Chapter Six: The Invitation
Author's notes:
Just a heads up dear readers, I will most likely start posting new chapters up on the weekends going forward.
Guest: Thank you for your review! I'm happy you asked as the chapters will get longer as we move forward! :D
"Hey! Over here!" chimed Claude's voice, breaking the silence as he and Edelgard appeared onto the scene. Both students came to a standstill once they saw the body crumpled upon the blood stained ground.
The sound of racing hooves trampling brush soon followed as Jeralt entered the scene. "Finally found you all, I was wonder…" But even Jeralt halted in mid-sentence as he spotted the bandit leader's body. "Let's get out of here," he motioned with a tug upon his steed's reigns. Dimitri, Claude, and Byleth quickly followed, leaving Edelgard to linger just a bit longer as she surveyed the lifeless body before joining up with the retreating group.
As they walked through the forest, Byleth felt a tap on her shoulder. She peered over her right shoulder to see that the fair haired young man was offering her a delicate ivory handkerchief, which looked to be made of silk. "For your face," he remarked before shifting his gaze away. Silently Byleth dabbed the droplets of blood from her skin, until a voice nearly made her jump.
"Oi!" Announced a boisterous voice as the warm glow of dawn lightened the sky. Out from the opposite treeline emerged a band of warriors clad in shining silver armor. "The Knights of Seiros are here! We'll cut you down for terrorizing our students!" The leader stated as they drew closer.
"Ugh...why him?" Jeralt groaned under his breath, wondering if he could just grab Byleth and take off in the opposite direction...at full speed.
"Wait a moment…" The leader waved out his arm to halt his battalion. He had just realized that those who drew near were the three house leaders themselves! "Huh, well, the students seem to be unharmed. And who are you two?"
"By the grace of the Goddess...Jeralt?!" The knight gasped and quickly removed his shiny silver helm to reveal a light brown hair and horseshoe mustache. His baby blue eyes sparkled with joy. "Dear 'ole Captain Jeralt! Goodness, it's been ages," he remarked happily, though he smile faltered from the lack of greeting from the warrior. "Don't you recognize me? It's Alois! Ah, well within those 20 years you've been gone, I've grown taller and a mustache, but I'm still your same old right hand-man! I mean, well, that's how I always thought of myself anyway," Alois chuckled as he rubbed his head.
"Ah! And who might this young lady be?" Alois asked curiously as he spotted Byleth.
"You mean our hero!" Claude added with a wink at the young woman.
Meanwhile Alois's sparkling blue eyes widened as they shifted from Byleth to Jeralt, then back to Byleth, before raising his eyebrows at the warrior. "Uh...Jeralt?" he whispered through the corner of his mouth, as if Byleth wouldn't hear.
"Yes Alois...this is her," Jeralt sighed.
Alois frowned before adding, "But I thought…"
"It's...a long story," the warrior remarked as he shook his weary head.
"Well!" Alois returned back to his energetic state. "Then I insist upon both of you returning with me to the monastery as thanks for protecting our students, and on the way there you can tell me all about it!"
Jeralt sighed again. A headache that had long ago ceased to annoy him was returning with vengeance. He looked towards Byleth to tell her that they were going to head back to the village right now, but he paused at the sight that met his gaze.
Byleth was now in conversation with the three youths and seeing her interact with them made him realize something. There was a subtle spark in her eyes as she conversed. It was as if a slumbering flame had finally awakened within her. Maybe he had sheltered her far too long. For years they had been on the move, never staying in one place too long. Growing up Byleth rarely played with the children at various villages as Jeralt kept her hidden. And after a while there were few adolescences her age on the road. He closed his eyes in thought. 'Maybe it's finally time to go back home.'
Jeralt returned his gaze back at Alois. "Very well," he acquiesced.
Alois looked like a puppy who had just been presented with a bone far too big for it. "You will! Ha HA! Magnificent, let us be off! Oh you should check out the fishing pond, stocked to the brim with new types of fish! You still fish right? Of course you do! Oh, this is going to go swimmingly, ha, get it!" Alois chatted loudly as he led Jeralt and his battalion onwards.
Behind them followed Byleth and the three leaders. "I appreciate your help back there. Your skill is beyond question," Edelgard continued with a note of interest as she walked at Byleth's left. "And your father, is he Jeralt, the Blade Breaker?"
"Wait," Claude interjected as he leaned forward at Byleth's right side. "You mean that guy is the former captain of the Knights of Seiros? Wow! I heard he is the strongest knight to ever live." The Golden Deer leader look genuinely intrigued.
"The Knights of Seiros?" Byleth repeated. "Who are they?" She asked as she looked from the young man back to the young woman.
"You haven't heard of the knights of Seiros?" Came the fair haired young man's voice from behind.
The young woman quickly answered before Byleth could turn her head back to cast a glance at the young man. "They are the most famous order of knights in all of Fódlan, the knights of Seiros serve the Church of Seiros which is located Garreg Mach Monastery. That is where we are from."
"Oh yeah, we never really introduced ourselves huh?" Added the dark haired young man. "With all the fighting for our lives and all. Well, let me be the first. My name is Claude von Riegan, leader of the Golden Deer house, and future head of the Leicester Alliance, I might add," he finished with a playful wink.
"And I am Edelgard von Hresvelg," the young woman spoke up. "Leader of the Black Eagles and heir apparent of the Adrestian Empire," she added proudly.
And finally he spoke up. "My name is Dimitri Blaiddyd, I am the leader of the Blue Lions and prince of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus." Byleth turned her head to look back at the prince. Surely he had been looking at her, but again shifted his gaze away.
Something had changed. Byleth couldn't put her finger on it, but something in Dimitri's manner towards her had changed. Was it an after effect of using the divine pulse...some odd paradoxical ramification. Byleth's head was starting to hurt. Too much has been happening every since she laid her head down to rest.
More rambling notes from the Author:
Alois: "Oh Captain, my Captain!" xD
Again a little change up from how the story unfolds in the game, but I hope you find it refreshing and enjoyable to read! Reviews are always appreciated! :3
(DISCLAIMER) I do not own nor claim to own any of the Fire Emblem Franchise, Intelligent Systems Co., and Ninetendo's exceptional work. It is from the team's own brilliance…my additions are from my own madness.