Staring at the community notice board splayed across the wall of the local tavern, Shez gave a thoughtful hum as she sifted through the various scribbles and notes. She alternated between two such fliers, both of them better written and actually legible, as opposed to the majority of the posts.
"Join Berling's Mercs! See the world, get paid, no experience required! Find us at the tavern," she read off. Shez looked to the other. "Noble seeking bodyguard for long-term employment. Must be skilled, devoted, and loyal. Apply at Ordelia Manor."
The purplette tapped her chin in thought. Clearly one of these postings was her future; but which one? The former promised travel and payment, and Shez appreciated their willingness to hang around a tavern. In fact, if she just turned and walked over to the bar, she could probably sign on in a few minutes. The latter however, sounded vaguely more demanding, and definitely required dealing with nobility. She didn't have any personal grudges against them, but they tended to be pompous, self-important fools more likely than not.
At a glance, Shez would definitely have signed up with the mercenaries. An expedient hiring process coupled with a low barrier to entry? That was right up Shez's alley! She almost went to go do just that before her eye caught the second poster once more. Must be skilled, devoted, and loyal. Well… Those were all good things to be, weren't they? Indeed they were. And Shez was definitely all of those things.
Not to brag, but Shez was a quality mercenary. And a quality mercenary should have a quality employer, right? Right. Nodding to herself, Shez finalized her decision.
"Alright. Which way to Ordelia Manor?"
And that was how, six months later, Lysithea von Ordelia was enrolled at Garreg Mach Officer's Academy alongside her emotional support mercenary, Shez.
When Seteth recovered the Spear of Assal from the Rhodos Coast, he hadn't actually intended to ever use it. But as he held this ancient weapon in hand, he felt a sort of longing for the days when he wielded it more liberally, not for the carnage he dealt or the blood he spilled, but for simpler times when he could use the spear's length to keep all the world's evils away from his wife and daughter.
And though those days were long gone, he could still do his best to protect Flayn, either with the influence of the Church of Seiros, or with the very spear he created so long ago. Doing the latter however, required him keeping up regular practice with the blade, which is how he found himself returning from the training grounds after a good spar with the knights.
As he passed by the gazebos on the way to the dining hall, he caught sight of Flayn speaking with one of the academy's students, exchanging pleasantries with one Monica von Ochs. Normally, Seteth wouldn't mind such an innocuous occurrence, but his face formed a frown as he noticed another fellow onlooker lurking from behind a bush.
Seteth's eyes narrowed as he recognized Tomas. The elderly librarian had only just returned to Garreg Mach from Ordelia territory, and though Seteth trusted the man with the library, he most assuredly did not trust him with Flayn. Suspicion suffusing his very being, Seteth hid himself against a hedge, staying out of sight as he observed the situation.
It wasn't long before Flayn skipped happily away, leaving Monica to herself. Seteth waited to see what Tomas would do, and he was utterly shocked at what happened next.
The old man moved swiftly, far too swiftly for a man of his age, ambushing the Adrestian redhead with dark magic. Monica cried out, but Seteth realized he couldn't actually hear her through the arcane noise barrier Tomas had raised around the area.
Monica lashed out with her own spell, tearing away Tomas's face to reveal the deathly pall of a misshapen approximation of a face.
Seteth was aghast. Not just at the violence, but also at the recognition of the terrible powers being exercised by the librarian. Such fell darkness could only come from their ancient foes: the Agarthans.
Hand tightening on the Spear of Assal, Seteth approached.
Monica cried out in panicked fear as she was assaulted by Agarthan arcana, barely able to conjure a basic fire spell in defense against the twisted caricature looming over her. His sinister laughs echoed in her ears as she felt her strength draining, an artificial exhaustion impressed upon her body.
And then Solon's skull exploded as a spear shattered his cranium from behind, spraying Monica with black blood and Agarthan ichor.
As Solon's terrifying visage gave way to Seteth's resolute concern, Monica did the reasonable thing and screamed.
EXTRA:
"Get in the bag, you red-maned beast!"
"Stranger danger! Stranger danger! Help me Lady Edelgard!"