Hello again, dear friends. I hope you are all doing well.
Apologies for my tardiness. I usually write through Friday and Saturday to post on Sunday, but this weekend was especially busy for me. On the other hand, I have an exorbitant amount of free time for the rest of the week and I aim to release another chapter before the next scheduled weekly chapter.
Things will start to move a bit more now that our adventurers are finally within the monastery. Expect some bonding between our field agents, an audience with the archbishop, and a pinch of the gatekeeper we all know and love.
With that, please enjoy the fifth chapter of Case Study: Fodlan.
It was held with a serene majesty, standing firmly upon the cradle of three mountain peaks. Great walls of weathered and hoary stone wrapped the undulating center in a tight embrace. Fingers of the ramparts gripping the etched rock to the ancient summits, and silver-tipped spires scraped at the sky, tracing wispy patterns with the ink of the clouds.
Garreg Mach. The Heart of Fodlan. A silence fell over the chattering crowd as the full grandeur of the monastery washed over them. Even the most faithless of mercenaries bowed their heads respectfully to the sacred place. There was a mutual understanding that this place was beyond their mere existence, and it struck them deeply. The group paused on the path, drinking in its glory.
Rook and Bottlecap lingered toward the back of the company as they started moving again.
"Did you see their jaws drop? What's so special about another big ol' building?" Bottlecap's voice lit up in Rook's mind causing him to nearly jump out of his skin.
"I forgot about your mind tricks." Rook thought to himself. Sure enough, he saw Bottlecap wink at him. She read it loud and clear. "It's of great religious importance to these folk."
"Well, duh. Y'know what's also important to 'these folk'? Food and shelter. Imagine how much that they could've spent on their people instead of their fancy rock fortress."
"I didn't realize you cared."
"Miss Valentine made me read a lot. There's a lot of activism about the nobles wasting money on stuff like this, y'know."
"Don't know, don't care."
"Hmph. Weren't you supposed to get familiar with Fodlan?"
"I am familiar, it's just that stuff like that didn't help me find Byleth."
Rook could hear the buzz of Bottlecap beginning to retort when a voice came from further up the path.
"Hurry up you two! We're almost to the monastery!"
Rook and Bottlecap nodded, quickening their pace.
"Can you give me a heads up before you pry into my brain next time?" Rook thought.
Bottlecap grinned cheekily. "No promises, big guy."
The monastery was teeming with life. Within the outer walls was an extensive marketplace that could hold the entire population of Remire three times over. It was especially packed that day, and the Knights of Seiros adapted a wide formation to cut through the crowd.
For Byleth it was a sensory overload. The hundreds of conversations merged into a droning white noise. Bold colors blazed out from the stalls and vendors that crammed the sides of streets and small children were running in and out of alleyways.
Thankfully, the Knights were more capable at parting a crowd than showing up to their students' aid. With professional celerity, Byleth, Jeralt, and his company were led through the winding streets to an intimidating gate. A chipper young man stood to the side, saluting as Alois stepped forward.
"Commander, sir! Nothing to report!"
"Wonderful, Edward! On the other hand, I do have news to report, great news in fact! The old captain has returned at last!" Alois said enthusiastically, sweeping his arm out toward Jeralt.
The orange armored knight merely grimaced.
"That is indeed excellent, sir! It is a pleasure to see you Sir Jeralt!" Edward saluted once again.
Alois clapped his hands together and turned to his accompanying knights. "I must bring our guests to the archbishop immediately. Guide the captain's company to appropriate lodgings."
The knights nodded and the message was spread. The mercenaries were led away but before they all departed Jeralt spied the tall figure of the uncanny historian.
"Rook! C'mere!"
Rook tilted his head to the side but came nonetheless, Bottlecap close behind him. "Do you need something, Jeralt? I thought that me and my daughter were supposed to go with the rest."
"Indeed, sir!" Alois cut in. "The archbishop does not accept open visitation. You and your daughter Byleth are a special exception."
Jeralt crossed his arms and grunted. "That's a shame, because I'm only entering if Rook comes with us."
"Hey, what about me?" Bottlecap frowned.
Jeralt gave a small smirk to her before turning back to Alois. "And the little one too.
Alois sighed. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt, especially if you trust them so…" He called out for Edward to open the gate. There was a loud groan and rumbling clicks as the gate climbed into the parapet above and Alois beckoned for them to follow.
The inner sanctum of the monastery was less densely populated than its outer domain, but it was still full of action. Young men and women in sharp uniforms were buzzing about, talking loudly and wandering around. Their eyes were inevitably drawn to the strange group making their way through the campus. Byleth could hear the whispers at the edge of her ears and could feel their stares boring into her. It made her even more uncomfortable than the oppressively large crowds of the marketplace.
"You worked here?" She asked her father, trying to take her mind off the curious onlookers.
Jeralt nodded. "A long time ago. It feels weird to be back."
Rook noticed Bottlecap carefully eavesdropping their conversation and so he diverted his attention to his surroundings. In their walk so far, he spied what appeared to be a dining hall and barracks. Rook reminded himself to map the monastery as quickly as possible; he wanted to know every nook and cranny. Just like Byleth, he also noticed the monastery's inhabitants. He thought it was unusual (and somewhat unbelievable) that the monastery would be an educational facility for young students and not a caste of old, balding monks. Their eyes drifted curiously from Jeralt, to Byleth, and to his daughter, before inevitably widening when their gaze landed upon him.
"Maybe I should look into less conspicuous attire." Rook thought to himself.
His shoulders tensed when a lilting voice invaded his thoughts. "I don't think it's the clothes, Mr. Rook. You might also be a liiittle bit taller than the people here."
"I thought I told you to stay out of my thoughts."
"It'd be a lot easier if you weren't thinking!"
"Go back to eavesdropping, you little brat."
Bottlecap stuck out her tongue at him but perked her ears in the father-daughter duo's direction once again. Rook turned on his perimeter scans, sweeping over the inhabitants of every room they passed by. There were no anomalous activities, but Rook was surprised to find strong energy signatures coming from all but a few students.
"Bottlecap." He thought. There was no response. Rook rolled his eyes.
"I know you're listening."
"Sheesh, I'm trying not to! Didn't you just tell me to stay out of your thoughts."
"Consider my opinion reformed. I have a question for you."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"Why would there be unusual energy signatures coming from the students at this monastery?"
Bottlecap raised an eyebrow at him, a grin tugging at her lips. "Are you serious? It's their crests, dummy. The magical blood type stuff."
"Since when is it strong enough to pulse on the scans?"
"It might be 'cause there's so many in one place. These peeps probably have stronger crests here. I know only the hoity-toity noble types are allowed to enter the monastery and they have the best."
"Fair enough."
"Alright, here we are." Alois' voice cut through their thoughts. "You know this all too well, captain, but I implore the rest of you to be respectful and hold yourself with the highest dignity. This is the archbishop of the Church of Serios, the highest authority of all of Fodlan."
Jeralt nodded seriously. "We're not the rowdy brats you have running around the monastery, Alois. Let us in."
With an acknowledging nod, the knights standing guard pulled the massive, ornate doors wide.
The audience chamber was elegance incarnate. Multi-columned pillars elevated an impossibly tall ceiling, each marble brick carved and hewn to perfection. The floor was tiled with exuberant yet tasteful colors, giving the illusion that one was walking on stained glass. Gold chandeliers hung in pattern, their chains reaching far up into the shadows, casting warm, white light into every other nook and cranny of the room. The chamber was sparsely inhabited by white robed monks and well armed soldiers, but Byleth's eyes landed on one person.
She had pure white robes and a cloak of purple and gold that shimmered under the chandeliers. Her ornate headdress and pale green hair framed a face of perfectly serene majesty. A warm smile reached her sparkling verdant eyes as she saw them enter the room.
"Welcome home, my dear friend." Rhea's eyes focused on Jeralt. "It has been such a long time. I wonder… was it the will of the goddess for us to meet once again?"
Jeralt's mouth twisted. What came from his lips seemed very different than what he wanted to say. "... I suppose so. Please forgive my silence all these years. Much has happened since we last spoke."
"So I see. The miracle of fatherhood has blessed you." Rhea's gaze softened as she looked at Byleth. "This is your child, is it not?"
"Yes. She was born many years after I left this place."
Rook squinted. That didn't line up. Jeralt would be much older then, as he was already well into adulthood when he claimed to have started the mercenary life with his daughter.
"It looks like the old man is careful 'bout the archbishop." Bottlecap's voice popped into his head once again, nearly making him jump. It was going to take a while to get used to.
"Interesting." Rhea said, her eyes not once leaving Byleth. "I've heard of your valiant efforts from Alois, my child. What is your name?"
Byleth paused briefly, glancing at her father. He jerked his head up and down once, eyes flitting between her and the archbishop.
"My name is Byleth."
"A fine name indeed." Rhea's smile widened. "From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for saving the students of the Officers Academy."
She turned to Jeralt. "Now, if the visitors do not mind, I would like to speak to Jeralt alone."
"Thank you for providing an audience to the archbishop." A man with deep green hair and an elegant, gold trimmed and navy blue tunic spoke up. Byleth had only noticed him briefly before being entranced by the archbishop. "You all can wait outside the door in which I'll be with you shortly."
"Not so fast." Jeralt crossed his arms. "I thought the church was gracious to outsiders, yet not even a simple introduction has been given to my companions."
Rhea turned to the giant form of Rook and his comparably diminutive companion. She looked intently at the former. His armor was noticeably foreign, nothing like she had seen in her long, long lifespan. Rhea's stomach twisted unpleasantly. If his attire was so unknown to her, there was a possibility that he was one of… them.
Seteth's voice interrupted that avenue of thought. "We are indeed gracious, but that is not pertinent to the discussion we must have. Now, if you would-"
"Peace, Seteth." Rhea said, exuding an outward calm. "I apologize for my lack of introduction, as I was greatly taken to see my dear friend Jeralt return."
Jeralt scoffed. He looked at Bottlecap and Byleth, jerking his thumbs to the door. "You two go on out. This'll only be a second."
Byleth obeyed immediately, but Bottlecap lingered just long enough to impart a few words into Rook's consciousness.
"Be careful, Rook. I don't like how that archbishop is looking at you."
Rook acknowledged her words silently.
"Who is this man, Jeralt?" Rhea asked.
"This is Rook. He is a travelling historian, not local to Fodlan."
Rhea's expression did not change, but Seteth's face visibly darkened.
"I know he doesn't look the part." Jeralt continued, reading their unspoken words. "But I trust him well."
There was a long, uncomfortable pause as the archbishop and her advisor stared deep holes into Rook.
"Very well. It is clear that Jeralt places much faith in you, Rook." Rhea smiled warmly. "You have a home here for you and your studies for as long as you need. I take it that the other young girl is yours?"
Rook nodded. "Yes, she is my daughter."
"Birds of a feather, I see…" Rhea said, a hint of humor in her voice. "Your presence is all the more appreciated. However, I still have important details to discuss with Jeralt, and I'm afraid they must be done privately."
Jeralt opened his mouth to retort, but Rook spoke first. "As you wish. I will join the others outside."
He placed a hand on Jeralt's shoulder and gave a reassuring nod before exiting from the chamber.
Byleth stood silently, watching Bottlecap scuff the floor with her shoes.
"Jeez, what kinda stuff did they use to make this place? Not even a scratch, look!" Bottlecap crouched down, rubbing her fingers where her foot was a second ago. Sure enough, it was as if the young girl had never touched it, much less aggressively scraping her foot on it.
"What do you think they're talking-"
Byleth was cut off by the doors opening with the massive, armored man striding out. The two girls hurried over.
"Dad! What was that all about? Where's Mr. Jeralt?"
"He's still inside. They wanted to talk to him privately." Rook fiddled with his gloves. "On the other hand, we're allowed to stay as long as we like."
"Nice!" Bottlecap pumped her fist. A faint smile graced Byleth's lips. "Where are we staying?"
"I assume we'll figure that out soon."
They fell silent and turned their attention to the approaching footsteps of Rhea, Seteth, and Jeralt.
"Thank you for your time everybody, but duty calls for me elsewhere." Rhea said. "Captain Jeralt can see Rook and his daughter to his room. I expect that you will discuss the aforementioned situation with your own daughter, Captain?"
"Of course."
"Very well. May the goddess be with you all. Let us be off, Seteth."
No one spoke until the two monastery officials disappeared around the corner. Jeralt sighed heavily.
"I can't believe it. Forced back into the Knights of Seiros." He said grimly. Rook tilted his head.
"You knew it would happen if you came back."
"I didn't have much of a choice." Jeralt said. "Anyway, let's get to our rooms. It's getting late and I have some things I want to talk to my kid about."
"Lead on."
The room for Rook and Bottlecap was only a few doors around the corner. It was small and simple. There was a matching table and desk toward one wall and the other side was cluttered with a bed, two dressers, and a pull-out curtain. With the frostily glassed window twinkling the warm, evening sun, it seemed like a picturesque rustic getaway.
"Nice!" Bottlecap exclaimed. "Dibs on the bed!"
She ran over and flopped onto the mattress, rustling up the neatly made sheets in an instant. Jeralt looked up to Rook.
"There's some stuff we have to talk about, but it can wait till morning. Are you okay with this?"
Rook looked around, giving off the illusion of a curious, if a little overwhelmed, father. In reality, he had accepted lodgings in much worse conditions for far less serious missions. This wasn't his first rodeo crashing for the night in a church.
"It'll do. I appreciate you vouching for me and my daughter."
"Don't worry about it. Just get settled in, we'll be here for a while." Jeralt's eyes flicked over to Bottlecap who was in the midst of cocooning herself in the sheets. "Have a good night. Good luck with your kid."
Rook bid them off, closing the door and locking it with a firm click.
"The old man seems to trust you a lot."
Rook looked over to Bottlecap. She sat on a pristinely made bed, the same one where she was tucked in a tangle of blankets only moments before.
It was amazing how casually she used her powers.
"I'll take it." Rook thought. "He's made our lives a lot easier. I honestly don't know how we would've gotten into the monastery without him."
"You should've strolled right on up, Mr. Rook. I bet they would be too curious of the mysterious to turn him away." He heard Bottlecaps voice ring cheekily. Rook rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, go to sleep. We need to get up early tomorrow."
"What are we gonna be doing? Are we gonna take scans? Start investigating?"
"Not yet. Let's get comfortable first and wait till we find out the monastery's rhythm. We need to know what's happening before we start making things happen."
Bottlecap smiled widely. "It's nice to see a professional at work." She patted the space beside her. "Care to join me?"
There was only a blank stare from Rook's helmet before she read the last thought in his head. "I'd rather sleep on the floor."
The only sound that any passerby could hear from the room was the crash of a hurled chair and the yelp of an older man.
Sometimes you just need to bundle up in bed after a long day. I did so myself after such a busy weekend and I highly recommend the experience. Sleeping on the floor... not so much, but our well-armored agent is a tough guy.
Reviews are welcomed and encouraged. Tell me what you like and don't like; I will take it into account.
And of course, thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed.
Go in peace,
Louproxy