Every time Byleth tried to sneak away from the knights, they caught on and brought her closer. She didn't think they meant anything by it, but it felt more like they knew something she didn't and wanted to keep her close. That seemed especially true for the girl—Edelgard.

Some of the mercenaries, Jeralt included, noticed the knights coming and left. After a while she gave up on trying to leave. Sothis tried to help the situation some; Byleth was used to her interjections now, and she was a little better at responding without drawing attention to herself as well.

"Think of it this way," Sothis said, "You have more time to ascertain why that girl's strength resembles yours. I'm sure of it now, seeing you two fight alongside each other—you share something with her."

"I still shouldn't stay for long," Byleth reasoned quietly. "I know Jeralt's probably right behind us, but groups he doesn't speak of often are…usually unwise to stay near."

"It is true that these 'Knights of Seiros' are relatively unheard of within Jeralt's company," Sothis noted. "However, I know that you are curious about these people, as am I. If they wanted to harm you, they would have during the battle."

"That…is reasonable. I just wish they wouldn't watch me so closely."

Many of them—the knights and students—talked while they traveled. At least some of that conversation was about her, whether due to her fighting ability, her last name, or even that she fought alongside the imperial princess. A few, especially in the first hour or so of travel, came up to her and asked questions—if she was the Ashen Demon, or if she was the child of Jeralt the Blade Breaker. One or two asked if she knew Edelgard before today.

The group, fully intending to return to wherever they came from within the week, only stopped when the sun set and they made up camp. The mercenaries were still watched over—too carefully for just 'we want to properly thank you,' but not necessarily cautiously—but otherwise worked independently. When the Knights of Seiros created a watch schedule, Byleth volunteered to assist.

They weren't as insistent she stay in sight, so she took it as her chance to try to find Jeralt. As she guessed, her father had made his own subtle camp a bit farther away alongside the other mercenaries. He stood up when he noticed her, previously speaking with the others.

"There you are, kid," he said. "Sorry for leaving you behind like that. I…have a history with these people. I would rather keep it in the past."

"What kind of history?"

She didn't fully expect an answer, but she received one—however vague it actually was. "Let's just say that if I saw the archbishop now, she might not let me leave."

Jeralt paused for a moment and sighed. "But that aside, it looks like you're all right at least. I can gather up the rest of the guys in the morning; we still have work to do around here."

"It would be a shame to allow this opportunity to pass by," Sothis mused. "I wish to follow the knights. Could you not convince him to let you go?"

On one hand, Byleth herself wasn't exactly fond of the idea—but on the other, she knew by now that Sothis would constantly lament the 'lost chance' to do something new.

"Could I stay with the knights and follow them back?" She knew Sothis was happy about the request. "I'll let the others know you're out here, so they can leave if they want to."

"Any reason you want to keep following them?" Jeralt asked. He didn't seem to quite understand it, but she knew that she wouldn't ask either if Sothis hadn't suggested it.

"I'm curious." That was a good way to put it—a half-truth at worst.

Jeralt frowned a bit, but still continued after a second. "All right, you can tag along with them. Just don't say too much if you can help it; Alois is okay, if you see him—loud guy, likes to joke, relatively harmless—but avoid Rhea if you can. Keep an eye out for anything odd and meet up at our next job if something happens. I'll get someone to find you if you're not back in a few weeks."

Byleth nodded. After Sothis prompted her, she added, "Thank you."

"All the mages were killed," Hubert reported. "Monica and I located any that the knights did not punish."

Edelgard nodded. "Good. I want to keep this between us if possible."

"You won't tell him that woman could wield the Sword of the Creator?"

"It would only cause more trouble for us. One bystander has already come close to dying due to his intentions—I don't want to risk a second by telling him someone could use that sword without a Crest Stone."

"With mysteries like hers, I wouldn't consider her a bystander."

"I still don't think we should let him know so easily. If the legends are to be believed, whoever wields that sword can defeat almost anything. We need that kind of asset."

"I'll look into it and see if there is anything in her past that could give a clue as to how she acquired the power."

"Let Monica research as well. Even if she doesn't know the exact details, she would be glad to help."

"Very well."

Hubert gave a short bow, then left. She lingered a bit longer before opting to check in on the Black Eagles that had come with them.