Chapter Text
A month passes with everything finally settling from the various festivals around the new year and around the winter season. Eikþyrnir and I have continued to share my room, which leaves his own vacant most of the time, though sometimes we do sleep there too. Eikþyrnir has also been enjoying some time with his sisters when I’m being a tactician for the Order. I’ve been particularly busy once the news that Alphonse has been sentenced to serve in a divine court as well as a recent child transcriber that we have given refuge in the Order. But having Eikþyrnir as a rock has been most helpful. I woke up this morning to Eikþyrnir sitting up, rubbing his head in bed. I reach up from my prone position and cup his face.
“Eikþyrnir, is there something up? You are rubbing your head, do you have a headache or something?” I ask bringing his attention to me, hoping to distract him from whatever grief is inflicted on him.
“It’s nothing I think, I just had a weird dream, like a choir of thousands of people, calling my name. It’s strange, is it not?” Eikþyrnir stated, still rubbing his eyes.
“It's not entirely uncommon, there have been a handful of heroes that have received the same dream, it usually is an omen of a great calling to come in the future.” I respond, sitting up and rubbing the muscles of his back.
“This has happened before? To others? Who?” Eikþyrnir asks quietly with a bit of surprise.
“Yeah on average it happens to around four people every year around this time. The one time it didn’t, we met an alternate reality version of an enemy we were facing at the time. If you want, I can find some of the others who have been through this before and see what they thought of it and how they handled it. Last year, Alphonse was actually one of the heroes who heard the call. But since he isn’t here right now, we can always ask some of the others who have heard it before.” I recall and convey. I use my touch, trying to massage and help ease Eikþyrnir, though he already seems to be less concerned.
“I think that might be a prudent use of my time for now, I was worried it was more ominous. But I think meeting and discussing with heroes that have heard the call would ease my mind and make me sleep better if this dream continues to occur.” Eikþyrnir said, removing himself from my bed, his naked form illuminated by the dawn sun coming in through my bedroom’s window.
We push through the morning, get ready together and grab breakfast when seeing both male and female Byleth chatting amongst themselves. Well, more a mixture of eating a ton of food, sitting quietly together enjoying that others are enjoying the food. Female Byleth has heard the call before so that works out well as I bring Eikþyrnir over with our breakfast.
“Byleth! Hey! You have heard the chosen call right? A couple years back, right?” I say as I sit down at the table across from her while Eikþyrnir sits beside me, across from male Byleth.
She nods before responding. “Yes that’s true, about three years ago in fact. Back then I was blessed with the Sothis Regalia from Fodlan, as well as a tempered version of my power from my home world. My male counterpart asked me to breakfast this morning because he experienced the same dream last night as well. Is there something you wish to know, Kiran? As a professor of many students, I don’t mind sharing my experience to those who wish to learn.”
My eyes widen at the knowledge that male Byleth also experienced the dream, so that’s two of the typical four then. “I don’t necessarily have questions, but Eikþyrnir here also experienced the dream. It might be helpful for him that you share your experience and Eikþyrnir, now that we know male Byleth also has had the dream, you won’t be alone in whatever the experience is like.”
Eikþyrnir lowered his mask to start eating; he paused and swallowed before asking both Byleths. “What was the dream like for you both? For me, it was like a choir of people chanting my name. I could not see their faces, but they could all definitely see me. It was almost foreboding, as many felt they had just fought a great battle.”
Both Byleths nod in understanding. Male Byleth speaks first. “Yes it was almost as if time almost followed a different path, where different heroes heard the chosen call instead. But the voices that called, called louder in more numerous quantities.”
Female Byleth nods in agreement with her male counterpart. “This has been true of almost every chosen since the Askr summoned Kiran according to the hero Lucina.”
Eikþyrnir looks unsure of what to make of it, he continues to eat quietly for a bit before speaking again. “How long do the dreams usually last?”
Female Byleth puts down the chicken she was eating with her waffles. “Mine lasted a week, then started again just before I received the boon. I received my boon roughly six months after the first dream. Almost every chosen followed this pattern.”
“That’s great to hear right, Eikþyrnir? This way you understand the meaning of the dream and now you have context for how long and when you’ll have them.” I say rubbing his back muscles gently.
“This is true. Byleth and Byleth, you have my thanks. I feel like I will sleep better knowing the reasons behind the dream.” Eikþyrnir responds.
The remainder of the breakfast goes forward and Eikþyrnir and I bid the Byleths farewell before heading out. “Eikþyrnir, did you want to seek out more heroes that have been chosen before? Maybe they could elaborate further if you need it.”
He rubs the back of his neck, slightly shrugging. “It's more that I wonder why me? And what will this power be? I’m already a Divine Beast, I just don’t know what I could be chosen for beyond that.”
“I see, well usually, but not always, the boon the chosen are given are from someone important in their lives, like a parent or sibling, Byleth was a good example of the exception since Sothis is the goddess of Fodlan. For example, Eirika’s power came from her connection with her sibling, Lucina’s came from her connection with her father, Lyn’s came from her connection to her people and her homeland. It can come from and for a variety of reasons. You have a great connection to your siblings and take on a protector role for Yggdrasil, which is similar to what Læraðr did. I could see it coming from any of those sources, or it could be a further blessing of your strength.”
“That makes sense. I suppose speaking to my siblings more over the coming months might help me understand how they see the world and use their abilities. Maybe I’ll be more prepared when the moment comes.” Eikþyrnir says as he sits down on one of the benches in the Order’s courtyards, still clearly lost in thought.
“Hey, Eikþyrnir, how about this, you and I head to the training grounds. Get your mind off of it for now, doing something you love.” I suggest sitting beside him, hoping to cheer him up.
Sure enough, Eikþyrnir looks up like he was handed a present. “Training? Yeah you are right, nothing can’t be helped more than staying in top form. C’mon, let’s go.” He moved in a blur, putting my hand in his as he excitedly led me to the training grounds.
The training grounds were filled with many heroes, the standard ones who were typically there as well as the ones that were likely dragged there by their more enthusiastic companions, like poor Linhardt who was slumped against the wall while Caspar repeatedly hit a punching bag. Among the heroes training were Hector and Eliwood, going at it in a relatively heated sparring match. Since both of these heroes had experienced the call before, I tugged at Eikþyrnir towards their match.
Both men looked pretty sweaty from their continued sparring, they slashed and parried each other’s weapons with great skill. Hector being more willing to take physical blows in exchange for an opening while Eliwood fought more carefully, both on offense and defense. As the match continues, both men look exhausted with Hector slightly edging out the victory. Hector helps Eliwood up, wiping the sweat from his brow.
“Oh ho! Looks like I evened the score, Eliwood!” He says clapping Eliwood on the back.
“Too true friend, but I’ll win for certain next time, but enough of this, it seems we’ve had an audience. Kiran, and … Eikþyrnir right? To what do we owe the audience?” Eliwood says after constituting himself from being helped up then nearly toppled again by Hector’s forceful comradery.
“Both of you have been a chosen legend in Askr, did either of you feel or experience anything other than a dream? And how did you two deal with it if so?” I ask, helping Eliwood to steady himself.
Hector steps in and shakes Eikþyrnir’s hand. “Hey hey now! That means you must be a strong warrior to have the dream! We should spar sometime. I would offer right now, but I want to test your mettle at my best, not after just giving my all against Eliwood.”
“I didn’t say…but yes you are right, Eikþyrnir did have the dream, how did you know?” I say, watching Hector continue his naturally passionate personality bubble forth.
“Because I know a warrior when I see one, and despite what some people might think, learning quick inferences is part of courtroom etiquette, something I was trained in when I would have rather been working out or sparring with Eliwood.” Hector added with a grin.
“I would gladly take you up on your offer to spar Hector, I’m sure you could give me a challenge. But yes, rest is just as important as working out. Your body will fail if you push it far past your limits.” Eikþyrnir responds quietly, looking at Hector with a mixture of amusement and curiosity.
“Awesome big guy! I’ll be at the training grounds around this time everyday whenever I am not on a mission!” Hector exclaims excitedly like a young boy getting his first sword.
“As for the original question that Kiran asked, you got your answer for how Hector handled it. He threw himself into his training wanting to be strong for when he got whatever the power was going to be. As for me, I trained a lot more too, as I felt honored to be chosen, but I also spent a lot of time in council with friends, like Hector, Lyn, and Ninian and her brother Nils.” Eliwood says, after letting the exchange between Eikþyrnir and Hector settle.
“Thank you both for your insights. We’ll let you cool off some.” I say pulling Eikþyrnir off to the side.
“So what do you think? You got some new perspectives, maybe training and continuing to talk with your sisters might help you a lot. And if you want, I can try to take some time and you and I can explore the World Tree together some on our own. Maybe you can find some inspiration through those means as well.” I say running my hand down his back.
“I think you are right. Now let’s work on that training. Get ready for a workout to remember Kiran.” Eikþyrnir says.
“I can’t see it but I know you are grinning menacingly under that mask.” I say knowing I’m going to be VERY sore tomorrow.