Dark Abyss
Chapter 3: What Lies Ahead
"Duck."
Ferdinand dropped to the ground, narrowly managing to avoid a nasty blow to the side of his head.
Looming above him was Hilda, who pouted when she saw that her attack had missed its mark. Byleth admired the girl's strength from afar, marveling at the amount of power packed inside her tiny frame.
"Roll, and use your lance to regain your footing."
Then again, with his guidance, Ferdinand was proving himself quite the resilient warrior. The boy stood up quickly, assuming a proper stance once more. He was learning to keep his distance, and to let his foe wear herself down with relentless but exhausting strikes.
"No fair!" said Hilda, panting. "You've got a lance, and I only have this tiny axe!"
Byleth recalled an adage he had once heard, that all was fair in love and war.
"Aim for her knees."
Ferdinand crouched and executed a broad sweep of his lance, knocking a tired and surprised Hilda to the ground.
"Now, Ferdinand… You wouldn't hit a delicate flower like me, would you?"
Byleth, knowing the noble tendencies of his student, stepped forward. He placed the tip of his sword at her neck, seeing that Ferdinand had already begun to lower his guard, and that Hilda was drawing back her leg.
"Flowers can have thorns. Do you yield, Miss Goneril?"
Hilda sighed disappointedly, knowing that her ploy had failed. She pouted again, and glared daggers at Byleth.
"…Yes, Professor." she said. "I yield."
He removed his sword, and watched as the girl made her way back to the rest of her house.
"Professor, was that truly necessary? She was on the ground, defeated."
"She was readying herself to kick you in the groin, Mister Aegir."
Ferdinand spluttered in indignation.
"I- That is- How uncivilized!"
"Quite. It is also extremely effective." said Byleth. "Now, we should be on our way. I believe Miss Macneary has already eliminated Mister Victor and Mister Gloucester."
He paused.
It would be a gamble to let Ferdinand off on his own, but no matter how skilled of a duo Edelgard and Hubert were, they would be hard-pressed to take down the entirety of the Blue Lions on their own.
On the other hand, he did not expect Petra to hold up for much longer. Her natural talent as a hunter could only take her so far, and both Ignatz and Lorenz were relatively easy pickings. Once Claude and Manuela came to finish the job, she would be done for.
"We shall split up from here. Join with Miss Hresvelg and Mister Vestra, and remember to keep your distance. The reach of your lance is your greatest advantage."
"I will not fail you, Professor! Today, all shall witness the might of Ferdinand von…"
Byleth took off in a blur.
"…Aegir."
Byleth stalked silently through the thicket. He could hear the sound of creaking branches and vibrating bowstrings, and assumed that Petra must be near.
He also assumed that she was not alone.
When a high-pitched whistle reached his ears, Byleth weaved to the side. Someone had fired an arrow at him, and even managed to clip a few strands of his hair. Looking around, he spotted the arrow firmly embedded in the trunk of a tree.
"That was close."
Far too close, for his liking, not to mention that a mere practice bow should not be able to produce such speed and force.
"Drat! I was sure that would work."
Byleth spun around, only to see Claude dangling upside down from one of the trees. Beneath him stood Manuela, and her hands shone with the faintest traces of magic. Wind magic, if he recalled correctly.
She must have used it to accelerate the arrow.
"Well, it worked on Petra, but this is the professor we're talking about. It'll take much more to defeat him."
Claude swung around and hopped onto the ground, shaking some stray leaves off his uniform.
"You're right about that, Professor! Still, we've got to give it our best. If we can defeat Teach over there, the Black Eagles are as good as done for."
Byleth tensed, raising his sword. There was some merit to Claude's words, and he could see the Golden Deer claiming victory once the Blue Lions and his own students had tired each other out. All they needed were a few well-placed arrows, and spells.
Given that possibility, he would have no choice but to fight a two-on-one battle, and against a fellow professor at that. Both Claude and Manuela could attack at range, while he had to rely on getting up close and personal.
"You could always have me turn back time, you know."
He might be a mercenary willing to use the dirtiest tricks in the book, but that power was beyond cheating. Byleth refused.
"Suit yourself."
He broke out into a sprint; the unexpectedness catching both of his opponents by surprise. Halfway to his target, he slid, reaching down to fill his free hand with soil.
Manuela, lacking the time to cast even a single spell, met his charge with her own sword instead.
"I knew you were a gentleman, dear, but let me tell you something… 'Ladies first' doesn't apply to a fight."
Byleth ignored her quip, circling around her and making sure to keep her between himself and Claude. That way, he would not be able to fire his arrows for fear of hitting his ally.
They exchanged blows for a while, with neither of them gaining the upper hand. Manuela was a skilled swordswoman in her own right, and he assumed her gracefulness as a diva lent itself well to the battlefield.
"Ha!" she exclaimed, finally pushing Byleth on the defensive. Her sudden, rapid swings forced him back, until he eventually found himself cornered against a tree.
Unfortunately for Manuela, however, it was a ruse. He ducked, fully aware of the tree behind him, and allowed her sword to sail harmlessly above the air. The blade was caught in the bark, and not a second later, Byleth charged, shoving both of them down onto the ground.
He landed on top of her, and wasted no time in placing his sword against her neck.
"Yield." he demanded.
"Oh my, how naughty! Here, in the middle of the forest?"
"Yield." he repeated, and she sighed.
"Way to spoil the mood, Professor. Fine, I yield."
Byleth stood back up, only to find the point of an arrow pressing against his jugular. Claude smiled brightly, looking inordinately pleased with himself.
"You fought valiantly, Teach, but it ends here. I must admit, it was rather vexing not being able to let loose my arrows against you."
He shook his head and laughed. "Still, this makes up for it!"
"Well, well… What will it be, Byleth? Turn back time, or suffer the humiliation of being defeated by a student?"
He would do neither.
With a wave of his hand, Byleth threw the dirt he had collected straight into Claude's face. The boy coughed and blinked, instinctively reaching up to rub his eyes.
"H-Hey! That's-"
Byleth grabbed Claude's arm, twisting it until he was forced to let go of the arrow in his hand. Behind him, Manuela sighed again, this time even deeper and more profoundly than she had before.
Claude yielded, although not for lack of first trying to find his own way out. It took a good minute of bickering, and more than a few threatening motions on Byleth's part, but the last of the Golden Deer eventually gave in.
"If you don't win this, Teach, I'll be mad." said the boy, finally coming to terms with his defeat.
"For once, I agree with Claude." said Manuela. "I'll be most displeased if you lose after managing to defeat the both of us."
"And especially after rejecting me." she added; her voice turning sour.
"Twice."
She then grabbed her student's arm, and vanished in a flash of light.
"Not bad."
"And the winner of this mock battle is… the Black Eagle House!"
Byleth thought he sensed a hint of pride in his father's tone, especially toward the end. He thought it strange – Jeralt was not one for sappy, emotional statements.
Then again, neither was he. However, if this victory made his father happy in any way, Byleth was happy too.
It did not take long for them to regroup, and begin heading back toward the monastery. Manuela fussed over the students' wounds, casting multiple healing spells along the way. All in all, Byleth found himself quite satisfied with the outcome.
"You did well today." he said suddenly, looking over the four students that had battled alongside him. A strange sensation came over him, growing from deep within his chest.
"Oh? Is that perhaps a hint of pride as well?"
It was true that his students had fought well. Much better than Byleth had anticipated, as a matter of fact. Petra had succeeded in eliminating two enemies alone, while the trio of Edelgard, Hubert and Ferdinand had proven superior to the entirety of the Blue Lion House.
If Hanneman had any actual battle experience, however, things may not have gone as smoothly.
"Thank you, my teacher." said Edelgard, who was smiling brightly. She looked about as happy as when they had shared a meal together, if not more.
Hubert merely nodded, but he could spy a hint of a smirk along the corner of his lips. Ferdinand and Petra straightened up; the former with a dignified puff of his chest and the latter with a determined nod.
"We gained a victory because of your great leadership, Professor." said Petra. "It was impressing- I mean, impressive."
Byleth shook his head.
"No, Miss Macneary. You fought with skill and cunning. Miss Hresvelg and Mister Vestra overcame their challenges with synergy and precision. Finally, Mister Aegir showed great tenacity and resolve."
He paused, thinking over his words.
"I had little to do with it."
"More than a hint, it seems. Look at you, all full of pride!"
His students said nothing in response, instead averting their eyes. He spotted blushes on their cheeks, with the only exception being Hubert, whose face unsurprisingly remained pale as snow.
"I- That's- Praise isn't necessary, really…" stammered Edelgard; who had turned away in an attempt to hide her flustered countenance.
"To think that the princess could make such an adorable figure! If only I could reach out and pat her on the head."
Thankfully, Sothis did not have a body of her own. Byleth could only imagine the inconveniences she would stir up.
"Phooey!"
"You are very kind, Professor." Petra said happily. "I will be making sure to get more praise soon!"
"Indeed!" confirmed Ferdinand. "I am quite pleased."
Hubert scoffed.
"Flattery will get you nowhere."
"Bandits? How strange…"
The next day, Byleth crossed the bridge leading to the cathedral, which was the only place he had not yet explored. For some reason, it seemed unimportant, at least in the face of his other duties.
Nevertheless, Lady Rhea had asked him to familiarize himself with the teachings of the church, and the cathedral seemed like the right place to do so.
She had also informed him of the next task his house would face. Apparently, the same gang of bandits that had pursued the three house leaders were held up in Zanado, the Red Canyon. They were to dispatch of them, and it would serve as the students' first true taste of war.
In other words, it was there that they were to become killers.
"That place. I sense something familiar about it. Like home, and yet…"
Sothis trailed off, and Byleth decided not to press the matter. She had acted strangely ever since hearing of it, and although he would not admit it, he preferred her usual, cheerful, annoying persona over a dreary and distant one.
"Did I hear you correctly, Byleth? I must be dreaming."
Then again, things were always subject to change – even opinions.
"Dear Goddess, I ask for guidance…"
The soft, melancholic voice of a blue-haired girl brought him back to reality, and Byleth found himself walking up to the praying student.
Marianne stood in the center of the cathedral; head bowed and both of her hands clasped together. Hearing his approach, the girl turned around, greeting him with a kind yet surprised expression.
"Professor! I suppose you came by to pray too?
He shook his head.
"Not exactly." he said. "I'm just passing by. You seemed rather deep in prayer, however."
"Oh, um… Well… It's nothing specific."
"A blatant lie if I have ever heard one."
"I only call upon the goddess to give thanks, or perhaps to ask for protection." she explained, before fidgeting nervously on the spot.
"Anyhow, I should be on my way."
Byleth interrupted the girl in the middle of her awkward bow.
"Please, Miss Edmund, stay for a while."
"Ah!" she exclaimed in shock. "You know my name? I never thought…"
"I've made it a point to memorize the names of each of this year's students. The chance that I'll be instructing you in the near future is far from slim."
"Oh… Um. Okay."
"…"
Marianne stood in silence, looking extremely uncomfortable. Byleth wondered what could have possibly caused this behavior from the girl, making her nearly as shy and withdrawn as Bernadetta.
"Sorry. I don't really know what to say. I didn't interact with people too often before I came here."
"I wonder why."
"Neither did I." said Byleth. "I mostly kept to myself outside of battle."
Most of his conversations prior to becoming a professor had been with his father, and even then, they had been rather sparse. He only ever spoke with other people when necessary, such as to issue commands or exchange words with the odd merchant or two.
"Oh… You seem to have a knack for it, Professor. You're always so, um… confident."
"I try." said Byleth, appreciative of Marianne's words. Sothis had once said he was too stone-faced, but apparently it was not an entirely bad thing.
"Thank you for your time, Miss Edmund. And please remember, as a professor of this academy I am to help all students, regardless of house."
"I… see." whispered Marianne.
"You don't always need to turn to the goddess for advice."
With that, Byleth began to walk away, curious to see what lay beyond the altar in the cathedral's main hall. The flicker of a candle shone from the right, and as he made his way toward it, he discovered a small chapel.
Four great statues were placed symmetrically along the walls of the chapel; their beauty marred by the effects of time. A little polishing would go a long way in restoring them, he thought, and wondered what the reason behind their current state could be.
"I agree. It is a shame to see such craftsmanship neglected."
"Taken an interest in the statues of the four saints, have you, Professor?"
Tomas' soft, wizened tone was instantly recognizable, and Byleth turned around to face the man. He was surprised to see the librarian outside of his domain, but greeted him in turn all the same.
"A fleeting curiosity, at most. Do you know why they are so… dirty?"
The old man chuckled; his laugh resounding across the chapel.
"Out of all replies, I must admit I did not expect that particular one. I'm also afraid I cannot answer you, as it is a mystery that eludes even me. Perhaps the church has little funds to spare in these anxious times."
"Anxious times?"
Byleth repeated Sothis' question, and Tomas elaborated. His eyes turned downcast, and his posture slumped.
"I forget how little you know of Fódlan, Professor. In truth, I envy that about you."
"The Insurrection of the Seven." said Tomas, before continuing. "The war between Dagda and Brigid, The Tragedy of Duscur…"
The librarian trailed off toward the end.
"No doubt you have heard mention of these events, if not in passing, then at least within the books I have loaned you over these last few days. Why, only last year, a student disappeared from these very grounds. Something is stirring, Professor, and a great many things are about to change."
"A student went missing? Why have we not heard of this from the archbishop?"
Byleth, too, was stunned. Such a thing would mean the monastery is suffering a serious breach in its defenses. Of course, the student may have simply run away, but he would still have liked to know.
"I could not help but overhear your conversation with that poor, young girl. You're doing a great deed in reaching out to her. Blind faith and reliance on the goddess to overcome all hardship is… ill-advised."
He agreed with the librarian wholeheartedly. A mercenary won no battles, and most certainly made no money, with such a state of mind.
"Sadly…" said Tomas. "It is a mentality the church encourages."
"I, for one, could not imagine being so dependent. Not on anyone! No matter who they may be."
Byleth resisted the urge to comment on the irony of that statement.
"Ours is a special case."
"Oh, dear." Tomas said suddenly. "I fear I've occupied far too much of your time. I even forgot the reason why I wished to speak with you in the first place."
The librarian smiled widely.
"Congratulations on your victory! Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the mock battle, but I hear the Black Eagles performed splendidly. They are most fortunate to have you as their professor."
Something tugged at the corners of Byleth's lips.
"Thank you, Tomas."