was unlocked.
"I'm coming in," she called out again, though with much less vigor. Her voice was weaker, almost at a normal-speaking level.
The door creaked as it opened, revealing the grand and gaudy guest's chambers. Their rooms were only slightly less luxurious than her own. Everything from the fine drapery to the bedspread screamed 'high-class' and 'nobility.'
And, to her relief, it did not take long to find Byleth.
Hunched over at the desk on the opposite to his bed, her professor sat, his head resting on his arms as he slumbered away. There was even a tiny snore emitting from his throat as he slept.
Edelgard clutched her brow, sighing in relief. She knew it was quite silly to get worked up over something so small, but again, when it came to matters of the heart, logic and common sense were rarely involved.
"Byleth, just what are you doing there?" Edelgard whispered to herself as she crossed the room.
Upon closer inspection, it appeared that her Byleth had fallen asleep while working. A quill had fallen out of his fingers' loose grip, and a stack of papers were halfway hidden beneath his arms and head. The nearby, open vial of ink was dangerously close to getting knocked over. She quickly set it off to the side, a safe distance away.
But, at the least, he did seem to be sleeping peacefully- as uncomfortable as the position looked. Edelgard had fallen asleep at her desk numerous times, so she knew firsthand the aches and stiffness it could cause.
The kind thing to do would be to wake him up, but…
Edelgard felt herself smile as she looked down at the sleeping Byleth. Over half of his face was covered by the crook of his arm and his messy hair, but she could still see a single, closed eye, his nose, and part of his slightly agape mouth.
Squatting down, she positioned her face but a few inches from his. Smile growing, she reached out, brushing a single strand of his bangs away from his face.
It was rare seeing him so peaceful. The wrinkles of his face, either born from worry or a set determination were all smoothed out, giving him the appearance of… well, a twenty-one-year-old. Byleth always looked older than he was, perhaps due to the way he expressed emotions or due to his calm and level head, but seeing him like this, looking so young and fragile… Edelgard was slightly taken back. It truly was rare seeing her Byleth in this light.
The temptation to let Byleth sleep another five minutes was quite strong-
"Hm?"
A hum involuntarily escaped her lips as she spotted the envelopes off to the side. With a quick scan, Edelgard counted ten total. The one on the top had 'Bernadetta' written on it. It was safe to assume that the other envelopes beneath it were similarly addressed to the students.
Curious, indeed. She idly wondered what Byleth must have been working on that kept him up to the point of falling asleep at his desk. Classwork? It was possible… Byleth did mention he brought some paperwork along… She knew of her teacher's strong work ethic, but would he truly go without sleep to finish grading some assignment or work on some other class-related activity?
Her eyes widened as they caught the words written on the paper Byleth was slumbering on. It had not been her intention to snoop, but her attention was immediately snared by the sight of her own name.
My dearest El-
She did not get to read more than that. From first glance, it had appeared to go on for quite a while, but as Byleth's hand had quickly moved to cover the rest of the page, she wasn't able to read any of it.
"Good morning."
Edelgard shifted awkwardly, only now realizing that Byleth had been awake this entire time, and that his green eyes were currently evaluating her with a cool, steady stare. He did not appear annoyed, nor upset, but his gaze never moved away from her.
"I see you're back to wearing your academy uniform," Byleth noted groggily, his eyes traversing up and down her familiar outfit.
"G-good morning, Byleth," Edelgard cleared her throat, eyes on the floor. At the mention of her uniform, she fidgeted with the hem of her pants. "Pardon my intrusion; you did not answer when I knocked, and, well… I grew worried."
"Nothing to worry about; I appreciate the sentiment. I must have fallen asleep working last night."
Byleth leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms behind him as he yawned. With his cat-like stretch through, he rose to his feet-
But, not before taking the letter he had been writing and flipping it over, hiding what was written. It was a subtle, fluid motion, but the nonchalant action in trying to hide it spoke volumes. Whatever it was, Byleth didn't want to allude to the importance of it, nor did he want her reading it. Not yet, anyway.
"Forgive me, Byleth," Edelgard sighed, guilt doubling. "It was not my intention to snoop on whatever you were working on; my name simply caught my eyes-"
"It's fine, El." Byleth smiled, raising a hand to stop her. "They are only graduation letters- the fault is mine for not putting them away."
Edelgard blinked, tilting her head to the side. Graduation letters?
"One way or another, the Eagles will be graduating soon. It felt proper to send you all off with a little letter from your professor."
"…I see."
Edelgard nodded a few times. That made sense. It wasn't unheard of for professors to leave notes for their graduating students, telling them what a pleasure they were to have in class or a final progress report of sorts. Knowing Byleth, it was a very 'him' thing to do.
Though, it was somewhat curious that he chose to use 'my dearest El' instead of 'Edelgard' in such a letter… But perhaps she was looking too much into it. It would also be in-line with the man she knew to address a letter to her in such a manner.
As her mind drifted off towards the end of the term and what those days would mean for them, that weight returned. Her chest grew tight, as it always did when considering the not-so-far-off future.
Byleth was clearly thinking something similar. His face had grown eerily expressionless. Granted, it was common for it to be like that, but there had always been some hint or morsel of color that kept the canvas from being completely blank. Be it a gleam in his eyes, a curve of his lips. Most did not notice it, but Edelgard always did.
But, now, it was devoid of all emotion, almost as though that was his intent. Be it consciously, or subconsciously.
His half-lidded eyes that were not all there simply stared at the envelopes on his desk. Not a muscle in his body even twitched.
After a second, he twitched, and the life came flooding back into his limbs and his expression.
"Ready to go?" Byleth asked, rising from his seat. It was almost as though that moment had never transpired.
No.
Was her immediate answer. If time would allow it, she would rather spend another day here, relishing what time she had left with her father, or spending another afternoon with Byleth in the gardens.
However, she could no longer allow complacency. If she did not keep moving forward, the righteous world in which she dreamed of would never see the light.
"Yes. My father should be waiting to see us off."
Edelgard watched as Byleth pulled his jacket off the back of his chair, fastening it to his shoulders. She watched as he ran his hands down the sleeves, straightening out the near-invisible wrinkles. Then, he grabbed his belongings, slinging them across his shoulders.
"Well, let us not keep him waiting on my part," he said, strapping the Sword of the Creator to his waist. At his touch, the blade hummed to life. Like a lighthouse overlooking a dark, tumultuous ocean, the Creator's Sword shone brightly.
Byleth met Edelgard's eyes, holding them for what felt like an eternity.
The usual cool, collected smile Edelgard had come to know adorned Byleth's face as it often had, but there was something about his eyes that garnered her attention. That smile of his never seemed to reach them. It was though a sea of white clouds had rolled in, hiding the sun beneath their blanket.
But, the look faded as quickly as it arrived. When she blinked, that look in his eyes was already gone.
"Let's take our first steps, El."
His voice was the same as it had always been. It was low, quiet. Soft, even. And though simply hearing Byleth speak wasn't enough in most cases to elicit such response from her, she felt her heartbeat elevate as the words hung in her ears. Her chest felt light as his words registered, almost as though she was floating.
Our…
It was one thing to voluntarily walk into the abyss. It was another to walk into it alone.
Those that had everything would never understand how powerful it was to know there was at least one other soul at there that felt the same as they did, or that one other person shared their vision and ideals. Those that never felt the coldness of isolation would never understand the warmth in another striding beside them.
Friendship, partnership, love… These were things that she had been lucky enough to experience for a little while now, but even after all this time, those words surprised her still. As if they were too good to be true, as if any moment now, she'd wake up from this daydream, and she'd be alone as she always had been.
But, she had not. When she opened her eyes, Byleth was still there.
It made this coming storm a little less daunting.
Together, side-by-side, they left the room. As Byleth closed the door, she could still faintly hear the ticking of the wall clock. Had she been paying closer attention to it, she might have been surprised by how jarring it was. Usually, it had been a sound her ears had been drawn to.
As her mind was elsewhere, they had not. Byleth had been the only one to shoot the clock a solitary look before the door closed on it, hiding it away.
With that, the two departed. They walked but a few inches apart, down the corridor and in the direction of the front gates.
And with each step they took, that clock they had left behind continued to countdown. It continued to tick, as integral to the flow of the world as a heart's beat was to all life. Even with no one around to listen, it still made its sound.
When the duo finally made it to their destination, a small farewell party was already there and waiting for them. It wasn't a large gathering, as the entire reason for this expenditure had been on a need-to-know basis, but there were still some familiar faces present.
Among her personal guard, Ladislava stood tall and proud. Her posture perfect, and her hands clasped snugly behind her back. The small, almost nonexistent smile that curved at her lips seemed to grow as she watched the emperor and Byleth approach.
With his own entourage surrounding him, Ionius stood a few feet away. He was standing on his own, albeit slightly hunched over. His breathing seemed labored, and his face pale. A knot formed in her throat when she saw the slender, brown cane he was leaning heavily on. It hadn't been there the night before.
She hoped it hadn't somehow been her fault that her father couldn't stand on this day without the assistance of a cane. The day before had been difficult on everyone, but… she hoped that was not the root cause.
With that seed sprouting within her mind, Edelgard began to morbidly wonder if her father had much time left now that his sole, remaining purpose had been fulfilled.
Truthfully, given his quality of life… Edelgard did not know if that was a good or bad thing. She did not wish for her father to die- no child did.
But, neither did she want him to suffer any longer.
"Father…"
Edelgard spoke gently as she approached- as a parent might their child. Rather ironic, given the state of things.
"You did not need to wait for me."
"It was…" Ionius's speech was broken apart by a fit of coughs that racked his body. "No trouble at all…"
Hardly a promising statement when it was delivered in that manner, but her father's stubbornness seemed to have not entirely faded over the years and his declining health.
"I wanted to… say a few things to you, before you depart."
"Of course, Father."
All of the men and women present under the emperor's employ lined up in a straight-file, horizontal line as Ionius stepped forward.
"My dear, El…"
The sentence rasped out of her father's throat as though there was something obstructing its passage, but it did not diminish the weight of those three words.
Her body tensed in response. Even now, hearing someone other than Byleth refer to her in such a manner sent a chill up her spine.
"I know that… when your heart is set on something, there is nothing… you cannot accomplish."
Ionius smiled as he said that. It was almost serene, in a way. It clashed heavily with the rest of his face and disposition.
"But, please… be careful."
With a shaky hand, he reached for his daughter.
Almost on instinct, Edelgard gripped his hand with both of her own. She could not help but notice how… thin they felt. Even with her gloves providing a little buffer, she could feel every bone and ligament. It was unsettling.
Edelgard flinched as she felt that boney hand grip hers intensely. The strength behind her father's grip was something she did not believe to be possible. It did not hurt, but it certainly drew her attention.
"And stay vigilant."
When she met her father's eyes, they were nothing like the sunken, black holes they were before. They were wide, and filled with…
Fear.
As though he had seen an apparition, or something far worse.
"Father?"
"Nothing of… significance can be achieved without sacrifice…" Ionius paused, closing his eyes. "And in pursuit of my own ideals… I lost everything. Everything…"
The grip slackened.
"Do not be like me, my child. Do not repeat my mistakes. Be stronger than I was. Wiser than I was."
"I…"
Edelgard did not quite know how to respond to that. Such assurances could not be made until the final die was cast, otherwise it was worthless words and platitudes.
"I will try, Father."
"Try, you must." Ionius nodded. "Pursue your ideals… Your dreams… And accomplish what I have failed to… But-"
The former emperor's gaze moved to Byleth, who was standing off to the side. Far enough away to give the two some manner of privacy, but not too far away that Edelgard could not be assured he hadn't heard everything.
Regardless, Edelgard understood the point her father was trying to make.
"In that pursuit, do not lose your sight of yourself. Do not stride so far ahead that you lose sight of those you wish to protect," Ionius said, eyes returning to his daughter. "Because, as you and I both know… there are fates far worse than failure. Fates far, far worse than death."
Edelgard's mind inevitably drifted off to those days born beneath the castle. Days, nights, months spent within a dungeon, praying for the end to come. A life, entirely born within the blood-soaked darkness. A nightmare that only she had awoken from.
She too looked to Byleth. In his eyes, she saw the greenery of the monastery. The grass, the trees, the greenhouse… Her friends…
To lose them all, to endure such loss once again…
Yes, there were far, far worse fates than one's own demise.
"I understand, Father."
Ionius exhaled in relief, his head bobbing up and down.
"Good."
Edelgard's eyes widened as she felt a pair of spindly arms wrap around her shoulders. She froze as the familiar scent of her father's garment infiltrated her nostrils. Somehow, after all these years, his clothes still bore the same scent as they did when she was a child… She did not know how.
On instinct, she wrapped her own arms around her father's back. Her mind was playing tricks on her surely, but Edelgard could have sworn his shoulders were as broad as they used to be… Just like she was when she was a kid, it felt like her hands would not reach each other when she hugged her dad. For some reason, Edelgard felt that was the way it should be when hugging a parent…
For that instant, she felt like a daughter again. Like that little, auburn-haired El. Like an older sister. Like a younger one. These thoughts and feelings she had not felt in a lifetime. These titles of hers that she had nearly forgotten. That mask that had collected dust from the years of sitting on its lonely shelf.
For that moment, his embrace brought that same feeling of comfort and security that it brought way back then. It was dangerous- it would not take much for Edelgard to succumb to these pleasant feelings, never wanting to leave them. Her father's arms provided that shelter and warmth that Edelgard so desperately desired.
When Edelgard closed her eyes, burying her face into her father's shoulders, just for a single second, the world felt safe again. Her heart felt whole again. Time seemingly stopped as she held her father. She did not consider how long it had been since she last hugged him, nor did she wonder if this might be the last time she had the chance to do so.
"Never forget… how much I loveyou, El," Ionius whispered into her ear. "Or how proud I am of the woman you've become."
A burning pain assaulted her eyes. It took her a moment to feel the wetness that had formed beneath her eyelids.
"I-I won't, Father. I promise."
Edelgard's breath caught in her throat as she felt a hand rest upon her head. It took her a moment to connect the dots and realize that it was her father's hand resting on her hair.
They held each other in silence for a few more moments. It was not awkward or stilted like it had been before. It was comfortable. It was easy. It was almost second nature.
And in her father's arms, Edelgard found herself asking the universe the same 'whys' she always did in times like these.
Why couldn't it always be this easy?
A question that had already been answered for her by the cruelties of fate and time, but she asked it all the same.
Eventually, the two broke apart. Though she was certain by the sensation on her cheeks that her tears had broken through, she did not care. She didn't bother trying to hide them.
Ionius smiled. The hand on her head drifted to her cheek, wiping away the hints of a stray tear for her. It was so reminiscent of the way he used to treat her back when she was a child. He would get down on one knee, smile warmly at her, and brush away her tears with his thumb… Just as he was now.
"Now, promise me… that you will stay safe, El."
"I promise."
"Good girl…"
Her father's smile faded as his gaze moved to Byleth.
"Would you… mind if I had a few words with your professor before you… go?" He asked. His breath was growing ragged again.
"Not at all, Father."
Ionius nodded. Gripping his cane, he limped away from her and towards Byleth's direction. The man in question rose an eyebrow as the former emperor approached, but remained where he stood.
After a few exchanged words, Byleth nodded as well. His eyes made a quick jump to Edelgard before the two men stepped off to the side, slightly out of ear shot.
Edelgard found it curious, but she would honor her father's request.
The two went on for nearly five minutes. Ionius would talk lowly, occasionally loud enough to be picked up by Edelgard's ears, but only bits and pieces. Byleth would answer in one to two-word replies, nodding here and there.
Her father appeared to ask him a question, if Byleth's silence was any indication.
His green eyes met hers, held them for what felt like an eternity, then returned to Ionius.
Edelgard could not hear what Byleth said, but she could make it out with the way his lips moved.
'I will.'
At that, Ionius nodded. The two shook hands, and the conversation was over. Together, they walked back to where Edelgard was standing.
She had half a mind to question Byleth about it, but given the circumstances… It did not feel to be the proper etiquette. Clearly, her father had wanted the conversation to have some manner of privacy, and clearly, it had been her they had discussed.
Given her father, and given Byleth, it did not take much to piece together the contents of the discussion.
"Are you ready, Edelgard?" Byleth asked once they reached her.
"I am."
El turned to Ionius, only to find that he was already staring at her, waiting.
Truthfully, she did not know what to say. Farewells… were difficult. They were difficult enough as it was without the future looming over them. She knew that this very well might be the last chance she had to speak with Ionius. She knew that this farewell very well might be the last one she would ever give him.
Edelgard knew that this chance might be the very last time her father had to lay his eyes upon one of his children.
With that burden weighing heavily on her, she did not know what to say.
"Farewell, Edelgard."
Ionius smiled as he spoke.
Though, this particular smile looked so… sad, compared to the last one.
So very sad and lonely.
"Farewell, Father," she replied. "I…"
Last words were something very few people had a chance to deliberate over. They were usually said without thought, or without reason. They were simply words that were uttered that happened to be their last. When a person spoke, rarely was it that they consider such words or sentences to be the very last they say or hear.
Last words were something no one was prepared for.
But, if she were in her father's place, she immediately knew what she would have wanted to hear.
She reached out for his hand, one final time.
Ionius gave it a long look before he accepted the invitation. He held her hand loosely in his.
"I love you, too, Dad."
Ionius's eyes widened, his lips slowly parting. His hand twitched, clenching around hers.
The effect El's words on him were near instantaneous. Had he not been using that cane he was holding to keep himself upright, Edelgard feared that it might have clattered to the floor beneath them.
"I-I…"
Her father licked his dry lips, his head jerking up and down mindlessly. Eventually, he found his words.
"Thank you… El."
Edelgard lowered her head in a slight bow. She squeezed her father's hand one last time before letting go. Ionius's arm fell back to his side, where it hung limply.
"Let us depart, Byleth," Edelgard said, turning to her professor.
Byleth was silent, his gaze shifting back and forth between the last of the Hresvelg line.
"Very well," he sighed, shoulders drooping. Edelgard understood the sentiment very well.
Byleth bowed his own head to Ionius, next.
"Until next time, Ionius."
At that, the former emperor cracked a small smirk.
"Until next time, Byleth."
"Goodbye, Father," Edelgard gave him a final farewell before she began to take a few steps back. She had yet to fully turn away- her heart wouldn't allow it.
"Goodbye, Edelgard."
Ionius's smile grew a little more genuine as he waved. The movement almost seemed strange coming from such an ill, old-looking man.
Taking a deep breath to calm her erratic heartbeat, Edelgard turned and walked away. Byleth followed closely behind.
As the two moved through the hall, the guards in attendance all cleared a path. They lined up in two, single-file lines against the walls, all stuck in salute as both strode by.
Ladislava gave Edelgard a nod as the two locked eyes, followed by a tiny grin of her own.
Exhaling slowly, the emperor continued to walk until they reached the palace's front gate.
The great, oaken doors creaked as they were opened for Byleth and Edelgard. As they parted, the morning's sun broke through the gap, enveloping them in its golden rays. The light was so bright, so brilliant, that Edelgard instinctively rose an arm to shield her eyes.
As they opened fully, the outside world was completely revealed to them. The bustling city down below, the seas of green out in the distance, the beautiful blue skies up above. Clouds of white were beginning to roll in from the south, but they had yet to diminish this breathtaking view.
Byleth stood there quietly. He was stalk-still as he too took in the sight. His was hard to tell, but his eyes seemed to be hovering on the clouds overhead.
Eventually, his gaze lowered to the woman standing beside him.
"Are you ready?"
Edelgard nodded.
She was.
She was ready.
Because, she knew this would not be the last time they could take in this view. She knew that they could stand here like this again one day.
Once they were through here… and this world changed for the better… The two of them could return here.
It was her hope that they all could. A hope that Edelgard could show them all the place she once called home. She could show all of her friends this view, and they could stand here at her side as Byleth was now.
She would enjoy that greatly.
With her first step, Edelgard crossed the threshold. Byleth had mirrored her movement in unison.
Together, the two exited the palace, and walked into the light of the golden sun. Their feet hitting the pavement of the castle steps was the only sound she could truly hear. It enveloped her entire being. Every other background sound faded way, leaving nothing but the sound of their steps.
It was rhythmic, in a way.
Like the beating of heart.
Or the ticking of a clock.
Though it felt like it for these moments lost in time, time itself had never truly stopped. It continued to countdown, never ceasing. Never stopping.
That was the nature of time; it kept moving whether you realized it or not, whether you were ready or not. It did not care about rights or wrongs. It heralded beginnings, just as it ushered in endings. It brought life, it brought death.
It was neutral.
Unbiased.
That was the nature of time.
Tick.
It could be cheated here and there. Perhaps even ran from, for a while.
But, never could it be beaten.
It continued to tick.
As integral to the flow of the world as a heart's beat was to all life.
Tock.
Byleth's hand drifted to his chest, his fingers tracing up and down the scar that was concealed beneath his clothes. Occasionally, he would steal a glance or two at Edelgard, before his gaze would return to the road ahead or those clouds on the horizon.
Tick.
A noise that was lost on Edelgard's ears. While her mind shifted to its original purpose, racing back and forth between each thought and idea, considering the days in store for them and the rest of Fódlan. She thought of her father. She thought Byleth. She thought of the Black Eagles.
She thought of all, except for-
Tock.
The sound of the clock.
Loud and clear.
It was always near.
And that's that with the Enbarr chapters! We've officially concluded the coronation segments. Hope you enjoyed!
I won't go into the ending of this chapter, as I'll leave it up to the imagination.
But! One thing I did want to accomplish here was pretty much tying up that one loose end regarding Byleth and Edelgard working together. Given how I've pushed up siding with Edelgard, it felt necessary to push up the Immaculate One conversation. It wouldn't feel right having Edelgard just avoid discussing such an important piece with him.
Plus, it felt right to add a LITTLE description on how this battle starts and how Edelgard prepared for it with that strategy session at the start. Just a little something to make it seem more real and less "well it happened off screen, it makes sense, don't worry about it." Just me adding a little realism to the mix.
In regards to Ladislava and Randolph, we likely won't see them again until the big throwdown. So, wave farewell for now! They'll be back later.
Now, on to my favorite segment of the chapter: Ionius. It's been really fun tinkering with this guy: not so much the character himself (though I did enjoy it), but mostly for what Ionius means to Edelgard, and in a way, Byleth. Just like I wanted a Byleth-Ionius moment, I really wanted Edelgard to have her "last goodbye" with her father. Her referring to him as "Dad" there was bit of a last second audible, because when you're telling your dad "I love you" for what might be the last time, it felt... right having her use "Dad." "Father" can be so formal, sometimes a little distant, while "Dad" almost seems more childlike and innocent. Like how a kid would talk to a parent. The same rationale went into this scene as it did with Byleth and Jeralt when he died.
I dunno, just a fun, bittersweet way of hinting at the little "El" that Edelgard was before. That, beneath all this story, Edelgard and Byleth are still people. Still sons, still daughters.
Anyway, next chapter will be a lot of fun! Don't quote me on this, but I envision it being the last one before the holy tomb scenes. Sort of like a bridge between the coronation and the ceremony. If the word count gets too insane, I'll likely split it up, but the hope is for one chapter.
Thanks for reading everyone! Love in the Dark recently passed it's one year anniversary, and I've just had the most fun writing this puppy. Thank you all for sticking around, and I can't wait for you to read whats in store!
See you all next time!
