"Have you no intention to change your mind, Rhea? As your advisor, it is my duty to aid you in decision-making, and I must ask once again. Is it wise to appoint a stranger no less, to become the professor of this academy?" Seteth asked with a deep sigh.
"I have made my decision, Seteth. I know worrying comes naturally to you, but there is truly no need. That "stranger" is Jeralt's flesh and blood, after all."
"And how trustworthy of this Jeralt character? Is he not the man who went missing in the fire 21 years ago? Even if he earns your complete trust, what of this Byleth character? He even has less background than his child and himself. How can we be sure he won't be a threat to the Church?"
"Fear not, Seteth. It was the Will of the Goddess that came to aid our students just as her will that brought him here. Besides, haven't you been requesting an expert in sword combat like Professor Jeritza?"
"Yes, but preferably from a reputable contact or noble recommendation like Professor Jeritza. However, I will trust your judgment for now, Rhea." The archbishop nodded firmly.
"Good, then let us move on from this matter. There is more pressing news- Shamir reported sightings of suspicious individuals wearing black robes and bird masks spreading heresy against the Goddess. But that is not the most concerning part."
"And what did she find?" Rhea fell silent and gritted her teeth as she spat bitterly.
"At one of their abandoned hideouts, Shamir found a painting depicting twelve figures bowing to a six-winged being hiding its face. I've instructed her and some Knights of Seiros to keep this information quiet and destroy anything related to that entity. We cannot let history repeat itself." The atmosphere became tense as Seteth frowned.
"But how is that possible? That entity perished with his followers in the war. We even destroyed his so-called "puppet", right?"
"I know. But we cannot ignore any signs of this threat. The last thing we need is another Nemesis, or even worse- the return of that wretched Angel of Death."
"I understood. Then I shall continue my investigation. Rhea… For now, I have faith that you are placing your trust with the utmost care. I pray that nothing occurs to shake that confidence."
"Thank you, Seteth! And may the Goddess be with you." The advisor bid her farewell, leaving the archbishop alone as she went back to her duty. Yet, there was something occupying her mind as she thought deeply.
"That face… Where did I see it before?"
The classroom was a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere of the Black Eagles. Byleth and Bylass entered to find it empty, with no sign of the Blue Lions anywhere. After questioning nearby students, they made their way to the Training Field where Prince Dimitri and his classmates were engaging in intense sparring sessions. The air was filled with the sound of wooden swords clashing as Dimitri faced off against a tanned boy wielding an axe and a dark-haired boy fiercely attacking with a blade. Despite the sweat glistening on his brow, the prince held his own and swiftly disarmed both opponents simultaneously.
"Good forms!" Bylass commented, attracting the attention of all the students. "Even though sword is still more superior compared to lance, but you are quite good at this, your highness!"
"Bylass! Byleth! It's good to see you again. And please, call me Dimitri," The prince greeted warmly. "Is it true that you will be teaching here?"
"Yes. That's why I'm having some quizzes for you here before I can make my decision. My assistant here will record all of your answers and give his assessment." Byleth stared at his companion with an incredulous look again.
"Sword Instructor's Assistant." Then he turned at the Blue Lions and spoke firmly. "Is this everyone?"
"Unfortunately not, Instructor." An orange-haired girl slowly raised her hand. "Sylvain went off somewhere an hour earlier and Ingrid was coming to pick him up. I hope they will come back soon."
"Annette, did he do it again?" Dimitri sighed.
"Yes, Your Highness!" The tanned boy replied. "Sylvain was dared to convince a nun to go out with him and he took the bait. I believe we will soon get another complaint from Seteth."
"And who dared him to do so, Dedue?"
'I did, boar." The pony-tail-haired boy replied sarcastically. "I got tired of his interruptions during my training sessions. And Sylvain was more than happy to take the challenge to prove me wrong."
"Felix, that's enough." Dedue scolded as Felix scoffed.
"I'm sorry, Professor and Instructor! This is just the way he is like; I hope this will not bother you." The duo shrugged and were soon greeted by another two students. A red-haired boy was dragged a blonde girl who was scowling.
"There they are now. Thanks for your help, Ingrid."
"It is my pleasure, Your Highness. And I believe we will soon get another complaint from Seteth again."
"It wasn't that bad, Ingrid." Sylvain laughed in a carefree manner then looked at Bylass. "What I want to know is why His Highness didn't say he would be returning with a beautiful woman. And who, may I ask, do we have the pleasure of meeting?" He gave her a wink waiting for her to offer her hand for him to kiss, which was met with a cold response
"Bylass. Your new Professor. And here is Byleth- Sword Instructor's Assistant." Byleth stared at Sylvain with a stoic face as he stopped writing in his note, causing the Blue Lion to sweat in nervousness.
"Sylvain. Philanderer of Blue Lion." Byleth murmured and began to write down, causing the Blue Lions to widen their eyes in shock. "Advise: avoid pairing him with female students."
"Ouch, that hurts. I promise it won't happen again so there is no need to be angry, Instructor!"
"Don't worry, Sylvain. Tough he might look but Byleth is not the type to hold any grudge. You have not changed at all, right?" The duo widened their eyes at the familiar voice, noticing an ashen-haired boy wavering at them friendly.
"Ashe? Is that you?"
"Yes. It's good to see you again! I did not
"Did you meet each other before?" Dimitri inquired curiously.
"We worked together on a job not too long ago. Ashe tagged along to help us clear out some bandits and retrieve an item Lord Lonato required. It was nothing really special."
"And you saved my life as well, Instructor!" Ashe answered with a smile. "Though I might not be of use to you, but I will help you with whatever I can should you require my assistance in the future."
"I will keep it in mind. Thank you, Ashe!" Bylass nodded. "And I already have recorded your ability combat so you can take a seat now."
"Looks like someone has become the favorite already. Who knew you had it in you, Ashe," Sylvain teased, causing Ashe to blush while Ingrid smashed the red-haired boy's head.
"Put that aside. Let's get started." The Professor looked at Dimitri and asked bluntly. "Combat ability?"
"My pardon?"
"What is your fighting style?" Dimitri looked baffled before answering with a scratch on his head, undoubtedly still confused by the question.
"I'm good with lance and sword. Though I must admit I have a strong affinity toward the former."
"So, a lance user then. You should focus on the latter. The sword is better than the lance." The professor replied without hesitation.
"And that's where you are wrong, Professor," Dimitri replied politely. "To begin with, the sword is less flexible than lance if you want to deal with marksman."
"Then I will just kick the sword. Problem solved." She replied bluntly as Dimitri was speechless until Felix snorted.
"Prove it, mercenary. I'll be the judge of your skills,"
"Felix!" Dimitri scowled again as Bylass halted and took out her sword as she focused on the haystack targets. She took a few steps back, her eyes never leaving the target. The air was thick with anticipation as she calculated her move, her mind racing with the precise angle and force needed to make the strike successful.
In one powerful motion, Bylass kicked her sword, sending it spinning through the air with deadly precision. The blade sliced through the air, glinting in the fading light as it hurtled towards the haystack. The students watched in awe as the sword embedded itself deep into the target, the force of the impact causing the hay to scatter.
"Told you!" Bylass said nonchalantly, leaving the rest of the group speechless and unsure of how to respond.
"You're a quick learner," Byleth remarked, scribbling something down in his notebook. "But it still doesn't prove that swords are superior to lances in close combat." Bylass narrowed her eyes incredulously at him before letting out a small "tsk."
"Why? I took out the marksman."
"But what if you were facing a lance user in close combat?" Byleth countered with a stoic expression, matched by Bylass's blunt one.
"Then I will kick the sword before they can approach me?"
"And what will you fight with after that?" Bylass fell silent for a moment before replying nonchalantly,
"With my fists."
"You lost to me in a fistfight a month ago, didn't you?" Bylass narrowed her eyes as Byleth stared at her incredulously. Sylvain began to laugh as a few other Blue Lions were giggling at the sight, even Felix who had an amused look until Bylass returned to the students.
"Alright. You are next." She pointed at Dedue. "Fighting capability?"
"I have a high affinity with axes," Dedue replied calmly.
"Hobbies?" The tanned boy thought for a moment before answering honestly.
"I find gardening quite enjoyable. It is… refreshing and calm."
"Could not agree more! Can you talk to flowers?" Bylass asked with a glint in her eyes.
"I beg your pardon?"
"He loves gardening like you too." She pointed at Byleth whose face seemed disinterested. "And he knows how to communicate with flowers so perhaps you can too."
"That's not how it works, and I did not say anything about being able to talk to flowers." The Assistant sighed and motioned to the next student. "You are?"
"Felix Hugo Fraldarius. And I have no hobbies." Byleth nodded and made a note in his book. "Since we're done here, show me what you've got, mercenaries."
"Felix!" The Blue Lions hissed simultaneously, glaring at the ponytailed boy.
"The last professor was nothing but a coward who couldn't even draw their sword before I unsheathed mine," Felix said confidently. "And you claim they were good with swords, so I'll be the judge of that." The blue-haired mercenaries looked at each other before giving a nod as Bylass picked up a training sword and moved toward the yard.
"Get in the ring. We'll start in five minutes."
As the duo finished interviewing the last student, Bylass began to stride towards the Audience Room. Byleth, however, insisted on waiting outside, his hands clasped tightly behind his back as he gazed up at the intricate murals adorning the hallway walls. He avoided discussing why he wanted to avoid meeting Rhea, but Bylass could sense his unease and confusion. Despite this, the Professor agreed and left, leaving him alone to lean casually against one of the smooth pillars lining the corridor. The warm hues of the setting sun painted the sky in a delicate blend of orange and pink, casting a serene glow over the academy grounds. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, savoring each peaceful moment until they were interrupted by approaching footsteps echoing down the hall
"Edelgard! We meet again." He began with a calm voice as Edelgard bowed in return.
"Good to see you again, Instructor. How was the interview?"
"It went pretty well. We had a spar with one of the Blue Lions and he is being treated by his friend now. The Golden Deers were cooperative despite the antics of the Embodiment of Distrust. Until he antagonized one of his classmates. The last thing we saw was him hiding somewhere now after being chased by Lysithea for calling her children again."
"He'll survive." Edelgard chuckled as Byleth shrugged. "If you don't mind me asking, which house did Professor Eisner choose?" Byleth gave her a stoic look before answering bluntly.
"I'm not entirely sure, but she met with the archbishop to make her final decision. You'll probably find out tomorrow when your class starts."
"And don't you have to inform the archbishop as well?" Edelgard asked curiously as Byleth narrowed his eyes.
"The duty of enrolling Sword Instructor's Assistant falls to Seteth, and Professor Jeritza already informed him on my behalf. The archbishop didn't require my presence." The leader of the Black Eagles widened her eyes and asked carefully.
"Are you perhaps not the fan of the archbishop, are you not?"
"For someone you just met, you seemed to ask a lot, Lady Edelgard." He replied coldly, sending a chill down her spine.
"My apologies if I overstepped any boundaries, Instructor. I'm simply curious about your perspective on this institution so far."
"And why would the opinion of a mercenary matter then?"
"You are more than just a mercenary, Instructor. I can see potential in you that could benefit the Empire should you ever reconsider lending your services."
"For an heir of the Empire, you seem to place a lot of trust in strangers. Do you offer your services to anyone you meet for the first time?"
"I don't, but my experience tells me that you're not that type of person. But you also don't seem to trust people easily," Edelgard said, trying to gauge his reaction.
"I don't. Trust is something I don't give easily, especially to those I hardly know." She couldn't tell if he was being accusive or simply matter-of-fact, but she held her breath and asked slowly.
"Forgive me for asking, but have we met before?"
"What makes you think that?" Byleth rolled his eyes.
"For some reason, I find you familiar. And the Black Eagles too. Perhaps we've crossed paths in the Empire before?"
"If we had, I would remember your names," he replied bluntly, causing Edelgard to back down with disappointment. But then he added hesitantly, "But you do remind me of someone I used to know."
"And who might that be?" He fell silent for a while before answering with a nostalgic voice.
"My daughter."
"Really? I did not expect that from someone your age." She smiled politely. "And where might she be now?" The former mercenary looked away and stared at the sky with his stoic demeanor. But before she could get any answer, the sounds of footsteps were getting louder, revealing Byass who looked surprised at the presence of the Black Eagle.
"Am I interrupting something?"
"It's fine, Professor. We were just chatting." The Black Eagle leader began to ask curiously. "Regarding of the houses, what is your decision, Professor?"
"I will lead the Blue Lions this year," Bylass replied as a matter-of-fact which Edelgard had a small frown. "And Professor Manuela will be the one in charge of the Black Eagles if I recall correctly."
"I see. If that is everything, I will take my leave now." The princess bowed politely and left quietly while the duo watched until she was out of sight.
"What did you talk about?" Bylass asked him with a stoic expression.
"Nothing important. She just wanted to know about our thoughts on the academy and your decision about the classes." Byleth replied calmly. "And you decided to choose the Blue Lions, right?"
"Yes."
"And why is that?" He inquired curiously, causing Bylass to seem taken aback before answering without hesitation.
"I like the color. It reminds me of you."
"…."
"And the Blue Lions have an advantage with Dimitri, whose strength is undoubtedly impressive compared to his friends. It will save us some training time before the Mock Battle."
"You could have said so in the first place." The former mercenary sighed despite his friend's confusion. "Have you eaten anything yet?"
"I haven't. And the Dining Hall is closed now but I believe there is an inn the nearby town. Shall we go then?"
"Of course. Lead the way."
"Captain, how is everything going?" Alois asked enthusiastically, oblivious to Jeralt's displeased expression.
"It's only been a day and I'm already swamped with paperwork," the Blade Breaker sighed heavily, setting down a stack of papers. "If I had known it would be like this, I would have run away sooner."
"But it's too late for that now, and Lady Rhea definitely wouldn't allow it. Plus, you can't escape from me that easily, Captain!" Alois cheered on despite Jeralt's grumbling tone. "So how does it feel to be back home again?"
"Home." The Blade Breaker repeated with a heavy tone. "It feels familiar and yet foreign for me at the same time. And the Church has changed a lot since my time. Seteth, Hanneman, Manuela, Jeritza… None of them were around here 20 years ago." Jeralt fell silent for a while before continuing heavily. "And this place… is not the same anymore. Without her around here."
"Captain." Alois gave him a sympathetic look and said it in a sad tone. "She was a remarkable person. Not a single day I ever forget how her smiles gave hope to everyone here in this Academy. If I only I could have been there sooner."
"It's alright, Alois. I never blame you. Not once." Jeralt reassured Alois and continued with a heavy sigh. "And it was not my intention to disappear without leaving you a single farewell. The situation was just complicated. And one more thing, I truly meant it when I said you were more than just a student to me. "
"Of course, Captain. Even though there are things that I still don't understand, I believe you have your reasons, and I will respect them no matter what they are. Just remember, you will always have my back- your best student and right-hand man." The bearded man smiled excitedly, making Jeralt smirk in amusement.
"That's Alois I know. I'm counting on you then. Anyway, how is my kid doing now?"
"Last I heard she was busy getting to know the students and they all seemed to like her. She surely is your daughter, Captain. Especially with that look of course."
"You don't know the half of it, Alois. And what about Byleth?"
"He got accepted into the role of Sword's Assistant and will begin his first day soon. And Captain, are you sure he is not…"
"They're not twins, believe it or not." Jeralt quickly interjected. "I thought of that possibility too, but the timing doesn't line up. Besides, I'm certain that I was not with anyone before Sitri."
"That's not what I meant." The captain widened his eyes as Alois scratched his head. "You don't remember at all, Captain?"
"What do you mean, Alois?"
"There's something oddly familiar about him. I can't quite put my finger on it, but he reminds me of someone you knew a long time ago."
"Jeralt raised an eyebrow and took a sip of his tea. "Someone I knew?"
"Yes. It's strange, but Byleth looks a lot like a dear friend of yours and Miss Sitri from twenty-three years ago." A loud crash interrupted their conversation as tea spilled onto the table and Jeralt's eyes widened in shock.
"Alois, would you mind repeating it again?"
"I could be wrong since I only saw him once before he quickly covered his face. But it seemed that both you and Miss Sitri knew him very well as I saw you gardening together."
"That's impossible. The only friend we had was Lydia, and I don't remember meeting anyone else during that time period."
"Hmm, that's odd. I distinctly remember you and Sitri sneaking out of the Monastery to meet this person, despite Lady Rhea's disapproval. Captain, you really don't remember?"
"…."
Jeralt fell silent and rubbed his temples as he pondered deeply, still confused by Alois' revelation. The room fell quiet as neither of them spoke until the sound of a bell signaled the end of the day. The Captain shrugged and tried to act nonchalant.
"Well then, it's getting late and I still have some work to do. I will see you tomorrow, Alois."
"If you say so. Have a good evening, Captain."
Alois stood at attention and saluted before quickly departing, leaving Jeralt alone with his thoughts. The Blade Breaker's mind was a whirlwind of emotions as he walked towards the bookshelves, attempting to find solace in his work. But then, out of the corner of his eye, a small box caught his attention. It was hidden deep behind one of the books, almost as if someone had purposely tucked it away. His curiosity piqued, he reached for the box and gently inspected it. Slowly opening the lid, he was met with a sight that stirred up a jumble of memories. A delicate handkerchief lay inside, its fabric beautifully embroidered with primrose flowers. The intricate stitching and vibrant colors evoked a sense of familiarity in him, though he couldn't quite place why. His brow furrowed in confusion. How long had this box been here? And why did it evoke such bittersweet feelings within him?
Jeralt's fingers trembled as he held onto the handkerchief, his mind reeling with confusion and a sense of familiarity. He couldn't shake off the feeling that he had seen this before, but every time he tried to grasp onto the memory, it slipped away like sand through his fingers. Frustration and fear coiled in his stomach as he closed his eyes, hoping for some kind of clarity. But instead, a searing pain shot through his head, causing him to cringe and grip his temples. As his vision blurred, fragmented images and voices flooded his mind, leaving him struggling to make sense of it all.
"Get out of here while you still can. I will hold them off for now." The man's voice strained with desperation and determination as he spoke through gritted teeth. Jeralt's vision blurred and distorted, his head twisting in agony until he heard the man's words pierce through the pain.
"You must live, Jeralt. For Sitri. And for your daughter."
The pain slashed through Jeralt's mind, nearly knocking him off his feet. As he gripped the bookshelf to steady himself, memories flooded his consciousness like a rushing river. The face of a man he once knew so well, yet had forgotten in the chaos of his fractured mind, appeared before him. His heart clenched with conflicting emotions as he tried to piece together the fragments of their past. He knew this man was important, a loyal friend who had been there during the darkest times, but questions and doubts plagued his mind
But why couldn't he remember more? Why could he not remember any of this?
Jeralt hesitantly placed the handkerchief back in its box, feeling a sense of unease wash over him. He sat down heavily, his mind racing with questions and doubts. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, hoping to calm his thoughts. But the image of the mysterious man refused to leave his mind, leaving him even more confused and conflicted than before.
"Who are you?"