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Edelgard's hair was white once more—this time with age, and this time Byleth's hair was a matching silver. Wrinkles lined their faces, and the knots of their joins were often entangled with the old scars faded across their bodies. They both had a more healthy (especially Edelgard) and more active (especially Byleth) physique than their ages would perhaps suggest, but there was one thing that was certain. Time was ever marching, and the two were getting old. They were reaching the end of their days.
The year was 1246. Sixty-six years since that fateful night in Remire village when everything began, Edelgard's subsequent ascension to the Adrestian throne, and the rebellion against the church. Sixty-one years since Byleth's miraculous return, and the subsequent end of the Unification War.
Sixty years since their marriage, Byleth being crowned Empress of Fódlan, the sacking of Shambhala after a brief cold war against the traitorous and exiled Lord Arundel, and the successful removal of Edelgard and Lysithea's extraneous Crests. Fifty-nine years since Fódlan was at long last settled into peacetime stability, and the reforms began: destabilization of nobility; redistribution of land and wealth; taxation laws varied by finance and income, and the reallocation of such funds away from military; the establishment of institutions dedicated to arts and sciences of all kinds, as well as widespread public education; and of course, the initial drafts of a government ruled by the people. Fifty-eight years since the final establishment of peaceful relations with powers in western lands—the Brigid archipelago, Albinea, and Dagda—and the beginning of open communications with those in the east—Almyra, Sreng, and Morfis—and the subsequent Vindication of Khalid.
Fifty-seven years since the Garreg Mach Council of Axioms, in which the Emperor and Empress of Fódlan met with the elected leaders of the new territories in order to present and explicitly define what the bringers of the new dawn deemed to be the most paramount of ideals to guide future leaders: the indespensible merit of a person's life regardless of circumstances or situation, the value of community and how it should always strive to maintain the health and well-being of its people, the necessity of diverse voices and open-mindedness in decision-making, the importance of intolerating intolerance, and the destructiveness of greed. Fifty-six years since the ultimate abdication of Edelgard von Hresvelg and her wife Byleth.
An incredible list of accomplishments in under a decade of reconstructing the world after a war, made possible by boundless ambition, meticulous planning, the fruit of the finest minds of Fódlan, and an Empress capable of working miracles—divine power or no. And now those days were long behind them. For fifty-six years, Byleth and Edelgard Eisner lived a mostly-quiet and relaxed life in a mosdest home on the edge of Barstwood, a small town in the foothills of the Oghma mountains, nestled between the Varley province capital, and the Adrestian-Faerghus border village-turned-city of Remire. They would occasionally travel to see friends when invited or when it fancied them, but the latter was quite rare. Partly because of the amount of traveling they did for matters of diplomacy, management, and public relations (Edelgard had refused to be an Emperor that spent too much time away from her continent's people) had satisfied whatever wanderlust the two previously had; partly for the sake of their equally-if-not-moreso travel-weary housemate, Bernadetta.
During the war, around the time the Strike Force's focus shifted towards Arianrhod, Bernadetta shared her dream with Byleth: to travel to Dagda and beyond, cataloguing the exotic plant life in parts hitherto unknown to Fódlan. Between the resiliance she had cultivated in the battles against the church and the Agarthans, as well as the encouragement her professor and house leader propped her up with, she had finally mustered up the strength to begin her journey after the Brigid queens' marriage. The Black Eagle class of 1180 tearfully saw the once-painfully-shy girl off on her adventure at Brigid's western shore, uncertain if they would ever see her again, but nevertheless thrilled beyond words that she was pursuing her own ambition.
And then, a few years later, Adrestia had received a message reporting that Bernadetta had been found in Almyra's easternmost territories. To the young woman's shock, she had accidentally become the first denizen of Fódlan in recorded history to circumnavigate the globe. That shock quickly gave way to boundless joy and relief that she could reunite with the two women that she felt the most comfort and safety from. With her sketchbooks filled with detailed illustrations and foreign names, and her pockets full of exotic seeds and soil samples, the only thing Bernadetta ever wanted to do was relax in the comfort of her home—and with Varley's restructuring, that home was with Byleth and Edelgard, who accepted her with open arms.
Of course, it wasn't always just the three of them in that house on the edge of town. Edelgard and Byleth had each borne a child with each other: their first, an eager and curious firebrand, had been born about a year before abdication; while the second, mild and meek but filled with quiet determination and compassion, came about three years after that. Theirs was a peaceful and supportive upbringing away from the bloodshed, politics, and trauma that had plagued their mothers' and favorite aunt's lives, not wanting for anything, surrounded by friends and family, until they grew up and lived their own lives, found their own loves, had their own children. There were also cats—anywhere between two to six cats meandering around the house throughout the decades of retirement, constant companions and headaches—and the sprawling garden of flowers and vegetables familiar and unfamiliar.
They received visitors on occasion, as well. Mercedes (and, after a few years, Annette with her) was their most frequent, due to their proximity to Garreg Mach; she had become its mother superior, looking after orphans, travelers, and those seeking peace or a place for their faith. Hubert and Ferdinand were her closest competition in the number of visits. The ex-Emperor's right and left hands had continued to work in the political affairs of the continent, even after their terms in public office had come and gone, and were among the first to keep Edelgard and Byleth up-to-date on Fódlan's continued growth (if only to assuage lingering anxiety the former had that everything she worked for would collapse the moment she looked away). Their least-frequent visitors were Petra and Dorothea due to their obligations, but Byleth, Edelgard, and (occasionally) Bernadetta made up for it by choosing Brigid as their most-frequent destination when they did travel.
All told, it was quiet. Though that was how the Eisner household preferred it, they still cherished the familiar faces that visited, be they from within or without Barstwood, up to and including their twilight years. And then, one day, a new visitor arrived.
The three were lazing the afternoon away on the shore of a lake visible from their back porch. Byleth sat with her fishing rod in hand, while her wife snuggled up against her close enough that her old coat could drape across both their shoulders. Bernadetta sat a few feet behind them, in her favorite outdoor sewing spot beneath an old tree. The cats were fed, the garden had been tended to, and there was no need to go into town that day. All signs pointed to a comfortable day in the midspring sun. And speaking of the cats...
"Miow."
Bernadetta looked up. The Professor's current favorite, Olive, had wandered over to the three. She gave Bernadetta a slow blink, turned her head towards the house and miowed again. Bernie followed the cat's gaze, but saw nothing. It wasn't the first time it had happened—Olive reserved that particular sound when something not-food-related was on her mind. It always reminded the youngest elder of the youths in town when they spoke of their own pets and their reactions to things seemingly invisible to their human companions.
Bernadetta looked back at Olive and smiled. "What is it, kitty? Another ghost today?"
"My goodness," said a haughty yet calm voice Bernie had never heard before. "How quick you children are to use that word for matters you've yet to understand."
Bernadetta's head snapped back up towards the house, while in the corner of her eye she saw Byleth and Edelgard do the same. There, approaching the three elders who was certainly not there mere seconds before was a young adult woman. She was clad in deep indigo robes, adorned with gold ornamentation and regalia; her forest green hair was an ordered chaos of tangles, braids, curls, and waves; her matching eyes shone with a brilliant majesty that had not been seen by the three in many decades, as was the case with the long inhuman ears that ended in sharp points through the stranger's hair. Her hands rested on her hips, and her expression was one of gentle maternal compassion.
All three ladies froze—Edelgard and Bernadetta in silent terror, and Byleth in disbelieving wonder. The newcomer turned to face the latter with fondness. "Hello again, young one. It is truly wonderful to see you this way at last."
The Professor pushed herself to her feet with an ease that she hadn't had in a long time and closed the distance with the woman. "Is it really you...?" she asked, her voice hoarse whisper. The newcomer nodded, her smile widening. Byleth threw her arms around her, tears flowing free, and the youthful-seeming one returned the gesture. "I... I missed you so much," she finally managed to say.
The young woman hummed. "What am I to do with you? ...Though I must admit, I did miss speaking to you as well."
During this moment of tenderness, Edelgard and Bernadetta had returned to their feet as well, Byleth's old coat still draped across the former's shoulders as she cautiously approached. "My love," Edelgard whispered, "who is this? How do you...?"
Byleth's eyes shot open. She released the girl and turned to face her wife, hundreds of thoughts in her head at once, but there was no mistake. Edelgard and Bernadetta could see their guest just as well as she could. ...Which also meant Edelgard saw her wife embrace another, much younger-looking woman. Byleth's cheeks became pink and she looked away
Unphased, the regal one approached the other two. "We have not met this way before, but I do know the both of you very well. You have stood by Byleth's side to the very end, and you in particular, Edelgard, have brought her more happiness than any other, and I am grateful beyond human words for that. And I also know your old teacher has told you of myself, as well."
Edelgard's gaze returned to Byleth's, realization quietly taking shape. Byleth returned to the love of her life and stood beside her once more.
"El, Bernadetta, I'd like you to meet... Sothis."
Bernie yelped. "You mean th, the Goddess?"
"Indeed. I am She That Exists In Everything of this land, both heaven and earth. I am the Great Sculptor of Light and Dark. I am She who died then Returned. I am Time, the One Great Truth. I am The World. I am The Beginning. I am Sothis." She gave the three a small bow. "I am delighted to meet you at last, Edelgard. Bernadetta."
Bernie gave a forlorn sigh. "I suppose that means we've already died, if we're meeting you now."
Sothis laughed as she lifted Olive into her arms. "Not so, timid one. I have simply chosen to manifest before you now, before that day comes at last." Behind her the other two cats, Leraie and Patches, had caught up and sat next to Sothis. "These little ones are simply darling, by the way. I have not appreciated them nearly enough."
"But why?" Edelgard asked, embers of an old resentment re-emerging in her eyes. "Why appear to us only now?"
The goddess smiled. "There's that arrogance I know, that frankness." Her face became sober. "I know you have suffered much, little El. In those days in particular, there was scarce I could do. And... though it is at times difficult to admit and commit, it is not my place to meddle in individual mortal affairs. Not in the way that you needed most. There are consequences to every action, even my own. For a goddess to act recklessly..." Sothis bowed her head. "I can only ask for your forgiveness, and say that I am proud of you for your struggle and finding your own salvation from it." She looked toward Bernadetta. "And the same to you as well, Bernie."
Bernadetta couldn't bring herself to meet Sothis' gaze. "E, even though we k, k, killed your—?" A gentle finger was pressed over her lips, a gentle voice hushing her anxiety.
"I do not condemn you for following the path you believed in. Any of you. You followed the truth of your hearts and minds, and did all that you were able. To ask for more, for the impossible, would be the height of irresponsibility."
Old fears and regrets rose in all three of the elders' hearts, especially Byleth's. "Even so, there must have been something else we could have—"
Sothis groaned. "How long must I continue to play the part of reassuring parent to you before you are finished moping? This was meant to be a joyous moment! I told you already that there is scarce more that could have been done, and here you continue to agonize over what-ifs and should-have-beens!"
The mortals were stunned into silence at her outburst. Byleth was the first to recover, with fond laughter. "I really did miss you, Sothis. And, I think you're right," the Professor said, her gaze and smile back to Edelgard's. "I don't think there's any other outcome I would have wanted. Not without El at my side."
Edelgard's eyes shone. "You beautiful thief, stealing my words before I can say them. Was my heart not enough for you?"
"No. I would never be satisfied with only that much of you."
Sothis stepped back next to Bernadetta as the two old loves' affections reignited, grinning. "Those two truly are adorable to the point of nausea. It amazes me that you have lived with it for so long and not gone mad."
Bernadetta's response was accompanied by a sheepish smile. "You get used to it. And besides, it's not like they never asked if I... w, well the point is, I never considered myself a third wheel. They made sure I knew they cared about me, too." She looked up and watched the two share a deep kiss. "You're right, though. It's really sweet how much they love each other."
The goddess hummed in agreement. "There were timelines where she forced herself past this chance. Not all were from a lack of opportunity, but each ultimately resulted in anguish and regret. To see those two together in life and death is a cherished joy."
"Yeah... wait, what do you mean by timelines?"
Sothis didn't answer with more than a wave of her hand. It was no answer to the question, but Bernadetta got the message to not dwell on it.
Eventually the lovebirds parted, their expressions joyous and their cheeks rosy. Finally, Sothis cleared her throat. "I do hope I shan't have to stand around out here for the duration of my visit, will I?"
"Ah, yes, where are my manners," Edelgard said quickly, pulling away from Byleth. "You know, it is just about teatime, love."
Byleth nodded. "Of course. Please, Sothis, come inside. We have a lot to catch up on."
"Naturally. I never did sufficiently reprimand you for your recklessness..."