Mind Reality of Eclipse

Strings Attached To Saving Hope ~ Chapter 35

"Thanks for taking the time to take care of me while I was injured, Queen Ivy..." Alcryst sighed.

Ivy replied, "Nonsense, Diamant is your elder brother is he not? We're all allies now after the events of Sombron. You're okay with me now."

"I guess so... I just feel nervous around you most of the time," Alcryst explained. Suddenly he saw figures in the distance. Ivy went over to check and noticed it was the heroes.

Ivy replied, "Alcryst! It's the heroes!" Alcryst looked over and saw the heroes walking over. "Thank goddess you have all arrived!"

Alear asked, "Have you guys seen Byleth?"

"Yeah... he was here but... left," Alcryst explained. The heroes noticed Alcryst and then all let out a sigh of relief. "U-Um... why are you so excited to see me?"

Shez explained, "We were so worried that we weren't going to be able to find you! Luckily we were just barely lucky enough to find you!" Alcryst put his head down and took a deep breath. "What's the matter?"

Alcryst muttered, "You guys won't believe me when I say this but... Byleth attacked me and Queen Ivy! She can prove it!"

"He did what?!" Alear asked. The heroes turned to Ivy who was standing there thinking hard about something.

Ivy explained, "Yes he did, he attacked me and Alcryst in search of something called 'The Scroll.' Turns out Elusia had that and he stole it from an abandoned chapel. We tried to fight back but unfortunately we were injured in the process by none other than Byleth."

"Are you certain it wasn't someone else trying to impersonate Byleth? It's very possible that-"

"I'm very sure that this time it was in fact Byleth who did this. There was no imposter; there was no impersonator. Just Byleth himself, he seemed deranged though. He didn't appear to be normal," Alcryst explained.

Chrom grunted, "I just want to know a little more about what exactly happened... there's no way by Byleth would be after something so little as a scroll and attack Elusia's queen in the process."

"Well he did, apparently this scroll is part of his master plan to collect a book, though I'm not sure what the book is called. However, he was camping out here in this exact area, he probably left before you all came to avoid getting in trouble," Ivy explained.

Alear muttered, "Byleth is our best friend, I just can't see him actually doing something this bad... and going to as far as hurt others simply because he wanted his hands on a book and a scroll. I just don't align!"

"You have no choice but to believe us-"

"No."

"Alear are you crazy!?" Shez asked. Chrom looked at her and Shez in disbelief.

Alear yelled, "We already proved that Byleth is innocent!"

"I don't believe he's innocent anymore! In fact he is very capable of killing someone! I honestly am starting to believe that he was the one responsible for killing Mario!" Chrom argued. Alear stood there staring at him in shock and looked down at herself.

Alear yelled, "You... YOU AND I DEFENDED HIM AND NOW YOU"RE GOING TO BETRAY OUR BEST FRIEND!?"

"I'M BYLETH'S CLOSEST FRIEND! YOU DON'T KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT HIM AS I DO!"

"JUST BECAUSE YOU KNOW HIM BETTER DOESN'T MEAN YOU UNDERSTAND HIM!"

"YES I DO-"

"ENOUGHH!!!!" Shez ordered as he split the two apart. They glared at one another as Ivy and Alcryst stood there in disbelief. "You guys fighting over this is absolutely insane! You are both Byleth's closest friends! End of discussion!"

Alear sighed, "If Chrom truly did care for Byleth he wouldn't be thinking about betraying him in this way."

"A real friend knows when something is wrong with them! I know for a fact that something is wrong with Byleth, him going as far as hurting others just to get what he wants? That isn't like him!" Chrom replied. Alear looked at him and took a deep breath.

Alear sighed, "Fine then, if you ever so wish to go on this expedition on your own, go ahead. I'm going back home, Byleth is fine-"

"Byleth is not fine! He left his communicator on the ground!" Chrom then showed the communicator in his hands. Alear stood there staring in disbelief. "You do realize that he's either doing this because A. He doesn't want us to find him or B. He's in danger?!"

Alear muttered, "I see... I'm so sorry Chrom..."

"Mistakes happen, it's alright..." Chrom went in to hug Alear as the other smiled. "We just need to find Byleth and fast, do any of you know what to do?"

Alcryst muttered, "I heard that the book is located in Teyvat; however, I am unsure where in Teyvat the book is located."

"I was going to suggest that maybe one of our friends from Teyvat know anything about the book but... knowing them I doubt it,"

Shez suggested, "Zhongli probably knows, do you want to give him a call?"

"Sure thing, let's do it!"