And now for the moment where everything starts to go wrong.
Chapter 108 – The Holy Tomb (Pegasus Moon)
To say that the Holy Tomb was vast would have been an understatement. The immense chamber Byleth and the students stood in was easily larger than the cathedral. Stone caskets were arrayed all over the tomb in lines, though each was larger than necessary for a human body. The tomb's architecture made it clear how old it was, but none of the caskets or pillars within the tomb had given way to erosion or time.
The students looked about in awe as Rhea, Seteth and Flayn led them through it.
"Are you all surprised?" asked Rhea.
"Incredible," said Dimitri. "To think such a vast space has been hiding beneath the monastery all this time."
"The architecture is unlike anything I've ever seen," said Ignatz.
"That is not surprising," said Seteth. "No other place like this exists in Fódlan today."
"This is where the goddess who created this world was laid to rest, along with her children," said Rhea.
The Archbishop then led the group toward a large stairwell that led to a throne made of stone. It wasn't much to look at for the others, but as Byleth looked up to it, she could not deny the familiarity it bore to the one Sothis had sat upon in her dreams.
Rhea then continued, "It is said that our creator, the goddess Sothis, sat upon this very throne. Byleth, do you recognize this throne?"
"I… I do," Byleth said with unease.
Rhea smiled and said, "So long… I have waited so very long for this day."
These words prompted a frown from Anna as she watched the Archbishop's expression.
"Sit upon the throne. I have no doubt you will be gifted a revelation from the goddess."
Byleth slowly began making her way up the stone steps to the throne as the others watched in wonder at what may happen. As she reached it, Byleth hesitated before seating herself upon the cold stone surface.
Rhea smiled as she looked up at Byleth, then turned to Dorothea and said, "Dorothea, please, sing the song I taught you. I am certain the goddess will be guided by your words."
Dorothea nodded as she was filled with unease. She stepped forward and looked up at Byleth, who returned her gaze.
Dorothea took a deep breath and began to sing.
In time's flow… see the glow of flames ever burning bright…
On the swift river's drift, broken memories alight…
The others, entranced by Dorothea's voice, could barely make out the words of the song. All they really heard was music, more primal than words, and beautiful as the rising dawn. Dorothea's voice echoed through the Holy Tomb as word after word poured from her lips. Byleth was enthralled by Dorothea's voice as she sang with all her heart.
Within moments, the song finished. Rhea looked up at Byleth, and then a look of confusion came to her face.
"Well?" she asked Byleth.
Byleth's expression of uncertainty was all Rhea needed to know something was wrong.
"It was supposed to be but a step away. What could possibly be missing?" Rhea turned to Dorothea and said, "Dorothea, sing the words again."
Dorothea now knew something was off. But as everyone looked at her intently, she knew she couldn't refuse the Archbishop's request.
She was about to start singing again when Anna stepped in front of her and gently pushed her back.
"Anna?" the singer said in uncertainty.
"What's your game here, Rhea?" Anna asked accusingly.
Confused, Rhea said, "Miss Anna, what are you–"
"You said this ceremony was for some kind of 'revelation', but I don't buy it. By's already received power from your goddess, Rhea. What would the point be in a revelation if she might've already heard Sothis's words? You want something else out of this, don't you? Tell us what this whole setup is for. Now."
"You have no right to demand anything of Lady Rhea, Anna," said Catherine as she stepped in front of the Archbishop. "Now apologize for disrespecting her like this."
"Step off, Catherine. I'm getting the answers I want, one way or another."
Catherine drew Thunderbrand at this moment and entered a ready stance. Anna drew her own blade as the students looked on in worry.
"Anna, stop it!" said Byleth.
"I swore to Jeralt that I'd protect you, By," said Anna. "Even from Rhea, if need be."
"Do you believe that I would ever try to bring her to harm?!" Rhea said angrily. "I have told you before that you meddle in affairs beyond your ken, Annabelle Sharene Ernest."
Hearing Anna's full name surprised the students.
"That sounds like a noble's name," said Annette.
"But there is no House Ernest in Fódlan," said Ferdinand.
Rhea then said, "You will stand down, or I will have Catherine strike you down."
"What?! Lady Rhea, you can't!" said Dorothea.
"Continue your song, girl!"
Dorothea stepped back fearfully as Rhea glared angrily at her. She looked toward Anna and then Catherine as the two women readied themselves for what seemed like an inevitable clash. The two glared at one another, watching carefully for any move the other made.
The tense moment was interrupted as the sound of energy came from the teleporter.
Being the first to hear it, Claude said, "Sorry to break this thing up, but I think we're about to have company."
"What? Impossible," said Seteth. "The transporter should be locked down."
Everyone turned to the teleporter as the first figure materialized from a series of blue lights.
Dimitri went rigid as the Flame Emperor appeared on the platform.
"YOU!" the prince shouted as he readied his lance.
The Flame Emperor looked up at the students and then at Byleth as more intruders exited the teleporter. The first of them was Metodey, who laughed as his underlings appeared behind him. Several of them raised crossbows and readied spells, all aimed at the students.
But it wasn't just the presence of the intruders that alarmed the students. It was that the soldiers and mages all bore the standard of the Imperial Army on their armor and garbs.
"Don't move, any of you," said Metodey. "If you move, your lives will be forfeit."
Of course, none of the students obeyed this threat as they readied themselves for combat.
"You! You're that bandit who was with my brother!" Dorothea said as she held Joyeuse.
"I'm surprised you remember me, girl. The name's Metodey, by the way."
"What is the meaning of this?!" Rhea shouted.
"The Imperial army will now take possession of everything in the Holy Tomb."
Several of the Imperial soldiers began moving from the platform and made their way toward the caskets. The students wanted to stop them, but they knew they had to keep their focus on the archers and mages threatening to annihilate them if they made a sudden move. Byleth watched these soldiers as they moved, noticing that each one of them was wearing a strange glove on their right hand.
"Why is the Imperial Army here?" said Dedue.
"So, they knew we were heading to the Holy Tomb and followed us here," said Lysithea.
"That can't be," said Ingrid. "How did they get into Garreg Mach?"
Anna, no longer about to enter a duel with Catherine, pondered the question for a second before she looked at one of the Imperial archers. Her face lit up in realization as she recognized the man's face. He was one of the new merchants who had entered town in the last month.
"The merchants…" said Anna. "You hid yourselves among the new arrivals!"
"But how'd they get in here?" asked Leonie. "Into the Holy Tomb, I mean."
"Even the Flame Emperor's among them," said Sylvain. "That can only mean…"
"The Flame Emperor is connected to the Empire," said Felix.
"I never thought that possible," said Linhardt.
"I never imagined you'd have the nerve to return here," said Dimitri. "What are you after, Flame Emperor?"
"There's only one goal for grave robbers like these," said Claude as he readied an arrow. "You're here to steal the treasure that rests within the Holy Tomb."
"For a fool, you catch on quickly," said the Flame Emperor.
"Treasure? What do you mean?" asked Annette.
At that moment, one of the soldiers opened one of the caskets, much to Rhea's indignation. He then reached his gloved hand in and pulled out a small object. To the alarm of the students, it was a Crest Stone. It made no reaction in the soldier's gloved hand.
"Crest Stones?" said Marianne.
"The Holy Tomb contains great power; the power to rule all of Fódlan," said the Flame Emperor.
"And to attain that power, you'll trample anything that stands in your way, just like you did in Duscur!" Dimitri shouted.
"I had nothing to do with that," said the Flame Emperor. "Though it is not as if you will believe me either way."
"Is this what you've wanted all this time?" Byleth asked angrily. "Is this goal of yours why you had my father killed?!"
"I did not order the death of Sir Jeralt."
"How can I believe that?!"
"I have no desire to make you my enemy, Byleth Eisner. I only ask that you stand aside and allow us to claim what we came for. These Crest Stones will be ours. Their infernal power, which masquerades as a medicine but is truly a poison, will plague this world no longer."
"What does that even mean?" said Hilda. "You want to get rid of them, but you need them to rule all of Fódlan? You're not making any sense!"
"I need not explain myself to you. Now lower your weapons and do not interfere."
"As if we're going to just let you take them!" said Annette.
"What a pity." The Flame Emperor turned to his underlings and ordered, "Take the Crest Stones. Kill them if they resist."
The sound of magic caught everyone's attention. Dorothea turned to see Rhea was readying a powerful spell with a look of outrage on her face.
"Insolence!" she shouted. "You will atone for the sin of tramping on this holy resting place!"
She then released her spell, a devastating blast of holy energy, at the Flame Emperor. The Imperial mages were quick to raise a combined ward that blocked the spell, though it was so powerful that they struggled to keep it at bay.
Rhea scowled as her spell was countered. She then shouted, "Kill them! Destroy these villainous traitors who dare dishonor our creator!"
The students were about to move to attack when Metodey let out a laugh.
"Speaking of traitors," he said, "you should really be looking amongst yourselves."
"What the hell are you going on about?" said Balthus.
"I'm referring to her, of course."
Metodey pointed at Dorothea at this point. The others turned to her with stunned looks on their faces as Dorothea suddenly realized what Metodey was implying.
"Dorothea?" Ingrid said in disbelief.
"If it weren't for her," said Metodey, "we'd have never found this place. Lord Arundel sends his thanks, little songbird."
"W-What…?" Dorothea said in utter shock. Then, realizing everyone was staring at her, she said frantically, "No! No, he's lying! I didn't–"
"YOU!" Rhea hissed.
She strode up to Dorothea and grabbed her by the arm. Dorothea yelped at the Archbishop's surprising strength as she pressed the diva's arm painfully against her back.
"Lady Rhea, stop it!" cried Bernadetta.
"I gave you my trust, and this is how you repay me?!"
Dorothea's eyes began to water as she cried, "N-No! I didn't – I didn't tell him anything!"
"You lie!" Rhea pushed harder against her arm, making Dorothea scream in protest.
"AAHHH! Rhea, please! I swear, I didn't– PLEASE! I SWEAR I DIDN'T TELL HIM!"
Dorothea shrieked as Rhea pushed so hard that it felt like she was trying to break the brunette's arm.
"RHEA, STOP!" shouted Byleth as she grabbed Rhea by the shoulder.
Rhea eased the pressure on Dorothea's arm as she slowly turned to see Byleth glaring threateningly at her. Dorothea's whimpering could be heard throughout the Holy Tomb, and seemed to make everyone, including the Imperials, stop in their tracks.
"Dorothea is innocent!" said Byleth. "She didn't tell Arundel anything."
"Oh, is that what you think?" Metodey said snidely. "Your little songbird couldn't possibly have helped us, is that what you believe? Don't forget, she's an actress straight from the opera. She had you all fooled the whole time with that pretty face and honey sweet words."
"Your words are nothing but poison and lies, Metodey! She would never betray us. I was there when she last spoke with Arundel at the palace. She told him she wanted nothing to do with him ever again."
"And you're so sure that was the last time they spoke?"
Ignoring Metodey's question, Byleth released Rhea and drew her blade as she said, "Know this, you snake… I'll have your head for slandering her like this!"
Dorothea quivered in Rhea's grip, whimpering for the Archbishop to believe her. Rhea was clearly assuming the worst of the brunette.
At that moment, Flayn walked up to Rhea and said, "Rhea, please, let her go."
"Flayn, we cannot–"
"I trust her. Dorothea is not one who would betray us for any reason. Please…"
Rhea was hesitant to listen to Flayn, but after a second, Dorothea let out a gasp of relief as the Archbishop released her arm.
"Thank you, thank you, Lady Rhea!" sobbed Dorothea. "I– AAH!"
Rhea shoved Dorothea into a pillar at this point and cast a spell. Magical chains began to wrap around the diva, trapping her against the pillar. Dorothea shrieked as she tried to break free, but there was no getting free of the chains as they constricted painfully around her.
"Lady Rhea, please! AAHH!"
"You will remain here until these intruders have been annihilated," Rhea said spitefully.
"Rhea, let her go!" said Byleth.
"I will release her once you and your students have eliminated the Imperials and the Flame Emperor."
"What has gotten into you, Rhea?!"
"Is that clear, Byleth Eisner?"
Byleth scowled at Rhea, unable to fathom why she was being like this. First she had threatened to kill Anna, and now this? Byleth was almost tempted to strike her, but she knew she couldn't afford to create more conflict, knowing it was what the enemy wanted.
"Alright, enough with the dramatics," said Metodey. "Take aim!"
The Imperial archers readied their crossbows to fire while the mages primed their spells.
"Kill them all!"
The Imperials released a volley of quarrels and spells at the students, who either rushed for cover or raised shields and wards to block the incoming barrage. Dorothea, who could not move to defend herself, looked up in sheer terror as several crossbow bolts came flying at her.
She was about to shut her eyes and scream when the Sword of the Creator slashed through the air and ripped apart the incoming projectiles.
"Professor…!" the diva said in tears.
Byleth turned with the intent of freeing the diva from the magical chains. At that moment, a loud yelp from Hilda caught Byleth's attention, and she turned to see the pinkette had just been bashed into one of the caskets by a heavily armored knight. Another yell then prompted Byleth to turn to see Ignatz had just been shot in the leg and fell to the ground. Petra pulled him behind a casket just before another arrow would have struck him.
"Professor, please…!" Dorothea begged.
Byleth bit her lip, knowing she had to make a hard choice.
"Professor…?"
"I have to help the others," said Byleth. "But I promise I'll be back for you, okay?"
Dorothea wanted to protest. She didn't want to be left helpless and alone. But she knew the others were counting on their teacher to help them.
She gave Byleth a tearful nod, prompting the greenette to rush to aid the others.
…
Off to the side, Anna stood behind a pillar for cover as Rhea did the same a few meters away from her. It seemed even the Archbishop was worried about getting hit by a lucky crossbow shot.
Scowling, Anna said to her, "Hope you're not planning to leave all the fighting to us, Rhea."
"I will forgive your insolence, Annabelle, if you will aid us in this battle."
"Not like I have much of a choice. But do you seriously think Dorothea told them how to find this place? That Metodey guy's full of shit, I know it. Dorothea didn't even know how to find this place."
"Focus your efforts on the battle, Annabelle."
"And stop using my full name! I hate when people do that!"
A crossbow bolt struck the pillar Anna was hiding behind, so she angrily whirled out and fired a lightning bolt from her Levin Sword at the archer who had fired it. The man screamed as he was blasted down, prompting another archer to pull him into cover. Anna then dashed forward, making her way toward another pillar, but another archer readied his crossbow.
Anna was about to dodge when a wind blast from Rhea sliced into the man, destroying his crossbow and lacerating him deeply. Anna reached the pillar and looked back as Rhea took cover again. The redhead cursed at this. She didn't want to owe Rhea any favors at the moment.
Behind her own pillar, Rhea silently scowled at how things had turned out. Not only had her designs failed to reach fruition again, but now the Imperial Army was attempting to desecrate the tomb of her brethren.
Deep down, she knew Dorothea couldn't have told Arundel where to find the Holy Tomb. Even if she had, she wouldn't have known how to override the teleporter's lockdown. But the brunette was her only suspect for now. Regardless of her role in Arundel's designs, in Rhea's mind, she was still culpable. And she needed to know how much the diva knew about Arundel's plans since Yuri had not yet returned.
Rhea glared out at the Flame Emperor, who so far had not taken cover nor moved from his place near the teleporter. If it weren't for the others in the tomb, she would have unleashed her full power against him. She glared at the glowing axe in his hand, and knew it had to have been made through another desecration of her people's remains.
He would die for wielding such a weapon.
Oh boy, this is bad, isn't it?
It always felt weird that Rhea didn't participate in the Holy Tomb's defense. So I'm going to be having her more involved. Having her immediately think Dorothea betrayed her also might've been heavy-handed again. But honestly, given how she flips out immediately if you choose Crimson Flower, it feels appropriate that she'd jump to conclusions with Dorothea.
Dorothea singing the English version of the Song of the Nabateans was only done for the two verses that are known to us because I couldn't come up with new lyrics and to allow you all to use your imagination. Does that seem appropriate?
Lastly, how well did I do with Anna calling Rhea out? That part was hard to do without Anna outright saying "Sothis was already chatting with Byleth", and without Rhea revealing what she was doing.