A/N: Anddd I'm back. I think I'll probably be updating every ten days or so from now on. My vacation is over and I have work to catch up on so blech. Anyway, hello to the new readers! I am glad to have you here! Thank you for the favs, follows, and reviews. As usual, I hope you enjoy this chapter too! Things will start to pick up again after this.

Want to join the discord group where other fire emblem and pokemon writers are in? Here's the invite code again: u89gs745fn

[White Clouds]

Chapter 14: Increasing Tension

The Blue Lions were assigned to dispose of some bandits causing trouble near the monastery for the following month. As students of the Officer's Academy, it was their obligation to help those in need — or at least that was what Seteth told Byleth. Although the students studied combat, this would be their first real excursion out into the battlefield. Both Seteth and Jeralt had warned Byleth to be more prudent with her lessons, prepare them for the real deal, and so here she was, giving them a lecture first thing in the morning.

"Our assignment for this month is to subdue bandits on the outskirts of the monastery," Byleth spoke loudly from the front of the classroom. She folded her hands neatly behind her back, pacing herself around the front while eying her students. "For most of you, this will be your first practical experience. Therefore, I hope you pay attention to my lesson for today. I will be teaching you what is most important on the battlefield."

The classroom went silent, all eyes glued to the front. Some students fidgeted in their seats from anxiety or excitement, Byleth did not know, but at least it was better than a cold response.

"First, I have a question for you all. What is the most important thing on the battlefield, in your opinion?" Byleth asked, glancing around the classroom.

Ingrid was the first to raise her hand. "I believe we have to have our end goal in mind. In this case, it would be our mission to eliminate all the bandits."

Byleth nodded. "Of course, it is important to remember the main goal of the battle. We are acting with an objective in mind, after all. However, remembering the objective itself does not mean that the battle will be won. Anyone else?" Byleth cued with her hand towards Ashe, who was fumbling with his pencil in his seat. "Ashe? Do you have something to say?"

"Who, me?" Ashe jerked up, sweating furiously in anxiety. "W-Well, I think that we need to have a clear plan before we dive into battle. If we carefully plan our moves, we should find it easier to complete our task."

Byleth paused in front of the podium, musing in thought. "Yes, that is true. However, do you think that the enemy will allow you the time to think ahead? What if you are facing an ambush?"

"Then, perhaps you are suggesting we should hone our abilities to think on the spot?" Annette commented, shifting her head to the side. "Maybe our ability to think and act flexibly is what you're getting at!"

"Of course, having a flexible mindset will benefit you greatly on the battlefield," Byleth agreed. "But there is something even more important — the basics of fighting, let's say, that you guys are forgetting."

The class broke into quiet murmurs, discussing the answer to the professor's question. Ingrid and Ashe shared a confused look while Annette shrugged. Mercedes smiled pleasantly, head lost in the clouds, while Sylvain snored in the back, drifting into a cozy dream. Dedue and Dimitri frowned, stoically pondering their answers in silence. Felix had his eyes closed, a persistent furrow to his brows, while Satiana stared at the ceiling, daydreaming.

"Anyone has something to share?" Byleth asked again, tapping her feet impatiently.

Dimitri slowly raised his hand. "Perhaps you are talking about our abilities to survive?"

Byleth internally sighed in relief as she nodded, pointing a finger at Dimitri's direction. "Yes, that is what I was waiting for. Your survival is of utmost importance in whatever battle that you may face. Why? Because the only way you can complete your objective is if you're alive, to begin with."

The thought was morbid, and the crowd went silent. However, Byleth refused to let the dull mood bring her down. She walked down the aisle, tapping her heels against the floor. "I know some of you are confused. Why am I speaking of such an obvious fact? But think carefully. Search deep in yourself. Are you sure you think about survival as you fight?"

She paused in the middle of the room and spun on her heels to face the front again. "Most of you here are aspiring knights. Some of you will grow up to become high-ranked officials. Regardless, if you don't fight to survive, there is no way to reap the rewards."

From the left of the room, Felix opened his eyes, staring pointedly at Byleth.

"I have met many young knights on the battlefield during my years as a mercenary. Many are incredibly reckless in battle, charging straight at their enemies with nothing but a roar and vigor. Unfortunately, that does not do anything to salvage the situation. Believe me. Dying a useless death on the battlefield does nothing to help your nation," Byleth spoke sternly, raising her voice slightly to emphasize her point. "There is no…honor in dying without accomplishing anything. Your lords do not praise your death or give you a proper burial. If you die, that's it. You don't live to see the end. You don't know anything about what happens next. So what's the point of throwing your life away for some unknown result?"

An awkward silence filled the room after her speech. Byleth was never one to mince her words, and she was facing the full consequences now as her students grew somewhat stiff. Ingrid and Ashe, in particular, had a queasy look on their faces, expressions hardened. Even Sylvain, who was sleeping peacefully in the back, suddenly jolted up in his seat, mouth dropping low to the ground in shock. Only Dimitri and Felix stared straight at the professor, eyes whirling with complicated emotions.

Suddenly, there was the sound of coughing from the right of the room and Byleth shifted her gaze languidly towards Satiana, who was sputtering in her seat. Byleth raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Are you feeling alright there, Satiana?"

All eyes turned to Satiana, and she flinched in her seat. Satiana coughed once again into her palms, sweatdropping. "Uh, Byleth? I think you should, I don't know, maybe…switch topics. To something less morbid for our first lesson of the month, perhaps."

Although the room remained silent after Satiana's outburst, most of the students were internally grateful to her for voicing their inner thoughts. Byleth hummed in response, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Alright, if you say so," Byleth reluctantly replied, much to everyone's relief. "Then let's move on to a practical application of war tactics."

Byleth returned to the front of the room and picked up a piece of white chalk. She started drawing a diagram on the board. It was a relatively simple diagram depicting two forces, separated by a river running horizontally through the middle. She placed her chalk on the circles on the bottom. "Let's say we're here," Byleth spoke. Then she pointed to the crosses on the other side of the river. "And our enemies are here. Our goal is to eliminate their commander."

She then drew three separate bridges, two connecting the south to the north and one connecting the north to the east, that led to a large forest. The forest ran parallel to the map, leading down to the south as well. "This is what our current situation looks like," Byleth spoke as she drew a bunch of crosses, double the number of circles, on the north end of the bridge. "The enemy has their entire force waiting for us beyond the bridge after it's lowered. What do you suggest we do?"

Again, Ingrid was the first to raise her hand. "I think we should separate our forces. If we all move across the same bridge, all the enemies will target us and wipe us all in one blow."

Byleth fiddled with the chalk in her hand. "Hm, I give you fifty marks for that answer. Let's say we follow your orders and separate ourselves equally between the three bridges. The enemy force is nearly double ours. How do you suggest we deal with that?"

Ingrid paused, lowering her hand. She frowned, eyes glancing downwards. "F-Forgive me, I didn't think that far ahead yet."

"You have no reason to apologize. This is an open-ended discussion. Anyone else with a different answer?" Byleth glanced around the room, waiting for volunteers.

Annette slowly raised her hand. "I don't know if this will work, but what if we lower only one bridge? That way, all the enemies will come flooding down the same bridge, and we can slowly take their forces out."

Byleth blankly stared at Annette. "Unfortunately, you haven't considered that the enemy could also lower the other bridges from their side of the map. Then, it'd just end up being a frontal attack from both sides."

Annette sank into her seat, pouting. "This is so hard…" she mumbled to herself.

Ashe was the next to try. "Do we have any fliers in our ranks? If we do, maybe we can send a few of them over the bridges and lure the enemy away. Then, we can rush the bridge when it's less occupied."

Byleth hummed, musing in thought. "I agree that a diversion is the best solution. However, if we do it your way, the enemy's archers will target our pegasus knights. And that would be like sending our fliers on a suicide mission."

Ashe frowned, reclining in his seat. "Hm, then what other options do we have?"

There was movement from the left, and Byleth's sharp eyes tuned in towards Felix, who seemed to be scowling in his seat. "Felix, you look like you have something to say. Care to share with the rest of the class?"

The entire class turned their eyes towards Felix, and he grimaced at the sudden attention. He exhaled heavily in his seat, glaring at Byleth. "Do I have to?"

Byleth shrugged. "I'm not forcing you to, but the class is waiting for your answer."

Felix rolled his eyes. Then, he crossed his arms over his chest. "Go around east into the forest and avoid their archers. If they don't spot us, to begin with, we don't have to worry about getting blocked upfront. Lower the bridge from the east, and go around the fortification to flank the enemy. When they gather towards the east, we send half our forces back to our original position and barge through the front. Essentially, we end up performing a pincer attack before they do."

Byleth clapped her hands once. "Excellent answer, Felix. It seems you have done your research regarding military tactics."

Felix snorted. "Naturally," he answered stoically.

The class eyed him with jealousy, some frowning in distaste at his confident attitude, but no one dared to speak up against him. After all, Felix did propose a valid solution to the problem.

Byleth then strolled down the aisle again, glancing at her students. She stopped beside Satiana, whose head was bobbing up and down, half-asleep. Byleth flicked her index finger at Satiana's forehead, breaking her out of her daze.

"Ouch!" Satiana gasped, glaring daggers at Byleth's smirking face.

"It seems this lesson is too easy for you, seeing how you're dozing off. Why don't you enlighten the rest of the class with an answer of your own?" Byleth's eyes twinkled mischievously, much to Satiana's chagrin.

Satiana groaned, rubbing her post-sleep eyes with the sleeve of her shirt. Some of the students snickered, waiting for her to self-implode on herself by giving a foolish answer. To their surprise, Satiana stared blankly at the board and shrugged nonchalantly. "Blow up the bridges?" She spoke loudly with confidence.

An awkward silence followed. The students turned to each other in confusion. Sylvain gaped at her from the back while Dimitri grimaced. Annette glanced at Mercedes, who shook her head lightly in response. Even Dedue, who was famous for his poker face, couldn't resist the urge to gawk at her. Felix was the only one who appeared to be taking her seriously as he raised his eyebrows, rubbing his chin in thought.

Byleth blinked once, then twice. "I'm sorry, say that again?"

"I mostly agree with what Felix said," Satiana started, earning his full attention. "But that plan only works if we assume the enemy will move the way we want them to. What if they only send half of their forces towards the east and keep the remainders waiting at the bridge? Then, our pincer attack will fail, and we're back to the same flaw from Ingrid's answer."

She then paused, tapping her fingers lightly on the table. "If we want Felix's plan to work, we need to force them to act. Using a few mages and warlocks, we can just blow up the two bridges leading north and south. That way, the enemy will be led into believing an attack won't be coming from the front. After they move their forces to the east, we use Ashe's plan to send our fliers across the bridge from the front, and boom, pincer attack. Considering the flaw in Annette's plan, we should send our most elite soldiers down the bridge at the east. That way, they can deal with the bulk of the enemy's forces."

Nobody dared to speak the moment Satiana finished her explanation. It was on a different level of creativity — perhaps not practical, but nevertheless, she managed to fill in the gaps between everyone's answers. The brightest students in the class knew that her answer, although quite unique, was near perfect and valid. The students waited for Byleth's reaction, stewing in silence.

Eventually, Byleth turned around to face the front, a small smile on her lips. "I'll let it slide this time, but don't fall asleep in the middle of class again."

Satiana folded her hands behind her head. "I'll try not to, but I don't promise anything," she said with a small yawn.

Suddenly, the class erupted into thundering applause, and Satiana jolted in shock, almost falling off her chair. She gaped, sweatdropping at the gazes filled with admiration and awe. A few students whispered excitedly to each other, discussing Satiana's tactic. Others started chatting loudly, arguing about the practical flaws of her suggestion.

Regardless, the class descended into chaos, and Byleth exhaled heavily. "Guess class is over for today…" she mumbled to herself, watching as the students crowded over Satiana, whose face was paling at an increasing rate.

"How did you even come up with such a tactic, Satiana?" Ingrid practically shoved her face in front of Satiana as soon as class was over.

Satiana leaned back in her chair, wincing at the sudden proximity. "Uh, from experience?" Satiana meekly replied, sweating at the attention she was receiving.

"Experience? You blew up a bridge before?" Annette asked enthusiastically.

"Uh, not a bridge. But something similar to it," Satiana replied, thinking back to her time in the County of Ordelia. "I used a magic explosion as a diversion before. This was just a revamped version of that strategy."

"It's certainly a bold strategy," Sylvain whistled as he slid up behind her seat. "Got to admit, your creativity will definitely be a good addition to our class. We have too many straight-laced people here, after all."

"Compared to you, I imagine the entire world is filled with straight-laced people." Ingrid rolled her eyes, smacking her hand into Sylvain's back.

Sylvain pouted, staring at Ingrid with the look of a lost puppy. "Did you really have to hit me for that? I was being honest, you know!"

"I guess nothing beats experience in the end," Ashe interjected, laughing brightly. "None of the books in the library ever mentioned strategies that unorthodox."

"Speaking of which, are you free, Satiana?" Sylvain suddenly asked, eyes sparkling with hope.

Satiana turned to him with suspicion swimming in her orbs. "I don't have anything planned for today. Why?"

Sylvain clapped his hand once, beaming. "Great! You see, there's this amazing restaurant downtown. Since you missed the victory banquet last night, I figured I could treat you to an amazing meal."

Satiana pondered, narrowing her eyes at Sylvain. "As long as you don't have any ulterior motives, then sure. Your treat, I hope."

Sylvain flashed a predictable wink her way. "Well, if you were hoping for something, I can't have you disappointed, can I? Trust me. If there's someone who knows their way around town, it's me."

As if on cue, Ingrid glared at Sylvain. "Keep your pants to yourself, Sylvain." She folded her arms, staring knowingly at him. "You need to stop hitting on every girl in your sight. Learn some patience, will you?"

Sylvain waved her off with a hand. "Yeah, yeah. I know, Ingrid. I've heard that line from you before."

Ingrid sighed, shaking her head in exasperation. Then, she turned to Satiana, pity whirling in her eyes. "If he ends up bothering you, don't hesitate to tell me. I'll give him a good whack on the head."

Satiana chuckled dryly. "Thanks for the offer, but I'll just stab him if he pulls something." She slid her hands down to the sword attached to her hips, eyes glinting.

Sylvain winced. "Do you have to be so violent? Come on. I promise I won't try anything. I just want to get to know you better. As friends."

Satiana stared pointedly into his honey-brown orbs. With Sylvain, it was hard to know if he was genuine or not. Most of the time, his flippant remarks were an attempt to avoid addressing serious matters at hand — especially when they involved himself. But for now, he seemed to be amiable enough. Besides, it was only a meal. What trickery could he be up to?

Satiana sighed in resignation. "Fine, I'll join you for dinner today. It better be good."

Sylvain smirked smugly. "Great. Glad to have you on board." Then, his lips contorted up into a grin. "By the way, I forgot to tell you something," his tone switched to a more light-hearted one.

Satiana blinked. "About what?"

Sylvain laced his hand together behind his back and whistled a cheery tune. "Well, since you're so worried about me flirting with you, I figured I should invite someone else to the table…" he trailed off, eyes darting towards a specific seat on the left side of the classroom. "So, Felix will be joining us too. You alright with that?"

It was like someone splashed a bucket of ice water over her head. Satiana went stone-cold, shoulders and expression tightening. She decided to trust Sylvain for once, and this was the final result. The man threw back her genuine trust and basically stabbed her in the heart with his lance. Maybe even slammed a meteor on her head, judging by that look of sheer satisfaction on his smug face. She slowly turned towards Felix, swallowing loudly as her eyes widened with horror at the looming threat.

Felix only blankly stared back at her. Then, his gaze landed on those mischievous brown orbs. "What are you up to, Sylvain?" Felix's voice was filled to the brim with disdain and suspicion.

Sylvain just shrugged, feigning ignorance. "Why, I have no idea what you're talking about." His gaze flickered out the window, focusing on some unknown chick strutting outside in the courtyard.

Felix narrowed his eyes at Sylvain, dissecting his intentions with his vision before a long sigh finally escaped his lips. "...Alright," he mumbled a reply under his breath after much deliberation.

Satiana practically melted in her seat, internally sobbing in despair. She felt the weight of Felix's knowing gaze boring into her back, but Satiana didn't dare look over towards him. Under those piercing, sharp copper-brown orbs, she wouldn't be able to hide a single thing from him. She floundered inside, still without the foggiest idea of what she should do to avoid this outing that just escalated into a disaster.

"You're alright with that too, right, Satiana?" Sylvain's sweet voice sounded like poison to her ears and Satiana accidentally let loose an odd noise that turned into a cough.

"Hm? I guess so," she answered flatly, voice devoid of emotion.

Yeah, right. After what happened yesterday, you're telling me I have to eat dinner with him?!

"Great! I'll be looking forward to it, then. Meet me at the entrance to the town before sunset, alright?" Sylvain exclaimed before he pranced out of the classroom, running off into the distance before anyone could stop him.

Ingrid frowned, staring after his receding back. "What is he up to this time?"

Felix snorted, shaking his head in disbelief. "Trust me. You don't want to know."

Satiana fumed in silence, head reeling from the exchange. It was too late to take it back now. She had agreed to step into the lion's den, and there was no going back on her words. She sneaked a glance in Felix's direction and flinched when his eyes met hers. She immediately whirled her head around, glaring at the wall beside her.

I'm so dead. I'm so fucking dead.

Dimitri tried his best to keep a straight face. Really, he did. But it was hard to resist the urge to fidget in his seat when he was surrounded by a beautiful garden of red roses and a table decorated with silky white sheets. Not to mention the stacks of scones, cookies, and the irresistibly sweet smell of tea brewing — perhaps some sort of herbal tea or berry mixture.

To begin with, Dimitri and sweets did not mix well together. Even more so, Dimitri and flowers. His professor loved to shove them in his hands — he had a whole line of vases on his windowsill — and he usually accepted them gratefully with a princely smile on his face. But Dimitri never really knew what to do with such fragile objects. He was a man of brute force, beast-like according to Felix, and uncontrollable strength. So he never had business in the monastery's gardens — avoided them like the plague, for he knew it would only cause him discomfort.

But even so, he would rather deal with the curious onlookers and gaggle of gossip-mongers than refuse an earnest request from Byleth, especially when the so-called blank-faced demon had blackmail material on him.

Compared to Dimitri, Byleth seemed comfortable enough, seated on the opposite end, munching quietly on a tart. She was expressionless as usual, dressed in her usual mercenary attire, yet for some odd reason, the woman seemed to fit right in with the roses in the background. Dimitri could already imagine it, the news headliner for tomorrow — a secret meeting between two of the most famed beasts in the monastery.

Byleth lightly pushed a cup of tea in his direction, eyes glinting in the sunlight. "I heard that you enjoy chamomile tea, so I bought a few leaves from the market earlier. I hope you enjoy it."

Dimitri threw her an odd look, cautious and curious. "Thank you, professor," he responded politely, slipping his finger into the handle. He took a small sip from his cup, feeling the subtle warmth and gentleness of the tea soothing his nerves. He exhaled, the tension in his shoulders releasing. "Uh, Professor?" he asked quietly.

Byleth threw a noncommittal sound at him in response. "Hm?"

Dimitri coughed once into his hands before he straightened his posture. He laced his fingers thoughtfully, placing his chin on top of his hands, peering at Byleth with suspicion. "What exactly is the purpose of this…tea party?" The words rolled awkwardly off his tongue.

"You don't have to be so wary of me," Byleth commented, lips curling up in amusement. "I'm not here to devour you or anything."

Dimitri sputtered at the insinuating comment, ears flushed red. "P-Professor? What are you talking about?" he babbled, smoke flying out of his heated ears.

Byleth crossed her legs fluidly, staring at Dimitri with interest. "Don't mind me. I just wanted to have a nice, long chat with you. About what happened last night, of course."

The conversation finally steered in the right direction, and Dimitri sighed in relief. He didn't know what to make of Byleth's sense of humor; it was downright terrifying. Byleth was too much of an enigma for Dimitri to understand her thoughts and actions.

"Yes, of course," Dimitri started as he pinched the bridges of his nose. "I had a legitimate reason for my actions last night." He paused, clearing his throat. "You see, there was something that I needed to know. It's quite important to me."

Byleth nonchalantly flipped her hair behind her shoulder. "I can imagine so. Quite a few important documents are lying on the second floor. Many would do anything to get a glimpse of the Church's secrets. I don't blame you."

Dimitri eyed Byleth carefully, lips puckering in thought. "Uh, professor? Are you sure you should be saying this so…well…out in the open like this?"

Byleth shrugged nonchalantly. "Seteth isn't here. I highly doubt anyone cares enough about my affairs to eavesdrop on our conversation."

Dimitri's mouth itched to tell her she was wrong because he knew there were several ridiculous rumors about the new mercenary professor flying around campus. Like how she killed a hundred soldiers all by herself and ruthlessly slaughtered her enemies on the battlefield. But knowing the type of person Byleth was, she probably could care less about the words of outsiders.

"A-Anyway, professor," he cleared his throat again. "You said that you also had business on the library's second floor. Would it be alright to ask for your reasons?"

Her gaze fluttered towards him. No other movement, just a simple shift of expression. "I am searching for something. To be more exact, I am investigating the Empire's affairs, in particular."

Dimitri arched an eyebrow expectantly. "The Empire? Why?"

Byleth folded her hands neatly on the table, leaning closer toward Dimitri. "You are here to search for the true enemy behind the Tragedy of Duscur, am I correct?"

Everything went downhill from there. It was like his brain snapped — thoughts short-circuiting. He couldn't believe his ears. His bright eyes immediately darkened, skittering around as he suddenly became hyper-aware of everything around him. Every noise or sudden movement nearby sent him leaping out of his skin. His hands trembled vigorously as he dug his nails into his skin. "P-Professor…" his voice shook uncontrollably. "H-How did you…?"

He looked utterly lost, eyes widened, staring blankly into the foreign distance. Byleth's expression tightened imperceptibly. She unfolded her legs and placed her arms on top of each other on the table. "It's nothing more than conjecture. I had no proof. But you are the prince of Faerghus. I highly doubt you would let such a horrific incident escape your eyes and ears so easily."

Dimitri's breath hitched. He rubbed his fingers nervously, scratching the skin off his own hands. His face paled as he began to breathe unevenly. "I…I have to admit. I'm surprised to hear those words coming out of your lips, professor." He lifted his head slightly, weary eyes meeting confident cerulean orbs. "Why are you searching for the truth behind that incident?"

There was an ominous pause. For the first time Dimitri had seen her, Byleth looked visibly disturbed by his question. There was an almost hollow, empty look in Byleth's eyes. Of course, she still had a blank expression on her face, but something was different. Like there was some unidentifiable cloud of emotion swirling in those orbs.

"I would like you to keep this between the two of us, Dimitri," Byleth began, breaking the silence. "Someone I know was involved in that incident."

Dimitri felt his world crashing down on him. He almost jolted out of his seat, mind running on fire, thoughts scattering off to who knows where. He bit his lips till the corners started bleeding, eyes raging. "What do you mean by that?!" He raised his voice slightly, nails clawing into his skin, piercing through the dried flecks of skin.

"As I said, Dimitri, someone I know had their life completely ruined because of that incident. To help their situation, I am trying to discover the truth behind the Tragedy," Byleth explained calmly in a steady voice.

"You said that…that person was involved in the incident. Are you implying that they were a part of the Kingdom's forces? Was your friend a…knight?" Dimitri's voice broke mid-sentence, choking up on the emotions running rampant inside of him.

Byleth refused to answer his question. Instead, she opted to continue her train of thought. "My…friend, let's say, was a victim of this incident. And to give her the justice she deserves, I need to figure out the truth behind everything."

"A-Are they dead? Were they killed in the Tragedy?" Dimitri stammered.

Byleth shook her head lightly. "No, they are very much alive. However, the Tragedy still haunts them to this day. They'll never be free until the truth is revealed to the world."

Dimitri slumped back in his seat. His head drooped down, bangs casting a shadow over his features as he exhaled heavily. "I'm glad that your…friend survived. But, I see." Dimitri paused mid-sentence, trying to regain his composure. "To think that Tragedy has affected so many people beyond my reach. I thought only the soldiers of the castle and my parents were their victims."

"There are too many mysteries surrounding that incident." Byleth picked up her cup of tea and took a big sip. "It wouldn't be surprising if more victims are discovered. Of course, I'm also talking about the Duscurians who lost their lives in the aftermath."

Dimitri winced, shoulders jerking at Byleth's sharp words. He raised his head, eyes lifeless and exhausted. "Y-You're right. That incident has stolen way too many lives for me to count with my fingers." He lifted his body, clenching his hands together on his lap as he stared down. "Would it be possible for me to meet this survivor of the incident? I want to talk to them about what happened during the battle."

Byleth's expression hardened. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "You've already met her."

Dimitri froze, eyes blinking rapidly in confusion. "I-I have? What do you…" Realization struck, and Dimitri's jaw dropped. "Satiana? Are you talking about Satiana?"

Byleth nodded her head.

Dimitri clutched his head tightly, eyes widening. "W-Wait. I thought Satiana was from one of the villages that got caught in the struggle. I didn't think she was actually involved in the incident itself."

"That's just a cover-up story that we gave her. To be frank with you, my father and I found her collapsed in the forest near the plains of Duscur," Byleth explained. "When we found her, she was bleeding to death with two broken swords in hand."

Dimitri frowned. "But what was she doing there? Why was she near the battlefield if she's not from one of the villages nearby or a Duscurian?"

Byleth closed her eyes. "That, I'm afraid, is for you to discover yourself."

"Pardon?" Dimitri said quietly.

Byleth snapped open her eyes, narrowing them at Dimitri. "If you wish to know more, you should ask her yourself. It's not my place to tell her story to you."

Dimitri nodded stiffly. "I-I see. You're right. It was rude of me to interrogate you, professor. Forgive me. I tend to get…heated up about things that concern the Tragedy," he apologized, glancing off to the side with a forlorn look.

"I can imagine so," Byleth replied softly. "Anyway, I wanted to talk to you today about your thoughts regarding the Tragedy. After all, I believe we are on the same side."

Dimitri took a brief moment to reorganize his thoughts. He peered up at Byleth, meeting her steady gaze with his quivering eyes. He clenched his fists tightly, resolving himself. "Professor, will you listen to my deductions?" he asked meekly.

Byleth picked up her cup again, hiding a smile behind the glass as she took a small sip. "Of course, Dimitri. Please, do tell. That is why I called you here, after all."

"Well, wasn't this a lovely idea? The three of us sharing tea and a meal here," Sylvain said as he set his cup of tea down on the table. He was seated on the outermost seat near the restaurant entrance, the sun slowly continuing its descent down the sky.

Satiana refused to answer him. Instead, she focused her attention on the gigantic plate of steak in front of her. She swallowed loudly, eyes brightening as she watched the juicy red flesh sizzle underneath the store lights. "Sylvain, you're not going to rip me off later, right? You're actually paying for this?" She eyed him warily, but a part of her was feeling incredibly hopeful and giddy.

Sylvain blinked at her before he laughed out loud. "Hey, what do you take me for? I won't pull that old trick on you. Just dig in. Seriously, it's my treat."

"Well, if you say so," she grumbled under her breath, but her eyes were sparkling as she sliced through the meat, popping a big piece into her mouth. She sighed in satisfaction as she savored the intense flavor. "You know, I don't trust you much, but I have to say your taste in restaurants is top-notch," she gulped, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

"That's good to hear," Sylvain chuckled, leaning back against the chair. "This store is pretty famous in town. Not to mention, it's reasonably priced with a good view out the windows."

Felix snorted from his spot beside Sylvain and rolled his eyes. "When you mean view, you mean the tavern across the street?" He glanced meaningfully towards the window, watching as a group of drunk men and women joyfully skipped down the streets.

Sylvain grinned sheepishly. "Oops, busted! It's true that the ladies there are always wonderful and all. But I swear it's the food that makes this restaurant a win in my book!"

Satiana munched quietly on another piece, humming in appreciation. "To be honest, I thought it'd be the worst outing ever, knowing your inclinations. But so far, it's been a pleasant evening. Thanks, Sylvain."

Sylvain shot her a smirk. "Of course. Anything for you, dear. Now that we're at it, would you like to join me later for a walk down the streets? There's a bar I know that offers delicious booze and snacks."

Satiana rolled her eyes before she held the knife in her hand, pointing the sharp edge at Sylvain's smug face. "Watch it. I give you an inch, but don't take a mile."

Sylvain snickered, waving his hand in the air nonchalantly. "Yeah, yeah. I know. I promised Ingrid not to pull any weird tricks on you."

"Why am I even here?" Felix grumbled underneath his breath at Sylvain's antics.

Sylvain nudged him in the ribs with his elbows. "Hey man, relax a bit. We're here to enjoy ourselves, alright? Besides, be honest with yourself. You wanted to talk to Satiana anyway, right?"

At this remark, Satiana paused. She dropped the knife onto her plate and glared knowingly at Sylvain. "I knew it. It was too good to be true. You planned this, didn't you?" her voice lowered a notch, and she scowled at him. "Luring me with food. How dare you."

Felix grunted. "It's not his fault your stomach so easily moves you."

"Oh, shut up," Satiana snapped back, seething in her seat. "So, what is this, really? An interrogation?"

Sylvain backed away from his seat slightly, sweating furiously. "Hold on, Satiana. I swear I had no hidden agendas. I just wanted to get to know you better." Sylvain then turned to Felix, pleading for help with his eyes. "And Felix here too. We're classmates, right? It's not a bad idea to bond over a hearty meal."

Felix ignored the look Sylvain was shooting his way and glared directly into Satiana's eyes. "Forget this dolt here. I only came here to tell you something."

"And what's that?" Satiana replied, crossing her arms defiantly over her chest, the meal forgotten.

"I've decided what to do with you," Felix started. "I don't trust you. Not one bit. But since we're going to be stuck with each other regardless, I'll keep an eye on you."

Satiana froze, jaws dropping. Her stomach plummeted as she turned her head slowly towards Sylvain, alarms ringing in her head. The sense of foreboding only grew stronger when Sylvain glanced guiltily away from her, focusing his attention on an innocent flower pot lying on the windowsill.

She turned back to face Felix, face completely horror-stricken. "You told him." It wasn't even a question at this point. She couldn't hide the touch of panic that crept into her voice. "Felix, you fucking—"

"What? You're in no position to be negotiating with me," Felix sneered at her shaky voice. It wasn't a kind look. "I told him because he deserves to know. Actually, everyone deserves to know who you really are. But for now, I'm keeping it quiet because I don't know how well the others will take the truth."

Satiana opened her mouth to protest but lost her voice. She shut her mouth again, fuming in silence. He was right. She had no right to argue against him, especially when she was the one lying to everyone about her true identity and allegiance. But still, she didn't think he'd deliberately blow her cover to someone the day after.

Satiana whimpered, burying her head into her hands. "I can't even get mad at you because you're right. But still, did you really have to do this?"

Felix's lips slanted into a smirk, the expression one of cruel triumph against their prey. "Hah! I'm more surprised you were naive enough to think I'd keep your secret for you."

Satiana shot him a nasty glare through the slits in her hands. "Ah, yes. It was completely wrong of me to expect even the slightest bit of basic human decency from you."

Felix gritted his teeth. "Mind your words. You have no idea who you're talking to. Do you want me to blow your identity now? Perhaps you would like that."

"Felix…" Sylvain voiced sternly, gaze uncharacteristically serious.

Felix scoffed, completely ignoring Sylvain's warning. "If you didn't want anyone to know about your identity, perhaps you should've killed me last night. Yes, just like the assassin you are," he stressed every syllable, slow and deliberate.

Satiana found herself trembling uncontrollably, hands gripping the knife tightly. Her vision flared red, and she snarled. "You don't know anything about me, Felix," her words were laced with venom, murderous intent spiking.

Felix only lifted his chin, glaring down at her from above. "You're right. I don't. And neither do I care." His eyes gleamed with a wicked zeal as he regarded Satiana's trembling form.

"Alright, that's it," Sylvain stood up from his seat, gaze bouncing back and forth between the two, sweat dripping down his forehead. "You both need to calm down."

"Oh, trust me, Sylvain. I'm perfectly calm right now," Satiana drawled, stone-faced, but the death grip she held on the knife said otherwise. "Because if I weren't, he wouldn't be alive right now."

Sylvain winced at the threat in her words, and he swallowed loud enough for the two of them to hear.

Felix barked out a short laugh. "So in the end, you resort to violence. Just like the animal you are."

Okay, that's it.

Her eyes twitched violently, and her primitive instincts zapped into overdrive. Before she could stop herself, she felt her hand with the knife trailing forward towards Felix's smug face. Time seemed to stop as Sylvain yelled out something, raising his arm to block the attack while Felix's hand slid to the hilt of his sword, eyes gleaming dangerously. She gritted her teeth, biting her tongue hard as she lunged toward him…

And tilted the knife's edge downwards, slamming it into the table with a resounding thud.

Burning blue eyes met steely brown in a tense standoff as the restaurant lapsed into silence. Most of the customers had already fled the scene, leaving the three in the corner, gauging each other's reactions. Sylvain slowly dropped his arm, eyes still bulging wide in confusion. Felix's hand remained on the hilt of his sword as he judged the situation with his narrowing glare. Satiana let the grueling silence drag on for several agonizing seconds before releasing her knife grip.

She straightened her back, eyes staring unflinchingly into Felix's smoldering gaze as she lowered her arms to hang limply by her side. "You really do have a talent at ruffling someone's feathers, don't you, Felix?" her voice was steady, expression blank.

Felix slowly shifted his posture, lowering his grip on his sword. "Hmph."

Sylvain stood awkwardly to the side, sweating bullets as he waited patiently for the tension in the room to dissipate.

"You did it on purpose," Satiana stated flatly. "You wanted me to take that knife and shove it to your throat."

Felix didn't respond.

"You wanted me to prove your suspicions correct, that I am nothing but a lowly beast who kills for survival — for pleasure," Satiana continued her ramble, raising her voice with each additional word. "You wanted me to kill you, Felix. What the fuck were you thinking?"

Felix's expression shifted slightly.

"Are you crazy?!" Satiana was completely livid now, burning blue eyes puncturing him with white-hot embers wrapped in smoke. "What were you going to do if I really tried to slice your head off? Huh? You know I'm faster than you. If I were serious, you wouldn't have been able to react in time."

He opened his mouth on reflex to respond, but Satiana refused to give him room.

Satiana clenched her fists, shaking in unrestrained fury. "I could've killed you! Do you realize that?"

"Satiana…" It was barely a shadow of a breath, but she heard Sylvain whispering her name.

There was something solid in Satiana's throat, and she didn't know what to do with the feeling rising inside her. It's what she imagined it must be like to watch a tsunami come towards you, a violently intense rush of every emotion all at once: terror, sorrow, anger, but also gratitude. She was sure it would've paralyzed her if Felix's thoughtless actions were not the catalyst.

"You're insane, you know that?" Her throat squeezed, her voice sounding extremely strangled and weak. It made her feel pathetic, and she wanted nothing more than to run away from it all, hide under the covers of her bed, and scream to the heavens above.

"But you didn't," Felix finally found his voice again, and it was much softer than she would've expected.

She stared blankly at him. "What?"

"You didn't try to kill me," Felix repeated, eyes now blazing with an emotion Satiana could not identify. "You picked up that knife. Responded to my taunts. But you didn't plunge it into my throat."

Satiana waited, feeling that there was more to come, and met Felix's gaze calmly. She exhaled heavily, rustling the messy strands that escaped from her ponytail.

"As I said, I can't trust you. So I can only judge you with my own eyes. And this was what I came up with after a long night of contemplation," Felix continued.

Satiana found herself letting loose a short, dry laugh. "You mean this suicidal act of yours?"

Felix snorted. "You overestimate yourself. I could've easily blocked your attack."

"Felix, now is not the time to be rubbing your own ego. You and I both know that if I were serious, you would've well been on your way to the other world already—"

"But you weren't serious. You were acting on emotional instinct. A weak blow as that would've never landed."

"But still, you were being incredibly reckless! You can't just throw your life away to figure out my true intentions like that!"

"Don't flatter yourself. I wasn't throwing my life away for the sake of someone like you. I acted accordingly with an objective in mind."

"Okay, hold up!" Sylvain finally yelled out loud. He stomped over towards Satiana and held his arms out between the two. "Can someone explain to me what's going on here? Are you two actually on good terms or not? Because I thought you two were fighting for a second there, but now I'm not too sure anymore."

Another moment of silence. Satiana felt her head cooling down after Sylvain's interference, and her body slumped back onto the chair. She buried her head into her palms, closing her eyes tightly. Satiana wondered if the dark sky outside the window could blow it all away — the aching sorrow and guilt.

"You know what?" She finally mustered out after prolonging the silence for a few seconds. "Forget it. Do whatever you want. I'm too tired to care anymore."

She heard the sound of clothes rustling and peeked wearily through the gaps of her fingers. Felix sat back down onto the chair, crossing his arms comfortably against his chest. Sylvain still stood awkwardly between the two.

"Tell them all the truth. That I'm an assassin," Satiana continued, voice utterly devoid of emotion. "That I'm a cold-blooded killer. Whatever the hell you want to tell them, just do it. At least it's better than me having to kill another innocent person to keep their mouths shut."

She felt a hand patting her on the shoulder and slowly lifted her head up to meet Sylvain's warm brown orbs, swirling with pity and hurt.

"Satiana, talk to us," Sylvain said with a frown. He bent down slightly, staring straight into her quavering orbs. "At this rate, we're never getting anywhere. This cycle of suspicion won't end unless you tell us what's going on with you. I know you're not a bad person from the small amount of time I've spent with you."

Satiana felt the familiar stinging sensation creeping up to her eyes, and she forced it down with sheer will.

"Please, Satiana. You're just hurting yourself the more you hide the truth from everyone," Sylvain pleaded, shaking her lightly with his hands.

Normally, she'd laugh. Brush off Sylvain's sappiness with sarcasm or teasing because really, who was Sylvain to talk about being truthful when he himself hid under a pile of masks? But her lungs won't listen to her. She's at war with herself, and her autonomic nervous system and vital organs have allied with her heart instead of her brain. Because no matter what she tells herself to sleep at night, that she deserves to feel crushed under the overwhelming guilt as punishment for her ignorance, she does want this. The relief that comes with showing who she really is to others.

"There's no going back the moment I tell you who I am," Satiana whispered into her hands. "Not only for me but for you as well. Are you sure you want to hear my story?"

Satiana knows the both of them won't listen to her pleas, but she feels obligated to give them one last chance to jump the rapidly-sinking-while-simultaneously-exploding ship that is Satiana Eisner.

Felix snorted. "We've already come this far. Just hurry up and tell us already. If you won't, my hands may slip one day, and you'll find yourself killed before you can face my old man."

Sylvain seated himself down, folding his hands behind his head with a wry smile. "Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on him, so he doesn't accidentally kill you. Just spill it all out. It'll make you feel better," he goaded her on.

Satiana drew in a long, unsteady breath, clenching and unclenching her fists. Exhaled again. Stilled herself. Counted down to three. Then, she lifted her head.

Fuck it. Here goes.

"How much have you told him?" she posed the question at Felix, eying him with weary eyes.

"Almost everything that you told me. That you are an assassin working for my father," Felix summarized. "But I didn't tell him you were investigating the Tragedy of Duscur."

Sylvain's eyes widened. He spun his head towards Satiana. "The Tragedy of Duscur? That's somehow involved with whatever it is that's bothering you?"

Satiana nodded stiffly. She fidgeted with her fingers, wobbling her feet as she tried to shake off any remnants of anxiety left inside of her. "Yes. To be more exact, it's not that the Tragedy is involved with me, but more like I myself am involved in the Tragedy."

Sylvain's forehead creased, nose crinkled in confusion. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"What I mean is…" Satiana paused as she chewed over her lips. "I'm directly involved in that incident."

"You mean you were there on that day? At the Duscur plains?" Sylvain's eyes widened even further.

"We already heard from Dimitri that you're a victim of that incident," Felix scowled. "What we want to know is how that led to you working for my father."

"I lied to him," Satiana stated bluntly.

"About what exactly?" Felix narrowed his eyes.

Satiana glanced away from his pointed gaze. "That I'm a victim. I'm not from one of the villages near Duscur. Hell, I'm not even from Fodlan, to begin with."

That remark caught both of their interest, and Sylvain shared a look with Felix.

"And yet I was there at Duscur on that fateful day. Why do you think so?" She threw a question at them, waiting impatiently for their answer.

Realization dawned, and with it horror — Felix practically threw himself out of his chair, slamming his hands on the table while Sylvain's jaws dropped at the suggestion. Felix backed away, putting some distance between him and Satiana as he shook his head with disbelief.

"You…You're not actually telling me that you…" Felix slowly raised his index finger, trembling at the damning realization.

Sylvain's mouth might have been moving, but no words were coming out.

Satiana glanced at the both of them, then smiled cynically. "It's exactly what you think. I'm not a victim of that incident. In fact, it's the complete opposite." She paused, taking in another deep breath.

There's no going back from now on.

"I'm one of the perpetrators of the incident."