A/N: How's it going everybody!

Today's chapter will be an immediate follow-up for the last chapter.

2019

"Whoa, an ancient duel?" Ann said in shock. "My goodness! It's almost as if this story keeps throwing twist after twist."

"If there were ever any questions if this legend actually happened or not, I think this definitively answers it." Bea noted. "There's no mention of a duel at all."

"Makes you wonder why this law was even removed." Lawrence said. "Even the oldest rule to ever survive still remain in some form, or another."

"Perhaps it was only a spoken rule." Ash suggested. "There are some rules like that after all, which is probably how it got lost."

"Written rule or not, at least she managed to survive another attack." Lenore noted.

"Yes, this duel does indeed sound odd to a lot of you, doesn't it?" Ms. Gregory began. "But the duel, was just the beginning."

Verdant Rain Moon, 1186
War Council Room

Normally, when night takes over for the day, the War Council Room is empty, and quiet enough that a simple coin could fall, and make an audible sound. Today however, following recent events, the War Council Room was full, and full of voices, as the Student Army discussed the recent event.

"Surely, you will accept this fight, right Niya?" Ingrid began. "If you don't, we will all be held prisoner, by Edelgard's orders."

"Should that even be asked?" Caspar spoke out, before turning to Niya. "I'm pretty sure saying no would be the last thing on your mind, right?"

"I think we should give Niya some time to process all this." Dedue stated. "Saying yes might be the obvious choice, but there's a lot at stake here."

"Indeed," Seteth nodded. "We have no full idea on what Edelgard might actually be planning after all. This could be part of something much bigger."

"It's true that it might happen," Niya finally spoke up. "But, knowing Edelgard, this situation can go either way."

"What do you mean exactly?" Hilda questioned.

"Well, considering Edelgard was the one who unearthed this ancient tradition, this would be the kind of scenario that she would follow thoroughly, without any form of sabotage." Niya explained. "But something tells me that the one planning something darker, is her second-in-command."

"It is true." Hibert spoke. "Hunter was always the more devious, and impatient one between the two of us. He's the one you need to watch out for."

"So, what's the plan now?" Leonie asked. "Surely, this is the lead that we've all been waiting for, right?"

"Of course, I will accept the challenge, but we must consider any potential backstabbing that may come from this challenge, so I was thinking…" Niya began to speak, before she laid out what she had thought up, on the chalkboard in the room.

The Next Day

Following the events of the previous day, under the directions given by the messenger, Niya departs to the section of the forest where the Adrestian Empire army are currently situated. There, an escort who knew of why they were here, began to lead them to the main tent. Accompanying the former professor was a small group consisting of Seteth, Yuri, Dedue, and Hubert.

As the group were escorted through the encampment, one of the first things they noticed was that the Imperial Army seems to have almost tripled in size, practically dwarfing what little troops they had left. What was apparent about some of them was the different ethnicities. Clearly, a vast majority of them were not Fodlan natives, to the point that some of them even looked more foreign, when compared to the likes of Petra, Shamir, and even the late Cyril.

Likewise, the Imperial Army noticed the small group enter their camp, but did nothing to attack them, for they knew what they were here for. Of course, they still had their guard up, in case any sort of thing would happen, especially towards Dedue, a Duscurian native, and Hubert, who majority saw as a traitor to the Empire.

A little after entering the camp, they were finally escorted to a tent set up in the middle, adorned with the familiar banner of the Adrestian Empire. No doubt that this was where Edelgard, as well as her most trusted allies were situated at. The escort entered first.

"They're here, your majesty." The escort bowed, as she announced the arrival.

"Very well, let them in." Edelgard simply spoke, before the escort left, replaces with the group. "Professor,"

"Hello… brother." Hunter greeted coldly, upon seeing his half-brother face-to-face for the first time in years. Hubert on the other hand, simply said nothing in response, but acknowledged his half-brother with a nod.

"Hubert," Edelgard began. "You're doing well. Good for you."

"Yes, Lady Edelgard." Hubert spoke. "You too as well."

"I see that you've brought Professor Seteth as well." Edelgard spoke, noticing that the second-in-command to the Church of Seiros was present as well.

"I am merely here because this requires my presence as well." Seteth simply responded.

Edelgard simply nodded, before turning to the former professor. "Professor Byleth, the floor is yours."

Niya took a moment to breathe, before she spoke up. "Edelgard, I'm sure you know very well why I'm here, so I'll get it over with: I, Niya Byleth Eisner, hereby declare that I accept your challenge for the duel."

'Niya. That's a name I haven't heard in a long time…' Edelgard fondly remembered. Edelgard, along with her fellow House leaders, Dimitri and Claude, knew of the former professor's real name. The three leaders used Byleth as a form of respect, something that Edelgard still continued to do, even until now, regardless of the current situation they were in now.

"Very well, professor." Edelgard spoke up, unfazed. "As is traditioned, combatants are to state their conditions for the duel. I will allow you to state yours first."

"Understood." Niya nodded. "For my conditions, should I win, I want the entire Adrestian Empire to surrender, and for you Edelgard, to be banished from Fodlan forever, never to return."

When Niya finished, everyone in the room, except for both Niya and Edelgard couldn't help, but feel a cold feeling around them. The surrender of the Adrestian Emperor was obvious, but banishing Edelgard was something the no one expected Niya to state as one of her conditions.

Edelgard, being unfazed, simply nodded in response. "Very well. I accept your terms. For my terms, if I win, I want your entire army to surrender as well, with all participants as the Adrestian Empire's prisoners. As for you my dear professor, rather than having you imprisoned along with everyone else, I would rather you become my personal assistant instead."

When she finished, she held her hand out. "Do we have a deal, Professor?"

Niya took the Emperor's hand, and shook it without hesitation.

"Very well." Edelgard began. "Shall we have this duel within three days' time, at the Garreg Mach's Fields just outside the entrance? It is an equal distance from both the Monastery and this camp, as well as far from any nearby hamlets."

"As long as no civilians are harmed, then consider it done." Niya responded, to which Edelgard simply nodded in response. Once all was said and done, the former professor turned to her group. "I believe our work here is done. Let's get going." The group then quietly left the tent, and returned to the Monastery.

Once they were gone, Hunter was the first to speak up "I'm surprised that you didn't wish for her death, especially considering that she wants you banished should you lose this bout."

"She has intel that is worth preserving." Edelgard explained. "To let such knowledge like that perish with her death would be foolish."

"If that is what you wish." Hunter simply spoke, before turning to Jeritza. "I'm surprised you didn't say a single word."

"This discussion does not require my input in the slightest." Jeritza spoke. "I'm merely here to observe, and only react if necessary."

Hunter simply shrugged at this.

War Council Room
That Night

"Well. That went smoother than expected in all honesty." Felix spoke, being one of the first to speak up, after Seteth had told everyone what had happened.

"How about how she didn't say a word about Lady Rhea." Marianne added. "Surely she must know that Lady Rhea is no longer a prisoner there."

"She probably does know about her." Niya said. "Edelgard probably just didn't want to make any mention of it."

"So, are we to continue onward with the plan we have made the day prior, in case things go out of hand?" Ferdinand questioned.

"It's still better to stick to it, just in case." Niya confirmed. "There's no saying for sure if everything will go smoothly by then."

"That reminds me," Yuri remembered. "When you stated your terms, you only stated that she would be banished from Fodlan. Why not have her executed for her crimes instead?"

"Yuri does bring up a good point Niya." Balthus spoke.

"I am not stooping down to that level." Niya defended. "I know I've stated before that if I had no other option, I would kill Edelgard, but I consider this an opportunity to rid her of any power she still has."

"If you say so…" Yuri spoke, though he was not fully convinced.

Three Days Later

As Niya prepared herself, her trusted Sublime Creator Sword just strapped to her side, she could only wonder to herself if what she was doing was in the right direction. She turned, and looked up to the same place where she first saw Lady Rhea when she first arrived. Only this time however, no such figure appeared. When she saw Rhea was nowhere, she turned her attention to the marketplace.

The marketplace around her was empty. The area was emptied under orders for everyone's safety, and were told to head to the villages, under the watchful eye of the Knights within the village, headed by Catherine and Alois... that is, save for one.

"Anna?" Niya began, as she noticed the familiar redhead was simply packing up, rather than taking any of her products with her. "You're not leaving?"

"Actually..." She began, as she did her signature gesture of putting a finger to her chin. "I was thinking more on helping you out should things go awry."

"Can you even fight?" Niya asked in concern.

"Of course I can!" Anna spoke confidently. "You don't just walk into my store, get what you want, and just walk away without paying. No siree buster. You're gonna have to deal with me."

"If you're sure about that." Niya simply replied, still unsure of Anna\s true abilities.

The moment to herself was short surprisingly, as Seteth had finally arrived to retrieve her. "It is time professor." He simply said, before allowing Niya to begin stepping forward, before he followed as well. As the two headed out, the cheers, and roars of the Soldiers filled their ears.

A/N: And we're clear!

Well. This was shorter than I expected, but that was what I was hoping for, since I wanted this to get straight, and to the point.

I'm sure some of you wanted the duel to begin in this chapter as well, but I figured it would be better if it was its own chapter (or 2) instead.

Oh look, Anna's here. I just realized that not counting Cyril and Gilbert (due to both of them being dead), Anna has never made an appearance in the story, save for a mention in the present day. So, this chapter was quickly revised slightly so I can add her. Hopefully, it doesn't come of as forced.

Anyways, next chapter: The duel between A Former Student and Former Professor.

Until the next chapter, BYE!