Part 1: White Clouds
Hidden Potential
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
Sitri was in the infirmary of the hospital wing, sweating hard as she felt pain everywhere around her. She was currently in labour. Her water ended up breaking overnight and Jeralt ended up having to rush her to the infirmary. He wanted to stay and help her, but he was told to stay out as Sitri just wanted to do this alone. But also, she could feel it coming. The end.
She wasn't a fool. She knew that this kid was killing her. No, it wasn't the kid. It was Rhea and her meddling about with things she shouldn't be meddling with.
Rhea had explained the process of using the Crest Stone to keep her alive. How she implanted it in her heart that day when she crashed here. But that's all it was doing to her at the end of the day. She was effectively a walking corpse, and worse of all, the Crest Stone was failing, it couldn't keep her gripped to this world and with each passing second, she grew weaker.
And this was the epitome of it. She lost so much blood from this that the nurses were amazed that she was still alive.
"Push harder!"
"WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M DOING?!" Sitri screamed as she crushed the headboard in a way to quell her agony. But it only made her more frustrated as the wood now dropped to the ground.
This scared one of the nurses into scrambling out the room as the head nurse held her hand. This was someone Sitri could rely on, as she had been taking care of her since she got to this planet. "You're almost there dear. Just a little more. One last push okay? Can you do that?"
Could she do that? Sitri wasn't sure. She was completely drained, and she felt woozy due to the amount of blood that she lost. She hadn't felt this way in years. Not even when she purged planets and but off more than she can chew. She felt completely helpless, tired, and worse, failing to stay alive. But if she didn't do this, the child inside her would die. And she couldn't have gone through all of this just to lose a precious life. So with a weary sigh, she steeped her resolve.
"Let's do it."
"Good girl. Now one, two, three!"
Sitri squeezed her eyes shut and gritted her teeth so hard she was afraid that she might have broken them and screamed loudly which echoed throughout the entire Monastery. It was complete agony to do this task. But then she had a feeling of emptiness as the pain dulled. Did she do it? The head nurse smiled as she had a little baby in her arms.
"It's a girl."
Sitri slowly tilted her head to see, but the head nurse had a worried look on her face. "T-There's no movement…"
…Fuck.
The head nurse looked at Sitri and closed her eyes, shaking her head. "I'm so sorry."
Sitri was at a loss on what to do. Her child… was a stillborn? She saw the child in the nurses arms, and she was right. No movement, no breathing at all.
But Sitri knew something else. That final push was the last straw, she could feel her life draining away. That's when she remembered about what's in her chest. Her eyes hardened and she looked at the nurse.
"Give her to me. And get Lady Rhea."
"M-Miss Sitri, are you-"
"NOW!" Sitri yelled as she wasn't in the mood to argue. Panicking, the nurse set her in Sitris arms and ran out the room. She slowly looked down to her child's face and her eyes softened a little.
The child was almost identical to her. Only instead of her green hair, she had tufts of blue hair on her head, but what really made her happy was the fact that she had a little brown tail that was limp at her side.
"Good… at least the Saiyans will live on if this works."
That's when the door opened and Rhea came walking in, with the head nurse behind her. But Sitri glared at her and stated that she and Rhea be left alone.
The nurse complied and slowly backed out as Rhea kneeled beside the bed. But her eyes lowered when she saw the stillborn.
"She… looks beautiful. Sitri I'm sorr-"
"Shut up." Sitri said. "You're going to do something for me. Got it?"
This shocked Rhea to no end. What in the world does she want now? Sitri answered that question. "Give her my heart."
"W-What? I cannot do that, if I take it out, then you'll die!"
"Couldn't you tell that I'm already dying?" Sitri snapped, stunning Rhea. "Would you rather let two people die, or give one the chance to live?"
Her eyes then softened as her head slumped to see Rhea. "Please… I don't have long… save her… save Byleth…"
"Is… that her name?"
"It is…"
Rhea was silent for a moment. She respected Sitri, she really did. But this was just another failure at the end of the day. All she had to show was a half breed-
Wait a minute.
She looked up at the ceiling as new thoughts entered her mind. This was perfect! This one may have been a failure, but she has another chance! To start anew and bring back her mother! And it's not like this is foreign to her, it's exactly what she did to Sitri. Not only that, but she had the DNA of Jeralt, who had the Crest of Seiros!
This could be the one! She might succeed this time!
'Mother… we have another chance!'
She then looked at Sitri and gave a wide smile. "I will do it."
But then Rhea gasped when Sitri grabbed her dress and pulled her close so they were eye to eye. "I don't know what's going through that head of yours. But you better make sure my daughter lives and only that. She's not your puppet. Got it?"
"…Very well. Let's get started." Rhea mumbled, pulling up her sleeves and her hands glowed with green magic.
"Wait."
Sitri slowly looked to her left hand and tugged off her wedding ring. "Give this to Jeralt… when it's done…"
"…I will."
Jeralt had been busy pacing back and forth for hours. He couldn't stop as he was worried about Sitri. The blood in her room when her water broke was enough to send alarms in his head. Not to mention the screams of agony that went through the building sent everyone on edge.
He had little hope that his wife would survive. It seemed that both of them had known that. But still, he could at least believe that both she and the child would live.
"Captain Jeralt."
He spun around to see the head nurse with Rhea, the former holding a bundle in her arms. But only one question rang through his mind as he walked up to them. "Where's Sitri?"
The head nurse shook her head. "I'm sorry. It was too much for her body to take. And for a while, it seemed that we lost the child too."
Rhea clasped her hands together and closed her eyes. "But it seems that the Goddess blessed us with a miracle. The child is alive and healthy."
Jeralt just stood in place as he couldn't hear Rhea. Sitri was gone.
She was gone. He will never see her again. Of course she was gone. It didn't take a genius to see how frail she looked. Sitri must've sent him out because she didn't want him to see how weak she was.
Wait. They almost lost the child?
He almost cried at that, he almost lost both his wife and his newborn. But he managed to stop himself, he wouldn't show weakness around anyone. Instead, he just looked to Rhea. "Did she name the child?"
Rhea simply nodded. "Byleth."
"…Give Byleth to me."
The nurse nodded and slowly handed the bundle to him and Jeralt stared at the little baby girl. She looked just like her mother, just with tufts of blue instead of green.
He sighed heavily and brought Byleth close to him. He knew she wouldn't survive. But at least Byleth was safe.
"Jeralt… she wanted to give you this."
Jeralt looked at the ring in Rheas hand and bubbly took it away fro. Her, and just closed his eyes. He turned away, not bothering to listen to anyone as he walked off to his quarters. His old captains quarters.
'Byleth… you're so beautiful. I'll make sure nobody hurts you.'
However, one thing didn't sit right with him. The kid hadn't made a peep. No crying, no sounds, nothing.
"I must just be imagining things… come on kid, let's get you home okay?"
Byleth just stared blankly at him as he sighed once again.
"Rhea… what did you do to her?"
Jeralt was in his office with his hands in his face as he sighed again. He doesn't know what to do, especially with what he learned about Byleth who was no different to what she was the day he got her. It had been a week since Sitri's death, and he couldn't bear himself to go back to her old room. Rhea has it cleaned and it was arranged to exactly how she had it before.
But it just brought up bad memories for him. Memories of happy times that will never continue. He just couldn't go back. Right now, Jeralt was currently writing in his diary about his thoughts about news that he just received.
"Day 25 of the Horsebow Moon. It's raining. Byleth doesn't laugh or cry. Not ever. Lady Rhea says not to worry, but a baby that doesn't cry… isn't natural. Had a doctor examine little Byleth in secret. He said that the pulse is normal, but there is no heartbeat. No heartbeat!"
He closed the diary and rubbed his temples, pondering on what to do. Sitri was right in being cautious of Rhea. She always tried to visit Byleth, but Jeralt recently kept sending her away. He peered in the basket and looked at the child.
He smiled slightly at the brown monkey tail curling about. At least there was something that was active, it should be no surprise that it is her Saiyan side. But that reminded Jeralt of an important detail.
Byleth was half Saiyan. She had the blood of an alien species. He had to assume that she would be no different to her mother. In fact, he already knew that much judging by how much milk she drinks. But it was strange, seeing Byleth so… emotionless.
"Day 2 of the Wyvern Moon. Sunny. I feel I must take Byleth and leave. But the Church is always watching us… I don't know what Lady Rhea has planned. I used to think the world of Lady Rhea. Now I'm terrified of her."
Jeralt looked out the window while feeding Byleth. He learned how difficult it was to care for a half Saiyan baby in terms of food. He ended up clearing out all the merchants supplies of milk to satisfy Byleth. Of course, Rhea was always happy to get more milk, but she scares him.
She was obsessed with Byleth. That damn look in her eyes, like Byleth is some kind of precious jewel. It was just like how she acted during Sitri's pregnancy. It unnerved him to no end. He needs to leave. But how?
"Day 8 of the Wyvern Moon. More rain. I used the fire that broke out last night to fake little Byleth's death. Lady Rhea is in a state over the news. But I can't change what I have done. It's now or never, we need to leave…"
Jeralt finished writing in the log of his diary and closed it, frantically looking around his office and then to his diary. He narrowed his eyes and tucked it inside his inner pocket. He can't leave behind any evidence of what he did.
There was a special place in hell reserved for him after what he did. Sure, the child he used was already gone from this world, but it deserved a burial, not as a decoy in a burning fire. He didn't even check to see what the child was. But what's done was done. He needed to be quick.
He threw on a cloak with the hood up and hoisted a big rucksack with supplies in it. No doubt he would need this until he could figure out a way to make coin. But more importantly, for a way to care for Byleth. He looked over at the baby in her little basket who was nonchalantly nibbling on her little tail but staring back with a blank look.
It was difficult to do a convincing act of grieving, especially when he didn't even know the corpse of the child. But it seemed to have worked as everyone gave him space. He sighed and opened up the window of his office, giving sight to the big storm that plagued the Monastery.
"I'm sorry Alois. But I don't trust this place anymore. After what I did, I wouldn't even allow myself to come back. Though I imagine if you find me, I'll no doubt be forced to come back."
It was the darkest of nights alongside the storm. It was perfect to go under the cover of darkness. Now finally ready, he gently picked up the basket and placed a foot on the windowsill. He hoped that everyone would assume he was filled with grief and left in a life of isolation.
"Goodbye… everyone."
He jumped out of the window and suspended in the air with his Ki, and took off into the distance, holding the basket close to keep the rain from hitting Byleth. "I need a drink after this…"
A small gurgle caught his attention and he looked down to Byleth and smiled. "So, you can make some noise huh?"
He sighed and stared ahead, not looking back to the Monastery. 'Byleth… it's just you and me now.'
"Professor!"
Jeralt was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard noises. He turned around and saw that it was Dorothea who had a sad look on her face. "Are you okay? You were crying."
He realised dry streaks of tears were on his face. But he shook his head while wiping the tears off and waved off her worries. "Just remembering stuff. I'm fine."
Jeralt looked in the distance at Byleth fighting Lonato and closed his eyes. 'Do not die on me kid, I don't think I can live if I lost you too.'
"So, it seems you are a lot stronger than the others." Lonato said, gritting his teeth.
He and Byleth were in a grapple lock currently, just like he did with Jeralt earlier. Only this time, it was very clear on the power gap between them and Byleth tightened her grip more and more, almost breaking his fingers.
"You are not getting away with this. You attacked my students. You attacked my friends. And you attacked my father." Byleth said and pulled him towards her so that they were face to face. "You're not getting out of here alive."
She then jumped in the air and slammed her boot in the side of his face, making him fly off in the opposite direction. But Byleth wasn't done. Because she fizzed out of thin air and reappeared on top of him. She held her hands together and slammed it in his chest, making him fly down and crash to the ground.
Byleth dropped back down but kept her stance, waiting for him to get out.
'Impressive. You've already shown better progress keeping up with these guys.' Sothis remarked. 'But the fight is not over yet. Don't forget you have your Divine Pulse charges.'
"Don't think I'll need them." Byleth replied still keeping her eyes on the crater before her.
'This is no time to be cocky!'
Byleth wasn't listening as she felt the power before her rise rapidly, and her eyes hardened. "He's coming."
A roar sounded from the crater and a giant pillar of energy erupted out as Lonato slowly floated up to the surface looking furious. His skin got more pale and his eyes were back to black with red pupils and red lightning crackled around him.
"You… how dare you… HOW DARE YOU!"
He charged to her with a mighty roar as Byleth flew up to meet him in the air. Her aura flared around her to give her more power as both drew their fists back and collided. The force of the punch blew a couple of trees back a little, but Byleth just had a small smirk as Lonatos fist was inches away from her and her own fist was lodged deep in his face, with his reaction being one of shock as he couldn't believe how fast she was.
But he growled in return and tried punching her with his other hand but she just caught it and smiled slightly before soaring up into the air, carrying him by his arms before rocketing towards the ground and throwing him to near terminal velocity. Lonato yelled loudly seeing the ground quickly approach before he gasped as he saw Byleth teleport just below him and stuck out her knee and caught his stomach on it causing him to cough out purple blood.
She then threw him up in the air with her and while he went soaring up once again she cupped her hands and charged an Ashen Blast. Byleth thrusted her hands forward and fired the attack at Lonato who couldn't react in time to dodge and the attack enveloped him, causing a massive explosion.
"Holy crap! Teach is not fooling around!" Claude exclaimed, as he watched the fight unfold with the others who could barely keep up with the action.
"Good." Shamir commented, giving a nod. "She's not giving him a chance to counterattack. Though where was all this power last time? Or was this Zenkai Boost thing such a potent power up?"
Jeralt wasn't listening however and just watched his daughter charge to Lonato again who got an even bigger boost from the crystal. "She's not out of the woods yet. Lonato is getting stronger and stronger with each passing minute. She needs to finish him fast."
Catherine grunted loudly bringing herself up to a sitting position and held her side. "The big question is, will she be able to do it before that happens?"
"Come on Professor." Caspar whispered, clenching his fists. "You gotta win. You just gotta!"
The other students mimicked Caspar thoughts. They all knew that the power Lonato had before them was way out of their own, so all they could do was hope. Hope that Byleth can win.
'Be careful. He's becoming less predictable now that his mind is being lost. You need to finish the job fast! There's no bringing him back!' Sothis exclaimed as Byleth dodged a punch. Lonato had long abandoned his sword and was now trying to crush Byleth with his hands. But she could dodge blow after blow and not be in danger just yet. She teleported away from a punch and counterattacked elbowing his face.
"I'm trying." Byleth said, delivering a kick to his head, knocking him down. "But I feel his power rising. I fear that I may not be strong enough soon."
'Just remember you have Divine Pulse!'
Byleth nodded and watched Lonato stand there motionless, clenching his fists as the lightning intensified.
"Christophe… my son… you all will pay… kill… rip… tear…"
'Oh no…' Sothis whispered. 'Just like that Goliath from last time.'
"I still have the upper hand." Byleth explained. "The only problem is that he keeps shrugging off my attacks. I need one big attack or to deliver a fatal blow."
'Be careful…'
A piercing roar then sounded through the land as Lonatos aura exploded around him causing Byleth to shield her face. "Rip! And tear!"
Byleth flew towards him again and landed a punch in his face, hoping to catch him off guard. But her own face fell in shock as he was completely unfazed by it and grabbed her by the arm.
"Not again!" She yelled kicking him with all her might, with the force sending him flying back and dropping her in the process. She flew up into the air and let out a breath.
That's when she saw him flying too and gasped in shock, not expecting him to actually know how to fly. He grabbed her by her leg and went crashing down to the ground, taking her with him.
A giant explosion sounded throughout the area as Lonato slowly picked himself up, and growled loudly. He stopped himself just in time so he didn't risk being buried.
Byleth however, was in a predicament. She was completely buried in rubble, with a giant boulder trapping her limbs. No matter what, she couldn't get out. Not even her Ki attacks could make an opening for her. "No! He's going to kill them! They're not strong enough!"
"Rip… and tear…" Lonato muttered slowly making his way towards the group as Jeralt and Shamir got in their stances.
"Shit… this isn't good…" Shamir muttered as Claude got beside her. "Claude, stay back!"
"You need help! We can assist!"
"That's right!" Annette yelled going beside Jeralt and forming a Ki ball in one hand.
"Catherine you need to rest!" Manuela said, trying to keep the knight down.
"I have to… protect you all…" Catherine groaned, reaching for Thunderbrand.
Hubert got in front of Edelgard and glared at the approaching Lord. "You mindless beast. You will not lay a finger on Lady Edelgard."
In the crater, Byleth kept trying to blast her way through. But the combination of cramped spacing and the amount of rubble meant she couldn't make much progress. "No! I can't let him do it!"
'You need to turn back time! Are you listening to me?!' Sothis screamed trying to get her to see logic.
But Byleth was not listening at all. Because she was reminded of when Shamir repeatedly got killed before her in the town where they fought the Goliath. And now the same thing was going to happen to her again. Not only her, but Catherine, her students, the Professors. Even her father…
Sothis had enough and was about to turn back time herself, but stopped. Because she felt a power steadily rising. She turned around and gasped seeing that it was Byleth! It was rising higher and higher and it caused the surrounding rubble to vibrate.
'B-Byleth?'
"I won't… let him…"
Back on the surface, Jeralt and Shamir froze when they sensed a rapidly increasing power. It was even enough to make Lonato stop in his tracks. The rest were confused on the rumbling and tried to find the source. That's when the crater burst open and Byleth jumped up from the pit and landed on the grass.
Only she was much different and it unnerved Jeralt. He had not seen any emotions from Byleth, not even from when she was a baby. But this? This was pure anger as she gritted her teeth and let her aura explode. Not only that but a flash of a symbol appeared behind her when her aura powered up. Something Hanneman noticed.
"She has a Crest…"
"How powerful is she?!" Jeralt yelled to himself as Byleth seemed to have vanished and reappeared in front of Lonato who roared and charged towards her.
"DIIIIIIEEEEEEE!"
But she just thrusted her arm out and screamed. "ASHEN BLAST!" Before the Ki blast shot out of her hand and the attack enveloped him. But this one was astronomically more powerful than her last one as everyone had to shield their eyes from the sheer might of the attack. It even travelled far away and completely vaporised a nearby mountain, with not a trace left.
Byleth panted as the attack died down, leaving only smoke on her hand as her senses returned to her. What she noticed when she calmed down however, was the bewildered and scared expressions on everyone's face as they looked at her and the mountain area.
"H-H-Holy crap!" Claude said, dropping to his knees not being able to take his eyes off of the display.
"A-Am I dreaming? I need a lie down… this is becoming too much for me…" Manuela whimpered, having fallen to the ground with her legs unable to hold her up.
"Impossible…" Was what ran through everyone's minds as they stared at the damage Byleths attack did.
Edelgard was the same, as she couldn't keep her jaw closed from the sheer shock she went through. Just how much power was her Professor hiding? Even Professor Jeralt didn't have this much! Was this the power her allies feared so much? 'So many questions and yet I'm no closer to solving them…'
"Kid… h-how did you do that?" Jeralt whispered, his hands shaken at his sides as he stared at his daughter.
She suddenly felt very self conscious and turned to Sothis for answers. But found her also hunched over with a dropped jaw and bugged out eyes. Byleth timidly whispered to the spirit. "Why is everyone staring at me?"
'Why is… WHY IS… LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID!'
Byleth slowly turned back and gasped at what she saw. It was Lonato. Or rather, his lower half. His torso and head were completely vaporised and not only that, but she saw the destroyed mountain and slowly looked at her hands, seeing smoke come off of them. "I felt… a burning feeling in me… after that…"
'Yes, I felt that power too.' Sothis muttered having now recovered from her little freak out session. 'There seems to be a lot of hidden power inside you. Seems that the thought of your loved ones being harmed helped bring out that power.'
Byleth tried to not pay attention at everyone looking at her in fear, as she hid behind her father. That's when Caspar grinned.
"Professor, that was awesome! You totally annihilated him! Is this what we can eventually do?!"
"I agree." Felix said, giving a small smirk, pumping his fist. "It's one thing to be told of a great power, it's another thing entirely to see it with your own eyes. I will definitely increase my training even more."
The students all agreed, and it felt like the tension in the air lifted slightly from the students enthusiasm.
That's when they all heard a voice. "The Knights of Seiros have- what in the world happened here?!"
They all turned around to see Alois there with the Knights of Seiros, and with Seteth and Flayn in tow. They surveyed the battlefield and saw multiple craters, injured and dead civilians and guards, along with heavily injured students. Alois ordered the knights to tend to the students, before he turned his attention to Jeralt. "Captain, what-"
"We will discuss it later Alois." Jeralt said, picking up his sword that had been long forgotten. "We need to talk to Lady Rhea about future missions."
"What in the name of the Goddess happened here?!" Seteth yelled, unable to process the amount of damage that had taken place here. "Where are the knights that were stationed here?!"
"Just… ngh… me left." Catherine grunted, being helped up by Manuela and Hanneman. "We didn't stand a chance. It was thanks to Byleth that we are still here."
Seteth turned to Byleth who, at this point was dressed and put on her coat over her shoulders. Seteth cleared his throat and placed his hands behind his back. "I see. Well Miss Byleth, it appears that once again, we are in your debt. I thank you."
But Byleth wasn't listening anymore. She just looked around and truly saw what she had done to this place. Even Castle Gaspard was gone. But while she was staring off, Ashe groaned loudly as he woke up, holding his sore neck.
Shamir was going to hold him, but when he saw Lonatos charred remains, she let go and allowed him to go. He slowly walked towards Lonato and sank down to his knees just staring at him.
Dimitri, feeling sympathy, tried to reach out for Ashe but Shamir just shook her head. "Give him some room. He needs some time alone."
Shamir then turned to the others and sighed. "Alright everyone, I know it's been a very tough day, but we will need to help each other in getting the injured to safety."
Dorothea just nodded, clearly unable to take in all the death and fighting that she did. Plus, that man she killed. His face would haunt her forever. She then jumped slightly feeling a hand on her shoulder. She turned around and saw Petra standing there, with a neutral look on her face.
"You did the correct thing. It is not easy."
She nodded again and stared at Edelgard. "Edie… you almost died… and poor Bernie…"
Petra helped her up and slowly grasped her hand giving it a squeeze. "We must move on."
"Yeah… thanks Petra… let's go and help Edie…"
"Indeed. We shall help,"
"Why… why did you do it Lonato…"
Ashe didn't know how long he had been kneeling there for, but the sound of boots approaching him finally caught his attention. He slowly looked up and saw Byleth standing there with a sad look on her face. "Oh… hello…"
He just shook his head and wiped away a lone tear, sensing what she thought. "Don't be sad Miss Byleth… you did the right thing in the end. I knew that it would be foolish to assume he would just surrender. Lonato wasn't one for that."
"But… why would he do this? I just don't understand… my head hurts just trying to make sense of the situation."
Byleth looked away and placed a hand on her hip. "We all have a breaking point. Even the most gentlest soul can just snap one day and have enough of the world. In my line of work, I've seen many people not being able to cope with the world and it's harshness."
Ashe continued to look at Lonato's remains and closed his eyes. Byleth stared at the boy before her and rubbed her arm. She let out a sigh and adjusted her coat. "I assume that you have questions about Ki."
"Why… how can something so destructive exist?" Ashe whispered out. "Why teach something that only destroys?"
Byleth pursed her lip and looked at her hands. "Ashe. Look at me."
He slowly looked at her as she had a Ki ball in her hands. "Hold out your hands."
"Why Miss Byleth?"
"I wish to show you something is all."
Ashe nodded and did as he was told. He gasped softly as she placed it on her hands. "It's… warm."
"It's a delicate balance Ashe." Byleth explained. "My father always said that to me. Ki is like fire. In many cases, it brings us warmth in a dark place. It helps us see, it helps others. But if it gets too out of hand, then the results are destructive."
She took back the ball and dispersed it. "It's up to us in how we choose to use that power. And if you would like, I would like to teach you how to use it."
Ashe gasped, watching as Byleth extended her hands towards him. "Normally, I would wait for requests on training. But you? You seem like a good hearted boy. And I would like to show you the path of good. Will you accept?"
This was something that Ashe wasn't expecting. Sure, he has grown to respect the training Dimitri and the others do. But he has seen how destructive it can be too. On the other hand, this could be a chance for him to protect and care for people, just like Lonato did for him. And he would honour his final promise too and stay on the good path.
So he smiled and grabbed her wrist, and she helped him up as she smiled back. "You will begin training tomorrow."
"Thank you Miss- er, I mean, Professor Byleth."
But then they noticed something sticking out of Lonatos pocket and Ashe picked it up and saw a strange seal on it. "Perhaps we should give this to Miss Shamir and Miss Catherine?"
"Yes, I agree Ashe. Wonderful idea."
"…Can we bury him first?"
"Sure, Ashe. Take your time."
"WHAT?! A plot to assassinate the Archbishop?! Are you sure?"
Shamir grimaced as she read over the letter that Ashe had handed to her earlier. "There's no mistaking it Seteth. Plans, times, everything. It appears that Lord Lonato did not act alone in this. Clearly there are people who wish to have Lady Rhea and the Central Church in ruins."
Seteth sighed heavily rubbing his bearded chin in thought. It had been a couple of hours since the battle had ended, and Seteth had more questions than answers at this point. More so about that Byleth woman than anything else. Right now, everyone had set up camp so that the group could rest and the injured could get tended to.
But this was not something that he needed right now. He sat in front of the fire that had been made as the glow enveloped his face. "May I see the plans?"
"Of course."
Shamir handed over the plans as Jeralt had arrived, sighing loudly. "I've managed to calm my students down. Though I think Dorothea will need to have some counselling sessions. Seems the act of killing was too much for her."
"What about Edelgard and Dimitri?" Shamir asked, rubbing her arms to keep herself warm and wishing that she had a cup of tea right now.
Jeralt just shook his head and scratched his head. "Edelgard will be on a cane for the remaining future. Hopefully she will be well enough to keep up with some aspects of her training. Dimitri has been ordered to take it easy too, which means no rough training for him either. Luckily, there have not been much damage to any other students."
Shamir nodded to herself and sat down beside the fire. "What about Catherine?"
"Awww is someone worried about me?"
The Mercenary grunted in annoyance feeling a hand ruffle her hair as Catherine had appeared, but with bandages around her side. Shamir just grunted. "No, just wanted to see if I had to attend your funeral is all."
"Come on Shamir. You're in charge of bringing home the big speech to mine."
"Yeah, whatever."
They all heard Seteth mumbling to himself as he read over the plans and scratched his head. "This doesn't make any sense. The plans seem impossible to achieve. On the Rite of the Goddess Rebirth?"
He then sighed and put the plans in his jacket pocket. "But nonetheless, a threat to the Archbishop must be taken seriously, no matter how absurd the plan is."
"You can count on me." Catherine said, before hissing in pain while clutching her side. "Just… give me a bit to recover."
"That reminds me, where's Flayn?" Shamir asked, as she noticed the girl not by Seteth's side as she usually is.
"Oh, she has gone to help with healing Edelgard and Dimitri."
Jeralt was staring at him, and folded his arms. "I wanna ask you something. Why do you refuse to let Flayn fight?"
A cold tension ran through the air as Seteth stared. "I beg your pardon?"
"Last month, Flayn asked if she could learn how to use Ki and you turned her down. I felt her power when she got annoyed. It was wild, fluctuating. Surely she's fought before?"
"I-I do not see how that is any of your-"
"Because I know what it's like to have a kid with unbelievable power. So I ask again, why doesn't she fight?"
Shamir and Catherine felt uncomfortable being in the middle of this conversation. They felt like two kids watching their parents fight. But Seteth sighed again and placed his hands on his lap.
"You are correct. Flayn does have extraordinary power. And she has fought before. She's very good at it."
He then looked over in the distance to see Flayn chatting with Edelgard while using healing magic on her leg. "However, she cannot control this power. It's unknown why, but there's too much for her to handle. The last time she was in battle, she almost lost herself to it."
"It was at that moment, that I decided for her to never fight again. It's for her own safety as well as others."
"Little Flayn? Fighting? Jeez, that's not something that I would believe, she's such a gentle girl." Catherine said, having sat down on a log beside Shamir while Seteth told this story. "I mean, she's a little odd sometimes. But man, I wouldn't have imagined her in a battlefield. Couldn't you try helping her control it?"
Seteth just shook his head. "I tried, once upon a time, but it's too much for me to handle. I still bear a nasty scar on my chest from where she struck me. As far as I am concerned, she will not see a battlefield again."
"You know that won't last forever."
Everyone turned to Jeralt who still had his arms crossed. "Sooner or later, she will have to fight. And she won't have you there to protect her."
"Believe me Sir Jeralt, I am more than aware of that fact. That's why we went to Garreg Mach. It's the safest place for her."
Jeralt just grunted and closed his eyes. Catherine decided to change the subject. "So where's Byleth? I would've thought she'd be here with her dad."
"She's sleeping." Both Jeralt and Shamir said at the same time, with the former looking surprised and looking at the Mercenary.
"Full moon." Shamir explained, as she took off her gloves. "She always goes to sleep on a full moon."
"Oh yeah, that moon monster tale." Catherine said, looking up at the moon. "Always go to bed before the full moon rises or else the monster will get you. Strange how you follow that old wives tale."
"It isn't a tale. It's real." Jeralt quickly said, causing the group to look at him again. "Byleth and I encountered the beast before. We had to drive it back, but she got knocked out pretty quickly so it was up to me."
Seteth had a deep frown going on as he remembered something Jeralt said.
"She must never look at the full moon. No matter what."
'Could it be that… no don't be silly Seteth, that is highly unlikely. There's never been a species here that turns into mindless beasts.'
"Quite a fight that must have been." Shamir said. "Hopefully the beast doesn't show up anytime soon."
"Well, we can only hope." Jeralt grunted, closing his eyes again.
"So what is the Empire like?" Flayn asked, as Edelgard watched her use magic. "It has been such an age since I have been there."
To some, Flayn may look like a naïve young girl, but Edelgard knew the truth. She knew exactly who Flayn was. Not only that, she knew who Seteth and even Rhea were. They were Nabateans. A species who secretly wish to rule over humanity behind the guise of the Church. She knows that they have been ruling Fódlan for many years at this point, and it honestly sickened her to her core.
There was a huge reason why she hated them. The reason being that they didn't even try to save her when she was in that awful place. The place that killed her siblings and turned her into what she is today. And Rhea just sat by and did nothing. That was a big reason on why she wished to unite Fódlan and disband the Church. So she can get rid of these false rulers and make it so no child suffered the way that she did.
…But one thing rubbed her the wrong way. Her allies. The Ones Who Slither in the Dark. They tell her these facts about the Nabateans. And the Empire archives detail about how the Liberation King was a hero who was murdered by Seiros and her siblings.
And yet, when she looked at Flayn tending to her leg and talking… this wasn't the face of a murderer, or a power hungry beast. Either she put in a very convincing act or…
"AAAGH!" Edelgard growled, gritting her teeth as fiery hot pain shot up and down her ankle.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" Flayn asked as she was a little too hasty with the flow of magic. But Edelgard just shook her head in return.
"It's okay. I was just surprised. That's all."
"If you are sure." Flayn replied, keeping her head down after that and focused on healing and left Edelgard to her thoughts once again.
Then there was Lonato. She wasn't a fool, she knew exactly how he got that power. It was obvious that her 'uncle' paid him a visit. And on top of that, she overheard the plans to assassinate Rhea. Just what we're they thinking? It was way too early to try something like that!
"Okay, that should do for now!"
She turned to Flayn who had a smile on her face, and her hands on her lap. "It hasn't fully healed, but at least you can sleep soundly tonight without the pain keeping you up."
This just got more and more confusing for Edelgard. The Empires books spoke of Saint Cethleann during the war. A mindless beast who destroyed everything in her path. Who had no empathy for human life. Who had endless amounts of power.
But this wasn't a mindless beast. This was a girl who healed her without any need to. Was this truly the one that they described? Edelgard watched as Flayn tore off a part of her sleeve and gently tightened it to her ankle to act as a sort of brace. That's when Edelgard noticed her bare arm.
Scars. Endless amounts. And they didn't look fresh either. She had to ask, she had to know.
"Have you ever fought in a battle Flayn?"
Surprise was on the girls face as she wasn't expecting that question. But she then noticed the scars on her arm and rubbed it, realising why she asked. "I… I did one time. W-We we were defending against bandits who invaded our village."
A lie. Edelgard knew that she was lying. Of course she was, they all lie at the end of the day.
"But… no you wouldn't understand."
This gave Edelgard pause. This was new entirely. "Understand what?"
Flayn gripped at her other sleeve and tugged on it. "Have you ever had an ability inside you that people claim is good? That make you a strong ally? But you're afraid of using that thing because you can't control it and it only hurts those you love?"
This was very confusing to Edelgard now as she tilted her head. "I'm not sure what you mean."
"N-Nevermind! Forget I said anything!"
Edelgard watched as Flayn ran off and she slowly looked at the makeshift brace on her ankle. Her eyes narrowed and she looked up at the sky. They were wrong. That wasn't a mindless murderer. That was a girl who is afraid of hurting others. Perhaps she could relate to Flayn in a way. Both are held down by their past. But there's one thing Edelgard knows for certain. She needs more information. And she will do it her way.
"Lady Edelgard."
She looked up to see Hubert bowing to her. She nodded in return. And that's when she had an idea. "Hubert, I have a plan."
"Oh? Care to elaborate?"
"Later. I'm afraid you're not going to like it."
"Annette, I am okay."
"Oh no you don't mister! The healers said to rest!"
Dimitri sighed as he leaned against a tree, sitting down. He wanted to train, as he couldn't get those images of the dead soldiers and civilians out of his head. But Annette wasn't budging on this, so he had to sit and rest.
Today brought up too many bad memories for him today. The endless amounts of dead bodies, the torn up landscape. It hit too close to the event that had changed him.
Worse of all, he thought that he could change what happened today. He looked down at his broken wrist and realised just how far he had to go. He was nowhere near ready. None of them were.
Dimitri then shook his head and sighed. Of course they weren't ready, he wasn't a fool. It's only been a few months since they started the training. While they have all shown promise in advancing their power, it was clear in the power gap between themselves and their Ki Professor.
He looked over to Dorothea who was hugging her legs and burying her face in them. Poor girl. As far as he knew, this was her first time actually fighting. She wasn't with his team when they went to Zanado, and so this must have been her first time taking a life.
Dimitri felt sorry for her. While they weren't close, in fact he hardly spoke to her, he knew that she was a kind girl. That's when they all heard footsteps and saw Jeralt there with them.
The Blade Breaker knew of the tense air around the students. He honestly couldn't blame them at all, as this was something entirely out of their league. Not to mention they were forced to kill people.
A heavy sigh came out of him as he began speaking. "I know what you are all thinking. This doesn't feel like the right thing to do."
"It's not."
Everyone looked over to Dorothea who lifted her head off of her knees to reveal tears. She had been crying. "You're damn right it wasn't. They were people with families and friends! Some of them hadn't picked up weapons! And they… and I…"
She stood up and started stomping towards Jeralt who made no move to argue. He just allowed her to let out her pent up emotions. "How can you be okay with this? How can the Church allow the killings of innocent people?"
Everyone just watched in a tense silence as Dorothea started thumping Jeralt's chest. It didn't hurt him at all, but it at least seemed to be helping her take out her frustrations. "Why did we do it?! Why couldn't we have tried speaking to them?! Why? Why…"
There were no more words as Dorothea slowly slid down to her knees and cried into her hands. Manuela appeared from behind and placed her hands on the songstress's shoulders. "Come my dear, you need rest-"
"No!" Dorothea snapped. "I want to know how you allowed this to happen!"
"I agree." Ferdinand quietly said. "I know that fighting is inevitable. But this? Not only were there innocent people, but also we were in a battle we stood no chance in. If it wasn't for Miss Byleth…"
"So I ask again, Professor." Dorothea said standing up. "Why couldn't we have reasoned with Lord Lonato?"
"Because there was no point."
The group all turned towards Ashe who had been quietly playing with a twig and listening in. "That man, was not my father. I don't know why, but he had gone too far. I tried reasoning with him and… well you all saw how that ended."
"It's what happens." Jeralt said. "There are times where you just can't reason with people. And those people weren't innocent at all. They chose to take up arms and fight."
"Are you insane?!" Dimitri yelled, now trying to stand up as Annette tried keeping him down but he was way stronger than her. "Those weren't just knights or soldiers! They were fathers and sons! We shouldn't have killed them, we should've found another way!"
But then he bowed his head and sighed. "I am sorry Professor Jeralt… it's not fair to blame you for the circumstances."
"I'm sorry too Professor." Dorothea whispered. "It's just… not fair…"
"I get it." Jeralt said. "You kids are all young, and think we could've done things differently. But the fact is that if we didn't do this, more civilians would've died."
"I suppose my mind understands that… but my heart…"
"Look kids. This is the real world. Now if this is too much for you, you can just head back to where you cane from. We have no use for hesitation on the battlefield, because that can get yourself or others killed."
Nobody said anything as Dorothea wiped her tears. "I'm not going anywhere. I might not like it but… I want to protect you all."
"I too, wish to stay." Dimitri declared. "I have my reasons for coming here."
Jeralt nodded. "Good. I know it's a heavy burden to bear, but hold onto that feeling. It's what makes us all human. If you feel nothing when killing, then you've lost your way. Get some rest guys."
The students all nodded while looking down as as Jeralt turned around to keep watch for unwelcome company. Manuela helped up Dorothea to get her to her tent. Claude had been listening but chose to not say anything. He wasn't a fool. He knew today was a kill or be killed situation. But there was nothing that could be said that would make anyone's heart lighter. But he could try to lift their spirits.
He then stood up and addressed his fellow Ki students. "Let's take this is an opportunity to better ourselves. Once Dimitri and Princess have healed up, then we will train harder."
"Yes." Ashe said, standing up. "So we can protect more lives."
That's when he noticed them staring at him as he blushed, rubbing the back of his head. "Oh um, the Professor offered me a place to train with you guys."
"See, look at that! Things are already looking up." Claude smiled slinging an arm around Ashe. "We have a new training buddy."
"Are you sure Ashe?" Dimitri asked. "It will not be an easy task."
"I know. But I wish to use that power to help others."
"I think it is a wonderful idea." Edelgard said, nodding her head. "The greater our numbers, the easier our tasks will be."
"I suppose you are right." Dimitri said, before smiling at his classmate. "Very well Ashe, we will be happy to give you a head start upon our return to the Monastery."
"Thank you, your Highness." Ashe whispered bowing.
Jeralt smiled in the distance as he heard them. But now that gave way to other thoughts. Thoughts of back when he was a Captain. Those robed figures that attacked them…
"Thinking about how Lonato got that power?"
He turned around to see Shamir walking up to him, with a hand on her hip. "Yes. I feel that we are in the middle of a much larger conspiracy. There's too many coincidences going about."
"Well, judging by Byleth's fight, she seems to have gotten much stronger to keep up."
"Yes. But we shouldn't rest so easy." Jeralt said. "They're planning something, with that assassination letter. It's too sloppy. Something is up."
"What are you thinking?" Shamir asked.
"I'm not sure yet… we need to wait until we are back at the Monastery. Perhaps we can figure out something once we're back."
Shamir nodded as she turned away. "Get some rest Jeralt. We have a big day tomorrow."
"Don't worry, I will."
She smiled lightly and walked away as Jeralt sighed heavily, rubbing his face. "Sitri… maybe you could make more sense of it than I can… of all the times I need you…"
"What?! How could Lonato have been defeated?!"
Thales stood up in anger as the robed figure trembled before him. "It was the Monkey Girl my Lord. She defeated him. Her power soared to unbelievable heights."
He sat down on his throne and placed a hand on his chin. "This is not good. If she is getting this strong already… but how? How is she doing this?"
His thoughts were interrupted when the doors to the room were flung open.
"My Lord! We have made progress!" A scientist yelled sprinting in from the doors as Thales prompted her to continue as she presented a device from a box. She pulled her hood down and placed it on her ear and pressed a button. It took a few seconds, but a purple wall of magic covered her left eye and numbers appeared.
"We have succeeded in reverse engineering those Scouters that the pods database spoke of. By your order my Lord, we can mass produce them to give to all our allies!"
"…Yes. Very good. You have done well." Thales said, smirking. "And how goes the project?"
A look of fear crossed over the scientists face as she slowly took off the Scouter. "W-Well, we have started pumping in the energy of the crystals into his coffin. Unfortunately it'll take years to get him to the level of your satisfaction."
"That is okay. After all, he is merely a late stage plan. With that power pumping through his veins, he will reduce Fódlan to nothing but ashes. And the descendants of Sothis will watch helpless as he does so."
He then turned around to address a girl who stepped out of the shadows. "Kronya. You are ready for your mission in the Alliance?"
Kronya grinned madly in return and clapped her hands. "Oh yes! I cannot wait! When can I get a hold on those toys you've made?"
"Your Crystal isn't ready yet. But for this mission, you will not need it. Your orders are simple, kill Holst Goneril. His death will prompt chaos within the Alliance."
"Aye, aye!" Kronya grinned giving a salute as she skipped through the doors to make preparations.
"Now all that's left to sort out is Edelgard. She has been very difficult as of late. She has refused to give the Death Knight to us…"
That's when he heard a teleportation spell activate behind him. He turned around and saw Hubert standing there as Thales raised an eyebrow, recognising him. "Ah yes. Edelgards vassal. Has she sent you with an answer?"
"Lady Edelgard has offered a compromise. But first, she wishes to know why you sent a sloppy plan to assassinate the Archbishop."
Thales just chuckled mildly and shook his head. "Come now. Do you honestly believe that we would do something like that? It's obviously a distraction. We plan to get into the Holy Mausoleum and take the remains of Seiros of course."
"I see." Hubert mused placing a hand on his chin, trying to contain his anger at the mere sight of Thales. "So it's to space out the knights in one place."
"That is correct. But now that I have answered her question, how about you answer mine. What is this compromise?"
Hubert bit his cheek in an attempt to surprise a growl and placed his hands behind his back. "She is willing to give you the Death Knight for a trial period in order to assist with this mission. She isn't ready with a full answer. But in an attempt to place faith."
He then got on one knee and bowed his head. "She has offered my full services to you."
"Oh?" Thales said, raising an eyebrow. "This is certainly a strange outcome."
"She will have a full answer after your mission. But I hereby offer my full services to you… my Lord." Hubert said, struggling to contain the bile that rose from having to say those words.
Thales hummed and looked him over. "Yes. I am fully aware of you. Your father told me so much about you. Yes, loyal to a tee. Very well then, I accept her conditions. But you will be by my side during the month so I know there is no funny business."
Hubert clenched his fist but stiffly nodded. "Good boy. Now about your academy duties…"
"Lady Edelgard has a plan for that."
"Huh? Where am I?"
Byleth was in a dark void right now, but this wasn't like when she was with Sothis. Nobody was around. It was just her surrounded in complete darkness.
"Hello?! Sothis?! Are you there?! Anyone?!"
That's when the darkness melted away and she found herself in a field. The sky was gloomy and the air felt tense. She looked down to find a sword in her right hand. She held it in front of her face and observed it. It was such a strange design. She doesn't remember a sword like this. Wait, why does she have a sword?
She then heard the sound of boots approaching and turned to see an array of soldiers. From the looks of the insignia on their armour and shields they looked to be from…. The Empire? What in the world were the Empire doing here?
A row of mages summoned fireballs into their hands and sent it soaring into the air, striking down multiple soldiers from… the Kingdom?! And the Alliance?!
Byleth gasped as she saw a figure appear from the Kingdom side. "Dimitri?!"
Sure enough, this was the Prince of Faerghus alright. But he looked so unkempt and scruffy. Not to mention older. He also had an eyepatch covering his right eye as he held a Ki lance in his hand, looking around with a deep frown on his face. His face looked… manic. Obsessed. And he was staring at two figures as his face twisted while resting his lance on his shoulder. "Know that I will tear your heads from your shoulders. The dead must have their tribute."
Byleth was so confused. What happened to him? This was a far cry from the polite young man that she taught Ki to back at the Monastery. But then she saw someone walk out from the Alliance soldiers and she gasped seeing that it was Claude.
He had a more clean look to him which was far different from his current look. He was also older and he just looked around at the flames and destruction on the battlefield and shook his head. "As big class reunions go. This one's got to be the worst in history…"
Reunion? Byleth looked around, trying to make sense out of all of this and made her way over to Claude, who didn't seem to notice her. "Claude? What's going on? Claude, are you listening?!"
He then started moving forward and he passed right through Byleth, causing her to reel in shock. This wasn't real! Was she in a dream?
That's when she looked up on a hill and she saw Edelgard, stepping forward. She looked completely different from the girl she knows. She had horns in her air and had a cold look in her eyes as she stepped forward. "Years ago, we fought here as classmates."
Then her eyes turned sad as she averted her gaze. "But not today…" as soon as she finished her sentence, the soldiers around her drew their swords and the archers readied their bows.
"Am I…. is this a vision?" Byleth muttered to herself as she looked at the sword in her hand. She looked at Dimitri who's aura around him built up and his face twisted into a snarl as he powered up and readied his lance before taking off into the air.
"KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM!"
"Just like when I touched his head…" Byleth whispered to herself as she realised what was happening. This was a vision! A vision of the future!
She turned to see Claude signalling his soldiers to charge as he roared before also taking off into the air.
"And so we must fight on…" Edelgard whispered as she also powered up and flew into the air as the three leaders met each other in the middle of the air, about to strike.
But then everything froze at the moment of impact as Byleth saw the sword in her hand was gone.
"This is what will happen… if you don't save them."
She heard a voice behind her and turned around only to step back in shock over what she saw.
It was her. Another Byleth! Only this one had mint green hair and eyes, and held that same sword in her hand and had a sorrowful look on her face as she looked around. Not only was her hair different, but she had on black loose pants as well as a blue top with pink accents. A modified version of her current outfit.
"This isn't the first time. And if you don't fix this, it won't be the last."
"W-Who are you? What's happening?"
"I'm you. A future version of you." Future Byleth stated. "And this is a future vision. But this isn't the bad fate that causes the cycle to start over again."
"Then… what is the bad fate?"
"You've met them before. In that little town, in Castle Gaspard. They are far more powerful than you can imagine."
Future Byleth sat down on a rock and looked into the sky. She looked so tired, as Byleth noticed her future self was panting slightly. Like she was doing something before coming here. "This. This is the future that awaits you so far. You've given them power, but they're using it against one another."
"You need to get them to work together. It's the only way Fódlan can know peace. You need to break the cycle. Focus on Edelgard and Dimitri."
"What? What are you talking about?"
Future Byleth was then thrown backwards by a mysterious force as her past self tried to help. But Future Byleth grunted and stood up, readying her blade. "It's all I can say for now. Break the cycle. Please. Remember what I said."
The scenery started fizzing away as Byleth tried to run towards her future self. "No! Wait! Stop! Come back!"
'Would you wake up! You are having a nightmare!' Sothis yelled as she tried shaking Byleth awake. But she couldn't touch her physical form as Byleth kept on tossing and turning.
"No… come back… break the cycle…"
Byleth then sat up quickly and woke up, panting heavily in a cold sweat.
'Finally! I was worried about you! What happened to you?!'
The mercenary was about to tell her what, but couldn't bring the words out. It was all foggy to her now as she rubbed her head. "Visions… future visions…"
'Visions?' Sothis asked, tilting her head. 'Both sides are time are being revealed to you, after all. What did they speak of?'
"War… Edelgard, Dimitri and Claude fighting each other. All I remember is to focus on Edelgard and Dimitri. To break the cycle."
'War? Now that's a concerning thought.' Sothis said to herself rubbing her chin. 'Then it is a good thing that you are receiving these visions. Perhaps we can use them to our advantage. Is there anything else?'
"I'm afraid not… but I know what I must do." Byleth muttered standing up. "I need to get them to work together."
'Excellent idea. You already suggested counselling sessions, so that may be a start.'
Suddenly, she heard a noise from outside. It was Hanneman. "Miss Byleth, we are starting to head out now."
"Okay be out in a second…" Byleth then remembered something he asked of her last month. "Did you see anything about a Crest?"
"Oh, why yes I did!" Hanneman voice spoke outside the tent, seeming rather excited. "It's quite fascinating! I theorise that you have a Crest that has been lost to time, I can show you my findings if you wish! Though I would ask for further research as I only got a glimpse during your battle!"
"…Yes. I would like that. Perhaps you can join me for tea upon our return."
"I humbly accept Miss Byleth! Now we must prepare!"
Byleth nodded and looked at her hands, before clenching them together. She will make a mental note to talk to Edelgard and Dimitri later this month. She will change the future. She just needs to know how.
'I will challenge their fates.'
And that's another chapter finished! I'm going to be honest, I think I'm spreading myself too thin, trying to make sure everyone in the cast gets their turn in the spotlight. But I think I need to treat this like a route in Three Houses. We will be focusing on Byleth and the Ki Squad from now on. I do have plans for missions. Speaking of which, I can't keep on calling them Ki Squad. I have an idea on what to call them, but would you guys like to suggest names too? You're probably more creative than I.
Now, Flayn is becoming an interesting case. She's like an existing Dragonball character in which she has a power that she cannot control. Maybe she'll learn how to do it later down the line.
And now we have a huge plot point. Byleth's visions. Like I said, I'm aiming for a happily ever after route, and I figure that a future version of Byleth could warn her past self about two of our Lords and their mindsets. Think Byleth will succeed? I did consider a student coming from the future to help but I think that would take away from the story. What do you guys think, you want a future student?
Also yes, Future Byleth has fused with Sothis. I am thinking maybe that's a bad thing? Perhaps it stinted her Saiyan side so she can't reach her potential.
Unfortunately, Sitri is now gone. But fear not, we will still have some flashback scenarios involving other characters. I have one for Sothis on my plans in a way to connect her with the Dragonball lore.
So yeah, Ashe is now part of the squad. No more Blue Lions members, we've filled that quota. That means one left from Golden Deer and one from Black Eagles left.
As you all know, Byleth is half Saiyan. Which means she gets rage boosts too. (Which maybe Goten and Trunks should've gotten. No I'm not bitter.) I'm trying a thing where her Saiyan side is fighting with the human side that's affected emotionally by the Crest Stone.
Now for the big moment. We passed 40 favourites and we hit 50 followers! Thank you so much to every one of you who favourite, follow and review. It means so much to me and I hope I give you a decent story coming forward.
Join me next time, where we are doing an interval chapter in establishing relationships and training more, as well as setting up the coming arcs.
See you next time!