Author's note:

Welcome back, glad you are still here. Apologies about the shock of the actual house of the story, I wanted to try and subvert the expectations you all had going into this story. My intention wasn't to enrage you all but to surprise you. I should preface that when I played Three Houses, my first house was Black Eagles, but I played Silver Snow. In fact, I am not the most massive fan of Crimson Flower (I ask my editor to control my dislike of Edelgard actually.) The reason she was on the main character tag before, was due to being in the antagonist role, not a supporting character. Dimitri as the actual House Leader has now replaced her to cause less confusion going forward. As for why this took so long to make: combine payments on my car, fixing the water in my house, and dealing with the fact my final transcript only came in recently. I am sorry for the delay, life happened. With that out of the way Disclaimers. I do not own Warhammer Fantasy or Fire Emblem. If I did, Karl-Franz would also be in smash (and I am sure people would complain at first about another Fire Emblem character, until they learn the truth.) One other thing, viewer discretion is advised.

Chapter 4: The Mock Beasts

"All around me, they are talking, whispering. Put out their eyes, pluck out their filthy tongues; still, they talk, always taunting. Braying in the fields, they plot, they approach in the night, drawing always nearer. They come!" ~ The ravings of 'Mad' Schwalz, the idiot of Sternburg.

"Let's start with the basics." The Professor moved over to the blackboard of the classroom and he wrote on it. The words 'Small Unit Tactics Lecture 01' were written on it from what Wilhelm could see. It didn't help that he had to sit at the back of the room, especially when he lacked a proper desk. "What is the most crucial part of a battalion?"

"Oh, oh!" The arm of the orange-haired female (Annette, if Wilhlem recalled correctly,) raised up. "That would be the commander, wouldn't it?"

Professor Byleth shook his head. "A good commander feeds into this and needs it to thrive on the battlefield."

"Then it has to be skilled soldiers." Felix folded his arms as a small smirk laid on his face, even if most of what Wilhelm could see was his blue hair done in a bun. "Skill with a blade is all one really needs in a fight anyhow."

"Fighting with numbers makes up for skill." Byleth went back to the board and drew a few circles on it. "You can only keep your attention on so many foes. Eventually, one would take advantage of an opening."

"So it is numbers that are most important?" Sylvain rested his arms behind his head and leaned back in his chair. How he got red hair like that, Wilhelm was both envious and curious. "I always knew that more things made everything merrier, just like with-."

His blonde compatriot struck him upside the head, Ingrid was her name. "Finish that thought at your own peril, Sylvain." Ingrid's green eyes held the most tranquil fury Wilhelm had seen during his time at the monastery, with Sylvain doing nothing but keeping his hands up defensively. Ingrid turned her attention back to the Professor, her lengthy hair braided in a long tail obscured her face. "Professor, I can say with full confidence that numbers aren't the most essential factor. When on the battlefield, numbers can work to your disadvantage in crowded areas like a city street. Based on this knowledge, I am sure the answer you are looking for is an understanding of the terrain."

"No." Byleth frowned as he rubbed his chin. "While you have an understanding of the tactical side of a battle, I was asking about the strategic side of it."

"The strategic side?" Wilhelm's compatriot with the grey hair mused next to him, his name of Ashe fitting considering his grey hair and green eyes. "Is it the belief in a cause then, Professor! I have read many stories about brave knights holding against all the odds through sheer willpower."

"Ah, I could see that." The ashen haired dark-skinned giant called Dedue spoke up. "My belief in His Highness is all I need."

Byleth stared at them for a few moments in silence. Wilhelm couldn't tell if he was surprised or angry. Then again, he doubted anyone could. The Professor appeared to fiddle around with his satchel until his hand stopped moving as his glare shifted between Ashe and Dedue.

The two were struck in the face with pommels.

"All wrong answers from now on will result in a test of your reflexes," Byleth stated as he walked over to pick up his pommels, "if you fail to hone your mind, I will train your body."

"Professor, surely that is a bit rough!" Dimitri interjected as he raised a finger. "I understand trying to teach us, and that physical training is useful, but perhaps-"

"Did I stutter?" The Professor loomed down on Dimitri like a bird looking at prey. "I will teach you the way I was taught, no more, no less."

"Yes, Professor." Dimitri sat back down in his chair, wincing at the welts that Dedue and Ashe now sported. With the latter on the ground and the former unflinching.

"Oh, don't worry, Ashe!" The sweet voice of the platinum blonde of the class spoke up. Mercedes appeared to be a kind soul to Wilhelm. "I will patch you right up!"

"Thank you, Mercedes." The smile on Ashe's face was one of the purest things that Wilhelm saw.

"Wilhelm." The Professor called out looking at the Reikland Prince. "Perhaps you know the answer since none of your classmates seemed able to give the right one."

Wilhelm brought his hands to his chin and thought. Honestly, Annette's answer seemed the best to him. Without a good commander, a unit could hardly exploit the terrain or any advantage in skill or numbers. Though that was the wrong answer as well;. The Professor also wanted a solution more on the tactical scale than the strategic level. With that in mind, the idea he was referring to morale had to go, as that takes strategic effort, and affects more than the battlefield. Could it have been terrain? No, that was an element that would hinge on the commander's knowledge, a strategic layer more than a tactical one. The weather? Fódlan didn't make use of black powder so it would only affect the battle much like the terrain would. Supplies? That's once more a strategic issue. Perhaps the Professor was not referencing Fódlan ideas. He was a mercenary and would have experience in areas outside of one of the nations of this continent. With a sigh, Wilhelm resigned to hinge on Reikland battle doctrine.

"It is discipline, sir."

Wilhelm was more than ready to be struck in the face with a pommel. Instead, his Professor sat down in his chair and leaned forward. "Go on."

Wilhelm gulped as he tried to recall the ideology Reikland carried, from the state troops to the Reiksguard. "In all things, a command structure needs to be laid out for the soldiers to follow. When a soldier does something well, you praise him; when he fails, he should be punished. This is to make the unit a single machine that supports itself and improves the efficiency of the group. To be able to trust your brothers in arms even with the shortcomings they may bring strengthens the group as a whole. It promotes the competency and efficiency of any planned or unplanned actions a group of soldiers may carry out. A good commander feeds into the discipline of the unit and makes them a single fighting force that can face any horror in the world, sir."

The Professor stared at Wilhelm for a few moments. Getting up from his desk, Byleth nodded as he walked over to Wilhelm. "Well done." Wilhelm felt Byleth pat the top of his helmet. "Wilhelm is in the right state of thinking, it was the idea of discipline I was referring to. In the future, I encourage you to be like Wilhelm. Either thinking outside the box, or wearing a helmet." Byleth sat back down as he turned the page of his textbook in front of him. "Failing that, good reflexes will work just as well."

"Oh, I knew I should have thought of that!" Annette burrowed her face into a book. "I spent so much time studying this!"

Wilhelm smiled as his gaze went back to the Professor. At least he would be spared from the pommels this day.

"A final thing to note." Byleth turned around to his class as he finished up his lecture. "A mock Battle is set to occur at the end of the month. There will be two groups for this endeavour, one with the instructors, the other with only students. The house leaders are expected to be in teams led by their Professor."

"Ah, to see the leadership abilities of other students, am I wrong?" Dimitri piped up as he looked to his Professor.

"Correct." Byleth looked to all of his students, and a set of documents in front of him. "This is an officer's academy, after all, it is required to judge all your abilities to lead, not just your house leader."

"How pointless," Felix scoffed as he scowled at Byleth, "all I need is my blade, I do not need to learn to lead others into battle."

"If that's what you believe, so be it," Ingrid folded her arms as she looked over the Felix, "but last I checked, the Professor far exceeds your skill at swordsmanship, and is the one saying you need to learn this."

Felix grumbled something as he stared at the ground, Byleth could not tell what he was saying exactly.

"If I may ask, Professor," Annette piped up as she leaned forward, "if there are to be two teams, then who is in charge of the second group?"

Byleth clasped his hands together as he leaned forward on his desk. Dimitri, Dedue, Mercedes and Ashe were going to be with him, that left Felix, Ingrid, Sylvain, Annette and Wilhelm. Felix was more of a lone wolf and did not encourage any unit coherency. If Byleth put him in charge, it would result in a bad result for the other students. Sylvain seemed to be too relaxed to be in a command role. He was a better pick then Felix obviously, but he was still better a follower than a leader. Ingrid? The aspiring knight showed much promise, she was studied, disciplined, and could follow a command structure well. At the same part though some might call her too stern, and with how many times she yelled, perhaps she wasn't the most exceptional choice. Annette oddly was the opposite of Ingrid. She was more of a studious person, with a cheery personality to go along with it. Annette seemed to be the greatest supporter a team could ask for. Though she looked as if she was unable to punish those under her command, the discipline a unit needs required both praise and punishment. Then there was Wilhelm. Of the five, he seemed to understand the need for discipline and was the most properly dressed for a battle. He was unknown though, and the newest student to Blue Lions. On top of that, he was a foreigner, and the one he knew the least about.

Either of those five would be a decent pick, but each had their own weaknesses. Perhaps it would be best to take a risk.

Byleth stood up and looked to his newest student. "That would be Wilhelm."

"Wilhelm?"

"Will?"

"Him?"

"Are you well, Professor?"

"The boar's newest lapdog?"

"I understand."

Wilhelm was the most silent of the bunch, as he appeared to be processing the information. "Are you sure about this professor? I am more of an engineer than an officer."

"I believe you have a hidden potential in leadership.' Byleth walked over to Wilhelm and looked down. "For someone uneducated in leading men, you seemed to be competent in it regardless. I trust this is not too difficult for you?"

"No sir," Wilhelm shook his head as he stared Byleth in the eyes, "I am just surprised is all. Could I at least know who I will be working with for the mock battle?"

"Naturally." Byleth laid a set of documents in front of Wilhelm and watched him look at them. "You will be working with Ingrid, Annette, Sylvain and Felix. The other students are to be with me in the mock battle. Consider this a good way to bond with your new house."

"I don't know what's worse," Felix stated as he shrugged his arms, "having to be stuck with the boar, or being stuck with one of his lapdogs as a leader."

"Felix, that is enough." Ingrid frowned as she looked at him. "Dimitri is our future king, you can't go around insulting His Highness like that. I won't stand for you insulting our peers like that either, Wilhelm chose to be here by his own volition, you could at least hold your tongue for one moment."

"It is fine," Wilhelm interjected, his hand raised as to settle her down, "I am sure he has his own reasons to not like me, I will at least try to hold judgement before I understand him better. It is what Seteth told me, after all."

"If that is what you want, then I will remain silent." Ingrid bowed slightly towards Wilhelm. "I'm just trying to be thoughtful."

"I do appreciate it, but it is unnecessary." Wilhelm took a deep breath as he sat the documents down. "I am more than willing to hear a different opinion on how to proceed, and I hope to prove myself in the coming mock battle. If you have suggestions in the field, I am more than willing to hear them. Just understand that when we need to act, it has to be as a single unit, we can not afford to be at each other's throats then."

"Ah, I like your style." Sylvain smiled as he leaned back in his chair. "Nice and loose, without a restrictive command. You and I will get along just fine."

Felix merely grunted as he frowned, from what Byleth could understand of his students, it appeared he was pouting perhaps? The angle made it hard to see.

"Are there any other questions at the moment?" The silence in the room told Byleth all he needed to know. "Then you are free from this lecture. Just remember, even if the Cathedral's bell goes off, that does not dismiss you, I do."

As the students left one by one, Byleth's gaze fell on his newest student, Wilhelm. The markings of his armour in this light were all too familiar now.

"You have noticed it as well, have you not?"

Byleth jolted from shock, the voice of Sothis was still something he did not expect to hear. Why did she have to have the strangest sense of timing and not give any time to announce herself?

"You should know by now that I am always with you. As for my timing, it is quite humorous to see your reactions."

Of course, that was her reason. Sothis, while speaking like an elder, was clearly closer to what her body suggested.

"You are still insisting I am a child? Phooey, I say! If any one of us is a child, it is you!"

And yet she still bickered. Between her bickering and her sarcasm, Byleth could hardly remain sane. Though it was the dreams of those ruins that affected him more.

"You could not let them go either? I suppose that is to be expected."

The sights in his dream were too vivid to be anything but a memory or a warning. That temple, that man, all of it. It was nothing that Byleth had ever seen before.

"Indeed, and then your newest little one is adorned in the markings of that temple. Surely you have seen it as well."

Yes, those griffons, crosses, and twin-tailed comets were all over those ruins. Yet what did that make Wilhelm? Was he to become this Archaon? Did he know of this Archaon perhaps?

"He did not seem to have any malicious intent, unlike the 'Everchosen' did. He does not carry any marks of an eight-pointed star as well."

The eight-pointed star. Yes, that symbol was the most unnerving thing to Byleth. As if the sight of it alone was enough to drive men insane. Every time he pictured in his head, he could hear whispers that were not from Sothis, twisted tongues he could not understand.

Had he been a normal man, he might have screamed.

"It would be best to not dwell on these thoughts. The memory of your dreams is most disturbing."

For once, Sothis spoke reason.

"How long until we arrive at the monastery!" Count Victor von Varley barked at his carriage driver.

"We're only an hour's ride out my liege, I am sorry for the delay!" The servant boy called out in the dead of night. His arms were still bleeding from the Count's demand from that morning.

"Good, and if you dare stop for but a moment, I will give you another ten lashes, and make sure you eat nothing for a week!" Victor snarled as he slammed his fists into the side of his carriage, his violet eyes almost turning red.

"Yes, my Count! My utmost apologies to you!"

Victor grumbled as he slumped down in his carriage, his purple hair rubbing against the carpeted door of his wagon. It had been nearly a month since the disappearance of his crest-bearing daughter, and only now did he learn why she was gone. Her blighted mother stole her away to the Officer's Academy without his consent. The nerve of that woman! Perhaps a few days in the dungeon will do her good. That would show that harlot to not defy the will of Victor von Varley! Maybe she could also spend some time in the Oubliette as well, with only rats to feed on! 'That would be the most wondrous thing to witness.'

Victor chuckled as he felt the familiar sensation of his trusty tool in his hands, the device that he used to properly educate his daughter.

A delightful leatherbound whip.

Oh, the sounds she would make when the whip would crack was amusing to the count. Any time she would speak up while bound in the 'lesson chair' he would crack the whip closer and closer to her. If she got hit by it once or twice, at least he was proficient at faith magic. The girl needed discipline, she was nothing more than a dog that needed to be trained, and he would be the master. Looking back, Victor really should have backed that chair and rope as well. If he was lucky, he could get in a training session for all the time he missed thanks to that whore. Oh, the whip felt so good to touch; Victor had to restrain himself from shivering in excitement. His little crest-bearing property was coming back to him, even if he had to ride for twenty hours straight.

The carriage came to a halt.

Did the brat he put on the carriage have the gall to fall asleep now? Who did he think he was trifling with? He was Victor von Varley, the count of Varley and descendant of the great Saint Indech! Compared to him, the stable boy was nothing but an insect. "You damn brat! Did I not just order you to not stop!"

Only silence responded.

Victor gritted his teeth and growled. First, the brat dared to stop and now he was ignoring him? Perhaps testing his trusty whip on him would do some good. "That's it, boy, ten lashes for you, right now!" Victor grabbed his whip and a torch, then proceeded outside to look at his driver.

All he saw was the young boy's legs.

Victor's eyes shot open as the blood still squirted from the torso, bite marks littering the legs of the young boy as the horses of his carriage were nothing but bone. How could this have happened? Had he been so fixated on his fever dream that he did not hear the screams of the boy or the pain of the horses? And what by the Goddess could have done such a thing? Whatever did that horrid action, Victor was sure about one thing.

He needed to get out of this forest.

Victor went back to his carriage and grabbed a sword. Whatever did that to the stable boy would no doubt still be nearby, and he needed to defend himself. Fortunately, all Adrestian nobility carried a sword at least with them at all times. Should that fail him, his skill at magic would have to do. He was most definitely not Count Vestra or Count Hevring, but his faith in the goddess gave him a few tricks. Victor raised his torch up high and examined the road. The dark cloudy night made it hard to see the way, but he was sure if he continued running, he would at least encounter someone. While the chances of that were low, his chances were better than staying near his now useless wagon.

Victor took a deep breath and began his march into the darkness, his torch leading the way. The only light in the forest was that of his flame and the green-tinted moon. In all his day, Victor never saw the moon take a green tint, a blue hue at times for sure, but this was unnatural. Combine that with the dead silence of the forest, he was sure this was a fever dream. The smell in the air was far too pungent to be a dream, though, the trees too vivid in detail. Even as he continued to walk, he was sure he saw red dots in the trees. The entire scenario fit into a horror novel, so what did that make him?

The sound of a crunch came from the trees.

From what Victor could tell, it sounded like an animal having a meal. Flesh sounded like it was being ripped off, and the sound of chewing echoed through the air. The hairs on his back stood up, every fibre of his body told him to run, he swore he heard his mother's voice as well. Another part of him was curious what the source of the sound was, the fear of not knowing scratched at his mind as he looked to the source of the sound. Perhaps by taking a look at the local wildlife, it could not be worse than not knowing.

As Victor moved closer to the sound and pushed a bush out of the way, he instantly regretted his choice.

Before Victor was a creature that was part beast part man, clutching the torso of the stableboy that was driving his carriage. The beast with its goat-like head bit into the chest of the boy and ripped off a chunk of flesh. The repeated echo of the abomination chewing the meat danced in his mind as the blood of the boy dripped on the brown fur of the thing.

Victor dropped his sword.

The thing turned to Victor and flared jagged human-like teeth at him and brayed, and unintelligible words came from it. There was one thing Victor could understand. "Kill man!"

Without a second thought, Victor turned around and started to run, his stubby legs and plump body doing him no favours. That thing was some sort of demonic beast, he was sure of it. That thing could not be a natural creation of the goddess. She had not made creatures that abominable, and not that horrifying either. Sothis protect him, this was a real nightmare! His lungs burned with each step, branches hit him in the face as he tried to escape. "HELP!" Victor called out. If he was lucky, perhaps a band of mercenaries would come to his aid or some knights. Even some bandits would be better than that thing.

Victor tripped on a stray branch.

As he fell down, the grip on his torch was lost as it rolled away from him. To make matters worse, his face landed right on a rock, the sound of his nose cracking rang out on contact as his face flared up in pain. Victor screamed as he looked over to his torch. Fortunately, it was still lit and did not land near a tree. All he needed to do was get over there, and start running again. Victor began to drag himself over to the torch, his own clothes ripping on the ground with every inch. He could not waste time trying to first stand up without a light, that torch was his only safety in this forest, he needed that fire. Clothes could be replaced, his life could not. Just as he was in reach, the sound of breathing came from behind him.

Victor paled at the sight in his peripheral vision.

Standing over him was a creature with paste-like skin and white fur; the beast was most clearly some form of hermaphrodite. It had one feminine looking breast and the genitalia of both a man and a woman. The head resembled that of a bull, and the thing had large green eyes that were filled with lust. The being flipped Victor over, his shaft hidden only by the white fur and thin leather stood at attention as a purple erotic symbol on the chest glowed. The being cackled as it moved closer to Victor and laughed.

Victor's heart was beating faster than anything else in his life as the creature loomed closer. At first, the creature merely sniffed him. His sweat trickling out like a waterfall as all he could do was watch and pray to the goddess. "Is it gold you want! I can give you all the gold you please!" Victor pleaded to the beast, desperate to not die here. "Anything you want just name it, and it's yours! Just please let me go!"

The beast looked over Victor and stared at his plump form. The creature licked its lips as it laid its fingers on his body. Without warning, the thing bit into him and ripped off a piece of his flesh.

Victor screamed in agony; the thing was eating him. With its mouth open as it chewed, he saw the creature greedily rip his own flesh that was taken from him and grind it up. In seconds the beast swallowed the meat with one gulp and gave a toothy expression to Victor. The thing grabbed Victor by his hair and began to pull him to the darkness, the hooves of the creature knocking against his head with every step. At that very moment, Victor could do only one thing.

Victor let out the biggest scream of his life, shaking the trees around him.

Wilhelm sighed as he marched into the forest. Apparently, while the professors had the pleasure of having their mock battle in a mostly open plain, the others had to make do with the deep woods. Even though the Knights of Seiros were watching over them, Wilhelm still felt unease. There have been many a story in the Empire of regiments of troops disappearing when on patrol, and of entire noble families travelling by land being exterminated in one night. That was the main reason that Imperial nobility and merchants preferred sea travel. Compared to the dangers travel by land could bring, a ship could house more troops, had a more accessible way of defending itself and could carry far more cargo. Yet here he was in a forest, with only some students and a handful of knights to watch his back as he entered into the towering green behemoths of wood.

'Sigmar preserve me.' Wilhelm thought as he walked forward.

"Can you stop shaking?" The voice of Felix cut deep as Wilhelm gripped his repeater tightly. "I can only take the sound of shaking metal so long."

"As rude as it was for Felix to put it like that, I have to ask something as well." Ingrid pondered as she walked right up to Wilhelm. "Why are you so scared right now? You don't strike me as much of a craven, so to see you like this seems off."

"To put it simply Ingrid, I'm not keen on dying." Wilhelm took a deep breath before looking into her jade eyes. "If there was an apparent foe in front of me, I'd at least have that in my focus. Yet our adversary is not in view, nor are we in an open field. What we are surrounded by instead is a vast forest of the unknown before us, with things watching our every step without us being any wiser to it."

"Actually, I have a second question." Annette piped up on Wilhelm's right, her head tilted towards the Reiklander. "You sometimes speak in a somewhat dignified manner like most nobility, yet other times you slip into a brash accent and make use of contractions. Why is that? From what I've seen of that Gelt person is that he always spoke with a tongue befitting my old teachers, isn't he a noble like you?"

"First of all, to consider a wizard of all things on the same level as a normal human is something I am going to ignore for your safety. While the Supreme Patriarch is a high rank in his college, he and every other wizard are nothing more than bombs on a short fuse. I may offer them better courtesy than most, but I would advise you to never equate us again." Wilhelm took a deep breath as he holstered his repeater over his shoulder. Considering the weapon was banned for the mock battle, he wasn't going to need it. Wilhelm only took it to keep the weight he usually would carry the same. "As for my accent, blame a combination of standard Reikland tutelage and my old mate from Ostland."

"Ostland?" Annette inquired as her eyes had a shine to them. "I haven't heard you mention that place before. Any great sweets from this 'Ostland'?"

"I doubt they have any, Ostland is the poorest province of the Empire." Wilhelm smirked as his hand went to his chin. "They do have their infamous 'Stone soup of Ostland' made with only one stone, as any more would be a waste."

"Hey Ingrid," Sylvain piped up, "sounds just like home for you, yeah?"

Ingrid glared daggers at her redheaded companion. "Sylvain, if we weren't in a mock battle right now, I'd make you regret even thinking those words. That said, I don't mind waiting until after this is over."

"Come now, no need to threaten him over a joke at the expense of another province." Wilhelm patted Ingrid on the shoulder and chuckled. "Besides, the stone soup thing was merely a jest at the thriftiness of an Ost-"

A black ball emerged from the trees.

Though caught off guard, Wilhelm and the other Blue Lions were more than able to avoid the ball of miasma, as it was travelling at a slow pace. However, at the same time, a giant of a man, about the same height as Dedue with blond hair charged out toward Wilhelm. If his gut were any more massive, Wilhelm might have confused him for an Ogre. For all his skill he might as well have been, the way he swung that iron axe lacked any sort of finesse or training that was drilled into him by Ludwig, and his movements were sluggish as well. Wilhelm barely needed to move to avoid his strikes, he was feeling like an Elf right now.

"I'll keep it simple!" A feminine voice called out from behind.

Out of the corner of his eye, Wilhelm saw a woman with a boy's haircut coming quickly behind him, her spear mere inches away from his back. "Taal's teeth!" Wilhelm threw up his arms and shook his head. By the rules of the skirmish, he was out of action, in fact looking around it appeared that all the Blue Lions were out. Felix was in a pit trap, Sylvain's face rested against a tree, Ingrid was shaking her head at the two of them, and Annette was moaning on the ground after apparently tripping over a branch. What an utter disaster.

"In this situation, it would have been better to have had a scout ahead," Lysithea called out from the woods, "That way you would have been less likely to fall into a trap."

"You cheeky blighters!" Wilhelm laughed as he shook his head. "You pulled the old Helborg special on me, I should have seen that coming."

"Actually, that is a technique I learned from Captain Jeralt!" The orange-haired girl stated with pride. "Lysithea worked out the positioning though, but in the end, you can't go wrong with the teachings of the best mercenary in Fódlan."

"Indeed." Wilhelm mused with a smile. "I know the Reiksmarshal would have approved of such tactics at the very least. I pity my former house."

"Oh, the Black Eagles?" The large man nearly yelled. "I saw them fall into a rather large pitfall actually, Leonie here just went up and put them out after that."

"And it was hardly something any noble should do either!" Ferdinand called out as he walked towards the group. Petra, Dorothea and Linhardt were right behind him. "Honestly, it was quite uncouth to do that."

"Yet it worked didn't it?" The female spear user smiled as she leaned next to a tree. "In a battle, all that matters is winning and keeping casualties low."

"Spoken much like Kurt Helborg himself." Wilhelm laughed as he looked at the orange-haired girl's complimentary eyes. "Might as well introduce ourselves to the victors of this side battle, I am Wilhelm-Franz von Holswig Schliestein, and you are…"

"Leonie Pinelli- Captain Jeralt's first and greatest apprentice!" Leonie extended a hand that Wilhelm shook. "It's nice to meet you, Wilhelm."

"And I'm Raphael Kirsten." Raphael gave a broad smile as his arms rested behind his head. "How about we go to the dining hall after this?"

"Sounds fine by me," Wilhelm chuckled as he lifted his faceplate, "I am in the mood for more stew myself."

"Umm… e-excuse me." A timid voice came next to Wilhelm. A girl with pale sky blue hair and multiple bags under her brown eyes stood timidly next to Wilhelm. 'A-are you injured at all?"

"I am quite fine, but my thanks for the inquiry.' Wilhelm smiled as he looked into her eyes, that were mostly hidden behind her slightly unkempt hair. "And who are you if I may ask?"

"M-Marianne von Edmund." Marianne quietly squeaked out as she took a step back.

"Nice to make your acquaintance, Marianne." Wilhelm bowed his head slightly and smiled. "Apologies for whatever I did to make you nervous."

"I-it's not that but-" Marianne cut herself off as she looked down towards the ground.

"Yes, I look like a golem," Wilhelm smirked as he looked over to his former house, "though the term burly also works as well."

"I see your tongue is as sharp as ever, Will." Dorothea smiled at the Reiklander. "Edie was in a dower mood after you left our house as well."

"Be that as it may, I don't regret leaving." Wilhelm folded his arms and frowned. "Her views and mine on the dead conflict too heavily, and I would simply prefer to avoid unnecessary confrontation."

"That's something you and I both agree with, Will." Linhardt yawned as he planted himself on the ground. "Less time spent fighting means more time for research and napping."

"Linhardt, why are you taking a sleep on the ground?" Petra looked toward Linhardt with an intrigued expression. "Surely the tree's top would be safe."

"Yes, but that would require climbing up, and less time for-"

A pained scream came off in the distance, the sound of one of the knights watching them.

All the students looked over to the source as they wondered what occurred. Some feared for the knight's safety, some brushed it off, most were confused. Why did one of the Knights scream out like that? Surely a Knight of Seiros would be more than capable of brushing away a few bandits.

Wilhelm was terrified.

It was a cloudy day, he and the others were in the middle of the forest, and someone just let out a blood-curdling scream. He might not have been a hunter or a forester, but it didn't take a large amount of knowledge of the woods to know something was wrong. "Form a square!" Wilhelm yelled out as he pulled out his repeater and began loading it.

Ingrid looked over to Wilhelm confused. "Wilhelm, why are you-"

"No time for talk!" Wilhelm interjected as he began scanning the environment. "Form a square around me, melee weapons at the front, ranged combatants at the centre!"

Ingrid sighed as all the others moved over. Even Linhardt, who was more than content with taking a nap, moved to the centre with him, Lysithea, Marianne, and Annette. The young ashen haired student looked toward Wilhelm with an arched eyebrow, the Reiklander still keeping his head continually moving. "Wilhelm, what has you so alert now?"

Wilhelm frowned as he finished loading his repeater. With one swift motion, he brought his faceplate down and cocked the hammer to his rifle. "Beastmen." Wilhelm gritted his teeth as he readied his weapon. "If we are lucky, and I am wrong, you will never have to see one."

"'Beast men'?" Felix frowned as he looked over to Wilhelm. "What kind of childish nonsense are you going on about? Do you seriously expect us to believe that there are creatures that are part man and part animal in this forest? Don't try and make me lau-"

The sound of a daemonic bray interrupted Felix's speech.

There was no doubt in Wilhelm's mind, Beastmen were near. 'We need to get out of here now."

"Agreed." Ingrid tightened her grip on her spear as she began scanning around. "If whatever made that sound was able to kill one of the knights, we need to get out of this forest."

"We are getting out, I can assure you," Wilhelm stated as he patted his housemate on the back, "if we all work together, then we will make it through this alive. Petra, you seem to be a keen one, mind finding us the quickest route out?"

"Of course," Petra smiled as she gripped her sword. "In Brigid, hunting and tracking is first skill to master."

"Wonderful!" Wilhelm smirked as motioned his hands towards a path. "Lead us out then, but stay close. Everyone else, keep in a tight formation and follow Petra. If any of you break formation, you are as good as dead."

Words were pointless, as the others nodded. Wilhelm knew the more noise they made, the worse their chances of survival were. If they were lucky, the braying came from nothing too massive. Scholars have pointed out that in forests like the Drakwald, massive beasts could appear before a small village and wipe out the population. This was the fate Markus Wulfhart's home suffered after all, so it could happen to them too. Wilhelm prayed to Sigmar for his protection as they marched out. He was hoping that the Founder of the Empire would hear him away from his lands and see him out safely.

Life was never that simple.

As Wilhelm was scanning the trees on this cloudy day, he saw a pale white creature, with cattle-like legs and large green eyes. Its bull horns were drenched in blood, as leather dangled off it. In its arms was a human limb that it was feasting upon. From this distance, Wilhelm could quickly tell it was one of the knights.

Unfortunately, he was not the only one to notice the sight: Linhardt began to vomit, Annette stared wide-eyed in horror, and Felix cringed. Those were the more tamed reactions, as there was one other who noticed too, the white-haired youngster of the group. As the beast ripped off more flesh to devour, Lysithea screamed.

The beast did not fail to notice the scream from the magically-inclined girl, as the Beastman turned its head towards the group and brayed. The bray reverberated throughout the forest and where there was one before the group of students there were now twenty. Each one of them held a look of hunger in their daemonic eyes. Some of the beasts were white, others were brown. The Beastmen appeared somewhat more massive than the average man, but only by a small bit. Though the creatures surrounded the students, and the thirteen huddled together tightly information. With a prayer on his lips, Wilhelm readied his primary weapon and grimly prepared for the eventual slaughter.

Wilhelm pulled the trigger.

Kurt Helborg was not having a good week. First, he learned the Advisor had slipped by him after assassinating the Empress, a member of the imperial family he was sworn to protect. Then the Beastmen made an assault on the new Reiksfort, Fort Luitpold. Finally, after beating back the waves of the mutated spawns of Chaos, a few Beastmen entered through the gateway the fort was guarding. The Reiksmarshall could not leave this threat be! The horrid creatures were no doubt joining up with the blasted heretic, and would no doubt move to kill the young Wilhelm next. So here he was, with a few trusted knights, Helborg was making his way through this forest, cutting any Beastmen in his way.

The beasts were nothing more than chaff to the Reiksmarshall. Sure most of his kills were gained while they were asleep in a pile of human bones, no doubt some poor souls that were found alone in the forest, or were using tactics that labelled him as a 'cheater,' but he was still the one alive in the end. Be they beasts of Chaos, or Grail knights of Bretonnia, Helborg was not above using dirty methods to win in a fight, that was Ludwig's weakness. Perhaps Helborg should try to duel Ludwig once more, the peasant was even able to defeat him in a duel acting only as of the most stereotypical knight he could. Even Helborg's tricks were not enough to defeat him. Perhaps a new method was in order then.

A gunshot roared out in the distance.

Kurt turned his head towards the source of the noise. From what he saw of the local knights, they didn't make use of black powder weaponry, so it could not be them. It could be mercenaries, but considering how close the forest was to the Seiros Cult's monastery, he doubted it would be sellswords. That left one more probable answer.

That gunshot was Prince Wilhelm's repeater.

Kurt knew the Prince had an experimental repeater handgun with him, and that the foreign church would put him in combat assignments. It was hardly a surprising thought that the young prince would already be in combat. Yet these were not outlaws, this forest housed Beastmen now, creatures more than capable of killing well-trained soldiers, let alone cadets and children! "Reiksguard Knights!" The Reiksmarshall called out, the twenty riders accompanying him looked to their grandmaster. "Prince Wilhelm might be in danger, and we must protect the imperial family! We cannot let another failure blacken our history! Inner circle, death or glory Awaits us!"

"For the Emperor!" His inner circle called out. The Reikguard had few moments to spare.

Wilhelm pulled the trigger again and again until his weapon ran out. The magically-inclined of the group were frantically casting spells, to varying effect. Linhardt was simply revolted and horrified that his aim was off, Lysithea was unresponsive, Marianne was simply praying and providing support, and Dorothea while somewhat responsive was still in shock. Out of all of them, Annette seemed to be the one the least phased by the ordeal. The same observation appeared to be the same as the other Blue Lions as well who were either perfectly well or good at hiding their fear. Wilhelm, though, felt like he needed to scream yet lacked the mouth to do so. Such creatures terrified him, but what good would screaming do now? It was better to zone out his typical persona and let his muscles do the work.

After pulling the trigger of his weapon again, Wilhelm only heard a click. His blasted repeater jammed! The bloody thing was probably not cleaned well enough. "Sigmar's breath!" Wilhelm cursed as he slapped the side of his weapon. There was not much else he could do. His hammer was too short to help in the mainline, and he lacked any other sort of ability to provide ranged support.

As the more physically-inclined students pushed back the tide of Beastmen, Wilhelm knelt next to Lysithea. "Lysithea!" Wilhelm shook the girl who was now on closer examination shaking. "I need you to listen to me!"

Lysithea's eyes looked over slightly to Wilhelm as she still shook.

Wilhelm sighed as he rested his intact hand on her shoulder. "I don't know what is going through your mind right now, but this is the second time I have seen you like this." With his free arm, Wilhelm rubbed his chin as he remembered something he learned the day he first met her. "Are you recalling the Hrym Revolt?"

Lysithea turned her head as she stared at Wilhelm. "What did you ask?"

"I ask if you were remembering the Hrym Revolt." Wilhelm waged his finger as he remembered what little he was told. "All I know is that something occurred that caused something to happen to your family and that your siblings were-"

"Will! Behind you!" Dorothea called out.

Gripping his repeater, Wilhelm turned around and barely swiped away the rusted axe of the beast. With his foe's weapon stuck in the ground, Wilhelm struck the creature in the head with the butt of his repeater. The metal weapon was more than capable of acting as a club as it left a dent in the side of the beast's head. Wilhelm wasted no time as he beat the skull in over and over with the butt of his weapon over and over until all that was left was a red mist, a similar shade to the crust of its hooves.

Wilhelm rested his repeater over his shoulder and readied his hammer. If the Beastmen were more than capable of breaking through their thin line, it would be up to him to hold the centre.

A few of the beasts were already dead. Felix was holding his own against two of them. Petra was deftly dodging the sluggish blows of a brown monster. Ferdinand, Leonie, Sylvain, and Ingrid were more than capable of repelling some of them with their spears. Only Raphael seemed to be having some issue as he was both outnumbered and slow. Though the brute was more than capable of overpowering foes that tried to trade blow for blow with him. But those numbers were not enough to cover every Beastmen. Even with the ranged support he and most of the magic users were able to provide at the beginning, they were only able to cut down a third of the foe. And still, five more were coming through the gaps, barreling down upon them.

Wilhelm gritted his teeth and took a deep breath, letting his vision narrow in on the foe. If the creatures of Chaos wanted to take more lives on his watch, they would have to go over his cold dead corpse. The first beast was a brown one, slow and like a child. Wilhelm used his lesser arm's plates to redirect the blow around him, letting him strike the mutant's eye with the spike of his hammer. Wilhelm jabbed his weapon deep and twisted before pulling out his hammer. Wilhelm could confirm the kill later, but now he was needed to defend his fellow students.

A white beast, far faster than his previous foes ran up to him and pushed him towards the ground.

Wilhelm was glad his faceplate was down, as it appeared one of the beasts defecated itself before death. Disgusting creatures they were, no doubt little no sense of hygiene. The white mutant flipped Wilhelm over and looked down towards the Reikland noble. Its chest bore a heretical yet erotic symbol and around its neck appeared to be one of the crest symbols that adorned his uniform. Wilhelm tried to reach for his hammer, he needed to kill this beast, his class needed him.

The sound of cracking bone echoed in the air as the beast crushed his hand.

Wilhelm roared in pain. The beast no doubt broke multiple bones in his hand as it now lay pinned to the ground. All around him, Wilhelm saw his fellow students desperately holding back the tide of Beastmen, as more soon appeared. Ingrid and Leonie were kicking as they fell to the ground, Raphael was nearly pinned under a pile of flesh, Ferdinand and Sylvain were being dragged off, and Petra was the last defence to the magically inclined students as the horde fell upon them. Wilhelm looked up to the beast and snarled in desperation, he tried to kick and punch, yet the creature was out of reach. The bastard was looking down on him, no doubt thinking of turning him into his next meal. As the fatigue of his punches finally caught up to him, Wilhelm stopped. His body could go no further. His adrenaline was out, and there was nothing he could do from here. Wilhelm closed his eyes and prayed to Sigmar that at least his end would be quick.

The sound of a sword cutting through flesh like butter entered his ears.

As Wilhelm opened his eyes, there was the most beautiful sight in the world. Riding upon the grey warhorse he knew was Kreiglust was Kurt Helborg, his golden laurels shined even on this foggy day. "Reiksguard! Leave not one beast standing! If even one of you leaves here with a clean blade, you will be punished."

The sound of horses descending on the Beastmen was a wondrous sound to Wilhelm. With his right hand useless, Wilhelm pushed himself up with his left to see the Reiksmarshal and his knights more than quickly handle the Beastmen. The Solland Runefang held a blue hue as it effortlessly cut through bone and flesh. Uncle Kurt himself was a tempest of war with his blade on the battlefield. While the other Reiksguard knights were all capable warriors in their own right, the fluid motions Uncle Kurt used and the ease that he cut through the mutants were mystifying. With a dancer's grace, Uncle Kurt's movements were captivating as he made his art on the battlefield.

Wilhelm started to laugh, for the third time in his life, he had nearly gone to the garden. Three times had he been so close to death that he could feel Morr's breath. Perhaps he was going mad. Had the sight of his own death really phased him so little? Then why was he afraid to be in the forest? If losing his own life wasn't his fear, then what was? Was it the unknown, then?

"Prince Wilhelm!" Uncle Kurt called out, his horse galloped over to him with the utmost haste. "Are you well? You should have known better than to go into a forest with so few!"

"It was not my idea, Uncle Kurt!" Wilhelm winced as the adrenaline left his body. "The Officer's Academy wanted some students to have a skirmish in the forest. Even with my protests, they only put in a few knights to watch over us."

"And they too have fallen, no doubt." Uncle Kurt frowned as he looked at Wilhelm's right hand. "So the curr stomped on that hand. Hopefully, it will not need to be amputated."

"That won't be necessary." The familiar gruff voice of Captain Jeralt came from behind the prince, with his old mercenary band and the knights trailing behind him. Even Professor Byleth marched with him. "I am more than confident Professor Manuela can make that good as new."

"Then consider it your lucky day." Uncle Kurt sheathed his blade as he scanned Jeralt. "And you are?"

"Jeralt Reus Eisner, recently reappointed Captain of the Knight of Seiros." Jeralt sighed as he pinched his forehead. "A position that I didn't want, and you?"

"Reiksmarshal Kurt Helborg. Grandmaster of the Reiksguard, wielder of the Solland Runefang, and the finest swordsmen of the Empire." Uncle Kurt puffed out his chest as his large moustache twitched up.

"Didn't Ludwig defeat you in the last grand tournament, Uncle Kurt?" Wilhelm smirked as he walked up next to the Reiksmarshal. "Wouldn't that make him the finest swordsmen then?"

Uncle Kurt slapped Wilhelm's broken hand quickly, a pained winced escaped Wilhelm's lips. "Be careful, Your Highness. Would not want you to let that wound get worse now."

Jeralt raised an eyebrow at the rather old Reiksmarshal. "I take it you don't take jokes well."

"Whatever do you mean?" Kurt glared with squinted eyes. "I take jokes perfectly well! My temperament is one of the best in the Empire, I say!"

"Right, as you say." Byleth stated with a blank expression.

"Where did this come from!?" Came the voice of Ferdinand next to the corpse of the creature that nearly killed Wilhelm. In his hands was the strange crest-like symbol that Wilhelm remembered hung from the beast's neck.

"It was on the beast that nearly ended me," Wilhelm answered as he staggered over, as he winced in pain, "it was hanging around its neck. No doubt in my mind it was some form of a trophy to the vile beast. What is so important about it?"

"It's the seal of House Varley!" Ferdinand exclaimed as he stood up. "My father, Duke Aegir, said that Count Varley always kept it on his person at all times. So why is it here?"

"Was he a plump man with purple hair the same shade as his eyes?" Uncle Kurt inquired as he crossed his arms.

"Yes, that is a rather crude way of describing him, but that is accurate." Ferdinand winced as he walked over to the Reiksmarshal. "Did you perchance see him then?"

"Indeed, I have." Uncle Kurt frowned as his eyes were like daggers. "He was strung up in some sort of horrid monument to Chaos. His own skin was ripped from him, and parts of his body appeared to have been eaten. There was even white liquid secreting out of his orifices."

Ferdinand's eyes widened in shock as Wilhelm swore he was on the verge of vomiting. "Are you sure about this?" Byleth inquired as his hands rested on his chin. He was clearly lost in thought.

"I am more than sure." Uncle Kurt gripped his sword as he leaned towards Byleth. "All my knights and I saw the sight before us. His heart was still beating as his eyes were shot wide open. I even gifted him mercy by granting him rest in Morr's realm, and torched that cursed icon!"

"By the Goddess!" One of the knights exclaimed. "I know his condition was unhelpable, but surely torching him and what he was attached to was extreme!"

"There is nothing too extreme when it comes to combating the forces of Chaos." Uncle Kurt loomed over the knight that moments before was exasperated. "You would do well to remember that." Uncle Kurt moved away from the knight and back to Wilhelm as he moved him over to his horse. "Now we should get you to this Manuela then, Prince Wilhelm. Your safety takes top priority."

'Did it though?' Wilhelm wondered as he was put onto Kriegslust. He didn't feel any sort of joy being saved by Uncle Kurt. He wasn't going to inherit anything. Wilhelm was the youngest child of the Emperor, sure, but did that make him that valuable? Wilhelm looked back to his peers that were walking with Jeralt and the others. Besides some torn clothes, they appeared to be perfectly fine. The worst wounds they had were some simple light cuts across their arms and face. Wilhelm smiled at the sight. He was glad that at least they made it out alive, he could lose his hand and be happy with it. Wilhelm smiled as his peers vanished from his sight.

In the jungles of Lustria, High Loremaster Teclis finished collecting more way-fragments for his own ritual. Though he was far from home, and his brother Tyrion was busy repelling Malekith's recent invasion of Ulthuan, Teclis focused on the fortification of the Vortex. He had come to the Great Turtle Isle in hopes of allying with the Children of the Old Ones. Yet the Lizards were far from willing to hear his words. The Great Spirit of the Jungle was already roused by that incepted Huntsmarshal, Markus Wulfhart, and the Druchii under the vile Morathi were only making matters worse. Then there was the Skaven as well, the pests that they are were an annoyance to Teclis. All this combined led the Lizardmen of Lustria to attack Teclis and his fellow Asur on sight. Blighted Lizards going on about their great plan were getting in the way.

Teclis stopped for a moment as he listened to the Winds of Magic.

"High Loremaster?" The voice of Loremaster Talarian called out. "You noticed that as well?"

"Indeed." Teclis gripped the Moon Staff of Lileath and felt out further. "It appears to come from the Empire of Men as well."

"The humans?" Talarian inquired, his hand gripping his pointed chin. "Was it not one of the servants who recently informed us of the death of their Empress?"

"Again?" Teclis frowned as he rubbed his forehead. "Was it not just recently they changed Emperors again as well? It has been such a long time since I have been there."

"It does feel they change Emperors quickly." Talarian mused with a nod to Teclis. "Though they also apparently came in contact with a new continent as well. They call it 'Fódlan,' I believe."

"A new continent?" The Asur already knew of all the continents of the world, and so too did the Empire of Men. Yet never once in Teclis' centuries did he ever hear of a place called Fódlan. "How did they discover it by chance?"

Talarian motioned over a nearby servant and pulled out a scroll. "Apparently, the humans discovered an ancient archway of Old One technology. A portal much like the ones that formed the poles of the world. Though this gate was uncorrupted by Chaos and stands in the middle of a so-called 'Bloodpine Woods.' According to our records, a local Greenskin shaman activated the gate by accident after a spell misfired."

Now this news was intriguing to Teclis. Not only did the humans tap into an Old One's gate, but in discovering a new land, they found something that could cause a substantial shift in the Winds of Magic. Not just any wind as well, it appeared the wind of Hysh was the one being pulled to the Empire as well. Such a pull rivalled even the Children of the Old ones in pure raw power. Yet it was the Empire that had discovered this source. "Talarian." Teclis looked to his trusted advisor with a frown. "I am sure you are more than capable of continuing the march to the City of the Moon without me?"

"What are you saying, High Loremaster?" Talarian stepped forward with wide eyes. "Are you leaving us to go back to the Empire?"

"For a short time." Teclis nodded as he placed a hand on Talarian. "We both know the dangers Ulthuan faces and the coming tide of Chaos. We both know that the End Times are fast approaching. Should no action be taken, we both can see the world will end."

"And you believe that the answer to combat the coming tides of Chaos rests in this new land?"

"I am sure of it." Teclis smiled as he tried to reassure his advisor.

Talarian closed his eyes and thought for a moment, his musing amused Teclis at times. "Are you certain that this is the best course of action?"

"Would you prefer I try and resurrect the Great necromancer, Nagash?"

"Absolutely not." The response Talarian gave was quite amusing to the High Loremaster. Perhaps he should try and startle him more in the future? Talarian closed his eyes and took a deep breath before looking back at Teclis. "How long will you be gone then?"

"Not too long. If the seas are well, and the vampires along the coast don't delay my arrival, I should return to you in a year."

"That is good." Talarian smiled and bowed to Teclis. "I was afraid this would be another decades-long venture into the Old World, much like your time in the last Great Chaos Invasion."

"When I founded the colleges of magic there?" Teclis mused as he remembered his time. "I quite enjoyed those days. It was rare to see such vigour in students when it came to the study of the arcane. An admirable, feat I must admit."

"As you say, High Loremaster." Talarain frowned at the words of Teclis. Most Asur viewed themselves as superior to every race in the world, so it was hardly shocking that Talarian felt the same way. "Just do not get lost there, High Loremaster."

"I shall not, Talarian." Teclis turned away from Talarian. "I know the duties that fall on my shoulders after all. It is why I returned from the Empire in the first place."

"All the same, High Loremaster, I wish you safe travels." Talarain laid a hand on Teclis' shoulder. "Ulthuan cannot afford to lose one its saviours so soon."

"And it shall not." Teclis made his way to the door and looked back one last time to Talarian. "Make double haste to the City of the Moon, though. Should that Huntsmarshal get there first, our chances to fortify the Vortex go with it."

"And so too the World." Talarian nodded.

Teclis nodded back one last time as he made his way to the docks of his encampment. Whatever the source of this magic was, he needed to know it. The sake of the worlds depended on it.