16

Claude started chuckling, holding up a letter. "Sorry for just dropping in, but I thought something like this would be better discussed in person. Please don't stop for my sake, you two put on a nice show."

If she wasn't in his lap Dimitri probably would have lunged at him for that. The glare he shot Claude was enough to make him hesitate before a large grin spread over Claude's face and he stepped forward.

"Awe do I finally have some bait to use to get a reaction from you Dimitri? Oh I can have some fun with this." Claude said.

Claude came up to them and leaned towards Byleth. "It's never too late to try the other side if you'd want to Teach."

Dimitri threw a punch that Claude had already accounted for as he jumped away. Dimitri put a protective arm around her waist.

Byleth sighed before nuzzling her face into Dimitri's neck. "The best way to deal with Claude is to play his game, but play it better. You always did take him too seriously."

Dimitri saw the flash of gold in her hand before she was behind him again, her hands still on his shoulders. She took a deep breath near his ear before her pacing got back to normal. He was going to have to ask her about what going back in time actually did to her body. It didn't seem to affect her too badly this time, but he worried for her all the same. He could hear Claude outside the door now that he was paying attention.

"Claude is an opportunist. He doesn't act until his schemes play out. Your reactions only create a reason for him to continue pushing your buttons. I also know that you don't want him having that kind of image in his head but picturing himself instead, so I figured the best thing for his safety is to erase it. Calm your anger. He means no harm and he is no threat to our relationship. There is no need to be jealous or angry when I'm not interested in him." She whispered, hugging him and kissing his jawline.

Four more times, Claude just couldn't help himself and had to annoy him and flirt with Byleth. When Claude had put his hands on her and his head on her shoulder to whisper something in her ear, that had been enough for Dimitri to attack with more than words. Byleth turned back time once more before he could have the satisfaction of making contact with him.

"Dimitri, neither of you are academy students anymore. These pulses are not infinite." She hissed before they were back in the moment again.

He was really starting to hate that feeling. He was trying not to let his temper control his actions, but Claude was just so irritating. Then he felt her hands shake on his shoulder and her breathing on his neck was harsher. How much mana was she using doing this and covering for his outbursts? It was affecting her badly, to do this now without battle he wondered how worse it was when she had to fight as well. He closed his eyes for a moment.

She was right, he shouldn't let Claude in so easily. Just that damned 'Teach' alone irked him. He wasn't showing Byleth any respect. Claude had always been informal and irresponsible. Almost the complete opposite of himself. He had to remeber that at the Battle at Gronder it was Claude that saved Byleth from that fire. He had her in his debt and he still offered his hand to help, and all he had wanted in return was knowledge. What had she said, don't poke the lion or it will take your head? She had been right about that too, if he had a weapon Claude's poking fun at them would be turning out worse than these last few times. He needed to stay calm and let her do the talking. She came around and sat on his lap, moving her hand behind her to grab his. She looked tired.

"I'm sorry Byleth. I'm a selfish beast and I don't like the thought of having to share you." He said taking his other hand and placing it against her cheek. She smiled and leaned into him.

"That's kind of rude to keep her all to Dimitri. I have to admit though you two do look cute together like that. Is he letting you get enough sleep Teach? You look worn out." Claude said, coming through the door. His demeanor wasn't as annoying as before and the comment seemed more offhand than a direct barb like the others.

Byleth nodded. "Just a lot to do. I imagine you've had a lot to do since you rose as the alliance leader. I wasn't expecting you to come here yourself when we sent that letter."

He gave her a wink. "Technically, I just took a quick border patrol. No one needs to know that I stopped in to check up on old friends."

"Well, the gesture is appreciated enough. Since you're here, I am hoping to talk tactics with you." She said.

He crossed his arms. "The alliance isn't available to help at the moment. Granted what you two have been managing to do here has caused a lot of whispers, but it's not enough to offer support I'm afraid. Not yet, anyway."

"It's the Bridge of Mydinn that's your problem, isn't it?" Byleth asked.

"Point to Teach. Yeah, the Empire can attack us as a large force since they already control it. Thankfully since House Glouster is the one that sits right next to it, the Empire has left the alliance to fight among themselves. You're not fairing any better. A king brought back from the dead to try to take a kingdom that's been occupied by loyalists, it's a long shot, but it's a good gamble to make."

"No better than the heir to the Almyran throne standing here talking politics to the two people he has the best chance to make a dream of peace with." Byleth replied.

Dimitri shot a confused look to her, but it was Claude who seemed more off guard. "How in the world did you find out about that?" Claude asked.

Byleth shrugged. "I figured it out, but Balthus was the one that gave me the missing piece by asking me if you had possibly mentioned a certain Reigan daughter that threw away her title to run away with an enemy never to be seen again. Take your skin tone, that never trust an outsider bit you keep repeating, and your constant disdain for Lorenez's close-minded stance against outside territories of Fodlan, then it's not that hard to put together the pieces. That dream you always talked about, I assume it has to do with Almyra and Foldan. I had only taken a guess to the heir part, but it would explain why you always try to nettle Dimitri, you two are opposite sides but a similar coin."

Claude ran his hand through his hair. "Damn, I usually am able to dodge the question better than that….. you've always had that effect on me though Teach. I always want to let you in on the schemes, with your mind they can only get grander from there. Yeah, the intolerance of people needs to stop. There's a big wide world out there that people don't want to acknowledge that they even exist and just go on their preconceived notions. I want peace for more than just Fodlan. Based on what I've heard and seen around here you two are going to be the best chance I have of achieving that dream. When I found out you could wield the sword of the creator, I had wished so badly that you had chosen the Golden Deer, but I think that this may work out better. With you two here in Fodlan and if I go back to Almyra we just might bring that dawn I've been reaching for." Claude said.

"You're being generously forthcoming Claude, no teasing or playing around." Byleth said with a distrusting tone.

"I had thought about it. It was a rare chance, but Teach please get some rest. You were always one for running yourself ragged and trying to do everything yourself. I don't want to cause you more stress, even if it means it won't be many moons until I might get the chance to tease the both of you. It would have been fun. I think I finally have some bait I can fish him with."

"Claude, please don't poke the lion. Come here, I imagine that you can't stay long. I've got a map here with my papers. Let's get a plan underway and send you back before anyone has any suspicions." She said, standing up.

"Hilda's covering for me. I've got a few hours, but you are right. Also it is good to see you Dimitri. When we had heard the reports about the execution, we had hope it wasn't true because there was no body, but it was disturbing news all the same."

Byleth was getting the map and some papers ready. "So Claude got another thing to tell me?" she asked looking up at him with a mischievous grin.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm not sure what you mean by that."

"You said Hilda's covering for you. I imagine the two of you are getting along as well as you two have always been." She said.

The blush covering Claude's face was quickly masked when he brought up his hand to cough. "Yeah about that…. we were waiting until after the war, but what would you have any suggestions of a gift I should get her?"

Byleth thought a moment. "I'm not sure why you would ask me. Hilda and I are complete opposites, I prefer something practical that I can use or has a meaning behind it…. during the academy days she liked those stuffed bears and the hair accessories. Is there something unique to Almyra that she would think is pretty?"

Claude winked at Dimitri. "Yeah, I think that would be perfect."

Dimitri smirked. He already had a gift in the works and while he was grateful that Claude had given him confirmation that it would be something that she'd like he hadn't really needed it. When Claude was not irritating, he was courteous and considerate. He looked to Byleth, noticing the same thing Claude had, she looked exhausted and she had not been that way before they had come into the room. How much of a toll did that power take on her body when she used it? She didn't act like it, though, as she and Claude got into a discussion over the next course of action to take she got more and more animated. With the unrest in the alliance, they would need to take the bridge before they headed north to Faerghus. Claude was hopeful that they might be able to avoid a battle a Gronder, but he said that he would create a contingency plan just in case.

"So I guess that has to be the course of action required. What is your thoughts Dimitri? I didn't mean to leave you out of it." Byleth asked.

"I've turned my back on Faerghus for long enough already, but if we cannot achieve victory without this step, then there would be no point."

Byleth came over and put her hand over his. "I know."

"Teach is right, we need to keep the empire from coming north as you squash them out of your territory." Claude said.

Gilbert knocked on the door, opened it, and stepped into the room. "My apologizes, I didn't realize…."

Claude put a finger over his lips. "Ignore what you see. I'm not here."

Gilbert nodded. "Understood. Should I go get Felix? We received word from Rodrigue."

"No, we can let him read it after. Close the door I don't want any chance of spies." Byleth said.

"Awe Teach, thank you for the vote of confidence." Claude said, leaning on the table and smiling at her.

Gilbert handed it to Dimitri and he ignored Claude when he saw Byleth roll her eyes at him. Nothing about the wording had changed Dimitri noticed. "He wants to meet in Ailell."

Claude nodded. "That's a pretty good place for a secret meeting for reinforcements. Until I get the alliance knitted together under one group I'm sorry but I can't spare any troops. The Almyrans won't follow anyone else but me. Judith might consider it, but I need her strength so the alliance doesn't fall to House Glouster and the others that are loyal to the Empire."

Byleth nodded. "That's fine, as long as we can count on your support once the kingdom is back under our control to become a unified front against the Empire then that alone will be enough. We would ask one other thing. Once we are ready with our reinforcements, can you distract the loyalists so we can reach the bridge at full force? I imagine the Empire is keeping a large amount of troops inside that fortress and has placed a powerful general in command there."

"Yeah, I think I can manage that." Claude responded. "Hey teach, when this war is over, do you think you could honor me with some Almyran pine needle brew and a chess game?"

Byleth gave him a warm smile. "We never did finish that last game that would have been the tiebreaker, did we?"

Claude nodded. "Yeah and you haven't been around to challenge again. Where were you all this time anyway?"

Byleth took a deep breath. "Dead, more or less. I was buried under the rubble here by the monastery. I was... in a coma until Dimitri found me."

"How is that possible Teach? All that time without food or water, no one could survive like that." Claude asked.

"Do you remember Sitri, my mother you saw in Abyss? I'm the same as her, my body wasn't functioning as it should, but my body stayed intact until Dimitri revived me. All it took was contact with the sword of the creator, and it was the sword's power that brought me back."

"But it has no crest….stone….Teach, unless….. you have it don't you?" Claude asked, giving her a puzzled look.

"Yes, the crest stone acts as my heart. That's why I have a connection with the sword." Byleth answered.

"I had thought of it as a possibility, but to think I was right. Why tell us this now?" Claude asked.

"Because I need your help in another matter Claude. There's a group that wants this crest stone, and they will have no hesitation killing me to get it. They already killed my father and I think they are pulling Eldegard's strings." Byleth said.

"Those that Slither….. Hubert mentioned them to me once. Kronya, Solen, and Thomas were part of that, right?" Claude said.

Byleth nodded. "Yes. We think that Cornelia in the kingdom is one as well. We know the name of one, Thales, but not who his identity is. I've also had dealings with one other when I was on a mission with the Ashen wolves. His name was Myson if I remember correctly. That's all I know about them for the moment."

"I'll get my spies to start sniffing around for you. In return when you rescue Rhea I'd like to ask her a few questions." Claude said.

Byleth nodded. "I figured as much. Permission granted. I have a few questions from her for myself."

A frantic knock on the door sounded before a panting Dorthea came inside. She tried to speak, but her breathing wouldn't allow it for a few moments. "Professor, it's Petra….. Caspar…. Entrance hall…. Quickly….."

The alarm in Byleth's eyes was tangible as she rushed to get out of the room. The chair screeched in protest as Dimitri stood to follow her with Claude close behind.