"I must admit, I am curious about all of you," Lycaon said. "I can tell that you all have a very interesting history."

"If we told you everything we've done just in the last year, you would think us all mad," Zelda said.

"I'm sure I wouldn't," Lycaon said. "And yet, I think I have figured out some things about you."

"Yeah? Like what?" Shez asked.

"For one thing, I can tell that some of you are nobles," Lycaon said. "There are certain mannerisms that someone raised as a noble has that commoners do not. I can say with certainty that Zelda, Edelgard, Lorenz, Ferdinand, Constance, Lysithea, and Hilda were born nobles, and that Shez, Leonie, Cyril, and Kronya were not. Link is able to fake noble mannerisms better than most, but there's an awkwardness to them that makes me think he was born a commoner, perhaps one elevated to the ranks of the nobility later in life. Which raises the question of why you are all here, not governing your homeland.

"Or homelands, as it were. Because Zelda and Link have a very different accent from the rest of you. Some variation between the accents of the people of a single nation may be to be expected, but they're also the only two members of your group with pointed ears. I doubt you are descended from Nabateans, as I have been told that every child of a Nabatean and a human is, without exception, a full-blooded Nabatean. And because the Nabateans are the only people within or near Fódlan with pointed ears, you two must come from much further afield.

"The rest of you haven't given any indication that you are from Fódlan, but I have known Hubert of the Shadows since I was young, and I was able to figure out that he was born in Fódlan. I'm guessing the rest of you apart from Zelda and Link were as well. And he trusts you. Hubert does not trust. That just is not something he normally does. He must have history with you. But that being said, if he knew you were trustworthy and capable, I would think he would have brought you in to the war already. But he did not. So I must assume that this history between you and him predates the War of Heroes.

"But again, if you were all ageless beings like him and Mercedes the Sunray, you would have been involved in the War from the beginning. I had assumed that Hubert and Mercedes thought of certain aspects of life as primitive because they had been alive during the time of the Agarthan Empire, when technology was more advanced, but now...you're time travellers, aren't you?"

They all went silent for several seconds. "You are a very observant person, Emperor Lycaon," Edelgard said. "You're right, we are time travelers. We're from the future."

"Should I be worried about what you can and cannot change?" Lycaon asked.

"You should not. We've already changed something major," Ferdinand said. "The Red Canyon Massacre only had one survivor in our past."

"Did you know that you could change the past without rewriting your own histories before you did it?" Lycaon asked.

"No," Cyril said. "We didn't."

"And yet, you did it anyway. I imagine many people wouldn't be so bold," Lycaon said.

"Courage is a prized virtue because it is rare," Lorenz said. "But we made a decision not to let fear decide our path when faced with an enemy far more terrifying than Nemesis or Epimenides."

"And if whatever god or goddess who presides over time took issue, that would be their problem," Constance added. "Given that we all still exist, it seems they made no effort to stop us."

"Admirable," Lycaon said.

After that, they discussed various other subjects with Lycaon. They all found they liked the intelligent and personable emperor.


The next day, they met with Lycaon and Seiros again, this time to discuss business. "You actually came at a rather fortuitous time," Seiros said. "We've actually been preparing to make a major incursion into Nemesis's territory. You came just in time to be part of it."

"Seiros and I may have given you the impression that Michael Blaiddyd was the only one of Nemesis's Elites who has been killed in the war so far," Hubert said. "That's not the case. Ryman Gloucester was killed in the thirty-fifth year of the war. His son, Syron, took up Thyrsus and has been commanding Gloucester since. But unlike Ryman, Syron is a second-generation Crest bearer. He has lived a long life, but he's not ageless like his father would have been. He's dying."

"Syron Gloucester has two sons," Lycaon continued. "Jonathan and Amador. According to our intelligence, Amador takes after his father and grandfather. He has been confirmed as taking the position that those who defy Nemesis's rule 'have no human rights.' Jonathan, by contrast, is more measured. He cares primarily for the people who live in Gloucester territory, and will prioritize their needs over those of others, but otherwise is known as a fair and decent man."

"Jonathan is the elder son, and by traditional inheritance laws should have been Syron's heir," Hubert added. "But after a visit from Nemesis's chamberlain, Syron's will was changed, and the new will names Amador his heir."

"I see where this is going," Hilda said. "Nemesis didn't trust Jonathan Gloucester not to turn against him. And now Jonathan is offering to support us if we help him reclaim his birthright."

"Exactly," Lycaon confirmed. "The trouble is, we can't just send troops to help him depose Amador. All that would accomplish would be a battle far away from Amador's ascension, where the men loyal to both brothers would be forced to repel the invasion force."

"And what of the people of Gloucester? Will they support Jonathan's coup?" Edelgard asked.

"According to our spies and informants, Jonathan is more popular than Amador," Hubert said. "That's not to say that Amador doesn't have his supporters, but we think that the populace at large will support Jonathan."

Kronya shrugged. "Seems straightforward enough. Where do we meet Jonathan?"


That evening, the Company members present (sans Hubert, who was too identifiable) met with Jonathan Gloucester at a fort that would have in the future belonged to Acheron von Phlegethon. But for now, it was still property of House Gloucester.

Jonathan Gloucester was a well-built man in his forties, with purple hair cut short and an impressive moustache. "Lycaon said he'd send a skilled strike team to help me deal with my brother quickly."

"I must ask, do you have any compunctions about this?" Zelda asked. "He is your brother, and there's a good chance he will have to be killed."

"Quite frankly, no," Jonathan said. "Amador may be my brother, but he has become a corrupt, fanatical monster. I cannot let him become Count. He would drive my people to ruin trying to support Nemesis's war. And if he has to die to prevent that, then so be it."

"And you would rather side with us?" Edelgard asked.

"Yes," Jonathan said. "I've spoken with Lycaon and Seiros. While they maintain that peace is impossible as long as Nemesis and Epimenides remain alive, I can tell that they want an end to the war. Nemesis doesn't. Even if he crushes Adrestia, he's just going to move on to the next target. Almyra, most likely. And more after that. He won't be satisfied until he's the uncontested ruler of the entire world. And maybe Nemesis, Lady Fraldarius, and the brothers Lindenhurst want war without end, but I don't."

"So, what's the plan?" Link asked.

"Thanks to a bought-off informant, Amador is expecting an attack by Lycaon tomorrow afternoon," Jonathan said. "He stationed me and the men loyal to me here to be prepared for that. I imagine he intends to have himself named Count during the attack. After all, my men and I won't be able to abandon our posts, or he can have us executed. But what he doesn't know is there won't be an attack, and my men will be right where they were supposed to be. I, on the other hand, will be at Castle Gloucester, to accuse him of poisoning our father and altering his will."

"Did he?" Zelda asked.

"For all I know, he might have," Jonathan said. "In the end, history is written by whoever survives to tell their version of events. I'll have a plausible justification and he won't be alive to deny it. To the people of Gloucester, that will make it true."

Zelda frowned at this and looked away. "You don't like the idea that power is the determinant of justice?" Jonathan asked.

"No," Zelda admitted. "I don't."

"Well, you're going to have to get used to the idea," Jonathan said. "Because whether we'll be remembered as heroes or monsters depends on whether we win this war."


As it happened, Jonathan was exactly right about Amador's plan. Just as Nemesis's representative was about to name Amador the new Count, Jonathan shouted, "I object!"

"Jonathan," Amador sneered. He was younger, his face clean-shaven and his hair curlier. "What are you doing away from your post?"

"My men are still at their station. They can defend the border without me," Jonathan said. "I needed to be here. I discovered that you poisoned our father and altered his will to name you his heir."

"It is King Nemesis's will that I be named Count Gloucester!" Amador said, taking Thyrsus from one of his personal guards. "You stand here in defiance of your king!"

Jonathan removed the Axe of Ukonvasara from his back. "I don't care."

Amador snarled and threw fire at Jonathan, but Constance's ice counterspell cut it off before it could reach Jonathan. An arrow from Leonie ensured he didn't have an opportunity to cast a second spell. And the knights and guardsmen foolish enough to try to fight were all quickly killed as well.

Jonathan faced Nemesis's representative. "I'm sure you heard the accusation. I can present my evidence, if you like."

"Don't bother," the representative, a pinch-faced man with a receding hairline, said. "King Nemesis approved Amador being named as the new Count Gloucester. You are a traitor, Jonathan Gloucester, and will be dealt with as such."

"I see," Jonathan said. "If Nemesis endorses patricide, then I say he is no true king. And my court is no place for his lickspittles. Leave now, or I shall take your head."

The representative snarled, but he turned and walked out of the court.

Jonathan picked up Thyrsus from the floor. "Does anyone else object to my ascension?"

"Jonathan, are you mad?" one knight asked. "You practically declared war on Nemesis!"

"Then if Nemesis will not have us, we will fight for Lycaon," Jonathan said. He turned to the Company. "Send a message to Emperor Lycaon. I am willing to swear fealty to him."

The assembled knights shifted uncomfortably, but none objected further.

Hours later, the Adrestian army began their march into Gloucester unopposed.