A note on suffixes: The reason why I use -kun when Byleth addresses Haru and other females, is although it is normally used for boys, it is also used as a respectful honorific to females. Although… this is mostly my personal preference :)

Chapter 5

Takemi Tae heard the commotion before she saw the people who were undoubtedly chasing away the already few customers that visited her clinic.

"I'm telling you, you could bring him to the hospital room Haru prepared for him!" Tae heard an annoyed, feminine voice.

She sighed.

"I'm sure Akira-kun knows what he's doing, Mako-chan." Another, more softer, voice spoke as the doors opened.

"Oh," Tae said. "It's you."

She saw the boy—her guinea pig—carrying a tall man on his back with two familiar girls flanking his sides. She recognized the said man.

With another sigh, she said, "Bring him to the exam room."

They should've gone to the hospital.

.

Tae looked at the handsome teacher that was sleeping on her exam room bed. She gave him IV fluids—he really needed it—, IV acetaminophen, and a cold pack for his forehead.

"Fever, lack of sleep, overexertion." Her voice was clipped. "What'd you do to him."

"Wha—" both of the girls shook their heads and looked flustered. "We didn't—"

"It was a joke." Tae drawled.

"Oh…"

"Joking aside, this is Eisner Bereto, right?"

"Yeah… he's our teacher at Shujin. Do you know him?" the guinea pig, Akira, asked.

Tae shrugged. "He lived in Yongen-Jaya for some time before moving and came in sometimes for medicine. He also came in a few times when he brought stray cats to get fixed up."

She gave a pointed look.

"That said… Don't bring your cat here. I'm not a vet."

Akira rubbed the back of his head and nodded.

"So sensei… Is Eisner-sensei okay?" The fluffy-haired girl looked at the unconscious teacher worriedly.

"Not really. I'm not sure why you brought him here instead of a hospital."

"Well…" she trailed off, looking at Akira.

"I think he needs more than the medicine that a hospital can offer." The guinea pig said.

"Ha…. Guin—I mean Kurusu-kun." She paused as she let out another sigh. Yes, Tae knew her guinea pig's name. "You do realize what you're implying? Not only that, he can't even give informed consent in this state."

"You never did that for me…." Akira said with a slightly accusing tone.

She waved him off.

"I think he hasn't slept for over two weeks." The brown, short-haired girl bit her lips as she paused for a second. "And he might've been out in the rain for several hours last night."

"Ugh." Tae didn't mean to groan out loud, but she did. "I'm going to call Yamamoto-san."

After a short thanks and a short introduction to Akira's friends, Yamamoto-san asked the inevitable question.

"Not that I doubt Takemi-sensei's abilities, but why did you bring him to a clinic instead of a hospital?"

"Uhh…"

Akira didn't know if he should explain such a thing, especially with the back alley doctor raising her eyebrow at him, daring him to say anything incriminating.

"She's a good doctor?"

The said doctor was not amused.

"To be frank, it is my fault for not checking with him more often. There's a kendo tournament that is happening in a week… and I am ashamed to say that I let him train and prepare mostly independently as I normally do. The competition is meaningless compared to the health of my son."

It's not like Master Yamamoto could do much for his son. Beresu was even more talented than him.

"I think Eisner-sensei would not have relaxed even if you had told him so. I don't believe it is your fault, Yamamoto-san."

It was the truth.

Because Haru knew that it was mostly their fault.

Byleth was promptly transferred to the hospital after he did not wake up for two more hours. There are limits to a clinic, after all.

Haru's car that was stalling outside, bothering the residents of the small alleyway, was useful for getting the teacher to the hospital room she had already prepared for him.

Master Yamamoto appreciated the sentiment, knowing his son's kindness and love for his students made him loved in return.

However, he wished he understood what was happening to his son.

"Shit. Eisner-sensei is in the hospital?!" Ryuji exclaimed. "Urgh, dammit. Did something happen in his Palace yesterday?

"I think so, but nothing we saw ourselves. The battle was already over by the time we came to Mementos. It's strange… time doesn't usually pass so quickly in Palaces.

I see… his cognition must be disorganized with multiple unpleasant memories, shortening the time in between the following battles." Makoto contemplated. "It's alarming to hear that another battle took place so soon in his mind. I'm relieved that you didn't have to take part in it."

"Is this Eisner-sensei's way of somewhat protecting you from the battle? I am also relieved that you didn't participate, but I believe that we should all go together every time since it seems to be getting much more dangerous." Yusuke paused. "Although… it still seems that Eisner-sensei doesn't view us as hostile."

That sounds like the best course of action." Akira looked at Futaba and Morgana. "Could you figure out anything that happened in the battle that may have caused him to become make him unconscious?"

"Kind of. We pieced together what mostly happened. Edelgard apparently killed a guy named Claude." h." Futaba sighed

Ann jumped up. "Claude?! Wasn't that the guy we saw with Dimitri?"

"It sounded like Professor wanted to spare him… but Edelgard still killed him. I don't think that's exactly the reason he's unresponsive though"

"Then what did?"

They cornered her.

Kind of.

They knew Sothis could walk through the walls, fly in the air, and disappear for a bit, but they surrounded her on all sides with Futaba in her Persona directly over of her. Their guns were aimed at Sothis, although they weren't exactly sure if it would work against her.

"Gyah. You dare do this to me? You point this," she waved her hand. "powerless weapon against me?"

The goddess didn't exactly understand what the hunks of metal the Phantom Thieves held up. But she was still wary of them.

Good.

"Shaddup. You better explain yourself, little girl. We don't give a crap of what we're supposed to do. We're thieves trying to steal Eisner-sensei's heart. Give us the whole truth."

"Grr…" The goddess grumbled. Her cheeks puffed up in anger. "You children are so impatient. If you find take time going through the cycle yourself, may find something useful."

"We don't have time."

"Of course you have ti—"

"We. Don't. Have. Time." Futaba grit her teeth as she cut off the goddess. "Do you even understand what's happening to his body?"

There was no sun shining in the Monastery Palace. Although it was daytime, it was barely illuminated by torches.

"He hasn't woken up for three days."

"Well, Byleth is—was—the girl's emotional anchor but as far as I know it. They had a special bond, but after Byleth disappeared, she changed. She became ruthless and pragmatic, using rather unsavory methods in order to win the war."

"What is happening in Eisner-sensei's cognition?"

"He seems to be reliving his battles sooner and sooner. I thought each battle he went through happens every month."

"I guess it is my fault."

"How so?

Sothis sighed sadly.

"He usually doesn't remember all the battles one after another. I didn't expect it, but you missed another one. The Church and the Kingdom's armies sent decoys to the western border while they sent most of their troops to the western border, taking back the Great Bridge of Myrridin."

Biting her lips, Sothis mumbled out.

"And this… this is when it starts to fall apart."

Futaba saw the Professor three times already, and she wasn't even quietly stalking him in the shadows. That job fell onto her friends who she knew were hiding in the shadows somewhere close by.

She saw his brows furrow and grip the tea set she saw him use often for his tea times.

"Professor, what's wrong?"

Eisner-sensei was surprised, apparently forgetting that he had seen her the past three times he circled the library. She was trying to find some books about crests that were only lightly mentioned in the MetaNav.

"I cannot find Ferdinand. We were supposed to have tea today."

"Oh. Um," Futaba couldn't really say where she thought she had last seen him as the last time she had seen him was technically yesterday but in the Professor's mind it was last week. "I'm sure he hasn't gone too far off."

Futaba wasn't sure if she should ask the same question again.

But she chose to.

"Professor, what's wrong?"

Byleth's eyes were filled with terror as he walked out of the meeting he just had with Edelgard and Hubert.

"Ferdinand…" He barely mustered out. "He was trapped and was killed by Cornelia's Beasts in Deridrue."

Futaba gasped. "What? How?! I thought the Black Eagle Strike Force only acts as a group."

"Edelgard sent Ferdinand and other cavalry troops to keep a stronghold in Deridrue after a tip from a spy saying that there might be a few troops laying siege to the capital.

He paused.

"It wasn't. It was a trap. With the little troops he had, he was overwhelmed by the Kingdom's army…"

Byleth covered his face with both of his hands.

"How… how could I not have been there with him, making him fight alone? How could I let him go by himself?! How…"

Futaba could still hear Byleth's anguished lament behind the hands that hid the Professor's face. She couldn't see his tears behind his hands, but she knew that they were falling.

The MetaNav seemed to have no idea of what a safe room meant as Futaba and Morgana were transported to the middle of the battlefield this time separated from the other Phantom Thieves again. The Monastery was gone, replaced by a scene of dead bodies and few men still fighting. The battlefield was badly lit with fire from burning buildings and corpses.

She knew that these were just shadows created by Professor Byleth's cognition. But it didn't make her feel any better as she also knew that the Professor had personally fought in these battles.

Morgana, perched on Futaba's shoulder and scrambling along with the Oracle to get inside of her Persona, could make out the form of Byleth falling to his knees.

Futaba steered her Persona closer to the Professor. It didn't look like he was badly injured anywhere but—

Oh. Morgana thought.

In front of the teacher were two still bodies of Bernadetta and Casper.

Ba-dump

A purple haze washed over them, and Morgana felt a little queasy as the sky quickly turned back into the dimly lit gray.

But now, the Byleth and the bodies of his two students were gone, and Morgana looked around, confused as to what happened.

"Over there!" Futaba was able to track the professor on her navigation.

"Bernadetta, take a diagonal to the left flank, avoiding the burning wood. There's going to be a trap there, so carry the vulnerary on you." Byleth looked at Casper. "Casper, follow behind Bernadetta so you could support her with your battalion."

"Got it, Teach!"

"Y-yes!"

"Professor," Edelgard nodded to Bernadetta and Casper as they walked away. "I heard of your plan… But Bernadetta and Casper will attack the Beasts in the center, along with the ground troops. Leave the armies on the left for the Pegasus Knights."

Byleth took in a sharp breath.

"That's leading them to their deaths. We need a Dark Mage or Warlock to keep some distance between them. Send four Imperial Mages instead."

Edelgard's expression turned furious. "Then should one of them be Dorthea?"

"Wha—no she's already at the right flank!"

"Yes, exactly where she needs to attack. Professor, I do not wish harm upon them, but I know they could they are the forces we need in order to defeat the beast. Do you doubt your students' abilities?"

"No. I don't." Byleth didn't doubt that those two could beat the Beast. He had seen it, after all. "But—"

"Exactly, Professor. Bernadetta and Casper are the only ones with the Gambits to break all four shields."

But it came the cost of their lives. Edelgard surely knew that and Byleth definitely knew that from his Divine Pulse.

.

No, he would save them.

.

He couldn't.

Byleth's ears still rang as he remembered Seteth's anguished cry as Flayn fell. Like Claude, Byleth's decision to spare her was halted as Edelgard's mighty swing fell upon her.

"We suffered heavy losses, but we can say that we are the overall winners as we have defeated Seteth and Flayn."

Edelgard sighed at Hubert's words. "And our losses?"

"General Ladislavia, General Randolph... and…" Hubert paused. "…Lindhart."

Byleth didn't realize that Lindhart was also gone… He couldn't believe himself.

He didn't even notice another one of his students missing after the battle.

Edelgard grit her teeth. "We will get revenge on Rhea for Lindhart's death. His death will not be in vain."

"So… just like that, four of his students died?" Ann asked, dismayed. "How is that even possible? He's so strong."

"He wasn't there to protect them. Edelgard sent them to their deaths, even if Professor Byleth wanted to make different plans. He is her teacher… but she is the Emperor." Futaba looked down sullenly.

Morgana leaned into Haru's soft hand patting his head. "Many times, I saw that she would send her classmates to battle without informing Eisner about the change in plans."

"Dammit!" Ryuji slammed his fists on the worn-out wooden desk. "If Eisner-sensei were to make the plans, they might've not been killed."

"Edelgard… she must've had something akin to a Palace," Haru whispered. "If only we could have changed her heart."

"Yes, I believe so too. Her ruthlessness and cruelty can be said to be greater than Kaneshiro or any other Palace masterminds we have fought."

Akira shook solemnly. "There's no way for us to do that. We can't change sensei's past, but we can change his heart"

"You're right, Akira. Let us make some more plans on securing the treasure." Makoto took out her notebook filled with her notes.

"Years ago, we fought as classmates… but not today." Edelgard brandished her axe with and swung it ominously as she spotted Dimitri's army from a distance. Her eyes glowed with an almost animalistic frenzy, thrilled at the thought of winning the battle.

Byleth was looking at Edelgard with worry but didn't speak up.

Futaba flinched at the glance the emperor gave to her, but Edelgard barely gave a thought at her presence.

Thank god this Emperor was just a shadow. And didn't realize that she was absent for many, many previous battles. It did make Futaba question why she was again separated from the others.

"Professor, this will be our way of honoring our friends' deaths. We will crush them and their ideals, abolishing the system once and for all in this final battle.

Edelgard placed a hand on her hip and dropped her head.

"This place reminds me of the Battle against Dimitri and… Claude… so many years ago. But now, Gronder Field will be forever known for the Blood of the Eagle and Lion."

And so we fight on.

Don't get separated from each other. Or stay close to Professor Byleth

Well, Futaba just went against the very thing she told herself before the battle started.

Was it minutes? Or hours since the battle started?

She was doing quite well hiding in her Persona by not getting entangled with the major skirmish underneath her, but the high readings of shadows made it impossible for her to find her friends or the professor's shadow.

"Thank you, again, my friend. It seems that I have been saved twice already by you." Dimitri huffed as he thrust his lance at one cavalry unit, causing him to fall.

Akira used his knife to slash through an Imperial knight's heavy armor, the shadow impervious to gunshots (most likely due to them not knowing the power of bullets and gunpowder). It was not that much of a hindrance, but it was strange. But it was stranger to see shadows fighting against each other.

"I know you were fighting against my army before you saved me. What made you change sides?" Dimitri's back was against Akira's, fending off a stray arrow that almost reached Akira.

Akira wanted to just give a shrug, but he was busy fighting another Imperial knight shadow that started attacking him.

"I'm not loyal to the Imperial army. Once I saved you, the Imperial knights just started to attack me. I'm not attacking them first."

"I see—ugh!"

Akira spun to see what happened to Dimitri, but his body was met with the heavy impact of an axe

He couldn't move as the pain from the blow left him motionless. He gasped softly. Normally such blow would have killed him, but he was a bit lucky due to Dimitri's body softening the blow.

Did Dimitri try to save me?

He also angrily questioned why Eisner-sensei's cognition of this woman made her so damn strong.

"You…"

Akira could hear the Emperor seething. He could only make out a part of her face because he didn't have the strength to tilt his face upward against the pain.

"I remember you… You are Futaba's friend, are you not?"

Akira didn't answer. Couldn't.

"It makes no difference. You have joined the enemy's side. For that, your life will be forfeit.

Akira cursed, hoping someone—anyone—to find him and save him. Was he really going to die in his teacher's Palace?

"Edelgard!"

It was a familiar voice, but Akira couldn't really place it as his mind was clouded with pain and fear.

Edelgard made a ferocious cry as she lifted up her axe

"No!"

Akira closed his eyes but didn't even have the strength to brace his body.

But the blow never came.

"Professor… wha…" Edelgard choked out.

Akira strained his face up a bit, trying to ignore the pain. The axe was not even close to his face, and the wielder didn't finish the blow. Couldn't. She was rightful distracted by the extended Sword of the Creator buried in her stomach.

Futaba saw the Professor at last. With a sigh of relief, she dropped out of her Persona and ran toward him, careful to step over the dead bodies of shadows. Shadows that fought one another and shadows trying to kill their Palace Ruler. It was a crazy concept that she doubted any other cognition would be able to create.

Futaba didn't know what to feel about the Professor killing these human-like shadows though. It reminded her that her professor was once a mercenary and a well-seasoned veteran of war.

But look, she mused. He's fighting against three soldiers but still overpowered them.

At least he's badass and can protect her.

He saw her from the corner of his eye, and he gave a slightly relieved smile. He made his way toward her, pushing a Kingdom knight away to give him a pathway.

But his eyes shot up with a horrified expression and he ran past Futaba while brandishing his sword.

"Why.. why…" The Emperor cried out, eyes swirling in shock.

Akira wanted to ask the same. He knew Eisner-sensei loved Edelgard. He loved his students. Akira knew that the woman was just a shadow, but Eisner-sensei's shadow didn't believe that. He never accepted the deaths of his students. Eisner-sensei was left astray with his distortions, thinking that doing something different in his mind would change anything. It didn't. It just made his guilt swallow him up even more. His mind was filled with questions and pain.

What possessed this man save him? By killing his loved student, no less?

It seemed like the Professor didn't know either.

"How could you do this. HOW COULD YOU PROFESSOR," she screamed, the sword still buried in her abdomen. The Professor was still stuck in shock that he instinctively sent his blade to pierce his own student.

"HOW COULD YOU SAVE THE LIVES OF TRAITORS AND KILL ME!"

His student that he loved.

The sword retracted on its own, and blood flowed out of the fatal wound.

Her blood was black as ink. The ink flowed up, marring the Emperor's once pristine, pale skin into a ghastly skeletal form. Her violet eyes sunk into her flesh and replaced by black and red beads.

"WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR PROMISE." She roared

Wings that looked to be made of skeletons sprouted from her back.

.

I killed her. I killed her. I killed her. I killed her.

The Palace seemed to reverberate with these words, vocalizing the Professor's inner thoughts ever so clearly.

I killed her. I killed her. I killed her. I killed her.

Master Yamamoto looked at Beresu's distressed form worriedly next to his hospital bed. Beresu's breathing sounded painful. Although his continuous Pulse Ox said his oxygen saturation was normal, it sounded like his son was suffocating.

He wasn't sure if he heard it correctly. Even if he did, he didn't want to believe it.

"I killed her. I killed her. I killed her. I killed her."

Beresu repeated these words again like a mantra.

He looked down. What was he saying? Was his son a murderer? He couldn't understand. He was worried, but he didn't dare to call for a nurse in case they misunderstood anything Beresu said in his sleep.

"I killed her again. I killed her again."

Again?

"Akira? Akira?!"

He realized that it was his name being called and turned to Futaba, who was shaking him not so gently.

Morgana used Salvation to heal Akira, but he could still feel some kind of phantom pain from the injury. He did, however, feel considerably better with his allies around him.

I killed her again. I killed her again. I killed her again.

Akira recognized the demon from his unexplainable dream that featured Dimitri. He had come to the realization weeks ago that he was in the body of Eisner-sensei, but it still left him with many questions.

"We need to go. Now." Morgana's voice sounded like he had no room for negotiations, but Akira didn't feel the same.

"But what abou—"

"I had to drink the last LeBlanc Coffee to get that SP I used to heal you. Fox and Queen were severely injured as well. You don't have any SP; we all don't have any SP. We have to go."

With a nod, Akira gingerly lifted himself up, but Noir and Skull ran to support him up. While Akira's friends supported him, he looked over his shoulder to Eisner-sensei on his knees, face pale and full of despair as he was swallowed up by the shadow—no a demon—that was once Edelgard.

I killed her again. I killed her again. I killed her again.

They ran, scared for their lives, and knew what cowards they were being.

They abandoned Eisner-sensei to his worst nightmare in his cognition.