Hey everyone!

Before we kick this off, just wanted to apologize for the slightly longer wait for this chapter. This chapter... was a tough one, to say the least. As I didn't want to split it up or leave it on any cliffhangers, I fit it all in here. Came out to around a cool 15k, so it's easily the longest chapter to date. Loooot of stuff going on here, but I do hope you all like it! Think of it as an early holiday gift from me to you!

Enjoy!


"We have found evidence of someone sneaking into an unused chapel."

Byleth regarded Rhea's second-in-command with a small frown. His arms were crossed as he shifted his weight to his other foot.

"A chapel?"

Immediately the professor could tell that something was off. What could this person accomplish with an unused chapel? And for what purpose would they need to 'sneak' into it, if it really was vacant? Why try and hide their movements?

Byleth's frown deepened. He didn't like the sound of this already.

"It is a building that was once a temporary sanctuary at a time when the monastery was under renovation," Rhea explained, her expression devoid of any telling emotions.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched her.

"We need you and your class to guard said chapel and investigate these matters," Seteth continued undisturbed. "I realize the timing of this mission is less than ideal, but with the recent state of affairs surrounding the holy church, we cannot afford to overlook any abnormality, no matter how seemingly trivial."

"I agree." Byleth nodded. "Better safe than sorry."

Though, Byleth doubted this matter was trivial, and he was sure the other two felt the same. This occurrence was… strange. There was the possibility it was simply some students sneaking off to use the abandoned buildings for who knows what, but Byleth didn't make it this far in life without being critical of every situation. If it really was some pair of students sneaking off for some 'extracurricular activities,' there were far better locations than an unused chapel.

"Yes, which is why I am ordering a seasoned knight to assist you in ensuring the safety of the students. As you said, I am afraid we must always expect the worse."

"A seasoned knight?" Byleth raised an eyebrow. "Could you mean-?"

Byleth stopped as heard the sound of boots approaching.

"Reporting for duty, Lady Rhea."

Jeralt stopped beside him, his hand resting on his hip.

"Father," Byleth greeted, grinning at the sight of the gruff mercenary. Seeing his father here lifted any of the tension he felt.

"Hey, kid." Jeralt returned the gesture, slamming him on the back with his hand. Byleth lurched forward, grumbling under his breath at the strength his father had put into it.

"I thought you two could use the time to bond." Rhea smiled fleetingly as she watched the two. Her eyes latched onto Jeralt's before they darted away. "And to speak of important matters…"

Byleth's brows raised, his gaze drifting to the archbishop. What would she know about that…?

He pushed the thought aside. Now wasn't the time for such things.

"Appreciate the thought," Jeralt laughed, but Byleth sensed no mirth in it.

"Make your preparations and head to the chapel," Seteth ordered. "Time is of the essence; the quicker this is sorted out, the better."

"Understood," the Eisner's replied in unison, both dropping into a bow.

"You are excused." Rhea's careful façade slipped ever so slightly as she spoke. "And please, proceed with caution."

"Will do, Lady Rhea." Jeralt nodded, meeting Byleth's eyes. He motioned towards the door. "Come on, son. Show me what you've learned."

Giving Rhea and Seteth one last bow, he followed after his father. The image of Rhea, her hands clasped together in silent prayer, was the last one he saw before he turned away.

"We'll draw up some strategies in my office," Jeralt said, pulling Byleth's focus back. "I'll be looking forward to watching you work."

"It's not often we get the chance to work together, nowadays." Byleth smirked. "The last time was…"

The professor trailed off, faltering before he could finish the sentence. Memories of smoke and fire clouded his vision. The stench of blood and burning flesh lingered in his nostrils as if he really was back there in the destroyed village.

Jeralt grasped his son by the shoulder. His fingers dug into his armor.

"Let's make sure nothing like that happens again, shall we?"

"Yes."

Byleth nodded, but he didn't dare to look his father in the eyes. He couldn't trust that a man as discerning as Jeralt wouldn't notice some tell on his face. For now, he couldn't bring himself to clue his father in on the fact that he might bring such ruin one day. For some reason, the thought of informing Jeralt of his own plans and aspirations gave the mercenary pause. How would his father feel if he knew his own son was going to side with the Flame Emperor? Byleth didn't know, and he wanted to postpone finding that out.

The father-son duo walked through the great, wooden doors of the archbishop's chambers and entered the hallway.

And, as he instructed, Edelgard was waiting for the two a few feet away.

"Professor." Edelgard nodded as the two locked eyes. Her posture was straight and perfect, though Byleth could spot a curious twinkle in her eyes as she looked to his father. "Hello again, Jeralt."

"Long time no see, Edelgard." Jeralt grinned, his features immediately softening.

Byleth cocked an eyebrow, his gaze moving back and forth between the two. Again, he felt like he was out of the loop regarding his student and his father. Somehow, they seemed much closer than the last time the two spoke. Much more comfortable around one another; she didn't even refer to him as 'Sir Jeralt' this time. Not that Byleth was complaining about the closeness between his father and the woman he admired, he just found it curious.

"What are our orders?" She asked. Back to business.

"To investigate reports of someone sneaking into one of the abandoned chapels," Byleth replied, glancing at Jeralt. "Father, go on ahead. We'll catch up with you in a moment."

"Alright," Jeralt chuckled, stepping between the two as he made his way towards his office. "Just don't keep me waiting too long, kid."

"I won't," Byleth promised, his eyes following his father's back as he walked away. After a second, he turned to Edelgard. "We need to talk."

"We do, indeed." Edelgard paused, her eyes scanning the area before returning to her professor. "Perhaps on the terrace a floor above?"

"That works." Byleth motioned towards the stairwell. "Ladies first."

Edelgard's composure slipped as the hints of a smirk played at her lips. The emperor nodded, then walked towards the stairs. Byleth followed.

The two took them at a brisk pace, neither speaking a word. Byleth didn't want to risk the chance that someone might be listening in, and thankfully, it seemed Edelgard had the same idea. What Rhea had said moments before still weighed heavily on his mind. Something about the way the archbishop was seemingly aware of the matters he wished to discuss with Jeralt left him feeling uneasy.

A few seconds later, the two had reached the third floor. They stepped through the doorway that led out to the terrace. The area was completely empty, as not a soul lingered underneath the curtain of storm clouds overhead. That was opportune. The storm brewing looked to be fierce, but Byleth was grateful it kept any sightseers inside.

The harsh gales whipped at his jacket as he walked. Byleth held an arm to his face to prevent the wind from stinging his eyes.

"Unfortunate timing for a storm," Edelgard remarked, brushing her hair out of her eyes. "It would be prudent of us to prepare accordingly."

"Indeed." Byleth nodded, coming to a stop at edge. He rested his arms on the stone barrier, his gaze hovering on her. "It's a good thing your professor taught you all how to fight in adverse conditions."

Edelgard came to a stop beside him, letting herself lean against the railing. She was smiling slightly as she stared out to the academy below. It seemed she had relaxed a little.

"Do you know if… they're behind this?" Byleth spoke softly. His voice was barely audible over the sounds of the howling wind.

"I do not." Edelgard frowned, averting her gaze. "But it reeks of something they might do."

"I had the same thought." Byleth frowned as well, his eyes drifting off towards the buildings below. First Remire, now the Officers Academy? Was this group so intent on destroying everything that Byleth held dear?

…Though, given what Edelgard had informed him of, that was very likely. Byleth felt his shoulders droop as the weight of his guilt came bearing down on him. If he wasn't here, would Remire Village still be standing? Would they have avoided doing whatever they were doing here at the monastery?

"It is not your fault, Byleth," Edelgard assured him, seemingly reading his mind. "They would still be committing these terrible crimes whether you were here or not."

Her hand inched forward, brushing against his own. Byleth stared at the slender fingers that laid on his.

"Thank you, Edelgard."

He turned his palm over so that he could squeeze her hand gently. Truthfully, he did not know if he believed her words. But he appreciated her gesture regardless.

One day, he would become strong enough to where Edelgard wouldn't need to use her uncle to bring her dreams to light. He was sure Edelgard herself felt the same way.

Sighing, Byleth withdrew his hand, and Edelgard did the same. Though he disliked it, he knew he couldn't let his affections show so easily while they were still in the monastery. Rhea had eyes everywhere. It was probably a mistake to allow himself to relax in the first place; he could never be certain when the archbishop might be watching. The two of them might be able to get away with veiled, vague words, but holding hands probably couldn't be explained away.

"While I'm strategizing with my father, could you round up the others?" Byleth asked. It was unfortunate, but it was likely best he stayed on topic.

"Of course, my teacher."

Byleth hesitated, leaning back so his hands could grip the stone.

"Request Dimitri and Claude's assistance as well."

Edelgard was quite skilled in controlling her emotions, but even she couldn't fight back the instinct to widen her eyes.

"Dimitri and Claude?" Edelgard repeated, her brow furrowing. "Are you sure that's wise?"

"Yes." Byleth nodded. He realized Edelgard probably wouldn't want to bring the other house leaders into the fold, but Byleth could take no chances. "Their prowess on the battlefield is second to only you. If an attack on the academy is imminent, we'll want all the help we can get."

Edelgard chewed on her bottom lip, looking away. As expected, she didn't look thrilled with the idea.

"…Very well," she consented, albeit reluctantly. "I shall gather them."

"Fill them in on the situation and bring everyone to my father's office."

Byleth wondered if it was strange that he didn't feel strange ordering the future emperor around. By Edelgard's own admission, she welcomed following his lead, and the two had always had a solid working relationship. It was just… odd, now that he thought about it. Why he was only realizing this now was a mystery to him, but perhaps it was because they had reached a new stage in their relationship. After the two had… opened up to one another, Byleth found himself considering where they stood quite often, now.

"Consider it done." Edelgard nodded.

"Who knows?" Byleth shrugged. "Maybe in the end, it'll just be a false alarm. It's still possible that it's just students using the empty buildings for something unseemly."

"Do you really believe that, my teacher?"

"Of course not. But, as Jeralt would say: 'expect the best, prepare for the worst.'"

"That sounds like something he would say." Edelgard smirked. "Though, I do believe he may have borrowed that particular line."

"He did. I later discovered it was credited to a famous author." Byleth grinned slightly. "I didn't even know my father read books."

The expression was fleeting, however. As the professor considered the upcoming battle, his lips drooped back downward. There was nothing for it, but he would have preferred having a day or two like this before things fully returned to normal.

"Is something wrong, Byleth?" Edelgard asked, noticing his sullen expression. He doubted it was all that showing, but she always had a way of reading his moods better than the others.

"No," he sighed. "I was just… No, it's nothing."

It would make him feel guilty to admit that he'd much prefer staying here with her than he would going to meet the unknown. He knew that Edelgard had felt the same on occasion, but he didn't want her thinking that maybe he had grown a little too complacent.

Byleth shook his head.

I'm being childish.

Edelgard looked around, then stepped a little closer.

"It might not be today, or the next," she spoke in a whisper. "But one day we will be able to talk like this without worry. That I promise you, my Byleth."

Byleth glanced down at the smaller girl with a smile. He reached out to touch her, only to stop and move his arm back down to his side.

"Thank you, El."

Edelgard closed her eyes as she sighed softly. It was as though she was savoring the sound of her own name.

"We better get going," Byleth said, nodding towards the door. "My father will complain if I make him wait much longer."

"You're right," Edelgard mumbled, backing away. There was a slight tinge of red to her pale cheeks. "I will excuse myself to find the others."

Edelgard took another step back, stooping into a bow. Byleth resisted the urge to remark how when she bowed to him nowadays, it was much fuller than it had been when they first met.

"Promise me you'll be careful today, El."

"I promise." Edelgard smiled warmly at him. "Will you promise the same?"

"Always."

The two shared a few more moments of eye contact before Edelgard regretfully turned away.

"Farewell, my teacher."

Byleth exhaled slowly as he watched her walk away. He was aware that he should probably get a move on as well, but…

The professor turned his head towards the sky, his expression hardening as he watched the thunderclouds roll overhead. Unfortunate timing for a storm, indeed.

As Byleth felt the first drops of rain fall on his head, he truly hoped that Edelgard wouldn't come to hate him if that were the case.

Sothis, you can control the flow of time, correct?

He called out to the goddess. Byleth was hoping she wasn't napping, as he hadn't heard from her yet today.

"You know that I can," came the response.

And, you are in fact, a goddess, yes?

"Apparently," Sothis was slower in replying this time.

Then, are you aware of what happens in the future?

It was a silly thought, and one he fully did not expect an answer to. It was just… Sothis's ominous warning of his impending choice still weighed heavily on his mind. Originally, he thought that decision would be siding with Edelgard, but now he was not so sure. Now, he wondered if that choice he had to make was breaking the promise he had just made.

"…No, and even if I was, I couldn't answer such a thing for you."

Byleth nodded. The answer he had been expecting.


A few minutes later, Byleth pushed open the door to his father's office.

The man himself was sitting at his desk, writing something in a small notebook. Byleth had never actually read any of the notes in that diary of his, but he instantly recognized its used and worn cover. Jeralt wrote in it quite often, after all. Even as a mercenary, he always found the time to record his days on its paper.

"Sorry I'm late," Byleth said as he entered. Jeralt's head immediately shot up, his hands closing the book. "That took slightly longer than I intended."

"I bet it did." His father smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Have fun?"

"Father, please," Byleth sighed.

Jeralt chuckled, rising to his feet.

"Sorry, kid. I just never thought I'd have the chance to tease you about this."

The son tried not to roll his eyes.

"Take a seat and we'll get down to business."

Byleth sat down in the chair opposite the desk, propping his foot up on his knee.

Jeralt unrolled a nearby map that was laying on his desk, using various knickknacks as makeshift paper weights. The map seemed to be of the monastery. The unused chapels and other buildings that Seteth and Rhea spoke of were drawn in a different shade than the rest of the area.

Byleth shifted in his chair as he stole a glance at his father.

"What is it?" Jeralt asked without looking up.

He hadn't planned on broaching this subject, but his father did ask, so…

"This is probably an irrelevant question, but I will admit, I'm curious."

Jeralt lifted his head, a brow raising.

"When you left the graveyard earlier…" Byleth hesitated, considering how to word this without it sounding harsh or judgmental. In the end, he would be glad if it was the case, but he'd be a liar if he said he wasn't interested. "Did you go to meet Edelgard? You two seem more… familiar around each other."

"Observant, aren't we?" Jeralt grinned. "Yeah, we had a little chat. As I thought, she's a good lass. Even thought about letting her call me 'Jerry.'"

Jeralt's grin faltered as he eyed his son's face.

"I didn't step on any toes, did I?"

"What? Of course not. I'm happy you two are- wait, 'Jerry?' I have never once heard anyone refer to you as that."

"Ah, that was a nickname from a long time ago." Jeralt waved him off, then motioned to the map. "But let's focus on the task at hand."

"Okay…" Byleth frowned, his father's quick deflection not lost on him. "Just know that once we're done with this, there are still things I wanted to discuss with you."

"I know, kid, I know." Jeralt nodded. "Once we're through, you can pick my brain all you want. Deal?"

"Deal."

"Good." Jeralt's relaxed smile returned. "Now, the chapel in question is this structure here."

Jeralt pointed to a shape in the far corner of the map. It was tucked away, secluded from the rest of the monastery. Byleth was aware of the location of said chapel, but if he recalled correctly, that area didn't get much foot-traffic. Not many students ever hung around there, and the academy guards didn't exactly have the most vigilant watch over it. The fact that this was the problem area didn't surprise him in the slightest. If Byleth were to infiltrate the monastery, he'd choose it, too.

"All of the buildings there don't get much use," Byleth added. "If someone really was plotting something nefarious, that'd be the best location."

"I agree. It's out of the way enough that it could escape Rhea's gaze."

Which was… concerning. Rhea ran a pretty tight ship. If this really did slip by her, then perhaps Byleth held her in higher esteem than was necessary.

"We should tread carefully," Jeralt advised, pointing to the other shapes on the map. "These other unused buildings would be perfect for setting up an ambush."

"True."

There were nearly a dozen other vacant structures in the area. If an ambush was eminent, he'd wager they would use those buildings.

"But, do you truly think an ambushing force could have gotten in unnoticed?" Byleth asked. All things were possible, but whenever the father and son strategized, one of them usually offered the counter points to keep the ideas flowing.

"I can't say." Jeralt shrugged, pinching his chin as he examined the map. "But we'd be fools to go in unprepared."

"And what if it's just students sneaking off?"

"Then, we have nothing to worry about."

Jeralt placed his hands on his desk as he leaned over it.

"Now, since you're the guy in charge, how would you go about this?"

Byleth glanced at the map. There were multiple points of entry, so stealth was always an option. The area was large, so they could also split off into groups to investigate. Though, if there really was an ambush waiting…

"Divide the forces. We'll lead the first group ahead to draw in any threats. Once the coast is clear or the ambush triggered, the rest of the students can push forward."

"What if the ambush is from the rear?"

"If that's the case, then we can be the ones to use the surroundings to our advantage."

"Wouldn't using the buildings for cover leave you with no escape options?"

"Perhaps, but any attacking force would have to file in if they wished to reach them. Numbers would mean nothing, only endurance."

"What if they simply set fire to it?"

"The buildings are made of stone, so that won't be an issue."

"Well done." Jeralt smiled slightly before growing serious again. "What would you do if civilians got thrown into the fray?"

"Civilians?" Byleth raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. This is an academy, you know. What if helpless students got caught in the middle?"

"I see," Byleth hummed, sparing the map another look. "In that situation, you and I could focus our efforts on saving them, while the house leaders took control of the battle."

"Just you and me, Byleth?" Jeralt asked, feigning doubt. "What's your reasoning for sending only two?"

"We are the most experienced fighters, while Edelgard, Dimitri, and Claude are more than capable to lead in our stead. I feel that the two of us together would be more than enough."

"Knowing how to utilize the men under your command is paramount for any battle." Jeralt smirked again. "It's good to know becoming a professor hasn't weakened your battle sense."

"If anything, it's made me a better leader. My desire to lead them efficiently outweighs all else."

…Only he and Sothis were privy to all of the timelines they had averted. Only they witnessed those deaths. Those memories of his students experiencing such gruesome ends still assaulted his mind. They were none the wiser, but Byleth… He had seen it all. He remembered it all. His ability to turn back the clock was a blessing, but it was also a curse. That is why he must lead them to the best of his abilities. If Byleth strived for something close to perfection, perhaps they could go through each battle without having to use Divine Pulse. Even if they had no memories of death, he didn't want any instance in which one of his students had to suffer.

"They mean a lot to you, don't they?" Jeralt was watching him closely.

"They do. My students… they're like family."

Byleth frowned, turning his gaze to the floor.

"Hearing that doesn't upset you, does it?"

He didn't want his father to feel as though he was being replaced or forgotten…

"Are you kidding?" Jeralt chuckled. "Why in the world would that upset me?"

"I just…" Byleth hesitated. The idea to family was still new to him. He wasn't totally sure how it worked. "While my class is like a second family to me, you could never be replaced. You'll always be my father. I want you to know that."

Jeralt blinked, his brows rising.

"Ah, geez, kid," Jeralt sighed, rubbing the top of his head as he averted his gaze. "The thought never even crossed my mind. I'm just happy you've found your place in the world."

Jeralt met his eyes, his rare showing of trepidation already gone.

"But the feeling is mutual; you'll always be my boy, no matter what."

Byleth smirked as he reached his hand out over the desk. The two rarely, if ever, hugged. So, when it came to open displays of affection between them, the handshake or a pat on the back was usually what they settled for.

Jeralt eyed the offered hand, grinning as he grasped it for a shake.

In that moment, Byleth wished he could have a few seconds longer with his father, just as he wished he could have more time with Edelgard.

But, as these things often go, they were interrupted.

The door to the captain's office burst open.

Both heads snapped to the sound.

Alois all but ran through the doorway. His chest was rising and falling rapidly as he gasped for breath. It seemed that he ran the way here.

"Captain! Professor!"

Anxiety clutched Byleth's heart.

"Calm yourself, Alois," Jeralt barked. Byleth noted the way his father's body seemed to tense the moment he heard the tone of his old colleague's voice. "Catch your breath and tell us what's wrong."

"There's no time for that!" Alois exclaimed, shaking his head fervently. "There are reports of Demonic Beasts near the chapel!"

Byleth's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. Demonic Beasts? How?

"Nonsense," Jeralt replied, equally doubtful. "We haven't heard anything about the monastery's wall being breached."

"That's why I'm heading there now, to see what's really going on! Please, Captain, allow me to join you for your assignment!"

"Of course." Jeralt nodded. "We're both sworn to protect this place."

Jeralt turned to Byleth, motioning towards the door.

"We need to act. Go summon your students."

"I will…" Byleth mumbled, glancing at Alois. "Demonic Beasts? Do you know where they came from?"

"No." Alois shook his head. "But, it is odd… Just before they appeared, an eyewitness saw a number of students heading toward the chapel."

Rhea and Seteth insinuated that whoever was sneaking into that chapel was acting alone. They said specifically that 'someone' was sneaking in, not a group of people… So, why were there students there?

"They were apparently acting strange, as though they weren't in their right minds," Alois continued. "Shortly after, Demonic Beasts started to appear, one after another."

Byleth frowned, his brow creasing. 'Weren't in their right minds…' He immediately pictured the villagers of Remire Village. Whatever doubt there was that they weren't behind this was all but dashed, now.

"There's no way those Demonic Beasts got in from the outside…" Jeralt mused, echoing Byleth's thoughts.

"I'll take my leave and find my students," Byleth said, looking to his father. "Meet me there in five minutes. We cannot let the beasts infiltrate the academy."

If they did… dozens of students could fall before the church could stop them. Byleth couldn't allow that.

"Got it. Be quick about it, Byleth."

The professor nodded, bolting from the room. The hallway was bustling with different guards running back and forth, no doubt in preparations for what might come.

Demonic Beasts… students 'acting strange…' Byleth didn't like what those two things together implied. Knowing what he knew and seeing firsthand the destruction Solon and the others that slithered in the dark had caused at Remire Village, he readied himself for the worst. Could they really have accomplished such a thing? Byleth remembered how Miklan had transformed into a beast after their battle, but could they really harness such a power for their own use?

And did they really use students as test subjects?

Byleth's hand tightened around the hilt of the Sword of the Creator. The blade hummed to life at his touch, glowing a bright red from its position on his hip.

They would die for that. Given the chance, he would kill them all without hesitation.

…But, even so, he knew he could not lose control like he did at Remire. As hard as it was, he needed to keep a level head. Byleth did not want a repeat of what had happened to Edelgard and Lysithea in that village.

Byleth rounded the corner, finding himself in front of the stairwell that went to the ground floor of the monastery.

"Yo, Teach."

The professor flinched as he was met with the three waiting faces of Edelgard, Dimitri, and Claude as they came up the stairs.

The leader of the Golden Deer looked no different as he always did. That fake smile he bore was as foolproof as always.

The leader of the Blue Lions, on the other hand… The bags under his had worsened by a considerable degree since the last time Byleth had seen him. His blue eyes were bloodshot, presumably from a lack of sleep.

And the leader of the Black Eagles… Edelgard was Edelgard. Her expression was grave, and given the slight frown on her face she still didn't look very excited to be enlisting her counterparts' help.

Even so, that look fizzled out as she noticed the paleness to Byleth's skin. Claude as well seemed to notice that something was off.

"My teacher?"

"Is something wrong, Professor?" Dimitri asked. Regardless of his mental state, he seemed to be just as aware of the situation as Claude and Edelgard.

"Are your houses gathered?" Byleth spoke in a level tone.

"Everyone is present and accounted for." Edelgard nodded.

"Good."

Byleth stepped past the three, forcing them to follow behind.

"The situation's changed; Demonic Beasts have appeared. We must hurry to the abandoned chapel and put a stop to it."

"Demonic Beasts?" Edelgard questioned breathlessly.

"That's…" Claude hesitated, his smile vanishing. "Not what I was expecting to hear."

"How, Professor?" Dimitri spoke next, his agitation thinly veiled. "How could Demonic Beasts get past the walls?"

"It doesn't matter how; what matters is that we stop it," Byleth replied curtly. "There's no time to discuss it now. The longer we wait, the more blood will be on our hands.

Dimitri visibly flinched at Byleth's choice in words, his hands coiling into fists at his sides. His face had twisted into a painful looking scowl.

Byleth's gaze lingered on the man before he turned his attention back to the stairs. He quickened his pace.

"We must hurry," he repeated, bounding down the steps.


The roars of the beasts reverberated through his very being. The earth seemed to shake beneath his boots. But, beneath those terribly loud noises, he could pinpoint a few students crying for help. He could not see them through the herd of black masses, nor through the pouring rain, but Byleth could feel them there.

Byleth stared at the scene with wide eyes, his mouth slightly parted. His hold over his sword lessened as his gaze bounced from Demonic Beast to Demonic Beast, each bigger than the last. The smallest ones seemed to be the size of a decent wagon, while some of the more giant ones easily eclipsed a two-story building in height. Their claws, their fangs, they must have equaled one of his students in size. Their gigantic, glowing red eyes seemed to be pointed directly at him.

"There are dozens of them…" He murmured, brushing a strand of his soaked hair out of his vision.

Byleth's gaze lowered, only to jump away when they landed on an academy uniform in a pool of blood a dozen or so feet away.

Behind him, he could hear Linhardt gag. A stifled gasp from Mercedes and Annette. A softly spoken prayer from Marianne. An angry growl from Leonie. A pained sigh from Dedue and Lorenz. Though, those reactions he barely even registered.

It was the Lions' prince he worried about.

To his right, he could see Prince Dimitri trembling with poorly controlled rage; if he gripped his lance any harder, he might very well snap it in two. His pupils were dilated as they stuck to the body of the fallen student, his lips muttering some incomprehensible threats; something about slaughtering, dismemberment, and the crushing of skulls. Things Byleth had never heard Dimitri say, and didn't even realize they were a part of his vocabulary.

Byleth cursed under his breath, now regretting asking Edelgard to request Dimitri's aid. The sight of the mutilated student seemed to ignite something within the man. No one else seemed to notice his slow decent except for Claude, Edelgard, and Felix. The latter was throwing a harsh glare his way.

There was a crashing sound in the distance, a sound like rocks falling on top of one another.

The professor lifted his head in time to see another Demonic Beast burst through the entrance of the chapel, completely destroying its doorway with it.

"They're emerging from the chapel…" Jeralt's eyes were wide with disbelief. He turned to his son. "Byleth, we need to act. Now."

Byleth nodded, facing the three classes. His previous strategy wouldn't work here. Normal soldiers and ambushes were one thing, but towering beasts? He would have to adapt.

"Lions, Deer, Eagles, focus your efforts on saving as many of the trapped students as you can. Jeralt, Alois, and I will concentrate on killing the beasts. If you find yourself in over your head, call for me and I'll be there."

The classes collectively nodded, some of them more hesitant than others.

"I'll kill any that stand in my way," Dimitri growled, his voice sharper than steel. He turned his head to his Lions, motioning them forward with a grunt. "Hunt them down."

"I am with you, your Majesty." Dedue quickly followed behind, along with the others.

"Won't let you down, Professor." Claude nodded as he strode past. He waved his class onward. "Come on, guys!"

"We've got this!" Hilda assured with a pump of her fist, the Deer filing behind them.

"Remember your promise, my teacher," Edelgard whispered to him as she walked by. "Please, make it back to me in one piece."

"I will, Edelgard."

Byleth's eyes met Hubert's as he followed behind his liege. With a single sigh, he shook his head.

"Eagles, to me!" Edelgard called out as she began to run forward, her axe trailing behind her. The rest of the Black Eagles were on her heels, their weapons and magic primed and ready.

Byleth watched them all run off through the veil of rain, his heart sinking into the pit of his stomach as they approached their enemy. He could only hope that they would follow his orders. He wouldn't be able to undo anything he wasn't aware of.

"Are you two ready?" Byleth asked without turning his head.

"Right behind you, kid."

"Ready when you are!"

Byleth nodded, gripping his sword with both hands as he lifted it. In this dark storm, the Sword of the Creator still shone brilliantly.

"Stay focused."

A silent reminder to himself more than anything else.


"H-help meee!"

The boy ran as hard as he could, his arms pumping back and forth as his feet smacked the mud.

A Demonic Beast was hot on his trail, howling as it pursued him. It tossed its head back and forth, saliva slinging every which way with the movement.

The student turned his head back as he ran, his eyes widening as he watched the beast get closer and closer. It was so close now that he could smell the putrid breath that wafted from its gullet. He could feel the heat of its breath tickling his back.

The beast raised its head-

Two arrows materialized out of thin air, embedding themselves in the monster's face with a loud 'thunk.' The first one had struck home as it pierced its eye, while the other had lodged itself into its neck.

The demon threw its head back, rearing back on its hind legs as it let out an ear-popping yowl.

"Hilda!" Claude called out to his partner

"Ugh, you're making me work!" The girl protested, but she answered the call, nonetheless.

She sprinted towards the Demonic Beast, bringing her axe up over her shoulder as she swung towards its leg.

The axe cut through the limb as if it were made of paper rather than flesh and bone. The demon howled in agony as it crashed to the ground, writhing in the mud as blood spewed from its severed leg.

"Ah, gross!"

Hilda brought her axe down on its neck, putting it out of its misery.

"Gross, gross, gross," Hilda grumbled, waving her hands about as she tried to rid it of the red liquid. "This is the worst!"

"Good work, Hilda," Claude laughed as he strolled up to her, twirling an arrow across the backs of his knuckles. He turned his gaze to the wide-eyed student, still shaking with fear. "You okay over there?"

The student swallowed, jerking his head up and down.

"Y-you're Claude, leader of the Golden Deer…" Was all he could muster up as a response to his two saviors. "A-and you're Hilda!"

The two Deer shared a look before Claude flashed the student his usual, charming smirk.

"We are, but for today, we're just your normal, everyday heroes." Claude winked at him. "Now, you better make a break for it before things get even uglier."

The boy nodded shakily, mumbling a hurried 'thank you' as he fled the scene.

"Claude, I really don't think now is the time for jokes." Leonie gave her leader a disapproving stare as she approached the two, the rest of their class in tow.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Claude shrugged, then waved them forward. "Alright, gang, let's go save some more students."

"R-right behind you, Claude!" Ignatz stammered, but at least he was enthusiastic about it.

"Let's do it, guys!" Raphael bellowed, pounding his knuckles together. "Then, we can get some grub!"

"Is that really all you think about, Raphael?" Lorenz sighed, shaking his head. The noble grumbled under his breath, pushing his hair out of his eyes. "But, I must agree; this cursed rain is terrible for my image."

"Um… l-let's just do our best!" Marianne bobbed her head up and down, her hands balled up to her chest.

Claude grinned, nocking his twirling arrow in one movement.

"Let's pull out all the stops this time, okay?"

The Deer crew continued onward. They continued onward and through the rain, completely unaware of the true nature of these Demonic Beasts. Unaware to what they really were. They were all oblivious to the transformation the fallen beast had gone through behind their backs.

All but one.

Claude turned his head back as he walked, his grin twisting into a frown as he saw the corpse of the academy student that now lied in place of the Demonic Beast.


"H-help me… p-p-please…"

The fear-stricken girl backpedaled away from the monster worthy of nightmares. Her legs were trembling, her voice no louder than a terrified squeak. As the beast's eyes locked on to her, a threatening growl rumbled out from its throat. The Demonic Beast was salivating at the mouth at the sight of its new prey.

The creature stalked forward, one paw at a time.

The student took another shaky step back, shrieking as she tripped over a rock. A fatal mistake; in this downpour, the dirt floor beneath her and turned to mud. It was essentially a paste. There would be no hope for her trying to spring back up.

Using this opportunity to strike, the Demonic Beast roared as it pounced.

The girl screamed, holding her hands out in front of her in a vain attempt to stop the unstoppable.

"Die!"

A lance slammed into the monster's jaw, its entire body falling to the side at the sheer force of the impact. The beast screeched, but the sound was garbled as blood pooled in its mouth.

Dimitri's boots pounded the mud as he barreled towards the downed beast, his breaths coming in short gasps. It wasn't that he was already worn from the start of the battle. No, not even close. He just couldn't control his breathing as the rage and hatred he felt towards these demons boiled over.

The prince pushed his feet off the ground, leaping through the air and towards his prey.

As he landed atop the monster, his hands fell on his lance. With the force of his landing, he plunged the lance even deeper.

The Demonic Beast cried out in pain, squirming beneath Dimitri's feet.

Dimitri grunted as he ripped his weapon from its flesh. Bringing his arms up and over his head, he plunged his lance into the demon's skull. There was a sharp crack as the tip of his spear broke through bone.

It was no longer howling. It no longer moved. It simply lied there on the ground, completely listless as its great, black pupil rested on its killer.

The Lion prince panted as he leaned against the lance embedded in the beast's head. Droplets of water raced down the strands of his hair, falling into the creature's lifeless eyeball. He was gasping as he tried, and failed, to catch his breath. The knot in his chest was preventing any oxygen from getting through.

Dimitri's hands tightened around his lance as he leered into the Demonic Beast's large eye. In its surface, he could see a reflection of himself. A reflection of himself panting like the beast, his own eyes wide and fierce, the blood speckling his face streaking down as the rain started to wash it away.

The man growled as he yanked his weapon free. With as much strength as he could muster, he thrusted his lance through the reflection in the monster's eye. The weapon cut through as if it was nothing, and the image was gone.

"Are you alright, your Majesty?"

Dimitri lifted his head to see his loyal companion, Dedue standing below him.

He looked back at the gory mess that he, Prince Dimitri, had created.

"I am fine," Dimitri barked, pulling the lance free. The unnerving sound of flesh ripping and tearing reverberated in his ears. And with that sound, came the terrifying memories and images that always accompanied it. Faces he could never forget flashed across his vision. Those faces that never ceased haunting him.

"Let's go, Dedue. There are still more to kill."

Dimitri jumped down to the ground. Without sparing his friend or the student he had saved a single glance, he began walking in search of his next fight; anything to appease the cries in his ears.

"Your Majesty, wait."

The prince frowned, turning his head back to his retainer. He did not like to wait.

"What do you want-?"

Dimitri's heart dropped into the pit of his stomach as his eyes landed on what Dedue was staring at. Whatever protest he had prepared instantly vanished as his eyes landed on the fallen body.

"What…?" Dimitri gasped, his bloodshot eyes wide as he stared at the bloody carcass of a fellow student. Of a fellow student in the exact same spot the corpse of the Demonic Beast had been. Only, the monster was gone, and all that remained was the teenage girl who couldn't be a year older than he. Dead. Lifeless. With two lance-sized holes in her body. "Dedue, is that…?"

"I am afraid so, your Majesty."

Dimtri stumbled backwards, a hand pressed to his brow. His expression contorted into a grimace as pain flared in his skull; a sharp pain, as if someone had taken stake to it. It was mind-numbing… It was all encompassing.

"No… That can't… I-I killed a beast, not a…"

He had killed a Demonic Beast. Not a girl. He had killed a monster. Not an innocent student. He had killed a demon. Not a… Not a… No. He didn't kill her. He didn't kill friends, colleagues, classmates. Dimitri didn't do that. He didn't kill innocents. He wasn't like those people. Like those people that killed so many. Like those monsters that had slaughtered so many innocent lives. He just wasn't like them. He wasn't like them.

"I… I didn't…"

He wasn't like them.

He wasn't-

"Prince Dimitri?"

Mercedes appeared behind him, reaching out a hand to-

"Don't touch me!"

Mercedes yelped as he swatted it away, nearly tripping over his feet as he all but jumped to the side to avoid it.

"Dedue, what is the meaning of this?!" Dimitri shouted as he looked to his friend. The cracking of his strained voice was barely audible over the sound of the rain.

"I do not know." Dedue scowled as he stared at the body. "The Demonic Beast disappeared… and she was what remained."

Whatever color remained in Dimitri's face had drained.

"That's not possible!" Ingrid objected. "We all saw the prince strike down a Demonic Beast, not a student!

"Unless…"

The Lions turned to a pale Annette, who was pointedly avoiding looking directly at the corpse.

"Could it be that they are students?"

Dimitri bit his lip hard enough to draw blood, his gaze never leaving the student he had killed.

He hated the taste of blood.

"How could that be possible?" Ashe asked.

"I don't know, but it certainly is," Sylvain mumbled, closing his eyes as he turned away. "We've seen it firsthand with Miklan."

That's right… Using a Hero's Relic without a Crest could result in such a transformation… But did this student really go through such an ordeal? Or was there-

Dimitri shook his head. Hard. As if he were trying to dispel his thoughts. As if he were trying to dispel the voices.

Now was not the time for such things. Now wasn't the time for such weakness. He couldn't be weak. He wasn't allowed to be weak. He had to keep fighting. He had to keep fighting. If he stopped fighting, what was he good for? That was his worth. As long as he could stand, as long as his arms could hold his lance, he would keep fighting. Injuries meant nothing as long as he could keep fighting. He had to keep fighting. He had to keep fighting for them.

"Kill any beast you come across."

"Prince Dimitri?" Mercedes whispered. Her, Annette, Ashe, and Ingrid stared at him in a stunned silence.

"…The professor asked us to save the students," Dedue spoke for his prince.

"He…" Sylvain paused, his brow furrowing as he realized where he was going with this. "He did."

Dimitri turned his gaze to the ground, his wet hair covering his eyes. Rainwater streaked down his face as it fell to the mud below.

The future king of the Holy Kingdom wasn't allowed to be weak.

"Death is their only salvation now," he spat.

The words left a terribly bitter taste in his mouth. The taste was far worse than that of blood.


A crackling orb of dark magic washed over the Demonic Beast's jowl, leaving a web of burns in its wake.

"Lady Edelgard!" Hubert shouted to his liege, plumes of smoke billowing from his palm.

Edelgard charged forward, her axe only a few inches above the ground as she ran. The beast's red eyes caught hers as she drew closer. A threatening growl rolled from its throat, its claws tearing at the mud beneath it.

The monster raised its arm, brining it down just as quick in an attempt to slash the oncoming princess. Though, due to the wall of rain and its own poor vision, the strike was a haphazard one. A blind man would have been able to avoid it.

Edelgard ducked beneath it's talons, then launched herself into the air. It's one good eye followed her trajectory, opening it's jaw wide as it attempted to snatch her out of the air. It was far too slow, however.

The emperor's axe smashed into the top of its skull, bringing the both of them crashing to the ground.

Edelgard grunted as her feet hit the mud, water splashing up her shins as they landed in a particularly large puddle. Were it not for her honed sense of balance, she probably would have stumbled into it.

She yanked her axe free, twirling it in the same motion to dispel any blood and grime on its surface.

"Excellent work, as always," Hubert commented as he walked towards her. Just like her, his uniform was completely soaked, while his wet hair was slicked back over his head.

"We make quite the formidable pair." Edelgard nodded, brushing her own hair out of her eyes. "Did the student make it out okay?"

"Seems so," Hubert remarked deadpanned, his gaze following the student they had saved as she made a speedy exit. "…The same cannot be said about the other one."

Edelgard frowned, averting her eyes from the student-turned-beast that they had just killed. As expected, Solon had used the students to create a small force of Demonic Beasts. The sight of the male student that now lied dead in the monster's place didn't surprise Edelgard, but it did sicken her. Perhaps the most nauseous thought of all was that Edelgard and Hubert had done the man a favor by putting him out of his misery. A life as a Demonic Beast was hardly a life at all.

…Though, it was her fault he had to experience such agony to begin with. Could it really be a 'favor' if the blame laid on her?

"We should proceed onward. There is no way of knowing how many innocents remain."

"It's impossible to tell in this downpour," Hubert agreed, his eyes now surveying the area. "There very well could be…"

Her aide trailed off, his eyes narrowing slightly as they spotted something in the distance.

"Hubert?" Edelgard called out to him, her brow creasing in confusion. That was curious. What could he have-

Then, in a single second, those eyes widened, his entire body stiffening with it. Edelgard quickly turned to try and find whatever he might have seen. However, through beasts and other students, she couldn't see whatever it was that Hubert had. Hell, she could hardly see a few feet through this rain.

"What is it, Hubert?"

"She's here…" He uttered, his hand brushing against his hip.

"Who's here?" Edelgard asked, realization slowly dawning on her. "…You mean, Monica?"

"Yes…" Hubert's head barely moved as he nodded. "I'd recognize that shade of red anywhere."

She squinted her eyes to try and see her, but alas, she could not. How could Hubert possibly have seen her through such poor conditions?

"Are you sure?" Edelgard glanced at him.

"Absolutely."

Edelgard looked away as she chewed on her bottom lip. They hadn't seen Monica for near a week, so it wouldn't surprise her in the slightest if she played some part in today's attack. It was surely masterminded by Solon and Arundel, but there was no doubt in her mind that they'd have Monica play the role of willing pawn. If Hubert was certain he had seen her, she would have to believe it.

"Lady Edelgard." Hubert's head snapped towards her. "Allow me to dispense of her."

The princess hesitated, her eyes darting back and forth between Hubert and the supposed area that he had seen her in. If Monica truly was here, it was pertinent that she be dealt with in a quick, efficient fashion to prevent any further damage that she might cause. If allowed to run amuck, Kronya would assuredly try to attempt something. Edelgard wasn't sure of what exactly, but knowing that Byleth was still an overwhelming threat to them, she could hazard a guess. They had to get rid of her before she could harm him.

Yet… Byleth had given her an order; an order to save the students. If she were to disobey, he would certainly not be pleased. If she were to disobey, there was no telling how many innocent lives could be lost. Did the single life of her professor truly outweigh those of the hypothetical students still in danger?

"We must complete the task entrusted to us," Edelgard spoke in a low voice, her grip tightening around her axe.

"…Lady Edelgard?"

Edelgard clenched her jaw, her fists trembling.

"That being said, if you see her again… kill her."


Byleth flew through the air, piercing the beast's flesh as he fell upon it. The Demonic Beast howled as his sword pushed through its neck. Dark streams of blood poured from the wound, speckling Byleth's face and covering his gloved hands.

As gravity took hold, the gash grew as Byleth and the Sword of The Creator fell towards the ground.

Byleth hit the dirt with a thud, immediately rolling out of the way as the giant creature fell. Red liquid poured freely from the wound on its neck, spilling onto the soaked ground. It had died in seconds.

He had learned his lesson after their first encounter with a Demonic Beast. Any engagement with the creatures were bound to go poorly if it was prolonged longer than a few minutes. Without a battalion behind him, Byleth had to make sure each battle would end quickly. No moves could be wasted, and no risks could be taken. Without the Eagles backing him up this time, he had to be as efficient as possible.

The professor flicked his wrist, hurling any excess blood on his blade into a nearby puddle.

Another beast roared in the distance. Byleth jerked his head to his right as he heard the thunderous sounds of the creature barreling forward.

This Demonic Beast was on all fours and running right for him. Its jaw, full of jagged teeth, dripped globs of saliva.

Byleth darted towards it, his sword trailing behind him.

The beast tried to take a bite of him as he got close, but Byleth ducked underneath it as he kept on running.

As he moved past the first pair of legs, he twirled and spun around in a circle. The Sword of the Creator unfurled, glimmering as it danced through the air with his movement. The blade licked the beast's heels, leaving sizable cuts in its tendons and muscles.

The beast shrieked in pain as it lost its footing, tumbling face first into the dirt.

Byleth continued running beneath it as it crashed into the ground. Skidding to a stop, he turned and jumped into the air once more, his trajectory towards its back.

The moment his feet touched the scaled backside, he flung himself forwards.

He landed atop the Demonic Beast's head. As he fell, he plunged his blade into its skull, stopping when the hilt smashed into its skin.

It stopped moving after that.

Byleth yanked the Creator's Sword free and hopped off.

Two more down. That marked six total he had felled. Alois had beaten four, while Jeralt himself had a whopping eight. Just how many more remained? It felt never ending. They just kept coming.

Sothis, can you tell?

"Somewhat…" the goddess murmured. "I cannot tell you where the beasts might be with any certainty, but I can feel their presence."

And how many 'presences' remain?

"Five, at the least."

Byleth nodded, exhaling slowly. That was reassuring. The battle had gone by fairly quickly and without incident, but he didn't want it going any longer if he could avoid it. Demonic Beasts were one thing, but the weather conditions were what troubled him the most. In such a storm, visibility was poor. It was hard to hear much else other than the fall of rain. Perhaps the only welcomed aspect of fighting these beasts were that they were loud and clumsy due to their animalistic instincts. One could hear a Demonic Beast approach for what felt like miles. Were they normal men they were fighting, things would be much different.

Then, of course, their footing played a major factor as well. The movements required for dueling such forces of nature needed to be precise and exact. One misstep, one missed strike was all that it would take to have your body torn to shreds.

To Byleth, the worst threat of all was this thunderstorm. He could predict a Demonic Beast's movement. He could guess their motives. But, a storm? The weather was something he could not predict.

Light flashed across Byleth's eyes, followed by the great boom of thunder in the distance.

"Alois! Jeralt!"

Byleth had to yell to be heard over the sounds of the storm.

The professor turned his head to see his two, drenched companions trot up to him. Despite the state of their attire and the state of their hair, both men looked unscathed. No obvious wounds or injuries, but that didn't come as a surprise. No man or woman could escape a battle with a Demonic Beast with minor scrapes or bruises. You either came out clean or not at all.

Or, he supposed, you might get flung into a wall…

"Status report."

"The beasts' numbers are dwindling." Alois nodded as he wiped some water out of his eyes. "Though, there is something that is concerning me…"

"The beasts are students," Byleth stated flatly.

"So, it was the same for you two, as well…" Jeralt frowned, the muscles in his jaw clenching.

"I could hardly believe my eyes!" Alois exclaimed. "Never in all my years here have I witnessed students becoming beasts! Have you, Captain?"

"No, of course not. I've seen my fair share of Demonic Beasts… but nothing like whatever happened here. There wasn't a trace of evidence to be found anywhere. It must have something to do with Remire…" Jeralt paused, turning to his son. "What do you think, kid?"

"I think…" Byleth hesitated, his gaze flickering away. "We should focus on clearing out the remaining beasts before they run rampant."

Jeralt's eyebrows inched downwards.

"Byleth, do you- wait."

Jeralt tilted his head to the side, his eyes narrowing.

"Father?" Byleth raised an eyebrow.

"You two don't hear that?"

Byleth shook his head.

"I hear the rain," Alois replied. "But I-"

"Help! Someone, help me, please!"

A young woman's voice cut through the downpour. It sounded vaguely familiar… But he couldn't say with certainty who it might have belonged to with the storm drowning it out.

"Now, that I heard," Byleth murmured to himself. The Sword of the Creator glowed a little brighter as grasped it in both hands. "Father and I will go. Alois, regroup with the students to assist them in wrapping up."

"Help! Goddess, help me! It's getting closer!"

"Come on, kid! We don't have time to waste!"

Jeralt ran past, forcing Byleth to play catch-up. The two pushed further into the barricade of the falling rain, and unbeknownst to them, further out of sight and earshot.


"T-thank you, Lady Edelgard!" The frightened student all but shouted her thanks as she darted away.

"No thanks necessary," she had replied, but the woman was already out of hearing distance.

Edelgard's gaze followed the fleeing student, then moved to the surrounding area. It was hard to see through the rain, but as far as she could tell, there were no Demonic Beasts in the immediate vicinity. Could that truly have been the final one?

"Take a moment to catch your breath, but stay alert," Edelgard told her classmates. They all nodded, moving to take cover beneath a nearby tree. The leaves didn't provide much shelter from the storm, but it was better than nothing.

The emperor, however, didn't move an inch. She stood still, her eyes piercing the wall of rain. There were no more beasts, but that wasn't what she was looking for. Fear continued to gnaw at her heart as she searched. The image of her Byleth falling to the hands of Monica still plagued her thoughts to the point that she couldn't bear it any longer. If she didn't catch sight of her professor soon, her heart would all but leap from her chest.

"Hubert."

"Yes, Lady Edelgard?" Hubert appeared behind her, his voice right in her ear.

"Have you seen her?" Edelgard asked, glancing back at him.

"No." Hubert scowled. "Nothing yet."

Edelgard placed her knuckles to her mouth, chewing at the fabric of her glove as she considered their next course of action. If Hubert hadn't seen her either, it was possible his eyes had simply played tricks on him earlier, but… If she gave it the benefit of the doubt and she was proven wrong, Edelgard wouldn't be able to forgive herself if Monica ended up hurting, or worse, killing someone she cared about. In all rights Byleth was trained and prepared for situations exactly like this, but could someone as experienced as him spot an assassin in these conditions? He was quite perceptive, but she couldn't risk that. People made mistakes, and Byleth wasn't excluded from that.

It might be too obvious if the two of them or Edelgard herself went to go search for him. People might question why the Adrestian princess and leader of the Eagle house suddenly abandoned her position, but if it was only Hubert…

She was suddenly very grateful for her partner's skillset. If anyone could complete this task in an efficient, yet discreet manner, it would be Hubert. If anything, she might just slow him down.

"This battle is reaching its end," Edelgard remarked. She turned her head to Hubert, motioning him forward. "If she's here, dispose of her."

"Understood, Lady Edelgard."

As Hubert stepped past her, Edelgard snatched his arm.

"Hurry, Hubert… And please, be careful."

"You need not worry about me, Lady Edelgard." Hubert smirked. "My life isn't the one that's in danger."

Her aide bowed before he set out into the rain. Edelgard watched him leave for a good minute, unblinking and unmoving as she stared steadily at his back. Gradually, the rain eclipsed him, and Hubert could no longer be seen.

"Edelgard."

The princess tore her eyes away as she turned to Felix, who now stood beside her. It seemed he didn't much care about the rain, either.

"Where's he going?" The swordsman asked, motioning with his head towards the area Hubert had left through.

"To search the grounds for any more lost students," Edelgard replied. Not a total lie. "We should do the same before regrouping with the others. It would be unacceptable if we left one behind in these conditions."

"Very well." Felix nodded. He didn't seem to see through her little bend of the truth, thankfully. "I'll go and inform the others."

Perhaps the only solace Edelgard could find in this day was that Felix seemed to be growing into his new role here in the Eagles. If it were any other day, she would be happy about that. Today, however, she couldn't feel much of anything other than worry and fear.

Sparing the horizon one last look, she turned away. This was just another one of those moments where she truly lamented her position.

Please return to me, Byleth.


The two ran for what felt like an hour without finding any sign of who the cries of help might have belonged to. They had searched everywhere in the general direction in which the screams came from, yet they couldn't find a single hint as to who the source was.

Byleth paced in a circle, his head swiveling back and forth as he searched the area. The father-son duo were now in front of the very same abandoned chapel that had caused this mess. It was rather ironic that they would wind up here, only to find nothing. No Demonic Beasts. No students in need. Nothing.

"Father, did you find anything?!" Byleth shouted back to him, his eyes still trained on the chapel in front of him.

"Nothing!"

Strange…

He was certain this was where the sounds originated from. It had to be. They had gone as far as they could. This was where the monastery's domain ended. It was possible that perhaps the student had gone into hiding, maybe in one of the trees or the chapel itself, but… Byleth had at least expected to find the cause of those cries. Why would she have cried for help if there weren't any beasts out here?

Something… Something wasn't right. Byleth couldn't place a finger on it, but he felt that something was off. It had grown too quiet… Too calm. There was a single sign of life-

"Byleth, turn around. Someone is approaching."

He quirked an eyebrow at the tone of Sothis's voice. It was terse and fraught with tension. Whatever she had noticed that he did not must have left her uneasy.

Sothis, what is-

"Hey, I found her!" Jeralt's voice cut him off.

"Turn around, Byleth! It's her! It's Monica!"

Sothis's shout spurred him to action. He whipped around, releasing the Creator's Sword.

His eyes widened as he saw the familiar head of red hair standing only inches away from his father. They were just chatting as if it were nothing… But the moment Byleth had spotted her, his arms raised instinctively.

"Father, get back!"

Jeralt took his eyes off Monica, titling his head to the side as he looked to his son.

"Byleth, what's-"

He never got to finish that sentence. The dagger plunged into his back cut him off before he could.

His father's eyes widened as the blade cut through flesh and bone.

The air was pushed from his lungs as he gasped in excruciating pain.

Byleth felt an unbelievable ache in his chest as he watched it all play out- powerless to stop it. An incredible weight that he had never felt before came crashing down on him, threatening to knock him down completely. With that weight pushing down on him, he couldn't breathe. He couldn't speak. He couldn't think. He could only see. He could only see as he watched the expression of death flash across his father's face.

At this distance, there was no way he could tell with certainty what exactly Monica had said as she pushed her dagger into Jeralt's exposed back. Over the sounds of the rain, there was just no way.

Yet, he heard them all the same. Byleth heard those words as if they were whispered right next to his ear.

Words that he would never forget for the rest of his life.

"You should have listened to your son, old man." Monica sneered as she shoved her blade deeper through his ribs. As she twisted the blade in the wound, Jeralt gasped again, his entire body jerking.

The two were getting closer. They were closer than they had been a second ago.

Jeralt fell to his knees as Monica pulled her dagger free.

Byleth now realized why. It was because he was running. Running faster than he ever had in his life. He could no longer feel his legs, nor the feet that were attached them. He couldn't feel the rain. He couldn't feel his clothing. He couldn't even feel the sword in his hand. All he could feel was the immeasurable pain that cleaved his heart in two.

"How dare you get in the way of our brilliant plans, you dog…"

Byleth couldn't kill her if his father was between them, so he had to get closer. He had to get closer to stab her. To cut her. To beat her. To strangle her. To break-

"Byleth, stop this!" Sothis screamed. "Undo this now, before it's-"


The first thing Byleth felt as time continued to flow was the wetness streaking down his cheeks. It wasn't like the rain. It was much hotter than that. It was like molten lava inching down his skin.

"Hey, I found her!"

This time, Byleth didn't care. He didn't hesitate for a second. This time, he'd kill her first.

He spun around, swinging his arm in the direction where he knew Monica would be standing.

The Sword of the Creator expanded as it obeyed the will of its wielder. The glowing red blade cut through the rain and the air, its path heading right towards her. Strands of electricity crackled along its length, arcing to the ground below. The red energy was stronger than it ever had been.

Jeralt's eyes widened as the blade flew towards him. Monica paled as she watched it come for her.

"Byleth, what are you-?"

His father never finished his sentence, nor did the sword ever reach its target.

Byleth's heart sank into his stomach as he watched it get slapped aside. Slapped aside by someone that shouldn't have been there. Someone that couldn't have possibly been there, someone that couldn't have possibly deflected the Sword of the Creator with magic of all things.

There had been a noise… followed by a flash of light…

And, suddenly, a single man stood between him and his father. A man that Byleth had never seen before. A man, his hair, skin, and eyes white as snow. A man with sunken eyes in black armor.

Because of this man… the outcome hadn't change. His father was still dying in the mud. Monica's blade still dripped with his blood.

Byleth held this man's gaze, not even flinching as the Sword of the Creator retracted to its hilt.

"Huh?" Monica gasped. "What are you doing here?"

The man broke eye contact as he turned his head back to Monica.

"You must survive."

His voice was raspy, and one that he did not recognize.

"Merely because there is another role that I require you to fulfill."

Byleth was so focused on how he would slaughter these two and save his father that he did not hear those final words before he activated Divine Pulse once more.


As time steadied out and the rain began to fall once more, Byleth found himself standing in front of the disintegrating corpse of the Demonic Beast he had killed.

He gasped for air as he frantically searched the rain for his father. It was back to before Byleth had called for Alois and Jeralt. Back before the cries for help. Back before the two proceeded alone. This was only the third time he had used Divine Pulse, but because of how sizeable this chunk of time was, Byleth could heavily feel the strain the ability was placing on his body. It was getting harder to breathe. His arms felt as if they were made of stone, while his legs felt like gelatin.

But that didn't matter. None of that mattered. The only thing that mattered was that Jeralt wouldn't die this time.

"Father!" Byleth called out, twisting back and forth as he tried to spot him. "Father, where are you?!"

"I'm right here, son."

He spun around just in time to see Jeralt walking up to him. The relief he felt at seeing the man still alive and standing… couldn't be described. He could only compare it to when he had saved Edelgard back at Remire Village.

"What's gotten into you?" Jeralt asked with a frown. "You damn near scared the- hey!"

Jeralt grunted as Byleth threw himself into his chest, tossing his sword aside as he wrapped his arms around his father's back.

"You're okay…" Byleth mumbled into his drenched tunic. "You're okay."

"Y-yeah, I'm fine," Jeralt stammered, his arms hovering in the air around Byleth. After a moment of indecision, he hesitantly placed a single hand to his boy's back. "Geez, son. You're acting like I died or something."

Byleth's breathing hitched, his grip tightening. With all the strength his tired muscles would allow him, he held onto his father. Held onto him for dear life.

He held onto him until he got his fill. Until those terrible emotions swirling in his chest finally began to subside. Despite his initial surprise and confusion, Jeralt didn't move to break the hug, either.

"I-I'm sorry," he stuttered an apology, backing out of the embrace. Byleth ran a hand across his nose before continuing. "I guess I just got worried."

"Worried? About me?" Jeralt grinned, placing a hand to his hip. "I may be old, but it'll take a little more than a few-"

"Help! Someone, help me, please!"

Byleth froze. He didn't move. He didn't breathe. The swirling emotions returned. No… just a little more time…

"Did you hear that?" Jeralt asked, lifting his head.

Fear seized him once more.

"It sounded like-"

"Help! Goddess, help me! It's getting closer!"

"Damn it!" Jeralt cursed, drawing his sword. He met his son's terrified eyes. "Come on, kid! We can talk of this later!"

Byleth lashed out, grabbing his father's arm before he could run past him.

"Byleth?!" Jeralt exclaimed, his brows knitting together as he stared at the hand that had stopped him. "What are you doing?!"

"You can't go!" Byleth shook his head back and forth. "You… You can't!"

"What are you talking about? We have to!"

"No!" He yelled, his fingers digging into Jeralt's sleeve. "It's a trap, don't you see?!"

"What?!"

Jeralt pulled his arm free.

"I don't know what the hell has gotten into you," Jeralt scoffed as he stepped past him. "But I'm not going to just sit around and let some child get killed."

Byleth turned after him.

"Father, please! You don't-!"

The words died on his lips.

In the distance, he could see Monica.

He could see Monica running towards them, frantically pleading for help. He could not see the dagger, but he could feel it.

Byleth could not see her sneer, but he could feel it.

"Dad!"

Byleth tried yet again to reach out for him. To grasp the hand of his father. His father, the man that had always been there, when no one else was. The man that had taught him how to wield a sword. That taught him how to fend for himself. That taught him how to become the man he was today. The man that taught him he was never truly alone. Byleth desperately reached out for that hand. To grasp that warm, strong hand that he remembered as a child. To feel it just one more-

His fingers would never reach it.

In a flash of light, the snake from before materialized in front of him, blocking his path.

The very same man that had stopped him before. The man with skin white as snow. His eyes, completely devoid of all life, sunken into the blackholes that were his eye sockets, now stared down at him. Those lifeless eyes bored holed into his own.

The man's hand latched around his wrist. His touch was cold as ice, his grip a vice. Byleth could feel the bones beneath his skin crunch and crack as they broke, but he did not cry out. The pain did not matter to him.

"Byleth?!"

Jeralt spun around, but just as his son, he was far too late.

The man drove his hand into Byleth's gut. There was another flash of light, followed by an explosion of magical energy. Before he even knew what happened, he was sent flying through the air. Even so, he could still hear the sound of Monica's blade cut into his father's back. For the third time. A sound he would never forget.

Byleth grunted as he hit the ground, rolling end over end as he came to a stop after a few more feet. His armor was smoldering, and his chest burned like crazy, but for whatever reason, he was still alive. The attack wasn't meant to kill, only to prevent him from reaching Jeralt.

Why didn't matter right now. None of it mattered.

He gasped for air as he tried to reclaim the breath that was stolen from him. With two shaky arms, he pushed himself out of the mud. He lifted his head-

Only to see his father crumpled on the ground. Blood poured from his back. He wasn't moving.

His killers were gone.

And he had failed.

Again.

Byleth grimaced, punching the mud as he activated Divine Pulse once more. The falling rain slowed to a stop as the world around him came screeching to a halt. He'd have to go back even further and try again. Back to the start of the battle. If he went back that far, he could change everything… And if that didn't work, well, he would keep trying; as many times as it would take until his father didn't die.

The raindrops began to drift upwards as time was reverted-

"Byleth…"

Time stopped. He stopped. The rain stopped.

Everything stopped, except he wasn't the one to stop it.

Sothis?

He tried again to use Divine Pulse, only nothing happened. The rain didn't move. Nothing moved. Byleth was trapped in this still-hell. The hundreds of thousands of water droplets were suspended in the air, separating him from his father a few dozen feet away. In each of their tiny surfaces, he could see a reflection of himself. Thousands of them. Thousands of reflections of himself, sprawled out on the ground, covered in mud and tears. In those reflections, Byleth saw a broken man he didn't recognize.

What are you doing?!

"It's… It's time, Byleth..."

Byleth's eyes widened. Time? No... No, no, no. How could she even say that?!

"No! Not until he's saved!"

"And how long will that be?" Sothis whispered. "How many more times until you realize you cannot divert fate? I… I am so sorry, but-"

"Shut up!"

Byleth tried once again to regain control, but he could feel his influence get forced out by Sothis.

"Listen to me, Byleth!" Sothis shouted. "Your body will not be able to handle the strain if you keep on like this!"

"That… That doesn't matter!" Byleth was screaming madly now. "He's my father! I have to save him! I have to! I have to-"

Thump.

"At the expense of your own life?! Do you think your father would really want that?!"

Byleth turned his face to the floor, his fingers digging through the mud as he balled his hands into fists. His chest was burning.

Thump.

"He's my… he's my father, Sothis. I have to, by any means necessary."

Thump.

"And how far would you go? To the start of this engagement? Do you not understand that it will not work, Byleth? If today is the day Jeralt must die… Try as we might, we cannot change that. You might be able to cheat death, but you cannot stop it. If it is fate… it is fate. "

Thump.

Byleth shook his head, licking his bone-dry lips. He couldn't accept that. He wouldn't accept that. Fate didn't decide for Jeralt to die today. Monica did. That man did. Fate wasn't the one that was holding that dagger. Fate wasn't the one that stopped Byleth.

Thump.

"Fine, I'll just revert time until the last time I saw her."

"What?!" Sothis gasped. "Byleth, that was weeks ago!"

Thump.

"So, what?! If I kill her before she gets the chance, then none of this will happen!"

Thump.

"You fool, do you realize what that will do?! If by some miracle your body and mind survive such a drain, you will have undone everything! Everything that you have worked so hard for! It would be as though it never happened! Would you truly throw all of that a way for such a minuscule chance? Would Jeralt really want that?!"

Thump.

"…You would truly throw all of that away?" Sothis uttered. "You would throw that all away… for just one chance?"

Everything would be undone… The past month would disappear as it if never existed. The grand ball, the Goddess Tower… They would become only memories; only his memories. If he went through with this, it was possible he would be unable to get them back. There was no telling how things might change were he to kill Monica before she implicated herself. Would he be able to reclaim those moments with Edelgard? Would he be able to do it all over again? Or would they be lost as well?

Edelgard… she wouldn't remember. She wouldn't remember any of it. Their confession… It would never have happened. None of it would. She wouldn't know that he loved her. She wouldn't know how much he needed her…

But…

Th-thump. Th-thump. Th-thump.

Byleth grimaced, the pain in his chest being near unbearable. That sound… Why was it there? Why was he hearing it? Why did it hurt so much? Why?! Please, make it stop!

His eyes grew hot as his vision became blurry. But, just like the rain, the tears didn't fall.

"Sothis, please… I have to do this. Please, just let me do this." Byleth swallowed the lump in his throat. "Please don't make me give up my father."

"I… Forgive me, Byleth. It is my deepest wish that when all is said and done, you will not come to hate me for what I must do. "

The rain began to fall.

His tears spilled forth.

The sounds of the world all came screaming back.

And with it, his heart died.

"S-Sothis…?" Byleth croaked, his voice cracking as his emotions became too much to bear. "What are you-?"

"I will not allow it. I… cannot allow it!" Sothis interrupted. Her voice was strained as she continued. Byleth could not see her, nor was he aware if she were capable of such things, but it sounded as if she were on the verge of tears. "Do you remember the promise you made me back at Remire Village?"

Byleth lowered his head, his tears dripping into the puddle beneath him. He… He still owed her a favor.

"…I-I do."

"Then… I ask that you do not sacrifice any more. Do this for me, Byleth."

His entire body began to shake as the sobbing started.

"Hurry," Sothis urged him gently. He felt a weight press down on his shoulder, as though a small hand was pushing him forward. "Hurry, while you still have time. Spend these final moments with your father."

Byleth jerked his head up and down, his lips quivering as he fought back a whimper. As always… Sothis was right. Never in his life did he hate that fact as much as he did now.

The professor stumbled as he picked himself off the ground, nearly falling back into the mud before he made it to his feet.

As fast as his legs would allow him, he ran to his father's side.

"Father!"

Byleth fell by his side, gently lifting his body as he turned him over. He placed his own body over Jeralt's to shield him from the rain.

Jeralt groaned in pain as he was moved, but he was still alive.

For now.

Byleth cradled his head, angling it slightly upward so that his father could see him.

The rain continued to fall.

"I can fix this, Father," Byleth sniffled. "I… I can still save you."

He tore his glove off with his teeth. As the white glow of healing magic hummed to life in his palm, he placed it to the wound on his back. Byleth was fatigued, but even he could pull off the simplest of healing spells. If he stopped the bleeding, maybe-

A hand gripped his wrist. Byleth's puffy eyes widened as they stared at his father.

"Son… don't waste… your energy. It's… too late... for… an old man… like me."

"What? Father, don't say that!"

"Please, Byleth… T-there's no time," Jeralt coughed, blood trickling down his lip. "There are things I need to… tell you, and I need to say… them now before-"

Jeralt broke out into a coughing fit. The pool of blood beneath him grew as his body shook.

"Father…" Byleth's shoulders were shaking as he gripped that hand. It was as warm as he remembered. "I-I am so, so sorry."

"What are you sorry for?" Jeralt grinned weakly at him. "It was my fault... I let my guard…"

Jeralt blinked a few times, his eyes growing hazy. The light was flickering.

"Father?!" Byleth patted him on the face, rousing him. "C-come on, you wanted to tell me something, right? What did you want to tell me?"

"B-Byleth," Jeralt gasped for air. "Are… y-you there?"

"I am, Father." Byleth nodded, the movement causing his tears to fall. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Good," Jeralt exhaled, his eyes refocusing as his gaze returned to him. "I-I… just had to make sure that… before I leave… you know… how much I love you. I… never told you that… nearly… enough."

It was becoming difficult to see his father's face, so Byleth hurriedly wiped away the tears.

"I am… so… incredibly proud… to be your… to be your…"

"I-I know you are, Dad." Byleth tried to smile as he squeezed his father's hand a little harder. "I-I love you, too."

"I-is that… so?"

The corner of Jeralt's mouth inched upwards.

"To think… I'd get… t-to hear that one final time…"

The expression dissolved. Jeralt's body relaxed against his arms as he closed his eyes. His head drifted to the side.

"Dad?!" Byleth cried, shaking him. "Please, don't leave!"

The once renowned Ashen Demon whimpered as he tried to speak through his tears. The once renowned Ashen Demon was crying as though he were a newborn.

"D-don't leave me alone… There's still so much… so much… that.."

So very much he wanted to experience with him. So very much that he wanted to his father to see. So very much that his father had yet to teach him.

Jeralt's eyes fluttered open as he felt those tears hit his face. His head slowly turned to him.

One final time, Byleth saw his father's brown eyes. Through the wall of tears in his eyes, he still saw his father's.

Except, they were nothing like his father's eyes. They weren't warm. They weren't bright and full of life. They weren't brimming with intelligence or years of wisdom and experience. They were nothing like that. They were nothing like the eyes Byleth knew.

Instead, they were glassy. Hazy. Far-off. Distant. Jeralt was staring directly at him, but Byleth knew that he really wasn't looking at him.

He was looking at something beyond.

"Y-you look… just like… her, you know?" Jeralt breathed, a single tear rolling down his cheek. "I saw her in… you, everyday… I always loved… that."

Those distant, far-off eyes turned to the sky. To the rain that Byleth sheltered him from. To the rain that continued to fall.

"Hey, kid."

"…What is it?"

"Do you…." Jeralt swallowed. "Do you think… Sitri might… be… might be… might…"

He trailed off, his sentence never seeing its end.

Byleth blinked the tears away, patting his cheeks a few times.

"Dad?"

Byleth watched as the light left his father's eyes. He watched as he gave his final breath; a final breath that Jeralt had struggled to use for the sake of his family. For the sake of his beloved son, and for the sake of his soulmate. Of all the ways to die, at least Byleth could take comfort in the fact that at the very end, Jeralt Eisner's thoughts were of them.

Before he could lose himself entirely, Byleth brought his hand to his father's eyes.

"I do, Dad"

Byleth ran his fingers across his eyelids, closing them for him. The very last act he could do as his son. For the man that had done so much for him, it was the least he could do in return.

"M-mom's waiting for you."

They say that when you're on the verge of death, your life will flash before your eyes. That you can watch it all play out in quick succession before your light fades. Byleth didn't believe in such superstitions. He had been in so many life-or-death situations, and not once did he ever experience such a thing. Never once did he see his life 'flash before his eyes.'

It only occurred for those on the brink of death, so… As Byleth held his father in his arms, why was he the one that had to watch the life they shared play out before him? Why was it that he, the man that was still alive and breathing, had to sit there helplessly as he remembered every little memory of his father? Every little detail. Every little… everything. It all… 'flashed before his eyes.'

As he let himself succumb to the sorrow those cherished and agonizing memories gave him, he clutched his father's head to his chest with both hands. Byleth's fingers tore at his hair as he held it so dearly.

Over the sounds of the pouring rain-

Tucked away from the rest of the world-

Only one person could hear the son cry for the loss of his father.

Only one could hear the screams that were louder than the thunder.


Edelgard stood at the front of the pack, chewing on her thumb as her foot tapped the ground impatiently. Her gaze darted back and forth as she tried to spot any sign of the three men that were still missing in action. All three classes, Lion, Deer, and Eagles stood behind her, but she couldn't find the will to care about their presences. All she could think about was Byleth, Hubert, and Jeralt.

"Where are they…?" Edelgard murmured. She had heard no update from Hubert since he departed. She hadn't seen a single trace of Byleth or Jeralt since the fight started. Shouldn't one of them be back by now?

"Huh. The rain is finally letting up," Claude remarked from somewhere behind her. "Looks like a fog is rolling in, though."

"Shouldn't the Captain be back by now?" Leonie asked worriedly.

"And… where's the professor?" Dimitri added. It seemed as though he had regained his senses, but Edelgard couldn't really be bothered to care at this moment in time.

"I wouldn't worry, everyone," Alois reassured them. "It would take more than a few Demonic Beasts to do in those two."

"Still…" Mercedes mumbled. "I am beginning to worry. Should we go look for them?"

"Maybe we should…" Ashe agreed quietly.

Edelgard flinched as she felt someone appear behind her.

"Lady Edelgard," Hubert spoke in a hushed whisper. He sounded out of breath.

"Hubert!"

Edelgard spun around, her eyes widening as she caught sight of his pale face. Even by Hubert's standards, it was incredibly ashen. The muscles in his jaw were tight, his eyes purposefully avoiding hers.

Her heart stopped.

"…Hubert, what is it?"

Hubert closed his eyes, lowering his head.

He shook it just once.

"Hubert…" Edelgard wavered. "What happ-"

"H-hey!" Bernadetta exclaimed. "Someone's coming!"

Edelgard's neck creaked as she turned. Through the fog, one solitary figure was approaching them. The princess could not make out who it was, but she could see the outline of their body.

As well as-

"Oh, no…" Claude whispered. He was the first one to notice.

The rest of the reactions fell like dominos after that. Dorothea gasped. Leonie cried out, running forward only to be stopped by Alois. Dimitri grimaced and turned away. Mercedes said a silent prayer. Ashe dipped his head, placing a hand to his chest. Ingrid did the same. Felix frowned, his teeth grinding against each other in his jaw. Ferdinand placed a hand to his lips. Linhardt, for the first time, looked wide awake. Bernadetta started to cry.

Edelgard ran forward.

"Byleth!" She called out to him, her feet slapping the mud. It splattered her clothing, but she didn't care.

The fog dispersed as he stepped through it. Byleth's head was lowered as he walked. His feet trudged along with no one guiding them. He stumbled just once; his knee hovering inches above the ground as he pushed himself back up.

In his arms, he carried a man... A man covered by his jacket.


...Some holiday gift that was, huh?

Man, so much to discuss here. So much stuff, where to begin?

First off, let me touch on some decisions here. Having the other two houses join in on the fun seemed like a logical idea. I mean, sending like ten dudes to deal with a threat on your hometurf seems a little under-kill. This chapter felt like another good opportunity for some inter-house cooperation, so I took the shot.

Dimitri. Dimitri is one hell of an interesting character to me. His sort of descent into madness in Crimson Flower isn't touched on NEARLY as much as it is in the other routes, and for good reason. Given the myriad of changes that are present in CF compared to the other three make enough sense to me to keep Dimitri from toootally losing it. That being said, I did want to let his wild side out a little bit here. I actually REALLY enjoyed writing that scene, haha. Dimitri is just such a different character than my usual cast. It was really fun and fresh to write someone like that. He has some of the coolest lines in the game, and I really wanted to explore his mental instability a little, so this seemed like the perfect chance to do so.

Now, on to the grand finale. Jeralt's death scene was basically a culmination of things that I personally wanted to see from the scene. 1. I wanted there to be some reasoning to why Byleth doesn't just retcon everything. He has the power to go all the way back, so why doesn't he? 2. Wanted some more emotional dialogue. Don't get me wrong, I love the cutscene, but I would have enjoyed a little more talking. 3. Sothis involvement. I always felt like she should get a little role in this particular scene. And, since I've started this fic, I've been dying to write a scene where Byleth dares to take his powers too far, so Sothis has to come in and stop him. Felt perfect to do here, as at this point, Sothis is becoming more and more in touch with who she is- a goddess. You know I've been saving that little throw away "You owe me!" scene just for this occasion. 4. And, last but not least, just a LITTLE touch on his mother. His mother is such a non-factor in over half the game. Give me Mom scenes, damn it!

And, of course, TWSiTD. What's their deal here? Well, there are a few trains of thought on the subject.

The first, which I don't choose to believe, is that Monica just up and decides to kill Jeralt on a whim. Personally, I don't see it. The actions I guess can fit, and Kronya probably would do that, but I think the dialogue totally debunks this.

The second, is that because Jeralt begins to learn a little tooo much, Monica decides to get rid of him. I could see it, but again, the dialogue doesn't point to it. I mean, yes, that could be HER reason, but it's certainly not Thales's goal.

And the third, which has been my little plot element since the beginning, is that it's just another step towards deleting the Fell Star. Because, as you know, the next chapter Byleth walks right into their trap on his own free will. We all know how that goes. And there's also the fact that Thales says straight up "There is another role I require you to fulfill." Rather suspicious, no? It's almost as if that role is to be Byleth bait and the not-so-willing sacrifice.

Anyhow, this chapter is another in a string of heavy developments for Byleth. That won't change, either. It's always been my firm belief that the White Clouds section mostly revolves around Byleth, with a dash of his house leaders in the later half. There'll most likely be two-to-three chapters to conclude the Depression Session and Chapter 10 in game. We're getting super close to the end of White Clouds. Really excited to add some new stuff to these coming chapters.

Thanks for reading everyone! I wish you all a happy holiday season, and fingers crossed that I'll be able to get another chapter out sometime between Christmas and New Years!