It had only been a week since the new professor was assigned, and Seteth had already felt his head exploding. His desk was cluttered with paperwork from students and faculty, all with complaints about a particular blue-haired Professor. And now that same man stood before him, his expression still impassive.

"You know, when I suggested you lighten up your lessons, I didn't mean to bring more candles to class," Seteth sighed exasperatedly.

"But isn't that what candles are for? And the classroom is quite dark." Byleth gave a blank stare in response.

"I am talking about your teaching methods, Professor. Furthermore, several students have been complaining about your recent lessons."

"Such as?"

Seteth flipped the paper casually and spoke with a firm voice. "Professor Byleth described 20 ways that we could be impaled by a lane in battle." Then he flipped to the next one. "Yesterday, Professor Byleth even went into details about how an assassin could kill us by posing as a staff member and poisoning our drinks or slitting our throats in our sleep. And here is my favorite; recently, Professor drew a diagram of a wolf-like creature with a big claw, tearing apart its victims in gruesome ways."

"I don't see the problem," Byleth shrugged. "They need to be prepared for anything. I went through worse when I was their age."

"Your job is to teach them tactics, self-defense, and how to fight. Not to terrorize them with vivid descriptions of death." Seteth sipped another coffee and sighed. "And I'm quite concerned that you tread a matter of life and death so low, Professor."

"But I've died before," Byleth stated bluntly. "It wasn't pleasant, but everything worked out in the end. So, what's the issue?"

"…"

"Did I say something wrong?" The professor asked nonchalantly and simply sipped his tea.

"You know what… never mind. Just remember that you are now a faculty member at this prestigious academy and there are expectations for how you should behave. And even though we said that everyone was equal here, most of our students come from noble families who would not appreciate one of the Church's members terrorizing their children like this." Seteth sipped his coffee and sighed. "And in case you don't know, you can ask for help should you require any assistance."

"Understood. I will create new lesson plans for the upcoming mock battle," Byleth assured, though Seteth couldn't shake the feeling that something was still off about the man as he wrote something in his notebook. "Is there anything else you need from me?"

"No, you are free to go now. I will contact you if there are any issues. Also, may I ask how your wife and son are settling in?"

"Velvet looks comfortable with cooking in the Dining Hall and the students seem to like her. As for Seraph, despite initially complaining about having his weapons taken away, the boy said the caretaker was nice and he made a few friends in the orphanage too. They look quite happy here. Especially Velvet." Byleth's lips curved into a slight smile, which surprised Seteth.

"I am glad to hear that. If there is anything I can assist with, please do not hesitate to ask." The blue-haired man nodded and bowed politely. But before he could leave, the advisor asked hesitantly. "May I inquire about something? You do not have to answer if it makes you uncomfortable."

"Sure, what do you want to know?"

"I noticed that Miss Velvet has a bandage on her left hand and it appears to be quite severe. Are you sure she does not require medical attention?" Byleth fell silent for a moment before responding calmly, though his voice held hesitation.

"I appreciate your concern, but my wife is fine, and she can use her left hand like anyone else. Furthermore, Velvet insists she does not need medical treatment and unfortunately, the damage cannot be reversed."

"If you say so, I will not press further. Just one last question, what caused such damage to her arm?"

"It is not my place to say, and I would advise against asking her about it. It is not … a pleasant memory!"

"I understand." Seteth nodded in understanding. "I must return to my duties now. Until next time, Professor." With a polite bow, Seteth left. Despite not wanting to pry further, he couldn't help but ponder over Velvet's circumstances. Her mysterious origins and injured arm gave him an unsettling feeling.

For it exuded a sense of malevolence like he had never encountered before, even in the King of Liberation himself.


If someone were to ask Velvet about her feelings towards her new life, she would confess that it was just as unpredictable as her old one. As a cook at the academy, she never could have imagined such a path for herself when she first arrived in this foreign land. However, Velvet couldn't deny the contentment she felt now with her current role. The past few days had been filled with pleasant experiences for their family as they were slowly becoming accepted members of the Garreg Mach community. The staff treated her kindly and even the students were impressed by her culinary skills. Against all odds, Velvet had unexpectedly risen to become the head of the Dining Hall, a role that was completely not related to her husband's teaching role at all.

Which is why she was still confused about why he brought her to the Training Ground.

"And that's why Velvet will be your sparring partner for today," Byleth introduced casually while the Blue Lions looked on with confusion.

"Professor, when you said there would be an examination, this is not what I had in mind if I have to be frank," Dimitri answered unsurely.

"Correct. After receiving feedback from some of you and Seteth, I realized my teaching methods needed improvement. You all need more practice rather than just theory." Despite his words, the unease among Dimitri and his classmates remained as Byleth pointed at Velvet again.

"Which is why I asked my wife to assist with your training today," Byleth said triumphantly as if he had solved the problem.

"With that broken arm?" Felix scoffed. "I don't know how skilled she is with a sword, but anyone could easily overpower her by closing the distance."

"Watch your tone or that broken arm might come after you next," Velvet spoke in a low voice, causing Felix to narrow his eyes in discomfort.

"And that's precisely why we are doing this training. You must learn not to underestimate your opponent and how to work together with your teammates," Byleth took out a notebook and began writing. "I've assessed each of you since our first meeting, so let's move on to group battles."

"Group battles?" Sylvain scratched his head. "Are some of us going to be on Miss Velvet's Team?"

"No." Byleth shook his head. "It will be all of you against her alone."

"That's fine by me. It's been a while since I've wielded my blade," Velvet shrugged nonchalantly as some of the Blue Lions still seemed skeptical.

"Excuse me, Miss Velvet, but aren't you being overconfident?" Ashe hesitantly raised his hand.

"I am not." She replied flatly before turning to her husband. "Before we begin, would you mind explaining why Seraph is here?" All eyes fell on the boy as he waved innocently.

"I will explain now." He turned towards the Blue Lions. "All of you will work together to defeat Velvet, or more specifically, capture what she is protecting."

"Protecting?"

"That's right. Now, Seraph is one of the greater malaks…."

"Am I?" Seraph tilted his head.

"And he was captured by the Veiled Queen Velvet…."

"Did I?" Velvet gave him a frown.

"…and soon to be devoured to satisfy her hunger."

"Is he?" Everyone shouted in unison, including Velvet who dragged Byleth away and began to whisper dangerously.

"Choose your words wisely or the only one that will be devoured is you, Byleth Eisner."

Byleth widened his eyes and spoke calmly. "After consulting with Seteth, I asked Manuela for some advice, and she suggested roleplay as a way to motivate the students."

"But that doesn't explain why Seraph and I are needed here," Velvet pointed out with an amused expression. "And when did Seraph become a malakim?"

"He didn't. And Seteth told me I could ask for help from my colleague."

"You have plenty of Knights of Seiros whose strengths can be confirmed by Jeralt. And there's also that white-masked Sword Instructor Jeritza who seems capable enough."

"But none of them are on par with you," Byleth replied nonchalantly, though Velvet still seemed unconvinced.

"I'm just a cook."

"And I was a mercenary. Just like you. So, what is the issue?" Velvet slapped her face and sighed.

"Why did I fall for you again?" The Blue Lions couldn't help but stifle a laugh at the couple's banter. "Fine, I'll play along for now." Velvet nodded before noticing Dimitri raising his hand hesitantly.

"Professor, are we doing a roleplay activity by any chance?"

"Yes."

"Are we doing it now, Dad?" Seraph said excitedly as Byleth nodded. "Is this from the part where Mom kidnapped Uncle Phi from that exorcist after burning the harbor to the ground?"

"…."

"…."

A heavy silence hung over the group as they all turned to look at Byleth and Velvet, waiting for an explanation. Especially Velvet, who coughed awkwardly before responding nonchalantly.

"I'll take Seph to that hill and wait over there. Give me a signal when you're ready." She scooped up the boy and left, leaving the Blue Lions even more confused by the second. Especially with Seraph's disturbing question hanging in the air.

And something told them that the boy was not joking, which they prayed was not the case.

The hill rose gently, its grassy slopes brushed by a light breeze that whispered through the stillness. The rustling of leaves surrounded them, like a symphony playing for an audience of two. Velvet perched on a large stone at the peak, her arms folded tightly across her chest as she gazed out over the vast expanse of green before her. Her expression was a mix of bewilderment and annoyance, as she tried to make sense of the strange thoughts occupying her husband's mind. Meanwhile, Seraph could not contain his energy and excitement, pacing back and forth with eager anticipation for the impending "battle" that consumed his thoughts. Velvet couldn't help but wonder what was going through his head, as she remained rooted to the spot, lost in the peaceful serenity of their surroundings.

"I still don't know what Byleth was thinking with this 'roleplay' idea. What does he expect me to do? Devouring all the students?"

"But it's so much fun, Mom!" Seraph exclaimed, bouncing on her seat. "It's like those stories you used to tell me. I get to be a powerful spirit and you're the queen trying to protect me from those mean exorcists."

Velvet couldn't help but smile at her son's enthusiasm."You really enjoy this, don't you? But just so you know, I'm not exactly the knight in shining armor from those stories."

"It doesn't matter. You are still the hero in that journey even if they don't understand that. And those exorcists totally got what they deserved. Plus, Dad wouldn't want you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. He just wants us to have fun together like we always do when you tell me your adventures."

"As long as you are enjoying it, I suppose it's good then. Let's give them a show, shall we?" The boy nodded and she suddenly noticed movements from the other side. Before she could say anything more, a voice called out from the field, clear and commanding.

"The Veiled Queen! Your actions have threatened the delicate balance we've worked so hard to maintain," the voice boomed with conviction. "Such defiance against the natural order cannot go unpunished. With the blessings of the Empyreans, I, Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd - leader of the Abbey - will put an end to this madness!"

Velvet's eyelids fluttered, her pupils dilating in shock. She gaped towards Dimitri's voice, temporarily paralyzed by the ridiculousness of the moment. With a deep exhale, she unsheathed her weapon and readied herself for battle, all while silently cursing her husband for getting her into this situation.

'Byleth, what in the name of Empyreans have you got me into?"


An hour earlier

"Let me rephrase the instruction again. Your objective is to rescue the Malak Seraph from the Veiled Queen Velvet. Defeat her if you can but rescuing Seraph is your priority." The Blue Lions looked amused as the Professor addressed his family. "And here is the script for your roles. Remember, this is still an examination so don't get ahead of yourselves." The professor left immediately, leaving the Blue Lions to their own devices.

"Always so intimidating," Sylvain whistled. "But I wonder how he ended up with such a scary woman as his partner."

"Sylvain, that's rude." Dimitri frowned and turned toward his classmates. Dimitri reprimanded, turning to his classmates. "Let's see what the professor has planned for us." They carefully read through the script, trying to piece together the storyline.

"What is this?" Felix scowled. "Malak? Empyreans? And the Abbey? Sounds like a bunch of nonsense to me."

"Don't be rude, Felix. According to this, Malaks are some kind of spirits that humans can't see. But what kind of spirits? Are they like ghosts?" Ashe looked around nervously.

Ingrid chimed in thoughtfully. "It says exorcists are supposed to 'purify' or 'control' the Malaks. They sound more like soldiers than spirits."

"From what I'm reading, it seems like the Malaks might be...helpers? Maybe they don't always want to fight. If they're connected to the Empyreans, maybe they have their own will and desires," Mercedes suggested softly.

"So, let me get this straight. We've got these 'Empyreans,' who are like gods. Then we've got the Abbey who are supposed to keep these Malak spirits in line. And Velvet? She's against the Abbey maybe even against the Empyreans themselves. Sounds like one big family argument to me." Sylvain leaned back and smirked mischievously. "Your Highness, what is your plan now?"

"I've seen how Velvet fought and it would be unwise to underestimate her. Therefore, I want all of you to stay cautious. Ashe, Dedue, I need you to sneak around her while we keep her distracted."

"Understood, your Highness!"

"Felix, Mercedes, you will take the right flank while Sylvain, Ingrid, and Annette will take the left one."

"Sure/Whatever." The Blue Lions replied.

"And what will you do, Your Highness?" Dimitri's expression turned serious as he read through the note.

"According to this, it seems like I have the most important role in the story. Once I make my entrance, attack her immediately and take advantage of the element of surprise." The Blue Lions nodded in agreement and got into their designated positions. Gripping his lance tightly, Dimitri began to make his way towards Velvet's location. Though he didn't fully understand some of the unfamiliar terms in the notes, he memorized his lines and put the paper away, preparing for the battle ahead.

It should have been a friendly spar, right?


Velvet stood in the center of the clearing, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The bright sun beat down on her and she could feel sweat trickling down her back. She still couldn't believe she was playing along with this absurd situation- Empyreans, really? And the way Dimitri had introduced himself, with such grandeur and bravado, reminded her of how Artorius would make his speeches in Loegres- the ones she desperately cursed him for from afar. She didn't know how much her husband had revealed to these students, but it seemed like things were going to be more difficult than she had initially thought. Her gaze drifted to Seraph, who looked up at her with wide, expectant eyes. His excitement was contagious, and despite herself, Velvet felt a small flicker of excitement as well. She took a deep breath, standing up straighter and letting her expression hardened as she slipped into the role that was expected of her. Slowly, she steps forward, letting the weight of her past settle over her.

"Exorcists of the Abbey!" She said coldly, catching Dimitri off guard as he took a step back. "Try and stop me if you dare!" Then she sheathed her blade as her voice hollowed over the field.

"I am corruption made flesh! Velvet, the Veiled Queen!"

And in that instance, the Blue Lions knew that voice would haunt them forever.


Velvet launched herself towards her opponents, starting with Tearing Thorn. Her lithe body moved like a blur as she sprang high into the air, landing with a thunderous stomp that sent a shockwave of raw physical energy rippling through the ground. The earth cracked and groaned under her feet, forcing the Blue Lions to scatter in defense. Ashe's quick reflexes allowed him to deftly roll out of harm's way, while Ingrid skillfully guided her Pegasus upwards, narrowly avoiding the sudden fissure. Felix met the shockwave head-on, expertly dodging it with a well-timed move. However, Sylvain and Annette were caught off-guard by the unexpected force, stumbling backward in surprise.

Before anyone could react, Velvet seamlessly transitioned into her next attack. With a swift pivot on her heel, she unleashed a whirlwind of devastating kicks that sliced through the air like blades. Her movements were fluid and precise, each strike hitting its mark with deadly accuracy. The Blue Lions tried to fight back, but Velvet's onslaught was relentless. She effortlessly knocked aside their weapons and dodged their attacks with ease. Dedue valiantly raised his shield in an attempt to block one of her strikes, but the impact was so powerful that it caused him to stagger backward. Felix charged forward with his sword at the ready, but Velvet effortlessly countered with another spinning kick that sent him reeling off balance.

"Mom, behind you!"

As her son's voice echoed through the battlefield, Velvet turned to see Sylvain thrusting his lance at her. With fluid grace and strength, she effortlessly dodged his attack and retaliated with a swift front flip, knocking him out cold. Giving her son a reassuring nod and a small smile, she continued to dance through the chaotic battle.

Her movements were a blur as she built momentum and unleashed the full force of her skill. With a quick pivot, she burst into Moonlight Cyclone, a deadly sequence of rapid acrobatic strikes that left her opponents stunned and reeling. Ingrid, mounted on her majestic Pegasus, attempted an aerial strike from above, but Velvet was too agile. She gracefully leaped into the air, spinning mid-flight and landing a powerful kick against Ingrid's shield, throwing her off balance.

Meanwhile, Annette stood in the back lines, channeling powerful spells to aid her allies. But Velvet was too fast and closed the distance between them in an instant. She launched herself into the air once again, landing a ferocious series of kicks that shattered Annette's concentration and dispersed her magic.

Mercedes, positioned behind the group, frantically cast healing spells to keep her allies fighting. But even her healing magic couldn't keep up with the relentless onslaught of Velvet's attacks. One by one, Velvet took down each of Mercedes' classmates until finally the healer herself fell to her knees in exhaustion.

"Water Snake Wake!"

With a sharp pivot on her heel, Velvet launched a powerful kick towards Dimitri. As the force of her strike connected with his side, a burst of water exploded from the impact, sending Dimitri stumbling backward several feet. He managed to regain his balance, but Velvet was not done yet. She quickly closed the distance between them and dropped into a low slide-kick, slicing through the air with a trail of water following her foot. Dimitri barely had time to block her attack, but the force sent him skidding backward on the wet ground.

Gritting his teeth, Dimitri steadied himself and lunged forward again, his lance aimed with deadly precision. But Velvet was as elusive as she was fierce. With a swift leap into the air, her body twisted gracefully before transitioning into Rising Falcon. Her figure blurred as she descended at an angle, her leg cutting through the air like a falcon zeroing in on its prey. Dimitri raised his lance in defense just in time, bracing himself for her impact. When it came, their weapons clashed with such force that a shockwave rippled outwards and forced Dimitri to kneel from the sheer power behind her strike.

But Velvet didn't give him any respite. She stepped back and prepared for her next move—Heaven's Wrath. Her body moved in a whirlwind of motion as she unleashed a flurry of attacks on Dimitri. It started with a high right roundhouse kick aimed directly at his head, which he swiftly blocked with his lance. Before he could counter, she spun into a high left spin hook kick, forcing him to go fully defensive. Velvet's movements were like poetry in motion—flawless yet brutal. She fluidly transitioned into a one-handed cartwheel, striking Dimitri with a left kick that sent him staggering backward.

As the dust began to settle from their intense battle, Dimitri rose from the ground. His lance now lay discarded and useless on the wet grass. He narrowed his eyes as he fixed them on Velvet, who stood calmly with her left arm still tightly bandaged. A thought crossed his mind as he tightened his fists.

"If I fight her with my fists. I might have my chance."

Dimitri lunged at her with fierce determination, his fists swinging through the air with determination. His muscles bulged with every strike, each one intended to overpower and trap her in a corner. But Velvet was not so easily trapped. She moved fluidly and gracefully, her body swaying and bending in perfect harmony as she evaded his punches with effortless ease. She seemed almost to be taunting him, her calm demeanor seeming to mock his attempts to subdue her.

"Not bad, but..." she starts, her tone almost playful, "…you still think this arm of mine is a handicap?"

Before he could comprehend her words, Velvet twisted her wrist, grabbing hold of Dimitri's arm. With a single, swift motion, she pulled him out of balance and drove her right fist into his gut. The impact was explosive, knocking the wind out of him, but that's not the end.

"Shadow Flow!"

With a seamless fluidity, she extended her left hand and struck Dimitri's chest with precise force. As her fist connected, a flickering sphere of deep purple energy materialized, crackling and pulsing with an intense darkness. Dimitri gasped as he felt the pressure building around him, the energy suffocating and overwhelming.

Velvet spun gracefully, moving with the agility and grace of a deadly dancer. Though she withheld her hidden claw, her body moved in perfect synchronization with each strike. With a swift kick following her spin, she landed a brutal blow across Dimitri's torso. The sheer force of the strike sent him hurtling backward, crashing hard into the unforgiving ground below.

Without a second thought, Velvet glanced at the motionless Blue Lions before shrugging and turning her attention back to her son, whose face was unreadable.

"What's wrong, Seph?"

"You didn't do it right." She scratched her head as the boy said bluntly. "You were supposed to announce your evil plans and show off the claw to scare them." Velvet quickly covered her son's mouth, hoping no one had overheard.

"Shh! Not so loud!" Despite being caught off guard, Seraph quickly nodded as Velvet whispered. "We don't want anyone knowing about… you know, that. I don't need to scare them more than I already have. This is just a game, remember?"

"Yes, Mother!" Seph nodded with satisfaction as she heard groans from the Blue Lions, some starting to get up despite their soreness. Realizing the duel was over, she made her way towards them as her husband appeared, holding a notebook with a satisfied expression.

This turned out better than she expected.


"So, what did you learn?" Byleth asked calmly as he looked at the note.

"Never have a duel with Miss Velvet and Seph again," Sylvain responded, still recovering from his injuries while being tended to by Mercedes who looked exhausted herself.

"Hardly relevant and that's not what I'm looking for."

"We should never underestimate your opponent?" Dimitri interjected hesitantly.

"Correct. You assumed that Velvet would be at a disadvantage due to her injured arm and would back into a corner if you closed in on her,"

"Excuse me, but is your arm alright, Miss Velvet?" Anette asked shyly.

"I'm perfectly fine," Velvet shrugged and shook her left arm. "Despite its appearance, I can still use it just like any other. See?" The Blue Lions looked on in amazement and shock as their minds processed what had happened during the duel.

"And that's exactly my point," Byleth emphasized. "Dimitri, Felix, Sylvain - you need to work on your hand-to-hand combat skills. And Sylvain, whatever issues you have with Ingrid, try not to let it distract you during a fight."

"Yes, Professor," they all responded in unison.

"Dimitri, there is no questioning about your lance combat, but you need to work on your reflexes and fists. And Velvet is not a master at hand-to-hand combat."

"Of course, Professor. I will work on it next time."

"The boar resorts to ripping people apart with his bare hands now? How fitting," Felix sneered.

"Your overconfidence allowed Velvet to get the upper hand. Remember to stay cautious and leave your personal remarks behind." Felix fell silent and nodded.

"Seraph." The boy blinked as Byleth turned toward him. "What role were you playing again?"

"A malak kidnapped by mother?"

"Yes, so why did you warn her when she was ambushed from behind?" Seraph's face flushed slightly as he fidgeted in his mother's arms, clearly caught off guard. He tried to feign innocence, looking away as if pretending he didn't understand what Byleth meant.

"I-I just thought… maybe… she didn't see them?"

"Is that so?" Velvet added amusedly.

"I mean, I didn't want them to sneak up on her! It wouldn't be fair if she got ambushed!"

"But if you were truly kidnapped, would you really try to help your captor?" Byleth questioned calmly, still not convinced by his son's explanation.

"I thought I was roleplaying Uncle Phi when mom kidnapped him in Hellawes," Seraph explained innocently, causing both Byleth and Velvet's eyebrows to raise while the Blue Lions looked on perplexed.

"Uncle Phi?" They asked simultaneously.

"Yes, during that time Mom kidnapped uncle Phi from the exorcists after burning down a harbor. He ended up helping her even though he was supposed to be scared of her. I was just playing out what he did."

"…."

"…."

"Uh… uncle Phi? Hellawes? Burning the harbor?" Ashe scratched the back of his head and looked perplexed.

"Yeah, is that a character we missed, Professor? Or some part of a story we didn't hear about?" Annette added while Felix scoffed.

"Hellawes? Burning down a town? Sounds like something more than just roleplaying to me." His eyes darted toward Velvet, suspicion creeping in.

Velvet felt the weight of everyone's stares and knew that she would have to explain eventually. She tightened her grip on Seraph and glanced at Byleth for support. He nodded understandingly as Velvet smiled nervously, trying to brush off the situation.

"It's nothing you need to worry about. Just an old story from… a long time ago in my homeland. And Seph just got carried away with his roleplaying."

"Oh, I see. It sounded a bit intense, but I suppose even roleplaying can get dramatic sometimes."

"Dramatic? That was one heck of a story twist. Kidnapping and burning down towns? You've got quite the imagination, Seph!" Sylvain added with a teasing grin.

"It's not just imagination. Mom really…."

"And that's enough for today." Velvet interrupted smoothly despite her son's protest. "It's getting late and you all must have been hungry right now. Shall we go to the Dining Hall?"

"Of course, Miss Velvet." Dimitri smiled politely along with the Blue Lions.

"And what about you, By?" Velvet turned to Byleth. "Are you joining us?"

"I still have some paperwork to finish," Her mood changed as Velvet gave him a glare and said commandingly.

"You are coming with us to the Dining Hall." Before he could open his mouth, she said with a threatening voice. "Either that or I am going to drag you back by any means necessary."

"Of course, Vel," Byleth said hesitantly but ultimately agreed with her words. As the sun began to sink below the horizon, she guided them towards the Dining Hall. The Blue Lions were still engrossed in conversation among themselves, their voices carrying on the gentle breeze. Seraph, in particular, seemed particularly amused by whatever Sylvain was telling him. The scene was idyllic and tranquil, like a dream that she never thought she would have the chance to experience in her past life.

Perhaps this new start was not bad at all.