23 rd of Wyvern Moon, 1179

It had been a year since that fateful encounter with Byleth, and as Jeralt expected, Byleth had caused a storm within his ranks. Though he was initially skeptical of his decision to join their unit due to its mysterious origins and nature, after Bylass explained about Byleth's amnesia, his doubts slowly faded away. His subordinates were also skeptical of his choice, but soon after witnessing how he single-handedly massacred a small bandit team, those feelings of doubt turned into fear.

Not just because of Byleth's expertise with the sword, but also due to his lack of emotion in missions. Jeralt heard from Bylass that the incident on that day made Byleth ruthless when faced with prisoners on missions. He'd try to minimize bloodshed as he said himself that he disliked the smell of blood and found no glory in taking lives...unless it came to vicious monsters; then Byleth wouldn't hesitate to leave them with gusto to instill fear in others, buying more time for innocents to be saved.

What had started as Byleth's attempt to save lives through a noble cause soon backfired in the worst way. Although he succeeded, leaving no one dead at the scene, everyone present — including the hostages — was filled with terror when they saw him, so much so that they would scream as he approached.

Rumors and whispers of The Twin Ashen Demons started to circulate in Remire Village, eventually spreading to other towns. Jeralt tried his best to keep these talks to a minimum; After all, he was trying to remain low-key for Rhea's church not find him or Bylass. Unfortunately, his attempts were futile, and the fear surrounding Byleth and Bylass only seemed to grow as more exaggerated tales about the Ashen Demons spread throughout the mercenary world. Matters only grew worse when someone posited that perhaps Byleth was born from Bylass herself using forbidden magic — a thought so outrageous that it made Jeralt flip the table in anger, forcing the other mercenaries to stay silent if they didn't want to risk facing him before the Demons themselves could get them.

The majority was wrong about Byleth, Jeralt had to admit; no matter how stoic his face was when they talked, the slightest mention of Byleth's parents made his voice quiver and tears stream down his face. Even though Jeralt felt a deep urge to press on for more information, he instead chose to back off—he was almost certain Byleth was not his child. What surprised him more than anything else was the way Bylass would reach out her hands in comfort whenever such an emotional conversation occurred. Neither of them seemed to be disturbed by it, in fact, over the past year, Bylass had changed drastically ever since Byleth's arrival. She still kept to herself with other mercenaries or villagers, but she smiled and joked around with Byleth—almost like a teenage girl enjoying her youth.

When Jeralt finally got her to speak about why she struggled to express emotion or show expression before the destined meeting, she explained that just because she had difficulty expressing herself didn't mean she was emotionless, like so many people assumed and called her "the Ashen Demon" out of sheer ignorance. For the first time, Jeralt could feel what it was like for her—the joy that came with times of peace as well as the sadness when lives were lost. But all of this changed once she met Byleth—the more she talked to him, the easier it became for her to express all these feelings. Neither could answer why this odd situation had come up but what mattered was that they understood each other—and both of them liked it.

Jeralt had mixed feelings of relief and unease when his daughter began to re-engage with life. After that incident, she had become distant and he felt helpless as a father. But it seemed Byleth was helping; things were better but not perfect. He was lost in thought until there was a knock at the door. Bylass returned from an expedition and started to report, as usual, and Jeralt expected her to leave, yet instead she stood there before asking him something.

"Jeralt, I know this is a strange request. Do you know anyone who can show me how to bake?"

"Why the sudden interest in baking?"

A moment passed before she answered, her cheeks flushing.

"I just found a new pastime."

"That's not like you at all. Let me guess - it has something to do with Byleth, right?"

"I have no idea what you mean." She feigned innocence, but Jeralt had seen through her. It must be related to Byleth.

Jeralt was caught off guard when he discovered his daughter's growing relationship with her friend. On the one hand, they had only known each other for a year and it seemed too soon for such an attachment to form. On the other hand, their closeness was undeniable and if his daughter was genuinely happy then he had no obligation to stand in the way of their friendship.

"Lucky for you, in this village, there is a bakery shop and I know the chef. I will ask her to teach you the required skills."

"Thank you, Jeralt. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave now."

"Before you go, there is one thing I've been curious about."

"Sure, what is troubling your mind?"

"What do you think about Byleth?"

She had been dreading this moment, as she was all too aware of the gossip surrounding her relationship with Byleth. It had been a year since he offered her friendship, which she accepted without hesitation. On missions together, they often covered for each other, and in their spare time sparred to sharpen their fighting skills and discuss future strategies. For her, when their swords clashed it felt like more than just training - instead, it was almost like an intimate dance between them. She would watch him dodge her sword by flipping backward, using his left hand as a pillar before rushing back towards her - and she'd be ready, spinning around and stepping away before lunging forward. But despite their efforts, their blades would always cross in the end - a scene both beautiful and tragic. He was her first and most close friend, but at times she longed for something even greater.

"He is my best friend and the most trusted partner-in-crime.", replied Bylass cheerfully.

"Gotcha, kid. I'm happy for you. Wait, partner-in-crime?", Jeralt asked incredulously.

"It's our little secret. I must go now. See you later, Jeralt.", Bylass grinned and then left.

Jeralt had the sinking feeling that if things kept going this way, he would soon end up with a son-in-law. He knew he had to have a serious conversation with Byleth to make sure his daughter was safe from harm.

"Would you approve of him, I wonder?" Jeralt murmured to himself, as Sitri's face came to mind. Somehow, he felt like she already knew the answer.

24th of Wyvern Moon,1179

Despite the early hour, Byleth was already on his way to the tavern for breakfast. He had been part of Jeralt's mercenary band for nearly a year now and none of his colleagues had ever even dared to strike up a conversation with him; worse still, they only seemed to spread rumors about him that sought to cast him in a negative light. Unwilling to sink to their level, he instead chose to have an early breakfast every day to avoid his hateful peers.

Making his way towards the inn, Byleth ordered some bread and meat along with a mug. Taking out his journal, he began writing the first entry of the day. A year prior, he had awoken in a forest of Fodlan - something he learned from Bylass - with no memory of his past so he thought it prudent to document each day just in case something similar happened again. Just as he was about to take a bite of bread, someone sat down across from him at the table - it was his boss, Jeralt. Suddenly, his quiet moment was interrupted.

"Good morning, Byleth. How are you doing today?", Jeralt asked politely.

Byleth hesitated before responding, "I'm…doing alright, sir. The latest mission was successful without any casualties." He kept his voice neutral and tried to project an air of stoicism as usual, but there was something in his expression that suggested he wasn't being entirely honest.

"Relax, I'm not here for business. I just want to talk to you."

"Then what do you need from me, sir Jeralt?"

"Be honest with me Byleth, are you bothered by the rumors from other mercenaries? Because if you are, I can have a few words with them so that it won't happen again.", Jeralt asked with concern in his voice.

Byleth stopped mid-bite, his gaze shifting between Jeralt and the bread in his hands. Should he tell the truth and risk further bothering Jeralt or should he lie and act as if nothing happened? But with all the kindness and sincerity Bylass had shown, it would be wrong to disrespect her by not respecting her father. On the other hand, how could he lie to the man who'd taken him in when he had nowhere else to go?

"It's hard to say I feel nothing at all; it's only natural for me to feel a little uncomfortable when rumors begin sprouting about me."

"But I have quickly come to realize something," Byleth answered with determination in his voice.

"What I've seen this past year is that humans are often scared of the unknown, refusing to accept what's right in front of them despite how obvious the truth may be. No matter how many people I saved or how much good I've done, all they ever see in me is a ruthless monster hunting down so-called lesser evils to satiate its bloodlust." His tone was monotonous but his words betrayed the rage and disappointment he felt.

"But as long as I keep on believing in who I am, then I will go wherever my sword is needed, even if history will judge me poorly due to baseless rumors. I won't stand by and witness any injustices committed against innocent people while there's still breath left in me." Anger took over Byleth for a moment and almost smashed the mug he held – luckily though his rational mind returned before he could make a mess in front of Jeralt.

Jeralt remained silent, for he knew the pain that Byleth still held deep in his heart from the event of that night. He felt helpless as he watched a life being taken away, and that feeling had permanently seared itself into Jeralt's soul. Byleth was still haunted by it, but neither he nor Jeralt spoke of it. Jeralt and Byleth hadn't talked much before, so Jeralt tried to make Byleth feel better by inviting him for drinks and talking casually about things other than mission work. Thanks to Byalss' sympathy and her new cheerful attitude, his mood began to improve, preventing him from falling into depression. Though the guilt never fully left him, at least the future looked somewhat more hopeful now.

"You have a strong will, Byleth, and for that, you have my respect," Jeralt said solemnly, "but I'm here if you need support. You don't have to sacrifice yourself for others."

Byleth managed a faint smile as he replied, "Don't worry sir Jeralt. I have a friend who is there for me just like I am here for her." The happiness in his voice was unmistakable.

"Speaking of Bylass, how do you feel about her?", Jeralt's voice got deeper now.

"Uhm, …. She is my friend, or I can even say my best, given how I see it," Byleth replied hesitantly, unsure of where this conversation was heading.

"And don't you want to go further than that?" Jeralt asked pointedly, his gaze never wavering from Byleth.

Byleth's face reddened and he nearly choked on his mug as he realized what Jeralt was getting at. He searched for words but found only silence as the two men locked eyes.

"Easy there, boy. This is not an interrogation and I'm not here to forbid you guys from being friends. I just want to hear from your perspective on this matter for you are her first close contact." Jeralt said softly, seeing the confusion in Byleth's expression.

"With all my respect, sir Jeralt. Although our bond is growing stronger, I assure you we are not acting inappropriately. Moreover, I doubt she will see me in such a way." Byleth answered after silence, though his face remained uncertain and conflicted.

"From what I've seen, she is getting more cheerful whenever she is around you and you guys are often seen together after missions." Jeralt continued gently, uncrossing his arms and leaning forward slightly.

Byleth shifted uncomfortably in his chair before replying carefully "We were just sparring to sharpen our blades and discussed our new strategies for upcoming tasks." But deep down he knew that there was so much more between them than simple friendship - even if neither of them had ever admitted it aloud.

"Ok, I will leave it right there. But if it were to happen, how would you reply?" Jeralt's voice remained serious despite the kindness in his eyes as he waited for an answer from Byleth.

One year ago, the feeling that had burnt inside his heart when their eyes met still puzzled him until now. They were total strangers, but despite this, he could not help being attracted to her beauty - she was a gem of the ocean. As their encounters increased, he admired her cheerful behaviors, which brought sunshine into his life. Yet sometimes, she acted motherly towards him when he got himself hurt through recklessness and, in return, he would lecture her for getting ahead of herself and falling into traps when she teased him during their hunting expeditions. For now, he was content with the state of their friendship and did not want to risk making things awkward - however, if it came to that point...

"If everything escalates to that situation, I will gladly return her feelings, assuming I feel the same way."

"And if you don't?" Jeralt frowned.

"I guarantee you I will do my best to not hurt her. But it doesn't mean I will forsake our friendship because of that." Byleth finalized his tone.

"Byleth, I appreciate what you did for my daughter, and I can't wish for more after seeing her getting happier. However, I hope you know what you are doing - there will be no going back if you mess up."

"Duly noted; I will keep that in mind. Is there anything else you need from me?" Byleth asked after finishing his breakfast.

"That's all for now. Thanks for taking your time with this old man."

"You're welcome! Then I shall take my leave - have a good day, sir Jeralt!"

24th of Red Wolf Moon, 1179

"I can't believe so much time has gone by," Byleth thought to himself as he admired the view of the town at night.

A year ago, if someone asked Byleth where he would be in a year, it would be inconceivable to him that he would have a home and job. But now here he was thanks to an unlikely meeting with the daughter of the infamous Blade Breaker, who decided to take him in despite others' protests. To his surprise, Bylass invited him to meet her at the gates of the village at midnight for something special. He had no idea what she had planned but he agreed anyway. However, as midnight came and went, there was still no sign of Bylass. "Where is she?" he wondered anxiously.

"Sorry for being late, have you been waiting long? '', Bylass asked with an energetic voice but apologetic at the same time.

"I have just arrived so no worries. By the way, what are we going to do?"

"About that … Can you close your eyes for a moment."

"Why?", Byleth tilted his head.

"Just trust me, all right. Like how I trusted your cooking."

"I told you that was my first time, and it was edible! Well... barely.", his voice was full of sarcastic humor as he recalled his last attempt at cooking - and the resulting disaster which looked more like charcoal than a meal.

"Which was burnt and looked like coal. Never mind that now close your eyes."

Before Byleth opened his mouth to counter Bylass, he finally gave up and just followed her request. Although he didn't see anything, he could sense she was leading him somewhere far away from the village as the voices of the residents were slowly fading away until the atmosphere around him was silent.

Then she suddenly stopped indicating that they had arrived at the destination. His eyes were closed but his other senses were active, which piqued his curiosity. Was that meat? Moreover, something was smelling like incense from candles.

"You might open your eyes now," Bylass said.

Byleth took some time to open his eyes then widened at the display before him. He wondered how long she was planning for this as a carpet was placed in the middle of a field blossomed with flowers. A seven-course meal was carefully set and decorated on the sheet. The meats were cooked to perfection, the vegetables freshly picked and coated in sauce, the drinks chilled then liquified, and last but not least- a cake adorned with petals and colored frosting.

"Byl…", Byleth began to stumble over his words.

"Happy birthday, Byleth!"

"But why? I don't even remember my birthdate…", Byleth struggled to think of what to say, but he was silenced when she placed a finger against his lips.

"Your journey of discovering your memories is long from over. Why not take this day to simply enjoy the life you have now?"

"You mean…"

"Yes. Today marks the anniversary of your new beginning!"

25th of Red Wolf Moon, 1179

"But why would my birthday be so important?", Byleth's voice wavered with uncertainty.

"What are you talking about? It's the most special day of the year."

"…"

"Because that's the day you were born into this world."

"Byleth, there is nothing that makes me happier than crossing my path with you that day.", Bylass gazed at him and smiled warmly.

The conflicting emotions swirling within him overwhelmed Byleth and a single tear rolled down his cheek. He remembered what this day had felt like just one year ago when all he could feel was despair and regret; but here, now, it was different. He barely found his voice as he sniffled between words before hugging her.

"Thank you, thank you for everything, Bylass!"

She said nothing, only tightening her hold on Byleth's body. The wind was howling, wavering the flowers as they were lost in each other's comfort. They stood there for a while until Bylass broke the silence.

"We'd better finish the meal, or it will get cold."

"You are right. Anyway, when did you plan all this?"

"A month ago. The idea crossed my mind as I was thinking about our fateful encounter which drove me to a decision to learn baking. The rest was ordered since I didn't have enough time to practice but I guarantee you once I've mastered my cooking skills, it will be better than your overcooked meat.", Bylass said enthusiastically.

Byleth chuckled, found her enthusiasm amusing then joined her for his birthday dinner. As they finished their meat and vegetables, Byleth was about to reach for the cake when she stopped his hands.

"I know you are eager to taste my cake but first, make your wish."

"Is it necessary?"

"You only have this chance once per year. Close your eyes and blow the candles once you've made your wish, please.", her puppy eyes were peering into his own.

"Fine.", Byleth replied and did what she said. Once he made his wish, he blew out the candles and reached for his fork.

"So, what did you wish for?", her soft voice piqued with curiosity.

"What I wish for is simple."

"…"

"Wherever the future takes you, I hope it's somewhere with me!", his voice echoed around her ears.

Bylass was taken aback by his words, causing a wave of embarrassment to surge through her. She knew he hadn't meant it that way, but it still made her flush with shame. He had to be more careful with what he said or she would become even more confused. Still, she couldn't deny that he was quite attractive; his deep blue eyes and wavy blue hair reminded her of the wide ocean. When he was in his serious mode, it seemed as if a cold air surrounded him- something many of the girls in the village found alluring (if it weren't for his reputation). But right now, his genuine smile made her heart flutter and caused butterflies in her stomach. The kind-hearted soul of Byleth pulled at her heartstrings.

"Of course, I look forward to having you on our next adventures.", she laughed nervously ignoring the last stray of thoughts.

"Same goes for me. May I try this divine dish now?", the fork was already in his hands.

"With pleasure."

"You know what, this is the best cake I've tasted", Byleth was chewing happily.

"I bet you said that since this is your first try."

"No, the texture is soft, mixed with an adequate amount of sugar to make the sweet blossom. Here, try some as well."

"If you say so, let's make the most of it, shall we?"

…..

Once the last piece of cake was gone, they started to clean up the prepared to head back. Byleth suggested that she could go back first, and he would do the cleanup since she organized this by herself. Nevertheless, her insistence on sharing their task made him accept her help. It took a while to pack everything, the job was completed now.

"Shall we head back now?"

"Not yet, there is one last thing for you.", Bylass reached her pocket.

"Hmm, there is more?", Byleth was surprised the night had not ended yet.

"Here, this is for you."

As he inspected the gift, he was fascinated by the design of the dagger. Black grip highlighted by golden cross-guard and pomme. The sharp blade was covered in a blue scabbard, matching all these colors into a perfect combination. A beautiful but deadly weapon.

"It's a marvelous weapon, Bylass."

"It's beautiful, isn't it? This dagger had been with me for a long time, now I hand it to your good hands."

"But why would you do so if it were important to you?", his voice sounded hesitatingly.

"Byleth, do you remember that night?", Bylass chose her words carefully.

"…", Byleth said nothing as he recalled the event. His face was unreadable, but she knew better than to assume he was fine.

"I know you have always been a good person, striving for the oppressed no matter the cost. However, remember this, you did your best to save everyone that day.", Bylass genuinely converged her thoughts, trying to reach out to his broken heart.

"I was not fast enough to save her."Byleth's voice was low. Looking away to avoid her gaze.

"I understand no words can alleviate the guilt you feel. But didn't you also tell me that you would keep fighting so that her death would not be in vain?", her soft voice rang to his ears with passion, relieving his grief as his eyes were widening a bit due to her last words.

"We have to keep moving forward, or all lives lost would be meaningless", Byleth reflected in his own words. Something just awakened in him making him feel hopeful now.

"Therefore, this dagger will be the symbol of your undying will. No matter how dire the situation is, or what obstacles lie ahead in your path, if you continue to struggle, a new path will be forged. The path to a brighter future for all of us", Bylass finished her speech with an unshaken voice.

Byleth was speechless for a moment, then closed his eyes while his hands were holding the dagger dearly to his body.

"I will treasure this gift forever. Even when all hope seems to be lost, this dagger will shed new light on the darkness surrounding me as how you guided me tonight."

"I'm pleased to hear you like it. It's late now, shall we go back?", Bylass smiled pleasantly.

"Indeed, if we stay here further, Jeralt might come for my head as he will assume something happened to you.", Byleth joked which got her surprised.

"I did not know you had a way with words. You can say to Jeralt that we had a "fun time" together", Bylass said teasingly.

"Thank you but your suggestion will have your father murdered me instantly so I will pass."

Deciding to have enough fun, they took their stuff and went back to Remire Village. Surprisingly, Jeralt was neither asking what they did nor angry and went for his head once they arrived back home as if he already knew. After cleaning up the remaining food, they said farewell to each other and then headed back to their respective rooms. This celebration was unexpected but at the same time, it was the happiest night he ever had in his life. The past was still unknown to him without any progress. However, he was pleased with what he was having and wished the moments he shared with her would last forever. His family could have been lost to him, but he just found a new one now- the one that would always be by his side.

Even if this world might be fractured, even if it is tainted by evil, there are still people who care about you in your time of need.

"You were right. Although I can't remember your name now, you have my deepest gratitude. This time I will not let my loved one down.", Byleth whispered, his hands still clinging to the dagger.

Then he laid down on his bed until he surrendered to the tiredness and fell asleep. The future was undoubtedly unpredictable, but despite that, he felt eager to see a new day tomorrow. Nothing was predestined. The obstacles in his past could become gateways that led to new beginnings.

For the first time in his "new" life, Byleth slept soundly with a smile still lingering on his face