Chapter Text
Great Tree Moon 1180
Byleth often woke up early. He was used to it by now, practically waking up in a different place every day for the past 20 or so years of his life. It is not like they ever really got to get comfortable while they slept, often sleeping in tents or on the ground. The closest place he could call home is Remire, but that is just because it is the town their mercenary group would go to the most inbetween assignments. It is where they currently find themselves while they prepare for their next job in Kingdom Territory. At least they got to sleep in actual beds this time.
Byleth could hear his sister, Bailey, mumbling something in her sleep. He has noticed she has been doing that a lot lately. When he and their father, Jeralt, asked about it she told them a story about some grand battle and a young girl. Their father merely told her not to think too much on it since getting distracted by such thoughts can get you killed in their line of work. Byleth merely took it as a strange set of dreams. He didn’t really want to spend too much time thinking on that stuff, he had plenty of things to worry about in real life, he couldn’t waste energy worrying about something like that.
Bailey may be his twin, but she has always seemed different from most people. It’s like she could never express emotion. There’s a reason people have taken to call her “The Ashen Demon”. She doesn’t show a shred of remorse or fear when she fights. While he isn’t sure why his sister is like that, he knows his sister isn’t a “demon” as people like to say. She just merely has a hard time expressing herself. It is why he as always felt the need to protect her. Granted he knows she is more than capable of handling herself in a fight. They both had a natural talent for wielding swords. However, she has not really spent much time around people. Their father and him have always handled talking with clients, so she has not really had much of a chance to really talk with people outside of the two of them. His sister may be different but, he still cares about her, and if he doesn’t need to protect her while they are fighting, then he’ll protect her on the social battlefield. He knows there are people who would mistake her blank expression for naivety, and try to take advantage of her, and he fears she doesn’t have enough experience with people to see that. At least she has other things that can occupy her time that she seems to enjoy, like reading and fishing, while they handle the more “interactive” parts of this line of work.
“Wake up Bailey.” Byleth says as he pulls on her shoulder to try and wake her up. Bailey slowly opens her eyes and gets up from the bed. As much as he wants to ask about her dream, they have kept their father waiting long enough, so they both head downstairs to meet him. “There you two are. Are you both ready?” “Of course.” Byelth replied. Jerlat seemed to notice that Bailey was lost in thoughts. “Are you alright Bailey?” “Yes, I’m fine. I was just thinking about the dream I had.” “You’ve told us about these dreams before, but I’ve never seen any battle quite like that or any girls like that either, but you have enough things to worry about with our upcoming mission in the kingdom, otherwise you might make a mistake that could cost you.” Bailey looks like she is about to say something, but she gets interrupted.
“Boss, there are some people outside who look like they are in trouble.” “Good grief, what on earth could it be at this hour?” Jerlat says in aggravation as he heads out, with the twins following behind. They meet up with a group of three people, two boys and one girl. They looked to be about the twins’ age. The girl had white hair, lilac eyes, and porcelain skin. She seemed very serious, almost like she was analyzing everything and everyone she looked at. One boy had blonde hair, blue eyes, and it appeared to have an earnest look on his face. This boy seemed genuine, but Byleth knows people like that tend to have something darker underneath. The other boy looked far different from his friends. His skin was much more tanned, and he had a braid in his brown hair. Byleth has never seen anyone in Fódlan with that. There is something else about this boy that strikes Byleth as odd, but he can’t quite put his finger on it just yet.
“What on earth is going on here” Jeralt asked the strangers. The blonde boy chose to speak up first. “My most sincere apologizes, but our group was attacked by some bandits. We wanted to go find help, but it seems the bandits are following us.” “I tried making a strategic retreat to go find help, but these two chose to follow me and lead the bandits here.” The brunette interrupted. “Well, perhaps if you had just stood your ground, the bandits would not have followed you.” The girl interjected, sounding a little bit irritated. “I don’t care who brought the bandits here! Thanks to you three this village is in danger!” Jerlat shouted. “Since it’s your fault you brats are going to help us take care of…” Byleth noticed his father seemed transfixed on their clothing. “Those outfits, you wouldn’t happen to be from the Officer’s Academy, would you?” “Yes, we are sir” The blonde boy stated. “The professor that was with us just ran off at the sight of them. Such a coward.” The brunette seemed to joke with a wink. “Oh apologies, we didn’t even properly introduce ourselves, my name is Dimitri.” He said with a bow. Byelth couldn’t help but think that this Dimitri guy really likes to apologize for everything. “I am Edelgard.” She said with a look of pride. “Well, I suppose if we are doing introductions in the middle of a crisis, then my name is Claude.”
Before the conversation could continue, the bandits arrived. While the rest of the mercenary group stayed in the village for protection of the innocent, their father, his sister, the students, and him, went to the front lines to fight. Their father stayed in the back to give orders and keep the village blocked off. Byleth and his sister lead the fight, their swords landing in any bandits that crossed their paths. Bailey always preferred quicker movements when she fights. She would often get in a few strikes before quickly getting out of the way of a counterattack. Byleth could never match her speed. Though he was fine with that, as he preferred stronger attacks up close. Sure, it meant he would get some hits on him sometimes, but that’s only if they were left standing. The reward is always worth the risk, right?
The students are not push overs like Byleth thought they would be. Even if they are students, they know how to handle their weapons. Edelgard seems to handle the power of an axe quite nicely. Though Byleth noticed she tends to focus all her energy on the swing, which could leave her vulnerable if she isn’t careful to defend herself from a counterattack. Dimitri’s stance with a lance appeared come naturally, almost like it was second nature to him. Though Byleth noticed he would sometimes get a little aggressive with some of his attacks, especially for fatal blows. Claude looked like he knew his way around a bow, but Byleth couldn’t help but see that he seemed to hold back somewhat, almost like he knew more about archery than he led on. One by one the bandits fell either by the hands of the Twins or the students. When Byleth looked back at his father, he seemed almost impressed under his annoyance with this battle. All that was left was the leader. They were able to get in a few hits on him, but then he charged across the field at Edelgard. Bailey came to her defense though, striking the leader’s axe right out of his hands, but something felt off to Byleth about that. Sure, she has done that kind of move hundreds of times before, but somehow this one was different, almost like she knew exactly where the axe was going to be down to the second. Before the final blow could be struck, a group of knights showed up and any bandits that remained fled with their leader.
“Captain Jeralt is that you?!” one of the knights shouted. Byelth could sense agitation from his father when he spoke. “Well, I guess I couldn’t hide forever.” Byleth wondered what he meant by that. Was their father in trouble with the knights? Did he do something long ago and now has to face the punishment? The knight called them over. “It’s me, Alois! You’re old right-hand man!” Right-hand man? As far as Byleth was aware his father has always been a mercenary, with no partners, let alone a partner who is a knight of Seiros. “Hello Alois, you’ve changed quite a bit since the last time I’ve saw you.” “I can’t quite say the same of you Captain. You look like you haven’t aged a day.” He called their father captain again, and Byleth realizes there is something their father must have never told them, and he cannot help but feel it is quite the long story. “Yes, well I suppose I just got lucky with my genes. Now if you excuse me my children and I need to get going.” “Oh you’re not ending things that easy, I insist you all come with us to the monastery!” Byleth wonders what he means by that. He knows there is a giant one in the center of the country, but he’s never been there before since their father always insisted on avoiding work around there. Why did his father avoid it for so long if they were going to give him such a greeting? “Well I suppose if I refuse, you’ll just report you found me and be ordered to find us again, so I guess it is time to stop avoiding the inevitable. “After their father and Alois went off to go have a private chat, the three students gathered around the siblings.
“I must thank you both.” Dimitri said with a bow. “If not for you help, surely the three of us would never have made it.” “Yes, Dimitri does have point, your skills were truly a sight to behold.” Edelgard said with an impressed look on her face. “In fact, I must ask you both to please consider working for the Empire. I am no ordinary student, as I am next in line to be emperor, and I could use your strength when I take over.” “You read my mind Edelgard, I was just about to ask them if they would lend their strength to the Kingdom. Just like her I am to become the next ruler of the kingdom and would welcome your guidance.” “You two really do get straight to the point don’t you.” Claude interrupted. “As if you weren’t going to ask them for help for when you become the next Duke Riegan.” Edelgard snapped. “Honestly, I was planning on getting to know them on the way to the monastery before asking for major favors.” Claude turns to speak directly to the twins. “So where exactly does your allegiance lie.” Byleth is tempted to make a joke on how they could simply buy the services of their father’s company, but he notices that Bailey looks like she is actually considering giving them an answer. Byleth is not sure what exactly is coming over her all of a sudden, but he knows she does not have the social skills to handle this sort of thing. Thankfully, the group is being called over to begin heading towards the monastery before she can give them an answer. “Come on guys, looks like we got to head out.” Claude said as he turned more towards Bailey. “I would be happy to talk on the way to monetary with you, I’m sure it will be a lively conversation.” He ended with a wink aimed at his sister.
Now that Byleth has had a somewhat normal conversation with them, he’s noticed something about each of them. Edlegard seems serious, but there is a spark of determination and pride in her eyes. Dmitri appeared earnest, but Byleth still can’t help but feel that there is something dark behind his eyes, especially after he saw him fight. And Claude…Well now he knows what strikes him odd about Claude. Sure, he seems easy going, but Byleth can tell that smile of his is a false one. He’s seen that kind of smile before, from clients who have shown false flattery in an attempt at getting their service cheap. He doesn’t like that kind of smile, especially since that smile seems to be aimed at his sister. He wants something, and Byleth knows that guy will try to use Bailey get it since it looks like Claude thinks she is an easy target for his flattery. Though he supposed all three of them want to try and use them to an extent, but at least Edelgard and Dimitri were somewhat honest about it. They get word that they have to start heading for the monastery and Byleth can only hope it is a temporary visit.