Professor Eisner,

Due to disturbances in Western Church territory and County Gaspard, we are re-assigning your escort to the Red Canyon away to defend the North Oghma Pass.

Captain Jeralt and Lt. Nevrand will intercept you en-route if you follow the pre-assigned path along the Arundel Highway.

You will be briefed on developments upon your return to the Monastery.

Please take a horse for yourself as well. I am regretful that you must watch over so many students at this point, but we need to keep Prof. Manuela on retainer for any wounded knights.

For now, please proceed with the mission.

The fifty soldiers posted at the Red Canyon should be ample support to defeat a similar number of starving bandits.

Dutifully,

Seteth


Edelgard,

Letter from Seteth is attached.

You wanted to march in the Eagles in Srengian phalanx?

Not a bad idea now.

-Byleth.


My Teacher,

Please accept my apologies for last night…

It would be a wonderful opportunity to instill professionalism, I think! I may have been thinking about your battleplan as well... I think you and I would make a fine indirect approach, and I appreciate your positioning of the Eagles giving them the high ground. Hubert is also a fine suggestion for overall command of that wing.

That said... I am concerned that the Deer as observers would drag down our efforts in the Canyon… What if a foraging party returned and struck at their rear?

Surely that would just cause more issues for us, given how incompetent they tend to be. Perhaps they should deploy further back...?

Could I send you a modified one and get your thoughts…?

By the way, can you please write out that word you used for mission-based tactics…?

I am trying to see if the Imperial libraries have any material I can borrow regarding that.

Unfortunately, the Monastery really only troubles itself with the three major states that follow its religion.

Thank you~

Yours Truly,

Edelgard


Edelgard,

Auftragstaktik.

Send me the plan.

-Byleth


My Teacher,

Attached!

Yours Truly,

Edelgard


Professor,

The Blue Lion House – and myself in particular – would be honored to invite you to a birthday celebration for Mercedes von Martritz tonight at 7pm. We've attached a list of desserts on offer.

Our class will be heading out to aid in the reconstruction of Remire the following morning, so if you are unable to attend, please accept my humble appreciation for all your assistance lent to our mission thus far.

Please forward your reply to the classroom, and Ashe will prepare your seat at the table if you wish to attend.

Respectfully,

Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd &

the Blue Lion House


Edelgard,

I was invited to Mercedes's birthday party.

I'm deferring to you.

-Byleth


My Teacher…

You are not the Blue Lions' Professor…

Why are they inviting you and not Professor Hanneman?

There is also the upcoming mission to prepare for, of course.

You must decline.

Yours Truly,

Edelgard


Edelgard,

Menu is attached.

Note "Saghert and Cream w/ Fhirdiad Sweetbread"

Limit - One.

RE: mission – let's go with your plan.

The Deer can guard the siege camp and practice perimeter defense.

-Byleth


My Teacher,

It makes me so glad to hear that you appreciate that small change…

Naturally as victors in the Mock Battle and St. Macuil's Day; thus the most prestigious House in the Academy, it is incumbent on us both to offer a brief but cordial salutation to the Lions.

After sampling their refreshments, particularly our favorite dessert, we must leave shortly thereafter.

Yours Truly,

Edelgard


Teach,

Let's say I can get my hands on a ballista for this mission of ours…

A real good one. Model 1177, straight from the Gloucester Armory… courtesy of Lorenz's dad.

And let's say we bring it along – maybe replacing a weapon crate of… axes…?

All hypothetical of course.

But if you were to, hypothetically, look the other way…

Write me back.

Sincerely,

Claude V.R.


Kid,

If you're reading this, you had the good sense to pop by my office, I figure. She's raiding your mailbox, huh?

Your mother always thought I was seeing other women on campaign, so she did the same.

You inherited her honest face though, so I wonder why Princess is all up in arms?

Anyway…

Supply wagons and troops moving along Arundel-Gaspard highways.

Lt. Nevrand confirmed that weapon crates had Church coat of arms stamped on.

Fallstaff was transferred there during your camping trip but deserted – we saw him riding along, that fat bastard.

My guess? He's been running weapons to Lord Lonato's peasant levy for a quick coin.

Something big is coming down the pike soon.

We'll try to make it your way, but no promises. Small skirmishes breaking out along the Magdred Way. Unfortunately it's mostly our company doing the heavy lifting.

Smart move by the Lord, though – he knows he'd have a hot war if he went after the Knights' first.

Be mindful.


Claude,

Hypothetically – sword crate, not axe crate.

Meet me at the ramparts at 11pm.

If used, would be practice only.

-Byleth


Professor,

Thank you for attending my birthday party earlier this evening! I wished to send you a thank you note as soon as I could.

Your gifts were wonderful – I don't want you to think less of me given how scatterbrained I can be… but I had actually lost an older copy of "How to Bake Sweets" recently…!

I was unaware that the 113th edition was even transcribed yet…

Also… how did you know my shoe size? The riding boots are lovely~

Warmly,

Mercedes


Mercedes,

You're welcome.

Dimitri mentioned it at a consultation before the party.

quote: "I am concerned that such a gesture would be too forward after she offered me garlands".

I offered to purchase them. He then told me your shoe size. Please accept them on his behalf, not mine.

-Byleth


Professor,

Oh…!

I suppose I'll need to have a chat with Dimitri, then…!

Best of luck on your mission, and thank you...!

Warmly,

Mercedes


Author's Note:

Bunun - yeah, I wanted to toy with expectations there. I got the impression in-game that Petra seemed willing to put things behind her at first, but then Caspar kind of acts like a dummy about and accidentally dwells on it. I plan on teasing that out a bit more and Byleth's obvious surprise when he learns about what happened. Hope that was clear enough in how Petra's always beating the Brawler up because Caspar feels guilty over it and she's just being genuine.

Astral - Great that you signed on, love the avi. Byleth/Jeritza bromance will occupy most of the war against the Kingdom, actually. I have pretty painful arc planned out for them both - which is why this is tagged with hurt/comfort. The good times always come before the bad.

Akosii - Maya's there as part of my protecc Hilda squad and as a contraband courier from Morfis. This will all make sense in time, I promise!