Presea woke up with a groan. Her eyes fluttered repeatedly as her vision slowly cleared. When she could see, the unfamiliar ceiling caught her attention. Looking around, she realized she was not in the monastery. The room was luxurious and spacious.

On the wall adjacent from the bed, a familiar banner caught her eye. It was the Leicester Alliance banner. Climbing off the bed, she decided to leave the room. She wandered down the hall a little ways and she could feel her memory of the place returning.

Presea was startled by a nearby door opening. Looking towards the sound, she spotted someone exiting a nearby room. Her eyes widened when recognizing the person. "Is that you, Nader?"

The man turned around at the sound of her voice. His eyes were wide for a second before returning to normal. He then smiled at her as he approached. "Lady Presea! I'm relieved to see you're up and about."

"How did I get back to Derdriu?" She asked.

"Master Claude brought you and your professor here a couple days ago. How're you feeling?"

"Fine," she sighed. "Would it be too much trouble if I were to get some fresh air?"

Nader's smile morphed into a grin. "Are you heading to the garden?"

She nodded. "Yeah. You know me so well."

"You've always been fond of the garden. Shall I escort you, milady?" He bows politely.

"Please don't call me that," she grumbled. "It's so embarrassing..."

"Soon enough, I'll be calling you duchess."

Presea's jaw fell to the floor. "Wh-What gives you that idea?"

"I've watched over you and Master Claude long enough to tell what you're both thinking. You two are open books to me. Also, Master Claude was never good at hiding his emotions from me even though he tried so hard to do so."

"Are you trying to say Claude plans to propose to me?"

"Absolutely. It's a gut feeling!"

She shook her head with a sigh. "I doubt it..."

"Shall we wager?"

"No way! I've got nothing to wager with, anyway." She combed a hand through her snowy locks before changing the subject. "I'm heading to the garden. If you're free, could we enjoy some afternoon tea together after I've cleared my head?"

Nader smiled. "Of course, Lady Presea."

Presea smiled back at him before heading outside to the garden. Once there, she meandered around aimlessly through the myriads of flowers and trees. She smelt the various aromas from the flowers as she passed them. Even though the war waged on, the garden still remained beautiful. Someone clearly was still dedicating their time and effort to keep the garden's beauty from fading.

Eventually, she came upon the beautiful fountain located in the middle of the garden. She plucked off a blue poppy from a nearby bush before sitting down on the side of the fountain. Humming to herself, she tugged on one of the petals and took it off. She gently placed it on the water's surface and watched it drift. Repeating the process, she added another petal to the water.

Putting the poppy down, Presea placed her finger in the water and created ripples on the surface. She swirled her finger around in circles while the two petals bumped into each other.

The feeling of fingers entangling in her hair grabbed her attention. She felt something in her hair when the person withdrew their fingers. Tearing her gaze away from the fountain, she lifted her head and saw a smiling Claude kneeling in front of her. She touched what he put in her hair and felt a flower.

"Can I just say how beautiful you are?" He gingerly took her hand in his, kissing her knuckles. "I thought I had stumbled upon an angel when I saw you."

"You know, you're a pretty smooth talker when you want to be," she giggled. "Usually, you use compliments when you want something."

"Are you saying my compliments aren't genuine?" He gasped in shock.

"Most of the time they aren't. But this time..." She gazed into his emerald eyes. "I can tell they are."

Claude moves to sit next to her, keeping a gentle grip on her hand. "So, how're you feeling? Nader said you were fine, but I wanted to see for myself."

"I feel fine. But..." Her eyes fell to the water's surface. "What happened at Myrddin?"

"You don't remember?"

"No."

Claude was shocked at the revelation. He wondered why her memory wasn't intact. "Well, you kinda wiped out almost all the imperial soldiers by yourself in your wolf form. After you unleashed your power, you returned to your human form and blacked out."

"Oh, dear goddess," she gasped. "D-Did I hurt any of our friends?"

He squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, they're all safe and sound."

"What about Ferdinand? Did Byleth get to deal with him as he saw fit?"

He frowned sorrowfully. "He fell victim to one of your spells. I'm sorry, Presea."

Presea's eyes stung with tears. "So I failed to spare him..." A few tears escaped her eyes and cascaded down her cheeks.

"Hey." Claude cupped her cheeks in his hands and wiped away her tears. "Don't beat yourself up over it. This is war. You won't be able to save everyone."

"I know," she whispered. "I guess my ambitions to save all our former classmates won't come to fruition. Asking to save everyone is an impossible feat during war. I don't know why I thought I could achieve it."

"You thought it because that's just how kindhearted you are." He dropped his hands from her cheeks and leaned his forehead against hers. "It is an admirable ambition, I must say."

"More like too outlandish..."

"Oh, nonsense. You like to dream big and make those dreams a reality. As the leader of the Alliance, I need to learn a thing or two from you." He kisses her on the cheek before pulling away.

Presea stood up and adjusted the flower Claude put in her hair with a smile. "I hate to end our alone time rather early, but I did promise Nader I would join him for tea."

"Well then, I'll join you. I could use a good cup of tea right about now."

"Did...you just invite yourself?" She arched a brow.

"Of course I did." He took her hand and entwines their fingers. "Now let's go enjoy some tea with our dear Nader."

<——————————————<<<<<

After some time in Derdriu, Byleth, Claude, and Presea departed with a new Hero's Relic, Failnaught. They returned to Garreg Mach after receiving word from all the lords in the Alliance who oppose the Empire. They were eager to share the good news with their friends.

Once arriving back at the monastery, Claude assembles everybody in the cathedral and began their brief meeting. "All of that went about as well as it could have. Each lord has agreed to provide us with soldiers and supplies."

"I'm impressed you were able to convince all of those scattered nobles to help us. I thought they would quarrel about how much support they should each provide. That's what they usually do," Judith comments.

"Well, Count Gloucester took the initiative in taking on responsibilities. I presume that was because you spoke with him in advance, Lorenz?"

"I merely explained the situation at hand, then my father simply followed your lead, Claude. It was because you had the professor there to represent Lady Rhea. My father is a pious follower of the Church of Seiros," Lorenz answered.

"I don't doubt it. I wasn't under the delusion that it was my personal charm that unified everyone." Claude glances at Byleth. "Thanks for that, by the way. I hope you don't feel like I used you...because I sort of used you."

"Don't mention it," the professor responded.

"I appreciate that. We don't have time to be picky about our methods. But be honest. You're having a hard time adjusting to your new role, aren't you?"

"Maybe just a little," Byleth answered honestly. "But I'll manage."

Shamir entered the cathedral and joined the meeting. "I have news. Our enemy is gathering troops at Fort Merceus. Their army is immense. Likely led by a renowned general. Or perhaps even..."

"Edelgard?" The professor proposes.

"Well now, that would be interesting. If we can defeat the emperor, then the Empire will collapse," Claude said.

"There's something else. An unidentified army has approached the Great Bridge of Myrddin. They passed through the Daphnel and Gloucester territories from the northwest with incredible speed. They're raising the banner of House Blaiddyd. Perhaps they are the remnants of the Faerghus royal family. From what we could tell, they posed no threat to the citizens of the Alliance, and so we refrained from engaging them in needless combat," Judith explained.

"Maybe they hope to fight against the Empire to avenge their fallen prince. And what about the bridge itself?"

"Obviously we wouldn't let them pass without receiving envoys first. We thought they may try to force their way through. We considered firing warning arrows, but they left immediately, heading east."

"Are they intending to use one of the bridges in Ordelia territory?" The brunette asked.

"Most likely. But the Imperial army still controls those bridges. I can't imagine what they intend to do in the Empire, even if they do manage to break through..." The older woman replied.

"I'm reluctant to ease up on our surveillance, but it would be difficult to track them there... For now, let's assume they're just troops belonging to the old Kingdom. In any case, we should proceed with caution. Soon, we'll be entering Empire territory ourselves. If our enemies are going to intercept us with an attack... It will probably be at Gronder Field... How fitting that it was the site of the Battle of the Eagle and Lion five years ago."

"What about Acheron?" Presea intervened.

"Oh, right. You don't remember. Guess I forgot some details," Claude said. "You trapped him underground. Never have I ever seen such a spell. You even filled in the hole afterward."

"Has he escaped?" She looked toward Judith.

"There are no signs of his escape, but the way you described him... I doubt he'll be underground for much longer," Judith answered. "You all will be the first to know of his escape."

"Thank you, Judith."

"No need for thanks," the woman smiled.

Everyone except the Golden Deer left the cathedral. Once the class was all alone, Hilda couldn't keep her emotions in check any longer. She sprinted forward and engulfed Presea in a bone-crushing hug. "Oh, I'm so happy you're back! Without you, I thought I was going to go crazy! I might have to steal you away from Claude."

"I missed you, too, Hilda," Presea laughed.

"You and me are going to spend the day in the market. There's some new weapons I want to look at!"

"Hold on there for a minute, Hilda," Claude interrupted. "I think Pres should rest a little while longer."

"Oh, you're just saying that so you can get her alone! You had her all to yourself while you and the professor were in Derdriu. She needs some girl time. Right, Pressy?"

"A day in the market does sound nice," the snowy-haired girl answered.

"Great! Let's go!"

Hilda dragged Presea out of the cathedral. Claude watched in bewilderment as his beloved was taken away from him. "What just happened?"

Byleth smirked in amusement, which was a rare sight. "It seems Hilda has other plans in mind."

"I was hoping to get Presea alone," the brunette sighed.

"Why's that?" Lysithea pried.

Claude revealed the ring in his pocket. Ignatz, Marianne, Raphael, Lorenz, and Leonie gasped at the sight of the piece of jewelry.

Byleth remembered his chat with the brunette in the Goddess Tower a few months ago. "I thought you were going to wait until after the war to propose to Presea."

"I was, but..." Claude twiddled around with the ring. "Acheron has proven to be a fearsome threat recently. Not only do we have to face the Empire, we now have this guy on our tail and he won't stop until he gets his hands on Presea."

"You're worried you'll lose her before you can propose. That's why you want to propose earlier, isn't it?" Marianne asked.

"My worst fear is losing her and there's a part of me that knows I stand no chance of protecting her from him." He chuckled weakly at himself. "I really am powerless against him."

"That's not true," Ignatz denied his harsh words. "You're not alone, Claude. You have all of us. This is a burden you don't have to shoulder alone. We all want to protect Presea. I know I speak for everyone here when I say she's a precious friend. We won't let Acheron have her. With our combined strengths, there's no way he stands a chance against us."

After hearing the archer's words, Claude couldn't deny how they made his hope return. "You guys really are the best."

"So, will you put a hold on the proposal or are you too eager to wait?" Leonie asked.

"I am rather eager to see her reaction," Claude confessed. "But I'll wait a little longer."

"We're cheering for you!" Raphael chanted.

"Indeed," Lorenz spoke up.

"I know Presea will say yes," Marianna said with a bright smile.

"Whoa there, Marianne," the brunette chortled. "Don't get my hopes up."

"I agree with Marianne," Byleth stated. "There's no was Presea would say no."

He sighed. "Teach..."

"I only speak the truth."

"Uh-huh. Sure. Whatever you say, friend."

<——————————————<<<<<

During the third week of the Great Tree Moon, Presea found herself spending time with Raphael and Ignatz. The trio would train together before sharing a meal at the dining hall. Thanks to her two friends, she learned new magical techniques and boosted her defense.

While eating a delicious lunch with the two boys, she was suddenly served a bowl of peach sorbet. Thinking it was Claude, she was surprised to see Byleth instead. "Is there anyone who doesn't know my weakness?"

"I'm afraid not." Byleth sat down next to her. "Consider it a thank you."

"Thank you?" She parroted. "For what?"

"For what you did at Myrddin. You may not have realized it at the time, but you did save my life."

"Claude had to fill me in on what happened. I really don't know what came over me. All I remember is seeing Lysithea, Leonie, and Hilda unconscious. After that, it's blank."

"Seteth did mention a Pterolykos can access a powerful reserve of magic if certain emotions are triggered. What I can deduce from what you do remember, it sounds like you were consumed by anger," Ignatz said.

"You might be right." Presea leaned back in the seat. "At least I didn't hurt any of you."

"Even when you were in that state, you could tell the difference between friend and foe," the archer replied. "You didn't only save the professor. You saved all of us, Presea."

"You were so cool!" Raphael cheered.

To hide her embarrassment, Presea scooped up some peach sorbet and placed it in her mouth. The sweet, cool mix kept her emotions in check as she enjoyed every spoonful of sorbet.

When the bowl was empty, she thanked the professor for the peach sorbet before cleaning up her dishes and left the dining hall. She decided to head to the stables to see Albus. Knowing he was struck with one of Acheron's spells, she wanted to check and see how he's doing even though he was the one who carried her and Claude to and from Derdriu.

Stepping into the stables, she spotted Albus laying down with his wings furled up. Quietly, she approached him. She knocked gently on the stall to avoid startling the wyvern. Opening the wooden door, she stepped into the stall when her cerulean eyes locked with his golden ones. "Hey, buddy." Squatting down beside him, she stroked the top of his head. "How're you feeling?"

Presea's hand gravitated toward his underbelly and saw some minor scratches from where he was struck by Acheron's spell. Seeing no real damage, she stroked his ivory scales. "Guess scales are tougher than fur," she laughed. "Glad you weren't severely injured."

The snowy-haired girl continued to pet the wyvern for some time before she heard her name being called. Poking her head out of the stall, her eyes landed on Seteth as he entered the stables.

"Ah, there you are, Presea," he said. "I've been searching for you. There's something I must discuss with you in private. Is now a bad time?"

"Not at all." She exited the stall and closed the door behind her.

"Please, follow me."

Presea followed Seteth all the way to his office on the second floor of the monastery. She stood on the other side of his desk as he revealed a document to her. She took it from him with a perplexed expression. "What is this?"

"A document Rhea kept hidden even from myself. I found it hidden among her many books. It details the location of the temple where she sealed away Acheron," Seteth explained.

The girl eagerly read through the document. Although it did not mention who freed Acheron, it contained many details of the temple and its location. She was in disbelief when reading where the temple was located. "The temple rests in the mountain range separating the Leicester Alliance and Almyra?"

"Yes. You must be quite shocked how close the temple is to where you were raised," he said. "I, too, am shocked by this revelation. Lady Rhea kept Acheron's tomb a secret from both myself and Flayn."

A frown made its way onto Presea's face. "Not even Rhea, the Immaculate One, could kill Acheron. What could I possibly do?"

"We Nabateans do not posses powerful magic like Pterolykoses. From your display at the bridge, you do stand a chance against Acheron. However, it's ill-advised to fight him by yourself. You have made many friends and allies during your time here at the Officers Academy."

"When the time comes, I will face Acheron. Until then, I will continue to help Claude with his plans against the Empire. Thank you for this, Seteth."

She tried to hand him the document, but he shook his head. "Please, keep it. You will need it in time."

Presea thanked Seteth one last time before folding up the document and leaving his office. While thinking about the new information she received, she meandered toward the cathedral but came to a stop on the bridge. Having no fear of heights or falling, she sat on the stone railing and mentally went through the details of where Acheron's tomb is located.

Seeing as her mind was lingering on the new information, Presea decided to cast away her thoughts and gaze up at the sky. A heavy sigh escaped her as she wondered what to do next.

"You're making me nervous just by where you're sitting."

Presea heard Claude's voice and tore her gaze away from the sky. "I've never been afraid of heights. You shouldn't either considering your steed is a wyvern."

"It's not that I'm scared of heights," Claude replied. "It's falling that I'm afraid of the most. Unlike you, I can't sprout wings and fly to safety if I were to fall off this bridge."

"No, but I wouldn't let you fall."

Claude places his hands besides her thighs and leans forward, smiling. "I wouldn't let you fall either even though you can fly." He winked at her, his charming smile blossoming further. "When we were growing up, I dreamt about you being a princess and I was supposed to be your knight in shining armor. I was supposed to be the one protecting you, not the other way around. I guess what I'm trying to say is you're much stronger than I am. Sometimes I question whether I'm the right person for you."

She blinked in shocked, especially seeing he was still smiling after such a depressing confession. "What are you talking about? Love has nothing to do with who's stronger. Besides, you've proven to be my knight in shining armor plenty of times." She grabbed his hands and placed them in hers. "I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought the same thing from time to time, but I was able to overcome those thoughts because of the love you've shown me. I may be a mythical being, but even I have weaknesses. You make me whole and patch up those weaknesses with your strengths. Have you already forgotten the time when the Death Knight took me captive?"

"Of course I haven't. I thought I was going to go insane when you were missing. And let's not mention when I thought you were dead or missing for five years. My poor heart can't handle anymore," Claude said. "I'm surprised my hair hasn't turned gray yet."

Presea released his hands and moved her own to cup his cheeks. "Putting all the stress I've caused you aside... I really do love you, Claude. You're the perfect person for me and there's no one who could replace you." Without wasting another second, she leaned down and placed her lips over his. She kissed him tenderly and was slightly taken aback when he kissed her back with a little more force than usual.

When Claude deepened the kiss, Presea was forced to relinquish his cheeks and latch on to his clothes to keep from falling. Feeling her tight grip, he pulled away and chuckled embarrassingly after realizing his mistake. "Sorry for being careless. I blame you, though."

"Me...?" She grumbled.

"Yeah. Sometimes you're just too hard to resist."

"I'll remember this moment..."

"You better," he smirked. "That kiss was our best one yet."

She pouted in a childish manner. "I swear... You're unbelievable sometimes."

Claude pecked her on the tip of her nose. "You know you love my little quirks."

The snowy-haired girl couldn't help but smile and giggle. She unclasped her hands form his clothes and wound them around his neck. "That I do."

<——————————————<<<<<

It was the end of month, meaning it was time for the Alliance army to leave Garreg Mach and march towards Gronder Field. Presea, who had yet to leave her room, wondered when she should tell Claude the location of Acheron's tomb. She still had document on her person and had been hesitant showing it to him ever since Seteth gave it to her. Deciding to push Acheron to the back of her mind, she focused on the upcoming battle and left her room. She rendezvoused with her friends and allies, marching out of Garreg Mach by their sides.

As the distance between them and Gronder Field shortened, Presea could feel her heart wavering. Not only would they be fighting against the Empire, they'd be facing off against the Kingdom. Knowing there was no compromise in sight, she tried to steel her nerves and prepare herself mentally.

"Is everything all right, Presea?" Lorenz asked. "You seem out of sorts."

"You hit the nail on the head..." she sighed. "I'm trying to keep my determination from wavering. I made many friends during the academy days, but now I am forced to fight against some of them. It's not easy fighting against those who you care about."

Lorenz nodded. "I must agree. War is never an easy conquest. We all feel the same way. Some individuals find it easier to hide their emotions than others. You are not one of those people."

"Yeah, yeah. I know. I've been told many times before that I wear my emotions on my sleeve and make for quite an easy read."

"Of course, there is nothing wrong with showing one's emotions. To be truthful, it's a quality I admire. Although, it is a shame your choice was Claude."

Presea met his gaze with confusion. "What?"

"As I stated, some individuals easily hide their emotions. I am such a person. That is why I have yet to preach my feelings."

Before she could reply, Claude sauntered over after having been eavesdropping for a short while. "I had a feeling for a while now."

Lorenz sighed. "You are perceptive as always, Claude. By that, I refer to the terrible habit of eavesdropping."

"Hey now, it's a little difficult to ignore a conversation when my name pops up. I have to make sure the facts are straight." Claude redirected their conversation to prevent the subject from being changed. "Anyway, I've known about your feelings for sometime now. You aren't going to try anything crazy to try and win over my darling Presea, are you?"

"Preposterous! I do have eyes and can clearly tell how much you both are infatuated with one another."

Presea rolled her eyes at the boys' antics. They were talking as if she wasn't standing between them. "You know, I have eyes AND ears and I so happen to be standing right between you two."

Claude huffed out a chuckle, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her into his side. "We know. We're just having a small man-to-man chat."

"Ugh..."

Suddenly, the Alliance army came to a halt. Presea's attention was drawn to their location and realized they arrived at their destination. Along with Claude and Lorenz, she stepped forward and joined her friends at the front. Memories of the past flooded her mind as she gazed out across the foggy Gronder Field.

Hilda, like many of her other friends, was having difficulty seeing through the fog. "Gronder Field should be around here, right? But it's so foggy... Even if there were enemies here, we'd never know it."

"I recall the terrain from the Battle of the Eagle and Lion, but without the ability to see the enemy's formation..." Lysithea said.

"Our enemies are subject to the same conditions, but we do have a secret weapon on our side." Claude's eyes landed on Presea. "Can you spot anybody in the fog, Pres?"

The cerulean-eyed girl scanned the fog. She shook her head with a faint sigh once coming to a conclusion. "There's no one hiding in the fog, but there's a mix of scents in the air. Our enemies are possibly waiting in hiding for the fog to disperse."

"Then we also will have to wait for the fog to clear up," the brunette replied.

"Speaking of enemies, what do you think became of those unidentified troops? Any follow-up reports?" Judith inquired.

"We haven't heard anything since. If they were headed this way... Well, I'd like to avoid being caught by surprise, but we can't make use of our scouts because of this fog. It's hard to predict this fight. There's no way to know what will happen."

"Let's try to stay calm," Byleth advised.

"Of course. The morale of our allies would be crushed if we let them see us shaking in our boots.
Your guidance is going to be crucial, Teach. Now more than ever. Do whatever it takes to lead us to victory," Claude stated.

The professor nods. "Of course. Leave it to me."

Once the fog cleared, the Alliance Army made their way to the battlefield. As they marched forward, they spotted two other large forces closing in on Gronder Field.

Eventually, the three armies clashed on the battlefield. The masked mages allied with the Empire charge up fireballs and launch them towards the Kingdom and Alliance armies. Soldiers from both armies are hit and yell in pain from the impact of the fireballs. Amidst the flames, Dimitri is shown with his Relic on his shoulder, unfazed by the attack. He points his Relic at the opposing armies and glares at them as he speaks. "Know that I will tear your heads from your shoulders. The dead must have their tribute."

On the Alliance side, Claude steps forth and groans at the sight of the flames and his soldiers who had fallen. "As big class reunions go...this one's gotta be the worst in history."

Having made the first move, Edelgard steps forward and gives a brief speech to the opposing armies. "Years ago, we fought here as classmates. But not today." Her soldiers draw their swords and bows.

Byleth unsheathes the Sword of the Creator, preparing to face off against the Kingdom and Empire. Standing beside him, Presea took a few steps back and transformed. She spread her wings and howled.

Dimitri looks up and prepares to give his army the order to move out. "Kill every last one of them!" He brandishes his Relic and charges onward, with his soldiers following him.

Claude gives the signal for his army to move, and he lets out a war cry as he charges forward, with his Relic at the ready.

Edelgard looks up, ready to meet the opposing armies' advances. "And so we fight on." With those final words, her soldiers charge forth.

Soldiers from all three armies fought against one another. Blood was spilled as men and women fell like flies on the battlefield. Eventually, it became a struggle to claim the central hill in order to get an advantage over the other armies.

The Alliance army was the first to claim the central hill. The Kingdom and Empire armies were in quick pursuit in order to knock the Alliance back and away from the advantage point.

Claude and Byleth split up into two groups with other fellow members of the Golden Deer. Presea was still helping the Knights of Seiros fight against the Empire and Kingdom to notice the large group had split into two. She aided the knights by providing healing and using powerful spells to push back the enemy soldiers.

While her focus was on Petra, she heard a familiar voice cry out in pain across the battlefield. Her ears twitched as her head shot up in the direction of the scream. Without wasting a moment, she used her tails to knock Petra off her wyvern before leaping towards the direction she heard the scream. She knocked a few soldiers over while making her way across Gronder Field.

Locating the source of the scream, the Pterolykos spotted Albus laying on his side next to Failnaught. Claude laid on the ground with a bloodied shoulder. Dimitri stood over him with Areadbhar pointed at the brunette's throat. "You are nothing but yet another thorn in my side."

Claude presses a hand against his wounded shoulder and smiled cockily at the blonde. "Guess you really don't want to be allies."

Dimitri jammed the tip of Areadbhar closer to his throat, his glare sharpening. "You along with that woman will die by my hand."

The emerald-eyed boy noticed the large wolf in his peripheral vision, a crooked smile replacing his grin when seeing she was ready to pounce. "I don't think so, Your Majesty."

The Pterolykos leapt forward and used her paw to knock Dimitri away from Claude. The king rolled against the ground before recovering from the attack. Claw marks were present on his armor from the blow. He pushed himself off the ground with help from Areadbhar, casting his death glare toward the winged wolf.

Presea placed herself between Claude and Dimitri, bearing her fangs at the blonde. A menacing growl emitted from her throat. Dimitri pointed his Relic at her and took a few steps forward. "You will fall as well," he hissed.

Presea's tails whipped around her form as Dimitri charged forward. He swung Areadbhar through the air, creating a crimson arch of sparks. As the Hero's Relic radiated with power, the shrill cries of an unknown person rung inside the wolf's head. She whimpered, lowering her head at the sound reverberating inside her skull.

Claude wasn't sure what was wrong with Presea and immediately reclaimed Failnaught when seeing Dimitri was closing in. He fired an arrow at the blonde, nailing him in the shoulder and knocking off his balance.

When Areadbhar ceased glowing, Presea was able to focus and attack Dimitri. She shocked him with lightning, forcing him to stagger. She then created a sphere of miasma and struck him in the chest. The blonde fell on his back, unconscious.

While debating whether to kill him or not, she was forced to erect a barrier around herself when she was attacked by Ingrid, Felix, and Annette. Seeing their faces, she struggled with what to do. In the end, she steeled herself and didn't hesitate to attack them. It only added to her guilt when she saw the trio crumple to the ground with their final words before breathing their last breath.

Presea stalked over to Claude and nudged her nose against him. She casted a minor healing incantation and mended his wounded shoulder. She even healed Albus' injured wing. The brunette thanked her before addressing his wyvern. "You should retreat, buddy. We can handle it from here."

The ivory wyvern bobbed his head up and down in understanding. He then flapped his wings and left the battlefield.

Claude watched Albus for a few seconds before turning around to face the large wolf standing a few feet away. He grinned at her, resting Failnaught across his shoulder. "Think I could get a ride?"

The Pterolykos lowered her body to ground, allowing him to climb onto her back. She lifted herself off the ground when feeling Claude grip the fur at the nape of her neck. With a thunderous howl, she reentered the fight with him and focused on their next target—Edelgard. The couple left the remaining men and women of the Kingdom army to the Alliance soldiers.

Engaging the Empire, Claude fires arrow after arrow from his high-up position on Presea's back. The Pterolykos finished off any soldiers that his arrows left alive before proceeding forth towards the empress. They passed a few of their allies on the way including Lysithea and Byleth who were dealing with Hubert and Bernadetta.

Traversing the battlefield, Presea dodged any and all attacks meant for her or Claude. She provided any assistance to any allies they passed, but she kept her attention focused on the woman standing behind a group of imperial soldiers cladded in heavy armor.

Seeing how close they were to Edelgard, Claude addressed the Pterolykos. "You ready for this, Pres?" She bowed her head in response and he knew she was saying yes. "All right, then. Let's end this."

Claude held onto Presea's fur tightly as her large form charged toward the soldiers guarding the empress. He watched in amusement as the heavily armored soldiers dashed forward in their direction, but were immediately stopped by the wolf's tails. They wrapped around their torsos and she tossed them across the battlefield. Now that the soldiers were gone, Edelgard had no one to hide behind any longer. He eyed the woman with a small smirk. "We haven't seen each other since Garreg Mach. You've grown lovelier than ever, Edelgard."

"You're not so unfortunate yourself. And you have the aid of the professor. Frankly, I'm jealous.
Now's the chance for you and the professor to leave. However, Presea must remain. Her presence has no place in the future of Fódlan," Edelgard replied. "With the last Pterolykos dead and the annihilation of the church, it will be a step closer to a united Fódlan. The influence of the goddess will be no more."

Claude didn't have to think about his reply. "I'm afraid I must decline. Even if we left, we'd just have to come right back. Besides, there's no way I'm leaving Presea behind so you can kill her." He hopped down from Presea's back and walked forward with Failnaught grasped tightly in his hand.

"Then you leave me no choice." Edelgard grabbed Aymr, the Crest Stone reacting with her touch. She set her sight on the duo, ready to strike at any moment.

Like Dimitri's Relic, Edelgard's resonates with a powerful energy. Presea heard another scream echo in her head. This one was higher pitch and louder than the previous one. Her large form swayed back and forth as she tried to rid her mind of the painful wail echoing within. She howled in agony before reluctantly reverting back to her human form. She covered her ears with an anguished cry, stumbling backwards.

Claude, who was about to attack Edelgard, was drawn to her when hearing her painful wail. He lowered Failnaught and turned to her, but quickly looked back at Edelgard when hearing the woman release a battlecry. He attacked her with multiple arrows, but she swung Aymr around and shattered each one with ease.

Presea's eyes began glowing as her mind went blank. She held out her hand and conjured a blade made of pure flames. She grasped the hilt tightly and leapt into battle, Edelgard being her prime target. She ignored Claude and ran past him, clashing weapons with the emperor.

Claude could no longer get a clear shot with Failnaught and lowered the Relic. He watched the battle closely and noticed Presea's glowing eyes. His brows knitted together in confusion. "Why now...?" Continuing to spectate, he stared in awe at how she was pushing Edelgard back. While watching the two women fight, he tried to figure out why Presea was once again drawn into such a state. The last time this happened, it was their second battle against Solon in the Sealed Forest.

Soon, Byleth made his way over and saw the heated battle between Edelgard and Presea. Seeing her eyes were glowing, he was just as confused as Claude. "What happened?"

"Not sure, Teach. But I think we should stay out of it for now," the brunette responded.

Edelgard swings Aymr at Presea and aims for her side, but her Relic was intercepted by a flaming blade. The empress gritted her teeth as she was forced back a few steps when the snowy-haired girl conjured an ice dagger and aimed it at her throat. She dodged the frozen blade and stared into her glowing eyes. "Such power..." Without hesitation, she jumped back and away from the seemingly possessed girl. She lowered Aymr and the Relic ceased glowing. "Just as expected, you aren't making my path an easy one. I must retreat for now. We'll meet again on the battlefield." The empress made a quick retreat with her remaining soldiers.

The ice dagger and flame sword in Presea's hands vanished. Her eyes returned to normal and she blinked rapidly. She placed a hand against her aching head with a sigh. "My head..." Her hand trailed down the side of her face and she felt a warm substance trickling from her ears. She checked what it was and saw the crimson liquid that was scattered across her fingertips.

Claude saw the blood seeping from her ears and felt worry bloom in his chest. He rushed to her side and examined her. Grabbing her chin between his index finger and thumb, he tilted her head side to side. "What happened to you, Presea?"

"I-I don't know. Something happened to me whenever Dimitri and Edelgard wielded Aymr and Areadbhar. I could hear people screaming inside my head. It was like the time when we faced Miklan and what happened in the Sealed Forest with the professor. Except this time the screams were much louder and clearer," she said. "After hearing the screams of Aymr, my mind went blank. I attacked Edelgard, didn't I?"

"Your deduction is correct." Claude wiped away the blood trailing down the sides of her face. "I guess you don't remember the battle, huh?"

She shook her head. "Not one bit... What happened?"

"You were pretty cool, I'm not going to lie. You were pushing Edelgard back. She retreated, though." He lowered his hand with a smile. "How're you feeling?"

"Fine."

"Really?" He wiped more blood that trickled from her ears. "But your ears..."

"Yes, I'm perfectly fine. My ears are fine now. No need to worry, Claude."

"If you say so..." Claude turned around to examine Gronder Field. He heard the cries of victory from his soldiers as the remaining Kingdom army retreated. "Even in an ugly battle like this, it's important not to lose heart. We have to take pride in our victory. We did it, Teach. Now we can move forward. To our victory!"

"Let's not get too excited just yet," Presea warned the brunette.

"True." He glanced in the direction he last saw the empress of the Adrestian Empire. "So... Edelgard retreated. I suppose she lives to be defeated another day."

"It was close," Byleth exhaled.

"Too close. But I suppose all that matters is that we won. Some of our allies are injured, but can still fight. We'll just have to accept this outcome and press onward. Still, the battlefield looks awful. And I wonder what became of the Kingdom army. And Dimitri..."

"I didn't kill him, but it's possible another soldier did," Presea stated.

Hilda joined the trio after overhearing their conversation. "I saw him."

Claude's eyes widen a fraction. "Who? Dimitri?"

The fuchsia-haired warrior nodded. "He was completely different from how I remember him. He looked like a crazed demon while he was fighting.
He pursued Edelgard as she retreated, but he didn't get far before he collapsed. I saw him surrounded by Imperial troops and...pierced by their spears. I'll never forget it. He deserved a better end."

The brunette casted his sullen gaze to the ground. "Dimitri... He went through so much to make it here, only for his efforts to be in vain."

"I can't even begin to understand what Dimitri must have been feeling, but... There must have been some other way. Why did he have to go like that?"

"Maybe... Maybe I should've done something to him to prevent him from chasing after Edelgard. That way, he could still be alive instead of meeting such a gruesome fate," Presea weakly muttered.

Claude places his hand on her shoulder, squeezing it in a reassuring manner. "No one could've seen the outcome of this battle." He then looked back at Hilda. "What about his vassal, Dedue... Did he fall as well?"

"I don't know..." She mumbled.

"For now, let's return to the bridge. The troops are tired and need to rest," the snowy-haired girl said.

Claude nodded in agreement. "You're right. Let's move out."

<——————————————<<<<<

Back at the Great Bridge of Myrddin, the Alliance army rested their weary bodies. Presea found Seteth all by his lonesome and took the opportunity to talk to him. She had many questions to ask about what happened during the battle and he gladly answered all of them. She thanked him before walking away to search for Claude.

Eventually, she found him but stopped when seeing he was chatting with Byleth and Lysithea. She didn't want to intervene. However, she changed her mind after listening to what Lysithea had to say.

"I wanted to tell you that I noticed something odd during that battle," the coral-eyed girl said.

"What was it?" Claude asked.

"There were some strange mages among the ranks of the Imperial army. Did you notice them?"

"The ones dressed in black?" Byleth questioned.

She nodded. "That's right. I have seen people dressed just like that before and from Presea's description, they're the same mages who destroyed her village."

"Where have you seen these people before?" The professor pried.

"It was a long time ago..." She began. "House Ordelia was involved in a rebellion that took place within the Empire 18 years ago. After it was quelled, all of the key officials were caught and put to death. The Empire sent replacements, who they used to take control of House Ordelia. Among the people sent by the Empire were mages dressed in black, just like those we saw in battle."

"If they're Imperial mages, it would make sense that they would wear the same clothing, right?" Claude wondered.

"Yes, but the mages from back then and today... I do not believe they are from the Adrestian Empire."

"Are they Kingdom mages?" Byleth inquired.

Lysithea shook her head. "No. I got the impression that they were from somewhere else. Somewhere completely separate from Fódlan. There's more. Those mages imprisoned the children from my house, and performed horrible rituals on them. Blood experiments."

Claude was in shock. "Lysithea... You can't mean... even you?"

"Yes. All of the others were deemed failures. They all died. And even I..." She paused for a brief second before resuming. "It doesn't matter. The point is, that those monsters possess dreadful knowledge and power. I just thought you should know the sort of people who have allied with the Empire."

"Blood experiments..." The brunette mumbled. "Does that remind you of anything, Teach?"

Byleth blinked in realization. "The incident with Flayn and Presea..."

"Exactly. That secret group abducted Flayn and extracted her blood five years ago, but their other goal was to kill Presea. The people involved back then were Tomas and Monica... Well, I suppose their true names were Solon and Kronya. So that eerie group has been slithering behind the scenes in the Empire for a while now..." Claude smiled in appreciation. "Lysithea, thank you for sharing all of that with us. One day we will uncover the truth of who those people really are."

"You should tell Presea," Lysithea advised. "This mysterious group had the chance to kill her, but they didn't. I believe they may have ties to Acheron."

Claude's eyes widen. "Now it all makes sense. The reason they didn't kill her was because they were in cahoots with Acheron. They were supposed to deliver her to him, but we stopped them before they could."

"If that is true, the battlefield is even more dangerous for Presea," Byleth said. "It might be best to keep her in the rearguard."

After hearing his words, Presea decided to make her presence known. "I refuse to be moved to the rearguard."

"Presea!" Lysithea gasped.

"I also recognized the mages allied alongside the Empire during the battle today. I'm well aware of their intentions, but I refuse to stand down. It wasn't just Acheron who killed my people. Those mages are also to blame. The least I can do is avenge my people, but I can't accomplish that if I'm assigned to the rearguard."

Byleth saw the determination in her eyes and came to a decision. "I understand. You'll remain in the front. But if I deem it too dangerous, I will reassign you."

"Thank you, Professor," she sighed in relief. "Speaking of Acheron, he did say something rather interesting during our battle on the bridge. As you may know, he was once an ally of my people. He mentioned a promise between him and my father. However, my father broke this promise and that's what caused Acheron to go on a killing spree."

"Did he mention what this promise was?" Claude asked.

"No. Whatever it was, it was enough for him to turn his back on my people and hunt them down when my father broke it."

"Does that mean your father was one of the survivors of the battle at Zanado?" Byleth questioned.

"Yes, he was. The surviving Pterolykoses fled the canyon and scattered across the world. Each one established their own tribe. My father built our village along the coastline of Almyra."

"So your father was centuries old..." Lysithea muttered. "How long do Pterolykoses live for?"

"That...is a good question," Presea said. "I'm afraid I don't know."

"Before any of us ask another question, we should get some rest," Claude stated.

"I agree," the coral-eyed girl responded. "I am quite exhausted and it's rather late."

The group headed to their sleeping quarters and went their separate ways to reach their rooms. Presea entered a small room and immediately collapsed on the bed with a heavy sigh. The mattress wasn't as comfortable as the one at the monastery, but she could care less about comfort after such a tiresome day.

She closed her eyes and was about to fall asleep when she heard the door opening. She didn't budge and pretended she was sleeping as the person who infiltrated her room crept towards the bed. The all-too-familiar scent gave the person away, but she didn't even need a scent to know who was trying to sneak into her room. Only one person would do such a thing.

Patiently, Presea waited for Claude to climb into the bed. When he did, he gently wound his arms around her waist and pulled her body against his. He kissed the back of her neck, causing a shiver to radiate through her body. Then, he buried his face into the crook of her neck.

Deciding to shatter the silence, Presea gently spoke up. "You know you have your own bed, right?"

"Aw, don't be like that." He placed a kiss on the side of her neck. "Besides, I find it difficult to sleep if you're not next to me."

"This bed's a little too small for two, don't you think?"

"If we stay like this, we've got plenty of room." He snuggled closer to her, inhaling her sweet scent. The couple fell silent for a short while, but he couldn't keep his lips sealed for long when the events of today replayed in his head. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm a hundred percent fine. I did have a small chat with Seteth when we returned," she answered. "Remember when we learned of my connection to the Heroes' Relics and why I wound up in that strange trance? Apparently, a Pterolykos can sense a person's intentions when wielding a Relic. But this time, it's different with Dimitri and Edelgard. Their murderous intentions caused the Relics to cry out in pain even though they bear the corresponding Crests."

"How strange," Claude muttered. "This is the first time it's happened with a Crest wielder, though. Do you ever hear cries from Failnaught or the Sword of the Creator?"

"No. Your Relic and the professor's are...quiet. Even when the Crest Stones are activated, they are silent as if slumbering peacefully. The only time I've heard the Sword of the Creator cry out is when Byleth was in trouble and his intention to murder Kronya was too much for the Crest to handle."

"Guess the books don't lie. Pterolykoses truly are guardians and not even the goddess herself can compare to them. You even protected me from Dimitri today. If you hadn't been there, he would've cut me down."

"Even if I wasn't a Pterolykos, I would've protected you. There's no way I would've allowed Dimitri to kill you," she said. "You mean too much to me, Claude."

He smiled, nudging his nose against her cheek. "After we take down Edelgard, there's something I want to ask you."

"Oh?" She smirked. "What if I can't wait?"

"You have the patience of a saint. I know you can wait."

"It sounds important, but...I'll wait."

"I appreciate it, Princess."

<——————————————<<<<<

The next morning, the Golden Deer, Judith, and a captain of the Knights of Seiros. Once everyone was gathered and listening intently, Claude spoke up. "We've managed to invade Empire territory and emerge victorious in our first battle. I hope to maintain our momentum and push onward to Enbarr, the Imperial Capital. Unfortunately, we are not legendary heroes in a fairytale. Our stamina has limits. The longer we fight, the harder the fight will become. It will take immense effort to secure the supplies and soldier we need to prevail."

"Boy, you better not be saying this is as far as we go," Judith groaned.

"Of course not. However, the road ahead leads deep into enemy territory. It will be a difficult journey, strewn with hardship. I can't guarantee that we'll make it out alive. If anyone wants to leave, now is the time to do it."

"I shall accompany you to the very end," Lorenz declared. "After all, someone must step up to take leadership should you fall."

"I'm coming. The future of my village depends on this," Leonie chimed in. "Besides... I have to protect the professor. For Captain Jeralt."

Raphael was the next to announce his decision. "I'm not going anywhere! Because of the Empire, my little sis can't live in peace!"

"We can't leave the future of Fódlan to others. I'm sure that everyone here feels the same," Ignatz proclaimed.

"The Knights of Seiros are prepared to keep fighting the Empire until we rescue Lady Rhea," the knight announced.

Cyril nodded in agreement. "I feel the same as the knights. I've gotta rescue Lady Rhea no matter what."

Hilda looked around at her allies. "So, what—we're all supposed to take turns saying we'll do our best until the very end? And what about you, Marianne? What will you do?"

"I... I'll fight too!" Marianne answered enthusiastically.

"Fine, fine. I suppose I'll tag along too... Until the bitter end."

"You already know my answer," Presea smiled. "And it's not like I have anywhere else to go."

Claude couldn't help but smile at their responses. "It's an honor to keep fighting alongside such stalwart allies. Right, Teach?"

"I'd expect nothing less from my students," Byleth replied.

"Hey now, when you put it that way, it almost sounds like you're just praising yourself!" Claude huffed out. He shook his head before returning to the previous topic. "All right. Now that I know where each of you stands, I'm going to return to Alliance territory for a while. I intend to report this victory to Alliance lords and draw out even more support from them. Our next battle will be even more challenging, so brace yourselves for that."