2nd of the Verdant Rain Moon

Arundel felt a cold sweat on the back of his neck for the fourth time in as many days. It had been of slight curiosity when it was reported their most hated foe had grown melancholic. Solon had not been able to find the reason, but took it as an encouraging opportunity for the next phase of their plans. The news of a new professor no older than 25 had raised eyebrows, but was hardly worth noting. Edelgard had reported nothing, and all Solon had seen was her training, even against the Death Knight. A prodigy teaching the children of nobles. A once in a decade event. Unremarkable and unimportant.

Then word spread of the girl slaying an entire horde of demonic beasts singlehandedly. Arundel took notice. Edelgard was as confounded as anyone else. Then the Death Knight had confirmed the killings. The girl went from a footnote to a priority. Arundel had tasked Solon with information gathering, but the fool was useless, spouting some nonsense about the professor disappearing in the middle of the campus whenever he would try to follow her. The only useful bit to come up was that archbishop had fallen ill a month later.

And then Solon had returned to Agartha, sweating and swearing in equal fury, babbling incoherently about this Byleth girl not only being a Nabataean, not only the Fell Star herself, but having knowledge of their present and future. At first, Arundel assumed Solon had fallen mad, but things then began to fall into place with dreadful certainty. The absurd power this Byleth had shown would be in line for a Nabataean. Rhea's lowered mood was too coincidental to ignore. Another Nabataean appearing would certainly be just as shocking to her as it was to him. Neither she nor her brother seemed to procreate with humans over the centuries.

And now here he stood in the dark of his estate's private garden, opposite to Edelgard, who insisted on wearing her rejected opera house costume.

"…And now the professor has the Sword of the Creator. She can wield its true power without the Crest stone." Edelgard did a remarkable job of keeping her composure. He had trained her well.

And with that, everything clicked into place. Arundel did what he could to remain calm- it would not do to emote more than his niece. Perhaps her calmness had more to do with her ignorance than any control she possessed. "That's-" Arundel bit his tongue. Solon's ravings made a disturbing amount of sense.

"She is the Fell Star incarnate, come to destroy us all!" Solon shouted. "They are coming to rob us of even the Darkness we have been forced to wallow in! The end is nigh!'

Kronya, ever eager to prove useful, smashed a vase over Solon's oversized head.

"The sword of the thief…" Arundel muttered.

"Thief? Hmm." Edelgard said. Ah. He hadn't meant for her to hear that. No matter. The girl was firmly opposed to the Nabataeans. This slip up mattered little. She continued on. "There is no way for me to get my hands on the blade. It will be in the professor's possession for the foreseeable future."

"And she can wield it without the stone…" Arundel kept from biting his lip. If what Solon had said was true and the professor was Nabataean, in theory she could wield the sword, but that would mean… "This professor. She has a Crest."

"Yes."

"The same as yours?"

Edelgard paused for a moment. "…Given her ability to wield the blade…"

There was something the girl wasn't telling him. "What have you learned of the professor?"

"About as much as your spies, I am sure." Edelgard said evenly.

So this game will continue. "It is my understanding that the Death Knight has been drooling for a fight with her. How did he fare?"

Edelgard was still. Arundel blinked.

"Jeritza used the Rafail Gem. The archbishop will be investigating."

"What!" Arundel's breath became sharp. "This is…that fool-" His eyes narrowed. "And the professor still matched blows with him?"

Edelgard's hands curled into fists. "Jeritza was not pulling punches."

"See that the fool is properly punished for tipping our hand." Arundel said to keep his teeth from grinding. "Anything else? What other information do you have on the professor?"

"Nothing."

"Really?"

"The professor keeps to herself. When I ask questions, she responds in riddles." Edelgard's voice was even, her posture was calm, and the characterization was reasonable. As always, her delivery was polished and flawless. Arundel didn't believe it for a second. The time for shy teasing was over.

"What has she told you of the future?"

Edelgard recoiled. "What?"

Arundel's did not allow himself to show his own feelings on the words that passed his lips. "The future. She has seen it. What has she told you? Did you think we did not know?"

Edelgard hesitated. "…She told me that she expected the attack on the tomb, though not so plainly."

"And? Two dozen children were able to piece that together thanks to the Western church's incompetence. What else?"

Edelgard swallowed. "…It is as I said. She speaks in riddles- "

"Indulge me."

He could hear Edelgard's lips thin. "She…mentioned that she disliked war."

"Anything more?"

"She repeats the theme."

Arundel's brow creased. Edelgard was hiding something. Several things. "Hmm." This would require more information. "Does she mention my plan to use the Death Knight in the coming months?"

"Not yet." Edelgard's voice hinted at no deeper meaning, so whatever was unnerving his niece didn't have anything to do with immediate plans.

Arundel stroked his beard. "Report anything she tells you back to me. I will be in touch."

"That's all?" Edelgard asked. "What of your plan to capture Flayn?"

"It will be improved. In the meantime, I have work to do." Arundel raised his hand, preparing to teleport. "The professor- she is close to the archbishop, yes?"

"…From what I have seen, Rhea takes her council seriously."

"Hmm." Arundel snapped his fingers, and appeared in his private quarters. Stalking out towards his business office, he barked out orders at one of his secretaries.

"You. Clear my schedule for today. I have meetings to attend."

The mousy, brown-haired woman with a haunted look barely had time to shudder out an answer before Arundel slammed his office door shut.

Despite his failure, Solon's ravings were proving to be disturbingly accurate. This Byleth character had knowledge of their plans- both the location of Shambala and who Kronya was set to replace- and if she knew that, she undoubtedly knew more. Just getting an agent close to the professor would be an undertaking unto itself given her foreknowledge. Edelgard and Hubert did not count as such, and the Death Knight was nothing more than a violent brute. At least his newfound fixation assured that he could be properly aimed at the professor.

Arundel waved his hand at a mirror on the wall, and reflections other than his own coalesced. He would need the council of all the great minds of Agartha if they were to plot against this new threat. "Cornelia. Myson, Odesse. Report…"

Arundel could only stare at scenes before him. Cornelia was shouting at someone off in the distance, make-up smeared on her face. Odesse was frozen in the act of throwing a beggar into a pool of liquid- something toxic from the bubbling sound. And Myson-

Well, now he had incentive to put funding behind Solon's idiotic memory tampering device.

"This isn't what it looks like, lord." Myson said with remarkable conviction.

Odesse tossed the nameless peon into the pool. His deadpan was quite clear, even with the screaming. ""It's exactly what it looks like, Lord Thales."

Cornelia's was still fuming, and her lipstick was still wildly off target. "Why are you holding a jar of human toenails!"

"It's not my fault this is the easiest way to track down the Fetters of Dromi!" Myson shouted. He turned to Odesse. "Be sure to keep any skin off, the trade goes south otherwise-"

"Why would you ever allow yourself to be associated with such…degeneracy?" Cornelia hissed.

"I don't know, why you haven't killed the king yet instead of letting him drool over you?" Myson scowled back. "I like your new look, by the way. Is that what drives the northern barbarians wild these days, random application of paint? What's the taste of drunk savage- "

Cornelia made the second ugliest face Arundel had the displeasure of witnessing on a regular basis. "I have had to deal with incompetent maids all day, Rufus for the past decade, and I will not be talked down to by a repugnant little b-"

Arundel felt his eyebrow twitch. It would be a long day.

…At least his niece and her shadow were as lost and directionless as he was.


Hubert casually strolled through the ruins of Abyss. The citizens gave him a respectable berth. He nodded to a woman in the distance, and she bolted away. It was good to have friends in low places.

Hubert smirked. Things were picking up. He took one more turn, and found himself in a small passageway, leading to the makeshift classroom. The 'Ashen Wolves,' they called themselves. It was no matter. Hubert's target Hapi was exactly where she needed to be- leaning against a wall in the empty corridor, gazing off into nothing. Hubert smoothed out his uniform, before coughing into his fist. Hapi looked up, almost startled. He gave her a polite nod.

"Hello. Hapi, I presume."

Hapi chewed on her lip for a moment, studying Hubert's face. "Oh, right. I know you. You're that noble brat who's been trying to buy out Yuri-bird's gang."

Hubert raised an eyebrow. "You make me sound so nefarious."

Hapi shrugged. "Coco warned me that you'd only be after one thing, and whatever it is, it's gonna be even worse than what all the other boys chase me for."

Hubert felt a smirk tug at his lips. "The former lady of Nuvelle's description warms my heart."

Hapi leaned forward. "So what do you want? I've got walls to stare at."

"I am here to offer a proposition."

"Really."

Hubert took a step forward. "In a few short years, I will be the right hand to Adrestian Emperor. My favor is no small thing."

"Right…" Hapi was already rolling her eyes. "And what exactly do you want? A worm mount of your own?"

"Nothing so tangible. Just information." Hubert said casually. "You needn't lose anything in our exchange."

"Now that sounds like a deal that's too good to be true." A new voice wafted through the hallway. Hubert turned. Purple hair. Cocky smirk. Something resembling a house leader's uniform. Yuri had arrived. "Problem is, I'm the only one who hands those out down here."

Hubert chuckled. "Oh, my sincerest apologies."

"Oh it's no problem. How are you doing, Hapi?"

"Well enough, I guess. Bert here is less annoying than that purple fop with a bowl for a head." She flicked some hair behind her ear. "I was just gonna go feed Shai some rocks."

"Neat." Yuri clapped Hubert on the shoulder. "I'll lead young, rich, lost and frightened here up topside."

"How generous of you."

The grip grew tighter. "Come on, Hapi's got a pet to feed, and doesn't need one of your kind on her heels." Yuri's smirk gained a dangerous edge. "In fact, it nearly ate someone else who followed her. Warm bodies look a lot like cold rocks in the dark, you know."

Hubert huffed out a laugh, brushing Yuri's hand off his shoulder. "A tragedy that I would be loathed to repeat." He took a step towards the exit, before stopping. "There's just one thing you should know- I have no interest in saving the church from its own past. They can bluster all they like about heresy and betrayal, but the empire is under no obligation to give them anything."

Hapi tilted her head. "That sounds pretty dangerous. And a surefire way to make sure I can only pal around in your country. Also, that was two things."

Hubert gave a courtly bow. "Why would they be angry at you? Students wander Abyss all the time. Just because some might happen upon something the Archbishop wants hidden is not proof."

Hapi's mouth twitched. Hubert did not follow her eyes to watch whatever look she shared with Yuri. It was of no importance. "By your leave." He turned and walked away, humming a dreary tune.

As he made way towards the surface, Hubert allowed himself to admire the scenery. The way the lanterns played off the architecture in Abyss was charming in its own way. Collapsed and dilapidated walls built atop each other would create an endless maze of light and shadow, allowing people to come and go between shifting lights. To be honest, Hubert enjoyed the aesthetics of Abyss- it spoke to something in him. If only the muck and vermin would be taken care of.

"Hey. Noble brat." Yuri's voice echoed from a hallway in front of Hubert. A rat scurried out of the passage, and Yuri casually followed after it.

Hubert stopped walking. "Yes?" Yuri flashed a predatory smile.

"No, no. I can walk and talk." He gestured behind himself. Hubert stepped forward, walking towards the exit. Yuri fell in shoulder to shoulder, easily matching Hubert's stride.

"Is this about the Hapi girl? She can make her own decisions, you know."

Yuri's eyes gleamed in the lanternlight. "Oh no, not at all. See, I've been meaning to chat with you for a while now. You've been getting nosy down here for the past few months."

Hubert shrugged. "It's good practice for my duties later in life. Garreg Mach is an officer's academy, after all."

"That's nice." Yuri leaned closer. "But just a hint, your money can only buy you so many friends."

"And I only buy friends that are valuable enough to have."

"A man after my own heart." The two made their way to a bridge, complete with crumbling railings and poor lighting. "But you know what? Even with your shiny title, money only gets you so far in life. Try as much as you want, but my gang will always be loyal to me."

Hubert raised his eyebrow. "Please. We both know it gets me far enough to threaten your puny little duchy. If you so much as try-"

Yuri's leg snapped outward, and Hubert barely froze in time to stop from tripping. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Hubert saw a broken and useless patch of railing between him and the dark void the bridge stretched across.

Yuri scraped his boot along the floor, bending down to remove something stuck on his foot. It was a cockroach of some sort, that much Hubert could tell. Still struggling against its inevitable death, twitching and flailing its unbroken legs. Yuri promptly threw it off the bridge.

"Sorry about the scare. You learn to take your shots lest they start crawling into your bed." Yuri's smile hadn't shifted.

Hubert snorted. "Quite. Was that all?"

"Just one more thing." Yuri leaned back and sat atop a part of the dilapidated railing, cocky smirk intact. The boy was daring Hubert to try something. Yuri's eyes narrowed.

"You try something with Hapi, and you'll regret it."

"Really." Hubert suppressed a snort. "You think you can make me disappear? You do know who I am."

"Oh, I don't need to do anything. That church you have no interest in defending can be pretty ruthless."

"Oh ho." So there was a brain behind the wall of bravado. "But what will you say to them? And of what worth is the word of a vagrant who was thrown out of the academy?"

"Very little." Yuri said. "But if that vagrant happened to be friends with a cardinal, he might not have to say anything."

Hubert smirked back. "That sounds dangerously close to gossip and conjecture."

Yuri was unmoved. "I don't know. Word has it that the church higher ups are as bad at controlling their tempers as any king. Some people are going around saying they'll brand anyone they don't like as heretics."

"Then it is fortunate that I have no plans to endanger miss Hapi and spring such an unfortunate series of events."

"Yeah, fortunate." Yuri crossed his legs, his smile shifting from that of a fat hungry cat to content bureaucrat- that is to say, very little. "Run along now, little noble. You look terribly out of place in that pretty little uniform."

Hubert eyed Yuri's discolored house leader robes, but the rogue didn't budge. With a snort, Hubert was off. "Give my regards to the deposed lady Nuvelle."

In short order, Hubert was once again stalking the halls of Garreg Mach, idly strolling through the classrooms. All in all, a decently successful trip. The bait had been laid for Hapi, and if Hubert was correct, she was exactly the type of person to agree to this sort of petty revenge. The Yuri character was confrontational, but hardly worth concerning himself with. In a few short months he would be nothing more than a footnote.

"Hubie! Hey, Hubie!"

Hubert turned to find Dorothea doing the remarkable job of scowling balancing genuine annoyance, faux anger, righteous indignation and just a hint of dubious intrigue. And Hubert had thought Opera didn't allow for small subtleties. "Where have you been? This is the second time you've ditched me!"

"Yes, well-'

"If you say empire business one more time, I'm going get Caspar to throw you into the lake."

Hubert clicked his tongue and bowed. "Then I can only offer my deepest apologies."

Dorothea crossed her arms and scoffed. "I only give boys three chances, Hubie. You're getting dangerously close to losing me forever."

Hubert gave a sigh as genuine as he could manage. Not very, given Dorothea's expression. He'd have to work on that. "Then whatever could I offer a young lady as apology?"

"Well…" Dorothea tilted her head. "There's some new silks in the market that Ferdie said he couldn't buy me."

"Oh? And might this other gentleman be there to see his favor bested?"

"He'll hear about it." Dorothea hooked her arm around Hubert's and led the two of them down to the marketplace. He indulged her idle gossip with just enough of a response to keep up the pretense of listening. This little game with Dorothea was an amusing distraction, and after the utter chaos that was the Blue Sea Moon, Hubert would allow himself a moment of peace. Still, his thoughts turned back to how best to deal with Hapi. He would approach the girl again, in a week's time. There he would bring up more of the church's misdeeds. Hubert doubted he could convince the girl of the righteousness of his cause- his father had said he simply had a face that made others untrustworthy of him- But stir the church's already foul reputation into something far worse than he could ever be? That was something Hubert could accomplish, even though he lacked Lady Edelgard's charisma.

Hubert paused to give some sweet nothing to Dorothea, who was looking over a display of perfumes. And of course he could not bring Lady Edelgard in on the scheme- on the off chance that he did get caught, plausible deniability was a must. And of course, if the church's wrath really did fall on the Hapi girl in the worst-case scenario, it would mean that she and her more monstrous friends could only reside in the empire so long as the church stood. That suited Hubert quite nicely. Not to mention such an act could generate more sympathy in parts of the Alliance and give more reason to already angry nobles in the Kingdom-

Well, best not to get ahead of himself. Dorothea whispered something about fashion in the court, and Hubert shrugged. Building on presumptions was bad for his health. Back to the Hapi girl. Another point to consider was her friendship with Constance von Nuvelle. Hubert was surprised to learn that the heiress had found her way to Abyss of all places, but he wasn't about to complain. He could dangle some time with Lady Edelgard in return for influence. Not immediately of course; it was best if these things felt organic, especially with the would-be crime lord nipping his heels. Luring the girl out of the Abyss would take some effort, but hardly unworkable.

Hmm. Constance and Hapi. How best to-

"Hey, buddy!" Someone shouted, and he snapped to attention. Dorothea was standing next to a vendor, holding up an exotic looking dress, with a perplexed look on her face.

"My apologies, Dorothea. I was lost in thought." Hubert bowed his head. "I pray this doesn't count as my third strike."

"You were muttering something about another woman, kid." The voice that broke his revery spoke up. It was the shopkeeper of the stall, a woman with maroon hair and a mercenary edge. "I'd say your girlfriend's got plenty to be mad about."

Oh. He thought he had eliminated that bad habit. This could prove troublesome.

Dorothea was startled by the shop keep's words, but quickly morphed her confusion into righteous indignation. "Yes, Hubie. You were muttering about how you were going to keep Florence happy- are you cheating on me?" Her mock outrage kept getting better. It was almost like she had a career in acting.

Hubert studied both Dorothea and the shopkeeper's faces. There was plenty of noise in the air. This was a marketplace after all. The shopkeeper didn't seem to note any inconsistency with Dorothea's pronunciation, and Dorothea was more focused on her indignation than any of the words- it seemed a happy little quirk of fate that he didn't have to worry about burring that bit of information for any leaks. The situation was unstable enough as it was, and Hubert didn't need random chance to work against him if anyone had overheard him plotting about the new talk of the town.

Hubert smiled. "I have an aunt of some distant relation. Father is insisting I write a letter for her birthday."

Dorothea sniffed. "Really?"

He raised his hand. "On my honor."

Dorothea chewed her lip. "Well…I suppose I can believe that." She pouted. "But now people will see we've fought! I can't get Ferdie to buy things for me without your rivalry, not with how I've got him hooked!"

Hubert caught the shopkeeper smirking out of the corner of his eye. "I don't suppose you might suggest I buy you something to smooth things over."

Dorothea brought a cloth to her dry eyes. "I suppose if you bought me a dress, things would look better." She brightened. "I'd even wear it to the next weekend party. It'd drive Ferdie up a wall."

"Well when you put it that way, how can I refuse?" Ferdinand always made the funniest faces.

"Good! This one." Dorothea plucked the exotic dress from the vendor's stand, holding it up to her body. It was quite lovely on her frame, all greens and lace. Hubert could only imagine Dorothea snapping at Ferdinand when his eyes inevitably wandered downward-

"2,500 gold please." The Shopkeeper announced.

Hubert felt his breath catch. "I-this-It's just a-" His eyes turned back to Dorothea, who had the least innocent face Hubert had seen in several months. And he shaved with a mirror.

"I will avenge myself of this larceny." Hubert vowed.

Dorothea smiled wider.


It had been a long day, and twilight had fallen by the time Dorothea entered the library. Scanning the aisles, she ventured deeper and deeper, passing by rows of books and a scattering of students. On a bulletin board, Tomas the librarian's missing poster had been upgraded to being wanted for theft, but after the explosive night in the Holy Mausoleum, hardly anyone in Garreg Mach even bothered to talk about something as dull as a missing librarian-

"Ow!"

Dorothea looked down. A servant was rubbing his foot, which her boot was on- a young boy, obviously Almyran. He still swore like anyone else though.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there!" Dorotha said as she removed her foot. The boy just glared, before picking up a book and walking away.

Dorothea grimaced, but turned back to her search. Soon, her quarry was found. Ferdinand was sitting at a table, his nose stuck in a book. Dorothea made her way over to him and sat opposite to him.

"I got something."

Ferdinand slowly lowered the book. Dorothea continued.

"He slipped up when he was lost in thought. Simple repetition of easy answers got him in an answering rhythm." Dorothea smirked. "Hubie isn't as clever as he thinks."

Ferdinand inched forward. "And?"

"I asked him what he was trying to figure out for Edelgard. He mentioned that Hapi girl from the mausoleum."

Ferdinand bit his lip. "Well that's…not particularly helpful. Half of Garreg Mach is talking about her."

Dorothea adjusted her hair. "Yeah. But there was another name he mentioned."

"Who?"

"He mentioned someone named Constance."

Ferdinand's brow furrowed. "Constance…Constance…" His eyes lit up. "It can't be- but maybe…"

Dorothea rapt her foot against his shin. "Ferdie, what have I told you about leaving me in the dark?"

"Ah, my apologies." Ferdinand rubbed at his neck. "It's just that…I used to know a girl named Constance. Hubert would have as well. She was the heir of house Nuvelle. When it collapsed years ago, she vanished." He drummed his fingers on the table. "I had heard rumor that she had moved to Fhirdiad's royal school of sorcery, but…" A frown drooped onto his face. "No, it couldn't be. This Hapi girl lives in Abyss, Constance would never allow herself down there."

"Situations change, Ferdie." Dorothea clasped her hands together. "I got the sense that Hubie thought this Constance and Hapi were linked."

Ferdinand stared down. "We all learned of Hapi well after Edelgard grew so downcast. I doubt there is a connection."

"Yeah, but it's the only lead we've got." Dorothea crossed her arms. "Hubie's been running around all month on some mission or another. Whatever it is, his class skipping came on just when Edelgard fell into her slump. There's got to be a connection. If this Constance girl you mentioned is part of some sort of political-" Dorothea's eyes narrowed. "Didn't Nuvelle fall as part of the war with Brigid and Dagda?"

Ferdinand's lips thinned. "It was well after the Insurrection. That would mean Father-" He bit his lip. "That the Seven would likely be involved."

Dorothea frowned. "Then that might mean this all leads to some sort of conspiracy? Fallen houses, a girl who can control monsters, and Edelgard still won't say a word about anything."

Ferdinand bit his cheek and then nodded. "Yes. You're correct. This is our only lead." He stood, dusting his uniform off. "I will venture into the Abyss and try to find this Constance character-if she is even there. Then if she is the girl I remember, I can-"

"You?" Dorothea stood, leaning on the table. "Listen jerk, I'm just as much a part of this as your noble self. I'm going down to Abyss, same as you."

"But-"

"No buts!" Dorothea, rapt on the table. "I'm just as capable as you, and don't even try to say that you're trying to protect my virtue. I grew up in streets worse than Abyss, I know what to look out for." She let out a scoff. "If anything, you'd just fall into a honeypot and I'd have to go rescue you."

Ferdinand looked to offer a retort, but sighed in defeat. "Tomorrow night, then."

Dorothea nodded, and the two picked themselves up and walked out of the library.


Cyril grunted as he finally exited the stairwell. Stupid lady. His foot was going to be sore for the rest of the day. Still, he had work to do. And afterwards…

He gripped the book in his hand as someone rushed up the stairs. One of the real important students if he had to guess. She had color in her uniform and everything. Oh well, it wasn't his problem.

"Hey!" a familiar voice shouted. Cyril turned, and a familiar pair of pink eyes came running out of the gardens. "Hey, Cyril! Did you see Edelgard just now?"

Cyril blinked. "I saw another girl with white hair- is that Edelgard?"

Lysithea brightened. "Yes! Where did she go?"

He pointed backwards. "She was rushing up the stairs. Seemed like she was in a real hurry."

Lysithea opened her mouth, before letting out a sigh. "I can't believe she's still avoiding me."

"Why? What happened?"

"It's- it's just-" Lysithea looked away. "Nothing. Just…nothing you need to worry about."

Cyril didn't really get it. If it was so important, how come Lysithea said it was nothing-

Oh. Maybe this was that noble drama thing Lady Rhea had warned him about. Best to steer clear, and just offer a shoulder to cry on. That was what Lady Rhea had recommended, along with a string of swearing under her breath.

"Do you need any help?" Cyril asked. "Lady Rhea says it's important to ask." Lysithea shook her head.

"No. I just-" Something caught in Lysithea's voice. "Actually, Cyril, could I ask you a question?"

"Sure, anything."

"If you were-" Lysithea bit her lip. "If you were given the chance to change your life for the better, but it just seemed too good, would you take it?"

Cyril frowned. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"It's just…" Lysithea bit her lip, and pushed Cyril aside, settling down in a bench in the western garden, just across from the classrooms. "I've been looking for- for a solution to a…problem. For the last few years. And now a solution has just appeared in front of me. I don't know what to make of it."

Cyril quirked his brow. "So, what, you're frustrated that you didn't get to find this solution?"

"No, no, no. No!" Lysithea huffed. "I just-it's just I've been handed this treatment so suddenly, that-" She took a few breaths. "I-I don't know what to do. I know I should take it, but…" Another sigh. "I just don't know."

Cyril was hesitant. "This is…Is this about noble…stuff? Is that why it's so messy?"

Lysithea bit her lip and nodded.

"And…Edelgard was her name, right?" Lysithea nodded again. "What's she got to do with this?"

"She…" Lysithea hesitated. "She's…She knows about a…similar problem. And I want to know what she thinks. But she doesn't want to talk about it."

Cyril bit his lip. "Have you tried talking to a professor or something? I always talk to Lady Rhea whenever I'm in trouble." Though he hadn't seen her for the last few days. Oh well. Probably nothing, just their schedules not lining up.

Lysithea sighed. "It's- well. The professors- I guess."

Cyril hummed. "Well…I think you might just need some time to think things through. And I'll do what I can to help you, whatever you need."

Lysithea smiled, bright as candlelight. "Thanks Cyril. You're the best pupil I could ask for."

He felt a heat flash in his cheeks, and looked away. "Y-yeah. No problem."

Her eyes darted downward. "Oh? Is that the book you want me to teach you now?"

Cyril stood up quickly, clutching the book. "Y-yeah. Anyway, I actually gotta go do some work at the stables, and, uh. Shovel."

Lysithea's nose wrinkled. "Oh. Well. Sorry about that."

"It's no problem. Someone's got to do it." Cyril flashed an awkward smile. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay!" Lysithea waved back. "At least I'll have some peace and quiet with Claude dragged away…"


Arundel seethed. "That will be all." Cornelia's scowling, still mispainted face and Solon's bandaged skull vanished from his mirror, leaving Arundel alone with his anger.

Nothing. They had nothing against this new professor who still held all of the cards. They couldn't fire off a javelin at Garreg Mach thanks to the thrice damned magic Sothis had created so many eons ago, and they were still months away from consolidating all power in the empire. The twice accursed archbishop now had full knowledge of their base of operations, and could easily summon a host to escort her underground before she transformed and ravaged Shamballa. Worse yet, the Sword of the Creator was in the hands of this Byleth, who seemed fully proficient and quite ready to use it against them. And at any minute, it could all come crashing down.

There were scant positives. As Arundel he was politically untouchable. Cornelia seemed safe. For now.

And those were all the positives. Arundel had no choice. He would have to find some way to relocate resources that had been so painstakingly built over generations in a few short months, at best. He could only hope it was not already too late to act-

"Lord Thales!" A mage teleported into his room, panting and exhausted.

"WHAT!" Arundel shouted, anger getting the best of him. "WHAT NOW?"

The mage cowed back. "Y-your lordship, someone has appeared in Shambala! They're slaughtering everyone! Men, women, slaves! Nothing we've done can stop-!"

Arundel snapped his fingers and appeared in Shambala's throne room. It seems he acted to slowly, but he would not allow his home to fall without a fight. If the brat had predicted a self-destruction, he would give it to her. All he needed was to overload the Vis-

The doors to the throne room flew open with a crash. Arundel turned; his eyes wide. A mage stumbled into view, bloody and broken, gasping for breath. Arundel raised his hands, magic churning. A fist flew out of the darkness, crushing the mage's skull against a wall. Arundel felt his heart race, as he prepared to meet his doom. He had acted too late. The Archbishop in all her monstrous strength and fury, was here, along with that damned Nabataean girl from nowhere with the freakish Crest that the Agarthans had rightfully mastered!

But now it was all over. It was too late to start the self-destruct sequence. All Arundel could do was wait for one of the freaks to show their abnormal, monstrous green hair and pray he managed to leave a scar.

Instead, a pair of red eyes glowed in the darkness, burning through the shadows. Their owner slowly stepped forward into the light, eclipsing the mage who still gurgled on, somehow alive.

A behemoth of a man emerged, illuminated by the faint blue glow of Shamballa's ever-present power stations. His hair was pale and grey, running down his face like old stone falling down the quarry hills. His skin was sunken onto his bones, almost emaciated, but with enough muscle to show a strength unparalleled. The breath escaping this man was slow and shallow, but cut out every other noise in the room.

The red eyes flared, and an intellect shone through. The behemoth paused, recognizing something in Arundel.

"Blood." His voice was deep and commanding, falling like broken glass. His hand flashed, And the Crest of Flames burst forth. "I demand blood."

Arundel fell to his knees. "At once, King Nemesis."

The broken mage in his hand gurgled once more, and then never again.


Thanks to Dox for beta work!

Sorry for the delay, I had a bug for an Elder Scrolls fic that wouldn't go away. You can check it out on my profile if you're curious.

Also that debate and weekend chaos thew me out of whack, part of why this is later than usual. If you're in the USA remember to register and vote.

But back on track. Did someone order a competent villain? Ladies, Gentlemen, and everyone in between, meet the Sephiran to our Oliver. The Giovanni to our team rocket, The Jerry to our Tom.

Cornelia seemed like a villain I might have been able to take seriously, or as much as anyone can with her ridiculous costume, but then she made that face and no matter what she did she was the same as all the rest of the clowns.

So what was the in-universe explanation for Edelgard wearing the flame emperor armor when chatting to Arundel? Also why were they outside? Had the devs not finished making the rave dungeon when they were rendering the scene? More things we will never know.

Till next time and thanks for all the views!