Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Now in William’s point of view

Me? She wants me? Was Byleth jealous of how me and Ivory have bonded over the trip? I have so many questions. It just means that she wants me back as her friend, right? Right? Then I remember that moment, in the forest when the figson interrupted us. Was that more than friends? I promised myself that I would wipe that memory away from my mind. I look up at her, her teel complexion, her vast wings. The silence stretches on and on, until I finally decide to say, “I’m sorry, Byleth.” I don’t know why I say it but I feel like I should be sorry that she was hanging back all that time, that Mavi was the only organism that she could really talk to. That wasn’t fair, especially from me. “I know, it’s ok.” She says point-blank. Oof, that is not a solid apology, but I’ll accept it. I nod. Ivory is silent all this time, her wings slowly fluttering in the air, her gaze from me to Byleth. “Let’s take a break, I think we all need one.” Ivory mentions . We all agree to swoop down and take a break from the tiring flight. Byleth’s eyes are red and puffy in her elf form but have still obtained their beautiful glow. I pull her into a hug. I pull away. “Are we friends now?” I ask her. “Yes.” She sniffles. 

We realize that we haven’t slept since the night that Byleth arrived in Stathford. Ivory, knowing how to make beds out of nature makes all of us moss beds and pillows. I toss and turn. What will it be like when we get back to the tribe? Normal? Will we ever have to embark on something again? The excitement of an adventure is all I need to keep going without stopping. Suddenly, I hear something from a bush, a small movement but still a movement. I stand up, hands out to defend myself if I need to. “Hello?” I ask, turning around on all sides. “Hello William. We haven’t met in a while so I thought that we could have a nice friendly reunion.” I stand there terrified as I see Rayonetta come out with Corrin. Corrin scrambles to get out of Rayonetta’s grasp but it’s no use. “Give her back.” I say firmly. “What did you say to me William?” Rayonetta asks. “I said Give. Her. Back!” I yell. I lunge at her, my powers ready. She’s right back at me with her powers. But she doesn’t summon water like a normal sunset dragon, she summons the power of twilight tribe power. A white ball of light hits me square in the chest and I fall backwards, pain shooting up through my upper body. But before Rayonetta can do anything else, vines fly toward her, wrapping her in their strong grasp. I look around to see the source of the power, and then I see her. Byleth is hovering above the ground in elf form, her hands controlling the vines. She then unwraps the vines that are holding Corrin and retrieves them to a tree nearby. “You do not and I repeat DO NOT touch a hair on her head again.” Byleth snaps. “Oh, well your little powers won’t do so well Byleth.” Raynetta remarks coldly. She fixes a piercing stare on me and smiles. After that, it’s just a blur of what happens. A red and white dragon swoops into the scene, frees Rayonetta and turns back into elf form. This must be Lamia, I realize. Lamia has long billowing hair that goes down to her knees that is as black as night. Her eyes shine an emerald green and armor wraps around her whole body. “Hello, I see my assistance is needed. Rayonetta, I understand that you have failed my task, I will deal with the punishments later.” Lamia remarks. Rayonetta scowls and flips her long braid toward the back, revealing her steady glare at me. 

“Well then, I think that me and Byleth have some talking to do.” Lamia gestured for Byleth to follow her but Byleth stays where she is, unfazed by the gesture. “I am not going with you.” Byleth states. “Oh well, I guess that you’re doing this the hard way, Byleth. Come with me or you will die.” Lamia smiles, expecting Byleth to come. “No, you wouldn’t kill me, I’m too valuable. I know what you’re doing Lamia, and it’s not working.” Byleth reasons. Lamia frowns, Byleth knows her strategy. “Fine then, I will kill you friends here.” Lamia threatens. Byleth smiles again. “You won’t kill them either, you are going to use them as bargaining chips to get me over onto your side.” Byleth says. Wait, bargaining chips? Byleth is one of the smartest girls I have ever met, add brave to the list now that she’s smart-talking a villain. Lamia glares at Byleth. “Well then, if you think that you can see through my plans then I can just consume you again. Come with me and we can reason with each other Byleth. I promise on Rayonetta’s life that I won’t do any harm to you.” Lamia’s tone of voice is now kind and soothing. Rayonetta glares at Lamia, angry that her life means so little to Lamia. “Don’t do it Byleth, she could kill Rayonetta with the snap of her hand, don’t do it!” I try to persuade Byleth but it’s no good. “Fine, I will come with you. I’ll be back guys, don’t worry.” Byleth follows Lamia into the forest and soon disappears.