White Clouds

Sealed Forest (Outskirts)

Guardian Moon

Year 1180

Raine let out a breath that she felt she had been holding for almost an entire moon, but she did not feel the weight lifting from her shoulders as she gently placed the Sword of the Creator back inside of its sheath. The blade had felt lighter in her hand once she had returned from the darkness, though she was not entirely sure why that was. Perhaps her merging with Sothis had made it easier to wield? She shivered reflexively. She didn't want to dwell on such thoughts. It had been terrifying, thinking that in such a place, in such nothingness, she had been resigned to her doom. Helpless and hopeless, wondering if her students would be safe without her, if her brother would manage all on his own... but Sothis had given her an exit, one last chance to recover from her otherwise fatal mistake, but that cost had been too dear for her to be happy to have paid it.

Reflexively her hand lifted to her chest, though she knew there was no reason for her to do so. Her heart did not beat. But that didn't change the fact that Sothis had been the one helping her, guiding her, ever since her birth. And now that childlike goddess was gone, having given up the only thing she could in order to save her. It wasn't a fair trade. She didn't deserve to be the only one to escape, while letting Sothis give up everything in exchange. And she felt strangely empty, being unable to hear her chiding voice, or feel her presence with that strange, unnatural bond they shared. It didn't matter why she had been with her. It didn't even matter that she wasn't truly gone, if her words about her soul simply being a part of hers now was true... She hadn't wanted her mistakes to cost her a friend. And regardless of what they were, or weren't... Raine had considered Sothis to be her dear friend.

"Professor!"

Raine closed her eyes briefly, thankful to hear Dimitri's voice, yet still not entirely ready to face her students after what had happened. She hadn't had a moment to mourn between escaping the darkness, realizing her new powers, and then destroying Solon... but that would have to wait a bit longer. She could not indulge in her own sentiments while her students were waiting for her. They had to have been just as frightened and confused as she had been, perhaps even moreso, and putting their needs aside for her own simply was not something she could do. So she took in a breath, forcing everything aside and summoning a smile to her face as she turned in the direction of the Blue Lion's house leader as she answered his call gently, "Dimitri."

"Professor, I... " Dimitri hesitated, and he was unsure of what to say as he took in the woman who had pierced the heavens themselves in order to return to them, and to slay Solon single-handedly. The woman who had been dragged into the shadows did not look like the one who had returned, but all the same he was still beyond relieved to see her. Her hair had lightened, that dark and alluring shade of navy now resembling more the colour of seafoam green, and her eyes had likewise changed colour to match, but there was no doubt that she was the same professor besides her physical changes. And he would not allow them to put him off, either, as he soldiered on as best as he could despite how rattled he felt, "I'm... I'm relieved to see you unharmed... It's done. Solon is dead... Your father is avenged, though there can be little joy to take from it. But... Are you truly all right? Your hair, and your eyes..."

"My what?" Raine blinked, surprised by his words as she reached to grasp a lock of her hair and pull it into view to see what it was her student was talking about. She almost leapt clear out of her skin at the unfamiliar colour staring back at her, and though she knew she had to look a fool, she whirled around as she grabbed another lock from the opposite side of her head to take a look there, too. Her hair had changed, and the thought made her stomach drop somewhere to the bottom of her feet. She knew that her absorbing Sothis' power had changed her, she had felt it the moment the goddess had disappeared into those sparkling embers of energy, but she hadn't realized that such changes had also applied to her physical appearance. How was she supposed to know such a thing when she had been thrust right back into the heat of battle? She continued to spin thoughtlessly, trying to look herself over from every angle worriedly as she wondered what else possibly might have happened when she took in the power of the goddess into herself, "Oh gods! When did that... Nobody said a word about this happening...! A-And you said my eyes have changed, too? Do I at least look anything like I used to? Has anything else changed? I can't tell!"

Dimitri was quick to disguise his laugh as a cough as he watched Raine hastily twirl about three more times before giving up and raising a hand tiredly over her eyes in a sign of defeat. He had never seen her panicked in such a way before. Though, it wasn't as if she didn't have her reasons. It had to be just as shocking to her as it had been to all of them, seeing her reappear from the depths of the darkness, hair and eye-colour changed, and radiating with a new power that even the least magically-inclined of them could feel. Still, seeing that reaction, hearing her curse as she tried to take stock of herself... It only proved that she was indeed the exact same woman who had left them. No matter what had happened during their separation... She was still their professor. Still the woman who led and protected the Blue Lions with every ounce of her being. "Be calm, Professor... I am sorry for startling you. I hadn't thought you were not aware, but of course you would not have noticed. It is only your hair and your eyes that have changed. Everything else still is the same, I promise you. Once we return to Garreg Mach, you'll see for yourself."

"I... Yes, you're right. I'm sorry for that. That had to look... really idiotic." Raine felt a hint of heat creeping up into her neck as she realized what a fool she had to seem in his eyes for her panicking over her looks of all things, especially after all that had happened. There were much more important matters to attend to than such pathetic concerns as her appearance, and she quickly put that aside as well as she turned to look back at Dimitri. He was smiling, and doing a terrible job of hiding it, too. The look should have annoyed her, especially when she had panicked so unreasonably, but if he was in good cheer, that only meant that her students had come out of the battle without much harm. Still, she couldn't exactly leave it unspoken, and she took in a breath to steady herself before asking bluntly, "How is everyone? Unhurt? The fighting was fierce... Those people weren't easy to match, especially with that second ambush. And when their trap triggered... Nobody was harmed while I... before I came back?"

"No, Professor. No injuries that Mercedes or Flayn could not attend to themselves. You did scare us quite a bit, but... You are here now, so it does not matter. Everyone is well. More than that, to be frank. Seeing you again... We are ecstatic to know you escaped unharmed." Dimitri answered her briskly, and he was satisfied to see the worry melt away from her face to be replaced with that soft, gentle smile he had quickly grown to love to see. It made her entire face soften and warmed her eyes to a degree he had previously thought her incapable of, and even with the new, startling physical changes... That smile only proved that those changes were merely skin-deep. She was still herself. However, his curiosity was not so easily sated, especially considering the circumstances, and he began hesitantly now that her most pressing concerns were addressed, "But, Professor... What happened, while we were separated? Your physical appearance aside... When you fought, you seemed... stronger, somehow. As if you had suddenly become much more powerful. You sundered the sky itself... How did you accomplish such a feat?"

Raine bit the inside of her cheek as she wondered how she could even begin to answer such a loaded question. She would not keep silent and refuse to give him an answer, especially knowing that she had frightened the living wits out of her students with her mistakes, but... She had never breathed a word of Sothis to anyone but her brother, and her brother was not entirely a normal man. He had taken her words at face-value and never asked questions even if he did not fully comprehend her situation, and she had been glad that he only cared for it if it was causing her worry. Acting in any other way... would have only made her worry even more about if she was truly human or not. And after reading through her father's journal, such thoughts had been haunting her more and more frequently.

But she didn't wish to show that to Dimitri. Nor to any of her students. It was a weakness they didn't need to know she had. And it wasn't as if she could expect them to believe her. It bordered on the insane, no matter how true it really was. She tugged idly at her bangs, relieved that the texture at least felt familiar even if the colour did not as she began somewhat hesitantly, "It... It wasn't simply me. The goddess... Sothis... gave me her power. I think that's why my appearance changed as it has... and why I'm stronger now than I was."

"The goddess gifted you her power...?" Dimitri repeated her words curiously, his brow furrowing as he watched his professor shift her weight from one foot to another uncomfortably. He didn't sense a lie in her explanation, though he also didn't believe it was wholly the truth. There had to be more, but quite obviously it was paining her, even if he did not understand why. She was not a believer. She had made that quite clear to him before, but he could not understand why receiving a gift from the goddess would cause her unrest. Still, he nodded his head in acceptance, deciding it best he not push her farther than she wished to go, even if it did make him worry for her. Her privacy was something she guarded jealousy, and she was open enough to them as she was despite that. She cared for all of them, in ways they needed, whether or not they knew that, and he would never question her or doubt her ever again. "I see, then... I would say it hard to believe, but I know what I saw back in that battle. You sundered the very sky with your blade... Perhaps you are like Saint Seiros?"

"Saint Seiros?" Again, Raine found herself wondering just how little she truly knew in regards to the church, and it made her sigh with the knowledge that her ignorance was continuously hampering her in the monastery. With what she now knew from her father's diary, she didn't question his decision or choices, but she couldn't help but wonder if all the knowledge she had missed out on, or avoided because of sheer instinct due to her upbringing, would have helped her when Sothis had made herself known to her in the physical realm. She would return to the monastery and to the books, to glean every little bit of information she possibly could when she next had the chance, even if the texts themselves would have to be taken with a grain or two of salt. Sothis herself had already proven that legends existed, and the annals of history were written by human hands, with human biases. She could not take the church's word at face value, or anyone's else's word, really.

"Yes. She, too, received a gift from the goddess, according to legends. It granted her great strength in her time of need. Perhaps the goddess saw the goodness of Saint Seiros in you, and saw fit to bestow a similar gift to you, when you were also in need?" Dimitri explained with a smile, and it broadened when he saw his professor look away from him in clear embarrassment. Her cheeks had dusted themselves in pink, another unfamiliar but quite welcoming sight, and he had to again raise his hand to his mouth to cover his laughter. His worries had amounted to nothing, perhaps even less than nothing, and it made him relax all the more to see her behaving as she always did. Though, his own words did bring him up somewhat short, and he tilted his head and touched his chin thoughtfully as he mused, "And if you are Saint Seiros, then I suppose... Our class would be the Ten Elites of old? Though, our numbers don't match, due to the additions to our house. But that would be a triviality."

"Comparing ourselves to legends seems a bit outlandish... Though, considering what happened..." Raine let out a tired breath as she shook her head to try and ward away the misgivings that were strangling about her ribs and constricting her torso. She wanted to tell him to stop, but she knew better than to say so. It would only invite questions, and they were questions she wasn't prepared to answer. Not when she wasn't even sure of things herself. She rubbed idly at her temples, trying to find balance, but everything seemed far away and dim. She was exhausted, moreso than she had realized, and it made her sigh as she murmured, "I guess things could be worse... or stranger. I'm almost not surprised by what happens nowadays anymore."

"Nor am I." Dimitri agreed, though his words were no longer jovial as he noticed the way his professor was withdrawing. Her face had grown pale, and she looked both pained and drawn. He couldn't begin to imagine what it was she had gone through, and Solon's words of the darkness she had supposedly been banished to had not exactly brought them comforting thoughts. It had to have been a terrible ordeal, and yet she had leapt free only to continue fighting without once taking a pause to even breathe. She was strong, unbelievably so, but she was still made of flesh and bone, just as they all were. She could not continue on forever like a machine. "Are you sure that you're all right, Professor? Mercedes could have a look at you, if you're not feeling well. That spell may have had negative affects on you that we cannot see."

"No, there's no need. Especially if Mercedes was busy with the rest of you already. I'm just... very tired." Raine admitted with another low breath, and she massaged her temples as she felt the weight growing heavily on her shoulders. She was beyond exhaustion. Her body felt like it was carrying weights on every joint, and faintly she was aware of a dizziness making the world spin in the corners of her vision. She had felt this way before, shortly before Sothis' powers had grown after their "excursion" into Zanado, and she wondered idly if her body was trying to adjust to the influx of power it had received once more. It didn't seem like it enjoyed being the bearer of the power of the goddess, and the thought made her smile wryly as she remarked, "I just need a little... rest..."

"Professor!"

Raine felt herself be caught by strong, supporting arms, but even that sensation was rapidly fading away. She could hear Dimitri calling for her worriedly, but suddenly she felt extremely calm. She hadn't fallen, even when the darkness of sleep had abruptly begun to chew holes into her vision. She had expected a harsh strike to the ground, but the crown prince hadn't allowed her to slip whatsoever. She had only staggered a step before he had her in his arms, supporting her weight as if she was merely a feather. She sighed somewhere internally as she felt her body shutting down without her consent. More weakness she had not meant to show. But, she supposed it didn't matter. They had done what they had set out to do... and in Dimitri's hands, at least... She would find her way back to the monastery safely. Of that, she had no doubt.

Dimitri watched worriedly as her eyes slid shut as she slumped against him lifelessly, but the moment of fear passed by as abruptly as it had come as he felt her soft, even breath on his neck as he angled himself to better support her. She was sleeping? The thought almost made him smile as he slowly, carefully, lowered her back onto the ground. Her expression was peaceful despite the suddenness, and the clench in his stomach loosened as he knelt down next to her and let out a tired breath of his own. He reached to touch her forehead, checking to ensure her temperature at least had not risen, and he was satisfied when her warm skin told him no such thing had occurred. She was simply drained, not injured, and the thought comforted him greatly.

"Oh, Professor! Your Highness!"

Abruptly Dimitri withdrew his hand as he heard his classmates clamouring and coming closer, and he felt a strange, but all too familiar heat rising up in his neck as he forced himself awkwardly to his feet. He was becoming too familiar with her. But it had been innocent, hadn't it? She had fallen, and he had caught her. Surely they was nothing wrong with that? Nobody would dare to make inferences about such a gesture. At least, he hoped no one would. The last thing the professor needed when she woke was someone teasing her about her falling asleep standing up, and needing to be rescued by her own student. She would be horrified... but why did that make him want to smile?

"Whoa, whoa, is she all right, Your Highness?" Sylvain's voice broke through his thoughts as he arrived with the other Blue Lions on his heels, and he was both bemused, and somehow pleased to see that the redheaded knight's concern was completely genuine. He knelt down almost as once next to her, looking his professor over carefully with a deeply furrowed brow, and his voice was low and concerned as he muttered to himself, "I don't... see anything wrong... Hey, Mercedes? Is she okay? I know you're tired, but, it's the professor here."

"Let Flayn look at her. Mercedes has done enough work today." Felix replied brusquely, and he held out his arm to stop the blond healer from stepping forward to attend to their professor. The swordsman's eyes were cool as she looked at him with a frown, and he shook his head despite her obvious want to rush to the professor's side despite her own obviously lagging condition. He turned on her with a hand on his hip, head tilted as he explained bluntly despite her look of exasperation, "You're exhausted. What happens if you collapse on us, too? Then we have two people to carry out of this cursed place. Let Flayn or Annette take a look at her. They're not you, but they're capable enough to tell us if she's hurt."

"Forgive me, Mercedes, but I believe Felix is right. You have done so much work already today. You must conserve your strength so you can make the trip back to the monastery safely." Flayn's voice was gentle as she reached to lay a comforting hand on the taller girl's arm, and Mercedes sighed as she ceded to the emerald-haired healer without argument. She may not have liked being told she was of no help, but even she was wise enough to know when to work within her own limits. Still, it did rankle her, and she knew it showed on her face as Annette came quickly up to her side and hugged her arm comfortingly while Flayn hurried forward to where their professor was laying in the grass.

"I did not see her injured during the fighting... Is she perhaps in sleep?" Petra asked as she peeked over Flayn's shoulder to watch as the healer carefully opened her professor's cloak to make an examination of her body. There indeed were no injuries that they could see without disrobing her entirely, but such a thing wasn't necessary. Not for a healer with as much skill as Flayn had acquired. Her eyes narrowed as she ran a hand slowly, carefully, an inch above her professor's body, searching in complete silence, and when she drew away with a relieved smile, Petra nodded to herself in satisfaction at the sign that she had been right. "Then I was having the correctness. She is not hurt."

"The poor thing... She must be so tired." Annette murmured as she leaned into her friend with a worried frown, and Mercedes' gently wrapped her arm about her shoulders to deliver a comforting squeeze. The tangerine-haired mage offered her a weak smile before returning her attention completely back to their sleeping professor, and she noted that even those who didn't show much emotion as a rule were all looking equally relieved to hear that she was not actually wounded. They had all been fighting out of anger, shared anger, but anger nonetheless, but it didn't change the fact that such emotion had only come from grief. "She worked so hard this past moon for us... She didn't even try to take a break for herself... No wonder she collapsed. We need to take her back to the monastery, and make sure she rests this time! Even if it means tying her up!"

"Y-You want to tie up the professor?" Ashe asked weakly, and he didn't imagine that such a thing would go over well once she woke up. Though surprisingly gentle with her students when the situation called for it, she still was stern and unflinching when she fought alongside them, and they all were aware her temper was nothing to make light of. Even when it wasn't directed anywhere near them, they all had felt her simmering rage when she had clashed with Kronya, and to say it had frightened even the most staunch of them was not anywhere near an exaggeration. "I don't think that's a good idea, Annette... What would we do when she woke up? She'd be angry."

Annette puffed out her cheeks, annoyed that her friend had taken her so literally. Of course she didn't want to restrain their professor, especially against her will. The idea was ludicrous. Plus, she doubted any restraints would actually work, especially on a woman as stubborn as the former mercenary. She probably could break iron chains if she wished to, and Annette wasn't about to risk her hide, or her grades, by behaving so foolishly. She stuck out her tongue at the sheepish-looking archer as she explained pertly, "I didn't mean it literally, Ashe! But she still needs to rest! Look at her! She's ran herself ragged!"

"I think I agree with Annette here, surprisingly..." Ingrid spoke up, her voice slow and careful as she looked about at her comrades thoughtfully. She was met with more than a few raised eyebrows, and she was quick to shake a hand to dissuade them from thinking she was agreeing with the idea of restraints. She wasn't nearly foolish enough to indulge in that, no matter how interesting it might seem to test their professor's raw strength. But that was a scenario that didn't need thinking of as she clarified hastily, "About her resting, of course! I mean... This past moon, after Captain Jeralt... She didn't ignore her duties. Rather, she threw herself headlong into them, for our sakes. We can say perhaps she did it in order to not focus on her grief, but... I think we all know better. She isn't that selfish. What she did this past moon, all that she did, was for us as our professor. Now, she's in need of us. We must return her kindness. What sort of students would we be if we let her continue to work herself to the bone without recognizing what she's done for us?"

"I agree... It is time for us to show her the same care that she has always shown us." Dedue nodded solemnly, and his eyes flickered across their professor and to his liege, who was watching them all with a soft, almost relieved sort of smile. He had wondered, what the crown prince thought of her actions, and the actions of his fellow classmates as they watched and worried from the sidelines... Now he could see that he had been just as concerned, and was now glad to see that the rest of the house was openly voicing their worries and care for her now. It was a good sign, a heartening sign, and there had been far too few of them in the past few moons. He folded his arms however as he broached the question no one else seemed to have thought of yet, "However... How shall we begin taking the professor back to the monastery?"

"I can carry her." Raphael was the first to speak up, and his usually so warm and smiling face was for once serious and almost stern as he towered over the healers as he approached them without hesitation. He rolled up his sleeves, looking down thoughtfully at the rather petite bundle his professor would make if he plucked her up from the ground. She didn't look heavy, and he didn't doubt that he could easily sling her up and make the trip back to the monastery without much effort. He was well aware however that he was the newest addition to the Blue Lions house, and he was respectful of this as he explained, "She did just let me join you guys when I asked to be brought on. Let me do it, to pay her back for making me a Blue Lion."

"I... I do not think that's a good idea, Raphael." Flayn began somewhat sheepishly, and a quickly traded look with Mercedes and Annette proved that her instinct was right as both girls looked awkwardly at the bulky young villager and then back down at their teacher uncertainly. She hastened however at the look of hurt that passed across his face so not to let him think she was doubting him as a fellow student or a Blue Lion, as she, too, was "new" in comparison to the rest of the students gathered there, "I mean, I certainly do not doubt your strength, but the professor is a delicate woman. She must be handled gently. It is true that I did not detect any wounds when I searched her, but she still could be hurting somewhere that I could not tell... We do not wish to aggravate things we cannot see."

"Oh. Oh, yeah, that's a good point." Raphael nodded immediately at the explanation he understood, and the relief that flickered on his face brought a smile to Flayn's own. She understood his hesitancy, and his desire to be a part of the team, regardless of how late his induction had been. He wished to prove himself, just as she had wanted to do, and his first idea had come from a heartfelt place, if an impetuous one. But he took it completely in stride and without insult, ceding to those he knew were wiser than him without a moment's hesitation. It was a part of his charm. "So, uh... Maybe horseback? Or Petra, could you fly her back to the monastery on your wyvern?"

"There's no need to quarrel. I will carry her home." Dimitri interrupted the talk that he was well aware would go about in circles if he allowed it to. Everyone wanted to speak up and do their part, and some had better reasoning than others, but he dismissed it all the same. Everyone and their mounts were tired from both travel and battle, and none needed to have an extra burden to carry back to the monastery. He, however, still felt fresh, and for once, he was glad for his Crest and the power it gave him. She would not even compare to a regular set of training armour, and he knew for certain that carrying her back to the monastery would be of no trouble. "I will be slow, so it would be best that all of you go ahead to give your report of what happened here to the Archbishop in the professor, and my, stead. She will be worried, and it is best not to keep her or any of the knights who may have returned waiting."

Ingrid was quick, slapping Sylvain upside the head before he could open his mouth to make a remark, and her old friend winced away from her, rubbing his ear as he mumbled something under his breath about being punished too early. She shot him a deadly glare to keep him silent, before returning her eyes to her liege as he carefully knelt down and scooped the professor's still form into his arms with as little effort as plucking a flower. No one doubted that he had the strength and stamina to carry her home without incident, but his blunt and abrupt decision had been one no one had really expected. She spoke for all of them, minding her tone as she did so so not to appear disrespectful, "My lord... Are you certain this what you wish to do?"

"Yes, Ingrid, I am certain. And I am aware that I am depriving all of you from helping as well, but... Please, I will ask that you allow me this one selfishness." Dimitri answered calmly, and he adjusted her weight carefully in his arms to support her head with his shoulder as he cradled her with little effort, but the maximum amount of gentleness and care he could manage. She was not a lance or a sewing needle, easily replaced when broken, and he minded himself with extreme caution even as he met each gaze of his classmates and explained with a weak, wry smile, "I wish... to prove myself. Not only to her, but to myself, now. I could not help her when she needed me, needed us, the most. I wish to fix my mistake. I am aware that I depriving you all of doing the same, and I apologize. But... if I may, please allow me to begin what we all wish to do."

Ashe's smile gentled as he noticed that flicker of warmth in the crown prince's eyes, as well as the regret. He had seen it before, that moment in the chapel when he had realized that Dimitri had overheard everything that had been shared between him and the professor shortly after the death of Lord Lonato. That deep, sincere regret that turned to determination, the desire to right his wrongs and misconceptions, and he was not about to be the one to try and stop him if this was how he wished to go about making his own first steps of reconciliation. Perhaps it was because it was all he knew he could do, or perhaps it was because he did not feel just a sense of obligation towards her, but neither reason mattered. Ashe nodded and spoke first, his voice calm and firm as he replied, "That's good enough for me, Your Highness. I'll leave the professor in your hands. Dedue, why don't you and I fix her a meal when we return to the monastery? Something filling and healthy. She'll be hungry when she wakes up, don't you think?"

"Oh, that sounds wonderful. May I watch?"

"No, no, Mercie, we ought to bake some cookies to go with it! We all ought to do something we can do to make it special for her when we get back!"

Dimitri smiled to himself as he heard the rapid-fire trading of ideas for what to do for their professor, and he used the opportunity to quietly slip away from the group with little preamble. He didn't want any more scrutiny, nor did he wish to wait any longer in case debate flared up again. He was glad neither Sylvain nor Dedue spoke up, as he knew they had seen him take his leave, but apparently they had also decided it was best to go along with his choice rather than debate it. He would need to thank them both later for it, but he put all thoughts to the back of his mind as he began the trek back from the Sealed Forest's edge and back to the monastery. He knew the route well enough, thanks to the many training excursions that had took them close to the forest, but never within. Normally it would be a twenty minute march back to the monastery by the road, but he had no intention of taking that long when he had her cradled so carefully in his arms.

Flayn's words had worried him. He was not a healer. Rather, he had very little skill in magic whatsoever. A cursory look for wounds and immediate first-aid with a tourniquet or bandages was the best of his ability as a "healer", and it left him sorely lacking in an area he was well aware could use more expertise. And now, feeling the soft, even breath of his professor on his neck, he was sharply aware of how little he knew and what a danger that was. If she had been injured, if she was injured, what good would he have been or would be? It made him shudder despite himself. No, he wouldn't permit it. When he returned to the monastery, he would ask for a handful of lessons in basic medicine from Professor Manuela. She would be able to at least teach him enough to be of use in an emergency. There was no worse feeling in the world than being helpless when another needed him.

That thought made his jaw ache as it tightened against his better judgement, and it took him a moment to force his arms to relax so he did not accidentally squeeze his precious burden as well. Flayn had been right. His professor was delicate, despite all the damage she had been capable of making, and taking in return. She was a mercenary before she was a professor, and it showed every single time she had to bare her sword and lead them to battle. She could navigate battle better than anyone he knew, as both tactician and soldier, and that confidence inspired every single one of them each and every time they had to fight.

"Loyalty, too..." Dimitri muttered half to himself and half to sleeping woman he was carrying, and he started slightly when he realized he had begun voicing his thoughts aloud. A quick glimpse down told him she was still fast asleep, and he breathed a sigh of relief without entirely knowing why. Why would it matter if she heard him complimenting her? It wouldn't be the first time. He had praised her and her skills countless times before, and they had always been well-deserved compliments. Even if she waved it away, when she ducked her head to hide her satisfied smile, it always made him glad to know she was taking the words to heart even if she never really accepted it aloud.

The idea emboldened him. She was sleeping, and for the first time since their little meeting in the Goddess Tower, they were entirely alone. It hadn't been his best moment then, trying for japes only to be met with a scolding rebuke, but he wondered now how much of what he had jested of was becoming true. He had his mission. His sole directive that had been driving him for four long, painful years... but this year, this one solitary pack of moons, had been something close to the best year of his life. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt so at ease with himself, and with the people around him. When he had last smiled so much, and with such honesty. She brought that out in him. He knew that she did.

"And it makes everything else seem... small, in comparison. You are not good for me, Professor. You make me forget things that cannot be forgotten. That should not be forgotten." A low, tired breath left him as his steps came mechanically now, without thought towards the monastery, but Dimitri had long ago taken his eyes away from his destination. He could not help it. The warm, soft weight in his arms was beguiling. Her hair tickled his chin, and her scent filled his head and made him both flush hotly, and feel strangely at ease. Had he ever noticed before that she smelled exactly as her namesake? Like a fresh summer rain, coating fields of flowers and reminding the world that it was needed in order to make beauty bloom in what looked to be the worst, or ugliest of times. "Had I met you sooner... Would things have been different, I wonder...? Would I be the man you believe I am? Would I have come to the Officer's Academy at all...?"

The questions were teetering close to an unknown. To a boundary he had drawn about himself in tight, strict confines. He had been forced to remember it in the Goddess Tower, when he had been reflecting on "the promise" they had all made to return here in five years time. It had been foolish of him. He was not at liberty to make promises he could not keep. His life didn't belong to him. Not anymore. He had come to terms with that long ago. He could not change his mind now, no matter how much he may wish for it. He was alive. It was his duty. And nothing could ever take precedence over that duty. His nightmares... Those whispers... They'd never permit it.

"I wish we had met under different circumstances, Professor..."

He continued to walk. He was taking a different, shorter path to the monastery, but it was still likely that his comrades would arrive beforehand. Especially when he factored in that Petra had very likely flown on ahead with the details of what had taken place in the Sealed Forest the moment he had left them. She was a strange young woman, still having difficulty with the language of Fódlan, but there was no denying she had become a Blue Lion in everything but name since her addition to the class. She fit in so seamlessly with them, fighting with the same spirit, learning as much from them as she taught, and showing that same ferocious protectiveness and loyalty to the professor who had taken her under her wing. Her loyalty was to Brigid, not the Empire... but she had admitted, more than once with a sheepish smile, that at least here in Garreg Mach, that she did consider herself a Blue Lion before she was a princess.

The walls were creeping into sight over the hills, startling him as he wondered how long he had been walking. It had felt like only a handful of minutes. Had his thoughts really strayed so far and for so long? He glanced down worriedly at his teacher, but she had yet to prove she was waking. If anything, she seemed even more deeply asleep, nestled against his chest and in his arms like it was the most natural thing in the world. Again he felt his neck and face growing warm, and he had to swallow it down as he looked towards the monastery walls again. He truly was selfish. They were close to home, and yet he was disappointed that it was already over. ' I am truly a fool...'

"Dimitri."

The call on his immediate left caught him off guard, but still he remembered his precious burden as he turned halfway to catch a glimpse of whoever it was that called for him. He stopped short, eyes widening in both surprise and understanding as his confusion vanished away like a leaf blown by a strong breeze at the sight of the "intruder". Of course. He always seemed to know, always seemed to be there, and seeing him now, as if he had been waiting for their arrival on the outskirts of the monastery, Dimitri admitted he really could not be surprised by his appearance. It just seemed to be the mercenary's way. He greeted him politely, now becoming acutely aware of what he had to look like, and hoping beyond hope his voice had not carried, and the older man had not been there for long enough to catch it when he spoke, "Sir Warin."

"No sirs, Dimitri. I'm not a knight." Warin's answer was brisk and curt, and his eyes flickered over the first prince and his sister with a precision that was as sharp as a newly-honed arrowhead. Somehow he didn't look surprised, but Dimitri himself had come to expect that of him. After his arrival with the incident with Jeralt, nothing that Warin did came as a surprise to him anymore. He had an uncanny sixth sense, especially when it came to his sister, and he likely had felt that something had happened in the Sealed Forest while he had been away. It was just his luck, that Rhea had finally given in and approved him for a scouting mission with Shamir, and he had arrived back home too late to be of any use. His navy eyes flickered back up from his sister's sleeping face and back up to Dimitri's before he asked him bluntly, "Are you intending to take her to the infirmary?"

"That was the plan, yes."

"Don't. Take her back to her quarters. She isn't injured." Warin told him brusquely, and he took little pleasure in the surprise that crossed the young prince's face as he looked down to the woman in his arms uncertainly. He understood the concern. For all intents and purposes, she was clearly unconscious, and needed a healer... but Warin knew better. That ill feeling that had warned him that something had gone terribly wrong was gone now, and he felt calm and at ease. If his sister had been injured, he wouldn't have waited here, knowing that Dimitri would be bringing her along by the quickest route even if it separated him from his classmates. He would have gone on ahead, ignoring any and all orders to stay put, to find her and bring her back himself. "Trust me on this. She's fine. Just exhausted."

"You always seem to know these things... and more importantly, the professor trusts you, so I shall do the same." Dimitri conceded to him with a nod, and he was aware that his concern was slowly fading away to be replaced with a tangible sense of relief and warmth. His professor had always spoken highly of her brother and his ability to predict or sense the worst, and he had seen him in action several times before when the knights had fought alongside them. Warin was a warrior born, and one with far more experience than he had. Moreover, he was the only one with any authority when it came to making decisions on his sister's behalf, and out of respect for that, Dimitri had no intention of ignoring him. "Then, do you wish to...?"

"No, that won't be necessary. You can continue carrying her. But don't go this way back into Garreg Mach. Follow me." Warin dismissed the offer with a wave of his hand, and he turned his back before Dimitri could either protest, or worse, look relieved that he was not being dismissed of his duty. It wasn't as if he didn't trust the young prince, that went without saying now, but he was still quickly finding himself running out of allies in the monastery walls. The death of his father had brought him to a dangerous edge, making him wary of everyone about him, but he knew he could not extend that mistrust to his sister's students. She would take him sorely to task if he ever expressed such a thought, and he knew he would rightfully deserve it. They were noble brats, at least most of them were, but they were all well-intentioned, and obviously enamoured by her. Not one of the Blue Lions would ever do anything to bring her harm. Not by choice.

"Where exactly are you taking me? I don't know this path."

"It's a shortcut back to the dormitories. Well, it's a shortcut in that it avoids the marketplace and the hall, which is where everyone will be waiting for you and Raine." Warin explained over his shoulder as he picked his way along the western most wall with Dimitri following closely and obediently behind him. He could almost hear the young man's curiosity despite his willingness to follow, and that alone made him decide it was worth speaking further as he continued on, "I was born here. Both Raine and I were. We left when I was six, and immediately after she was born, so she has no memories of this place... but I do. It hasn't changed in the twenty years we've been away. I still remember how to get about without being noticed. It was useful for a bored six year old boy. Still useful now, though I probably shouldn't say so."

Dimitri blinked in surprise, and he looked down to the woman in his arms as he realized abruptly that he actually didn't know very much about her at all. Not her, or her brother. She had never spoken of her birthplace, and no one had ever asked. If anything, she seemed to be particularly jealous of her privacy, and everyone had learned one way or another to respect it even if such privacy came with a fair share of ignorance on her part. She had been raised away from the world, isolated from the church's influence, that much had been clear, but everything else beyond her being a mercenary, being ferociously loyal to her father and brother... was simply unknown. He felt his chest catch with a sudden bout of guilt as he muttered mostly to himself, "I... I wasn't aware..."

"Nor was she, until we came back here at the beginning of the year. Father kept it a secret. Raine chose to do the same out of respect for his choices. She wasn't keeping secrets from you so much as she was honouring father's wishes, you understand. I imagine if Father had given her permission, she would have told you all everything." Warin replied with a surprising amount of kindness, and he paused as they reached a corner in the monastery's outer wall. It bent inwards slightly, hugging the long line of student dormitories before again bulging outwards where the training grounds were situated. Warin indeed knew the area very well, and Dimitri admitted he was both impressed and somewhat abashed by his own lack of knowledge. Warin knocked twice on the heavy stone, then pushed with one hand on a section of the wall that looked identical to the rest they had been walking alongside for the past handful of minutes.

Dimitri inhaled sharply as it simply gave way under Warin's hand, opening up like a door and giving them access into Garreg Mach as easily if they had marched in from the front. He followed as Warin ducked into the secret passageway, and the wall closed behind them with a silent hiss to leave them on the other side with an ease that left him far more discomforted than surprised. He had never known the monastery had such a weakness in its outer walls, though he had also not known that there was a sprawling underground from the knights' barracks, either. The place was a mystery, both in engineering and in everything else, and he shook his head despite himself as he asked weakly, "This place... You discovered it in your youth?"

"There's a secret entrance in every cardinal direction, save the main entry and market, I'd wager. But this one I used the most back when I was younger. I wasn't allowed to mingle with the students when I was boy... This was my way around it. The one on the eastern side is actually behind the knights' barracks." Warin explained with a small smile as he noted Dimitri's surprise and concern, and he had to wonder what the noble was thinking about such perceived weaknesses in the monastery's defences. He himself had thought similarly, but age and experience had taught him that what was merely a "secret passage" for a little boy was far more than that when he looked at it through the eyes of a seasoned soldier. He explained further as he motioned for Dimitri to continue to follow him around the corner and towards Raine's personal quarters, "I imagine they were built in the case of a direct siege on the monastery. The one here allows for an easy escape route for the students, while the one in the east provides an escape for the knights not on active duty. There is likely one in the chapel in the north, as well, but I never got around to finding it. It's difficult exploring every nook and cranny of a place swarming with nuns and priests. They all had permission to tan my hide if I was poking around where I shouldn't be."

The thought made Dimitri smile despite himself at Warin's broad back, and he wasn't entirely sure how to reply as he followed him obediently towards the stairs and to the professor's quarters. It was difficult, imagining the stern and unflinching man before him as a little boy, running about the monastery and trying to uncover every secret he possibly could, and yet it didn't seem that far-fetched. Hadn't he done the same in his own castle back in Faerghus? Wasn't in really in every boy's nature to be a nuisance to their elders in their youth? Still, his willingness to share this secret made him pause as he began to climb the stairs as carefully as he could so not to wake his professor, "I am glad you showed me this, but... May I ask why you did not wish to come by the front entrance?"

"Raine needs rest, not to be disturbed because of whatever it was that happened in the Sealed Forest. And I am very aware something happened. I can see the changes just as clearly as you." Warin answered curtly, though not coldly as he watched Dimitri carefully sidle his way into his sister's quarters before laying her down on her bed. Every movement was slow and calculated, so not to jostle her unexpectedly, and it made him sigh inwardly at what he was seeing. It was good to know that she was so well taken care of, but... that didn't mean he had to be completely supportive of it. "I'd prefer she had a chance to be left alone for a spell before being taken to the Archbishop for questioning. It can't be easy to process. She needs time, and that isn't given much, seeing as things don't run on her schedule."

Dimitri carefully pulled the blankets over his professor's sleeping form, ensuring she was tucked in as well as he could manage before he hastily beat a retreat from her quarters. He had never been inside before, and he didn't want to linger no matter how curious he was about her private space. There had been stacks of books piled in the corner, as well as a small collection of whetstones for her weapon maintenance, but otherwise she didn't seem to keep many personal belongings. It made him sad, for reasons he wasn't entirely sure of, but he knew it was not his place to make judgements on her style of living. He closed the door behind him, and watched as Warin locked it from the outside with a key he must have stolen from the inside of her room before he had set out to meet them. He wondered at her elder brother's vigilance, both impressed and somewhat intimidated by his willingness to defy the archbishop's authority so openly, and he began without thinking as Warin pocketed his sister's key and stepped away from the door, "The professor said the goddess gifted her this power. After what happened... I am inclined to believe her. She sundered the sky with her blade, escaping a spell that had taken her away from this world. When she returned to us... Her appearance had changed, and she was filled with power."

"That makes sense... The sudden disappearance, then her return... I couldn't feel her for a handful of minutes. I almost went mad with worry. Then she was back, as abruptly as she had gone... I don't know what it is she gets into, but she never gives me a moment's peace these days. I guess that's more my fault than anything else, though. I should have been here." Warin nodded thoughtfully, and he glanced about before hopping up easily to take a seat on the nearby piled crates just outside of his sister's room. He did not intend to leave, as he was well aware that soon others would come knocking, and he would guard his sister's rest for as long as it took, and against anyone foolish enough to come for a little while. Dimitri made no moves to leave just yet, and he took advantage of his presence to question him bluntly, his eyes burning with quiet, simmering wrath, "Tell me. Is Monica dead?"

"By the professor's hand. Solon, as well, met his end at her sword." Dimitri answered immediately, and he watched as Warin closed his eyes for a long moment, and then let out a breath after another. His tense shoulders lowered by an inch or two, and the wrathful expression on his face softened only a tad when his eyes opened again. Instead of anger there seemed to be exhaustion now taking its place, and it was something Dimitri understood well. He had seen the same expression on Raine's face, and he wondered if his own would look the same when his turn came. He did not know, but now was not the time to dwell as he explained further for the mercenary, "It was Solon who tried to trap her, by using Kronya, as she was really called, as bait. It almost worked, too. But somehow, by some miracle... Your sister cut through the spell, returned to us, and ended Solon herself. She found vengeance for both Remire, and for Captain Jeralt. You can rest assured of that."

"I'm glad. It won't bring him back, nor will it restore Remire, but... It's a step forward. Those vermin needed destroying, but they aren't the only ones out there. There remains the Death Knight, and the Flame Emperor... Once those two are hooked on the end of a blade, I'll be able to rest more peacefully." Warin let out another long exhale, and he shook his head as he leaned back on his hands and looked upwards idly. He was, truly, glad to hear that his sister had found vengeance for the both of them, but he wasn't entirely put at ease by it. What had he been doing, while his sister had been fighting? Poking his nose about somewhere else, not realizing he was again being kept away by design, and to say he was quickly growing tired of it was an understatement. His father was dead, and now his sister had undergone a wild change. It was not a good omen.

Still. That thought brought him back to the young man in front of him, and Dimitri was watching him just as closely as he was being watched. It made him smile grimly. That look in his sea-blue eyes, filled with wrath and ruin, was one he knew well. He and his sister had not been the only one consumed with thoughts of revenge this moon. It was not a good look for the prince, and it likely worried his sister, but Warin had to admit he felt differently when he saw it. It was a driving force, and a powerful one, if it was turned in the correct direction. And now, with his father dead... He began without preamble, voice calm but still pointed, "I want to ask you something. Or, rather, there's something I suppose I want to ask of you. With Father dead, it's now just Raine and I... and I am quite aware of my own mortality. Something could very well happen to me one of these moons. If something should... Can I trust you to take care of my sister, in my absence?"

Dimitri froze where he stood, and a feeling of both foreboding, and uncertainty made his blood run cold as Warin's placid navy gaze pinned him down like a lance through his spine. The older mercenary never minced words, nor did he seem willing to bend or lean on anyone. To hear him asking such a favour, of him of all people, made Dimitri unable to answer immediately. His instincts demanded he accept, without thought or care, but his better sense would not permit him. Not without knowing why Warin was choosing to delegate this task, his sister, to him should anything happen to him. "I... Forgive me, Warin, but... Why would you entrust your sister... with me? She is my professor. I am her student. It is true, I will graduate soon, and then ascend the throne in Faerghus, but... You are not choosing me simply because I am a noble. No, you would not choose me because I am a noble... I must ask why you would ask such a weight of me, before I could even begin to think of accepting."

"My father trusted you. He told me as much, before he passed. He saw you and her fighting together, back during the Battle of the Eagle and Lion. He said that you two were quite a pair to be reckoned with... and he trusted you with her back on the battlefield. That's more than enough of a reason for me to do the same." Warin shrugged lightly, playing off the weight he knew his words were creating, and the way that they felt on his own shoulders. It was not something he did lightly, and it was not something he wished to do at all... but the knowledge of all that had happened in the past several moons had left him feeling helpless. His only response to that was cold pragmatism, and he ceded to it, even if it made him feel absolutely filthy to do so. He held the crown prince's stare, one hand idly tapping on his knee as he explained bluntly, "If something were to happen to me, Raine would be alone in this world. All she's ever known is her family. Her family, and the Blue Lions. I'd have her leave this place if I died, leave it far behind and find a home with her students in the Kingdom. With you. Be it as a mercenary, a knight, or continuing on as a professor for your future knights. I don't quite care what it is she does... so long as she's safe. You're the only person here I can trust to take care of her should anything happen to me. So I will ask you again. Will you protect my sister, if I were no longer able to do so?"

Dimitri lowered his eyes to the ground as he felt the weight of Warin's request crushing even his strong shoulders until he felt like he could simply collapse down to his knees. He had never felt such pressure before, and unbidden, his eyes turned back to the room where he had just laid the professor in her bed. He knew Warin was right, in a way. Without her family, she would be lost. She would have no one to rely on any longer. Could he in good faith leave her, if such a horrible thing were to happen? Putting aside all of his own wants and desires, knowing full well what could happen if he chose to abandon her... His hands clenched into fists at his side. No. That was impossible. Abandon her? It was unquestionable. Even if he was to die in his own crusade, the other Blue Lions could take over where he left. At least, in this, Warin was right. With the Blue Lions, under the Kingdom's protection... She would always be safe.

Dimitri swallowed hard, fighting the sudden burst of nausea, as well as the sudden desire to flee where he stood if only to clear his head and not be taken in by the dark thoughts of his professor alone and well and truly without everything. It was not a weight he wanted to bear. The only thing that made him even willing to consider it was the fact that Warin did not look any more pleased about this discussion than he felt. It was only insurance, a last-ditch attempt to ensure that at the end of it all, even if the worst occurred, that he would not be leaving his sister behind with nothing. At the very least, he could respect that about the mercenary, even if put him in a position he had no wish to be in. But he nodded his head all the same even if he averted his eyes, and his voice was quiet, shaken as he replied, "I... I do not believe I am the best person to ask this of... But, I will do my best, Warin. I cannot promise that... that I will be able to live up to your standards, but... In the case of the worst coming to pass... I will not abandon my professor. That much... I can give you."

"That's all I ask for." Warin accepted it despite it not being entirely what he wanted to hear, but he knew well enough that this subject had deeply disturbed the crown prince. It was enough, especially considering what he was asking. He rolled his head idly, cracking the bones in his neck before he leaned back comfortably on his hands. That was all he wanted, knowing that his sister would have one last safe haven to harbour her should he no longer be there, and now that he had the reassurance, he could relax. He nodded towards the nobles' dormitories, voice quiet, but kinder as he continued, "You can go. Tell your friends that Raine's resting, she's under my care now, and then go get some rest, yourself. You've done well today... and I'm grateful for all that you and your house has done for my family."

"Y-Yes... Thank you."

Warin watched him bow awkwardly, as if he had no real idea how to address him, before he was quickly turning on his heel and making himself scarce like a mouse that a tomcat had grown bored of hunting. He felt a pang of sympathy for what he had forced so callously onto the boy's head, but it did not last too long. It was necessary, even if it was too much. And he watched as Dimitri disappeared for the main hall, very likely heading to regroup with his classmates to tell them the news, and he leaned farther back on his hands with a low sigh. Whatever else could be said about the boy... He was loyal. Lovesick, troubled, extremely torn... but still incredibly loyal. "I suppose it could be worse... Much worse. I don't think I'd be half as accepting if you'd been teaching the Golden Deer and felt this way for their house leader..."

It was mostly silent, save for the occasional sound of chatter from passerby students and the sound of the wind rustling through the trees, and Warin took a deep, cleansing breath as he forced himself to relax. There was no point in remaining tense for the entirety of his watch. He had no doubt Raine would give him an earful once she woke up and realized he had standing at her door like some glorified hound on watchdog duty. She hated it when he strained himself, and she had grown just as protective as he was of her in the past two moons. It had been truth when he had said he was all she had left. She recognized it as much as he did, and she was working hard, harder than she needed to, to make sure he remembered that she was there for him just as much as he was for her.

They seemed small. At least, to any outsider, her gestures truly would not seem like much. The occasional check-in at the barracks, seeing him off of every mission, and bringing by a meal she knew he enjoyed every so often. They were acts she had not done before Jeralt's passing, because she simply had not needed to do them. He knew she loved him. She didn't need to say it, or show him with her actions, that she did. They had grown up together. They had fought countless times together. It was simple between them. But Jeralt's death had shaken her, leaving her wondering if what was left unsaid was truly the way she wanted to live. If their father could be taken away so easily... And so she changed. Telling him her feelings. Calling him by his title. Checking in more often. He didn't mind it, even if it was taking some getting used to. So long as it satisfied her, so long as it brought her peace... He'd allow her to do whatever she wanted.

Grass crunching underfoot brought his attention back to the present, and he fought down a grim smile at the sound. He knew that footfall, even if the rhythm had changed somewhat. It usually was so stately, refined and calm, but now it was brisk, as if in excitement that was rather uncharacteristic. But he didn't mind. It didn't change what he intended to do. And he turned on the crate he had been sitting on, legs crossing as he looked down the stairs where the exact person he had been waiting for had made her appearance. Her eyes slid past him momentarily, to the locked door he was guarding, before back to him. And the look on her face flickered, from excitement and pleasure and back to a long-perfected mask of calm and composure. But that didn't matter to him as he nodded once, sparing her the only courtesy he planned to give her as he blocked her way to his sister and greeted her coldly, "Rhea. What a coincidence, seeing you here."

AN:

Dun dun daaaaaaaah! -hit with a frying pan-

Ahem. Sorry. Anyway! This is the start of the three-parter that I promised that was to focus exclusively on the siblings and riding out the aftermath of the events of the Sealed Forest debacle, as well as the reading of Jeralt's diary. Mind you, I am aware Warin kind of stole the show at the end here, and he is going to steal a fair bit of the middle, but I promise it's pretty important that he does. The story is going to have three stages. The second of which will be a "confrontation" of sorts between Rhea and Warin, with the third being a conversation between Raine and Warin about all they have learned, and their plans for the future.

Mind, none of the third part is going to have much of an impact on the main story at large (mostly because I intend to stick to canon throughout the beginning and main parts of the War Phase) but it will include a lot of character exploration, as well as long-awaited talks and discussion about the past "School Phase" and what the siblings believe is to be coming, what had been done, and what they are hoping for from the future.

I have never written Rhea before, though I have had extensive conversations about her, and plenty of dissection of her character. Now, whether or not this will hit the target, I really can't promise anything. However, I do want to set out two reminders for the next chapter. The first being that we as readers already know the truth, and the nuance behind most of her actions, as well as her current reasoning for behaving as she does and keeping her secrets. The problem however is that Warin is not aware of this nuance at this point in time, and is only acting on the information he knows, which is skewed from his own perspective, as well as the perspective of his father. The journal, while informative for Raine, did not hold any details that Jeralt didn't already share with Warin as his son.

The second is that while Rhea's motives (at the time) had some logic them to us players with forethought and the knowledge we've obtained throughout the game... Again, Warin and Raine both are not aware of any of this. Her secret keeping, her actions, and her decisions (justified or not) to keep them both in the dark are not things the siblings take to lightly, and their mistrust of her is not wrong. Will it change as more information is given to them throughout the course of the story? Yes, of course it will. But at current, they are acting with what they know, and what they do not know. We as readers already have the full story. They as characters do not. So please don't judge them, (or me!) for trying my best to write them without that bias as someone who's already played the game and are fully informed of the nuance!

As always, thank you for reading this far, and if you should feel the need, please drop me a review! I'm always grateful for your feedback, and thrive on it! I hope to see you again soon with my next instalment!

Mood: Satisfied.

Listening To: "Hitori Omou" - Renka (Fire Emblem: Fates)

~ Sky