The changes to this chapter are not as big as some of the others, but one major change I made involves Byleth and Marianne. I wanted to do something different with this ship, even though there aren't many stories featuring them. Unlike the last time they met in the next chapter of the original—which was years prior—I wanted to add more layers to their relationship before their meeting in the Officers Academy.
Additionally, I've removed certain elements that contradict later material, such as Dimitri's crush on Hinata. You'll understand why I removed it when I eventually get to that point in the story. Another change was the foreshadowing of Dimitri's mother. It might have been obvious, but in the original, I wrote it on the spot. This time, I have a plan since I already have a lot of it written; I just delete what doesn't work with the current version.
I've also added more NaruHina moments, as I wanted their relationship to be well established. Yes, they will eventually get together with Dorothea and Ingrid, but I wanted Naruto and Hinata to have a good amount of time together first. In this version of the story, they've been together for three months.
Of course, I don't need to get into detail about the changes I made to Sasuke and Mercedes's relationship. The next chapter will have another divergence from the original that will alter one of the many arcs because a character I originally had with Claude will not be present; someone else will fill her role.
Anyway, for those who've read the chapter before in the original, I hope you enjoy this new version. For those who haven't read it and are coming across the story for the first time, enjoy!
chapter 6 Crossroads of destiny
October 1176
He was with his father, wondering when their next job would be. The Jeralt mercenaries had the reputation of being one of the most reliable groups of mercenaries. For as long as he could remember, he had done jobs with his father, though it wasn't until 2 year ago that he was allowed to go on more dangerous jobs. Byleth was taller than most boys his age. He was 16 years old and would turn 17 in two months. He had built quite a reputation for himself.
In the 5 years that he's been a mercenary, he has had a reputation for being ruthless to his enemies. He killed them without mercy or remorse, which scared his peers around him. It was as if they thought he was a demon. He didn't pay heed to what they thought. Mercenaries do what is required because that is their job; they don't have time to think about the consequences. He had heard whispers of the Ashen Demon—that was what he was called due to how violently he dealt with enemy combatants. He killed without hesitation; to him, it was part of the job. It was kill or be killed—there was no room to show mercy. That was what he felt; he didn't pay attention to the whispers.
He still wondered what his father was doing; waiting for someone was taking a long time. Any other person would have been bored out of their mind, but not Byleth. He didn't care one way or the other. There were those who criticized him for not having emotions or lacking the understanding of them. It always perplexed him—he couldn't tell one emotion from the other. To him, it was something beyond his reach. He didn't feel emotionless; he just couldn't comprehend them.
He wore a black shirt with a white undershirt underneath. He had black pants with black boots. The symbol on his shirt was that of a flame, the symbol of his father's mercenary band. Anyone who saw it knew what kind of mercenary group he was a part of. When they saw him, they recognized him by reputation—the demon that would cut anyone down without hesitation if they ever crossed him. He always had his sword with him; he felt naked without it. He was still wondering just where the hell their client was. They were supposed to be escorting a girl of noble birth, and it would be the job of his mercenary band to protect her until it was safe for her to return home. It would be easy money for sure, but they wouldn't really do anything but guard a 13-year-old girl who would turn fourteen in one month. It didn't sound appealing to him; it sounded boring—if that was the kind of emotion he felt.
He saw a horse next to a carriage. The horse was brown and almost fully grown; he couldn't be more than four to five years old, close to the same age as Sora.
"When will our client be here, father?" asked Byleth, not understanding what was taking so long.
"The girl is a shy one; she doesn't feel comfortable around people. It's taking time to get her to come out," his father answered.
Jeralt wore what was expected of him as a man of mercenaries. Despite his age, his father was in great shape and was stronger than most people half his age. Every time he had sparred with him, Byleth had lost; he was a giant of a man, taller than he was.
"So I'm expected to be a bodyguard for the next six months?" Byleth asked his father, not understanding why they were doing an escort job instead of something they normally did.
"Considering you're both teenagers, it'd be better for someone closer to her age to be her bodyguard," Jeralt answered, a question Byleth was going to ask but didn't get a chance to. It was as if his father could read his mind; he was the only person who could fully understand him.
He would be this girl's bodyguard for six months. It would be boring, he thought. He would rather be doing something else—something more exciting—but his father was concerned with his detachment when he was on missions. He didn't understand why he even cared; mercenaries were supposed to do what they were told. If someone was hired to kill them, so be it—that's what he thought. He didn't understand; he thought this was a waste of his talent.
It wouldn't be long before he saw the girl get out of her carriage. He was wondering what she looked like.
"So this is the girl we're supposed to escort. Do you have a name?" his father asked in a fatherly tone.
"My name is Marianne Von Edmond," the girl answered.
He said her name over and over so he wouldn't forget. The first thing he noticed about Marianne was that she had a soft voice, which was not what he would imagine from someone of her stature. He couldn't describe what he thought of her. He didn't notice his cheeks were pink. He had never seen a girl like this before. He had nowhere to describe what he thought.
"Well, Jeralt, it looks like your son has developed a crush," said a man named John.
The girl was accompanied by a horse he couldn't help but pick up was this girl's companion.
"This sounds like easy money. All we have to do is babysit this noble brat for six months, and we can be swimming in it. I don't mind this job," said his father's second-in-command.
"Byleth, I trust you will keep this girl safe and complete the job. Remember, be careful. A lot is riding on this job," said his father.
"I understand, Father," Byleth said nervously.
He had never felt nervous before; this was the first time he would be doing a job with his father because he had forbidden it up until this point. It wasn't anything dangerous; he would just protect the girl and make sure she doesn't come to any harm. Everyone else would be doing the actual heavy lifting, considering his father did not want his son to do the dirtier jobs yet.
The girl said nothing as he escorted her to where she would sleep for the night. The tent that she would be sleeping in was more excellent than the others, but the girl paid no mind as she went inside. Dinner would be ready not too long. He hoped it wasn't meat this time; the last thing he wanted was to eat from an animal. He went to the campfire where dinner was being made and was grateful that it wasn't an animal. This time, they were cooking vegetable soup. The men, of course, were complaining.
"This shit again. Why can't we just catch a wild deer or something? It would much more appetizing than this," said a younger mercenary who was around the age of 18.
"Don't be picky, Jake; we eat what we can." Said his father annoyed that he was complaining about the kind of food that was being served.
He made sure to get a serving for Marianne and some for himself. He went to the girl's tent and spoke softly, not to startle the girl.
"Dinner is ready," Byleth said.
He heard nothing, but she ignored him. Then, he heard movement. The girl took her head out, looking at the food that they were serving.
She took it without saying anything. He hoped this was not what they were going to do the whole time, but it was an easy job, so he couldn't complain. As he ate his soup, he heard his horse speak.
"Yeah, you tell me, Sora," Byleth said quietly as he continued to watch over Marianne's tent; her horse was on the other side; he couldn't help but pick up that his horse was conversing with the girls; it was nice for Sora to have a friend he continued listening on to their conversation he heard whispers in the camp.
"He's communicating with that horse of his again." said one of his father's men in a low whisper.
"Careful, he made curse us." said a girl who was four years older than he was. He was always treated like this by his father's band of mercenaries every time he talked to animals and always creeped them out. He had no idea how to deal with these feelings. The only thing he could put into words was loneliness. That was the one thing he could describe. That's what his father told him, the feeling that he felt when he ever was alone and had no one to talk to. He had no friends except Sora. It always made his father sad whenever he saw him alone with no companion with him.
He continued to eat in silence, not thinking about loneliness and why it was a bad thing, but he couldn't help but feel something even if he didn't understand it himself.
October 1179
Byleth opened his eyes; he was in his tent. It was that memory again. He went to the jug of water and washed his face. Of all the times to think about Marianne, why now? It had been two and a half years since he had last seen her—three, to him. It felt much longer. His father told him, after his job, not to ever get attached to any client, as they were nothing more than a means to an end. It was cold how he said it, but it was true. Marianne was his first and only human friend.
He got dressed in his usual attire and went to where Sora was. He soothed his horse, humming.
"I thought about her again," he said, answering Sora's question about his mood.
"You miss her too? Yeah, she was the one person that understood me—this feeling that I have." He put his right hand on his chest, where his heart was.
"What is this feeling I'm having? Loneliness? I wish I could answer, 'cause I don't know. Ever since meeting her, the world stopped making sense," Byleth said, thinking about his friend's painful and tearful departure—the girl crying as she reluctantly let go of his hand.
"Please don't forget me, Byl," Marianne had said after they were forced to part. He looked at the sky, wondering if she thought about him, if she had forgotten about him. He put his hand inside his shirt, reaching for the necklace she had given him as a promise that they would meet again. He took it out, looking at it; it had a sigil that was the symbol of a lavender flower. This had once belonged to Marianne's mother. He felt terrible for having it, as it didn't belong to him. He tried to give it back to her, but she insisted that he keep it. She wanted him to have it so he would never forget her.
But he couldn't forget her, She had changed his life. He wasn't as ruthless as he used to be before meeting her. The people in his mercenary band noticed it; it was subtle at first. He offered his opponents mercy whenever it was possible.
His father was behind him, getting ready for their newest job.
"You all right, kid?" asked his father.
"I'm fine," Byleth said, trying to hide his true feelings.
"You're thinking about her again, aren't you?" his father asked him.
"How do you know?" Byleth replied.
"We've all been there, kid. You'll get over it," his father said kindly. But he couldn't put his finger on why she never completely left his mind. It was one of the reasons he took on so many jobs—to avoid thinking about her and the longing he had.
"It's almost been three years, and my feelings have not changed," Byleth said, not understanding why they wouldn't go away.
"I'm sorry to think that she was your red thread," Jeralt said, looking away.
He had heard about a red thread; he had no idea what it meant. These questions had been on his mind ever since he read about it. The red threads of fate linked two or more soulmates. Could Marianne be one of those people? He didn't understand. He didn't want to ask his father, as he didn't understand his own feelings. Things were so much simpler when all he had to worry about was the next job.
The blue-haired girl from his escort job two and a half years ago would not leave him.
"Come, we don't want the men to get impatient with us. It's an important job today," Jeralt said hastily. He put his thoughts about Marianne aside for now. He couldn't afford a distraction; he needed to get this job over with. He couldn't help but find his existence mundane. There had to be something more in life than going from place to place, job to job.
He was hungry to do something more. He didn't voice this to his father, but he wanted to do something else besides being a mercenary. But what else was he supposed to do?
Little did Byleth know, a fateful encounter was about to occur.
She opened her eyes. She had slept terribly the night before. She looked next to her. Another one of those one-night stands she hated so much. She had almost forgotten what the person looked like. She moved away from the naked woman and got dressed. She got out of the tent and saw one of her friends and her mercenary band, who are called Berling. They were a formidable band of mercenaries. One of the best there was, only a few that rivaled them. One of them being Jeralt, the legendary blade breaker.
There were few people who were even able to fight him and lived until the tale he was told was stuff of was someone else who was also someone that people ran when they heard his name Byleth Eisner, commonly known as the Ashen Demon.
She didn't believe most of what she had ever thought were exaggerations. It was difficult for her to believe in any of the rumors.
Getz one of the members of the Berling band who was a person that has become like a friend to her greeted her.
"Shez I see you're up early. I take it Molly wasn't satisfying this time?" he asked, referring to the 20-year-old woman she slept with the previous night.
"It's just a one-night stand; nothing else." She replied indifferently.
"I still have a difficult time believing you're 16, considering you look like a woman in her early twenties."
Getz said in disbelief.
"Believe what you will." Shez said annoyed.
"Shape it up; we have a big job today. I will not have my people screw this up."Berling said in a tone that left no room for arguments.
"so what are we up against?"asked one of the other members of the mercenary band.
"We're going up against Jeralt and his mercenary band." Molly just finished getting dressed.
"Are you kidding me? I'm not going anywhere near those people. Screw this." said a man named Jonathan he left along with the men that were with him.
"Cowards" said Berling with disgust.
"Well, I'm not afraid of those people, and I think the rumors are just rumors. I'll believe it when I see it." Shez said, showing no ounce of fear.
"Well, at least one of you has some courage! You've certainly come a long way since I plucked you from that mountain village. But this battle is about more than just victory. Jeralt's team has a sterling reputation. Rumor has it they've never blundered a single job. But once we've put them to rout, we'll finally be the greatest mercenaries in all of Leicester!"
The captain excitedly said that this would be their day, where they would finally be the greatest mercenary band in Leicester.
She took her sword and made sure to sharpen it before the battle began.
"We're being hired for a job to take them out. This is our chance to make a name for ourselves. Victory!" yelled the captain.
Shez raised her sword along with everyone who stayed with Berling.
"Today will be the end of the Ashen Demon along with Jeralt." she continued.
Everyone cheered. This job would give the Berling mercenary band a name. This was her big break.
Her mercenary man got into formation, and she started to get ready for battle.
she saw an army that looked like to be around 40 to 60 people they may outnumber her mercenary band by at least 20 people but numbers weren't everything in battles.
The first among the men she was fighting, he looked at her and thought he had an easy target because she was a woman. It would turn out to be a mistake; she ended his life quick and clean.
She wasn't about making her opponent suffer; she believed that in a fight, especially one that involved getting paid, an enemy deserved a quick death, not prolonged suffering. It was not personal.
Due to her training from her mother, who showed her all the vital spots to strike in order to quickly end someone's life with minimal suffering.
The man she defeated didn't even know he was dead when she struck him. His comrade tried to strike at her in order to avenge his death. She slit her throat and left her there. She would be dead in a matter of seconds due to her bleeding out.
Eight more approached her one after another, each being defeated. The first among the eight cut the woman's head clean off. The second tried to charge at her for a surprise kill, but it was useless. She took out her second sword, which she had in her possession, and stabbed her quickly in the heart. She took out the blade and before anyone knew it, she struck at the fourth.
When she was in battle, she was completely in her element. She was a natural. The 5th and 6th opponents were much more difficult. She didn't pay attention as she cut them down she didn't bother checking if they were dead.
When the last two opponents attacked her, she struck them, but unlike the others, they weren't dead. The can possibly be saved if they got treatment in time. Her goal wasn't to kill them; she struck at non-lethal spots.
Her mercenary band was doing well, sharing clashes with swords and spears and axes. She saw her captain, who was killing one enemy after another, like a one-man army.
she was the strongest among them one day she hopes she could be as strong as Berling but her admiration for her Captain did not last long when she heard screaming.
"He's here!" Lazley said, cut down from behind by the man she had only heard legends about. He looked at her and everyone with a cold, indifferent expression that terrified her. This or that she was feeling was out of this world.
"Screw this shit, I'm out of here."
He said, one of the leaders of the battalions, who ran for their lives, she wanted to curse them. But they didn't get a chance to run for long until they were cut down by Jeralt and his men."
"You should know the consequences of starting a fight if you're not ready to deal with them. Don't start a fight in the first place." Byleth said coldly.
He was technically right, but this was not necessary; she thought. Her mercenary band was being killed, and her captain had a look of determination. She had no fear; she was determined to defeat her opponent.
"If I kill you, I will become a legend." she said with a voice without fear. She ran as fast as her legs would carry her. She was about to strike at the Ashen Demon.
She hoped beyond hope that her captain would be able to turn the tide, but it was not to be. She was cut down like the rest of them. She fell face down, dead. She had almost died instantly.
It was a slaughter Shez had blood on her face. The face of her fallen friends she remembered, even if it was a short time. The times they had together, she had nowhere to go, no home, and it was all gone. Tears fell just seeing everyone that she had known for the past three months gone.
"Damn you, monster!" she yelled, enraged. She didn't care if it wasn't rational or had no reason behind it; she ran as fast as she could and engaged in battle with the enemy.
Byleth slashed at her. She blocked with her left sword and tried to strike with her right, but he dodged. When she was about to strike, she felt his blade go through her stomach, and she coughed up blood.
"Damn it", she said.
She got up again determined not to lose. Despite the pain, despite everything, she went on. He dodged her like it was nothing. His entire body was liquid. She wasn't able to hit him. He was about to strike at her again, and she blocked with her right blade, which was broken to pieces. She wasn't back.
He walked towards her and looked at her with an expression she couldn't read.
"It's nothing personal, but you started this fight. Hopefully in the next life, this won't happen."
He said with indifference his stance was in an execution style that was used when swordsman executed their opponents. the anger and the frustration couldn't end here; it couldn't end here; not after everything that had happened; her friends; she couldn't let it end here.
"I want you to live a long life. Shez Don't Die Young" her mother said before she passed.
"I'm sorry, mother" Shez said apologetically as her life was about to end, as if time itself had stopped, she heard a voice.
"I can't allow you to die here. Our destinies haven't been fulfilled yet." She heard a mysterious voice. She felt her entire body being engulfed in an aura. Her hair changed color, from a dark purple to a flaming purple. Her eyes looked like burning flames. Her skin became paler in complexion.
Another sword appeared out of nowhere. It was a different blade from the one she had before. She had a cape made of materials she couldn't put her finger on.
This power that she had was greater than anything she had ever imagined. She never knew such power existed. She went straight at her enemy, who was caught off guard by her sudden power boost. She knocked him back.
The wounds that she received healed as if she never had them. Byleth's men looked terrified at her appearance. She slashed at him, a purple aura surrounding her swords. He was knocked back almost, knocking his sword away from his hand.
She was striking hard and fast. Not only was she stronger but she was faster. She was faster than light. Any other opponent she would be fighting against would already be dead. But this was not an ordinary opponent. This was Byleth Eisner. She was dealing with not some random bandit.
No matter what he did to try to attack her, it was useless. It was as if his sword was hitting hard metal. This made her confident. She struck at his cheek, he dodged narrowly.
She jabbed where his heart was, another would have been a death blow. He barely managed to get out of the way of the earlier advantage he had, which he was losing.
She slashed and he dodged left and right; it was nearly impossible for him to keep up with her. She was gorging herself in terms of the amount of power she was possessing. He couldn't do anything to her; he was on the defensive.
His expression didn't change; he didn't have a look of panic. It was as if he was waiting to outlast her rather than fight her outright. She wasn't going to allow him to beat her in such a way.
What frustrated her more was that he wasn't taking her seriously; it was as if he saw her as someone beneath his notice. Frustration had her do a cross guard strike and slash, sending a X-shaped projectile flying at him. Surprise, he was hit hard.
She did not give him a chance to recover. She was about to strike, until she felt a blade through her. But she felt no pain. He looked surprised and jumped away. The wound that she had instantly healed.
"What the hell are you?" Byleth asked confused.
"Your doom." Shez replied.
He was on the defensive. He was going to die. She was going to avenge her mercenary band. But before she could do anything, something happened. She was about to do a critical blow when she felt herself getting weaker, which wasn't unnoticed by her opponent.
She felt the power she had earlier extinguished, and then she fell to the ground exhausted. Completely caught off guard, he looked at her perplexed about what had just happened.
"This battle is over." He said coldly, turned his back on her.
"You don't get to leave after what you have done." She said in anger, breathing heavily.
"You should be grateful that you're even being allowed to live. Don't throw your life away over a pointless battle." Byleth said as he walked away, shaking his head.
She felt her vision fading. The last thing she saw before everything went black was the Ashen Demon walking away.
in an unknown plane
She opened her eyes and saw what looked like another dimension. She could see stars in structures that looked completely out of the ordinary. She was nowhere in the place she was at when she was nearly killed by Byleth Eisner. It was so strange, but she didn't have time to indulge in her thoughts for long. Then she saw a being she didn't recognize. He didn't look entirely human, or was it she? It was hard to tell from what she could gather. The gender of the individual in front of her was unknown.
He wore a strange robe, which was white along with his skin and hair, which was also white. His eyes were red like a flame.
For some reason, though he felt familiar, like this being always existed inside of her, she couldn't explain why. She didn't get a chance to think for long until she heard the strange being speak.
"that was close if you had died our destinies couldn't be fulfilled"said a voice that didn't sound neither feminine nor masculine which made placing the gender of the individual in front of her difficult though she suspects it was male.
"What do you mean, who are you?" Shez asked him curiously.
"Arval, you and I are tied together. Our destinies are intertwined. I don't know what happened. I just woke up. I couldn't allow us to die until our destiny is fulfilled." Arval said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. He didn't really answer her question.
"What do you mean our destinies are intertwined? I don't understand." Shez asked.
"I don't know myself, I do know one thing for sure: we both want to destroy the Ashen Demon. I can help you with that, though, as you are now, you are no match for him. You will need to train."
He said this, which caused her to be even more frustrated.
If only she were stronger, if only she wasn't so weak. Maybe she would, she disregarded that thought. She cannot think of what ifs especially on her little Brother, who was killed 5 years was one of the main motivations she vowed to get stronger.
"Will this power really give me the ability to end Byleth Eisner?" She asked.
"With time and training, yes, right now your priority should be surviving. As it stands, now, if you pursue him, you're just going to be killed. There's no need to throw your life away right now. Our priority right now should be to survive, to train, and only then, when and only then, when we're strong enough, should we destroy him." Arval advised
"We're partners, I guess. So, where do we begin?" she asked him.
"We do the most obvious thing in the world and rest." He said in annoyance as if it was the most obvious thing to him.
"What is this place?" she asked Arval, curious.
"I don't know. You could say this is the plane in your mind. It could represent a place you've been to. I'm as lost as you are." Arval said.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Arval. I wish we had met under different circumstances." Shez said, feeling generally that she had a lot of questions, but she would save them for another time. She was feeling sleepy.
"Sleep, we have a long journey ahead of us. We will run into him again as long as we follow his trail." Arval said like a parent telling his child to go to bed.
She closed her eyes. She thought about her fallen comrades and made a promise that she would do whatever it took.
6 months later
She was lost; she had no idea where she was. She was terrible with directions. She had been saved multiple times from accidents that would have killed a normal human.
She had greater strength and agility, and a greater healing factor, than she had before. These changes did wonders to her physique. She was leaner than she was before. Those who would look at her would find her even more attractive if they saw her without her leather outfit on.
She went everywhere and anywhere for tips about where Jeralt and his mercenaries were. It wasn't helpful most of the time. The place she was tracking this time was one place she knew for sure. The trail was going to run cold if she didn't get there quick.
Remire Village was a place where the trail would run cold soon if she didn't find them. She had heard rumors in her travels about foreigners from another land, a place she had only heard in passing called Konoha. Her mother taught her about the five nations; Konoha, where most transfer students in Garreg Mach came from, was a school where elite fighters and scholars went.
She'd have to continue following the path shown on her map. She was hopelessly lost when she was about to look at it again. The wind blew very hard, and she lost it because it fell from her grasp.
"God damn it" Shez said annoyed. Now she would have to walk aimlessly. Hopefully, it won't be towards a hostile enemy.
"Be careful, Shez. I feel a hostile presence in this area." Arval advised.
She took out her sword so she could be prepared to defend herself against enemies at any time. She was ready for anything.
dreams of an ancient battle
There was a woman who looked at a man with intense hatred. This battle between them was personal. Her hair was blonde, and she looked like a warrior from ancient legends. She was cutting down enemy after enemy. She was ruthless in her assault.
She was skilled as a warrior; she was considered a goddess of war. She was covered in blood on her right side of her face from the enemies she cut down. She did not pay attention as one enemy after another fell to her feet.
She did not register their deaths. There was only one death that mattered, and she sold the man who took everything from her. There were no words exchanged; he slashed at her with a sword that looked like a chain whip. She fought with a vicious hatred for her foe.
He retracts his sword, but he is careless. She knocks the blade away from him and aims her sword close to his throat.
"Do you remember that red canyon? Do you remember all the people you have killed?" she said with a barely contained calm.
"How am I supposed to know the difference between one dead abomination and another? You're all the same to me." he said with hatred.
"You bastard, you killed everyone I loved." She didn't care about appearing strong anymore; she stabbed her fallen enemy repeatedly. She didn't care if she looked crazy; she kept stabbing him. She continued doing it until he was covered in the pool of his own blood. She looked at the sword he had possessed and picked it up, cuddling it.
"No one can hurt you now, mother." She said in a childlike tone, tears were falling. Nothing else mattered; her victory over her enemy, her recovery of her mother's remains, and.
Byleth woke up from his dream. It was the same. It was a dream of an ancient battles between ancient beings, another being a green-haired girl, and some of them looked like visions of the past and the future. It was hard to piece it together. It frustrated him not knowing what these things meant—were they visions, dreams, or something in between? If he talked to his father or anyone else, he would be considered crazy. But he always did this on a daily basis.
He got out of the room he was in and went towards his horse Sora.
"You think I should talk to my father about my dreams?" He asked Sora; he was never able to explain to anyone why he was able to understand animals, especially his horse, Sora. It wasn't something he wanted to really talk about. He heard it had a lot to do with his ancestry on his father's side. Whenever he asked this, his father never talked about it; he always had a look of pain, so he dropped it. He never brought it up again.
"You don't think I'm crazy do you?" he asked his companion.
"Being able to talk to animals, I wish Mari was here she was the one person that understand me. It was difficult for him to express emotions; it's not that he didn't have them, it was difficult for him to understand them, but the feeling he was feeling was loneliness.
People in his father's mercenary band didn't have to speak it out loud; he could see it in their eyes.
"Be careful not to let him look at you the way he kills his enemies without mercy; he is unnatural; a freak." He heard a man say to one of his friends.
"He talks to animals and kills without mercy or remorse. It's hard to believe he is Jeralt's son, considering the kind of freak he is." said a man known as John.
He tried not to let what the man was saying get to him. It was hard not to have times. It was extremely lonely. He didn't have any genuine friends anyway. Everything he had with his Jeralt mercenary band was superficial. None of the friendships he ever had was real.
Contrary to what people think, he isn't without emotions. Though it had always been a struggle to comprehend them, knowing the difference between sadness and happiness was difficult for him to understand. The only emotion he understood without it being explained was loneliness.
There's only one friend he thinks of, Sora, his horse, who has been part of his life as long as he can remember. He met Sora when she was 10 months old, That was 8 years ago. Most of the members of the mercenary band abandoned her, not thinking she was worth tending to, due to her being weaker than the rest of the horses that were chosen.
He bonded with Sora, Byleth did what was unprecedented and chose Sora as his horse, much to the objection of everyone thinking that she wouldn't last the year, but they were proven wrong when she reached adulthood. She was not receptive to anyone but Byleth when anyone approached her; she got aggravated.
It was hard to believe, and it had been 8 years she'd been with him—almost half of his lifetime. She was the one friend that he went to for advice or just someone to talk to, but it was still lonely. Nevertheless, when he met Marianne three and a half years ago, after that job was done, his loneliness got even worse. He had an ache that he couldn't explain; even Sora couldn't help him. No, he said to himself, he had to focus. What mattered most was the next job.
He was almost done attending to his horse when he heard footsteps behind him. It was his father.
"Hey kid, are you ready to head out?" His father asked him. "Yes, I am." Byleth answered.
"Are you all right?" Jeralt asked concerned.
Byleth replied, trying to hide what he truly felt, "I'm fine."
"Don't let what they say gets to you" his father said, knowing the words that were said about him bothered him even if he didn't show it openly.
"Do you think there's any chance I will see her again?" Byleth asked Jeralt, hoping for some reassurance that he'll see Marianne again.
"If it's meant to be, you will meet each other again. You, too, remind me of myself and your mother." Jeralt said with sadness
He wanted to ask about his mother, but decided against it, as they were in a place where it might not be appropriate, and then moved on to their next job, perhaps another time.
He got on his horse and couldn't help but feel like something was going to happen today that would change his life forever. A faithful encounter, he didn't know why he had this feeling; it didn't happen often. When he had this ability, he felt it six months ago when he encountered a purple-haired girl with a mercenary band. Her power was insane. Part of him hoped he never encountered her again. Something about her made him feel uneasy for some reason.
Then, when he thought about it, he didn't know why, but he had a strange feeling that tonight his life would change in a way he couldn't comprehend. He looked up at the sky and wondered if there was someone out there doing the same thing, if they felt the same loneliness he felt.
"Mari please be safe." Byleth said as he rode alongside his father to their next job, whatever it may be.
Edelgard was traveling with five people more than she originally intended in order for her plan to work, eliminating the incompetent professor of the Black Eagles who's currently with them, her plan has to work; she hired two assassins. She has full faith that they'll survive.
It had been three months since the transfer students from Konoha came to the monastery. It had been two months since she reconnected with an old friend who is next to her. She was wondering what Hinata was doing, despite what she wanted to do, she was guarded even around her because of her goal of getting rid of the irrational system that allows the domination of those with crust over those that don't. She didn't know if Hinata's goals completely aligned with hers and she had to be cautious, not to mention her friendship with Dimitri couldn't be ignored either.
"Hina Chan, what's going on?" Edelgard asked in Hinata's language.
"I was using my Byakugan to see if there were any enemies nearby," Hinata answered. She hadn't had many opportunities to see the famous Byakugan in action; it was called the All-Seeing Eye. She knew it was an exaggeration, but it couldn't be denied how helpful Hinata's abilities were; they gave her a clear advantage on missions.
"Do you see anything, Hinata?" asked Dimitri.
"No, but it's safe. Though we should not stay out too long," Hinata answered politely.
"I wish we could spend more time together as friends outside of something dangerous like this," said Dimitri.
"I agree, but I don't think Naruto and Sasuke are really happy, especially when they're around Claude," Edelgard chimed in.
"Claude can be a pain in the ass to deal with at times, I'm not going to lie," Dimitri said, thinking of all the times that he and Edelgard were forced to be alone together.
"Sasuke-san and Claude go together as well as fire and oil," said Hinata. Every time they were around each other, they always got into an argument about something; Claude and Sasuke barely tolerated each other.
"I'm actually surprised how much Sakura has tried to change since she arrived at the officer's academy, though I still can't stand being around her and won't more than I have to," said Hinata.
"Hina-chan, you will have to learn to work with people you don't like. I don't really consider Sakura a friend myself, but I do feel like everyone deserves a fair chance," Edelgard said, trying to get Hinata to see the bigger picture about the world that she wants. She didn't know if she'd be able to convince her, but Edelgard thought it was worth trying.
"So how are things going between you and Naruto?" asked Dimitri, of all the things to talk about, Edelgard thought.
"Things are great, actually! Without the clan breathing down my neck, I don't have to look over my shoulder every time I go out with my boyfriend. I feel more free now than I ever did back home; coming here is like being set free for the first time," Hinata confessed.
"Your story sounds similar to Hitomi Hyuga," said Dimitri.
"Wait, my mother?" Hinata asked, wide-eyed.
"Hitomi Hyuga; she was the lioness of the Blue Lions when she enrolled in the year 1155. In the Eagle and the Lion that year, the Black Eagles suffered the worst defeat in the academy's entire history," Edelgard chimed in.
"But how?" Hinata asked excitedly. Edelgard felt disgusted with the way Hinata's clan had treated her, not even telling her anything about her own mother during her own time at the monastery. It disgusted her. If they weren't on a mission, she would tell Hinata everything she knew.
"As much as I would like to continue this conversation, we should cut it short; we should focus on the mission," said Dimitri.
"You're right. I'm sorry, just hearing something about my mother made me excited. Please tell me more when this is over," Hinata said as they resumed their duties.
"I'm just curious, Claude. What's up with you and Ino?" asked Naruto. Claude was getting annoyed being asked about Ino ever since Naruto found out that they spent an entire day together. He wouldn't hear the end of it.
"We did nothing except talk about history. You know, something that you find boring," Claude said, hoping Naruto would drop it.
"Hey, I have no problem with it. I mean, she has been eyeing you since the day she came to the officer's academy," Naruto said with his boyish grin.
"I don't see why it matters what he does. What Claude does is his own business," Sasuke said. This was one of the rare times he actually agreed with him.
"I've been meaning to ask you as well, Sasuke. How come you haven't..." Naruto paused, not knowing how to ask the question. Claude decided to say nothing, just to see how this conversation would unfold.
"Also, none of your business. What me and Mercie do on our own time is no concern of yours," Sasuke said.
"You know, Naruto, maybe we should drop this subject," Claude said, sensing Sasuke's discomfort.
"Okay, I'll do it. I'm sorry, Sasuke," Naruto said, as they were looking around for any possible enemy that could strike at them.
"Your girlfriend is extremely popular. She has a friend in every house, at least. How are things going with her and Marianne?" Claude asked.
"Her and Marianne barely say anything to each other. At first, I thought it was because there was tension, but the more I see them, the more I realize that's not it. She listens to what Hinata says more than she speaks. It'll take time for them to speak to each other more. Marianne, from what I've been told by Hilda, it takes time for her to get used to people," Naruto said.
"Yeah, she does. Her and Hilda have been pretty tight, though. For most of their lives, they have been friends for over 10 years," Claude said, closing his eyes. He wondered what it would be like to have a friend like that. No, he shouldn't think that.
"There's been something that's been on my mind since you joined my class in January. Why did you join my class, Naruto, when you could have joined Edelgard's or Dimitri's?" Claude asked, wondering something that's been on his mind since Naruto joined him.
"There's something I like about both Edelgard and Dimitri, but I kind of feel like I don't think I would fit in as well as I do with you and the Golden Deer. I do agree with Edelgard about rising on your own merit. I think that's the kind of world I wouldn't mind living in, but I don't know how you would achieve that without a violent upheaval. Dimitri, his value is a line heavily with mine about violence and its applications, but the person that spoke to me the most..." He paused, waiting for Claude to absorb what he just said before he told him the rest.
"Your idea of breaking down barriers between nations. I think it sounds wonderful. Combining with Edelgard's vision and Dimitri's, I think all three would make the best of possible worlds. Though, I think that's just a dream," Naruto said sadly.
"Well, to make a great change to the world, it starts off as a dream. You wish to be Hokage, that's your dream, right?" Claude asked.
"I don't know what I want, actually. I thought I did, but..." Claude noticed him pausing.
"All the new friends I have made, being with Hinata Chan, I'm almost content, and I never thought I would say that," Naruto paused. Claude was wondering why he was hesitating?
"Is there something else that I should know?" Claude asked.
"Let's focus on the mission for now," Naruto said, as they heard a noise. Claude took his bow and drew an arrow from his quiver.
"Whoever you are, you better bring your hands out where I can see them, or I will shoot." Claude said threateningly.
"Don't shoot" A mature female voice said. She approached them and, for what he could tell, she looked like a mercenary. She wore black leather clothing with red on her arms and chest, which exposed her cleavage. Her hair was purple, as were her eyes, and it was long enough to reach her back.
"I'm not going to do anything; you can lower your bow please?" The girl said to Claude. He put his bow away. The girl signed in relief. "I've been lost, and I had no idea where I was. I've been wondering for days. Do you know where I am?" The girl asked the group. "We're actually close to Remire Village." Replied Claude. "I'm looking for the Ashen Demon, and I've heard he and his mercenary group is in this area." Claude has heard of The legend of the Ashen Demon: a man without mercy who kills his enemies without remorse. He doesn't know how true these rumors are, but it wasn't within Claude's character not to at least investigate. "Well, my companions and I are heading to Remire Village now. You could come with us if you want." Claude offered. "That would be helpful. I'm lost." The girl said. Relieved that she didn't have to get there on her own.
"Is there a name we could call you by?" asked Naruto. "My name is Shez," the girl replied. "We should get going; we've been here long enough," said Sasuke, annoyed. They walked towards where their companions were.
Hinata was surprised to see another companion with them; she asked about her and was introduced to everyone. From there, her accent suggested she was from Leicester. She heard something she recognized; it was those footsteps. She activated her Byakugan and then saw an army of bandits. "Ambush!" Hinata yelled. Hinata got into a fighting stance; a gentle fist style, no one in Fodlan had ever seen. Sasuke took out his sword from its scabbard, which was shaped like a katana. Naruto did hand signs for a signature jutsu. "To think that I would be able to kill the demon brat here of all places" said a silver-haired man who had a shuriken on his back.
She looked around, unsure if she had never killed before and she didn't think anyone else had either. Could she really do this? She remembered what her father said about such weaknesses; she felt scared because of her hesitations.
She saw Edelgard and Dimitri get into formation as if they were protecting Hinata from the bandits. They were in perfect sync when the bandit was about to strike at Dimitri. Edelgard covered his back by cutting down the first among the bandits. The second one tried to strike it, but Dimitri broke his jaw with his Lance.
One of them was about to strike at his back but was killed by an arrow that Claude fired from his bow, which entered the woman's right eye. The lack of hesitation from the house leaders made Hinata feel insignificant.
A bandit was about to strike at her, but Naruto punched the bandit in the face. She heard bones crack, and he fell to the ground dead, his bones broken.
Everyone had killed before, except her. She was terrified. She was scared. This was the thing that was criticized the most about her. Her hesitation to kill is what caused her to be labeled a failure and not fit to be a ninja. A band that was about to strike an axe at Naruto's back, Hinata charged, despite being afraid, and grabbed a hold of the bandit's arm, breaking it and not giving him enough time to respond. She snapped his neck, he fell over dead. Another bandit attacked her hesitantly, she snapped the man's spinal cord.
Another tried to attack her, so she killed them again. In a matter of 10 seconds, she was covered in blood. When the adrenaline wore off, she looked at her hands and screamed.
"I'm not a killer. I'm not a killer. I'm not a killer."Hinata said she was frozen. She wished she had the strength from earlier. She couldn't do anything. She was completely helpless.
A bandit charged right at her, ready to slash her with his axe, until Shaz cut him down with ease. "What the hell are you doing? You hesitate and you're going to get killed what the hell happened to your resolve from earlier?." The girl said coldly.
The girl Shez was striking bandits like it was nothing. She killed one with her left sword and the other with her right. She was killing them like it was nothing. The first one she killed was cut in half with her first play. The second was stabbed in the chest.
She didn't pay attention to any of the dying screams from her fallen foes. She wanted to puke. This violence wasn't something she reveled in. Why did she have to freeze? Why was she so weak?
Edelgard shook her to get her out of it."Hinata snap out of it we're in the middle of a battle. Edelgard said trying to get her to stop standing there but she couldn't.
Edelgard was killing bandits like a savage animal protecting her herd.
Edelgard was fighting fiercely. But she was tiring.
Hinata still wouldn't move. Before she could do anything, the bandit leader was about to cut Edelgard down.
Then she saw a blue-haired man shield her with his body, but nothing happened. It was almost as if time itself stopped.
Earlier
Byleth couldn't help but feel like something was wrong in the air, almost as if he wasn't supposed to be going to his destination with his father and their mercenary band. In his dreams, he saw multiple possibilities of what could happen. Special individuals he was supposed to meet would change his life. That wasn't the only thing Sora was agitated about something . "What's wrong, girl?" he asked, agitated. She was telling him someone desperately needed his help, that he was going down a path that wasn't the right one. "I don't know what you're talking about, Sora," he said to try to convince himself more than anyone else. He wasn't convinced any more than Sora was. The horse's angry rebuttal told him he was wrong.
"Oh look he's talking to himself again or that horse of his whatever" said one of his father's commanders in the mercenary army. He ignored the middle-aged man's comments. This felt wrong. No matter how much you wanted to deny what Sora was saying, she was not wrong. Someone needed his help. His father was shouting.
"Some fool is trying to make a name for himself, kid. Everyone defend yourselves." Jeralt ordered in an authoritative manner. The mercenary band wasted no time; they withdrew their weapons, swords, spears, bows, arrows, and axes. Unfortunately for the bandits who ambushed them, they were against an experienced army that had little experience in defeat and almost nothing but experience in complete victory. There was a reason why his father's mercenary band was held in such high esteem: hate and fear.
He withdrew his sword, much as he hated to, take life unnecessarily, he did what was necessary to protect himself and those around him, even if they hate and fear him. Byleth wasted no time; the first of the glory-seeking fools who sought to become a legend was cut in half, sideways. He didn't realize what was happening until he looked up and saw his legs; he was dead. Wondering what had just happened, he wasn't a cruel person to his enemies; he made sure to end their lives quickly, as he felt there was no point in prolonging an enemy's suffering unless one was a cruel and sadistic person who delighted in the suffering of others, something Byleth took no pleasure in.
The second among them was a woman who thought she would get an easy kill. She was about to slash at him from behind with her axe. He didn't need to look; he just cut. She tried to clenched her neck to try to stop the bleeding, hoping to save her life. But it was fruitless. When she looked at him, she had a look of horror. The last thing she saw as she left the world was someone from her point of view, a demon from hell.
The woman he had killed was in her early 20s. There was another who tried to go at him. His thought was that he could win, but he was wrong as well. The young man who was no older than 17 died without realizing what was happening. His head tumbled to the ground. When he was in battle, it was as if he were a different person. He didn't particularly like this part of the life his father had raised him in. It was as natural as breathing. Any revulsion he felt he did not show.
The only saving grace was that he wasn't killing any animals in this skirmish. He wouldn't even call it a battle. None of the bandits he killed were trained in warfare. He might as well fight children because that's exactly what they were. And as soon as the battle began, it was over.
"That wasn't even good enough for a warm-up" said a man named Todd who looked around 25 years old. He was of average height and looked scruffy due to not wanting any hair, as he felt it wasn't necessary for a warrior. He was bald. He put his sword back into its sheath. The battle was over, and he was glad it was over.
"Aren't you going to say anything?" asked Todd, annoyed by his uninterested expression.
"Those who seek battles are fools. We don't pick fights unnecessarily." Byleth said, dismissing what he felt was a ridiculous question.
"Oh, you think you're better than the rest of us, huh?" asked another person, a woman who was only two years older than Byleth. She was average height, with brown hair down to her shoulders, blue eyes. She showed off her body to the army, to showcase how attractive she was. She was a mage who wasn't just about her looks; she was a powerful mage and wasn't afraid to show off her strength. Byleth personally couldn't stand her; he didn't understand why his father would have such a narcissist in his company. She thought extremely highly of herself, to the point where she constantly had to remind everyone how much better she was. She was self-obsessed and cared only about her image, and caring about the problems it caused.
Her name was Joann. It didn't matter to her if she angered the other women in the army, who, unlike her, actually respected each other and their comrades as a whole.
He couldn't stand her. People like her had tried to seduce him on many occasions, but he turned her away. She was a woman who looked down on other women and made it very clear what she did not consider a true woman to be. It made him sick. None of the women in the army liked her, especially the more non-traditional women who wore men's clothing because they felt it was more practical in the life of a mercenary.
"No, I don't think I'm better than the rest of you, but I do think I'm better than you." Byleth said, not caring that he was being disrespectful. Joanne doesn't treat any of her peers with respect. He has no obligation to treat her with respect either.
"Watch yourself one day you may end up with a dagger in your back"said Todd who did not make it a secret he disliked him.
"I love to see you try" Byleth replied indifferently to Todd and Joanne's hateful looks on their faces. He was about to go to his horse, Sora.
Byleth heard a scream, something told him to follow that voice. His father was looking at him. "People are probably being attacked by bandits." He looked at his father. He couldn't let someone get murdered, not if he had the power to do something and they were nearby. "I'm sorry, I have to go. I can't stay here." Byleth ran as fast as his legs would carry him.
He couldn't explain how he knew he saw bandits surrounding 9 individuals. One of them was an elderly man, while the rest were men and women in their late teens. He wasted no time as he cut one bandit in half, who fell face down, not realizing what had happened. The second he slashed his victim's head clean off from behind, who had no idea what was happening. None of his victims saw him coming. He cut one down after another, killing anyone in his way. He didn't pay attention as he sliced one woman's throat and another's chest open but didn't bother finishing them off due to his priority being to save people's lives.
He saw a blue-haired girl, scared, but that's not the voice he heard; he heard a silver-haired girl who was about to be cut down. He ran as fast as he could and was using body to protect her. He didn't know why he was going to die protecting a stranger?
in an unknown plane
He looked around; he wasn't in a forest anymore. He wasn't about to be cut down by a bandit shielding a girl from certain death. What was this place? Before he could ask his question, he heard a voice of a girl who sounded like an ancient being. "You idiot! Are you trying to get us both killed?" He turned around and saw the same girl from before. She was sitting on a throne. She had long green hair; her ears weren't human. Her eyes were green. She looked otherworldly, as if she came from somewhere completely different.
"I'm sorry, that wasn't my intention." he said stupidly. He wanted to kick himself for that one. He felt like an idiot. What the hell was he thinking? "You're lucky I have the ability to stop time, but that has its limits. As soon as time stops, that Axe will cut through your back, and then you'll instantly die. And that girl will die shortly afterwards. All the other kids will die, except the purple-haired girl. But she'll survive." What purple-haired girl? He could think about that later. He had questions he needed answers to.
"What the hell are you?" he asked her. She answered him patiently and talked to him like she was speaking to a child. "Some would call me the beginning you can call me Sothis." he said her name so he wouldn't forget it; perhaps he finally had the answers he sought. "You must know something about my dreams and glimpses into the future. Are they visions? I don't know; I have so many questions." Despite the situation, he was excited; finally, he would get answers. "One thing at a time; first off, how are we going to get out of this mess that you put us both in?" she asked him. He thought about it. If she can stop time, can't she also reverse time? If she has the ability to stop it, it would make sense that she can reverse it. "Why not just reverse time? I already know what's going to happen. I simply kill the person trying to kill the girl and that would be the end of it." he said simply as if it was already solved.
"You're not as simple-minded as I thought, but my power does have its limits." She warned. "Byleth wanted to ask questions, but she was right; he knew he would get his answers later.
"Time reversed itself; he knew he didn't have much time, unlike the last time. He didn't bother shielding the girl; he just cut a man who was trying to kill her in half, killing him instantly. The other bandits looked in terror; the silver-haired man looked at him in terror. He was terrified of seeing him.
"Screw this! Killing the demon isn't worth this shit!" The silver-haired man ran away, obviously aware of his reputation. The bandits also fled; the people he saved looked at him and couldn't believe it, how easily he killed that bandit who was trying to kill the silver-haired girl.
"That was impressive,"said the raven-haired boy that looked like he was around 17. "So that's the rumored Ashen Demon. I'm glad he wasn't our enemy"remarked a blonde haired boy who had whiskers on his cheeks. "Thank you for saving my friend"the blue haired girl said softly, her eyes was not something he thought he would see, he never saw someone look like her.
"Someone of your skill would be perfect for the kingdom"said the taller of the males of the group" he was polite he didn't know why but he saw something darker underneath. "Wow you are already trying to recruit a stranger you just met? That's so like you Dimitri"said the black haired man. "Well I think the empire would definitely make good use of your services thank you for saving my life"the silver haired woman she looked very strong and ambitious in her demeanor and the black haired man he looked pleasant to talk to but he sensed that he wasn't honest it was more difficult to read him of the three. The easiest one to read was the girl with white hair with purple on the center.
"Halt, you bandit fiends!" shouted a man in armor. He saw his father approaching, whom he didn't really want to run into. Why did he want to know? "Jeralt, I can't believe it - meeting you here. I have to take you somewhere; there's no way I can let you go. And who is this young man with you?" The middle-aged man asked him, looking like he had just reunited with an old friend he never knew about. Who is he? "Alois, it's been too long." His father said to him, as if they were reuniting after being apart for a long time. Who is he? "Lady Rhea will be happy to see you again. And who is this young man with you?" Alois asked him. "He's my son. His name is Byleth." The man looked excited to see him. What was his relationship with his father?
"As for you, what is your name? You also helped our students."
The girl looked like she didn't want to be there, even more so when she was near Byleth. "Shez and I were looking for someone, and I found him." She stared at him coldly. Why did she look so familiar? "Well, it's going to be a few days before we get to Garreg Mach; you should get acquainted with everyone. I have a feeling for some reason we're going to be working together for a long time to come." He went ahead, along with his father, catching up on old times. He didn't bother asking.
"This changes nothing" Shaz said to him coldly as she walked right past him where his father was. Why did she hate him so much? "You are awesome. I hope to spar with you when I have the chance," said the blonde-haired boy, whose name was Naruto. "You should be an interesting opponent," said the raven-haired boy known as Sasuke. "Thank you once again," the girl named Hinata said politely. He conversed with all the students and learned a bit about them; where they're from, he was surprised that three students with foreign ways of fighting were from a different continent altogether. He noticed the accent in each of them, but the girl from Konoha named Hinata had the least noticeable one.
He learned about the three students from the academy. He talked to them at length, learning about where they're from, their Houses, and who they are. It was interesting to learn that, with the exception of Naruto and Sasuke, all of them were essentially royalty. Part of him felt it was way too convenient to meet all these people in one place, like it was meant to be. He dislikes this idea, as it goes against what he believes in.
Edelgard couldn't believe her luck; the professor who was with them looked scared that she would drive him away; she hoped to secure her ideal professor inside, hoping to be able to employ the mercenary who saved them. Things didn't go exactly as planned, but things could turn out even better. It was a gamble she knew: it was only a matter of time before the chance of saving her lover Monica came up, with the death of the bandit she had hired, there was a possibility, but she didn't know where she was. She couldn't think about that now; her actions almost got her killed and her childhood friend Hinata killed. She felt dirty, even resorting to such underhanded tactics to rid the world of the Crest and the organization that has plagued Fodlan for the past millennium. The organization that has tormented her and caused the deaths of all of her siblings.
She felt so alone; the only people she could truly trust were Hubert, but even that was questionable because of the paranoia, which made her heart cold. She didn't want to be like this, but she had to, as it was a necessary evil for the one who would bring a new dawn.
Hinata, when looking at Byleth and Shez, couldn't help but notice that there was something different about them from the other students in the monastery. She activated her Byakugan to see if she was imagining things, but she saw nothing.
It felt too much of a coincidence when her group went out and ran into a bunch of bandits, and when Edelgard was about to be killed along with everyone else, Byleth showed up. She couldn't help but feel like something had happened, but it hadn't happened like time itself had reversed.
She knew it must be her imagination. She noticed the way Edelgard was eyeing the mysterious stranger. She was impressed with his skills. Hinata wasn't the only one. Not only was he skilled with a blade, but she sensed there was something else about him that seemed out of the ordinary. He had an overworldly presence. Dimitri wasn't the only one who noticed.
"Awestruck by the mercenary, aren't you?" Dimitri asked Hinata.
"I just find I cannot really explain it. Dimitri he has an overworldly presence about him. I can't explain why."Hinata confessed.
"Does it have to do with your eyes?" he asked her.
"It's hard to explain when I look into him. I feel like I'm staring deep into the world itself. Maybe I'm just imagining things. Maybe my mind is just playing tricks on me because I'm tired. I'm tired of the ordeal due to us barely sleeping in the past few days. I almost feel like our meeting with him was preordained along with that purple-haired mercenary." Hinata answered.
"Do you believe in any deity, Hinata?I know in the Black Eagles, some are non-believers, while others keep their beliefs to themselves."Dimitri wasn't prepared he's was about hear.
"I don't know I don't know I find it hard to believe that there is such thing as the goddess if she did exist where was she when I needed her?"Hinata said bitterly
"I'm sorry for asking, I didn't mean to upset you, Hinata." Dimitri said apologetically.
"You have nothing to apologize for; you did nothing wrong." Hinata replied.
She was seeing Naruto talking to Claude about something she would have to ask him about later.
"I'm glad things are working out between you two. Me and Edelgard were actually worried when you first enrolled," Dimitri said in relief.
"What do you mean?" Hinata asked.
"You're like a little sister to me, Hinata. I don't want anyone breaking your heart," Dimitri said.
She couldn't believe he had just said he thinks of her as a sister. She had no idea what to say or how to react.
"I feel the same way; you're like the big brother I never had," Hinata said.
"Lady Hitomi, I wish I would have gotten to know her. She was, in some ways, the mother I never had," Dimitri admitted.
"What do you mean, Dimitri?" Hinata asked.
"Do you remember the way she spoke to both of us? She treated us as if we were both her children. When I think about it now, no, I'm being ridiculous." Dimitri wanted to dismiss what he had just thought in his head, but that one line that she said to him wouldn't leave him.
September 1173
Dimitri was about to say goodbye to Hinata, his friend who had spent the last few months with him. She was someone he could connect to easily, like twins. Edelgard and Monica looked sad as well that they had to leave.
"I really wish we could have met again under different circumstances, Hitomi-chan," Patricia said with sadness.
The 10-year-old Dimitri was able to pick up that Patricia and Hitomi were close.
"I'll let Elizabeth know how you're doing," Patricia said as she turned her back.
Edelgard was reluctant to move because of Hinata; how close they were. Hinata was on the verge of crying, seeing the trio go.
"Will I see you again?" Hinata asked Edelgard and Dimitri. He didn't know what to say to Hinata; he wanted to give her some form of reassurance.
"We will meet again! I'll introduce you to my homeland, where you can see how beautiful Faerghus truly is," the boy said with a warm smile. Hinata tried to stay strong for him and Edelgard. Before he left, Hitomi wrapped her arms around Dimitri. He was confused—why was this woman doing that? The way she was hugging him was akin to a mother hugging her child.
"May the goddess protect you, my little lion," the woman said as she kissed him on the forehead. He saw tears fall. Dimitri was confused at the time; nobody called him "Little Lion" except his father. Yet, why did this woman call him that? It was confusing, and he wanted to ask his father, but he never had the courage, even though he wanted to believe in his heart who this woman was..
"You and Sasuke seem to be good friends despite the short amount of time you two have known each other. I never thought he would choose you; I thought he would have chosen Ede Chan l." Hinata said in disbelief even after all this time.
"I think what Sasuke needed more than anything was someone to reach out to him. I think what he needed more than anything was a friend, whether he knows it or not. I just want to help, and whatever way I can, I know there's a deep darkness in him, and if I reach out to him in some way, it helps him, then I feel like I've done something right." Dimitri said, thinking about what had passed and what had happened when he returned to his homeland.
"You haven't changed, Dimitri. You're as kind as you were then. I'm glad that's the case. There's so much cruelty in this world. Knowing that Faerghus will have a king like you brings me comfort. So many despots in this world, and having you be one of the exceptions brings me hope." Hinata said, generally meaning it, not thinking he deserved her praise.
"I don't know if I deserve your praise, thank you, Hinata. Don't ever change who you are. I don't care what your clan says; you're not a failure. The very fact that there are very few people like you, kind and gentle, usually has that part of themselves beaten out of them by the time they become adults and they become cold and ruthless people. You're one in a million." Dimitri said wanting Hinata know that she's valued.
"Thank you Dimitri, your comments mean a lot,"Hinata said smiling.
" It was nice talking to you, Hinata. I hope we get to do this more, preferably on a non-dangerous mission."
They both laughed at that.
"You, me, Moni Chan, Edel Chan, I wish we could be together once again. I know it would not be like old times, but it'd be nice."Hinata said nostalgically, remembering the times they had at the Hyuga compound.
"I would like that if only we knew where Monica was." Dimitri said out loud.
This caused Hinata to look at him in shock.
"What do you mean, what happened to Moni-chan?" Hinata asked, worried about their friend.
"She disappeared without a trace. None of us know where she is or where she went or where she vanished to." Dimitri said with the same concern on his face as Hinata. They weren't as close, but it didn't change the fact that four of them were friends.
"I hope she's okay", Hinata said with a worried tone.
He had no idea how to respond and decided not to."I'm going to get some sleep. See you tomorrow." Dimitri said as he bid her farewell. The one thing that kept him up at night was wondering where Monica was and how she finished.
He hopes that nothing horrible has happened to her because the last thing he wants is for Edelgard and Hinata to lose a precious friend, and Dimitri wouldn't want to lose her either, despite him not being as close to her as they were.
He decided to go to sleep for now. As much as he wanted to talk, he would have to talk to Sasuke tomorrow. He knows something's on his friend's mind and he doesn't want to wait till they go back to the monastery to do it.
In Naruto mind while Dimitri was talking to Hinata
He was in a place that looked like a cage. It felt hot. Naruto screamed. It was terrifying. What the hell was this place, he wondered, he was sleeping after a long day where he and his entire group narrowly avoided death. Why is he suddenly here? He saw a huge fox. He didn't know what to make of it. What was he looking at?
"To answer your question, I am what that village would call me, Kyūbi, but I go by another name. However, I don't give my name unless it's someone I trust."
Naruto felt like he was going crazy; the story there's no way this thing standing before him could be the nine-tailed fox spirit; it was destroyed 17 years ago. "You actually believe those stories? The village told you? There's a reason why they hated you, but I won't reveal that at this time because there is only so much; let's just say. I've been inside of you your entire life; we're tied together; you and I along with Sothis; our destinies are intertwined; there will be a role that we will be playing in the future with you and the man named Byleth, along with the girl named Shez. I can't tell you why; cuz. I don't know; I will guide you in the best way I can. It's a promise I made to your parents prior to their deaths."
Naruto couldn't believe it; an answer about his parents he didn't know who they were.
"You know who my parents are?" Naruto asked him. "I know very little about your father, but I do know about the previous host, which was your mother. I'll tell you about it later, because right now it's not safe for us to communicate with each other. I'll talk to you again." Kyūbi sent him back to the real world.
Naruto woke up and wondered what that was about. He got out of the tent and saw Edelgard, who was surprised to see him up so late in the night.
"I take it you can't sleep?" Edelgard asked him, wondering why he was up so late.
"I have difficulty sleeping tonight. We narrowly avoided a near-death experience. It's just crazy."
Naruto said feeling like an idiot, but he couldn't help saying what was on his mind.
"I know that feeling only too well." Edelgard replied.
"You know Hinata Chan, don't you?" Naruto asked Edelgard when he saw the two talking. There was something familiar about them, along with Dimitri.
"We're childhood friends. We met long ago." she replied.
Naruto sat down and looked at the sky.
"Naruto, I can't help but voice my disappointment that you didn't choose my class. I think you have talent, and those back at your home don't appreciate it." Edelgard said, pointing out something that Claude himself told him on the first day that he was part of their class.
"Claude tells me the same thing, but why would you want me in your class when you have talented people like Hinata or Dorothea?" Naruto asked.
"There are different kinds of talent, Naruto. You're very innovative, and how you come up with new techniques and how you can think on the spot. I don't think I would be able to pull off the kind of technique you use, called Shadow Clone Jutsu, right?" she asked him.
"Yes, it's an A-rank technique. I couldn't do the lower-rank version of the technique at all, but this technique in particular, I did it without any problems." Naruto answered.
"People underestimate Hinata as well. That damn clan dismisses her because she's not as good in the gentle fist as her cousin or her sister. It's complete nonsense. I've seen what she can do. If it weren't for her confidence, she should be far stronger than she is."Edelgard said.
"I think she's strong as she is now. There's different kinds of strength. It isn't just physical."Naruto said.
"I agree, but why do you feel that way, Naruto?" Edelgard asked him.
"She's kind and gentle, most people see kindness and gentleness as a weakness. I don't agree; anyone can be ruthless and heartless, but not everyone could be both kind and gentle. Hinata Chan has a strength I don't have and never could have; I'm not as forgiving as she is nor as understanding."Naruto said, looking and hiding his blush from Edelgard.
"I agree with you. Naruto, Hinata is strong as she is. It makes me angry knowing what she has gone through, but I'm happy knowing that she has someone like you to look after her well-being," Edelgard said.
"She has told me a lot about you. She keeps telling me about the big sister that she never had. I can completely see that you bring out a confidence that I've never seen. You're one of the few people that actually believed in her when a lot of others have given up. I appreciate what you've done for her, Edelgard," Naruto said with appreciation.
"You could say she is like a little sister to me. I worry about her, and I do what I can to help with her confidence, but I feel like I'm not enough. Ever since you two started dating, I've seen her feel better about herself, but I would like her to go beyond that." Edelgard said, thinking about Hinata's confidence issues.
"I know what you mean. She means the world to me, and I would give her the world if I could," Naruto said, not realizing what he was implying. Edelgard would not push him on this, considering that feelings of love were things Naruto had to come to terms with on his own. Not to mention, Dorothea and Ingrid could help him with that; they did help Naruto and Hinata date, after all, by pushing them to talk.
"You should get some sleep. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow," Edelgard suggested. He yawned and said good night to Edelgard before heading to his tent. She couldn't help but think, "If I could befriend Naruto, he could be someone who could help me in the future, but that would be fruitless."
If only someone could reach out and take her hand; she wants to pursue her dream without losing her humanity in the process.
Naruto was about to lay back down before Hinata entered his tent. Naruto hugged her after what they had been through in the past few days. Being in her arms reminded him of what he had almost lost.
"I'm sorry for being a burden to you," Hinata said, shaking. She had never killed before. Damn it all, Naruto thought. Someone like this shouldn't kill. It wasn't right. Killing changed you. Naruto knew that, and this would change Hinata in ways he didn't want to happen.
"You're not a burden. You never are," Naruto said quietly.
"I almost got one of my best friends killed. If I wasn't so weak and useless," Hinata said. Naruto soothed her.
"You're not weak or useless," Naruto said softly.
She looked at him. Her eyes were so beautiful, yet so sad.
"The main reason I killed those bandits was because they tried to kill you. I couldn't bear if anything ever happened to you," Hinata said.
"I couldn't either," Naruto replied. They kissed passionately. He was on top of her as he gently laid her down on the ground. They didn't care if the world ended at that moment. He removed her uniform, and she did the same. He was grateful he had cast the sound seal jutsu before he started making love to her.
She felt his arms around her, and I've been an hour. Normally, she wouldn't have done such a thing on a mission. Until she felt safe in his arms, she couldn't sleep. She couldn't help but think of that man she refuses to call Father. How would he feel now if he knew that she was naked beside her lover?
"I don't know what I would do without you," Naruto said as he put his fingers through her hair.
"I don't know either," Hinata confessed.
"I would give you the world if I could," Naruto said, which caused Hinata to laugh when she thinks of the image of Naruto doing exactly that. He would if she asked him to.
"You are my world," Hinata replied.
"You're mine as well. I don't know who I would be if I never met you," Naruto said.
"I can't imagine either. You've saved me," Hinata thought about all the times when she had no one to go to. She thought of Naruto.
"I'm thankful to Dorothea Chan and Ingrid Chan. Without them, I don't know if we would have this now. They're important to me too," Naruto said.
"Yes, they are to me as well," Hinata replied. She thought about it. If it were possible, she wouldn't mind including them, but she knows that's not possible. But she can't help but desire it.
"I'm tired," Naruto said, yawning.
"I am too," Hinata said as she closed her eyes. She felt Naruto bury his face on Hinata's chest. She wants to tell him her feelings, but she doesn't have the courage yet. When she was sure Naruto was asleep, she whispered.
"I love you, Naruto Kun. I always have. I always will." She fell asleep dreaming that she could have this with Ingrid and Dorothea as well, even if it was only a dream.
Sasuke had no idea what to think of the mercenaries named Byleth or Shez. They both looked really strong, seeing how easily Byleth defeated those bandits. It made Sasuke want to be trained by him. He had skills worth learning from, unlike his current professor. Sasuke sees this mercenary as a potential teacher to help him defeat Itachi. He would keep his eyes out for this one. He had a strong feeling he would have an important role to play. He didn't know why. The group barely conversed, which was okay with Sasuke; he didn't particularly like conversing with people anyway.
Dimitri was walking beside him, and the two months that he had been a student in the Blue Lions, all he had focused on was training. Dimitri had defeated him in every one of their duels. Felix, who was barely able to keep up with him, Ingrid, another all-the-students-in-the-Blue-Lions-in-one-way-or-another were talented. In a way, Sasuke was glad he chose the Blue Lions; it made his training more worthwhile. Though the only one he particularly really wanted to train with was Dimitri. He was a training partner that he liked training with the most due to his respect for his skills. He was curious, however, about his relationship with Hinata Hyuga. How did he know her?
"Something on your mind, Sasuke?" asked Dimitri.
"Yeah, there's a question that's been bugging me. How do you know Hinata-san?" Sasuke asked him inquisitively.
"I can't answer that because it involves something I don't really want to talk about right now," Dimitri said, not really wanting to discuss his relationship with Hinata. Sasuke would get it in time, so he decided to drop it.
"I've been meaning to ask you how do you and Mercedes, how do you two know each other?" Dimitri asked. He didn't know how to tell him he hadn't really shared much about her time in Konoha. How much should he reveal?
"She was there six years ago. She spent a year in Konoha while her mother was looking for a home. I can't really discuss much because it's personal," Sasuke said. Dimitri noticed that whenever he talked about Mercedes, Sasuke became protective of any information regarding her.
"She's important to you, isn't she?" Dimitri asked.
"Yes. Other than Naruto, she's my most precious friend," Sasuke said, trying to hide that he felt much more than friendship towards her. He didn't want to talk about it with anyone; those were feelings he'd been dealing with for the past five years.
"The way you spoke about her just now implies it's something much more," Dimitri noted observingly.
"Please don't tell anyone. The last thing I want is to ruin the friendship I have with her," Sasuke said, looking away.
"I won't tell anyone, Sasuke. Be honest with me: what are your feelings towards her?" Dimitri asked.
"She's a precious person to me, and I don't think I have a chance with her. She still thinks of me as a boy. How can I possibly tell her my feelings if she won't see me as a man?" Sasuke said, more emotional than usual. Again, whenever it came to Mercedes, Sasuke was different.
"I can't imagine what it's like being in your position. Your secret is safe with me, Sasuke," Dimitri said. He knew there was a lot more that Sasuke felt towards her and the reasons he felt that way, but he decided he had dug deep enough for now.
"Thank you, Dimitri. I appreciate everything you've done for me so far," Sasuke said, thankful to his friend for being so understanding. He was the one person he felt had the most integrity.
He was welcoming and friendly, unlike Claude and Edelgard, Dimitri didn't have ulterior motives when he spoke to him. He was an honest person, someone he had grown to respect over time, so he had not said that openly.
Other than Naruto and Mercedes for the brief time that she was in Konoha he never really had friends back home. The closest he can think of are Dimitri, Felix, and Annette. They respected his boundaries and, unlike back home, the girls weren't fan girls. The exception was the banshee, who treated him with respect and generally meant it.
None of the women at the monastery could compare to Mercedes; to him, she was an angel who was kind toward everyone and always sought to think of the positive things in life. She tried to see the silver lining even in negative situations. She was a light that Sasuke didn't think existed until he laid his eyes on her. He knew in his heart that no woman would ever compare to her. Even if it broke his heart, he could never reveal his feelings. He buried them even deeper; every time he talked about his feelings for her, it got more difficult for him to keep it inside. How long would it be before he confessed and ruined his friendship with her? He couldn't do that.
"You should tell her your feelings, Sasuke. It doesn't do you any good to keep them inside," Dimitri said, concerned about Sasuke's feelings.
"Please drop it, Dimitri," Sasuke requested.
"Okay, I'm sorry," Dimitri replied, knowing he was not going to convince Sasuke to reveal his feelings toward her.
As they were getting closer to the monastery, it was dawn. He had gotten used to this scenery in some ways. For Sasuke, seeing this brought him more peace than being in Konoha, which did nothing but remind him of what he had lost.
Byleth saw what the students he had saved a few days earlier; he looked at the place that was called the monastery, which is known as "The world at Large" (Garreg Mach). It looked like a church, but also like a fortress and a castle at the same time. It looked ancient. He didn't know why he felt something familiar about this place.
Shez, who was right next to him, also looked up. They saw a green-haired woman. She looked really important. He couldn't put his finger on it, but she was familiar and he didn't know why.
Byleth, Jeralt, along with Shez, were summoned to the chambers of the woman who resided in Garreg Mach. He turned around and looked at Byleth, along with his father, and Shez. "Oh, Jeralt, it's been so long. This man standing before you is he your son?" The woman asked him. "Yes, though he was born after I left, it was too painful after Siri's passing
" She looked at him, almost as if questioning what he said was true, but immediately changed her mood when she turned her eyes to Byleth.
"I'm pretty sure you have many questions. I'd like to know the names of the people who saved my students." Byleth didn't see anything suspicious about her and she met them and their father no harm; he gave her his name.
"My name is Byleth Eisner." He couldn't tell why she was happy when she heard him give his full name. Then Shez gave her her name.
"My name is Shez "she said in a business-like manner. "Very good names. My name is Rhea. I am the archbishop and have heard much about you. Alois vouches for both of you. One of you I'm offering you to be a student at this academy, while the other. I'm offering you the chance to become a professor. Byleth, I believe you have what it takes to be a professor. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; you could be a great help." Again, he couldn't read her for some reason; there was something about her he couldn't quite trust. "I know what you're going to ask about me rejoining the knights. I couldn't say no even if I wanted to." Said his father.
"You both should rest; you've had a long journey. Tomorrow, you could both decide where you would like to go." Rhea dismissed the trio; they left the chambers. Shez went ahead of them, not wanting to be anywhere near him. "She's offering you a chance to do something other than be a mercenary. It's something I would have wanted for you, but be careful and be wary of her." His father warned him. He didn't sense anything sinister about her or her intentions, but he took his advice to heart.
He was escorted to his quarters. The next day, he would talk with many students. It would be overwhelming. He didn't know which class he would ultimately choose. He decided to put that thought aside and went to sleep.
Rhea dismissed Jeralt and Byleth, and she couldn't resist what she felt any longer. Sitri, her son, was home. Her grandson was also there. However, there were other things as well. Her entire family was under one roof now, under normal circumstances, she should be happy, but she also felt guilty.
There is a huge secret that she's keeping from Jeralt and Sonia in the abyss who nobody knows exists. When she thinks about her grandchildren, she feels pain every time she thinks about Siri, the girl she held when she brought her into this world. One of the few things she had left, she was all that was left of her people and she was gone.
Byleth was the key to bring her mother back but would she really be willing to pay the price that he required to do so? Sitri died so her son could live did she really have a right to take away no she couldn't lose her resolve she wanted to see her mother again to hold her again. he was alive even if should her mother come back through him he will still be alive.
The guilt she felt wouldn't stop. It kept gripping her, and the voice of her lover, the woman she hadn't named, echoed in her mind over a thousand years.
She would do anything to protect her family, regardless of the consequences. She felt like a mess. She was happy that all of her family were in the same roof, but also she felt scared at the same time. Like all of it could burn to ashes.
"I'm lost without you mother I could use your guidance more than ever." Rhea said quietly to herself how much longer would she have to put up with the lies that she had built in the past millennia how many secrets would she have to keep for how much longer.
It would feel much better if she could just tell the truth, but she was terrified of that because of how long she had been lying. Lying about the history of Fodlan, she had to play the part of being the archbishop because that's what the humans think she is. They're ignorant of her true nature.
She curses Nemesis every day when she goes to sleep, over everything he took from her: her soulmate, all her siblings, a part of her, even blaming him for what happened to Siri. That monster destroy her life and everything, that she once had.
No amount of time that passes can change the revulsion and that was discussed when she looks at those heroes' relics. If she were able to, she would compensate all of them and let the souls in those relics rest.
If there was one thing she would like to see before she dies, it's for that to happen. Will it happen? She doesn't know. Things have changed with Siri's son back home. She could finally step down from being the archbishop and have someone she could trust succeed her. Byleth or Sonia seem like ideal successors.
That was for the future, though tomorrow he would choose a house, and with it, the fate of all would be decided. Though she didn't know why the three transfer students from Konoha, Byleth, and the girl with a mysterious origin named Shez, all would have a huge role to play in the future and would shape the fabric of the world.
She didn't like this feeling she had, but she was once told by her mother that when a huge shift was about to occur. She should be prepared, whether it is for good or for ill, remains to be seen.
Which class will he choose: the Black Eagles, the Blue Lions, or the Golden Deer? She would know by the end of tomorrow, and so would the purple-haired girl.
October 1176
Marianne was away from her parents. She wished she could see them again. The strange people and strange places she was encountering were overwhelming. The only comfort she found was her ability to talk to animals; they made her feel less alone. But it still didn't alleviate her longing for her parents and Hilda—one of the few people who didn't treat her as a freak.
There was a mercenary named Byleth Eisner, who was close enough that he could come to her aid if someone tried to kidnap her. Other than that, she still felt utterly alone. She dared not talk to him because of her crest and the fact that he was a complete stranger; he would probably think she was a freak just like everybody else if he knew what she could do.
"I don't know, Dote. It's just so much easier talking to animals than to people. The strangers I'm around would think I'm a freak if they knew what I can do." She heard footsteps and saw a blue-haired man who looked at her with fascination.
Byleth had a look of disbelief. Did he think she was a freak? No, that was not what she saw in his eyes. She saw a bird perch on his right index finger.
"Thank you for helping me keep an eye on her," Byleth said softly to the bird as it flew off his finger.
She looked at him in disbelief. Could he do the same thing she could? No, she must be imagining things; this couldn't be real.
"I agree. Animals are simpler creatures to talk to. They're not judgmental, and they listen without bias. Sora listens to me, regardless of what I'm saying, when I'm feeling sad. I never knew there was another soul who understood animals like I do. It feels lonely, to be honest; I thought I was the only one." The way he said it was filled with melancholy; she felt her heart beating rapidly.
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to intrude," Byleth said apologetically. Marianne interjected quickly.
"You didn't intrude; just; I didn't expect to ever find someone else that could understand animals like I can. I feel less lonely knowing that now." Byleth said sadly this was the longest she's ever spoken to anyone besides Hilda and her parents.
"I never knew there was another soul like me," Marianne said, feeling her cheeks turn pink.
"Neither did I," Byleth replied, his cheeks also pink. She had no idea what to say. What could she say?
"I hope we don't have meat tonight," he said. Marianne couldn't help but agree; she didn't want to eat an animal, but if there was nothing else to eat, she would do it, even if she hated it.
"We shouldn't eat animals unless we have no other choice. They have thoughts of their own; they feel pain just like we do. In a perfect world, we would never eat animals ever," Marianne said.
"You're quite something. No girl has intrigued me like you have," he said, turning away, blushing. With his reputation, he never did that. The Ashen Demon—which was what he was called—had a reputation for not showing any emotion at all, but here she was, seeing him act in ways that were normal for a teenage boy.
"You wouldn't mind being my friend, would you?" Marianne asked, hopeful.
"I wouldn't mind that at all. I feel less alone knowing there's another soul like me that could understand, almost like I can," Byleth replied. She heard Sora tell her that he liked her.
"I do too," he said.
Her horse also told her that he liked Byleth. They both laughed, both of their horses giving their approval of their friendship. This meeting with him changed her life; those six months weren't like anything she had before or since.
She looked at the ceiling; she couldn't believe she was remembering that day—the day she became Byleth's friend. It was the day her world had changed, when she learned there were other people, other than herself, who could understand animals and speak to them. Meeting that boy had changed her life. She knew he's now a man—had to be 20. She had missed him greatly since they departed three years ago. It wasn't long before her parents died.
Had she not met him, she might have taken her life after her parents' deaths, after her uncle's cruel words to her. The chance of meeting him again was what stopped her. She heard about two mercenaries saving the house leaders and one of her friends.
She was worried about Hinata when she left; even though they hadn't spoken much, she still worried about her. Hinata was one of the few people who didn't judge her. She and Hilda were among the few who were willing to be around her, even if she said nothing.
"If you're meant to see each other again, you'll meet him again, Marianne. The red threads of fate mean you meet for a reason. If he is your thread, you'll see him again," her mother said—the last thing she told her before she was killed by assassins of her political enemies because of her friendship with Hitomi.
"If you ever meet Hitomi's daughter, please be her friend; she could use one," said her father. Why was she thinking about her parents now, of all times? She missed them dearly; God, she wished she could hear their voices again.
The one she longed for the most was Byleth. She fell asleep, not realizing her life was going to change tomorrow.