Ashton didn't know what to make of the tanned woman who had approached him.

She was Crestless, he could tell that much. Not that he ever placed much stock in people with Crests; the Elites misused them, and before he had been frozen, the Empire had only just begun the push to use them as the mark of nobility. Such issues only worsened with time, he knew, even though Roland's stated goal of making sure that did not happen.

Of course, Ashton tried his best not to think too much about what happened to his old friends, long after he had gone. Most of them likely went on without him, if not well, then without him regardless.

Even then, as Ashton watched her bargaining with several of the merchants at the entrance to Garreg Mach, he could not help but wonder what Leonie's angle was. She claimed to be in search of Saint Indech's bow, The Inexhaustible. Ashton remembered it well, though he never saw Indech in battle, he had seen the bow on his person, and on several long marches. It was a beautiful thing, but a bow was a bow, no matter who wielded it. Without the proper skills, it was as useful as a fifth wheel on a wagon.

Then again, from what Ashton had seen during the battle of Garreg Mach, Leonie was an excellent sharpshooter. He only hoped that including her on his journey did not lead to her death.

Ashton had already procured his supplies, and by that afternoon, he and Leonie would likely be far from Garreg Mach. While their goals were different, Ashton had to admit that it was good to know he wouldn't be making the long journey without company.

A voice from beside him would prove that even more true.

"Any reason why you're just standing around?" a deep, yet feminine voice asked, causing Ashton's brows to furrow as he turned to his right.

Another tanned woman with blonde hair stood beside him, clad in the signature colors of the Knights of Seiros, though beyond that, her armor seemed custom-made. The most striking feature, however, was the blade slung across her hip. Ashton would recognize the boney, branched sword Thunderbrand anywhere. Ashton crossed his arms as he looked at her.

"I am waiting for my… traveling companion to finish bartering, if you must know, lady knight." Ashton replied, "and now I must ask who you are. This is the second time I have been accosted by someone I don't know at the market. Who are you?"

"'Lady knight'? That makes me feel older than I already am," the woman chuckled, placing her hand against her forehead. "Well, my name's Catherine, Knight of Seiros, and wielder of Thunderbrand here. I need to speak to you for a moment."

"It will need to be quick," Ashton grumbled, "we are to be away from this place within the hour."

Catherine shook her head. "It might be a bit longer than that if you agree to what I'm about to say."

"Is it a message from Byleth? Or Seteth?" Ashton asked quickly.

"Huh? It couldn't be from me?" Catherine replied.

"I do not know who you are, but you wear the colors of a Knight of Seiros. Perhaps a captain?" Ashton continued, "In any case, you would not approach me of your own volition, so I can only assume that somebody sent you. Very few have had the courage to accost me in public."

"Heh, perceptive, aren't you?" Catherine lightly chuckled, "But, no - at least, not from them. This one's from Flayn."

Ashton raised a brow at that. "What could she-? Ah, I suppose she must have heard my departure."

"Yeah, and she wants to go with you," Catherine said.

Ashton blinked, taking a step back from the tall knight. "What? Why?"

Catherine shrugged. "You're better off asking her yourself. She's in the dining hall. All I know is that I'm supposed to accompany her on Seteth's orders."

Ashton opened his mouth to speak but found himself without words. After a moment, he rubbed his forehead and mumbled something under his breath. Of course, if Flayn wished to go with him, then Seteth wouldn't be content to just let Ashton do the protecting; Ashton may have had a Crest, but Catherine had a Crest, and a relic weapon. Although Ashton wondered why Seteth would allow Flayn to travel with him at all; he had called Ashton's quest borderline suicidal just before the battle of Garreg Mach, after all.

Then again, he wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth. And Catherine seemed to be a capable warrior, judging by her stance and the armor she wore. Flayn's healing capabilities were also leagues above Ashton's own. If one of them became injured, so long as Flayn was healthy and conscious, there would be nothing that could take them down for long.

"And besides," Catherine continued, her voice lowering slightly. "I know what you're planning on. You're not just going out there to look for someone, are you? You're leaving to break someone out. You're after Lady Rhea."

"That is on the to-do list, yes," Ashton confirmed, nodding. "Once Leonie is done, then I will speak to Flayn, I suppose. You are welcome to come with me, Catherine."

"I wasn't going to take no for an answer, anyway," Catherine grunted.

Ashton pursed his lips. Something told him he and Catherine would not be friends.

When Ashton went to the dining hall, he had expected to see Flayn there - he didn't believe Catherine was an inherent liar, from what little he had seen of her, but he did not expect her to be talking to Felix of all people. The heir to Fraldarius had his relic shield across his back and a sword at his side, and when Ashton entered, his red eyes met Ashton's.

This day just keeps getting better, doesn't it?

As Ashton approached, ignoring the glances he received from the few scattered soldiers within the hall, Flayn turned to him and waved.

"Sir Ashton!" Flayn chirped. "It is good to see you again! Er, no wait, this is terrible!"

Ashton turned to Catherine, who shrugged.

"You were planning on leaving, and you did not tell me!" Flayn accused, marching up to Ashton and poking her finger into his chest. "What did you believe you would accomplish on your own!? You are indeed lucky that I decided to accompany you. With another knight, no less!"

Ashton leaned his head forward and narrowed his eyes.

Flayn tilted her head. "Is something wrong?"

"I am making sure you are still, in fact, Flayn," Ashton murmured, "when did you become so assertive?"

"I will have you know I have come a long way from the dainty flower you knew before!" Flayn declared. "I have been hardened by countless years of war!"

Ashton chuckled. "Well, I suppose you are. We are around the same age, after all, and I am clearly a very mature individual. The same should stand for you, right?"

"I am glad you see it my way. Truthfully, I find this all a bit tiring, but if it allows me to keep my foolish uncle from doing something, well, foolish, I shall do what I must," Flayn admitted, smiling.

Ashton nodded before looking up to the dark-haired man behind Flayn. "And what is Felix doing here?"

Felix scoffed. "Don't talk about me like I'm not here."

Ashton shrugged. "I will admit, that was rather rude of me. What are you doing here, then, Felix Fraldarius?"

"Word has spread that you intend to leave Garreg Mach, for all sorts of different reasons," Felix replied, leaning against the pillar beside him. "Some say that you are leaving to find the Archbishop. Others are claiming that you are searching for your long lost weapon. I don't much care what you're leaving for, but I want to go with you."

Ashton groaned. "I told Leonie we should have left early, but she had to barter with the damnable shopkeepers. Why do you want to come with us? I already have one bone weapon, and I am unsure if I wish to add your shield to that."

Felix raised a brow. "Bone weapons, huh? I admit, they look grisly, but I never would have considered them bone."

"Have you taken a look at them? Have you?" Ashton said incredulously, turning to Catherine who had mostly remained silent. "They look like nightmares. How long have your families been using them? How many of your family members have turned into monstrous beasts?"

"Thunderbrand has served me faithfully," Catherine replied, "that has always been good enough for me."

"Ashton, I would ask that you stop this," Flayn said, her hands tented in front of her chest. "This is not the time or place to be saying these things."

Ashton wanted to argue. Perhaps some part of him was snapping. But he conceded to Flayn's advice, and nodded glumly.

"Fine, then," Ashton mumbled, "my apologies for the tangent, but this has been a trying time for me. I do not wish to make it all about me, but- nevermind. Why did you want to join us, Felix?"

"I was thinking of an animal I could compare you to, but nothing comes to mind," Felix idly said before shaking his head. "My reasons aren't complicated: I want out of this monastery. I want to be away from the Boar. He has proven himself unfit to be a prince, let alone a king, and I do not want to see what becomes of those that follow him. You may be plotting an attack on Enbarr itself, if you are planning on freeing the Archbishop, but you seem to be far more lucid than anyone else here, so I know you have a plan."

Ashton snorted. "You give me too much credit. If you want to know why I am leaving, well, I am looking for my son."

Felix let out a chuckle. "A son. Hmm. You can't have had one while you were here, it hasn't been that long, so that'd be… a thousand years ago? How is he not dead?"

"I do not know he is not dead," Ashton explained, "but his blood is… special, shall we say. He has a long life span, and if he was as careful as the person you know as Rhea, then he is most certainly alive."

Felix shrugged. "Fair enough. I can admire that. I'm coming, whether you want it or not, though."

"Do I truly have no say in it?" Ashton moaned, looking up at the ceiling as if praying to the Goddess for some sort of respite. Alas, no such succor came. After a moment, he sighed. "I cannot believe I am being strong-armed into accepting the help of people I would have considered enemies in a previous life."

"You will become used to it," Flayn said cheerily. "It took some time, but I have become accustomed to it."

"Forget me, Flayn, you should have a larger problem with it than I do," Ashton said, "but, if they have your trust, then fine. I suppose Leonie will need to bargain for more supplies, or we could go hunting once we leave civilization. Either way, well," Ashton took toward the door, turned, and spread his arms out. "Welcome to the team."

The group's departure from Garreg Mach did not receive much fanfare. Ashton wondered if that was Byleth or Seteth's doing. Nonetheless, once the group was away from Garreg Mach, Ashton felt a weight lift from his shoulders, as if simply being within the monastery was enough to drag him down. It made sense, once he gave it some thought; there were many reminders of the past within the monastery, ancient architecture and recovered artifacts that were all younger than he was. Of course, Ashton himself was not technically as old as it all, but he had been in the area Garreg Mach had been built upon, many years prior, and no technicality could change that.

When Garreg Mach was no longer within sight, covered from view by the forest they traveled through, Ashton finally felt peace. While no doubt every single tree within the forest he and his group traveled through was younger than he, he could not look at each individual one and feel a sense of lost time. The forests changed, yes, but he wasn't always in forests, and for a moment, he could imagine that he was as he had always been.

Considering they left late, however, it wasn't long before they had to break for camp. While Leonie had gone out of her way to procure tarps to use as makeshift tents if inclement weather came in, all they really needed was sleeping bags; it was still Winter, after all, and the forest was as dead as they came.

Before long, night fell, and a fire was lit with the entire group around it. Ashton looked at his compatriots, as if truly seeing them for the first time.

He had been no stranger to descendants of the Elites - Saladin, Jasmin, and Nothic had all been direct children of them. Even a thousand years removed from them, Ashton could swear he saw some part of Jasmin in Felix, though he had no frame of reference for Catherine. Leonie had no Crest, and the only thing that had changed about Cethleann was the color of her hair.

And even if Ashton could see something of Jasmin in Felix, he could tell that their personalities were far from the same.

"Alright, then," Ashton said, clapping his hands together as he leaned forward on his makeshift chair. He gathered everyone's attention. "Before we begin, let me summarize what we are setting out to do. We are no longer a part of the main army, thus most of the fighting will likely be with Byleth and Dimitri."

"And Claude," Leonie stated, stringing her bow. "If he decides he's had enough of neutrality, that is. I could never get a good read on that man."

"If he's smart, he'll be picking a side soon enough," Felix chimed in, crossing his arms. "If he chooses to side with Faerghus, he'll have the Empire and the boar to contend with. If he decides to side with the Empire, he'll only have the boar. The choice to me seems self-evident."

"This is the first I have heard of someone speaking of Claude," Ashton grunted, "A wildcard, then. In that land to the east - was it? The Leicester Alliance?"

"Yeah," Catherine said, placing Thunderbrand to her side. "He was the late Archduke Riegan's grandson. He had a Crest, so his lineage wasn't in question, but he's not a native to Fódlan."

"This time period and its Crests," Ashton spat. "They are useful tools, but I could see the cracks forming back in my day, and my friend Roland saw it too, though clearly he was unsuccessful in his attempt to change it for the better."

Felix raised a brow. "Who was he?"

Ashton snorted, "I did not know anyone cared."

"If the Crest system didn't exist, then Faerghus as we know it wouldn't exist," Felix said, "And maybe things could've been better. I want to know of the man who at least attempted to change it."

Ashton exchanged a glance with Flayn, who had remained silent. Her mouth pressed into a thin line as she took a deep breath.

"His full name was Roland von Aegir, son of the then Prime Minister. He was a thoughtful man, who saw what was becoming of Fódlan and the Empire, and wished to change it. Considering what I have heard of the Crest system in the current day, he would be appalled. The murmurings were starting even during the War of Heroes."

Felix let out a humorless chuckle. "Maybe Miklan wouldn't have become bandit scum."

"Miklan?" Ashton repeated.

Felix waved a hand. "Don't worry about it. It's a long, boring story. He's gone now, so it doesn't matter."

"Ashton, I," Flayn finally said, and Ashton saw her visibly swallow. "I do not know much of what happened after my injuries, but I know that Roland tried. But the same as you, when I returned, it was as this."

Ashton smiled slightly and nodded. "I am unsure if that makes it worse or better, but I thank you, Flayn."

"Anyway, you got sidetracked," Leonie said, "keep going. I know why I'm going with you, but these other three probably need a refresher."

Ashton nodded. "You are right. Our main goal is to head to the west, to Lake Teutates, where this bow Leonie seeks is supposedly hidden, and beyond that… an old friend, perhaps."

"The Immovable, or something similar," Catherine replied, wiping her forehead. "Yeah, I've heard of that. It's supposed to be a legend, though. What does it have to do with us helping Lady Rhea?"

"It does not have much to do with it, I must admit. I fear you all have been lured here by promises of saving your archbishop," Ashton said somberly. "And that, believe me, is something I am going to be doing. But first, I wish to speak to this Immovable. I want to know about my son."

"So you say," Catherine said, "But I gotta agree with Felix; you do not know he is alive."

"My cousin would not simply lay down and die," Flayn said suddenly. "If I can survive, then so can he."

Ashton let out a breath. "Thank you for the vote of confidence, Flayn."

"My main goal is to get that bow," Leonie stated, placing her bow on the ground. "I'll help you after that, but I want to help win this war."

"I'm here to rescue Lady Rhea, and to protect Flayn, but I already told you that, so," Catherine sighed, "I guess I just wanted to say it again. Keeps me grounded."

"And I promise all of you that we will do all of these things. We are helping with the war effort either way," Ashton said, leaning forward. "If we find my son, then you will have your Champion, I am sure. A rallying symbol. And if we go to Enbarr and rescue Rhea, the outcome is similar."

"Anything is better than the damn boar right now," Felix grumbled.

"Much as I agree with you, calling him out in such a way will not improve his mental state," Ashton replied, "And besides, your old professor is with him. If Prince Dimitri cannot step up and become the monarch his people need, then perhaps Byleth will be able to."

Catherine snorted. "Five years ago, the professor was a simple mercenary. How does someone go from a feared mercenary, to potentially becoming a king in his own right?"

Leonie shrugged. "By being good at his job? Captain Jeralt was a good man. And the professor's his son. I wouldn't expect anything else."

"Whatever the case may be," Flayn interrupted, looking visibly uncomfortable; she ringed her wrists and constantly looked around as if she would be spotted doing something she wasn't supposed to be. "I believe some rest will do us some good. Who will take the first watch?"

Ashton stood up and leaned against a tree, watching the camp. Catherine, Felix, and Leonie were all soundly asleep - well, they were asleep, but Ashton took back what he thought about it being sound. Felix constantly fidgeted in his sleep, Catherine's hand was constantly on Thunderbrand, and Leonie had fallen asleep with her back against another tree. All of them would no doubt spring to action if he spoke so much as conversationally.

Which meant he could only talk to Flayn with hushed whispers. The half-Nabatean cradled her ancient staff in her hands by Ashton's side, while Ashton himself held the Seiros Shield in his hands, running his hands over the silvery, spotless metal. The familiar Crest of Seiros emblazoned on the front, Ashton could feel the nostalgia running through his veins. It wasn't so long ago in his mind that he saw Seiros herself with her sword and shield in hand, ready to bring her martial might upon the allies of Nemesis and the Elites.

Of course, those days were long gone.

"How do you deal with it, Cethleann?" Ashton whispered, turning to the half-Nabatean beside him, his voice barely above a whisper. "It is as if I can think of nothing else, but this. Everywhere I look, I swear I see their faces. I complained of not fitting into the army to Byleth, and yet I am certain it is my fault. I chose to run away. And now we are here, likely to die in our mad quest. I know not what runs through Leonie and Felix's minds, but Catherine is much the same as me, I can feel it."

Flayn shrugged, placing the butt of her staff on the ground and standing tall. Or as tall as she could manage. "I have had six years to come to terms with it, uncle. I have made new friends in that time; I would gladly call myself a part of the Blue Lions house. I understand what you are going through, and I am here to tell you that it shall become easier as time goes on."

Ashton let out a humorless chuckle as he ran a hand through his hair. "It is very strange to hear such talk from someone who seems younger than me. It makes me feel old when you call me 'uncle'."

"It is what you are!" Flayn professed, "or were you and Seiros not married? I knew you were; I saw the ring, and she still wore it when I enrolled in the academy. You are a part of our family."

Ashton closed his eyes, trying to suppress the warmth growing in his chest as if he didn't deserve it. "I… yes. Thank you for that, Cethleann. I would ask when you became so assertive, but - and I do not wish to bring up bad memories - it reminds me of your mother, in a way. You two have become very alike. Although you have your father's eyes."

After a moment, Ashton opened his eyes and looked down to see Flayn with a small and sad smile on her face.

"I miss her," Flayn replied after a moment, her voice somehow even quieter. "I miss her every day. That is why I want to help you find Arawn, or rescue Rhea. I would rather spare you from missing somebody."

"I admire your will, if nothing else," Ashton sighed. "I only hope it is possible. I have heard things, Cethleann, of what has happened in my absence. I have been told much, but even so, there are some things I am not… no, I shall not speak of it here. You no doubt know about as much as I do."

Flayn's lips pressed thinly together. "If you are referring to any secrets Seiros may or may not have, then there is nothing I can say."

"The professor. Byleth. He is one of you, is he not?" Ashton asked, "I can feel it from him, that same spark that all of you have. His hair is similar as well, though I am led to believe that it has not always been as such. Did Macuil or Indech ever father children?"

Flayn shook her head. "Not as far as I am aware. And no, I have not had any either, nor has my father. There are very few who could lead the professor to our ancestry, but he has the Crest of Flames, elseways he would not be able to wield the Sword of the Creator."

Ashton grunted quietly, looking toward the camp. "There are many unanswered questions, then. Nobody appears to have the full picture, except for maybe Seiros herself. I have many questions."

"Let us contemplate in silence, then," Flayn stated, "before they awaken."

Ashton acquiesced, saying nothing for the remainder of his watch.

And now that I've actually played 3 Hopes, the opposite of what I thought has happened. I now wanna write this story out even more. And perhaps some elements of it will be introduced after all, if only because I like some of what it does so much.

Shez is a treasure. That is all.

The link to our Discord is currently down, so I'll wish all of you a fantastic day!