#but yeah - Byleth has no purpose on CF when they're not married to someone else who can give them purpose

[butwhatifidothis]

No??? In CF they don't just stay a hired sword. Did you not look at any of the paired endings for crimson flower? Also if Azure Moon Byleth is less emotive "because its more focused on the lord" then couldn't a similiar excuse be made for CF since CF clearly needed more time in the oven?

Like, if your take away from

"Though <he/she> was wounded in the battle and lost the power of the progenitor god, <he/she> remained determined to walk <his/her> destined path. With <his/her> legendary blade in hand, <he/she> will never stop standing against those who slither in the dark until Fódlan at last knows everlasting peace"

is "Byleth is just a mercenary". Then I think you're just intentionally being a downer.

You know fair enough on the AM shit! If that's how you feel about that particular argument then whatev. But everything else? Nah.

That's why I said without getting with anyone. Byleth doesn't need to get with anyone to gain a position of power in any other route; they either become archbishop or leader of Fodlan by themselves, but in CF they must marry someone else to gain any power. They, as an individual, are nobody.

Look at the other endings. SS:

Byleth defeated those who slither in the dark and put down the crazed Immaculate One. In the aftermath of the loss of Fódlan's great leading figures, he/she ascended the throne as the first leader of the United Kingdom of Fódlan. In his/her heart lived the indelible hope that their efforts would one day yield an era in which the people knew true peace and the horrors of war were a hazy memory of the past.

AM:

Byleth helped Dimitri to finally crush the ambitions of the Empire. After the war, Rhea stepped down from her role as archbishop, and Byleth swore to lead the Church of Seiros in her stead. He/She helped to guide the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus as it brought leadership to the newly unified Fódlan and worked tirelessly to create a peaceful world free from the shackles of oppression.

VW:

Together, Byleth and Claude sent the Fell King Nemesis, a foe from a bygone age, back to the flames of eternity from whence he came. Afterward, Claude left Fódlan, leaving Byleth to ascend the throne as the first leader of the United Kingdom of Fódlan. As he took his schemes and dreams and efforts to a far-off land, he hoped dearly that their joint efforts would one day allow for a world where all of humanity can coexist in peace and harmony, regardless of borders or bloodlines.

These are what become of Byleth anywhere else but CF. I don't have to "look at any of the paired endings for crimson flower" because they don't need anyone on the other routes to have a position of power. They aren't noted for their efforts against one specific enemy that will eventually get defeated, they use the power they've gained to guide the people of Fodlan to peace.

And mind, those other CF paired endings? Almost always are the ones that mention the battle against TWS. Every single one of Byleth's endings with the default BE class and nearly every single one regardless make mention of them and their lover fighting the long, arduous battle against TWS.

But y'know, speaking of paired endings in CF... let's look at their ones with one specific character: Alois

VW/SS:

After the war, Byleth ascended the throne of the United Kingdom of Fódlan, and Alois retired from the Knights of Seiros to serve the former professor. Alois became the new leader's right hand, and his duties in that respect kept him busily engaged all over Fódlan, giving all he had to support his/her reign. Alois's cheerful character was beloved by his subordinates, who rallied behind him to create the most numerous order of knights in all Fódlan. It is said that Byleth relied on Alois as though he were his/her own father.

AM:

When Byleth took on the role of archbishop in Rhea's place, he/she reformed the order of the church little by little. Eventually this included the Knights of Seiros, and Alois was named captain and the archbishop's right hand. The captain's duties kept him busily engaged all over Fódlan. His cheerful character inspired those under his command, unifying the Knights of Seiros in a way they had never been before. The archbishop relied on Alois as if he were his/her father, and Alois in turn treated him/her like his child. It is said that Alois was so overcome with emotion on the archbishop's wedding day that his weeping could be heard through the applause.

CF (emphasis mine):

When all of the fighting was over, Byleth embarked on another wandering journey as a mercenary. He/She traveled all over Fódlan, following his father's steps. When he/she at last drifted into Remire Village, he/she was reunited with Alois, who had moved there with his family and was now living on a farm. On Alois's advice, he/she decided to stay a while, and before he/she knew it, five years had passed. He fell in love with a kind woman/man in the village, and they had a modest wedding. It is said that Alois was so overcome with emotion on that day that his weeping could be heard from anywhere in the village.

Byleth, when they cannot marry anyone in the army, literally does become a wandering mercenary after the fighting is over. Just saw this right now myself, but yeah - Alois is already married, Byleth can't ride off the power he has if they S support him like they have to with everyone else, and without that they are nothing more than a mercenary with a particularly good sword arm, just like I said. This isn't me being a downer (lol), that's what the game is saying for itself - after the fight against TWS Byleth has no concrete purpose and is left to walk around as a paid hand, living the directionless life they were living before the start of the game.