31st of Blue Sea Moon, 1180
"Do you guys think she will be alright?"
"I highly doubt it, Dorothea. She's been holed up in her room since our mission at the Holy Mausoleum," Ferdinand replied, taking a sip of his drink.
"Maybe it's a side effect of using the Sword of the Creator? It must have drained a lot of energy from her," Caspar chimed in between bites of food.
"That could be true, but Byleth seems relatively normal despite his reaction to the Relic. Speaking of Byleth, has anyone seen him?" Edelgard asked.
"I saw him pass through the Dining Hall earlier. He was carrying some soup dishes and gave me a brief nod before continuing on his way," Petra added.
"Maybe he's been busy helping out the staff? I've noticed he's been doing that ever since we arrived at the academy," Linhardt yawned.
"But both the staff and students say they haven't seen him or the professor for days now. Although, I thought I saw him heading towards the Professor's room last night," Bernadetta added shyly, her words slightly muffled as she stuffed food into her mouth.
"That's quite scandalous. Perhaps it's finally happened then," Dorothea teased with a smirk.
"Or maybe he was just visiting the professor. Regardless, shall we check on them after we finish eating?" Edelgard suggested, to which most of the Black Eagles nodded and returned to their meal.
As they finished their lunch, the Black Eagles noticed a sudden buzz of excitement in the Dining Hall. Students gathered in groups, whispering and casting curious glances at each other. The news of the wielders of the legendary Sword of the Creator had spread like wildfire throughout the monastery, sparking chatter and speculation among both students and staff. However, despite all the rumors and gossip, neither of the supposed wielders had been seen in days, leaving everyone even more intrigued.
"Did you hear about Professor Eisner?" One of the students said, who seemed to come from the Golden Deer house as Edelgard observed.
"How could I not? I know she was amazing but to wield such a precious Relic, she must have possessed the Crest of Flame. Imagine how shocked my father was when he heard about it." another student chimed in.
"And let's not forget there are two bearers of the Crest of Flames at the same time. The Kingdom must be in a panic now, and things aren't exactly calm in the Alliance either,
"Claude and Dimitri will have their hands full with this. Anyway, do you think I have a chance with her?" A student asked eagerly, catching the attention of Edelgard and her classmates.
"Aren't there rumors that they're lovers? I even heard they were openly affectionate during their mission,"
"Rumors are just rumors if they are not confirmed. Moreover, imagine you can potentially be the husband of the bearer of the Crest of Flames." The Black Eagles narrowed their eyes at such an outlandish claim.
"Being the mother of the bearer doesn't sound too bad either," another student added excitedly. "I heard that the Professor and her companion have a fondness for cakes. Maybe we should learn how to make some for them?"
The Golden Deer students eagerly agreed while Edelgard sighed heavily, unsure whether to feel pity or annoyance towards their naivety. The other Eagles shook their heads in agreement. Before she could contemplate her next move, a teasing voice caught their attention.
"Hold up right there, my friends." Claude interrupted a sly grin on his face. "I hate to butt in, but I have to warn you - this whole dating thing might not end well." The Golden Deers looked at him quizzically, unsure of what he was getting at.
"Claude, could you please elaborate? I recall there is neither rule against dating students from the other house nor the teacher."
"That's not the issue," Claude replied with a smirk. "But trust me, pursuing either of them won't end well for you. All those rumors about their relationship? They're all true."
"But how can you be so sure? I know you talk to them often, but still."
Claude laughed sarcastically. "I've seen the way they look at each other since we first met. It's like watching a tragic love story play out. And let's not forget that they don't seem to mind being called 'mom' and 'dad' by our dear Black Eagles leader here. Is that right, Princess?" He gave Edelgard a playful wink.
"I appreciate you explained to them it our steads but is it necessary to rope me into one of your mischievous pranks, Claude?" Edelgard gave him a pointed look.
"From what I heard, it was you who called them mother and father to convince them to stay here. There is no need to be shy, your Highness."
"It appears your wit is lacking as your manners, Riegan. I would advise you to think twice before wasting my life's time with your child's plays." Hubert said coldly, which caught Claude by surprise. Meanwhile, the other students excused themselves and left shortly.
"Hey, hey, no need to get all serious, Hubert. I was just stating the truth. No harm, intended, of course." Claude raised his hands in surrender.
"That's enough, Hubert," Edelgard interjected. She turned to Claude with a pointed look. "You seem quite relaxed despite the Alliance's current political situation. Your position must be quite precarious if I'm correct."
"Of course, I'm aware. You're not the first one to tell me this, Edelgard. And to be honest, I never thought my joke with Byleth about being a king would come true so soon."
"I haven't heard about this joke," Edelgard said curiously.
"It was during a discussion about Fodlan's history a few weeks ago," Claude explained. "I complimented how he could command his enemies with just a few words, joking that it felt like it was a king addressing his subjects. Didn't expect it to come true."
"Looks like the rumors are true. I'm surprised that you can still joke around in this situation, Claude." Dimitri's voice boomed as their eyes turned toward him, revealing the prince along with the other Blue Lions.
"And there is his Princeliness. I suppose things don't look good in Faerghus now then." Claude responded playfully.
Dimitri let out an exasperated sigh. "You were right. The appearance of two wielders of the Sword of the Creator has caused quite a stir in the Kingdom. Some nobles are even mentioning the possibility of rekindling the oath to the King of Liberation."
"That can only happen if all Ten Elites' houses agree, which is highly unlikely," Sylvain added. "Although my father did send me a letter saying he was considering it should the situation arise at our borders."
"I hate to say this, Your Highness, but my father also mentioned the same thing. He believed this could be our chance to restore Faerghus to its former glory," Ingrid lowered her head in shame.
"It's alright, Ingrid. I believe he has his reasons to believe so. What about Baron Dominic, Anette? I only got a letter from Rodrigue, confirming his allegiance to me despite the circumstances." Felix suddenly scoffed at the mention of his father and glanced away.
"Don't worry, your Highness. My uncle assured me that his loyalty remained solely with the royal family. And the same goes for my father."
"Well, it looks like you don't have to worry anymore, Dimitri," Claude said encouragingly, but Dimitri still wore a conflicted expression on his face.
"But still, I want to hear the opinions of the professor and our friend in this matter. Speaking of which, where are they now?"
"The professor hasn't left her room for a few days while Byleth was only seen once at the Dining Hall. We're planning on visiting them later, so you can join us if you'd like."
"If you said so, I won't refuse then. By the way, did you hear them say anything about this after the mission in Holy Mausoleum?"
"They left shortly after our mission, and we haven't heard anything since," Ferdinand explained. "But from what I remember, the professor mentioned she had no desire to become a ruler." Dimitri let out a relieved sigh.
"And Byleth? Did he say anything?" Dimitri continued.
"Not that we know of. But I can't deny that I'm curious about it." Edelgard replied.
"Believe it or not, he seemed open to the idea when we last spoke. Even the Professor said she would be his Knight if it happened. But as the Princess said, shall we visit them then?"
"I don't remember inviting you, Claude," Edelgard stated firmly.
"Protective of her parents, isn't she? Don't worry I will not replace you as their favorite…yet."
"Hubie, whatever you are planning, don't," Dorothea warned and tried to hold back the retainer whose fury was building each second.
"Let's put that aside for now and head to the Professor's room. They're most likely there," Edelgard suggested as she looked at the rest of the Blue Lions, who were tilting their heads in curiosity.
"How do you know that?" Dimitri asked with a puzzled expression.
"We'll explain on the way. But I must admit, I'm also curious about what they're up to," Dorothea giggled mischievously.
"Perhaps they're enjoying some private moments together. You know what they say – when a man and a woman are alone in a room..." Sylvain trailed off with a smirk, earning a nudge from Ingrid.
"She was gone only for a few days and you kids are already rowdy like this. Looks like my kid is truly famous then." Just then, they heard a familiar voice approaching and turned to see Jeralt walking towards them with a polite smile.
"Captain Jeralt, it's nice to see you again." Edelgard bowed in respect along with Claude and Dimitri.
"It's been quite some time since we met at Remire, hasn't it? Though I did not expect you would fret over her absence in just a matter of days."
"It's natural for us to be concerned about the professor's well-being, sir Jeralt. Do you mind if we ask something?" Jeralt blinked his eyes at Edelgard's question.
"Alright, what would you like to know?"
"Has the professor ever suffered such a fatigue before? She seems to have locked herself in her room recently."
"Ah…It should be fine then. There is no need for you all to fret." The students looked at him in confusion.
"Why do you say that?" Dimitri inquired politely.
"Because Byleth is taking care of her now if I'm correct." Despite the surprise, the students nodded as Jeralt continued. "And from what I've seen during our mercenary days, he knows how to handle these situations." Jeralt smiled, causing Claude to lean in curiously.
"So, they've been like this before?"
"Oh, countless times. Whenever my daughter was sick or injured, Byleth would refuse to let her leave her bed until she recovered. Little did he know he would eventually experience the same thing when the roles were reversed. I remember she dragged him back to his bed in front of us mercenaries, despite his protests. Stubborn as they come, those two." The students chuckled at the story, even Hubert and Dedue showing rare signs of amusement.
"They are like an old married couple. No wonder she was furious when I invited him for dinner with some girls." Sylvain joked.
"And you failed to mention that you were trying to flirt with the Professor earlier that evening, Sylvain," Ingrid added, causing Sylvain to shrink in fear as Jeralt raised an eyebrow.
"Sylvain, was it? Is it true that you were trying to hit on my daughter?" Jeralt's voice took on a more intimidating tone, causing Sylvain to raise his hands in surrender.
"It was just innocent conversation, Captain. And besides, I highly doubt the Professor would look at anyone else but her partner."
"Can't argue with that." Jeralt shrugged and relaxed his stance, a smile appearing on his face. "They've changed, haven't they?"
"Changed?" The students asked in unison.
"Oh, right. I guess they never told you then. Before meeting Byleth... let's just say my daughter wasn't like how she is now." Suddenly, Jeralt's tone shifted, and the air became heavy.
"Why is that, if I may ask, Captain Jeralt?" Ferdinand asked hesitantly.
"The kid never smiled once, no matter how much I tried. However, everything changed ever since Byleth came along. Despite keeping everything to themselves, they were indeed comfortable around each other, especially how she laughed around him. It happened more often after they came back the next morning after leaving a note saying they had some things to take care of the previous night."
"Could you tell us more?" Dorothea inquired curiously.
"That's their story to tell. But whatever it was, I'm happy with the way it turned out. And teaching you kids here seems to make them happier too. At least, they have others now besides each other."
"We're glad you hold us in such high regard. Anyway, we're about to visit the Professor now. Would you like to come as well, captain?" Edelgard asked.
"Very well, I will tag along then. Lead the way."
The memories of the mission at the Holy Mausoleum reverted in her mind like a haunting melody, each one a sharp and painful stab to her heart. The images of her fallen students played in a loop; a vivid montage of faces twisted in agony. She stood alone in the darkened corridor, a heavy silence pressing upon her as the weight of regret settled in her chest.
Their bodies lay cold in a river of blood, sacrificed for a mission that ended in tragedy. The Death Knight's presence loomed over them like a shadow, his scythe dripping with fresh blood. In a rage-fueled frenzy, Bylass charged toward him, her sword ablaze with determination. But even as she struck him down, the guilt remained, gnawing at her heart as she looked upon her lifeless students.
Divine Pulse, the power bestowed upon her to undo mistakes, now felt more like a curse. Each time she used it, the wounds of her mind were cut deeper, and the pain only intensified. Why was she gifted this power, only to suffer this cycle for eternity? How long could she keep up this cycle until it finally broke her down?
"Pathetic!" a sinister voice echoed in her ears, causing her blood to run cold. The hooded figure she despised more than anything emerged from the shadows, his presence oozing with malice. "How amusing it is to see the great mercenary, feared by all, reduced to this state. Tell me, what is the use of rewriting fate if you can't even save yourself?"
"If that's all you have to say, then leave!" She snapped back with ferocious anger, brandishing the Sword of the Creator on him. But the hooded figure only laughed in response.
"Bylass Eisner- the merciless monster, the Ashen Demon. No matter how much you try to deny it, that is who you truly are. Your feelings are not real- it's just a lie that you told yourself to pretend that you were far more than what you truly were."
"You're wrong! My feelings are more real than you can ever imagine. This sadness. This despair. It's something that a Serpent like you will never understand."
"Those very same words that I heard long ago. You two are truly stubborn, aren't you?" His laugh was sinister and filled with malice.
"Leave him out of this!" She roared furiously, but the Archangel only laughed louder.
"Fate cannot be rewritten so easily, Bylass. Not by you. And not by that so-called Goddess. All those memories you shared with him- they were nothing but illusions, delaying the inevitable destiny that was set in stone for him. No matter how much you deny it, you cannot change his true nature - a mere puppet in the grand theater of fate. Just like you!"
Her rage ignited like a blazing inferno, and without a second thought, she swung her sword toward the source of the taunts, intending to silence Seraphim once and for all. But as the blade sliced through the darkness, the laughter grew quiet, until Byleth's lifeless form emerged from the shadows.
The realization struck her like a thunderbolt, freezing her in place. The eyes that once held so much life now stared at her with an emptiness that sent shivers down her spine. "No...no, it can't be," she gasped, her features contorting in horror.
As she pulled out the sword, Byleth's body crumpled to the ground. Bylass sank to her knees, a wail of grief escaping her lips. This nightmare had taken a darker turn, filling her with unbearable anguish at the thought of taking the life of someone she loved.
A voice behind her continued to mock and taunt, but Bylass could not hear it anymore. This was just a nightmare, she knew that, but it felt too real. The pain, the guilt, the regret - it was all-consuming. She whispered apology after apology, hoping they would reach him somehow. But there was no response from his lifeless eyes, only a piercing emptiness that tore into her heart. Wasn't she his loyal blade? Wasn't she supposed to ... protect him?
"Please, make it stop. Anyone...please!"
Bylass gasped for air and woke up violently. Her body was still trembling from the nightmare earlier as she tried to steady her breath. Yet, the images still lingered, haunting her with each second passed by. Looking at her hands hesitantly, she could not help but tremble once the scene crossed her mind again. Those very hands, the ones that were meant to protect everyone, ended up bathing in the blood of those she claimed to protect. Was it just simply a nightmare? Or was it trying to tell her something? And those words of the archangel- she knew they were just products of her dream, but they felt too surreal as if he was there.
As she sat lost in thought, the overwhelming aroma of stew caught her attention. Her eyes landed on the table where a steaming bowl of it had been prepared for her. And next to it, sleeping soundly in a chair, was Byleth - the one who had been caring for her since their last mission. Ever since then, the haunting images of death had plagued her every night, causing her to wake up in terror and forcing Byleth to rush to her side. He never left her alone after that night, unless he needed to gather food. Finishing her food in silence, she sat calmly and looked at him with a heavy heart. She couldn't deny his kindness and concern, but it only added to the guilt eating away at her. As his eyes slowly opened, she forced a smile, hiding the inner turmoil she felt.
"Morning Byleth," Bylass greeted, glancing at the window to see that the sun was already high in the sky. "Or should I say afternoon then?"
"Who knows but it's good to have your back, Bylass," Byleth replied, noticing a hint of exhaustion on her face. "Did the nightmares return?"
Bylass nodded hesitantly. "They were even more intense this time. I can't shake off those scenes...I know they were just nightmares, but they happened, didn't they?" She muttered sadly.
"But you undid those deaths," Byleth reassured her calmly. "We were all fine thanks to you."
"I know, but it doesn't erase what I saw." Bylass sighed tiredly. "I'm sorry for burdening you with this. It must be boring for you to sit here with me for hours."
"Don't worry about it. At least I have someone to talk to," Byleth reassured her. "Although it's still strange for me to have conversations with ghosts like that."
"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm not a ghost?" Sothis appeared immediately, pointing fingers at him accusingly.
"Well technically, since you don't have a physical body and live inside her mind, it could be argued that you are a ghost," Byleth retorted casually.
"Rude! At least I am a divine spirit bound to her. But what about … angel?" The former mercenary scrutinized and glanced at her while tapping on his chin before shrugging off again.
"Angels carry a divine air around them. You, on the other hand, look rather like a goblin in my opinion. Especially with those pointy ears."
"How dare you! I'm the Beginning, the Bender of Time. A little respect would be welcome!"
"A childish goblin!" He said sarcastically while Bylass snorted at the bickering.
"Bylass, say something!" Sothis turned to her pleadingly, but after a moment of contemplation, Bylass responded sarcastically.
"Well, he does have a point. You do kind of look like a goblin."
"I hate both of you."
"You're handling this better than I expected, Byleth," Bylass remarked. "I was trying to figure out how to explain her existence to you in the beginning."
"Yeah, it did come as a surprise when I first saw her," Byleth agreed. "But she only appeared after the incident at Remire, right?"
"That's correct. And you didn't seem to see her either. So what could have caused this change now?"
"Could it be related to the Sword of the Creator?" Sothis chimed in, capturing their attention.
"Sothis, can you elaborate more?"
"I cannot say for certain but given that you are now able to see me after coming into contact with the sword, it is possible. And this strange feeling with that sword, it's familiar somehow."
"Does that mean anyone who touches the sword will also be able to see you?" Bylass questioned.
"I don't believe so. When you gave the sword to Rhea for inspection, nothing happened," Byleth explained.
"We can figure out the reasoning behind all of this later. Right now, there is one thing that still doesn't make sense- why did Rhea insist on giving Bylass the Sword of the Creator?"
"Yeah, she's been acting suspicious since we got here, but that one puzzles me. And her reaction to Byleth being able to wield it was just too weird," Bylass added, narrowing her eyes in suspicion.
"Now that I think about it, Rhea seemed almost disbelieving when she heard about it. Which is strange considering how calm she was about your Crest being revealed. How did she know that the sword would be compatible with you?" Byleth pondered, tapping his chin.
"It feels like we've been caught up in a web of mysteries, and I don't like it one bit. But there's something else that has been nagging at me- the Archangel of Liberation." Both Byleth and Bylass froze at the mention of the name, while Byleth's fists clenched instinctively.
"Seraphim!" Byleth spat out caustically. "I care not for his intentions or thoughts towards me. The next time we cross paths, I will extract the truth from him, by any means necessary." His voice grew darker with each word as his fists tightened even more.
"Have you encountered him before?" Sothis inquired cautiously, sensing the tension in the air. Byleth fell silent, his expression troubled, before responding in a hesitant tone.
"I... don't know. The name feels unfamiliar, yet something deep within me tells me otherwise. And that sinister voice...it's not human at all."
"Despite the mystery surrounding him, it's clear that this entity has a hidden agenda for you. Moreover, he seemed to know about your origin and even my power." Sothis said carefully, her expression growing tense.
"Sothis, how can you be sure of it?" Byleth asked.
"When he pointed at you and asked Bylass how many lives she had lived, it was a direct reference to her Divine Pulse ability and its time manipulation aspect. And that monstrous energy... I've never seen anything like that before."
"Do you think he can also use Divine Pulse too?" Byleth asked cautiously.
"It's unlikely in my opinion. If he were capable of such a thing, I should have also felt it when he used it. However, it doesn't mean we can underestimate whose origin and motives are quite concerning, especially with all those talks about fate and destiny."
"Whatever this entity is, we must proceed with caution should we encounter him again. Bylass, what do you..." Byleth's sentence trailed off as he noticed Bylass trembling uncontrollably in her bed.
He noticed her hands were clenched tightly into fists, her knuckles turning white with force. Her eyes darted back and forth, betraying the inner turmoil she was experiencing. Each time her fingers twitched, it seemed to echo the turbulent storm of emotions brewing within her.
Unable to stand by and watch her struggle, Byleth gently reached for her trembling hands. He could feel the tremors running through her body as he enclosed her delicate fingers within his strong grasp. With a gentle touch, he guided her hands down to rest on her lap, offering a sense of calm amidst the chaos that threatened to consume her. As their fingers intertwined, Byleth could feel the tension slowly dissipate from her body, replaced instead by a sense of security and comfort in his presence.
"Is something wrong, Bylass?" His voice was gentle, but she could sense the underlying concern. She hesitated before finally responding.
"It's… complicated." She inclined her head and avoided his gaze.
"Is it the nightmares again? From before?" His calm tone reassured her as she fell silent for a moment. Then she forced herself to speak.
"Watching my students die was not the only thing I saw in that chaos." Her words came out in a stutter as she struggled to maintain composure. "I heard a mocking laugh behind me, taunting me for failing to save them and dismissing my feelings as mere illusions."
"It's him, isn't it?" Byleth asked tentatively, to which she nodded.
"I can't be sure, but it felt so real as if he was there. And when he brought up your name, I couldn't control my blade from striking him down. But it wasn't him that I saw... it was you. Your lifeless eyes were staring back at me, accusing me of the horrors I had committed." His fingers tightened around hers as he spoke gently.
"It's just a nightmare, Bylass. I know you would never harm me."
"But how can you be so sure, Byleth? How can you trust a Demon who even struggles to understand her feelings?"
Byleth gently placed a hand on Bylass's shoulder, his expression softening with sincerity as he looked into her eyes. "Bylass," he began, his voice calm yet determined. "I understand your doubts, but trust isn't always about logic or understanding. It's about faith, about believing in someone even when it's difficult. And I believe in you."
He paused, holding her gaze steadily. "You've always been there for me, Bylass. Through thick and thin, you've shown me what true friendship means. And that's something I cherish more than anything. Even if I can't fully comprehend everything about your circumstances, I know one thing for certain - you're important to me. More important than you might realize."
Bylass's heart flutters at Byleth's sincere words, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush as she meets his gaze with gratitude and affection. She replied shyly, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"Thank you for believing in me. You are important to me too." Sothis snorted on the back, which she paid no attention to while Byleth shrugged and began to stand up.
"Shall we take a walk now? I know you've not been feeling well recently but it's the last day of our break before next month's assignment. If only you're up for it though."
"Don't worry, I should be fine now. Thanks for being here with me, Byleth." She replied warmly and put on her coat. "Now, where shall we…" A sudden knock interrupted and caught their attention. Walking to the door, they slowly opened it, revealing Jeralt who was smiling at them.
"Guess I was correct then. You two haven't changed at all, have you?"
"Well, the past few days haven't been going well for her and we didn't want to worry you," Byleth explained, bowing respectfully. "I promise I didn't do anything inappropriate."
"Relax, kid," Jeralt patted Byleth's shoulder. "I've known you long enough, there's no need for formality. Besides, I'm grateful that you've always been there for her. By the way, how are you feeling now, Bylass?"
"It's okay, Father," Bylass replied in a neutral tone. "The past few days have been overwhelming, but I think I'll be alright now."
"I see and that is …?" Jeralt gave her a curious look to which she replied with a neutral tone as her eyes wandered around and Byleth was also doing the same.
"We can discuss it another day. Moreover, what brought you here, Father?"
"Your students have been quite concerned about your disappearance over the past few days. I must say I'm quite surprised even the two other kids we saved at Remire were also worried about you too."
"Is that why they are hiding behind my doors now?" Bylass replied casually and took a glance at her right door while Byleth checked on the left. To her surprise, both the Black Eagles and Blue Lions were here, including Claude who was laughing mischievously at Byleth while Edelgard and Dimitri gave her an awkward smile.
"Long time no see, my friend. What have you been doing there if I may ask?" Byleth narrowed his eyes and replied calmly.
"Just doing what I'm supposed to do. It is I who should ask you. What are you doing here, Claude?"
"The Princess and His Princeliness invited me to check up on you and the Professor as they've been worried as you heard."
"Then why hiding behind my doors if I may ask?" Bylass inquired curiously as she noticed several of her students looked away shyly while the others gave her awkward smiles, excluding Felix who seemed to not care and checked on his nails.
"It wasn't my idea, Professor," Edelgard spoke hastily. "We thought it would be overwhelming for you if we all came at once."
"And?"
"And Claude suggested that we should let sir Jeralt meet you first while we waited on both sides." Dimitri stuttered and glanced at the Golden Deer. "I told you it was an absurd idea, Claude."
"But it worked, didn't it?" Claude shrugged. "Besides, Teach doesn't seem to mind at all."
"Meet me at the Training Field after class tomorrow," Bylass said matter of fact, making Claude sweat then glanced at Jeralt. "Anyway, what are you planning to do?"
"How about going to the tavern for a drink?" Jeralt smirked, but Byleth and Bylass gave him disapproving looks.
"Are you planning on getting drunk again?" they asked in unison.
"Hey, that was only one time when the villagers held a feast for us after we drove back the bandits," Jeralt defended himself as the students watched in amusement.
"What about that time when you passed out in Remire during the festival?" Bylass asked sarcastically. "Remember being woken up by one of our mercenaries who asked for my help because you and most of them already passed out."
"And for some reason, you decided to wake me up as well when my eyes just barely closed," Byleth added with a pointed look. "Last I checked, you were experienced in handling this kind of situation."
"And ever since you showed her your way of waking me up, she's been doing it frequently," Jeralt sighed. "So are you planning on doing it again?"
"Depends." The professor replied casually. "But Seteth banned us from throwing anyone into the lake, so we'll figure something else." Despite her assurance, Jeralt still eyed them skeptically. Meanwhile, Claude tried to hold back his laugh and glanced at Dimitri and Edelgard who also looked amused by the situation.
Today was going to be a very long day.
As they walked into the tavern, Byleth watched as the students naturally fell into conversation while he and Bylass led the way. The other customers couldn't help but glance at them curiously. After a brief wait, the receptionist greeted them with a friendly smile and handed Byleth and Bylass each a menu, which they quickly scanned together.
"So, what are you getting, Teach? We can get some drinks while the ladies have their juices,"
"I did not ask for your permission, Riegan," Dorothea warned dryly.
"Claude does have a point, aren't we supposed to drink alcoholic drinks according to the rules of the academy."
Byleth chimed in, keeping his eyes on the menu.
"Technically, that is applied to most of us," Dimitri explained. "Though it's possible for some of us who have already been of drinking age."
"I see, I will get some juices for you then," Byleth said before Bylass caught his wrist, still holding onto the menu with her other hand.
"It's my treat, so let's get some cocktails instead," she insisted. "Besides, they'll be adults in just a few months anyway."
"But it doesn't change the fact that most of them are still not old enough to drink alcohol," Byleth argued firmly. "Moreover, what are we going to explain to Lady Rhea if they end up drunk like Jeralt?"
"I heard that, kid." Jeralt glared at him which he shrugged and kept his eyes on the menu.
"Byleth, I appreciate your concern, but this is not the first time we drank something alcoholic," Ferdinand explained. "I don't know about our Faerghus's friends, but liquors are not that rare at our banquet."
"For Ferdinand's question, Faerghus has a similar tradition as well," Ashe added. "Plus, I highly doubt any of us will get too out of hand."
"He's right. It's our last free day so there is no need to be so rigid, Byleth. Let us let loose a bit." Bylass interjected as he fell silent before giving her a pointed look.
"Fine. If anyone ends up passed out…"
"Then we will carry them back." The professor replied matter of fact which Byleth rolled his eyes and grunted.
"Is this how they have been behaving?" Jeralt asked with an amused smirk towards the students, who all nodded in agreement.
After ordering the drinks, they finally managed to sit down and wait for the drinks. Unsurprisingly, the blue-haired duo sat next to each other immediately without a word as Jeralt decided to take the seat next to his daughter. Meanwhile, the students split into different groups across from them. The three house leaders sat in between, forming a sort of buffer zone. The waitstaff arrived with trays of colorful cocktails and a bottle of wine per Jeralt's request which Byleth was not amused by. To everyone's surprise, the waitress came with a cup of tea and gave it to the former mercenary who looked satisfied with his choice.
"Not a fan of alcohol, aren't you?" Claude asked with a smirk, to which Byleth responded bluntly.
"Trying to be the one who always cleans up the mess and you will understand. Moreover, their tastes are not bad either."
"Speaking like a true caretaker himself, it must have been fun for you guys during mercenary days then," Claude remarked with interest.
"Remember how Jeralt was always frowning whenever we discussed something? I thought you'd always hated him for the first few months since he joined us, to be honest." Bylass commented, taking a sip of her drink as she glared at Jeralt, who raised his hands in surrender.
"Can you blame me? I hardly knew him back then and it took me several months to get to know him better."
"It only took one night at the tavern which ended up becoming a drinking competition," Byleth remarked dryly. "We talked more often after that night if I remember correctly."
"How could I forget, kid? Despite your disdain for alcohol, you were quite good at holding your liquor. Took me by surprise how you could still stand after seven drinks."
"I hope you're not suggesting we have a drinking contest here," Byleth glared at Jeralt, who laughed joyfully.
"Don't worry, if anyone passes out, Dimitri can carry them with ease. So no need to fret, my friend,"
"I never agreed to such a thing, Claude. And you also exaggerated my ability as well." Dimitri gave him a frown.
"It's just a mere suggestion, your Highness!" Claude smiled smugly and leaned on his hands.
"Anyway, it's been a while since we sat together, haven't we?" Edelgard interjected. "Last time we were together like this was during the training expedition near Remire village."
"The fateful night that led us to meet Teach and Byleth here after getting chased by bandits. I know I already said this but thank you for saving our skins, Teach, Byleth." He stopped before raising his drink. "Therefore, I propose we make a toast here. To the Professor and her partner."
"Appreciated. Let us join now, shall we?" Bylass raised her cup as everyone else also raised their own.
"Do you have anything to say, Honored Guests?" Claude asked eagerly.
"To our health! To our peaceful days!" Bylass finished which was quickly followed by Byleth.
"To our future! To the paths that we will cut for ourselves!
"To the Professor! To our friend!"
"Hey, teach, would you like to play a game?" Claude asked with a smirk, earning a skeptical look from Bylass.
"What kind of scheme are you brewing this time, Claude?"
"Relax, it's just a simple drinking game. Ever heard of Truth or Drink?"
"Claude, what is this game?" Dimitri interjected with curiosity.
"As the name suggests, everyone takes turns asking questions and if someone doesn't want to answer, they have to take a drink. But if they do answer, the person who asked the question has to drink."
"That sounds like fun. How are we playing now?" Dorothea inquired eagerly.
"Byleth, and I will team up while the rest of you can form your own. Jeralt, can you be the judge for this game?"
"Sure thing. What about you, kid?" Jeralt turned to Byleth, who gave a nod in agreement before turning to the other students. "So, who wants to start us off?"
Surprisingly, Edelgard quickly raised her hand and asked hastily. "I know we already asked this before, but old are you, Professor?"
The professor raised her eyebrows and glanced at Jeralt, who had a look of inner turmoil despite his calm facade. Without speaking, he subtly motioned for her to continue, and she did so without missing a beat.
"I'm eighteen now!" Edelgard took a sip, followed by Claude who seemed eager to press further.
"Wow, the professor is indeed around our age. Can't say I'm surprised though. And how about you?" Claude turned to Byleth whose uncertainty was visible as he fell silent.
"Claude, don't you remember his circumstances?" Edelgard chided him sternly.
"I know, I know. Amnesia. But still, aren't you guys curious too?"
"It's not polite to pry if someone is uncomfortable sharing," Dimitri interjected firmly. "He's a student like us, not a puzzle for us to solve."
"It's okay. To answer your question, I think I'm probably around twenty or so." Byleth spoke up neutrally, but uncertainty flickered in his eyes.
After a moment of heavy silence, Jeralt cleared his throat awkwardly and gestured for them to continue. Claude took another sip of his drink while Dorothea raised her hand.
'So… Professor, we already know your age but what about your birthday? May I ask what day it is?"
"It's twenty of Horsebow Moon," Bylass replied without hesitation, surprising Jeralt who replied with a small hump as he signaled Dorothea to take her drink.
"Oh my, you were born under the star of the Goddess. It's an honor to hear that, Professor!" Mercedes complimented.
"The star of the Goddess?"
"According to the Church's textbook, it's the day when the Goddess descended to this land and offered salvation to the people here. Must be cool to share something with the Goddess I suppose." Claude explained. "I believe that was a question then." The blue-haired woman shrugged and sipped nonchalantly.
"Sir Jeralt, have you ever told Professor about this, considering you used to be captain of the Knights of Seiros?" Edelgard inquired curiously.
"Who knows? The idea never crossed my mind and she never asked either." Jeralt shrugged and scratched his head.
"Let us continue the game, shall we?" Claude chimed in and turned toward Byleth. "And you? Care to share with us what your date of birth is?"
Before Edelgard and Dimitri could scold Claude, Byleth replied without hesitation to their surprise. "It's the twenty-fifth of Red Wolf Moon!"
"Wait, you remember your birthday despite amnesia?" Ferdinand asked.
"No, it was the day that I met Bylass and Geralt. The idea of celebrating it came a year later thanks to someone special." Byleth gave a small smile at Bylass, who returned it warmly.
"Let me guess, Teach was the one who suggested it?" grinned Claude, to which Byleth nodded.
"Correct, and that counts as your second question, Claude." The Golden Deer leader finished his drink and poured himself another as Dimitri raised his hand to continue the game.
"I couldn't help but notice the beautiful craftsmanship of your dagger. May I ask where you got it from?" Byleth blinked in surprise and looked down at the object before clutching it fondly.
"It was a gift...for my birthday,"
"From whom?" Sylvain eagerly inquired.
"Someone very important to me and you already know who." The Gautier heir and Blue Lion leader finished their drinks at Jeralt's signals. However, that did not seem to slow down the red-haired student to tease the prince.
"I think you've found your long-lost sister or something, Dimitri! A dagger no less!"
"Sylvain, will you ever let that go?" Dimitri crossed his arms. "It was many years ago and I've told you she left so suddenly that I didn't have time to prepare."
"Dagger?" the blue-haired duo asked simultaneously.
"Oh, right. Long ago I met a girl from another continent, and we did not get along well at first. But that façade was gone once she taught me how to dance, and our relationship changed for the better. That time of my life … was so much fun." Dimitri remarked happily.
"Yet you still chose to gift her a dagger. Quite a gift for your girlfriend." Sylvain said teasingly, earning him a kick from Ingrid. Unbeknownst to them, Edelgard widened her eyes and took a quick look at her dagger which turned into a conflicted look.
"Lady Edelgard, is everything alright?" Hubert whispered.
"Nothing, Hubert!" She shook her head and regained her composure.
"I did not take you for a romantic type, your Highness. But what drove you to gift it to him if I may ask, Teach?" Claude asked.
"I'm quite curious too," Jeralt added. "Didn't you always carry it around?"
"It was my possession," Bylass explained with a slight smile. "But I felt that he deserved it more than I did. And it holds more significance now - a symbol of his unyielding determination and the choices he makes for his future."
"Spoken like a true knight. I did not expect such an answer from you." Felix said amusedly.
"In Faerghus we've long considered blades to be tools of destiny. As a way to cut a path to a better future. It's an honor to know that this gift holds much weight for you."
"Thanks for your compliments, Dimitri. Though, this dagger- is no longer a symbol anymore- it's a promise- one that I intend to keep." The students tilted their heads as Byleth's fingers brushed the dagger gently.
"For too long, I've shouldered the burdens alone, thinking that it was my punishment to atone for what I did a lifetime ago. But I realize now that it was just an illusion - a way for me to avoid accepting help from others and facing my fears."
The Black Eagles prepared to ask in unison, but Bylass halted them and signaled them to let him continue.
"But time and time again, she had always been there, guiding me out of the darkness that I created. Despite all the evil in this world and the suffering I had to endure, there are still people who care deeply for you in their hearts and will stand alongside you in times of despair. Life will find a way, no matter how dark or bleak the future becomes. Isn't that something worth fighting for?" A ghost of a smile crossed his face as he remembered his family before continuing with a newfound determination.
"Even if what I've been searching for doesn't exist. Even if I might never know who I am. But when I look at this dagger, I know it's not just a weapon at my side. It's a reminder of the bonds we share, and the promise that I will not run away from her anymore. And I meant it, truly."
The students sat in stunned silence, their hands gripping the edges of their seats as they listened to Byleth's speech. Some couldn't hold back tears while others were simply shocked. The professor blushed and averted her gaze, while Jeralt was at a loss for words. Byleth finally snapped out of his daze and noticed the reactions of his classmates, confusion etched on his face as he asked what was going on.
"Was there something wrong with what I said?"
"No, Byleth. It's just … the promise that you mentioned. How should I say this?" Dimitri replied hesitantly.
"I think congratulations are in order then?" Ingrid added with uncertainty, making Byleth confused even more.
"Hey Dimitri, did you also say those words to your girlfriend? I won't bring it up again if you did," Sylvain teased, despite the irritated look on the prince's face.
"To think that a former mercenary could compose such a poetic promise. I- Ferdinand von Aegir hereby admit my defeat. You must teach me how to do that one day, my friend!"
"Kid, I know she is important to you but there are steps that need to be taken before arriving at such a crucial point. It's not that I disagree but sometimes enough is enough." Jeralt's voice suddenly turned serious as Byleth tried to make sense of the situation.
"Can someone please explain what's going on now?"
"You don't get it, do you?" Bylass relieved a heavy sigh as she took another sip, and everyone seemed to nod at her sympathetically. "But thank you, Byleth. For holding me in such high regard. For believing in me."
"And I you, Bylass. For not giving up on this fool!" He nodded wordlessly but his eyes spoke volumes as they found themselves staring into each other again. Until a small cough broke their thoughts, revealing everyone who was staring at them.
"What a pair!" Their thoughts echoed in unison.
"So, who's next?"