Byleth had been largely debriefed on the war, but it was clear to him that all of his students and friends were struggling with traumas that they hadn't discussed with him. It tended to be easier to bare one's soul in a one-on-one discussion than with a big group, so he decided to speak with everyone.

After seeing his spat with Randolph, he had decided to start with Caspar.

"I don't know, it's just...my family are among Edelgard's strongest supporters," Caspar was saying. "Not just in the 'she's our rightful ruler' way. They're true believers. Fanatics. And don't get me wrong, I believe I did the right thing when I stood with you in the Holy Tomb. This war? It's not worth it. Why are they so loyal to her?"

Byleth sipped his tea. "Do you struggle with having to fight your family?"

"Yes, I do," Caspar admitted. "It's just...why can't they see that the war is wrong?"

"I don't know your family, but I do know war," Byleth told him. "A lot of people have trouble living with the actions they take in war. So, they find ways to justify those actions to themselves, to convince themselves that their actions were just. And Edelgard does have some good points."

Caspar scoffed. "Like what?"

"How Crest-bearing women are treated, for instance," Byleth said. "Like, say, Bernadetta?"

Caspar conceded the point. "That's still no excuse for starting a war, though."

"No, it isn't," Byleth agreed. "But your family is in one. And the easiest way for them to live with themselves is to convince themselves that they're on the right side. And because they think you're on the wrong one, they resent you."

"Well, I resent them too," Caspar said. "But thanks."

"No problem."

"I confess, I might have actually considered joining the Empire," Hanneman admitted to Byleth. "I haven't told anyone else, but I do want to rid Fódlan of the Crest system, after my sister was exploited because of it. That is actually the point of my Crest experiments. I wish to find a way to remove Crests, or give them to everyone, or make them obsolete."

"I know," Byleth told him. "Rhea told me as much."

"The archbishop knew?" Hanneman asked. "And she did not try to stop me?"

"She lost people she loved because of the Crest system too," Byleth said. "She didn't believe she could do very much about the Crest system because of the political pressure on her. But she chose not to interfere with your work in hopes that your experiments could be a catalyst for change."

"I...I never knew," Hanneman said.

"Of course, as bad as the Crest system is, all of this death? It isn't worth it," Byleth said.

"No, of course not," Hanneman agreed. "At any rate, I could not just abandon my students. What sort of teacher would I be if I did?"

"Not a very good one."

"Prince Dimitri and Dedue's deaths were rough on all of them, even Felix, though he will not admit it," Hanneman said. "And they were rough on me as well."

Byleth put his hand on his fellow teacher's shoulder.

Byleth walked in on Flayn having her portrait painted by Ignatz. "Oh! Hello, Professor!" Flayn called.

"Hello, Flayn, Ignatz," Byleth greeted. "What are you doing?"

"I am just painting Flayn's portrait," Ignatz said.

"Yes, just painting," Flayn said, a bit more nervously. "Nothing else."

"Of course," Byleth nodded. "Do you mind if I talk to Flayn for a second?"

"Certainly," Ignatz said. "I need some additional paint anyway."

Byleth took Flayn aside. "Have you told him how you feel about him yet?"

"Well...not quite," Flayn admitted. "Am I that obvious?" She gasped. "Does Seteth know?"

"I don't think Seteth knows," Byleth told her. "And Ignatz certainly doesn't. But I could tell. All I have to say is, you miss every shot you don't take."

Flayn nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."

Byleth walked off, leaving the two kids alone. Seteth might be somewhat upset, but there was no chance Ignatz would treat her with anything but respect.

Of course, getting Seteth to realize that would be...difficult.

Decided to add a few vignettes of some of Byleth's interactions during the three weeks before the meeting. I also was originally going to have one for Cyril as well, but that one will be in a later chapter.