All he could think about was that he hadn't run nearly far enough away.
The sound of the clanking metal armour of the knights on his left, the nonstop chatter and joke-cracking on his right was all too familiar to Jeralt. He solemnly wished he could've forgotten all about it.
Captain Jeralt, of the Knights of Seiros; how unused to that name he had become! Yet now his former squire, Alois, was addressing him as he used to so many years ago. "And you wouldn't believe how many students these days have no sense of humour, Captain! I've practiced my material into the wee hours of the morning some days, and I'm lucky to get any reaction from the youngsters! It's as if they pretend they can't hear me! Imagine that, eh, Captain? Huh? Captain? Captain Jeralt?"
hearing his name snapped Jeralt from the memories he was reliving. "What was that, Alois?" The boisterous knight looked heartbroken. "Not you too, Captain!"
Alois. Even in a thousand years, Jeralt would've been unable to forget the big-hearted, loud spoken man. He had, at one time, thought of him as a son. Seeing him, now a grown man further reminded Jeralt of all the time they had spent together in the Knights of Seiros. "Sorry about that. I'm just thinking back to old times, " the grizzled mercenary explained," And what are the odds we'd meet again because of a bandit attack?" A warm smile spread across the face of Alois, an expression that suited him perfectly. "I have to say; it does seem almost too coincidental. But I'm delighted that after all these years, the first thing you do is lend your help to those in trouble. It's just like it always was, Captain."
Jeralt couldn't help but wonder if he made the right choice in helping out the three students. Not only did he risk being recognized (as had indeed happened, ) but it had put his daughter into a dangerous situation. When that bandit leader had rushed the female student, and his daughter stepped in to help, all of Jeralt's fears of losing his daughter came close to happening. Thankfully, his training had kept her alert enough to parry the blow, but it was far too close a call. His daughter was his greatest joy, the only living memory of his beloved wife. Though her upbringing was, admittedly sheltered, he had done his damnedest to make sure she could defend herself. Loath as he was to admit, fighting was his life, and with danger ever-present, his attempts to keep his little girl away from anything hazardous proved difficult. And now, unintended circumstances had them both going back to the place he had never hoped to see again; Garreg Mach Monastery.
Discontent with being quiet, Alois spoke up again, this time addressing the three students they were escorting. "Now, I know what just took place was a tad frightening, but you have nothing more to fear! Captain Jeralt and I have got everything under control. However, if you need any emotional counselling, well, I'm not qualified for that, but I do know some good jokes that'll cheer you right up!"
"I'm afraid that if I hear any more of your brand of humour, I might actually need the counselling." the dark-haired boy among the students heckled playfully. "No need to be so blunt about things, Claude, " said the only girl out of the three, Edelgard von Hresvelg. Her white hair and piercing lavender eyes set her apart physically, but the authority in her voice further established her uniqueness. "However, I can't lie, Alois. Your humour is an acquired taste."
The last boy stayed silent, but he carried a weighty gaze that Jeralt had seen only a handful of times, and only on the faces of those who had suffered terribly. But in an instant, the regal-looking blonde brightened up and replied to Alois' offer with a nod, and a promise to take him up on his offer should the need arise. Claude von Riegen, the tan-skinned smirking smooth talker, brushed up against Jeralt's daughter and questioned her about her name and age. Jeralt sheepishly turned away when his daughter, Byleth, answered with her name and informed the boy that she had no idea what age she was. He had stopped counting his years after 100, and it never seemed important enough to keep an account of Byleth's either. Now all three of the students became curious about their reserved rescuer, and Byleth stared blankly as each, in turn, asked how it was she didn't know her age. She opened her mouth, but before any words came out, her father jumped in.
"Mercenary lifestyle doesn't leave much time to keep track of things like age. It's a busy life, and keeping one's head on one's shoulders takes priority over keeping track of how many years you've managed to keep one's head attached. " The answer didn't settle any of their curious minds, but they each took note of Jeralt's wariness of their probing, and spoke no more. Claude especially noticed, which just made him more interested than ever in the mercenary girl. The blonde boy, Dimitri, diverted the conversation to other topics and so Jeralt reluctantly turned his attention back towards the convoy's road ahead. His attentive eyes were scanning the forest on either side, and he mentally prepared himself for the possibility of another bandit ambush. Byleth kept mostly to herself, unused to being chatted with, and spent the rest of the trek to their destination listening to each student talk, and observing what she could about their character. The day had been full of more excitement than she was used to, and it all started with her strange dream about the green-haired girl on the throne. The same girl that appeared to her when she had jumped in front of an axe swing meant for Edelgard. The same girl that had the power to reverse the hands of time and fate; The girl called Sothis.
