To: the Professor Byleth Eisner,

Champion of my Granddaughter

From: Aretas IV Macneary,

King of the Brigidians

(Translated by Petra)

The Flame Spirit always has taken to dancing in rings, Professor Byleth.

When my Bonny Petra was writing to me that you were clutching a blade meant for her neck… I found myself thinking of years past. When I did, time took to spitting on my sandals in the form of rain. If you are living long enough, you will be seeing those years swinging back around to have their turn spitting at you, too.

If you are doing the teaching of Petra properly, you must be telling her to spit back.

That is the Brigid Way.

I am writing to you to be giving her an opportunity to be doing this. The Lowland Clans of Flame Spirit Island, once led by her mother Shaqila, have been ignoring my writ, and are preparing a Raaza. (note: this word is being similar to a "pirate raid", Professor ~Petra)

I am sure this is because they are wishing to be reclaiming their countrymen, who were becoming slaves in Emperor Ionius's rite of conquest ten years ago. Many fine warriors have been laboring on the silk plantations of Tiarna Varley since the battle of Culiange.

As you may be knowing, the Tiarna Arundel has been summoning the clansmen of the Empire to be guarding his borders against a Tiarna of Faerghus. This will be leaving many places in Adrestia vulnerable. The Lowlanders wish to be sending fifty longboats up the Aimirid to free their brothers and be raiding the heartland for booty.

They are also wishing to foment a rebellion against the Empire. It is appearing that they have domestic and foreign support in this effort as well – but I am not sure whom is aiding them.

After the death of my son Aretas, who through marriage to Shaqila was uniting the clans of Flame Spirit Island – I have been maintaining in good faith the treaty with Tiarna Bergliez and Emperor Ionius. I am maintaining this for the safety of my granddaughter.

Sadly, no Tiarna of Adrestia seems very interested in stopping this disaster. Many weeks have been spent begging the Tiarna Gerth, Tiarna Aegir, and Tiarna Arundel to be intervening, but to no avail. They are thinking I am lording over territories that I have no birthright to. As long as Petra is remaining in Adrestia, my rule only is carrying law in the Highlands of this Archipelago.

My last hope is to be asking you, Professor, to be escorting my granddaughter to their intended landing point in Gronder, just South of Myrddin. I am believing her presence there will be sufficient to be turning those boats around, especially now that she is having a champion from Fodlan. The people of the Lowlands raised her mother, respected her father, and have always been loving her her most dearly.

I am begging you to take Petra, as part of her practicum, to be stopping this madness before it results in the annexation of Brigid. If you can, I will be owing the same life-debt to you that my granddaughter does – and since I am an old man, you can be calling it in soon without regret.

Do not feel the need to be replying to this message. Your answer will be speaking from results.


Edelgard,

I'm going to help Petra for her Practicum. Mission is attached.

Can you lend me your strength?

-Byleth


My Teacher,

Might I suggest that you decline this… paralogue?

Instead, allow me to petition My Uncle personally in this matter.

Given our discussions, I am sure you would hate all of the political components of this, would you not agree?

I'm perfectly capable of handling matters from here, of course.

I would also like to… discuss what happened the other night. Hubert refuses to admit anything to me, as per usual.

Yours Truly,

Edelgard

PS: I have your gift…! I'll give it to you tomorrow.


Edelgard,

Petra told me she's going anyway. I intend to protect her, just like I promised you.

If you want to handle the "politics" of the mission, let's collaborate.

-Byleth


My Teacher…

Well… I suppose that's acceptable, as long as I can join you to prevent any diplomatic incidents...

Might we forward Petra's letter to Hubert and get his thoughts on the matter?

Yours Truly,

Edelgard


Edelgard,

(CC: Hubert)

Just sent it.

-Byleth


Professor Eisner,

(CC: Lady Edelgard)

Allow me to reiterate Lady Edelgard's advice to not interfere with Adrestia's political landscape. You tend to be a bovine in a porcelain shop when matters call for delicacy.

That said – if you insist on following through, might I suggest simply liquidating the enemy force before it arrives in Gronder?

I highly doubt we'd have the ability to talk down an enemy force with such intentions.

Your student,

Hubert v. Vestra


Hubert,

(CC: Edelgard)

You own a volcano, correct?

-Byleth


Professor Eisner,

(CC: Lady Edelgard)

The coffee plantation is on the slopes of a volcano, indeed.

Should I assume you intend to do something with the sulfur that spurts out of it? I suspect that can be quite useful as a component for gas attacks.

As it happens, I keep some of it in powder form at home.

Your student,

Hubert


Hubert,

(CC: Edelgard, Caspar)

Explosives work better than gas.

If we get there before the landing, we can bury some traps into the beach. Pending a failure of negotiations, we detonate them.

We'll need manure for that as well.

Let's source from Gronder. Plenty of cattle there.

I'll ask my father to lend me the mercenary company to handle logistics. They're used to handling materials like that.

-Byleth


Let's cause some trouble, Professor – leave the bullshit to the Bergliez!

Stay Epic,

Caspar


Kid,

(CC: Princess)

Twenty troops from the two logistics platoons sound alright?

Figure you can run three wagons each to the Vestra Marquisate & Gronder Field.

I'd offer more, but the rest are nursing wounds from Remire.


Professor Eisner,

(CC: Lady Edelgard)

An unexpected stratagem, but thorough.

That said, I would appreciate it if you asked my permission before including anyone else in this correspondence.

Do you intend this to be a practicum mission or a field trip?

Your student,

Hubert v. Vestra


Hubert,

(CC: Edelgard, Caspar, Petra, Lin, Dorothea, Bernie, Ferd)

A field trip sounds like a great idea. Thanks for the suggestion.

-Byleth


Professor,

(CC: Bernadetta von Varley, Caspar von Bergliez, Linhardt von Hevring, Hubert von Vestra, Petra MacNeary, Dorothea Arnault)

Let us dispatch these Brigidian Brigands!

Forever Your Most Noble Brother-in-Arms,

Ferdinand von Aegir,

Legitimate Heir to the Duchy of Aegir & House Aegir

Future Prime Minister of the Adrestian Empire


Professor, Princess Edelgard,

(Carbon Copying: Ferdinand, Caspar, Hubert, Dorothea, Linhardt, Bernadetta, Ferdinand)

I am thanking you for your approval, Edelgard!

Truly we are mating our souls, Professor!

Expressing my gratitude,

Petra


My Teacher,

Whatever did Petra mean by the term "mating"...?

Yours Truly,

Edelgard


To the Naughty Professor,

(CC: Edie)

Mating?! She's fifteen…!

Does your """House Leader""" know about that…?

~~~Creepily,

Dory


Professor,

(CC: All)

Remove me from the chain, if you would – the owl is interrupting my sleep.

Just inform me of the results tomorrow.

-L.v.H.


Professor…

(CC: Edelgard, Hubert)

Could I ask a favor tomorrow if we're going to be passing through my family's duchy…?

In person, if that's Ok…?

Sorry,

Bernadetta