p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongChapter Three: The Hands of Time/strong/p
p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 17px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strong31sy Day of the Garland Moon/strong/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongMagdred Way/strong/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"It was an ambush. The mysterious mist that suddenly descended upon the group provided the perfect cover for Lonato's rebellion to strike. Byleth stood with a mercenary's wisdom, blade drawn and shining reflectively. Every muscle in his body tensed and ready to react. His gaze was devoid of any emotion but steely and sharp./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Byleth's students were less composed, not sure what to expect from a more serious battle such as this. Ignatz, however, was less primed than the others, eyes full of fear and apprehension. Though they could not see their enemies, they knew they were there./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Suddenly, a few enemy soldiers appeared in the mist, swords ready to sink into the flesh of their enemies. Raphael immediately made his move and intercepted one of them with a mighty hook to the man's jaw. Then, he punched the man in the chest with his gauntlets knocking him down. The man was dazed but not dead./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"However, the remaining two soldiers decided to swarm the large young man. Their blades cut through Raphael's already strained button-up shirt painting it red with his class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Ignatz snapped out of his fear and reflexively fired an arrow. It merely bounced off of the man's armor. This still served enough of a distraction allowing Raphael to slug the soldier in the face knocking some of his teeth loose. The other soldier jumped on Raphael's back and pulled out a dagger./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Byleth ran over and pulled the woman off of Raphael before thrusting his sword downwards into her neck./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Watch your flanks," Byleth stated coldly splattering excess blood onto the ground with a shake of his sword. Raphael nodded gratefully./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Soon, more enemies replaced the fallen knights./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Marianne was immediately rushed down by a brawler and knocked on her back with a punch as hard as stone. Her pale face now colored purple by a large bruise. She shrieked as she tried to hold the man back. Lysithea fired a fireball at the man's head breaking his neck./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Be careful, Marianne!" She scolded as she helped up her classmate. Marianne nodded gloomily without a word. Lysithea turned away grunting in annoyance as she fired more projectiles at on-coming enemies./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Lorenz parried a soldier aggressively assaulting him with his own lance. Ashe assisted Lorenz with an arrow./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""A commoner?" He gasped. Ashe, though still focused on firing at enemies covering his peers' backs, immediately perked up at Lorenz' comment./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What? Why would commoners be among Lonato's forces?" The freckled boy asked as horror seeped into his voice./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Don't worry about that now, focus on not getting yourselves killed!" Byleth commanded as he beheaded another soldier. Then, he heard a galloping sound. A large form started coming towards the group; a paladin on horseback. The lady knight brandished her lance ready to harpoon a student like a fish. She was headed for Ignatz who was too focused on covering Raphael to react. "Ignatz, look out!" Ignatz turned towards the enemy, and gasped too afraid to fight back. The knight then skewered the spectacled boy through his chest. Ignatz gurgled as blood stained his outfit and a trickle of blood ran down the corner of his class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Claude's eyes went wide with horror seeing his peer die so callously. Hilda elicited a shriek while Marianne covered her mouth mortified./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Raphael's usually upbeat, good-natured demeanor was shattered in an instant. Raphael charged at the paladin, but the paladin struck him down too, impaling him in the chest. Rapahel clasped at his throat as blood gushed forth like a geyser before his body crumpled next to the body of his friend./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"A lumped formed in Byleth's throat. The youths' lives were snuffed out as easily as candles set to the wind. Never before while apart of his father's mercenary company has Byleth felt so afraid for the safety of comrades./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What are you doing you fool?!" Sothis shouted from behind him. "This does not have to be their fates! Turn back the hands of time and save them!"span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Do it," Byleth said nodding. Sothis materialized a rune in front of her. The prior events began to be rewound. Every visceral detail, every scream playing in reverse. Sothis then stopped moments before the paladin arrived. Byleth could hear the sound of the horse heading their way. "Ignatz, ready an arrow! Aim towards your left!"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""O-Okay!" Ignatz snapped to attention. Soon enough, the paladin appeared twenty feet away and was quickly closing the gap between her and her prey. "Who should I hit; the horse or the woman?!"span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Fire at the horse!" Byleth commanded. Ignatz did as he was told and sunk an arrow into the horse' chest. The massive animal elicited a frightened whiny and began bucking wildly in pain throwing the knight off of its back. Undeterred, the knight got up and charged at Ignatz and Byleth./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It's your turn to suffer!" She cried. Byleth immediately struck the knight's lance sending it flying out of her hands, and then Byleth severed her head from her body./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""How did you-" Ignatz began before Byleth faced him./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Let's go," Byleth said calmly though his expression betrayed the budding feelings of fear and regret inside him./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Teach!" Claude called out. He and the other students were by his side. "We're at a serious disadvantage not knowing the terrain here."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""This fog cannot possibly be natural in origin, what if it's being manifested by some kind of magic?" Lysithea class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It's possible, I find it rather suspect myself," Byleth said considering. He turned towards Catherine. "Catherine, we should split up and find the source of this mist."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""All right, but be careful, everyone," she replied. "Attack when someone breaks through the fog!"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongCaledonian Plateau/strong/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Elsewhere, the Black Eagle class was escorting a merchant caravan through the Caledonian Plateau. There were mountain that extended for miles. The class walked along a path many miles above a green savannah. To the right, a high rock wall extended several stories high. The mission for the month was to protect the caravan from bandits. Everyone was present and accounted for, even Bernadetta much to her class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Why did Bernie have to tag along?" Bernadetta moaned. "Bernie is useless in a fight!"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Don't worry, Bern! With any luck, we won't have to deal with any bandits!" Dorothea encouraged her forlorn class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""All students must do their part according to Lady Rhea," Hubert added. "Anymore absences from you, Bernadetta, and you'd likely be expelled from the Monastery." Bernadetta swallowed nervously. The sinister servant had a point. Bernadetta was guilty of being absent or tardy several times in the past few months. Besides, some combat experience would do you some good."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Anyone can try to harm these innocent merchants, but I will use my fists to protect them!" Caspar cried pounding a fist against his chest. Linhardt, who walked alongside him, yawned./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""If you insist on being that loud, then bandits will be sure to find us…" he class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Edelgard was ahead of the pack walking alone. Dorothea, smiling, grabbed Bernadetta's hand and pulled her along as they joined their house leader. A serious, stern expression adorned Edelgard's face. When she noticed her classmates, she softened somewhat./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Hey Edie, would you like some company?" Dorothea asked with a girlish tone./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Oh, I would appreciate that, Dorothea," Edelgard responded. "I was just lost in thought. How many nobles are useless at protecting these common folk. If the nobles did better at quashing bandit activity, then these caravans could travel with more peace of mind."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yeah, among other things, for sure," Dorothea added. "If it were me, I'd make all nobles vanish if I could…"span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""emAll /emnobles?" Bernadetta asked surprised at her friend's class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Well, yes! What good have nobles done for the common folk? All they do is line their pockets and keep those of lower stature down," Dorothea continued./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Thinking about all there needs to be done makes my head ache," Edelgard said rubbing her temples. "When I am emperor, I intend to appoint only those who can actually be useful. It doesn't matter if they're of noble or common birth."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Noble or common, eh? Can you really do that?" Dorothea asked cocking her head curiously./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It's not a question of can or cannot. All that matters is doing it and doing it right," Edelgard said reinforcing her previous statement. "The nobility system has only been around for twelve-hundred years. The concept didn't exist before that."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""emOnly/em 1,200 years, huh?" Dorothea said as her eyes almost bugged out. "You always say such preposterous and extraordinary things, Edie. Yet somehow, you actually make it work for you. It's like you're a character from an opera." Dorothea gestured in an exaggerated, theatrical manner appropriate of a songstress. Edelgard smiled a small smile at her classmate's playfulness./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""A character form an opera…" Edelgard thought ponderously looking up at the clear, blue sky. "If an opera is made about my life someday, I wonder how I'll be portrayed. The revolutionary who guided the Empire to a new dawn…or the foolish ruler who took her revolution too far…"span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Bernadetta was confused by what Edelgard meant by her statement and was about to say something before Dorothea class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Well, that all sounds pretty violent. But either way, it would make an incredible opera," Dorothea said fondly as she dreamt of such a vision. "Do you figure it'd be a grand action piece full of combat and strife? Or would you prefer a somber political drama?" Dorothea could not resist breaking out into song./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"emHail the mighty Edelgard, though red blood stains her story~/em/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"emHeavy as her crown may be, she will lead us all to glory~/em/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"emTo a brighter dawn, we shall carry on~/em/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"emHail Edelgard~/em/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Dorothea smiled cheerfully at her house leader. Edelgard was blushing a bright pink and covered her mouth hiding a bashful smile. Bernadetta, on the other hand, was captivated by Dorothea's show of musicality./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""That's quite enough, Dorothea," Edelgard said regaining her composure. "I'm starting to feel more than a little embarrassed. Lovely as your voice is, let's just hope that any operatic productions about me are still a ways off."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Wow, that was amazing Dorothea!" Bernadetta said astounded. "Your voice is absolutely beautiful!"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Oh, thank you, Bern," Dorothea replied giving a slight bow. Dorothea's smile then faded. "I don't know how long I'll have it though."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Before Bernadetta could ask what Dorothea meant, an arrow flew past them sailing down over the cliff edge. Bernadetta shrieked and looked around frantically. Dorothea felt the tear in her shirt also quite alarmed./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Petra looked up and saw a bandit brandishing a bow and arrow, ready to fire a second shot. Soon, more bandits began to scramble down the cliff above with murderous intent./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Edelgard, there are bandits amongst us!" She exclaimed. Edelgard immediately pulled out her axe and sprung into action./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Take cover!" Edelgard ordered. The merchants immediately hid away in their wagons. "Everyone, prepare yourselves for battle!" Edelgard drew her ax as the others brandished their weapons./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Let's go, Bern!" Dorothea pulled out a thunder tome. Bernadetta fumbled with with her bow and an arrow and closely followed her class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Petra fired an arrow at a thief, the object pierced the thief in the back of the skull. His body convulsed and rolled down the rocky wall before he died from the fall. Dorothea shot a fireball at one thief, but he jumped down from his perch avoiding class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Caspar was locked in a slugfest with a burly-looking man, using his speed to bob and weave avoiding strikes. While also reciprocating with quick punches of his own. Ferdinand, while atop a mighty steed, fought another horse rider knocking the woman from her mount with a powerful thrust of his lance. The professor, Manuela, used her Silence spell to stifle a mage's spell casting abilities so Edelgard could plunge her axe into his throat decapitating him./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"All the while, Bernadetta took cover under the carriage covering her eyes whimpering. Though not the same kind of chaos she faced before, she's seen conflict and violence before. And it was not at all welcome./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Bern, I could really use some help!" Dorothea shouted desperately as she fought with swordswoman. Their polished blades clashing repeatedly with the speed of lightning and the sound of thunder./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I can't! Bernie doesn't want to die!" Bernadetta cried frightened. The woman, seeing an opening, thrust her blade at Dorothea's head. Dorothea narrowly dodged the attack with the blade finding its home in the side of the carriage startling the occupants within./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Then, Bernadetta felt someone grab both of her ankles and dragging her out from under her hiding spot. She screamed and squirmed trying to free herself from the unknown assailant's grasp, and dug her nails into the dirt futilely resisting. When Bernadetta was brought out, she saw that it was a male bandit who grabbed her. Bernadetta tried to scream, but the man grabbed her throat practically silencing her. She covered her face preparing for death./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"The man grinned maliciously. Who knows what deprived thoughts were circling around in his mind. For a moment, Bernadetta saw someone familiar again in the man's image. His eyes full of anger and a desire for violence. The bandit pulled a knife out of his belt and raised it high overhead./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Then, the man's life was cut short when Edelgard lodged an axe in the crown of his head. The man screamed in agony and was pulled off of Bernadetta. Edelgard helped Bernadetta up, but stared at her in anger and disappointment. Bernadetta looked away./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Bernadetta," Edelgard said very sternly. Bernadetta made eye contact with the Empress-to-be. The way that Edelgard looked at Bernadetta reminded her of her own mother. They both shared an authoritative disposition, one that commanded respect. "Grab your weapons. We have a task to complete."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongMagdred Way/strong/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"A hooded mage wearing a raven-like mask was using his arcane arts to manifest the mist from a rune. A small group of knights diligently protected the mage./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I don't recognize you, mage," a male knight said looking back at the mysterious man focused on his magics. "Where do you come from? You're not one of Lord Lonato's mages."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""My homeland is no concern of yours. All I'll tell you is that the interests of my people and your people are very much the same," the figure said in a low voice. "Now be silent, I am channeling-" All of a sudden, an arrow sailed past the knight and plunged into the heart of the mage. The mage clasped at his chest before falling over dead. The mist immediately started to fade./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Out of the mist came Byleth, face devoid of emotion, but hellbent on killing his class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Th-The Ashen Demon!" He's shouted as a chill ran down the knight's spine. Despite his terror, the knight swung for Byleth's throat but he jumped back as a feint. Byleth then ended the man's life with his own blade. The other knight, a commoner, hesitated and was killed by an arrow from class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""That should be the last of the mages, Teach. Now we can actually see where we're going." Claude looked at the felled commoner and shook his head sadly. "The nobles start the war, but it's the commoners who spill their blood first…"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Now you face a Knight of Seiros!" Catherine's voice echoed across the plains. She had pointed her sword at a man with white hair and mustache, blue eyes filled with anger. Byleth and Claude ran to back up Catherine when they saw Ashe step between her and his adoptive father. The boy turned towards Lonato and spoke, eyes pleading./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Please surrender, Lonato! Whatever your reason for doing this, we can still talk it out!" Ashe pleaded. Lonato refused to listen to his beloved adopted son./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Rhea is an infidel who has deceived the people and desecrated the goddess! We have virtue and the goddess herself on our side!" Lonato responded angrily. Ashe shook his head defiantly./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Even if that's true, dragging the townsfolk into a battle like this isn't right!" Ashe reinforced pointing at Lonato's soldiers. Lonato then pushed Ashe aside in an unintentionally rough manner and readied his lance. He immediately went to fighting with Catherine. "Lonato, no!"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Be silent, Ashe!" Lonato snapped focusing on the old adversary before him. Ashe stood up and tried to break up the fight, but Byleth immediately wrapped his arms under Ashe's holding him back./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Ashe, stop! You're going to get yourself killed!" Byleth exclaimed holding on tight to the struggling boy. Lonato was promptly disarmed by Catherine, his lance spinning through the air and landing into the dirt. Then, with Thunderbrand glowing like the rising sun, Catherine cut through Lonato as if her where a stick of butter. Blood splattered the soft earth as Lonato's scream class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Ashe stared speechless at the horror he witnessed. His face was as pale as a sheet. Byleth let Ashe go, but Ashe fell to his knees unable to move./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Lonato, I…"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I never thought I'd see Lonato meet this fate," Catherine said gloomily. "Well done, everyone. Let's gather our troops and go."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Back at camp, an air of sadness permeated Byleth's class while they huddled around a fire./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I don't understand. Why would Lord Lonato raise an army against the Church?" Lorenz questioned. "Surely he realized that he had no hope of victory." Catherine raised her face, she wore a pensive expression./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It all goes back to the Tragedy of Duscur…" Byleth perked up hearing this./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I've heard of it," he said./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What happened?" Raphael asked./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It happened four years ago," Claude began. "The king of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus was murdered by the people of Duscur. That about covers it, right?"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""To put it simply, yes. But there's more to that story," Catherine began to explain. "They had accomplices within the Kingdom as well. Lord Lonato's son, Christophe, was one of them, and so he was handed over to the church for execution."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""The church executes criminals?" Byleth asked. In all his life, he never heard of a church that conducts class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Speaking from the church's perspective, we simply passed judgement according to our doctrine in place of the Kingdom, which was in complete chaos," Catherine went on. Catherine's expression grew pensive as if recalling a bitter memory. She sighed. "At any rate, what's past is past. We have more pressing matters at hand." Catherine picked up a scroll retrieved from Lonato's body after the battle. "This assassination plot against Lady Rhea."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Right. But why would Lord Lonato just carry a scroll on him announcing his intentions of killingspan class="Apple-converted-space" /spanLady Rhea?" Claude asked placing a hand to his chin. "Seems like revealing your hand too early if you ask me."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Regardless, this must be reported to Lady Rhea as soon as we get back to the Monastery. Next month is the start of the Goddess' Rite of Rebirth, and someone under Lonato's thrall could use the opportunity to kill her," Catherine class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"From out of the night, Ashe came into view. Dried tears stained his face, and his face was red./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Are your siblings all right, Ashe?" Ignatz asked concerned./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Thankfully they weren't apart of the battle, but…" his voice cracked. "…they were still devastated by the news." Ashe wiped his face. Raphael stood up and handed Ashe a piece of leftover meat. Ashe took the food thanking Raphael for his generosity, but his appetite was all but gone. "I don't understand how Lord Lonato could do such a thing! We killed so many innocents today. The villagers were so nice to me and…I killed them!" Ashe's voice rose having replayed such gruesome images in his mind./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""That is the reality of war, Ashe," Byleth replied pragmatically. "You did what you had to do to protect yourself and the others."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I know!" Ashe shouted despairingly. "I know I had to fight. I wanted to come along and convince Lord Lonato-"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Pull yourself together," Byleth replied seriously feeling his expression grow more stern. Ashe turned towards him surprised by Byleth's change in demeanor. Byleth himself paused surprised by this change within him. He continued. "I'm sorry that Lord Lonato died today. Truly I am. I see that he meant a lot to you. But look at it this way, Ashe: If we did not intervene in Lord Lonato's advancement towards Garreg Mach, more innocent lives, townspeople, students, church staff, could've been caught up in a much uglier battle and died. Do you understand?"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Ashe blinked at Byleth thinking about what he said before speaking./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yes, Professor Byleth. Thank you," Ashe said smiling a small, halfhearted smile./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Now then, when we get back to Garreg Mach, I promise to ask Seteth if there's someone you can talk to and help you," Byleth offered./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""That's a good idea. I'm grateful, Professor," Ashe's eyes brightened slightly. He felt good enough where his appetite returned some./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I…would like to say a prayer to the Goddess for Lord Lonato's soul," Marianne spoke up in a voice barely above a class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I would too!" Ignatz said happily. Ashe smiled widely as a tear came into his eye./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Thank you. I'm sure that Lord Lonato would be grateful for that," his voice cracked. Sothis suddenly appeared beside Byleth looking very cross./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I want to speak with Alone/em," she said in a very serious tone similar to a disappointed parent./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Byleth then stood up, grabbed a stick and lighted it with the campfire. The mercenary then walked off into the dark woods./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Teach where are you going?" Claude asked curiously as to why his professor would walk off into the darkness alone./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I just need some time alone," he replied without looking back. Once he was far away enough from the campground, Sothis manifested. "I can tell you're upset with me, Sothis."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Oh, you don't say?" she replied dripping with sarcasm as she crossed her arms./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Cut the crap and tell me what's on your mind," Byleth said impatient with the girl's attitude. Sothis then swung her open palm across Byleth's face only for it to pass through his head. Byleth recoiled in surprise. Sothis, forgetting she had no body, grunted in frustration./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You were a fool in battle today!" Sothis began. "You got Ignatz and Raphael killed."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""But they were saved thanks to you," Byleth class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Do you not get it?! Are you that dense?" Sothis shouted enraged. "Do not think for an instant that destiny can be so easily controlled. I can only turn back the hands of time once per day. And even then, you cannot always guarantee that destiny can be changed at all."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Byleth stared out into the forest contemplating what his ghostly companion explained to class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I see," he finally said. "I did not realize that your power was so limited. I remember when you saved Edelgard and I back in Remire Village."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Now do you understand?" Sothis asked still upset./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I do, and I apologize for my behavior," Byleth answered genuinely. "In truth, I never felt so…afraid back in the fight with Lord Lonato."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What do you mean?" Sothis asked having now calmed class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""When Ignatz and Raphael died, I felt terrible," Byleth elaborated. "When I worked as a mercenary with my father, I never felt attached to the others under his employ. Not that I didn't recognize that death meant nothing to me, but now I feel like I have true comrades." Byleth then looked Sothis right in the eyes. "I swear that I will not allow any of them to die, even if it kills me."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongThat night…/strong/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"The celestial expanse spread as far as the eye could see. Stars shimmered like the eyes of animals in the darkness. A streak of light occasionally soared through the void going wherever destiny wills it./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"But one star's destiny was already determined. It soared passing by other celestial bodies. Some far from the warmth of any sun, some circled by immense rings of stardust. It soared past herds of rock larger than the herds of any living creature./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Its destination was set: A small, blue-and-green orb circling a massive ball of fire bathing it in life-giving sunshine. Once it got close enough, the star was sure to land on this place./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"It kept going. Going. Going./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongBOOM/strong/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Byleth woke with a start. He dreamt before, but this dream felt so real. So real that it was unsettling./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You had it, too?" Sothis asked having already been awake before Byleth./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yeah…" he said still coming to his senses. His eyes adjusted to the light peeking through the tear in his tent. "What was that? Where was that?"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It looked like the night sky except with no ground down below us," Sothis replied mulling over the dream's class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It felt like I was was that shooting star," Byleth said. "I could see everything that…it saw. But I didn't feel anything."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You have dreamed before, but you haven't had a dream like that one?" Sothis asked./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""From what I remember, no." Byleth wiped the sweat from his forehead. He poked his fingers through the tear in the tent. "Thank the Goddess it didn't rain last night…"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yo Teach! You up? Come out and get some breakfast before Raphael eats it all!" Claude's voice called out. Byleth threw on a shirt and shorts and exited the tent. Everyone else was already awake./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Claude was serving food to Ignatz who gladly accepted it. Raphael was scarfing down sausage and eggs as if they were going to vanish. Lorenz yawned a hearty yawn as he poured coffee for Claude and Catherine. Hilda was brushing Lysithea's messy hair with Lysithea's eyes still not quite open. Marianne looked like she got no sleep, which is nothing new for her, but sat beside Ashe who was thankfully eating his breakfast. Leonie was doing some stretches up against a large pine class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Good morning, Teach. Never thought I'd see you with bed head," Claude class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Good morning," Byleth yawned rubbing sleep out of his eye. Claude poured the last of the coffee into the drowsy professor's cup. Byleth quietly wished for some sugar and cream, but he could tolerate the bitter beverage./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Who were you talking to, Professor?" Hilda asked causing Byleth almost choked on his coffee spitting it out onto his shirt./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What?" he said after clearing his throat./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It sounded like you were talking to someone in your tent," Hilda stated as she finished brushing Lysithea's snow white hair./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Oh, uh, I was just talking to myself," Byleth class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Oh yeah, sure, like they'll believe that," Sothis said rolling her eyes. Claude stared at Byleth still smiling and simply nodded./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Whatever you say, Teach. Though I find it funny that you would be the type to talk to yourself," Claude said after having a bite of sausage./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I'm full of surprises," Byleth stated paying Claude's tone no class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Raphael interrupted with pleased sounds of eating./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""This sausage is amazing! Do we got any more?" He said elated as the fatty meat soothed his eager class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You gotta save some for the rest of us, Raphael," Ignatz laughed. "We can't march back to Garreg Mach on an empty stomach, after all." Ignatz passed a plate of food to Lysithea who was now more alert. She cut into the sausage and politely ate small bites./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It's not a scone or toast with jam, but it'll have to do," she muttered to herself quietly./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Don't worry, Lys, you can stuff your face with all the sweets your little heart desires when we get back to the Monastery," Claude snarked cheekily. "Just be sure to brush your teeth well so you don't get any cavities."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I emdo/em brush my teeth well, thank you," Lysithea responded as her blood boiled. "I make sure that they're in perfect condition before and after bed!"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Wow, look at you! You truly are a model in both academics emand /empersonal hygiene!" Claude class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Indeed! I've been excelling in my studies! I study at least two hours a day!" Lysithea continued incensed by Claude's relentless teasing. "Unlike emyou/em, you… You…!"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Do these two always bicker like this?" Ashe whispered to Marianne./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""…Yes," Marianne simply replied./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Eh, you get used to it after awhile," Hilda added. "Lysithea looks kinda cute when her face gets all red and when she pouts. She looks like a squirrel with a mouthful of nuts!"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""emI do not/em!" Lysithea screamed face completely red./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What am I going to do with these two…" Byleth sighed./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongGarreg Mach Monastery/strong/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Bernadetta, your performance during the mission was inexcusable," Seteth said sternly. Bernadetta was glued to her chair in fright as Seteth sat in his large office chair. Behind Bernadetta was Edelgard, Hubert, and Manuela. "It is a symptom of a larger problem you have here at Garreg Mach Monastery: Not participating in drills, not turning in assignments or, at best, turning in late, incomplete work, and not cooperating with your classmates. What do you have to say for yourself?"span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I…I'm sorry," Bernadetta squeaked out./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Do you think that a mere apology will be enough to rectify your mistakes?" Edelgard scoffed. "You almost emdied/em on the last mission. I do not think that you understand the gravity of the situation, Bernadetta."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"A lump formed in Bernadetta's throat. She wasn't sure how to counteract Edelgard's comments. Would Edelgard understand why she was so afraid and shut herself away from others?/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Bernadetta, I'm frankly getting tired of your performance, as well," Manuela added. "Do you realize how it'd reflect on me and the Monastery if you had died?" Bernadetta admittedly did not think of this, and felt tremendous shame. "This cannot continue. I understand that you're anxious and that the work can be demanding, but not trying at all is not an excuse."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""W-What should I do?" Bernadetta asked trembling, feeling cornered. Seteth leaned forward with a serious expression./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I suggest that you rethink your priorities," he stated equally seriously. "Your family paid a hefty sum so that you can get an education here. You don't want their investment to be a complete waste." Then, Seteth's expression softened just slightly. "Bernadetta, you have much greater potential than you realize. But to achieve it, you must step up and do the work. Understood?"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""O-Okay, I'll do the work! Just don't tell mother and father, please! They would be terribly upset with me!" Bernadette said nodding her head class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Good. You're excused now," Seteth said relaxing back into his chair. The group left the advisor's class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Manuela, Hubert, I would like a word with Bernadetta alone," Edelgard class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""As you wish, Lady Edelgard," Hubert said with a bow. He looked at Bernadetta out of the corner of his eye smirking as he turned to leave. Bernadetta quickly avoided his eye. Knowing Hubert, he was probably just around the corner of the hallway. He never wanted to leave Edelgard's side, for her own class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Manuela departed mumbling to herself about needing a class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Edelgard and Bernadetta faced each other. Bernadetta braced herself for more criticism./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I agree with Seteth. You could be doing much more for yourself, Bernadetta," Edelgard said. "You have more potential than you think. Now, I expect you to show up to classes from now on. No excuses."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Y-Yes, Lady Edelgard," Bernadetta replied meekly still feeling incredibly small./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongSixth Day of the Blue Sea Moon, 1180/strong/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongGolden Deer Homeroom/strong/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Okay… So our task this moon is to patrol and guard the monastery in support of the knights, who are busy trying to stop an assassination plot," Byleth explained before his students. "This cannot possibly be the true intentions of whoever planted that letter on Lord Lonato."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Teach and I think that the letter is a red herring,"span class="Apple-converted-space" /spanClaude spoke up. "There's just no way that was real."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""No one with the intent of killing someone as important as Lady Rhea would carry a note announcing such intentions," Byleth said class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Do you really think the assassination plot is just a distraction?" Ignatz asked adjusting his glasses./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Oh yeah. That makes complete sense," Hilda nodded with an arm wrapped around Marianne's waist. Marianne looked at Claude and Byleth but was still clearly in her own head. "But then…what are they really after?"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I am not certain," Byleth admitted. "That's why we are having this meeting. Do any of you have ideas?" Lysithea rose her hand eagerly. Byleth allowed her to speak her mind./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Since the ceremony is at the Goddess Tower, it follows that everywhere else at the academy will be severely understaffed," she said./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Do you think they're after the church's donation money?" Leonie asked. "I hear noble families tend to donate quite generously."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Indeed, they do," Lorenz confirmed. "I think it's entirely likely that these fiends wish to procure the church's riches. It's as simple as that."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Lorenz," Byleth cautioned. "We still have other places to consider before we make a plan. Any other ideas?"span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""My bet's on the dining hall. It's a treasure trove of delicious food," Raphael said. "Makes me angry just thinking about them getting their grubby hands on it!" Raphael clenched his fist emphasizing his anger. Everyone else stared at Raphael dumfounded outlandish idea. "It…makes sense to me anyway…" Raphael added bashfully./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""…Thank you, Raphael, but I think these people have bigger fish to fry," Claude class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Let's split up and look around! I'll keep an eye on the reception hall," Hilda volunteered. "Marianne can help me with keeping watch." Hilda pulled Marianne closer to her eliciting a gasp from her./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You'd do better to continue your training when you have time. That goes for everyone here," Byleth suggested. "Be prepared to fight for your lives should the situation come to it."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Right, Teach. Okay everyone, meeting's over! Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for useful information and get back to Teach or myself." Everyone in the group began to disperse when Byleth stopped Lysithea and Marianne./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Lysithea, Marianne, I'd like to speak with you two," he said. Marianne looked down ashamed while Lysithea raised an eyebrow./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yes Professor?" Lysithea asked./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I know I'm not very active in class, Professor. If you want me to leave, I understand," Marianne said presumptuously eyes closed sadly./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Why would I want you to leave? I want yours and Lysithea's help," Byleth said reassuringly. Marianne's eyes widened slightly not expecting to be needed./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""With what?" Lysithea asked also surprised./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I wish to learn both schools of magic from you two: reason and faith," Byleth furthered. "And you two are skilled in these arts. Would you help me?"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Now this is an unexpected opportunity!" Lysithea beamed proudly. "Yes Professor, I'll gladly teach you. Will you help, Marianne?"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Okay, but I don't know what I could offer to the Professor," Marianne said dejectedly. "What if the Professor gets hurt because of me?"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Marianne, stop it!" Lysithea snapped. "Why do you think so poorly of yourself?!"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I just-" Marianne began before being interrupted again by her vocal classmate./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Just nothing! Listen well: You act like your some harbinger of doom. That everywhere you go, disaster follows! The Professor asked you for your help, and you're going to turn him away because you assume he's going to get hurt?" Marianne was thunderstruck by Lysithea's tough love having never been spoken in such a brutally honest way. After a brief quiet spell, Marianne spoke./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Okay. I'll help you, Professor."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""That's more like it. When do we begin, Professor?" Lysithea asked eagerly./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Let's start tomorrow evening," Byleth said feeling something like happiness and pride in his two students./p
p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 17px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strong31sy Day of the Garland Moon/strong/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongMagdred Way/strong/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"It was an ambush. The mysterious mist that suddenly descended upon the group provided the perfect cover for Lonato's rebellion to strike. Byleth stood with a mercenary's wisdom, blade drawn and shining reflectively. Every muscle in his body tensed and ready to react. His gaze was devoid of any emotion but steely and sharp./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Byleth's students were less composed, not sure what to expect from a more serious battle such as this. Ignatz, however, was less primed than the others, eyes full of fear and apprehension. Though they could not see their enemies, they knew they were there./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Suddenly, a few enemy soldiers appeared in the mist, swords ready to sink into the flesh of their enemies. Raphael immediately made his move and intercepted one of them with a mighty hook to the man's jaw. Then, he punched the man in the chest with his gauntlets knocking him down. The man was dazed but not dead./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"However, the remaining two soldiers decided to swarm the large young man. Their blades cut through Raphael's already strained button-up shirt painting it red with his class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Ignatz snapped out of his fear and reflexively fired an arrow. It merely bounced off of the man's armor. This still served enough of a distraction allowing Raphael to slug the soldier in the face knocking some of his teeth loose. The other soldier jumped on Raphael's back and pulled out a dagger./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Byleth ran over and pulled the woman off of Raphael before thrusting his sword downwards into her neck./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Watch your flanks," Byleth stated coldly splattering excess blood onto the ground with a shake of his sword. Raphael nodded gratefully./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Soon, more enemies replaced the fallen knights./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Marianne was immediately rushed down by a brawler and knocked on her back with a punch as hard as stone. Her pale face now colored purple by a large bruise. She shrieked as she tried to hold the man back. Lysithea fired a fireball at the man's head breaking his neck./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Be careful, Marianne!" She scolded as she helped up her classmate. Marianne nodded gloomily without a word. Lysithea turned away grunting in annoyance as she fired more projectiles at on-coming enemies./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Lorenz parried a soldier aggressively assaulting him with his own lance. Ashe assisted Lorenz with an arrow./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""A commoner?" He gasped. Ashe, though still focused on firing at enemies covering his peers' backs, immediately perked up at Lorenz' comment./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What? Why would commoners be among Lonato's forces?" The freckled boy asked as horror seeped into his voice./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Don't worry about that now, focus on not getting yourselves killed!" Byleth commanded as he beheaded another soldier. Then, he heard a galloping sound. A large form started coming towards the group; a paladin on horseback. The lady knight brandished her lance ready to harpoon a student like a fish. She was headed for Ignatz who was too focused on covering Raphael to react. "Ignatz, look out!" Ignatz turned towards the enemy, and gasped too afraid to fight back. The knight then skewered the spectacled boy through his chest. Ignatz gurgled as blood stained his outfit and a trickle of blood ran down the corner of his class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Claude's eyes went wide with horror seeing his peer die so callously. Hilda elicited a shriek while Marianne covered her mouth mortified./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Raphael's usually upbeat, good-natured demeanor was shattered in an instant. Raphael charged at the paladin, but the paladin struck him down too, impaling him in the chest. Rapahel clasped at his throat as blood gushed forth like a geyser before his body crumpled next to the body of his friend./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"A lumped formed in Byleth's throat. The youths' lives were snuffed out as easily as candles set to the wind. Never before while apart of his father's mercenary company has Byleth felt so afraid for the safety of comrades./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What are you doing you fool?!" Sothis shouted from behind him. "This does not have to be their fates! Turn back the hands of time and save them!"span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Do it," Byleth said nodding. Sothis materialized a rune in front of her. The prior events began to be rewound. Every visceral detail, every scream playing in reverse. Sothis then stopped moments before the paladin arrived. Byleth could hear the sound of the horse heading their way. "Ignatz, ready an arrow! Aim towards your left!"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""O-Okay!" Ignatz snapped to attention. Soon enough, the paladin appeared twenty feet away and was quickly closing the gap between her and her prey. "Who should I hit; the horse or the woman?!"span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Fire at the horse!" Byleth commanded. Ignatz did as he was told and sunk an arrow into the horse' chest. The massive animal elicited a frightened whiny and began bucking wildly in pain throwing the knight off of its back. Undeterred, the knight got up and charged at Ignatz and Byleth./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It's your turn to suffer!" She cried. Byleth immediately struck the knight's lance sending it flying out of her hands, and then Byleth severed her head from her body./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""How did you-" Ignatz began before Byleth faced him./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Let's go," Byleth said calmly though his expression betrayed the budding feelings of fear and regret inside him./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Teach!" Claude called out. He and the other students were by his side. "We're at a serious disadvantage not knowing the terrain here."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""This fog cannot possibly be natural in origin, what if it's being manifested by some kind of magic?" Lysithea class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It's possible, I find it rather suspect myself," Byleth said considering. He turned towards Catherine. "Catherine, we should split up and find the source of this mist."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""All right, but be careful, everyone," she replied. "Attack when someone breaks through the fog!"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongCaledonian Plateau/strong/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Elsewhere, the Black Eagle class was escorting a merchant caravan through the Caledonian Plateau. There were mountain that extended for miles. The class walked along a path many miles above a green savannah. To the right, a high rock wall extended several stories high. The mission for the month was to protect the caravan from bandits. Everyone was present and accounted for, even Bernadetta much to her class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Why did Bernie have to tag along?" Bernadetta moaned. "Bernie is useless in a fight!"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Don't worry, Bern! With any luck, we won't have to deal with any bandits!" Dorothea encouraged her forlorn class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""All students must do their part according to Lady Rhea," Hubert added. "Anymore absences from you, Bernadetta, and you'd likely be expelled from the Monastery." Bernadetta swallowed nervously. The sinister servant had a point. Bernadetta was guilty of being absent or tardy several times in the past few months. Besides, some combat experience would do you some good."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Anyone can try to harm these innocent merchants, but I will use my fists to protect them!" Caspar cried pounding a fist against his chest. Linhardt, who walked alongside him, yawned./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""If you insist on being that loud, then bandits will be sure to find us…" he class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Edelgard was ahead of the pack walking alone. Dorothea, smiling, grabbed Bernadetta's hand and pulled her along as they joined their house leader. A serious, stern expression adorned Edelgard's face. When she noticed her classmates, she softened somewhat./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Hey Edie, would you like some company?" Dorothea asked with a girlish tone./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Oh, I would appreciate that, Dorothea," Edelgard responded. "I was just lost in thought. How many nobles are useless at protecting these common folk. If the nobles did better at quashing bandit activity, then these caravans could travel with more peace of mind."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yeah, among other things, for sure," Dorothea added. "If it were me, I'd make all nobles vanish if I could…"span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""emAll /emnobles?" Bernadetta asked surprised at her friend's class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Well, yes! What good have nobles done for the common folk? All they do is line their pockets and keep those of lower stature down," Dorothea continued./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Thinking about all there needs to be done makes my head ache," Edelgard said rubbing her temples. "When I am emperor, I intend to appoint only those who can actually be useful. It doesn't matter if they're of noble or common birth."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Noble or common, eh? Can you really do that?" Dorothea asked cocking her head curiously./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It's not a question of can or cannot. All that matters is doing it and doing it right," Edelgard said reinforcing her previous statement. "The nobility system has only been around for twelve-hundred years. The concept didn't exist before that."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""emOnly/em 1,200 years, huh?" Dorothea said as her eyes almost bugged out. "You always say such preposterous and extraordinary things, Edie. Yet somehow, you actually make it work for you. It's like you're a character from an opera." Dorothea gestured in an exaggerated, theatrical manner appropriate of a songstress. Edelgard smiled a small smile at her classmate's playfulness./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""A character form an opera…" Edelgard thought ponderously looking up at the clear, blue sky. "If an opera is made about my life someday, I wonder how I'll be portrayed. The revolutionary who guided the Empire to a new dawn…or the foolish ruler who took her revolution too far…"span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Bernadetta was confused by what Edelgard meant by her statement and was about to say something before Dorothea class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Well, that all sounds pretty violent. But either way, it would make an incredible opera," Dorothea said fondly as she dreamt of such a vision. "Do you figure it'd be a grand action piece full of combat and strife? Or would you prefer a somber political drama?" Dorothea could not resist breaking out into song./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"emHail the mighty Edelgard, though red blood stains her story~/em/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"emHeavy as her crown may be, she will lead us all to glory~/em/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"emTo a brighter dawn, we shall carry on~/em/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"emHail Edelgard~/em/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Dorothea smiled cheerfully at her house leader. Edelgard was blushing a bright pink and covered her mouth hiding a bashful smile. Bernadetta, on the other hand, was captivated by Dorothea's show of musicality./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""That's quite enough, Dorothea," Edelgard said regaining her composure. "I'm starting to feel more than a little embarrassed. Lovely as your voice is, let's just hope that any operatic productions about me are still a ways off."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Wow, that was amazing Dorothea!" Bernadetta said astounded. "Your voice is absolutely beautiful!"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Oh, thank you, Bern," Dorothea replied giving a slight bow. Dorothea's smile then faded. "I don't know how long I'll have it though."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Before Bernadetta could ask what Dorothea meant, an arrow flew past them sailing down over the cliff edge. Bernadetta shrieked and looked around frantically. Dorothea felt the tear in her shirt also quite alarmed./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Petra looked up and saw a bandit brandishing a bow and arrow, ready to fire a second shot. Soon, more bandits began to scramble down the cliff above with murderous intent./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Edelgard, there are bandits amongst us!" She exclaimed. Edelgard immediately pulled out her axe and sprung into action./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Take cover!" Edelgard ordered. The merchants immediately hid away in their wagons. "Everyone, prepare yourselves for battle!" Edelgard drew her ax as the others brandished their weapons./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Let's go, Bern!" Dorothea pulled out a thunder tome. Bernadetta fumbled with with her bow and an arrow and closely followed her class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Petra fired an arrow at a thief, the object pierced the thief in the back of the skull. His body convulsed and rolled down the rocky wall before he died from the fall. Dorothea shot a fireball at one thief, but he jumped down from his perch avoiding class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Caspar was locked in a slugfest with a burly-looking man, using his speed to bob and weave avoiding strikes. While also reciprocating with quick punches of his own. Ferdinand, while atop a mighty steed, fought another horse rider knocking the woman from her mount with a powerful thrust of his lance. The professor, Manuela, used her Silence spell to stifle a mage's spell casting abilities so Edelgard could plunge her axe into his throat decapitating him./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"All the while, Bernadetta took cover under the carriage covering her eyes whimpering. Though not the same kind of chaos she faced before, she's seen conflict and violence before. And it was not at all welcome./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Bern, I could really use some help!" Dorothea shouted desperately as she fought with swordswoman. Their polished blades clashing repeatedly with the speed of lightning and the sound of thunder./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I can't! Bernie doesn't want to die!" Bernadetta cried frightened. The woman, seeing an opening, thrust her blade at Dorothea's head. Dorothea narrowly dodged the attack with the blade finding its home in the side of the carriage startling the occupants within./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Then, Bernadetta felt someone grab both of her ankles and dragging her out from under her hiding spot. She screamed and squirmed trying to free herself from the unknown assailant's grasp, and dug her nails into the dirt futilely resisting. When Bernadetta was brought out, she saw that it was a male bandit who grabbed her. Bernadetta tried to scream, but the man grabbed her throat practically silencing her. She covered her face preparing for death./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"The man grinned maliciously. Who knows what deprived thoughts were circling around in his mind. For a moment, Bernadetta saw someone familiar again in the man's image. His eyes full of anger and a desire for violence. The bandit pulled a knife out of his belt and raised it high overhead./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Then, the man's life was cut short when Edelgard lodged an axe in the crown of his head. The man screamed in agony and was pulled off of Bernadetta. Edelgard helped Bernadetta up, but stared at her in anger and disappointment. Bernadetta looked away./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Bernadetta," Edelgard said very sternly. Bernadetta made eye contact with the Empress-to-be. The way that Edelgard looked at Bernadetta reminded her of her own mother. They both shared an authoritative disposition, one that commanded respect. "Grab your weapons. We have a task to complete."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongMagdred Way/strong/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"A hooded mage wearing a raven-like mask was using his arcane arts to manifest the mist from a rune. A small group of knights diligently protected the mage./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I don't recognize you, mage," a male knight said looking back at the mysterious man focused on his magics. "Where do you come from? You're not one of Lord Lonato's mages."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""My homeland is no concern of yours. All I'll tell you is that the interests of my people and your people are very much the same," the figure said in a low voice. "Now be silent, I am channeling-" All of a sudden, an arrow sailed past the knight and plunged into the heart of the mage. The mage clasped at his chest before falling over dead. The mist immediately started to fade./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Out of the mist came Byleth, face devoid of emotion, but hellbent on killing his class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Th-The Ashen Demon!" He's shouted as a chill ran down the knight's spine. Despite his terror, the knight swung for Byleth's throat but he jumped back as a feint. Byleth then ended the man's life with his own blade. The other knight, a commoner, hesitated and was killed by an arrow from class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""That should be the last of the mages, Teach. Now we can actually see where we're going." Claude looked at the felled commoner and shook his head sadly. "The nobles start the war, but it's the commoners who spill their blood first…"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Now you face a Knight of Seiros!" Catherine's voice echoed across the plains. She had pointed her sword at a man with white hair and mustache, blue eyes filled with anger. Byleth and Claude ran to back up Catherine when they saw Ashe step between her and his adoptive father. The boy turned towards Lonato and spoke, eyes pleading./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Please surrender, Lonato! Whatever your reason for doing this, we can still talk it out!" Ashe pleaded. Lonato refused to listen to his beloved adopted son./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Rhea is an infidel who has deceived the people and desecrated the goddess! We have virtue and the goddess herself on our side!" Lonato responded angrily. Ashe shook his head defiantly./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Even if that's true, dragging the townsfolk into a battle like this isn't right!" Ashe reinforced pointing at Lonato's soldiers. Lonato then pushed Ashe aside in an unintentionally rough manner and readied his lance. He immediately went to fighting with Catherine. "Lonato, no!"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Be silent, Ashe!" Lonato snapped focusing on the old adversary before him. Ashe stood up and tried to break up the fight, but Byleth immediately wrapped his arms under Ashe's holding him back./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Ashe, stop! You're going to get yourself killed!" Byleth exclaimed holding on tight to the struggling boy. Lonato was promptly disarmed by Catherine, his lance spinning through the air and landing into the dirt. Then, with Thunderbrand glowing like the rising sun, Catherine cut through Lonato as if her where a stick of butter. Blood splattered the soft earth as Lonato's scream class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Ashe stared speechless at the horror he witnessed. His face was as pale as a sheet. Byleth let Ashe go, but Ashe fell to his knees unable to move./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Lonato, I…"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I never thought I'd see Lonato meet this fate," Catherine said gloomily. "Well done, everyone. Let's gather our troops and go."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Back at camp, an air of sadness permeated Byleth's class while they huddled around a fire./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I don't understand. Why would Lord Lonato raise an army against the Church?" Lorenz questioned. "Surely he realized that he had no hope of victory." Catherine raised her face, she wore a pensive expression./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It all goes back to the Tragedy of Duscur…" Byleth perked up hearing this./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I've heard of it," he said./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What happened?" Raphael asked./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It happened four years ago," Claude began. "The king of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus was murdered by the people of Duscur. That about covers it, right?"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""To put it simply, yes. But there's more to that story," Catherine began to explain. "They had accomplices within the Kingdom as well. Lord Lonato's son, Christophe, was one of them, and so he was handed over to the church for execution."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""The church executes criminals?" Byleth asked. In all his life, he never heard of a church that conducts class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Speaking from the church's perspective, we simply passed judgement according to our doctrine in place of the Kingdom, which was in complete chaos," Catherine went on. Catherine's expression grew pensive as if recalling a bitter memory. She sighed. "At any rate, what's past is past. We have more pressing matters at hand." Catherine picked up a scroll retrieved from Lonato's body after the battle. "This assassination plot against Lady Rhea."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Right. But why would Lord Lonato just carry a scroll on him announcing his intentions of killingspan class="Apple-converted-space" /spanLady Rhea?" Claude asked placing a hand to his chin. "Seems like revealing your hand too early if you ask me."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Regardless, this must be reported to Lady Rhea as soon as we get back to the Monastery. Next month is the start of the Goddess' Rite of Rebirth, and someone under Lonato's thrall could use the opportunity to kill her," Catherine class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"From out of the night, Ashe came into view. Dried tears stained his face, and his face was red./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Are your siblings all right, Ashe?" Ignatz asked concerned./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Thankfully they weren't apart of the battle, but…" his voice cracked. "…they were still devastated by the news." Ashe wiped his face. Raphael stood up and handed Ashe a piece of leftover meat. Ashe took the food thanking Raphael for his generosity, but his appetite was all but gone. "I don't understand how Lord Lonato could do such a thing! We killed so many innocents today. The villagers were so nice to me and…I killed them!" Ashe's voice rose having replayed such gruesome images in his mind./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""That is the reality of war, Ashe," Byleth replied pragmatically. "You did what you had to do to protect yourself and the others."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I know!" Ashe shouted despairingly. "I know I had to fight. I wanted to come along and convince Lord Lonato-"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Pull yourself together," Byleth replied seriously feeling his expression grow more stern. Ashe turned towards him surprised by Byleth's change in demeanor. Byleth himself paused surprised by this change within him. He continued. "I'm sorry that Lord Lonato died today. Truly I am. I see that he meant a lot to you. But look at it this way, Ashe: If we did not intervene in Lord Lonato's advancement towards Garreg Mach, more innocent lives, townspeople, students, church staff, could've been caught up in a much uglier battle and died. Do you understand?"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Ashe blinked at Byleth thinking about what he said before speaking./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yes, Professor Byleth. Thank you," Ashe said smiling a small, halfhearted smile./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Now then, when we get back to Garreg Mach, I promise to ask Seteth if there's someone you can talk to and help you," Byleth offered./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""That's a good idea. I'm grateful, Professor," Ashe's eyes brightened slightly. He felt good enough where his appetite returned some./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I…would like to say a prayer to the Goddess for Lord Lonato's soul," Marianne spoke up in a voice barely above a class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I would too!" Ignatz said happily. Ashe smiled widely as a tear came into his eye./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Thank you. I'm sure that Lord Lonato would be grateful for that," his voice cracked. Sothis suddenly appeared beside Byleth looking very cross./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I want to speak with Alone/em," she said in a very serious tone similar to a disappointed parent./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Byleth then stood up, grabbed a stick and lighted it with the campfire. The mercenary then walked off into the dark woods./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Teach where are you going?" Claude asked curiously as to why his professor would walk off into the darkness alone./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I just need some time alone," he replied without looking back. Once he was far away enough from the campground, Sothis manifested. "I can tell you're upset with me, Sothis."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Oh, you don't say?" she replied dripping with sarcasm as she crossed her arms./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Cut the crap and tell me what's on your mind," Byleth said impatient with the girl's attitude. Sothis then swung her open palm across Byleth's face only for it to pass through his head. Byleth recoiled in surprise. Sothis, forgetting she had no body, grunted in frustration./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You were a fool in battle today!" Sothis began. "You got Ignatz and Raphael killed."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""But they were saved thanks to you," Byleth class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Do you not get it?! Are you that dense?" Sothis shouted enraged. "Do not think for an instant that destiny can be so easily controlled. I can only turn back the hands of time once per day. And even then, you cannot always guarantee that destiny can be changed at all."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Byleth stared out into the forest contemplating what his ghostly companion explained to class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I see," he finally said. "I did not realize that your power was so limited. I remember when you saved Edelgard and I back in Remire Village."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Now do you understand?" Sothis asked still upset./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I do, and I apologize for my behavior," Byleth answered genuinely. "In truth, I never felt so…afraid back in the fight with Lord Lonato."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What do you mean?" Sothis asked having now calmed class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""When Ignatz and Raphael died, I felt terrible," Byleth elaborated. "When I worked as a mercenary with my father, I never felt attached to the others under his employ. Not that I didn't recognize that death meant nothing to me, but now I feel like I have true comrades." Byleth then looked Sothis right in the eyes. "I swear that I will not allow any of them to die, even if it kills me."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongThat night…/strong/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"The celestial expanse spread as far as the eye could see. Stars shimmered like the eyes of animals in the darkness. A streak of light occasionally soared through the void going wherever destiny wills it./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"But one star's destiny was already determined. It soared passing by other celestial bodies. Some far from the warmth of any sun, some circled by immense rings of stardust. It soared past herds of rock larger than the herds of any living creature./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Its destination was set: A small, blue-and-green orb circling a massive ball of fire bathing it in life-giving sunshine. Once it got close enough, the star was sure to land on this place./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"It kept going. Going. Going./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongBOOM/strong/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Byleth woke with a start. He dreamt before, but this dream felt so real. So real that it was unsettling./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You had it, too?" Sothis asked having already been awake before Byleth./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yeah…" he said still coming to his senses. His eyes adjusted to the light peeking through the tear in his tent. "What was that? Where was that?"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It looked like the night sky except with no ground down below us," Sothis replied mulling over the dream's class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It felt like I was was that shooting star," Byleth said. "I could see everything that…it saw. But I didn't feel anything."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You have dreamed before, but you haven't had a dream like that one?" Sothis asked./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""From what I remember, no." Byleth wiped the sweat from his forehead. He poked his fingers through the tear in the tent. "Thank the Goddess it didn't rain last night…"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yo Teach! You up? Come out and get some breakfast before Raphael eats it all!" Claude's voice called out. Byleth threw on a shirt and shorts and exited the tent. Everyone else was already awake./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Claude was serving food to Ignatz who gladly accepted it. Raphael was scarfing down sausage and eggs as if they were going to vanish. Lorenz yawned a hearty yawn as he poured coffee for Claude and Catherine. Hilda was brushing Lysithea's messy hair with Lysithea's eyes still not quite open. Marianne looked like she got no sleep, which is nothing new for her, but sat beside Ashe who was thankfully eating his breakfast. Leonie was doing some stretches up against a large pine class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Good morning, Teach. Never thought I'd see you with bed head," Claude class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Good morning," Byleth yawned rubbing sleep out of his eye. Claude poured the last of the coffee into the drowsy professor's cup. Byleth quietly wished for some sugar and cream, but he could tolerate the bitter beverage./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Who were you talking to, Professor?" Hilda asked causing Byleth almost choked on his coffee spitting it out onto his shirt./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What?" he said after clearing his throat./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It sounded like you were talking to someone in your tent," Hilda stated as she finished brushing Lysithea's snow white hair./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Oh, uh, I was just talking to myself," Byleth class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Oh yeah, sure, like they'll believe that," Sothis said rolling her eyes. Claude stared at Byleth still smiling and simply nodded./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Whatever you say, Teach. Though I find it funny that you would be the type to talk to yourself," Claude said after having a bite of sausage./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I'm full of surprises," Byleth stated paying Claude's tone no class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Raphael interrupted with pleased sounds of eating./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""This sausage is amazing! Do we got any more?" He said elated as the fatty meat soothed his eager class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You gotta save some for the rest of us, Raphael," Ignatz laughed. "We can't march back to Garreg Mach on an empty stomach, after all." Ignatz passed a plate of food to Lysithea who was now more alert. She cut into the sausage and politely ate small bites./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It's not a scone or toast with jam, but it'll have to do," she muttered to herself quietly./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Don't worry, Lys, you can stuff your face with all the sweets your little heart desires when we get back to the Monastery," Claude snarked cheekily. "Just be sure to brush your teeth well so you don't get any cavities."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I emdo/em brush my teeth well, thank you," Lysithea responded as her blood boiled. "I make sure that they're in perfect condition before and after bed!"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Wow, look at you! You truly are a model in both academics emand /empersonal hygiene!" Claude class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Indeed! I've been excelling in my studies! I study at least two hours a day!" Lysithea continued incensed by Claude's relentless teasing. "Unlike emyou/em, you… You…!"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Do these two always bicker like this?" Ashe whispered to Marianne./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""…Yes," Marianne simply replied./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Eh, you get used to it after awhile," Hilda added. "Lysithea looks kinda cute when her face gets all red and when she pouts. She looks like a squirrel with a mouthful of nuts!"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""emI do not/em!" Lysithea screamed face completely red./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What am I going to do with these two…" Byleth sighed./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongGarreg Mach Monastery/strong/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Bernadetta, your performance during the mission was inexcusable," Seteth said sternly. Bernadetta was glued to her chair in fright as Seteth sat in his large office chair. Behind Bernadetta was Edelgard, Hubert, and Manuela. "It is a symptom of a larger problem you have here at Garreg Mach Monastery: Not participating in drills, not turning in assignments or, at best, turning in late, incomplete work, and not cooperating with your classmates. What do you have to say for yourself?"span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I…I'm sorry," Bernadetta squeaked out./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Do you think that a mere apology will be enough to rectify your mistakes?" Edelgard scoffed. "You almost emdied/em on the last mission. I do not think that you understand the gravity of the situation, Bernadetta."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"A lump formed in Bernadetta's throat. She wasn't sure how to counteract Edelgard's comments. Would Edelgard understand why she was so afraid and shut herself away from others?/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Bernadetta, I'm frankly getting tired of your performance, as well," Manuela added. "Do you realize how it'd reflect on me and the Monastery if you had died?" Bernadetta admittedly did not think of this, and felt tremendous shame. "This cannot continue. I understand that you're anxious and that the work can be demanding, but not trying at all is not an excuse."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""W-What should I do?" Bernadetta asked trembling, feeling cornered. Seteth leaned forward with a serious expression./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I suggest that you rethink your priorities," he stated equally seriously. "Your family paid a hefty sum so that you can get an education here. You don't want their investment to be a complete waste." Then, Seteth's expression softened just slightly. "Bernadetta, you have much greater potential than you realize. But to achieve it, you must step up and do the work. Understood?"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""O-Okay, I'll do the work! Just don't tell mother and father, please! They would be terribly upset with me!" Bernadette said nodding her head class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Good. You're excused now," Seteth said relaxing back into his chair. The group left the advisor's class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Manuela, Hubert, I would like a word with Bernadetta alone," Edelgard class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""As you wish, Lady Edelgard," Hubert said with a bow. He looked at Bernadetta out of the corner of his eye smirking as he turned to leave. Bernadetta quickly avoided his eye. Knowing Hubert, he was probably just around the corner of the hallway. He never wanted to leave Edelgard's side, for her own class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Manuela departed mumbling to herself about needing a class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Edelgard and Bernadetta faced each other. Bernadetta braced herself for more criticism./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I agree with Seteth. You could be doing much more for yourself, Bernadetta," Edelgard said. "You have more potential than you think. Now, I expect you to show up to classes from now on. No excuses."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Y-Yes, Lady Edelgard," Bernadetta replied meekly still feeling incredibly small./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongSixth Day of the Blue Sea Moon, 1180/strong/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongGolden Deer Homeroom/strong/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Okay… So our task this moon is to patrol and guard the monastery in support of the knights, who are busy trying to stop an assassination plot," Byleth explained before his students. "This cannot possibly be the true intentions of whoever planted that letter on Lord Lonato."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Teach and I think that the letter is a red herring,"span class="Apple-converted-space" /spanClaude spoke up. "There's just no way that was real."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""No one with the intent of killing someone as important as Lady Rhea would carry a note announcing such intentions," Byleth said class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Do you really think the assassination plot is just a distraction?" Ignatz asked adjusting his glasses./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Oh yeah. That makes complete sense," Hilda nodded with an arm wrapped around Marianne's waist. Marianne looked at Claude and Byleth but was still clearly in her own head. "But then…what are they really after?"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I am not certain," Byleth admitted. "That's why we are having this meeting. Do any of you have ideas?" Lysithea rose her hand eagerly. Byleth allowed her to speak her mind./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Since the ceremony is at the Goddess Tower, it follows that everywhere else at the academy will be severely understaffed," she said./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Do you think they're after the church's donation money?" Leonie asked. "I hear noble families tend to donate quite generously."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Indeed, they do," Lorenz confirmed. "I think it's entirely likely that these fiends wish to procure the church's riches. It's as simple as that."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Lorenz," Byleth cautioned. "We still have other places to consider before we make a plan. Any other ideas?"span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""My bet's on the dining hall. It's a treasure trove of delicious food," Raphael said. "Makes me angry just thinking about them getting their grubby hands on it!" Raphael clenched his fist emphasizing his anger. Everyone else stared at Raphael dumfounded outlandish idea. "It…makes sense to me anyway…" Raphael added bashfully./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""…Thank you, Raphael, but I think these people have bigger fish to fry," Claude class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Let's split up and look around! I'll keep an eye on the reception hall," Hilda volunteered. "Marianne can help me with keeping watch." Hilda pulled Marianne closer to her eliciting a gasp from her./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You'd do better to continue your training when you have time. That goes for everyone here," Byleth suggested. "Be prepared to fight for your lives should the situation come to it."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Right, Teach. Okay everyone, meeting's over! Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for useful information and get back to Teach or myself." Everyone in the group began to disperse when Byleth stopped Lysithea and Marianne./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Lysithea, Marianne, I'd like to speak with you two," he said. Marianne looked down ashamed while Lysithea raised an eyebrow./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yes Professor?" Lysithea asked./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I know I'm not very active in class, Professor. If you want me to leave, I understand," Marianne said presumptuously eyes closed sadly./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Why would I want you to leave? I want yours and Lysithea's help," Byleth said reassuringly. Marianne's eyes widened slightly not expecting to be needed./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""With what?" Lysithea asked also surprised./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I wish to learn both schools of magic from you two: reason and faith," Byleth furthered. "And you two are skilled in these arts. Would you help me?"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Now this is an unexpected opportunity!" Lysithea beamed proudly. "Yes Professor, I'll gladly teach you. Will you help, Marianne?"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Okay, but I don't know what I could offer to the Professor," Marianne said dejectedly. "What if the Professor gets hurt because of me?"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Marianne, stop it!" Lysithea snapped. "Why do you think so poorly of yourself?!"/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I just-" Marianne began before being interrupted again by her vocal classmate./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Just nothing! Listen well: You act like your some harbinger of doom. That everywhere you go, disaster follows! The Professor asked you for your help, and you're going to turn him away because you assume he's going to get hurt?" Marianne was thunderstruck by Lysithea's tough love having never been spoken in such a brutally honest way. After a brief quiet spell, Marianne spoke./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Okay. I'll help you, Professor."/p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""That's more like it. When do we begin, Professor?" Lysithea asked eagerly./p
p class="p5" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Let's start tomorrow evening," Byleth said feeling something like happiness and pride in his two students./p
