A/n: This chapter will be short since I'll try to keep a chapter of the game within a single part. I'm extremely nervous posting this for the first time. I hope you all enjoy this new story! Love you all!!!
~✨Celestial✨~
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Standing atop the balcony that overlooked the entrance of Garreg Mach Monastery, a young girl paced back and forth. Her cerulean eyes were focused on the entrance as she impatiently waited for her childhood friend to return. A faint breeze traveled through the monastery, ruffling her white locks.

Eventually, she grew tired of pacing and leant against the stone railing. She sighed heavily, worried about the trio due to their long absence. "They should've been back hours ago..." Her fingernails tapped against the stone as she huffed out another heavy sigh.

"Do not let your faith in them waver, Presea," a woman spoke as she joined the young girl. "I assure you they will return safely."

"I do trust them, but I still can't stop worrying, Lady Rhea," Presea confesses to the archbishop.

Lady Rhea stared at the entrance as she stood next to the white-haired shapeshifter. She knew Presea was capable of protecting herself and knew she would rush off with or without her permission soon enough. "You have my permission to leave the monastery, Presea. I know your worry will not be eased until you know for certain they are safe."

The girl's eyes widen in shock at the archbishop's words. "You're...giving me permission to leave the monastery?"

The emerald-haired woman nodded with a graceful smile. "Yes. Do be careful, Presea. Though you are capable of handling yourself in battle, you are the last Pterolykos. Losing you would be devastating."

Presea nodded with her own cheerful smile. "I'll be careful, Lady Rhea. Thank you!" She backed away from the archbishop until there was enough room for her to transform. Her body was enveloped in the bright light, which caused Lady Rhea's smile to widen. When the light dissipated, a beautiful creature stood before her.

"As beautiful as ever," the women whispered under her breath. She watched as the wolf flapped her wings and took off, flying over the walls of the monastery and toward the location where the three house leaders were supposed to be training.

<—————<<<<<

After wining the battle against the bandits and their leader, Edelgard approaches the boy with short cyan hair with a smile of gratitude. "I appreciate your help back there. Your skill is beyond question. You're clearly an experienced mercenary. And your father, that would be Jeralt, the Blade Breaker? Former captain of the Knights of Seiros. Oft praised as the strongest knight to ever live. Have I missed something?"

"I didn't know he was a captain," Byleth responds truthfully.

"How curious," Edelgard responded. "I'd wager the explanation for that is fascinating indeed."

"Hey!" Claude bellowed as he and Dimitri approached the duo. He looks over at the young mercenary. "You are coming with us to the monastery, right? Of course you are. I'd love to bend your ear as we travel. Oh, I should mention that the three of us are students of the Officers Academy at Garreg Mach Monastery. We were doing some training exercises when those bandits attacked. I definitely got the worst of it."

Edelgard looks over at Claude. "That would be because you ran off."

The young heir didn't even try to hide the truth. "Too true! I was the first to make a strategic retreat. Everything would have worked out if these two hadn't followed me and ruined everything. Because of them, every single one of those bandits chased after us. Utterly ridiculous."

"Ah, so that's what you were thinking, Claude. And here I thought you were acting as a decoy for the sake of us all," Dimitri confesses. "If that were truly the case, Presea would not be happy."

Claude placed his hand against the side of his head as he shook it. "She wouldn't let me hear the end of it. That's the reason why none of us are gonna tell her anything about what really happened."

"Presea has every right to know," Edelgard said before turning toward Dimitri. "His intentions were as clear as day. You will prove a lacking ruler if you cannot see the truth behind a person's words."

"Hmm..." Dimitri hummed. "You will prove a lacking ruler if you look for deceit behind every word and fail to trust those whom you rely on."

Claude quickly intervened with his own comment. "Oh, joy. A royal debate between Their Highnesses. I wonder how being completely predictable affects one's ability to wield power. Personally, as the embodiment of distrust, I'd say your little exchange smacks of naiveté."

Edelgard gasped in disbelief. "Me? Naïve? Tell me, are you actually incapable of keeping quiet, or is your lack of self-awareness a condition of some sort? No wonder Presea needs to hold your hand wherever you go."

Before the argument could go any further, Dimitri decides to change the subject and apologize to Byleth. "In any case, forgive our digression. I must speak with you, if you can spare a moment. The way you held your ground against the bandits' leader was captivating! You never lost control of the situation. It showed me I still have much to learn."

Edelgard nodded in agreement. "Your skill is precisely why I must ask you to consider lending your services to the Empire. I might as well tell you now. I am no mere student. I am also the Adrestian Empire's–"

"Halt, Edelgard," the heir to the Kingdom of Faerghus interrupted the girl. "Please allow me to finish my own proposition. The Holy Kingdom of Faerghus is in dire need of exceptional individuals such as yourself. Please, do consider returning to the Kingdom with me."

"Whoa, there!" Claude stopped both of them. "You two sure are hasty. Trying to recruit someone you just met. I was personally planning to develop a deep and lasting friendship on our journey back to the monastery before begging for favors. But it seems there's no time for niceties in this world." He clears his throat and gestures toward Byleth. "So, capable stranger, let's get right to it. Where does your allegiance lie?"

Byleth fell silent as he decided between the trio. He looked toward Claude and stated, "Leicester Alliance: Burgeoning League of Nobles."

Claude couldn't help but smile at his answer. "Is that right? Well, that's a win for the Alliance, so I suppose I'm obligated to be happy."

Suddenly, the group was approached by a Knight of Seiros, Alois. "All right, that's enough with the small talk. It's time to head back to the monastery."

"Looks like we'll have to pick this up another time," Claude states before following Alois and the other Knights of Seiros. Dimitri and Edelgard followed suite as Jeralt and Byleth joined them, as well.