Byleth was sat by the pond in Garreg Mach Monastery. The sun was slowly rising and the light glistened upon its waters. He could make out a silhouette of a giant fish swimming beneath the surface. He was content and at peace. It felt like he was home. He then felt his hand shift beside him. It was currently held by Edelgard in her school uniform, who curled her legs to the side as she rested against Byleth. She bounced their hands up and down on her lap with a warm smile on her face.
"Do you miss moments like this?" Edelgard asked softly as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"More than anything," Byleth whispered with a small smile. Edelgard looked out to the pond again and spotted the giant fish swimming by.
"Do you remember the day you caught that?" Edelgard asked as she pointed it out to him.
"I do. There were so many smiling faces that day," He whispered. She squeezed their interlocked hands as her smile grew.
"You were the cause of many of those smiles. I don't recall ever seeing you laugh as you did that day," Edelgard spoke wistfully. Byleth remembered that day fondly. It was one he cherished. A day where all students were together in unity. There were no different houses. No battles. No war. Just smiles, laughter and peace.
"Indeed professor. It was refreshing to see someone like you be able to enjoy yourself," Ferdinand's voice called out behind him. And just like that, Byleth's smile was gone.
"I-It was fun... it made me glad I left my room," Bernadetta called out next.
"I suppose it wasn't too bothered that I was interrupted from my nap that day," Lindhart was also there. He knew all of the Black Eagles were behind him.
"I didn't not enjoy it. Your footwork was impressive," Felix suddenly complimented.
"There was so much fish to eat that day. Ooh, my stomach was ready to burst!" Raphael bellowed with a laugh.
"It was such a wonderful day. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making it even more memorable!" Flayn's cheerful voice called out.
"They are all here, my Byleth. Wearing those same smiles," Edelgard said as she pulled herself up to look over his shoulder at them. "Take a look."
Byleth did not look back. For he knew what he would see. He would see his past failures as a teacher. The times he made mistakes that cost lives. Mistakes he did not want to see ever again.
"What's wrong professor? Not happy to see us?" Caspar called out.
"Did I do something wrong? I tried my best though! I really did!" Annette sounded distraught. Byleth lowered his head.
"Look at me! Don't ignore me after what you've done! How could you betray Jeralt like that!" Leonie shouted in a rage. Hadn't he suffered enough? Why did they keep coming?
"Hey, man up and just look," Shamir's firm voice snapped at him.
"I'm sorry... I really am a burden to anyone who gets close to me," Marianne whimpered as he heard her begin to sob.
"You taught us to face our fears and not hide from our mistakes," Edelgard suddenly spoke, lifting a hand to Byleth's face to tilt his chin up and face her. She gave him a loving smile. Goddess, he could get lost in her lilac eyes.
"I can't... I can't any more... it hurts too much," He whispered back with a shuddering breath.
"I can't say I blame you. I dread to think how many stand behind me," Edelgard turned to face the pond again.
"Kid!" A voice shouted behind him which caused him to gasp out loud. It was his father's! Byleth against his better judgement quickly got to his feet and spun around. He wished he didn't. There were all his students exactly as he remembered them back at the academy.
Exactly how they all died.
Dorothea with an arrow through her eye from one death and her chest clawed open from another. Half of Shamir was burnt straight to the bone. Bernadetta's head was removed from the neck. She held it by the hair in her hands. In the middle of them all stood Jeralt. The open wound Kronya gave him on his side spilt blood as if it just happened.
"You can't hide from this forever. Hell, I couldn't run from Garreg Mach either," Jeralt explained with a shrug. Byleth wanted to say something but was taken aback by a flash of orange. Suddenly Garreg Mach was in flames all around him. All of his students were engulfed in the blaze as they stood there silently watching him. Byleth ran toward his father, reaching out his hand to desperately grab a hold of him. But as soon as his fingers touched him, Jeralt fell apart into ash. He quickly looked around at all his students and friends as they blew apart into ash all around him. The ash flew in a circle and began to form together once more. From the ground up it began to form a person, from boots to legs to torso and finally the head. When it was finished, Byleth couldn't help but stop and stare. It was him, a being created by ash. But the eyes were much colder. Uncaring. Void of all emotions. In it's hand a replica of the Sword of the Creator dripped with a black blood-like substance.
"I told you Byleth," A familiar distorted voice called out behind him. The sound of the voice sent a burst of fury through his body. He turned around and reached for his sword which wasn't there. Standing in her foreboding plate armour was Edelgard as the Flame Emperor. "It is I who will reforge this world."
The sight of the Flame Emperor brought back all the memories of what the Agarthans had done during the Academy days. Flayn's kidnapping. Remire Village. The monsters around the abandoned chapel. Byleth saw red as he charged for her. He reached out a hand and suddenly was jolted to a stop in front of her. She let out a pained gasp as the Flame Emperor's armour blew away like dust from Edelgard's form. She stared back with wide tearful eyes as she tried to speak. Byleth looked down to realise that suddenly in his hand was the Sword of the Creator.
Which was currently skewered through Edelgard's chest.
"Wait... wait no..." Byleth shook his head as the rage within was quickly extinguished and let go of the blade. He staggered back in shock at what he had done. Edelgard gave a weak smile at him as a trickle of blood went down from the corner of her mouth.
"My Byleth... it was always going to end this way."
88888888
Byleth jolted upright with a dagger in his hand. His hand was held in place by the wrist as he saw Yuri knelt beside him. What the hell happened? Where was he?
"You know the dagger is supposed to be in your pocket if I was to make the guess if you were happy to see me," Yuri said with a smirk before letting go of Byleth's wrist. Byleth finally got his bearings as he looked around. It was nightfall and they were at a small camp in the woods located on the eastern side of Riegen territory. They were still heading north toward Edmund's lands to find clues of Marianne's disappearance. Thankful that the mistakes of his past were no longer haunting him he put his dagger back into it's scabbard. "Get yourself ready, we'll be moving in a bit."
Byleth nodded and got to his feet. He looked around the small camp. Hapi and Lysithea were drinking from wooden cups by the campfire as Yuri went to join them. He noticed one missing person, however. "Where's Constance?"
"By the nearby pond. Probably getting cleaned up," Hapi answered with a shrug. Byleth thanked her with a nod and began to make his way through the trees for the pond.
"Hey! What if she's changing, Professor? I'd have thought you more dignified than a peeping tom!" Lysithea suddenly called out in disgust and anger.
"They're banging so he gets a pass," Hapi dryly replied.
"W-WHAT?!" Lysithea shrieked out with wide eyes and mouth agape. What else was said Byleth couldn't hear as he continued his trek through the trees. It didn't take long until he reached the pond, stepping around a bush. Constance was sitting on a rock next to the pond just pulling the last boot up her leg with a sigh. Her hair was still damp as she grabbed the headband beside her and put it in her hair. She finally turned to see Byleth.
"Ah, you're awake. Good, we're already running a bit late," Constance said with a smile. Byleth looked to the ground with a light frown on his face.
"Sorry," He simply said. There was a silence between the two after that. The sound of the insects in the darkness filled the void. Constance slowly got to her feet, looking away from Byleth.
"W-well, I'll leave you to get yourself clean then. Just because we're prancing around in the woods doesn't mean we can afford to neglect personal hygiene," Constance held her head up high and went to make her exit, walking past Byleth. But she was brought to a stop when Byleth gently grabbed her wrist.
"...We need to talk," Byleth finally said. Constance wanted to pull her hand away. She wanted to avoid this conversation at all costs. But she knew she shouldn't prolong it any longer. It wasn't fair on her or him. "...Things haven't been the same since Myrddin."
"...No, they haven't," Constance kept her head down and voice level.
"I've... not been fair to you. I..." Byleth struggled to find the words to say but he couldn't. He did not know what to say. He had never been in a situation like this before. Hell, he never expected to feel anything in his life before. Even now after suppressing them for five years since Garreg Mach, all of these emotions still felt new to him. He didn't want to say the wrong thing that would do irreparable damage. Why was this so hard? How could anyone live with these feelings? Why was it so crippling?
"I love you...," Constance suddenly said. Byleth turned to face Constance in surprise, only to see her back to him. That was the first time she had said that to him. She let out a humourless chuckle. "I'm sure there were a lot of girls that felt the same way too back then. It took me until now to finally say it. How pathetic can I get?"
"You are not pathetic," Byleth said, gently squeezing her wrist.
"How could I not after everything you've done?" Constance slowly lifted her head up with a sigh. "But it doesn't matter how I feel."
She finally turned around to face Byleth and he felt his un-beating heart break. She smiled back at him as streaks of tears trailed down her cheeks. "Because I know you don't love me."
Byleth wanted to reach forward and wipe her tears away. He wanted to say anything to make her feel better. To say that she was wrong. But she wasn't. Byleth knew it. Constance knew it. His heart yearned for another. It yearned for the person who created a war that had turned Fódlan on its head. If anyone was pathetic it was him.
"I... I'm..." Byleth shook his head in frustration. Damn it why was this so hard? He was better than this! Constance could see the inner turmoil in Byleth's eyes. So she sucked in her breath and reached out her other hand to his cheek.
"You don't have to say anything. Just... let us have this as a nice memory okay. Before we go our separate ways. Before we're back to professor and student," Constance forced herself to keep smiling despite the pain in her heart. "And... let me have this last thing."
She leaned forward and pressed her lips onto his. It wasn't like the previous kisses they had, which were fueled by desire. She moved the hand from his cheek to thread her fingers in his hair. He could feel the love Constance was putting into it. Giving him the love she so dearly wished he returned. It was selfish of her but he didn't mind. He let her have this one last moment. But as she finally pulled away her words rang in his mind. Back to professor and student.
"I should go... the others are waiting," Constance finally said as she wiped the tears from her face. She turned in a hurry to walk away. Professor and student... It sounded wrong. He did not want that.
"Wait!" He pulled her back harder than he planned, causing her to stagger back around to face him with wide eyes. "I don't want that."
"W-what?" Constance stuttered at Byleth's sudden intensity.
"I don't want to go back to how we were before. I want us to be more than that," Byleth shook his head and looked Constance in the eye. She could see the inner turmoil was gone, replaced with certainty and confidence. "I know I can't return the feelings you have for me. But I care about you more than I would as a teacher to a student. You've been there for me more than the other Ashen Wolves have. You held me up and supported me and I hope you feel that I have done the same for you. To go back to how it was back in the academy... feels like I'm losing all of that and I don't want that."
"Byleth..." Constance's lip started to quiver as more tears began to form.
"To me, you are more than that. You are my best friend and I care about you," Byleth moved his grip down to her hand, holding it with both hands. "I know this is selfish. You have every right to hate me for this. But I've already lost so much... I don't want to lose you either."
Constance fell to her knees and pressed her head against his hands. Unable to hold back now, she let out her cries and allowed the tears to flow. Byleth didn't know what to do as she held a vice grip on his hand. He wanted to hug her but did not know if that would make her feel worse. He felt so helpless as he stood there. So all he could do was squeeze her hand back and apologise. They remained there for a few minutes until her sobs had quietened down. Eventually, she let go of his hand, and he let go of hers.
"I'm... going to need some time Byleth," Constance finally said as she slowly got to her feet. Byleth slowly nodded his head. "But afterwards... I would like us to be best friends."
Constance smiled at him with her eyes shut and suddenly let out a haughty laugh. "Besides, you promised to help me with my experiments! My little guinea pig assistance to help rebuild House Nuvelle!"
"...That's true. I did agree," Byleth gave a small smile in return. He could tell she was forcing it for his sake. He knew she was still hurting and putting on a brave face.
"That's right. There's no backing out either, ohohohohoho!" She lifted a bent hand to her mouth as she laughed. How was it she was braver than him? To go through those emotions and still force a smile, when he was left speechless under his own feelings. He had to be stronger than this. Not just for himself, but for all he held near and dear. And he will be stronger. So that no one would have to force a smile on their face for his sake. So that their smiles would be genuine. So that he could protect their smiles.
88888888
A few hours had gone by as they rode on in silence in the night. Constance was up near the front riding next to Yuri. Hapi rode behind them with Byleth sharing with Lysithea at the back of the group. Byleth couldn't hear from where he was but he knew Constance and Yuri were talking, no doubt the wolves leader checking in on their pack. He hoped Yuri wouldn't hate him for what he had done.
"So... things were awkward between you and Constance when you came back. Are you... okay?" Lysithea suddenly asked, looking up at him as he kept his horse at a steady pace at the rear of the group.
"Things will be okay. She'll be okay in time," Byleth answered, keeping his gaze ahead. Riding in the night through a forest posed a few challenges for sight. But they couldn't risk being spotted by anyone hunting him down.
"I asked if you were okay," Lysithea frowned as she nudged him with her elbow. Byleth let out a sigh. She was as perceptive as always.
"I don't think I've been okay for the past five years. But... things have gotten a little bit better in the last year. But that was thanks to the Ashen Wolves," Byleth explained. He tried to listen out for any of the wildlife. Not wanting to stumble on a bear's trail by accident.
"So before that... were you really alone?" She continued to probe.
"Yes. Completely and utterly alone," Byleth confirmed. A fact in hindsight he wasn't proud of.
"Well, it's no wonder you're doing a little better. Now that you have friends to hear out your burdens and worries. Being alone is awful... I should know," she let her gaze fall from the former professor as memories of being locked away in a dark dungeon flashed in her mind. Where all of her siblings died from the horrific experiments inflicted upon them. Where children were torn open by the dark mages in black.
"You weren't alone these five years were you?" Byleth then asked, wondering what she did after the academy.
"Of course not. I had my family after all. However, there were a number of months when I didn't see anyone from the Golden Deer. Raphael and Ignatz would visit together, and I would see Lorenz, Claude and Hilda when our families would meet. But the war has made everyone busy," Lysithea explained as she looked ahead into the dark forest. "Leonie I haven't seen much. Too busy travelling around Leicester battling against evil-doers or helping Claude."
"And Marianne?" Byleth was worried about the answer he would get. He remembered how downcast she would be and at worst a shell of a person. He waited for a response but Lysithea did not answer. "Lysithea... How was Marianne?"
"I don't know," She snapped back at him. She shook her head in anger and clenched her hands together. "We wrote to each other but after a while, she stopped responding. The last letter I got back was her wishing that..."
"Wishing what?" Byleth felt a lump in his throat, fearing the answer.
"That the Goddess would take her..." It was worse than he thought. It brought more disturbing questions into this mission now. Were they looking for a missing girl or searching for-
"I was so scared. I know that I'm quite... blunt when I try to get my message across, but what if my words had more of a negative effect on her? What if it was me that pushed her to... I was trying to help! I didn't want to make things worse!" Lysithea started to hyperventilate. Byleth quickly wrapped one arm around her and pulled her close to him in a hug.
"Hey hey, we can't know that. And you can't jump to those conclusions. Marianne is your friend. She's known you long enough to know that you aren't a cruel person," Byleth spoke soothingly to the young girl. "She knows you care about her."
"I just... I wish I could have done more! Like actually visit her. Claude said that Marianne was okay when he visited Edmund lands on alliance business. But that was a long while ago..." Lysithea rested her head on his chest as she took shaky breaths.
"It's scary not knowing. But that's why we're here now. We are going to find her now. And if people have kidnapped her, we take them all out," Byleth patted her on the back to try and comfort her. He was determined to find Marianne. He could not fail them again.
"Just... take my mind off of it then. Talk about something," she rubbed one of her eyes with her hand as she tried to control her breathing.
"...about what?" Byleth drew a blank when he was put on the spot.
"Ugh, anything! I don't care. Like... why do you have your sword wrapped up on her back?" Lysithea then pointed out. Byleth looked over his shoulder to the white cloth-wrapped handle of the Sword of the Creator.
"It's a heroes relic. They are quite noticeable compared to other weapons. I've had to keep it hidden so people wouldn't be able to point me out in a crowd. At this point, it's as part of my identity as Thunderbrand is to Catherine," Byleth missed using it. It was a very useful blade and gave him many advantages in battle. He felt handicapped for a long time after switching back to other swords, but it was for the best if he wanted to stay hidden, and it definitely wasn't going to leave his sight.
"That must also explain the hair dye too?" Lysithea looked up at the black hair on Byleth's head.
"Yeah, but it doesn't stay that way for long. The green keeps breaking through it. I'm tired of having to re-dye it," Byleth sighed as she shook his head, feeling his hair flick side to side.
"So much has happened to you. I imagine you certainly didn't expect your life to go the way it had?" Lysithea let out a sigh of her own, her breathing under control again. He was glad that he took her mind off the worst-case scenarios. He looked over his shoulder at the wrapped heroes relic again. He for sure, did not expect his life to turn out the way it did. Some would argue that fate played a part in it. Though he disagreed with the idea of fate, if it did have a hand in directing his life, it would be the day he grabbed a hold of the Sword of the Creator.
88888888
The Rite of Rebirth would soon begin. Byleth was making his way through the dining hall towards the reception hall, where he had told his Black Eagles to meet him. All the information he had from his investigations led to one conclusion. The enemy intends to break into the Holy Mausoleum. What was there he did not know. But it was the one place that would be open to the public once a year. Archbishop Rhea would be in the Goddess Tower where the security would be heaviest. All because of the letter plotting her assassination. Diverting most of their resources to her defence than other areas. It was obvious the target was always the Holy Mausoleum and Edelgard agreed.
"You do a lot of running around for that arrogant one you know?" Sothis's voice rang in his head.
"We've all done our part looking around. It's not like she's giving me orders. The whole class was working together," He answered as he looked around the dining hall.
"Most of the class. The sleepy one did not participate much. And if the beautiful one didn't take the recluse with her she'd never leave her room," The dining hall was empty. He couldn't see anyone passing by through the windows outside either.
"They have names you know," he commented as he reached the double doors.
"And you are the stubborn one," Sothis teased. He could picture the smug grin on her face. He shook his head and pushed open the doors to the reception hall. He could see the gathering of his students waiting for him.
"What do you think? Do you agree with our conclusion?" Byleth spoke quietly as he slowly made his way towards them. He noticed there were a few extra students with the Black Eagles.
"With the information you have gathered, I would have to agree with you. It all adds up that the Mausoleum would be the intended target," Sothis sighed. Byleth nodded his head as he approached his students. Standing with them were a few of the Golden Deer. Claude, Hilda, Marianne and Lysithea. He could see the annoyed look on Edelgard's face and could only assume Claude was getting a rise out of her.
"Professor there you are," Ferdinand called out with a wave and a smile.
"We're all here ready for some action!" Caspar threw his fist into the air with a big grin on his face.
"Well, looks like you've got your students fired up Teach. They all seem to know where the enemy is meant to be," Claude commented as he took a few steps towards Byleth with his hands on his hips.
"We have a theory," Byleth crossed his arms as he eyed Claude suspiciously.
"The Holy Mausoleum right?" Claude nodded his head with a grin.
"I apologise, my teacher, Caspar had no restraint," Edelgard apologised with a hand to her forehead as she stepped to his side.
"Well, do you disagree?" Byleth questioned, interested to hear what the famed schemer of the students had to say.
"On the contrary, I entirely agree. Last night, I imagined myself as the enemy and prowled around the monastery. That's when Master Thief Claude came across something interesting..." Claude as he crossed his arms behind his head with a smirk.
"Master Thief? Please..." Hubert commented behind Byleth. It would appear the Black Eagles fell in behind the professor.
"What I found last night was a sealed coffin in the underground Holy Mausoleum. I did some research, and the only time you can easily get in and out of that place is during the Rite of Rebirth. And because of that alleged assassination plot, it has even thinner defences than usual. It's all too clear," Claude explained as he tapped the side of his head, keeping his gaze on Byleth.
"I'm impressed Claude. I'm even willing to ignore the fact you broke into a secure location before it was open to the public," Byleth spoke in a deadpan voice.
"That's so generous of you professor," Hilda bowed her head with a big smile.
"You really shouldn't professor. Otherwise, he'll just continue to take advantage," Lysithea grumbled with her arms crossed.
"Unfortunately as much as I would love to head down there with you, our class has been assigned to the armoury," Claude sighed as she shrugged his shoulders.
"The armoury holds many old artefacts of historic value. Some are suggested to hold great power within them too. I have always wanted to study what they contain but the Knights won't let me through," Lindhart commented. It was probably the most awake Byleth had heard him.
"So that's when I came up with an idea," Claude then stepped to the side and motioned towards Lysithea and Marianne. "Since we're both so sure of the true target. I thought you'd be better suited to have a little extra help. Don't let her childish demeanour fool you, Lysithea is quite the firecracker."
"I'm not childish! Ugh!" Lysithea stamped her foot on the ground and her fists clenched.
"And Marianne's faith magic in healing has kept my Deer out of trouble, but she can use that same faith to defend herself too," Claude patted his hand on Marianne's shoulder. She kept her gaze down and her hands clasped together.
"I...uhm..." She quietly spoke. She was clearly uncomfortable with the attention. Byleth could see the dark shadow under her eyes as well. He had seen a few people like this during his mercenary days. There was a clear lack of self-esteem and confidence in her. He hoped that Claude saw the signs too.
"Before you arrived Professor I was trying to tell Claude that we are capable enough on our own to deal with the threat when it comes," Edelgard sighed and crossed her arms with a frown. "And as always Claude doesn't seem to want to listen."
"I would be happy to accept the additional help, Claude. I'll be sure to look after them as if they were my own," Byleth immediately answered surprising everyone
"P-professor?" Edelgard stuttered in shock as she turned her head to him. Byleth stepped forward to the two girls with his hands cupped behind his back.
"Manuela has spoken highly of both of your capabilities. I know the two of you would be great assets to this mission. From your determination..." He looked to Lysithea who blinked her eyes in surprise and smiled proudly with a nod. "...to your faith in the Goddess."
He took a step toward Marianne who almost shrunk under his gaze. He gently placed his hand on her shoulder. He needed her to have enough confidence to get her through the mission. He already planned to keep her at the back of the formation, away from the dangers of the front lines. But if she was to fight alongside him then she needed to trust him as her leader. "If you could ask the Goddess to watch over us, I'll make sure to watch over you. Is that okay Marianne?"
Marianne slowly looked up to Byleth but quickly dropped her gaze. "But... I'm a..."
"Hmm?" Byleth couldn't hear the rest of her comment as she grew more quiet. Marianne's issues seemed to run far deeper than he thought. With Bernadetta, she was someone who was completely happy to live her life as a recluse in her room. But the young girl before him now... he began to wonder when the last time she was happy.
"I'll... do my best," She finally said, her bangs covering her eyes as she nodded. "Goddess... watch over us."
"That's all I ask," Byleth nodded his head and took a step back from her. "Both of you fall in with my class. Eagles, make them feel welcomed."
"Don't worry ladies. We'll be sure to keep you safe," Ferdinand promised with a nod.
"Yeah they'll have to get through us before they get close to you," Caspar cheered.
"Must you be so loud Caspar," Lindhart complained with a shake of his head.
"Don't mind the boys. We're happy to have you," Dorothea smiled warmly as she motioned them to the other girls.
"I am looking forward in working with you," Petra nodded with a smile. Byleth was happy the group was accepting. Well, most of them. He looked over to Edelgard who looked put off by his decision. He would have to have words with her later.
"Make sure you return them unharmed Teach, you hear?" Claude wrapped one arm around Byleth's shoulder with a smile on his face and pulled him close. Byleth frowned at the contact but could see in Claude's eyes the threat hidden beneath. It seemed that Claude was very protective of his classmates.
"I promise they won't be harmed," Byleth said as he faced Claude's unspoken threat with his own resolve.
"Thanks, Teach," Claude patted his shoulder before releasing him, seemingly satisfied with his answer.
"Let's go, Claude. The others are waiting for us," Hilda reminded him as she poked him in the back.
"Yeah yeah. See you two after the mission. Don't stay up past your bedtime Lysithea," Claude waved at his two classmates as he turned to leave with Hilda.
"I'm not a child Claude!" Lysithea shouted. Byleth could have sworn he felt static electricity in the air coming from the small girl.
"I hope you are right Claude. Cause then I won't have to do any fighting tonight," Hilda commented as the two made their way up the reception hall and out of earshot from Byleth.
"Ugh he drives me so mad!" Lysithea seethed with her arms crossed. Byleth turned to face her.
"He cares about you more than you know," Byleth answered honestly, then looked to Marianne who had her head up. "Both of you."
Lysithea looked like she wanted to argue, but under the gaze of Byleth, she turned her head away in a huff. Marianne lowered her head again but for the briefest moment, Byleth noticed the corners of her mouth curl upward ever so slightly.
"So. Are we going to move forward with our plan?" Hubert then asked, looking a little impatient.
"I believe so. I would ask how confident you are in our theory professor, but if Claude came to the same conclusion then I know we aren't wrong," Edelgard stepped forward and looked up at Byleth with a nod.
"No one's intuition is perfect. It could go either way," Lindhart commented with a shake of his head.
"Oh, I don't like those odds at all..." Bernadetta whined from behind Dorothea.
"You seem a mite too relaxed for my liking," A new voice called out. Byleth and the students turned to see Seteth approaching with Flayn in tow. While Seteth gave a judgemental glare to the professor, Flayn was the opposite and gave him a wave with a big cheerful smile on her face. "The Goddess's Rite of Rebirth is about to begin. While we are in the Goddess Tower, we rely on you to secure the locations lacking in defence."
Byleth had been here for over three months and was getting tired of Seteth's attitude toward him. He was about to open his mouth and say something when Flayn skipped over to him and pulled on his sleeve.
"May I let you in on something, Professor? My brother can be a bit... callous," Flayn suddenly admitted, causing Seteth to gasp out in shock at the little girl. "He told me that he was concerned about you, and hinted that perhaps you would be better off patrolling a coffin!"
"That was said in jest, Flayn. And in confidence!" Seteth covered his face with his hand as he took a deep breath. "Please just remain by my side and do not cause any more trouble."
He turned his attention back at Byleth with a frown. "As a professor, you would do well to remember that you must guide your students down the path of righteousness."
"Please excuse us, everyone. We shall see you again after the ceremony has concluded!" Flayn grabbed Seteth by the arm and pulled him along. Turning back a moment later to wave again at the group.
"She is such a precious girl," Dorothea chuckled as she waved back at Flayn.
"A coffin. How fascinating," Hubert smirked as he eyed Edelgard. She nodded her head to him and turned back to the professor.
"Hurry, professor. We must find a place to hide where we can guard the stairs to the Holy Mausoleum. If the enemy moves as predicted, we should be able to cut off their escape path and capture every last one of them," Edelgard implored as she stepped in front of Byleth again.
"Agreed and I know just where we can hide. Let's move," Byleth waved his hand, beckoning his students to follow as he made his way towards the Cathedral where the entrance to the Holy Mausoleum was. The students whispered to one another as they walked. Some were in excitement while others were nervous. But they were quiet enough that Byleth allowed them to continue. He looked down to his right to see Edelgard walking alongside him. The two were ahead of the group, far enough that they could have their quiet conversation. Which giving the occasional side glances Edelgard gave him, he knew she wanted.
"... My Teacher?" she finally spoke as they approached the main hall.
"You oppose the help I accepted," He stated that as a fact more than a question. Edelgard frowned and looked off to the side.
"I recognise the talents those two possess. I wouldn't be opposed to the idea of having Lysithea in particular join the Black Eagles permanently," Edelgard admitted truthfully.
"Why Lysithea?" Byleth asked as they continued towards the double doors at the end of the hall.
"...There are personal reasons," Edelgard carefully worded. Byleth only grew more curious but didn't question it further. He didn't have the time to discuss that when they were heading for a certain battle.
"Okay, so why oppose the help offered?" he eventually asked as he pushed open the double doors leading to the bridge to the Cathedral. Edelgard huffed and crossed her arms.
"Because it was Claude that offered. We haven't needed the help of other houses before. We've completed missions without anyone getting seriously hurt so I don't see why we needed it now," Edelgard looked up at Byleth with a frown. Which quickly softened when she saw the intensity of the glare he had as he stared at the ground in front of him.
"If only she knew..." Sothis mused as memories of a dead Lindhart and Ferdinand flashed before his eyes. The sight of Edelgard choking on her blood that bubbled from her mouth.
"Professor? Have... have you lost faith in us?" Edelgard had not seen such an expression on his face before.
"So you would turn down help you recognise as beneficial over pride?" Byleth snapped at the head student, taking her by surprise. "I've seen great people with all the potential in the world waste it all because of pride. I've seen prideful people be the cause of not only their downfall but the downfall of all of their followers too. Pride in battle is nothing more than a wasteful death."
He turned to face her with his glare and she took a step away in surprise. The two stopped at the doors to the Cathedral, waiting for the others to catch up. Byleth didn't realise he picked up his pace as they walked across the bridge. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm down. He rubbed his eyes to rid the images of his dead students and looked back down at Edelgard. "You're an exceptional student Edelgard. Don't let pride be your downfall."
Edelgard was left stumped as Byleth turned and pushed open the doors to the Cathedral. Again Byleth challenged her way of thinking without a care for her position. He talked down to her like he would anyone else. She felt a mix of emotions because of this mercenary-turned-professor. He was blunt to a fault. Wouldn't let anyone sway him from his ideals. And wouldn't mince words with her. But underneath that all was the care he had for her and her classmates. He cared for their success in the future. He said she was an exceptional student, but could he not see that he was an exceptional teacher?
She felt a warmth in her chest as she watched him walk into the Cathedral. The need to have him under the Empire's banner. The desire to learn more from him.
Suddenly she felt her shoulder bumped into and turned to face her scared purple-haired classmate. "Ah! I'm sorry Lady Edelgard! Please don't hurt me!"
"Bernadetta I'm not going to hurt you. The fault was mine," Edelgard sighed and rubbed her brow with her finger and thumb.
"Oh no, you're mad at me. I'll return to my room so you never see-"
"Bernie we have a mission to do. So let's keep quiet shall we?" Dorothea grabbed Bernadetta by the shoulders and gently pushed her along.
"A mission and an angry Lady Edelgard? I'm going to die today I just know it!" Bernadetta quietly lamented as they entered the Cathedral.
"Are you coming? Lady Edelgard?" Petra asked as she stood beside her. Edelgard nodded her head with a smile, putting away the thoughts and feelings she felt about the professor for later. The group quickly caught up with the Professor as they prepared for the mission before them.
Little did they know of the bloodshed they were about to endure.
A/N: It took a while but here is the first part of the Holy Mausoleum flashback. The students have no idea what's waiting for them there.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Will try to get the next one out a little quicker!