Even with how honest I find myself with other people, I still find myself being disingenuous with many I consider friends. I still can't shake the feeling of loneliness as I continue to live here in Fodlan, because who can actually relate to me? Nobody here has a frame of reference for what I feel or understand. Luckily for me, a few are quite accepting despite my origins. Arriving at Garreg Mach was a step in the right direction for my mental health. As for the health of the world, that's a different story.

An uneasy silence had fallen over the lecture room as Ingrid remained seated looking pensively at her firmly clasped hands. I had just laid down the motherlode of information on this distraught 17-year-old. Her expression is unreadable besides the fact that gears are turning in her brain to come up with some kind of answer. The fact she isn't saying anything is causing me to panic slightly as I can feel sweat begin to bead on my forehead and cover my palm. Ghost pains begin to shoot through where my left arm should be as well causing me to wince slightly and lean on the lectern.

Needing to desperately break the silence I ask, "So...that's pretty much it. At least avoiding the day to day nonsense like meals and such. Do you have any questions? Do you at least believe me?"

Ingrid finally moves her gaze towards me with a furrowed brow, "I do. If it is a lie, it's definitely the most elaborate one I've heard. So...you claim to be from another world called Earth."

"Yes."

"And you decided to come back because you were erased from reality? That's why you performed the ritual at my family's estate?"

"Yes. I did that thinking I could return to my old life, but things were different. Distorted to the point where I found myself a stranger who was alone in a familiar place. I decided to come back where people still knew and cared about me, and we both know how that ended up."

Ingrid stands up and begins to pace around the class, "And you originally came from Dagda. Or summoned as you put it. By a mage named Sevihn."

"He was the mastermind who summoned me to eventually take over my body once my magical abilities had become less volatile. Reasons why I was put at the forefront for the battle of Fodlan's Fangs since Sevihn intended to use the war reputation to springboard his new persona," I confirm for the troubled Ingrid.

Ingrid stops her pacing and approaches me near the lectern and quietly asks, "Okay. The information uncovered by the Kingdom supports some of your claims like these people existing, including Rigden who is a regent in Dagda currently and the one who has a bounty on your head. I just have one question left for you."

"Ask."

"Did you just use my family to get back? Was it all fake?" Ingrid asks me with no hint of anger in her voice and watery eyes on the verge of tears. Feeling a bit sick thinking of past actions I manage to whimper," I did use your family. I was granted significant creative control in my research as opposed to other options, but I wasn't fake with how I felt toward you, Count Galatea or any of the staff. I never wanted to harm anyone. I just wanted to go home."

Ingrid approaches me now face to face as I notice the deep scratch like scars on her cheek. She pauses for a moment before relenting, "But you came back."

"Yes. The fear of being alone outweighed my fear of familiarity. " I quietly reply as Ingrid takes a few steps back and looks down at her feet, "I still think I'm going to need time to take all this in. It's...a lot. I'll seek you out when I'm ready to talk again, until then, just give me some space, okay?"

I nod, "Understandable. And, since this is relatively unknown I ask that you keep what has been said in this room between us. I don't need to give others more reason to think I'm mentally unhinged."

I can see Ingrid crack a small smile as she continues to look at the ground, "Just behave yourself and I'll keep this secret. Are there any others who know about this?"

Being my turn to smile now I reply, "Yes, but don't worry about it. That's for me to know."

Ingrid raises her head and rolls her eyes retorting, "I'm not going to gossip, I was just curious. But keep your secrets. Uh, anyway, I'll see you around. Until next time, Santos."

Ingrid quickly steps away and heads towards the door of the classroom, but before she leaves she turns back to look at me still leaning against the lectern and gives me a slight nod. After that, she disappears down the corridor. I slump down to the floor shortly after the door closes to exhale a breath I didn't realize I was holding it.

"Well that happened," I say aloud to myself as I stare up at the wooden ceiling. Perhaps I'll have to check the dining hall later if they serve alcohol, or check the back the herbal cabinet to see if Manuela stashed away some for 'emergencies'.

Back in the clinic organizing the herbalism cabinet I'm trying to distract myself from the nuclear bomb of information that I dropped on Ingrid earlier and hopefully find some hidden booze. She was extremely patient through my retelling of the past few years, though I didn't miss her skepticism when she asked questions about certain things considering what had happened to me.

"Guess I still need more time to recover and accept this as my life. If I accept it, that is," I muse to myself as I close the cabinet and turn to face the rest of the small medical ward, and to my surprise I see a dapper student standing in the doorway with a roguish swagger about him. I think quickly to where I had seen him before, and I remember he used a bow yesterday at the mock battle.

"Can I help you?" I ask a bit more gruffly than I intended, but considering my emotions have been scrambled ever since talking with Ingrid this morning, I'm a bit past the point of caring.

"Now, I usually only get that kind of hospitality after someone meets me, not before." Claude quips back as he saunters into the room while taking a good look at all the equipment.

"Sorry, been stressed out today. Are you sick or injured?"

Claude shakes his head, "No, I'm fine, thanks for asking. But, I did want to warn you about Hilda. She's been trying to skip class, and I think this is her next destination to camp out at."

"Already sent her packing," I quickly respond as I take a seat on my stool as Claude replies, "Huh. Good to know. Can I ask you something else?"

"Sure, go for it."

"How did you lose your arm?"

I pause for a moment to consider my answer. I look at Claude to observe him closely and he appears to be laid back and curious, but with my stint in political training, I've learned to be a bit more suspicious than I was in the past.

"Lost it in an accident," I neutrally reply to the inquisitive lordling who pursues the topic further, "C'mon, you gotta tell me more than that. It's not every day I get to meet a renowned one-armed mage."

"I think you and the governments of the world have different ideas of what 'renowned' mean," I jibe trying to get the topic to change in literally any other direction, yet Claude seems undeterred in his quest for an answer, "Yeah, I'm not what many would consider traditional, especially for a lord. Why are you so guarded, not trying to hide something are you?"

I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose to try and reign in my frustration as I relent, "No, I'm just fond of privacy."

Seeming to finally get the message, or at least give up, for now, Claude replies, "Alright, alright I'll lay off. For now. But seriously, if you see Hilda come back here to avoid class send her my way," Claude turns to make his departure, but snaps his fingers and turns back to me, "Oh, that's right. I almost forgot, when I was talking with professor Eisner earlier she mentioned that she wants to meet you for lunch tomorrow. Anyways, later Doc!"

Claude practically bolts from the medical bay leaving me more confused than ever as I wonder why the new professor would want to have lunch with me. Why I had that strange feeling when I first locked eyes with her. Sothal has remained distant and removed from my mind, even at nights when I'm in bed trying to prod him for information. It's almost like his attention is being focused elsewhere with his very limited interactions with me as of late. When you have something as dangerous as him lurking around, it's the days where I hear and feel nothing that worry me the most as it usually tells of one thing. Plotting and scheming.

I go around and clean up the clinic to prepare it for the rest of the week which is easily done since I didn't have any patients for the day but I take my time to be thorough, and I lock up the medical ward. I check my pocket as I step into the moonlight and it read 11:37 pm. Going to be a painful time getting up tomorrow morning. I probably should have taken Manuela's advice and just avoided the clinic, but late at night, I find it to be a safe space to think and distract myself. And apparently, an easy place for students to locate me.

I enter the cafeteria looking for Byleth, but to my surprise, she manages to find me first by tapping on my shoulder and greeting me, "Hello Doctor."

Her flat and almost lifeless tone bothers me a bit as I return the gesture, "Hello professor Eisner. What's the plan for lunch?"

"I'll fetch our meals. Go ahead and take a seat over there," She impassively commands while pointing at a table where an Orange haired girl appears to be waiting. Byleth immediately leaves to grab a serving tray and enter the food line without saying another word or even making eye contact. And here I thought I was socially awkward.

"Okay…" I say more to myself than Byleth as she has already walked off, so I walk over and take a seat across from the orange-haired student who is working on knitting a hole in a coin purse.

"Hello there, I'm Santos. Byleth invited me for lunch, and you are…"I ask hoping to lead her into answering, and thankfully she attentively looks up from her project and responds, "Oh hi, I'm Leonie."

Leonie pays me no more attention as she tries to finish her needlework and I simply revert to general people watch, which for an active dining room is pretty boring. Luckily Byleth manages to get out of the chow line quickly and brings back our meals, which look hearty, to say the least.

"I got our meals. It's beast meat teppanyaki. Enjoy," Byleth instructs with about as much emotion as a statue as she sits next to Leonie and passes out the plates of food.

The food itself looks like large meatloaf like slabs slathered in sauce with some kind of fruit garnish. It doesn't help that the smell is just a bit gamey either, as I'm not the biggest deer enthusiast.

"Looks great, thanks, professor!" Leonie exclaims as she digs ravenously into her meal while I just stare at mine for a moment before tentatively responding, "Uh, yeah. Looks good."

"I'm glad, let's eat first then talk," Byleth says as she robotically begins to eat her meal, while I more or less pick at the tray of food as the taste a bit too earthy for my liking.

The two ladies manage to get down their meals in relative silence with occasional grunts of approval from Leonie who gobbles her meal down quickly and then asks me, "Are you going to finish that?"

"Go wild kiddo," I say as I push my barely eaten meal towards the hungry teenager who happily consumes the meat stack.

Byleth finishes up most of her plate before calling it quits and looks over at Leonie who is eating my lunch and asks me, "Were you not hungry?"

"Just wasn't feeling the meal. It was new to me, and I ended up not being fond of it."

"Would you like me to get a different plate?"

I shake my head to stop Byleth as she is already beginning to stand out of her seat, "No, it's fine. I'll get something later."

"Okay." Byleth plainly replies as she retakes her seat and stares at me.

"A painting will last longer," I suggest over the sounds of Leonie's munching.

"Huh?" Byleth exclaims, yet even her surprised reaction seems to lack emotion as I dismiss the comment, "Nevermind. Look, you wanted to invite me to lunch, so what did you want to discuss?"

"I wanted to know what it is like to be a wanted criminal here at Garreg Mach as it must be quite the-" Byleth explains but I shush her by leaning across the table to put my index finger in front of her lips. She probably didn't notice that she was talking at a fairly high volume due to the residual chatter of the dining hall. I glance around and notice a few stares until they look at me and continue about their business, and I also notice Leonie has paused mid-bite to observe me.

"Look, I'm enjoying a low profile here and I don't need every student, knight, and staff to know who I am. Not with the shitstorm that happened recently," I whisper back tersely back at the professor who simply nods as I remove my hand from her face and settle back into my seat.

"You're that criminal people have been talking about?" Leonie blurts out as she puts her utensils down. Well, fuck. If we didn't have people's attention, we have it now guaranteed. I look over my shoulder and notice even a few of the knights within earshot are starting to give me strange looks. Great.

"If you could please just shut up. The both of you. I'm going to go elsewhere, I'm already starting to get stares," I declare in an irritated tone since I didn't get to enjoy a meal to sour my already mixed mood. I begin to stand up to prepare to leave, but Byleth interjects, "Please, I meant no offense. Have a seat."

Despite my heated emotions and frustration, I sit back down against my better judgment, "Okay, one last chance without shouting my identity across the whole goddamn dining hall."

Leonie frowns and replies, "Staff should have more professional language around students, right professor? I remember when Captain Jeralt taught me-" Byleth smoothly interrupts Leonie from going on a tangent, "It's fine. I'm a mercenary and I'm used to the rough language. Now, Dr. Capetillo, I was curious about how you find it here? I'm relatively new myself."

"It's been accommodating. Question for you now, you're pretty skilled so you able to cast any magic alongside your sword skills?"

Byleth replies in her typical monotone, "Sword primarily, though mages I've worked with in the past have said I have an affinity for faith magics. Where'd you learn your magic? I saw you casting a lot of spells yesterday."

I lean back a bit while crossing my arm over my torso, "Dagda, but I managed to pick up more when I attended the Fhirdiad magic academy."

"So why become a physician if you were already a powerful mage?" Inquires Byleth, but I shake my head, "Was a doctor first, magic came later."

Byleth and Leonie both seem a bit shocked by my statement as Leonie quickly asks, "So when did you start learning magic?"

"A few years ago. I had some intensive training, but I'm apparently a natural from what I've been told," I elaborate as I debate whether or not to go get another plate of food that I might actually enjoy.

"Only a few years? That's impressive. I've been studying the sword my entire life to get as good as I am now. Do you have any other combat training," Byleth glances at my missing arm for a moment, "Despite your limitations?"

"No, as I've never tried fighting with any weapons. Before my injury, I could shoot a crossbow, but not likely anymore," I reply as I take a drink from my cup of water.

"When was your injury? What happened?" Byleth once again presses and I respond, "Magical accident. Nasty business, but I learned my lesson. Anything else I can do to clear the air, while we are on the topic of me?"

Byleth stands up from her seat stating, "No, but I'd like to talk again on other subjects with you later perhaps. Sorry for upsetting you earlier, Dr. Capetillo."

Byleth offers her hand out for a handshake which I respectfully take, though inside I'm merely walking through the formalities at this point to not draw more attention to myself. This entire lunch meeting has been a disaster and I couldn't see how it could get any worse.

"See you around Byleth," I cordially reply as I return the handshake, and once our hands are firmly locked together my body experiences the feeling you would when a really fast roller coaster stops abruptly and my world becomes dark.

Feeling my senses being pulled violently forward I can see a void around me with a large staircase leading up to a throne with a figure at the top that I can't quite identify. They are small and appear to be sleeping or dead as they are draped across the throne. Just as I'm getting my footing and able to call out to the person I feel the world around me rip and contort.

My lungs burn as the air feels like acid in my throat and I experience horrible ghost pains where my missing arm would be. I close my eyes as intense vertigo bombards my sense of balance so I widen my stance out and reach my arm to help steady myself.

And just as quickly as I saw that strange place and I felt extreme nausea and discomfort, it is immediately gone as I open my eyes to see the dining hall from before with Byleth looking curiously in front of me. I quickly glance around to see if anybody noticed what had just happened, but it seems that people are still talking and eating normally.

"You spaced out for a moment, are you well?" Byleth asks in a bland, but slightly more curious tone than I've heard from her. This is probably the best she can express any feeling of concern.

I look down at my hand that shook hers and then back up to Byleth and unconfidently replies, "Yeah, no-yeah I'm fine. Just normal. Happens sometimes."

"I understand. Me too," Byleth responds with a smile on her face, though I can tell it's not genuine and she is only trying to console me.

"I'm...going to go now. I think my stress-inducing lunch has earned me a trip to the sauna. See you later professor. You too Leonie," I hastily reply as I fast walk out of the dining hall like I need to unload the world's biggest crap.

I don't even turn my head around as I slink past a few people and into the courtyard to avoid further contact with others who may have been watching from the windows or inside the dining hall. Hands down that whole exchange were easily the most awkward since arriving at Garreg Mach and when I consider the highly eventful morning I've had I feel exhausted already.

After hearing some brief rules from the sauna manager and changing into a tower for the sauna to hopefully clear my mind a bit, I step into the sauna and immediately I'm greeted by a boisterous voice, "Ah, look here Jeralt! We have some company! Haha!"

I turn my head to notice that the only other people inside the sauna are Alois and Jeralt both in similar towels covering their waists and showing off their muscular and chiseled bodies. I swear whatever workout regimen they have the knights on must be insane to have middle-aged guys looking like professional bodybuilders. Plus it doesn't do wonders for my self-image as I'm not exactly jacked like my fellow knights.

"I can come back later, I don't mean to intrude," I announce as I begin to back up and close the door though Alois beckons me forth and bellows, "Nonsense, come in! There is plenty of room here, Santos!"

"Indeed, we don't mind. Take a seat," Jeralt adds on as he stretches out his arms a bit.

Feeling a bit self-conscious of my own wiry body and encouraged to join them, I reluctantly sit beside the buff dad squad. Alois pours some more water onto the hot rocks to release more steam into the room which feels nice on my skin. As someone who lived in the heat all their previous life, it feels good to experience the heat again, in small doses that is.

"So me and Jeralt here were just discussing the best fishing techniques to capture the legendary ancient fodlandy that lives in the pond!" Alois excitedly explains which I see Jeralt facepalm and sigh, " And here I am trying to explain to you it was a joke I said nearly 30 years ago. It's not real Alois."

"It is so! I've seen it with my own eyes before! Just because you joked at the time doesn't mean it's not real,"

"Alois, trust me. It's not real. It's a pond that has primarily pike and trout and nothing spectacular."

"It could have swum up through an underground cave. That pond is quite deep." Alois reasons which appear to cause only a more exasperated reaction from Jeralt.

"I highly doubt it. You probably saw a weird reflection in the water. What do you think, Santos? Sorry, we haven't been formally introduced, but it's not really my thing." Jeralt infers as he leans back to embrace the steam more.

"I'm not really savvy at fishing, so I don't know much about local fish." I concede as I don't want to pick sides in their argument.

"But the underwater cavern! You think it's possible, don't you? How else would the fish population change?" Alois jabbers as he looks between Jeralt and me for any confirmation or denial of his claim.

I opened my mouth to reply but Jeralt beats me to the punch and responds, "Because the fish merchants put new fish in there for competitions. Then those new fish breed with the fish already present."

"I think Jeralt is right, but unless you check in the pond for caverns you have no way for sure," I offer and Alois gets a wild look in his eyes and replies, "I have just the thing!"

"Alois, we both know you are a terrible swimmer," Jeralt warns his excitable friend who scoffs and replies, "I know! I just got a brilliant idea for next week's seminar! I'll toss rocks for students to find at the bottom of the pond as a workout! Haha! And I'll ask them if they find any caves! It's perfect!"

"Yeah, but wouldn't you have to act as a lifeguard? How well do you think you could do that?" I ask which seems to take all the energy from Alois's idea as he hesitantly mumbles, "Right. That would be a liability problem…"

"Anyways, how are you, Santos? Adjusting well to life at Garreg Mach?" Jeralt asks me directly as Alois mutters to himself other incoherent plans to get down to the bottom of the pond.

"It's been good to me so far. Just been taking it one day at a time."

"I know that feeling. Being captain of the knights again wasn't in my plans, but sometimes things just happen. Funny story, about 2 years ago my group was hired to find you. We gave up after about a month of the chase, and yet here you are now," Jeralt muses with a teasing smile that makes me feel a bit uneasy.

"But no contract now?" I inquiry and he shakes his head, "Nope. Defaulted on the contract since we can't make money looking for a ghost. No hard feelings though towards you. I'm a mercenary at heart and it's my job to ask the right amount of questions and only be as curious as the job requires."

"Seems you're still the same as you were all those years ago when training me to be a knight. Always the pragmatist," Alois chimes in causing me to sit up a bit and ask, "Wait, how old are you? You guys look roughly the same."

"Hmmm, that is a good question since I'm in my 40's. Jeralt?"

"What can I say, I age like fine wine, haha!" Jeralt chortles loudly to himself as he continues for a bit. Alois leans in and whispers to me, "He won't tell, it's a secret he likes to keep but if we get a few drinks in him we can get him to talk I bet. Meet us for drinks in the tavern down in town tonight?"

With my curiosity getting the better of me I nod, "Count me in. I'll probably be in the library or medbay later. Find me there."

With one last slight nod from Alois, I return my attention to Jeralt who has calmed down from his laughter and states, "And boys, if you take me to the bar I'll drink you under the table. Guaranteed."

"Count me in. I could use a good night out," I reply as Jeralt age is a bit of an enigma, and maybe I could figure out more about Byleth through him.

"Ha! Classic Captain Jeralt! I'll round up some of the others to join us as well. Nothing like a good night of drinks to celebrate the coming new school year!" Cheers Alois as I shake my head but can't help but smile at the man's contagious good energy.

"Anyway, where were we?" Alois asks now that he has finished shouting about tonight's plans and Jeralt quickly reminds him, "We were talking about fishing. Before the pond thing, I was trying to explain why your bait is terrible."

"Hey, I get some bites!" Alois rebuttals as he and Jeralt continue their back and forth on the highly detailed sport of fishing. I close my eyes as I let the steam envelop me in its warm embrace. A night to put today's heavy talks a rest would be extremely timely right about now.

The rest of my day after relaxing in the sauna went by relatively quietly with me perusing some of the books in the library on the history of the Knights of Seiros. Thankfully with this being a religious epicenter and the birthplace of these knights, there is information aplenty. The knights serve as the military branch of the Church of Seiros giving them pseudo country rights and authority as peacekeepers. The closest comparison I can think of is if NATO was outsourced to the Pope, but that wouldn't explain it quite right.

Other than seeing a few part-time students and Lysithea holed up in her corner of the library with a tower of books nobody else seems to be around, in particular, Tomas. The old man manages to move around a decent bit from my encounters with him as his schedule is erratic, to say the least. Still, strange to not see him around on a technical day off of the church.

Around 7 pm as I'm reading about the general tactics that early Knights of Seiros used to combat beasts I hear clanking armor approach my table, so I put down my book and look up to Alois in his plate mail armor. He beckons me to follow him with a wave of his hand so I close the book and follow him out of the library and ask, "So how was your day?"

"Ha, not really a rest day for me. Ran some of the new knights through drills and then had them work on armorsmithing. Other than that, I managed to restock my bait collection for the next time I go fishing. How about you Santos, did you really stay in the library all day?" Alois asks with slight concern.

"Yeah, just needed a quiet place to not think about the world for a bit. Reading helps with that. So, I take it you took Jeralt's advice on the bait?"

"Yes, but don't tell the captain. I want to surprise him when I catch the ancient fodlandy!"

We both exchange mutual chuckles and small talk as we exit past the courtyard of Garreg Mach and into the trading district, and then down the hill towards the hamlet below. As we walk down the large hill Alois looks over his shoulder back at me saying, "Jeralt and the others should already be there. I told them to not start without us, but we shall see, haha!"

I nod back to the paragon of joy and we soon enter the very quiet village and make our way on the dirt road towards the only bar in town. The sky seems to already be getting quite dark as it's nearing around 7:30 and hardly anybody seems to be out and about at this hour.

We make our grand entrance into the bar which seems to be half full of patrons, which is kinda nice. Not too packed where you can't get any drinks and not empty enough to make you suspicious. I look around and see our folks at a corner table of the room with a large pitcher of mead in the middle of the table. From the people gathered I can see Jeralt currently doing the talking with Shamir, Catharine and some red-haired woman with a side ponytail gathered around.

"Greetings everyone, I've come back with the doctor, now we can drink!" Alois proclaims as he takes a seat next to Catherine and Jeralt. I take a seat next to the red-haired woman and Shamir, to which the latter gives me a slight nod.

"Sorry pal, but Anna and Catherine convinced me," Jeralt explains with a shrug as he raises a cup of mead to his mouth.

"Waiting 30 minutes without drinks is just insane. Besides, mead is practically water," Catherine argues as she drinks from her cup.

"I can firmly deny that water and mead are the same," I affirm as I pour myself a cup with the extra cups placed around the pitcher. I look over to Alois who does the same and quickly nods to me before raising his cup and toasting, "Let's have a great night, with knights no less!"

I internally groan at Alois' terrible pun and it seems like most the table shares my sentiment. Shamir and Catherine immediately drink while Jeralt just shakes his head, though with a smile. Anna meanwhile waves over a server and shouts, "Round of shots over here! Make it your best whiskey!"

"I doubt you're treating us, Anna, knowing you. What's the game?" Inquires Jeralt to which Anna's coyly responds as the serving girl brings over a load of whiskey shot glasses, "Perceptive as always, Jeralt. Figure we could make it interesting with a game. Loser paying the full bill of course."

"And what if you don't have a ton of money to throw around?" I ask and Anna quickly makes eye contact with me and deviously remarks, "Oh I'm sure arrangements can be made if that ends up being the case."

"Well, whatever the game I'm ready to drink all of you under the table!" Catherine challenges loudly to the rest of us, but Anna wags her finger and interjects, "tsk tsk, Catherine. We will do something of a challenge and that entertains us, not just drink as much as fast as we can. Besides, the best parts of these games is watching the loser's suffering."

"I won't disagree with that," Shamir adds in, though Catherine seemingly a bit flustered demands, "Alright merchant, what are we going to play?"

Anna gets ready to speak, but Jeralt cuts her off and explains, "Anything Anna suggests is sure to be riddled with hidden rules," Anna scowls a bit at Jeralt who simply raises his eyebrow at the fiery woman and continues, "So I have one. It's been around a long time and a classic. Server, bring us over about a dozen shots and a set of gambling dice!"

The gangly serving girl hurries over as quickly as the bartender can pour the whiskey shots and sets them on the table as the rest of us exchange curious glances. Alois looks curious as does Catharine, while Shamir and Anna have a much more reserved reaction to the events that are about to unfold.

Jeralt cracks his knuckles as he divvies out the shots to each person where we have about 3 in front of us at the minimum with both rounds of shots being delivered to us. Jeralt picks up the dice and elaborates, "So, it's the old game of dice. You roll, and if it's odds you give a shot to someone if you roll evens you take a shot. Rolling doubles means a shot for you and another person. Roll snake eyes and the entire table drinks. First-person to give up or pass out loses. Sound good?"

"Not worried about alcohol poisoning?" I remark to which Jeralt replies with a wink, "We should be fine with our resident medical professional on standby."

I shake my head and mutter, "Just don't ask me to operate on you…"

"Let's start already, I'm getting bored! Who goes first?" Catharine shouts as she polishes off her cup of mead and begins to greedily eye the harder alcohol in front of her.

"I'll start the game. Best of luck to you all, you're going to need it," Jeralt quips as he begins the game of dice with a roll of doubles, to which he nudges Alois and they both drink a shot.

"Strong stuff they have, eh Captain?" Alois remarks as he finishes his beverage and grabs the dice for his turn. This game doesn't seem like one to last very long so I hope I don't get targeted by the others, though my drinking with Leif and at the academy did build up my tolerance a bit from the paltry level it was at before.

The game progresses pretty smoothly for the next half an hour as we jabber about work and events in the area, knight business, and trade. After a couple of rotations around the table, people are visibly feeling the effects, and I'm doing my best to remain upright. If only Heal or Restore could reset your blood alcohol level, but I'm managing to hang in. Jeralt and Catharine still look unfazed, Alois is laughing at his jokes much more than usual, Anna is probably the worst off and is already swaying, and Shamir remains steady and unreadable as ever without so much as blinking and contributing the least to the conversations.

By the 5th rotation, Jeralt holds the dice and asks, "How are we all holding up? Anybody want to step down and take the bill?"

"As a Knight of Seiros, I shall remain in!" Alois asserts and Catharine adds on, "Count me still in too! I'm still nearly sober!"

Catharine still has decent motor control at this point in the night but she has lost all control over the volume of her voice as she is nearly shouting her words out to the rest of the bar. Shamir merely nods and leans back in her chair and I reply, "I'm good, though I may not make it back to bed if this keeps up."

"I'm hic-fine. Let's go." Anna stutters out leaving most of us unconvinced.

"You sure?" Jeralt asks again but Anna remains firm and answers, "Yes Mr. Eisner. Goooo."

Jeralt rubs the back of his head and shrugged before continuing the game which gets us going another 2 rounds which tips most of us into decidedly drunk territory, Catharine looks thoroughly buzzed finally, and Jeralt maybe only looks a tad affected, but It's hard to say with how intoxicated I am at this point. At the end of round 7, Anna manages to barely mumble out, "Okay. I'm fine. Wait. No. Good night everyone," As she rolls out of her wooden chair and sprawls out on the floor.

"That's a loss, right?" Shamir says as she gives Anna a poke with her foot confirming the red-headed merchant is fast asleep.

"Mhmm. That's the game. I'll take Anna back to her caravan and let the bartender know. I'll be going to bed afterward, I have an early day tomorrow." Jeralt says as he puts Anna in a fireman's carry which only unintelligible moans can be heard from the woman.

"Well said Jeralt, I should get back too. Big day ahead as you said!" Alois announces as he wobbles to his feet causing Catharine to stand up and help steady the friendly man. They both manage to use each other as a crutch to get outside the door and into the darkness.

I watch Alois and Catharine make their unsteady exit with a large grin on my face as I hear from over my shoulder, "So now is a good time as any to talk about that debt you owe me."

I quickly turn my head back towards Shamir, and perhaps a bit too quickly as my vision spins a bit causing me to hold onto the table a bit for support, which isn't as useful with just one hand. I look into her eyes and weakly asked, "Is it?

"Yup. You can start by buying me some food to help settle all this alcohol," Shamir instructs. I obediently stand up while still holding onto the table for balance and ask, "Are you even drunk? You had just about as much to drink as me."

"I just hide it better; now get moving Santos, I'm hungry," Shamir once again commands but can't help having her deadpan facade waver a bit as she briefly gives me a more suggestive look before reverting to her normal impassive facial expression.

Not needing any more motivation I stumble my way to the bar and manage to pay for a small meal of potatoes and mutton with two glasses of mead. The bartender instructs the serving girl to bring over the food once it's done and to dish out the drinks immediately. Still, in my drunken stupor I mumble, "Mission accomplished," to myself and walk carefully back to my seat.

"Food's on the way."

"Good. Now, let's chat. I'll be honest, I didn't believe you."

A bit confused I reply, "Believe me about what?"

"Back in Brigid when you told me about your past. I just thought you had severe mental issues and were trying to cope somehow with some kind of trauma. Not unusual for people," Shamir reassures as the server sets down our drinks. Shamir immediately takes a large sip from the mead as I reply, "Oh, that. So yeah, it's true. I managed to actually do it you know. Go back."

Shamir sets down her cup trying to swallow the rest of her drink with a finger held up indicating for me to stop. She manages to get the rest of the large gulp down and goes on, " So wait...you came back? To Fodlan? Why?"

"Things didn't go as planned. They weren't...the same so to speak." I lament as thinking about my time home instantly sobers me up a slight bit.

"How did magic work there?"

"What?"

Shamir rolls her eyes and crosses her arms as she asks again in a slower and more mocking tone, "How did magic work? At all, different, etcetera?"

"Well, I, uh-"

"You didn't check did you," Shamir scolds me as if I'm a small child as I hang my head down in shame and in a somber tone I reply, "I forgot. Got caught up in just being back."

"Wow, you are the smartest idiot I know. You go home, don't try using magic, besides to come back, and then you get bent over by the nobles. Typical," Shamir remarks as she takes another swig from her cup and I follow suit.

"Don't remind me. How is being an official knight instead of a mercenary? Nice shiny title for you to throw around in nobles' faces I bet."

Shamir snort laughs for a brief second as she replies, "Oh yes, it's fantastic. Damn nobles can't complain and I get to do everything I did as a merc with the church backing me up. Nice too as Lady Rhea hasn't tried too hard to convert me, just as long as I help those in need."

"I'm glad to hear that. Sounds like you're happy," I respond as I give her a pat on the back and look over to see the server coming out with the food I ordered earlier.

The server silently places the plate of food before me, to which I quickly pass to Shamir with the eating utensils as she shares, "I am. It's a good job, but I'm not sure I'd do it forever. How are you though? You happy to be here?"

"Better than being six feet below ground. I was so fixated on going home that now that I'm back I feel a bit lost. Kinda just riding the waves, you know?" I try to explain as the alcohol is making it hard to form complete thoughts to which Shamir simply just nods as she digs into the roast & potatoes.

Seeing the window of opportunity to vent a bit as Shamir eats her plate of food I continue, " I just feel so damn uncertain if what I'm doing is right, and when I am certain it seems to blow up in my face. Kinda wish I was like you and content, happy, and didn't let bullshit bother me."

"You don't need to be me, Santos. I've got my problems and you yours. Start by making friends and try not to keep secrets, well, at least not ones that make you sound like a headcase."

I roll my eyes and sarcastically reply, "Thanks, why didn't I think of that."

"You asked. I'm a merc, not a therapist. Do whatever makes you less sad without fucking up society. That's why I shoot bandits and gamble. It makes life a little less crap."

"Fair, fair point…" trailing off I begin to think of what I've been trying to do. The conflict that Sothal has made apparent to me, the mystery of Byleth that I'm pretty sure connects to Sothal somehow but not sure why it does, and hopefully somehow move past my personal trauma. Having no one able to directly relate to my situation is difficult, for as nice as sympathy is from individuals I still feel like nobody gets it. I still frequently think my body and mind are numb to the events that happened like a prolonged state of shock like I still can't possibly comprehend what had happened to me.

Shamir splashes me a bit with her mead snapping me out of my daze as I shamefully ask, "Was I zoning out again?"

"Yep. You're welcome," Shamir replies as I can see she hasn't changed her facial expression through by looking through her eyes I can tell she is enjoying this immensely.

Wiping some of the liquid off my face with my sleeve that houses no arm I retort, "Mhmm. Well, I'm not sure I can drink much more without passing out. Think I'll start heading back," I begin to stand up from my seat, but Shamir grabs onto my robes and yanks me back down into my seat gruffly.

"No. You still owe me," Shamir demands as she sets aside her half-eaten meal.

"Alright, so what else am I going to have to do for you? Be your personal sherpa?"

Shamir raises an eyebrow, "I don't know what that is, but maybe it's along those lines."

"You want me for mountain climbing? It's your funeral."

Shamir punches me decently hard in the shoulder and states, "No, tell me about your old world, Earth. I require a good story and I'm buzzed enough to enjoy it."

A pause to think for a moment about the request and what I would like to talk about, and then a silly idea enters my brain and I blurt out, "Wait, is this cause you can't read the local language?"

Shamir's face goes flush as she turns slightly away and barks out, "No!...maybe."

"Ha! Alright, I'll do it for you amiga, but you gotta ask nicely," I jeer at the soldier who has broken composure, though Shamir collects herself quickly and cooly replies, "Or I could just punch you again."

"I don't condone unnecessary violence. You'd really hurt me over a little jab like that?"

"You're the best healer I've ever met, and you've done far worse in training. You're the equivalent of a sassy punching bag."

I scoot back a bit in my chair remarking, "That's probably the most hurtful and creative way I've been dissed."

"I've been practicing with the nobles."

I put my feet up on the table and stretch a bit, "Alright, but order us another pitcher of mead. I'll need to be drunk to explain what astrophysics is to you."

A/N: That's a wrap for this week as we push into the Zanado arc of White Clouds and beyond! Also, I'm patiently waiting for the DLC, for which I'm still hyped about. Santos continues his trek into the still relatively unknown world of Fodlan, but things will be shaking up soon. Also, I'll have to start considering which students start getting involved with who for marriage and alliances and such, so time to make charts to determine the political future of Fodlan and hurt people's wishes for certain ships xD Time skip stuff will be interesting when we get there in a few months (hopefully).

Otherwise, for this chapter, I probably deleted 2k+ words and changed stuff around as this one was particularly difficult to get somewhere where I liked it. Sometimes that's just how it goes, eh. No writers block here (so far), just trying to figure out how all the puzzle pieces should fit together.

Review Response:

Sakura108645: Thanks for the support, and for the word of warning! Also, I've been liking Shattered Songs of Faith, so keep up the good work! I'll try to get some more reviews in there as I haven't finished it yet. And for anyone else reading this, give a look if you haven't already!

Stabertiger: You got a reaction, but she'll be processing that nugget of information for a while as her relationship with Santos (hopefully) can heal.

Guest: Thank you, and I plan to keep going until completion.

Eseer: Ohohoho, so much to say, so much spoiler :p

Flitterflux: I've written some of the very things you are talking about in my notes, though I can't say who. With the coming conflict, sides will have to be chosen and a line will be drawn.

SyncroX: I get the trepidation with some of the plot, but I hope the rationale the character had and the unforeseen consequences make sense. And Santos and Ingrid will continue to have a relationship that grows and develops. As for where it eventually leads? Keep reading and find out, and thanks for the support.

That's all this week folks! Thanks for reading, following and supporting as I feel like bit by bit I'm improving every week and learning. See you next time and have a wonderful day.

Next Chapter: 1/31-2/2