A/n: Another long chapter I am too lazy to proofread so I'll do it later. Excuse the spelling/grammatical errors and weird/out-of-place words due to autocorrect. Love you all!!!
~✨Celestial✨~
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On the 1st of the Garland Moon, Presea didn't wake up until noon. Due to exerting herself during their previous mission, she had slept longer than intended. She thought someone would've woken her up by now, but she peacefully awoke by herself. She changed out of the dark mage robes and into her normal attire before leaving her room.

She meandered around the monastery to clear her head from the previous mission. She spent some time in the library before heading to the pond. She watched the fish swim underneath the surface of the calm water when she was reminded of her dahlias and star gaze lilies. She promptly made her way to the greenhouse to tend to her blossoming flowers. She watered them and pulled out a few weeks that were trying to take over her plants.

Remaining sat on her knees in front of her flowers, Presea's attention was drawn away from them at the sound of familiar footsteps. She didn't have to look up to know who had joined her in the greenhouse. "I can't believe you let me sleep for so long, Claude. I expected you or Hilda to have woken me up before noon."

Claude stood beside her, surprised she knew it was him without needing to look up. "How'd you know it was me?"

"Everyone has a unique walking pattern," she said. "I recognize yours from anywhere. We've been together for so long that I've memorized it."

"I'm not sure if I should be flattered or frightened."

"Or maybe both," she snickered. "I also have most of our friends' footsteps memorized."

"Pterolykoses really are impressive," he complimented. "Can you recognize smells?"

"Mmhm," she nodded. "Especially the scent of those we love. You're pretty easy to pick out of a crowd for me. Try hiding all you want, but I'll find you pretty easily." She stood up and brushed off the front of her clothes. "So try not to make me too angry because you can't run or hide from me."

"I'll...remember that for future reference."

"Good," she smiled innocently. "Now then, I'm heading to the dining hall. My stomach's been grumbling for a while."

"I'd love to make it a lunch date, but I've got to talk with Teach about our next mission," Claude said.

"Look at you being a workaholic," she commented, nudging her shoulder against his arm. "And all it took was for a war to break out."

"Ha ha," he feigned a couple of chuckles. "You've been a workaholic ever since we were kids. Take a break once in a while and slack off. You'd be surprised how slacking off can clear your head and help you view things from another angle."

"Well...can't deny that. A break does allow you to rest your mind and body." She felt her stomach grumble again and ended their conversation. "Hopefully they have some form of peaches..."

Presea was about to leave the greenhouse when Claude seized her wrist. He pulled her back towards him with what looked like a mix between a smile and a smirk. "Before you devour all those peach tarts, we forgot to do something yesterday."

The woman knew exactly what he was referring to. "Oh, right. Let's make it quick because I have a date with some peach tarts." She freed her wrist from his grasp and grabbed the collar of his outfit with both hands. She pulled him down and slammed her lips against his. It was a brief kiss and she pulled away once she was satisfied. Releasing his collar, she grinned when she saw the unsatisfactory written on Claude's face. "Don't give me that look. If you want a better kiss, come see me after you've spoken with the professor. If I'm not in the dining hall, I'll be in the library."

Presea turned on her heels and sauntered towards the greenhouse entrance.

"You really are a tease sometimes," Claude mumbled.

She smirked as she left the greenhouse, having heard what he said. She arrived at the dining hall, where she found the other members of the Golden Deer house gathered. The moment she was about to call put to them, the sound of dishes and glasses shattering caught her attention. A soldier had accidentally knocked over a stack of clean plates and cups. A barrage of memories resurfaced in her mind at the sound.

Presea didn't snap out of her trance-like state until her friends walked over and Hilda waved a hand in front of her face. "Pressy, is anyone home?"

The snowy-haired woman blinked a few times as she was pulled from her memories. "Oh, yeah. Just remembering the past."

"From listening to shattering dishes?" Lysithea asked.

She nodded with a fond smile. "Weird, I know."

"From your smile, they seem to be fond memories," Lorenz commented.

"They're the cherished memories of the time I first met Claude."

"Oh, I've heard this story!" Hilda said.

"Wait, what story?" Leonie inquired.

The fuschia-haired warrior smiled. "Of the time Claude heroically came to Pressy's rescue when they were little. He even nursed her back to health."

This sparked Leonie's curiosity even more. "I haven't heard this story. Can you tell me, Presea?"

Presea's smile widened. "Sure."

*****

With the slaughter of her family and friends, an injured Presea fled from her burning village. She was heavily injured and could barely fly. She wasn't sure how far she flew until she could no longer use her wings. She landed in a forest and continued on foot.

She dragged her tattered, bloodied body through the forest until she came across a large glistening city. She saw people walking through the streets, but she knew they weren't her people. They were humans. Seeing as she had never interacted with humans, she couldn't fully trust them.

The five-year-old pterolykos pup entered the city and kept her injured body concealed in the shadows. She wasn't sure where to go and idly wandered around until she came across a vast marketplace. She knew little about medicinal remedies that could possibly help her with her injuries. She was too young and had yet to begin her studies when her village was attacked. The little knowledge she did have was from her time watching her mother and father.

The small pterolykos weaved under tables through the marketplace while searching for anything helpful. She soon came across a stall that was selling medicinal herbs. She looked around before hauling her tattered body on top of the table to see what all they were selling. She couldn't read the writing that told others what each herb was, but she didn't need to read the names. She found a few herbs she would need just from being able to recognize the blossoms.

Suddenly, Presea heard a scream. She looked away from the herbs to see a woman had spotted her. The unnamed woman grabbed a broom and swung it at the wolf. She clumsily dodged and wound up falling off the table. A whimper of pain came from her as her small body hit the ground. She willed herself to move when the woman chased after her with the broom.

Running as fast as her injured body could move, Presea scurried around the market with the woman got on her tail. She tried to take cover in a stall that was selling an array of fine china, but that didn't stop the woman from finding her. She swung her broom and knocked the dishes down, resulting in a cacophony of shattering. The loud noise frightened her and she ran away to a nearby alley.

She didn't make it far before she felt the pain was overwhelming and her mind was slipping. She tripped over her own feet and skidded across the ground with more painful whimpers. Her back collided with a building and she laid limply on her side. The woman with the broom caught up to her and tried to swat her even though she was severely injured.

"Stop!" Someone shouted.

The woman looked back to see a little boy standing at the entrance of the alleyway. She recognized the boy and gasped before lowering her broom.

The five-year-old Claude, or as he was truly known as his birth name of Khalid in Almyra, dashed over, ignoring the surprised woman. He fell to his knees beside the injured pup, checking over her wounds. When he saw she was barely breathing, he carefully picked her up and cradled her in his arms. He broke into a sprint and didn't stop until he returned home. In the large mansion, he took her to a spare bedroom and placed her in the bed. He then tried to take care of her injuries himself, but he soon realized it would be too much for him.

Claude knew of the visiting priest and wondered if he could help. Fortunately, he could. At the young prince's behest, he got to work tending to the injured pterolykos. While he treated her wounds, he told Claude about the creature he saved. He was in awe since he's never heard of pterolykoses before.

The priest finished tending to Presea and sighed sorrowfully. "I have treated her wounds, but I fear she may not make it through the night. I shall check on her in the morning." With a bow, he left the room.

Claude took the headband he was wearing off and tied it gently around her head. He smiled when her ear twitched slightly when his hand brushed against it. He was listening to the priest earlier, but he wasn't worried. He felt confident that she would survive.

Eventually, he crawled up onto the bed and lay beside the pterolykos pup. He remained by her side all night and fell asleep beside her.

<——————————————<<<<<

The following morning, Claude woke up when he felt something soft brush against his face. When he opened his eyes, he saw a fluffy fox-like tail a few centimeters from his face. He reached out and touched the blue tip of the furry appendage, which startled the pterolykos pup. He laughed as he watched her jump in surprise at his touch.

The pup spun around. Her cerulean eyes focused on him, who was still laying down on his side. She was unconscious and didn't get a good look at him yesterday, but she could see how kind and gentle he was from just gazing into his emerald eyes. She was curious as to who this child was and lowered her head. Her nose wiggled as she slowly approached him, familiarizing herself with his scent.

Claude held out his hand. He didn't try to touch her and let her come to him on her own. When she nudged her nose against his palm, he smiled. "I knew you'd make it."

Presea's ears flattened against the top of her head as she rested her muzzle against his palm. She closed her eyes when he scratched the top of her head.

"You're really soft," Claude commented while petting her. He sat up and continued to scratch the top of her head.

Just then, the door to the room opened.

The pup was startled. She turned to see the priest. Seeing that he was approaching, she was overtaken by fear and sought safety with Claude. She scrambled towards him and hopped onto his lap. She clung to the front of his shirt and tried to climb up his torso, but she was too weak.

Claude was startled by her suddenly clinging to him, but he didn't mind. He gingerly held her in his arms and stroked her fur to soothe her.

"I see she is doing well," the priest said. "I am quite surprised to see how well she is doing. I am happy to see she made it through the night."

"Does this mean I can play with her?" Claude asked.

"I'm afraid not, your highness. It would be best for her to remain in bed until she has fully recovered."

"Aw..." He pouted, cheeks puffed out.

"Would his highness be willing to fetch his new friend a meal while I change her bandages?"

Claude's pout vanished. He enthusiastically nodded before addressing the pup in his arms. "It's okay. This man is nice. He's going to change your bandages." He put her down on the bed and jumped off the mattress. He smiled at her. "I'll be back with some food!"

He dashed out of the room and to the kitchen. When the chefs weren't looking, he grabbed four peaches, put them on a plate, and took a knife. Once he had everything, he dashed back to the room. By the time he got back, the priest was gone and Presea was dressed in fresh bandages.

Smiling, he sat on the bed beside the pup. "Hope you like peaches." He took the knife and clumsily cut one of the peaches. He was lucky to not have cut himself in the process. He held out a single slice towards her.

Presea didn't hesitate. She took the peach slice and gobbled it down.

Claude gasped in shock. "H-Hey, slow down! I don't want you to choke."

She listened to him and carefully chewed the next piece he gave her.

He fed her until only one peach remained. She had expressed her fullness by flopping over on her side with a snort. Her cute action earned a giggle from the prince. "The priest said you have another form. I can't wait to see it! Maybe we could be friends and play together!" He pushed the plate aside and flopped down onto his belly with a grunt. He smiled from ear to ear, legs kicking back and forth with his face resting in his palms. "I'm Khalid. I can't wait for us to become friends!"

*****

As Presea told the story, she made sure to avoid telling the others Claude's real name or how her story actually took place in Almyra.

Leonie was in awe at the story. "By the goddess, that sounded like it came from a fairy tale. I love it!"

"I still can't believe you and Claude have been together for eighteen years," Lysithea commented.

"I too am surprised," Ignatz said.

"As am I," Lorenz sighed. "I would've been driven mad if I were in your position, Presea."

"You kind of learn to deal with the crazy schemes after being with Claude for a while," Presea laughed. "And sometimes you find yourself drawn into said crazy schemes and end up losing your mind just a little bit too..."

Hilda sighed. "Sometimes I think you're his babysitter instead of his girlfriend..."

Presea cleared her throat and tried to veer the question away from her and Claude. "Anyway, what were you all talking about before I got here?"

"Oh! That!" Hilda said. "We were talking about this month's mission. Our next stop is the Imperial capital. We've sure come a long way."

Raphael was puzzled at her statement and glanced at the warrior. "What're you talking about? This is Garreg Mach! It's where we started."

Hilda groaned. "I didn't mean literally, Raphael. I was speaking symbolically!"

"My earnest desire to protect the Alliance has carried me this far. It will not fail me. I am sure the rest of you all have your own reasons to fight as well. Of course, I understand that the fight will not end until we defeat the Empire... And now the time has arrived at long last to march on the Imperial capital and defeat the emperor..." Lorenz said.

"It really gets you thinking, doesn't it? We all come from different places and have different goals and dreams. But thanks to those two, we were all able to come together and overcome all sorts of challenges."

"You are referring to Claude and the professor, I assume," Lysithea stated. "Even within our own odd group, those two are particularly unusual. I would even say the same about Presea, but I have a feeling that's only because she's been influenced by Claude."

"Can't deny that..." Presea mumbled to herself.

"Oh!" Hilda gasped. "So, you are aware that you're odd!"

Lysithea wasn't sure how to reply and stumbled over her words. "Well... That's... It was simply a figure of speech. I am speaking about Claude, Presea, and the professor right now!"

"They're like the wind, river, and the trees..." Marianne chimed in with her gentle voice.

"Huh?" Hilda tilted her head in puzzlement. "Claude, Pressy, and the professor are? What does that even mean, and who is which?"

Marianne was a little shy, but she explained. "Oh, um... I was just thinking that if we're the birds, then those three are like the trees, river, and the wind. The professor is a great tree that kindly embraces us and watches over us as we perch on its branches... Claude is like the wind, pushing us forward as we soar across the open sky... And Presea is the river that provides us with the care we need..."

"Hm. The metaphor about the professor and Pressy is solid, but I think Claude just blows us around on a whim. Still, we owe him a lot."

Ignatz smiled. "I think that's beautiful, Marianne. I can really picture it. When the war is over, I'd love to paint a picture of those three. Oh! And of all the people we've fought with as well! But I already do have one request when this war ends."

This piqued Presea's interest. "Really? Who is it?"

The artist tensed when he realized what he let slip. "O-Oh, um... It's the church!"

Presea was able to tell he was lying, but he didn't want to press him for answers. "I'm just happy you're working towards your dream, Ignatz. I think it's wonderful. Your skills as an artist truly are amazing."

He smiled. "Thank you, Presea. I hope one day you will let me paint your portrait."

"I might just have to commission you after you finish with the church's request. Only if that's okay."

"I think it would be wonderful."

"I look forward to seeing any and all paintings by the master artist himself," she beamed. "Especially that historical painting you were talking about. I would love to see that."

Leonie nodded in agreement. "Me too! Maybe our descendants will look at it a long, long time from now..."

Lorenz also found the idea of the painting interesting. "I must say, that piques my interest. I look forward to seeing how you portray my valiant efforts."

"When you put it that way, we may be witnessing one of the greatest events in Fódlan's history. It's a lot of pressure, but the sense of duty I feel is even stronger than the fear."

Raphael smiled brightly at his friends. "I'm just happy to be here with all of you! I won't get scared, no matter what we face!"

"We have our goal. Enbarr, the Imperial Capital. Let's get to work!" Hilda cheered.

Suddenly, Presea's stomach grumbled loudly. She was completely embarrassed at how her stomach had such bad timing. She hugged her abdomen with a sheepish smile. "I am starving and need those peach tarts Claude mentioned."

Leonie laughed. "Let's all enjoy lunch together."

<——————————————<<<<<

With her stomach full and her hunger appeased, Presea left the dining hall. She made her way to the library in hopes to find a book to read to pass her free time. With their next mission being Enbarr, she treasured her free time more than usual and wanted to do something to assuage the worry that was growing within her. A good way for her to alleviate her worries is to find a good book to read.

At the library, she perused the large collection of books. She took many books off the shelf to scan through them to determine if they interested her, but none had so far.

Fifteen minutes passed.

Presea came across a book with a blue spine that had a heart doodled at the bottom. She wondered why someone would draw on the spine and plucked the book off the shelf. Carefully, she flipped through the pages and skimmed through a few paragraphs.

Reaching chapter seventeen, she gasped at what was written. Her cheeks turned red and she promptly slammed the book shut. "Dear goddess, who wrote this?! And why is it in the library where anybody can read it?!"

"I hear the shrill cries of a princess."

Presea turned around and promptly hid the book behind her back when she saw Claude had entered the library. She tried to calm herself down so he wouldn't be able to tell how flustered she was. "H-Have you finished talking with the professor?" She mentally imaged smacking herself for stuttering.

Claude grinned. "Oh, I definitely want to know what has you so flustered. It wouldn't happen to deal with that book you're trying to hide behind your back, would it?"

"So what if it does? I'm burning this book and there's no way you're seeing it. Someone put it here on purpose and its contents should not be among scholarly writings let alone be at a church!" She walked past him to leave so she could dispose of the book.

Alas, Claude was too curious. He snatched the book from her with a grin. "It can't be that bad, can it?"

Presea tried to take the book back. "Claude, give it back!"

He turned away from her just in time to keep her from grabbing the book. "Now let's see what my darling Presea was hiding."

"Don't you dare read it!"

He started to flip through the pages. "Now, now. It can't be that—oh..." He came across the chapter she did, surprised at how graphic the book was. He too became flustered at reading a few sentences. Clearing his throat, he closed the book and gave it back to her. "Burning it definitely is the best option."

"Glad you agree." She was contemplating where to burn it when Claude suddenly took hold of her arm. As she went to question him, he pushed her against a bookshelf. She held the book between them when he released her arm. His name was on the tip of her tongue when he placed his hands on either side of her head, caging her between him and the bookshelf. She could've easily escaped by ducking underneath his arms, but she found herself paralyzed when she gazed into his emerald eyes. She saw the yearning in his eyes.

After a minute of silence, Presea felt something click in her mind and she gasped. "You're not getting ideas from this book, are you?!"

Claude's stoic demeanor shattered. He started laughing. "I've got my own dirty ideas. I don't need help from an explicit novel."

She smacked him lightly on the forehead with the book. "I did not need to know that..."

He lowered his arms, but he didn't let her escape. He wound an arm around her waist and pulled her body flush against his. He pinned her arms and the book between their bodies. His other hand came to cup the back of her neck. "Don't worry. I don't have anything dirty in mind right now. I'm pretty sure you already know what I want."

"I do," she sighed. "I just hope no one walks in on us. Maybe we should take this somewhere private."

"The entire monastery already knows how crazy I am about you. A smooch in the library wouldn't be a problem. Besides, you kept me waiting too long."

"It's not my fault you're impatient."

"Well, it kinda is," he remarked with a grin. "You were the one who decided to tease me earlier, but that's okay. We'll take care of that right now."

Claude placed his lips over hers and kissed her passionately. He didn't waste any time deepening the kiss. He didn't even realize Presea had dropped the book when he took a step forward and pushed her back against the bookshelf.

When he had his fill of her lips, he left a trail of kisses leading from her cheek and down her neck. Sighing in contentment, he nuzzled his nose against the side of her neck. He kept one arm around her waist to hold her against him while the other hand wandered from the back of her neck to tangle into her snowy tresses. "You have no idea what you do to me."

Presea, with her back pressed against the bookshelf and her front cushioned against Claude's body, placed her hands on his chest. They slowly gravitated upward until they hooked around his neck. "I think I have a vague idea," she giggled. Leaning forward, she pressed her ear against his chest to listen to his heart. Hearing it was thrumming at a fast pace, she smiled. "You're good at hiding your embarrassment, but I can hear your heart racing."

"You really do keep me on my toes," he laughed before placing a kiss on the top of her head.

"I could say the same thing about you." At that moment, Presea remembered the erotic novel. She saw it laying on the floor by their feet. "Now can I burn this evil book?"

"Only if you let me watch."

She nodded. "The more the merrier."

<——————————————<<<<<

On the 17th day of the Garland Moon, Presea was training with Lysithea and Leonie. The three women were preparing themselves for their march upon Enbarr. They knew it wouldn't be an easy mission and they would most likely lose some of their friends and soldiers during the fight. They wanted to strengthen themselves to help lessen the number of possible casualties.

In the midst of training, Presea's attention was drawn to a distant cry of pain. She lowered her hands, deactivating the spell she had primed. Looking in the direction the scream came from, her eyes bounced around in search of the source. "Did you hear that?"

"I didn't hear anything," Leonie replied.

"What did you hear?" Lysithea asked.

"Someone screaming," Presea answered. "We should make sure someone's not injured."

Lysithea recalled the times the woman had fallen into a trance when she could hear screaming no one else could. The only symptom that was missing was the headache that would accompany the screaming. "Wait," she stopped Presea. "Where is the screaming coming from?"

"I'm not sure," she said. "It almost sounds like an echo. It could be coming from outside the monastery."

Lysithea and Leonie exchange questionable glances. Both women felt it wasn't safe to leave Garreg Mach, especially Presea.

"Leonie, take Presea to the cathedral. I'll go find Claude and the professor." Lysithea stormed out of the training grounds.

Presea was confused as Leonie took her hand and escorted her away from the training grounds. "What's wrong, Leonie?"

"The professor and Claude warned us about this," Leonie responded. "Before you slip into a trance, you usually hear screaming and have a headache. You don't have a headache, do you?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm fine."

"Still, we shouldn't ignore it."

Leonie didn't let go of Presea's hand until they reaches the cathedral. She let her sit down on one of the pews. She kept glancing at her eyes to make sure she wasn't in a trance. She tried to talk to her so she could ignore the distant screaming.

Not long after, Lysithea arrived with Byleth and Claude. The professor kneeled in front of Presea, his eyes searching hers. "Can you still hear the screaming?"

Presea nodded. "Yes, but it's faint."

Byleth was aware of how well pterolykoses could hear, but he wasn't sure if she was truly hearing distant screams of someone or the painful wails of the deceased Nabateans whose bodies were used to forge the Heroes' Relics. Lady Rhea had warned him that Presea could hear the cries of the Nabateans because she was a pterolykos. It was because of these cries her natural protective instincts would kick in and she would do anything to protect them, even when their bodies were no more.

Because the bones of the Nabateans were used to create the Heroes' Relics, they were easy triggers if they were in malicious hands. This made Byleth wonder if someone with a Heroes' Relic was sneaking around the outskirts of the monastery. Standing up, he gazed at Presea. "Let's take a walk around the monastery."

"What're you planning, Teach?" Claude wondered.

"Seeing if we can locate the source."

"What do you mean?" Leonie pondered.

"Whenever Presea falls into a trance, it always involves the improper use of a Heroes' Relic."

"I never knew someone could misuse a Heroes' Relic," Lysithea commented.

"It means someone who lacks the proper Crest or is Crestless wields a Heroes' Relics," Claude clarified. "Remember what happened to Miklan?"

Leonie gasped. "That was the first time Presea lost control of herself."

"And it was all because Miklan decided to use that Hero's Relic he stole. In fact, each time Presea has lost control has involved the misuse of a Hero's Relic. It's because of what they're made from and who Presea is."

"I still don't follow," Lysithea said.

"The Heroes' Relics are crafted from the bones of the children of the goddess. Presea's people were guardians of them," Byleth replied.

"Whenever someone Crestless or without the corresponding Crest uses them with malicious intents, I can hear the children's screams of pain before I lose myself," Presea explained. "Sometimes they become overwhelming and cause painful headaches."

"There may be someone using a Hero's Relic outside the monastery," Byleth stated. "Let's go."

The five leave the cathedral and walk around Garreg Mach. They ventured to every corner until they reached the ramparts near the stables. They looked out across the landscape beyond the monastery's grand walls.

Presea heard the screams were getting louder, but they had yet to trigger a headache. "Those screams..."

"You're hearing them again?" Claude asked.

She nodded. "Yes. They're louder, and I can tell they belong to the children. Someone is using a Hero's Relic. They must be nearby."

"But not close enough to trigger your instincts," Byleth added. "We should send a patrol to scour the outskirts of the monastery."

"I'll gather a troop and we'll depart immediately," Leonie said.

"I'll join you," Byleth stated. "Claude, Lysithea, stay with Presea. If she loses control..."

"We'll keep an eye on her, professor," Lysithea replied.

"You don't have to tell me twice," Claude said.

Byleth and Leonie left.

Presea continued to gaze at the landscape while listening to the screams. Mixed in between were desperate pleads to be saved. They were getting louder by the minute and she wondered if the one wielding the Hero's Relic was encroaching on the monastery.

"We should return to the cathedral," Lysithea advised.

Claude and Presea agree.

The trio makes their way to the cathedral. Along the way, Presea could hear the screams growing in volume. She could feel the telltale sign of a headache coming as they were crossing the bridge leading to the cathedral. She was about to tell Lysithea and Claude, but it was too late. The headache festered tenfold. She wasn't even able to make a sound before she was blinded by pain and her consciousness slipped. Her bright cerulean eyes turned dull.

Claude and Lysithea's attention was drawn to the woman when a strong gust of wind blew across the bridge. They turned around to see Presea had transformed. Her large form loomed over them. They realized what was happening when they saw her eyes.

Claude wasn't sure what he could do when her form was much larger than him, but that didn't stop him from sprinting forward. However, he didn't make it car. He and Lysithea were blown away when the pterolykos flapped her wings.

"Presea!" Claude shouted as she flew away. He scrambled to his feet and ran as fast as he could to the stables. He was too focused on Presea to hear Lysithea yelling his name. He dashed all the way to the stables without stopping. The moment he mounted Albus, he took off after the wolf.

He guided his wyvern in the direction Presea flew. Her speed was much quicker than Albus' and she was out of sight in seconds. He kept searching for her for what seemed like hours. He flew around the outskirts of Garreg Mach and even further in hopes of finding her. Alas, it seemed she had vanished into thin air.

It took a squadron of wyvern riders to locate Claude. The duke was reluctantly escorted back to the monastery as the sun was setting. Frustrated and worried, he paced back and forth inside the cathedral.

The Golden Deer had been assembled after word spread of what happened to Presea. Byleth had gathered them all in the cathedral, but he was struggling to speak to the distraught Claude. The professor approached the pacing duke. "We will find her, Claude."

"I can't believe I lost her," he mumbled sorrowfully. "I was there with her and still couldn't do anything."

"What happened wasn't your fault," Lysithea said. "The one at fault is the one who lured away from the monastery."

"We weren't able to find anyone when we performed a thorough search of the outskirts," Leonie replied.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they used magic to conceal their presence."

"I bet this whole thing was a setup," Hilda commented.

"What do you mean?" Ignatz asked.

"I mean someone knew how Pressy would react to a Hero's Relic and lured her away from the monastery. There's only one person who could know that. It has to be the one and only creep who's been hunting her down all this time."

"Acheron..." Marianne muttered the man's name.

Claude felt his worry grow tenfold at hearing the name. He was beginning to panic, his heart rate rising by the second. "If he is involved, we can't wait around. With those dark mages helping him, Presea is..." He felt a lump forming in his throat as he thought of what could be happening to the love of his life.

Byleth placed a hand on the duke's shoulder. "Calm down, Claude. Everything will be fine. We will send our troops at the crack of dawn."

Claude shook his head. "Dawn would be too late. If we're going to send out troops, it must be now. We can't waste any time, especially if Acheron is involved."

The professor sighed. "Claude—"

"Sorry, Teach, but I won't listen to you this time. I vowed to protect Presea, but I keep failing her. I've almost lost her too many times. If I lose her, I..." Claude hung his head in sorrow. "I don't even want to imagine a world without her. She means too much to me. Without her, my dream won't come true." He clenched and unclenched his fists by his sides. He was trying to control his emotions, but it was becoming increasingly difficult.

"Goddess..." Lorenz gaped in awe. "I have never seen you become this emotional."

"Didn't you see how he reacted when we all thought Pressy was dead?" Hilda asked. "He was a total mess!"

"Of course I did. I was referring to the determination. Never have I seen Claude so determined, and it is only because Presea is involved. I must say, she brings out a side of him many of us have yet to see."

"Love truly is wonderful," Marianne smiled.

"You do realize he can hear us, right?" Ignatz asked.

"Anyway..." Leonie tried to get the conversation back on track. "Whatever your plan is, I want to be a part of it, Claude. I can lead a troop tonight to search the outskirts again. Just say the word and I'm there!"

"Me too!" Raphael chanted. "Presea's my friend too. I want to help."

"I would like to help too," Lysithea stated. "As Raphael said, she's a friend. I refuse to let some psychopath have her."

"I agree," Ignatz joined in. "Presea is invaluable and a cherished friend. We must find her before anything bad happens to her."

"Yes," Marianne spoke up. "I will help as well. She is someone I can be myself around."

Hilda was next. "Well, duh! You already know my answer. She's my best friend. No way am I gonna stand on the sidelines!"

"Then it's settled," Lorenz chimed in. "We all desire the same."

Claude glanced at the faces of his companion with a smile. "And here she thought she wouldn't make friends..." Steeling himself, he was formulating the best strategy to find the young woman. "All right. Let's find our lost princess."

<——————————————<<<<<

The 29th of the Garland Moon arrived quicker than expected. It was the planned day the Alliance army would march upon the Imperial capital, Enbarr. However, Presea remained missing. No one had been able to find her.

Claude and the rest of the Golden Deer had spent many restless days searching for her. Between preparing for their attack against the Empire and their missing friend, they were left with little time to rest. And now, they were heading towards the imperial capital without her.

Byleth knew how Presea's disappearance was affecting Claude, but he was always by the duke's side to keep him focused. He was happy to see Claude was still focusing on their primary mission, but that made him worried as well. He wondered if the duke has convinced himself that she was never coming back but wasn't showing it. Like him, he had learned to mask his true feelings. The professor wanted to speak to Claude about the missing woman but held his tongue when they arrived outside the palace walls of Enbarr.

Claude gazed at the grand walls protecting the city. "There it is... Enbarr. The Imperial capital and the largest city in all of Fódlan."

"It's not just big," Judith replied. "This city was designed to protect the castle where the emperor lives. It's as though the city itself is a massive stronghold."

"And the citizens?" Byleth asked.

"They surely noticed us approaching some time ago, and yet..." Claude's voice trailed off.

"Our scouts confirmed the citizens haven't been evacuated. They're being kept in town," Shamir informed the duke.

"I've got to hand it to Her Imperial Majesty. Using her citizens as a shield to protect the castle takes some resolve."

"I suspect those mages will be lurking within as well..." Lysithea commented.

"Troops deployed to other areas are also returning," Shamir said.

"If we don't conquer the city quickly, things will get complicated fast," Judith stated.

"I hope we find Rhea," Byleth chimed in.

"We can't search until we conquer the city. Let's focus on the fight for now," Seteth responded.

Cyril glanced up at the sky. "Lady Rhea, please be safe. We've already lost Presea. We can't lose the archbishop too."

Byleth was a little shocked to hear Cyril mention Presea, but this is what he was hoping for. He quickly looked back at Claude to analyze his reaction. Alas, he didn't react. His face remained stoic as his mind was focused on the upcoming battle. "Claude—"

Claude spoke up, interrupting the professor when he knew what he was going to say. "We've kept the Empire waiting long enough. Onward!"

Byleth's face didn't show any emotion. Nonetheless, he was flabbergasted at the duke's behavior. Many questions soared through his mind, none of which he could figure out the answers to by himself. Had he simply pushed Presea to the back of his mind? Had he given up on her? Or did he know something he and the others didn't? Deciding to suppress those questions, he too focused his mind on the upcoming battle.

The Alliance army, vastly outnumbered by Imperial forces, initiated a surprise attack on the capital. They snuck into the city and took the imperial forces by surprise. Citizens scattered to safety while enemy soldiers poured out into the streets to defend the capital. Acting as their commander was none other than Hubert.

Claude, atop Albus, looked around at the large number of imperial forces. He could see their old classmate and someone else allied alongside him. "We were told Hubert would be leading the enemy forces, but the Death Knight's also with them. We'll have to take care of both of them, but we won't have time to mop up all the enemy units. We'll have to split up and take them on at the same time, or risk being overrun by their reinforcements."

Like Byleth, the other members of the Golden Deer were concerned for their leader when they entered the battle. They noticed his lack of motivation to search for Presea and wondered if he was okay. In the end, all they could do was fight alongside him and try to win the battle.

The Alliance army struggled against the imperial forces. The Empire had the upper hand because of the vast amount of artillery and magic at their disposal.

Fighting alongside Marianne and Byleth, Lysithea noticed something strange about the imperial forces. The dark mages who had allied themselves with the Empire and Acheron were missing. However, the masked mages, the Agarthan Soldier, that she remembered was still with the empire. She wondered if the dark mages were planning to ambush them or if they had severed ties with the empire because they had accomplished what they needed. When she was about to inform the professor of her observation, a shrill cry caught her attention. A winged demonic beast appeared in the city. She was shocked at seeing the large beast. "Reinforcements?"

Claude flew over and joined them after killing an enemy soldier. He too saw the large beast approaching. "We can't hang around or they'll just keep coming. We'll have to capture the artillery. We can turn them against their reinforcements."

"Leave it to us," Lysithea replied.

"Can you deal with Hubert?" Byleth asked the duke.

Claude grinned confidently. "Leave him to me." Tightening his hold on Albus' reins, he flew through the city towards Hubert. He passed many of his friends and allies to see Cyril, Seteth, and Flayn dealing with the Death Knight. He witnessed the trio slay him before they were obscured by a building. He felt that victory was in their grasp. "Okay! Just Hubert left to deal with..."

Near the entrance to the palace, Claude found Hubert. He was surrounded by a few imperial forces, but they stood no chance against the duke. He disposed of them quickly before facing off against Hubert. "It's over lapdog. Your military rule is at its end."

"For every step you take along that path, our thorns will cut into your heels," Hubert coldly replied with a death stare.

"Ooh, that sounds painful. I'll have to wear thicker soles for the March," Claude remarked playfully.

"If your boots are too heavy, you won't be able to lift your feet." Hubert snapped his fingers. The simple gesture was enough to signal his hidden ally. An armored demonic beast crawled over the wall with a shriek and made its way behind Claude. Hubert was more than pleased to see the distraught look that came across the duke's face when he saw the beast. "It seems your lapdog isn't here to protect you."

Just then, a familiar howl echoed throughout Enbarr. Claude smirked while Hubert looked around in confusion. A large pterolykos with white and blue fur leapt over the wall, landing behind the dark bishop. Wings spread wide, she lowered her body to the ground to show she was ready to pounce. Baring her fangs, she growled lowly.

Claude was more than happy to see Presea. He felt victory was close and the battle would be in his favor now that she was here. "For the record, I'm the one who follows Presea around. I guess that would make me the lapdog, huh?"

Hubert clicked his tongue before snapping his fingers a second time. The demonic beast launched itself at Claude. Acting just as quick, Presea leapt at the armored beast. She tackled it to the ground before it could attack the duke.

Claude faced off against Hubert while Presea handled the demonic beast.

Presea, although slightly smaller than the demonic beast, tore through its armor with her claws. She used her tails to bind its limbs to prevent it from fighting back while she tore into its exposed flesh.

The demonic beast broke free from her hold and knocked her off. It swiped its sharp claws at her, shredding the flesh and fur along her side. She felt blood seeping from the gash and healed her injury before it could fester.

With a hiss, the demonic beast started to gather energy. It reared up on its hind legs and released its attack. Presea blocked the powerful vortex of energy by erecting a barrier around her. The second the barrier vanished, she created her own vortex of magic. Composed of flames and miasma, an elemental tornado surged forward. It consumed the demonic beast. With its armor gone combined with the wolf's earlier attacks, it perished at the swirling magic that engulfed it.

Presea, seeing the demonic beast was dead, turned to aid Claude. Alas, he didn't need help. He had dealt the killing blow to Hubert.

"We must place our faith...in Her Majesty... Her victory is everything..." Those were the dark bishop's final words before his body fell to the ground, lifeless.

Claude was more than excited to announce their victory. "Well done, everyone! Now we can break through into Enbarr! We need to hurry up and attack the palace to block Edelgard's movements!" He heard the cheers of the Alliance army as he dismounted Albus. He made his way over to Presea, who remained in her wolf form. He started laughing when she laid down on her stomach with a huff, resting her head on the ground between her paws. Placing a hand on her muzzle, he gently raked his gloved fingers through her fur with a gentle smile. "Glad to see you're okay, Princess. You have no idea how worried I—we were."

Presea closed her eyes, enjoying being petted by Claude. She didn't revert until his hand left her muzzle. Back in her human form, she smiled at her beloved. "You sounded happy when you told Hubert you were my lapdog."

"What can I say? I'm a lost puppy when you're not around. If I had a tail, it would wag every time I saw you. I really am head over heels for you," he proudly stated. He didn't realize how embarrassing that was to confess until it rolled off his tongue. He cleared his throat just in time to avoid his cheeks turning red due to embarrassment. "So, what did you discover?"

Presea held out her arm and manifested Areadbhar, the Hero's Relic once wielded by the late Dimitri. She held the lance tightly with a grim expression. "Those dark mages helping Acheron used this to lure me away from the monastery. They led me quite a ways from Garreg Mach. I don't remember much of what happened, but when I snapped out of the trace, they were all dead. I am unsure if it was by my hand or Areadbhar. I wouldn't be surprised if most of them were killed by the lance when they tried to use it."

"I think I overheard Lysithea mention those dark mages were missing from the battle. I didn't see any while I was fighting, either," Claude said.

"That is because I located their base along the mountains that border Leicester and Adrestia. Before they could immobilize units requested by none other than Edelgard, I was about to wipe them out."

Claude saw she seemed to be unsatisfied with the outcome. "I thought you'd be happier with them gone. Of course, there's still Acheron, but getting rid of the dark mages was a step in the right direction."

She sighed. "Those mages were mere puppets."

The duke gaped in bewilderment. "Someone was manipulating them?"

"That, and they weren't even humans. I inspected one of their bodies. They're marionettes created from the remains of ancient necromancers. I have severed the strings and now they are useless. Still, the one who was pulling the strings is out there."

"Then we'll find them and stop them. For now..." Claude eyed the Hero's Relic. "What will you do with Areadbhar?"

Presea gazed at the lance with a sorrowful expression. "Put it to rest. Since we know the truth about the Heroes' Relics, I hope we can put them all to rest after the war ends." She closed her eyes and listened to the weapon. She could hear the joyful laughter and gentle voice of the Nabateans radiating from the weapon. "They'll finally be able to know peace and not have to worry about being used as weapons."

Claude smiled at the idea. He never thought much of the Heroes' Relics, not even after he learned the truth of their origin. If he wanted to unite all of Fódlan, he had a strange feeling getting rid of the Heroes' Relics would be a necessary step. "Consider me on board for that plan."

"Hey!" Leonie shouted, grabbing their attention. The couple turned to see their friends and comrades were making their way over.

"You're okay!" Hilda wailed happily at seeing Presea was safe. "Where have you been?!"

"Dealing with my own demons," Presea vaguely replied. "Or mages, I guess."

"You mean those dark mages who work for Acheron?" Lysithea asked. "I didn't see any of them within the city."

"We won't be seeing them ever again. I've disposed of them." She then went on to tell them what she told Claude. To say the Golden Deer, Shamir, and Judith were shocked was an understatement.

"So that means whoever was controlling them is still out there," Lysithea said. "I wonder if they have anything to do with those masked mages."

"Looks like we've got some investigating to do after we win this war," Claude replied.

"You seem rather confident," Lorenz commented.

The duke grinned. "Of course I am. With our combined strength, no one can stand in our way."

"Hold a moment," Byleth chimed in. "You were acting normal before the battle as if you knew Presea would show up."

"Now that you mention it..." Hilda started. "Claude did suddenly stop acting out of sorts a few days ago. I was really surprised to see him so calm, especially since Pressy was gone."

Claude couldn't stop his grin from widening. He revealed the note he had been carrying around. "Presea was nice enough to send a letter. Sorry I didn't tell you all."

Byleth wasn't mad that Claude hid the letter from him. "I only care about the safety of my friends. I'm happy you're safe, Presea."

Said woman smiled at the professor. "Happy to be back." She dispelled Areadbhar, concealing it with her magic. "We only have one more obstacle in our way before this war is over."

"Edelgard," Leonie said.

Claude glanced at the palace. "She is probably looking down on us from somewhere in that castle."

"I wonder if she's panicking or just smiling smugly..."

"From this point on, she'll be giving it her all too. Expect her to be tougher than the last time we fought. This battle will settle things once and for all. We'll attack as soon as everyone is ready."

Suddenly, Presea detected movement and immediately put up her guard. She heard the sound of clanking armor, unsure if it was friend or foe. She turned in the direction the noise came from to see Dedue had entered the city.

Claude saw her tense and followed her gaze. He gaped in surprise. "Huh? Is that you, Dedue?!"

Dedue approached the group. "I heard the Alliance's army has entered the city. I've been searching for you ever since."

Byleth was also flabbergasted at the retainer's appearance. "What are you doing in Enbarr?"

"I'm waiting for a chance to kill Edelgard. I have not yet been blessed with the opportunity," Dedue answered.

"Well, if you want to fight alongside us, we'd be more than happy to have you," Claude offered.

Dedue shook his head. "We fight for different objectives. I swore to offer Edelgard's head to His Highness. But... Should I fail, I will have no choice but to entrust that mission to you. This is the information I have gathered during my time in hiding here. It includes details about the inside of the castle." He pulls out a detailed letter and hands it to Claude.

The duke took the letter and skimmed over it. "I appreciate this, but... What do you plan to do? Don't tell me you plan to do it alone?"

"I've done what I came here to do. Farewell." Saying his peace, Dedue leaves.

Claude shouted after the retainer. "Hey! Wait!" Seeing Dedue was no longer in earshot, he sighed. "He's gone. He's just as hard to understand as his liege was."

"I can't even imagine how he feels," Presea mumbled sorrowfully.

"He's a fighter, I'll give him that. But now, we have our own right to focus on." Claude gazed at the faces of his friends and comrades. He then focused on Byleth. "The time has finally come, my friend. Once we win this fight, the Empire will fall."

"What will we do about Fódlan?" The professor inquired.

"The subject is heavy on my mind. Odd as it sounds, I believe the forces responsible for destroying Fódlan are also responsible for protecting the livelihood of its citizens. Everything, even the land itself, has been harmed by the chaos of war. Restoring it will be no easy feat. To do that, the first thing we need to think about is a new ruling system for all of Fódlan."

"We could unify Fódlan as one nation."

This made the duke smile. "As usual, we're on the same page. I was thinking the same thing. Even if the Alliance lords and any remaining influential nobles were to divide up the dominion of all of Fódlan... They would simply pursue their own interests. Another war would be inevitable. That's why there needs to be a powerful ruler who stands above them all and unifies Fódlan as one nation."

"You should be that ruler, Claude," Byleth said.

Claud didn't hesitate to reply. "If it means I can lead Fódlan to a better future, I wouldn't mind that at all." He reached out his hand and gently took a hold of Presea's. "My dreams await in a future where Fódlan is no longer ravaged by war. There are things I want to see with you someday. I'll keep thinking about the best way to achieve that goal. Whatever we decide to do, we can't do it until we defeat the Empire. Fódlan can't welcome a new dawn until we win the war. Let's prepare as best we can."