The Black Eagles were about to leave in the morning to head to Faerghus, along with the advance troops. Edelgard had considered leaving immediately, but had decided to let everyone have one more night of sleep in a real bed first.

Rhea placed Leraye in her cradle, then turned to Byleth. "When you brought up plans for the future, that brought up something I have been thinking about for some time. Byleth, when the war ends, I wish to step down as Archbishop, and I want you to take up the mantle."

"Me?" Byleth asked. "Why?"

"Truth be told, I simply have not handled my responsibility as Archbishop well," Rhea told him. "I may not have been as poor of a leader as some, but I have frequently done nothing to deal with problems that I should have been able to address. Even aside from the Crest system, I have done little to address the xenophobia that is all too common in Fodlan, nor the unequal balance of power, simply because I believed that Mother would be able to make everything right." She looked at her hands. "I could do nothing when Duscur was laid to waste, nor when any number of other tragedies took place."

"Rhea, that's not fair. You were only trying to leave the people free to make their own decisions-"

"Even now, I do not share your compassion for the Agarthans," Rhea cut him off. "I know most of them were not responsible for the wrongdoings of Thales and his minions. I know Thales has poisoned many of their minds with his lies. Perhaps they would turn against them if they knew the truth, as Aubin and Chevalier did to Nemesis when they learned of the true origins of their Crests and Relics. But in my heart, I cannot forgive them. Neither can Edelgard, in truth, and the people, not just the Agarthans, but all of Fodlan, will need the aid of leaders with that sort of compassion. Leaders like Dimitri, and you."

Byleth hesitated. "I'm not qualified, Rhea. I'm not a priest, nor a politician."

"You will not have to handle the job alone," Rhea promised. "I will give you as much support as I can, as will Seteth. But this is necessary."

Byleth looked her in the eyes. "That's not all of it, is it?"

Rhea sighed sadly. "In truth...I am tired, Byleth. I have carried the weight of the world on my shoulders for a very long time now, and the burden of my mistakes and regrets is a heavy one. I want to step down. Perhaps it is selfish of me."

"It's not selfish to know your limits, Rhea," Byleth assured her.

"Thank you. I know the Church has many faults. But even so, I still love it and am still proud of it. I can only step down if I can leave it in the hands of someone I can trust to care for it well."

"If that's what you need, then I'll do it. For a time," Byleth promised. "But when the Church doesn't need me any more, I want to return to my classroom. It may not be much, but it's the first place I truly felt I belonged."

"Then if you will watch over the Church, I will watch over the Academy," Rhea promised. "Doubtless there will be a need for professors of statecraft in the future, and I do know some statecraft. When it is time for you to return to your classroom, the Academy will be waiting for you."

"Thank you," Byleth said with a smile.

Macuil didn't particularly feel like sleeping. Noa's descendant had gotten her spell to work; she called it "Reveal," and she had used it to identify all of the Agarthan impostors in the capital. Some had fled, some had fought, refusing to surrender even after being promised amnesty. Others had obeyed the order to surrender and were currently under surveillance. At the very least, the Hresvelg girl and her shadow had agreed that it was too much of a risk to let them go without being watched at the moment.

He noticed the man with the porcelain mask watching the fireplace in the hallway. Jeritza von Hrym. Yes, that was his name. He might have been a bearer of the Crest Lamine stole from Rafail, but according to Seiros, he had not hesitated to fight Nemesis when he had revealed himself, and had landed a blow that had both saved her life and left a wound that would scar on the bastard.

He didn't quite trust Jeritza, but he might as well talk to him. "Good evening."

"Is it?" Jeritza asked.

"Perhaps, perhaps not," Macuil said. "I heard you fought Nemesis alongside Seiros."

"I did," Jeritza confirmed. "Though, I doubt I contributed as much to the fight against him as she likely told you. Nemesis was a titan, almost a force of nature rather than a man. A singularity of hatred and killing intent. Even with all of my violent fury unrestrained, I could do little more than score cheap strikes while he was distracted."

"That is not an uncommon reaction to Nemesis," Macuil acknowledged. "Still, you scarred him, which few can say."

Jeritza got a faraway look in his eye. "Perhaps I shall meet him on the field of battle again. To die a glorious death at the hands of an impossible foe, perhaps even leaving another wound on him as a final act of defiance, that would be a good death indeed."

"You seek glory?" Macuil asked.

"No, no. Glory is for the small-minded." Jeritza's eyes began to turn purple and his voice deepened. "A battle to the death will allow me to grow as a human being. Devoid of pettiness...a murder attempt for the darkest of intentions will raise me to sacred heights. I am yet incomplete, as a human. There are things that I must overcome. Divinity is pursuit."

His eyes regained their blue color and he pulled himself back. "Forgive me. My inner demon craves bloodshed. The contest of strength and will, which two men enter with the understanding that only one will leave...nothing is more sweet to him. It grows hard to hold him back."

Macuil gave him a strange look. "I don't understand."

"Nemesis is like the Death Knight, but with no restraint. Pure fury and killing intent. The Death Knight wishes to pit his fury and killing intent against that of Nemesis with no fear of the consequences to others. And perhaps...perhaps if I can overcome Nemesis, I can overcome the Death Knight as well."

"Something is very wrong with this man." "I don't think that's how it works."

"No, no, of course it is not. I am projecting my own darkness onto another," Jeritza admitted. "Killing Nemesis would not rid me of the Death Knight, nor would being killed by him. But to die a worthwhile death, a death worthy of a man and not a monster, that would allow my soul a modicum of peace. And perhaps, if I have the will to overcome the enemy without, I can gain the will to overcome the enemy within." He turned back to the fire. "I am a beast, a rabid animal only fit for battle. But when I see the pain in my sister's eyes when she looks at me, and the sorrow tainting an old friend's boundless joy otherwise overcome solely by the sun, I wish that I were not." He looked at Macuil's face. "Is it wrong to wish that I were a man rather than a monster? To wish to be free of my hate and bloodlust?"

Macuil finally realized what Jeritza was talking about. "I am the wrong man to ask. I have been shackled by hate for far longer than you. And I do not have the will to cast my chains aside. The part of me that desired to do so died with my wife and son."

"There is no part of you that wishes to share in your family's newfound joy?" Jeritza asked.

"None," Macuil said. "It would only serve to remind me of all that I lost."

Jeritza gave Macuil a look of pity. "I am sorry. Our curses are both cruel, but I can at least hold hope. Not for myself, but for Mercedes, and those she cares for. And for those who will not be abused by men like my father because of my actions."

He put his hand on Macuil's shoulder. "I would fight at your side in the coming battles. If we are damned by our rage, we can at least not be damned alone."

"Very well," Macuil agreed. "Just as long as you do not get in my way."

"And as long as you do not get in mine," Jeritza said. "I should rest."

"By all means." Macuil bid him leave. Perhaps he would talk to Jeritza von Hrym again.

The next morning, as everyone who was leaving prepared to go, Indech went to talk to Bernadetta. "Eep!" she squeaked as she noticed him.

"I'm not that frightening, am I?" Indech asked.

"It's not your fault! I mean, you did sneak up behind me, but I'm sure you weren't meaning to sneak up behind me, I was just focused on saddling up my horse, and..." she trailed off as she inadvertently made herself look smaller.

"Hey, no worries! It's fine!" Indech assured. "I noticed that you have the Inexhaustible with you. Did Leonie give it to you?"

"Yes, she said she realized she didn't need it," Bernie said. "So, she gave it to me."

Indech nodded. "No offense, but it does seem like you needed the confidence boost."

"You have no idea," Bernie admitted. "I've been spending most of the last two years scared out of my mind."

"Then why fight?" Indech asked. "You could probably find some way to avoid it."

"Well...because my friends need me," she said. "I'm the class's sniper. Without me, they can't deal with mages and pegasus knights become a headache. I can't leave them out to dry. And because...well, Hubert needs me to be brave for him."

"Hubert? Tall, gaunt, and wiry, eyes like a cat? Ramped up the intimidation as soon as he met me?" Indech asked. "I'm not judging, but I did not expect that."

"He's trying to put on a brave face for Edelgard," Bernie said. "Some things happened that broke her confidence. He's trying to be brave for her, but he won't admit that he needs support too."

"You're a good sort," Indech smiled. "I'm glad someone like you is wielding my bow."

"Thanks," Bernie said. "But don't you need it?"

"Oh, not at all," Indech assured. "You just worry about your friends."

Up next: The Golden Deer face off against Nemesis and Maurice.