AN: Right so I'm going to stop promising early chapters now, lol. Doesn't mean I won't TRY just that I'm not going to keep raising you guys's hopes up, although this time I actually have an excuse in the vein of studying for exams and sleepless nights! So there's that; it wasn't ONLY procrastination this time.
That aside, in all honesty I SO didn't want to right a retelling of Eagle of Lion; I have angst to write and romantic tensions to TIGHTEN damnit! So I did what I did best and made the chapter not focus on the battle at all, so sorry if that disappoints some of you but I REALLY didn't wanna right another mock battle.
Anyways, reviews!
Dragon lord Syed 101: Yup, poor children, if only the knew what else I have in store for them...and yeah, Edel tries to fight the love but she just CAN'T
Random Fan: Thank you! And yup, that about sums everything up lol.
Matt Rogen: The gag will never die while I'm alive! And not to worry! Byleth and the Deer are a bit more prominent this chapter!
Just a fan of fics: That's exactly what I'm getting at! The ghosts of power over Dima because he lets them, because he's guilty and he feels he deserves their wrath and punishment and-ngh I love him so much...
Klaw117: I think Edelgard doesn't necessarily think the Church is WORSE just that it's her first target because TWSITD are so infused into her life and she hasn't the power to cut ties with them-or so she perceives. She also believes quite a few wrong things about the Church like believing they lied about Nemesis; she thinks he was a human savior when he was actually just a genocidal maniac so there's also that lol.
Oh and thank you for showing me that typo; that is so embarrassing omg XD certainly fixing that soon!
St James 1: Thank you! And I'm not fully sure as of yet if the Ashen Wolves will show up but I am considering it!
Anyway, onwards!
Chapter XVIII: The Fear of Little Girls
Byleth awoke with a heavy unknown pressure weighing down on her chest.
She groaned, frowning at the discomfort and rolling on her stomach to try and lessen the feeling. The only thing it did was put pressure on her back as well.
"Stop making my chest and back feel funny, Sothis," Byleth said into her pillow.
"It isn't me you fool!" She hissed irritably. "I can't interact with the physical plane; you know this!"
Byleth rolled into her back and opened her eyes. "I'm probably hungry," she rationalized monotonously at the ceiling.
"You said your back and chest are hurting, what does that have to do with your stomach?"
"Dunno. I'm hungry though," Byleth said, sliding off the bed and stretching with a yawn, pausing to press a hand to her chest when the pressure increased.
"This isn't the slightest bit worrying to you?" Sothis demanded. "This could be a sign of something wrong happening to your body!"
"If it's not hunger it's probably a sprained muscle. I get those all the time."
"A strained chest muscle?"
"A bruise, then."
"Byleth would you just—"
"And now my head is hurting," Byleth announced as she began to change. "Because of you, if you didn't get it."
Sothis harrumphed and went silent as Byleth patted her messy hair while crouching before the vanity mirror. She was in the midst of contemplating smoothing down a few strands with her saliva—a thought that put Sothis into a horrified tirade—when the door was knocked.
Byleth looked over her shoulder and called out, "Come in."
The door swung open and a familiar voice chirped, "Morning, Teach!"
"Hi, Claude," Byleth responded, turning to face him properly. "What do you need?"
"Now I know it's pretty early in the day—"
"It is?" Byleth interrupted curiously, stepping around Claude to stare up in the sky. It was dark blue tinted in orange, the sun a slow rising orb behind the Monastery buildings. "Oh. It is."
"...right. So like I was saying!" Claude said, slapping a companionable hand on Byleth's shoulder and grinning. "How about we make a battle plan for today? Y'know, get a head start on Ice Princess and His Princeliness?"
"I'm confused," Byleth admitted. "There's another mock battle?"
"Teach! Don't tell you forgot about The Battle or Eagle and Lion!" Claude exclaimed in abject horror.
"I guess I did," Byleth shrugged. But it wasn't like he could blame her right? The Mock Battle seemed like an all too innocent anomaly in a sea of rebellions, infiltrations, executions and kidnappings.
"But I can help you form a battle plan if we go out for breakfast—my stomach is uncomfortably empty," Byleth continued, stepping fully out of the room and waiting for Claude to follow before she closed the door.
"The kitchens aren't open yet but we can go in town," Claude suggested as the two walked off towards the gates. They'd only walked a few steps before Byleth felt eyes on the back of her neck.
She stopped abruptly, hand falling to the hilt of her sword as she looked over her shoulder with narrowed eyes.
"They have some pretty good...Teach?" Claude had stopped as well, noticing Byleth's sharp gaze scanning the early dawn area.
"What is it?" Sothis demanded urgently.
Byleth didn't answer either of them, turning fully around and looking up at the towering balcony attached to the cathedral.
A shadow stood there, a glowing object in its hand before it darted out of sight.
Byleth tore her sword from its sheath and muttered, "Sothis, stop time."
Thankfully, the mysterious girl didn't waste a moment, perhaps due to the urgentness of Byleth's voice. And within seconds reality had shattered around them and froze everything in place as colours warped strangely from their original hue.
"Did you see that?" Byleth said as she charged towards the Monastery proper, grass and dirt getting kicked into the air before freezing in place. "I did," Sothis said grimly. "Who do you think it was?"
"My guess is an assassin," Byleth said as she skidded to a stop before dashing up the steps and into the building. "It would explain how they could've snuck all the way there without detection."
Once Byleth's heels struck the marble of the Cathedral, time resumed with a blast of eldritch wind and the sound of skittering glass fragments.
Slowing her breathing, Byleth walked slowly into the room, kicking away splintered wood from the pews either stacked haphazardly atop one another, shoved against the wall or sitting lonesomely on its own, and cracking the stained glass littering the ground beneath her heel. All the while her eyes scanned the area for the shadow.
"They couldn't have gotten far," Sothis said. "Time stopped immediately—"
Byleth tensed and whipped around, her sword held up to block against that of a long curved blade and its wielder leaping from above.
She pushed back with a grunt and the perpetrator landed with a crouch and a cat-like grin, scattering glass shards. "Well, well! You sure got here quick!" She giggled. "Did The Crest Stone of Flames give you increased speed I wonder?"
Byleth narrowed her eyes. "What?"
"Don't play dumb, I know you have it!" The girl said, holding up the glowing orb from before. "Now then…" she said, squinting at Byleth's outfit. "I don't see any pockets on you...did you sew it into your clothes?"
"I don't have any idea what you're talking about," Byleth said coolly, raising her blade and sinking into a battle stance. "But I do know you don't belong here."
The girl shrugged and tossed the orb into the air, and moments later it warped out of existence. "Fine, fine. This is a whole lot more fun anyway!"
And with that, the two charged at one another.
Byleth's sword clashed with that of the curved sword, eyes widening when one of the pincer-like tendrils attached to the girl's strange outfit struck at her.
With a grunt, Byleth quickly jumped back atop the edge of a loan pew, kicking it towards her assailant as she backflipped off it. The wood hit the girl and she stumbled back with a cry of surprise while Byleth landed on the balls of her feet and lunged forward with a battle cry, sword tip aimed for her unprotected eye.
The girl smirked and disappeared in a flash of light, spurring Byleth to skid to a stop before swiftly ducking backwards to avoid another pincer as it sliced through the air in an attempt to plunge through her back.
Byleth twisted her body, twirling sideways through the air before landing with a single hand, springing to her feet, and charging forward once more to deliver a heavy downwards slash to the retracting tendril.
"Why! You're a fighter, aren't you?" The girl said with a tilt of her head as the tendril fell limp. "Let's see how well you can dodge this!" The remaining three tails rose like vicious snakes and Byleth waited for them to make their move.
They struck as one and Byleth took a quick deep breath before jumping into action. The first shattered the marble floor as Byleth jumped backwards out of the way, the second sent sparks flying as it jabbed the flat of Byleth's blade before being shoved off course into one of the walls. The last she grabbed, feeling the eldritch material sink into her palm. Byleth's intent was to tug the girl forwards and plunge the sword into her heart, instead the back of her palm flashed a vivid red and showcased a familiar symbol.
It was the symbol Hanneman had shown her, wasn't it? But Byleth had no time to eye it curiously, for within seconds burning flame erupted and swifty travelled down the sharp tendril. It hit the girl dead on and she was thrown back with a pained scream, crashing into a stack of pews.
"Huh," Byleth said, glancing at her backhand as the symbol faded.
"This is the first time it has activated," Sothis commented.
"I wonder why," Byleth mused, looking up to see the girl explode from the pew stack and land with a shower of splinters raining down on her.
"You!" She screamed, glaring at Byleth and panting. Blisters decorated her grayish skin while her outfit smoked. "I knew you had it! Hand it over now 'cause I'm not in the mood for games anymore!"
"You said you wanted a stone," Byleth said. "I don't have a stone. If it's the Crest you want then I don't think you can have it—they're a blood thing if I remember right."
The girl laughed bitterly. "Fine. Keep lying!" She took out her sword and prepared to charge. "I'll just—gah!" an arrow pierced through the girl's sword arm and caused her to drop the sword in agony.
Byleth blinked twice in confusion before turning to the doorway where Claude stood, twirling another arrow before nocking it in place. "It sounded like you needed some help, Teach!" He said cheerfully, gaze still concentrated on the girl's form and arrow still pointing threateningly.
"Not really, but thanks anyway," Byleth responded as the girl glared at the archer.
"There's no way you heard a thing! There's a sound proof spell on this place!" She spat.
Claude shrugged. "Guess you're a trashy mage, huh?"
The girl gritted her teeth and rounded on him. "Why you—ack!" Claude's arrow buried itself in the girl's leg this time and she fell to her knees.
"Careful! This next one's going in your heart, Corpse Girl," Claude threatened, still as chirpy as ever while he nocked another arrow.
The girl snarled before warping out of existence in a burst of light. Within her head, Sothis sighed in relief and Byleth eased the tension from her muscles.
"Yeesh," Claude said as he lowered his bow and placed the arrow back in his quiver. "Who's the freak show?"
Byleth shook her head. "I'm not sure...but she was after me."
"You?" Claude said slowly, giving Byleth a frown. "Why?"
"Dunno. Something about a Crest Stone? She thought I had one but I don't," Byleth shrugged.
Claude hummed in though and crossed his arms as Byleth turned and walked out. "Anyway, we should tell Seteth that someone infiltrated the Monastery—again."
"He'll definitely like hearing that," Claude said with a laugh as he followed. "But after you do, you still up to fixing those hunger cramps?"
"They're gone now actually," Byleth said. "But I'm still hungry, so, yes."
"I wonder...what did that strange girl want with a Crest Stone?" Sothis mused.
"Who knows?" Byleth responded.
"Who knows what?" Claude asked.
"Hmm? Oh, nothing."
-o0o-
Thales.
Dimitri couldn't find such a person during his research last night, and thus had hit a dead end when it came to figuring out what group of people had possession of Edelgard.
But he would figure it out, he had to. They'd poisoned her, what else could they do? If El didn't open up soon what if they did something worse? What if they killed—?
Edelgard's door opened finally and she paused when she saw Dimitri standing there waiting.
"Edelgard…" Dimitri began, the millions of questions that had been swirling around in his head since last night found their way to the tip of his tongue, but before they could leave his lips, she kicked the door closed and briskly breezed past him down the hallway.
"Wha—Edelgard! Edelgard wait—!"
"Everything that you saw and heard last night—everything—did not happen, understood?" She said sharply as she turned down a corner.
"I can't forget, Edelgard!" Dimitri cried, speeding into a jog until he'd passed her and blocked her path. "You nearly died, I—"
Edelgard walked around him and didn't say a word.
"What if they kill you?" Dimitri pressed, matching Edelgard's stride.
"They won't."
"Do you know that? For certain?"
Edelgard paused, swallowing thickly and inhaling slowly before continuing onwards and walking down the steps from the dorm. "Goodbye, Dimitri."
"Edelgard stop! This is important, please—!"
"No!" Edelgard snapped, spinning sharply on her heel to face him. "You stop! How many times do I have to tell you—"
"And if I had listened you would've been nothing more but a corpse on hardwood!" Dimitri yelled back.
Edelgard closed her eyes and sighed heavily before saying, "I know. And I'm grateful, truly but this—situation that I'm in, I desire to do it on my own."
Dimitri shook his head and took a step towards her. "No. You don't."
Edelgard opened her eyes and frowned at him. "I beg your pardon?"
"Last night...you said you wanted me to walk with you. Just before you fell asleep, I remember," Dimitri clarified, and watched as those lavender eyes widened.
"I—"
"And I meant what I said that night as well; I want to look out for you," Dimitri said earnestly, taking her hands in his and squeezing them.
Edelgard's gaze fell to their dually clasped hands, faraway look in her eyes as she slowly spread her fingers, lacing them with Dimitri's.
Two...three...five seconds passed with silk twined with iron before Edelgard finally murmured, "Not here."
Dimitri's heart skipped a beat, hope lighting behind his eyes as she slowly stepped back and let her hands drop to her sides. But before she could give a location the doors behind them opened with a flourish.
"Well, well! If it isn't my fellow house leaders!" Claude said cheerfully, his broad grin in stark contrast to Professor Byleth's usual stoic disposition and Seteth's grim face frowning at his clasped hands from his desk. "Ready to get your butts kicked?"
"Ah," Dimitri rubbed his temples and sighed. "The Battle of Eagle and Lion...Goddess how could I forget?"
"Is everyone forgetting that battle? Well advantage for us, right, Teach?" Claude slapped a hand on Byleth's back, but she seemed to be too busy staring into space to notice or care.
"Anyway we're off! Breakfast and battle plans to deal with, cheers!" He gave the two a cheery salute before he and Byleth departed down the hallway.
"I admit, I forgot as well," Edelgard said with huff. "How could I have been so—never mind. Dimitri—"
"Of course," Dimitri said with a soft smile. "Another time."
Edelgard nodded and gave him the barest hint of a smile before leaving him to stand in the hallway alone. His smile faded as he watched her walk away, a part of him fearing this mock battle had ruined his chances of truly understanding her predicament.
-o0o-
Edelgard was in the midst of walking down the stairs leading to the Main Entrance when she felt something heavy slam into her back.
She cried out in surprise, as her body went airborne, crashing against the marble steps before sprawling onto the floor with a pained gasp.
"I guess Solon was right," a voice chirped at the top of the stairs..
Edelgard pushed herself to her knees, wincing at the bruising in her sides. But before she could stand up completely, a hand had gripped her elbow and warped her away.
Moments later, Edelgard had reappeared in the Black Eagles classroom, forced to her feet and spun around to face her attacker.
"Boo!" Kronya beamed before kicking Edelgard in the stomach and sending her crashing into a chair.
Edelgard landed with a grunt, the chair teetering backwards momentarily before landing back on its front legs.
"I would've thought last night had given you a chance for...y'know, self reflection and humbleness! Buuut," She shrugged and smiled. "Guess not. So you'll be joining my official Redemption Class!"
Edelgard's brow furrowed. "What?"
"Redemption cannot be taught," a familiar voice uttered dazedly. "And it can be only given to those wishing to seek it."
Turning to the side, Edelgard saw both Jeritza and a scowling Tomas sitting on similar seats to hers.
"Now, you three have one thing in common; you're all fuck ups!" Kronya took a teaching stick from the blackboard and pointed at Tomas. "You tried to get our latest toy killed."
Tomas gritted his teeth and clenched his cane. "That boy is an uncontrollable—!"
"Ah, up, up, up. Shut it, Grandpa. This is a strict no excuses zone!" Kronya said snapping the stick on Tomas's shoulder and causing him to hiss angrily.
She then pointed the stick at Jeritza. "You—"
"Did nothing," Jeritza finished boredly.
"Exactly. What happened to bringing that Flayn girl to us? Huh?" Kronya challenged and Edelgard glanced between the two in bewilderment. Flayn? What would they want with her?
Jeritza sighed. "I don't answer to you or your people without Edelgard's permission...apparently."
"Wrong answer!" Kronya said, snapping the stick on his shoulder as well. Jeritza simply blinked dully behind his mask.
Kronya then turned to Edelgard with the stick. "And most recently you—"
"What happened to your suit?" Edelgard cut her off, noticing that she was two tails short.
Kronya's face immediately darkened and she scoffed. "Complications. I dealt with it."
"Judging by your expression, I think not," Edelgard responded coolly, leaning back in her chair with a smile as Kronya growled under her breath.
"Forget about me! At last I do what I'm supposed to, you loose lipped wench!" She snapped.
"Loose lipped?" Tomas demanded, turning to glare at Edelgard as her smile quickly disappeared. "You don't mean—"
"Oh yes," Kronya chuckled darkly. She poked Edelgard's nose with the stick and it took all of her willpower not to give the sadistic Agarthan the reaction she desired. "You were just about to spill all our secrets to the resident orphan prince of Faerghus, weren't you, Edel?"
Edelgard narrowed her eyes at Kronya as she continued, this time poking the area her heart furiously beat. "Don't try denying it; I knew when I stumbled on that little scene yesterday that if you hadn't already said something you would. So I followed you around and what do you know! I was right."
"And yet you condemn me for trying to rid ourselves of him?" Tomas demanded incredulously. "I told all of you this would happen! He's gotten into her head."
"Gotta begrudgingly agree with you, old man. A pretty face and she's running all across Fódlan to rescue him. A little bit of puppy eyes and he's got her spilling her guts," Kronya shook her head as she idly slid a finger up and down the teaching stick. "Makes me wonder what else he could make her do."
"Dimitri doesn't make me do anything," Edelgard hissed, gripping the edge of her seat tightly. "Everything I do is for the good of—"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Kronya said, batting a hand through the air. "Whatever makes you sleep well at night, Edel. I didn't come here to discuss your love life anywho."
Kronya turned and pointed her stick at the board. "Here's my plan to take down Professor Byleth and—"
Edelgard scoffed. "Why in Fódlan's name would you need to go after her, for? Was she the complication? Are you simply throwing a tantrum?"
"No!" Kronya snapped, spinning back around and stomping her foot. "She has the Crest Stone, you moron!"
Edelgard's eyes widened in surprise. Why would Professor Byleth possess something so powerful?
"Snoop through her room and retrieve it," Jeritza said. "There is no reason for us to be here."
"It's not in her room, she has it on her! She attacked me with it this very morning in the cathedral!" Kronya said impatiently. "I'm pretty sure she sewed it into her clothes."
Edelgard raised her eyebrows as Jeritza said, "Impossible," and Tomas demanded, "Have you seen her outfit of choice, Kronya?"
"Well she had to have it somewhere. She had no pockets and wasn't holding it in her hands, but she used its power against me and the ritual stone glowed—what?!" Kronya snapped in frustration as she turned to Jeritza and his raised hand.
"Perhaps it is in her boot," came the suggestion.
"Those things are as big as eggs and harder than iron. And with her moves? There's no way it was in her boot," Kronya argued.
"And where, pray tell, would it be otherwise?" Tomas scoffed. "Your ritual stone is clearly faulty."
"Whatever! We'll take her down and torture her until she tells us," Kronya said. "We'll use the Battle of Eagle and Lion as a—"
"Manuela and I aren't allowed to participate," Jeritza sighed glumly. "And Tomas hardly belongs on the field…"
"Stop. Cutting. Me. Off!" Kronya snapped with another stomp of her foot. "Now shut up and listen," she said pointing to the blackboard. "Finish this task and Thales will reward all of you handsomely."
Edelgard sighed heavily and gave her ear. She supposed it would bode well for her to get on Arundel's good side.
-o0o-
"No offence, Teach but I think you're going a little overboard," Claude muttered as Byleth unpacked another bundle of swords from the carriage they'd used to get to Gronder Field.
"Training swords break easily and there's going to be us Deer plus the knights to act as our battalion—it isn't overboard," Byleth said offhandedly as she surveyed the load. She was about to take out yet another box of healing potions when the sound of galloping hooves neared her and Claude.
A firm hand clamped on Byelth's shoulder followed by a familiar voice uttering, "Byleth."
"Hey, I just heard what happened. You alright?"
Byleth stared at her father blankly. "...happened?"
"The attack this morning, you fool!" Sothis hissed.
"Oh," Byleth said before answering her father properly. "I'm fine. She was pretty weak."
"What's Lady Rhea planning to do about it?" Claude asked curiously.
Jeralt scoffed and glared to the side. "Wants us to keep it under wraps. With the White Heron Cup and Academy Ball fast approaching she wants students to enjoy it without any worries. Stupid if you ask me; the kids need to defend themselves."
"The girl was trying to get something from me—a Crest Stone," Byleth said, counting the potion bottles before taking more supplies from the cart. "I don't think the other students are in any danger."
Jeralt frowned. "A Crest Stone? Why in the world would she think you had that?"
Byleth shrugged. "Probably because I used the Crest of Flames on her. It's the rarest one, right? Maybe she's a crazy noble looking for power and doesn't think it's in my blood."
"She didn't look like a noble," Claude said. "Hell, she didn't look like anyone from Fódlan; her skin, her clothes—haven't seen it anywhere here nor anywhere bordering it."
Jeralt's frown deepened as Byleth said, "It's not a big deal. I told you, she's weak."
"Still, be careful, Byleth," Jeralt said seriously, giving her shoulder a squeeze.
Byleth nodded. "I will."
"Good girl. Now, kick some ass today." Jeralt said with a companionable pat and tiny smile.
Byleth nodded once more as Jeralt gave Claude a quick word of acknowledgement before mounting his horse and riding off.
"Oh we're definitely kicking ass today!" Claude beamed. "Our plan is foolproof, you hear that Lorenz?!" Claude yelled the last part out to the purple haired Deer who was busy preening in his hand mirror atop a large rock some ways away. He turned to glare at his house leader and stormed off with a loud harrumph.
"Plus, look at the other two. Edelgard and Dimitri look like they're at a funeral," Claude jabbed a thumb backwards to the group of Eagles and Lions nearby with their own battalion and carriages.
Indeed, Dimitri was sitting in the grass idly sharpening his lance and muttering under his breath while Edelgard watched the field with hawk-like eyes, face stony and body completely rigid.
This was in contrast to their peers however.
"The other students look happy though," Byleth noted, watching as the Blue Lions healer opened a basket with a flourish.
"Ta-da!" She said as the other members of her house save for Dimitri crowded around her eagerly. The flaxen haired girl then looked over her shoulder to beam at the Black Eagles. "Would any of you all want any?"
"Whoa, whoa, what?" Claude spluttered as he and Byleth watched a blue haired Black Eagles member cry, "Hell yeah! Brownies!" He took five and crammed them all into his mouth, causing another Eagle with long green hair to wrinkle his nose in disgust. "Since when were they on good terms?"
Byleth shrugged. "I suppose it was bound to happen, aren't Dimitri and Edelgard secret fiances or something?"
Claude frowned at her. "...you've been speaking with Hilda a lot, haven't you?"
"Uh-huh. She's been slacking off on homework. Why?"
"Those are all rumors, Teach…" Claude's voice trailed off, eyes following Dimitri as he stood with brownie in hand and offered it to Edelgard. She blinked out of her daze to glance down at the treat and immediately flushed inexplicably.
"If you feel so guilty about eating it we can share," Dimitri said. "It is quite big. Here." He split the brownie in half and handed the bigger half to the princess.
After a moment of hesitation she took it and uttered a small, "Thank you."
"Although, maybe there's some foundation for them to stand on. Huh," Claude frowned in thought, and Byleth knew figuring out if the two were actually secretly engaged would be the topic of their discussion for quite some time.
"Hey, Professor Byleth!" Raphael called from behind them. "I ate some berries and now my throat is kinda tight! Is that bad?"
"Marianne, heal Raphael before he dies," Byleth said calmly and the periwinkle haired girl quickly scurried off with a horrified squeak.
Byleth glanced over her shoulder to see if that task was being completed before giving Claude a sideways glance. "Does a possible alliance muddle our plan?"
Claude hummed in thought and shrugged. "Shouldn't. But we should keep an eye on them just in—"
"D'you think they'd share those brownies?" Lysithea whispered longingly, pink eyes peeking from behind the book she was looking through.
"Hey good idea, Lysithea! Infiltrate their ranks and rob some intel from them!" Claude said triumphantly.
Lysithea's eyes widened and she groaned. "Great. I can't believe I said that out loud…"
A mere moment later, trumpets sounded, their piercing melody echoing throughout the air and capturing the attention of all the students.
"Already?" Ignatz said with a shudder. "Oh man, I'm not ready!"
"Sure we are!" Leonie said with a pumped fist. "Our plan won't fail."
"Just as long as Professor doesn't get kicked in the face again, that is," Hilda teased lightly.
"Trust me," Claude said strapping on his quiver. "Teach and I—Teach?"
"You're sensing someone again aren't you?" Sothis said darkly.
"Not just that," Byleth murmured under her breath, eyes scanning the cliff side as she pressed a hand on her chest. "There's pressure beneath my ribs again."
"I don't see anyone watching you this time however," Sothis mused.
"Except for Rhea," Byleth commented, eyes locking with the ethereal Archbishop. The woman smiled kindly down at her, gaze filled with that weird mixture of glee and longing she had whenever looking at Byleth.
"Ugh. She gives me the creeps. Anyway, do you think that girl came back?"
"Maybe. But I can defeat her again, I'm not worried about me." Byleth said, turning back around and eyeing the trees instead, ignoring the confused looks her students were sending her way.
"You don't mean that," Sothis stated matter-of-factly.
Byleth's eyes landed briefly on the Deer before returning to her search.
"I do. I have...a bad feeling."
"That 'feeling' is worry, I assure you."
"No, it's different," Byleth insisted. "Worrying is a different bad feeling. This bad feeling is...it's more—"
A tanned hand waved directly in Byleth's face, followed by the words, "Aye, Teach! Back with us?"
Byleth blinked twice before looking fully at Claude. "I didn't leave."
"Well, if we're being physical here. But I need your head here too, yeah?" Claude responded. "Oh, also we wanted you to join the cheer."
Byleth blinked curiously as Claude gestured towards Lysithea who was moving her hands in intricate patterns, moments later a burst of yellow sparks shot into the bright blue sky and formed the blindingly glowing form of a deer.
"3...2...1," Claude said before the students with the exception of Marianne chanted, "FEAR THE DEER! FEAR THE DEER!"
"I'm not worried for me. I didn't lie," Byleth said quietly, the beginnings of a frown drawing her brows down as the students continued chanting and Hilda began dramatically dancing atop a nearby rock for the curious onlookers.
"Fearing for the little ones is still worrying," Sothis said.
"It's not," Byleth insisted. "It's worse. Way worse."
"Shouldn't you tell Rhea about your concerns? I'm sure she'd listen." Sothis suggested.
Byleth shook her head. "Father said she didn't want to cause a panic. Stopping this battle for mysterious reasons will do just that; she won't listen.
"Besides," she continued, hands falling to her sword. "I need to face and end that girl for good. She won't stop until she has what she wants and I can't afford her killing anyone—much less my students."
-o0o-
Edelgard wondered if it was too much to hope that Professor Byleth would end up killing Kronya during this ambush.
Unlikely? Perhaps. But a girl could dream.
Jeralt Eisner was once more laying out the rules for her and her peers; they were the same as earlier in the year except with the allowance of full Crest activation. If there were any other changes she wasn't fully certain for her nerves—loathe she was to admit it—were gnawing at her and robbed a good chunk of her attention.
As was her conscious.
Edelgard didn't know Professor Byleth well if at all. But she never enjoyed having more blood dye her hands.
And if those thoughts weren't enough…
'I almost told him,' Edelgard sighed heavily and squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn't believe herself—why, what had possessed her to be so willing to—?
In her mind's eye she could see his face, in particular those expressful eyes. Kind, earnest...blue shining brightly with concern. Those same eyes that had been filled with a determined flame when her life had been threatened in the three times since they'd met.
Edelgard opened her eyes and glanced briefly towards the Blue Lions group a ways away on a different part of the field, tensing when her eyes locked with Dimitri's.
That gaze of concern was on his face again.
Her sight of him was quickly blocked by Hubert's looming form as he narrowed his eyes at her with a disapproving, "Lady Edelgard."
"I am not distracted," she said sharply as she indignantly turned back to Jeralt.
"With all do respect, princess, our goal is to hand Professor Byleth over to Those who Slither in the Dark," Hubert said in a low voice after glancing around briefly to ensure nobody was eavesdropping. "Not to stare longingly into the eyes of princes."
Edelgard's eyes widened before her head snapped towards Hubert, glare burning in her eyes. "Longing?" She hissed. "You are absolutely mistaken Hubert!"
"And you are flushed pink," Hubert responded dryly.
"Wha—" Edelgard pressed a gloved hand against her rapidly warming cheek. "It—you—!"
Hubert sighed, green eye softening as he regarded her. "I understand that Prince Dimitri may...relate to you in some aspects. Understand you in ways that even I cannot but you must remember that at the end of the day—"
"He's expendable," Edelgard finished woodenly.
"Well I was going to say a puppet for The Agarthans but...yes," Hubert. "It would be in your best interest to forget about him."
Edelgard breathed out a bitter laugh and simply stated. "I can't."
Hubert furrowed his brow, opening his mouth to say something else before Jeralt's voice boomed, "Now that the rules have been stated, it's time for the battle to begin. Good luck to all of you," Jeralt gave his horse a kick and cantered off the field.
Edelgard took a deep breath to steel and recenter herself. "Remember what we discussed," she finally said, turning to address the Black Eagles. "You will split evenly, one group will deal with the Deer, the other the Lions. Hubert and I will take the leaders."
Edelgard glanced at Byleth once more and turned away with a sigh. She didn't know exactly what Kronya and the Agarthans planned to do, but she knew it would be horrible, and she knew the quiet professor didn't deserve it.
"I'm sorry," Edelgard said under her breath. But she had a war to win—no sacrifice was too big.
-o0o-
Byleth's mind wasn't entirely on the battle.
Luckily, this was only a mock battle, so every sword that jabbed at her side when she was staring into the distance, every arrow that hit her thigh when she'd sworn she saw a suspicious shadow, and every blast of magic that tossed her down when she was distracted by the constant fluctuating of the discomfort in her chest wouldn't kill her.
Stil, she'd hate it if she let her students down.
From her side, a Black Eagles Knight charged forward with a war cry, lance pointed at her distracted form as she tried scanning for another potential villain. When she finally turned to face him, an arrow slammed against his helmet, making him shudder and lose balance before, toppling.
He screeched dramatically as Claude came into view with a frown on his face. "What's going on, Teach? Your head isn't in the game, I can tell."
Byleth shook her head and blocked an incoming arrow with the flat of her blade. "This isn't usually like me. I'm sorry."
"It's that girl from this morning, isn't?" Claude pressed and Byleth tensed. "Hey, come on. You said so yourself; she's weak right?"
"To me, maybe," Byleth said, turning to face him properly. "Not to you or the other Deer."
"First of all, ouch," Claude said, pressing a hand against his chest. "Secondly, you don't have to worry about us, Teach! You taught us well, we can handle ourselve—"
The two were illuminated in a brilliant violet light and turned simultaneously to find Hubert, hand raised and a large orb of swirling dark energy hung in the air.
With a smirk, he lowered his hand and sent the orb flying, Byleth and Claude leaping back in opposite directions in order to dodge.
Byleth landed, watching as the spell exploded and sent a line of purple fire streaking down the field before circling around her in a wide circle.
"Goodness! That's quite a spell," Sothis commented.
Byleth nodded in agreement. "I should take him out next, just in case he has more dangerous spells in his—"
A hand slammed against Byleth's back, but before she could turn to find her attacker, her vision was blinded in a sea of magenta.
When the light faded, she was all alone—the sound of battle from earlier long gone.
The discomfort in her chest intensified as a familiar laugh echoed throughout the dark wood. "Ready for round two?"
"I have a bad feeling; we should leave, now!" Sothis said urgently.
"No. I'm ending her this time," Byleth said, holding out her sword.
"Nobody is here! Nobody is in danger, and you are currently wielding wood! We have to go now!"
"How? Besides, she'll only follow; you know that."
"Not if we—!"
From between the dark trees, figures came out, hands alight with magic and weapons that would hack a wooden sword with ease being brandished.
Byleth staggered back, quickly realizing her already horrible odds.
"That's it, I'm taking us back!"
Before Byleth could ask what Sothis meant, the world shattered around her and wind whooshed through the inverted landscape. Within seconds Byleth saw her previous actions flash before her and she fought the nauseous feeling in her stomach.
Just when she was sure she would throw up, time resumed with another dramatic whoosh and left a dazed Byleth behind.
"...ouch, secondly, you don't have to worry about us, Teach! You taught us well, we can handle ourselves—"
Once more, the two were illuminated in a brilliant violet light and turned simultaneously to find Hubert, hand raised and a large orb of swirling dark energy hung in the air.
This time however, Byleth attempted to charge towards him. Unfortunately, Hubert leaped away from her swing and blasted like the last time.
Byleth gasped, skidding against the grass and narrowly jumping sideways to avoid the violet flames.
"Remember not to let that assailant get to you again!" Sothis warned and Byleth nodded, no longer focusing on the surprise spell and instead spinning around in an attempt to catch the perpetrator.
Just time, she caught her wrist, stopping her glowing hand in its tracks. When her eyes trailed down the arm to find its owner, she frowned in confusion.
"Edelgard?" She and Sothis said at the same time as the princess's eyes widened in panic.
-o0o-
Within the span of five seconds, Edelgard had let every swear and curse she knew of scream angrily through her brain.
Hubert had given the signal to Kronya, Tomas Death Knight, and all the other waiting Agarthans, meaning they would already be at the rendezvous point right now and she was late.
She couldn't mess up again—if she did—
"Edelgard?" The Professor questioned, a rare bit of emotion was on her face; bewilderment.
Why did she look so confused though? This was a battle after all, so unless Byleth recognized the spell she was about to use—which was doubtful—Edelgard wasn't exactly doing anything suspicious or against the rules.
But she didn't have time to dwell on that.
Edelgard twisted her west and broke out of Byleth's grip, squeezing the axe handle at her side and swinging as hard as she could.
Byleth blocked and asked, "Why are you trying to bring me to that girl?"
Edelgard gasped, heart freezing.
How did she know? How in Fódlan's name did she know?
Gritting her teeth, Edelgard spun away and tried to grab her elbow to cast Warp again but Byleth leaped away.
With each failed attempt to touch Byleth in the slightest her frustration and fear grew. How long had it been?
Edelgard ducked under a sword swing and lunged under the blade aiming for Byleth's stomach only for the young woman to jump over her head.
Two minutes? Three? Five?
Edelgard broke her fall with a roll, jumped back to her feet and spun to block another blow from Byleth. She tried holding the axe with one hand and squeezing Byleth's forearm with the other, but the mercenary was taller and stronger—thus her one handed hold didn't keep her safe from being pushed back towards the raging violet flames.
What would they do if Edelgard angered them once more? Poison her again? Cut ties with her? Would they end what little life she had left?
"Stop moving!" Edelgard shrieked in frustration and fear as she powered her Crest of Seiros fully.
Byleth side stepped one of Edelgard's heavy swings but couldn't block her follow up sideways one due to her Crest imbued speed.
The mercenary grunted as she was struck in the stomach and thrown back into a tree.
This was it—all she had to do know was—
An orb slammed into her stomach and sent her flying through the air sprawling to the grass within the nearby cluster of trees.
"Don't worry, Professor, I got you!" A tiny voice said triumphantly as Edelgard scrambled to her feet hurriedly.
'No, no, no, no, no.'
Edelgard attempted to charge again when a hand gripped her shoulder and stopped her movements.
Looking over her shoulder, she saw a man with a dark feathered hat lowered over his eyes, disapproving scowl on his lips.
"Wait! Wait I—!"
Edelgard's words fell on deaf ears and she was warped out of sight.
-o0o-
"She's gone," Lysithea said in confusion as she, Byleth, and Claude made it to the place Edelgard had been thrown to.
"Probably cut her losses and retreated realizing she was outnumbered," Claude guessed.
Byleth however was thinking about the look on her face, the desperation in her eyes and actions—
Behind her, Lysithea and Claude screamed in agony and spurred her to spin around. They collapsed to the ground in a sizzling, pained heap and Byleth rose her sword once more.
Standing by her fallen students, a man with a large hat stood with his hands outstretched.
"When you want something done," he began before disappearing and reappearing behind Byleth. She spun to attack, only for him to catch her forearm and squeeze. "You do it yourself."
Just before they warped away, the strangled call of "Teach!" reached Byleth's ears.
The man rose his hand, aiming behind Byleth's shoulder where Claude was struggling to his feet and using a branch to support himself.
Byleth rammed a shoulder in his face and caused him to stagger back in release her with a grunt. She then kicked him in the stomach, causing him to fall before dashing towards Claude.
"We need to go now," she said urgently as she leaned him against her body and crouched to help a groaning Lysithea up as well.
"Lysithea," Byleth gave the girl a questioning look that she answered with a determined nod, even through the clear pain she was in.
The strange man warped in front of them however, stated, "I think not," and blasted Byleth back.
She cried out in pain as her body skidded through the grass, creating a deep trench.
"That...spell," she panted in pain with a wheezing cough.
"He's a powerful mage indeed—I think we should rewind time again!"
The man warped in front of Byleth, looking down at her with hidden eyes.
"Sothis?" Byleth whispered, apprehension quickly mounting.
"I can't!" Sothis cried in panic. "It's not working! I don't know why!"
The man bent down and placed a hand on Byleth's wrist, a moment later they'd warped away—back to the place she and Sothis had escaped from, violet chains erupting from her ground to wrap around and pin her down.
"I have her here," the man called into the thicket of heavy boughed trees as he stood up.
"About time," The familiar girl's voice said as she stepped into the light, followed by several figures in cloaks and masks, as well as a grey skinned old man and a familiar dark knight. She peered down at Byleth with a smirk. "Not so tough now, are you?"
"It says a lot about your strength when…" Byleth winced and coughed before continuing, "You can't even feel confident around me unless I'm chained and wounded."
The girl scowled angrily. "Shut up, you! I—!"
"Calm yourself, Kronya," the hat man said.
"So I cannot fight?" The Knight said gloomily.
"There's no need anymore," The hat man said, kicking Byleth in the ribs. She gritted her teeth and hissed.
"Where's Edelgard?" The girl named Kronya asked, "I thought she was supposed to bring her in."
"She took too long," The hat man shrugged. "I sent her to Thales for judgment and took over her job."
"These people...who are they?" Sothis asked, a faraway hint of panic in her voice. "There's something about them…"
"Leave that impudent child to fail at the most simple of tasks," The old man sneered. "I hope her judgment is harsh as can be—that should teach her some respect!"
"Don't be so smug, Solon," The hat man said. "Now that I too have taken your job, as well as Death Knight's and every mage here, you'll need to do something else to prove your worth—your judgment is still pending."
The old man bristled as Hat Man continued with, "Now then," and walked around Byleth's head before kneeling and placing his palm against her temples. She tried hard not to wince. "Tell us where The Crest of Flames Stone is."
Byleth's body was struck with lightning and she gasped in pain, muscles bunching. Her mind began to swim with everything she knew about her Crest, the Crest Stone, her powers…
"She doesn't know," Hat Man said, voice tinged with the slightest bit of surprise.
"Ugh! That was horrible!" Sothis cried. "What was that?"
"But she has it! That doesn't make any sense!" Kronya snapped.
"Edelgard failed to put our mission first, shows worrying signs of affection for that Blaiddyd boy, never bothers to hide her disdain for us, and couldn't even Warp someone without being stopped!" Solon said. "She must have sent false information to throw us off."
"No, I feel there's a puzzle piece that is missing," Hat Man mused. "I sense great power coming from her."
"And she used it on me this morning! She has it, I know she does!" Kronya exclaimed.
"How can she have something and have no knowledge of it?" Solon demanded.
Hat Man was about to answer when an explosion of light rid the forest of its gloom, blowing trees and masked mages alike. Byleth squeezed her eyes shut and looked away as the chains around her disintegrated into wisps of magic
When the light faded, all that was left were several tree stumps within the clearing and a row of Seiros Knights.
At the front was a furious Rhea, hands outstretched in front of her as she breathed in and out sharply.
The cloaked figures stood up with mirrored groans and grumbles, Hat Man calling, "Retreat! Now!"
All of them exploded in a blast of magenta light, the last one to leave was Kronya who hesitated before leaving as well.
"Well that's a relief," Sothis sighed. "I wonder how they found you?"
"Byleth!" a voice boomed from the crowd of Seiros Knights, galloping at top speed on his horse. Once he neared her limp form he jumped off his horse before it could even stop and wrapped Byleth in a tight hug.
"Father…" Byleth said with a slight bit of surprise. He'd hugged her before but...never like this, never this tightly.
"Your students, they...they told us everything and then—Goddess I was so scared…"
Before Byleth could respond to her father's relieved blubbering, the pain finally took its toll on her and she slumped in his arms.
-o0o-
"I don't see why you are so disgruntled, Edelgard. Blueberry muffins with tea were always a combination you enjoyed, no?" Arundel said casually, leaning back in his and sipping from his tea cup.
Edelgard didn't look at him, eyes trained on the amber liquid within her teacup. Her mind was reeling with worries, her fists were clenched and shaking atop her lap and she was trying so, so hard to keep the fear from showing on her face.
Arundel pushed the tray closer to her. "Eat, Edelgard. You seem stressed," he said in a clear mockery of concern.
With the tea closer, Edelgard could see her reflection in the rippling liquid.
She wasn't doing a good job at hiding her fear at all and she hated that she couldn't help it.
The sound of footsteps snapped Edelgard's head up in attention, the Agarthan who had brought her here—Myson—entered purposefully and offered Arundel a quick bow.
"The Stone?" Arundel questioned immediately.
"Byleth Eisner possesses it, as she used it to attack Kronya. However she is unaware of it and thus even my abilities were non-sufficient in locating it," Myson said, head bowed in humility.
"I see…" Arundel said slowly, drumming his fingers against the table. "I trust you brought her in for further questioning, however?"
Myson hesitated and opened his mouth to respond when Arundel held up a hand. "Don't bother, I see the answer in your body language."
"I am sorry, Sir. Two of the Professor's students revealed what had happened to Rhea and she came to her aid."
Arundel turned to Edelgard, still addressing Myson as he said, "So had she been transported immediately after the signal…"
"We would've had more time, yes."
"And you didn't immediately bring her to one of our bases because?"
"Precautions. In case she was being tracked."
Arundel nodded slowly as he plucked a piece of Edelgard's muffin and popped it into his mouth. "Understood. You may leave now, Myson."
Myson nodded and turned on his heel. Only when his footsteps had faded did Arundel give Edelgard a large smile.
Edelgard's heart stuttered in fear.
"That Crest Stone could have been mine," Arundel said with a dark chuckle. "But because of your ineptitude…"
"It wasn't my fault," Edelgard said firmly—or at least tried to. She was sure he could hear the quaking in her voice. "Myson stopped me before I could—"
"No excuses, Edelgard. I don't want to hear them," Arundel cut her off. "Perhaps you truly are losing your edge."
Edelgard shook her head. "You're wrong. I'm just as dedicated as I—"
"No, niece. You are wrong," Arundel shook his head. "How can you be so deluded into thinking you are even remotely as dedicated as you were before when not a single thing you've done thus far as aided us—?"
"I got you that sword during The Rite of Rebirth," Edelgard said sharply. "And I also saved Dimitri—"
"Ah yes, yes. Him," Arundel leaned back and sighed. "Is this Dimitri boy the one tripping you up?"
Edelgard clenched her fists tighter. She hated the way Arundel said his name—with a sneer of disdain—and she hated the underlying threat behind his query.
"My shortcomings are not his fault," Edelgard said. "It was I who—" Who decided to let a simple show of selflessness affect her so surely, decided to save him when she had wanted him out of her head, decided that—
"So now you take responsibility?" Arundel mocked. "Cute. But I understand, you're but a scared little girl with an innocent little crush. But if you think you'll be able to keep him safe if I decide to dispose of him then you're more naive than I thought."
"I am not a little girl anymore, Arundel," Edelgard snapped. "I'm not scared and I am certainly not—"
Arundel cut her off and continued, "Lucky for you, disposing of him isn't my intention. However…" his eyes glittered dangerously as he squeezed Edelgard's wrist from underneath the table. She let out a panicked and strangled gasp as she tried to pull free but he only squeezed tighter. "No more slip ups, Edelgard. Otherwise I may have to rethink said intentions."
He finally let go and Edelgard bolted from her chair, chest heaving rapidly and teeth gritted angrily. Arundel smirked back. "That is all."
Edelgard's anger melted into confusion as he dismissed her. That was all? He wasn't going to...punish her?
"Question, niece?"
Edelgard shook her head. "No," she said before quickly turning on her heel.
"Ah! Wait a moment."
Edelgard paused mid step, breathing in nervously.
"Tell your father I'd like to see him," Arundel said. And even though her back was turned to him she knew he was smirking. "It's been awhile, you see."
Edelgard spun around sharply. "Don't."
"I don't take blips in my plans lightly, Edelgard. You know this."
"You could kill him," She uttered, voice creeping up to an octave of fear. "He's too weak."
Arundel sipped slowly from his tea, smacked his lips and asked, "Are you volunteering, niece?"
Edelgard opened her mouth and closed it, hands trembling at her sides and guilt clamping over her heart.
She slumped her shoulders in defeat. Arundel's smirk broadened.
She really was still a scared little girl.
-o0o-
AN: So a few people have asked me about the Ashen Wolves and I'm on the fence about it...what do you guys think?
Anyways, next few chapters will be super character driven and angsty but I'll make sure to add some fluff because you gotta balance that stuff out, y'know? Hope you enjoyed!
Fantasy Fan OUT!