Thanks to everyone for your input regarding the question of "Should Byleth tell Edelgard about Sothis?" I'm currently ranked #7 on WattPad for the term "Edelgard" and my numbers aren't so bad on either :) I'm awaiting my invite to AO3. Here's a question that was inspired by one of my readers: Should Lysithia join the Black Eagles?
"You gather the students as I'm sure they've already gone to their quarters by now," Byleth walked with Edelgard past the training hall. She knew most of her classmates still lingered in the homeroom, so it shouldn't be a difficult task.
She had to give him credit. He stood before Rhea and a panicked Seteth in his birthday presents but somehow maintained his serious demeanor. "And you, my teacher?"
"I need to change," her teacher answered her. "They're sure Flayn hasn't left Garreg Mach so we'll work on the assumption that she's been kidnapped and is being held somewhere here at the monastery. If that turns out to be true, I doubt her kidnapper will turn her over and surrender without a fight and I can't fight in this."
Edelgard swallowed hard. She already knew of the plan to study Flayn's blood for the secrets of what made the Goddess's children live such extraordinarily long lives. But that was a lifetime ago and she had already begun wiping her hands clean of Those Who Slither in the Dark. It appeared they moved forward with the plan without her.
They parted ways north of their homeroom while he continued on toward his room. He quickened his pace to a fast jog.
Edelgard proceeded to their classroom and could hear loud, joyful talking. It didn't take long for her to reach the doorway. She quickly did a headcount.
Dorothea, Annette and Petra ceased their conversation to peer in her direction. She immediately saw Ingrid and Hubert. Ferdinand's brightly colored hair caught her attention.
"Lady Edelgard!" Annette greeted her with a smile. "We were wondering when you'd be back."
"Who's missing?" Edelgard scanned the room. The first missing student she noticed was Lindhardt, sleeping in his quarters, no doubt.
"Uh…" Caspar looked around. "I think Leonie went to the training grounds."
"Shamir left shortly after the professor did, saying something about being embarrassed," Ingrid added.
"Oh, and I think Bernadetta ran back to her room as soon as the party was over," Dorothea finished. "I swear, I'm going to tie a rope around her waist so she can't run away."
"I believe that's it," Ferdinand shook his head. "Except for Lindhardt, of course."
"We have an urgent mission," Edelgard's voice was stern. "I need you all to split up and bring our missing classmates back here."
"A mission? Now?" Caspar rose from his seat.
"I'll give you the details once you all return," Edelgard nodded. "Now please hurry."
Without another word, her classmates scurried out of the homeroom and half went north while the others went south.
Hubert stood silent as she approached her teacher's desk. She leaned on it with both of her hands.
Once she was certain they were out of earshot of any of her classmates, she sighed heavily. "They've moved on with the plan without us, Hubert."
"Flayn?" Hubert's tone remained unchanged. "And you haven't heard from Solon?"
"Not a word," Edelgard's nostrils flared.
"Lady Edelgard," he lowered his voice as he leaned closer to her. "Is it possible they've already sensed your reluctance?"
"I don't see how," she replied.
"Your Highness," Hubert began, "if they have, then you are in grave danger. Have you even spoken to the professor about… everything?"
"Not yet," Edelgard turned around, she kept her eyes on the doorway. "I've been waiting for the right moment."
"Lady Edelgard," his voice pleaded with her. "The time may never be more correct. Surely Solon would've known that a class would be sent to investigate. And the chances are equally terrifying that he would've expected it to be this class, which means he could be lying in wait for you."
"I'll tell him," Edelgard listened to every sound that came from outside ensuring they wouldn't be overheard. "After we recover Flayn, I'll tell the professor everything."
"Good," it was a rare vocalization of approval from him. "Then we might finally see where his loyalties are. If he truly returns your affections."
"That's hardly the point, Hubert," Edelgard scowled. "He could very well feel differently about me, but still wish to protect and help me."
A shuffle, then voices. Dorothea and Ingrid had retrieved Bernadetta from her room and entered their homeroom. They were followed by Annette and Leonie and then Ferdinand, Caspar and Lindhardt.
"Petra and Shamir?" Edelgard queried.
"I saw them walking pretty far behind me, heading this direction," Caspar informed her. "Where's the professor?"
"He'll be along shortly," Edelgard crossed her arms.
Without missing a beat, her teacher rounded the entrance and quickly skimmed the faces in their homeroom. He wore his usual outfit, a black shirt with a coat loosely hanging from his shoulders. For a brief moment, Edelgard wondered how many outfits he owned.
"Petra and Shamir?" Her teacher asked.
"They'll be here shortly," Edelgard answered.
"Good," he nodded before approaching Edelgard, he leaned against the same desk as her. "I don't know if you've already heard or not, but Flayn's gone missing. There has been reports of a suspicious figure prowling the grounds late at night."
His statement was met with several overlapping voices of concern.
"She's such a sweet girl!"
"Maybe she's just hiding from her overbearing brother? I know I would."
"We're working on the Knights of Seiros reports that she has not left the grounds of Garreg Mach," Byleth continued. "If that were true, then she's here somewhere. Has anyone seen anything suspicious?"
"I was following a lead on Manuela," Shamir appeared in their doorway. Petra followed close behind.
"Come to think of it, Shamir, you're pretty suspicious," Caspar feigned a scowl. "Did you take Flayn."
"No," Shamir simply answered. "There were reports of her carrying a mask and heading toward the hedge courtyard. Apparently, no one has seen her since."
"How long ago was this?" Byleth lowered his brow.
"Several hours," Shamir answered. "Her heels make it hard for her to track, but the dirt from the stables led me to the east side of the hedge garden.
"The east side?" Edelgard could tell Byleth was already arriving at the conclusion that she was. "Shamir, when we were in the library studying those maps, there was only one person with personal quarters on the east side of the hedge garden."
Shamir's eyes lit up, "I didn't lose track of her, that's where the trail ended."
"Does anyone speak mercenary?" Caspar spoke in the background.
Edelgard's stomach churned. If the Death Knight is the one that took Flayn then her teacher was correct, they were in for a fight. In another life, the Death Knight had almost bested Byleth and mistakenly killed her when she attempted to save him.
Byleth began walking without answering Caspar's absurd question. The class kept close behind him.
Edelgard exchanged glances with Hubert as they dutifully followed.
"We don't know what to expect," Byleth began as they passed the other homerooms. "If Jeritza's behind this, then we don't know how he'll act when he's backed into a corner. Shamir and I will take point, in close quarters we'll need room to move around."
Byleth cut through the hedge garden fences.
"And…" Ferdinand trailed off. "What if Professor Manuela's behind this?"
Edelgard already knew the answer to his question, her mind wandered to the fact that Shamir said she had not been seen in several hours. She didn't know what fate awaited Professor Manuela at the hands of the Death Knight.
"If she is," Byleth emphasized, "we draw her out into the open. Spells become easier to dodge when you're not-"
He stopped at the fence that led to Jeritza's quarters. His eyes rested upon the latch as he knelt down. "Manuela came through here, alright."
"Ho-how can you tell?" Bernadetta stood behind Dorothea. "It looks closed to me."
"It is closed," Byleth searched the ground. "But Manuela enjoys wearing a lot of extravagant fragrances. Even hours later, it still smells as if she was just here."
Edelgard dropped her chin to her chest and subtly sniffed her class uniform as she wondered if her teacher would be able to track her as easily.
Shamir nodded, "her last heel print is about four meters toward the stables."
Byleth stood and unlatched the fence, he craned his neck as he stepped through. The students became keenly aware that he had unsheathed The Sword of the Creator and readied their own weapons.
His steps were silent on the concrete as he approached the isolated boarding room. The door was ajar. Byleth held up his hand and motioned for the class to stay where they were. In unison, her classmates stopped. Each scanned their surroundings.
Edelgard couldn't hear anything.
Byleth ascended the stairs to the door. Rather than opening it outright, he looked through the crack and stepped to his side, trying to gauge as much of what lay inside as possible. "Leonie, go get Professor Hanneman, or any of the knights."
"But, professor-" she began to protest.
"Do as I say," with only one more moment of hesitation, Leonie sprinted back the way they came.
"What is it, professor?" Caspar whispered loudly. Edelgard had to give him credit for trying. He had learned when to control the volume of his voice, but he needed a little more work.
Byleth pushed the door open slowly with the tip of his blade. It creaked open. "Manuella's been injured but she's breathing."
"We have to help her!" Dorothea's concern was admirable.
"The room is bigger than it looks," Byleth continued as he stepped through the doorway. He walked as he spun his body, ensuring every nook and cranny of Jeritza's room was accounted for before he finally waved his arm.
The class trotted up the steps. Byleth had knelt beside Manuela, who was face down on the wooden floor. In her hand was a mask.
"Oh my Goddess," Dorothea covered her mouth with both hands.
"Pro-professor Manuella!" Bernadetta peered from behind her classmate.
Byleth grabbed Manuela's arm and pressed his fingers into her inner wrist, "she'll be okay. Her heartbeat is strong but she needs medical attention."
"She's pointing at something," Ferdinand approached a bookcase on the opposite side of the room.
Edelgard looked down at Manuela, and with her free hand it did appear as if she were pointing directly at it.
Byleth nodded, "good find. See if you can move it."
Caspar approached the bookcase on the opposite end as Ferdinand. Together they shook it and pulled on it. Edelgard heard a satisfying CLICK as one end of the case swung open, revealing a descending stone staircase.
"That explains the vibrations I'm feeling beneath the floor," Shamir shrugged her shoulders.
"What is the meaning of this?" Professor Hanneman's voice was unmistakable as Edelgard stepped aside so he could enter.
"Oh my gosh!" Leonie rushed past him as her eyes immediately rested upon the fallen professor.
"Manuela!" Professor Hanneman followed close behind.
"Can you take her to the infirmary?" Byleth lifted his gaze to meet Professor Hanneman's. "She's still breathing but she's been stabbed."
"Stabbed? Yes, yes of course!" His mustache twitched with every word. Professor Hanneman grabbed her arm and draped it over his neck. He lifted his eyes and rested them upon Edelgard, "you there, give me a hand."
Edelgard opened her mouth to object, but decided against it. She wanted to be with her teacher when he faced the Death Knight. If things went as horribly as they did last time, she wanted to be sure he'd be safe enough to turn back the hands of time.
Instead, she grabbed Professor Manuela's opposite arm, "I'll be back soon. Hubert, stay with the professor."
"Yes, Lady Edelgard," Hubert gave her a firm nod as she scrunched her brow. She gave Hubert a stern look and hoped her meaning was clear: protect him.
"Oh, Manuela," Professor Hanneman spoke to her unconscious body as they began to make their way from Jeritza's quarters. "What could you have possibly been thinking?"
Edelgard could no longer make out what her teacher and classmates spoke about, but she could hear their voices. They rounded the corner and made their way into the Great Hall. Their speed was not as fast as Edelgard would have preferred, but Professor Hanneman was no longer a spry young man.
"Is Jeritza responsible for this?" Professor Hanneman asked. From what Edelgard saw, he and Professor Manuela had always been at each other's throats. But now, it seemed he was panicked at the thought of losing his dearest friend.
"I-I don't know," Edelgard lied. "It would appear so."
"Stubborn woman!" The hairs of his mustache blew outward as he sighed.
Almost as if she could hear him, Professor Manuala began to moan in between them. Though her words were indiscernible, Edelgard imagined she recognized Hanneman's voice and was trying to vocalize a witty comeback.
It was a good sign.
"Yes, you!" Professor Hanneman's face began to turn red. "Why did you not retrieve the knights? Must you always do everything yourself?"
Edelgard stayed silent as he continued his one-sided conversation. They turned the corner and ascended the stairs that led to the second floor.
"Professor!" They had gained the attention of several nuns as soon as they finished climbing the stairs.
"Retrieve the white mages and meet us in the infirmary, at once!" Professor Hanneman instructed.
Edelgard subtly walked a bit faster down the hallway, forcing Hanneman to quicken his pace. She did not know how much time had passed since they left Jeritza's quarters, but many horrible images flooded her mind.
She could see her teacher laying on the ground, blood seeping from his mouth and too weak to save himself. She could also envision him kneeling on a single knee as he bled from his nose and mouth, desperately trying to save student after student.
"Alright, let's get her into bed." Hanneman's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Edelgard saw that they had already entered the infirmary.
"You lift her legs," he pointed toward Professor Manuela's feet as he placed a hand under each of her armpits.
Edelgard did as she was told and together they lifted the professor into the infirmary bed.
She took several steps toward the door, "I must be getting back to my class now."
"What?" Professor Hanneman kept his eyes on Manuela. "Oh. Of course, yes, yes."
That was a good enough answer for her. Edelgard turned on her heel and began to jog down the hallway. Several mages and nuns rushed toward the infirmary and she had to weave in between them to avoid a collision.
Edelgard trotted down the stairs but instead of heading toward Jeritza's quarters, she turned left and broke out into a full sprint.
If she could get to her room then she might be able to put an end to the fight before it claimed any lives.
Or… any more lives.
It occurred to her as she swung her arms to and fro that her teacher might have already turned back time. Of course, she would be none the wiser.
She momentarily considered simply teleporting to her room to retrieve her armor, but not being behind closed doors made her uneasy. If anyone saw her, then she'd never have the chance to explain before the Church would turn against her, and more than likely, her teacher with them.
No. Edelgard had to be the one to tell him everything. At least then, there might be some small chance he would understand.
Edelgard's feet moved almost faster than she thought possible. She only hoped she wouldn't be too late.
Byleth sloppily wiped his nose with his sleeve as he stood in front of Ingrid, determined not to let her fall again. He inwardly kicked himself for pairing her with Annette. They were both his newest students, which meant they were the least experienced in how their class fought.
Byleth forcibly grabbed her arm and pushed her toward Hubert, "stay with him."
"Professor," Hubert's tone may not have changed, but he could hear the objection in his voice. "I was told to stay with you."
"Not now, Hubert," Byleth flicked his arm and extended his sword into a whip. "Stay with Ingrid and Annette."
Two swordsmen approached him. He swung his arm and let his chain fly through the air as it tore gashes into their chest and stomach. Both men fell to the floor.
He had ordered Petra and Dorothea to stay with Flayn and the red-haired girl and protect them from the onslaught of soldiers. The situation didn't sit right with him, Byleth had a nagging feeling that the two girls were meant to be bait.
Byleth could also do without the Death's Knight's booming voice taunting them throughout the fight. No, Jeritza's voice. How could he have been so blind? He had not seen so much as a hint of Jeritza's true identity. But then again, he barely said two words to the man.
"On your left," Shamir ran past him and swiftly leapt into the air with her sword. The tip of her blade pierced her foe between his neck and shoulder. She didn't hesitate to pull it out and swing it behind her, blocking another enemy's strike.
Byleth scanned their arena, Leonie had holstered her bow and used her lance to parry with another swordsmen. But before she could pierce him, Bernadetta had released her arrow and struck the man in his neck. He gurgled as he tried to cover it with his hand. Leonie put a quick end to him with her spearhead into his stomach.
Dorothea's red fire lit the dungeon's darkest corners. Ferdinand and Lindhardt were not far from Petra. Lindhardt stood over the two girls as he cautiously assessed his surroundings.
Not many enemy soldiers remained. All in all, his students had done well and besides Ingrid's failure to keep her back to either her partner or a wall, no others had fallen.
With his confidence growing, Byleth took several steps forward. He could make out the Death Knight's silhouette in the darkness. His features occasionally brightened with Dorothea's fireballs.
Thanks to his students' vigorous training, he had more energy than the last time he stood before the Death Knight.
"Come on, Jeritza," Byleth called him by name. He hoped to see some reaction, some hint of recognition from the Death Knight, but he found none. "This is what you wanted, right?"
"Don't expect victory to come easily," the Death Knight bellowed.
Enough talk.
Byleth darted forward and tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword. He saw the Death Knight lift his enormous scythe.
He dropped to his knees and slid across the floor as the Death Knight swung his scythe, narrowly missing Byleth's head.
Byleth did not hesitate, he hopped onto his feet and kicked him in his arm. The knight stumbled but regained his balance quickly. He threw his fist backward and Byleth darted to his side to avoid his punch.
Byleth unchained his sword and swung it forward. It made contact with Jeritza's chestplate with a satisfying CLANG, but as his blade returned to him he could see it had not ripped a single tear in his armor.
The Death Knight stepped back and Byleth did not hesitate, he sprinted forward and cocked his knee into the air and drove his heel into his chest.
It only took a few more steps, but Jeritza regained his balance in record time.
Something was different. The Death Knight had learned from their previous encounter. He was quicker now and kept his center of balance lower, making it harder for Byleth to throw him off balance.
"Your tactics will not work, this time," the knight laughed.
Byleth saw a flash of orange behind the knight and the shimmer of a spearhead.
"Then I guess it's time for new ones," Byleth swiftly stepped back, he extended his arm to his side. He hurled his whip forward and it struck the knight across his chest once again.
The Death Knight lifted his scythe high above his head. He brought it down with a terrifying WHOOSH but Byleth easily sidestepped his blade. Before he could lift his scythe, Byleth heaved his arm forward once again. The chain rapidly wrapped itself around the length of his scythe.
The Death Knight pulled his weapon toward him, desperate to free it from the Sword of the Creator's grip. Byleth pulled backward, his heels slid across the floor.
"Ding dong!" Leonie leapt into the air behind Jeritza. He barely had enough time to turn his head before she struck his helmet with the metal of her lance with a deafening CLANG.
The Death released his grip on his weapon and raised his hands to his head as if he were attempting to cover his ears.
Byleth couldn't help but smile. With the metal that made his thick armor, Leonie's strike would've no doubt caused an ear piercing ring in his head. He gave his sword another yank, and with it the scythe slid further from Jeritza's grasp.
The Death Knight abandoned his attempt to shield his ears as he started rampaging toward with nothing but his fists.
"Move!" Byleth motioned for Leonie to create distance. Jeritza's rage was solely focused on him and him alone.
The Death Knight threw his fist toward Byleth. He spun his body to the side. Another punch, Byleth barely had enough step to jump backward. But before he could lift his sword to deflect another attack, a bright red light blinded him and sent him flying before finally landing on his back.
"Sorry, professor!" It was Dorothea's voice.
Byleth saw a few small flames on his sleeve as he pressed it into his chest, extinguishing it. His eyes searched for the knight and found he'd also been thrown to his back. Byleth scrambled to his feet. "It's alright!"
Dorothea took several steps toward him. And with each step she extended her hand and released another circle of flame. It was almost an elegant dance of fire.
Byleth returned his eyes to the Death Knight as he struggled to stand, he shielded his face from her fire. "Don't let up, it's gotta be getting hot in there!"
Dorothea didn't miss a beat, she only quickened her steps, "I'll boil him alive."
The Death Knight reached for something on the ground. It was only when another burst of flame had struck him that he could see Jeritza firmly grasped a large piece of broken rock.
"Move it!" Byleth's chest tightened. His feet moved faster than his mind as he raced toward the mage.
It was too late, the Death Knight hurled the rock through the air. It traveled much faster than Byleth could. His eyes widened as he anticipated another horrifying scream.
"Oof," a purple blur had struck Dorothea in her side, sending her flying and out of the path of the rock.
Petra.
Byleth came to a stop as he saw both girls land safely on the ground. He made a mental note to praise Petra later. He turned to see the Death Knight trodding toward his scythe.
Byleth sent his whip flying. It smacked him in his arm plate and caused him to stumble briefly. But he did not let up. The Death Knight lifted his weapon above his head.
"Halt!"
Byleth snapped his head to his side. Another heavily armored foe stood not far from him.
The Death Knight hesitated before lowering his scythe.
"You're having a bit too much fun," the mysterious figure spoke to Jeritza. No, commanded Jeritza.
"You're getting in the way of my game," the Death Knight seemed annoyed as he tightened his grip on the pole of his scythe.
"Hmph," the mysterious soldier shook their head and scoffed. "You'll have more opportunities to play soon. Your work here is done."
Byleth eyed the shorter-than-average knight. They wore a masquerade-like visor and their armor was streaked with a dark red. And it seemed as if they were trying to lower the tone of their voice. Byleth could hear the odd infliction in their tone.
"Understood," the Death Knight gave a firm nod. "I will go…"
He evaporated into a bright white light that streaked toward the ceiling and disappeared.
"And who might you be?" Byleth already knew who was in charge. If Jeritza would abandon their fight just because this knight told him to, their rank was clear. And, if he could keep them talking, he might be able to put a finger on what made their odd infliction so curious…
His students started to gather behind him. Byleth held up his hand. Until he knew more, he didn't want any of them close to this new enemy.
"I am the Flame Emperor," they said. This time, Byleth could certainly tell they were attempting to lower the tone of their voice even more.
"Flame Emperor," Byleth repeated. "Why such a show of mercy?"
"I-" the Flame Emperor seemed to stumble over their words. "It wasn't time."
"Time for what?" Byleth prodded. He wanted them to speak more.
"Your questions annoy me," the Flame Emperor sounded agitated, but it seemed disingenuous.
"Do you not like questions?" Byleth continued, desperate to keep their conversation going.
Without giving him a response, the Flame Emperor dispersed into a bright white light and teleported away, just as the Death Knight had done.
"Well, he certainly was… something," Ferdinand swung his lance behind his back, latching it to his holster.
Yes, he certainly was, Byleth thought to himself. He pivoted his body and searched for the two girls who laid unconscious on the floor. "Let's get them to the infirmary."
His students followed him toward Flayn.
"That was intense!" Caspar let his excitement finally burst. "Did you see us, professor?"
Byleth leaned over and gingerly put his arms around Flayn's small body. He lifted her from the ground and firmly held her in his arms. "I did. You guys had great footwork out there."
"Did anyone get my joke?" Leonie's tone matched Caspar's. "I said 'ding dong' like a church bell and then I hit him in the helmet!"
"You did well," Byleth continued as he nodded his head down to the red-haired girl. Without being told, Ferdinand and Caspar took each of her arms and lifted her from the ground. "The Death Knight didn't even see you."
"You distracted him for me!" Leonie exclaimed.
Byleth had already pegged her for a mercenary-in-training, he knew the moment he saw her making her way behind the Death Knight that she was attempting the same tactic she had used during their stone exercise in the woods.
His students beamed. It was the happiest he had seen them after a battle.
"It was definitely one of our better fights," Shamir added as she began to head toward the stone stairwell.
"And you as well, Petra," Byleth followed Shamir as he carried Flayn. "You saved Dorothea's life. You're all getting quicker, and using new tactics."
"We'll do better next time, professor!" Annette's joyous voice echoed through the dungeon. "Ingrid and I will train harder so you won't have to look after us so much!"
"Do-does that mean that yo-you're proud of us?" Bernadetta anxiously asked.
"I'm more than proud," Byleth let a small grin form from his lips. His steps were soft and cautious as he ascended the stairwell. He didn't want to injure Flayn's body any more than it had been. As far as he could tell, neither of the girls had sustained any injury. Hopefully the white mages would be able to tell him more.
"But what is more than being proud?" Petra's confused voice asked from behind him.
He had emerged from behind the bookcase and into Jeritza's room. Only a pool of blood remained in his quarters, where Manuela once laid.
"I'm downright overjoyed," Byleth answered her.
"Are you all alright?" Edelgard's voice called from just outside of the door. Byleth noted her breathing was hard, as if she had been running vigorously.
"We're okay," Byleth nodded as she appeared from the doorway. Her eyes rested on something on his face and Byleth immediately knew he had failed to wipe away all the blood from his nose.
"Are you okay?" Edelgard's brow lowered.
"It was just once," Byleth swallowed hard. It was strange having someone else share in his secret. Though, as odd as it felt, he was simultaneously relieved to be able to share the burden. "I'm fine."
"What was just once?" Caspar and Ferdinand finally emerged from the bookcase, with the red-haired girl between them. "The number of times the Death Knight got one up on us?"
Byleth watched the color drain from Edelgard's face as she peered at the unknown student.