Edelgard slowly opened the door and closed it behind her as she returned to Dimitri's hotel room.
Both boys greeted her as she came in. "There ya' are!" Claude said. "I was worried you got merc'd by Kostas out there."
She rolled her eyes and lazily plopped back onto the couch. "I'm stronger than I look." Then she noticed that the Switch was at the home menu. "Also, why is the game paused?"
"We did not want to play the game without you." Said the blonde.
"I wouldn't've minded. I got my own copy after all."
"But I did not wish for you to miss anything. Though, you did miss the remainder of the cutscene you left us on."
"What happened there?"
Claude answered her question. "Apparently, there's a suspicion character at Garreg Mach. Also, there's a character called Shamir, but we haven't seen her yet. That's all."
She nodded as Dimitri unpaused the game. A 2D cutscene began playing in which Byleth was reading a book before the Academy bells ring (old Fire Emblem jungle, ha ha so clever). He gets up and walks out of the room he's in. Then...
"Huh?"
A montage began, presumably introducing the cast of the game. The thing is, a majority of the cast was people she knew! The Golden Deer were shown first and she recognized Hilda Valentine Goneril from Goneril and Lorenz Hellman Gloucester from Gloucester, but the rest were strangers to her. Though, if she had to guess, the blue-haired girl was probably Marianne von Edmund from Edmund territory.
Claude seemed just as surprised as she was.
Then it switched to the Black Eagles, where she found herself unsurprisingly. Of course Hubert von Vestra was there, as well as Ferdinand von Aegir (ugh, why him?), Linhardt von Hevring, Caspar von Bergliez, Bernadetta von Varley (why her of all people?), Petra Macneary—which makes sense since she's currently a hostage in order to improve relations with the Empire—and... Was that Dorothea Arnault?! The opera singer from the Enbarr Opera Company?! Oh goddess, she's so pretty! Don't blush, don't blush, don't blush, don't blush, don't blush—
Then the scene switched to the Blue Lions in what appeared to be the training grounds. She recognized most of them—Felix Hugo Fraldarius, Ashe Ubert, Annette Fantine Dominic, Sylvain Jose Gautier, Ingrid Brandl Galatea. There was a dark skinned man with white hair who seemed to be from Duscur and a girl with cream colored hair, neither of who she knew.
The scene ended with Byleth walking into the Audience Chambers. Lady Bitch was at the other side of the room and smiled a fake smile at him.
They were then taken to what looked like a free roam segment.
Byleth stood still, being oddly fascinated with his hand as Dimitri asked a question. "What do I do now?" He said as he pressed the directional button.
"Move the left joystick forward." She said.
"That's what she said." Quipped Claude.
He nodded. "I know what she said Claude."
Edelgard simply rolled her eyes.
After the blonde practiced some of the controls, he finally made some progress and initiated dialogue with Lady Bitch. "I assume you are already aware that you will be teaching here at the Officers Academy. Correct? To start, please speak with the three house leaders. You should also take a look around the academy and acquaint yourself with your new home. That is your first task here at the monastery. Please let me know if you accept it. Once you have finished, come and speak with me."
"I wonder if the Academy will look the same as the one in real life?" Asked Dimitri.
The dark-haired boy shrugged. "Well, we can only know by seeing if it is. So I'd say we add this to our investigation."
If Game Bitch hadn't mentioned Jeritza (or Solon for all she knew), then she probably would've rolled her eyes. But she couldn't treat this as a shitty future leaders of Fódlan orgy fanfiction anymore. This is a game telling of future events and working to expose TWSITD and her future plans for uniting Fódlan under one banner, so she had to take this seriously.
Dimitri moved his character to speak with Seteth/Cichol and Alois. They didn't have anything particularly interesting to say, so he moved on to another part of the monastery. He found himself in the reception hall rather than the hallway leading to the audience chambers. Weird but whatever. In the room was Game Edelgard, so he went to go talk to her first.
"So you've accepted a teaching position here... Pity. I was hoping you would lend your strength to the Empire. I never properly introduced myself, did I? My name is Edelgard von Hresvelg. I am the princess and heir apparent of the Adrestian Empire. I wonder if you'll be tasked with leading the Black Eagles... I hope you've had a chance to meet everyone. Would you like to know more about any of the Black Eagles?"
The screen changed to a menu with some of the Black Eagles students' portraits and names as selectable options. Dimitri picked Game Edelgard first.
"Me? Well...some think I'm a bit distant. Arrogant, even."
"BUT FUCK 'EM!" Claude yelled in a mock female impression.
"But there's little to be done. One day, I must rise to become Adrestia's next emperor. What else... Well, it seems to me that we may have similar personalities."
He grinned and looked at Edelgard. "Damn! Game you throw out the hits fast!"
She shrugged. "I am a main lord. Some people probably buy the game just to romance me I bet."
"That sounds...disturbing." Dimitri added.
"It's the Fire Emblem community. They're a unique one, that's for sure."
All three of them nodded as they continued the game. The blonde selected each of the Black Eagles students in order. Game Edelgard didn't have anything interesting to say about them, not anything she didn't know about them at least, so Dimitri then moved on to the only other person he could talk to in the reception hall.
"Greetings! You must be the new professor." This was already her favorite character. "What a pleasure! As for me, my job is to stand here at this glorious entrance and leisurely watch over the comings and goings of everyone. Make folks smile, you know? Er...and by that, I mean...to vigilantly guard this entrance with my very life! No levity whatsoever. As of now, nothing to report."
"I love him." Said Claude. "I want to fuck him as the male protagonist."
Dimitri sighed. "Claude, please do not make jokes like that. They are uncivil."
"Someone's homophobic." Edelgard quipped.
They continued and headed out of the doors to the right and entered the Officers Academy. The nearest person was Claude, so the blonde went to go talk to him next.
"Well, well. Scored a teaching gig here, did ya? Talk about a great first impression. I guess that means I'd better introduce myself properly. I'm Claude von Riegan. I'm from the ruling house of the Leicester Alliance, but don't worry too much about all that madness. I'm guessing you don't know which class you'll be teaching yet, do you? I bet you'd like ours. We're not as...difficult as the other two."
Real Claude laughed.
"Have you met the folks from the Golden Deer House yet? Care to know more about anyone?"
She then learned a little about some of the Golden Deer students, and most of them were actually pretty interesting. Raphael's parents died in an accident, and yet Game Claude claims that he's the cheeriest guy you will ever meet. Ignatz wants doesn't seem to want to be a knight and may be doing it only to please his parents. Hilda...
"If you look up "lazy" in the dictionary...her picture won't be there because she never got around to submitting it. Not too unusual for a noble, I guess."
...Yeah. However, the one that caught her eye the most was the small white-haired girl called Lysithea. She's apparently the youngest student in the monastery and has the same unusual bleach white hair as her, which makes Edelgard a little suspicious. Did she go through the same... Bad memories started to filter in, so she reigned in her emotions and put on a blank face.
Game Dimitri was on the other side of the Academy grounds, so he moved his character to him.
"Please accept my apologies for the other day. You came to our aid, yet I hadn't even the courtesy to properly introduce myself. I am Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd, crown prince of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus. Of course, at the academy I am simply a student. And I've heard word that you are to become a professor here. Delightful news. I still have much to learn, but I'm confident I could benefit greatly from your guidance. In any case, welcome to the monastery."
Then they learned about the students in the Blue Lions house. None of them in particular stood out to her, so there wasn't much to say about them. Though...the Mercedes girl resembled Jeritza a lot. She took a mental note of that.
Two dialogue options appeared as the conversation with Game Dimitri ended. It was saying to fast travel to the audience chambers and choose which house to lead or to continue exploring.
"I'd say we keep exploring." Said Claude. "There might be more NPCs to talk to."
Dimitri nodded and continued exploring. He moved his character into the Black Eagles house to see the students in person. Hubert and Petra were talking off to the side, so he went to talk with them first.
Hubert greeted him. I am Hubert. A humble servant of Lady Edelgard. I heard you came to the aid of Her Highness. You have my most sincere thanks." Yes, this character should really use that debt to get on Hubert's good side, otherwise, he may kill poor Byleth in his sleep due to paranoia that he may visit her in her room one night. "This is Petra. She has come all the way from Brigid to study in the Empire. Back on her archipelago, she is actually a princess. In Fódlan terms, she would be called heir to the throne."
She bowed. "Hello. I am called Petra. I am pleased to be meeting with...no, I am pleased to have met you." She couldn't help but feel a little bad for the Brigid princess. She was taken in as a hostage so Brigid wouldn't wage another war with the Empire, but even then, there's a difference between being related to the person who invaded Fódlan's Fang and actually being that person. Just another reason why the crest system had to go, people needed to be a little more open minded.
He moved on to Bernadetta and Ferdinand.
"Ah! What?! I don't talk to strangers!" She squeaked.
Claude and Dimitri laughed while Edelgard shook her head in disappointment.
"Bernadetta, this is no stranger! Our house leader owes this person a great debt. Is that not right? I am Ferdinand von Aegir, legitimate son of the Aegir family, the Empire's foremost house. Are you going to join our class? I look forward to getting better acquainted with you." Oh goddess, he was just as annoying in game as he was in real life.
Caspar and Linhardt were next.
"Is it true that you saved Edelgard? That's incredible! The name's Caspar, by the way. Pleased to meet ya'!"
The green-haired boy gave a lazy wave. "Linhardt. Goodbye." Yes, that definitely sounded like something he would say when meeting a new person.
"Yeesh, Linhardt. How'd you get into the academy with those manners? So, are you a student here too? Maybe we'll be in the same class!" She doesn't think so. Then again, Byleth is probably seventeen, so it's realistic to make an assumption like that.
Dorothea was last. "Well, aren't you just lovely. Is this your first time in the monastery? Shall I show you around?" Edelgard had a hard time deciphering whether that shot was directed towards her or the protagonist. Obviously the protagonist, but the way she said it struck a sensitive chord in her heart. "Oh, my name is Dorothea. Before I joined the academy, I was a member of an opera company in the Empire. You should hear me sing sometime."
Now that they spoke to everybody in the class, they moved on to the Blue Lions classroom. The very first person they ran into was Sylvain. "Hey there. Are you the mercenary who saved His Highness? It's an honor to meet you. I'm Sylvain Jose Gautier. Feel free to say hi whenever you like."
"I am too afraid to know what he would say if I picked the female option." Dimitri commented.
"Oh yeah, I forgot that he's the Inigo of this game." Said Claude.
"Who is Inigo?"
"Awakening."
The blonde reached into his brain to pull out a response, but came out with nothing and continued the game. He's probably given up trying to understand the things she and Claude talk about.
He moved to Ashe and Dedue first. "Hi, there! You must be the one everyone's talking about. I'm Ashe. Great to meet you. This here is Dedue. He serves Prince Dimitri." Yes, he certainly does sound earnest.
"I have heard that you rescued His Highness. Words cannot express my gratitude. Should you ever require my strength, please know that I will hasten to repay this debt." She picked up some serious Hubert vibes coming from him. You know, he could use a friend right about now...
Mercedes and Annette (a net. How was she only now realizing this) next. "And who's this? You don't look familiar at all. Do you work here at the monastery?"
Claude pointed straight at the screen. "I do not like her voice!"
"Why not?" Asked Dimitri.
"I dunno, she gives off some serious slutty maid vibes..."
"Slutty maid vibes? You do not even know anything about her."
"What if I'm right?"
He shrugged and continued listening to the dialogue. "Oh, Mercie!" Mercie? Oh, she gets it... "Do you think this is that mercenary people have been talking about?"
"Now that I think about it, that does sound like something Dimitri may have said... I suppose you'll be enrolling at the Officers Academy too, then? Well, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Mercedes, and this is my best friend—"
"I'm Annette! It's nice to meet you."
They decided to talk to Felix and Ingrid next.
"I have heard all about what you did from Prince Dimitri. As a citizen of Faerghus, I thank you."
"He also said you're quite skilled. And he doesn't just say things like that. I look forward to sparring with you and beating you."
Dimitri chuckled. "Sounds like Felix alright..."
"Felix, must you always speak of fighting right away? Oh! And, uh...you may call me Ingrid. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
The Golden Deer were next, and up first was Lorenz.
"Ah. You must be the renowned mercenary who rescued Claude. Honestly, you should not have troubled yourself over the likes of him. My name is Lorenz Hellman Gloucester. You will want to remember it."
Claude laughed. "That sounds so much like Lorenz, it makes me want to cry."
Raphael and Leonie were the closest, so Dimitri spoke to them next. "Are you someone's guest? The dining hall's that way if that's what you're looking for." Wow, this guy literally is a meat sac.
"No, Raphael. That's Captain Jeralt's kid. Hi, I'm Leonie Pinelli—Captain Jeralt's first and greatest apprentice! I'm sure he's told you about me?"
"Nice to meet you! I'm Raphael Kirsten. Who are you again?"
And the sad part was, these seemed like people Claude would choose to be in his house. She would pity him if they weren't rivals, or Ferdinand.
Then they spoke to Lysithea and Ignatz. "So you're the skilled mercenary who saved Claude, are you?"
"Oh, you are? It's such an honor to meet you! Ignatz Victor. My parents are Alliance merchants." Ah, so that's why he's been picked.
"And I am Lysithea von Ordelia. Please do not forget it."
And finally, there was Hilda and Marianne. "Hey, are you that mercenary? Everyone's been talking about you. I'm Hilda Valentine Goneril. And her name is..."
"M-Marianne von Edmund..."
"Are you joining the Knights of Seiros or something? Well, I look forward to seeing more of you!"
Two prompts then appeared on screen. They're the same ones that appeared earlier, telling Dimitri to return to Lady Bitch or continue exploring. He turned his head to her and Claude. "So?"
He shrugged. "I say we return to Rhea. I doubt there's much else to see, plus, we can explore the monastery in its entirety later."
"Then let's do that." Said Edelgard.
"Alright..." He selected the return to Bitch option and then Byleth was brought back to the audience chambers with Hanneman and Manuela beside him.
Bitch greeted him on his arrival. "How are you enjoying your time at the academy thus far? I hope you have found our halls brimming with the vitality of well-intentioned souls."
"Hm. I suppose it is time for you to take charge of one of our three houses of students. I must note that I am personally against entrusting someone as lacking in trackable history as yourself with such a task, but it is as the archbishop desires."
Claude leaned in. "Seriously though, who the hell hires some random Jaeger they met, like, the other day?"
The blonde shrugged. "Maybe he has an impressive resume."
"Byleth's resume: Ashen Demon, seventeen years old, Jaeger, never speaks, hears voices." Edelgard explained jokingly.
"Oh..."
The scene continued with Manuela. "The Black Eagles, the Blue Lions, and the Golden Deer... All so different. I hope you've made it a point to get to know each of them."
"Since you are new here, we have decided to allow you first pick. Manuela and I will take charge of the remaining two houses." Hanneman offered.
Three options appeared. Black Eagles, Blue Lions, Golden Deer. Both spectators turned their heads to Dimitri.
He was staring down at his controller as if he was about to enter a den of vipers, then looked up at both of them. "So... Who should we pick?"
Torres,
It comes to my attention that an anonymous third party had intervened with our secret war. Not only that, but they are somehow aware of our plans and possibly the agents and doppelgängers we have stationed at Garreg Mach. I have a difficult time believing that there were any holes in this operation, considering how well we had everything covered up, but we apparently need to double think our plans. This mysterious 'QL' could be working for the church for all I know, and if they find out about our plans this early, they may gain the upper hand in my niece's future war. That, or there may be a rat. I will be traveling to Garreg Mach soon to inform my niece about the situation.
Speaking of my niece, she somehow got her hands on a copy of a game that is said to tell future events. According to her, it also is aware of the people we have stationed at Garreg Mach, though, the only one we know for sure is Jeritza, who is more loyal to Edelgard than we are, so it could be a false alarm. I wouldn't hope for it though. As unbelievable as this all sounds, I feel as though I have no choice but to investigate the matter in person. She has offered a copy of the game to us once she finishes it. I believe this will help us gain the upper hand against the false goddess.
Anyway, how is Kronya doing? How is her training going? Is the stone in her heart working as it should be? I know I ask the same question in every letter I send you, but remember that she is the key to winning this war, so her progress is also our progress.
Also, out of pure caution and paranoia, I would like to initiate Plan Ochs earlier than planned. I know now would not be the best time as the monastery security is relatively heavy with all three rulers of Fódlan there, but QL could throw a wrench into our plans at any moment.
The sooner, the better.
Thales.
Arundel set down his pen and let out an exhausted breath. Arcadia's code was a difficult language to write in, but it was necessary in case a Knight of Seiros or hill Jaeger gets ahold of it. He folded the sheet of paper in fours and handed it over his desk to Gunter.
"Take this to Shambala."
AN: So I spent a week thinking about where I was gonna take this story. I played through FF7 Crisis Core during that time, and that game gave me a VERY good idea as where this will go.
*grins* Ever wanted to see a Fire Emblem character grow wings?
P.S. I hate Cissnei.