Byleth listened to the church bells ring outside and felt himself tense.

It'd been a sunny day with clear, blue skies. Such weather was uncommon for the month of Great Tree Moon, but it could happen, just at it'd done the previous day. Although Moira had told him to rest in the infirmary until Sunday, she'd said he could go outside at any point if he wanted to if he didn't push himself. It would've been good for him to have done so, for he'd been inside for days, yet he'd spent his time sat on the edge of his chair, digging his fingernails into his palms.

He had a lot on his mind.

Edelgard believed that Seteth would ask him to resume his role as professor of the Black Eagle House and he believed her, all the signs pointed to it. The idea of becoming professor again, however, made him feel sick. He'd spent hours thinking about what he'd say to Seteth but had found himself struggling to think clearly. He thought he knew why.

'Did you not wish to go outside today?' Sothis asked.

'No.'

'Why not?'

'Not in the mood.'

'You have been stuck inside for days and yet you do not wish to go outside?'

When Byleth didn't respond, she spoke again.

'Something about reassuming the role of a professor is troubling you. I have not read your thoughts and I will not do so without your permission, but you have become much more tense since Edelgard spoke to you earlier.'

'I don't want to be a professor.'

Byleth spat the words out, loudly, and it surprised him. Sothis spoke, but he, for a moment, didn't hear her. Footsteps came up the spiralling staircase and down the corridor towards him. He recognised the gait immediately and his chest tightened.

'Byleth? You are growing more tense.'

Byleth stared at the door and clenched his hands. The door opened and Seteth entered the room and peered down at him.

'Byleth, I apologise that I was unable to visit you earlier,' the green-haired man said, 'it has been a busy day. How are you?'

'B-Better.'

Seteth's frown was deeper than usual and dark puffy bags hung under his eyes. 'I am glad, may I sit with you?'

Byleth nodded, feeling a bead of sweat trickle down the side of his forehead. Seteth lowered himself onto a nearby chair and gave him a long stare, resting his chin on one hand.

'I spoke with Moira and she reckons you are all but better now. Would you agree with her?'

Byleth nodded again.

'You are fit and able to move around, to fight, to… resume normal life, for a lack of a better word?'

'Yes.'

'And I spoke to Professor Hanneman as well. He confirmed you not only have a crest, but one that we potentially have not detected before.'

'Yes.'

'A unique crest would certainly explain why you have such a unique ability in the form of healing in your sleep. It also helps to validate your strange illness, as it is likely your crest was behind it. I'-

He stopped himself and sighed. He stared down at the floor and then back up at Byleth.

'Before I continue, I want to reiterate that I am choosing to place my trust in you and that you have been truthful with myself and Moira about your condition over the past few days. 'Please do not treat this faith lightly.'

He paused momentarily, as if giving Byleth a chance to say something, and then continued. 'In believing you, I wish to extend my apologies to you now. Your pain must have put you through a traumatic time recently, and our doubt of you must not have helped. I am sure you can understand where our uncertainty came from, with this being an issue we have never encountered before, but nonetheless, I am sorry for the stress you must have gone through.'

Byleth nodded again, feeling his sweaty skin stick to his shirt. None of what Seteth had said surprised him. In fact, in that moment, he didn't care. What mattered to him was what the man intended to say next.

It was what was making him dig his fingernails into his palms.

'Your illness affected you in the training ground, which makes it unfair to judge your ability based on what happened that day. I also spoke with the Black Eagles today, Caspar and Hubert included, and they both stated that they wish to give you another chance as their teacher. In my eyes, it seems reasonable to reinstate you as professor of the Black Eagles for the time being.'

'Okay,' Byleth said, clenching his hands even tighter. If Seteth sensed how he felt then he didn't show it.

'Edelgard has specifically requested that you are allowed to return as their professor on Monday, which would give you two days with them to prepare for the mock battle. She argued that the sooner you return, the quicker you shall bonf with the students and so the more effective you will be as a team when undertaking official assignments for the church, which is true. The mock battle offers a great team-bonding opportunity, but it also provides you a fair platform in which to demonstrate your leadership abilities to all of Gareg Mach Monastery, myself and Lady Rhea included.'

Byleth now wished he'd went outside. He wished he'd went out and hadn't returned. Had reaching the top of the stone steps pushed him over the edge? Or had he simply reached a breaking point from all the stress he'd accumulated over the past week? Either way, he was very close to simply standing up and leaving the room.

The students don't want me back, Edelgard just forced them to go along with what she wanted.

His forehead started to pulse.

'Byleth,' Sothis said, 'I can feel it, you are tormenting yourself. Please, let me help you.'

Because I killed a few bandits in Remire she thinks I'm capable of leading the future rulers of Adrestia. That me… a-

His jaw tightened.

They will hate me because-

'Byleth,' Sothis repeated.

'Do you think you would be ready to resume your role on Monday? It is only a few days away, but with your crest working again I would imagine you will have no problems in being ready for then. However, there is no pressure to say yes if you believe you need more time to recover. The choice is yours.'

Byleth fought the urge to shake his head and then wondered why. He'd previously accepted the role because Jeralt had told him he couldn't say no to Lady Rhea. In that moment, however, he didn't care about her.

I can't be a professor. I don't want to be and…-

He cleared his throat and looked Seteth in the eye.

And then he saw black.