Time for Shez to get a little spotlight time.
Just to note, I made a couple of small changes to Chapters 84 and 85 in preparation for this one. You may want to take a look.
Otherwise, enjoy.
Chapter 107 – Teatime Trouble (Harpstring Moon)
There were times in her life when Shez felt as though she should have learned how to navigate. This was one of those times. The winding passages under Garreg Mach were an utter maze to her, and she was sure she had gone through several junctions repeatedly. Even when she put markings on the walls with her swords, she kept going in circles. It didnt help that she didn't have a torch, but she didn't want the guards to find her, so she had to move while essentially blind.
After almost three hours of wandering aimlessly through the underground corridors, Shez finally saw light ahead of her. There was no telling who could be there, so Shez crept as silently as she could toward the light. Reaching the exit to the passage, Shez peeked out to see if there were any guards ahead.
There was only one person in the spacious room, sitting on the floor before a miniature table with a tea set in front of her. Along with the tea itself, there were some freshly made rice balls on the table. The woman had black hair with green streaks in it, and her clothing didn't look like the kind people wore in Fodlan. Shez guessed she had to be from Hoshido or something of the sort, though it was a guess on her part.
Shez paused as she thought over her next move. The Hoshidan woman seemed oblivious to the mercenary's presence. She could try to sneak past the woman, but Shez wasn't sure if she could make it past her undetected. If she went back down the passage, however, she'd surely get lost again.
Deciding to try her luck, Shez crept as silently as she could through the large room while the woman sat at her table. Bit by bit, Shez snuck toward another passage on the opposite side of the room, a route Shez hoped would lead her to an exit.
But just as Shez was about a quarter of the way, the woman asked, "Is there some reason you feel the need for stealth?"
Shez froze. She hadn't made any sound louder than a whisper, but the woman had still heard her from across the room.
Madame Jiayi turned toward the mercenary, greeting Shez's purple eyes with her green ones.
"Perhaps you would like to join me for a cup of tea?" asked Jiayi as she gestured to the small table.
After a moment of silence, Shez replied, "Sorry. Not really a tea person."
"Oh, but I insist. Surely you must be famished after spending so much time in a cell."
Shez's eyes widened slightly at this. The woman knew she was an escaped prisoner. Her first instinct was to silence the woman, whether through threats or force. The last thing she needed right now was for her to raise an alarm. But as she brought a hand to one of her blades, she stopped herself. If the woman was going to alert the guards, she could have done so easily by now. Instead, she was inviting the mercenary to sit down with her. The whole situation was bizarre to the point that Shez was at a loss for what to do.
At the same time, something about the woman sent a chill down Shez's spine. She had no idea why, but something in the back of her mind told her the woman was far more formidable than she appeared. And how had she known Shez was a prisoner? She didn't remember seeing the woman before her clash with Byleth.
Adding to Shez's confusion was the tea table. Four teacups were ready, and there was a basket full of rice balls sitting on the side.
The woman was expecting company.
Just when this thought hit Shez's mind, she heard the door to the room open.
"Surely you can postpone ruminating on the monastery's defenses until after you repose for a moment, Ferdinand?" said Constance as she entered with Ferdinand in tow.
"I suppose you are right, Constance," Ferdinand replied. "There will be time for-"
Ferdinand and Constance stopped in their tracks as soon as they saw Shez, who immediately drew her blades. Recognizing the escaped prisoner, Ferdinand drew his sword while Constance readied a spell.
Snarling, Shez said, "Just my luck..."
"How did you escape from your confinement?!" said Ferdinand.
"Your guards suck, that's how."
"Perhaps a prison of ice would be more effectual, then!" Constance said as she readied a Fimbulvetr spell.
Shez knew she was in deep trouble. Even if she could take them both on, the racket would no doubt draw others to the scene. Shez thought about running back into the passages, but she realized Constance would probably freeze her before she could get away, even with her speed.
But just as the two sides were about to make their move, Jiayi let out a stern "Ahem!"
Both sides turned to the seamstress as she said, "I would prefer it if you would all desist from resorting to violence."
Ferdinand replied, "Madame Jiayi, this is the woman who-"
"Attacked Lady Eisner," Jiayi interrupted. "I am aware."
"Then you must allow us to return her to her prison!" said Constance.
"That will do little to resolve the matter between her and Lady Eisner. I suggest a less forceful approach." Seeing that all three were baffled by what she meant, Jiayi said, "Sit. I called the two of you here for tea, and there is more than enough for us all."
Stunned, Constance said incredulously, "Y-You expect us to converse with this... this vagabond!?"
"Yes, I do. Is that so difficult for you to manage?"
As Constance and Ferdinand looked at Jiayi in confusion, Shez remained where she was. She knew she had a golden opportunity to start running while they were distracted with Jiayi, but she couldn't get herself to move. She was just as baffled as they were that the woman was suggesting they sit down together rather than fight.
A second later, everyone in the room heard a low grumbling.
Shez realized, to her embarrassment, that it was coming from her gut.
It was only now that Shez realized just how hungry she was. And the rice balls on the table suddenly looked awfully tempting.
…
Kantus hated when things delayed him, whether it was due to his subordinates screwing up, someone getting in his way, or in this case, having to deal with another caved-in passage to Abyss. He knew they were close to the underground settlement, but a large pile of rubble blocked off the route for him and his Black Scorpions. It was a similar story throughout the catacombs, with virtually every passage they knew that led to Abyss being blocked by debris.
By now, Kantus had stopped his men from looking for another way through. If there wasn't one to be found, they'd have to make one.
Impatiently, the leader of the Black Scorpions scraped his blade against a wall. The men he had sent back outside were taking too long for his liking but killing them just for being slow wouldn't help him in the upcoming battle. Still, he gave an occasional wicked glance to his men, making it clear he would not tolerate any incompetence.
The sound of footsteps prompted him to turn to the passage they had come from. Several members of the Black Scorpions came in carrying barrels of explosive powder. They had enough to level a small fort, more than enough to blast through the rubble.
"Get those barrels set, you maggots," said Kantus.
"Yes, boss!" said one of the returning Scorpions.
Turning back to the rubble as his men started setting the explosives, Kantus snickered in anticipation. Before this day was done, he planned to drive his blade into the Savage Mockingbird's heart.
…
Ferdinand and Constance found themselves unable to enjoy Jiayi's tea as they watched Shez wolf down another rice ball. Yet even as the mercenary feasted on the snack, she kept her own violet eyes on the two nobles. Jiayi, meanwhile, sat between them with a smile as she sipped on her cup of tea.
As Shez finished messily eating another rice ball, Constance said, "Must you consume your portions as though you were a boar?"
"The hell does that mean, Blondie?" asked Shez.
Constance was about to make an angry reply when Ferdinand said, "She is referring to your lack of table manners."
"Well, excuse me for not having something to eat all day."
Constance, knowing what it felt like to go hungry, decided against chastising the mercenary over it.
Ferdinand then said, "May I ask you something, Shez?"
"Pretty sure you're gonna, even if I say no."
"Why did you attack Lady Eisner?"
"Because I owe her for this." Shez pointed to the scar running down her chest as she said, "She left me for dead years ago when my band fought her at Tarren Village. I promised to get back at her for it, and I trained six years for the day I'd face her again."
"And then she trounced you with ease," said Jiayi. "But tell me this, Shez: what then?"
"Sorry, what?"
"What did you intend to do if, by some miracle, you were to defeat Byleth Eisner?"
"I… uh…"
Having never expected such a question, Shez was at a complete loss for an answer.
"Just as I thought," said Jiayi. "Your fixation on petty vengeance has left you with nothing else to strive for once you reach your goal." Shez was about to retort when Jiayi interrupted her with, "And what if you had indeed prevailed against Lady Eisner? Did you not stop to think of how your victory would affect those around you?"
"What are you getting at?"
"Many within these walls look up to Lady Eisner, whether as a teacher, leader, or confidant. They would not be here were it not for her guidance. And you, who thought only of your wounded pride, intended to strike her down. Had you succeeded, I doubt there would be a single person in the monastery who would not want your head. Excluding myself, of course. I've never been fond of executions."
Jiayi's sharp rhetoric left Shez lost for words. Every part of the woman's argument was on point. Shez hadn't thought of anything beyond getting payback on the Ashen Demon. It was all that kept her going for six long years. But what if she had won? Thinking back on her attack, Shez realized she never would have gotten out alive. Everyone in Garreg Mach would have demanded her death for killing someone they all looked up to.
"But… I…" Shez said, trying to think up some justification for her actions. It was clear to the others that she was at a loss for what to say.
At that moment, the four of them heard a loud explosion, and the room briefly shuddered.
Alarmed, Ferdinand and Constance sprang to their feet just as they heard people begin screaming.
A voice from outside the room shouted, "To arms! We're under attack!"
Ferdinand drew his sword as he went to the door. Before he reached it, the door swung open as Yuri appeared.
"Ferdinand, we've got trouble!" said Yuri. Then, realizing Shez was there, he said, "Wait, why's she here?!"
"There will be time for explanations later, Yuri," said Ferdinand. "What is happening?"
"It's the Black Scorpions. They blasted their way through one of the old passageways."
"We must evacuate the innocents to safety, posthaste!" said Constance.
Just as the three were about to leave, Shez got to her feet and said, "Need a hand?" Surprised, the others turned to Shez as she said, "You guys' sound like you need all the help you can get, and I've got a bone to pick with these assholes, too."
For a moment, the others were shocked by Shez's offer. Then, Ferdinand answered, "Your aid would be appreciated, Shez."
"You sure we can trust her?" asked Yuri.
"Why not allow her actions to speak louder than words?" said Jiayi.
Sighing, Yuri said, "Fine. But don't make me regret this."
"Get yourself to safety, Madame Jiayi," said Ferdinand as he and the others exited the room.
But as the others left to do battle with the Black Scorpions, Jiayi stayed where she was and took another sip of tea.
Setting her cup down, she then said, "愿财富对你微笑."
…
Brigitte had just finished checking on Bernadetta as she made her way toward the training grounds. The reclusive shut-in was still too injured to leave her room, but Brigitte knew Bernadetta preferred it that way.
As she came to the passage to Abyss, however, she saw crowds of civilians fleeing the underground hideout in terror. Realizing something was wrong, Brigitte rushed over to four Abyssian rogues who were ushering people out of the hideout. At the same time, Alicia and Ashe, who came upon hearing the commotion, followed Brigitte.
"What's going on?" asked Brigitte.
"Enemy attack, down in Abyss," said one of the rogues.
"Come on, come on, move it!" shouted another rogue. "Everyone, head to the central hall! Let's go!"
"Hey, let us through!" said Alicia.
"We need to get down and assist your comrades!" said Ashe.
Unfortunately, the flow of civilians leaving the passage to Abyss meant trying to go down and reinforce them was impossible until the innocents were evacuated. All they could do was wait and be ready.
I hope the tea part didn't suspend your disbelief too much.
I had to redo a couple of previous chapters after looking at more of Shez's dialogue. I originally had her mad at Byleth for the deaths of Berling and her company, but in Three Hopes, Shez isn't that broken up about them dying. She's more ticked that she lost to Byleth. It was easy enough to change, though. This way, Shez can now become an ally of our heroes, though her beef with Byleth isn't suddenly about to disappear.
As for Jiayi, I'm sure a few of you are still wrong on some details I have regarding her. But I'm not going to spoil them here. Just know that she's going to surprise at least someone in the next chapter.
I'll try to get the next chapter out for Thanksgiving.