5/30
The dawn came after a few hours, his mind and body still exhausted, yet he had to attend the reunion with the archbishop. Byleth changed his clothes to the usual ones he used when he was teaching and he left his room. The world around him was still silent, most students still in their rooms. When he arrived to the audience room Rhea and Seteth were already waiting.
"I thank for your diligence, despite the evident signs of exhaustion on your face" said Rhea with a sympathetic smile on her face.
"We will start shortly" Seteth assured him "We only have to wait for…"
"Sorry for making you wait"
The strong voice came from a blonde woman with blue eyes, her skill tarnished by the sun. She was wearing a white armor and she was carrying a shining weapon.
"That weapon isn´t a conventional one" he thought
"You must be the new Professor, are you interested in this?" she said smiling while showing him the weapon she was carrying. "It´s name is Thunderbrand and it is one of the Heroes´ relics. Oh by the way, my name is Catherine"
"Nice to meet you. My name is Byleth"
"For the upcoming month your task will be to accompany Lady Catherine and the knights of Seiros to help suffocate the rebellion of Lord Lonato. You won´t face frontline combat, but we can´t assure that the population there reminds mild to our efforts"
"I have a question. What is the Tragedy of Duscur?"
As he said the words the atmosphere around him froze.
"The tragedy of Duscur is used to refer to the unforgivable assassination of the Kingdoms royals and nobles, who were brutally murdered during a diplomatic mission to Duscur. The King Lambert, the queen consort Patricia and other remarkable nobles were among the victims. There was only one survivor, whose name is Dimitri, one of the students here and leader of the Blue Lions" Rhea´s face seemingly saddened by the events she was explaining.
Byleth suddenly realized that the shallow sadness he could sense in Dimitri´s eyes was related without a doubt to that affaire.
"Who was the responsible?"
"Although there was an investigation, only a few perpetrators were arrested and executed accordingly. Christophe, son of Lord Lonato, was among the executed."
"Yes, by my hand" Catherine´s face was completely serious, here previous warmth nonexistent.
"It is only human to hold a grudge against the people who judged your own son, but Lord Lonato has committed a grave mistake. A battle will bring nothing but more death and that´s why the Church must act. To stop it" said Seteth.
"I understand"
"Prepare your students for the upcoming battle, you will have next month to make sure the students meet our expectations. The road to the north is harsh even in this period of the year. Warm clothes should be advisable".
"Leave it to me. Apart from my students can I be accompanied by students from the other houses?"
Seteth was surprised by the question, but Rhea smiled.
"Of course Professor, even if you are the main Professor of your house I see no problem to ask for help from the other houses if they agree to it".
"That will be enough for today, return to your duties" said Seteth
"Yes"
After leaving the audience room he headed to the training room, where he found the person who was searching.
Dimitri was already training with his lance; sweat on his face but with a confident gaze. When he noticed his presence he stopped and came near him.
"Good morning Professor. Do you want to join me? Even if you are the tutor of the Black Eagles I would like to use this opportunity to improve my abilities."
"Good morning Dimitri, I have no problem with that but first I wanted to talk with you".
"Of course Professor" his serene gaze analyzing his face.
"The archbishop has commanded me to assist the Church in the suffocation of Lord Lonato´s rebellion. He blames the church of the murdering of his son due to the tragedy of Duscur. Do you think he´s wrong?"
Dimitri´s face turned pale, noticing the intromission he had made, he quickly apologized.
"I´m sorry to ask your opinion about something so personal. I feel like there is something that doesn´t make sense about that explanation"
"There is no need to apologize Professor, I was only a child when the tragedy happened but I can assure you one thing" his gaze grew harsher "the true perpetrators of the tragedy haven´t been found. Justice won't be served until everyone pays for that vicious crime. I hold no grudges against Lord Lonato´s son and I can even understand his seek of vengeance against the Church but I cannot allow more unnecessary bloodshed related to this incident"
"That´s why I´m here. Would you join us in this matter?"
Dimitri was surprised
"I thank you for your invitation, but I cannot avoid but wondering how Edelgard is ok with my participation"
"I haven´t told my class yet. I have given them a free day after yesterday´s battle. Why would she be against this proposition?"
"It sounds like she hasn´t told you, right?" Dimitri´s eyes grew darker. "I am sure she will not be pleased with what I am about to tell you, but the Queen Consort Patricia is Edelgard´s mother."
Byleth was shocked by the revelation. He knew nothing about Edelgard´s past, but he hadn´t expected something like that.
"Are you related to her?"
"We are not bound by blood as I was born from the previous marriage of my father. I used to be friends with her, but everything is in the past now" Dimitri said, his gaze lost in the thoughts of an era that would never come back. Suddenly his eyes focused on the dagger he had around his belt.
"I haven´t seen you with such a weapon before. Forgive my curiosity but can you tell me who gave it to you?"
"I received it from Edelgard, as a present marking my first month leading the Black Eagles." Byleth answered, feeling suddenly uneasy by the question.
"Oh I see. I guess it is like that then. Forgive my intrusion professor. I will gladly train under your leading during this month. For now would you train with me?"
"It will be a pleasure" Byleth nodded
…..
The training with Dimitri took most of the morning. When it finished, Dimitri was completely exhausted, but he was smiling.
"Thank you for not holding back Professor. To be honest, I´m envious of Edelgard, having such a mentor is something that can change your life".
"I have no problems training with you, but it is my duty to assist first my students. As you will accompany me during this month I will treat you as one of my own".
Dimitri gave him a sincere smile.
"I cannot thank you enough for that I hope to…"
"Professor! Let me go too!" a voice shouted
A student came rushing to their place. It was Ashe, one of the classmates of Dimitri.
"Ashe, you shouldn´t…"
"Lord Lonato isn´t an evil person. I´m sure if I talk to him, he will desist on this fight. Please allow me to go with you. I beg you!"
It was the first time he had seen Ashe like that.
"Forgive my classmate Professor. Ashe was raised by Lord Lonato, even though he didn´t have a noble background. He is like a father to him"
Byleth felt a slight pain in his chest. Killing someone you didn´t know wasn´t particularly difficult but facing a person you loved on the opposite end of the battlefield…He imagined facing the same situation with his father and he couldn´t avoid but feeling compassion to the blue lion´s student.
"You don´t have to worry Ashe" he said while holding his arm. "I have no problem if you come with us, but you must be strong in the case that Lord Lonato doesn´t surrender"
"Don´t worry Professor, I won´t be a burden to you" Ashe promised.
"Then it´s settled. Dimitri, Ashe you will meet with the rest of the group tomorrow. "
"Thank you Professor!"
After leaving the blue lion´s students, Byleth walked aimlessly around the courtyard of the monastery, thinking about the information he has learned during the morning.
"Good morning Professor!"
In front of him was Edelgard, wearing her usual uniform, a gentle smile on her face.
"I was looking for you but you were nowhere to be seen."
"I had a meeting with the archbishop this morning and then I met Dimitri" feeling the urge to tell her everything he invited her to take a sit in a bank near them.
When he finished talking, Edelgard´s gaze was clouded.
"Forgive me, my teacher, but I never planned to hide something like that from you. It was just that I didn´t consider it something important and it wasn´t related to our daily tasks. If I knew I would have told you before Dimitri".
"There is no need to apologize; I was just surprised about your relation with Dimitri and I´m sorry about the loss of your mother"
"It is in the past now and Dimitri is just another student to me now. I don´t have time to long for a past already gone, it is the future what requires my focus"
He looked at her eyes.
"What kind of future do you wish for?"
Edelgard´s eyes maintained his gaze
"I´m not used to someone so honest like you my teacher, but I wish for a world without the burdens of nobility and the crests. I may be mad" she laughed
"You are not"
"Byleth…"
"A fairer society is nothing to feel ashamed about. I will help you to achieve your dreams if possible"
Edelgard´s eyes grew wide, a torrent of emotions trying to leave her gaze.
"I´m defenseless against you my teacher, but if you still feel the same when the time comes I will gladly take your hand"
"Of course Edelgard" he said, gently placing his hand on hers.
Edelgard faced turned red
"It was just a figure of speech I didn´t mean it literall…Is that a smile on your face?"
He touched his face with his free hand, feeling an unfamiliar tension around his lips.
"You are really smiling, you are human after all" she said while giving him a warmth smile. "I´m glad to be the first person to see it"
"Me too" he replied feeling still that strange sensation. "You were looking for me. Did you want to train?"
"Ah yes" she said while touching her hair her eyes contemplating the blue sky. "But it can wait, for now I would like to treasure this moment for a bit longer"
Looking at her gentle smile he realized he was looking at the genuine Edelgard, the one without the burdens of an empire to rule. Inside him he could sense Sothis, who was contemplating the scene with interest "Even the thickest ice can melt with enough warmth" she murmured.
….
He trained with Edelgard for three hours. He used swords, axes, lances and even a bow against her. Her resistance and strength were forces to reckon. Even him was feeling a bit tired after having two training sessions with the two leaders of a house.
"You did well Edelgard"
"Thank you Professor, but I must practice harder, I´m exhausted yet you are still holding your own, even though you trained with Dimitri before"
"You don´t need to compete with him. Your battle styles are completely different"
"Don´t worry Professor" she said while smiling "It is a way to keep my focus"
"Hey Teach! You two again? Edelgard stop kidnapping the Professor you are going to make him hate you"
"I don´t hate Edelgard"
"My teacher, don´t fall to his tricks, Claude is just teasing us" said an annoyed Edelgard. "It is only natural for us to share more time together than the rest of the students. I don´t see you complaining about the trainings with Professor Manuela"
"Sharing is caring Princess, besides if he has already trained with you and Dimitri it can lend some time to a poor soul like me" he said while teasingly smiling.
"How did you know?" Edelgard asked surprised
"I swear I didn´t use any tactics, I just asked Dimitri why he looked so tired and he told me everything" he looked at Byleth "Next time you can bring me or any of my group. Chilling from time to time it will make you feel good, don´t you think?"
"You are forcing yourself onto my Teacher"
"Don´t worry Edelgard. I will train with you Claude"
"Thanks Teach!"
"Then I will stay too, I will show you Claude, that no matter the circumstances I will prevail"
"I told you Teach, you should have chosen me, Dimitri and Edelgard are going to make you mad with their solemnity."
…
After the practice everyone was exhausted.
"I told you I will prevail"
"And I accept my surrender. It seems that I lack in resistance, and you Teach. Let me invite you for dinner"
"You have really taken a liking to the Professor"
"Of course, don´t worry Princess I will invite you to the wedding" he winked
"How can you be so carefree!" but Edelgard couldn´t hide a smile
"Let´s eat together" Byleth said
"And like this an everlasting peace was achieved"
"Please stop Claude"
They headed together towards the canteen. They took a seat, Edelgard sitting beside him and Claude in front of him. When they were about to start eating Dimitri came near them.
"Can I take a seat?"
"You don´t have to ask, we are friends and besides all of us have practiced today with Teach"
"Your resistance is impressive Professor, I´m looking forward to training with you again"
"Don´t abuse the confidence of my Teacher Dimitri"
"I can´t consider a morning worth of practice as an abuse"
"Enough of this talk, I´m here to eat with my friend not to hear fancy people talking" he said while winking at Byleth
"Let´s eat" Byleth nodded.
It was an unusual situation to see the leader of the three houses holding a meal together. "If they get along there is nothing to fear" he thought
"Are you sure? Your little Princess doesn't want to share you, it seems" Sothis teased him
"If it doesn´t affect me negatively or my students I don´t mind lending a hand and she is not mine"
"No need to feel so defensive about it, besides I think you are wrong, look around you"
Students of the three houses were gathering around him
"I heard that you practiced not with one but with the three lords today. I can´t wait to cross blades with you" grinned a confident Felix
"Me too Professor, I´m sure my muscles will get bigger and stronger if you train with me" said a smiling Raphael
"Professor! If I knew you were training everyone I wouldn´t have taken my day off." Complained a disappointed Caspar
"You are too nice for your own good Professor" sighted a tired Edelgard
"Are you training everyone? Haha Then practice with me. If I train with you I will learn to protect you better!" said Alois while patting his back.
"But you are not even a student!" complained Caspar
Byleth had to assured everyone that he will find some time to practice with then but his group practices will take preference over everything else.
When they were finished eating he departed from a smiling Claude and a less solemn and Dimitri and left the canteen alongside a more exhausted than usual Edelgard.
"Despite everything that has happened today was an eventful day"
"You did well Edelgard" he reassured her
"I´m glad to hear that, but starting tomorrow we have to make our best effort for the next task"
"Of course. I will keep training all of you as usual"
Edelgard tried to smile but she shivered a bit
"It´s getting a bit chilly"
"That´s true" a strong wind was coming from the north and the thermal sensation was lower than usual.
"You don´t like the cold?"
"I must admit that I lack resistance on that matter, the Adrestian Empire´s winters are mild compared to the rest of the continent and even if we are approaching the summer I can´t avoid feeling cold when the wind comes from the north"
"In that case take this" he said handing her his coat.
"My teacher, I must refuse I don´t want you to catch a cold"
"Don´t worry Edelgard I can handle this cold. Besides it would be a pity if you get ill"
"You are too nice for your own" she muttered, her face getting red.
"You can give it to me tomorrow before the class"
"I´m afraid that doing something like that will create a misunderstanding between Dorothea and Hubert"
"In that case I can come to your place to pick it up"
"That may be worse; Hubert´s room is next to mine. I will arrive earlier than usual and I will give it to you"
"Very well then, good night Edelgard"
"Good night my Teacher…and thank you"
Byleth returned to his room while Sothis was talking to him.
"I didn´t think that a heartless mercenary could be so nice"
"I´m glad to help and I have a heart…I think"
"I know, but I think that the bound with your students is changing you, for the better. I´m happy to see you experiencing new emotions even if your current variations are similar to a half dead fish"
"You are too mean"
"Am I? I´m tired of watching you training. Don´t wake up too late. We wouldn´t want to see the little Princess in troubles."
"Good night Sothis"
Byleth changed his clothes and started reading a book about magic. He was trying to learn white magic to help his students in case they were in problems but he wasn´t able to make much progress on his own.
"I will need someone to teach me, but who?" he wondered. Manuela was specialized in faith but she was too fond of alcohol and Hanneman was specialized in reason and asking a student would be considered strange. "I guess I can always ask her" although he didn´t feel comfortable to ask for help from the archbishop.
"I will protect all of you" he thought while entering the realm of dreams.
If you can have the assistance of a student why not the help of the house leader? Credits to the DLC for that idea. After all everyone wants to train with Byleth.