Watching Over Me

I'll Run To You

Shadows lingered, their long dark tendrils creeping like serpents of ominous origins as rain pitter pattered against the glass windows of the monastery that morning. Only to be chased away by a flash of lightning and a boom of thunder. The storm was particularly bad today as Rhea left her chambers. A vial of the tonic she had made up for Byleth in hand that seemed to hold something far more potent. From her last conversation the young professor had improved a lot yesterday. She had reached the door and was about to open it when she heard a commotion inside and swiftly was greeted by Dimitri opening the door in haste. Looking like he had the day before: like a cornered, frightened animal.

"Lady Rhea!? Oh thank Sothis!"he stated in relief.

"What's wrong dear child?"she inquired in concern as she walked in. Though Rhea had slight idea. Had something happened while they had all slept?

"It's...it's..."his voice trailed off as Rhea pat his shoulder in quiet reassurance. The poor boy looked so distressed.

Calmly she went over and was greeted with the reason for the young prince's distress. Byleth looked like she had taken a turn for the worse. She was so deathly pale, her fever having more then rebounded with a vengeance. Her eyes seeing the glow Dimitri could not had increased drastically through the girl's veins like some draconic illness or mana created plague. "She's already this far along?"thought the priestess. Then that meant one outcome now...Byleth would have to face this without any help or loose herself completely. The blessing was not just a gift but a test.

Byleth barely opened her frosty green eyes as each labored breath became a chore it seemed. Why couldn't she make anything out? She felt like she'd been hit with something far worse then a dragon's fiery breath, no word existed to describe the sudden agony that was pulling and dragging her into this figurative murky swamp. Heat that scorched her veins, like venom from a monster's blight crawling like a disease with no cure. Her body didn't feel like her own anymore at this point as she couldn't make out the blurry shapes and figures by her side.

What were they saying?

One sounded distraught and frightened, the scent of sweets and worn leather coming from it. made her realize who that blonde and blue shape was. "Di....Di...." Damn, even her voice failed her, hardly even audible and laced in agony as she just looked so frail and in a daze.

Dimitri turned his gaze on her at just barely hearing her call him by the pet name only Byleth and one other knew him by. Was it really true then that her state was in fact a test of the divine? If it was it was an awful, cruel, twisted one. "Byleth...I-I'm right here."he stroked her cheek in concern. The look on her it was like she was not completely there, yet, looked so confused.

"At this point it's completely up to her Dimitri as I just told you. She's reached the final hurdle."sighed Rhea. The poor prince looked so frustrated and distraught.

"Is there really nothing we can do now? Not even to ease the professor's suffering?"croaked Dimitri, his fists put the quilt in a death grip as he trembled. Why? Why did everyone he cared for get taken or suffer so much!?

"Afraid not. But I'm posting guards outside the doors."This really alerted him. Why would the Archebishop do that?

"Monsters have been spotted dangerously close to the monastery. No doubt they are being drawn in, want to smoother this divine light like the demons they are. They fear her, they fear this cocoon that is about to open into something of great radiance."Dimitri could see the seriousness in her tone and expression. The same one she wore days before when she tried to stop Byleth and the Blue Lions from leaving for the Sealed Forest.