Byleth ponders to himself the situation. In two weeks he will kill Kronya, and from there, that moment onward, the war will happen. He knows that refusing to go after Kronya will cause the others to question him, but fusing with Sothis seals the fate of the world. Seals...

Her fate...

He needed something.

Anything.

To justify not going after Kronya.

Little did he realize he would get exactaly what he wanted...

Richard could tell. He knew from day one. Saw it in her eyes. Some people have that gift. Anyone can learn it. Some learn it through compassion, others through being hurt themselves, but if one knows what to look for they can tell...

"Who abused you?" Richard demands holding a lantern outside the library as Bernadette enters the hallway, shocked to see Richard.

"What?" She asked, "I'm sorry I have to-"

"Who hurt you?" Richard demands, more angry now.

Bernadette, frightened, turned away and stammered out an excuse that didn't even fully form.

Richard pressed on, "I can help you but I need names. Was it your mother? Your father? I'm here for you but you gotta talk to me."

Thus, with a sigh, Bernadette revealed how how she was abused by her parents.

And Richard...

Well...

"Boys we have a target to purify," Richard smirked speaking to Claude and Ferdinand the next morning...

Meanwhile, Edelgard pondered about the incident one year ago.

"It really does not add up," Hubert comments, "Why burn down a winery?"

"Dozens died in fire," Edelgard adds, "He... he may be a danger Hubert. I want you to follow him."

"As you wish lady Edelgard," Hubert smirked and walked away.

Edelgard muttered to herself, "What did you need to purify there?..."

"Richard we can't..." Claude sighs, "Those are her parents."

"Claude buddy," Richard chuckles, "Any who harm a child are impure. They must be cleansed. Purified. Do you not desire a pure world as well?"

"But is this the way?" Claude asks, "Richard this is-"

"Justice," Ferdinand growls, "I've met some horrid nobels but these two... we're going Claude. With or without you..."

"Then I suppose we go together," Claude sighs putting on a mask...

Hubert watches from the shadows, now knowing Richard doesn't work alone. He tails them to the estate...

The down pour did nothing to deter Ferdinand, who held death in his eyes as the trio approached the mansion. There were eight guards in total, and two are instantly downed by Claude as four mages on the second floor prepare to blast the trio with thunder, only for Ferdinand to counter with a throwing spear and charge right for Bernadette's father, who feels in terror. Two fortress knights block the way forward, but Richard and Claude follow to provide support. Claude kills one with a shot through the eye socket of the armor and Richard blasts the other with dark magic. Ferdinand approaches Bernadette's parents, who have hidden in an office.

The father demands, "Remove your mask and face me! A man who does no wrong should not hide his face!"

Ferdinand grips his lance and growls, "Fine."

Richard and Claude watch, deciding it best not to stop Ferdinand at this point as something in the young man snaps.

Ferdinand removes the mask and shatters it in his hand, the porcelain facade collapsing into shards on the floor that are crushed beneath his boot, "I am a nobel. Nobels help and protect. You... are no nobel. You abused your child. You harmed her in such ways that will take years to heal. Real work and effort. At least she can heal at all. I've come to start that healing. I'm not afraid of what I'm doing. The world is better off without filth like you."

He lifts his lance and cries out, "I am Ferdinand Von Aegir! A pure nobel who will remove impure filth like you from the Empire!"

He charges in a blind rage, killing the duo. He kills the mother first, sliciing her throat, leaving her to choke on her own blood as Ferdinand prepares to stab the father.

Richard is over taken by a sadistic madness, "No brother."

Richard reveals a tanning knife and proceeds, "We don't kill him yet. This. This is where the fun begins."

"Woah guys," Claude intervenes, "This is to far. We only came to handle the threat. We don't need to torture him."

Richard responds, "Oh Claude. Sweet, naive, good hearted Claude."

Richard places his hand on Claude's shoulder and explains, "People like this don't listen without an example being made. See, if we don't torture him and give him a swift death then-"

"It's about setting an example by doing the right thing!" Claude exclaims, "You can't-"

"Sorry," Ferdinand glares grabbing the knife, "But he hurt Bernadette. My friend. Our friend! He's not getting off that easy..."

Guards found the bodies a day later. One of which was killed swiftly enough, but painfully choked to death on her own blood.

The other...

Was skinned alive, every inch or flesh removed from the body and laid out to spell out a word, "Purified." The man was stuck to a wall by his hands and feet by lances, where it appeared he was left to struggle and bleed out.

There was vomit in the room, which the guards assumed to be from the victim, not knowing it was from Claude who could not take the sight and had to leave the room, later followed by Ferdinand as Richard, the mad man, skinned the man alive.

What they did, was evil. Claude was correct in saying it was evil to torture the man. Richard and Ferdinand's cases were built on sadism and rage, while Claude had the only argument that held any truth at all.

Hubert told Edelgard what he had seen and the two decided he must be confronted for this. So, outside the gates of the Monastery that night, ax in hand, her and Hubert greeted the trio.

She demanded, "Hello Purifiers. Tell me about... The winery..."

Author's Note: At this point, if this were in game, Richard would be able to use a new job which I will now list the details of.

Name: Purity.

Exp: +2 brawling. +2 reason.

Description: An all out reckless attacker who will stop at nothing to eliminate the enemy with fists and dark magic.

Class Exp to Master: 200

Abilties: Unarmed combat. 2x dark magic charges. Martyr Complex: If a unit that is using a link attack would die, the unit with this ability will take the attack for them.

Master Bonus: Martyr Complex as an equipable skill.