And now a part you've all been waiting for: the introduction of the Ashen Wolves.

Chapter 30 – Into Abyss (Horsebow Moon)

"Come on, Mary," said Hilda as she led her blue-haired friend by the arm through the monastery town. "Those sweets aren't going to eat themselves."

"B-But I…" Marianne tried to protest, but she just could not find the words.

Dorothea, who trailed behind the two, smiled a bit at the friendship between the girls. It was strange how they were almost complete opposites and yet were so close. If anything, it made Dorothea a little jealous.

As the three girls went on their way, Hilda suddenly stopped as she and Dorothea caught an unusual sight. Standing together as a crowd were Byleth, Claude, Dimitri, Edelgard, Ashe, Dedue, and Linhardt, all of them standing before a passageway. While the sight of all three house leaders together outside of a mission was unusual enough, the passageway was what really caught Dorothea's attention. She had been through that part of town before, but that passageway had not been there before.

"Hey, what's going on here?" Hilda asked aloud as she walked toward the group.

"Oh, hey Hilda," said Claude, turning to face the girls as they approached. "Fancy seeing you three lovely ladies here at this hour. Where were you off to?"

With an unamused look, Hilda replied, "As dodgy as always, Claude. Mary and I were off to buy some sweets when we saw all of you here."

"I see," said Edelgard. "And Dorothea, you were with them?"

"Yes, I was invited. How could I say no to such an offer, Edie?" said Dorothea. "But back to this, what's going on here? I've never seen this passage here before."

Dimitri then said, "Claude claims he saw a suspicious individual opening it up and slipping inside. We were about to head in to investigate."

"After all," Ashe chimed in, "with Flayn still missing, this could be a lead. With any luck, maybe we'll find her down there."

"Hmm, sounds interesting," said Hilda.

"Perhaps you would like to join us," asked Dedue.

"H-Huh? What?" Marianne said in surprise.

"Shouldn't this be something we should leave to the knights?" asked Hilda.

"We thought of that," said Byleth, "but we decided there isn't time to notify them. Our suspect could escape in that time."

Just as Hilda was about to say something, Claude said, "You can stop thinking of ways out of this, Hilda. We could use your help too."

"And Marianne, I would certainly appreciate your help as well," said Dimitri.

"M-M-Me? But I…" Marianne couldn't find anything to say as a slight blush came across her pale cheeks.

"Well, if you all don't mind," said Linhardt as he moved to leave. "Now that you've got Marianne with you, I'll just be–"

As if on cue, Edelgard grabbed Linhardt by the collar and said, "You're still coming with us, Linhardt. Two healers are better than one."

Dorothea made a small giggle as Linhardt sighed in defeat, and then the diva said, "You mean three healers, right Edie?"

"Dorothea, are you sure you wish to join us?" asked Edelgard.

"Hey, I want to do my part if it means finding Flayn. And besides, between the ten of us, we should be able to handle anything down there. Right, Professor?"

Byleth nodded affirmatively.

Sighing in some protest, Edelgard said, "Alright, if you want, Dorothea. I just thought after your experiences at Conand Tower and with Count Varley that you might…"

Dorothea gave Edelgard a glare at this moment, which was all the Imperial princess needed to stop mid-sentence.

"Well, would you look at that?" Claude said jokingly. "Our dear Imperial princess just can't say 'no' to our dear songstress. Maybe she's got you under some musical spell of hers." Claude put on a mocking tone at the end of his sentence, followed up by a chuckle.

Simultaneously, both Edelgard and Dorothea said, "Shut up, Claude."

The house leader of the Golden Deer recoiled at being scolded by both girls at once.

Seconds later, Byleth led the group as the ten individuals entered the passageway.

…

Minutes later, as the group descended underground, they found themselves in a sprawling chamber. Torches were lit upon the walls, and there was a noticeable lack of cobwebs in some areas. Metal gates barred off some of the passages, limiting them to moving in a single direction.

Edelgard then said, "Hmm… It seems this place is more than a simple passageway. There's clear evidence of human habitation."

"Yeah, you don't just have torches burning when no one's around," said Dorothea.

"People living under Garreg Mach…" Hilda said pensively. Then, remembering something, she said, "Oh! My brother used to tell me stories like that back in his Academy days."

"Ah, so he attended the academy as well, then?" asked Claude.

"Of course! Back then, there were tons of rumors about what goes on below Garreg Mach."

"What kinds of rumors?" asked Dedue.

"Something about tons of passages and houses beneath the town, all inhabited by super-shady people. It had a real intimidating name too. Ah, what was it again…? I think it was called… Abyss?"

Then, as if on cue, the group was startled by the sound of several iron gates shifting open, screeching as they were raised. Immediately the group went on the defensive, raising their weapons and readying spells as several rogues came pouring out of the passages. Each one of them wore a mask depicting a grey wolf.

As the group looked at their assailants, a boisterous male voice shouted, "That's two points for the pink-haired gal!"

Turning to the voice, Dorothea saw a muscular man with messy black hair, an open grey coat, and a stylized black chain extending from a collar down across his exposed chest. Like the others, his face was covered by a mask. On his hands, he bore two strange gauntlets that looked more like claws made of bone that, to everyone's alarm, were glowing a vibrant red.

Behind him, Dorothea saw two others, both girls. One of them was a blonde, her hair short and with two drill-like bangs, dressed in a grey high-waist skirt that reached her ankles, similar black chains that wound down her back, and held a fan in her hand. The other was a redhead, her hair long and messy, with dark brown skin, a short grey skirt and blue crop top under a grey cropped jacket that exposed her navel, and a black choker with a chain that settled atop her considerable bust. They too wore masks like the other rogues.

But the masks weren't what caught Dorothea's eye; it was that their outfits looked so similar to their academy uniforms.

"Identify yourselves!" Dimitri demanded.

The muscular male, Balthus, answered, "Welcome, curious students of the Officers Academy! What brings such fine, upstanding surface dwellers to our humble abode?"

"We're tracking someone who was creeping around the monastery," said Claude.

"Our business here does not concern you," said Edelgard. "Do you intend to let us pass?"

Then, the blonde girl, Constance, made a haughty laugh and said, "Such indulgence simply cannot be permitted! Your words may fool the fool, but I cannot be so easily deceived! You are here by order of the church… which cruelly plots to eliminate the inhabitants of Abyss!"

"You think we're trying to harm you?" asked Dorothea.

"N-No!" Marianne protested. "We're not here to–"

Interrupting, Balthus said, "I don't care what the reason for this brawl is. A fight's on the menu, and I'm ready to feast. Let's get right to it, yeah?"

Scowling, Dimitri said, "By the look of them, I'd wager they're experienced combatants. I'm not certain this is a wise endeavor."

"I was thinking the very same thing," said Claude. "Time to make a strategic retreat, then?"

Then, another voice chimed in and said, "Turning back already? Oh, but you'll make me so sad. Now why would you wanna do that?"

Alarmed, Dorothea whipped around to see more rogues had come out behind the students, and that they were now surrounded. Standing in the middle of the second group of rogues was a lithe man with lavender hair, dressed in a stylized black uniform with a white capelet on his left shoulder. On his left hand, however, was a fetter that glowed a similar red to Balthus' claw weapons. Again, like the others, he was also masked.

The lavender rogue, Yuri, then continued, "Everyone here is starved for amusement. They've been waiting for a good fight."

Grimacing at seeing the enemy had surrounded them, Claude said, "Wow, look at that. A flawless example of a surprise attack. These aren't your run-of-the-mill thugs."

In an admonishing tone, Dimitri said, "Claude, this isn't the time to be impressed by our enemy. We must find a way through at once."

Then, with a gesture that showed his surprise, Balthus said, "Wait… Claude, is it? As in the brand-new heir of House Riegan?"

As if caught with his pants down, Claude answered, "Who, me? Nah. Wrong guy. Claude's a common name in Fódlan. It's just too dashing for new moms to pass up. It's even a popular choice for fake names. Just a good, solid, all-purpose moniker, you know?"

"Right, except there's only one Claude enrolled at the academy this year. Looks like that's you."

Surprised, Marianne asked, "How do you even know that?"

Claude's expression turned to one of dismay as Marianne said this, as though she had just told everyone an embarrassing secret.

"Ha, you just gave him away, missie," said Balthus. "Looks like my luck's finally taking a turn for the good."

With an exasperated sigh, Claude said, "Marianne…"

"I… I'm sorry…" Marianne replied gloomily.

Balthus then said, "All right, so your choices are as follows: line up for the beating of a lifetime… or let us lock you up like the good little boys and girls you undoubtedly are. And I'm guessing by your stances that you're gonna go for the first option."

Dorothea glanced toward Byleth, who remained silent through all the talk. The professor's eyes were darting about the chamber, taking in every detail possible. They were outnumbered two to one, at least, and already faced foes on all sides. It was a difficult situation, to say the least.

"Who are you people, anyhow?" said Dimitri. "It doesn't seem right to cross blades without knowing at least that much."

The redhead, Hapi, said, "Wow, does it hurt to take yourself that seriously? Answer the man's question, B."

"Why me? Eh, fine…" said Balthus. "We're the Ashen Wolves. We're the secret fourth house in Abyss. The surface world turned its back on us, and we did the same in return. Back for a back, as they say."

"A fourth house?" Edelgard asked incredulously. "Impossible…"

"I have no clue what this guy's going on about," said Claude, "but it looks like a fight's in order, and it's pretty much all my fault for dragging you guys down here. There's a saying from the east about fighting a flicker with a flame. Seems applicable right about now."

"I have not heard such a thing," said Dedue.

Behind them, Hilda furrowed her brow as she said, "Hm… Why can't I shake the feeling that I know this wild guy?"

"And that other one," added Dorothea, gesturing towards Yuri. "I swear I've heard that voice before."

At saying this, Dorothea saw Yuri's eyes fixate upon her behind his mask. He then said, "Well then, I guess we'll be taking both options. Rough them up, but take them alive, you hear?"

Rolling his shoulders, Balthus then said enthusiastically, "Finally! Let's do this already! Prepare to face the Almighty King of Grappling!"

And as he spouted off his title, Balthus and the rogues attacked.

Interesting twist on the DLC, yes? That won't be the only interesting change I'll be making.

Now for some potentially bad news: I'm running out of my "buffer" for finished chapters, so if I'm not able to keep pace, I may have to slow down my release cadence. I'm not slowing it at the moment, but just a heads up that I may in the near future.