Shattered Songs of Faith

by Sakura108645

Now, one does not expect to wake up in another body when they die. She did not expect to come to such a world that she had only read and played through technology. What's more, that she wakes up as Female Byleth during her childhood days. "Come and see the world in different ways from the River of Time before it all shatters away!" (SI OC) (AU)

100. Chapter 99:The Sands:Part 5:Rebirth

It had been over a millennia since Anacharis dreamed. Nonetheless, it was the same foul dream she had centuries ago. A place surrounded by dust and black fog, water droplets falling as she walked through the murky waters. The scent of iron, musk, and rust, she will never forget it. Skeleton hands clawed at her boots as walked through the waters but none bothered her. The dream always ended with her sitting on a throne made of bones and skulls in victory. Anacharis walked in the murky waters with pride. It was a symbol of her unwavering resolve to end everything and to take everything. The waters, the lands, the blood flowing in every living creature, it all must belong to her.

Anacharis crushed everything as she walked and soon arrived at her throne of skulls. There, like always, was a table with a chessboard. Its pieces were there, they represented her army. Each piece represented a new toy. And she...she was the queen. The most powerful piece in the game that trampled over everything. She smiled proudly as she moved chess piece after chess piece, taking down the other side one by one. The woman smiled as she sat on her throne of skulls, and looked at the chess board in front of her but...

"What the?" She narrowed her eyes as she saw not one, but four of her chess pieces knocked down, "What is this?" She growled.

But suddenly a hand appeared and picked a piece from the other side. They moved it and knocked down another piece. Anacharis was stunned. How?

"That's five down."

Anacharis's blood went cold as she slowly looked up. A smile...a smile from the hand of the owner...a woman...a voice she recognized and never once forgotten. The woman hummed a tune as if she was singing a lullaby to the child as she knocked down another piece. The woman smiled softly as her eyes met Anacharis's own. The Agarthan was trembling and shaking an indescribable rage filled her body. The woman only closed her eyes and spoke.

"I told you...You will never win."

Anacharis unleashed a rageful blood-curdling scream as she lunged at the woman. She summoned her dagger, repeatedly stabbing even if blood splattered but the woman kept smiling no matter how many times she was stabbed.

"DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE!" Anacharis screamed yet all the woman did was raise her arms to cradle her face.

The General froze as the woman's hands touched her and then felt her nails digging into her skin.

"Did you have fun?" The woman said as Anacharis's blood began to drip onto her face, "Still not satisfied?" She said as the general's breathing was becoming ragged by the second, "No matter how much you try to get rid of me, I'll come back."

Anacharis screamed and stabbed the dagger into the woman's heart but she kept smiling.

"La, la, la, la~ La, La, la, la~ Laaaaaaalaa~ Laaaaa~ La~"

Voices began chanting in the dark as the woman rose from the ground and towered over Anacharis. Her teeth chattered, palms sweaty, the woman became huge and now she was in the palm of her hand. With a bloody smile, the woman spoke her final words before the dream ended.

"I told you...I'll always be with you...M—"

- End of Dream -

"Gasp!"

Anacharis's eyes snapped open, her core beating rapidly in her chest as she panted and gasped for air. She gritted her teeth as she sat up, burying her face in her hands as she growled furiously.

"Persophone...Persephone...You...Why are suddenly haunting my dreams?! I made sure to completely obliterate your soul! You shouldn't be appearing in my dreams!" The woman screamed furiously as she got up from her bed.

Something happened...Something has gone wrong. The woman paced back and forth in the room, chewing her nail. The day she killed Persophone, she made sure to destroy not just her body, but her soul as well. This was when Agarthans were natural organic organisms. These days, only the higher-ups are no longer human and possess a core. Agarthans who are trained as soldiers, are made to discard their mortal bodies and put their souls in a core.

In other words, immortality.

After she and Nenemis killed Sothis, as well as the data collected over the years from kidnapping those of the life-long species, experimenting, and researching them, they finally achieved a way to live for eternity. But their version of immortality was a fucken nightmare. They thought they achieved it but all they achieved was their damn race dying that they have to resort to kidnapping and experimentation to create a homunculus. They were nothing but inferior beings. The one called 0059 (Was that his name?), was created from a strand of white hair that was left behind by the Adrestian Prince. It was merged with the blood of multiple different lifelong species creatures but also of another human. Out of 10,000 specimens, only two were successful.

The one now called Castor and his sister, 0060 (Was that her code?): Pollux. Immortal, perfect human, fertile, and powerful individuals. Cleobulus suspected that it was possible that they could have been the second and third Agarthans that could shapeshift without going through the hassle of killing and devouring a soul. It brought nothing but shame to the sages that the first agarthan to be able to shapeshift without the hassle was the half-breed of Cirina. The ability to shapeshift was something the previous generations of Agarthans possessed but that ability completely disappeared by the end of the Sun and Moon War.

It was as if the previous generations of Agarthans laid a curse on them all. They took away their ability to shapeshift. They took away their abilities to produce children. They took away their ability to use the lost arts and knowledge of The World of Steel. A slow and painful process that would happen over the years. The two Outworlders from the past...

"Damn you Xeno..." Anacharis snarled as a memory resurfaced.

Xeno...A genius doctor. Mesuline is a famous fencing athlete. Both form the world of steel.

The only reason they arrived at Fodlan was because of the failed experiment in trying to recreate an Outrealm gate. The damn thing exploded, destroying the island the project was hidden in. Its events were enough to snatch two humans. But near the end of the war, Xeno's final action against them was burning to cinders their entire library. The records and scrolls of the ancient past and that of the world of steel were all lost to the flames. Anacharis remembered just how enraged Thales and Solon were. Everything that was recorded from the past of their technological advancements, was gone.

There are three more Outworlders out there. The one called Arisa, the one called Christian, and she suspects that the third may be that woman called Marianne. Anacharis let out a frustrated growl as she ruffled her hair and then looked at her mirror. The face looking back at her with a cold expression, the very faint remnants of the soul of Princess Claudia. It was as if the princess was haunting her. She chewed her nail once more.

"I need to find Sothis...I need to kill and eat her again." She whispered but...

"It's been long since I've seen you so nervous."

Anacharis's eyes slowly widened as she stopped chewing her nail. She turned, hearing a voice she had not heard in over one thousand five hundred years. A voice she thought she eliminated when she stole the power of their "False God." If Sothis was the God of Time, then the other managed to become The God of Space.

"Seeing you like this, I must say, while I despise that wretched of a beast, seeing you like this...brings me great joy."

"You shouldn't exist." Anacharis thought as she removed her hand, "I swore I got rid of you for good."

"Ah, but that's the thing...you may be a descendent of the First Sage, but you are still a thief who stole power that does not belong to you. You make me sick...[-]..." Anacharis's nostrils flared as she walked up to a mirror and saw a ghostly apparition of a person in white and red.

"You Sages...the ones who I believed would be the saviors of our people, have fallen beyond grace. You have all embraced the idea of senseless slaughter and experimentation. Only a few have remained sane and true to our goal."

"Silence~" the woman sang, her voice unhinged as the apparition smirked.

"Ha! So it's true! You have an infer—-"

BAM!

The woman punched the mirror, her knuckles dripping black as she looked down at the shards of glass on the floor. Yet, the voice only chuckled as they went away.

"Struggle all you want. Phersopne was right...you'll never escape your sins."

"I'll prove you wrong, Epimenides."

- Agartha -

Chilon hammered away at the new pillar of light that was being built. He called it a missel, a name that was as simple compared to the long name Thales gave it. Yet, every weapon he has ever created, a fake smile of pride he wears, he never once felt proud of them. In the days of old, he was a normal citizen, a blacksmith who was recognized by the hire-ups of Agartha. His one and truly proudest weapon he ever created was an axe for the former King of Agartha, Zesus. A sword wielded by Hades, and a triton by Zesu's right hand, Posiadon. Now all of that is lost...

Zesus's axe was now tainted by Anacharis, who used it proudly to slaughter enemies and allies alike. The sword that Hades wielded, was destroyed and then forged by Cirina. Now, the sword is with Cichol, who holds onto it. As for the triton, he was forced to destroy it and used it with Sothis's bones to create The Lance of Nehalennia. They were able to locate it now, it's in Almyra. Chilon let out a breath as he continued to hammer away till he heard the door to his workshop open.

"I'm busy. Wait outside." He said and continued his work till the individual who came in spoke.

"Agartha truly is different from Fodlan."

Chilon's eyes went wide, quickly turned around to see a man with a hood closing the door and locking it. He removed his hood, revealing it was Beleth, shaking his head to fix his hair.

"Beleth! What the hell are you doing here?! No wait, how did you even get in here?!" Chilion said, immediately putting everything down before going up to the knight, "Be grateful I am the one here and not any of the others!" He said as Beleth looked around.

Chilon's works shop had various weapons and materials Beleth had never seen before. There was something within him that wanted to burn the entire place down but the more reasonable part was curious if not fascinated by the place. The room was mostly a strange stone structure with linear markings that glowed a neon green. The scent of sulfur and that strange explosive black-powered scent was everywhere. The giant forge itself was what caught his attention.

"I don't know." Beleth said as his gave became half-lidded as he kept looking around, "I honestly do not know. It's...just a feeling." He said and looked back at Chilon.

"On my way here, I saw the way your people live." Beleth said as he crossed his arms, "You people are far more oppressed than what my mother ever did. I'm currently questioning why you continue to work for Anacharis." He said.

"You don't want to do any of this...do you?"

"Do I hate humans?" Chilon looked at Beleth puzzled, "I wouldn't say hate. Curious would be the better answer." The blacksmith said as he returned to organizing his tools.

"Then what is your reason for hating The Nabeteans? My mother never told me anything other than that we are from the bloodline of The Goddess and that we have dragon blood." He said and Chilon could hear the frustration in his voice.

"Then I'm guessing your mother was also happy you did not inherit the ability to transform into a dragon, correct?" Chilon said, not looking back.

Beleth's silence confirmed it.

"I don't hate your people." Chilon sighed and turned back to the knight, "As a matter of fact, I was originally one of the people who wanted peace." Beleth looked at him shocked.

"Then...why do you serve Anacharis and Thales?" Beleth asked and Chilon smiled bitterly.

"I have a family. I don't want their demise. Thales would lock them up. Anacharis...I don't even want to think about it. But also, to atone for my sins of the past." He muttered, his gaze traveling to the sword on the knight's waist.

"My men and I did not know what the material to make relics was till it was too late. I was just a normal civilian back in the day..."

"Boy, be grateful you did not inherit the burden your cousins did. Despite having Nabatean blood, you are still human. Your family has suffered because of what they are. But that is not to say, the Nabateans aren't innocent either. Oh no!" Chilon wagged his finger, "There is one Nabatean all of us Sages hated specifically. A son of bitch he was. A tyrant! And he is the reason why Bias, the sweet woman she once was, is now a cruel cold woman who is obsessed with resurrecting her daughter." He spat.

"Who was this...tyrant, that you all hated?" Beleth asked and Chilon sighed.

"Everyone just called him Death. He was the ruler of what now is Almyra. A man who people reverted to as a God who was once benevolent but something happened that turned him into a monster. He despised humanity with a passion that The Fell Star had no choice but to take away his ability to turn into a dragon. The punishment is for him to live in a new form, as a human. She took away his kingdom and made it look like he was killed by Jose Gautier." Chilon said as Byleth sat down at some point.

"Even then, Jose Gautier turned out to be the far worse cruel leader of the east. Through him, Anacharis, and Nemeis, we all saw the true depths of the depravity of a human. That was until his own son struck him down 30 years after the War of Heroes. The boy set the country free, took his family, and returned to Fodlan. They settled down in the territory that is theirs now. But it wasn't till 986 that the territory truly became theirs." Chilon said and fully turned to him.

Beleth was silent throughout the entire time. Hearing of what happened to Agartha...he was learning the story of the two sides. That was what...Arisa did. She learned the two sides of stories and even tried to invoke peace between the two. Ultimately, her goal is to end the war between all nations. She knew things she shouldn't. When he first met her, she looked like she recognized him but pretended she didn't. Again...that woman knew much, much, much, more than she let on.

No...

"It's as if she knew everything from the beginning..." Beleth thought and stood up, turning away, "Thank you for the story. I'll be heading back to Adrestia." He said but just when he was going to take a step.

"Here I thought you were going to ask me what an Outworlder is," Chilon said and Beleth froze.

Beleth slightly turned his head before turning around, crossing his arms, and narrowing his eyes.

"Name your price for the information." Beleth said with a small smile and half-lidded eyes, "I have plenty of gold on me."

"Hmm..." Chilon thought for a moment, "You know, your best chance would be with your mother." Beleth raised an eyebrow, "Her blood and the blood of Goddess runs through your veins but you know what else?" He said with a pause, "...An Outworlder's blood. It runs through not just yours but of those who she created before you." Beleth's smirk slowly began to disappear.

"Mesuline The Dragon Knight. Look her up in the archives of Adrestia and The Church of Serios. Or better yet, Abyss."

— Abyss -

Yuri stood silent as he looked up at the ancient statue that was hidden deep within the tunnels of Abyss. Nearly three years and Abyss has flourished into what no one ever expected despite the war. The underground buildings were being repaired, the plumbing was fixed thanks to Chris over the years. They had now clean and hot running water. Crescent with the help of the farmers of Remire village, created an underground greenhouse where food was being grown. Crescent also showed them the tunnel entrances that allowed them to go to fields to safely raise herds and cattle.

Now at the moment, Yuri just sighed. Seeing Abyss flourish brought joy to his heart. The children he would watch over with his people would grow up with full bellies and sleep comfortably. But he was worried about what was going on on the surface. He was contacted by Leonie and told what had happened. Yuri still remembered just how shocked he, Hapi, and Crescent were when they were told the news of Chris taking over three territories and revealing that he was the prince of Adrestia to the world. That he was alive and would be fighting Edelgard. Then, the news that Dedue and Mercedes passed away. Followed by Amir being alive and found, followed by the news that Alexandra was found, and then that Duscur was reclaimed.

News after news, more shocking each time. Yuri looked up at the giant statue, a small frown on his face. It was a statue of Saint Serios, or should he say Rhea. A sigh left his lips as he thought back to his relationship with the archbishop. He worked for her and did plenty of dirty work, she even granted him mercy in exchange for keeping an eye on Aelfric. Who would have thought that the man who showed them kindness had a sick twisted sense of love towards the dead mother of his professor? Yuri looked to the side when he heard a pair of footsteps approaching. He already recognized them his lips curled upward a bit.

"So how's the search, Hapi?" Yuri said and turned to see the orange-red-haired woman who cocked her head.

"This is...going to be a bit of a shock but, I was able to contact my family." Hapi said and Yuri turned, his eyes widening in shock, "I know, shocking." She smiled a bit, "They are okay. They are happy to hear I'm alive. Unfortunately, I won't be able to see them till the war is over." Hapi sighed, then froze, but then remembered she could sigh normally again, "I'm still not used to that."

"It takes a while," Yuri said as he raised his hand and made a few ice shards appear.

They were purple, like his eyes and hair, his gaze half-lidded as he made the crystals spin.

"Like I'm getting used to this," Yuri said as Hapi chuckled a bit.

"Training with Crescent is interesting. But hey," Hapi snapped her fingers to make a few balls of dark magic take form with cute little beady eyes that blinked, "at least we now know how to use the power of our Crest to a certain extent." She said and reached into her pocket.

She took a small pouch with a few jelly candies that Elder Bara made. The little creatures cheered and chirped excitedly as she gave them each a candy.

"So," Yuri crossed his arms, "any information from the little guys?" He asked.

"Well, things have been alright on Chris's end. We should visit when the opportunity arises. The kid is cute from what I hear." Happy hummed, "Unfortunately there hasn't been any news on Balthus."

"He's really gone missing." Yuri muttered, "That isn't like him. Even if he's gone for weeks or months, he always sends a letter to let us know he is okay. The fact that he hasn't concerns me." He said, Hapi nodded in agreement.

"I don't think it's his stepmother." Hapi said as her familiars landed on her shoulders and his, "The woman was stripped of her status and title, and thrown to prison." Yuri blinked, "Oh, I forgot to tell you. Looks like the woman has finally been found out in trying to assassinate Balthus and the people of Kupala. Claude threw her into prison. Her trial was last week. She's been found guilty of not just assassination but treason for selling information to hire assassins to go after Balthus." She said, making Yuri scoffed.

"That just shows you that the snakes you need to worry about are not the ones from the outside but from the ones on the inside." Yuri smirked a bit wearily, "Any word from Castor?"

"Not much." Hapi said as they both turned and started to head back but not before she glanced at the statue, "Would I be in trouble if I blew this thing up?"

"You want Crescent to come after you?"

"...Good point."

[—-]

"I GOT NEWS!"

Crescent nearly had a heart attack when Anderson came in like a wrecking ball. The man had slammed open the door of his office, right in the middle when he was about to take a long sip of coffee. But seeing Indech being here and not in Noa's territory did spark the question of why. Anderson quickly closed the door and made his way to his brother's desk, slamming his hands on the table.

"I found her." Anderson said, "I found Mother's chosen one." Crescent quickly got up.

"You're serious? Please tell me you aren't joking." Crescent said as his brother gave him the stink eye.

"You think I play with this?" Anderson said and Crescent sighed, of course, Indech wouldn't joke about such a thing.

"Where is she then?" Crescent asked as Indech gulped, "Where?"

"The Holy Tomb." Indech said, "But no one can get in. There's some sort of barrier preventing anyone from setting foot in there. Let alone, I managed to catch a glimpse of Crystals. Brother, it's like what Mother did in the past. The girl's body must be encased in magic crystals, healing." Indech sighed and looked away.

"We have no choice but to wait. But with this, at least we know the girl's location. The Empire is hunting her down. They'll kill her if they find her." He said but Crescent was still thinking.

"Have you seen anyone enter the monetary?" Crescent asked but Indech shook his head, "Hmm...You think after three years the Empire would try to at least claim this territory as their own. What's stopping them?" He muttered but even Indech was clueless.

"I think the main reason could be the barrier I had those four set up." Crescent said as Indech arched an eyebrow, "You remember the defense mechanism I created with Noa and the others?" He said.

"How could I not?" Indech said, "You had me and Macuil build the magic formula for it."

"I checked the monastery the other day and looks like not a single soul has been able to break down the doors or even damage the place. The brownies can work in peace keeping the place clean without having to worry about bandits. So, that's good news that our defense system is working. It most likely growing stronger since Amir worked up. And if Alexandra has awakened, it's even stronger now." Crescent said but his lips curled a bit, "Hmm..."

"I need to double-check just to make sure."

- Almyra: Ruins -

"Hya!" Theresa jumped in the air, using the full movements of her arms to swing her scythe with not a hint of remorse towards the Titanus.

It was her first time seeing them up close, Felix was right, it was just a damn piece of metal but the damn thing was still a behemoth. She gritted her teeth as she spotted Myson on the throne.

"Looks like he has mages trying to break the seal on the relics." She thought as she also noticed the mage had not one but five Crest stones floating behind him in a circle.

The red one had the Crest of Gautier. The orange is the Crest of Charon. The Purple the Crest of Glouster. Black one with The Crest of Dusk. Lastly, one with The Crest of Cethleann. She clicked her teeth as she blinked. String-like connections, connecting to every abomination Myson summoned. The Crest Stones he used provided his army with magic, strength, regeneration, and life.

It was clear now seeing the amount of monsters that rose from the ground and the soldiers fighting, Myson was some sort of beast tamer. There was no way he alone could control risen, baels, demonic beast bird, Titanus, Draco Zombies like the back of his hand. The Risen in the world she now lived in, their mask was different, a man's, but hearing the conversation earlier, she wondered if at some point in time, someone from the world of awakening settled in Fodlan.

But she kept thinking back to what the gremory said and then the history of the clans. None of the clans should even exist in The World of Three Houses yet they they did. Theresa saw Inami thrown back and managed to grab her wrist in time before spinning to throw her back at the Draco Zombie. The Seer unleashed the most bloodthirsty scream she had ever heard. Before she knew it, the Draco zombie was decapitated and the Agarthan soldiers that joined them were backing Inami up. The other group was helping Balthus take down another Titanus. It was a sight to behold seeing the faint lining of scales under the man's cheeks as his crest had fully manifested in his eyes, and he ripped off the head of the damn hunk of metal.

"Fight all you want! I have an unlimited amount!" Myson laughed at their demise.

Theresa clicked her teeth as one of Myson's men came at her from behind and she grabbed him by the head. He screamed in agony as she poured ice magic, the ice crystals spreading into his body like a tsunami till he was left a frozen corpse. Her eyes never left Myson as she dropped him and shattered on impact with the ground.

"A few of Myson's men are dead but he's not wavering." Theresa thought and moved to the right just in time to dodge the claws of a demonic beast bird that came her way, "Fucker." She spat and created a giant spear of ice and threw it at it.

It went right through its chest before it turned to dust. The way the battle was going, Myson was at the front with four men behind him and two in the front. Plus there was a barrier preventing anyone from attacking them. On the outside where she and the others were, they were still fighting monsters.

"This map..." She whispered, "Balthus! Inami!" She yelled and the two looked up from where they were fighting, "Are there any crystals in the room with high magic?!" She said.

Inami blinked a few times to look around and Balthus pointed to the far left corner of the throne room and Inami to the right. A Gremory then pointed to the one that was near the entrance of the throne room.

"Those crystals are generating the barrier protecting Myson! We need to get rid of them! Crush them!" She yelled and looked back at Myson with narrowed eyes.

"This damn map...I knew it felt familiar." Theresa thought as she flew down and cut in half a Bael that was about to kill the gremory from earlier, "The Dragon Table..." she whispered.

The Dragon's Table map in Fire Emblem Awakening and Engage, from her personal experience was damn annoying in both games. Chrom and Robin in Engage came at her army like a damn herd of gorillas and nearly wiped her out at it not been for Alfred and Clanne saving her ass. But the fight she was doing right now wasn't a game, it was the real deal. What's more is, the longer it took for her to reach Myson, she could feel a crack in the barrier protecting those relics.

SHATTER!

She looked over quickly to the entrance and saw that the Agarthan soldiers managed to lure a Draco Zombie into slamming into the crystal. Myson let out a string of curses, and the barrier visibly became weaker. The magic in her body, she already feels it's becoming chaotic. Even after so much training, her body still hadn't fully accepted Cirina's power. Her hands and feet, skin blue like the ice of glaciers then turned to normal human skin, it was proof of that. The burning sensation in her lungs, stomach, and everything was screaming for her to stop. But she couldn't, she had to fight.

Myson was right there, right there in front of her. But that was the thing, Myson needed to die but Theresa wanted him alive. She wanted to torture him. Rips his nails, cut his flesh, stabbed needles into his arms, and electrocuted him till he pissed himself. She wants to cut his hair, cut his fingers then reattach them. Make him beg and cry, a whimpering and pathetic mess she wanted to leave him, to make sure to squeeze every ounce of information she could out of him. Theresa was ashamed that she was falling back into her old habits of when she used to live on Earth.

The memories of her going rogue, the inexplicable things she had done to get revenge, all of that was coming back to her mind. Even after she avenged Unique, it never filled the hole in her heart. Perhaps it was her Draconic instincts that she inherited from Cirina that was making her think like that again. Or maybe the agarthan blood. Maybe it wasn't. But right now, she needed to destroy the remaining two crystals to get to Myson. After the barrier was down, the real fight would be against Myson and his men.

As long as Myson had those Crest Stones in his hands, they would never be able to stop the army of monsters he kept summoning. The amount he had, should have drained him a long time ago. Even as an Agarthan, his body should not be able to withstand that much magic drainage. Unless...he had another source of power. If she could at least manage to destroy one crest stone, it would expose that source of power. Deep breaths she took before lunging for the far corner of the hall.

"No, you don't!" Myson yelled and made the Crest Stone of Gautier glow.

The woman gasped and jumped back, seeing Cyclops and a corrupted Berserker rise from the ground. The two monsters roared and charged at her. The Cyclops with an axe in hand and the corrupted was a Mage Cannoneer. With the blast from the cannon, Theresa barely had time to raise her hands to try and stop it upfront.

"GGRRRRRRR!" The force of the cannon dragged her back, if she hadn't had her feet planted firmly, she would have a hole in her stomach.

"Eldritch Blast...It used! Hhrrrrghhh! HYA!" Theresa grunted and then screamed as she managed to throw the blast towards another wave of Risen that rose from the ground.

She panted and gasped, her hands trembling and her skin burned from the heat of the impact. From the corner of her eye, it was so fast, that the Agartha Soldiers went towards the monsters as Inami and Balthus went to the other side to destroy the crystal. The rest of the soldiers joined them.

"Wait, stop!" She yelled but they still fought.

The mages quickly went into formation and formed a barrier protecting them just when the Cyclops slammed his axe down. The barrier caused the impact to bounce back, and then it was followed by a blast from the corrupted cannoneer. The gremory pulled out a sword from her sleeve and poured magic into it before screaming as she managed to cut the blast in half. The two halves flew in different directions and destroyed one of the statues in the throne room.

"Blast all this." Myson cursed and gritted his teeth as he heard the second crystal in the far left corner shatter, the barrier weakened once more.

He watched as the monsters he summoned to the guard the crystal turned to dust but not before the wench grabbed ahold of the cannon, and fired a blast at the barrier. It shook him to the core seeing a crack form.

"Sir!" Mage called out to him, "Barrier around the two relics should be cracking soon! I—Ack!" And black veins suddenly spread all over the mage before he turned to dust.

Myson only clicked his teeth before snapping his neck back to the fight when the third crystal shattered. The barrier was now entirely gone, and Cirina's incarnation... The way she looked at him, the way she held her weapon, even the way the people were standing beside and behind her...it all brought back memories from The War of Heroes! It brought back memories of when the original sages of Agartha stood together, proud, and grateful, the people cheering and worshiping them.

The mage's teeth chattered before he raised his hands once more, making the crest stones behind him glow. Another set of Risen rose from the ground, all he needed to do was delay time. Just enough for the barrier to break and grab ahold of the relics to use against them. Theresa gritted her teeth and raised her left hand. Blue magic and ice crystals swirled before standing beside her were two humanoid female ice puppets with scythes. One the ice was color purple and the other white.

"Go!" She yelled and they all lunged at the sage.

Myson smirked as he balled his hand into a fist and the Crest Stone of Cethleann along with Charon glowed. Black thick roots shot out of the ground before smaller ones shot out of them. They barely even had time to react as Theresa witnessed Myson kill not just her but his soldiers. Balthus slammed his right fist into the ground making a wall do stones rise to protect them. Inami gritted her teeth as she pulled back a few others and Theresa helped Balthus enforce the wall.

"We can't even get near him with all those roots!" Inami yelled.

Theresa licked her lips and looked over to the other side to see her puppets slashing at the roots before grabbing a handful whole their soldiers and retreating. She looked around and her eyes landed on the crest stones Myson was using once more.

"You!" She turned to the gremory, "Those Crest Stones! How is he controlling them all?!" She said and the gremory came closer as another barrage of magic blasts came at them.

"The Stone of Gautier provides magic! The one with Cethleann heals! The one of Glouster appliqués! Charon and Dusk provide defense, stability, and strength!" She yelled.

"Then which one do I need to destroy to make the rest fall?!"

"Crest of Cethleann and Gautier!"

"Myson has connected himself to the dragon veins here! It's why he hasn't moved from his spot! He physically attached himself!" Another mage said, "But there's a limit! He may not look it like right now but he's in in agonizing pain! The only reason he hasn't dropped dead is because of the crest stones and his core!" They said as they looked back at the Sage.

"I need an opening to shoot down those crest stones. But how?" Theresa said.

Myson was releasing wave after wave of monsters and roots. There is already a massacre in the throne room. Dead bodies everywhere and of soldiers remaining...

"We'll create the opening you need." The Gremory said but stopped when Theresa grabbed her wrist.

"If you go out there, you and your people will be killed in an instant! Myson doesn't care!" She said, teeth gritted but the gremory only smiled as she removed her wrist.

"I know." The gremory said as Alexandra looked at her shocked and hurt, "You declare that you would pardon us...was more than enough. You showed what Serios couldn't. You gave us a chance to repent for our sins. That is more than enough." She said and ran out, her people following behind her.

[—]

All her life, the Gremory followed orders.

All her life was standing behind the Sages. Children of Agartha were selected carefully to serve the sages. It would be considered a blessing if you were assigned Myson or Chilon as the ones to serve. Of all the Sages, Chilon was favored by the majority, even by those outside the floor he ruled. He tried to make life easier for the people of Agartha, but unfortunately, he couldn't do more. The one that once ruled Agartha, when news of his death arrived, the people, on his floor were on the verge of celebrating, even the others, till the megaphones on the walls all turned on.

"Good evening everyone."

She never forgot the cold sense of fear that fell onto every citizen of Agartha when a female voice spoke through the megaphones. A deep, alluring, dark, yet sweet-like sugar voice spoke.

"It's been so long since I've been able to talk to anyone like this. This old technology is outdated." The female voice complained, "But enough of that. Thales is dead. Periander left broken. Pittacus left a core. Solon is dead as well. Now, Chilon, Odesse, Cleobulus, and Bias remain. Hmm...Looks like it is time I take the seat of leader once again." Another chuckle from the female voice.

"I guess I should remind you all, who I am. My name is Anacharis, the God Slayer and your new Queen."

"All my life was just following orders...I couldn't even give my sisters, husband, and brother a proper funeral." The Gremory thought as she threw a ball of fire, running towards Myson with the others.

"Orders...Orders...death at every wake."

Another comrade fell and left a husk. Another blast of magic was sent, and her sword cut down the roots that came her way. Even if they cut her, she and her people did not stop. They needed to create an opening for the Girl of Ice. She gasped when a root was about to go through her chest when a shield of ice protected her. She looked behind to see Theresa's hand raised, glowing blue. The blue-red-haired woman nodded firmly, and then the seer and The Apostle's descendent joined as well.

"Look out sons of bitches!" Balthus yelled as jumped again in the air and threw punches at the demonic birds coming his way.

"Leave some!" Inami yelled and raised her hands, "For me!" A blinding green light exploded, causing the monsters to scream and turn to dust.

That was the opening for Theresa to jump in the air, create a lance of ice, and kick it down at Myson. The Agarthan General thought the lance was coming for him but instead watched in horror as it destroyed not just the crest stones of Cethleann and Gautier but Charon as well. It was as if energy was suddenly drained, and blood poured from his lips and glowing green veins spread all over his body.

"Got you," Theresa whispered as Myson screamed in rage as the rest of the crest stone dropped to the ground, and she was close enough to take them away.

They floated in her hands and then she crushed them to pieces. It was a sight to behold to the gremory as she watched despair fall onto Myson's face as the crest stones were reduced to dust. This was it, this was what they needed! They all lunged, weapons raised towards Myson but just happened out of nowhere. Myson was trembling like a shaking leaf before he hugged himself.

"Why..." He looked up to them, his eyes, insane, sending a shiver down their spines, "WHY DO YOU DO THIS?!" and threw his chin up, unleashing a monturous and blood-curdling scream.

Magic exploded from his body, the force was too much, blasting everyone in all directions. The unlucky that was too close, were killed instantly by the blinding light. Those that were the farthest, their backs met the walls and floor, the impact creating creators. Theresa twitched, coughing out blood, yet she forced herself to stand. She looked around, her head spinning along with her vision. Balthus was knocked out...Inami as well... but...

SHUNK!

Another blood-curdling scream, only this time, Theresa witnessed the gremory stab her sword into Myson's chest before a black root shot out of the mage's body and went through the woman's stomach. Yet, the Gremory only screamed with wrath as she pulled out her sword from his chest and slashed his throat before she was thrown away like a ragged doll. Theresa ran and caught her. Her hands were bloody, red, just like a human. A bitter reminder that the Agarthans were once humans like her. She knelt, as the gremory gasped, her hand over the hole in her stomach. They looked at Myson, and yelled for the other Agarthan soldiers to stop but they didn't listen. They lunged at the mage, even if they were getting killed, all to injure him. But the words they screamed, made her heart ache.

"FOR AGARTHA!"

STAB!

"THIS IS FOR MY FAMILY!"

SPLAT!

"FOR FREEDOM!"

STAB!

Freedom.

Choice.

Truth.

Family.

All this bloodshed, now fighting for freedom even if it meant their deaths. Her hand reached out, trembling but the gremory's hand grabbed hers, making her look at them. The gremory smiled, even if now only five Agarthan soldiers remained as they fought Myson.

"We...of Agartha would gladly throw away our lives...For the sake of our people. D-Do not...feel guilt." The gremory gurgled, "It would be an insult to us who have now chosen to fight against those sages." She said that life begins to fade from her eyes.

"Why? Why now?" Theresa said and the gremory touched her cheek, wiping her tears.

"C-Child of the surface...you cry for us...even if we have done unredeemable sins towards your kind...Ah..." The gremory smiled softly.

"...Your name..."

The gremory blinked Theresa repeated the question even if her voice trembled.

"What's your name?"

The gremory smiled sadly, her hand behind to grow cold yet she closed her eyes and said her last words as she died with a warm smile on her face.

"Shelia..."

And with the last scream heard, the final Agartha soldier dropped dead. Myson laughed as Theresa gently placed the woman down.

"You have lost! You have lost!" Myson laughed despite being heavily wounded, "Look around you, you child of the beast! Only you and I stand! Yet I have the power and you are alone! Everyone is dead! You are out of magic! You have lost! LOST!" He laughed but...

"Will you shut up...?"

"Huh?"

Theresa was out of magic. She was bloody, wounded, and cold. Yet...Myson was right there. She couldn't let him win. Even if...she was the last one standing. Even if her relic had reverted to a necklace...Theresa trembled with each step. She saw Balthus knocked out cold. Inami as well. Myson was reaching his limit, blood pouring from his lips and eyes.

"All you ever did was cause pain..." Theresa began as her head hung, "All you ever did was be a selfish bastard..." she growled and Myson threw a ball of fire at her but all she did was raise her hand to deflect it to the side.

"You lost!" The mage roared yet...she kept going towards him, it didn't matter if she felt her ribs broken, her right arm as well.

He kept throwing magic at her, and they hit her but she kept walking till she was in front of a sword. She knelt and picked up a sword...The sword that belongs to the Agarthan Gremory: Shelia, protects her.

"We...of Agartha would gladly throw away our lives...For the sake of our people. D-Do not...feel guilt. It would be an insult to us who have now chosen to fight against those sages. C-Child of the surface...D-Don't let...them win."

She panted and gasped, she wheezed as her hands trembled, but she had to stand. SHE HAD TO STAND!

"Even if..." she raised it and pointed it at him, "Even if there is no ice left in me...Steel!" And she lunged.

"WILL HAVE TO SERVE!"

Myson screamed and forcefully detached himself from the dragon's veins. Then he lunged. He raised his fist and threw a punch, but she jumped back, blood pouring from the cut on the side of her forehead but she slashed. The mage screamed, and she slashed again, and again. He then slashed at her, even if he stabbed his dagger into her left shoulder, she didn't care. She got the opening she needed and grabbed him by the neck, suspending him in the air. Theresa remained silent as Myson trembled in her hand. She had him suspended by the neck, her grip...she wanted to tighten it just a bit more. How satisfying it would be to hear the bone of his neck snap.

But no...

She raised her left hand, making her nails grow longer and sharper before...

STAB!

Myson gurgled as blood dripped onto the sand. The scent of it a long time ago would have made her vomit. The feeling of it, the warm sensation would have made her sick, but not anymore. She brought his face just a tad closer, smiling with a half-lidded gaze.

"Do you remember this sensation?" She whispered, "You did this to Vernata on the day Anacharis fell." She said as she dug her fingers deeper.

"Y-You...b-URK!" Deeper her hand went, "M-Mercy..."

"Mercy?" Theresa her eyes were wide with a grin, "Why would I? I'm going to enjoy torturing you. I'm not going to let you go..." she enjoyed his pained expression as she dragged him through the sand.

"It's been a long time since I've tortured someone..." Theresa threw the man onto the ground as they arrived at the entrance and made the stone doors shut, "Now then..." With each step she took Myson felt as if a dagger was being stabbed into his body.

"My hands in my other life were stained with blood..." she bit the tip of her glove and pulled it off her hand, "Staining my hands with yours is nothing." Her eyes turned to slits as she cocked her head, grinning with a half-lidded gaze.

"I'm going to make you regret everything you have done..." she said and then threw him into an empty room.

Myson tried to crawl but screamed when four spears of ice stabbed through his legs, arms, and stomach, pinning him to the ground.

La, la, la, laaaa...

The sounds of mechanical gears seemed to appear in his ears as each step closer Theresa took, the blue of her skin spread, then turned to scales. Her fingers were long and sharp, scales forming on her cheeks, as the temperature in the room dropped below zero. Ice crystals formed and spread as she was now looming over him. Just the sight of her foot made Myson scream but it sounded broken as ice was now spreading all over his body. She was freezing him alive and Theresa was smiling like a mad woman. He looked up, her he could not see that her nails were dripping with poison as she grabbed his face, and dug them into his skin.

"Time to play."

The world around them suddenly shattered, and Myson was left alone in the dark. He walked, and walked but then he heard a chant.

La, laaaaaaa~ la, la, la, la, laaaaaa~

And then the chant sounded broken and repeated. Myson ran and ran, but no matter where he went, it was always the same. Soon, the light blinded him like the sun, his eyes in agony till the world shook. It shook, and shook, and then he was standing in the stars. But...

"Mhm..."

Myson trembled, stumbling back as now before him, rising from the smoke, was a behemoth of a woman looking down at him with a bored expression. Her crimson eyes...it was as if he was looking not at Cirina but something else entirely. Her crimson blue hair was now decorated with ornaments of white and gold. Pale blue and white scales under the skin of her eyes and cheeks, looking like pearls. Her eyes, slits, her smile, she displayed her fangs with a coy expression. Her hair was long and messy, yet she looked like a demon and a goddess at the same time. She rested her right cheek on her right fist, her elbow on the ground, yet she still smiled like a cruel entity, unlike anything he had ever seen before.

How?

They were just in the other room a few minutes ago. Why is she suddenly a behemoth of a woman looking down at him? She smiled as chains rose from the ground with spikes, wrapping around him like snakes and becoming tighter and tighter. Smoke rose, making his eyes water and then he was screaming in agony but all she did was flick him like a fly, blowing him to pieces. Then she blew and his body repaired back, and again he was chained. She chuckled and repeated the process six times. Each time she doubled the sensation of pain and then repaired his body. She then stopped for a moment and she spoke.

"I am going to squeeze every ounce of information out of you." Theresa said as she once again flicked him and then repaired his body, "How does it feel to have your body torn apart?" She said as his gaze became half-lidded as Myson was now frothing from the mouth.

The way he twitched and gurgled, brought joy to her as she licked her lips. After all, one of the boons of the world she was reborn in, was magic. With magic, she could do mental torture, of any kind. After all, all this was an illusion she created to torture him. To make him feel every single. Bit. Of. Pain. He has caused thousands upon thousands of people over the years.

This was the side of her that she didn't want Arisa, Chris, Amir, or Claude to find out. This was a twisted sick side of her that she developed to survive in her old world. This was a side of her...that was truly a monster. A side of her that was more twisted than Cirina's cruelty.

"Sigh..." she let out a small breath of air as she pinched his left arm between her forefinger and thumb, then crushed it like a bug.

Myson screamed in agony.

"Let's start with the first question," she leaned back a bit, "How did Mesuline and Xeno arrive in this world?"

"I'm not...answering y—GAHHH!" Her smile grew as she ripped off his other arm.

"Say that again and..." Suddenly a cold hand was on his face and her voice right next to his ear, "I'll cut your dick off." Her finger traced his jawline as she was now back to human size and in front of him.

Black shadows covered her body completely as she had a horsewhip in her hand.

SNAP!

Myson screamed in agony as he was whipped from behind and then suddenly she was behind him, her whip became long, wrapping around his neck as she pulled him back. Theresa was panting and gasping, her face flushed as now her agarthan and draconic instincts were fully taking over as she smiled like a mad woman.

"I'm going to enjoy making breaking you! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!" She burst out laughing and began to whip him again and again, each slash cutting his flesh.

Myson screamed in terror.

What felt like years of torture was only five minutes.

[—-]

At some point, Balthus woke up. His head hurt, everything did but he got up, his eyesight cleared. What he saw immediately made him run to the side and vomit. The entire place was covered in blood, and bodies were everywhere. He coughed and panted, wiping his lips, limping as he walked to look around. Balthus just couldn't believe it.

"Alex?!" He called out but no response, "Inami!" He yelled and walked.

Broken statues, the flowers from earlier crushed, bodies of Agarthans all around, and the gremory from before, dead but with a smile on her face. Balthus turned, hearing something shattered, and looked to where the throne was. There, dropping to the ground were the two relics Myson was trying to get a hold of. But now, no one will. He gulped and kept walking till he ran and found Inami. He ran to her, he found her slumped next to a pillar. He checked her pulse by placing two fingers on her neck, breathing out relieved to feel she was alive. The woman's finger twitched before she woke up in a violent cough.

"Easy there! Easy there!" Balthus said as the woman coughed and was thankful he had his canteen of water with him still.

He uncorked it and handed it to her. She took a swing, swished the water then spit it out, getting rid of the taste of blood.

"W-What happened? The last memory I have is...Myson exploding with magic." Inami croaked as Balthus helped her stand up.

She looked around and saw the bodies but no Theresa. That was until they looked at the entrance doors and saw them frozen solid.

"What the hell happened?" Balthus whispered and then the ice on the door shattered, allowing it to creek open.

The two looked at each other and used each other as support as they made their way to the door. They walked and walked till they found a trail of ice that led them to an empty room. There, they were careful and peeked in. Inami and Balthus were just stunned seeing Myson on the ground, frozen solid and crucified. Theresa with her head slumped as she at on the ground. Her eyelids twitched then her eyes snapped open. She smiled and stood up, walked over to Myson, and placed her index finger on her chin, her eyes became slits.

"Thank you, Myson~" The woman sang, "See what happens when you listen?" She giggled and stomped her feet twice.

His frozen body cracked and cracked before shattering to dust. Only His core remains. She smiled as she looked down to the core, twitching, mumbling, and then...

"Rot in hell."

CRUSH!

The world became still instant as she panted, removing her foot to see the metal core crush to pieces. She stared at it and started before her body started shaking. Her hands trembled as she raised them, looking at them.

"Hehe...Hehehe..." her giggle began and slowly it transformed into a laughing fit before to full-blown laughter of madness.

She laughed and laughed. Inami and Balthus are too stunned or afraid to move. She laughed and laughed then it began a mixture of sobs and wails before she fell to her knees, clutching her head. Theresa screamed and screamed, she didn't give a damn at that point. All she wanted to do was scream and cry her heart out like a child. Myson was dead, and once again she subconsciously sought revenge.

Once again, that revenge did not fill the hole in her heart. Instead, it brought out the most disgusting part of her. She screamed and wailed, everything she learned extracted out of Myson, now she knew the truth.

The truth of why her family was killed.

The truth of how Mesuline and Xeno, came to this world.

The truth of Anacharis,

The sins Myson has done.

And there was so, so much more, the illusion of torturing Myson to get every bit of information, that time that felt like an eternity allowed her to process but not release the emotions she felt. As she screamed and the tears streamed down her cheeks, she could not see the looks of worry from Balthus and Inami. Time always ran differently in magic but right now, all she wanted was peace. At that moment, her head began to spin and she fell to the ground. Balthus and Inami ran to her, calling her name. But she closed her eyes, her eyes turning blank before falling into a deep sleep.

— Dream —

In the darkness she sank, hugging her knees.

The coldness brought her pain in her old world, in the new world she was reborn in, it brought her comfort.

Now again, the coldness brought her pain. Theresa felt filthy.

"What's wrong with being angry?"

A female voice spoke in the darkness.

"What's wrong with being a sinner?"

Theresa's eyes opened slowly and floating in front of her was a glowing silhouette of a woman. The woman leaned back and crossed her legs, smiling.

"A pity you weren't born as a faerie. You would have fit right in with my people. But destiny chose not to." She floated forward and carefully uncurled Theresa, "There is no need to be ashamed of what you have done to Myson. Every bit of agony he caused, you made him experience it over 100 times worse." She said but Theresa's eyes were still lifeless.

"Come now, why are you so gloomy?" The woman said and Theresa looked away as she hugged herself.

"I became a monster in that moment. Crueler than a god." Theresa said and the woman scoffed as she distanced herself a bit before crossing herself.

"Humans have always been crueler than any beings in the universe. They have done some of the most horrible things in the world. Sins, lust, every single thing of depravity." The woman giggled and Theresa finally noticed her pointed ears, "So don't be ashamed. After all, who says love is a sin? Love is the most beautiful and destructive emotion in the world. It can cure, protect, destroy, corrupt and the list goes on. You tortured Myson out of love for your people. I would have done the same in your place. Many would have." She said and began to float away.

"Now wake up. I looked forward to talking. The time of rebirth is near. Pick up the relics and raise them high! I shall answer you from the heaven above and under!"

- End of Dream -

"Alexandra..."

"Alexandra!"

Theresa's eyes snapped open, her vision clear as she saw Inami and Balthus looking down at her relieved.

"Of thank goodness, you're okay!" Inami breathed out, relieved as she helped her sit up, "How are you feeling?" Balthus asked.

"Like I need to jump into the ocean," Theresa said and the three just slumped, they needed a damn long break after everything they have gone through.

"I swear..." Inami whispered, "I thought we were all going to die..." she said.

"I think that's the first time in my life I have been scared of death..." Balthus said and Theresa nodded.

"Is it...over?" Inami asked but Theresa shook her head.

The three stood up and looked towards the giant three. Its roots and veins are purple yet clean at the same time. They walked towards the throne, Theresa told them to stay put as she climbed up the stairs. She arrived at the throne, seeing up close, it looked like it was made of pure gold, never rusting but was dirty with mud and dust. It's jewels, some had come off because of the battle. But that wasn't what she was here for. She looked behind and there were the relics. The Arrow of Indra, a longated lance in a thin cone shape, never rusting and hiding its color but she could hear the faint sound of gears. And next to it, she felt her crest react, was the lance made from Sothis's arm. The Lance of Nehalennia's shape was a long pole, with a deep dark blue gem the size of a small bowling ball that was craved like an arrowhead, with wing-like bones encasing it and then part of it fanned out like ribbons. She knelt and picked up the two relics.

"Alexandra, what are you doing?" Inami said as the woman remained still holding the two relics.

"While I was asleep...I had a dream." Theresa began as the ice began to form under her feet, "In that dream, a voice told me to raise the relics high." She said and turned back to the tree, looking up at it.

Her eyes narrowed at it, watching its leaves sway gently despite there being no breeze. She took a deep breath before she closed her eyes and her eyes snapped open, turning to slits with her crest. Ice magic exploded from her body, as they stepped back. Theresa screamed as her magic poured into the relics, and they began to glow brightly. She then slammed them into the ground with all her might. Blue glowing veins burst out of the relics and into the ground swarming to the tree. A magic circle appeared a few feet from her, the a glowing opening formed on the tree. She removed the relics, Balthus and Inami joining her.

"What did you do?" Balthus asked as Theresa swayed a bit but spoke...

"The answers to this place...what happened 800 years ago, are there." Theresa pointed the staff to the tree entrance, "Let's go. This is...our final mission." She said for the trio nodded firmly as they walked into the light.

- Ethereal Moon -

Months have passed since the disappearance of Alexandra. A battle between the Empire and Alliance took place in the fields of Bergliez. Though victory was close to the Alliance's grasp, an unexpected incursion from Almyra forced Claude and the Alliance army to retreat. Driven by revenge, Almyra invades with a far larger battalion led by none other than Prince Shahid. The Alliance hangs on by a thread, but Claude has another plan up his sleeve.

But that plan...will change.

[—]

Claude gritted his teeth as he and the others arrived just on time at the border before the fighting picked up. Everyone was there, unfortunately, Flayn and Seteth could not join them. They were back at the kingdom, same with Rensen. They were in the fields, defending their lands from the Empire. Edelgard decided to strike and everyone was forced to fight. They were already tired but with now Almyra's sudden invasion...

"The fact that a new enemy had come..." Claude gritted his teeth as he used the telescope Arisa gifted him to look far, "Damn!" He cursed and gave it to Lorenz to look through.

It was then passed on to Hilda and lastly Shez.

"I always thought Almyra would attack but I never predicted they'd pull an army this big," Claude said as the telescope kept being passed around.

"Dammit! Why did Edelgard have to choose the worst time to attack us?!" Hilda whined, "Well, I'm pretty sure by now they got the news that the Almyran Army has attacked. That'll keep her away for a while." She huffed, crossing her arms.

"I don't think there was a way to avoid this..." Marianne mumbled as she raised her hand, and a few doves landed.

They cooed and she nodded, then let them fly away.

"What did they say?" Ignatz asked.

"Looks like many of the Almyran soldiers are malnourished," Marianne said, a bead of sweat going down everyone's cheeks.

"That's not good." Raphael said, "Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we got a bit of an upper hand but...why would the Almyran army suddenly invade if they aren't in good shape?" He said.

"Hmm..." Leonie hummed, "Wait, Claude." Claude turned his head towards her, "Didn't you say that there was a prince that led the Almyran Amry last time?" He nodded, "Welp, there's our answer. A stupid prince wants revenge for the beatdown we gave him three years ago."

Claude couldn't help but snort.

"So Shahid is back..." Claude thought as he was handed back his telescope and looked through it.

Sure enough, Shahid was there, leading the army.

"The fool." Lorenz scoffed, "But thanks to the support of Margrave Edmund, we have had plenty of time for provisions. There is no reason we should not be able to fight effectively." He said as the others nodded.

"That doesn't change the fact that messing up now could mean the end of the Alliance. All because of my miscalculation." Claude frowned but Shez spoke up.

"Come on," Shez said, "we always dump all the tough planning on you. You've been busy everywhere and still trying to find Alex. We've got nothing but appreciation for the work you do Claude. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't. What matters is that we made it here in time." He said as the others nodded.

"That's what counts, right?" Leonie smiled a bit, "Come on Claude, let's get moving."

"You're right." Claude said and looked intensely forward to the horizon where they could see the Almyran army coming, "Sounds like I'm the one who needs to get his head on straight. OK! Time to put all that behind us and focus on driving back the invasion!" He yelled and the army cheered.

Shez nodded and right when he was about to take a step...

BUBUMP!

"Shez..."

Shez suddenly went into a violent coughing fit, making everyone run toward him. The man clutched his chest tightly, feeling as if something was trying to force a connection with him.

"Shez! Shez!" He could hear Hilda calling out to him as well as the others but for a moment, it felt like time froze, and above him, floated someone he hadn't seen in a long, long, time.

"A-Arval..." Shez choked as the ghostly figure looked down at him and spoke a sentence before he disappeared.

"The spider is here."

"Shez!"

"GASP!" Shez gasped, taking a big gulp of air before looking around him.

Everyone was looking at him worried and helped him stand up before he suddenly grabbed Claude but the shoulders. Shez was trembling, but he needed to let the group know.

"I-I...I think my powers just revealed something to me." He said, "We need to watch our backs. Anacharis is here at the border." He said.

It felt like was suddenly poured on everyone when he said those words. Claude gritted his teeth and grabbed the mercenary shoulders tightly.

"We're going to win. We're not letting her win this time!"

[—]

Anacharis had a bored expression on her face as she watched from afar the foolish Almyran prince brag about his army.

"The fool doesn't even know how to manage it. And the other is already considering leaving him." She thought as she watched Shahid, talk, and talk, brag and brag, about the army.

Half the army was malnourished. The other half is sick. There weren't enough weapons and everything was disorganized. Yet, that was what was fun about seeing cocky and arrogant humans. She lets them have their fun before she jumps in and ruins it all.

"Anyhow," she kept throwing and catching a crest stone in her hands as she watched on the other side Reigan boy and—?!

Her movements came to an abrupt halt once she caught sight of the purple-haired mercenary next to Claude. Anacharis's eye twitched before she let out a predictor growl.

"Kamal...I swore we had you and those children you kidnapped killed!" She growled, "Episious descents...they live!" And right when she was about to walk away, she paused and looked over to Shahid.

She stared and stared till a smile formed on her face as she once again began bouncing the Crest stone in her hand.

"Right...I don't have to be the one to kill the Reigan boy. Why not have him do it? Have him kill Edipides descent as well?" She chuckled, "If the purple boy dies, I'll fully be able to have control of Epimenides's power."

She'll wait for the perfect opportunity to jump into the battle.

[—]

"My lord." Holst said as he walked up to Claude, "We are ready to intercept the attackers and await your signal."

"Thank you, Holst." Claude said and turned to the army with him and Shez, "LISTEN UP, EVERYONE!" The man boomed and the soldiers went silent, "The enemy may have an advantage in size, but they are more than a disorganized mob! We can defeat them. No, we will defeat them," the army cheered then quiet again, "DRIVE THEM BACK TODAY, AND WE'LL TOAST OUR VICTORY TONIGHT! CHARGE!" He roared and the army cheered then charged.

Claude nodded and went to his wyvern, and mounted them. Failnaught in his hands. As he took off in the air, he spotted Edward, Gregory, Tharja, and Manuela joining as well. Beside them, was a black-haired mercenary who was recently hired, a wolf knight.

"The battle..." Claude whispered, "We have to win...we have to."

Yet Claude felt that something was going to happen in this battle that would change everything.

[—]

Walking through the bright door, Theresa thought she had stepped into another world when the light faded away. All around them was a beautiful forest, green, just so green, shades of flower as far as the eye could see. The air was so clean, the moisture in the air, and the beautiful golden sunset. They were all just stunned as they kept walking for a while, the forest seemed to never end till they reached a tree at the very center—a beautiful crystal tree.

"Welcome, my descendant and my friend's. Welcome, Descendant of The Apostle. And Welcome, Cirina's incarnation. I have been waiting for you for a long, long, time."

The wind began to blow and swirl towards the tree. Light began to take form and at a tree branch, the form of a beautiful woman with long cream-colored hair, tan skin, pointed ears, and-?!

"COVER HIS EYES!" Inami screeched and both women slapped their hands over Balthus's eyes, as the woman on the branch giggled.

Yet, her long and beautiful cream-colored hair covered her naked body.

"There is no shame to see the beauty of this body." The woman chuckled as she floated down, she was the same height as Tiana. She landed gracefully on a flower, her arms spread out, presenting herself in glory.

"Yeah no, I'm not risking that," Balthus said but the woman hummed and said fine.

"You..," Theresa spoke, "You're the voice in my dream." She said as the woman giggled and nodded, "Who...are you?"

"I guess I should introduce myself." The woman said as she leaned back, crossed her legs, and smiled.

"My name is Melinoe, but you all know me as The Pari Queen and the first queen of Almyra, but I prefer to go by my human name, Tanya. " Tanya said with a smile, with a half-lidded gaze.

At that moment, it was as if a sudden force made the three bow respectfully to the woman but all the Queen did was chuckle and wave her hand for them to rise.

"I never thought my right hand's descendents would marry one of my own. Funny how fate works." The queen smiled sadly as Balthus gulped, and avoiding eye contact, his ears turning red, "And you look so much like your grandfather that founded Kupala. And you," she turned to look at Theresa, "Your body was born to this world, yet your soul is that of an Outworlder. Your heart is like a pure flower born from sin. But you already know that, don't you?" Tanya said as Theresa smiled bitterly, looking to the ground.

"We're..." she shook her head, making the queen quint her eyes, "we are not here to talk about me."

"I beg the differ." The Queen suddenly said boldly, "You may not be here to speak of yourself but all those who come to my domain, will be made to speak. We will talk about you. We will talk about everything. But we shall put it to a halt for just a moment, for everyone here wishes to know the truth." She stood up once more and raised her hand.

"Today, you all shall know the truth of your blood!"

Light exploded from her body and around them, the world changed to a desert. But Theresa recognized the place immediately. They were in Fodlan's Throat. But there standing at the border, was the man she saw from her previous dream. He wore a brown hood covering his body, and on his left side stood two smaller figures, young boys, and on his right, was the little girl. On his back were strapped two relics. But with them also stood a woman with pale blue hair, and she wore a pure white dress. She looked like Xina. A man, who was the spitting image of Ashe, if he was much older. The two looked at the hooded man sadly. Yet, Theresa knew who they were because of Cirina's memories. The blue-haired woman was Ui and the man was Baldr. As for the hooded man and children, they were Hades, his son, the other boy was Vernata's son, and the girl was his daughter.

"I'm surprised you managed to grab two." Ui said as she pointed to the relics on Hade's back, "I can already see it over a mile away. Serios screams like a little girl in rage seeing that the lances are gone. And the arrow as well." She chuckled.

"Serios may be Sothis's daughter but no way would I entrust a single relic to her. That woman is obsessed with the arts of resurrection. I made sure to burn as many books as I could. But not sure I got everything." Hades sighed and looked at the two.

"I'm doing what I promised Sothis. As long as Serios does not have every part of Sothis's body, she can not be resurrected. And if the worst case scenario, I've been granted permission to destroy her body." Hades sighed and looked up to the sky, "I'll be back one day. That's a promise."

"You better be." Baldr said and knelt, "Alright kids, make sure to teach that old man yours a lesson if he does something stupid." He said as the kids took off their hoods and had their hair ruffled.

"We will!" Tanya said with a grin as the two boys nodded.

50 years before the first United Kingdom of Almyra was built, it had been 20 years since the War of Heroes ended. The man of white, Hades, was my father. The young boy with hair like his was my brother, and the boy with purple hair, was my friend, future king of Almyra's, and my husband, Delka. We left Fodlan and went east, all to no longer be in the land that forsaken Cirina and twisted Sothis's teachings. To the east, we traveled and soon settled in a small village. There, we lived our lives peacefully for 20 years.

During those years, we traveled around the East, teaching and sharing our wisdom with humans and non-humans alike. The people of the land, though we have seen. Sin. Depravity. Death. Plagues. But we also the beauty of the land. Life. Love. Growth. Faith.

"I have been here since the founding of my nation." The distorted voice of Tanya said as she sat on a tree branch, "For many years, watching as time went by. This ancient nation was once where my husband and I all settled. Be built it to the ground up using my knowledge of magical mechanics. It was a beautiful nation..." Tanya sighed.

"What happened?" Alexandra asked as the Faerie spirit smiled bitterly.

"A cataclysm. It was 200 years after the War of Heroes. Our home was thriving. This place was once filled with life. Ah...the djinn, pari, and humans and non-humans all lived in peace till...The Fell Dragon came..." she said and Alexandra froze.

"As in...Grima?" Alexandra said and Tanya shook her head.

"No. This was a fell dragon created by a banished agarthan. He had fallen madly in love with a Nabatean woman, who also loved him. But she was killed by the Sage, Myson. The one you tortured. Anger and grief consumed the man and he made it his mission to resurrect her. I believe you know of the mage known of Forneus ." Tanya said and Alexandra gulped but nodded, "It was that. But unlike Grima, this creation grew rapidly. No one saw it coming. No one. It caught everyone off guard."

Another sigh left her lips.

"Who is Grima?" Inami asked, "I'll tell you later." Alexandra whispered to her and Balthus.

"We all fought. All the tribes, of Almyra United, fought against the fell dragon. It wept and cried, then screamed saying it would take revenge on the world. We fought the fell dragon for 40 days and nights. The corrupted energy destroyed the ecological area of this place. In the end, I gave my life and destroyed the fell dragon, putting her soul to peace." Tanya gently patted the tree trunk, "This tree is me. When we dragons die, we return to nature, waiting for the day we may be reborn. When we die, our soul goes back to the edge of the world. That is the belief of the faeries. Oh, the field of roses is white as snow and lies blue like droplets of dew. I hope my children and husband are happy at the edge of the world." She said with a sad smile.

"To prevent the corruption from spreading I told my husband, children, and grandchildren to take the survivors of our nation, 500 of them, and leave. I used the last of my power to seal away the corruption of the fell dragon right here. The result is this tree. It would take 800 years to cleanse the dragon's vines. What is now the kingdom of Almyra, is where my family and people left. My brother's family as well. He too died in fighting the fell dragon. We both gave our lives."

"But I know what is going on..." Tanya said as tears fell from her eyes, "To think my descendants betrayed my brother's descendants. His children were falsely accused and slathered by my children. It is as if I betrayed him. But one lives...and she became what my father feared. If he were here, he would be devastated to see what had happened to them." She said with a sigh.

"Our father is named Hades. He was originally a Sage of Agartha along with our mother, she was named Persephone. They had me and my brother. One day our home was suddenly under attack. Anacharis declared that every one of our houses was to be executed. My brother and I barely managed to escape along with our mother's sister. We fled Agartha with Lady Zuna and her brother, Erik. We were granted asylum by Sothis. When we told her what happened to our father and mother, it was the first time all of Nabetea saw her furious. Our parents were her close friends. They were working with her to put an end to the war. But now that she learned that their friend, Anacharis, was the one that killed and betrayed them and instigated the war, Sothis snapped." She said and a bead of sweat ran down Theresa's cheek.

"I'm sure you already know the rest. Agartha failed to listen and kept the war going. With the final warning ignored, Sothis brought down the apocalypse on Agartha and wiped them off the face of the earth. What was once the old Agartha is now Dadga and Brigid."

"What the fuck..."

"I shall ignore your cursing." Tanya said, "After Sothis's death, 10 years passed and Serios had finally gathered her army. And soon, the unexpected happened. In the middle of a battle against Nemesis in what today is known as the border of The Kingdom and Pmpire, the earth split, and blue flames burst from the ground. From these, dragons unlike anything anyone had ever seen came out, their bodies like gems. And the one leading them was our father. He...was changed." Tanya whispered.

"His body was of black armor and his arms were blue and translucent, you could see his bones. His eyes which were once full of life and joy were void of emotions and red like blood. Dark circles under his eyes as he ordered his army of unknown dragons and forced Nenemis and the sages to retreat. When that battle was over, he introduced himself and saw us..."

"I remember crying out Papa...and when he saw me and my brother. Life returned to his eyes as we ran and jumped into his arms. Even if he was cold as ice, we didn't care. We hugged him, crying our hearts out to see our father returned and alive. He told us what happened. That Anacharis overthrew the old Agartha council and had them all executed. That she was the one that killed our mother. That she was the one that sent him falling into the underworld, Hel. For him in that world, it had been 2,000 years."

"He told us of his journey throughout the realm of the dead. He told us how he met many heroes from different worlds. He told us how he desperately searched for a way to the surface. The Sovereign of Death noticed his will and made him a deal. If he returned to the surface, he must bring him the one who keeps evading death, Anacharis. His will, anger, hatred, even in death, that flame burned. So she blessed him and granted him a portion of her power. She turned him into a guardian of the underworld, The Hel Dragon. To prove his strength. He fought other Hel dragons and rose to the top, becoming the king of the Hel dragons. He had now become powerful enough to come to the surface. His goal is to aid us in defeating Anacharis."

"But then he learned what Serios had become and what she did to Cirina. Not to mention her blunt discrimination against outsiders and Agarthans. This caused Father to declare publicly that he would become Cirina's fourth general. Cirina was originally supposed to become the Queen of The North. The North had become her home. The North became her hope because it was where her father would rest. It was where she was born. During the war, it was taken over by Nemesis. Father did everything...The War of Heroes was only becoming bloodier."

"My husband was a half-human, half-faerie. His parents were killed at the turning point of the war beside Mesuline. And then the war continued, and Cirina fell at the hands of Serios blackmail and Roman's betrayal. But...Roman did not betray Cirina." She said and Alexandra froze.

"He...didn't betray her?"

"No. I knew how much Roman loved Cirina. He would do anything for her. But once again, it all came down to what road." Tanya said and moved to float away from the tree and down, "Anacharis is a cruel woman who knows no bounds. She has done every despicable and horrific thing you can imagine and she is proud of it. It is why her ego was so hurt when Cirina destroyed her original body. No one but Sothis had ever come close to even laying a finger on her. That woman sees herself as something beyond a god."

"Just what is Anacharis?"

"I don't know...all I know is that she is something beyond our understanding." Tanya said and stopped in front of her, "Back to my father, after he brought my brother, and husband here, he helped us rebuild. Soon, he left and returned to Fodlan." A small sigh left her lips, "A survivor…There is a survivor of House Illac out there. They should be able to become a dragon yet…they did."

"When we left, Father sealed away our abilities to become dragons. Yet we still had the power to control the flames of hell. The royal family and house Illac are distant relatives. Now, only one remains of house Illac. They gave up their humanity to change fate, her rage towards us and love to protect, and the traumatic conditions they went through along with Sothal in their system. All of these factors created the perfect conditions for the birth of a new crest. The birth of a new Hel Dragon." Tanya said as Theresa was just...too stunned to move.

Who was this survivor?

"It's your turn to lay the price." Tanya's cold voice suddenly brought her back to reality and looked up.

The faerie spirit let out a breath, and waved her hand, sending Balthus and Inami away. Now only she and her remained. Tanya let out another breath before she spoke, looking at Theresa with a half-lidded gaze.

"You and friends...the other outworlders, have broken so many laws of fate and destiny. Not to also mention time." Tanya said, "Each world has a path set, yet you three changed it." She raised her hands and created a projection of a tree with many branches and roots.

"The one called Florencio," She said as she looked at one specific tree branch, "The people of Remire were supposed to die and become monsters, but Florencio chose to pay the price." She looked back at Alexandra.

"Theresa of the World of Steel, today I called you to this spiritual world as a witness of the sins you and your friends have committed." She said, "I am no judge. For I am merely one of the many guardians of this world...but you and your friends have changed too much. And you will continue. The first sin, committed by Arisa, saves the lives of Glenn, Sadi, Zander, and Kuza. These people should have died on the day of the Tragedy of Duscur." She said.

"There are far too many to speak of. You all together broke so many rules of The Law of Cycles. If any of the gods that used to walk this world were alive, you would all have received divine punishment. But," she closed her eyes and opened one to look at her, "it seems you made a deal with a god."

"Huh?" At that moment, Theresa and Alexandra became one again, "Do you mean Sothis? She saved my life and even shared a bit of her power with me. I and my friends made a promise to protect this world after all." She said but Tanya shook her head.

"No. Not grandmother. It seems like another god has blessed you." Tanya said as she narrowed her eyes to look at her.

There was...some sort of invisible chain wrapped around Alexandra's body but another that made sure Theresa's soul was anchored to this world. She took a glimpse into the woman's memories and saw the same chains on Arisa and Chris. Whoever the god that Theresa made a deal with, made sure that she would become part of this world. When the chains break, it would mean that all three are officially part of this world and eventually they would forget their old one. However, only a selected group of individuals from their old world they would never forget.

That was the thing...the chains didn't just extend to those three, they extended beyond the stars. Tanya closed her eyes and held out her hand to feel the chains. It was connected to eight other individuals who were in different worlds. The chains may be spread out but at some point in time, she could see a reunion between all of them. Back to the topic, Tanya asked herself just who is the god? However, she had a feeling if she even dared to make Theresa remember who it was, she would be punished gravely. That God was waiting for Theresa to remember on her own.

"Unfortunately I can't tell you who. It's by law that I can't meddle in another god's affairs." Tanya sighed, "From here on out, you must remember on your own."

Theresa gritted her teeth as she looked to the ground. She had no memory of ever encountering a divine being other than Sothis, Rhea, Seteth, Flayn, Emily, and Hai. Just who did she make a deal with? Just what did she do?

"Cough!" The woman suddenly coughed into her hand and noticed the blood droplets, "Oh..." she finally felt the adrenaline and exhaustion in her body come, "I...I think I pushed my body too much...I...I...feel..." blood was now pouring from her eyes, "I'm a dead woman, aren't I?"

"You would be...if I wasn't here." Tanya said, "You wish to change the course of fate once more. Your body has reached its limit. Your relics are on the verge of shattering from using them so much in the fight earlier. The lance you picked up, is made of Sothis's bones," the faerie spirit said and stood up.

"Tell me, if you were allowed to be reborn, would you take it?" Tanya asked as she floated to her.

"What do you mean, reborn?" Theresa said as Tanya smiled sadly.

"Your body," she pointed to the woman's heart, "is soon to breathe its last. Cirina may have given you her power but your body is too weak. Anacharis's killing triggered your memories to return. You will die if you step out of this realm." She said as it all began to sink into Theresa, "But, as I said, for all the sins you have committed to change the course of time and fate, you must pay the price." She said and floated behind her.

"Cast away your old body. Rid of the old and be reborn once more. A dance of death. Release yourself from the mortal body you were within this world." she said and waved her hand once more, "Tell me young girl, you who has lived in Cirina's shadow for so long, now free from the shackles of grief and revenge of the one who cursed her bloodline, will you step into the forge as The Flames of Judgement burn or will you turn the other way?" She said as Theresa looked around.

Suddenly they were in what looked like an abandoned giant forge room. But the forge itself was huge, the ones she would see in factories where they could have hundreds of products to be done in one go. Rusted and dusty the place was but also Inami and Balthus were there.

"I'm keeping you alive at the moment," Tanya said as the two older adults ran to Theresa.

"Oh thank the heavens! You're okay!" Inami said, "Lady Tanya waved her hand we were suddenly here." Balthus said as the tree turned to the faerie spirit.

"Well," Tanya said, "What's your choice?"

"Wait, what's going on?" Balthus said, "What did she mean your choice?" He said as Theresa took a deep breath.

"The only reason I'm standing right now is because Lady Tanya is keeping me alive." Theresa said as they looked at her shocked, "Looks like...my body has reached its limit. My body...can't handle the power I inherited from Cirina." She said as Inami looked like she was to burst into tears.

"But..." Theresa let out a shuttered breath as she put her hands together, they were shaking, "I... I understand now. I understand that it's my turn to pay the price. That's it's my turn to pay the price for changing the course of fate and destiny." She said and Inami understood.

"I don't understand. What do you mean to pay the price?! Are you saying you intend to sacrifice yourself?! Hell no! No way in hell am I going to let that happen! I'll never be able to forgive myself if something happened to you!" Balthus said angrily as Theresa smiled sadly.

"This is not your decision to make." Tanya suddenly spoke with a cold authority, "This is hers and hers alone. Do not. Interfere."

Another deep breath Theresa took before she handed The Arrow of Indra to Inami but she remained with the Lance of Nehalennia. Truthfully, she was scared. The child within her was telling her to run away and never look back. Her teenage self screamed to take revenge and Alexandra was telling her she just wanted peace. And she as Theresa, wanted to live. Theresa had a strange feeling that she didn't end up in this world just because. It was most likely the god she supposedly made a deal with who brought her here. Then, as one of the people who committed so many sins to change the course of time, fate, and destiny, it was now her turn. Florencio paid the first, Sandana the second, and now it was her turn.

With a wave of her hand, Tanya made the rusted giant furnace boom with fire and spring to life.

"Prove your strength and resolve. Walk into the flames of judgment and forge a new weapon. If you truly wish to grow, forge the weapon of your heart and soul as the flames judge you."

Theresa gulped as the giant furnace of crimson and pink flames grew. The heat was too much for Balthus and Inami, the two had to step back. Yet, the flames still bothered her but...she took a step forward. The Lance of Nehalennia, Skadi, and the tome in her hands... she took a step forward but Inami quickly caught her wrist, Balthus behind her.

"Don't!" Inami said, "No one can survive such flames!"

"Alex, there has to be another way! You'll die!" He said and Alexandra smiled.

"I know. But I have to do this." She said with a smile, and let go of their hands, "I made a promise, didn't I?" That promise she subconsciously made not just them, but everyone and herself

To protect this world and bring forth the ending they want.

She went into the furnace, no matter how much they called her name. But she looked back at them and smiled. It was there that Balthus and Inami realized Theresa had fully made her choice and there was no stopping her. All they could do was pray that she came back. On the battlefield, as Claude manured through the sky, it suddenly felt like a piece of his heart was ripped out. The man clutched his chest tightly, wondering what had just happened but he felt like he lost something.

Something important.

Theresa took a deep breath as she was now inside. At first, the flames only felt like a pinch but the more she walked, they became hotter and even her skin began to sting, she kept going even if every fiber of her body was screaming to get away. She walked and walked the temperature rising each time. What was minutes felt like hours but she had to keep pushing forward. Soon, finally in her sight was what she had to do. A table with burning hot tools for forging. Metals of all kinds are at her disposal. The furnace, everything she needed.

"Sothis..." she held the lance, her skin was starting to burn, "Can I have your permission?" She said.

Silence but her eyes went wide seeing Sothis's figure standing in front of her. She was in her adult form and smiled and with her were many individuals. A woman with pale skin, a man with dark green hair with blue eyes, Cirina, a woman named Ui and people who had the same color hair as her, and finally...her father and mother. More and more souls appeared in the flames. Some are familiar, others not. But somehow, she knew it was her family. Even in the flames, Florencio was there. Alexandar smiled warmly as she stood beside the real Cornelia. The real Cornelia...her smile was gentle, soft, full of love.

"Child born from sin and despair in your past life."

Tanya's voice rang in the flames.

"A child born of love in this world."

Everyone smiled one last time and Sothis nodded, approving of what she was planning to do. The man with green hair and the pale-skinned woman, along with Cirina, they approved. Alexandra smiled softly and now before she stood her past self.

"I know...I think it's time we finally move on. We'll carry our pain and memories till the end of time. I am you and you are me." She said and Theresa nodded and disappeared fully into her body.

Alexandra raised all three relics. Skadi-Ondergoed, Book of Chengjing, and The Lance of Nehalennia, in the air screamed, smashing them all onto the ground. It was like a connection was served in an instant, she felt it sting her body but she had to continue. The flames became hotter and grew. Her skin was burning, peeling, melting, but she didn't care. Her body wanted to give out but she kept pushing. She picked up the broken pieces and put them in the furnace. She watched as they melted together. Her hands, blisters, and skin burning glowed with magic as she summoned her tools and began to forge.

Metals and minerals, all in her hands. Even if now she was nothing but bones in the fire, her hands kept going. She forged, she built, she melted, everything as the Flames of Judgement finally turned her bones to ashes. But...

"The Flames of Judgement have made their decision," Tanya whispered as Inami and Balthus were warped out of the place.

The fairy smiled softly as the crimson flames began to turn blue and burst. The flames were hot, yet they were warm and full of love and hope. The darkness in the land began to burn away and be cleaned as she rolled her shoulders and cracked her neck.

"800 years...I've waited 800 years for this moment." Tanya smiled sadly as the flames began to spread all around her old home, the tree born from her corpse that sealed away the darkness began to crack, "Finally...the land is free."

From the hills Inami and Balthus were warped too, they watched as the blue flames spread all over the old kingdom. The roots of the tree spreading, the monsters turning to ash, and the souls that were trapped were now being set free. Even if tears fell as Inami watched, she felt like she was watching her home finally be freed from pain and suffering. In the flames, Alexandra and Theresa stood, they looked at each other and nodded. They held hands, reassuring each other as they turned to the new power. Now, finally fully accepting themselves of the present, past, and future, they finally became one. The new power, they accepted.

"The price to pay..." their voices fully merged, "we cast our old selves away and be reborn. We cast our mortal shell and accept the responsibility of this power. We are Theresa. We are Alexandra. We are one of the same yet different. We are now a new guardian of this world. We fully accept this world as our home." They said and their eyes snapped open, their pupils the Crest of Aubin.

The Creat began to change, evolving once more. Like Sothis who used her crest as the base to create the crest of her children. This is a power that only someone from above would bestow on those worthy. Those who have proven their resolve. Like Sandana who despite choosing to pay the price, did what very few could achieve. Florencio gave away his freedom to create a path for the next generation.

Her eyes changed from gradient red and blue to a bright purple, like jewels. Her hair grew longer, almost looking like wings, and changed to an aquamarine blue with streaks of white and red. The skin of her hands changed back to normal but then changed back to a lighter shade of blue and it was like snowflake markings were all around her skin. Her clothing changed to a blue Draconic-like armor with a translucent cape that glowed white. And the relic in her hand, no...two relics in her hands, were hers and hers alone now to command, their crest stones now with her newborn crest.

"Child of Snow and Ice, reborn from the flames of tears...no long do they burn with despair but hope. I give my final blessing, my authority of the flower and nature spirits are yours to command."

Those were Tanya's final worlds as Theresa landed a few feet from Balthus and Inami. She opened her eyes, her former crest gone before she turned to look at the First Kingdom of Almyra. Where the pyramid was, now from it sprouted a giant tree, its roots spread all around. The darkness that once contaminated the place was gone. The air felt fresh and clean, trees in the colors purple red, and blue, and all the rainbows, grew but most of all, so much vegetation. Now there were even rivers and lakes, life was brought back to the old kingdom once more. But most of all was the field of flowers.

"So long...my children..."

Inami's lips trembled but nodded, swearing they would protect their home. Theresa turned to them and smiled sadly.

"Hey." She said, tilting her head a bit as they ran up to her, "I promised, didn't I?" She winked.

"Welcome back!" Balthus said as they quickly walked up, "This is weird but...can I hug you?"

"Just do it," Theresa said and the two hugged her tightly.

They just stood like that before all three just collapsed to the ground, back to back.

"I'm so damn tired...I need a shower..." Theresa whined as she made her new relics disappear into the snow markings on her arms.

"I need a drink," Balthus grumbled as he threw his head back a bit.

"I need my sweets..." Inami sighed but looked over to the old kingdom, "It's pretty...I never thought I see the day where it was no longer corrupted..." the woman whispered as Theresa nodded.

"You two...you can...call me Alexandra again. Or Theresa again. Whichever one you guys are comfortable with." Alexandra said.

"We'll stick to Alexandra." Balthus and Inami said in union.

"Krii!"

The three looked up and waved, seeing their wyverns but...Alexandra narrowed her eyes as she carefully got up.

"Why is there a fourth wyvern?" She said and the other two got up quickly.

Not even a few seconds later, all four wyverns landed and someone jumped off the fourth one. Alexandra saw it was a young man who wore a cape but was damn shirtless and wore place pants but he looked terrified and spoke.

"Oh thank heavens! Y-You're all alive!" The young man jumped and hugged Inami tightly, "I-I thought...I thought you all!" He cried but Inami was confused.

"Mata. What are you talking about?" Inami said as he looked at her confused, "It's only been like two or three days since we left."

"Three days?! Are you out of your mind?!" Mahatma said, "It's been months since we've had no contact with you all! It's The Ethereal Moon!" Dread suddenly fell on Alexandra, realizing that time flowed differently in the pyramid, "Shahid gathered an army and is currently in a battle with Fodlan!" The young man scrambled to pull out a scroll from his bag, "Father has officially ordered me to announce to Shahid that he is stripped of his title and position! B-But the bastard sent assassins after me and I barely managed to escape by coming here." He said.

"Mahatma...right?"

The young man looked up, confused because he didn't recognize her.

"You just need to get there, right?" Alexandra said.

"There's no way we'll get there on time. It's six hours from here." Balthus said, "It'll be too late by then..."

"But I can get us there on time," Alexandra said and waved her hand, shrinking their wyverns to the size of cats before she waved it again to summon a teardrop stone in a deep blue color.

Falco chirped and had them all jump to their owner's bags quickly.

"Please don't tell me you're planning to use extreme warp," Mahatma said as his face went pale.

"Nope," Alexandra said as her Dragon Stone began to glow brightly and ice magic began to surround them.

"I told you all. I paid a price. Now...it's time I use what I paid for."

And they shot into the sky, leaving where they once stood, nothing but ice crystals.

- Fodlan's Throat -

Dust.

Blood.

Iron.

Sand.

Those were the scents and taste in the air as the bloody battle between Fodlan and Almyra waged on. Claude gritted his teeth as he released an arrow at an enemy soldier. He was waiting for Nader to make his move soon so he had to stall.

"You really outdid yourself, Shahid..." Claude thought as he spotted Shez slicing his way through the army with Hilda not too far. Holst was supported by Gregory and Tharja. Lorenz in the east had Marianne with Boey. Ignatz was with his archers, Raphael beside him. Leonie was leading her mercenary company with Hanneman and Manuela. The Wolf Knight was taking down an entire unit on his own with the help of a few mages. Edwards was making it rain down hail and thunder on the enemy. Silque was supporting and healing them. His heart still ached, he questioned the feeling but it felt like something was ripped out of him. A connection was served. He didn't understand but he needed to focus.

The ones near the base were taken care of thanks to Judith. But everyone had their guard up. Why hadn't Anacharis made her move? Shez pretty much exposed her but she hadn't appeared at all. The Agarthan General was an unpredictable individual, he could never predict where they would strike. It was so random, especially with the monster attacks. Anacharis could take advantage of the chaos but she didn't.

"I will not allow this to be a repeat of before!" Shahid roared furiously, "Do not spare a single soldier! Crush them immediately!" The prince yelled and pointed to them.

Seeing the sorry state his people were, Claude felt sorry for them. Still, enemy reinforcements were coming in from the North and South. They were pushing back. The tactics from before will not work.

"Lorenz!" Claude mentally yelled thanks to the telepathic link Edward created between his generals, "Light up the beacons!" He commanded.

One of the enemy's stronghold torches was lit, all to lure them in. Shahid scoffed, the tactic was obvious but...

"Ha! So, it's my turn. Time to carry out the plan." Nader smirked as he jumped on his wyvern and took off into the sky, his soldiers following behind him.

The beacons from the lower and upper levels of the fortress were lit.

"What the hell?! Why are more soldiers coming?!" Hilda screeched as she stood back to back with Shez and Holst.

"We got them right where we want them." The trio heard Claude in their mind and Holst smirked as Narder appeared with his wyvern, ready to rumble.

"Fake an attack! We'll pretend to attack the northern front and...We'll, I don't want to ruin the surprise."

"Claude von Riegan!" Lysithea unleashed a wrathful scream from the position she was put in, defense.

Nader laughed as he saw the signals and Shez jumped back as the wyvern rider smirked down at them.

"Looks like it's time, Holst!" Nader laughed as the Fodlan General nodded, "SOLDIERS!" Nader yelled raising his axe, "Defend Fodlan's soldiers! Charge!" And the war cries were unleashed.

"Your Highness!" An Almyran General yelled out to Shahid, "General Nader has defected!"

"What?!" Shahid roared, "Why that! SOLDIERS! KILL NADER! WE WILL SHOW WHAT HAPPENS TO TRAITORS!"

"Defend him!" Claude yelled and suddenly felt a shiver down his spine.

Something was coming...

[—-]

"So, did you give it to him?" Anacharis said to her soldier.

"Yes, my queen." The soldiers said, "We'll be sending reinforcements to help Prince Shahid. We gave him the crest stone as well." He said but Anacharis still wasn't satisfied as she watched her soldiers jump into the war and start defending Shahid.

She could hear the pathetic Almyran prince laughing at the face the elite descendants were making once they saw the sudden reinforcements of demonic monsters and Agarthan soldiers. None of that was making her happy. Not even watching the chaos that was unfolding. Now...

"Is it me or is the temperature suddenly dropping?" Another soldier suddenly pipped.

Anacharis narrowed her eyes but it was too late.

An explosion of light from the sky engulfed the place. Many screamed and tried to protect themselves but once the light faded, Anacharis's blood went cold. There high in the sky, descending from the clouds was something she swore she would never see ever again.

"No...No..." she whispered, her voice shaking as all those in the battle pointed up to the sky.

Something was flying and then it raised its maw, blue light gathered before it unleashed a roar that shook the heavens, and unleashed its attack.

"R-Run!" All the soldiers screamed but it was too late.

They ran and ran as fast as they could, Claude managed to grab Hilda and Shez while Nader Holst. But too late, the magic attack hit, Claude quickly used his body to protect his friends but...

He felt...nothing.

He heard the screaming as he and the rest panted. Their breaths turned to mist as the dust went away only to reveal the demonic monsters and Agarthan soldiers frozen in ice.

"ROAR!"

Finally, Claude looked up as everyone else. There in the sky, was a dragon. A dragon with a slim, upright body structure similar to the Immaculate one. Its scales are a deep crystalline blue with red. Its head has a tiara-like crown of antlers-like horns. Ice crystals cover its wings, limbs, and tail. And its tail was split in two like trident shapes. At the center of its chest, it had a teardrop gem with red jewels adoring it like a necklace. But its eyes...were a gradient red-blue.

"It's...beautiful..." Claude whispered, but he quickly snapped back into reality when the dragon flew down and swopped above them.

"HEADS UP!"

He recognized those three voices. The group watched Inami, Balthus, and Mahatma fall from the sky and then land in front of them.

"Finally, we're back!" Balthus yelled out, happy, and turned to look, "Hilda! Shez?! Holst! Claude!?" Was that fear Claude was hearing in his voice?

"No time for reunion!" Inami yelled as the dragon circled and unleashed another blast of magic as it swopped across the battlefield, "GET TO SHAHID! NOW!" And at that, the army charged once more.

"Argh!" Anacharis growled, "Must I do everything myself?!" She yelled and began to do hand symbols, "COME FORTH, EGGS OF DESPERATION!"

In a snap of her fingers, the skies turned bloody red and the sun black. Three monster nuclius formed west, south, and east, and monsters began to spawn in numbers.

"Shit! Now we are gonna have to fight!" Shez yelled as they jumped back down and the Golden Deer gathered together.

"Split into three teams! But me, I'm going after Shahid." Claude said and turned to look at his elder sister and younger brother, as well as Nader and lastly Shez, "You four, with me." He ordered and looked at Balthus, "I don't know why you're with them," he said referring to his siblings, "but we got more important things. Back up Holst and Hilda." Balthus nodded and the golden deers spilt as instructed.

Inami's and Mahatma's wyverns jumped out of their bags, turning back to their natural size and Falco did as well. The giant wyvern unleashed a roar as it flew up, Claude barely had time to process. The dragon responded with its roar and Falco nodded. It sucked its breath as it flew into the sky and spread its wings, unleashing the loudest roar Claude had ever heard. At that moment, all those with cavalry and flying units, their mounts unleashed their whines, roars, and screams.

"My lord that's...THAT A GIANT WYVERN!" Shahid's General screamed as the prince was too stunned to speak.

He looked down, the blood draining from his face as he realized what was happening. He watched his army turn and start fighting against the monsters. He watched as the dragon circled once more and brought down retribution on the mysterious soldiers he was originally supposed to command, frozen before his eyes. He watched...

"No...no!" Shahid screamed as he realized that the man on the white wyvern, the man that looked down at him coldly from above with the black sun behind him...

"KAAAAAHLIIIDDDDD!" Shahid screamed furiously before having no choice but to scream retreat.

"Don't let him get away!" Claude yelled as Zahra roared and lunged.

"Khaild! DON'T KILL HIM!" Inami yelled, "Khalid!" But he ignored her words and kept pressing forward.

"Shez! You know what to do! Block his way!" Claude yelled and Shez nodded heading in the direction he was instructed to go.

"Inami," Claude said as he had Zahra stop, and looked down to his siblings, Nader beside him. "You said to spare Shahid." He said as they looked at him with wide eyes, "I can't do that. You know that. Not after everything he has done. Do you realize who those mysterious soldiers are?" He said coldly, "Shahid asked for Anacharis's aid. He has betrayed everyone. He deserves no mercy from me." He said and took off.

[—-]

"Sir, we should be arriving soon."

A man dressed in brown and black almyran robes nodded as he rode his wyvern. He could see the blood battlefield from a distance as well as the dragon that descended from the heavens. From the orders of his father, the king of Almyra, he was to bring back Shahid, alive.

And he would...

His eyes darkened as he thought of the crimes his younger brother committed that he discovered after he investigated. As well as it was the house Shahid came from that brought House Illac's to ruins. He took a deep breath as they arrived but what he saw made his blood run cold. Bodies of soldiers, monsters, and creatures alike were all around. The man took a deep breath and finally spotted Khalid had Shahid cornered near a cliff with purple-haired swordsmen. He could see Shahid mocking Khalid, even spreading his arms, daring to kill him. But the look in Khalid's eyes said it all.

"Shit!" The man cursed and lunged, but all he could do was watch as Khalid released his arrow at Shahid...

BAM!

The time came to a standstill, as in front of Shahid stood a blue-haired woman, who deflected the arrow with her hand.

- A little bit earlier-

"Give it up, Shahid. It's over. You lost." Claude said coldly as Shahid staggered back, gritting his teeth.

"Haha...Hahahaha!" Shahid burst into mad laughter as he threw his head back then spread his arms, "Let fly that arrow you, half-breed! Let it fly!" He roared, "I'll never kneel to the likes of you, Khalid!" He yelled.

"Argh! It's always the same! It's always the same!" The prince roared, "You, our sister, my traitor of brother! Always they chose you! Even father!" He yelled.

"Shahid," Claude lowered his bow a bit as Shez looked at him worried but never putting down his swords, "That isn't what I am asking you to do here. What I am doing..." he let out a shuttered breath, "is showing my last bit of mercy. Let's end this..." he said.

"YOU LITTLE BRAT!" And Shahid threw his sword at him.

Had Shez not been there, the attack would have been fatal. Shez deflected the sword to the side and stood in front of Claude.

"Look Claude," Shez said as their eyes never left the prince, "if you can't do it, I will."

"No." Claude said as he made Shez step back, "This is...my burden to bear." He said and raised Failnaught with an arrow, aiming at Shahid's heart.

"I never wanted things to end this way..."

"Ha!" Shahid scoffed.

"I'm so sorry..." Claude whispered, "Brother." And released, but his eyes went wide, seeing a single snowdrop in front of him.

The arrow flew, closer and closer but then...

BAM!

In the blink of an eye, the arrow that would have killed Shahid was cut in half. Time felt like it became still as Claude's heart began racing as he saw the back of the individual, long curly blue hair with streaks of red. They turned, their gaze half-lidded, their eyes purple, their lashes, blue like sapphires. But the symbol in their eyes was different. It looked similar to a glass shard cutting in a half-snow flake. The woman, dressed in blue dragon armor with a translucent cape, just stared at them.

"W-Who are you?!" Shahid said, "But, that doesn't matter! You saved me, so my father must have sent you! Good, then," he pointed at Claude, "kill the traitor! K—"

"Will you shut the fuck up?" Shahid froze as the woman merely spared him a glance before fully turning to him.

Everyone also realized that the dragon was nowhere to be seen. The woman let out a frustrated sigh before she held up a scroll and unrolled it, then started reading its contents.

"Shahid The Fourth prince of Almyra, by Royal Decree of King Hassan of The Sands, The Kimg of Almyra, you are under arrest!" The woman yelled and suddenly the prince screamed as he was caged in ice.

"W-What are you doing?!" The prince screamed as the rest of the Golden Deer along with Sirius, Manuela, Hanneman, Holst, and Edward arrived as well. Same with Inami and Mahatma with Nader. Mahatma finally noticed the scroll his father had given him was gone.

The blue-haired woman took a deep breath and continued to read as more and more people arrived. The mystories man, blended into the crowd, shocked by what he was witnessing.

"Prince Shahid, you have been guilty of the assassination of Princess Irdabama and Prince Jason. You have been found guilty of assault on a total of 22 palace maids. You have been found guilty of the murder of General Armco of House Behnam. You have been found guilty of stealing from the royal treasury." She said loudly so all could hear.

"Guilty of conspiring against the royal family! Guilty of stealing funds! Guilty of attempting murder on The Queen of Almyra! Guilty of working with your mother, Consort Herate to assassinate the king should you not ascend the throne! Not only that, guilty of siding with an unknown enemy and selling your people for money! GUILTY OF TREASON! GUILT OF STARTING AN UNCALLED WAR! And!" She looked him, straight in the eyes, "Your house has been found guilty of framing House Illac 115 years ago! It was your house that was conspiring against the royal family back then! Not them!" She roared as Shahid trembled so she began to recite the final verdict.

"BY ORDER OF THE KING OF ALMYRA, PRINCE SHAHID IS HEREBY STRIPPED HIS LANDS, TITLE, AND POSITION, REDUCED TO COMMONER!"

It was as if lightning struck Shahid before he unleashed a wrathful scream.

"Lies! They are lies!" The prince screamed, "WHO ARE YOU?!" He yelled but the woman just remained silent.

"She doesn't need to explain herself."

[—-]

Alexandra's eyes went wide seeing a man walk out of the crowd. Beside him were two other soldiers. The man was about 6'5 foot tall and wore similar clothing to King Hassan but his was black and thin he wore almyran armor. Claude went pale, seeing the man. The man had black hair tied in a braid, a head scarf, as well as a sword on his waist. The air around him, she could feel the man had authority but...who was he?

"Prince Reza!" Nader yelled and several Almyran soldiers bowed or quickly stood straight, "W-What are you doing here?"

"What does it look like?" Prince Reza said before looking at his siblings, that became still and quiet then his eyes landed on Alexandra, "I came to bring tell Shahid that he has been found guilty of his crimes and to bring him back to Almyra. Where he will be judged by our father." He said and walked up to her.

"I...remember you." Alexandra looked at him confused, "You're the one my sister won't stop talking about. You're Theresa, aren't you? The one who forged my father's new sword using The Aubin bloodline techniques, correct?" Reza said and Alexandra nodded.

"We never met but I have seen you from afar." Reza said and turned to Shahid, "Shahid, did you think I wouldn't find out that you sent assassins after Mahatma when he was ordered by Father to deliver your verdict?" His voice suddenly became deeper.

"I-I don't know what you are talking about..." Shahid said as Alexandra stepped back to let the prince take over.

"Really, now?" Reza said with not a hint of emotion in his voice as he went up, "You think I don't know every damn thing you have done? How are you tired of killing me and my sister? Like how you assassinated our two siblings? Like how you secretly contact the individual responsible for unleashing monsters on our nation?" He said and Alexandra's eyes went wide as well as many other soldiers of Almyra.

"Wait, Prince Shahid...has been in contact with the one that...has unleashed monsters on our lands?" A soldier whispered and before anything else could be said...

"GET DOWN!" Alexandra screamed suddenly and managed to grab Reza in time before, her body burst with magic.

Claude fell back, barely able to speak as now over them was the dragon from before, which had used its body as a shield to protect them and even had summoned a wall of ice to protect the rest. The monster nucleus formed before was destroyed by her but now, high in the air, was Anacharis, grabbing Shahid by the neck.

"You are pathetic." Anacharis said and looked back to the ground, grinding her teeth as she saw the dragon, and then looked back at the prince, "I lent you soldiers. I helped you kill your siblings. I helped your house to destroy House Illac years ago. But you...you ruined everything!" The woman said angrily.

"L-Let go!" Shahid pleaded but all the woman did was smile as she created a barrier around themselves to deflect the magic and arrows behind shot at her.

"No." Anacharis said in a sicking sweet voice as she reached into his pocket and pulled out the crest stone, holding it between her fore and middle fingers, "It's time you play your role." And she shoved the crest down his throat.

Shahid unleashed an agonizing scream as black magic exploded from his body, and began to transform. It was a horrific sight, as if watching Miklan transform again but this time...Claude was watching his brother be turned into that horrific monster. They watched him as he dropped to the ground and a bloody roar from the now demonic beast unleashed. The dead and monsters rose once more. The demonic beast was two times the size of Falco. It had spikes all over its body, devil-like horns, six eyes, it walked on all fours, and wyvern-like wings.

"Shahid..." Inami trembled.

"FIGHT THE MONSTERS! TAKE THEM DOWN!" Claude and Reza screamed at the same time as the ice dragon unleashed a roar and lunged at the beast.

Soldiers of Fodlan and Almyra came to a truce and went to war against the monsters and undead. Anacharis laughed at the scene, watching as the tired armies were struggling to fight. But most of all, the despair that was in Roman's descendent face. The scent of war, the taste of despair, she began to pant, and her face became flushed as she unleashed a gleeful laugh.

"Let the show begin! HAHAHAHAHA!"

[—-]

"Urk!" Alexandra grunted as she was forced to jump back to dodge the Shahid's claws, "How did things turn out like this? All I wanted was to stop Claude from killing Shahid. Almyra's court system would have left Shahid in ruins, he would never be able to show his face in public again." The woman thought as the beast growled.

The core was in Shahid's throat, which was protected by glass-like scales that healed almost immediately, making it impossible to attack. Not only that, the crest that was shoved down Shahid's throat was the Crest of Fraldarius, which meant their defense was high. The battle going on again, the soldiers were all tired and from what she remembered from the game, Shahid's army wasn't in the best state. Claude already had his hands full after everything that had happened.

"Sigh...In the end..." she whispered mentally and her body glowed once more, turning back to human, "I have to be the one to take your life, Shahid." She said as she landed, the monster roared at her.

It felt like it was Lonato's situation all over again but this time...there truly was no hope. The woman waved her hand and summoned her new relic. Now that she thought about it, she never gave it a name. But...the gentle feeling, the authority, but most of all, she could feel the souls of her ancestors and loved ones in it. The snow and ice that once formed from tears of despair, were now created from love, hope, and rebirth with a song of joy and life.

"Ah...I think I figured it out." She said and opened her eyes, looking at her new scythe and catalyst, "How does Mithras's Hymn sound?" She said and the crest stone on her relics glowed brightly, "Alright. Mithra's Hymn it is! HYAAA!" And she lunged.

Alexandra roared as she jumped in the air and then spun her body like a top, slashing at Shahid's right leg. The beast roared before it began to stomp its feat, and spikes popped out of its back and went to her. The woman spun left and right, fully putting to use her ice skating skills before she froze the back of her calves, becoming blades. With each kick and spin she left a trail of ice and burned the beast's skin before she slashed with her scythe and launched a draining attack with her catalyst.

Suddenly, Agarthan soldiers appeared behind her, but they screamed and were blasted away by an arrow. She turned, shocked to see Claude lower his bow a bit, before looking at her. The two made eye contact but it was a shared moment. Both nodded and soon Shez, Inami, Mahatma, and even Reza arrived. Alexandra rose above once more and took a deep breath, her eyes began to glow as wings appeared on her back. Magic gathered in front of her mouth before...

"LAAAAAAAA!"

She unleashed the ice blast at Shahid, that screamed in agony and jumped back, giving her enough time to get to the group.

"The Crest Stone is in Shahid's throat." She said as she as her wings flapped, "I need you all to create an opening for me to deal the final blow."

"Whoa, whoa! What are you talking about?!" Claude said, "You owe us an explanation, Alexandra." Claude said coldly as her eyes widened, "You may look different but...I recognize you." He said as the woman bit her lip.

"I...owe you nothing." Alexandra said, "We can talk about this later. Right now," she looked at Shahid, she could hear the Fortyde that clung onto the prince, screaming for his death, "It's time to put him to rest."

"Is there no saving him?" Inami said and Alexandra shook her head.

"Anacharis turned him into a monster...we can't save him. It's the only mercy we can give Shahid. To free him from the eternal torture he has been forced to." Alexandra whispered.

"I...We...Understand." Claude said, "We'll...create the opening you need."

"Who would have thought a family reunion would be killing Shahid?" Reza sighed before he pulled out his sword.

"Shez." Alexandra turned to Shez, who was silent the entire time then walked up to him.

What she did next sent Claude's eyes twitching and Inami gasping as the woman grabbed Shez by the face, and then rested her forehead on his.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey!" Claude yelled as Shez was turning into a blush mess, "SHEZ!" The poor swordsman could practically feel the rage coming out of Claude and Inami looked ready to skin him alive.

"Shut up!" Alexandra yelled at Claude and then turned back to Shez.

"L-Look, miss! I just met you! I-I don't think I'm supposed to have this much contact with you." Shez stuttered but the woman closed her eyes, she was trying, trying to...

She felt...him.

"Arval."

Shez froze and the woman opened her eyes halfway.

"Shez, listen to what I am about to say. I can help you get your connection with Arval back." Alexandra said then continued, "Anacharis...is here. Wait for the right moment, to strike her. You'll know when." She said letting go of his head.

Shez was stunned by one look in her eyes, and he understood. The group turned back to the demonic beast that roared and charged at them. Weapons they raised and lunged. Shez and Claude went to the right while Inami and Reza on the left. Alexandra noticed Mahatma was holding the Arrow of Indra and was using it amazingly. The young prince roared as he jumped in the air, pulled his arm back then threw the lance like a spear. Shahid screamed as the Arrow of Indra penetrated his left shoulder. The opportunity Inami took to have her wyvern lung then unleashed a rainfall of Dark Spikes.

From the corner of Claude's eye, he saw a beacon lit up by Nader, meaning a monster nucleus had been destroyed. And a few minutes later, the second and third ones were destroyed by the Golden Deer. Reza glided two fingers on his sword before he muttered a spell and the winds blew at his command.

"Get back!" The Almyran general yelled as he got in his stance then pulled back his sword before, "GALES JUDGEMENT!" A giant slash made of wind was thrown at Shahid.

The beast roared and lunged, the slash wounding him greatly but he somehow managed to get his tail to slam Inami to the ground, the force threw Mahatma back as well. The tips of Shahid's claws penetrated through Reza's left shoulder, but the General gritted his teeth as he took the opportunity to summon the blade on his boots and kick his feet up to slash at the beast's throat.

Another roar it unleashed and Claude came from behind, the tip of his arrow glowing with a fire that suddenly made the beast turn to him.

"K-K..." Claude's eyes widened as the monster spoke in a broken possessed tone, "K-Kha...Lid!" And he released the arrow.

In a blink of an eye, The Crest of Reigan burned brightly above his head and eyes, the tips of the arrow around end itself with winds, sharper than any blade in the world. The world seemed to turn black and white in their eyes as Claude used Fallen Star. The arrow burned and shot through Shahid's chest, leaving a hole behind. Blood poured out as the monster dropped to the ground with a force that shook the earth. Reza grunted in pain as Inami and Mahatma managed to recover enough to run to him, the three supporting each other. Claude jumped off Zahra and walked to Shahid, the monster twitched and whimpered, its slit eyes looking at him.

"K-K...Khalid..." the disoriented voice, a mixture of Shahid's and demonic sounds, "K-K...Kha..."

"Claude..." Shez whispered as the rest began to arrive.

Claude's siblings watched, silent waiting till...Claude flinched feeling a hand gently grab him and turned, seeing it was Alexandra. Bloody, covered in dirt and dust, they were all a mess yet...she shook her head.

"I'll do it. I told you that." She said but Claude shook his head.

"You...don't need to carry that burden again." Claude whispered, remembering when she killed Lonato and the haunted look on her face, "Please...this is..." he gritted his teeth as he closed his eyes in pain, shoulders trembling, "this is...This is...something I must do." His voice cracked.

In the end...Alexandra realized...she couldn't change the one event she wanted to avoid. She took a deep breath and nodded. She made her hands glow, creating an arrow of ice, and handed it to him.

"It will..." she paused, "It will purify his soul from the corruption of the Crest Stone." She said and Claude nodded, taking the arrow.

Claude turned and took a few steps back, before aiming his arrow again, this time where the crest stone was exposed at the throat. His hands trembled as the memories of his childhood flooded back. Back to the time when Shahid was a kind boy. Back to the time they once supported each other with their siblings. He took a deep breath and stiffened seeing the tears now falling from the monster's eyes.

"K...K...ha..."

Deep breath Claude took before he spoke his final words to Shahid.

"Goodbye...brother."

And he released. Not even a spilled second it took for the arrow to penetrate the crest stone and the beast a rageful yet mournful roar. Ice spread all over its body in an instant, froze it solid before shattering to pieces before everyone's eyes. Alexandra flew up to the sky and began to sing a lullaby, making the ice spread all around to cleanse the place. Claude looked up to the sky, his hand reaching out to the dust now left behind by his brother's body.

"In the end..." Inami whispered as the specks of blue dust from over the battlefield flew into the air, "Fate is cruel..."

The lullaby ended and Alexandra landed, walking towards Claude as he turned to her with a small yer sad smile.

"Time to end this act."

It happened in a split second, Anacharis appeared right behind Claude. Her smile was soft and gentle like a mother looking at her child. But the way she raised her hand and then brought it down...this was now the second time Claude felt that strange power as her hand beheaded him. Life was still as he saw the world slow down as Alexandra screamed and reached out to him. Tears spilled as he closed his eyes and those running towards him.

This time, the world turned black and white, his head returned to his body and reattached itself. The scene played again, this time he was about to mo— but his eyes went wide when he felt a powerful force push him out of the way. He rolled and rolled, till he stopped. Claude coughed violently and all he saw was blood splatter on the ground and a blood-curdling scream. Two fingers were stabbed into Alexandra's left eye. Anacharis's eyes went wide and was about to remove her fingers when the crimson-blue-haired woman unleashed another blood-curdling scream and grabbed the witch's arm.

Anacharis didn't even have time to react and ice magic was pumped into her body by Alexandra stabbing her fingers into her arm. Magic poured and poured, sending the witch screaming and at that opportunity, Claude moved and used Failnaught like a bat to destroy Anacharis's right arm. It sounded like ice shattering and the witch was just stunned as she jumped and stumbled back. Claude's crest at that moment activated, unleashing a tornado of wind at the witch, making her keep jumping. The man roared, it sounded like a Dragon's roar as Alexandra's magic cracked and sent wind blades at the witch.

"You punks!" Anacharis roared and then suddenly Alexandra was in front of her with wide eyes and a scowl.

The woman used her full body to swing up Mithra's Hymn and turned it huge using her magic. It was as if she was carrying a claymore three times its size. The scythe's blade cut through the earth like butter but left giant ice crystals with crimson hues. The witch was stunned, she knew the girl shouldn't even be capable of such strength. With her right arm gone, she was forced into defense. Alexandra was bleeding out from her left eye but at the moment all she did was quickly put out her hand and freeze that part of her face. The ice took on the shape of a half-butterfly mask.

Anacharis gritted her teeth before making the relic on her head glow. With her left arm, she raised her fist and threw an uppercut before she swung her leg to kick, blades at the soles of her foot. Each clash sent shockwave after shockwave, everyone nearby ran for their lives as the two women clashed.

"Haha...Haha..." Hilda couldn't believe what she was seeing as she managed to point a trembling finger, "It's...like...we're..."

Watching gods fight.

This was the true power a relic holder can do. They were witnessing the legends told about their ancestors happening right before their eyes. Alexandra jumped in the air and turned into her dragon form. Her claws out as she roared, lunging at Anacharis. She repeatedly snapped at the witch who tried to get some distance but Alexandra wasn't letting her.

"Kill the one who escapes death."

Suddenly a distorted voice spoke in her mind, nearly making Alexandra freeze but she managed to move out of the way on time. Anacharis at some point turned her good arm into a blade and slashed at her. She grunted, the slash was filled with Sothal, so the witch had the blades poisoned.

"HYAAAA!"

Alexandra's eyes went wide seeing Claude suddenly jump in there and release an arrow at Anacharis. The witch barely managed to move to the left when she managed to catch a glint of pink from the side of her eyes. Hilda was suddenly right behind her with a terrifying gleam in her eyes that said nothing but "kill", and swung Freikugel down. The impact of the relic on the ground caused it to turn into a creator and lighting blast out of it. Anacharis was stunned and had to twist her body and then jump sideways to escape the golden eyes that slashed at her with a Levatian Sword, those golden eyes belonged to Maurice's descendant, Marianne. The woman growled and once more, this time Lorenz appeared in the form of her in a flash, swinging the Axe of Ukonvasara at her.

"URK!" The woman closed one eye and gritted her teeth as she raised her left arm to protect herself but the force sent her flying back.

She would have crashed had she not planted her feet firmly into the ground. Anacharis gasped, seeing a purple magic circle activate underneath her, and then, looked up to see a white-haired girl with white and black magic glowing in her hands, the Crest of Charon glowing on her right and The Crest of Gloucester on her left.

"THIS IS FOR MY FAMILY AND EMILY!" Lysithea roared as hundreds if not thousands of dark spikes formed in the air and all pointed to Anacharis, " DARK SPIKES!" And it rained down hell.

Anacharis moved in all directions to dodge as many as she could but she wasn't able to escape unscathed. She jumped in the air, and raised her fist, ready to punch Lysithea through the stomach because she was wide open. Only for The Arrow of Indra to suddenly come in between them. It gave Lysithea the time to warp away from her. The Agartha Queen panted and gasped for air before coughing but froze at the sudden taste of iron in her mouth. She felt it now drip from her severed right arm but suddenly felt a shiver down her spine. Blue and crimson flowers suddenly sprouted from the ground and then came out two flower spirits. Two what she had not seen since...Persephone's death. One with a mermaid-style dress and hair tied in pigtails, and the other with a gown, both flower spirits faceless the they screamed and vines shot her way.

Before she knew it, Balthus, Raphael, and Ignatz appeared and unleashed their attacks on her. A blood-curdling scream she unleashed feeling the impacts as she was thrown back, and another two hits from Boey and Silque. Leonie managed to appear above and unleashed an arrow, it went right into Anacharis's left eye socket.

The woman unleashed a wrathful scream and summoned a demonic beast that ran at the two flower spirits. Once again a shiver went down her spine, and she quickly turned. Mist blew from Alexandra's mouth as each step she took toward Anacharis froze the ground, creating a path of ice crystals in her wake. With each step, the temperature dropped. She held her relic tightly as the magic made her hair rise like snakes. Yet, she felt no fear.

No, the fear was still there but this time it was controlled. She raised her hand towards the witch, who gritted her teeth.

"Anacharis," Alexandra's voice boomed for all nearby to hear, "today is your day of reckoning. I come to face you, not as the young girl who your people damned, but as Theresa of The World of Steel and Alexandra of Fodlan!" She yelled and spun her scythe then made its blade point at her.

"Though your death may not be today, know that my victory for this day is!" She roared and the watch began cackling madly.

"This power...THIS BLOODY FUCKEN POWER I RECOGNIZED IT ANYWHERE!" Anacharis screamed furiously.

"DAMN YOU SOTHIS AND PERSEPHONE! TO THINK THIS WHOLE TIME, YOU!" She pointed at Alexandra, "ARE ONE OF THEM! YOU'RE THE LAST OUTWORLDER!"

Theresa took a deep breath and closed her eyes, her grip became tighter as she twisted her wrist and...

She lunged.

Alexandra was suddenly behind her and spoke coldly.

"Burn in the eternal freeze."

BOOM!

Ice crystals exploded from Anacharis, the witch didn't even have a chance to scream when blood splattered all over the place. Silence fell on the battlefield, the only sound they heard was the ice shattering and the sound of the mutilated body parts falling to the ground with a loud thud. Alexandra fell to one knee, and panted, gasping for air as her appearance changed back to her original, messy crimson-blue gradient red hair and eyes.

"Damn...I was...hoping the new appearance was permanent." Alexandra thought, "It's...over..."

She... managed to kill Anacharis. She managed to kil—?!

"LOOK OUT!" Claude suddenly came out of nowhere and pushed her down.

Just on time because a blast of magic came from where Anacharis's body was. Alexandra was too stunned to speak but most of all, the wind began to pick up and it was as if hell had come down to earth. Black and white magic swirled around where Anacharis was and her limbs began to reattach themselves like puzzle pieces. Her organs, bones, and flesh began to regenerate and heal before their eyes. It was a horror story they were watching but the worst was the haunting and terrifying scream she unleashed. The monsters and undead that remained tried to run for their lives, only to explode, and their blood and magic she absorbed into her own.

"Go now!"

Shez heard Arval's voice suddenly in his head and the man gulped but forced himself to get up despite how wounded he was.

"Shez! Shez stop!" Hilda cried out, reaching out to him but he ran.

He ran and ran, dodging and slicing left and right before he jumped in the air, his two swords raised. What he saw up close was the most grotesque thing he had ever seen. Bloody muscle flesh, eyeballs looking at him as they grew back. Even worse when the woman's head suddenly turned to him but the opportunity was made.

"HYAAA!"

"AAAAAAAHHHHRRRGGGG!"

He slashed at their face and suddenly purple and black magic exploded out of the witch's body.

"NO! NO! THAT'S MINE!" Anacharis's monstrous and torturous voice cried out and clawed at him, wounding him gravely but it was too late for the witch.

That power quickly went into Shez's body and another portion of it quickly flew south. Shez smirked and fell back but Hilda managed to jump in on time and catch him.

"...You...YOU FILTHY MAGOTS!" Anacharis screamed as the dark magic tornado became foggy and only her golden eyes remained visible, "THIS ISN'T OVER" she screamed, "You...witch..." Anacharis snarled as she had her hand over where her left arm would have been.

It didn't heal neither did her face.

"Witch..." Alexandra chuckled she was gravely wounded after protecting Claude.

"Sure...I accept the name." She stood up and spread her arms, the white of her eyes turning black as her eyes fully became red, her voice sounding possessed, "How does...The Witch of Rebirth sound?"

With that, Anacharis disappeared in a tornado of black magic... The battlefield became silent as the monsters that remained turned to dust. The coldness that she created began to evaporate and the ice crystals to snowflakes. Her footing, she staggered and limped as she took a few steps forward. She was about to fall, the ice from her face cracked and blood poured again. Finally...finally after so long...her body finally felt completely exhausted. She was about to fall to the ground when she was caught. Gently she was lowered but felt tears drop on her cheeks.

Her vision was blurred but up close she could see it was Claude, looking at her scared, worried but also just relieved. Alexandra panted and gasped, blood pouring from her lips and now gone left eye. She felt hands on her cheeks, and Claude's hands trembled. He was scared. He was so scared. He finally found her yet...she was bleeding out in his arms. Her blood stained his hands but she didn't care. He tried to cast a healing spell, his hands weakly glowing green but it wasn't enough.

"Alex...Alex! Hold on! Please, hold on!" Claude wailed, and the woman hurled as she raised a trembling blood hand.

"It...It..." She tried to speak but the blood was making it difficult.

"ANYONE! HELP! SOMEONE!" Claude screamed as quickly held her hand to his cheek, "I-It's okay! It's okay! H-Help is on the way!" The tears were falling.

"K-Khaild..." She croaked, "Y-You've...grown..." she smiled, "I'm...happy..." she whimpered, "I'm...I'm home..." her head slumped to the side and her hand to the ground.

"ALEXANDRA!"

Chapter 99: The Sands: Part 5: Blood of Elites, Rebirth of Ice: End

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Relics made from Sothis's bones

Head: Crown of Sirius
Wings: Wings of Sothis
Spine: The Sword of The Creator
Left leg: The Staff of Aine
Right Leg: The Staff of Arariand
Right Arm: The Lance of Aphrodite
Left Arm: Lance of Nehalennia