Author's Note: Look at that! 10 chapters! I love it! Now let's try for 15! Or even 20! I'm pretty sure this fic will be over 20 chapters but we've got to set reasonable goals here. Oh, and this chapter features more Seteth, the return of Jeralt, and more.

Part One

White Clouds

The Aftermath of the Mausoleum

It had been four days since the Rite of Rebirth and things continued like normal. Rhea hadn't called any of the three professors in to give a mission report, probably because she was still recovering from almost being assassinated. Byleth was continuing her personal training of the Three House Leaders. On this particular day, they didn't get very far before taking a break. There was just too much to process from what happened back in the Holy Mausoleum.

"Alright, Teach, spill." Claude said. "What the hell happened back at the Holy Mausoleum!"

"What do you mean?" Byleth asked.

"I mean when you grabbed that sword!" Claude explained. "You went nuts! You're formidable on the battlefield but that was downright terrifying!"

"He's right, Professor." Edelgard said. "I've never seen you fight with such speed and ferocity."

Byleth shrugged. "It was just adrenaline. That's all. Nothing out of the ordinary there."

That was true but it was only part of the truth. Byleth had gotten an adrenaline rush from grabbing the Sword of the Creator but it wasn't a short term thing. Ever since she had grabbed the sword her senses felt clearer than they had been in months. The last time she had felt like this was before she had traveled back in time.

"Teach, there's no way that was a normal adrenaline rush!" Claude said. "You were glowing! Your hair turned green!"

That caught Byleth off guard. "My hair turned what-now?" She asked, trying to make sure she had heard that correctly.

"Your hair turned green." Claude repeated. "It was only for a few moments but I'm sure it turned green."

Dimitri nodded. "I saw it as well. Your hair turned green."

Byleth put her hand to her forehead. "That shouldn't be possible."

"Professor, could you show us the sword you got from the coffin?" Edelgard asked.

Byleth shook her head. "No. I don't have it. Seteth took it the moment we exited the Mausoleum." Annoyingly. She added in her head.

As if summoned by Byleth's negative thoughts of him, Seteth walked through the door to the training grounds. "Byleth, Lady Rhea would like to speak with you."

"Now?" Byleth asked.

"No, next tuesday." Seteth said sarcastically. "Of course she wants to see you now!"

"And you came to get me personally?" Byleth asked with the same voice one might use to talk to a pet or a significant other. "You're so sweet."

"What?" Seteth asked. "No-"

"See that guys?" Byleth interrupted, turning to look at her three students and jabbing her thumb behind her at Seteth. She was barely able to contain her giggling. "He came to get me personally because we're best friends."

Seteth groaned. "Please just come with me."

Byleth stood up. "Alright, then." She waved to Claude, Dimitri, and Edelgard. "Guess I'll see you guys later. I think I have the… Blue Lions tomorrow."

Thus Byleth and Seteth left the training ground and headed to Rhea's Audience Chamber. On the way there they had a chance encounter with Jeritza. Well, it wasn't really a chance encounter, considering that Jeritza had purposely sought out Byleth.

"Byleth." He said monotonously. "I request a spar."

Byleth opened her mouth to respond but Seteth spoke for her. "I'm afraid that Byleth has other things to attend to."

"Oh, I see." Jeritza said, not a hint of emotion in his voice or on his face.

Byleth shrugged. "Maybe next time, buddy."

As they walked away Seteth glanced at Byleth disbelievingly. "Did you just call Jeritza buddy?"

"Yep." Byleth said cheerily.

Byleth began the audience with a smug, rhetorical question. "Guess who was right?"

"The answer to that question is both of us." Rhea answered. Next to her was the Sword of the Creator, embedded in a pedestal. "You were correct about the theft, we were correct about the assassination."

Byleth raised her finger. "I… can't refute that."

"This is not why I have called you here, however." Rhea said. "The reason I have called you here is to give you this."

Rhea removed the Sword of the Creator out of its pedestal and offered to Byleth. Byleth took the sword from Rhea's hands and held it in front of her. Briefly, the sword glowed red but just as quickly, the glow faded.

"This is the Sword of the Creator." Rhea explained. "It is a Hero's Relic and one of the most precious artifacts in the Church's possession, hence why it was hidden away in the Holy Mausoleum instead of the vault. Additionally, it is a weapon of terrifying power. For now, I will entrust the sword to you. Please use it wisely."

"Lady Rhea, wait!" Seteth shouted, holding his hands out in front of him in a stopping gesture. "Do you truly intend to entrust the Sword to this… this stranger! Even after four months we know almost nothing about her. She lacks any sort of trackable background, has little to no knowledge of the Church and its workings…"

"Seteth, I have made my decision." Rhea said firmly. "I will not change it."

"But Lady Rhea, if someone like Nemesis were to appear…"

"Seteth, you must have faith, just as I do." Rhea said. "I have faith that Byleth will not fall to the same corruption as Nemesis. Since Nemesis' death, none have been able to wield the Sword of the Creator. Now, after all these years of being sealed away, it has found a new master."

Seteth looked at the floor. "I… understand. As you wish, Lady Rhea." He looked up at Byleth. "There you have it, Byleth. See that you do not betray the trust the archbishop has seen fit to bestow upon you."

Byleth nodded. "You've got it." She rested the Sword of the Creator on her shoulder and turned to leave.

"One last thing." Rhea said. Byleth turned back to look at her. "Jeralt was looking for you earlier. He should still be in his office."

"I'll go see him." Byleth said. "Thanks for telling me." She turned around again and left.

Unbeknownst to Seteth, Rhea, and Byleth, there were three other people present, listening in. Specifically, Claude, Dimitri, and Edelgard.

The door to Jeralt's office was open but Byleth knocked anyway, just to be polite. Despite this, she didn't wait for a response before entering the room, rendering the whole politeness thing moot. Inside the room she found Jeralt talking with another man who she didn't recognize. He had a kind face but also seemed rather tired.

"Hello." Byleth said, alerting the two men to her presence.

"Oh, hey Kid." Jeralt said. "I'm glad you're here, I was looking for you earlier but couldn't find you."

"I know, Rhea told me." Byleth said. "So who's your friend?"

The man who Byleth didn't know stepped forward and held out his hand. "Hello there." He said pleasantly. "My name is Aelfric, I'm an old friend of Jeralt's. It's a pleasure to meet you." Byleth took his hand and they shook. "Let me guess, your name is… Leonie? Jeralt's apprentice?"

Byleth laughed a bit at this. "Nope." She said, removing her hand from his grip. "You're off by a few years there (I think). My name's Byleth. I'm Jeralt's daughter."

Aelfric looked surprised by this. "His daughter..?" He looked at Jeralt. "Is she…"

"No, she's not." Jeralt cut him off.

He whispered something in Aelfric's ear and understanding dawned on his friend's face. Understanding of what, Byleth wasn't sure but it was definitely understanding.

Aelfric nodded. "I see." He said. Well I better get going. Lot's of work to do. Great to see you, Jeralt and nice meeting you, Byleth."

He gave one last wave and then left the room.

"What was that about?" Byleth asked Jeralt. "What was he about to ask you?"

"It's nothing." Jeralt said, shaking his head. "Come on, there's something I want to show you."

He turned to leave and gestured for Byleth to follow. The two traveled halfway across the Monastery and as they walked Jeralt refused to tell Byleth where they were going. She had a pretty good guess, though.

"The graveyard?" Byleth asked when they arrived at their destination. "Why are we here?"

"Because… I think it's about time that we visited your mother's grave." Jeralt replied as they walked down the steps.

The revelation did not hit Byleth like a brick. Not like it had last time. Because this time she knew it was coming due to the fact that there had been a last time. Still, Byleth had to pretend she had no idea what Jeralt was talking about.

"What?" She asked. "Why is my mother buried here?" She decided not to add "and since when do I have a mother?" Best not to play too dumb.

Jeralt placed his hand on his chin as they approached the grave. "I guess it only makes sense that you'd ask that. I haven't really talked about her much, have I?"

"Not even once." Byleth replied, shaking her head.

Jeralt stared off wistfully into space. "I wouldn't even know where to begin. She was gentle and smart. And she was always so kind. A great cook, too. And she loved flowers. Every time I brought her back an unusual flower it would make her so happy. I cherish those memories."

"She sounds great." Byleth said.

Jeralt pulled a ring out of his pocket. Byleth recognized it. "This ring is the only keepsake I have of her. One day, it will be yours. Someday, I hope you'll give this ring to someone you love as much as I loved her."

Doubtful. Byleth thought. In the however many years since she had learned what emotions were (having been asleep for five years and time traveling on top of that made exact time confusing), she had never run into anyone she had felt genuine love for. Attraction? Sure. There were plenty of hot people out there. But not love.

"You know, Kid." Jeralt said suddenly. "You've changed a lot since we got here."

"Oh?" Byleth said.

"Before we came here, it was damn near impossible to get you to crack even the smallest of smiles. Now you don't just smile, you laugh, you even tell jokes. And it's pretty clear that you'd lay your life down for these brats. It's like you're an entirely different person."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Byleth asked.

Jeralt shrugged. "I can tell you it's not a bad thing. It's actually a bit odd considering…"

"Considering what?" Byleth asked.

Jeralt shook his head. "Nothing. Listen, I have one more thing to tell you. If anything ever happens to me, I've left something in my office for you. I won't tell you where exactly I've hidden it, just in case anyone's listening but I'm sure you'll be able to find it."

Byleth held up her hands. "Woah, woah… you make it sound like you could die any day now!"

Jeralt chuckled. "I guess it did sound kind of like that, didn't it. Don't worry, I don't plan on kicking the bucket any time soon."

Byleth crossed her arms. "I'm going to hold you to that." She said, fixing her father with a toned down version of her trademark stare.

"You do know that stare doesn't work on me." Jeralt said. "But I can tell you're serious."

"You bet I am!" Byleth said, not a hint of levity in her voice. "You're not dying until your time, got it!"

"Alright, alright." Jeralt said. "I promise I won't be killed."

Byleth crossed her arms. "Good." Amazingly quick, her tone changed from serious to more upbeat. "Welp, I've got papers to grade so I'll see you when I see you."

"Alright." Jeralt said. "Remember to watch out for Rhea. I still think she's up to something."

You and me both. Byleth thought as she headed back up the stairs and back to her room.

Byleth, in fact, did not have papers to grade. Her most recent classes had just been lectures. The reason she was in her room is that she needed to be in private to talk with Sothis.

"Alright, Sothis, what the heck is going on." Byleth asked. "Why did my hair glow green when I grabbed the Sword? I used up all your power, I shouldn't be able to do that anymore."

"I don't know." Sothis said. "I'm just as baffled as you."

"But I used all your power traveling back." Byleth said, pacing. "It doesn't make sense. I can't use the Divine Pulse anymore so I clearly used up your power. And you barely have any power left, yourself. Though at least you can actually manifest yourself."

"Maybe there's a little power left and the Sword was reacting to that." Sothis suggested. "You did fight like a superpowered madwoman back there. Or perhaps there is some power in the Sword."

"Well, I guess there's no use thinking about it now." Byleth said. "Let's just focus on what's up next?"

Sothis put her hand on her chin. "Hmm… if I remember correctly, you go and fight another bandit."

Byleth snapped her fingers. "Oh, right. Sylvain's brother. Miklan, I think his name was."

"And then I believe that Seteth's sister gets kidnapped by the Death Knight." Sothis said. "What was her name again…"

"Flayn!" Byleth exclaimed. "Oh crap! Flayn!"

"Yes, that was it." Sothis said, pointing at Byleth.

"I can't let her be kidnapped this time." Byleth said, slamming her fist into her hand. "It might throw everything off of alignment and make my future knowledge pointless, but I just can't let it happen."

"What do you intend to do?" Sothis asked.

"Let's not overcomplicate this." Byleth said. "I'll just go and tell Seteth about it. He'll do something about it. He's super overprotective."

"And what about the Death Knight?" Sothis asked. "He's not exactly going to be easy to protect Flayn from."

"That does throw a wrench in my plan." Byleth said. "The only way to protect her from the Death Knight would be to have someone equal to or even more powerful than the Death Knight guarding her."

As soon as she finished saying that, it hit her. She knew how she was going to protect Flayn from the Death Knight. It was a genius plan.

"Uh oh." Sothis said. "I don't like that look in your eyes.

Author's Note: I'm sorry Jeralt returned just to reiterate things you've already heard at least once in the game. He's hard to write without a foil, okay. Also, who could this Aelfric guy be, and why am I pretending like you don't know who he is?

Now a question that you don't know the answer too is what Byleth's "genius" plan is? Well, you'll have to wait to find out.

Also, Byleth is right, there are a lot of hot people out there. Like, too many. And I'm ace.