Don't worry everyone. I do intend to fix the "teleport" plothole from the game. I didn't want to remove it completely as it played an important part in a lot of the tension but it WILL be fixed soon. Oh, and I'm finishing up a cover for this fanfic, excited to see what you all think!

"And you're absolutely certain?" Edelgard paced her room. She tightened her fists and loosened them again. Her palms drenched with sweat.

"Yes, Lady Edelgard," Hubert nodded. "It simply read 'Teleport. My room. Tonight.'"

"B-but how could he know," Edelgard stuttered, unsure if her words made sense. She felt lightheaded. "How could he possibly know that we can… do that?"

"I did say he was-"

"A keen specimen, I know," Edelgard snapped. "He is not some sample of blood under one of Professor Hanneman's contraptions."

"It's as close to a compliment that I can muster, Lady Edelgard," he sighed. It seemed her anxiety was rubbing off on him.

"But what does it mean?" Edelgard's head was a blur. She couldn't collect her thoughts.

"I assumed the meaning was clear," Hubert replied. "You wished for an opening to speak with him, and he provided the means, the time, and the place."

"How can you be so sure?" She swallowed hard. "He did have quite a bit to drink tonight."

"I did not see him pull out his blade to write on it with chalk during our celebration," he answered. "He must have written it some time ago and simply waited for the most opportune time."

"What do I do, Hubert?" Edelgard's chest was tight and her heartbeat thumped loudly against her ribs. She had pictured this moment for so long in her head, but now that the time had finally come, she felt a sort of paralysis.

"I… I thought your next course of action would be clear," Hubert lowered his brow.

"And that is?"

"Teleport. His room. Tonight," he answered.

Edelgard shot him a glance before she found herself struggling to take deep breaths.

"Lady Edelgard, if I may," Hubert softened his tone. "You care deeply for this… man. My intuition tells me that it is reciprocated. I do not believe he will reject you. He has… proven himself to be somewhat useful in assisting those in need."

That must have pained him to say out loud and was much more of a genuine compliment than calling him a "keen specimen."

"Do you think I should…" Edelgard squeezed her hands tightly together, interlacing her fingers. "That I should go."

Hubert took a deep breath as his eyes dropped to the ground, "I do. You dream of reforging this world without the help of Those Who Slither in the Dark. This is our best chance to do so. We will need many allies to replace them if we hope to realize that dream as we will amass many powerful enemies on this new path."

She slowly nodded as she swallowed hard in an attempt to suppress the lump that formed in her throat. Edelgard knew he was right. However, he seemed more sure of her teacher's reaction than she was.

It was true that he still wished to meet with her despite his suspicions of Monica, it appeared he was giving her the benefit of the doubt. But her heart begged to differ. Her heart screamed for her to never find out for fear it would be shattered into a million pieces.

However, this could be the best chance she'd have.

She glanced at Hubert, who nodded, "I will linger about the greenhouse and keep watch over the stairwell."

"Thank you, Hubert," Edelgard moistened her lips with her tongue. It seemed the only place on her body that wasn't perspiring was her dry, cracked lips.

Edelgard gazed forward and stared at her wall. It only took a moment before she was blinded by a brilliant white light.

For several moments, she could see nothing and slowly, she began to make out features of her new surroundings.

A bed, but with a different cover than her own. Edelgard blinked several times as she tried to force her eyes to adjust.

That's when she saw her teacher, his back leaned against his door. He looked at her and put his finger against his lips.

For what seemed like an eternity, he listened to whatever was on the other side of the door.

She noted that he didn't seem surprised by her grand entrance. But according to what Hubert said was written on the blade, she supposed he wouldn't be.

Edelgard found herself rubbing her fist with her opposite hand. Her teacher's cheeks were no longer red and he did not sway as he did in the dining hall.

Finally, her teacher separated from his door and approached her. In a hushed tone, he asked, "you weren't followed?"

Edelgard vigorously shook her head, "Hubert is keeping watch over the stairwell that leads to my quarters."

Satisfied, he sat on the edge of his bed and motioned for her to come closer, "sorry if my room… is a mess."

She quickly realized that she had never seen the inside of his quarters. He kept it minimal, more than likely due to his past he probably wanted to ensure he could gather his belongings quickly, if needed.

Edelgard approached his bed and took a seat on the opposite side. She rubbed her palms against her knees, "you wished… to meet?"

"I believe you sent me your message first," Byleth chuckled softly. "Don't worry, I've already burned the serviette."

"But it would appear you wrote yours first," she quipped. "Speaking of which, you no longer seem inebriated."

Byleth shook his head, "I was never inebriated. But it gave me an excuse to pull out my dagger without drawing suspicion."

"But your cheeks were flush," Edelgard lowered her brow.

"An old mercenary trick," Byleth dropped his eyes to the floor. "You pinch them as hard as you can. Men are more likely to talk if they believe they're conversing with a drunken friend."

"Impressive," Edelgard's heart fluttered. She knew this was not the topic either of them wished to discuss, but she found the words refused to emerge from her throat.

"You didn't want to wear your armor?" Byleth interrupted her thoughts.

"Armor?" Edelgard's breathing was hard as she struggled to understand his words.

"With the masquerade helmet?" Byleth circled the top of his head with his hand, "and the red plume?"

Suddenly, breath would not come to her any longer.

He edged closer to her, "it's okay, I know."

"Ho-how did you…" Edelgard finally managed to draw air into her lungs.

"The 'Flame Emperor's' height was very close to your own. If it were a man, they would feel inadequate being shorter than their enemies and would more than likely opt for platform armored boots."

"You could tell all that from my height?" Edelgard suddenly felt a cool wave of relief soar throughout her body.

"That, and you happened to conveniently be absent during 'his' arrival. And the infliction in your voice…" Byleth flattened his lips. "I know you tried to change the pitch to make it deeper. And in our first battle, you told the Death Knight to 'stop,' usually that word doesn't work well when you're fighting your enemies but you seemed to think it would."

"Heh," Edelgard let out a soft chuckle. "There's certainly no fooling you, is there? Maybe next you'd like to tell me that you know everything that I came to divulge. It would make my job a lot easier."

"I know that Monica's been keeping you from me, that she must have some hold over you," Byleth swallowed hard. "I don't know why. And I know the old librarian is connected somehow."

Edelgard's eyebrows twitched as she snapped her head to meet his eyes, it was more than she had hoped for, "you knew that much… and you still wished to meet with me? I thought knowing that I was the Flame Emperor would have been enough to turn you away, let alone the rest."

His gaze casually floated around her as he chose his words carefully, "I don't believe there's anything that would cause me to turn from you."

"I'm not so sure about that," Edelgard let out a strained laugh and returned her eyes to her hands on her knees.

An ungloved hand reached across her lap and hovered momentarily over one of her hands. Byleth hesitated, but then rested his hand on top of hers, "I'm sure enough for the both of us."

Edelgard felt her cheeks begin to flush, but she did not pull away. A symphony of emotion swirled within her. She suddenly felt the need to throw her hands across his shoulders and to embrace him tightly. Or perhaps, she could lay her head upon his lap and let loose the years of tears that she held back.

No, she hardened her mind. I will not cry.

"They call themselves Those Who Slither in the Dark," Edelgard managed to let the words escape. "They're a powerful organization that is strictly opposed to the church and... The Goddess's children, they believe them to be the ones responsible for social oppression by use of crests."

Byleth nodded, "elevating those higher who bear one, and tossing away the ones that don't."

"Yes," Edelgard continued. "But their… methods of achieving their goal of destroying the church and ridding the world of crests are… horrendous, vile, even. And I work with them."

She managed to lift her head to gauge his reaction. He didn't retract or even remove his hand from hers.

"Do you still wish to?" Byleth asked. "To work with them, I mean."

Edelgard shook her head zealously, "I've had a recent… change of heart. Do not misunderstand. I still do believe our system of nobility and crests are greatly abused, but I do not wish to resort to their methods any longer."

She hoped she would not have to explain what brought about her change of heart. Having to explain her… affection in addition to the danger would be too much for her to bear.

"Do they know this?"

"On some level, they must have sensed my hesitation," she explained. "That's more than likely why they sent Monica to join our class."

"To keep an eye on you," Byleth nodded. "She's more capable than she would have me believe, that much is clear. She threatened your life? Is that why you've kept your distance from me?"

"No," Edelgard pursed her lips. "She threatened yours."

"Mine?" Byleth lifted his brow. "You distanced yourself to protect me?"

She didn't answer.

"I thought that was my job," Byleth smiled.

Edelgard laughed as she blinked, fighting back the tears. It felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. And again, she had her teacher to thank. "I understand if you're apprehensive around me. After all, you've shared so many secrets… and I couldn't even share this one until now."

"Everyone has their own process of working through grief and fear, secrets not excluded," Byleth nodded softly. "I thought you'd come to me in your own time. And I would never be apprehensive with you."

She felt his hand squeeze hers a little tighter, reassuring her that he had accepted her despite her associations, despite her secret.

"How does Tomas fit into all of this?" He asked.

"His name's Solon," Edelgard answered. "He leads one of many branches of Those Who Slither in the Dark."

"How many are we talking about?"

She shrugged, "I honestly don't know their true numbers. Hundreds, perhaps several thousand. They're very careful about allowing a branch to know too much of the next, in case one of them falls."

"Smart," he added. "A branch will fall from its tree should it become poisoned, to avoid infecting the roots."

"I never tire of your random trivia," Edelgard chuckled.

"Edelgard…" her teacher trailed off. "May I ask a personal question? I don't know if it's directly related to Those Who Slither in the Dark, but I suspect it might be."

She lifted her gaze and gave him a nod.

"Those nightmares you had," Byleth began. "Did they have anything to do crest experimentation?"

Edelgard paused. She should've known that given a breadcrumb, he'd piece together the whole loaf.

"Lysithea got me thinking, so I asked Hanneman about it," Byleth admitted. "I apologize if I pried too far.

She shook her head, "you deserve the whole truth. My uncle, Lord Arundel… I suspect him to be a part of that same organization. When I was a child, he had me whisked away from the empire along with my siblings."

Her teacher did not interrupt.

"He had mages at his disposal, dark mages," Edelgard continued. "Their goal was to create more powerful rulers to oppose the church by instilling a second crest. All anyone knows of me is that I bear the Minor Crest of Seiros. When in truth…"

Edelgard lifted her hand, but not the one Byleth held for she did not wish to break that contact. A light formed within her palm, "I also hold the Major Crest of Flames, just as you do."

"According to Hanneman, that should be physically impossible," Byleth stared at the light that emanated from her hand before she brought it back down to her knee.

"Theoretically, it was. Until they succeeded," Edelgard sighed heavily. "Then it only became yet another secret that they buried for fear the church may emulate their tactics."

"Is that why Lysithea is so frail?" He asked. "I can't imagine what that must do to the body. But you don't seem as affected as her."

"It's true that Lysithea had undergone the same experiments. Though she does not bear the physical scars that I have, she most certainly carries the same mental scars and shortened life span that I do," Edelgard tried to speak mechanically. She did not wish to recall any memories of her time in their possession. "They must not have perfected their research, which explains her constant fatigue."

"First, shortened life span?" Byleth lowered his brow. His concern grew.

Edelgard nodded, "hers is dreadfully short, maybe another eight to ten years at most. I find it odd that I call myself lucky to have… maybe three or four more than she does."

"No," Byleth shook his head. "That's not going to happen."

She forced a laugh, "I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I'm not sure how you intend-"

"I will-" he interrupted her. "We will undo it. We'll find a way."

Edelgard searched his eyes for a hint of doubt, but found none. As unlikely as that was to happen, she was inclined to believe him. Not only had he listened without judgement, but he'd now injected himself into her cause.

"Okay," she nodded. A gentle smile formed from her lips, "We will find a way."

Edelgard had to fight the urge even harder to throw her arms around him. It was different before. He risked his life every time he turned back the hands of time to save herself or one of her classmates.

But now, he made a solemn promise to prolong her and Lysithea's lives when he could've easily wiped his hands of their pending deaths, knowing once the year ended, they may never see each other again. If what he said turned out to be true, and she could let herself believe she could live a long, long life, she would only want to spend his gifted years with him. Maybe, he would want the same.

"Second, physical scars?" He interrupted her thoughts.

Edelgard took in a deep breath and held it. She had almost forgotten she had mentioned them.

He must have sensed her hesitation, "you don't have to tell me if you do not want to."

She took her free hand and pulled up the sleeve on her arm to her elbow. Her clothing hid long, thick lines of discolored skin, "they're across my body, almost as if they were meant to outline my skeleton."

Byleth's eyes didn't widen, he didn't jump back. His eyes studied her scars. He almost looked… angry.

Edelgard pulled her sleeve back down. She didn't wish for him to see that side of her.

"I have them too," Byleth lifted his hand from hers and gripped the collar of his shirt.

She chuckled. She knew he was trying to make her feel less self-conscious, "I've seen your scars, in case you had forgotten."

"Yes, but this one," Byleth pulled the collar of his shirt down and used his finger to point at one of the vertical ones that sat in the center of his chest. "I was born with this one, or so I'm told."

"How can one be born with such a scar," Edelgard lifted a single brow. "It does not appear to be a birthmark."

Byleth shrugged as he released his shirt, "I don't know. I know it's getting repetitive, but I don't."

"You don't know why you have no heartbeat," Edelgard shook her head in amazement. "And you don't know how you obtained such a scar. You can turn back the hands of time… you are truly an enigma."

"I'm sorry, Edelgard," Byleth let his eyes fall. "I wish I could give you more answers."

"Do you think-" Edelgard stopped herself short as she tried to mull the gravity of her pending request.

"Do I think what?"

"Do you think you might call me 'El?'" She could feel her face reddening. But she longed to hear that name from his lips. "At least when we're alone?"

Byleth let a warm smile form, "I can do that, El."

The sound made her heart skip several beats. She could no longer fight the urge.

Her body moved faster than her mind as she turned and threw her arms around him. Byleth did not pull away, even as she tightened her embrace. He placed his hands on her back and hugged her tightly.

Edelgard buried her face into his shoulder as she silently cursed the tears that somehow managed to pass her eyes. Perhaps if they soaked into his clothing, he wouldn't be able to tell.

For what seemed like an eternity, Byleth held Edelgard in his arms. He could tell she was crying but did not want him to see that side of her.

"It's certainly been a night of various emotions," Sothis's voice rang in his head.

What do you mean? Byleth thought to himself, knowing his words would reach her.

"We've never felt such anger," she explained. "It was almost… rage. The thought of what was done to them… and now this."

I admit it, I felt anger. But it's gone now.

"It may have subsided a little, but this… now, it's a new feeling," Sothis beamed. "And my, how wonderful it feels!"

I could never feel 'wonderful' over the horrendous things that were done to her and Lysithea!

"Ugh," she scoffed. "Not about that, about the young woman in your arms!"

It does feel… different. But I don't know if I'd call it wonderful.

"Of course you wouldn't," she sucked her teeth. "You're in too much denial, just as a child would be! Do you still intend to give her the gift you bought?"

Byleth peered down at Edelgard's brilliant white hair. Her face pressed deeper into his shoulder.

Now really doesn't seem like the appropriate time.

"It's the perfect time!" She exclaimed. "What better to cheer someone up than with a gift? If I had hands, I'd most certainly demand them from you all the time."

It's not really a 'gift' if you must demand it.

Finally, Edelgard lifted her head but immediately averted her gaze. She didn't want him to see her puffy red eyes, "I apologize. That was most-"

"You don't need to apologize, El," Byleth tried to fit in her request as much as he could. He knew the nickname calmed her nerves.

She chuckled, "I just feared it might be the last time I might be alone with you for a while."

Byleth scrunched his brow, "because of Monica?"

Edelgard nodded silently.

"She's a danger to the students, and to you," Byleth began. "I'll find a way to get rid of her."

"She'll kill you!" Edelgard clenched her jaw. "I can't let that happen."

"No she won't," Byleth shook his head. "I won't let her. If you haven't noticed, Shamir and I have been sizing her up long before tonight."

She slowly nodded, "I've noticed."

"And if I'm being honest," Byleth sighed. "I had Shamir listen in on your room after I saw Monica go up the stairs."

Edelgard turned her head, "what did she hear?"

"Not a lot," he assured her. "But enough to share the same suspicions I had. Something about her wanting me dead, and Hubert telling her why that was a bad idea. That was the same day I wrote the message on my blade."

"She was suspicious as well?"

Byleth nodded, "a girl turns up after having been missing for a year without so much as a mark on her body. We both highly doubted the Death Knight spoon fed her all that time."

"And you're sure she's just a friend?" Edelgard inquired.

"Shamir's a good friend," Byleth smiled. "We're like brothers-in-arms, we watch each other's backs."

"Do you intend to tell her? About tonight?" Edelgard swallowed hard.

"If that's alright with you," Byleth lowered his brow. "At least about the organization."

"Very well," Edelgard weakly smiled. "I suppose it is safer if she's also protecting you. She seems loyal for a mercenary."

"It seems to be going around. Remember I was one, once, and I think inside I still am. But you won't have to protect me for much longer, give me a day or two," Byleth's voice rose. "I'll come up with a plan to keep you and the students safe. I can't take the chance that she'd turn on anyone else."

"You can't tell Rhea," Edelgard turned to meet his gaze. "Accusing a student of something like that without proof-"

"I don't intend to," Byleth smiled.

"Unless you plan to kill one of your students in the eyes of the church," Edelgard chuckled. "I am failing to see how you plan to have her expelled from monastery grounds."

"We'll worry about going to war with them later, one step at a time," he replied. "Besides, I don't need to kill her. Monica's going to help me get the proof I need."

Edelgard lowered her brow, "why would she… what are you planning?"

"If I told you…" Byleth searched for the right words. "You'd never let me do it."

"I thought we didn't keep secrets from each other anymore," Edelgard quipped.

"Well, at least one," Sothis laughed.

"I still have one," Byleth admitted.

"Wait, what are you doing?" Her voice rang louder in his head.

"But can we agree that I'll tell you after we deal with the immediate threat?" Byleth finished.

"You intend to tell her? About me?" Sothis huffed.

Not yet, Byleth thought to himself.

"I can agree to that," Edelgard smiled. "But you won't tell me of your plan, so that makes two secrets."

"Yes, but one won't be for very long," Byleth nodded. "The other will have to wait until Tomas is gone as well."

"Very well, I've no choice but to trust you," Edelgard replied. "After all, how can I demand your secrets after you've helped me so much tonight? I feel as if I can finally see the light, as if the crushing weight of being under their thumb is nearly over."

"Give it to her now!" Sothis pushed.

"Speaking of which," Byleth swallowed hard as he raised himself from the bed. Edelgard's eyes followed him as he approached his desk. He felt a sudden rush of perspiration as he opened his top drawer. Byleth considered many times abandoning his silly gift.

"Don't you dare," her firm voice rang in his head.

Byleth gripped the armored bear stuffy that he had purchased several days ago from the marketplace. He took a deep breath before he turned around to face Edelgard.

Her eyes lit up as her eyes rested on the bear as she inhaled excitedly.

Byleth squeezed it with one hand and patted it with the other as he struggled to find the words to say, "I could tell you've… not been yourself the past couple of weeks."

"Is that for me?" Edelgard hopped to her feet.

He dropped his head and nodded. He extended it toward her and Edelgard immediately scooped it up in her arms.

"I've always wanted one!" Edelgard's chipper tone was the only reward he needed. She squeezed it tightly as her eyes darted across it, studying every stitch. "You got this to cheer me up?"

Byleth nodded silently.

Edelgard threw a free arm around his neck and squeezed him tightly, "thank you. No one's ever gotten me a gift before." She whispered into his ear.

"You're welcome, El," Byleth smiled as he returned her embrace. He could feel her release a heavy sigh from between his arms.

Sothis chuckled softly, "such denial…"