A/n: Due to this chapter being 11,500+ words, I do not feel like proofreading it. Please excuse any grammatical/spelling errors or any weird words since autocorrect likes to screw me over a lot. Love you all!!!
~✨Celestial✨~
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In the coastal territory of Margravate of Edmund, Presea was awaiting for Claude to finish his meeting with the Alliance lords to secure reinforcements for the army. With the current state of Fódlan, he gathered the five lords here instead of Derdriu to ensure a safe and non-interrupted meeting. She waited outside with Albus, who was lying curled up on the ground. The wyvern was fast asleep, exhausted from flying them all across Alliance territory. She rubbed his scales to soothe him while he slept.

After waiting another hour, Presea heard the doors open. Looking up the grand stairwell leading to the main hall, she saw Claude. She couldn't read his expression as he made his way down the stairs towards her and Albus. She wondered if he was able to secure the reinforcement they would need for their attack on the Imperial city.

"How'd it go?" Presea asked.

A victorious smirk manifested on Claude's face. "We've got the reinforcements we need, but with the current state of the Alliance, deployment won't be possible until next month. It's a minor setback, but we got what we came for. Let's head back and tell the others."

Before he could wake Albus, Presea grabbed his sleeve and tugged on it. "Wait." Her grip on his sleeve tightened. "There's something I want to talk to you about before we leave."

Claude could sense it was a serious matter from just looking into her eyes. He wouldn't dare ignore her, especially if it was the reason behind such an expression. He looked around to see they were alone, but he didn't trust it. Instead, he took her free hand in his and tugged her closer. "Let's talk somewhere a little more private."

Presea nodded. "Okay."

The couple rode on Albus' back until they landed on a beach surrounded by cliffs. The only way to get to it was by boat or flying.

Claude helped her off Albus. When he could only hear the lapping of the waves against the shore, he smiled at her. "There's no way someone can hear us now. What did you want to tell me, Pres?"

Presea revealed the document about Acheron. "Seteth gave this to me. It's a document detailing where Acheron was sealed. Lady Rhea was hiding it."

Claude took the document and read it carefully. His eyes widen in shock when he learned where the temple was. "The mountains between Almyra and the Leicester Alliance? That's where Lady Rhea sealed him?"

"I was shocked too," she confessed. "I have a feeling those dark mages allied with the Empire are the ones who freed them."

"I wouldn't be surprised. Solon was working underneath Lady Rhea's nose. I wouldn't be surprised if he did find this document." He lowered it and met her gaze. "I have a sneaking suspicion you want to go to this temple."

"I do," she answered. "And I want you to come with me. You are the person I trust the most."

He continues to gaze into her cerulean pools. "I don't think this temple is exactly a safe place to go, Pres."

"I know," she sighed. "But I want answers and this temple may have them."

Claude was silent for a couple of seconds. He folded up the document before handing it back to her. "When you put it like that, it's hard to say no. I also want to know more about this "Acheron" guy and this promise your father made with him."

Her eyes glistened with hope. "Does that mean...?"

He smiled. "We'll go check this temple out. Even if I did say no, you'd take off to investigate on your own." He then snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her flush against his chest. "If you did that and something happened to you, I wouldn't know what to do."

Presea buried her face into his chest with a content sigh, winding her arms around his waist. "I'm happy you're going with me. I know I would've been scared to go by myself."

His other hand came to rest on the back of her head as he presses his lips against her forehead. "Like I would let you go a dangerous place like that by yourself. There's no way you're leaving Fódlan's number-one scheming mastermind behind. Who knows when you'll need one of my crazy ideas along the way."

"You really have confidence in your abilities, don't you?" She laughed.

"I'm the leader of the Alliance. I need to have as much confidence as possible. If I don't, I'll fail as the Duke and not earn the respect of my people. They'll think I'm weak and unworthy."

"I think you're already a great duke."

He chuckled. "I can always count on you to be by my side." He combed his fingers through her snowy locks.

They remained in each other's arms for a few more minutes before separating. They knew they had to head back to the Great Bridge of Myrddin to tell the others about the news.

"Once we tell the others about the reinforcements, we'll search for this temple," Claude said as he and Presea returned to Albus. "Of course, we'll need to make proper arrangements to prepare for our little trip."

"If you'd like, I could make them while you inform the others," she offered.

"Sounds like a plan. Let's go."

<——————————————<<<<<

Arriving at the outskirts of the Great Bridge of Myrddin, Presea headed to the main camp to prepare for their trip while Claude regrouped with his friends and allies. He apologized to them. "Sorry for the delay, everyone. Those mewling lords kept me from leaving for quite some time."

Judith met the young man's emerald gaze with curiosity. "So? Were you able to secure additional reinforcements?"

"It's gonna have to wait until next month. It doesn't look like they can afford to keep supporting us at present."

"Then what should we do about Fort Merceus? Do you plan on waiting around?"

Claude shook his head. "No. If we wait until next month, the enemy will have bolstered their defenses. That said, the prevailing theory is that you need triple your enemies' forces to take a fortress with a frontal assault."

"Right, that's what we were taught at the academy. And this is Fort Merceus we're talking about. It's renowned for its strong defenses," Leonie said.

"Our current army isn't nearly strong enough. Hmm... What to do..." Claude hummed in wonderment.

"Whatever you do, just don't ask us to scale those huge walls. We'd end up dead when they hurl rocks down at us," Judith stated.

"Yeah, no thanks!" Hilda chimed in. "If only someone would open up the gates for us from the inside."

"Unfortunately we don't have any spies in there." Claude closes his eyes as he tried to figure out a plan. When he did, he opened his eyes with a smirk. "Wait a minute... I've got it! We sneak in, stir up confusion, and open the gates ourselves to let our allies in."

"Right! That's what I was saying all along!"

Ignatz nodded. "Right. Nice one, Hilda. But how do you propose we go about sneaking in?"

"Disguises?" She proposed. "If we dress up like Imperial soldiers, maybe they'll think we're allies and let us in!"

Leonie doubted the idea. LDo you really think they'd just open the gates for us? I'd be pretty dumbfounded if that worked."

However, Claude saw the potential in the warrior's plan. "No, no—she's on to something. It's a good idea, Hilda. We just need to refine it a bit, and we'll be in there before we know it."

Hilda was taken aback. She didn't expect her idea would've been chosen. "Really? Go me!"

"What is your definition of refining the idea?" Lorenz inquired. "I know your go-to strategy is nausea-inducing poison, but..."

Suddenly, Raphael groaned in pain. "Urgh! I maybe ate too much. My stomach hurts..."

Lorenz was battled at his behavior. "Raphael... Why are you eating meat during a war council?!"

Judith ignored the two and questioned Claude. "So, fearless leader, I'm guessing you're going to keep the crucial parts of your scheme under wraps until the time comes, aren't you?"

"You know me so well, Judith. Whether we like it or not, this war puts a damper on all of our spirits. What's wrong with trying to have a little fun every now and again? Just leave the details to me," Claude replied. "In the meantime, there's something Presea and I need to take care of. We're not sure how long we'll be gone, but we'll be back before our next mission."

Hilda eyed him suspiciously. "Is this secret mission the reason why she's not with you?"

"It is," he responded. "She's arranging what we'll need as we speak."

"Aw," the fuschia-haired warrior pouted. "I wanted to see Pressy..."

"What is this secret mission?" Byleth questioned, wanting to know where Claude and Presea were going.

"A place where she can possibly find the answer to her questions," Claude answered vaguely. "Sorry, Teach, but I can't tell you. She needs this and I'm not going to let anyone stop her."

"By the sound of it, this "mission" will be dangerous," Judith remarked. "You are the Alliance's leader and she is the last remaining pterolykos. Is it truly wise to venture into danger with just the two of you?"

"Whatever trouble comes our way, we can handle it," he answered confidently. "Trust that both of us will return safely."

Claude saw the troubled expression on Byleth's face, but he decided to ignore it. He spun on his heels and left to return to the main camp. When he arrived, he found Presea was securing the items they would need on Albus' back. He smiled at seeing her work. "Well, look at you. You've already got everything packed. And here I wanted to help."

"You can pack everything on our way back," she smirked.

He chortled. "Leave it to me."

She tested the rope to ensure it was tight enough to the point where the stuff wouldn't fall or it was uncomfortable for the wyvern. When it was perfect, she smiled in pleasure. "All right. Everything's ready to go. The only question to ask is if you're ready to go, Claude."

"No need to ask," he replied. He mounted Albus and held out his hand towards her. "Ready, Princess?"

"Still not a princess." She took his hand and he hoisted her up onto the wyvern's back. She sat behind him with her arms around his waist.

"You are to me," he grinned. "Now let's find that temple." He pulled on Albus' reins and the wyvern took off.

<——————————————<<<<<

Four days later, the couple found themselves in the mountain range that separates the Leicester Alliance and Almyra. They made a small campsite with what they brought. While Claude searched for some wood to start a campfire, Presea got to work preparing dinner. They had been flying for four days with breaks every few hours to give themselves and Albus a break.

As Presea was preparing the food, Albus watched her closely. She felt his eyes on her and laughed. "After all that flying, you must be starving." She decides to wait for Claude to return with the firewood before continuing dinner. Instead, she tended to Albus. She gave him food and water for his hard work. She stroked his white scales as he ate. "Thank you for your help, Albus."

Once the wyvern was satisfied, he curled up by the tree and fell asleep.

By the time Presea returned to preparing dinner, Claude returned with a haul of firewood. He easily started a campfire and tossed the spare wood in a pile. "This should last us a couple of days."

Presea brought over the skewers she made. "It'll do." She sat on her knees by the fire and started cooking the skewers on the open flame. "You did good, Claude."

He sat down on the ground beside her. "Looks like wicked schemes aren't the only thing I'm good at. I can add campfires to the list, too."

She laughed at his words. "Claude von Riegan, Duke of the Leicester Alliance and campfires. Kind of catchy, if you ask me."

He grinned in amusement. "It really does sound catchy. Might have to ask Judith about it."

"You drive her crazy enough. At this rate, her hair's gonna turn gray because of you."

"I can't be that much of a handful..." His eyes drifted over to her in wonderment. "Can I?"

She smirked. "Like raising a toddler."

Claude blinked in surprise. He got a closer look at her face and realized she was teasing him. He started laughing again. He threw his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him as he continued to laugh.

Fortunately, she had finished cooking the skewers and set them on the plate atop a nearby stump. She couldn't do anything but fall against him when he grabbed her. "C-Claude?!"

He continued to laugh while hugging her flush against him. "You really are a tease."

Now laying between his legs with her back against his chest, Presea glanced over at their dinner. "You're lucky I finished cooking our dinner." She felt her stomach growl and tried to break away from him. She wiggled in his arms to signal she wanted to be let go. "Claude, can I grab our dinner? My stomach's grumbling."

"What if I don't?" He cockily asked.

"Then I'll starve to death and be nothing but bones."

"Hmm..." Claude's hand drifted down to her hip and gave it a squeeze, earning a shriek from her.

Presea glanced accordingly over her shoulder at him. "What was that for?"

"Just checking to see how squishy you are. From my deduction..." He squeezed her hip a second time. This time, she choked on a gasp when it tickled. "I think you're perfect. I wouldn't want you to turn into a pile of bones. If that were to happen, I wouldn't be able to get cute reactions like that from you."

"Then let me grab our food so I can keep my squishiness."

Claude freed Presea from his arms. She grabbed the skewers and returned to the young man, who was now sitting on the trunk of a downed tree a few feet away from the campfire. She sat next to him and handed him a skewer. "It's nothing special, but hopefully it's tasty."

"Since you cooked it, I already know it's gonna taste amazing." Claude ate the slices of meat and vegetables on the skewer with a smile. He finished it within minutes. His once empty stomach was now full. "Your cooking really does hit the spot."

"It's only meat and vegetables skewered on a stick," she said, finishing her last bite.

"Yeah, but you seasoned everything perfectly. The flavor was amazing. If I was in charge of cooking, everything would be flavorless and burnt."

"You've made me peach sorbet before. And didn't you make my birthday cake?"

"Well, I may have had some help from one of the cooks at the monastery. It took about three cakes for me to not burn it. And the peach sorbet...that doesn't require an open flame. Trust me, if sorbet could be burned, I would somehow find a way to do just that."

She giggled. "Then leave all the cooking to me. You'll be the fire guy."

He grinned with a cackle. "You're not the only one who can make flames out of thin air. Leave the fire to me. The Duke of Campfires will show you how it's done, Princess." He held out his gloved hands and wiggled his fingers. "It might not be as fancy as yours, though."

She found herself laughing alongside him. "I look forward to your next campfire, oh mighty duke."

The couple spent a few more hours chatting by the campfire before calling it a night. They lay on two blankets with another covering them. They watched the last of the flames burn out as they fell asleep.

*****

"Claude!"

Hearing Presea shot his name with such fondness, Claude turned to face her. They currently were in the gardens of the residence of House Riegan. He saw her beautiful smile and found himself smiling too. Seeing she was standing in front of the fountain, he made his way over. He knew this was her favorite place on the entire property.

As her name was about to roll off the tip of his tongue, the healthy and smiling form of Presea morphed into a nightmarish image. She was covered in blood, gashes littering her body. Her once vibrant eyes were dull and lifeless, cheeks and eyes sunken in. The warm sun that bathed them morphed into a chilling darkness.

Claude's eyes widen in horror at the sight. His leisure pace turned into a desperate sprint. He ran as fast as he could to her, catching her just as her body began to fall. Sinking to his knees, he secured his arms around her frail form. Her broken, bloodied body slumped against his, her head laying on his shoulder. He felt the warmth of her blood and the frigidness of her skin.

He desperately clung to her, not caring that her blood was soaking his clothes. His eyes were wide, hands shaking as he held on to her. His breathing was labored, almost as if he couldn't fill his lungs properly. He frantically called her name over and over again in hopes she would respond. However, he only received silence in response. The moment Claude could no longer feel her pulse or hear her heartbeat, tears pooled in his eyes.

Presea was dead.

Claude held her lifeless body in his arms as he wailed at the top of his lungs, begging the goddess to bring her back. He cried and buried his face into her neck. It wasn't until he heard a menacing chuckle did he lift his tear-stricken face. Where the fountain once stood, he saw Acheron. The monstrous man cackled as he held the heart of his beloved in his palm. Darkness encased the once beating heart. "Now, the Holy Armor shall be complete."

The devastation in Claude's eyes shifted to pure hatred. He gripped Presea's body tightly before he growled, "I'll kill you..."

Acheron only grinned menacingly. "You will be joining her soon." As the man's eerie laughter echoed around him, the scene faded into darkness.

*****

With a sharp gasp, Claude's eyes fly open. Beads of sweat were scattered across his forehead. He pushed himself up into a sitting position and looked around. He was still at the campsite located near the mountain spring. He died the sweat from his forehead with a shaky sigh. "It was just a nightmare..."

"And here I thought I would've needed to pull you out."

Claude turned his head to find Presea sitting on a stump. He sighed in relief when seeing she was alive and well. "You're okay..."

"I am, but..." She peered at him worriedly. "Are you okay? You were tossing and turning, almost like you were in pain."

"The nightmare was awful, but I'm fine," he exhaled.

"If you want to talk about it, I'm all ears."

He shook his head. "No need. After seeing you're safe, that nightmare is gone."

"In that case," she stood up. "I made breakfast. I also took care of Albus."

He smiled faintly. "You could've woken me." He looked over at the white-scaled wyvern. "I would've taken care of the big baby."

"You were sleeping peacefully for a while," she said. "I didn't want to wake you since you rarely get to sleep in."

"Too bad that nightmare decided to ruin it," he groaned. He got to his feet and ate the breakfast she prepared. Like dinner, it was delicious. He hummed in content. "My compliments to the chef."

She smiled. "The chef appreciates your praise."

With their bellies full, Claude and Presea depart from the campsite and begin searching for the ruins mentioned in the document. With nothing to help them, they were on their own. They flew around on Albus until nightfall and were unable to locate the ruins.

Claude used the ink and quill Presea packed to cross out the areas of the mountain range they already checked out on the map. They covered a lot of ground today, but there was much more to explore. Their search for the ruins would only pay off seven days later.

On the eleventh day of their journey, the couple came across a small valley between the mountains. From the sky, they spotted a strange structure built into the mountainside.

Albus landed near the entrance. Claude and Presea dismount the wyvern, eyeing the entrance.

"This has to be it," Presea said. "How many other temples could be located along this mountain range?"

"Let's just hope there's only one," Claude stated.

Leaving Albus behind, they enter the temple and walk down a long stairwell leading deep underground. The way was dimly lit by torches along the walls.

As they delved deeper, the stone walls started to display strange symbols. They took no certain shape and seemed to be simple lines. However, that didn't last long as they began to take shape deeper into the temple.

Presea froze when she started to make sense of the symbols. "I recognize this writing." She placed her hand over a small portion of one of the larger symbols. "It's Teros scripture, the writing of my people."

"Can you read what it says?" Claude asked.

She tilted her head. "I can, but it's a strange combination of the words "imprison" and "demon." I've never seen two Teros symbols combined. Part of each symbol was taken to make a new one, but it's still clearly legible so anyone who knows the script can tell what parts were taken." She took a closer look, remembering a book she had found among Rhea's personal collection. It had pages filled with combinations of two or more Teros symbols. When she was struck with realization, she gasped. "These aren't just symbols. They're incantations. I recognize the structure from one of Lady Rhea's books. I believe they were engraved in the walls to prevent Acheron from escaping."

"Guess they didn't work as well as Lady Rhea thought they would," Claude commented.

"Actually, they work quite well." She traced her hand over what appeared to be a slash through the symbol. "A way to negate such symbols is to damage them. This line isn't supposed to be here. From the burning smell, we can safely assume magic was used to damage the symbols."

"And we already know a certain group of black mages that wanted to free Acheron," he added.

She nodded. "Yes. This is definitely their handiwork." She pulled away from the wall. "Let's keep going."

Continuing down the stairwell, they soon reached the bottom. They walked down a short hallway and arrived at a circular stone door that was shattered into pieces.

Presea saw a symbol carved on the fragments of the door. It was the same one carved along the walls. She stepped over the large fragments of stone with Claude on her heels. They entered the large room on located through the threshold. Stone columns aligned the middle walkway that led up to another stairwell. At the top of the short stairwell lied a throne made of stone. The top portion of it was destroyed, the rubble littered across the ground. Two rusted chains lay at the feet of the throne, the shackles attached shattered.

They walked down the sullied red carpet towards the throne and stood at the base of the steps. Presea saw large marks carved into the stone wall behind the throne. "Looks like Acheron had a small temper tantrum after Lady Rhea imprisoned him. This place reeks of miasma..."

Claude looked around the room and spotted a doorway hidden behind a tattered curtain that seemed to be hanging by a thread. "Looks like this place has more secrets."

Presea followed him to the room located behind the throne. It was a bedroom with a bed adorned with torn sheets, a shattered chandelier, a desk with piles of documents sitting on top and a chair that matched, and a dirtied rug. However, there was one more item in the room. It was stored in the corner and covered with a mangled curtain.

Wondering what Acheron was hiding, she carefully approached. Teaching out a hand, she grabbed the curtain and yanked it off. She gasped in horror and stumbled backward. Eyes wide with horror, her heel snagged on the edge of the carpet and she fell. Landing on her hindquarters, her eyes remained locked on what was hidden underneath the curtain—the Holy Armor of the Guardian. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she tried to breathe normally at the sight of seeing the bones of her people molded into a set of armor.

Claude had been checking the other side of the room when he heard her horrified gasp. He turned just in time to witness her fall and quickly dashed to her side. He kneeled, placing a hand on her back. He could feel her body shaking and wondered what had her so frightened. Following her fearful gaze, he saw the holy armor displayed on the wooden display stand. He blinked in shock at the sight. No words described the turmoil of emotions that could through him—anger, horror, and regret. He was horrified at the thought of what Acheron did to the Pterolykoses, angered for him attacking and killing the loved ones of his beloved, and regret for not being able to protect them.

After a few minutes, Presea was able to calm herself. She thanked Claude as he helped her up. With slightly shaky legs, she approaches the holy armor. She noticed the chest plate was the last piece that needed to be completed. Placing a hand on the unfinished cuirass, she hung her head with a sorrowful frown. Tears pooled in her eyes. She blinked them away before one could fall. Sterling her resolve, she dropped her hand and faced Claude. "Let's keep looking."

Claude wanted to ask if she was really okay, but he sensed she didn't want to talk about it. He simply nodded and headed to the desk so they could check the various documents stacked up. Together, they examined each one closely. He picked up a couple of documents and was surprised at how detailed they were. "I never took this guy to be the kind of person to write everything down."

"Neither did I," Presea replied. "There's a lot about Nemesis, Lady Rhea, and my people."

Searching through the documents, the young woman eventually came across one that mentioned her parents. She read every detail, which entailed Acheron's time with the pterolykoses. Her eyes the page thoroughly until she came across what she'd been searching for. She read about how her father promised to help Acheron. However, her father refused to help him after learning what he truly wanted—immortality. Acheron, angered at her father's betrayal, became blinded with anger. He tried to kill the pterolykoses, but Lady Rhea and the Nabateans intervened. She and the rest of the children of the goddess sealed him away in this temple to ensure he couldn't harm anyone.

Picking up more documents, Presea saw the writing getting sloppier. The writing was growing larger and ink splatters were beginning to obscure most of what is written. It was as if the writing was showing her how Acheron was starting to lose his sanity.

On the next page, the phrase "kill them all" was written over and over again. She grabbed more documents and saw the same thing. Eventually, it became illegible before suddenly stopping. Ache Tom had been driven mad by the need for revenge and being imprisoned in this temple. Sighing, she put the documents down. "I finally got the answer I've been looking for." She handed the document detailing the time Acheron spent with her people.

Claude took it and read closely. Once he finished reading it, he lowered the paper. "So that's what really happened." He put the paper down on the desk. His eyes slowly drifted over to her. "How are you feeling, Pres?"

"Besides feeling the need to decapitate Acheron, I'm fine. If those black mages hadn't freed him, I wonder if my people would've still been living peacefully. It also makes me wonder if none of this had happened, would I still have met you?" She thing her head with a heavy sigh. "Regardless, I can't change the past. I refuse to keep looking back and regretting not being able to do something. I plan to look forward and focus on my future with you, Claude."

The young man smiled gently. He stepped towards her and pressed his forehead against hers. "I wouldn't want it any other way."

Seeing as Presea was satisfied with what they found, she was ready to leave. The moment they went to exit the room, she glanced one last time at the armor.

Claude saw she wasn't following him and realized she was gazing back into the room. He didn't need to look to know what she was starting at. "Should we destroy the armor before we leave?"

She shook her head. "Even if it's almost complete, it's still utterly useless. It won't be completed unless he gets his hands on me."

"And that's never going to happen," he declared.

"He can keep the armor until the day we slay him. After that, I will finally be able to put my people to rest."

With those final words, they left the bedroom.

Presea and Claude were making their way across the throne room when they heard a menacing chuckle. They immediately turn to see Acheron sitting on the throne. "And here I thought I would need to hunt you down. Instead, you come straight to me."

Claude immediately stood in front of Presea. He unsheathed the sword that was attached to his hip, eyes narrowed in a sharp glare. He stood firmly and acted as her shield. "No welcome party?" He scoffed. "What a terrible host."

Acheron stood up. "Do you truly believe you can stand against me, Duke Riegan?"

"Heh, I think my chances are good."

Acheron held out his hands as miasma engulfed them. "Once you're out of the picture, all that remains is that darling little pterolykos. I'll kill her, consume her heart, and use her bones to complete the armor."

Claude's determination didn't waver. "Geez, at least get to know her first."

Tired of Claude's playful chatter, Acheron released two balls of miasma.

Claude used his swird to deflect one while Presea disposed of the other. With his sword at the ready, he charged toward the enemy. She placed a protective barrier around him when Acheron cast multiple spells at once, all of which were meant for him.

Each shell collided with the barrier. It was starting to crack, but Presea dispelled it when Claude got close enough to Acheron to strike. He swung his blade down and managed to deliver a few blows before being knocked back by the burly man.

Before Claude could recover, he was struck with an ice spell. Sharp icicles rained down on him, slashing his face and clothes. His arms, legs, face, and torso were now littered with gashes and blood. He was able to block a few icicles with the sword, but he was still injured and would need healing.

Sensing an eerie flow of magic, Presea felt her heart beginning to race in fear. She saw Acheron's eyes were beginning to glow purple as the miasma in his hands festered. She could tell the next spell he would cast would be impossible to counter. She broke into a sprint when she saw he was walking towards Claude with the intent to use the powerful spell on him.

Halfway across the throne room, she transformed. With a growl, she barreled towards Acheron. Swinging her paw, she smacked him away from Claude. His body flew across the room and slammed into the throne, shattering it.

Seeing Acheron buried in the rubble of the throne, Presea came up with a plan. She grabbed the injured Claude and placed him safely on her back then proceeded to destroy the support columns one by one.

With the columns destroyed, the temple was beginning to crumble. Presea dashed out of the throne room as large rocks fell from the ceiling. She ran up the stairs as fast as she could while listening to Acheron's angered shouts until she made it out of the temple. Even when she witnessed the entrance cave in, she didn't stop. She took to the sky with Albus and didn't land until she reached the campsite.

Claude slid off her back with a grunt of pain. He was about to address his wounds when he realized Presea's fur was standing on end and her cerulean eyes were scanning the camp for any threats. He trailed a hand down her leg in a soothing manner. "Hey, everything's okay now, Presea. We're safe here."

Hearing his gentle tone, the pterolykos' body relaxed. Her fur returned to normal and her wings were no longer spread out in a threatening manner. With a huff, she reverted to her human form. "I was worried since he was alone."

"It was strange to not see any dark mages with him," Claude said. "Then again, he doesn't come across as someone who relies on others. I bet he only allied himself with the dark mages to get information."

"I think so too. It seems he has no qualms in using others to achieve what he wants. He couldn't care less about those dark mages. They're just human fodder to him." Presea wanted to forget about Acheron for the time being and focused on her beloved. "Anyway, we need to get you fixed up."

Claude grinned the moment she gently cupped his cheeks in her palms. "Are you going to be my personal nurse?"

"Oh, please," she scoffed while analyzing his wounded face. "A quick healing spell will be just enough to heal all your injuries. You won't need extensive care. Besides, you're standing on your own just fine."

He laid his hands on her hips and pulled her closer. "You can't just leave a patient on their own. What if something were to happen?"

She healed him and patted him on the chest. "You'll survive. Now go get changed. Your clothes are torn."

"And what if I say no?"

"Then you'll be freezing tonight." She wiggled free from his hold. "I'm going to the lake for a quick wash."

Leaving a speechless Claude behind, Presea headed to the nearby lake with a towel. She undressed herself and didn't hesitate to enter the lukewarm water. She dove below the surface to wet her face and hair. As she returned to the surface, she combed her fingers through her snowy locks and rid them of a few tangles. As she sighed in contentment, she heard a faint chuckle from behind. Her eyes widen when she recognized it as Claude's usual cackle whenever he was doing something mischievous. She quickly lowered her body into the water to hide her nakedness. The only thing visible was her head. She glared at him. "Claude..." She growled.

He was already waist-deep into the lake, grinning childishly. "Now, now, there's no need to glare at me like that. There's nothing wrong with me joining you, is there?"

"No, but you should've told me you wanted to tag along. I would've wrapped myself in a towel!" Although her upper body was hidden under the water, she hugged her arms around her breasts. She lowered her body further into the water and now was only visible from the nose up. Her cheeks were slowly turning crimson due to her embarrassment.

Claude saw this and grinned amusingly. "No need to be shy. Besides, I'm not some kind of pervert. I wouldn't do anything that would make you uncomfortable." He then froze, realizing what he was doing. "Wait, am I making you uncomfortable right now? Because if I am, I'll leave."

She lifted her head from the water just enough to answer. "I'm not uncomfortable, just...embarrassed..." She gazed up into his emerald eyes. "And nervous..."

"Okay, maybe this was a bad idea," Claude said. "I'll get out and wait 'til your done."

Before he turned to leave, Presea lunged forward and grabbed his fingers. "No, it's fine. You can stay. It would be nice to have the company, especially after the day we've had."

He smiled and lowered himself chest-deep into the water. "Even though this mission was dangerous, it was nice to have some alone time with you. It's a shame it ends tomorrow."

"Once we've dealt with Acheron and this war is over, we'll have more time for ourselves. Of course, you'll still have your duties as Duke, but I don't think they'll interfere too much." She cleared her throat and started to float away, her back facing him. "I-I mean, I wouldn't want to be a distraction. Judith would chew off your head if she learned you were slacking off because of me."

Claude closes the distance between them. He carefully wrapped his arms around her waist, avoiding touching her anywhere intimate. He felt her tense up as he pulled her back against his chest. Pressing his cheek against the side of her head, he whispered into her ear. "Hey, it's just me. Relax, okay?"

"Says the man who plays dirty..." She pursed her lips.

He chuckled. "I'd like to think of my schemes as more of a tactical approach than dirty ones."

"Tell that to all the members of the other houses you poisoned that one time just to "test out" your latest concoction."

Claude paused for a second before acknowledging the truth. "Okay, so maybe a few of them were dirty tactics."

Unknowingly, Presea relaxed against him after recalling the memory. "Your craftiness knows no bounds. I will say, most of your crazy schemes have been successful in getting us this far. With you, Byleth, and the others acting as a team, we've already achieved so much."

"You don't give yourself enough credit," he remarked. "A scheme is only successful if everybody works together. It's thanks to you too that any of these schemes have been successful."

She leaned the back of her head against his chest with a content sigh. She hadn't realized how tired she was until she relaxed in his embrace. She allowed him to continue holding her as they floated aimlessly through the water. Eventually, she closed her eyes.

Claude was wondering why she suddenly fell silent. "You still with me, Princess?"

"Physically, yes. Mentally, I've checked out," she mumbled.

"Then maybe we should get out and call it a day," he said. "We've got a few days of traveling ahead of us."

Presea opened her eyes. "You're right. It wouldn't be a good idea to fall asleep here."

He slowly pulled themselves over to where their clothes were before releasing her. He allowed her to be the first one out to change. He didn't turn to look until she told him it was his turn. She retreated back to camp to prepare a quick meal while he changed.

Back at the campsite, Claude and Presea ate. Once their bellies were full and they checked on Albus, they called it a day to get enough rest for the journey back to Garreg Mach.

<——————————————<<<<<

Arriving back at Garreg Mach on the 16th of the Harpstring Moon, Presea and Claude were welcomed back by the Golden Deer House. Hilda had immediately ran over to the snowy-haired girl and hugged her tightly, expressing how much she missed her friend. "You're finally back, Pressy!"

"Claude's back too," Presea said.

"Yeah, but I missed you waaay more than him."

Claude weakly cackled. "You would say something like that, Hilda."

"How did your travels go?" Ignatz asked.

"Well, actually," Presea answered. "Minus the part when Acheron showed up."

Leonie gasped in horror. "He followed you?"

"More like he was waiting for us to show up," Claude said. "But we're okay thanks to Presea's quick thinking. She collapsed the temple and trapped him in the rubble. I doubt it killed him, but it'll definitely keep him off our backs for a while."

Lorenz met the girl's cerulean gaze. "Did you find what you sought, Presea?"

She nodded. "I did. I was able to get some closure. All that's left is to get rid of Acheron. Once he's home, I can finally put my people to rest."

"And you can finally know peace yourself," Lysithea added with a smile.

Presea found herself smiling as well. "Yes. I will finally be able to find peace of mind."

"I'm glad you were able to find what you sought," Byleth stated. "I'm even more happy you and Claude are safe."

"Now that we're back, we can focus on our upcoming mission. Fort Merceus won't be an easy stronghold to conquer."

"This will be a difficult mission, but I know we will be triumphant."

As the group separated, Hilda looped an arm through Presea's. With a warm smile, the warrior asked, "How about some tea? Oh! And some peach tarts! I heard they just made a fresh batch!"

Claude watched his beloved be dragged away by his friend with a sigh. "Stolen from me yet again..."

Byleth stared at the backs of the two young women before giving his full attention to the Alliance leader. "From Presea's attitude, it seems you both might have found more than answers."

The emerald-eyed man looked away from his professor. "We found more than we would've thought," he confessed. "Turns out, Acheron's been using the temple as a base. It also happens to be where he's been hiding the holy armor. She hasn't been her usually cheery self after seeing it. It's understandable, though. Knowing it's origin, I would've been more surprised if seeing it didn't affect her at all."

"Did you destroy it?" Byleth asked.

He shook his head. "No." His eyes drifted in the direction Presea and Hilda walked. "I think she chose not to destroy it so she can dismantle the armor herself and put to rest the remains of her people. It'll allow her to get the peace she seeks."

The corners of Byleth's lips curled upward slightly to form a small smile. "She always seems to see another side that others don't."

Claude smiled proudly. "I couldn't agree more. She's able to find a slither of light in the darkest of situations. She truly has a way of seeing this world like no one else. It's just one of the many reasons why I love her."

"Color me jealous."

Claude found himself laughing. "First Lorenz and now you? Don't tell me you've fallen for my princess too, Teach."

"No, but I hope to find someone special to me as well."

He patted the professor on the back. "I'm sure you will, Teach."

<——————————————<<<<<

By the time the 31st arrived, everything was ready. They left Garreg Mach and marched for Fort Merceus. When they arrived at their destination, they remained hidden in the forest to avoid detection. Ignatz departed from the group for a short while to deliver a fake letter to the fort before returning to inform his friends of his success. "I delivered our letter to Fort Merceus. I don't think they suspected anything."

Claude was more than pleased with the artist's success. "I knew I was right to entrust that task to you. You've got that honest kind of face that makes it easy to fool people."

Ignatz's brows furrowed in bewilderment. "Is that meant to be a compliment?"

"Claude's compliments do sometimes come off as insults," Presea commented. "But yes, it was."

"Oh..."

"What did you write in the letter?" Lysithea inquired.

"I informed them that reinforcements were on the way. It would have been suspicious for troops to show up unannounced," Claude answered.

Hilda glanced at him curiously. "So, the plan is..."

"We'll disguise ourselves as reinforcements from the Imperial capital and sneak in to Fort Merceus."

"Oh! You used my disguise plan after all!"

"We've also procured Imperial army uniforms."

Hilda was more than excited her plan was chosen. "Ooh, good work. I knew this was the only way!"

"However..." Claude intervened before she could get too exhilarated. "That alone wouldn't be enough."

"You did say the plan needed a little more refinement. Are you going to dress up like Edelgard, Claude?"

He sighed. "I'm not sure that would accomplish much."

Presea grinned amusingly. "I don't know about that. I would pay to see you in a dress."

"Sorry, but that's one thing I'll never do. Not even for you, Princess," he smirked back. "Besides, you would be the perfect one to dress up as Edelgard. Your hair is white just like hers, but your eyes would be a dead giveaway I'm afraid. I would like to see you in a real dress, though."

The snowy-haired woman realized they were getting off topic and tried to recover the conversation. "We'll save the dress for later. For now, let's keep our mind on the mission. Did you make the letter convincing enough?"

He nodded. "I did just as you said and included the name of the Imperial general leading the reinforcements. While we're heading to the fort, a separate army is going to attack us."

Marianne gasped in fright. "We're going to be attacked?!"

"That's all just for show, though. It'll be our allies who are attacking us."

Hilda's eyes widen when she assembled the puzzle pieces to their plan. "Oh, I get it! We're going to make it look like the Alliance is attacking Imperial reinforcements!"

"Right. When the troops in the fortress panic and open up the gates... We're in."

After a lengthened silence, Judith expressed her doubt. "I'd love nothing more than for this plan to work, but I've got some bad news for you. Apparently the notorious Death Knight has been placed in charge of defending Fort Merceus."

Marianne looks towards Flayn and Presea when she heard the name. "The one who kidnapped Flayn and Presea..."

Flayn trembles at hearing about the Death Knight. "The Death Knight... I did not wish to ever think of him again."

On the other hand, Presea was more than itching to face off against the armor-cladded man. "He deserves whatever comes his way."

"He got some acclaim in the battle to subjugate western Faerghus. They say he holds the most military prowess in the Empire," Judith explained.

Claude still believed victory was in their grasp regardless of Judith's doubts. "Even so, we've got Teach here to command us. All will be well. You have to trust us."

"So your big plan is to just trust your professor? Really, boy?"

Leonie shared the same confidence in Byleth as their leader. "Under the professor's guidance, I'm sure we'll manage somehow. We're counting on the tactics you learned from Captain Jeralt!"

The Duke looked around at the faces of his companions. "Prepare yourselves, everyone. It's time."

Presea knew she would be joining Claude. He managed to procure a dark mage robe for her to conceal herself with. She was looking forward to dressing up as one of the people who hunted down her kind. It felt poetic to her.

Leaving Claude and Byleth so may speak alone, she returned to the soldiers who were dressed in Imperial armor. A woman handed her a set of black robes for her to change into. She thanked her and headed a little deeper into the forest to change.

When she finished putting on the robes, Presea gazed down at the front to examine the design.

She admired the golden accents of the robe. She had to admit, the attire was appealing and breathable. It was excellent fabric and made for easy mobility. "No wonder they didn't have any issues getting around..." She combed her snowy locks so they lay in front of her shoulders. With her hair out of the way, she pulled up the black hood. "I have to confess, they have a sense of fashion."

Hearing someone whistle, Presea spun around. She spotted Claude leaning against a nearby tree, arms crossed. She placed her hands on her hips. "Sneaking around again, hub?"

"I prefer the term "tactical approach"," he smirked.

"Of course you would..."

Claude pushed himself off the tree and walked toward her. His eyes raked across her body, analyzing her appearance. "You make evil look good."

She tugged at the front of the robes. "I think I need to look into getting a new outfit. This fabric is really comfortable." Releasing the front of her new attire, she straightened out her hood. "Are we ready to depart?"

"We are, but first..." He leaned down to kiss her but was stopped when a finger was placed against his lips. He blinked in bewilderment as he started into her cerulean eyes.

Presea smirked at his reaction. "Save the kiss for after we're victorious. We shouldn't keep the soldiers waiting too much longer."

"You're right," he sighed. "Let's go."

With Byleth having led the other members of the Golden Deer inside Fort Merceus, Claude and Presea approach the fort from the northeast with their disguised Alliance Infantry soldiers. As they marched, the young woman could hear the sound of distant footfalls. From the weight and number, she figured it was the reinforcement forces Claude had requested. Walking next to Claude, she whispered to him. "They're here."

Hearing the encroaching army, Claude stops the troops and turns around. From the rear approached an unidentified army consisting of mounted and flying units. Presea remained where she stood while Claude sternly walks towards the rear of the Alliance soldiers to meet the unidentified army head on. Chaos ensues amongst the Alliance soldiers, in fear and confusion at the unidentified band of soldiers.

From her position, Presea spotted a familiar face leading the army. It was Nader. She watched him closely as he gestures to the army behind him to stop. She didn't budge an inch when he aims his bow at Claude and fires a single arrow. She not only trusted Nader, but she was confident in Claude's abilities.

Claude reaches the rear of the Alliance army, swiftly takes out his own bow, and shoots an arrow to intercept the arrow Nader shot. The two arrows hit point-on and fall to the ground. Upon diverting Nader's arrow, Claude puts his bow back and promptly unsheathes his sword. He charges toward Nader with his blade at the ready. Seeing this, Nader switches out his bow for his own blade.

Mid charge, Claude pounces at Nader and both their swords meet, creating a strong impact and forcing them both back. Claude stabilizes himself as Nader dismounts his horse. Both face each other with swords in hand, gazes unwavering.

"I see your skills haven't dulled yet, kiddo," Nader said proudly.

Claude let out a short laugh. "What did you expect?"

Visible confusion spreads amongst the Alliance forces. The unknown army facing them stand still calmly. Claude smiles and laughs before turning around to face the Alliance Soldiers. "Everyone, listen up! From now on, the Almyran forces will be fighting by our side!" The Alliance Soldiers show shock as they digest this information as their leader continues. "We'll work as one! And we will bring down that fort together!"

Nader raises his sword and cheers. Both armies continue the cheer and display excitement in anticipation for the upcoming battle.

Claude rejoined Presea at the front of the Alliance army. He grinned at her. "Now we're ready for the real battle."

Once infiltrating the fort from the north, the two armies were ready to aid Byleth and the other members of the Golden Deer House. Claude summoned Albus and mounted him with Failnaught at the ready. "An impregnable fortress is a wide-open prairie once you get inside. From here, we'll attack from the north and south at once!"

"No different than a prairie, you say? Heh! You've got a strange head on your shoulders, kiddo," Nader said.

"For Nader the Undefeated, this should be as easy as a walk in a meadow, right?"

"Heh. Well, goddess or death god or whoever they may be, let's crush them to dust."

The battle began.

Presea, using her disguise to her advantage, was able to confuse the Imperial forces and the dark mages among their ranks. She disposed of many of the mages while the others dealt with the remaining enemy units. As she killed another mage, she heard the sound of horse hooves clacking against the ground. Looking around, she saw the Death Knight pass her. That was also when she heard an Alliance soldier shout, "Report! The Death Knight is moving! It looks like they're abandoning the fortress and making an escape!"

Then, she heard Claude's voice. "We need to put an end to this here and now. Come on, let's circle around and cut off his retreat."

"I'll stop him," Presea declared.

Running after the Death Knight, her hood slipped off her head. When she felt a powerful flow of energy course through her veins, she transformed. Without hesitation, she leaped at the knight and knocked him off his steed. She lowered her body to the ground, bearing her sharp teeth with a threatening growl.

The Dark Knight gazed at the large winged beast. "A beast worthy of my blade. I shall carve out your heart myself, but the time of ruin draws near..."

She wasn't sure what he meant, but that didn't distract her. She faced off against the Dark Knight. She attacked him many times and knocked him back, but he was tougher than he looked. His armor showed no scuff or dent from any of her physical hits or spells.

Being distracted by the Dark Knight, she failed to detect the approaching dark mages that we're a part of the Empire's reinforcements. They surrounded her large form and attacked. Her focus was drawn to the mages, giving the Death Knight the opportunity he needed to escape. He mounted his steed and took off towards the western exit of the fort.

With a howl, the pterolykos used her tails to swat a few mages away from her. She then placed a protective barrier around herself. Their spells hit the barrier as she tried to decide what spell to use against them. However, she didn't have to lift a finger when Lysithea and Raphael arrived. They annihilated the remaining mages.

Reverting back, Presea dispelled the barrier with a sigh. "Thank you, Lysithea, Raphael."

"We're glad you're okay," Lysithea replied.

She was happy to see her friends come to her aid, but her happiness vanished when she realized the Death Knight was gone. She looked around and saw him being pursued by Byleth and a few Alliance troops. She was about to join the professor but stopped when she saw him and the men in his company look up at the sky. Following their gaze, her eyes widen in horror when she spotted a strange path of glowing blue rings appear from the heavens, aiming downwards like a targeting ray.

Sensing a threatening energy from the phenomenon, Presea turned to Lysithea and Raphael. "Run to the exit!"

"What about Marianne?" Lysithea asked. "She's still back there!"

"I'll help here. You two need to get out here!"

Lysithea and Raphael listened to her and ran as fast as they could.

Presea did the same but in the opposite direction. She found Marianne tending to an injured Alliance soldier and quickly came to their aid. She was about to warn them when she looked up at the sky a second after sensing an overwhelming amount of energy. She gasped when a missile-like parts through the clouds and follows the path of blue glowing rings, heading towards them.

Presea put all her strength into erecting a barrier around them. She made it small so she could focus more on integrity than vicinity. She braced herself as the javelin of light hits Fort Merceus. A huge explosion takes place, sending a wave of heat, debris, and death radiating outwards. Her entire body felt the immense power as it collided with the barrier. She felt as if her bones were about to break from the pressure. Regardless of the pain, she remained strong so she could protect Marianne and the soldier.

Once the explosion ended, Presea felt the pressure being lifted off her body. She stood on shaky legs as she dispelled the barrier. The small area her barrier had protected was all that remained of the fort. Everything around them was decimated and only a large crater remained. Sighing shakily, she collapsed to her knees. Her entire body ached and she felt like she was about to pass out.

Marianne was by her side in an instant. "Presea, are you all right?"

She nodded feebly. "I'll be fine."

The now-healed Alliance soldier got to his feet and came to kneel in front of the collapsed woman. "I cannot thank you enough for protecting us, Lady Presea."

"I'm just glad I made it in time," she smiled weakly.

Marianne placed her hands on Presea's arm and provided some healing. It alleviated some of the pain, but her body still ached.

The moment the soldier supported the weakened Presea, the sound of distant screaming drew their attention. They heard a soldier shout, "Run! We have to evacuate immediately!"

Presea felt the same energy from before and looked up at the sky. Another targeting ray appeared and a second javelin of light surges down from the heavens. This time, its target was the town surrounding the decimated fortress. The three felt the ground shake as it made impact.

Once the ground steadied, the trio remained where they stood until they knew it was safe. They looked around and tried to figure out how they would rendezvous with their comrades. The plateau they were on was high and a large crater surrounded them. There was no safe way down.

Presea, although weak, wanted to help. "I can transform and fly us out of here."

"No," Marianne said. "You need to rest. Knowing Claude, he must be looking for us. Let's wait until help arrives."

She couldn't argue. "All right." She leaned against the soldier when she felt the ache in her legs beginning to bother her.

Not long after the second explosion, a squadron of wyvern riders led by Claude could be seen scouting the area. Marianne was able to grab their leader's attention. It was only a few seconds later did the squadron descend from the sky and to their current location.

Among the squadron was Seteth. He was the first to sigh in relief. "Thank the goddess you all are safe."

"We only survived thanks to Lady Presea," the soldier responded.

Although concerned for the woman due to her fragile state, Claude was able to smile. "Seems like my princess is more suited to be a guardian angel."

Presea groaned. "I would snap back, but I am too exhausted for that."

"I have tended to her, but she needs rest," Marianne told the duke.

"Leave her to me." Claude helped Presea onto Albus' back with aid from the soldier. He placed her in front of him to avoid her falling off if she were to pass out on the ride back. "Just lean back and relax, yeah?"

"Just don't drop me if I pass out," Presea mumbled.

"Wouldn't dream of it, Princess."

He flew them back to where their allies were waiting for them. The rest of the wyvern squadron wasn't far behind.

Presea clung to Claude as he helped her off Albus' back. He chuckled when she felt him lean against him with her arms wound around his waist. "Someone's super clingy today."

"Mmm..." She grumbled, too tired to make any sort of retort.

He decides to dial down the teasing for now. He wrapped an arm around her waist to keep her from falling if she were to pass out. He continued to hold on to her even when the others gathered around.

Nader was among the group to join Claude and Presea. "Hey, kiddo! What was with that...javelin of...light?"

"Javelin of light..." Claude pondered the name. "That describes it pretty well. The fortress was supposedly impregnable, but look at it now. It's hard to imagine that the Empire would do something like that. But if not them, then who? And for what purpose? If they wanted to kill us, then why wait until now to use it?"

"We almost died just now... and without an answer to any of that. Speaking of unanswered questions, why is Nardel here? Care to explain? I get the feeling there's something you two are keeping from us," Judith said.

Nader was quick to avoid the questions. "I'll go ahead and see my subordinates off to Almyra, kiddo. Make sure you take care of Presea."

Claude was shocked and tried to stop him. "Wait, Nader! Are really going to just leave me here and run away?"

"I hope to see you again, Judith. And you too, Professor. I'll be praying for your safety!" Without a second to waste, Nader runs off and leaves Claude in the clutches of Judith.

Hearing the name, Judith was flabbergasted. "Nader? Are you saying that Nardel is actually Nader the Unstoppable?!"

"Unstoppable?" Byleth parroted.

Claude was quick to correct Judith's mistake. "It's actually "Nader the Undefeated." Almyrans love grand titles."

Judith glanced in the direction Nader vanished. "I knew he was no ordinary person, but to think he was the great hero of Almyra..."

Hilda interrupted their conversation. "Hey, um, can we really afford to be chatting right now? If another one of those javelins of light falls, I doubt Pressy could protect all of us in such a state. We'd all be dead!"

Lorenz was in agreement. "Claude. There are things I wish to ask you, but first we must hurry and withdraw. It would also be wise to allow Presea to rest."

Claude nodded. "Right you are. Come on, everyone! Let's hurry up and get out of here." He called over Albus and manuevered the feeble and exhausted Presea onto the wyvern's back. "Come on, Princess. Just hang on a little longer."

"More like you're gonna have to hang on to me," she muttered.

He smiled amusingly at her humorous reply. "You are in the hands of Fódlan's most capable man."

Safely on Albus' back, they depart from the decimated Fort Merceus.

<——————————————<<<<<

At the Great Bridge of Myrddin, the alliance forces regrouped.

Lorenz, seeing they were safe, spoke to the duke. "Claude. It is time for you to explain. Why are you so close with an Almyran general? I believe I even heard him call Presea's name."

"Well, he did quite a bit for me when Pres and I were younger," Claude explained.

"When you both were younger... So, before you joined House Riegan. How and where did you meet him? There aren't many opportunities to meet a general from Almyra in Fódlan..."

"If that's what you believe, it's only because that's what you've been led to believe. After all, we have Cyril here among our allies, and he was born in Almyra."

Cyril was taken aback at being dragged into the conversation. "Hey, now. Don't drag me into this."

"Even Presea was born along the coast of Almyra, so that would make for two close allies," Claude stated. "There's a big, wide world outside of Fódlan, and it's overflowing with different places and cultures. You think interacting with outsiders is odd, but isn't avoiding contact with the outside world far more unnatural?"

"Don't change the subject, Claude," Lorenz chided. "To the people of the Alliance, the Almyrans are—"

Claude was quick to interrupt. "It's true that there's a history of hostility, but why should that mean we're doomed to remain hostile forever? The Almyrans aren't monsters. Just look at Cyril and Presea! Do they look like monsters to you?"

Cyril glared at the duke. "Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"

Presea had nothing to say due to her barely-conscious state.

Like before, Claude ignored him and tried to get Byleth on his side. "Right, Teach? What did you think when you met Nader?"

The professor didn't even need time to think of a response. "He's a reliable general."

"Ha! I'll tell him you said that. And I'm sure that if all of you got to know him, all of your preconceived notions would change too. I know you guys, and you aren't the type of people to reject someone without trying to get to know them."

"But... how did those Almyrans even get past Fódlan's Throat?" Hilda inquired. "I doubt my brother would just let them pass without saying anything..."

"About that... I actually made sure your brother met Nader in advance," Claude replied.

Lorenz gaoed in shock. "What?! Lord Holst met with an Almyran general?"

"Oh, so that's why you were so interested in my brother. But wait, they're supposed to be bitter enemies! They've fought each other several times before!" Hilda shrieked.

"I know," Claude responded. "It was a big gamble. But rather than having me try to convince them myself, I knew it would be easier to just have them meet. They were taken aback at first, but sure enough, they hit it off. They were even drinking to their newfound brotherhood before parting."

"It makes sense. If you take the greatest heroes away from the battlefield, of course they'll get along," Judith said.

"Fighting one minute and drinking together the next... Men are so weird!" Hilda replied.

Presea, who was leaning against Claude, lazily jabbed her finger into the side. "Especially this one..."

The duke grabbed her hand before she could poke him a second time. He was smiling at her little playful banter, but he kept the conversation flowing. "Ultimately, someone's bloodline has nothing to do with the friendships they forge. Relations between the Alliance and Almyra is a matter we'll tackle in the future. Still, I want to take this opportunity to make one thing clear to all of you. After we defeat the Empire, I intend to tear down the walls that separate Fódlan from the outside world. I want to let people and goods come and go freely, and in doing so, eradicate prejudices about the outside world."

"Huh?!" Cyril screeched in bewilderment.

Lorenz couldn't ignore the feeling of doubt that arose within him. "Would it even be possible to achieve such a thing? It directly contradicts the Seiros tenets."

"Does it? I'm not so sure. I'm any case, I'm prepared for the inevitable protests and criticism. New ways of doing things are always met with resistance. During our time at the Officer's Academy, all of you overcame the barriers of birthplace, status, and ideology. Having gone through so much with all of you, I have no doubt that, in time, you'll understand," Claude said.

"I guess there were a lot of different people there. People we wouldn't have met through the normal course of our lives," Hilda commented.

"Duscur once opposed the Kingdom, but there was someone from Duscur there. Brigid once invaded the Empire, but the Brigid princess was there. We ate at the same table as those people. Sure, sometimes we didn't get along. But other times, we helped each other out. Can we really draw a definitive line in the sand and say one group of people is all good, and another all bad? If I can realize my dream, Fódlan will be reborn. The old age will end and we'll welcome a new dawn."

"But, if—" Lorenz began but was promptly interrupted.

"Save your objections for another day, Gloucester boy," Judith stated.

Lorenz shook his head with a groan. "Ugh..."

"That said, there are more pressing matters to discuss. Our next step is to invade the Imperial capital, right?"

"That's right. I'm sure Edelgard is eagerly awaiting our arrival in Enbarr. Reinforcements from the Alliance lords should arrive soon. Let's make sure we're ready to greet them," Claude responded.

Presea was about to say something when she finally let her consciousness slip. She would've fallen to the ground if Claude hadn't already been holding on to her. Her limp body slumped against his.

"Well, that took longer than I thought," Claude commented.

"I'm surprised she was able to remain conscious for so long," Ignatz said.

"We should return to the monastary and allow Presea to rest properly," Marianne said. "Will you need help with her?"

"I've got this." Claude scooped up the unconscious Presea into his arms. "I'll see you all back at the monastery."