Luke's words left Mercedes a little stunned. "You…know who the Death Knight is already?" She blinked. "But why are you telling me this?"
"Well…" Luke rubbed the back of his neck. He knew how absurd it sounded, but he had a carriage of logic he was following. "Let me just say it outright. The Death Knight is…Professor Jeritza." Mercedes was about to voice something, but he quickly held his hand up. "Before you ask why I think this, let me explain. I spar with him whenever he's in the mood for a fight. The way the Death Knight fights…it's exactly the same as his. Well, no…that's not entirely true."
"It's not true?" Mercedes tilted her head slightly. "What about it is different?"
"How do I put this…" Luke closed his eyes for a second, thinking back on how the Death Knight fought. "Compared to Jeritza, the Death Knight had more…aggression. As if he was actually trying to kill us, which, well…that was nearly the case for a few of us. But still…."
"You're basing this off your memory, right?" Mercedes asked. She was aware that Luke's memory was pristine. No one would ever hear him say 'I forgot' or 'I don't remember'. That was one thing anyone could rely on him for. It was part of the reason he was a little popular among some of the female students, along with how nice he tended to be.
"Mhm," Luke nods in response. "I know that's not a lot to base something off of, since I'm one person. But I have another thing – the reason I'm bringing this to your attention alone." He pointed to the ribbon in her hair. "You two have the same ribbon…and I asked a friend of mine, it's not something that's sold anywhere. So…I had a feeling that the two of you might know each other somehow."
Mercedes let out a quiet sigh. It wasn't as if Luke was calling her out or anything, she knew that. But he was only confirming some suspicions she did have with his line of questioning. "You aren't wrong. I was thinking about Professor Jeritza for a while now, and as it turns out…I believe I do know him."
"You do…" Luke's line of logic actually led somewhere. Was the Death Knight already unmasked?!
"He's my little brother, Emile." Mercedes brushed her hair back. There was a meloncholy smile on her face. Something about saying those words aloud really tugged her heart. Too many reasons...
"W-Wh…?" Luke's eyes went wide. This ran a lot deeper than he was expecting. He could never have predicted a relation like this!
"I had that strange feeling when I laid eyes upon him as the Death Knight. I was worried they would be the same person. But then he paused when attacking me as well." Mercedes wasn't as oblivious as most people thought. At least, not when it came to something like this. "I would know my little brother anywhere…" However, before the conversation between the two of them could continue...
"So it IS Emile, is it?!" That voice startled the both of them. It came from none other than Constance, who barged her way into the conversation, much to their surprise.
"Where did you come from!?" Luke gasped. Constance really did surprise him.
"Constance! You shouldn't sneak up on people like that…!" Mercedes nearly felt her heart leap out of her chest! She wasn't as young as the rest of them so she wasn't sure if she could handle that many scares!
"I heard you talking about the Death Knight with the shopkeeper from the shade of a tree! The shop keeper who so rudely attempted to overcharge me, no less!" Constance pointed at Luke accusingly. "And to think you would have the audacity to leave myself out of this topic, when it pertains to me as well!"
"Er,…does it?" Luke blinked. "Also, that sounds like Anna..."
"Emile was a friend of mine. And after what happened, I was wondering where he vanished off to. But now that I know, I can pester him for answers!" Constance fanned herself and let out a haughty laugh. If only the sun were up, they wouldn't have to deal with this.
"Wait a minute!" Luke shook his head. "Don't do that! Because it's gonna lead back to me, and I don't want to be on the Death Knight's list."
"I would say he wouldn't hurt a fly, but…" Mercedes knew differently…
"If he truly is the Death Knight, I wish to ask why." Constance was at least serious about it. "And is it not important that we bring this information to the Knights of Seiros?"
"With what evidence?" Luke frowned. "I would love to tell the Knights or even Seteth about it…but it's just my word with nothing substantial to back it up. And besides…he was working with those freaky people who ambushed us. Something weird is going on here…"
"So would sit idly by and wait for time to pass?" Constance huffed. That was not her style!
"I think we just need another chance to prove something." Luke said while shaking his head. "If we're really right about this, there's a chance he'll don that armor again. We'll catch him."
"And how do you intend to do that?" Mercedes asked. She hoped that violence wasn't an answer…
"I have a plan." Luke said with a slow grin. "Something to corner the Death Knight if he ever shows up in front of us again. He might be strong, but if they're truly one and the same person…"
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The next day rolled around. Shez was still in the infirmary, but her wounds were mostly healed. She took the bandages off of her arm and grimaced at the large scar running along it. The Death Knight's scythe really did a number on her. And that feeling only got worse when she looked at her chest, where another scar was from getting stabbed. "…..My life nearly flashed before my eyes…." First Byleth almost killed her in their first encounter, but that was different. Shez was at her best in the Mausoleum, but she still almost died….
"Hey. I'm glad that you're awake." Arval was speaking to Shez now. It had been a few days since they had a proper conversation. "You really took some hard hits everyone was worried about you."
"They said I woke up once, but I don't remember that…" Shez scratched her head.
"Oh, that was me. Everyone was getting a little worried that you weren't waking up after a day, so I briefly woke you up." Arval explained.
"You can take control of my body?" Shez stared at her hands. That was….something she wasn't sure how she felt about.
"It was in desperation! You really had me and everyone worried, you know! I wouldn't take over your body without a good reason. Just think of it as me saving you like I have before…like when you jumped off that cliff thinking you could get stronger." Arval was not letting that one go.
"Okay, so that doesn't work. I get it now." Shez huffed in annoyance. "But…thank you, Arval." Before the conversation could continue, there was a knock at the infirmary door. "Oh, uh…come in?" The door creaked open, Byleth and Lysithea walking inside. "Oh…"
"You're awake. That's good." Byleth said. "I wanted to come earlier, but Manuela said no visitors until today.
"Um…" Lysithea awkwardly stepped forward, prodding her fingers together. "…T-Thanks…for saving me earlier." She had to get that out. Shez saved her life when the Death Knight singled her out. That stuck with her.
"Huh? Oh…!" Shez shook her head. "It wasn't a problem…" It then took her a moment to registered what Lysithea just said. Saved…? She was able to save someone for one? She blinked a few times before a silly grin appeared on her face. "Wait, yeah…I really did save you, didn't I?"
Whatever shyness Lysithea felt vanished at the stupid smile Shez had on her face. "What's with that look?" Now, she just had an incredulous look on her face.
"I saved you! Haha, I just feel great about it!" Shez threw her arms up into the air.
"Ugh." Lysithea just groaned and rolled her eyes. "Well, that's all I came here to say!" No, there was more. But Shez completely killed the mood. Without another word, she stomped out of the room, leaving both Byleth and Shez confused.
"…I don't know what that last part was about." Byleth said while sitting down. "But on the way here, she was saying how she wanted to tell you that she got revenge for you."
"Huh?" Shez watched as Lysithea left, although…it was kind of clear the girl didn't leave entirely. The door was creaked open and she was peering behind it.
"She was gloating that she forced the Death Knight to retreat. She wanted to tell you, but I don't know why she didn't." Byleth just shrugged. Lysithea herself let out a grumble before actually leaving, not wanting to be embarrassed about this anymore. She was going to forget this ever happened.
"I'll just ask her about it later!" Shez said. "So, uh…what was that thing they were trying to steal, anyway?"
To answer that, Byleth held up the Sword of the Creator. "This sword."
"Uh…." Shez just blinked. She felt nothing from this sword whatsoever. "What is that?"
"The Sword of the Creator. Supposedly it's as strong as a Hero's Relic." Byleth explained. "I have no idea why they were trying to steal this, but Lady Rhea has given me permission to keep it, since it responds to me. That's also why we're going on a certain mission at the end of this month, too."
"Oh, I guess I did miss that." Shez said. "What are we doing this time…?"
"Lady Rhea is putting us with the Blue Lions again." Byleth explained.
"Again? This happens a lot…" Shez shrugged indifferently. It was an observantion she couldn't help but notice over the last few months. Maybe it was just a coincidence. Hell if she knew.
"Mm. Supposedly Sylvain's brother is causing trouble with the Lance of Ruin. So Lady Rhea needs me and the Sword of the Creator to put a stop to him." Byleth said. "It sounds dangerous if these weapons are really that strong. So, if you're not feeling up to it."
"No way, I'm not letting you show me up again!" Shez shook her head. "I'm fine! I've been missing class too, I need to catch up!" She really had no idea of the strength of Hero Relics or the Sword Byleth now possessed, but she simply refused to fall behind. After her near death experience, it fueled her to get better."
"Don't overdo it." Byleth said while standing up. "Oh…and I wanted to say, everyone is talking about you now. You're pretty popular."
Shez watched Byleth left the infirmary, those final words lingering in her head. "Popular, huh…?" She realized that she used her powers in front of the entire student body for the first time. No doubt she was a hot topic…how awkward it would be to explain that. That was a later problem…
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Edelgard was pacing back and forth. Hubert was watching, very well aware of why she was so stressed. "Lady Edelgard…" Hubert began.
"I'm at a loss, Hubert." Edelgard admitted, pinching the bridge of her nose in annoyance. "I don't know what we're going to do about Shez."
"Much like her and the Professor, I have my doubts about both of them." Hubert crossed his arms. "The timing is too convenient. I don't know what to think about them, but they do not have my trust. At the very least, we can concur that Shez and those who slither in the dark have some sort of connection, whether she knows it or not."
"That's the problem we face." Edelgard wasn't sure what to make of it. Shez was an anomaly with her powers, and the fact that those she wanted to destroy placed a target on her back for unknown reasons. Coupled with the Sword of the Creator being in Byleth's hands… "We have to wait just a little longer. We cannot afford to make a move or a mistake at this stage. It's almost time for that, after all."
"If you're certain this is the best course of action, I will follow you." Hubert gave a slight bow. He was always on Edelgard's side, no matter what. They were in a tricky situation as history began to move forward. It was still early, but this still mattered. If they didn't make the right moves, they would be on the wrong side of history.
"…Professor…" Edelgard mumbled. Byleth was the key…
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Claude was rather deep in thought about recent events. He couldn't get it out of his head that his arrow spurred the Death Knight into action, on top of Shez's strange powers, the people that ambushed her, and the Sword of the Creator being brought into play. "Things are moving pretty fast…" He thought to himself. "Teach with the Sword…but she claims she isn't a descendant of Nemesis. That doesn't make much sense, but there are a lot of things I don't have answers to right now either." Things were shaking up in Fodlan. He needed to do his best to best to not be left behind. It was already difficult to keep up being an outsider, but now things were moving at lightning fast paces.
"Teach would be a good person to get on my side…if Edelgard doesn't try sink her talons into her fist." Claude chuckled to himself at his little joke. It helped alleviate the tension a bit.
"Claude, Professor Manuela wanted me to find you." That came from Hilda. She was groaning ab it since she was the one who actually had to put in effort to find him. "She said you can go with the Black Eagles and Blue Lions for their mission."
"Ah, perfect." Claude was glad this was the case.
"But I don't see why you'd want to. That mission of theirs sounds waaaaaaay too troublesome." Hilda was glad she wasn't involved! That last mission was more than enough work for her.
"Sometimes going out of your way is a good thing." Claude said. "It's another Kingdom issue, and it's even worse than before. So I want to see how this one gets handled as well. Aren't you curious to see more of the Sword of the Creator in action?"
"Not really." Hilda shook her head. "I saw plenty before. I dunno how Professor Byleth can use it, but it's reassuring having someone that strong as a Professor. Less work for me to do."
"You really are a minimalist. I respect it to a degree." Claude admitted. It was impressive how far Hilda was willing to NOT do something. It was in her nature to do as little as possible.
"Everyone expects little of me, so I can at least meet that." Hilda shrugged. No way was she going to risk being compared to her brother. She didn't want those expectations on her at all. Better to live life with everyone expecting nothing of her. It was liberating!
"I see. Well, I have some preparing to do. I'll let you know what happens." Claude said while giving Hilda a wave. If this mission was the first stepping stone of history changing, Claude needed to be there to see it.
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Conrad Tower. The current base of operations for the disowned, Crestless child of House Gautier: Miklan Anschutz Gautier. In his hand, the stolen Lance of Ruin. Black Clouds were rolling overhead as he looked out the window into the distance. The Knights of Seiros were finally onto them and coming to take them down. Knowing this, Miklan scoffed. "So, they're coming, are they? Fine, let them. Let that Prince come knocking, let my brother come along with him." He glanced at the tip of the lance, eyes narrowing in disgust and he could see the bone-like weapon moving. It was grotesque and horrifying. But who cared, the weapon that should have been his birthright was finally in his hand.
"I'll use this spear they covet so dearly and run it through their chests. I lost everything because of having no crests, and now they'll lose everything for having them!" Lightning flashed in the background and thunder roared ominously near the Tower of Black Winds. Miklan was a man on a mission, ready to flip the foundations of Faerghus on its head with one simple action.
However, in his haste and in his greed, he failed to realize one thing. Something that was already taking root the very second he stole the Hero Relic from under the nose of his own family. The Lance of Ruin was already making plans to destroy his future….
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Writer's Note: Fire Emblem Engage releases at the end of this week! Are you all excited? I know I am. I will do my best to update this story as I play the game, but if things go silent for a while, you know why. But I hope you all are enjoying and continue to read this story as it updates!