Chapter Text
The white beast lays on the ground, cleaved in two.
You have done it. Created their ideal world, for the third time. Three different worlds, three ideals, three leaders. This time with Edelgard. A glance at her, and she stands as tall as she ever has. The weight still rests on her shoulders, and it will be a long time before it finally leaves.
But, you preferred that to war. It finally sank in--the war was over. Your opposition was dead, but the victory was like the city itself--burnt to ash and smoke, only iron and blood left behind. Still, these ashes marked the end of fighting. You feel tired, worn, but a small ball of relief starts forming in your chest. It was over. A strange feeling settles through you, growing stronger until it is white hot, turning into sharp pain.
You collapse, clutching your chest.
She rushes over, but you only numbly feel her touch. What was happening? It felt so intense. Like pain, but purifying. Like you could breathe. Like you could feel…
Everything.
You look up at her, your eyesight blurry. Shapes move and condense--red, golden, amethyst. You blink a few times, trying desperately to focus.
And then--it’s clear. Sharper than before, and so vivid. Were the reds always so red? Was the fire always this hot? Was this pain always this sharp? Your life sparks hot and cold, and your mind is surrounded by the sensation of it all.
“Professor!” she says, and her words ground you. You look at her, and you start to smile, to really smile.
“El,” you whisper, certain that you’ve finally found your nirvana, after trying again and again. You were free. You could move on. Your heart...
You can’t help but wonder if that meant that you had somehow killed Sothis. Or had she died five years ago?
Did that mean that this was finally the end? No longer graced with the powers of a god? Surely that meant that this had to be the end. No more reliving the war. You were free.
“Don’t let go of me,” you tell Edelgard, just in case it would somehow happen again. She gives a laugh, as if even suggesting she might was ridiculous.
A wave of relief passes through you. It was ridiculous. You weren’t going back, not again.
Still, you wish that it didn’t have to always end this way. If only…
If only there was a way to save all of them.
---
Byleth wakes up with a start, sitting straight up.
They slowly blink their eyes, adjusting to the low light. What time was it? Where were they? Wait, were they in bed?
“Hey. Time to wake up.” A familiar voice says. Jeralt heads into the room, but stops in his tracks, staring at them.
They stare back. Jeralt? Wait. No.
No. They were back here. Back in Remire.
Again.
No, no, no, no! If only they hadn’t had to wonder that! They should’ve just sucked it up and moved on. Who cared about the other students?! Byleth just wanted to live a peaceful life!
But they did care. So, so much.
Argh! They really had gotten soft!
“Well. Nevermind. For once, you woke up on your own,” Jeralt jokes dryly. “Try to hurry and get ready, okay? Everyone is waiting...” He trails off at the look on Byleth’s face. “You okay? Was it that dream again?”
Byleth blinks, staring blankly for a moment before they nod slowly. They had to pull themself back to the present. Past. Whatever. Goddess damn it. It had been a long time since they had that dream. Since then, they've experienced so much. Being back here again, it couldn’t help but feel like all of that had just been a dream.
“I had a dream that the Empire went to war against the Kingdom,” Byleth says softly, looking up to gauge Jeralt’s reaction.
Jeralt raises his eyebrows, letting out a slow whistle. “Well. That’s a cheery thought..” he says, before giving Byleth a clap on the shoulder. “C’mon. Mercenaries like us just need to focus on battle. Don’t worry about the big picture.”
Oh, how Byleth wished that were the case. They wonder what would happen if they left as a simple mercenary. Or left Fódlan completely. They could probably team up with Shamir and just get out of there.
But their friends… the students…
Byleth was starting to get a headache. Having a moral backbone was such a bother.
They stand up to get ready, as a member of Jeralt’s mercenary band bursts in the room. Yeah, yeah. It was going exactly the same as before. Those three were right outside Jeralt’s house. Byleth was just glad for the excuse to swing a sword. They could definitely get rid of some tension.
---
They follow Jeralt outside, giving a quick glance to the three colorful people standing in front of them. Sothis, they looked so young. Byleth always got a shock during this meeting, but they’d soon get used to the youthful appearances.
Byleth only sort of listens. It’s the fourth time they’re hearing it, after all, although this time you pick up something that makes you notice. Jeralt’s hesitation. You wonder--if the village hadn’t been in danger, would he have helped? How much did Jeralt want to avoid his past of Garreg Mach?
Oh, well. It always goes this way. Never any different.
Byleth prepares for battle, itching to hit something. And maybe show off a bit. It wasn’t easy to get Edelgard’s respect, and it would be better to do it earlier, than later.
Edelgard. She looked the same as the last time they had seen her--only younger. It hadn’t been that long since they saw her last.
It feels like forever since they’ve seen Claude. As for Dimitri...
It hurts to remember the last time they had seen Dimitri. He was so regal, serious, and full of righteous anger. Byleth was proud of him, but also a little melancholy. He was little more than Rhea’s puppet, set to die as a way to buy time while she laid waste to his capital city. No, Byleth preferred to remember the Dimitri from the life before, where he made his own path and built his own future.
Yes, that had been a happy ending, too, but the one they liked the least. There were too many loose threads, especially after what Byleth learned when they sided with Claude--
Claude. Byleth felt like he was the key to this puzzle. Their dying wish, so to speak. To make sure all of them stayed alive, somehow.
“--leth?” Jeralt says, and Byleth snaps to attention.
“Yes, sir,” they say automatically. “Let’s proceed.”
Jeralt stares at them for a moment, before shrugging and heading onwards.
---
The battle is predictable. Even with the house leaders’ limited abilities, the fight was a piece of cake--no doubt due to Byleth, tearing through the battlefield like a madman. Their strength was back to what it was at the beginning, but the technique, the way they moved was something that could only be honed through years of practice. It was catharsis, tearing through those whose deaths were deserved, with no second thought.
They hoped the house leaders were watching. It was a little fun, showing off.
The bandit leader--Byleth thinks his name was Koster or something--struggles to stand up after being knocked down.
Oh. This part.
He starts yelling something incoherent before charging.
This was the part where you saw Soth--
Sothis!
Excitedly, Byleth dives in front of Edelgard to take the blow.
---
“What in the world is wrong with you?!” Sothis screeches.
Byleth stands in that place--their headspace, they suppose, although it looked exactly like the throne room underground that Rhea had shown them. They stand and stare at Sothis, a small smile creeping on their face.
“You’re alive!” Byleth cries. They wonder if it would be okay to touch her. Hug her, maybe? Byleth had become a lot more touchy since integrating into Garreg Mach. Between… well, Sylvain in general, Hilda, and of course--who could forget Dorothea’s “hug sessions”--although, maybe it was just an excuse for her to hug Byleth and Bernadetta. And, sometimes Edelgard.
Not that they all didn’t enjoy it. It opened Byleth’s eyes, honestly. Being touched by other people was great.
And now, they really wanted to hug Sothis.
“We won’t be for long if you keep acting, like that!” Sothis scolds, folding her arms and peering down at Byleth. “Do you want to die?”
Byleth’s smile doesn’t fade. “No.” they say.
Sothis’ expression softens. She sighs. “Of all the humans to be so intertwined with…” she laments.
“Okay. Let’s turn back time, right?”
She blinks at Byleth with her large eyes, peering at them for a moment. “...That is a good idea,” she says, eventually, opening a glowing glyph in front of her. “This can be done. We--I will turn back the hands of time. Drift through the flow of time, and find the answers you seek...”
And then the world twists, moving backward exactly to Byleth’s control. They move the bandit leader back, planning their next move. They probably shouldn’t kill him, right? They never did before. It didn’t seem to have any adverse effects. At best, it gave the students a little extra training.
Byleth flings themself at him, snatching his axe with a graceful swing of their sword, tossing it behind them.
Really hope that didn’t hit Claude.
The bandit leader--Byleth swears his name starts with a K--stares in shock for a moment, before taking off running.
Byleth takes a moment to do that intimidating shrug of theirs. They know they did it every time, but they kind of thought it made them look cool.
Jeralt rides up next to Byleth. “Since when did you--
Before Jeralt could finish the thought, Alois enters the scene, barging in as loud as ever.
“The Knights of Seiros are here!” he announces loudly before his eyes rest on Jeralt. Alois wastes no time in making his way over to Byleth’s dad.
---
It was decided, as it always would be. Byleth would be going to Garreg Mach. Perhaps it was fate. As Rhea had said, maybe it was the flow of time that brought them there. And brought them it had. Over, and over again.
“I believe Jeralt said your name was Byleth, yes?” A voice says, popping Byleth’s bubble of internal monologue. “You were absolutely incredible during that fight.”
Byleth looks over to see Dimitri looking at them with a glowing expression as if they were an angel. No, a little something else. They had gotten fairly good at reading Dimitri’s expression, but it still wasn’t easy.
“Yes. Someone as talented as you should put your skills to good use. I would like to recruit you for the Adrestian Empire, if you’d be interested.” Edelgard says. She watches Byleth, studying them. The more they knew her, the more flattering it was. She never had to do this to someone unimpressive.
“Well, that certainly was to the point,” Dimitri says, before turning to Byleth to give his pitch. “I was actually hoping you would put your skills to use in the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus.”
Claude chuckles. “Aren’t you two quick? Normally you’d take someone out to dinner, first!” he says.
Edelgard rolls her eyes. Dimitri looks mildly embarrassed.
“But, since all the cards are on the table--wouldn’t you rather work for the Leicester Alliance, with me? I’m much better company, promise.” Claude adds, offering a hand. “Well? Which one would you choose?”
This question. This absolutely, meaningless question. Byleth is so tired of it. Why answer normally, anymore?
“Which will pay the most?” they ask, raising an eyebrow.
Dimitri blinks. Claude strokes his nonexistent beard. Byleth thinks the gesture looks much better when he actually has one. “Oof, that’s a tough one. I can give you a few offers, but I think for the absolute best one, you’d need to come with me to Leicester.”
Edelgard has a competitive glint in her eye. She opens her mouth to say something--you’re sure it’s going to be an absurd number, she was never wanting for money, after all--but before she can say anything, Jeralt raises his voice.
“Here we are. Garreg Mach,” he says, glancing over at Byleth. “This is only the first wall, into the town. We’ll be at the monastery itself in no time.”
Byleth nods, looking up and pretending to ignore the three students stealing glances at them.
“I’ll go ahead and report in. I’m sure the Archbishop will want to see you, as well.” Alois says, before turning to the three students. “You three! Go and check in with your houses. I’m sure they’ve all been worried about you!” he says, clapping Dimitri on the shoulder.
Dimitri jumps, but Alois doesn’t notice.
“Yes. Thank you.” Edelgard says, before turning to Byleth. “Don’t forget my offer.”
She takes her leave. Claude takes a few steps in the same direction, shooting Byleth a wink before and walking forward. Dimitri follows after, glancing one last time at Byleth.
There’s finally a moment of silence between Jeralt and Byleth until he takes a long sigh.
“Guess we need to talk to Rhea, huh?” Jeralt grumbles, sounding none too pleased with the idea.
---
It was very strange seeing Rhea again. She looked so… peaceful. Byleth wonders what she’s actually like. Maybe she really, truly did achieve a state of peace. Although, considering what she did to them and their mother, Byleth finds that very hard to believe. If anything, it’s become much easier to relate to Jeralt’s not-so-hidden contempt for Rhea.
Jeralt and Rhea talk. Byleth now realizes how obvious his lies are. How many years younger could they possibly look? No wonder Rhea didn’t buy it for a second. It was almost funny.
“...I wish I could’ve introduced you to their mother. She was lost due to illness” Jeralt finishes.
Another obvious lie. Byleth was almost a spitting image of Sitri.
Rhea takes the lies in stride, sending a sympathetic smile to Jeralt. “I see. My condolences,” she says warmly, before turning to Byleth. “As for you…”
Then, she has eyes only for Byleth, slowly looking them up and down, almost as if she was searching for something. They remember feeling uncomfortable with her gaze the first time they had walked into these halls. Now it was standard. Every moment, she was probably measuring how close they were to Sothis.
“My thanks for saving our students,” she says. “What is your name?”
“Byleth,” Byleth says, hoping to cut the meeting as short as possible. They needed to start thinking about which house to choose, already.
She nods. “What a beautiful name,” she says as if paying them the highest of compliments.
Byleth nods graciously. It was strange, talking to Rhea peacefully like this.
Rhea. Despite how she made them feel every emotion under the sun--happy, bitter, angry, upset--Byleth still sympathized with her. They even cared about her, once. She was one of the people that Byleth wished they could save, and they were starting to feel like Rhea would be the hardest to do so.
---
The meeting with Rhea ended uneventfully. Byleth always wondered why Rhea had Jeralt tell them about their new professor position instead of telling them herself, but they supposed it didn’t matter. It got the job done, either way.
After a little chat with Manuela and Hanneman--Goddess, it was good to see them, and they really never did age, did they?--Byleth is instructed to pick a house.
This was the important decision. The most important decision Byleth would ever make. They would need to think this over.
Instead of going to talk to the students, Byleth leisurely walks towards the Officer’s Academy, looking around for a moment before sitting down in the grass, and looking up at the sky.
Blue Lion. Golden Deer. Black Eagle. Adrestia. Faerghus. Leicester. How terrifying that a single decision could set the fates spinning in whatever direction Byleth pleased.
Byleth could make or kill kings. They felt a strange sort of emotion at that thought, one they couldn’t exactly name. Maybe they truly had ascended. Maybe they had been divinity all along. Or maybe, they were incredibly, incredibly lucky.
No. You don’t get lucky three times. Were they actually some sort of genius strategist? Doubtful, as their main strategy was simply “don’t let anyone die”. Was their moral support to the students, to the future armies, really something that pushed the tide of battle over?
Byleth idly wonders who would’ve won if they didn’t meddle.
“Fan of the grass?” A familiar voice says from above them, pulling them from their thoughts. Byleth looks up.
Claude shoots them a grin, before sitting down next to them. “It must be pretty overwhelming with all these nobles, huh?” he says, in a tone that doesn’t give away if he’s teasing or not. “I get ya. Hey, you should pop by our classroom. There’s a lot of people like you there.”
“People like me?” Byleth asks dryly. They knew he meant no harm by it, but they wouldn’t miss a chance to push Claude’s buttons in return.
Claude blinks, before laughing. “Yeah. Leonie’s a mercenary too, y’know. She’s been super curious about you, ever since you walked in with Jeralt. You should say hi.” he says.
Every word for him was so easy. Byleth was always slightly jealous of that.
Claude notices them staring, and cracks a grin. “So, are you joining as a Knight? Or, y’know, it’s not too late to enroll.”
Enroll. The thought had never occurred to Byleth. Now, wouldn’t that be a different world. They weren’t sure which house they would’ve joined. Golden Deer would’ve suited them the most, but Remire was in the Empire. Although, they didn’t live in Remire, but were simply passing through.
Maybe it would’ve come down to this decision, all over again. Choosing a house. Choosing the fate of the world.
They almost jump when Claude stands back up. He shoots another look down at Byleth, with an expression they can’t read. When he notices them looking back, he shoots another smile. “Need help getting up?” he says, offering his hand.
Byleth hesitates, before taking it.
“C’mon, I’ll introduce you to everyone,” Claude says.
Byleth was starting to think they knew which house to choose.
---
Their first meetings with Dimitri and Edelgard were about the same as always.
“I never got to thank you for saving our lives,” Dimitri says, earnestly. “I hope we can continue to get along. While we’re at Garreg Mach, please do not think of me as a prince, but rather, another student,” he says, before pausing. “Will you be joining the Knights of Seiros?”
Byleth shakes their head. “Still thinking about it,” they say. They preferred to keep the whole professor thing a secret, at least for now.
He nods twice, the second time mostly for himself. “Well, let me know if you have any questions about the monastery. I would be happy to help.”
---
Edelgard watches Byleth approach her, staring from across the entrance hall. It’s a little uncomfortable, so Byleth looks away and pretends to not notice.
When they finally look in her direction, it’s close enough to not be weird. Byleth looks at her, patiently waiting for her to say something. Byleth preferred to react to others, instead of being the first one to talk. They never had much to say, anyway.
Edelgard doesn’t say anything. Was she testing them? That seemed very much like something she would do.
“Hello,” Byleth says. They’re sure if their voice had more emotion, it would sound incredibly awkward. Thankfully, it just sounded like their usual deadpan.
“What do you think of Garreg Mach?” Edelgard asks politely, although Byleth knew her well enough to know she’d much rather skip the pleasantries. She was quite the actor.
Byleth was lucky they didn’t need to act. Instead, they were naturally inscrutable.
“It’s nice,” Byleth says noncommittally. Or, at least, it came off that way.
Edelgard raises an eyebrow. “Well, I hope you grow to like it. I’ve heard that you’ll be staying here for quite a while.”
Byleth nods--they’re not even going to question how she knew that--before pausing for a moment. “I hope we can get along,” they say.
Edelgard gives a curt nod of her own. "I hope so, as well."
---
“I would like to teach the Black Eagles,” Byleth tells Rhea. It wasn’t an easy decision, but one they knew they had to choose. Edelgard was the epicenter of the war, after all. The closer they could get to her, the more options they would have.
It wouldn’t stop Byleth from getting close to the other house leaders. They would do that, no matter what.
“I’ll take the Blue Lions,” Hanneman says. “I was already planning to teach that class, anyway.”
Manuela nods. “Golden Deer for me, then,” she says. “I like the spunk of that class! It should be fun.”
Rhea nods. “Then, please take care of your students. I believe we will have a wonderful year, with your help.”
Byleth can't help but feel like she's talking directly to them.
Rhea dismisses the professors, and Byleth starts heading to the Officer’s Academy. Without wasting a second of time, they walk into the Black Eagles classroom.
“Oh! What brings you here? We were just about to greet our professor for the year.” A ginger boy--Ferdinand, Byleth remembers fondly--says, shooting a pleasant smile to Byleth. His smile fades. “Wait--”
“This is Byleth Eisner. She--”
“They,” Byleth corrects.
“They are our professor for this year,” Edelgard explains, not missing a beat. They appreciate how something like that was never a big deal with her. And, Byleth always knew she’d make sure the others got it right.
A tall girl with dark skin and a beautiful red-purple braid gives a bow. “I am very pleasure--er, pleased to meet you,” she says, saying the words awkwardly as if she had to carefully think over each one. “My name is Petra.”
Ferdinand stands up straight. “My apologies! My name is Ferdinand von Aegir. You are younger than I expected,” he says, tilting his head. “Ah! Not that it is a negative thing!”
“Well, as long as they’re taller than Caspar, it should be fine.” A boy with long green hair says mildly.
“Hey! I am not that short!” A boy with light blue hair pipes up. Byleth had forgotten how short he used to be. “Linhardt, you don’t need to be like that!”
“Settle down, guys.” A girl with long brown hair, and a cute little hat--you’ve always been a fan of that hat--speaks up. “We don’t want to make a bad impression with our new professor, do we? Especially not one so cute!” She shoots Byleth a wink, before pausing, her gaze falling on something huddled in the corner that was wearing something that. “So… Bernie, why don’t you stand up and come over here?”
“EEEK!” A girl’s high-pitched voice squeaks. “Dorothea! Don’t talk to me! Don’t look at me! I’m not here!”
“Bernadetta, you would do well to stand up. Your actions do not reflect well on Lady Edelgard.” A tall, menacing man with dark hair says. Somehow, everything he said sounded rather ominous. Byleth had always found it amusing.
Dorothea sighs, before glancing over at Edelgard.
Edelgard catches her eye and shakes her head. “It’s fine, Hubert, she says, before turning to Byleth. “I apologize for this. We’re a little… disorganized. But our house is quite endearing once you get to know us.” she says.
Byleth nods. “I look forward to it.”
---
After introductions, Edelgard sidles up to Byleth. “You might’ve already heard, but we have a mock battle in a few days,” she says. “It’s a small-scale battle. Only five students from each house, along with the professor.”
Byleth nods.
Edelgard watches them for a moment. “We’re counting on you to lead us. This is your chance to prove yourself.”
Prove themself. Byleth would laugh at that if they were the type of person to laugh. If only she knew. In fact, the mock battle would be a good chance to show off. Again.
Edelgard gives a satisfied nod. “Come to me if you need help with anything,” she says, before heading off.
Byleth watches her for a moment, before pulling out their planner-slash-dossier that Rhea had given them, mostly for the calendar. She had told them--today was a weekend and a free day before they would have to enter the mock battle. Byleth flips the calendar to the next month--nothing was written on it, yet, but Byleth could see the events in their mind.
They flip to the next month. And the next. They keep flipping until they get to the second month. They circle that month--they couldn’t remember exactly which day was the big turning point, but they were pretty sure it was that month--and close the book, pocketing it.
So much to do, so little time.
Byleth starts looking around the monastery. Now, to do the rounds. They would always go around the monastery like this, before, but this time they had a plan. Or, at least, the framework of a plan.
Their first stop is the library.
“Hello,” Byleth says to Linhardt casually, while passing by him. They keep walking, not expecting a reply. Besides, it usually took a moment to catch his attention while he was reading. Instead, Byleth makes a beeline and sits down in front of a certain white-haired girl sitting at a desk. She seemed to be fairly absorbed, but--unlike Linhardt--she immediately noticed when someone approached her personal space.
She looks up from her book. “Can I help you?” she asks, somewhat harshly.
Her tone doesn’t bother Byleth. For most of their life, people would talk like that to them. It wasn’t a big deal.
“Just wanted to say hi,” Byleth responds with a shrug.
The girl frowns. “Hi,” she says with a frown. “Is that all? I’m busy.”
Byleth nods. “Oh, I see,” they say mildly. “In that case, I hope we can talk later.” Byleth stands up, giving a small wave.
The girl doesn’t notice, and she immediately returns to her book.
Byleth sticks their hands in their pocket, glancing around. The person they wanted to talk to wasn’t there, but they did have to set their eyes on Tomas. Solon. Whatever. Byleth made a mental note to kill him as soon as they could get away with it. It was probably possible. They just had to be patient.
Byleth looks around the room one more time before heading out of the library, still looking back while they run smack into someone else.
“Oof--hey, I’m so sorry… wait, Teach?” Claude says with a grin, bending to pick up the stack of books that had tumbled out of his hands. “What a coincidence. By the way, don’t let Lysithea get to you. She’s like that with everyone. Except me, of course.” he adds with a wink. “She’s even more grumpy to me.”
Byleth looks back blankly.
“Man, tough crowd,” Claude says with a sigh. He stands up straight. “Y’know Teach, I really thought we had a connection the other day. It’s too bad you didn’t choose our class.”
Byleth isn’t sure what to say to that. “Sorry?”
Claude shrugs. “No big. Manuela isn’t a bad teacher,” he says, looking at Byleth for a moment. There’s something unsaid, but they can’t put their finger on it. “Anyway. I need to return all these books,” he says.
Byleth nods again. Goddess, he was good at talking. It was something they deeply appreciated when they were around him. But, still. They had to say something before he left.
“I want to be friends,” Byleth says. Another phrase that they’re sure would be awkward if their tone didn’t make it sound so blunt.
Claude blinks, before smiling. “Me too, Teach. Hey, see you around,” he says, before heading into the library, giving a wave as he turns his back.
Linhardt looks up from his book. "Was someone talking to me?"