They slogged up the ascending footpath and eventually reached a town beyond the walls. They walked along its cobbled roads crammed with bustling stalls before reaching a grand stone building that marked the entrance into the monastery and Officers Academy. Knights guarding the entrance saluted Alois as he neared. One in particular waved frantically. Alois spoke with one of them and then turned to Jeralt.

'It appears Lady Rhea is free at the moment. I would go and see her if I were you.'

'Oh here we go,' Jeralt groaned.

'Come now Jeralt it's been twenty years!' Alois said. 'Just say hi and then you can get some rest. Besides, I'm sure she'll love to meet your son!'

'I'm sure she will,' Jeralt muttered. Alois signalled for the knights to lead the rest of the mercenaries and students into the building, leaving only himself, Jeralt, Byleth and the three leaders.

'Thank you again for your help,' Dimitri said, stepping forward and shaking Jeralt's hand. He turned to Byleth and did the same. 'I look forward to getting to know you both better soon.'

'Nice meeting ya!' Claude said, shaking Byleth's hand after Dimitri stepped away. He winked. 'We'll attempt to bribe you some more later.'

Jeralt frowned but the boy turned away and Edelgard took his place.

'We shall see you soon,' she said, bowing. She smiled at Byleth and then disappeared into the building with Dimitri and Claude. Alois watched them go and smiled.

'They seem to have taken a liking to him,' Alois said, winking to Jeralt. 'He could make some amazing friends here, y'know.'

Jeralt shook his head. 'We'll go see Rhea.'

Alois nodded. 'Allow me to escort you. Although, I'm sure you know where we're going anyway!'

'Audience chamber?' Jeralt asked.

Alois smiled. He led Jeralt and Byleth into the building and out through a large courtyard covered in trimmed grass. It was separated by diverging stone paths that bustled with students, many of whom turned and gazed them.

But all of them looked away when Byleth met their eyes.

'Like Alois said, I used to be a knight here,' Jeralt murmured into his ear. 'It's a long story but certain events transpired that made me want to leave and so I did, eventually having you and founding the mercenary group. But anyway, we'll stay a day or so to get some rest and then go up to Gaspard. Sound good?'

Byleth nodded.

He followed Jeralt and Alois past buildings and along twists and turns until the crowds faded and no one else was in sight. They eventually reached another courtyard, and that's when Jeralt stopped and looked up.

'Rhea…,' he mumbled.

Byleth looked up and saw a balcony that jutted out from a building in front of them.

And then he saw the woman.

He couldn't breathe. The hairs on his neck rose and his stomach twisted. The woman was adorned in peculiar golden ornaments, a cloak and a tiara.

But it was her green hair that gripped his gaze.

'Just head on in and she'll meet you inside.'

Alois's voice made Byleth blink. Jeralt nodded. 'Let's go kid,' he said.

Byleth watched his father go. When he looked up again the woman was gone.

'It's been years since I've set eyes on this place...,' Jeralt said. 'To be forced to see her now...'

His voice echoed in the grand chamber on the second floor of the building. Pillars and carved statues of saints towered over them on either side of the room. The marble floor dazzled with different shades of beige, red, blue and green. There were no chips, marks or smudges to be seen. At the end of the room stood a grand chair and a large stainless window, coloured in yellow, purple and red. The room, in other words, was fit for a king, or queen, or emperor… or someone special.

'W-Who is Rhea?' Byleth asked, his mouth suddenly dry.

'As you know, the majority of folks in Fódlan are devout followers of the teachings of Seiros,' Jeralt said. 'The leader of that ridiculously large religious organization is the archbishop, Lady Rhea, and that was who I reported to when I was a knight here.'

Footsteps echoed from a nearby chamber to the right. Byleth and Jeralt turned.

Two people emerged. The first was a middle-aged man in a fancy suit and cloak. He had neck-long green hair and a thin stubble. He walked with his hands clasped behind his back and with a frown hung on his face. If he'd been the only person in the room, Byleth may have paid more attention to the colour of his eyes and hair. But he hardly noticed. He saw the second person and froze.

Lady Rhea wore a long white dress. A shortened blue cape adorned in golden ornaments that covered her shoulders, and a large golden cloak draped down her sides. Her eyes were green, matching the colour of her hair that hung down the front of her shoulders.

She looked at him, and goosebumps rippled on his skin.

'Thank you for your patience Jeralt,' the first man said. The tone of his voice matched the frown on his face. 'I am Seteth, an advisor to the archbishop.'

'Right, hello,' Jeralt said.

'It has been a long time, Jeralt,' Rhea said. Her voice was soft and yet Byleth shivered. 'I wonder... was it the will of the goddess that we have another chance meeting like this?'

'Forgive my silence all these years,' Jeralt said. He coughed and gave an awkward bow. 'Much has happened since we last spoke.'

The woman looked at Byleth and he froze. She smiled.

'So I see,' she said. 'The miracle of fatherhood has blessed you. That is your child, is it not?'

Jeralt nodded. 'Yes, born many years after I left this place. I wish that I could've introduced you to the mother of the child, but I'm afraid we lost her to illness.'

'I see... my condolences,' Rhea said, still watching Byleth. 'As for you, Alois told me of your valiant efforts in Remire village. What is your name?'

'Byleth,' he forced out.

'That is a lovely name indeed,' she said. 'From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for saving the students from the Officers Academy. Now, you look exhausted my child and you need cleaned. Have you had magic healing?'

Byleth nodded and she smiled.

'I'm glad to hear. (She signalled to a knight at the entrance.) Please, allow my knight to guide you to our resting quarters. We shall speak again when you've had time to rest. Take as long as you need.'

Byleth turned and limped to the exit. He didn't look back.

Outside, he limped behind the knight, trying to slow his breathing.

'One, two, three… back'-

'Hey Albert!'

Byleth looked up. The knight he'd been following had moved ahead of him and was now talking to a young, plump-looking knight who held a salute. His grin matched the goofy tone of his voice.

'What is it?' the first knight grumbled.

'I was passing on a message and heard that the son of Jeralt needs to be taken to his room. It would be my honour to guide him and show him around!'

"Albert" glared at the younger knight and shrugged. 'Fine.'

'Where is he?'

Albert pointed back to Byleth, and for the first time, the young knight met his gaze.

His goofy grin faltered.

Albert marched back towards the audience chamber, leaving the Byleth alone with the knight. The plump man gave an awkward bow.

'G-Greetings my friend, I'm Dudley. What's your name?'

'Byleth.'

The knight nodded, forcing a smile on his face. 'Well, I'm normally the gatekeeper around here b-but today I'm going to be your… (he raised his arms and shook his heads) tour guide!'

Byleth rubbed his eyes and nodded.

'You… um… (the gatekeeper scratched his forehead) you look like you could use a rest. (He sniffed and crinkled his nose.) Think you could do with a wash as well, follow me.'

Byleth limped alongside the gatekeeper. They passed through grand chambers and large bright green courtyards bustling with more students.

'I heard it was you and your father's mercenaries that saved our students. Thank you for your heroic actions!'

'It's okay.'

'Well, the least I can do is to assist you during your stay here at the monastery. Whenever I'm not guarding the gates I'll come around and make sure you're doing fine!'

They continued walking and Byleth's eyes grew heavier. A question entered his mind, one that he didn't like.

Why did that woman bother me so much?

'Are you alright?' the gatekeeper asked. 'You don't look too well.'

'Yeah, take me to my room.'

'Are you sure? You don't wanna wash up first?'

Byleth shook his head and the gatekeeper shrugged. Five minutes later, they turned onto another cobbled road towards a large stone building. It had a long row of grand, wooden doors. Dudley opened the second one.

'Here's your quarters! Go on in and rest. If you need anything just shake the bell hanging by the door. As your trusty tour guide, I shall'-

Byleth shut the door behind him. He stumbled to the bed and lowered himself down, his shoulders and chest burning in hot, stiff pain as he did so. He sat down on its edge and rubbed his face, once again trying to slow his breathing.

'One, two'-