The first light of dawn broke over the horizon, casting a warm golden glow across the vast landscape. The rolling hills and dense forest were drenched in the soft light, giving them an ethereal quality. Amidst this picturesque scene, the sounds of metal clanging and screams of battle echoed through the air.
Amidst the chaos and confusion, Velvet and Byleth sprang into action. Like a graceful yet deadly dance, Velvet leaped into the air with fluid movements that showcased her impressive agility and strength. As she landed amidst a group of bandits, her fists and feet became a blur of strikes, leaving her opponents dazed and defeated in her wake. Her husband's sword glinted in the emerging light of dawn as he expertly dispatched any ruffian foolish enough to approach them. The pair continued to move forward, seamlessly working together as two bandits headed straight for them. Byleth quickly rushed to the left, blocking an attack with his sword while Velvet focused on the other bandit. With lightning speed, she performed a high-front flip kick, using the blade attached to her right foot to paralyze her opponent before sending him crashing into another ruffian who was busy fighting with a blonde youth- whose name Velvet had yet to learn.
"Nice kick!" The tanned boy commented as he approached her from behind. "I've never seen anyone fight like that before. Who did you learn it from by the way?" Velvet looked at him incredulously before Byleth suddenly headed toward the yellow cape boy to his horror. Until a cry yelled out behind him as Byleth's sword stabbed through the bandit that tried to sneak on him.
"No distractions during combat," Byleth said calmly, his stoic expression sending chills down the yellow cape boy's spine. "Be more careful next time."
"Understood, sir!" He nervously nodded as Velvet and Byleth shrugged it off.
"Good! Yellow Cape continues providing us with support! Velvet, I'm counting on you!" She nodded and they resumed the fight again.
"Yellow Cape?"
"They are coming again," Velvet yelled over the chaos. "Yellow Cape, I need your arrows!"
"I have a name you know." The archer protested but still fired his arrow at the enemy, freezing them in place as Velvet took them down.
"Blue Cape, support Red Cape while we handle their leader," Byleth ordered, surprising the blonde boy who quickly followed suit. "Yellow Cape, keep doing what you're doing."
"For the last time, our names are…"
With a burst of speed and adrenaline, the couple darted ahead before their pursuer could even finish his sentence. The first rays of sunlight penetrated through the dense canopy of trees, casting a warm glow on the forest floor and signaling that the battle was nearing its end. As more bandits appeared to stop them, Velvet and Byleth fought with swift and deadly precision, leaving a trail of fallen enemies in their wake. The once formidable numbers of Kostas' forces dwindled as they were no match for the relentless ferocity of the couple and their allies, who cut through them with ease. Letting out a frustrated roar, Kostas tightened his grip on his axe and bellowed in anger, realizing that his chance at victory was slipping away.
"This is not supposed to happen. You… both of you ruined my plan. I will tear you apart myself."
"Come and try it if you can." The couple said calmly and rushed toward him as the duel began.
Kostas lunged forward with a ferocious roar, his axe slicing through the air with deadly precision. Velvet expertly deflected the blow with her gauntlet, the clash of metal ringing out into the night. Her husband stepped in, seamlessly parrying Kostas's follow-up strike as they moved together in perfect synchronicity. Their movements were like a dance, each step and strike fluid and precise, guided by an unspoken understanding between them.
Velvet's eyes narrowed as she spotted an opening. In one swift motion, she flicked her leg, revealing hidden blades embedded in her shoes that glinted menacingly as they sliced toward Kostas. Caught off guard, he stumbled back as the sharp edges bit into his flesh. Taking advantage of the distraction, her husband drove his blade towards Kostas with a powerful thrust. The bandit leader bellowed in rage, swinging his weapon in a wide arc. But Velvet and her husband dodged in perfect unison, their eyes meeting for a split second before giving each other a knowing nod. Without hesitation, Velvet activated her gauntlet-mounted blade, igniting flames along its edge. She moved gracefully and quickly, her fiery attacks overwhelming Kostas who was now on the defensive.
"Searing Edge!" Velvet shouted, her voice echoing in the forest. The blade blazed even brighter, and she slashed downwards, a wave of fire erupting from the weapon. Kostas screamed as the flames engulfed him, and he was thrown back, crashing to the ground with a thud. As Kostas struggled to rise, Byleth appeared, rushing forward with deadly intent. In a single, fluid motion, his blade arced through the air, severing Kostas's head from his body. Blood sprayed from the wound, splattering Velvet and her husband as the bandit leader's body crumpled to the ground.
In an instant, the fighting ceased and all eyes were drawn to the gruesome scene before them. Kostas's headless corpse lay crumpled on the ground, a pool of blood spreading out from it. Velvet and Byleth stood over him, their weapons still dripping with crimson. The once-confident raiders, who had reveled in their terrorizing ways just moments ago, now stood frozen in shock and horror. Their faces drained of color as they processed the sight of their leader's decapitated body and the blood-soaked forms of Velvet and Byleth standing victorious before them. A chorus of terrified screams erupted from their mouths as they realized the fate that awaited them at the hands of these demons.
"It's the Ashen and Scarlet Demons!" The rest of the bandits began to scream and fled in terror as Yellow Cape shot a few warning arrows until the last one was out of sight.
"Messy as always. You two have never changed, haven't you?" Jeralt sighed and approached the couple. "No matter why they call you Scarlet and Ashen Demons."
"We did not do it intentionally," Velvet said defensively as her husband cleaned the blood from her hair with a small handkerchief. "And a dip in the water will clean it eventually so we will go to a nearby river before coming home."
"And who gave you such an idea?" Jeralt asked skeptically.
"I did," Byleth added instantly, causing Jeralt to sigh further as the students were looking at them amusingly. However, before they could continue their interaction, a continuous sound of footsteps was getting louder, making them change to defensive stances quickly. Until they saw a man with a mustache in white armor accompanied by a few soldiers who looked like knights.
"The Knights of Seiros are here!"
"Ugh, why did it have to be him?" The duo looked at Jeralt in surprise as the captain let out a deep sigh. However, the question was soon answered once the knight noticed the blade breaker.
"Captain Jeralt? Is that you? Don't you recognize me? It's Alois! It must have been more than 20 years ago when you vanished without a trace. I always knew you were still alive."
"You haven't changed a bit, Alois! And drop that "captain" nonsense. I am not your captain anymore. These days, I'm just a wandering mercenary. One who has work to do. Goodbye, old friend." Byleth and Velvet nodded and followed him quietly.
"Right… Goodbye, Captain. Wait! That isn't how it ends. I insist that you return to the Monastery with me!"
"Garreg Mach Monastery… I suppose this is inevitable." Alois smiled triumphantly and noticed the couple. "And who is this young fine man? He does indeed have your stare, captain."
"I am a Demon," Byleth replied without hesitation.
"Great sense of humor. He is no doubt your son, Captain." The Blade Breaker let a small grunt. "And who is this fine lady?"
"Velvet Eisner formerly known as Velvet Crowe," Jeralt explained. "My son's wife and mother of my grandson."
"I see. Wait. She is your daughter-in-law. And you have a grandson?"
"If the custom here is the same as where I'm from then yes. And my son is in Remire now, so we'd better go back and pick him up."
"Then we would love to accompany you and the students to Remire before departing to Garreg Mach." Velvet and Byleth nodded as Jeralt massaged his temple. "Captain, you aren't about to run off again, are you?"
"Even I wouldn't dare to run off from the Knights of Seiros. Kids, you can... where did they go?"
"I believe they are heading toward the river now, saying they would join us once they finish cleaning the blood." The blonde boy explained with a friendly smile.
"That's logical though. You don't want to terrorize the kid with such a horrific scene." The tanned boy added playfully as Jeralt sighed again.
"I need some drink after this!"
The journey back to Remire was a tumultuous one. Despite the disapproving glances from Jeralt, the couple eagerly set off towards the village to retrieve their son and gather their belongings before making their way to the Monastery. As they approached the village gates, they were met with a gruesome sight - the bodies of bandits strewn about in disarray. Byleth couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction as he observed his handiwork, giving his cheek a small pinch to contain his pride
"Judging by your reaction, did you already plan this?" The Yellow Cape boy asked curiously.
"Yes. It is always better to remain cautious. Both my wife and I can take care of the frontal assaults, so we often put the mercenaries in the reserves for such situations."
"And how long have you been fighting, Miss Eisner?" Velvet raised an eyebrow.
"Before answering that question, who are you people?"
"Where are my manners? My name is Claude von Riegan. The heir of the Leicester Alliance. But we are not exactly what you would call a kingdom."
"I see. And you?" She looked at the other two students who began to introduce themselves nicely.
"I am Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd, heir to the Kingdom of Faerghus."
"And I am Edelgard von Hresvelg, heir to the Adrestian Empire." Velvet nodded and replied calmly.
"Looks like it's just like where I'm from then. Minus the Kingdom and Alliance." Claude's ears perked and inquired curiously.
'And where are you from?"
"Claude! She just saved us. Must you interrogate her like this." scolded Dimitri, shaking his head in exasperation.
"It's not every day we meet a foreigner with such impressive combat skills and a mercenary with tactical prowess here," Claude explained with enthusiasm. "Were you a traveler then?"
Both Velvet and Byleth stared at Claude incredulously while the latter's blank face looked nothing but happy as his eyes narrowed, sending a spine toward Leicester's heir.
"She was a waitress from the inn where we often traveled to," Byleth explained calmly, his face betrayed no emotion. "Circumstances took her to Fodlan by chance and that's all I can tell." Before Claude could press for more information, a high-pitched voice interrupted their conversation.
"Mama! Papa!" The dark blue-haired boy rushed toward his parents as they crouched down and took him in their arms.
"Are you alright, Seph?" The mother asked gently and ruffled his hair, making the boy smile in return.
"Yes. Laurence and the others protected us all, saying they'd rather face a pack of wolves than make you mad."
"Well, it seems like they've learned their lesson." Velvet chuckled in satisfaction.
"So, this is your grandson, Captain?" Alois approached and gave a friendly smile. "What is your name, young man?" Seraph quickly took cover behind Mother.
"Don't worry, Seraph. He is a friend of Grandpa Jeralt!" Byleth reassured him. Slowly, he stepped forward and introduced himself to the group.
"My name is Seraph Eisner. But everyone calls me Seph. It's nice to meet you all." Everyone smiled warmly as Claude whispered something to his friends who giggled in return.
"Now that introductions are done, shall we pack up and head out?"
The journey to Garreg Mach was surprisingly peaceful, with no threats in sight. As they rode along the winding roads, her father-in-law engaged Alois in conversation while the students chattered among themselves in hushed tones. She could only catch bits and pieces of their gossip, but she could already guess what they were discussing. Meanwhile, her young son sat atop his father's shoulders, enjoying the view from a higher vantage point. Byleth had kindly offered to give her a break from carrying their son, and she gratefully accepted. This was not what she expected yesterday since their plan to the Kingdom had been canceled the mercenary band was left to finish the contract without the captain which she believed would be fine since all of the Blade Breaker members had undergone the training that she and Byleth put them through. However, there was one thing that had been on her mind ever since the encounter earlier.
"So Jeralt was the Captain of this Knights of Seiros," Velvet murmured and turned toward Byleth. "By, did you hear anything about this?"
"He never mentioned it. It's the first time I've heard anything about his past, which he usually avoided talking about."
"Garreg Mach. It is a religious institution, right?"
"That's right." Edelgard chimed in, catching their attention. "This is the Monastery- home to the officer's academy and the Central Church which also holds direct control to all of the political natures in Fodlan." There was a small hint of bitterness in Edelgard's voice which made Velvet widen her eyes and shrugged.
"Does the Shepherd hold authority above the rulers of your nations?" Velvet asked, causing confusion amongst the trio.
"What she means is the leader of the Church. It's called the Shepherd where she's from," Byleth clarified, piquing Claude and Edelgard's interest.
"Not really. Though the Church does wield a lot of power, it cannot appoint rulers at will nor influence the policy of each nation. But it looks like the Church has quite a close tie with the Kingdom, Is that right, Dimitri?"
"Correct. And just like Claude said, despite our close ties, we still hold our autonomy and independence. May I ask what is it like where you are from? If you are willing to share of course." Velvet thought deeply for a while before answering slowly as Seraph suddenly leaned closer, definitely curious about his mom's past.
"The place I came from was called Aball- a small village in Eastgand, an island that belonged to a nation called Midgand Empire."
"And what was it like?" Claude asked curiously.
"The Empire is… was governed by the Royal Family for centuries. Until the Abbey quickly took control of the Empire thanks to its "savior" of the world – Artorius Collbrande!"
"And what did this person save the world from?" Dimitri added, seemingly curious like his friends.
"According to the people of Midgand, he found a way to cure a plague that had been ravaging the world for centuries," Velvet lied which Byleth gave her an understanding look. "Or that was what they wanted the people to believe."
"Why so?" Claude asked expectantly until Velvet responded with a cold voice that sent a shiver to all of them.
"Because that peace was bought with the lives of his own family. He killed them without hesitation in the name of peace and justice. Even my village wasn't spared from this false notion of peace."
As Seraph's eyes widened and his body tensed at her sudden outburst, Velvet felt a twinge of guilt for frightening her young son. She quickly fell silent and lowered her head in shame, until Byleth stepped forward with a gentle smile on his lips and offered his hand to her which seemed to calm her down.
"That was… unexpected. Is that why you left the land in the first place?" Claude stuttered, trying to weigh his words carefully.
"Does it matter anyway? The Shepherd is dead, and the Abbey might end up collapsing with the loss of their leader. Whatever happened to them is no concern of mine. My duty now belongs to my son. And my family."
"You don't have to tell me if you are not comfortable with it." Claude chimed in immediately as Dimitri and Edelgard gave him a nod. "It was nice talking to you but I'm afraid our chat must end here. I will see you later then." Then the Yellow Cape left with his friends who quickly followed, leaving the couple and family alone.
"Velvet, are you alright?" Byleth asked gently which she replied with an uncertain voice.
"It's alright. It's just been a while since I recalled that story to anyone than you. The memory of that night… is still haunting me to this day."
"Do you need to take some rest now? I can ask Jeralt if we can take a break until you are feeling better."
"Don't worry, it's just a minor headache. I'll be okay."
"Mom, are you going to be alright?" Seraph asked weakly, gently touching her cheek as she smiled warmly.
"I'll be fine. But thanks for asking, Byleth, Seraph. What would I do without you by my side?" The family quickly joined into a tight embrace, their bodies pressed together in a comforting warmth. Velvet closed her eyes and leaned into the strong arms of her husband and son, feeling a wave of contentment wash over her heart. They basked in the comfort of this peaceful moment until Alois's voice broke through, calling them back to reality.
"We're here." The trio's eyes widened in awe as they approached their destination. A grand castle stood before them, its towering spires and intricate architecture a sight unlike anything they had ever seen before. Velvet couldn't help but feel a twinge of familiarity, as the castle reminded her of the one she grew up in. However, this time she didn't have to go through the process of registering as a member of the "Magilou Menagerie." The memories of her past experience with that play by the witch still lingered, and she was relieved to not have to go through it again, especially not in front of her son.
As the family strolled through the gates, their eyes were drawn to a figure standing on the balcony above. She was an ethereal sight - with emerald hair cascading down her back and piercing blue eyes fixed upon them with an incredulous look. Her white robe flowed around her like a regal cloak, befitting of a high priestess in a holy order. Could she be the leader of this Church of Seiros, akin to Artorius in power and influence? Despite the uneasy feeling that crept up Velvet's spine as the green-haired woman scrutinized them, she forced herself to push the thoughts away and follow Jeralt's instructions. They had been summoned for a meeting with the archbishop, and Velvet could only pray that history would not repeat itself. She was tired of all the senseless bloodshed and endless cycle of vengeance. But if it ever came to that point …
…She would not hesitate to destroy anyone who dared bring harm to her son or husband. Especially not from another Artorius ever again.