'Are you sure this is a good idea?' Sothis sounded unusually nervous as Byleth strode forward through the relentless fog, a look of grim determination on her stony face.

'Honestly, it is likely to be a terrible idea.' Byleth admitted dryly. 'But, if I can at least hold up Lord Lonato's advance for a time, it gives Jeralt a chance to reach us before all hell breaks loose.'

Sothis sighed gently. 'I get WHY you told the kids that it was mainly the troops they'd killed in the first assault, but it wasn't was it?'

'No.' Byleth admitted stoically. 'The ones that Jeritza and I took were trained men, but the majority that rushed us before were just villagers. Lonato is keeping back his proper fighting force, using it strategically. It's good sense.'

'Why do you think he stopped the attack then?' Sothis sounded confused.

'I believe Ashe is correct. He ISN'T a monster.' It was Byleth's turn to sigh. 'Whatever his objective is here, he is taking the time to deal with the threat tactically in pursuit of limiting the loss of his people. Otherwise, he would have just kept on throwing bodies at us until they broke through. It's the main reason I am hoping that talking to him might work.'

'I'm surprised Catherine didn't call you out. I'm sure she must have realised the men attacking weren't professional. She doesn't seem the sort who would pander to the students.'

'It isn't pandering.' Byleth replied shortly. 'It's about morale. Dimitri called it when he asked if we really wanted to be killing civilians. Of course, we don't. At least believing that it was soldiers keep's everyone's head in the game rather than questioning the right and wrong of the situation while we are still vulnerable.'

'Halt!' A voice called from the mist, not far ahead of Byleth's position.

'I seek to speak with Lord Lonato.' Byleth shouted back, confidently.

'I'm not going to let you anywhere near the Lord.' The man replied, tautly. 'Lay down your weapon or die.'

'My name is Byleth Eisner. I am a professor at the Academy, and I am here with a class of students, including Lord Lonato's foster son Ashe.' Byleth raised her voice even louder. 'We are wondering why you have attacked us.'

'You are Knights of Seiros and are here to kill Lord Lonato.' The man threw back scornfully.

'No.' Byleth's voice was level. 'Knight's had been sent to counter the rebellion that Lord Lonato was attempting to initiate, but we were merely allowed to follow and observe the aftermath as a lesson in diplomacy. My students are Blue Lions and hail from Faerghus.'

'I don't believe you. This is a trick.' A new, deeper voice called from the gloom. 'The witch from the Church has sent you to assassinate me, just as she did my son.'

'Lord Lonato?' Byleth called. 'Ashe told me that he wrote to you about my appointment as a Professor. I am the mercenary known as The Ashen Demon, although my current commission is simply that of an educator. I promise you that we have no desire for any further bloodshed here.'

'Lord Lonato… Father!' Ashe was suddenly at Byleth's side. She swore under her breath and put out a hand to prevent him from going any further forward. 'What the Professor said is true, sir. It is just us. My class… and Lady Catherine, who is here to oversee the talks.'

'Cassandra?' Lonato's voice exploded. 'How dare you! How DARE you come here. Come out and face me, you cur!' There was a burst of sudden activity.

'Sothis, take me back.' Byleth demanded.

'Mhmm.'

Pain screamed through Byleth as time slipped into reverse yet again. Her arms and legs burned, and her head swam with multicolored stars. She staggered slightly but managed to turn around and grab at Ashe as he rushed up beside her.

'Do NOT mention Catherine to Lonato.' She whispered to him. 'There is bad blood there… it will cause problems.

Ashe gulped but nodded his understanding.

'Lord Lonato… Father!' He shouted. 'What the Professor said is true, sir. It is just us. My class…'

'Ashe?' Lonato's voice sounded closer to them. 'You need to stand down, son. I will destroy these evil-doers by any means necessary!'

'No, Sir… Please.' Ashe fidgeted under the tight grip that Byleth kept on his shoulder. 'Surrender Lonato… you must! Whatever your reason for doing this, we can still talk it out!'

'Impossible!' Lonato called back harshly. 'The Archbishop… Rhea is an infidel who has deceived the people and desecrated the Goddess. She must be put down like the mangy dog that she is!'

'I'm desecrated?' Sothis queried to herself. 'How rude!'

'Even if that's true, sir, dragging the townsfolk into it like this isn't right!' Ashe replied, his voice pained.

'Ashe, my boy.' Lonato's tone was patient. 'We have virtue and the Goddess herself on our side! I wished to keep you out of this, but since you are here, join me!'

'I don't think I AM on your side…' Sothis grumbled. 'Bit forward of you to assume I am… Didn't bother to ask me, did you!'

'Lord Lonato?' Byleth rolled her eyes wearily as Dimitri stepped up beside her calling out tenuously, while Dedue hovered protectively just behind. 'I don't think we have ever actually met before, but I am Dimitri. Lambert's son.'

'Prince Dimitri?' Lonato's voice wobbled a bit over the name. There was a pause. 'I apologise your Highness. It is truly regrettable that we should be crossing swords like this.'

'I agree!' Dimitri bellowed earnestly. 'Sir, I sympathise with your position. I really do. I can confirm what our Professor has told you -that the Knights are here only to seek a peaceful end to this situation. My uncle, the Regent, has given autonomy to the Church to deal with the issue, but you have my word that the crown has no desire to see any further antagonism.'

'Your Highness. I am sorry. I cannot stop now. For the sake of my child and for the people of Fodlan, I must see this task through.' Lonato was impassioned, his words sincere. 'Will you stand aside and let us continue on?'

'I'm afraid we can't do that.' Dimitri replied.

'Then you will leave me no choice than to cut you down.' Lonato threw back.

'Wait!' Byleth pulled Dimitri behind her protectively although the move was harder than she'd expected as tiredness engulfed her like a flood. 'Lord Lonato, I believe Ashe when he says that you are a good man. Can I suggest a compromise?'

'I think the time has passed for that… you are stalling girl.' Lonato shouted over the ominous sound of his troops being issued orders.

'A duel, Lonato. Instead of having the heads of your Crown Prince and foster son on your conscience, will you not battle one on one with me instead?'

'Byleth, I don't think I need to point out to you that you have been weakened greatly by the timeshifting we've done… is this wise?' Sothis gulped.

'Why would I?' Lonato challenged. 'You have said yourself that your force is just a group of children. We have the advantage here, you are in no position to negotiate. Do you not think me capable of incapacitating a few students, rather than having to kill them outright?'

It was at that moment that the fog cleared. It disappeared completely as if it had never existed. Byleth, observational as ever despite her fatigue caught the back of a Knight retreating swiftly into the boggy marshes. Her father's men? They were likely using the confrontation she was providing to position themselves for an attack. At least, that's what she hoped.

There was a long moment's confusion now that the field of play was fully revealed. Byleth used the time to take stock of the situation. Lonato and his army were on horseback, while the commoners were on foot and made up the greater number, although their formation was rough and to a man, they looked completely terrified.

Although Dimitri, Ashe, and Dedue were with her, the rest of the students were much further back with Catherine, who was starting to stride forward. Byleth gestured at her desperately to stay where she was, but the woman ignored the plea.

'Cassandra!' Lonato bellowed as he spotted the woman in white, the only person actually moving.

'You are a bloody fool, Lonato!' Catherine shouted back, drawing her radiant weapon.

'Get yourselves to safety, with the others if you can.' Byleth urged her students quietly. 'I believe that Jeralt is getting himself into place to strike. Try and keep out of the way.' Her eyes met Dedue's in silent communication. He nodded gravely at her.

'I will be the one to kill you, Cassandra!' Lonato had dismounted and was heading towards Catherine. 'I will allow no other the pleasure of your demise.'

'You have lost all sense of justice.' Catherine reposed, 'You want to fight me? So be it. I will send you to meet your Goddess.'

'Bloody hell.' Byleth swore as Lonato approached flanked by four of his troops. 'Get back.' She called again to Dimitri, as Dedue attempted to remove the Prince from her side.

Ignoring Lonato, whose focus was on Catherine alone, Byleth pulled her aching body forward to engage Lonato's guard. Her head swam uncomfortably, but her muscles remembered their moves instinctively as she was met by several attacks at the same time.

From the burst of sound's around her, Byleth gauged that Jeralt had made his presence known, and that battle was ensuing. With a groan of relief, she put down the two men who had attacked her and took a swift, sweeping gaze of the area.

It appeared that Dimitri had attempted to follow her orders but had been cut off. Dedue was surrounded by a number of adversaries, while Ashe was taking shots from behind the Prince whose lance was flashing fast and sure.

Byleth noted that the rest of the students were rushing in, heading towards the Prince in support. Annette was already firing off spells, and Felix was engaged in the fighting. Byleth spotted Jeralt thundering towards them, while half his Knights were trying to round up and remove the townsfolk, and the other half were subduing the Lord's troops.

The Knight that had accompanied Catherine had dealt with Lonato's other two guards, while the Lord was engaged in fierce combat with Catherine herself.

'You have been deceived Cassandra.' Lonato challenged between clenched teeth. 'There is nothing that can hide you or the filthy central church from the judgment of the Goddess. Her will be done!'

'I'm sorry that's how you feel,' Catherine replied. 'You really leave me no choice but to end this Lonato. It is the last thing I wanted to have to do.'

'I can show you the truth!' Lonato insisted. 'Rhea is a witch… she is evil!'

'Prepare to die.' Catherine said, sadly.

Byleth was frozen. Her deep fatigue was making movement difficult. At the very same moment that Dimitri was struck a glancing blow straight to his chest, Catherine was hit by an enormous violet bolt of magic from one of the mages who had crept forward. She managed to hold onto her sword but fell to the ground with a cry of pain.

'Sothis… please!' Byleth steeled herself for the divine pulse that would take her back.

'It could kill you… you have already done too many and lost too much blood.' Sothis refused.

'I thought you were supposed to be a Goddess…' Byleth taunted desperately.

'Maybe I am, but YOU are definitely human and your body can't deal with it!'

'We managed a far larger jump before…' Byleth argued aware time was slipping by.

'Just the one though. Repeated jumps are a whole different kind of strain…' Sothis stopped, realising that Dimitri wasn't getting up. 'This is on YOUR head!' She agreed reluctantly.

Byleth focused on the fallen form of Dimitri and blocked everything else from her mind. All she could manage when time became free was to throw herself bodily at the Prince and topple him forward. The swing of the axe that had killed him last time, safely sailed over both their heads and was met by Jeralt on its second swing.

'You okay kids?' Jeralt called as he efficiently took down the aggressor. Byleth, however, hadn't waited around. She was crawling forward to where Catherine was still on the ground, trying to ward off Lonato's blows. Sylvain spotted the professor struggling and heaved her up to her feet in one swift move.

'Alright?' He huffed.

Byleth ignored him too, stumbling onward.

'Lonato!' She called, both her voice and her sword arm shaking with the effort.

The Lord looked up at her briefly but dismissed her as a threat. His focus returned to Catherine.

'It ends for you here Cassandra.' Lonato declared as he raised his weapon ominously.

'Father?' It was Ashe's voice that caught his attention fully. 'I can't let you continue.' The boy's eyes were filled with tears, but his aim was true as he loosened an arrow at the man who had saved him.

'Ashe.' Lonato smiled despite the shaft that had embedded deep within his chest. 'You are a good boy, son. Don't let that vile woman continue to deceive you. Be better than me…' The Lord fell to his knee's and toppled forwards.

Ashe's wail was heartbreaking, and silence followed.

'It's over…' Byleth murmured to herself as she fell against Sylvain and dropped into blessed darkness.