How do you guys resist the urge to go back and rewrite everything you've ever written? I'm getting that strong urge with this story, but I do not want to overthink what I could've done or I know I'm going to burn myself out… but damn that urge! I just feel like there's so many things I could've done better or differently.

Any thoughts about what you guys would like to see for the future? It's about time I revisit my rough outline.

Also, what do you guys think about me eventually changing the rating from "T" to "M" in the future?

"He always bragged that some… blood transfusion had extended his life," Alois held a poorly molded mug full of ale. "It's only a shame it didn't make him impervious to steel."

Catherine sat next to him on the bench in the reception hall with her own mug, "I'm sure it was just a tall tale that mercenaries used to... Y'know, stoke fear in the hearts of their enemies. Did you know anything about this blood transfusion?"

Byleth shook his head. His cup was still full to the brim as his mind was elsewhere besides dulling the lingering pain that didn't seem to subside. He wanted his mind sharp, he'd need every quick reaction to plot his next course of action.

It was clear Those Who Slithered in the Dark wanted to send him a message that they could reach anyone important to him, lest they suffer the same fate as his father. The way Byleth saw it, there were only two routes. First, he could accept they held the advantage and do his best to be reactive to their attacks as he lacked enough information and support to launch an offensive. Or second, give them what they wanted.

He shook his head. That would never happen. It was true that his first experience with tears had been over his father's body, but there was something about Edelgard that had stoked several firsts in him as well and he was determined to not let that feeling go without a fight.

"Hey…" Alois's low voice interrupted his thoughts. "Have you been eating?"

Byleth lifted his eyes to find both Alois and Catherine staring at him, "I've… I've eaten."

"I think he means this imperial year," Catherine cocked an eyebrow.

It had been several days since the monastery welcomed in the new year, but the pain of the previous still carried over into what was meant to be a joyous year. The students would soon be graduating and a new group would be making their way in. Though Byleth had begun to have doubts as to if he'd be around to continue teaching the new class.

"Of course," Byleth forced a chortle. "I very much doubt I'd still be standing if I hadn't."

In truth, Byleth wasn't sure. The days had blurred together and it was becoming increasingly difficult to tell the difference from one morning to the next.

"Either way," Alois took a long swig from his mug. "You've not been eating enough. Why don't you join me in the dining hall? I'm sure most of the student body has cleared out by now."

Byleth shook his head as he feigned a smile, "I'm rather tired, I think I'll actually retire to my room."

"Then breakfast, it is," Catherine shot him a playful glare. "Don't think you're getting off that easy."

"Byleth."

Byleth snapped his neck to see Shamir standing on the farthest end of the reception hall. Her arms were folded in front of her and her face was expressionless, "excuse me."

He lifted himself from the bench and began to make his way over to her.

Something seemed off, Shamir seemed more uncomfortable than usual. She kept her gaze plastered to the floor even as he approached.

"What is it?" He queried.

"I thought you should know," she began but did not lift her eyes, "there's been reports of sightings in the Sealed Forest."

Byleth's face dropped. Somehow he already knew the answer, but decided to clarify anyway, "sightings of what?"

"At least that girl, Kronya," Shamir explained. "They say she has quite the force with her, but nothing of Solon."

"Well, he has a habit of appearing even if he hasn't been spotted," Byleth clenched his jaw. "How reliable are these reports?"

"I'd say very," she tightened her lips. "The scouts that came back have never been wrong to date."

"Alright," Byleth blinked several times. The last thing he expected to do tonight was begin a march to battle, but fate had a funny way of throwing you a bone when you needed it the most. "The Sealed Forest is what, two days march? Maybe three? I'm sure the class can manage without me for a few days since their free weekend is coming up."

"You're going to go alone?" Shamir's condescending tone didn't bother him much. His mind was clearly elsewhere. "You do realize they're baiting you?"

"Of course, they are," he wasn't naive. Kronya clearly wanted those scouts to return back to the monastery with this information.

"Revenge kills never go well, Byleth," Shamir huffed. "You should know as well as I do. How many brothers or husbands have we killed to have their loved ones come after us?"

"Too many to count," he nonchalantly nodded.

"And yet here we stand, and they don't," he had never seen her so angry since he was in the infirmary. "Rage blinds you, it weakens your reflexes and makes you oblivious to tactics of any sort."

"Not this time," Byleth shook his head. He turned on his heel and made his way through the reception hall, toward the exit. Shamir followed step for step.

"Because you say so?"

"Because," Byleth's own agitation began to seem through, "if you haven't noticed, I don't exactly have a lot of emotion to spare. It's a little impossible to be blinded by rage when you feel nothing."

"Nothing?" Shamir scoffed. "Is you marching off to a certain death what you would call 'feeling nothing?' I know there's something else going on with you, I don't know why you just won't tell me what it is."

"You wouldn't believe me," he was eager to end this conversation. He had a location, he had his target. There was nothing else to be said as far as he was concerned.

"Why don't you try me?" Shamir wouldn't relent. "For many, many ethereal moons, we've watched each other's backs and now you're off to get yourself killed and expect me to stand idly by? I told you the last time, you can count me out of your suicidal tendencies."

"I didn't ask you to come with me," Byleth huffed, his steps grew heavier as they walked. "Nor would I allow it."

"Allow it?" Shamir let out a rare laugh. "I don't answer to you."

"You've told me to count you out numerous times," he was outside now and effortlessly skipped down the stairs that led into the marketplace.

"Well, count me in," Shamir hurried her steps and surpassed him.

"No, absolutely not," Byleth's voice rose.

"The last time I checked, you weren't Rhea," Shamir didn't turn to face him. "And I'm not one of your students, so don't think you can order me around."

"Maybe not," Byleth defiantly snapped. "But I'll be long gone before you've been able to pack anything."

"I know where you're going," Shamir threw her hands in the air. "Or did you already forget that I was the one that told you?"

"Professor."

The gentleness of that voice was unmistakable. Byleth turned his body to see Lady Rhea approaching from outside of the dining hall. Both he and Shamir tightened their lips as she approached them.

"I see you've heard of our scouts' latest reports," she began. Her eyes peered at Shamir and Byleth thought he saw a hint of disapproval in her glare. "It seems the term 'discretion' could have used more clarification."

Shamir averted her gaze.

Byleth heard the doors of the dining halls open several times as students emerged onto the patio and onto the stairs to watch the spectacle. He and Shamir's argument must have been louder than he thought.

"I understand how you must feel," Lady Rhea continued.

Somehow Byleth doubted that. Since reading his father's journal, he found it hard to make eye contact with the woman he knew still held many of the secrets to unlocking his past.

"But we simply cannot risk the possibility that your arrival would be expected. But I assure you, we have a small contingency of knights awaiting deployment, along with another class, though we have not decided which would suit best," Lady Rhea gave him a gentle nod.

But her words did nothing to quell the feeling that burned deep within him, "with all due respect, Lady Rhea, I simply cannot allow it."

For the first time, the Archbishop seemed startled by his words.

"I've seen what they're capable of first hand. My father was probably the most experienced knight to ever be in your ranks and a less experienced class would only be fodder in their desire to cause pain and destruction," Byleth would not back down. He knew what position Lady Rhea held in the monastery, in all of Fodlan, but he was never one to bend a knee and do what he was told especially when it came to matters such as this.

"My teacher."

Byleth let out a deep sigh. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy the sound of Edelgard's voice, it was that he knew there would be one more dissenting vote. For once, he wished he could slip under the cover of darkness and be on his way. He had every intention of returning, of course, but it didn't seem like such a grand request to make.

"You truly don't mean to go alone?" Edelgard descended the stairs from the Great Hall.

"He wouldn't leave without us," Lysithea followed close behind her. Her scowl told Byleth everything he needed to know about her mood.

"As your professor," Byleth felt dozens of eyes rest upon him. "It would be ill-advised to take you with me. The dangers are far too great."

"Be as it may, it's ill-advised to go alone," Lady Rhea never dropped her calm demeanor. "As it would seem there is no swaying you from this path, I must insist you at least take your class with you. With all that's happened, it may be the safest place for them to be."

"Lady Rhea," Shamir finally broke her silence. "I request to join them if you'll allow it."

Somehow, Byleth didn't think Rhea's answer would matter much to Shamir, she had already made her intentions clear.

"Very well," she gave Shamir an approving nod.

The knight shot Byleth a glare of victory and he had the irresistible urge to stick his tongue out.

Byleth stood still for several moments as he placed his hands on his hips as the student body began to disperse and Rhea retreated to the Great Hall. Frustration was another feeling that he wasn't particularly fond of.

"Happy?" Byleth tightened his lips as he peered at Shamir.

Another rare grin formed from her lips, "very. I'll go prepare the students. I trust you'll be here when we return and use this time to cool off."

"Professor," Leonie lingered on the steps above him. "Are we going after the ones that killed Captain Jeralt?"

Byleth sighed before giving her a weary nod.

"It's time we returned the favor," Caspar seemed less jovial than usual and more determined.

"Come," Shamir simply stated as she started making her way toward their homerooms. One by one, each of his students followed her.

Except for Edelgard, she hesitated for several moments only staring at Byleth. Her brows were lifted in concern as if she were trying to read him but he didn't dare return her stare, "you will be here when we get back, won't you?"

Byleth closed his eyes but she did not leave. He knew she would only linger until he gave her a firm answer, and one that he knew he must abide by. Byleth found it especially hard to lie to Edelgard. Finally, he bobbed his head up and down in defeat, "I'll be here."

"You don't always have to do everything alone," Edelgard swallowed hard. "It took me a long time to realize that and somebody helped me along the way. Learn from my mistakes, Byleth."

"They're not even trying to be quiet," Shamir walked as she gave Byleth a side eye.

Though Edelgard was no mercenary, she could even hear the myriad of overlapping voices. Some laughed, some merely talked with one another as they were a crowd awaiting their special guest.

"If not us, it would've been another class, correct?" Byleth didn't turn to face the knight.

Shamir sighed as she continued on, "I suppose so, with a small contingency of knights."

"Do you think a 'small contingency' would have been better than the Black Eagles?"

"While they're no Knights of Seiros," Shamir shook her head, "they certainly are more trained than a lot of our newcomers but not many knights could hold a candle to Captain Jeralt."

"And they did away with him as if he were a minor annoyance," Byleth reminded her. "I know you, nor the class is going to listen to me if I tell you to stay here."

"You're right about that," Shamir scoffed.

Edelgard listened intently. The last time he spoke of such things, they had trailed him quite a distance to Conand Tower, but that was different. Miklan was only a bandit leader that took his family's hero relic into his own hands.

Those Who Slither in the Dark had been through many names throughout the centuries, and they only remained alive to constantly change their moniker because they were not Miklan nor his group of bandits.

"Then I have another favor to ask," Byleth tried to lower his voice. However, either Edelgard had indeed improved her hearing or he was doing very poorly. "I need you to stay with Lysithea and Edelgard. Do not let them out of your sight."

"Edelgard?" Shamir turned her head to face him, "she seems more than capable-"

"Please, Shamir," Byleth pleaded with her. "I promise, after this, I will tell you what is in my power to tell you without betraying confidence. Just know she is their main focus."

Edelgard exchanged glances with Hubert, who walked beside them. To her surprise, he did not seem annoyed at her teacher's interference, but rather satisfied to have the extra help.

"It appeared to be Jeralt, or even you if you count the cruelty of making you watch them slay him," Shamir quieted her voice even more.

"They're just angry with me," Byleth answered as he looked to the sky. Edelgard couldn't tell if he was merely stargazing or perhaps he smelled something she couldn't.

She couldn't deny that she felt the same uncontrollable urge to tell her classmates everything. As of late, it had become harder and harder to watch them in befuddlement each time a familiar face had revealed their true nature, or to watch her teacher extend himself to save the lives that sacrificed themselves for the cause without knowing what the cause was.

"And you'll tell me why?" Shamir's eyes darted across the ground, occasionally peering at him. "After this?"

He didn't vocalize his answer, he only gave her a nod.

"I'll trust you then," Shamir shrugged. "I guess that's what friends do."

Byleth chuckled. Edelgard assumed both the mercenaries were keenly aware of how much distance stood between them and Solon's forces, as neither seemed overly concerned with how much noise they made.

"What?" Shamir's tone dropped as did her face. "Stop laughing."

"Sorry," he placed his hand over his stomach. "It's just… it's the first time you called yourself my 'friend.'"

"Ugh," emotional outlets were not Shamir's fortay, even Edelgard's teacher had grown more than she had in that aspect. "You don't have to make it weird. Besides… I thought if you knew that you were my… y'know, maybe you wouldn't be so willing to run off like a jackass."

"I don't have a death wish, if that's what you mean," he still wore a wide grin. "Quite the opposite."

"Could've fooled me," Shamir shook her head as she examined her surroundings.

"I'm going to cut a line through whatever tightly gathered forces they have," Byleth slowed his pace. Each of his students mimicked his movements. "Kronya has to be somewhere near the back. I'll take down those I can along the way but I'll leave it to you to clean up the rest."

"Tell me again that you don't have a death wish," Shamir sucked her teeth.

Edelgard's heart jumped. As calm as her teacher played it, she had to agree with Shamir, it seemed to be a foolhardy plan at best, "my teacher…"

"It's alright, Edelgard," he didn't turn his head to face her. "Just please do as I say."

"Small patrol," Shamir stopped her movement.

Byleth lifted his hand into the air and waved toward a tight bundle of trees. Dorothea grabbed Edelgard by the forearm and pulled her closer to the treeline, "it'll be alright, Edie."

Byleth and Shamir were the last of the group to back into cover. Shamir pulled out a dagger from her holster and flipped it in her hand, offering the handle to Byleth.

"You've got extra I hope," Byleth took it from her and turned it so that the blade rested in his palm.

"I always have extra," she pulled another from her opposite side.

Byleth finally turned to face his students, who were crouched near the ground to lessen their profile. He held up four fingers and then firmly pushed his palm toward them, indicating for them to stay where they were.

As if on cue, Edelgard heard light footsteps on the dirt road they once stood on. Byleth left his sword holstered as he used his free hand to unsheath his blade.

Without further communication between the two mercenaries, both arose from the tall grass between the trees. Byleth cocked his arm and hurled Shamir's dagger at the furthest soldier. It pierced his temple and he swiftly fell to the ground.

No sooner than his body hit the dirt, Shamir was in the air with her arm above her head. She landed less than a meter from the closest foe, but before he could turn to face her, her knife had already slid across his throat and without looking, she heaved her arm over her shoulder as her own dagger buried itself in another man's neck.

Next to him, Byleth had his hand over the last man's mouth while he pierced the tip of his Black Eagles dagger into the side of his neck. He went to the ground with little resistance.

Had Edelgard not spent nearly a dozen new ethereal moons watching them in action, she surely would've been in awe.

"We don't have much time before they're expected back," Byleth wiped the blood from his blade across the sleeve of his jacket.

"We better get moving then," Shamir placed a foot on the first soldier's face to pull out her dagger from his template.

Byleth waved his hand toward the trees and his students began emerging.

"Do you get the feeling that they're being loud on purpose?" Byleth looked further down the dirt path as he began walking again.

Edelgard couldn't help but notice that her teacher had barely said two words to any of his students since they left Garreg Mach. Perhaps he was still stewing that he'd lost the argument… However, a main force behind that quarrel was Shamir.

"What gave that away?" Shamir cocked an eyebrow. "They're obnoxious fake laughs, or the fact that some of them are trying to change the pitch of their voices?"

"Why?" Byleth queried. "It's a trap, I've no doubt. But why announce it to anyone who approaches?"

Shamir didn't answer, she only shrugged her shoulders as she returned her dagger to its holster.

"They want us to think there are more than there truly are," Byleth answered his own question.

"That only works as a deterrent," Shamir shook her head. "Not much of a trap if they're encouraging us to stay away."

Byleth lifted his eyes as they darted back and forth. Edelgard recognized that look, it seemed Sothis had something to say on the matter as well. She only hoped she was trying to talk him out of it as much as Edelgard and Shamir had.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of silent walking. Byleth lifted his hand in front of him, he pointed at something within the trees. Edelgard narrowed her focus and saw what appeared to be a very dim flickering light.

"Alright," Byleth rested his hand on the hilt of the Sword of the Creator. "I've got a wide angle on this but I'll miss quite a few, I have no doubt."

"No talking you out of this?" Shamir sighed as she lowered herself closer to the ground.

Byleth shook his head, "give me a five minute head start, give or take. Take the same route and clean up any stragglers. I'm going to go straight for Kronya and cut down anyone along the way."

Edelgard had a tomes-worth of words caught in her throat. There were many things she wished she could say to Byleth right now, but she knew it would not only be futile, but could endanger the rest of the class as well. But before she could say anything of them, Byleth had already made his way into the woods.

Shamir sighed heavily as she took a few steps toward the direction he disappeared in. Edelgard felt compelled to join her.

"Does he always drive you this crazy?" Shamir leaned toward her.

Edelgard tightened her lips and gave her a light nod, "all the time."

"I don't envy you, that's for sure," Shamir folded her arms tightly in front of her chest. "Alright, that felt like about five minutes."

Edelgard scrunched her eyebrow, though she was no expert at keeping time, she was quite certain that was nowhere close to the time Byleth had given them.

"What?" Shamir noticed her confused look. "He said 'give or take.'" She waved her arm in the air and the students cautiously approached her.

"You know your assignments," Shamir continued. "I'm not your professor, so you know where you should be. Edelgard's group, you stay with me and for the love of whoever you pray to, do not get out of my line of vision… any of you. Is that clear? I'm not explaining to Byleth that I lost track of you."

"You either, Shamir," Edelgard's words left her mouth before she had time to think about them. "He just lost his father, I don't think he could bear to lose you as well."

Her words took Shamir back, her eyes widened as her eyes darted within Edelgard's. More than likely trying to find a response. Though Edelgard had trusted there was nothing more than a deep bond between the two, she had the feeling that it was mutual, that Shamir felt as close to her teacher as he did whether she wanted to admit it or not.

If that was not the case, Edelgard was certain Shamir would not have joined them on so many class missions, or training, or been vocal as she was before they left. If it was not mutual, she would've waited the full five minutes.

In the distance, Edelgard heard yelling and pained screams.

Shamir straightened her stance and unsheathed her sword, leaving Edelgard's words unanswered, "let's go."

Edelgard gave her axe a twirl as she let the haft settle in her palm. She followed close behind the knight as she kept her eyes plastered to the dirt, no doubt following Byleth's tracks.

She took many deep breaths as she normally did before a battle but was met with a warmth in her free hand. She jerked her head to see Dorothea walking beside her, her hand within Edelgard's.

"He'll be fine, Edie," Dorothea gave her a gentle smile.

Edelgard dropped her gaze and a familiar guilt overtook her. If her friend had known what they were up against, perhaps she wouldn't have offered such words of hollow encouragement. It was in that moment that Edelgard also decided, if Byleth could share his portion with Shamir, surely she could divulge her part with her classmates.

If nothing else, they at least deserved to make the choice. But first, they'd have to ensure there would be no further casualties.