It was the morning after the confrontation with the Death Knight. After hearing the events that transpired in the dead of night, Seteth and Rhea asked to speak with those involved. Byleth, Monica, Luke, Mercedes, Constance, and Shez were brought over to discuss the happenings of the night before. Even Hanneman was there after he heard what happened to Maneula. "Is Professor Maneula okay...?" Shez asked. She was worried after they rounded a corner and saw her stabbed.
'Thanks to your timely arrival, Professor Maneula has escaped the situation with her life. It was a deep wound, but the immediate treatment will allow her to pull through." Seteth explained. Everyone let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this one bit of good news. "She was holding this mask as well..." Seteth held up the mask that belong to Professor Jeritza.
"Yeah...that's Professor Jertiza's mask alright." Luke said with a nod.
"So the man that attacked our students and attempted to kidnap Flayn was none other than one of our very own..." Seteth was very bothered by this. "Professor Jeritza has also not been seen since yesterday morning."
"Regardless, I am happy that Flayn is safe and sound." That was the one thing Rhea was thanking the Goddess for. Ultimately, everyone managed to escape the situation alive.
"Before we go any further..." Seteth turned to Monica. "Are you alright? I understand that you were a Black Eagle in the year before."
"Yes..." Monica nodded her head slowly. The imposter withheld the urge to roll her eyes and gag as these questions were directed at her. But she did interrogate the real one for exactly this purpose. "But then these awful people kidnapped me, so...I never had the chance to graduate."
"You are alright now, child." Rhea said with a soft smile.
"If it's not too much trouble..." Monica slowly looked over to Byleth, presenting a meek smile. "Professor Byleth, was it? Would it be alright if I came back under your class? I promise I won't get in the way of your lessons. It's just been so long, I need to refresh myself on everything."
Byleth gave a nod. "That's fine with me. It would be nice to have you, Monica."
"Really?!" Monica's eyes widened and she clasped her hands together excitedly. "Thank you so much!" "It's really that simple? Hah! I'll make you you regret ever crossing paths with me!"
"You must be exhausted, Monica." Seteth said. "You can go and get some rest. We still have some matters to discuss here."
"Okay. Thank you so much." Monica said while making her way off, a sinister smile on her lips the moment her back turned. Nobody had no idea what they invited upon the safety of the monastery walls.
Once Monica was gone, Seteth then shifted his attention to Luke, the ringleader of the attack on the Death Knight. "You have much explaining to do, Luke. You claimed that you knew the identity of the Death Knight, yet said nothing. On top of that, you also engaged in conflict within the monastery walls when you know that it is forbidden outside of the training yard."
"Hey, he was just-!" Shez was about to leap into the defense of Luke, but Luke shook his head and stepped forward.
"...With all due respect, Seteth, I couldn't come forward about it." Luke said. "I have a lot of faith in my memory, but not everyone does. All the evidence I had was just circumstantial. I couldn't come up to you without solid proof, could I? I know you wouldn't take mere speculation...so I had no choice but to figure it out on my own."
"Is that the impress we've given you?" Seteth raised a brow. Luke was right; it was a serious matter to accuse a professor of such crimes. "I would've liked if you had handled the situation with a little more care. Luckily, however, Flayn came out of it unharmed...but you all have violated..."
"If you're going to punish someone, punish me and me alone." Luke said.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Shez turned to Luke.
"It was a group effort, you don't have to do that...!" Mercedes raised her objections.
'You do not get to reap the consequences of all of this!" Constance shouted. Byleth and Hanneman, however, remained silent.
"You guys were just dragged along by me. That's all." Luke said, planning to take the blame for everything. He knew full well that he violated some sacred rules, and since it was his idea, he figured he would take the hit.
"Is that how you feel?" Rhea tilted her head slightly. She thought it was a noble thing for Luke to take the hit.
"In that case..." Seteth was about to say something, but then Flayn rushed into the room.
"Brother, wait!" Flayn said. "You mustn't punish anyone!"
"Flayn, you're supposed to be resting." Seteth furrowed his brows. Once again, Flayn was doing a great job at worrying him. She almost got kidnapped after all.
"But I have yet to thank everyone for rescuing me!" Flayn said with a huff. "If not for their actions, who knows where I might be right now. I think they deserve a thank you instead of punishment!"
"Flayn..." Luke blinked.
"Flayn does make a good argument." Hanneman said. "As Luke's teacher, I will handle anything that needs to be done. The rules do have to be respected, but the situation is a little different this time, wouldn't you say?"
"Very well." Seteth let out a sigh. He relented. It was thanks to Luke and his group's efforts that Flayn was saved. That wasn't something he could overlook. "Because Flayn was returned to us safely, this once, I will overlook things."
"You sure know how to take an arrow for someone, don't you?" Shez glanced at Luke, who rubbed the back of his neck.
"Come along now, students." Hanneman motioned for the other students to follow him out. They shouldn't stay longer than necessary. "As for you, Luke, do not worry. You're not in nearly as much trouble as you think."
"Thanks...?" Luke was still largely confused, but...he would take this.
Once the others left, Byleth was about to as well. But Flayn stopped her. "Professor Byleth, I insist that you wait a moment!"
"Yes...?" Byleth turned to Flayn, curious.
"I had a suggestion! Something to ensure that something like this would never happen to me again, and I need your approval for it!" Flayn said.
"Don't you mean my approval?" Seteth stared at Flayn.
"Oh, but brother, you'd throw a fit if I suggested it to you." Flayn said with a coy smile. "But I think I should join the Professor's class!"
.
.
Edelgard was in her room. She didn't plan on staying for long, especially after she heard what happened last night. She was on her way out when there was a knock at the door. "Yes, Hubert?" The door opened, but it wasn't the person she expected. She turned and... "Monica...!?"
"That's right!" Monica stepped inside and closed the door behind her. "Are you happy to see me...Lady Edelgard?" A smile crept onto Monica's lips.
"..." Edelgard was silent for a moment. Right. Of course. This wasn't Monica. It looked like Monica, sounded like Monica, and even talked like her, but that wasn't her. It was... "Kronya..."
"Ding ding ding! How'd you know?" Kronya made herself comfortable on Edelgard's bed, one leg crossed over the other as she shifted temporarily into her true form. "Was my voice not high enough? Too formal?
Edelgard scowled as Kronya encroached on her personal space. "What are you doing here? I'm very busy right now and I do not have time to deal with you."
"You know what I'm doing here." Kronya said while leaning back on Edelgard's bed. How comfortable. Shambala never had anything like this. "Starting today, Monica is reenrolled into Garreg Mach! I'll be in your classes in the Black Eagles. I've never done this school stuff before, but it'll be a nice way to pass the time. Plus, it'll make it easier to stab that Professor in the back after what she did to me."
"If you lay a single hand on my teacher I swear to you, I will kill you myself." Edelgard threatened. Kronya just smiled in response.
"I don't think you will." Kronya snapped back. "Did you know that Thales is probably very unhappy with you right now? Your subordinate completely botched the easiest job in the world."
"And?" Edelgard quirked a brow. She felt indifferent to the situation. In truth, the Death Knight's failure benefited her more than anything else.
"We were going to use that Nabatean's blood to make more Demonic Beasts, but now we can't do that." Kronya scowled. "How do you intend to take this pitiful building without that army by your side?"
"I'll manage." Edelgard spat. "You'll have to make due as well, since that plan will no longer be feasible. So sorry."
Kronya then shifted her form back into Monica, pouting. "Oh, but Lady Edelgard, how will you ever take the Church down if you don't have the numbers? I wanted to be there to support you every step of the way, you know that."
"Stop using her face." Edelgard felt a violent impulse rising up. But as much as she wanted to strike, she knew full well that she couldn't. Monica's knowing smile angered her, but she had no choice but to stand down. She couldn't kill her...at least, not yet. Her hands were ultimately tied for now.
"Don't make such a sour face, Lady Edelgard." Monica said while standing up. "You'll be seeing me every day from now on. So I hope we can get along. I'll try not to cause too much trouble for you." She said, lying.
"If you do anything to tarnish Monica's image..." Edegalrd began.
To that, Monica waved her hand dismissively. "You worry too much. I spent all that time interrogating Monica to learn every detail of her boring, dreadful life. That girl really loved you, it's a shame you threw her away to die...and even when you came for her, you were still too late..."
Edelgard felt the violet impulse. She was about to reach out and grab Monica by the throat, but something stopped her. It was Hubert, who teleported into her room. "...!"
"...You were running late, so I had a feeling this might be happening." Hubert said while holding Edelgard's wrist. She was inches away from clutching Monica's throat in her grasp. "She is taunting you, Lady Edelgard. Do not let her get a rise out of you, no matter how difficult that may be. We have other places we must be."
"..." Edelgard closed her eyes, let out a deep sigh, and calmed down. Kronya was very good at getting a rise out of people. All of those people were, she couldn't stand them. She couldn't wait to get rid of them... "I'm calm now, Hubert. Thank you."
"Of course." Hubert released Edelgard's hand. "Now, Monica. Allow me to tell you something before we depart." His gaze turned to the imposter, who stared at him curiously. "Lady Edelgard may not be able to raise a hand against you, but do understand this one thing: there is nothing stopping an unfortunate accident from befalling you should you cause any trouble. Do keep that in mind as you leech off the identity of another."
"Oooh, how scary." Monica rolled her eyes. She wasn't taking Hubert seriously. It actually helped that the real Monica wasn't very fond of Hubert either, so the disgust she felt only aided in her disguise. "Go on, don't let me hold you up. I'm sure Thales has a lot he wants to say to you."
"Hmph..." Edelgard scoffed and pushed Monica out of her room first. After that, she and Hubert teleported elsewhere.
"So pushy." Monica dusted herself off. "Well, I should get acquainted with this dingy hole." She stepped out into the sun, grimacing for a moment. "Ugh, too bright..."
.
.
The next day of classes arrived. "Okay, everyone." Byleth stood at the front of the class with Monica and Flayn. "We have two new students joining us. Say hello."
"I am certain you already know who I am, but I will introduce myself anyway!" Flayn stepped forward. "My name is Flayn! I am very excited to be joining your class!"
"Whoa, Flayn's in our class now? Is Seteth okay with that?" Caspar blinked in surprise.
"I convinced him myself! You have nothing to worry about!" Flayn said with a smile, before taking a seat in the front row. She was very eager to learn from Byleth and make friends!
"My name is Monica von Ochs." Monica said while placing a hand over her chest. "I was a student here already, but circumstances made it impossible for me to graduate. So, here I am. I hope we get along." Ugh. Monica had to prevent herself from gagging after saying such sweet and friendly words. With that, she decided to take her seat next to Shez.
"Oh, uh, hi." Shez wasn't expecting someone to sit next to her.
"Hello!" Monica smiled at Shez. "I heard you're the one with the really cool powers, right? Won't you show me sometime?"
Oh, right. Everyone knew about Shez's power by now. Word of mouth spread fast after the initial Death Knight incident. But she didn't think much of it. "Oh, sure...! I don't mind!"
"I'm sure we'll be fast friends." Monica held a sweet smile. But on the inside, she was scowling. There was one upside to her situation: it put her in the most interesting place in all of Garreg Mach. Byleth, the mysterious Professor who could wield the Sword of the Creator; Shez, the random mercenary who wielded a mysterious power that did not belong to her; and lastly, Edelgard, future Emperor of the Adrestian Empire and the one who intended to change the world. Kronya was right in the middle of all of this...and she was going to enjoy her time sowing the seeds of chaos.