Update: just correcting the name from Seteth to Seteth. Damn autocorrection… Special thanks to Guest for spotting the mistake.

Hey there!

It has been a long waiting time… I am sorry. I had a lot to deal with the last few weeks and the writing of this story fell a little short. Either way, I need to warn you that at the moment, I have a lot of work to do and I cannot promise to update this story once a week again. I will however continue it at all costs.

Here we go!

Disclaimer: I do not own FE3H or any of the characters.

Chapter 11)

The Eagles emerged from the tunnel into Jeritza's room. Ferdinand was carrying an unconscious Flayn bridal style, while Felix carried the other equally unconscious girl over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

Dorothea had protested at his rudeness, but he brushed her off quickly. Byleth had to agree with her. It was no way to treat a possibly injured student, but at that moment he lacked the energy to say as much.

His fight against the Death Knight had been arduous. He was exhausted. The experiment that Sothis and himself had managed to pull off, drained a lot of their energy. He felt it just as the adrenaline had drained off his system.

The injuries he sustained were treated in the field by Lindhardt and Dorothea. But just like Edelgard's wounds the night at the mausoleum, the were not closing. One of his students gave him an Antitoxin. He drank it readily because he slowly felt the pain spreading from his injuries into the rest of his body. It felt as if thousand hot red needles would puncture him repeatedly.

The Antitoxin helped alleviate the spreading pain and stopped the bleeding, but his flesh injuries refused to close. After drinking a Vulnerary, he recovered enough strength to make his way back to the monastery, but not enough to be attentive, scold, praise or even pay attention to the cheerful chatter of his students. He still paid attention to his surrounding tough.

From time to time his students would glance back at him worried. Dorothea had insisted on walking beside him. Out of worry or maybe fear he might just fall down; he did not know nor care. He was exhausted. Yes, I heard that the last five times you thought of it. Sothis said sighing. Truth is that I am exhausted too. She confessed.

Byleth hummed in response. Dorothea must have heard him and misunderstood him. "We need to get them to the infirmary." She said urgently. "They're pale, and their pulse are slow... Still, I don't believe their lives are in danger." Lindhardt answered her not looking at her.

"The Professor also needs to go to the infirmary." Lysithea said looking as flustered as Dorothea was. "Oh! Yes. We need to hurry then." Lindhardt said almost sheepishly. It seemed he was so focused on the girls that he had forgotten about his teacher.

Caspar was opening the door to let Ferdinand and Felix pass, when Edelgard ran up to them. She raised an eyebrow once she saw the girl on Ferdinand's arms. "You found Flayn? Where?!" She asked relived. "You missed the most important part of the mission!" Ferdinand said excitedly.

"We found her within that secret passage. The culprits were the Death Knight and... what was his name? Ah, the Flame Emperor. Sadly, they got away." He said while walking towards the infirmary Felix in tow. "All that matters is Flayn's safety. Right, Professor?" Edelgard said looking over at him.

"Right." He grunted in response. Dorothea had raised an eyebrow at the professor and shrugged at Edelgard, who was giving her an inquiring look. Since when do those two communicate like that? Sothis asked. Dunno. He responded looking intently at Edelgard, his eyes full of questions. She did not react to him, so he decided to wait.

"Hubert, please inform Seteth that you have found his sister." Edelgard commanded to which the student bowed and set off to find Seteth. "Whatever the circumstance, I'm glad Flayn is safe. Though I'm curious to find out who that other girl is..." Edelgard fell into pace beside Byleth.

"Haven't seen her before." He answered. "Hmm." Dorothea mused deep in thought trying to hide a smile. "Do you know her, Dorothea?" Edelgard asked her curious. "No, not at all." She looked at Byleth. "I am worried about him." She signaled him with a thumb smiling mischievously.

"The Death Knight managed to injure him once with his sword and once with his dagger." Dorothea explained. "We gave him an Antitoxin and a Vulnerary, but still, he did not talk to us on the way back here. He looked like a dead man walking." She continued. "All of the sudden you show up, and he starts talking again." Dorothea winked at her.

Byleth did not to react and just look ahead. On his other side Edelgard seemed flustered. "What are you implying?" Edelgard's voice pitched a little. "Oh, you will figure it out yourself." Dorothea singed. Your princess looks ready to murder the flirthy songstress. Sothis commented while yawning.

Byleth looked at the stairway ahead and sighed. It was going to be hard to climb them all by himself. He looked at both girls, both were smaller than him, so they were no going to be able to help him up. Maybe he could just go to his room and have Manuela pay him a visit later. You are not thinking straight. Sothis said worried. Manuela was attacked too. Remember? She said annoyed. Right.

He started climbing the stairs using his hand as support against the wall. The girls stayed behind him. He could hear some hushed conversation between them but was unable to make out what they were saying.

Once upstairs, he was passed by a rushing Seteth and Lady Rhea. They were headed to the infirmary. He walked once again following them. This time he used all the energy he could to make it seem that nothing was wrong with him. He would not show weakness to the Archbishop and her advisor.

You are straining yourself over nothing. Sothis told him. Maybe. He answered. He entered the infirmary. In there was a buzz of movements. Rhea sat by Flayn's bed while Seteth was sobbing and holding her hand. Manuela lay on her bed still unconscious.

The Eagles were all in there, including Felix. Some of them looked concerned while others bored to their minds, others were trying to help. Byleth sighed. We need them out of here. Sothis said. I agree. He answered.

"Alright, Eagles!" Byleth said to them with as much authority as he could muster. They all turned to look at him including Rhea and Seteth. "With the exception of Lindhardt and Dorothea, all of you go get some rest." He commanded. "I expect a report on this mission by the end of the week." The reactions from his students were varied. Some nodded eagerly, others sighed in defeat. But all of them obeyed his command.

Well, almost all of them. Edelgard and Hubert were still standing there. The future emperor signaled his loyal servant to leave. He bowed to her and left the room. "That includes you too, Edelgard." Byleth said calmly. She was about to protest, when Jeralt entered the room.

"I am glad that Flayn has been found." He exclaimed patting his son on his back. Unbeknownst to him, he had managed to hit his injured side, which made Byleth take a deep breath. "Careful, Sir Jeralt." Edelgard exclaimed. "I was told that the Death Knight injured him with his poisoned blade somewhere on that side." She said looking worried.

"Huh?" Jeralt looked at his son. He recognized quickly that he needed to sit down else he would fall to the ground soon. "The beds are all occupied. I will take him to my office." He said quickly supporting the young professor.

"I will be there shortly." Lady Rhea said. "Lindhardt and Dorothea, dears, could you scan Monica for further injuries?" Byleth was being dragged out of the room by his father. "Miss von Hresvelg, please accompany Jeralt to his office and assist him with everything you can." She added not looking at them.

Once in Jeralt's office Byleth laid rather ungraciously down on the couch. "Good grief… Can you help him out of that armor?" Jeralt said to Edelgard. She nodded hesitantly. "I will get some water to clean him and his wounds up." Jeralt hurried out of the room.

For a moment there was a pause, where none of them spoke nor moved. She shook her head and knelt in front of him. She was searching for the straps of his armor. "I am sorry this happened to you." She said in a whisper. "How long did you watch us fight?" He asked sternly.

"What do you mean?" She asked him, stopping in her tracks. He could tell that she was speaking to him in a hushed calculated tone, as if she was expecting the question. "I know that you are the one that broke the fight between me and the Death Knight. Or should I call him Jeritza?" He said to her almost angrily.

"Professor Jeritza?" She said in a surprised tone. Byleth was sure that her surprise was rehearsed, the emotion did not quite reach her eyes. Of course, she would be practiced in the art of deceiving others, she had had years and years of practice. "It would be logical that he might be the Death Knight. The evidence against him is quite overwhelming…" She mused as if in deep in thought. "Do not change the subject." He urged her.

"As for your assumption… I was unable to arrive earlier, because I had to go search for Lady Rhea to heal Professor Manuela." She looked very disappointed and almost as angry at him. Other well-rehearsed controlled set of emotions in his opinion. "Lady Rhea was nowhere to be found. I hurried as much as I could to join you and the rest of the Eagles." She explained sighing and resuming her search for the straps of his armor.

"Wyvern-shit." He responded getting frustrated. "Lady Rhea is always in her 'Throne Room' and Seteth should have been as always either with her or in his office next to the infirmary." He said trying to think logically. He was feeling very cold and his body had started shivering. He was not sure if it was because of the discussion or the poison.

"I found them in the Cathedral praying." She said looking up at him feinting anger. But once she looked at him, her whole demeanor changed to genuine worry. "Stop messing with me." He pleaded grabbing one of her hands weakly. "You won't let me…" She answered truthfully placing her other hand to his forehead and frowning. "If I tell you more, you might get you hurt. There will be retaliation." She said in a whisper.

"Ha! But I already am hurt aren't I?." He said sarcastically, releasing her hand because he was no longer able to hold it. Byleth watched the sorrow in her eyes. It caused him to want to rewind back in time. That is not happening. Sothis said to him critically. It might kill you and me for that matter.

Edelgard found one of the straps on his right side and pulled at it gingerly. It did not budge a bit. "This will hurt a bit." She apologized. Byleth realized for the first time how elaborate his breath must have sound. He opted to focus on her scent instead and nodded. With one swift motion she pulled at the strap with her hand. Byleth could feel a thousand needles pinching his injury on his left side.

He felt like screaming, but his stoic face never changed. Edelgard was about to try taking the armor off, but Byleth stopped her with a grunt. "Two more straps." He said to her. She sighed quietly but nodded. She moved her hand to pull at the other two straps. The only reaction the professor gave away was a deep breath. Once done the armor slid right off him through his right side. He felt the cold air cool him off immediately. A mixed scent of sweat blood and his rotten flesh filled the air.

If Edelgard was bothered by it she hid it very well. She found the hem of his black shirt and looked at him. "May I?" She asked quietly. Byleth nodded, move up to give her space to remove the piece of clothing. Sharp pain cursed through both of his sides. The dagger had managed to cut deep into his left lumbar area causing severe internal damage, while the sword had caused what he would normally call a scratch on his right side.

Edelgard looked at him concerned. Carefully and slowly, she helped him up while removing his shirt. He leaned back on the couch closing his eyes in exhaustion. His arms limp to his sides. "The wounds are oozing too much." He heard her say worriedly.

"What kind of poison is it, anyway?" He asked softly while trying to keep his eyes open. Edelgard's face was very close to his body examining the wounds, a fact that he wanted to ignore but could not. "I do not know." She said in a whisper. "I can only share your pain as I have experienced it myself before." "Hmm." Was the only response he could give her.

Edelgard looked at a loss. He could tell that she wanted desperately to do something to alleviate his pain, but she was unable to do so. "I understand." He tried to smile at her reassuringly. But by the look she was giving him, he was not successful at it. He sighed once more.

A few moments later Jeralt entered the room carrying a few clean rags on his shoulder and two buckets of liquids, probably water and alcohol. Byleth almost snorted at his father's antics. To him, every wound or disease should be treated with alcohol, it did not matter if it was used directly on the wound or if you had to drink it. Alcohol was the cure for everything.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you two, but we need to clean him a bit up, before we can treat the wounds." He offered a rag to Edelgard, who nodded and accepted it. She was about to soak it into the nearest bucket, when Jeralt stopped her. "That is alcohol for wound treating." He took the other bucket and placed it between them. "This is water for cleaning." He said.

Edelgard was about to open her mouth to ask his father what that was about. "Don't ask…" Byleth answered her before she gave his father an incentive to start his speech on the wonders of alcohol and wound treating. Edelgard raised an eyebrow not really convinced, but she followed his advice. She soaked the rag and started cleaning around the wound at his left side. Jeralt also knelt and started tending his injured right side.

"That is a nasty set of wounds." He shook his head in disbelief. "Why didn't you get treated on the field to close them?" He asked. "The poison prevented the wounds to close." Byleth answered curtly. "Did you drink an Antitoxin?" His father pressed further. "Yes."

Jeralt frowned deeply. "Well, then it is one of a hellish poison. Must have been made like that by design." He continued cleaning Byleth's oozing wound not knowing how close he had hit the mark. The young professor opted to close his eyes and rest them.

"Hey, Kid!" Jeralt slapped him lightly on his cheek. "Do not go to sleep yet. I need you awake." There was concern in his voice. "Alright." Byleth said opening his eyes to calm his father down. "That's my boy. Always a brave look in his eyes." Jeralt smiled holding his son by the back of his neck and placing his own forehead to his son's in a fatherly gesture.

Every stroke and every drop of water that met his skin near the wounds stung like hell. After a few minutes he took sharp intakes of air while grinding his teeth every time any of his loved ones touched him. "We should stop. I think this is hurting him more than helping him." Edelgard said defeated removing her own rag from Byleth's skin.

"You are right." Jeralt also removed his rag. "We need a healer." He said grimly. "Then it is good that I have arrived." Lady Rhea said from behind them. "Move, let me see." She said softly but commandingly at the same time. "For the love of the Goddess, he is burning up!"

"Quick Jeralt, fetch me clean water ant take that alcohol with you. Return it to wherever you snatched it from." Lady Rhea commanded the seasoned Knight. "Edelgard, dear, please help him move up a bit so I can reach his injuries more easily." Edelgard nodded getting in motion. She was about to lift his head and shoulders with her hands.

"That is not going to work." Lady Rhea said frowning. "Help me move him to a sitting position." Edelgard did as the archbishop said, but Byleth's body was just not holding up. He felt like hot rubber. "Sit behind him to hold him up still. That way you will not be obstructing my view or accessibility to his injuries." Lady Rhea said not looking at Edelgard. "That would be highly inappropriate. And since I am in probation..." The student tried to object but was already moving to sit behind him.

"Quickly, Child! Or we are going to lose him." Rhea urged her. "I am surprised for you to be so shy, after what happened in Conand." Lady Rhea added while inspecting his wounds closely, almost sticking her nose inside of them. "That was a completely different situation." He heard Edelgard say in her defense.

Byleth had been following the interaction sluggishly. He was sure he had missed some parts of it. And the odd thought occurred to him, if his whole body were not in pain, he would have found it very amusing. Edelgard's upper body was pressed to his back and all he could think of was how soft t felt. Yeah. This is a very comfortable place to be.

He felt his forehead being pulled back, probably to support his head. Everything was starting to slow down. He wanted to close his eyes and sleep. Don't. He heard a familiar voice say in his mind. Hey! He greeted her cheerfully. Where had you been? He asked his mind companion. With you the whole time. Sothis answered soothingly. I am in pain. He told her. I know. Just hang on a little while longer. She answered. You promise? Just a little while? He asked her, not convinced. Yes.

He was looking at the ceiling. He noticed for the first time that it was wooden. It was adorned by beautiful natural patterns he had never seen before. The patterns are moving. He realized. No, they are not. Was the answer he got. Look they are even dancing to that flash of green. He exclaimed excitedly. They need to hurry. Sothis mustered under her breath. Who? The patterns? Byleth asked confused.

No, the archbishop and your students. The Goddess answered. That does not sound right. My students are on a mission to save Flayn. He argued. You already have saved Flayn. Remember? It Is what's got you into this mess in the first place. He could hear muffled conversation. The closest voice was the most pleasant one. He could not understand what she was saying, but it was as if she was whispering sweet nothings right into his ear.

"He is losing consciousness!" He heard her say in a worried tone. Don't be worried. I am fine. He tried to calm her. He tried to smile as he went to sleep.

"I wish you would just wake up already." Edelgard's voice was somehow muffled. He tried to open his eyes but found out that they were very heavy. Still, he tried again, this time managing to open them long enough to close them again because of the bright light on the room he was in. Edelgard gasped.

Byleth groaned at the stiffness his body presented. His lips that had been very dry partially split, leaving him the distinct taste and odor of blood on them. "Shhh. It's OK." Edelgard was quick to answer in a soothing tone, she was not able to hide her relief that he was awake. He heard footsteps rushing away. "Water" He rasped out trying to move and open his eyes once again.

"Here." She helped him drink from a glass of water she offered him. Byleth drank greedily. "Slow down." Edelgard told him while holding his head upright. "You will otherwise choke." She said looking at him sternly. "How long was I out?" He asked her, ignoring her previous comment.

"Not long. Only half a day." She said while sitting down on the chair she had been sitting previously on. "Hm." Byleth was starting to get used to the light. "What happened to me?" He said clearing his voice. "Well, it would seem that, as you insisted on getting here on your own, you might have accelerated the poison's effect." Edelgard started.

"In my and Manuela's case, we were carried to the infirmary, so the poison had to work harder to reach vital points in our bodies. Or at least that's what Lady Rhea said." She explained further. "Hm. Poison. The Death Knight." Byleth answered. "Lady Rhea, Dorothea and Lindhardt had a hard time to slow that effect down and to start healing you." Edelgard said, looking at him worriedly.

"Why did you insist on taking the Death Knight on alone?" She asked. "The Death Knight is a very skillful warrior. I would have never risked any of my student's life like that." Byleth said defensively. It was all coming back to him. "Besides, he surrounded us both in some kind of magic shield." He told her as if justifying himself. "It would harm any person who tried to escape it or enter it." He said.

"Magic shield?" Edelgard said surprised. "So, you are telling me that the Death Knight used magic to ensure a battle between you two?" She asked concerned. "To the death, I believe he said." Byleth answered nodding his head. There was a faint noise outside the door of the room. Edelgard was quick to look up.

"I… I am sorry, Professor. I should let you rest." She said suddenly while standing up. "Edelgard…" He started, but she was already moving hastily to the exit of the room. "I will see you in class." She exited the room.

Well, that was strange. Sothis said. Yes. Byleth agreed with her. How are you doing, Sothis? He asked her after a moment's pause. Still tired but relieved that you are OK. The Goddess told him. Thank you, Sothis.

For what? She asked smiling at him. For keeping me alive. He said smiling back. Pffft. It is getting harder and harder. You might be a boulder in some regard but you sure are creative finding new ways to put yourself in danger. She said winking at him. Ha! That was a good one.

"Ah! Byleth, dear. It is good to see you on your feet again." Lady Rhea's sweet voce greeted him. She seems older. Byleth thought. She used a lot of her energy to save you, the flirty Professor and that unknown girl. Sothis reasoned. And here I thought that you would never defend that woman. Byleth said feinting surprise. Oh, shut it.

"It is good to be on my feet again." Byleth answered the waiting Archbishop with a nod. "Professor... Please, allow me to express my eternal gratitude. Flayn is safe and sound, and I have you to thank for that." Seteth was approaching him with his hand raised. A peace offering. Byleth looked at it for a moment trying to measure if the Advisor's words were honest. The words are sincere. Look at him in the eye. Sothis urged him.

Byleth heeded her advice. If Lady Rhea looked older, Seteth looked worse. He had dark undereye circles and his face's skin had wrinkles where he had been frowning. After a moment's hesitation, Byleth accepted the peace offering by shaking the other man's hand. "Mere words could never express how thankful I am. I... I am indebted to you." Seteth looked indeed very grateful. He released his hand.

"I couldn't have done it without my students." Byleth answered him. "Yes, of course. I shall express my gratitude to the students as well." Seteth said while Byleth nodded his approval. "I'm happy she's safe." The young professor said truthfully. "Yes, indeed. I... I, too, am overjoyed."

"But why was Flayn taken to begin with?" He frowned looking at Lady Rhea. "Her kidnapper was the masked knight who vanished during the Rite of Rebirth. The one known as the Death Knight." Seteth answered before Lady Rhea could open her mouth. "I know. I fought him." Byleth answered. "Ah, yes. Considering the circumstances, it seems plausible to assume that his identity is Jeritza."

"That I had deduced too." Byleth said looking at the advisor. "And we cannot forget about the mysterious Flame Emperor..." Seteth trailed off. "Yes. But why?" Byleth said getting annoyed at the advisor. Get to the point already. He heard Sothis say from beside him. She had materialized there and was watching the interaction very intently.

"Their true motives are yet unclear." The advisor continued. "However, I have an idea. I believe the enemy may have been after Flayn's blood." He said worriedly. "Her blood?" it was one thing he had not expected to hear. "Yes. The blood that flows through her veins is special. It is extremely rare...and extremely dangerous." The advisor said. "Dangerous? How?" Byleth asked trying to understand. Seteth looked briefly over to Lady Rhea, who had remained silent the whole time.

"If enemies who know the secret of Flayn's blood have appeared, our only option is to leave the monastery and go into hiding." He said after not receiving the help he had searched. "That is also why I cannot tell you the secret." What the hell? Byleth was about to ask further questions that raised in his mind when a bubbly sounded from behind them. "Brother, wait."

"Flayn?! What are you doing here? You should be resting!" The advisor looked mortified. His eyes looked in every direction as if searching for any possible danger in the room. "I do not like the path of your thoughts. I do not wish to live in some lonely, remote location where I never get to see anyone. Not ever again." Flayn had come forward and was stepping between the professor and the advisor. "Not ever again?" What Is that supposed to mean? Sothis asked.

"If we stay here, you may be targeted again! Wouldn't it be better for the two of us to live in peace?" Seteth had crossed his arms and was pinching his nose. "Even if we ran off to some new, secret location, there is no guarantee that they would not find us." Flayn said. Smart kid. Byleth thought.

"That is why I believe it would be safest to stay in the monastery, where we are surrounded by capable knights and professors." She continued. Her speech seemed rehearsed, well elaborated. "I see your point, I do. However..." Flayn did not let her brother finish his argument. "You know, brother, that it is the only reasonable option."

Flayn turned to look at Byleth directly. There was a gleam of light in her eyes, as if she had achieved her goal. "What if I were to join the professor's class? Oh no… "Why would you want to do that?" Byleth asked her trying to sound cordial. "Because, with a professor like you nearby, I shall be safe no matter what foe should appear!" Great, now I will have to babysit her while act as her personal bodyguard. He groaned inwardly.

"I see. I am afraid you have a good point." Seteth shook his head trying to hide a smile. "Professor... Due to my position, I have closely scrutinized everything about you." Yeah, right. You just wanted us out of here quickly. Sothis said. "After all that has happened, I must admit that you are indeed...a trusted ally. So, what say you? Can I entrust you with Flayn's safety?" He looked hopeful. Hm…

Be as cordial as you can. Maybe we can take advantage of this situation. Sothis urged him. "It would be my pleasure." Seteth looked pleased and Flayn was beaming at him, her face expressed something he could not put his finger on.

Oh no… Sothis said while covering her face with her hand. What? Byleth asked alarmed. That face, that you cannot for dear life put your finger on, is adoration. Sothis said suppressing a groan. What does that mean? He was very confused. You really are an oaf. She has a crush on you. She explained. Oh no…

"Flayn, dear, we still have things to discuss with the Professor here. Please leave the room." Lady Rhea asked politely. "Oh, certainly, Aun- Err… Lady Rhea." Hm… Flayn sprinted to the exit, but not before calling back. "I will see you in class, Professor."

The girl almost bumped into Professor Hanneman who was entering the room behind the Knight who had summoned him. He had apparently just returned from his mission with the Blue Lions. Lady Rhea spoke up once the door was closed again. "Well, Professor. I see that I was right to ask your class for assistance." She smiled at him. "Manuela and Flayn are recovering nicely, as is Monica." She said eyeing him critically, as if waiting for his reaction. "I assume, the other girl we found name's Monica?" Byleth raised his eyebrow.

Lady Rhea seemed satisfied. "Monica is also a student at the Officers Academy. However..." She trailed off. "She is a student from last year's class. She went missing just before she would have graduated." The older Professor said. "It never occurred to us that something might have happened to her at the monastery." He was frowning concerned. "We assumed she had run away. I never dreamed that we would find her. Not like this." He concluded sighing.

"Monica has asked to rejoin the Black Eagle House once she has fully recovered." Lady Rhea said in a back to business tone. "Our enemies are still out there, so we must remain cautious and continue our investigation. However, we must also help the students to move on from this incident."

"We could use the Battle of the Eagle and Lion for that. During the time we could take the worries out of their minds by training them." Hanneman suggested. "An unorthodox method but you might be right. Make sure that they are busy then." Seteth said rubbing his chin.

"Yes. The students will remember this battle for the rest of their lives. Please guide them so they may show us their best at the coming battle." Lady Rhea said. "Which brings me to the next subject I wanted to discuss with you." She said looking over at Seteth. "Ah, yes. Due to the injuries that Professor Manuela and you, Professor Byleth, have sustained, we would recommend for all of the Professors to sit this battle out." He said.

"What?" Byleth said confused. "A reasonable suggestion, that I will honor it if that is what you want." Professor Hanneman said looking over at Byleth. There was a glint in his eyes telling him to be careful. It would seem that he is watching your back. Sothis mustered beside him. Maybe we should heed his warning.

"It is." Lady Rhea said looking at Byleth expecting his answer. "Then I will not object. Are we allowed to travel and watch our students fight?" He said trying not to grind his teeth. "It is expected of you." Lady Rhea said smiling kindly at him.

"Then it is settled." Lady Rhea seemed very pleased with the answer she got. "That would be all, Professor Hanneman. Thank you." She said to him. The older man bowed and turned to leave. "Professor Byleth, would you like to drink a cup of tea later this afternoon?" He asked him casually.

"I have discovered some fascinating things that I believe are connected to your Crest." He added after seeing Byleth's hesitation. "It would be my honor." Byleth responded, hoping that he would be able to ask about his warning earlier. "Splendid! I will wait for you in my office then." Hanneman said before leaving the room.

Byleth was about to turn around to leave. "There is one more thing, Professor." Seteth called him back smiling. "We have decided to lift your probation." Seteth said. "Thank you. I will inform Edelgard right away." He answered turning around. "Inform Miss von Hresvelg?" He heard Seteth say confused. "Professor, dear, we are only lifting your probation." Lady Rhea said.

Byleth turned around slowly. "I see…" He was sure he was frowning. "I do not agree with that decision. She searched for you to heal Manuela after she was attacked." The young Professor said, trying to use a normal tone. He took a deep breath. "That is correct, and she found us praying in the Cathedral. But still, she disappeared even before we got to the infirmary." Seteth informed him. "She was nowhere to be found. Presumably, she went after you to help." He explained.

"She returned about an hour later together with you and your class." He continued. "Either way you see it, it is not enough to lift her probation." He said finally. "An hour…" Byleth whispered under his breath. She was there after all. He said hurt. Yes, and she probably impersonated that Flame Emperor herself. Sothis said.

"I understand." He said nodding. "I need to make a request." He said. "Oh?" Lady Rhea said. "We had help saving Flayn from one Lion in particular. Felix was a great asset to the mission." Byleth explained. "He has voiced his interest on transferring to the Eagles. I am inclined to accept the offer." Byleth said confidently.

"You will be taking three new students then?" Seteth said surprised. "Your workload will increase considerably." He continued. "It will. I was planning on taking just one new student. The other two were, well… imposed to me." Byleth answered. "It does not matter in the end. I will gladly teach whoever wants to learn from me." Byleth said. "Very well… I will arrange the paperwork then." Seteth said defeated. "Thank you. I will take my leave then." Byleth bowed and turned around to leave the room.

Once he was out of that cursed room, he sighed and quickened his pace heading to his room. The affection for your students is going to get us in trouble someday. Sothis said sighing. And what am I supposed to do? It is not like I can control it. He answered irritated. It is a god thing, that you are finally able to feel like this. But please be careful. Sothis said.

Wait. You were not with me before all this. Byleth said referring to the time at the monastery. How do you know how I was before? He asked her. Partly because of the memories you have shown me. But that is not all. Byleth, I might have been with you the whole time in a dormant state. Sothis answered. She was deep in thought. I might have been able to perceive things that happened before. She said. Maybe I made you emotionless like you are right now. She said sadly.

Maybe, but you must know, without you, I would most certainly not be alive. Byleth answered, trying to reassure her. Truth to be told, he was not sure himself, and she could feel it. Anyway, I do not blame you for anything. He said finally. I know, you blame her. Sothis said sighing pointing her thumb behind them. I would not have it any other way, Sothis. You know it. Byleth said to her in a serious tone. I know. She said smiling a bit.

Byleth walked to Hanneman's office an object tucked securely under his arm. He had stumbled on the book he had found in the library the day of Flayn's disappearance. He had almost forgotten about it altogether. Upon examining it, he found the needle.

He had decided it would be best for Hanneman to examine it. He would have the necessary tools to do so. It is a gamble. Sothis had warned him. I will hear whatever he has to tell me, and then I will decide if I will show him or not. He had promised.

Byleth knocked on the door that was unusually closed. He heard ruffling and steps hurrying to the door. "Just a minute!" Hanneman was apparently organizing his office in a hurry. "Please, take your time." Byleth called back leaning against the doorframe. A few minutes passed and the older Professor finally opened his door.

He looked flustered and very angry. "Are you alright?" Byleth asked his fellow professor raising am eyebrow. "No. But do come in." He ushered the young man. Upon entering, he realized that he had not been organizing his office. He had been messing it up. Papers were scattered everywhere on the floor and desk. His researching instruments lay unorganized on his desk. Books had been thrown down from their shelves. What a mess. Sothis said disgusted. It is strange. Hanneman is always keen to keeping all organized… Byleth thought.

"What happened here?" Byleth asked turning in time to see the other Professor close the door and cast a silencing spell into the room. "I am very sorry. But I need to take precautions." He explained apologetically. "You see, when I came back from our mission, I came straight here." He started explaining. "This room was pristine, just like I had left it. But something did not sit well with me." He continued while he started pacing. "So, I started searching what was amiss." He said pacing like a caged lion.

"Is something missing then?" Byleth asked him. "My whole research about your Crest is missing. Samples, notes, calculations, everything is gone." He exclaimed loudly. Byleth looked around. "Are you sure that you searched everywhere?" He asked. "Yes!" The older man said throwing his arms out. "Have you taken my research?" He asked accusingly.

Huh? "Why would I take your research?" Byleth asked. "Pardon me if I am blunt, but I do not give a damn about Crests. Never have, never will." Byleth said crossing his arms defensively. "Yes. I suppose it is true." Hanneman said sitting down on a chair. Putting his head between his hands he continued. "I have an idea who might have stolen it."

"Who?" Byleth asked taking a few steps forward. "Lady Rhea and Seteth." He said bluntly. "They have asked me to stop researching your blood. They told me it might be dangerous." This statement disconcerted Byleth. It was the second time that he had heard that blood might be dangerous that day. "Dangerous? How?"

"All I know is that it has to do with your unique Crest." He said sadly. It has to do with us. Sothis said manifesting herself beside Hanneman. It is a tragedy for him. She remarked. Yes, and maybe a tragedy to us. There is still too much we cannot understand… "We will find out again. Would you be able to recreate the experiments you were conducting?" Byleth asked placing a hand on the older man's shoulder.

"I suppose. But it will take months." Hanneman looked up and met Byleth's eyes. "I assume you need a new sample of blood?" Byleth said rolling up his sleeve. "Although it might still be tainted with the poison the Death knight injured me with..." He said hesitantly trying to decide if he should give the Professor the needle. It is our best chance. Sothis said. It might get him in serious trouble. Byleth said. He might already be. Sothis said signaling the disarranged room.

"It reminds me… I found something rather interesting the day of Flayn's disappearance." Byleth said while Hanneman had gotten up to search for a syringe. "What would that be?" Hanneman said absentmindedly. "Ah!" he exclaimed a second later having found a clean syringe. "This." Byleth opened the book and showed him the needle. Hanneman made a move to take the points between his fingers. Byleth was quick to stop him. "I think it could be poisoned with the same substance that the Death Knight used on me."

Hanneman looked up alarmed. But there was also a glint of curiosity on his eyes. "How did you come by this?" He grabbed his cloth napkin out of his pocket and picked the needle up carefully. "Let's just say that I stumbled on it rather surprisingly." Byleth said. "I assume that it was a close call?" The other Professor inquired already moving to his desk and looking for something.

He pulled out a test tube and put the needle inside of it. "Yes." Byleth answered. "Would you pass me that brown bottle over there?" He pointed to the shelf next to Byleth. The young man complied by passing it along. "Thank you." He poured the solution inside of it. Byleth was amazed that the solution immediately turned a light tone of purple. "What does it mean?" He asked.

"It means that the needle was definitely coated with something." Hanneman had a dropper in his hand and suctioned a few drops of the solution carefully. He carefully dropped its contents to a little circular dish. Byleth was sure it had a name, but he was a mercenary, that kind of knowledge was not in his league. "Let us see what this culture dish has to offer then." Hanneman said excitedly. He placed under some kind of magnifying devise and turned on the light.

"This is remarkable." Hanneman mustered under his breath, as if he did not want to move to not disturb the sample. "He turned to look for the syringe. He did not hesitate and drew his own blood. Then he let a single drop of the blood into the culture dish. "By the Goddess! This is definitely a dangerous poison. Come look, it is attacking my blood."

Byleth approached carefully to look. He saw that the blood had been disintegrating rather quickly, as if eaten by the poison. "This poison is using the blood to reproduce itself." Hanneman said taking notes. "It is alive then?" Byleth asked rather confused, stepping back. "No, it is a reaction to the blood." Hanneman explained. "Once it contacts the blood, it starts reacting to it. What follows is a chain effect. As the poison consumes the blood, it multiplies and changes it."

"What is it made of?" Byleth asked dumbly. "That my young friend is something I have yet to discover." Hanneman said. "I think it is the same poison Edelgard, Manuela and I was affected from our injuries from the Death Knight. Is there any way to see if some remnants are still in my blood?" The young man asked.

"Let us investigate." Hanneman had already drawn another syringe, ready to inspect his blood. Once he drew it from his arm, he placed a drop of it into another culture dish. He started comparing both samples. "Unfortunately, there is nothing that I can recognize." Hanneman said crestfallen. "It seems that our healers eradicated any sign of the poison inside of you." "What about from dried blood from last night?" Byleth offered. Hanneman raised an eyebrow and said: "You sure are interested in this subject." "I just do not wish for anyone, especially my students, to be affected by this poison." Byleth said. "The Death Knight seems to be fixated with me. I have the feeling it is not the last time we have faced him."

"I can understand that." Hanneman said smiling at him. "It might be possible to get some results from your dried blood. We should definitely try." He said thinking. "Great, I will bring you my shirt. There should be the enough dried blood to try." Byleth said already getting to the door.

"Wait!" Hanneman stopped him. "If we research this, then we need to be very careful." He said standing up. "These walls have eyes and ears everywhere." He warned him. "The reason I wanted to talk to you today, was to warn you about it." He approached the young man and whispered. "The Church of Seiros is not to be trusted." He said bluntly.

"I have evidence I found on my mission with my students of it." He handed a piece of paper to the professor. Byleth looked at the man critically, nodded once and looked at the piece of paper in his hand. By the holy order of the Archbishop of the Church of Seiros, Lady Rhea, hereby is declared that all Western Church and its most devoted and radical followers are to be eradicated permanently, as they pose a danger for the status quo in Fódlan. He read in his mind. This is going too far. Sothis said beside him horrified.

"Damn." Byleth said simply. "I am guessing your mission was to eradicate the Western Church. "Unfortunately, no. We were tasked to rout 'radicals'. 'Radicals' who turned to be farmers and their families. There was no threat with them…" Hanneman said. "Innocents are dying on this purge to keep control."

"This is sickening." Byleth said disgusted. "I got this paper from one drunken Knight on our way back here." Hanneman explained. "And I also managed to salvage this from the fires." He took out a small black book. "Their beliefs are written in these pages. The Western Church is promoting the idea that the Knights of Seiros and the Church of Seiros caused the tragedy od Duscur." Hanneman placed the little book in Byleth's hands.

"Be careful with that. If they find you with that book, they might just kill you." Hanneman. "Here." Byleth placed the book he had gotten from the library in his hands. "That needle over there was shot at me once I took this book out of its shelf. Maybe it contains a formula or specifications on how that bloody poison works." Byleth said still in a hushed tone.

"Why are you giving me this?" Hanneman asked going through the book. "You are putting me in danger with this book, I am putting you in danger with that one." Byleth answered simply. "Though the enemy is another one. One that works in the shadows." He said. "I trust you can make more sense of it than I ever will." This is wrong, Byleth. You should not trust so easily.

"I will get you your dried blood sample by tomorrow." Byleth said. "Do not tell anyone about this." He tapped the book turning around. "If you ever need my help, Hanneman… Just ask." He said as an afterthought. "The same goes for you, Byleth."

"Thanks." Byleth said gratefully and left the room. Let us see if he is an ally or an enemy. He thought grimly.

He was about to enter his room when he noticed that the lights were on. You did not leave it like that… there is someone inside. Sothis said. Let us see who it is then. Byleth said opening the door. His other hand ready at the handle of his dagger. "Hello, Professor."

"Hello, Edelgard. Is there something you need?" He greeted her as casually as he could. She was leaning back on his desk looking stunning. "I came by to give you my account of yesterday's rescue." She said offering a few sheets of paper to him. She was giving him a look to play along.

"Ah, yes. Thank you." He said receiving the report from her. He raised an eyebrow. "Rather short for your standards." He commented casually while looking at the first page of the report. He found a note in the front. "As you may recall, I did not participate in the mission per se." She said walking up to him. "There was not much to report about." She said casually.

The note said. I am being tailed now. We need to be very careful. I just wanted to say that I care about you and will do anything in my power to keep you save. Byleth hummed looking at her. He nodded his understanding earning a quiet sigh of relief from her. "Is there anything else you want to talk about Edelgard?" He asked taking the note and crumbling it quietly in his hand.

"Actually… Did lady Rhea give you a new mission?" She asked looking at him the eyes. "Not really. She asked me to sit out the Battle of the Eagle and the Lion." He said casually while turning around to sit on his chair. "Actually, she benched all the Professors." He informed her.

"What? Why?" She asked frustrated. "Because of the injuries Professor Manuela and I received." He started scribbling something on a piece of paper. "Either way, I am expected to travel with you to the Gronder Field and watch you fight the other Houses." He said amused.

"Which means that we will have to train harder than I had originally planned." He continued. He Handed a larger stack of graded papers back to her. He brushed her gloved hand with his briefly. "The last report." He explained. "Thank you, Professor." "It is getting late. You should go back to your room." He said softly. "Certainly. I will see you tomorrow in class."

She hesitated a moment. She seemed trouble. As if she was trying to decide whether to leave or not. She finally shook her head and turned around. "Goodnight, Professor." She said not looking back. "Goodnight, Edelgard." He said as she was closing his door.

'We need to talk.' Sothis said frustrated. Is that all you managed to write? She exclaimed. Not even a 'I care about you too.' She said huffing. She knows I care. He said not looking at the sulking deity beside him. She is a girl. She wants to feel loved. All girls do. Sothis threw her arms into the air frustrated. Byleth stopped to think about it. Shoe I'll make up for it. He promised. You better do. She warned him.

Would love to hear your comments.

Until next time.