Chapter Text
Since he was a child, a part of Felix has always lived inside of his sword. A braver, stronger, better version of him could be coaxed out with a few rounds of sword training, as the people who loved him would find out. For just a moment, the shy crybaby melted away, and they got to meet a Felix who puffed out his chest, who didn’t search for reassurance or hide in someone’s shadow. It was a version of Felix that Glenn sought to draw out and cultivate, one that might eventually stay in his body instead of disappearing once he left the training grounds.
But as he grew older, the opposite seemed to happen. The goddess was a merciless swordsmith, chipping away at his psyche until all that was soft had been broken away, replaced with the sharpness that he used to seek out. Even when the war met its end and the weapons used to fight it gathered dust, Felix’s sword remained as an extension of himself, where the sad, scared parts of him could retreat to.
On a Tuesday evening in Fhirdiad, Felix found himself fragmented again. He’d been playing the part of Duke Fraldarius for the better part of a year, and while he took to the job better than anyone expected him to, he continued to feel far more at-home with a sword in his hand than a pen. Unfortunately, the King and Archbishop’s absences required that he arm himself with a pen more often than not, since Dimitri made the questionable decision to leave Felix in charge of the Kingdom until he and his spouse made their return. Well, it wasn’t just Felix— Sylvain and him were always a package deal, so it was only natural that they make for Fhirdiad together. Ingrid later heard of this arrangement and decided that those two were not to be trusted with the affairs of the entire country, resulting in her dragging Mercedes along to join them. And since Dedue, Ashe, and Annette lived in Fhirdiad anyway, they too decided to occupy the castle in Dimitri and Byleth’s absence. Had their house leader and teacher still been there, it might almost be a class reunion.
Whatever their little extended sleepover thing was, Felix was tired of it. He could deal with the charade of being the Duke in his own home, but in a place like this and surrounded by people like this, the act grew difficult. It was only natural that he spent the little free time he got with his sword, and the field just behind the Blaiddyd castle was the perfect place for him to reacquaint himself with his weapon. It was close enough for him to be able to rush in if he was needed, but far enough to ensure that no one would bother him unless absolutely necessary. Felix swung the sword, allowing his mind to clear as the blade trimmed away the tall grass that surrounded him. He let the gentle slashing sound replace all the noise in his head, until the soft whoosh of steel moving through the air was all he heard. No more conferences, no reading and re-reading treaties. Just him and his beloved sword.
Until he heard a different sound, one that couldn’t be traced to the wind or any animals that might be around. It was a deep hum that seemed to shake his bones, and even made the grass around him sway even though there was no wind. Felix turned around, brandishing his blade only to be met with… nothing?
Instead of the field, there was a circle of pure darkness in front of Felix, reminiscent of the void he got a glimpse of when Byleth freed themself from wherever Thales had banished them to. Only this time, the figure that stumbled out and collapsed at his feet wasn’t the Professor at all.
They appeared to be a man, and though his armor was badly damaged, Felix recognized it as that of the Kingdom. The man didn’t wear a helmet, which allowed for his long, dark hair to be on full display, in a braid that trailed all the way to his lower back. He looked like— no, it couldn’t be. There was no way.
Felix could do little but stare as the young man— he looked so young— opened his eyes to reveal a pale shade of blue that Felix hasn’t seen since burying his father a year ago. When those eyes found his face, the man grinned, and it all but knocked the air out of the Duke’s lungs.
“Dad…?” His voice was barely there, but the small amount that managed to make its way to Felix’s ears made his knees weak.
“Glenn!?” Felix’s voice cracked as he cried out. His legs gave out from under him and he found himself gripping his brother’s shoulders as his eyes fell shut again. When he looked up to see if the hole he’d fallen out of was still open, there wasn’t a trace of it. Somehow, the strange portal disappeared as quickly as it appeared.