A/N: How's it going everyone!

Last chapter, we witnessed the return of Seteth. However, we'll be seeing what Edelgard has been witnessing for the time being, with quite the twist at the end.

2019

"And how many times has she gotten ambushed at this point?" Hayley questioned. "I honestly lost track at this point."

"Probably twice now." Hillary responded, as she held up two fingers.

"Really? Only twice?" Hayley spoke in shock. "Funny. Seemed like more…"

"T-twice?" Bernice squeaked, almost sounding afraid. "I doubt I could handle that much. Heck, I doubt I'll even be able to handle one."

"I'm surprised too." Ina spoke. "Thankfully, that other person was there, or the story would've ended by now."

"Yeah." Cassius said. "After that raid, I'm itching to know what happens next."

"It is quite surprising that this has happened to her once again." Ms. Gregory spoke. "After the surprise attack, what was to happen next, would involve uncovering an ancient tradition, long thought lost to history."

Verdant Rain Moon, 1186
Adrestian Castle

A Week Later

As Edelgard was going through her daily duties as Emperor of the Empire, she suddenly hears a knock on her door. Standing up to open it, revealed a messenger at her door.

"Greetings your majesty." The messenger greeted, before bowing. "Lords and Ladies from the minor nobility wishes to speak to you. They are in the main room as we speak, awaiting your presence."

"Very well." Edelgard began. "I shall be there in a short while." The messenger then left one he had heard the Emperor's reply.

Shortly

Minutes later, Edelgard has made it into the main room, a simple room where those who wish to seek audience with the Emperor were to be directed to, as they awaited either the Emperor to attend to them, or a messenger to inform them that the Emperor does not wish to meet them. In the room is a set of 5 chairs for 5 guests, and a single one on the other end of a generously long table for the Emperor herself. Despite this, the room was not meant to function like a council room like the one found in the Monastery.

In the room, a small group consisting of three men, and two women sat on the chairs, awaiting the answer from either the Emperor, or the messenger.

"You wish to speak with me?" Edelgard announced, as she entered the room.

"Yes indeed, your majesty." A man began. "I am Lord Jovel of House Polez, and we wish discuss to you matters concerning the status of your military."

"What is it about?" She questioned.

"We simply noticed that based on the reports sent out, based on the night raid, that you have lost a significant number of men." Jovel began. "We are here to raise that number up, by donating to you the finest the minor nobility can offer."

"This is very kind of you, Lord Jovel." Edelgard began, surprised at the generous offer. "What made you even consider doing this for us."

"You see," Started another. "Based on recent events, while major areas have been dealing with the crisis, most notably Arianrhod and Fort Merceus, the minor nobility of various areas in Fodlan have banded together to recruit men from areas beyond the nation. We even have men from areas such as Plegia."

"Is that so?" Edelgard began, intrigued at the answer. "What do you wish to offer?"

Lord Jovel began. "We of House Polez wishes to offer you our finest cavalry, with horses bred specifically for war, as well as our Assassins, all from Valentia."

The second individual who spoke up, a female, started next. "Lady Indelle of House Balyon. We wish to offer you our finest Pegasus, and Falcon Knights, whose winged horses shine like silver, same as those found in Jugdral."

The third one. "Lord Entrei of House Merculio. We offer our finest Knights, armor forged from the finest steel gathered from Elibe."

The fourth one. "Lady Peya of House Arguazo. We offer our finest Spell Casters. Trained by master sorceress offered by both the countries of Nohr, and Hoshido."

The final one. "Lord Gelo of House Armand. We offer our finest Axe wielders, and War Machines, built from the finest materials found in Magvel."

"All they await are your orders, your majesty." Lady Indelle spoke.

"Thank you for your offerings." Edelgard began. "I want them first at standby within our military grounds. They shall receive orders from there."

"Understood." Entrei bowed in gratitude. "We shall send them here immediately."

When the meeting wrapped, and the five nobles left, Hunter almost immediately made his way inside, having heard of the conversation, and having some questions for the Emperor.

"You're quick to trust them your majesty." Hunter raised a brow. "It's a surprise that you accepted it so quickly."

"I've both read, and heard about their houses when I was still a young girl." Edelgard explained. "Those houses are well known for devising treaties are near impossible to deny. If word were to get out of that one of their treaties were found out to be a fraud, all of their houses would've been destroyed immediately."

"I suppose that's fair." Hunter mumbled. "But why not strike now, when they are still weak? Why have them on standby?"

"I have plans for the time being." Edelgard spoke. "About two weeks from now, I want all the troops to be ready."

"Very well." Hunter said before he began to make his leave. "I hope that whatever you're planning is worth it all."

At the Same Time

Following the failed assassination attempt on Niya, which resulted into both perpetrators being imprisoned, while the third participants was dead, and buried in an unmarked grave beyond the Monastery borders, Niya managed to recover from the poison thanks to the Monastery healers who acted quick enough.

Five days later, Niya fully recovered from the poison.

"How's Lady Rhea doing so far?" Niya asked, as she came up to check on the status of Lady Rhea. Seteth, along with Flayn were already there, awaiting any results from the healers about Lady Rhea's condition.

"She's still recovering as we speak." Seteth simply replied. "Currently, she has been in a deep slumber since my arrival, while still receiving treatment. Whatever Edelgard had done to her, while not severe surprisingly enough, it appears that the length it took might eventually take its toll on her."

Flayn, who was with Seteth, spoke as well. "I may be glad that Rhea is unharmed, and while brother here continues to worry about her, of course, I am worried myself. I cannot imagine being in the state that she was in."

"Neither can I." Niya nodded in agreement. "Regardless, I am at a loss on what we should do now, from here. With half the troops gone, it would be suicide to run in, and try again."

"I brought some of my finest riders with me when I came here." Seteth began. "However, even though that they have been trained by me personally, their numbers do not bring it up that much."

"Even if we did have enough soldiers, where would we go from here anyway?" Niya questioned. "We have no leads whatsoever."

"Personally, I see this as a current opportunity to use this time to get some necessary rest." Seteth began. "The reports given to mention a heavy loss for the Empire as well. While it does not necessarily mean that the Empire will launch a counter-attack, I suggest we take this time to relax, while still formulating some form of plan, should it eventually arise once again."

"Indeed." Niya spoke, before making her leave. "When something comes up, you'll be one of the first to know."

Three Days Later

"It's strange." Lysithea began. The white-haired mage was at the former Officers Academy Classrooms. With her were her fellow Golden Deer, Hilda and Marianne, as well as Blue Lions Annette.

"What do you mean?" questioned Annette.

"They went through all that trouble to rescue Lady Rhea, and now, Professor Seteth is here as well. So, why does it still feel like nothing has changed, and still feels the same?"

"I can understand your confusion Lysithea," Annette spoke. "But considering the state I saw Lady Rhea in, I really didn't expect anything to change much."

"I agree." Marianne nodded. "It would take a good while until Lady Rhea can finally do something."

"The only thing that happened was another attack on Niya, and her being incapacitated for a few days." Hilda spoke, to the point that it sounded like she didn't give a care on what she had just said.

"And now there's no lead on the next step." Lysithea huffed. "We're practically just sitting here until something happens."

"I just hope that the next thing to happen doesn't involve a Monastery invasion." Hilda sighed.

Meanwhile

"GAH!" Caspar yelled out, as he struck another training dummy violently with a training axe. "I can't stand it anymore! What the hell's the next plan?"

"Easy there Caspar," Dedue spoke calmly. "While I too am getting tired of waiting as well, I'm afraid that we have no choice, but to wait out this whole thing."

"I know that." Caspar sighed. "I just hate that we're just waiting for something to happen."

"It is rather tiring, I must admit." Dedue simply said in response.

Meanwhile

"I don't know why, but I get the feeling that the reason something is silent, is because Lady Edelgard's planning something big." Hubert spoke, as he sat in the Main Hall.

"What makes you say that Hubie?" Dorothea asked.

"It's something Lady Edelgard has done previously." Hubert spoke. "What would seem like peace for some, is actually a cover as Lady Edelgard planned her next strategy. It is something that came up all too often."

"Is that so?" Mercedes spoke. "Then this has become quite worrisome all of a sudden, because I doubt, we'd be prepared for such a thing."

"I know," Dorothea nodded in agreement. "If there's one thing I remember about Edie, is that she's unpredictable when it comes to her next course of action."

Two Weeks Later

As Niya was speaking to Seteth, no doubt discussing about what they should do now, a soldier rushes up to them.

"Professor Niya, Sir Seteth," The soldier began, almost out of breath. "We have an Empire messenger at our gates. He says that he wishes an audience with the one he calls Byleth."

"Me?" Niya spoke, surprised about what she had just heard. "What for?"

"He says it's something that concerns Emperor Edelgard." The guard answered. "He didn't say much, as he wanted it to be within the presence of you."

"Stay alert Niya." Seteth spoke.

"Of course." Niya replied, before turning to the soldier. "Lead the way."

"At once."

Monastery Gates

Numerous eyes, including the students were looking onward, some even had their weapons out, as the Empire messenger simply stood there, who unfazed on the countless sea of eyes that were staring back at him, as though he was about to unleash some form of magic weapon at them.

"What do you think he wants from her?" Felix questioned, as he crossed his arms.

"Hard to say." Yuri simply shrugged.

"You called for me?" Niya began, finally making it to the gates, Seteth and Flayn just behind her.

"Ah, greetings professor Byleth." The messenger bowed courteously. "I was wondering if you were ever going to return the message."

"Anything that involves the Empire is something that I don't take lightly." Niya simply said. "Now what is it you want?"

"Right," The messenger began. "As much as I want to continue on, May I suggest that your army here lower their weapons? Rest assured, I come only bearing a message. I do not wish to attack you right now."

A brief pause

"The Empire can do that for me." He finished with a smirk, while some of the Seiros Knights glared at him in response.

"Very well." Niya agreed, before turning to the rest to lower their weapons, to which some of them hesitantly agreed.

"My thanks," the messenger smiles slightly, before taking out a scroll, and began to read from it.

My Dearest Professor Byleth,

I hope this message comes to you. This message is to dictate that as a result of our current circumstances regarding our army's well-being, to avoid any more unnecessary bloodshed, I hereby challenge you to a duel.

This duel is an ancient Fodlan tradition dating back within the founding days of the Adrestian Empire, Leicester Alliance, and The Kingdom of Faerghus. It was meant to settle territorial disputes, before more civil practices were created. Both combatants are to first state their wager, before the duel can commence. The battle continues until one of the combatants either surrenders, or dies. Remember, weapons only. No magic, or outside interferences.

We are currently situated in the woods just beyond Garreg Mach's borders. I await your answer within three days' time. No answer means that you surrender unconditionally to this war, and you, and all your allies are to be imprisoned.

-Edelgard von Hresvelg, Emperor of the Adrestian Empire

As soon as the messenger finished speaking the message that he delivered, whispers began to fill the area, upon hearing such a proposal from the Emperor.

"An ancient Fodlan tradition?"

"I never heard of such a thing."

"Was it lost to history?"

"I can see that you have not decided on an immediate answer professor, so I shall be taking off." The messenger began. "If you need directions, we are directly north from here, exactly within borders of both Garreg Mach, and the Adrestian Empire." The messenger then left Garreg Mach, as the whispers continued on.

All the while, Niya stood there, wondering what she was to do next.

A/N:

And we're clear!

I hated writing this chapter. With nothing to work on, since there is no failed attack in the game, I had to come up with something by looking up various sources of media. Too bad such scenarios don't come up often, because gods forbid that the hero lose a fight for once, so I had no choice but to fill it with filler from the students. Hope none of you mind.

Minor nobles' appearance. I know it might come of as the old "Enemy army always ends up being bigger than the hero's army" cliché, but it had to happen sometime, plus in the games, the player army is always fewer than the opposing army, so it kind of fits, I guess.

Also, the names are nods to a few of my friends, who I haven't seen since the start of this stupid virus… Seriously, F*** this whole damn thing. Fun Fact: One of them is actually the namesake of one of the future student's names.

Anyways, next chapter: Niya's decision, and hopefully the start of the duel.

Until next time, BYE!