Author's Note: This is a bonus chapter for the long hiatus. Please enjoy.

Chapter 5

The Edge in Battle

The next days in the monastery were like the calm before the storm. Rhea and Seteth had ordered the Knights of Seiros to double the guard shifts and all the houses to be on high alert as the celebration of the Rite of Rebirth approached.

Byleth sustained minor injuries from the last battle and had to wear a splint in the arm for a week. In the meantime he analyzed what could be done to improve the power of his class as a group. If Lonato was maybe just a pawn in a much bigger game, then they might have problems down the line against this new enemy.

He had to admit playing this shadow game against an invisible foe was much harder than the usual straightforward battles he was used to. With that in mind he decided to ask for advice to his students, most of them were nobility so they knew more about political schemes and espionage.

After Byleth explained all of that to Edelgard she sat next to him in a bench near the stables "So those are your conclusions, I most admit I'm impressed" she said "For someone who grew up detached from most of society you have a good grasp of the situation"

"I wouldn't say that" Byleth said "I'm entering in a kind of battlefield I haven't been before, it's quite frightening really. So that's why I need your help. You're the heir to the throne of the Adestrian Empire you have to know at least something about people who works against the state from the shadows."

"And you would be right to assume that. Let's see. We know about the letter to assassinate Lady Rhea from Lord Lonato. Now what's strange about that?" She said looking at Byleth.

"Well, it just. It looks a little bit suspicious. If the order to assassinate the head of the church is issued then I think it would be better to just communicate that in person and not a letter that could be lost and found by the wrong person"

"Exactly, is such an easy way to give away the plan, and if you use the same logic in a battle"

Byleth rubbed his chin "If an enemy's movement is too obviously clumsy, then it might be that it's not. It's a tactic to make you confident and fall into a trap. That means…"

"That means we aren't thinking outside the box."

Byleth nodded "Yes, but we can't fight an enemy that we don't have a clue of it's identity or whereabouts"

Edelgard stood up from the seat "Then we will just have to focus on what we can do, strategize"

Byleth thought for a moment, going back and forth between his options. The best resources he had were his students, and with Edelgard, Felix, Yuri, Caspar, Balthus and Ferdinand, he had the best vanguard in the whole monastery, he could post his best fighters in specific areas, but strength wasn't enough. And then the inspiration came.

"That's it!" He said standing up.

"What is it?" Edelgard asked.

"What you said, we have to strategize. I can't avoid a trap that I'm not aware of, that's the whole point of setting it. But if we somehow manage to out smart that trap, then we will have a chance of victory even if we are blind to the grand scheme of things"

"So what are you planing then?"

"An overwhelming force, one that can counterattack against any kind of situation, we have a good vanguard but we are short on mages, Constance, Dorothea and Hubert are exceptional but their are not enough."

Byleth started walking, his mind going at top speed while Edelgard tried to keep up.

"A coalition between the houses will be too suspicious and our enemy may find a way to counter it if they are really watching us. So we will manage it as if an special meeting, something out of strife for knowledge. That would attract a few minds"

Edelgard narrowed her eyes "I still don't understand. Are you going to make an alliance with the other houses?"

"Not exactly, but not far off either. I will explain the rest later but for now, I need you, Hubert, Caspar, Hapi and Ferdinand to patrol the monastery for now. Tell Petra to gather information with the guards outside, about anything that could have seem strange, like the weather or the direction the birds fly, trust me it will help. Lastly send Bernadetta, Balthus and Yuri to cover the three ways the main hall separates, don't worry just tell Bernadetta she just have to watch nothing else."

"What about Felix and Constance? Professor, wait!"

"They will be with me, they just-aaahh!!"

Byleth was interrupted when he turned to Edelgard but didn't see that he walked towards the bushes in the tea garden. He tripped against the unexpected grass road and his face and upper body were buried in the bushes.

He heard a few people gasped and a soft voice laughing behind him.

"Goodness are you okay?" Edelgard asked between laughs.

Byleth quickly remove himself from the plant falling on the ground on his back. Edelgard trying to content the laughter by covering her mouth with her hands.

Byleth felt her cheeks grew hot, a strange sensation on his chest pouring out, he couldn't quite identify it but he was surprised to find Edelgard's voice quite pleasant.

He stood up brushing the leafs off his clothes "I hope you're enjoying yourself" he said with a strain tone.

She finally stopped and returned to her normal collected expression, her cheeks were still red though. "I'm sorry Professor, it won't happen again. Though I have to say, I couldn't think of you as a clumsy person"

"I'm not, it just...I was too concentrated on more important matters"

"More important than walking straight?" She said with a smile.

"Okay, you had your fun. Now please go do what I asked you to do"

"Yes my teacher" she said walking away from him.

"And Edelgard" he called trying to avoid her gaze "You have a nice laugh, you should try using it more often"

He strolled off without waiting for an answer.

-O-

Magical Proficiency Program

Interviews Open

The small sign read near the tea area, it looked rushed but it would do for a small event like this. Felix sighted sitting on one side of the table next to Byleth while Constance on the other side looked way more excited for this than Felix.

According to the Professor's plan they had made the announcement to make an special series of lectures focusing on magic theory and application. The program required for the students who wanted to participate from other houses to join the Black Eagles temporarily in their classroom.

But in reality, the program was actually a way to assemble more students to plan a defense against the imminent attempt of assassination on Lady Rhea's life.

The Archbishop, Seteth, Hanneman and Manuela were made aware of this and gave their approval. But outside of them, only Constance and Felix were aware of the true nature of the plan.

Of course most of the students declined the invitation since there weren't to many mages at the school, but it didn't matter, they didn't need more fighters after all, they needed mages.

The first one to arrive was Lysithea, she wasn't really difficult to convince since the prospect of studying the secret arts of The Abyss known by Constance and Hapi was quite thrilling for her.

Next was the always shy Marianne.

"I...I didn't know it was going to be an interview" the blue haired girl said with her characteristic tired look.

"No worries Marianne" Byleth said "You will enter the program if you want, this interview is actually to know what skills you have and what other skills are you striving for."

"Oh, that's fine, I guess"

Dear Goddess, this girl is just like Bernadetta but without the energy. I wonder if she also has a secret technique.Felix thought.

"I heard you had spent a lot of times in the stables" Byleth said "I'm also aware that Dimitri, who is trying to become a knight got some good advise from you"

Marianne suddenly looked up and Felix could swear he saw an spectre of pink in her face. "Did he said that?"

Byleth nodded "Enough for me to consider you to help in the development of our mounted units, I was actually thinking on training to become a Dark Knight myself. And with your knowledge in magic your addition could be a great addition to us"

"Really?"

Constance nodded "Of course dear, you just wait for all the things I want to show you, you'll be an unstoppable force in no time!"

Marianne looked a little more relaxed "Then I'll be joining then, I hope is not a problem"

"Not at all, please sign here" Constance lended her a pen and the paper with the names of the students.

Marianne signed and left the table.

Byleth sighted "Well that's it for the Golden Deer, now this is where you come in Felix." He said looking at the boy "I need you to help me convince Annette and Mercedes to join"

"I don't know if you noticed, but I'm not the people's person kind of guy. I don't even know what am I doing here" Felix said with a frown.

"I know you are a little sharp on the edges and a gigantic stick in the mud sometimes times" he said always blunt "But they are your classmates, you know them better than anyone in my class"

Felix sighted again, he was going to be sitting here for a while all the same, he might as well try to care. "Whatever"

"Oh, hi Annette!" Byleth said and Felix turned his gaze to the small girl while she sat in front of them. "I'm glad you decided to talk to us, I had taken the liberty to check on your grades from the School of Sorcery and I have to say I'm impressed."

Annette let out a small laugh "Well anyone can be good by paying just a little attention to class. But I always wanted to teach in that same school and...well there's some personal reasons involved too"

Felix raised an eyebrow. Personal reasons?

"I won't pry on your private matters" Byleth said "Instead we are interested in your teaching methods for magic theory, it could be useful for a bunch of our main attack force. In fact, Felix here is fairly interested in becoming a Mortal Savant"

Felix looked at Byleth, but the Professor looked quite amused.

"Is that true Felix?" She asked, and Felix find it hard to hold her gaze.

"Yeah, I guess. But I still have to practice with the bow to be an assassin"

"That makes sense, if you start training your speed you will have an advantage when you become a Mortal Savant, plus I could teach you great spells to counterattack against big armors or even other mages" there was an air enthusiasm in her voice.

"What kind of spells?" He asked.

"Something with great range and easy to cast." She snapped her fingers "Like Thoron, yeah that would be perfect"

Felix was now seriously thinking on the advance training and it's benefits "With a combination of sword proficiency and magic support" he said rubbing his chin "Yeah, it sounds optimal"

He turned towards Byleth and Constance, both of them were smiling, Felix clear his throat.

"Anyway" he said "Are you in or not?"

"Oh, right, of course. I'll be there" she said signing the paper, then she strolled out of the area and Felix again had problems to look away. He turned again to the Professor and Constance, they were smiling again.

"Next" Felix said.

-O-

To think that the Professor would come up with such an idea, maybe Annette gave him less credit than she should. On the first day of the so called Magic Proficiency Program Byleth had close the doors of the Black Eagles classroom and explained the situation to all the students.

The plan in the end was about placing the students in strategic spots to keep watch for any suspicious activities around the Monastery. Not only that but they had spent the whole day making a battle plan to intercept and counterattack the enemy as quickly and efficiently as possible, and it was imperative that the vanguard worked with the mages for the plan to work. So the Professor arranged different duos to keep watch, this bringing her to the current situation, sitting there in the training grounds during the day of the Rite of Ribirth.

"No, you don't get it" Annette pointed at one of the paragraphs of the book on magic theory "You can't just force your body to make the spell, you make the magic circle and that's when you can launch the energy, the circle will transform it on to the right element, in your case lightning."

Felix rubbed his eyebrows with frustration "Why do we need to study this? Wouldn't it be much simpler to show me how to make the spell?"

Annette crossed her arms frowning "I can show you, but that won't help you to understand how to make a circle. Felix are you listening?"

"Would you lower your voice? It's very high pitched sometimes"

She did lower the volume but her anger wasn't really clenched "I'm just trying to help you" she said looking to the side.

"Why?"

It was true that the program was just a cover so the enemy won't suspect on the new guard arrangements, but they might as well try to seem a little authentic. And…

"Well, I just wanted to help you, that's all" she said not looking him in the eyes. "It's not like I have some ulterior motive or anything"

"You are bad liar" he said. And the worst part is that he was right.

"You think I didn't notice when I went to the green house and the stables and was told that somebody already did my chores?" He sat up looking at her. "What are you really planing?"

Annette decided that lying even further would be to insult his intelligence "Okay, fine! I was planning on briding you. I just wanted you to forget about the song, okay? The one that I was singing in the green house"

He raised an eyebrow.

"Please Felix, I will take your shifts in the stables and the green house for the rest of the year."

Felix stood up from the ground were the books of magic where scattered "No thanks" he said while stretching his arms.

Annette stood up too to try to be more at his level but he was a whole head taller than her "What you mean by 'no thanks'? That's not okay! You have to forget, right this instant!"

He shrugged "I can't, it's permanently edged to my memory. A mountain of sweets, as well as steaks and cakes. A stack of them apparently. But," he said turning to see her flush horribly "I'm also curious about those songs about swamp besties, and the moves where you sang crumbs and yums. Was that some kind of fencing footwork?"

"Stop it, Felix! You're a villain!" She yelled feeling her cheeks about to explode. She turned quickly "You know what? Fine! Make me the laughingstock of the whole Monastery for all I care!"

She headed to the door not caring that her guard shift hasn't ended yet, but she was cutted short by Felix. With just a few quick steps he had rushed ahead and put himself between the door and her.

"Our shift hasn't ended" he said

"I don't care. I can't be with you in the same place any longer."

"I fail to see why since I was just trying to be nice. Pff, that's what I get to try to sound interested"

This time she looked him in the eyes defiantly "You have a strange way of showing it, bullying me around and all"

Felix huffed and walked towards one of the barrels with wooden swords "Think what you want. I might not be interested in people that are weak, but I'll never go out of my way to abuse somebody weaker than me. Besides" he took one of the swords "You are not weak Annette, I had seen you fighting"

Was that supposed to be a complement? She tried to sound more angry than she was "You're still a villain for making fun of me"

"I wasn't" he threw another sword towards her and she barely caught it "Come on, show me that footwork of yours"

"What?"

"You had been teaching me magic for the last two weeks, now is my turn to teach you something. This for the sake of your skill and my sanity, because I can't stand to read another magic grimoire"

"You want to teach me fencing?"

"Yes, now, on guard" he took a few steps quick as a hawk and Annette barely had time to block the attack but Felix just hit her sword and knock it off her hands easily. "And that's the first lesson, stance and how to hold a sword"

"I-I wasn't prepared!" She stuttered

"No, no you weren't. That's what this lesson is about" Felix grabbed his own sword by the dull blade and lend it to Annette. Then he made her face one of the dummies.

"You see that's your first problem" he said and Annette was surprised when he use his own leg to move both of hers apart a little. "You have to stand like this, both legs separated and don't put your weight on your toes but the whole foot, I will make defense easier and you'll be quicker to dodge."

"Okay" she said feeling that he was close enough to feel his breathing on her neck, and even though the weather was generally cool she was starting to sweat inside her jacket.

"And here" Felix then placed one of his hand in one of her shoulders and the other one on her hands holding the sword "Raised your hands a little more, it won't take long for your arms to get use to weight"

She was now blushing again but this time it wasn't out of shame, no, this feeling she found it quite pleasant but tortuous at the same time. Like when she was a kid and her mother baked some cookies but she wasn't allowed to eat them until she was finished with her chores, the smell would torture her the whole day.

But his was different, and the source of her torture wasn't the smell of some cookies but how close she was to Felix.

"Now" he said snapping her out of her thoughts "One quick swing and then do that spin you made with the crumbs and yums for the second one"

"So you were teasing me!"

"Focus Annette. Ready? Now!"

She use her small amount of anger for the first attack, it was strong and the dummy trembled because of the force, the sound of the clash of wood making a loud sound. But her hand wasn't weaken one bit so she made the spin and struck a second time with a yell.

This time the force was a little too much for her and the recoil made her land the wrong way, she tripped and fell on her back.

Felix quickly came an offered his hand. "Not bad for a first try"

"I told you it wasn't a fencing footwork" She said taking his hand and he pulled her up. Suddenly they were way to close, Felix's strength was enough for her to stand and be just a few inches from him and for just a few second she was looking right to those bright eyes of him. But he snapped her eyes open and let go of her, he turned his back to her to pick up the other sword.

He cleared his throat "Well, I guess everyone can be a natural"

"Oh yeah, I guess" she stuttered again "Thank you for the tip"

"Whatever" he said finally turning but not looking her in the eyes"

They were trapped in a strange uncomfortable silence for a few seconds before they saw a shining in the sky painted in orange by the dusk, they raised their heads to see a small fireball shooting form the northern side of the monastery.

Annette narrowed her eyes knowing what it meant "That's near the cathedral, Ferdinand and Lysithea's team"

He nodded "Yes. Do you have your mage robes right?"

"Yes" she said taking a small bag where she had her equipment

Felix took his own bag with his own equipment and his steel sword "Then let's go get those fools"

They ran through the dark hallways whole putting their protective gear.

-O-

"Looks like you were right Professor" Edelgard said smiling.

The whole class of the Black Eagles along with the new mages were in the Holy Mausoleum of Seiros, all looking to the enemy they had been preparing for.

A small force of warriors and dark mages from the Western Church had make a perimeter through the whole place. Ferdinand and Lysithea had spotted a strange individual going to the Mausoleum while he thought nobody was watching so they called the rest of team.

"They are after the tomb" said Edelgard.

"Then don't let them escape" Byleth raised his sword, "Felix, your team will strike from the right, Ferdinand through the left. That way we will cover all the exits. Healers, don't go further than the vanguard, let them take care of the fighters while our mages focus on the enemy mages."

They all nodded and split-up in three teams.

Felix advanced quickly with Caspar, Annette, Constance and Mercedes. Ferdinand on the other hand went in with Yuri, Balthus, Bernadetta, Marianne and Hapi.

In the center Byleth adopted a slower paced since he had more enemies to take care of. Edelgard, Petra and Dorothea acted as the main vanguard, the last one was actually a little behind considering she also had to provide covert with magic. Hubert, Lysithea and Linhart acted has magic support.

This time Edelgard required speed so she decided to use a sword instead of her usual axe so he managed to cut through the mages in the front easily. They clearly planned to hold them back with long range spells but the swordsmen were too quick for the projectiles.

She then noticed some enemies hiding between the other tombs "Petra, fall back and protect Dorothea" she commanded. Byleth was a little further fighting two soldiers at once.

Edelgard pressed forward unsheathing a Levin Sword and using it to make a lightning strike towards one of the soldiers. Byleth killed the other soldier a few seconds later. But now that both were in the middle of the ambush so Edelgard pressed her back to his so they didn't have any blind spots.

That's when five other swordsmen and five spearmen surrounded them.

"Well this is a pickle" she said trying to sound calm but she was sweating a lot. Byleth wasn't in better condition either.

"What, this? My dear student this is just the warm up"

She let out a small laugh and struck one of the spearmen with lightning. Another one tried to impale them both but they had already practice fencing before, Byleth and Edelgard were in enough synch to dodge to each side.

The Professor broke the spear with one single hit of the shield in his arm and cuted the man's neck in one smooth swing.

Edelgard ducked to dodge two simultaneous attacks from the swordsmen, she then made a swing upward sending both blades to the air. That startled her opponents enough time to use both her swords to stab each man at the same time.

Another spearman came from one side, Edelgard dodged but she wasn't quick enough as the blade caressed her leg making a big cut in her thigh. She stumbled because of the pain but she used her other leg to jumped to the side and shoot another lightning to the man.

She fell on the floor near a coffin, Byleth had already make the enemy retreat a little so Linhart came safely to heal Edelgard's wound.

"It's not bad" he said applying magic "But I don't think you should keep fighting in the vanguard, the wound could open again and your defense suffer for it."

"It's alright, either way I think we are almost done" Oh but they weren't done, Edelgard looked how Byleth had already cleared the center of the Mausoleum and sprinted forward.

Then he suddenly stopped when a flash of the dark magic Teleportation appeared before him. Thenhewas standing there.

Always menacing, ominous and an absolute terrifying sight for his enemies, the Death Knight had arrived.

The dark figure laid his red eyes on Byleth and Edelgard could see the lust for battle in them.

"Ah" said the Death Knight "You are the one who I was looking forward to meet. But words are not necessary, let our blades do the talking"

And without warning the Death Knight charged towards Byleth, he barely managed to dodge rolling to the side. A rain of sparks limited the Mausoleum as the Death Knight's scythe scratched the floor.

The second attack Byleth blocked it but the force of the horse almost made it loose his balance. Edelgard noticed Byleth changing the sword to his left arm while he stretched the right one a little before grabbing the sword with that one again. His arm had just healed and it was hard to keep a straight stance against this kind of foe.

The Professor was going to die for sure.

Edelgard had to grab her thigh to reassure herself that he was a necessary lost. Yet she felt her heart skip a beat every time he managed to dodge or block an attack knowing that it would be the last.

Were the dark mages done yet? If they managed to get what they came for quickly then they' would call off the attack.

But turned out that Ferdinand and Felix were pushing forward at an amazing speed, they were better than Edelgard had given them credit for.

The Death Knight hit Byleth again, this time he flew across the stairs heading to the altar. He was bleeding from the forehead and his shield was broken.

Dorothea, Lysithea and Hubert jumped to help with their spells but they barely made a scratch on the dark armor, the enemy sent a wave of dark magic towards their direction and knocking them all out of the way.

"You are only pest. Walk away if you don't want to suffer a gruesome death" the Death Knight said.

"Don't you dare to touch them!" Byleth said with a roar that resonated through the Mausoleum "If you hurt one hair of my student's, I'll make you regret it"

Edelgard was stunned for a moment when he saw the expression on the Professor's eyes, there was fire in them, determination and she could almost see his soul shining like a raising sun.

Byleth prepared for the next attack as the Death Knight charged, and for a moment he just stood still, he almost got hit by the attack. But right at the last moment, a flash of light iluminated Byleth, the characteristic flash of a crest activation.

With almost lightning speed Byleth dodged the attack and made one single swing making a deep wound the knight's horse. The animal stumbled and rolled living a trace of blood on the floor and his master on the way.

Byleth used this opportunity and ran towards the last mage near the coffin of Saint Seiros.

"You can't do anything" the mage stuttered "The seal is already-"

Byleth cutted him short by actually cutting his right arm, the man let out a cry of pain and took something from the coffin, a strange sword that look like-

So it was there after all.Edelgard gasped internally.

But the man couldn't even use the sword, Byleth knocked it down of his arm and grabbed it.

As a last resource the mage tried to make a fireball but Byleth deflected it with his new sword. The strange blade hit the man like a whip with a blood-red swipe.

Edelgard was too stunned to see that the enemy had been defeated, some were dead and the only few alive were made prisoners by the other two teams.

Felix, Ferdinand and the others approached the Death King to seize him but he only looked at Byleth.

"That sword," he said, Edelgard could heard the smile in his twisted voice "Interesting. I had enough, for now. We will meet again"

With that the knight disappeared with a dark flash.

The Black Eagles had won...and Edelgard had failed.

-O-

Felix was sitting in one of the giant benches of the cathedral along with the other Black Eagles, he had a strong headache due to a fortress knight hitting him with his shield. Mercedes, Linhart and Marianne were healing each of the students that had sustained injuries, Felix had asked to be the last since his weren't that serious. Luckily all of them had come out alive thanks to the Professor's strategy.

He let out a sight feeling a strange sensation of achievement, he had shown his skills as a swordsman and has a leader. But he still had a long way to go to be as good as Byleth, still the fulfilling sensation was enough to make him feel...happy?

He then felt a warm feeling on his head, he opened his eyes to see Annette smiling at him while applying a healing spell on him.

"I didn't know you knew healing spells" he said.

She shrugged "I just learned last week, it's not much but it will help you feel better tomorrow"

They were silent for a moment, the throbbing in his head disappearing slowly.

"I just told the Professor I'll be joining the Black Eagles" she said and Felix opened his eyes wide.

"What!? Why?" She asked.

"You don't want me to be in the class?"

"What? No! I mean yes. No wait-" he stuttered and she laughed.

"Well that's a new one. Now I'm the one teasing you"

"Shut up" he said turning away flushing.

Luckily she let the matter go and walked away to heal someone else.

Felix found himself thrilled for the next class to come.

Author's Note: Sorry if I put a lot of attention in the school stuff, I'm a teacher myself so I like to show teacher side of Byleth.

I'll try to be more consistent, so see you next week and again thank you for reading.