The Weight of Your Decision
Ethereal Moon
Byleth was still weeping when Dimitri stalked by on his way to Hanneman's office to collect the Professor for what amounted to a war briefing. He hesitated by the door to the Captain's quarters but in the end he did not enter. He had not wanted words to soothe his anguish. Words would not appease the dead. Only once she had found purpose would Byleth be able to move forward again.
His hands fisted, his teeth grit. These monsters; Solon who had experimented on the people of Remire, Monica –Kronya- who had lured students and Captain Jeralt to their deaths and then attacked the Cathedral while they were mourning in order to kidnap a Cardinal, these people, these creatures, would pay for the suffering they had wrought and pay dearly.
He would see to it.
~o~*~o~
The meeting in the Audience Chamber was grim. Rhea had been still and solemn following the incursion to the Chapel. The second attack within the Monastery's grounds had pushed her into something approaching a fury, her voice sharper and harder than the House Leaders or Professors (save Seteth) had ever heard it as she paced before them.
"-Knights are hunting down these heathens who dare befoul the Monastery with their presence again. The audacity of this attack –we are certain it was the same girl; Monica?"
"All the witnesses report it was so. That her appearance changed and she named herself Kronya –akin to Tomas revealing himself as Solon." Seteth replied, arms crossed, a deep frown on his face.
"And the mage who assisted in the attack on the chapel, on Jeralt? Has he been identified?"
"It was not Solon" Edelgard answered "I spoke with a number of Jeralts's Mercenaries this morning, they were the only troop at both Remire and the Chapel. The descriptions do not match. I think it safe to assume there are at least three such parties; Solon, Kronya and the mage."
Rhea paced further, then stopped, heaving a sigh she turned to face them.
"We will not be caught off guard again. With the Knights in pursuit we will rely on the Officers Academy for defence. We will prepare against further infiltration as well. Students will be expected to bear arms at all times, even within the Cathedral."
"That's all well and good if our opponents announce themselves." Claude interjected "But arming everyone and setting them to look for intruders when our enemies can walk around looking like our friends is a sure way to… unfortunate incidents."
"And what would you suggest?" Seteth shot back, Claude shrugged and laced his hands behind his head, projecting an air of lackadaisical calm.
"Passwords, secret phrases, a healthy dose of paranoia. –Not too much you understand, just enough to follow procedure."
"Tomas was absent from the monastery for a number of years, and Monica was missing for a year before her discovery, or should I say reinsertion." Hanneman stated "Whatever the process is for taking on a foreign appearance, I do not believe it can be achieved quickly. Taking note of extended absences may be enough to prevent being taken in by another doppelgänger."
Rhea raised a hand "You are both quite right. We must be cautious, but it will not do to promote fear and distrust. I will not expect students to bear arms at all times, but I will ask you Professors and House Leaders to be particularly mindful of the comings and goings of your houses. Be sure to meet personally with anyone returning to the monastery after an absence of more than a week. You will be issued specific guard details soon." She gestured to dismiss them "May the Goddess watch over us all."
~o~*~o~
Guardian Moon
"And what" The Flame Emperor demanded "was the purpose of setting the whole monastery to alarm?"
"Ah, Kronya's methods are offensive, yes, but we could not pass over the opportunity. With the Knights seeking us without it was simple to strike within, since we've been able to identify a number of the Cardinals with your information."
"To what end? Stymieing my movements at this juncture… If I am unable to coordinate my forces arrivals, it will not end well. The path through the Kingdom is not secure enough to openly march my advance troops, let alone an army."
"Flame Emperor, you are our greatest creation, but make no mistake, the Cardinals are hers" Thales countered. "We gave you the defiled beast's blood so you may burn even the gods and bring about our salvation; by unravelling the secrets of the Cardinals we only clear your path."
"Hmph. Unravelling. Do you intend to repeat the gruesome deeds of Duscur and Enbarr? There will be no salvation for you or your kind if these measures continue."
"All for a purpose. All to give you the power you need. But do not worry," Thales smiled "Solon has grown in wisdom. The blood of the girl has been of great benefit. We will not need to take such… visible, measures as Duscur, nor so prolonged as Enbarr. With the Cardinal in our hands, it is possible we may break even the great ward of Garreg Mach."
The Flame Emperor paused
"Ailell is no less an atrocity than Duscur. My troops will be more than sufficient."
"You may call it an atrocity if you wish, but it would bring about the swiftest end. In one stroke we would shatter the remains of the defiled beast, that false goddess, and all her supporters; Seiros among them. With the lines of the Kingdom and Alliance into the bargain. How long might your people otherwise suffer under the gears of open war?"
The Flame Emperor was silent. Thales's smile was sharp enough to draw blood.
"It is only a possibility at present. But you may wish to bear it in mind. Keep your forces… mobile."
~o~*~o~
Ignatz, still working through a concussion, had managed to produce a credible portrait of Kronya. Everyone who had been in the cathedral with him agreed it was a good likeness, so Claude took it to pass around the academy, maybe post it on the bulletin by the dining hall, that way everyone would know the face of at least one of the people causing all this chaos.
Remire, the Beasts in the Chapel, Captain Jeralt, abducting a Cardinal –just what were these people after? Solon had claimed to be part of Flayn's abduction, and the Death Knight had been involved in that and had been with the Western Church. Did this plot go all the way back to Lonato's rebellion? What was smoke and mirrors and what was real?
He hesitated in front of the Captain's quarters. It was silent within, but… she was there.
Since the ball he'd been ambivalent over what to do about his feelings for Byleth, about what he would even call them. A crush he could handle; she was beautiful and his eyesight had never been in question, it would be natural. A crush could be indulged in and set aside at whim. A crush was the best case scenario.
The chances of that scenario had plummeted as he danced with her, and all but vanished when he saw that shattered, world-ending, look on her face as Manuela pulled her away from her father's corpse. He wanted to be the person she turned to for support. He wanted her smiles, her laughter. He wanted her trust.
It terrified him that that had happened without him noticing until it was too late. He had watched her too closely, "slowly, slowly" had backfired on him, spectacularly. Better to have driven her off with clumsy enthusiasm than unveil the woman beneath the Ashen Demon. But no, he'd had to get to know her, had to make friends, hadn't he?
And there was the crux of it, really. He was her friend. She was suffering and he was dithering. Whatever his feelings were, nothing was going to come of them now, while she was grieving. He should be offering her comfort; he should be checking in on her. He shouldn't be hesitating to spare himself from what might happen –from what might never happen.
He only had to open the door…
His hand lingered on the handle…
This was ridiculous. Nothing would start, nothing would end, nothing would change, if he just checked on her. He was probably over-reacting anyway. The ball had been a night keyed up towards romance and of course emotions were running high after an attack, after losing so imposing a figure as the Blade Breaker. He was mistaken. He was being ridiculous. Of course it was just a crush. He could deal with that.
A sound echoed down the corridor and he turned on his heel, dropping his hand and carrying swiftly on towards the stairs.
Had any of the tormentors from his childhood been there, now he would agree with them. For the first time Claude would say he deserved to be called craven.
~o~*~o~
"Edelgard, are you well?" Professor Seteth's voice cut across her introspection and she blinked, suddenly back in the room. The rest of the class had left, it was only her and the Professor.
"My apologies, Professor. My mind was elsewhere."
Seteth frowned "It is not like you to lose focus, may I inquire what troubles you?"
"My Father is ill." She blurted the first excuse that came to mind, then clamped her mouth shut, horrified at herself for having said as much; it was hardly a secret, but one did not bandy about the health of the Emperor!
Seteth's expression softened and he crouched by her desk, bringing his tall frame down to level with her. "I see. Despite our recent tribulations, Edelgard, if you need to return to the Empire-"
"No" She interrupted "Thank you, no. It is not so grim as that. I will, likely, need to visit before graduation, but I can wait until the Knights are returned."
"Is there any way I may assist you in the meanwhile?"
Edelgard took a deep breath and recomposed herself "If you would, please, forgive my abstraction. It shall not happen again."
"There is nothing to forgive. If you need anything, my door is always open. Even if all you need is something as simple as an extension on your next essay, you have but to ask. The counsellor too, is available to you. You may bear heavy burdens, but you are not alone, Edelgard. Now then," he said rising again "perhaps you will join Flayn and I for dinner?"
"Thank you, I'd be delighted." She answered and followed him out of the classroom.
Flayn was lovely. Seteth was a good man. Dimitri was from before. Children were already suffering. Claude could see the flaws.
Thales would burn all of Fódlan to ash without hesitation, if it would advance his goals.
Would she?
~o~*~o~
Hubert did not hesitate. He knocked once perfunctorily and strode in, coming to stand above where Byleth was curled up against the arm of one sofa, her father's journal clutched in her hands. There was evidence that Manuela, or perhaps Alois, had been through –blankets and a tea-tray, with very little taken from it, but it was apparent that she had been left alone in her misery for some time now.
"I'm not one for condolences." He began shortly and held her dagger out to her "But consider this; the church is hunting Jeralt's killer, the girl who took the cardinal, even as we speak. They will find her. When they do they may tell you, or they may not. I will."
"…and what do you want for this information?" she asked in a voice raw from crying and disuse.
"I wouldn't be so crass as to demand a price from you at such a moment. Call it… an exchange of favours."
Byleth stood and took the dagger from him. She sheathed it in a smooth motion and met his eyes with the blank-eyed stare of the Ashen Demon.
"Get me a shot at that girl's neck, and I will see you repaid." She promised.
~o~*~o~
When she entered the barracks, all the men were present. Conversations died and they stood as she came before them. Sanderson cleared his throat
"Well, Ashen One, what's it to be?"
"Vengeance." She answered sharply, then continued; "Any who would stand aside, do so now and go in peace."
Not a man moved. Silence reigned as each of them in turn met her demanding gaze, made all the harsher for the shadows beneath her eyes and the tear tracks still visible down her cheeks.
Willard took two heavy steps to stand directly before her.
"We're with you, Boss."