Yuri was reading in the Abyss classroom. It was the least he could do to continue his studies. Besides, the one thing Abyss had that Garreg Mach didn't was lots of books, especially those that Seteth would have burned and destroyed.

Hurried footsteps approached the room. Yuri glanced up, even though he knew it wasn't Byleth. Her footsteps were much lighter.

Barold burst into the room, sweat visible on his forehead. "Yuri boss! I-I heard!" He was out of breath too and stopped to rest his hands on his knees.

Yuri kept his cool expression. "What'd you hear?"

"I heard Byleth boss got injured!" Barold said, still gasping for air. Yuri stood up. "Stabbed! By the Death Knight."

Yuri swallowed. "Is she alive?" Yuri was glad his voice still sounded even and calm.

Barold nodded. "I think so. I saw some Knights carrying her to the infirmary. Wh-What should we do, Boss?" Barold clasped his hands together, and his dark eyebrows knitted together in worry.

"She'll survive," Yuri said, stepping closer to rest a hand on Barold's shoulder. "Just keep an ear and eye out for more information."

Barold nodded. "Got it!" Yuri was walking past him now. "Where are you going, Boss? You can't go to the surface, right?"

"Yeah, I know," Yuri said with a humorless chuckle. "Keep me posted, Barold!"

"Yes, sir!"

Once Yuri had turned down the hallway, he quickened his pace. His mother should still be at home. She didn't have a work shift at this time.

Byleth… Hadn't he told her to be careful? And what did she do? Go and pick a fight with the Death Knight? Yuri's hands balled into tight fists.

The door wasn't locked. A bad habit of his mother's that no amount of reminding or chastising from Yuri or Byleth could change. Yuri stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Rose was sitting at the dining table, sewing a shirt.

"Mother," Yuri said and dashed towards the table.

"What's wrong?" Rose set the shirt and the needle down.

"You have to go to the surface," Yuri said. He swallowed. Now that he was alone with his mother, a knot had formed in his throat and his stomach. "Byleth… she's been injured."

Rose stood up, the chair scraping against the floor. "What? What happened?"

"Please, just make sure she's okay for me," Yuri said, staring at the table. His voice was thinner and higher-pitched, like he was pleading, because he was. Even though he knew he didn't have to. "She's at the infirmary, the second floor of the monastery. She's been stabbed."

Rose stepped around the table and pulled Yuri into a hug. "Of course, dear. Of course, I will." She patted his back.

"Thanks," Yuri said in a whisper.

"Don't worry, dear. Our Byleth is a tough one," Rose said, pulling away and smoothing part of Yuri's hair down. She was smiling. "You stay right here, and I'll be right back." Yuri nodded and sat down at the table. Rose swept out of the house.

Yuri leaned his arms on his knees and brought his hands together. He didn't pray often, but now seemed like the best time to.

Please, Goddess, please let Byleth be alive.

Professor Byleth had just returned with his class from their monthly mission. He'd sent his students free and was returning the Gautier's Hero's Relic to Lady Rhea, when Seteth burst into the room.

"Rhea! Rhea," Seteth said. "I can't find Flayn anywhere! And Professor Manuela and Byleth ran into the Death Knight."

Byleth's eyes widened.

"Where are Manuela and Byleth now?" Rhea asked.

"Byleth's in the infirmary," Seteth said, glancing at Professor Byleth. "Professor Manuela healed her up. But Flayn- I can't find her anywhere, and she wouldn't go anywhere without telling me first."

Rhea nodded. "I understand, Seteth." She turned to Byleth. "Professor, we'll talk later. You might want to go check on your sister."

Byleth nodded. He didn't need a second reminder. He spun around and quickly walked out of the room. Luckily, the infirmary was just down the hallway. Manuela was sitting at the desk in the infirmary. Byleth was lying in one of the beds. Manuela looked up when Professor Byleth entered.

"Oh, Professor!" Manuela said.

"Will she be okay?" Byleth asked.

Manuela nodded. "Yes, she should be. I've healed her as much as I can. It'll take her a few days to fully recover, but she should be fine."

Byleth sat down on the stool beside the bed. "What happened?" he asked.

Manuela sighed. "I was just going to return Jeritza's mask, but the Death Knight was in his room! And Byleth told me to go get the Knights, so I did. When we came back, she was on the floor, bleeding half to death, and the Death Knight was gone." Manuela glared at the bed, clenching a fist. "I'll make sure to stab the Death Knight the next time I see him. How dare he hurt my student!"

So it'd worked. Byleth knew he shouldn't feel as happy as he did, sitting at the bedside of his injured sister. But it'd worked. She'd changed the storyline, even if it was just who got stabbed by the Death Knight. His sister was a wildcard, the key to achieving his dream of a happy ending.

But… Byleth stared at his sister's pale face. There was a bandage around her right arm too. He'd made a mistake, and it'd almost gotten her killed. He could have warned her of Jeritza, of the Death Knight, but he hadn't. Because what? Because he was afraid she'd tell someone? Because he was afraid she wouldn't believe him? And yet, she'd still followed his random ask, not knowing that it'd be dangerous.

Byleth shook his head and buried his face into his hands. Even if his sister was the key to finding the fifth path, he couldn't sacrifice her life and wellbeing for the sake of his own selfish desire… for the sake of so many other lives…

Someone entered the infirmary, and Manuela intercepted them.

"I'm sorry, we only treat students and employees here," Manuela was saying.

"I'm not here to be treated." It was a woman's voice. "I'm here to see my daughter. Who's right there."

Byleth glanced up. A middle-aged woman, with purple-gray hair tied into a bun, was standing beside Manuela. She was in a simple, tan dress.

"But I thought Byleth was an orphan," Manuela said, mouth wide. The woman brushed past Professor Manuela and stepped beside Professor Byleth. She took Byleth's hand.

"Oh you poor thing," the woman said.

"Now wait a moment, but Byleth is an orphan." Manuela had regained her composure and spun around. "And that's her real brother."

The woman looked at who Manuela was gesturing at, which was Professor Byleth, and said, "Oh! Your Byleth's brother, the new professor."

Professor Byleth stood up and bowed. "Yes. My name is Byleth, too."

The woman smiled. "I'm Rose Leclerc. I lived in the same village as Byleth, when she was a child. She and my son are good friends. I took her in a few years ago. She's my daughter."

Profesor Byleth hadn't heard any of that from his sister. Rose reached a hand towards Byleth's stomach. A glowing white light appeared.

"Wait, I've already healed her," Professor Manuela said, stepping over.

The light faded. Byleth's forehead scrunched up, and she turned her head, stirring in her sleep. Rose smiled. "How long do you think it'll take her to recover?" she asked.

"A few days," Manuela replied. There were more footsteps approaching. These were much heavier.

Jeralt appeared in the doorway. "I heard what happened. Is the kiddo okay?"

Manuela sat back down at her desk. "Yes, for the third time. She should recover in a few days."

Jeralt joined the growing group around Byleth's bed. He patted Professor Byleth's shoulder. "How are you holding up?"

Byleth nodded.

Jeralt then looked at Rose and held a hand out. "I'm Jeralt Eisner, the kid's father."

Rose shook his hand with a pleasant smile. "Nice to meet you, Jeralt. I'm her surrogate mother, if you will. I've heard quite a bit about you two."

"Huh, we haven't heard much about you," Jeralt said, scratching the back of his head. "But then, the kiddo's pretty quiet."

Rose chuckled. "Yes, she can be shy." She gazed down at Byleth and squeezed Byleth's hand. "I should get going." She returned Byleth's hand back on the bed, then bent down to kiss Byleth's forehead. "Nice meeting you two," Rose said before leaving the infirmary.

Professor Byleth sat back down in the stool.

"She'll be fine," Jeralt said. "She's tough. Like me."

Professor Byleth nodded, a trace of a smile on his face. He knew that, but still, he wanted to sit here for just a bit longer.

Everything hurt. My arm. My stomach. My back ached, and my neck and legs were stiff. I blinked and slowly opened my eyes. Was I in heaven or hell? No, if I was hurting, I probably wasn't in heaven.

I was lying in a bed in the infirmary. Sunlight seeped in through the window to my left. I pushed myself up into a sitting position. Ow ow ow ow. There was a sharp pain in my stomach. My hand went to the bandaged wound.

"You're up." Professor Manuela walked into the infirmary. She leaned over me. "Let me see."

"Flayn," I said. My throat was dry.

"I'll get you water." Professor Manuela poured me a glass of water and handed it to me. I gulped it down, then returned the glass to her. She poured me more water.

"Is Flayn okay?" I asked.

"The Death Knight took her, but they don't know to where," Professor Manuela said.

"I think I know where," I said, sipping the water now. "There was a hole behind Jeritza's bookshelf."

"I'll let the Knights know," Professor Manuela said. "You just keep resting here, okay?"

"Can I go back to my room?" I asked.

Professor Manuela thought for a second and then shrugged. "If you can walk back, then I suppose. You'll want to drop by once a day, though, so I can check up on you and change your bandages."

I nodded. I had to go see Yuri. I swung my legs off the bed. Oof, everything was stiff. "What day is it, Professor?"

"You've only been sleeping for a day," Manuela said. "Let me know if you're not feeling well enough to attend class tomorrow, all right?"

"Okay. Thank you," I said.

Manuela watched me as I pushed myself onto my feet. I felt light-headed and dizzy. I steadied myself with a hand on the nearby bed table.

"Do you need help?" Manuela asked.

"I can help."

I glanced towards the voice. It was Byleth. He strode over and held an arm towards me. I stared at him for a second before taking his arm.

"Be careful," Manuela said, as I hobbled my way out. "And let me know if you need anything."

"Thanks, Professor," I said. We were at the doorway now. This was very slow going.

"I can carry you," Byleth said, in that quiet, low tone of his.

I shook my head. If I couldn't even walk to my own room with the help of Byleth, there was no way I'd get to Abyss on my own.

Byleth helped me down the steps, one at a time. I kept a hand on the wall. Had the path from the infirmary to my room always been this long? I'd been back and forth before, when running errands to stock up the infirmary supplies, and I swore it was a five minute walk.

We were walking through the hallways now, towards the dorms. When we passed by the cafeteria, the sweet smell of freshly baked bread made me realize that I was starving. I stopped.

"I'm hungry," I said.

Byleth nodded, and we turned to walk into the cafeteria. I sat down, while Byleth went to get us food. I dug straight in. Delicious, warm pasta. Mmm…

When I glanced up, chewing, Byleth was smiling.

"What?" I said, mouth full of noodles and carrots.

Byleth shook his head. "I'm glad you're safe."

"Thanks." I returned my gaze to the plate in front of me. "I guess." We didn't talk much. I was too busy stuffing my face, and Byleth was a quiet person. When I was done eating, I left out a satisfied sigh. I felt much more awake.

I stood up to try to return the plate myself, but my right arm was weak. Byleth took the plate from me. He was back a second later and held his arm out again. I stared at him. "Why are you helping me?" I asked.

"You're my sister," Byleth said. I placed my arm on top of his, and we walked out of the cafeteria. My head was clearer. I felt more steady too.

I chuckled to myself, but I wasn't smiling. "Even though you'd told me, I still couldn't do anything."

Byleth glanced at me then back at the path we were walking on. "That's not true."

"Yes, it is. Flayn's missing, and the Death Knight got away," I said.

"You saved Professor Manuela," Byleth said. Our footsteps were quiet against the stone. I suppose he was right. Byleth looked at me again. "If you hadn't been there, Professor Manuela would have been stabbed instead."

Oh great, so I just swapped places with her? I laughed again mirthlessly. "You don't have to try to cheer me up."

"Sorry."

"You don't have to apologize either," I said. Byleth was pursing his lips.

"I should have warned you," he said. We were nearing the dorms now. I could see my room up ahead.

"Warned me about the Death Knight?" I asked. Byleth nodded. "You did tell me to be careful. And I was careful. I just wasn't strong enough."

Byleth shook his head. "The Death Knight is very strong."

Yeah, I knew that first hand. He could probably defeat Byleth too, in a one-on-one fight. We arrived in front of my room. Byleth opened the door for me, then helped me to my bed. I dropped down with a sigh of relief.

"Do you need anything?" Byleth asked.

"Oh!" I snapped my finger. "Flayn. The Death Knight. There was a hole, behind the bookshelf. Did you look there? In Professor Jeritza's room."

Byleth nodded. "Don't worry. We'll get Flayn back."

"Okay, good." I dropped onto my bed, pulling the blankets over me. "Thanks for the help."

"Get some rest," Byleth said, with a short nod. Then the door closed, and the room was quiet. I let my eyes slide shut. My bed wasn't more comfortable than the infirmary one, but at least it didn't smell like alcohol.

I slept and slept until there was a knock on my door.

My head felt a bit more clear, as I pushed myself up. "Who?" My throat was parched though, and my voice cracked.

"It's me, Rose, dear!"

"Hang on." I shuffled up and opened the door. It was dark outside. How long was I asleep? I could smell some kind of sweet fish broth. "Oh my Goddess, Rose, what did you bring?"

Rose smiled at me and entered. She set the box on my desk and pulled out a container. "Come eat," she said. I sat down at my desk as she placed a bowl in front of me. I was trying not to drool. Rose passed me a spoon, and I dug right in.

"You're a lifesaver," I said. It was delicious and warm and not too salty. There were carrots, radish, and mushrooms too.

"I also brought some fruit. Make sure to eat some, okay?" Rose was unpacking some apples, bananas, and pears.

"I'll probably go eat at the cafeteria tomorrow," I said.

"Do you need any medicine?"

I shook my head. My wound ached, but it was bearable. "This is medicine," I said, slurping the soup. The fish was cooked so tenderly that it almost melted in my mouth.

Rose laughed and patted my back.

Then a thought struck me. Wait. How did Rose know? I looked at her. That meant Yuri knew. Well, of course, Yuri knew. But he told Rose because he'd heard something serious and severe. "Do you want a chair? And how'd you know? Did you visit me yesterday?" My hand brushed my stomach.

Rose dragged the spare chair over to sit beside me. "Yes, Yuri told me. I visited you, and I met your brother and father." She beamed at me.

"You did?" My mouth hung open just long enough for me to scoop more stew into my spoon.

Rose nodded. "They seem like nice people."

"You told Yuri I was okay?"

"Of course." Rose reached a hand out to stroke my hair.

"Thanks," I said, smiling.

After I finished the stew, Rose took the bowl and utensils back. "Get some sleep, dear. I'll be back tomorrow."

"That's okay," I said. "I'll go to Abyss."

"Are you sure?" Rose was standing near the doorway.

I nodded. "And I'll probably go to class."

"Don't push yourself too hard." Rose set the box back down and pulled me into a hug. She kissed my cheek. "All right, now get some rest."

I waved her goodbye and closed the door. Then I stretched my arms up over my head. Now that my stomach was full, I was getting sleepy again. I picked up one of the books we had to read and crawled into bed.

I opened the book to where I'd left off. I still had a few more pages left to read, though Professor Manuela would probably give me a free pass if I didn't finish. But, I'd been sleeping all day today and yesterday.

I read and read, until my eyelids felt heavy. Then I set the book aside and rolled onto my back and fell asleep.

Thanks for reading! :)