"Hey, Hapi." Yuri said as he leaned against the entrance of an alleyway. Hapi stood across from him, looking out into the marketplace. Racks of spices and vegetables Hapi rarely saw pass through the Abyss were laid out in abundance, eagerly awaiting a paying customer's grubby hands.

"What's up, Yuri-bird?"

"I wanted to ask you-hold on." The rhythmic fall of heavy footsteps echoed out of the alley, followed by heavy panting. As soon as the man burst from the corner, Yuri's foot shot out. Before the man had even realized he was falling, his chest had already landed on Yuri's sword.

"They never learn, do they?" Hapi looked back at the small pile of four or five bandits or whoever the group was piled against the wall.

Yuri gave a snort, and threw his latest victim onto the pile. "I don't complain."

"Yeah…" Hapi turned back to the market, abandoned by the merchants since the battle had started. It really was nice to see that there was something other then Garreg Mach's leftovers available for sale. Hapi liked stale bread as much as the next girl, but every now and then wanted a bit of variety in her diet. "Oh hey, does that stand have pheasant?"

"The one next to the pastry shop?"

"Yeah." Hapi wriggled her nose. "Do you think they'd mind if we took some as payment? I haven't had pheasant since the church locked me up in Abyss."

"Well, it's not like we couldn't blame this lot for any missing wares…" Yuri looked down at the corpses. "But before that, I need to talk-"

"Pardon my intrusive and undoubtedly unwelcome interruption-" Hapi looked up. Constance was approaching them. "But Duke Gareth has been spotted. A monster is chasing him- Hapi, I must beg your assistance as I am worthless against-"

"Hey, don't sweat it Coco. I'm on the case." Hapi pushed off her perch against the wall. "Where are we-" A roar echoed through the streets. "Well, that answers that." She took off through the streets, the quiet tap of Yuri's footfalls and the swish of Constance's dress following behind her. "What's a monster doing here anyway? II thought we were fighting bandits, or a black-market sale gone wrong?"

"I do not know- I too believed bandits were our only source of woe. The beast appeared out of nowhere, and Aelfric sent me to fetch you from wherever the battle had taken you."

The group turned a corner, and Hapi's eyebrows rose. "What the hell is that?"

The beast was like none Hapi had ever seen in her years of sighing. It had a long, sinewy body, with brownish and black scales and a single glowing red eye. It looked like a giant lizard, except that a fireball was shooting out of its mouth, landing in the middle on another group of thieves before Hapi had to lift a finger.

Even Shai had to be coerced into attacking her enemies. Maybe this one was an improvement.

Then the monster turned its head and bellowed at three figures in the distance-if Hapi focused, she could make out Balthus's lack of shirt, Aelfric's priest robes, and a pair of overly complicated pigtails. The beast started to make a hacking motion at them, and flames began to rise from its throat. Maybe not the best improvement.

"Alright, let's do this." Hapi took the Sign from out her pocket, and concentrated. A familiar dark surrounded by light energy enveloped her hand, and shot out towards the monster.

"Hey, you! Listen up!" Hapi shouted. The energy stuck against the monster's head, and it reared back in surprise. The flames licking out of its maw began to sputter. "Knock it off! leave this town alone, and stop spitting fireballs as people!"

The beast shook its head back and forth, hissing loudly. The fires in its mouth rose and fell, but never faded. Hapi's eyes narrowed.

"Didn't you hear me? You can't just destroy this town because it's in-"

The beast let out a terrific hiss as the fire billowed out of its mouth, spitting up a ring of fire directly at Hapi.

Yuri sprang to action, quickly pulling Hapi out of harm's way. "What happened? Why isn't it following your commands?"

Hapi swallowed. "I don't know. Let's try again." Magic flew at the beast again, striking its head. "Listen to me! You don't have to do this!" The monster hissed, and its body lowered to the ground, readying to pounce. Hapi gritted her teeth, and readied a Mire spell in her hands. Something told her that this wasn't going to be much like Shai's licks.

"Constance, go the other way! I'll keep its attention!" Yuri said as he unsheathed his blade.

"Where's the professor?" Balthus shouted from across the plaza. "Wasn't she with you guys?"

"She's-" The beast lunged toward Hapi. The Mire spell was not ready. Yuri was fast, but not fast enough to move her out of the way in time. Aelfric's blast of fire bounced off the Lizard's scales with not nearly enough damage. Hapi raised her hands in front of her face. This was going to be unpleasant-

From above, Seteth's wyvern crashed against the beast's head. Seteth plunged his spear into the scaled neck as his steed bit at the top of the monster's head. "Back, demon! You shall not harm anyone this day!"

A whooshing sound shot through the air, and a glowing red whip stuck its end into the lizard's belly. The beast roared in pain, its head rising up, which only provided Seteth another target. His lance cut into the beast's neck, and the monster let out a gurgle, unable to roar. The lizard's single eye dimmed, and its body sagged, falling to the ground dead.

"Apologies for the delay." Byleth's voice drawled from atop a building. She flicked her wrist, and the whip snapped back into an ornate sword. "We were distracted by other persons of interest."

"I couldn't control it." Hapi gripped her sign. "I used the Sign and everything. But it just shook off my orders." She folded her dry lips into her mouth. "Was it because it was a different kind of beast? I've never seen one that looked like this…"

"Yes." Byleth looked back to the fallen monster. "Yes, that's right. These creatures are…different."

Yuri leaned into the conversation. "Different how? What makes one beast so different from another?"

"I hope to find out with Hapi and you all in the future." Byleth turned her head. Someone was shouting in the distance. "That was Duke Gareth, I believe. Let's go."

It was a short affair of cleaning up the few bandits afterwards. After the battle, Hapi sat next to the river with a pheasant pot pie she had snagged from a stall. Duke Gareth chatted with Constance beneath the shade about some noble thing or another. Balthus was with Seteth, Aelfric, and Byleth, talking to some other nobleman. And that left Yuri…

"So, Hapi." The intrepid leader of there little student body approached his voice the kind of casual tone he'd use before talking about something serious. "About that thing I wanted to talk to you about before we were so rudely interrupted…"

Hapi chewed some of the meat and crust together. She had heard some people say it brought the flavor of both ingredients out, but it only made the meat taste dry for her. "Yeah?"

Yuri looked at her for a moment, before dropping all pretense. "Don't get involved with that Hubert guy. He's bad news."

Hapi rolled her eyes. "Come on, Yuri. I know how to handle myself. It's not like I haven't spent the past month fighting off guys desperate for me to make their name worth something."

"Hapi, I'm serious." His eye drifted up, and he beckoned with a motion. "Constance! Come over here for a minute!"

Constance almost skipped towards them, a parasol in her hand. "Yuri! Hapi! Look at this parasol! Why, Duke Gareth is simply splendid, I tell you! Now, what seems to be-"

"Constance, tell Hapi about Vestra." Hapi almost thought the sun overpowered Constance's new umbrella the way her expression shifted.

"Ah." Constance chewed on her lip like it was a particularly sour candy. "Yes. Well." She coughed into her hand, and adopted a sterner look. "Dear friend, do not rush into a Vestra's embrace. That family has done the dirty work of the empire since its founding. You cannot blindly bargain with that house and expect to have anything-"

"I'm not." Hapi frowned. "I haven't done anything. The pale guy just wandered down one day, and then wandered out. He just wanted information-"

"Hapi, I know guys like him. You know guys like him." Yuri leaned next to her seat. "That's just the start. Once he gets a bite, you don't get to just walk away. There's going to be another little favor, and then another, and just one more little thing…" Yuri brought his hand up, and then clasped it tightly. "And then you don't get to leave."

Hapi put the pie to the side. This was going to take a while. "So? He's only got one thing I actually want, and he'll have to give it up on the first go around."

"Hapi, please." Constance grimaced. "I've been talking to an old friend. The son of the prime minister. He thinks Hubert is involved in a conspiracy. Something dangerous. You cannot expect a small favor not to have consequences!"

Hapi rolled her eyes. "Please. Both of you. At most, I would be giving the creep a thirty-minute tour of the Abyss underground. What could possibly be so earth shattering?"

"I don't know. Yet." Yuri adjusted his posture to stand tall, but not too tall. Good. He remembered that annoyed her. "But his kind can't be trusted. You'll just end up dancing to his tune, and Hapi, you know how-"

"So I should just dance to your tune instead?" Hapi snapped. Yuri's eyes shot up in surprise, then lowered in offense. Hapi stood up, taking her pie with her. "Yuri-bird. Coco. For my entire life, I've had decisions made for me. By the church, or whoever else. And now that I've finally got a way to go my own way, I'm not going to let some smug prick use me. I'll use him. And then if he tries something smart, I've got a very hungry worm at my beck and call." Hapi paused. Constance and Yuri wore similar expressions. Hapi gave a little smile. "Plus, if anything goes wrong, I've got you all to help me out. And together, we've got nothing to worry about, right?"

Both nodded, Yuri more slowly than Constance. "A most wondrous sentiment, my friend."

Yuri was less cheerful. "Take great care."

Hapi took another spoonful of pie. Hubert's plan was easy enough. All he wanted to see was some crummy statue Rhea didn't want people to see. Maybe it proved inbreeding in the church or something. Would serve the old hag right. If she hadn't wanted someone to find the thing, she shouldn't have kept it in a place anyone could go. It was just some weird secret she wanted hidden, and Hapi might just help someone else bring it to light.

And then there was that other weird thing she had discovered riding Shai underneath the monastery, but-

"Hey, Hapi, you gonna eat that?" Balthus called out. "Because I am starving!"

Hapi shook her head. Now was not the time to think about whatever stupid plot Hubert was concocting. For now, she was going to enjoy the sun and the food Rhea wouldn't let her.

"I apologize, Baron Ochs, but the church cannot allow you such a dangerous artifact." Seteth said calmly.

"You scum…" The baron spat. "You let my daughter disappear, and then you have the nerve to keep me from what can save her?"

"Baron, please, you must understand-"

"No!" Baron Ochs shouted. "What can you understand! My daughter is missing, and now these gauntlets are the only things that will bring her back! What could you possibly know about anything that matters!" The duke's breath was short and heavy. "How could you possibly know anything about the pain I have endured for the last year? To have my daughter taken away, and then have the church refuse me the key to her release?"

Seteth exhaled in and out. "Believe me, I understand your pain. But the men who blackmailed you- they will not simply give your daughter back in an exchange." He raised his hand, open and inviting. "Let the church help you. We can find whoever-"

"You've helped my daughter enough." Baron Ochs hissed. He turned. "You have not seen the last of me."

Seteth watched as the baron stalked off into the streets. He could still see the man's fists trembling.

"…You really think just letting him go is wise?" Aelfric asked.

Seteth sighed. "What else can we do? Without a Crest or advanced knowledge, this-" He gestured to the parcel Byleth held containing the Vajra-Mushti. "-Will only be a danger. Never mind in the hands of whoever is blackmailing Baron Ochs."

"…But to leave the man with nothing?"

Seteth closed his eyes. "He is not wrong. We failed to protect his daughter. We failed to find her trail." He sighed, and turned to Aelfric. "And now we must live with the consequences."

Aelfric looked after the baron's trail. "All this for someone he loves…Someone he will never see again."

Seteth grimaced. "Yes. Grief drives men to do foolish things."

"Yes…" Aelfric turned. "I will go check on the students, I think."

As Aelfric left, Seteth's attention shifted to Byleth. Her eyes were distant as always. Flayn flittered in the background. "That creature we fought…what was it?"

"An Agarthan creation. They don't usually have the materials to create them yet."

Seteth's eyes narrowed. "Materials…You don't mean…"

"It usually requires blood, and a few bits old bone they still have." Byleth said. "They have some small stores of blood, but if it is being used now that means my presence has already scared them."

Seteth's eyes narrowed. "Abominable. To use the dead for such a cruel purpose…"

"Is so little needed to change a human into a monster?" Flayn spoke up.

"If combined with Agarthan magic."

Flayn bit her lip. "Even though we can't transform ourselves?"

Byleth hummed. "You can still transform."

Seteth blinked. Flayn gasped. "What?"

"What is lost can be found again. All you need is a certain desperation. A great need. A complete lack of alternatives." Byleth's eyes gleamed. "And if I do my job properly, it's a situation you won't ever need to be in."

The Golden Deer marched along the road towards Count Gloucester's lands. The greenery rustled softly in the twilight winds, and the gentle hills full of tall grasses swayed in an almost hypnotic fashion. The landscape was beautiful, the kind of thing a king would commission to hang in his castle. The students and the rescued merchants should be in high spirits, but all they shared were irritated looks. Claude sighed, and turned to the source of discontent.

"You brutes! Savages! Filth!" Acheron shouted from atop his horse. "Are you truly so incapable of protecting me? One of the beasts very nearly devoured my steed!" The poor steed seemed just as miserable.

Lorenz snorted. "Acheron, I know you are stupid, but are you truly so daft? We saved your life, after you attacked us, and this is the thanks you give?"

"I was well within my rights to attack impudent trespassers on my family's historic land! Why you should be thankful I allowed you passage home!"

"Allowed?" Leonie's eyes filled with disgust. "Those woods were chock full of monsters! That we cleared out! You couldn't even 'allow' your bodyguards to keep you safe!"

"Watch your tone, peasant girl!" Acheron snapped. "I could have you sent to prison for using that tone with me! Why, just for your impudence, I-"

Lorenz put himself between the two, his eyes narrowing into daggers. "House Gloucester will not sit idly by while you threaten one of its citizens with such a flagrant abuse of power, Acheron."

Acheron's face grew a garish shade of purple, and Claude took that at his que to step in before things got louder. "Say, Lord Acheron! You look better since the last time we met! How have you been?"

Acheron's eyebrows rose as his brow furrowed. "Who are you?"

Claude blinked. "We met last month." Acheron blinked. "At the roundtable."

Acheron snorted. "Listen brat, there is no need to lie. I'm a very important person, and I would remember meeting someone at the roundtable. Now you all listen here, I have been given no respect, and someone of my importance must-"

Unbelievable. The little prick just kept going. Claude leaned over to Lorenz. "How has your father not killed this toad? I know he has a price on my head, surely this whiner couldn't be more expensive than my head?"

Lorenz rolled his eyes. "Father has mentioned not wanting to upset the line for his head."

"-Are you listening to me? Hello!" Acheron shouted. "I can see you two miscreants whispering you know! And while one of you may be son of Count Gloucester, you must give me the attention I am due!"

A new voice broke the back and forth. "Oi, Acheron."

"What?" Acheron's head turned. Catherine was trotting beside his horse. "Lady Catherine? What do you want? Can you not see I am disciplining your unruly-"

Catherine's fist shot up into Acheron's chin. The man took a second to process what had just happened, before collapsing onto his horse, unconscious. The party collectively exhaled.

"Not sure what took you kids so long. In the kingdom this windbag would have been unconscious an hour ago." Catherine said.

Claude shrugged. "I guess us alliance types have a thing for pompous windbags."

"Clearly, if you are any indication." Lorenz muttered under his breath. Claude smiled back.

"By the way Lorenz, how'd your last tea date go?"

Leonie frowned. "Really Claude? First of all, that wasn't a date." She looked back at Lorenz. "And now that I am reminded of it, you still need to learn how to talk about things that aren't high society nonsense that no one but nobles care about."

Claude waved off Lorenz's glare and walked up to Hilda, who was gossiping with some clothing merchants as Marianne trudged along at her side.

"And this fabric will be wonderful on you! It will compliment your frie-" The merchant paused as he looked up at Claude. His hands tightened as his face went carefully neutral.

"I don't know, I'm kinda iffy about sky blue as a color on me, I've never tried it. What do you think, Marianne-Oh, Hi Claude!" Hilda turned with an armful of fabric. "Could you hold these for me? My arms are getting really tired, and-"

"Nope,"

"Whaaaaat? Come on!" Hilda pouted. "I was fighting all morning, and I can't let these get sweaty!"

Claude shrugged. "My dear Hilda, I fear that I was fighting just as much as you. Your poor fabrics would be just as tarnished in my arms."

"Aww, you're too sweet Claude, always looking out for me…" Hilda sighed. "But now no one is around to carry my things…"

"…I could carry them?" Marianne's voice was difficult to make out between the quiet conversations around them.

Hilda giggled. "No Marianne, I couldn't burden you with such weight! You're too precious to waste on manual labor."

Claude nodded. "Yes Marianne. The only people Hilda asks to carry her burdens are men who are trying to get into her-"

"-Brother's court! You wouldn't believe how many of my Brother's admirers pass my way." Hilda's smile turned into a pout. "But mean old Claude just doesn't want to meet Holst, and Lorenz is just so far away! It's not fair!"

Claude gave a theatrical sigh. "If only there was a beast of burden to save your precious purchases from hand sweat and inconvenience."

Hilda ran her hand through the mane of a merchant's horse. "It's such a tragedy. No one will ever know my suffering…"

Marianne quietly giggled, and the merchant laughed. "Of course, young miss! My horse is more than happy to carry your burdens!" Still smiling, his eyes gleamed at Claude as he packed Hilda's purchases into a fine leather satchel. "And what of you, my good sir? Can I offer you any fine silks or linens to go along with your lady friend?"

Claude stretched his arms behind his back. "Nah, Hilda buys enough clothes for the rest of the Golden Deer to wear for a season. I don't want to leave you with nothing."

"Oh, it is no trouble, my young gentleman." The man chuckled. "You must forgive my first reaction, I thought I saw something else in you."

"No problem, these things happen." Claude tilted his head. "If you don't mind me asking, what made you freeze up like that?"

"Oh, of course. I should explain myself." The merchant leaned over "I thought you were an Almyran for a moment." Claude pursed his lips. The merchant continued. "We are apparently traveling with one. That boy-" He jerked his head towards Cyril, who was chatting with Lysithea. "-Is one, I overhead as much. They're dangerous folk, I'll have you know."

Claude's smile didn't waver. "Really? I look so much like an Almyran?"

"Yes, really!" the man's eyes widened. "At first, I thought you were one because you have a similar skin color, but once I realized that you and the young lady got along so well, I realized that you must be an Alliance nobleman. No one else could have such a close relationship with the daughter of Goneril."

Hilda laughed. "Oh, don't be so mean. Claude's nothing like an Almyran! An Almyran would just run in, axes swinging, ready to pillage and destroy everything! But Claude wouldn't do that. He'd just sneak around and con you out of everything!"

"What a flattering picture Hilda. Maybe I should commission you to write my biography." Claude turned back to the merchant; eyebrow raised. "But what's this about skin color? Plenty of people in the Alliance have the same skin color as people from Almyra." Claude honestly doubted he could see much of difference between Judith and Nader's skin tone.

The merchant nodded. "Yes, of course. As I said, it was just a silly nerve that struck me after I learned of the Almyran. But I'll have you know the Throat and the surrounding seas were not always so protected. Merchants and pirates were much more common centuries ago, and…" the merchant coughed. "Well, I won't say that in front of a lady. I will simply note that Lady Catherine must get her savage strength from somewhere…"

Claude kept a polite smile. "…Her Crest?"

"No- well, yes." The merchant coughed. "You can see it on her skin, can't you? Her tone is not so different from the Almyran." The Merchant smiled again. "I suppose it's for the best that we use her heritage in service of the church. At least they gave that pureblooded Fódlan sniper to watch over her."

Claude tilted his head. "You sound pretty sure. Couldn't it just be that Lady Catherine practices in the sun a lot?"

"Oh no, good sir. I am an expert at this. Nothing gets past my eye."

The corners of Claude's smile tugged upwards as he let off a small huff. "And are you alone in this expertise? Or are there more men with eyes like yours?"

The merchant laughed. "Oh, not to worry, good sir! All alliance merchants have an eye for Almyran people! So we don't fall prey to their devilry on the open road, you see."

Claude looked up at the fading skyline. Night would fall soon. "I wonder what Almyran merchants say about Fódlan sailors. Do you think it's the same?" The answer, of course, was yes.

"I can't imagine that." Hilda sighed. "All they ever seem to want to do is kill us! Why would they be afraid of us?" Marianne nodded.

"It does take a bit of imagination." Claude said as he nodded along. The first stars were coming out to shine.

Claude hummed. His dream to unite Leicester and Almyra had always seemed far away. It still did.

Dimitri sat alone on what floor remained in the central chamber. The fighting had been fierce and the bandits desperate, but in the end, the Blue Lions had prevailed. The rain was falling fast and heavy, so Alois and Gilbert had made the decision to camp out in the tower for the night- what few bandits that had survived fled off into the wilderness, and were unlikely to return in their pitiful numbers. The dead had been buried outside in a hastily dug grave. Gilbert had given the funerary rites. All save one, that was.

Miklan's corpse was still laying in a puddle of his own blood. His severed arm still grasped out for the Lance of Ruin. Strange black scales were breaking through his shoulders. Two long teeth protruded from his bottom jaw.

"A gruesome sight." Dimitri turned. Cornelia stood behind him, staring down at what remained of Miklan. Her dark robes were untouched by the fighting, with nary a drop of blood or brush of dust to be seen. Her shawl was wrapped tightly around her shoulders, framing her pale face's look of disdain against the surrounding darkness. The fashion of a lady of the court traveling across the land. Much more modest than what she wore around Rufus. "But the brute got what he deserved."

Dimitri frowned. "…You didn't seem very surprised about…" He gestured towards the mutations. She hadn't so much as paused in her spellcasting.

Cornelia let out a small hum. "About as much as you, Prince Dimitri."

"That's…" Dimitri looked back at Miklan. "…The church told me to be wary of something like this. I found it difficult to believe, but…"

"It's an open secret among the families who own relics, and Rufus talks." Cornelia said.

"How is my uncle doing, by the way?"

"I did not lie." Cornelia's lips thinned. "I came to join your adventure for a break from Rufus."

Dimitri sighed. "The same as usual, then?"

Cornelia's eyebrow rose. "Rodrigue didn't tell you?"

"Rodrigue? I haven't received a letter from him in a while."

"Strange." Cornelia ran a hand through her hair. "He had said that he was going to visit Garreg Mach earlier in the month."

"I guess something important came up?"

"I suppose…hmm." Cornelia stared off into the darkness. The silence began to linger.

Dimitri coughed. "So. Uncle is doing poorly?"

Cornelia rolled her eyes. "Worse. Your upcoming coronation has sent him into a mood. I don't think he's been without a drink in hand for the past month."

"Uncle…" Dimitri rubbed his forehead. "What are you going to do with yourself?"

His father's voice scoffed. "Nothing. He was a worthless brother, and a worse ruler. Depose him. Take your rightful place."

"Don't go looking for a miracle, husband. Dimitri has been proving himself just as worthless."

Dimitri shook his head. "Is it really that easy for you to just come here, Cornelia? Surely, your absence is noticed at court?"

"Yes. Court. That is what we are calling it." Cornelia muttered. She put on a smile before continuing. "Not to worry, Prince Dimitri. I have many capable assistants. My affairs, and the kingdom's, are well looked after during this little excursion."

"Both your and the kingdom's affairs…" Dimitri muttered.

"She says it like she runs the kingdom. Like it's hers." Glenn hissed. "Another witch, looking to manipulate you. At least the green haired one was forthcoming."

Byleth had warned Dimitri that Cornelia was receiving faulty information. But depending on Rufus' intoxication, she was close to be being the de-facto ruler of the Kingdom.

Cornelia's lips pressed together. "Yes, well. All the other lords are busy managing their own realms in our current chaos, and Rufus…" She made a distasteful noise. "I advised your father for many years. Certain duties naturally fall to me in this trying time. Once you take the throne, I'll be more than happy to help you before passing into a much less…public role."

"I see." Dimitri nodded to her. She had the eyes and ears of almost all the informants and information networks in the kingdom. "Thank you for your help, in any case." If Cornelia could be misled with those resources, who could he trust?

"Incompetents. Vultures. Traitors." Lambert said. "I should have had them all executed."

"She is one of them. She is like that professor. Trying to sway you from your destiny." Patricia cooed. "Cast her aside. You don't need her. You don't need anyone. If Cornelia's ears are so gangrenous, cut them off. their pus might reveal something the green witch hides from you-"

"Actually, Dimitri…" Cornelia's voice gained a softer edge. "There is another reason I wanted to come on this mission with you. Aside from what I told the group."

"Yes?"

"Well it's…" Cornelia tightened her shawl. "To be honest, it's a bit embarrassing, and quite unlike myself, but…" She pursed her lips. "Well. No use trying to beat around the bush. I've missed you these past few months. And not just because of Rufus."

Dimitri opened his mouth, before pausing. "I…" His brow furrowed. "I am…thank you?"

"Ah. Damn it. That came out wrong." Cornelia rubbed the bridge of her nose. "It's just that after you've been gone for so long, I've realized that you and I have known each other since you were born." A small smile appeared on her face. "You were always running about the halls, getting into all sorts of trouble in the castle, making me heal your scrapes and bruises. It drove your father mad; do you recall?" A small laugh escaped her. Dimitri returned it. "And your mother…" She bit her lip. "…I never planned to have children. I never will. And I could never replace your own parents. But I've realized, that ever since you returned from the tragedy, you've reminded me of…"

Dimitri stood, transfixed. "…Simpler times?"

Cornelia looked away. "…My old friend."

A quiet energy hummed through the room. Dimitri looked up at the flickering torchlight. The light would go out soon.

Dimitri thought back to his childhood. He would often talk and play with his father and mother; he would be excited whenever Rodrigue visited with gifts and tales from Glenn's training. Gustave's oversight was dependable. But Cornelia…

She had been there. Never much to socialize with him. Sometimes she would be whispering advice to his father. Other times she would chat with his mother about any number of topics, usually going quiet whenever she saw him. She had not been absent, but she had not done much to make herself known. Even after the Tragedy, Cornelia would. Mostly interact with Rufus in various states of intoxication, but had rarely so much as spared a glance towards Dimitri.

Still, people processed grief differently. She had been friends with Patricia most of all. Who was he to judge how she delt with the death of her longtime friend?

"Dimitri…" Cornelia said. "I just wanted to say that if you ever wanted to talk to me, I would…" Her mouth could not decide between a smile or a frown. "Appreciate it."

Dimitri took a breath. "I…"

"She trades my memory for your loyalty. She always was the lowest of worms." Patricia scoffed. "What worthless drivel. Can you-"

"Prince Dimitri?" Cornelia called. Patricia's voice faded away in an instant.

Silence. Dimitri blinked, and then strained his ears. That had not happened before. "Mother? Father?" He whispered under his breath. No response.

"Dimitri? Are you alright?" Dimitri turned back to Cornelia. She had moved a few steps closer. Her expression was worried, but in an academic sense. Not untypical for her.

"Yes, Cornelia, I was just…" Byleth had said he should not trust Cornelia's information. But she was only offering nostalgia. And while they had never been too close… "You knew my mother very well."

She nodded. "Patricia and I were the best of friends."

"Rodrigue…never knew her well." Dimitri muttered.

"She doesn't! She is-"

Cornelia smiled gently, and the voice cut out again. "Whenever you wish, I would be happy to share some memories with you."

Dimitri breathed in. Something strange was going on. Something unexplainable. But it was simple. Straightforward. And Byleth was getting…

Byleth sighed. "That is where I bury my children."

…Complicated. "…I would like that."

Miklan's warped body went unburied that night.

In a dark room, tubes and veins pumped dark ichor to the hum of the faint magic sealed into the walls. Nemesis sat in a chair that kept each tube in place while they fed him their dark nourishment. "Well?" He growled.

Thales knelt before him. "Your commands were followed to the letter. A few pawns were sacrificed, and the Fell Star believes we are desperate. Solon should be able to adapt this mixture until we receive more Nabataean blood. Cornelia is competent enough despite her flaws. She reports that your plan is going smoothly."

Nemesis grunted. "Of course it did."

"I meant no offense, great one. I only meant-"

"Silence. I know what you meant." Nemesis flexed his fingers. "And what of the girl?"

"Stubborn. Distrusting. Unwilling to give any ground." Thales smirked. "More malleable than she knows."

"Good. Good." Nemesis squeezed the armrest. It bent in his hand. "One more moon…" He squeezed again, and the metal shattered.

"And then the end."

Thanks to Dox for Beta reading!

We've reached 60+ views! Thank you everybody! I'll continue trying to keep you all entertained.

I wondered if Catherine and Shamir's backstories were supposed to be swapped at one point in development- Catherine is the only one from Fódlan with a noticeable tan, and every other foreigner has noticeably darker then pale skin in the game. That's the headspace that helped produce the Golder Deer section at least.