'They are coming here? Down here...' Hapi... wasn't happy.

'Look...' Yuri was lounged back in an overstuffed chair, his feet dangling nonchalantly over its arm. 'We agreed that something needed to be done about these idiots that keep breaking in, and with Aelfric not about, I had no option but to reach out to the Archbishop.'

'I still think we could have managed on our own, we have done so far.' Balthus flexed his impressive muscles and grinned at his companions. 'You have the mighty king of grappling on your side... the bane of bandits... how could we possibly lose?'

'Alright, I wasn't expecting the manner in which Rhea has reacted exactly.' Yuri waved an impatient hand at Balthus' posturing. 'I'd actually figured that she'd most likely get someone to do an external sweep... maybe sniff around and see if any kind of bandit camp could be located and exterminated. Not that she'd want to examine the issue from inside.'

'Actually locating a camp and dealing with it would be the sensible thing to do.' Hapi sniffed. 'Since when have the topside people ever been sensible though. I told you that we should have waited for Alefric's return.'

'We don't know when he will be back, though, Hapi.' Constance said pointedly. 'I certainly don't want to continue with facing these bandits on a daily basis. It's so tiring, not to mention boring.'

'How long do you seriously believe we can continue containing them even?' Yuri asked quietly. 'We all have noted that they are coming in ever greater numbers, and we still have no idea where they're getting in or why they're bothering.'

'Dealing with them has fallen mainly on the four of us.' Hapi shook her head. 'It can only be a matter of time before we become overwhelmed. C'mon though, Yuri, you have got to admit... sending stranger's down here under the guise of aid only strengthens our suspicion that the Church wants the Abyss gone and these bandit attacks are simply a ploy to achieve that.'

Yuri's eyes narrowed. 'What is your thinking?' He asked mildly.

'That these people are being sent here to snoop.' Constance replied, adding her own agreement to Hapi's assessment. 'They will be figuring out our weaknesses, so the information can be fed to the bandits, and we can be eliminated. Why else would they send so many people down here in the first place? Why send any at all...'

'If I were the suspicious sort, I might consider that the bandits have started appearing right now - just so that we had to request aid.' Balthus mused.

'Exactly!' Hapi nodded. 'We know Aelfric wouldn't let anything happen to the people down here, but as soon as he left, the attacks began. The timing stinks.'

'Maybe I agree.' Yuri shrugged. 'Rhea was pretty tight-lipped about who she is sending tomorrow - aside from the fact that it was a whole bunch of students from the Academy. Said that we should deal mainly with the older chap, an ex-mercenary with experience in dealing with this kinda scenario.'

'No need for a bloody party full of people, let alone kids.' Balthus paused for a second. 'Actually... why kids?' He suddenly looked confused

'So, after I spoke to Rhea, I did a tiny bit of independent digging and hit up a few people I've dealt with before topside.' Yuri smirked, anticipating the reaction that his findings were going to garner from the others. 'It seems that our soon to be guests are none other than the student royalty!'

'You have got to be kidding me!' Constance had shot to her feet, looking appalled.

'Why would I kid you?' Yuri smirked. 'Word is that we are going to be graced by Her Highness, Princess Edelgard von Hresveig, heir apparent to the Emperor of Adrestian Empire, Prince Dimitri Blaiddyd, Crown Prince of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus, and Claude von Riegan, grandson and heir of the current Duke von Riegan, leader of the Leicester Alliance. And their assorted bodyguards naturally.'

'Well, bloody hell. That puts a different slant on stuff.' Balthus admitted, his brow knitting. 'The three future leaders down here? Isn't that... kind of a risk? All of them together traipsing into the unknown. To them, I mean...'

'Aelfric told me that the current heads of state all know of this place... that they can petition the Church to take on people that need to disappear for a while.' Yuri replied. 'I can only assume that these baby-royals would have been told about us at some stage, although exactly why Rhea has decided to send them down here... and why now... you'd have to ask her.'

'Stupid, stupid, stupid.' Constance groaned. 'There is no point. It's all just madness.'

'Don't think I can't see that smug look on your face, Yuri.' Hapi said suddenly. 'You have something else to reveal, don't you? Why does it always have to be such drama with you?'

'What's life without a bit of excitement?' Yuri winked back wickedly.

'Spit it out then.' Balthus grinned.

'That so-called mercenary that's coming?... No, wait – that's unfair, it is true... he was a mercenary at some stage...' Yuri's delicately coloured lips pursed in something akin to amusement. 'Right now, though, he is currently fulfilling the role of Captain of the Knight's of Seiros...'

There was a deathly silence.

'... Oh, and his daughter will be coming along too. That's the one that got made a Professor for one of the Houses... I hear she is kinda cute...'

'I don't like this.' Hapi murmured, rocking herself back and forwards anxiously. 'I don't get it... and I don't like it. It's wrong!'

'It's all odd, no denying that.' Balthus was finally frowning. 'There's a lot of folk down here that would be pretty unhappy with a Knight nosing around, let alone the bloody Captain of them.'

'To give him his due, the people I've spoken to have nothing bad to say about Sir Jeralt at all.' Yuri looked thoughtful. 'He's known to be fair and disciplined... but above all – and this is the real doozy – he doesn't appear to have any love for the Church. He originally deserted the position twenty years ago, and even though he's returned, it's rumored he has a deep mistrust of the Archbishop, and they have clashed a few times already.'

Constance started to laugh to herself humourlessly.

'I have to admit as well that regardless of the number of unknowns here, Rhea did seem genuinely concerned that our problem may have something to do with her own current problem with their discovered assassination plot.' Yuri sat himself up in his chair. 'I think, in her position, I would use my best assets available to check out the risk... so this may all be on the up.'

'I suppose an ex-mercenary would have good insight into bandit activity.' Balthus agreed. 'Dunno what the royal brats have to do with anything... but honestly, if this Jeralt can provide insight to our problem, then it's not gonna be time wasted.'

'Right.' Yuri agreed. 'We have a heads up at least. We haven't been given any time to plot or plan anything major – since they'll be arriving in just over twelve hours... but we don't have to make things easy for them. We can test the waters, so to speak.'

'No time to plot Yuri?' Hapi smiled just a little. 'I don't believe that of you in the slightest.'

'My reputation proceeds me; it seems!' Yuri returned her smile with a quirk of his lips that was entirely predatory.

~0~

Byleth's pre-mission restlessness saw her walking a patrol of the Monastery grounds in the very early hours of the morning, and it didn't come as a surprise when Hubert silently fell into step alongside her as she passed by the lake.

'It is a very strange thought that we may right now be walking directly over a settlement that we had no idea existed.' Hubert remarked quietly in lieu of a greeting.

'I'm surprised that you knew nothing about the Abyss.' Byleth admitted. 'I'd have thought it was just the sort of thing you would have already sniffed out.'

'I know.' Hubert didn't sound particularly happy about the fact. 'I can't understand how such a significant secret managed to elude my research. The fact that Edelgard's father must be aware of it rankles too. It's like I missed two different sources of information altogether.'

'Are you okay about the visit tomorrow?' Byleth asked curiously.

'Are you?' Hubert turned the inquiry back to her, although not aggressively.

Byleth shrugged helplessly.

'I think we feel much the same way.' Hubert chuckled at her reaction. 'Obviously, I have a worry over Edelgard's safety as I would with anything out of the ordinary – however, it is hard not to be reassured by the fact that both Jeralt and yourself will be protecting us.'

'Was that a compliment, Hubert?' Byleth's look was amused.

'I might be a total arsehole, but I'm not stupid...' Hubert nudged her shoulder. 'If seeing the pair of you fighting each other is any indication, I can only imagine the devastation you could cause fighting together.'

'You are no slouch when it comes to a rumble, either.' Byleth nudged him back.

'Look at us being nice to each other...' Hubert said wryly. 'I even heard from Jeralt last night that you speak highly of me to him. Well, colour me surprised...'

'Really?' Byleth stopped and took him properly by the arm, her look suddenly sincere. 'How many times have I told you now that I understand you better than just about anyone else here?' She inquired.

'A few...' He admitted.

'Well, I mean it.' She said firmly. 'I meant it when I said I've missed you too.' She added. 'I have been counting on your sneaking to keep me on my toes and prevent complete procrastination from setting it. It's way too easy to relax my guard with a roof over my head and all the security in this place.'

'Are you actually saying you like being spied on and followed? I suppose you enjoy the death-threats too!' Hubert sounded deeply amused.

'I really enjoyed that time you tried to catch me out while sleeping!' Byleth grinned. 'It's good practice for both of us.' She explained genuinely.

'That is true.' Hubert nodded. 'You really are the oddest creature Professor.'

'I also find that when we talk... I can admit my concerns to you.' Byleth said much quieter now. 'Most of the students look at me to be unmovable and to have all the answers when shit happens, and as their mentor – that's how I feel I have to appear. You have never needed that kind of reassurance from me.'

'No, I find it's far more refreshing to have your honest opinion, I've usually come to the same conclusions myself anyway.' Hubert agreed.

'I value your input.'

'I suppose I value yours too.' Hubert sighed. 'This is an uncomfortable position for me, Byleth.'

The sudden use of her name gave her pause. She stopped and gripped his arm a bit tighter.

'What do you mean?' She asked.

'Until such a time as you swear yourself to Lady Edelgard's service, there is always a chance that I may be required to...'

'Kill me?' she supplied bluntly.

'That...' Hubert agreed. 'Or at least I need to be much less open with you in matters that I might otherwise want to share. Understanding you – creating any kind of bond in these circumstances... It's not advisable.'

'Aww.' Byleth smiled up at him. 'Does that mean you're not gonna try and seduce me anymore?'

'I am trying to be serious here...' He admonished with a raised brow.

'You don't have to be Hubert.' Byleth squeezed his arm and started walking again. 'If you have to kill me... I forgive you. You are only doing your job. If you lie to me... well – I have started to see how politics and statecraft works. It's underhand and frankly abhorrent – but it is the world through which you and Edelgard have to swim. I'll be there to support you however you let me – and what you can't share... I'm not going to judge or pry.'

'You offer the same to all of your students.' Hubert noted.

'Of course.' Byleth agreed.

'Do you think you may one day chose to dedicate yourself to a single service?' He asked. 'I know that is what Edelgard wished, and... I believe that I, too, would enjoy working alongside you.'

'I have no idea what my future might hold.' Byleth replied carefully. 'Although I agree that working with you would definitely hold an appeal. We could have a whole ton of sneaky fun!'

'Sneaky fun, is it?' Hubert chuckled. 'I have dedicated my life to working in the shadows for the sake of my lady... perfecting my skills in the arts of espionage, spycraft, assassination, and torture... and you call it ''sneaky fun''. I feel so undervalued...'

'Is it not very lonely, Hubert?' Byleth asked. 'Living in that shadow?'

'Not something that's much of a consideration.' He replied stoically. 'It's easier to do what I need to do without any people other than Edelgard to care or worry about.'

'Hmm.' They had reached Byleth's door. 'So, with that in mind, I guess a hug is out of the question then?'

'Are you trying to be irritating?' He grouched.

'Obviously...'

'And if I say no, you are going to do it anyway, aren't you?' Hubert sighed.

'Oh.. well, yes, there is a high probability.' She nodded.

He opened his arms and wrapped them around her, resting his chin on her head. 'Just as long as you know that this is a deeply unpleasant experience.' He muttered.

'I agree – it's completely awful.' She murmured happily.