The Beginning

Sothis seemed delighted with herself that she remembered her name. Byleth just watched her sit back down on her throne, trying to convince herself that she was just dreaming.

"My name is Sothis. And I am also called The Beginning. But who once called me that?" She is completely insane.

"What are you talking about?" Byleth said, confused. I just want to go home, back before all of this happened.

"I was not able to recall my name until just now. And just like that, it came to me. How odd." She looked so sincere that Byleth felt a laugh bubble up inside her. She quickly hid it, however, but Sothis noticed. "That look upon your face… Did you think me a child? A mere child who forgot her own name?" Sothis' face was twisted into a furious expression, her eyes narrowed and her cheeks flushed. "That child just saved your life! And what does that make you?"

Byleth stared unblinkingly at the flustered girl standing in front of her, for she looked so much like a child. It was only expected that she would plead to be thought of differently. "I am no child."

"Such arrogance. You look the part, but are you truly an adult?" she sighed. "You threw yourself before an axe to save just one young girl." Sothis crossed her arms, her angry expression remaining. Byleth's smile disappeared as she realized the reality of the situation. I am going to die. I am already dead. What have I done?

"I… I wanted to… I…"

"However, all is well. I have stalled the flow of time for now. You would have died had I not intervened."

"You stopped time?" What in the world is this place, and why do I keep coming here?

"Yes. Now stop gaping at me like a fish. I deemed you worth saving, and so I stepped in. Though it is only momentary, time has stopped. However did I manage that?" Sothis marveled at her own power.

"What will happen when time resumes?" Byleth tried to push the tremor of fear in her voice away.

"When time begins again, the axe will tear into your flesh and you will surely meet your end." While she spoke, Byleth sucked in a breath. There is no way out. I'm dead. "How rude of you to drag me into this!"

"I-"

"Hush. Now what to do…"

"Sothis, you must turn back the hands of time. That is the only way." Byleth was unsure of her own outlandish suggestion, but Sothis seemed to light up.

"Of course! I must turn back time!" A circle of strange white light appeared in front of her, slowly turning clockwise. Byleth studied the strange symbols, watching the flickering light dance across Sothis' face. "I do believe it can be done. You really are quite troublesome, you know." She smiled, and Byleth pursed her lips, looking curiously at her. "I cannot wind time back too far, but all is well. You are now aware of what's to come, which means you can protect yourself this time." In the middle of the turning circle, a complicated pattern of curved lines seemed to beckon to Byleth, pulling her deeper into this strange void. "Now go… Yes, you who bears the flame within. Drift through the flow of time to find the answers that you seek."

"Thank you Sothis, I am in your debt."

"Yes, yes. Now go!" As soon as she spoke, the blackness changed into a swirling pattern of blue and purple, causing Byleth to disappear, a whirling mass of shattered moments, time itself falling to pieces…

And there Byleth stood, back in the real world, her feet firmly planted on the ground, hidden between the trees. She saw the girl in red laughing at the bandit leader while her axe lay a few feet away. But the bandit leader quickly righted himself and stood up, rushing towards her with a ferocious growl. He took her axe from its place on the rocky ground and charged. All the girl had left was a dagger, and she stumbled back in fear. She looked up in surprise as Byleth rushed towards her, shielding the girl with her body. But this time, Byleth was ready. She drew her sword, and as the bandit leader charged forward, she quickly blocked the attack, sending the axe flying once more. The bandit leader fell to the ground again, clearly giving up on the fight.

"Hey, over here!" Byleth whirled around to find Dimitri and Claude behind her. The girl in red gaped at Byleth, fear still showing in her shuddering gasps for air. But before the four could talk about what happened, Jeralt rode up on his silver mare.

"Hey, Byleth… did you just…" he examined the fallen bandit leader. Byleth nodded, smiling ever so slightly. However, someone trailed behind her father. It was another man in armor, except his was polished white and silver. He wore an ivory cape embroidered with a strange pattern, this one resembling a peacock's feather. His face was angry, flushed red and panting from running.

"The Knights of Seiros will cut you down for terrorizing our students!" He shouted something to his men, and they went off, running to capture the remaining bandits.

"Can't you see that Byleth just saved your students' lives?" Jeralt stared at the man with distaste, his lips curled into a frown.

The man looked the three up and down. "It seems… that the students are unharmed." He looked up at Byleth's father, and a flicker of recognition went across his face. "Jeralt?" Jeralt stared at him in surprise, and then the same recognition fluttered through his eyes.

"Ugh, why him?"

"Captain Jeralt, it really is you! Goodness, it's been ages. Don't you recognize me? It's Alois, your old right-hand man!" he paused. "Well, that's how I always thought of myself, anyways…" he muttered. "It must have been twenty years ago that you went missing without a trace. I always knew you were still alive." Byleth looked at her father, completely confused. What does he mean, Captain Jeralt? Impossible.

"You haven't changed a bit, Alois. Just as loud as ever. And drop that 'captain' nonsense. I'm not your captain anymore." he sighed. "These days I'm just a wandering mercenary. One who has work to do. Goodbye, old friend." He turned to leave, but Alois stopped him with a hand on Jeralt's shoulder.

"That is not how this ends, captain! I insist that you return to the monastery with me!"

"Garreg Mach Monastery…" Jeralt pinched the bridge of his nose. "I suppose this was inevitable…" To Byleth's surprise, Alois turned to her.

"And how about you, kid? Are you the Captain's child?"

"That is correct." Byleth drew slightly closer to Jeralt for support.

"Yes, yes. I see him in you. Well, how about you? I'd love for you to see the monastery as well as your father. You'll join me, won't you?" His eyes held so much hope that Byleth looked to her father, then nodded. She couldn't let this man down. And he supposedly knows my father. 'Captain Jeralt'. I want to know where this all leads. Jeralt sighed.

"What's troubling you, Captain? You aren't about to run off again, are you?"

"Even I wouldn't dare run from the Knights of Seiros." His voice now held a darker tone, and his face was ashen. Even so, Jeralt followed Alois as they walked away, leaving Byleth standing alone.

"The Knights of Seiros… They do seem rather skilled." Sothis' voice echoed in her head, startling her and causing her to jump. She looked around frantically, trying to spot the girl. "Ah, it seems your presence is required. Get going!" Byleth glowered. Already ordering me around. I can't believe this. "I heard that," Sothis said in response to Byleth's thoughts. Sure enough, she saw the girl in red beckoning her to join them, and Byleth followed.

Byleth joined the group of the three students.

"I appreciate your help back there. Your skill is beyond question. You are clearly an experienced mercenary. And your father… that would be Jeralt, the Blade Breaker? Former captain of the Knights of Seiros, often praised as the strongest knight to ever live. Have I missed anything?" The girl in red turned to stare at her, and Byleth shook her head in confusion.

"I didn't know he was of such importance. Who are… the Knights of Seiros?"

"You haven't heard of the Knights of Seiros?" the girl demanded, and all three of them looked aghast. "They are the most famous order of knights in all of Fodlan!"

"Hey, stop bombarding her with useless facts, Edelgard," Claude replied, interrupting the girl Byleth now knew as Edelgard. He turned to Byleth, his warm green eyes searching her face. "You are coming with us to the monastery, right? Of course you are. I'd love to chat with you while we travel," he said with a wink. "Oh, and I should mention that the three of us are students of the Officers Academy at Garreg Mach Monastery." His face was full of pride while he explained.

"If you three were at the monastery, then how come the bandits came? Weren't you all surrounded by knights?"

"We were doing some training exercises in the forest when those bandits attacked. I definitely got the worst of it," he said, showing Byleth the shallow cut on his arm while laughing.

"That would be because you ran off, Claude." Edelgard replied, her eyes narrowing. Byleth wasn't sure if she was joking, or being serious.

"Too true! I was the first to make a strategic retreat. Everything would have worked out if these two hadn't followed me and ruined everything." he put his head in his hands in mock disappointment. "Because of them, every single one of those bandits chased after us. Utterly ridiculous."

"Ah, so that's what you were thinking, Claude. And here I thought you were acting as a decoy for the sake of us all." Dimitri smiled.

"His intentions were as clear as day. You will prove a lacking ruler if you cannot see the truth behind a person's words." Edelgard sneered at Dimitri, causing him to glare at her.

"You will prove a lacking ruler yourself if you look for deceit behind every word and fail to trust those whom you rely on."

As the two continued bickering, Claude turned to Byleth. "A royal debate between Their Highnesses. I wonder how being completely predictable affects one's ability to wield power." Byleth laughed softly. She was not used to this sort of kinship between people her age. All of the mercenaries were far older than her, and Jeralt was… Well, he was Jeralt. Not someone as easy to talk to as Claude, for example. He turned back towards the others. "Personally, as the embodiment of distrust, I'd say your little exchange smacks of naivete."

Edelgard whirled around, a furious expression on her face. "Me, naive! Tell me, are you actually incapable of keeping quiet, or is your lack of self-awareness a condition of some sort?"

Byleth smiled at their argument. Dimtiri looked at her while Edelgard was focused on Claude. "Please, forgive our digression. I must speak with you, if you can spare a moment." His expression shifted to one of awe. "The way you held your ground against the bandit leader was captivating! You never lost control of the situation." Little does he know that I almost died… Byleth thought sheepishly. "It goes to show me that I have so much more to learn."

"Your skill is precisely why I must ask you to consider lending your services to the Empire." Edelgard spoke up. "I might as well tell you now. I am no mere student. I am also the Adrestian Empire's-"

"Halt, Edelgard. Allow me to finish my own proposition," Dmitri interjected. There they go interrupting each other again. "The Holy Kingdom of Faerghus is in dire need of exceptional individuals like yourself." Byleth was caught by surprise.

"Trust me, I'm not that-"

"Please," Dimitri said, stopping her in her tracks. "Do consider returning to the Kingdom with me."

"Woah there! You two sure are hasty, trying to recruit someone you just met. Tactless, really." Claude stepped in. "I was personally planning to develop a deep and lasting friendship on the journey back to the monastery before begging for favors." He sighed, shaking his head. "However, it seems there's no time for niceties in this world. So, capable stranger, let's get right to it. Where does your allegiance lie?"