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Chapter Text

Chapter 1: The Conference I

“Though these discoveries have yet to be examined further they give great hope to historians across the world. And promise insights into the life of the Fódlandians. Fódlanders. Fódlanians. Fódlan. These discoveries promise great insight into the life of the much studied but little understood civilisation. Pending further investigations of the revealed artifacts researchers hope to gain invaluable insights into the life in Fódlan in the past. Life in Fódlan of the past.”

Edelgard exhaled and deleted what little she had managed to write in the past half hour. Next to her laptop she had spread out her notes from the presentation she was trying to summarise. Her struggle to put her thoughts into words did not stem from any disinterest in the topic on her side, nor was it the presenter, she had been brilliant. Edelgard knew exactly what the problem was: the fact that she was sitting here writing about the presentation instead of having been the one presenting it. A small box popped up on her screen. It was a message from her boss back at the Adrestian Heritage Research Centre, asking about the progress of her article. She wrote back that she was still working on it, which her superior noted with the reminder that the point of Edelgard’s being there was a timely coverage of the conference for those who were not chosen to go. “Thank you, and screw you too,” Edelgard said under her breath and closed her laptop a bit too forcefully. Her tumbler toppled over and spilled all over the co-working space table. Edelgard apologised profusely to the other people at the table who were quickly gathering their things as she used a crumpled up napkin to clear the tea. She was rummaging through her bag to find more tissues when someone approached her.

“Let me help you with that.”

A tall blonde man picked up her laptop and charger and set them down on her chair. “Thank you, I’m sorry for causing such a mess.” Only when she looked up and saw the face of the helpful stranger she wished he would have passed her by.

“Dimitri, hello. I’ll manage.”

“It’s nothing. Ah, there’s a custodian, I’ll go and ask if I can borrow a cloth.” Before Edelgard could dissuade him he jogged across the atrium and came back with the custodian’s cart.

“Dimitri, that isn’t necessary. What is the custodian going to do in the meantime?”

She felt embarrassed by Dimitri dutifully taking care of the mess she had made. “He was getting something from the vending machine, I’m sure he is glad for the break. Here, use this, maybe you can salvage your notebook.” Edelgard took a bunch of paper towels and carefully dabbed the pages though the ink had already bled a lot.

“Are you presenting something this year?” Dimitri continued his small talk.

“I recall that you are able to read the schedule so you already know the answer,” she answered coolly and threw the paper towels into the bin.

“Next time then. Will you come to hear my talk later? It’s about Faerghus women and chivalry. I am going to show a depiction of a flying horse that has not yet been published. You should hear the story about how I found it, it’s quite funny.” He wiped the table one last time and put the cloth back on the cart.

“I’m sorry, Dimitri, I have a list of sessions to be covered and I am already behind.” Dimitri’s expression did not reveal whether he was pleased or displeased.

“I’ll send you the presentation then. Would you like to have dinner tonight, we should catch up, it’s been so long.” Edelgard had no plans for the evening besides spending ordering room service, eating in bed and watching a film so the choice to accept his invitation was not a difficult one.

“But not too far and not too late, I don’t have it in me tonight.”

“What hotel are you staying in? We can have dinner somewhere close.” Once they had fixed the time and place the next session was announced over the PA system.

“Right, that’s me. I’ll see you tonight.” She stuffed everything into her bag and walked away.

As much as it pained Edelgard to admit it the dinner with Dimitri was just what she needed. After a good meal and a few drinks she had loosened up enough to vent her all her frustrations. The lack of support from her superior and her colleagues, the lack of funding for her research and the general belittlement of her research focus.

“Sometimes it feels like I am fighting a conspiracy that wants to shut me up about everything,” she complained. Dimitri watched her stir the ice cubes in her glass with her straw, slowly at first and then faster and faster.

“Edelgard, may I be frank? Perhaps it’s time for a change. One of my friends, he was equally unhappy as you, one morning he woke up and said to his spouse he had to quit his job or else he would die. His spouse said he would hate that for both of them so my friend quit and now they are travelling the world together.” Edelgard put the straw down.

“I’m not one for travelling, I’m afraid. And my work is very important to me.”

“A sabbatical then. Take some time off, write a book. Go on an expedition. Sleep in for a few months, whatever it takes to rekindle the joy in your life.”

Edelgard leaned back in her chair and sighed. “I don’t know, I’m not one for idling either. I guess I’ll just have to suck it up.” She glanced at her wristwatch and sat up straight again. “Dimitri, thank for this dinner but it’s time I got back to the hotel. I still have a few articles to write. Let’s split the bill.”

“My treat, I insist. Any chance your assignments cover the talk on the crest system tomorrow?”

“Are you joking, if my boss weren’t at home with a thrown out back he’d be sitting in the audience in my stead, heckling the speaker until he was thrown out.”

“Never change, Professor von Essar, never change,” Dimitri said thoroughly amused, and held up his hand to get the waitstaff’s attention.

Chapter Text

The auditorium was filling up but Edelgard was nowhere to be seen. The seat he was saving for her became more desirable by the minute. He took out his phone to check if she had left him a message but was greeted by his empty lock screen.

“Hey, sorry, can I bother you for a second?” Dimitri felt someone gently touching his shoulder and turned around.

“How can I help you?”

“I have tried to connect with the conference wi-fi but I don’t have the right password.”

“Sure, wait, let me pull it up.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it. I get the dedication to reduce unnecessary paper use but it’s kind of twisted to send the password required for the network access via email when you need to connect in order to access that in the first place.”

“I assume most attendants automatically download their emails in the morning at their hotel.” Dimitri held up his phone so the guy behind him could write it down.

“I would have done that but my flight was delayed and I had more pressing matters to attend to. Right, thanks a lot.”

Since Edelgard still hadn’t arrived Dimitri decided to make some small talk to pass the time. “You came by plane? Where did you come from?”

“Ah, I flew in from Almyra. My name is Claude, by the way. Claude von Riegan, Almyra National University.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance, I am Dimitri Blaiddyd, Fhirdiad Royal College.” They shook hands.

“Are you presenting this year?” Claude asked.

“I have presented yesterday, female chivalry in medieval Faerghus. How about you?”

“Oh, I’m speaking on a panel this afternoon. It’s about cultural exchange between Fódlan and the neighbouring states. I will give insight into the Almyran perspective. Come by if you have the time.”

“I think I will. You know I once had the pleasure of listening to an Almyran visiting lecturer, I remember it most fondly.” They kept talking until the lights were dimmed and the presenter tested his microphone. Dimitri checked his phone again but just in that moment he spotted Edelgard. She seemed a little lost but once she saw Dimitri waving at her with his phone, the screen brightness turned up to the max she made her way over. She quietly apologised to the people she disturbed before dropping into her seat.

“Thank you so much for saving me a seat, you would not believe the morning I’ve had,” she whispered and began to unpack. The speaker cleared his throat and began to speak.

Dimitri thought the speaker did his best to convey the impact of his findings but they were hardly ground-breaking. There was virtually no one who questioned the importance of the crest system during that time. There were so many primary sources which all confirmed the same that a new translation was barely news. Still, Dimitri was intrigued by the speaker’s notion that inbreeding practiced by some noble families and the resulting increase of genetic defects might actually have contributed to the crest system’s popularity instead of harming it. From time to time Dimitri glanced at Edelgard who was furiously taking notes using a shorthand he did not know. He did not envy her for he could imagine how frustrating it must be to write an article for a luminary of the field. He would not be surprised if von Essar would tear the article to shreds not for the article itself but for the shortcomings of the speaker, something Edelgard had no influence over whatsoever. Once the speaker had finished and opened the floor for questions Claude immediately spoke up.

“Von Riegan, ANU. Forgive me if I sound ignorant, but you said it was common knowledge even back then that inbreeding can and eventually will result in genetic defects? You mentioned entire branches of family trees suffering to varying degrees from the same disease; a practise considered despicable and inhumane today, not to mention disgusting then and today. Is this a testament to the power that the crest cult had over the nobility?” At the word cult the audience became a little agitated, but the speaker reacted coolly.

“Thank you for your interesting question. The people of Fódlan did realise that direct inbreeding could result in offspring with severe health problems. That is probably why brother-sister marriage was taboo and as far as I know not practiced. Of course the rules by which crests were passed down or how they manifested in the first place are unknown to us today as they probably were to the people back then, but there’s a few theories. One actually argues against inbreeding, claiming that blood needed to be refreshed every generation, but there are other more prominent theories that claim that if two descendants of many and/or particularly powerful crest-bearers procreate their offspring will be more likely to inherit a crest. Some considered their blood to be an asset equal to their lands and fields. Let us assume then that over the centuries certain diseases or disabilities become associated with certain crests or quality of the blood. A family boasting multiple members with the same affliction? A clear a sign for that family’s superiority as can be.”

“So according to your research you cannot deny that the crest system made afflicted individuals suffer for no real purpose? Mentally impaired individuals essentially having the same function as exotic pets or luxury goods in the eyes of the crest system?” Clause asked further.

The audience began to buzz with some applauding Claude loudly and enthusiastically while others shouted their differing opinions at him and at all those who disagreed with them. Dimitri was uncomfortable but one look at Claude told him that the young scholar was satisfied with the unrest he had caused. The speaker had difficulties regaining control over the session and when objects began to fly through the auditorium security stepped in. The lights were turned back on and some promptly summoned conference organisers in reflective vests asked the attendees to leave the auditorium in an orderly queue.

Once they were outside Dimitri suggested to Claude that he should apologise to the speaker.

“Of course, you are right. I hope he understood that this was in no way a personal attack on him or his research. I found his presentation absolutely fascinating.”

“Still, you brought his event to an early end.”

“I thought your question was rather refreshing,” Edelgard chimed in. “Usually the crest historians’ talks are deathly because there’s hardly ever any new discoveries and yet every two years they come together and congratulate themselves on having mastered their specialty.”

“I feel I must note that the inequalities of the crest systems are acknowledged and studied as well,” Dimitri added.

“So what was the outrage about then?” Claude coolly leaned against the wall looking at the crowd that had just emerged from the auditorium, still visibly upset and arguing amongst each other.

“It’s not as much what you said but where you said it,” Edelgard explained.

“We are in Faerghus and some people feel very strongly about the crest system because to this day they are favoured by it in some way. Like Dimitri here, though to his credit at least he is decently modest about it.” Claude raised his eyebrows and eyed the blond giant from head to toe.

“Well, looking at you I can begin to understand why people must have thought that there was some truth to this whole crest business. Tell me, you don’t happen to have supernatural strength or speed owed to your most impressive physique?” Dimitri didn’t know what to say so he lowered his head in embarrassment and picked at his cuff instead.

“My, my, you do know how to choose your words. I haven’t introduced myself, I am Edelgard von Hresvelg from the Adrestian Heritage Research Institute.”

“Pleasure, Claude von Riegan, Almyra National University. It’s still early but is either of you interested in lunch? We could beat the noon rush.”

“My apologies, but I need to make the most of this unexpected free time you caused. I have to write a couple more articles and revise the ones I have already written. I’ll see you around, Mister von Riegan, Dimitri.” Edelgard elegantly brushed her hair back as she turned around and walked away.

Chapter Text

“This is it. Here you go.” Edelgard pressed SEND and got up from her bed. Hopefully within the next hour her boss would accept the last revisions of her articles and thus release her into the last evening of the conference. She checked the clock one more time before jumping into the shower to get ready for the evening. Once she came back out she checked her computer and saw the short message of deliverance.

Good job. Thank you for your hard work. Enjoy the evening.

She let out a sigh of relief and plopped down on the bed. She was busy applying body lotion to her legs when a video call came in. Unable to click the button to disable the camera she used her nose to accept the call.

“I’m sorry, I’m a little indecent!” She said after she had jumped behind the laptop.

“Edelgard, is this a bad time?”

Edelgard rearranged her towels and continued applying the heavy lotion. “Ah Hubert. Only if you insist on seeing my physical form.”

“Your voice will have to sustain me then. How was the conference?”

“You know, apart from the soul crushing pain of having to stand on the side lines and report on the greatness of others it was actually really nice. I am getting ready for the evening now.”

“Then I will keep it brief. As you instructed me I have been taking care of your paper correspondence while you were away. Your application for that government grant you applied to was rejected, I’m sorry to say. But I found you another two that you might just have a shot at if you are ready to compromise.”

Edelgard rolled her eyes and squeezed a biscuit-sized amount of lotion onto her palm. “Was there any justification? Wait, don’t tell me, of course there wasn’t because that would be outright helpful. Why, it would give researchers hope that one day they might have the funds to do what they originally set out to do!” Angrily she rubbed the lotion onto her arms and chest. Hubert waited an appropriate amount of time before continuing.

“Your landlord wrote to inform you of a rent increase due to higher living costs but since you were a good tenant they are willing to work out something until you find someplace new to live. In case you don’t agree to the rent increase, that is.”

“Any uplifting news in my mail, Hubert?”

“The animal shelter you donate to has sent a set of polaroid photos of their latest arrivals.”

“Thank you, Hubert.” Edelgard closed the bottle of lotion, checked her towels were covering her properly and then sat down back on the bed. Her lips curled into a smile at the sight of her favourite person. He was sitting at his desk at home which closely resembled his desk in their shared office at work, except for the mug on his table. It had been a gift from Edelgard: a Pegasus shaped mug, complete with wings that formed its two handles. The mug reminded her of the presentation Dimitri had sent her.

“Hubert, did I tell you I met Dimitri at the conference?”

“You have not. How was it?”

“He found this really cute illustration of a Pegasus in an old manuscript, wait, I’ll send it to you. Could you imagine if these things still lived today? You’d be driving through the country and suddenly there’s a herd of giant winged creatures standing there.” Hubert took a sip from his mug and looked at the image Edelgard had just sent him.

“I would be concerned with them flying away. I wonder how they looked after them,” he said and put his mug down.

“Probably with ropes or something like that.”

“To me the thought of tying these gentle creatures down is outright cruel. They are meant to live free. If they existed today, that is.”

Edelgard chuckled and took a deep breath. “What else is new in your life, Hubert?”

“Nothing, really. When are you coming home?”

“My train leaves around ten. If everything goes smooth I’ll arrive around eight, I believe.”

“Do you want me to pick you up? We could have dinner.”

“I’ll be all crinkly and grumpy from the train but sure. Now, if you don’t mind I have to get ready.”

“Don’t do anything you will need me to fix later on.”

“Thank you, Hubert. See you tomorrow.”

She closed her laptop and walked over to her suitcase. Since she had only packed one elegant dress her choice was simple. Her hair, however, was another matter. She moved the chair from the desk to the bathroom so she could sit throughout the process. Edelgard took great pride in her hair, taking care of it was not a chore to her but a sacred ritual. With every stroke of her brush she felt a little calmer, her thoughts slowed down until there was nothing but the sound of the brush running through her hair. The styling itself then was usually an easy affair and before she knew it she had finished her half-up, half-down hairstyle. Nothing too special but then again the evening before her wasn’t special either. After she had put on her dress and shoes she checked herself one last time in the mirror before heading out.

*

When she arrived at the venue the buffet and the open-bar were already very busy. She had just checked her coat when she heard someone call her name. “Edelgard, over here!” On account of her short height she was struggling to see anything but eventually she made it out of the crowd and finally spotted the body of the voice who had called out for her.

“I was not aware we are on a first name basis already,” she said as she approached Claude. He was leaning against a wall with his hands in his pockets.

“We would have been by the end of the night so why not get a head start? Are you meeting up with Dimitri?”

“That was the plan, yes. But one does not have to look for Dimitri long. A man as tall and wide as he is hardly inconspicuous. Have you seen the buffet, is it any good?”

“The hungrier you are the better it will be,” Claude said with a grin. “The organisers must have decided on a throwback to when we were all students surviving on whatever foods are available at two o’clock in the morning. Pizza but instead of old, cold and soggy it’s presented fashionably bite-sized and with extra toppings, for example. Or Croque Monsieur, a grilled cheese sandwich but fancy.”

Edelgard was amused at his commentary. “I must confess, I was the student constantly and mercilessly re-heating leftovers in the microwave.”

“You cook?”

“Simple things, but yes. I lived in shared accommodation so I made the most of my kitchen time. My roommates hated me for stuffing the refrigerator with my containers, but at least I had a somewhat healthy and nutritious diet as a student. What about you?”

“My friends kept me fed in exchange for study notes, fake references and the occasional provision of goods and services hard to come by for regular students.”

“I see, you are a man of many talents. All perfectly legal, I hope.”

“One has to eat, no? And I never hurt anyone. I meant access to the extra cosy study spaces, getting deadlines extended, finding lost books, that sort of thing. In my time I have found that there are few that can resist oozing self-confidence and a charming smile.” Edelgard raised her eyebrows briefly and then turned her attention back to the crowd. Finally, from the other side of the room Dimitri’s tall silhouette emerged. He came up to them, dabbing a napkin at a wet spot on his jacket.

“I apologise, someone spilled their drink on me. Did you wait long?”

“Not at all,” Edelgard said and brushed her hair back. “But now that you are here we can find a table and get something to eat. Come on, Dimitri.” The three of them headed to the other side of the buffet where tables were set up. The good ones close to the stage were already taken so the three of them quickly settled for one near the emergency exit. “Shouldn’t one of us stay behind so our table won’t get stolen?” Claude asked when Edelgard and Dimitri merely moved the cutlery around.

“Why, it's obvious that our table is occupied,” Dimitri said slightly confused before following Edelgard to the buffet. Claude looked at the table one last time before deciding to trust his company for the evening. He could hardly contain his surprise when their table was in the exact same state when they returned with their full plates and drinks, even though the tables around them were now occupied as well.

“Amazing. Back home someone would have snatched our table up as soon as we turned our backs.” Edelgard bit her tongue and sat down.

Ever so polite Dimitri said, “Well, that’s just how Faerghus culture is. There’s enough space for everyone so why take someone else’s when there’s plenty that are still free? Which is not to say that we would not immediately give up the table in case someone made a good case for it, like, for example, someone needed a table close to the emergency exit due to, say, an anxiety disorder. Or, if someone needed extra space. All I am saying is, in Faerghus it’s normal not to bother others needlessly, and to offer help and assistance whenever and however it is possible.”

“Please, Dimitri, you make us foreigners sound like inconsiderable jerks. Now sit down and let us eat,” Edelgard said, ready to dig in.

“Isn’t it strange?” Claude asked after they had clinked glasses and begun to eat. “Which parts of a culture survive for centuries and which parts don’t?”

“It’s only natural,” Edelgard said. “It’s what people in a society depend on. If it has served them well why change it. That is, if there was any collective memory of what their culture had been like. Adrestians wouldn’t know about any of that, of course.”

“How come?” Claude had already put his cutlery down again.

“Edelgard is referring to the downfall of the ancient Adrestian Empire,” Dimitri explained between two bites.

“Yes, but that was thousands of years ago, no? Haven’t you developed a new culture yet?”

“After the fall of the empire the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus imposed their culture upon the people of Adrestia and little has changed ever since. True, there’s no knighthood and chivalry fetish like they have here, but we still share the same values.”

“Perhaps we should leave it at that for now,” Dimitri suggested and gave each of them a look until they resumed eating.

The rest of the meal was spent in silence until there was movement on the stage. “What’s happening?” Claude asked curiously.

“Announcement of the award winners,” Edelgard said curtly and moved her chair back.

“There were prizes to be won? Nobody told me.”

“Awards, not prizes,” Dimitri corrected him.

“Sorry, nobody told me there would be awards up for grabs.”

“Claude, they are not exactly up for grabs. They are for papers that were submitted months ago. It’s a whole process. Getting to present at this conference is one thing, getting an award is playing in a whole other league. It’s like getting knighted.”

Claude nodded attentively. “So, have you submitted any papers?”

“Yes, but mine did not make the shortlist, I’m afraid,” Dimitri said with his usual modesty.

“What about you, Edelgard?”

“It was not a top priority of mine,” she answered.

The other attendees settled at their tables and looked at the important-looking people that had gathered on the stage. The man who took the microphone introduced himself as the president of the organisation committee of the conference and gave a speech about the importance of historical research, the drive to dig deeper, sometimes quite literally, and the courage to question the status quo. While the man spoke Claude observed Dimitri and Edelgard. Neither of them laughed at any of the jokes and puns in the speech and while their faces remained expressionless their body language gave them away. Dimitri was leaning forward as if he wished to trade places with anyone on stage while Edelgard sat there with her arms folded and her legs crossed, altogether dissatisfied. The winners were called on stage, received flower bouquets and delicate trophies. No sooner than the microphone had been turned off and the room lights turned on again Edelgard got up and as if by reflex Dimitri got up as well.

“Gentlemen, thank you for your company this evening. It’s time I went back to the hotel.”

“Already? I thought there was going to be a party with music and dancing,” Claude objected and also got up.

“Yes, Edelgard, stay a little longer. It’s been so long since we’ve last seen each other and who knows how long it will be until the next time. At least one drink, I insist.”

Edelgard looked around and noticed the waitstaff quickly clearing the tables and moving them to the side, thus making space for the dance floor. A band was setting up on the stage as well.

“Fine, just one drink,” Edelgard gave in, even though she was not at all in a mood to party and be merry. “If you’ll excuse me for a moment, I’ll be right back. If you’re going to get drinks, Dimitri, you know what I like.”

“Of course. And if they don’t have your favourite I’ll just get the next best thing.” He was still speaking when Edelgard had walked away. 

“Either she really has to pee or she couldn’t wait to get away from us,” Claude noted. Dimitri left that uncommented. Instead he headed for the bar where people were already standing in line.

Once Edelgard had closed the stall door behind her she let out a quiet sob before pressing her hand on her mouth and nose. There were other women in the room and she didn’t want to attract attention to add to her embarrassment and pain. She gave herself ten deep breaths to regain her composure and after the tenth breath she took some toilet paper and dried her tears with it.

You’re not a failure, she thought to herself. Your research is not less important. One day the rest of the academia will recognise that because you will make them. You cannot give up because you have nothing else.

After she had calmed down again she used the toilet and left the stall to wash her hands. “Are you OK?” A woman asked.

“Yes, thank you. I just needed a moment.”

“Of course.” And then the woman leaned in a bit. “I know it’s unfair. Unless you know the right people or your research is of use to  people in high places your paper won’t even be considered for an award. What are you researching?”

“Uh, the history of the Adrestian Imperial Rulers,” Edelgard said, not wanting to get into details.

“Oh, that makes it even harder, if not impossible. But these awards are not the end-all and be-all, so don’t limit yourself.” The woman gave her a smile and then left.

“Excuse me? You’re occupying the sink and there’s people who would like to use it,” another woman said from behind her. Edelgard took a deep breath and then tore off some paper towels to dry her hands.

“Sorry,” she muttered and headed back outside.

*

“How do you know Edelgard?” Claude wanted to know. Dimitri didn’t look up from the cocktail he had ordered for Edelgard.

“It’s complicated,” he just said. Claude propped his elbows on the bar table.

“Do you like her?” He kept asking.

“Of course I do. Not in a romantic way of course, we’ve known each other since we were children.”

“Ah, so you go way back.”

“I guess you could say that. Is she coming?”

Claude craned his neck and scanned the room.

“Yes, she’s there.” He held his hand up until she saw him.

“I was worried you might have fallen into the toilet,” Claude greeted her.

“Claude, you can’t talk to a woman like that,” Dimitri reprimanded him.

“Relax, Dimitri, despite my female fragility I do not feel a fainting spell coming on. Oh, my favourite, thank you.” She took the drink from him.

“It’s about propriety in general,” Dimitri explained.

“Sorry, I’ll be more careful in choosing my words.”

“You do that, Claude. I’ll go and get us some snacks, I’ll be right back.”

Edelgard put the straw of her drink between her lips and waved at Dimitri as he walked away.

“He is one strange guy,” Claude said. “He watched your drink like a hawk the entire time. Is drink spiking a valid concern here?”

“Perhaps he just doesn’t trust you,” Edelgard retorted and pulled the pineapple slice from the rim of her glass to take a bite.

“That’s possible. But he cares for you, that’s obvious.”

“Aren’t you curious about other people’s lives.”

“One has to pass the time somehow. I thought you’d prefer that to the question of why you’ve been crying.” Edelgard was impressed by his observational skills but declined to comment and instead continued drinking her cocktail. Claude sipped on his beer before changing the subject.

“So, I heard about this research opportunity I think might interest you as well. It’s organised by the Garreg Mach Historical Society.”

“Ha, I know them. They’re fully funded by the Church of Seiros. They call it a research opportunity but really what they want is cheap labour in exchange for room and board in one of their many old and draughty churches and convents.”

“I thought as much, but they wrote that they are specifically looking for people with a research focus on church history because the responsibilities involve re-organising old church records and who knows what else. I don’t know about you but I am going to apply. There’s someone from the past I’d like to know more about. Isn’t it the same for you?”

They locked eyes for a moment before Edelgard shook her head. “They’ll reject my application on principle. The lost emperor is not a particularly popular topic neither with the church itself nor with the academia.”

“I agree, if that were the topic of your research they’d surely reject you on principle. Good thing you can still change your mind.”

“Change her mind on what?” Dimitri had re-joined them.

“Claude is trying to convince me to stay longer,” Edelgard said and brushed her hair back. “I believe it’s because he fears he may not find a partner to dance with,” she added teasingly.

“Nonsense, you are a man, you’re not bad looking and you want to dance, you’ll be fine.”

“If you say so, then I must simply try my luck,” Claude said and winked at Edelgard.

* 

The next morning Edelgard checked out of her hotel with very small eyes and a scratchy throat. One drink had turned into many drinks and the night had ended with her crawling down the hallway from the lift to her hotel room. She settled the bill for room service and in a whisper asked if there were taxis out front.

“If there is no taxi on stand-by our doorman will be happy to organise one for you.”

“Thank you.”

“We hope you enjoyed your stay with us and look forward to having you here again soon, Miss von Hresvelg.” The clicking of her suitcases’ wheels on the stone floor of the lobby made her head hurt even more and she was glad when she immediately found a taxi ready to take her to the central station. Once at the station her train was ready for boarding and Edelgard made a mental note to thank her boss for reserving her a seat in the silent car. She put her luggage away, put on her headphones and took out her notebook. By the time the train departed Fhirdiad central station she had already begun a rough draft of her research proposal.

Chapter Text

Hubert was on his way back from the small kitchen on their floor when he met the intern responsible for distributing the mail. He glanced at the trolley where a thick envelope caught his eye. “Do you mind if I take this off your hands? Spare you the walk back there,” he said to the intern. The intern did not object, but not for being spared a couple of steps. He handed Hubert a stack of letters including the thick envelope and quickly pulled his trolley back to the lift where he had come from. The mail in one hand and a tumbler with hot coffee in the other he went back to the office he shared with Edelgard. “Mail,” he announced and put it on his desk to sort it into piles.

“Did you stare at the intern menacingly again?” Edelgard asked from her desk. “You have to stop doing that, it is not conducive to their educational experience here. We need the interns, they do everything we’d rather not do.” With a smile she took the post addressed to her and looked through it. Hubert watched with great interest as she opened the thick envelope.

“What does the Garreg Mach Historical Society want from you?”

“Oh, a while ago I applied for a spot in one of their programmes. I assume they sent back the documents because they’ve rejected me, like every single last…” Edelgard stopped mid-sentence.

“Well?” Hubert walked around the desk to look over her shoulder. She handed him the letter and took out the rest of the contents of the envelope. A brochure about Garreg Mach, a pamphlet about the Church, an orientation packet and a folder with a contract and additional waivers.

“They’ve accepted me and my proposal!” Edelgard exclaimed excitedly.

“How can that be?” Hubert took the acceptance letter from her and scanned it for an answer to his question. “Wait, wait, wait, canon law? Since when are you interested in canon law?” Edelgard flipped through the rest of the materials.

“The Empire of Adrestia once founded the Church of Seiros. In turn the church held an influential position within the realm. Church leaders and emperors must have been dependent on each other to potentially a large degree. Until they weren’t, of course. I think that merits a closer look.”

“But we both know that the lost emperor is not mentioned in any of the church records.”

“Not in those readily available, no. But, as it happens, the Society would like some old church records from the monastery archives digitalised and transcribed. We’re talking about thousands of documents in various state of decay, some in scripts that are very difficult to decipher. Luckily, my studies and my research have prepared me for exactly this type of work.” She turned her chair around and looked at Hubert who was not nearly as excited as she was. “Hubert, I cannot let this opportunity pass me by.”

“How long will you be gone? What about your responsibilities here?” What about me? He added with his eyes. Edelgard went through the paperwork again.

“It’s for six months, full-time with bed and board. I will have to take a sabbatical. Talk about a fresh start.” Edelgard got up and straightened her jumper. “How do I look?”

“Like someone who is about to make a potentially bad decision,” Hubert answered and walked back to his own desk. Edelgard smiled and followed him.

“Hubert, we’ll stay in contact, I promise. I have to speak to someone about the crazy church folk in order not to go crazy myself. And you can come visit, right? Or I can come home for holidays and…”

“Edelgard, I honestly and truly believe that you are making a mistake by going there. Let me help you further your research here, in Adrestia. There’s plenty of grants we have not applied to yet, and I just saw that one of our old friends from university is working on a special issue, we should get in touch with him.”

“Hubert, stop!” Edelgard’s expression hardened. “You keep saying ‘we’ when in reality it’s me. You have your own stuff that is going great. I’m the failed researcher, you don’t share my burden.”

“I only want the best for you, Edelgard, and in my opinion the best for you is to stay in Adrestia and pursue other opportunities. Here people will commiserate with you over the lack of concrete evidence of the lost emperor. There they will laugh at you and pity you. You can’t possibly want that.”

“There’s plenty of people who are laughing at me here already, Hubert. I know you mean well, but please believe me that I know what I want, and what I want is to leave this place behind for the foreseeable future.” Edelgard had raised her voice a little but Hubert did not move a muscle. After an uncomfortable silence Edelgard opened her lips to apologise for her outburst when Hubert advised her to seek out their boss as soon as possible.

“He’ll have finished breakfast by now and you know how much he hates being interrupted during his personal study time.”

“Right, I should get going.”

When Professor Doctor Hanneman saw Edelgard entering his office he couldn’t suppress a sigh. “Good morning to you too!” Edelgard greeted him.

“What can I do for you this morning, Edelgard?” Edelgard sat down in the chair in front of his desk and interlaced her fingers.

“Professor Hanneman, as you are aware my research has been stalling for a while now.”

Hanneman chuckled and took a sip from his tea. “You know, in the original sense of the word stalling would imply that there are efforts to move forward, albeit unsuccessful ones. Have you been making any efforts?” Edelgard decided to ignore that remark and continued.

“My recent trip to the conference has shown me that there is a lot more out there to be researched and…”

“Wonderful! You are changing your area of research, that is wonderful news, Edelgard!” Hanneman set the cup down so hard he spilled a bit of tea.

“So tell me, what will you dedicate your precious time to from now on?”

Edelgard leaned forward and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “About that, I do not know yet. But I am hoping that a research opportunity that has been offered to me will make things clearer for me.”

Hanneman used his napkin to clean up the spilled tea. “Ah, yes, the Garreg Mach Historical Society. Some people may think that digitalisation and transcription of old manuscripts are dull, tedious and repetitive tasks but nonetheless they are very important. Standing on the shoulders of diligent little scribblers, and so on.”

“How do you know about it?”

“The head administrator called for a reference. Edelgard, I am not sure this is the best use of your time, but I am sure that you will benefit greatly from a sabbatical. And you are giving back to the academic society, yes, it’s very laudable indeed. When are you leaving?”

Edelgard blinked a few times before answering. “Well, the programme doesn’t start for another month but I have to take care of some personal matters so…”

“Why don’t you just wrap things up, I’ll settle the details of your employment here with HR and by the end of the week I can release you from your duties.”

“It’s Wednesday today,” Edelgard said slowly.

“Well, I am not a magician, Edelgard. Thursday is the soonest I can be done. Is that enough time for you?”

Edelgard was too stunned to speak so she just nodded. “Wonderful, wonderful, now let me get started on the paperwork. Shoo, young Edelgard, go and prepare for your new adventure!” He waved her out of the room.

Chapter Text

“The car is outside,” Hubert said and looked around the office. “Is that all?” He asked when he saw Edelgard’s half of the office neatly packed up in three boxes of medium size.

“Uh, yes. I am leaving the plants in your care, the watering plan is taped to the cabinet over there. I will activate the forwarding of my emails but in the unlikely case someone will call for me, can you take a message?”

“Sure. Are you ready to go?”

Edelgard took one last look at her office where she had worked for the past few years. Suddenly she understood why Hubert had made that comment about her boxes. Apart from the light spot on the wall where she had hung her animal shelter calendars over the years she had left no mark in that room. “Yes, let’s go. I can take this box myself.”

“I put the backseat down in anticipation of more boxes, I’ll just have to put them back up before we leave,” Hubert said quietly and stacked the other two boxes on top of each other.

“Hubert, you have worked with me in that office, where did you think I put all that stuff you believed I had?”

“I don’t know, I just assumed you had more somewhere. Let’s get going before I get a parking ticket for parking outside the lines.”

Since Edelgard had chosen not to renew the lease on her apartment she had temporarily moved back in with her father. Although Hubert didn’t show it on the outside he was slightly excited as he turned the car onto a private road.

“Watch out, sometimes the guard dogs come out of nowhere,” Edelgard cautioned him once they had passed the automatic gate.

“Is Willy still around?”

“Yes, but he’s more of an oversized lapdog these days. I believe Willhelm V. is the alpha dog now. Look, I think that’s him.” A large dog suddenly appeared and followed the car to the newly renovated palace. A man in a livery approached the car to open her door but Edelgard held up her hand and turned to Hubert.

“Hubert, I don’t know what condition my father will be in. Whatever it may be, I trust you keep everything you hear or see today to yourself.”

“You have my word, Edelgard.” She gave him a sad smile and then let the footman open the door for her.

“Welcome home, Miss Edelgard. Your father is waiting for you in the garden. Your rooms have been prepared if you want to change first.”

“Thank you. Come on, Hubert. Let’s go.” As he followed Edelgard into the palace he once more admired the elegance with which she moved in that environment he knew she despised. She quietly acknowledged the house staff greeting them but never stopped to exchange words with any of them; she didn’t even slow down when a door ahead was closed. Hubert was preparing to pull her back, worried that she might not stop in time but as if through magic the door was opened from the other side and she passed through the narrow gap as elegantly as a swan gliding through the water.

A table with tea and snacks had been set up on the terrace overlooking the rest of the garden which was really a park. As soon as Hubert spotted Edelgard’s father he stopped to give them some privacy. It seemed he was having a good day, judging from his apron and his gloves he had been doing some gardening. He took those off and handed them to one of the gardeners so he could hug his daughter.

“Would you like me to prepare you a cup of tea?” A maid asked Hubert.

“Actually, I’d prefer coffee.”

“Very well, sir. Would you like some cream and sugar with that?”

“No, plain coffee will be fine.”

“Why don’t you have a seat while you wait? There is a selection of newspapers and magazines for you to choose from on the trolley over there.” If the size of the estate and the staff hadn’t already reminded him of Edelgard’s special circumstances the reading materials on offer would have. The copy of Adrestia’s largest daily newspaper was missing the entire politics section, one page of the culture section had been removed. When Hubert took a look at a popular monthly publication some paragraphs had been carefully cut out, as well as some people in the photographs. The only publications untouched were a tabloid with pictures of stars and starlets in various states of undress as well as a nature photography magazine. Hubert had finished both a censored newspaper and his coffee by the time Edelgard and her father joined him at the table.

“Hubert, my boy, it’s so good to see you again,” Ionius greeted him and gave him a gentle handshake.

“I am glad to see you doing well. How is the garden coming?”

“Oh, it’s a thankless never-ending job but at least it looks pretty. I was just showing Edelgard the new orchard. And in a few weeks the pond will be enlarged and we’ll put in a few new fish.” His gaze fell on the newspaper Hubert had read.

“What did you think of the interview with the director of the Enbarr Art Museum?”

Hubert had read the interview but he couldn’t recall anything particularly interesting about it. Edelgard’s father didn’t seem to care and instead offered his own opinions. All of the curators should be fired for the incoherent exhibitions they had put on in the past years, the director had bought the position for himself; not only a sign of his general incompetence but also of his insignificance within Adrestia because it was apparently all he could afford.

“And the best pieces! They are hidden away in a vault because they don’t have the guts to put them on display!” Ionius was now shouting and gesturing wildly. Hubert felt a drop of his spit land on his cheek but resisted the urge to wipe it away.

“Father, you know art is not Hubert’s area of expertise. And he also didn’t come to be lectured by you. Please, don’t make him uncomfortable.” Edelgard poured him a cup of tea which he immediately sent flying into the grass.

“You stupid girl, you know exactly that this not about art! I couldn’t give a damn about art! This is about the politics and those filthy traitors who just keep twisting and twisting the knife they rammed into my back! And you, instead of fighting for justice you chase this idiotic ghost of a person who ran the glorious empire into the ground and robbed it of any future worth a dime!”

Hubert couldn’t take it any longer and shot up from his chair.

“Sir, I fear your anger is misdirected.”

“And what do you know about that, you parasite. Leave my daughter alone, she is too good for you! Out! Get out!”

Hubert glanced at Edelgard who was just staring at the table seemingly frozen. He clenched his fist only to release it again.

“I shall be taking my leave then. Edelgard.” When she didn’t react he turned on his heel and left. He could still hear her father shout insults and threats as he walked through the house. They only stopped once the heavy front door fell shut behind him.

That evening Hubert gave Edelgard a call though he didn’t expect her to answer it. He let it ring a few times and was ready to hang up when she picked up.

“Good evening, Edelgard.”

“Good evening, Hubert. I’m sorry your visit was cut so short.”

“As long as you are well and safe.”

“I’m okay. Apparently my father had been on edge for a couple of days, I’m just sorry he blew up today of all days. I wouldn’t be surprised if he called to apologise to you personally. That would at least make for a nice change for once.”

“Do you really think it was that article that set him off?”

“It doesn’t matter what it was. In his view he’ll forever be a wronged man unable to fight back against his transgressors.”

“Well, it’s not untrue, is it.”

On the other end Edelgard was quiet for a moment before she changed the topic.

“I know I asked you to take me to the monastery but I changed my mind. I will take one of my father’s cars instead. That way I don’t have to rely on public transportation while I’m there.”

“That is very reasonable. I heard the roads are narrow though, a big car might be difficult to manoeuvre.”

“I’ll manage. Again, I’m sorry about your visit today.”

“You had warned me beforehand and you regrettably were correct. As long as you are well I don’t mind the rest.”

“Thank you, Hubert. For everything. Good night.”

“Good night.”

Edelgard hung up and put her phone back on her nightstand. She thought about what she wanted to pack for her stay at the monastery. Her animal calendars, for sure, perhaps even one of her stuffed animals. She would be occupying a single room after all. She turned on her side and starred at the naked wall on the other side of the room. Perhaps her move wouldn’t be too much of a change after all.

Chapter Text

Edelgard arrived at the monastery gate drenched in sweat. With shaking fingers she turned the engine off and then fell back into the seat. As handy the big car was to pack all of her belongings with enough space to secure them with seatbelts she had underestimated its dimensions. Hubert had been right, the roads were so narrow she didn’t dare to drive the speed limit, causing other drivers to honk at her impatiently. At one bend a car coming down from the monastery had to reverse uphill to make room for her and the entire time the driver was glaring at her. Edelgard’s heartrate spiked once again when someone knocked at her window.

“Excuse me, this parking space is reserved for staff members and members of the clergy. There is a parking lot for visitors a bit further down, just follow that road.”

Once she had composed herself again Edelgard let the window down.

“My name is Edelgard von Hresvelg, I am starting my research fellowship today.”

The security guard turned away from her and spoke into his walkie-talkie. In the meantime Edelgard released her seatbelt and reached for her handbag from the backseat so she could present any required documents. The security guard turned to her again.

“Miss Hresvelg, you did not indicate you would require a parking space.”

“I’m sorry, last minute change of plans. Just tell me where to park and I will get out of your way.”

“It’s not as easy as that. We have a system here. I’m waiting for the facility manager to figure something out. You’re lucky you arrived fairly early. Move-in day is always busy.”

In that moment the walkie-talkie hissed and the security guy received to Edelgard completely unintelligible information.

“Right, Miss Hresvelg, you may thank your lucky star today. There is a sparking space right by your accommodation. Might be tight squeeze but you made it up here so I assume you’ll manage.”

He scribbled some instructions in his little notebook and then tore the page out and handed it to her. “Yours is number 9. If you require further assistance there will be someone from housing there. Walking pace only until you get to the road, pedestrians and groundkeepers have right of way. Welcome to Garreg Mach Monastery.”

Edelgard thanked him and started her engine. Following the instructions she drove down an inconspicuous forest road to the back of the monastery. Suddenly the forest opened up and she had a great view of the lake next to the monastery. From the brochures Edelgard knew that it had once been fed by a natural river, and old accounts described it somewhat as a water of miracles. Eventually the road led to a structure that seemed newer than the monastery itself. A young woman with large corkscrew curls and a clipboard waved at her from afar and then guided her into a parking space. Since the woman was rather short she barely reached the window of Edelgard’s car so Edelgard opened the door and got out.

“Hello, and welcome to the Old Convent. My name is Flayn and I will be looking after you for the duration of your stay. You must be Edelgard, your arrival was announced to me via this nifty thing!” She held up her own walkie-talkie.

“Yes, my name is Edelgard von Hresvelg, pleased to meet you, Miss Flayn. I’m sorry I didn’t catch your surname”

“Oh, just Flayn will do. We’ll be spending a lot of time together over the next few months. Your room is ready, why don’t you let me give you the tour and then you can come and grab your things. If it’s heavy we’ll just recruit some of the other guests around. Come, come.”

Edelgard followed Flayn into the building and immediately regretted not having taken her jumper with her. Flayn went behind the reception desk and picked up an envelope which she clipped to her clipboard.

“Let me start the tour by explaining the building were in. As you surely know Garreg Mach Monastery has long served as the holiest site of the Church of Seiros. Attached to the monastery were various organisations both religious and secular. The Old Convent, as its name would suggest, served as the living quarters for the nuns here in Garreg Mach. Since the majority of the monks took care of the monastery itself it was easier for them to live there. The building has been renovated and fitted with electricity, plumbing and other amenities of modern life, but otherwise the rooms are the same as they have been over a thousand years ago. If you’ll follow me upstairs where the living quarters and the common room are located, thank you. Good thing you’re also on the shorter side, taller visitors have hit their heads on the beams and doorframes before.”

Edelgard followed Flayn quietly and listened to her chattering away. She must have given the tour endless times already and yet there was no hint of tedium in her voice. Flayn showed her the common room where two people where having a chat over tea before leading her down a long hallway.

“During the convent’s heydays these rooms were shared by up to four nuns. They would take turns hauling water and emptying chamber pots for the entire floor. The youngest nuns were also responsible for waking everyone for the morning prayers. Sometimes those poor souls would fall asleep themselves and get told off by the mother superior. But these days you are responsible for yourself. This is your room.” Flayn unlocked a door and opened it. The room was much like Edelgard expected from the brochure. Spartan but with plenty of space to decorate according to one’s own tastes.

“What are your policies on hanging pictures or calendars?” Edelgard wanted to know.

“You are free to hang anything on the walls as long as you fill the holes again before you leave. Also, please paint over any stains or marks you may have made. Don’t worry, you can rent everything you need from us for a symbolic fee. Now, let me show you the communal bathrooms.”

Flayn locked the door again and took her to the end of the hallway. “This is the bathroom for your floor. Every shower has its own cubicle with a hook you can hang your shower caddy on. Please place used towels in the hamper near the door. The toilets are off to the side. Any questions? No, then let’s take a look at the computer room. Back in the day the nuns had to do their reading and writing by candle light, they would faint if they knew about computers and the internet. Personally I love the internet. No matter how silly a question may be, I just type it in and the internet will give me an answer, or even many answers. And it doesn’t judge, isn’t that wonderful? Do you like the internet, Edelgard?”

“Er… Sure.”

“Such a modern woman, you. Do you also type using fingers of both your hands at the same time? I’m sure you do. It’s so much faster than writing by hand. Here we are.” Flayn opened the door to the computer room. Nothing special, Edelgard thought and scanned the room. Public computers, a multifunction printer and a shelf with reference books.

“The internet does not always reach all of the rooms equally. If you absolutely need it for your work here I suggest you bring your portable computer here and use it on one of the empty desks. Or, you can take one of the fat cables and plug it in. Then the internet goes straight to your computer. Fascinating, isn’t it?”

“Yes, absolutely,” Edelgard said to stop the incessant chatter for a moment. “Say, Flayn, are there many fellows visiting at the moment?”

“No, there are not. Most guests stay here leading up to that large gathering of the minds where they discuss what they have been studying. But that one has just taken place a few months ago, I believe. You could say, it’s the off-season right now.”

“I see. And do you have many activities planned?”

“We occasionally have boardgame nights called: ‘Boardgames for boarders’. I know, it’s very clever, People keep telling me so. Sometimes guests cook for each other in the kitchen downstairs. I’ll show you when we go downstairs again. In the summer there is a firepit outside for Bee-Bee-Qus. Do you like fish? It’s a specialty of mine, freshly fished from the lake.” Flayn was interrupted by her walkie-talkie.

“Flayn, come in.”

Flayn gave Edelgard an apologetic smile.

“I’m sorry, I’m needed. Why don’t you take your key, head downstairs and get your things, I’ll be with you right away.”

Edelgard had just unloaded one of her boxes when she heard a familiar voice.

“Would you look at that. A mean person might accuse you of compensating for something with this giant car. Your height, perhaps?”

Edelgard turned around to see Claude leaning against her car. Despite not knowing him very well Edelgard was glad to see him again. This way she knew at least one person already. He had grown a beard since she had last seen him but otherwise he hadn’t changed.

“A more insecure person would protest, but I’m just glad I had enough room for all of my things,” Edelgard said and continued to unload her car.

“Let me help you,” Claude offered and reached for her suitcases.

“Thank you, just take them upstairs, I’ll follow with my boxes.”

“If they’re too heavy let me do it.”

“Thank you, I may be short but I am not a child.”

“Right, children always want to be included, I forgot.”

Edelgard rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but smile. Once they had brought everything upstairs Edelgard unlocked her door and opened it.

“The only advantage of staying in this old building must be the uniformity of all the rooms. The nuns must not have been firm believers in seniority perks.” Claude set the suitcases on the mattress and walked to the window.

“You even have the same sad view as me.”

“Does it really matter? I plan to work and pursue my own research while I’m here. I doubt I’ll spend much time in this room outside of sleeping.” Edelgard put a box on her desk and took a deep and loud breath. Claude looked at her with some concern.

“Are you all right?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I am just a little exhausted, the drive here was longer and more difficult than I had anticipated. I just have to catch my breath and I’ll be fine.”

“All right then.” He did not sound convinced but thankfully he let the matter be. Instead he opened the window and leaned out.

“So for dinner I suggest we go to the canteen in the monastery. I haven’t had the chance to buy groceries for the kitchen here and asking Flayn to cook is not an option, trust me.”

In the meantime Edelgard’s heart had calmed down again. She took a moment to listen inside her just to make sure it was nothing out of the ordinary.

“Once I have settled in we can take my car to the village,” she then offered. “I passed through it and the shops seem to have a large enough selection. How’s the food in the canteen?”

“I can’t really complain. The food is a little bland but that’s nothing some seasoning can’t fix. The sight of the cloaked clergy however, is something I’m still getting used to. Yes?”

Flayn had appeared in the doorway.

“I see you’ve already made a friend, Edelgard. Beware this charming young man though, he is a sweet talker. I came to ask if you had any more questions about your stay here? No? In case you think of something later I am at the front desk downstairs most of the time. If I’m not there I am usually somewhere in the monastery or by the lake. If it’s urgent you just find someone with a walkie-talkie to track me down. Can you imagine in the olden days when it was perfectly normal for people to vanish for an entire day only to reveal that they had been busy in the monastery all that time? Those were the days. Anyway, your academic supervisor is ready for you, Edelgard. Claude, why don’t you show her to the library? When you are done we can have dinner together, there’s this recipe I have wanted to try.”

Edelgard agreed before she noticed Claude who was microscopically shaking his head with his lips pressed together. Flayn clapped her hands and smiled.

“Great, I will prepare everything. Dinner’s at eight. We’ll have so much fun.”

Chapter Text

The main library was large and its interior fairly modern. While they waited for the supervisor Claude gave Edelgard his own introduction to the place.

“The supervisor, he seems like a good guy but he has multiple sticks up his ass. He’s the type to forbid children from playing rough on a playground. With concern for their safety, probably, but mostly because he wouldn’t want the equipment damaged.”

“Stop, Claude. I like to meet people as they present themselves to me.”

“He’ll present himself upright, all right.”

At the sight of a man approaching them she quickly shushed him.

“You must be Miss Edelgard von Hresvelg. Welcome to Garreg Mach Monastery. My name is Seteth, I will be your supervisor for your time here. Let me take you on a tour. Claude, do you want to join us on our tour?”

“No, thank you, Seteth. I had a librarian set out a few books for me. I can’t wait to get started.”

“I like to hear that. If you have any further questions you can find me in my office after we’re done with the tour.”

Claude nodded and waved at Edelgard before heading to the reception desk. Seteth checked his wristwatch and turned to Edelgard.

“Right, let’s get started. On this tour I will show you the most important places in the monastery for the duration of your stay. It’s quite large so we’ll surely earn our steps for the day. You’ve already seen most of the things I am going to tell you about in the orientation packet but I’ll go over this again so you can ask any questions you may have.”

If Flayn’s tour of the old convent had been meant to light and entertaining Seteth’s tour was the complete opposite. Edelgard quickly realised that he considered the monastery to be his house with his own rules which he took very seriously. Even the opening times of the break room with the microwave and vending machine were communicated as seriously as the worship times in the cathedral.

“Since we host guests from all backgrounds and religions we do not require anyone to attend any of the services but you are welcomed to join every once in a while all the same. I am obviously biased but I think being able to experience the church today helps to understand its past. Also the view is breath-taking.”

They stopped on the bridge leading to the cathedral. To the west lay the lake and to the east the mountains. Edelgard had seen pictures but experiencing the wind blowing through her hair made it feel real. Seteth watched her for a while, wondering what was going through her head.

“You are in luck, the next few months are full of celestial events. Weather permitting we organise outings at night time. That reminds me: Since the monastery is an active place of worship and a pilgrimage site we generally do not lock the doors at any time but we have security guards posted all over the monastery and cathedral. Nothing goes on in this place without my knowing about it, sooner or later. Come, there is still a lot to see and we’re already behind schedule.”

Next they visited the archives which was the place Edelgard was expecting to spend the better part of the next months. On account of her short height she did not have to watch her head as they descended into the basement. Soon Edelgard’s nose filled with the familiar dusty smell of archives.

“This is where we store all of the old documents. Usually there is someone from the church or the historical society on duty to help locate what you are looking for but it is possible you have to search yourself. What we have already catalogued is shown on the maps hanging all over the archives. Your task will be to work with our resident researchers with whatever they need. Could be more cataloguing, could be transcription and translation. Each week there are hours set aside for your own research. You have received the guidelines and requirements for your research paper in your information packet. There is a shortcut around that corner back to the main hall of the library. Do you have any further questions?”

“No, thank you. The tour was very informative. Do you think it’s possible I could take a look at the archives now?”

Seteth checked his watch before he agreed. “It’s almost time for the evening service so I will be going to the cathedral. I will see you tomorrow in my office at ten o’clock to discuss your research proposal. I have some suggestions you may find very interesting. See you tomorrow.”

He left through what Edelgard assumed to be the shortcut, leaving her all alone with over a thousand years’ worth of knowledge stuffed into files, bound by string and stacked from the floor to the ceiling in heavy filing cabinets and shelves. Driven by curiosity she chose a filing cabinet at the very back, the lack of a label indicating that the contents had not been catalogued yet. She opened a drawer and pulled out the first file she could find. Although her actions had been sanctioned by Seteth she still looked over her shoulders to see if anyone was watching. Only when she was sure she was alone she pulled on the string and opened the file. Even though she hadn’t expected to find the answers to all her questions on her very first day she was a little disappointed when she saw what was in front of her.

*

“A fart joke?” Claude asked between two bursts of laughter. They had just finished their dinner with Flayn and were now washing up. Claude had not lied when he had discouraged Edelgard from eating Flayn’s cooking. What was supposed to be crunchy was soft and vice-versa, the sauce had suspicious lumps in it and Edelgard was not certain exactly what kind of protein she had just eaten. Still, Edelgard understood why apparently no one had the heart to tell Flayn about her horrendous cooking. The joy in that woman’s eyes as she served the meal was just too pure.

“Goddess forbid people at the time would have just written down and preserved the mundane matters we still wonder about today, like how people tamed and cared for the Pegasi. Instead their faecal humour lives on,” Edelgard muttered as she scrubbed the crusty pan with a metal sponge.

“Aren’t Pegasi just phantastic creatures? Did they really exist?”

“Of course they did.” Flayn had entered the kitchen with the dirty cloth she had used to clean the table.

“Then how come you have never found a complete skeleton with all of the wing bones? I mean, wyvern warriors are deeply rooted in Almyran mythology yet no one claims that they really existed.”

“Because their bones were used for materials,” Flayn explained and took a towel to dry the dishes. “Pegasus bone has been said to be stronger than any man-made material. It was also highly sought after to create jewellery and pieces of art. There are such relics in the possession of the church, or so I’ve heard.”

“How convenient,” Claude quipped and took the pan from Edelgard. “Not one Pegasus skeleton in the whole of Fódlan but people will swear that they have existed. What a strange folk you are.”

“Says the man of a people who almost only consists of former nobility. Everyone is so special that no one is truly special anymore,” Edelgard said.

“It’s our differences that make us great and interesting to each other. Let’s make use of our time together to get to know each other better,” Flayn ended the discussion surprisingly forcefully. Edelgard and Claude quickly glanced at each other before Edelgard changed the subject.

“Starting tomorrow I will be very busy so I assume it will be easier to have my dinner in the canteen. But please do let me know when you are planning that BBQ, I’m looking forward to it.”

“Of course, of course. My… My colleague Seteth has told me that Claude has volunteered to help prepare the yearly Garreg Mach holiday camp so we will surely work together at some point. I just love the camp, it’s my highlight of the year. Have you heard about it, Edelgard?” When Edelgard shook her head Flayn went on to explain.

“Every year the monastery hosts a four-week-long camp for teenagers to experience the old history of Fódlan. There’s cooking on hearths, archery and animal husbandry and of course the big roleplay in the second half. Everyone gets assigned to one of the three realms and they get to rewrite history. Depending on the participants the victorious realm changes almost every year. The children love it and so do I. We’ll have so much fun, Claude, you’ll see. Heavens, look at the time. My television programme will be on in a few minutes and I have never missed an episode. Have a nice rest of the evening, good night!” Flayn rushed out of the kitchen, leaving Edelgard and Claude behind. Edelgard dried her hands on a towel and folded her arms.

“I see you’re making the most of your research opportunity, playing dress up and shooting toy arrows.”

“Edelgard, it’s for the children,” Claude said with a smirk and put the last of the dried dishes away.

Edelgard didn’t fully believe him but chose not to confront him.

“Anyway, I am going to my room now, I’m tired. I’ll see you around.”

“You will. You will.”

*

“I have to say, Edelgard, this is one of the better research proposals I have had the pleasure of reading. It’s coherent, it’s realistic in its scope and timeframe and it is in line with the Garreg Mach Historical Society’s mission to make the Church and its rich history more accessible to the general public.”

Edelgard couldn’t help but smile. It had been a while since she had received any professional praise. Seteth put her research proposal aside and pulled out a very thin file.

“I have spoken to the head archivist and I have asked her to steer you in the right direction during the hours you work for us but there’s no guarantee it will work out every time. Feel free to use these suggestions when you’re working on your own. Now then, I checked your workstation earlier myself, it is ready. If you don’t have any other pressing questions I’ll take you there. No? Let’s go then.”

He took Edelgard to a small nook in the archive with a desk and chair and more importantly an assortment of lamps and light fixtures, along with a stand for holding books or other papers.

“You are free to decorate your space in a sensible manner. Whichever documents you are working on can never leave this archive, you will work on them here. If you must you may take a picture, no flash, no redistribution and you have to delete it when you’re done.”

“Understood.”

“Good. I’ll leave you to it. Good luck.”

After he had left Edelgard looked at the file he had given her with his suggestions. But before she could go and check them out for herself one of the employees approached her with a loaded trolley.

“Is this for me?” Edelgard asked and put the file on her desk.

“Yes. Thank you for volunteering, it’s a big help for us. Please don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything from us.”

Edelgard took the first bundle and carefully placed it on her desk. The first time she was faced with real historical documents she was in the finishing stages of her education and she was so nervous her fingers were trembling, fearing she might damage something irreparably. But now, when she untied the string and looked at the first page she was calm and ready.

Chapter Text

A few weeks later

Dimitri sat in his office checking his emails. The Garreg Mach Historical Society newsletter caught his eye so he clicked on it. When he saw a group picture of the fellows currently enrolled in their programme he leaned forward in his chair. He followed a link to their social media page where their latest activity, a hike in the forests surrounding the monastery, was documented with pictures and video clips. There she was, climbing on rocks, trees and dipping her naked feet in a creek. Edelgard looked genuinely happy even though he didn’t remember her as a very outdoors-y person. He left a like and a comment before going back to looking through the pictures. He was initially surprised when he saw Claude in some of the pictures but then again he had shown great interest in the history of Fódlan. If he was looking to do more research then he was in the right place. One of his colleagues knocked at his door and asked if he wanted to go to lunch.

“Sure, just a minute. I have to make a quick phone call, maybe leave a message.”

“Don’t be too long, I’m starving.”

Dimitri held up his hand and reached for his phone. Despite calling Edelgard no more than once or twice a year he had her number saved in his favourites. As expected his call went to voice mail so he spoke after the tone.

“Hi, Edelgard, it’s me, Dimitri. I just saw the pictures of your group’s hike. I just hope it wasn’t too taxing for you. You really chose a great season to stay there. I remember I went to their youth camp one summer, I had a blast. I know you’ll be working around that time but try and join in if you have the time. You know, I was thinking that maybe I might come and visit. I haven’t been to Garreg Mach in ages and I’d like to see you again. You’re probably busy but when you find a moment give me a call or write me an email. Take care, Edelgard. Good luck with what it is you’re doing.”

Dimitri hung up and took one last look at the pictures on his screen.

“Dimitri, if they’re out of my favourite meal I’ll be very upset!”

“Coming!”

He closed the window but not before bookmarking the page.

*

Edelgard was listening to the voicemail while her tea was steeping. She nearly dropped her phone when she heard Claude’s voice behind her.

“Are my ears deceiving me or is that really Dimitri’s smooth voice?”

Edelgard pressed the phone against her chest and accidentally played the beginning of the message again. Quickly she pushed stop and took a deep breath.

“It is.”

Claude was getting out  everything he needed for a sandwich and asked if Edelgard wanted one too. She shook her head and put her phone away. With interest she watched him slowly assemble a loaded sandwich. “So, how is he?”

“I don’t know, he just left a message. I assume he is well, but then again I doubt he would have admitted it if it weren’t so. He’s stubborn that way.”

“But he cares for you. Say, are you OK, health-wise? Because he just…”

Edelgard sighed and threw the teabag into the open bin. “There was a time in my youth when I was suffering from poor health. I am better now, but he can’t bring himself to believe it.”

Claude pressed his sandwich together, spilling some condiments over the sides in the process. “Are you sure you don’t want half of this? Maybe proper nutrition will help you grow.”

“Horizontally at best. If you won’t use a plate at least take some napkins, please.” She picked some paper towels of the roll and put them down in front of him. He thanked her and sat on the counter to eat his sandwich.

“So what brought this poor health on, if I may ask?”

“I don’t like to talk about it. That’s in the past and I am only looking forward now, to things like my research. How is your research going, Claude?”

“Oh, well, nothing new really but it’s interesting to get the other perspective of the Almyran raids. They were really fed up. Understandable but also a bit sad. The Almyran wyvern riders were revered for their bravery and to find out that they were considered nuisances by their opponents is bit of a reality check. How about you, have you found out more about your lost emperor?”

Edelgard shushed him and looked out of the kitchen to check for other people around. Flayn was in the common room watching one of her drama series with the volume cranked up.

“Not really. It’s hard to know where to look. I somehow haven’t found the right documents from that time. On one hand it makes sense, since this time was so pivotal for the church and for Faerghus most of it has already been worked up. But on the other hand there are so many holes in that story. I mean, it starts with the fact that the Saviour King is said to have known the lost emperor from their time at the Officer’s Academy here in Garreg Mach Monastery. But Adrestia’s last emperor was born a lot earlier. Were they teacher and student? Did they meet on one of the emperor’s visits to the monastery just randomly? Then there’s stories about that emperor temporarily staying in old Faerghus while he was supposed to be detained in Adrestia. Not to mention all those accounts of that mythical weapon of his slicing through houses and forts, but that weapon is not mentioned in the Adrestian accounts. There are just things that do not line up, both generally and personally.”

Claude had listened with great interest. He wiped his mouth with a paper towel before he spoke. “You know, if I was you I’d try to find out if there are records that are not strictly church related. Diaries and such.”

Edelgard had wanted to take a cup of her tea but put it down again before it touched her lips.

“I have tried that but everything is really hard to find. Most of the nobility at that time had the stories of their exploits recorded either in the form of tales or passed down orally. There is one diary that has survived but it has been censored heavily, and by that I mean some pages have been deliberately torn out.” Edelgard took a deep breath and began to pace in the kitchen.

“The Saviour King has slain the Adrestian emperor in his throne room in the Imperial Palace with the support of his most loyal vassals and friends. It’s a national holiday in Faerghus, literally everyone from Enbarr in the south the Sreng in the north says it has happened so. The emperor’s forces were all but wiped out, the southern church was brutally reformed. You could describe this as a cataclysmic event yet no one on the losing side had the good sense to write down the injustices brought upon them? Everything cannot have been burned or destroyed.”

Claude watched with great interest how Edelgard’s face got redder with every word. He had read up on the lost emperor theory on the internet where it was treated like a fairy tale story for children, a tragic story of a young emperor who had not been afraid to fight a hopeless battle to protect his own people against the aggression of the north.

“Dumb question,” he began, “But did the last emperor have children?”

Edelgard folded her arms and nodded. “Of course he had children, by all accounts he had multiple consorts who bore him many children. But not a lot is known about them. There was a plague at some point that is said to have killed a few of them, the kingdom forces will have done away with the rest.”

“Why don’t you reverse engineer your search then? Start with the children and…”

Edelgard stopped him with the wave of her hand. “I have done that already, there’s three or four children that could potentially be the lost emperor but there is nothing to go on from that. The imperial family was worshipped in the southern church but all murals and depictions of them have been destroyed in the years after the defeat. And even if they had survived, the portraits of that time were highly stylised. Colours, symbols and objects denote the subject’s identity, not the facial features.”

“So in the case of Adrestian princes we’d be looking for?”

“Eagles, the colour red, the imperial crown, the crest of Seiros. Bonus if the palace is somewhere in the background.”

Claude finished his sandwich and jumped down from the counter. “Tell you what, Edelgard. I have been tasked with creating fictional nobles for that roleplay and as such I will be looking at a lot of pictures in the next few days. I’ll let you know if I find something. Now calm down and drink your tea. I’d hate to have to explain to Dimitri that you withered like a flower because I kept you from hydrating properly.”

Edelgard reached for her tepid tea and sipped on it. “Claude, you once told me you were looking to find out more about a certain someone. Who was that again?”

Claude put the ingredients away quietly.

“Well?” Edelgard asked again.

“A controversial figure in Almyran history, King Khalid the Uniter. Have you heard of him?” Edelgard shook her head no.

“Although his sobriquet is ‘the Uniter’ he has actually divided the people of Almyra. It’s a sad story, really. He tried his best, he established proper relations between Almyra and Fódlan and other foreign nations, but he never managed to completely quell the infighting of his family. It is said that he spent some time in Fódlan, there are some artifacts that attest to that but no one really knows why or what he did during that time. An Almyran prince in Fódlan, young and by all accounts handsome. Some call him a helpless shit-stirrer too, probably another reason why some people couldn’t stand him. Maybe someone wrote something about him.”

Edelgard put her cup down and grabbed Claude by the arm. He could see that the synapses in her brain were firing at hyper speed yet she was still looking for the right words. Finally she asked: “Was this before Fódlan was united, roughly 1160 to 1190 if we’re being generous?”

Claude was counting in his head and nodded. Edelgard’s lips curled into a smile.

“Let me make a phone call.”

Chapter Text

On Sunday, the free day for all the research fellows, Edelgard went for a walk. Flayn had not exaggerated when she had said that two people could spend an entire day on the same premise without ever running into each other. To do one more or less complete round of the monastery grounds took a good while and that was without visiting all of the interior areas. As it was a sunny day Edelgard put on a sun hat, filled her water bottle and tied her jogging shoes. Back in Enbarr she had done very little exercise, once a year she would join her favourite animal shelter’s big walk along the river trying not to get dragged through the mud by the eager puppies, but other than that she had lived a rather sedentary life. By now her constitution had improved dramatically and yet the climb to the large bridge connecting the monastery to the cathedral still left her gasping for air. Taking in the view she drank from her water bottle. But when she wanted to put the cap back on her fingers did not cooperate. She shook her hand vigorously but the numbness persisted.

“Here, let me help you.”

Seteth took the water bottle and cap from the parapet.

“Thank you. I think I overdid it slightly,” she explained and kneaded her fingers.

“It’s dangerous to put things on the parapet, you never know who or what they might hit on the way down,” he admonished her and returned the bottle. After he took a closer look at Edelgard he asked if she needed help. Her face was flushed and sweat droplets were covering her forehead. He offered to take her to the cathedral where it was cool and she could rest. Edelgard nodded and let Seteth help her across the bridge to the cathedral. Once inside he sat her down on an empty pew and crouched down next to her.

“Would you like me to call the on-site doctor?” He asked.

Edelgard just kept staring at her hand, moving one of the fingers with her other hand. Slowly the tingling stopped and she could move her hand again. She took off her hat and wiped the sweat of her forehead.

“No, please, that’s not necessary. I must have held on to the bottle too hard as I was climbing the stairs. I’m sorry to have inconvenienced you. I’ll be fine once I rest a bit.”

“Don’t worry. It happens more often than you think. Some pilgrims collapse just before or after they’ve reached the cathedral, from exhaustion and from elation alike.”

Seteth sat down next to her with a respectable distance. “How are you getting along with the programme, are you enjoying yourself? Flayn tells me you spend most of your free time working.”

“Yes, that’s true. But I am really glad I chose to apply. It’s such a nice change from what I’ve been doing before.”

“Ah, the lost emperor, yes.” Seteth nodded knowingly. “That’s a topic that does not often come up around here.”

Edelgard half expected him to tease her about it but he remained quiet. She asked him what he thought about it. Seteth shrugged and explained that as a believer of the Church of Seiros he did not see everything as black and white as others would.

“I believe in many things, stories and historical personalities without having seen any proof of them, written or otherwise. Perhaps I believe some lies but that cannot be proven either. Besides, whether the lost emperor existed or not, the course of history could not be altered by him. If he lived, he lost the war and died without being able to change anything. If he never existed then he was a means for the people at the time to cope with their defeat. Does his factual existence truly matter then?”

“I would like to believe that all human lives and their stories matter a great deal. Even if they are fictional.”

Edelgard moved her hand again and was relieved when she felt nothing unusual. Seteth just sat there for a while quietly contemplating what she had just said.

“I agree. Well, Edelgard, if it’s all right with you I will leave you here.”

“Yes, thank you again. I’ll be more careful in the future.”

“Look after yourself. I’ve heard that your diligent work is greatly appreciated by our resident researchers. Keep it up.”

Seteth got up and left. Edelgard watched as various churchgoers and church associates greeted him or stopped him to have a small chat. Claude had once described him as the embodiment of the church: Old-fashioned, incredibly serious and seemingly above everyone and everything else. It was true that even his walk exuded superiority somehow. Once she was sure she would not faint again she got back up and strolled around the cathedral. It was so large that to appreciate all of the details one needed a guidebook or a multi-media guide. The large stained glass windows depicted scenes from the scripture, miracles performed by four saints and Seiros herself. The smaller windows showed images of other important figures and religious sites in the church’s history. As Edelgard was looking at the windows the choir began its practice. It was comprised of monks and nuns and the occasional congregant, and they were quite good. They did some scales to warm up before they started their first song. It was one Edelgard recognised from her childhood. She had been too young to understand the words as a child but she had always liked it. Before she knew it she was humming along. The vibrating of her phone interrupted her moment of bliss. It was a message from Claude.

“I found lunch. Meet me by the lake, bring something to drink.”

 For a few seconds Edelgard considered ignoring him but the prospect of a found lunch was too enticing in the end.

*

As it turned out Claude had stumbled upon an anniversary party of a nun and was given some leftovers. They spread everything on one of the picnic tables and sat down.

“You really do make friends wherever you go, don’t you,” Edelgard said as she dug into some pasta salad.

“You can never have too many friends. Also, they offered freely. All I did was ask what they were celebrating. 30 years as a nun, can you imagine?”

“Honestly, no. Even if I believed in all of that I’d hate to be confined in life like that.”

“Yeah, me, too. But still, I do envy their community, they never have to be alone if they don’t want to, that must be comforting.”

“Being alone is underrated,” Edelgard said.

“Tell me more.”

“There is nothing to tell, Claude. I just don’t need other people to be happy or content. I have a very small circle of people I like and trust and that is fine with me.”

“People like Dimitri?”

Edelgard shook her head no and took another bite. Just to see how long Claude would wait before asking again she kept quiet. To his credit he held out until she had finished her portion.

“So you don’t like Dimitri.”

“I believe you really want this to be interesting or scandalous, but I’m sorry to tell you that it’s nothing like that. My mother left my father when I was a child and later married Dimitri’s father.”

“Was that before or after your father was deposed as president?” Claude watched Edelgard’s face for a reaction but he was not rewarded. Calmly Edelgard reached for the only piece of cake and pulled it towards her.

“Before, but not by much. Any other questions?”

“I honestly expected you to be more defensive about this.”

“Why would I be? My father’s story is out there for everyone to read.”

“I was surprised you didn’t change your name.”

“Why should I? All of that began before I was born. And besides, no one has an issue with me personally, nor am I being discriminated against because of it. Do you have any other questions I can answer?”

Claude leaned on his elbows while Edelgard ate the really delicious cake. In a few sentences Edelgard had disarmed him and now he was lost for words. Not for long, however.

“And how does Dimitri think about all this? He obviously thinks of you as a sister even though you didn’t grow up together?”

“It’s a little more complicated than that. But enough about me, Claude. How about your parents and siblings, any drama there?”

Claude’s story was short and apart from his mother’s Leicester roots not very interesting.

“I do, however, have an uncle who was part of Almyra’s greatest bank robbery. But since the prosecution’s case against him was not strong enough he was acquitted. He once showed me a gold bar he kept for himself. Heavier than you might think at first.”

“See, now that’s interesting. How did he get away with it?”

*

Chapter Text

Edelgard had been brooding over the same sentence for the past hour. She had been asked to take a look at a few pages from a birth registry from a small church once located near the border of the Adrestian Empire and the Holy Kingdom. On a notepad she had written down what it could have said but even those guesses varied greatly. Whoever had written that particular entry was either heavily incapacitated or in a rush. She kept comparing it to other entries she could read with little to no effort but to no avail. Before giving up she gave it one last try with the magnifying glass. Maybe, if she squinted really hard… No. Edelgard leaned back in her chair and stretched her arms and back.

“Yo, Edelgard. Care for a walk?”

Claude approached her workspace. His eyes fell on the magnifying glass and like a child he immediately grabbed it. Edelgard wanted to roll her eyes but immediately stopped when she felt some discomfort. Perhaps she had overdone it.

“What are you working on? Looks tedious.”

Edelgard explained her failure to decipher whatever was written down before her. Claude put the magnifying glass down and pulled the page a little closer.

“What am I looking at?”

“Birth registry. A child born 1162. That’s all I could make out. The parents’ names were left blank as well as their occupations. All that’s written down is this sentence that I cannot decipher for the life of me.”

She held up her notepad and Claude quickly scanned it.

“Yeah, I don’t really see any of those to be honest. Poor child born in 1162, we barely knew ye. What do you do when this happens?”

Edelgard shrugged and put that page back onto its stack. She explained that they were only human after all and if one person couldn’t figure it out another could perhaps.

“Give me a moment to put everything away, then we can go.”

Claude showed Edelgard the farm animals that had just been brought over from nearby farms for the role-play. Edelgard was squatting down to pet a coarse haired pig through the fence when she thought of something.

“I have to make a phone call real quick,” she said to Claude and turned away. Edelgard took a few steps until she was far away enough to talk in peace. She dialled Hubert’s number and waited for him to pick up. When his voicemail came on she quickly cleared her throat.

“Hubert, I can’t seem to remember something: In the old language a child’s gender was indicated primarily through its relation to the higher ranking parent, son of x, daughter of y, right? Do you remember what was the case for orphans or foundlings? Did they take the name of the town, the church or something like that? Let me know, thank you, bye-bye, miss you.”

She hung up and went back to the pigs. As a city dweller she had never really had an opportunity to see animals other than cats and dogs in real life. The pig grunted contently as she scratched the spot between his ears vigorously. The lack of any strong smell was also a pleasant surprise. With difficulty she tore herself away from the pigs and to the horses. Some of them were being brushed while others were being fed. Claude was keeping his distance to the horses, citing his lack of trust in those creatures. Edelgard was still teasing him about that when her phone vibrated. She excused herself and checked it real quick. It was a message from Hubert, he had texted a reply.

Given Son/ Daughter of [Abbot/Abbess] for church foundlings, usually added: of or by the goddess. Stillborn children: returned to the goddess. Will call tonight with more info.

Edelgard sighed and rubbed her eyes again.

“Are you OK?” Claude asked. Edelgard shrugged and tried to focus on the animals. Claude was telling her about the difficulty of acquiring a lion as the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus’s heraldic animal when Edelgard heard the flapping of heavy wings. An animal trainer was holding an eagle on her gloved arm. Suddenly it came to Edelgard.

“Claude, I think I figured it out. I have to go back.”

“Don’t you want to pet the sheep?”

“Maybe later. I have to go.”

*

By grace of the goddess, born to the great adler of the Empire of Adrestia of my dear sister (?) little sister (?) A… (?) her proud brother, A…

Edelgard was staring at the sentence she had written on a sticky note. She was on the phone with Hubert, trying to explain what she thought she had just found.

“It’s possible, isn’t it? This is a child of the last emperor, the birth date lines up. He is the great adler, the eagle of the empire.”

“Probably, but by who? And whose brother wrote this? The brother of the child? The brother of the little or dear sister? How many different people are mentioned in that short sentence?” Hubert sounded tired. Edelgard knew that during her absence his workload had grown considerably. Especially teaching students took a lot out of him.

“Could be the either, the oldest son of the emperor was born 1144 or 1145, though it’s unlikely they would share a mother. I should find out more about the church itself, maybe its location is a clue.”

“The expression by the grace of the goddess is also a bit strange, it’s really more associated with religious worship itself. Perhaps the author was a very pious person. How about you, have you become a pious person?”

“You know me, the goddess dwells in the sky, I dwell on this earth and I’d like to keep it that way. Also, did you have a chance to dig up that diary from Brigid?”

She heard the rustling of papers on the other end.

“Someone is currently using it for their own project but they were kind enough to send me the scans. I looked through them but I couldn’t really find what you were looking for. I will send you the scans, perhaps you’ll be more successful. If you have time for that, that is. Don’t overwork yourself for the sake of others.”

“You tell me. Thank you, Hubert. I thought for sure what I was looking for was in that diary. I’ll leave you to it.”

Hubert hung up and stretched his arms above his head. A member of the cleaning crew knocked at the door and poked his head in. Hubert waved him in and sighed quietly. If the cleaning crew was here it was time he left. He put his things in order, sent the scans to Edelgard and left. Summer was quickly approaching, the air was still warm as Hubert stepped outside. The institute was not too far from the canal running through Enbarr and since he had been stuck inside all day Hubert decided to take the scenic route home. Along the canal people were enjoying the end of their working day by drinking with their friends and colleagues, couples old and young were sitting on benches and some children were throwing stones into the water. He turned a corner and saw that the summer street stalls had opened for business, among them one of his favourites. It was run by an old lady whose recipe reportedly hadn’t changed in decades. Hubert approached her and was immediately recognised.

“Young Vestra, it’s so good to see you again! One order of Super-Spicy Fish Dango?”

“Yes, please.”

“How is the young lady? I hope she’s not unwell.”

“She’s abroad.”

The old lady nodded as she assembled a skewer for Hubert.

“Travelling is good, my grandson is currently travelling as well. Give her my regards.”

She generously drizzled the thick spicy sauce on top of the dango, just as Hubert preferred it. Then she added one more dango as a freebie and handed the paper plate to Hubert. Since Edelgard vastly preferred sweet to savoury snacks they would split up and meet again at the end of the street stalls. Even though he had spent weeks alone in their once shared office Hubert had never felt lonelier than when he ate his dango all by himself surrounded by other people talking and laughing with their loved ones.

Chapter Text

“There you are.”

Flayn carried her stuffed basket down the old and creaky wooden dock. There Seteth sat, his naked feet hovering just above the water, a fishing rod in his hands. As gently as possible Flayn set her basket down and took off her own shoes and socks.

“I brought drinks and sandwiches,” she said and sat down next to him.

“Thank you, Flayn. How was your day?”

“We had a lot of fun preparing everything for the role-play. I wish we could have all of the animals all year round.”

Seteth smiled at Flayn. “You know we cannot. We have barely enough staff to take care of the inanimate objects. Even with the volunteers and visiting fellows the role-play will be difficult to put on. Although some things are easier with all the new technology the overall work-load somehow only seems to grow. It seems that every year there’s something new we absolutely have to implement just to keep the people interested.”

Flayn looked around before running her hands through her thick hair and pulling it up into a high pony tail, revealing the back of her neck, her shoulders and to Seteth’s dismay, her ears.

“Must you do that?” Seteth asked with worry in his voice.

“Just for a few minutes, I am uncomfortably warm.” She fanned herself some air with her hands. “You know, these days people go see doctors to have their ears look like ours,” Flayn then continued. “We may very well claim that we too had them made. We would not only be stylish but more comfortable as well.”

Seteth stared at the water in front of him. It was calm and in the moonless night nearly invisible. Flayn kept chattering about this and that, telling him the latest gossip and stories she had heard around the monastery.

“Father, is something the matter?” She asked when he hadn’t moved in a while.

Seteth reeled his line in and put the fishing rod down beside him.

“Lately I have been feeling very tired, Flayn. The normal daily pleasures, eating and drinking, reading a good book no longer stir anything in me. I wonder if it isn’t time for me to lay myself to rest.”

Flayn gasped at that statement. Apart from her long periods of sleep she had never been without her father. Even if he wasn’t physically with her for a few days or weeks, he had always been a constant in her life. The thought of him not being there anymore filled her with dread. But if she was honest with herself she had sensed his exhaustion and tiredness before. Not in the way he conducted himself in his every day life, there he remained a paragon of virtue. But when no one was watching him his sighs grew heavier and more frequent. The lustre in his eyes was gone.

“Won’t that be dangerous? Our bodies don’t decompose as those of other humans. What if you just fall into another long slumber?”

“Even so. The cognitive decay is getting harder and harder to bear. Faces, places and stories have begun to blend together. I have begun to forget what once was, and I dread where this will lead.”

Flayn let her hair down again and pulled the basket forward.

“Here, let’s have some dinner. I saw Claude add all sorts of things to his sandwiches so I gave it a try, too. Also, I brought some leftover beers. Look what I learned. No bottle opener needed! Oops, spilled some.”

Seteth turned to Flayn and silently took his beer and sandwich. Perhaps it had not been right to burden Flayn with his worries, but she was the only person who could understand him. His only hope was that without him she would be free to live the way she wanted, freedom from war, fear and his strict supervision. The thought made him smile at last as he clinked bottles with his beloved daughter.

*

.

#

At her workspace Edelgard was pouring over the Brigid diary, so absorbed in her search for any mentions of either the lost emperor or the Almyran prince she didn’t hear Seteth’s approaching steps. He called her names multiple times before she looked up. She apologised and stood up.

“I only came to ask you about your progress so far. I haven’t heard from you in a while. What is that you are reading?” He peeked at the scans.

“Oh, that. An old diary. My research paper is coming along nicely, thank you for asking. I think the entanglement of imperial nobility and southern church clergy will make for an interesting course for the students back home.”

Seteth nodded politely. “You know, I had some time to think about the lost emperor since we last spoke. It truly is a good story, albeit a sad one. I had forgotten the myth was so popular at one point.”

Edelgard noticed that he was holding something in his hands and waited for him to finish his blathering. He went on for a while until he raised the thing he was holding.

“I know your time is limited, but I have here an old children’s book from the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus. I think you might enjoy the stories of the Saviour King’s life and exploits in there. He had already been dead for well over a hundred years when it was written so who knows how reliable it really is, but his fight against the emperor is well documented. Since it once was such a popular book the Historical Society had it republished many, many decades ago. Here, have this copy, it’s yours to keep.” He handed her the book.

Edelgard thanked him and flipped through the pages. The typeset was quite large as was usual for children’s books and it even had a few illustrations. Seteth stood around a bit awkwardly before taking his leave. Edelgard thanked him again and sat back down. She put the book in her bag and went back to what she had been doing. Only before she was about to go to bed that evening she remembered the book. She pulled it out of her bag and began to read it in the light of her nightlamp. Right away she recognised it as a collection of chivalric tales. It took her a little while to turn off the academic part of her brain and just read for pleasure. The stories were nothing special, they followed the Saviour King through his entire life and the trials he faced, including the war against the emperor. But what truly caught Edelgard’s attention were the illustrations themselves. The king was never alone, he was always surrounded by his equally famous friends: the Sincerest Knight, the Shield of Faerghus and the Stalwart Knight, all identifiable through their signature weapons and their crests. One of them, Edelgard thought, at least one of them must have left some clue about what had really happened in that throne room. She turned the page and kept reading.

The Saviour King slew the emperor with one swift strike of the almighty Areadbhar and thus brought an end to the war that had ravaged the continent for years. The defeat of that soulless husk of someone he had once cherished brought peace and stability to his people, and for that they loved and praised him. Praise the Saviour King. Glory to the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus.

Slightly disgusted by the propaganda Edelgard dropped the book on the floor, turned off the light and closed her eyes. But then she turned the light back on and reached for the book. “Someone he had once cherished, you say?” Edelgard whispered, staring at the words. “Huh.”

Chapter Text

*

Claude was sitting under a tree with his eyes closed and his arms folded. Although the climate of Garreg Mach was temperate it was cold compared to his own home country. He couldn’t understand how the people around him were already wearing T-shirts and shorts when he was too cold without the fleece jacket he had bought just for his stay in Fódlan. Still, with the longer days he had taken to going on walks through the forest near the lake. Soon he had found a few suitable trees to lean against and nap under, one of his favourite things to do after the day’s work. He was disturbed by something gently brushing against his nose. Thinking it was bug he wrinkled his nose and when that didn’t work he swatted into the air. Eventually he opened his eyes and saw Edelgard above him, a long reed in hand and a smile on her lips.

“There you are, I’ve been looking for you all over. I found something.”

“So show me.”

“Not here, I do not sit in the dirt. Let’s go to the dock.”

Edelgard refused to tell Claude what she had found until they had settled down near the water. Edelgard was wearing her sunhat again, as well as a cardigan over her long dress.

“Say, are you a vampire? Will you turn into ashes if the sun hits your skin?”

“Some people get tan, I get all red and splotchy. Now, I told you about that Brigid diary, didn’t I?”

“The diary of a princess, yes.”

“Yes, so, I misremembered something. The diary is not very interesting, but the letters she exchanged with her sister, the future queen, they are. The Queen of Brigid spent some time at Officer’s Academy at Garreg Mach Monastery and she wrote back to her little sister about what she experienced. I think you’ll find these letters here interesting in particular. It’s a translation but you’ll get the gist.

‘You would not believe that boy. Although he didn’t tell me outright he did not seem to have grown up in Fódlan. A place without many trees, the mere thought makes me sad. I know you must be wondering if I like him, and I do, but I barely know him. And who knows if we’ll have many more chances to get to know each other. From all the people I have met during my time here he is the most difficult to figure out. Or perhaps the others are all just too easy to read, some don’t even try to hide their intentions.’.”

Edelgard looked at Claude expectantly, but he looked puzzled instead of happily surprised.

“What?”

“How are you so sure it’s him?”

“The timelines line up and she confirms that he is not from Fódlan. It must be him.”

Claude sort of shrugged at her and asked if she had anything more. Slightly disappointed out Edelgard leafed through the papers and pulled out a few and gave them to Claude. She watched as he browsed the letters. Her lips curled with satisfaction when he stopped and looked up at her.

“Wow.”

“Told you you’d find them interesting. Though, I have to say, your King was a true shit-stirrer. What was he doing at the Battle of Gronder? Are you familiar with it?”

“The battle that ended the Leicester Alliance as it was and lead to its eventual reabsorption into the kingdom. Ugly, ugly history if you ask me. But this is gold, I don’t know what he was doing there but I will find out. Thank you Edelgard, thank you so much. Let me repay the favour somehow. How about I drive you in your car into the village and… Edelgard?”

Edelgard was rummaging through her bag, her wide brimmed hat hiding her face from view. Claude called out to her again but she just shook her head. Cheekily he lifted the brim of her hat only to reveal her face, hand and chest covered in bright red blood.

“It’s just a nosebleed!” Edelgard said, her voice muffled by her hand. With her free hand she was trying to open a pack of tissues while also trying not to get any blood anywhere else.

“Here, let me.” Claude took the pack of tissues and handed them to Edelgard.

With her head tilted back and the tissues pressed against her nose Edelgard apologised for the scene.

“Does this happen to you often?”

Edelgard shrugged and lay down on the dock. “It will pass, just give me a couple of minutes,” she said in a nasally voice. Claude leaned over and placed her sunhat over her face.

“Thank you. Don’t let this stop you from talking to me. I’ll be fine.”

Claude tried to make conversation as if nothing had happened but he kept staring at Edelgard who was lying very still except for yes-ing and no-ing every few sentences. He checked the time on his phone and asked if it had stopped yet. Edelgard sat up and removed the tissues, only for the blood to continue trickling down.

*

“It’s good you came in. Nosebleeds are very rarely threatening but this one has been going on for a while and it’s quite strong.” The doctor checked his watch and compared it to the time written down on her admission form. “How are you feeling? Are you dizzy at all?”

“I’m nauseous,” Edelgard said. The sight of blood was not usually a problem for her, but the sensation of the warm blood on her skin turned her stomach.

“And you didn’t fall or trip or hit your nose in any way? It just started spontaneously?”

Edelgard microscopically turned her head to the doctor. “When I was a child I had treatment for a rare illness. Ever since I occasionally get them. But never like this.”

“What’s the name of the illness, if you remember? Or the treatment?”

“I don’t know, I have forgotten most of what happened during that time. Is that normal?”

“Sometimes people forget details of experiences, especially if they were traumatic in some way. And you say you were young, so I would not be too concerned about this. I have heard patients tell me they prefer not knowing. But I guess it comes down to each individual what they find worse: not knowing just how terrible something was or remembering every single detail, unable to forget. Now, let me check the status of your nosebleed.”

He gently removed the rolled up gauze from Edelgard’s nostrils and then put them back. He said he’d discuss further course of treatment with his superior and instructed Edelgard to keep still and relax. As he left Claude came in. Immediately he spotted the stool with wheels and sat down it.

“While you were chilling on your bed I got my blood pressure taken, I was weighed and I had my blood sugar tested. They offered a skin check, too, but I declined. All’s well, how about you?”

Edelgard shrugged and crossed her ankles. “You can go, you know. I really appreciate you bringing me here but you don’t have to wait.”

“Yeah, but you’re my ride. Also, this is a lot of fun. Watch me go across the room with only one kick.”

Edelgard sighed and closed her eyes.

“You are acting like a child. A small, impatient and bored child.”

“Children have more fun.”

Claude pushed himself off the wall and stopped next to the bed. She was staring at the ceiling, trying to take conscious breaths to calm herself down. She felt tears welling up in her eyes and tried to swallow them down. Finally the doctor returned and Claude got up.

“Let’s do one last check before we resort to more aggressive treatment. May I?”

Edelgard was scared and so she closed her eyes while the doctor carefully removed the gauze. She was asked to sniff a couple of times and was relieved when she couldn’t feel anything out of order. The doctor was equally relieved.

“Right, that’s that then. It’s possible this nosebleed was just a one off occurrence, but if it happens again to this degree then I would recommend getting that checked out.” He spoke about vasculature and defects before telling Edelgard to take it easy in the next few hours, if not days. “When you feel ready you may sit up, but don’t push yourself and take your time. I’ll get started on your discharge papers.” He left again and Claude rolled up to Edelgard who was slowly pushing herself up.

“Hey, so, the nurse who took my blood pressure told me where we can grab some dinner to go. If you’re hungry, that is. Or we can go straight back to the monastery.”

“Food sounds great. Or it will be once I feel a little better. You drive.”

*

Chapter Text

*

A week or so later, one evening after most people had retired for the day, Edelgard went to the cathedral. It was still brightly lit, both from the outside and inside. A few people were still sitting in the pews, their hands desperately clasped together, their heads lowered as if in fear. Edelgard couldn’t help but stare at them and their twisted faces.

“These people are doing penance.”

Edelgard was not surprised by Seteth’s sudden appearance. She had come to think of him as a living part of the cathedral, a walking pillar, so to speak.

“I thought the goddess is most kind and forgiving. Why must they pray so hard?”

 Seteth didn’t answer straight away. Instead he too watched the worshippers in silence. Occasionally one of them let out a heart wrenching sob or a cry.

“Sometimes accepting one’s own faults is the hardest thing. If they need to tell the goddess in order to truly hear themselves, then that’s what they must do.”

Edelgard furrowed her brow at his answer but decided to let it go. Instead she asked Seteth where to find a particular window. He offered to take her there so the two of them slowly walked the length of the cathedral.

“Here it is.” Seteth pointed at a window in the back of the cathedral. It was not a very large one, nor was it in a very advantageous spot. On the small altar underneath lay a few dried flowers and remnants of candles that had long since burned down. Edelgard knelt down to read the inscription in front. It was rough and ragged, certainly not the work of a skilled stonemason.

“So this is where the Saviour King’s heart is buried?”

“Yes. It is said that it was important to him to have at least a part of him laid to rest here. After all he was very close to the church. Why did you come to see it?”

Edelgard got back up and looked up to the window. It showed the image of the Saviour King along with his emblem. Even in that abstract form he was impressive figure.

“This is the king who has slain the last emperor, whoever that might have been. I have been focusing on someone I couldn’t see when perhaps I should have been looking at him all along. I’ve been reading a lot about him. Have you read the story of him pulling out trees as though they were…”

“Leaves off a branch, yes. His crest granted him unimaginable powers. And his weapon, of course. And a resolve second to none. The archbishop was very fond of him. A pity his descendants could not match his greatness. So he lives on only in the stories once told. Well, if you have no other questions I shall take my leave.”

“Thank you, Seteth. Good night.”

She waited until he was out of hearing distance before she cleared her throat and looked up at the window.

“Tell me, Saviour King. You once cherished the last emperor, then how could you slay him so easily? What did he do to you? Sure, he declared war on you, but was that reason enough to write him out of history? Wouldn’t you have been the least bit proud to have defeated an enemy who rivalled you in power? Why not humiliate him for eternity instead? Who was he to you that you let him hurt you so?”

After that Edelgard leaned against the altar. Her heart skipped a beat when she felt the altar move slightly against her back. With her hand she pushed against it and sighed with relief when it didn’t come crashing down. Once comfortable Edelgard talked herself through the new perspective: whoever the last emperor was, he was linked to the Saviour King in some way. They must have had some sort of relationship, potentially a very close one, yet there was seemingly no proof of it anywhere. The Saviour King was still relatively young when he defeated the last emperor, so the relationship must have been formed when he was younger, potentially still as a child. A friend, a fellow noble, perhaps, but where would the Adrestian connection come in? Edelgard sat there for a long time, going over it again and again but every time she ran into the same dead-end.

*

“Separate the egg yolk from the egg white…” Claude looked back and forth between the recipe and the eggs in their carton. “How do I do that?” In the corner of his eye he saw Edelgard walking by. He was ready to call out for her but then he heard her talking. He wiped his hands on the apron he was wearing and stepped to the doorway to see who she was talking to. It turned out she was on the phone. To not disturb her he leaned against the doorway and listened.

“I would love to but… I… I am having bathroom issues. Yes, those would absolutely get in the way of your plans. No, taking a pill will not make it go away. There’s no need for you to come all the way here just to watch me disappear every few minutes. Yes, it’s that bad. Actually, I have to excuse myself right now. No, I will not put myself on mute. Goodbye.”

Claude chuckled quietly but only until Edelgard called him out.

“Do you usually eavesdrop on other people’s conversations?” She asked, holding onto the doorframe.

“I didn’t mean to, I was busy here in the kitchen. Why don’t you make your phone calls in the privacy of your own room?” She waved him to the side and sort of limped past him to the sink. Quickly Claude stood in front of his little project to hide it. With a groan Edelgard took a glass from the cabinet and filled it with water to drink.

“OK, so let’s recap: You’re wearing yesterday’s clothes, you walk like you’ve been run over once or twice and you’re cancelling plans with someone you’re not afraid to know of your explosive diarrhoea. Who is the lucky guy? Or lucky girl, whichever floats your boat, I don’t judge.”

Edelgard slowly turned around to him and looked at him with an expression of irritation. “I fell asleep in the cathedral in a very uncomfortable position. As a consequence I cannot fully extend my legs or my back. Also, the stone there is very cold and my bladder did not appreciate that. But please, keep making up scenarios in your head about me spending the night with a lover. This way at least one version of me gets lucky.” She let out a deep sigh and drank her water.

Claude held up his hands in a yielding manner and fought the urge to fold his arms so he had more surface area to hide his project. “Listen, I wasn’t serious. Do whatever you want, it’s a free country.”

“Actually, no. But that’s besides the point. I have no time for or interest in what you think, or frankly, what anyone else thinks about me. I am not here for anyone else but for myself. I came here for myself. This is my space and anyone who has the slightest bit of respect for me will stay away.”

“OK, Edelgard, message received, loud and clearly. I will leave you alone now.”

Edelgard aggressively washed the glass and put it on the drying rack before limping out of the kitchen. Claude blew a raspberry and went back to his eggs. “You know, I’m sorry in advance if she won’t eat your cake tomorrow. But perhaps she is just one of those people who does not enjoy her birthday. Anyway, let’s get cracking. My god, I’m talking to eggs, I need to get out more.”

*

The next morning Flayn was summoned to the reception by the outside doorbell. She quickly put on a dressing gown, slipped into her house shoes and went downstairs. There she was greeted by a group of delivery people when she came downstairs to the reception. In a hurry she unlocked the door and let everyone in. They came bearing packages, small and big, and most of all flowers, many, many flowers. Every single delivery slip had Edelgard’s name as the recipient. Diligently as always she signed for everything before going to Edelgard’s room to let her know. She was surprised when she met Edelgard in the hallway, her shoes in her hands so as to not make any noise.

“What are you up to?” Flayn wanted to know. Edelgard sighed and slowly approached Flayn.

“I have cleared this with Seteth, I am taking the day off.”

“But it’s your birthda-…”

Edelgard shushed her and looked left and right. “Flayn, I am taking the day off. Now if you’ll excuse me, I don’t want to hit traffic. If anyone comes looking for me, tell them I took the day off. Thank you.”

Edelgard patted her on the shoulder and walked past her. At the bottom of the stairs she slipped into her shoes and went to her car. She got in the driver’s seat, closed the door and took a deep breath. Since midnight her phone had been going off with calls and messages from friends and family, and Edelgard had ignored most of them. She had even debated leaving her phone in her dorm room but decided against it. After all it was possible she wanted to make a phone call, or needed to look something up. After she had taken enough time she started the car and drove away.

Chapter Text

*

The shops in Faerghus were different from those in Adrestia. Not only did they have different products but all of their shops were ridiculously well staffed. It didn’t matter whether it was a grocery store or a luxury boutique, they did everything for their customers. Edelgard bought a fizzy drink, a sandwich and a few magazines in a convenience store and all she had to do was point at what she wanted and in the end get out her purse to pay. While it was spectacular customer service Edelgard also felt patronised. She had driven almost two hours to the biggest town in southeast Faerghus to get away from it all for the day and after she had eaten her breakfast on a bench next to a busy street she was ready for a walk. As it turned out some sort of festival was taking place, the lamp posts were decorated with flowers and posters. She stopped to read one of the posters when a woman dressed in a historical costume carrying a vendor’s tray spoke to her.

“Good morning! May I interest you in these flower crowns? Buy them for a friend, a loved one or for yourself. All of the proceeds to a charitable cause of your choosing!”

“Is this what all the decorations are about?”

“Yes, that’s correct. In the ancient calendar this time of year was called ‘the Garland Moon’. According to legend girls and women wove flower garlands for friends and lovers. But these days people rarely have the time for that so those who still believe in this notion of gifting buy their gifts. That’s also why the city has put on this festival. The chamber of commerce, to be precise. But the proceeds of these flower crowns really do go to charity.”

Edelgard looked at the flower garlands on offer. She had read about this custom of course but she had never seen any real-life examples, only pictures in books and articles.

“Do you have animal charities?”

Happy at the prospective sale the woman handed Edelgard a laminated piece of paper with the names and short descriptions of the participating charities, along with QR codes for more information. In the end Edelgard bought two flower crowns to benefit an animal shelter for chronically ill pets.

To keep the flowers as fresh as possible she returned to her car and placed them safely on the backseat of her car. Right in that moment Hubert called and giddy with excitement Edelgard sat down next to the flower crowns and closed the door.

“Hubert, hello!”

“Happy birthday, Edelgard. Many happy returns.”

“Thank you, thank you. Ah, the past twenty-four hours have been wild. Do you know who called me? Patricia. She honestly believed I would spend my this day with her. The gall of that woman. She truly has no shame.”

“Have you heard from your father?”

“I have, he called in the middle of the night and told me about the day I was born, including how I conveniently was born between a cabinet meeting and an evening reception. I found it charming, even through all his mood swings and general paranoia he remembers those little things. He also told me the story of how one birthday I had escaped my nannies and ran my tricycle into the legs of someone he despised. All my mother could tell you is how I looked in the rear-view mirror as she left me and my father at the first sign of trouble. But enough about her, today is my day.”

“What an honour you would share it with me. Did you get my present?”

“It’s probably arrived, along with a truckload of other presents. My father probably couldn’t keep his mouth shut.”

“Some cards and flowers came to the Institute. I’ll send you some pictures.”

“Thank you. Enough about me, Hubert. How have you been?”

Hubert told her about this and that, the latest gossip at the Institute, cute animals he had seen, the weather. Edelgard sensed that he was holding something back. At first she tried to coax it out of him teasingly but when he didn’t respond she asked him directly.

“I have been asked to review an article co-authored by Dimitri. It’s about the last emperor’s progeny. They write they found proof that his four youngest all died of the plague. Their reasoning is sound and their arguments are compelling. It will be published.

Edelgard frowned.

“When? And where?”

“I’m not sure when, but it will be in the Faerghus History Review.”

“Of course it is, they’d print an image of horse shit if someone identified the Saviour King’s horse as the source of it.”

Edelgard began to nervously pick at a hangnail. Hubert on the other end was waiting quietly for her next sentence.

“And since when is Dimitri interested in the last Adrestian emperor? I am telling you, he is doing this to aggravate me.”

“Perhaps it’s just political. You know how they are. In any case, I hope it didn’t ruin your birthday.”

“Well, I was very content there for a while, god forbid I got used to that. Thank you, Hubert, for telling me anyway.”

After their phone all had ended Edelgard stayed in the back of her car for a while. Right after the phone call she had desperately tried to convince herself that this was just a blip on her day, nothing to be too upset about. But with every passing minute she felt her anger and frustration grow stronger until they were louder than her optimism and took over. Even though she was in a parking garage she did not want to attract any attention so she screamed into the headrest in front of her while hot tears ran down her face. Her awareness of her childish tantrum made her only feel worse. Eventually she took a deep breath, slapped both cheeks one after the other and told herself to get a grip. Still, even after she had calmed down she still felt the need vent. Her eyes fell on her purse in her handbag and an idea began to form in the back of her head.

*

Night had already fallen when Edelgard’s car pulled up to the Old Convent. Claude opened his eyes and stretched. Since the weather was so nice he had taken a nap on the roof. Before he went back inside the house he watched Edelgard get out of the car. She quietly closed the door to the driver’s side and walked around the car to open the trunk. He felt reminded of the day she had arrived for she began to unload some shopping bags. He whistled at her and waved.

“Oh good, you’re still awake. Can you help me?” Edelgard asked, careful not to disturb anyone. Claude nodded and went back inside. A few moments later he emerged from the front door.

“Find anything you like?” He asked as she handed him bag after bag, all of them from luxury brands. She shushed him and closed the trunk of her car. They had made it to the front door before Edelgard remembered she had forgotten something.

“Surely not another bag?”

“Sort of, sorry. I’ll be back in a moment.”

He listened as her short legs made short steps in the gravel, how her car doors first unlocked and then locked again and her steps back to the front door.

“What are those?”

“Oh, just some flower crowns I bought today. What happened to the stuff from this morning?”

“Moved to in front of your room. Flayn kindly asks you to move everything to your room as soon as possible since they are both a tripping hazard as well as an obstruction in case of a fire.”

They walked upstairs to her room as quietly as possible. Edelgard thanked Claude for his help and said goodnight when he asked her if she had some time to spare. When she asked what for he said it was a surprise.

“I’m sorry, Claude. I am not in the mood for a surprise.”

“It’s a good one, I promise. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Edelgard watched him leave and sighed. She had enough time to move all of the flowers, packages and shopping bags into her room, turning it into an impromptu warehouse. She had even had time to change into her pyjamas and to put on dressing gown before Claude knocked at her door. Upon opening the door she was greeted by a small chocolate cake with lit candles. She leaned her head against the door and looked at Claude.

“Happy birthday. You already got a lot of presents and cards but I thought we could use the occasion to have some cake that has not been baked by ‘you-know-who’. We can just eat it without worrying what we might find inside it. Can I come inside?”

“I barely have enough room for myself. Unless you are fine with sitting on the floor.”

“Chairs are overrated anyway.”

They sat down on the floor, Edelgard blew out the candles and with a knife from the kitchen she cut the cake into slices. At first they ate in silence, then Claude asked her what she had been up to.

“I mean, besides the shopping. Which you did a lot of.”

Edelgard licked her lips and let out a deep sigh.

“Every year on my birthday my family remembers that I exist, and I assume that’s only because they have set reminders for that. And for as long as I can remember my birthday was a pretence for them to get together and tear each other to shreds over whatever reason. Someone felt wronged, someone was insulted, they always found a reason to shout at each over my birthday spread. And then I… Anyway, I am not a fan of my birthday. And today especially was just very difficult.”

“So you cheered yourself up with retail therapy?”

“It's not all for me. Sometimes when I’m sad the only thing that will cheer me up is seeing other people happy. And it’s not like my father is going to notice. Even if his accountant did tell him he’d either laugh or curse me or do both and then forget about it later anyway.” As the words left her lips Edelgard scolded herself for divulging her private business so freely to someone she barely knew. She quickly stuffed her mouth with cake so she wouldn’t say anything else before she had sorted her thoughts again.

“On my birthday,” Claude began, “my mother would always make me the same breakfast. Then my large extended family would descend upon our house like a swarm of locusts to both help prepare an ungodly amount of food and then eat every last crumb of it. My father and the other men would roast mutton in the garden but I wasn’t allowed to participate because my mother worried about my getting hurt. She always, always worried and when my father eventually yelled at her to let me go she would cry. As soon as I realised that I couldn’t make both of them happy at the same time, not to mention be happy myself, I began to run away. There would usually be a small window when both of them were too busy to claim me and I would just run. Now I just make it a point not to be home on my birthday. I think it relaxes all of us. You’re not alone, Edelgard.”

Edelgard angrily chewed and swallowed her piece of cake.

“You know who enjoys their birthday? Dimitri. He loves it. Everyone loves him, everyone wants to celebrate with him and he loves that everyone wants to celebrate with him. He is the kid waiting at the window for the first guests of his birthday party to arrive, like a dog waiting for its owner. And his parents love to give him whatever he wants. He can tell them what he wants and they’ll listen and then he is still surprised and so, so grateful and happy when he unwraps his present. And if you dare not to smile on his birthday, in his presence, he will want to make you happy.”

“Yeah, look at him, having had a balanced and healthy relationship with his parents, what a weirdo.”

“But you know what he did now? He co-authored a paper that argues against the existence of the lost emperor, and from what I heard this article’s arguments are strong and compelling. How could he do this to me? It’s not even his field of expertise! And worst of all it will be months before I can read the article myself.”

Edelgard quickly picked a candle of her next piece and stuck it into her mouth.

“Edelgard, can I ask you a question? Why is this so important to you? The lost emperor lived hundreds of years ago. Why is it so important to prove his existence?”

Edelgard wiped some crumbs off her face.

“It’s a matter of principle. Who are we to deny a person’s existence? So the lost emperor was defeated by the Saviour King, so what? Why can’t everyone just admit that and move on? I’ll tell you why: Because something must have happened that would put the Saviour King in a bad light. Best case, the lost emperor simply tripped, hit his head and died without any input from the king. Worst case, his killing of the lost emperor was a mistake in some way. I don’t know about you but if I defeated my nemesis I would immortalise that moment in every and any way I could. Yet all we have are rather vague descriptions of the event. Makes you think.”

Claude had listened in silence. No matter how much Edelgard talked, to him, she remained an enigma of sorts, except for what she made plainly clear: her determination to solve that mystery and her disdain for those opposing her plans.

“I’m sorry, I ate nearly all of the cake,” Edelgard apologised and pushed the plate with one remaining piece over to him.

“Birthday girls can eat all the cake they like. Anyway, I think it’s time I left. It’s late and you still have to wash all that chocolate off your face. I’ll take this downstairs and put it in the fridge, if that’s OK with you.”

“You can leave it here, I have the feeling I’m not quite done yet.”

Edelgard walked Claude to the door and before closing it behind him asked: “How did you know it’s my birthday today? I never told you or anyone. Did you open any of my cards?”

“And commit a felony? I am wounded by the mere assumption. I have my ways, Edelgard. And I usually get what I want, one way or another. Good night.”

Edelgard wished him a good night and then closed the door.

*

Chapter Text

Back at her workspace in the archive Edelgard had begun writing the draft of her research paper, summarising the work she had done so far. As expected there was cooperation between the Adrestian Empire and the Church when it came to appointing people to high-ranking church offices and positions. More often than not Adrestian nobles would try to promote their relatives such as their own siblings, children or nephews and nieces while the church would occasionally turn a blind eye to transgressions against the church in exchange for retaining the right to govern themselves. It was all very interesting and yet Edelgard felt no joy whatsoever as she typed out her draft. The fact that her phone kept vibrating in her bag did not help. Summer had arrived at Garreg Mach Monastery, as evidenced by the generally lighter mood and lighter clothing on the researchers. Occasionally even monks and nuns rolled up their sleeves and paused to air out their hoods. Though it was nothing compared to the sweltering summers of Enbarr Edelgard too felt warm, even in the archive basement. From a few steps away a young monk called out her name. She turned around and saw him waving a piece of paper.

“Miss, you have received a call from a Mr Blaiddyd. He said he tried to reach you on your cellular phone. He asks that you call him back immediately, there has been an emergency in the family.”

Edelgard thanked the monk and took the paper from him. Curiously, she did not recognise the number on it. Although mobile phones were frowned upon in the archive she reached into her bag to pull hers out. Dimitri had tried to call her a couple of times, but then there were two other unknown numbers as well. For a while she sat there, holding that piece of paper in one hand and her phone in the other.

“What are you up to?” Claude put down a cup of tea on the desk before leaning against it.

“Don’t you have work to do?” Edelgard countered his question curtly.

“Just because you don’t see me work doesn’t mean I just laze around all day. Also, the summer camp starts soon so basically I will be working non-stop for a few weeks. You should feel sorry for me in advance.” He pouted and when Edelgard didn’t look at him he gently touched her foot with his.

“What?” She hissed and looked up. He was holding a printout of which Edelgard could only see a bit of the title.

“What is that?”

Claude looked at it as if he had seen it for the first time. “Oh this? Nothing, just an article I came across I thought you might enjoy. But if you’re going to be rude about it I think I’ll have to read it again before passing it on to you.”

“Fine, do whatever you want, just do it elsewhere. Some people are trying to work.”

Just in that moment her phone went off vibrating again, again with the unknown number. She groaned and finally picked up.

“Yes, what is it?”

“Edelgard, I finally reached you, thank the goddess. This is Lambert, your mother’s husband. Listen, your mother has been admitted to the Fhirdiad University Hospital a few hours ago, she’s in surgery right now. You should come. Dimitri is already here.”

Edelgard was quiet for a while, on the other end Lambert called her name and asked if she was still there.

“I won’t be coming. Give her my best wishes. And please, don’t call me again.” She hung up and threw her phone back into her bag. “Are you done listening to my private phone calls?”

Seeing how Edelgard was in a really bad mood Claude put the printout on her desk and straightened up. “I’ll see you around. I hope your mother makes it through OK.”

“That makes one of us,” Edelgard muttered and went back to her desk. She picked up the printout and read the title.

And then there were none – An analysis of church burial records between 1155 and 1170 documenting plague deaths among Adrestian nobility [COPY FOR REVIEW]

*

Edelgard had been lying in bed for hours, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. She hated to admit it but the news of her mother in hospital troubled her more than she thought it would. Although she had asked to be left alone Lambert had given her updates throughout the day. Her mother had made it through the surgery but she hadn’t woken up yet. Edelgard’s feelings were all over the place, on the one hand she resented her mother with every fibre of her body, on the other hand she felt unsettled by the thought that her mother might not survive whatever health emergency she was going through. At the thought of her mother’s possible death her heart began to beat faster and harder, whenever she remembered how her mother failed her she cried hot and angry tears. By the time the first sunlight crept into her room Edelgard was exhausted. She moved to the edge of the bed, slid her feet into her slippers and got up. Hoping that a hot shower would wash her sorrows away she grabbed her shower caddy and left her room. At this time the Old Convent felt uninhabited, almost as if centuries hadn’t passed since it was first built. She turned on the water and closed her eyes as it hit her face. She stood there motionless until she heard another person come in. Quickly she finished her shower and turned the water off again. By the time she was back in her room she didn’t feel any better but she had made the decision to end her own suffering. She packed an overnight bag and went downstairs hoping to find Flayn. She found her in the kitchen grilling fish for breakfast.

“Good morning, Edelgard. Would you like some fish as well?”

“No thank you. Flayn, I have a family emergency so I won’t be able to work today. Would you mind telling Seteth for me?”

“Of course. When will you be back?”

“I don’t know, I have to drive all the way to Fhirdiad, maybe stay one night? Two at most. I’m afraid it’s a life or death sort of emergency.”

Flayn was visibly touched by that revelation and reached out to Edelgard, gently touching her hand.

“Take your time, family is a precious thing. I will tell Seteth, I’m sure he will understand.”

Edelgard just nodded and left. In her car she set her GPS, connected her phone and took a deep breath before starting her car. The estimated travel time was set at slightly over four hours, enough time for Edelgard to sort her thoughts and emotions.

*

Claude was assisting Flayn in assigning each camper a fictional historical character for the roleplay. As Flayn had explained it was a delicate matter; every camper had given preferences on their applications yet there were only so many roles for nobles and some people had to be commoners. On the other hand, some campers were always shy and would feel uncomfortable being a lord let alone being a king or emperor.

“So what if a complete introvert is assigned king?” Claude asked as he paperclipped a character card to a camper’s file.

“Well, since the king is a completely fictional character it doesn’t really matter. Those who were bound to become king or queen could not easily avoid their fate. Some simply grow with the challenge, others need a little encouragement from their peers of from us. Though we did have a king once who was so terribly shy and unhappy he refused to leave his room, begging to go home. So he left and we simply crowned another king.”

“Ah, a very familiar practice in Almyra. Have you done many of these camps? You look like you might just have participated not too long ago.”

Flayn chuckled to herself. “I have never participated myself, but I have hosted quite a few. But we couldn’t do it without help from volunteers such as you. Say, how has your stay been so far?”

“I can’t complain. I thought I knew a lot about Fódlan and its history but in just a few weeks I have learned about things I hadn’t even heard before. Like Edelgard’s research focus outside of this fellowship, the lost emperor.”

At the mention of the lost emperor Flayn’s smile froze a little. Claude asked if he had said something wrong but she just shook her head.

“Edelgard is so bright and intelligent. I understand passion but she is wasting her precious time looking for phantoms. The Adrestian Empire fell with its last emperor after a war that lasted for roughly five years. There is nothing romantic or interesting about it.”

“I take it you’re not a believer of the lost emperor then. You know, I think it’s fascinating. And to think that all of this would be so much clearer if we knew the names of these nobles of old. Why is that, Flayn? Why don’t we know their names?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps because it doesn’t matter? We identify them by their generation of their dynasty. The Adrestian Empire ended with Willhelm 41, the Saviour King is Loog 18. That’s plenty identifying, wouldn’t you agree?”

“But how can we be sure that the person Willhelm 41 also was the descendant of the 41^st generation, and not a sibling or an aunt? Isn’t that the crux of the lost emperor theory?”

“Because the church documents say so. The church is in possession of copies of ancient registers of the various royal and imperial families and there everything is written down, they’re stored in the depths of the monastery. Have a little faith, Claude. Pass me those paperclips, please.”

He obliged and put the finished files on a pile. “I need to stretch my legs. Would you like something to eat or drink from the kitchen?”

“I’ll have some tea, thank you.”

“No problem. I’ll be back before you know it.”

*

Chapter Text

Edelgard parked her car and made her way to the main entrance of the hospital. She asked the receptionist about her mother and was asked to wait a moment. Anxious about what was going to happen she looked around the lobby. Part of her already regretted having come at all. No matter how this visit would pan out, it was going to be horrible.

“Are you feeling quite well? You look pale.” The receptionist asked. Edelgard just shook her head and leaned on the counter.

“Have you found her yet?”

“Yes. She was just moved from intensive care to one of our premium suites. Take the lift there to the right to the 11^th floor and she’ll be in the Itha Suite. Once you’re there you can order a breakfast to strengthen yourself.”

“Thank you.”

The nurse had a point, Edelgard hadn’t had anything to eat or drink since the night before and if it wasn’t the cause of her feeling unwell it was at least part of it. As she waited for the lift she began to feel nauseous. In the lift she fanned herself air with her hands, watching the numbers on the display go up. The 11^th floor was slightly more elegant than the lobby but despite the wood panels on the wall and the soft lighting the emergency buttons and phones every few feet and the extra handrails gave the hospital away. By the time Edelgard had reached the Itha Suite she felt about ready to throw up. Hastily she rubbed her sweaty hands on her trousers before ringing the bell. For a moment she considered running back to the elevator and going back home. What was the point of this visit anyway? The door opening put an end to that thought.

“Edelgard, you came!” Dimitri said in a low voice. Edelgard eyed him from head to toe and wondered if he even owned casual home wear. Or perhaps he bought entire outfits instead of individual items. She raised her hand to greet him which he promptly ignored in favour of giving her a hug.

“Mother will be so pleased. She has been asking for you ever since she was admitted to hospital. She’ll feel so much better after seeing you, I’m sure.”

Edelgard gently reached up to touch his shoulder so he might let go of her. “So, what happened? Do I need to prepare myself for any disfigurement or…”

“Mother had a heart attack. It was so scary; she was alone at home when it happened. Thank the goddess the housekeeper forgot something at the house, otherwise it would have been hours until my father had come back home. Paramedics brought her to the hospital where she underwent surgery which originally went well but…”

“So no disfigurement, got it. Right, let’s get this over with.” She walked past him and opened the door. Once she turned the corner she saw a large living room area fully equipped with a TV and a fridge. Dimitri gently took her by the arm and pulled her to the ‘bedroom’.

“Look who came!” Dimitri announced Edelgard’s arrival. Her Mother was propped up in bed with pillows generally looking well, if a little tired. All eyes in the room were on Edelgard, who didn’t know where to look so she focused on Lambert. Perhaps Dimitri just liked to dress like this father. He had gotten up from his chair close to the bed, still holding his wife’s hand.

“Edelgard, we are so glad you came. Patricia has been asking for you,” he said. He waved her closer and sat her down on the bed before Edelgard could even put her bag down.

“El,” Patricia said and smiled.

“Hello,” Edelgard said back.

“Thank you for coming. I was so worried that the last time we spoke could be the last time. I have missed you so much.”

Edelgard opened her mouth and then closed it again when she felt another wave of nausea coming on. She raised the corners of her mouth and got up. She vocalised with her mouth closed, waved both Lambert and Dimitri away and quickly shuffled to the bathroom. Once in there she locked the door, turned the faucet on and threw up in the sink.

*

When Edelgard emerged from the bathroom, empty and sweaty, she saw that breakfast had arrived. “Patricia was feeling tired so we moved out here for some breakfast. We ordered hot chocolate for you too. Patricia loves to tell that story of you drinking hot chocolate straight from the spout. How you spilled everything on your dress and…”

“I know the story, I was there. So Patricia is feeling better, that’s good news. I had a long drive so I will check into a hotel and rest before I drive back again.”

“Edelgard, please, you haven’t been to visit your mother in years. Please stay at least for another night. You can stay at our house, you know you have a room there. Now have a seat and eat something, you look frail.”

Dimitri moved to the side to make room for Edelgard on the sofa. Lambert handed her an empty plate to fill to her heart’s content. In silence Edelgard chose some fruits, a bread roll and some cold cuts. Lambert poured her a cup of hot chocolate before sitting down with his own breakfast. “No one is going to steal your bag, you can put it down,” he said when he saw how Edelgard was clutching it.

“No thank you. How have you been?”

“Well, before this medical emergency your mother and I have been on a seaside vacation. It was very nice and relaxing, and the weather was just right, not too hot and not too cold. Although, one night we couldn’t sleep because of a small storm. The windows were rattling and the shutters too…” Edelgard was glad that Lambert was never short on small talk and that he was generally too polite to notice when people were not listening. That gave her enough time to eat her breakfast in peace, after which she did feel a little less nauseous.

After breakfast Lambert excused himself, he hadn’t been in the office for a day and needed to catch up on some work. He offered to take Edelgard back to the house but she declined. Once he had left Edelgard and Dimitri sat in silence.

“You don’t look well,” he commented after a while. “If you like you can lie down here for a while. I can go for a walk in the park if you’d like me to leave.”

Edelgard was still hugging her bag very tightly. Dimitri moved to the edge of his seat.

“Edelgard, I know you and Mother have a strained relationship but she could have died. I don’t believe this wouldn’t bother you.”

“You know nothing about the relationship between Patricia and I. You and I do not have the same mother. You and I are not family; we are merely bound by circumstance.”

“El, please.”

“Do you want to know how I know we are not family? Because a true brother would never actively work against me. What were you thinking when you put your name on that paper?”

Dimitri sighed. He had hoped to avoid this confrontation, especially in the light of their mother’s medical emergency. But one look into Edelgard’s eyes was enough for him to abandon his strategy.

“I know how you feel about the lost emperor, but the evidence speaks for itself. The last emperor’s offspring died in the plague shortly before the war. His children were young and you know how vulnerable children were back then. The birth dates, the locations and form of the entries themselves, everything matches up perfectly. Besides, the research was sponsored by the Church of Seiros who is in possession of the original documents.”

“That doesn’t explain why you put your name on it, it’s not even your field of expertise. I can’t think of any good reason for that, unless you were bought somehow. Tell me, Dimitri, did you sell your name? For what price?”

Dimitri got up and began to pace. “Setting my personal beliefs aside, the Church of Seiros is too valuable an actor to refuse a simple offer of theirs. With this cooperation their support of other future research projects has been secured. It was the least I could do for my institution. I’m sorry you feel like I attacked you personally. This was never my intention. You are still my sister whom I love and care for deeply. If I can support you in any way please let me know and I will…”

The sound of a bell ringing interrupted him. Before Edelgard knew it a nurse had entered the suite in a hurry and opened the door to the bedroom. Edelgard hesitated before following Dimitri to the bedroom door. To her relief Patricia had only rung because she worried her IV had fallen out. The nurse took a look, confirmed that everything was OK and left again. Dimitri asked Patricia if there was anything he could do for her, to which she answered that she would like some time with Edelgard alone. Unable to say no Edelgard sat down on the chair next to the bed. Patricia waited until Dimitri had closed the door before addressing her daughter.

“El, I know it wasn’t easy for you to come. But I am so happy you did. Dimitri has kept me informed, but how have you been?” She looked at her daughter the same way any mother would look at her baby: happy, hopeful, and completely besotted. It disgusted Edelgard.

“I have been well,” was all she managed to say.

“Did you receive the birthday present I sent you?”

“Probably, I have been too busy to open any of them. My research is also going well, I like being in Garreg Mach, the people are nice and I have made friends. My drive here was long but all right. Does that cover everything?”

“Why must you be so rude? Have I offended you somehow?” Patricia asked. For the first time her discontent was audible.

“Because it’s difficult for me, just like everyone says it is. I am glad you came through it OK, I would have hated for precious little Dimitri to lose his beloved Mother.”

“Edelgard! I am your mother, too!”

“My birth mother, perhaps. You forfeited all motherly access to me when you abandoned me. I have no use for people who run at the faintest hint of hardship.”

“I was scared!” Patricia cried out and immediately pressed her hand against her mouth. She took a deep breath before continuing, “You were too young to notice how scary life was back then. Do you know why you learned to ride a tricycle in the corridors and ballrooms? Because it was too dangerous to go outside. I wasn’t allowed to take you in my own car because your father and his people insisted his family travel in bullet proof cars only. You slept through those nights the secret service woke us up and evacuated us after death threats came in or assassination plans were uncovered. I was so scared, Edelgard, and that’s no way to live. Do you honestly think it didn’t tear me apart to have to leave you behind? You were just a baby.”

Edelgard dug her fingers into her bag on her lap. “I was five years old when you left. I remember screaming and crying while you calmly gave the staff orders to load your things into the cars. You had enough time to change your outfit from a yellow dress to a grey pantsuit before you got in the car and drove off. Either you are the coolest person under the threat of death to have ever lived or you are a liar. Which is it, Patricia?”

Patricia began to cry which was too much for Edelgard. She slid the shoulder strap of her bag over her shoulder and got up. “You have a family who loves you, and for their sake I am happy you are on the mend. Take care now.”

Edelgard pushed herself off the chair but as her legs were straightening out she felt the blood rushing out of her head. Patricia said something Edelgard didn’t understand. She was trying to sit down again but somehow the back of her thighs never made contact with the chair. Instead she was falling, falling, falling into an endless void.

*

Chapter Text

When Edelgard came to again she was in a bed. The curtains around her were drawn but Edelgard could hear the people behind the curtains clearly. She felt for the call button and when she found it pressed it multiple times. While she waited she checked herself out. She was still wearing her clothes sans shoes, nothing seemed to be hurting apart from her head, but to her dismay she noticed an IV in her arm. She called out, hoping to attract someone’s attention. The curtains opened and Edelgard assumed a nurse came to her.

“Hello again. How are you feeling?”

“What happened?” Edelgard wanted to know, intentionally looking away from the IV. The nurse filled her in and then let her know that her mother had given consent to examine her thoroughly which included a blood test.

“Actually,” Edelgard said, pushing herself up, “I would like to leave now. I had a fainting spell, not a matter of great concern. I didn’t get much sleep last night and I drove hours to get here. Could you please remove this?” She held out her arm. The nurse was unsure what to do.

“Miss, don’t you want to wait for the results of the blood test?”

“It’s not going to show anything of interest. Please, could you take this out now?”

The curtain moved and both Edelgard and the nurse looked at it. The nurse opened it slightly and once she saw who was on the other side she opened it fully. “Miss, your brother is here. He can wait with you while I call the doctor for your test results.”

Edelgard groaned and lay back down again. Dimitri drew the curtains and sat down at the foot end of the bed. At first he didn’t know what to say so he just interlaced his fingers and rested his hands on his thigh.

“Go away, I don’t want you here,” Edelgard said into the silence.

“Even if you don’t, Mother has asked me to stay with you. She’d be here if she could, she is beside herself with worry. And before you say anything, she is my mother, too. I won’t just stand by while you hurt her in your blind anger. You fainted right in front of her, you actually lost consciousness. She deserves to know if you’re alright. As soon as the doctor…”

Edelgard yanked the IV out of her arm and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.

“I made a mistake coming here, I know that now. I am feeling better so I am leaving. This way you will once again be the sole focus of Patricia’s love and attention, isn’t that what you want the most? Apart from messing with my research?” She grabbed her shoes and her bag and made her way to the nurses’ station. A small trickle of blood was running down the inside of her arm but she ignored it. Dimitri followed her but Edelgard was already in a heated conversation with a nurse when he got there.

“Yes, she is my mother but only on paper. I am fully conscious now so she has no right to any further information about my health or my medical information. And if I hear that she knows something I will sue you and this entire hospital. I won’t stop until none of you will ever work in healthcare again, do you understand? I have a right to privacy and no matter who asks, they are not entitled to anything! And you!” she hissed at Dimitri, “You had better leave me alone or I will call the police.” The nurse was intimidated so she just nodded and assured her that the hospital and its employees were taking doctor-patient confidentiality very seriously. “You better pray they do,” Edelgard hissed and still only wearing her socks walked out of the emergency room. Dimitri decided to wait by the nurses’ station ten minutes later until the doctor came by since he felt he could not return to his mother’s room without more information.

“I’m sorry, did Miss von Hresvelg leave, she’s not in her bed?” The doctor asked.

The nurse nodded and explained. The doctor took a look at the patient file and let out the slightest sigh.

“Excuse me, Miss von Hresvelg is my step-mother’s daughter. My step-sister is going through something and her mother is very worried so…”

“Let me stop you right there. I cannot give out private medical information to anyone. From what I hear your step-sister was very clear that she did not wish her mother to be informed. As unwise as leaving without being discharged is, it’s her decision. I’m sorry I can’t do more for you. Have a good day.” Dimitri lingered for a moment before walking away. The doctor waited until he was well out of earshot before she turned to the nurse.

“Do we have the patient’s contact information? Phone number, email, postal address? Anything so we could get in touch with her about her test results?”

“No, Doctor. Her family would have it but…”

The doctor took another look at the test results, shook her head and then wrote a comment in the file before signing it. With a deep sigh she handed it to the nurse who put it away.

*

The next day Claude waited by the main entrance to the archive, hoping to catch Edelgard. He didn’t have long since Flayn was expecting him on the farm soon. Impatiently he kept checking the hall of the archive in case she had taken the shortcut. He was about to give up when Edelgard eventually walked past him. Quickly he pulled her aside and away from the pedestrian traffic. Only when he got a closer look he realised how poorly she looked. Her eyes were red and her hair a mess with no discernible hairstyle.

“What happened to you?” He asked and let go of her.  

“What do you want?” Edelgard asked and immediately cleared her throat. After she had arrived in the early morning hours she had immediately fallen into bed and woke up feeling like she had been run over. Yet she felt she had no good reason to miss more than half the day she had spent sleeping.

“I wanted to ask you to join me on a mission but you look like you desperately need some rest.”

“What sort of mission?”

Claude looked around and began to explain in a whisper that somewhere in the monastery there were some documents he thought merited a closer look.

“I have been looking around last night so I already know where they’re not. I bet the task will be done faster with four eyes.”

“Claude, do I look like I have the time and energy to drag every single piece of information out of you? What are you looking for and why would I be interested?”

A group of people walked by, causing Claude to pause. Once they were alone again he told her of the conversation he had had with Flayn about the question of identifying single individuals and about the copies of the registers, and that they were located somewhere in the monastery.

“I don’t think they’re here in the archive, that would be too easy. So I thought they must be in the cathedral. But that place is very large and to be quite honest I was rather lost last night. Besides, I worry that even if I found them by myself I wouldn’t be able to read a single word. Luckily, I know someone who could. What do you say?”

Edelgard hated how intrigued she was by that proposal. It would clear up most if not all questions she had. But the thought of spending yet another night awake without sleep was a daunting one. Claude watched her closely as she thought about it, but he didn’t push her. After all this was not a time sensitive issue. That was why he was so surprised when she agreed.

“We’ll probably run into Seteth there, but I don’t think he’ll want to make trouble for us as long as we act normal. There will also be some churchgoers as well. The documents are probably hidden somewhere beneath the floor or in a hidden chamber. I’ll take a look at the maps and pick a few locations we might try. You… You can bring some tools.”

“Yes, Ma’am. We can get started a little later, say midnight? That way you can catch some zs.”

“Sure. Meet me in front of the cathedral. And don’t act suspicious. Now if you don’t mind, I have work to catch up on. I wasted enough time as it,” Edelgard said as she walked away.

*

When Edelgard arrived at the cathedral she found Claude surrounded by a bunch of people who seemed entertained by him. Once she was close enough she heard him tell a story of how he had misunderstood a joke once, causing everyone to laugh heartily. Edelgard gave him a stern look and entered the cathedral. She waited a few minutes before Claude joined her.

“You sure are popular.”

“You forget, I am a handsome stranger from a foreign land. I can’t help it if people are interested in me.”

Edelgard rolled her eyes and squeezed the bridge of her nose with two fingers. “There’s still too many people around to start poking around. Let’s take a walk.”

The pair strolled through the cathedral which was once again filled with believers praying and pleading, some were singing hymns in small groups while others yet were listening to sermons given by priests.

“I never thought that this old faith still had so many practising believers,” Claude said to Edelgard.

“By all accounts this religion is the cornerstone of this continent’s civilisation. You can’t shake this off, not even after thousands of years. Don’t you have gods in Almyra?”

“I have to admit, I am not too familiar with the ancient gods. But there’s a few of them. But the people who still worship them are generally… special.”

They made their way to the back of the cathedral where the Saviour King’s window was located. Edelgard stopped in front of it and looked up. She recalled the last time she had been there, the questions she had posed the Saviour King.

What did he do to you? Who was he to you that you let him hurt you so?

Suddenly the answer seemed to her as clear as day even though she hardly believed it herself. Claude said her name multiple times but she didn’t react until he tapped on her shoulder.

“What has you so spellbound?” He asked and also looked up at the window as if the answer were written up there.

It took Edelgard a few attempts before she formed a proper sentence.

“The Saviour King knew the Last Emperor, he knew him well. They must have been close, they must have… He must have felt a deep, deep affection for the Last Emperor. He must have loved him, very much.”

Claude raised his eyebrows at the implication, though it did not seem completely impossible. The fact that homosexuality was simply not acknowledged in Faerghus in those ancient times made it even more plausible, not to mention terribly tragic and romantic. He shared his views with Edelgard but she was already ten steps ahead.

“Just imagine the hurt and the pain the Saviour King must have felt, and the shame! He was betrayed by someone he thought could never do that. Who can you trust if not the people you love? Suddenly it makes sense. I would hate to have to look at portraits or statues of the person who hurt me the most. Not to mention there are still plenty of Faerghians who would be ashamed that their beloved Saviour King was in love with another man. Ha! Now once I find proof of the lost emperor’s existence I will write an article that will make all those stuffy, sticks-up-their-arses gag! And when they will inevitably cry I will hand them more copies of my article so they might dry their tears so they will have to look at the truth some more!” With every word she spoke she poked Claude’s chest, harder and harder. He let her continue with her word vomit until he saw a silhouette in the dark. He shushed her and turned her in direction of the silhouette. Once the person stepped into the light they recognised Seteth wandering through the cathedral. He was talking but no other person seemed to be around. Quietly the two of them approached him.

“Archbishop, you have gone too far. I understand your profound feelings for the king, but you are coddling him. You are allowing a grown man to live a lie, and for what? Because he can’t handle the truth? You are not doing him any favours.”

Edelgard and Claude hid behind a pillar and peeked around it to watch Seteth pleading to the void.

“Ignoring a threat does not make it go away! The church you are head of has already been infiltrated once and we noticed nothing. They will do it again.”

Seteth paused as if he was listening to the other side of the argument.

“Is he sleepwalking? Or hallucinating?” Edelgard whispered. The Seteth she knew was always composed and never used many words when few sufficed. But the person before her was desperate and gestured wildly with his hands.

“Archbishop, I agree that he has suffered enough for one lifetime but think about the future of Fódlan as a whole. Hopefully after a long and happy life with you he will leave the throne to his heir, whoever that may be. Isn’t it the church’s responsibility to make sure there still will be a country to rule over? He has already signed warrants for Adrestian nobles who were not personally involved in the war, simply because they hail from Adrestia. Where will this end, Byleth? If you can’t tell him the truth, then let me! That way he can blame me instead of you.”

Seteth ran his hands through his hair and grabbed fistfuls of it. Claude couldn’t stand to watch that man’s torment any longer so he stepped forward and called his name. Seteth raised his head and looked in Claude’s direction.

“Claude, what are you doing here? When did you get here?”

“I couldn’t sleep so I went for a walk,” Claude lied without hesitation. Seteth looked at him as if he had three heads.

“Be serious, what brought you here? I thought you were in Almyra.”

“I have been here a while now, Seteth. Are you not feeling well?”

“Did you come to visit the archbishop? Or the newly crowned king? Probably, he must have invited you. You look well. Flayn will be thrilled to see you again.”

“Sure. Hey, Seteth, I have been thinking about something you said a while ago. The king, does he ever talk about… What happened in Enbarr?”

Still hiding behind the pillar Edelgard was holding her breath.

“Does he ever talk about something else? You could ask him about the weather and he would find a way to damn and curse the late emperor. He sees shadows where there are none, and the people around him indulge him in his madness because it suits them. By giving him something else to focus on they are able to do as they please. And the archbishop refuses to step in for fear it might cause him further suffering, it’s sickening.”

Seteth sighed, closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. It seemed as all his anger was gone. When he opened his eyes again he raised his eyebrows upon seeing Claude.

“Claude, what are you doing here at this late hour?” From the tone of his voice Claude suspected that he was once again the Seteth he knew.

“I couldn’t sleep so I went for a walk.”

“Ah, yes. I am much the same. There’s nothing better than going for a walk in a summer night to clear one’s head. How are preparations for the summer camp coming along? I won’t hesitate to blame you if something goes wrong.”

They discussed the animals, the quarters and the planned activities. Seteth nodded approvingly and told Claude to ask him if he had any further questions or concerns. Then he wished Claude a good night before walking away. Once he was out of sight Edelgard came forward. The two of them just looked at each other, neither was able to say anything.

*

Chapter Text

When Edelgard’s alarm clock rang the next morning she blindly reached for it and tapped against it until it stopped. For a moment she wondered if she had hallucinated the events of the night before. After all she had had very little sleep and was anything but well rested. But when she checked her phone for any messages she saw that Claude had sent her a GIF that conveyed the same feeling of disbelief she was experiencing. Since it was unlikely that they shared the same dream last night must have been real. She looked over the edge of her bed and found the notebook she had scribbled her thoughts into before falling asleep. She picked it up and read it black on white.

SK consumed by the slain emperor. The archbishop allowed fantasy. Love? Probably king v mad. Seteth insane.

Still in bed she called Hubert. She wanted to tell him everything, but as she listened to the dial tone she asked herself if she really should.

“Good morning Edelgard.”

“Good morning Hubert.”

“Is everything OK? It’s early.”

Edelgard didn’t know what to say. On the other end she could hear the sound of a coffee machine hissing and sputtering. He had probably just gotten up himself.

“I just wanted to hear your voice,” Edelgard then said. While she was confident that Hubert would believe her she didn’t feel ready to share what had happened.

“I miss you too. I have been so busy at work, I’m sorry if I neglected you. What have you been up to?”

Watching a man I admire fall apart, talking to ghosts and revealing that all was apparently not well with the Saviour King after he had slain his mortal enemy.

“Everyone is so busy preparing for the summer camp that is due to happen in a few weeks.”

“Are you helping out as well?”

“I might, here and there. I was asked if I was available to teach the campers about the old Fódlan language and script. If I’m not too busy I might.”

Hubert must have sat down at his kitchen table, Edelgard heard the familiar noise of rustling newspaper.

“Patricia had a heart attack,” she then said.

“Goodness.”

“She’s alive. I drove all the way there only to have her call me rude and for Dimitri to admit that he had indeed traded in his integrity as a scientist for favours from the Church of Seiros.”

“I suspected as much. But then again it’d be unwise to make an enemy of the church. Their power is too great.”

“Mhm.”

For a while neither of them spoke, and they didn’t need to. Edelgard closed her eyes and listened to Hubert drinking his morning coffee and reading the newspaper. It was enough to make her homesick for how it once was. When she felt tears welling up in her eyes she closed them. For the first time she couldn’t tell Hubert her true thoughts and feelings, and she didn’t even entirely know why. When she couldn’t take it any longer she said she had to go and ended the phone call.

*

Over the next few days Edelgard buried herself in her work. In the mornings she transcribed documents and in the afternoons she worked on her own research, often staying until late. One morning Edelgard arrived at her workspace and found it completely empty. She looked around if someone was approaching with a trolley. After a few minutes she went to the main desk and asked if there had been a problem with the documents assigned to her. The archivist on duty checked and then reported that everything was in order.

“But where are they then?” Edelgard asked confused.

“They’re exactly where they’re supposed to be, safely filed away. You have fulfilled your quota a few days ago. Seteth personally wrote a note discharging you from your duties indefinitely. You have been working so much, Miss Edelgard, why don’t you take it easy for a few days? Look in on the preparations for the summer camp. I hear they’re doing practice runs of the open kitchen and the activities. Have you every tried your hand at archery? It’s very popular with the campers. Go, enjoy yourself!”

“But, I have my paper to write and… There were some special requests I have yet to process!”

The archivist walked around the desk and gently led Edelgard to the main entrance while assuring her that the documents would not go anywhere.

“In a few days I will speak to Seteth and see if he has any other tasks for you. Until then, take a break and see what Garreg Mach has to offer for visitors and tourists.”

With those words he softly pushed her over the threshold of the archive. Edelgard objected but he wouldn’t have any of it. He just shooed her away, smiling the entire time. Unfamiliar with the experience of having been kicked out anywhere before Edelgard kept looking over her shoulder as she walked away. When she looked around the corner to see if the archivist was still there he raised his hand and waved giddily. Unsure about what to do now she walked to the main gate of the monastery. It was packed with tourist groups about to start their tours of the monastery. Some guides were speaking into their microphones, others were busily waving their colourful flags and leading their groups away. To get away from the crowds Edelgard headed towards the eastern side of the monastery where the camp would take place.

*

Claude was standing before a table filled with bows and crossbows of different shapes and sizes. He had been tasked with setting up the archery stands. However, he had no idea how tall or strong the campers would be. Also he was strong enough to draw any string so he was not a good measure. That was why he was glad to see Edelgard walking toward him.

“Perfect, a short person of slender build! Here, help me out.”

Edelgard put her bookbag down and sighed.

“Seteth basically had kicked me out of the archive,” she complained and folded her arms.

“What?”

“Apparently I have done enough. I was told to enjoy myself. Honestly, I am… What are you doing?”

He handed her a bow and an arrow and turned her around so she faced the direction of a hay bale.

“So what you are going to do is hold the bow with a firm grip, thread in the arrow and pull. When you’re ready, let it go.”

“Really, I’m not in the mood. Also, this is very heavy.”

“Stop complaining and get moving.”

Edelgard was shaking a fair bit as she tried to keep everything steady. When she released the arrow it barely flew before falling to the ground. Claude picked it up and handed it to her so she might try it again. Her next attempts were not much more successful though. Claude stood behind her and with his finger pointed at the hay bale.

“You know, I find that if you look beyond the head of the arrow you’ll find your aim much improved.”

“And I find you don’t want me to pull too hard because if I do there’s no telling where my noodle-y arm may land. Step back.”

She took a deep breath and tried again. Still, her arrows seemed too embarrassed by her inaptitude to fly far and she gave up. Claude took the bow and arrow from her and tried it himself. With ease he sent his arrow flying and it hit the middle of the hay bale. Satisfied with himself he smiled and lowered his bow.

“Maybe I’ll have to pull the bale a bit forward, what do you think? If the goal is closer the task seems less intimidating, no?”

Edelgard wiped some sweat off her forehead and took a deep breath. All around her preparations were underway. Where she had smelled only smoke from wet wood before she now smelled bread. That reminded her that she was hungry.

“I’ll go and see if I can find something to eat. Hopefully more than just gruel.”

“I can show you something cool. While we walk there we can discuss our plans for our next outing to the cathedral. We didn’t get very far last time.”

He put the bow down, collected Edelgard’s arrows and placed them in a quiver. Edelgard grabbed her bookbag and with folded arms walked alongside Claude. He said he had thought about the lover’s theory but found it had one massive weak point.

“The man went on to have plenty of children with his queen. Lover of men or not, that speaks of a commitment to his position in life. Also, his queen was decidedly not an archbishop, a role which – as I found out – is a distinct female one. Makes sense since their goddess is also a female being, but you’d think we’d know if the Saviour King had been married to the archbishop, don’t you think?”

“The Saviour King’s queen was a noble woman which has not been further named. Why would she, she’s not the important party. All she did was give birth to his offspring. But even so, as long as the Saviour King claimed a child as his the identity of the mother becomes as good as irrelevant. But perhaps they were the archbishop’s children and he brought them into his home for his wife to raise as her own.”

“He just loved a man and a woman equally. My, how progressive and free this Saviour King was. And cruel too, to treat his wife like that.” Claude noticed that Edelgard was out of breath so he slowed down.

“So let’s suppose the Saviour King and the lost emperor were not lovers; they were still close. Close enough that after a betrayal or general disagreement the Saviour King felt the need to eliminate him from history. We should go and see if we can find those registers. Or, if that won’t help, we’ll need to have another conversation with Night Seteth.”

“Night Seteth? No, I prefer the term Dream Seteth.”

“The Omniscient Seteth?” Edelgard suggested.

“We have time yet to find a good name,” Claude said. “Look, there’s the field kitchen. And there’s Flayn. The cooks are having a hard time to keep her away. Flayn!”

Flayn turned around and smiled widely as she saw them. “Hello Claude. Edelgard, it’s so good to see you out here for once. Seteth told me he had given you a few days off. Are you alright, you don’t look so well.”

Edelgard put on a smile as best she could. “Oh, you know, I’m not used to being out here after all these weeks in the archive. The sun and the grass and… All this. It’s great, I’m sure the children will love it.”

“Yes, they will. I am still petitioning for the cooks to include my fish stew. Just imagine how much fun we would have! We’d go and fish together, we’d gut the fish with our bare hands and then we’d cook it! We could also fry it, or put it on skewers… But the cooks say they already have their set menus they know the children will like. I will just have to prepare the meal myself and convince them that way. Claude, how is the archery station coming along?”

“I’m still working on it. Perhaps now that Edelgard has a few days off she can assist me.”

“If she wants to. Now then, I have to see the forestry chief. Apparently there are some concerns about the outdoor camping site. I’ll see you around. And you, Edelgard, why don’t you have a seat, you look as if you’re about to faint any second now.”

“Yes, thank you, Flayn.”

Flayn happily skipped away. Claude pointed out some highly anachronistic plastic chairs near the field kitchen suggesting Edelgard sit down there. Her legs were rather shaky when she did. To Claude it was a clear sign that something was not well, but he didn’t know how to bring it up without upsetting her immediately. Instead he left to get her some food and drink. He returned with some soda and a sandwich he had talked someone into giving him. He sat down next to her and waited until she had finished. Small as she was she could pack away a lot of food in a short amount of time. By the end she looked better and happier. She neatly folded the paper the sandwich had been in and emptied the last few drops of the soda into the grass.

“Thank you for the food, Claude. It will give me enough strength to walk back to the Old Convent. I have a few days off so I might as well use them to recharge.”

“You do that. Do you need me to walk you back?”

“I’ll be fine, thank you.” She took a deep breath and got up fairly steady. She put her trash in her bookbag and went on her way.

The tourist groups had spread across the monastery. While the hallways and side gates were still busy Edelgard did not feel as crowded as she had at the main gate. As it happened she got caught up in a group of pensioners who were walking exceptionally slow. Since they were going the same way she followed them.

“The year 1180 happened to be a very prestigious year for the Officers Academy here at Garreg Mach Monastery. The Saviour King himself, Duke Riegan of Derdriu and the son of Duke Aegir of Adrestia, Prime Minister of Adrestia attended the Officers Academy that year, along with their peers. It is believed that their parents and guardians made silent agreements to make this possible. The Holy Kingdom of Faerghus had just endured a plague as well as famines so by enabling the future king to make connections before ascending to the throne, it was hoped, he might use them in the future for the good of his country. Of course this hope proved empty when Adrestia’s prime minister declared war over a border dispute. And as you may be aware, the Duke Riegan realised his insignificance and yielded to the Saviour King before vanishing. Some people believe that he gave up his title and lived the rest of his life as a commoner, but according to Church sources he couldn’t live with his shame and went into the water. To ensure that Adrestia would never dare to declare war ever again House Aegir was eradicated, just like other leading Houses of the Empire were. Now, in the courtyard we are currently standing in, thousands of years ago students of the Officers Academy stood during their breaks. The building you see over there once housed the classrooms but as the Officers Academy fell out of fashion the building was repurposed as a large storage. The Garreg Mach Historical Society is currently working on restoring the classrooms. Please consider donating to the cause as we pass through to the main building again where you will find donation boxes. If you require a receipt for your donation please make it directly at the information desk at the main gate, thank you.” Edelgard followed the group to the main building, there she took another path back to the Old Convent. As if it were the end of the day she took off her clothes, washed her face and brushed her teeth and put on her pyjamas. She closed the blinds, slipped under the covers and did a big stretch, pointing her toes and reaching her arms above her head. Then she yawned and closed her eyes, ready for sleep to take her. She thought about her unexpected free day, her miserable attempts at shooting an arrow, her exhaustion and the tour she had joined on her way back. She had almost fallen asleep when she remembered something the tour guide had said.

“Adrestia’s prime minister declared war over a border dispute.”

Edelgard sat up in her bed and replayed that sentence a couple more times in her mind.

“WHO?!”

*

Chapter Text

The next morning Edelgard was still feeling under the weather and a walk to the monastery seemed too much. So she put on some loungewear instead and went into the common areas of the Old Convent. She hadn’t been here much since she preferred to work in the archive. Only two other people were downstairs. She raised her hand as a greeting and went into the computer room where she recalled a shelf with reference books. Quickly she found what she was looking for, the Handbook of Adrestian History. It was a hefty tome detailing not only the history of the Adrestian Empire, but also what had been before and what came after. She sat down at a table, opened the book and flipped to the table of contents until she had arrived at the right time period. Then she ran her finger down the pages to find what she was looking for. Once she thought she had the right sub-chapter she turned to that page and began reading.

In favour of strengthening their position in Adrestia proper the official seat of the emperor traditionally has been the Imperial Palace in Enbarr. Apart from pilgrimages to holy sites and visits to high ranking vassals roughly every five years the emperor’s place was in Enbarr. As the empire expanded a need for local representatives became evident. Branching out northwards from Adrestia imperial viceregents were established. Promotion to this rank was a sign of the emperor’s trust and thus was only bestowed to his most loyal vassals. The viceregents ruled over smaller territories in the emperor’s name. After the establishment of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus the position of the emperor was weakened which resulted in the creation of the office of the Prime Minister. The emperor ceded his absolute power in parts to the Prime Minister who thus became responsible for both domestic and foreign affairs. The emperor remained responsible for his personal territories which included the city of Enbarr and its surrounding estates.

The first prime minister was chosen by the emperor on merit and loyalty. However, the prime minister was always considered to be merely the emperor’s most loyal and humble servant and not his equal or his replacement. As such the emperor reserved certain rights for himself including but not limited to: right to veto betrothals and marriages among his vassals, right to commute sentences of prosecuted criminals, right to declare war both domestic and foreign, right to call his vassals to arms, right to dismiss the prime minister, right to dismiss other ministers.

Edelgard tapped on the page asked herself why an official tour guide would spew such nonsense when it was well recorded that declaring a war was not within a prime minister’s powers. Quickly she took a picture of the page with her phone and put the book back on its shelf. There, another book caught her eye. It was one of the many biographies of House Blaiddyd, but compared to the ones Edelgard was familiar with it was rather thin and showed barely any signs of use. She opened it and quickly learned why: It was a book about the queens of House Blaiddyd. Considering there were only eight who ruled in their own right the thickness seemed appropriate. Edelgard thought if no one had used the book until recently no one would miss it terribly, so she took it with her back upstairs for some easy reading.

*

Between his preparations for the summer camp and his own research Claude didn’t have much free time. What little he had he either spent lazing around somewhere or wandering around the monastery. With his easy-going personality people quickly dropped their guard and spoke to him freely. Still, steering them in the direction he wanted to go often proved difficult. If he brought up King Khalid people laughed politely and tried to change the subject. If he asked their opinion of the lost emperor they laughed genuinely and corrected him: The last emperor was slain by the Saviour King who finally brought peace to Fódlan. Either way, in their worldview the roles of the hero and the villain were clearly and unchangeably defined. One evening, he had spent the day setting up and testing a scavenger hunt for the campers, he decided to enjoy the evening by the lake next to the Old Convent. He had texted Edelgard in case she wanted to join him but when she didn’t answer he thought it might be for the better. If anyone needed a few days’ rest it was Edelgard. He took off his socks and shoes, rolled up his trousers and dipped his feet into the water. It was cold but also refreshing. He wiggled his toes and flexed his feet and sighed.

“I hope those feet will leave the lake cleaner than it met them.”

He looked up and saw Flayn. Claude felt great relief when he saw that she hadn’t brought a basket or anything else that might contain food. She asked if he minded her joining him and when he moved to the side she sat down.

“I love the water. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere without a body of water, the bigger the better. How about you, Claude? I read that Almyra is not particularly blessed with much fresh water, but it has a large coast.”

“We have a few rivers with springs in the mountains. Not much but somehow my ancestors made it work for them. Many centuries ago it was imperative to live by one of the rivers but now it’s fashionable to live at the beach.”

“Do you live at the beach? Is it sandy, or filled with pebbles? Do you have palm trees?”

“No palm trees, but white sandy beaches for miles. To protect ourselves from the sun we put up these large awnings, they’re usually very colourful and make it easy to spot our friends and family from afar. It’s a very popular motif for postcards. You should come and visit sometime. A woman your age cannot spend her entire life living in a monastery.”

Flayn smoothed the fabric of her dress across the dock they were sitting on.

“I’d like to travel, but something always held me back.”

“I can see that. It’s hard to imagine the place running without you.”

Flayn shook her head and immediately ran her hand over her hair to make sure her corkscrew locks were still in place. Claude thought it a very inconvenient hairstyle, if an impressive one.

“One day I will travel to all the places our visitors have told me about. All across Fódlan and then beyond the seas to the neighbouring countries and one day even further to the other continents. But as you noted correctly, I am still young-ish so I have lots of time.”

For a while they sat in silence looking over the water. The sun had begun to set and bathed everything in a golden light.

“Claude, I gather you ran into Seteth the other night, up in the cathedral?”

“Yes, I did.”

Flayn put her hands in her lap.

“Did he seem different to you? I mean, was he acting strange?”

“Well, it was late at night and he probably didn’t think he’d run into anyone. Why do you ask? Is everything all right with him?”

Claude listened attentively to Flayn as she explained that Seteth had been acting strangely lately. He would confuse people and tell fantastical stories. Sometimes he would also just wander the grounds endlessly.

“We are all very fond of him, and we don’t want anything to happen to him. But we don’t want him to scare people away either. Any day he might frighten a child or cause trouble otherwise. You know him, he’s a proud man with strong convictions. Doing anything to him against his wishes… It would only hurt every one involved. So if you should ever see him acting strangely, please treat him with kindness and alert someone from the church so they might come and take care of him. And please share this information with Edelgard when you see her. I wouldn’t want her to get scared, I know she often goes for walks at night.”

“Of course. I’m sorry about Seteth, it must be hard for you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Obviously you are very close. Are you closely related?”

Flayn chuckled and pulled her knees up. Elegantly she pushed herself up and dusted off her skirt. 

“Seteth has looked after me ever since I came to Garreg Mach. I don’t know the place without him and I wouldn’t want to. I do consider him my family, just like I consider the people of Garreg Mach my family. I’m closer with some than with others but we all belong together. Now if you’ll excuse me, my series will be on soon, and I have bought popcorn to be prepared in the microwave. Such a useful appliance, don’t you think? It plays such a happy tune too when the food is ready. Goodnight, Claude.”

As she walked away she was humming the jingle of the microwave. Claude had cursed that microwave many times before since it made private late night snacks a rather public affair, but after seeing how happy the mere thought of it made Flayn he suddenly minded a lot less. There truly weren’t many things in life that brought Flayn joy. As he was contemplating that his phone rang. He took it out of his pocket and furrowed his brow when he saw who was calling. He braced himself for what was to come and then answered the call.

“Hello Dad.”

“Don’t make me call you, son. Your mother is sick with worry because you never call back. Let’s make this quick and put her out of her misery. How far have you gotten with what I sent you to Fódlan for? Try not to disappoint me this time.”

*

Chapter Text

Patricia was sitting on her balcony overlooking the city of Fhirdiad. Her breakfast had been served on the table before her but she hadn’t eaten much. She was lost deep in thought when repeated knocking on the glass door behind her snapped her out of it. She turned around and smiled.

“Dimitri, come, have a seat. Have you had breakfast yet? No matter how often I tell them, they insist on serving me a whole buffet.”

Dimitri leaned in to give his mother a kiss on the cheek before sitting down. Quickly Patricia loaded a plate with pastries, fruit and deli meat and put it before him. Then she called inside to have another cup and saucer brought out.

“Do you want eggs or bacon, or something else entirely?”

“Mother, I’ve already had breakfast, I’m good.”

“Then blame it on the staff, they keep bringing out so much. Let’s not let it go to waste, Dimitri. Besides, you’re like your father, you need to eat plenty or else you’ll deflate.”

“Perhaps that is just what I need. I came bearing a bag full of clothes that need a little mending. Only if you’re up for it.”

“I think my recovery will allow for lifting a needle and thread. Leave the things here and I’ll take care of them. Perhaps you’ll allow me to embroider a pretty flower here or there.”

“No, no flowers or other flora and fauna, please. My colleagues still tease me for the rabbit and the bees and whatever else you hide when I’m not looking.”

“Perhaps a lion then. Something a little more manly. We should go to the zoo again to look at the lions. It would be good exercise for me too.”

“That sounds great. I’ll check my calendar and get back to you.”

Patricia smiled as she watched Dimitri empty the plate she had prepared for him. Her housekeeper brought a new cup and saucer on a tray and asked if Dimitri wanted to stay for the night. When he answered in the affirmative Patricia put her hands together, overjoyed. Whenever Lambert had to stay away for his business she felt very lonely, and Dimitri knew that so he tried his best to stay over whenever he could.

“Dimitri, if you wanted to bring someone with you to the zoo…”

“I don’t think any woman would be particularly thrilled to have my mother tag along on a date. And I’m not so sure I’d be thrilled either.”

“Who mentioned anything of a date. I only suggested we don’t go all by our lonesome. Unless you had someone in mind you wouldn’t want to bring to the zoo. Is there such a person, Dimitri?”

She chuckled as Dimitri blushed and quickly lifted his teacup to his lips.

“Though it would please me if you found someone. Being your father’s wife and being your mother has made me complete, but now I feel a yearning to see you become as happy as I am.”

“I’m sure I’ll get there eventually.”

“Before I suffer another heart attack, preferably.” She chuckled at her own joke and leaned back in her chair. But soon her amusement made way for melancholy. When Dimitri asked what the matter was she didn’t come out with it right away. Instead she sighed and folded her arms.

“I worry that one day Edelgard will find someone to spend the rest of her life with and on the day I won’t be invited. Her upbringing has made her so cruel and she is blind to it. Every day I have to live with the pain that she is depraving herself of a mother when I am right here and she cannot see it. It’s an awful thing to be the villain in someone else’s life, Dimitri.”

Patricia wiped a tear away and sniffled. Dimitri reached over and held her hand. In the past he had tried to argue in Edelgard’s favour, after all it had not initially been Edelgard’s choice to become estranged from her mother, but Dimitri had learned that his mother was not receptive for such arguments. One time he had made her scream and cry, lamenting that no one loved her and that everything she had sacrificed in her life was for naught. After Patricia had finally gone to bed that day Lambert and Dimitri had decided not to contradict her in all and any matters regarding Edelgard. It was a small price to pay to keep her happy.

“If I didn’t have you and your father, I would have nothing at all,” Patricia said in a shaky voice and put her hand on his, her grip strong and desperate.

*

One aspect in which the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus was truly ahead of its contemporaries was its general equality between men and women, though like so many things in the kingdom it had not grown from a basic universal understanding but from necessity. After Faerghus had gained independence from the Empire it had been cut off from the Empire’s vast agricultural resources. Grains, fruits and livestock flourished in the south’s warm climate whereas most of the ground in northern Faerghus was frozen for the better part of the year. That paired with plagues and the constant threat from Sreng to the north made life hard. Families, poor and wealthy, common and noble could not afford to exclude daughters from inheriting titles and lands. Paternal or maternal, crested or crestless, blood was blood. Still, the Faerghus Royal family had only resorted to proclaiming a queen eight times. Apparently looking for a nephew, cousin or other distantly related male family member was more preferable in most cases. Still, Edelgard thought, each of those eight queens had had rather successful if on average shorter reigns. There were no major wars or conflicts, natural disasters were not more frequent and some of them even actively contributed to strengthening the kingdom was a whole. Edelgard truly enjoyed reading the little book. With a steaming cup of tea on her nightstand she sat in her bed, propped up against her pillow, her knees pulled up, the book leaning against her thighs. When she felt tired she put the book aside and took a nap, sometimes even two or three in one day. In the evenings she went into the kitchen and ate something simple such as cornflakes or buttered toast. On Monday morning she finished the book right after she had woken up. She flipped through the appendix and stopped when she got to a section with annotated family trees. She turned the book sideways and studied them. Interestingly enough none of the queens had issue, their successors were all either nephews or cousins.

“How cruel and liberating at the same time,” Edelgard said to herself as she traced one queen’s family tree upwards. She stopped at a familiar name. That particular queen, known by her sobriquet ‘The Patroness’ was a first cousin twice removed of the Saviour King; a great-granddaughter of his uncle who had acted as his regent. Her chapter had not left any lasting impression on Edelgard, so just to make sure she hadn’t missed any helpful information Edelgard decided to re-read it. With just over twenty years her reign was the second longest of all queens during which she did a lot for the arts, commissioning paintings, sculptures and, most importantly, theatre plays. The land for the Fhirdiad Royal Theatre was given by the queen herself, and according to the book she was an avid theatregoer. She abdicated when a distant male relative of hers came of age and moved to the country. Did she have the chance to go to the theatre anymore, Edelgard wondered and closed the book again. For a while she tapped her fingers on the back of the book, then she had an idea. She looked something up on her phone, didn’t find what she was looking for and made a call instead.

“Fhirdiad Royal Palace, Visitor Centre, good morning. How may I be of assistance?”

“Hi, my name is Edelgard von Hresvelg, I am a visiting research fellow with the Garreg Mach Historical Society. I came across an interesting book about the reigning queens of Faerghus and I was wondering if your in-house historians or museum curators might have some more information?”

“One moment please, I will connect you.”

Edelgard waited and wiggled her toes under the covers to the melody of the hold music. It took a while but eventually she heard the dial tone and someone else picked up.

“This is the curators’ office.”

“Yes, hello. I am looking for more information about a certain Faerghus queen, ‘The Patroness’?”

“What exactly are you looking for?”

“Well, anything personal about her. Did she perhaps keep a diary or was there a letter exchange with someone? Maybe with some of the artists she supported? In general I am curious if her involvement in the arts has been fully appreciated yet.”

She was put on hold again, rolling her free wrist clockwise and counterclockwise. She had developed a slight cramp from holding the small book. After a while she switched the phone to the other hand and rolled the other wrist. Eventually the music stopped.

“Are you still there?”

“Yes, I’m here.”

“Listen, on paper we have plenty of materials related to The Patroness but they have not been properly categorised. I suppose the author of that book you read was the last person to truly work with the primary sources. If you wanted to take a personal look I’d suggest you make an appointment with our head archivist, but if you want to work with them you’ll have to make an official request with the Fhirdiad Royal College History Department.”

“Why? Aren’t you people in charge of the archives?”

“Well, yes, but my people are merely responsible that everything is kept in good condition. We’re not allowed to work with the documents without their permission. They consider all the documents and artifacts theirs alone to play with. But since it’s a slow day today I can start preparing an overview for you, check what’s really there on those shelves. Give me your email address and a few days’ time and I’ll get back to you.”

Edelgard thanked him, gave her contact information and thanked him again before hanging up. As much as she despised the idea of having to go to Fhirdiad again she was hopeful this somewhat close relative of the Saviour King might have left behind something of interest. After all the Saviour King was said to have loved his family, and she may very well have known him well personally. As excited she was at the thought, another wave of tiredness overcame Edelgard so she put the book and her phone away to take another nap.

*

Chapter Text

Seteth was daydreaming at his desk and didn’t hear the knocking at his door. Only when the door was opened a crack and someone called his name he snapped out of it. His secretary asked if it was a good time. He nodded and sat up straight in his chair. Edelgard entered his office. He gestured at the chair in front of his desk and Edelgard sat down.

“Edelgard, how have you been?”

“Thank you, I’ve been doing well. I took a few days to rest and now I am much better. In fact I am ready to dive back into work. So if it’s OK with you I’ll go and do that.”

“Are you sure, you still look a little pale.”

“That’s just my complexion. I am well rested and ready. May I please return to work, please?”

He put his fingertips together and exhaled deeply.

“To be frank, there’s no more work for you to do. As per the agreement you signed you are done. Yes, there’s your research paper but I have full trust in you to finish that in time.”

“But I still have weeks to go in this fellowship. What do you want me to do?”

“You can always help out with the summer camp. I want you to have some fun.”

Even just hearing Seteth utter the word fun made Edelgard feel a little uncomfortable.

“Don’t you have hobbies?” Seteth then wanted to know. “Edelgard, what do you do for fun?”

Edelgard was at a loss for words. She threw up her hands and fell back into her chair. When Seteth kept looking at her she tried to articulate her thoughts.

“I enjoy… many things…” she began and dragged her words out.

“You know what, Edelgard, when you come back with an answer we can talk again. Until then, stay out of the archives, get some sun. I’ll speak to Flayn, maybe she has a role for you in the organisation committee oof the summer camp. Please close the door on your way out.”

Edelgard got up and left the room. She made it into the hallway before turning on her heel and going straight back to his office. She opened the door without announcing herself.

“I am here to work. It is completely inacceptable for you to patronise me like this. My health is none of your concern and it should not factor into any decision of yours to withhold work from me. Neither do my hobbies or lack thereof. What I do in private is just that, private. So please put me to work.”

Seteth leaned forward in his chair and looked Edelgard in the eyes.

“No.”

It took Edelgard everything not to stomp her feet in frustration. She had never faced this kind of problem before.

“Edelgard, I don’t know what to tell you other than you’re working too hard. You’re doing too much. Stop. Do less. Now get out of here and find a hobby. Please.”

Edelgard turned away from him and pouted. Then she thought of something else.

“Personally I am not very interested in this whole summer camp thing. I may have some more personal business to take care of in Fhirdiad, if that’s all right with you.”

“I hope your mother is doing better. Heart attacks are serious business.”

Edelgard turned around again, surprised. She hadn’t mentioned her mother’s heart attack to anyone at Garreg Mach.

“It’s something else,” she said.

“Good. You can just leave a message with my secretary when you’re going to be absent. I hope what you’re doing is going to give you some joy.”

“We’ll see. Goodbye.”

Edelgard left his office and headed straight to the Old Convent. The route she took led her once again through the courtyard of the monastery where the Officers Academy had been located. The large tourist groups hadn’t made their way there yet. It gave Edelgard a moment to pause and take a proper look at the courtyard. From what she had read the Officers Academy was little more than a year-long summer camp for young adults. Yes, they had to attend classes and they were not allowed to bring their own servants from home, but with generous enough donations from their families to the church these young scions were free to do as they pleased. Best case it was a crash course in self-defence and governance, worst case it was a meat market to find suitable spouses. Edelgard remembered a popular love story featuring an emperor set in the Officers Academy. Might be worth checking out the place where the most important scene was taking place, Edelgard thought. She had time to spare, after all.

One advantage of the summer camp being just around the corner was Flayn’s general absence from the Old Convent during the day. Edelgard felt more at ease to move around the convent without the possibility of Flayn checking in on her any second. The past few days had been solely dedicated to resting and regaining her energy so she had neglected other things such as doing her laundry and cleaning her room. As soon as she opened her door she saw that this needed to be remedied immediately. At peace and at her own pace she filled her laundry basket and brought it downstairs to the laundry room. One dryer was already going but both washing machines were free so she took the liberty to load and start both. Back in her room she began to finally unpack her birthday gifts and her birthday shopping. In retrospect she felt a little embarrassed by her moment, no, her hours of weakness. On the other hand she had to congratulate herself on some of her purchases. If everything went to hell at least she’d undoubtedly be dressed well. Using the cleaning supplies from the cupboard in the hallway she did some sweeping, dusting and finally she hung her bedding out of the window to air it out. Edelgard pulled on the bedding until just enough of it hung over the window sill. As she was pulling and tugging a thought formed in the back of her mind. The man she had spoken with over the phone had mentioned the Fhirdiad Royal College History Department. That was were Dimitri was based. This would probably make everything so much easier, however, it would also come at a price. Still, it wasn’t as if she was busy with work or anything. She pulled out her phone and called Dimitri.

As she had expected Dimitri was thrilled to hear from her. After he had inquired about her health (“Unchanged.”) and gave an update on Patricia (“She’s doing so much better.”), Edelgard told him about her interest in The Patroness and if he could arrange for her to visit and check out the archive.

“Sure! I’d love to show you around. Have you ever visited my university? The buildings are gorgeous and the architecture a sight to behold. And Mother would be so happy if you came to stay for a few days.”

“Yes, yes. It’s just a dinner or two, I’ll live.”

“Perfect! When did you want to come?”

“As soon as possible. I have a few days off. How about this weekend? Friday to Monday?”

“Marvellous. I’ll tell Mother and I’ll talk to the archivists. Are you coming by car?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Then I’ll clear a spot for you. And Edelgard, I’ll do my best to make the atmosphere comfortable for both you and Mother. I want my sister to feel comfortable in my home, it’s what you deserve.”

Edelgard rolled her eyes in lieu of correcting Dimitri’s understanding of the nature of their relationship. As insufferable as he was at times, at this moment his sentiment seemed genuine.

“I’ll text you the details on Thursday.”

“I’m looking forward to it, Edelgard. Take care and see you Friday.”

“Yes, see you.”

Edelgard hung up and leaned out of the window, taking in the fresh air. As trying as her family could be at times, there were occasional moments when they were useful, such as this one.

*

Chapter Text

“So how long will you be gone?”

Claude closed the trunk of Edelgard’s car. Edelgard was sitting in the driver’s seat setting up the GPS. Although she had only recently made the drive she was worried about the traffic in the city of Fhirdiad. The Faerghian obsession with large roundabouts with more then three lanes was among the few things that truly terrified her.

“I plan to be back Monday.”

“It’s a pity you’re gone this weekend. Summer camp starts next Monday so I’ll be very busy.”

“We’ll both live. But if you do manage to check out the cathedral, check out the floor.”

“Why, do you think ‘X’ marks the spot?”

“Because you cannot really go up in the cathedral, you can only go down. And unless you’re a ghostly being you cannot simply phase through the stone floor.”

“Got it. Do you have everything? Are you feeling well enough for the drive?”

Edelgard got out of her car and did some last minute stretches. She had made sure to eat and sleep enough in the days leading up to her departure. She had experienced some moments of weakness and numbness but only right after she had woken up, so she attributed it to unfortunate sleeping positions.

“I have tea, sport drinks and snacks, I’ll be fine. If you find anything interesting about the lost emperor, let me know. Or about King Khalid. I’ll also look out for him.”

“Much obliged.”

Edelgard checked the clock in her dashboard and saw that it was time for her to leave. She got into her car and drove it out of its parking space. Before she got onto the road Claude knocked at her window and she rolled it down.

“I forgot,” he said and leaned against the door. “Give Dimitri my regards. Might be nice to see him once again. Why don’t you invite him to come visit Garreg Mach?”

“Why would I do that? Ask him yourself. He’s incredibly polite, as you know. If you guilt him enough he will feel obliged to come.”

“True, but I’m just an acquaintance, you’re his family, at least in his eyes.”

She just sighed and rolled up the window. Claude stepped back and raised his hand to wave as she drove away. He stood there until her car was out of sight, hoping that she would make it there and back in one piece.

*

On Friday evening the volunteers and the staff of the Garreg Mach Historical Society as well as some monks and nuns enjoyed a large BBQ as a last treat before the summer camp started. Claude had partaken in the feast, joined in games and listened to stories from experienced staff members about previous summer camps. All the while he was waiting for a moment to slip away unnoticed to do some more exploring. Flayn, however, kept a close eye on him the entire time. It wasn’t until a nun urgently tapped her shoulder and whispered something in her ear. Claude watched as Flayn got up and followed the nun. Quickly he came up with an excuse and removed himself from the group. From where the BBQ was taking place the only path one could take lead straight back to the eastern gate of the monastery so Claude was not worried about losing Flayn. Keeping his distance at all times he followed them to the large dining hall and from there into the courtyard. Soon Claude could hear why Flayn had been called. Seteth who was being held down by a couple of monks shouted at the top of his lungs. He was incoherent and didn’t make any sense.

“They’re coming! Flayn! They’re coming!” Flayn held Seteth’s hand and tried to calm him down.

“I’m here. Everything is going to be fine. Come with me, let’s go somewhere else.”

“Flayn, there you are. We have to leave, quickly before…”

“OK!” Flayn said loudly and pulled Seteth away. “I’m going to take him to his room, he is just tired,” she told the people who had gathered around Seteth. They cleared a path for the pair but Claude could hear them talk to each other. He wanted to follow further but if Flayn was really taking Seteth to his room then the chances of getting caught were too high for his liking. It gave him, however, the perfect opportunity to do some more snooping since Flayn and Seteth would definitely not be in the cathedral.

By now the cathedral by night was a familiar sight. The worshippers singing their hymns, the desperate clasping their hands pleading to the goddess, the occasional visitor that had fallen asleep in a pew. As instructed he scanned the floor for any obvious gaps or marks that indicated stone slabs had been moved recently. He walked the length of the cathedral from its doors to the altar in the very back without seeing anything suspicious. Then he chose the eastern side of the cathedral and checked the floor there with the same disappointing outcome. He began to doubt that whatever they were looking for was really beneath the floor, although Edelgard had been right when she pointed out that you couldn’t really go up. For the first time really he looked up to the ceiling which seemed incredibly high. However, there did seem to be a balcony of sorts, it was hard to see in the dim lighting. He took a few steps backwards until he bumped against something, causing it to move. The sound of stone sliding over stone was a jarring one but luckily it didn’t last long. With his heart beating in his ears he looked around if anyone had located the source of the noise. Unfortunately for Claude a monk on patrol duty carrying a bright torch was approaching.

“Are you all right? What was that sound?” The monk asked, pointing his torch in Claude’s direction. Claude held up his hands apologetically.

“I am so sorry. I was admiring the sheer size of the cathedral when I bumped into… this.”

He looked around and saw that the object he had bumped against was a small altar. The altar was hollow and between the edge and the cover he thought he saw something reflecting light. The monk inspected the altar quickly before taking out his walkie-talkie to report the incident. Claude breathed a little easier when he heard the monk calling it an accident.

“Yes, I’ll put up some caution tape and a sign. No, it doesn’t look damaged, the top just shifted a little bit. If you could come and fix it tonight that would be great. Thank you.”

The monk put his walkie-talkie away and asked Claude again if he had been injured in any way. Claude assured him that he was fine and apologised again. The monk explained that the cathedral and all the things in it were so old that something broke nearly every day.

“But that is why we have a maintenance team on duty around the clock. This altar you bumped into? It’s one of the many dedicated to especially pious individuals throughout time. Maintenance will have to put the plate back in place, probably renew some of the grout. And after they’re done a priest will say a couple of words to put this soul to rest again. If you like you can say your apologies and wish this soul a good rest before you leave. We’ll take care of the rest.”

“Sure. Who am I apologising to?”

The monk shone his light on a plaque so Claude could clearly read the name though it meant nothing to him.

“She was once a noblewoman who, after her son had inherited the family title, forsook the worldly life and became a nun. By all accounts she enjoyed her new life more than her old one and she did a lot to support the village her nunnery was located in. I believe it was her son who bought her this altar.”

Claude nodded and then quietly said a few words before apologising one more time to the monk for causing trouble and leaving. He thought it unwise to keep poking around now that he had caused an incident, but still, the evening had not been a wasted one.

*

After Flayn had put Seteth to bed she left his room and softly closed the door. In the hallway she took a deep breath and leaned against the wall. Seteth’s episodes were getting more and more unpredictable, Flayn was just grateful that she had been close by when it had happened. As much as she didn’t want to believe it Flayn knew that now it was only a matter of time before Seteth became untenable. Tears welled up in her ears as she imagined what her father might decide to do once he was fully lucid again. She stood there for a while crying silently until she heard Seteth talk in his sleep. She cracked the door open and listened.

“Rhea, you’re making a mistake! Listen to me, you cannot trust this person with our students. How can you allow such a potential threat into the monastery? Have you even thought about Flayn? This is her time to shine, please, don’t risk her opportunity to just be for a while.”

Flayn closed the door again, fighting back the sobs. Although she had been on this earth for longer than she would ever admit to anyone she had never been without her father. The thought of living in a world without him was too painful; the horror that this reality seemed more and more inevitable paralyzing. After a while the room fell quiet again and Flayn did one last check. The covers had been pushed off the bed as a result of Seteth’s tossing and turning but he was fast asleep. Flayn tucked him back in and softly kissed his cheek.

“Good night, Father. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you, I promise.”

*

Chapter Text

Patricia had changed her outfit four times. Her silk dressing gown was comfortable but she didn’t want Edelgard to think that she was still bedbound. She tried on jeans and a white blouse but decided that it made her look too casual, after all her daughter never came to visit. She felt good in the jumpsuit but since it was rather plain she would have to accessorise it and that again felt too much. Next the considered a sundress, long and flowy, not restricting at all, but she decided against it because she felt it showed too much of her scar. In the end she put on cashmere loungewear. The message, Patricia thought, was clear: This is home. This is comfortable. She was still looking at herself in the mirror when a maid knocked at her door and informed her that her daughter had arrived.

“And of course Lambert is late,” Patricia muttered and picked some fluff off her sleeve.

Dimitri shouted from downstairs that he was going to help Edelgard with her luggage, their agreed upon sign for Patricia to make her way downstairs. Her hand was already on the handrail when she decided to check on Edelgard’s room one last time. Patricia had consulted with an interior designer to make her daughter’s room feel like a young woman’s room, complete with fashion magazines, flatscreen TV and a chair that served no other purpose than to be buried in worn clothes that were not ready to be washed yet. The room was clean and tidy, the thermostat was set slightly higher than in the rest of the house. Everything was perfect and Edelgard would be happy here. Downstairs the front door opened and closed and the moment Patricia heard Edelgard’s voice her heart began beating faster. Quickly she went out of the room and down the stairs. Edelgard was telling Dimitri about the traffic on the way here but stopped when she noticed Patricia. For a moment the two of them just looked at each other silently, realising that they were basically wearing the same outfit. Dimitri looked back and forth between Edelgard and Patricia and laughed.

“Maybe I should run upstairs and change into knitted loungewear, too! Did you agree beforehand to match? Like mother like daughter.”

Edelgard subconsciously tugged at the drawstrings of her hoodie, wishing she had worn something else, just to avoid this awkward moment.

“It’s called style, Dimitri. Perhaps the only thing Edelgard truly got from me.”

Patricia went down the last few steps and took Edelgard’s hands. She noticed how cold and wet they were and immediately began to worry.

“El, did you have the AC blasting all the way here? I hope you didn’t give yourself a cold. Come, let me show you your room. I’ll ask the maid to make you some tea just in case. Dimitri, will you take her bags?”

Edelgard pulled her hands back and followed her mother upstairs where she made a big show of presenting every last detail in the room: the thermostat, the flatscreen TV and the chair.

“Is there a bathroom?” Edelgard interrupted her as Patricia made suggestions which magazine to read first.

“Yes, El, you have your own bathroom, it’s right there. Dimitri, would you kindly call your father and ask him where he is? He promised he’d be here for Edelgard’s arrival.”

Dimitri understood and left the room. Eager to make Edelgard feel cared for Patricia opened her luggage and began to unpack it. When Edelgard came out of the bathroom and saw what Patricia was doing she dashed forward and snatched a shirt out of hands.

“What do you think you’re doing? I can unpack by myself, I’ve done it plenty of times before.”

“I thought you might be tired from the journey. Some of your clothes could do with some pressing, my maid will take care of that for you.”

“No thank you. My clothes are fine as they are. In fact I would like to change into something else, Dimitri said he’d take me to his university later. Could you step outside, please?”

“But what about our dinner? And Lambert, he said he’d be here and…”

“We’ll be back in time for dinner. I will see Lambert then. Now please, will you leave?”

Patricia nervously clenched her fists a couple of times before standing her ground.

“No. Dimitri said he’d show you around tomorrow and the day after that. Today I want you to stay here and spend some time with me and Dimitri and Lambert. I have been looking forward to this all week.”

To make her point Patricia quickly sat down on the bed. Edelgard threw her shirt back in her bag and took a deep breath.

“I have nothing to share with you,” Edelgard then said curtly. “My life is very ordinary and mostly void of excitement. This may bother you but it is what it is. I came here for work, for research; not to fight with you.”

“We’re not fighting, El. I just want to spend some time with you. Is it too much to ask to be treated better than a receptionist at a hotel?”

“A receptionist at a hotel would leave me alone at my request, so that would put them ahead of you already.”

Edelgard turned her back to her mother who was deeply offended.

“I don’t know where you get off being so rude to me,” Patricia then said. “Any normal person would have let go of that old grudge, it’s been over twenty years, Edelgard. Why can’t you just be nice? I can’t make the past unhappen, no matter how sorry I am about it.”

Edelgard didn’t react so Patricia went on.

“And I have to ask, do you ever put any blame on your father? If it weren’t for his greed and hunger for power…”

“You’d still have left him because you have no backbone whatsoever. No one forced you into a relationship with my father. No one forced you to live in luxury until ‘it got so scary’ you chose to leave. Father has been there for me no matter what. And just so you know, nothing Father ever did made my life miserable or unbearable, that was all you. You and your pathetic need to be coddled and spoiled by your men. You’re lucky you were pretty back then.”

“You think you’re so strong and so adult, but you can’t even look me in the eyes as you insult me,” Patricia said, choking on her tears. Edelgard turned around, her hands and the sleeves of her hoodie stained with blood from another nosebleed.

“El, goodness, what’s wrong? Come, sit down. I’ll get you a cool washcloth, wait a minute.”

Edelgard sat down, cursing the inopportune timing of her nosebleed. There still was every chance that is was a normal one, minor, nothing to worry about. Patricia being Patricia, however, immediately alerted the entire household to Edelgard’s situation before sitting down next to Edelgard, pressing a cool but slightly too wet washcloth against her neck. A steady trickle of water ran down her back, adding to her general discomfort.

“Don’t worry about your sweater, we’ll have that cleaned right away. My dry-cleaner works wonders. I once dropped tomato sauce on one of my silk shirts and after they were done with it you couldn’t tell it ever happened. And if it can’t be saved I’ll buy you a new one. How are you feeling?”

Edelgard muttered something inconclusive and let her mother continue babbling away. This woman really had no stress resistance at all. Luckily the nosebleed didn’t last long. Edelgard lowered the once soft and fluffy washcloth the maid had handed her earlier and sniffled.

“Is it over? Are you feeling better? Oh good, I am so relieved! I thought I was going to pass out, blood makes me so queasy. It’s a good thing this happened here and not on your drive here. I suggest you cancel your plans with Dimitri and rest a bit. Maybe use that time to think about how you spoke to me earlier.”

“I said what I said,” Edelgard whispered as the maid pulled on her stained hoodie to take it off. Edelgard held up her hand to stop her and took it off herself.

“Have you been dieting, Edelgard? You look fantastic. A shame to hide this figure in baggy clothing. I saw that you barely brought anything elegant. I’ll see what I have that might fit you. I don’t want you walking around the university like a student in a mid-semester crisis. You’re an adult now.”

Edelgard had neither the energy nor the patience to keep engaging with her mother so she feigned a fainting spell, causing her mother to put her to bed immediately. Patricia promised she would check on her later and not to worry about the dinner, she’d send up a tray later. Edelgard nodded silently and waited until everyone had left the room after which she pressed the pillow on her face and groaned loudly.

*

Chapter Text

The next morning Dimitri received a phone call from inside the house. It was Edelgard, asking him to meet her by her car. Dimitri finished putting on his clothes, grabbed his bag and went downstairs. His father had already left for work and it seemed his mother had not yet gotten up. He asked the maid to tell her where they had gone and went out the door. Edelgard was standing by her car, a book in her hand and her bag on her shoulder.

“There you are. We never fixed a time yesterday and then I fell asleep,” Edelgard said and put her book down. She was lying, she hadn’t really fallen asleep. She had watched TV and pretended to be asleep when the maid came up with the dinner tray. Luckily the maid was dutiful enough that she simply left the tray without trying to wake Edelgard who later ate the dessert in bed.

“Are you feeling better? Mother was quite shaken up at dinner.”

“Oh, I’m better than her, I’m sure. Let’s take my car, I can’t wait to get started. You drive.”

“Sure, but I have to make a stop at my office before we go to the archives.”

“Yes, don’t care, drive.”

On the drive over Dimitri told her about his department and other faculty members. Edelgard was listening but most of what he said went in one ear and out the other. In her mind she was focused on the Patroness. She had done some more research and came up with a theory she wanted to put to the test. When comparing the birth and death dates of her and the Saviour King she must have consciously known him for a good while, and if not, for some reason, then at least his close family since she took over from one of them. Surely she had something to say about that somewhere. Of course one weekend was not enough time to go through every single document but Edelgard was confident in her abilities to skim large amounts of texts in a short time. She was also armed with her own dictionary in case she got stuck somewhere. Edelgard was so deep in her thoughts that Dimitri had to call her name a couple of times before she looked up at him.

“I said we’ve arrived. Do you want to come in or do you want to wait in the car? There’s a temporary exhibition in the lobby you might find interesting. My students put it on.”

“What is the exhibition about?”

“Childhood in Ancient Faerghus.”

Edelgard was ready to pass but reconsidered. Dimitri was the only reason why she could visit the archives without any bureaucratic battles and he did give up his free time for this, although, perhaps he didn’t have any hobbies either and enjoyed spending time at work. She unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car. The History Department was housed in an old grey building that already looked uncomfortable. Inside it was much of the same. Grey stone walls, brown-greyish carpets, cold harsh lights that illuminated everything so no one could miss any of the sad drabness. Dimitri read her facial expression and apologised instinctively.

“Once upon a time this building was brand-new, built especially for our department. It was a different time back then. But we renovated the offices a few years ago and now they’re really cosy. Do you want to stay here? I won’t be long.”

“I feel a depressive episode coming on simply by standing here. I’ll go with you.”

Together they rode the lift to the third floor where all the offices were located. Edelgard wouldn’t have described it as cosy but it was an improvement. As they walked down the hallway a glass case caught her attention. It contained a miniature size model of Enbarr, complete with the river, opera house, church and imperial palace.

“What is this doing here?” She asked and took a closer look. Soon she realised what she was looking at: a battle map of the Saviour King’s assault on Enbarr.

“This was a present from a film studio. They hired an artist to create this miniature for the director to better visualise the scenes. I think it’s a small masterpiece, don’t you think?”

“Yes, very well done. What a pity the palace was completely destroyed.” Edelgard walked around the display case to take everything in.

“If you like you can walk around the floor, there’s more things on display. I’ll find you when I’m done.”

Edelgard used the opportunity to explore on her own. Among replicas of weapons, facsimiles of important documents and scientific posters presenting research from faculty members Edelgard found herself especially drawn to a woodcut called ‘Two Children Dancing’. She had been looking at it for a long time when Dimitri found her.

“Ah, you found the little dancers,” he said and folded his arms. “This piece came to us from the Royal Palace, it’s a copy of the original they ordered to make prints off of it. Do you see something unusual about this child?” He pointed at the child to the left. Edelgard nodded, after all it was quite obvious.

“That child is wearing Adrestian fashion. And the other isn’t. How curious. What is known about the original?”

“It is thought to have been made from a sketch. Even back then the sight of two children playing with each other was enough to move someone to immortalise it. It’s not so different from people taking pictures of children with their phones. By the way, the sketch is also in the archives. Shall we get going?”

Edelgard pulled out her own phone and snapped a picture of the woodcut before they left.

*

 Edelgard was pleasantly surprised when everything had been prepared for her. Boxes upon boxes had been loaded unto as many trolleys as could fit in the private room, with a few more still on the shelves. If only Seteth were here to see this, then he would see what she looked like when she was having fun, Edelgard thought and sat down. Dimitri and the archivist went over some basic rules with her before letting her loose. Dimitri sat on the other side of the table watching Edelgard go through the first box.

“So, what’s brought this interest in the Patroness on?” He asked. Edelgard was scanning the brief summary of the box’s contents at an impressive speed.

“She’s an interesting historical figure. A woman who simply did her job quietly, longer and better than other rulers, and yet not a lot is known about her personal life. And you can’t tell me that a woman who filled no less than ten, twelve, thirteen diaries had nothing going on in her personal life.”

Edelgard held up one of those diaries and flipped through it. In some places the ink had faded a lot but not to a degree that would render it entirely unreadable. Still, Edelgard knew that she wouldn’t be able to get through every single one. Hopeful she asked Dimitri if the diaries had been digitalised yet.

“I’ll ask but I don’t think so. The queue is very long and these materials are not high priority, I’m afraid. Can I do anything to help you? Is there anything in particular you’re interested in?”

Edelgard explained that she wanted to know if the Patroness and the Saviour King had been very close. After all they were part of the same royal family, albeit from different branches. Dimitri thought about it. Although his research focus was on Ancient Faerghus Chivalry he of course was very well versed in all things Saviour King, and after Edelgard’s request he had done some reading on the matter.

“It is well known that the Saviour King was not especially fond of his uncle, but just as he was he wouldn’t have held that against his cousin. Especially since he must have been aware that she might become queen at some point.”

“How so?” Edelgard didn’t look up from the diary she was reading in.

“Because of the frail health of his descendants. Surely you’ve heard about ‘the curse’.” When Edelgard still didn’t look enlightened Dimitri leaned forward and spoke in a soft voice.

“Some of the Saviour King’s children died under mysterious circumstances, some of his grandchildren too. In fact in every generation there are children who died with no cause of death given.”

Finally Edelgard looked up. “I thought it was just another plague or something. Children dropped like flies everywhere. Except for those killed on the Saviour King’s orders, of course. Their circumstances are less unclear.”

Dimitri cleared his throat. Although the treatment of the resisting Adrestian nobles and their families was an acknowledged fact it was not usually spoken of in Faerghus. Even when put into perspective with ‘different time different morals’, killing children as a means to protect the kingdom was a hard sell for most people.

“In any case, the king’s sadness and grief over each loss is well documented, and his worries too. Maybe you’ll find some of that. The Patroness’s grandfather and father were Grand Dukes of Itha so she grew up not too far from the capital. It’s entirely possible that they got together frequently. Why don’t I start with another box to help you get started?”

“Don’t you have anything else to do?”

“Not really, no. Also Mother made me promise not to leave you out of my sight. She’s worried you might faint with no one there to even notice. Furthermore, this is not a topic I know a lot about and more knowledge has never hurt anyone.”

Edelgard rolled her eyes at the mention of her mother but then invited Dimitri to do how he pleased. She, in any case, would be here for the rest of the day, for as long as they would let her. Dimitri got up, grabbed a box from a trolley and got started.

*

Chapter Text

With the summer camp mere days away Claude and the other volunteers went over plans, presentations and activities to make sure everything was here, find what was missing and replace what had broken or was deemed unfit for its purpose. All throughout Claude was checking if Flayn was still around or if she had snuck off to somewhere far more interesting. That day he had no luck. Diligent as ever Flayn ruled over the volunteers and staff with an iron fist and her impressive clipboard. It looked more like a book in its thickness and the amount of colourful tabs to mark certain sections. All that didn’t slow Flayn down though, she navigated through the double-side printed pages without pausing much. During his lunch break Claude checked in with Edelgard to see how she was getting on. He was surprised when he actually received a reply.

Queen P is gold mine, critical of SK. No mention of LE yet. U?

He wrote back that he was probably going to try again that night and promptly received an admonishment for not making any progress. Claude put his phone away and focused on his sandwich. The afternoon was more of the same, Claude couldn’t observe anything unusual about Flayn or any other church members. Before they ended the day Flayn held a short speech.

“There are so many of you that I can’t speak to each and every one of you so let me use this moment to express my gratitude for all your hard work. Some of you have been campers yourself, some of you have helped out before, and for some of you this is the first time. You all bring valuable insights and experiences into the way we are doing things this time around and so contribute to creating a summer of special memories for everyone involved. Tomorrow is Sunday, the last day before the campers arrive. Thanks to your hard work there are no duties to perform other than taking care of the animals and some ground keeping, but it has been brought to my attention that not everyone has had the pleasure of a fire drill yet. This is mandatory for all supervisors and counsellors but highly, highly recommended to everyone participating, especially since we will do the drill with the campers in the first week as well. To sweeten the deal we’ll have a picnic at the gathering point. I allowed myself to send an email with a detailed programme and an information pamphlet on first aid and so on to every single on of you. Fire drill starts at ten, be at your designated spots by then. Thank you everyone, I hope I’ll see you tomorrow, have a good evening.”

The crowd clapped and broke up into smaller groups to talk or walk back to the monastery. Claude noticed that Flayn was among the first to leave. She left so quickly that there was no time to talk to her, and following her at that pace would have looked suspect. Claude surmised that she must be in a hurry to see Seteth. Perhaps he should try to cross paths with Seteth that night, just to see if he was still so… confused.

After most boarders had gone to bed Claude got up from his nap and headed straight to the cathedral. To kill some time he checked out the scavenger hunt that had been prepared for the summer camp, learning something new about the church and the faith with every hint he uncovered. Then he paid a visit to the Saviour King’s altar for a change. At first Edelgard’s obsession with that person had struck him as charming, almost child-like, but now, knowing everything he knew, he considered it borderline unhealthy. After all, history could not be rewritten, the guilty parties if there were any, could not be punished retroactively. Either Edelgard had a really strong individual sense of justice or she truly had nothing else in her life to focus on. Either way, Claude felt sad for her. Lost in thought he brushed against the altar with his knee. Immediately he stepped back, he did not want to get kicked out for causing incidents two nights in a row. Luckily for him, this time he went unnoticed. Once his pulse came down he realised that the stone slab had moved suspiciously easy. Softly he pushed against it again and moved the slab some more. Now there was a gap between the wall of the altar and its cover but it was too dark to see anything. Claude didn’t believe in ghosts or curses or anything of the sort but he didn’t feel particularly compelled to check out what was inside. On the other hand, what could be in there, dust? Any human remains would have surely decayed to dust by now, right? Claude weighed risk and curiosity against each other before taking out his smartphone and turning on the flashlight. His lips curled into a smirk.

“What do we have here?”

*

Dimitri was struggling to persuade Edelgard to finish for the night. Short of simply picking her up and carrying her outside he had tried everything. He was impressed by her focus and dedication but he was also worried about her posture. Like a monkey she was sitting on her chair, her knees up to her chest, her head bent over the pages, scribbling notes in her note book and taking pictures as she went.

“Edelgard, we can come back first thing tomorrow, I promise. Now let’s go, there’s a dinner waiting for us.”

“Wait, I’m almost done.”

“With the page?”

“With the book! Just a few more minutes.”

Dimitri looked over her hunched back. She really was on the second to last page of that diary. As a precaution he moved the remaining diaries to the other side of the table. Edelgard closed the book and let out a deep sigh.

“Well done. Come, let’s go home.”

Edelgard stretched her arms and then her legs before she got up and immediately fell to the floor. Dimitri helped her up and asked if she was alright. To his surprise Edelgard was smiling as she held on to him.

“I’m fine. I am just so excited. The Patroness was a really interesting person, if a bit wordy at times. I am outright envious that you have such a treasure here. Not even at the monastery do they have texts as relatable as this one.”

She rubbed her legs where they hit the floor, now she was beginning to start feeling a little pain.

“You know, if you were interested we could make this here an official project. Our archives are too vast for our people to go through them alone and you could come here and spend more time with me and Mother.”

“I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I actually do have a job back home. I do not need your charity.”

“I am just saying. Think about it. Are you ready?”

“Sure.”

Dimitri helped her pack her things and walked her out of the building and back to the car. The entire way Edelgard was texting at an alarming speed.

“A friend of yours?” Dimitri asked.

“Yes. Sorry, I barely had time today. Sometimes I forget that the world goes on regardless of whether I realise it or not.”

By the time she checked her emails and answered a few pressing ones they had already arrived back at the house. Dimitri turned off the engine.

“Now, we are just in time for dinner. It would be great if we could make it a pleasant one. Not just for Mother, but for me too. I have a busy week ahead of me and I need to be able to focus on that.”

Edelgard put her phone down and looked at Dimitri. He was completely serious.

“Look at that, Patricia’s narcissism is getting to you too. That warms my heart, Dimitri. I suggest you pretend she’s a caller on a radio talk show. You dissociate until it’s no longer real to you, works every time.”

“Edelgard, please.” Dimitri tried to be serious but let out a stifled chuckle.

“Fine. Because you brought me closer to the Patroness. Just this once.”

“Thank you. Also, I found that if you ask her about interior design ideas you can lean back for the remainder of the meal. But sometimes she leaves the table to get her fabric swatch book, that means you’re locked in for a while, so it’s not entirely fool-proof.”

The two of them got out of the car and went inside the house. Lambert and Patricia were already sitting at the table. Dimitri apologised for their tardiness and pulled Edelgard’s chair back for her before sitting down himself.

“How was your day, Edelgard?” Patricia asked. Lambert began to pass the food around.

“It was great. I had a lot of fun.”

“Did you show her the university, Dimitri?” Lambert wanted to know.

“Some of it, yes. But we’re going back tomorrow, then I can show her some more.”

Once the food reached Patricia she began to fill Edelgard’s plate instead of her own.

“I am glad you’re enjoying yourself, I was just hoping we could have some time tomorrow, to talk. I’d like to know what’s going on in your life. And don’t tell me there’s nothing to tell. A beautiful young woman such as you always have something to tell.”

“Actually, there is something I would appreciate your input on. I have to look for a new apartment back home and I’m ready to commit to buying my first set of adult furniture. What would you recommend? Since you decorated my room here so well.”

Patricia’s face lit up. She moved her chair a little closer and began to ask Edelgard about her preferences in regards to materials, colours and shapes. In the beginning Edelgard had to engage a little bit in the conversation but once she had provided enough for Patricia to go off on it was smooth sailing through the entire dinner.

*

Chapter Text

The next day Dimitri took Edelgard on a tour of the university’s main campus. They were quite a sight for the few other people present; Dimitri wearing his freshly pressed shirt and trousers, looking wide awake, and Edelgard, wearing sweatpants and a hoodie with the hood up. She had been up until the early hours going over her notes and rereading the pages she had photographed. From what she had gathered the Patroness was not a fan of the Saviour King. In her words, she found him ‘barely competent’, ‘better than nothing’ and, in Edelgard’s opinion the most damning judgement: ‘like a guest that has outstayed his welcome’. But mostly the queen had written a lot about her love for the theatre and operas, her opinions on directors and actors and occasionally music. The woman had a good sense of humour, Edelgard found. Dimitri pointed out a small chapel on the far side of the campus. Edelgard held her hand up to shield her eyes from the sun.

“Every year the bell of that chapel gets stolen by the students of our rival school. In turn our students steal the door knocker of their auditorium.”

“Clearly your students’ yearly heist is much cooler. Did you ever steal anything?”

“I am not at liberty to discuss. Come, let’s see if we can spot our resident giant rabbits on the way back to the car. They were wild animals at one point but despite multiple warnings and requests they were fed and became used to humans and now they are our unofficial mascots.”

They eventually spotted the rabbits near a bush and Edelgard took dozens of pictures. Dimitri waited patiently until she was done. In the car he asked her about the plans for that day.

“Well, read more of the diaries for one. In the afternoon I will panic because I couldn’t possibly read everything and then read some more. Same on Monday.”

“Good, good. Listen, I have to prepare for next week so I’ll be in another room working on that, OK?”

“Sure. I don’t need supervision after all.”

Dimitri agreed and parked the car. Edelgard took her bookbag and followed him inside. The desk in the room she had been working in the day before was exactly how she left it. She ignored Dimitri who told her where he would be working and sat down. She took a look at the diaries she had yet to look at and tried to come up with a strategy. The diaries began shortly after she had become queen and covered roughly her entire reign. Edelgard had taken a look at the last volume which was not as interesting as one might expect. She mainly described the hassle of moving her household out into the country. Two points in time that might be of interest would be around the time her successor was born and when he was announced though that did not necessarily mean that the patroness would suddenly discuss the Saviour King. She could continue chronologically but that would take a lot of time and increasingly more concentration as time went on, concentration that would eventually run out so she might miss something the further she got. Edelgard considered her options and then decided to at least check out the volumes after the successor had been born. Her successor was the son of a cousin of hers and by all accounts his birth had been both a miracle and a scandal in one. As was usually the case when an heir was desperately needed suitable women were forced into marriages with the sole goal of producing children, as many as possible as fast as possible. His mother was still in her early teens when she got married and there was a rumour that the heir had been conceived before the marriage. The Patroness seemed to believe that rumour but beyond a brief commiseration she didn’t comment on it further. Once the heir had been born her entries showed some relief but nothing more. A few volumes later, when he was officially made the heir apparent the Patroness’s entries became noticeably lighter and more focused on the future than the present day. Then Edelgard stumbled upon a paragraph written in particularly legible penmanship. The Patroness had the annoying habit of writing either when she was tired or already in bed rendering her writings hard to read at times. She must have been sitting at a proper table, judging from a few small stains and smears on the paper she must have been either eating or drinking something at the time.

“I have done the duty passed on to me; the boy has become a man and soon he will become our king. What will become of me? I heard some people would like to see me enter the religious life. They will be sorely disappointed, however. I have purchased a small castle by the Airmid River. The climate is better and I will be far away enough that no one may accuse me of meddling in matters that concern me no longer. I hope I will find the time to finally write my play. Every night I go to bed I keep thinking about it but I am too tired to put my thoughts to paper. Two rulers, bound together by destiny, fated to kill the other so the one may live. Enough time will have passed that I won’t be branded a traitor or heretic; the pain will have subsided enough that people may be able to enjoy this tragedy. On stage the emperor’s death is a performance; and a mad king merely a role played; that is far less frightful than what really happened.”

Edelgard immediately took her phone out and took pictures of that page. With this discovery she had a new objective: Finding out if the Patroness had ever gotten around to writing that play and if so, finding that play. Edelgard pulled out her notebook and removed the pen clipped unto it. She wanted to write about her discovery. She had written a few sentences when her hand and fingers went numb. “Not now,” Edelgard said between her teeth but as she tried to massage the numbness away it spread upwards. “I don’t have time for this!” She leaned back in her chair and waited for the numbness to go away. With her other hand she pinched the fingers of her numb hand trying not think about what was happening to her. That this happened in the safety and privacy of this archive was good but also annoying; Edelgard was not so delusional as to dismiss her luck. So far she had made all her drives without experiencing any symptoms but it was always afterwards that they came back in full force. One day she would not be able to make the drive by herself anymore, and that day might very well be in the near future so Edelgard was determined to make the most of her stay. The moment the numbness subsided she got up, wrote down her notes and checked the boxes for any loose manuscripts.

*

For the big fire drill Claude was part of a group posted in the great hall. Once the alarm went off they went through the motions, counting the people around them before heading to the closest evacuation point in an orderly fashion. There they received a crash course in first aid including what to look for in people who had just been in a fire. His last first aid course had been years if not a decade ago so Claude was grateful for the refresher. With loads of old and new songs to perform CPR to he left the evacuation point after grabbing a sandwich prepared by the dining hall staff. He was invited to play volley ball with the other volunteers, another group was organising a big pasta dinner in the dining hall with a movie night after that. With so many people being aware of his presence he didn’t manage to slip away, at least not long enough not to raise any questions. So Claude spent the last day before the campers arrived surrounded by happy and motivated people, but the happiest and most motivated person was nowhere to be seen. Only during the move from the dining hall to another room did Claude finally spot Flayn. Flayn moved unusually quickly and without greeting anyone. With the excuse of needing to use the bathroom Claude separated from his group and followed Flayn. She was walking at a brisk pace. Once Claude realised that she was headed to the cathedral he was faced with another challenge. There was only one way to the cathedral: across the long bridge. There was a chance Flayn might not notice him, especially since she seemed distracted, but if she did notice him she might change her plans to get rid of him. Claude decided to stay behind her. As was the case on any given night there were other people headed to the cathedral so the bridge was never entirely deserted. Joining a group of pilgrims Claude crossed the bridge, never losing sight of Flayn. In the cathedral hiding got a lot easier. Flayn headed all the way to the back before taking a turn. Claude was convinced he had walked around the entirety of the cathedral and he did not recall there being a door. He pretended to inspect the main altar all the while checking for Flayn, but he couldn’t see her anymore. Knowing that Flayn couldn’t have just vanished he walked over to the wall. Every few steps he knocked against the brick wall but they were real, every single one of them. “Come on!” He muttered and pressed his entire body against the wall. He was aware how strange he must have looked so just in case he began to vocalise what he thought sounded like a prayer, devotees had done stranger things before after all. He was about to give up when he thought he felt a brick move beneath his hand. He pushed it gently and felt the wall give way, faster than he anticipated. Before he knew what was happening he stumbled forward into the dark.

*

Chapter Text

Wherever Claude was, it was completely dark. To see where he was he pulled out his smartphone and turned the flashlight on. The wall he had just come through was just as solid as it had looked from the outside, but since he had come in he would also get out, Claude was convinced. He focused on the way ahead. Before him was a large door left ajar. Knowing he was on the right track he squeezed through the gap and slowly made his way downstairs. The stairs seemed to be endless but Claude kept going until he saw a doorway. Unsure if this was where Flayn had gone he turned his flashlight off and went through. He listened for any noise but the room was entirely quiet. Blindly he felt along the walls. He couldn’t help but gasp when his fingers no longer ran across stone but something softer instead. He stopped to feel a bit more.

“Books?”

Yes, his fingers felt ribbed book spines and cut pages on the top. “Hello?” He asked into the darkness, just in case Flayn was somewhere though he doubted it. Once he was satisfied with the risk he was taking he turned the flashlight back on with full intensity. He held it up to illuminate as much as possible of the room. Claude couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He walked up to the handrail in front of him and first looked up and then down. Bookshelves, filled to the brim, covered the walls from top to bottom.

“Jackpot,” Claude whispered.

He knew that he had never been closer to all the answers he was seeking. He cursed himself for not being able to read the ancient script and language of Fódlan. He would need to bring Edelgard down here, she would be able to tell what treasures lay before them. He went down the spiral stairway to explore some more. There were not only books but also maps and even some paintings, covered in dust and cobwebs. In his frustration Claude grabbed two books, stuck them inside the waistband of his trousers and went back upstairs. He would ask Edelgard to see if they were of any interest or value, but now it was time he went back up. On the mezzanine he impulsively took a thin leather file as well. Loaded with these documents he began his ascent back up the stairs, taking breaks to make sure he wasn’t going to run into Flayn. At the top the door was still in the same position he found it in so it was unlikely that Flayn had already returned. Even better, he thought and squeezed through the gap again. Then he repeated the same awkward shuffle against the wall, using his hands to find the mechanism. His pulse picked up when it didn’t work. He had reached the other wall without having opened the door or rather, the wall. He shuffled back in direction of the door but was met with the same outcome. Then he remembered that he had been pretend praying out loud when he went in so he tried it again. Before he knew it he felt himself moving through the brick wall.

*

Although Flayn hadn’t been there in a long time everything felt very familiar. Flayn hated everything about that place. It was cold, abandoned and forever tainted with bad memories. Still she forged ahead. She used her torch to light the way to the far end of the room. Without looking at the sarcophagi to her left and right she walked ahead until she reached a richly decorated podium on which rested an even more ornate sarcophagus. Flayn reminded herself that once she put her plan in motion she was powerless to stop it. Her clammy hand hovered over the sarcophagus. It was a high price to pay; but the many sleepless nights spent looking for another solution did not yield anything worth pursuing. This was it. She laid her hand on the lid of the sarcophagus and closed her eyes. She didn’t need to see in order to know what was happening. The lid began to move on its own, softly gliding to the edge and then sliding off. Flayn stepped back and opened her eyes again. She heard a sigh coming from the sarcophagus, then a hand reached for the edge. Slowly a female figure rose from the depths. When she stretched Flayn could hear her bones cracking from head to toe. Some stiffness was to be expected after such a slumber after all. Flayn looked up and held out her hand.

“Byleth, welcome back.”

Byleth turned to her and took her hand. Slowly and carefully Byleth stepped over the side of her sarcophagus before sitting down. She took a couple of deep breaths before clearing her throat.

“Flayn,” she said, “what year is it?”

Flayn told her the date and gave her summary of what had happened since she had entered her great slumber a couple of centuries ago. Byleth listened attentively while she ran her fingers through her hair, scratching her scalp and pulling out clumps of loose hairs.

“And how come you woke me up now? It doesn’t sound like my beloved Fódlan is in danger.”

“It’s my father,” Flayn confessed. “Time has taken its toll on his mind. He can’t help it but he becomes so terribly confused. He is seeing ghosts from the past as if they were real. He is starting to cause trouble for himself and for us. I was hoping you could do something to help him. I don’t want to be all alone.”

Byleth looked at Flayn who fighting back the tears. Silently she moved a little closer and put her arms around Flayn who sank to her knees and buried her head in Byleth’s lap. Holding her tight Byleth felt every sob and every tear that soaked through the single layer gown she was wearing. In the cold of the mausoleum the two found warmth in each other. After Flayn had calmed down again Byleth took her hands and held them.

“Let me see what I can do. Perhaps we can soothe his tormented mind. And if we cannot then I will make sure that you won’t be alone for a day if you don’t want to. I promise you, Flayn. Now, take me to my dwelling. I will need some appropriate clothes and a refresher on these times we live in. What is this?” Byleth took the torch from Flayn and turned it in her hands, accidentally pointing it straight at her eyes. Flayn quickly took the torch back. Byleth pressed her hands against her eyes and groaned.

“I’m sorry, it’s a new invention. It’s like a fire torch but better because you don’t need fire or magic to make it work. Just wait until we get to the Old Convent, there’s this thing called a TV. I love it.”

“TV? What is that?”

As they walked upstairs Flayn explained.

“So it’s a box where plays are played? How do they get in there? With the same power that powers your light stick?”

“Well, yes and no. It’s really complicated, I’ll just have to show you. Oh, and this food, it’s called popcorn. You have to have popcorn to watch the TV, it’s the best.”

“Does Seteth watch the TV?”

They closed the door leading to the stairs and Flayn pressed her hand against the brick wall to check if it was safe to step through. Once she was sure she took Byleth’s hand and together they went through the magic barrier. Flayn suggested walking as fast as possible without attracting unnecessary attention. Byleth’s body outline was clearly visible through her gown but it was a summer night and warm enough to make it look like an inappropriate dress choice people would hopefully soon forget.

“Wouldn’t it be faster and safer to use the portals?” Byleth asked once they reached the bridge fairly unbothered.

“That’s another thing. The magic throughout the monastery has weakened. Father and I have maintained it to the best of our possibilities but our powers are not what they once were.”

Byleth stopped to take in the view. On the horizon the sun had begun to rise, a sight Byleth had seen thousands of times but it was so beautiful she would always take the time to watch. After all this was her domain, this was her home. Soon Flayn urged her to get moving for they still had a way to go. Byleth asked for just one more moment, leaning on the parapet. Flayn watched as the sunlight hit Byleth. As it crept up she seemed to come alive; the moment it hit her eyes Flayn felt that familiar special energy emanating from her: warm, forceful and unpredictable. Byleth turned to Flayn with a big smile on her face.

“Let’s go. We’ve got work to do.”

*

Chapter Text

Flayn spent the next hour explaining the times they were now living in to a curious Byleth. Far more important than the geopolitical developments, however, was the state of the current culture and society. Crests had become meaningless and with that the concept of nobility. Now money was far more important and influential, and obtaining said money was for many their life’s mission. Aside from that people generally lived free lives; free to travel, free to live wherever they pleased.

“That reminds me,” Flayn said, “When someone asks you how you got here you must say you came by car. It’s a horseless carriage, we built a road just for those vehicles. Then you won’t sound strange.”

“But if there’s no horses, how does the carriage move?”

“Car! Call it car, please. And I don’t really know. You put in a smelly liquid and press a few buttons and pedals and off it goes. I’ve only ever ridden in cars, I haven’t had the chance to learn how to drive one yet. My father is terribly opposed.”

Byleth was still unsure about that thing called ‘car’ but pressed Flayn to tell her more.

“Tell me, Flayn, what do people eat nowadays?”

“Oh, everything! There are people who refuse to eat meat. Some also don’t eat eggs or fish, or drink milk. It was quite a challenge for the dining hall staff to make sure everyone has something to eat.”

Flayn glanced at the alarm clock in her room. It was almost time for her to get up and get ready for the first day of summer camp.

“Listen, Byleth, I think it’d be better if you stayed in my room for today. I will try and come check up on you throughout the day. I’ll also check the lost-and-found for some clothes that might fit you.”

“Can I try the TV?”

“Better not. Until you are ready to go out in the world it’s better you stay in this room. You can listen to music on this. Just make sure you wear headphones.” Flayn crawled across the bed to her nightstand and pulled out her audio player.

“Just don’t listen too loud. It’s dangerous for your ears. And here, I have a few magazines you might like. The writing looks different but there’s pictures to look at and usually it’s quite self-explanatory. What else… Yes, let me show you the bathroom. It wouldn’t hurt for you to take a shower anyway.”

“What’s a shower?”

Flayn pulled Byleth off the bed and began to hand her things: fluffy towels, a robe and a few colourful containers. Once in the bathroom Byleth understood what a shower was. She was turning the knobs as Flayn explained the different bottles and their uses. One for the body, two for the hair, though one had to be used before the other.

“I have washed myself before, Flayn. How hard can it be?”

Flayn opened her mouth to explain even more but then just gave up. She absolutely couldn’t be late today. She went into her own shower cabin and turned the water on. It wasn’t long until Byleth cried out that her eyes were burning.

“Flayn, it hurts!”

“Just wash them out with more water.”

“But it hurts to open them! What sorcery is this?!”

“Don’t make me come over there, Byleth!”

In the end Flayn had to go over there and take matters into her own hands. A short while later she wrapped the smaller towel around Byleth’s head and tied the sash of the bathrobe she had loaned Byleth. Of course it was much too short and too tight around the chest but with the towel underneath everything was covered. Byleth was still rubbing her eyes.

“What happened to regular soap bars, Flayn?”

“The gel is easier to use. Now, I think I heard the first people getting up. Come, let’s go back to my room.”

Flayn took Byleth by the hand and pulled her down the hallway. Everything was going well until she heard someone call her name. Curses, Flayn thought and stopped. Claude had come down from the upper floor where his room was located.

“Good morning Flayn and uh…” He stopped once he noticed that the unfamiliar woman was staring at him intensively.

“Good morning, Claude. Are you excited? I can’t want to get started,” Flayn babbled.

“I am. Uh, is your friend alright?”

Flayn tugged at Byleth multiple times until she snapped out of it.

“My friend is just a little tired, she had a long journey here and arrived very late last night.”

“Did you have a good journey?” Claude asked politely. His eyes were fixed on Byleth.

“I came by car,” Byleth then said, remembering what Flayn had told her.

“Did you find it difficult to drive up in the nighttime? It’s already a challenge during the day, I can’t imagine doing it at night.”

“I took the road,” Byleth said confidently.

“All right,” Claude said and finally looked at Flayn who was giggling nervously.

“Anyway, I am going to get some breakfast. I’ll see you later Flayn. I hope your friend will feel better after some rest.”

“Yes, yes, she will, she will. See you later.”

Flayn held Byleth’s hand with a firm grip and didn’t let go again until she had closed the door behind her.

“Flayn, didn’t you fail to mention something? What is he doing here?”

“It’s not him though. It has happened before, people show up bearing uncanny resemblances to those we once knew. Actually, we have someone staying here who looks exactly like… That person. Father and I believe that some people will always be drawn here by the powers that dwell within the walls of the monastery, no matter how many centuries pass. Though this time it’s really curious…”

Flayn interrupted herself when she saw the time.

“In any case, I have to hurry. Why don’t you check my wardrobe, maybe you find a shirt that fits you. For a while it was very fashionable to wear oversized clothing so you might be in luck.”

Still disturbed by that encounter Byleth sat down on the bed again. She watched Flayn getting dressed and doing her hair but in her mind she tried to understand what Flayn had said about people being drawn to the monastery. What were the odds of that happening not once but a few times? Byleth got the feeling that she had slept for far too long. A loud noise interrupted her thoughts. Flayn was holding a small machine pointed at her hair as she brushed it simultaneously.

“What are you doing?”

“I am blow-drying my hair. This machine makes wind to dry my hair faster!” Flayn explained over the noise. Once she was done she put the machine away and used her hands to set her corkscrew curls and put in her hairclips.

“Right, I have to dash. Remember what I said, Byleth. Stay in this room until I come back. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

*

Humbled by the experience in the shower Byleth followed Flayn’s request to stay put, but she couldn’t help but feel bored soon. She had put on some clothes of Flayn’s that almost fit her, had flipped through the magazines with great interest and she had listened to music after she had figured out the headphones which was also an experience but the novelty had worn off after a while. As she sat on the bed she listened to the people outside going about their day. The towel around her head came off and her damp hair came down. That was when Byleth had the idea to try out the machine Flayn had used earlier. She recalled how Flayn had put the attached rope into the wall to make it work. The moment she had plugged it in the machine began to blow wind in her face at an alarming speed. Flayn had used a brush at the same time and encouraged by her success in getting the machine to work Byleth tried that next. However, she was not prepared for the mess that followed. While Flayn’s hair had turned out smooth Byleth’s hair just wrapped around the brush. Desperate to free the brush Byleth let go of the blow dryer and dropped it on her toes. She cried out and jumped on the other foot waiting for the pain to go away until she bumped into the cabinet, causing some things on it to fall to the floor. Byleth cursed loudly until someone knocked at the door.

“Hello? Is everything all right?”

“No!”

“I’m coming in.”

Byleth was sitting on the bed holding her hurt foot and looked to the opening door. Once she saw the person she forgot the pulsing pain in her toes. Instead a feeling of dread filled her heart.

“Are you hurt?” Edelgard asked from the doorway.

“Just my toes. I’ll live.”

Edelgard looked around Flayn’s room. It was quite a mess which was very unlike Flayn. She didn’t recognise the woman on the bed but figured that she might be related to Flayn on account of her hair colour.

“There’s a brush stuck in your hair.”

“Yeah, I… Flayn has no combs.”

There was a moment of silence. As a hair care enthusiast Edelgard knew that she could help but she wasn’t sure if she should offer it. Somehow the woman gave off a strange vibe. Her staring didn’t help either. Once Byleth tugged at the brush to free it, however, Edelgard couldn’t take it anymore.

“Let me help you. Round brushes are tricky and it’s at an angle that’s hard for you to see what you’re doing.”

“Yes, please.” Byleth dropped her shoulders in defeat.

Edelgard closed the door and sat down on the bed next to her.

“My name is Edelgard, by the way. Are you visiting Flayn?”

“You could say that. My name is Byleth. I came up the road by car last night.”

“You’re brave. I’m a good driver but I’d rather not take that road in the dark if I can help it. Are you here to help with the summer camp?”

“Flayn told me about it. It sounds interesting. Are you helping out?”

“I was roped into teaching a workshop, yes. But I am here at Garreg Mach as a visiting research fellow really, I just spent a few days in Fhirdiad. How about you?”

“Uh, I am… I am with the church,” Byleth said quickly, hoping that the church was still a thing.

“Ah, I see. Before I came here for some reason I thought I’d meet more clergy, even though this is a monastery. But even in the cathedral you don’t see too many priests, mainly just pilgrims and tourists. Where are you based?”

“Based?”

“Where do you live, I mean. I’m from Enbarr though technically I don’t have a home of my own right now. I have started looking for a new place but it’s slim pickings. All the nice apartments seemingly go underhand, if you don’t know the right people you’re stuck hoping for a shoebox in an apartment building in the outskirts of the city.”

Edelgard masterfully separated hair strand after hair strand from the round brush. Byleth’s hair was rather coarse, no wonder this had gone so terribly wrong.

“Isn’t your family wealthy?” Byleth asked.

Edelgard chuckled and kept untangling the mess.

“I am a grown woman with a job and a life of my own. I can’t depend on my father for everything. I’ll manage and if nothing turns up I’ll just move in with a friend of mine temporarily. There, you’re free once more.”

Edelgard handed Byleth the round brush and got up.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now I am going to take a shower, get changed and then I’ll track down Seteth. He’s my supervisor.”

“Seteth? How is he? I haven’t seen him in so long.”

Edelgard hesitated before sitting down again.

“I will be honest. I think Seteth is having some sort of mental breakdown, or a psychosis or something. I mean he’s fine most of the time but when he’s not he’s really not well. Just so you can prepare yourself when you see him and he’s acting strange.”

“Acting strange how?”

Edelgard told Byleth about the hallucinations, the one-sided conversations with himself and the aimless roaming at night. Byleth listened attentively until Edelgard had finished.

“Once he gets the help he needs he will be better, I’m sure,” Byleth said.

“That’s the hope. Now I really have to go, the shower is calling my name. I have been driving for hours.”

“Do you enjoy taking showers?” Byleth asked as Edelgard was on the way out.

“Uh, I guess on balance I prefer baths but who has the time for that these days. I’ll see you around, Byleth.”

Edelgard closed the door behind her and shook her head at this strange encounter. In the room Byleth ran her fingers through her hair. So Flayn’s account on Seteth’s state of mind had not been an exaggeration. Even worse, it was apparently common knowledge. This made dealing with the matter only more pressing.

*

Chapter Text

The voices of teenagers filled the entrance of the monastery. They were everywhere with their suitcases, duffel bags and backpacks, standing in clusters blocking others like Edelgard who needed to pass through. The groundkeepers were busy directing all the parents who had come by car to drop off their children. She watched a set of parents hugging and kissing their teenage son goodbye, asking if he had everything.

“Mum, come on, everyone is watching.”

“Let them watch, I am not ashamed to show everyone how much I love you and how much I will miss you. I know you have limited phone time but please at least send me a message every day so I know you are still alive.”

“I will, I promise.”

“Look at you, your first summer camp. Honey, let’s take a picture for the family album.”

“Mum! Mama, come on, say something. This is embarrassing.”

“I wouldn’t know what to say except ‘Cheese’! Or ‘Happy Summer Camp’!”

But his resistance was futile and the three of them took pictures together until one of the counsellors stepped forward and asked if the camper was ready to register. He was hugged and kissed one more time before the counsellor took him away and his parents went back to their car. As soon as they had left another car pulled up to take their place. Some campers couldn’t wait to get away from their grown-ups, others didn’t want to let go. Edelgard also spotted a few tears. She was still observing everything when she saw Claude coming around the corner. Like everyone involved in the summer camp he wore a special T-shirt and a badge.

“Welcome to Garreg Mach, camper,” he said as a greeting. Edelgard folded her arms and sighed.

“Do you feel like dying yet? I hope they won’t make me wear such an unflattering T-shirt.”

“I do and they will. Glad you’re back, how are you feeling?”

“Annoyed to be honest. I was hoping to meet with Seteth but there’s a notice on his office door that he is out of office. But before leaving Seteth made sure that I am still locked out of the archives.”

“Archive, schmarchive, didn’t you find anything interesting in Fhirdiad?”

“I did. How about you, were you successful at all?”

“I was. Let’s meet tonight to talk about it.”

“Sure. If you can tear yourself away from the campers. Look at them, they’re so…” She was looking for the right word to describe them.

“Young, fresh, eager, awkward, teenage?” Claude offered suggestions.

“I never went to camp. The closest thing I experienced was the first year of boarding school. My father took the morning off and drove me there. We unloaded my bags, the headmaster came and greeted us, and before my father left he put his hands behind his back and wished me a good school year. My father would have sooner died than showing me or any of my siblings affection in public. Not even handshake.”

“Yeah, I can’t relate. Lots of hugs and kisses from my crying mother and manly hugs and back pats from my father. Listen, this morning at the Old Convent I had a most curious encounter.”

“With Flayn’s friend, maybe cousin? Yeah, me too. She’s really weird.”

“Weird and hot, yes.”

“Yes, why even bother wearing such tight clothing with a body like that. Leave something to the imagination.”

“She wasn’t wearing clothes.”

“What?”

“What?”

Edelgard repeatedly clenched her fist and opened it again.

“In any case, I have nothing to do all day so I might as well tag along with you.”

“Are you sure, because you look tired. Did you also come by car?”

“I even used the road,” Edelgard said and the two of them laughed. Someone called Claude’s name and he turned around.

“Duty calls. Listen, there’s a big welcome brunch in the dining hall for the campers and the parents. Have some breakfast, get some rest. Stretch your legs, you’ve been sitting for a long time.”

“Sure. Let me know when you’re done with… All of that.” She pointed her chin at camper who had thrown up a few steps down.

*

At the end of the day Flayn hauled a bag of clothes up the stairs of the Old Convent. She was relieved that when she opened the door to her room Byleth was still in there, lying on the bed eating soft        toast slices.

“Where did you get those?” Flayn asked and put the bag down.

“I went to the kitchen. I was hungry and you didn’t come back to feed me. Don’t worry, no one saw me. This place is deserted during the day. By the way, this bread is sliced so thin and it’s really sweet. Is this a dessert?”

Flayn sighed and sat down on the bed. She had been up for over 24 hours and her day had been filled with anxious and demanding guardians, annoyingly over-eager campers and staffers who were overwhelmed on their first day.

“I brought you some clothes from the charity box in the monastery. Believers and devotees donate almost everything. There’s a pair of flip-flops and sneakers in there as well.”

“I’ll figure something out. You look tired, do you want to get something to eat?”

“In a moment, for now I just need to sit for a while.”

Byleth stuffed another toast slice into her mouth and got up to check out the clothes in the bag. Byleth pulled out one clothing article after the other, holding each one up to see what it was. Yes, some pieces were reminiscent of what she had seen in pictures in the magazines. Dresses were easier since they already came put together. More comfortable to wear too, Byleth thought as she pulled on a zipper on a pair of jeans.

“What’s this?”

Flayn opened her eyes and explained that it was a bra.

“Sizing is difficult but I brought the biggest size I could find. We’ll have to order some on the internet.”

“The what now? Is that a shop? Where is it?”

“Byleth, why don’t you try on the clothes while I take a nap? Just a short nap.”

“Sure, I can do that.”

Byleth turned her back for a few minutes only. When she turned around to show Flayn that she had managed to put everything on she saw Flayn fast asleep. She knelt down next to the bed and brushed some hair out of Flayn’s face before kissing her on the cheek. Before she left she checked herself out in the mirror. She had used a magazine picture as a reference and thought that she had managed quite well. In any case she felt confident enough about her appearance to leave the room, maybe even the Old Convent, and to experience this new age for herself.

*

Claude and Edelgard met late in the evening out by the lake. Edelgard reported that she was now convinced beyond any doubt that the last emperor and the lost emperor were two different people. Before she had only the barely overlapping birth and death dates of the last emperor and the Saviour King to go off on, but the Patroness’s diaries made it obvious that the two of them must have been much, much closer in age. Their described rivalry was more than what two random rulers might have had with each other. Regretfully, however, she did not find the manuscript of the play the Patroness had mentioned. It was possible she never got around to writing it, or perhaps it was just lost to time, but in any case her diaries were the key evidence so far.

“Whatever happened was unspeakable back then. The Patroness thought the mere mention of it treason even. She was not a fan of the Saviour King, thought he was useless. She thought the death of the emperor was tragic, the whole story a tragedy. I’m sorry, but no one would feel like this about an old man emperor on the enemy’s side. Don’t forget, according to all sources the empire was the side that declared the war. How could you feel that sorry for your enemy?”

“But you still don’t know who the lost emperor really was.”

“I am working on that. I find it very hard to believe that it is possible to completely erase an emperor, not just a regular person but a ruling emperor, from all of history. The truth is out there somewhere. I just have to find it.”

“Yes, about that.”

Claude pulled out a book and handed it to Edelgard.

“What is this?”

“One night I followed Flayn into the cathedral. Suddenly she vanished through a wall. I thought there might be a secret door or something so I looked for it and before I knew it I passed through the wall.”

“Were you drinking by chance?”

“No. I am telling you, I went through the wall and down some stairs until I found myself in what lookedc like a library. I just grabbed a few things and got out of there again. I need you to tell me if I just stumbled upon an abandoned storage or something much more interesting.”

If it weren’t for the strange experiences with Seteth Edelgard would have thought Claude was imagining things. She opened the book and asked Claude to shine some light on it. The book had that old book smell and the pages felt very dry. Edelgard read out loud which wasn’t helpful to Claude since he barely understood anything. Suddenly she closed the book with a loud thud.

“What is it?” Claude asked.

Edelgard looked at him with an expression of confusion.

“This is an animal husbandry book. Where did you find this?”

“I told you, in that library room place. Are you sure it’s just a husbandry book?”

“Yes. First section is on cows, second is on sheep…”

Edelgard opened the book again and looked at the table of contents.

“Horses, pegasi and wyverns. Goodness. This is interesting but not really relevant for either of us, I think. Did you find anything else?”

Claude produced another book and handed it to Edelgard. Once again he provided the light for her to read. This time she got a lot further than the table of contents.

“I can’t believe it,” she said and turned the pages faster and faster. “Oil, they’re talking about crude oil in Faerghus. Centuries ago.”

“What?”

Edelgard translated a passage that described black ooze coming from the ground in the north of Faerghus. Any animal that came into contact with it died and its smell was very unpleasant.

“Peasants reported that it stained their clothes beyond repair, and when they threw them in the fire to burn them they just went up in flames. They found oil! But as far as I know oil in Faerghus wasn’t discovered until two or three centuries ago, never mind its use as fossil fuel. Claude, I want you to take me to that place.”

“Gladly, maybe you have more success, you know, being able to read and understand what is written there.”

“Good. Let’s go.” Edelgard held the book close to her chest and got up.

“Tonight? Come on, I have camp tomorrow.”

“Sounds like a you problem. Come on, let’s go.”

*

Chapter Text

Byleth knocked at Seteth’s door and opened it without waiting for an answer. Unlike Flayn he lived in a small apartment within the monastery. If she hadn’t asked one of the monks Byleth would have never found it. She called out Seteth’s name and looked around. There he was, sitting in an armchair staring at the wall.

“Seteth?”

He turned around and frowned once he saw her.

“Byleth. Is it really you or is my mind playing tricks on me again?”

Byleth took a chair and carried over to him. She sat down and took his hand.

“It is me, shocking as it may seem.”

“Not shocking. Not shocking at all,” Seteth said quietly.

Although he still looked the same as he did on the day Flayn and he had closed the lid of the sarcophagus above her Byleth could sense that he had significantly weakened. His once strong energy had burned out like a fire with only embers remaining.

“Seteth, Flayn woke me from my slumber to see if I can help you in any way. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that there is no cure for the erosion that comes with time. ”

“Flayn knows that, she just doesn’t want to believe it. She shouldn’t have woken you up for that.”

“I have left the monastery to you two alone for far too long. I don’t mind taking over again. You have earned your rest.”

Byleth spoke softy but the message hidden in her tone was loud and clear. Seteth pulled his hand back and pressed it against his forehead.

“Byleth, these are different times. The church is weak and loses more significance with every passing year. I don’t think this can be turned around again. Perhaps I have failed in my mission to keep everything as it once was. Or maybe I just can’t see the point anymore. Fódlan has changed and maybe this chance has been for the better.”

“The point?” Byleth leaned forward until her forehead nearly touched Seteth’s. “The point is that my beloved king suffered so much in order to build this Fódlan. He was ready to give everything and he would have given everything had I not stepped in. His only wish was for his cherished subjects to live in peace, guided and protected by the Church of Seiros. Is it this most noble cause that you have lost sight of, Seteth? Was it difficult for you to keep building upon the foundation he laid at such high personal costs?”

“Kingdoms and dynasties rise and fall, they always have. The Fódlan you left behind was unnatural and it was probably not worth upholding all these years. There is this historian who is so close to figuring out what really happened after the battle in the throne room. I have restricted her access to our archives but I doubt that will stop her. Your web of lies is about to be torn apart.”

“What lies?” Byleth raised her voice and got up. She had butted heads with Seteth before but he had always yielded to the archbishop of the Church of Seiros in the end. Now Byleth was unsure if these were his true feelings or if it was the erosion talking.

“My Saviour King rid the continent of a warmongering emperor with the help of his loyal friends and retainers. In that throne room he brought forth a new dawn for the continent and all its people. As the archbishop I gave this new kingdom the Church’s blessing. These are no lies, Seteth. Only the truth.”

“All those people you had killed! The children, Byleth! His children!”

Seteth felt transported back to those days when Byleth’s study at the monastery had become the de facto seat of government. In the beginning Seteth didn’t realise that Byleth had entrusted him with the running of the church so she could take care of more important matters. He believed, wanted to believe, he needed to believe that she trusted him to do a better job since he had more experience, and thus he didn’t think anything of it when their audiences were being repeatedly cancelled until they were no longer scheduled. By the time he learned what was really going on it was too late to put a stop to it. All the while the Saviour King muddled through his few responsibilities in the royal palace in Fhirdiad, probably oblivious to what was happening beyond the walls of his palace.

“I rid his life of all the shadows that haunted him. He suffered enough and the people wanted a strong king who gave them his undivided attention and a strong dynasty to preserve and protect them for generations to come. If he had been allowed to have a normal life before ascending the throne everything would have been better but we both know that he didn’t get to have that and we also both know who was to blame for that. Still he did the best he could. How dare you suggest that his legacy is not worth honouring. Especially when it has lasted until today.”

Byleth walked up to the window and opened it to let in some fresh air, and to cool down. The quiet was interrupted by unhinged laughter. She turned around to see Seteth holding onto the armrests of his armchair. His knuckles had turned white and his face red from laughing so hard. He tried a few times to start a sentence but couldn’t stop laughing for long enough. Then he took a few deep breaths and spoke.

“Whose legacy is it, Byleth? Who built this new Fódlan? If it weren’t for you he wouldn’t have lasted a decade on the throne. That is so pathetic. Your Saviour King is a fraud and his legacy is a joke!”

“Shut up!” Byleth grabbed him by the collar and effortlessly pulled him off the armchair and into the air. He wouldn’t stop laughing, even when Byleth shook him a little bit. Disgusted and saddened she let go of him and he fell back into his creaking armchair where he kept laughing.

“You’re tired. I’ll come and check on you again tomorrow,” she said as she left his apartment. Even after she had closed the door she could still hear his hollow laughter as if he was taunting her, when, in all probability, he had simply lost his mind.

*

Armed with a proper torch and a few reusable bags Claude and Edelgard made their way to the cathedral. Once they reached the wall in question Edelgard was already out of breath. Claude decided this was as good a place to take a break as any. While Edelgard caught her breath he explained in a low voice what they would be doing next.

“You have to pretend pray. Or pray for real, whatever you like. But you have to do it out loud.”

“Why?” Edelgard pressed her hand against her chest as if that could calm her racing heart.

“Don’t ask, just do it. We’ll have to do the same to get back. Once you’re ready take my hand and don’t let go. I’d hate for either of us to get stuck in the wall somehow.”

Edelgard stood up straight and nodded. Claude held out his hand and she took it. He began to mumble something and as absurd as it was Edelgard joined in. Wary of the situation she closed her eyes, waiting for something to happen. She had almost given up hope that it might work when Claude pulled her forward and she opened her eyes for a moment. She was ready to scream when the brick wall was right in front of her but then it was already over. Claude turned on the torch to verify that they were in the right place. Edelgard turned around to see if the wall was still there, half expecting it to have a huge hole in it now. It looked as if nothing had ever happened. Still holding her hand Claude pulled her forward. They went through the door and started their descent.

“Is this the door?” Edelgard asked after a few flights. Claude shined the torch on it and shook his head.

“There’s no door, and it’s at the end of the stairs. I don’t know where this leads to. Maybe we’ll check it out on our way back up. Come on.”

Edelgard’s knees were weak by the time the stairs ended and she was glad when Claude exclaimed that they had found the right place. She followed him through the doorway and soon saw the room he had described to her.

“Goodness gracious,” she said under her breath and looked around.

“I suggest you point out which books you want to take a look at and I will bring them to you. That way you can sit down and rest for a while.”

“Where to start?” Edelgard said and began to think. Why was there never enough time?

“Bring me anything that’s just loose pages,” she then decided. “Maps, paintings, sketches, anything that’s easy to carry back up. I’ll check out what’s here on the mezzanine. Personally I am interested in anything from the years 1140 to 1190.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Claude left the torch with her and went to the lower floor to begin his task with the light provided by his phone. In the meantime Edelgard began to check the books nearest to her. She found a mixture of printed books and handwritten books. None of them were particularly thick, probably owed to the fact that bound book were something only the super wealthy such as members of the nobility could afford, fitting since they were also generally the ones who were able to read and write apart from the clergy. Edelgard had read about and seen examples of blank but ornately decorated books that served no other purpose than to show the wealth of their owners who could afford such a useless luxury. She didn’t come across any of those though; every single book was filled at least partially. The books Claude had brought back were not very helpful since he didn’t know what he was bringing with him. Despite her advantage of being able to tell what they were about she feared she would not have a much better outcome. Standing before this unprecedented well of information Edelgard made a decision. When Claude came back up he saw that Edelgard had begun to fill the bags.

“You are aware that we can’t look like we just raided a secret hidden library when we make our long way back to the Old Convent, right?”

Uncharacteristically for Edelgard she was throwing books onto two piles after scanning the first few pages.

“I cannot read everything and we don’t know for sure that we will even get out of here again, much less if we can come back. If it’s something boring like agriculture or astronomy or something like that it’s not coming with us. If it’s about people, places or a list or register of any kind it’s going in the bags. What have you found so far?”

“A few maps and sketches by someone who was really good at it. Who knows, maybe we have rediscovered a long forgotten artist. There’s also things that I cannot read but that look somewhat official. And, a bunch of these leather-bound files, I think they contain letters? I only peeked inside one of them. Do you need help here?”

“Can you reach the upper shelves? Throw down whatever you can find. Try not to hit me.”

Claude obliged and climbed up the upper shelves. The wood was creaking under his weight, the finger-thick layer of dust on the books and the shelves made it harder to see what he was pulling out. At one point he dropped his phone he was using as a flashlight and was completely in the dark.

“Edelgard, can you hand me my phone? Edelgard?”

He looked down and saw Edelgard engrossed in a book, twirling a strand of hair around her index finger at an alarming speed. To get her attention he pulled out a random book and dropped it very close to her.

“Hey! I said try not to hit me!”

“Then listen when I talk to you. I dropped my phone, I can’t see anything. Could you please hand it to me?”

“Fine. Catch!” She threw the phone up and completely missed Claude’s hand which was only a short distance away from her.

“Wow, your aim really is bad.”

“Some people do sports, I don’t. Here.”

She stood on her tiptoes and handed it directly into his hand. As Claude climbed back up on the shelf the creaking became worrisome. He checked the time and suggested they wrap it up.

“Fine, we’ll just have to try and come back one more time. You can carry the heavy bags.”

“I’d like to see you try,” Claude said under his breath and climbed down. Edelgard stuffed the loose papers and the leather-bound files into separate bags and picked them up while Claude stared at the overflowing reusable bags. At least they were unlikely to tear on the way up. Loaded like a stubborn person refusing to make more than one tour carrying groceries from the car to the house Claude made his way to the dark stairwell. Edelgard followed carrying the torch and the lighter bags. The ascent was slow for both of them but for different reasons. Edelgard cursed every time another flight of stairs waited for them at the top instead of the hallway leading back to the wall they had come through. Midway through Claude asked Edelgard if she was OK to which she only replied with an exasperated sigh. By the time Edelgard reached the top her arms and legs were burning and shaking.

“Let’s take a break,” Claude said and put his bags down. Edelgard was leaning against the wall breathing heavily. Claude had truly never seen anyone that out of shape before, and those who looked out that of shape would never challenge themselves like that. Perhaps it was true, Edelgard really did run on nothing but frustration and the need to be right. After a while she announced that she was ready, even though her legs were still shaking.

“If anyone asks, these are books we need for summer camp. If they ask why we brought them to the cathedral with us you faint to change the subject.”

“How will that distract from the books still being there? Let’s see if we can leave this place first, we’ll worry about the rest later. How do you know no one is standing right by the altar?”

Claude thought about it.

“I do not know. I guess we’ll just have to trust in the night and its wonders. You know the drill, get ready.”

Whatever the mechanism was that permitted them to go through walls, it was a reliable one, Edelgard thought. They went through with no problems, and there was no one right by the altar either. Perhaps they were just lucky. The people in the cathedral paid them little to no attention as usual. The closer they got to the monastery the calmer both of them got. The sun had not yet risen and so the monastery was mostly deserted. They made it to the Old Convent unbothered.

“Shall we take them to your room?” Claude suggested.

“I can’t fit everything in there. I have some room under the bed left, that way some of it will be close by because I am exhausted, but the rest will have to go somewhere else. I need to rest.”

She put her bags down and looked around. When she spotted her car she had an idea.

“We’ll just put the rest in my car. I can always walk down and get more later. I just need to get my key from my room. Wait here.”

As fast as she could she went to her room, dropped her two bags on the floor and grabbed her key fob from the nightstand. The bed was so close and she would have loved nothing more than to just lie down. She tore herself away and made her way downstairs again and promptly ran into Byleth. She had just come out of the common room where the TV was still blaring loudly, wearing a slightly more put together outfit than she did in the morning.

“Edelgard, what are you up to so late at night?” She asked in a friendly voice.

“Hi, uh… I just got back from… Shopping. I love to shop.”

“Really? What shops did you go to? Is it very expensive to shop? Are the owners nice and honest?”

Edelgard felt her energy draining as she stood there making polite conversation with the strange woman.

“I have to… My friend is waiting outside by the car, I have to go.”

“The car! Do you mind if I come along? I’d love to see your car.”

“S-Sure!”

Once Claude heard two sets of steps on the gravel he immediately hid behind Edelgard’s car with the bags. From a distance away Edelgard called out to him.

“Claude, look who I found up so late at night! It’s Byleth from this morning!”

Claude came around the car and held his hand up to wave. With a click on her key fob Edelgard unlocked the car, causing its lights to flash and turn on. Byleth gasped audibly at the sight.

“It’s wonderful! And so big!”

“She really wanted to see my car,” Edelgard explained to a confused Claude. “I’ll distract her and you start putting the books away. On the floor in the backseat, they’re less obvious there.”

Claude got to work and Edelgard walked around to the front where Byleth was admiring the headlights.

“I know it’s an extravagant car but it suits my needs,” Edelgard said to make conversation.

“Yes, yes, of course. I know what a hassle it is not to have enough room for all the things you want to bring with you wherever you are. It’s so much more convenient than running back to… I mean to just have it in one place. With you. That is so amazing. Is it comfortable?”

“Uh, yes. Do you want to sit in the driver’s seat? It’s very comfortable.”

Edelgard opened the door and let Byleth climb in. Her excitement was reminiscent of that of a child. She tried every switch and every button and put her hands together when she found the small mirror in the sun visor. In the meantime Claude had managed to put all the books in the car. Through the backseat window Edelgard gestured at him to put some of her things in an empty eco bag that lay in the backseat.

“I have to say, I would quite like one of these,” Byleth said and got out of the car again.

“Yes, I wouldn’t want to miss it,” Edelgard agreed.

“Are we done here?” Claude asked, holding up the filled eco bag.

“Yes, thank you, thank you so much for your help. Byleth, check this out.” Edelgard locked the car with her key fob, causing it to honk in addition to flashing its lights.

Byleth exclaimed and laughed.

“This is amazing. Thank you for showing me. Do you want to watch some TV with me?” Byleth looked at them expectantly.

“Oh no, it’s too late, I am tired from… all the driving.”

“I have work in a few hours, so I had better go to bed.”

“Another time then. TV is so much fun!”

Once inside Byleth wished them a good night and went straight back to the common room. Upstairs Claude handed Edelgard the bag. He told her he put a few books in there under a sweater, a half-empty water bottle and box of tissues. Edelgard thanked him and opened the door to her room.

“It will take me a few days to get through most of this, and to be honest I don’t think I’ll have the energy to go down there again any time soon. So, really, thank you for this. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“You just keep looking out for King Khalid and Almyra in general and we’re even.”

“Deal. Good night, I hope you’ll have a good day with the campers tomorrow.”

“Either way, I’ll let you know. Good night.”

Edelgard went inside and closed the door behind her. She turned on the lights and sat down on her bed. She couldn’t believe the treasure that was right in front of her. Even if the lost emperor wasn’t mentioned once anywhere, Edelgard was convinced that these documents could help reveal some of history’s greatest secrets.

*

Chapter Text

Because her duties as camp supervisor kept Flayn busy during the day she picked up Byleth from the Old Convent in the evening and brought her to the dining hall to have dinner with her. Byleth copied everything Flay did down to choosing the same menu. They sat down at one of the grown-up tables and began to eat. Byleth picked up the cutlery and weighed them in her hands.

“These feel awfully light.”

“The days of eating with actual silverware are over, I’m afraid. So how was your day? Did you do anything exciting?”

“I watched a lot of the TV. As soon as one story stops another comes right up. People are speaking so differently these days, but I think I got the hang of it now. How about you, have you been successful?”

Flayn nodded as she chewed. When she wasn’t solving administrative issues or fielding calls from worried parents and legal guardians she had worked her real-word magic to officially bring Byleth Eisner into the present day.

“Tomorrow you will receive a thick letter in the mail. It will contain your official papers and ID establishing you as both member and employee of the Church of Seiros, dating back several years, of course. We can go through the contents in particular tomorrow. You’re here as a member of the clergy after being abroad doing missionary work for a couple of years. You’ll have your own office soon enough but please, and I can’t stress this enough, please don’t do anything unwise.”

“I have been in charge of this church for long enough to know how everything works. Besides, I have more pressing matters to attend to. You mentioned that the magic barriers have weakened, I want to look into that as soon as possible. And, I want to look in at the summer camp. I just wish the children were a little younger, I love small children.”

“Just keep your head down, that’s all I ask.”

Byleth took a sip of her soda and shook a little. Then she took another sip and was hooked.

*

The monastery truly had changed. Byleth once could navigate the grounds with her eyes closed but now doors that had always been there had vanished, in other places walls had been torn down creating larger spaces and new pathways. In the electric light the once dark and romantic monastery had been unmasked for the old and broken down monument that it was. On her walk Byleth came across various work crews working to maintain the building to the best of their abilities. Fascinated she watched one group take photographs of a partially rotten wooden beam. Whenever the flash went off Byleth flinched. Somehow, she thought, everything had become so very harmless but more useful at the same time. In the great hall she stopped to take a look at the poster walls that had been put up. Still unfamiliar with the new script she turned her attention to the many illustrations and photographs. She recognised the majority of the buildings, artifacts and illustrations but was puzzled by a portrait of a woman wearing a simple floor-length gown. She tilted her head to left, and then to right, but she couldn’t make out what she was looking at. Perhaps a queen of the past? But why would that be in the monastery?

“She’s a beauty, isn’t she?”

Byleth didn’t dare turn her head. It’s not real, she told herself. It can’t be. From the corner of her eye she saw the tall man move closer. She closed her eyes and held her breath. She had lived this exact moments hundreds if not thousands of times. Any moment she would feel his embrace, from the top of her head down to her thighs. Except she didn’t, and she never would again. Byleth swallowed the lump in her throat and looked at the familiar stranger.

“I’m sorry?”

“The woman in the painting. A classic example of the late medieval beauty ideal. She once was an archbishop.”

Byleth was listening but her eyes were fixed on him. Perhaps she wasn’t entirely untouched by the erosion of time after all. Only that this ghost of the past did not haunt her in the least.

“An archbishop?” She repeated and took another look at the portrait. “Shouldn’t she be wearing her ceremonial headdress? And her other regalia? Why would she expose herself like this?”

“Who knows. Perhaps she just didn’t feel like wearing it. The headdress is made from pure gold and it’s quite large so some discomfort for the wearer is to be expected.”

Byleth scoffed and folded her arms. She always felt more grounded when she wore the whole get-up, not to mention the respect it commanded. Suddenly she worried about the current archbishop. If she conducted herself like the women Byleth had seen on the TV… No, she didn’t even want to imagine it.

“I’m sorry I offended you.”

“Don’t sweat it,” Byleth said using a new expression she had picked up. Then she unfolded her arms and turned to him.

“I am Byleth Eisner. I have been working for the church abroad.” She held out her hand which he shook in a gentle manner.

“Dimitri Blaiddyd, pleased to make your acquaintance. What did you do abroad?”

“I did missionary work. I just came back a few days ago and I’m getting to know the monastery again. I have been gone for many years. What brought you here today?”

“Ah, I’m here to oversee a special delivery to the summer camp, and I’m hoping to visit my step-sister. She’s a visiting research fellow.”

“Oh. Edelgard, of course.”

Dimitri was surprised. “How did you know that? Do you know her, did she talk about me?”

Byleth could have slapped herself. Quickly she though up with an excuse.

“Flayn must have told me, she knows everything about everyone. We all live in the same building at the moment. You know, actually I have been wanting to check out the summer camp. Why don’t we go together?”

“Gladly. I should text Edelgard before I go to see her anyway. She’s not been feeling well recently and I wouldn’t want to disturb her rest. If you’ll excuse me for a few minutes, I’ll take care of that and then I’ll call to see if the driver has any trouble getting here.”

“Yes, the road,” Byleth said knowingly.

“Exactly. Just one moment, please.”

He stepped away and Byleth took another look at the portrait of the archbishop.

“How undignified,” she said under her breath. It would be wise to find out about the state of the church sooner than later. Perhaps Flayn could help her figure out the inter-net, people on TV always consulted the inter-net when they didn’t know something. Surely something as important as the church as thoroughly documented there. Byleth was thinking about other things she might want to look up on the inter-net when Dimitri returned.

“The driver won’t be here for another few hours, I’m afraid. Apparently there has been an accident and traffic has been stopped. Good thing I left earlier than planned. Now, if I remember correctly the camp ground is in that direction. Shall we?”

Dimitri offered Byleth his arm and after a moment of hesitation Byleth took it. No harm in allowing herself to remember shared walks around the monastery of times long past.

*

The campsite was buzzing with activity. Split up in different groups the campers were performing different tasks. One group was chopping firewood, another one was hanging up dyed fabrics to dry. Byleth observed everything with great interest but didn’t say a lot.

“Have you ever been to this summer camp?” Dimitri asked to make conversation. When Byleth shook her head no Dimitri told her of his camp experiences. Byleth was still struggling with the idea of the life she had once known having essentially become children’s playtime. Things had gotten much more comfortable for her once she had become archbishop but before that she had to do everything herself. Nothing was free, everything had to be earned in one way or another. Still, that life was uncomplicated. The sound of wooden swords and lances banging against each other caught her interest. She let go of Dimitri and walked over to the group. They were a colourful bunch and of course some of the teenagers were more interested than others. At least that hadn’t changed, Byleth thought and sat down to watch some more.

Dimitri had let Byleth go because he had seen a camp counsellor struggling to pick up a box. He offered his help which the counsellor gladly accepted, but when she looked up at him she shrieked and took a step back, falling over in the process.

“I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Are you injured? Let me help you up.” As he pulled back on her feet he noticed her name tag.

“Ah, you are Flayn. You were emailing with my colleague about the printing press? I am here to help with the delivery today. I am Dimitri.”

Flayn quickly recovered from the shock and apologised. Dimitri picked the box up and carried it to the kitchen tent where preparations for lunch were well underway. Flayn had to pick up the pace to keep up with him. She had been surprised to see him out of nowhere but then again she should have expected it. Trouble rarely comes alone and all that. Flayn thanked him and asked when the printing press would arrive.

“The truck is stuck in traffic so it’s going to be a while I’m afraid.”

“Shoot, OK, I don’t think I can get away later. In any case, the room is prepared and ready, the custodians are also informed in case you need anything. Is this your first time here at Garreg Mach Monastery?”

“Not at all, I’ve been here a couple of times, even as a camper. I have such fond memories of the camp I wanted to see it again. And I met someone who also wanted to come so it all worked out.”

“Really? No parent or guardian, I hope. In my experience they get anxious when they see their children wielding weapons and using sharp axes.”

“No, actually she’s over there.”

Flayn looked in the direction Dimitri pointed and let out a dry laugh.

“Of course. Byleth is so curious about everything.”

In that moment the walkie-talkie clipped to her waistband crackled and a voice called her name.

“If you’ll excuse me, I have to go. Enjoy your day here and thank you for your help again. I’ll try to look in at the printing press but no promises. Have a nice day!”

Flayn picked up the walkie-talkie and responded as she walked away. Dimitri asked the kitchen tent staff if they needed help with anything else and when that wasn’t the case he made his way over to Byleth and at her invitation sat down next to her.

A person as imposing as Dimitri rarely went unnoticed no matter where he was. On his way to the kitchen tent to pick up some snacks for his group Claude spotted him. He could have walked up to him but after having been on his best behaviour in front of very impressionable young people for a couple of days Claude was aching for some mischief. He took out his phone and snapped a few pictures of Dimitri. When he saw who he was with he took another picture for good measure and sent them to Edelgard whom he had not heard from in a while.

*

Chapter Text

Edelgard was experiencing another nosebleed when she received Claude’s messages. To avoid getting any blood on the priceless texts before her she was sitting in front of her door, the furthest she could get from the mountain of books on and around her desk. With her free hand she reached for her smartphone and looked at her messages. What was he doing here? Edelgard asked herself and scrolled through the pictures. And what was he doing with Byleth? She put the phone on her knee and used her hand to zoom in. The two of them were looking rather comfortable with each other sitting there in the grass. Dimitri probably didn’t even care that he was getting grass stains on his light coloured trousers. Edelgard stared at the photos for a while before dropping her phone in disgust. She gently removed the old shirt she had used as an emergency handkerchief and sniffled. She hadn’t really left her room for days and now after this nosebleed she felt the need to thoroughly clean up. And since she was already taking a break from reading she might as well go for a walk, if she felt up to it even to the campsite. Once she was confident enough that the nosebleed had stopped she slowly got up and got ready to take a shower.

After lunch Claude was sitting with his fellow counsellors at a separate table while the campers were enjoying the first long break of the day. Some of them were taking naps in the shade of the trees, others were sitting in small groups talking and laughing while yet others were by themselves reading books. He wondered if he had failed to rouse Edelgard but then he spotted her coming down the small dirt path. He got up and walked towards her.

“Good to see you, Edelgard. How have you been?”

“I hear the camp grounds have been opened to the public so I thought I should come and drop by.”

She was wearing a hat to shield her face from the sun though Claude thought a little colour would do her good.

“Did you find anything interesting yet?”

“Nothing of interest to you or me but it’s still early days. So, where are my little step-brother and his new friend?”

“They’re down by the sparring arena. They’ve been at it ever since it cleared for lunch, playing like children. Perhaps you should perform your sisterly duties and make sure they’re not up to anything.”

Edelgard let out a sigh and flipped her hair back.  

“He can play with whomever he wants, that is none of my concern. But I’m not sure I trust Byleth. She’s so strange and Dimitri is too kind for his own good, always has been. He’d set himself on fire to keep others warm if he was left to his own devices. And he’s no use to me as a pile of ashes.”

Edelgard fanned herself some air and took a deep breath. Lately it seemed no matter how many breaths she took she never seemed to get full relief. At least Claude was polite enough not to mention it. She shook out her hands and rubbed them on her dress until she felt better.

“Well then, show me the way already. I don’t have all day.”

*

Byleth enjoyed moving her body. After having been completely immobile for such a long time she yearned to feel herself again. Sparring with Dimitri was child’s play compared to what she was used to but she was impressed that Dimitri knew his way around a sword in the first place. He told her that he had been in a fencing club at university which meant little to Byleth except that swordplay was still practiced in some form or other. She stopped when she heard steps approaching and out of reflex tried to sheath her wooden sword only for it to fall to the ground.

“Edelgard, Claude! What are you doing here?” Dimitri asked and leaned his sword against the wooden fence. He went over to Edelgard to greet her properly. Then he shook Claude’s hand enthusiastically, leaving Claude to clench his teeth and turn away to shake his hand to regain some feeling.

“Edelgard, you never mentioned Claude was here too.”

“I’m sure I have. We are here for our respective research fellowships. What are you doing here?”

Dimitri explained the purpose of his visit but Edelgard was distracted by Byleth who kept looking at her as if she was just waiting for the right moment to pounce. Casually Edelgard shifted her weight from one foot to the other to get out of her line of sight.

“Byleth, come, I’ll introduce you to my sister Edelgard.”

“That won’t be necessary, we are all already acquainted,” Edelgard stopped him. “Byleth, are you here to get a taste of the summer camp as well?”

It took Byleth a while before she answered. “Yes, my office is not ready yet so I had some time to spare. And Dimitri here was so kind to show me the way.”

Dimitri changed the subject and asked Claude how he had been in the past few months. Soon the three of them were talking amongst themselves about things Byleth didn’t understand. She watched them and tried to make sense of the scene. Over the course of her long life she had learned that true coincidences were rare, yet the odds of someone orchestrating them well were just as low. Perhaps some souls were just drawn to some places without a proper explanation no matter the circumstances. Or there was an explanation but no one had discovered it yet. Byleth’s lips curled into a faint smile. If only the ones she once knew could have met like this, unburdened by the decisions ahead of them, free to pursue whatever goal they set themselves. But alas, each and every person has their own path to follow, herself included.

“Byleth, the lunchbreak is over. Claude invited us to participate in the pottery class, what do you say?”

“Edelgard, will you be joining us?” Byleth asked.

“I don’t think I will. I am tired and I need to rest. Enjoy yourselves. Goodbye Dimitri, Claude, Byleth.”

Edelgard took a deep breath and embarked on her journey back to the Old Convent.

On their way to the pottery class Dimitri held Claude back.

“How has Edelgard been lately? Health-wise, I mean. She looks so desperately ill.”

Claude just shrugged. “You should know better than anyone that Edelgard is both too stubborn and proud to admit much weakness.”

“Which makes her admitting her tiredness only more troubling. There’s only so much I can do from Fhirdiad, will you continue to keep a close eye on her for me, please? Here, take my card, just in case you need to get in touch.”

Claude took Dimitri’s business card and looked at it before putting it his back pocket.

“Come on you two, I don’t want to be late for the class!” Byleth shouted a distance away.

“She gets so excited by everything. Her foreign posting must have been very lonely and boring,” Claude said as they caught up with her.

“I think it’s charming,” Dimitri said, and Claude thought he heard a hint of infatuation in his voice.

*

After that short outing Edelgard felt better and continued her herculean task.  She picked a book from the pile and began to read. She scanned each page for information and when she didn’t find anything interesting she moved on. The process became so automatic that what she had just read didn’t fully register at times. Then her eyes got stuck at a particular word. She returned t the top of the page and carefully read it again. There it was. Edelgard was speechless. No matter how many times she re-read the words she couldn’t believe what they meant. She looked up when she heard two people talking and laughing in the hallway. The sky outside was blue with little to no clouds, the wind blew through the trees in the forest nearby. Everything was as it always had been. How was everything still the same after the discovery she had just made? She cleared her throat, took a deep breath and read it to herself in a whisper.

“On this day the young lords, ladies and common folk engaged in a battle to test their strength, wisdom and courage on the battlefield. Observed by the Her Grace the Archbishop herself they took position, waiting for the start of the battle to be declared. Once the sun had reached its zenith the horns were sounded. While the young Leicester lord held back waiting for the ideal moment to strike, the princes of Adrestia and Faerghus did not shy away from personally leading their forces from the front lines. Following the victory of the Blue Lion House Her Grace the Archbishop commended the young prince for his leadership skills and fellow officers for their valour. The house teacher also received a commendation.”

It was short but it couldn’t be clearer. The words the author had used were unambiguous, the date of the account clearly ruled out the last emperor since he had already been on the throne for decades at that point. So there he was, she thought. That said, Edelgard was well aware that this alone would not be enough for the majority of the opposing historians. After all it was undisputed that the last emperor had had children, and that at least one child should end up at the Officers Academy was to be expected. All she needed now was something that linked this prince to the throne, to the war or to the Saviour King, and absolutely not to a death record. Excitedly she took pictures with her phone and then opened her notebook to take notes. A few times she had to lift the pen from the page to steady her shaking hand. She was drawing a mind map of where to look for the missing link. Enrolment records, death records, church donation records, surviving diaries and letters from others enrolled that year. She’d have to take another look at the emperor’s confirmed children as well, not to mention Adrestian court records. Slightly panicked she looked at the piles and piles of materials she still had to go through. No, she couldn’t do it alone. She needed help. Edelgard was one touch away from dialling Hubert’s number when she realised that this was not simply a matter of more manpower. She scrolled down to another contact and dialled the number.

“Hresvelg Family Office, who am I speaking to?”

“It’s Edelgard von Hresvelg. How are things at home?”

“Ah, Miss Edelgard. Everything is well. Your father has taken to mowing the lawn with the new ride-on lawnmower. He is in good spirits these days. Would you like to speak to him?”

“Actually I called to ask for the number of our solicitor.”

“Of course, Miss Edelgard. One moment please, I will connect you to the accountant. Good day.”

Edelgard waited until the accountant responsible for managing the Hresvelg family trust picked up. Seeing how her father had been deemed incapable of managing the family wealth and affairs Edelgard was used to discussing personal matters with their accountant who also acted as the trustee. When she moved into student housing at the start of her studies at university the family accountant was also the one who organised the move and drove her there. They even had lunch together that day. Edelgard’s conversation with the accountant was short but friendly. The accountant assured her that the solicitor would call her before the end of the day. Edelgard let out a deep sigh and slapped the top of her thighs. Just sitting around was a waste of time. She knelt on the floor and began to sort the rest of the materials into neat piles.

*

Chapter Text

After a long day at summer camp trying out various activities, admiring the printing press which eventually arrived and a small dinner in the dining hall Byleth walked Dimitri back to his car.

“So you work at a university?” She asked.

“Yes, I’m a junior professor of history at Fhirdiad Royal College.”

“Fhirdiad, it’s been ages since I’ve been there. It’s a beautiful town with the pa- I mean with all the buildings.” Byleth had stopped herself in time, after all she had no idea whether the palace was still standing, never mind the many churches she had visited often. Luckily, Dimitri didn’t notice. He was tapping his fingers on the roof of his car, one after the other until he stopped.

“If you ever find yourself in Fhirdiad with some time to spare we could meet up and I could show you around. I mean, obviously you know the palace and the cathedral and all that, but if you were at all interested I could take you to places that are not accessible to the general public.”

To his relief Byleth said she would like that very much. He suggested exchanging numbers but when Byleth just nodded without doing anything else he handed her his card.

“Just give me a call. Whenever you like.”

“Thank you, I will. Be careful with the road, especially at night.”

“I will. Goodbye Byleth, have a good rest of the evening.”

Byleth waved until his car was out of sight. Then she rushed back to the Old Convent to ask Flayn what she was supposed to do with the small piece of paper he had just given her.

Flayn, however, was busy watching the TV and during a commercial break asked if the matter could wait until the next day.

“I have the day off, so to speak. The campers are going on a hike and unless you want to join them I can show you a few things then.”

“Sounds good. Have a good rest of the evening, Flayn. I am going to check out the magic barriers.”

But the commercial break was already over and Flayn completely engrossed in the series she was watching.

*

Before Byleth had fallen into her long slumber she had taken a few precautions to ensure that the monastery and the cathedral remained as they were. This included placing barriers to prevent people from entering restricted areas such as the crypta in the cathedral where the most valuable artifacts and relics were stored. In the now deserted great hall Byleth stopped and pressed her hand against the cold stone wall. She closed her eyes and listened. From the flow of the magic she could tell that a lot had changed. Magic wasn’t like water able to reroute itself when it encountered an obstacle. Byleth had never been a great magic user and she did not delude herself into thinking that any magic barrier of hers would last forever, so all things considered this was to be expected. But Byleth had done it once and she would do it again. She opened her eyes again and removed her hand from the wall. Next on the agenda was the cathedral itself.

The sight of a group of pilgrims on the bridge made Byleth feel nostalgic. Although they probably didn’t walk all the way. Were there cars that could take many more people with them at once time? A huge car? Probably. At the gate Byleth was greeted and handed a brochure. A bit confused she opened it and turned it a couple of times until she realised that it was a map of the cathedral. To see the heart of the Church through the lens of the current times was fascinating. She stood near a spotlight and took a closer look. She had gotten used to the new script and language but it still took her a while to read everything. Byleth was surprised when she saw that a few things had been moved though and some areas were not accessible. She put away the map and began to walk around. Every once in a while she stopped to check the magic barriers, noting that every single one of them was weak. Once she reached the altar she felt a significant drop in the magic power. It was so weak she could barely detect it anymore. Immediately she turned to the wall that had been erected on her orders after she had entered her sarcophagus in the holy mausoleum. The thought of people coming to walk around her while she was asleep once a year was very unsettling so she put a stop to that centuries-old custom. There were too many people standing nearby so Byleth was forced to leave it be for the moment. Luckily, she already had a place she wanted to go next.

Byleth was pleased to see that for a long time after her tenure as archbishop people continued to buy small altars for themselves or their loved ones. At some point she no longer recognised the names on the plaques. The noble houses of old must have all died out at some point. Once she reached a particular altar she came to a halt. The moonlight was bright enough to illuminate the ornamental window which in turn bathed this small part of the cathedral in a soft blue light. Byleth stepped towards the altar and knelt down before it. After the Saviour King had passed away she was present for his burial in Fhirdiad but knowing that she would rarely have the opportunity to go there to mourn him she wanted part of him to be close to her. She lay her cheek on the cold stone slab and closed her eyes. She remained like this for a long time, remembering the love of her life. When she was ready to get up she felt the stone move. Just like the magic barriers the mortar used to close the altar must have weakened. In a reminiscing mood Byleth decided to open the altar to once more lay eyes on the physical memories she had laid to rest along with his heart. Effortlessly she pushed the stone slab aside far enough so she could reach inside. Her fingers felt around but found nothing but dust and crumbs of mortar. With panic welling up inside of her she opened it further, but all the additional light did was reveal the cruel truth. Byleth remained motionless save for red hot tears falling into the empty altar. But when the shock had worn off Byleth’s face distorted into an expression of pure rage. She closed the lid of the altar and headed straight for the main altar. She didn’t care that there were still people around. She barked at them to go away and after they did she boldly stepped through the wall.

Having summoned a fire orb to light her way Byleth marched down the stairs opening more hidden doors. She breathed a little easier when she saw that the crypt and various treasure rooms were untouched. For a moment she debated going further down, it was highly unlikely that the secret tunnel to the forest below the bridge had been discovered when the other rooms hadn’t been. But then she noticed a single page at the bottom of the stairs. Byleth went to pick it up. It was a record of a complaint of an Adrestian peasant about the levied taxes. Byleth’s eyes fixated on the date at the top of the page.

“There is this historian who is so close to figuring out what really happened after the battle in the throne room.”

Byleth crumpled the page with one hand and went down to the forbidden archive. The books carelessly strewn on the floor were the final proof that someone had been here, and judging from the fresh traces in the thick dust it had been very, very recently. Byleth crouched down to put the books back into the shelves one-handed. After a few books she noticed something else. With her index finger and her thumb she pulled a few long white hairs from the back of the books.

“Of course,” Byleth then said and got back up. “Some things won’t ever change, no matter what.”

*

Flayn was woken up by Byleth shaking her quite roughly. When Flayn noticed how angry Byleth was she sat up immediately and asked what had happened.

“I entrusted the monastery and the cathedral to your father and you. And tonight I found out that you have let me down most shamefully. Someone broke through the barrier in the cathedral and raided the shadow library, and you either didn’t notice or just didn’t tell me. Even worse, someone opened my king’s altar in the cathedral and stole its contents. I have been robbed, Flayn. In my own home!”

Byleth was raising her voice. Flayn held up her hands and gestured her to keep it down.

“Byleth, I am so sorry, I didn’t know. I was so preoccupied with Father and…”

“Someone must have followed you when you came to wake me. How could you be so careless?” Byleth didn’t give Flayn a chance to respond. “Even worse, I believe it was this Edelgard. Seteth mentioned that a historian was looking into things, he meant her, didn’t he? And you told me that it’s not them. Have you really lost all recollection of what happened back then? Do you want to destroy what we fought for?”

“No, of course not,” Flayn said quietly. There was no denial that she was to blame for the current state of the monastery. Also, Byleth had on her serious face that allowed no arguing.

“If Edelgard has indeed stolen from the church then it is within our rights to demand the materials back,” Flayn said weakly, but with one look Byleth shut her up.

“Do you idiot not understand that this is not just about the theft? She is now in possession of knowledge that questions, if not contradicts the church’s history! No, simply asking her to return what she stole is not enough. She has to be disposed of. That’s the only way to contain this.”

“No! You can’t do that. People would ask questions if something happened to her, Byleth. While she’s here she’s in our care. Also the church is already under great scrutiny, this would be enough to cause serious harm. Please, let me think of a way…”

“Oh, you and your father are done handling anything for a while. With all the TV and cars and whatnot you have forgotten the simple mission I have given you: to look after the monastery and the church. Not only is the monastery in very sorry state but you have endangered its future with your carelessness. I find that hard to understand and near impossible to forgive. From now on I will make the decisions. You keep looking after the summer camp, that seems to be more suited to your capabilities.”

“Yes, Byleth.”

Flayn watched as Byleth changed into her sleepwear. Because she was still upset she grabbed the second pillow next to Flayn’s head and placed it at the foot end of the bed. After she had settled in the room fell quiet but Byleth’s wiggling toes gave her away.

“Byleth, these are the most peaceful times I have ever experienced. War is a thing of the distant past; violence is the exception rather than the norm. If any harm comes to Edelgard the police will begin to ask questions. And neither I nor the church have any power over the police or the courts of law. Please believe me when I say you don’t want either involved.”

“You really let the church down. We once ran this continent, now we cannot even manage our own affairs in a manner we see fit,” Byleth muttered from the foot end. Then she poked Flayn with her big toe. “Tomorrow you show me how a telephone works and what a inter-net is. If I have to act within the rules of these times I should have greater knowledge of them.”

“Yes, Byleth.”

“But first breakfast. I am hungry.”

*

Chapter Text

Drama between some campers kept Claude and a few other counsellors in the monastery for hours after lights-out. No one had been sent home, roommates were re-shuffled and some campers re-assigned to new groups. Claude supervised the moves to change rooms and with the counsellor on night watch that night waited until the rooms were quiet.

“I don’t remember being this mean as a teen,” Claude said as they made their last round.

“Me neither, but then again I always kept to myself. Anyways, thanks for sticking around.”

“No worries. It will be my turn in a few days and I thought why not see what awaits me. I’ll leave you to it then.”

The night watch counsellor waved goodbye and sat down at the table and chair set up in a corner. Claude made his way back to the Old Convent. As the building came into view he noticed that the light in Edelgard’s room was still on. He debated throwing pebbles against her window but decided against it. Quietly he entered the building and went upstairs. In passing Edelgard’s door he changed his mind. Despite the late hour he knocked at Edelgard’s door and called her name. She opened the door just enough to see who it was.

“Claude, what is it?”

Edelgard opened the door a bit further so he could come in.

“I just thought I’d check on you. It’s late, you should go to bed.”

“I should. But come in, I have something to show you.”

“If you say so.” He closed the door behind him and looked around the room. It slightly resembled that of a hoarder: there was a narrow path from the door to the window and the desk, to the left and right bags and boxes took up the rest of the room. Suitcases poked out from beneath the bed. Edelgard pulled out one of the leatherbound files and handed it to him. He opened it carefully and looked through the loose documents.

“I know you can’t read what’s inside so I wrote a small summary for you. My suspicions have been correct. That stranger from the Brigid letters was indeed King Khalid. He was not only present at the Battle of Gronder, he was also involved in the short-lived Leicester campaign in 1185. And, I also found out why. What you see here is a family tree.” Edelgard pulled out one paper and showed it to him. At first he just saw illegible names and fancy illustrations, but then his eye fell on something in particular. It was a symbol he was very familiar with, as was every Almyran. After all it was on their national currency.

“I believe that you share a very interesting trait with Khalid. According to this family tree there was a brief period of time in which the leadership of the ruling noble house was most uncertain. You see, this duke here had two children, a son and a daughter. The son dies while the father was still alive, the daughter apparently never married. But then there’s a last addition to the family tree. See how the ink is a different colour and the writing is different?”

Claude took a closer look. Now that she had mentioned it the difference was really stark. Also it seemed a little off-centre. Almost as if the entry was added very last-minute.

Edelgard continued: “A male heir out of nowhere, born in 1162, crest-bearing. I had to dig a little deeper but according to this he becomes the new duke at some point before the fall of his house and thus the fall of Leicester. I did a little research on Khalid and found that he too was born sometime in the year 1162 to the Almyran king and his queen who by all accounts I found was distinctly not Almyran.”

“His Almyran heritage must have meant a lot to him if he had it recorded in this family tree.”

“What do you mean?” Edelgard asked. Claude pointed to the symbol next to the entry in question.

“Oh, no, that’s the family crest.”

“Are you sure? It looks like Almyra’s crescent moon.”

“Well, he did turn out to be an Almyran king. Crests are not my specialty though, you should ask Dimitri if you’re really curious.”

Claude closed the file and stared at Edelgard. “So King Khalid was both an Almyran prince and a Fódlan noble. Through his mother, the Demon Queen.”

“Yikes, that’s an unflattering name. Still, it would explain what he was doing at the Battle of Gronder. He was not there to stir the pot. As a leader of the Leicester Alliance he would have been expected to be there. And I would bet my worldly possessions that if the enrolment roster for the Officers Academy for the year 1180 was anywhere to be found, not only Khalid would be on there but the lost emperor too, along with the Saviour King.”

Edelgard sat down on her chair and watched Claude process everything. He opened the file again and browsed through it.

“I don’t understand, why was this down there? Isn’t this important for Leicester?”

“That I don’t know. I still haven’t made sense of why these documents in particular were stored down there. I mean, some point to the existence of the lost emperor, yes, but others are simply records of what has happened in Fódlan over the span of roughly three centuries, both before and after the war. I found a romance novel set in Faerghus, some love letters which were sweet but clumsily written… Plans for a mill and a castle, a builder’s contract for a new port, innocent stuff really. Right now I believe that some of the materials were used in legal disputes. Evidence and such. But I also haven’t read every last page yet.”

Claude closed the file and tied its strings.

“Say, if these documents were to… go missing in the second degree…”

“Take them, keep them, do whatever you want with them. If I have learned anything from all this it’s that the Church of Seiros is guilty of concealing the truth, most likely  to its own benefit. And I happen to take that personally. I won’t tell and I assume you won’t tell either.”

Claude smirked and put the file securely under his arm. “You have my sincere gratitude, Edelgard. If it hadn’t been for you I would have left here empty-handed.”

“Ditto. How was summer camp?”

“Oh, terrific. As I understand it there was snooping in a diary which lead to an argument which lead to another argument involving another group of campers which culminated in a pitiful attempt at a physical altercation. Bodes well for the hike tomorrow.”

“Rather you than me. In any case, I still have some work to do.”

“Seriously, don’t overdo it,” Claude said from the door. “Good night.”

*

“So tell me, Byleth. If you want to make a call to Leicester, which number to you press first?”

Byleth was staring the phone in front of her. Everything was so confusing. Some numbers you had to dial by hand, for others you just pressed a button. A landline was different from a mobile phone because one had buttons and the others didn’t, or at least not really. And depending on where you wanted to call you had to input special numbers first or the call would not get to its intended recipient. Leicester, Leicester…

“It’s five?”

“Yes, it’s five. Well done, Byleth. So you see it’s not that difficult after all. With some practice you’ll get used to it. Do you want to go over the internet now or do you want to take a break?” Flayn was hoping for a break, explaining to Byleth what she had learned over decades was tiring. Byleth said she’d like to learn about the inter-net. Flayn started by correcting her pronunciation.

“It’s one word, stress on the first syllable, you have to get that right.”

“Fine, the internet. I heard that it’s like an oracle you can ask questions and it will find answers for you. And you can order things there too. How does that work?”

“OK, slow down. I guess I should start by saying that the internet is a fascinating place, but it can be also dangerous. Here at the monastery the internet access is limited so we can see only certain parts of it. It’s like a library with restricted access.”

At the comparison Byleth raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything else. Flayn really tried her best to tell her everything there was to know but Byleth could hardly wait for the moment Flayn sat her down in front of the computer. At first she was underwhelmed.

“This is the internet? It’s so empty.”

“What is something you’d like to know? I can type it in for you.”

Byleth didn’t have to think long. “Ask it who the current archbishop of the church is.”

With great interest Byleth watched Flayn press the buttons and the letters that appeared on the screen. Then she clicked on the ‘mouse’ and the image on the screen changed.

“That’s her?” Byleth asked and got up from the chair to take a closer look at the picture.

“Yes. I have met her briefly, she’s a kind soul. She’s only been in office for a few years.”

“Hmm.” Byleth sat down again.

“Can we ask it about myself?”

Flayn hemmed and hawed for a bit until Byleth barked at her to ask the internet already.

“I don’t think we’ll find anything with your name, Byleth.”

“Why? I am one of the most important archbishops in history.”

“Because the names of the people in medieval times have been lost,” Flayn explained in a low voice. Before Byleth could say anything Flayn continued. “What is known about you is that you were the  45^th archbishop of the Church of Seiros, the very same one that crowned the Saviour King in 1185. Your name is not recorded in public documents, records with your name have been confiscated by the church.”

“Why?”

Flayn sighed and leaned in until her lips were right next to Byleth. “Because immortals should remain anonymous at all times. Also if the love letters between you and the Saviour King were found it would have caused problems. After all the story of the happy marriage between him and his queen is very popular, even today.” Flayn sat back down and continued at a normal volume. “Also people these days are in constant fights about how those ancient names were supposed to be transcribed and pronounced because they don’t have any reference points anymore. Edelgard and Dimitri just happen to be very, very common names that have survived. You should see the roster for the summer camp, there’s four Dimitris with varying spelling and five girls with Edelgard variant names: Ethel, Ettelgard, Adalgard, Adagarth and my personal favourite, Adalgardl. Last year we had two campers called Eldel.”

“Those poor children,” Byleth said deadpan. “What about Claude?”

“If I remember correctly there was an incredibly popular film with a protagonist called Claude a few decades ago. It was a woman but people didn’t care. After a deluge of Claudes of all genders it’s an uncommon name these days. All this to say, everyone will know who you’re talking about if you use the common sobriquets.”

Byleth leaned back in her chair and folded her arms, ever so slightly chewing on her bottom lip. Flayn didn’t know what she was moping about but knew better than to ask. The dressing-down she had received last night was enough for a while.

“I saw on the TV that people who do crimes have to appear in front of a judge who will send them to prison for life. Can we do that to Edelgard?”

Flayn put her hands in her lap. “We would have to reveal what she stole and where from, so that’s not an option. Now if she stole something that was clearly the church’s property…”

Flayn was interrupted by her walkie-talkie. She answered the call and waited.

“Flayn, Seteth is not in his room anymore. We’re looking for him. Do you have an idea where he might be?”

“He can’t have gone too far. I’ll come to help and look. If you find him, please be kind and gentle.”

“Of course. We’ll keep you posted.”

Byleth who had heard everything got up immediately. “Don’t worry, Flayn. We will find him. Come, let’s hurry.”

Flayn wiped away the tears with her sleeve and got up as well. Despite Byleth’s anger towards Flayn she took Flayn’s hand and didn’t let go of it, not even after they had reached the monastery. It was busy that day, tourists and believers filled the corridors and made it difficult to move fast. Eventually Flayn was alerted that Seteth was at the goddess tower.

“He’s just standing there talking to himself.”

“I’m on my way.”

*

Chapter Text

It didn’t take them long to reach the goddess tower. The once impressive structure had fallen into disrepair which Byleth thought a great shame.

“Seteth!” Flayn walked up to him. Seteth immediately grabbed her and held her close. When he saw Byleth he urgently waved her over.

“Seteth, what’s the matter?” Byleth asked.

“They’re attacking the monastery! Can’t you see their thunderbolts? They keep getting closer! I have to take Flayn to safety, then I will join you again to fight them back.”

It was a warm day with clear skies, no trace of any thunder anywhere. She looked around but couldn’t see anything suspicious.

“Where are you taking Flayn?” She then wanted to know. Seteth’s answer was intelligible, he was in such a panic that Byleth herself began to feel anxious. Flayn was talking to him to calm him down but with limited success. Security guards were ready to intervene but Byleth gestured at them to stay back. After all Seteth was just confused, not dangerous. Eventually Seteth calmed down enough for Flayn to slip out of his arms. She helped Seteth sit down and knelt next to him. Byleth told the security guards to leave and walked up to the pair. Seteth was pale and covered in sweat.

“Byleth, what happened?” He asked, breathing heavily.

“You got a little confused and went for a walk. Don’t worry, nothing happened. We’re all here and we’re all safe.”

His eyes darted around nervously. Flayn was trying her best to hide her tears from him. After a while he wanted to get up and Byleth pulled him on his feet. He took a few deep breaths and cleared his throat.

“Byleth, what are we doing here?”

“Nothing, we just went for a walk. You look exhausted, let’s get you back to your apartment.”

Byleth watched as he tried to remember where his apartment was. It was so pitiful a sight that she averted her eyes. From the corner of her eye Byleth noticed a weak flash. She turned her head and saw that it was one of the many lamps that illuminated the monastery, apparently day and night. What a waste, Byleth thought, having learned from Flayn that turning off the lights in a room after being the last one to leave it was not only good manners but also a way to save money. With the state the monastery was in she thought they would try and save as much money as possible.

She snapped out of it when she heard Flayn say that the monastery was a confusing place with its many hallways that looked identical. She’d show him the way and was it all right if Byleth came along? Seteth just nodded. Flayn and Byleth each took one of his hands and took him back to his apartment.

*

After they had washed and changed Seteth into clean clothes Byleth and Flayn put him to bed. He soon fell asleep. Flayn apologised for cutting their free day short but she wanted to stay with her father to make sure he was all right. Byleth understood but asked Flayn to join her in the other room for a moment.

“This cannot go on,” she told Flayn. “For our and Seteth’s sake. We should put him to rest in the Holy Mausoleum as soon as you’re ready.”

This was too much for Flayn. She couldn’t hold the tears back any longer and cried bitterly. Byleth took her in her arms and held her. Only when her sobs became softer did Byleth let go of her and looked her in the eyes.

“It won’t be today or tomorrow. Take all the time you need to say your goodbyes. Your father knows what’s ahead of him so you don’t have to burden yourself with telling him. Make the most of the time you still have and let me know when you’re ready.” Flayn, completely overwhelmed, just nodded and let Byleth kiss the top of her head. “I’ll always be there for you, Flayn. Even when I’m angry or upset, I am always there for you.”

*

One thing that Flayn had said went round and round in Byleth’s mind. Edelgard could only be punished if she had stolen something that clearly belonged to the church. As much as she hated being limited by higher powers she understood that framing Edelgard would be both an easy and quick way to punish her for her wicked ways. But from the stories on the TV she had also learned that prisons were very different from the dungeons she knew. Edelgard might get bored but she’d undoubtedly survive to tell whatever she had learned. This simply wouldn’t do, Byleth decided. She was back in Flayn’s room after she had had dinner in the dining hall by herself. With Flayn unlikely to return anytime soon Byleth used the opportunity to take matters into her own hands. Dimitri had mentioned that Edelgard had been suffering from ill health lately. If she would happen to expire unexpectedly, well… Quietly she made her way through the Old Convent until she reached Edelgard’s room. Byleth knocked at Edelgard’s door and waited. When she didn’t get an answer she grabbed the handle and tried to open the door. She was gentle at first but when nothing budged she tried it harder and harder. Locks must have become much more durable and Byleth cursed when she suddenly held the handle in her hand. In her frustration she kicked the door hard without achieving the desired effect. She folded her arms and pondered what she might try next. All her methods of punishing those who had trespassed against the Church of Seiros were useless if she couldn’t get a hold of her victim. Byleth was seriously considering going through the window from outside when she heard an indignant voice.

“Excuse me, what are you doing with my doorhandle?”

Edelgard had just returned from the bathroom freshly showered. Byleth looked at the doorhandle in her hand and cleared her throat.

“I was walking by when I saw it barely hanging on the door. I tried to push it back into place but it came off.” Byleth watched Edelgard come down the hallway. Her hair gave off a pleasant scent, much nicer than Flayn’s. Edelgard held her hand out for the handle. Byleth gave it to her.

“It wasn’t like this when I left half an hour ago,” Edelgard said and held it against the door. She glanced at Byleth who just stared back at her with her large eyes. Like a toad, Edelgard thought and narrowed her eyes a bit.

“I’ll call maintenance later, I need to rest now. Thanks.” She took her key out of her pocket and unlocked the door, a process which Byleth observed most interestedly.

“You can go now,” Edelgard told her. She did not feel comfortable opening the door with Byleth standing right there. Who knew what she might be up to.

“You rest a lot, don’t you? Dimitri told me you’ve not been feeling too well” Byleth then said.

Edelgard tightened her grip around the loose handle in her hand which did not escape Byleth. It wasn’t too late, Edelgard was scrawny and in bad health. She could still take care of her right here and now, Byleth thought to herself and shifted her weight from one foot to the other, ready to pounce. In that moment another resident came up the stairs and greeted both of them. They greeted back and the window of opportunity closed.

“I will tell you the same I have told Dimitri many times: My health is none of your business. Now why don’t you just leave me alone. I have things to do.”

“Some more reading, I presume. I have been told that you are an extraordinarily gifted scholar, unwilling to stop until you’ve found what you were looking for.”

“We can’t all give the best years of our lives to serve a dying church,” Edelgard retorted. Another resident approached them and Edelgard used the opportunity to slip inside her room while Byleth said hello. Quickly she turned the key in the lock again and plopped down on her bed. Her heart was beating so hard she felt her chest move. She listened closely if Byleth tried anything but soon she heard her talk with someone else and their voices faded away. Relieved she reached for her phone on the nightstand and sent Claude a message.

come quick.

*

Claude felt every bone in his body when he returned from the hike. Luckily it had gone well, no one got seriously hurt and there were no more fights among the campers. After everyone was accounted for Claude walked back to the Old Convent as fast as he could. He had read Edelgard’s message and hoped that it was nothing too labour-intensive. He leaned his backpack against the wall and knocked at her door. His eyes fell on the spot where the doorhandle had once been.

“Who is it?” Edelgard asked through the door. Claude identified himself and waited for Edelgard to open the door.

“You’re missing a doorhandle,” he told her as he went inside. Edelgard shushed him and pulled him as far away from the door as possible. Claude noticed that the room was unusually tidy. The haul from that underground library had been put back into the big reusable bags which were stacked on top of each other.

“Claude, something is seriously wrong with Byleth. She’s crazy.” She told him about the encounter in front of her room and the doorhandle. When he looked at her in disbelief she showed him the doorhandle. The thick screws were indeed a little bent. Whoever removed it had used extensive force.

“But why would she want to break into your room, Edelgard?”

“I think she knows. She kept saying things like she knows. I need to move the stuff out of my room in case she tries again.”

“No,” Claude said and folded his arms.

“What? Claude, we are both in trouble if this gets out.”

“OK, genius, then tell me this: Where would you have me carry it? Where on these grounds is a hiding place Byleth won’t find out about sooner than later?”

“Claude, she tried to break into my room!”

Claude sighed and looked at the load to be moved. His shoulders were already sore, if he had to lift or carry just one of these bags his arms might very well fall off.

While Edelgard was thinking of places to put the stolen documents Claude thought he heard something. He turned away from her and tiptoed towards the door. Now he heard it much more clearly. It reminded him of the sound of wild animals going through the trash at night. He waved Edelgard over and once she was close enough he pulled the door open. He was only half surprised when he saw Byleth holding his opened backpack in her hands.

“Claude, what are you doing here?” Byleth lowered his backpack.

“Why, am I not allowed here?” He countered and calmly took the backpack from her.

“You can’t leave things lying around in the hallway. Someone might steal it.” Byleth looked into the room and waved at Edelgard who was hiding behind Claude.

“Hi Edelgard. Listen, I successfully made a phone call earlier and I think someone will come to take care of your doorhandle tomorrow.”

“Thank you.” Edelgard stared at the woman who had as good as threatened her earlier in the day. She couldn’t believe that she was smiling as if nothing had happened.

“Aren’t you two cozy in there,” Byleth noted.

“If you say so. Did you need anything else?” Claude asked. Byleth shook her head and said goodbye. She turned on her heel and left. Claude closed the door again and was met with a meaningful look from Edelgard.

“Do you believe me now? She’s crazy. Will you please help me?”

Claude inspected his brand-new backpack. Some of the straps were torn and the clasps were deformed. Inside she hadn’t gotten far but made a mess anyway.

“Fine, I will help you. Where do you want it?”

Edelgard held her head in her hands and sat down on the bed. She needed a safe place with enough space where Byleth could not get to or was unlikely to. Perhaps it would be better to split the whole load up, but then she would need more hiding spots. The only real solution was to get everything off the premises. With her heels she felt one of the boxes from her birthday shopping spree. She kicked against it again and then knelt on the floor so quickly Claude thought she had fainted.

“What are you doing?” He asked when she pulled out box after box from various luxury boutiques.

“We have some unpacking to do. This way it’s less suspicious and you can carry the undoubtedly lighter stuff to my car.”

“What makes you so sure that this will work? If she manages to break into your room isn’t under your bed the first place she will search?”

“If she breaks into my room it’s over anyway. I have another idea.”

*

The shrill ringing of his phone woke Hubert from his sleep. He squinted at the screen and picked up when he saw who was calling.

“Edelgard, is everything all right?”

Edelgard on the other end apologised for the late disturbance but then moved on quickly.

“Hubert, you have to come to Garreg Mach.”

“Why? Did something happen? Are you OK?”

“I found something.”

Hubert closed his eyes again.

“What did you find?”

“Convincing proof that the lost emperor really existed. I am telling you, Hubert. I am so close but now I need your help. I’m not safe here anymore. I’m being watched.”

Hubert sat up and checked the time on his phone just to make sure that this was really happening.

“What do you mean you’re being watched? Has anyone tried to hurt you? And where did you find it? I thought you were blacklisted from working in the archive.”

“I’ll tell you when you come. When can you come?”

“I have a busy week, if I push some things around I can be there Friday morning.”

“You have to come sooner, please.”

Hubert thought about it for a moment. Edelgard wouldn’t ask him if it wasn’t important and he had full confidence in her.

 “Let me see what I can do, I will call you back in the morning.”

“Good. Come with an empty car.”

“Understood. Is there anything else?”

“No, thank you. Go back to sleep.”

“You too.”

“I haven’t gone to bed yet. I have to keep going, I have no time to waste.”

Edelgard hung up and Hubert put his phone back on the nightstand. If the proof Edelgard had found was really legit then this would cause uproar not only in in historian circles but across the continent. Although summer break had started weeks ago there were still many papers to read and grade, courses for the next semester to finalise and of course internal meetings as well as his own work which had piled up quite a bit. But then again, it was at most a long day-trip to Garreg Mach and back. Thoughts about what was awaiting Hubert at the monastery occupied his mind as he drifted back to sleep.

*

Chapter Text

After the staff meeting Hubert asked Hanneman for a moment of his time.

“Of course, Hubert. What can I do for you?”

“I had a situation come up and to deal with it I need to take the day off tomorrow. It’s urgent, professor.”

Hanneman lifted his teacup to his lips only to realise that it was empty. Quickly Hubert reached for the teapot and refilled his cup.

“Thank you. May I ask, Hubert, does this situation have anything to do with our young Edelgard at Garreg Mach?”

Hubert confirmed and Hanneman sighed. “I was worried about that. I had a rather agitated phone call from Edelgard’s father a few days ago. He didn’t make a lot of sense but from what I gathered he believes that Edelgard is in trouble because she called the family lawyer and somehow we’re the ones responsible for that.” Hanneman added some sugar to his tea and stirred it. It was possible that the old man was just having another of his manic episodes, Hubert thought, but coupled with Edelgard’s call last night the alternative was more likely. Edelgard was in some sort of trouble. Hanneman must have been thinking the same because he gave Hubert the day off.

“I have no reason to believe that Edelgard would do anything foolish or outright dangerous. But even so, she had been very down for a good while before she left on her sabbatical and now neither of us had much contact with her ever since she left. While I hope for the best and that Edelgard has an easy to solve problem I would not exclude the possibility that she herself is experiencing something of an episode. You know her better than I do, I trust you will take care of the matter. Let me know if I can do anything from here. And let Edelgard know that we are all eagerly awaiting her return.”

“I will, professor. Thank you.”

“How will you get there?”

“By car. Edelgard explicitly requested an empty car.”

“Hmm.” With that Hanneman ended the conversation and sipped on his tea. Hubert took his things and nodded at the old professor before leaving. After the door to the conference room had closed Hanneman leaned back in his chair and looked at the facsimile world map on the opposite wall. It showed the continent anno 1000, the original once a gift to the Adrestian emperor at the time to celebrate the millennial anniversary of the empire’s founding. So much had changed since then and yet… And yet.

*

“And you have no idea how this happened?” A member of the maintenance staff looked at Edelgard. When she just quietly shook her head he didn’t ask any further questions; the young woman looked as if she hadn’t slept in days. “It won’t take long but I’ll have to use my power drill for a minute or so. Afterwards the door will be good as new and you can sleep soundly again.” Edelgard nodded and let him close the door on her so he could work. She had waited all day for this repair, she had even doubted that Byleth had made the call but now she was already breathing a little easier. With another person right there she felt safe enough to continue writing the brief summary of the materials she had already sighted. If anyone could make sense of all this it was Hubert and the others at the Institute. She was writing down recommendations and ideas when the maintenance staff member knocked and reported that the handle was back in place and if she needed anything else before he left. Edelgard thanked him and he left again. She got up from her chair in order to lock the door but that didn’t agree with her body. As if in slow motion her legs gave way and she fell on the floor face first. Defeated she lay there for a while, the boxes spilling out from under her bed at her eye level. She didn’t have the strength to push herself up but lying on her stomach made it even harder for her to breathe. ‘You’re pathetic’ she thought to herself and closed her eyes. For the first time ever since her health began to decline she accepted the truth that it was time to seek medical care. If she couldn’t get up anymore then she would have just traded one room for another. She was trapped in both but in the other one she would at least have a fighting chance. If it wasn’t too late. After all, what was the point of getting so far only to not make it to the finish line? No, she needed to see the faces of all those who had belittled her in the past when she would stand on stage at the next conference. She’d show them and then some.

Edelgard groaned with gritted teeth and opened her eyes again. If she needed to go slower she would go slower. If she needed to rest she would rest. She pushed herself up with both hands until she was sitting upright and then she pulled herself up using the desk. Once she was sure she wouldn’t collapse again she slowly walked to the door and locked it. Edelgard lay down on her bed and took her phone from the nightstand. Claude had texted her that he would move the boxes after dinner. She texted back and with her phone in hand then fell into a deep sleep. When she was woken up hours later by loud knocking at her door she believed for a moment that Byleth was about to come in. She shrieked and dropped her phone on the floor.

“Edelgard, come on, open the door.” It was Claude. Edelgard took a deep breath and sat up.

“One moment!” To not repeat her graceless fall from the afternoon she braced herself before getting up. She unlocked and opened the door.

“Goodness, Edelgard, what happened to your face?” Claude asked in a low voice.

“I fell,” she said and reached up to her face. There was a big bump over her left eye and patch that burned when she touched it.

“Why don’t you go and get some ice from the kitchen? I have to make a phone call and I don’t know how long that is going to take but if you give me the key to the car I will take care of it when I’m ready,” he suggested. Edelgard nodded handed him the key fob to her car. Downstairs she ran into Flayn who was preparing popcorn in the microwave for her TV night. She gasped when she saw Edelgard and immediately asked if she was all right. As Edelgard told her about her fall she began to prepare an ice pack for her. Somehow Flayn seemed more relieved than Edelgard when she put the ice pack on the bump.

“We all tumble from time to time. Important is that we keep getting back up,” Flayn said and returned to her popcorn. Edelgard leaned against the counter pressing the ice pack against her face.

“So, what have you been up to lately? Since you have been graduated from the archives?” Flayn asked in passing.

“Not a lot. I haven’t been feeling well so I am resting a lot these days. How about you, is everything going well at the summer camp?”

“Oh, you know, it’s always a bit difficult in the first few days. Teenagers in a new place with new people, they need a few days to adapt. Didn’t Claude tell you?”

Edelgard watched Flayn sprinkle various spices on top of her popcorn.

“He must have. What are you watching tonight?”

“Mhm, Byleth and I are watching this new reality-TV show. She’s been waiting all day for this. Would you like to join us?”

“No, I should lie down. Thank for the ice pack. Enjoy your TV show.”

“Good night!” Flayn said and took her bowl of popcorn and carried it over to the common room where Byleth was sprawled on the sofa. Flayn set the bowl on the coffee table and sat down.

“So Edelgard looks like someone hit her,” Flayn said and glanced at Byleth who had grabbed a handful of popcorn and dropped one after the other into her mouth.

“Don’t look at me, I didn’t do anything. And that handle came off way too easily, I barely touched it,” she said between bites.

Flayn bit her tongue not to mention the confused call she had gotten from the maintenance staff to confirm the requested service. While Byleth had managed to make the phone call she apparently had been shouting the entire time. Then the intro of their programme came on and Flayn got as comfortable as she managed entangled in Byleth’s legs. During a commercial break Byleth got up to use the bathroom and just saw Claude leaving through the main entrance with two large bags. She hid behind a wall and waited. It didn’t take him long to return without the bags. He was whistling a tune and playing with what Byleth recognised as the thing that made Edelgard’s car go.

“Byleth, the break’s over!”

“I’m coming, just a moment!” Byleth made a mental note and remembered that she needed to use the bathroom. Another thing that was far more comfortable now than it was before. On her way back she heard Flayn clap her hands excitedly.

“Flayn, what did I miss? What did I miss?!”

*

After the programme was over Flayn took a little bag packed with essentials and said goodnight to Byleth. She wanted to spend the night in her father’s apartment on the pull-out couch.

“You remember how the alarm clock works, right? Just tap it to make it stop, but not too hard, please. It’s new,” Flayn explained.

“Yes, yes, I remember. Do you have everything you need?”

Flayn nodded, handed Byleth the room key and left. Byleth played with the key, running her finger across its teeth as she waited for enough time to pass. It was true that she hadn’t considered the car as the hiding place for the stolen materials. Perhaps it was the novelty of it, perhaps she just hadn’t yet fully returned to her former form. Well, she thought, now was as good a time as any. She put the key in her pocket and went outside. Byleth had been in awe of Edelgard’s car the first time she saw it, but then again it was the first car she had ever seen up close. Now she saw the car as an extravagance and compared to the other cars next to it unnecessarily large. She approached the car and walked around it, looking inside. There they were, bags bulging with what must be the stolen goods. Triumphantly Byleth tried to open the door only to fail.

“What magic is this, why are all the locks so hard to open?” Byleth muttered and pulled so hard on the handle that the car shook a bit. It didn’t take her long to lose her patience. Before long she found decently sized rock nearby, picked it up and used it to smash the window. In that moment the car began to scream and light up in all sorts of colours inside and outside. Startled she dropped the rock and reached into the car and into one of the bags. To her surprise she pulled out a stunning shoe with a very thin and high heel. Another glance at the bag revealed more shoes and bags along with a shiny piece of fabric with elaborate motifs on it. The stolen books were not there. Quickly she pulled her arm out, getting it caught on the ragged shards. As fast as she managed barefoot on the gravel she went back to the entrance. Alerted by the blaring alarm a few people had come outside, among them also Claude. Byleth blended in with the group as they went outside to check, her arms folded firmly. She could feel that there were some shards still in her arm. Once the damaged car came into view people gasped and took pictures with their phones. Claude turned the alarm off and inspected the damage. As he walked around the car his eyes met Byleth’s. It was brief but long enough for Byleth to know that he knew, either part of it or all of it.

“All right folks, I am going to call the police, you can all go to bed,” Claude announced. The group slowly walked back to the entrance, talking amongst each other. Byleth followed behind them, looking over her shoulder as she walked away.

“Who would do this?”

“It must have been someone from here right?”

“Well, it is a rich people car. It’s prideful and vain to even just own such a vehicle, not to mention its impact on the climate. An Adrestian plate too, typical.”

“Maybe something happened to a deserving person for once.”

They laughed and went back inside. Once in her room Byleth threw the key on the nightstand and sat down at the small vanity to inspect the damage. The wounds weren’t deep but she was not looking forward to pulling the little shards out. She would have to ask Flayn to do it for her. But even worse than her injury was the fact that Edelgard was still one step ahead of her. Having failed twice to try and catch Edelgard in the socially accepted way she was no longer interested in trying. She knew the truth and that was enough. And if Claude was involved to such a degree then she would have to eliminate him as well. Sooner than later.

*

The next morning Edelgard was woken up by loud knocking on her wall.

“Miss von Hresvelg, are you there? Garreg Mach Police here, I would like to speak to you.”

“W-What?” Edelgard pushed herself up and looked at her phone which was full with messages.

“Miss von Hresvelg, can you hear me?”

She reached for her dressing gown and only had one arm in it when she opened the door.

A police officer met her with a friendly face. Suddenly Edelgard realised that if they would search her room for any reason she would have no explanation for what they would find.

“Good morning, Miss von Hresvelg. We received a call last night about your car being broken into,  from a certain Claude von Riegan. Do you know this person?”

“Yes. I’m sorry, what happened to my car?”

The police officers checked his notepad.

“It was broken into last night. Didn’t you hear anything last night? My colleague is collecting statements from the other residents as we speak.”

“No, I… I have been unwell lately, I must have slept right through it. Was anything stolen?”

“We would need you to confirm this, but Mister von Riegan stated on the phone that he didn’t think anything was missing. If you are at all able, would you like to come downstairs and take a look? I’ll wait until you’re dressed.”

Edelgard closed the door and went to look out of her window. She had to crane her neck a bit to see her car but apart from a third policeman taking pictures she couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. It must have happened on the other side. With a funny feeling in her stomach she properly put on her dressing gown and slipped into a pair of slides to go outside. The policeman who went with her was polite and opened the front door for Edelgard. Approaching from that side she could see the damage done to her car.

“Oh my goodness,” she said and took a closer look.

“I think whoever did this used this rock,” the other policeman said and pointed at the rock on the gravel before taking pictures of it.

Edelgard stepped onto the step to look inside.

“I don’t think anything is missing.”

“Suspect probably got scared after the alarm went off,” the first policeman said and his colleague agreed.

“All right then. If you’ll give me your personal details I will keep you updated on how the investigation’s going but between you and me, I saw that the summer camp is happening right now. It is entirely possible that some youths were up to no good last night. We can ask around but unless you insist on having forensic analyses done to your car it’s unlikely we find any evidence, and even then changes might be slim. How would you like to proceed?”

Edelgard put her hands in the pockets of her dressing gown and thought about it. Then she thanked the policemen for their efforts but she would just accept this as it was.

“I completely understand. Nothing is missing and it looks like a straightforward repair, if a costly one. I would suggest getting in touch with your insurance, can’t hurt. Let me walk you back to the building, I have to collect my other colleague.”

He gave Edelgard a card with the number to call in case she had any questions or wanted to add something. His colleague soon emerged from the common room putting away his little notepad. They said their goodbyes and left. Still in shock Edelgard went back to her room and picked up her phone. Her messages from last night were mainly from Claude asking if she was awake, informing her of what had happened and that he had called the police and to be ready for them the next morning. The other messages were from Hubert telling her that he was on his way and the estimated time of arrival.

*

Once again Hubert had cleared his car out to make room for Edelgard’s things. He didn’t know what he was going to bring back so he made sure to remove everything that wasn’t legally required or absolutely necessary, like a bag of Adrestian snacks for Edelgard. With the sunrise he left the city of Enbarr and got on the motorway to Fhirdiad where he would take the only road leading to Garreg Mach Monastery. To keep him some company he turned on the radio and listened to some music. Once he reached the border to Faerghus he lost reception and the radio automatically changed to a new station. A talk show was on with listeners calling in to make suggestions for activities for families with children who were staying at home for the summer holidays. Around noon he stopped to fill up the tank and to have lunch. He avoided the sketchy looking sandwiches at the petrol station and instead ordered a few meat pies from a food truck. He ate one and saved the rest for Edelgard. According to the satnav traffic was light and he would arrive at Garreg Mach Monastery in a few hours which he relayed to her over text. He immediately received a response telling him to hurry. As much as he was looking forward to seeing Edelgard again he felt a little uneasy about what would await him.

*

Chapter Text

Flayn’s night had been short and restless. Her father was restless and tried to leave the apartment multiple times, one time he even got to the end of the hallway outside. Each time it got harder to convince him to go back to bed. One time he was convinced he had to teach a seminar, another time he wanted to go on patrol to make sure everything was as it should. Even worse he kept talking about things that had happened in the past. One time he loudly called out Rhea’s name, reminding her about one religious ceremony or another rite to be performed. In her desperation Flayn eventually blocked the door to his bedroom with a chair under the handle. This was enough to give her about an hour of uninterrupted sleep. When it was time for her to get up she removed the chair and checked on her father. Seteth was sitting on his bed, rubbing his face.

“Father, in a few moments a sister will come to stay with you for the day. Do you want to change clothes or would you like to lie down and rest?”

Seteth looked up. His eyes were bloodshot and the skin underneath was greyish in colour.

“Flayn, what are you doing here? Did something happen?”

Encouraged by his lucidity Flayn sat down next to him and took his hand.

“Father, how are you feeling?”

“Tired. And you must be, too. What’s the matter, are you not feeling well? You can tell me anything that bothers you. Why are you crying?”

Flayn quickly ran the back of her hand over her eyes and smiled.

“I’m just so happy I get to talk to you again like this. You have not been yourself lately.”

Seteth quietly rubbed the back of her hand thinking about what Flayn had just said.

“What have I been like then?”

Reluctantly Flayn told him, slowly at first and then so fast she stumbled over her own words. When she got to Byleth’s reawakening he stopped her.

“So I didn’t imagine that. How is she?”

“Adjusting to the current times. But I worry I may have made a mistake asking for her help, but I didn’t know what else to do. I’m not ready for you to leave me.”

What her father said next surprised Flayn. “Perhaps it’s for the better, Flayn. I appear to have caused you and others so much trouble. With Byleth here to look after you I feel I can leave in peace. You will be all right, Flayn. You’ve grown so much.”

Flayn burst into tears and hugged her father. He put his arm around her and held her.

“I’m sorry I kept you from going out in the world. Once I’m gone I want you to leave this place and explore the world. I’m sure with Byleth you will always have a place to come home to.”

Flayn didn’t want to waste precious time telling him about her doubts about Byleth’s fitness as Garreg Mach Monastery’s guardian. Not knowing how long he would remain lucid she told him about the things she’d like to do one day. Reveal her ears, get them pierced, maybe even get a tattoo. Go to university, work as a barista. Visiting places abroad via airplane and experiencing new cultures. As she spoke she felt her father’s body increasingly leaning on her. She asked him if he was tired and he nodded. Tenderly she put him to bed, tucked him in and sat with him until he fell asleep. With his eyes already closed he said one more thing.

“No one loves Garreg Mach more than Byleth. You need to find your own love. Even if it will only last for a few decades. The years I got to spend with your mother were my happiest. I sincerely wish same for you.”

“If I find someone who will live up to your standards,” Flayn said, chewing her bottom lip to try to stop the tears from rolling down. “Right, Daddy?”

Seteth moved his lips but no sound came out. Flayn sat with him until the nun acting as day nurse let herself into the apartment. Flayn put his hand under the covers, tucked him in again and kissed him goodbye.

“He had a difficult night but he has fallen asleep now,” she told the nun who was unpacking her bag.

“I see. Do you want the breakfast I brought? We’re having lunch delivered from the dining hall and I already ate.”

“Thank you, that’s kind of you. I have to get ready now. As usual if you need anything I am always nearby, just give me a call.”

“Don’t worry, Flayn. I brought plenty of things to distract him with. And while he’s sleeping I will tidy up a bit. You just go and make sure everyone is having a great time at summer camp.”

*

Hubert pulled up to Garreg Mach Monastery and was approached by a security guard.

“I am here to visit someone at the Old Convent,” he told the guard who then advised him which road to take. Hubert had only visited the monastery twice, once as a child on a holiday and then again on a two-day excursion as a university student. He had never been much interested in the place or its history. He drove slowly until he the Old Convent came into view. He didn’t see a dedicated area for visitors so he parked his car a bit further back. Before he got out of the car he rang Edelgard to let her know that he was here. She said she would come down right away and minutes later she was jogging across the gravel wearing only her dressing gown. She threw herself into his arms and held onto him for dear life.

“Hubert, thank goodness you’re finally here.”

Hubert hugged her back and was shocked by how frail she had become. When he saw the big bruise on her face he feared the worst.

“Were you attacked? Who did this?”

“No one. I fell, Hubert. I got up too fast and was seeing stars one moment and the next I was on the floor. It looks worse than it feels.”

Hubert was not fully convinced but didn’t insist. Edelgard suggested getting back in the car which they did. In the privacy of Hubert’s car she told him everything. How she was locked out from the archives, the trip through the wall and down the near endless stairs to the library, Byleth who had torn off her doorhandle. Words came out of her like water came down a waterfall. Some things were out of order, she stumbled over her own words and the more she talked the redder her face got. Eventually she choked on her own spit. Hubert rubbed her shoulder as she coughed, trying to make sense of everything she had just told him. Perhaps Hanneman had been right in his assumption that Edelgard was going through an episode of mental illness. He had never seen her so hyper. Edelgard caught her breath and leaned into Hubert.

“Last night, I am pretty sure this crazy woman broke into my car.”

“What?”

“She broke the windows of my car and the police were called. I learned all this after the fact, I slept through it but… My car is right over there we can go and take a look at it later.”

“Edelgard, why would she want to break into your car?”

“Because she thinks that’s where the stuff is we brought up from that underground library. I am telling you, she will try to break into my room again. That’s why I asked you here: to take the stuff away for good. It’s in my room. It’s a lot but it’s worth it, I promise.”

Hubert put his hand on Edelgard’s knee and asked her to take a couple of deep breaths. When she was done she fell back into the seat and looked at him.

“I have missed you, Hubert. You remind me of a time in my life everything was still normal and sane.”

“I have missed you too, Edelgard. And I am concerned about your health. You don’t look well at all.”

“I know. As soon as I get back to Enbarr I will get it checked out. I promise.”

“You shouldn’t wait until then. You know what, why don’t you pack your things and come back with me to Enbarr today. You can rest, I’ll do all the driving and then I’ll come back to take care of your car. Please think about it. In the meantime…” He reached behind the passenger seat and pulled out the bag with snacks from back home.

“Oh, I haven’t had these in forever!” Edelgard said and pulled out a packet of crisps. “Flavour is considered a threat to the people of Faerghus, I am telling you.” It made Hubert happy to see Edelgard eat the crisps with such relish. For the first time since he had arrived she was calm and smiling.

*

Wearing a long-sleeved shirt Byleth went looking for Flayn. She found her in the field kitchen showing the campers how to prepare a freshly caught fish. She noticed that some of the campers could barely stand the sight, one’s complexion had even turned slightly green. Admirably though every single camper was still standing, if a little wobbly. Byleth waited in the background until Flayn handed the fish to the cooks who took care of cooking it.

“Byleth, what can I do for you?” Flayn asked, wiping her hands dry on a towel.

“I need you to take a look at my arm. I got hurt. Please don’t ask how, you’ll find out soon enough.”

Flayn frowned and told Byleth to wait behind the tent. She grabbed the first aid kit from the field kitchen and followed her. Byleth had already taken off her shirt revealing the wound.

“Are those shards?” Flayn asked upon closer inspection.

“Just pull them out and work your magic.”

Flayn washed the wound with disinfectant and using a pair of sterile single-use tweezers carefully pulled out the shards she could see. Byleth didn’t wince, instead she impatiently tapped her foot on the ground. She only stopped when Flayn put on the bandage right away, skipping the white magic.

“Flayn, didn’t you forget something? Where’s the magic?”

Flayn told her to hold still and continued wrapping her arm. When she was done she explained that in her experience using white magic caused more harm than it did good.

“Not medically, of course. But people tend to get freaked out when their gaping wounds are just healed. There are bound to be questions and I don’t want to answer any of them. Besides, today’s medicine has evolved so much. Did you know that young people in university get to cut up real dead bodies to learn more about the organs and such? And when someone has tumours growing they can make it go away with special treatment. There’s machines that allow doctors and others to see inside the human body while the patient is still alive. It’s fascinating stuff.”

“What?” Byleth ran her hand over the bandage. The material felt different from the cloth bandages she was used to but it was not unpleasant. “I thought that’s just on the TV.”

“No, it’s true. I went to hospital with a camper who broke her arm and on the film you could see where the bone had broken into two. Anyway, is there anything else I can help you with? I have to get back.”

Byleth put the shirt back on and Flayn closed the kit.

“Flayn, when can I have a phone without the cord and buttons? Or one of those portable internet machines. I’m bored.”

“The mobile phone will be a little tricky since you don’t have a legal ID yet. I am waiting to hear back about that so it may be here sooner rather than later. We can order you a notebook tonight if you like. We’ll let the church pay for it, after all it’s a work expense. In the meantime just use mine.”

Someone from the kitchen tent called Flayn.

“That must be the fish ready. I’ll see you tonight, Byleth.”

Flayn left and Byleth decided to take a walk around the camp site to see what the young people were up to. They all would have failed miserably back then; burdens on others, holding them back. But watching them fail here and now was entertaining. At the weaving station she saw Claude who was overseeing that activity sitting on a large log. She waved at him. When he saw it he gestured at her to come closer.

“This looks like fun,” Byleth said. The instructor had just detected an error and had the campers undo the last few rows.

“It certainly passes the time. Wild thing what happened to Edelgard’s car last night, right?”

Byleth stayed cool. “Yes, very wild. Who would do that. It will be so expensive to repair.”

“That’s what insurance is for, they’ll take care of it eventually. Edelgard slept through the entire ruckus, can you believe it?”

“How did she take the news?” Byleth wanted to know. Claude looked left and right before taking out his smartphone and showing Byleth their chat. Byleth found it difficult to read on such a small screen and was a little disoriented at first as to what was happening where. Once she read the first few words things became clearer. Judging from Edelgard’s message she was more annoyed than shocked or scared.

“Is that a tongue?” Byleth asked when she saw the emoji she had used.

“Yep, she seems to be in a good mood. She mentioned her friend from Enbarr was coming to visit her today.”

Claude put his phone away again and got up. A large bug had gotten onto the loom and the campers were unsure of how to get rid of it.

“Maybe I should go and check how Edelgard is doing later,” Byleth said loudly over the commotion around the loom.

“Tell her I said hi!” Claude shouted back. He had rolled up his sleeves to remove the bug without staining the cloth.

*

Hubert was looking at the contents of one of the boxes. With his trained eye he could tell immediately that these were genuine documents. He couldn’t make sense of the story how Edelgard had gotten them but that was not important right now.

“I need you to take these back to Enbarr. I have to warn you though. I spoke to my family lawyer and he said that I most certainly have committed theft and by helping me move these, you too, are committing a crime.”

Hubert shrugged and thumbed through the contents of the box before him.

“The disciplines of history, archaeology and anthropology not only closely related, they are also partly built on stolen goods. This merely puts us up there with the greats. Who wouldn’t want that.”

Edelgard smiled and opened another packet of crisps. Hubert closed the box and turned to Edelgard. “I believe I can fit everything in my car. Have you thought about coming back with me?”

“I can’t pack everything up today. Also there’s the issue of my broken car.”

“Have one of your family’s people take care of it for you. You’re not being lazy, you are in bad health. Don’t play the hero now, you’ve done enough."

Edelgard stuck another crisp in her mouth and sat down on the bed. She had missed the food from home. Besides, now she would have plenty to do and with this amount of potential evidence she was bound to receive any research grant she applied for. “You’re right, it’s for the best. But I still can’t leave today. I’d like to say some goodbyes.”

“Fine. I will find a hotel and take you home tomorrow.”

“No, Hubert. You have to go today. We managed to trick that crazy woman once, I’m not sure she’d fall for that twice. Between you and me we should have at least one roadworthy car.” She put the crisp packet on her nightstand and wiped the crumbs off her face. “Come, have a seat and tell me what I missed in Enbarr.”

*

Edelgard and Hubert talked for hours about this and that, only interrupted by another of Edelgard’s nosebleeds. Hubert watched slightly horrified while Edelgard assured him that she was all right. Nothing about this seemed right to Hubert but he didn’t want to upset her any further with his worrying. He watched as tissue after tissue slowly soaked up the blood while Edelgard got paler and paler.

“Hubert, you have to cross-check the emperor’s children’s birth and death dates. The year we are looking for is anywhere between 1155 and 1165, probably closer to the latter. A healthy child that would have attended the Officers Academy in 1180 and died in 1185.” Edelgard told him.

“That shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“Just don’t believe everything you read. There was an Adrestian prince, we just have to find him.”

“And then?” Hubert asked the question that had been on his mind the entire drive to Garreg Mach Monastery. “We find him, the lost emperor becomes established as the last legitimate ruler of the Adrestian Empire, and then?”

Edelgard looked at him. “And then I was right. Every person deserves to have their story told, don’t you think? Especially when some people worked so hard to erase it from history. And it will piss off the majority of Faerghus’s scholars, that’s always an added bonus.”

“You raise some valid points. I will do my best to support you.”

“I know, you always do. Ah, see, it’s stopped.” Edelgard got up and threw the tissues into the bin. Some of it had still gotten on her hands so she asked Hubert to unlock the door so she could go and wash them. “In the meantime you can look at the other boxes. There are some maps and illustrations I think you would enjoy. There’s also a few things about Pegasi.”

“I must see that right away.” He opened the door for her and once she was gone he made a phone call. As usual he had to wait for a while, the telephone had a very low priority for the old man. He had to call two more times before an exasperated Hanneman answered.

“Who is interrupting my afternoon reading session?”

“Professor, it’s Hubert. I’m at Garreg Mach Monastery right now.”

“Ah. How is young Edelgard? Were our worries justified?”

“No, sir. Edelgard has made a potential groundbreaking discovery. I wanted to ask you to clear your day tomorrow. You’ll want to take a look at this.”

Hanneman on the other end was silent for a moment. He was probably weighing the disturbance of his packed schedule against the potential benefit of it. Hubert could hear him set down a teacup on its saucer. “If you say so then I shall. Don’t make me regret it, Hubert.”

“You won’t be, professor. Thank you.”

*

Chapter Text

Edelgard carried the lighter boxes to Hubert’s car. In the time it took her to make one trip Hubert did two, carrying far heavier loads. In his usual meticulous way he arranged the boxes so they fit into the car without having to secure them too much. Proud of his work he closed the boot lid and turned to Edelgard. Despite the warm weather her lips had a blueish tinge.

“I really wish you would come home with me today,” he said one last time.

“I made it this far, I’ll make it another day,” she said and rubbed her arms over the sleeves of her sweater.

Since he couldn’t convince her to come back he instead made her promise that she would leave the next day.

“If not I’ll just come back and get you myself.”

“You would. Thank you so much, Hubert. You don’t know what weight has been lifted off of me. I may have started this but I trust that you will bring it over the finish line.”

“Don’t say that. By the time we’ve sighted, read and documented everything you’ll be better again.”

Edelgard took a step toward him and gave him a long hug. Hubert looked down on the top of her head and noticed a reddish spot shining through her hair. Carefully he ran his fingers over it, prompting Edelgard to ask what he was doing.

“Nothing, there was some fuzz. Will you move back in your father’s house? Don’t forget to give him a call in advance.”

“Not that it would make a difference to him whether I’m there or not. Drive safely, Hubert. Let me know when you’ve arrived. That will help me leave more easily.”

She let go of him and watched him get into his car. Just as he pulled away Byleth walked up to Edelgard.

“Good afternoon,” Edelgard greeted her curtly.

“Good afternoon to you too. Was that your friend? Claude mentioned he was coming. He says hi.”

Edelgard folded her arms tucking her hands away. Now Byleth was here she felt even colder. When Edelgard didn’t reply Byleth changed the topic to her car.

“What are you going to do about the car?”

“I haven’t decided yet. It sort of feels sullied now.”

“It’s a terrible feeling, isn’t it? When you think something that was safe is suddenly violated like that?”

They locked eyes and in that moment Edelgard realised that somehow Byleth knew about everything, and probably even more. Only more reason to get out of here as fast as possible. In a swift move Byleth stepped forward and grabbed a handful of Edelgard’s hair. After a kick against her legs Edelgard lost her footing. She stumbled but Byleth kept her from falling to the floor by holding her by the hair. She cried out and swatted at Byleth’s arm but to no avail. With every kick to get into an upright position it hurt even more so she stopped moving altogether.

“How dare you stick your nose into other people’s business. Don’t you enjoy living in this peaceful world? A world created by the Saviour King for everyone, even those who were against him?”

“Certainly not peaceful for those who were killed on his orders,” Edelgard cried.

“They were obstacles to the future he envisioned. He did it for the greater good. He loved his people and his people loved him. You should be grateful you got to experience his legacy. Instead you try and destroy it.”

So Edelgard wouldn’t get used to the tension Byleth shook her a little. She cried out again.

“I’ll deal with you as I have dealt with you before, Edelgard. I will not allow you to desecrate this holy place any longer. But before I do that you will tell me where you hid my most precious treasure.”

“Your what?”

“The contents of my king’s altar. Where are they?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about!” Edelgard cried and tried once again to free herself.

“Liar!” Byleth hissed and shook her again. “I will find them one way or another but if you tell me where they are I promise to make it quick.”

Distressed Edelgard repeated she had no idea what Byleth was talking about. Why was she talking about an altar and not the underground library? Suddenly Byleth let go of Edelgard and she fell into the gravel. She choked on the dust and coughed.

“You’re so clumsy,” Edelgard heard Byleth say in a soft voice. She gently pulled her up and patted the dust off of her clothes. Edelgard’s scalp was pulsating, her hairs felt as if every single one was standing up.

“Byleth, Edelgard, what happened?” It was Flayn who had temporarily excused herself from the summer camp. After Flayn had heard from Claude that Byleth had gone to see Edelgard she had gotten a bad feeling. From further away she had only seen Byleth holding on to Edelgard before the latter fell down so she wasn’t sure if she had interrupted something serious.

“Edelgard tripped and fell,” Byleth explained. Uncertain about whether Flayn was on Byleth’s side Edelgard didn’t try to correct the statement.

“Oh dear, again?” Flayn looked at Edelgard who was avoiding her. “Edelgard, would you like me to organise transport to the hospital for you? You should get seen by a doctor, all this falling down cannot be normal.”

“I am fine, thank you. Are you going back to the summer camp? I’m coming with you. I need to move a little.” Edelgard stood next to Flayn, as far away from Byleth as possible.

“Sure. Byleth, are you coming as well?”

“No, I have other things to do. Why don’t you have dinner with us tonight? We could use this opportunity to finally get to know each other a little better.”

“I’ll see how I’ll feel,” Edelgard said. Her heart was beating hard but for once it didn’t make Edelgard uncomfortable. The opposite, she almost felt euphoric that she had just escaped whatever situation she had been in. Byleth and Flayn exchanged a few more words before Flayn put her hand on Edelgard’s forearm.

“Come, the campers are putting on plays. I love watching them fall apart during the romance scenes. You’ll have a good laugh, I promise.” Gently she took Edelgard away, looking over her shoulder once to see Byleth starring daggers at them both.

*

“F-Fair maiden, the words flow from my quill onto the paper before me at the mere thought of you…”

Flayn and Edelgard quietly walked around the back of the outdoor theatre and sat down on some empty chairs. The teenagers on stage were wearing colourful costumes, some reading their lines from the palm of their sweaty hands. The audience laughed and cheered and applauded whenever a scene was over. Edelgard clapped along with the others but her mind was elsewhere. Her scalp was sore and there was nothing she could do to make it feel better even just for a moment. At least the pain distracted her from the things Byleth had said. Obviously there was a big misunderstanding, but one so serious there was no telling what Byleth might do to get justice in her eyes. But how did she know in the first place? Edelgard barely registered what was happening around her. She only snapped out of it when Flayn touched her shoulder.

“Edelgard, are you sure you’re all right?”

“I’m sorry, it’s been a rough couple of days.”

Flayn rested her hand on her shoulder and leaned in a bit.

“Byleth is not a bad person. She just feels everything so passionately. I’m terribly sorry if she offended you in some way or…”

“Who is she? Is she a relative of yours?” Edelgard then wanted to know.

“You could say that, we sort of grew up together. We were very close but then she left to work abroad for a while. She lives and breathes to serve the church. Did something happen between you two earlier?”

Edelgard felt unsettled by Flayn’s calm demeanour. Either she really didn’t know or she was trying to intimidate her. “I don’t think we will be friends,” Edelgard said and turned her attention to the stage where the next group was getting ready. But Flayn didn’t give up.

“Edelgard, Byleth is a kind person really. But she’s had some bad news lately and that put her in a very emotional state. Something was taken from her, something that was very important to her.”

“Byleth is a grown woman, she should act like it. Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to watch the play.”

That was enough to shut Flayn up, but she kept looking at Edelgard from the side for the rest of the performanes. At the end all the actors got back on stage and bowed. A counsellor also stepped on the stage and announced the evening programme. The crowd slowly began to move back to the monastery. The moment Edelgard spotted Claude she got up without another word and went to him.

“Edelgard, hi. How was your day, was the visit nice?”

“Can I stay with you tonight?” Edelgard asked straight out. Claude raised his eyebrows.

“Wow, that bad? I’m flattered, but I think we’re better off as friends.”

“I can’t go back into my room. I don’t feel safe anymore, not with Byleth around. Please, I won’t take up much room, just put me on the floor, I’ll be fine.”

Claude rolled up a cable and put it into a box. He explained that he would gladly give her his bed since he was on night watch that night.

“No, I don’t want to be alone in the building. Can I join you for night watch?”

“I guess. But only if you tell me everything that has happened.”

Flayn called their names and waved at them. “Let’s have dinner together!” she shouted. Claude was about to shout something back when Edelgard tugged on his sleeve and shook her head.

“What do you mean, you don’t want to have dinner with Flayn? She’s not cooking, you’ll be fine.”

“But what if Byleth shows up?”

“Edelgard, the dining hall will be full of people, what do you think Byleth is going to do? Calm down.”

He put the lid on the box and got the rest of his stuff from the side of the stage before heading in Flayn’s direction. Reluctantly Edelgard followed. He wasn’t wrong, it was unlikely that Byleth would do anything in front of everyone, but still. Byleth was already waiting at the entrance of the dining hall. Edelgard was so on edge that she just pushed her food from one side of the plate to the other. Byleth, Flayn and Claude were talking about this and that. Every once in a while Byleth looked at Edelgard but said nothing. Perhaps it had been a mistake not to have the car and the rock checked for fingerprints and such. Who knew if that evidence would have ever come in handy if Byleth tried anything else. Just one more night, Edelgard thought to herself, you just have to make it through this night and then you can leave in the presence of witnesses. But how? What if Byleth had messed with the car? Edelgard imagined herself driving down the narrow and twisting road into the village with her brakes suddenly failing. It was a long way down the side of the road. Or maybe she had messed with the tyres. She would have to catch one of the buses that took the tourists back down into the town. But those only ran in the afternoon. The group had ended the meal and got up to return their trays.

“Well then, I will see you all tomorrow,” Flayn said.

“Edelgard, are you coming?” Byleth asked.

“No, I am going to hang out a while longer,” she said.

“Hang out where? Are you doing something fun, can I join?” Byleth looked back and forth between Edelgard and Claude.

“No,” Edelgard said quickly and stepped behind Claude.

“Oh, I see,” Byleth then said and sneered at them. “You want to be alone. I understand. Then I don’t want to bother you two any further. Just don’t set a bad example for the children. They’re at an age were mistakes can have consequences.” Although her tone was light-hearted the expression on her face was not.

“Byleth, stop teasing. It’s not kind. Come now. Good night, see you tomorrow!” Flayn pulled Byleth away. Claude turned to Edelgard who was looking at the floor.

“She seems mildly obsessed with you. Did you do something to her and didn’t tell me about it?”

“I’ll tell you later. Let’s get out of here, I need some fresh air.”

*

Since they had some time before lights-out Claude suggested going to the courtyard. It was one of the most beautiful spots on the monastery grounds. The green of the well-kept lawn contrasted the surrounding stone buildings nicely, the flowers were taken care of most meticulously. They sat down in the gazebo where Claude asked Edelgard what had happened.

“Did the goods get away safely?”

“Yes, they did. Hubert took them with him in his car. But afterwards…” For some reason Edelgard found it difficult to say the words. Part of her was ashamed, part of her was still in shock. It wasn’t about the physical pain Byleth had caused her. Physical pain was something Edelgard had learned to endure as a child when she was being treated for her illness. But no one had ever touched her like that. Against her will, without permission and with the intent of harming her. She felt tears coming on so she quickly cleared her throat and took as deep a breath as she could.

“She was holding me by the hair and kept asking about some altar. Apparently something has gone missing and she thinks it was me. She only let go of me when Flayn came around the corner. I don’t know what Byleth would have done she hadn’t come.”

“Good thing she did then. I don’t know Edelgard, perhaps Byleth really is crazy. Seems to be going around, first Seteth, now her. And they’re apparently related so who knows.” Claude put his hand on Edelgard’s shoulder to comfort her. Of all moments this was not the right one to tell her that Byleth was actually looking for him. But if Byleth was indeed talking about the Saviour King’s altar then she must have opened it herself to discover the theft. Why would she do that? Seemed sacrilegious for a member of the church.

“Anyway, I am leaving as soon as I can. I can’t stay here another day. Tomorrow I am gone. I am going back to Enbarr.”

“I get it. Do you need help carrying down your things? I’ve gotten so good at it.”

“No, I’ll be fine. But if you want to help you can have my car towed down the hill into town. My people will take care of it from there.”

“Why tow it? The windows are broken but you can still drive it.”

“I want to have it towed and brought back to Enbarr. I don’t trust the local repair shops. Who knows if Byleth didn’t do more than just break the windows. I think we’ve established that she’s crazy.”

Claude thought that a case could be made for Edelgard was well but he kept that to himself. Edelgard had helped him achieve what he had come to Garreg Mach for in the first place, now he had no more use for her anyway.

“I’ll make it my parting gift to you,” he promised her and checked his phone. “All right, it’s time for lights-out. Come, let’s go upstairs. I’ll find you a chair to sit on.”

*

Edelgard followed Claude as he checked every room. Some rooms were already quiet, others had to be told to turn off music and the lights. All in all it took three rounds until all the rooms were quiet enough so as to not bother anyone. Edelgard and Claude sat down at the small night watch table. Claude emptied his pockets, plugged his phone in and leaned back.

“So you just sit here all night now?” Edelgard wondered.

“Yeah. But I have the morning off tomorrow so it’s not that bad. I was surprised that teenagers needed to be watched over night. Back home we’d just let them fend for themselves.”

“I can imagine that the parents wouldn’t want that,” Edelgard said and thought about Patricia and the way Dimitri had been raised. He probably never had a skinned knee until he was an adult, if that. Then she remembered something else.

“Hey, Claude, what are you going to do with the sources about Khalid?”

Claude smirked at her. “Purely personal interest,” he then said. When Edelgard was not satisfied he just shrugged, to her a sure sign that he was withholding the truth.

“Come on, it can’t be that bad,” she pried some more.

“It just means a lot to me, all right. Just like this lost emperor thing means a lot to you. I’m not sure if you are aware how complicated the political situation in Almyra is and has been for the past decade or so. Khalid is a nice distraction, that’s all.”

“But you wouldn’t leave Almyra, right. Just because it’s difficult?”

“Of course not. It’s a shit show but it’s my shit show. I should play a part in it.”

“I don’t see how Khalid plays into this,” Edelgard admitted after she thought about it. But Claude just shrugged again and crossed his legs. There were silent for a while, listening out for any noise in the rooms.

“When I return to Enbarr I won’t be working for a while. I have to get my health issues sorted out. But Hubert will take care of everything. If you’re interested in how things are developing you can get into contact with him. He is a little scary at first but don’t let that intimidate you. He is a great person.”

“He must be if he came all this way just for you. I have a friend like that with the exception that she’d move heaven and earth in order not to do anything herself.”

“Sounds like more work, to be honest. I’d rather do it myself and get it done right the first time than to bother with other people.”

“Not for her. It’s a skill she has perfected over the years. I’m in awe whenever she deigns to do anything. It’s bound to be amazing. Anyway, I wish you the best for the future. Health, success and all that.”

“Thank you.”

Upstairs a squeaky door opened and Edelgard and Claude listened closely. They heard steps above them but after a while the door closed again with a squeak so they assumed someone had gone to use the bathroom. Soon Edelgard struggled to keep her eyes open. Greatly amused Claude watched her propped up head sinking lower and lower until it finally made contact with the arm on the table. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his earphone case. He put one in and began watching a series on his phone, listening with one ear for any nocturnal campers.

*

Chapter Text

Seteth woke up after a long sleep. Full of energy he got up, turned the lights on and walked over to his wardrobe to get dressed. Ready for the day he left his apartment and wondered why it was still so dark on a summer morning. He didn’t usually wake up before sunrise. As he had done thousands of times he started his round of the monastery grounds and the cathedral to make sure everything was in order. He politely greeted the people walking past him and they greeted him back. Everything was as it had always been. Near the old classrooms of the Officers Academy he saw four youths standing around. He barked at them to get to class already before moving on. Seteth walked through the great hall and stopped because he smelled something unusual. He sniffed a few times but couldn’t identify the smell. Perhaps yet another accident in the kitchens, they were happening with an alarming frequency, usually to do with the fact that students on kitchen duty had varying cooking skills, if any. And some had to be forced into those kitchens to begin with. He should discuss the matter with the archbishop, he thought. While self-sufficiency was to be encouraged it should not come at the cost of wasting too many precious ingredients. He checked out the pond and the greenhouse where everything was in order. He went back inside the great hall and stopped once more. Now the smell had become even stronger but Seteth was still at a loss for what it was. He was on his way to the cathedral when he thought he saw something on the ceiling. He stopped to take a closer look. There was a glimmer reminding him of a torch about to go out. Someone had better come soon and relight it, he thought and made a mental note to inform the next caretaker he came across. Satisfied with having solved that mystery he continued his round.

*

At the Old Convent Byleth was standing in front of Edelgard’s door. With Flayn staying with Seteth for the night there was no chance of her interrupting again. In the maintenance closet Byleth had found a decently-sized axe she presumed was used to chop firewood for the whatever Flayn had told her about when the residents came together and cooked meat on a fire. It wasn’t very sharp but Byleth had to do with what she had. In her other hand she held an old fire poker from the outdoor fireplace. While playing with the portable internet machine she had discovered that it listened to voice commands which made things easier for her. Armed with the knowledge imparted by a man wearing a very distinct jacket and a helmet demonstrating how to break a door in case of a fire she steadied the axe, focused on the spot she wanted to hit and then with all her might struck the door. Then she wedged the fire poker in the gap she had created and moved it back and forth. Unlike the door in the video this door didn’t swing open but another kick was enough to break it entirely. Gripping the axe Byleth entered the room. She turned to the bed ready to strike only to find that it was empty. Byleth frowned and instead began to look around the room. It was smaller than Flayn’s and with less furniture too, but it was tidy. She checked the wardrobe, the desk and its drawer and finally under the bed where people had been hiding things since the dawn of mankind. It was clean save for some dust. Next Byleth stripped the bed but apart from what she thought were small blood stains on the linen she didn’t find anything. It smelled like Edelgard too. When she threw the bedding on the floor there was a slight thump. It was a small book. Byleth picked it up and opened it. She recognised the contents immediately. It was one of the many accounts of the Saviour King’s life in the form of a primer for children. Curiously she flipped to one page in particular. Once she saw it she knew that Edelgard had taken it from the shadow library. She put it in the pocket of her hoodie and continued searching the room though nothing else turned up. Standing in the middle of the room Byleth thought about what to do next. If Edelgard wasn’t here it was quite possible that Claude wasn’t either. Then it dawned on her that the two of them might have taken another trip down to the shadow library, or perhaps even the crypt if they had found the plans for it as well. At least if they were there she could get rid of them both at the same time. As quickly as she could she left Edelgard’s room and the Old Convent. She was halfway there when she saw something rising into the night sky. With her eyes no longer as sharp as they once had been she squinted to see a little clearer. It was smoke rising into the night sky. From where Byleth stood she couldn’t tell where it was coming from. Perhaps the firepit at the campsite had not been put out properly. “People today really can’t do anything right,” Byleth muttered and debated going over there to make sure everything was all right but then discarded that idea. If Edelgard and Claude were in the underground now she needed to act right away.

*

Flayn woke up gasping for air. She sat up and got out of bed to check on her father. She pushed the door open and frowned when she saw that his bed was empty. She threw on some clothes and in her slides ran out of the apartment and downstairs. There was a smell in the air she was only too familiar with. When she was first starting out with the microwave oven she had accidentally put a plastic container in it on the wrong setting, and it had happened many times after that too. Somewhere plastic was burning in the great hall. She was unsure where or why but finding out her father’s whereabouts was more pressing. Last time he had gone to the goddess tower but he could be anywhere. She walked all the way to the large door leading into the courtyard trying to decide where to look first, but the smell still worried her. Flayn cursed her strong sense of diligence and went back inside to check. The kitchen was clear, so were the adjacent rooms. She checked the dining hall where the smell was also present but it was clear as well. It wasn’t until she stepped into the great hall when the smell of smoke filled the air. Before Flayn could form a proper thought a piece of burning debris fell down from the ceiling where the flames had already burned a giant hole into the building. Sparks from the debris were falling onto the carpet. In shock she watched the carpet begin to smoke, then sizzle and finally grow slow flames. Another piece of the ceiling came down and Flayn realised what danger she was in. As fast as she managed in her slides she ran across the great hall and into the alcove where the fire alarm was. She broke the small glass with her elbow and pushed the button repeatedly.

*

Seteth was standing on bridge. He had forgotten where he was going and why. It must not have been important, he thought and turned around to head back to the monastery. It was then that he saw the red glow of the fire on one of the upper floors of the monastery. Fire. Fire. Seteth felt his guts contract and twist. “They’re here,” he said and began to run towards the monastery. At the head of the bridge he met the youths again.

“They’re here! Save yourselves, the Imperial troops are about to strike! Run!” He shouted at them and grabbed one of them by the collar and pushed him forward. At first they didn’t know what to do. Seteth shouted at them.

“Do you not see the flames? Run, the knights will give you cover, now go!” He pushed them some more until they ran away, frightened by the old man with the crazy eyes. Seteth was deciding where to go when a large piece of the roof fell down before him. The fire was spreading fast. Panicked he thought about Flayn. He needed to save her. Shouting her name he ran into the burning building.

*

Claude was in the middle of an episode when he heard loud steps and heavy breathing coming up the stairwell. He pulled out his earphone and got up. The jostling of the table woke Edelgard up. Just as she raised her head a group of campers rushed over.

“What are you doing out of bed? Do you know what time it is?” Claude asked. He was annoyed that they had managed to sneak out while he was on night watch. He was not looking forward to filling out that report. Before he could scold them some more though they all began talking at the same time. Edelgard sat up straight and asked the one in front to speak. The teen couldn’t talk fast enough.

“There’s a fire in the main building. We think, the old man said there was a fire and to save ourselves. Do you smell smoke, because we think there’s smoke.”

Claude got up and opened the closest window. Indeed he could hear the ringing of the fire alarm in the distance. Confused he scanned the hallway for its own fire detector which was quiet. In the meantime Edelgard asked if they had actually seen a fire. They hadn’t but they were sure they had smelled smoke. Claude told them to wait here and walked down the hallway to one of the rooms. He knocked loudly, announced himself and opened the door. He headed straight for their window and opened it. From there the smell of smoke was undeniable. Quickly he closed the window again. He thought back to the fire drill that had taken place before the summer camp had begun. If he remembered correctly there were no instructions on what to do when the fire was in another building. The campers he had woken up asked what was happening. Edelgard called out his name so he told them to stay put.

“The alarm has stopped,” she told him, her head sticking out of the window.

“Yes, but there’s definitely smoke. Edelgard, you stay here and wake the rest of the campers. I am going to check out the situation outside. Don’t scare them, just tell them that the fire alarm has sounded and it’s a safety precaution. And you,” he pointed at those who had snuck out, “You will stay right here. Don’t move, do you understand?” They nodded and Claude left. Edelgard headed for the stairwell and went upstairs, planning to go from top to bottom. She hadn’t reached the first room when she saw a red glow through the window. It was clear as day, the main building was on fire. But were they safe here? She opened the window and looked down. There was a fire escape ladder further down but where would they go from here if they had to use it? She raised her gaze and realised something terrible. Garreg Mach Monastery had been built as a settlement for the cathedral on the other side of the valley. It also served as a defensive measure; anyone who wanted to get to the cathedral had to go through the monastery first. As such it was surrounded by high walls. They were trapped. She closed the window again and proceeded to wake everyone. The reactions of the campers ranged from annoyed to excited to scared. By the time a camper using mobility aids had made it downstairs Claude was already back. He waved Edelgard over. He spoke in a low voice.

“I say we evacuate. We’re not too far from the gathering point in front of the main gate. If we leave now we can make it.”

“Claude, we’d have to go through the great hall. The upper floors are ablaze, I saw it from the top floor. What if they collapse? It’s not safe. Perhaps we should stay here, the flames have not reached us here yet and if they contain the fire…”

“No, we have to go. This building is really close to the main building. One unfortunate gust of wind and we’re next. Do you have everybody?”

Claude looked at the crowd. “Group up with your roommates, please. Make sure everyone is here. We will evacuate. Do not go back to your rooms, leave everything.”

“But I don’t have any shoes on!” Someone said.

“I need my medications!” Another one cried.

“Doesn’t matter! Go, gather.”

There was a loud crashing sound outside along with some screams. The fire must have been noticed by everyone now. Edelgard looked out of the window and saw thick smoke pass by. Claude counted and had the campers count themselves. Once he was sure everyone was present he picked up the camper using the mobility aids and began the evacuation. Edelgard joined at the end, taking one last look back to make sure they hadn’t left anyone behind. They were in the stairwell when the building’s fire alarm began to ring. The sound scared some of the campers who screamed and cried. Slowly they reached the ground floor where the group came to a halt. Edelgard called out to Claude but wasn’t sure if he heard her over the noise or if she could hear his response. Soon the reason for the stop soon became evident. Smoke had entered the building, or was the building itself on fire? Eventually the group began to move again. Claude led the group further into the building and in passing the entrance Edelgard found out why. Smoke and debris from the main building was blocking the way, or at least made it impassable in Claude’s opinion. Carefully he put the camper he was carrying down and pulled out his phone to make a phone call. Edelgard did the same and saw a slew of notifications on her home screen all more or less saying the same.

Breaking: Fire at Garreg Mach Monastery, Faerghus. Fire is not yet contained.

*

There were no new traces of anyone having been in the shadow library. Byleth made sure to check both the mezzanine and the lower floor before checking out the other hidden rooms. Her hope to catch them in the act had been squashed. There was always the next day, Byleth thought and went back upstairs. From behind the magic barrier she could hear people shout and scream. She passed through immediately only to stumble into a crowd gathering around the altar. It took Byleth a while to realise that something big must have happened. Both church affiliates and security personnel were trying to keep order.

“Please remain calm. As soon as we have further information we will inform you about the next steps. Have a seat and remain calm. You are safe here. Help will soon arrive. Please remain calm.”

Byleth pushed her way through the crowd and headed towards the front door where another crowd had gathered. A scream escaped her lips when she saw the monastery in flames across the bridge. Security were trying to keep the entrance clear but people kept passing through. In the front row people were holding up their phones. On them Byleth saw images of the fire. A collective scream sounded when part of the main building collapsed and fell. Byleth heard a man report what was happening on the phone.

“Yes, part of it just collapsed onto the building beside it. Where is the fire brigade? Everything is going up in flames like a tinderbox! I just hope people got out in time.”

Byleth couldn’t take it any longer and pushed more people aside until the path to the bridge was free. Onlookers shouted at her to stop her but she ignored them. The further she got across the bridge the stronger the heat felt on her skin. The nuns and monks and other staff had organised an evacuation. Panicked Byleth asked if anyone had seen Flayn or Seteth.

“Flayn was on the phone with the emergency services when the fire was first detected. I don’t know about Seteth,” someone said. They were waving a glowing stick and wearing a yellow vest.

“Seteth is not sound of mind! Please spread the word to look out for him. I am going to look for Flayn.” A groundskeeper held her back.

“You can’t go back inside, it’s too dangerous! The top floors have already collapsed, the rest could come down any minute.”

“Let go of me!” She pushed the groundskeeper and ran inside. Inside it was hard to breathe. The air was hot and dry, the smoke irritated Byleth’s eyes. She saw people carry paintings, pieces of furniture and other objects outside. She kept asking about Flayn and Seteth but no one had seen them. Discouraged Byleth stopped at entrance to the stairwell. She leaned against the stone wall which was concerningly warm. She closed her eyes and tried to convince herself that Flayn and Seteth must be helping someone somewhere. They would never abandon the monastery or its people. Her thought were interrupted by a man falling down the stairs with burns on his face and arms. Byleth helped him up and with her flat hand put out a searing hole in his sleeve.

“There’s still people trapped upstairs!” He coughed.

“Who? How many? Is Flayn up there?”

“No, but I saw Seteth earlier, he’s looking for her too. Where are the fire axes? We need to break down a door, maybe this way we can get them out before it’s too late!”

“You go and find that fire axe, I’m going upstairs.”

They parted ways. Just one floor further up the heat was unbearable. Byleth followed the sounds of people shouting and calling for help. She groaned when she saw that it was one of those new doors. The people gathered before it were trying open the door by kicking it. Flayn had repeatedly told her to keep her head down, stay low and not to attract any unnecessary attention but if there was ever a moment to do exactly those things it was now. She stepped forward and asked everyone to step away. She inhaled once and then kicked the door with all her might. By the time the man from earlier returned with a proper axe the door was split down the middle. It took a few more hits with the axe to clear a gap wide enough for those trapped to escape. Byleth shouted Seteth’s name again. A woman grabbed her by the arm and told her that she had seen Seteth by the exhibition room.

“Where?” Byleth asked, but the woman was being pushed away before she could shout her answer. Once the way was clear Byleth started looking for the exhibition room. Every once in a while she heard crashing sounds coming from the floor above her. Whenever she came across people looking for an exit she told them which way to go and asked where the exhibition room was. Eventually she found it, relieved that Seteth was still there wrestling lances and swords from the mounted suits of armour.

“Byleth, finally! The Imperial Army is about to attack, we have to arm ourselves. Here, take this, take this, and this.” He handed her old and rusty weapons, along with a broken shield. She dropped them to the floor and grabbed Seteth by the shoulders.

“Seteth, wake up. The monastery is burning, we have to leave. Where is Flayn?”

“Flayn! Isn’t she with you?”

“No, she’s not.”

“We have to find her before they get her! I hope it’s not too late. Flayn! FLAYN!”  

Byleth held him back. Now that she had found him she would not let go of him. Despite his struggling she pulled him downstairs. They were going slowly because the smoke had reduced visibility to arm’s length. Seteth kept babbling and crying that they needed to find Flayn and that the enemy forces were approaching. Along with a group of injured people they made it out of the building. People wearing the same type of jackets Byleth had seen the man on the internet wear received the injured. One of them asked Byleth if Seteth needed help. She jumped at the chance to get him taken care of.

“He is very confused, has been long before the fire. You have to keep an eye on him or else he’ll run away,” she said and handed him over. Before she left she spoke to Seteth again, looking him straight in the eyes.

“Seteth, I’m going to look for Flayn, I promise! I need you to look after the people at the monastery. Keep everyone safe, Seteth. I trust you.”

“Flayn! You have to find her! Byleth!” Byleth waited until a woman in uniform had Seteth firmly in her grip.

“Don’t worry, ma’am. We will take him to the main gathering point. Our team managed to clear a path through the main entrance. You should come as well.”

“No, please take him first. I will come for him later.”

Before the fire fighter could say anything Byleth had already disappeared. She turned her attention to the man she was now responsible for. “I am going to take you to safety now, sir. Your friend will join you shortly. Just hold on to me, I’ll get you there.”

Seteth kept shouting Flayn’s name the entire way. In his state he did not realise where he was taken. Once they got to the area in front of the monastery’s entrance people who had already been evacuated walked up to him. The fire fighter was glad to leave him in the hands of people who knew him so she could go back and help with the evacuation. They found a chair for him to sit in and held his hands as they reassured him that they had seen Flayn in the great hall organising the first response to the fire.

“What fire?” Seteth asked.

“Don’t worry,” an elderly monk said and held his hand. “The moment we see Flayn we’ll bring her to you, all right? It won’t be long now,” he assured him. After a while Seteth had calmed down again and looked around. Everything was very colourful, red and blue lights flashing, yellow tapes swaying in the wind. He was startled when he heard very loud whirring sounds. He looked up and saw large objects in the sky lighting up the night sky.

“Wyverns!” Seteth screamed and jumped up. “We’re under attack! Quick, save yourselves!” The monk who had sat with him couldn’t get up in time to hold Seteth back and was forced to watch Seteth run back into the monastery. Over the noise of the helicopters overhead he couldn’t even tell anyone that he had gone.

*

Chapter Text

Claude stood up in front of the campers. “I have spoken to the emergency services on the phone. They have advised us to stay here for the moment. They will be with us soon.”

Edelgard was standing in front of the window looking outside. There was no way of telling if the main building was still standing or not, everything was just dark with the occasional spark floating by. The fire alarm in their building was still going but Claude had gone to check and as far as he could tell their building was not actually on fire. It was probably detecting the smoke from the fire around them, a fire that must be growing stronger and stronger because the temperature inside was climbing. She had already taken off her sweater but she could still feel droplets of sweat on her neck and all the way down to her back and her chest as well. The campers were relatively calm, despite the smoke causing them to cough. Edelgard took out her phone again but nothing had happened since the last time she had checked it. With a sigh she put it back in her pocket and walked up to Claude who was leaning against the wall. Looking at him no one would have guessed the danger of the situation they were in right now.

“When are they coming?” she asked in a whisper.

“Soon. They said they would come soon.” At last there was a little tension in his voice. He looked at the campers and then turned away from them. “Maybe we should make a run for it. I know the way from here to the main entrance, I could make it.”

“You perhaps, what about them? If you lose one… No, it’s irresponsible. We can’t, we don’t even know if the path is clear.”

“In case you haven’t noticed it’s getting really uncomfortable in here. We have at least three kids with asthma, I am already carrying another one and I don’t see you dragging any one of them to safety. If they don’t show up within the next five minutes we’re going.”

He checked the time on his phone and turned to the campers again announcing that they would evacuate themselves. Edelgard listened to him give instructions such as holding hands, staying close to the ground and whatever happened never to let go or stop walking. Then he told them that they would split into two groups, he would head out with the first and Edelgard would follow closely with the second. Edelgard wanted to protest, he was ready to send her and a good number of youngster into certain danger. On the other hand he was right, if no one would come for them there was no telling what might happen. Calmly she tapped on his shoulder and told him that she did not know the way. One wrong turn and it was all over. Claude asked her if she really couldn’t remember a few simple directions but shut up when Edelgard glared at him.

“Fine, I’ll come back for you. Everyone, rooms 1 to 6, get ready, we’re about to leave! Are you ready?” He picked up the camper he had carried before and told them to hang on tight.

With great worry Edelgard watched as the first group lined up, some had tied their shirts around their heads to cover their mouths and noses. Then Claude pushed the door open with his foot and in a single file his group left. The last one had barely taken three steps before they vanished into the smoke. Now all that was left for her and her group to do was to wait.

*

“Leave this! Just leave it, get out, get out!” Flayn slapped a box of miniature paintings out of the hands of a nun and pushed her in direction of the door. The main stairwell had become impassable so now Flayn directed everyone to the fire escape outside. There was no room for anything except the people fleeing. The line was moving at a good pace and from where Flayn was standing she saw fewer and fewer people coming down the hallway. She waited for the last person before going down the fire escape herself. She had only gotten down a few steps when she heard her father cry out for her. She stopped and turned around.

“Flayn, thank the Goddess you are unharmed! Come, I’ll take you to safety. I want you to hide until the assault is over.”

“What assault? Father, the monastery is burning down, we have to leave!”

“And go where? The imperial forces have surrounded the monastery. Come, quick! To the cathedral!” He picked her up as if she was a child and protecting her head he carried her away. Flayn tried to stop him but short of using force she didn’t know how. Instead she unsuccessfully pleaded with him to put her down. She felt the temperature change as he carried her through the burning great hall and then again once they had left the building and reached the bridge. Another part of the main building collapsed onto itself, causing people to scream and cry. Seteth stopped and put Flayn down.

“I want you to run to the cathedral and hide,” he told her. “I will come and get you when it’s over. I have to go back and defend the monastery.”

“Father, no! I am staying with you.”

In that moment the helicopters flew over the bridge, their noise startling Seteth again.

“We’re too late, they’re already here. We have no other choice. Come!” He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to the parapet.

“We’ll use the smoke as cover. Don’t worry Flayn, I’ll take you as far away from here as possible, to a place called Zanado. You’ll be safe there. Come!” In horror Flayn watched her father climb on the parapet and reaching out for her.

“No, Father! Please, come back down!”

“Flayn, please. Your mother will never forgive me. She’ll never forgive me if I let anything happen to you.” He stepped down again grabbing Flayn by the arm and pulling her up. Only for a moment Flayn looked down into the depths below them. Even in bright daylight the trees in the forest below were hard to make out, now it was just complete darkness. One wrong move and both of them would disappear forever. A gust of wind pulled on their clothes, moving them perilously close to the edge. Terrified Flayn closed her eyes. Maybe this was how it was supposed to end. She had seen first-hand how difficult it was for Byleth to fit in. Wasn’t this what would inevitably happen to her as well at some point? Perhaps… Her thought was interrupted by a strong hand pulling her back onto the bridge. She lost her balance and fell down.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Byleth stepped onto the parapet holding on to Seteth who was talking hysterically about Zanado and saving Flayn. Byleth’s reply was drowned out by a deafening crash coming from the monastery. Flayn turned around just in time to see the last standing tower collapse. A thick cloud of smoke, dust and debris enveloped them and Flayn was blown towards the cathedral hitting her head hard against the stone. Forward, backward, left and right, Flayn had lost all sense of direction. Nearly blind and deaf she felt around aimlessly for something to help her make sense of her surroundings, but she only found loose objects which she pulled toward herself in an effort to sit up. Feeling her strength fading she turned on her stomach with one last effort before losing consciousness.

*

Dimitri had been sleeping in his bed when he was woken up by loud screams. He pushed his covers back and stumbled out into the hallway. It was his mother, screaming and crying with his father occasionally saying something. He followed her screams to their sitting room. The lights and the TV were both on with his mother pointing at the screen.

“That’s my baby, Lambert! I need to know if she’s fine because if she’s not I’m going to die! Do something!”

“She’ll be fine, Patricia, I’m sure!”

Dimitri rubbed his eyes and looked at the screen.

“If you are just joining us, what you are seeing right now are live images of Garreg Mach Monastery where a fire has broken out in the late evening. As of now no official statements have been made by the Church of Seiros beyond confirmation that they are watching the situation closely. From posts on social media it can be assumed that the fire has not spread to the cathedral where apparently many people have sought refuge. Videos show the main building where the fire is apparently burning out of control. The Faerghus Ministry of Culture and the Faerghus Ministry for the Environment have announced an emergency press conference which is supposed to start in a few minutes. As soon as that begins we will switch over to that. In the meantime we have an expert on early medieval architecture on the line who has some insights as to why and how this could have happened…”

“Have you tried calling Edelgard?” Dimitri asked and patted down his thighs for his phone, forgetting that he was wearing pyjamas.

“Of course I have! You know she doesn’t pick up when I call!” Patricia cried hysterically. That was true, Edelgard could be very hard to reach if she wanted to. Dimitri looked at his father who was busy doing something on his own phone. On the TV they repeated clips of the monastery burning and parts of it crumbling, with some social media posts sprinkled in. Dimitri was about to go back to his own room to get his phone when his father spoke up.

“Patricia, I have just received a message from the former fire chief of Garreg Mach. He told me that they have emergency plans in place and not to worry, they have everything under control.”

“DOES THIS LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE ANYTHING UNDER CONTROL?” Patricia pointed at the TV where a slow-motion video of a part of the top floor collapsing was being shown. Then they cut away to the President of Faerghus standing at a podium with cameras flashing at him.

“Good evening. A few hours ago a devastating fire broke out at Garreg Mach Monastery. As I am speaking to you emergency services, government agencies and the military are all working together to save what can be saved of this cultural and religious institution that is so important to so many people not only in Faerghus but across the whole continent and beyond. Let me assure you that everything is being done to bring its occupants to safety. I will now let those responsible for the rescue efforts speak. I sincerely hope the next time I will see you again it is to share good news with you all.”

The three of them in that sitting room were watching the press conference like tens of thousands did all around the continent. They all heard the explanation of just how difficult it was to put on a large scale rescue operation due to the monastery’s remote location and lack of the necessary infrastructure. Unusually strong winds and heavy smoke made close approaches via helicopter very risky. However, there was a suitable plateau near the cathedral where helicopters could land and unload equipment so the evacuation efforts would be coordinated from there as well.

“Lastly, we are aware of the yearly summer camp that is taking place at the monastery now. If you are a parent, relative or a guardian of a camper or of a camp staff member we urge you to stay put. We are in close contact with the camp organisers and you will be informed as soon as there is verified information. As mentioned before there is only one road leading to the monastery. We have already had to turn away private vehicles to keep the road clear for emergency services. We understand that you are worried sick but turning up and blocking the road might very well cause more harm than good. An information centre has been put together in the nearby town. If you are already on the road please stop there and wait for further information. You will not be permitted to go up to the monastery. I repeat, the road is closed for emergency services. No exceptions will be made.”

Lambert had sat down next to Patricia who was now sobbing violently. Dimitri checked the time on the decorative clock on the mantlepiece.

“Mother, Father, I am going to that information centre. It will take a few hours to get there but that way if Edelgard is all right I can bring her straight home.”

Lambert looked at him and nodded. “Take my car, give us a call when you’re there. Don’t get in the way, help when you can where you can.”

Dimitri went back to his room, got dressed and went back downstairs. Nearly every house in the neighbourhood had at least one window emitting a red light from the news broadcast playing. Despite the late hour there was traffic in Fhirdiad, with every car, van or bus heading to the only road leading to the monastery.

*

Hubert had just entered the city of Enbarr when he heard the reports of the fire. At a red light he was debating his next course of action. If only he hadn’t left Edelgard behind, he chastised himself. He had tried to reach her but stopped once he heard on the radio that the mobile network around Garreg Mach was hopelessly overwhelmed. He missed the light turning green, the driver in the car behind him honked to get his attention. He looked left and right before stepping on the gas and making a U-turn. The documents were already in safety, Edelgard wasn’t. More people honked at him as he made erratic turns to get on the road leading out of the city centre. It was late but time meant relatively little to Edelgard’s father so the chances were good that he was awake. The further he got from the city the quieter his surroundings became. He even had to brake a few times because local wildlife crossed the road ahead of him. In the distance the large house came into view but the lights were out. He passed the automatic gate and drove up to the house where he was greeted by the large watch dog with a loud bark. The night porter came out of the house and shone a torch at Hubert. Once Hubert identified himself and stated the purpose for his visit the night porter called the dog off. He led Hubert into the large living room.

“His Excellency is currently asleep, I will have the night nurse wake him immediately.”

“Good, thank you.”

Hubert walked around the living room to stretch his legs after having driven for such a long time. He walked past the landscape paintings on the walls. Framed photographs were carefully lined up on a grand piano. They were of Edelgard’s family including herself. Her hair colour made her stand out but there was a certain resemblance between her and her siblings. Hubert had met all of them at some point, the older ones were already married with children of their own, the younger ones were either attending university or were busy enjoying life with no expectations placed on them. The housekeeper in a dressing gown appeared and asked him if she could bring him anything. Hubert asked for a cup of coffee. He had been awake for nearly 24 hours at this point.

“Right away. Is it really true, do you think? Miss Edelgard is in danger?”

“I haven’t heard from her yet. Do you have a TV around here?”

“Of course. It upsets His Excellency most of the time so we keep it hidden.” She opened a large cabinet and revealed a large flat screen TV. She handed him the remote and said she’d be back with the coffee soon. Hubert flipped through the channels until he got to Faerghus’s main broadcasting station. That was when he saw the extent of the fire for the first time. The monastery he had seen in all its glory just hours before was fully enveloped in flames. The sight was so unimaginable that he was lost for words. His arrival had woken up the house and soon he was joined by house staff in their pyjamas and dressing gowns. They gasped and checked their phones to see if this was really happening outside of the TV. The housekeeper and the cook wheeled in a trolley filled with hot beverages, cut up fruits and pastries from the day before. When the housekeeper saw the fire she folded her hands and said a quiet prayer.

“What is this?” Ionius had entered the living room accompanied by the night nurse. He eyed Hubert and walked toward him. “What are you doing here?”

“Sir, I don’t believe you have been informed yet. A fire broke out in Garreg Mach Monastery. I saw Edelgard today but I haven’t been able to get in contact with her since news of the fire broke.”

Ionius pushed him aside to get a clear view of the TV. Everyone watched him watch the news coverage for a good while. He seemed calm even at the prospect of his daughter’s life being in danger. He put his hands behind his back and looked back at his housekeeper.

“Call my private secretary and tell him to call the airport to ready the private jet. Someone pack a suitcase with the essentials for my daughter and myself. I want her to have everything she might need. Prepare her room, I expect we will be back within a day.”

“Your Excellency, you want to go there yourself? Is that wise?” The housekeeper asked softly.

“It is my private jet, I’ll be damned if I let anyone else fly on it. If I might ask you to hurry. Time is of the essence now. I’ll have breakfast in the dining room while I’m waiting. Hubert, you may join me. Tell me about your visit with Edelgard.”

The moment he turned away from the TV the house staff dispersed to perform their duties. Hubert followed Ionius to the dining room where the table was being set in record time.

“Now, Hubert, tell me everything and don’t leave anything out. Edelgard often feels she cannot tell me things because of my mood swings. But I can’t help her if I don’t know what she needs help with.”

Hubert let a maid refill his cup of coffee and waited until she had left before telling him everything.

*

Chapter Text

Claude’s group moved slowly but at steady pace until they got to the main building. Large pieces of debris were still falling down and Claude didn’t dare to guide his group through it. He was about to turn around when he bumped into someone. It was Byleth.

“What are you doing here?” She asked.

“We are looking for a way out! Can you help?”

Byleth looked behind him and saw the campers. “Where is Edelgard?” She then asked.

“She’s with the second group back by the dorms. Can you help us or not? We need to get to the main entrance.” He saw Byleth’s lips moving but couldn’t hear her over all the noise. Claude thought that she looked rough, as if she had already seen too much that night. There were also marks on her forearms as if someone had clawed at her. When she still didn’t reply he pushed her rudely. That seemed to make her snap out of it. She told him that he was very close and that she would go back to the dormitory to get Edelgard and the rest of the children. Before he could say anything else she vanished back into the smoke. He cursed and slowly kept going until the light of a torch broke through the smoke. He called out and a moment later a group of fire fighters wearing masks thick coats came into full view. One of them got really close to Claude and asked him where he had come from.

“From the dormitory back there. There’s still people in there, teenagers!”

“You can’t go through the main building, it’s about to collapse. We have installed ladders over wall, we’ll get you over there and to safety. Come on. You, go and find the rest of them.” They gestured at their colleagues to move ahead.

They continued in single file until they got to the wall where the disabled camper was carefully put into a sling and pulled over the wall. Claude waited until the last camper of his group was over the wall. He turned around to go back but was stopped.

“You are now being evacuated. It’s too unsafe for civilians to walk around.”

“But I told them that I’d come back.”

“That’s not going to be possible. Go, it’s your turn. We have to keep the evacuation going. Move, now.”

Claude was pushed to the ladder and had no other choice than to climb up. On the other side he was immediately pulled aside. A paramedic asked him how he felt and to open his mouth wide. A couple of small burns and blisters were treated on the spot then he was asked to sit for a while breathing into an oxygen mask. Soon he saw other counsellors who had been sleeping at the Old Convent and must have come around the long way. He was glad that they were taking care of the campers, and relieved that every single one of his group had made it unharmed. Now his thoughts were with the other group and Edelgard.

*

Edelgard was nervously pacing back and forth in front of the door despite the heat. Why hadn’t Claude come back. Why hadn’t the fire fighters made it to them yet.

“Miss?” One of the campers sounded panicked. Edelgard stopped pacing and looked at them. Behind her the door opened and a wave of heat entered the building. The campers screamed in fear and Edelgard turned around. Despite the heat surrounding her she suddenly felt cold when she saw Byleth standing in the doorway. She looked like a monster with her singed hair and clothes, her face covered in soot with only her big eyes glowing in the dark. She was breathing heavily. Edelgard took a step backwards.

“Claude told me you were here. The children need to leave right away.”

“Where is he, he said he would come back.”

“He was on his way out when I met him. Children, come. No time to lose now.” Byleth clapped her hands and the children lined up. In that moment the electricity went out and a collective scream tore through the hallway. Edelgard leaned against a wall so she felt the vibrations that came next very strongly. Something else must have collapsed very nearby. Her heart skipped a beat when she realised that it could have been one of the floors above them. Please, make it stop, just make it stop, she thought to herself and slid down the wall. Somewhere in the distance Byleth shouted at the children to stay together. So this is how I die, Edelgard thought and wanted to sob but her throat was so dry all that came out was a weak croak. She was so absorbed in her own thoughts that she barely registered Byleth kneeling in front of her.

“Did you do it?”

“What’”

Byleth placed a hand beside her head and came close enough that Edelgard could feel her hot breath on her face.

“Theft wasn’t enough, you set my home on fire? Are you done hurting me now?”

“I didn’t do anything. What is your problem, don’t you get that we we’re in a situation?”

Byleth sighed and raised her hand to rub some dust off of Edelgard’s cheek with her thumb. She used too much pressure for it to be tender.

“I am done dealing with you and your lies. These children are innocents, they came into this world to be loved and appreciated by their parents. They have futures worth to be explored and lives to be lived to the fullest. Of course you wouldn’t know that because you never were a mother and thus are unfamiliar with the feeling of loss of a child. But I have and I am so I will do my best to spare others from suffering the same fate. Your life, on the other hand, has always been meant to be short, no matter when or where. You are an abnormality, you shouldn’t even exist. Fitting your life should end here then, in a sea of flames. It reminds me of the torment my beloved Saviour King could never truly escape as long as he was alive. Only in death did he finally find peace and I forbid his peace to be disturbed. Especially not by you.”

“What?” Edelgard didn’t follow what Byleth had just said. The heat, the fear, the inability to swallow, it was all getting to be too much.

The glass of the front door burst from the heat surrounding it. Soon the carpet began to burn as well. Byleth got up and ordered everyone to get up. “Take your friends’ hands and follow me. We are going back upstairs. There’s a window from where you can climb down, I saw it on my way here. The people in the big jackets will come for you soon, I’m sure. Chop-chop!” Edelgard got on knees and pushed herself on her feet. She sensed the campers move past her and occasionally she asked which room they had been in. Once the occupants of room 12 had passed her she called out one more time before struggling back upstairs. There the smoke was even thicker and the campers were coughing the entire time. She presumed it was Byleth who broke a window. Edelgard put her hand on the camper last in line and slowly moved with the line. Once she was close enough she heard one camper shout every time another one had made it to the ground, a sign for the next one to make their way down. While Edelgard fought to stay upright Byleth was unfazed and helped one camper after the next out of the window that was high up on the wall.

“I’m scared of heights,” the camper in front of Edelgard said and turned around to her.

“It’s OK, your friends are all down there already,” Byleth said and grabbed her hand.

“She’s right,” Edelgard agreed and gently pushed the scared camper forward. “You only have to do this once, I promise. The fire brigade will take you to safety once you’re down there. Now go. We’ll be right behind you. Go!”

“No, I’m scared.”

“You have to be brave now. I’ll meet you on the other side, OK? You go first and I’ll be right behind you. I promise.”

The camper looked at Edelgard who nodded encouragingly while continuously pushing her forward until she made the first step on her own. Byleth basically heaved the camper out of the window and once she was out she climbed up herself to watch her climb down. She was relieved when the first camper down shouted that she had made it safely.

“They’re here! The fire brigade are here!” The camper shouted. Edelgard felt her knees weaken. Byleth was already sitting in the window reaching her hand out to Edelgard. She took it and was lifted off her feet. With her last remaining strength Edelgard held on to the window frame, too weak to move her legs she could barely feel now.

“Byleth, I can’t pull myself up. Help me!” Edelgard looked up at Byleth whose face had twisted into a ugly grimace. Please.

“Burn in hell,” Byleth hissed and pushed Edelgard away from the window and into the dark corridor below. Then she quickly climbed down and re-joined the group on the ground.

“Are you the last?” A person wearing a horrifying mask asked her.

“Yes!” she answered. The person waved her torch and pushed Byleth forward. The group began to move, away from the dormitory and toward the wall where the ladder was deployed. As Byleth climbed down on the other side she heard people counting.

“That’s all of them. All the campers have been successfully evacuated. Inform the police, their families must be worried sick. Let’s put them out of their misery.”

Byleth walked a couple of steps. Here on the other side of the wall the temperature almost felt cold. Only now she felt the burns on her legs and arms, they were stinging and pulsating. A paramedic found her and took her to one of the tents where she was sat down and checked out. They pushed a plastic mask on her face which tingled in her nostrils. She looked around and was glad to see some familiar faces. Then a man wearing an impressive helmet in addition to the massive jacket asked one of the paramedics about the injuries.

“We’ve sent a few larger burns to the hospital, along with some broken bones. Why?”

“You can start your reports. We’re done here,” he said. From the tone in his voice Byleth knew that he had not come to this decision lightly.

“What?” She asked through the mask.

He looked at her with dropped shoulders, the pure image of a man defeated. “We’ve tried everything but the monastery is gone. I give it another hour at most before it completely collapses. I’m just glad we got the kids out in time.”

“You have to keep trying, you have to go back! The monastery has stood for thousands of years! You can’t just give up now! Please!”

“Ma’am, it pains me as much as you but…” A deep rumble filled the air. In that moment everyone stopped what they were doing and fell silent. In this silence Byleth thought she could hear every last brick coming loose and falling onto other bricks, the ground, the wall. The monastery had fallen and Byleth felt as if yet another piece of her had died with it.

*

Claude was getting his larger burns treated when one of the campers walked up to him.

“Hi Claude,” she said. “Are you very hurt?”

“Nothing I can’t handle, kid. How about you, are you OK?”

“I was so scared because we had to climb down from the first floor. Have you seen the lady that was with us?”

“No, I haven’t. Didn’t she come out with you?”

“No, the green-haired lady did.”

Claude pulled his arm away from the paramedic and got up. With the camper in tow he walked up to the first firefighter he saw. “Excuse me, I think we’re missing someone. You have to go back and look for her.”

The firefighter listened to the camper’s account before raising his walkie-talkie to his mouth. “I need a group to go back to the dormitory the campers were evacuated from for a recovery. We’re looking for a female, late-twenties, short stature, light hair. It’s been a while so we need to hurry.”

*

“I am… This is… There are no words to describe this. A history of thousands of years reduced to a heap of burning rubble. Unbelievable.”

Dimitri was standing with another group of worried family members watching the sad scene playing out just a few kilometres away. The sun had begun to rise beginning to reveal the true extent of the devastation. The rubble was still smoking, some small fires were being put out by fire fighters with tired faces. Oddly not the entire thing had come down, one staircase had somehow survived, coming from and leading to nowhere. A police offer asked for their attention, waving a clipboard with a lot of papers on it. Immediately everyone turned away from the TV.

“Good morning, everyone. I want to thank you again for your patience. We now have a list of the names of the evacuated persons, it is being posted as we speak. What you will see on these lists are the names of the evacuated persons along with a short status report. If there is a green dot behind the name your loved one is currently still at the gathering point at the monastery, if there’s a yellow or a red dot please come and find me. I’m happy to report that all campers have been safely evacuated so if you are a parent or a guardian please go over to my colleague over there, he has more information that pertains specifically to you and the next steps to be taken. My colleague on the other side has an updated list with the names of persons who were registered at the cathedral and are awaiting evacuation from there.”

There was a general outbreak of relief in the group. Dimitri was glad that the children were safe but still quickly made his way to the lists that were now posted. It was in alphabetical order and he glossed across the lists until he got to the letter H. There she was, but there was also a red dot right behind her name. He went back to the police officer with the clipboard.

“Hi, I’m here for my sister, her name is Edelgard von Hresvelg, with ‘H’.”

The police officer flipped through the papers and once she got to the H she ran her finger down until she found it. She pulled him aside and in a calm manner told him that his sister was alive but was in critical condition.

“It says here that she is being airlifted to Fhirdiad University Hospital. It’s a relatively quick flight so she’ll be there before you will. You may want to inform your family so that they might head there now.”

Dimitri thanked her and as he ran back to his car he called his parents to deliver the news. There was screaming and crying in the background but his father remained calm as always. They would go there now and Dimitri should come back too. He jumped into the car and drove it out of the crowded parking lot as fast as he could do so safely.

*

Chapter Text

Once the Old Convent had been cleared for entry its occupants returned to their rooms. Apart from soot covering its walls the building was intact. Since there was no more monastery all its programmes were suspended and thus all fellows and visitors had been asked to leave. Claude had emptied the wardrobe and packed his clothes into his large suitcase. Now all that remained was the plastic bag in which he had hid his haul from the secret library. Looking at it now Claude no longer felt excitement and satisfaction. Instead his thoughts kept going back to Edelgard. He was only allowed a quick glance to make sure that they had the right person but the sight of her was now etched into his memory. Covered in soot and burns she struggled to breathe under the mask. Finally the emergency physician made the decision then and there to cut into her throat before loading her onto a helicopter. It didn’t seem right that she had paid such a high price when he could just walk away. It still gnawed at him when he put the bag in his suitcase and closed it. He walked past Edelgard’s room and remembered that he had promised her to take care of her car. He hesitated a moment before going inside, only to find that someone had got there before him. A middle aged woman was carefully folding Edelgard’s clothes before putting them in a suitcase.

“Excuse me, who are you?” He asked warily.

The woman looked up without interrupting her work. “Good morning. I am here to collect Miss Edelgard’s things to be brought back to Enbarr. Can I help you?”

Claude scratched the back of his head. Knowing Edelgard’s background this would be perfectly normal but it had still caught him off-guard.

“Do you know how she is?” he wanted to know. The woman shook her head and went back to the wardrobe, continuing her work. Claude watched her for a minute or so before he spoke again.

“Edelgard had asked me to have her car towed, she said she wanted it brought back to Enbarr. That was before… Do you want to do that instead?”

“I can take care of it, but if she asked you she’ll have had her reasons for it.” She reached into her pocket and produced the key fob. “My driver is waiting in the village but he’ll come to get me when I’m ready. It would make things easier.” She walked up to him and handed him the key fob.

“Actually, there are some things of Edelgard’s still in the car. If you’ll tell your driver that I’m coming you I can leave the bags with him.”

She thanked him for letting her know and went back to packing. Claude was already out of the door when he turned around once again. “Do you happen to have a phone number where I could call to ask about Edelgard’s condition?” The woman eyed him from head to toe as if to make sure he was trustworthy enough for that private information. In the end Claude didn’t know what did it but she reached for her handbag and pulled out an elegant business card holder. The paper embossed with the coat of arms of Adrestia felt velvety in his hands.

“This is the number for the Hresvelg Family Office. You only have to call once, after that they will call you at their leisure. Please keep this information private. His Excellency and his family do not wish to be harassed. Now if you don’t mind, I have to finish up in here. I’ll let the driver know to expect you.”

Claude carried his things out to the gravel and to Edelgard’s car. He loaded his things into the boot and got into the driver’s seat. He drove the car down the lonely narrow road, slowing down once the ruins of the monastery came into view. There he saw Byleth sitting on a plastic chair, all by herself. He pulled over and got out of the car. Byleth looked as if she hadn’t left that chair for hours. Her eyes were fixed on the smoking ruin. Claude stood in front of her.

“How are you holding up?”

Byleth looked up. Her eyes were red and swollen. She had to start her sentence twice because the first time her voice failed her. “I have lost everything,” she whispered and started to cry again.

“I thought you had been abroad, you can’t have moved everything here that quickly.”

“The monastery has always been my one and only home. I don’t have anywhere else to go.”

Claude did feel sorry for Byleth, her loss was not a performance; her pain was real. It was true, he had a ticket for a flight back home that evening, before long he would find himself in his parents’ tight and loving embrace and in the safety of his home country. Even Edelgard had people to go back home to, but the thought of her reminded him of what had happened just hours earlier.

“Did you leave her behind on purpose?”

Byleth wiped her tears and snot on her sleeve. “Of course not. She insisted on waiting until all the campers had safely reached the ground. When I reached down to help her up she wasn’t there anymore. I waited for as long as I could. Have they found her body yet?”

Claude narrowed his eyes for a split second. Did Byleth really not know? Or was she really that cold and Edelgard’s fear had been justified all along. Claude was usually a very tolerant type but even he struggled to look past all of the red flags Byleth had raised. If she really left Edelgard to die she deserved everything that happened to her. Interrupted by loud sniffling Byleth continued.

“I was hoping and praying that she might make it through some miracle. When I heard that Flayn had made it largely unscathed I was full of hope.”

“How is Flayn?” Claude changed the subject.

“I only know that she’s alive, I haven’t heard from her or Seteth personally.” Byleth got up and brushed her hair back. It was matted and covered in ash and debris. “All I know is that Seteth was last seen around here but then he walked back into the burning monastery. He must have been so confused. It will break Flayn’s heart if something happened to him. I just hope that both of them are all right.”

“Me too, Byleth.”

Byleth just nodded and covered her face with her hands. A nun approached them pushing a trolley with large thermoses on it. She asked if they wanted coffee or tea or a hug. Claude refused politely but Byleth hugged that stranger and broke down. The nun spoke softly, holding Byleth tightly, cradling her head like one would when consoling a child. Superfluous to the situation Claude retreated back to the car. Before getting in he took one last look at the scene before him. As he drove away he made sure to focus on the road ahead, not looking back once.

*

Fhirdiad University Hospital had taken on many of the victims of the monastery fire. Their emergency department was filled to the last bed. The upper floors where the ICU was located was much calmer. Annette was walking down an empty hallway checking each room until she found who she was looking for.

“There you are,” she said and turned the lights on. “Can you come and help me real quick? Sylvain, hello? Are you there?”

Sylvain was sitting on a swivel chair in the corner of the room. He showed her the screen of his smartphone. “Can you believe it? It’s just gone. It was there yesterday and now it’s just gone.” Annette looked at the screen and shook her head.

“I know, feels surreal. I actually have a patient from the fire, I need you to assess her. Her family wants to have her transferred to Enbarr. Part of her family anyhow, it’s complicated.”

Sylvain turned side to side on his chair. “Is she stable for transport?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Then why do you need me? This is my me-time, go away.”

Annette let out a sigh. “I need a tall, imposing, and most importantly male doctor because they don’t seem to hear me over my womanly petiteness.”

Sylvain loudly sucked in air and got up. “That’s not on. Where are we going?”

He followed her back to the ICU, walking past a group of adults posted in a waiting room. One of them raised their hand as they passed by but Sylvain ignored them. He recognised their type and was not surprised they dismissed Annette’s qualified opinion. Old Money, people in finely tailored suits and costumes, people who were not used to be disagreed with. In the ICU they put on disposable gowns, gloves and masks before entering the patient’s suite. While Annette loaded up the patient’s lab reports and scans on the mobile computer Sylvain took a closer look at the patient.

“Smoke inhalation?” He asked, inspecting the tube going into her throat.

“Yes. She was resuscitated once, hasn’t been conscious since she was found. Apparently she got left behind after helping children escape through a window. She’s a hero.”

“How would that happen? Did the window magically vanish?” He checked out some of the burns on her arms. They were rather extensive but with the best wound care which she would definitely receive they would be barely noticeable in a year’s time. In the meantime Annette had pulled everything up so Sylvain walked over to take a look. Of course Annette had been right in her assessment that the patient was in no condition to be moved for the time being. Then he saw something on a scan.

“Do we know where she was found?” He asked and returned to the bed to check out the patient’s bandaged head. Annette scrolled through the paramedics’ report.

“Uh… in a hallway on the first floor of a dormitory building. It was an old building, the window was rather high up, they mention using a pulley to get her out.”

“Did she fall?”

“According to this she was found lying on her back. Why?”

Sylvain waved Annette over to the bed and asked her how tall she was.

“Hair above 5 foot on a good day, why?”

“So you often find yourself in the situation, say, in a supermarket, where the object of your desire is placed on the highest shelf. I’m not around the help you, there’s no step ladder around, what do you do?”

Annette thought about it. “Lose my dignity and climb the shelves, I guess.”

“Suppose you lost your footing, slipping off, what motion does your body go through?”

“Feet slip backward, body falls forward. I’d land on my feet before falling over because I lose my balance. Maybe hit my head on the shelves going down.” She looked at Sylvain, finally understanding what he was alluding to.

“You’d land on your bum and on your hands to break the fall, fracturing something if you’re really unlucky. See how there are almost no marks or bruises on the front of her body? Now I don’t know the wall window floor relationship in question but assuming the wall and floor were at a 90° angle as they usually are this poor woman either lost consciousness as she was about to pass through the window or someone pushed her back which would make this a crime. It would also explain how she got that laceration on the back of her head along with her concussion.”

Annette was speechless. The thought that anyone could be so heartless was one thing, but what could have led to this interaction in the first place? Panic? People in a panicked state had been known to do all sorts of things that were hard to justify in any other circumstance.

“Do we call the police?” Annette asked. Sylvain shrugged.

“She’s not from here and you said part of her family wants to take her back to Enbarr. She has a long road ahead of her that is difficult enough without a crime investigation. I will add a comment along with my report on her chart. That way we’ve done our due diligence and if any questions come up later they can refer to this. Come, let’s talk to the family.”

They were taking off their protective gear when another of their colleagues walked up to them holding a chart.

“Good morning, Mercedes, you smell delicious as always. What brings you up here?” Sylvain asked.

“I’d love to flirt with you but I have a lot of work to do. Is this Edelgard von Hresvelg? Whose patient is she?”

Annette raised her hand. Mercedes handed her the chart. It was very thin, five pages at most. “This patient was seen here a few months ago by one of our doctors but left before her test results came back. How is she?”

“Hanging on, why?” Annette opened the chart and Sylvain read it over her shoulder. She read through the pages before looking up at Mercedes. “I have never heard of this disease, what is it?”

“I had to look it up myself. It’s a rare illness where the body suddenly triggers an autoimmune response causing the body to attack itself until it basically fails to support itself. Judging from those numbers she must have struggled greatly in her every day life. There’s neurological symptoms as well, such as tingling in the extremities and episodes of numbness.”

“That would explain things, like her low blood platelet count. And it’s possible she could have fallen. Her body could have failed her at the most inopportune moment. After all she was experiencing a life-and-death situation,” Annette said to Sylvain.

“I never said it wasn’t possible. I only pointed out that the injury to the back of her head must have come about one way or another.”

“In any case,” Mercedes cut in, “you need to watch her even more carefully now. I’ve already called for a consult, she should start treatment sooner than later. I have to go now. I baked yesterday, there’s a basket in the lounge.  See you later!” Mercedes left Annette and Sylvain standing outside the suite.

“Yet another reason to keep her here for the foreseeable future. Maybe this new information will be enough for them to believe you.” Annette rolled her eyes and reached for her white lab coat. “Don’t worry, I’ll be right behind you to step in should they forget their manners. Who’s the man?”

“I’m the man,” Annette answered and marched off. Sylvain followed and made sure to stand diagonally behind Annette as she spoke to the family again. It didn’t take long until the elderly well-dressed man addressed Sylvain directly.

“Doctor, when will she be able to be moved? I want my daughter to recover back home surrounded by people she knows.”

“You sound as if we’re strangers to El. I’m her mother, Ionius. Do you think I would not look after her day and night? I died a thousand deaths every minute she was unaccounted for!” the woman cried.

“Once your daughter’s overall condition improves we can revisit the idea of transferring her, but until then she has to stay here, as my colleague Dr Dominic undoubtedly has already told you. Now I would suggest you go home and rest. Your daughter cannot receive visitors at this time anyway, the risk of infection is still too great. You can call the ICU for updates at any time, day and night. Dr Dominic will be here for the day I believe? Perfect, your daughter is in very capable hands. Now if you’ll excuse us.” He took Annette away with him.

“Thank you for that.”

“No worries. Now I am going to find a free computer to add my comment on her chart before going back to my me-time. Don’t call me, don’t come find me because you don’t have to. You’re the man.”

“You are on the clock you know!” Annette called him out.

“You’re the man!” He shouted and disappeared around the corner.

*

Chapter Text

Flayn didn’t recognise her surroundings when she woke up. Her head was pounding and when she took a deep breath her chest hurt. She quietly called out asking if anyone was there. Flayn recognised the uniform the nurse was wearing; she was in a Church of Seiros affiliated hospital.

“Miss Flayn, good afternoon,” the nurse said and checked the monitors. “How are you feeling? You’ve been resting for a good while.”

With the press of a button he raised the headpiece of the bed and asked Flayn if she was comfortable. Flayn nodded and watched him pour her a glass of water. He put a straw in it before handing it to her. Flayn emptied it quickly and asked for a refill.

“Drink slowly so you don’t choke on it. I can imagine you’re sore enough after what you’ve been through.”

Slowly it came back to Flayn. The fire, the smoke. The scene on the bridge. The last thing she remembered was Byleth pulling her back and Seteth…

“I’m sorry, you wouldn’t happen to know if a man called Seteth has also been brought here? Where am I anyway?”

“You are in Our Lady Seiros Hospital Varley. You were brought here because there were no more beds in the hospitals in Faerghus. Luckily your injuries are relatively minor but they still require medical care. There’s a hotline you can call to ask about your friend. The doctors will round on you later so you can ask them any medical questions you may have. In the meantime you have a nasty concussion and should avoid screens. But here are your belongings and I think there was a picture book in there. You can look at that if you like. Just put it away when you get tired.”

He opened a plastic bag and pulled out a small book. Flayn took it and inspected it. The cover looked rough but the pages were in good condition. Flayn had absolutely no recollection of ever having owned that small book or how it came into her possession. It was an ancient primer about the Saviour King’s life. There was no point in asking the nurse about it so Flayn thanked him. After he had left she flipped through the pages, gasping once she happened upon a significant page which she regretted immediately. Once the pain had passed she looked at the page again. She remembered when this edition was first published, her father had provided some of the illustrations for it. It showed the scene of the Saviour King in blue slaying the last emperor in red wearing a headpiece resembling horns on either side. While the Saviour King was standing tall, looking down at his enemy with his legendary weapon about to come down the figure of the kneeling emperor was small, and slender. Delicate even, with a conspicuously full chest. Flayn kept looking at the book wondering how it came into her possession.

That morning Flayn met with the doctors who were treating her. They informed her of her injuries, explained that she would have to stay for a few more days and asked if she had a support system when going back home.

“I’m not sure. I lived at the monastery. Do you happen to know when I can go back?”

The doctors exchanged looks with each other. The most senior doctor then told her that the monastery was no more. The fire had destroyed it completely. Flayn was surprised at her lack of an emotional response. One doctor thought she was in complete disbelief so he pulled out his smartphone and showed her a slideshow of pictures. The senior doctor scolded his junior who promptly put the phone away again.

“So it’s gone?” She asked just to make sure.

“I’m afraid so. If you would like to speak with someone about your feelings or experiences we have a very good chaplain on staff.”

“Actually, I’d like to make a few phone calls.”

“Of course. I’ll let the charge nurse now and they’ll help you with whatever you need.”

The doctors left and Flayn leaned back in her pillow. Garreg Mach Monastery was gone. The place where she had spent most of her life had been reduced to ashes. She had no home to return to anymore. What would happen to her now?

After dinner had been served in the late afternoon Flayn was shown how to use the telephone. Using the list of numbers she had asked for she began to make calls. She had to try the governmental crisis hotline multiple times before she got through. She asked about her father and Byleth. She had braced herself for the possibility that he might not have survived whatever happened after she had lost consciousness. Byleth had saved her from falling over the bridge but she had not resisted her in the least. Her father on the other hand… Flayn listened to the holding music. She was startled by the click on the other end.

“Miss, are you still there?”

“Yes, I’m here.”

“Due to privacy laws I cannot disclose too many details over the phone but I can tell you that we have information on both persons you inquired about.”

Flayn’s heart skipped a beat.

“Byleth Eisner has been evacuated and is not currently in hospital. Your father, however, has been admitted to a hospital in West Faerghus and there are no details on his condition. With your permission I will make a request in your name to release information about him to you going forward.”

“Yes please. Thank you so much.”

“Glad to have been of service to you, Miss. I wish you all the best.”

Next Flayn made a call to the Church of Seiros Headquarters in Fhirdiad. There she reached an answering machine so she left a message, letting them know that she was all right and asking if someone could bring her some of her things from her room at the Old Convent, if it was still standing.

*

Following the destruction of the monastery Dimitri’s university had gone into overdrive. Colleagues on holiday had been recalled, planned events were cancelled or postponed indefinitely. On the one hand there was the reconstruction effort, checking which images, models and replicas could be used to help rebuild the monastery in the future, on the other hand they were preparing to send their own teams to catalogue the damage and to see what could be restored. Luckily many priceless objects such as paintings and artifacts on display had been removed before the collapse. Dimitri knew that his superiors were in communication with church officials to coordinate their efforts. Yet all this concerned Dimitri relatively little. His thoughts were with Edelgard whose condition was improving, which much to his mothers dismay meant her transport to Enbarr would happen sooner than later. He had gone to see her once but she wasn’t conscious and the sight disturbed him so much that he gladly offered his visitation time to her father. It was the first time he had met him despite having heard so much about him from his mother. She had always focused on his bad side of course and his critics were not much kinder. Dimitri had been surprised to meet a stoic man who didn’t speak much or openly showed emotion. But the affection he had for his daughter was genuine. Dimitri had never had seen a more loving caress of a cheek in his entire life and doubted that he ever would.

His smartphone brought him back to reality. He didn’t recognise the number but picked up anyway.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Dimitri, is that you?”

Dimitri straightened up.

“Byleth? Yes, it’s me. I am so glad to hear your voice. How are you, are you all right?”

“Not really. Everything is awful, can you help me?”

“Of course, whatever you need.”

*

The next day Dimitri drove back up the road to Garreg Mach. He had to state the purpose of his visit to a number of people before they let him through. The air still smelled like smoke so he turned off the AC as he drove past the ruins. Recovery and preservation efforts were already underway. Byleth was waiting for him in front of the Old Convent with packed suitcases, reusable bags and open cardboard boxes. She looked as she had sounded on the telephone: exhausted and melancholic. Dimitri loaded everything into the car while Byleth installed herself in the passenger seat. She was inspecting the seat belt when Dimitri closed the door on his side.

“Is everything OK?” He asked.

“I’m sorry, I can’t seem to do it,” Byleth said. Dimitri reached over and buckled it for her.

“Don’t worry, you’re in shock, you’ve been through something traumatic. One day you’ll find that what is now difficult has become easier. Give it time.”

He dared to put his hand on her knee and Byleth put her hand on top of it. They remained like this until someone honked at them to move. Dimitri started the car and drove away.

“So, off to Varley then?”

“Yes. I’ve been asked by the church to bring her things to her. Thank you for making the detour, I’m asking a lot of you.”

“No worries. I heard on the radio today that the ride sharing apps are crashing because so many people want to see their loved ones but don’t have a car of their own. Doesn’t help that public transport is at capacity either. I have to admit, I felt a bit guilty driving up here all by myself. So how is Flayn, do you know?”

“I haven’t spoken with her but since she’s asked for her things I believe that she is not too gravely injured.”

“I can’t imagine what you went through that night. I remember the relief I felt when we learned that my sister made it.”

Byleth perked up and looked at him.

“Edelgard made it?”

“Yes. Thankfully someone noticed that she was missing so they went back for her and found her. It was touch and go in the beginning but yesterday the doctors said that the tests they did showed some improvement. We’re hopeful.”

“Has she said anything about what happened?”

“No, she’s in a coma right now, to help her recover. Once she’s better her father wants to take her back to Enbarr. My mother is still fighting him on that but Enbarr is her home. It may take another week or more until she’s ready to be transferred anyway.”

Byleth nodded and made a mental note to ask the internet what a coma was. With any luck it was something bad and permanent, that would save her a lot of trouble. Varley was not too far from Garreg Mach. Dimitri offered to carry Flayn’s things but Byleth asked him to wait for her instead. She didn’t want to overwhelm Flayn in case she was tired. Dimitri understood and opened the boot of the car for her. A bag over her shoulder and a box in her hands Byleth went to the reception and received directions to Flayn’s room. Seeing she had her hands full a nurse knocked and opened the door for her. Byleth shuffled over to Flayn’s bed and put her things down. She hugged Flayn and held her close. Her hair still smelled of smoke.

“Flayn, I am so glad you are alive. I was so worried.” She noticed that Flayn did not hug her back. Byleth pulled back and sat down on the bed. “What’s wrong?”

“Byleth, what happened on the bridge?”

Byleth looked around to check if someone else was in the room who could listen in on their conversation. Once she was satisfied they had privacy she began to speak.

“There was so much smoke I needed to get out. I headed for the bridge where I saw Seteth and you, and it looked like you were about to fall over the edge so I pulled you back. He must have been confused again because he kept talking about flying to Zanado to keep you safe. Unless something has changed while I was gone he would have killed you both.”

“And then? What happened to him?”

Byleth took a deep breath. “I don’t know. The tower collapsed and before I knew it I was on the ground. I called out for you and Seteth but neither of you answered. I worry the blast may have… Pushed him over. I’m so sorry Flayn.”

Flayn tried to read in Byleth’s eyes if she was telling the truth. Her brow was furrowed but her eyes were dull and devoid of any emotion, just as they had been when she had first met Byleth all those years ago, and yet she was no longer that same person. But she wasn’t the person that had found her purpose in guiding and protecting the people of her beloved Fódlan either. She didn’t recognise this Byleth who didn’t hesitate to use force at the slightest inconvenience, who was unable to accept change; this Byleth whom she no longer trusted to act in the best interest of anyone but herself. She felt the primer against her thigh under the covers and decided that this was where it would stay.

“I am going to move to Fhirdiad for the time being. I am going to speak to the archbishop about a new position with the church,” Byleth changed the subject. “We could live together as we did, maybe with two beds though.” Flayn slightly raised one corner of her mouth.

“You don’t have to decide right now. Focus on getting better first. Look, this here is Dimitri’s number. I am going to stay with him for a while. Call this number when you’ve decided.”

She handed her a crumpled business card. Flayn took it and told Byleth that she was tired.

“Of course. I brought everything you asked for and a little more. We’ve been asked to vacate the Old Convent but you had so many things that someone offered to put them in storage. Wait, I have the paper somewhere.” She checked her various pockets and pulled out an equally crumpled letter which she placed on Flayn’s nightstand. Finally she got up and tucked Flayn in. She kissed Flayn’s forehead and her hands. “No matter what you decide, you’ll always have a home with me, Flayn. I’m not going anywhere. Dimitri is going to help me get a phone so then we can talk whenever. I’ll let you know. Right, can you give me your number? Then you can be the first person I call. Wait, I need a pen.”

“You can find my number online. My father only agreed to let me have a phone because work required it. Just type in Garreg Mach and my name, it will come up immediately.”

“Great! Good, that’s good. I’ll let you rest now. I’ll be thinking of you and Seteth.”

Flayn was relieved when Byleth had finally gone. She took out the primer and read through it again. Flayn had lost her trust in Byleth. Too much had happened, too many lies had been used to paint over inconsistencies and unspeakable secrets. But Flayn knew that this book contained a piece of the unsullied truth, and that truth deserved to be known. Holding this book in her hands Flayn made a vow to dedicate her life to herself from here on out. No more hiding. No more lying. She would finally be free. When a nurse came in to check on her she asked if it was possible to mail something from the hospital.

*

Chapter Text

Claude could see his crying mother all the way from the baggage claim. She alternated between pressing a handkerchief against her face and using it to wave at him. His father had his arm around her and raised his hand as a greeting. Once he had collected his luggage he stepped into the arrival hall. His parents greeted him each in their own way before heading to the car. He had spoken to them over the phone to let them know that he was safe and coming home but on the ride back home his parents made him tell them everything all over again. To spare his mother any further anguish he made it sound less dangerous than it had been. In his version he and the children were evacuated before the fire had gotten really bad and he got his burns from being careless.

“My baby, we are just so grateful that you have been restored to us. When we heard about the fire your aunts and uncles came over and stayed with us as we waited for news from you. They’re still at the house, we are going to celebrate and thank the gods while we’re at it. They were preparing your favourite food when we left for the airport, you’ll be eating well today,” his mother said, pinching his cheek.

His father parked the car in front of their house and before Claude had taken two steps his family was there to welcome him. They virtually carried him inside where his infirm grandmother stuck a sweet pastry into his mouth after claiming that he had lost weight. He was glad when his father’s booming voice called everyone to order.

“If all of you are standing here who is looking after the food? And what’s with the awkward silence, someone put on some music. Son, you come with me. Let me take a good look at you.” Claude followed his father into what everyone called the study when it really just was a room children under 15 were not allowed to enter. It was where the family’s most precious objects were kept. An ancient bow that had belonged to an ancestor, the safe with his mother and grandmother’s jewellery and a collection of books dating back to the time Almyra was an empire of its own. His father locked the door and sat down in his armchair.

“On the phone you said you found proof of Almyra’s claim on Derdriu Bay. What is it?”

“King Khalid was indeed the grandson of a Fódlan noble through his runaway daughter. We always suspected it but now we have tangible proof in the form of a family tree. This together with what we’ve already found here I’m sure the claim will be taken seriously on our side. But if I have learned anything during my time abroad it’s that the people of Fódlan place an unreasonable amount of importance and authority on what has happened in the past and they let it rule their lives to this day.”

“Of course they do. They may have embraced modern time technology like the rest of the world have known and used it for centuries but at their core they haven’t changed since the unification of their continent. We will simply push until they can’t ignore us any longer.”

“Actually, Dad, might I suggest a different approach? You and your people should wait for the perfect moment to strike.”

His father cracked his knuckles. “And why should we do that? Strike while the iron is hot, I say.” He looked at his son. They had very little in common, in looks and demeanour he took largely after his mother. Compared to his father Claude also had little to no natural authority. He’d never admit it to anyone but he was relieved when he found out that he and his son shared an interest for chess and they finally had something to bond over.

“There is a practical reason for one, the documents I’ve found are in a language I can’t read or understand. They need to get translated and certified by a reputable expert or whatever. It may take some time to find someone here.”

“But that can be arranged, we’re not a nation of dimwits.”

“There’s also another problem with how I obtained everything which will take little longer to explain. We may also need a lawyer or two or a dozen.”

“Get to the point, son.”

“Give it a year or two and there will be a controversy in Fódlan that will upset a great many people, but mostly the people of Faerghus I believe which means that they won’t pay much attention to Derdriu Bay. That leaves Leicester fending for themselves which shouldn’t be too difficult to deal with.”

His father was visibly intrigued. Maybe there was more of his daredevil self inside Claude than he knew. Placated by his son’s success he let it go that Claude refused to elaborate on the looming controversy.

“Where is the haul now?”

“It’s in a bag in my large suitcase.”

“Leave it with me, I will handle everything from now. You have made me very proud, my son. If we are successful and can claim the waters of Derdriu Bay we may finally solve Almyra’s energy resource problems, not to mention piss off those stuffy Fódlan types.” The mere thought amused him so that he laughed out loud. He was still laughing when he slapped the table and got up.

“By the way, son, your little girlfriend is in town. Once everyone has had a chance to hug and kiss you and you’ve been fed, you may leave. And when you see her you should tell her to stop walking around in her swimwear all the time. People are talking.”

“You mean the people breaking their necks trying to get a peek of her in the privacy of her own home? It doesn’t sound like she’s the problem.”

“Then have her put up a privacy screen. No should sunbathe from dawn to dusk, it’s not healthy! We invited her to join us here today and there were bets on what kind of tan-line she’d show up with. The family was disappointed when she declined, someone could have gotten really rich today.”

“Stop spying on her, that will make it easier for all parties involved. We just drove past dozens of billboards welcoming tourists and stressing our tolerance for their foreign ways, next you’re telling me this was all just another money-laundering scheme.”

His father just cleared his throat and unlocked the door. On the way down he grabbed two small children and threw them over his shoulders. They screamed and laughed with excitement. As uncomfortable as Claude was constantly being fussed over by his family he couldn’t wait to have some proper food. After the meal the younger children were put down for naps, the older children went outside to play and Claude used the opportunity to slip into the kitchen to ask one of his cousins to fill some of the leftovers into containers to take with him later. She gave him a knowing look and prepared some containers.

“You should ask her to accept more of our invitations. She clearly needs someone to feed her.”

“She is more than capable of taking care of herself. Besides, she already has an overbearing family back home, she doesn’t need another one here. I’ll be right back, could you find a bag and put everything in there, thank you.”

Claude went back to the car where he retrieved a couple of things from his suitcase. Luckily everything was still in one piece. It had been a gamble to put everything in the same check-in luggage but it had paid off. He took the larger bag to his father’s study and placed it next to the desk. The smaller bag in hand he went back downstairs. The aunties and uncles were sitting in their own circles drinking tea and talking about this and that. It was the perfect moment for the guest of honour to leave.

*

Hilda was lying on her sundeck chair thinking about what to order for dinner when she heard the front door fall shut. Had she forgotten a delivery perhaps? But the delivery people usually rang the bell as if the devil was behind them, as if that would make her move any faster. The smell of delicious food reached her nose and she sat up all confused. Had she ordered food half asleep again?

“Food delivery for Hilda!” Claude sat down at the foot end of her sundeck chair. She squealed and hugged him.

“Claude, oh, I’m so glad you’re back!” She kissed him on both cheeks. Then she moved back a bit to look at him. “Oh dear, look at all these bandages. How are you feeling?”

“Glad to be back home, even gladder to be here right now,” Claude said.

“And you brought me food, yay! I was just thinking about what to eat.”

Claude pulled the small table closer and began to unpack the food while Hilda watched.

“You even brought cutlery that’s not made from plastic. You’re so thoughtful.”

“I will need those back, along with any other containers or cutlery you’re hoarding in your virgin kitchen.”

“Oh you,” Hilda chuckled and began to eat. Claude was relieved that Hilda didn’t ask him to talk about what had happened, he was not only tired of telling the story, he needed more time to process it all in the first place. While Hilda ate Claude leaned back and enjoyed the sun on his face. He hadn’t been outright cold at Garreg Mach but their summer was nothing compared that of Almyra. Next to him Hilda sighed and patted her full stomach.

“That just hit the spot. And the beauty of it is I can stop when I’m comfortably full without your very well-meaning family giving me thirds and fourths. Give them my love and my thanks.”

“I will, once I’ve recovered from their love. By the way, I brought you a present.”

“Oh my, you’re spoiling me. What is it?” He pulled out the small bag and handed her a small wooden box. It was cracked; Claude had tried to polish it a little bit with a napkin so it looked better but with limited success. Hilda opened the box giddily and gasped.

“Claude, you know I love you but this is too much.” Despite her exclamation she pulled out a ring richly decorated with gems and put it on. “It’s really pretty but it’s so heavy and very dirty. Where did you get it?” She held it up to her expert eye and inspected it closely. Instead of giving her an answer he told her that there was more. Hilda spread everything the cushion before her. A pair of earrings, a choker, a pendant, a bracelet, a brooch and two combs.

“Clearly it’s a set, they’ve used the same gems on everything. Looks old, early medieval probably. I’d have to get out my tools to see what the gems are. When do you need it back?”

“I don’t, like I said, it’s a present. I found it.”

Hilda raised an eyebrow at that statement and held the ring into the sunlight where it caught the light. A lot of hard work had gone into creating this piece in particular. She took it off and after seeing the mark it had left on her finger checked the inside of the band. “Would you look at that, it has an inscription. But I can’t read it without my loupe. Perhaps not even with my loupe, it’s so dirty. Now tell me again where you found this?”

Claude just winked at her. “Hilda, please.”

“But Claude, if it’s stolen goods I cannot do anything with this in good conscience.”

“Tell you what: Clean it, find out what pretty stones and materials these are made of and repair it where necessary. When the time is right I’ll gift it to you again and everything will be perfectly legal, I promise.”

Hilda was playing with the ring, letting fall from one hand to the other as she contemplated his suggestion. Then she slipped the ring back on her finger. It was a really pretty ring, it was clearly meant to be worn and appreciated.  

“I guess if you insist I have no other choice. I’ve received worse gifts from abroad. Like the time my brother brought back this absolutely hideous T-shirt. It was so large I could basically wear it as a knee-length dress and it had some sort of cryptid creature on it. He thought it was funny, I locked myself in my room and cried and absolutely no one came to comfort me. In fact I could hear them laughing in the living room.”

“Mhm.”

Hilda saw that he had closed his eyes, his head propped up. She put everything except the ring back into the small wooden box and put it on the floor. She reached under Claude’s arms and pulled him into a more comfortable position stretched out on the sundeck chair. The fire, the flight and the celebration of his return must have been too much for him. To protect his already irritated skin from the sun Hilda moved the sunshade so it covered him from head to toe. Then she grabbed her sunglasses and a fashion magazine she had been reading and hopped on the premium air mattress in the shape of a tropical island with a built in sunshade and a beverage cooler. With her foot she pushed herself away from the edge and with a loud and content sigh settled in for another lazy afternoon.

*

Chapter Text

Six months later

“… preliminary findings point to faulty electrical wiring as the cause of the fire that destroyed Garreg Mach Monastery. Although the building had been in a state of constant renovation for some decades it appeared that the utilities had not been updated. As a historical monument the monastery had been subject to special regulations which are far less strict than those for regular commercial and residential buildings. Following the preliminary report published this morning the Church of Seiros has put out a statement in which they express regrets over this catastrophic oversight which miraculously has claimed no lives but has left a few dozen people with life-changing injuries. This preliminary report also calls into question the Church of Seiros’s request for financial support from the three countries’ governments for its plans to rebuild the monument. A source inside the Adrestian government says that there is a certain unwillingness to pay for someone else’s mistake, especially since the monastery itself is not a holy site unlike the cathedral which was untouched by the fire. Officially all three governments have yet to make a statement.

Fhirdiad Royal College, the leading institution in the restoration effort, announced that their plans are still going ahead as planned. Working closely with the Church of Seiros Fhirdiad Royal College are exploring different options to restore and reproduce decorative architectural elements that were destroyed in the fire. Due to the long construction time when it was first built the monastery was a living lexicon of different architectural styles and fashions across decades which made it only more unique as a structure.

However, experts see a silver lining in the wake of this catastrophe. Using the most modern technology scientists and researchers want to explore the foundation of the monastery and possibly dig even deeper to uncover its secrets. Their request is still pending with the Church of Seiros who in the past has categorically rejected such ideas due to the sacredness of the grounds. One of the leading researchers behind this proposal calls this defensive stance an poor excuse to hide whatever they wish to keep secret. On social media he wrote that if the monastery was to be restored using public funding then it was the public’s right to know what exactly would be restored. Further he commented on the accusation of being gravediggers and profiteers of a catastrophe. He writes that it’s only gravedigging if there were any hidden graves to be disturbed which is just one of the rumours surrounding the monastery grounds. Furthermore, any treasures discovered would be immediately publicised. Experts believe that if such a request were ever to be successful it would be at least another year if not more before such expeditions could take place. It is still unclear how long the entire reconstruction project would take, experts warn that it might take fifteen or even twenty years until everything is rebuilt, if that is the decision the Church of Seiros and the governments land on. A far less time-consuming and cost-intensive alternative would be to secure the ruins and construct a memorial museum where visitor’s could experience Garreg Mach Monastery through virtual reality instead.

We would love to hear our viewers’ thoughts and ideas on Garreg Mach Monastery, the Church of Seiros and the politics surrounding them. Go to our website and let us know what you and others think.

Holidaymakers who chose to spend time in the snowy mountains for the last time this year have got more than they bargained for. A stronger than predicted blizzard has cut off a valley with popular winter sport resorts from the rest of the world and is currently only reachable via helicopter. Statements from local representatives and social media posts from stranded holidaymakers alike paint a happy picture despite the circumstances. While inconvenient for those who should be back at work and school the overall situation is not a dire one, as can be seen with this image post of a schoolchild in the snow with only her head sticking out. The caption reads: “There are worse places to be stuck in.”

…

*

“That child may make it look fun but I have tried skiing this winter and found that it’s not for me. Neither is all that snow to be honest, but it was nice to experience something else than Garreg Mach’s temperate climate. Can you believe it, I was able to heal a broken bone on the slopes without anyone noticing. The woman had lost control and tumbled down the slope breaking her leg in the process. But over all the thick clothing no one saw what I did. She still went to hospital though, just to be safe. That reminds me, I told you that I wanted to go to university, right? Turns out I need to have a certificate as proof that I graduated regular school for that. Of course I don’t have that but they pointed me in direction of evening classes. It will take me a good while I think because I looked at the material they cover and I know basically nothing. But if I have anything it’s time. My plan is to start evening classes after the summer holidays and until then I will travel some more. I was at a bar and I met someone who told me about his holiday in Brigid. Don’t worry, nothing untoward happened. He went on something called a safari, basically a long car ride where you can look at animals in the wild. And they have old or injured animals in the visitor centre you can touch, hold and take pictures with. As soon as I find a good deal I am booking my trip. It will be my first trip via airplane and I have been watching those security instruction videos on the internet to prepare myself. Now I’m not saying I wish for the air masks to come down but if they do I wouldn’t mind because it looks very exciting. Even better if they have to deploy the big emergency slides.

Speaking of big slides, I have been to a theme park. In the beginning I was a little afraid because I was alone and there were so many people but then I discovered the single rider line and after that everything was smooth sailing. I have made so many friends, and guess what, they love my ears. They think they look very cool. I haven’t gotten around to getting them pierced yet, I’ve accompanied a friend to the piercing and tattoo studio and I’ve seen firsthand what that process looks like and I’m not quite ready for that. Heavens, look at the time, I have to leave now, I am meeting a friend for dinner and a movie starring my favourite actor. I’ll be back in a few days, by then I’ll have had my first driving lesson, I can’t wait to see how that will go. I’ve spoken to the nursing staff and they told me that you enjoy listening to the audiobook I got for you so I went ahead and gave them the next audiobook for you to listen to as soon as you’ve finished with the current one. I’ll be reading the book as well and I will let you know what I think. I hope I picked a good one. Let me make you more comfortable… Here… There you go. I have to say, they are doing an excellent job at grooming you. Now, I have to go or I’ll miss the bus. Goodbye, Daddy. I love you.” Flayn kissed her father on the forehead and squeezed his hand and felt the faintest movement. She grabbed her bag and left his room. She said goodbye to the nursing staff on her way out and thanked them for taking care of her father. They waved and once she had gone one of them commented how lucky Seteth was.

“We’ve had residents who haven’t had real visitors in years and she comes at least once a week if not more when she’s not on holiday. And even then she sends postcards. We’ll have to take some down soon, the board is nearly full.”

“I know, she’s so sweet. And he’s really responding well. Despite everything I’ve seen working here they keep my hope alive that he might recover one day. Every time I go into his room I think he might spontaneously open his eyes.”

“I’m afraid in his permanent vegetative state those slight muscle contractions are everything he can do and even those are already highly unusual,” the doctor on-call chimed in. The nurses gave him their best side-eye and continued chatting.

“Even so, I like to think that it’s a sign that some part of him is still here with us and his daughter. As if he had just fallen into a very deep slumber until the next big thing.”

“He might be around long enough. I heard from admin that his insurance actually only pays for a bed in a six bed room and only the basic physiotherapy, the Church of Seiros is covering the rest which is an incredible sum,” the doctor tried to join the conversation again. That was news to the nurses which the doctor was pleased to see.

“Well, it’s what I would want for my father. And from what I heard he has served the Church of Seiros for longer than I have been alive. He even received a message from the archbishop herself with a blessing. Maybe he is now reaping the fruits of his labours. Good for him, gives hope to us all.”

“If there’s to be any hope for you I suggest you get on with your work now. I have to talk to a family about withdrawing life support for their loved one. ”

With that the group dispersed and went about their day.

*

Byleth was not used to being on the other side of closed doors waiting to be called upon. But at least she was finally in that waiting room. It had taken a lot of work to get an audience with the archbishop. She had tried it through her newly established contacts within the church which she now served as a Sunday School teacher in Fhirdiad. When that didn’t get her where she wanted she asked Dimitri for advice who in turn asked his parents for help. They were of course happy to help their son’s new girlfriend and used their impressive influence with the right people. Only a few days later she received an invitation to the archbishop’s palace for an audience scheduled a few months later. She had spent many nights looking at it on her nightstand while Dimitri slept next to her in bed. In the beginning she had hoped to avoid any intimate relationship with him because in her heart of hearts it felt wrong to be with anyone but her beloved, but in the end Byleth was a woman made of flesh and blood. Once he had watered her withered garden it bloomed and yearned for more. In her opinion she also deserved it for putting up with his parents whom he, unfortunately for her, loved very, very much. So much that they spent more evenings having dinner at their house than in their own apartment. She couldn’t stand his narcissistic mother who seemed to look down on her despite constantly assuring her that she was so happy for her son to have found someone he loved. His reserved father bored her to tears with all his talk of things that meant little to nothing to her, yet she couldn’t tell him that so instead sat there evening after evening nodding and asking him to elaborate so she didn’t have to say anything herself and reveal her ignorance. Since he stood no chance in a conversation against his wife he must have enjoyed finally hearing himself talk for a change. One time she paid so little attention that she was startled when Lambert called her name out of nowhere and knocked over her wine glass which then rolled onto the floor and shattered. She apologised, Patricia said that this was a sure sign for Byleth to stop drinking so much wine and everyone laughed while a maid quickly collected the shards in a dustpan. Byleth was too stunned to be offended or embarrassed. Instead she watched the maid carry the dustpan with the shards away.

After they had gotten home from that dinner Byleth waited for Dimitri to fall asleep before getting out of bed. From the kitchen cabinet she took a wine glass and set it down on the counter right next to the sink. She closed her eyes and focused on the task ahead. With one swipe she pushed the glass into the sink where it broke into pieces. In her mind Byleth thought about the wine glass as it had been. The first time she failed to undo her action and couldn’t figure out why. She took another glass from the cabinet and examined it very closely. Its shape, the thickness of its stem, the width of the opening, its weight. That glass too was swiped into the sink where it shattered. This time it took her a while but before her inner eye she could see the glass shards come together and dramatically fly out of the sink only to tip backwards onto its base. Byleth was pleased when the glass had done exactly that. She repeated the action a couple of times, increasing the complexity of the action with every try. Once she was sure of herself she attempted the real test. She took a paper weight, opened the cabinet and threw the paper weight right in the middle of all the glassware.

“Byleth, what on earth are you doing?” Dimitri was standing in the doorway staring at her in disbelief. She turned back time to the moment she was about to throw the paper weight. She threw it again and promptly Dimitri appeared in the doorway to ask her what on earth she was doing. As a final test she went back as far as she could, stopping at the moment the first glass had fallen into the sink. She counted the wine glasses in the cabinet, there was one missing and she was looking at its remains in the sink. Satisfied with her performance she closed the cabinet and went back to bed. Immediately Dimitri pulled her to him and half-asleep asked what had happened.

“I’m sorry I woke you, Dimitri. I dropped a wine glass, there are shards in the sink.”

“You drink too m…” He fell back asleep before he had finished the sentence. Carefully Byleth pulled her hair out from under him and turned on her back to get some distance between them. It would break his tender little heart but the moment order was restored she would end things with him, Byleth swore to herself. One could only tolerate so much cuddling and handholding for the sake of fulfilling one’s mission.

Patricia had insisted on taking Byleth shopping for a dress suitable for an audience with the archbishop. Byleth doubted it was really necessary since she had recently seen pictures of the archbishop in the tabloids wearing ripped jeans and oversized hoodies and a cap on her way to getting iced-coffee. Dimitri said it was due to her young age, only slightly older than Dimitri himself; she was one of the youngest archbishops ever chosen, whatever that meant. The tabloid had also printed the exact order of her favourite drink which had become known as the ‘ice-bishop’. Byleth had tried and liked it so maybe she was not entirely useless. Shopping with Patricia had soon turned into Patricia shopping and Byleth acting as a living, breathing mannequin. Patricia loudly lamented the size of Byleth’s chest which made even conservative dresses look indecent somehow. The sales assistants eventually put together an outfit consisting of a light crème coloured dress that covered elbows and knees and a navy cape to distract from her neckline. When Byleth saw herself in the mirrors she broke into laughter which puzzled Patricia and the sales assistants but in the end everyone agreed that this was a good choice.

The morning of the audience Patricia picked Byleth up to take her to her hairdresser. Byleth sat there and watched in the mirror as a very serious man picked up strand after strand only to cut off millimetres at a time. In the end her hair didn’t look too different but it felt much softer and had more volume. Patricia had insisted on having it done up with some strands left out but as soon as Byleth was in the archbishop’s palace she asked for the powder room and took the needles out. With her hair down she returned to the waiting room where she sat down on a sofa. The only thing she really liked about her outfit were her new shoes. They had thin high heels and were pointy in the front. Initially Patricia said they were inappropriate for such an occasion, and rarely appropriate at all really, but the longer they both looked at them the weaker her objections became until she asked the sales assistant for a pair for herself, too. They were a bit uncomfortable and Byleth had fallen over the first few times she had tried walking in them but after some research on the internet she had mastered the walk: many small steps instead of few long ones. She could even run in them using the same silly technique though after she had seen herself in the window doing so she decided only to do so in emergencies. Too much jiggling. She was admiring her shoes when the doors finally opened and her name was called. A man in a regular suit closed the door behind her and gave her last minute instructions.

“Remain standing until Her Grace enters the room. She will extend her hand which you may hold for a brief moment without going for a full handshake. Address her with ‘Your Grace’ and only after she has spoken to you. After she has offered you a seat you will sit on this chair. Once Her Grace ends the audience you will get up and she will offer you her hand again. Same procedure, you say goodbye and step backwards until you can see me from the corner of your eye at which point you may turn around and leave the room. Any questions?” Byleth shook her head. No sooner had the man closed the door behind her the door before Byleth was opened. Byleth was relieved to see that she was not overdressed. Once the door closed and she was alone with the head of the Church of Seiros Byleth walked up to the archbishop to take a closer look.

“Well, well, well. You really do look like your pictures in the magazines.”

The archbishop was surprised by such a bold greeting. Usually people fell to their knees when they came to see her despite clear instructions issued by her secretary not to do so. This deference especially by the elderly made her very uncomfortable, similarly to how her guest circling her did now.

“We don’t have much time, we should get started, have a seat.”

In the briefing the secretary hadn’t mentioned any mental health issues she should be mindful of which was either a mistake or her guest was indeed that fearless or just plain ignorant. Wary, the archbishop did as she was told, resting her hands in her lap. Byleth pulled her own chair closer before sitting down.

“Your Grace, I have come to you today to discuss the restoration efforts of Garreg Mach Monastery.”

“Yes, I’ve been told as much. I’ve also been told that you were there on the day of the fire and that you acted selflessly to help evacuate the summer campers. I commend your bravery and…“

“Yes, yes. Listen, you should be aware of all the facts before you allow anyone to poke around in those ruins. Otherwise you open the door to all sorts of dangers and troubles.”

Now the archbishop was getting irritated. “I am the archbishop of the Church of Seiros, I am the goddess’s physical vessel on this earth. Please assume that I am aware of everything. Why are you grinning at me like an imbecile?”

Byleth straightened her face again. “I’m sorry, it’s what you said, the goddess’s physical vessel… In any case you are familiar with the story of the Ten Elites then?”

“Of course, everyone knows it, even the non-believers.”

“Can you name them?”

“No one can, those names have been lost to time. Besides, the Ten Elites are just ancient legends. You’re a Sunday School teacher, correct? I hope you’re teaching the children more practical aspects of our faith.”

Byleth sighed. She would have to do it the slow way. “Your Grace, does the name Sothis mean anything to you?”

“It’s a pretty name but I don’t think it has any significance in our faith.”

“But you do know who Rhea is, right?”

At the mention of Rhea the archbishop’s eyes widened a bit and Byleth knew that she had successfully thrown out the bait.

“Of course. Rhea was the name of the archbishop who watched over the Saviour King’s forces as he fought against the Adrestian emperor. But the archbishops personal names are also supposed to be lost to time for they lost themselves once they were chosen to serve as the goddess’s vessel. How do you know about Archbishop Rhea? And what else do you know? And why?”

The young and inexperienced archbishop had swum right into her net without noticing that it was even there. All that was now left for Byleth to do was to slowly lift her out and put her in a fishbowl of which she was the sole master and keeper. Satisfied Byleth reached into her handbag and pulled out her smartphone.

“Cancel the rest of your audiences. This is going to take a while and I have questions of my own. Do you have a glass I could borrow?”

*

Carrying a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a plastic bag filled with snacks in the other Hubert entered the rehabilitation centre in Western Adrestia. It was just a bit outside of an idyllic coastal town known for its favourable climate and the discretion of its inhabitants. The receptionist already knew him so he just waved him through. Hubert headed straight for Edelgard’s room and rang the bell. To his surprise a man wearing a housekeeping uniform opened the door and informed him that the resident wasn’t here, but he could put the flowers in vase for him so they’d be all lush and pretty upon her return. Hubert handed him the flowers and asked where he might find Edelgard. The housekeeper suggested asking one of the staff and pointed him in the right direction.

“Ah, Mister von Vestra,” a staff member greeted him friendly. “You must be looking for Miss von Hresvelg. She’s in the dayroom. She’s made such improvements nothing and no one could keep her in her room. It’s there on the right.”

Edelgard hadn’t mentioned anything to him, but then again she wasn’t the type to speak openly about her health, neither the setbacks nor the improvements. Due to the exclusivity of the rehabilitation centre there were never a lot of people around and Hubert spotted Edelgard sitting at a table in the corner, facing away from the large sliding doors leading out onto a currently closed terrace deck overlooking the ocean. In front of her was an open sketchbook and a large box of coloured pencils. Hubert watched her for a while as she drew something. From her lack of any reference pictures he assumed that she was drawing from memory or something more abstract. Not wanting to embarrass her Hubert called out her name. Edelgard looked up and smiled.

“Hubert, you’re here! Come, have a seat.”

She closed her sketchbook and pushed the box of pencils aside to make room for him. He put down the bag of snacks which she immediately dug into. She had told him that the food here was very healthy. Her body was aching for sodium and artificial food colouring. While she tore into a packet of biscuits Hubert opened his satchel and pulled out a folder along with his tablet.

“As I have told you the research group had a meeting a few days ago where we discussed the progress everyone has made so far and as it turns out we’re only slightly behind schedule. The other research groups are pretty annoyed with us because we are now taking up a lot of space in the building. There’s also a bit of bad blood because we hired two more research assistants in addition to the graduate seminar we are planning for the next semester. The graduates will begin with the transcription of the first batch of documents. The other groups are claiming we’re hogging everything and everyone. Hanneman is thinking about including the University of Enbarr in the project. More manpower, more workhours but we’d have to share our resources with them which he’s not too keen on.”

“Are we sure it’s not Professor Casagranda he wants to avoid at all costs?” Edelgard asked between two biscuits.

“She’s definitely a factor. But if it comes to a vote I will vote for the cooperation. University of Enbarr have access to government funding which we don’t. Did I mention one of our high definition scanners is broken? Rumour has it someone was upset and broke it on purpose. We’re currently discussing whether to have it repaired or to upgrade to a better and newer model.”

Edelgard chuckled amused. She missed going to work and attending these meetings, even though most of them were boring. As glad as she was to be here in the first place and to have all the time she needed to recover, the days had begun to blend into each other. And to be honest in her current condition Edelgard probably couldn’t even sit through an entire meeting.

Ever since she had woken up in hospital she was suffering from terrible nightmares and anxiety attacks. To this day she wasn’t sure if her brain was just trying to fill in the gaps or if it in fact was replaying things that had really happened while she was unconscious. She remembered voices, she remembered feeling hot and cold, her cheeks being touched without her permission. One time she was putting her freshly laundered clothes away she suddenly couldn’t breathe anymore. The occupational therapist who had come looking for her after she didn’t show up for therapy found her lying on the floor. Not every episode was as jarring and debilitating as that one but for now they happened often enough that they got in the way of a life outside round the clock care. And those were most likely only related to the fire of which Edelgard had no recollection at all. The disease that had robbed her of years of her childhood had returned and her refusal to be seen by a medical professional and thus the long delay of treatment had caused permanent damage. At least the extensive treatment regime had evolved since her childhood; instead of being bedbound in hospital attached to tubes day and night now she only had to have one infusion every three weeks along with taking her medications twice a day, presumably for the rest of her life. Edelgard had told everyone that since she had never had any ambitions of becoming an athlete or an outdoor enthusiast it didn’t change much for her, and that was true, but the realisation that this also meant that steps, stairs, slopes and uneven ground would limit her mobility for the rest of her life hit harder than she cared to admit.

At least she got to experience the monastery while she still could, and the while the monastery was still there to be explored. Edelgard had thought people were taking the piss when they told her the monastery had burned down. Her family and a therapist had sat down with her a few times over a couple of days, showing her pictures, videos and news footage of the fire. Once she was allowed unsupervised use of her own devices she would wake up in the night and check if the fire really had happened, just to be sure. There came a point when she accepted that and around the same time she also had a breakthrough in therapy; she had managed to combine what she perceived as different timelines she had lived into one, despite having large gaps in her memory. To this day Edelgard didn’t fully understand it but she had made peace with it. That was in the past, now she needed to look forward, keep up with her treatment and focus on getting better.

Hubert turned his laptop around so she could see the screen. He was showing her an overview of what their research group had already accomplished. The most progress had been made with the various maps since they required less reading and transcribing.

“The most interesting thing so far are the appearances and disappearances of the family names that ruled over the territories. Some turned up again later in another spot, others disappeared forever. My favourite is this map showing where Pegasi herds used to roam. They were mostly native to the southern part of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus. It was probably too cold for them in the north. There was another map we’re not entirely sure about. Plenty of smaller towns are circled, some of which we were never entirely too sure really existed but thanks to this map we now know they did. Maybe it was not a map used to navigate but a progress chart of some sort, we don’t know yet. Moving on to…” Hubert glanced at Edelgard whose eyes were staring at the wall behind him. Knowing about her deficits he was not offended and skipped the majority of the following slides. He cleared his throat and Edelgard looked up.

“Of course everyone has been told to keep an eye out for the lost emperor based on what you already outlined. We looked for legitimate children that might fit the timeframe but we couldn’t find one, so we cast a wider net and we found three that could be potential candidates, two sons and one daughter. All children by different concubines. We’re currently trying to find out more about them on our end.”

“It would be strange, the emperor had plenty of children from his marriages. Why would a legitimised child succeed? That child must have been special in some way.” Edelgard reached for a pen and made a note on the front of her sketchbook.

“By the way, Hubert, what about the legal team? If we want to publish the Church will sue.”

“Last I heard they were prepared to let them sue. After all you can only steal what is proven property of someone else. They would have to admit that they kept all this and potentially more hidden and once they do that they expose themselves to accusations and demands left and right. They’re willing to gamble and I agree.” Hubert paused for a moment. Another idea had come up in the last meeting that seemed so idiotic that Hubert had deemed it a waste of time at the time but on the journey here he had thought about it some more and now it didn’t sound that dumb at all. Edelgard seemed tired so the time she could actively process what he told her was about to run out. Hubert decided to share it with her.

“You remember Linhardt?”

“Of course. He’s one of the most insufferable people to work with at the institute. I wish I could forget him.”

“He said something about the lost emperor that has stuck with me. We were discussing ways to identify the lost emperor using both images already in our archives and the ones you found. Linhardt pointed out that it would make a whole lot more sense to look for the remains instead. After all we could train AI to do the image search and use the manpower in the field instead.”

Edelgard looked up. Indeed she hadn’t thought about the human remains at all. Fódlan had always favoured burials to cremation, a tradition that had endured, troublesome for city planners both past and present.

“The lost emperor wouldn’t be buried in a cemetery since they were firmly in the church’s purview. They even kept track of the unmarked graves of criminals.”

“Linhardt suggested looking in the surroundings of where the Imperial Palace once stood. If they even bothered to bury him that is, they might have also just thrown the body into the river.”

“Unlikely, that river was blessed by Seiros herself. They wouldn’t have wanted to pollute the waters like that. No they probably buried him somewhere out of sight out of mind. Maybe in a field or…”

“In a forest or even a quarry, anywhere you wouldn’t expect human remains to show up,” Hubert finished her sentence. He watched Edelgard grip the pen somewhat oddly as she made another note. From the unsteadiness of her letters he assumed it was a consequence of her weakened fine motor skills.

“I find this fascinating. Of course it’s a testament to Linhardt’s terrible work ethic, doing anything but what he is supposed to do, but for once it’s actually helpful. Encourage the thought. He might be on to something.”

A nurse came to their table and asked Edelgard how she was feeling. Edelgard admitted that she was feeling a little tired. The nurse suggested having a lie down before dinner. Edelgard gave Hubert an apologetic look. He had driven quite far to get here only for her to give in so quickly.

“Don’t worry. I will leave this folder with you. It contains the presentation I showed you earlier with some extra large photocopies in the back.”

“Thank you Hubert. I’m really sorry, next time I’ll… I’ll have more stamina, I promise.”

Hubert gathered his things and got up. The nurse packed Edelgard’s art supplies and gave them to Edelgard to hold in her lap. Then she released the breaks of the wheelchair Edelgard was sitting in and pushed Edelgard along. Edelgard noticed Hubert’s looks and explained that even short distances wore her out. This way she was not only faster but when she was walking by herself she had something to hold on to. Like everything else it was part of her long way to recovery, or rather a new normal. The nurse took Edelgard to the front door where Hubert said goodbye.

“Keep me updated. Just give me time to reply.”

“I will. Let me know how you’re getting on.”

After he had gone the nurse wheeled Edelgard back to her room. There she noticed the flowers he must have brought her.

“Aren’t they pretty? Why not try to draw them? It might be a nice change from what you usually draw. I’ll move them a little closer and into better light.” The nurse put the brakes on and took Edelgard’s things from her so she could transfer to the bed. Edelgard opened the sketchbook and flipped through the pages. Every page was a variation of the same scene: A couple holding hands, he tall and blonde, she shorter and with green hair. Sometimes they were sitting on a bench, sometimes they were strolling through a garden, but they were always together and they were always happy to be with each other. Edelgard wasn’t entirely sure why she kept returning to this couple, she didn’t even know who they were. But whenever she drew the woman’s eyes Edelgard could feel the love the woman had for the man. The kind of love that could make you do terrible things. Once Edelgard had settled in her bed she looked at the flowers in their new location. Whoever had created this bouquet knew what they were doing. If she wanted to draw it she should hurry, after all these flowers were now living on borrowed time. Edelgard turned to a new page in her sketchbook, picked up a pencil and with a deep breath made the first stroke.

*

Hanneman was looking over the budget report for the quarter when an intern knocked at his door.

“Yes, come in.”

The intern held up a small package. “Professor, this arrived this morning. It is addressed to our institute.” He put it on Hanneman’s desk. Hanneman waved him away and inspected the padded envelope. Upon noticing the date on the post stamp he recalled the intern.

“The date on this is from months ago. What do you mean it arrived this morning?”

The intern shrugged. “It was in the big mail cart along with the rest of the mail. It must have been overlooked.”

Hanneman scoffed. “Overlooked, really. Perhaps I should rethink the requirements for our internships. I thought ‘Is able to fully unload a mail cart’ would be implied but apparently it needs to be spelled out. Leave now before you display even more of your incompetence.” The intern quickly left the room. Hanneman reached for a letter opener and opened the mystery package. There was only a small book with a piece of paper stuck between the pages. No note, no letter, no details of the sender. Hanneman looked at the antique book. Perhaps it was another one of those books people found while clearing out their attics and basements thinking they were somehow valuable. Unfortunately they rarely were and so those books at least got to enjoy a journey to Enbarr before being recycled. At first glance his suspicion appeared to be correct. The covers were in bad shape but the pages were pristine. Maybe, if they didn’t have this exact one already in the collection… He got to the page marked by the piece of paper. Hanneman stared at it for a good while before he jumped up from his chair. Taking the book with him he jogged through the hallways and down the stairs to the conference room that had been commandeered by the research group. “I need a copy of that primer about the Saviour King’s life,” he announced loudly. Someone answered that it should be in the library.

“Then go and get it, please. Get all the copies we have.” Two people left to fulfil his strange request. In the meantime Hanneman put his copy on the table and asked for someone to access the digital collection of illustrations. People gathered around him curious about what he was going to show them. The two people returned with eight different copies.

“Everyone, please take one and find the scene where the emperor is slain and show it to me. And find out which year your copy was printed.” Hubert took one copy and looked for that scene though he was unsure why Hanneman wanted to see it. The illustration was so famous it had been re-interpreted many times throughout the centuries, parodied countless times even in different media. Once Hubert and the others had found the page they put them on the table for Hanneman to see. He looked at each one and confirmed that his copy was the oldest by far. He gasped and sat down.

“My dear colleagues, I believe we have been wrong about the lost emperor this entire time. In this oldest edition the person the Saviour King is about to slay is clearly a woman. But in the subsequent editions he looks like a man.”

Everyone craned their necks to see the illustration and to compare it to the ones they were holding. The posture was the same, the colours were the same but the details of the headdress, hairstyle and the curves had been erased in their editions.

“That would once and for all explain why the emperor looked so tiny in comparison to the king. We always assumed it had to do with symbolism or with perspective which was simply not developed at the time,” the expert for medieval art said in a loud whisper.

Hanneman raised his head. “Are we in the collection yet? I want you to search for this headdress or crown. I don’t think I have seen it before. If we can at all link it to the Empire…” The person manning the laptop was typing at highspeed.

“A first search has yielded no matching results. I’ll keep trying. Does anyone have a guess what type of horns they are?” It was difficult to tell from the illustration. Being printed from a woodcut meant to be used many times it had to be robust so the details were kept to a minimum.

“While you keep searching I want the rest of you to explore the option of the lost emperor being a woman. We need daughters, sisters, nieces, any female relative of the emperor of the right age.”

“Well, there’s the legitimised daughter we talked about. She would be the right age. The only thing we don’t know yet is when she died,” Hubert said.

“Find out. We are nearly there, people. If we all work together we can solve this century old mystery. Linhardt, that includes you too! Go and do something useful.”

Linhardt dramatically tore himself away from the table he had been watching the scene from and went back to his office. He closed the door, sat down at his desk and yawned. He pulled up the proposal he had been working on and edited the document were necessary. A monkey could search online databases and comb collections for mentions and hints. The real evidence that would seal the deal was buried in the ground somewhere around the ruins of the Imperial Palace, of that he was convinced. What was needed now was not a monkey but a person with an impeccable work ethic, unafraid to get their hands dirty, quite literally. Even better, that person had just returned from a dig abroad and had a long-standing obsession with being better than Edelgard. If everything worked out Edelgard would publish and give everyone the finger who belittled her, Ferdinand would forever get to say that if it hadn’t been for him Edelgard wouldn’t have found definite proof, and Linhardt could enjoy the drama until he got tired and instead turn his attention back to his own research. Wins across the board. He sent the proposal and then slid under his desk where his pillow and blanket were already waiting for him.

*

Chapter Text

“Welcome, and thank you for your interest in this next presentation. At this conference we are always looking to invite speakers whose research is pushing the boundaries of our discipline. Our next speaker has done exactly that. With tenacity and passion she pursued one sole objective: to identify the true last emperor of the Adrestian Empire. Despite opposition both from inside the discipline and from external actors, and challenges in her personal life she has prevailed. It is a great honour to present to you Miss Edelgard von Hresvelg PhD from the Adrestian Heritage Research Institute.”

A short woman using a cane walked up to the speaker’s podium. The host shook her hand and walked off the stage. She bent the microphone down until it was at the right height for her. Then she ran her hand over her printed out notes and began to speak.

“Ever since I was a child walking up and down the picture gallery in the presidential palace I was fascinated by all those people who had lived before us. Their achievements laid the foundation upon which the world as we know it has been built. From personal experience, however, I am also familiar with what happens to those who opposed the victors and lost. No one takes pride or pleasure in documenting their own failures and defeats, and even fewer people are interested in reading about them. What we really care about are the stories of the heroes who defied all the odds, slayed their dragons and left behind a lasting legacy. In one of these stories the Saviour King overcomes his personal demons and leads his army against the Adrestian Emperor to end the bloody civil war which had lasted for five years. In the throne room of the Imperial Palace the Saviour King famously slayed the emperor and thus rang in a new era for the continent of Fódlan, now unified in a single kingdom. He went on to live a full life beloved by his queen and his people before dying of old age in his bed one night. What is curiously absent from practically all research ever published on the Saviour King are the details of that fateful day in the throne room. One would think that this feat would have been used as inspiration for songs, plays or books, and thus retold many times in varying detail, yet all we know is that the emperor died through the king’s hand, or rather his legendary weapon. Basically, this illustration from a primer has shaped history until now. I have come here today not to change history as it had been written all those years ago, but to re-introduce the last emperor using sources discovered only recently, and to honour her with a place in our history.”

*

“That’s my baby,” Patricia said to Lambert, dabbing at her tears with a handkerchief.

*

“Yes, I am telling you how to do your damn job! Pull out the old classics from storage and put on a special exhibition. That way your abandoned museum will finally have some visitors!” The housekeeper quietly put down a cup of tea in front of Ionius who was shouting into the telephone. She wouldn’t want to trade places with the museum director for anything in the world.

*

Claude tapped his father on the shoulder. “Our moment has arrived.” His father immediately picked up the phone. Claude walked across the room where Hilda was admiring her own reflection in the mirror, the choker around her neck reflecting the light all over the room.

“And you’re sure I can keep it?” She asked with a hint of worry in her voice.

“Finder’s keepers, Hilda. You will have to leave it to the museum for a while but if no one comes forward within say, another six months of it being on display it will belong to you by law. And even if someone did, I highly doubt that they can prove its providence anymore than we can. Good thing too, I don’t think I know a neck more suited for this treasure.” He ran his fingers across the rows of what they now knew to be diamonds and rested his chin on her shoulder.

*

Dimitri sat in the audience where a group of devout believers had interrupted Edelgard’s presentation. They were calling her a robber, a thief, a heretic. He watched Edelgard as she leaned on her cane, patiently waiting for the hecklers to be escorted out of the auditorium. On a personal level he was happy for her, but on a professional level she had just invalidated a number of papers he had authored or co-authored. Not to mention that this would be yet another reason for his girlfriend, a very devout believer, to dislike her. He was not looking forward to the next family reunion.

*

“See? Exactly as I told you. Look at her smug little face. She has just defiled the church and is proud of it too. And there is no telling what she might do next. She might even come for you. How embarrassing would it be if the long line of archbishops ended with you. You’d forever be remembered as the archbishop who dropped the ball.” Like a cat Byleth circled the archbishop who was watching the livestream from the conference on her computer. She reached over the archbishop’s shoulder and put a piece of paper in front of her. “Start with her excommunication, then we’ll tell the lawyers to go after her. We’ll tear her to shreds, with whatever means necessary.” The archbishop looked at the paper and reached for a pen. She signed it and put her seal under it. The telephone rang and the archbishop picked it up. Byleth could hear her private secretary on the other end, he sounded agitated. She put the receiver down and looked at Byleth leaning against the desk.

“The press are asking for a statement. What should I do?”

“For the time being you do nothing. I have come up with a statement in your name which your press secretary can read out loud. The archbishop does not lower herself to appearing in public or on TV like a commoner. Your stance on this will be made very clear in the statement. You carry on with your private audiences as you have been doing. I will make sure the church will come out of this victorious.”

The archbishop picked the receiver up again and asked her private secretary to summon the press secretary, she had a statement for him to publish. Then she hung up. “Good girl,” Byleth praised her and cupped the archbishop’s cheek for a moment. She was such a simple creature, Byleth thought. Young, inexperienced and just ambitious enough to fear failure more than anything else, making her fully receptive to Byleth’s advice. Just as the archbishop leaned into Byleth’s hand she let go.

“I will let you know if there’s anything else you should be doing,” Byleth said on her way out.

*

Flayn was about to board her plane to Brigid when the push notifications started to come in. She acknowledged them with a smile and swiped them away. Her boarding group was called up and she grabbed her carry-on luggage. She was excited for what her first trip abroad would have in store for her.