(A/N: This is another tri-view chapter; it starts with Dimitri, then Claude, then Edelgard. This also marks the end of the 'academy' chapters. I hope you've enjoyed the story so far!)

The retreat from the monastery was bitter. Even among his own thoughts, Dimitri could hear Rhea darkly speaking about Edelgard and that mercenary—Byleth. The path from underneath the monastery opened up in Ailell, and from there Rhea led them through the flaming valley.

As they walked, Rhea paused her murmurings and glanced back at Dimitri. He could tell how hard she tried to look normal—to look like the archbishop everyone believed in. She did a better job at hiding the creeping madness than he did; he knew some of the Blue Lions feared him now, but he couldn't manage to fake a smile. Not after hearing that murderer's confirmation.

"Prince Dimitri," Rhea said calmly, "Would it be possible for the church and the Knights of Seiros to stay within the Kingdom?"

"You will have to take care of your own people," Dimitri reasoned, frowning not necessarily at her but at everything. They made it so hard to think, the only emotion he could muster now being pure anger at Edelgard for something a small part of him still wasn't convinced of.

"Mere shelter will be enough," Rhea replied. "In return, the knights will defend themselves and the Kingdom if that girl decides to attack."

"As far as I'm concerned, then, you can stay for as long as you need. I'll make it official as soon as we return."

"Excellent. With Faerghus's aid, Adrestia will recognize their folly. That girl will not go unpunished—for fighting against the church and taking her heart and bones with her."

Dimitri didn't understand who 'her heart and bones' referred to—based on Rhea's other ramblings, he knew it was a person—but he also knew that he wouldn't have to. Just the promise that Edelgard will finally pay for what she's done was enough for him.

He couldn't tell if it was justice or revenge—morality or madness—that drove him, but he failed to imagine any other life but one where he killed Edelgard and everyone associated with her, or else be killed in the pursuit.

Anyone from the Alliance were told to leave without any fanfare or congratulation. Claude led them in their own grim march. A lot of the Golden Deer—no knights accompanied them, so it was just the students—were just trying to figure out what they'd do. Hanneman hid during the battle, so chances are their professor sided with Edelgard; there were people who wanted to fight alongside the Central Church, and others who felt like Edelgard was right to declare war on them.

He tried not to let it get too depressing—Hilda actually did better with keeping morale high, though. Claude was better at brutal honesty than trying to put a positive spin on a negative situation.

A roundtable conference was held almost immediately. It came as no surprise to anyone—Claude included, who stood in for the actual Duke Riegan—that the great lords spent the entire time bickering. They all looked out for their own interests; naturally, those closer to the border with the Empire were more concerned about facing its army. Count Gloucester had genuine concerns about the Great Bridge of Myrddin, he just wouldn't listen to Claude's attempts to suggest fortifying it.

For now, they couldn't do anything. The Imperial army was still in Garreg Mach; sure, the Alliance could stop them from going back to Enbarr, but half of them would rather stand out of the way and let them pass without any interruptions.

The only thing they could agree on was that the Alliance would not provide troops to either side as a whole. Claude wouldn't be able to stop them if, say, Count Gloucester chose to let the Imperial army into Leicester without any resistance—honestly, he couldn't even blame him for choosing that course of action. It was reasonable, he just wished it was that easy, to do whatever saved the most lives and it being the right thing.

Maybe he'd feel better about the whole situation if he understood more about Edelgard. All those meals, and the only clue she ever gave towards this was that morning before the Holy Tomb; she wanted some kind of 'revolution,' but Claude didn't know if it was for the good of Fódlan or just for her own gain.

One of the last things she said back then was that she hoped the house leaders could all meet without bloodshed. Claude wasn't naïve enough to think that all three nations could peacefully resolve this—maybe if the Kingdom hadn't protected Rhea and the Knights of Seiros—but he could still make a choice that might minimize the bloodshed.

It was just a matter of choosing the right side before the other got any ideas.

A majority of the students who didn't fight during the battle were genuinely interested in helping her. All but one or two swore allegiance to the Empire and its cause after she gave them fair warning; the ones who didn't left the monastery and disappeared among the mountains.

Edelgard's time was divided between trying to explain things to the others—Ferdinand in particular kept pestering her about his father's imprisonment, and after Jeritza came Manuela requested an explanation on the Death Knight—and planning out possible strategies with Count Bergliez. Every now and then, reports from Vestra spies came in to announce something of note.

Dimitri took his position as King of Faerghus; most of the Kingdom itself was united by protecting the Central Church. There were quiet opposers—those like Lonato and the Western Church—but she urged them to remain that way. As long as they could hold back their grudges for just a little longer, they could prove to be a valuable asset.

The Leicester Alliance was more visibly split, but the grand duke—Claude hadn't taken up the title yet—insisted on their neutrality. Officially, they wouldn't bother the Empire nor Kingdom if the other two didn't bother them in return. Edelgard knew that on a smaller scale, however, some nobles genuinely believed in the Empire's ideals while others simply feared them, a few stubbornly going with whatever choice Duke Riegan made and another portion who still hadn't decided.

At this point, Edelgard wouldn't be able to convince Dimitri to abandon the church; there was a small chance Claude might be willing to help her with enough reason, but he couldn't do much if he wasn't in power.

She spent an entire year planning for this. Edelgard promised herself that she would carry on, if not to eliminate Rhea than to finally be able to fight against Thales's people; if not for the people of Fódlan, then for herself.