After being let into Garreg Mach the guards escorted us past the marketplace and into the large building ahead of us. Alois had wandered off pretty quickly, he mentioned something about needing to debrief the Archbishop about what happened. The students were also told to go about as they pleased as we continued on. Soon it was just me, Jeralt, Byleth, and some guards taking us up several flights of stairs and into a large cathedral with a lone stained glass window on the far end of the room. Two statues stood on pedestals on either side of the room looking at each other, posed in holy reference to each other.
"You must be the mercenaries that had saved our students. It is surprising to see the Blade Breaker within our walls again but I suppose it would be you to save our students. Thank you Jeralt." A green haired woman wearing some sort of religious regalia said.
"No need to thank us Lady Rhea, your students ran into us and told us they were being attacked so it's not like we were gonna leave them to die. Besides, if you want to thank anyone, thank these two. Byleth saved the white haired one from an axe to the head and Link over here was essential to giving the one with the bow cover to take out their archers. They did most of the heavy lifting in that fight."
"Always so modest, Jeralt. Naturally my thanks applies to both of you as well as it does to him." Rhea smiled.
Closer up something seemed off with Rhea. I could feel a well of power emanating off of her. Her eyes also gave me a strange feeling that me and Jeralt just didn't exist to her at this moment, like Byleth was the only one in her scope.
"You know Jeralt, I am curious. Are these your children? Link seems to have your hair but that's it and Byleth." Rhea hesitated for a second. "Well Byleth looks nothing like you."
Jeralt shifted uncomfortably in his armor.
"Well you're half right. Byleth is my daughter, had her a few years after I left the church. Link on the other hand fell from the sky last night during the attack."
Byleth shot me a quick glance at my mention by Jeralt but I paid no mind to it.
"From the sky you say? How interesting. You said you had Byleth a few years after you left the church? How does her mother fair?"
"She died soon after childbirth." Jeralt stated coldly.
"A shame." Rhea said, matching his gaze.
A man with darker green hair than Rhea walked in from an office I hadn't noticed earlier.
"Ah Jeralt, it's a pleasure to see you in good health. I heard that you saved our students. Thank you, it would have been a travesty if anything had happened to them."
"Of course Seteth. It would have been devastating I'm sure." Jeralt said not leaving his eyes from Rhea's.
An awkward moment passed before Seteth cleared his throat.
"Well uh perhaps we should let you rest a bit before you go on your way. After all, Lady Rhea and I have to make some decisions on finding a new teacher for the year."
"I would like Byleth to teach the students." Lady Rhea said suddenly.
Everyone snapped their eyes to her.
"Excuse me Lady Rhea I don't think it would be wise to-"
"I've made up my mind, Seteth ."
"Well I don't think we made up our minds just yet. Byleth you don't want to teach, right?" Jeralt asked, his shocked expression still on his face.
Byleth hesitated, took a calming breath with her eyes closed and thought for a second.
"Here comes the twist Link!" Sothis chimed in.
"I accept." Byleth said calmly.
Setheth and Jeralt protested in vain as Lady Rhea smiled.
"Then we will get all the proper paperwork set as you acquaint yourself with your new home. Oh and Link was it? Why don't you stay as well? I'm sure we can find a job for you as well."
I looked around and saw Jeralt pinching the bridge of his nose and Byleth just watching me for my reaction. Setheth was gripping onto his sleeves behind his folded arms.
"I wouldn't mind a stable job I guess." I said.
"That settles it then. Byleth why don't you go visit the students so you can see who you might be teaching this year. Have Link go with you, I'm sure it will take some time to get acquainted with the facilities." Rhea said cheerfully.
We nodded and began to leave. Jeralt stayed behind, most likely to try and figure out what the hell just happened. After we left the room we were escorted down stairs and finally left alone by the guards.
"That was an experience huh?" I said after a moment of silence passed.
"Did she put you up to this?" Byleth accused.
"What?" I asked.
"Did Lady Rhea send you to bring us to Garreg Mach?"
"I have no idea who she even is. How would I be working with her if I had only just learned about her?"
"You don't know about the Archbishop? Of the largest church of the largest religion in the entire continent? I find that unlikely." Byleth said as she folded her arms in annoyance.
"She's got you there Linky" Sothis said. It sounded like she was eating popcorn while listening in.
'Your sass isn't needed right now Sothis.' I thought. I could hear her giggling in delight at my frustration.
"I don't keep up with the news, or religion." I lied.
Byleth gave me a disappointed look.
'You know, maybe Rhea was right to make her a teacher. She certainly has the disappointed look down to a t.'
"That's a terrible lie and you know it, Link, if that's even your real name."
"Well it's not a terrible lie if it isn't a lie, and also yeah it is my name."
She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose just like Jeralt did.
"Look, just don't get in my way. I've been having these weird dreams then you show up and now I have a teaching job for the Archbishop. It's extremely overwhelming." said, clearly exasperated.
I smiled a little.
"I can tell. I won't get in your way but if you need help I can assist. I've had to teach some townsfolk how to defend themselves before so I have a little bit of experience teaching." I said.
She gave me a surprised look that softened a little as she absorbed what I said.
"Hm. Well if I need something my dad can't help me with then I guess I can ask you."
I nodded before outstretching my hand.
"Sounds like a deal."
She looked at my hand for a moment before shaking it.
"Deal." She said a little more trusting that before.