chapter 28 specter of the past part 5 miracles
Sonia's legs felt like they were burning. She had been running non-stop for what felt like an eternity. The gigantic golem that was chasing her at the party was like a predator stalking its prey. Fighting it was useless; none of anyone's abilities were able to dent it. They were in the place that Yuri and Balthus talked about. There was no time to rest or reflect on anything about what went wrong. The chalice of beginnings was in her hands, which made her so angry. She had it in her hands only for it to be taken from her shortly afterwards. She looked at Marianne, her brother's girlfriend. Marianne had a look of rage in her eyes, and her hands were trembling. The gentle woman wanted to kill Kabuto. Everyone did not like him anymore, not even those who liked him and trusted him.
When they were deep underground, where it was safe for them to take a breath for a moment, Sonia spoke.
"Damn it," Sonia said, the first thing she said in almost an hour.
"We don't have time, that thing is still chasing us." Said Sasuke.
"I know," Sonia said with labored breath, she wasn't used to moving this much.
"When we find that bastard, I'm going to kill him," Marianne said. Her voice brought shivers down Sonia's spine; the way she said it, the tone of her voice was as cold as ice.
"My poor abused legs, I am remiss for my lack of exercise as of late." Constance said, trying not to collapse in exhaustion.
"Don't give up, just put up with it a little bit longer. Once we get to the abyss, we could rest and then have a plan on what we should do about it." Yuri didn't finish because everyone knew what he was thinking. To rescue her brother, where would he be located?
"Is it me or is it too quiet here?"asked Bernadetta. Sonia can help but agree with her; it was too quiet. The chase with the golem, there was silence—complete silence. When they were walking, they saw nobody. They saw Gates, but they saw nobody there. It was completely deserted, which should be a good sign because it meant fewer obstacles in their way, but it only made her more nervous.
Then her suspicions were confirmed when phantom soldiers appeared left and right. Everyone got into their fighting positions. Everyone was exhausted. No, this was not the time. There had to be another way; they couldn't just fight another army. In the past day, barely anyone got any rest. She was at her limit too. Dimitri was by her side; he had his Lance ready to protect himself and Sonia from anything.
"We should focus on getting the hell out of here; we cannot defeat this army, there are too many." Said Hinata, two lions formed on her fist as she dispatched enemy after enemy. She looked and saw a lever on the other side of the room; she wouldn't be able to get there in time; she's not as physically well built as the rest of her companions. Then she saw the one that had a horse who wasn't as exhausted as the others.
"Don't worry, leave it to me," said Leonie. She wrote as fast as she possibly could to the other side of the room. It was fortunate they had a horseback rider with them at a time like this, definitely good foresight on Sasuke's part.
She cast spell after spell, any spell that she could think of. She was exhausted, her hands were bleeding due to the amount of time she had cast and the spells she had barely had a chance to rest. The phantom soldier was about to cut her down with its axe, and an arrow went through its eye. She looked, and it was none other than Ashe. She silently thanked him as she continued to cast spell after spell, fire and thunder. She couldn't let the pain that she was feeling in her hands distract her; pain was only a distraction.
She looked and saw the golem behind them. She hopes Claude's classmate would hurry. She heard it click and saw the gate in front of them open. Nobody needed to be told what to do as everyone ran as fast as their legs could take them. She looked and saw that the person who was struggling the most was Hilda due to her injuries. She was limping and she wasn't going to make it. Before Sonia could do anything, she saw an ice mirror appear right behind Hilda. Marianne lifted her up bridal style and ran as fast as her legs would take her.
She was surprised at the younger woman's strength when the last of the party went through the first gate. It slammed shut. There was a silent moment. She sighed with relief. That was short-lived when she saw another go on. This time, near the lever, she heard clicking once again. She realized the opening between the second gate was even shorter than the first. You have to get there quickly, otherwise they'd be trapped. The leather was close to the golem.
"Don't worry, I will protect you while you get to the lever, Leonie San." Lee said as he powered up to a strange-looking power that she has never seen. His skin turned a reddish orange as he moved faster than she'd ever seen a human being possibly move. Leonie moved as fast as her horsewood managed. She went quickly to where the lever was and pulled it down and without wasting any time everyone ran as fast as possible including Lee. Like the first gate everyone got through the second one and the nick of time as the golem was about to close in on them.
They were at the finish line. It wouldn't be long now before they got out, but things weren't so simple, she thought, as she saw bandits appear in front of them. No, they were mercenaries. Why were they here?
"We know you have the treasure, give it to us and we may let you live." said the older of the bandits in the group, which caused Sonia to sigh with annoyance.
"We don't have the treasure, if you don't want to end up dead. I suggest you get out of our way," said Yuri, who had his sword drawn.
"You're all exhausted, you should be easy" didn't get a chance to finish as Petra put a sword through his throat.
"Why are warriors in this land so stupid?" Petra said in annoyance. A fight broke out even in their exhausted state. The party was more than a match for these people before she could cast a spell. Dimitri got in front of her.
"You're too exhausted to fight anymore, Sonia. Let us handle the rest." said Dimitri as he went ahead. She felt so weak and powerless. If only she could protect her friends, she saw the blue lions. Sylvain was able to defeat his opponents with ease. The first of them tried to charge at him in order to cut him down, but sylvain moved slightly to the right and knocked his opponent down with his weapon of choice.
Felix, another member of the blue lions, was fighting his opponent one-on-one. He was making short work of him, as he was a skilled swordsman. She could see from her vantage point that he was deflecting every one of his opponent's blows. It was as if it wasn't even a challenge, as Felix didn't take his opponent seriously. That's how big of a gap there was between his skills and the bandit he was facing. He didn't get a chance to even do another attack, when Felix just cut him down. He fell face down dead.
The orange-haired girl who was with him was far stronger than she looked. She wasn't weak or fragile like she first thought. The way she cast her wind spells was graceful and skillful. She did
A strange technique that she wasn't familiar with and she'd only seen Naruto do it where she saw two that appeared to cast the same spell which cleared the room of the bandits obstructing the exit.
She couldn't believe it. She couldn't help but see in awe the Blue Lions. They were strong. She saw Sasuke who easily, like Felix, dispatch his enemies. He cut them down like he was dealing with a regular mortal. What she was seeing was God and human form. No, she shook her head, no. They were human just like her, but it felt that way, and she felt so inadequate in comparison. Her friends were also strong.
She felt so pathetic. Why couldn't she be like them? Why can't she be as strong as them? She didn't get a chance to indulge in her thoughts when Dimitri offered her his hand; the battle was over almost as soon as it started. She took his hand, and they left the room. They were heading to the exit. It mattered to her. She wanted to be strong, just like everyone else in the Blue Lions, but the one thing she wanted the most right now was to save her brother, wherever he is.
Everyone escaped. Hinata felt exhausted. It had not been for Naruto and Dorothea's support that she would have collapsed. They were finally back in the abyss. It felt good to be in a place that was safe. Well, "safe" was not the right word, but at least they could finally rest.
"I don't ever want to experience that again,"said Hinata, who was struggling to breathe due to how long they had been on the move since Kabuto kidnapped her professor.
"I agree, Hinata. I don't relish that experience any more than you do," said Yuri, agreeing with her.
"Usually, I'm eager to go on an adventure like we've been doing for the past few days, but I never want to go down there again fuck that," said Naruto, who was trying but failing to hide his exhaustion; Kurama's chakra combined with his Usamaki stamina made it so he was able to last a lot longer than the average person, but even he has limits.
"That was not a pleasant experience. I never want to do that again," said Monica, who was being supported by Edelgard.
"This has been quite an adventure. I wish I didn't miss out on most of it,"said Petra. It was trying to cheer everyone up despite the situation.
"What are we going to do about our professor?"asked Marianne with barely controlled rage.
"We don't know where he is; how can we possibly mount a rescue?" Claude Marianne asked, looking at him with a fierce expression that caused Claude to recoil.
"So we're just going to abandon him?"asked Marianne. Hinata knew this situation was dangerous; ice was forming from her body if she didn't choose her words carefully, this could end badly for everyone.
"No, we're not going to abandon him, Marianne. We just got out of a really bad situation. As we are now, we wouldn't be able to do him any good. We have to rest and then come up with a plan to rescue him. Otherwise, we're just going to endanger ourselves unnecessarily. We need to be at full strength when we mount a rescue," Hinata said emphatically.
"THAT BASTARD USED ME TO CAPTURE HIM," Marianne yelled. Her outburst caused everyone to recoil as more ice formed. Hinata remained calm, signaling to Naruto with her eyes to let her handle it.
"I know what it's like to feel powerless, but we're not going to help him if we rescue him right now without a plan, without knowing where he is, and while being extremely exhausted. This is exactly what our enemy would want us to do," Hinata said calmly, trying to avoid further angering Marianne.
"You wouldn't be saying that if it were Naruto in his place, would you?" Marianne asked calmly. Hinata had no words because she was right. She would probably act the same way, but it wouldn't be just Naruto; it would be Dorothea and Ingrid too.
The entire room was being engulfed by ice. Her powers were turning inward. Hinata had no idea what to do. She felt like her words had fallen on deaf ears, like no one was listening to her. Hinata had to do something before she endangered herself and everyone, but before anything could be done, Hilda got between them.
"Please, Marianne, stop," said Hilda. Marianne then looked at everyone, then looked at Hilda, and then realized what had happened. She ran. Hinata wanted to go to her, but Edelgard stopped her.
"It's best that you let Hilda handle this," said Edelgard. Hinata wanted to protest, but she saw the looks of Bernadetta and Dorothea who agreed with Edelgard. Hilda went to where Marianne was, feeling so hopeless.
"Hinata, the best way you can help a friend is to leave them be and let those who are better fit to help them do it," said Dimitri, who was looking in Marianne's direction.
"Everything seems to have gone to hell," Hinata said, trying not to snap at her friend. But it felt like everything that could have gone wrong had: her professor was kidnapped, Mercedes received a curse mark and doesn't know what happened to her, and Sasuke didn't say anything. To top it all off, she learned that Naruto and Dorothea both lost their parents to a wolf-masked man. It all felt so overwhelming. What more could possibly go wrong?
"Hinata, it's best that we get rest, like you said. We cannot do anything for our professor unless we are able to concentrate," said Petra. Hinata looked up and saw that it was none other than Petra. "Yes, warriors should rest," she thought, "but she couldn't help but worry. As Byleth's friend, she was concerned. Where was he?" However, she couldn't dwell on that. Her friend had given sound advice, and it wasn't a bad idea to at least rest before thinking of a course of action.
"You're right, Petra. As painful as it is to admit, you were right. I can barely stand." Hinata was about to collapse before she was caught by Edelgard and Dimitri.
"We will escort Hinata to a place where she can rest. Everyone, get some sleep. We will resume this in 8 hours," said Dimitri. Everyone except Naruto and Dorothea dispersed.
Naruto wanted to pass out, but he didn't want to seem weak in front of Dorothea. She saw through his facade.
"Naru Chan I know it's bothering you"Dorothea said Naruto lied down to the nearest place where they couldn't be bothered Dorothea was by his side they both looked at the ceiling he felt her place her head on his chest which was unusual for her it was usually him doing it.
"I… we were so close we could have," she didn't say anything as she cried into Naruto's chest. Her inability to avenge her mother was the most upsetting thing to her. Naruto wanted to avenge his parents; he felt the same way she did, but he could not fathom how long Dorothea had thought about the man that murdered her mother, her desire for revenge. Naruto can only imagine, what would it be like, what would it be like to see someone you love dearly get murdered and never being able to make that person pay?
He wants to know the true identity of the mask man that he encountered, who was the exactly and why did his parents have to die?
"I hate him so much. It's not fair. My mother did not deserve to die like that," Dorothea said. Naruto wrapped his arms tighter around her.
"It's okay," Naruto whispered. She didn't try to be strong around Naruto. She let out all of her raw emotions - the failure of both times being able to avenge her mother, the inability to get answers. He couldn't appear weak with her. No, Dorothea needed someone strong. If Hinata or Ingrid couldn't be that person, then he would do it in their place.
The two fell asleep, but unfortunately, their dreams were full of nightmares.
Marianne had to distance herself from everyone. She couldn't believe what she had just done. She looked at her hands, pondering Haku's warning. She trembled, realizing that she could have killed Hinata if Hilda hadn't snapped her out of it. She tried to take a deep breath and calm down, but she couldn't. She felt it was all her fault. If only she had been strong enough, she could have prevented his kidnapping.
She felt a pair of arms around her she didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
"Hilda," Marianne said, trembling.
"We'll get him back," Hilda said softly as she turned around. Hilda didn't look at her with fear. So much had gone wrong since Hilda's confession: her heart being pulled into two places, her boyfriend kidnapped, not knowing if he was going to come out of it alive, and her being used as a hostage to get him to surrender himself and the chalice.
"It's not your fault," Hilda said reassuringly. Marianne disagreed with her. She didn't notice the tears that were falling, she held up, and wiped them with her right hand.
"You did nothing wrong," Hilda said, trembling. He had barely spoken ever since that day.
"I almost lost control had it not been for you I."Marianne wasn't allowed to finish Hilda hugged her the shorter woman didn't let her to say anymore.
"It's not your fault. Please don't blame yourself," Hilda said. The two women just stood there. What had she done to deserve such a friend? Hilda had been with her since the very beginning. She felt grateful for her friendship. But she had abandoned her as soon as Byleth had come into her life. Why did she still treat her the way she does?
"I don't know what I would do without you," Marianne confessed. The two women stood there, their faces inches apart. No, she thought, this was not the time. She couldn't give in to her feelings, not while her boyfriend was trapped and alone, experiencing nightmares. She couldn't do this. It wasn't fair. She pulled away.
"I'm sorry," Hilda said, understanding that it wasn't the time.
"Can you stay with me tonight? I don't want to be alone," Marianne asked. Hilda smiled sadly as the two women lay next to each other. It was different than when they were children; their feelings had changed.
"Even if you reject me, I still love you. I always will," Hilda said to Marianne as Marianne closed her eyes and fell asleep, thinking she felt the same and how much she wanted to tell her.
She would not sleep well that night.
Ingrid wasn't able to return to her friends right away because she brought the badly injured Shez to the infirmary. She was questioned about her whereabouts for the past few days and explained as best as she could what they were doing. Afterward, she was escorted to the archbishop's quarters. When the door opened, she saw Rhea in her usual form, but something seemed off. Although the archbishop was trying to conceal it, Ingrid could sense that she wasn't projecting her usual strength to her followers. It seemed like something had happened.
"Do you know why I summoned you here, Ingrid?" asked Rhea. Ingrid shook her head, not knowing why.
"You know about her, don't you?" she asked, referring to Sonia.
"Well, Dimitri knows more about her than any of us. He was the first one she met," Ingrid explained everything that happened regarding the festival a few weeks ago. The archbishop listened patiently until she was finished.
"I guess I couldn't stop her forever. We need to do something about the chalice. What happened before you left?" Rhea asked Ingrid explained what happened in the Battle and the look on her face about the wolf mask man spoke more than words could.
"That's all I need to know; you are to stay in your quarters until this crisis ends," Rhea said, leaving no room for argument. Ingrid wanted to protest. She couldn't let Hinata or her partners be unprotected.
"Please, my partners, I have to protect them," she was cut off sharply.
"You can barely stand, girl, and it is my responsibility to keep you safe without your professor present. I forbid you from leaving. You will stay in your quarters until further notice. Is that understood, Ingrid?" asked the archbishop in her authoritative tone. He left no room for argument; she couldn't argue herself out of it.
"Very well, I will stay in my quarters as you ordered," Ingrid said with a respectful bow, then left. She needed to rest and come up with a plan of action. Tomorrow, she had to do something. She didn't know why, but something in her gut told her that something had happened. She couldn't just sit idly by while her friends were there without her.
Byleth opened his eyes. He felt metal chains behind his arms and his legs. He saw the sword of the creator dangling over him. It was the person in red-clad armor with black and a mask that looked like something straight out of the Opera.
"So, this is the sword that Nemesis once wielded? Interesting," said the figure in front of him. He was completely helpless, even though he had been out for God knows how many hours. He still wasn't strong enough to use the ability to turn back time.
"It's unfortunate that I cannot wield this. It matters not, though. Tell me, Byleth Eisner, what would you do to protect those that you care for?" asked the masked man in front of him, or was it a woman he couldn't tell.
He spat, "I won't betray my friends." The figure left, seemingly amused. He put the blade on the ground and withdrew an axe from his armor.
"Do you have any idea how easy it would be to kill you? I can end your life right now if I wanted to; you are completely at my Mercy." the figure said condescendingly
"What the hell are you?" Byleth asked.
" I'm the Flame Emperor. I am the person that will reforge this world. I will create an empire that will make the ones of old envy." the Flame Emperor explained.
"A wannabe despot, so it was your idea to have me kidnapped, and it was you that Kabuto was working for?" Byleth asked.
"You could say that," the flame emperor admitted.
"Though me and him have different goals, One thing remains: The chalice of beginnings you will be needed for our plans to work." the flame emperor said.
"What have I told you?" said a distorted voice from behind. "He is not to be harmed."
"I understand our goals align for now," the Flame Emperor said as he left Byleth alone. Who was that man outside the door? He couldn't think. Just what the hell did they put in his system? He felt himself drifting off to sleep again. Damn it, he thought. The one thing that was on his mind was his friend, the sister that he just found out existed, and Marianne, his red thread.
"Please protect them," he said as he drifted off to a dreamless sleep.
Rhea was becoming increasingly anxious as more and more people learned about Sonia's existence. She had no idea about the whereabouts of her grandson, and everything that could have gone wrong did. If only she were strong enough. Before she could do anything, an arrow flew right past her ear. Upon inspection, she found it to be a letter. She opened it and then wanted to crush it in a fit of rage.
"Attention, archbishop, we have Byleth Eisner under our company; if you wish to see him alive, you will come alone; if you even think about bringing reinforcements, we will kill him. I am reasonable. My employer requires you, not Byleth, to come to the coordinates described in this letter. You have one hour after this letter is sent to you. If you're even one second later, we will kill him."
There was no signature. She wanted to crumple the letter, but she had to take a threat on her grandson's life seriously. She didn't bother taking any weapons with her. She went as fast as she could outside, him on the stairs, throwing caution to the wind. It didn't matter; she couldn't lose anyone, especially one of the last surviving parts of her daughter.
She went to where the old chapel was. It was exactly as described. She hadn't been in this place for many years, not since the construction of the monastery. It was one of the few places she remembered from when her daughter Sitri spoke her first words. Why this spot of all places?
"Mama," she remembered 2-year-old Sitri saying for the first time. She wiped those memories away. It was not the time to think about the past. She saw the Flame Emperor appear before her with her grandson in tow. The Sword of the Creator was in its sheath. She wondered why the enemy was allowing such a powerful object outside their hands. Now, that was not important right now.
"You've come alone as we requested. I knew you could be reasonable, Archbishop, especially when it involves your family." Hearing the stranger even mention her relation with Byleth made her extremely angry, considering a weapon was pointed at her unconscious grandson.
"You do anything to him, and I will kill you," said Rhea threateningly.
"Spare me the threats. If I wanted to kill him, I would have done it. Now come with me." the flame emperor ordered; she reluctantly did as the flame emperor commanded. She couldn't take any chances. She felt change wrapped around her wrist. She felt her mouth being gagged and her being blindfolded.
"As promised, we will leave him right here. We agreed to exchange Byleth Eisner with you, but we never agreed to take him back. Whether he survives or not is up to him." the flame emperor said as she felt herself being forced to move. She cursed these people. She prayed for the safety of her grandchildren. She shivered at the plans that her enemies had for her, but it didn't matter; her life didn't matter; her grandchildren were What mattered.
"Please keep my children safe, mother," said a dying Sitri.
"I'm sorry, my child. I couldn't protect them," Rhea said as she was forced to move to a location where she had no idea where they were going. She hoped Seteth would be able to handle this crisis in her place.
"After resting for 8 hours, Sonia was pacing around the Abyssian Classroom feeling extremely anxious. Her brother had been kidnapped and the chalice stolen. She was frustrated that she and her friends had been sleeping and doing nothing. In anger, she threw a stack of books across the room. She hated feeling helpless and wanted to take action. Before she could cause any more damage, a gentle voice stopped her.
"Sonia San, I'm worried about him too," she heard Hinata say. She turned around and saw her brother's student. She had barely slept as well. The two women were alone. She had never spoken to Hinata alone, or any of Dimitri's friends for that matter. She was so angry and frustrated.
"We will find him you have my word"said Hinata trying to help her calm down the rage that she felt inside of her.
"That hardly brings me any comfort, that damn Kabuto," she said with venom.
"Well, it looks like things have gotten even worse. If you even thought that was possible," said Yuri, who had Hapi and Ashe accompanying him.
She received a letter from Yuri and read it repeatedly. Angry, she slammed her fist on the table, worrying her friends.
"First my brother and now Aelfric? What do these fuckers want?"Sonia asked, not understanding how she could even bargain with them when they didn't have the chalice.
He didn't take a look at it himself as she did, because others came into the room - the rest of the party who didn't head back to the monastery due to injuries. One by one, they all looked at the letter, and she had no idea what they thought.
"The instructions are clear about not getting the church involved. Damn well, what's the plan?" I asked Balthus, who was looking at Hinata, for guidance.
"I think the abduction of Aelfric San is the same as the abduction of Byleth sensei. We should do as instructed," Hinata said, shocking everyone.
"You're saying we should take this letter at face value, Hinata Chan. It could be a trap," Naruto said, concerned.
"I agree with Naru Chan, Hinaa; this could be a setup. What if they abduct Sonia next?" asked Dorothea. This was something Sonia couldn't disregard; she could have been a potential target. However, Hinata shook her head.
"No I personally think there are other targets I mean the chalice of beginnings we weren't able to undo the spell even with the lock"Hinata looked at Sonia's friends who turned away as if they were hiding a deep secret for all the years that they've been in abyss.
"I've done research about the various crest that have existed though it's hard to find information on them because of them being lost to history I think if anybody is the target it's those four."said Monica.
"You seem very knowledgeable about the subject; it appears that we do have the original documentation of the four apostles," Yuri admitted reluctantly, as if he had been carrying a heavy burden for many years.
"Monica, what are you talking about?" asked Hinata, confused.
Monica mentioned that there are many crests on our continent, but there are five in particular that are thought to have been lost. This piqued Sonia's interest, as she wanted to learn more about the fifth one that she didn't even know about.
"What do you mean?" asked Naruto, who was confused.
Monica answered, "Five crests have been lost to time, one of which, in particular, was the Crest of Flame, known as the most powerful Crest in existence during the time of Nemesis."
"Then what about the rest, Monica?" asked Naruto.
"To answer your question Naruto the names of the Apostles. Aubin, Chevalier, Noa, and Timotheos. The four apostles whose bloodlines were lost to time. I figured the Ashen Wolves might have thoughts about all that. Considering I find it too too much of a coincidence that when they were present along with my professor along with his sister we were able to unlock the seal that protected the chalice."Monica looked at Sonia's friends.
"Would you happen to know anything about that?" Monica asked with a hint of suspicion. There was no room for lying; Monica wasn't the kind of person to accept a half-hearted answer about the crest.
"Uh... Mm…" Constance was reluctant to reveal any information before this conversation got any more awkward. Balthus stepped in.
"No use hiding it now, Constance. Let's lay all of our cards on the table. As for me, I've got the Major Crest of Chevalier. When I enrolled at the academy, the church ordered me to keep that tidbit to myself. So I did."Balthus said like it was the most natural thing to him she couldn't imagine in a million years that he possessed at crest or even was hiding a secret she knew him for years and didn't suspect a thing.
"Mm-hm. And I've got the Major Crest of Aubin. I never did figure out how I acquired this thing," Yuri confessed.
"As for me, the blood of Saint Noa courses through my veins. This is kept hidden, even from the Empire."Constance revealed which surprised her another secret how many secrets have her friends kept from her for all these years?
"Which probably means mine's from Timotheos. I do have a vague recollection of being told my Crest is rare."Hapi said not really caring one way or the other.
"Four people with Crest that have thought to been thought extinct. I'm sorry but I find this to be too convenient for you 4 to be in the same place."Shino said suspiciously.
"Shino, surely you don't mean." Edelgard said not able to get the words out but Sonia had a feeling what she was going to say.
"Edelgard, this whole incident seems strange. First, our professor gets a strange sword that he's able to wield. He has a Crest that nobody knows exists, and then a day afterwards, you go on your little adventure and meet these four individuals who have Crests. I had long since considered them to be extinct. And to top it all off, we find an ancient artifact that has the capability of reviving the dead. Something doesn't add up," Shino said what was on her mind. Sonia doesn't know the kind of man he is, but he isn't the kind of person she would pick up that wouldn't be suspicious of things that seem off.
"Aelfric's disappearance, Byleth's kidnapping, the theft of the chalice, and Kabuto's betrayal — along with you four. I think something is completely off about this," said Felix, suspicious of the situation.
"I have to agree with Felix, San. Things are suspicious regarding you four. I don't think you intend to do any of this intentionally, but you are pawns in a game by somebody who has a nefarious goal. We have to be cautious," Shino said, backing up what Felix was saying.
"We can't just do nothing. Aelfric has done so much for us we can't just abandon him." Sonia said angry at the suggestion that he had anything to do with it. She couldn't fathom the idea what these two people who've never known him they didn't say it out loud but they implied it by their tone and their suspicion.
"Standing here won't help. We should make our move within the hour," said Hinata, cutting off any potential debate.
Everyone dispersed, leaving Hinata alone with Yuri. She couldn't help but share the suspicions that Felix and Shino had about how convenient everything was. As they walked out of the classroom together, they were walking in silence until Yuri spoke.
"Hey friend," Yuri said to Hinata, not looking up, although they had barely spoken.
"What is it Yuri San?"Hinata asked respectfully.
"I know we barely had a chance to talk, Hinata, because of how hectic things have been. Right now, everyone's looking to you for leadership in place of the professor," Yuri said, which caused Hinata to tense. She didn't see herself as a leader.
"Nonsense! You led the shy girls' squad to victory in the mock battle. You've taken leadership on multiple occasions, including your most recent mission. Hinata, you should stop downplaying your abilities. You're much more capable than you think you are," Yuri said. Hinata looked at him, wondering why he cared so much despite them being essentially strangers.
"Yuri you wouldn't be talking to me if you didn't have something you needed out with it."Hinata said with strained patience.
"Something I will need from you later today. Meet me at midnight at the holy mausoleum," Yuri said. Hinata was confused. Why that particular place? It's a holy place and it's forbidden to go there.
"You know it's forbidden to go there, right?" Hinata asked. Yuri had that same smile that was difficult for her to read.
"All will be revealed in good time, Hinata. I trust you will remember," Yuri said as he walked past her. What was he up to? Hinata thought. If there was any individual she was suspicious of, it was Yuri. He was hiding something, but she didn't see any nefarious intentions in his eyes. He was hiding something, yes, but what was it exactly?
She went to where her classmates were in order to make preparations for their journey.
Rhea was down on her knees. She was wondering where she was when the blindfold was removed along with the gag. She looked and saw it was the holy mausoleum. Why this place? She heard footsteps and then looked. It was none other than Aelfric with a figure behind him. It was Kabuto, the rage that she had felt about the man that she had taken in, and he was defiling this holy place by having this vile man in the sacred place of her mother.
"Are you well, lady Rhea?" Aelfric asked, concerned.
"Spare your concerns; why did you betray me after all that I've done for you?" Rhea asked him.
"Leave us," he ordered Kabuto, who then left him and Rhea alone.
"HOW DARE YOU DEFILE MY CHILD'S BODY" Rhea scream in a fit of rage she wanted to kill him.
"So she is your child."he said calmly.
She had realized she had slipped her secret her carefully guarded secret and he knew.
"What is it that you want?" Rhea asked him.
"To bring back the woman I love," Aelfric answered.
She looked at the chalice in his hands. It would be useless. It couldn't work without those four. She tried to revive her mother using it, and it didn't work.
"Bringing back the dead is impossible," Rhea said calmly, despite the overwhelming grief of seeing her daughter's lifeless body.
"I don't believe that you. Say, this thing failed to bring back the goddess. But who's to say it couldn't bring back someone whose body is still intact, that is still whole? Sitri, her body looks the same as it did when she was alive. I will bring her back," Aelfric said unflinchingly.
"You know the cost of bringing someone back from the dead, don't you? You've read about cases where people have brought their loved ones back from the dead and they weren't the same."
Rhea expressed her disgust at the very idea, saying, "I would rather my child stay dead than come back as some abomination."
"You are right but the reason why those resurrections failed is because they lacked one key ingredient." Aelfric looked at Sitri and then at the chalice.
"The key ingredient that was lacking in those resurrections was a soul; successful resurrections are those that use the blood of their loved ones. You see Rhea you have her blood with your blood along with the four descendants of the apostles I will succeed where the others have failed." Aelfric said convincingly she almost wanted to believe it almost but she knew it was impossible too many people throughout history have tried to bring their loved ones back from the dead and they've always failed.
"No resurrection has succeeded," Rhea said, trying to reason with her captor, but it did not work.
"According to legends from the five nations, there are jutsu that can bring someone back from the dead, but the price is a life for a life. You are mistaken. There have been successful resurrections, but most fail because those attempting to bring back the dead are not willing to pay the ultimate price themselves," Aelfric said, looking at Rhea, and she understood exactly what he meant.
"Do you think Sitri would be happy, even if you did succeed in bringing her back, knowing that it came at the expense of her mother?" Rhea asked, trying to talk him out of what she considers to be folly.
"You're a mother, wouldn't you want your child to have another chance at life?" Aelfric countered she couldn't counter what he had just said because she would if it was possible.
"Would your mother be happy if you sacrificed your grandson just so she could live again?" Aelfric asked. She had no words in response to being asked by a man who loved her daughter more than life itself. She would give her own life to bring Sitri back if she could, but the thought of sacrificing her grandson sickened her. He was so much like her, resembling her daughter in many ways. It would be like re-living her daughter's death. Though he had traits from his father, he was a lot like the daughter she had lost. Had she been so consumed by grief that she couldn't see what she still had?
"I could have used your grandchildren for this but I refuse because why should children be sacrificed to bring back their parents when it's the duty of a parent to give their life to their child, not the other way around," he said passionately so that's why he had her grandson kidnapped he wanted her, not him.
"You're being used don't you see they don't care about your goals they don't care about Sitri don't you see how dangerous this object you hold is? Imagine if it was successful criminals like Nemesis can be brought back and his evil unleash back into the world or Madara Uchiha do you want to find out if this could work? Please I beg of you stop" Rhea asked him he turned his back on her.
"It's too late for me to turn back. I've already betrayed the church to bring back the woman I love, regardless of whether I succeed or fail. I cannot turn back now. I will succeed no matter the cost." Aelfric turned his back on her and left her alone.
She looked at her daughter. She had not seen her for so long that it was painful. When she looks at her, she is reminded of her lost love, the woman who had been dead for a thousand years.
He opened his eyes and looked around him as if he were outside the monastery. How did he get out here? He felt metal chains still on his arms and legs. He tried to move, but it was futile.
"Damn it," Byleth said as he tried to undo the chains on his wrists, but it was completely useless.
"Careful now, the amount of times you used my powers yesterday has drained you," Sothis advised. He stopped moving because it was difficult to ascertain how many hours it had been since he had been knocked out.
"Whatever that Kabuto person did he put something in your system that has made it so you wouldn't be able to move properly. I'm trying to clean out the toxins as much as I can, but I can only do so much. I'm not a god." Sothis said as she floated above him.
"Damn that Kabuto next time I see him he's going to die." Byleth sad with barely controlled rage what he had done to Marianne using her as a hostage he didn't care what the consequences would be he would die at his feet.
"He may have information that will die with him if you do that Byleth I know you're angry over what had happened he used Marianne against you in order to to get what he wanted." Sothis said trying to argue for a different solution.
"Don't worry, I know someone that I can communicate with she can assist us shortly,"said Sothis. As she vanished, how was she able to do that he thought. He would know soon enough he felt completely defenseless he had to trust that his students would find him and that Sothis knew what she was doing.
Naruto was with his classmates they were discussing a course of action on how to rescue Byleth Eisner his girlfriend's Dorothea and Hinata were talking amongst themselves he wondered what they were talking about?
"You could use the enhanced hearing that you have with my abilities you know that right?"Kurama asked him jokingly.
"No plus I don't think Dorothea Chan or Hinata Chan would appreciate if I dropped in on a private conversation,"Naruto replied
"Very wise indeed Naruto Uzumaki" Naruto looked behind them wondering who it was and then saw a girl with long green hair with black robes. Her ears were pointy, and her eyes were blue. She matched the description of the goddess Sothis.
"So, this is quite unexpected. Why do you choose to appear now of all times?" Kurama asked, annoyed by the girl's sudden presence. She floated next to him, lifted his chin, and giggled childishly.
"You're so cute. Just think that Hinata's male mate would have such a cute Fox inside of him," Sothis said teasingly.
"Some things never change, you could be so insufferable sometimes," Kurama said, annoyed obviously hiding a blush.
Naruto was confused how familiar Kurama was with Sothis yet Sothis didn't seem to know him at all she looked at him as if he was a stranger.
"I have no idea what you're talking about?" Sothis said, confused.
"Are you seriously telling me you forgot about me? Come on, there's no way someone like you could forget me, not with your reputation and your memory." Kurama said and disbelief.
"Like I told Hinata I only know as much as my host does, whoever memories I may have had before they're gone unfortunately," Sothis said in an embarrassed tone.
"Hold up, you once talked to Hinata Chan?"Naruto asked Sothis in disbelief.
"It was very brief, which unfortunately is what our conversation has to be. Naruto, Byleth, and I are in danger. We're on the outskirts of the monastery, near the old chapel. You should get there as soon as possible. I don't know how safe my host and I are," Sothis said urgently. Naruto knew not to waste time.
"I will inform Hinata Chan right away. Thank you for telling me, Sothis Sama," Naruto said. He then severed the connection in his mind space to relay what he had learned to his group.
Sonia couldn't believe what she had heard Naruto knows where her brother is. She was skeptical but Hinata backed Naruto up regarding where the find their professor, the same place where they will bring Aelfric. The group wasted no time they left it would take at least 2 hours to get to their destination luckily it was close to where the monastery was what she saw was a man on the ground who looked up and was relieved to see everyone.
"I'm fine, Mari, though I could use help getting out of these chains," her brother admitted. Marianne used her ice powers to destroy the chains, and she shattered them like they were made of wax paper. He got up, though he almost fell due to the exhaustion from the previous battle of the previous day. He leaned on Marianne for support. Hilda helped him as well. They went to the group, and he sat on the ground, unable to sit up due to his lack of strength.
"What happened" asked Edelgard concerned for her professors well-being.
"I don't know what kind of drugs they put in my system, but I'm barely able to concentrate. If there's a battle, I'm going to be completely useless," Byleth said, ashamed of his weakness.
"I can help cleanse the poison from your system," said Yuri. He cast an anti-poison spell that helped cleanse whatever toxins were in his brother's system. His brother got up, but still had difficulty standing on his own. He needed support, so he leaned on Marianne and Hilda.
"Do you know why you're here?" asked Dimitri.
"I can answer that." she turned around and saw it was none other than Kabuto, who was talking to the group as if nothing had happened.
Yuri quickly drew his sword along with everyone else who drew their weapons they weren't taking any chances with everyone well rested he can't take everyone.
"If I wanted to fight you do you think I would come alone?" asked Kabuto arrogantly Naruto looked enraged just by seeing his presence.
"Was everything a lie, Kabuto?"Naruto asked him Kabuto laughed as if Naruto's accusation was amusing.
"Please Naruto you and I barely talked if anybody has a right to be angry it's my classmates from the Black Eagles tell me Byleth San do you know why you were dropped out here?" asked Kabuto.
"I wasn't your real Target," Byleth answered Kabuto was impressed because of how easy he figured it out.
"Of course you weren't the real Target my employer wanted a special someone because of his delusional mind he believes he can resurrect a dead woman who's been dead for 20 years and he believes five individuals are the key one particular individual is the final key ingredient you could have been that ingredient or your sister but he chose someone else entirely curious." Kabuto said reveling in her and her brothers ignorance she did not know what he was talking about.
"That's enough Kabuto." Said a voice behind him she got in her fighting position. It was another one of those sound Ninja they were surrounded. They had the number at least 50 at the most.
"Just when things were getting good, we will meet again, Byleth San," Kabuto said as he managed. Something was suspicious, extremely suspicious; there were nowhere near the amount of people as previous days.
"Our professor can barely stand defend yourselves," Hinata ordered as everyone got in their position.
"I'm afraid that's not going to happen." said a voice within the crowd there was a man with brown hair and the garb of a assassin he had a knife towards Aelfric's throat. Seeing the closest thing she has to a father having a weapon at his throat she wanted to kill him for threatening him when she tried to make a move the man made her stop.
"Surely, you're smarter than this. Here are my demands: You will give me the chalice, and he will walk free unharmed. Refuse, and he will die. What will it be?" asked the hired assassin. There's no way they can hand over the chalice; they don't have it.
"Hapi do your thing." Said Balthus urgently she did not want her to do it but there was no choice.
"Whatever" Hapi said reluctant to sigh when she did everyone was wondering why she did that until monsters appeared which attacked everyone.
"I'm afraid that's not going to happen." said a voice within the crowd there was a man with brown hair and the garb of a assassin he had a knife towards Aelfric's throat. Seeing the closest thing she has to a father having a weapon at his throat she wanted to kill him for threatening him when she tried to make a move the man made her stop.
Before anything can be done before she could do anything dark mages appeared behind Constance, Hapi and Balthus which surprised her they tried to protect themselves but it was useless their bodies couldn't move.
"You have done well, all of you." Aelfric said in a cold tone which was not like him gone was the kindness that she had grown up with.
Before she can do anything Yuri aimed a sword at her throat.
"Yuri why?" asked Sonia feeling betrayed by her friend.
Balthus looked even more distraught than Sonia.
"To think that you would be the rat as well, have you been a spy the whole time Yuri?" asked Balthus enraged by his betrayal.
"We trusted you, how could you?" asked Constance who was deeply hurt.
"It's not surprising, really,"Hapi said, not as troubled as the others.
Before he could leave he was confronted by Hinata who got between him and Aelfric.
"So you were a spy the whole time, weren't you? Yuri San Kabuto apparently wasn't the only rat," Hinata said with disgust at his betrayal. He didn't respond; he just walked past her, treating her like she wasn't a threat. Before he was out of earshot, he said one last thing to her.
"Remember, meet me at the holy mausoleum at midnight. Do not forget," Yuri said as he struck at her with his sword. Hinata quickly deflected with her gentle fist. It was a brief exchange, but it was enough for her to grasp his motives. It didn't make any sense. What were his objectives?
"I have everything I need thank you" Aelfric said
with a tone of sadness in his voice or was she imagining it.
"So you were the one that arranged my kidnapping?" asked Byleth. Despite the situation, despite Hinata's friends fighting the monsters, her professor still found the strength to move to stand to confront the man who knew his parents. The man said nothing.
"I have everything I need. Your part in this is over." Aelfric said as he vanished along with Sonia's friends.
She took to her stance and fought the monster that was in front of her; damn it, she thought there were way too many of them. Before her classmates can be overwhelmed, a man with an Axe riding a wyvern cut the beast in front of Hinata down. She saw the man in front of her. It was none other than one of the faculty, Flayn's brother Seteth, who had a worried look on his face when he looked at Byleth and Sonia.
There were Pegasus Knight's as well as well battling the beast they were elite they made her and her classmates look like nothing they easily dispatch them when they were done.
Seteth got off his wyvern and went straight to where Byleth was checking if he was okay.
"I'm fine Seteth but" Her professor didn't get a chance to finish when Seteth cut them off.
"Things are not fine. The archbishop is missing and all of you have been missing for days you all must return to the monastery at once until this crisis is over no one is permitted to leave." Seteth said, not leaving any room for an argument.
"My friends have been captured; we can't just do nothing," Sonia said, objecting to Seteth's actions.
"Sonia, it's not safe. You must." she interrupted him.
"Think the Abyss is safe? You haven't been down there in the past few days. There have been multiple attempts on my friend's life, especially Dimitri's. Byleth was kidnapped, and I've almost been killed multiple times. Do you think going back there is going to make me safer?" Sonia said with anger. Hinata wanted to interject but thought better of it.
"Please it's my fault I take full responsibility," Byleth said, coming to Sonia's defense from any potential rebuttal.
"It's also my responsibility as well," Dimitri said, backing up her professor.
" Wait Seteth you said the archbishop was kidnapped, where is she?" asked Sasuke concerned.
"That's none of your concern," Seteth said dismissively.
"I disagree, Seteth. San ordered me to go back in order to ensure the safety of Sonia and Byleth, along with everyone else that came with me. The archbishop herself sent me back. She saved Mercedes' life. I owe her. I cannot let a debt like that go unpaid. I want to save her, and everyone else who's with me wants to as well. Please," Sasuke said, beggingly. This was not like Sasuke, Hinata thought. He had changed so much since January. It's amazing what 6 months could do to a person, especially when they meet the right people.
"It doesn't change the fact that Sonia," Sonia interrupted him.
"I will not go back there regardless how this crisis ends. I will never go back to abyss. I'm tired of being in that prison." Sonia said defiantly.
"How about we go back to the monastery for now and cool our heads before we come up with a plan?" suggested Hinata. Everyone looked at her as if she had said the most amazing thing anyone could have said in the situation.
"Agreed," said Dimitri as everyone headed back to the monastery.
Black Eagles classroom
Everyone that went on the exposition to abyss was in the classroom along with the members that didn't go it was crammed but this was a situation where they couldn't ignore what had happened everyone was present with the exception of Mercedes and Shez due to their injuries.
"So the archbishop was captured we discovered the professor has a sibling living amongst us such an interesting adventure you all went on," Hubert said, chuckling despite the situation.
"The ability to bring back the Dead but there's been many cases where things went horribly wrong with such a resurrection every time they got brought back they were never the same it was as if they were different people," said Claude agreeing that something was off.
Byleth thought about this ever since he was captured. If they stole the chalice of beginnings and they kidnapped him, why would they take Rhea instead? What were their goals, and for what purpose?
"An ingredient is needed for a resurrection to be successful, and very few resurrections have been successful. It requires the most important attribute of what makes someone who they are. It matters not if someone's body is brought back to life if the person that inhabited it isn't in it," said Hubert, which was unusual. He didn't think he would be interested in such things.
"Equivalent exchange, is that what you're implying?" Gaara asked Hubert out of curiosity.
"This Aelfric obtained a chalice that supposedly has the power to resurrect the dead. However, it's not enough to have people with the blood of the apostles; there's something else required for it to work successfully," said Claude, who had been reading extensively in the past few hours.
"A key ingredient a body is obviously needed for Resurrection; without a body that is intact, the resurrected body will just die all over again." Said Sakura one of the rare times she didn't talk about Sasuke or she actually showed knowledge about human anatomy. She could be a natural as a medic if she put her talent into it. Such a shame, he thought. She would actually be a good student if she had her mind at the right place.
"Someone who is dead for a short time and is brought back using a jitsu is the most successful form of Resurrection to date, but that isn't without its cost. Those who cast the jitsu die afterwards due to them drawing on their own life energy and chakra; a life for a life." Said Gaara, who talked as if he knew from experience.
He pondered what would be required to successfully bring someone back to life if they had just died. If a person was freshly dead and brought back, it must mean their soul was still in close proximity, allowing it to reenter the body. Then, he wondered about what would happen if someone had been dead for decades.
"What happens when someone attempts to resurrect the dead by trading their own soul?" Sasuke asked, causing everyone to feel foolish for not considering that option.
"For that to work, the soul in question has to have a connection somehow to the person they're trying to resurrect, whether they're a parent, a child, or..." Everyone then stopped in their tracks, Byleth included. No, it couldn't be. Sonia looked at him as well, as if she came to the same conclusion. No, it had to be a coincidence. But the way she looked at him...
They couldn't voice it out loud. He had to say something him and his sister needed to talk alone.
"All of you, you're dismissed. I want to talk to Sonia alone." Byleth said, leaving no room for an argument. Everyone dispersed and left the two of them alone. Things were silent between them until Sonia spoke.
"You cannot possibly believe that she is our grandmother," Sonia asked. He didn't want to believe it himself, but everything seemed to point in that direction. The way the woman looked at him, the pride in her eyes, the way she smiled and praised him - it all seemed to indicate that she was indeed their grandmother. But then there was something else - the way she looked at him.
"There is no other explanation that would justify the way she acts towards you, Sonia. If she is indeed our grandmother, then she was attempting to conceal your existence from the world," Byleth said, not really wanting to believe it.
"If what you're saying is true then what" she stopped mid sentence when she realized what he was thinking.
"He's going to sacrifice Rhea to try to bring back our mother," Sonia said, horrified at the very idea he felt whatever problems he has with the archbishop, he doesn't want her to die, and if she is his grandmother, she is family as far as he was concerned.
"Well, this is definitely going to be an awkward reunion when father comes back," Byleth joked, which caused his sister to tense at the very mention of their father.
"Let's not think about that right now. We got to focus on the crisis. Where would Rhea be?"he thought out loud. His sister was thinking the same thing.
Before anything more could be said, Hinata entered the room
Earlier
After everyone left the room, Hinata couldn't help but think about the last thing that Yuri told her. It was important, even before he left, he reminded her that she couldn't help but think there had to be a reason for meeting him at the holy mausoleum at midnight, but why? She didn't get a chance to indulge in her thoughts for long; Edelgard and Dimitri, along with Monica, knew that she had something on her mind.
She couldn't help but think he told her to meet him at the holy mausoleum at midnight. Why would he tell her this if he was planning on betraying everyone? Something seemed off. Then Hinata thought about it. Perhaps she wasn't the one he was going to entrust with such information. Perhaps her professor was the original person he had in mind, but he was captured at the time, and she was the one he trusted the most when he wasn't present. But why? She thought hard and long about it. All his actions since she had been around him. He didn't come off as someone that would betray his friends, yet he wasn't someone that was forthcoming about information.
"You're still thinking about Yuri and his actions aren't you?" asked Monica, which stopped Hinata's inner thoughts.
"There is a lot that doesn't add up. He kidnaps all of Sonia's friends with help from Aelfric. Yuri doesn't come off as the kind of person that would betray people. Something seems off. I can't help but think that now he could have severely injured you if he wanted to, Hinata, but he didn't." said Dimitri, which was something that Hinata had been thinking about ever since Yuri's betrayal.
"Now that I think about it he was the most apprehensive around Kabuto even more than we were could he be undercover by the church? And the reason he told you the information on where to meet him had to do with him indirectly telling."Edelgard stopped mid-sentence when she came to the same conclusion Dimitri, Monica, and Hinata had.
"That's where they took the archbishop, Yuri, and the others. That's their location, and that's where the chalice of beginnings is. We need to inform the professor right away," said Monica. After Byleth and Sonia's private conversation, Hinata returned to the Black Eagles classroom.
Sonia listened as Hinata explained everything about Yuri's actions and what he had been doing since they arrived in the abyss. Everyone who wasn't injured in the Black Eagles' classroom was gathered close to midnight. They were ready to take action, to save their friends and get answers about Yuri's true allegiance.
"Are we really taking everyone?" asked Hubert curiously. Everyone knew this was disobeying Seteth's direct orders, but they knew where the archbishop is and mounting a rescue for her and her friends was something that she couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
"What about our professor shouldn't he be informed about this?" asked Lorenz. Everyone looked at him and agreed. Sonia had no idea who the golden deer professor was. She only saw him on the day she helped lead Dimitri's friends in the holy mausoleum, but she only saw a glimpse of him. She couldn't help but feel apprehension when his name was brought up. Something about Kakashi made her feel uncomfortable.
"We really do not have time. I think those who are able should all head out. I know this will anger Seteth. Those who don't want to risk getting in trouble are free to leave now. I will not hold it against you if you don't want to be part of this," said Byleth. Everyone had no hesitation in their eyes. They were more than willing to follow her brother; he was an inspiring leader, potentially in the making.
"We're going to have to find an alternative way to get inside the mausoleum ever since the incident with the western church they sealed off the main entrance." said Ashe. Then she thought about it. The entrance that she used to help Dimitri's friends get inside without drawing attention could be their best bet, and not even Aelfric knows about it. But then she thought about it: Kabuto would know about it because he was with them. She was frustrated. There had to be another way in.
"Perhaps we should just go to the main entrance anyway. That would not be something our enemies would expect," said Sasuke. Everyone looked at him as if it was an insane idea.
"Going through the main entrance, are you insane, Sasuke? We would draw attention from the church for sure. We could all be." Naruto is cut off by Sasuke sharply.
"The archbishop's life is in danger, and so are Sonia's friends. We can't just take the Safeway; the secret entrance is not an option because Kabuto knows about them. Unless there's another way in an entrance that Kabuto doesn't know about, that might be our only choice." Sasuke said. He looked at Sonia, hoping that she had better ideas, but she didn't, because there was no other way in other than the front.
"I believe she would especially if we we're there to save her child believe it,"Naruto said reassuringly to Marianne.
"This whole venture has been chaotic. I just want it to be done and over with," said Shikamaru.
"Working together for a common goal in all of our classes has been quite an adventure. I wish we would do this more often, but not only on life-and-death circumstances," Claude said, thinking about the potential for the house leaders to work together.
"I agree with that, Claude San. I would like us all to work together in a circumstance that doesn't have us get shot at or attacked with swords, Spears, and axes by enemies," said Hinata, liking the prospect of all the house leaders working together.
"Everyone, you are dismissed. Get everything you will need and meet me at the entrance of the cathedral in the next hour. Do not be late," said Byleth. Everyone dispersed, with the exception of Sonia, who was once again alone with her brother, the man she had only just met a few days ago.
"This whole thing has been crazy. I find out I have a brother, and the archbishop is our grandmother. I just feel like I don't know what to think anymore." Sonia said honestly.
"I agree with you. I don't know how to take this. I just found out that I have a sister who is alive, and the archbishop is actually my grandmother. It's hard for me to take in." There was something else bothering him, she could tell by the tone of his voice. It had a lot to do with Marianne. It was none of her business, but she had to ask.
"What's going on? Byleth, something is bothering you. I know you don't want to tell me it has to do with Marianne, right?"Sonia asked, which caused him to tense.
"I cannot focus on that right now. I'll settle it after this crisis is over," Byleth said, closing a barrier between them. They were strangers. She felt stupid; of course, there's no way he was going to completely open up to a woman like her, especially someone who, for all intents and purposes he thought was dead the whole time.
"I was wondering... I know it's a foolish hope, but do you think maybe we could be a family after this is over?" asked her brother.
A family? She doesn't know what to say to her father. There's so much she would like to ask him and say to him, but she doesn't even know her brother. She had no idea what to ask him either. No, she couldn't think about that right now. Her brother was right; they can focus on that when the crisis is done.
"I would like to do that, Byleth, but first let's rescue our grandmother and then get the answers we both have been seeking our entire lives," Sonia said, getting her brother to focus on the task at hand and not have any distractions.
She walked side by side with her brother. They looked at the monastery. She had never seen it before, and the surface felt so strange and alien to her. What made it even stranger was that her brother and she were wearing attire that was exact opposites. Her brother wore battle armor, the attire he used to wear in his days as a mercenary, while she, in contrast, was wearing a dress associated with warlocks. Unlike her brother, she wore glasses.
When they're at the cathedral she couldn't help but feel like this place was familiar this place.
"I love you, my children," she heard a voice say. She looked around and saw no one. What was that voice? It sounded so soft. Was it a memory, or was it a figment of her own imagination? Her brother noticed her blank look on her face.
"Are you all right?" Byleth asked her if she could lie if she wanted to, but she didn't think he would buy it.
"Do you feel like this place is significant to both of us?" she asked him, causing him to look at her in surprise. He then looked at the cathedral, lost in his thoughts.
"I don't know why, but I feel like this connection to this place. I don't think it's in the cathedral, but below me."he couldn't form the words.
Before they could continue their conversation, everyone from the Black Eagles, Blue Lions, and Golden Deer who weren't injured arrived. This was a huge breach of protocol, but then again, she wasn't where she was supposed to be. So, what difference does it make if she breaks a few more rules?
"So this is it is it midnight yet?"asked Felix.
She looked at her watch no it wasn't midnight yet it would be in 10 minutes.
"Remember, all of you: this is a dangerous battle. It's a matter of life or death, and we don't know what to expect when we return to the holy mausoleum. This is your last chance to turn back. If you don't feel confident in your abilities, turn back now," Byleth said. Everyone in the group was unflinching.
Everyone in a straight line went inside. This would be it. She would have her answers. Sonia did not know why, but she felt like something was going to happen that would change everything.
The Flame Emperor observed as the group entered the cathedral. It was amusing to the Flame Emperor, knowing that the outcome wouldn't affect their plans. Edelgard, foolishly, believed she was the only Flame Emperor. The masked figure was grateful for their father's ruthless instructions. They wouldn't be able to imitate Edelgard's speech patterns or replicate the Flame Emperor's posture without them. Unless their mask was removed, those working with Konoha wouldn't be able to tell the difference between them. Although this might cause problems, they didn't need to worry about it for now. Regardless of the outcome, the second phase of the Flame Emperor's plan would soon begin.
A voice behind them cut off any thoughts they were having.
"So we're not going to interfere with the ritual?" asks the wolf, who still had not recovered from his injuries.
"We will not interfere with Kabuto's mission. The Akatsuki expect to have the Chalice of Beginnings in their hands, but that object doesn't interest me. In fact, I want the organization undermined," the Flame Emperor said in a tone that was hard to read due to the distorted voice.
"We are playing a dangerous game. Both Those Who Slither in the Dark and the Akatsuki are dangerous and powerful organizations. Those Who Slither in the Dark have deep influence in the Adrestia and in Konoha, as well as in other nations on our continent. This is a dangerous game that you're playing," said the one who saved the wolf earlier.
The flame emperor put their right hand in the sky where the moon was and clenched their fist as if imagining crushing the Moon.
"My ambition will not be denied. The Konaha Empire will rise, and nothing will get in our way. Those fools in the Konoha Council can debate all they want; it will change nothing. We will never become the empire that we have desired since the founding, unless I take hold of Adrestia. Konoha will become one with our empires combined, and there will be nothing that will stop me from reforging the world in my own image," said the Flame Emperor as they took off their mask.
"Your will shall be done; we will not interfere," said the wolf as he disappeared along with the fox.
"Just you wait. I will expose you for who you truly are, you bastard child," the Flame Emperor said, their voice sounding feminine. They put their mask back on and went to their destination. The Flame Emperor decided to go to the school as an ordinary student, without arising suspicion. They planned to blend in, but to seem even more inconspicuous, more students would have to join them. The foolish faculty of the church had no idea that the Flame Emperor was among them, hiding in plain sight. Inside their mask, the Flame Emperor smiled, confident that everything would go according to plan, regardless of the outcome. The fate of the Chalice of Beginnings was inconsequential.
Before the Flame Emperor left, they created a shadow clone. It would use up most of their chakra, but they wouldn't need it where they were going. They wanted to know how strong that child was and how much of a threat Hitomi's spawn would be to their plans. Either way, with the clone defeated, they would have their answer one way or another.
Rhea opened her eyes and saw four individuals at four corners of the mausoleum. She couldn't believe it. She looked and saw Aelfric, along with Kabuto, placing Sitri's body at the center of the circle that was drawn, which resembled the symbol of her mother. She was forced to look at her daughter; her eyes were closed. She wore the same dress that she wore the day she died. It was torture just looking at her. Seeing the scum touching her daughter made her sick.
"Leave Kabuto. I will not have you defile this place anymore than you have," he said coldly to Kabuto.
"You wouldn't have gotten as far as you did if it weren't for me, Aelfric. Never forget, it was I who had the Sand 5 drag the fight out as long as they could to weaken everyone. Your idea was for Byleth or Sonia to be so weak that they would be vulnerable for kidnapping," Kabuto said, taking pleasure in the men's anger at the mere mention.
"It was your actions that nearly got Sitri's children killed. I never agreed for them to be harmed," he said angrily. Kabuto waggled his finger as if warning him of the consequences of talking back to him.
"Without this, all this effort will be in vain. I suggest you don't test me, Aelfric San. I came a long way for this, and we both agreed that after your goal is accomplished, I will take what I have come here for," Kabuto said, dangling the chalice in front of him.
"He reluctantly returned the chalice to Kabuto and placed it near Sitri's body. She had wanted to play with him, but now she wanted to stop. She didn't want what had happened with the failed attempt to resurrect her mother to happen to her own child. No, she couldn't go through that horror a second time. She didn't want to be forced to put down a monstrosity that looked like her mother in her dragon form again. She couldn't bear that pain for her daughter. She couldn't deal with that again.
"Please stop," Rhea begged the man, who looked at her sadly. He didn't have a right to do that she wanted to lash out how dare this man do this to her?
Kabuto knew he wasn't wanted and left them both alone he went at the entrance of the mausoleum as a guard nothing was said until Aelfric spoke.
"I've committed a great sin. I know this. I know the afterlife won't be pleasant for me, assuming I go there at all. But I do this for love. I want Sitri to have a second chance at life, the life that was denied her, a life with her husband and her children. I do this for them." Aelfric said, accepting his fate, knowing how the church would see him afterwards, sacrificing his reputation.
"There is a reason why it failed a thousand years ago. It will not work," Rhea said pleadingly. He was not deterred; in fact, it made him more determined.
"Have you considered why it failed? I've researched everything regarding the possibilities of a successful resurrection using this artifact. I've compared it to other resurrectjions' success and failure and there's one common thing about failed resurrections you will know what that is?"he asked her she didn't want to indulge in his delusions it was not possible she wasn't going to indulge whatever he was trying to convince her to believe.
"A soul for a soul; that is the ultimate price that most aren't willing to pay. Those in the five nations have a jutsu that can bring back the Dead in exchange for their own life. So if the same principles apply here, then there's no reason it doesn't apply here. You see, your blood, along with the blood of the four apostles, is necessary to bring her back, but that's not enough. A soul is required, a sacrifice." He looks directly into her soul. No, it couldn't be. She was going to be sacrificed to bring her back.
She recalled the moment when the resurrection was on the verge of succeeding, but she lost her nerve. She wasn't willing to pay the ultimate price, and neither were her followers. As a result, it failed. She didn't want to remember that memory, as it brought back the feelings of shame and fear she experienced when she lost her nerve and was unwilling to pay the ultimate price. She didn't want to relive that nightmare a second time.
A thousand years ago at the holy mausoleum
Rhea, also known as Seiros, observed the ritual in progress. Her mother's body was re-forming, and she was on the brink of bringing her mother back from the dead. Rhea had lost everything in the war, and this was her chance to make things right again by bringing her mother and her deceased lover back. She also longed to be reunited with Sitri, her 15-year-old daughter. However, as the final part of the ritual approached, Rhea grappled with the realization that a great sacrifice would be required to bring her mother back. She wondered who would have to pay this ultimate price.
"Seiros we have to stop if we don't many people will be sacrificed this is not what Sothis would have wanted please stop" Cichol said to Seiros beggingly the windows of opportunity was closing if she didn't make a sacrifice soon things would go horribly wrong she went towards the chalice.
"Who's going to be there for Sitri? She needs her mother. Your mother would not want you to exchange your life for hers. Please, I beg of you stop." Cichol said more forcefully she looked at her mother but then she saw her daughter not figuratively she wasn't inside it was too dangerous but she saw her daughter crying scared asking where her mother was then at her moment of hesitation everything went wrong.
The beautiful body that was her mother transformed into an abomination that didn't even resemble what her mother looked like. The transformation from her human form to her dragon was disturbing. The figure screamed in agony and an animalistic rage. Her mother attacked everything on site. No, it wasn't her mother; it was someone that had her mother's body but nothing else. She cried, saying she would have to do it again.
She drew her sword, the same one she had used against Nemesis. It was the right thing to do, even though this creature was not her mother. She would at least free it from its misery and end its suffering quickly.
She ran as fast as her legs would take her, with help from her followers. They helped pin the dragon down. The dragon screeched; she had to end its suffering quickly, along with Cichol, who had his lance out. He plunged his weapon inside the creature, doing the same with Seiros. The creature tried to do everything it could to fight for its life, but it was fruitless. It looked at the look that haunted Seiros, a look that haunted her for a thousand years and the look that she would see in her sleep every time she went to bed at night. Everything went silent.
She thought she was a coward for not being able to pay the ultimate price. She believed there had to be another way and decided she would never attempt to bring her mother back using the ritual. The apostles looked at her, and together they agreed to scatter and hide the chalice of beginnings in the monastery, ensuring it would never be used again. Destroying it would be the right thing to do, but she didn't have the means to do so. The only way to destroy it was if someone possessed the crest of flames, and she did not possess it—her mother did. It would remain a forgotten item in history, and nobody would know about its existence until someone else tried the same thing a thousand years later.
Rhea recognized that look; no, she could not endure that nightmare again. A failure meant paying the ultimate price, and nobody was willing to do so. She had to convince him to change course. She couldn't bear the thought of her daughter becoming what her mother did when they tried to revive her the first time.
"You don't know what you're playing with. You have no idea what can go wrong or the consequences. I beg of you, please don't do this. Stop, please." Rhea said, beggingly. She couldn't watch it again, not with her own daughter, not with her own child. She couldn't bear the thought of her transforming into an abomination. She couldn't go through that a second time.
The chalice at the center of the load, she screamed as the pain became unbearable. She had never felt this much pain; it was even more painful than when she gave birth to her child.
"I will succeed no matter the cost, even if I have to pay it with my own soul." she heard Aelfric. A bulk of the blood was coming from her veins; it wasn't coming from the apostles. Their blood was only needed to start the ritual; it wasn't needed for what the foolish man thought would be the key to bringing her daughter back.
She saw the storm; the man was laughing like a madman. The ritual was in its final stages, the stage where the price would be paid.
"It's unfortunate for you, but I cannot let you go through with this plan," said Yuri as he sabotaged the ritual.
It stopped the joyous look on Aelfric face as the ritual stopped no she was thankful it didn't get to the point where things can go horribly wrong but it wouldn't stop it was still going despite him sabotaging it.
"What have you done?" Aelfric said, panicking.
"Stopping you from making a foolish mistake, do you honestly think this ritual wouldn't result in the deaths of thousands? I was not on your side from the start. I was always there to keep an eye on you." Said Yuri as he took out his blade.
"Then I will do what I must. I will not fail. I've come too far, sacrificed too much," Aelfric said as he cast a spell that knocked Yuri out of the arena. Yuri tried to get back, but it was fruitless. The barrier that Aelfric had created could not be undone with a mere sword.
"It was fortunate that I hired mercenaries and that I have Kabuto to make sure this ritual doesn't fail," Aelfric resumed the ritual, horror evident on her face. She was nearing the part that she didn't want to see again; she didn't want her daughter to turn into an abomination.
"Stop Aelfric, please," she heard Sonia. She looked and saw everyone from the classes that weren't injured along with her grandchild. Byleth was with them, holding the sword of the Creator.
Byleth saw the woman floating in the air, who he recognized as his mother. She looked just like he had always imagined her in his dreams. However, he couldn't dwell on that at the moment because he knew he had to focus on the upcoming battle. Many mercenaries surrounded his students and their classmates.
He didn't just have his class behind him; the combined efforts of all the houses.
"To think that I'd have a chance to fight you again, Byleth-san," said Kabuto, who had a look of determination.superiority he was going to wipe that smirk from his face.
"Things will not be like they were last time, Kabuto." Byleth said, tightening his grip on his sword.
"Of course it won't," Kabuto said as a sound ninja appeared behind him.
"You will pay for using me as a hostage, you bastard. You will regret not killing me when you had the chance." Marianne said as she attacked him from behind. He was barely able to defend himself. He was surprised.
His momentary surprise stopped. He has full faith that Marianne can handle Kabuto. He had to
stop Aelfric. He saw Yuri, who was happy to see him and Hinata.
"Thanks, Lady Hinata. Now let's stop this madman before he kills us all with this ritual," Yuri said, happy that Hinata got his message. Byleth was determined to see this through to the end to get answers from the woman who is his grandmother.
He was going to save her even if he didn't know her. She was family.
Before he could do anything before he can even get to work Aelfric is another figure appeared in
front of him it was a man and black clad armor the same person that Shez fought he tightened thehold of his blade out of all the people.
"I get to taste the blood of the ashen demon. This should be fun," the voice said as he, with his twin blades, went straight at Byleth. Their blades clashed. This was going to be a very hard-fought battle.
"Hinata was relieved that she had remembered the time Yuri had told her earlier in the day. She knew that being wrong could have serious consequences. She looked over at where Hapi, Constance, and Balthus were. They needed to have their chains removed. The ritual had to be stopped before it ended up harming innocent people who had nothing to do with this madman's goals.
"Sonia was by their side; with the three of them, they should be able to free their friends."
"Hinata, you go free Constance. I will free Balthus, and you, Sonia, will free Hapi." Yuri said. Sonia was skeptical. Hinata couldn't blame her after all he did betray them, though he had to have his reasons, which she would find out after the battle was over.
"Believe me, my friend, you will get answers when this battle is over. For now, let's save our friend Sonia," Yuri replied with urgency. Hinata went to where Constance was and looked relieved to see her. Before she could free Constance, a figure in red armor appeared and Hinata was confused because her friend Edelgard was the one that wore that armor then she looked where Edelgard was fighting Sound Ninja. This person had to be somebody else but why were they wearing the same armor? If it wasn't Edelgard who else was it? Hinata wanted to know.
"Interesting to think that I would encounter you so soon." the voice said, distorted. They took out their axe and shield. Hinata got into her own stance, wondering just who was this mysterious person in front of her?
The Flame Emperor wasted no time as they attacked Hinata. Their strikes were fast, despite the heavy weapon wielded by her opponent. Hinata managed to dodge the attacks, leaving Constance shocked as she watched the enemy in front of them. They were a lot faster than they looked. This person wasn't Edelgard, but their fighting style was 100% identical. If Edelgard wasn't in the same battlefield as Hinata, it would be difficult not to notice the difference.
"Interesting"the flame emperor commented.
"Who are you?"asked Hinata.
"It's none of your concern. I'm not really here. You're just fighting a clone of myself that I've created from a distance," the Flame Emperor answered. So, no matter what, she would never know this opponent's identity. It was a shadow clone, but this was no ordinary shadow clone. She activated her Byakugan, and it was as solid as any other opponent. However, there was something she could not see - the face was not there. So, even if she did break the mask, the true identity of this figure in front of her would not be revealed.
"You are correct in what you are thinking. Yes, it matters not if you break this mask. You will not know my identity," said the Flame Emperor as it attacked her. Again, she moved as fast as she could. This was nothing like she imagined. This opponent was not as strong as the one she fought the previous day, but they were still strong and fast.
She had to end this quickly, considering the stakes of what could possibly go wrong. She had to go all out and act fast. She charged as fast as a bullet and struck hard at the chest of the Flame Emperor. The armor cracked, and the figure was knocked back hard against the wall.
"Impressive. You have gotten stronger. Sending you here was a mistake," the Flame Emperor said as it vanished and went behind Hinata. She barely dodged as the armored figure nearly cleaved her head off.
Hinata, before she could recover, the Flame Emperor closed the gap between them quickly and punched her in the abdomen. They were about to strike at her again until she knocked her opponent down by breaking their footing. The Flame Emperor fell hard on their back. Hinata put distance between herself and her opponent. She did not trust that her opponent didn't have a trap.
Her potent got up the armor fell to the ground it was hard to tell from the facial expression what her opponent was thinking.
"You have gotten much stronger. I will have to be cautious when we meet in person," the figure said before disappearing. What was that? Her opponent appeared and disappeared, but why? Putting her thoughts aside for now, she went to where Constance was. She broke her chains with the power of her lion fist. Constance was amazed by Hinata's strength.
"I'll have to ask you when we're not in a life-and-death situation how you do that," said Constance with admiration for her strength and the technique she used to free herself.
"I would like that as well, Constance-san, but for now let's focus on the battle," Hinata said, her voice turning serious. She went to where Edelgard and Dimitri were. They were struggling against the Sound Ninja. They weren't like the elite they had fought a day ago, but they still weren't pushovers. While she assisted her friends, Yuri and Sonia were doing their part.
Yuri went to where Balthus was. He knew Balthus would be angry with him, but he had to do what he needed to maintain his freedom. When he cut the chain, he was about to say something to Balthus, but he was cut off when Balthus punched him in the stomach.
"I might have deserved that," Yuri admitted.
"You're damn right you did. I actually thought you turned traitor," his friend said, hurt that he didn't trust him. But that wasn't the case. It was to maintain his cover, though he didn't think it was necessary to explain that part.
"Everything will be explained when this is over," Yuri ordered. He reluctantly did as he was asked and went to where Hinata's friends were.
He looked at Kabuto, who was fighting Marianne. He was not as weak as he appeared or as strong as Kakashi. Marianne is far stronger than she seems. "Marianne would beat Kabuto at this rate," Yuri thought. As much as he wants to kill Kabuto, he knows Marianne can handle it. His bigger priority was to make sure Rhea's mission didn't end in failure. He went to where Hinata's friends were and assisted them against the Sound Ninja.
Sonia made sure to be careful in undoing the chains on Hapi, who looked relieved that Sonia was there.
"Are you okay?" Sonia asked Hapi, and she helped her up.
"Other than a few bruises on my wrist, I'm okay," Hapi replied.
"Looks like we're all free let's help our friends so we can stop this ritual before people get killed," Hapi said as they went to assist their friends against the sound Ninja.
Marianne was full of rage. She wanted to kill the person who had captured her boyfriend and used her as a hostage. The fact that she had once been in the same class as this scoundrel made her feel ill. Ice was forming on her hands as Kabuto looked at her with amusement.
"Interesting. This power of yours has combined with your crest. It seems like it's not stable," Kabuto said with a calm that angered her.
"I'm in complete control" Marianne said, her voice cold as ice. The room the temperature was Sub-Zero temperatures it was causing everyone to freeze that was near her this power it felt so good.
"In retrospect, the mist was justified in wiping out your clan. It's unfortunate they didn't kill your ancestor," Kabuto said mockingly. This made her full of rage; her mother was part of that clan that he spoke of. An ice mirror appeared right behind him. He was barely able to block; he was actually surprised by her strength. The ice needles formed from her hands.
The ice she wielded was as hard as steel. He had a difficult time countering her blows as she appeared and reappeared in front of him. Behind him, she slashed. He blocked her blows with a cocky smile on his face as if he had already won the fight.
"A power that a beast has no control over is no power at all," Kabuto said, not taking the fight seriously. An ice blade formed on her right hand as she cut through his abdomen. The cocky look on his face faded as blood dripped to the ground. She had cut deeply, and if she cut a little bit deeper, she might have sliced a vital artery.
"Not so cocky now are you?"she said with cold indifference to his suffering.
"Damn it," he said. She was enjoying this, making him feel powerless. She froze his legs completely solid. She was going to kill him. She was going to make him feel the powerlessness, the power that she held in her hand, the crest that was empowering her, along with the Kekkei genkai manipulating the water in his body. She saw his skin turning pale. He was barely breathing.
Before she can do anything, she felt a Kanai at her stomach. She looked, and it was Kabuto. The pain barely faced her; he looked horrified, not believing that he had barely done anything to her.
"What the hell are you?" Kabuto said with fear.
"The grim reaper," Marianne answered. Kabuto tried to defend himself as Marianne appeared left and right. It was as if she was everywhere and nowhere at the same time. The ice mirrors made her feel faster, like she could slice and strike anywhere. He tried in vain to predict when she would strike next, but it was useless. She could have ended the encounter sooner, but she wanted him to feel powerless, to have him know how insignificant he truly is.
"Where was this power of yours yesterday?" he asked, barely able to get the words out. He was terrified.
"I've always had them. The beast that was caged was set free, a beast that has been in its cage its whole life. You made a mistake not killing this beast when you had the chance," she said. She struck at his chest and then behind him at his lower back. He almost fell down because of the pain he was feeling.
"I won't die like this, not by you," Kabuto said as he, in desperation, formed chakra blades and stabbed Marianne at her stomach. She ignored the pain she was feeling. He looked horrified that she wasn't fazed by what could have been a fatal blow.
"Unfortunately for you, this is where it ends. You should have killed me when you had the chance. Now, you will pay for that mistake with your life. May the goddess judge you," Marianne said as she formed an ice sword. The hilt formed first and the blade went to his throat.
He was trying to do everything to get out of the situation that he got himself in it didn't matter he had made a fatal error thinking that he would be able to defeat her she had the same power Haku has.
Without hesitation, she sliced off Kabuto's head, and it tumbled to the ground. The look on his face when she killed him was surprised, shocked, and fearful. The room temperature returned to normal. She looked at the man behind her. She ignored the looks on everyone's faces with her brutal kill of Kabuto. It didn't matter what they thought Byleth and Hilda were; she couldn't care less what the world thought. If she has to become a demon to protect them, then so be it.
The sound Ninja, afraid they'd be the next victims, ran for their lives. She didn't bother with them; she went to her friend's side, who got over their shock at her ruthless decapitation of Kabuto, even if it filled them with disgust. Later, after the battle was over, she would protect her friends. There was no animal, enough for her to not hold back.
Byleth was engaged in a fierce sword fight with a man dressed in black armor. While the man was strong, he didn't match up to Kimimaro or Itachi's strength. He surpassed Byleth's previous adversaries from before becoming a teacher. He was fast, and his fighting style reminded Byleth of a girl he had defeated nearly a year ago.
There was something unsettling about this opponent. His intense desire to kill was palpable, but there was something more to it. It appeared as though he took pleasure in the violence of their confrontation.
"Your strength is certainly not exaggerated. It's a shame how much weaker you've become," said the figure in black. This made him angry. No, he wasn't weaker.
"Struggling against an opponent who should be easy for you. Why are you letting a small fry give you trouble? What has happened to your nerve?" asked the black-clad figure as he struck at his side. He narrowly dodged what would have been a fatal blow. He was not holding back; his speed was far faster than any opponent he had encountered up until this point.
"Something about him is sinister. That purple-haired girl has a similar aura, but this is different. This person intends to kill. That girl struggled against this person. Go all out, do not hold back," Sothis said with urgency.
He heard laughing from the black-clad figure.
"So that false goddess is warning you to be cautious of me. Interesting," said the black-clad figure with amusement. He removed the part of his mask that revealed his mouth and saw a sinister grin.
"That pathetic girl cannot fulfill our destiny, looks like you will have to do it in her stead kill him" he heard a voice said sounded over worldly.
After images appeared left and right, this person was striking quick and fast. He also had to increase his speed, clashing from left, right, and center, up, down, sideways, every single angle he blocked. He had to move his body around multiple angles; this opponent was unlike his others. This opponent was using everything they had. He saw an aura engulf the black-clad man before him; it was just like the girl named Shez. Then, it clicked; the girl that hates him, that has killing intent, that was the girl he spared almost a year ago. But this opponent, the way they move, and the way they fight feel identical.
It made him feel extremely uneasy. He was going even faster, and he was having a difficult time keeping up. No, he could not lose. He could not have a situation that happened a day ago repeat itself.
"So this do you have any more power you can give me?" Asked Byleth who was struggling to keep up with the twin blades that were constantly slashing and thrusting at him. Even though he had the advantage for now that would not last forever when the Black clad man had an opening it would be over.
"I'm trying to think," Sothis said in annoyance.
"There really isn't much time. I could be killed at any moment," Byleth said impatiently. The sheer speed that he was dealing with was overwhelming.
He felt a slash at his right and left legs, and blood was spilling on the floor. He felt a slash on his chest as well. They were minor, but small cuts could be deadly if enough of them were to land. He was trying to overwhelm Byleth with minor cuts instead of one big one. It was too much speed that he was dealing with, and he would not be able to deal with it indefinitely.
He couldn't rely on Sothis to give him advice. He had to figure it out on his own. He had been studying his opponent until now, looking for any openings or vulnerabilities in the black-clad man's technique. Unlike Shez, whose techniques were far more refined, this opponent had vulnerabilities. Although he had defeated Shez mainly because she was caught off guard, this opponent was nothing like her. His skill level wasn't even close; he heavily relied on the power he was using.
When he was about to strike and get a killing blow, Byleth slashed hard at the chest of the armor. Blood spilled on the floor, and the grin from earlier turned into a look of anger and rage.
"You only got lucky," the black-clad man said with rage as he went at Byleth and struck at him wildly. Byleth couldn't believe he was struggling. Of course, this opponent was not someone he was used to, but once he saw through their techniques, it was as easy as taking candy from a baby. He tried to strike at his weak point, but the man kicked him where his wound was, causing him to be knocked back. However, Byleth wasn't going to allow him to recover.
Before he could do a killing blow, he threw a smoke bomb on the ground and coughed heavily.
"I underestimated you. I will not die by your hands," he said as he went straight to where his heart was. He was trying to attack him while he was blind. When he was about to strike at his heart, time slowed down and he moved slightly to the left, which shocked his opponent.
"Why won't you die?" he said with rage as he used the same tactics and afterimage on Byleth. It was completely fruitless; Byleth blocked every single one of his moves after seeing all of his techniques. It was pretty much a foregone conclusion that Byleth would win. Patience was not something he had time for because Rhea's life was at stake. Before he could do the next attack, the black-clad man was hit by an aura spell, and the source of it was his sister.
"We don't have time for this; the ritual is almost finished," Sonia said. He looked at his fallen foe and went as fast as possible. His friends can handle the sound ninja in front of them. He looked and saw the headless corpse of Kabuto. Marianne killed him. He knew that he looked where Marianne was, who was dispatching enemy after enemy in a cold and ruthless manner.
"Do not be distracted right now. What are you doing?" asked Sothis angrily. Because of what was happening, she was right. He was hoping that Marianne's soul wasn't forever tainted with Kabuto's brutal end.
she felt too weak after the amount of blood that was drawn and using her powers to get the curse mark out of Mercedes it was too much.
She heard a voice behind her.
"Please stop." Said Sonia. Please stop. Aelfric turned around and looked at Sonia with a sad look.
"Nothing I said was a lie, your mother." he looked at the floating woman's body with longing.
"Was she the love of my life, even if she never returned my feelings? Just her being happy was enough. Her death took a part of me with her. She was everything to me. Any other man would have hated your father for being with her, but I didn't. Jeralt was my friend; he was a better fit than I was. I would never be able to make Sitri happy like he could. I could never make her smile like he could. The one thing I could do is give her back, so you can have a family again." Aelfric had a tear in his eye; he was crying. Despite her anger and hatred for the man, he loved her. He loved her daughter. He was doing this for her. Part of her wanted to believe it for a second - a life for a life, a soul for a soul. Would it be such a bad thing if it was her life?
"Would our mother be happy if she returned at the expense of her own mother?" Sonia asked, trying to talk him out of it. But there was no way to dissuade him from this path.
"Please stop." Said Sonia. Please stop. Aelfric turned around and looked at Sonia with a sad look.
"Was everything you told me a lie?" Byleth asked Aelfric; he shook his head.
"No, I've come too far. I've sacrificed everything. I cannot let it end like this." Aelfric, sad, panicking, Yuri was by her grandchildren's side pointing his sword at him.
Yuri said, "You threatened my mother, and that's the only reason I cooperated. It's over." She looked at the man, and he looked back at her daughter.
"I will do it at any cost. I will not turn back. You will have to kill me," Aelfric said as he cast a spell that knocked everyone back. He went towards where the chalice was, held it up high, and began the final stage of the ritual. She did not want to see this again.
She heard a scream coming from Aelfric a scream of pain I scream of sorrow her daughter was engulfed and the storm she screamed not again not again.
The room was completely dark, and before her stood a gigantic dragon. Unlike her mother, it didn't look natural. It appeared to be a creature of death and destruction. It couldn't escape; it had to be killed. Her daughter -- she would have to see her daughter die a second time.
"We will handle this," said Sasuke as he took out his sword.
"I'm sorry Rhea Sama, this creature has to be stopped."said Hinata.
"I won't let anyone die, believe it," said Naruto.
"We will stop this creature before it hurts anyone." Said Edelgard
"We will protect the people of the monastery" said to Dimitri.
"There's a lot of beautiful history that could easily be lost if we don't stop this thing don't worry archbishop you can trust us," said Claude.
"I pray for his soul" said Marianne a. Ice blade came out of her hand as she got ready for battle.
"Will protect you" said Hilda who was by Marianne side ready for anything.
"I'm not looking forward to remembering this for the rest of my days," said Monica.
More and more people approached most of the students were fighting the monster engulfed her daughter.
She saw her grandchildren appear at the center with the students.
"Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to Mother." Said Sonia
"Do not worry. I won't let anything happen to her, I promise," Byleth said as he held tightly to the Sword of the Creator, which remained from her own mother. She would have liked nothing more than to fight by her grandchildren's side, but she was too weak from the ritual. She heard footsteps behind her and saw that it was Seteth and Catherine.
"Thank goodness, I will take you out of here." She cut Catherine off.
"I will stay here help the students" she ordered Catherine.
Seteth helped her up she did not want to believe she wanted to see this battle to its conclusion one way or another.
"You are not strong enough to," she cut him off.
"I will not leave her side. I will see this through to the end," Rhea said with labored breath. She was barely able to breathe, feeling so weak, but she had enough strength to at least see the outcome of this battle and hope beyond hope. She thought it was foolish to believe that the chalice could have work, but Naruto made her want to believe.
She had never thought in her time in Konoha that she would fight a dragon; that was the last thing on Hinata's mind. It was huge, much larger than she imagined. Ingrid was by her side, making sure to protect her. The claw of the dragon swiped at the entire class; they were barely able to dodge it. They had to spread out in order to prevent a massacre. This thing was way too strong.
"This mindless beast is far more difficult to deal with than I thought it would be, any plans Hinata-sama?" Asked Neji looking for her guidance, Hinata had no idea how to deal with such a monster her Byakugan was barely helpful. She was trying to move as much as she could and put as much distance as possible between her and the beast. It felt like every time she was able to pinpoint a strategy the monster teleported to the other side of the room. It was as if it was moving in and out of dimensions.
Ingrid was barely able to keep up. She wanted to protect her, but Ingrid was more than capable of protecting herself. It would be insulting to her Knight if she insisted on always protecting her. No, she would not indulge in those thoughts now, not in the middle of battle. There was a technique she could use, though Neji would have to be cooperative.
"Do you remember that one technique that we used that one time on that monster on that mission that we went on together 4 years ago?" Hinata asked Neji.
"Yeah, that technique is extremely dangerous; we're not meant to be using the one-eight trigrams 64 palms together, but this may be one opponent that we may have to do. How are we going to do it, Hinata-sama? When the stem creature constantly moves?" Neji asked her, looking for any sort of strategy that she could come up with. She was the Black Lion squad leader; she had to come up with a strategy on the spot.
"Ingrid Chan informed Bernadetta Chan and Marianne Chan of the technique." Hinata said, not elaborating on the name of the technique in front of strangers.
"Understood, Hinata, inform them right now." Ingrid gave the hand signals Neji had no idea what they were doing.
"Neji, you will do exactly as I say when I tell you to do. You understand? Do not question my judgment. There's a little room for this technique to be used, and once it's used once, it will not be usable again in the battle." Hinata said as she activated her Byakugan and rapidly did the hand signs for the signature technique that her squad came up with together Ingrid was at the North, Bernadetta was at the East, Marianne was at the South, and Hinata was at the West. They all finished their jitsu. As a lightning circle formed underneath symbol of a lion, the color of the lightning was black. A lion appeared, and the lightning Lion bit hard on the dragon.
She gave her signal to Neji; they both got into their stance for the signature technique of the Hyuga clan. They both moved faster than a bullet can possibly be seen and struck at all sides of the creature. It was quick and fast; the creature screamed in pain. Hinata wasted no time. As she struck every inch of the creature that she was fighting, she did not stop even as her hands were bleeding. When she was done with her technique, along with her cousin, they looked at the dragon. Instead of being phased by their technique, it got even angrier and more agitated. It went straight at Hinata, who was saved quickly by Dorothea, who had tackled Hinata down to prevent what would have been a killing blow.
"Are you all right, Hinaa?" Asked Dorothea, worried.
"I'm fine." Hinata replied.
This battle was more difficult than she'd ever expected it to be. This dragon wasn't intelligent; it was a force of nature, and that's what made it more dangerous. If it got out there, there'd be no stopping it until it was put down. It couldn't leave the holy mausoleum.
Byleth and Sonia were both struggling against this monster in front of them. It was too strong. If they didn't defeat this thing, it would get free. He needed to figure out fast how to kill it.
"Wait," said Sonia. He looked at her, wondering why she was telling him to stop.
"Have you considered maybe our crest may be the key?" Sonia asked him, which made him think about it. He had no idea what crest they had.
He went towards the creature in front of him and slashed it with his sword. He saw damage; there was no healing like there was with Hinata and Neji. Yes, they could destroy this thing, but he couldn't do it alone.
He felt his sister's right hand grip his sword. The sword glowed even brighter with both of them holding it than with one of them. Then he realized something: they both have the ability to wield this sword.
"I don't think killing this creature is necessary; you could defeat it without completely destroying it." Said Sothis, which caused Byleth to hesitate. What did His companion inside of him mean by that?
"What do you mean?" he asked her.
"I don't know. I feel like the person inside the beast is alive. I don't feel right killing it." Sothis said, not really understanding herself why she did not want the beast to die.
"It's dangerous if we don't do anything to stop this beast; it can kill thousands, including all of my students." Byleth said as he tightened the hold of his sword.
He heard his sister chime in.
"I don't know if I can confirm it with my help we could defeat this thing without killing it. I don't know why but something tells me it would be wrong. It's alive, it's sentient if we kill this beast we kill the person that's inside." Was she referring to Aelfric? No he had to stop this thing it would kill thousands.
"Your sister is correct; we do not have to kill this beast in front of us when there's an alternative to save it." Sothis said, agreeing with Sonia despite her not being able to hear Sothis.
"If this doesn't work, we will stick to the plan of killing it. Do you hear me?" Byleth said to Sothis. Sothis agreed reluctantly.
Sonia held tightly onto his sword with both of her hands along with Byleth. They ran as fast as their legs would take them; this was it. This blow would finish it, and he would learn the truth, and Sonia would finally get answers.
Their friends, knowing what they're thinking, made sure to distract the beast while they were about to do their blow that would end this battle.
Naruto created thousands of Shadow clones, which caused the beast to strike wildly at them. Sasuke did a fireball jutsu. Claude led the archers with fire arrows
The mages would cast their spells that would freeze the creature in place. The swordsman would strike at the beast's talons; the beast was too distracted and was unable to focus on Byleth and Sonia as they both yelled like a dragon roaring as they struck at the forehead of the dragon. The blade cut through; there was silence, and the dragon dissolved. Expecting to see Aelfric, there was nothing left of him. What he saw was his mother; she was floating in the air, she landed gracefully and slowly on the hard floor. He went towards her, along with Sonia. They heard footsteps, and they saw it was Rhea. He did not know what to do; he did not want to get between his mother and his grandmother. It was getting difficult for him to think of her as that, but that was the reality.
Rhea went on her knees. She ignored her grandchildren and put her hand on her daughter's cheek, not caring how she looked in front of everyone. She lifted her child's face and cried. Even after everything, this child was still her little girl. Nothing had changed. Even in death, she was still her little girl.
"I'm so sorry" Rhea said, sobbing. Tears were falling like a rain cloud; for so long, she had been in pain. No one can understand the depths of her loss. It was one thing to lose her mother and her lover, but this child in front of her was the child that she carried inside of her. The child that made her almost give up with her goals of reviving Sothis. It was not fair. Why did she have to go through this cruelty again? Why? She didn't pay attention as the chalice of beginnings fell to the ground; she didn't care. There was no point, no point at all. It was all for nothing. Thousands of years, and what did she have to show for it? A dead daughter.
She didn't know what to say. They must know her secret by now. What can she say to them? She failed them completely, she failed her mother, she failed her daughter, and her lover.
She held her daughter like she had never held her before when she was alive. She wished she could have held her one last time and told her how much she loved her and how much she meant to her. Why did she have to be so blind?
1,000 years ago the day of the Red canyon massacre
Seiros was singing in her garden that her mother regularly tended to. It was nice and the birds were flying in the sky, and a bird flew at her finger. So peaceful she thought, she wishes this can last forever. Her mother, the tall and beautiful woman that she remembered, had long green hair and pointy ears. She was looking sadly at the Red canyon and the world beyond its borders, the world of humanity.
She saw an object in her mother's hands; it was a chalice. She wondered why she had it.
"It's been 1,000 years since he's died, and the pain still hasn't gone away." said Sothis, thinking about her father, the man that she had never known but her brothers and sisters have only talked about in conversations.
"You could bring him back with that object, why don't you, mother?" asked Seiros.
"You can never know what you have until you lose it" her mother said. Seiros wondered why her mother, who to her was always a goddess, felt like she could do anything. Yet, why couldn't she use this object to bring back her father?
"It's because if I did that, I would lose sight of what I have in front of me. I almost went down that road and almost lost everyone. Had it not been for you, I would have lost myself." her mother said, ashamed of her past actions, which shocked Seiros. She couldn't possibly imagine being in that situation with her love, Anastasia, the other parent of her child that she's now caring for. She couldn't possibly imagine losing her.
"I can't imagine you ever doing such a thing, mother. You're perfect." Seiros said, not believing it.
"I'm far from perfect. I made many mistakes, terrible ones, but bringing you into this world wasn't one of them." the woman said with a sad smile, thinking about everything that she had done. Most of the decisions her mother had made were made long before Seiros was born.
"Humanity would benefit greatly from your guidance, mother. They love and worship you. How can you not consider guiding them?" Seiros asked, not agreeing with her mother's decision to stop guiding humanity.
"Humans are growing up, and the best thing a parent could do is to allow their children to make their own decisions, good and bad. We can't look after them forever. The age of man is coming, and we can't delay it for anything, no matter how much we want to try." Seiros looked at the direction where all of the humans were from—the East, the west, the North, and the South. This was, at one point, her people's domain, but they had retreated to this one place for the past 200 years.
"you are young my dear child the best and worst of humanity I've seen it all and you will one day too but there's one thing I don't want you to forget ever." Seiros looked at her mother wondering what she was thinking?
"Don't forget about the small things. Any small moment that you have with your daughter, don't forget about them. Don't take it for granted. Every moment that we have is precious. We may live long lives, but that doesn't mean we cannot appreciate the small moments. Don't let grief consume you, should the worst ever happen to me. Don't let it dictate your actions. Live for the future, not the past. Please Seiros, don't let grief ever consume you." Sothis looked at her as if it was the last time she would ever speak to her.
She did not get a chance to respond when she heard a cry. She looked and then she saw a man with a sword killing her people.
She was about to come to the aid of her brethren when her mother stopped her.
"No, my child. Leave. Live this child." She rubbed her stomach.
"She is the future of our people. Survive." Sothis went to where her people were. She would never be able to speak to her mother again, because that was the day her mother died by Nemesis's hands.
The tears wouldn't stop dropping the day she lost her mother, the day she lost her lover. This child she's holding, she held her tightly, not caring how she looked in front of everyone. She screamed, "It wasn't fair! It should have been me that died! It should have been me that died in my daughter's place! I should not have outlived my own child!"
She had disappointed her mother. She had done everything her mother would never have wanted. Now, a thousand years for nothing. Her daughter was dead. She felt like she should have died, at least if she had sacrificed her soul, she would have had a second chance. She didn't care how irrational it sounded.
Everyone around here was reluctant to approach her. Her grandchildren knew the truth. What was the point? There was nothing to hide. She felt like a failure. A failure as a lover, a daughter, an archbishop. What had she truly done in the past years? Before her thoughts could wander further, she heard a voice she thought she would never hear again
"Where am I, mother?" she heard a voice she had not heard in 20 years. She felt a heartbeat, she heard breathing. She looked at her child's eyes; her eyes were opened. She had no words to say. A miracle had happened against all odds. A miracle had actually happened. Her child had returned to her.
I wanted to end the chapter in a massive cliffhanger at the end of this chapter, which might seem like a bit of a letdown, but I believe it will make readers want to know what happens next. It's a necessary suspenseful tactic.
I understand that some readers may feel that I rushed the ending of this long arc, which spans over 100,000 words. The first two chapters were challenging for me to write because I was trying to stay too faithful to the source material, limiting my creative freedom. I acknowledge that it would have been easier if I had taken a different approach in this arc, but I believe it was necessary for the progression of the story.
In this arc, I reduced the roles of some characters who were originally prominent in the Cindered Shadows DLC. I focused primarily on Byleth and Sonia (female Byleth) as they were always intended to be the main focus of the arc. The characters from the DLC had their roles reduced due to the large number of characters in this Naruto and Three Houses fanfiction, and sacrifices had to be made for the sake of the story.
Furthermore, I took many liberties with the character of Rhea and other background characters who barely exist in the game itself. Sitri, whose resurrection I planned from the start, is a character I have plans for in the future.
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"Who is the second Flame Emperor? You'll have to read on. The next major arc will focus greatly on family. As of now, the story is 30% complete. This might surprise some people, as the story is already over 400,000 words, but I still have a long way to go."
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Anyway, I do have a few chapters I have completed I will have to edits to wrap up this portion of the story comment and review.