Chapter 3: A War-Torn World of Narnia

When Byleth and Mercedes woke up from a long slumber, they found out that they were no longer at Garreg Mach Monastery. Instead, they were lying in a snowy patch filled with trees. That was an indication that they were not at Garreg Mach. But it was also an indication that they were no longer at the continent of Fódlan either. Then, they heard galloping and bells in the distance.

"Um… Archbishop Rhea?" Byleth asked.

"I don't think this is Archbishop Rhea coming, Professor…" Mercedes said. The two were later trampled by reindeer and they later fell in the snow. Later, a wise old man dismounted from the sleigh he was driving.

"Ah!" Mercedes screamed when she saw the man.

"Oh, my… did I frighten you by mistake?" the wise old man asked Mercedes.

"Who are you?" Mercedes asked the wise man.

"I am Father Christmas." The man introduced himself. "And I must welcome you to the world of Narnia."

"This is Narnia?" Byleth asked himself. "But I thought… but I thought Narnia was just a figment to people's imaginations."

"Oh, most people in your world may think that today young man." Father Christmas said. "However, most outside people can only travel to Narnia by secret magic."

"Secret magic?" Mercedes asked.

"Yes." Father Christmas said. "But most importantly, might I ask who you are?"

"I'm Byleth, a professor of the Officers Academy in Fódlan." Byleth introduced himself. "And this is one of my students, Mercedes von Martritz."

"We're warriors and devoted followers to the Church of Seiros." Mercedes said to Father Christmas.

"The Church of Seiros? Don't know a thing about it." Father Christmas said. "Tell me more."

"The people of the continent of Fódlan are mostly devoted followers to the teachings of Saint Seiros." Mercedes said to Father Christmas.

"And the leader of the religious group is the archbishop of Garreg Mach Monastery's Church of Seiros, Lady Rhea." Byleth explained.

"I see." Father Christmas said. "How exactly did you end up in this war-torn land?"

"This land is… war-torn?" Byleth asked.

"How? What happened to this beloved place? There's supposed to be flowers and birds singing and all other nature-y stuff. What happened to it all?" Mercedes asked as well.

"A few words can describe this mess. The White Witch." Father Christmas said. "She made a war-torn Narnia come to life. She has plots to kill the wise lion Aslan."

"What?" Byleth asked.

"Why would someone like that want to kill a lion? For food perhaps?" Mercedes asked.

"I am not so sure about that, Mercedes." Father Christmas answered. "But if you do want to help, I recommend seeing Aslan for more details."

"Okay." Byleth said.

"But first, I must present you with a special gift." Father Christmas said to Mercedes. "What did you say your name was?"

"My name is Mercedes. Mercedes von Martritz, that is." Mercedes said. "But I have a question for you. What are you planning to give me? Presents?"

"Not exactly presents, Mercedes. I was given this magical book from a living immortal goddess with this odd-looking symbol on it. I am not sure if people in your world would understand this." Father Christmas said to Mercedes as he presented the magical book to her.

"Can she actually take hold of this sacred book?" Byleth asked Father Christmas.

"She's supposed to take hold of it." Father Christmas said. "It's supposed to guide her throughout this war-torn land." He later gave the book to Mercedes.

"Thank you, Father Christmas." Mercedes said as she thanked Father Christmas.

"You are most welcome, young one." Father Christmas responded. "But here's one thing you must know about. This is not a toy. This is a magical book of wisdom and magic. You must bear it wisely, Mercedes."

"I will." Mercedes said.

"And you, young man." Father Christmas said to Byleth. "I have something for you too."

"What is it?" Byleth asked. "All I have is the Sword of the Creator that was found in a casket at the Holy Mausoleum at my home of Garreg Mach Monastery."

"It's a shield." Father Christmas said.

"Really?" Byleth asked. "Show me it."

"Tell me if you recognize that symbol." Father Christmas said as he presented the book to Byleth.

"It's the Crest I bear. The Crest of Flames, Father Christmas." Byleth said. "I heard that it's the Crest of the goddess that governs the world of Fódlan."

"Well, well… you… have more knowledge of this Fódlan place better than I do." Father Christmas said.

"Well, we are from there, you know." Mercedes said. "Tee hee!"

Back with Seteth at Garreg Mach Monastery, he was shocked to see that Mercedes and Byleth were not doing their work. In fact, he had found out that they were not even anywhere at the monastery's marketplace. He decided to talk to the gatekeeper in front of the entrance room of the monastery.

"Greetings, Seteth!" the gatekeeper said. "What seems to be troubling you?"

"Where is Byleth and Mercedes?" Seteth asked. "This may be a matter that I have to report to the archbishop."

"Oh, about that, they bought a gem from a holy vendor woman that costed a whopping ten thousand gold, originally fifteen thousand. And when they bought the gem, boom. They were gone." The gatekeeper said.

"WHAT?!" Seteth said in shock.

"Yup. And it was not my fault either, Seteth. The archbishop put me on break then, so someone from one of the four vendors told me of this." The gatekeeper said.

"I see." Seteth said. "I will report this matter to the Church of Seiros and to the Officers Academy. Thank you for telling me about this matter."

Back with Mercedes and Byleth, they were discovering the war-torn land of Narnia after Father Christmas had left. However, when they headed for a forest full of flowers, they noticed that the snow was gone from that point onwards. However, they also heard something squeaking in the distance. Mercedes was the one who was ready to defend herself.

"Why are you defending yourself?" Byleth said.

"Just in case evil might be lurking us…" Mercedes said. Then, without warning, a small mouse with a red feather on its left ear came up to Mercedes and later stood on her shoulder.

"Speak your name." the mouse said to Mercedes.

"My name is Mercedes von Martritz." Mercedes introduced herself. "And I must ask you something. Why are you talking to me? You are a mouse. Mice don't talk. Humans do."

"Uh, animals in Narnia can talk, Mercedes." The mouse said. "Oh, I guess I have not spoken my name yet since you have spoken yours. I am Reepicheep."

"And you're a mouse?" Byleth asked.

"I am." Reepicheep said.

"Oh, good." Byleth said. He later grabbed Reepicheep's tail.

"Unhand the tail, you… you… whatever you are." Reepicheep said. "Aslan the Great Lion gifted me with this tail, and no one touches the tail, or the obvious will happen."

"OK. First, I am Byleth Eisner, bearer of the Crest of Flames. Thirteenth attempt to revive the progenitor goddess Sothis. Second, you cannot do anything to me. I am a holy being who cannot betray the trust of the Church of Seiros of Fódlan!" Byleth said to Reepicheep.

"Oh, yes I can do anything, and I will do anything to stop you!" Reepicheep said. Want to fight me?" he later asked Byleth.

"I don't know, do I?" Byleth asked. Suddenly, someone shouted Reepicheep's name. Reepicheep later turned around, followed by Mercedes and Byleth. Shockingly, it was the wise lion himself, Aslan.

"What is the purpose and meaning behind this?" Aslan asked.

"Aslan, they're outsiders!" Reepicheep said to Aslan. "What am I supposed to do about that?"

"Let them come with me." Aslan said. "I want to find out more about them and I want to know why they are inside a war-torn Narnia."

"We have to come with you, Aslan?" Mercedes asked.

"Yes, we have a lot to discuss, young one." Aslan explained to Mercedes. Byleth later jumped on Aslan's back while Mercedes started to walk on foot with Reepicheep on her shoulder. Where they were headed was the biggest question that was yet to be answered. That was when questions would have the proper answers.