Ashen Demon

10

 With the trial over with, the Insect Hashira proposed to have Tanjiro and Byleth over to her Butterfly Mansion for rehabilitation. Though Byleth wasn't injured aside with the wound she inflicted herself on her forearm, and Tanjiro had his wounds healed from the vulnerary she had given him. 

But his katana was sliced from Rui's threads, so of course he would have to wait for another to be forged, as he will undergo rehabilitation with Zenitsu and Inosuke in the meantime.

Now, minutes after being taken to the Butterfly Mansion by the kakushi, Byleth is making herself comfortable near the zen garden with her right hand hovering over the stab wound on the left.

 The soothing green aura of Mend surrounding both the hand using magic and the wound that is slowly but surely being healed. It's one of those times she was content to learn healing magic first before combatant ones, with the cautionary of drastic measures being counted for in the uncertain future.

Manuela was an excellent physician and talented mage, she was even more impressed with her patience each time Byleth fails to conjure magic. She clearly hates having to let down the people who had utmost faith in her, as she wanted to make herself adaptable to everything instead of being limited to just one or two.

 Magic was always her greatest weakness of being unable to learn, but she managed to get ahold of it around the time she was reunited with Dimitri and the other Lions.

With Dimitri's recklessness in wanting to murder every foe he comes across in his sight and not caring about his own well-being, Byleth knew she would have to be near him at all times whenever Mercedes wasn't available to take care of his injuries. Plus the battles on his end was much more troubling to some extend. But not as drastic as the battles on Edelgard's side.

That time was when she really pushed herself.

The wound is finally mended and completely healed, making Byleth exhale as she stopped using Mend and lowers her right hand back to her side. She moves it around, and no issues are presented aside from bleeding and pain that would flare up each time she moves.

 That's when she became acutely aware that someone is staring at her from a distance. She moves her emerald eyes over, and spotted a girl around the boys' group age.

Her raven hair held in a side ponytail with a butterfly clip in, pink eyes and wearing a much more modest uniform compared to Mitsuri's with white boots. Though she has a subtle smile on her face, her eyes held minimum emotions which doesn't unnerve Byleth in the slightest. She is looking at her, and Byleth stared back. If she had to be honest, she looks like she wanted to approach her, but seemed very unsure.

"I see you saw my tsuguko~"

Byleth blinks and looks over her shoulder, spotting Shinobu standing behind her with her usual smile on her face. However, Byleth can most definitely see it right through her, given her sharp perspective to read people's faces keenly to make out what they actually feel.

Sylvain's fake smiles upon learning the mission against his estranged brother. The darkness brewing within Dimitri. Claude being withdrawn and containing secrets of his own due to his heritage. Marianne suffering from the curse of her Crest. The likes of each troubles she now became aware of after the first life with the Golden Deer.

This was no different; she has seen what other Hashiras are hiding beneath their professionalism.

"Tsuguko?" Byleth questions, since this was a first time she heard of what could be another ranking.

"Hai. Tsugukos are when a Hashira has taken one slayer under their wing upon seeing potential, training them so that when a Hashira either dies or retires their chosen will become a Hashira in their stead." Shinobu tells her smiling, as she takes a seat beside the mint-haired woman.