The battle in the holy tomb of Seiros was about to end. Byleth stared as the last stragglers of the empire ran off. Before her stood Edelgard, the new emperor of the Adrestian Empire. The emperor's cloak was in tatters and the black regal clothes she wore had turned muddy.

Something scratched at the back of Byleth's mind. The scenery seemed very familiar, a sense of deja vu overcame her. This very tomb they stood in seemed to rattle her mind.

At that moment, time itself felt as if it had stopped. Byleth could feel what amounted to thousands of memories coursing through her. The Empire's victory, the Immaculate One, the salvation of the Church of Seiros, the woes of the Lion prince, Those Who Slither in the Dark. A voice called to her.

'It seems you remember. Now what will you do with the brat and my "daughter"?'

The rush was incredible, all those memories, all those lifetimes; Byleth suddenly felt as if she had lived for several hundred years. She sighed as she could feel something break inside of her; this was one era too many. Time slowly turned to normal and the familiar pat on her shoulder woke her up.

"Kill her. She and those of the Empire who betrayed us must all face death penalty!" the voice of Rhea rang through her ears. A clear frown was visible on her forehead, the pupils almost disappearing into her green eyes as she looked towards Edelgard.

Byleth pondered; would she obey and run through the child or would she protect her and flee from the church? The decision came to her like lightning. She lowered her sword and walked towards Edelgard, a smile appearing on the young girl's face.

A loud snap echoed within the tomb.

Edelgard looked at Byleth, eyes wide open, with her left cheek red. Byleth had slapped her straight across the face.

"Teacher, what?-" Edelgard stuttered. But Byleth would not let her speak any further.

"You insolent student, what do you think you're doing?!"

Edelgard's eyes looked like they attempted to widen further and Byleth could hear a gasp behind herself.

"You, miss, are still in school and as long as you are, you will listen to your teacher. Today, many from the empire have lost their lives already because of your inability to contain yourself. You will face detention the whole coming month!"

Edelgard's mouth moved, yet no words came out; only gasps and stuttered attempts at saying something.

"Professor, what are you doing?" a voice called behind Byleth. "Edelgard is a traitor and must be put down, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Byleth turned around, staring at Rhea whose face could not seem to decide whether it was most appropriate to frown or leave her mouth gaping wide.

"Archbishop, I find your willingness to end the life of a student most displeasing. You too will be facing detention!"

"What?! But I'm not-" Rhea started.

"Not another word from you or your mother will be greatly disappointed. I am talking to her right now and she can't believe she'd raise such a disobedient child!" Byleth quickly responded. She held up a hand against her face while continuing. "Sothis, at times like these I really wish you were capable of materializing. Rhea can be such a handful at times…"

'Not much different from the rest of the brats is she? I do wish I could lecture her myself,' a response echoed in Byleth's head, 'but I must say you have taken a most amusing approach to this whole matter, now go on; there's at least one left.'

Staring up towards the ceiling Byleth shouted.

"You're there aren't you Hubert? You have two choices; Detention after the final class of today or double the detention later!"

A light flashed and a dark figure appeared behind Edelgard.

"Your highness, I suggest we retreat. The professor is clearly going mad," Hubert said while putting his hand on Edelgard's shoulder.

Colours of purple and blue shimmered in Byleth's hand and it was Hubert's eyes turn to widen as his own flash of light dispersed into nothing.

"None of that warp nonsense. Class now; detention later!" Byleth quipped. She looked at the shocked students that had gathered around her. "I expect the rest of you to bring Hubert back to class, final lesson is self study. Oh, would you bring Rhea to the detention center?"

As Byleth looked on, the students bowed and started dragging away the protesting duo.

"What are you trying at? My armies are already marching to the gates of the monastery as we speak," came the voice of Edelgard. Byleth turned around, lifted up Edelgard stomach face-first over her shoulder and started carrying her away.

"I guess there are more people who need a stern talking to."

o.O.o.O.o

A gentle breeze touched Byleth's face as she walked on the road paved in stone. Grassy hills grew taller behind her as she descended the path down from the monastery. In the distance, thousands of armoured knights were moving around, lining up in rows. Between the soldiers and Byleth stood a village, the inhabitants running towards the monastery like headless chickens. Many of them shot glances as they ran past the teacher carrying another person over her shoulder.

After a while the pair had crossed the outermost gates of the monastery and stood face to face with the army; or at least Edelgard would have if she wasn't swung over Byleth's shoulder.

"Halt!" a man's voice echoed through the plains. Byleth looked towards the source to find a heavily built man with blue hair and a beard. The two walked closer to each other and he started talking anew. "Who are you and wh- Y-your majesty?!" his eyes widened as the head of Edelgard peeked out from behind Byleth. "W-what is the meaning of this?"

Byleth sighed then briskly answered: "Your royal highness has classes to finish. I would appreciate it if you all could head home. She's got a long session of detention coming up."

"Teacher wha- OUCH!" Edelgard attempted to say before her scream echoed across the field. "D-did you just spa- OUCH!"

"No talking back young miss. You've had enough fun for today. Now would the rest of you go home already?!" Byleth snapped.

"What are you doing to our emperor?!" the man started. "Your majesty I shall resc- OOF!" he looked down, speechless; Byleth's fist was buried deep into his gut. Byleth pulled out her fist and the man fell to his knees gasping for air.

"You must be Count Bergliez? Is it really that difficult to follow a teacher's advice? It seems you too need to report in for detention."

Bergliez looked up at Byleth, his lips moving yet no sound came out.

"General!" several shouts came from behind Bergliez as the closest men started approaching with weapons raised. Their expressions soon changed when they all sat with their knees first on the ground coughing and sputtering.

"No playing with weapons, DETENTION!" Byleth yelled. "Do we have anyone else that wishes for a silent hour with paperwork? We have plenty of space in the tomb." She at the army which had now slowly started backing away from the commotion. "Good, now go home with you! Your empress is still my student and as long as she is: I refuse to deal with any of this invasion nonsense!" With that, she roped in the new temporary class members and ordered them to marsh into the monastery. The remainder of the army stood in place shrugging their shoulders with battalion commanders running around in disarray.

o.O.o.O.o

The holy teachings of Sothis; the many saints that had fought for the church in times past. How many times had she read about them now? Edelgard looked up from her book and stared at Byleth with her head tilted down and eyes drooping.

"No, your punishment will not be reduced," came a response.

It was part of the detention. Edelgard was unsure about what the others had to do, but in her case she had to study the subject she hated the most; faith. It did not help that she was still very confused about what happened earlier. When did Byleth become so strong? Was this the power of the progenitor god? But why now just as she was getting ready to take the matters of Fodlan into her own hands? Edelgard had prayed Byleth would join her and liberate the world from the false archbishop, yet she had joined neither.

Edelgard sighed; this was not a time to be confused. Her teacher had always been unpredictable and surrounded by mystery; this is what made her interesting to begin with.

Closing her book, Edelgard stood up and focused; light emanating from her hands. She placed them upon the arm of a nearby soldier and as moments passed the big wound on it started closing up. As the final scratches healed, Edelgard crashed back into her chair, panting heavily.

"Well done."

Edelgard looked up to see Byleth smiling at her.

"You have cast your first healing spell and cleared your detention time for today. I knew you could do it! A lot of your friends have been asking about you, I suggest you find them." Byleth's expression changed to a frown. "And do not try to run from the monastery, I have my eyes on you. We will be spending many days like this together until you have cleared off all your allotted detention time."

A shiver ran up Edelgard's spine. She had seen this frowny face a few times in the past but never directed at herself. "Yes, Teacher" she responded and made her way out of the classroom; continuing down the corridor towards her room. It would probably be impossible to escape at this moment. Hubert was unable to teleport and even her military advisor had been sentenced to detention. Edelgard couldn't help but chuckle at the sheer absurdity of it all.

'Although I guess I always did want to spend more time alone with-'

"Edelgard!" an unmistakably loud and obnoxious shout came from her right.

"...Ferdinand" she responded. 'Oh for the love of…'

"You are finally out. The professor said she would not let you go until you had paid your diligence."

"Please, you are probably the person I-"

"-most need to talk to? Why of course, I am Ferdinand von Aegir, your most important advisor! Now would you tell me what is going on? I got the news just now that my father has-"

"Not. Now. Ferdinand," Edelgard interrupted.

"Yes, now Edie, Hubie won't tell a thing no matter how we prod him" a new voice demanded.

More voices soon piled up.

"You are so t-terrible Edelgard! A-aah, please do not look at me like that, I am sorryyyyy!"

"Was that really my father earlier getting sent to punishment?"

"I have very few… little understanding of why you did this."

Edelgard swung her head around, looking at all the new voices vying for her attention. She tried to speak but realised she had no idea what to say. Their questioning voices filled her head until she eventually screamed. Tears came down her face as her world broke; she just wanted to be alone and take her mind off of everything.

"WAAAAAAAAAHH!"

o.O.o.O.o

Byleth sighed; it had been a long day. She ever expected all of her past memories to rush at her like that. Nevertheless, thanks to that she had managed to stop the incoming invasion. 'I guess S+ in all skills can be quite useful, huh?' she calmly mused to herself. Locking the door to the classroom she started walking to her chambers when she heard screaming. Moments later a teary eyed Edelgard appeared around the corner and beelined for her.

"Teacher, heeelp!" Edelgard screamed as she jumped at and promptly buried her face into Byleth's chest. "Th-they are-"

"She ran that way!" a voice called from the direction Edelgard had come.

Byleth looked down at the hiccing and sniveling face of Edelgard as she whispered "Help!" then proceeded to stand behind Byleth.

The horde drew closer and Ferdinand spoke up.

"Professor! Edelgard keeps fleeing from us when we want her to explain herself!"

As she could feel the accused girl peek out from above her shoulder, Byleth placed her hand against her face and shook it. "I think anyone would flee at the sight of a pack of rabid dogs wanting to tear you apart." she finally responded.

"We are not going to hurting− hurt her. We just want replies." came a quick but stuttering voice from a slender girl with tattoos below her right eye.

"Petra, it is a play on words… Nevermind that, Edelgard has had a rough day; would you mind waiting with your questions until tomorrow when she has sorted herself out?"

The group agreed and started dispersing.

Byleth looked at the still crying woman that had once been a stone-faced empress; no wait, that had not happened yet. Putting her hand on Edelgard's head and ruffling her hair, the teacher told her "Now now, they're gone. But you need to face them tomorrow, can you do that?"

"I… I don't know. All my plans have fallen apart, I am speechless."

"Well, we still have a few things to sort out, and you still have more detention to go to, but I can promise that once everything's done we'll finally gorge ourselves on that feast like I promised. Ah… I didn't promise that yet did I? Well in that case now I promise you we will."

"Gorge ours- how did you? Ah I'm too tired for all this. I'm heading back to my room." Edelgard sighed and lowered her shoulders.

"No no, that won't do, keep yourself up." Byleth said as she put her hand under Edelgard's chin and pushed her head upwards. "And a smile, you're not fully dressed without one."

"Pfft ahaha, what kind of line is that? Where did you pick that up from?"

"Somewhere, I can't be too sure. Now that's a better face. Can't have you be all sad if you're going to be my future w- Oh, right, I guess we should sort things out with Rhea tomorrow."

"Future what?" Edelgard drew closer to Byleth.

"Well I hope you have a good night, I better head off"

"Hey, that's not fair, tell me! Don't walk away, come back here; stop running!"