And so we approach the end of the month relatively quickly. Subsequent months are going to be given more filler, just to note, but it's okay for this one because you really don't have much to do in-game by this point.

Chapter 4 – Practical Experience (Harpstring Moon)

It was at the end of the Harpstring Moon that all three classes had assembled to go to the sacred grounds of Zanado, the Red Canyon. A band of thieves had made themselves at home in the ruins and, seeing an opportunity to give the students some real combat experience, the Church had assigned them to eliminate the bandits. A battalion of the Knights of Seiros had been assigned to support the students, meant to intervene in the unlikely event that things went badly.

It was a usual practice for the Officer's Academy. Each month, the students of all three houses would come together to perform missions assigned to them by the Church. It was meant to improve relations between the three houses by having the students forge bonds through common goals. For many years, the practice had proven effective.

Being the newest Professor, Byleth had been assigned the first-year students of the three houses for this task. Manuela had the second-year students for their own mission while Hanneman had the third-year students in another. Seteth had allegedly opposed letting Byleth lead the mission since she was a newcomer and the mission was to put the first-year students into a real battle, but Rhea had been adamant on the decision. It led many to wonder why the archbishop was putting so much faith in someone she barely knew.

Of course, these things weren't at the forefront of Dorothea's mind. She was more concerned about what they had been sent to do. They were to wipe these bandits out. It wasn't going to be practice or a mock battle; they had to kill or be killed.

Looking around, Dorothea could see the various students chatting amongst each other. Caspar was chomping at the bit to get into a real battle, while Annette and Mercedes continued to chat over their own interests rather than about the upcoming mission. Many of the others were also rather carefree about what was to come, something that didn't encourage Dorothea. Only a few were taking the situation seriously, including Dimitri, Edelgard, Dedue, Hubert, Felix, Lysithea, and of course Byleth.

Soon, the students found themselves nearing the mouth of the Red Canyon. The Knights had moved off to cut off any escape routes for the bandits, but it would be up to the students to do the dirty work. The students were given a few minutes to rest and prepare themselves after their march, and then they would be sent into battle.

Dorothea took the time to sit down on a rock overlooking the canyon. She could barely make out a few moving figures in the ruins, clearly some of the bandits who had noticed their approach. Knowing they were expected made Dorothea uneasy.

The sound of approaching footsteps broke Dorothea out of her thoughts, and she turned to see Byleth walking toward her. The Professor was in her usual attire rather than anything Dorothea had picked out, though Dorothea agreed that it was better suited for combat.

"Something on your mind?" Byleth asked.

"Oh, Professor… I wasn't… um…"

"It's alright if you're nervous."

"No, it's not that. It's just… don't you find it strange that the church is having us experience a real battle? I mean, is it really part of their teachings or something?"

"I can't say. But I do agree that this is a valuable chance we're being given."

"Really? You think the church sending us, students, to kill people, is a 'valuable chance'?"

Byleth was silent for a moment as she looked Dorothea in the eye. As she did, Dorothea internally scolded herself for saying such a thing. It wasn't Byleth's idea to do this, after all.

"I'm sorry, Professor," said Dorothea. "I know this is something that will help in the long run, and that these bandits deserve what's coming. It's just… Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Do you… remember the first person you killed?"

Byleth paused for a second, and then said, "Vaguely. He was a thief and a murderer, that's all I really remember about him. My father brought me along for a job when I was seven and had me finish him off."

"You were only seven?"

"That's how I remember it."

Dorothea took her own pause before asking, "Does it… get any easier? Killing, I mean."

Byleth knew now what troubled Dorothea, so she answered, "No, it doesn't."

Dorothea nodded silently to this. Then, after a moment of silence, she said, "I've killed someone before."

"You have?"

"Yeah. I was just thirteen when it happened. I was preparing for a play when some men barged into the changerooms. One of the other singers had jilted their boss and they were sent to drag her back to him. Well, one of them saw me and decided he wanted me, whether I wanted it or not. It all happened so fast. The next thing I knew, I'd grabbed a knife and… and…"

Dorothea stopped at this. Byleth could tell the memory was painful to her.

"You don't have to continue," said Byleth.

"Th-Thank you, Professor. Heh, dunno why I even told you all that…"

The two were silent for another moment. Then, Byleth said, "If you don't want to participate, I can–"

"No, Professor, it's alright," Dorothea interrupted. "I'll be okay. At least, I hope so." Pausing again, Dorothea added, "I still remember his face. The look of shock in his eyes."

Another pause. Byleth then said, "I don't remember what my first looked like."

Dorothea frowned and said, "Lucky you."

"You did what you had to, Dorothea," said a familiar voice, prompting Dorothea and Byleth to turn around.

"E-Edie!" Dorothea exclaimed upon seeing the Adrestian princess. "You weren't listening to us, were you?"

"I was," Edelgard answered.

Sighing, Dorothea said, "Well, this is… I can't just ask you to forget about it, can I?"

"I don't believe I could. But Dorothea, let me just say that no one here will judge you for it. You did what was necessary."

"Easy for you to say, Edie. I doubt you've ever experienced what it's like to see the life draining out of someone's eyes."

Edelgard paused with a frown, earning Dorothea's silence. She then said, "You are wrong, Dorothea. I have seen it."

"W-What? Edie, have you–"

"Yes. And I remember him well. I remember the look of disbelief in his eyes when I drove my blade deep into his throat. The sounds, the smells… I remember them as though it were yesterday. And I would do it again if I must."

"Oh my… I-I'm sorry, Edie. I just thought–"

"We all handle it differently," Byleth interrupted. "Dorothea, know that we're here to help if you need it."

"I… Thank you, Professor."

At that moment, the three heard Caspar shout out, "Alright everyone, time to get this show on the road!"

"Caspar, how can you be so eager about this?" asked Ashe.

"Hey, I don't just train for no reason! I've been itching for a real battle, so let's get down there!"

"Try to have some patience, Caspar," said Lorenz. "We must wait on Professor Eisner's order, after all."

Turning back to Byleth, Dorothea said, "I guess that's your cue."

Nodding, Byleth asked, "Are you ready?"

Dorothea looked down at the small moving figures in the canyon below, then took a deep breath as she assumed her diva persona. It was a familiar act; one she would put on before a show or when speaking with snobby nobles who courted her back in Enbarr.

"Like Caspar said," Dorothea said, now with enthusiasm, "Let's get this show started."

I wonder whether I went too fast with that whole "Dorothea's already killed someone" reveal. Did I?

Also, am I making Byleth a bit too chatty?