The battle in Enbarr left that group exhausted. Balthus definitely had to make it up to a lot of people but for now, they all returned to Garreg Mach unharmed. Monica had to keep up the appearance that she was upset at her father's death. But in reality, that was the biggest boon to her plans. The last outlier who could learn the truth was now removed from the equation. Things were looking up for her.

Meanwhile, Luke was once again helping Anna with her inventory stock. It was their way of taking it easy after such a long and harrowing day. "What a day..." Luke said with a sigh.

"Balthus owes me big time. My services don't come cheap!" Anna huffed while putting away some inventory. "This is why I don't mess with the Black Market. Always too much trouble, way more than it's worth. But at least we got something out of it."

"You mean aside from the near death experiences?" Luke asked.

"Those are a gold a dozen at this point." Anna shrugged causally. In response, Luke just groaned. "You know I take my business seriously! Exposure to the Black Market like that told me a few things."

"And those things are...?" Luke lifted a brow, curious if Anna would actually tell him or not.

"Ah ah. Trade secret." Anna winked. "A true merchant never reveals her secrets, you know that."

"Of course." That was the expected response.

"But, I can tell you one thing." Anna said, tugging Luke along to a corner where she had a closed box waiting. She then opened it, revealing a slew of incredibly rare weapons. "We need to get you some new equipment. You're gonna fall behind at this rate."

"You don't have to phrase it like that." Although, it wasn't like he could deny it. He could lift his weight, but it was becoming increasingly clear by the day...the more threats that attacked, the less he felt like he'd be able to contribute. His memory and his skill in combat would only carry him so far. "But what are with these weapons, then?"

"These are magic weapons!" Anna beamed while pulling out a Levin Sword. "These will give your swings an extra bit of power!"

"Magic weapons..." Luke stared at the Levin Sword, and then back at Anna. "You know I can't do magic very well. In fact, it feels like most of the people who use magic well are all those with Crests."

"I suppose we are talented innately with magic." Anna tapped her cheek with her index finger. "But hard work is a good match for talent, and you are one of the hardest workers I know. Aside from myself, of course. So I'll make you a deal; you can take only one of these weapons and I won't charge you a thing."

"Whoa, whoa, you're giving me this for free!?" Luke's eyes were wide in disbelief. And he was right to not believe it.

"Ah ah!" Anna shook her head. "Not for free. You're going to some advertising for me. The Battle of the Eagle an Lion is later this month, isn't that right?"

"Uh, yeah..." Luke scratched the back of his head. He really wasn't sure where she was going with this.

"So we'll make a deal. You have to use whatever weapon you choose every day. You have to be the shining star of the Battle of the Eagle and Lion and garner as much attention as possible! And then when people ask you where you got this weapon, you point them right at me!"

"So you're just using me for business." Luke rolled his eyes.

"We're friends! And friends help each other out!" Anna beamed. "And look at it this way. If you bring me enough customers, I'll completely wipe the cost from the weapon and it's yours to keep! You can't pass that kind of deal up, can't you?"

Anna did drive a good bargain. She was a businesswoman first and a friend second, but she was giving Luke a deal that was hard to pass up. A strong weapon and all he had to do was make use of it properly? "...Okay. You got yourself a deal, Anna."

"I knew I could count on you!" Anna beamed, setting the Levin Sword down while gesturing to the box. "Take your pick! Most magic weapons can be replicated through magic and one's own weapon skill, but these are pretty much those attacks in physical form! So choose wisely, you only get the one!"

"Right, right..." Luke nodded and looked over his choices. All of them felt strong... "I think I'll take...this one."

.

.

"That sucked." Hapi said while glaring at Balthus. She was not very fond of being used as an excuse.

"I said I was sorry...!" Balthus groaned. They really weren't going to let that go. "C'mon, all's well that ends well, right?" Minus the fact Baron Ochs died, but there was really nothing they could do about it.

"Why don't you just quit while you're behind, B." Hapi rolled her eyes. The sooner they could forget about it, the better.

"I cannot simply forget about this day!" Constance spoke out. Since they were no longer in the sun, her bombastic personality returned to the forefront. She immediately pointed at Yuri and the relic that was on his hands. "I wish to know what that is!"

"Oh, the Duke got this for me." Yuri explained casually. "It's a Hero's Relic. The Fetters of Dromi."

"Never heard of it." Balthus shrugged. "But you got a Relic too! Hell yeah, man!"

"Wait...I understand now." Constance stroked her chin. "The four of us are rather unique. To think there would be a Relic out there that would synchronize with Yuri's crest. Fascinating!"

"Don't go blurting it out now." Yuri chided Constance. "But yeah, it came in pretty handy towards the end there. And I like how it feels. I think this'll give us a nice edge."

"An edge in what?" Hapi blinked.

"The Battle of the Eagle and Lion, of course!" Yuri smiled. "We're going to be participating, after all. Although, there is something I need to clear with Seteth and Lady Rhea beforehand."

"Whatever are you scheming?" Constance lifted a brow. But Yuri just brought his finger to his lips in a shushing motion. "Ah ah. I don't want to spoil the surprise."

"Just make sure it's a better surprise than what B did." Hapi pointed at Balthus.

"You're just not gonna let it go, are you..." Balthus sighed defeatedly.

As the four of them were talking, they were approached by Aelfric. "There you are. I was looking for you." Since they were all busy in Enbarr, it was only natural that the one looking over them was concerned.

"There's the man of the hour. We stepped out for a bit, sorry we did it so suddenly." Yuri said. "What did you need us for?"

"Don't worry about it. I am simply glad all of you are safe and unharmed." Aelfric shook his head. It was important they were unharmed more than anything else, so he would let the situation pass. "I was speaking with Lady Rhea. There was something she wanted me to ask you all."

.

.

"Well, that was certainly a more eventful day than I was prepared for." Edelgard let out a mildly exhausted sigh. Luckily they managed to avoid actually causing any damage in Enbarr, but it was still an unpleasant experience all the same.

"You're telling me. Hilda wouldn't stop complaining the whole way there." Claude said with a laugh. "But I gotta say, you weren't too bad out there, Princess. I hope you weren't showing off all your tricks, though. Otherwise it wouldn't make you any fun to beat in the Battle of the Eagle and Lion later this month."

To that, Edelgard scoffed. She expected such a comment and was prepared. "I appreciate your concern, Claude. But you have nothing to worry about. I wouldn't dare show my best for something so trivial. You looked to be out of breath by the end of it, though."

To that, Claude laughed. A nice quip back, he had to admit. "You know I'm not one to show my tricks that easily. I suspect you're much the same. It'll be really fun to take you down."

"Your imagination is truly your greatest asset." Edelgard replied while rolling her eyes. She would not allow herself to be provoked by Claude so easily.

"Rare to see you two talking alone." Dimitri approached them, simply out of curiosity. He was unaware of their outing with the others, but that hardly mattered to him anyway.

"Feeling lonely?" Claude teased. "We were just talking about the upcoming mock battle. It would be a shame to not have our third opponent involved."

"Worry not, the Blue Lions have no intention of losing." Dimitri said calmly. The competitive aspect did push him to win, but it manifested differently from the others. "I am eager to see what the two of you are able to bring to the table, however."

"Likewise." Edelgard replied. "Bring your best. It would not be worthwhile defeating foes who are holding back."

"You took the words right out of my mouth." Claude said while placing his hands behind his head, already beginning to walk off. "Anyway, I'm gonna take a rest now. Long day. I'll be seeing you two." With that, Claude was already off, leaving Edelgard and Dimitri alone for the time being.

"There he goes." Dimitri said. His gaze then turned to Edelard. "Regardless, there was something I was hoping to ask you, Edelgard?"

"Oh?" Edelgard lifted a brow, looking at Dimitri. "If you're going to ask what I have planned for the Battle, I'm afraid you're going to have very little success."

To that, Dimitri shook his head. "No, nothing like that. It's actually a question I've had for quite a while now. I just never had the opportunity to ask, and it feels like a rather sensitive topic."

"You can ask, and I will let you know if it is or not." Edelgard replied. Dimitri came across as a worry wort more of the time, so the question he wanted to ask could've been something simple.

"Very well." Dimitri cleared his throat. "Ahem. Forgive me if this is stepping over my boundaries, but was your hair not brown at one point?"

Edelgard's eyes widened slightly. Her expression immediately stiffened up from it. Of all the things he could've asked, it had to be that? "...It was. But...how did you know that?"

Dimitri's expression was one of faint shock in response to her question. "I just recall seeing it once when I was younger..."

"...I wouldn't remember if we met once before." Edelgard replied while shaking her head.

Sensing her discomfort, Dimitri relented. Even if she didn't say much, it said all he needed to know. "I see. I apologize if my question made you uncomfortable. I'll be going now." With this, Dimitri made his exit, leaving Edelgard to stew in his words.

"...How did he know that...?" That question was going to bother her for a while now. She could easily ask, but she also had no intention of explaining her circumstances to him. That was a vulnerability reserved only for a select few people: Hubert and now Byleth. The last thing she needed was someone taking advantage of this. "No use thinking about it now. I have more important things to focus on now..."

.

.

Byleth was sitting in Jeralt's office once again. She was simply staring at the Sword of the Creator, and Sothis appeared next to her. "You did nothing wrong, you know." Sothis said calmly.

"I know." Byleth replied. "Still, knowing that those beasts can be people, and that Rhea knows that...I don't know what ot do with that information."

"She has her reasons, I'm sure." That's all Sothis could only really say. "You didn't show any regret killing people before."

"It's not regret. I mean...I don't think it is. This is new to me." Byleth admits. This is a strange sensation. Ever since arriving at Garreg Mach, she's been having to navigate strange emotions unfamiliar to her.

"It is only natural to feel this way." Sothis shook her head. "And worry not, I am here to help you navigate through it all. You would be lost without me." She said with a haughty tone.

"Maybe so. You're always there for me." Byleth responds. Her lips were turned upwards very slightly. This was the first time that Sothis actually noticed it, however.

"Ah ha! Is that a smile I spot on you? I never thought I'd see the day! Though it is very faint." Sothis leaned close to observe it. "One can barely see it. But I would have assumed your face was made of stone if I did not know you, so it is progress."

"Um. Thank you...?" Byleth wasn't really sure how to respond to that. But before that conversation could continue, there was a knock at the door. It was open and it was just Monica slipping through. "Monica?"

"Hello, Professor! I was looking for you." Monica said with a smile. "Your father, erm...Jeralt, said I could probably find you in here. Am I disturbing you?"

"No, not at all." Byleth shakes her head. "I can use this chance to apologize, too..."

"You don't have to apologize." Monica shook her head. "In fact, I should be thanking you for what you did."

"Thanking me...?" Byleth blinked.

"I know my father didn't deserve that sort of fate." Monica shook her head. "It was for the best, although I do wish things went differently. It can't be helped now...so you put his soul to rest."

"I see..." Byleth nodded slowly.

"Do you care about your father?" Monica asked, out of the blue.

"Yes." Byleth said slowly. "I don't really remember much when I was younger, but he's always been there for me. I don't know how to express it much, but I do care about him."

"It sounds like he cares about you, too." Monica said with a smile, hands behind her back. It was hard to get Byleth to admit much early on, but now that she was opening up, getting a read on her was getting a bit easier. So Monica was able to learn more about her target. "I won't bother you for much longer. Thank you for helping my father, Professor Byleth." With that, Monica gave a respectful nod and left.

"That's an odd girl, but I think she means well." Sothis pointed out.

"Mhm. I'm glad we were able to save her at least." Byleth replied. Little did most know, however, that a plot concocted to make her suffer was being brewed by Monica's own hands...