Byleth's heart sank as he slowly opened his eyes, feeling a weight of despair and pain. Byleth blinked a few times to clear his vision and looked around the room. He noticed he was lying on a bed in the infirmary, but the healer wasn't around. His friends must have brought him here even though he did not know what happened - he made a mental note to thank them later.
The moonlight streamed through the window, casting an ethereal glow across the room that eased Byleth's mind ever so slightly. As he prepared to sit up and shake off the grogginess, Byleth felt something heavy on his legs. Looking down, he saw Bylass sound asleep, nestled in the crook of his thighs.
He tried to move her gently, but she stirred and opened her eyes, giving him a warm smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. There was a small look of concern there as if she knew more than she was letting on.
"It's good to have you back, partner." She said gently as she helped him sit comfortably.
"What happened?" He inquired curiously.
"When we were discussing ... your past. You suddenly collapsed and started screaming," she explained with a slight quiver in her voice. "I had the Blue Lions search for Manuela while Caspar and Ferdinand helped me take you to the infirmary with the Black Eagles."
"Let me guess. They finally took our suggestion after all." Byleth rolled his eyes in amusement.
"From what I heard, Felix had enough of waiting and decided to toss her into the lake despite his friends' protest. So much for sparing me the drama."
"Trouble seems to follow you around, Professor." Byleth retorted lightly, though he could sense something was off as she kept her eyes fixed on him. The situation felt eerily familiar causing him to inwardly sigh before he finally opened his mouth again.
"Hey …"
"Hey…"
The two beheld one another in shock.
"What's the matter, Bylass?"
"I find it amusing that you are asking me this," she muttered, her grip on her knees turning to stone.
"It's … it's complicated." He paused as if he was about to duck out of his promise again. But before she could give him a piece of her mind, he continued. "That's why I wanna tell you and Jeralt now."
She gawked at him in disbelief. "You got your memories back?!"
"Not entirely," Byleth murmured, hearing footsteps approach. "Just some pieces here and there. Let's talk this through somewhere more private though."
"Loud and clear," she nodded. "I'll get Jeralt over to your room later." Then, the doors swung open revealing an entire posse of soaked friends-the Black Eagles along with the Blue Lions and Manuela who was looking particularly bedraggled.
"Well, it looks like your friend has perked up then. I have already given him a check-up and he's healthy as ever, so you all can take a breath of relief! Nevertheless, if you need my help next time, please don't resort to such measures again." Manuela's intense glare burned into Felix who groaned with irritation.
"She's right, Felix. I told you that we shouldn't have done that in the first place." Ingrid spoke out her frustration.
"Easy there, Ingrid. But what we did worked just like the professor said, didn't it?" Sylvain smiled slyly.
"Said the one who helped him execute such a plan. I will personally see you two doing chores at the stables tomorrow as punishment." Dimitri sighed heavily.
"See, I told you that he would be fine!" Caspar suddenly shouted and raised his fist in victory, which accidentally bumped into Ferdinand who gave him an icy stare of disapproval.
"Byleth, are you alright? It scared us when you suddenly collapsed hours ago." Edelgard asked with genuine concern in her voice.
"That's right, you were screaming intensely as if your head was being ripped apart. We thought we had lost you for a moment there. Are you sure you're feeling better now?" Dorothea added worriedly.
"Sorry to worry everyone but I'm much better off now. Thank you for looking after me." Byleth bowed gratefully.
"And how are you feeling now?" Ferdinand inquired further.
"Sore and tired but I'll live through it."
"And what about you, Professor?" Edelgard looked at Bylass." You've been in the infirmary for hours, haven't you?"
"Don't fret, I'm alright. Just in case any of you were worried if the class was pushed back due to this incident, feel free to go back to your rooms now since nothing has changed schedule-wise". Bylass waved her hand dismissively at them before continuing "Including you Dimitri".
"I see, then I shall meet you tomorrow. Have a good night, Professor, Byleth." Edelgard nodded and departed along with the Black Eagles and Blue Lions followed by Manuela, leaving the duo alone.
"About what we were discussing, shall I inform Jeralt now?" She gazed at Byleth, who began to rise from the bed.
"Yes, let's go now."
One hour later
"I was only gone for a week and you two got into another trouble again." Jeralt sighed."I guess doing chore service doesn't do much to keep you diligent."
"If you're referring to the incident with Manuela, we didn't ask for their help despite how dire things were."
"Really? From what I heard; you almost strung the poor woman up by a rope. It's no secret that this has been your favorite strategy since our mercenary days."
"We didn't have any other means to wake you up after your sixth drink, so I thought some water might do the trick."
"A lake doesn't qualify as a little bit of water," Jeralt remarked dryly. He then turned to Byleth with concern etched on his face. "Are you alright now?"
"I'm fine for the moment," Byleth replied calmly. "The whole incident left me a bit befuddled at first, but I think I've finally come across some clues."
"That's a relief, kid. Why must we conduct this conversation in hushed tones, though?" Jeralt asked pointedly.
"Things are still unclear to me, and I don't want to share until I have all of the facts straight. You know that I trust you with my life…right?" Byleth replied genuinely.
Jeralt nodded solemnly. "I understand. Now what would you like to tell me?"
Byleth took a deep breath and began as Jeralt and Bylass waited in anticipation.
"Jeralt, what if I told you that I was part of a great war?"
"Let me get this straight. You were part of a Strike Force, correct?" Jeralt asked incredulously, scratching his head in disbelief.
"That's right, Jeralt. He did mention it to me a while ago, but we brushed it off due to the sheer impossibility of that claim. But with these recent events, I believe there must be something happening now." Bylass stated confidently.
"Look, kids. We've been over this, there hasn't…"
"Been a war on Fodlan for the last three hundred years, I know. But the memories...the dreams still haunt me like they happened yesterday. The stench of burned flesh mixing with iron weapons clashed against one another as body after body piled up around me. Worst of all was the burning capital with innocent lives trapped in its holocaust flames. That's what I saw when I closed my eyes at night!" Byleth spoke passionately, his words quivering from the fear and emotion coiling inside him.
Jeralt looked at Byleth with equal parts interest and skepticism before taking a deep breath and asking "And you are sure this happened on Fodlan? Where exactly were you?"
"Yes, I recognized some of the places we had passed through while working as mercenaries. Moreover, I saw myself calling out Fodlan's name."
"And how was the situation if I may ask?" Jeralt inquired carefully.
However, Byleth replied with hesitation as his body was shaking. Then Bylass reached for his arm and intertwined their fingers while looking at him encouragingly. He cleared his throat before continuing,
"I saw myself leading a battalion of the Adrestian Empire. Maybe even as a commander. The tide seemed to be favoring us, my comrades flying our banner with pride and proclaiming victory to the Empire. But then something changed... I saw myself kneeling in the middle of the flames, letting out an inhuman scream. My fists were clenched tightly in anger as my surroundings were engulfed by fire."
"Did you lose someone important to you in that battle?" Bylass asked gently.
"No, there was nothing but burning ashes around me. " Byleth replied hesitantly. "But there is something else that shocked me to my core." His voice trailed away dramatically before adding, "My hair and eyes were both an unusual shade of green."
Both Jeralt and Bylass widened their eyes." Did you dye your hair, kid?"
"But that doesn't explain his eyes, father!" Bylass replied quickly before asking hesitantly, "Are you sure that's what you saw?"
Byleth looked away, unsure of what he had seen. Finally, he murmured, "Maybe it was just an illusion or a distorted memory… but it feels so real when I think about it."
"But I believe there must be more behind this, right?" Bylass probed with surprise.
"How do you…?"
"Before you fainted, I heard you mumbling some names," Bylass answered hesitantly. "There was sorrow in your gaze and even… hatred."
"..."
"If you don't feel comfortable talking about it, we can stop here. There are..." Byleth lifted his hand to stop Jeralt from speaking further.
"In my last moments of consciousness, I heard myself cursing someone out loud. Two names stirred up more questions than answers in me." He inhaled deeply and continued; "Seiros- The first Saint of the Church. And Nemesis- the King of Liberation."
"What makes these two individuals so important?" Bylass asked in confusion.
"And that's precisely why nothing adds up for me anymore!"
"This is a lot to take in." Jeralt stammered with an uncomfortable feeling settling into his chest." Let's assume that you were involved in such a war, then that would make you at least 300 years old, Byleth."
"Why do you keep bringing up this war, Jeralt?" Bylass inquired curiously, her eyes narrowing as she examined Jeralt's expression.
"Because it's the only recent war that was of this magnitude, of which he speaks," Jeralt replied matter-of-factly but seemed to leave something out, which unsettled Bylass even more.
"Jeralt … what if I somehow come from the War of Heroes where Seiros battled Nemesis himself? " His mind started racing with endless possibilities and unanswered questions.
"Alright, I think it's enough for today. Perhaps, you should take a rest now." Jeralt raised his hands in defeat while Bylass kept her eyes affixed on Byleth, desperate to make sense of his words.
"Byleth, I know you would never make up such a thing, but do you perhaps know something that makes you believe so?" Bylass asked gently, the tension thickening in the air around them.
"Because in every one of my dreams, there is always a man wearing a hooded cloak standing amidst the flames." At the moment time seemed to be still as neither Jeralt nor Bylass made a sound until Byleth continued.
"I couldn't see his face but there was something strangely familiar about him. The pale greyish-white hair was like freshly fallen snow; his eyes flashed like molten gold, filled with deep-seated malice; and most importantly - the sword he held in his hand spewed fire which consumed anyone who dared cross its path."
"Bylass, is that…?"
"Did this man single-handedly fight an entire army on a battlefield?" asked Bylass hotly, catching both Jeralt and Byleth off guard.
"I don't know. The battle was finished based on what I saw. But there is one thing undeniable, he was enjoying the chaos, Bylass." Byleth's voice started to tremble.
"That voice lingered with malice and laughed like a madman as his victims begged for mercy which he replied by delivering a swift death. Then his eyes started to shift towards me and began taunting me with cryptic statements." Byleth paused to catch his breath, "Bylass...he knew about my father."
"Steady your breath, Byleth." Jeralt gently patted his back while Bylass helped him to ease into his chair.
"Thank you, Jeralt. Thank you, Bylass." He uttered quietly under his breath before exhaling shakily as he sank into his chair." And that's all I can remember for now."
"No wonder you are so hesitant to tell this tale to the others," said Jeralt in understanding. "As implausible as it may sound, I believe you, Byleth."
"Really? I thought you said earlier…"
"Of course! Never had anyone claimed to be older than Seiros herself! Even so, I can tell from your expression that you do not fully believe in your own words. Is that right?"
Byleth nodded solemnly.
"I think we have heard enough for today. If you want, I can excuse you from class tomorrow morning," suggested Bylass tenderly.
"It's alright, I will be fine. Once again, thank you for your understanding, Bylass, Jeralt." Byleth nodded gratefully which made them smile.
"You're more than welcome, Byleth! Anyway, that story of yours... it's still unbelievable though."
"But still, that's the only clue he's having, Jeralt. I know it might be pointless but perhaps we can start to check on the library tomorrow."
"That sounds like a good plan. Meanwhile, I will ask some of the knights whether they have records of such a war, which I highly doubt but is worth trying. Until then, take care of yourself, Byleth." Jeralt reassured him with a comforting nod, which made Byleth return the gesture with a grateful bow.
"So, what will you do now?" Bylass asked inquisitively.
"Given I've been sleeping for quite some time, I'm thinking about taking a walk. Is that alright?"
"According to Seteth, it's not allowed, but don't worry, we can be sneaky," Bylass replied matter-of-factly which Byleth sighed in response and shrugged.
"I'll leave it to you two then." Jeralt chuckled before bidding them farewell. "Have fun, kids."
"Until then, Jeralt."
The Dining Hall stood eerily still in the middle of the night, a stark contrast to its daytime bustle. The large windows overlooked a mesmerizing display of stars that were twinkling brightly against a velvety inky sky. As the moon crept up and its gentle light spilled into the room, it gave the polished wooden floors a subtle, glimmering sheen. A hint of tranquility settled onto the hall, bringing an end to what had been a busy day.
Except for one girl.
Ever since she came to the Monastery, Bernadetta had tried to limit her contact with other strangers by staying in her room most of the time. However, her current situation forced her out of her comfort zone. After finishing the last dish of cakes and cookies while working on her "project" (which she prayed Professor and her partner wouldn't discover or face mortifying shame), she realized that she had run out of sweets. Fortunately, the Dining Hall seemed deserted, so she took a chance and carefully crept inside the kitchen.
"You can do this, Bernie. There is no one here, just grab what you need and go. Then…" Bernadetta said nervously.
"When you said we would be sneaky, this is now what I have in mind!". A deep voice sounded from the kitchen causing her to jump in surprise.
"According to Rhea, I have access to the kitchen and invited one student to prepare any meal. Plus, we are making these cakes, so it's still allowed." A feminine voice replied which sounded a little bit familiar to her.
"Not in the middle of the night, Professor. However, you did have a point, it's been some time since we've been doing this."
"Do you remember how Lydia tried to tell you…"
Knowing whose voices they belonged to, Bernadetta began to turn back, hoping she would get out of there without getting noticed. However, the smell of those Sweet Bun Trio had managed to tempt her as she reluctantly stayed, looking at them with glee in her eyes. Unlike other people, she did find the Professor to be a gentlewoman- a contrast image to what the rumors made of her which started to escalate even more after their latest mission. For some unknown reason, Bernadetta managed to speak to the Professor without getting scared after the woman handling some of her handmade cakes while she got caught last time in this same Dining Hall.
However, the man who was always walking beside her was both the new student of the Black Eagles and the rumored bloodthirsty mercenary that she heard from everyone, including her father. Despite freaking out when she met him for the first time, Bernadetta oddly realized that Byleth was giving her the same sense of calm as the Professor after getting to know him for quite some time. Somehow she felt like she already knew him, though she couldn't quite pinpoint why.
"Bernadetta, you can join us if you want. There are some spare cakes and cookies here." Bylass's voice called out as Bernadetta stirred from her inner thoughts. Despite the delicious aroma of freshly baked cakes that permeated the kitchen, she was still reluctant to answer.
"In case you wonder whether it's a trap like Hubert pulled on you. I guarantee it's not." Byleth added.
"So, it's a trap?" Bernadetta suddenly freaked out, her heart racing and face flushing in fear.
"You're not helping, Byleth." Bylass sighed and then made her way to Bernadetta who was still hiding behind the kitchen door. "It's alright, Bernadetta. Here, try some of my new treats."
The purple-haired girl slowly reached for the pastries and tasted it delightedly with a happy expression. Satisfied with the result, Bylass replied with a small hum and smiled slightly at Byleth.
"Even though you are a lost cause with cooking, baking seems to suit you, my student."
"Hey, it's getting better as Ashe was helping me with it. It's edible, to say the least." Byleth replied defensively.
"Then mind explaining to me the fire you caused when we did chore service last week?"
"Was it you who said we should have used magic to light the food?"
"All I said was whether it was possible to do so, and you went along without a second thought. Fortunately, the staff was nice enough to help us or we would get in more trouble with Seteth."
Meanwhile, Bernadetta watched her professor and classmate arguing again – a scene that she had already been used to. Unlike most of her friends who had been debating about the nature of their relationship or what made their professor fall for him. After witnessing how kind and considerate Byleth was to everyone, including students outside his class. She could understand why her professor fell for this man. But at the same time, it made her heart ache when she saw them holding each other so close, in a way she hadn't seen in seventeen years- not even from her father.
"Bernadetta, don't you like it?" Bylass asked.
"No, professor. It's delicious." Bernadetta replied shyly, hoping it would convince them.
"If you want, we can make more but perhaps let's save it for tomorrow then. It's quite late now and we need to move back before someone catches us." Bylass replied neutrally as she cleaned the dishes.
"Agreed, let's move now. Bernadetta, would you like to join us?" Byleth glanced at Bernadetta who seemed reluctant to answer.
"Don't worry about me. I will make it back to my room, I think." The blue-haired man stared into her eyes for a moment before speaking again.
"If you said so, then stay safe, Bernadetta. I heard that there have been rumors of sinister beings, roaming around the Monastery every night." Byleth replied coolly which made Bernadetta freeze her movement. Bylass rolled her eyes a bit before joining the fun.
"The beings move like ghosts, flying around to search for any poor prey that catches their eyes. These ghosts have no form at all, except the scattered ropes covering them. I believe last time they were spotted at …" Before Bylass could finish, Bernadetta grasped her arm tightly and pleaded.
"Alright, alright. Please escort me back to my room, Professor." The professor nodded contently and brushed her hair which made her calm a bit.
"I didn't expect you'd use such tactics, Byleth," Bylass scolded with a hint of amusement in her voice.
Byleth gave her an amused glance and shrugged nonchalantly. "I weighed all the possibilities and that was the only way to convince her. Plus, it's not like we haven't seen them before."
"I must agree with him that you are a bad influence on students, Bylass!"
"We will talk about it another time. Let's go now, shall we?"
"So, Bernadetta, how have you been?" Bylass asked the purple-haired girl, who was still holding onto her arm. She looked down at their entwined hands and shifted her feet anxiously.
"I'm fine, Professor. There is nothing better than to shut myself away in my room on peaceful days, right?" Her voice cracked with a hint of hesitation.
"Bernadetta, how many times have we talked about this?" Bylass sighed, her shoulders drooping.
"I'm sorry, Professor. I tried as hard as you said but, in the end, I'm only just a hindrance to everybody." Her voice lingered with sadness and she stared blankly at the floor.
Byleth stepped forward and touched Bernadetta's shoulder gently, which made her look up briefly before dropping her gaze again. "Why do you think so?" he asked kindly.
After a moment of contemplation, she answered in a low voice, "Because I'm nothing but an unmarriable failure who will only disappoint everyone. Even my bow efficiency is good as you said, it's because I'm the only archer in our class. If there is someone else doing a better job, I will..." She trailed off and bit her lip nervously as if expecting reprimand for what she had said.
Byleth's expression softened as he gave her shoulders a reassuring squeeze. "But it was your arrow that saved Ferdinand during the raid of Zanado, wasn't it? Last I recall he gave you nothing but cheers in his 'unique' way." He paused for emphasis and continued when she didn't object. "What about the time that you disarmed the assassin that sneaked behind Edelgard? If you were truly a failure, would you be able to accomplish such a thing?"
"But it still doesn't change the fact that many of my mistakes led us to unfortunate outcomes. Even my bow efficiency is good as you said, it's because I'm the only archer in our class. If there is someone else doing a better job, I will…" Before Bernadetta could finish her sentence, Bylass halted and let out a heavy sigh.
"Bernadetta, are you aware of my profession before coming here?"
"Yes, you were a mercenary – a fearsome no less. That's why I will never be able to be like you, no matter how much I try."
"I've been battling for most of my life, fighting beside and against various warriors who were proficient with their weapons," Bylass explained. Her eyes flicked to hers briefly before returning to scan over the horizon. "So trust me when I say that you have a natural talent with a bow."
"Furthermore, I've seen how you held your bows during our training exercises and missions." Byleth added." The steady posture: the sharp eyes that ensure your aim is true which forces me to continuously evade. It's not only natural talent but also proof of your hard work, my friend."
"Do you… want to be my friend?" Bernadetta stuttered.
"Aren't we friends already? The same goes with everyone in the Black Eagles too." Byleth replied in a gentle tone.
"I don't think they do. They just think I'm a nuisance. I thought they had abandoned me by now." Bernadetta mumbled, averting her gaze away from them both.
"That couldn't be further from the truth! Everyone is looking out for you, including Edelgard - as harsh as she can be, she's merely trying to give you the best advice that she can offer. The Black Eagles never leave anyone behind." Bylass reassured firmly.
"The future may bring more than what meets the eye now, and maybe one day you'll find someone who will understand you better than anyone else - someone who will never give up on you," Byleth exclaimed before turning toward Bylass and muttered something under his breath.
"What was it you were trying to say, Byleth?" Bylass leaned closer as her ears twitched, eliciting a gentle blush from him.
"Nothing, Professor. By the way, it seems we are here now. We will see you tomorrow then. Good night, Bernadetta!" Then the duo headed until both came to their respective rooms, leaving Bernadetta alone in her room.
Thinking about what Byleth and Bylass just said, Bernadetta could not help but feel touched by their consideration. She thought of how many times she had been anxious and overwhelmed when someone tried to talk to her, misinterpreting their care and kindness for attempts at humiliation. Each time she ran away, it only made things more awkward when they met again - but could she keep up with this forever, especially when it came to those who truly cared for her? Without warning, a small spark of hope ignited inside Bernadetta as she clenched her fist tightly with a newfound determination.
"As long as I try again, everything will be fine. Because a mistake will not ruin everything." Then she lay on her bed as her eyes started to close, not before thinking about one last thing.
"Someone that understands me more than anyone else- it sounds nice but is there such person existing out there- the one that will never give up on me no matter what?"
5th of Blue Sea Moon,1180
"Did you find anything?"
"No, there is nothing that we don't know yet. How about you, Bylass?" Byleth sighed as he closed another book.
A faint glimmer of disappointment flickered in her gaze. She let out a heavy sigh as she slumped back in her chair. "Unfortunately, I can't say the same. After going through all records known to exist from the Empire and prior, I couldn't locate a single trace of the Strike Force that you mentioned."
Having no classes on this day, Byleth and Bylass decided to meet up in the library and start searching for information about the foundation of the Adrestian Empire and the War of Heroes. Amidst the stacks of old books that smelled like mothballs, hours flew by as they pored over page after page with nothing that correlated with his memories. Frustration set in as Byleth started to doubt his sanity, yet the events that he recalled seemed too real to simply forget. He couldn't shake off the feeling that he had an oddly strong connection to it.
"I can't help but feel a bit fascinated by this Nemesis. The book said he was the King of Liberation before falling victim to his greed. No matter why Edelgard was so interested in this man who fought her ancestors." Byleth studied the book intently.
"Right, it says here that he and the Ten Elites were specially chosen by the Goddess herself; she gave them her sacred blood and divine weapons which explains their long life spans." Bylass nodded in agreement.
"And some of the names of those Ten Elites sound familiar too: Blaiddyd, Riegan, Gautier, Fraldarius. I didn't know Dimitri and Claude were descendants of these men."
"From what I can tell, Nemesis' Empire made up most of today's Kingdom and Alliance. That would explain why the Empire never had any Hero Relics even though they were on the Church's side."
"So Bylass, what do you think of Nemesis and Seiros?" Byleth asked curiously.
"There's no denying they were heroes who saved Fodlan from darkness but we can't ignore how much destruction they caused on their way - towns and villages laid to waste with all manner of atrocities inflicted on people as they passed through. As for Seiros, she was only trying to end an endless war so I don't think there's a lot to criticize there."
"Yet that doesn't explain why she stabbed that brute inhumanly if we can assume that was the war you dreamed about. Anyway, I believe you two have a far more important matter?"
"Byleth, do you remember anything else about them besides their names?" Bylass asked with a deep worry in her voice.
"Honestly? The more I try to remember, the less sense it all makes. Those memories could be just illusions I created to deceive myself that there were still people out there that are important to me in those darkest hours.
Bylass sighed as she saw the distress in her friend's face. "Byleth ...," she began but he cut her off.
"It's alright. Even though it didn't yield any useful results, I am grateful for your effort in this seemingly hopeless task. Thank you, Bylass." His voice was weak and resigned; she simply smiled and squeezed his hand.
"I told you I'd always be here for as long as you need me, didn't I? Do you mind if I ask something else?"
"Go ahead. Shoot away." Byleth replied indifferently.
"The man in your dreams with ash-colored hair - Are you sure he was relishing the chaos he caused?" Byleth furrowed his brow at the query.
"Yes, and his laugh was even more sinister than Kostas'. If Kostas was a predator preying on the weak, then this man must have been the Demon King himself, for I could hardly forget the way he guffawed during the lashing of those children after he had slain their parents." He said grimly, recalling the howling laughter from his dream.
"And you think this could be Nemesis - due to his looks and Sword?" Bylass hesitated, not wanting to push him too hard. But she had to know. This could be the key to explaining everything.
"It's a possibility, though I don't believe it myself. After all, there is no such thing as immortality, right?" Byleth shrugged even though his tone was laden with heaviness.
"Well, Jeralt did not seem to age after 30 years. He looked the same on the day he took me in. It's crazy, isn't it?"
"Right, I believe that's enough for today. Let's grab our stuff and… Claude?" Bylass and Byleth widened their eyes as the Golden Deer student was glancing at them with interest.
"Excuse me for being nosy, but I couldn't help but wonder what had you two so transfixed on those books." He then glanced at the titles that seemed to pique his curiosity even more. "I didn't expect The History of Fodlan to have caught your attention, no matter why I couldn't find them earlier."
"Sorry, we just found the topic intriguing and wanted to learn about it." Byleth lied. "You can take them now as we're leaving soon too."
"No need for that mate. Say though, it's been a while since we last met and already you two have made quite a name for yourselves."
"If you're talking about missions there's nothing to talk about. We already told them everything we know". Bylass replied flatly with irritation in her voice.
"Easy there, Teach. I'm not here to spread more rumors about you. To be fair, you caused quite a ruckus a few weeks ago given how the Knights are getting more and more wary of you." Claude spoke calmly, his face still wearing its usual playful expression which caused Byleth and Bylass to relax their guard somewhat.
"We had a bit of a disagreement with the Archbishop regarding the fate of rebels. Though things got tense at one point it all ended peacefully after we reached an agreement." Byleth explained.
"I don't understand how challenging the Knights of Seiros is considered a 'small matter', my friend. Is it true that you took them down without lifting a finger?" Claude asked inquisitively.
"For your answer, I did no such thing. What else have you heard about the rumors?" Byleth sighed.
"There are also talks about how Teach here dueling Catherine on that very same night. I talked to some of the Knights, and they all recalled that she claimed to be "Demon of Remire" while raising your sword menacingly, Teach." Bylass rolled her eyes and replied with a low tone.
"Anyone who tries to hurt him will get no quarter from me. Fortunately, the escalation soon dropped as we left the room. And Mister Riegan." Claude suddenly freezes at the cold voice." Some things are not worth debating so consider it one of the lessons from me."
"Relax, Teach. I was just joking around." Claude replied nervously, yet still filled with curiosity. "Say, do you think I can ask one more question? I promise this won't be related to any rumor-mongering in the monastery".
"Fine, what do you wish to know?" Bylass shrugged, while Byleth remained silent by her side.
"There is something I've been meaning to ask. Did your father teach you how to fight?" Claude asked, the question dripping with casualness as he crossed his arms.
"Yes, he did."
"And he started to teach you at an early age?"
"Correct, I learned to wield my first sword before I knew how to bake." Claude thought he was hallucinating as Byleth was giggling for a moment before returning to his cold demeanor.
"I figured. Your father used to lead the knights, didn't he? And I hear he was a legendary as well."
"Everything you heard about him is correct. I swear that I lost counting after answering that question for Goddess knows how many times." Bylass was exasperated as Claude rolled his eyes in amusement.
"Must have been hard for your mom when you followed your dad into a mercenary life too. She must worry about both of you doing such dangerous jobs." Suddenly the air seemed to chill as Bylass hung her head down, making Claude confused until he realized his mistake; thankfully it seemed that Byleth's gentle squeeze on her shoulder helped her recover her composure again.
"I never knew my mother," Bylass answered flatly, not wanting to discuss further - which Claude seemed to pick up on immediately.
"I see. I suppose you grew up moving from battlefield to battlefield with your father then. Though it seems like that doesn't stop you two from enjoying life- sometimes I think you act more like a married couple!"
"Byleth, if you may…" Bylass sighed before Byleth nodded and started heading for Claude, making him quickly back off.
"Take it easy Teach, I'm only joking. Besides, even if we wanted to use the Training Field at this hour, I doubt they'd let us reserve it."
"For someone said to be the grandson of a Duke, you don't look the part," Byleth remarked bluntly.
"Well, even so, I'm the heir of house Riegan, the leading family of the Alliance. But I didn't exactly grow up in luxury like most nobles. To be honest, I've experienced quite a few highs and lows in my life." Claude answered nonchalantly as he propped his chin up with his hands. Despite his breezy demeanor, however, his voice wavered and his eyes narrowed momentarily.
"And what about Byleth?" Claude inquired curiously, as Byleth blinked his eyes at the question.
"What about me?"
"Well, I know we've talked about this a while ago and many may have asked you already, but I can't help but wonder are you two related in some way?" Claude inquired curiously.
"He is not my long-lost sibling or distant relative if you're wondering," Bylass replied with a heavy sigh. "For more information, you can ask Jeralt by yourself."
"Then it's true that you didn't know each other until two years ago like you mentioned to me?" Byleth and Bylass nodded, which only made Claude think more deeply. "Forgive my bluntness, but don't you ever wonder why there are so many similarities between you two?"
Byleth tilted his head slightly." I beg your pardon?"
"Not only do you share the same resemblances that many will pass as twins, but also wear the same style of armor. The emblems on your coat, the golden brooches - they look the same."
"We did talk about it after we met each other, but given he had amnesia, we put it on hold for a while. As for me, this armor was given to me by Jeralt," Bylass replied with a half-truth, not wanting to reveal further information without Byleth's permission.
"That's why we concluded that perhaps I got this from the same blacksmith that Jeralt ordered. Besides, this armor is important to me," Byleth added bluntly, though there was a hint of sadness in his voice.
"Oh, I see. So you were a mercenary even before meeting Teach here?" Claude took the hint and moved on to the next question, knowing it would not be ideal to press further.
"No, he was a traveler before that fateful night. But once he joined our ranks, we found out that his skills surpassed most of our mercenaries combined. Everyone was surprised at how he went toe-to-toe with Jeralt during his initiation and nearly had him in a corner."
"And that's when I learned why they called him The Blade-Breaker; when our blades started cracking, I thought my life was over on my first day." Byleth sighed as he remembered the story having Bylass laugh in response.
"A traveler who could match the captain of the knights? That would explain how you and Teach help each other so well in combat. Not to mention how you managed to freeze your opponents with just a few words," Claude exclaimed in admiration.
"It's nothing really," Byleth shrugged modestly,
"Still, it's amazing that you can make everyone freeze with just a few words. It's like a king commanding his subjects." Claude joked. "Maybe you are related to one then?"
"If that were true, I'm not sure I could just stroll into any country and demand my inheritance. Wouldn't that make you my subject if I had descended from the King of Liberation?" Byleth replied sarcastically.
"You've been doing some research, I see. If that were the case, good luck my friend. You'll have to face off against nobles from both the Kingdom and Alliance who won't take too kindly to the idea."
"If it ever happens, may I apply for knighthood then?" Bylass asked teasingly, earning an eye roll from Byleth.
"Knighthood doesn't suit you...but I'll keep it in mind, including your offer Claude." The trio shared a laugh until an old voice interrupted them.
"I apologize for disrupting this conversation, but the library is closed for tonight. I need to organize some new collections by tomorrow morning."
"Don't worry, Tomas. We're leaving soon enough. Bylass replied. "By the way, do you have that list of items I asked for?"
"Yes, Professor. I believe it's in my pocket somewhere." Tomas began rummaging through his pockets for the paper.
"Byleth, could you get that list when he finds it? I'm going to start packing our things now."
"Sure, no problem." Byleth nodded as she went off to the table, leaving Byleth and Claude alone with Tomas.
"There it is. Here, you may pass it to her." Tomas said as his hands were shaking a bit.
"Tomas? Is everything alright?" Claude asked.
"It's nothing to worry about, my boy. With age comes these little aches and pains." As he passed the paper off to Byleth, his hands trembled slightly.
The unease that Byleth felt when he looked over at Tomas was palpable, a deep and unsettling feeling that only seemed to grow the longer he stared. His skin crawled, and an unknown urge began to build within him, an urge that demanded he cut down the old man immediately. No matter how much he tried to push it away, Byleth couldn't deny the rising anger bubbling in his veins— or the sense of disgust that stirred inside him.
"Is there anything else you need from me?" Tomas asked in a friendly voice, jerking Byleth out of his reverie.
"Sorry, I was lost in thought. If that's all, we'll be on our way." Byleth gave a formal bow as he watched Bylass finish packing up their belongings. Tomas then waved goodbye to the trio as he started to close the door behind them. Suddenly, his face became taut with anxiety as he recalled the events that had occurred moments before.
"There is no mistake! But how is it possible?"
Thales put down the paper as he finished his supposed duty today due to his disguise as Arundel- the man whose identity he took from a long time ago. As Thales was about to leave, the communicator on his belt vibrated, causing him to frown.
"Lord Thales!" Solon said urgently which made Thales blink his eyes in surprise.
"Speak! Didn't I tell you not to contact me unless it was necessary?"
"My apologies for the interruption but this can't wait any longer. Our future is hanging in the balance!"
"Interesting! Is our precious puppet getting too wild for her liking?" With a smirk, Thales sipped from his teacup.
"No, nothing from that side... But do you remember those reports about the Twin Ashen Demons?" The words seemed to hang in the air like a fog.
"Yes, I said they were irrelevant to our goals. If they dare cross us, we will take them out." His tone was low and threatening.
"There isn't anything special about the professor herself, but her male companion - I sense a similar strength, something akin to King of Liberation himself!" A loud voice cracked as the cup fell from his hand and Thales widened his eyes in surprise.
"But how is this possible? His bloodline should not even… Unless." Suddenly realization hit him like an avalanche.
"Shall we move first and take him out now? We can have the Death Knight..."
"Forget it, Solon. If I were you, I would not try anything funny." His voice was heavy like a thunderstorm warning.
"My Lord?"
"Short hair, blue eyes, black tunic armor with a cape… Does he look anything like that?"
"It is him! But how did you..."
"It's none of your concern, Solon."
"But…"
"If you wish to know that badly then I will grant it. It's one of the direct orders from "him"." Suddenly the air felt chill as Thales spoke carefully.
"I've heard many stories about 'him' but isn't he only a myth, if I may be bold?"
"You were only a mere child when he was leading us, Solon. Even that thief who never once showed respect to us- he was the most devoted one to him." Thales paused before continuing heavily.
"And if that doesn't prove my point, you can ask Myson what happened last time when someone dared to question his authority and judgment. The poor fellow even begged him for a swift death after that display." For the first time in his life, Solon felt fear radiating off Thales' words.
"What should our next move be then, my Lord?"
"Just continue your mission until the Rite of Rebirth. Report back to me immediately if something strange occurs."
"Understood!" Then Solon turned off the communicator, leaving Thales alone in his room pondering deeply.
The sudden surge of energy around Thales was palpable as he stood from his desk and vanished to Shambhala. He passed marbled pillars and opulent archways, where the other agents of the Agartha bowed in respect – though Thales had no time for such a thing now. Reaching his room at last, he quickly unclasped a heavy metal box adorned with intricate magical symbols and tugged out an aged parchment that was stained with dust so ancient it seemed to date back millennia. His grey eyes scanned every delicate line and symbol ten times over, until at last a genuine smile stretched across his face.
"At last! It has begun! The time has come for us to take our destiny into our own hands! To kill that false Goddess who had been nothing but a slave herself!" He then looked up at the painting hung on the wall behind his desk, and bowed respectfully with one hand over his heart.
"For there is only one true God in this world- the one who had never abandoned us when all others turned away!"