Chapter 4 - The Rookie

Lucas didn't know how late he stayed out. He remembered Byleth telling him to go to sleep after midnight. Lucas had known it was a crappy thing to do, dumping his emotional baggage on her. But he couldn't deny he felt better.

Emerging from his tent, he noticed that every mercenary was already awake and ready for the journey ahead. One looked at him with annoyance, and muttered that this was his last easy day. Other mercenaries looked at him with pity. He wondered why pity until Byleth answered his unasked question.

"Jeralt wants to talk." Byleth said, hovering behind him. Where did she come from?

"A-ah, right. Still in his tent?" Byleth nodded and left to scare the bejesus out of some other poor sod.

Jeralt was reading a letter, which had a broken wax seal that had a bear crest. He gave Lucas a look before returning to his letter. "Good morning kid. I wanted to talk about what jobs you're going to be doing". Lucas had been expecting this. While Jeralt had agreed to let him join the company, he had been sparse with details. "To put it simply, you're going to start out as a gofer. Do you know what that means?"

Unfortunately he did. "Yes. I'll fetch things, do small jobs around the campsite, and other chores no one else wants to do." He expected it. Jeralt had given him a place out of pity. Most of the other members were trained by the army or elsewhere. He had none save for his session with Byelth.

Jeralt looked at Lucas and gave a reassuring grin. "Don't worry, everyone starts somewhere. Based on your spar with my kid, you won't be doing it for long. Small jobs need to be done, but I hate to see potential wasted." Lucas admitted he was surprised. He had only trained with Byleth once. "You'll train with Byleth at sunrise and sunset. In the day, you'll sharpen our weapons, gather firewood, clean the dishes, set up tents, and whatever else crops up."

It was a lot, but when hunger was the alternative, it was the best deal he could have gotten. "I've never cared for weapons or set up tents like these before."

Jeralt waved his concerns off "I'll have Flora and a few others show you the ropes." His face morphed into a frown as he looked at his map. "Since you just joined, let me brief you on where we're heading. Take a look." Jeralt beckoned Lucas to the map of Fódlan and its territories. A chess piece placed over their current location in an area marked Varley. To the north was a mountain range labeled the Oghma mountains, the center of which was labeled Garreg Mach. Looking southward into The Empire Lucas saw a flag placed on the territory labeled Bergliez.

"Some bandits have been harassing the land of Bergliez for a few weeks now. The locals tried to find them, but to no avail. So the Count hired us. Job seems cut and dry but I'm not buying it…" Lucas gave him a puzzled look. "His soldiers are the best in the empire, they know the land better than we do. But there is one thing that tells me this job is going to get complicated. The pay is too good." Jeralt elaborated, sharing his concerns.

It was logical. If something was easy, it wouldn't pay well. Even a novice like Lucas could tell something didn't add up. "I'm guessing discretion is a part of the contract?" Jeralt nodded his head gravely. "If his troops are well trained, know the land, how do they expect you to find them?"

"I have a few ideas. But I'll share them when we have a better lay of the land. Go and report to Flora, the scout from yesterday. She'll get you started". Lucas turned to leave the tent. But before he did, Jeralt called out to him. "I'm giving you a chance, kid. Don't make me regret it"

As Lucas left the tent to begin his new life, Jeralt couldn't help but think about the ruin. He had lied when he said he didn't know the name of the civilization. Rhea had only spoken about them a few times over the years he had served her. The topic had always brought out a dark side of the normally benevolent archbishop. Its name was Agartha.

Rhea…

There was a possibility she would know what happened to Lucas. While the description of Lucas's technology reminded him of the Agarthan remnants, Lucas had laughed when Jeralt brought up magic.

Too many possibilities, I need to narrow things down.

Jeralt had to be patient and see where things went from here. His life had been simple for the past twenty years as a mercenary. It had made him sloppy. He always weird shit would find him again, it always did.

Flora had been a harsh, yet fair taskmaster. His first job had been gathering and packing the tents. She made it clear that if Lucas ripped one, it would become his for the night, and then to stitch it back up. After this, Lucas had been sent to tie down the main wagon that held their supplies. Once everything was packed, they set off on the road.

The mercenaries traveled mostly on foot or in the wagon. Jeralt had a rotation set up for 3 different shifts. Vanguard, rear guard, and wagon detail. Wagon detail was obviously the most desired, since they got to kick their feet up. Lucas, paired with Flora, started their day on the vanguard. She explained that she preferred to start with vanguard so she could rest in the wagon until they stopped marching. Their march had been on a well maintained dirt road, and they made good progress.

After their march was complete, Lucas went about setting up the tents. He was proud to say that only the first two tents he had set collapsed. Flora had been released from babysitting him, which is why Byleth was showing him how to care for various weapons. This segwayed into another training session, running through the drills they had done the day before. Her lessons went on until dinner time. The food had been a simple stew, which Lucas had devoured. The march, chores, and training worked up an appetite, so much so, that he barely had time to taste it. Only when he saw the evil expressions of the other mercenaries did Lucas remember he had dish duty.

No rest for the wicked… Lucas quoted.

Years from now, Lucas would look back on these days and come to miss them. They were simple, hard, and helped to distract him from the pain he felt. He had thrown himself into this new life to stay busy. It was all he could do to avoid thinking about the things he had lost.

The journey to the Bergeliz territory took a month. In this time, Lucas had settled into a routine of sorts. Wake up, help the cooks, clean the dishes, train with Byleth, march, set up camp, check the weapons, train with Byleth again, dinner, clean the dishes again, and finally to bed. Now that routine was over, and the Blade Breakers had a job to do. As the rookie, it was Lucas's job to follow orders and hang back. A job this important can't be screwed up, some of the older mercs had told him. It would either make the Blade Breakers the talk of the town, or ruin them. Once they reached the outskirts of the city, Fort Merceus, Jeralt raised his hand and the company halted. "Alright everyone, I'll go meet with Count Bergliez. Byleth, take everyone and head to the Flying Boar Inn. The Count made arrangements. The Captain of the City Watch will meet you tonight after you're settled. Any questions?"

The Count clearly had something he didn't want to put in writing. Whatever it was, it would probably be shared with Jeralt in person. No one said anything and the company marched to the Fort. In the distance, Lucas spotted storm clouds and cursed. "Looks like rain." They got through the gate without issue. One guard led Jeralt to the castle in the center of town and another led the rest to the inn. He had to admit, the prospect of a bed was enticing. A month of bedrolls and the hard ground had grown old. While lodging was paid for by the Count, it was clear that food and drink were on the company. Byleth had been kind enough to pay for Lucas's meal since he hadn't earned any gold yet. Lucas had grown fond of Byleth. He had gotten over the soul piercing gaze she had and grown accustomed to her mannerisms. They sat at the bar alone and waited for the captain to arrive. One thing Lucas had noticed was that the mercenaries avoided Byleth. They only reported to her when necessary but had no problems following her orders. Many had told Lucas that she was an excellent strategist and they trusted her skills. So why did they leave her to eat alone? He once asked Flora and she told him that he 'hasn't seen the demon yet'. It was an ominous warning that sent a shiver down his spine. But it was Byleth who sat with him the night of his breakdown. She trained him and became something of a confidant to Lucas. It irked him to see her isolated like that, so he took it upon himself to eat meals with her. It began to rain and Lucas was thankful they were indoors.

The door to the inn swung open. Byleth and Lucas turned to see a brown haired woman with pink eyes. One thing Lucas had noticed since waking up in Fódlan was the varied eye and hair color. She wore official looking armor with bat-like wings attached to her pauldrons. She looked around the inn and called out "I was told to meet with a Byleth Eisner?"

Byleth stood up from her stool and walked towards the woman. "That's me. I'm guessing you are the Captain of the City Watch?" The woman nodded her head and extended her hand.

"You are mostly correct. I am Ladislava, a captain of Princess Edelgard's personal guard, and have temporarily assumed control of the City Watch." That surprised Lucas. From what he learned from Byleth, the empire's capital was far to the south in Enbarr. Byleth seemed confused as well. "Please let us speak in private."

This is getting complicated Thought Byleth. Jeralt had handled the complicated stuff for her, she mostly followed orders and did as told. She didn't know most of the mercenaries beyond a professional capacity.

Byleth turned back to Lucas. Her eyes betrayed her discomfort and asked "Lucas, I'm not used to this stuff. Think you can help?" He rose and nodded at her. He was new but if the last month had taught him anything about Byleth, it's that she was not the best at social interaction.

The trio went upstairs to the Jeralt's suite. It was twice the size the room Lucas had been given, with a queen sized bed and a table to work on. They sat down and Ladislava began her briefing.

"By now, you've realized the situation is far more complicated than simple bandits." They nodded. "This part of your assignment is to remain confidential, we are paying for your discretion. In truth, they are a band of deserters. Around thirty members of the city guard have gone rogue" Lucas's eyes widened. This was bad for the Count. Banditry in Fódlan was common according to Byleth, but deserters were a horrible image for the so-called greatest army of Adrestia.

"How did this happen? That many people don't just turn to that lifestyle on a whim." Lucas questioned. When a person became a bandit, there was no going back. They would be one until they were forgotten or killed. Ladislava sighed. Byleth and Lucas sensed a long story coming.

"It's hard to believe that the Dagdan-Brigid war ended only four years ago," Ladislava began. "It doesn't feel like it, and for many veterans, the war never ended. Three years ago, Brigan traders moved to Fort Merceus to improve relations between the Empire and its new territory. Unfortunately, it only served to inflame tensions." Byleth began to see where this was going.

"I'm guessing that both sides have a story for who started the feud?" Byleth guessed. Ladislava looked to the side.

"The guards claimed that the Brigans were thieves and smugglers. The Brigans claimed the guards harassed and stole their wares. For the next year, tensions would rise until the Brigans petitioned the Count for a plot of land outside the Fort." Jeralt had told them all about the Count. Count Leopold Bergliez was said to be a great commander who held the absolute loyalty of his men. He was also a sly political operative, and insisted Bridgid be made a vassal state at the end of the war. He even arranged a general pardon issued for any Brigan soldier who fought the empire, provided they swear allegiance.

"The Count approved but it changed nothing. When the situation worsened, he sent a request to Princess Edelgard, asking for an impartial advisor to mediate the situation. I was selected, but by the time I had arrived it was too late."

"Someone was killed," Byleth guessed. "A guard. That's why they deserted. If leaders failed to avenge their comrade, they would." She frowned at that.

Ladislava gave a bitter smile. "The Captain of the City Watch's younger brother, Renan. His body was found in a clearing on the way to the Brigan settlement, Bládthanna. He had an arrow wound to the throat. Captain Wulf accused them, and the Village Shaman, Cormac, denied it."

If the situation was a tinderbox, then Renan's death was the spark. "And I'm guessing you don't want to test your soldiers' loyalty by sending them to kill their old comrades?" There could be a number of soldiers that sympathize with their cause and that would be unwilling to fight for the sake of the Brigans.

"We've been traveling for a month, is the village still standing?" Byleth questioned.

"I've had scouts I trust meet in secret with Cormac. They raid them every couple of nights, testing their defenses. Only minor injuries so far, no deaths on either side. Brigid produces some of the best hunters in the world, but even they can't last forever." Ladislava's eyes hardened. "I have been in communication with Lady Edelgard, Lady Petra, and Count Bergliez about the situation. You have two objectives. First, convince Captain Wulf and his forces to stand down. Second, solve the mystery of Renans death. If he was killed by a Brigan, the murderer must be brought to justice."

"And if we fail to convince Wulf to stand down?" Byleth knew how easy it was to kill a person you were trying to capture. Once, she had hit an enemy with the pommel of her sword in the back of the head. Unfortunately, she had put too much force into the blow and killed him.

"You are to put down the rogue guards. All of them…"

Authors Note

Bládthanna is Irish for Flower

The story is in its first act. This is essentially what I consider to be the equivalent to the Griffon Contract from The Witcher 3.

The next 3 chapters will be what I dub the First Job arc. Afterwards ,there will be a 6 month time skip where we meet everyone's favorite wannabe knight Ashe. That story will be shorter, probably one or two chapters. Then the Mercs will return to Remire and Canon will start.

I might start doing Omakes at the end. Some will be canon, some non canon. The first omake will be named Lucky Boots. Let me know if there is interest

I will be using concepts and characters from Three Hopes but let me know if you want to see Shez or even Monica.