Ever since Bylass was a child, she had dreamt of a great war between two massive armies. The battlefield was soaked with the blood of fallen warriors as swords clashed together and clanged against shields. In the center of the melee, a man dressed in black armor with golden eyes laughed as he spun his weapon around like a whip, cutting down any enemy that came near. His face was twisted in battle lust and conjured an image of a Demon to her mind.
Facing him was a woman with long green hair, wearing a suit of white armor that shone in the fading sunlight. Her scowl deepened as she advanced and tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword. Blow after blow, their weapons connected in mid-air, and sparks flew from each impact. Neither could gain an advantage until the woman finally managed to disarm him, causing an expression of surprise to appear on his face. Before he could react further, she pounced and plunged a dagger into his chest multiple times before twisting it out again. Then the nightmare faded away, replaced by Sothis sitting on a throne, her eyes slowly opened from sleep and that is where the dream always ended.
However, in the last 2 years, she had not seen those visions anymore, it was replaced by something far more unusual. Instead of two massive armies clashing with one another, there was only a single man, standing against an overwhelming force that seemed destined for his defeat. His ashen hair and golden eyes shone brightly amid battle even though fear did not shine from them. He charged forward with sword in hand, skillfully cutting through every soldier that faced him until none remained. Fire erupted from within his blade, scorching the ground as each foe screamed in terror before meeting their demise. But when all was said and done, the man didn't exhibit any sense of victory. His head hung low, and his shoulders sagged as if carrying an invisible burden. Dark clouds filled the sky and Bylass heard him speak for the first time.
"Tell me, was it worth it, all of this?" The sorrowful words filled the air, weighing down the atmosphere.
"You said this was our only choice if we ever wanted to make a difference in this cursed world. But at what cost did I try to free us? Countless innocent people were taken away because of my actions. People who had no part in the wrongs that were done to us. And even worse, many of those I killed were my former friends who even in their darkest hour never raised a hand against me despite everything that happened."
Raindrops mixed with his tears and slid down his cheeks as he began to laugh hysterically. It was a sorrowful sound, full of joy, guilt, and regret.
"It's funny, isn't it? After everything I've done, why am I still craving for something that no longer exists?" His laugh continued and yet tears kept streaming from his cheeks. "Why must I be the only one who has to suffer this alone?"
Bylass looked at him in confusion - although she couldn't recognize the man, there was something so familiar about him. She had a sudden urge to hold him close and comfort him from the pain he was feeling, something which she had never felt before - except for one person.
Reality hit her like a ton of bricks as her eyes widened in realization. Could this be... But before she could take another look at the man, the dream started to dissipate, and the man vanished into the ashes. Just before waking up an unfamiliar voice echoed in her mind with excruciating guilt.
"Please, save him!"
1st of Garland Moon,1180
Bylass slowly pulled herself out of bed, her eyes bleary with exhaustion from the vivid dream that had plagued her sleep. She shuffled over to the window and saw that the sun was still hidden beneath the horizon, so she took a few moments to ground herself before going to meet with the archbishop. Taking a deep breath, she made a cup of coffee and sat at the table, hoping it would help clear her mind.
"Bylass, are you alright?" Sothis materialized in her room.
"I will manage. Though this is the first time the dream had gotten so vivid." She sipped her cup and looked at Sothis who was hovering slightly above the ground.
"A massive scale of destruction with the two leaders trying to kill each other most brutally. The green-haired woman and the brute with a white beard do look familiar though." Sothis replied.
"Have you ever met them before?"
"Not to my knowledge. Perhaps I did meet them, but my amnesia is preventing me from remembering far more than that. "Sothis put her finger on her chin with a troubled look on her face." However, it seems that I've not seen those visions anymore ever since you stopped dreaming about them."
Bylass stared at her incredulously. "Wait, you mean you could see my dream?"
"Yes, it seems we not only share our birth but also our dreams as well. Anyway, the man with ashen hair in your latest dream- that one gives me the most trouble I would say."
"I agree that dream is peculiar but why do you say so?"
Sothis sighed and shook her head slowly. "I don't know...It's like an unknown sadness and regret overcomes me whenever I think about him. But who was he?"
"Sothis, I know this may sound strange." Bylass stuttered." Do you think that was …?"
"I had the same suspicion too." A look of shock crossed Bylass's face as she put down her cup." However, after thinking it logically, I believe we can rule that out."
"Can you elaborate more?"
"First, there has been no major conflict in this land recently according to your father. Second, if that man was truly him, wouldn't his hair be ashen now instead of blue like yours?"
Bylass let out a relieved sigh and replied. "You are right. Perhaps duties from my profession have made me stressed these days. Let's put that subject away for now."
"Agreed. But at least you had a nice date with him the previous night, didn't you?" Sothis said teasingly.
"Sothis." Bylass groaned.
"I'm stating the fact, Bylass. You both looked like star-crossed lovers that night. Under the shining moon and in the middle of a beautiful field of flowers, a young couple …"
"I will kick your ass one day, bodiless or not." Bylass got up from the table and grabbed her books. Then she quickly rushed out of the room and headed to meet Rhea.
"Try it if you can but let's start the day now, shall we?"
Audience Chamber
"Is this a good idea? Perhaps I should…"
"Normally I would agree with you, but Seteth has made it clear that you must be present." Bylass patted his back reassuringly. "Don't worry; all will be well."
The two of them ventured towards the chamber where Rhea was already awaiting their arrival with the door open.
"Good morning, Professor. I assume you know why I called you here."
"Yes, Lady Rhea. What is the task for this month?"
"We have received reports that Lord Lonato has rallied troops against the Holy Church of Seiros., Seteth explained.
At the mention of this name, Byleth remembered what Ashe had told him and made a mental note to talk to the Blue Lions student later on after they finished with this meeting.
"Why would he do so?" Bylass interjected casually.
"It doesn't matter, anyone who dares to point their blades against the Church must be dealt with. His army pales in comparison to the Knights of Seiros. Perhaps, the rebellion has been suppressed already."
"Even so, I would like your class to travel with the knights' rear guard to deal with the aftermath."
"And make sure to behave yourself properly this time. There will be consequences if you repeat such a barbaric act like last time." Seteth warned sternly.
Before Bylass could respond on his behalf, Byleth answered with determination.
"You won't have anything to worry about, Sir Seteth - my sword is only meant for ridding this world of wickedness, not innocent civilians." Seteth seemed taken aback by his response.
"It's good to hear that you understand now. But I find it strange that you sympathize with these rebels all of a sudden." Byleth clenched his fists and did his best to maintain control over his emotions. Before the situation escalated further, a knight entered the room.
"Lady Rhea, you called for me?"
"This is Catherine- one of our bravest knights." Rhea said proudly." She will be leading the knights whom you will be accompanying." Bylass and Byleth made a quick bow which Catherine smiled politely in return.
"I believe that's all you need to know. May the Goddess bless upon you." They bowed respectfully and left the audience room.
Before Byleth and Bylass could decide their next course of action, Catherine's voice bellowed in the hallway, catching their attention.
"So, you are the newest professor," she began with arms crossed, "I hear that you made a name for yourself around here."
"Or so I've heard., Bylass replied casually.
"And you must be Byleth?" Byleth nodded silently as Catherine suddenly scratched her head." It seems the rumors are quite not exaggerated, you two indeed look similar enough to be twins."
"I guess that can't be avoided then. Many people have also asked the same thing but I'm pretty sure we are not long-lost siblings."
"Understood," Catherine said with a curt nod. "I also heard quite a lot of tales about your capabilities from the knights and Sir Alois as well. I look forward to seeing you two in action for our upcoming task."
"Why don't you join our class for tomorrow's training?" Bylass replied." It would be great for my students to have an experienced knight there to motivate them."
"Thank you, Professor. Then I'll see you tomorrow." Catherine waved her hands and departed, leaving the pair alone in silence.
"What is troubling you, Byleth?" She asked softly.
"I'm worried about Ashe," Byleth admitted hesitantly. "Everything that's been happening must be overwhelming for him."
"He is from Blue Lions, right?" Byleth nodded as Bylass tapped her chin in thought for a few moments before responding, "I'm not sure about this but let me ask Seteth's permission to collaborate with some of the students from the Blue Lions. Perhaps, that could help him a bit instead of staying here and doing nothing."
Relief washed over Byleth as he smiled thankfully, "Thank you, Bylass. Then let's inform our class now."
2nd of Garland Moon, 1180
"Good morning, Edelgard." Bylass said as she surveyed the room." Is everyone here?"
"Yes, Professor. Though I'm surprised we also have some guests here as well." Edelgard looked at Dimitri and Ashe who looked quite composed and gave a polite smile.
"My bad, I forgot to tell you that they would assist us with the upcoming task." Bylass took a glance at her students, most of whom seemed to not disapprove so she took it as a sign of acceptance then she continued.
"I know it's unexpected, but I hope you will treat them equally just like you do with your classmates." Bylass looked at the Dimitri and Ashe." Dimitri, Ashe, I hope you will enjoy your time here at the Black Eagles."
"Thank you, Professor. I promise will not let you down." Dimitri said confidently then looked at the Black Eagles students." Please consider us one of your classmates." Ashe nodded silently beside him with a polite smile which Byleth took notice of and nodded thoughtfully.
"As expected," Ferdinand suddenly piped up, drawing everyone's attention." Not only has the Professor developed a strong bond with her students, but with those from other classes as well! It's quite magnificent indeed!"
"Ferdinand… I don't think this has anything to do with duties of nobility," Byleth replied dryly, trying to drive everyone's focus back on the task at hand.
"I did not expect you would say so, my friend. We must continue our conversation at the tea party sometime. I look forward to hearing more from you, my friend." Suddenly, a few students started to perk their ears and looked at Byleth with a look of surprise on their faces, including Bylass.
"Interesting. Would you tell us what you two were discussing?" Edelgard asked curiously, her eyebrow raised as she fixed Byleth with a curious stare.
"We were first talking about class systems but then conversation soon led to what nobility represents; a very interesting turn of events," Ferdinand began. "Byleth here had a very insightful perspective."
"You flatter me, Ferdinand. It was not that special."
"Now I'm also interested in your thoughts as well." Dimitri pinched his chin." If you don't mind, may I ask what your answer was?"
As Dimitri finished speaking, Byleth awkwardly avoided their gazes and glanced pleadingly at Bylass. Unfortunately, the Professor seemed as interested as the others. He took a deep breath to compose himself before continuing.
"Before we start, would you please repeat your answer first, Ferdinand?"
"Sure. The question is what nobility means to us personally, right?" Byleth nodded for him to continue.
"As the son of Prime Minister of the glorious Empire, I've always tried to live up to the name Aegir given to me by my father and his ancestors. So that one day I can make them proud of the deeds I've done and to better myself as an individual."
"And yet, you still interrupt Lady Edelgard's precious time with your childish envy, Aegir." Hubert grinned sarcastically.
"Don't antagonize him, Hubert." Edelgard coughed." I guess that should be no surprise, especially when coming from you, Ferdinand. Though I admit I can't disagree with that answer."
"Agreed. That sounds like a solid answer to me. Thanks for enlightening us, Ferdinand." Dimitri said politely.
"I'm flattered, Your Highness." Ferdinand nodded then looked at Byleth who seemed to manage a calm aura around him." Now it's your turn, my friend."
Byleth cleared his throat and took a deep breath. He watched as every student in the Training Field straightened, their gazes fixed on him with anticipation. He paused for several moments until finally, he began again. "I believe that nobles are defined by their bonds with family."
The room fell into a heavy silence, some of the students wide-eyed in surprise.
"Though I wouldn't say this is exclusive to the nobles either ever since I got to know everyone here, I could understand why nobles always try to live up to the names they carry. It's because they feel a kinship through the family name they were born with. And that very sense drives them to work as hard as they can to be worthy of the name they carry."
The Training Field was quiet as his words hung in the air. Ferdinand nodded satisfactorily alongside Ashe offering Byleth a polite smile. Even Linhardt, who often felt sleepy, was thoughtfully processing what he said. Edelgard, Dimitri, and Dorothea all stared at Byleth with newfound interest, the latter did not even try to hide her shock which quickly turned into something else as her eyes were gleaming at him which made him confused. However, that would end as Bylass shot Dorothea a harsh glare and made the former songstress recompose herself.
"I believe that's enough for philosophy here, Professor Byleth. I will let you continue this debate in our next lecture." Bylass said teasingly as the students snickered and glanced between them.
"Said the one who was questioning her authority a few days ago," Byleth replied sarcastically with a smirk, his gaze lingering on Bylass whose smile quickly dropped into a look of indignation.
Edelgard stepped in quickly as she sensed what was coming next. "Anyway, Professor, what are we going to do today?" Her intervention seemed to work; Bylass relaxed her stance and tapped her index finger against her chin thoughtfully.
"Our task for today is training your teamwork and battle experience. Therefore, I will split our team in half." She gestured to each side of the classroom. "The first group will be Dimitri, Petra, Ashe, Linhardt, and Caspar. Edelgard, Hubert, Ferdinand, Dorothea, and Bernadetta, this will be your group until the end of the mission."
"Professor," Dimitri began uncertainly as he raised his hand to get her attention, "Did you forget someone?" His gaze shifted to Byleth, who stood calmly beside Bylass and surveyed them all with an unreadable expression.
Bylass chuckled then and shook her head in amusement.
"Of course not, Dimitri. Byleth and I will be the last force and that's what we are going to do today. The team that can take us down first will be declared winners for this exercise." Bylass said casually as Dimtri and Ashe's faces were flushed with surprise. Both were flabbergasted by how composed the Black Eagles appeared in response to her announcement.
"You'll get used to it, Prince Dimitri," Dorothea assured him with a pat on his shoulder and a sympathetic smile.
"Has this happened before?" He asked hesitantly.
"We've lost track since they kept defeating us in the second exercise even though we had them outnumber four to one. Maybe with your help, that might change today." Edelgard replied.
"Alright then, I'll give you five minutes for battle formation." Bylass commanded as she looked toward Byleth." Are you ready?" She inquired which Byleth replied with a curt nod.
As the five minutes passed and both groups completed putting together their formations, Byleth and Bylass drew out their swords, preparing for the impending fight.
"Now!"
Time seemed to stand still for Byleth as he clashed swords with the students, with Bylass doing the same near him. Nonetheless, the infamous duo kept moving forward and defending against another wave of attack from the students. As expected, Caspar charged at Byleth, shouting as he prepared to strike with his sword. As if he expected the counter from Byleth, Caspar steeled himself and successfully withstood the attack. Meanwhile, Bylass had her hands full with Ferdinand who was thrusting at her with his lance. Just when she thought she got him as she kicked Ferdinand off, Edelgard appeared out of nowhere and brought her wooden axe on Bylass which she managed to block with a quick flick of her wrist. But before Bylass could catch a breath, Hubert then shouted an incantation, and Bernadetta shot an arrow in their direction. Before the miasma and arrow could reach them, Bylass flipped backward out of their range, barely avoiding them as they connected with where she had been standing moments before. Both she and Byleth steadied themselves, weapons still drawn and ready to face the next wave of attacks.
"How are you catching up now, Byleth?" Bylass breathed evenly and looked at Byleth who was doing the same.
"Despite the challenges earlier, I managed to take down Caspar and Linhardt. What about you?" As he finished replying, Byleth quickly parried another arrow from Ashe.
"It seems Edelgard had already planned quite well which is an improvement compared to the previous training exercises. However, I successfully took down one of their mages so that should be fine for now. Anyway, shall we finish this now?" Bylass said smugly which Byleth replied with a small grin.
"After you, Professor!"
Byleth and Bylass rushed forward, their feet pounding the earth. Dimitri's team reacted quickly, brandishing weapons in preparation for battle as Edelgard's team lined up to meet the charge. Just before they clashed, Bylass changed direction suddenly and joined Byleth, taking Dimitri by surprise. Petra ran towards them, sword drawn, but was thrown off balance by a sudden shoulder roll from the professor. With a single leap, Bylass hopped onto Byleth's back and launched into the air. Ashe stood below them, firing arrow after arrow at her that soared just above his reach until she knocked him off. Facing overwhelming odds, Dimitri made a retreat and joined Edelgard who remained composed despite the chaotic scene.
Dimitri's face remained calm as he glanced at Edelgard, who subtly nodded. The team quickly formed up and charged towards Byleth and Bylass. The clash of their wooden weapons echoed through the Training Field as both House Leaders took the lead. Hubert and Bernadetta stayed back to provide support by using their ranged capabilities that forced Byleth to keep dodging, while simultaneously trying to block Edelgard's axe. However, the tide soon shifted when Bylass managed to dodge Dimitri's attack and step on his lance, disarming him in the process.
Seeing an opportunity, Byleth decided to cut off the "wings" by swiftly maneuvering himself right and attempting to retreat. This prompted Edelgard to pursue him, but it seemed this was part of Byleth's plan as he suddenly ran up and jumped onto her shoulder, propelling them into the air. He then threw his sword and kicked it forward with a powerful force, sending the wooden blade flying towards Hubert, knocking him out cold. After nimbly making his landing by rolling on the ground, he grabbed the wooden sword and made his way towards Bernadetta - only to find her passed out before he could reach her. Casting a look behind him, he saw Edelgard desperately trying to fend off Bylass before finally deciding to end the fight by forcing Edelgard to yield with a powerful slash of her sword.
This training ends here. Well done, everyone!" Bylass clapped her hands as her students began to stand up, most of their backs were aching from the exercises.
"Can't you go a bit easier on us, Professor? We are your students, not your enemies." Ferdinand groaned as he used his lance to steady himself.
"Bandits will not think twice about finishing you off so consider this a training for your survival," Bylass replied nonchalantly.
"And yet your partner used his full strength when he kicked that sword. If you'd let me know beforehand, I would have not tried holding back myself." Hubert said bitterly, his eyes flaring at Byleth whose face remained calm.
"Forget it, Hubert. This is just a training exercise, so I'd like you to not hold a grudge against our classmate. Anyway, that was a good fight, Professor." Edelgard said as she stood up and brushed down her muddy skirt.
"You've done well too, Edelgard. I'm surprised at how well you and Dimitri have been able to cooperate in such a short time," Bylass complimented. "I don't think we've ever seen such a challenging pair before, even from the Mock battles."
"Thank you for your high praise, Professor," Dimitri said as he made his way to the group with crisp steps and a confident smile across his face. "As House Leaders, it's our responsibility to be flexible. Thanks for your help earlier, Edelgard!"
"It's my pleasure, Dimitri!" She nodded politely before glancing at Byleth with admiration in her eyes. "Once again, you have amazed us all with yet another skill of yours. How long did it take you both to master this move?"
"It wasn't that long," Byleth said as he glanced at Bylass for confirmation. She nodded in agreement. "We started practicing together after a few attempts, and it came naturally after that."
Caspar spoke up excitedly, "Can you teach us those moves too?"
"I don't think that's going to work, Caspar. We even tried to teach Jeralt those moves, which was in vain."
"Was it because of your Crests that granted to the ability to do so?" Linhardt replied while stifling a yawn, as everyone widened their eyes in surprise.
"Did Professor Hanneman tell you about that?" Bylass asked incredulously.
"Not really, he did mention to me briefly but what caught my eyes today the most was how your Crests appeared when you two flew into the air."
"Do you know what your Crest is, Professor?" Edelgard inquired curiously.
Bylass shook her head with a brief sigh." Unfortunately, it's still an unknown subject to us. But you seem to be quite talkative today, Linhardt."
"What makes me curious is how you and Byleth share the same type of Crests. You two may be related in some way."
"Linhardt, how many times do I have to tell you that he is not my twin." Byleth sighed heavily.
"I'm not saying he is directly related to you, Professor. Perhaps he comes from a family that is distant from your father's."
"That's impossible!" Byleth interjected sharply, his voice suddenly raised and echoing throughout the Training Field while everyone else took a step back in surprise. "If that were the case, Jeralt would have noticed already. Besides, my father was…" He trailed off, unable to continue as his thoughts turned towards an unwelcome dream that sometimes haunted him at night; a dream he had been trying desperately to keep at bay over the past few weeks. Noticing the change in his behavior, Bylass stepped forward and softly brushed her hand along his back to calm him down.
The group stood quietly for a few moments before Bylass cleared her throat awkwardly and smiled warmly at them all once more. "That was a good conversation," she said softly, trying to steer the topic away from such a heavy one.
"Anyway, since we have no other tasks today, you are free to go now. Until then, see you tomorrow."
As the students started to leave, Byleth prepared to depart with Bylass as well until an object suddenly flew through the air toward her. He reacted swiftly, jumping in front of her and catching a training sword with its hilt with his bare hand. The other students gasped in shock, their heads swiveling to locate the source of the disturbance. It was Catherine, a fair-haired knight of Seiros, clapping appreciatively.
"I was trying to catch the Professor off guard but looks like you had beaten her to it. Not too shabby, Byleth!"
"Catherine, what is the meaning of this?" Byleth remained expressionless, his eyes blazing as he held up the offending weapon.
"Oh, come on, look at what I threw – it's just a wooden training sword. At worst, she will only have a small bruise or a splinter. Let's agree that's funny and move on." Her mischievous smile quickly melted away under his gaze; eventually, Bylass stepped forward and broke the tension.
"It looks like you are late, Catherine. We just finished our training so perhaps you can join us another day." Catherine seemed relieved at the suggestion; she shifted awkwardly before finally responding with a genuine compliment.
"Honestly, I've been watching you ever since the start of the exercise. That was an incredible fight, Professor."
Bylass tilted her head, unsure how to respond.
"You know, I've been curious about your capability ever since Lady Rhea gave you such a special treatment. After witnessing this fight, there is no doubt that you are a skilled mercenary but that still doesn't explain why you have so much attention from her. Besides, it would be unsurprised if you were brought on as a knight. But professorship. Unprecedented." As Catherine finished, Byleth and Bylass glanced at each other. Both seemed to remember Jeralt's warning about Rhea.
"But the professor is doing a good job, isn't she?" Ferdinand stepped in, trying to vouch for Bylass.
"I just don't get why the archbishop holds her in such high esteem despite barely knowing her. Maybe because she is related to Jeralt then?"
"Is my father really that famous?" Bylass inquired curiously.
"Come on. Not a single soul in Fodlan has never heard of tales of the Blade Breaker. Though I also heard that you made a name for yourself as well."
" If I were you, I would choose my next words carefully, Catherine," Bylass said darkly.
Catherine swallowed and nodded slowly, scared yet determined.
" Anyway, what I'm trying to say is perhaps Jeralt used his influence to help you. However, Lady Rhea wouldn't give you favorable treatment because of that.".
She continued. "Alright, from now on, I will keep observing you to figure out what Lady Rhea saw in you which I can copy so that she will take a shine to me as well." Bylass nodded her head nonchalantly, preparing to end the conversation. Until Catherine's voice became more serious.
"And if I discover that your intentions are malicious, I will cut you down. With relish."
A sudden crash broke through the air, silencing everyone and drawing all gazes towards its source. Byleth stood amongst them, emotionless but with a broken wooden blade in hand. Some of the students could sense the tension rising and shifted uneasily on their feet but before they could do anything more, Byleth spoke up with a chilling clear voice:
"Lady Catherine," he addressed her solemnly, "Would you care to spar with me?"
"I thought the exercise was already finished?"
"Since I have nothing else to do now, why don't we duel? It would be my pleasure to cross blades with such an esteemed knight as yourself.", his words dripped with mock politeness, but his tone was surprisingly sincere.
"If you say so. Shall we begin now?" Catherine went to pick up one of the wooden swords until Byleth continued.
"How about silver swords then?" His comment caught her off guard as Catherine stopped moving while everyone was glancing at him nervously.
"Are you taking your early victory too far by suggesting something like this? You must know that this academy forbids using fatal weapons in training exercises." Her eyes narrowed slightly at him as she spoke.
"I was a mercenary before I became a student here, so I don't see any problem with this. Silver blades would be the last thing I worried about in a real fight with those outlaws who did not hesitate to use any tricks." Byleth said with determination.
"What do you think, Professor?" Catherine shifted her gaze to Bylass, unsure how to respond to the situation.
Bylass looked at Byleth thoughtfully for a moment before giving them the final answer.
"If Byleth said so then I would trust his judgment. However, the rule applies only to disarming your opponent. I hope you two will not take this seriously."
The students started to circle and took their seats. Most of them were nervous but Edelgard, Dimitri, and Hubert were watching the event with anticipation and interest.
Catherine retrieved her silver sword from its sheath, pointing the tip at Byleth across from her. "Well then," she announced, "shall we begin now?"
"More than I'll ever be."
In the heart of the Training Field, the stage had been set for a friendly spar which turned into an epic sword duel between the legendary Thunder Catherine and the infamous mercenary Byleth. Their swords gleamed in the dim light as they circled each other, eyes locked in unwavering determination. The clinking of metal echoed through the courtyard as their blades clashed, creating an electrifying rhythm.
Byleth's fighting style was marked by precision and calculated movements. Each strike and parry demonstrated their strategic prowess, as he deftly countered Catherine's fierce attacks. Catherine, on the other hand, failed to either overcome him with her fury attacks or deflect each of his strikes. For the first time in her life, someone from the academy managed to keep up with her in a duel – a student no less.
Not long ago, after returning from her mission, Catherine was shocked to hear that not only the legendary Captain Jeralt had returned, but his daughter- the Ashen Demon also became a Professor thanks to Lady Rhea's suggestion. For years, she had heard many rumors about a fearsome mercenary who showed no remorse no matter how much was spilled. That's why she decided to meet this famous mercenary herself to verify the credibility of those rumors. However, after observing the Professor for 2 days, she was surprised to see that the blue-haired woman was nothing like the rumors depicted. She expected to see a stoic woman who barely showed any emotion but then she saw how the Professor was smiling as her students were teasing her and how happy she was when she hung out with her father when they went to the Dining Hall. Therefore, Catherine concluded that those rumors were baseless and became interested only in Bylass's capability as a Professor.
Nevertheless, that could not be said the same for the man who always stood next to the Professor. As Catherine was informed about the recent events, many Knights and even Seteth warned her to stay away from the blue-haired man or ruin would befall her. Turns out, that man was the infamous Shadow- the one rumored to be the real Ashen Demon. At first, she found it hard to believe since there was no such thing as a one-man army. However, as their duel was getting intensified by each second, she must admit he was a force not to be reckoned with.
As the duel reached its zenith, Catherine could feel the heat raging as time passed. Their swords clashed and sparked in a mesmerizing display of skill and determination as the courtyard seemed to shrink around them. They both pressed forward, each seeking to gain the upper hand but to no avail. Knowing she could not afford to keep this up, Catherine decided to end this now.
In a dramatic twist, Catherine executed a daring and acrobatic flip, barely evading Byleth's strike and landing behind him. For an instant, the students were left breathless as it seemed the duel was finally concluded.
But before Catherine's blade could meet his skin, Byleth used his superior reflexes and deflected her strike then countered with a powerful kick that sent her skidding backward. Taking advantage of her momentary confusion, Byleth charged toward Catherine and dealt with a final clash. As Catherine barely managed to raise her sword, the silver blades clashed as both tried to overcome the other. Their dance would soon end once Catherine's sword broke in half, leaving her staring wide-eyed in shock and the students gasped heavily.
"That's enough. This duel ends here." Bylass shouted commandingly, trying to defuse the escalation before it could develop further.
"Did my eyes just deceive me?" Ferdinand gasped, his eyes wide with disbelief" Was her sword broken in half?"
Caspar shook his head, unable to comprehend the scene before him.
"You didn't Ferdinand. How could it happen?"
"It seems … I've misjudged the situation once again." Hubert mumbled then whispered to Edelgard." My Lady, do you think …" But before he could finish his sentence, Edelgard raised her hand to stop him and glanced at Byleth with an unreadable expression.
"This is beyond my expectations. I know you were a skilled mercenary but to be able to rival Thunder Catherine and break her sword like this…. It's incredible, Byleth!" Dimitri was gasping yet there was admiration in his voice.
"So, all of those tales were real." Catherine finally spoke." This is not what I expected from a duel with a student, but it seems you are not ordinary at all."
"Or so I've heard." He replied calmly and sheathed his blade.
"With that skill of yours, you could even apply to become a Knight of Seiros or even a professor of your class. It's a pity that Lady Rhea did not extend the same treatment to you as well."
Byleth took a step next to Bylass and replied with determination. "My place is here beside her. Wherever she goes, I go." Bylass suddenly blushed and looked away from him, yet the corners of her lips twitched upwards into a happy smile.
"If you say so." Catherine shrugged and crossed her arms. "Thanks to you, my pride has already been lost so I demand a rematch. This time I will not hold back anything." Byleth nodded approvingly. As the conversation seemed to end, he suddenly asked Catherine with a sharpness in his tone.
"The last part you talked about the professor… did you truly mean it, Catherine?"
She was taken aback for a moment, trying to remain calm." Of course not, that was only a joke." However, the answer did not seem to convince Byleth as he continued to stare at her.
"I hope you will not make such jokes toward my professor again … but if you were sincere about what you said, then allow me to inform you something." His voice was cold as ice, sending a chill to everyone in the Training Field." If you do try to come for her life, I will fight you with every ounce of my being. Not as a student of the Black Eagles or a mercenary of the Blade Breaker, but as Shadow of Ashen Demon."
Catherine's eyes widened before retorting with a tight lip; "Is that a threat?"
"It's a guarantee," Byleth replied with an impassive face. His voice remained emotionless and indifferent though it was clear that he meant every word he said. "But since you said that was only a joke there is no need for such an escalation."
"On that, I can agree. Anyway, it was a pleasure to see you. I'll see you again in our upcoming task." Catherine bid them farewell and started to leave the Training Field which was followed by the duo and their students.
As Catherine wandered through the hallway, her mind constantly replayed the events of earlier. Although the man said himself that he was not serious, his fight against her seemed anything but a sparring match between teacher and student. Each blow was deadly as if he was throwing everything he had in a duel of life and death. Therefore, Catherine made a mental note to herself to not provoke Byleth ever again, especially when it came to his professor. But what unnerved her even more was the glance she caught in those eyes of his. Every time she recalled it, her stomach twisted with dread. There was something deep in there and each time she thought about it, an icy chill ran down her spine.
Those menacing eyes... they were flashing bright yellow.