Two winged horses carried four eliminated participants through the air towards the observation point. Three of the four eliminated participants had two things in common. First, they were all from the Golden Deer House. Second, none of them were smiling.

Manuela said nothing when she stepped onto the observation point, her scowling expression and red face said enough. She stormed to the side of the platform and stood with her arms crossed and her brow furrowed.

'It's super annoying the way I went out!' Lysithea grumbled. She dropped herself onto the bench beside the other eliminated participants and crossed her arms. 'I didn't even manage to eliminate anyone!'

'Try not to be too disheartened,' Ignatz said. 'I'm sure you will'-

'Not now Ignatz, I'm thinking.'

'Oh, ok.'

Leonie accepted the high-fives from her classmates but said nothing. She met Jeralt's gaze. Her hero gave her a nod and a silent clap. Leonie forced herself to smile and then slumped down onto the bench.

Edelgard wasn't sure what expression she'd been expecting from Petra when she arrived at the observation point, but she definitely hadn't been expecting the smile she bore.

'You ok, Petra?' Dorothea asked, putting a hand on her shoulder. Petra nodded.

'I am. It is unfortunate but I sacrificed myself to eliminate Lysithea. It was a necessary thing.'

'How was it down there?' Edelgard asked. 'How was the professor?'

To the heiress's amazement, Petra's smile didn't fade.

'It is hard, but the professor helped us to believe.'

Hubert grunted. 'Not much point in believing now, is there?'

Petra, who'd clearly not picked up on his tone, shook her head.

'No, it may sound crazy, but I believe we can win.'

The Black Eagles stared at her, wide-eyed. Lorenz chuckled nearby.

'I don't know what you're laughing about, Lorenz,' Ingrid said. 'They probably have just as much chance, if not more than the Deer do.'

'No, you are mistaken-'

Edelgard looked at Petra, and then back down at the field.

For the first time since the beginning of the mock battle, she smiled.

'Claude! Everyone else is out, it's just us! Even Professor Manuela is out.' Hilda said.

Claude nodded, deducing that the fear in the girl's voice was from the realization that she might actually have to fight. He shrugged.

'I warned the professor not to underestimate Byleth.'

'We could um... surrender,' Marianne muttered. She'd spent the entire battle with her head down. Those had been her first words that day.

'You know what Marianne? I like your style!' Hilda said.

'Ah c'mon guys knock it off,' Claude said. 'The Black Eagles have three, we have three and two blue flags were taken down from the observation point just there. That means there's only four Blue Lions left. We're still in this.'

'But they still have their professors,' Hilda huffed.

Claude smiled and winked at her.

'Sure, but neither of them have me.'

The spectating crowd had erupted in cheers and boos when the two blue flags were brought down and another winged horse arrived, carrying Dedue and Annette.

'They were down with Professor Byleth and the others!' Petra said. 'They defeated them!'

'Wow, they might do it. We might actually win!' Dorothea said, shaking her fists excitedly.

'After seeing first-hand just how capable your professor is, I can't say that I'm surprised,' Ingrid said, still unable to hide the anger in her voice. Dorothea giggled and squeezed her shoulder.

'Professor Byleth is the real deal,' Raphael said. 'He took me down so easily!'

'I did not get the chance to duel him myself,' Lorenz said. 'He took my sash whilst I was already engaged in a fight. He has no respect or decency!'

'Waaa!' Dorothea cried sarcastically. Ingrid snorted and Lorenz's puffed his chest out.

'How dare you! I'-

'Byleth seems to have brought this battle back,' Rhea said.

'It seems so,' Seteth said. There was a wonder to his voice that made the corners of the archbishop's mouth rise.

Caspar watched with wide eyes as Annette and Dedue took their seats a few rows down from where he was.

He probably got lucky… had to have done…, he thought.