Back In School.
Claiming the monastery at Garreg Mach as its home base, the Alliance army joins forces with the Knights of Seiros. Together, they begin to take up arms against the Adrestian Empire.
In the Cathedral, Byleth, Claude and Hilda were having a little talk. Having been able to gather what remained of the knights and even the rest of monastery professors, minus Esdeath, Garreg Mach was well on it's way of being restored.
"Good work, Hilda! You didn't do much manual labor, but you managed to rope the knights into helping us restore the monastery" Claude praised his friend.
"Thanks, Claude, but all I did was piggyback on your scheme. I saw your eyes telling me to make some magic happen!" Hilda said as Alois and Catherine walks in.
"Thank you so much for your help with the restoration" Alois said happily.
"Oh please, it was nothing! We're just doing our part as former students" Hilda said in a humble tone... even though she is known for being very lazy.
"I'm told you even routed the bandits. That job should have fallen to us. I'm sorry for the trouble" Cathrine said.
"Hey, don't think twice about it. We're all allies in the resistance against the Empire, right?" Claude asked.
Catherine looks at him "The church is at war with the Empire, but let's be realistic. Wouldn't it be better for the Alliance to eventually submit?".
"The way I see it, the emperor wants to take over all of Fódlan and destroy the existing order of the world. I can't see her allowing the Alliance to continue to exist. We're in this just as deeply as you are. Actually… We were hoping to use this place as a base. The Empire begs to be meddled with, and we're first in line" Claude explained.
"What? Why would you want to make your base here of all places?" Alois asked in surprise.
"Garreg Mach is situated in the center of Fódlan, both geographically and spiritually. We want to secure this location while the Empire is still overlooking it" Claude answered.
Catherine thinks about what he said "I see. The Empire doesn't see this place as important at the moment because it's far from the front lines".
"But if we simply decide that it's ours to occupy, that does nothing to inspire the hearts and minds of the people of Fódlan. Luckily, good ol' Teach has finally returned to us. If the Professor Rhea entrusted with the Sword of the Creator fights at our side… Well now. That's a just cause anyone could get behind. What's more, here we are, working alongside the legendary Knights of Seiros. It smacks of divine providence, doesn't it? Can you feel it?" Claude asked.
Seteth walks in "I have heard what you have to say, Claude. And you, Byleth? Where do you stand?".
"My goal is to find Rhea and get my sister back. If fighting the Empire is the only way to do that, then so be it" Byleth said, she knew Edelgard needed to be stopped, but getting her sister back took priority to her, and she needed to find Rhea since she still had a lot of questions for her.
Seteth thinks "Hm. We are at a relative standstill, but with the help of the Alliance… The archbishop said if anything should happen to her, that we should entrust the affairs of the church to you. If you intend to fight alongside the Alliance, then I will follow you as well. Is that acceptable, Claude?".
Claude nods with a smile "Of course. I can't think of anything more reassuring than having both Teach and the knights on our side. Together, we'll stop the emperor and her reckless ambitions!".
Byleth smiled, happy to see so many familiar faces back together again... but there was still one face she really wanted to see... or should she say two. Her sister... and her lover. She had been thinking about Esdeath as well, who she knew was loyal to the Empire. With Esdeath against them they were at a serious disadvantage, as Esdeath still remains one of the deadliest warriors in the world... But maybe.
Byleth decides to head back to her old room. It was mostly in tact after the attack. It just needed some fixing up and the it was as good as new. She sits down on her bed and sighs. 5 years had passed, and she was still putting everything together. So much had changed since she was gone, and she had no idea where she should even start.
She was brought out of her thoughts when she heard a knock on the door "Yes?".
The door opened, revealing Leone "Hello Professor. Sorry if I am intruding".
"Not at all, Leone. Did you need something?" Byleth asked as Leone closed the door.
"Yes..." Leone said before she walked up to Byleth... and gave her a strong hug. But it wasn't like the one she gave Byleth before. This hug felt different.
"Hey, what is this for..." Byleth began before she felt her shoulder getting wet "Leone? Are you crying?".
"Yes I'm crying you daft idiot!" Leone almost shouted, surprising Byleth as she didn't expect it "I thought your were dead... for 5 years I lived with the knowledge that you were gone. I spent weeks trying to find you, refusing to believe you were really gone... but I couldn't find you. And the damn Empire made it impossible for me to look any further... I had to accept you were dead...".
"Leone..." Byleth whispered, feeling guilty that her student had gone through all that.
"And yet here you are, alive, like nothing happened... where have you been?" Leone asked, failing to prevent a sob from leaving her her throat.
"I'm sorry, Leone. After that fall, I ended up in a coma for 5 years. Even I'm not sure how I am still alive now" Byleth answered, though she had a feeling her power had something to do with her survival.
"Losing you hurt so much... I felt like had lost my mom all over again" Leone said.
"Your mom?" Byleth asked.
Leone finally pulled back "Oh, right I never really told you anything about my past. Do you have the time to hear it?".
"Of course" Byleth said with no hesitation. Making it clear to her student that she had all the time they needed.
"My life was never easy. My father died not long after I was born, and I lost my mother to sickness when I was only 8. I spent years surviving on the streets, doing small jobs, hoping to earn enough coins for a meal. I was lost and my life was meaningless... until I met her..." Leone said.
"Her?" Byleth asked.
"Her name is Najenda, a high ranking General in the Alliance and has earned respect from many. One day I had been cornered by some bad people who wanted to use me... I fought back the best I could, punching, kicking, scratching, even biting... but they managed to overpower me, but before they could do anything... Najenda showed up" Leone explained as she smiled "She didn't even draw her weapon. She took them all down like they were nothing. She moved with such grace and was so strong... I was in complete awe".
"I see" Byleth said as she continued to listen.
"After that she turned to me and made sure I was ok. I asked her why she would save a random nobody like me. She just looked at me and told me something I will never forget: Someone needs to stand up for the less fortunate" Leone said as she remembered Najenda's words "She told me, if no one stands up and tries making a difference, then nothing will ever change. We can't just wait for everything to get better, we need to step up and make it change".
Byleth smiled a little. Hoping she could meet this Najenda one day. She sounded like a true warrior.
"After that, I begged her to take me on as her apprentice... had to beg on my knees and be really annoying for her to finally say yes. She didn't have much time given how busy she was, but she managed to provided me a proper education so I could read and write. She helped teaching me how to fight and once I was old enough, she told me I should go to the Garreg Mach Monastery if I wanted to grow in to my own warrior. It was thanks to her recommendation that I made it in at all. And well, you know the rest" Leone said.
"You have been through a lot, Leone. You really are strong" Byleth said.
"Thanks... and I became stronger thanks to you. Najenda is very important to me and I owe so much to her. But like I said before, she wasn't around much, so I never formed a family bond with her. But when I met you... at first I believed I would just be your student and you my teacher. But you did more than just train me. You went out of your way to spend time with me whenever you could, you listened to my problems and helped me solve them... and you did it out of your own free will, not because you needed to. I even enjoyed our failed cooking lessons" Leone said.
Byleth chuckled, remembering all the good times she and Leone had together... even their little mishaps.
"I know this sounds silly given we are pretty much the same age... but for the first time since I lost my mother... I felt like I was experiencing parental love again" Leone said, looking embarrassed.
"I must admit. My idea of motherhood did not involve mentoring a large adult daughter. Now you make me feel old" Byleth said, making Leone chuckle "But I am faltered you think of me that way, even though we are almost the same age. If it makes you happy, I can continue being a mom to you. But then you would need to call Akame your aunt".
Leone laughs and hugs Byleth again "So happy to have you back".
Byleth smiled "Good to be back. And this time, I am not going anywhere".
Knowing her students were still so loyal to her put Byleth at ease. She knew she could succeed as long as she had them on her side. She will stop Edelgard and get her family back. That's a promise.
Meanwhile, Hilda was spending some time alone. She was humming to herself until she heard a voice "Lazying around like always. You haven't changed at all".
She looked up and saw a very familiar person "Mine?".
It was indeed her sister, Mine. She had changed a little. She looked older, her hair was now style in a ponytail and she was wearing some light armor, common among alliance forces. Hilda haven't seen or even heard from Mine for over 3 years now, as the war caused them to lose all contact and Hilda had even worried Mine had been killed in battle.
"Long time no see sis... So you finally came back just to scold me again-" Hilda began before Mine suddenly hugged her, making her blink "Mine?".
"Quiet... just... don't speak..." Mine said, no scolding or anger in her voice... she sounded relieved.
Hilda understood and smiled before hugging Mine back "Missed you too, sister".
"I said be quiet" Mine ordered, sounding annoyed but didn't break the hug.
Hilda giggled but remained quiet, enjoying her reunion with her sister. Family always matters, no matter how much they argue. And soon enough, families will be reunited. But the outcome of said reunions are unclear... much has changed during the 5 years. There is no telling what could happen now.
.
Tell me what you think.