7th of Blue Sea Moon

Dimitri was sitting at his usual table when Claude entered the dining hall, surrounded by the end of the breakfast rush. Claude picked up a plate of food before giving his best casual saunter, slowly making his way to the prince's seat, waving at Raphael and Ingrid on his way past them.

"Hey Dimitri." Claude kept his tone light. "Did you manage to get to talk to Teach yesterday?"

Dimitri was staring at a plate of lukewarm porridge, still full. Claude frowned. "You there your princeliness?" Dimitri didn't flinch. Claude snapped his fingers in front of the prince's face. Dimitri nearly jumped out of his seat, but only managed to fall off the bench. Claude felt a few heads turn, but sensed no real interest in the room.

"O-oh. Claude." Dimitri blinked rapidly, before pulling himself up. "How can I help you?"

"I was wondering how your meeting went," Claude scratched the back of his neck. "But now I wonder if I should be offering you a hand."

"No, no. I'm fine." Dimitri sat back down facing Claude, hands gripping his knees and eyes trained on the floor. "I just have a lot to think about, that's all."

"Something about you and Teach, alone together?" Claude gave his knowing smirk.

"No, nothing of your concern. It's something…private." Dimitri's expression and posture did not change. Claude rolled his tongue over his teeth. Dimitri would usually rise to that sort of bait.

"Well, did you manage to talk to her about anything-"

"Von Riegan." Claude turned. Dedue's face was stern, as always. "I must ask you not to pry into his Highness' personal matters."

Claude held up his hand. "Hey, no worries. But Dimitri and I were talking together the other day about some things we wanted to talk to Professor Eisner about, and-"

"I am aware, Von Riegan." Dedue's posture shifted forward just slightly enough for any onlooker to miss. "Nonetheless, his Highness has received some troubling news. I would ask you not pry into the matter."

"Hey, no worries. I'm just trying to help. Maybe if you let me hear it, I could-"

Dedue's stare shifted to a glare. "It is a personal matter, Von Riegan."

Dimitri's voice had an uncertain warble. "Dedue, you shouldn't be so forceful, Claude is only trying to help-"

Claude turned back to Dimitri and gave a breezy smile. "Nah, he's right. If it's personal, It's personal. I get that. I'm too nosy for my own good sometimes." He cocked his head. "I could ask Teach herself about our joint question, perhaps?"

Dimitri stared, before swallowing and nodding back. "Yes…that might be for the best."

Claude gave a mock salute to both men as he turned away. "Aye aye, your princelyness, little ray of sunshine." As he walked away, he strained to listen as Dedue approached Dimitri.

"Dedue…"

There was a sigh.

"Not even something this plain stirs your appetite?"

Dimitri squawked a protest, and Claude tuned him out. Whatever Dimitri had spoken to Byleth about had been private, and apparently, Dedue also knew everything.

"Now where to go from here…?" Claude chewed on his lip making his way to Hilda's table, who was chatting with Marianne and Caspar.

Hilda smiled brightly. "Hey Claude. What are you up to?"

Claude gave a breezy grin of his own. "Eh, not much. What're you lot doing?"

"We were trying to figure out what the assassins are plotting!" Caspar clenched his fist. "Everyone knows that they can't really be targeting Lady Rhea. It's just so obvious!"

"Didn't you say that Edelgard had to tell you that?" Hilda rested her chin in the palm of her hands as she leaned towards Caspar. He flushed, looking down at the floor.

"Well-yeah, She's smarter than me, but that doesn't mean it wasn't obvious!" He turned to Claude. "And didn't Claude figure that much out for your house? Don't act so high and mighty!"

Hilda twirled a loose strand of her hair. "Maybe, maybe not. It isn't that hard to piece together." She fluttered her eyelashes at Claude. "Can you remember so many days back, dear leader?"

Claude felt himself smirk back. "I can't say. That talk was so very long-"

"It was three days ago." Marianne said just loudly enough to be heard.

"A small eternity, just as you say." Claude nodded as he sat down next to Caspar and across from his two classmates. "I suppose If you and I can't remember-" Claude rolled his neck, purposely ignoring a sputtering Caspar. "-We'll just have to find a way to remind each other of that night."

Hilda did an admirable job of blocking out a beat-red Marianne. She leaned forward, placing her hand over her heart. "Well, if there is no other way, I suppose we must -"

"Claude figured it out!" Marianne shouted, cradling her head. Hilda pouted.

"Marianne! Spoilers!" Hilda looked at Caspar, who was looking between her and Claude. "We could have teased poor Caspar for five more minutes with that routine!"

"It's embarrassing…" Marianne murmured.

"Are you guys…" Caspar gaped. "Are you guys engaged or something?"

Claude and Hilda's smile fell as one.

"…No?"

"What gave you that idea?"

"Oh, well you two are from the most important families in the Alliance. It would be like if Edelgard and Ferdinand went at it. And the only way they'd ever be allowed to flirt so hard is if they were actually getting married."

Hilda crossed her arms. "That's not true. I see Dorothea putting the moves on with men all the time, Ferdinand included!"

Caspar shifted. "Well…That's different. I've never had the best grasp on this sort of thing, but, uh…" Caspar fidgeted. "From what I know from my father, It's different if the woman is a commoner."

The sound of students chatting around them filled the silence. Marianne studied the ground. Hilda looked like she had tasted something sour.

Claude cleared his throat. "Guess things are different in the empire." He leaned on the table as he looked at Caspar. "Yeah, no marriage in our future."

Hilda clasped her hands over her heart and gasped. "Does that mean you've just been leading me on, all this time?" She even went to the effort of tearing up. "That all our nights in Lorenz's room meant nothing to you!"

Claude gave an elaborate and entirely insincere bow. "Alas, my dear, I come from a long line of scoundrels, and I simply couldn't stop family tradition now."

"Alright, very funny guys." Caspar said. "You can cut it out now."

Hilda's smile returned to her face without a missing beat. "Aw, you're such a good sport, Caspar. Figured you'd catch on quick."

"Saying Lorenz was involved was the tip off." Caspar paused. "Why do you two say these things anyway?"

"Oh well it's to cover up my relationship with Marianne." Hilda said sweetly. Marianne head snapped like a startled bird, her face warring between going white and blushing harder.

"It's true. Hilda's always had such a delightful way of using me." Claude winked at Caspar, who's face was ripe with shock. "They've been at it ever since they arrived at the academy."

"No way, no way, no way!"

"Way!" Hilda chirped back. "It's true Marianne is my…" Hilda leaned forward and mock-whispered. "…Best friend. Keep it a secret, okay?"

Caspar's shoulders collapsed as he sank into his seat. Claude and Hilda shared a smirk. Marianne's face had settled into a brilliant crimson. "Hilda, please!"

"Sorry, Marianne." Hilda bowed to her. "Claude's just too much fun. Can you ever forgive me?"

"Don't do that..." Marianne mumbled.

Claude gave a small salute. "Yes ma'am."

"So anyway Claude, have you seen Lysithea?" Hilda turned back to him. "She's usually down here for breakfast."

"Maybe she's just in the library."

"Nope, Ignatz already checked."

Claude shrugged. "She's been coming to class."

Hilda pouted. "Come on, Leader-man! You're supposed to be in charge of us Golden Deer!" Hilda's face shifted to a frown. "Plus, I'm sure it's an overreaction, but there are supposed to be assassins lurking around…"

Claude nodded. "I don't think it's that bad, but I'll keep an eye out for her."

After eating, Claude said his goodbyes and made his way towards Byleth's office. Turning a corner, he saw Edelgard standing numb, back turned to the hallway containing the newest professor's room. Claude frowned. Edelgard's eyes were clouded and unfocused, her shoulders slumped, and dark bags under her eyes.

"…Hey, princess?" Claude said. Edelgard didn't react. Claude bit his lip, and clapped his hands. "Edelgard! Hey! You there?"

Edelgard blinked, and her head slowly turned. "…Claude? When did you get here?"

Claude flashed a smile. "Just a minute ago. Was going to talk to Teach."

Edelgard blinked.

Claude kept smiling. "Did you just come from her office?" He wiggled his eyebrows. "You know, I could say something about you leaving her room in such a sorry state…"

Edelgard blinked again.

Claude hid a frown in a tension breaking cough. "So what are you doing here, anyway? You haven't been up all night looking for the assassins, have you?"

Still nothing. Claude wondered if Hubert was going to come up from behind and drug him. Glancing over his shoulder, Claude kept talking if only to hide his own nervousness. "You know, I've already got a pretty solid guess for where the ne'er-do-wells are going to be. I've floated the Idea to Dimitri, and Is was wondering if you and your house would like to join us sleuthing?"

Claude couldn't say for certain that Edelgard had a hand in the assassination attempt, but given her goals, it could very well be possible. If Edelgard agreed to tag along with him and Dimitri, Claude could get a better read on the would-be conqueror, watch her react in a fight to whatever the assassins were plotting. And it's not like he wouldn't have a signal for the dozens of knights if Edelgard tried something really stupid. Lessons he had taken to heart in Almyra's court years ago.

Claude turned back. Edelgard just kept staring ahead. He doubted she was even looking at him.

"…Edelgard? What do you think? Want to join me?"

Edelgard suddenly walked forward, brushing past Claude as though he wasn't standing in front of her, muttering in short breaths. "…Nothing…no one understands…no one can…choices…."

Claude watched Edelgard disappear into the monastery, walking like she was heading to the gallows. He imagined that if he stuck his leg out, she would trip, fall to the floor, only to keep trying to walk in an undignified heap.

He wondered how hard Hubert would hit him if he went through with the idea.

Claude shook his head. There would be time for jokes later. Now it was clear that Byleth wasn't fooling around anymore. She was pushing hard for Edelgard's redemption and rehabilitation, and Dimitri was…

Well. Suffice to say, Byleth had rendered two heirs mute to his prodding. It was time to see if Claude was going to be able to get something out of his enigmatic professor, or if he was just as hopeless as her other playthings. Claude adjusted his collar, walked to Byleth's door, and knocked.

Muffled voices echoed back, and after a moment, the door opened halfway. Hanneman stood in front of Claude, blinking.

"Oh, hello Claude," Hanneman's mustache twitched. "What are you doing here? I thought you were tending to the Wyverns and Pegasi today."

"Well, I'm going to, but I had some things to bring up with Teach first." Claude said. "Also, Hilda hadn't seen Lysithea this morning. Do you know where she is?" Claude tilted his head. "In fact, what are you doing here, Professor Hanneman?"

Hanneman's brow furrowed. "Lysithea is fine, we were just going over some advanced magic for the better part of the morning. I am here with Professor Eisner to go over some notes she is uniquely qualified to give answers to, something we are still very much preoccupied with, so I must ask you to attend to your chores..." Hanneman leaned on the door, inching it shut.

Claude leaned just outside the doorframe. "Actually, I also saw Edelgard walk out of here not too long ago. What was that about?"

Hanneman's eye's widened, before adding more force to his tone. "Miss Edelgard had a question she wished to discuss with me about some terminology she overheard from Professor Casagranda, and tracked me down."

"Really? She was pretty out of it." Claude said with a twinge of worry. "I'm not sure she knew I was there." He frowned, twisting his head. "Was she like that when you left? Did you say something that set her off?"

Hanneman's cheeks flushed. "Claude, I know you can read people well enough to know that we discussed-" Hanneman hissed as he bit his tongue. "You shouldn't go prying into other people's private business."

"Well, gramps says it's my job, so…" Claude muttered quietly. Hanneman glared. Apparently not quietly enough. "Sorry."

"If there is nothing else…" Hanneman began to close the door.

"Well, yes actually. I wanted a few minutes with Teach, if she can spare them."

"Professor Eisner is busy at the moment, if you'd like to come back later-" The door swung. Claude stuck his foot in the door.

"Look Professor Hanneman, it'll only be a few minutes, I promise!"

"Claude-"

"No, it's fine." Byleth's voice cut in. "There are only a few notes to go over. I can speak to Claude in the hallway." The door swung opened swiftly. Claude saw an exasperated expression on Hanneman's face, and further inside, a desk with several flasks with curious liquids and a mess of notes strewn about. Standing over it was Hubert, clutching various papers and seemed oblivious to the world around him. There was a shadow of another person in the room, but the door had slammed shut, and Byleth was walking down the hall. Claude jogged behind her. They continued on for a minute more, before Byleth turned a corner and entered a small storage room near the end of the hallway, closed off to the outside world.

Byleth stood in front of a wall, silent. Her eyes locked on to Claude's, and suddenly he felt like a bug staring up at a teenager with issues reaching down to pluck his legs off, one by one. Claude suppressed a gulp.

"Well now," Claude led off with a small chuckle. "You and Hanneman working together on something? Care to share?"

"No."

"Aw, come on Teach, don't be like that."

Byleth did not blink. Claude could not stop himself from tugging at his collar.

"Alright, I won't beat around the bush, you seem to be in a particularly bad mood." Claude said. Byleth did not react. "But I can tell that you've shaken Dimitri and Edelgard pretty thoroughly."

Byleth blinked. Claude was beginning to wonder if she needed to. "Look. You press ganged me into- something. And it's not like I don't appreciate you giving me a tip, but I'd like to know where, exactly, this whole mess is going, and what exactly you told the others to make them so downtrodden."

Byleth regarded him for a moment. "Should I tell your history if someone asks me to?"

"That's- Ugh." Claude grimaced. "Look Teach. I gave Dimitri a bit of a nudge, I admit, but you can be pretty callous. We'd both rather avoid this whole war, but the roundtable is coming in just a month. You're asking me to go into a meeting that will make or break me with nothing but overheard gossip and spy reports that are, at best, suggestive of an annual recruitment drive in the empire. From the way you've been acting, from the way you've dealt with Edelgard, from how quickly Dimitri was cowed back into his shell, I can only assume you know everything I could ever want to know. Give me something."

Claude pressed into a wall, pleading with his eyes. Byleth's expression did not shift. Claude leaned forward.

"You did a very stupid thing." Byleth said. "I did tell you that Dimitri was unstable."

"Yeah, well you just let him kill dozens of his own people, with no forewarning. Don't tell me you didn't see it coming. Who's to say you wouldn't throw me or anyone else off the ship if it suited you?"

Byleth's lips twitched. Like she had just smelled something sour. She opened her mouth, before closing it. "I suppose I have been a bit less than helpful." She eventually said.

"And?" Claude folded his arms over his chest.

"I will say what I told you previously. The lords of the Alliance are not unintelligent, despite evidence to the contrary. Have faith in yourself. You do not need me to succeed."

Claude leaned back. "Is that all?"

"I will not bring harm to you, your ambitions, or your friends."

Claude sighed. "Yeah. Thanks, Teach. But why can't you just tell me everything?"

"Because you don't need me to do everything for you." Byleth met his eyes. "Nor do you want me to."

Claude quirked an eyebrow. "Is that a fact?"

Byleth tilted her head. "Do you really need me to tell you where the assassins will be during the Rite?"

Claude chewed his lip. Byleth took a step back. Claude blinked, before raising his hand. "Hey, wait!" Byleth paused.

"I was wondering if you might chaperone. Seems like everyone in all the classes is gonna be there. Whatever they're doing in the tomb can't be good. Want to make sure none of us lose our heads?"

Byleth nodded. "For whatever my word is worth, I promise to keep you all from any lasting harm."

15th of Blue Sea Moon

It was a beautiful day in Garreg Mach. The sun shone down on the bright spring grasses. Birdsong echoed in the distance, and there was not a cloud in the sky. Sitting in the academy gardens, Edelgard took a sip from her tea. Her classmates crowded around her, pretending they were not all staring at her. A stone carved gazebo stood in the distance. Nothing was underneath it.

"Edelgard, you seem distant." Ferdinand broke the silence first. He took a sip before continuing. "Everyone in our class can see you've been acting…." Ferdinand coughed into the back of his hand, before smiling. "Just a bit oddly. Perhaps I should take-"

A tremor ran under the table. Dorothea shot him a look, and Ferdinand did his best not to recoil. "What Ferdie means to say, Edie, is that we're all your friends, and we'd be happy to help if you're feeling down."

"It is what friends are being for." Petra nodded. "Even Professor Manuela is worried for you."

"Oh yes, definitely. Though if this is about some new power struggle our parents are on, I doubt any of us will be of any use to you." Linhardt said without looking up from his book.

"Linhardt! Don't say that!" Bernadetta squealed. "We'll help Edelgard no matter what! R-right, everyone?"

"Right!" Caspar shouted, before frowning. "But if my father is involved…"

Edelgard took another sip of her tea. The Black Eagles watched the cup rise and fall. Edelgard's had not moved away. From the empty gazebo. "Wasn't there something under there?"

"Edelgard?" Petra leaned forward. "Are you lost in your thinking?"

Edelgard did not turn to face the group. "No. Nothing is wrong."

"Then why are you so quiet? What happened, Edelgard? You can tell us!" Bernadetta fretted with the lace under her cup.

"Nothing happened." Edelgard kept her eyes locked on the gazebo. The stonework was old. A simple decoration that had lasted centuries.

Ferdinand glanced over to Dorothea. She frowned. "There was something else we wanted to ask you Edie. Do you know where Hubie went? We haven't seen him all week."

"Empire business." Edelgard stood to leave. "I have to go meet Hubert."

"Edie, please! You say that every time we try to have this talk!"

"Edelgard, von Riegan and Prince Dimitri have both expressed interest in joining forces on the night of the Rite." Ferdinand stood up from his seat. "I was planning to join them and lead our class-"

"I'll be at the tomb then." Edelgard walked away without another word.

Dorothea jumped up. "We should follow her. We've got to figure out what's wrong with Edie!"

"Dorothea," Ferdinand's jaw clenched. "I don't think that is the best idea."

"Why, so you can lead us around in her stead? I swear, Ferdinand-"

"No, no!" Ferdinand huffed. "It's just that I'm not sure that will help." He grimaced. "Plus, if she isn't bluffing…"

"We should try and find what Edelgard's sorrow comes from." Petra muttered. "I am thinking it might be something to do with this month's danger."

"And how would we do that?" Linhardt was moving towards the gazebo. "She pushes us away each time we ask. And if this is something bigger, we're not like Edelgard. We have no real political connections in Enbarr to lean on. No insider to figure out what chaos is spinning through the imperial throne this decade." His knuckles rapped on the stonework. "Anyone know why she was looking at this?"

The group was silent for a time.

"Hubert." Ferdinand said suddenly. "Hubert's still around, somewhere, even if he's just as absent as Edelgard. Dorothea, maybe you can make him reveal something over tea?"

Dorothea's eyes widened before lighting up. "Hubert always does think he's two steps ahead of everyone. I might be able to weasel something out of him." She smiled. "And if not, you and I can try to double team him."

Ferdinand sighed and chuckled all at once. "I can only hope you do not have to resort to my help in loosening Hubert's tongue." He took a final sip of tea. "But Edelgard is to be emperor. We must try-"

"She's our friend too!" Bernadetta shouted, "This isn't for loyalty to the empire. Friends help each other!"

"Yes…" Dorothea sighed. "They do."

20th of Blue Sea Moon

Edelgard walked into the greenhouse. She walked past Ashe and Dedue tending to a flowerbed, towards a bench deep in the shadows of the room, hidden under a stone arch and surrounded by colorful foliage. Hubert was slumped into the metal armrest, his eyes closed. Soft snores rumbled as his chest rose and fell. Edelgard regarded him for a moment, before sitting down next.

People walked past the greenhouse as the minutes dripped by. Some quickly, some slowly. All were obscured by the sun flooding through the windows. Hubert stopped and shifted from time to time.

Eventually, the Blue Lions left as twilight fell. Edelgard thought about falling asleep in the garden. She could see why Hubert did. It almost seemed peaceful here.

Hubert gave one final snore before jolting himself awake. He looked around, patting down his own uniform. His eyes fell on the fading sunlight, before jerking to Edelgard.

"Lady Edelgard!" Hubert quickly fell into a bow. "A thousand pardons. I do not know what weakness seized me-"

"There is nothing to forgive, Hubert." Edelgard sighed. "You've run yourself ragged in these short few weeks. You deserve a far longer rest." Hubert's mouth opened, but Edelgard silenced him with a narrow eye.

Hubert clicked his tongue. "I understand." He fixed his posture, sitting upright in the bench. "I have tracked down the medical experts."

Edelgard swallowed. "And?"

Hubert swallowed. "The professor's remedies…appear to be legitimate."

Edelgard looked up at the window in the ceiling. Dusk and twilight were mixing together, creating a dim glow edging its way through the windowpane. "I see."

Hubert coughed. "I would suggest allowing the Ordelia girl to play lab rat for the concoctions. She seems quite eager."

Edelgard stared ahead. Hubert continued. "I've prodded all of your uncle's…associates as much as I can without arousing any suspicion. They know nothing."

Edelgard closed her eyes. "And?"

Hubert sank into his chair. "We have nothing but her notes to play on." He shifted. "This already seems like fantasy, but…" Hubert's lip curled. "Lady Edelgard, I must say that this is simply to good to be true. You can't possibly choose to believe-"

The moment replayed in Edelgard's mind just as it did every night, unchanged.

Byleth held up a glowing liquid in a beaker. Lysithea gasped. "It will restore your lost life. The choice Is yours." She locked eyes with Edelgard. "Nothing is impossible for me to accomplish."

Edelgard opened her eyes.

"Rest for now Hubert. We will wait and see what is hiding in the tomb."

Hubert nodded. "And then?"

Edelgard bit her lip. "We will wait and see."

Edelgard rose from the seat and walked into the growing twilight.

21st of Blue Sea Moon

Edelgard looked down to the garden. The empty gazebo remained. A memory played, distant and amorphous, but bland enough Edelgard could not tell if it came from one week ago or five years past. A door clicked. Byleth walked out of Hanneman's office, before shutting the door. She quietly stepped next to Edelgard, looking forward towards the dim horizon.

Edelgard gripped the window frame. Byleth did not react. Edelgard breathed, and turned.

"What is a Nabatean?"

"We are like humans, save for pointed ears, a green coloring, and nigh agelessness."

Edelgard's eyes narrowed. "And the ability to turn into monsters?"

Byleth turned to meet her gaze. "No."

Edelgard's fingers dug into her palms. "Are you saying Rhea isn't a beast?"

"That's a rather loaded phrase." Byleth hummed.

Edelgard's fist fell with a quiet thud. "Don't avoid the question."

Byleth paused. "Rhea is the only Nabatean who can transform herself."

"So Thales was right? She is a monster in human clothes?" Edelgard demanded. "She is a beast controlling humans from her throne atop Garreg Mach for centuries."

Byleth's tongue clicked. "I again suggest you take that up with Rhea herself at this time."

Edelgard scoffed, and looked away. "I've seen the church lie my entire life. Why should I trust anything she says?"

Byleth sighed. "Honestly, Edelgard, I don't know how else to tell you that you must separate Thales and the church in your mind. They are not-"

"Honesty?" Edelgard spat. "You want honesty, professor? I've spent my entire life surrounding by monsters in human skin. I've seen them turn people, my people, into savage beasts that I must put down so they do not slaughter their own kin, and then seen the same human shaped savages spirit everything away like it was just a gust of wind knocking down a stone foundation. I was forced to watch, helpless and powerless as other worms in human skin forced their incompetence onto good people, all to line their own pockets." Edelgard exhaled. "I see the church spiriting away any problem they find deep underground, so they never have to look at the problem. I hear rumors of them making books disappear. People disappear. And now you ask me to beseech their leader, a monster only pretending to be human, for answers?" Edelgard snarled as she turned away. "I've heard tales too good to be true. Every day, my uncle would tell me I might one day see my siblings again. And now you ask me to trust Rhea. Because she is your blood?"

The minutes passed by. Edelgard watched students mill about the dormitories. Knights patrol the guard posts. Byleth was silent, until she finally murmured.

"Because she is my blood…"

Edelgard watched lanterns blink in the distant market. "Are you denying it?"

"I was human, once."

Edelgard looked back to Byleth. "But you're not anymore."

Byleth did not blink. "No."

"Being human isn't something you can choose. You can't change species like clothes or allegiances."

"I agree." Byleth said. "It took quite a bit of effort to become a full Nabatean. Years of growing stronger, pooling my magic. Now, whenever I return to Remire, My eyes and hair change from their dark blue color. My ears elongate." Byleth looked up at the sky. "It's a small mystery in a far grander one. Not just knowledge, but power follows me wherever I go."

Edelgard's brow narrowed. "Are you bragging now?"

Byleth turned back to face her. "But even despite that, If I ever chose to, I could become human again."

Edelgard blinked, then scowled. "I suppose you would. After all, who would want such a frail, human body when you can simply choose to live for uncounted centuries?"

"But that's just the thing, Edelgard." Byleth said. "Even as a human rejecting my Nabatean heritage, I have no difficulty living for millennia."

Edelgard rolled her eyes. "With time travel, of course."

"No, not at all."

Edelgard exhaled. "How, then?"

Byleth pulled a small flask from her belt, holding it against her almost glowing, mint colored eyes. "These are not the only potions you have accepted from me."

Edelgard eyes darted down to the gazebo. For a fraction of a second, she saw a flash of bright green.

Thanks to Dox over on Ao3 for beta reading as always!

Writing for a cast as expansive as any Fire Emblem game can get pretty hard without the gameplay mechanics and pacing too back it up. Still, I'd like to think it's worth the wait.

For Guest, I hope your questions were answered in that last bit.