Chapter 2: The Magical Gem

The next day rolled around, and it was time for everyone to go to class for the day. The week's instruction for all the professors of the Officers Academy was about to begin, but Byleth was the one suspicious of Mercedes after her actions of the previous evening. Professor Hanneman, a beloved Crest Scholar of all of Fódlan, decided to ask Byleth what the matter was.

"It's Mercedes, Professor Hanneman." Byleth said. "She is thinking that this place called Narnia exists. But I am trying to tell her there is no such thing."

"Now what's making dear Mercedes think that?" a professor named Manuela asked Byleth.

"I'm going to find her and ask her why later." Byleth said. Suddenly, Mercedes passed by the trio of professors while humming a generic tune. Hanneman called her over.

"Yes, Professor Hanneman?" Mercedes asked. "Did you need something?"

"I in fact was just thinking about you." Hanneman said.

"Really? What is it?" Mercedes asked Hanneman

"Byleth here has said something about you thinking that a place called Narnia exists." Hanneman said to Mercedes. "Why do you think that?"

Mercedes answered. "Oh, Hanneman, I have expressed interest in this sacred place since last night. The church's library disposed of books about Narnia, and I was the one to keep them."

"Who disposed of the books?" Hanneman asked Mercedes.

"I think Seteth disposed of them yesterday along with Archbishop Rhea." Mercedes thought.

"You think that Seteth disposed of the books?" Hanneman asked Mercedes. "I mean, Seteth would only dispose of books that are deemed inappropriate to the church's library."

"I think Rhea said she knew nothing about Narnia and its history." Mercedes said.

"I see." Hanneman said. "But I think we've had enough chit-chat for now. We best get to our respective classrooms before this day really flies by."

"Right, Hanneman." Byleth said. He later said to Mercedes that he needed to have a strict word with her later during the day.

When minutes rolled by, Mercedes and Byleth showed up to the Blue Lions classroom. Dimitri, the leader of the Blue Lions, wanted to know where the two have been.

"We have been talking to Hanneman and Manuela about this matter from yesterday that Mercedes was having." Byleth said.

"What was the matter with Mercedes?" a student named Ingrid Brandl Galatea asked.

"Oh, Ingrid… I expressed interest in a sacred place called Narnia." Mercedes said. "However, nobody is taking to kindly to my interest of this place." Mercedes started to cry.

"Mercedes, nobody said such a thing." Byleth said. "I only said that there was no such place as Narnia. It's just a figment of people's imagination." The words of the professor angered Mercedes, and she immediately walked back to her commoner's room at the dormitory's first floor.

"Mercedes, wait! I didn't mean to anger you!" Byleth said. Suddenly, Seteth found Byleth.

"Professor, what happened with Mercedes? Did you send her crying back to wherever she is going?" Seteth asked.

"No, Seteth. Honest to the goddess." Byleth said. Seteth later wanted to see Byleth at his office immediately with no word out of Byleth's mouth. He later explained to the Blue Lions class that Byleth would not be teaching them for the day, as he was going to be spending the day with Mercedes.

When Seteth and Byleth were walking to the office that Seteth occupied, little did they know that Mercedes was following them up to the office. Mercedes later called out to Seteth.

"Yes, Mercedes? What can I do for you?" Seteth asked.

"I was wondering if I can get some help from the professor for a moment…" Mercedes wondered.

"Unfortunately, now is not the time. Byleth is about to be in my office for the day. And I think it would help if your presence was there too." Seteth said.

"Oh… okay." Mercedes said in a worried way. "I'm not in trouble, am I?"

"Maybe you are, and maybe you are not." Seteth said. "We will just have to see what you tow have done."

"But we didn't do anything wrong…" Byleth said.

"You may have unexpectedly done something wrong, but I also want Mercedes to give out her side of the story too." Seteth said.

"I see." Byleth said.

"Now I suggest that the two of you follow me to my office. Now." Seteth said sternly. "And speak to nobody else when you are with me."

After minutes of walking, Seteth, Mercedes, and Byleth finally reached the office of Seteth. Seteth sat down and asked Byleth what was the incident with Mercedes.

"Sir, there was no incident. I can explain what happened." Byleth said.

"I would like to know the true story behind all of these shenanigans, Professor." Seteth said.

"The story began when I was talking with Hanneman and Manuela outside of my quarters on the dormitory's first floor." Byleth explained. "Then, Mercedes came by. After that, she started talking about the books that I heard the library disposed of."

"So, you finally caught the wind of my disposure of those books about Narnia?" Seteth asked Byleth.

"Yes, I did." Byleth responded.

"Professor… I don't know what to say! I am very disappointed in your actions!" Seteth exclaimed. "By strict policies, no one, and I mean no one is to spy on a devoted member or follower of the Church of Seiros! Do you not understand that as a professor of the Officers Academy?!" Seteth asked as he hollered.

"Sir, I understand. I was just making sure those books were appropriate for the church to handle." Byleth said.

"That is not your job to handle that, Professor." Seteth said. "It's my job to handle which books are appropriate and which books are not appropriate for the monastery's library."

"Sorry, Seteth…" Byleth apologized.

"Apology accepted." Seteth said. "In the meantime, you are punished for spying on a devoted individual who follows the Church of Seiros. Unholy and unacceptable of you!"

"So, what am I supposed to do while I am punished?" Byleth asked.

"Well, you were given permission to cook dinner in the dining hall." Seteth thought. "Alright. I'll make this very simple for you. Buy a cartload of food from the monastery marketplace and use that food to cook for every single one of this year's students. Understood?"

"Yes, sir." Byleth said.

"Good. Now go. I will report to Jeralt immediately when he returns from the Alliance." Seteth said to Byleth. He later turned to Mercedes and started to speak with her next. "Mercedes. Go with Byleth. I understand you did nothing wrong. But I want you to think about something along the way while you work."

"What do you mean?" Mercedes asked.

"I want you to think about how Narnia is not real." Seteth said. "Picture it in your head. But not in real life. Understood?"

"Yes, sir." Mercedes said.

"Now go with the professor." Seteth ordered. "And speak to nobody else." Suddenly, Archbishop Rhea and Seteth's little sister Flayn came into the office.

"What happened, Seteth?" Rhea asked.

"Brother? Are you okay?" Flayn asked.

"Out, Flayn. I want a private adult word with the archbishop." Seteth said before Flayn later stepped out.

"So, what happened?" Rhea asked Seteth.

"It's the professor. He told me he caught us disposing of those books he and Flayn bought from that Holy Book Vendor near Garreg Mach."

"So he was spying on us, Seteth?" Rhea asked.

"Yes." Seteth responded.

"What kind of punishment did you issue?" Rhea asked. "I hope it was nothing too major."

"No. It was minor because I accepted his apology, Lady Rhea." Seteth explained.

"That's good, Seteth. I was hoping you haven't done too much to the professor." Rhea said.

"I guess I shall return to work." Seteth said.

"Yes, me too." Rhea said as well.

Back with Byleth and Mercedes, who were ordered by Seteth to work together on their punishment, they were gathering food for the feast for the day. However, someone called the two of them over.

"Hello, fellow followers of the Church of Seiros." A holy vendor woman said to Byleth and Mercedes.

"We're punished by the church, ma'am." Byleth said to the holy vendor woman. "Is there something we can help you with?"

"Yes, there in fact is something you can help me with. I was wondering if you can buy this magical Narnian gem off me for fifteen thousand gold coins.

"Fifteen Thousand Gold Pieces?!" Byleth said as he was shocked. "That's too much!"

"Alright, how about ten thousand gold pieces? I'll throw in some goodwill for you." The holy vendor woman said.

"Shall we do it professor?" Mercedes asked Byleth as he was the one thinking about the offer the woman was giving to them.

"Well, alright. We'll give you all of the gold my father offered me. Hoping to the sense that I do not lose my job." Byleth said.

"OK. Here's the gem. Take good care of it." The woman said. "Tata!"

When Byleth removed the gem from the sack he was given to by the holy vendor woman, Mercedes wanted a better look at the gem. However, something strange started to happen. The gem started to fly. Then, it was covered in magical sparkles. When Byleth and Mercedes touched the gem later on, they were gone from Garreg Mach Monastery. Something was definitely about to begin for Byleth and Mercedes.