The commotion from the Flame Emperor is going to have everyone riled up until morning. Which means classes will more than likely be canceled until Garreg Mach has been properly secured. In the courtyard where the classrooms are, Hanneman, Byleth and Manuela are dividing the students up by their house and doing headcounts. Groups of five are dismissed and escorted back to their dorm rooms by the knights.

I place my thumb on the guard of my sword and hold it in place as I walk by the golden deer house. Akumu tries to kick itself out the moment I come within range of Marianne. Red mist still spews out of the tiny gap between the guard and sheathe. Akumu must really hate Marianne, because it has never misbehaved this much. I don't know why though.

Marianne is quiet and kind. A little bit on the depressing side and socially awkward at times, but I think that mainly stems out of the stage of life she's at as well as her own insecurities as a person. Something everyone struggles with.

Hanneman is counting the students from Adrestia. The only people I don't see are Edelgard and Hubert, but everyone else from the black eagle house is here. Charley tries to stick close, but he ends up getting lost in the group. It's alright though. He'll catch up.

Hanneman gathers about five people and dismisses them. I press forward and assimilate in the next group. Hanneman points at each person and counts off, "one, two, three, fou..." He catches himself halfway through the four and points back at me, "You don't count. Three, four, five."

The group leaves, and I stand right beside Hanneman, "How have you been old man?"

"I'd rather be in bed, but I'm here." He replies.

"Have you seen Edelgard?"

"No."

"What about Hubert?"

"Him either. They were probably the smart ones and stayed in their rooms when this Flame Emperor made his appearance." Hanneman says as he counts five more students. Charley finally works his way up to the front row and presses through the group.

"You get lost?" Hanneman asks.

"Following Artorias through a crowd is no easy task." Charley answers.

"He does tend to disappear when given the slightest opportunity." Hanneman teases.

"It's what I do best." I say.

Charley follows after me as we head to the dormitory stairs. "Do you think she's even awake?" He asks.

"With the students slamming their doors and knights shouting orders, it'd be almost impossible to stay asleep." I reply as I knock on Edelgard's door.

"Who is it?"

"Artorias. I am here to deliver a message to the Empress of Adrestia."

"Alright. Give me a moment."

Her wooden closet door closes. She must be putting her robe on over the night gown. The bedroom door scrapes against the floor as she peeks in between the crack. Charley makes sure his armor is straight and that he looks somewhat presentable.

"Come in. Come in. Have a seat anywhere." Edelgard says as she opens the door and welcomes us with an outstretched hand.

Charley looks in the opposite direction and tries to avoid staring at Edelgard. Even though she's wearing the appropriate clothing underneath her red robe, Charley is still a young man with a wondering mind.

"Eye contact only. Eye contact only." Charley whispers to himself as he inhales and takes a seat beside me.

Edelgard sits down across from us and picks up a bread knife. She cuts a couple pieces off a half loaf of sprout grain bread and carefully places them on some clean plates leftover from dinner. Charley reaches out in joy, but he catches himself. He looks at me as I stare into his soul with a stern gaze.

"Thank you Empress Edelgard." Charley says as he places his hands together and bows.

"No need to be formal, and help yourself to the blue berries and honey." She says with a smile.

Charley grabs his piece of bread and douses it with honey. He sinks his teeth into the outer crust and breaks off a huge chunk as honey drips down his chin. The mere sight of Charley causes Edelgard to laugh. Even though it's somewhat humiliating, I can't help but smile.

Artorias?"

I wave my hand and politely decline, "no thank you Edelgard."

"Very well. So how can I help you?"

"I don't know if you heard, but that Flayn girl was kidnapped."

"I did hear about that. Some people said they also found a missing student named Monica." Edelgard replies.

"For a while, Hanneman was unable to do any research. Now that the looming threat of the death knight and his accomplice is gone, Hanneman should be able to get back on track."

"How's that going?"

"Hanneman would be further a long, but with what's happened here the last couple months, his progress has been stalled."

"Curses." Edelgard says under her breath. "Does he have any idea how much longer it will take?"

"Hanneman is working on several projects that involve the wielder's ability to use mana, but we haven't tested them yet. So we could have some results in the next couple days." I answer.

"Excellent." Edelgard sighs in relief.

Her reaction tells me that this is the first bit of good news she has heard in a while. As ambitious as Edelgard is, it's difficult to tell her to be patient. Ever since that day she told me about the dream she had for Fodlan's future, I told her I'd help achieve that goal as long as our mission against the church was void of any bloodshed.

As much as Rhea and Seteth despise me, killing the very people who gave me a home would be dishonorable. If anything, I'd rather see them, and the nobles stripped of their titles and forced to live on equal terms just like the commoners have for the last several centuries.

A country where titles are achieved by merit and hard work rather than birthrights. For so long, it only seemed like some dream Edelgard rambled on about while drunk. Almost three years have passed since that conversation by the fishing pond, and now, we are closer than ever before.

Edelard picks up the plate with the bread and offers it to me again, "Are you sure you aren't hungry? I heard you got into a pretty nasty fight underneath the bridge."

"I am fine. Seteth made me drink some wine, and that stuff tends to numb my sense of taste."

"Very well then. Charley?"

He raises his hand and shake his head yes, "I'll take his cut...That's if it's okay with you and Edelgard…"

"Only if you finish it." I state.

"Yes!" Charley lets out a soft cheer.

Edelgard hands him my piece of bread. He takes the knife, splits the loaf in half and fills it with honey and blueberries.

"I'm guessing the leftovers from the church isn't ever enough?" Edelgard asks.

"Well…it gets me and Artorias by, but it's taught me that food like this is only great if it's enjoyed occasionally." Charley replies.

Charley's response sparks an interest in Edelgard. Something within her mind has clicked. She sits up straight and insinuates that she wants to talk. I nudge Charley with my elbow, and he looks at me. I motion that he has Edelgard's attention. He quickly swallows, puts his fruit sandwich down and wipes his mouth with one of the cloth napkins on the table.

"Humble I see. I like that. What else has Artorias taught you?"

"Well. Artorias is not only teaching me how to fight, but he's teaching me how his ideals formed a code different from Fodlan's." Charley says.

"So you're learning more than just how to swing a weapon?"

"Yes. Artorias said he was going to do everything he could to make me into a man Garreg Mach would envy and respect." He answers Edelgard.

"What do you mean by that?" She asks.

"Charley will have the ability, and the mind to stop wars if need be." I reply.

Edelgard sits back in her chair and thinks while Charley resumes eating his sandwich. Up to this point, I've only taught him about honor, and how it is only achieved by strength that's tempered by humility, and fortified with kindness. However, if Charley is to have the strength, and the wisdom to end fights before they begin, then I must resort to teaching him what Fodlan looks down upon.

"Edelgard, I know this is sudden, but I was wondering if you would let Charley fight alongside your house next month." I say.

"Of course. I'll accept him as our honorary guest, but you'll still be responsible for his training." Edelgard replies.

"Thank you."

Charley throws his arms up into the air, "yay! I'm a temporary student of Garreg Mach!"

His sudden outburst causes Edelgard to laugh again. It's nice to know Charley feels like he belongs somewhere now. Yet, I still get to participate in his upbringing. Now that it has time to set in, the idea of seeing him follow someone like Katherine drives me crazy.

"What do you specialize in?" Edelgard asks.

"Well, I am anti-armor, and I'm good with a sling."

"How good?"

"I can hit a moving target about fifty paces away. Hammer skills? I wouldn't say beginner tier, but I'm not a war master. At least, not yet."

"Good. When the Eagle and Lion battle takes place, I am going to task you with protecting my healer Linhardt, and the archer, Bernadette."

"I will give everything I have to ensure they make it to the end." Charley states.

I stand up and notion that Charley and I need to get going, "Edelgard. May we be excused?"

"You are dismissed."

We wave her goodbye and head back downstairs. I reach into my side satchel and feel around for my rolling papers. My hand brushes over the leather spine of something big. Oh yeah, I forgot about the book.

"Where did you get that?" Charley asks as I pull it out and open it up.

"I found it."

The weight of the pages feel heavy compared to other books. Not only that, they have a strange, leathery and yellow texture to them. The writing is part of the Fodlan alphabet, but the ink is a blotchy red in some parts, and meadow green in the others. Charley and I sit down on a nearby bench and hold it next to the torch light.

The current page has some very strange looking symbols. They're circles someone would use to cast magic, but for some reason, they have a much more sinister look. I flip the page. Sketches and drawings of men decapitating wyverns and using their bones and hearts to make weapons decorate the page. Some are filling goblets with dripping blood and drinking it. The next page over are people developing crests and using relics to slay entire villages of people.

"Artorias?"

"Yeah?"

"What in Serios' holy name did you find?" Charley asks as he points to the picture of an eviscerated wyvern being put out on display for a cheerful crowd.

I turn the page, "I have no idea."

"Sweet Sothis…" Charley states as he points to the cheerful crowd bathing and playing in the wyvern's body.

"Whoever wrote this book sure didn't spare any of the gory details." I reply as I flip to the first page and try to find the author of this demented book.

The only thing I can find that somewhat resembles a name or alias is CEK. No wonder Rhea and Seteth freak out over literature like this. I've seen some pretty messed up stuff on my travels throughout Fodlan, but this CEK character really takes the bread and marmalade.

Just holding this on the monastery ground makes me feel like I'm going to burst into flames, but for some reason, it intrigues me. People are told that relics and crests were rewards given to the faithful. Yet, this book contradicts everything Rhea has been preaching. Something about slaughtering a wyvern, playing with its organs and drinking blood doesn't really sound like a blessing to me, and I don't even consider myself a religious person. Whoever these people are, they are absolute lunatics.

"Hey Artorias, look! It's a caption about the Tailtean Plains!" Charley points to a picture of a huge wyvern;

Since the death of Nemesis, our people have nearly been wiped out as a result. If only they would have sent me and his elites to the frontline, then we would have secured our rightful place as the lords of this world.

It wouldn't have been an easy task, but with Nemesis' swordsmanship, the skills from his ten elite soldiers, and my knowledge of crests and blood arcane, the immaculate one herself would have been begging for a quick death that day at the Tailtean plains. However, when the time comes, and come it shall, the immaculate one and her saints will fulfill their true purpose for this world, and that's as weapons for my collection.

"Oh boy…This CEK guy sounds like a real bastard." Charley says.

"He certainly does." I reply as I focus on the words 'blood arcane.'

Not very many people know how to utilize blood arcane. Nor do they attempt it because of how dangerous it is. Even though my skills in black magic would be considered master class, I rarely resort to using blood arcane unless the situation desperately calls for it.

Spells can be infused with the user's blood to greatly increase the efficiency of the magic. Depending on what spell, and how much blood is used determines the overall power and quality of the cast. Which is why I worry about Honora when she casts her healing spells.

If too much is used, or the caster isn't powerful enough, then it can potentially kill them if they can't stop or control their output. The fact that CEK feels confident enough on taking down the immaculate one, and the saints by his own ability in blood arcane must mean there is something in here I can learn.

Charley places his hand on my shoulder and acts like he's patting me out of friendship. I close the book and put it back in my side satchel. Someone is approaching us from the side.

"How are you Professor?" Charley asks.

"I am fine. What are you two doing out so late?" Byleth asks.

"We were having a discussion about what happened earlier, and that I'm not angry at him." I answer.

"What were you reading?"

"Oh, just some journal entries from my childhood."

"I see. Is everything good now?"

"Of course. Please, have a seat." I say.

Byleth sits down beside me, "How's your arm?"

"It's fine."

"Good."

"I was talking with Edelgard when you, Hanneman and Manuela were doing headcounts. She said something about someone else being with Flayn." I say.

"Yes. I don't know her name, but we found them both behind a secret passage in that dorm room."

"Were either of them hurt?"

"No visible signs of abuse. However, there was a little stab wound on Flayn's arm, but she didn't seem bothered by it when she woke up."

"Well now that Flayn is safe, what's the next step?" I ask.

"Rhea and Seteth have agreed to put Flayn in my class. Rhea thinks she will be safe there."

"I'm guessing Seteth was hard headed about it?" I ask.

"You have no idea, but he finally agreed when Rhea said her decision was final."

Byleth lets out a sigh and looks up at the sky, "What is that man's problem? I've never done anything wrong, and yet, it feels like he's always looking for my faults."

"Don't take it too hard. People could simply exist and Seteth would have a problem with it." I state.

"I bet you of all people would know about that."

"Everyday. Yet for some reason, it feels like Seteth's distrust towards everyone stems out of a past event, and I can't say I blame him. People can't be trusted these days. No matter how honorable they appear." I state.

"What makes you say that?"

"Take that suspected scribe. If Skullface was able to kidnap Flayn and hide her in a secret passage only Rhea and Seteth should know about, then that means the scribe would have had to have been giving information to Skullface for a long time. Patrol routes, hidden passages, areas best for an ambush. Stuff like that."

"It's easier to destroy something from within than fighting from the outside."

"You're absolutely right Charley." I say. "It takes a shadow to kill a shadow. That's why Rhea wants me to hunt them down because I understand how these methods work."

"Is that why she looks down on you?" Byleth asks.

"I don't know. Maybe. Even before we properly met, I could tell by her smirky glare that she hated me. Same goes for Seteth. Anyway, enough about that. What's the plan now?"

We are proceeding to next month's event. The battle of the Eagle and Lion. Are you going to participate?" Byleth says.

"No, but Charley is going to enter with the Black Eagles so I can evaluate him. What about you?"

"I don't think professors can enter, so it will more than likely be a battle between who the better house leader is. Why? Who were you going to route for?"

"Personally, I am not routing for a particular house, but a particular student. He could be the last one standing, or the first one out. Regardless of the outcome, I'll be cheering for him the whole time. Do you have any idea who this student could be?" I tease as I look at Charley.

"It wouldn't be Felix, would it?" He pokes back.

"Well if that's the case, I really need to rethink my priorities." I answer.

"Well, if it is me you are talking about, then I guess I have no choice but to give it my all." Charley says with a smug smile…

End of the Horsebow Moon Arc…