#'dimitri are you mayhaps a little bored'

[yukiwrites]

The Taste of Fear

Thank you for the support as always, @breeachuu​! I got carried away writing this! sakdjlmasd It was so much fun! I hope you likey~

Summary: Crossing the borders between worlds and getting used to his new home was a task that Wolfram was equally looking forward to and uneasy about. Hiding who he was while still trying to forge new bonds would prove to be a challenge, but Wolfie knew that as long as he had Byleth and Dimitri by his side, he would be able to see it through. Dimitri, however, had his own demons to fight...

Commission info HERE and HERE!

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Wolfram adjusted the purple bandana he wore around his head to hide his pointy ears for the fourth time as he followed Dimitri and Byleth closely.

After Dimitri explained the situation to the professor, Byleth had stared at Wolfram for a long while, as though having a long-winded conversation within herself regarding his story. Or regarding himself, Wolfram couldn't say. Perhaps she also noticed the Blood he carried within his veins? Sure, the way he sensed her Ancient Blood and the way everyone from his family back home felt were fundamentally different, but they still shared some similarities...

Perhaps Byleth and the other presences Wolfram felt were closer to that one foreign shape-shifting dragon his mother Nidra encountered decades ago (who apparently visited them on more than one occasion, though not during Wolfram's memory). Perhaps a different feeling still -- he could not say for sure, not now and certainly not in the foreseeable future. Only after going back home he would be able to compare the feelings by talking it through with his mother and siblings.

Alas, for the moment, Wolfram knew one thing: despite Byleth shouldering the strongest presence of the Ancient Blood in the vicinity, she did not bear any of the usual physical manifestations of such power. Namely, the ears. Or the skin that sometimes glittered in little lighting.

Seeing his train of thought lead him that way made Wolfie once again adjust his bandana, wanting to be more than completely sure that his ears were properly hidden. Byleth's were round and in plain sight, but he could never be too careful...

After going up a set of stairs, the three of them reached the floor whence the second strongest presence lay -- the other two presences were also around that tower, but perhaps in higher levels... Trying to pinpoint their location, Wolfram looked all around as though he could miraculously see through walls or something.

"You two wait here," Byleth said as they came to a stop, making Wolfram blink and finally focus on the audience chamber in front of him.

More specifically, on the woman walking out of a nearby office, towards whom Byleth headed. For some reason, Wolfram once again felt as though he was drowning on dry land.

The bright green-haired woman carried herself with a grace that befitted the highest of nobles, but the subtlety of her steps bore the caution of a seasoned warrior. Wolfram immediately knew that under that thin ceremonial garb that woman was not what she appeared to be.

Her very presence exerted pressure in the air, making it difficult to breathe. Wolfram gripped at Dimitri's arm from behind, instinctively hiding behind the blonde youth. As they were the same height, Dimitri served poorly as a hiding spot, but the action helped to keep Wolfram grounded into the moment, not being sucked into that woman's ground-shattering aura.

There was no way around it.

Wolfram knew it, deep into his bones, intimally in every cell of his body: that woman was a dragon. A very powerful one.

Perhaps because there were so few of them around? Perhaps because she was the only one who exuded such power? But it looked as though she made little to no effort to hide her presence. Mayhap an action borne out of hubris, to always let her presence caress all that approach -- to show that she was the one who held immense power?

Wolfram couldn't even think of beginning to understand.

That woman's power was raw, almost wild -- it was as though she held it with a very loose leash; or a tight one that was very much close to snapping.

Either way, she was dangerous. She was powerful, much more than Wolfram was comfortable with imagining. He had only felt a shred of this kind of power the moments Nidra would transform to teach this or that lesson regarding their dragon halves, but it was never unleashed in such... Brittle control.

Nidra had always taught her children to keep their dragon halves in check; to talk to it and embrace it into their logical minds. To be consumed by their wild sides would be a sorry end, as she would put it. Never once had Wolfram felt a dragon so closely out of control, yet seemingly dormant. Would anyone of his family feel that... that unsettling way were they to lose their humanity?

He felt his heart growing cold with each beat, his breathing turning so thin he could feel the icy grasp of fear engulf his being from within.

He had never been so scared of someone in his whole life.

The moment she directed her gaze to him it was as though the smile she wore when speaking with Byleth disappeared from her face entirely the moment the professor left her sight. Though that was Wolfram's mind playing tricks on him -- the woman still smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes as it did moments ago. He felt a visceral urge to leave; to run away only to not be close to which felt as controlled madness.

Not realizing how rasped his breathing became, Wolfram felt Dimitri slightly step to the right, shielding Wolfram even more from the approaching woman.

Noticing how he trembled, the half-manakete looked down to Dimitri's shoulder and how strongly he grasped himself onto him. A faint wave of warmth washed over the boy, making him use that momentum to regain the air he had lost. He mouthed a 'thank you' for Dimitri's silent support, though the blonde had no way of seeing it.

The more the woman approached, the more inclined Wolfram felt in looking upwards to direct his gaze to her instead of downwards to her shorter stature. It was as though he could look at the overpowering presence towering above her instead of her actual eyes. Still, look at them he did -- the bright green hiding a vast depth within them.

"Greetings to you, child." She cocked her head downwards in a respectful bow, making Wolfram slightly wince, the shaky breath leaving his lips. "I have heard the situation from our dear Professor Byleth." She looked straight at Wolfram, as though she could see him bare.

Did she know? She knew it, right? She couldn't have missed it! If he, who had less manakete power, was this overwhelmed by her own, it was a given that she would be able to recognize a fellow shape-shifter, weaker or not!

Time felt as though it dragged itself -- one second passed and Wolfram already felt like he had stopped breathing for hours! He could only nod in response, his voice failing him. "M-mhm?" He managed to scramble around his tongue, trying to remember how to speak.

"As the Archbishop of the Church of Seiros and Headmaster of the Officers Academy, I must say that I have not heard of a transfer student -- you do not match the one we were scheduled to receive at the start of the year, either." She placed one hand over her cheek, as though in confusion.

Was she testing him? She was! Was he going to spill the beans about being a shape-shifter or would he stick to his own story? What could he do under the bone-shattering presence she exerted?

Breathing was the most he could do!

Clearly seeing how noticeable uncomfortable Wolfram was, Dimitri nudged himself a bit, taking the woman's gaze away from the foreign boy. "Even if he is not the one the Academy was expecting, we cannot simply leave him like this -- alone, confused and without memories."

Byleth stood by the woman's side, slowly walking to stay beside Dimitri -- almost forming another wall between Wolfram and the woman.

"Of course, Prince Dimitri. That would not at all be my intention." The woman said in a controlled breath, the eerie lack of color of her face making Wolfram even more afraid to be near her. "Those in need are always welcome here at the monastery -- we offer shelter, food, and work for the able."

"Lady Rhea-" Dimitri meant to speak, but the woman called Rhea simply sharply turned to him, shutting him up.

"However, to accept one into the Academy like this would not only be unprecedented but reckless and irresponsible, do you not agree?"

Dimitri pursed his lips. "Of course, we are not asking you to do this out of goodwill, Lady Rhea. The Kingdom is more than willing to shoulder any costs of his enrollment--"

"It is not a simple matter of costs, Prince." Rhea interrupted, blinking as she changed her gaze from Dimitri to Wolfram. The half-manakete felt a chill go down his spine. "It is also a matter of security and skills. The Death Knight is still out there and although far from me to doubt a child, I cannot so readily accept a new student under these circumstances."

Death Knight. That seemed ominous.

"I can fight," Wolfram heard his own voice say, surprising even himself. "I'm, uh, a wyvern rider -- I'm sure I can be of use in tracking this Death Knight with my mount."

Rhea blinked in surprise. Byleth slightly widened her eyes as Dimitri gasped, turning to Wolfram.

"You already have a flying certificate at your age?" The blonde asked, flabbergasted. Not missing a beat, he turned to the Archbishop, "truly, we cannot turn our backs to such a gift, Lady Rhea."

Finally stepping into the conversation, Byleth brought one hand to her chest, "I will make sure he is properly instructed in my class, Lady Rhea. I see much... hidden potential in this boy." She said after much deliberation.

Wolfram could swear he saw a smirk appear in Rhea's lips as she glanced at him before she softly smiled to Byleth. "Well, it does reassure me that he will be under your care, dear Professor Byleth, though I am still cautious about this."

"Can you not make it an exception this time, Lady Rhea? I will take full responsibility should anything happen." Dimitri dutifully bowed, prompting Wolfram to scramble himself in a bow as well.

"I-I'm sorry for all the trouble I'm causing, but I'm sure I can be of use." He found his breath once his eyes lost Rhea's, making speech a much easier task.

A very uncomfortable and long silence followed while both Dimitri and Wolfram had their heads down in their pleas. A tired sigh broke the stillness, followed by a "very well."

Both youths lifted their heads with the same smile, exchanging happy glances.

"However, I will still need to hear more of your story, Wolfram." She added, sending yet another chill down the boy's spine. "... At another time, of course. The hour is late and there is much to do in order to accept such a hastily enrolment in the middle of the night. For now you shall be placed at the room beside Byleth's-"

"Oh, I am positively sure Dedue will not mind to share his room with Wolfram!" Dimitri smiled, taking a step to the left so as to pat the half-manakete's back. "Indefinitely, if I might add! If it is too much trouble to prepare a new room, I might even offer my own-"

"What?! You don't need to do that, Dimitri! I'll be happy sharing rooms with- uhh," for a moment he thought how hard it would be to sleep with the bandana on, but that was something he had to worry about later.

"Dedue? He is my friend and self-appointed vassal -- his words, not mine -- with whom I am sure you will get along with. He is a wonderful person."

"It will be no trouble to arrange a new room sooner rather than later, Prince Dimitri," Rhea added, "though it is heartwarming to see how selfless the next King of Faerghus is turning out to be. May you never lose sight of these feelings." Rhea said in a motherly tone, which made Wolfram almost forget the fear that had shook him so badly. "Well, then, Professor," she bobbed her head to Byleth, "and Prince Dimitri -- I trust that the two of you will do your utmost to make our Wolfram to feel at home."

"Of course," Professor and student replied in unison, making the half-manakete smile proudly. "Farewell, Archbishop. I thank you for accepting this proposition so readily," Dimitri bowed once again as Rhea excused herself, giving him but a wave before she disappeared back into the office whence she had come.

Byleth looked at her new student, patting him on the shoulder. "We should begin by showing you your provisory room, yes? I'm sure you'll want to put all of that," she glanced at his oversized backpack, coat, belt and provisions, "away."

"Oh, yes, please." Wolfram chuckled, feeling the weight of the world slip out of his body now that Rhea was out of his sight. "Maybe show me to your stables or barn? I wanna call my wyvern over to settle him in, too."

"Of course! I would also like to meet your steed if I may, Wolfram." Dimitri smiled politely, taking a step back so as to allow Byleth to walk in front, following right after her.

"Sure! Aquilo loves meeting new people!"

Dimitri flashed a conflicted smile before speaking again. "Oh, so your mount's name is Aquilo? I am sure he is a very well taken care of beast, given how warmly you speak of him."

"Yeah, I just need to blow on here and-" Wolfram reached for the wing-shaped whistle he carried on him at all times, finally realizing he wasn't playing the amnesic part very well. "And, um, he'll come. Heh, heh..." He cleared his throat.

Dimitri flashed that same smile, patting Wolfram in the back once they reached the bottom of the staircase, "is something the matter? Oh, perhaps it would be better for US to do the talking, huh, Professor Byleth?"

"I suppose it would, yes," Byleth nodded, guiding them towards the dormitories once again.

"Eyyy, so you were just gonna waltz around with the new guy without introducing him to anyone? That's mean!" A playful voice sing-songed beside them the moment they walked out of the building into the garden. Wolfram looked from Dimitri to Byleth before locking eyes to the brown skinned young man chilling right beside the entrance, as though expecting them.

"Oh, Claude, good timing!" Dimitri smiled, walking towards the young man. He wore a uniform akin to Dimitri's, though his cape was yellow and the brooch holding it differed in design. "This is Wolfram; he will be transferring to the Blue Lions House starting today."

Claude whistled, "damn, you got another student in your House? A guy gets lonely like that!" He chuckled as he almost danced away from the wall towards Wolfram -- a set of steps of one who knew how to sneak up to someone. "Wolfram, huh? What's your story, kid?" He looked at the boy from below, a playful smirk never leaving his lips.

Tilting his head to the side, Wolfie simply smiled in confusion. "Um, I don't think I can tell you much... I don't really have any memories."

"Oh, so we're playing a guessing game, are we?" Claude looked at each one of them, immediately sagging his shoulders. "Wait, don't tell me you're actually trying to play the amnesia card. And don't tell me you fell for it, Your Highness?"

Before Dimitri could even open his mouth to retort, another voice interrupted them from behind -- a velvety yet authoritarian tone that made Wolfram somehow uncomfortable. "Oh? Surely Dimitri would not be THIS trusting?" A white-haired woman stepped out of the hedge on the opposite side. "I have said this before and I shall do it again: being this trusting will surely lead you to your demise."

"Edelgard," Dimitri bobbed his head to the girl, glancing to the tall, black-haired man behind her. "And Hubert. What a pleasant surprise -- is nothing we do here a secret? Not that I was trying to conceal anything, of course."

"As opposed to your new friend here?" Claude saw the opportunity to jab and he took it, smirking. "No hard feelings, Wolf -- I can call you that, yeah?"

"Uh- sure-" Wolfie didn't know where to look, feeling like a prey in the middle of a den full of predators.

"Please, both of you -- can you not see you are making him uncomfortable? Everything is new to him."

Edelgard crossed her arms, shifting the weight of her body to another leg, lifting her chin. "I do not claim to believe this 'amnesia' nonsense, though I have not been informed of how... foreign he looked." She said, looking straight at Wolfram before shifting her gaze to Dimitri.

Wolfie almost gave into the urge to check his bandana again, but under much self-restraint, he managed to refrain from it.

Dimitri sighed, shaking his head. "Will the two of you stop this? Trust is the first step to understanding! Irregardless of believing his story or not, one should first reach out to him for anything to have any chance of starting!"

"I will say this again -- you are a fool if you think this sort of mindset will allow you to go far in life-" Edelgard rolled her eyes with impatience, not looking for one but quite ready to start a fight if needed. However, a loud clapping sound startled the words out of her mouth.

"Alright, that is enough out of all of you." Byleth had clapped her hands, attracting everyone's attention. "We were going somewhere when the three of you surprised us -- either come with us or let us be on our way. You will have plenty of time to get acquainted from now on, after all." She said matter of factly, the authority of a teacher making the three house leaders purse their lips in their own way.

"You are once again right, Professor." Edelgard took a step back, breathing in. "I will apologize for getting in your way without any sort of warning, but I will take no words back."

Claude playfully crossed both arms behind his head. "Alright, yeah, I'll go with you. Despite everything, I still think it's not fair for the new kid to be enrolled into the Blue Lions right away without even properly meeting the other House leaders."

"Well, you two are not giving the best of impressions." Byleth said, almost sarcastically, as she once again led the way, prompting all to follow.

"House leaders?" Wolfie risked asking, trotting right beside Dimitri.

"You mean to say you didn't even hear about the Houses before Dimitri swept you to his class? Unfair!" Claude slapped the Prince's back, quickly putting himself between the two of them.

"Actually, Wolfram was assigned to Professor Byleth's class, not the Blue Lions specifically-"

"Same thing!" Claude threw his hand to the air, nudging Dimitri with his elbow. "Anyway, sorry about all this. I'm Claude, leader of the Golden Deer House. And the cheerful lady over here is-"

"I am Edelgard von Hresvelg, leader of the Black Eagles House and First Imperial Princess, heir to the throne." She declared, clearly annoyed. "You should at least properly introduce yourself, Claude."

"Meh, those titles only get in the way! I'm a people person more than the heir to something or the other. And I feel that Wolf here is also a person who likes to be around other people, am I right?"

"Oh, wow! How did you know?" Wolfie smiled, still uneasy regarding Claude's suspicion and Edelgard's animosity, but quick to wanting to make friends. "I think it's more comfortable to be around lots of people -- maybe it can trigger my memory, too."

"Riiight," Claude winked, quickly leaning on Wolfie as they walked. "Although it's already decided that you're on the Blue Lions House, I'd still like to try and seduce you out to the Golden Deer -- how about we go to the Dining Hall together once we're finished with whatever you're gonna do now? Nothing says 'bonding' better than sharing a meal, yeah?"

"Oh, what a wonderful idea, Claude. You took the words from my mouth." Edelgard jabbed from beside Wolfram.

"It was actually what I had in mind after we helped him unpack." Byleth said, a few steps ahead of them. "We don't know how long he's been lost in the woods, so I'm sure he must be starving."

"Great! It's settled, then." Claude smiled, pulling Dimitri along. "We're all gonna get acquainted real quick!"

From under Claude's arm, Dimitri chuckled. "Are you alright with that, Wolfram? If you would rather rest, we would understand."

"No, we wouldn't!" Claude protested in the middle of them, but Dimitri masterfully ignored it.

"I'm okay with it, yeah. I want to know everyone as soon as possible -- I wouldn't want to give more trouble than I already did, and being used to everything is the sure way to help me pull my weight around."

Dimitri smiled. "Very well, then. I am glad to have you aboard, Wolfram."

During the short trip from the dormitories to the dining hall, Wolfram already met so many new people! There was Dedue, a tall, black man who was under Dimitri's vassalage -- and Wolfram's roommate for the time being -- who had a most soothing presence; Ashe and Ignatz, two short-haired young men with the brightest of smiles and welcoming nature; Raphael, whose 'muscles were hungry for second dinner' as he had said and took upon himself to accompany the new kid to put 'some meat into his bones', his own words.

There was a mention of a girl who never left her room as they passed it, but no word came from her direction, so Wolfie kept being led on. They saw Cyril, a young page of Rhea's who was still hard at work despite being almost bedtime. As they made their way past the greenhouse towards the pond, Wolfram saw many 'Knights of Seiros', as the students introduced them, though some of them didn't wear the armor Wolfram saw most of these knights wearing (namely a purple haired woman, but he didn't get much time to look at her as he was being led towards a staircase that would lead to the Dining Hall). 

At the door, a pair of young women noticed the group arriving.

"Oh, hey there, Dimitri, Professor- oh wait, who's this with you? Why are his eyes closed? Are you gonna surprise him with something?" The short, ginger girl asked cheerfully, bouncing towards them.

"Annie!" The taller girl beside her pulled her ear.

"W-what? What'd I do? Did I mess up?"

"Uh, my eyes are actually open, they're just really thin." Wolfram snorted. He never really had to go through this since people knew his father well, but he did hear from Henry how he wouldn't stop hearing this while he grew up. It was rather amusing, honestly.

This Annie girl turned red so quickly she almost exploded. "Oh no no no no! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to be rude or anything-"

"I'm sure Wolf here doesn't mind! Let's get to eating already! C'mon, you two join in too!"

"Bah! B-but we just left-"

"There's always room for more food!" Raphael placed one hand behind each girl's back, pushing them inside.

Their little group grew larger and larger as they found more people in the Hall to share the table with -- soon Wolfram was surrounded by so many people he'd feel dizzy if he weren't so at home! He liked bouncing his eyes from one conversation to the other all around the table, laughing as though he belonged there from day one.

After Annette's (he learned her proper name after she introduced herself) accidental insensitive question, most of them refrained from asking about Wolfram's amnesia, though the topic did bounce up here and there mostly due to Claude's boundless curiosity.

Wolfram could say that he at least met all of the people who were originally from the Blue Lions House -- those born in Faerghus, wherever that place was.

He met quite a few from the Alliance (who had transferred to Byleth's class as well) and one or two from the Empire, also his classmates at the Blue Lions House.

All in all, Wolfram's first night in Fódlan was so eventful, he was only able to blow the whistle Cynthia had given him way past midnight, once everyone had said their farewells. He asked the knight on duty at the stables for a spot to place Aquilo in before looking up to the moon and smile, content with how everything turned out.

Sharing a room with someone felt much better than Wolfie would've thought, honestly. He was used to always having someone by his side, so sleeping alone during the first few nights would've been nerve-wracking to the boy, to say the least.

And Dedue was a most wonderful roommate -- although a young man of few words, his calm breathing during his sleep lulled Wolfram more often than not. It was for a short while, however -- a week after transferring, Wolfram already had his own room, in the middle of Ashe's and Dedue's. He felt somehow safe to be close to his former roommate as well as near the one who bore the Heart of Immortals.

He wouldn't take Byleth out of his sight!

... Which meant that, for the time being, he had to do what she said and be a proper student.

At the Officers Academy, apart from the usual classes and training sessions, the students also had extra-curricular activities at the end of each month. Wolfram had arrived three days after the mission for October -- rather, for the Wyvern Moon -- had ended. The mission for this month was to investigate a village for a plague or something. He didn't understand very well, but the situation appeared to be dire.

It was also during the classes that he learned the reason why Claude had been complaining about Dimitri amassing students for his own House -- the Blue Lions, originally composed only of youths who hailed from the Kingdom, was an amalgamation of people at the moment. There were those born in the Empire as well as those from the Alliance -- all of them attracted to the way Byleth conducted her classes.

Which were, quite frankly, phenomenal. She brought out each student's hidden talent; encouraged and challenged them in equal terms. The way she explained strategy was as easy to understand as how she taught the proper way to hold a blade.

Apart from his family, Wolfram never really had a proper instructor to guide him through his progress. Of course, Nidra's dragonstone training as well as Cynthia's riding and lance lessons, not to mention Henry's magic instruction were all invaluable to him, which he internalized down to a T. But Byleth was someone whose entire existence was there to help him learn and improve martially. Such focus was the push he never knew he needed.

The weeks passed by so quickly it made Wolfram dizzy; there were so many people to meet he was still having trouble memorizing everyone's names. He did internalize meeting Flayn and Seteth, however -- the lesser presences he had sensed the day he arrived. The way the both of them also masterfully hid their ears made Wolfram even more aware of the fact that shape-shifters weren’t a thing this world was ready to accept.

Dimitri would take it upon himself to walk with Wolfie whenever possible -- wanting the boy to gain as much freedom as he could inside the monastery as he got himself acquainted with everything.

As fast-paced as everything was, an even more sudden event happened: The Knights of Seiros started mobilizing themselves to go to Remire Village two days before the expected.

"Things turned south in the village," Wolfram heard Jeralt, Byleth's father, say as he barked orders here and there for the Knights under his command. "Get your kids geared up and ready -- this isn't gonna be pretty."

The trip down to Remire was quick and silent, the students wearing their emotions like a thick cloak -- a dark shadow hovering over their shoulders.

For some reason, Wolfram still felt a bit detached from the reality of that world -- perhaps because of his mostly sheltered life and busy first few weeks at the Monastery, the dark cloud hovering over this world hadn't settled in for the half-manakete yet.

He had been so focused on simply staying beside Byleth he hadn't given much thought as to the reason of his summoning.

But he was about to find out.

Oh, he was about to find out, indeed.

The smell of blood hit his sensitive nose earlier than his companions', making him retch and cough before even setting foot at the borders of the village.

Crazed, distant screams filled the air, making the students flinch and the knights scowl. Pleas thrown towards the sky in a helpless attempt to find salvation tore the wind, sending shivers down Wolfram's spine.

People were dying.

They were dying at the heaps.

Afraid to give the next step towards the village, Wolfram heard everything before he saw it. The sound of a dull blade struggling to cut through flesh; the sputter of blood staining clothes and walls as its owner's life ebbed away. The laugh of a person whose mind was lost, driven to murder by the sport of it.

A woman whose long hair was pulled before her throat was slit, the scream she didn't even have time to utter dying alongside her limp body.

The smell of fire and burned flesh -- putrid skin being set aflame simply by the joy of it.

Wolfram widened his thin eyes to the point that they were visibly open -- something that rarely, if ever, happened. His entire body trembled, his mind going numb. What- whatever was happening there?! That was no plague, that was no fight, that was no war! That was slaughter, for the pure and simple joy of it!

"What's going on here..." Jeralt grumbled under his breath.

"U-ugh..." Dimitri shook his head, leaning his weight on his lance lest he felt too sick to stand up.

Byleth patted his shoulder. "Are you alright?" She gestured circles around his back.

"D-do not concern yourself about me -- rather, the villagers, we must save them..."

Wolfram's sight and hearing started spinning, his whole body losing its sense of balance. The voices all around him started to jumble one atop the other as they deliberated the best course of action as quickly as they could.

In his mind, Wolfram remembered the moonless night his siblings Cynthia and Meliodas pulled him to have a serious talk. It was about war, survival and... taking another person's life.

"Back in our future, we only had to kill Risen, so it was all fun and games," Cynthia scoffed as she sat down on the table right outside their house. The way she spoke displayed the weight of her age and the burden of two wars she had to carry in her youth. Even though she looked exactly the same, she's had two decades to mature and work through all that had been plaguing her since childhood.

Downcast, Meliodas nodded. "However, once we were sent here -- in here, we had to kill humans to survive. We took lives of people, those we swore to protect back home."

"It... It was so hard. It never got easy." Cynthia clutched her hands, then turned to her little brother. "I don't know how's the state of the world you're going to, Rammy, but you gotta understand one thing, okay?"

Wide-eyed, Wolfram felt a bit uncomfortable with the way Cynthia spoke. "O-okay, Sister." As he said that, Meliodas squeezed his shoulder in silent support.

"You're probably gonna have to kill people." She said in one breath. "You'll do it to survive; you'll have to tell yourself this. You can't hesitate just because they're people like you and me -- well, not actually like us, but you get it -- they WILL not hesitate to cut you down and we'll never be able to handle it if we lose you out there, okay? If it's too hard for you to do it with a clean conscience, you can throw the blame on your loved ones. You can say it's because you have to see them again! Because they'll be sad if you're gone! Use anything you have to justify it -- to make it less terrible."

"It's a daunting task," Meliodas crouched beside Wolfram, pressing his forehead against his little brother's arm as he squeezed his hand. "One we can only allow time to heal."

"Heh, I'm sure Father would be way more practical about this, especially back in the day." Cynthia shrugged, grasping Wolfram's hand with everything she had. "It's okay to feel bad about it, okay, Rammy? It's gonna hurt, it's gonna haunt you. But don't let them drag you down with them... don't let the guilt win, okay? Think about us... it's for you to come back to us!"

Tears blurred his vision. Wolfram could barely stand straight, his nose itching with the stench it avoided to smell, his stomach turning so readily he knew it was only a matter of time until he threw everything up.

"Hey, Professor Byleth? The new kid's not looking so good." A high-pitched voice came from below Wolfram just as he started to hear things again. "He's turning blue! D'you think it's better for him to sit this one out?" Caspar held Wolfram's arm in an attempt to keep him standing.

"It's fight or die out there, kid. If you don't have the stomach for it, maybe you should've stayed home." Jeralt said briskly as he rushed his mercenaries into the villager's rescue.

Byleth took Wolfram's hand, her cold touch bringing him out of his nausea. "We're going out there to save these people, Wolfram. I believe you can do this, but I need you to believe in it, too." She said firmly, squeezing his fingers. "I don't want you to believe that this is going to be easy -- it never is. But you can't allow-"

"... the guilt to take me." Wolfram said, taking a deep breath. "I-I understand, Professor. I'm sorry for panicking... p-please guide me."

"Our goal is to-"

"Isn't that-" Ever watchful, Dedue spotted suspicious figures at the edge of the village. "Your Highness, it seems that those are the ones in charge of this madness."

His head low, Dimitri clutched his hand so hard it tore the seams of his gloves. "It's clear what must be done. Kill them all." His voice deepened as though shaken by a subtle madness. "Don't let a single one of them escape! Sever their limbs and crush their wicked skulls!"

Widening his eyes, Wolfram looked from Dimitri to those cloaked in black, so far into the village.

'Trust is the first step to understanding!' Wolfram could hear Dimitri's soft voice comforting him.

'Poor thing, to be lost in the woods in the middle of the night.'

Dimitri's kind words rang in Wolfie's head, contrasting with what he had just said.

'Kill them all. Crush their skulls.'

Wolfram gripped at his weapon, his heart torn, not knowing what to fear.

Rhea.

Remire.

And now... Dimitri.

"Br-brother, Sister... Mother..." Wolfram whimpered, his lips trembling as he turned around to get to Aquilo.

The battle was nigh, in more ways than one, whether he was prepared for it or not.

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