When the company met up again, they planned out their next moves. "We'll stay here for a few weeks," Link said. "Those who need to train with Impa or Mipha can teleport there, and Annette and Linhardt can work with Purah and Robbie. Edelgard, Caspar, Dedue, Ashe, Raphael, Hilda, and Cyril can train with Daruk. You too, Annette, when you're not training your magic or Ancient Tech skills."
"Great. Training," Hilda complained.
Caspar was more enthusiastic. "Let's get started!"
"We'll head to the west afterwards and free Vah Medoh next," Link said. "Flayn, will you want to split up again?"
"No, my next destination is also in that area," Flayn said. "There's something I should probably tell you all...but not here. Somewhere more private."
Link noticed Edelgard give Hubert a glance. He wasn't sure of the significance, but Hubert nodded slightly.
"We can discuss it in the nearby Shrine after we make our plans," Link said.
"Yes, that will do," Flayn agreed.
For the next several minutes, they discussed training schedules and the like, as well as a potential travel route to the Tabantha region that wouldn't take them too close to Hyrule Castle.
After the planning, the company entered the nearby Shrine, three people at a time. Once they were all within, Flayn swallowed. "I should probably tell you all about what I was seeking in the south. I was searching for...a family member, of sorts."
"You have family in Hyrule?" Claude asked.
"Of sorts," Flayn said. She drew her hair back, revealing pointed ears.
"So...you're Hylian?" Claude asked.
"No, I'm not," Flayn said. "I'm a manakete. The family member I was seeking was the Divine Dragon Farosh."
The others listened as she told them about herself. They listened as she explained that she, Seteth, and Rhea were not human, and what exactly they were. More than a few failed to fight back tears or vomit as Flayn described Nemesis's campaign of genocide against the Nabateans, and how, at the instruction of a sorcerer named Epimenides, Nemesis had turned their hearts and bones into weapons.
"I always did think that axe of my family's was creepy," Hilda said. "You and your family can have it back. I don't want it."
"To think that the noble houses of Fódlan could be built on such a horrible secret!" Lorenz said with a gasp.
"So, why lie about all of this? Why keep it a secret?" Claude asked.
"Because of people like your ancestor," Flayn answered. She told him about how his ancestor had feared and hated the Nabateans from the moment he had learned they were not human, and had killed her cousin and mother, after which he had sworn loyalty to Nemesis in hopes of ending the Nabatean race.
Claude felt sick to his stomach. He didn't know which was worse, that his noble house had been formed by such a vile man, or that the previous day he likely wouldn't have cared if the Church was wiped out and Rhea and Seteth were killed. They might not have been the root of the problems with Fódlan, but they weren't trying to solve them, he would have reasoned. He didn't actively want them dead, but he wouldn't have cared either way.
Flayn's testimony was a harsh reminder that people like Rhea didn't just exist as factors to be considered in the context of his goals. Rhea wasn't just an obstacle to said goals, she was also a person trying to protect her family and the people of Fódlan as best she could.
"Don't tell me you were planning on declaring war on the Church as well," Rhea said to Claude, a harsh look on her face.
"I wasn't...but I was planning a state takeover of the Eastern Church, after which I would have had the Central Church removed from Leicester," Claude admitted. "If you had reacted with hostility...well, that would have been a shame."
Jeralt placed his hand on her arm. She relaxed slightly. "I wasn't going to do anything, Jeralt."
"Of course," Jeralt said. Whether he believed her or not wasn't clear.
"Well, you don't have to worry about anything like that happening with us," Leonie assured her.
"Of course! You're our friend, Flayn! Or Cethleann, or whatever!" Raphael agreed.
Once again, the humans all accepted Flayn with ease.
Kronya still didn't understand. Was it because the humans knew Flayn before they learned her secret? Or had they learned to accept nonhumans because of their time interacting with the Zoras, Gorons, and Rito?
No, maybe it was because of the tragedies that had befallen the Nabateans. The humans accepted Flayn because they pitied her.
Kronya hated the idea of trying to play to the sympathies of the humans. The very idea that the humans could look down on her people made her sick. But she didn't have a choice if she wanted her people to be free to live in the sun again. If she could convince the others that her people were enslaved by Thales, and most of them just wanted to live free, but Thales kept them imprisoned in Shambhala, then maybe they would help her depose Thales and let her rule the Agarthans herself. Conquering Fódlan after that would be quite impossible, but at least the Agarthans could live free.
After Flayn finished explaining what had happened to her people, Edelgard met with Hubert. "I asked Flayn some questions about the Church's actions," Hubert told her. "She isn't aware of everything, but according to her, she doesn't think the Church was responsible for the War of the Eagle and Lion, directly or indirectly."
"You believe her?" Edelgard asked.
"I do," Hubert said.
Edelgard nodded. "Then let's assume she's right and Rhea wasn't responsible for that, or for Leicester's defection from Faerghus." She still wasn't sure about that, but it was possible Those Who Slither In The Dark were responsible. "So, what do you think we should do?"
To be honest, she wasn't sure what they should do. Edelgard still believed that the Church was at least partially responsible for many societal problems within Fódlan. But at the same time, was it really right to declare war on them now?
"Regarding the church, perhaps we can get what we want from them without war," Hubert suggested. "I sincerely doubt Rhea is pleased to uphold the Crest system, given that it is literally based around the blood of her kin. Perhaps she could be persuaded to support us."
"That might work," Edelgard realized.
"Alternatively, we could gain the support of the others here," Hubert suggested. "Within the Rising Sun Company are the heirs to many noble houses, including the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Faerghus and the heirs to the five ruling families of the Leicester Alliance. If Rhea doesn't want to support our reforms, we could put enough political pressure on her that she wouldn't have much choice. If it comes to it, we could force her to retire and install Flayn as Archbishop."
Edelgard nodded. "It might be worth a try. Of course, we would have to get rid of the impostor wearing my uncle's skin."
Hubert smirked. "Of course."