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Byleth and Edelgard have both arrived from Enbarr after Edelgard’s coronation to become Emperor.
“Congratulations, Edelgard.” Byleth commends her. “Does this mean I’ll have to call you ‘Your Majesty’ from now on?”
Edelgard lightly chuckles, “Byleth, there’s no need for that even though I’m now Emperor of Adrestria, I’d much rather want you to continue addressing me as you normally do. It’s one of the few times where I can be myself…”
Byleth could sense a hint of unease and sadness when Edelgard said that last part, “Edelgard, is something wrong?”
“Oh… it’s nothing.” She quickly says. “Thank you for staying by my side, Byleth. Now that I’m the Emperor, it’s time to grasp my destiny. After the ceremony of the Holy Tomb, I must return to Enbarr, this may be the last time we see of each other…”
“Edelgard, what do you mean the last-“
“I’m sorry, my teacher, but I have to go. We have one week before the ceremony.” She quickly kisses him on the cheek, and starts to hurry off before turning back to wave at Byleth. “I’ll see you in class, my teacher!”
“I’ll see you soon.” Byleth waves back, and once she’s out of sight, he turns to his thoughts. Edelgard, what are you hiding from me?
Byleth heads back to his room, and stays there for the entire night dwelling on what Edelgard said to him.
What is Edelgard up to? Why did she want to be Emperor so soon, and… what could have caused her to be so uneasy? Not only that, but there’s still the case of the Flame Emperor and… that man…
Byleth clenched his fist tightly at the memory of Thales protecting his father’s murderer. Byleth quickly takes a deep breath, and quickly calms down so he could think clearly. He then starts to recall that the Flame Emperor said that he didn’t condone Solon’s actions. He also noted that the Flame Emperor asked him if he would have wanted to join up with him to stop Solon’s experiments. It was at that moment when Byleth started to recall Edelgard’s reaction when he told her that he believed the Flame Emperor. His student looked very surprised, but at the same time, he could sense that she was happy.
Could it be that… Edelgard is the Flame Emperor? Byleth puts his hand towards his mouth. No it’d be wrong to accuse her, and I trust Edelgard with my life, but why do I sense an uneasiness within me, and those dreams I’ve been having, they seem to be getting more real the closer I am to this moment. I wish you were here, Sothis… Whatever it is, I need to find out the truth about what’s troubling Edelgard, and something tells me that I have to find out before the Holy Tomb ceremony.
Two days later, Edelgard has started making the finishing touches on her plan to raid the Holy Tomb. She sees that things are moving smoothly, and that her men are ready to move out when the time comes.
She projects her two crests. At long last, the time has nearly come to plunge deeper into this road of blood set out for me, and no matter what people think of me when the dust settles, all this will be for the good of Fodlan and its people. When this is all over, no one will experience the same kind of torment I went through, and Fodlan will have a bright future, but… is this truly the only path to my goals? Is there no other way for me to enact change throughout Fodlan? Is the only way to a bright future leaving a trail of corpses I’m about to cause through this war? If that’s the case then so be it.
Edelgard hears a series of five knocks being made in a specific pattern, immediately telling her on who it is.
“Come in, Hubert.”
Hubert makes his way into her room, and says to her, “Preparations are all set for the raid on the Holy Tomb, Lady Edelgard. Metodey is all set to execute your orders.”
Edelgard turns her chair to face Hubert. “Excellent work, Hubert, and welcome back.” She remarks. “I assume that’s not all you wished to tell me?”
“Actually, there's one more thing I need fo relay to you. My spies have caught whispers of Lord Arundel’s schemes. I fear he may not have the best intentions for us.”
“Has he ever?” Edelgard scoffs.
“Lady Edelgard, I do not know the exact details, but from what I heard, the scope of his plan is… unfathomable.”
Edelgard tightens her fist in anger towards that thought because she knows how terrible TWSITD could be. The ordeals she and Lysithea went through are a testament to that as well as the incident at Remire Village. “I will not let more people experience the same thing the people of Remire Village went through. That I will not tolerate. Contact my uncle. I wish to speak to him.”
“As you wish, Lady Edelgard.” Hubert bows as he makes himself scarce.
A day later and after class, Byleth heads over to the entrance going up to the second floor dorms. He then sighs, “I know you’re hiding somewhere, Claude.” He starts to look around, looking for his student. “Claude?”
“Boo!” Byleth jumps slightly and jerks his head towards the direction of the sound of that voice, and finds Claude hanging upside down on the branch of a tree. “Works every time! Looks like not even you could predict an ambush from the trees.” The branch cracks, and Claude falls to the ground. “Oww…”
Byleth chuckles, “I must admit, I’m impressed, Claude.” He lends Claude a hand, and gets him back to his feet. “But next time, I’ll be ready for you.”
“Point taken, and if that’s the case, I’ll use something different to scare you next time.” Claude then whispers to him. But what surprised me the most is that you’re actually going to search Edelgard’s dorm.”
“Yes… as much as I hate to do this, she won’t talk to me about what’s making her uneasy unless I find some proof. Has everyone left?”
“Yup! Hilda has got everyone at the Dining Hall for a fake love confession.”
”That… sounds awkward… What about Dimitri, Felix, Ingrid and Caspar?”
“Oh the four of them are at a tournament in the Training Grounds.”
“Good. That should keep them busy for awhile. Now let’s go.”
“You got it, Teach.”
Byleth and Claude head up to the second floor dorms, and head right towards Edelgard’s room. “You sure she’s not here?” Byleth asks.
“Positive.” Claude replies.
“And Hubert?”
“I triple checked every possible corner for him to hide in throughout this floor, and it looks like he’s not here either.”
“Perfect, that should make things a lot simpler.” Byleth tries to open up the door only to find it locked.
“Don’t worry, I got it, Teach.” Claude starts picking on the lock with his tools. “This’ll take two minutes tops.”
“Ok, I’ll stand guard.”
The two of them stay outside with Claude picking on the lock to Edelgard’s room while Byleth stands watch outside.
“So Teach, you feel any different after your… changes?” Claude asks.
“Me? Oh ummm… it feels weird in a sense, like despite these new changes, it still feel the same after all this time, but for some reason I feel off about it.” Byleth says before making a sad smile. “It’s just that… it feels a lot more lonely now…”
In his head, Byleth starts to lament the fact that he can no longer talk to Sothis anymore, and despite all the times she chided him or berated him, he still enjoyed her company.
“I see…” Claude trails off. “That sounds sad…” he then sighs. “Teach, for what it’s worth, I’m here for you, and not just me. Edelgard, Dimitri, your entire class, everyone you care about, we’re all here for you. I promise I won’t treat you any differently despite your changes.”
“I appreciate that, Claude.” Byleth smiles.
Suddenly, a click is sounded from the door knob. “Teach, we’re in.”
Byleth turns his body towards the door as he and Claude enter Edelgard’s room looking for what she could be hiding. “I wonder what secrets the little princess holds.” Claude says. He then finds a drawer, and finds all of Edelgard’s undergarments. “Gold mine! Look at all this blackmail ripe for the taking!”
Byleth immediately rushes over to the drawer, and slams it shut. “This drawer is off limits.” He says firmly. “Speak of this to anyone, and one day, you’ll be contained in your room with several broken bones throughout your body. We have bigger issues to deal with.”
“Got it, Teach.” Claude swallows hard
The two of them carefully inspect every inch of her room hoping to find something that could be the key to everything. As they continue to inspect the room, Claude looks inside her study desk. He sees that there are only study papers and books in it, but when he feels the bottom, he immediately realizes that something is off.
“Teach. I think I found something.” Claude calls out to Byleth.
“What is it?” Byleth asks.
“It looks like Edelgard’s desk has a false bottom within this drawer. The fact that it’s here means that she’s hiding something.”
The two of them clear out all the books and papers on top of the false bottom. Byleth puts his hands against the edge of the bottom, and he quickly glances at Claude. His partner gives him the nod of approval as Byleth opens up the bottom. The two of them gasp when they see the Flame Emperor’s mask lying there.
“Teach… you think this is just a coincidence that the Flame Emperor’s mask is here?” Claude is still in disbelief.
“As much as I don’t want to believe it, I believe that it’s true…” Byleth picks up the mask. “I don’t think someone left this mask to frame Edelgard, I think she is the Flame Emperor.”
“Teach, look! There’s something else.”
The duo find a stack of papers detailing information about the raid on the Holy Tomb and preparations for a war.
“These letters have been dated since the beginning of last year.” Byleth remarks. “She’s been planning this since the beginning.”
“I still can’t believe Edelgard would actually be planning to do this.” Claude says. “I know she’s not the biggest fan of the Church and wishes to abolish the crest system, but this is madness. Teach, what do you plan to do?”
Byleth thought about his next course of action real hard because he knew that if Edelgard proceeded with this, she would cause the death of masses of people for the next several years, and he could stop it now if he step forward to reveal her plans to Rhea and the rest of the Church. He could save the lives of many people if he stepped forward, and expose Edelgard. But surely, there has to be more to this story. He cares so much for Edelgard, and he knows she wouldn’t resort to this if it weren’t for a good reason. However, unless this is something she really wants to do, he has to do everything in his power to stop her before it’s too late.
“Claude.” Byleth says after moments of consideration.
“Yeah, Teach?” Claude perks up. “How do you want to approach this?”
“Forgive more for saying this, but I want you to stay out of this, and do not tell anyone about this. Whatever we discovered here stays between us.”
“You’re not turning her in, are you?”
“No, I have to confront her, and try to talk her out of this course of action. If she starts this war, there’s no turning back for her. I have a feeling on why Edelgard is doing this, but I will not let her turn into a monster for her to achieve this, not when there are so many options for her to use.”
Claude sighs, “Ok… I trust your judgment, Teach. But there has to be something I can do for you in this light.”
“I need to confront her alone, Claude.” Then something popped into Byleth’s head. “Though… there is something you can do.”
As Byleth and Claude enact their plans, Edelgard and Hubert proceed to one of the abandoned chapels, the same place where demonic beasts attacked some students back in the Ethereal Moon. The emperor stops in her tracks. She glances at a clearing that happens to be the same site where a Jeralt died.
She starts to look sad and full of regret when seeing the place where it happened. “I’m sorry…” she muttered softly.
“Lady Edelgard.” Hubert calls out to her. “He’s here.
Edelgard gets back in focus. “Of course.”
The two enter an abandoned tower where they find Lord Arundel already waiting for them. “I see that things are moving smoothly with your plans, Edelgard, and congratulations to your coronation.”
“I do not need praise from you.” Edelgard replies coldly. “We heard that you were planning something big without my consent. Is this payback for what happened to Kronya and Solon?”
“Kronya was nothing more than a disposable pawn for Solon’s plan. The loss of Solon on the other hand, was a huge loss on our side, and frankly I should punish you for your part in his demise.”
“I did my best to turn a blind eye to all your activities, Uncle or whoever you are, but what he did to all those people in Remire is something I won’t tolerate.”
“Always have to be the good one, Edelgard.” Arundel chuckles cruelly. “For now, I won’t punish you for two reasons. First and foremost, the time to start a war is nearly upon us, and the children of the goddess will soon meet their demise once it starts. I still need you to lead the forefront of the war effort.”
“And the second?” Hubert asks.
“The second is something I sensed for sometime already.” Arundel replies. “Have you heard of the entity known as Calamity Ganon?”
“You mean that horror story in Hyrule about a malicious floating pig head tormenting the people of Hyrule?”
“Correct, Hubert. You seem to have done your homework on the matter.”
“I tend to look into possible threats that could threaten Her Majesty. Especially since Hyrule is a continent just southwest from Fodlan, Brigid and Dagda’s direction containing technology that far surpasses-“
“What are you getting at?” Edelgard asks, wishing for him to get to the point. “I have no time to play riddles about a foreign land’s stupid fairytale.”
“You misunderstand, Edelgard, Hubert.” Arundel smirks. “Calamity Ganon is far from a fairy tale, and is quite real indeed. I sense that the seal the Hylians put on it is weakening, and in a few years, it will break through and finish what it started many centuries ago.”
“What’s your point?”
“My mages and I have been devising ways on how we can control such a being, a being far greater than Seiros and Nemesis put together. When that time comes and when the Calamity is unleashed, I will utilize its power to destroy all of Fodlan and our revenge will be complete!”
The very thought of this sends chills in Edelgard and Hubert’s spines knowing that they are ill equipped to deal with such a monster if it’s real.
“Will that be all, Edelgard?” Arundel turns his back from her.
“I have nothing else to say to you.” Edelgard says while maintaining her hardened facade towards him.
“I look forward to your war effort.” Arundel evilly grins before teleporting away from the site.
Edelgard and Hubert briskly walk away from the site with a lot dwelling on their mind. “He’s just getting under our skin, Lady Edelgard.” Hubert remarks. “There’s no way Calamity Ganon is real.”
“I’d think that as well.” Edelgard says. “But knowing him, he’d never take certain approaches if had no real basis. We need to look into the possibility that this Calamity Ganon is real.”
“If what Lord Arundel said is true, then that would mean it won’t matter whether we start a war or not. So what do you suppose we do, Lady Edelgard?”
“We’ll proceed as planned, Hubert. And I want you to learn everything there is to know about Hyrule.”
“Understood, Lady Edelgard.”
That night, they return to the entrance to the building where the dorms are. “Hmm… no one seems to be awake tonight.” Hubert remarks. “I’ll clear out any possible threats that may be within the vicinity.”
“Very well. I’ll head back to my dorm, and make final adjustments to the plan.” Edelgard says. “Good night, Hubert.”
“Good night, Lady Edelgard.” Hubert makes himself scarce while Edelgard heads back to the dorm room.
Hubert takes a secret path to the second floor that allows him to keep track of any possible threats Edelgard may face going upstairs. So far, so good , he thought.
Suddenly, he feels something small pierce the back of his neck prompting him to reach back, and check it. Hubert sees that it’s actually a small dart, and a moment later, he falls unconscious on the floor. Out of the shadows, Claude walks towards a now unconscious Hubert.
“Looks like my new sleeping darts did the trick.” He says to himself with his trademark smile. He starts carrying Hubert up. “Sorry, Hubert, but Teach would like to have some alone time with Edelgard.” He then turns to the thoughts to his head. I did all that I can, Teach. The rest is up to you. End this war before it has a chance to start.
Edelgard makes her way to the second floor, and walks towards the entrance to her dorm, and before she enters the door, she starts to reminisce, Everything is at the finishing touches, when I start my raid on the Holy Tomb, there’s no going back. I will have to face my class in battle, and… Byleth… No… I can’t be having second thoughts. I’ve steeled myself for when the moment comes. It is the only path.
Edelgard enters her dorm, and is greeted by a familiar voice.
“Hello, Edelgard.”
At that moment, Edelgard’s heart dropped as she gasps when she sees Byleth sitting by her desk looking straight at her.
“My teacher!” She swiftly turned and shut the door. “Aren’t you aware that Professor’s shouldn’t snoop in a student’s room?” She keeps her composure.
“Don’t worry, Edelgard.” Byleth gestures to her. “I placed a Silence spell all throughout this room. That way no one will hear what we’re going to talk about.”
Edelgard sighs in relief. “I take it must be very important if you wish to see me this late at night.”
“Yes, I just want to talk. Please have a seat.”
Edelgard heads over to her bed, and sits on it while facing Byleth.
“My teacher, what is it you wish to talk about?”
“Edelgard, is something bothering you?”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“You’ve been acting very strangely throughout this moon. It’s become more apparent ever since we returned from Enbarr.”
“My Teacher, I assure you, nothing is bothering me. I’m sorry if I’ve worried you, but I assure you I’m fine.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.” Edelgard quickly nods.
Byleth stands up, and walks towards the desk, and while Edelgard kept herself calm on the outside, she starts to feel a tinge of nervousness, but quickly brushes it off. “So, if I head over to this desk, and open up the false bottom that is here, will I not find anything?!”
Edelgard gasps in surprise that he knows about the false bottom. “My teacher, did you…”
“I knew something was off when you told me, ‘This will be the last time we see of each other.’ And I knew that if I tried talking to you about it, you would try to deflect my questions away, and hide your secret. So I needed to find out what you were hiding by procuring some proof on my own.”
Edelgard starts getting worried as she dared to ask Byleth. “So… you saw the contents beneath the drawer’s false bottom?”
“Yes. The Flame Emperor’s mask, the paper reports, everything. Edelgard, please… tell me everything.”
Edelgard places her hand on her face. “I knew this day would come, and I thought that when it does, I’d be ready for it. But now that it is…” She then takes a deep breath. “You still remember what I told you about my past, all those moons ago?”
“I do.” Byleth nods.
“Good. I’ll tell you everything.”
For the next thirty minutes, Edelgard tells Byleth everything about her plan, and why she wishes to start a war. At the end of it all, Byleth still manages to keep his usual blank face intact.
“My Teacher, you’re not surprised?” Edelgard asks.
“Oh I'm surprised, Edelgard.” Byleth replies immediately. “I was particularly surprised when I discovered the mask and those papers in this first place. I just managed to calm down after that.”
“I see.” Edelgard turns her back on Byleth, hiding her conflicted expression. Now you understand what I must do. That also means you are now my enemy, but even if you raise your sword against me, I’ll never hate you. You’ve done so much-“
Edelgard is interrupted midway when Byleth suddenly embraces her from behind causing her face to flush red in color. “B-Byleth!” She says in an embarrassing tone.
“I’m so relieved.” Byleth says as a tear starts to flow from his eye. “I was so afraid that you may have been taken in by the ideals of TWSITD… I’m glad that you’re still the same woman I confessed my feelings to back in the Goddess Tower…”
Edelgard brings out a sad smile, and returns the embrace, “Even after all you learned, you still harbor feelings for me?”
“Of course, Edelgard.”
Edelgard chuckles lightly before it slowly turns back to sorrow. She lightly pushes him away. “I’m happy that you still love me, and I do too, but… for the sake of all Fodlan, I have to do this.”
“Edelgard…”
“I don’t care if I’m called a bloodthirsty monster no matter what outcome happens after this war. All I care about is that the Crest System and the system of the nobility falls so that the people can live more freely by the end of it.” Byleth remains silent, and continues to listen to Edelgard. “If you wish to stop me, here and now, then you must turn me over to the Church to have me arrested or kill me right here and now. Honestly, it wouldn’t be so bad if I met my end here by your own hand. I won’t hold it against you if you wish to stand against me.”
It was at this moment vivid visions start popping up on Byleth’s head, and in all these visions he would always see that this war will take Edelgard’s life no matter what happens, and he also sees one where in the rare chance she does win, she gives her life up to destroy TWSITD.
I can’t let Edelgard go through with this. Byleth thought. I have to stop her here and now, but I can’t just dismiss her own ambitions. The fate of Fodlan and the fate of Edelgard will be decided at this moment.
“Edelgard, I now have my answer.” He said out loud.
“You have?” Edelgard raises her brows. “So what will be your choice?”
“Let me make something clear. Your ambitions are not wrong. I believe that what you’re trying to accomplish will be for the good of all Fodlan, but… I can’t let you go through with this war.”
“So you intend to stop me then?”
“Yes, but I won’t turn you in nor will I kill you tonight.”
“I see. I just want you to know that despite my feelings for you, I will not-“
“That isn’t to say that I won’t try to stop you tonight?” Byleth interrupts her mid sentence.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Allow me to try to convince you to steer away from this course of action. No, I will convince you to do so!”
Edelgard gasps when she hears those words from him, and a few moments later, her eyes start to glare at Byleth.
“Byleth, this is the best course of action for all the people of Fodlan!” Edelgard starts to raise her voice.
“No, it’s not if it’s going to take the lives of countless lives of innocent people!” Byleth retorts. “Especially if there are other ways to bring about the change you desire!”
“I have weighed my options carefully, and I have determined that this option will have the least amount of casualties. The more we wait, the more this crooked system will claim the lives of countless others!”
“I’m not saying it’s perfect, but we can’t just ignore the cries of people who will be afflicted by the ravages of war!”
Edelgard scoffs. “You used to be known as the Ashen Demon! You cut down people without a second thought! Have you ever thought about what your victims were leaving behind? So you have no right to lecture me about the value of life!”
“Don’t you dare go there, Edelgard!” Byleth snaps at her as he grabs her wrist tightly. “You’re right! I did cut down people mercilessly without a second thought, and I’ll admit, if I were my old self right now, then I wouldn’t try to stop you.” Byleth’s facial features start to soften as he loosens his grip on Edelgard. “But… you changed me… you, Dimitri, Claude… the three of you made me someone who could feel the pain of others and their suffering. Which is why I find it hard to believe that despite everything you been through, you’re willing to do what TWSITD did to you upon others.”
“That’s not my intention!” Byleth hits a nerve on Edelgard.
“I know.” Byleth says calmly. “So I like to ask you: do you really want to kill countless numbers of innocent lives?”
“Like I said, I’m willing-“
“You misunderstood my question. Do you REALLY want to kill countless innocent lives?!”
Edelgard widens her eyes full of fear and sorrow, and her voice shows signs of cracking, “Byleth, I… I…”
“DO YOU?!” Byleth yells.
“I DON’T, BUT WHO ELSE WILL DO IT!” Edelgard pulls her hand out from Byleth’s grasp, and slams her fist on the wall behind her, leaving behind a crack. “I don’t…” she sorrowfully says. “I don’t want people to suffer from this godforsaken system nor from the ravages of war… but I don’t know any other way to save them…” Tears start flowing from her eyes as she continues to plead, “So please… tell me… what am I supposed to do? How can I save the people of Fodlan from the crest system and TWSITD in the long run?”
Byleth let’s Edelgard rest on his shoulder. “It’s ok Edelgard.” He tenderly says. “You have me, Dimitri, Claude and everyone here in the Monastery is here for you. You’re not alone anymore so you don’t have to shoulder all the burden on yourself. No matter what happens I’ll be there for you.” Edelgard continues to cry on Byleth’s shoulder as he continues to comfort her.
Twenty minutes later, Byleth and Edelgard didn’t say a word to one another as Byleth wishes to give her student a moment of reprieve. After that, Byleth asks, “How’s your wrist? I’m sorry that I was rough with you at that moment.”
“No, no… it’s fine, Byleth…” Edelgard softly says. “If anyone should be apologizing it’s me. I should have never referred to you as the Ashen Demon especially since you hate that title. It was insensitive of me, and for that I’m sorry.”
“I guess we both have something to apologize for.” Byleth grins.
Edelgard lightly chuckles. “You could say that again.”
“So have you changed your mind?” Byleth inquires.
“To be honest… I’m not sure…” Edelgard mutters. “The Church still holds so much power over Fodlan, and they have abused it for so long. But I’ve also seen how many depend on the spiritual support, and don’t blindly follow the Goddess’s will. Still I can’t let things stand as it is.”
“Hmmm…” Byleth taps his finger on his forehead multiple times. “Perhaps I can help with that.”
“How?”
“By becoming the new Archbishop.”
Edelgard gasps, “Byleth, I thought you didn’t want to be in that position?”
“At first I didn’t want the position, but in order to change and reform the Church, I’ll have to take up the position, and abolish some of its corrupt practices. I think Rhea and Seteth trust me enough to succeed them in the future.”
Edelgard is in a mix of shock and happiness when she hears that, “Byleth, you’d do that for me?”
“Not just for you, but for all my students and their loved ones. They all suffered because of crests, and I wish to use that position to help them all out anyway I can. Edelgard, you and eventually, Dimitri and Claude as well as myself will become leaders of our respective factions, and with that, we will be in charge of making the most important changes, and if the four of us support each other, we might be able to reach all of our goals without bloodshed.”
Edelgard brings out a soft smile, “I have to say, it does sound naive, but perhaps, that might be a good thing.” She slaps both her cheeks together with her hands, and heads over to her desk. She grabs a feather pen, and starts writing on some papers.
“What are you writing, Edelgard?”
“I’m writing out orders to my men who will accompany me for the Holy Tomb raid as well as orders for the military leaders of Enbarr to halt all war operations until further notice.”
“Wait… so does that mean…”
“I still need to be prepared to mobilize because no matter what, this system the Church has set up has to be destroyed. However, I’m willing to try out your method, and reform the land peacefully starting with the Empire. If you can prove to me that your way is possible, and if the situation in the Empire improves within the next three years, then I’ll stop the war completely. It’s a risk, but thanks to you, it’s a risk worth taking.”
“That’s great! I promise that you won’t regret your decision, Edelgard.” Byleth smiles.
Edelgard smiles back. “Don’t worry about my Thales, Hubert and I can handle him though I don’t think he’ll mind for the time being.” Edelgard realizes something as she facepalms herself. “By the Goddess… I’ll have to explain all this to Hubert.”
“I’m sure he’ll understand.” Byleth looks away from Edelgard while whistling.
“Still, I am concerned about my uncle’s plan to control this Calamity Ganon. He has grown more in tune with TWSITD and I believe that he’s already dead and that whoever that man is isn’t my uncle. It is quite worrisome if such a being does exist.”
“Don’t worry, Edelgard. We’ll be ready for him and the rest of TWSITD before that happens. Besides of Calamity Ganon does exist, then I’m sure the descendants of the Legendary Hero of Hyrule will be there to stop it.”
“I hope.” Edelgard says while finishing a letter.
“I know they will, Edelgard.”
“…El.”
“What?” Byleth asks.
“It’s a nickname my sisters used to call me when we were little. Once my father passes on, there'll be no one left to call me that nickname.” “I-I’d like if you could call me that from now on to keep it alive a little longer.”
“I’d love to, El.” Byleth kneels beside Edelgard.
“Thank you, My Byleth.” She turns to see Byleth facing her as he caresses her cheek.
He leans his face towards Edelgard, and kisses her on the lips with his student responding in kind. The kiss lasts a few moments before they break off from their loving engagement.
“I-I should get back to work…” Edelgard blushes while trying to hide it from Byleth.
“Yeah… I suppose so.” Byleth turns his face away. “I should get going while it’s still dark. Good night, El.”
“Good night, Byleth, and thank you for everything.” Edelgard says with a smile.
Byleth smiles back as he leaves the room while Edelgard continues writing her letters to postpone all war efforts.
It was around the same time, in the land of Hyrule, Link has just finished killing his first Hinox at the age of fourteen. He starts panting after a hard battle against the giant. “Well that was tiring…” He says to himself. “Time to go find some grub.”
Little does he know that his life will cross paths with the lives of both Byleth and Edelgard in a few years…