(Author's Note)
Hey guys, I'm back!
I uh, got a LOT done today, and considering the fact that I'm pretty sure I'm now also done Chapter 11 (Will be released a week from now), I figured I'm fine with dropping a chapter that's a bit... shorter than normal.
Now, I'm not gonna waste more time and I'm just gonna get into reviews!
To JustBazik: The Judgement Arcana is the big "turning point" arcana. From what I've played of the games, and from what some of the other reviews have pointed out, it's the social link that tends to have major conciquences for how the story ends. (I.e: good or bad ending, kind of conciquences.)
To Bosterflaming: I haven't really thought about FE Heroes stuff. Mainly because I haven't really played the game much myself. So, maybe, but not currently in the works.
To Redpika: Glad to have all of that confirmed for me. And I did not intend for that to happen, I think I just forgot I made the joke the first time, but hey, it works!
Alright, thats all the reviews I can really answer. Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed, if you got time, please do so. They really help my motivation.
Right, onto the story!
"They look like they're having fun." Morgana said, lying on the counter as the two thieves looked onwards towards the students of the Black Eagle house as they celebrated.
Ren nodded with a smile, crossing his arms. He glanced over to Byleth, who had taken a seat at one of the stools by the counter. "Need a refill?"
Byleth nodded, sliding the cup over to the teen, who quickly got to work making a new cup.
"I believe it's been stated enough times already, but excellent work today." Edelgard said, walking over to the two. "While our victory should have come as no surprise…"
"It was easy." Byleth responded simply.
"Yes, it was. In hindsight, it may have been a tad much, but what's done is done." Edelgard nodded. "Either way, it's further proof the two of you are well qualified to guide the Black Eagles."
Ren smiled, passing a new cup of coffee over to Byleth. "Thank you for having us, then." The teen replied, leaning on the countertop.
"Please, the pleasure is ours." Dorothea butted in, speaking up from her spot in one of the booths, her arm hanging over Bernadetta's shoulder.
"That was impressing, Sensei!" Petra began, before pausing. "I mean… Impressive. We gained a victory because of your great leadership."
"We certainly did." Dorothea nodded, ignoring the sight of Bernadetta stealing a cookie from her plate as she turned her head to look at her Professor's. "We all tried our best, as much as some of us could during the planning phase anyways, but we couldn't have won without the two of you."
"I was curious what it would look like if you did not hold back..." Ferdinand began, a nervous laugh rumbling out of his throat as he loosened the collar of his shirt. "You certainly didn't disappoint. It far exceeded my expectations."
"Hmph." Hubert placed his hand against his chin, looking at the group from his seat at the stool near the end of the counter. "As much as I'd like to say we owe this victory to Lady Edelgard, there's no denying our professors' efforts vastly outweighed everyone else's."
"We had the more complicated aspects of the plan to work with, yes." Ren nodded in agreement. "But it would not have nearly gone so well without the others."
"In the end, the rest of us were just the insurance in case necessary." Linhardt shrugged. "I mean, it worked, but…"
"Don't worry about it too much, Linhardt. All that matters is that we won!" Caspar said, clapping a hand onto his friend's shoulder.
Bernadetta sunk into the cushion of the booth, looking off to the side. "I'm all done with being on the battlefield, OK? I'd rather stay back then pursue victory out there."
"You are all as ridiculous as always." Edelgard said, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "We only managed to win because we worked together."
The rest of the Black Eagle house paused and turned to stare at Edelgard. The Imperial princess froze, looking over at her fellow students in light surprise. "Was it something I said?" She asked. "Is it so odd, me talking about togetherness? If so, that perception must change. In fact, I'm canceling the festivities so we can discuss this topic further."
Voices rang out pleading for a single second before they were silenced by Edelgard chuckling. "I'm kidding, of course. We're already here, aren't we?" Edelgard said. "We've earned this celebration."
"You most certainly have." Byleth nodded, raising her mug up before taking a sip of the coffee within.
Ren smiled, before the door to the café opened with the chime of bells. "Hm?" The teen blinked, turning to look at the door as Seteth stepped inside. "Seteth. Good to see you. Can I do anything for you?"
"Lady Rhea requests an audience with the two of you." Seteth said, looking over at Byleth and Ren. "I figured I'd stop by and collect you myself."
"Very well." Byleth said, before chugging the coffee in the cup. She placed the empty cup on the counter and paused at the look Ren was giving her. "What?"
"What did it do to deserve that…?" Ren muttered in Japanese.
"Hey, that Seteth guy's still waiting!" Morgana said, snapping Ren out of his thoughts.
"Oh, right." Ren nodded, walking out from behind the counter. He paused next to Seteth, turning to address the room. "Feel free to keep the party going here for now. Don't touch anything you're not supposed to. Morgana, you're in charge."
"You're leaving your cat in charge?" Linhardt asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, when you put it like that…" Ren trailed off, looking off to the side for a moment before looking back at his students. "Yes."
"Let's… get moving then." Seteth said, walking out the door with the professors in tow.
"Lady Rhea, I've brought them." Seteth said, walking into the room with Byleth and Ren.
"Thank you, Seteth." Rhea said with a nod, turning to look at the two. Ren stopped next to Byleth, the two facing opposite the Advisor and Archbishop. "Congratulations on your victory today. You both greatly exceeded any expectations we had for you."
Ren smiled and rubbed his head awkwardly. "We might've gone a bit overboard with it though…"
"While some might think so, I do not. Your work with the students was remarkable. I can see Jeralt trained you well." Rhea began, smiling at the two Professors before her. "I do hope you were able to use the occasion to bond with the students."
"We did." Byleth replied simply.
"I am so happy to hear it." Rhea continued, the light smile on her face growing deeper. "Nothing would please me more than if you used this coming year to grow closer."
"Of course, the mock battle was mere practice. The real fight is the battle or Eagle and Lion, which will take place during the Wyvern Moon." Seteth stated.
'Mental note, check what month that translates to…' Ren thought to himself idly.
"You are expected to properly train your students so as not to humiliate the academy during the long-held tradition that is the upcoming battle." Seteth continued, crossing his arms. "Though considering your performance today, perhaps it would be best you also allowed the other houses to have a fighting chance when the time comes."
"Putting the battle of Eagle and Lion aside for the time being, I have called you both here today to tell you about your mission for the month ahead." Rhea said.
"Mission?" Ren asked in confusion.
"Ah, I believe we did not have the chance to go over this aspect of your employment." Seteth began. "Those affiliated with Garreg Mach Monastery have a moral obligation to help those in need, regardless of social standing. Students are no exception. Each month, before the newly birthed moon departs, each house must complete their assigned mission."
"You shall work to complete the task at hand alongside your students and report back to the Archbishop before the deadline." Seteth finished, crossing his arms. "Understood?"
Ren nodded slowly, a pit in his stomach slowly beginning to form at this news. "Right… and this month's mission?"
"Your class is to dispose of some bandits causing trouble nearby." Rhea explained, the pit fully dropping in Ren's stomach as the words were uttered.
'Dispose…' Ren thought to himself. He placed his hands behind his back and gripped them tightly, doing his best to keep his face neutral at this news.
"Understood." Byleth nodded, undisturbed by this news.
"I will soon provide you with the necessary details for your first mission." Seteth began. "If I told you now, I expect you would only forget, and I despise repeating myself."
"I can sense something special within your heart…" Rhea said, eyes locked onto Byleth, before they turned to Ren and widened a fraction. "And I sense the same from you…"
"I have high hopes for the two of you." Rhea finished, turning to walk out of the room.
"I should let you both know that classes will start up properly next week. Until then, consider this time off to prepare. I'll deliver this term's material sometime before then." Seteth said, before quickly following after the Archbishop.
Ren stared at the floor, his vision blurring for a moment as his mind flashed back to the day he arrived at Fódlan, and the battle against the bandits in Remire.
It was the feeling of a hand gripping his shoulder that brought him out of that rabbit hole, as Byleth tilted her head. "...Are you alright?"
"...Yeah." Ren nodded letting his hands drop to his sides.
Byleth blinked, looking down at the teen's palms. "You're bleeding."
Ren blinked, raising his hands up. Blood had been drawn, he could tell because they lightly coated the tips of his fingernails, but it wasn't deep enough to cause blood to flow freely out.
"...Oh."
Byleth removed her hand from her shoulder. "We should head back to the students."
"...Right." Ren nodded, slowly walking out of the audience chamber with Byleth.
"We're back." Ren announced to the students within his café, walking into the store with Byleth close behind.
"Ah, Sensei!" Ferdinand smiled, standing up from his seat at the booth near the back. "Professor! I take it the meeting went well?"
"We were given a brief introduction to our class's mission next month, but not enough that I feel comfortable with sharing." Byleth responded, walking over to the students as Ren made for the coffee machine.
"Right, those…" Linhardt said with a sigh. "Can't say I'm looking forward to those…"
"No one should." Ren said, drawing eyes to him as he tensely poured out a cup of Coffee for himself. "You can enjoy fighting, the feeling of bettering yourself and testing what you know against another, but you should never look forward to battle."
"He's right." Byleth nodded, crossing her arms. "For those who may not know, or just for redundancy, our monthly missions will likely have us fighting opponents with the intent to kill. We can't afford to respond with anything else. Never look forward to a fight you know will have you take lives."
"H-how could we?" Bernadetta asked quietly, pressing herself further into Dorothea's side.
"By letting the murder stop bothering you." Ren replied softly, taking a seat by the counter. "...This got off track fast, this is supposed to be a celebration, right?"
"Yes, I do believe it was." Hubert responded, glancing over at Ren out of the corner of his eye. "Apologies for my bluntness Sensei, but how are you and the professor feeling about all this?"
"Hubert?" Edelgard glanced over at her retainer.
"I don't know, not really. Everything's a bit… muddy right now." Ren replied with a shrug.
"It's a mission. I'm used to it. And by the time we head out for it, we'll have all of you ready to face it." Byleth replied, letting her gaze fall over her students. "I promise, our victory is as decided as today's was."
"...She's right." Ren agreed, taking a sip of his coffee. "Besides, we were only able to use 3 of you today, imagine what we'd accomplish with all of you?"
"When he puts it like that, I almost feel sorry for whoever we're going up against." Dorothea noted with a chuckle.
"For now, you guys should head out. The celebrations should be starting up proper soon anyways. I have a café to clean up." Ren said, motioning to the room with his off hand.
"You sure you don't want any of us to stay behind to help?" Caspar asked. "We were the ones who made a bit of a mess."
"I'm sure. I have to go over inventory anyways." Ren waved the teen off.
"We'll leave it to you then." Edelgard nodded, standing up.
Ren watched silently as the café emptied out, leaving behind only him and Morgana.
"You know… it's really hard putting on a strong face to the people looking up to you for guidance…" Ren muttered absent-mindedly.
"...Ren?" Morgana asked, looking up at the teen as he walked over.
"Hey, Ren, you there…?" Morgana asked again, looking at the teen with a worried look on his face. "Joker!"
Ren snapped his head up, breathing heavily as he looked at Morgana. "Mona…?"
"There we go. You alright there, you've been… off since you got back from the meeting. You were acting like you did when we were trying to fool Crow." Morgana said.
"...I… Dammit, I thought I was done with it all." Ren said, gritting his teeth. "I thought this was a chance to live a relatively normal life and now… Now-!"
The teen's throat burned as a scream ripped its way out of his lungs, his arm swinging to the side as he threw the cup in his hands across the room. Small pieces of white ceramic scattered as it crashed against the ground, the coffee that was held within spilling out across the floor.
Morgana stared in shock at his partner as the teen ran a hand through his hair. "You know, I don't think I've been this… emotional since I found out that Shido was the one who got me arrested and slapped with the false charge." Ren said, gripping his hair. "But here I am…"
"Specifics, now. I get you wanting to wait to tell the students, but you need to keep me filled in." Morgana stated, hopping up onto the counter.
"As you no doubt figured out, I am required to partake in missions every month. These missions are going to take me and my students out to go fight people. Do some good 'ol 'peacekeeping', as it were." Ren began, closing his eyes as he hissed out his next sentence. "I'm to 'dispose' of a group of bandits at the end of the month."
"...Shit."
"Yeah." Ren snorted. "Exactly… So much for keeping my hands clean."
"They're sending kids to kill bandits." Morgana stated, glaring. "What is WRONG with this world!?"
"I wish I could tell you." Ren said, opening his eyes.
"Hey, what are you going to do about it all?" Morgana asked.
"...The only thing I can do. Make sure my student's get out of this safely." Ren said after a moment, placing his hands on the counter. "Their mental state included."
"But what about yours?"
The two fell into a tense silence for roughly a minute, simply to sit and acknowledge the reality before them.
"...I need to ask Anna for another cup." Ren deflected with a sigh, walking over to the broken pieces as he began to clean up the mess. It didn't take long, barely a minute, but all evidence of the outburst had been disposed of.
"...Hey, you have company." Morgana said, jumping down behind the counter as someone knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Ren said as he picked up a dirty cup, beginning to clean it off.
The bell rang out through the café as the door opened, revealing the Archbishop as she quickly walked into the space.
"Hm?" Ren blinked, looking up from where he was busy cleaning cups as he caught sight of the new visitor. His eyebrows rose in surprise. "Lady Rhea?"
"Professor Amamiya. I hope my arrival isn't a bother." Rhea said, smiling lightly as she stepped inside, the door closing behind her.
"No… not at all." Ren said, shaking his head as he dried his wet hands on a hand towel. He kept his eyes down at the towel, avoiding eye contact as he attempted to wrangle his emotions together. "Please, take a seat. I was just cleaning up the party I threw for my house."
"I can see that." Rhea said, looking up at the red banners strewn about. "As I said earlier, congratulations on your victory."
"It wouldn't have gone as smoothly if I didn't have the students to bounce ideas off of." Ren said, playing with one of the locks of his bangs. "But nevermind that, can I get you any refreshments? I have Coffee, some assorted teas and a few leftover pastries from the party if you're interested."
"The house blend, please." Rhea said, taking a seat in one of the booths.
"It'll just be a minute." Ren said with a smile, quickly getting to work on the coffee.
"Are you going to be alright?" Morgana whispered to Ren from behind the counter.
"I'll manage. For now… just stay behind here." Ren replied just as quietly.
"Roger." Morgana nodded, moving aside as Ren picked up two cups of coffee.
Ren walked over to her booth, placing the two cups onto the table as he sat down opposite from her. "That painting…" Rhea began.
"A gift from a friend of mine." Ren said, glancing over at it. A smile etched itself onto his face as he looked over at his friends. "It's a recreation of a celebration we were having near year's end."
"I see." Rhea nodded, picking her cup up and taking a sip. Her eyes widened as she placed the cup down and took a breath in. "Well, I can't say Seteth was lying."
Ren simply smirked, quickly hiding it behind his cup as he took another sip. "So, what brings you here? Besides the coffee."
"How are you feeling?" Rhea asked the teen. "Are you adjusting to the monastery?"
"That's a bit of a loaded question…" Ren said, letting out a low breath. "Well, I assume as well as I could so far. I was, AM, concerned, I guess."
"Why?" Rhea asked.
"Because they're young." Ren said, leaning back into his seat. "I'm 17, some of my student's are older than I am and some are even younger. And I've been asked to prepare them to fight."
Ren took a sip of his coffee, the action loosening his shoulders, likely done to calm him down. "...I took my first life just barely over a week ago. I… came across a bandit attack and tried to help repel them. I met Byleth and Jeralt then and we succeeded, but not without staining my hands."
Rhea took a sip of her drink. "I was under the assumption you were combat trained before this."
"I was. But that was self taught, and never meant to be used to end a human." Ren replied, shaking his head. "A few days later we repelled another attack, saving Claude, Dimitri and Edelgard in the process. I froze mid-fight when it happened again."
"Permission to speak honestly, Archbishop?" Ren asked after a moment of silence.
"This IS your abode. Feel free." Rhea responded.
"I was fine getting stuck as a Professor of this academy at first because I was of the understanding that I could live a life free of senseless murder." Ren said, crossing his arms. "I'm still… Sorting out how I feel about having the rug ripped out from under me about how wrong that assumption is."
"You have been tasked with disposing of bandits, people who live theirs lives running others'." Rhea responded calmly, before raising an eyebrow. "Why do you believe their deaths to be senseless?"
The question hadn't come out to be condescending, nor did it give the impression the Archbishop was looking down on the teen. It was a simple question of opinion, a good spirited one at that.
"All murder is senseless." Ren responded, eyes hardening. "There's nothing honorable about it, and I believe there are fates much worse than death and those are more often than not better suited compared to letting someone take the easy way out."
"I see." Rhea nodded, taking another sip of her coffee. "You said at first. Has something changed?"
"...I'd like to say that I'm not qualified to help these kids, but I can't. Because I am." Ren said with a sigh, looking at the cup in his hands. "The world is dumb. It's stupid and the fact we end up dragging kids that haven't even reached the height of maturity into battles is morally questionable, morally bankrupt worst."
"That is still the world we live in unfortunately." Rhea said with a nod. "I believe many would wish it wasn't."
"They're the smart ones then. These kids, my students, are my responsibility." Ren finally said, looking up at Rhea. "I can't say I'm perfect, but I will do everything in my power to make sure these kids can live their lives happily when they graduate, and well beyond that point. If that means I have to lead them into a bloody battlefield, so be it."
"...I am glad that you see it that way, and that I was not wrong in placing my trust in you." She replied with a smile. "You are truly an interesting individual, Ren Amamiya. I look forward to seeing how you grow from here."
"Yeah… so do I." Ren said, a slight smile on his face.
Time froze, chains flew, and a bond was forged once more.
I am Thou, Thou art I…
Thou hast acquired a new vow.
It shall become the wings of rebellion
that breaketh thy chains of captivity.
With the birth of the Judgement Persona,
I have obtained the winds of blessing that
shall lead to freedom and new power…
{RANK UP!}
Ren swallowed, face quickly turning pail at the arcana tied to Rhea. "Ren?"
"Hm?" Ren blinked, looking up at Rhea as time resumed. He quickly forced his features back to normal, hiding the sudden panic that had rushed through him moments earlier.
"It's nothing. Thank you for the coffee. I must be off, I'd rather not have Seteth throwing the monastery into a zoo because I disappeared for too long." Rhea said, getting up from her seat.
"Wait, you didn't let Seteth know you…?" Ren began, before trailing off with a smile. "Come around again when the café's open and I can make you another cup."
"I think I'll do that." Rhea said, walking out the front door.
Ren moved over to the front door and slowly locked it, before collapsing onto the floor, leaning against the door.
"Of course… of course that's what she is…" Ren muttered to himself hysterically.
"Hey, what happened?" Morgana asked, walking out from behind the counter.
"She's Judgment." Ren said in a deadpan.
"...Oh."
"Yeah. Oh."
"Interesting." Ren blinked, looking up from the chess board to face his opponent. The detective quickly moved his knight up on the board, pausing to check the changed landscape. "Have you been holding out on me?"
"Considering I lost last time, I doubt it's anything like that." Ren shrugged, picking up a black rook with his right hand. He moved it forward, knocking over one of Akechi's wayward pawns as he placed it onto the board. "I think I've simply gotten better."
"That is a fair assumption." Akechi nodded, looking up from the board. "So, onto the subject of today's meeting. Junya Kaneshiro, latest target of the Phantom Thieves."
"Crime boss. Ran a drug trafficking ring." Ren fired off the list as he watched Akechi move his bishop up next to his knight. "Some of the other students at Shujin got caught up in his work. Blackmailed them so they kept in line…"
Ren shrugged, moving his pawn forward. "I can see the appeal and why the thieves thought he'd be a good target."
"Yes, so can I. What better way to announce your justice than to bring down someone who is clearly 'evil'." Akechi responded, moving his other knight up the board. "To most, that would alleviate many people's worries about their exploits."
"But considering you're here and we're having this conversation..." Ren trailed off, motioning to the empty café Akechi had invited him to. He rolled his eyes. "You're still a skeptic."
"I'm a realist."
"Tomato, Tomato."
"What's to say that they won't eventually become more drastic with their work? Why should we feel safe knowing there is a group of anonymous individuals out there that are capable of completely changing a person in an instant with zero accountability?" Akechi shot back, taking a sip of his coffee as Ren moved his own knight up. "Perhaps they won't ever stoop to such lows, but in my line of work, it's more productive to consider all possibilities and assume the worst."
"With an attitude like that I'm glad you're not a lawyer." Ren chuckled, watching as Akechi moved his own pawn forward.
"Of course. I would question my sanity if I became a lawyer in a country where the success rate is heavily skewed in the prosecution's favor." Akechi replied, narrowing his eyes as Ren's knight took the pawn. He responded quickly, responding in kind as his rook took the black knight off the board. "Detective work is more than enough for me."
"I'm well aware of the prosecution rate, believe me." Ren said, moving his rook forward and taking out Akechi's. "I don't believe they'd ever end up killing anyone though…"
"Believing is all well and good, but it will only take you so far." Akechi continued, moving his other knight forward, continuing the trend and taking out Ren's rook.
"Then what do you think will happen if they really do get to that point?" Ren asked, moving another of his pawns up.
"To the public or the thieves?" Akechi asked, sliding his queen up the board
"To me." Ren finished, picking his king up as he moved it to the center of the board
Akechi paused, leaning back in his chair as he looked over at Ren. "...I don't believe that's how chess is played, Joker."
"The rules are mine to command when it's played in my dreams, Crow." Ren replied, narrowing his eyes behind his false glasses. "Well, assuming I'm actually talking to the genuine article and not my subconscious right now."
"Close, but not quite." Akechi replied, his body flashing blue as the surroundings burned away to a white void, the mechanical form of Metatron the only thing present besides the thief.
"Metatron." Ren said with a nod.
"Trickster." Metatron responded in kind, head tilting just enough to be courteous, despite how stiff of an action it was.
"I take it you're the one who dragged me into this dream?" Ren asked.
"I did." Metatron responded. "May I ask what gave it away?"
"Akechi and I didn't start playing chess until he came to Leblanc, which was well after Kaneshiro's change of heart." Ren answered. "So let me ask, why do this?"
"To help you understand." Metatron replied, leaning forward. "Man does not always get a choice, but you have one. Listen to me well, Trickster. You are at the center of a web spanning eons, and the only way to escape the web is to play by your own rules and make a bigger web."
"Why is it that everytime one of you guys try to give me advice, it's muddled by cryptic nonsense?" Ren asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Because at the end of the day, you have to be the one to come to a conclusion." Metatron said. "So decide, and don't regret your actions, for they are yours."
"...I haven't yet."
"Good, let us all hope that doesn't change."
"My actions, huh?" Ren muttered to himself, finalizing his preparations with the coffee grinder in front of him. "Alright, all set up."
Ren paused, looking up from the coffee grinder in front of him as the café door opened with a chime. "Morning." He said simply, nodding at Byleth as his Co-Professor walked towards him.
"It is." She replied simply, taking a seat at the counter.
Ren shook his head with a light smile, pouring out a cup of Coffee. "Coffee?"
"Thanks." She nodded, taking the handle of the mug as it was passed to her. Her eyes locked onto the teen, watching as he poured out another cup. "...I wanted to ask you something."
"Hm?" Ren blinked, raising an eyebrow.
"Something's distracting you. You seem… off." Byleth said, glancing to the side in thought.
"Ah." The thief closed his eyes, taking a sip of his coffee. "Well, my hand's fine. Nothing a quick vulnerary couldn't fix up…"
"That's… good." Byleth said, her eyebrows scrunched lightly. "...but that wasn't what I was really asking."
"I've been asked to send my students into battle with actual bandits." Ren said, crossing his arms. "I'm doing better now that I've had time to think and figure out my plan than I was yesterday."
Byleth nodded, taking a sip of her coffee. She placed the mug onto the counter and looked over at the teen. "What are you doing after this?"
"Haven't decided yet." Ren said with a shrug.
"Then I suppose I know what both of us will be doing now." Byleth said, finishing her coffee. The swordswoman stood up and turned to the door, walking outside. "Come on."
"Wait, what? Byleth!"
"Any biters yet?" Byleth asked, glancing over at Ren out of the corner of her eye.
"Nope." Ren replied. "Nothing yet."
'I'd probably be getting more bites if I made use of my third eye, but that feels like a bit much…' Ren thought to himself, before glancing over at Byleth. 'Also, don't know if I want to acknowledge the fact she might be haunted yet. Plus, how'd I even explain my third eye anyway?'
"Ren?" Byleth placed a hand on the teen's shoulder, breaking him out of his internal thoughts.
"Sorry, spaced out for a second." Ren replied, looking back out of the pond.
Byleth reeled her line in and lightly huffed at the empty catch. She reached over and stuck more bait on the hook before sending her line back out. "...I'm not… happy, with this arrangement either."
"Hm?"
"Sending students out to fight." Byleth said. "I was a bit of a… special case, so I grew up surrounded by this fighting. I'm ready for what's gonna happen."
"They're not." Ren followed up, glancing at the mercenary.
"Some aren't. I can tell there's a few that are, but the majority isn't ready." Byleth corrected with a nod. "So before we go in, I need to know. Are you ready?"
"...I never really had a choice when I fought those bandits. Do or die went both ways and here I am… still doing." Ren began, sighing. "...I'm annoyed by the fact this is what we're doing, perhaps angry at the messed up state of the world that led to this, but I'm tired of thinking like that. So instead, I'm just trying to think of how I'm gonna get those kids back home safely after these missions."
"...No, that's a terrible idea." Byleth suddenly responded.
"Huh?" Ren blinked, turning to look over at Byleth.
"Ah, no, not your idea, just… one that popped into my head just now." Byleth responded, turning to look out towards the pond.
"...Right." Ren nodded slowly, turning back to look at the pond.
"What do you mean that's a terrible idea! You're alone with him, there's no one else here! And you're already considered kind of weird by people!" Sothis pestered Byleth mentally.
'Yes, because telling someone I'm working with as a teacher that I'm haunted is such a good idea.' Byleth responded.
"Your sarcasm needs work, but that's not the point!" Sothis began. "He heard my voice!"
'You think he heard your voice.'
"Well what else would you call that weird interaction we had with him post capture the flag?" Sothis asked.
'Okay, but why is he the only one who can hear you if he did?'
"I don't know! That's why you need to ask him!"
'Counterpoint, I like being considered sane.'
"Okay, that's a boldfaced lie and we both know that."
'But I do though.'
"Doesn't stop most of the people you know from thinking otherwise!"
"I figured I'd find you here." Jeralt began, walking over towards Byleth and Ren. Ren gave a passing wave while Byleth snapped out of her internal conversation. "Congratulations, by the way."
"Thanks." Ren said, looking out at the pond.
"I take it you've heard about the monthly missions?" Jeralt asked, crossing his arms. The quiet huff from Ren was his only confirmation. "So you have."
"Rhea and Seteth told us yesterday after our debrief." Byleth replied.
"If you're gonna apologize for holding the information, don't. I've done nothing but think it over all day and I'm pretty sure I'm scaring the fish away by doing so…" Ren said, glaring at his fishing rod as if it had wronged him.
"Then some advice." Jeralt replied, sitting down between the two. "Spend this time to the fullest."
Ren blinked, turning to look at Jeralt as the mercenary looked up at the sky. "...You're going to face opposition. You'll have injuries, and once battalions are placed under your students command, you'll have casualties. It's why you shouldn't look at it like every day is leading up to more murder, and instead live to the fullest so when the day does come to fight, it's to protect and go back to the days where you can live."
"...See, why can't people be like you and just give me this kind of advice and not be cryptic about it?" Ren said, motioning to Jeralt with a smirk. "I would've saved so much time!"
"Because I'm too old for cryptic nonsense." Jeralt said, shaking his head with a smirk.
"Isn't it the opposite?" Byleth asked, an eyebrow raised.
Jeralt paused, staring over at his daughter with slightly wide eyes before he barked out some more laughter. "Who knows, I'm not a fan of it to begin with, so you'll get none from me."
"Well, that's a plus." Ren smirked, shaking his head before narrowing his eyes at the pond, his third eye activating for the first time that day. "Now, let's get serious then."
"Anna, just who I wanted to see today!" Ren said with a smile, walking over to the red haired merchant.
"Well, if it isn't my most dangerous customer!" Anna said with a smile. "I heard about the mock battle, if you want to even call it anything but a slaughter. What can I do for you?"
"Go back to calling me Ren, for one." The thief said with a chuckle before looking up at the girl. "I have a question. And I'll be upfront and say it's gonna sound sketchy when I ask it."
"Well, I AM the secret seller. Sketchy is… Well, a little par for the course." Anna replied with a shrug.
"You have buyer confidentiality, correct? As in, I buy a thing and you don't tell a soul about what's been bought?" Ren asked, leaning forward with his left hand on the table.
"Well, you certainly weren't kidding." Anna said. "You're one of if not the most consistent customer I have. And judging by what you're saying, that's not likely to chance just yet…"
Anna nodded. "I respect my clients. Our business is ours. Besides, you've already sold me stuff that others would readily question you about." Anna began with a shrug. "So, yes, I believe we're well into confidentiality by now."
"Great." Ren said with a nod, handing Anna a list. "I need these items procured."
"...See, you tell me something sketchy like that, then ask for arts and craft supplies? And… another coffee cup?"
"I did warn you, also, does Garrag Mach Monastery have a newspaper service or something like that?" Ren asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nope. You're thinking a bit too… far ahead than what they got here." Anna noted. "I can get the rest of these items no problem though."
"Great, that helps a lot."
"And the coffee cup?"
"I threw one of the ones for the Cafe in anger and it didn't deserve such a fate."
"Ah… Yeah, I have a spare for sale."
"Hey, welcome back." Morgana said, looking up at Ren as the teen walked into the café, a box held up in his arms. "How'd your day go?"
"Went fishing, evaluated my mindset, then bought supplies for calling cards from Anna." Ren said with a shrug. "Don't have newspapers here yet though. Gonna need to go ruin books instead it seems…"
"Well, as far as setbacks go, this one isn't too bad." Morgana replied. "So, whats the plan going forward? When are we checking out Mementos?"
"We need to know how it compares to back home, and we need to figure out what's going on with Lysithea." Ren began, placing the box of items onto the counter. "And since classes don't start until Monday, we have more than enough time for a trip or two."
"So, tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow."
"Alright, we all set?" Ren asked, looking over at Morgana.
"Yep. We have restoratives, some Goho-Ms, and your eternal lockpick." Morgana relayed with a nod.
"Took so long to make but so worth it…" Ren said, taking his phone out. "Alright, opening the metanav."
"Lysithea Von Ordelia."
[Candidate Found]
"Mementos."
[Results Found]
"...Okay, here we go." Ren said, tapping the phone screen.
[Beginning Navigation]
As the metanav gave the announcement, the door to the café pulled open, the bell ringing sounding almost ominous.
"Crap!" Morgana cursed, jumping down behind the counter, leaving Ren to hurriedly stuff his phone in his pocket as he turned to face who the person they had suddenly dragged into Mementos.
"So, what's this about you running a café, Sensei?" Ren did his best not to cringe at the sight of Claude walking in through the front door.
"That's… pretty much what's happening?"