Half of the month passed without anything of real note happening. However, come late in the third week and some knights interrupted the morning classes, instructing the students to immediately prepare to leave. They found their lead, and opted to present it in the most disruptive way possible.
Each house leader chose the best fighters of their classes and joined the knights. They all left as soon as possible, moving quicker than they needed to. Urgency meant nothing if you were so noticeable in doing so, especially where Thales was concerned.
Then again, considering the knights found them at all likely meant Thalesgot tired of waiting for something interesting to happen.
The knights took the students to the Empire, and they made their preparations in a town not far from the border. Edelgard asked around a bit to try to determine if Thales meant to give away the location or not. As far as she could tell, it wasn't anything special; there were a few abandoned areas where mages and thieves seemed to frequent, but nothing of particular note.
They were only given a day after arriving before the knights took them further. Coming into view of a section of town, they ran into a group of mercenaries—Edelgard wasn't necessarily at the front, but she could still recognize the same company that they had run into during the Harpstring Moon. She believed those same mercenaries were the ones Thales hired, and she could see the mercenary she saved from being killed by magic.
The two noticed and looked at each other for a single second before the knights were on guard. One man—he looked to be the mercenary's captain—spoke in their defense.
"We're not here to cause any trouble, if that's what you're thinking," he said. "We were hired to take care of some thieves in the area. I'd wager you're here to do the same?"
Catherine led the knights, so she responded. "Something like that. Let's just not get in each other's way, and we can discuss exact details later. This is time sensitive."
The mercenary captain nodded, and looked back at his group. "All right, everyone! Don't mess with the knights or students and they won't mess with you. Let's head out."
All of the mercenaries nodded their agreement, and after a similar comment from Catherine, so did the knights and students. They went a little deeper in to find the mages and fought them, searching any places where they could have hidden the sword while doing so.
Edelgard tried to keep an eye on everyone else, where they were and who they were with—the mages and the thieves accompanying them demanded a bit more attention than they had before, but some did look more interested in the knights. The mercenaries seemed to be the lowest priority regarding who to fight; the students who noticed that, Edelgard included, began fighting close by the mercenaries as a result. Only a few didn't shrug the students off or demand they leave, but Edelgard wound up alongside the mercenary she helped before.
The mercenary didn't protest, and they worked fairly well together. Although the mercenary clearly had more experience fighting alone, they were able to make great progress. Edelgard determined where they went, curious if the sword really was there. She found her answer, however, once they went deeper into the place; a mage was experimenting with the Relic, something like a Crest Stone where one should be.
The mercenary, likely guessing that this mage led the others, attacked the man. Edelgard followed her lead, and Hubert came to support them after a few minutes. The mage didn't seem to expect such opposition, but still fought with his full strength. Between the three of them, however, the mage quickly fell.
As the one who dealt the final blow, the mercenary was closest. Before Edelgard could retrieve the Relic herself, the mercenary picked it up instead. The Sword of the Creator glowed red once it entered the mercenary's hands.
She was taken aback for a moment before she asked, "May I take that sword?" The mercenary nodded, giving it to her with the blade towards the ground. The sword stopped glowing as soon as Edelgard took it; she removed the fake Crest Stone and looked at Hubert. "Check to see if any more mages are nearby. I will present this to the knights."
Hubert bowed and left. The mercenary began to walk away as well, but Edelgard managed a few words among the puzzlement. She didn't want to lose sight of a person that the sword seemed to respond to; the mercenary would have to possess the Crest of Flames, and something close to a Crest Stone.
"We've fought together twice now," Edelgard said. The mercenary paused and looked back at her. "What's your name?"
Eventually, the knights would come this far. If she could stall the mercenary long enough, she may be asked to return to the monastery. Edelgard wanted to know how the woman could wield the Sword of the Creator.
After some pause, the mercenary replied. "Byleth Eisner."
"Edelgard von Hresvelg."
"The imperial princess?"
"Yes. It's a pleasure to be fully acquainted."
"…Likewise."
Edelgard didn't recognize the name, unfortunately, so that alone couldn't determine who this mercenary was. However, with some luck Catherine arrived before Byleth could start to leave again.
"Looks like you got the Relic," the knight noted. "Mind if I take it now, Edelgard?"
"Not at all." She gave the sword back to Catherine, who looked over it as if trying to ascertain any signs of it being fake.
"Lady Rhea will be pleased to hear we got this back," Catherine said. "Good job, kid." She looked over at Byleth and smiled. "Oh, and you too. These mercenaries helped us a lot—I bet Lady Rhea would like to thank you all personally. How much were you paid for clearing out the thieves? We can provide double!"
"We don't need extra compensation," Byleth replied. Edelgard thought there might be some uneasiness in her tone, but it was hard to tell. "None of the mercenaries that fought were killed, and we have another job—"
"Nonsense! Lady Rhea will be pleased to have you! Come on; all the mages are dead by now, so I'll help you gather all of the mercenaries."
Catherine took Byleth's shoulder before she could continue protesting. Edelgard followed behind them at a small distance.
