Alright! It's time to answer the first question we have received!
Linhardt: This better be interesting enough, or else I'll go back to sleep.
Please don't. Anyways, let's do this!
Sylvain: Ok, first one here is from Metal Vile on , whatever that is. We've got a big one right away!
Junko: What is it?
Linhardt: Pairings for the girls, huh?
Junko: Well, I don't think any of us are thinking about that kind of stuff right now. We're just trying to get through our first year at the academy.
Sylvain: Hold on there. You have been hanging around Ashe for a while…
Junko: W-what?! H-he's just a good friend!
Linhardt: That's right, ever since our first mission with the bandits they've been interacting quite a few times. The battle with Lord Lonato as well, you've been worrying about him before, during, and afterwards.
Sylvain: True! It looks like we've got some sweethearts at the monastery, ha ha.
Please stop you two, she's turning red. Can we just move on and stop bothering her?
Junko: T-thank you…
Sylvain: I won't drop this, y'know Renegade? Especially if you're gonna keep hinting at this in the story. They are cute together.
SYLVAIN
Sylvain: Fine fine, second part… class progression.
Ok, that's a good one.
Sakura has been prone to use a lance in this story, and the mention of becoming a pegasus knight supports her use of it. She'll need to learn how to ride one though, so look forward to her attempts.
Saki is quite obvious with her weapon choices and her team up with Balthus has helped her see the future master class, War Master as her one and only.
Ai used the bow so often, and with her better senses she can really pull it off. The usage of a blade for close range gives some insight into what class she'll choose after archer. Archery and sword techniques, hm…
Junko: As for me, I've been making good use of faith magic. Perhaps I could go into healing to support everyone?
That's not a bad idea. Like a bishop or priest. Though another skill could be useful to you. Hm… lance & riding, or reason magic…
Linhardt: Can we continue please?
Ah! Sorry. Ahem, Lily's been doing well with reason magic and she's going to get even better! She could get another skill, but as of right now she'll just be a powerful little mage.
Tae is… difficult. She has an axe, but I have no idea how she could develop skills with it.
Linhardt: Would the warrior class work then? She could be a berserker that our enemies might fear.
I'll keep that in mind. Try to see if that could work out in the upcoming fights.
Yugiri, definitely has some impressive skills with a sword. I am thinking that she should practice with Lily and gain some magic skills to compliment them. Close range and long range will make her dangerous on the battlefield.
Sylvain: Yeesh, no kidding. I've seen her fight, and that will make her slightly terrifying. Glad she's on our side.
Speaking of sides, last part… the war.
Linhardt: Oh boy…
I won't say anything right now, but I have it all planned out. Including the Flame Emperor reveal. Look forward to them seeing Dimitri go crazy. One more thing I should mention, Azure Moon will be a seperate fanfiction from this, as you might have found out by the subtitle of this fic.
Linhardt: Why not just have it all in one and change the name back to Three Houses Saga?
Junko: I think that idea isn't too bad. It's like a two book series, or movie. And with a story this big…
Sylvain: Don't know what a movie is, but yeah agreed. You can't just pack all of those chapters into one thing. Gotta save some space!
Thanks for the questions Metal Vile and for reading. And for others, feel free to send us more questions and we'll be sure to answer, now onto the story!
Third-Person POV
Linhardt, Ai, & Sakura are in the middle of the search for Flayn. The entire monastery is full of students looking for clues on her whereabouts. During their investigation however, the three have a conversation about something that has been on the girls' minds for quite a while.
"So crests are not only sources of power, but they are seen as important for being recognized as noble? That sounds… problematic." Ai says as she thinks about the new information.
"Yeah… people shouldn't be treated differently if they don't have power granted to them by the Goddess. That sounds so unfair to anyone without a crest…" Sakura sadly lowers her head.
"(yawns) It may be unfair, but that is unfortunately how things are. It could take years for people to change their minds about crests. Is that all you wanted to know?" Linhardt asks, wiping the drowsiness from his eyes.
"For now, but I may come back to you with more questions if necessary. Now let's keep looking. Sakura!" Ai quickly raised her voice to snap her back to reality.
"Ah, right! Flayn?!" She cried out as Ai lowered her eyebrows in suspicion.
The three of them kept walking until they found Dimitri and Professor Hanneman carrying an unconscious Professor Manuela.
"What happened Dimitri?!" Sakura, panicked at the knocked out teacher.
"She's been stabbed, we found her in Professor Jeritza's quarters. We're helping her get to the infirmary, while the others are still there." The Prince states as Hanneman takes a breather.
"Professor Hanneman, let me handle this. I'll help carry her there as well." Ai stepped forward and Dimitri nodded.
Lifting Manuela's arm over her shoulder, Ai, along with Dimitri, quickly made their way to the infirmary. Professor Hanneman in pursuit to help guide them.
"C'mon Lin, let's go join the others!"
"Oh boy…"
Sakura dragged Linhardt over to Jeritza's quarters as Byleth and a couple of other Blue Lions were making their way down into a secret passage.
When the two of them finally made it down, they were immediately thrown into the middle of a battle with the Death Knight and his forces. The students continued striking down their foes until they managed to reach the armored reaper himself.
Byleth clutched the Sword of the Creator in his hands, "I'll take care of him. Go finish off the remaining troops!", he commanded his students as he approached the Death Knight.
"Oi, Felix! Got a stray sniffing your tail!" Saki called out to her rival who was in the middle of a duel.
"What?! Hah!" He swiped back at the sneak attacker before continuing his match.
Tae and Dedue successfully manage to take down soldiers surrounding Annette and Sakura, who then notices her teacher struggling, "Byleth!" she cries out before charging in to help.
"Now, you will die together… How joyous…" The knight let out in his chilling voice as the Professor clashed against his scythe.
"Sakura, I said to stay back!" He yelled, yet she still came in to help.
"Get away, hyah!" She tosses her lance at the Death Knight who just takes the hit and fires back with a dark magic attack.
Sakura is knocked to the ground, struggling to get back up, but luckily her throw managed to distract him enough for Byleth to land the final attack.
"Kill them." The Death Knight orders what remaining troops he has left as Byleth grits his teeth.
Suddenly another armored figure appears out of nowhere to prevent this, "Halt. You're having a bit too much fun."
"You are getting in the way of my game." The knight responds.
"Hmph. You'll have more opportunities to play soon. Your work here is done." The unknown intruder commands him.
"Understood. I will go…" The Death Knight obeys, as he leaves the same way the other figure entered.
Sakura looks upon the newcomer with fear, yet feels an odd sense of familiarity from them.
"We will cross paths again, I am the Flame Emperor… It is I who will reforge the world."
The Flame Emperor stares at both Byleth and Sakura intensely before vanishing. After they have gone, the rest of the class run up to Sakura to check on her status. She was healed up by Linhardt and Mercedes, but was taken to the infirmary for rest.
Hours later she had a few visitors. Well, by a few, I mean Ai, Saki, Kotaro, Dimitri, Byleth, and Flayn.
"Are you sure you're feeling alright?" Ai asked and Sakura nodded.
"You really did a number on that ghastly knight, I am grateful to have joined your class!" Flynn bowed, thankful for her help.
"What you did out there was reckless, but I am grateful for the assistance. Hopefully you'll be ready next month." Byleth gave a small smile to her in response.
"Yeah you did great Saku—wait wha?" Saki turned to him.
"What's happening next month?" Sakura asked, prompting Dimitri to respond.
"The Battle of the Eagle and Lion, we have mentioned it back during our first sparring session, haven't we? Where all three houses of the Officers Academy compete in one large mock battle?"
"Oh yeah! So much has happened since then, sorry ha ha…" She rubs the back of her head embarrassed.
"Yeah same here. Still, I can't wait to brawl with all of them again! Show how stronger we are than them!" Saki gripped her fist.
"With how much time has passed since then, we can't underestimate our opponents. They may have a greater strategy than us by now…" Ai ponders.
"Oh yeah, well I'll find a way to beat 'em somehow! I'll head to the training ground to see if anyone wants to spar as practice!" Saki runs off as Ai sighs and goes off towards her & Tae's room.
"May you recover quickly, I need to take care of some business." Dimitri says as he leaves.
"Once again, thank you for assisting in my rescue. See you in class Sakura!" Flayn waves goodbye which Sakura returns.
Sakura then sighs as she looks upon the two still left in there with her.
"What's up?!" Kotaro asks her loudly.
She turns away from him, "N-nothing…"
He then scoffs and marches off, but stops himself outside the door to listen in.
"I can tell it's not nothing. You're still thinking about them, right?" Byleth looked upon Sakura who solemnly nodded.
"The Flame Emperor, who wants to 'reforge the world', just who is that?"
END OF CHAPTER 22
"I am Ferdinand von Aegir" count x3 (no change)
We're back. And the build up to the Battle of the Eagle and Lion has begun. Next time, we'll see some support convos and some of the girls upgrading their classes. See you all then!