Cetanu glanced to the sun, it's position in the sky rather high. It had been days since Ingrid had left the class, and everyone was beginning to get a bit better. Most of their spirits had picked up, partially due to how lax Cetanu had been with their assignments and training. He found it rather hard to keep up his normally intense training when they weren't all there.

One thing that he took note of specifically, was his progeny. Ashe had been hard to control, as he had learned that the boy had fed from Sylvain as well. He wondered if there was something that was causing his insatiable hunger, and he began to think about to everything he'd learned about his people.

He remembered a conversation with his father pertaining to the blue dagger that he always wore. The artifact, which was created by a spell Cetanu learned, passed down from his Mother, was made of the soil of his birthplace supposedly. He didn't know where that was, but he knew for a fact that while he always carried around such an artifact, Ashe did not.

Perhaps that was the answer. Ashe's appetite was caused by a lack of a sentimental anchor. He knew that since they were monsters that manipulated the flesh, that all of that foul, diabolical energy would need something to stabilize it. Perhaps that artifact from one's birthplace or homeland was what stopped Cetanu from feeding as much as Ashe had.

Cetanu had only fed from Bernadetta and Asmodeus. In the weeks, or was it a whole month? He shook his head. Since he had awoken his inhuman ability and reformed himself as a creature that could emote, he had only fed twice, while Ashe had fed four times now. And to add to it, each time he'd fed from someone with a different Crest. First from Cetanu, who had the Crest of the Goddess. Then Dimitri, who had the Crest of the Grim Dragon, one of the three strongest children of the Goddess.

And now Sylvain, who had the Crest of Gautier. He had managed, through sheer force of will, to resist feeding from Bernadetta, and this made Cetanu tilt his head. Was there anything in common with his other two meals? He mused it over as he headed for Ashe's quarters. He needed to do something before Ashe hurt someone outside of the class.

As he walked, he realized the similarities between Dimitri and Sylvain. Both were Crest bearing nobles. Both specialized in the lance, both were from Faerghus, and both were handsome, confident fellows that earned recognition from their peers, despite Sylvain's attention being normally negative. Although, he noted one other thing.

Even including the man that he fed from in the Tomb, all of Ashe's meals, Cetanu himself included, were around his age, and they were also all larger males. It was as if his inner Beast was much like an Oghma Wolverine. A creature that lashed out defiantly against much larger predators.

Cetanu hesitated. He realized, almost unsettlingly, that he had completely forgotten about Ignatz. He was a larger male as well, but unlike Cetanu, Dimitri and Sylvain, Ignatz lacked outward confidence and a Crest, and wielded a bow. He grit his teeth.

Cetanu realized that he finally understood the Beast within his progeny, and he'd have to take steps to get him to understand it better himself. Every single person that Ashe fed from was male, taller than him, and within five or so years of age of him. He could tell that his visualization of an Oghma Wolverine was accurate. And it was an odd contrast to himself.

Cetanu's monstrous instinct, that he called his 'Inner Fiend', was much easier to control and far more picky. Infact, everyone Cetanu fed from had the Crest of one of the Four Saints, meaning that should he come across the Crests of Cethleann and Cichol, he might have cause to worry about his own monstrous instinct.

He knocked on his student's door, hearing a muffled approval of entry. When he did enter the room, he found himself raising a brow. Ashe sat on his bed, wearing nothing on his upper half, and Cetanu could see him crafting various markings. Into his own skin.

"Practicing?" he asked, and Ashe looked to Cetanu, and he could see the torture within those green orbs. He sat at the small desk and looked to his progeny. "Why am I doing this?" he asked, and the teacher had no choice but to attempt to enlighten his student.

"The self scarification is part of your Fleshcrafter identity. With the materials I've obtained from Edelgard, I learned that we may subconsciously alter our bodies to our subconscious view of 'perfection'. You can do away with it when you have a better mindset, of course." he mused, shaking his head.

"Regardless, I have more important matters to speak with you on. I think you should go to Rhea and demand Lonato's land and manor." he said, and Ashe blinked, his marked skin immediately returning to normal. "Why… why would I do that?" he asked, and Cetanu looked to him.

"Firstly, it's your right. Particularly because you defeated Lonato in single combat. Secondly, it will help throw Edelgard off. And finally, you'll be able to travel to the manor and see your siblings. I think I've figured out the reason you've been feeding so much, and I think Castle Gaspard might hold the key."

The duo stood in front of the Audience Chamber, and Ashe looked back to Cetanu. "Are you sure this will work?" he asked, and Cetanu nodded. "Of course. I will remain in the background to help you. Worry not, Lord Ashe." he said with a smile, teasing his student as they entered the chamber.

When they entered, Cetanu stood off to the side against a pillar, watching Ashe as he walked up to the Archbishop and her Adviser, who were interrupted mid-conversation. "To what do we owe the pleasure?" Seteth asked. Ashe inhaled.

He leveled his most confident, stern gaze on the two green haired leaders. "I want Gaspard Territory. I know you have control of it right now, and I want it back." he said, and they both faltered, shocked looks crossing over their faces.

"With all due respect, because you were adopted, the land is not yours to claim, and even if you did have a claim, you are far too young to rule even a village much less the whole of Gaspard territory." Seteth said, and Ashe nodded.

He was incredibly nervous right now, but if he could cure himself of this ravenous feeding frenzy, he'd try whatever Cetanu suggested. "Ancient Faerghus tradition states that if a son, or a rival, defeats the Lord in single combat, they take his lands." he said, and Seteth narrowed his eyes.

"Are you expecting us to believe that you defeated Lord Lonato, an experienced, fully armored Paladin, in single combat?" he asked, and Ashe nodded. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't think it was the right thing to do. I killed Lonato, and I have to fix the land, and help the people he left behind." he said.

Rhea smiled. "While I do commend your determination and resolve, is there any proof that you managed to defeat Lonato in single combat?" she asked, and Ashe nodded. He gestured to Cetanu, who also nodded his head. "I saw it myself. Kicked the old man in the chin hard enough to rattle his brain and snap his brain stem. Lonato was dead before he hit the ground." Cetanu said.

Seteth grit his teeth. With there being a witness with detailed description, they couldn't really refuse. He looked to Ashe, who dropped to one knee and bowed his head. "I promise that I will remain loyal to the Church. I just wish to take over that which Lonato left behind and help my people live in peace. These are the soldiers and townsfolk that made me what I am today." he said, and Rhea hummed, as if pondering it.

When Ashe rose back to his feet, he leveled that gaze on them again. "I also wish to rename the House. Since House Gaspard was disgraced by my father's actions, and I am from a different bloodline." he said, and rhea narrowed her eyes. "What would you change it to?" she inquired.

"House Formorian. I would also like to request that much like the Lord of House Vestra is called the 'Marquis', and the Lord of House Gautier is called the 'Margrave', that the Lord of House Formorian is called the 'Balor'." he said, and Rhea narrowed her eyes. "Why that name specifically?" she asked, and Ashe inhaled.

Cetanu watched Ashe shrug, and it was an odd motion, likely something he picked up feeding from Sylvain, the older demon noticing that they picked up traits from whoever they fed from. For Cetanu, this was much less severe, since he had been able to remain celibate despite feeding from a man like Asmodeus.

"I read it in a fairy tale once. It told the tale about A king who ruled with his own power. Since my house lacks a Crest, I figured a strong name would hopefully garner me some notice." he said, almost jokingly. Cetanu found the traits he picked up from Sylvain rather amusing, and wondered how long they'd last.

Seteth frowned. "Say we do grant this ridiculous request. What would you do about Gaspard territory until you are old enough, and worthy of ascending to the throne of the land?" he asked, and Ashe looked to him. "I had a lot of time to think about that, and I came to a conclusion." he said.

"I would place someone there in my stead, as a temporary Lord until I feel ready to accept the position. Me, the man of my choosing, and my mentor, Professor Cetanu, would travel to Castle Gaspard and get things in order before returning in time for the next moon's mission. Is that acceptable?" he asked, and Rhea narrowed her eyes.

She cast her glance beyond him, to where the Professor in question stood watching, looking rather amused. Something was odd about this whole situation, and the Archbishop decided that she'd need to eventually get some kind of information out of the blue haired mercenary. "This request seems feasible. As long as you have pledged your loyalty to us, and maintain peace in your land, I see no reason to refuse." she said.

"You did pretty good." Cetanu said, and Ashe exhaled loudly, as if he just got a huge weight off of his shoulders. "I was so nervous. How do you talk to them without getting so flustered?" he asked, and Cetanu shrugged. "It's simple really. I put up with it until the day comes when I can finally cross blades with Rhea. Seteth as well, but moreso the Archbishop." he mused, the duo coming upon the Dining Hall, seeing an odd sight.

On one end of the room was the Black Eagles and Ingrid, sitting and enjoying a meal together, but on the other side of the room were the Blue Lions with Bernadetta. Over the past couple of days, since revealing that both of them had been bitten, the Prince and his small purple archer had grown closer. Cetanu found himself smiling.

He noticed that the eyes in the Dining Hall passed to him and Ashe, most people still curious how the mysterious professor was able to regrow an arm. They watched the duo walk over to a table near the Blue Lions, where the feared 'Sins' of Jeralt's Mercenaries sat in a group.

"I need a couple of favors." Cetanu asked, and his brothers looked to him, rather surprised. He didn't often ask them for anything in any fashion. "What is it, Tanu?" Asmodeus asked, finding it more interesting than anyone.

"I just got a… mission, of sorts, from Rhea, and I need you guys to make sure that my students keep up on their training and academic learning. Would you mind going back to your old job, Abaddon?" he asked, and the emerald eyed archer shook his head.

"It's fine. We all get along now anyway. Most of your brats would make fine mercs, Cetanu. I'm glad to see that you finally found people to be yourself around." he said, and Cetanu bowed his head respectfully.

He looked to Samyaza, who seemed, as normal, completely out of it, and not interested in the slightest. "Samyaza, would you mind accompanying us on our mission? I'd need you to gather all of your Wyvern Riders and their supplies. It's gonna be a long trip." he said, and the Lord of Sloth sighed.

"Where to?" he asked, rising from his seat, scratching the back of his head as he chanced a glance across the room at Hubert, who he wasn't the biggest fan of. Cetanu chuckled. "Gaspard territory. Me, you and Ashe are heading their to clean the Castle and such up." he said, and the Wyvern Lord sighed, shaking his head as he followed the black garbed mercenary as he walked over to the table of his students, who were listening to the conversation.

He noticed that Sylvain and Bernadetta were slightly nervous at the sight of him and Ashe. He offered them a soft smile, glancing to his progeny before back to the rest of his students. "We'll be back. Behave for Abaddon, and make sure to keep up on your training, alright?" he asked, and he received a few nods.

He looked to Sylvain specifically. "And Sylvain, you might want to talk to Dimitri and Bernadetta about that little… nightmare you had. They can relate." he said, smiling as he slapped the table before walking away. Ashe looked to his sire.

"Bernadetta, Professor?" he asked, and Cetanu nodded as the three walked the halls of Garreg Mach. "You see, unlike you, the voice in our heads, the evil monster that has you oddly seducing and feeding at an alarming rate, mine is much pickier and calmer." he said, and Ashe realized that Cetanu did have a point.

In the last week or so, he'd fed almost three times as much as Cetanu had. "You see, there are plenty of similarities between everyone you've fed from. They all have two or three syllables in their first and or last names, totaling four or five. All are taller than you, around your age, male, good looking if I may flatter myself." he said jokingly.

"However, the only thing the people I've fed from, Asmodeus and Bernadetta, have in common is that they have the Crests of the Four Saints. So while your 'Inner Fiend' is like an Oghma Wolverine, a beast that lashes out against larger animals to prove itself, mine is more like a purveyor of exquisite spirits. Calm, calculating, and picky." he said.

Ashe got one thing from this. He should have tried speaking to his Professor sooner, because the older demon had been able to discern multiple things about the monstrous voice within him without much difficulty, while Ashe struggled with the fear of lashing out at everyone.

What Samyaza got from this was that Cetanu had either lost his mind, comparing the monstrous, blood drinking instinct he had to a wine taster. Or, he was very thorough, thinking up the fact that their… 'meals' had similar numbers of syllables in their names, something that rung true for even Cetanu's choices of sustenance.

"How long with it take before we get back?" he asked, and Cetanu shrugged, looking to his almost serpentine brother. "We should be able to arrive and leave and get back here within two weeks hopefully. Although… you won't be coming back." he said, and Samyaza narrowed his eyes.

"What the fuck does that mean?" he asked, and Cetanu looked to his brother, the trio coming up on the quarters for the Knights of Seiros, for Samyaza to gather his belongings and his men.

"You see, Ashe wanted his lands, but he needed a… guardian until he was rightfully able and mentally willing to take over." he said, and Samyaza narrowed his eyes before blinking. His jaw began to go slack. "You gotta be fucking kidding me." he said, and Cetanu found himself chuckling.

"Not at all. For the next year or so, you'll be Balor Samyaza Crowley, acting Lord of House Formorian."