25th of Ethereal Moon,1178
"Thank you for your cooperation," Byleth replied to the villager as she bid him farewell.
"So, did you find any lead?" Bylass asked in her monotone voice.
"Another dead end as I predicted. I should've known this would happen as I barely remember anything about me." He sighed sadly and his shoulders slumped in defeat." Thank you for taking your time to help me in this hopeless task."
"It's not hopeless, Byleth. Even though your family might be lost to you for now, I'm sure they are still waiting for you." Again, her voice was monotonic and her face was stoic despite how concerned she was trying to express. However, unlike the others she encountered in her life, Byleth simply gave her a faint smile.
"Thank you for your consideration, Bylass. Anyway, did something trouble you today?"
"What do you mean?"
"In our early mission, you seemed … space out a little bit. I know the others might have not noticed but I can see it in your eyes." His voice was filled with worry despite how calm he sounded. After a pregnant silence, Bylass directed her eyes to the other side and left a heavy sigh.
"Say … Byleth. Have you ever thought about a peaceful life?"
"A peaceful life?"
"Yes. A calmer life where we don't have to make a living by repeating this cycle of bloodshed anymore." Her voice remained emotionless but there was an unmistakable heaviness behind her words that left an air of sadness between them. Byleth quickly understood as he directed his eyes toward where she was glancing.
"Mama!" A young girl shouted excitedly and rushed toward the florist who smiled gently in return and kneeled to pick up her daughter.
"Rosa, how many times do I have to tell you not to bother your mother while she is working?" The father gave a disapproving look as his wife brushed her daughter's hair gently.
"It's alright, darling! Our little Rosa just misses her mom a lot, doesn't she?"
"Mama, look. I made this for you." The little girl smiled happily as she gave the florist a bouquet of yellow lilies.
"Aww, thank you, my little angel. Come, let Mama reward you."
Byleth felt a tug in his heart as he watched the family smile and laugh with each other. He envied them for their joy, knowing all too well what it was like to be without the kind of love they shared. Still, it brought him comfort knowing that he was here now to protect these moments, no matter the cost.
But not all was peaceful around him. His companion stood nearby; her stoic expression unchanged despite the light atmosphere around her which made her earn that wretched title- "The Ashen Demon"- but all Byleth could see was a kind and generous girl ever since they met. Beneath her hard exterior lay a girl eager to help others, even at her own expense- just as she had done for him. This scene gave him pause, thinking that maybe he and his friend were alike in more ways than one.
"A calmer life indeed… It sounds like an attractive option at times like this, doesn't it?" Byleth replied softly.
"Do you believe such a dream is possible for us?"
"Who knows but fate is always unpredictable, isn't it? Perhaps one day, we won't have to repeat this same routine over and over again." His voice was heavy yet there was a spark of optimism that almost made her smile.
"What would you do if you were not mercenary anymore?" Her question caught him off guard and he fell silent. After a moment of contemplation, he finally answered nonchalantly,
"A professor at an academy, I guess."
"A professor? Did you become a scholar before?" Her eyes blinked in surprise.
"Never mind, it was just a silly thought of mine. How about you?"
"I don't know but flowers do make me feel at ease sometimes."
"So, a florist then?"
"I think so. You are hired if you are interested." She replied jokingly despite her monotone which seemed to amuse Byleth as his eyes rolled in amusement.
"Then you can become my student if we ever end up at an academy."
"I look forward to it, Professor Byleth!"
30th of Harpstring Moon, 1180
"For the last time, Byleth! That's not what we should focus on."
"I'm just voicing my opinion here, professor. We should focus on everyone's weaknesses as well."
"Such as teaching Linhardt sword fighting?" Her eyes rolled mockingly.
"I know he is proficient at healing, but it will not do any harm expanding out of his comfort zone." He sighed exasperatedly.
"What about Edelgard then? The last time I looked at the roster, it didn't say anything about her strong affinity with bow."
"But she is still capable of doing so to a certain extent. Besides, her swordsmanship and axe proficiency are already significant."
"And how do you know that?" Her eyes narrowed at him suspiciously.
"I've been training with her for a while now but that's not important. What I'm trying to tell you is that focusing only on strengths will not be ideal in some situations."
"Could you please remind me who the professor is here? Me or you?" Bylass crossed her arms and gave him a mocking look.
"That's not what I …"
"Wake me up once they are done quarreling." Linhardt yawned and started to close his eyes.
"Come on, Linhardt! Isn't this entertaining though?" Caspar said excitedly and patted Linhardt's back, making the green-haired student give him a disapproving look.
"Indeed, however, I'm surprised to know that you've been sneaking off with Dad without informing Mom, Edie." Dorothea smiled teasingly at Edelgard who was scratching her forehead and left a heavy sigh.
"Dorothea, what are you implying?"
"Nothing, I'm just jealous that you've become their favorite daughter that quickly." Dorothea giggled playfully.
"In case you forget, they are around the same age as us … are they?" Edelgard paused and looked at her classmates." Did they mention anything about this?"
"I don't think so, Edelgard. Last time I had a tea party with Byleth, he admitted that neither of them knew about their ages." Ferdinand replied.
"Tea? Well, I guess I should not have expected that much from you, Aegir." Hubert smiled sarcastically.
"I will not answer to someone who drinks coffee even at midnight."
"Enough! We already have two people arguing so I would prefer you both not picking a fight here." Edelgard sighed.
"It's not me who started it." Ferdinand mumbled before continuing." Anyway, should we intervene or let them continue?" His eyes were directed at his professor and classmates who were still busy arguing.
"Don't worry. If what Byleth said is true, they will sort things out soon." Edelgard smiled slightly and prepared to pack her things, surprising every student who was still confused by her words.
"All right, class! Change of plans, we will go to Training Field now."
Byleth trudged along the narrow cobblestone streets, feeling a heavy weight of defeat on his shoulders. He had been so sure that he was right — that his strategy would help the Black Eagles gain an edge in combat. But when he challenged Linhardt to a duel with swords drawn, the green-haired student had been too lazy to fight and dropped his weapon instantly. Then, during the hand-to-hand sparring session, Byleth had easily bested Ferdinand despite his natural affinity for weapons, while Edelgard failed to shoot a single target. In the end, none of them managed to execute what Byleth had planned, leading to Bylass having punished him by ordering him to buy some supplies for their upcoming mission — which is why he was lost in this town instead of taking a nap as he planned.
"Who is the professor she said!" Byleth muttered sarcastically." Perhaps I should reconsider that offer of hers one day."
"I think that would be a good choice. Didn't I tell you that you would make a good professor?"
"I highly doubt so… Edelgard, what are you doing here?"
"Right after you left, the professor asked me to assist you in case you got lost which I think already happened." Edelgard smiled teasingly.
He sighed briefly and shook his head.
"Tough she may look but it seems she cares for you, Byleth. Anyway, may I be your guide now?"
"I guess I have no choice then. Lead the way, Edelgard."
The pair walked through the town, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling marketplace until they arrived at their destination. Byleth took out a list and began purchasing items from the shopkeeper while Edelgard looked on. When all the items had been purchased, he handed some of the vulnerary to her with a glance to ensure he hadn't forgotten anything. Once the job was done, they started to walk back to the Monastery in comfortable silence until Edelgard finally broke it:
"Don't worry. Though archery is not my strong suit, I must say your takes on strategy are quite interesting. May I ask why you believe we should cover our weaknesses?" Edelgard asked curiously.
"Let me ask you this first," Byleth said, his voice low and intense. "What makes a team efficient?"
"As the professor said, it's due to the allocation of the team based on their talents. The vanguards will serve in the front while range units will stay behind and support them," Edelgard replied without hesitation.
"That's correct," Byleth said slowly. "And this also applies to our class just as you said. But what if one of our enemies sneaks from behind and stabs our healer?"
Edelgard's eyes widened as Byleth's tone grew even deeper.
"Then the nearest close-range combat unit will arrive to save our healer or one of our mages will use their ability to counter the assassin," she said confidently.
"However, the element of surprise is still there which already caught us off guard so the healer would likely be dead or gravely injured before we can react," Byleth argued.
Edelgard bit her lip and looked away. "Then we have no choice but to accept the reality," she said sadly.
"But what if that healer is Linhardt, will you still let your friend suffer that fate?"
"Of course not," Edelgard said fiercely. "But sometimes things do not go as we want, Byleth. Fate is always cruel no matter how much we hate it."
"If that is the will of the Goddess, then she can go and shove her own throat." Edelgard tilted her head at his reply as he snapped bitterly.
Byleth continued, his words charged with determination. "I understand your responsibility as future Emperor which requires you to accept minor sacrifices for the sake of the people. However, the means never justify the ends, Edelgard. It doesn't matter what the results can be, what important is that we tried everything we could to not leave everybody behind."
Said the puppet who did not hesitate to forsake everyone - even your so-called "family"!
As he finished speaking, his head twitched with pain, and he reached up to cradle it in his hand. His eyes flickered briefly as if flashing with a scene unseen before disappearing. Edelgard stepped closer, concern knitting her brows together.
"Byleth, is everything alright?"
He shook his head and recomposed himself. "It's nothing, just a normal headache." He paused for a moment before continuing. "What I meant to say is there is no harm in getting out of comfort zones when it comes to combat experience which will help each member capable of defending themselves."
Edelgard's voice suddenly filled with interest as she responded thoughtfully "So, you believe that we should strive by ourselves without relying on the others?"
"I'm not saying we can achieve everything alone. There is nothing wrong with relying on our friends, Edelgard."
"But you recklessly rushed to fight the bandits in our first meeting and the latest mission. Isn't it a bit contradicting what you just said?" Byleth fell silent until Edelgard started to regret her words as his eyes grew darker. Fortunately, Byleth relaxed a bit and continued in a resigned tone.
"For two years I've been fighting battles non-stop, like it was my only way to atone for my sins. But after what happened recently… I started to rethink things. It hurt someone important to me when I tried to carry all that weight alone." He looked up with determination. "So, I'm going to take more care for our next mission - for her sake as much as mine."
Edelgard smiled warmly at him, though there was a hint of sadness in her voice. "It must be nice to have someone who cares about you so deeply - I'm sure our professor will be delighted to hear that from you."
"Thank you, Edelgard!" He nodded, ready to say something, but changed his mind at the last moment. She noticed and asked, "Is there something you want to say?"
"You've been very kind to me even though we just met recently. I … I am just curious." Surprisingly, she answered with a pleased smile.
"I suppose there is an unexplainable familiarity between us even though we only recently met - it's almost as if we have known each other for longer than is conceivable. Furthermore, I believe our personalities may also be quite similar in some respects."
"Really? Can you explain more about that?" But before he could get the answer, they started seeing the familiar sight of Garreg Mach ahead of them.
"Ah, it appears that our task here is done for now and I must attend to other matters as well. We can discuss it further during our next training session,"
"That's fine by me," he replied with a nod of understanding. "Have a good day, Edelgard."
A few hours earlier
Bylass stood at the river's edge, her fishing pole held over the water, balanced delicately in her hands. The sun had just crested the horizon, casting a warm glow across the misty riverbank. She felt a tug on the line and deftly pulled up on the reel. The water shimmered as a fish leaped out of its depths, glistening in the afternoon's light. Bylass smiled as she eased the hook out of its mouth, but then noticed her companion, a sleek black cat with piercing blue eyes, perched at her feet. It stared up expectantly, waiting for its share of lunch. With a sigh, Bylass carefully placed the wriggling fish on the ground and watched as the cat pounced and devoured it with relish.
"You are waiting for him, aren't you? Unfortunately, he is busy for a moment so I will accompany you for now." Byleth smiled as she scratched the cat's ears, making it purr slightly.
"I didn't know you had a soft spot for pets as well. Let me guess, it is his cat, right?" Jeralt said with a playful smirk.
"Why do you have to bring him up in every conversation, Jeralt?" Bylass groaned.
"And I thought you enjoyed that teasing, kid. You seemed to accept how you felt after what we conversed in my office."
"But teasing is out of option." Her warning voice made him giggle before slowly switching to his calm one, and she noticed what he was about to say.
"Anyway, I know many has happened when I was away but how was the mission, Bylass?"
Bylass steeled her features in response. "I guess I can't avoid it then. On the day of the mission, everything went smoothly as there was no casualty on our side, and the bandits were eliminated."
"But the aftermath wasn't favorable to you, was it? I asked some of the knights earlier and the rumors about you made me uncomfortable." Jeralt muttered bitterly.
She heaved an exasperated sigh. "It's alright, Jeralt! However, what bothers me most is how that idiot tried to take all the blame alone again."
"I must agree with you. Even when he joined our mercenary group, I noticed that he tended to direct all the rumors toward only him even though it had been your reputation for years. And your physical resemblances were perfect for it which only made people assume that he was the real "Ashen Demon"."
"But those days are gone now as there is no point in dwelling in the past. No matter how harsh the future may look like, I will keep moving forward. Besides, I'm enjoying this new life of ours." Bylass smiled happily.
"I'm still surprised how quickly you managed to associate with those nobles," Jeralt teased. "You were acting like their mother!"
"How much did they tell you?" Bylass said wearily.
"Not much," He replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. "One of the girls mentioned how you two were arguing about the best methods to teach and how you sent the House leader to assist him even though you had punished him earlier."
"If I didn't do so, it would be me who had to search for him later. In case you forgot, he tried to sneak out of the forest at midnight-talk about reckless." She ran her hand through her hair in mild frustration.
Jeralt suddenly burst out laughing which made her face scrunch up in confusion. "What's so funny?"
"You just reminded me of your mother when we started to know each other. I can't forget how she gave me precise instructions before every mission despite her usual composed demeanor. I guess that's where you inherited it from then."
"And was she angry when you came back with injuries over your body?" Bylass replied sarcastically.
"I think you already have the answer then." Jeralt smiled before muttering quietly. "If only you were here with us."
Bylass asked with curiosity tugging at her voice. "Speaking of mother, last time you told me she was a nun from this Monastery. However, I've not seen her for a month despite knowing most of the staff here. Where is she?" Jeralt stared back at her, and his expression became unreadable. Seconds seemed to stretch on like an eternity until he finally spoke again.
"Follow me. There is something I want to show you."
Bylass followed her father as they made their way silently through the stone-walled corridors of Garreg Mach Academy. She trailed him past the Knight's Hall and out onto a path lined with tall and bushy green shrubs. They kept walking until the greenery started to thin out and eventually disappeared altogether. All that remained was an unassuming corner, hidden away from prying eyes.
To Bylass' knowledge, this corner of Garreg Mach was an unlikely destination unless someone had plans for a nap. But even so, she couldn't deny the rugged beauty of the mountains that soared overhead. It reminded her of those days when she was younger- simply enjoying the beauty of nature by herself. However, she doubted that was the reason why Jeralt took her here.
"Here we are," Jeralt said once they descended from a stair to a secluded area she had never seen before.
"I did not know there was a cemetery here. What are we here for, Jeralt?" Bylass asked as her eyes took a glance at the gravestones. Jeralt said nothing until suddenly stopping at a specific headstone.
"This is what I wanted to show you. It's where your mother is buried." He glanced away from Bylass as he said this, not confident to meet her gaze.
Bylass felt like she had been slapped in the face; her thoughts tumbling wildly. She had thought her mother was… Her mouth opened but no words came out. She did not even know what to say about this at all.
Jeralt's voice trembled with regret. "I should have told you sooner, but I didn't want to ruin the mood that day. I'm sorry if I gave you any false hope."
Bylass stood before the gravestone, her thoughts filled with confusion and sorrow. Questions raced through her mind - why was her mother buried here? Why had her father never spoken of her until now? Even then, why did he hesitate to tell her anything until twenty-one years later? Why had he let her believe she was still alive when she wasn't? Pain and anguish churned within Bylass as she tried to make sense of it all.
"Sitri Eisner," Bylass said calmly, taking Jeralt by surprise. "That was her name, right?" Her eyes were gazing at the name on the headstone.
"Yes." He replied with a small nod.
"It was a beautiful name, father."
"I'm sure she would be delighted to hear that from you."
"What was she like?"
Jeralt took a deep breath and answered.
"She was gentle and kind, always eager to help others. Just like you of course. But she could also be quite mischievous at times." He chuckled at the memory.
"I remember how she used to tease me when I gave her flowers in an 'unfashionable' way! I lost count of how often she brought it up!" Bylass giggled in response to his story.
Jeralt's smile suddenly softened as he recalled his late wife fondly. "To this day, I can never forget how beautiful her smile was and the warmth and hope that her laugh filled my heart with. She seemed happiest when she was pregnant with you."
Bylass remained motionless, her gaze still fixated on the gravestone ahead of them.
"She died shortly after your birth," Jertal sighed sadly, "so she never had the chance to spend much time with you. But she loved you dearly; that much I can guarantee." A grateful smile formed on his face.
Bylass nodded at her father's words and remained calm, though she could not help but feel warmth due to his words. Yet something was wrong...something she dreaded delving into.
"She died when I was born, right?"
"Yes," Jeralt said quietly, the pain in his voice unmistakable.
"Was her death from childbirth?"
Jeralt hesitated before softly replying, "Yes."
"Do you ever regret having me?" Her question hit like a bomb, and suddenly her father became enraged.
"What has gotten into you?!" Jeralt grabbed her shoulders tightly as she refused to look him in the eye, shame coursing through her veins. "What would your mother think if she heard that?"
After a pause, Jeralt's expression softened, and he spoke with clarity. "I know I wasn't the best father when you needed me the most, but never forget this – I never regretted having you. Not even once. Being your father was always my greatest achievement." He paused for a breath before continuing. "That's
why..."
"...I want to give this to you - it's the only memento I have of her. When the time comes, I hope you'll pass this on to someone you love. Just like how much I loved her." Bylass looked down and saw the object he had just placed in her hands - a beautiful silver ring decorated with colorful gems.
Bylass stared at the ring in her hands, mouth slightly agape in surprise. She felt her cheeks grow warm as a picture of a blue-haired man appeared in her mind. She couldn't help but clutch the ring a bit tighter, holding it close to her heart.
"I'd say you already know who the ring is for," Jeralt said teasingly.
"Maybe… You would recognize him." Bylass replied, managing to make a weak laugh in an attempt to break the tension.
Jeralt chuckled. "Believe me when I say Sitri would approve of him, Bylass. Honestly, I see so much of myself in him when I watch the two of you together."
"Being oblivious to any hint she dropped?" Bylass grinned wryly.
"I believe so. Even after Sitri and I got together, she was still ranting about it. It looks like history has repeated itself."
Bylass sighed and rolled her eyes. "Then I hope he doesn't take forever to realize my feelings before I turn into an old woman."
"Don't be that pessimistic, kid. He'll realize his true desires soon enough. Especially after the play you both performed." Jeralt giggled." That true love kiss was truly a masterpiece."
"And because of someone who looked too intimidating whenever a man was too close to his daughter, he decided to kiss my forehead, unlike the first time." A small sigh escaped her mouth as she remembered the moment fondly.
"To my defense, it only happened when I first knew him, but he finally gained my trust once we conversed more often. Despite the odds in our first meeting, I'm grateful for how he managed to help you reconnect to the life you had before."
Bylass furrowed her brow and asked." What do you mean?"
"Didn't you become more expressive shortly after his arrival?"
She thought for a moment before realization dawned on her face.
"I believe there is something I must tell you then."
Byleth flexed his muscles with a satisfied groan as he finished setting up the classroom supplies. He glanced around the halls, searching for Bylass, and decided to investigate further by venturing through the quarters and past the Dining Hall. As he did, he picked up two fish sandwiches for him and her - assuming she hadn't eaten yet - before continuing his journey. After searching for what seemed like forever without success, Byleth finally spotted her sitting beside the river. Her eyes were distant as they stared off into nothingness, making him question what had put her in such an introspective state. He knew he wouldn't get any answers right away, so instead he silently approached her and sat down beside her.
"Looks like someone finally made his way back." She broke the silence with her usual teasing voice, though slightly more subdued than usual.
"And yet you still decided to send Edelgard to assist me. You should trust me more just like how I trusted most of your plans." She grinned slightly before directing her eyes to his hands.
"Anyway, are those sandwiches?"
"That's right. I assumed you had not had dinner yet, so I bought one for you. Here, have some." She smiled understandingly and took the sandwich, not forgetting to bid a thank you to him.
The pair stood beside the river, watching as the sun slowly disappeared below the horizon. Its warm radiating light mixed with the tranquil reflection of the lake until it was completely gone, replaced by a velvety blanket of stars twinkling against a deep red sky. They ate their sandwiches in silence, taking in the peaceful atmosphere of the scene before them. When the last bite was finished, Byleth turned to her and asked hesitantly.
"Bylass…"
"Yes?"
"Is there something wrong?"
She sighed softly, avoiding his gaze. "I guess nothing can escape you then. It's just … there are a lot of things in my mind now."
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked gently, struggling to keep the concern out of his tone. Fortunately, she gave him a slight nod and began.
"Ever since I was little, I'd been wondering why I grew up without my mother just like any other kid. Just as I thought I would finally meet her here; she had already left this world the day I was born."
Byleth remained silent, uncertain what to say or do in this situation. He knew that this day would come sooner or later ever since they briefly talked about her mother a long time ago and dreaded it for all the pain he knew it would bring her. Seconds felt like an eternity before he mustered the courage to speak.
"I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to apologize for, silly." She managed a weak giggle. "I guess we are already even now."
"Bylass." He gave her a disapproving look." It's not a competition."
"But still," she began softly, clenching her fist tightly as if trying to stop herself from saying more, "If only things were different..." Her sentence trailed off into silence as she averted her gaze from Byleth's.
The air between them was heavy and thick, and the silence felt like it had an oppressive weight. Byleth remembered their time in Jeralt's mercenary band—how she would light up with laughter when he said something awkward, how they'd stay up all night practicing sword swings in the moonlight. Now, her features were tense, drawn back into a serious expression that reminded him of when he suffered from nightmares; he wanted to do something for her, anything to bring back that light within her.
He took her hand gently and began leading her away.
"Where are we going?" She asked hesitantly, a hint of confusion in her voice.
Byleth drew in a deep breath before answering softly "Home."
The word instantly brought a sense of warmth to her face as she understood the meaning behind it. With a satisfied nod, the pair quickly made their way to the stable where they saddled up a Pegasus horse. Byleth offered his hand invitingly and she quickly accepted, taking comfort in her tight embrace around his waist as they soared through the sky toward their destination; savored every second of this moment and hoped it would never end.
From atop their winged steed, the pair surveyed the village of Remire. It was a place that had once been their home despite the hardships it brought them. As they dismounted and stowed the Pegasus at a nearby stable, they took a peaceful stroll through the village, its streets empty save for a few stragglers making their way home.
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out to them.
"It's been a while, Bylass, Byleth," said a middle-aged woman in an apron, emerging from her home.
"Long time no see, Lydia," said Bylass with a bow. "My new profession has kept me quite occupied, but I'm sorry I couldn't visit you weekly like I promised."
"It's alright, girl," said Lydia with a smile. "Then which wind takes the young couple this village at this hour?" Byleth sighed heavily, unamused by her teasing tone.
"It's been quite some time since we last visited our garden," he said, cutting right to business. "We want to check how it's doing. Also, thanks for taking care of it in our absence, Lydia." He bowed respectfully.
"It's not a big deal, Byleth. I must admit I was surprised when you two asked for my help before you left the village," she replied warmly. "But who am I to deny requests from my greatest student and her friend?" She turned to Bylass. "Do you still practice making cake?"
"It's getting better and better, Lydia," replied Bylass politely. "I'll let you taste some when I come back next time."
"I look forward to it," smiled Lydia before bidding farewell and disappearing into her house.
"She is a kind soul, isn't she?"
"Agreed. Despite the awkwardness in our first meeting, we still managed to be on friendly terms to this day. Anyway, shall we go now?" Bylass nodded at his question, and they started to walk to the far east of Remire.
As the last buildings of Remire Village disappeared from the horizon, the lake shimmered under the light of the moon. Byleth and Bylass arrived at a house with a neglected façade, but a well-tended garden surrounding it. In its center was an array of pink valerian flowers blossoming brightly even in the night.
Byleth took her hand and led her forward until they stopped before a flower bed made up of various valerian flowers painted in shades of pink. He quietly released her hand, and she knelt in the bed, settling in among the flowers. She softly ran her fingers along one of the petals as she closed her eyes, and a breeze blew through the garden, causing the flowers to rustle like a wave. The sound echoed like a lullaby, and a contented smile played on Bylass' lips as Byleth stood entranced by the beauty that surrounded them.
"Thank you, Byleth." She slowly stood up; her voice was getting softer now.
"It's the least I can do after everything you've done for me." He nodded; a satisfied smile was on his face." Are you feeling better now?"
"I'm fine now. Though I did not expect you would bring us here when you said home."
"Despite everything that happened here, it is still where everything began. I'm glad that I met you that day."
"You were lost in the forest while trying to find a way out at night. Then we fought side by side as if we were comrades for years." She replied in a singing tone.
"Never have I expected the calm woman I met that day to turn out to be a cheeky teenage girl. Life is truly unexpected, isn't it?" His comment caught her off guard until she giggled.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"Nothing, I'm just impressed even you forgot what happened." Her eyes were directed around the garden as she held her hands on her chest. "After all, it was you who helped me regain what I lost, Byleth."
20th of Guardian Moon, 1178
Bylass walked the streets of Remire Village after returning from her mission. A familiar emptiness filled her heart as she thought about what she had done. She could never erase the images of the bandits' blood that stained her hands, nor how their faces twisted in fear and despair before they met their end. Yet she could not fathom why this fate was given to her—cursed with a blank face ever since birth that no one could read, unable to experience the emotions that other children felt so freely. Bylass remembered Avina's last words before succumbing to defeat, and although she told Jeralt that she was fine, inside she was torn apart by what could have been if her life wasn't like this. She stood there motionless, lost in a storm of conflicting thoughts.
Until a voice called out to her.
"Bylass, is there something wrong?"
She met Byleth's gaze, his eyes soft with concern despite the composure he held.
"It's alright. I was just thinking about random things." She waved her hands and shrugged off the topic." Do you need something from me?"
"Are you available now? I would like to discuss our strategies for the next mission."
"Sure. Let's head to our usual meeting point then." But before she could leave, Byleth stopped and asked hesitantly.
'Actually, would you mind closing your eyes for a few moments."
Bylass widened her eyes. "May I ask why?" Instead, he gave her an unreadable look and said." Just follow my lead, please?"
Despite her confusion, Bylass decided to play along and took his hand. They started to depart away from Remire until he suddenly stopped. He let go of her hand and began.
"You may open your eyes now."
Bylass slowly opened her eyes until she was overwhelmed by what she was witnessing. She was aware that there was an abandoned house next to the river on the outskirts of Remire but there had never been a small garden of various flowers until today. Where there had been only a grassy lawn and high weeds before, flowers grew— yellow lilies and red roses. They were in full bloom despite the late hour. The petals glowed like stained glass in the moonlight.
"So, do you like it?" His voice broke her out of thoughts. Her face remained stoic despite the confusion inside her heart.
"Byleth, this is …"
"Do you remember what we discussed on that day about a peaceful life? You said you wanted to be a florist, didn't you?"
"But even so, why would you?" Bylass stuttered, her voice was full of confusion for the first time.
"Aren't friends supposed to help each other? I know it's still a humble start but perhaps one day you can put that life away and start your dream." Byleth replied blankly and looked around the garden. Unbeknownst to him, a small smile was on his face.
Bylass was speechless, her heart torn between confusion and joy. Here was someone who had known her for such a short time yet still made such great efforts to make her seemingly impossible dream come true. A warmth spread through her body as she realized just how lucky she was to have found true friendship in him- something she thought she had lost a decade earlier.
"I guess you like it then," Byleth replied with a satisfied hum.
"Why so?" "Why so?" Bylass asked, taken aback by his statement.
"You are smiling."
Her lips curved upward involuntarily as the realization set in that, for the first time in her life, she was allowed to feel joy and express it openly without any difficulty. At that moment, something inside her shifted. It was like the feeling at their meeting but different- something new, something powerful. She didn't know what lay ahead but if he still needed her, she would gladly embrace it.
Without hesitation, she launched herself into his arms and hugged him tightly. He embraced her back and they stood peacefully in each other's arms until she finally felt ready to take on all that tomorrow had to offer - alongside her dearest friend.
"To my credit, I did not do much," Byleth replied.
"You are acting like that again." Bylass smiled." I don't know whether you are just being humble or dense."
"That was nothing compared to what you did for me, Bylass. You were the only one that vouched for me when nobody else would. Even till this day." Byleth left a brief sigh.
"But it was thanks to you that I finally managed to smile. And that alone was more than what I did for you."
"I'm glad that you hold me so much regard." He stopped before asking sarcastically. "But that still does not explain how you became cheeky, professor."
"Wasn't it due to the "operation" in the Empire?"
"Didn't we clarify it was your idea first?" He gave her a disapproving look.
"Perhaps amnesia caught up to you again." She giggled." It was you who volunteered to dress like a maid for the infiltration, wasn't' it?'
Byleth's face was calm until realization hit him as he was blushing and quickly avoided her gaze.
"Forget it, please,"
"Come on. We made a good pair on that night. Though the aftermath was out of control. At least they would not be able to identify us."
"May I remind you that our classmates come from the Empire and that alone terrifies me. Perhaps I should have done it alone that day instead."
"And who would rescue you at the last moment?" She asked teasingly.
"I would manage on my own." He replied defensively.
"You are stubborn, aren't you?" She sighed and looked around the garden.
"Anyway, there is something I want to ask you?"
"Sure. I'm all ears."
"It's been on your mind ever since you became the professor, but do you still want to become a florist?" He asked conflictedly." I know the time at the academy is beyond what you've always dreamt of so I will understand if you…" She put a finger on his lips before he could finish.
"What are you saying, silly? Of course, the answer is obvious. I've never forgotten what we built here, Byleth. After the study is done, I will return here and start my shop. The offer still stands for you." She said shyly in the last sentence.
Byleth was silent for a moment before he replied vaguely." That doesn't sound so bad."
"You think so?" She asked hesitantly. "What about your family? What will you do if you are finally reunited with them?"
"Honestly, I have no idea. Part of me still wishes to return to them but after everything that happened, I guess I will return here once I've sorted things out. If your shop still needs an assistant." He smiled pleasantly.
"Of course." Happiness was flushed over her face as she hugged him. The pair said nothing but enjoyed each other's comfort silently on the chill moon night.
"Incredible. Once again you forget where you come from, don't you." The figure spat out the words as his eyes burned with white-hot rage and yet calculated. His cruel sneer revealed no mercy and an unspoken malice that hung in the air like a tangible fog.
"How long until your false path finally shatters you? How much longer will it take for your lies to break you down and consume you, Byleth?"