With the death of Kostas at the hands of Professor Byleth, the remaining thieves had wasted no time in throwing their arms down in surrender after witnessing their leader's defeat. Kratos observed as the Knights of Seiros swiftly flooded the courtyard to apprehend them. Ensuring Dimitri and the rest of the Blue Lions had sustained no serious injury, the Ghost of Sparta then withdrew from the commotion, making his way toward a cliff overlooking the canyon. Making sure there was no one else around to listen in on their conversation, Kratos lifted Mimir's head from his hip so that the two were at eye level with one another.

"Did something happen, Brother?" The Norse god asked his friend with genuine concern. "Because that was the first time I'd ever seen you hesitate in the middle of a battle." He paused for a moment before adding cautiously, " And it almost cost the life of one of our own."

Kratos thought for a moment. "I…" He wanted to say but then stopped. How could he possibly describe what had just happened that Mimir wasn't even aware of?

"Try not to think about it too much, Brother. Just explain what happened, and we'll both figure out the rest from there."

The brigand remained silent for a moment before speaking, "I came to Galatea's aid immediately after you called out the thief to me. I neutralized him, but then everything… stopped."

"Stopped?" Mimir repeated back. "As in, you were frozen in time?"

Kratos nodded. "Yes. I felt a guiding force dictating my action until I was suddenly back to where I was just a moment before, and everything that had happened began to repeat itself. It was as though I was…"

"Like you were going back in time." Mimir finished for him, his eyes widening a little. "And against your will, no less."

"Yes, that is… precisely what it felt like. You noticed it as well?"

The head let out a deep breath. "Truth be told, Brother… around that same time, I felt as though I was having a serious case of deja vu. But not to the same extent as you described it. But whatever that was, we need to move forward with extreme caution until we can figure out the cause of it. Since we're apparently in a place where Draupnir's magic doesn't work and the axe and blades are unable to find you, we can't take any unnecessary risks with the children." Both men went silent as they turned their gaze out over the cliff that overlooked the rest of the ruins. "...So, this is Zanado. The Red Canyon."

Kratos looked back at his friend. "Is something the matter?"

"Hardly. Only that this is the place where the canyon got its nickname."

"Elaborate."

"Oh, right. I keep forgetting that you're not one for studying history." This reply from Mimir caused Kratos to grumble in annoyance. "Anyways, you remember the Nabateans that I mentioned before? Well, as it turns out, this was where the goddess had crash-landed, and it is also where she and her children made their new home here in Fodlan. But apparently, legend has that when a certain faction of the humans rebelled, they came in and slaughtered all of Zanado's inhabitants, covering the canyon floor in their blood."

"I see." The ashen warrior thought for a moment. "The War of Heroes… what exactly happened?"

"Well, the details are a bit sparse. From what I read, Nemesis, the Fell King, became drunk with power after having defeated the armies who took arms against the goddess. But because he was gifted the blood of the progenitor god- and subsequently possessing strength that trumped over all 10 elites combined- they were forced to ally with Seiros to combat this new threat."

"Seiros… as in, the Church of Seiros?"

"Aye. She showed up one day in the Enbarr region some forty years before the founding of the Adrestian Empire, claiming to have been given a "gift to guide the lost," and began performing miracles to inspire those around her. Eventually, with her leadership, she and the Four Saints would participate in the Battle of Tailtean where Nemesis would ultimately be slain by Seiros' hands. Soon after, the Church of Seiros was founded in honor of her deeds." He pauses before finishing, "At least, that's what they say to have happened."

"Hmm." The spartan responded thoughtfully.

"Oh, by the way, look on over to your left there." Mimir gestured with his eyes. "You see her?" Kratos followed his line of sight, and he could see Byleth standing on a lower level of the ruins about fifty yards away from them. She too was gazing out into the open canyon, however, Kratos noticed that there was something odd with her movement.

For a moment, she tilted her head to the side with a hand to her chin, as though she was lost in thought. Then suddenly, her head snapped up in attention as though something had startled her before eventually relaxing. Both Kratos and Mimir watched as she remained stoic, until eventually, her body language changed as though she responding to a casual discussion.

"Seems like someone is having a bit of a silent conversation with themselves," Mimir commented. Kratos does not respond, instead opting to continue watching the woman before he can hear footsteps behind him.

"Erm, excuse me, Kratos, sir?" The Ghost of Sparta turned to find Prince Dimitri approaching, his left arm and shoulder bandaged and wrapped into a sling.

"Ah, hello there, Your Highness!" Mimir greeted him. "How's the wound in your shoulder treating you? Nothing severe, I hope."

Dimitri shook his head with a small smile. "It's fine, thank you. Mercedes says the arrow missed an artery, so she was able to treat it without much issue before the knights came to our aid."

"That's good to hear. Though, you were still lucky to have received an injury like that there rather than anywhere else."

"I appreciate your concern, Professor Mimir, but really. I'm fine. I just came here to inform you that we will be leaving for the monastery soon. Everyone here is ready to leave when you are." While Mimir and Dimitri were talking, Kratos turned his head back to where the Golden Deer Professor had been standing, only to realize that she'd already disappeared. "Erm, Sir Kratos?"

The brigand was silent for a moment before he finally replied, though he did not take his eyes off the spot where he was looking. "Yes," he said, finally returning his attention to the house leader. "Let us be on our way."

x-x-x

It was mid-afternoon when Kratos and the company entered through the front gates of Garreg Mach. Once on monastery grounds, the Knights of Seiros separated from the two classes to escort the remaining prisoners for judgment, while the rest of the group headed toward the school's armory to return the equipment issued for the day. Kratos, Byleth, and their respective house leaders diverged from the others, making their way to the Main Hall to report to the Archbishop.

"We're finally back," Said Dimitri with a heavy sigh. He turns to Kratos, "With all due respect, Sir Kratos, I think I'll go ahead and allow you to report to Lady Rhea while I head on over to the infirmary. I'm sorry, I hope that you understand…"

"There is no need to apologize, Your Highness," Mimir assured him from Kratos' hip. "Things rarely happen the way you want out on the battlefield, and these things are bound to happen at some point. We'll sort the rest of it out while you get that shoulder thoroughly looked at. There's no shame in looking out for yourself from time to time."

"I appreciate that, Professor," The crown prince bowed respectfully as best he could without the soreness in his injured arm.

"You should consider yourself lucky, Your Highness," Claude spoke up beside him. "Had it been anyone else who was more competent with a bow, we might be having a very different conversation right now."

"A conversation about what exactly?"

Everyone turned to see Edelgard, the House Leader of the Black Eagles, and her professor walking past the group toward the exit. However, upon seeing Dimitri and his bandaged arm, she stopped dead in her tracks. "Oh, Dimitri. I assume you've just returned from your mission?"

The prince stifled a chuckle. "How could you tell?"

"Call it a hunch." The young noblewoman answered.

Hearing this caused the blonde-haired boy to laugh. "And I'm guessing the Black Eagles have a mission to see to as well? Remember- on the real battlefield, one can never tell what's to come. You can never dismiss the possibility of the worst-case scenario."

"I appreciate your concern, Dimitri," Edelgard dismissed him. "But you don't need to repeat what Professor Mimir had just said back to me. If you doubt my abilities, then your lack of insight is disappointing."

The Blue Lion's House leader flustered. "That's… not what I meant. If I've offended you, then I hope you'll accept my apology."

"Don't worry about it," she half-assured him, then turned to Manuela. "Professor, we must hurry. Everyone is waiting for us," before leaving without another word.

As Edelgard walked away, Manuela let out a dramatic sigh. "I suppose I'll be off too. Try not to let her get to you, Dimitri. I promise, there's no need for concern." The songstress then looked up at Kratos and winked. "And, when I return, I'll look forward to hearing about your heroic endeavors from today's mission, Professor Kratos." She says to him before giving him a playful smack against his beefy arm.

Witnessing this caused Claude's eyes to widen a little at the sudden open flirtation from Manuela, and Dimitri covered his mouth with his good hand in a desperate attempt to stifle another laughter. Byleth, however, continued to stare blankly after Edelgard as she hurried down the stairs with her professor following close behind.

"Well, alright then," Mimir spoke up to break up the awkward atmosphere. "Let's not keep the Archbishop waiting any longer, shall we?"