Before Byleth stood the doors that led into the council room where those that preside over how Fódlan. How it is shaped. How it will be built into the future. Byleth would be lying if she weren't a tiny bit terrified of the people that sat inside. The only reassurance was that Hubert, Ferdinand and Edelgard would be by her side.
"Are you feeling alright, my light?" Edelgard asked as she peered at her lover.
Byleth glanced back at Edelgard with a small wary smile. "Just some nerves. I don't know what to expect in there."
"There is nothing to worry about, my love." The Emperor replied with a comforting smile.
Her smile actively fought the doubts that came crawling into Byleth
"The council is made up of most of us here. Caspar's father is the Minister of Military affairs, while Linhardt's father is the Minister of the Interior. They are the only two members from my Father's time as Emperor, that I trust."
"It makes me wonder how Caspar and Linhardt can enter a loving relationship, while their Fathers bicker over menial things." Ferdinand spoke up as he placed a hand on Byleth's shoulder.
Shortly after, Hubert had appeared from the Council door. "The Council awaits you, your Majesty."
Edelgard nodded her head in affirmation as she turned to her former Professor, who had taken a deep breath to calm her racing heart.
"I guess this is what feeling nervous is like. My heart is beating like a drum and my stomach is doing flips." Byleth placed a hand over her heart. "I don't think I like this feeling, but I'm ready."
Edelgard smiled as she held and squeezed her love's hand. The Emperor led her adviser, her Prime Minister, and her Commander of the Black Eagle Strike Force into the private Council Room.
As the quartet entered the Council chamber, all eyes of the Ministers were locked onto the Emperor. The three ministers inside bowed to the Emperor, each greeting her with a 'Your Majesty', as she took her place at the head of the table. Ferdinand took the seat directly to Edelgard's right, while Hubert too the seat to her left.
Though Byleth did notice an empty chair between Edelgard and Hubert. Without wasting any time, Byleth made her way next to Edelgard and sat down.
The three Ministers glanced curiously at the former mercenary but did not comment. Instead they all turned their attention to the Emperor as she cleared her throat.
"We have a busy day today, so I want to make this quick. First, I would like to introduce the Commander of the Black Eagle Strike Force, Byleth Eisner!" Edelgard squeezed Byleth's hand as the eyes from the three Ministers.
One of the three Ministers took great attention to the former Mercenary. Byleth noticed that he had short light blue, thinning hair and sported many medals on his Imperial uniform.
"Ah, so you're the fabled Byleth my son talks about. Caspar said you are a mighty warrior, one that deserves respect." The Minister bowed politely at Byleth. "Count Bergliez, Commander-in-chief of her Majesty's Imperial army. Pleased to finally meet you. My subordinate, General Karma, had temporally taken over my position while I had prior arrangements in the former Alliance territory."
Hearing that level of praise from one of Edelgard's most loyal Minister's caused her face to heat up. She'll have to get back at Caspar for this. "Please, I was only doing my job. Caspar's and El-her Majesty's success was all down to their grit and determination to win."
Caspar's father nor the other two Ministers didn't seem to notice Byleth's little slip up, or if they did, they didn't comment on it.
Gotta remember not to mention El by her name in here.
"As much as I hate to admit it, Minister Bergliez is right." A different Minister with wearing similar robes to Linhardt's own spoke up. And like Linhardt, he too looked like he could barely stay awake. "My son Linhardt, shares Caspar's opinion of you. He took quite the shine to you if I do recall. Count Hevring, Minister of the Interior. A Pleasure." Count Hevring dipped his head respectfully.
Byleth's attention then turned to the only other unknown Minister. She was wearing a headdress and silky bright clothing. It reminded Byleth of the garb of clothing the priests from the Church of Seiros used to wear, which unsettled Byleth.
"I'm Countess Schwarz, Minister of Religion. I oversee the newly restructured Church of Sothis." The Minister took of her headdress to tuck her hair behind her ears. "I know that you all fought to bring an end to the corruption of the Church of Seiros, but the faithful are still needed for the populace. So, with a few... adjustments, her Majesty reinstated the Church under my guidance."
Despite the Countess's elaboration, Byleth couldn't but feel on edge whenever she brought up the Church. The very Church that herself and the Black Eagles Strike Force had fought against. The Archbishop that wanted use Byleth as a Vessel for a reborn Sothis.
I would be lying to myself if I weren't put off with the Church coming back. But... If El made changes to how the Church is run and their hold on Fódlan relinquished, then she's willing to tolerate its existence.
With a small nod, Byleth glanced at each of the Ministers, giving a small curt bow. "Please to meet you all. I'm relieved to hear you all have been helping Edelgard achieve her goal. For that, you have my thanks."
As the former Professor sits back into her seat, a small smile appears as she glances at her love. The smile disappears a second later as she glances at the Three Ministers.
"There is a fourth Minister you have yet to meet, the Exterior Minister, or if you prefer our Ambassador. However, she is in Almyra, putting the finishing touches on the trade deal with their King, so she cannot join us today." Hubert quickly interjected as he glanced towards the Emperor. "Minister Florentina is expected to return within the month if all is well."
Edelgard nodded her head, as she glanced at her Ministers.
"With introductions out of the way, I believe Minister Vestra had a report on Miss Eisner's attack."
Hubert smirked as he stood from his chair and handed copies of his report to every member inside the chamber. As Byleth, Ferdinand and Edelgard gave enough time for the three Ministers to read over the report, there was a small but heavy knock on the door.
"Enter." Hubert spoke with an authoritative voice.
Slowly the door opened, revealing what looked like one of the General's under Minister Bergliez command. They were fitted into heavy Adrestian Armour, with their hair trimmed down on the left side, leaving the right side with long, flowing brown hair. They were carrying bundles of papers.
Despite them looking friendly, there was something that troubled Byleth about them.
Why do they look so familiar?
"Ah, General Karma." Minister Bergliez spoke up with a proud smile on his face as he glanced towards this General. "Miss Eisner, please meet my second-in-Command, General Leah von Karma. She worked closely to Ladislava, before her death." The General frowned for a few moments before glancing back at the General.
"I can't stay long, I only came to give updates on our soldiers, but it was nice to meet you, Lady Eisner. I uh... heard so much about you from your former students." The General bowed at the Emperor as she handed the stack of paper to Minister Bergliez before quickly departing.
While Edelgard, Ferdinand and Hubert discussed Hubert's findings with the Ministers. Byleth was lost in her thoughts something the Emperor had took notice. However instead of these thoughts controlling her, Byleth needed to focus on this meeting if they wanted to find a way to defeat Those Who Slither In The Dark.
"As you can see with the attack on the Professor and some recent signs of kidnapping and experimentation on villages all across Fódlan, we must deal with the vermin." Hubert bitterly spoke.
"I second this. If we want to strive for true peace across all of Fódlan, then we have to eliminate them." Edelgard agreed with her advisor.
Minister Hevring grunted in agreement. "What are these camps you detailed? Where are they? You said they are located in the former Faerghus and Alliance territories."
"These camps are small strongholds that Those Who Slither occupy. They have been using them as their base of operations to run their..." Hubert glanced at Edelgard with a clenched fist and a frown. Under the large table, Edelgard's hand, held tightly to Byleth's as she nodded her head to her retainer, allowing him to continue. "According to my spies, they were performing experiments on the villagers.
Just hearing that Those Who Slither have returned to their experiments set both Byleth and Edelgard on edge. She felt Edelgard hand's tremble in hers.
"Experiments? What kind of experiments?" Countess Schwarz asked.
Hubert and Ferdinand glanced once again to Edelgard, who was trying her best to keep herself composed, but as Byleth felt Edelgard's hand grip tighter to her own, under the table, she knew her love's temperance was waning.
"Experiments that are far too barbaric to let continue." Ferdinand answered not wanting to give any more information to the Ministers.
Edelgard gave her Prime Minister a small smile, before retaining her stern expression to her Ministers. "That is why we must strike before Those Who Slither In The Dark can do more harm to my people."
"I agree." Minister Bergliez answered. "We can't leave this issue alone. We're not the old government that turns a blind eye on issues facing our people."
"How would you propose we tackle these Slithers?" Minister Hevring asked as he glanced at Edelgard and Hubert. "We can't openly state we're at war, shortly after coming out of one against the Church. It would send the populace into a panic."
"I'm sure the Emperor and Count Vestra have already formed a plan, Minister Hevring." Countess Schwarz commented with a small smirk.
"This is correct." Hubert answered before Minister Hevring could retort back. "We will approach the members of the Black Eagle Strike Force for their cooperation. I predict many with agree. Those that do will lead raids, alongside Minister Bergliez's soldiers, on the Slither compounds and annihilate those vermin while identifying their next moves. Any information we can retrieve from their bases will be of great importance."
"And what of those that refuse." Countess Schwarz asked. "I know we need every able body to attack Those Who Slither In The Dark, but we can't leave the Capital undefended."
"Those that wish to remain behind can do so." Edelgard spoke up as she glanced at the former Professor "By-I mean Miss Eisner and I have already come to an understanding that she will remain behind. Any that wish to stay behind can stay with her."
Edelgard turned to her love, who agreed with her. "Since I am still recovering, her Majesty and I decided it would be best that I stayed behind. I know the destructive power Those Who Slither In The Dark possess. With the state I am in, I would only be a hinderance if I went. Though while I am here, I can access my own strength without getting in anyone's way. And while I'm not capable of using a Lance or a sword, I can still use my magic, if they do dare to attack the capital."
"Your combat ability wasn't in question, Miss Eisner. I can assure you." Countess Schwarz spoke up with a reassuring smile. "It's just that those vermin managed to secure a way into the Castle and organised an assassination on your life. How can we be sure they won't launch another while the Castle is less secured?"
"That won't be a problem, Minister Schwarz." Hubert spoke up with a malicious smirk spread across his face. "As I... persuaded the assassin to give up the information, he noted that this assassination attempt was more of a symbolic gesture. There won't be another attack on the Palace. He was quite adamant about that."
"If you're sure, I'll begin preparations." Minister Bergliez said as he scribbled something down on a parchment of paper "I'll alert General Karma and gather a group of soldiers that are ready. How long before they depart, your Majesty?"
"It depends on how many of the Black Eagle Strike Force agree to take part in the raids, though I am aiming to depart within the next few days." Edelgard spoke up, getting back into her role as the Emperor.
"If we're doing this, I'll keep the general populace in check as best as I can." Minister Hevring spoke up while supressing a yawn. "An exaggerated lie will be enough to placate any fears they might have when they see our forces depart from the capital."
"I will do the same for the Church of Sothis." Countess Schwarz added. "People look to the church for guidance, I will need to be there if word gets out of Those Who Slither In The Dark."
Edelgard nodded her head, as she glanced at each Minister individually. "If that's everything, I'll call this meeting to a close."
All three Ministers' nod their heads. "As you wish, your Majesty."
As the Ministers left the Council Chamber, Edelgard leaned back in her thrown letting out a sigh of relief as she gripped tightly to Byleth's hand.
"I'm here, okay." Byleth answered as she brought Edelgard's gloved hand and kissed her knuckles.
Tears were on the verge of forming in the Emperor's eyes, but she fought them off.
Not here.
Not in front of the others.
"I-I'm fine. Just... Give me a moment." Edelgard answered with a small reassuring smile to her love. Byleth returned it with a small smile of her own.
"If you need some time alone, we can go ahead." Ferdinand asked.
"No, I'll be fine. Just... Can you bring everyone here? It's time we talk about our plans of attack with the others." Edelgard answered as she steadied authorative voice.
Hubert bowed. "As you wish, Emperor Edelgard."
Before both Hubert and Ferdinand could leave, Edelgard moved from her thrown, Byleth following after her.
"Just leave Lysithea to us." Edelgard answered and Byleth nodded her head agreeing with her love. "I-I need to ask Lysithea's permission. I need to know if it's okay to..." Edelgard grew silent before ending her sentence as she clenched her fists tightly.
Though Hubert and Ferdinand immediately understood what she was trying to say.
"We understand. She should be with Leonie. Those two have grown close after all." Ferdinand spoke up with a teasing smile.
Leonie and Lysithea, huh. They make a cute couple.
"Thank you." Edelgard spoke softly with a small smile.
With that Hubert and Ferdinand leave the Council Chamber, leaving only the Emperor and her close confidant. Edelgard was going to leave as well, but Byleth caught onto her love's hand tightly.
"Before we go…" Byleth carefully, pulled Edelgard into her chest, wrapping her arms around her.
Edelgard was stunned as she was not expecting this embrace suddenly from her love. Nevertheless, she wasn't going to shy away from affection. Edelgard returned Byleth's tight embrace, with one of her own.
"Hmm. Not that I'm opposed to this, but whatever is this for, my love?" Edelgard sighed as she rested her head on Byleth's chest, listing to the beating of her heart.
"I want to make sure you're alright. Bringing up the... the Crest Experiments can't have been easy." Byleth hugged tighter when she mentioned the Crest Experiments.
"No… It wasn't." Edelgard sighed into her love's chest. "But if it gets us a step closer to annihilating Those Who Slither In The Dark, then I will sacrifice my comfort, without a second thought."
Despite her strong and powerful declaration, Byleth also felt her love tremble at her words. So, she hugged her love tighter.
"I know. We'll annihilate them together, my heart." Byleth spoke softly as she held Edelgard tightly while pressing kisses onto her Emperor's forehead.
It didn't take Byleth and Edelgard long to track down Leonie and Lysithea. As Edelgard was about to knock on Lysithea's quarters they heard familiar laughter and a few hisses.
"Sorry about the marks. I didn't know my nails were that sharp." Lysithea softly apologised.
"Don't worry about it, Ly. I can just talk to Marianne or Mercedes and they'll fix me up." Leonie answered as both Byleth and Edelgard heard Lysithea sigh happily.
"Maybe we shouldn't interrupt them. Thy seemed to be... contempt with each other." Edelgard whispered to Byleth but she couldn't help a dark crimson blush to spread from ear to ear, from just listening onto their friend's late night 'activities'.
"But it's important she knows what we're planning. It does concern her after all." Byleth whispered back, but unfortunately for them both, they weren't exactly quiet about their whispering. Unbeknownst to the pair, Leonie had quietly opened the door.
"Uh... What're you guys doing here?" Leonie asked startling Byleth, Edelgard and even Lysithea.
"Eek!"
The Emperor and her lover turned to face the familiar voice, with the two both sporting dark crimson blushes.
Leonie was wearing a tight orange shirt and brown shorts. The shirt looked like it was just barely keeping itself together, due to Leonie's muscles. Lysithea on the hand was wearing a very loose cream-coloured dress that reached to the very bottom of her knees. Both had very dishevelled hair and bite marks on their necks.
"I-I-I uh-" Edelgard was too flustered to talk as she avoided eye contact with the pair by staring firmly at the ground.
Byleth wasn't fairing much better, but they both knew this was important. "W-What El is trying to say is, we need to talk."
Edelgard coughed, quietly into her gloved hand, which startled both Lysithea and Byleth, but she ignored their concern. "Yes. It involves our plans to squash Those Who Slither In The Dark."
"That's great and all, but why come to us alone and not wait for all of us?" Leonie asked but Lysithea grabbed her hand, pulling herself in front of her lover.
"You want to ask me if it's okay to talk about what happened to us? About the Crest Experiments."
Edelgard was taken back a bit from Lysithea up front about the torture they both shared, but nonetheless, she carried on.
"Yes." Edelgard answered.
Lysithea sighed as she glanced away from Edelgard and Byleth. "Fine... Let us put on something more... appropriate. Then we can talk."
Lysithea grabbed onto Leonie and pulled her back into their room, before either Edelgard or Byleth could reply.
With the door firmly closed Byleth and Edelgard stood in awkward silence. Though as the minutes passed, a smile grew on Byleth's face.
"I guess Ferdinand and Hubert underestimated how far along Lysithea and Leonie are in their relationship." Byleth teased.
Edelgard smirked as she leaned against the wall. "That was certainly not what I expected." Edelgard then glanced at Byleth with a loving smile. "Still I'm happy for them. Going through a war and coming out of it alive, leaves a mark on you forever, but having someone to help you achieve your goals and stand by your side helps."
Byleth's cheeks heated up as she quickly glanced away from the Emperor. Edelgard chuckled at Byleth's reaction but was cut short as Lysithea's door opened and out came the pair in their outfits they wore during the war with the Church. Though their hair was not tied up as usual to attempt to hide the marks on their necks.
"If we're doing this, then we might as well do it now." Lysithea huffed as she glanced at Edelgard.
Without wasting any time, the Gremory walked ahead. Edelgard quickly caught up to the mage as Byleth and Leonie walked together. Leonie still sporting a blush on her face as Byleth pointed out a marked area not covered by her hair.
Later in the day, when Hubert and Ferdinand had gathered everyone in the Black Eagle Strike Force, Edelgard and her inner circle laid out their plans to take on Those Who Slither In The Dark.
"With the combined might of the Black Eagle Strike Force and the army of the Adrestian Empire, there's no doubt we'll take these encampments from our enemy." Edelgard explained as she glanced towards Hubert.
"While our primary objective is to wipe out the vermin that inhabit this world, we need to gather any information on what plans Those Who Slither In The Dark currently have." Ferdinand spoke with utter distain in his voice. "We will need to do this without alerting our enemy."
"That is why Prime Minister Aegir and I have formulated a plan to cover our tracks, though it will depend on all of you for its success." Hubert glanced towards his Highness as she nodded her head. "We will require small groups to infiltrate these camps and destroy our enemies, while gathering any information on their plans."
"What we need are volunteers." Edelgard stifled a cough as she glanced at her friends and allies. "You all have given your blood, sweat and tears to toppling the Church of Seiros's corruption and starting the building blocks for a brighter future for everyone, but I fear I have to ask you all for more." Edelgard's head dipped as she finished off her little speech.
"We won't require everyone. It would prove to be too difficult to not arouse Those Who Slither's suspicion with our number." Hubert said as his eyes drifted towards Byleth. "That is why the Professor has stated she will remain behind with anyone that wishes to stay."
Everyone gave small, worried glances towards their former Professor, or in Manuela's and Hanneman's case, former co-worker.
"I'm fine. Though I'm still not back to 100%, so El- uh The Emperor and I decided, it would be best if I stayed behind." Byleth explained hoping no one caught her little slip up. Though going from the smirks from Dorothea, Manuela, and most of the Strike Force, that would not be the case.
Caspar at least looked confused but didn't comment.
Byleth nervously rubbed the back of her neck. "Anyway, like Her Highness said all of you are not under any obligation into fighting the next couple of days. You all have given so much, it's completely understandable if you no longer wish to fight."
Everyone was silent, taking in Byleth's words carefully. No one even moved a muscle as they all sat together.
"You all do not need to make up your mind's up right this moment." Edelgard spoke up, breaking the silence as she coughed into her hand.
She's been doing that a lot, and it's starting to worry me. I hope she's not hiding anything from me.
"You can all have until tomorrow evening to think on this." Edelgard continued as she glanced at Lysithea and Leonie.
Once her eyes locked firmly onto Lysithea, the mage immediately tensed up and her hand searched for Leonie's as it started to tremble. Seeing this Byleth's hand went Edelgard's arm. Her eyes then met her love's as she took a deep breath.
"There's something else. The reason why it's imperative we take down Those Who Slither In The Dark as soon as possible." Edelgard spoke up again, though this time she lost her authorative voice. Instead it was replaced with something a lot more somber.
"It's... Personal for myself and others." Edelgard's eyesight dropped to her hands in her lap. Them clenched into tight fists, squeezing so hard and her nails digging into her hand, that she's surprised that they have not drawn blood yet.
Immediately, Byleth's hand fell to the Emperor's. As soon as she felt her love's hand the tension lessened throughout her whole body. A soft smile settled over Edelgard as she glanced at Byleth after she took a small breath.
With a small nod from Byleth's, Edelgard continued. "Those Who Slither In The Dark... they performed experiments on children in order to achieve power beyond what was thought to be possible." Edelgard glanced back to Lysithea before explaining more. "They cut open their bodies and manipulated their blood to achieve this power. However, those that were unfortunate enough to be... unwilling participants were forever changed. A lot died, while others slowly lost their minds or fell to disease."
Edelgard took another deep breath as she fought her hardest not to let tears appear on her eyes. "Then there were those who were experimented upon, yet somehow survived. They were forced to bear two Crests. However, as you would expect having two Crests burdens the body immensely."
Byleth squeezed tightly to her Emperor's hand.
"Those that carry two Crests bare an unfortunate short life span. At most those that survive the experiments live for around 10 more years, after the experimentation." Edelgard breathed in and let out a shuddered breath.
"I can do the rest, Edelgard." Byleth whispered as she squeezed tightly to her love's hand.
The Emperor however shook her head but gave Byleth a small smile as she turned back to face her friends. "It is alright, my love. This is my burden to bear."
"Myself and my brothers and sisters were subjugated to these experiments. Every single one of them died, leaving only myself."
This stunned the room. A few gasps from a few of the Strike Force Members, while others let out tears of their own, and most said nothing through gritted teeth.
Not wanting Edelgard to bare this alone, Lysithea stood up from her chair as she let go of Leonie's comforting hand, while trying her hardest to hold back her tears.
"E-Edelgard isn't the only one that survived the experiments." Everyone's attention was now firmly directed at the mage. "In order for Those Who Slither In The Dark to prefect their experimentation, they needed people to be their 'Guinea pigs' for their 'final product'. They took my family hostage and performed tests on myself and my brothers and sisters. That was until I alone survived."
Lysithea held out both of her hands and conjured two up two crests, one bearing the symbol of the Crest of Charon and another of the Crest of Gloucester. After a few moments, Lysithea lowered her hands as the two symbols of her two crests disappeared.
"Because I was experimented on the earliest, I have less time." Lysithea then glanced at her hands, as she curled them into tight fists shaking with anger. "But I am not going to simply lie down and die!" The mage growled out. "I'm going to fight them till my last breath."
Lysithea glance from Strike Force member to Strike Force member. Each one had a fire of determination lit in them. Even the Flame Emperor herself, felt a flicker of determination rush through her.
"Lysithea is correct. We will not rest till they are all dead, and we get revenge on all of the lives they have destroyed in their pursuit for power." Edelgard declared as she stood from her chair.
Byleth joined her Emperor as she glanced at every single member of the Black Eagle Strike Force.
"From this day forward, the days that Those Who Slither In The Dark live on this world are numbered." Byleth also declared as the members of Black Eagle Strike Force erupted into cheers.
Edelgard glanced at her love seeing the grit and fire in her voice gave her a little boost of her own confidence.
Maybe they can do this. Maybe I'll live long enough their deaths. To see those vermin scorched from this world. Never let their foul hands touch another person.
No, there is no 'maybe'. We Will win. Then we can deal with what comes after.
