"It was a dark, and stormy night..." Hubert uttered, shadows cast by the campfire.

Edelgard was unfazed, drinking her tea, and Linhardt had long fallen asleep. But the rest of the Black Eagle house listened with anticipation.

"Deep within the territory of the Adrestian Empire, there stirred a long thought dead presence." Hubert chuckled ominously. Ferdinand and Caspar were doing fairly well suppressing their nerves, but Dorothea and Petra found themselves struggling to keep Bernadetta conscious.

"A sinister shadow, raging through the land, began poisoning the people of Fódlan. Doors and hallways creaking from unseen footsteps." He continued.

"Hubie, you're going to kill Bernie." Dorothea scolded him a little, holding her close while she shivered like a trapped rabbit. Petra eyed her thoughtfully.

"There is no need for concern, Bernadetta. For this isn't true. Mostly..." Hubert grinned wildly.

Bernadetta fell over backwards, passed out.

"Hubert. Telling scary stories over a campfire is sure to wreak havoc on others' nerves. Perhaps this is best saved for another time." Edelgard said, setting her tea down.

"As you wish, Lady Edelgard." Hubert sat back down.

"Oh, what?! Come on, keep going! I wanted to hear this!" Caspar groaned.

"It's not for the faint of heart, Caspar. You would do well to listen to Lady Edelgard's words." Hubert closed his eyes.

"But Bernadetta is asleep, is she not? Surely those willing to listen should be allowed." Ferdinand suggested.

"It's not her I'm worried about." Edelgard said, turning her head slightly to Kiran, sitting among them. The poor Summoner was quaking in their gold-toed boots.

"I-I'm... I'm fine. P-P-Please, keep going." Kiran shivered in fright.

Edelgard sighed, looking down and shaking her head.

Suddenly, a large figure leapt from the bush beside them.

"BOO!"

Ferdinand and Caspar fell backwards off their seats in shock, even Edelgard flinched sharply and splashed some of her tea.

"Ohohoh, I got you guys good!" Claude laughed. Dorothea successfully got Petra to put her knife away.

"Claude, I just about smacked you in the mouth!" Dorothea complained. "And that's nothing compared to what Petra nearly did!"

"I am sorry, Claude. I find my self mistaking you for a wild beast." Petra bowed courteously.

"I will admit, you did get quite the drop on us. I am rather impressed." Ferdinand sat back up, chuckling to himself.

"What were you guys up to? I heard a scary story." Claude smiled.

"Hubert was telling a story about the legendary Death Knight. I asked him to stop, however, when the story began-..." Edelgard paused, looking around. "Where... where is the Summoner?"

"Oh no, Kiran didn't run off, right?" Dorothea stood up and looked around.

"Hey! Summoner!" Caspar yelled. "Where are you!"

A flock of crows scattered into the darkness, startling them.

"Linhardt was finding sleep nearby, yes?" Petra asked quietly.

"Is he not?" Edelgard asked with urgency, grabbing the handle of her axe.

"He is being gone." Petra pointed to the space where his sleeping bag had been.

"We must search for him. He cannot have gotten far!" Ferdinand proclaimed, grabbing his lance.

"Maybe he's with the Summoner." Claude suggested. "Let's focus on..."

"...what?" Dorothea asked, after a short silence.

"There's movement." Petra uttered, while Hubert prepared himself.

Claude turned and let out a sudden scream, loosing an arrow from his bow. The black eagles all turned, and the newly awakened Bernadetta only passed out again.

Professor Byleth stood poking out of the darkness, Claude's arrow caught fast in her hand, an inch from her terrifying face.

"Oh... Professor...! Hahah... I almost... killed you." Claude mumbled, slowly lowering his bow.

"Where. Is the Summoner." Byleth asked, clearly upset.

"You see, funny story..." Claude raised his shoulders defensively, then stopped suddenly as Byleth stared knives into his soul.

"I believe Kiran was scared away by our story, followed by Claude's prank." Edelgard stood. "If we hurry, we may be able to find them."

Byleth sighed, closing her eyes and rubbing the bridge of her nose. Kiran peeked out, hiding behind her for safety.

"Your camping trip is over. It's too dangerous out here, especially for somebody as precious as The Summoner." Byleth scolded. "Claude, however. This is a Black Eagle camping trip. This was not for you."

"I wanted to go camping, it was totally unrelated to their trip." Claude said.

Byleth held out her hand and gave Claude's arrow back to him.

"Edelgard. My last will and testameeEENT-!" He was cut off, dragged away by the professor. The Black Eagles let out a sigh of relief, escaping punishment.

"No doubt she collected Linhardt as well." Ferdinand said.

"Let us hope so." Edelgard nodded. "We should return before she does."

"I hope Kiran is okay..." Dorothea mumbled.


"Summoner?" Ferdinand knocked on the door of the strategy room. A fair amount of shuffling and falling papers sounded out, before Kiran opened the door.

"Ah, Ferdinand! And... Dorothea. And Petra. You're all here." Kiran looked between all of them.

"Hey, and me too!" Caspar poked out from the side, not enough space in the doorway to see them all.

"Eek!" Kiran jumped. "A-And you, Caspar! Hi!"

"We found ourselves expressing worries. We came to check on you." Petra explained happily.

"I'm fine. Just drafting out battle plans." The Summoner smiled.

"Yeah, right." Dorothea said. "Listen, I think we need to train your courage."

"Your fleeing during the trip concerned us. I shudder to imagine what could happen during a battle! We will make you fearless!" Ferdinand pumped his fist.

"W-Wait, do I get a say in this?!" Kiran waved defensively. "I'm fine!"

"C'mon, time's a wastin'!" Caspar grabbed The Summoner's hand and dragged them off.


"We're going to fight the Death Knight!" Ferdinand grinned. "And you will lead us!"

"T-T-The Death Knight?!" The Summoner shivered, holding Breidablik close. "From the story?!"

"Yes! Behold!" Ferdinand gestured.

"Roar." Leo sighed, sat atop his dark horse, wearing a strange mask.

The Summoner stifled a laugh. Leo slowly shook his head.

"Isn't he scary?" Caspar grinned. "But we can take him! C'mon! Ferdinand, Petra, Dorothea, me! We're a full team! Lead us!"

"That's Leo!" The Summoner giggled. "He's not as scary as... oh wait, is the Death Knight story about him?"

"Gah?!" Leo jolted in surprise, seeing the Death Knight, covered in blades and spikes mounted behind him.

"T-The real Death Knight?!" Caspar yelped, stepping backwards.

"Hold fast! W-We will succeed if we fight as one!" Ferdinand called out.

"You don't need to worry, that's just Death Knight. I thought it was scary." The Summoner smiled happily. "You should see the Blight Dragon!"

Everyone looked at the Summoner, and then past them, to see the transformed King Garon. The giant, evil Blight Dragon, held in allegiance and loyalty by Breidablik.

Bernadetta rounded the corner and noticed the commotion, promptly passing out.


Linhardt woke up on a bright morning, yawning and sitting up. He adjusted his sleeping bag and stepped out of it, looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, and the path of flattened grass leading up the hill from his sleeping bag.

"...hello? Everyone? Where are you?" Linhardt looked around. "Is everyone gone?"