I just couldn't wait to leave you all with this cliffhanger before I turned in for the night. But no worries! This cliffhanger won't last long :) And honestly, I doubt I'll turn in for the night… k, I'll stop now.

"Yes, but then how do you explain the new scar on his chest?" It was Edelgard's voice that Byleth heard first. He didn't open his eyes, his instincts told him to pretend to be asleep until he could assess his surroundings.

"You all say that he didn't sustain a wound in your last mission?" Manuella questioned.

"No," Ferdinand answered. "At least, not that I saw."

"He did not," Edelgard added. "I can assure you."

Byleth opened his eyes. At first, he was greeted with several, colorful blurs and bright lights. The more he blinked, the more his students came into focus.

"Well, I have a question for you, little miss," Manuella turned toward Edelgard. "How exactly do you know that it's a new scar?"

Edelgard paused.

Each of his students stood at the foot of his bed. His motions must have been subtle, as he had not caught any of their attention yet.

"Well, clearly due to its discoloration," Edelgard finally answered. "It's lighter than the others, redder and therefore more recent. How could he have sustained such an injury to his chest and have hidden it all this time if it was any older?"

My… chest? Byleth let his memories flood his mind. Miklan. Edelgard's blood-soaked hair. Dorothea.

"Are you saying that he somehow rapidly healed?" Manuella scoffed. "I've seen a lot in my day, but nothing such as what you're claiming."

Byleth tried to lift his head to gaze at his chest. It was heavier than he remembered. He looked down at his naked chest and saw a red, swollen scar exactly where the lance had once penetrated him. In another life.

"He's awake!" Dorothea exclaimed.

The Black Eagles surrounded his bed, each leaned their head over him. Suddenly, an infinite number of overlapping voices deafened him.

"Professor!"

"We're so glad you're okay!"

"Are you feeling any better?"

Byleth couldn't discern one voice from the next.

"One at a time!" Edelgard raised her voice to gain the attention of her classmates as she approached his bedside. "As house leader, I go first."

She lowered her eyes and for several moments, she looked longingly into his. "How are you feeling, my teacher?"

"What happened?" Byleth ignored her question. "Miklan's lance…"

"Is currently in Rhea's possession," Edelgard finished his sentence. Though that isn't quite what he meant.

He was beginning to wonder if Miklan had succeeded in his strike after all. Perhaps, he only hallucinated turning back the hands of time to save himself and Sothis. The searing pain in his chest certainly seemed to confirm that theory.

"That was no hallucination," Sothis's voice rang in his head. "We did indeed turn the hands of time backward."

"Then how did I…" Byleth trailed off, suddenly aware that no one else could hear her. He looked down at his chest.

"That's a good question," Caspar shook his head. "No one saw you get struck."

"Have you been in hiding with this wound, professor?" Petra tilted her head as her brows lowered with worry.

Byleth shook his head.

"You don't remember how you got this?" Edelgard's voice was soft. She placed her hand on the top of his head, it almost made him jump.

Of course Byleth remembered. He had shown Miklan mercy and naively turned his head away. His enemy took advantage and dug the spear into his chest. It was clear as day.

But, it never happened. He had used the power Sothis bestowed upon him to reverse it.

"How did we get back?" Byleth attempted to change the subject. The last he remembered, they stood in the Conand tower and suddenly he was a two-days march away at Garreg Mach.

"Petra made a stretcher," Bernadetta didn't stutter, but held her hands together tightly. "You would've been proud, professor!"

"It was quite impressive," Ferdinand nodded. "It never ceases to amaze me what Petra is able to craft from nothing but what is found in the woods."

"Then we all took turns carrying you back to Garreg Mach," Leonie's smile stretched from ear to ear.

"Some of us more than others," Caspar snidely replied.

Leonie shot him a narrowed glance.

"You…carried me?" Byleth's chest throbbed, but he couldn't resist picturing how much his students must have endured. "How long have I been out?"

"Well," Lindhardt unexpectedly chimed in. "It's been about three days since we returned."

Three days. If his students had to carry him, there was no way they could've made that march in two days and nights. It would've taken them at least three.

"I've been out for six days?" Byleth's eyes widened.

"Give or take," Dorothea lifted her palms in the air, alternating their heights.

"We weren't sure if you would ever return to us, my teacher," There was something different about Edelgard's voice. Something more… affectionate.

"But we're glad you did!" Caspar exclaimed.

"Um…" A soft voice came from the doorway. Cyril poked his head through and Byleth felt his heart sink. "Archbishop Rhea is approaching. She wishes to see how you fare, professor."

A visit from the archbishop herself without an assignment? A truly rare occurrence, indeed.

"In that case, I suggest you all return to your quarters, or go train," Manuella waved her hands, shooing them out the door. "Go do something."

One by one they exited the infirmary.

"We'll come visit you later, professor!" Bernadetta's excitement made Byleth smile.

Manuella turned her attention to Edelgard, who had not moved. "As class leader, I'm to stay."

"As will I," Hubert stood motionlessly behind her.

"It's okay, Hubert," Edelgard shook her head. "Go with our classmates, I'll be along in a while."

Hubert hesitated and opened his mouth as if he were ready to protest. But quickly decided against it, "if that is her highnesses wish." He gave her a solemn bow, one that she did not see as her eyes were intensely focused on the swollen, red scar in the middle of Byleth's chest.

He suddenly felt self-conscious. Byleth contemplated pulling the blanket higher to cover his scars but knew that would give away his uncertainty. He doubted her noble company would have such scars upon their bodies.

"My dear professor," Lady Rhea's unmistakable voice emerged from the doorway. Edelgard removed her hand from the top of his head.

Manuella bowed her head, "Lady Rhea."

Byleth was just glad to now have a reason to cover his unsightly scars. He pulled the blanket until it rested at the bottom of his neck.

"We are all glad to see you have awakened from your slumber," Lady Rhea gave him a warm smile. "And relatively unharmed."

"I'm fine," Byleth replied. "I'm just eager to return to my duties."

"You'll need your rest," Lady Rhea shook her head. Even in disagreement, her movements were gentle and fluid.

"But my students-"

"I'm sure Lady Edelgard would not mind leading the class in your stead, at least for a few more days," the Archbishop proposed. "Until you are well enough to resume."

Byleth let out a deep breath. For an instant, he wasn't sure if he was about to be relieved of his duties.

"Of course," Edelgard coolly replied as she tensed her muscles.

"Am I to suffer the same fate?" Byleth let loose the question that had been burning on his tongue since he witnessed Miklan's transformation.

Lady Rhea shook her head, "you are very special, indeed. Since you arrived at the monastery, I knew you were different."

"But Miklan didn't have a crest stone for the Lance of Ruin," Byleth thought about the large hole in the middle of his sword's hilt. "Neither does mine."

"Perhaps you are just more incredible than you give yourself credit for," she simply replied. "You are able to wield the Sword of the Creator without issue. It responds to your body, to your wishes. If the same awaited you, it would have happened long before today."

That didn't exactly make him feel better. Was he some sort of experiment? Were they seeing how long he could continue using the hero's relic without a beastly transformation?

"I will leave you to rest," Lady Rhea nodded her head. "But I want you to know how much the church, and myself, appreciate your efforts and sacrifices. You have become very dear to me and I only wish to see your recovery."

Byleth returned her nod as she departed. Edelgard visibly loosened her stance as she turned to lean over his bed once more.

"Professor Manuella," she began without turning her gaze, "would it be possible to be left alone to discuss house business?"

"Oh?" Manuella seemed intrigued. "I suppose I could return to my own class. Only the Goddess knows what Claude's been up to in my absence."

"Thank you," Edelgard softly replied.

Manuella made her way to the door, "just don't do anything to exert his body. We wouldn't want him passing out again, now would we? Certainly not before I get my turn."

Her remark made Edelgard snap her head toward the door to face her, "what could I possibly do to-"

Manuella closed the door behind her. Byleth could see Edelgard's cheeks reddening.

"House business?" Byleth pushed on both of his arms as he tried to sit up.

"Don't get up, my teacher," Edelgard placed her hand on his shoulder and gently pushed him back down.

Byleth let his body fall back down to the pillow.

Edelgard retrieved a chair and moved it to the side of his bed. She softened her eyes as she took a seat and placed her hand on his forearm, "I have questions."

"I don't know if I'll have the answers," Byleth replied, taken back by her seriousness.

"How did you get that scar on your chest?" Edelgard furrowed her brow.

"Which one?" Byleth attempted to deflect her question.

"You very well know which one, my teacher," her tone grew firm.

"I have many as you saw," he knew exactly what she meant. He just did not wish to lie to her.

"Okay," Edelgard took a deep breath. "We'll come back to that one. How did you know the ceiling would fall?"

"It was an old tower," Byleth learned much from Shamir in the art of verbal parry. "It was bound to crumble at some point."

"But you knew exactly where it would fall," Edelgard's frustration grew. "How did you know to move Hubert and myself? Please, I do not wish to be infuriated while you're clearly in no state to be yelled at."

Byleth did not answer. It was clear he could no longer avert the topic. Byleth did not know how many more moons it would take before his students became capable enough to avoid death, but he grew tired of carrying this burden in secret.

"I know what you're thinking," Sothis's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Do you think it wise to appear crazy in front of your house leader?"

You feel what I feel, Sothis, He thought to himself, certain she would read his mind. Are you not also tired of having no one to help lighten the load? We only have one body.

"It is true that I grow tired…" Sothis's voice was fatigued. "But how would divulging your abilities help in any way? Or are you just eager to show off?"

I'm not showing off, Byleth's thoughts snapped. Maybe she could help me train the class better, help make them faster. She seems more than capable.

"Should they become better, as you say," she hummed. "Then we would not have to turn back the hands of time as often…"

Exactly, Byleth couldn't help but smile.

"My teacher?" Edelgard interrupted his internal conversation. "Did you… hear my question?"

Byleth immediately wiped the grin from his face as he looked at her, "I did."

Edelgard's eyes darted back and forth, "and?" She asked expectantly.

"If I tell you something…" Byleth's voice trailed off as he searched for the right words. "You have to promise not to tell any other soul."

"I promise, my teacher," Edelgard's body perked up as she straightened her posture. He could feel her grip on his forearm tighten. "After all, you know a few secrets of mine as well."

"Do you really think she'll believe you?"

Byleth couldn't answer that. He had no idea what to expect from Edelgard. Every time he believed he had her figured out, she'd do just the opposite of what he predicted. "I can turn back the hands of time."

Edelgard did not move but her eyes skimmed the room, "what is it that you're trying to say?"

He could see the skepticism in her face. She struggled with his words. "That I can see what's going to happen, and then go back in time and change it."

"My teacher…" her soft voice trailed off. "You were bleeding not only from your nose, but your ears as well. It's indicative of an aneurysm. No matter how small, they have a tendency-"

"That is the answer to all of the questions you have asked me," Byleth felt a sting in his chest. It was somehow different from the searing pain from his wound that should not exist. He tried to take solace in knowing that he had not lied to Edelgard, and that would have to be enough.

A knock at the door.

Byleth was relieved at not having to look at the doubt in her face.

"I'll be out in a bit!" Edelgard called.

The door opened anyway to reveal Hubert. His expression unchanged as his eyes rested on her, "Lady Edelgard, your presence is required in our homeroom."

"I'll be there in a minute."

"It seems with our professors…. Revival," Hubert explained. "The class has become quite rowdy. I assumed you wouldn't want me to subdue them myself."

Edelgard scoffed. Byleth could tell she was trying to come up with another excuse.

"It's okay, you should go," Byleth shook his head as he averted his gaze to the opposite side of the room.

She slowly stood from her chair before lifting her hand from his arm, "very well. But I will be back shortly. I wish to hear more.. of what we were discussing."

Byleth waited until the door firmly closed before he released the breath he'd been holding in.

"That didn't go as you expected, did it?" Sothis always seemed to know what he didn't want to hear.

"No, I guess not," he pouted.

"If it's any consolation, I believe you," she giggled.

He couldn't help but laugh.

"We were quite close to death," Sothis continued. "It's only natural to want to relieve yourself of your troubles."

"We were, weren't we?" Byleth lowered his voice, recalling the strain in Sothis' breath as he struggled to lift his fist. "I'm glad you're okay."

"Of course, we share one body. If you live, so shall I." Her voice soothed his mind. "Don't think you can rid yourself of me that easily."

"I would never want to, Sothis," he replied as he pictured her face. He closed his eyes as he summoned the details of her face. "You're very special to me."

"As you are to me," Sothis let an unexpected tone of affection escape in her voice. "You may be a child, but you are mine."

"And you are mine." Byleth smiled.

The Black Eagles had taken up more of her time than she expected. Edelgard ascended the stairs to the second floor toward the infirmary. What Hubert had said was certainly true. The class was especially restless after their professor awoke. It took at least an hour, perhaps two to calm them down.

Edelgard wasn't too hard on them as many of them expressed their worries of him slipping into another coma. If only her teacher knew how much they cared for him.

If only he knew how much I cared.

She tried to dismiss the thought before she finished it, instead turning her attention on the more pressing topic.

Turn back the hands of time? His tone was serious but his words were impossible. It's true he'd done many things she once deemed impossible, but this was a different level.

But she never knew her teacher to joke about something so serious.

As she turned the corner that led to the professors' offices and the infirmary, she saw Captain Jeralt.

He leaned against the wall next to the door to the infirmary with his arms firmly crossed in front of his wide chest.

Edelgard slowed her pace as she approached him, "Captain Jeralt."

He lifted his eyes to meet hers, "Lady Edelgard."

"It was completely moronic, you know this?" Shamir's unmistakable voice came from inside the infirmary.

Of course she'd visit him.

"Here to see my boy?" Jeralt asked.

"I am," Edelgard nodded.

"Good," the captain gave her a warm smile. "He'll need some consolation after Shamir's done with him."

"We work together," Shamir's voice wasn't loud, but it definitely irritated. "That's how this partnership works."

Edelgard swallowed hard, she suddenly felt as if she were imposing on family business.

"After Shamir's done, he's all yours," Jeralt assured her. "I already gave him a piece of my mind."

"A piece of your mind?" Edelgard lowered her brow.

He uncrossed his arms and threw them into the air, "well of course I told him that… that he needs to get better soon."

Affection did not come easily to him, either. Edelgard grinned.

"But he almost got himself killed," Jeralt grinded his teeth. "I thought I raised him better than that."

"-and the next time you feel like committing suicide," Shamir was undeterred in her lecture, "count me out. I'm not just going to stand idly by and watch you die."

"He was protecting us," Edelgard felt the sudden need to defend him. "He was only trying to ensure our safety, Captain Jeralt."

He groaned as his hand rubbed the back of his head, "I know that. I'm just not very good at… not being hard on him. It makes him tougher, it'll keep him alive."

"By Shamir's tone," Edelgard tried not to eavesdrop any longer, partly in fear she might hear something that would make her heart drop, "I'd say you mercenaries think alike."

"Yeah, she's giving it to him good," Jeralt grinned.

Edelgard couldn't help but to think about their cooking venture, the last time she saw a genuine smile from him. Suddenly, she was very thankful that her teacher didn't use the same cold mercenary tactics with her class.

"At least he'll have you to put a smile on his face after all of this," Jeralt sighed as he averted his gaze. "Just don't make him too soft, okay?"

"I-I am unsure…" Edelgard found herself at a loss for words. "I don't know what you mean."

"Please," he chuckled. "I know all of his students look up to him, and he has changed quite a bit thanks to all of you. But… y'know… you, in particular."

"Me?" She queried. What could she have possibly done that Jeralt would have singled her out?

"Yeah, you," he rubbed the back of his neck, as if he suffered from an ache.

The door opened and startled Edelgard.

Shamir emerged, as cool and collected as ever. Almost as if she hadn't just chastised her teacher, "Captain Jeralt." She gave him a nod and turned to face her. "Lady Edelgard."

She gave Shamir a nod.

"Don't go too easy on him, okay?" Shamir coolly stated as she started down the hallway. Jeralt let out a hearty laugh and joined her. Soon the two turned the corner and disappeared from Edelgard's view.

The door to the infirmary was still cracked. She peered inside and saw her teacher sitting upright. He didn't seem to be affected by his string of lectures, at least not that she could tell.

Edelgard took a deep breath and knocked on the already open door. She wished to respect his privacy and didn't want to bust in unannounced.

She didn't hear an acknowledgement so she slowly opened the door, "how are you feeling, my teacher?"

"Better," he replied.

Perhaps, he was affected as he hadn't given her a one-word answer in a long time. Edelgard stepped inside and saw that the chair she had placed had been undisturbed. "Can I get you anything? Water?"

She felt bad that she had gone through such a trying endeavor only to face the chastising of his fellow mercenaries. Though his desire to keep his students from the last battle did infuriate her, she figured he had suffered enough. At least for today.

He quietly shook his head and silence hung between them. Edelgard took a seat in the chair and swallowed hard, trying to find the correct words to say. But she couldn't deny the tension that simmered in the air, it was so thick she could easily slice it with a flick of her axe.

"The class is very excited at your recovery," Edelgard tried to make conversation. "I could hardly calm them down."

Her teacher nodded and grinned half-heartedly.

"Look," she sighed, "I'm sorry that you awoke only to be met with lectures. I don't approve of their methods, but I suppose it's their way of showing affection."

"It doesn't bother me," Byleth answered.

"Still," Edelgard chuckled as the words left her mouth without much consideration, "too bad you can't go back in time and avoid the verbal lashing."

Byleth turned his head to face her. His eyes rested on hers. His pupils darted across her face, as if he were searching for something.

"I-I apologize," Edelgard dropped her eyes, hoping to avoid his gaze. "I shouldn't make light of the situation."

"I know you don't believe me," he began. "But what if I could prove it to you?"

Edelgard's eyes widened. She hadn't considered such a possibility. Honestly, she hadn't considered that what he claimed could be true. But now, he sat with his serious expression unchanged. "How would you even go about substantiating such a claim, my teacher?"

She felt guilty. Byleth shouldn't have to prove himself to her. He had already done more than enough that he deserved her unwavering trust. But Edelgard had a nagging curiosity that was rapidly rising inside of her.

If she could entertain, for just a moment, that what he had said was true, it could explain everything.