"You have done a great job; feel free to rest for now" He said as they arrived to the camp of the church.
"Congratulations Professor for your victory" Seteth greeted him as Byleth and the rest of his students landed in front of him, escorted by the Pegasus Knights of the Church. "An impressive battle I must admit. You did well too, Flayn"
"Thank you brother! Thanks to the Professor I was able to give my best"
"When you have time Rhea wants to speak with you"
"I will be going in a moment" he promised as Seteth and Flayn left together.
"A battle to remember, congratulations, Edelgard, Professor" Dimitri said approaching them accompanied by Claude.
"A total defeat, I don´t want to face both of you anytime soon" Claude admitted.
"It was a difficult battle, but I must admit that if we were to battle again I don´t know what the outcome could have been. What do you think Professor?"
"We crushed them"
"I´m surprised to hear such a comment from you Professor" Edelgard said, although she was smiling as she heard that.
"That´s too harsh Teach" Claude laughed. "And here I was thinking my little tricks would give us the upper hand in the battle"
"Thank you for your sincerity Professor. I will continue to practice, although I hope that the day when I have to put into practice what I have learnt never comes"
"You are right Dimitri. The battle of the Eagle and the Lion takes its name from a battle that took place in this very place centuries ago, but that doesn´t mean that history must repeat again"
"If we get along there is no need to resort to such methods. Don´t you think Teach? I have an idea. Let´s make a little celebration when we return to the monastery. We can use that opportunity to strengthen our bonds, don´t you think? Although it will just be eating at the canteen"
"The fruits of the victory" he said smiling.
"You are unusually expressive today my Teacher" Edelgard said smiling to him. "If you smile to me like that I´m tempted to cut loose from my usual self. I´m looking forward it"
"After a great battle there is nothing better than a great dinner!" Caspar shouted.
"I agree with Caspar. We must celebrate the result of our efforts. A cup of tea will do me a great favor" Ferdinand said.
"This battle was decided by Lady Edelgard´s capabilities, although I must admit that you were important as well Professor"
"Hubie, you must be really happy if you are saying something like that, but I agree with you"
"In Brigid we celebrate after a great battle with a great meal. Hearing that in Fódlan is the same makes me happy"
"After doing so much healing today I hope you will grant me some rest Professor, but being you I don´t expect much" Linhardt sighed.
"You are free to rest as much as you want, you have earned it"
"Really? You caught me there Professor, but thank you. Although I would like to rest more often" said a relieved Linhardt.
"I did my best too Professor" said Bernadetta. "That ballista was heavy, but I did my best to use it"
"I´m proud of you too Bernadetta"
"It cannot be helped" said a bit blushed Bernadetta.
"So there you are!" shouted an unfamiliar voice.
A man wearing a heavy armor was approaching them.
"Father!" said Caspar.
"Seeing all your exhausted faces I´m sure you had fun down there, but that was just a game compared to the real world." He then looked to Byleth "You must be the Professor who is teaching all of them. They still need a lot of learn, but I thank you for leading them"
"Count Bergliez, I´m pleased to see you here" said Edelgard. The moment he realized Edelgard´s identity the Count kneeled before her. "I wish to have some words with you"
"I have no problem for that"
"I will see all of you later. I´m looking forward to our celebration in the monastery" she said, as she left accompanied by the Count.
"Your dad is scarier as ever, Caspar. At least he didn´t recognize me. I´m sure that he would have made me train with him again." Lindhardt said.
"That´s because you are too lazy Linhardt." He said, although he noticed that Caspar´s eyes were looking at Petra as if he felt sorry about something.
"Rest as much as you want, but take into account that we will leave shortly. I will be leaving" he said as he headed to the archbishop´s tent.
The tent of the archbishop was guarded by church soldiers, but they quickly let him pass when they noticed him. The interior of the tent was pleasantly warmth. The archbishop was talking with Catherine when she noticed he had entered.
"Your performance was really impressive Byleth. You have inherited a lot of talent from your father."
"My students did their best to achieve victory"
"I´m sure they did, your leading capabilities are something to remark" Catherine said. "With your permission Lady Rhea, I will be preparing the troops for our return"
"Thank you Catherine. Come closer Professor there is no need to be so shy"
Rhea looked at him with a nice smile as he approached her.
"You have achieved a lot during these months. You have not only assumed your role as a Professor perfectly, but you have also allowed your students to reach higher heights. Such actions must be rewarded. I beg you to take this" she said, offering him a peculiar lance.
"It is a blessed lance. This lance is imbued with the protection of the Goddess herself. It can be used effectively against the monsters that dwell in this world, although I hope you do not have to resort to using it"
Taking a closer look to the lance, Byleth could see that it had strange runes written on it. "It must be an ancient weapon" he thought as he touched it.
"I feel honored by this gift; I will make a good use of it"
"I couldn´t expect less from you Professor. Consider it a reward for your efforts for all these months. We will be shortly departing. I hope that our return doesn´t exhaust your dear students"
"I will go to tell them"
He left the archbishop´s tent behind him, still feeling her eyes looking at him.
…
10/24 Wyvern moon
As they passed through a small forest the monastery appeared in front of them in the distance.
"Time passes really quickly when you are with the right company, don´t you think Professor?" asked Dorothea.
"You are right" he had to admit. After their victory in Gronder Field, the moral of his students was extremely high. They didn´t have too much time to celebrate at Gronder, but looking at them, he was sure that a big celebration was about to happen. They had been escorted all their way to the border with the Alliance territories by Imperial troops. The presence of so many soldiers made him remember his days as a former mercenary, fighting alongside the soldiers of each noble house. Watching and hearing the way the soldiers and generals addressed Edelgard made him realized the respect they had for her.
"She is the Imperial Princess, after all" Sothis commented inside his head. "Are you going to start calling her your Highness, Lady Edelgard or something like that?"
"To me is just Edelgard"
"You really treat them all the same and I think that that is very positive. Are you going to celebrate the victory with your students?"
"Of course" he said, smiling.
"Your smile is wider than before. Bit a bit you are changing for the better" she smiled sitting at her stone throne.
"Professor your smile is getting sweeter as time passes. You really have changed" Dorothea said.
"Even a battle hardened warrior can indulge himself from time to time. I´m glad to see that side of yours more often" Edelgard said, smiling to him.
"We are just getting started. This is going to be the first of many celebrations after a good fight. I´m looking forward to our next battles" Ferdinand said.
"I can´t agree more with that. I´m feeling like fighting again!"
"Don´t do that Caspar, you may be expelled if you do something like that without a reason"
"Is there a rule like that?!"
"Can you read?" Linhardt sighed.
"The last one to arrive will have to clean everything after the celebration ends" he said, riding his horse faster.
"You are joking, right Professor? I was already making plans for the after-party"
"Dorothea, I doubt he is. We should just follow him" Linhardt sighed.
When he looked behind him he could see how his students were trying to chase him. He couldn´t avoid smiling as he leaded them forwards the monastery.
…..
10/24 (night)
The canteen was filled with students from the different houses. Black Eagles, Blue Lions or Golden Deer, it didn´t matter. All of them appeared to be happy and were chatting with each other.
He was sitting with the rest of the Professors and members of the Church in a different table, but he could clearly see all his students from there. From time he could see Edelgard looking at him and couldn´t avoid feeling that strange sensation in his chest every time their eyes met.
"I must congratulate you for your hard earned victory, Byleth" said Hanneman, interrupting his thoughts. "I´m sure my students were a hard nut to crack"
"Don´t be so high about yourself, Hanneman. My students were clearly in an advantageous situation. Claude is a very clever boy; he really has a good grasping of strategy. Time passes so fast. With this event already finished there is nothing to do until the White Heron Cup"
"The White Heron Cup?"
"It is a dancing competition between three students of the different houses. It is a custom that has been in the monastery since it started to receive students from all around Fódlan."
"I didn´t know about that. Are you feeling better Manuela?" he asked.
"You should learn from Byleth, Hanneman. He surely is a gentleman. I´m feeling better, but when it starts to rain I still feel some pain in the area where I was stabbed. Hopefully, today is not one of those days"
"I hope you recover completely soon"
"I know some things that could boost my recuperation" she said teasingly winking an eye to him, making Hanneman cough what he was drinking.
"Manuela, that kind of comment was highly inconvenient"
"I´m just joking. Besides, Byleth appears to be unaffected by my charm"
"There is no possibility of someone falling for you since you are a mess and…ugh!" Hanneman stopped what he was saying and started caressing one of his legs as if he had been hit by someone under the table.
"Remember that you are speaking to a Lady, Hanneman." Manuela said, regaining her composure.
"Doing something like this is improper of a lad…"
"Hanneman, I don´t know what you are talking about. Let me enjoy my conversation with Byleth"
"I heard from Catherine that it was an impressive battle" said Shamir, which was sitting two more sits to his right. "It seems that you have leadership skills"
"Jeralt will be proud of you when he returns" said Alois, which was sitting in front of him. "I wish I could have watched it, but someone has to stay to protect the monastery in the absence of Lady Rhea and Seteth. By the way Professor, I´ve been taking care of the little student you have left behind. She is alright, but I think that she doesn´t like me that much"
"That must be because you are telling bad jokes"
"They are not that bad Shamir. I think about them and write them down. I have this small pocket book to make sure that I remember them perfectly"
"The fact that you prepare the jokes you tell worries me more about what you consider funny" Shamir sighed.
"Thank you for your help Alois. I will be taking care of her since the begin of our lessons next month"
"It makes me happy to help you Byleth. If you ever need someone you can just call me"
"Professor, do you want to give a try to this game?" asked Sylvain, approaching the Professor´s table. "It is a board game. Most students have played it once or twice. Would you like to give it a try?"
Looking at the board game Sylvain was carrying in his arms he realized it was the same board game he had been playing with Edelgard when he was ill.
"I will give it a try"
"How cute coming from you Byleth" Manuela smiled. "When you are side to side with the rest of the students you look like one of them, not like this old man over here"
"Age brings wisdom, but I guess that you are unaffected by it."
Leaving behind the discussion of his colleagues he accompanied Sylvain to the main table with the rest of the students.
"Let´s play a few matches. I won´t be easy on you" Sylvain said, sitting in front of him.
Sylvain was true to his word. The first game was a slaughter of Byleth´s pieces. But the following ones Byleth started to counterattack Sylvain´s strategy, although Sylvain was more experienced than him. He was about to move one of the pieces when he felt a familiar scent coming from behind him.
"You are abusing the lack of experience of the Professor. After playing with me you haven´t been using, it right?" Edelgard asked sitting next to him.
"I´m afraid not"
"There is no need to apologize. I will help you"
"That´s not fair at all Edelgard" Sylvain complained.
"Have you just lost your confidence all of a sudden Sylvain?"
"I won´t be easy on you" he said, a confident look in his eyes.
With the balances of power stabilized Byleth started to retake positions more easily. At first Edelgard´s advised him more often, but as he got used to the flow of the game again, the decisions he made by his own increased until he won a match by himself against Sylvain.
"You learn fast Professor. I accept my defeat"
"Edelgard taught my well" he said gently smiling to her. "I´m sorry that at first I forgot some of the rules and strategies you told me"
"Don´t worry my Teacher. I´m glad I could lend a hand"
"Since the Professor has gained experience how about a fight between teams?" Sylvain said, putting on the table an even bigger board game. "With a board of this size the three houses could play at the same time"
"The rematch of the battle of the Eagle and the Lion. I like the idea" Claude laughed as he took a seat.
"This time victory will be ours, Professor" Dimitri assured him as the rest of the students of the different Houses started to take their seats.
"Professor, we need to defend our title. We won´t lose"
They had several matches, but in the end the Black Eagles won, closely followed by the Golden Deer.
"That last movement was terrible Dimitri" Felix said. "You are too easy to read"
"I will consider that for the upcoming battles"
"These board games really make you think." Claude laughed. "You could say that we ended the day celebrating our battle with another battle" he then yawned. "I´m getting a bit tired. I think I will be leaving. Someone should certainly already leave" he said looking at the table of the Professors.
Byleth looked at it and quickly realized what he meant.
Manuela was evidently drunk, trying to get up, but he was stopped by Hanneman that by the look of his face was used to face such situations. Shamir and Catherine were playing a dangerous dagger game on the table and they were cheered by Flayn, whose brother was desperately trying to dissuade her from watching anymore and Alois had already fallen asleep.
"I am pleased to see that everyone has enjoyed this evening as much as I do. However, it is time to rest" Rhea said with a firm voice that reached the bottom of the room. "Classes will reassume with the arriving of the next month, until then you are free to rest"
"You have already heard the archbishop. It is time to rest" Seteth said with his usual serious face. "Flayn we should be going to sleep too"
"You are so boring brother. I just want to stay a bit longer."
"Ugh. Thirty minutes, no more" he said as he left the room.
One by one the rest of the students started to leave the canteen. Manuela was carried away by Catherine and Shamir and Hanneman left with Alois after he had woke him up. However, the Black Eagles students remained there.
"It has finally ended" Bernadetta said in a relieved tone. "Eating with so many people around me was really distressing"
"Put your chin high, Bernadetta. It was a chance for you to grow"
"But everyone was acting so friendly it was overwhelming"
"Isn´t a bit too early yet?" Dorothea complained. "I get the feeling that there were already couples forming. With this full moon I just want to disappear with someone"
"I was planning to make some tea to relax a bit. Do you want to share a cup with me Dorothea?"
"I´m sorry, but I already have plans"
"But you just…" Ferdinand sighed.
"And when one of the Golden Deer students was in front of me I shouted and… Are you listening Linhardt?"
"And you defeated it. Battling is just too simple. You just hit someone until you win. Now if you excuse me my bed is waiting for me"
"Looking to each one of us you would think it is a miracle that we can work as a team." Edelgard admitted, standing next to him. "I´ve had always thought that it was my duty to guide all of them into their path, but you have proved me that relying on others can help us to reach more heights. Thanks to you I´ve gotten to experience what it´s like to fight alongside everyone and I´ve even realized that fighting under your command makes me happy. Someday I will be the future emperor of the Empire, but even knowing who I was, you have treated me with no distinction with the others. Even if, as an emperor, I have to assume the burdens of my position I won´t forget what you have done for me here. I may be heir to the Imperial throne, but first and foremost I´m your student. That won´t change even when I turn into the next emperor of the Adrestian Empire."
Hearing her words made him feel an intense happiness inside him.
"I will remember this time too and in my eyes you will always be Edelgard" he said as he rubbed her hair.
"It cannot be helped" she sighed, although she was smiling too.
"Edelgard is right Professor. You have treated all of us the same despite our backgrounds or families" Linhardt said.
"It´s because of you that I´ve had the courage to leave my room for a bit each day, even if you forced me to leave sometimes" Bernadetta said, shyly smiling to him.
"Taking care of everyone is something really remarkable. If more people were like you this world would be a better place to live" assured him Ferdinand.
"In Brigid those who fight alongside each other are bounded. After all these battles you aren´t just our Professor, you are our friend"
"I agree with Petra, Professor. The fact that everyone here could work as a team is thanks to you. Besides, helping each other is what friends do, right?" Dorothea said with a smile in her face.
"Not only that, but you are a fearsome warrior. The punch you gave me in our first lesson taught me a lot" said Caspar.
"I guess that your talent as a teacher is something to take into account. I thank you for your guiding"
"That is so sweet coming from you Hubie"
"I cannot thank you enough for the fact that even I had the opportunity to experience your guiding. And you saved me. Please allow me to express my gratitude once more, Professor" said Flayn with a smile on her face.
An intense feeling of gratitude was starting to blossom inside him. Looking at all of them he was feeling a bit overwhelmed with the different emotions he was experiencing at the same time; pride, happiness and even a bit of sadness as he knew his everyday life would eventually come to an end.
"I´m happy to have all of you as my students. I will never forget this day" he promised them.
…
One by one they started to leave the canteen and headed to their respective dormitories. Byleth was heading to his dormitory when he noticed that Edelgard was standing next to the fishing pond.
"Aren´t you going to sleep Edelgard?"
"I just wanted to enjoy the gentle breeze around here"
"Ah, I see, good night then"
"My Teacher, I wish to speak a private matter with you. Something I´ve wanted to tell you for a while, but I wasn´t able to do"
"I´m here to listen to you"
"I wish to speak in a more isolated place. Could we go to the field of flowers you showed me for my birthday?"
Intrigued by her words he didn´t have a particular reason to refuse.
"I don´t have any problem about that. Let me search for a mount"
They headed to the Pegasus stables together. The world around them was completely silent. Most of the Pegasi had been used by the members of the Church that had just arrived to the monastery so most of them appeared to be exhausted, except one of them.
"This one seems fit enough to fly." He observed. "Edelgard, you will hold the reins. I will show you the way. With the moonlight it will be easy to spot"
Helping Edelgard to climb the Pegasus he quickly jumped behind her, embracing her from behind they left the ground under them and headed to the night sky.
"Are you right Edelgard, your arms appear to be stiff"
"It´s just that I´m tired, my Teacher, but don´t worry I have enough strength to reach our objective." Her voice was firm, but he realized her ears were a bit red.
The monastery grew smaller as they flew under the moonlight. After a while Byleth spotted the field of flowers that was blooming once again as a reaction to the moonlight.
"Over there Edelgard"
As she heard his command the Pegasus started to fly lower and lower until the field under them was perfectly visible. After a short while the Pegasus landed in the middle of the field of flowers.
"A nice flight Edelgard" He said as he landed and offered his hand to help her.
"You have taught me well" she said, accepting his hand. "Now that we are completely alone I can talk freely with you. Do you remember what I told you the night you enteedr my room? About my past? None of my siblings had a chance to lead the life they deserved; an ordinary life."
"I remember"
"My siblings and I were imprisoned underground, beneath the palace. The objective was to endow our bodies with the power of a Major Crest. As you know I posses the Crest of Seiros, inherited through the Hresvelg bloodline, but it was a minor Crest, not comparable to the power of a major Crest and most of my siblings were born crestless. In order to create the perfect ruler of Fódlan they violated our bodies by cutting open our very flesh. I was the only one to survive the experimentation suffered by my body and now here I stand in front of you, the fruit of such abomination: Edelgard von Hresvelg. The life of my family wasn´t the only destroyed by this process. Nameless innocents died as well, without ever knowing why they were sacrificed. That´s the dark truth that hides in the shadows of the current Empire"
Her words had a major impact inside him. He could feel ire slowly extending through his body.
"That is unforgivable. Who is to blame?"
"The prime minister and his gaggle of nobles. My father wanted to strengthen his position of power after witnessing the indulgence and the everlasting corruption that existed in the circles of nobles of the Empire. However, the insurrection of the Seven happened and rendered my father powerless. He could do nothing to save us, even if he wanted to."
"The prime minister…" The image of Ferdinand´s face came to his mind. He couldn't believe that such a pure boy could have a father capable of such atrocities.
"I know that it sounds difficult to believe, but when you see my true strength you will realize I speak the truth. I will show to you the thing I have kept hidden all this time…my second Crest" she said as she extended the palm of her hand.
A familiar crest materialized in front of him.
"A crest long ago forgotten that it was thought to be lost" he recalled Hanneman´s explanation as he looked what he was seeing in front of him. "It cannot be" he said, although his eyes weren´t lying to him.
"It is the same as yours…the Crest of Flames. When it first manifested for me, I swore a silent oath. For the sake of my family and for all the poor souls whose lives were traded for my existence… For their sake I sake I will build a world where such meaningless sacrifice never happens again"
Activating his crest he compared the two of them. They were identical. As they did the events of the last months started to come to his mind.
The dreams of the war, Zanado, the aching of his heart as he was Nemesis, his boiling blood as he was Seiros, the deep scars of his chest. Hanneman´s voice came again to his mind.
"Does it mean that I´m a descendant of Nemesis?"
"That is highly unlikely. The information about the War of the Heroes is really scarce, but there aren´t any reports that talk about the descendants of Nemesis. A crest of such power, it is impossible that was ignored for too long until it manifested again"
He wasn´t a descendant from Nemesis, yet he was able to wield a crestless Sword of the Creator. Does it mean that…?
"I may be the result of experimentation too" he said taking off his shirt.
"My Teacher, what are…" Edelgard was a bit blushed, but her face changed when she saw the deep scars around his chest.
"My Teacher, what happened to you?" she said gently touching his chest, making his heart ache. "I bear the same scars than you, although I´m afraid I cannot show them to you"
"Ah, don´t worry. I believe your words"
"Do you remember anything about your past?"
"My first memories are with my father travelling around the world. I´ve always had this marks in my body"
"Then it must have happened in your early life. I´ve always felt a strange connection with you, my Teacher. It relieves me to know that there is another person in the world that has the same Crest as I do, but it also saddens me that you have probably suffered a similar experimentation. I swear to you that I will fight for a world where there is no place to such unnecessary suffering. Thank you for trusting me with your inner thoughts. I really appreciate it"
"Thank you for telling me this Edelgard. I sincerely hope that your dreams come true" he said as he embraced her.
"My Teacher…"
"Yes Edelgard?"
"I really appreciate it, but you are still shirtless…I don´t want you to catch a cold"
"I´m sorry"
When he released her from his embrace her face was crimson red.
"We should be heading to the monastery again before they notice the missing Pegasus" she said as she picked one of the flowers from the field.
"You are right"
They climbed the Pegasus again and a short while later they were in the air again. They were in complete silence, each one lost in their own thoughts.
"Why do we have the same Crest? For what purpose I have this Crest? What will happen to me in the future as the bearer of this Crest?" there were a lot of unanswered question coming to his mind, but he didn´t have the answers to resolve them. "There are so many things I ignore" he thought.
The giant shadow of the monastery grew bigger as they approached its surroundings. After a moment they landed in front of the stables. They were lucky and there was none in the surroundings.
"Thank you for coming with me, I was trying to find an occasion to talk with you alone, but I wasn´t successful until now"
"That was what you were trying to tell me when we were at the pool" he said, recalling the events of that night.
"There is no need to remember something like that in a moment like this" she said, her cheeks red "But I´m glad I was able to tell you. Keep it a secret between us."
"I promise you I will tell no one"
"I will do the same about yours" she said nodding at him.
"It´s getting late" he said, looking to the moon. "You should get some rest Edelgard and thank you for trusting me"
"You as well, the battle of the Eagle and the Lion, the journey from Gronder and the subsequent celebration must have exhausted you too. Good night Byleth"
As she left him alone, he stayed silent for a while. There were so many things surrounded in mystery, but he swore to himself he would find the truth about it. "This is not a personal matter anymore. I´m not the only person affected by this" he thought. He promised himself to unveil the truth that was waiting for him beyond the shadows as he returned to his room, the moon the only witness of his silent oath.