Chapter Text
The war has ended.
The Adrestian Empire is no more.
Nemesis and his Ten Elites are gone forever.
The remnants of Those Who Slither In The Dark are now being tracked down and it's only a matter of time to find and put an end to them.
A new dawn for Fodlan has come.
The Golden Deers have returned to Garreg Mach for their celebrations.
But first, they paid their respects to the fallen. With Seteth's help, Byleth lead everyone in a solemn prayer in the Cathedral.
For those who died five years prior, that they never got to mourn for properly.
For those who sacrificed in the war up to the very end. Valiant friends, brothers, sisters and beloved parents who entrusted the future to those who are living.
For the late daughter of House Galatea, Ingrid, who died protecting her liege and whose body now rests peacefully with her fiancé, Glenn Fraldarius, in the Fraldarius territory. Duke Fraldarius had refused at first, stating that Ingrid belongs to her family but Count Galatea insisted for it's what Ingrid would like.
It will also give them their peace of mind and accept that their daughter is now with Glenn, happy in the afterlife and in the Goddess's embrace.
Sylvain, whom Mercedes managed to spare at the last minute, succumbed to his grievous injuries he got in Gronder Field after a few weeks of holding out. Due to his heir's death, Margrave Gautier resigned his post and power to Duke Fraldarius and took his own life due to overwhelming grief.
Margravine Gautier, left alone, sought out a Gautier relative that may have a child who has the Crest to raise as her own so that one day they could take back Gautier from Fraldarius's care.
Felix, who went missing with Dedue after the Battle of Gronder Field, died at Enbarr where he tried to avenge his friends. Byleth deeply regrets it that she wasn't able to get to him on time.
As for Dimitri, Balthus was able to get him back from Imperial hands after Hilda saw his fate. Balthus almost lost his life as well because of that stunt but he'd be damned if he'll let the Empire degrade someone who fought valiantly.
Claude has sent out people to look for Dedue so that he can come back to take care of Dimitri. And hopefully he's found before Claude returns home.
They all thought Dimitri was dead, but Mercedes and Byleth managed to pull off a miracle to bring him back from the edge. Claude and Byleth also found it prudent and essential to the war that they proclaim Dimitri dead so that the Empire will just focus against The Alliance instead of targetting a man who can barely stand on his own.
Of course, Byleth feels it's wrong to deceive the people of the Kingdom, to keep their rightful King from them, but it is for the best.
Dimitri cannot lead the people of Faerghus in his current state.
Not to mention, there are still enemies abroad that will seek him out and kill him. Or use him against all that he believes in. Byleth will not let them destroy what is left of Dimitri.
Afterwards, as the sun sets down the horizon, merriment and music filled the place no matter how muted it is, with tearful families reunited finally after being away.
A lot of people took this chance to ask their special someones before it's too late to say anything to get married as soon as they managed to rebuild their homes. Some of the bolder ones took the chance to be cheesy and go by the lines "I want to build a new home with you".
Children ran around freely, and most of them were tailing the Knights of Seiros who are like heroes in their eyes.
The Golden Deer students, having bonded through it all, were at the center of the festivities.
Raphael and Leonie sat quite close to one another, enjoying the food and drinks while Linhardt tries to sneak off to sleep but Lysithea held him back.
Ignatz and Petra were conversing quietly in their little corner, discussing their future actions. Lorenz, seated next to Mercedes, is having a little trouble getting his words out and have his message be understood by her.
Yuri and Dorothea just watched them bemusedly as they shared a bottle of wine. Hilda is trying her hardest (and failing miserably) to get Balthus to stop hoarding all the alcohol because there's no way in hell she'll help him get up if he passes out.
Constance and Hapi sat next to Caspar and Annette, with Constance and Annette telling the two to slow down on eating (or stop talking when their mouth is full). Ashe and Marianne only chuckled at them, while making sure their table has enough drinks just in case one of them choked.
Seteth sat next to Ferdinand and Flayn, with the older man seem to be giving Ferdinand quite a bit of a lecture or something. Cyril brought over more food and drinks for them while Alois tries his best to keep Bernadetta calm through all of it.
And amidst the celebration, is Byleth who is being congratulated and thanked by everyone for leading them in the war.
She smiled at them, shaking her head, because it was thanks to everyone's effort. Her statement is always refuted by everyone, for they know full well that it's really her guidance and presence that got them to work together. If she didn't return to them back in the Millennium Festival, then the Empire would have crushed the Alliance in due time.
But it wasn't only her who did it. She mostly got by thanks to the Golden Deer House Leader. He's the brain and backbone of the resistance. All Byleth ever did is do what she does best: fight the enemy and keep as much of their own troops alive.
If it wasn't for all of his careful plannings, they wouldn't really survive the war, let alone win it.
And speaking of which...
Only one man is missing in their celebrations.
The Leader Man himself, Claude von Riegan.
Byleth had walked around the banquet, looking for him. She wanted to tell him something important.
Something she had been holding back on because he was her student and the chief tactician of the army.
Something that she herself was shocked to realize that she would actually fall in love with someone. She likes caring for people, always trying to be fair in doing so.
She honestly did not count on caring for one person to a different extent.
When her father told her about giving the ring her mother once wore to her, and that she should give it to someone she loves as much as he did to Sitri, Byleth thought it was ridiculous.
Who in their right mind would like someone like her? A common mercenary turned professor thanks to her father's friend.
Who has nothing else to offer to a noble but her heart.
Who would even take that seriously, especially these highborn ones? She knows, from experience handling Lorenz (and seeing his growth that she's proud of), that even though Claude is down to earth and doesn't act like a noble, it is still expected from him to marry someone equal of his station.
She knows that a General and a chief tactician being in a relationship during a war is unprofessional. But she had hoped that after the war, they could follow their hearts.
If the feeling's mutual that is.
But if not, it's still an entertaining thought.
She had walked around the banquet in full, but did not see him at all. She smiled at Yuri, hiding her disheartened expression, who came up to her with a glass of wine.
"Looking for someone?" he prompted as he handed her the glass.
"What? No, no, not at all. Just...checking on everyone."
Yuri only hummed at that, unconvinced, as he crossed his arms and stood next to her.
"In the next couple of days, everyone's going their own ways." he said conversationally. "We may have not graduated formally from the Academy, but this sure feels like one. Not like we'd get anything out of graduating from the Academy."
Byleth took a sip of the wine, having no real response to his words. Her mind's busy elsewhere, wondering where Claude would be.
"And what about you, friend? What do you intend to do next? Going back to a life of a mercenary?"
Byleth lowered her glass, considering it.
She could lead Jeralt's mercenaries, since they have joined her in the war and they would gladly accept her as their new leader. The group has also grown in size during the war, with their active recruitment and because their name is well known.
Or she could leave the group in Leonie's care and join those who are searching for the remnants of the Slitherers.
But then she remembers what Rhea told her.
That she's leaving everyone in Garreg Mach in Byleth's care.
That Rhea is only standing in for her as the leader of the Church.
It is kind of ridiculous for a former mercenary to become Archbishop suddenly. Surely there are more capable and suitable people around for the job.
There's Seteth. He can fill in the role. Right?
Yuri only smiled at her. "Or do you plan to marry into House Riegan? I wouldn't be too surprised in all honesty. The way you looked at him says it all. And I'm pretty sure Duke Riegan's going to be pleased to have the Hero of Fodlan as his wife."
"I don't play favorites among my students." Byleth replied with a deadpanned expression. "And marriage is not in my mind. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go have a walk around and see to the others."
"Sure, if you say so. Others." Yuri teased as he took back the wineglass from her. "Don't go embarrassing yourself in front of your precious little Golden Deer."
Byleth gave him a stern look, one she always uses when she wants to look strict. It works on most of her students. And she hopes this time, it works on Yuri too.
"Everyone here that are my students are all Golden Deers."
"Ah, no. We're still the Ashen Wolves."
"You agreed to join the Golden Deer."
"Not really. I just promised to help out. There's a difference."
Yuri only teasingly chortled as he gave her a half bow and walked away. Sighing and shaking her head, Byleth left the hall and wandered around the grounds.
She stopped by her parents' graves and sat there for a while, looking up in the sky. She looked at the stars, remembering the stories and lessons her father told her about them.
How to calculate the hour. Where to find North or South and navigate the lands with it as her guide if she has no choice but to work at night.
Or that story where he said her mother is one of them when he noticed little Byleth was staring at some kids who were with their mothers.
She easily located the star that her father had pointed out to be her mother's star. She took out the ring her father left behind and idly twirled it between her fingers, wondering what to do.
The worse that could happen is Claude rejecting her. Which is fine, if ever that really happens. She'd understand that he only sees her as a friend as he had often called her.
She had seen how he interacted with the majority of the females in the army. And with her gone for five years, it doesn't seem impossible that he has developed feelings for one of them.
She pondered if it's worth risking their friendship if she confesses to him. Or would she rather keep it as is so that she can stay by his side. If possible, since she heavily leans on the plan of going back being a mercenary.
She must have stayed there for an hour or so, being lost in her stargazing and giving up on finding the answer to her dilemma, with the gentle cool wind blowing gently around her.
Some Riegan tabbies tried to get onto her lap but failed so they settled on curling up on her coat that is spread out behind her.
"Oh, so you were here all along." she heard a familiar voice behind her. She turned to look and saw Claude smiling as he walked towards her.
She gently stowed the ring away into her pouch and gave him a small smile as he sat down next to her.
"I didn't see you in the banquet when I stopped by. I got worried." he told her.
"Yuri didn't say anything?"
The corners of Claude's mouth tightened at the mention of that name but it wasn't obvious to Byleth.
"He was busy." he replied tersely, turning slightly to pick up a cat from behind her and settled it on his lap.
The cat didn't like being woken from its sleep and getting petted, giving Claude a glare. The cat got up, paced around Claude's leg, kneading and finally curled up with its back to him.
"I see...did you need me for something?"
"Just wanted to say thank you, for all the help you gave me." Claude told her as he looked up in the starry sky. "This war could have gone on for another few years if you didn't come back to us in time. Who knows, I'm probably ousted as Duke Riegan if you weren't around..."
Byleth only smiled at that. "I only did what any sensible teacher would do."
Claude chuckled at that. "Still in teacher mode, my friend? I thought we graduated already."
"Force of habit."
They sat there in silence, watching the stars.
Byleth debated with herself if it's the appropriate time to tell him how she feels and give the ring to him.
She won't even ask the ring back if ever he does reject her.
But if he does accept, it would be nice because in a sense, her parents are watching them.
"I was talking to some people." Claude finally said after a while. "I'll be sending Dimitri somewhere far from Fodlan under a new name. Let him live a new life peacefully...hopefully. Since the man is proclaimed dead, it would be unwise to let him continue living here, always in hiding."
Byleth glanced at him. "Where are you sending him to?"
"Near my hometown, where he could be looked after."
"And that would be where?"
Claude smiled at that. "You're not getting that information that easily."
"Claude, you already confirmed to me that you're not born in Fodlan. And being in contact with Nader from Almyra only means one thing."
"And what's that one thing, Teach?"
"Do you really want me to spell it out for you? When I first met Cyril, he was muttering under his breath that someone looks familiar but he couldn't place where he saw them. I'm pretty sure he was talking about you. And we all know where Cyril and Nader are from."
Claude chuckled at that. "Yeah, well. But I'm not telling you where exactly Dimitri's going to live in. It's better that only a few people know where he is."
"Is he okay now?"
"He's eating and drinking. Which is a good sign. I've talked to him at some length about the plan and he agreed to it. Well. More or less. He hasn't voiced any refusal but he also hasn't said any kind of agreement."
"When is he leaving?"
"As soon as we locate Dedue, they're going to move to their new homes. Nader has it all prepared."
"I see..."
Claude glanced at her. "Don't tell me you'd prefer to reinstate him as the King of Faerghus?"
She shook her head. "To Fodlan, King Dimitri's dead and the Blaiddyd bloodline extinct. As much as I want him to return to the Kingdom, we can't take it back. It'll create a problem we don't really want to deal with."
Claude pursed his lips, still looking at her expression.
"That's true... Tell me, Teach. Would you prefer Dimitri to stay here and look after him?"
Byleth only smiled at that sadly. "If I could...I would. But life on the road might not be good for him, especially when we want him to slowly rebuild his life. I think he's had enough of killing people."
"Life on the road?"
"I was thinking that I'd return to my father's mercenary group. Lead them in his stead. It's going to be a while for the land to settle down so might as well take the chance and get them some extra coins for a living. After that, maybe settle down in Remire, or travel beyond Fodlan. Maybe to Almyra. Or Dagda. Or even Morfis. Wherever the wind blows."
Claude stared at her hard, his expression not betraying any emotion. But the way his tone sounded when he next spoke, gave Byleth an insight to what he feels inside.
A desperate tone, grasping at her, almost begging to stay where he could see and reach her.
"I thought you're going to stay here in the monastery. Take up Rhea's position or continue teaching. I mean. Being a teacher kind of suits you."
Byleth shook her head. "I'm not qualified in any of those jobs, Claude. You can't expect a mercenary who had no idea about the Church to run things like Rhea does. And I got by as a professor because you are all excellent students."
"Why does it have to be the same way like she did?" Claude blurted out, making Byleth chuckle. "No, seriously. Fodlan has a chance to start over...we don't have to adhere to the past."
"I'm sure with you leading, everything is going to be fine." She assured him, looking up at the stars with a gentle smile. "I've watched all of you mature. It's a shame I wasn't there to guide everyone for five years but it turned out well, for the Golden Deers."
She then turned to him with a big, grateful smile. "I know you'd do well as King, Claude. I'm looking forward to seeing the new Fodlan that you will make."