Another interlude before we move toward the month's main battle.

Chapter 62 – No Guarantees (Lone Moon)

Hilda chuckled as Caspar said, "So I spun around, backhanded the guy, and finished him off with my axe."

"I take it his buddies didn't stick around for long after that," said Hilda.

"Yeah, they… didn't."

Hilda heard the change in Caspar's tone as they walked near the outer wall of the monastery.

"Caspar? Is something wrong?" asked Hilda.

Caspar didn't answer as he looked at a nearby dirt mound. An Imperial axe was buried into the ground atop the mound.

Looking at what she knew was a grave, Hilda asked, "Whose grave is that?"

"My uncle Randolph's," answered Caspar.

"Randolph? General Randolph von Bergliez?"

"Yeah. He led an army over 2,000 strong against the monastery shortly after we started setting up. We… we annihilated them. And I… I killed Randolph. I just… cut him down."

"Caspar…"

"I didn't have a choice. He wouldn't surrender, and he was trying to wipe out everyone in Garreg Mach. Soldiers, civilians, everyone. I know there was no other way, but… but that didn't make it any easier."

"Do you… wish you could've spared him?"

"Of course, I do. He was family, even if it was only because he married my aunt. But Randolph was blinded by his pride and his loyalty to Edelgard. The others tried to get him to surrender but I… I didn't give him that chance. I knew he wouldn't give up."

"That sounds like the man Baltie described."

"What do you mean?"

"Baltie fought Randolph about six months ago in House Ordelia's territory when the Empire tried securing the region. He beat Randolph back and said it wasn't until he knocked him unconscious that he stopped fighting."

"Yeah, that sounds like him. Uncle Randolph just never knew when to quit. Then again, who am I to talk? I've been fighting the Empire however I can for the past five years. And I'm not about to stop now."

Hilda paused, then chuckled and said, "That's the Caspar I remember. Always ready for a fight, and always doing your best to do the right thing."

"Am I really that simple?"

"Yep. But that's what I like about you."

Caspar bashfully rubbed the back of his head as Hilda smiled at him.

…

Ashe winced as he tried to move in his bed, only to be met by pain. His body was still covered in bandages from his wounds at Magdred Way. Nearby, his sister Refia was wringing out a bloodied cloth in some water, doing whatever she could to help with his recovery. Ashe's younger brother, Luneth, was busy helping others in the monastery to repay them for all they had done for the people of Castle Gaspard.

Even with healers like Lana and Dorothea at the monastery, Ashe's recovery was slow. He wondered if he would ever fight again. The notion that he might never take up arms again wasn't a welcome one. He didn't relish combat, but he fought in order to provide for his loved ones and for his friends.

A knock at the door was followed by Alicia asking, "Can I come in?"

Alicia pushed open the door before Refia could react, which left Ashe a little flabbergasted at the brunette for not waiting until someone told her she could enter.

"I've brought some lunch," Alicia said as she brought in a bowl of soup.

"That smells really good, Miss Alicia," said Refia.

"Fish and Bean Soup. Tasty and nutritious. I hope you'll like it, Ashe."

"Y-Yes, that's… that's one of my favorites," Ashe said, grunting in pain as he spoke.

"Oh good. I wasn't sure if you liked this kind."

Alicia sat beside Ashe's bed as he slowly moved into a spot where he could give himself a spoonful of soup without agitating his injuries.

"Careful, it's a little hot," said Alicia.

As Ashe sipped down the soup, he was met by a multitude of flavors, all in perfect balance.

"Mmm!" Ashe mumbled mid-sip. Then, once he could speak again, he said, "Did you make this, Alicia?"

"Yep. I had some spare time after training with Seteth. I spend most of it learning how to make new recipes in the kitchen."

"Well, your soup really hits the spot."

"Thanks. I've always been more focused on learning how to bake."

"Learning how to make other dishes can help with that, Alicia. It'll familiarize you with various ingredients and how they can be put together."

"Yeah, I know. But baking has always been my favorite pastime. People might have different tastes in food, but bread is something everyone can enjoy."

"I won't argue with that. Even if you have only a few odds and ends, good bread can make just about anything taste good."

Ashe finished his meal while Alicia watched, smiling at how much he was enjoying it.

Upon finishing, Ashe said, "Thank you for the meal, Alicia. What'll be on the menu tomorrow?"

This question made Alicia stop smiling as she said, "I'm not sure. I won't be cooking it, for one."

"Huh? Why is that?"

"Lady Eisner's moving us out tomorrow. We'll be heading for the Great Bridge of Myrddin to help the Alliance."

"I see."

"It'll be dangerous. I don't know if we'll make it back."

"There's never a guarantee of that in war. I've been lucky so far, but there've been a few times over the last five years where I thought I was done for."

"Me too. I thought I'd had it two months ago when someone knocked me off my Pegasus. If it weren't for Flayn, I'd be dead right now."

"Well, I wish you good luck. If only I weren't confined to this bed, I'd march alongside you all."

"You would?"

"You and Lady Eisner helped save my people both from the Dukedom and from those wolves. It's the least I could do for you."

"That's real sweet of you, Ashe. But you just focus on recovering for now. When I get back, I'll bake something special for you."

"I look forward to that, Alicia."

…

Anna slid a book back into the restricted section of the library as Claude combed through another at a nearby table. The two were looking through several books Anna had already read, with the redhead hoping Claude might have some new insights. However, she could tell this was quickly becoming another dead end.

"I think you're right, Anna," said Claude. "If there was anything in this library that might've shed some light on what Rhea was doing in the Holy Tomb, it's already long gone."

"If there was anything to begin with," said Anna. "I don't think Seteth would've allowed anything like that to exist here for long."

"Just like that diagram of the Immaculate One I found."

"The Immaculate One?"

"I wish I could show you the picture, but Seteth already destroyed it. There aren't any others of it in the library."

"I'm surprised he lets anything stay here." Sighing, Anna added, "I tried asking him directly about what Rhea was up to five years ago, but he's under an Oath."

"What, he just promised not to tell anyone?"

"Sorta. The 'Oath' I'm talking about is of the magical sort. It's a binding contract that forces one to follow its terms, sometimes in exchange for a power boost. The harsher the conditions, the stronger the effect one can produce from it. But in this case, I don't think Seteth or Flayn got much out of it; it was just Rhea's way of ensuring no one could pry the information out of them."

"Seteth and Flayn swore the same Oath?"

"Yeah. It basically forbids them from talking about what Rhea's plans for By are, unless Rhea herself grants them permission or unless By figures it out herself."

"Talk about thorough. And I thought Flayn was just being dodgy about the subject."

"That's not the only thing they're dodgy about, Claude." Anna looked around to see if anyone was listening. Satisfied that no one was eavesdropping, Anna then whispered, "There's something else about them I wanna share with you. It's just a hunch, but I don't think Seteth and Flayn are humans like us."

Confused, Claude said, "Huh? What do you mean?"

"Have you ever heard of a Manakete?"

"Can't say I have."

"Maybe you've heard the term 'Dragonborn'?" Claude shook his head. "Manaketes are an ancient race of legendary creatures that can pose as humans. Their true forms are those of Dragons. Most of them have green hair and eyes, as well as pointy ears."

"Well, I've seen Seteth and his ears look normal. But… come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen Flayn's ears. And I doubt she'd let us check them."

"I've only met one Manakete in my life. Her name was Nah. No joke."

"'Nah'? That's an odd name."

"Manaketes can live extremely long lives, but they're very rare today. Lots of people around the world don't even believe in them."

"And you think Seteth and Flayn may be Manaketes?"

"I don't have definite proof that they are, but it's a distinct possibility. Solon needed Flayn's blood for what he did in Remire. If he just needed the blood of someone with a Major Crest of Cethleann, he could've gone for someone else. Someone who wouldn't be noticed if they went missing. But he needed Flayn specifically for her blood. Dragon blood is rumored to have some unique properties, but it's so rare that any information about it is hearsay and whispers, not facts."

Sighing, Claude said, "If only Professor Hanneman were here, maybe he'd have something to share. Maybe Solon just needed someone with the Major Crest of Cethleann and he couldn't find anyone else to abduct."

"That's possible, but I can't help thinking that there's more to it."

Claude and Anna were silent for a moment as they put the books back onto their shelves. Anna's words had given Claude a lot more to think about.

Then, as he put his last book back on the shelf, Claude turned and asked, "Hey Anna? Do you mind if I ask you a few things about your own history?"

"What do you wanna know?" asked Anna.

"Rhea called you Annabelle Sharene Ernest in the Holy Tomb. I checked the records here and House Ernest used to be a noble family in Fódlan until about 600 years ago."

"Yep. My ancestors ticked off one too many other families and nearly got wiped out. The survivors fled across the Great Sea and re-established themselves in Judgral."

"And your family line carries a forgotten Crest, right?"

"Yep." Anna lifted her left hand, palm upwards as her Crest materialized over it. "The Major Crest of Ernest. I was the first Crest bearer in our family for three generations."

"Pretty rare to have something like that."

"You don't know the half of it. Mother wanted me to marry into a rich noble family so she could reap the benefits, but I wanted none of it. I didn't want to be a pawn in her schemes. I wanted freedom. To do what I wanted, when I wanted. When I told my mother that… she tried to kill me. She sent me plummeting into a raging river. I still don't know how I survived."

"That sounds like a really rough start."

"Yeah. But there's something about that whole thing that's been bugging me for decades."

"Wait, decades? You barely look like you're in your twenties."

"I'm a lot older than that, Claude. I've gotta be pushing my eighties by now. My Crest seems to have given me an extended lifespan. But the strangest thing is that when I was born, I had only a Minor Crest of Ernest, not a Major one."

"Maybe your near-death experience triggered some kind of evolution to your Crest?"

"I don't know, Claude. I haven't found any records of that happening anywhere else in Fódlan. That's another thing I wish I could ask Hanneman about."

"Maybe it's specific to your Crest, then? I don't know, I'm not an expert on the subject."

"I asked Linhardt about it and he said he's never heard of a Crest changing from a Minor to a Major in an individual."

"There've been a few records of those with Major Crests living long lives. However, they're not consistent. Some of them live as long as anyone else."

"I guess I'm one of the lucky ones, then?"

Claude chuckled and said, "I'm now wondering if I should be showing you more respect since you might be four times my age. Should I be calling you–"

"Call me old lady or anything of the sort and you'll get my Levin Sword up your ass, Claude," Anna snapped.

Knowing he'd touched a nerve, Claude said, "Duly noted."

…

The following day…

Claude and Hilda mounted up on Simurgh as Byleth and the rest of the Church Army readied themselves to move out. Byleth would be pushing out with 2,500 men, leaving around 700 to protect the monastery.

"Sorry we can't stay with you, Teach," said Claude. "But I have to get back to coordinating my forces against the 5th and 11th. Ignatz and Raphael will meet you near Tarren Village."

"We'll rendezvous with them there and then push toward the Great Bridge," said Byleth. "Just make sure you deal with the 5th and 11th before too long."

"We won't let you down, Teach. I'll see you after I've routed them."

"Good luck, everyone!" Hilda said as she waved to the others.

Simurgh flapped his white wings and took to the sky, flying Claude and Hilda away from Garreg Mach Monastery.

As they took off, Byleth turned to her men and said, "Everyone, we need to reach the Great Bridge of Myrddin as quickly as possible. The longer we take, the more we risk being spotted by the Empire before reaching the bridge. Make sure you have everything you need. We march in one hour."

"Yes, ma'am!" shouted the men and women of the Church Army.

I hope I'm keeping you intrigued with the mysteries surrounding Anna. I feel like I semi-shafted her to the side for a little while, so I felt the need to give her some focus in this chapter.

As for the rest of it, just some more Support chain stuff. I can't cover all the chains I want in just one chapter, and I've already dawdled long enough in the Lone Moon.

As for the Battle of Myrddin? Well, I'll just say that it's not going to be quite like you remember from the game.