It was the Harpstring Moon. Byleth, Beles, Kiran, Edelgard, Dimitri and Claude are reunited with Rhea and Seteth in time to talk about their latest mission.
"It seems that our latest mission is to stop bandits from terrorizing Leichester villages." Seteth said. "The bandit leader is an infamous killer named Rolfer Bloodmoon."
"From what I heard, the Bloodmoons were a merchant family, right?" Beles tilted her head.
"Indeed." Rhea nods. "However, an incident that happened in Adrestia caused the family to lose its title of merchants and lead their oldest, Rolfer, to killing."
"If that is the case, we must ensure that Alfonse does not die if he is being held hostage by the man." Kiran growled.
"Be careful, Summoner." Edelgard shook her head. "That man is very dangerous. We will have to think our strategies through."
"Our Summoner is a tactician, Edelgard." Byleth adds. "With their strategies, we will take down any enemy."
"You are right as always, Brother." Beles smiles.
Six hours after the meeting, Kiran was on their way to check on anyone when they accidentally run into a teal haired girl who was holding a basket of fish.
"Oh!" She gasped.
"I'm sorry." Kiran said as they helped the girl up. "Are you hurt?"
"I am fine. I am greatful for-." The girl smiled until she noticed something. "Ah! You must be the newest Professor! It is such an honor to meet you! My name is Flayn! I am Seteth's darling little sister!"
"It is nice to meet you, Flayn." The Summoner bowed. "Do you need any help with these fish?"
"Oh, it is such an honor." Flayn smiles. "Thank you so much."
Kiran then helped the teal haired girl pick up the fish and put them back in the basket.
"I appreciate the help, Professor." She smiled. "It is an honor to have met you."
And so, Flayn and Kiran went their different ways. The latter went back to find Dorothea looking like she had lost something.
"Hello, Dorothea." They greeted. "Is something the matter?"
"Ah. Hi, Summoner." Dorothea said nervously. "I was going to a meeting with Instructor Manuela, and... um..." She hesitated to speak. "I lost... my undershirt... It doesn't matter what it looks like... except that it is pale blue."
"Um..." The Summoner was left dumbfounded before answering. "I'll tell Manuela."
"Thank you, Summoner." The brown haired young woman smiled.
Kiran went to look for Manuela, the Faith Magic Instructor and nurse of the Monastery. Once they entered the Training Grounds, they found Felix, Ingrid and Caspar training.
"Hey, Summoner." Caspar waved. "Did you come to train too? These are the Training Grounds, after all."
"Not at all." Kiran shook their head while smiling.
"I see." The cyan haired student nodded. "By the way, I found this... strange cloth." He then takes out a pale blue cloth, which Kiran recognizes as Dorothea's undershirt. "I don't know what it is, but I bet it's good for wiping up sweat."
"Ok." The summoner nodded before backing away and leaving, with Felix and Ingrid looking at the scene in confusion.
Meanwhille, Fjorm is polishing Leiptr in the Blue Lion Classroom as Ferdinand was reading a book.
"You have such a beautiful lance... prettier than any rustic spear I hold." The young man sighed.
"Why, thank you." Fjorm smiled. "Your language fits someone as noble as yourself.
"Do not say such things..." Ferdinand shook his head. "What was once a noble man is now a refugee of Faerghus. My father was betrayed by Count Gloucester of Leichester. And all of out belongings were taken from our hands... My father was helpless to do anything as he was imprisoned in Gloucester territory."
"Ah..." The Niflian Princess stopped smiling. "My apologies. I know my condolences will not help, but I do hope you get all your stuff back."
"You are ever the kindest, Lady Fjorm." Ferdinand smiles weakly.
Suddenly, the bells chime, meaning that free time is over and bedtime is arriving.
At night, Caspar was restless. He was usually a heavy sleeper, but the mission the students were given left him with little to no sleep. And so, he decided to do some late training at the Training Grounds.
As he was on his way to the area, he hears some screaming.
"Oh no..." He mutters as he RUNS to Linhardt's room, recognizing the scream IMMEDIATELY. As he open the door, he saw Linhardt sitting on the bed, sweating rapidly and panting.
"Lin?" The cyan haired student ran to his friend. "Are you alright?"
"C-Caspar?" Linhardt stammered before hugging his friend, trying to prevent a sob from breathing out.
"It's ok, Linhardt." Caspar said, stroking his friend's hair. "You're safe. Do you want to say what happened?"
"I-It was t-terrible..." The green haired boy whimpered. "I was t-trapped in a d-dark room... A-and no one would c-come find me..."
"Don't you fear, Linhardt!" Caspar smiles confidently. "If you ever get trapped in the dark room, I will sweep in to save you!!!"
"T-thank you, Caspar." Linhardt smiles. "I'm glad to have a friend like you."
"Anytime, Lin." The cyan haired boy nodded.
The next few weeks only involved lessons, trainings and seminars. Kiran, who was very intelligent in teaching thanks to their knowledge on tactics and taking care of child heroes in Askr, helped Byleth and Beles on the former mercenaries' teaching lessons.
The day before the Harpstring Moon ended, Edelgard arrived with the news.
"Professors. Summoners." She said. "I bring news. It seems that our wanted fugitve has taken somewhere elss during our training."
"Where did that man hide?" Kiran asked.
"It seems that he hid in Zanado, the Red Canyon." Edelgard answered. "And it seems that there were no signs of Sharena's brother being with the man."
Kiran does not know whether to be relieved or concerned. It seems Alfonse was unharmed, but Rolfer did not have him.
"We shall be going." Byleth nodded. "That man won't know what got to him."
"You are right, brother." Beles nods. "To Zanado we go."
It seems that the trip of Zanado was long since most of the road was covered in bumps.
"So... It seems that we will be taking CHILDREN into battle." Sothis's voice echoed in Kiran's head. "I fear that the other Sothis might not sleep well. Just as I did with Byleth in my world, I shall allow you to turn back the hands of time. Know that this is a limited ability."
Elizabeth then takes out a bow, followed by Valeria unsheating her dagger.
"Get ready." The latter said. "There MAY be enemies nearby."
"Here they come." Drew growled.
Suddenly, some mooks appeared and charged at the group. Peony used light magic that she got from her Flower of Joy to defeat them.
"Emblian Soldiers?" The Ljósálfar was left confused. "Why would they team up with a killer like him?"
"Thórr made these Forma Souls." Veronica growled. "She made these so they could help him slaughter innocent villagers. That is unforgivable. If he gets in our way, I will pop his head right off, just like I used to do with my dolls."
Eir gulped upon hearing Veronica's smooth anger. She knew that the Emblian Princess was ruthless and merciless towards the Askran Royalty and the Order of Heroes, but she has never heard the young girl talk in such dangerous manners.
"Everyone, stay back." Felix said as he takes out his sword. "More enemies are coming."
Soon, more Forma Soldiers charged at the army. Felix, Dedue, Ingrid, Dimitri, Edelgard, Emile, Caspar, Annette, Valeria, Hilda, Drew and Lucretia dealt with enemies in close range, Hubert, Bernadetta, Mercedes, Linhardt, Ashe, Claude, Elizabeth, Lorenz, Dorothea and Marianne used magic or arhery to defeat enemies, Peony would give Morale with her Gentle Dreams, Mirabilis used her Whimsical Dream to distract the enemies, Eir would heal her allies with Sparkling Boost, Veronica would casts a number of Dark Spells with Elívagír, Byleth used his sword while Beles used magic to fight and Fjorm protects her allies with Ice Mirror.
Sharena deals another final blow on one Forma Soldier with Fensalir, staining it with Forma Blood.
"Eyes open, Sharena!" Kiran yelled. "He's coming!"
The Askran Princess turned around to see that Rolfer arrives, his sword stained with the blood of his victims.
"I see that a bunch of brats came to kill me." The infamous killer smirks. "How low of Archbishop Rhea."
"So you are the killer of these harmless villagers in Leichester..." Claude growls.
"Why did you use Formas of Emblian Soldiers?" Veronica growls.
"These soldiers were hired by me." Rolfer smirks. "They wanted to see some carnage alongside me."
"You're an insane maniac and a liar!!" Sharena shouted. "Princess Veronica would NEVER use Emblain Soldiers to kill innocent villagers from both Zenith and other worlds! And I won't forgive you for what you did to my brother!"
"Oh, your brother is fine." The bandit shook his head. "He is kept hidden in a dungeon by the one known as the Whirlwind Emperor."
"The Whirlwind Emperor?!" Claude and Edelgard gasped as Dimitri clenched his fists.
"Indeed." Rolfer laughs. "But I will not tell the location of the dungeon for the sake of the Whirlwind King!!"
"Enough!!!" Dimitri says as he impales his lance onto Rolfer's spear.
"Should I have... kept... my mouth shut?" The bandit said before dying.
Dimitri removed the lance from the corpse and left alongside Dedue, Felix and Ingrid.
"I have never seen Dimitri act so violently..." Edelgard sighed.
"Perhaps that guy revealed to much." Claude shook his head.
"The Whirlwind King..." Sothis's voice echoed, but it was only heard by Kiran. "I heard that he may this world's counterpart of Edelgard's Flame Emperor, but from who? UGH!! It is so TIRING to have one's head spinning in circles!! Anyway, let us head back. We will owe this world's Rhea a lot of explaining."
Later, everyone arrived at the Monastery, the mission being declared a success. Sharena decided to have a word with Rhea. The Askran Princess told the Archbishop about her brother's whereabouts.
"You say that your brother is hidden away by the Whirlwind King?" The teal haire woman covered her mouth in surprise.
"Yes..." Sharena looked down. "I believe the other person holding him hostage is... a God. Thórr, Goddess of War in my world."
"I understand." Rhea said. "We will send our most powerful knights to search for your brother's location. Then we will tell you and the Professors."
"Alright." The blond and pink haired girl nods. "Thank you."
As Sharena gets up to leave, a young man with lilac hair arrives.
"Forgive me for being late, Archbishop Rhea." He said. "I have been sending some spies to investigate the current manner."
"It is alright, Yuri." Rhea nods. "Is Aster doing her task?"
"Yes." Yuri nods. "After all, she defected them."
"Of course..." The Archbishop nodded. "As they say. The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
TO BE CONTINUED