Wake Up! Wake Up! You Must Survive! Wake Up!
Horsebow Moon
The Battalion Guild didn't open to the students with the Horsebow Moon. By the time accounting day came everyone was alert looking for Flayn.
"I don't like it, Kid." Jeralt told her at breakfast one morning before she set out for her assigned patrol through the town "I don't like it at all. You've heard the rest of the reports, right?"
"Yes, the Guildmaster told me." Byleth affirmed "Other people missing, patrols vanished, the Death Knight figure –he's been seen at the Monastery before?"
"Part of the Western Church attack just before you arrived. I interviewed the students myself when this cropped up, but I don't see how it could be connected, the Western Church have their hands tied."
"Then he's mercenary." Byleth suggested "Working for someone else now."
"Yes, but who? And what are they after? There's too much going on here that I don't have the answers for. If we don't get a lead soon, I'll have to send Knights down into Abyss and the trouble that'll-" he cut off as Seteth passed through the dining hall, pale and harried, he looked like a strong breeze might knock him over "It's difficult to watch." Jeralt added, once he'd gone.
"Let's find her quickly." Byleth agreed, standing and picking up her tray to return
"Byleth." At the sound of her name in that heavy tone, Byleth halted immediately and met her father's eyes "If you know the reports then you're already aware; the other missing people are all girls and the patrols that vanished aren't lightweights either. I trust you to take care of yourself out there, but keep your check-ins, alright?"
"Of course." She agreed with a nod and then paused, head tilting in thought "Though, what if-"
"No." Jeralt answered immediately "I know what you're thinking, Kid, toyed with the idea myself, but it wouldn't work –whole damn mountain knows we're looking for Flayn, or will do shortly. Bait operations only work if you can be covert. If we're going to find her, it'll be the old fashioned way. Or maybe we'll catch a lucky break."
Byleth considered that then nodded and reached out a hand to take Jeralt's tray as well, he passed it over and gave a wan smile as he readied himself to go their separate ways "Keep your guard up, Kid. I'll catch up with you as soon as I get the chance."
~o~*~o~
A couple of students with artistic leanings had drawn a stack of sketches showing Flayn's portrait so the mercenaries who had never seen her would know whom they were looking for and could go door-to-door out to the nearby homesteads.
There was no trail, most of the people they asked hadn't even known the girl existed. It seemed more and more likely that she was somewhere within the vast complex of the monastery or it's darker underbelly.
"So much trouble for one girl… Missions cancelled, all the student's spare time devoted to the search. What makes this Flayn child more special than any of the other missing persons?" Sothis mused as Byleth checked in with the Guildmaster one evening –no searching could be done at night.
"Happenstance" Byleth thought back at her. The Archbishop's advisor was a man of significant power in Garreg Mach after all.
"Perhaps. I would not be so quick to rule out other influence though, I have a feeling… well, it may be as you say, or it may not. We will just have to find her and uncover the truth."
Byleth agreed internally, then turned to dismiss her men for the evening. Tomorrow they'd been scheduled a late start, and though the mood was sombre, they were all, to a man, in need of a night of carousing "Back by one" was the only instruction she gave them, as they headed back down the path to town
"Will you not join them?" Sothis prompted
"There won't be any singing or reels tonight."
"I –That is not, I- Hmph!"
~o~*~o~
She didn't "wait up" for her men as such, but she was in her bedroom/study at the desk overlooking the road as the first of them began to stagger back. She counted them in just as she counted the coins they weren't likely to need for weapon repairs this moon, figuring if it would be best to put the extra towards new gear or stashed aside for rainy days.
"You hoard enough as it is." Sothis chided "You have not even touched your share of the spoils from Gautier yet. Buy some new gear! Get a pretty dress! And by all means stop accounting. It is terribly dull."
"Yet, necessary. These are company funds not MinePersonal. If I'm indisposed the ledgers must be AccurateCloseAs for Sanderson to pick up."
"Oh very well. Yet, it seems as though you may need to set them aside for the moment, look there, I believe those two may require some help. Or rather a lot."
Right at the edge of her view of the street, Raoul and Professor Manuela came into sight. They were moving sideways as much as forward, and in circles more than sideways. Byleth sighed and set her quill down, she armed herself automatically before making her way downstairs. Raoul's roommate was thankfully already in the common area with a couple of the others and a quick jerk of her head saw him follow her out of doors to collect the inebriate.
It required some finesse to slip herself into Raoul's place under Manuela's arm, but she managed it smoothly, knocking the swordsman forward so he staggered into position to be swept up none too gently into an over-the-shoulder carry and carted off –luckily for all involved he didn't protest and managed to keep his stomach, he may even have been unconscious already. A round of laughter echoed out from their quarters and she rather expected Raoul would wake in the morning hungover and somehow also humiliated.
Byleth focused her attention on getting Manuela back to the monastery. "Good evening, Professor" she started, directing their feet in a much more forward direction.
"Why Mizz Eissner hel-hello! Wh-en did you get here?"
"Just now, Professor. May I walk back with you?"
"If yurr taking me to bed sweetie, you mus' call me Manuela" the professor said conspiratorially, tilting her head down to rest on Byleth's shoulder
"Very well, Manuela." Byleth agreed and Manuela hummed in satisfaction. Very shortly the hum turned tuneful and a moment later her voice pierced the night with a few lyrics;
"Here it comes! Horsebow Moon and summer's end!"
"Do you sing, Manuela?" Byleth asked as the last note trailed off, mostly to keep the physician awake and moving. It proved a rather more effective question than she'd expected.
"Do I –Do I sing? Dear girl, I am the Manuela Ca-sa-gran-da of the Miffle- the Miffle –Miffle –Miff- the most renowned Opera Company in all Adrestia. Do I sing, indeed!" It took Byleth some effort to keep them steady as Manuela gesticulated widely, but it was more amusing than frustrating.
"Your pardon –I've only recently discovered an interest in music."
"Oh! Then you must come and h-ear me darling! I shall-shall put on a concert! Why yes, I should plan this immeee- immee- imme- right away!"
Manuela's pace picked up and Byleth lengthened her stride to match, nodding as they passed the night watch into the inner grounds. They had just reached the pathway through the gardens when Manuela suddenly halted "Hey, wh-here'd that fella go?"
Byleth didn't even have a chance to answer before Manuela exclaimed and somehow managed to slip from her grip and sashay her way across to the hedge that lined the path, stooping to pick something up that had glinted in the moonlight "I know this!" She held up the white mask over her eyes "Tell me, do I look dashing?"
Her coat was slipping down one arm, her hair a tousled mess, make-up smudged in all directions and she was holding the mask at such an angle that it blocked half of one eye entirely, but even Byleth knew there was only one answer to that question;
"Very."
Manuela giggled, and tottered back over to take Byleth's arm allowing the mercenary to lead her onwards once more as she began chattering away about various masks, props, accessories and costumes she had worn in her days in the spotlight.
By some miracle, they navigated the stairs without mishap, and Byleth was able to talk Manuela into taking her shoes (and daggers) off before she collapsed onto one of the infirmary beds, but not her coat. Nor did she get her to drink the goblet of water she filled from an ewer conveniently on hand before the diva was dead to the world.
Byleth tugged a blanket up over the older woman and after a moment to consider decided she'd rather deal with Manuela's hangover in the morning than whatever her men would have done to Raoul, and so she removed her sword and slipped into a nearby chair to kip the rest of the night away.
~o~*~o~
When she woke, Manuela was greeted by the sound of liquids being poured and gently stirred. She couldn't imagine why that might be and fought to lift her head through the haze; an undignified groan escaping when the effort proved too much.
A moment later a cup was pressed in her hand and held there, a second presence assisting her to bring it up to wet her throat. She was halfway through before she realised it wasn't her usual hangover cure and she stopped, well trained physician's mind kicking in to identify it. The main ingredients were pure water and mint; but she also detected Ailell grass and white verona. Not as effective for the headache as her usual remedy, but swifter acting and more settling to the stomach. She tipped the rest of it back and turned bleary eyes on her benefactress.
"Thank you, dear. What time is it?"
"A little before ten, Professor."
"Ah-ah, I told you to call me Manuela."
"You remember?" the mercenary asked, eyebrows just hinting upwards with surprise.
"I always do, sooner or later; one of my many burdens." Manuela replied, massaging her temples "I can't say I'm quite up for giving you a concert right now, but if you give me a moment to ah… put myself together, I can certainly whip something up in the kitchens to tide us through to lunch. My little thank-you for taking such good care of me."
"I won't turn down a free meal" Byleth answered, as Manuela pulled the privacy curtain between them and set about righting her dishevelment. As she reached for her brush she noticed her prize from last night sitting on a nearby cabinet
"Goodness, I should probably return that first. Do you know, I've never seen Professor Jeritza without his mask, I expect he'll be wanting it. It's a shame really, I imagine he's rather handsome under there."
"I don't think we've met."
"Well, perhaps you'll get the chance." Manuela returned, drawing the curtain aside again with a flourish and linking her arm through Byleth's. "One quick stop then on to breakfast, my dear –you won't mind if I drop all the formalities and call you Byleth will you?"
"Not at all."
"Aren't you sweet" Manuela cooed, as she led them onwards. "Say, whatever did happen to that fella?"
"From what I gathered, you drank him under the table… his awakening will probably be less pleasant than yours."
Manuela, long practiced at treating the aftermath of the sort of behaviour that generally occurred when large groups of friends (typically male) were left with the unconscious but otherwise sound body of one of their cohorts, snorted "No, with your crew I imagine not."
They meandered their way down to the Knight's residences and through a couple of narrowed cloisters before Manuela drew them to a halt in front of a door "Coo-ee, Professor" she called as she rapped on the door. There was no response, but the door creaked open slightly. The ladies shared a glance then pushed the door open to an empty room, neatly made. "Well, I'll just leave this here and then we can go on." Manuela said, crossing over the threshold.
~o~*~o~
It was only a passing comment that Felix made over breakfast, but something about it stuck in Dimitri's mind. Professor Jeritza had been quicker, harsher, more reckless in his matches the past moon or so, and he had by all accounts often been missing from the monastery during the night of late.
It could be nothing –just stress, and yet his concern only grew until by mid-morning he was seeking out Captain Jeralt. Somehow, over the course of his explanation, Seteth had become involved. It was quite clear to everyone that the advisor was going to run mad if he continued to be unable to do anything, and so, whether Dimitri's suspicions were really enough or not, Jeralt suggested that Seteth come along with him and Alois to at least have a word with Jeritza about anything he may have noticed in the night.
Dimitri followed them out of a sense of obligation more than anything; he had started it, he ought to finish it. Although he held back for a moment to speak with Professor Hanneman, who approached from the stables as they reached the pathway to the Knight's abode.
He didn't quite manage to say "Good morning, Professor" before the screaming started.
~o~*~o~
Manuela had just put the mask down on the desk when a nearby bookcase swung away from the wall. In the narrow passage revealed behind it stood what could only be Death Knight, scythe propped over one shoulder, the opposite arm extended to push the case open, horned helm nearly scraping the doorframe. The convivial atmosphere evaporated, replaced by a tense energy that raised the hairs on the back of their necks.
In a flash, Byleth stepped in front of the doctor, sword drawn and raised at the ready.
There was a moment of terrible silence.
"You must die." Said the Knight.
Byleth sprang forward, pressing him backward into the passage with a flurry of swift blows. The shaft of the scythe repelled them, but in the confines of the stairwell he had limited horizontal movement to counter her.
The Death Knight quickly retreated back a step and a bolt of magic flew at her. If she dodged, it would strike her companion- it was all Byleth could do to choose where it would hit (her off-arm), and bless Manuela's quick action with a warding spell that spared her from too much damage, though her fingers tingled slightly, the very tips gone numb.
"You will scream before you die." The Knight taunted, reversing the scythe so the blade, still limited in horizontal motion, was threatening to trip her feet.
"Manuela" Byleth said, voice calm and commanding "give the man what he wants."
Manuela Casagranda, peerless diva of the Mittlefrank Opera Company, took a breath and let out a scream that could have raised the roof of the Cathedral.
Even though she'd been expecting it, Byleth flinched. The Death Knight recovered faster.
In a quick one-two motion that caused an alarming crunch in her wrist he used the shaft of the scythe to knock her sword out of guard and to the side. Before she could react more than the widening of her eyes at the pain of it, in a movement too quick to follow, the Death Knight twisted his blade up. The Scythe of Sariel pierced her abdomen and though she couldn't see it, the very tip broke through her back.
By pure reflex her offhand gripped the pole so he couldn't withdraw it as her body began to go into shock. Sothis was screaming at the back of her mind and Manuela's own effort had taken a higher, more desperate, note.
"Inconsequential."
He released one hand from the scythe and a gauntleted fist crashed directly into face. Her grip on both her sword and the scythe fell as she staggered back, dazed and faint, against the wall. The Knight took that moment to rip the blade from her. Her blood splattering in arcs against the walls and stairs.
A bestial, primal, roar filled the passageway. In the blink of an eye a steel spear appeared piercing the Knight's shoulder. In another, the back of a familiar amber tunic filled her darkening vision.
"It's alright…" she thought at the desperate voice of Sothis, still screaming… something about time at her "Dad's here. SafeAlrightSleepCold."
And then she knew nothing.
~o~*~o~
The four of them, Jeralt, Seteth, Alois and Hanneman had left Dimitri to guard the gate and arrived just in time to see the blade ripped from Byleth.
And then Jeralt went berserk, like one of the fighters out of legend.
He strode forward, every step matched by a blow, the harsh ringing of spear on armour reverberating around them and forcing the Death Knight, trailing blood from one shoulder, back and back and back and back, down into a chamber.
Seteth was vaguely aware from some schema of the Monastery or other that he knew what this room was, but he didn't have the time to place the thought at present –there were other forces here.
Jeralt ignored them all, utterly fixated on the Death Knight. Their foe had more room now to dodge and parry, using the full range of movement best suited to his weapon, but the Captain of the Knights of Seiros, no; Byleth's Father, was relentless. Seteth and Alois covered his flanks, but there was little challenge to it. Most of the opponents in the room were rattled by the sheer force of presence that was the Blade Breaker, cloaked in anger, stalking forward like some unstoppable titan. Hanneman took the rear, guarding the stair and dispatching any who attempted to flee past where Manuela was crouched over Byleth, healing hands working fervently.
They pursued the Death Knight through a large room, then doors and passages and another hall until he backed into a dead end where-
"Flayn!" Seteth cried, just as Jeralt countered a swing of the scythe with a swift reversal and delivered a jab with the butt of his lance that cracked the helm of the Death Knight. One cold blue eye and Jeritza's pale hair visible as part of the faceguard fell away and he staggered back.
"It seems this charade has ended" spoke a new voice, and a figure, hidden under mask and robe, stepped out from the shadows in the corner of the room.
Jeralt brandished his spear, deadly tip pointing at the new figure in challenge.
"Your name" he spat "so I may engrave it on your tomb."
"I am the Flame Emperor. It is I who will reforge the world."
Seteth felt the tingle of magic pass over his scalp as, with no other fanfare, the Flame Emperor and the Death Knight, Jeritza, vanished. Jeralt roared again as his quarry was denied him and though he wanted desperately to rush to Flayn, to Cethleann, Seteth held himself back long enough to clamp a hand on the Captain's arm and bring his focus on himself.
"Your daughter needs you."
Slowly the rage cleared from Jeralt's eyes and he nodded briefly before turning on his heel and running from the room, back the way they'd come, leaving Seteth free at last to tend to his own. He lifted his precious child into his arms; she was pale and cold, but breathing steadily and he was almost overwhelmed by the relief that coursed through him. Except, he couldn't give into it yet, there was still more to be done.
Alois picked his way past him and pulled another figure up from the floor "is that –Monica?"
"I believe it is." The knight answered "What is going on here?"
"I don't know. Come, we have enough to be doing." And, cradling Flayn to him, he worked his way back out of the chamber, following the route they had come by.
Manuela was kneeling beside Byleth's prone figure, and Jeralt was now crouched at her head, holding it delicately off the stone stair and watching his daughter's face for any expression of pain that may cross it. Hanneman was missing, but reappeared almost as soon as Seteth registered he was absent with Marianne von Edmund at his back.
"Oh G-Goddess." She whispered on seeing the blood, but to her credit, stepped forward immediately and settled beside Manuela, listening intently to her Professor's instructions.
"There's quite a crowd up there" Hanneman murmured when he was sure he wouldn't disrupt the healers. "Catherine and Prince Dimitri are holding them, so you should be able to get through. I sent Miss Mercedes and young Lindhart ahead to prepare the infirmary."
"That was well done" Seteth acknowledged. "Manuela," he called gently, "how long before Miss Eisner can be moved?"
"Whatever that blade was made of, the wounds don't want to close normally, but I've got the trick of it now." She answered, eyes focused resolutely on the young mercenary's abdomen "A moment more and she'll be stable enough. Marianne, leave the poor dear's face for now; go ahead and get an elixir ready from the third cabinet, it's the blood loss we need to concern ourselves with next."
"Yes, Professor." Marianne answered, resolute with a task set before her, she took off up the stairs ahead of them as Manuela finally drew her hands away
"There, gently now, Captain, move swiftly but don't jostle her."
~o~*~o~
"I am here." Edelgard announced as she approached Dimitri's side on the pathway outside the Knight's housing "Apologies for my tardiness; how can I help?"
"We've been asked to keep a path clear to the infirmary." Dimitri answered indicating around them, where Raphael and Dedue were blocking the tide of students crowding forward from the stables and Claude, Sylvain and Caspar were ushering a similar crowd back beyond the walkway between the Reception and Knight's Halls. Dimitri himself was holding the gate to the tea garden but more faces kept popping up over the hedge as the curious climbed up on chairs and tables to see what was happening. "Professor Hanneman said there'd be injured coming up soon. If you could see to it that the reception hall is clear, then-"
He was unable to finish around Edelgard's started gasp and the sudden hush of the crowd as Catherine threw the gate open from the Knight's housing, jogging ahead towards the reception hall to clear it herself. Behind her was the reason for the sudden stillness; Jeralt, Byleth and Manuela.
Jeralt's face could have been carved from granite it was so severe. Byleth was pale, unconscious, beaten and limp in his arms and Manuela paced alongside them, hand on Byleth's abdomen, occasional pulses of white magic flickering between her fingers. The beautiful white coat that made up such a significant part of her silhouette was stained in blood down one side from hip to hem –and halfway round the hem at that, as though she had knelt in a pool of it.
"Return to your duties." Seteth's voice snapped them out of their surprise "House Leaders, see to it." The advisor added as he swept by in Jeralt's wake, Flayn in his arms and Alois and Hanneman on his heels.
Edelgard was still and silent beside him and Claude was staring off after Jeralt's retreating back, eyes wide with surprise, so Dimitri stepped forward to the middle of the path "Everyone!" He called "Flayn has been found. Please, go and inform your classmates; call them back from the search."
"Yes!" Edelgard suddenly started, head snapping up to meet Caspar's eyes "Black Eagles, go tell everyone the good news."
"AAAAAAAAAAAW YEAH!" Caspar yelled "WE FOUND FLAYN YOU GUYS!" he cheered. He pushed his way into the crowd behind him, cheering occasionally and they began to scatter, passing the message on.
Over by the stables, Raphael picked up the call "D'you hear that guys? We found Flayn!"
"Well done." Dimitri said lowly, casting a glance down at Edelgard
"Naturally." She replied, tossing her hair over her shoulder, then crossed her arms "But there will be questions soon."
"True enough" Claude added, approaching them "So, Dimitri it looks like this one is down to you."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I'm certainly not going near Seteth or Captain Jeralt for the next full week at least. I don't see Professor Jeritza around here and Professor Manuela has her hands full soooooo…"
"Yes." Dimitri agreed with a sigh "I'll ask Professor Hanneman for the report."
"There is no point in delaying, we would be better going together." Edelgard interjected and Claude sighed.
"And here I thought I might finally get time for a nap."