Edelgard grunted as her eyes pulled themselves open. For some reason, she couldn't feel the cold stone against her back like it usually was. In fact, it almost felt like-

"Edelgard? Edelgard!" That voice was familiar. But she was having trouble placing it- her vision was still adjusting as a hazy mess before her eyes. Whatever it was looked vaguely orange, and was gently shaking back and forth- no, that was her doing the shaking. Or they were making her shake?

Oh, right. It was Ferdiand. He had somehow opened those damned doors, and she had collapsed.

...When did his hair get so long?

Ferdinand balked and huffed out a short laugh. "You are alive! This is- it's-" His smile was tightening.

"I don't think she's the only one." A new voice broke through. Edelgard raised her head to see a boy…No, a man, with long lavender hair and a well traveled tunic. He seemed familiar. Had she met him before? "Unless there's something in this room that keeps corpses fresh."

"Come now Yuri, there is no need to be-" Ferdinand's eyes followed the newly named Yuri's gloved finger. "-To…be…" His eyes twisted downward, as wide as dinner plates. "Edelgard, that can't be Professor Byleth? Is that even possible…?"

"I'm still not convinced you're real." Edelgard muttered out. "Probably just another ghost coming to haunt me. Though the last one has blessedly gone silent."

"Oh, you're still stuck with me." Edelgard twisted her head. The girl was present, floating a few short paces away. Except now she almost seemed…transparent. Had she always looked like that? "Though with any luck, I'll have better company soon."

"...Err." Again, Edelgard's head rolled back up to look at Ferdinand, who was looking at her with a concerned trepidation.

She narrowed her eyes. "How do I know you aren't one of Thales' minions and have stolen my friend's face?"

"Oh, that's an easy one. You would be dead by now." The lavender-haired man replied easily. Ferdinand coughed.

"Yuri, why don't you go get the Professor and the artifacts while I tend to Edelgard?"

The other man gave a quick snort and turned on his heels, walking through the floating child. The girl gave an annoyed 'harumph!' before propelling herself along Yuri's path. Ferdinand gave a reassuring smile. "Princess, do you think you can stand?"

Oh right, she should probably try that. "Yes." Gripping Ferdinand's shoulders, Edelgard pushed herself up onto her feet. "I'm fine, thank you."

"Good." Ferdinand was still holding on to her shoulder. "That's good."

"It's good to see you, Ferdinand." Edelgard rolled her shoulder, and Ferdinand bit his tongue as his hand retreated. "How long has it been since the battle in the forest? It's impossible to keep track of time down here."

Ferdinand kept his face blank and near unreadable, something he had never been much good at. The son of von Aegir really had grown. "...Nearly five years, now."

"Five…!" Edelgard nearly stumbled. ""Five years?"

Ferdinand just nodded.

"Did…" Edelgard bit her lip. "Did everyone survive the battle? Our classmates, I mean?"

"Ah." A shadow passed across his eyes. "Everyone-that is, everyone in the Black Eagles is still alive."

His words sat in Edelgard's ears as she slowly digested what she had been told. "...Are Hubert, Dorothea, and everyone else in good health?"

"Yes! Yes. Everyone is well." His tone was quick, apologetic. "Last I checked."

Edelgard swallowed, and pushed further. "Ferdinand, what has happened since I was locked away here?" Her fingers pressed into her palms, breaking into a patch of dried blood. Ferdinand's eyes sunk to study the ground. "What happened after the battle in the forest?"

Ferdinand's lips pursed. "That's…"

"Something we can go over later, when you don't stink to high heaven." Yuri grunted as he carried Byleth into the conversation. "Also, is this supposed to be normal?" He motioned to the sphere embedded in Byleth's flesh.

"...It used to be worse." Edelgard managed.

Yuri regarded her for a moment, before passing Byleth's body to Ferdinand. "Here, you carry her."

"Mhm. Did you find-"

Yuri turned around. A smooth white shield with gold trim and the Crest and Seiros on its center, a long blade, and a full sack were strapped across his back. "Right where it was supposed to be. Let's get out of here."

Where had any of that come from? Edelgard had been trapped in this tomb for years, but had never seen any swords or shields.

"Yes…" Ferdinand turned around to face Edelgard. "Is the professor…alive?"

"She has a pulse, but no heartbeat." The girl was glaring at her. "The stone has slowly been sinking back into her skin."

Ferdinand's brow twitched. "I suppose…we are going to be going back to our base of operations. Hubert and Dorothea are there, along with-" the next few words took on a cautious tone. "-Members of the church. I presume you might like to come with us?"

Hubert had survived. It was all she needed to hear. "Please." Edelgard nodded back. "And Ferdinand?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you." Edelgard made what could pass for a curtsy with the tattered remains of her skirt. "For saving me. For saving the professor."

A smile warmed Ferdinand's cheeks. "You are too kind, princess." He met her gesture with a bow. "It is my duty to serve."

The moment was quickly interrupted by Yuri. "And you both can thank me for packing extra clothes. We are not going anywhere until the princess bathes." His brow knotted. "Hope my memory's correct and that stream isn't too far away."

"Thank you sir, yes. Your insight is profound." Edelgard exhaled and rolled her eyes as Ferdinand sent a look pleading for her patience. "I'll try to stink less the next time I'm trapped in a crypt for-" her throat choked. "-five years." Then, her brow furrowed. "Why would we need to travel to a stream to bathe? Garreg Mach is still above us, is it not?"

Ferdinand glanced over to Yuri, and both men shared a concerning look. The dreadful silence of the tomb rushed back in.

Edelgard forced herself to dispel it. "Ferdinand, what happened in these… five years?"

When he finally responded. something in his tone almost made Edelgard wish she hadn't.

The ride up the elevator had been unsettling. Arriving at the top to finally see the sun after so long had been blinding. And slowly realizing she was standing in a dusty ruin where the grand cathedral had once stood was haunting.

As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but sparse grasses and the occasional collection of stones, without a single building remaining. The academy, the barracks, the library, even the grand walls, everything that had once stood proud, since her siblings had attended, as well as her mother, her father, so many forgotten ancestors, stretching so many years past- all of it simply was not there.

"The Agarthans destroyed everything." Ferdinand explained as they made their way down the slope. Even the great bridge that had connected the cathedral had been torn apart, its stones littering the canyon floor below. "After the battle in the forest, the academy was closed and we all returned home. About a year later, after…" His tongue twisted. "...Other events, Nemesis returned and ripped the monastery apart, very nearly by hand if the stories are true."

"What other events? Nemesis is still alive?"

"Yes." Ferdinand nodded grimly. "He collaborated with my father and your uncle, and effectively took control of the empire. Afterwards, they attacked the Alliance, and in a single…" He shook his head. "To put it bluntly, only the Kingdom remains, though it is badly besieged. We run a resistance with the aid of the church, but…"

"That's unusual…" Edelgard's head darted over to the girl, who was floating next to Byleth.

Yuri, who was leading them down the steep hill, caught the movement first. "What is it?"

The floating child stuck her tongue out at Edelgard. "Nothing." She resumed her pace. "How is the empire faring? Arundel was always disinterested in most affairs of state, and the…" A tug of decorum made Edelgard pause. "...Nemesis didn't seem like a particularly stable man."

Something grim tugged at Ferdinand's lips, forcing a smile. "No. War burns across the land, even if the front lines are far away from home. If you aren't a soldier, you are supporting the war in one way or another. Either willingly…"

"Or with the Agarthans' encouragement." Yuri finished. "Watch your feet, princess. The terrain gets rough from here."

As they made their final descent, Edelgard caught a glimpse of the forest where the battle had taken place. Or more accurately, what remained of it. Only a sparse few trees remained, littered in between dry and dead patches of earth. The faint scent of ash still clung to the air.

"Ferdinand, I hope you don't mind me asking, but would you mind if I joined you and Hubert?" Edelgard asked after they reached the base of the hill. It almost came out as a yawn Did she still need to rest? "No matter what my uncle has done to the throne, I still have a duty to the people of Adrestia," He was shifting Byleth in his arms. "My own mistakes to rectify, and a blade to place in my uncle's head."

"I…" Ferdinand was choosing his words carefully. Yuri was marching ahead, but remained just close enough to listen in on their conversation. "I would be happy to bring you to our base to discuss our next strategy." He smiled. Almost forced-looking. "We shouldn't delay. I know you have questions, but it's probably best if we talk at our camp."

Nevertheless, the rest of the day passed in a blur. The ashen wastes of what had once been Garreg Mach faded, grass and trees slowly reclaiming their place in the landscape. After a long soak in chilly waters, Yuri had provided Edelgard with a spare set of poorly-fit traveling clothes, but after so long wearing tattered rags, anything was a welcome upgrade. The two horses they rode on made good pace, and Yuri estimated they would still reach the encampment by nightfall. Edelgard took the opportunity to down a few sticks of preserved meats they had brought and rest a bit more- it wasn't much, but after surviving so long on grains and vegetables conjured from the ether, it was heaven.

It was almost nightfall when their group heard shouting ahead on the road. "What is it?" Edelgard asked.

"A hold up, from the sounds of it." Yuri remarked. "It would probably be easiest to go off road and wait for them to pass, with you going in and out of consciousness, and your dear professor completely comatose."

"No." Edelgard pushed back. "I will not allow the chaos of this war to hurt innocent people. We must help them!"

"Indeed." Ferdinand reached to his side and grabbed a lance. "It doesn't seem too dangerous. Only a handful of men, from the looks of it." He was right, even if it was difficult to see in the twilight, but Edelgard could make out only a few figures in the twilight ahead, with perhaps half a dozen men with swords threatening a small family of merchants.

Yuri sighed and unsheathed his sword. "And will you be doing any fighting, princess?"

At her command, fire danced to life in Edelgard's palm. "Yes."

They were close enough to hear them now. The bandit leader, a man with short greasy hair, was smirking, with a sword at a merchant's throat. "And for your insolence, we'll be taking your son as-" He paused as he heard their approach and looked up. "Eh? Who are you?"

"Remove your blade from that man's throat, villain." Ferdinand called out. "Or we will be forced to step in."

The man laughed. "Gut them! It's just three of them against the six of-"

He didn't finish before Edelgard's first fire spell blasted into his chest, forcing him to drop the blade and shriek in pain. Ferdinand and Yuri took their cue and charged, making short work of two more of the bandits as the rest charged, weapons ready. Edelgard sent more bolts of magic against them and they quickly fell. It was good to know her strength had not failed in her years of imprisonment.

She got another chance when one of the bandits let an arrow fly that forced Yuri's horse to rear up, and sent Edelgard careening off. Ferdinand and Yuri were busy finishing the other brigands, which let one remaining man sneer and charge at her, sword outstretched and in a flash, the blade was already closing the distance, and landing down on Edelgard's neck, the air swirling imperceptibly-

-No. Time was moving too quickly. She could feel the Crest of Flames' power swelling, allowing her a small foresight. Edelgard quickly ducked under the blade's arc, letting the Crest of Seiros empower her fist. A crack sounded as her knuckles landed against her enemy's jaw. His head snapped back, and he collapsed on the ground, dead.

"Are you all right?" Edelgard called out to the family, who had retreated to their small cart.

The father nodded frantically. "Yes, thank you! Thank you! I am forever in your debt for saving my family!"

"Think nothing of it, my good man." Ferdinand smiled. "Your safety is all that matters."

While the family and Ferdinand exchanged pleasantries, Edelgard studied the bodies more closely. Instead of the usual furs and tunics expected of highwaymen, these thieves wore red with sharp metal armor and well crafted blades. "These aren't just bandits." She gasped. "They wear imperial uniforms!"

"Well, under your dear old uncle's rule, there isn't much of a difference." Yuri remarked. He had gotten off the horse and was rifling through the mens' pockets.

Only a few stars lit the road when they arrived at the small base Ferdinand had promised. It was an unremarkable, if old cottage, built into a nearby stone hill, giving it a rather funny look.

"What is this place?" Edelgard asked.

"An old Vestra safehouse." Ferdinand replied. "Their agents would use it from time to time when on duty. It's quiet and relatively out of the way, so Arundel's men have had a hard time finding it."

They dismounted, and made their way up to an old wooden door. Ferdinand gestured to Yuri, who responded with an eyebrow pointedly not in Edelgard's direction. Ferdinand bit his lip and gestured again, made all the more difficult by Byleth's presence in his arms. Yuri shrugged, and knocked on the door. There was a scuffling sound as someone made their way to the other side of the door.

"Who is it?" A voice on the other side answered. Edelgard nearly gasped. That voice, it was…

"Lo, as the bark that hath discharged his-" Ferdinand began, before Edelgard interrupted.

"Hubert, is that you?"

There was a pause in the air as Ferdinand sucked in his breath and Yuri rolled his eyes. Then, the heavy clanking of a lock being forced open on the other side of the door rang, before the old wood creaked open. Out of the dimly lit doorway, Hubert emerged, aged as much as Ferdinand had, with dark robes and a much trimmed hairline. "Lady Edelgard?" He managed, as his already pale skin blanched.

"Hubert!" Edelgard laughed, jumping towards her old retainer. "It's-" She thought to hug him, but neither of them had ever been the hugging type. "-it's good to see you." She managed.

"Yes." A smile slowly spread across Hubert's face. "Yes, it is." He turned his eye toward Ferdinand, a question forming and then dying once his eyes landed on Byleth cradled in Ferdinand's arms. Hubert did not quite gape, but did reach for the old door to steady himself. Ferdinand just nodded back.

"Get inside." Hubert pushed out, turning his head over his shoulder and shouting into the house "Dorothea!" before sweeping past them all and towards the road.

The inside was about as sparse as the outside, with old wooden beams sparsely lit by a small fireplace. Another door with a similar hinge problem was opening on the far side of the room, and out stepped Dorothea, who hadn't changed much, draped in a red dress and holding a candle as she yawned.

"Ferdie, did you finally get in? What-" She froze when she spotted Edelgard. "Edie? And-"

"Give me the professor." Another voice rumbled from one of the darker corners. It was Seteth, still wearing the same blue tunic and swept green hair. Ferdinand quickly complied, and Byleth's body was placed on a nearby table, as Seteth peered over to study the body. Hubert quickly made his way back in, gently shutting the door behind him.

"Lady Edelgard. You are-" Hubert stopped himself, before coughing into a gloved fist and continuing. "Words cannot describe my joy. This is- truely, a miracle."

"I'm happy to see you alive and well, Hubert." Edelgard smiled. "And you too, Dorothea."

"So I'm not dreaming?" Dorothea managed. "That- this is- It's great!" Her smile shone out. "Simply- we have you back, and the professor! It doesn't even matter if we got the treasures!"

"Oh, don't worry, you got what you paid for." Yuri said from a corner. He had already unstrapped the sword, shield, and bag, placing them on a chair near the fireplace. "It just turns out I do bonuses."

"That-that's wonderful." Dorothea turned to Ferdinand, pulling him down for a kiss on the cheek. "And everyone came back safe and sound. It's the best thing that's happened since-well…"

"Since the war started." Ferdinand finished. "We are finally blessed by-"

"Why did you bring her here?" The room fell quiet as Seteth spoke up from his place at Byleth's side.

Ferdinand swallowed. "Well. I…I didn't know what else to do."

"Why, what's the danger?" Edelgard asked. "Were we followed?"

"No. The vagabond is competent." Hubert said. "But Lady Edelgard, you must know…" His voice died as his brows began to knit in concentration.

"Yes Hubert? What is it?" Edelgard responded.

"...She seemed pretty asleep when I saw her. Maybe she won't wake up?" Dorothea probed.

"Who are you talking abo-"

The door Dorothea had entered slammed open, and the world around fell into silence. Everyone's head turned, and out of the darkness, two glowing green eyes emerged, burning with a hate that consumed the very shadows, and voice dripping with dust and fire.

"YOU."

As always, thanks to Dox for beta reading!

Part 2 begins in earnest, and as I've said before we are leaving the safehouses of canon as far behind as I can. Stay tuned for more familiar characters in not so familiar situations.

Also, Engage has released, and it's a pretty fun game. When you aren't on your floating island base which is somehow more tedious and annoying than the monastery at it's worse. What dev playtested and gave it the thumbs up?