Chapter Text
Jeralt looked down at a letter that sat in front of him. He scratched his chin and stared out the window. He was eyeing the beautiful night sky. “Quiet night tonight, it seems,” He chuckled as he placed the letter back into his bag. He grabbed a cup of warm tea and smiled as the liquid washed away any aches he had from battle. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a pair of hands grabbed him from behind and covered his eyes.
“I got you now!” There was a small giggle that came from the pair of hands, “Guess who?”
“Byleth?” Jeralt let out a giant laugh as he turned around and saw his son, who smiled wide at him. “Weren’t you supposed to be sleeping, young man?” Jeralt crossed his arms as the young boy pouted and placed his hands behind his head.
“I couldn’t sleep! I had that dream about that person again!” Jeralt smiled and ruffled his son’s dark blue hair,
“Right, your imaginary friend? Sothis right? You sure have a big imagination for a little guy.” Byleth grabbed his father’s hands and held it,
“I’m not little, Papa! I’m ten! I’m a big boy now!” Byleth puffed his chest in front of his father and smiled as Jeralt lifted him into the air.
“That’s right; you’re my brave little warrior!” Byleth pouted again and tried to break free from his father’s grasp, but the older man was too powerful for him,
“Unhand me, you bandit! I’ll have you know that I’m the son of the greatest mercenary ever!” Byleth broke free from his father and climbed onto his back and sat on his shoulders. “You can’t get me from up here!”
“Oh?” Jeralt lifted his arms, causing Byleth to topple over slowly. Jeralt ran to the bed as Byleth fell onto it, “Didn’t your father tell you that you should always keep your guard up? Now I have you!” Jeralt began tickling his son, causing the boy to cry out in a loud burst of laughter.
“Papa! Stop that tickles!” Byleth’s voice cracked as his father tickled him. Byleth stuck his hand out and pushed back his father and sat up. He let out a small yawn and rubbed his face,
“You tired, buddy?” Byleth gave a small nod and held his arms up,
“Can you carry me, Papa?” Jeralt nodded and cradled his son in his arms. He felt the tiny boy’s arms wrap around his chest as Byleth fell asleep. “I love you, Papa!”
“I love you too, son.” Jeralt laid Byleth down onto the bed and tucked him in. He then ruffled his son’s hair and softly smiled, ‘You’ve gotten so big!’ Just then, there was a loud knock on the door,
“Sir Jeralt! We’ve got trouble!” One of the mercenaries of Jeralt’s group walked through the door in a huff.
“What seems to be the problem?” Jeralt waited for the mercenary to finish breathing before speaking,
“We’ve spotted some bandit activity by some nearby camp occupied by some students!” Jeralt nodded and walked over to his lance,
“I’ll be over there in a sec, get the troops ready!”
“Papa?” Jeralt froze as a tiny voice appeared from behind him. He turned around and saw Byleth, looking up at him, “Are you leaving again?” Jeralt crouched down and ruffled his son’s hair,
“Hey, bud. Papa is just leaving for a little; I’ll be back, okay? I’ll leave some of the guys here to watch over you!” Byleth hugged his father tightly and buried his face into his chest.
“Don’t go, what if you don’t come back like mama?” Jeralt froze, as his son mentioned his mother. He bit his lip and massaged Byleth’s head,
“I’ll come back like I always do, but you must promise that you’d stay here and be safe, okay?” Byleth nodded and watched as his father walk away.
“Be safe, Papa! Can you bring me a sword like you promised?” Jeralt chuckled and nodded,
“Of course, I’ll be sure to clean off the blood for you!” Byleth’s eyes lit up as he waved his father goodbye. He ran towards the window and watched his father’s mercenaries get ready for the trip. He grinned and ran behind the back window before grabbing a black cape and crawled outside.
‘Hehe, I want to see Papa in action!’ He giggled and looked around the campgrounds and hide inside the nearby bushes as a mercenary patrolled around. He threw the hood over his face and darted around the grounds before walking upon the carriage of supplies.
‘Perfect!’ Byleth smiled wide as he slowly climbed inside.
“Is that everything?” Jeralt’s voice boomed into the night as his mercenaries shouted in agreement. “Good, then let’s ride!” The horse’s cries echoed through the night as they all headed towards the intended destination. Byleth poked his head out of the carriage and smiled as he saw his father’s serious face, commanding his gang.
“I can’t wait to see Papa fight off those mean bandits!” Byleth yawned as his eyes felt heavy, and he slowly drifted off.
There stood a throne made of stone...Byleth walked closer towards it as if it was calling to him and watched as a girl appeared, out of thin air. She had long green hair and green eyes. On her body, was a dark purple gown, stitched with gold fabric that ran past her legs. She smiled and rested her chin on her hand.
“You again?” Byleth wondered, “Why do I keep seeing you?”
“Your guess is as good as mine, child!” Byleth scoffed and rolled his eyes,
“Child? You’re no older than me!” Suddenly the girl floated over and smacked him on the head,
“You do well to respect me, boy! But I too wonder why we are fated to meet, perhaps you and I share a greater destiny than we can imagine.”
“Destiny? Like one of those books, Papa likes to read me?” The girl nodded and floated back to her throne,
“How strange that a mere child can be here, somehow you feel like a stranger and someone familiar to me...I wonder what future lies in store for you.” The girl stood up and floated around Byleth, “Tell me, what is your name, boy?”
“I’m Byleth! What’s yours?” The girl opened her mouth but froze as she pondered slightly,
“I, I do not remember.”
“What? You don’t remember your own name? That’s silly.” Byleth let out a laugh but was interrupted when the girl hit him over the head,
“Hush, you! I may not remember my name, but I do remember that you and I are perhaps connected in someway! Don’t you feel it too?” Byleth nodded and rubbed his head,
“Kinda? But can I got back to see my Papa now?” The girl scoffed and shook her head,
“Do what you must...I shall be watching over you...like
always’
she trailed off and tilted her head,
‘always?’