It was definitely early morning rather than late-night when Byleth finally pushed open the door to her room and almost fell into the darkness within - every muscle she possessed screaming at her to get some rest.

Once she had rejoined her students following the battle below, Yuri and Jeralt had disappeared off to meet and discuss their way forward, while Byleth accompanied her charges back up to the surface.

Instead of heading straight to her rest, Byleth climbed the stairs to Seteth's office, and as she suspected, she found him still behind his desk despite the lateness of the hour. Her report to him was exceedingly brief. She knew that she looked a complete state, and his level of concern and his attempt to fuss over her drove her to beg to be allowed to retire. Seteth insisted on walking with her to her door and told her that her class would be covered later to allow her time to recuperate.

'I told the students to sleep in.' She murmured. 'They gave an outstanding performance tonight, Seteth. I was proud of each and every one of them. The odd's were very much against us.'

'If I had any idea...' He began, but Byleth put a hand on his arm to stop him.

'No-one was expecting such a heavy assault. Not even the Abyssians.' She consoled him.

'All the same, you have taken injury once again on behalf of the Church.' Seteth sighed heavily. 'Before your arrival, I cannot remember a Professor ever taking the amount of damage that you already have in your short time here.'

Byleth managed a weary laugh. 'Perhaps the problem lies with me.' She suggested.

Seteth shook his head and pulled her into a very gentle hug, mindful of her pains. 'Get some sleep.' He urged softly. 'Is there anything else at all that I can do for you?'

'I'll check in with you later.' Byleth told him, turning to unlock her door.

Once in her room with her door finally shut, Byleth fumblingly moved to the table to light up her lantern.

'You're back...'

Byleth jumped in shock.

'Jeritza?' She turned slowly to find the weaponsmaster sprawled on her bed, with Colin cuddled to his chest. 'What in the hell are you doing here?'

He rose quickly and moved towards her – one hand gripping tightly onto her arm, the other rising to her cheek.

'You are hurt.' He murmured, his eyes roaming openly over her.

'I'm fine...' Byleth shoulders slumped as the tension ran from her body. Her reaction time to his unexpected appearance had been terrible. 'Most of the blood is someone else's, and Linhardt has already provided a healing.'

Jeritza grunted noncommittally, and his fingers started to work away at the buckles that held her shoulder armor in place.

'What are you doing?' She asked flatly.

He 'tsked' in annoyance. 'I am helping you off with your armor, obviously.' He grunted.

'Well, well... undressing you already... he moves fast...' Sothis commented wickedly.

Byleth was just too tired to argue. She pushed Jeritza away slightly and fell into the chair by her hearth.

'Byleth...' His voice was firm. 'Your weapon and your armor need to be cleaned up. I shouldn't have to be telling you that...'

'Why are you even here?' Byleth moaned, but she did sit forward at his silent urging and allow him to continue in his task.

'You missed your physical training session with the Eagles, which is not like you at all.' Jeritza's voice was completely emotionless. 'I tried to locate you after lessons had finished, but no one would tell me where you had gone. Eventually, I did manage to discover from Seteth that you had been sent out to assess a bandit problem.' The weaponsmaster frowned as he pulled the silver sword that he'd gifted her from its scabbard and noted that it hadn't even been wiped down.

'We found them. The bandits.' Byleth explained, colouring in embarrassment at the state of her blade. 'There were a lot more of them than we anticipated.'

'So I can see if the state of you is anything to go by...' Jeritza straightened himself and looked her over again, noting the bruising around her arms with a deep scowl. 'I will go and get water, and then I'll deal with your kit. You should change out of those clothes while I am gone. Do you need food?'

'I'm too tired to eat...' She moaned piteously

'Byleth...' His voice was a low growl.

'Food would be good.' She agreed meekly. Jeritza set her kettle on the hearth and then slipped quietly out of the door. With a hefty sigh, Byleth prised herself from her chair and moved gingerly over to her wardrobe.

'Wow, just look at you doing what you're told like a good girl...' Sothis taunted. 'Wonders will never cease.'

'If you are going to be judgemental, you can get yourself back into your corner of my mind and go to sleep.' Byleth grouched, piling up her bloody clothing and wrapping herself in a blanket while she wiped herself down at her basin.

'Actually, I'm quite glad that he's here...' Sothis admitted. 'I know you've had some healing, but that bruising from the cave-in is still hurting you like hell...'

'Yeah, I am going to be completely stiff and sore tomorrow.' Byleth agreed unhappily.

'You would have just collapsed on your bed in your full armor and with an empty stomach if you'd had your way - wouldn't you.' Sothis accused.

'Damned right I would have.' Byleth sighed.

'We need to work on you letting people help you.' Sothis demanded. 'Let him deal with your gear.' She added.

'Alright.'

'You know I really like it when you are too exhausted to argue...' Sothis said fondly.

'Don't get used to it.' Byleth grouched, pulling on her nightclothes and then sinking back into her armchair.

'I wouldn't dare!' Sothis agreed.

Jeritza returned not long after with a plate full of cold cuts and the materials he needed to see to the cleaning of Byleth's gear. He dragged the table over to where she was sat and made a pot of tea as she started to devour her plate. Once the tea was made, he seated himself on the floor by the fire and began work on her sword.

'You never really answered my question, you know.' Byleth pointed out to him around a mouthful of half-masticated meat. 'Why are you here?'

'Hmm.' Jeritza didn't look up from his task, focusing his energy on the blade instead. 'Actually, I do need to ask a favor of you too...' He admitted.

'Well, I definitely owe you one.' Byleth agreed easily.

'When I was unable to determine where exactly you had gone, I went to see Mercedes.' He began, putting her sword aside and moving into the first piece of armor, gently batting Colin away who was trying to chew at one of the leather straps.

'I doubt she knew anything...'

'No, she didn't.' Jeritza agreed, 'And she was keen to point out that you were completely competent and that I was a fool to be worried.'

'You were worried? About me?' Byleth sounded surprised. 'Really?'

Jeritza was silent for a moment, considering. 'I don't know.' He eventually replied, still not looking at her. 'I have not had any friends before, and I have no idea what to name the feeling I was experiencing.' He scowled as he scrubbed at the bloody plate. 'I can say that it was a very uncomfortable emotion, and for once, Mercedes was of no help at all.'

'Sorry...' Byleth murmured.

Jeritza shrugged awkwardly. 'I'm afraid to say that I started to feel my control slip.' He admitted quietly. 'The frustration became too much... and I began to change.'

Byleth went cold. 'Jeritza, did you hurt anyone?' She asked tersely.

'No!' He looked up at her then, his expression filled with sadness. 'I knew better than to take a weapon when I visited my sister. She did notice the change though... as it started to rise.' He grimaced. 'I left immediately. I told her I was going to hunt you down. Byleth, she waited a minute or two, and then she attempted to follow me.'

'Damn...' Byleth breathed. Jeritza nodded.

'Will you speak to her?' He asked. 'I don't think she takes the danger seriously enough... I am still her little brother in her eyes and not the monster that I have truly become. She won't listen to me, but I believe she will listen to you.'

'Yes, of course.' Byleth agreed quickly.

Jeritza looked back down at his cleaning, picking up the next piece to start on.

'So... what happened next?' Byleth prompted.

'He was amused that Mercedes was following along.' Jeritza mumbled. 'He was planning on heading back to my room to gather my weapons and then to confront her, before coming to find you.'

'Do you think you... he would have hurt Mercedes?'

'Perhaps.' Jeritza replied softly. 'Although I got the impression that he was more focused on scaring her, letting her see just exactly what I now was...'

Jeritza looked up sharply when the table scraped as it was moved aside, and Byleth was suddenly down next to him, her head resting on his shoulder supportively.

'I was just walking past your room...' Jeritza continued raggedly, '... Then Colin suddenly came bounding up to me, climbed up to my shoulder and started rubbing his face against my ear, purring and headbutting me.' He reached out to the fluffy bundle that was laid out by his foot to give him a floof. 'Suddenly it was like some of the anger had drained away, and although I wasn't fully back in control, I had enough initiative that I was able to let myself into your room with the plan to stay inside long enough that Mercedes gave up and went back to her own room.'

'I guess you really do like cats... maybe as much as you like ice cream!' Byleth noted.

'Mmm.' Jeritza agreed. 'As it was, once I was curled up with Colin, I began to regain more and more of my control. It is the first time ever that I have lost my equilibrium and then return to myself without any need for bloodshed whatsoever.'

'Such a good boy!' Byleth praised. Jeritza looked up at her askance. 'I was talking to Colin!' She chuckled at his expression.

'Right!' Jeritza smiled wanly at her. 'So anyway, I figured it was probably the safest bet just to stay here until you got back.'

'Wise.' Byleth agreed, patting his shoulder then yawning enormously.

'You need to get to bed, Byleth.' Jeritza ordered firmly. 'You are quite obviously exhausted. I am nearly done with this anyway, and then I can leave you in peace.'

'Mmm. Bed...what a lovely idea!' Byleth got to her feet a trifle unsteadily and managed the few steps across the room before literally falling onto her mattress with a huge and happy sigh. She bundled herself into her blankets and shut her eyes.

'Jeritza...' She called softly after a few minutes had passed.

'Mhmm?'

'Thanks for your help, with my armor and all.'

'You really should know better.' He noted gruffly.

'I know. Sorry.'

There was silence for a moment as Jeritza started to tidy up the mess he'd created.

'Um... Jeritza...'

'What now?'

'You really don't have to worry about me, you know. I can look out for myself quite well...'

'Tsk... your recent form begs to differ.' He grouched. 'Now shut up, please. You are supposed to be going to sleep.' He added staunchly.

'Right you are. Good night then.'

Jeritza gathered up the plates and put Byleth's bloody clothes into the pail of water he'd brought to soak.

'Jeeeerritzaaa...'

'Really, Byleth? Seriously? If you keep this up, I swear I am going to smother you with a pillow. Go. To. Sleep.'

'You realise you're kinda hot when you're acting all assertive and bossy, right?' She cracked open an eye to enjoy his reaction to her tease. Her eyes flew wider when he turned to her with a huge, boyish grin quite unlike anything she'd seen on his face before.

'Oh, really... You think so, huh?' He challenged when she was the one to blush instead. 'Well now, isn't that interesting!'

'Okay, that backfired rather.' Byleth lamented breathlessly.

'Indeed, it did.' He chuckled. 'I believe I can call that yet another win for me!' He picked up a cushion from her armchair and lobbed it at her. 'Crazy woman...' He beamed at her totally flustered expression. 'Okay then, I'm all done here, so I'll be off now. Sleep well.' He moved to the door.

'Wait right there a minute... don't I even get a kiss?' She demanded weakly.

'You'll have to save it for your dreams... you know... when you go to sleep!' He laughed as he left and shut the door quietly behind him.

'I think that's at least twice he's gotten the better of you.' Sothis noted gleefully. 'You may have met your match, girl!'

'Shut up, you.' Byleth sulked.