When Presea regained consciousness a few days after their fall, she was still in her wolf form. Carefully, she dragged her body out of the frigid river. She kept her tails wound around Byleth protectively before placing him gently on the ground. A severe burning sensation on her back reverted her into her human form. She whimpered in pain before returning to the river. Carefully, she removed her uniform and entered the calm waters to soothe the wound on her back. Due to the location of the injury, she wasn't sure how big or severe the wound was. All she could see and feel was the blood.

After a few minutes in the river, Presea felt the pain in her back decrease. Once there was no more blood, she got out of the water and did her best to dry off before putting her uniform back on. She returned to Byleth and tried to come up with a plan. With no idea where they were, she placed a protective barrier around the professor before walking into the woods in search of anything or anyone that could help.

A few hours ticked by and Presea was able to locate an abandoned hut. She quickly returned to Byleth and transformed, carrying him to the hut. It was difficult maneuvering through the forest in her large form, but she safely made it back to the hut. She returned to her human self and fought against the pain in her back as she dragged Byleth into the hut.

Carefully, Presea placed Byleth on the bed. She had prepared it with a few blankets the previous owners left behind before retrieving the professor. Once she made him comfortable, she left the hut in search of food, water, and logs.

Presea managed to bring back enough logs, water, and food to last a week. She tossed some logs into the small fireplace and lit them with a small fire spell. She sat on the floor with a defeated sigh, warming her body with the flames. "What do we do now...?" She pulled her knees up to her chest and hugged them tightly. A few stray tears cascaded down her cheeks as she immediately thought of Claude.

Was he safe?

Did he and the others escape?

Or could he have possibly been killed?

Lifting her head, Presea glances at Byleth. He didn't move, but he was still breathing. She pushed her sorrow aside and went to his side. Holding out a hand, she casted a healing incantation and was able to heal all visible wounds. She wouldn't be sure of any internal injuries until he wakes up. That is if he woke up.

Presea, in order to clear her mind, took it upon herself to dust off the furniture in the hut. While doing so, she found many things that would be needed for her survival in the small hut.

Once finished with the cleaning, Presea took one of the spare blankets and curled up in front of the fire. She stared into the dancing flames, wondering what should be her next move. In the end, she couldn't think of anything and fell asleep on the cold floor.

<-------------<<<<<

Two years passed and Byleth had yet to awaken. Presea managed to get by day to day through hunting and fishing. Her hair had grown to her lower back and she kept it tied in a side ponytail. Every now and then, she would come across bandits. They stood no chance against her much larger form. Once she dealt with them, she'd collect any money on their beings.

Eventually, Presea found the closest town to the hut. It was a day's trek, but she made it a habit to go at least once a week. She used the gold from the bandits to buy ingredients, medical supplies, and a new set of clothes.

She had made a few friends with the vendors in the small town during her many visits. She was grateful whenever they gave her a discount on their goods. What shocked her the most was the lack of influence from the waging war had on the town. It was almost like this small part of Fódlan couldn't be touched by the plague of war.

Back at the hut, she prepared a pot of soup. She enjoyed her dinner by her lonesome. Every now and then, she would glance at Byleth. He was still unconscious and showed no signs of waking. Her hope for his awakening dwindled as each day passed by. On most days, she forced herself to eat to avoid starvation. She tried to remain strong, but it was proving to be more difficult as time seemed to creep by.

After finishing a single bowl of soup, Presea couldn't bring herself to have another serving. She kept the pot warm on the stove while she cleaned the dishes.

Once all was clean, she wandered outside when she saw something falling from the sky. Standing just outside the entrance, she stared up at the sky in awe as she held out her hand. "Snow," she whispered. The cold didn't bother her and she was rather fond of snow. During the time she spent with Claude when they lived in Almyra, snow was rare. However when it did flurry, she always went outside to enjoy the snowfall with Claude beside her.

A smile slowly formed on the girl's face as the hope she lost during the past two years reignited within her. She peered into the window of the hut at the unconscious Byleth. "I won't give up on you, Professor."

<------------<<<<<

Five years after the battle at the monastery, Presea kept her hopes high. She continued living day-to-day as if the war was a figment of her imagination. In the five years she's been living in the hut, the only threat she ever encountered were bandits on occasions. She was still thankful of Lady Rhea gifting her the true power of a Pterolykos because her large form was enough to send many unwanted guests scurrying away. The others who didn't run away with their tale between their legs were easy targets to eliminate.

Presea arrived back at the hut after having visited the town for more supplies. When she peered into the window of the hut, she gasped and dropped the ingredients she bought when she saw Byleth was missing. She frantically entered the hut in search of the professor. "Oh, no, no, no...! Did bandits get him?!"

Leaving the hut, Presea ran through the woods. She arrived at the river and saw a figure standing on the rocky banks. She sighed in relief when realizing it was Byleth. "Thank the goddess..." That's when realization slapped her in the face. "You're awake!"

Byleth turned around at the sound of the girl's voice, staring at her with wide eyes when he saw she had aged. "Presea...?"

She made her way over to him with a smile. "How're you feeling?"

"Fine, but...what happened?"

"We fell into a ravine during the battle at the monastery." She glances down at the surface of the water. "That was five years ago."

Byleth gaped in shock. "I've been unconscious for five years?"

"I know it's a lot to take in," she sighed. "While you were unconscious, Garreg Mach fell into ruins and is now home to bandits. The empire has torn majority of Fódlan asunder in an attempt to unify it under one name."

"Where are the others?" Byleth inquired.

Presea hadn't thought of Claude or any other members of the Golden Deer in almost a year. Now remembering them, she felt guilty forgetting about them, especially Claude. She was still in love with him, but she feared he moved on or has forgotten about her. "I...don't know. I've been watching over you in an abandoned hut for the past five years and haven't tried contacting anyone. I'm sorry, Professor."

He shook his head. "No, don't apologize. I'm grateful for what you've done for me. Please, call me Byleth."

"O-Okay, Byleth," she stuttered. "Now that you're awake, you must be starving. I just got back from town and can make some dinner."

"Now that you mention it, I am quite hungry."

She giggled. "Then I better get to it."

Presea and Byleth returned to the hut and gathered the ingredients she dropped on the ground. The girl prepared dinner and served it to him. She ate her portion while Byleth asked for seconds and even thirds. She was relieved he was eating and there were no issues with his body after remaining dormant for five long years.

After dinner, Byleth asked exactly what day it was. When he learned it was the day before the millennium festival, he shot out of the seat.

"Are you okay?" Presea asked at his sudden movement.

"We need to head to the monastery," he claimed.

"What? Why?"

"Tomorrow... We have to head to the Goddess Tower to meet Claude."

She blinked wide-eyed. "Meet Claude?"

"Yes. I know he'll be overjoyed to see you after all this time. You will come, won't you?"

The snowy-haired girl looked away. "I...I don't know."

"You don't want to see Claude?"

"It's not that." She clasped her hands together and squeezed them tightly. "I'm afraid he's either forgotten me or has moved on..."

"Impossible," Byleth denied. "This is Claude we're talking about. There's no way he's moved on or has forgotten about you."

"People can change in five years," she whispered.

"The only way to find out is to talk to him."

Presea fell silent. She wanted to see Claude, but another part of her didn't want her possible fear to become reality. "I'll go with you, but I can't promise I'll talk to Claude."

Byleth respected her decision. "Understood."

"Now then, let's leave this little hut behind."

Presea and Byleth left the hut. She transformed and allowed him to climb on to her back. When he was comfortable and had a tight grip, she flapped her wings and took to the sky. Once they were high enough, she searched for Garreg Mach. When locating it, she flew straight towards what remained of the Officer's Academy. She landed near the Cathedral and allowed Byleth off before reverting back to her human form.

They wandered to the Goddess Tower just as the sun's rays peeked over the horizon. Just as they arrived at the spiral staircase, Presea froze when she smelt a familiar scent. She backed away from the steps and pulled her hood up to hide her face. "Claude's here..."

Byleth didn't want to force her to do something she didn't want to and decided to go alone. "Wait here."

She watched him walk up the stairs before leaving the Goddess Tower. She wandered toward the entrance of the cathedral and noticed the doors were still intact. Opening them, she stepped inside and replayed the fond memories she made with so many of her friends at the Officer's Academy. Staring up and the gaping hole in the ceiling, she could see the sun's rays were getting brighter.

Wishing to watch the sunrise, Presea left the cathedral and wandered toward the bridge. She gazed across the horizon just as the sun peered over it. She could feel the warmth of the rays as they caressed her skin. A peaceful sigh escaped her lips as she witnessed the sun rise above the ruins of Garreg Mach.

Presea's reverie was interrupted when she heard an all-too-familiar voice from behind her.

"So this is the one who saved you, Teach."

She turned around, eyes widening under her hood as she faced Claude. Even though he couldn't see her face, she prayed to the goddess he wouldn't recognize her. A shocked gasp slipped from her lips when he took her hand and kissed the back of it. She gazed into those emerald eyes of his that she missed so much.

"Thanks for saving Teach," Claude said with a wink. "It looks like he's not the only one who owes you."

Presea lowered her tone of voice as she spoke to keep him from recognizing her. "No one owes me anything." She was hoping he'd ask about her, wondering if he knew she fell into the ravine alongside Byleth five years ago. When he didn't so much as ask the professor whether he'd seen her, she felt her heart shatter and she decided to keep her identity hidden from him as long as possible.

To keep herself from showing her emotions and risk blowing her cover, Presea said, "It's early morning. How does breakfast sound?"

"I could use a bite to eat," Claude confessed. "Let's just hope the dining hall is still intact."

In order to keep from being suspicious, Presea asked, "Does the monastery have a greenhouse or a garden?"

Byleth nodded. "It has a greenhouse. I'll show you the way."

"I'll meet you both at the dining hall once you're done securing ingredients," Claude said.

Presea followed Byleth to the greenhouse regardless of knowing exactly where to go. There, the two grabbed any fruits, vegetables, and herbs they could get their hands on. Fortunately, the hole in the ceiling provided the sunlight and water the plants needed during the five years.

With their arms full, the two headed to the dining hall. Presea locates a pot and some knives that were still intact and used them to create a simple breakfast for Byleth and Claude. She was still full from their previous meal a few hours ago, but she knew both boys were hungry and quickly pulled something together.

Once the food was ready, Presea grabbed the two plates and left the kitchen. She served Claude and Byleth before sitting down beside the professor. As both boys dig into their meals, her eyes drifted toward Claude. She analyzed his appearance and took note of how charming he'd become in the past five years. His facial features matured and he now had some facial hair located along his jawline. His hair was slightly longer and slicked back. He also still wore the earring she gave him for his birthday.

Curious, Presea glances at Claude's wrist, but she frowned when she couldn't see if he was wearing the bracelet she made him. Her attention was drawn to his face when she saw Claude was trying to get her attention. She hadn't been listening to their conversation and wondered what was wrong. "Oh, no... Did I burn the food?"

"Far from it," Claude chortled. "It's perfect, to be honest. Could I get the name of our mysterious chef?"

Presea thought fast to keep Claude from being suspicious of her and used the only thing she knew about her mother-her name. "Zuri."

"Zuri, huh?" He hummed. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Claude von Riegan. But I've never been one for formalities. Just call me Claude."

"A pleasure to meet you." She noticed his plate was empty. "Would you like seconds?"

"Please."

Presea took his plate and headed back to the kitchen to serve him seconds. She returned a minute later and placed the plate back down in front of Claude. "There's still more if you'd like another plate."

Claude glances across the table at Byleth. "You're one lucky guy, Teach. Not only did Zuri save your life, but you had such a talented chef? Consider me jealous."

"I was only able to taste her cooking for the first time yesterday," Byleth remarks.

"Still, I'm jealous."

Once the two boys were satisfied, they left the dining hall and headed to the cathedral. There, Claude expresses how full he was. "Phew! I. Am. Stuffed. Even the most humble of meals tastes great with the right company. By the way, Teach, do you remember the night before the ball? I know it was five years ago... But we promised that the Golden Deer House would reunite during the millennium festival. Today's the day we promised to meet up...but no one's here."

Byleth peers at Presea from the corner of his eye before responding. "It's still early."

"True... There's still some daylight left. Let's just wait a little longer. You never know... Maybe someone will show up after all." Claude crossed his arms as he thought of something to do while they wait. "Hey, Teach, Zuri... Just waiting around sounds boring, so why don't we get in some exercise. You know, help with digestion and stuff." He then gestured to Byleth. "You must be in bad shape if you've been sleeping for five years. It'll do you good to get your body moving again."

"You want to work out?" The professor questioned.

"Something like that. Look, if you come with me, you'll understand. Oh, and don't forget your weapons, okay? I want to make sure neither your leadership nor your skill with a blade have dulled." Then, he turned his attention to Presea. "How about you, Zuri? I'd love to see what you're capable of in a battle."

"I, well..." Presea knew he'd be able to see through her disguise the moment she used her unique and powerful spells.

Byleth stepped in to aid her. "Zuri isn't skilled in combat."

"Oh," Claude said in disappointment. "Well that's a shame. You look like you could handle yourself in a fight. But for now, leave it to me and Teach."

Her eyes narrowed in confusion under her hood. "What're you talking about?"

He smirked. "Follow me."

The trio left the cathedral and headed to the town ruins. There, they encountered a band of thieves as they emerged from the skeletal remains. Claude eyes the enemy as they had yet to spot them. "The thieves are here. Apparently they're trying to run off with treasures from the monastery."

"There's so many of them," Presea commented.

"Don't worry. Teach and I can handle this," Claude proclaimed. "Just stay behind us while we handle these guys."

As the trio approached the thieves, they were spotted by the leader-Pallardó. "What the... Intruders! Protect the goods!"

"We've been spotted," Presea groaned.

All of a sudden, Claude places his fingers in his mouth and whistled. At his signal, a white wyvern flew across the sky towards them. It landed in front of the brunette with a screech.

Presea swallowed nervously when she recognized the white wyvern. It was Albus, the wyvern she and Claude had found when they were kids. The creature hatched when they were ten and they did everything in their power to take care of him. She took a few steps back, knowing Albus would recognize her scent. She kept her distance, hoping the battle would be over quickly.

Byleth and Claude engage the enemy as the thieves close in on them. Presea's hands twitched as she watched the two fight against the enemies without her help. She kept her distance, forcing herself to keep her spells at bay. However, she couldn't keep all her incantations in check. Seeing Claude's cheek was grazed by a dagger, she casted a small healing spell.

Claude glances at her with a smile, grateful for her healing. However, his smile fell when he saw a single bandit sneak up behind her with a dagger. He promptly grabbed another arrow and fired it at the assailant before he could plunge the blade in her back. It pierced the bandit's chest, killing him instantly.

Presea glances behind her to see the dead thief before thanking Claude. She saw the relieved expression on his face and smiled faintly, her heart fluttering. He flew over on Albus and glanced down at her. "Stick with me, okay?"

She nodded and remained behind him and the wyvern as he and Byleth continued to face off against the thieves. During their skirmish, the trio heard familiar voices in the distance.

"The barbarity is even worse than the rumors. On my honor as a noble, I will expel these ruffians!" Lorenz proclaimed.

Ignatz looked around at the bandits who invaded the monastery. "Today was supposed to be a happy day, but the monastery is in disrepair..."

Hilda scanned the ruins with her eyes and spotted Byleth, Claude, and Presea. "Over there... Is that the professor? And the others?!"

Leonie follows the girl's line of sight and smiled when recognizing Byleth. "Professor! You're alive! Guess we'd better handle this before I celebrate though, huh?"

Claude was overjoyed to see his friends. "You finally made it! I guess virtue still exists in this crazy world after all."

Hilda, Leonie, Lorenz, and Ignatz joined forces with the trio and fought against the band of thieves. They focused on the ones who were trying to steal the remaining treasures of the monastery. They managed to push the enemy back and gain ground against the leader of the thieves.

Presea kept her sight set on Pallardó to keep him in her field of vision. When she saw him duck away from battle, she pursued him. She followed him deeper into the ruins and realized he was trying to escape. Seeing as no one was around, she used a small ice spell. An icicle petruded from the ground in the thief's path. He tripped over it and fell to the ground, dropping his dagger in the process.

As Pallardó recovered from the fall and grabbed his dagger, a burly figure rammed into him from behind. Presea's eyes widen when she recognized the person as Raphael. Not too far behind him was Lysithea and Marianne. The cerulean-eyed girl quickly hid behind a crumbling wall to keep out of her friends' line of sights.

Raphael tossed the bandit leader aside and looked toward the opposite side of the ruins when he spotted familiar faces fighting against the thieves. "Is that the professor and everyone else? If they're fighting, I gotta go help!"

Lysithea gasped in shock when seeing Byleth. "Wow, it's you! Here I thought you were dead all this time."

"Could that be the Professor's...ghost?" Marianne asked.

Claude called out to them when seeing the three join the fight. "Hey, you're late! Hurry up and help!" When he turned around to check on Presea, his eyes widen when realizing she was missing. "Where did she go?"

Presea emerged from her hiding place and eyed Pallardó. He wasn't defeated by Raphael's attack, but he was incapacitated for a short while. She stood over him, conjuring a sword made of flames. Before she could strike him down, he pleaded for his life. "Please, spare me! The real Pallardó is over there!" He pointed to who the real leader was.

"So, you're just an imposter," she sighed. "But still, you're a thief." She didn't hesitate to kill him, quickly dispelling the flame sword she made when hearing footsteps running straight for her. When seeing it was the Golden Deer, the tenseness left her muscles.

"There you are," Claude sighed in relief.

Hilda gazed puzzlingly at the hooded figure. "You know this person?"

"Her name's Zuri. She's the one who watched over Teach while he was unconscious. She's also a pretty good cook and a healer. Now that we know she's safe, let's get rid of these bandits."

"The leader's disguised among his own men," Presea said. "We find him, we can end all this."

"All right," Claude replied. "Looks like we'll need to cut down a few more of these bandits to reach the leader. Don't hold back, everyone."

The Golden Deer and their professor cut through another horde of thieves. They make their way to the center of the ruins where they come face to face with the real Pallardó. His body tensed when seeing he was surrounded with no way to escape. "Damn..."

Claude and Byleth handled Pallardó while everyone else dealt with any of the other thieves that were brave enough to fight them. Many ran for the hills while very few of them had the courage to face the group.

Byleth struck the bandit leader down, causing his remaining men to flee. He weakly spoke as he slowly succumbed to his wounds. "I thought it would be easy money... Maybe it wasn't...meant to be..." The life vanished from his eyes and the man was dead.

Claude sheathed his bow with a relieved sigh. "We took care of that. Are you sufficiently warmed up, Teach?"

Byleth sheathed the Sword of the Creator. "I believe so."

Once all the bandits were gone, the group gathered around. Hilda huffed out a heavy sigh. "Ugh, I'm exhausted! What gives, Professor?"

"I was so excited to see everyone again, and then this happens..." Lysithea commented. She looked around at the faces of her friends and professor before she frowned. "Well, not everyone's here..."

"I'm still tired from the long journey. How did it come to this?" Leonie asked.

"Let's all take a moment to catch our breath..." Ignatz advised.

"If you've got the time to play with those guys, the least you could do is prepare some tea," Hilda whined.

"Blame Claude," Byleth replies. Even though he was kidding, his expression remained stoic.

Claude, unable to see the professor was teasing, retorts, "Come on, those guys were thieves! We couldn't just let them get away. It seems they've been taking advantage of the church's absence and doing whatever they please here."

"In any case, um... I'm glad that all of you are well," Marianne chimed in.

"That's the spirit, Marianne!" Ignatz chanted.

Raphael pumped a fist into the air. "That was fun! In fact, I wouldn't mind romping around some more!"

Lorenz gestured to Byleth, ignoring his friend's exuberance. "So, you were alive this whole time, Professor. I am not surprised. In fact, that is why I came here."

Leonie nodded in agreement. "And it doesn't look like time has rusted your skills. That's a relief!"

"I'm just glad you all are alive and well," Claude said.

"But we're still one person short. Has anyone seen or heard from Presea?"

Claude's joyful smile faltered. "No. The last I saw her was during the battle five years ago. I haven't even received a letter from her."

"Really?" Hilda gasped. "Pressy hasn't gotten in touch with you? I thought for sure she would."

Byleth glanced at Presea just as she tugged the front of the hood down further and turned her back to them. "I'm sure Presea is fine. She'll find us when she's ready."

"I hope you're right, Teach," Claude murmured. "For the last five years, I tried searching for her in my spare time. I never could find any inkling as to where she is. Guess what they say about love is right."

"What do you mean, Claude?" Lysithea inquired.

"You don't realize how much you love someone until they're gone."

"Do not fret, Claude. Presea is alive and well," Lorenz reassured. "She will surely rendezvous with us soon."

Wishing to be alone, Presea left the group. She left the town and headed back to the Officer's Academy. While walking through the reception hall, she admired how it looked almost untouched by the battle waged at the monastery five years ago. Eventually, she made her way to the bridge and leaned against the stone railing, enjoying the breeze.

As Presea went to remove her hood, she stopped when hearing Claude's voice. "Hey."

"Sorry for wandering off," she muttered.

"No biggie. I feel like it's our fault for making you uncomfortable. You're not familiar with Garreg Mach, are you?"

She shook her head, lying through her teeth. "I've only heard about it a few times."

"Well, if you have any questions, ask away."

"I'll make sure to remember that after I've done some exploring." Presea sat on the stone railing, crossing her legs. "I do have a few questions regarding you, though."

"I've got nothing to hide," Claude shrugged. "What do you wish to know?"

"By your family crest and name, I am fully aware you're the heir to the Leicester Alliance. You're quite far from the comfort of royalty. Why are you here?"

"Besides to meet my friends, I was hoping to use the monastery as a base for the Alliance. It's a perfect location. With the passing of my grandfather, I now am the leader of the Alliance and have to think of how to keep the Empire from taking everything."

Presea's eyes widen in pure horror. She was close with Claude's grandfather and couldn't believe he was dead. She was grateful for all he did for her and felt horrible for not being there for Claude after his death. "I-I'm sorry for your loss."

"You know, you apologize a lot," Claude chuckled. "It reminds me of someone I miss dearly."

Her shoulders tensed, worried she had blown her cover. "Guess I'm not the only one who has the bad habit of apologizing for everything."

"So, what's your story, Zuri?" He pried.

"No story," she blandly responded. "Just...a loner who lived in the woods by herself and occasionally went to town for necessities."

"Sounds peaceful."

"It was." Presea hopped down and walked past him. "Even with the current war against the Empire, it felt like that part of the world was untouched."

"Now I'm really jealous. I'd do anything to live a peaceful life with a certain special someone. Of course, that's impossible right now."

"This special someone... It's that girl you mentioned earlier, isn't it?"

He nodded. "Yeah. These past five years without her have been tough."

Hesitantly, Presea placed her hand on his arm. "I'm sure you'll get the happy ending you're seeking."

Claude glances down at her face, only able to see her lips. "Am I ever going to see who's under the hood?"

"I don't know..."

<-------------<<<<<

After a few hours ticked by, Presea searches for the others. She found them in the cathedral and remained in the back, eavesdropping on their conversation.

"Now that we've dealt with those violent bandits, we could potentially use this place as our base of operations again," Claude said.

"What could you possibly mean by that?" Hilda inquired.

"I'm talking about the Leicester Alliance taking over Garreg Mach Monastery. After all, it's right in the middle of Fódlan. It's a critical strategic location."

Lysithea tilted her head slightly. "Are you suggesting that we fight back against the Empire?"

"Aren't you getting a bit ahead of yourself? The Alliance is in complete discord at present," Lorenz stated.

Claude met the boy's gaze. "And as leader of the Imperial faction of the Alliance, isn't Count Gloucester, your father, the main cause of that discord?"

"I... Yes, that is true. It was inevitable. Our house's territory is close to Imperial land, after all. Had we not consented to vassalage under the Empire, they would have invaded immediately."

"Naturally. And to be clear, I have no problem with your house maintaining its Imperial ties until we're sufficiently prepared to revolt. The Empire is the cause of the infighting. If we rid ourselves of them, the situation should resolve itself. That's why I'm thinking we should make this our base, raise up an army, and stir up some trouble for the Empire."

"Now you're talking! Sounds like fun!" Raphael chanted.

"So then, Mr. Leader Man. Does this mean you intend to rope us into your little scheme?" Hilda asked.

Byleth's brows furrowed together in bewilderment. "Leader Man?"

"Hm? Ah. My grandfather passed away. That means yours truly is officially the leader of the Alliance," Claude replied.

"If we had a more reliable leader, perhaps the Alliance would not have been divided..." Lorenz mumbled.

"Think what you will. All I need to know is if you're in or you're out."

Leonie smiled at the emerald-eyed boy. "I'm happy to lend a hand. I won't let those Imperial dogs set foot in Alliance territory! I couldn't bear it if my village got caught up in the chaos of war."

Raphael nodded in agreement. "I'll fight too! I've gotta protect my little sis!"

"I will join as well. After all, House Ordelia was once dragged into an Imperial revolt. It ruined us," Lysithea said.

"Ah, of course. I understand your motivation," Lorenz commented.

"I'll fight too... It's time to take responsibility for my own future!" Ignatz announced.

"I... I don't want to run anymore. I hope I'll be of use to everyone..." Marianne chimed in.

"We can do anything if we work together, Marianne!"

Hilda turned her gaze to the violet-haired boy. "What about you, Lorenz? Are you going to go back home to your scary father or what?"

"We cannot rely on Claude's scheming to lead us to victory. Therefore, I will remain. It is my duty to ensure Claude does not worsen the situation in the Alliance," he answered.

"All of us are fighting for a different reason, but we share a common enemy. If we don't act, the Empire will crush us eventually. I say we stop them before they have the chance!" Claude then turned his attention to Byleth. "So, Teach... Will you help as well?"

"I'll give it some thought," the professor replied.

"Please do. I'm counting on you. Even if your ultimate goal is to find Rhea, it would be better to stick with us as you search. With you on our side, the church will join us as well. That makes fighting the Empire a moral cause, which means it will be easier to rally support. Above all, your knowledge and strength are indispensable if we hope to stand a chance against the Imperial army. Without you or Presea, my schemes are nothing. Just words. And since she's missing, you're all I have right now to help me scheme. Please... Take all of that into consideration as you decide."

"You're really laying it all on the table, aren't you, Claude? Well, all that aside, this place is a mess. We can't very well make our base in a ruin! And repairing it sounds like a lot of work... I wonder if anyone would be willing to help us out with that?" Hilda pondered.

Presea's attention was drawn to the entrance of the cathedral when the doors were flung open. Seteth, Flayn, Alois, Shamir, Manuela, Hanneman, and Catherine quickly rushed over to the group when spotting Byleth.

"Can it be?! You were alive all this time?!" Seteth gaped at him.

Flayn smiled from ear to ear. "Professor! It is so good to see you again. My brother and I were worried about you."

"Ah, thank the goddess... I couldn't bear the thought of letting Jeralt down by not finding you," Alois said.

"Guess you lucked out," Shamir commented.

"We've been looking everywhere for you! But...I see Lady Rhea nor Presea is with you. Damn," Catherine cursed.

"Everyone was real worried about you, Professor," Cyril stated.

Claude's eyes widen when he recognizes the boy. "Cyril? Is that you? You've grown up, kid. Have you been looking for Rhea and Presea with the knights?"

"Of course. Without Lady Rhea or Lady Presea, I don't belong anywhere."

"Cyril, that's not... Never mind. We'll figure it all out."

"Oh my, the Golden Deer House is almost together again at last. And all grown up! Well, for the most part," Manuela said.

"I do regret that we were never able to hold a proper graduation for all of you students," Hanneman sighed.

Byleth glances around at the others in confusion. "Why are you here?"

"It has been five years since Lady Rhea and Lady Presea disappeared. We have devoted all of our energies to finding them. However, without being able to set foot in Empire territory, we are at a standstill. We had hoped that perhaps the archbishop and Lady Presea would return here on this day...that of the long-awaited millennium festival," Seteth informed the professor.

Claude hung his head with a melancholic glint in his eyes. "Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case. Though, I don't suppose you had very high hopes in that regard. Even if the archbishop were able to return here, with the monastery in ruins, I don't think she would have felt safe enough to do so. As for Presea, I'm not so sure she'd head back to the monastery unless for a specific reason. I'm more shocked she didn't return to the Alliance or try to get in contact with the rest of us."

"In its current state, the monastery is dangerous for Lady Rhea and Presea. Even the locals are in danger if they come to the monastery," Byleth said.

"That's true... Perhaps we've left it alone for too long. We've got to make things right!" Alois announces.

"I can clean this place up like new! It's not fit for Lady Rhea or Lady Presea like this," Cyril commented.

"And leaving this place in ruins affects the safety of this area too," Catherine added.

Hanneman nodded. "Agreed. There is also a great deal of valuable literature here."

"Then let's do it! If we all work together, we can restore the monastery to its original beauty!" Ignatz cheered.

"We will require the aid of skilled craftsmen too. I shall seek out any such individuals who are willing to return to Garreg Mach," Seteth stated.

Hilda smiled. "Fantastic! I'll figure out how to split up the work and then we can get started!"

In silence, Presea left the cathedral. The guilt of keeping her identity a secret was gnawing away at her heart and she wasn't sure how much longer she'd be able to handle it before she shattered.