Chapter 120: Something amiss
This was a nightmare.
It had to be a nightmare.
It wasn't real.
It wasn't real.
It wasn't real.
"It should go without saying the fate that would befall every man and woman in this tent should you raise your voice."
That was proof of it.
It wasn't even his voice, so it couldn't be him. She was just imagining things because of how tense she was. That was all this was. If she just blinked, then he would vanish and everything would be fine. All she needed to do was blink and it would be fine. A single blink was all it would take.
Flayn clamped her eyelids down with as much force as she could muster for them, pressing so tight that it hurt. As though every single muscle in her face was working for the single goal, her mind whirled with the visions of opening her eyes and being greeted by nothing more than a tent full of grumbling knights.
That is all she would see.
Her eyes opened.
He was still there.
Why was he still there?
That…that wasn't right…
She blinked and everything…
He was supposed to be gone…
Another blink, this one longer than before.
Her eyes opened.
His shadow still darkened the tent, his expression set in patience as he watched her. She could see the mirth in those twisted eyes of his. As if what she was doing was somehow amusing for him.
Another blink.
Still there.
Another blink.
Then another, and another, and another, and another.
"Do you wish for me to do something to confirm I am no illusion?"
Flayn stared.
Her lip quivered beyond her control, taking a step backwards.
"Ah."
He raised a hand and reached out for her, she flinched and stiffened a moment later, staring at the arm and then back towards the face. Looking almost nervous as he lowered the arm a moment later. Taking a short step forward and speaking again.
"I would appreciate it if you would not part from my presence so soon. There is much I wish to do and very little time to accomplish it, I am sure that you can understand, given our current location."
Flayn's eyes darted backwards.
She could run before he could catch her, she knew that. Being closer to the tent flap would let her run out, she could scream and yell and then everyone would be here. All the knights that had come with the Archbishop. Her father and Seiros herself, not to mention the Professor and Goetia.
They would all rush here.
But if she did that…
"You are debating raising the alarm."
Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes slowly returned to Nemesis' face and gazed at him, the amusement remained on him as he shook his head from side to side. In much the same way that she would have seen an adult scold a child from doing something reckless. His arms folded behind his back, the dark cloak he wore shifted and fell back down, covering his body entirely.
Save for his head.
"As I told you before. I would advise against it. There are any number of threats I could offer to convince you to remain. Though let us examine the facts, first and foremost."
Tilting his head, his features schooled themselves.
"I entered this camp without raising the alarm. Out of all the exceptional individuals here, from your Demi-Servant Goddess, to Saint Seiros herself and to even the clarity of thought of Goetia. I have entered this tent without a single one of them noticing and have laid to sleep the wounded within here."
Flayn felt herself go cold.
He was right.
How…how did he…?
That was never what he was.
How was he like this?
Why was he acting like this?
But no, he was right. Her mind whirled with the implications of what it would mean. If he could so easily enter the camp without anyone noticing, if he could come all the way into the very heart of their camp and knock out everyone here, then he could probably leave without anyone noticing. It wouldn't matter who she yelled and shouted about, he would probably escape.
Even if he needed time.
Flayn gazed across the room, they were all still breathing. She could hear their breath and see the rising and falling of their chests. All of them were still alive, just sleeping or unconscious. Whichever one it was, it didn't much matter to her. She knew that he was being completely serious with his earlier words. If she even thought about yelling or screaming to save herself…then he would kill everyone here.
Could he do it?
She didn't know.
There was a lot going on that she could not explain and she did not have the time to debate it or even consider it beyond what she was seeing.
Nemesis was here.
"...W-why am I still…?"
A frown swiftly came across his face, as if what she had said was somehow confusing.
Then a small huff, he turned his head from her, but she could still feel as though his gaze was upon her. Even if his eyes were not looking at her, the coldness of his attention remained.
"Indeed. That would be one of your first concerns. A rather startling contradiction compared to how the two of you last met? Some…One-thousand and eighty years ago? I could offer specifics but why focus on such minute details? Given time, I am certain you can deduce a reason for the differences."
Flayn swallowed her fear.
Why was he still talking like that?
That wasn't how he talked, this wasn't even how he acted.
The fear started to etch away, her mind focusing ever so slightly as she cooled her nerves. If he was going to kill her, then he would have done so already. More to the point, even if he looked like Nemesis, he wasn't acting like Nemesis in the least. Rather, he was acting the complete opposite of the brutal monster who had tormented them in the past.
This was like a completely different person.
He turned towards her, bringing a hand out from under his robe and raising a single finger, pointing it upwards.
"Rest assured. Killing you is not one of my current interests. Though I am prepared to utilise violence as a means of achieving my aims at the moment. It is your choice on how this situation progresses."
She swallowed again, trying her hardest to bury as much of her fear as she could possibly manage, but it was a hard fought challenge. She could still hear her heart hammering in her chest, feel every single one of its terrified beats reverberate through her bones and echo through her skull.
No matter how much she willed it to stop, it continued on.
"What…"
"Yes, it would be simple if we arrived at the heart of the matter."
Turning once more, he stepped towards her and angled his head, Flayn retreated again once more, but stopped the second she felt the fabric of the tent at her back, the lack of resistance telling her just how close she was to stumbling outside. She grit her teeth, drawing in a sharp breath and straightening herself.
Unsure whether she would retreat again if he continued to move.
Fortunately, he did not and merely stopped after the first movement.
He moved once more, the cloak shifted and parted as his other hand came out. Her eyes immediately darted towards the small metallic cylinder he held in his hand.
And the thin needle that emerged from one end.
Flayn swiftly put together what he wanted.
"My blood…" It was the only thing she could think of, she immediately coiled up her body.
Cementing it, Nemsis nodded his head slowly. "We both understand the value held with blood such as yours. Potent as the first generation Nabeteans. As is your father and relatives…and though I could seek either of the remaining Saints out…I would prefer to take the path of least resistance at the moment."
"W-what if I said no?"
It was a feeble bluff, but she had to try.
The danger that was posed with someone having her blood, any of their blood, was something that she could not ignore.
Nemesis clearly saw through her attempts within half a moment, raising a brow and staring at her. Even the gaze made it seem as though she had been a fool for even trying to make the attempt in the first place. All the same, she clenched her jaw and squared her shoulders as much as possible.
"What if I fought you?"
"Fight implies a struggle."
She felt her stomach drop at the certainty of his words.
He was right as well, she wasn't a fighter. Not like Seiros or her father.
Or any of the others.
Certainly not like Nemesis, who was now within an arms reach of her.
"But I am respecting you as an individual and offering you the chance to make this as painless as possible. Not just for yourself, but also for the others in this tent. Though I do detest wasting so many lives, I am comfortable in sacrificing them in the pursuit of this goal."
Flayn clenched her jaw, her eyes narrowed and she felt a surge of confidence in her. Or perhaps fierceness, she did not care where it came from, only that it was here.
"If you harm a single one of them-"
Nemesis cut her short. "As I have said, that is your choice. I offer you my word that if you allow me to extract a small sample of your blood, then I will depart in peace and neither you nor anyone else shall even notice that I was here in the first place. An appealing deal to the alternative, no?"
She growled.
"I am no naive fool." Waving a hand, she clenched her other into a fist. "If I give you my blood, then it would be more than those who suffer and perish. Hundreds, thousands, could be put at risk…You are not going to use my blood for anything that could even be remotely close to benevolent."
"You speak purely based on a bias against my current form." Was the swift rebuttal she met, but then the tone shifted and softened. "But your suspicion is understandable. I have given you ample reason to distrust anything I say and, of course, any assurances I offered as to what I would do with this blood would be worthless in your eyes."
The slitted eyes moved away from her, darting to the rows upon rows of injured and unconscious.
They lingered for a length of time Flayn was uncomfortable with.
She did not like the intellect behind this one.
"Perhaps something more tangible? I will speak in curt truths."
She felt something twist in the air, a coldness crept against her skin and her hairs prickled and rose up, standing on end as everything felt suddenly wrong.
"If you do not offer your blood willingly, I shall take it by force. And then, on account of your resistance, I shall inflict a curse upon every single human in this tent. The results shall be slow and agonising. Something that not even Goetia could discover without knowing what he was searching for."
He stopped, then raised a single finger, silencing her before she could get a word out.
"And before you are misled by fantasies of informing the others that I arrived and laid a curse upon them, know that I can strip this entire encounter from your mind and leave you none the wiser."
Flayn stilled.
Her eyes widened in alarm.
"You…you can't-"
"I can." He responded with clinical cruelty. "And I will. You shall watch with ignorance as the bodies of these individuals tear themselves apart at the very nerve. Leaving them to suffer agony unimaginable until they beg for the release of death…and by the time any realise what has been done to them, it will be much too late."
No.
Nemesis could not do that.
He was bluffing.
But this…this wasn't Nemesis, was it?
It might have looked like him but-
Flayn stopped.
She stared at the eyes, the cross slitted orbs.
A single name sprung to mind.
Aelfric.
"You…you're like…"
A smile spread across the lips of Nemesis-
No, not Nemesis. The creature that wore his skin like a cloak, the being that was of the same race as Goetia. Which meant that there were others who were like him. But he couldn't have known that. This could not be the same one that they fought, she had seen them die. She watched them perish.
Which meant it was another who remained hidden?
How?
Why?
But…
Flayn stilled.
She knew what Goetia could do.
If this thing in Nemesis skin could do the exact same…
"You understand your predicament."
His free hand moved across and pressed against his chest.
"I am Lemegeton. Demon God, remnant of the Timeless Temple and, like my former King and departed brethren, a resident of Fodlan. Now that we understand one another, perhaps we can move forwards?"
"W-why-?"
What else could she ask?
Why were they doing all of this?
Surely they were not like Sitri?
"Careful now." He warned with narrowed eyes. "I have revealed much to you, but there is no point in discussing this further. That is not the subject of my meeting with you."
The syringe was held up ominously once more, brimming with intent.
"Now that you understand the choice you face, let us try again. Offer forth your arm and allow me to withdraw a sample from you willingly…Or will you remain focused on the bigger picture and sacrifice these souls to uphold the belief that you might be able to forestall the inevitable?"
She ground her teeth together, pushing so hard that she was sure they might end up shattering.
Her eyes darted to the bodies, the unconscious knights who were ignorant as to what was happening.
Flayn offered a grim face.
More of the puzzle was clicking into place.
"...You are going to wipe my mind of this encounter either way, are you not?"
Lemegeton nodded his head, offering no words.
She closed her eyes and felt a cold reality place its hands upon her shoulders, pressing down. There was no choice she could make her. Not truly, all of it was just to satisfy her mind that she had chosen to save lives for the brief moments that she would even remember this in the first place.
Her eyes opened, she glared at Lemegeton.
"Did you do this just to torment me?"
He frowned.
"Not at all." With a shake of the head, he approached once more.
He continued on with his words.
"There are…others, who would have demanded you to be abducted from the monastery itself. To have you dragged to some festering pit and then hooked up and rained off every ounce of blood."
Flayn felt herself go faint at the very image it portrayed.
As well as the implication of who those individuals could be.
Another step brought him closer.
This time she made no move to retreat as he stepped closer and closer. Her eyes raised as he was soon standing right in front of her, casting a shadow which covered her completely. Slitted eyes peered down at her, watching her every movement.
"Such developments did not interest me, and as an ally of my King…It would be remiss if I did not extend you some semblance of respect. I could not allow such a cruel fate to befall you for such petty reasons as the ones they offered Not when a simpler solution was readily presenting itself."
With a small moment of silence, Lemegeton hummed and inclined his head, almost as though he was thinking of something else.
"From a much less morbid line of argument, I was curious to see what manner of choice Saint Cethleann would have made."
Without a word and maintaining her glare, Flayn raised up her right arm, her left hand moved across and pulled the sleeve back, exposing her skin to the monster.
Because that was what they were.
A monster.
"...How can you be so different?"
Lemegeton spared her nothing more than a glance, moving a large hand and curling his fingers around her arm to steady her. It was a surprisingly gentle grip, but that made it all the worse. The urge to turn her head from the needle as it approached was strong, but she watched all the while as the metal disappeared with a cold prick into her body.
"We are not." He answered in a quiet tone of voice. "I do what is necessary for my final goal. As we all did for three thousand years. We do what we all believe to be for the best of humanity. He and I."
Flayn rolled her jaw.
"You will forgive me if I remain unconvinced."
"You will forgive me if I do not care much for your approval at the moment."
Flayn hissed out in pain as he pulled the needle free of her, then rubbed a single finger over the entry point.
She felt a jolt and then nothing, the small dot where the needle had entered was covered up completely.
"You could have struggled. I am certain a potent enough attack could have dissuaded me and forced me into retreat."
She considered that.
Then lowered her head, shadowing her eyes from him.
Yet she could still feel the gaze on the top of her head, the scrutinising pressure soon followed by the hum.
"But that would kill all the humans. Truly, what a curious choice you made. Such a…human action to take."
"I will take that as a compliment."
"As well you should. It is one."
He stepped back, angling his head.
"Now then. I believe it is time for me to take my leave. Though we shall meet again in the future, I will remember this choice and offer you the appropriate respect for it…And though you will not remember my words, I shall offer them all the same. Keep watch over my King. You, like others, are instrumental to his change."
Flayn clenched her jaw.
At that, she could not help herself.
"Then speak with him yourself!" She hissed, glaring at Lemegeton. "He believes himself alone! He believes you all to be dead and you are content to leave him as such? To have him tortured with the belief that he personally killed the very last of his own people to save us?"
She slammed a hand against her chest, uncaring to how this could turn out now.
Flayn could not stomach the idea of this creature only now showing compassion towards Goetia, not after the way it was treating him.
"How dare you even think to show concern for him."
Lemegeton cocked a brow.
"...Potent words. Though this development is for the good of my King. When we meet, I wish for his judgement to be…finalised. To enter now would spoil his development."
His eyes darkened.
"Make no mistake. Had I been aware of his existence, I would have slain Sitri before he ever forced my King into that situation…but the past cannot be changed now. There will come a time when my King and I meet one another."
His hand came up, holding itself towards her.
"But it is not that time. Farewell for now, Saint Cethleann. I will look forwards to our next encounter."
Flayn curled her lip.
"I cannot say the same."
"No."
A sharp pain lanced through her head, her vision wavered and blurred.
Her limbs felt heavy and her body teetered to one side.
"I imagine you cannot."
With those words, her eyes fell shut.
He fought a hiss of discomfort at the prodding to his skin.
"For one versed in the art of healing, your hands are disturbingly clumsy."
A chuckle answered him first, then mirth filled words. "Perhaps you would find it less discomforting if you were to stop twisting yourself and accept the aid? With how you squirm, it is a wonder you have not made your injuries worse."
"Under your hand, I am troubled to imagine myself at ease."
"Then you are welcome to stumble your way to your feet and bleed as you search for another to heal you."
Serious replied without even blinking, dabbing away at the bruises with some cold cloth of water. Wiping out the blood and the mud which stuck to his skin. He felt the prickle once more and grit his teeth ever so slightly.
It was more of the fact it was who was treating him that bothered him.
"Or perhaps you might heal yourself." Seiros pressured further, but the smile she wore belied her understanding of something more. Likely that he would not be doing that and for some variety of reasons which she did not need to be aware of.
Bad enough that he was forced into this position, or corralled would have been a more apt word, without the trouble that would emerge if he were to reject her aid and simply heal himself. That was not what he was intending to do.
"Mh? Have you nothing more to say?"
She merely smiled at his sour look of irritation.
He saw the glimpse of amusement in her eyes and even without that small clue, there was the fact she was all but bleeding amusement at him. Enjoying this role far too much for him to be comfortable.
"Should your faithful be concerned you enjoy your role as healer? It holds troubling implications."
Her eyes rolled as she wet the cloth once more, then dragged it over his forearm a bit rougher than she probably could have. He did not break his features, but it was a close thing as she glanced over tender flesh. Red eyes snapped down for a brief instant and glared, he pulled them aside soon enough and allowed her to continue with her butchery of medical care.
"Then perhaps this should serve as encouragement for you to avoid finding yourself so wounded…I shall point out this is the second time you have found yourself under my tender mercies."
Goetia grunted. "Then I am thankful to have remained in a coma through the ordeal, it is an experience I have little desire to repeat."
Seiros pulled the cloth from his arm and let him rest it back on his lap, she folded her hands and looked at him in silence. He side-eyed her face, it was a searching one but not anything intense. Moments passed as the green haired phantasmal did nothing more than gaze at him, her eyes flickered over his exposed upper body and lingered on the injuries for longer than all else.
Then she exhaled and shook her head.
"I know what you are doing with this."
"Do you indeed?" He muttered back and closed his eyes. "Indulge me with your imagined conclusions."
She sighed, he could hear the flattened face she made with that exhalation. "You intend to recover as they do because you have served much the same as they have. Limiting yourself throughout the entire affair, it would be unlike you to not follow through until the very end. So only when they have been completely healed shall you at last use your magic to examine your health."
His eyes opened slowly.
Seiros was shooting him a look that was far too smug, a conclusion that was much too close with any that he was comfortable with admitting. He did not believe his intentions to be so transparent, but if they were then it simply meant they were obvious. In fairness, they held no greater meaning to them.
So perhaps he should not have been surprised that Seiros could deduce his actions.
"Am I to assume then, that you do not use magic as a means of demonstrating how one is healed in far more rudimentary ways?"
"Do you disapprove?" Seiros questioned, hand hands moved for the bandages. "I can imagine you would be far more approving of the use of healing spells for their expediency when it comes to recovery."
Goetia grunted. "I am far from against the accumulation of knowledge. It would do those without the capacity for healing magic little harm to learn how to offer skills during first aid if none others are present…"
Trailing off, he made a point of showing his eyes roaming behind her and twisted his head in an exaggerated manner, searching for those who did not exist at all. So obvious were his actions that Seiros briefly stopped and gazed back with half-lidded eyes.
"Yet I notice you lack a class behind you and budding students who would eagerly write down your every word."
She would only go through this method if there was something else she wished that required close proximity for an extended period of time.
Unless she came for the sole purpose of small talk.
"This one is a rather adorable little trinket from your journey to Adrestia, are they not?"
Her attention moved from him and towards the small traitor on her shoulder, the little bird jumped back and forth and gave small bursts of excitement from their lungs. For such a small creature, they could be quite vocal when they wished it.
And what he wished right now was silence from the creature.
Especially as it's every action was making him feel this small level of…embarrassment?
It was the closest he could use to describe, but he had nothing to be embarrassed for. The logical part of his mind understood this, but he could feel the emotion all the same and it left him disgusted. As though he wanted nothing more than to drag a hood over his head and just hide his face away from view.
"Flauros death would have been-"
"Floor-os?" She spoke, cutting him short. His irritation with that was only superseded by her mangling of the name. Turning ever so slightly and humming something in the back of her throat, the faint ripple had the bird preen a little further before she glanced back at him. Then her smile widened ever so slightly. "...You'll find we're all on quite pleasant terms with the wildlife of the world…save for some exceptions."
It clicked instantly.
As did his tongue when he realised he should have understood that prior to having it all but thrown in his face.
"Assigned guardians of nature…Of course you would hold some small level of animal communication."
"Others had a greater talent for it than I." Was the admittance without shame as she took hold of his arm and started to wrap the bandage around the affected area, the part of his arm where the skin had been torn and mangled from repeated blows of a sword. "But we could all offer some small understanding with nature…Do not feel anger towards the young one, they are simply obeying their nature."
He had not thought his frustration so obvious either.
"...Flauros."
"Hmmm?"
"The name." He muttered back. "It is Flauros."
Serios nodded her head, still wrapping the bandage around his arm, but slower. Drawing the action out. Her words dropped into a whisper. "...A curious name. Not local to the lands of Fodlan either…"
"...Hmph."
The smile she wore and the look she sent him was as sad as it was knowing. "...It is a wonderful name for them."
"They can be no worse than the last holder of it." He grumbled, looking down at his arm and exhaling. "Flauros was a halfwit who failed at even the most basic task I assigned him. Truly, there was no more a fool than he but…"
Seiros inclined her head. "You find yourself missing his blunders?"
…Had she truly said something so abhorrent?
"Missing his blunders?" He repeated with no small sense of incredulity. "They were memorable to be sure. I could never imagine anyone in history, human or otherwise, making such a spectacular fiasco of a situation such as he. In our court which held the greatest wisdom known, he gave out the impression we were nothing more than pompous clowns…"
He looked up and raised a brow at the twitching face of Seiros. "Does that truly amuse you so?"
There was a small rumble that was distinct enough to almost be called laughter, but it was swallowed quickly.
"No…I merely find it curious that if you grew to hate him so much, you have still chosen to name one after him."
"...Of course." Goetia grunted. "Fool he might have been but he was one of us. It was an error that began with him but…none of us thought to examine closer…He was one of the last of us to perish…he believed until the very end…"
It was a small admittance.
He recalled it well.
The final pillar who remained to fight who ceased operation.
Fool he truly was.
…But he was determined.
…How could it be possible to insult that level of resolve? Even if it could have been misguided.
The thought was dismissed as his mind wandered for another topic of conversation, it took him little time to find one.
"I assume this unsettling cheer of yours is born of the result."
Seiros cocked her head with an innocent smile. "Whatever could you mean?"
"Oh, so it has been decided you shall play the fool in this instance."
A chuckle. "Come now Goetia. We are both adults, you may speak plainly."
…Oh, so she just wanted him to say the words, did she?
"I shall assume that the victory of Byleth's Class over the Black Eagles has you in high spirits? Given your attachment to the Professor of said class."
Seiros leaned back, the faux shock on her face was disgusting. "Goetia. As the Archbishop I could never be seen to wish the victory of one class over another, regardless of who was serving as their professor or aiding them. Even Catherine was aiding the Golden Deer and I would show them no additional cheer for victories."
With a saintly smile, she continued on. "All was held in the interest of fairness and I shall offer my congratulations to the winning class as I would have done to any of the others, had they triumphed. The true victors are the students for demonstrating such progress."
Goetia stared at her.
Then he snorted.
"A rather…convincing speech for those with the inclination to believe it."
He afforded her that level of compliment, she understood her audience well enough to know what they wanted to hear.
Seiros huffed gently. "That is high praise from you, Goetia. Though given you were never inclined to believe. I am left to assume it serves also as a backhanded compliment."
She was learning.
"The truth?" He queried.
"...The Professor has taken rather well to her role, has she not? I will never admit this to Seteth-"
"Oh?" Goetia raised a brow. "But you are perfectly willing to admit this to me? What have I done to earn this honour?"
"You are no gossip and do not care."
"..."
She smiled and leaned forwards, all but daring him to retort.
"...And yet you still feel the need to speak of it."
"Mmmmh. As I said." She continued without giving much of an indication she heard him at all. "I was concerned how she would come to interact with the students, but I held true to the belief that any child of Jeralt's would have a strong spirit…and any child of Sitri would have a gentle heart."
"Given they do share a heart-"
Serios sent him a look. "I am unsure if that is your attempt at a joke or not…A rather dark one at that."
He shrugged. "It is the truth, but your point stands in a metaphorical sense. You would ultimately know her mother better than I."
"A shame." Seiros stopped for a moment, her hands dropped down and she hummed. "I believe that the two of you might have indeed become friends with one another, if you had but the chance to meet."
"...Friends."
"Does that surprise you?"
"I am surprised at your boldness to make such baffling statements. Perhaps the victory of Byleth had made you drunk with pride and you feel capable of making whatever declarations you wish without considering how they sound?"
Seiros chuckled. "Given you were on the other end of her fists, I would assume you have felt her victory far more than I."
"Is this truly the Archbishop who stands at the pinnacle of fairness and good faith sport?"
"No." She answered succulently. "...This is the Saint who first brought her teachings to the land."
He grunted and turned his head, at least he got an answer from her on that matter. The one he expected all the same. He assumed that of all the classes, the Black Eagles would have been one of the least favoured to win in her mind.
"Though…I find myself at odds with that."
He stopped.
Then blinked and looked at her.
Seiros wore an odd face, one he had not seen before. Ponderous yet confused.
"...Perhaps nothing worth speaking aloud at all then." The odd expression vanished after a moment, her head shook as though to fling it from her. "I shall tend to the remainder of your wounds and then you might continue on your way as I am sure you fully wish to do…"
Goetia hummed and said little else for a moment, merely letting her work in silence.
Perhaps it would spare him the chastisement of Flayn if she were to see he had already received treatment from another of similar skill to her.
"...How fares your family?"
Seiros slipped slightly, she pulled too hard and he twitched for a moment. Gazing down at her stilled hands before looking at her face. Seeing the expression, he knew what the answer would have been quickly enough. Soon turning away from her with a small hum of understanding.
"Nevermind. It is a question that was not relevant."
"...Asked out of concern, mayhaps?"
"Think of it as you will." He responded with, but he was not sure of the answer. Perhaps it was merely the fact it would better serve the Church if the remaining founders and saints were truly on speaking terms with one another.
…Or perhaps he envied her, having some of her own race left to converse with.
The notion he would envy her for that did not strike him as revolting as he assumed it would have done.
It was an envy he could aim at many.
"...Flayn distinguishes herself in the field of care, Seteth has brought up a fine daughter and he should be proud with what she has accomplished…and I see only a bright future ahead of her. Even as she strives to join the Professor."
"You know of that then?"
"...I still enjoy being kept informed of what occurs in the Monastery." A slow reply, but laced with some small hurt. "...Even when none have made a point to speak with me directly of it."
"...I see. Seteth is doubtless grateful she did not join the Blue Lions prior to this day then, else there would have been some rather considerable…problems."
Seiros chuckled as if she heard an amusing joke. "You would not find Flayn so meek a thing to be scared into submission. Despite her wish to bring healing, she is not above defending herself should the moment call for it."
Goetia was aware of this already.
"Perhaps." He allowed, retrieving his lone arm and dropping it upon his knee, drumming the fingers along the skin and then closing his eyes once more. "But I ask out of curiosity before all else. Your race has dwindled to such few numbers, you cannot tell me you feel wholly at peace with the choice she is making."
Seiros stopped and leaned back, fixing him with an odd look.
One that might have been piercing.
In truth, he knew not why he was asking such things in the first place.
Perhaps he would not get an answer either, but he felt compelled to ask all the same.
"It is no different to the choice I made some time ago." She replied after some moments of ponderous silence, with a shake of the head she looked to the side. "And I have interfered quite enough within her life, one should think…Seteth is the one with whom that question would grant a more complicated answer."
"He is her father and has made his inclinations towards her safety very clear."
"Yes, he has." Seiros noted with some wistfulness. "All I can hope is that this choice brings her happiness and that she has my full support in whatever endeavours she wishes."
Goetia hummed, then raised his eyes over the top of Seiros head and to the figure who had halted their approach.
The two shared a silent exchange without words.
He looked back down and grunted. "I would suggest you travel to Catherine and Byleth. I believe one of them would be rather eager to have you pay them a visit and wish them well…And you might offer congratulations in person, as would be expected of you."
Seiros blinked at him for a moment, then he caught the second where her eyes darted to the side and almost behind. There was a visible urge in her face to turn around, but it was swiftly buried. Instead, the soft smile returned once more as she reached forwards and pressed her hand atop his own.
"Then I shall leave you with the blessing of the Goddess and the hope that you should recover swiftly."
Goetia glanced down at the hand and raised an incredulous brow, Seiros smiled and retreated from his person, standing up and moving away.
"I do not need her blessing."
"Suffer then."
"Hah!"
It was an action despite himself, but merely the swiftness with which she responded caught him by surprise. As was the way she never once lost the smile, nor the lightness in her tone. She stalked off to parts unseen, moving through the camp and away from his person.
An odd exchange.
But compared to others, he would not have called it unpleasant.
Thoughts for later, he supposed.
His focus shifted towards the now approaching diminutive figure, he watched her as she paced closer, her eyes pointedly avoiding following the direction in which Seiros had moved off to. Instead they remained fixed on him with an expression that was difficult to decipher.
There was frustration as much as there was confusion.
A complicated swill of emotions flourished in her mind as she came to a stop in front of him and then sat down.
Within moments, she had pulled his bandaged arm up and began inspecting it with scrutiny that he praised. At least within his mind, he would not speak the words aloud. The critical eye with which Flayn looked over every single inch of the wrappings would have been lauded if it was not based on an emotional response.
Searching for any sign of a mistake for reasons he could only assume.
The examination came to an end with Flayn being far from satisfied, even if she did not show it upon her face.
He could tell as such.
"Which is it that troubles you? Her competence or that I am to recover without issue?"
Flayn, as expected, jolted at his words and looked at him. For a moment she stared in nothing more than sheer bewilderment, then the words snapped into place in her mind, he saw the flash of comprehension in her eyes as her face twisted and soured.
"That is not-" She began, only to cut herself short with a sigh and a small yawn, raising a hand and rubbing over her temples. As she pulled it away, she looked more exhausted than when they last spoke. "...Forgive me for that. I have been tending to the wounded and seem to have lost track of myself."
"Your diligence would be laudable if it were not so self-destructive."
She sent him a rather scathing look but offered no relevant words to the remark, "The Archbishop has been out of practice in the healing arts for some time. It is only expected that someone should examine what she has done and ensure no mistakes have been made."
A reasonable explanation.
Still, he prodded further.
"Mayhaps you wish to examine my chest to see if there are surgical wounds above my heart next?"
Flayn stopped.
Then she stared.
Ah, there was a flash of anger in those eyes now, her lips went thin and for a moment he believed she might have yelled at him. Never strike though, there was still the rational in her face. It was a cold and lucid anger.
"...Do not speak of such things lightly."
"What else am I to think?" He inclined his head. "You wore your intentions open to the world. I am more skilled at reading than most but others might still see this display for what it is. Blatant distrust of the Archbishop."
Flayn raised a brow.
"You do not need to trust her." He excused. "But presenting the image of a united front would do you well. Seteth clearly holds many of the same issues as you and he has yet to be seen acting in a different manner in public."
"Are we truly in public?" She gestured between them. "You and I? Does a conversation between us count as a public venue?"
Goetia frowned at that. "I am not a booth for confession. I can offer you privacy but do not confuse the two."
Flayn dropped her hands down and looked at him. "...You and she have grown close."
"Is that how you would describe it?" He muttered, then shook his head. "I confess that it is clear she does not hold me in such low regard, but that is a matter of circumstances. With yourself and Seteth avoiding contact, Byleth and Sothis being unable to provide her with what she seeks and Catherine hardly offering stimulating conversation…"
He trailed off, raising a lone finger and pointing to himself.
"Who else might exist that understands her as I do? It is little wonder she has opted to cling to me for some manner of open conversation when others have been closed to her."
Flayn shifted, a brief flash of guilt in her face before it was buried. "It was isolation she brought upon herself. The consequences of her own actions…surely you might see that."
"You will notice that I am not arguing for you and Seteth to welcome her back into the fold."
"Then what are you doing?"
He stopped at that and frowned.
What was he doing?
"You are to live a long life." He responded with after a moment of thought, looking down at the younger girl. "And I would ensure that it is not spent living in anger or in grief. Such irrational thoughts birth equally irrational actions."
Flayn twitched and closed her eyes. "You mean to suggest I should make peace with her before something were to come to pass?"
"If that is how you interpret my words, then that is fine."
In truth, he did not know what was best in this situation, nor could he truly bring himself to…
…Hmph.
Perhaps he could care but a little, only in the sense that the misgivings in this family were quickly finding ways to enter into his work life. Especially if he was to be subjected to veiled conversations regarding one or the other. At least Seteth had yet to unburden himself with emotional woes.
It was why the phantasmal remained his preferred choice for interaction in this Monastery, he appreciated the diligence.
"Make peace with her, if not forgiveness." He waved a hand. "If you hold her accountable of sins then rest assured, I am guilty of far more grievous crimes then she could ever be-"
Flayn sharply exhaled. "This is not a competition on who is the greater evil of us all. She was the one who told me of the peace and serenity of the end of life. How it was the way of all of us to eventually pass on and that we must accept it shall come. To mourn the life that passed but to celebrate that it lived at all."
She leaned forwards. "...And now I learn that it was fine for her to preach those words on the passing of my own mother…all while she plotted in secret to resurrect our own with some…twisted experiment?"
"She is a hypocrite." He acknowledged, yet there was something he was more bemused with. "And the actions she took were…surprisingly human in nature. Grief is not a quantifiable emotion. You all experience it differently…you accepted her words because you believed them to be right and true. Seteth likely did as well…but that is not to say that she would ever hold them."
Flayn huffed. "Then what would you have me do? Accept that she interprets the laws of the Goddess differently to us all?"
"Accept that she was grieving and in that grief acted as a fool…I doubt it would be the first time one went against the commands of their maker and acted outside the bounds of their designs…such a thing is ripe in whatever species you gaze at."
He mentally cursed a moment later at the slip.
His hand curled before it loosened, because in that moment he had revealed something small about himself. Once more he empathised with Seiros when he did not intend to do so. Rolling his lips from side to side, he turned from Flayn before he could see whatever manner of look she was levelling at him.
She was no fool, she would suspect.
He had made it clear enough that his disagreed with Solomon during the…outburst some time ago.
"...You see yourself-"
"I see an aspect." He turned and hissed, then clicked his tongue. Flayn remained stone faced in the wake of his aggression, either expecting it or believing it to be nothing more than empty. He supposed she was partly right, it was anger aimed inwards rather than outwards.
"Our positions are not the same but…the principle might well be. You were raised with the knowledge that your mother would one day pass…How could Seiros ever interpret a world in which the Goddess would be slain?"
Flayn pursed her lips and looked away. "...I very much doubt she could. None of us could truly believe it but…does that make it right? Merely because it was never expected? Now we should forsake the sanctity of life and decide for ourselves whether the laws of birth and death can be ours to wield?"
"...I am not the one you should ask for this."
At that, Flayn sent him a curious look but pried no further.
"And on the grounds of Seiros actions, I have little else to say. She did reprehensible things for the sake of a cause she believed in. At the very least you can argue she is aware of her own sins and accepts them."
"Does that make it better or worse?"
"That is a matter of interpretation."
"And what would you interpret it as?"
"She is your family, why should I care whether her actions are evil or not?" Rising up, he pushed against straining muscles and stood up. Looking down at the still seated girl and exhaling. "...All I want is for you to leave me out of matters that do not concern me."
Flayn gazed back, then huffed. A twitch of a smile formed on her lips. "I would say they concern you very much…given how close you now are to all things."
At that, Goetia curled his lip and turned away.
"Be sure not to strain yourself!" Flayn called after him, her voice still light with some small mirth. "I would hate to see you injured because of your own stubbornness!"
He would not dignify that with a response.