Three Houses - Conclusions and Consequences
28th of the Great Tree Moon, 1180
First things first: inventory.
From the Mole People, Reidun had managed to get her hands on a Steel-grade sword, lance, axe, and bow. She had also managed to find a bunch of money, an Iron sword, and a Dark Seal in one of their armories.
While all the steel grade weapons were unwieldy, the bow in particular was a bit too much for her at the time.
So she had a sword she could use comfortably and a handful of heavier weapons that packed more of a punch, but left her vulnerable.
On Joseph's end, he'd already spent most of his attack magic down in the hideout. He had managed a decent workaround by using the Dark Seal to become a Dark Mage. That gave him access to the Miasma spell, which he could use in addition to his healing arsenal.
All in all, they were pretty well off.
'...but I really wanted a lightsaber,' she thought as she approached the stairway up into the bandit-occupied keep.
"Unfortunately for you, I can guarantee that there are no lightsabers in Fòdlan," Joseph said, causing Reidun to frown.
'Urgh, fine,' she thought.
Suddenly, Reidun's combat instinct kicked in and she ducked behind a pile of debris, just in time to avoid the arrow shooting her way.
"Someone got inside!" one of the bandit's up the stairs shouted as he and two more made their way down to meet her.
Reidun tried to step out to meet them, but she was forced back into cover by another shot from the archer, which grazed her chin. Then immediately after, she was face to face with one of two axe wielding bandits –fighters.
She kicked up a cloud of dust to dodge the attack before managing to step closer and slash the man's wrists. She timed her finishing strike with a step to her left to avoid the blow that came at her from behind as she was already pulling her sword back out of the axeman's gut.
The flanking axeman didn't even finish feeling the recoil of his missed strike before Reidun's blade cut through his wrists, twirled in the air and separated the remaining axeman's head from his body.
'Just the archer left from this group,' she thought, dashing out of the piece of rubble to close the distance.
…
'Stand still!' Reidun thought with irritation, finally catching up to the archer halfway up the stairs and cutting through them with a combat art.
"Don't tunnel vision!" Joseph warned, and Reidun suddenly took note of the shadow blocking out the entrance to the stairway, just in time to put her weapon between her and her new attacker.
A Thief.
She shoved back to break out of the lock and unbalance him, but before she could do more, the blade was already swinging back at her again, clipping her cheek as it passed.
"That was close," Reidun commented casually, taking note of the second Thief and an Archer coming up behind the man. 'Well, if I'm going to be too slow anyway…'
In a swift motion, she sheathed her sword with her right hand with a step back, while grabbing the steel lance from her back with her other.
'Heavy!' she thought, her left arm straining under the weight, before she stomped forward again with both hands on the weapon.
The tip of the lump of metal in her hands scraped against the steps of the stair as she dragged it forward.
For a brief moment, she visualised her attack.
She was classed as a Fighter. It was about being blunt, direct, and applying as much force as possible.
In this moment of clarity, she managed to grasp what that really meant.
With just a bit of push, the tip of the spear lifted off the ground and swung. The Tempest Lance crashed into the unbalanced Thief, through his hastily raised guard, and cut across his chest in a lethal blow.
In the aftermath, Reidun found herself smiling through her heavy breaths.
'Hey Joseph, I think I just mastered Fighter,' she thought, as the cut on her cheek closed.
"That's great Reidun, but focus," he chastised.
…
She ducked under the first arrow coming her way, but was too slow to entirely avoid the second.
'Ow!' she thought, flinching at the new injury on her shoulder.
Then, her whole body shuddered and she was brought down to one knee as her blood boiled in her veins. 'What-?!'
Then the pain was gone, along with the rest of her wounds. Her mind didn't linger, her body was already in motion, performing a one handed quick draw with her left hand while her immediate enemy was focused on the spear in her right.
Through Joseph's eyes, she saw the archer dip his next arrow in a vial on his hip.
Poison.
That was never fun.
…
Blood dripped from the tip of her sword as she trudged up the stairs.
She hadn't even made it out of the basement yet.
'If there are this many hanging around the basement entrance, how many are there in the rest of the castle?' she wondered with restrained excitement.
"A lot, from what I saw," Joseph answered.
'Well, I hope the rest of the fighting is less tedious-' she started thinking, reaching for the door to the main floor.
…which opened before then, interrupting her thoughts.
Her spear was already in motion to meet her new attacker as she thought, 'Why are they so invested in this basement?!'
…
3 corpses later, and Reidun was finally stepping into the main floor.
"Looks like there's two ways out," Joseph explained, floating back from a quick scouting action. "Either way, we have to pass through the main hall to clear a path to the exit, and that's where the bulk of them are gathered."
Reidun nodded her agreement.
The way directly forward through the chapel and living quarters seemed like a bit of a pain. There was this one hallway with massive windows which gave a clear line of sight to an archer up on the outer wall.
Sure, there was a way up to the outer walls right outside the hallway, but there were a couple of Thieves hanging around at the door there and chatting. As long as they held her up, the archer could harass her.
It'd be easier coming back the other way from the great hall.
That left her the alternative, going through the kitchen and barracks.
One fighter manning the kitchen. Another, a Thief, two Archers, and a Priest eating in the barracks dining hall.
That seemed a lot more manageable.
…
Actually standing there, face to face with an Archer while the other one, a Fighter, a Priest, and a Thief all bore down on her… she realised that it may not have been quite as manageable as she thought.
'Joseph?!' she thought in a bit of an embarrassed panic.
"Already on it," he answered, his unseen hand filling with dark purple flames. "Let's thin you out. Miasma!"
…
"...I'm going to need a new uniform," Reidun said as she approached the door to the great hall.
As the two were very familiar with, healing magic fixed wounds, not cloth; and Joseph had been very active in keeping her alive so far.
"Right, because that's the priority here," Joseph said sarcastically.
"Of course it is," Reidun answered seriously. "With how many times they warped us, we could be on a different continent for all we know. It could take ages to get back to Garreg Mach."
Joseph rolled his unseen eyes and floated through the walls.
It was a mildly impressive chamber, despite its age and rundown state.
The majority of the room's occupants were spread out amongst the long tables lined up towards the main entrance of the castle/fort/whatever-this-place-was.
Joseph also recognised another door near the end.
'Hm, if they haven't moved, then those two Thieves should be chatting right on the other side there,' he concluded.
The most notable feature of the hall though, was the throne. More specifically, the rune engraved in the ground around it.
There was also someone sitting on the throne.
'Looks like that's the boss,' Joseph concluded, floating back through the wall and getting a wave of curiosity from Reidun.
"It seems they haven't noticed our arrival yet," Joseph explained, "and it looks like
"Oh?" Reidun voiced, projecting an image of herself smiling.
Joseph smirked.
"Do you think you could lure him off of it?"
"Maybe," she answered, stepping through the door and shouting, "Excuse me sir. I have an announcement to make… about your mother."
…
Reidun flew back.
"Hah, brat. That's what you get!" the axe wielding boss taunted.
"Yeah, get her!" "That's our boss," the man's underlings cheered from the side while the last man waved his hands and healed the minor injuries Reidun had managed to inflict on the man.
'Fair enough, the boss is actually kind of strong,' she thought, rising up to her feet again.
"Right, sorry, my mistake," she started, raising her weapon with a smile. "With a face like yours, you obviously don't have a good relationship with your mother."
She took two steps back and the rune now at her feet glowed with life, covering up the extra kick of healing Joseph wove in as well.
…
Parry, kick against one side.
Duck, riposte against the other.
Block, shove against the boss.
Then the glowing rune at her feet pulsed, and her strength was renewed.
"What happened, I thought you were going to handle me yourself?" Reidun taunted.
"Argh!"
…
'I've got it!' Reidun thought, her blade clashing with the injured Thief.
She was certain she could pull it off now.
A new Combat Art.
'If I just…' she thought, visualising her new attack.
Then she froze.
'Hold up…' she realised. 'That's useless!'
In irritation, she dropped the sword and swung her spearing in a Tempest Lance at the man directly behind her, striking him down.
'Thieves don't fly!'
"I'm sure you'll get good use out of Grounder when you've managed to learn to fly," Joseph reassured, not at all worried about the bandits.
Reidun ducked under a blade and stepped around the throne, using it to block the axe strikes from the boss. Then she stepped up and lugged her weapon through the Thief's knee, blocked the counter with the shaft of her weapon, before ripping the weapon up through the man's leg and through his chest.
'I know!' she thought irritatingly, before turning her ever neutral smile to the boss and the priest behind him. "Then it's just us. Are you going to run? Too scared to fight me without your goons?"
…
His axe struck her shoulder, and her lance pierced his gut.
They pushed off each other.
Their wounds closed.
They clashed again.
…
They'd been at it for 5 minutes now.
"...and really? Do you eat your own refuse for breakfast?" Reidun continued to insult the man. "Your breath is absolutely rancid."
As long as she kept him angry. She kept him fighting and focused on her.
If her Lance broke, she had three other weapons she could fall back on. The man had one axe.
She had the healing tile and Joseph, who was a far better healer than the criminal priest flapping his hands about out of her reach.
If she kept this up…
'Oh?'
"Will you just shut up!" the red faced man shouted as he charged again.
…and again, their weapon's met and each of them stepped away with wounds.
The man flinched, but before he could notice what was wrong, Reidun attacked again.
Then she insulted him.
It was unfortunate for him that he didn't notice the Priest's Nosferatu futilely sputter against Joseph's form.
Why would the Priest cast Nosferatu instead of healing his boss?
'He's run out of healing magic,' Reidun thought gleefully.
She pushed harder, stepping off the tile and forcing him back. Her injuries recovered and his didn't.
She was loud. She was obnoxious. Enough so that her enemy didn't hear his allies warnings about his injuries.
One step.
Two steps.
Three- four- five!
Until…
Crack. Splash.
Her sharped steel beam pierced his heart, the haft of the weapon that was meant to block her strike shattered, and the head of it embedded in the ground.
'Alright then…' she thought, pulling her weapon free. '...now just to clean up the rest.'
23rd of the Harpstring Moon, 1180
It was happening. The first big change Flayn had pulled off!
She was accompanying Rhea and the rest of the Black Eagles on a diplomatic visit to the Western Church. She was absolutely sure that they'd be able to clear up the deception and misunderstanding before things went too far.
'Perhaps we could possibly find evidence implicating Tomas,' Flayn thought hopefully.
Since Rhea had decided to handle this personally, Seteth had to stay behind to manage Garreg Mach. A fact that Flayn was unfortunately happy for.
"Uh, g-guys? This feels... kind of intense," Bernadetta murmured, shifting uncomfortably and glancing around. She shrank back almost immediately. "Never mind. F-forget I said anything. I'm probably just overthinking it."
"Actually, I find myself agreeing," Ferdinand said seriously. His eyes focused on the armed members of the Western Church who were getting ready to meet them. "One would think that the arrival of the Archbishop would be cause for celebration, not worry."
'It should be,' Flayn thought, and worse yet, she knew why it wasn't. Her gaze shifted over to Rhea who's expression momentarily narrowed into a frown, before returning to the much more common serene mask of the archbishop. 'Hopefully we shall clear up this misunderstanding without any needless bloodshed…'
Soldiers flanked the bishop in charge of the west. Their grips tightened around their spears, while behind them archers fiddled with strung bows. Keeping their distance, horsemen sat upon unruly mounts which trotted and stirred restlessly. While mostly gathered around the bishop himself, there were some cardinals and priests spread out amongst the armed forces as well. Lastly, the ones of most interest to Flayn, dark hooded figures wearing beaked masks lurked amongst them.
She wouldn't have noticed their presence had she not known to look for them.
The Knights of Serios were not taking the situation lightly either. As a precaution, they'd brought both Jeralt, the newly reinstated captain, and Thunderbrand Catherine. Like the rest of the knights, they'd both also noticed the almost imminent conflict.
Despite that, Jeralt appeared to be the calmest one here.
That calm may have been the deciding factor that stopped a battle from occurring right there and then.
Instead, the delegation from the Western Church approached and met Rhea halfway.
"Lady Rhea," the bishop greeted, the pleasant tone undermined by suspicion. "I will admit that this was an unexpected visit."
There was a moment of silence.
"In truth, I had hoped for this to be a more pleasant affair," the Archbishop eventually answered. "Long have I trusted you to manage your own affairs, so much that I had expected this visit to be nothing more than an enjoyable formality…"
It was the wrong choice of words.
The unintended, yet implicit, threat cut through the air, but before it could draw blood, Rhea continued.
"...when was it that I became such a stranger that you would be troubled by my presence?" she asked with genuine remorse. She closed her eyes in painful contemplation. "It appears that I must thank Seteth when the chance next presents itself. This was clearly needed."
Quiet murmurs echoed through the field. Irritation, confusion, disbelief. Too distant to be eligible to any of the ones travelling from Garreg Mach.
The Archbishop's eyes opened again, and she smiled bittersweetly.
"Would you invite me inside? Perhaps we can resolve our differences over some tea," she offered.
"Lady Rhea!" Catherine objected, taking an alarmed step forward. "It's not safe. These people-"
"Are fellow believers in the goddess," Rhea interrupted. "Where else would I be safer than within the walls of the church surrounded by the faithful?"
Catherine motioned to object again, but the words were stifled before they were spoken and she reluctantly stepped down.
All eyes fell on the West Church bishop.
"That…" he started uncertainly, "...can be done."
…
The knights had decided to set up camp a small distance away, to help ease tensions. The students on the other hand, were given room, board, and full freedom to roam as they wished. Something that Flayn was eager to take full advantage of.
"Pardon me Flayn, but may I ask where you're going?" Lorenz asked as she began to separate from the rest.
"Oh, I…" Flayn began, quickly attempting to find an excuse. "...wished to discover the reason why our allies here appeared so distraught at our arrival."
Which she failed to do.
"Aha, an excellent idea!" Ferdinand supported with mirth and boisterous gestures. "Allow me to accompany you."
Before Flayn could react, the enthusiasm infected the rest of the class as well.
"Ohoho, I am certain that I could make an invaluable contribution!" Constance announced proudly as she stepped up. "After all, house Nuvelle has a history of foreign relations. Such an investigation would be childsplay."
"House Gloucester shares a similar pedigree," Lorenz added. "Certainly, more eyes and ears would make this a more thorough endeavour, yes?"
"Then perhaps we should all get involved," concluded Edelgard, who stepped into the conversation, alongside the rest of the students. "In fact, if we split up into groups…"
Flayn barely got a word in, pulled along with the violent currents of the eagre students.
…
Flayn, Petra, and Ferdinand had formed one group…
"...I'm sorry, but I have no desire to speak of this-" the priest answered, attempting to dismiss himself.
"Please wait," Flayn interrupted, mildly desperate. "I assure you that I mean no ill. No harm will come to you for speaking your mind."
"I find that hard to believe," the priest said, prompting a curious expression to overtake Ferdinand von Aegir's expression.
"Is Flany's character so questionable?" he questioned. "If it is not her character, but her capability, then allow me to guarantee your safety as the heir to house Aegir and future Prime Minister of the Empire."
The priest hesitated, seemingly considering it.
"Fine," they relented. "A few weeks ago a friend of mine said something about the Central Church and now they're missing…"
…
"...that's right. If you speak up against the Central Church, they call you a heretic and execute you…"
"...he got a summons to Garreg Mach, and no one has heard from him since…"
"...even said that he saw the knights of Seiros do him in…"
…
"...last saw him, right here," another one said, answering the groups questions.
This time, Petra, who had been mostly silent, chimed in.
"Alone, yes?" she asked.
"That's right, I saw him on his own here," the Western Church soldier confirmed.
Petra crouched down to inspect the ground.
"The tracks from that time are still clear. He was not walking alone. There is someone he was meeting, standing in this place…" as she spoke, she walked over around a corner that would have been out of sight from where the soldier stood and grabbed something that appeared to have been caught on the branch of a bush. "I have found something. Do you have recognition of this?"
She held up the item, revealing an amulet.
The soldier's eyes widened.
"Yes, I do. That's Alistairs!" the man answered, before frowning in confusion. "...but he said he hadn't seen him."
"I suppose we should go speak with this 'Alistair' then," Ferdinand concluded.
"Indeed, let us go!" Flayn added eagerly.
…
They knocked on the door to Alistair's room.
After a moment, Ferdinand knocked again.
"I'm coming. I'm coming-" the room's occupant –Alistair– answered, Falling silent mid speech as he opened the door and spotted his amulet in Petra's hands. Black robes on his person and a beaked mask on his bed announced him as a Dark Mage. "Shit."
Before any of the students could react, he slammed the door shut and bolted.
The large crash and shatter of glass rang from within the room, with glass still falling to the floor when Ferdinand managed to smash the door open again.
"After him!" Ferdinand shouted, jumping through the window after the villain, shortly followed by Petra.
'This will be a first!' Flayn thought to herself, somewhere between excitement and dejected disbelief as she jumped through as well.
"Oof!"
Her landing was not particularly graceful, but she quickly scrambled to her feet and ran to catch up with her classmates.
She rounded a corner and saw them gaining on the villain, who shoved past a befuddled pair of church acolytes and stumbled into the complex's courtyard, looking back over his shoulder at his pursuers.
He realised that he wasn't going to get away if things kept up this way.
"Comrades!" He announced, before lying through his teeth. "The Central Church has sent their students to attack us, to arms!"
'Oh no,' Flayn thought, as she saw the passive, if not curious spectators draw their weapons and magic.
"Halt!" a new, far more authoritative voice announced, entering the courtyard from the other end.
The bishop, standing side by side with Archbishop Rhea.
"The Central Church has done no such thing," the man announced. "We have been deceived."
The masses hesitated, their sudden fervour replaced by confusion.
Alistair was sweating in panic as his gaze shot around the courtyard in search of allies or escape.
Then Ferdinand tackled him to the ground.
"Lady Rhea, this man attempted to flee when we approached," he declared. "We believe he has nefarious intentions, for both the Central and Western Churches."
…
With the Western Church's cooperation, it didn't take the Black Eagles long to completely dismantle the conspiracy. The conspirators were found and interrogated, some, but few, admitting to the plot. Documents and letters hidden in their rooms further confirmed it.
Those same documents also revealed the criminals the conspirators had hired to act as representatives of the Central Church, but the knights handled that themselves.
"I am truly sorry, Archbishop Rhea," the bishop of the Western Church said, his head hung low.
"The fault is not yours alone," Rhea reassured with a smile. "Our enemies took advantage of a weakness we had not foreseen. It seems I have been too distant, we will have to share another cup of tea in the future."
"Of course, Lady Rhea," the bishop agreed, allowing himself to smile.
Flayn watched on from the side.
"You are well past the hope of redemption. If you have any grace remaining, you will willingly offer your life as atonement…"
"Monster! We know you've already slaughtered many of our fellow brethren like This!"
Compared to what could have been, Flayn was sure she preferred this timeline.
…
Everyone was gathered together, ready to head back.
'But why is Edelgard standing aside?'
"You will all have to excuse me," Edelgard began, speaking to the class. "I will have to see to some duties in the area before I can return to the academy."
Flayn didn't think anything of it.
24th of the Harpstring Moon, 1180
A sip.
A tea cup placed carefully down on the table.
Sat on the other side, a noble, fully armoured.
The old man frowned, the expression emphasised by his thick white moustache.
"Your highness," the man greeted seriously. "To what do I owe the pleasure."
Edelgard stared into her cup in false contemplation, before looking up and meeting the duke's eyes.
"As of yesterday, your allies in the Western Church have been taken into the custody of the knights of Seiros, along with all their known co-conspirators," she stated neutrally.
She let the message hang in the air.
The duke sat up straight. Not stressed, attentive.
"So, is this a warning? A threat? An attack?" he asked. "Know that if your goal was to blackmail me, you will find no purchase. I make no secret of my thoughts. Whether it is by your hands, or my own, my blade will strike at the Archbishop."
"Then we are of the same mind," Edelgard said with steel in her voice and fire in her eyes. "The church has long since overstayed their welcome and strayed beyond their mandate."
She folded her hands together and met the man's eyes.
"Duke Lonato Gildas Gaspard. Years ago, the church overstepped their authority and executed your son. You are furious, and rightfully so," she said. "I have no intentions upon your wealth or lands. When I secure power in the Empire, I will call the church to account. If you can quell your fury until then…"
She rose to her feet and offered a hand.
"...let us raise our blades against the church together."
1st of the Harpstring Moon, 1180
This was ridiculous.
This was utterly stupid.
This was a joke.
"We're lost," Joseph said, succinctly summarising their situation.
'Absolutely,' Reidun acknowledged with no small amount of irritation. 'Who builds a fortress in the middle of nowhere?! It's been almost a week! How have we not found a road or town yet?!'
As it turned out, between the two living beings and the ghost, none of them had any skill in navigating wilderness
Hell, since none of them even knew where in Fodlan –if they were still in Fodlan– they were, they couldn't even simply pick a direction and keep going until they reached an unmissable landmark. Like, for example, the ocean!
She put the thought aside as Joseph used a bit of magic to ignite the bonfire she'd put together. Then she started getting to work on food, using the fire.
Navigation may have been beyond them, but Reidun and Joseph had needed to travel on the road without supplies before, so at least surviving was well within their capabilities.
Behind her, Monica shuffled soundlessly towards the two rabbits that would be serving as their dinner.
"Any further and I'm going to have to assume you're trying to poison me," Reidun said without turning to look with her own eyes.
"E-eh?!" The other girl suddenly pulled back as if the rabbits were on fire, then she slowly pulled further away, and waited the rest of the time in silence.
No different from the rest of their time together so far.
Reidun had apparently scared the girl.
Honestly, she wasn't that surprised. She had been covered in blood when she got back from dealing with the bandits and had sent several unsubtle death threats the girl's way.
For his part, Joseph was at least glad that being stuck in the wilderness kept them out of the Agarthan's reach.
5th of the Harpstring Moon, 1180
They were still lost.
11th of the Harpstring Moon, 1180
They found… no clues. Nothing.
15th of the Harpstring Moon, 1180
Wilderness navigation is apparently difficult.
20th of the Harpstring Moon, 1180
They found the coast line.
They opted to head south.
28th of the Harpstring Moon, 1180
The three of them finally managed to discover where they had been taken, for the worst reason.
Because apparently, if you follow the western coast of the Adrestian Empire far enough south, you eventually reach Enbarr.
Garreg Mach was the other way.
This did let them get some shopping done.
New clothes, more rations, a horse and carriage.
An intermediate and advanced seal.
A new set of iron weapons and a shield for good measure.
All paid for by pawned off loot and coins taken from the agarthan base.
Also, no, Monica did not get to keep any weapons.
"Reidun, you might want to ease it up… I think the guards are starting to think that you kidnapped her," Joseph pointed out.
Reidun didn't listen, but the trio left Enbarr before anything could seemingly come of it.
At least they'd gotten a day with a bath, warm meals, and real beds.
29th of the Harpstring Moon, 1180
Carriage travel, left time for some simple tests.
Namely, no. Reidun could not use the advanced seal, she just wasn't strong enough yet.
What she could do though, was class into Mercenary using the intermediate seal.
Since Reidun wouldn't use it, Joseph classed into Bishop.
Neither of them took note of the nervous look Monica sent their way when Reidun exited the carriage with both seals used.
30th of the Harpstring Moon, 1180
They were finally back.
Garreg Mach Monastery.
Reidun was back in her uniform, despite how ruined it had gotten from the wilderness trek and the blood that she hadn't quite managed to clean out.
Ruined or not, she needed it to be allowed back into the academy grounds. She doubted the gatekeeper would recognise her.
Monica's was far less ruined. She hadn't taken part in any fighting, and they'd kept her out of any of the work in the wilderness to avoid giving her the chance to try to sabotage their efforts somehow. In case she wasn't actually Monica.
They left the carriage in the small town outside, and disembarked to head up to the monastery proper on foot.
Given their state, there were definitely looks.
Reidun didn't care.
She was hyper-focused on one specific goal.
"I really don't like this plan," Joseph warned, again.
'Then think of a better one,' Reidun countered playfully.
"I did, and you rejected it," he pointed out.
'It wasn't a better plan,' she disagreed.
"I would think going to Rhea or Seteth with what happened is leagues better than…" Joseph began, raising his unseen fingers to mime quotation marks for his next words. "'Walk up to Tomas and stab him.'"
An air of seriousness fell over the girl, oozing from her heart and mind, but not affecting her body.
'He's going to hurt people, right?' she asked rhetorically.
Joseph held a moment, then sighed.
"Yeah, he will," he answered.
'He'll reveal himself if he dies or tries to fight back?' Reidun pressured again.
"He will," Joseph answered again, eyes closed and fully aware of where this was going.
'You want me to live my life and make my choices,' Reidun thought. 'This is what I want to do. I want to stop him, and I want to do it myself.'
"You've already figured out that the gift I had you give to Seteth was the future," Joseph pointed out. "I trust that he'll deal with it, all of it. You don't need to do this, any of this. In fact, you might make it worse."
He was met with a determined silence.
In the face of that, he could only sigh again.
"Fine," Joseph relented. "Just… at least send Monica to tell Rhea or Seteth. If it's actually her, they'll get the message. If it's Kronya, she won't be in a position to stab you in the back."
The girl visualised a smile.
'Good idea,' she accepted, taking the final steps up to the Monastery's main entrance.
"Greetings– by the goddess, are you alright?!" the gatekeeper on duty asked in alarm upon spotting her.
"We're perfectly fine, just have not had the opportunity to replace our uniforms," Reidun answered in her usual default pleasant tone. "I am, though, very late for class. So would you let us through?"
Reidun paused for a moment.
"Actually," she began again before the man could object, her eyes locked with his. "Could you direct my friend Monica to either Seteth or Rhea so she can report what happened? I'm very much in a rush."
As she said that, she made a point of dusting off her ruined clothes. She wasn't lying. If he misunderstood her words to relate to her state of dress? That was on him.
Even she understood that outright admitting that she intended to go stab one of the staff was bound to be counterproductive.
"Right- Right, of course!" he agreed. "I'll call someone to take over here and we can get going."
He did so, and someone else came and took over his posting.
"Are you sure you don't need any help?" the man asked.
"I'm a student here. I'll have no trouble finding my way," Reidun reassured. Receiving a nod from the man as he led Monica away.
At the sight, Joseph flinched, emitting a notable degree of guilt.
'Joseph?' Reidun questioned.
"Haha, eh…" Joseph began awkwardly. "She just seemed very relieved to get away from you. Again, I think we might have been a bit harsh."
Reidun visualised a shrug.
'Oh well,' she thought, dismissing the concern as she walked.
Passing through the halls garnered her more looks and murmurs. Especially considering the intensity with which she walked and the lance in her hand.
'Maybe the uniform was a mistake…'
…but no one got in her way, so she paid it no mind.
She just needed to get to the library.
If Solon wasn't there, then she'd try asking people.
She rounded a corner to enter the last hallway before the main staff building, when Joseph flared with alarm and floated right through the ground to hide.
'What-?' Reidun began to question, before spotting the cause for Joseph's concern herself.
Byleth, the professor who might be able to see him.
He was standing in the hallway there with a girl Reidun didn't recognise.
The emerald green hair was a touch darker than Rhea and Flayn's own, and far more substantial. Her ceremonial and ornamental blue dress were very out of place here at the monastery.
"Professor Byleth, and…" Reidun turned to face the girl. "Sorry, but I don't believe we've met."
She couldn't hear Joseph through the stone of the flooring, so she couldn't garner anything from their expressions. Though he seemed to be flaring with panic as she spoke for some reason.
"Do my ears deceive me, or is she speaking to me?" the girl asked the professor, before turning her gaze back to Reidun. "Can you truly see me?"
Reidun blinked, mentally scratching her head as she did so.
"Yes? Is there any reason that I should not-" She began, but then stopped entirely as she realised. 'Oh… that's Sothis.'
A flare of emotion from her own ghostly companion confirmed the thought.
Now that she thought about it. The girl was floating a bit.
She should have probably picked up on that.
Byleth motioned to speak, but Reidun was faster.
"Sorry, I'm in a bit of a hurry, we can talk later!" she interrupted loudly, stepping around and past them before breaking out into a run. 'Oops. Oops. Oops!'
Luckily for her, Byleth seemed entirely caught off guard by the action, and operation 'deal with it later' was a massive success!
'There's no way I can mess up any more than that today,' she thought as she ran up the stairs to the second floor.
She went right, entering the main intersection of the building, right outside of the Archbishop's office.
She turned right again, looking down the hallway that led to the library, and he was there, standing in the next intersection talking to a couple of knights.
A clear shot.
Her legs tensed as she got ready to charge, when-
"There, there she is!" 'Monica's voice shouted from behind her.
Through Joseph's eyes, she could see the girl standing by the Archbishop's side, hiding behind the guard who'd been manning the gate.
That confirmed it.
That wasn't Monica. That was Kronya.
Reidun and Joseph had thought they'd put her somewhere she couldn't do any damage, but…
'She must have lied and twisted the truth!' Reidun began to think before Rhea herself spoke.
"That student is after Tomas, seize her!" she ordered.
With that, all the guards and knights who'd been surprised and confused at her passing focused in. Behind her, to her left, to her right, and ahead. Weapon's were drawn and combat stances taken.
Reidun's own eyes were still locked on Tomas, better known as Solon.
Two knights in the way.
Good guys and heroes didn't hurt other good guys.
'I'll just have to go between them!' she thought and burst forth. 'One strike will reveal Solon. I just need one strike!'
Joseph saw the same, but with a much calmer mind.
"You won't make it, we're leaving," he stated.
'No, wait-!'
"Warp!"
30th of the Harpstring Moon, 1180
Rhea watched as the girl disappeared in a flash of purple.
It was easy for her to recognise the Warp spell.
"Catherine, have the knights search the outer grounds of Garreg Mach. She cannot have gone far," Rhea ordered calmly.
"Yes, your holiness," her faithful knight obeyed.
Monica's return had been unexpected –and despite all else being suspect, her terror was genuine.
She'd arrived in a hurry, claiming that she'd been rescued by the knights, only for the other student –Reidun– to take her from them again.
Then she'd claimed that Reidun would make an attempt on Tomas' life.
So Rhea had taken precautions.
She'd asked her knights to find Tomas and bring him here.
Now they were here, and the potential danger had passed.
But that was merely one part of the issue.
She turned to the next highest rank knight present.
"Secure Monica and Tomas," she ordered.
"What?! Lady Rhea, I-" the returned student's already substantial panic intensified.
"It is for your own protection," Rhea assured, not entirely honest.
Even if Monica's story aligned with what the Blue Lions had discovered on their assignment. There were too many unknowns– too many holes in the story she'd been told, and she knew that not all who run are guilty.
Until the truth revealed itself, even her trusted librarian was suspect.
With little fuss her knights secured and led Monica and Tomas away.
It was then that Sothis' vessel arrived, running from the first floor. At the same time, Seteth entered the room, having been elsewhere. Having both caught wind of the action, they approached her.
"Lady Rhea, what has happened here?" Seteth asked.
"It seems, two of our wayward students have returned to us," Rhea explained. "Monica Ochs and Reidun. Reidun made an attempt on Tomas' life, and fled when the knights interceded, thanks to Monica's warning."
Seteth appeared taken aback, while Byleth frowned.
"Why would she do this?" Byleth asked in his regular monotonous tone.
"I find myself wondering the same," Seteth added, folding his arms as he focused on Rhea. "For all her faults, her history of troublemaking is far from intentional, and she did rescue Flayn. This is a drastic departure from her actions so far."
"That, we do not yet know," Rhea said with a shake of her head. "There is a chance her actions were justified. Either way, I intend to find out."
"You mean to investigate this yourself, Lady Rhea?" Seteth asked, befuddled.
"The recent incident with the Western Church has reminded me of the need to involve myself personally," Rhea explained. "...and at this moment, I am the most informed out of all of us here in Garreg Mach."
"I understand, but please contact us if any of us can be of assistance," Seteth acknowledged, before an idea seemed to strike him and he turned to the professor. "Professor, did you discover anything during your investigation?"
Byleth shook his head.
"She left without her weapons, and has a book collection from a mentor no one has been able to identify," he answered. "Nothing else."
Rhea considered the information carefully.
"Professor, could you show me this book collection?" she requested. 'Perhaps I will have more success.'
Byleth nodded.
A short walk later, and they were standing in the student's dorm.
It was as described. Barren and mostly unused, save for the books.
She reached out and picked one from the shelf randomly.
There was little to be garnered from the cover, or the make of the book itself. It was not uncommon at least.
In a graceful motion, she opened it up to a page in the middle-
-and froze.
Her eyes bore into the illustration, bringing forth images from memory.
She struggled to breath as reality faded away from her vision.
She knew those weapons, the ones drawn on the pages before her.
She knew them well.
In a moment, she was suddenly vulnerable once more. She'd spent hundreds of years sculpting the world to provide a safe haven for her and what little remained of her people, and in that moment, she saw it for what it was.
A castle of glass.
'I refuse…'
It was an idle thought.
But that lone thought ignited something within her, burning away her fear and using it as fuel.
'I won't let them destroy my world again!'
Anger simmered just beneath her skin, and it was all she could do to stop herself from growling.
She tossed the vile tome to the ground and marched out, almost shoving past the Professor as she did so.
The knights outside immediately picked up on her temper and stood to attention.
"I want every one of these books burned. Immediately!" she commanded, turning to address one of her knights directly. "Double the search effort. I want the heretic found. I want her in chains. Tell Jeralt that this is our highest priority."
"As you command, Lady Rhea!" The knight obeyed and left.
The rest of the nearby knights streamed into the dorm, each leaving with an armful of books that they left in a pile just a couple of meters ahead of her.
'Too slow.'
Rhea walked over to the wall, taking the torch, and threw it into the pile.
In moments, the fire engulfed them and every other one of the cursed tomes her knights threw into the pile.
It was no wonder that no one could identify Reidun's mentor.
'Agarthan'
She stared into the flames as the word came to mind.
She would find them.
She would hunt down every last one of the rotten worms.
She refused to let them hurt any more of her family.
She refused…
30th of the Harpstring Moon, 1180
Kronya had been sure that the ramshackle plan she'd put together with Solon had fallen apart the moment that damnable worm ordered them detained.
'For 'our own protection'. Pfft, as if,' she thought, looking around the guest room they'd locked her in.
Still, she was relieved.
Unlike that thing, the dragon's army of attack dogs bled and died just like any of the other beasts.
A knock on the door and the click of the lock jolted her into slipping back into character, just as one of the other worms, Seteth, entered the room with two of the illustrious Knights of Seiros.
The man put on a comforting facade, but Kronya could tell that she would have to butcher the knights before she would even be allowed close enough to strike him.
Not that she was going to kill him.
She wasn't armed after all.
She just recognised the, admittedly valid, caution.
'So he's suspicious of me,' she thought, putting on a smile. "Hi, sir. Is it safe for me to go soon?"
"Just a little longer," Seteth answered reassuringly, but also suspiciously vague. "I hope you can forgive our caution. Reidun has yet to be located, and for all we know, she may even still be within the grounds of the Monastery."
Monica's shoulders tensed up, involuntarily of Kronya's will.
"I'm sure the knights will protect me. I feel safer already," Kronya lied, not quite able to restrain her sarcasm.
Being in a locked room far away hadn't protected Myson.
"I see you've lost faith in the Knights capabilities," Seteth empathized with a sigh. "You told the Archbishop the basics, but you were in a rush at the time and we need to acquire a clear picture of what has occurred. Do you mind explaining it again?"
'Shit,' she thought.
He was hiding it well, but he was definitely suspicious.
"No problem," she lied again, thinking back to the note one of Solon's goons had managed to slip her in Enbarr. "The kidnapping is blank for me. First thing I remember is waking up in a cell surrounded by bandits. I think I heard them say something about blackmailing Father.
"They had me locked up until a couple of weeks ago, when the Knights of Seiros showed up and rescued me…" she trailed off.
"And that was when Reidun showed up?" Seteth asked, prompting a nod from Kronya. "Did you manage to identify her allies? Who were they? How many were there?"
"No, she came alone," Kronya.
Seteth frowned.
"Do you seriously expect me to believe that a girl of 17 years barely a month into the academy single handedly killed a patrol of elite knights?" he asked.
Of course, that's not what happened.
The Knights had shown up while the Agarthans were trying to cover up what happened, so they killed them and added them to the display.
"Without issue," Kronya answered. "I don't know what she's shown here at the academy, but that girl is terrifying. Rhea had her surrounded by your most elite, and she still tried to kill Tomas. What does that tell you?"
It was perhaps the only honest thing Kronya had said all day.
She didn't know why the girl hadn't just killed them then and there.
Seteth folded his arms with a stern eye, he didn't seem convinced.
"Did she say anything of her motivations? Why was she after our librarian?" He asked, changing the subject. "For that matter, why did she bring you here? From what I heard, she was the one who asked you to report to either myself or the Archbishop."
"I'm sorry, but I don't know," Kronya said. "She wanted me to tell some lie about Tomas kidnapping us to justify her attack. She said it wasn't her first. She said she'd killed Professor Viktor as well…"
Seteth's eye on her remained critical. Still, it was all or nothing at this point. Either the lies stuck, or they were all screwed.
So she might as well do Solon a favour and try to fix another of his failed schemes.
"...I think she said something about trying to assassinate the Archbishop, during the goddess' Rite of Rebirth."
Seteth's frown deepened.
"That is a very grave accusation-"
Suddenly, the door slammed open and another knight stepped in with a salute.
"Seteth, Lady Rhea wishes to speak with you immediately!" the knight announced, before turning to the other knights. "Monica and Tomas are also to be released."
'Huh?!' she thought.
"Hold on a moment," Seteth objected. "What is the meaning of this?"
Kronya was wondering much the same.
"The Archbishop found definitive proof, sir," the knight clarified. "She is now focused on catching the heretic."
Seteth sent a final suspicious glance her way over his shoulder, before turning back to the knight.
"Very well. I will speak with her immediately," he accepted, marching out the room.
Kronya would have to ask Solon later.
31st of the Harpstring Moon, 1180
"...you incompetent buffoon!" Solon spat."Do you have any idea how much your actions put the plan at risk?"
"My actions?!" Kronya objected angrily. "I'm not the one who sent an enemy weapon right into the heart of one of our operations!"
"No. You simply fled at the first sight of danger," Solon countered. "Not only leaving the anomaly free to wreak havoc, but also prematurely taking possession of that body we'd been saving for an important task."
"I'm sorry, but I can't stab spontaneous combustion!" Kronya seethed back. "And I was going to be the one piloting this body anyway, what difference does it make that I did it a little early. If anything, you should be thanking me. Without my word, that thing would have exposed you."
"It would have been my word against hers," Solon dismissed. "Who do you think they would have believed, their trusted librarian or a known troublemaker with a dubious history? Instead now both of us are under scrutiny."
"It wouldn't have been word against word you doddering old fossil! She was going straight to you," Kronya disagreed. "You'd either expose yourself during your defence or when she killed you. And Guess what? If I'd done what you seem to think I should have. I'd have simply died, and you'd be contending with the real Monica-"
The third person present interrupted them.
"Is anything actually going to come from this meeting, or are you two going to keep trading blame like children?" Edelgard asked.
"As if you are free from blame yourself," Solon bit back.
"If you mean to speak of my actions with the Western Church, then save your breath," Edelgard shut down. "That operation was foiled the minute Rhea decided to intervene. That my fellow students managed to dismantle it showed only how unstable it was to begin with. I simply salvaged what assets could be saved and hid your own involvement."
Before Solon could argue further, she spoke again.
"Now, the meeting?"
Solon glared tempestuously at her, before continuing. Intentionally leaving the question without a response.
"The church seems to be under the impression that Reidun is one of our agents," Solon shared. "And I suspect that they are correct."
"An Agarthan traitor?" Edelgard questioned. "How unusual, but it would explain much if she was the result of an experiment."
"Indeed," Solon agreed without explaining further, much to Edelgard's irritation.
"Would you care to elaborate?" she requested, only mildly forceful. "If those suspicions hold true-"
Not that Edelgard believed it herself.
"-then she may very well target myself and my forces as well. Are our communications secure? What did she do to your operation to cause such panic?" Edelgard continued, before turning to 'Monica'. "You made mention of 'spontaneous combustion. I suppose that is related in some way."
She was met with silence.
Edelgard frowned.
"Fine. If you are so certain in your ability to handle her, I suppose you will not be needing the Death Knight when you make your attack on the mausoleum," she remarked flatly. For once, from a position of strength over her 'allies'.
"You've made your point," Solon snarled. "Fine. From what we managed to observe from the security footage, the anomaly has shown signs of basic telekinesis and the ability to automatically attack all valid targets within a range of her choosing indiscriminately, regardless of barriers or defences."
"She probably can't choose who she attacks. Which is probably the only reason we're even alive," Kronya added, gesturing to herself and Solon. Then she adopted a particularly sadistic look. "I love a bloodbath as much as any other gal, but she wouldn't have needed to go through with it against those worthless trash if she could use that magic of hers without hitting me as well."
"We are also certain that she is at least capable of Wielding Advanced Classes, and the traitor using her must have shared at least the basics of our technological prowess," Solon surmised. "Until we discover who it could be, the only contacts we will be maintaining with you will be myself, Kronya, and Thales. Assume anyone else to be associated with the traitor."
"Very well," she finally acknowledged. "Then I will keep to our previous agreement, and you may make us of the Death Knight again. Though I assume the plan's for the Mausoleum will need adjustments?
"Of course…"
An: So... there's the chapter and end of this arc. Full honesty, this chapter scares me. Any twist can turn out garbage if it isn't done right. In fact, I'd actully intended these last two scenes to be in the next chapter, but frankly, I wanted the full explanation out in case I messed up. I'd like to think that the only actual Diabolus-ex-machina employed here is Reidun getting lost and delayed. Welp, good or bad, I'd appreciate an honest opinion on how this turned out. Was this outcome forshadowed well enough? or was it a rug pull 'gotcha' moment?
To Ver'dan (Jan 24, 2025): You know, your comment actualyl did my heart wonders. Whether or not I'd managed to leave Monica/Konya's identity vague had been one of my biggest questions with the chapter. But, well... now you know!
To Infernal Enby (Jan 24, 2025): Slap bang, right on the money! Reidun was long gone once the knights arrived, and basically everything the Blue Lions found on their mission was setup that way. Heh, given that this is felix we're talking about, not like he'd do it himself. Byleth may not be the main character of this story, but if possible, I do want to give him autonomy. In terms of the house alignment? I suppose we'll see in time what consequences it has.
To Royalrain20xx (Jan 24, 2025): Starting? My dude, Joseph has known the whole time. I don't kow how clear it's been, but his whole point so far has been "Reidun, you need to touch grass and make friends". "No Reidun, staying awake 24/7 is not healthy for your mental state." "Reidun, killing people is bad... even if they are bad people." "No Reidun, don't poke the dragon. Why are you poking the dragon?!" counterbalanced by his desire keep her alive and happy. Yup, Pieces rae moving, Reidun called Check, and the Agarthan's didn't take that lying down.
To eseer (Jan 24, 2025): 1. I can definitely understand where you're coming from, but for spoiplers that probably won't come up before I've gotten another 100k words down, these reasons make sense. 2. You may be correct, but you're not right. The Fate reference was entirely unintentional, hehe. 3. Uuuuh, I think there's been a bit of a miscommunication! The books Joseph wrote for Reidun were written in english. Joseph using the Agarthan computer was closer to being able to navigate windows even though some dimwit set the language to swahili while you were afk.
To jemjd25 (Jan 25, 2025): Peak review
To Niuzu0130 (Feb 3, 2025): Haha, very accurate. When it comes to Joseph, I won't say much on the stats themselves, but the highest level enemy you meet in the game is lvl 60 I believe. Joseph is at lvl 58 (Hurray for scaling xp of your own level with healing rather than enemy level with damage!)