Lonato's rebellion was quelled. Whether his target was truly Rhea with such a meager force of himself and townsfolk, or to spite Catherine who could say? Either way, they had to report the results to Rhea. "I am glad that you have returned safely. The goddess is gracious with her divine protection. But it was not only her divine protection that shielded you, was it? You are just as skilled as I hoped." Rhea told Byleth.
"I did what I could." Byleth said modestly. Normally a fight didn't leave such a sour taste in her mouth. But in all of her days as a mercenary, killing militia and townsfolk was never part of a job description.
"The enemy was routed as you wished for, Lady Rhea." Hanneman was keeping his thoughts to himself. For now, he was simply delivering a professional report.
"I heard some of the students were…hesitant about fighting militia." Rhea said. "I can understand their apprehension, however, we must punish and sinner who may inflict harm upon believers, even if those sinners are civilians. I pray the students learned a valuable lesson about the fate that awaits all who are foolish enough to point their blades towards the heavens."
"It seems a bit much if you ask me." Byleth said to herself, although Sothis was capable of hearing her thoughts. "Maybe I'm just overthinking this…"
"Our real concern what Catherine reported," Seteth spoke. "The secret message that was in Lord Lonato's possession. "It contained a deplorable plot to target the archbishop's life on the day of the Goddess' Rite of Rebirth."
"Quite an unrealistic plan if you were to ask me." Hanneman said. "However, this is something that we cannot ignore."
"That is correct, Hanneman." Seteth nodded in agreement. "Something like this is of the utmost concern. A threat is still a threat, and this is not something we can ignore. We must maintain constant vigilance. To that end, I would like for the Black Eagles, Blue Lions, and the Golden Deer to help with security on the day of the ritual."
"Does Manuela know about this?" Byleth asked, tilting her head slightly.
"I was certain that I summoned her here, however it appears as though she is currently indisposed." Seteth had to resist the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. It was later in the day, but he expected a little professionalism from the woman in question.
"Hearing this does not surprise me in the slightest. That woman…" Hanneman crossed his arms and let out a heavy sigh.
Byleth looked like she wanted to say something, but she wasn't sure how to phrase it. So instead, she held her tongue and nodded. "Very well. You can rely on us."
"That is most reassuring." Rhea gave Byleth a soft smile.
"The Rite of Rebirth is of paramount importance." Seteth said. "It is when the Church of Seiros and its believers unite to pray for the return of the Goddess. The archbishop and I will be confined to the Goddess Tower once the ritual begins. Of course the knights will be on high alert as well, but there won't be enough of them to keep watch on every corner of the monastery."
"So this is why you asked for the students aid?" Byleth asked as politely as possible.
"Indeed." Seteth closed his eyes, feeling rather ashamed that they had to resort to the aid of the students. "It is far from ideal to be forced to mobilize them, but the gravity of this situation requires that we all bend to avoid breaking. With any luck, this will all be for naught."
"While there is no need to fear for my safety, we cannot turn a blind eye to those who would blaspheme so heinously." It was obvious that Rhea would not allow these acts to stand. If people marching toward the church was enough to invoke the order to kill, one could only imagine what an attempt on her life would bring to the table...
.
After the meeting with Rhea, Byleth decided to make a stop to Jeralt's office. There, she saw her father and Alois ending a conversation. That's when Alois noticed Byleth standing silently at the doorway, awkwardly waiting for her chance to come in. "Oh! Professor Byleth, I didn't see you there." Alois said.
"Hey, Alois." Byleth lifted her hand for a slight wave. "Am I interrupting something?"
"Not at all. I was just informing the Captain of our positions come the Rite of Rebirth!" Alois said. "And now, I must head out to inform the other knights as well. It is better to be prepared for our posts."
"Right…" Byleth just nodded. Alois made his exit and Byleth stepped into the room.
Jeralt let out a mildly annoyed sigh at the situation. "Ah…did you need something, kid?"
Byleth took a seat, placing her hands on the table. "I'm just trying to wrap my head around the day. It's…a little more than I was expecting."
"I heard you had to fight militia." Jeralt said while looking towards his daughter. "We've fought a lot of people back as a mercenary, but townsfolk was never one of them, was it?"
"No." Byleth shook her head. "It felt strange cutting them down. They were coordinated because of the fog, but they weren't very experienced. It felt like a slaughter more than a battle, just covered by the church's pretty words and the fog."
"…" Jeralt was silent. His kid was sharp.
"…And then there's Ashe." Byleth looked down at the table. "After what happened, I dunno…I just hope that he'll be able to recover well enough."
That…sounded like she was worried. Jeralt's eyes briefly widened. His kid was worried about someone? Being around those students really was changing her, he wondered if she even noticed. "I heard about that too…it'll be messy, these things always are. There's no clean solution."
"I figured." Byleth even let out a small sigh. But she had to change topics now. "Do you think the plot against Lady Rhea's life is real?"
"Not at all." Jeralt immediately shook his head. "Announcing that you're going to go for Lady Rhea's life? I've known her for a while, and I know that she's more than capable of handling herself. It's nothing more than a distraction if anything. They're just trying to pull all eyes away from…whatever it is they're really planning."
"Mm…" Byleth closed her eyes, trying to think.
"It's been a long day, kid." Jeralt said. "Go get some rest. You're gonna be busy again come tomorrow."
"I will." Byleth opened her eyes. "Thanks for talking." She said before making her leave.
"I've never seen her worry before, about herself or anyone else. Maybe this place really is doing some good for her." Jeralt stared at his journal on his desk. "…I'm sure you'd like to see this, Sitri…"
.
.
Shez found herself awaking in that strange scape that Arval pulled her into every so often. In reality, she was asleep. "Ah…where…?" She rubbed her eyes, only to see Arval floating in front of her. "Arval?"
"I wanted to talk to you." Arval said. They were looking towards Shez with a hint of concern. "You looked quite down earlier. I'd feel bad if I didn't touch upon your concerns, since you don't really talk to anyone else."
Agh, called out. But Arval was right. Shez still had yet to properly establish any sort of bond…at least, that's what she felt. "I'm not good with people. I feel bad for Ashe, but I'm the last person qualified to try and talk to him or cheer him up…I don't have the words. It was the same earlier. When Edelgard, Dimitri, and Claude were talking, I just….felt so small."
"Small?" Arval tilted their head.
"I guess…this was a moment where I realized how little my place in this world is." Shez let out a weighed sigh. "Everyone here is a noble or noble adjacent of some kind. Byleth – the ashen demon – is a Professor with an infamous title, and yet, she's getting along with the people here so well. It feels like I don't belong here."
"Nonsense." Arval shook their head. "You were accepted because of you exceptional talent. If it weren't for you, Dimitri wouldn't have survived the night. That's why the archbishop extended that invitation to you as well. You have incredible talent, Shez. As my partner in destiny, I can tell you that you are bound for greater things. Remember what our goal is?"
"Kill the Ashen Demon." Shez repeated. Although the line had a little less gusto than in the past. She's been at Garreg Mach for a few months now, watching who she believed to be a heartless killer…seem like a normal person. She hadn't seen a trace of the 'Demon'…
"And once you do that, you'll be more than famous." Arval said with a smile. "You just have to make sure you keep up your work as well. You have a hard time with strategy, don't you?"
"H-Hey…" Shez felt a little embarrassed being called out. "It's easier for me to just rush in! So of course the homework is hard…"
"I think it's time I lend you a hand." Arval said proudly. They were the brains of the duo.
"Hey, don't make it look too suspicious!" Shez fired back, feeling a little better after getting her worries off her chest with Arval. Getting close to people was difficult for her, yet since she and Arval were bound, it was a little easier to confide in them. "I'm starting to think the others aren't expecting much of me in terms of smarts. I…don't know how to feel about that yet, actually…"
.
.
The following days, the atmosphere around the monastery was pretty heavy. The Black Eagles and Blue Lions just came from wiping out a militia force, and Ashe suffered the worst of it all. Lonato's final words weighed heavily on him. So much so, that nobody had actually seen him around. On top of this, the whole assassination plot was lingering on top of them… "Ashe skipped class again…" Annette said with a heavy sigh. Class was over for the day, so every student was left to their own devices now.
"Who can blame him?" Luke closed his eyes, thinking back to what Lonato said. "No doubt his entire world was just flipped upside down."
"I left him some sweets to help him feel better. I don't know if he's been eating them or not, though…" Mercedes placed a hand on her cheek. Everyone was doing what they could for Ashe, but they weren't sure if it was enough.
"Ashe may just need time…" Dedue said.
"He cannot wallow in his feelings forever." That voice belonged to Edelgard, who overheard the conversation. "Sooner or later, he is going to have to make a choice about what he wants to do."
"That seems a bit harsh, don't you think…?" Annette frowned at Edelgard's words. It didn't feel like she was considering his feelings at all.
"It may be seen as harsh, but it is how I feel regarding his situation. I understand his heart is wounded and that he is confused…but is that what he's going to have to endure." Edelgard stated. "I am not saying he has to rush his decision, but I am saying that the world is already marching on. No matter what we lose, we cannot turn back the hands of time. Would you prefer he be left behind?"
"You are saying that he shouldn't be stuck in the past?" Dedue crossed his arms. Honestly, there were a few people that could learn from that sentiment.
"That is just my opinion. What he does, however, is his own choice." Edelgard replied. She had no control over Ashe or his actions. She was just voicing her thoughts to those that were close to him. "I apologize if my words sound a little insensitive, but I will not take them back either."
"Your outlook is very forward facing." Luke said while walking past Edelgard. "I can't say I disagree with you."
"Oh?" Edelgard was a little surprised to hear this. While Dedue, Mercedes, and Annette were a little reluctant to accept her words, Luke was the one who readily did so. "I thought you were going to take his feelings into more than I might be."
"The best we can do is cheer him up. It's up to him to decide what he wants to do with this decision. I only hope that it doesn't continue the cycle…something that the people on the inside can't see…" Luke's expression fell for a moment. The cycle of the Kingdom was a harsh one. It was one he wasn't even sure the people were aware of. It was so deeply rooted into the Holy Kingdom, it was just second nature. "Anyway…I'm gonna take this time to train. I dunno what's coming up, but I'd like to be prepared."
As Luke left, Claude watched him. He was listening in on the conversation from afar. There was still a sour taste in his mouth and he was thinking hard about what it was he wanted to do. If anything, the situation with Lonato solidified his ambitions even more. "The people on the inside don't see what's going on, huh?" That made sense to him. As an outsider, it gave him a perspective on things most people in Fodlan wouldn't see. Interestingly enough, he didn't expect someone else to see these things as well. Maybe there was some hope out there after all…but to fully trust another person? Claude couldn't do that just yet…but he did have his eyes on a few people that could be helpful to his goals. It was just a matter of getting them onto his side…
.
.
Night fell. Security around the monastery was tighter considering the potential threat on Rhea's life. This didn't stop Luke from finding a way to slip around a few of the knights. His goal? Anna. He approached her and she just gave him a wave. "Well, well! What can I do for one of my most frequent customers? I haven't seen you around a night lately."
"I've been busy." Luke replied while digging in his jacket pockets. "Hey, so I've got something for you. I was wondering if you'd be able to help me out."
"Depending on what it is, you know the rates." Anna waved her finger with a knowing smile.
"What, I don't get the friends and family discount?" Luke asked.
"Nope." Anna kept her smile. Luke was coming to her because he knew she could probably help with whatever it was he had in mind. Especially in the dead of night, as her shop was open at hours most people would already be asleep in. Begged the question if she ever slept, or perhaps her hustle was just too strong. "So, what can I do for you today?"
Luke pulled out a handwritten copy of the assassination note that Catherine picked up from Lonato's corpse. Catherine did show them all what the note had written within it, and Luke's memory allowed him to write it down exactly as it was written. It was a forgery, but it was for a purpose. "This is just a copy, but…can you find out who actually wrote this? I don't believe that it was Lonato even if this was on him."
Anna took the note and looked it over carefully. "Wow, you've gotten better at that…" She was impressed at his hand writing. "I can already assume what it is you're aiming for, but I have to ask anyway…"
"I want the truth." Luke said firmly.
.
.
In an undisclosed location, the Flame Emperor was meeting with several members of Those Who Slither in the Dark. While their name and affiliation was currently unknown to the world at large, it was precisely why they remained hidden. Monica was a minor setback in their plans, but ultimately Kronya's part of their endgame plan was still underway. The Flame Emperor was not alone, for she had a masked man by her side: the one known as the Death Knight. "They've caught wind of the note." The Flame Emperor stated.
Those Who Slither had a few members named members participating in this particular mission. The dark mages: Myson, Odesse, and Bias, along with Chilon, the armored knight, and Dolofonos, the assassin. "So that means things should be proceeding as planned." Myson stated calmly.
"The Holy Mausoleum will have no Knights guarding it." The Flame Emperor reported. "That will be the optimal time to strike. The archbishop will be far away as well."
"All too easy." Dolofonos said while brandishing his sword.
"But the students will be working security as well." The Flame Emperor added. They had to at least relay this information, but it wasn't up to them what was done with it.
"Will the purple haired woman be there as well?" This was a question Myson needed an answer to.
"Yes." The Flame Emperor said without delay. "But why is that the one you are focusing on?"
"Because she has a power that should not belong to her." Myson's eyes may have been hidden under his hat, but there was no ignore the venom in his gaze. "How such a lowly beast got a hold of the power of Empimenides…but it is a mistake that must be corrected."
"Are you certain about that?" Bias looked towards Myson in shock. She couldn't believe the words he just said. "But his power was…"
"This is the perfect chance to ascertain where that power comes from exactly. No matter what happens, I want to see that power drawn." Myson said in a threatening tone.
"Then we should have the perfect means to do so." Odesse looked towards the Death Knight. He said nothing the whole time. There was just an ominous aura of death floating around him, lingering in the air. It was so strong that not a single person could ignore it.
"You'll fight them, right?" Chilon asked the Death Knight.
The Death Knight remained silent for a long time. In fact, he wasn't answering any of their questions. "…"
"He will be present." The Flame Emperor finally spoke for them.
"…I have no desire to kill weaklings who cannot get a blade to my throat." The Death Knight finally spoke, placing his opinion on the matter. He would be present, but it seemed as though he had no interest in actually fighting. In his eyes, it wouldn't be a fight. Just a slaughter.
"If you don't approach carefully, you'll lose your chance for answers." The Flame Emperor said this, but it hardly came across as a piece of friendly advice or even as a warning. There was an obvious part of this masked knight that would prefer that sort of ending, even if it was wishful thinking.
"No matter." Myson scoffed. The end result was the only thing that mattered. The ends justified the means. "Whatever happens on that night, I will be certain to get answers from that woman. One way or another…"