As the finer details for the raids on the Those Who Slither In The Dark camps were finalised and coordinated with Count Bergliez soldiers. A small squadron of the Imperial Army will join the three raiding parties while the bulk of the army will remain in Enbarr and the rest of the Adrestian Empire territories.
It would be a lie if members of the Imperial army or the Black Eagle Strike Force weren't nervous. No one knows what they are expecting from these camps, but with the knowledge that Those Who Slither In The Dark kidnapped and experimented on villages has left them all on edge.
From what Edelgard and Lysithea described what their experienced through the Crest Experiments, everyone knows what to expect. Though the mere thought of what they could possibly see sent shivers down the spines of everyone. But no one is backing down.
Now as the day of the raids arrives everyone was spending time with their loved ones before they would have to depart.
It was early in the morning when Byleth started to stir in her bed. Before she could crack open her yes, she felt fingers softly play with apart of her hair. Byleth sighed happily into the feeling of the soft hands. She slowly opened her eyes and saw a warm and cheerful smile from her love.
"Good morning, my light." Edelgard spoke softly as she pressed her lips against Byleth's.
"Morning, my heart." Byleth returned the kiss with one of her own as Edelgard twirled a lock of Byleth's hair around her fingers. Byleth held onto Edelgard's other hand and brought it to her mouth to press a small kiss onto the back of her hand.
"You're awfully affectionate this morning." Edelgard teased as she pressed her lips onto Byleth's forehead.
Byleth's eyes drifted lower and then away from Edelgard altogether, causing the Emperor to grow concerned. "Byleth, what's wrong?" Edelgard cupped Byleth's cheek and raised her head.
Byleth took one glance at her Emperor and knew she couldn't lie or hide anything from her.
The former Professor sighed as her eyes landed onto Edelgard's. "I'm sorry I'm just being selfish. You're leaving soon to fight Those Who Slither In The Dark, and all I want to do is just to snuggle up with you. Just steal you away for a few more minutes before you have to leave."
Edelgard couldn't help but chuckle as she pressed another kiss onto her love. "There is nothing wrong with being a little selfish, Byleth. To be truthful, I was doing the same before you woke up. I just wanted to spend a peaceful moment with you before I departed."
Byleth sighed as she kissed Edelgard's hand once more. "I guess we're both feeling a little selfish this morning."
"I guess so." Edelgard chuckled once more as she pressed her lips to Byleth's before wrapping her arms around Byleth's chest. Byleth rested her chin on the Emperor's head as the two settled into bed once more for the little time they had left before Edelgard would have to leave.
The first and second carriages that were scheduled to depart early in the morning were for those leaving for Fhirdiad and Derdriu. To see their companions and friends off, everyone in the Black Eagle Strike Force had gathered at the gates to the Palace, as the departing members were getting themselves prepared.
Felix had made sure to pack extra steel just on the off chance his current swords grew dull or shattered during the raid. With the attacks concerning Those Who Slither In The Dark, Felix wasn't willing to take any chances. That was why the Aegis shield hero relic was strapped to his arm.
Felix was not the only one to bring his Hero Relic as he glanced towards the two Mages of the former Blue Lion's house. Mercedes and Annette were packing extra tomes and more medicinal herbs they could spare for any injured soldiers. As Mercedes climbed on top of her horse, Lilly, wearing full Holy Knight Armour, the Rafail gem glints off the rays of the slowly raising sun.
Annette on the other hand had strapped her Hero Relic, Crusher, to the side of her Wyvern, Ember, to not get in her way as she was flying. She petted the head of her Wyvern's head as she climbed up onto her back.
Ashe was brushing the mane of his horse, Jasper, as he was devouring an apple. Jasper neighed as he gripped onto Ashe's sleeve, slightly nipping on his arm.
The archer chuckled as he gave Jasper another apple. "I swear you act like I never feed you." Ashe ruffled his horse's mane as he climbed up on him as Catherine handed him his bow and his quiver full of arrows.
As for the former Golden Deer students, Lorenz was sharpening the blade of his lances as his horse, Gregory, was eating from a bucket of apples. Next to Lorenz's horse was Leonie's Wyvern, Azure, who was devouring slabs of deer meat as Leonie was sharpening her arrowhead's. Marianne and Lysithea were making sure they had an adequate number of tomes for battle, and for some extreme circumstances just to make sure. Right now, to the pair was Dorte was chewing on an apple.
As the carriages pulled up to take away the members of the Black Eagle Strike Force that would be raiding the Those Who Slither In The Dark camps, an uncomfortable feeling settled over Byleth. It wasn't something the former Professor could describe. Like something in the put of her stomach told her that something felt wrong, but she didn't know what.
Dragging her from her thoughts, Byleth turned to see Ferdinand, Hubert and Edelgard approached, all wearing their armour.
"How is everyone?" Edelgard asked as she stood next to Byleth's left peering at everyone as they were finishing off their final preparations.
"About as well as you would expect." Byleth answered as she glanced at everyone individually. "They look like they're hiding it well, but..."
"It's hard to tell what they're really feeling?" Ferdinand spoke up as he stood next to Byleth's right.
"It is to be expected. We've seen first-hand the level of their destructive power they possess." Hubert spoke as he stood right next to Ferdinand, overlooking the courtyard of their comrades and friends gathering around the quartet. A smirk then settled over his features. "But there is one element that will be their downfall. Their overconfidence."
Edelgard and Ferdinand agreed. "They over-showed their hand when they requested our help." Ferdinand spoke up as he winked at Hubert. The latter coughed into his hand to avoid the slowly forming blush.
Hubert continued for Ferdinand as his blush had died down. "We know they're overconfident, and when they're overconfident they're get careless. Something we can exploit."
"Something we will exploit! Until those Who Slither In The Dark are wiped " Edelgard concluded as she raised Aymr in the air and everyone roared and cheered.
As the Black Eagles Strike Force were putting together their final preparations Byleth had spoken to everyone individually. She wanted to make sure they were all both mentally and physically prepared for the upcoming battle. For most it was quite evident that they were nervous and scared about it, some hid it better than others. However, there was no doubt that they were all determined to rid the world of our enemies. Not just for the sake of Edelgard and Lysithea, but for everyone they have tortured and murdered.
Leonie was the last one that Byleth was to meet, and if she were being honest Byleth would say she was more nervous about asking Leonie a request that could change things between them.
"Come to wish me luck?" Leonie asked with a smirk growing on her face.
Byleth chuckled as she handed Leonie her bow. "I guess you could say that."
The two rested their backs against the Wyvern stable fence as their eyes fell to Edelgard and Lysithea.
Byleth quickly glanced back to Leonie and saw nothing but love on the archer's face as she looked at the white-haired mage. A small smile spread across Byleth as she felt Leonie nudge her shoulder.
"You think Dad-Captain Jeralt would approve?" Leonie quickly lowered her head as her cheeks started to heat up from embarrassment. "Sorry just, forget what I said."
Byleth was stunned by Leonie's little slip up, but quickly a smile appeared across her face.
"I think Dad would tease us endlessly about El and Lysithea, but I know he would've want to be the first invited to the weddings." Byleth nudged her shoulder with Leonie's as the stunned woman locked eyes onto the former Professor's. A smile soon tugged at the archers.
"Yeah, he would." The archer then wrapped her arms around Byleth. "Thanks, Byleth for understanding. I wasn't exactly close with my old man, but Jeralt was different and now he's..."
Byleth took a hold of Leonie's hand and squeezed. "And now he's with us forever. Standing right by us every step of the way."
A sudden gust of wind blew around the two women. However, this gust of wind felt different. It didn't leave a chill on their skin. Instead, it felt warmer. Comforting. Like a warm embrace.
"Thanks Dad." Leonie smiled as she started to psych herself up. "All right! Time to make Dad proud."
Leonie was about to climb on top of her Wyvern, however Byleth's hand held tightly to her arm.
"Byleth?"
"There's... Something else. Something I need to ask you."
Byleth let go of Leonie's arm as the archer looked at the former Professor curiously.
Byleth closed her eyes and took a deep breath before explaining. When she was ready Byleth opened her eyes and locked them onto Leonie.
"I'm a bit nervous in asking you this. I'm not sure how you'll react but, what do you plan on doing after we defeat Those Who Slither In The Dark?"
This question caught Leonie off guard. "After? I-I've never really given it much thought about what to do after." Leonie closed her eyes while she thought. "Hmm, maybe when we kill all those bastards and find a way to stop Edelgard and Lysithea from dying, I don't know travel around. Why? Is something up?"
Byleth smiled a little after hearing Leonie's response. "You don't have to give your answer yet. It can wait till after we're done dealing with our enemies, but I want you to have the Blade Breakers."
"The Blade Bre-!" Leonie was stunned hearing the words come out from Byleth's mouth. "B-But what about you? They've known you longer. Trusted you longer. They helped to raise you. Why give them to me?"
Byleth glanced back to Edelgard and Lysithea, focusing her attention on the Emperor with a small smile. Leonie noticed where Byleth's attention was the pieces started to come together.
"Just before we all marched to Fhirdiad El came to my room. She was having trouble sleeping, so she came to my room to help put her mind at ease." Byleth smiled as she relived the memory. "She would ask me how my day was if there was something I needed. With whom I was back then I just shook my head and smiled. We got to talking about what I wanted to do after the war."
Byleth's smile faded into a frown, feeling disappointing in herself for the majority of her life being an emotionless... thing.
No, I'm not like that now.
Byleth shook those thoughts away as she glanced back to Leonie.
"I didn't give it much thought, I just thought I would go back on the road as a mercenary again. But now..." Byleth took another glance at Edelgard as she was checking up on Annette, Felix, Ashe and Catherine. A smile etched onto the former Professor's face.
"I... I want to spend the rest of my life with her. When she abdicates the throne, she wants to live in a small cottage and spend her days painting."
A smirk appeared on Leonie. "I see you have everything planned out, huh."
Byleth nodded her head sheepishly. "I guess you could say that. But like I said, you don't have to give an answer right away."
"I'll think about it." Leonie nodded her head as she pondered on her decision. "We have to get rid of Those Who Slither In The Dark and find a way to stop Lysithea and Edelgard from dying early."
Byleth moved herself from the Wyvern fence and pulled Leonie into a hug. "Just please be careful... Sister."
Leonie was taken back by Byleth's sudden burst of affection but couldn't help to smile as she returned Byleth's embrace with one of her own.
"You too… Sister."
