Fodlan, ?

On a beach, a family enjoyed fishing. The mother was catching most of the fish while the father and daughter watched. "Brianna, could you bait my hook again? The father asked. Brianna laughed and said, "Cichol, someday you will have to learn to do it yourself." He smiled and said, "Why should I? You're so good at it!"

Their daughter ran out to play in the water, making it to where the water was to her chest. "Cethleann, get back here this instant! It's too dangerous!" He started to get her. Brianna stopped him and said, "Cichol, she knows how to swim. You have to let go, sometimes."

Cichol sighed, "I know. But I would never forgive myself if anything happened to her or you."

Brianna smiled, "You can't protect us from everything. Cethleann will have to make her choices someday. Just think, in a few years, she'll want to date. "

He shuddered, "Perish the thought."

Brianna kissed his cheek, "She'll be fine because we've taught her well."

Crestwood

"...and that's what Claude thinks: that we're all characters in the Varley stories trapped in a curse by my Uncle. I believe Hubert knows more than he's telling.

Seteth was carefully taking notes while Edelgard spoke. "And what do you think?"

Edelgard paused, "I'm starting to think he may be right. Nothing seems genuine here. Ever notice how we don't have crickets? Woods surround us, but we don't even have bugs. It's like it's too perfect here or something." She threw her hands up, "You must think I'm crazy."

Seteth looked up from his notepad, "Edelgard, we've been through this. I don't call people 'crazy.' I'm here to listen and help you process your thoughts and feelings. Anything you say is confidential - even your Uncle can't find out what you say here."

Edelgard still seemed uneasy. "So," Seteth continued. If we're all characters in a Varley book, then who am I, according to Claude?"

Edelgard laughed, "That's easy, you're The Conscience - you help everyone tell right from wrong."

Seteth chuckled slightly, "Coming from Claude - I'm not sure that's a compliment."

"No, no, absolutely not. No. Just no." Byleth threw the deputy uniform at Ingrid. Ingrid pulled the uniform off her face.

Sylvain said, "Everyone listens to a woman in uniform." Ingrid threw the uniform at Sylvain. "Ow! What are these buttons made of!"

"Don't you need to be at court or something? Why are you always hanging out here?" Byleth asked.

Sylvain raised his hands, "I defend defendants. I can't do that unless you two catch anyone. Therefore, I am waiting here. Besides, Ingrid enjoys my company."

Ingrid continued, "If you want to be a part of this community, you have to make it official," Ingrid sighed. Byleth looked at her impassively.

"At least wear the badge," Ingrid pleaded. Sylvain unpinned the badge from the uniform and held it out. Byleth took it and pinned it on her shirt.

Suddenly the room began to shake. In the distance, car alarms sounded, and dogs barked. Byleth grabbed the desk to keep from falling. Sylvain held onto Ingrid, and for once, she didn't elbow him. Then the rumbling stopped. Sylvain let go of Ingrid. Ingrid's phone and the station's phone began to ring.

Byleth and Ingrid hopped in the Sheriff's car and raced to the edge of town. A giant sinkhole had formed, and people were starting to gather. Arundel was already there trying to get people to disperse, but he was having no luck. He ordered an older red-haired man to call the entire fire department out to their location. Upon seeing Byleth, he sneered, "Miss Eisner, this is now official town business, so you're free to leave."

Byleth showed him her badge, "Well, snaps for me because now I'm official."

Arundel glared at Ingrid, "So you went ahead and officially deputized her. Bold."

Ingrid looked intimidated, but she straightened her posture and stood next to Byleth. Arundel said, "So be it." He turned to the onlookers, "People of Crestwood, don't be alarmed. We've always known this area was honeycombed with old mining tunnels, but please do not be afraid. I'm going to undertake a project to make this area safe to rehabilitate it into city use. We will bulldoze it, collapse it, pave it."

While she was making her speech, Edelgard and Seteth arrived on the scene. His daughter and receptionist, Flayn, followed. Claude approached them, "I wonder what he's trying to pave over."

Arundel continued to tell people to back off. Once he got some space, he picked up something and hid it in his pocket. Claude whispered to Byleth, "Any idea what he just pocketed?"

Before she could answer, Arundel barked at Ingrid and Byleth to tape off the area. Claude continued, "We can't let him pave over whatever is down there."

Seteth pinched the bridge of his nose, "And why do I have to be involved in this scheme, Claude?"

Claude replied, "Because you're the town therapist, and you already know everything."

Flayn piped up, "Ooh, this sounds mysterious! I want to help!"

Seteth whirled around, "Absolutely not, Flayn! Claude, I have told you not to involve my daughter in any theories, schemes, or anything else you do around here. Flayn, you need to go home. It isn't safe here - there is a giant hole in the ground!"

Flayn left dejectedly. Claude said, "Honestly, Seteth - isn't she like twenty-one? I think you can trust her not to walk in a giant hole."

Seteth growled, "I wouldn't expect you to understand, Claude."

Claude continued, "Anyway, Byleth, it's pretty weird that you move here and the ground opens up. I think you've somehow managed to weaken the curse."

Byleth replied, "And I think it's weird that your town thought it was a good idea to build right on top of tunnels. How long was that supposed to last?"

Edelgard said, "Did you do anything differently today? Just think, please?"

Byleth put her hand on her badge. Claude and Edelgard each raised their eyebrows. Arundel stomped over, "Miss Eisner, if you're going to wear the badge, then do your job. Claude, Edelgard - I don't hire you to follow me around, go back to the Mayor's office, and Seteth - we need to talk."

He grabbed Seteth by the arm and yanked him aside. "Okay, we're done with this," he hissed.

Seteth said calmly, "I don't know what you are talking about."

Arundel was furious, "I know that my niece sees you. Now, I can't even cover up a safety hazard without her thinking it's part of some larger conspiracy!"

Seteth pulled his arm away from Arundel, "You know very well I can't legally tell you if someone is my patient, and I certainly can't discuss a treatment plan."

Arundel grabbed him again and said, "Sometimes I think you've forgotten that Crestwood is my town. I can ruin you. Make you lose your house. Make your precious daughter disappear."

Seteth, now quite shaken, said, "You do whatever you want to me, but you leave her out of this."

Arundel said, "If you don't crush that delusion in my niece's head, you'll never see her again."

Tailtean Plains, 91

Cichol checked Cethleann's armor one more time. "Father, please, I am not a baby!"

Brianna took her husband's hand, "She's right. She's a skilled healer and can take care of herself on the battlefield."

"The two of you shouldn't be on the battlefield at all! Especially you, Brianna, you're human and not nearly as strong as the rest of us."

"That doesn't matter. I need to be here to fight for our future just as much as any 'child of the Goddess.'"

He took her hands, "Please promise me that if the battle starts to go badly that you will take Cethleann and run."

Brianna shook her head, "No, we are not running from this."

Cichol wrapped his arms around both of them, "Then I'll just have to protect you.

Crestwood

"Where do you think you're going?" Seteth said sternly.

Out," Flayn replied. "Doing young people stuff."

"With a backpack and a flashlight?"

Flayn was never a good liar. "Okay fine. I think I can help Claude find proof. I know where I can get it."

"No, there is no way you're getting involved with any theory of Claude's. Dimitri is in the hospital."

"You need to stop treating me like a baby."

"Well, you should stop acting like one! Honestly, Flayn curses, hidden conspiracies? I can't treat you like an adult when you believe such childish nonsense!"

Flayn held back tears and said, " I see how it is then. I'll be back later." She slammed the door and left.

At the hospital, Byleth had managed a rare feat - to visit Dimitri without Monica present. All it had taken was bribing Manuela to convince Monica that she needed to buy Dimitri some essentials while he was in the hospital. In addition to being a skilled physician, Manuela was turning out to be quite devious and a helpful ally. Byleth was getting to play Hangman with Dimitri, and Manuela would get to enjoy some wine after work tonight. It was nice to get to speak with Dimitri while conscious, even though he was pretty shy.

"Although I feel much better, I just wish I could remember all that's happened the past few days," he sighed.

"I'm sure it will be okay. Manuela doesn't seem to be too concerned. And anyway, you're making new memories just fine." She put her hand on his, and he blushed profusely.

"Can I play too?" came a familiar cloying voice. Monica stood in the doorway holding shopping bags.

Byleth stood, "I was just leaving." Dimitri looked disappointed, but Byleth wasn't staying around with Monica. She got out of there quickly, again confused why she felt such a strong reaction whenever she saw Monica.

She returned to Edelgard's apartment to mope. Edelgard later returned from work, and Claude had tagged along. Byleth collapsed on the sofa and exclaimed, "I must be the dumbest person in the world, feeling something towards someone just because they said my name before passing out."

Claude laughed, "Oh, so you admit you feel something for him. It's those big blue eyes of his. He's like a prince - or maybe a golden retriever." Byleth threw a pillow at him.

Edelgard brought out a tray of sweet buns, "I would be careful of getting too attached to Dimitri. He - is very caught up in things that happened in the past. I don't want to see you get your heart get broken, Byleth."

Byleth replied, "By the way, are we ever going to discuss how you two have the same uncle?"

Before Edelgard could answer, someone, knocked on the door. Claude opened it, and Flayn was there, sobbing.

"Flayn," he said, "What happened?"

Byleth banged on Seteth's office door while Claude and Edelgard followed. "Seteth, SETETH, why did you have to go off on your daughter like that? Earlier, you were talking about how she's the most important thing to you, and now you're ridiculing her?"

Seteth cracked the door open. "I don't expect any of you to understand being a single parent." He started to close the door.

Byleth put her foot between the doorway, "What could be strong enough to drown out your conscience? Is it Arundel?"

Seteth whispered, "I do not need to defend my parental decisions to you, okay?" Byleth's cell phone rang. She kept her foot in the doorway while answering it.

"Well, hello Mr. Mayor, nice work!" she said into the phone.

"Are you with her?" Arundel snapped.

"Yes, I'm with Edelgard. We're here with Seteth. You left your fingerprints all over him when you-"

"- Not her, Flayn. I stopped by to see my dear friend and colleague, Seteth, and got there just in time to see her leaving the house."

"I don't understand - we dropped her off at the house before we came over here. Where could she be?"

Seteth sighed deeply, "I think I know."

Tailtean Plains, 91

The battle was over. Nemesis was defeated in single combat by Lady Seiros. The Elites that had slaughtered his siblings were either dead or fleeing. Cichol, however, was inconsolable. On the ground lay Brianna, a gaping wound in her chest. Cethleann was beside her. She was gravely wounded while trying to heal her mother. Seiros approached him, "What happened, Cichol?"

"I got separated from them during the battle and broke my promise. Now I'll lose both of them," he wept. "I have to make it right. I - I will trade my life to make it happen." He knelt before Seiros.

She shook her head, "I can do nothing for dear Brianna, but I can still help your daughter. I can put her in a deep sleep to heal. It will take a thousand years, but she will return to you. Is there something you can do for me?"

"Anything," he said immediately.

"Come with me. We may have lost our family, but we can make something new with these humans. Keep Mother's memory alive. I need someone to stay with me. I've only sought vengeance all these years. Now I need a conscience."

Crestwood

Flayn looked around the mining tunnel with her flashlight. She hadn't found anything yet, but she was determined to bring something back to prove the Mayor was hiding something. She continued to go deeper. She heard a voice call out her name. Seteth came running up to her with his flashlight. "We have to get out of here, Flayn. This place is dangerous. I'm worried about you."

Flayn retorted, "Why because I'm an immature little girl?"

Seteth said, "No, because I don't want you to be trapped underground in an abandoned tunnel!"

Meanwhile, a crowd gathered above as word got out that Flayn was down in the tunnels. Fire Chief Gilbert assured Byleth that Seteth would never let anything happen to Flayn. Suddenly, the ground around them shook. Rocks fell and completely blocked the entrance. "This just got a lot harder," Gilbert sighed.

Flayn followed Seteth back to the entrance just in time to see it collapse before them. "I'm sorry, Father," she said sadly. "I wanted to find proof and show everyone I could be helpful."

Seteth hugged her, "No, it's really alright, Flayn. You know, I'm sorry too. I don't think you're gullible. I just - just wanted to keep you safe after your mother's death. But you need to be free to think for yourself. So, I didn't mean those things I said to you. I should never have said them."

Flayn replied, "Well, why did you?"

Seteth hung his head, "Because I'm not the man I want to be."

Flayn took her father's hand, "I think you can still be the man you want to be. Be the town's conscience.

Above ground, Ingrid and Byleth found an air shaft, which was now the best point to get into the tunnels. Workers quickly removed a heavy metal grate. "Now what?" Arundel said.

"We need to lower someone straight down, or the line will collapse with the sides of the shaft," Gilbert replied. Byleth volunteered, and Arundel rolled his eyes.

Seteth and Flayn sat down. Seteth offered Flayn a pack of Swedish Fish, which Flayn graciously accepted. He spoke up, "Why do you think it's so essential that Claude's fairytale theory is true?

Flayn handed Seteth a fish, "Because this can't possibly be all there is? I thought if I found proof - But I didn't find anything."

Seteth popped the fish in his mouth, "That's not true. I was lost when you found me, right?"

Flayn gasped and said, "You mean you remember?"

Seteth smiled and shook his head, "No, I don't remember. But you helped me remember the person I want to be."

There was a noise above them, and they both looked upward. Byleth lowered down on a rope. She hooked them into a harness. Soon, they were back on the surface. The crowd applauded when they surfaced. Arundel stepped in front of the public while pushing Byleth aside. "Everyone, let's thank Gilbert for his leadership in this rescue today!" The crowd cheered.

Seteth approached Arundel and shook his hand. When Arundel tried to withdraw his hand, Seteth grinned and held on to it. "I just wanted to let you know that I will treat my patients without any outside interference."

Arundel tightened his grip, "Today's happy ending changes nothing between us. You will do as I say when -"

Seteth interrupted, "I won't allow it. You will stay away from my family and my practice. Do your worst because I will always do my best."

Arundel leaned in, "Do. Not. Test. ."

Seteth laughed, "I don't need to. You are going to leave me alone, and you are going to leave my daughter alone. And you know why? Because someday, every little thing you've done to this town is going to come to light. So, who gets called as an expert witness? Me - the one person in town that everyone comes to after you hurt them. It's going to be enlightening if I ever get court-ordered to open my files. I suggest that you allow me to do my work the way my conscience tells me to."

Manuela finally released Dimitri, and Byleth was pleasantly surprised when he invited her for a walk. For some odd reason, he chose the very spot where he nearly drowned a few days ago, but Byleth decided not to bring it up. He took her arm as they walked around the lake, and she felt so natural with him.

"I'm trying to remember the past week, but it feels like I woke up in a strange land," he sighed.

"Nothing is coming back to you yet?" She decided to test her luck, "Does being around Monica bring anything back?"

He laughed, "Please, if you mention her, she may appear. Do you know how hard it was to sneak out to see you? She and my uncle are practically monitoring my every move as part of my recovery ."

"You are an adult with your own place. Why don't you just go back home?"

His expression darkened, "There are things about my uncle that I can investigate while I'm close to him."

"It sounds lonely."

He turned to face Byleth and took her hands, "I know it's crazy, but I swear, you're the only thing in this whole place that feels - that feels right." Byleth felt her cheeks heat up. He leaned his face towards her. She lifted her face, closed her eyes, and waited for his lips to make contact -

"Monica…"

Crushed, she opened her eyes, "My name is Byleth."

"How did you find us?" He asked. Byleth turned around to see Monica standing nearby. She was both relieved that Dimitri hadn't called her the wrong name but furious at this screech owl for interrupting them once again.

"I missed you so much. I made us muffins!" She held up a picnic basket, and Byleth resisted the urge to barf.

Dimitri whispered to Byleth, "I don't want her to get suspicious. See you tomorrow?"

Byleth was disappointed but managed a smile as she walked away.

At sunset, Edelgard heard the crickets for the first time and smiled.

Once the town was utterly dark, Arundel returned to the rescue site. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a young woman's white glove. He dropped it in the cavern, where it landed next to a pair of black leather gloves and a game piece.