Fire Emblem: Heirs of Scarlet Flowers
New Horizon: The Three Lords
Remire Village.
It was a quant place where the smell of Juniper pie, the sounds of laughing children, and the general comradery between the adults is more noticeable compared to any major villages where a Noble was established.
Byleth wasn't sure what this ache in her chest at the sight of such warmth in this close-knit community but she strangely didn't want it to leave her. "We finally made it," Shez announced with a drained tone, her limbs dangling on each side of the horse she rode.
"We would have been here sooner if I hadn't foolishly given you the map at the river," Byleth told her sister with a hint of a smile.
"Yeah, yeah, it's known that my sense of direction stinks," Shez grumbled as she leaned up on her horse. "Like yours is any better. Tell me, was it me sitting by that river for almost thirty minutes staring at the map, turning it every which way to make it make sense before giving it to me in your version of a huff?"
Byleth bashfully looked away. "I don't remember giving it away in a huff," Byleth murmured. "But I do seem to recall you screaming to the sky when we wound up an hour away from the village."
"You gave me the map upside down!" Shez exclaimed.
"Girls," Jeralt chuckled. "As amusing as this is, we should get to the local inn so we can actually sleep in beds for a while."
Byleth nodded and eyed her sister with a twinge of warmth in her chest, even as her sister stuck her tongue out at her. Spending the last fifteen years with such an emotive person like Shez made every day feel like an adventure to Byleth.
Even when Shez would make it her mission to annoy Byleth, all Byleth could do was look fondly at her.
"He….m…." a voice strained in her mind, causing Byleth to blink.
'Hm. I wonder what that was….' Byleth thought and then shrugged off. She had been hearing things like that since she was a small girl, but lately, it had been happening more frequently. Along with those strange dreams….
"So, Sis," Shez started, which prompted Byleth to turn to her younger sister. "Are we still up for sparring once we get our rooms?"
Byleth confirmed this with a nod. Since their battle against Berling's Mercenaries, the group only stopped long enough to rest. Since the majority of the Hungry Wolves were still wounded, sparring lessons were the last thing anyone wanted to do.
But since Shez revealed her dual-wielding style, Byleth was itching to see how she fared against it. "I look forward to it," Byleth told Shez.
It also gave Byleth an idea regarding the steel shield she took from Berling's deceased body as a trophy, as most mercenaries did if they were able to slay an opposing group's leader. After a few minutes, Jeralt managed to find the inn and shouted to the Hungry Wolves, "Alright, let's tie up our horses and blew off some steam, men!"
"Yes Sir!" Everyone, including Shez and Byleth, shouted.
Byleth then got off of her horse, Starwind, and petted her mane. "You did wonderfully today," Byleth told the all-black horse. Starwind neighed and Byleth led her to the stables that sat beside the Inn.
Byleth had owned Starwind since her father claimed her after defeating another mercenary group when she had turned fifteen. Shez also received her horse, Heatwave, during the same victory. It took a while for both horses to bond with them, but when they did, Byleth felt a strange pleased feeling for the next week.
Shez rode Heatwave into the stable and then jumped off of him. "Man, you're about to have the best sleep of your life tonight," Shez commented as she tied Heatwave, which was a white horse with splodges of black on it, to his post. "The inn's diner is serving Beast Meat Teppanyaki tonight with Saghert and Cream for dessert."
Byleth's eyes sparkled in delight.
Those were her favorite meals but they always left her drowsy after eating them. "We should spar before dinner," Byleth decided.
"I knew you'd say that. You're such a glutton," Shez teased.
A faint smile appeared on Byleth's face.
After getting everything put away in their rooms, Byleth and Shez walked alone through the forest of Remire Village. They wanted to get far away enough not to cause a panic but remain close enough to actually be able to return to the village when their sparring concluded.
"This looks like a good spot," Shez noted as they came across a clearing. "What say you?"
"This is adequate," Byleth agreed as she placed her right hand on her hilt. "Are you sure wish to spar now and not after a day of rest? I do not want to hear your pouting and excuses." Byleth gave her sister a faint smile to inform her that her words were in jest.
Shez snorted and grinned back. "We'll see who will be teasing who when your back hits the ground," Shez announced good-naturedly.
"So, the first one on their back loses?" Byleth questioned.
"Yeah. Seems fair enough, considering in a real battle, that's how things often end," Shez remarked.
"Well, they can also end up on their side or their chest," Byleth corrected. "Not to mention, they could die on their knees or even standing up, like Guy Von Fabre did after you slew him last year."
"I guess you have a point," Shez said. "Well, I'll change that. The first person on their knees or the ground in general loses."
"I can agree to that," Byleth agreed.
Shez grinned and withdrew both of her training swords, which were created of wood, while Byleth kept her training sword sheathed. However, she kept her right hand firmly gripping the hilt. The two circled one another for a moment, sizing each other up.
Who would make the first move?
Shez immediately launched herself forward to engage. Byleth withdrew her training sword and blocked the downward swings of both blades. Byleth pushed both blades up into the air, sending Shez on her backfoot, and then stepped forward to push Shez back.
Byleth tossed her wooden sword into her left hand and swung at Shez's side, but Shez blocked it with her right blade and then swung her left blade down at Byleth. Byleth lifted her right arm and slammed the back of her right fist against Shez's left wrist, halting the swing.
Byleth then lifted her right foot and booted Shez in the chest, sending her sister skidding back from the blow. "Ouch! That was a nice move, Sis," Shez complimented. "But I'm still coming."
Shez charged forward with a shout and lunged her right blade forward at Byleth's chest. Byleth sidestepped the lunge, allowing Shez to pass her by while slapping Shez's butt with the flat side of her wooden blade.
Shez turned around, her cheeks reddened while Byleth offered a small smile. "Was that also a nice move, Little Sister?" Byleth questioned.
Shez growled and then advanced once again, causing Byleth to get serious. She knew that growl well and what followed that growl often led to a tougher sparring session.
Shez began to move in that familiar next gear, causing Byleth to back up to either block or maneuver against the controlled manic swings and lunges of Shez's blade.
Shez's moniker as the Violet Whirlwind was always warranted, as she battles with enough speed to put anyone on the defensive, but with her new style, her speed was now very oppressive. It left no room to breathe and to find a weak spot within her style.
This was both exciting and terrifying for Byleth, as she often analyzed her opponents. She couldn't do that well enough with her sister's new style. But, this gave Byleth the chance to improvise.
After jumping back to avoid Shez's left upward swing, Byleth quickly undid her sheath and quickly moved both the sheath and her sword in a reverse grip. She had put enough distance between her and her sister so Shez would have no choice but to perform a lunging thrust.
Sure enough, Shez charged forward and lunged her right blade at Byleth. A hint of a smirk formed on Byleth's face as she charged forward, drifting just enough to the right to evade the blade, and moved the left arm that held her sheath and allowed Shez's right sword to sheath the blade fully.
Byleth barely caught Shez's wide eyes before she stepped into Shez's space and landed an uppercut with the flat side of her sword, lifting Shez into the air where she crashed on her back. "Ouch really doesn't cover how badly that really hurt," Shez groaned as Byleth leaned Shez's sheath sword against her left shoulder.
"That style of yours is a threat," Byleth admitted. "But you rely on closing the distance with that lunge of yours. That was the only reason I was able to defeat you."
Byleth walked over to her sister while tossing her blade down and held out her right hand to her. Shez easily accepted the hand and allowed Byleth to pull her up.
"I should have known something was going to happen when you put both the sheath and your sword in that reverse grip of yours," Shez grumbled with a pout. "Your improvising in battle never fails to amaze me."
"Yes, but your style barely allowed me a moment to improvise," Byleth complimented. "You have really grown as a capable fighter, Shez. Don't let this loss take away from that."
Shez blushed at the praise, and it made Byleth place a hand on the shorter girl's head, with a visible smile that she only gave her sister.
Shez improved so much since that harrowing battle with Von Fabre that it amazed Byleth greatly. Sooner, rather than later, Byleth was going to have to accept the fact that she was going to lose a sparring session to her little sister.
And on that day, Byleth will embrace that loss with a smile.
"I think it may be time for another nap… It is almost… time to begin…."
Byleth jolted forward out of bed with a gasp. Byleth looked around and instead of being in that black void, staring at the young girl on top of a throne, she was in her bed in the Remire Inn.
Byleht rubbed at her chest, feeling a strange sensation within it.
She had strange dreams before, but that was the first time she encountered that girl.
What was going on?
"By?" Shez's drowsy voice questioned as her sister woke up in the bed across from hers. "Is everything okay? Did you have that dream again?"
"I did," Byleth admitted. "But it was more than just the dreams of war. I dreamed of a green-haired girl atop a stone throne. Her clothing was radically different from ours…."
"Wow, you must be shaken," Shez said, now more awake. "You hardly say a lot when you have these dreams. Do they trouble you that much?"
Byleth frowned and nodded. "I just want to know what they mean…." Byleth answered.
"Maybe we should finally tell Father about them," Shez offered. "He might be able to give you some sort of guidance. Or, he might just say forget about it like he always does whenever I have a bad dream."
Byleth nodded in agreement. "The battlefield is no place for idle thoughts," Byleth recounted. Her father always told Shez that whenever she came to him regarding her nightmares about a boy dressed in white.
"But….I can see how much it is bothering you," Shez admitted. "Come on. Let's go take a walk. That should clear your head enough before we have to leave in a little while."
"Yes. A walk might do me some good," Byleth agreed.
"You know, I didn't think we walked so far," An apologetic Shez murmured as Byleth stared at her.
They had only walked for thirty minutes, and now they were standing at a bunch of ruins, with no Remire Village in sight.
"I suppose this was bound to happen sooner or later," Byleth commented as she crossed her arms. "We were too successful in getting back to the village after our sparring match. The Goddess had to punish us somehow for that success."
"Look who has jokes all of a sudden," Shez pouted.
Byleth blinked.
That was a joke?
"Anyways, I wonder where we are," Shez pondered as she looked around. "I don't think I've ever seen ruins like these before…."
"They look mighty ancient," Byleth murmured as she observed them. "I wonder if Father knows what period this was built."
"You think Father would know that?" Shez questioned with an amused look. "Just last night, we had to teach how to eat sweets. Sweets of all things. I doubt he'd understand these ru—"
"Stop plowing ahead, Claude!" A stern male voice exclaimed from within the ruins. "You're going to get us lost!"
Byleth and Shez immediately got on guard.
"Lost, Schomst," a laid-back male's voice replied. "I have it on good imperial authority that this is the way to that village."
Byleth motioned for Shez to follow her further into the ruins as a female sighed. "True, I said there was a village—but how could anyone know where it is in the thick of these mountains?" an exasperated female voice questioned. "Admittedly, I can't even say for certain where we are in all this gloom."
"They sound lost," Shez commented as the two continued into the ruins. "It also sounds like they are trying to get to Remire Village."
"I wonder why?" Byleth murmured to her sister.
"Okay, new plan: I'll rely on my keen senses to navigate," the laidback voice said. "Lucky for you two, they're sharp as an arrow."
As the Eisner sisters entered a large area, Byleth finally got a look at the owners of the three voices.
Each wore a uniform of some sort that was black with golden ornaments on it. The only difference between their uniforms was that the brown-haired, tan-skinned male wearing a yellow shoulder cape, the pale-skinned, blonde male wearing a blue shoulder cape, and the white hair, pale-skinned female wearing a red shoulder cape, along with a skirt and red leggings.
"Is it just me, or are all of them insanely attractive?" Shez whispered, not aware that she stepped on a twig, that snapped.
Byleth paused and eyed her sister, and then her foot. That just gave away their position. "Oops," Shez sheepishly said.
"Hold, both of you. Someone's here. Another bandit perhaps?" The blond male questioned.
Byleth could see indignation on her sister's face at being called a thief. Before Byleth could halt her, Shez stomped past her and into the opening where the trio stood. "Hold on there. We're not Bandits."
"We?" the brunette asked with an easygoing tone.
Byleth walked into the open and replied, "Yes. We are not bandits. We are mercenaries."
"Mercenaries?" The female questioned.
"Well, that makes everything all better," the brunette said.
"Bandits would be far less out of place in these words than a sellsword. What brings you both here?" The female asked.
"Well, we were trying to find our way back to Remire Village," Byleth answered. "It is where our mercenary group, the Hungry Wolves of Leicester, reside."
"Whoa, whoa," the brunette exclaimed. "The Hungry Wolves of Leicester? Wait a minute." The brunette paled and took a step back. "Violet hair and dark teal hair. Purple and blue eyes…. No, it can't be…."
"Claude," the stern male started. "What are you going on about?"
"Dimitri, Edelgard, how much do you two know about the Hungry Wolves of Leicester?" the brunette, Claude, answered.
"We've heard rumors of them. The Hungry Wolves, lead by a skilled warrior, who is followed closely behind by the terrifying Ashen Demon and the chaotic Violet Whirlwind," the blond, Dimitri, answered.
"That is about as much as I've heard about them as well," the white-haired female, Edelgard, reluctantly admitted. "But what does that have to do with them?"
"Guys, we are standing in front of the Violet Whirlwind and the Ashen Demon themselves," Claude revealed.
Dimitri and Edelgard looked alarmed by this, while Shez looked amused. "Nice to meet you three," Shez grinned. "Seems our reputation proceeds us. You can call us by our monikers if you want, but if not, I'm Shez, and this is my older sister, Byleth."
"A pleasure," Byleth hummed, her eyes looking to Edelgard. The girl was staring at her with a look she couldn't place.
"Likewise," Edelgard replied.
"Well, this is all well and good," Dimitri stated. "But we've got no time for further introductions. Our pursuers are closing in."
"Pursuers?" Shez and Byleth asked in unison.
"Oh, right. I nearly forgot about that considering we're meeting two out of the three of the most feared mercenaries in all of Fódlan," Claude said. "Yeah, basically, we have people chasing after us. And not for autographs or wanting to bear our children."
"Your levity in situations like this Claude is almost awe-inspiring," Edelgard muttered.
"Well, whatever the case. You bunch clearly need every blade you find. And both of our pockets have been feeling awfully light lately, right Sis?" Shez questioned.
"I can certainly agree with this," Byleth added, playing along to her sister's plan. "So, what do you three say?"
Claude, Dimitri, and Edelgard glanced at one another for a moment. Finally, Edelgard stepped forward to Byleth, and for a moment, Byleth felt entranced by her violet eyes. "We accept," Edelgard said, her eyes locked onto Byleth's. "You two will not have to worry about payment. You both will receive plenty of coins. If we survive that is."
"I think we will," Claude said. "Considering the two we now have in our employment, I almost feel sorry for those bastards. So, Ashen Demon, Violet Whirlwind, wanna help us clear out some scary bandits?"
"Just lead the way," Shez confidently replied.
Shez let out an excited scream as her blades slashed through two of the bandits that stood in her way. After a few minutes of running through the forest, they came across the first group of bandits.
Before they knew what hit him, she and her sister had already cleaved through the majority of their forces.
"This is almost too easy!" Shez yelled as she pivoted to the left and then proceeded to rapidly thrust both blades out, piercing through one bandit's chest before finishing up by taking a step forward and cutting off their head.
Beside her, Byleth landed one clean slice to a bandit's neck and then followed up with a swift slice through the middle of the second bandit's skull. "Don't lose focus," Byleth instructed. "They may be untrained, but they are still many of them."
"She is right!" Edelgard agreed as she cleaved a bandit's head off of their shoulders with a gracefulness that an ax shouldn't have. Edelgard then smacked a spear away from a bandit looking to skewer her, twisted her axe around, and then cleaved the man's face in half from chin to forehead.
"Many skilled men have fallen to those lesser than them due to underestimating them. We shall not give these curs that chance!" Edelgard finished.
"That much is agreed!" Dimitri followed up as his spear pieced through the stomach of a bandit and then savagely pulled it out through the man's side. "We shall not let any of them stop us!"
Dimitri then twisted his body at three upcoming bandits and with a yell, his spear lunged out at such a speed, that it took Shez and Byleth by surprise. It was like he was holding three spears instead of just one.
Those bandits didn't have a chance.
Edelgard must have seen this as well because she said, "You're making me feel bad for the enemy, Dimitri."
"You guys really love to hear yourselves talk," Claude joked as his arrow pierced the neck of a bandit. He then ducked a sword strike, spun his body, and then fired another arrow, piercing the knee of another bandit that was soon skewered in the face by one last arrow, ending the first group.
"Then again, so do I," Claude finished with a grin.
"We must keep moving," Byleth commanded as she wiped her blood off with a fur of a deceased bandit. "There is no telling how many more there are."
"With how skilled we are, I doubt they'll be able to touch us," Shez replied as she walked past Byleth, both of her blades resting on her shoulders.
"Confidence and hips, she's a woman after my heart," Claude commented as he walked past Byleth and followed Shez.
"Come, we must not lose focus now," Dimitri encouraged as he walked past her.
Finally, Edelgard stepped beside her and together, they walked. "I must, Miss Eisner, you waste no movements on the battlefield," Edelgard complimented. "You only needed one stroke of your blade to end your opponent's life. It was like watching a painter in front of their easel."
"You have watched me?" Byleth questioned.
"I wasn't able to stop," Edelgard admitted. "Your skill is truly beyond question. Both yours and your sister's. I can truly understand the fear your enemies must have had to have given you your moniker, Ashen Demon. I look forward to seeing more of you and your abilities."
Edelgard rushed ahead, leaving Byleth feeling strange in her chest. She shook off the feeling and raced after the group.
When Byleth caught up to the group, another bunch of bandits stood in their way. "About time you joined us," Claude teased. "We were just scoping out this group."
"Look there," Dimitri pointed out. "That man in the middle is the leader of the bandits. We take him out, the bandits will break and flee."
"Sounds like the goal," Shez said. "What's the plan, sis?"
Byleth steeled her gaze and said, "Claude, you remain here supply cover fire for us until we're in the thick of it. After that, focus your fire on the back lines. Dimitri, you and my sister will handle the ones up front along with Edelgard and I. Edelgard, once we weaken the front lines, you and I will break from Dimitri and Shez and take down the leader."
"That just came right off the top of your head?" Claude asked, impressed.
"When our father is a great commander, some of his tactics might rub off on us," Shez grinned. "Alright sis, you on your mark, and we'll go."
Byleth turned to Claude and said, "Now."
Claude notched an arrow into his bow and fired, striking a bandit next to the leader in the forehead, sending the man onto his back.
"What the hell?!" The leader exclaimed. "Find whoever did that end and skin them alive!"
"And that is our cue," Shez said to Dimitri before she charged forward.
"Wait for me!" Dimitri exclaimed as he chased after her.
"Shall we?" Edekgard asked.
Byleth nodded.
The battle didn't even last five minutes before the bandit leader Kostas was defeated.
"Didn't even break a sweat," Shez noted to Claude and Dimitri as she gave them both high-fives. While Claude accepted it gladly, Dimitri was hesitant in getting it.
Byleth wiped her blade on another bandit's clothing. She then sheathed her blade and said, "Good work everyone."
"Thank you, Miss Eisner," Edelgard thanked. She then glanced down at the down bandit and muttered, "Although, I wished we could have figured out why Kostas wanted us." Edelgard then turned to Byleth and asked, "So, what will happen ne—"
Without warning, Kostas's eyes snapped open. He flipped to his feet and with a scream of, "I'm not finished yet!" he charged toward Edelgard. Without hesitation, Byleth beat him to Edelgard, pushed her out of the way, and felt the cold steel of Kostas' ax enter her back.
And then everything stood still.
Time resumed and Byleth found herself in the spot she was just before Kostas flipped up.
Had all of that just happened?
Was time really just turned back by Sothis?
"Thank you, Miss Eisner," Edelgard thanked. She then glanced down at the down bandit and muttered, "Although, I wished we could have figured out why Kostas wanted us." Edelgard then turned to Byleth and asked, "So, what will happen ne—"
Without warning, Kostas's eyes snapped open. He flipped to his feet and with a scream of, "I'm not finished yet!" he charged toward Edelgard.
"Not this time!" Byleth exclaimed as she beat Kostas to the punch by making it to Edelgard. With a push, Byleth got Edelgard out of the way and was able to deliver a swift slash to Kostas before his axe could even fall, Byleth's blade sliced through Kostas' neck.
Kostas' eyes widened as he struggled to say something. He staggered forward and then fell at Byleth's feet. Byleth turned to Edelgard, who lay on her side with a stunned expression on her face. Byleth then turned to Shez, Claude, and Dimitri, who looked relieved.
Byleth reached out to Edelgard and asked, "Are you alright?"
Edelgard nodded and for a moment, Byleth could see a flash of hesitance in her eyes. Finally, Edelgard grabbed her hand, allowing Byleth to pull her up. The two stood close to one another as Byleth panted in exhaustion.
Why was she so exhausted?
"Well?" Byleth questioned as she gazed into her eyes. "Are you alright?" she repeated, her hand still holding Edelgard's.
"I am well. T-Thank you, Miss Eisner," Edelgard replied as she bowed her head, her cheeks reddening.
Why were her cheeks reddening like that?
"Hello there, house leaders!" A boisterous voice cried out.
Byleth turned her head to see a brown-haired man in bright white armor heading toward them. "Thank goodness you three are unharmed," the man sincerely said once he joined up with the group. The man's blue eyes turned to Byleth and Shez. "Ah, and who are you two?" the man questioned.
"This is Byleth and Shez Eisner," Edelgard introduced. "They are part of the renowned mercenary group, the Hungry Wolves of Leicester. Byleth, Shez, this is Alois. He is a captain of the Serios Knights."
"Captain of the Knights of Seiros, eh? I wonder how skilled this man can be?" Sothis' voice said from within Byleth's head.
Byleth looked around in confusion. "Don't look around. You'll only cast suspicion on yourself. Keep your focus. He's about to speak again," Sothis warned.
"Wait. Eisner? You two wouldn't be related to Captain Jeralt Reus Einser, would you?" The man asked with a hopeful tone.
Byleth and Shez exchanged a look and then Byleth turned back to the man. "He is our leader and father," Byleth answered.
The man then proceeded to give the two of them a large, welcoming smile. "Unbelievable! Captain Jeralt's daughters! Only the Goddess could have ordained such a meeting as this. Where is that old goat?"
"He is back in Remire Village," Shez said. "Please tell us you know the way there."
Alois smiled and said, "That is just a little ways away from here! I'll be happy to escort you, ladies, back. My duties at camp have finished so there is nothing holding me back from helping out."
"Speaking of camp, shouldn't we go back to camp and wait out the night together and make for the village in the morning?" Claude asked. "I mean, doesn't that sound like a pretty decent plan? Especially if you two want to get paid, as we're a tiny bit short on pocket change at the moment."
"Oh? Did you three offer payment to these two for their assistance?" Alois questioned.
The trio nodded.
"No we couldn't have you students reward them for their assistance, especially since we don't have the means in camp to properly reward the both of them," Alois stated. "Ah! I know, when we see Jeralt, maybe I can convince him, and the two of you two, to accompany us to Garreg Mach Monastery. At the monastery, we can repay your kindness in full. What do you two say?"
"Truthfully, I am feeling exhausted," Byleth answered. "Let us return back to the village."
"Seriously, No offense to you three, but I'd like to sleep on a bed after this," Shez sighed.
"Nope, I totally get it," Claude said with a smile.
"Alright. Then let us go!" Alois cheerfully exclaimed.
The sun was just cresting over the horizon by the time the group arrived at Remire Village and Shez was exhausted. The entire night was fun. She always had a good time when she fought side by side with her sister.
And that was even more so now since she teamed up with these three. Claude and Dimitri seemed pretty cool to her and so did Edelgard, despite the latter sticking close to her sister. And as much as she wanted to learn more about that, she just wanted to grab some shuteye.
Unfortunately, as they neared the village, she saw her father and their men at the gate.
"I don't think we're going to get any sleep, By," Shez mournfully told her sister, who gave her a tired nod of agreement. Their father happened to see them and started to raise his hand, only to stop partway through.
Shez didn't need a telescope to know he was surprised.
She was still surprised too, all things considered.
"Captain Jeralt, it really is yours!" Alois boisterously greeted Jeralt as they neared their father. "Goodness, it's been ages."
"I've never seen Father look so weathered before," Byleth whispered to Shez, who grinned in agreement.
"Don't you recognize me? It's Alois! Your old right-hand man!" Alois continued. "Well, that's how I always thought of myself anyways."
"Hello, Alois," Jeralt greeted with a drained tone in his voice, something Shez was very familiar with. Their father often took that tone whenever he was faced with a task he did not want to do. "It has been quite some time."
"Twenty years in fact," Alois commented. "I can't believe it's been that long since you went missing without a trace. Everyone at the monastery was crushed at your supposed demise but I always knew you were alive."
"And despite all that time, you haven't changed a bit, Alois," Jeralt replied. He then turned to Shez and Byleth and said, "Thank goodness you two are safe. When I went into your room this morning, you two were missing, It frightened me."
"Forgive me, it was my fault," Byleth said. "I needed to get some fresh air to clear my head. And I dragged Shez along with me."
Jeralt opened his mouth but Shez quickly stepped forward to defend her older sister.
"Hey, don't take all the blame," Shez argued. "It was my fault. I was the one who suggested for us to get some air after a rough night's sleep."
"Do not be so hard on either of them," Edelgard interjected as she stepped in front of Shez and Byleth. "If not for them talking that walk. My allies and I would have perished at the hands of bandits. If anything, you should commend them for sticking their necks out for us."
"Yeah," Dimitri added. "Those two earned a nice reward too for their help. Which I'm sure will benefit the Hungry Wolves in future endeavors."
"That is quite right," Alois added. "And that reward is at the monastery. I insist that you, your men, and your daughters accompany us back there so we kindly reward your daughters for their service."
Jeralt sighed.
"I suppose this was inevitable….Very well. But only to get the reward that is owed to my daughters," Jeralt told Alois. "After that, we will be leaving to handle business."
"Of course, old friend," Alois said with a smile. "Now, let us all make our way to Garreg Mach."
As Jeralt and Alois walked over to the rest of the Hungry Wolves, Edelgard murmured, "Jeralt Reus Eisner. The Blade Breaker and Former captain of the Knights of Serios. Oft was praised as the strongest knight to ever live. I can see why, now more than ever, why you two are so skilled."
"Wow, who knew Father had all that under his belt," Shez said.
"I certainly didn't," Byleth said.
"That is curious," Edelgard murmured. "I'd wager the explanation for that is fascinating indeed."
"Now that it's confirmed that you two are coming with us, I'd love to bend your ears as we travel," Claude said as moved in between the pair and slung his arms around their shoulders.
"Yeah, and maybe you three can tell us more about Garrag Mach," Shez said.
"We'd love to," Dimitri said. "Come, let us journey forth."