5/1
The walk to Seteth's office was one Orpheus had done several times, but never had it quite felt so tense. After Seir's stunt, questions were being asked about Orpheus being involved in some way. And in a sense, he was. He told Seir to sneak up on Eisner and deal with him. Did he tell her to try and assassinate him? No. But if Seteth felt as though Orpheus enabled Seir's attempt on Ozzy's life, his career was over.
"I didn't expect the fireball to be so strong, uncle." "It's not a problem, Ariadne. I underestimated your strength, and I got burned for it." Orpheus' left arm was wrapped in bandages underneath his shirt. It was a bit inflamed, but the burn wasn't very severe. "Manuela said it should only take 2 days or so to heal." "I heard about her accident. I'm impressed she's already working in the infirmary again." "Agreed. When she fell, I thought she might never walk again. I suppose that's what I get for assuming things about healing magic."
Orpheus' blue-haired niece patted him on the shoulder. "Congratulations, by the way." "It wasn't as much of a victory as you might think. Because of the investigation, I haven't been allowed back into my office. There's nothing incriminating there, of course; I'm not that stupid. But I'd still rather them not know what I do with my spare time. And we might not even be the victors. Because of Seir's actions, they're considering giving the victory to the Blue Lions on ground of foul play."
Now, the Golden Deer did technically cheat, with Shez, Seir, and Claude scoping out the enemy formations before the match started, but nobody else knew about that, and Orpheus wasn't about to pour more oil on the fire already set underneath him.
"Damn that Kirsten, Seir was originally supposed to be with the main group. If he had shown up at all, this never would have happened! ...How's Asmodeus faring, by the way?" "The wound pierced his skin, but little more. It was right around his heart; if he reacted any later, the thrust might have killed him." "...I dislike that man, but I have no wish to partake in his death. I still have no idea what Seir was thinking."
"...Look. Seir, I know he's the Ashen Demon's brother, but still. " Shez stopped talking and gagged, carefully placing the bucket of manure to the side before grabbing another and continuing. "The Silent Blade isn't who we're after. The Ashen Demon is. I don't care that he's related; he's not our target, and he never was."
Seir wiped the sweat away from her brow as she shoveled more horse manure into the new bucket Shez got for her. "...The Demon killed everybody. Getz, Lesley, Captain Berling. Until we met Badger and Destiny, we were all we had left. After what she did, what gives her the right to a family she took away from us?"
"Listen, I want the Ashen Demon dead as much as you do. I want her stuck in the ground to rot, with nobody to remember her. But what you did wasn't an attack on the demon; it was an attack on Professor Eisner. And given what I'm hearing around the monastery, it'll affect more than just us. You might have cost the Golden Deer our win, and I hear Professor Keyair is in a lot of trouble. He's dealing with enough already, what with the Silent Blade stealing his preferred house and nearly costing him his job even before you pulled your stunt. What would Karen think?"
"...We're not Karen, Shez" "Maybe not. We're mercenaries, and she was a pacifist. We'll never be Karen." Shez took his silver brooch off his sword holster and held it to his breast. "But she gave us a mother when we had none. I'd respect her memory, at the very least. Her name is already disgraced by the Alliance Weathervane; don't drag it further into the mud that it already is.
"...How about this, then." Seir got up and washed her hands in the stable laver. "One Professor Eisner is fit to teach again and his sister steps down, I'll challenge her to a duel to the death outside the walls, and we'll end it. No collateral damage, nobody else to get in our way." Shez joined her. "Is revenge all you've got on your mind?! She's a training instructor, otherwise known as SCHOOL FACULTY. If she doesn't agree- hell, even if she DOES agree- after what you've done, you'll be expelled at the minimum! Yes, I want her dead and buried, but we have to consider our future as well! Say we slay the demon, then what?"
Seir opened her mouth to retort but couldn't find an answer. She didn't really have any plans for what would happen after she got her revenge. But still... "Even if I don't have any plans for what happens after, that doesn't mean life will suddenly be devoid of meaning. I'll find something."
Shez sighed and picked up his gloves. "...Listen. I know I can't stop you forever. I'm not worried about you getting revenge. What I'm worried about is that it seems your grudge against the Ashen Demon is becoming your sole purpose for living. All that training? To slay the Ashen Demon. Enrolling in the Academy? To learn enough to slay the Ashen Demon. The Weathervane Incident, as people are now calling it? An attempt to wound the Demon's spirit. I'm not telling you to let go." Shez turned the corner to leave, looking back at his sister. "I'm telling you not to lose yourself along the way."
"I find myself wondering what might have happened if that axe had not been flung my way. If my end would come had I turned a moment later. It's... humbling. To realize how complacent I grew, watching others fight for me, to the degree it nearly cost me my life. ...Is the stew not to your liking?"
Byleth had no idea how Forneus was taking nearly being killed so well, yet so hard at the same time. He began talking about matters of life and death as if his world were shaken, yet outside of conversation, he acted like nothing happened. Jeralt seemed to share similar concerns, neither of them having taken more than a spoonful of their dinner. It wasn't like Jeralt was a seafood person anyways, the smell of cooking fish made him nauseous, but Byleth loved fish, and didn't dislike vegetables or cheese. No matter how much she loved the food in front of her, she couldn't stomach to eat. Not now.
It didn't help that, despite his stoicism, she could hear pain and effort in his voice whenever he tried to speak normally. He might not have showed it, but she heard it. Every breath stung; every syllable that wasn't a whisper felt as though it reopened his wound. Yet he seemed to be the only person who didn't care.
"...Now that I think about it, you've never been struck on the battlefield, have you...?" Byleth asked, stirring her stew with a fork, her eyes looking for anything to look at besides his chest. "Y-You've got some nicks, scratches, and bruises before, but..." "...It's the life of a mercenary, I suppose. I still don't know why she did it, but... when you're a mercenary, you gain grudges as well as fame. I was a fool to think I couldn't have angered somebody here."
Jeralt couldn't think of anything to say. Byleth could understand; Jeralt had a hard time talking to them about sensitive issues for forever. So when his own son came dangerously close to being killed, but acted like he was completely fine, he couldn't think of anything to say.
"...Who did this to you, again?" Forneus took another spoonful of stew before answering. "I don't know her name, but she had purple hair. But before you two try to kill her, don't hold it against her. I've killed hundreds... no. Thousands of people. For her to hate me might be entirely justified." "...Kid, listen. It would be one thing if this was on a real battlefield. That's... not to minimize what you have to deal with, or what you mean to us, but..." Jeralt paused, unsure of how to continue. "...She tried to stab you in the back for doing your job, in the best-case scenario. I just... I don't want you to die yet, period. But in particular, I don't want you to be killed in a place where killing isn't meant to happen."
"I know, Jeralt. I will be taking precautions around her and that... Keyair, I believe." "...I'd bet good money that Keyair had something to do with this. He glares at you when you pass each other, he's always muttering when you're around... I wouldn't be surprised if he told that bitch to stab-" "Byleth, I appreciate the concern, but there are people around. And please put down the knife."
Byleth realized she picked up her knife in a reverse grip. She quietly set it down before turning back to Forneus. "I'll be fine. All I'll need is two weeks to rest and let the gash mend itself. But... until then, I won't be in a position to give lectures. When I raise my voice, it hurts my wound. As a result, I'll need a substitute."
"...Oh no."
5/2
"Welcome back. Thank you for coming in your brother's stead, Byleth. I understand that is must be quite stressful. But rest assured, Miss Phlegethon won't be anywhere near your brother for the foreseeable future." "...Forneus is strong. He'll survive. What I'm worried about now is that I might not be qualified to teach the students." "We will give you any help we can spare. But as it stands now, you'll be receiving your new assignment for the month. Professor Hanneman, you and the Blue Lions will be sent to hunt down the remaining bandits who assaulted the students last moon. Expect contact from Alois, he'll provide you with further details as they become relevant." "I will see it done, Lady Rhea."
"Professor Keyair, you will be leading your students to the abandoned fortress of Azkaban. Local authorities have reported seeing suspicious figures retreating into it shortly after multiple towns were pillaged. As it is most likely a den of thieves, you and your students will face these bandits and bring them to justice. We do not believe they are affiliated with the same bandits who assaulted the students last moon, but be on your guard nonetheless." "It'll be done in short order."
"Now, Professor Eisner. We have received reports from County of Hevring; a rebellion in Brigid, threatening to encroach on their lands. Although the rebellion could easily be suppressed by the army, stamping out the rebels with a great military force will turn them into martyrs. So instead, the ones who put them down must not be great generals and legions of soldiers, but instead those who would instill in Brigid their defeat, their fire snuffed out by 26 fledgling warriors." "I understand."
"If you all understand, then I shall leave you to your duties. You are dismissed. I'll pray to the Goddess on Forneus' behalf for a swift and speedy recovery."
"BRIGID?"
Forneus shot up out of his bed, with some pained coughs from raising his voice. His normally calm face was now one of concern and dread. "Yes. Brigid is rebelling, and Rhea wants us to put down the rebellion."
"What is she thinking? Is she some form of sadist? Why would she assign that to the Black Eagles?"
"I'm certain the Eagles would like a chance to defend their territory, surely?"
"Byleth, you don't understand. Have you seen Petra? Purple hair in a large ponytail, has a tattoo under her eye? She's from Brigid! By giving us this mission, Rhea's sending her to kill her own people."
An uneasy silence stood between the two. Forneus knew Byleth was on the same page as him before he even finished his thought, but the question was how to approach the situation. "...We could ask Rhea for a different mission." "That won't work. She specifically wants the students to do it so the Brigid rebels aren't seen as crushed martyrs."
"They'll be seen as martyrs no matter who does it. The best-case scenario is to swap missions with another house or exclude Petra from the assignment entirely. Neither will end well. In the former, we'll just be shifting the blame. The latter, she'll be stuck with the people who killed her countrymen. All we can do is beg Rhea to allow us to try diplomacy first. And for it to work, Petra will have to be there to mediate."
"...This is going to end in disaster. I just know it. Poor Petra..."
