WHOO! 100K words in 13 days and it's about to get REAL! And I'm not even half done yet! What else do you guys want to see happen in the story? I've reached the end of my formal outline and need to flesh out some more. Here's another question that I've been struggling with for… many, many days now. Should anything happen between Edelgard and Byleth BEFORE the timeskip? I have hesitations, though the other half of me says it's a different world with different social norms…
Edelgard's eyes scanned the immense battlefield that was Gronder Field. Her classmates surrounded her, each spoke louder than the next.
"We got this!" Caspar leaned on his knees. "We just need to remember everything the professor taught us."
Edelgard felt disheartened, she had hoped the professor would have met them on the battlefield in preparation but no doubt Rhea and the others had him whisked away. Her mind raced with plans to meet with her teacher, alone. Perhaps, if he met them afterwards, without Monica's company.
"A frontal attack wouldn't be wise," Ferdinand shrugged his shoulders. "There are two other teams after all. And while our combined class activity proved that we were the faster class, I say we don't take any chances."
"Agreed, it would being unwise," Petra nodded. "We must not be letting our pride endanger us."
"This time, we are sure we're supposed to be fighting each other?" Leonie queried. "I just don't want another embarrassment like when the professor took us out into the woods."
"It is the Battle of the Eagle and Lion, Leonie," Lindhardt wearily replied. "We are indeed supposed to emerge victorious."
"But you're not too far off," Edelgard turned her body to face her classmates. "Just as the exercise in the woods proved, given the chance to start fighting-"
"The Blue Lions and the Golden Deer will fight amongst themselves," Ferdinand interrupted. "Greatly dwindling their numbers, leaving little for us to clean up."
In the distance, a battle horn blew.
"Alright," Edelgard nodded. She gave her wooden axe a twirl. "Let's separate into our teams and disperse in the cover of the woods. I would think it wise for Ferdinand and Ingrid to stay close to Leonie's team as they do not have Flayn."
"The Killer Eagles," Caspar muttered under his breath.
"Yes, Lady Edelgard," Ingrid gave her a nod.
She pivoted on her heel and walked beside Hubert and Dorothea. Edelgard knew she couldn't express her concerns with Dorothea within earshot but she exchanged a glance with him, they were on the same page. They would have to find another way to get a message to their teacher.
"It would be so much easier if I could just light up the sky," Dorothea let her wooden sword drag through the dirt.
"They have mages of their own, Dorothea," Edelgard reminded her. "They could just as easily bombard us."
Hubert knelt beside a tree and Edelgard assessed her surroundings. They were covered just enough to gain the element of surprise, but close enough to the open field if they needed to make a quick retreat.
Edelgard heard the crackling of leaves and twigs, she snapped her head to face the noise but only found Bernadetta, Lindhardt and Petra finding their own spot a short distance from them.
She knew it would take some time for the other teams to traverse the field and begin their battle, she had hoped that their tactic would work and the other houses would engage with each other first.
Edelgard knew her body was changing, and no doubt so were her classmates'. They were swifter, stronger and more alert than ever thanks to her teacher's unconventional teaching style. And while she did not doubt they would emerge victorious even if they were to bull-rush the other houses, she wanted to minimize the casualties to her own.
The many deaths her teacher had lived through had taught her to value caution over brute force. It may be a mock battle with no lives at stake, but it would be a valuable exercise in preserving her classmates.
"What's that?" Dorothea perked her head up. She intently listened to her surroundings.
Impressive. Edelgard focused on her own ears and could hear the faint sound clashing training weapons far into the distance.
"It would appear the other houses have found one another," Hubert lowered his voice. "It's much too far to be our own team's battle."
Edelgard turned her gaze to the trees on the other end of the clearing. She couldn't see so much as a tree branch stir. Her own house had remained in place, despite the sounds. She honestly wasn't too sure about Caspar and Leonie's enthusiasm, but she did not see them expose themselves from the trees for the sake of entering the fight prematurely.
"You fought diligently," Edelgard could easily recognize Dimitri's voice. It was faint but her teacher had taught them to hone their hearing. "But I'm afraid I must ask you to retreat to the sidelines."
The sounds of wood-on-wood clashing grew closer the longer they stayed in the trees. But they remained stationary.
"Hilda! Hilda!" It was Hilda's voice that chanted her own name. "You're out!"
"You are quite skilled," Ashe sighed.
Their distance was rapidly decreasing. Edelgard tried to estimate if they were heading towards the clearing, or to one of the sides where her classmates remained hidden.
"Sorry, little lady," Raphael's voice boomed.
"It's quite alright," Mercedes's high voice assured him.
Edelgard did the math in her head. Surely a few must have fallen even before they heard the houses engage. If that did prove to be true, and assuming no Black Eagle had been struck yet, they would outnumber that of both of their houses combined.
"You're out, Lorenz," Felix's cold voice stated.
"Next time, never fight two to one," Sylvain added.
Edelgard disagreed. In their joint house exercise, her classmates held their own against two opponents at once. If need be, she knew most of them would fair just fine.
"Ca-caw! Ca-caw!"
She furrowed her brow, it was Leonie's… voice, if that's what you would call it. It was immediately followed by the sounds of battle.
"Are you-" Claude started, "Are you trying to intimidate me?"
Edelgard stepped closer to the tree nearest to her and leaned her back against it, "she was warning us." She whispered, just audible enough for Dorothea and Hubert to hear.
They both rose from the ground and followed her lead as they shrunk their bodies to fit neatly behind a tree trunk.
"They're on the other side," Edelgard continued.
"Ha!" Leonie's animated sounds seemed to help her fight better, though she couldn't determine the reasoning.
"Hyah!" Caspar always seemed to give away his position and intention with a warrior's cry.
"I got her, Claude!" Hilda's excited voice called from the other end of the clearing. "You're out, Annette- Ow!"
"As are you, Hilda," Ingrid's calm tone preceded her grace.
"Fine!" Hilda whined.
"Should we join them?" Dedue's deep voice was further than that of Leonie's bird calls.
"No, Dedue. Let them fight it out," Dimitri replied. "I have a feeling Edelgard is not with them. They would have split up in an attempt to surround us."
They stepped heavily as they entered the tree line. The sounds beneath their feet crackled over dead leaves.
Surround you? Edelgard was amused. You're willingly coming to us.
"Well, there are four of us," Felix sighed. "It would not appear we are in for much of a fight."
"Don't get cocky," Sylvain replied. "Even I have to admit they were… quicker than I expected."
Their voices passed them and continued further into the woods. Edelgard let a grin form from her lips, they had not noticed their presence.
"Perhaps," Felix continued, "but we merely need to flush them-"
A loud clink echoed through the trees. And then a whap.
"God- ouch!" Sylvain yelled.
"You missed me, Petra!" Felix chuckled.
"I did not miss," Petra replied. "I am believing your teammate is out."
Edelgard left the cover of her tree, determined to join her battle. Her steps were light as she moved from tree to tree, trying to catch a glimpse of them in between the tall trunks.
"And you stand out here alone?" Dimitri's disingenuous concern made her roll her eyes.
Finally, she saw Petra leaning from foot to foot, her right elbow cocked high into the air as she pointed the tip of her blade at someone, Edelgard couldn't make out who.
"But I am not alone," Petra nodded, her eyes scanning her surroundings. "I will never being alone."
A diversion. It seemed her classmates had indeed learned a great deal. Petra stepped cautiously to her side and drew the three men into Edelgard's vision. Dimitri gripped his lance tightly, Dedue towered over him with his axe.
Felix was further from his teammates, but he tossed the hilt of his wooden sword from hand to hand.
A flash of purple.
Bernadetta and Lindhart creeped up behind them, their steps silent.
Edelgard peered behind her and waved her hand. It was time to strike, they had the numbers and surely Dimitri and his team would not expect to be flanked, twice. She would not leave Petra standing alone again.
Hubert and Dorothea took several swift steps forward, Edelgard followed suit. She watched as Felix suddenly pivoted his body and swung his blade, striking Lindhardt in his arm.
"Was that necessary?"
"They're trying to flank us!" Dimitri had been slower to realize what Petra was doing than Edelgard gave him credit for.
Bernadetta deflected Dedue's axe, her feet quicker than before and Petra darted forward, desperate to gain Dimitri's attention so that Bernadetta would not face the blunt of both of their attacks.
Edelgard dashed forward and swung her axe across her body as she focused her gaze on Felix. He turned just in time to lift his blade upward, deflecting her attack.
"And Lady Edelgard finally shows herself," Felix stepped backward to create distance between them.
The banging of wooden weapons clashing with one another surrounded her. Hubert had passed them and seemed focused on assisting Bernadetta with Dedue.
Dorothea on the other hand…
Edelgard twirled her axe again, Felix tightened his grip on his hilt but did not move his feet, "what's wrong, Felix? Afraid to cross blades with me?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Felix narrowed his eyes. "Let's see what you're made- ah! What?"
Dorothea had managed to avoid his attention as she approached him from behind and gave him a hard WHAP across his back.
"I did it, I got him!" Dorothea practically hopped with excitement.
"You got lucky," Felix sighed as he began to trudge through the woods. "Don't think for a second that it'll happen again."
Edelgard snapped her head just in time to watch Bernadetta swing her blade, making contact with the back of Dedue's thigh as Hubert parried with him.
Petra backed away from Dimitri, her sword still at the ready. He pivoted his body frantically as he saw that each of his comrades had fallen.
Petra, Bernadetta, Hubert and Dorothea swiftly moved to surround him. Edelgard did not join in. She knew it would be overkill.
"Um.. do you guys even need us?" Edelgard turned her head to find Leonie loosely holding her lance. She stood beside Ferdinand, Ingrid and Caspar. "At this point, it's like…" She used her pointer finger to point at each of them, "eight to one."
Edelgard couldn't help but smile. She was relieved to see they had joined them after their own battle with Claude and the Golden Deer, having only lost Annette.
"Do not expect me to surrender," Dimitri's knuckles turned white as he gripped his lance harder.
"Never," Edelgard stepped toward him as she placed a hand on her hip.
He darted forward, his eyes seemingly only seeing Edelgard. Petra darted in front of her and deflected his lance, throwing him off balance.
Edelgard casually swung her axe and listened as it made contact with the back of his leg.
Dimitri sighed heavily as he straightened his body, "I will admit defeat though I must admit, I did not expect so many of your house to remain."
"We still lost two," Edelgard lowered her voice. If this had been a true battle, that would've been two more times her teacher would be forced to turn back the hands of time. Though he may be able to undo their deaths, she was sure he would never unsee their lifeless gazes. "We will continue training harder than ever, until we can manage not to lose a single member of our house."
In the distance, the battle horn blew once again, signaling the end of The Battle of the Eagle and Lion.
"To our victory!" Ferdinand stood from his seat in the dining hall to raise his glass.
Several Black Eagles stood to clink their glasses together.
"Were you watching, professor?" Leonie took a sip of her wine.
Byleth sat with a grin spread across his face, "I was watching. You all did very well out there."
"Well?" Her voice rose. "Did you see us, we were fighting machines!"
"You protected each other well enough, though Annette could use more coverage," Byleth nodded as he looked at each of his students' wide smiles.
"Yes, professor," Caspar lowered his eyes.
"But it was a mock battle," Byleth took a sip of his own glass. "There were no life-or-death stakes. I'm sure you and Leonie will be more cautious in the future. All of your tactics were sound, even without me there barking instructions."
"It would have been nice to have you on the field with us," Edelgard pursed her lips.
"It wouldn't have been right, not with Manuela and Hanneman excusing themselves," he replied.
"Did you guys get my signal?" Leonie changed the subject. "I was trying to let you guys know that Claude had found us."
"We heard it, alright," Dorothea chuckled. "Though we couldn't tell if it was a dying animal."
"A dying animal? It was a killer eagle!" Caspar's excitement swelled. "We practiced that during the entire march there."
"I'm not entirely sure that eagles 'ca-caw,'" Edelgard chuckled as she wiped a drop of wine from her lips.
"I am believing you are thinking of a crow," Petra backed her up. "The noise you were making was certainly that of a crow."
"Oh," Leonie scrunched her brow. "I guess we'll have to keep working on it."
"It would've been nice to participate!" Monica batted her eyelashes beside Edelgard, who exchanged a glance with Hubert.
Byleth shook his head but did not let the soft smile fade from his face, "you and Flayn were too new. After some training, then I think you will be ready to go on missions with us."
"I will train to the best of my ability, professor!" Flayn sat at the end of the table next to Ingrid, Ferdinand and Shamir, who sat quietly.
"I know you will," he gave her a reassuring nod as he took the last sip of his wine. He placed his empty glass on the table.
"Do we know what our next mission's going to be?" Leonie queried.
Byleth shook his head, "I haven't heard anything, but we just got back from Gronder Field and you're eager to head back out?"
"No, but I was thinking about adding more sandbags to my running staff," Leonie replied. "I want to make sure I'm ready for whatever it is."
"Only if you feel your current weight isn't as hard," Byleth explained. "If it's still hard, then you risk injuring yourself if you add more."
"We'll begin our training another day," Edelgard seemed to be in higher spirits, but there was still something off.
Byleth noticed the several exchanges her and Hubert made to one another.
"I agree!" Ferdinand exclaimed. "For today, let's revel in our latest victory!"
"You all certainly deserve it," Shamir tried to cover her mouth with her hand, but Byleth could see a small grin from between her fingers.
So she can smile.
"Perhaps a toast is in order," Edelgard said softly as she grazed the stem of her glass with her fingers. "To our teacher, who has taught us much not only about battle, but of life."
"Yeah! To our professor!" Caspar raised his glass.
Byleth chuckled as he nodded toward his, "I believe it is bad luck to toast with an empty glass."
"Hubert," Edelgard began. "Would you mind terribly getting our teacher another glass of wine?"
"Oh he doesn't-" Byleth started.
"Yes, Lady Edelgard," Hubert rose from his seat.
"Me too! You don't mind, do you Hubie?" Monica chimed in.
Byleth could hear a deep sigh from the tall young man as he made his way into the kitchen, "he really doesn't have to."
"But it's true," Ingrid interjected. "It is bad luck to toast with an empty glass."
"We never had wine in our family," Leonie swirled her finger across the circular lip of her glass.
"Neither did I," Dorothea's cheeks were flush.
"Unfortunately," Ferdinand shrugged. "As nobles, we were introduced to it early in life and were expected to have it with every meal. I would recommend going slow."
Hubert approached Monica and tossed a serviette in front of her before he tilted the bottle and refilled her glass.
Byleth could see the disdain in his eyes.
"Yeah, I don't think I can have anymore," Dorothea chuckled loudly.
Hubert had made his way around the table. Byleth felt awkward at the thought of being served. He could have just as easily gone to refill his own glass.
Hubert gingerly placed a folded serviette on the table as he poured the wine.
"Thank you, Hubert," Byleth nodded. "I appreciate it."
"Now we may toast!" Ferdinand stood and raised his glass.
Byleth smiled and rose from his seat.
"To the best professor in the world!" Leonie shouted.
"Here, here!" Caspar added.
One by one, each student stood and raised their glasses. Byleth held his own in front of his face.
"To our teacher, who cares so deeply for each of us," Edelgard softly began. "That he would spend not only his time, but his energy ensuring that his students may live a long, happy life."
Many students nodded silently in agreement. Then a myriad of clinks as they toasted. Byleth's own glass had chimed several times as his students leaned over to toast his cup. He took a large gulp.
They each took their seats again.
Byleth grabbed his serviette and wiped his mouth as he lowered himself back down, placing it across his lap.
He was not ignorant. Hubert had paid special attention to laying it in front of him when he clearly didn't care as he tossed one toward Monica.
The students' voices overlapped one another but Byleth only nodded though his focus was not on their words.
His movements were careful as he sipped from his glass with one hand and unfolded the serviette in his lap with the other.
"Are you sure the extra weight won't make it too hard?" Ingrid nervously replied to some question that was asked of her.
Byleth took another large gulp of his wine as the tips of his fingers unwrapped the cloth.
He peered down briefly before bringing his eyes back up.
"Don't you think?" Annette laughed.
It was only an instant, but he could read the words clearly: we must meet.
It was written in black ink. The curvature of the letters were that of Edelgard's writing.
Byleth finished his second glass with one more large swig.
"Petra deserves the credit, she played Dimitri like a violin," Edelgard smiled.
"Hubert," Byleth called. "Can you pass the bottle?"
Hubert lowered his brow and hesitantly leaned over the table to pass the emerald bottle that held the wine. Byleth sloppily refilled his glass. He brought his hand to his own cheek and leaned on it. He subtly began to pinch the skin tightly between his fingers before he switched sides, harshly pinching the other side.
He caught Shamir's eyes. She was studying his movements. To the untrained eye, he would appear to only be an overjoyed professor celebrating with his students. But of course, Shamir knew better.
"True, but I got Felix good in the back!" Dorothea laughed. "He didn't even know I was there."
"The sword master got whipped!" Caspar's laugh grew in volume.
Byleth took another long swig from his glass. His hand began to sway slightly, "let's not forget about Bernadetta, she really gave it to Dedue." He chuckled loudly.
"Y-you can call me, Bernie," she smiled widely. "After all, i-it only seems right!"
Byleth exaggerated his nod, "you got it, Bernie!"
"Oh my," Dorothea placed a finger against her cheek. "I do believe our dear professor's getting inebriated."
"I say he deserves it!" Ferdinand threw his hands into the air. "It's thanks to him that we've grown so much. Bottom's up, professor!"
Byleth lifted his glass again and took another long gulp, "I guess wine does affect you more than ale."
His eyes met Edelgard's. She wore an amused but surprised grin on her face as she watched him refill his glass once again.
Byleth leaned over to Dorothea, "does wine make you hot? It's getting quite a bit warmer in here."
Dorothea nodded, "I've felt quite flush about halfway through my glass, so I can't imagine how you must be feeling." She gave him a sly wink.
Byleth frowned as he removed his coat from his shoulders and draped it across the bench. He was careful to slip the serviette that held Edelgard's message securely into its pocket.
Was he inebriated? No. Byleth had drunk a lot of ale in his younger years and the wine at the monastery was a bit weaker than he expected but his cheeks were certainly red from the pinching he gave himself, adding credibility to his inebriation. The excuse allowed him to disrobe, which played carefully into his plan.
Byleth's body swayed a little as he removed the Sword of the Creator and its new sheath, he leaned it against the bench next to his coat.
"Yeah, let loose, professor!" Caspar egged him on.
Byleth gave him an overexaggerated smile as he removed his knife from his belt and sloppily placed it on the table, "that's a looot better."
"Professor, did you get a new dagger?" Ingrid's eyes lit up.
"Oh, this?" Byleth rested his chin in his palm. He knew someone would take the bait, "Yeah, for my birthday. Y'know, before we found Flayn and Monica."
"I don't remember any of us getting you a dagger," Dorothea furrowed her brow.
"It was actually left in my quarters," Byleth chuckled. "But I have a feeling it was that guy." He pointed directly at Hubert.
"Aw, Hubert!" Annette gushed. "Did you really give our professor a gift?"
"No," Hubert denied.
"Y'know how he is," Byleth moistened his lips with his tongue. "But you are… what do they call it? A connoisseur of steel, am I right?"
"I do find myself interested…" Hubert tailed off. "In daggers and blades."
"Well," Byleth shrugged. "Maybe you can help me figure out what the extra coating is. I know it's coated with iron oxide, it's what makes the steel black. But there's another layer that I can't quite put my finger on."
Byleth stood and leaned over the table and handed the blade to a confused Hubert, "it's the side with the eagle etched on it, there's an odd coating that prevents reflections."
Of course it was all gibberish. There was no extra coating or layers.
Hubert took the handle in one hand and held the cloth cover with the other. He slowly unsheathed the blade.
Byleth studied his face, but it didn't twitch nor did his eyes widen.
Hubert rubbed the side of the dagger with his fingers. He could see his fingertips were covered in the chalk that he used to write his four simple words several days earlier, and Hubert had just wiped them away so no other eyes could peer at them.
Nicely done, Hubert.
Byleth knew he couldn't have given the blade to Edelgard, not with Monica hovering over her shoulder, but he had faith his message would get passed on safely.
"It's gorgeous," Ingrid leaned over the table to get a better look.
"What a fine present, indeed," Flayn gasped at the craftsmanship.
"It would appear to be a simple chrome coating," Hubert finally answered his question. "But it seems to be under the iron oxide. Quite fine indeed."
He stood and handed the blade back to his professor.
"Ah," Byleth placed it back down on the table. "That explains it."
"You're gonna look so stylish flinging that knife around," Dorothea laughed.
"Whoever gave it to me really knew my tastes," Byleth nodded at her. "The black steel helps reduce reflections that might give away your position."
"Not to mention it matches our house colors!" Annette clapped her hands.
Byleth's eyes rested on Shamir once again. He lifted his hand and made an "L" shape with his pointer finger and his thumb and waved his hand forward twice. Shamir nodded in understanding.
Then he turned his gaze to Edelgard, who had her brows lowered as she subtly tried to see what he and Shamir had communicated to one another.
Byleth gave her a small smile. He knew Hubert would give her the message. The four simple words that he drew onto his blade with a short piece of chalk.
Teleport. My room. Tonight.