WE REACHED 6 FAVS AND 9 FOLLOWS LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Edelgard thought it was a little rude to continue the game without Dimitri, but PlayStation fanboy Claude over here insisted that they keep playing. She took the controller (it being surprisingly comfortable in her hands) and let the dialogue continue.

Sadly, the next line triggered an immediate fight or flight reaction in her internal system. "Oh, joy. A royal debate between Their Highnesses. I wonder how being completely predictable affects one's ability to wield power. Personally, as the embodiment of distrust, I'd say your little exchange smacks of naiveté."

Claude laughed. Hard.

Funnily enough, Game Edelgard was able to vocalize her reaction that. "Me? Naive? Tell me, are you actually incapable of keeping quiet, or is your lack of self awareness a condition of some sort?"

Game Dimitri was unsurprisingly the one to break up 'their' argument. "In any case, forgive our digression. I must speak with you, if you can spare a moment. The way you held your ground against the bandits' leader was captivating!" Oh goddess, they really did get his personality down too accurately... "You never lost control of the situation. It showed me I still have much to learn."

Game Edelgard rightfully interrupted him. "Your skill is precisely why I must ask you to consider lending your services to the Empire. I might as well tell you now. I am no mere student. I am also the Adrestian Empire's—" And of course she would be interrupted because they didn't want the player to find out that she was the princess of the motherfucking Adrestian Empire this early, even if this game was based off of real life.

"Halt, Edelgard. Please allow me to finish my own proposition." He continued. "The Holy Kingdom of Faerghus is in dire need of exceptional individuals like yourself. Please, do consider returning to the Kingdom with me." She almost laughed at how unintentionally smooth that sounded. Yep, they definitely got his personality down.

Naturally, Claude had something to say. "Whoa, there! You two sure are hasty. Trying to recruit someone you just met. Tactless, really. I was personally planning to develop a deep and lasting friendship on our journey back to the monastery before begging for favors. But it seems there's no time for niceties in this world. So, capable stranger, let's get right to it. Where does your allegiance lie?"

Then Morgana started speaking. "Hmm. It seems one's place of birth is quite significant to them. Yet they are so impressed by you, that you may take your pick. Well?"

As soon as the two of them saw the three dialogue options appear, they both sighed in disappointment.

"It's a shame," He said. "I wasn't expecting for this game to be a Fates 2."

"More like Fates let's-add-a-third-territory-to-make-ya'-buy-our-piece-of-shit-dating-game."

"Two: Electric Boogaloo."

"Definitive Edition."

"And Knuckles."

"New Funky Kong Mode."

"Includes Fire Emblem Thracia."

"Also includes a free legendary loot crate QR code for Fire Emblem Heroes."

"Also includes a QR code for an unlockable Claude as well as a Golden Deer banner and a Claude sex doll and a Golden Deer condom and dildo if you purchase the season pass six months in advance."

Edelgard shrugged. "Anyway, who are we siding with?"

"Clearly the sexy brown man with a major gay." He said with a wink. "Also, don't search 'space movie 1992'."

"Duly noted, also, I don't think so. Since it's Dimitri's Switch, I think we should pick Faerghus."

Claude groaned. "No... I don't want to come with him to Faerghus..."

She ignored him and picked the Kingdom option. Game Dimitri seemed delighted. "Understood. Faerghus is a noble and distinguished kingdom that has always valued chivalry."

Edelgard shook her head. Nonsense, you can't get anywhere in the world with chivalry. Chivalry will only lead to a weak ruler and a nation's downfall.

The sound of Alois' voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "All right, that's enough with the small talk. It's time to head back to the monastery!"

"Looks like we'll have to pick this up another time." Game Claude said with a wink.

Xander, Ryoma, and knockoff Sain then left the scene, leaving Byleth/Dimitri/Silent Protagonist/Generic Blue Haired Fire Emblem Lord With A Sword alone once again. Morgana filled the void with her annoying voice. "My, my. They are in such a hurry. You know... Each of the three is most unique..."

Three dialogue options appeared, each with their names. "What are these supposed to be?" She asked.

Claude shrugged. "I think you have to pick the one you find the most interesting."

"Ok..."

She picked herself (she's not a narcissist, she was just curious to see what it would say) and how the game described Edelgard didn't surprise her much.

"She is a refined young woman..."

"But I feel as though she is always evaluating me..."

It was a simple characteristic of being the next Emperor, learning to analyze people, and it seemed this Edelgard was scrutinizing Byleth in order to see how she could have him lend his strength to the Empire.

Then the dialogue options reappeared, but minus her name this time.

"Pick me next." Suggested Claude.

She nodded and selected 'Claude'.

"His easy smile is striking..."

"But that smile doesn't reach his eyes..."

That... She... Edelgard didn't know what to think of that. She checked him for a reaction, but he still carried his signature smirk. Now that the game mentioned it, though, his smile really didn't seem to reach his eyes. He's hiding something.

Finally, there was Dimitri's option, and Edelgard already knew what it was going to say.

"He seems quite sincere..."

"But I sense darkness lurking beneath..."

She didn't know what to think of that.

"'Darkness lurking beneath...'" She heard Claude mutter before pulling out his phone to write that down.

The white-haired girl set the controller down and rubbed her temple. She was beginning to have second thoughts about playing this game.

Morgana then spoke. "Yes, I thought the same. I am so sleepy once again... I may be sleeping... but I..." Then she presumably fell asleep as Byleth walked off screen. A save state then appeared.

As that happened, Dimitri suddenly plopped himself back onto the couch. "What did I miss?"

"You missed yourself." Said the dark-haired boy. "But nothing really happened. Also, we hit a save point."

"Save point?"

"A place where you can save your progress and continue playing later."

"Ah, I see."

Edelgard handed him back the controller and he saved the game. Text then appeared on screen over a white background that represented the Church of Seiros.

'Part 1, White Clouds.'

'Great Tree Moon.'

'Three Houses.'

Then a mural with slow forming colors appears on screen as the same voice actor for Jeralt starts narrating. "The icy winds of the Oghma Mountains have begun to scatter, and the verdant fields once again spring to life across Fódlan, heralding the start of a new year. As they celebrate the dawning year, the people pray that they may realize their full potential, just as a tiny sprout hopes to one day grow into a great tree."

Yes, that is true. While it is usually Guardian Moon when the year begins, most consider Great Tree Moon to be the first official Moon of the year.

A map of Fódlan then appeared on screen. "The continent of Fódlan, said to be protected by a revered goddess, has existed since time immemorial. Three ruling powers now control the land." The camera zooms in on South Fódlan. "In the south lies a region long held by a more than one thousand year old dynasty—the Adrestian Empire." One thousand? Hasn't the Adrestian Empire been around for longer? The camera moves to North Fódlan. "Beyond its borders, to the frigid north, is the home of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus, ruled by the royal family and its knights." Then it moves to the east. "To the east, a league of nobles that heeds no king nor emperor rules what is called the Leicester Alliance." The camera zooms back out on the map. "Once consumed by a tempest of war and turmoil, Fódlan and these three mighty powers now exist in relative harmony." Yes...that is true as well. Though, most of the wars started from selfish rebellions seeking independence, none of which were the Empire's fault.

A 2D animated cutscene starts playing. The Knights of Seiros are in a forest. Jeralt, Alois, and some of the knights are talking as Byleth and the game versions of themselves lag behind.

"This will be your first time at the monastery." Game Dimitri says. "I'd be happy to show you around."

Game Claude lifts his head in amusement. "It really is Fódlan in a nutshell. The good and the bad."

And the sad part was that he was right, as evident by Claude laughing as he heard himself say so and what Game Edelgard said next.

"Like it or not, we'll be there soon enough."

Byleth then gives her game counterpart an observant look, one that she can feel even though she knows it isn't actually directed towards her. The trees begin to clear and Garreg Mach Monastery appears in the distance.

"There it is." Says her counterpart. "Garreg Mach Monastery."

Dimitri didn't seem to like what he saw. "That isn't what Garreg Mach looks like!" He yelled out loud like a child.

A montage began, showcasing multiple places within the monastery. One of them looked like the Holy Mausoleum, which reminded her that's where Nemesis' sword is located—or the bones of the goddess as she was informed by her tutors. Another was an open area with an old man (Hanneman?) observing two students' crests.

"What the?!" Edelgard blurted. "Is that the opera singer from the Enbarr Opera Company?!"

"Whoa," Said Claude. "she got packs of it."

The blonde boy tilted his head towards him. "Packs of it?"

"You know what I mean."

She doubts he knew what he meant.

Byleth and Jeralt then entered the monastery, their video game counterparts now gone. Jeralt then looked up and muttered, "Rhea's here."

And, of course, Byleth followed his gaze and saw a green-haired lady looking down at the two of them. How the game depicted her was a beautiful and serene woman, but she knew that there was more to her than that...

"I wonder..." Bitch monologued internally. "Did the flow of time bring you here?"

"So that is what Rhea looks like in this game." Said Dimitri.

"She's hotter than real life, that's for sure." Claude said unsurprisingly.

Edelgard rolled her eyes. "Of course she's hotter than she is in real life, we're all hotter in this game. It was made by a Brigid game company with twelve inch johnsons."

The blonde scratched his head. "What's a johnson?"

Neither responded.

The two Jaegers—as they would be referred as in real life—were now in Lady Bitch's audience chambers. Jeralt sighed. "It's been years since I've last set eyes on this place. To be forced to see her now..."

'Her?' and 'You've been here before?' appeared.

"Pick the bottom option." She said.

He complied.

"I've never spoken of this to you before, but...many years ago, I was a knight here. reported to the archbishop...Lady Rhea." Knight? But wasn't he captain of the Knights? Unless he rose up the ranks to gain that position.

Two more dialogue options appeared, but both asked the same question. "As you know, the majority of folks in Fódlan are devout followers of the teachings of Seiros. The leader of that ridiculously large religious organization is the archbishop, Lady Rhea."

The way he said 'ridiculously large' gave away that he's not exactly on good terms with the religion, or Lady Bitch, or both.

And as she expected, the two children of the goddess appeared before them.

"Thank you for your patience, Jeralt. My name is Seteth. I am an advisor to the archbishop."

"Right. Hello."

Lady Bitch then spoke with her totally fake serene voice. "It has been a long time, Jeralt. I wonder...was it the will of the goddess that we have another chance meeting like this?" Or the will of if he refused then she would probably send knights to go out and kill him since he probably has a crest stone fragment in his blood. Man, the Seiros religion makes no sense sometimes...

He bows. "Forgive my silence all these years. Much has happened since we last spoke."

She notices Byleth standing next to him. "So I see. The miracle of fatherhood has blessed you. That is your child, is it not?"

"Yes... Born many years after I left this place. I wish I could introduce you to the mother of my child...but I'm afraid we lost her to illness." Ah, so that's why the protagonist doesn't have a mom, that or Bitch killed her, as unlikely yet likely as that may be.

"I see. My condolences." The way she said that only proved to show how much of a cunt this woman is. "As for you... I heard of your valiant efforts from Alois. What is your name?"

Dimitri selected 'My name is...'

"A fine name indeed. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for saving those students of the Officers Academy."

Jeralt huffed.

"Jeralt. You already know what it is I wish to say, do you not?"

"You want me to rejoin the Knights of Seiros, don't you. I won't say no, but..." Of course he wouldn't say no. If he did, Bitch would probably just kill him right then and there.

"Your apprehension stings. I had expected that Alois would have already asked this of you. I must step away for now, but I expect they will desire a word with you soon. Please listen carefully to what they have to say. Until tomorrow... Farewell."

The scene faded and a new one began. Byleth and Jeralt stand in a room that looks identical to the audience chambers they were just in. Probably just the devs cutting back.

"I can't believe it. Forced back into the Knights of Seiros." Edelgard couldn't either. "I'm sorry I dragged you into this. Looks like I'll be stuck here for a while...and I'm afraid your services are requested as well."

'As a mercenary?'

"Nothing like that. They want you to teach, by the sound of it."

Claude gasped. "What?!"

Edelgard had a similar reaction, but it was nonverbal.

"So we're a teacher in this game?! Hell yeah, Byleth senpai will praise you endlessly!"

"I am more interested in the fact that they considered him qualified for the job." Said Dimitri. "He never even speaks... How old is he by the way?"

He shrugged. "Seventeen I bet. Brigid loves to make people underaged in their games."

The blonde quirked his brow. "Seventeen? Why would they hire a seventeen year old as a teacher?"

The white-haired girl scoffed. "Lady B- Lady Rhea wants to keep an eye on the two of them." She concluded.

"Why is that?"

"I don't know. It will probably be revealed why later."

Both boys nodded and continued dialogue.

"You heard those brats earlier talking about the Officers Academy, right? Well, the academy just happens to be short a professor. And apparently that damned Alois went and recommended you to Lady Rhea." Jeralt said.

The two people then walk into the scene. One was the old man from the previous cutscene. The other was the opera singer from Enbarr. Manuela spoke first. "So. You must be the new professor. My, how stern and handsome you are!"

Edelgard groaned as she craned her head back on the couch.

"Quick, cover Dimitri's ears!" Claude said jokingly.

Dimitri thankfully ignored his remark.

It turns out that shot was fired at Jeralt, because he said, "Er, no. I'm not the one you're looking for." He whispers to Byleth. "You can handle things from here. Good luck. And...watch out for Lady Rhea. I don't know what she's thinking, making you a professor like this. She may be up to something. Stay on your guard." Ah yes, someone actually agrees with her on making him a professor on such short notice.

He then left, leaving poor Byleth alone with an old man and a busty woman.

"Oh. It's you, then? So young..." Of course she'd say that.

The old man (oh, so he is Hanneman von Essar) seemed annoyed with her. "Competence and age are not necessarily correlated, as you well know." He presents himself. "I am Hanneman, a Crest scholar and professor at the Officers Academy. I wonder if you bear a Crest of your own. When next you have a moment to spare, I insist that you pay me a visit so we can delve into the subject further."

"If only he had an Emblem..." Said Claude. "Like...the Fire Emblem."

She rolled her eyes. "Let me guess, he has a crest called the Fire Emblem."

He nodded in agreement as Dimitri continued the game.

"I'm Manuela. I'm a professor, a physician, a songstress, and available. It's nice to meet you."

"Oh no..." She muttered.

'You're a songstress?'

"Of course. Before I came here, I belonged to a renowned opera company. Perhaps you've heard of me? The Mittelfrank Opera Company's beautiful, peerless—"

Hanneman interrupted. "Spare our colleague the needless chatter, Manuela. Now then, it seems you'll be taking charge of one of the academy's three houses. I expect you haven't yet been briefed on the nature of each, have you?" Oh goddess, is he going to be teaching one of the three houses?

"Do you really not know?" Said Manuela. "Fine, I'll do you a favor and explain.."

Both of them proceeded to explain the three territories of Fódlan, something that everyone and their mom already knows about.

The Scholar seemed fascinated. "To think that the next emperor, king, and sovereign duke are all here. It certainly is a promising year for the academy."

"I'll say. I just hope none of those little treasures cause any trouble."

He nodded. "Hm, quite. For now, I suggest taking a stroll around the academy to get your bearings. And when you have a moment, please stop by my research laboratory."

"The old man has a point. Oh, and keep in mind that I've only notified the house leaders that you're our new professor. It's more fun that way. I suggest you try spending time with the students. Some odd ducks in that bunch, but they're good kids. I'm sure Lady Rhea will have more information for you tomorrow, but that should get you going. Good luck. You'll need it." She didn't like how she said that last part.

The scene then switched to Bitch and Seteth arguing in a separate room. "Have you no intention of changing your mind, Rhea? Appointing a stranger—a child no less!—as a professor at our esteemed academy is—"

She cut him off. "I have made my decision, Seteth. I know worrying comes naturally to you, but there is truly no need. That stranger is Jeralt's flesh and blood, after all."

"I can't say that's all too comforting. How trustworthy is this Jeralt character? Is he not the man who went missing after the great fire twenty one years ago? I would remind you that Flayn is now here with us as well." Ah, now she understands. Seteth is actually Saint Cichol and his daughter, Flayn, is Saint Cethlean. But how did the game developers know? Some things aren't adding up... "I beg of you...please consider whether this is an unnecessary risk."

"Seteth. They have my trust. Let that be enough for you as well. More importantly, I have received a report from Shamir. I am increasingly concerned about a matter regarding our suspicious individual. We cannot ignore those who harbor ill will toward the church, especially if they are frequenting Garreg Mach."

Edelgard froze.

WHAT?!

HOW?!

HOW DID THEY KNOW?!

She got up from her seat. "I've gotta go for a minute."

Both boys nodded in confirmation as she headed out of the hotel room.

Her phone rang for a minute, then a voice picked up. "Edelgard." Lord Arundel said. "How are you?"

"I'm fine." She said as she got into an elevator and hit the ground floor button. "There's something urgent I need to tell ya' about"

"What is it?"

She sighed as she tried to think of a way to explain. "So...me and the prince of Faerghus and heir to the Alliance, we were playing this game and... Well, let me back up a little. Some stranger arranged a play date for us and gave us a video game to play. I... I'm not entirely sure, but...I think the game may be telling us about future events."

"What future events in particular?"

"Well, the game seems to know more than it lets on. For example, it knows about Dimitri's...darkness."

"You mean his psychosis?"

Reluctantly, she said, "Yes."

She could hear him shuffling around in his chair as he struggled to take in the news. "What else do they know?"

The elevator door opened and a few people walked in. "Hold on a sec'." She whispered as she made her way out of the elevator. Edelgard hastily made her way out of the building and circled it until she found herself at the back of the hotel. "I'm back." She took a deep breath. "As for your question... They seem to know of our plans."

She heard more shuffling, followed by a sigh. "What about our plans do they know in particular?"

"They...seem to know that we have people frequenting Garreg Mach. Who in particular, I'm unsure."

More shuffling, followed by another sigh. "Who gave you this...game?"

"The man's identity was concealed, so I can't say who in particular, but..."

"It cannot be the Immaculate One." He said for her. "It must be a third party working to expose us."

"Exactly. What do ya' wish for me to do?"

Arundel was silent for a moment. "You can either keep playing the game, or you could send it to us, preferably both. Whichever you are capable of doing, do it."

"The stranger gave us more than one copy, so I'll gladly send one to Shambala. I'll also be documenting my findings in it from now on. Specifically, what the game knows about y'all." She sighed. "I forgot to mention that the other two heirs may uncover this information as well. What should we do once they find out?"

He made a deep hum in response. "Prevent them from leaking any of the information they uncover. If you fail, we may have to...deal with them."

Edelgard nodded. "I'd prefer we deal with them sooner, but I'm guessing you have something planned, right?"

"Indeed. We will see if we could make some use of those two before we throw them away. Or we could convince them to join our side if the game really does know more than it should."

Yes, that sounded like a good plan. Convincing Claude and Dimitri to join her side in the future war she is planning. With their help, the Church will fall easily and swiftly, reducing the level of bloodshed significantly. Then she could take on her Uncle, or Thales, with their help, freeing Fódlan from both of its tyrants. Her smile widened as the cogs in her brain started to spin. "That sounds like a fine plan Uncle. I'll see what I can do to get them to join our side."

"Very good..." The sound of a mechanical door opened in the background. "I have to go now. Do take care dear."

"You too." She said as she hung up.

Arundel rubbed his temples and set down his phone on his desk as a servant walked into his office.

"Lord Arundel!" He said from across the room.

"What is it, Gunter?"

Gunter held up a letter in his left hand. "I have a letter addressed to you."

He motioned him to come forward.

The bald man with gray eyebrows walked all the way to him, his black shoes pounding against the hardwood floor and creating a popping echo as he did so.

He handed him the letter from the front of his large semicircular desk covered in papers. "The sender is anonymous."

He took the letter to see if he was telling the truth, and unsurprisingly, he was.

To Arundel von Hresvelg,

Anonymous.

There was a classic red seal press keeping the envelope shut. Curiously enough, the symbol on the seal had the Crest of Flames, or Fire Emblem, on it. Whoever this sender was, they were surely cocky at best. He tore open the envelope and pulled out a white sheet of paper folded in quarters. Once unfolded...

The only thing the letter had on it was the crescent moon shape of the Crest of Riegan, with the Crest of Flames in the middle, both colored green. But what shocked him the most wasn't the odd logo, it was the two words that were below it.

We know.

QL.

He read those words a second time, then a third, then a fourth to make sure, then folded it and handed it back to Gunter. "Take this to Shambala. They need to know."

Hands folded behind his back, he nodded as he took the letter. "Yes my lord." He turned around and left his chambers, closing the large door with a loud thud.

Arundel pinched the bridge of his nose. Who is QL? How does he, she, or they know of his plans? He leaned back in his seat as he watched an eagle fly by his tall window.

AN: Wow, I was expecting to stop at the decision, but this chapter practically wrote itself the perfect stopping point. Next chapter will cover everything from here to the decision for sure.

As for the parts where Brigid was mentioned, Brigid is supposed to be the Japan of Modern Fódlan, so basically, Nintendo is a Brigid game company.

Anyway, see ya.