"What in the absolute hell was that?"
A vision of that white-masked, red-robed individual standing upon that hill haunted Lucas' mind. It kept flashing in his head, constantly reminding him of what he saw. An oddity. Something that shouldn't exist.
Yet it did, for some unknown reason.
"Edelgard was right next to me. But the Flame Emperor was standing over there. What the fuck was going on there? Were we both hallucinating? Any time travel malarkey, or what? Like, what the actual fucking fuck?"
Byleth paced himself back and forth in front of Sothis' throne, which was in turn being used by the short statured goddess herself. She yawned.
"I am afraid I do not know what happened. That Flame Emperor...it did not have the same aura as the princess. In fact, all I could see was darkness. It was a personified shadow."
"That's so bizarre," Lucas remarked. "Nothing like this should've happened in any of the timelines, right? I know I shouldn't keep mentioning this, but nothing like this was in the game either. Edelgard was always the Flame Emperor. Could this be a clone, perhaps?"
"Cloning does not exist in Fodlan. As far as I'm aware, the Agarthans should not hold that kind of power. I have heard about Replicas existing in other realms, but I can tell this isn't one of those. This is a different person altogether."
"A different person? So you think this isn't some evil god or whatever?"
"I am the only deity of this realm, Lucas. There is not some black-hearted version of myself that exists or has ever existed. Why would I be so foolish as to allow that?"
"I dunno, I just thought...never mind. So this is clearly just a 'regular' person, then. Who could it be? Someone related to Edelgard? No, it's not one of her siblings, is it?"
"They all perished as a result of the Agarthans' experiments, did they not? It would be quite the feat to bring even one of them back to life. I doubt they were able to do that. Though, I do agree that it would likely be someone from the Empire, as that is where the Agarthans have rooted themselves more firmly compared to any other location."
"Someone from the Empire, huh? That doesn't really help narrow things down. It's likely to be from nobility since that's the kind of people Crests usually find themselves in, thus the Agarthans are more likely to be interested in them. Lysithea's a noble and look what happened to her."
Byleth seemed to tense up for a very brief nanosecond before continuing to pace. Sothis and Lucas largely ignored him.
"A logical assumption," the goddess concurred. "But the Agarthans have never shown any interest in any other noble house. And the heirs of all the Adrestian ones were with you on that mission. Your students have not mentioned anything to you regarding the state of their homes, have they?"
"No, not as far as I remember. I don't think they'd have any reason to suspect the Flame Emperor would have any connections to the Adrestian Empire anyway, aside from maybe his colour theme. That would be kind of a stretch."
"Well, it's not as if many people in Fodlan aside from Adrestians wear red."
"Good point. Colour variety in clothing isn't as varied here as it was on Earth. I've seen lots of blacks and browns, with the occasional dark blue or white. But you don't see people in Enbarr wear red cloaks, do you?
"That is also a good point. Though an Adrestian is more likely to wear red than a citizen of Faerghus or the Alliance. That's simply how it is here."
"Yeah, I understand…" Lucas frowned. "This sure is one hell of a pickle. Who is beneath the mask, I wonder?"
Byleth stopped in place, creating an inaudible sound loud enough for nobody to hear. Sothis and Lucas turned to him anyway. The professor of multiple timelines stared back at them, an unreadable expression on his visage.
"Byleth? Are you alright?" Lucas asked the somewhat mortal man. "You look like you've figured something out."
Reluctantly, Byleth nodded. "I have."
"Well? Spit it out, then. Do not waste our time," Sothis insisted.
All he did in response initially was continue staring at the other two with his mostly blank, mildly determined countenance. He spoke after a moment's pause.
"I have discovered…"
Lucas and Sothis leaned inwards, intrigued to hear what their friend had to say.
"...that I do not know a thing about this situation."
The facial expressions of his two friends quickly transitioned to ones of complete and utter disappointment. Lucas had been tempted to fall over in the style of a typical Japanese cartoon, yet physics got in the way of that idea.
"You wasted our time. You truly do not have anything to add?" Sothis sighed. Byleth shook his head in disconfirmation. "How disheartening."
"Disheartening? Heh, that's an ironic turn of phrase, considering who Byleth is," Lucas joked.
Sothis frowned at the mortal. "Quiet. I am in an upset mood now. I have no patience for your silliness. The both of you."
"I am not silly," Byleth defended himself.
"Yes, you are. And you're also in denial, it seems. Look, just...I'm going to fall asleep. I should be in a better mood when I awake. And you." Sothis pointed at the time traveller. "Stop being silly."
"I'm not silly," repeated Byleth.
"Ugh, enough! Goodnight to the both of you!"
"But it's only 1 PM…" Lucas pointed out as he raised an eyebrow.
"Enough! Good. Night!" Sothis raised her voice before lowering her eyelids. She then lapsed into a deep sleep upon her throne.
Lucas and Byleth shrugged at one another.
"I'm not silly, am I, Lucas?" The latter male inquired.
"No," the former male answered. "I don't believe you are, at least. Don't mind Sothis; she's just in a sour mood. The whole Flame Emperor II ordeal has gotten her stressed out. I don't blame her."
"Right. I hope we can figure this out before something bad happens. I'll have a rest, as well. Maybe that will refresh me enough."
"Fair enough, Byleth. I'll talk to you later."
Sharing a nod, Lucas watched as his other mental friend lowered himself to the 'floor' of the void as closed his eyes, falling into what would hopefully be a fruitful rest. The void's owner turned around. His gaze was locked onto something not there.
"Shit, Flame Emperor II's a good one. I'll have to remember that…"
"Professor? Are you okay?"
A voice from the physical realm called him. Returning to said world of physicality, Lucas remembered what he was doing prior to the elongated mental conversation. He gave the student before him a smile, aiming to alleviate her concerns.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Dorothea," he reassured the former songstress. "I was just thinking about something. We were working on your dance routine, right?"
"How could you even ask something like that? We've been working at it for the past thirty minutes, Professor. How's that book, by the way?" Dorothea wondered.
She pointed at an open hardcover nonfiction title that rested upon the desk he was sitting at. Lucas followed her finger, quickly remembering the purpose of the book as well as the reason why they were even in the Black Eagles classroom to begin with. He slapped his forehead.
"Oh. Right, yeah, we were doing that…" Lucas blinked. "Did you finish your move?"
"I did. Eight whole minutes ago. You really have spaced out, haven't you? Professor, I never took you for that kind of person," Dorothea remarked, a slight grin of hers appearing.
"Eight minutes?! Jesus-!"
"Who's Jesus?"
Lucas sighed. "Never mind. Don't worry about it, just, uh…"
"You want me to repeat what I have?"
"Might as well."
And so, Dorothea restarted her dance routine. She spun around and twisted her body in ways that Lucas could barely understand the meaning of. He kept having to check his book to figure out what specific move his student was employing. As her dancing slowed to a halt, Lucas clapped.
"Y-yeah, that was good stuff, I think," said Lucas, coughing. "You should be able to win the White Heron Cup with those moves. I mean, I'm no expert on this stuff, but I feel like you've got what it takes."
"You really think so? I'm not sure. I feel like the other houses might have a secret dancing professional or something that's just waiting to be unleashed," Dorothea doubted. "And, well, I'm probably the only commoner that's contending in this. Do I really stand a chance?"
"What does being a commoner have to do with anything?"
"Nobles have to attend royal balls and stuff like that. I wouldn't be surprised if they're taught how to dance from an early age. Not only that, but if you have lots of money, you'll likely get the most expensive tutors around. I never had any of that."
Dorothea hesitated, her expression faltering.
"Professor, why did you choose me? Someone like Edie or Ferdie would've been a much better choice. I don't stand a chance compared to all the advantages a noble would have. So, why me?"
Lucas coughed once again. He scratched the back of his neck, muttering multiple false starts and short bouts of nervous laughter.
But then his expression became serious.
"Dorothea. You...I believe in you. You've had experience on the stage, so you know what it's like to put on a good show. Sure, it might've mostly been singing you were doing, but the principle's still the same. You know how to satisfy an audience better than anyone. Except maybe Manuela. Good thing she'll only be a judge. Anyway…"
He grabbed her arm and stared straight into her eyes.
"You've got this, Dorothea. I know you do."
She had visibly been taken aback by his words. Despite a small blush making itself known upon her, she smiled.
"Thanks, Professor. Your words mean a lot to me."
"You're welcome." Lucas gave her a smile of his own. He released her arm and sat back down. "Let's get back to this routine. Maybe there's some kind of spin or specific arm movement we can include that'll really make the whole piece stand out…"
The two of them spent the rest of their session looking through the book Lucas had borrowed from the library. Modifications to Dorothea's dance routine had been made, all for the purpose of making it a better show. All so that she would stand a better chance of winning the White Heron Cup.
Almost two whole weeks later, on the sixteenth of the month, it was time. A large gathering had formed within the Reception Hall. Many folks were awaiting the start of the competition. Though, there was still a little bit of time before it began.
Back in his dorm room, Lucas was seated at his desk, his head hovering over several examination papers. A quill in hand; he'd been marking them all. He leaned backwards in his wooden chair, yearning for a break.
"Hubert, your tactics are sound, but they're a wee bit insane…" Lucas commented internally, keeping his quips to himself. "Goddess, I feel like I'm reading part of a murder mystery novel."
His eyes caught a glimpse of something through his window. The sky was deepening in colour. A realisation hit him like a truck.
"Oh shit! It's time!"
Lucas jolted in place, shooting up and off from his chair. Speedily putting his uniform hat back onto his head, he bolted out the door and burst into a sprint, intending to reach the site of the event as soon as possible. Fortunately enough, the hall wasn't very far away from his room to begin with, so his sprint was short-lived.
Once he entered the Reception Hall, he found quite the horde of individuals crowding the entire place. Scattered, each group having their own conversations. Lucas wiped his forehead of any sweat it had accumulated - he was on-time. It seemed so, at least. He hoped he hadn't missed anything.
An answer soon arrived.
"Oh, Professor. There you are," Edelgard said as she approached. Hubert was right behind her. "I was wondering if you would make it."
"Heh. As if I would miss something I've spent almost a damn fortnight working on," Lucas scoffed, nervously laughing a little. "Where's the other Eagles? I thought they said they'd all be here."
"Ferdinand and Petra are fetching Bernadetta. Caspar is doing the same with Linhardt. As for Dorothea, I believe she is with the other competitors. The judges likely plan on introducing them all at the same time," Edelgard answered. A small, perhaps mischievous, grin appeared upon her. She lowered her volume. "Tell me, Professor. You know of the future. Will Dorothea win?"
Lucas paused, spending time to find a good answer. He too decreased his audial output. "I might know of the future, but I don't know everything, as I've said. Dorothea should win regardless. I have faith in her."
"Let us hope that is the case, Professor," Hubert smirked. "Or else our house's reputation may plummet."
"When did you start caring about reputation?" Lucas wondered, his eyelids narrowing.
"I have cared about it ever since the beginning of the academic year. I always have Lady Edelgard's best interests in mind. Should the house in which she leads be seen in anything but a positive light, then that will only reflect poorly upon her. I can't allow that to happen." Hubert grinned. "I am sure you're aware of that, Professor."
Lucas slightly winced. "Y-yeah. I'm aware."
Hubert appeared to be satisfied with that response. Edelgard sighed, bringing a hand to her notably-sized forehead.
"The White Heron Cup should be starting soon. Professor, Hubert, let us find a good place to watch," the Adrestian princess insisted. "I want Dorothea to be able to see us."
At her recommendation, the three of them ventured around the hall, looking for a good place to stand around and observe the event. They found a clear spot closer to the end of the hall that was furthest away from the cathedral. The rest of the Black Eagles soon joined them.
However, beside the red-themed house, were the Blue Lions and Golden Deer. All of their students had arrived as well. Some friendly jeers and taunts were sent between the trio of non-literal abodes.
Most of them originated from Claude.
Soon enough, the sizably large audience fell quiet as three adults walked out from behind a doorway.
"Greetings, ladies and gentlemen! I apologise for the wait, but we are finally ready to begin!" Alois began. "Welcome to the White Heron Cup!"
A cheer erupted from the crowd. Alois' countenance brightened.
"Yes, indeed! I am so very glad that you're all pumped up and raring to go! Your humble hosts have all gathered here today to judge the dancing capabilities of our contestants! Manuela, Shamir and I will all judge the performances as impartially and as fairly as possible! No biases here tonight!" Alois continued.
"He's right. I won't favor the Golden Deer simply because I teach it," Manuela added. Shamir merely nodded.
"Excellent impartiality, my fellow judge!" Alois commented. "Now, each of our contestants will have their own time to show off their skills. They'll be going one at a time! To start things off, how about we have...our representative from the Blue Lions house! Come on down!"
Out from the same doorway came a short-statured orange-haired girl. Annette's classmates mostly all cheered as she walked onto the 'stage'. Dimitri and Dedue were the only silent ones, yet their faces weren't completely stoic. Even Felix had been brought into the merriment in a mild fashion - somehow.
"Are you ready?" Alois asked her. She nodded. "Then...you may begin!"
Annette initiated her routine. Although the purpose of each individual movement wasn't entirely clear to someone like Lucas, there was a distinct feeling the cheerful girl's movements brought about within all those who watched. Her movements were quick, enhanced only by her compact height. It seemed whoever decided upon her routine had her stature in mind. Annette's routine slowly came to a halt. Evidently, she'd surprised even herself, as was made clear by her facial bewilderment.
An applause soon arose. One she couldn't help but blush in response to.
"My, my. That was a wonderful performance, dear Annette!" Manuela remarked while clapping.
"Indeed. Your routine really worked out well for you. Good work," Shamir concurred.
"I couldn't agree more!" Alois agreed, his smile widening. "Now please step aside, Annette. We have to get our next contestant on stage!"
Annette quietly complied, hopping off to the opposite doorway and stewing within the lingering adulation she just received. Alois returned to announcing once the audience quietened down.
"Speaking of our next contestant, let's get them on right now! It's time for the Black Eagles' representative!"
On cue, Dorothea wandered onto the viewing area. Just as with the Blue Lions, a grand majority of the Black Eagles cheered for their classmate, ensuring to do so with a much, much higher frequency than the previous house. Linhardt lacked the energy to cheer so he merely raised a thumbs-up. Hubert did have the energy, but not the will to enact upon it. He simply clapped.
"You may begin whenever you're ready!"
Dorothea's routine ended up being a mildly modified version of the one she and Lucas had been working on. It mainly employed various twists and turns that originated from Adrestia, but there were a few sudden jolts thrown in there for good measure. Petra beamed whenever this happened. Those had been her idea, as they were samplings of Brigidian dancing. Lucas' own beaming persisted all the way through the routine.
Even as it peacefully ended. Applauses were abundant.
"Oh, that was simply divine, Dorothea! I absolutely loved that!" Manuela exclaimed.
"It was good. You definitely used your experience to your advantage, that's for sure," Shamir commented.
"That was quite the performance! Now, if you may, we only have one more contestant to get through!" Alois declared.
As Dorothea walked off stage, Lucas flashed her a thumbs-up. She reciprocated with a smile.
"Time for our final performance of the day! Come on out, the representative of the Golden Deer house!"
Contrasting the femininity that was on display for the last two rounds of dancing, a certain purple-haired noble heir waltzed on stage. Lorenz's presence received a similar amount of celebration that Dorothea and Annette did, though Claude's cheering was much more lively than anything that had been heard up to that point. Even Marianne was smiling.
"Please, begin when you're ready!"
Lorenz's dancing had been quite dignified. There was a noble, well-thought out air surrounding his very specific moves. His arms and legs moved in a rather precise manner. Never did they step out of line and never did it look like he'd done anything wrong. One could even call it 'perfect'. The Golden Deer seemed taken with it, at least.
"Wow. Even without me helping you out, you still did very well, Lorenz! I'm so very proud of you!" Manuela remarked.
"I feel like I just watched a professional dance routine for free," Shamir blankly said.
"Ha! Same here, actually!" Alois cleared his throat, getting back into his announcer mode. "Now that all of our contestants have gone, we can finally work out who will be the winner of the White Heron Cup! Of course, whichever contestant achieves the illustrious title of 'victor' will get the opportunity to learn how to become a Dancer! This will provide them with a unique line of learning that nobody else may ever achieve! Not for another year, at the very least. Judges, what do you think? Will you need some time to think through your choices?"
"Hmm…" Manuela thought for a moment. "They were all so good. I can't decide right now. I'll need a few minutes."
"I don't. I already know which house I'm choosing. But I'm fine with having a break if you two need it," accepted Shamir.
"I will admit, I'm much the same way as Manuela!" Alois revealed with a chuckle. "Give us some time, everyone! We'll be back soon! For now, Lorenz, please stand with your fellow contestants over there."
Lorenz did as he was instructed, walking over to wherever his competitors had gone. The judges stepped aside as two of them mulled over the performances they'd just watched. They kept their thoughts to themselves, wishing to avoid any potential leaks. While they were doing that, the audience did pretty much the same thing, except in a more verbal form.
Each of the three houses were hoping for their win. They all waited with bated breath.
After several minutes of silence passed, the three judges got back into place. All of the contestants were called back onto the stage, varying levels of nervousness clear on their faces.
"We are finally ready to announce the results of this year's White Heron Cup competition!" Alois announced. "We will each declare which house it is that we are choosing to vote for. Manuela, if you may begin?"
"Oh, certainly!" Manuela paused for no real reason other than for dramatic effect. "There really is only one house I can vote for. And that is…the Black Eagles! Yours was truly exhilarating. I particularly liked how you incorporated styles from places outside of Fodlan! That was a wonderful touch."
Dorothea pumped both of her arms into herself, revelling in the burst of cheers that came from her classmates.
"My vote goes to…" Shamir cut into the celebrations, single-handedly silencing them. "The Golden Deer House. Your performance felt truly refined. The others - not so much."
"Ah, so it seems my vote is the one that decides who wins!" Alois noted. Annette deflated. "With that in mind, the winner of this year's White Heron Cup and the receiver of my vote is…"
There was a longer pause for Alois' reveal. He knew the weight behind the information he possessed, as seemingly everyone around him (aside from his colleagues) leaned inwards. The accomplished knight grinned.
"The Black Eagle House!"
Dorothea couldn't believe it. She reacted with endless excitement, tears of joy nearly falling from her eyes as she jumped up and down in place. Although they were immensely disappointed, Annette and Lorenz clapped, not wishing to ruin someone else's happiness. The rest of the Eagles brought their intense cheering back with a vengeance. Caspar's screams especially filled the hall by themselves.
"I-I can't believe I actually did it!" Dorothea exclaimed, an eternal smile on her visage. "Thank you so much, everyone!"
"You're very welcome! Now, since you're the winner of the White Heron Cup, you'll be given the opportunity to train as a Dancer! You'll learn from the finest Dancer that we can reasonably afford! You won't have to pay a single piece!" Alois informed the competition's winner. He turned to the audience. "The White Heron Cup is now over! You all may leave! You probably should, considering it's almost night time!"
The general audience understood. While the Blue Lions and Golden Deer left with their respective representatives in order to comfort them, the Black Eagles celebrated alongside Dorothea. Lucas, Hubert and Edelgard stood to the side as the rest of the Eagles surrounded their soon-to-be Dancer with much love and affection.
"She truly performed well," Hubert commented. "I must admit, even I felt something as I observed her routine."
"Truly? How interesting. Perhaps I'll have you attend some shows in Enbarr," Edelgard partially jested.
"That would not be the worst…" Hubert admitted, sighing.
Lucas tittered to himself as he listened in on their conversation. Looking out of a window, he could see the sky's earlier orange had slowly begun changing to a darkened blue. He knew what needed to be done. As he walked towards a door leading out of the Reception Hall, he gave Dorothea a final thumbs-up. She nodded in acknowledgment and waved goodbye.
Watching her professor leave, Edelgard had an idea. She excused herself from the hall as well, intending to find three specific people.
"So where are you taking me?"
"You'll find out soon, Professor. We're nearly there."
Lucas shrugged and accepted his fate. He knew not where Edelgard would be taking him, though he felt confident that it wouldn't be a trap of any kind. After all, it would've been quite risky to set up something like that in the central building, the same place where the Archbishop frequented. That, and he knew he had Divine Pulse ready to go if needed.
It soon became apparent that there wasn't anything to worry about. He and Edelgard pressed on up the stairs, rounding the corner and stopping in front of a specific door.
"The Captain's Quarters? Why are we here? You wanna talk with Jeralt? He's out on a mission this month," Lucas reminded his student. "He's not gonna be back for like another week."
"I know that. But no, this has nothing to do with him. We merely required a quiet place to speak in private. Somewhere less cramped than either of our dormitory rooms," Edelgard explained. She stepped towards the door, pressing her hand upon it without letting it open. "Professor...I've finally decided to accept your offer."
"My what?"
Curious and confused, Lucas observed as Edelgard pushed the door aside. She allowed him to walk in. The door was promptly locked behind him. Getting a proper look as to the situation within the quarters, he laid his gaze upon a pair of persons.
A pair of princes.
"Hey, Teach. How goes it?" Claude asked upon his entrance. "Congrats on winning the White Heron Cup, by the way. I can assure you there's no hard feelings about that from my end. Can't say the same for Lorenz, though."
"Claude? And…" Lucas ignored whatever the Golden Deer's house leader was saying. He realised who else was in the quarters. "Dimitri?"
The Blue Lions' house leader only responded by sending a nod in the professor's direction. Edelgard stepped forward.
"Allow me to explain, my teacher," she addressed him. "Do you remember when you suggested I should have a talk with these two?"
Lucas paused, recollection eventually coming. "Oh yeah. Back when we drank some tea together. I remember now. So you've finally decided to do that?"
"Yes. Recent revelations have swayed me to one side. I wish to learn more about it, to see if your claims about their ideals are true." Edelgard looked over to her fellow house leaders. "I want to know precisely who it is I should believe in."
"Right. Okay then. Are you sure about this, though? This might mean revealing everything you've kept hidden thus far. You won't be able to turn back," warned Lucas.
"I am aware of that. Still, I want to believe. I am willing to risk it all if it confirms a bright future for the world," Edelgard vowed.
"Hey, what are you two mumbling about over there? I thought this discussion was supposed to be between all four of us, not just you," Claude complained.
"We'll be right over," Edelgard notified. "Come, Professor. I believe Sir Jeralt will be fine with you sitting at his desk."
"As long as I don't mess with anything," Lucas said under his breath.
The pair of Black Eagles walked over to the other side of the Captain's Quarters and took their respective seats. Lucas leaned backwards in Jeralt's chair, evidently finding comfort within it.
"So, what's this all about, Princess?" Claude questioned, leaning back in his own seat.
Edelgard hesitated, yet found the strength to speak. "This is in regards to the future of Fodlan. The three of us have rather important positions we'll be inheriting sometime soon. I wished to discuss that. First of all...Professor. Are we all aware that he knows of the future?"
Claude and Dimitri nodded in confirmation.
"We're treating that like it's a well-known, obvious fact, like the sky's blue or something," Claude remarked. "But yeah, Teach told me about it over some tea."
"He informed Dedue and I of some valuable information. Without him, I would not be as I am now." Dimitri spoke with a dark tone of voice, only serving to unnerve the other three people in the room.
"The same applies to myself and Hubert. It appears he has also shared his foreknowledge with Archbishop Rhea and Seteth, which is understandable." Edelgard then stared directly at Lucas from the mild comfort of the lengthy seat she was on. "Professor, remind us what you have been telling those two."
"Uh, sure." Lucas leaned forward, taking on a more serious expression. "I've only told them about what will happen in the next month to come. Though, lately, I haven't been able to do that too much. I've done something that changed up what was supposed to happen last moon. As well as this moon."
"I see. I assume that...actually, just to confirm, are we all aware of the existence of the Agarthans?" Edelgard inquired.
"Yes, I am," Dimitri confirmed. A fierce scowl made itself known on his face.
"Who're they?" Claude wondered, confused.
"They're an ancient race of people set on destroying the church and taking over Fodlan as revenge for something that happened over a thousand years ago," Lucas explained, bearing his own scowl. "They're truly despicable people. You remember Tomas and Monica? Well, those two were actually Agarthans in disguise. They were spying on Rhea and the church."
"Oh," Claude responded. Any pretence of a smile had wiped itself away from him. "So they're not good people, then."
"They're absolutely detestable," Edelgard promptly stated.
"They are the scum of Fodlan," Dimitri said momentarily after the white-haired one spoke.
Claude and Lucas grinned as the other two looked at each other in surprise.
"I had no idea you hated them so much. If it is fine to do so, can I ask for the reason behind your hating them?" Edelgard asked the princeling.
"Professor Lucas informed me that they were the ones behind the Tragedy of Duscur. I cannot permit their continued existence. They will all die by my hands," Dimitri asserted. "Not a single one of you shall get in my way. I trust you despise them for a similar reason."
"Yes," Edelgard confirmed while Claude reeled back in shock. "They...they ruined my life. My siblings, my parents, my entire family - all ruined because of their selfish desires."
"Does this have anything to do with your hair color?" Dimitri brought up.
Edelgard hesitated. "Yes. It does. Why do you ask?"
"I thought you looked familiar. Never mind." An idea came to the Faerghus prince. "Actually, Professor Lucas, you may know. Edelgard...do I know her somehow? If I do, then how?"
Lucas had tried to retreat into his mind to ask its occupants for advice on the matter, yet he remembered they were both asleep. He silently cursed them out.
"Y-yes. You do. You know her because…" Lucas faltered, still unsure whether to disclose this particular truth or not. He eventually came to a decision. "She's your step sister."
Edelgard tilted her head. "What? Dimitri, I'm related to you?"
"You are. Tell me, do you still wield that dagger?"
Instinctively, she nodded and pulled out said weapon from underneath her cloak. The briefest glimpses of a grin could be seen on Dimitri's face.
"Were you the boy that gifted this to me?" Edelgard quizzed her step brother.
"I was," he confirmed. "I am glad that you still hold onto it."
Edelgard became quiet. She tightened the grip on her dagger, a faint smile appearing upon her. "Thank you, Dimitri. It has saved my life on many accounts."
"You are welcome."
Claude and Lucas stared at each other, invisible puzzlement being shared between them. The Golden Deer's house leader coughed, successfully obtaining the attention of the newly re-discovered step siblings.
"Alright, sorry to interrupt this wonderful reunion, but surely we're not here solely for that, right? I don't think I'd need to be here in that case," Claude interrupted.
"You're right. I apologise." Edelgard sheathed her dagger and Dimitri's expression returned to its initial angry state. "Back to the topic of the Agarthans. I believe it would be in our best interests to combine our efforts so that we may eliminate them. Working together, we will stand a better chance at removing them all from the face of Fodlan."
"Hey, I'm all for it. Judging from what you guys have said about them alone, I don't think they're the sort of people that should still be around," Claude remarked. "What about you, Dimitri? If you want to get your revenge on these guys, then it'd probably be in your best interest to cooperate with us. We all want the same thing."
"I will do it. I will assist you in this matter. As long as I am able to rip their leader's head from their shoulders, it does not matter to me how I get there. If you are able to make it easier for me, then I will be all the more appreciative," Dimitri stated.
"Alright! So we've got the future leaders of all three territories in on the plan. There's no way those Agarthans can beat us now!" Claude smirked.
"Claude. Do not underestimate them. They are much more powerful than you may believe," Edelgard warned him.
"True, I won't deny that possibility. But with the combined power of the Leicester Alliance, the Kingdom of Faerghus and the Adrestian Empire, how can those Agarthans even pose a threat? Not to mention, we've got Teach's foresight on our side. We can literally know what they're gonna do before they even do it. I say we've got this one," Claude assured his friends.
Lucas frowned. "Well, it's a bit more complicated than that. The Agarthans have basically taken over the Empire by now. That's how Edelgard...how the thing that happened to her occurred. Since they have free reign over the Empire, they're able to do as they please. Arundel, their leader right now, is actually an Agarthan. The real Arundel was killed a long time ago."
"Oh. Yeah, that does complicate things, wow." Claude wiped a hand through his hair. "What about the Kingdom? Don't tell me the same thing happened there."
"Not entirely. Faerghus isn't completely in their control, but if the Agarthans were to weaponise Adrestia in any way, most of Faerghus' nobles would bend to the Empire's will," Lucas answered.
He then suddenly slapped his forehead.
"I just fucking remembered. The Kingdom has an Agarthan spy. And they're someone that's currently in a very powerful position."
"Who is it?" Dimitri asked, clenching a fist.
"Cornelia," disclosed Lucas.
"What?! That cannot be possible. She's a saint. She single-handedly ended the epidemic that plagued the Kingdom some time ago. Are you saying she was one of them all along?!" Dimitri virtually yelled in questioning.
"She was and still is. I have no doubt that the only reason she was able to end that plague was because of her knowledge as an Agarthan. Now that she's widely regarded in the Kingdom as a saint, I don't see any way she'll be forcibly removed without major consequences," Lucas assumed. "Which is why I don't recommend going after her immediately."
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't end her miserable existence right now," Dimitri demanded to know, clenching both fists.
"Because of what'll happen if you do. You'll be vilified by Faerghus and its people. I'm fairly certain that the Agarthans even have some influence in Fhirdiad. If you go over there and kill their main agent, they'll come right back and fucking eviscerate you."
Dimitri became quiet. He unclenched his hands.
"Fine. I will not do it now. When she shows her true colors, I will be the one to collect her head. And you will not stop me then."
"That's okay. I want her dead, too. It's just that we'll need you alive, Dimitri. Don't put yourself in the line of fire unless you've got certain protection," advised Lucas. He turned to Edelgard and Claude, who'd remained silent. "So, um, where were we?"
"We were mentioning how difficult it might be to gather enough forces to eliminate the Agarthans," Edelgard reminded. "We may be able to obtain some from the Empire and more from the Kingdom. Claude, how many do you think we may be able to get from the Alliance?"
"Hmm…" Claude thought about this as he leaned back in his elongated seat. "I imagine a few of the nobles would wanna be on the Empire's side. Some others might wanna side with me. Wait. Edelgard, aren't you an actual Adrestian princess? Can't you just throw your weight around your territory and get some people on your side that way?"
"I may be able to try. I planned on taking a small journey over to Enbarr soon, so during that, I may see where certain allegiances lie. Though I cannot imagine there will be many willing to side with me as opposed to the main body of the Empire itself," Edelgard doubted.
"It's always worth a try." Claude shrugged.
"Indeed," the princess nodded. "Now, I must ask the two of you something. It's important. If…"
Edelgard was reluctant to continue, yet a reassuring glance from her professor was enough to remind her of why this meeting was necessary in the first place.
"If you two had control over Fodlan as a whole, what would you go about changing?"
Claude and Dimitri stopped in place, likely to consider their answers. The former was first to respond.
"I know what I'd do. There's a whole lot of hatred going on in regards to those from outside Fodlan. Almyrans, Dagdans, Duscurians - you name it. If you didn't have the fortunate privilege to be born in Fodlan, you might as well be dirt. I would change that. I'll make it so that the walls between all these different places are broken down and people can accept other cultures for what they are, rather than focusing on what they aren't," Claude declared, a determined expression on his face.
"I see...how admirable. I agree with your cause. Worthiness should not be decided by where you were born. It should be decided on your own merits alone," Edelgard concurred. "And you, Dimitri?"
"I agree with Claude. My primary concerns pertain to the strong trampling over the weak. I have seen too many incidents of those with power misusing their strength. Such as the Agarthans and the corrupted nobles that side with that disgusting race. I will create a society where nobody has to suffer," Dimitri avowed.
Edelgard's jaw expanded. Her mouth was wide open. She glanced at the professor, hoping he'd realise what sort of mental process she was going through. He didn't; much to her evident disappointment.
"Professor. You were right about them," she said aloud. "The things they desire for the future of Fodlan...they are precisely as you claimed they were."
"Yeah. I told you they wanted pretty much the same things as you," Lucas smiled.
"Heh, so you only asked us to get confirmation? I feel used," Claude joked. "Actually, I feel offended that you didn't trust me enough to want anything good for Fodlan. Who do you think I am, Princess?"
"Oh, stop," Edelgard smirked. "Enough with your ridiculousness. It is a good thing that you want the best for this continent. It is also good that both of your interests seem to align with mine. Yes...I truly feel as if I could work with the pair of you. But I must also ask. How do you two feel about Crests?"
"I can't say I'm a fan," divulged Claude. "They're supposed to be a gift from the goddess, right? Yet some people use that as an excuse to act all selfishly and forget about the things that really matter. People rely too much on them."
"Yes! That overreliance is how many tragedies and sorrowful incidents occur. Such as my own, and...no, I will not disclose that one." Edelgard shook her head. "I believe the Crest system needs to be abolished for society to truly advance as a whole."
"I do not know if it is necessary to go that far. While I do agree that most nobles do rely upon them to an unhealthy extent, I also think that simply abolishing the entire system would cause greater problems," Dimitri cut-in.
"Oh? Please elaborate," Edelgard requested.
"I shall. Crests are a blade with which to be pointed at any potential enemies of mankind. Without that blade, fighting against those who threaten our livelihoods...it would become significantly difficult," Dimitri clarified. "However, there are indeed those that would misuse this blade. They are the sort of individuals who would point it indiscriminately. I cannot support those extremes, of which I understand caused the trauma that haunts you so, Edelgard. But I also see that Crests are necessary to help defend all that we hold so dear."
"So you believe we will not be able to fight these enemies without this metaphorical blade you speak of? Do you not have much faith in the capabilities of our kind?"
"I do have faith. But these threats may have some manner of power that an ordinary human may not possess. Professor Lucas, you said that Tomas and Monica were Agarthans? Yet they hid themselves among us, disguising themselves as humans. That is not a feat even the most accomplished of mages can perform. It is clear these Agarthans wield strength beyond our comprehension. And who is to say there will be no other enemies in this vein?"
"You're saying Crests are a way to enhance the qualities a human already has. Hmm...how interesting. I had not considered such a perspective before," Edelgard admitted. "Your views are enlightening, Dimitri. I would like to speak with you some more about this another time, if you are willing."
"I would be willing...El."
Edelgard, barely audibly, gasped. Lucas' eyes widened upon hearing this. Claude was feeling no manner of shock.
"So, uh, is that all?" The Almyran wondered. "Does that cover everything?"
"Just one more thing. I would like to know what you all think about the Church of Seiros." Edelgard said after recomposing herself.
"Well, can't say I'm much of a fan of them, either. Like I said earlier, I don't like this sense of blind faith people have in the goddess and stuff like that. I just wish people would be able to achieve things on their own. That, and, well…" Claude checked his immediate surroundings, breathing a sigh of relief when he was certain that he and his friends were the only ones in the room. "I think Rhea's been controlling Fodlan's history to some extent."
"You think so too?" Edelgard asked.
"Uh-huh. I've checked out the historical documents in the library, and they just haven't matched up with some of the other stuff I've read about. Since the books in the library are all regulated by Seteth, it's logical to assume that most of the ones that do get thrown out are based on things Rhea wants to keep quiet," Claude assumed. "And hey, what do you know, there's a library down in Abyss that has all the books Seteth's ever thrown out. Pretty interesting how that works, huh?"
Edelgard almost gasped again. "That exists? I wasn't able to explore much of Abyss when we ventured down there several moons ago. But you're saying that the truth lies down there?"
"Yep. It's definitely worth checking out," Claude suggested.
"I see. I shall do so once we are finished here. First, I must ask, do you know anything about the church having a hand in forming each of the three territories?" Edelgard questioned.
"I know enough to tell you that couldn't be any further from the truth. Even from what I know, I can tell you the Alliance was formed because of a couple bids of independence some old guys tried to make hundreds of years ago," Claude answered. "Go look at the Shadow Library. I think what you want is the 'remnants of report' document. It's a little bit burnt, but there's enough there that'll give you what you need."
"Understood. Thank you, Claude." Edelgard seemed to be satisfied.
Lucas leaned back in the chair he did not own, a smile coming to him.
"Is that it now? Did you cover everything you needed?" He inquired.
"Yes. I believe that is it. Again, thank you all for arriving. I have learned some very valuable information here," the Adrestian princess smiled at her allies.
"Same. Looks like the Fodlan dream team has been formed!" Claude exclaimed, partially in a joking tone. "The unstoppable trio, the amazing three, and so on."
"I will admit...this may be useful," Dimitri disclosed. "I am getting closer to my revenge. I can feel it."
"And you'll get there, buddy. Don't you worry about it! Come here, you two!"
Claude stood up, motioning for the other two to do the same. Uncertain yet intrigued, the two reluctantly complied. They were met with a fortunate fate as soon as they raised themselves off their seats. Claude had come over, pushed the pair of them closer together and decided to hang one of his arms around Edelgard's shoulders, the other going around Dimitri's. The heirs of the Adrestian and Faerghus thrones blushed lightly at this touch.
"We've got this! Together, we can overcome all the odds! We'll make Fodlan a brighter place!" Claude declared, embracing his friends.
"I-I suppose so…" Edelgard stammered slightly.
"I am not used to such emotion. Th-thank you, Claude," Dimitri also stuttered.
"No problem!" Claude smiled.
Satisfied, Lucas stretched his arms and yawned. The sight before him was the sole reason why he chose not to fall asleep there and then, despite it being a possibility.
"Edelgard, Dimitri and Claude, all embracing one another...well, kinda. But it's a start!" Lucas commented internally. "I can't wait to see where this takes us. Hopefully, to a brighter world."
The darkness that blanketed the world did not matter, for a bright light had begun to form within Garreg Mach Monastery.
Author Notes: We have finally reached the end of Act 1: Explanations and Expositions. Chapter 28 will mark the beginning of Act 2. And if you're familiar with the 3H timeline, you'll know how much of a banger 28 will be.
Thank you all for reading so far! We're currently at 97 followers on this fic, which is awesome! Might not be as much as some other fics out there, but it's the most amount of engagement I've ever had in my nearly 9 year career writing this stuff, so it's really awesome to see these numbers go up so high!
I should let you all know that I plan on taking a short break. I'm only gonna take about a week off so I can use that time to touch up the older chapters a bit. There's some changes to character design and general continuity that I wish to brush up on, so what better time to do that then now? I will assure you, Chapter 28 will be released in two weeks' time. And hopefully Chapter 29. We'll see! See y'all next time anyway!
Don't forget to join the Fanfiction Treehouse Discord server! I'm there along with a whole load of other cool writers! Here's the invite code: 9XG3U7a.
EDIT (26/09/2021): And now I'm done with my week-long editing journey-thing! I've touched up every single chapter of this fic so far. Now I'm ready to get back to progressing the story. Expect Chapter 28 next week!