It was the last day that Lysithea would be at the infirmary, according to Manuela at least, when both Catherine and Shamir would enter her room. Though she had expected them it was still a surprise to see them just casually walk in during the afternoon.

"Sorry I couldn't check on you earlier. Shamir and I were busy cleaning up," Catherine said as she casually took a seat next to Lysithea's bed. Her armor was chipped and there was the familiar smell of blood and dirt on her. "Just finished recently."

"I can tell," Lysithea replied. "If anything though, I should be thanking the two of you for saving me. The Professor and Seteth told me you two fought the… Death Knight for my sake." Even now it was a bit hard for her to say its name, if only because it made her remember recent events.

"He was tough," Shamir commented from the other side of the room. Unlike Catherine, Shamir preferred to stay a respectable distance away. "Any longer it would've been dangerous for us."

"Yea the Professor really wasn't kidding about strong the guy was," Catherine admitted. "I'll have to get back to my training. Make sure I'm ready for next time we meet."

"So basically, what you've been doing this entire time?" Shamir asked

"Yea pretty much."

"Hmph. We should all continue our training anyway." Shamir looked at Lysithea. "Especially you now that he's become obsessed with you. What did you do to get him like that?"

Lysithea gulped and crossed her arms before hesitantly replying. "He has a weakness to my magic. Particularly Dark Spikes. I was able to do serious damage to him before I was captured… and unfortunately he's interested in me because of that."

"So, you counter him then," Shamir commented.

"I do."

"He'll be aware of it now though and will likely prepare for it in the future."

"I'd imagine so. Even so I think I'm a good matchup against provided I'm given the chance to cast my magic." In all honesty she would've preferred to avoid fighting him altogether, but fate was rarely that kind. If he wasn't going to go for her then he was definitely going for the Professor and she couldn't just stand aside while that happened.

"Just be careful when you see him alright. Don't want you to get hurt again," Catherine said.

Lysithea knew it was best to listen if Catherine of all people was suggesting caution.

"I will," Lysithea replied before finally asking the question that had been plaguing her mind. "Why did you two work so hard to find me?" Yes it was their job as Knights of Serios to protect the Monastery's interests, including its students, but why had they made such an effort just to save her alone?

Catherine shrugged casually. "I could hardly let someone take you away. You're a great student and you're like a sister to me."

"A sister?"

"Yea. I've always felt a certain kinship with you and it's not just because we share a Crest."

Lysithea looked down at her bed and couldn't help the small grin that appeared on her face. A sister… and here she thought that she no longer had any siblings. She could never replace those that she had lost… but that didn't mean she couldn't find family elsewhere. "Thank you."

"And it isn't just me, Shamir's taking a liking to you also."

Lysithea looked at Shamir who kept an impassive face.

"Yea, sure," Shamir replied.

"That's just the way she shows her love."

Shamir began to sniff at the air. "By the way? Has Seteth been giving you more of his specials? I recognize the smell."

"Twice a day while I've been stuck in bed," Lysithea sighed. "I mean I feel much better now at least, and Manuela says I should be getting out soon."

After two days of observation Manuela had more or less agreed that Lysithea would soon be ready to rejoin her class.

"Still, good job drinking those things down," Shamir said.

Well a Seteth special or two was nothing compared to what she had been through already.

"What are you two planning to do now then?" Lysithea asked them.

"The Knights have been tasked with putting the bishop leading the Western Church down," Catherine informed her.

"The same ones involved with the plot to apparently assassinate Rhea?" And also, the people that were somehow associated with those that performed those experiments on her.

"Yes. Rhea herself is actually coming to execute him herself."

So, the Archbishop was going to leave the monastery to personally deliver her form of justice. The Western Church was certainly in for a beating.

"When are you leaving?" Lysithea asked.

"In a week," Shamir replied.

"I want to come."

"Wouldn't it be best if you stayed behind to recover?"

"I've already rested enough as it is." After spending so many days in bed it would actually be a pleasure to get out and go on a mission, if only to keep her skills sharp. "Besides. I owe you two for saving me… and I need answers about the people that they were working with."

Catherine considered her words. "Well… I was thinking about asking the Professor and his students to come along. If he thinks you're ready by then, then I won't stop you. It's not like you're the only insisting on coming along."

"Who else is coming?" Lysithea asked.

"Ashe."

Oh… well that made sense. After what had happened with Lonato it was clear that Ashe was going there for answers and perhaps vengeance against them for involving his adoptive father in their plot.

"Will he be alright?"

"I'm not sure, but if something goes wrong, I'll be busy protecting Rhea. I'll need someone else to keep an eye on him."

"I'll do it," Lysithea quickly said. "And I'll make sure to let the Professor know."

"Aren't you eager… but the backup would be nice and I can rely on you and the Professor. Just try not to push yourself alright?"

"I'll try to take it easy."

"I'll have Cyril tag along with you," Shamir said.

"Cyril? Are you sure he'll be fine?" Lysithea had never actually seen him fight as he had only joined the class recently.

"Well I wasn't the only one who picked up a student," Catherine commented.

Shamir nodded. "He's strong because of the chores he does in the Monastery and I've been teaching him how to use the bow. He's a decent shot and can swing an axe well, he'll work well with you."

"Sounds good then," Lysithea replied. Cyril was an excellent student, at least when she had been teaching him how to read, and he worked almost as hard as she did. She saw no issue with being paired up with him and was actually forward to it.

"Once you're out of bed, I'll have a session with the two of you," Shamir told her. "Help you two to get a feel of each other."

"I'm sure we'll get work together quite well," Lysithea replied.

At exactly four in the afternoon Byleth walked up to the door of Seteth's office and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Byleth entered the office to find Seteth sitting down for once with Flayn next to him. The green haired man gestured to a seat in front of his desk, which Byleth promptly sat on.

It was a familiar place with how often he had to give reports or receive a scolding from the green haired man, so Byleth would notice any changes in the office. This time there had been plenty, enough for him to find it unusual.

Well this is strange so far.

Indeed. He never offers me a seat.

Or takes one himself for that matter. And is that a layer of dust I see on that bookshelf?

He's been busy recently, but yea usually he's on top of that.

I believe the stress has been getting to him, despite what his regular attitude might say.

"I have heard reports that you led a group of students down into an unknown passage in the Monastery," Seteth commented

"Is that an issue?"

"No, if anything you performed quite well with a class of students that weren't even your own."

"They're different from the Golden Deer, but excellent nevertheless."

"I agree. We do out upmost to provide the best education for all the students here, something that you have done well to contribute in. Because of your efforts alongside Catherine and Shamir we were able to save not one but two kidnapped students."

It had not been the first time that Byleth had been invited into Seteth's office, although this would likely be the first time it wouldn't end up with him getting reprimanded. The stern expression on Seteth's face had actually faded for that brief moment and on his face instead was an expression of relief and gratitude.

"Lysithea… and Monica I believe her name was?" Byleth asked.

"Indeed. Monica had disappeared a year prior. We had assumed she had left for home, but it was clear we were wrong. I'm glad that you were there that day… for the both of them."

Is he expressing joy? I would not believe it if I were not seeing it right now.

"I simply did as was required of me," Byleth replied. "I simply couldn't let one of my own be kidnapped, it was a shame we couldn't capture those mages though."

"You've discovered where they were hiding and chased them out for the time being. That will suffice, though we will have to remain vigilant to ensure that this doesn't happen again."

"Will you have the students continue to patrol?"

"Yes, and I'll see what Knights we have available to aid in security."

That meant that they would all be busy in the coming months. Byleth never really had much time to himself ever since he became a Professor, but it was a small price to pay considering the safety and growth of his students.

Sometimes I think you're a bit too selfless you know that?

You've expressed those thoughts in the past.

I know. I just hope that one day we'll be able to take a break when this is all over. Just the two of us.

Where would you want to go.

I hear Fodlan's throat is quite beautiful this time of year.

With that, the meeting seemed to be finished. Byleth was about to get out of the chair when Flayn decided to speak.

"Brother is there not something you wish to say to the Professor?"

Hesitation appeared on Seteth's face. It appears that he did have something else to say, though he was having difficulty doing so.

"You don't have to say it if makes you uncomfortable," Byleth replied.

"No, Professe- actually… Byleth. This is something that needs to be said."

Byleth raised an eye. It was the first time Seteth had called him by his given name or shown actually vulnerability on his face. "What is it?"

"I wish to apologize for my conduct toward you," Seteth said.

"You had every right to be cautious around me. Objectively speaking me becoming a Professor was suspicious." Even Byleth had to admit the entire process was strange. He was strange, Rhea was strange, all the events that led to this was strange. It was reasonable for anyone to be suspicious, much less Seteth.

"That is true, but time and time again you've done nothing but hold up the faith that Rhea has had in you. I believe now that my… concern towards you was misplaced. You are indeed… a trusted ally."

My my. I must admit hearing this from him is quite satisfying.

"Though there is much I do not know, I will continue to do my best for my students. I can assure you and Rhea of that," Byleth replied

"I believe you Professor. Your students have grown incredibly well under your guidance. It was because of one them that Flayn was kept safe and for that I am forever grateful to you and them."

"Brother..." Flayn spoke up once more, "Shouldn't I join the Professor's class?"

"Flayn! I'm not certain that is such a good idea."

"You just praised the Professor over the way he guided his students. Would there not be much I can learn under him?" Flayn asked

"But the danger to you! The Monastery is no longer safe," Seteth argued

"And what is the alternative? I do not wish to live in some lonely, remote location where I never get to see anyone. Not ever again."

"If we stay here, you may be targeted again! Wouldn't it be better for the two of us to live in peace?"

"Even if we ran off to some new, secret location, there is no guarantee that they would not find us."

"That is why I believe it would be safest to stay in the monastery. Did not Lysithea, one of the Professor's students, rescue me from being captured? Wouldn't joining his class then be the only reasonable option?"

This girl is quite sincere.

"I think it's a great idea," Byleth said.

"I am so very pleased to hear that! Don't you see brother? With the Professor and his students nearby, I shall be safe no matter what foe should appear!" Flayn said.

Seteth paused as he took a brief moment to think. Eventually he sighed and crossed his arms. "I'm afraid you have a good point." He turned toward Byleth. "Professor… might I entrust you with Flayn's safety?"

"It would be my pleasure," Byleth replied

"Oh this will be so wonderful. I can't wait to join you all!" Flayn cheered as she hopped excitedly in her place.

"Flayn, you must remember to follow all of the Professor's instructions," Seteth demanded

"I will!"

"And avoid being around certain… unsavory individuals."

"That won't be an issue. The students of the Golden Deer are all very kind."

Seteth raised an eyebrow. "Even Sylvain?"

"Ah. I've asked around and it turns out we were wrong. He isn't into beasts or objects!"

"I see… I'm glad you've… disproved those rumors…"

"He is into grannies though."

Seteth visibly bristled at that. "What!?"

"Apparently he seduced Ingrid's grandmother in his youth. It made for quite an amusing story just as much as the scarecrow he accidentally seduced as a child."

"Flayn… promise me that you will never be alone with him."

"I already did Brother and he's been perfectly pleasant around me."

"Just… promise me again."

Flayn sighed. "Fine. I will."

"Good and Professor?"

"Yes?" Byleth asked.

"Please send Sylvain to my office tomorrow. It is about time we had a long overdue discussion."