Chapter Text
It was dark, and cold. Each step echoed on the stone underfoot, indicating she was somewhere underground. The air was sticky with humidity, allowing the cold to seep in past every layer of clothing and deep into her skin. Somewhere in the distance she could hear rats skittering about, squealing as they fought each other for scraps.
Edelgard shuddered. At least she had an axe. She always had her trusty axe.
Something moved up ahead. Something big. The few torches scattered about flickered as the creature shifted the very air surrounding it. She tightened her grip on her weapon, and grit her teeth. She wasn’t going to run. Not this time.
Red eyes appeared in the darkness, along with a threatening growl. It reverberated off the walls of the corridor, flowing past her ears and into her head. It rattled her ribcage, caused her jaw to chatter. But she was not going to run this time.
“I’m not afraid of you,” she snarled back.
The red eyes floated upward as the creature shifted to its full height. In the faint torchlight, she could make out unnaturally long arms and legs. Round, skeletal wings unfurled as the beast hovered off the ground. It let out another growl, this one even more vicious.
Edelgard reared her axe back and raced forward with a determined war cry. The creature leapt to the side with surprising agility for something of its size. It let out a piercing roar, causing her to flinch and shield her ears. The creature seized upon her moment of weakness and hurled itself forward.
Edelgard dodged its claws at the last moment, tucking into a roll but feeling one of its talons snag her cape. She recovered quickly and charged forward, bringing her axe down upon the creature’s outstretched hand. Black blood sprayed across her face as the beast howled in pain.
It retaliated with brutal efficiency, reaching out with the other hand and snatching her up with deceptively nimble fingers. Its hand was so large her entire body fit within its palm, which left her arms pinned at her sides as it closed its fist, squeezing her tighter and tighter.
Air rapidly left her lungs as she fought against the hold. She kicked and thrashed as best as she could but she found herself very quickly unable to move. Just her head remained outside of the creature’s hand, which allowed her to view the monster as it brought her up to its face. Those glowing red eyes illuminated her predicament, burning into her soul as she fought to stay awake. She felt her ribs on the verge of cracking, her lungs constricted so much she couldn’t even breathe in anymore, her heart at its breaking point.
The monster just stared at her, unblinking, with a face she was acutely familiar with.
Suddenly her eyes flew open. She sat up rapidly, gasping for air. Her bedsheets had gotten tangled around her body and she fought desperately to remove them, almost falling out of the bed as she did.
Once disentangled, and after a few deep breaths, she finally realized where she was. She was in her dorm. Rain patted softly against the window panes, and there was a slight chill in the air. As was normal for Red Wolf Moon.
Edelgard sighed heavily, dropping her head into her hands as she pulled her knees up to her chest. That particular dream unnerved her in ways her other nightmares didn’t. Perhaps because those dreams were largely twisted memories of things that had happened. While traumatic to relive, she could at least find comfort in knowing that it was over. She was no longer in a dungeon - she was safe here at Garreg Mach.
But this dream…the one with the monster…
She had only been able to get little tidbits of information out of Thales, but that monster was…something planned for her. It was not a memory so much as it was a possibility. The very thought that such a creature lived within her chilled her to the very bone. Hence why she started hunting it. Any time she found herself trapped with that thing, she’d fight back. But it always got the upper hand. Always, it would either cause her to flee or die. And every time she awoke in a cold sweat and the light from its eyes still burned into her retinas, she knew little progress had been made in vanquishing it.
She let out another shuddering breath and settled back into her bed, nestling deep under the covers in an effort to block out the chill. She never did get back to sleep, but she was grateful for the warmth the blankets offered.
And so she remained, in the dark of a cold night, alone.
— — —
“Remind me again why you have decided to expend energy and time on this insane scheme instead of adhering to the intended plan?”
“Oh, Thales… You just aren’t seeing the bigger picture! I assure you that this little experiment will have a tremendous payoff. Completely worth the trouble!”
Thales grimaced as he examined the worktable full of books and vials filled with unknown liquids. Solon shuffled around, checking something in his notes before adding a few pinches of glowing dust to the test tube in his hand.
“Is she even aware of your intentions?” he growled as he watched the liquid in the tube turn from red to pitch black.
Solon chuckled as he fished out a syringe. “It would be for the best that she isn’t,” he replied, “Something tells me she would not wish to go along.”
“All the more reason why things should just stay the course,” Thales sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose, “I fail to see the value in this if it is reliant on so many chaotic factors.”
Solon extracted the black liquid from the tube into the syringe, regarding the ominous ooze with sinister fascination. “I am aware of how much you care about your little pet project,” he said, “But have you ever considered the possibility that it could be bigger?”
Thales raised an eyebrow. “Go on…”
A wide, crooked grin crept across Solon’s face. “As we walk, then,” he said as he grabbed his cane, “I’ve got a little remedy to give to our…guests.”
— — —
Edelgard struggled to hold in her yawn as she carried her tray of food to an open spot near the back of the dining hall. She had chosen her usual bergamot to pair with her breakfast but was beginning to wish she had gone with coffee instead. Hubert walked just a step behind her with his own tray, and she could smell his pungent drink of choice. She wasn’t usually a fan of the stuff but would be the first to admit that after a night of little sleep the energy perk it gave was more than welcome.
As she drew near, she spotted Mercedes chatting with Ashe, Claude, and Lysithea. She normally would think little of it, except the look on Ashe and Lysithea’s faces caused her to slow her pace just a little. “It’s the first one in over two hundred years,” Mercedes stated with an excited clap, “The Blood Moon falling within Red Wolf Moon is supposed to be extra special.”
“So the moon’s going to be red tonight,” Claude said with a shrug, “I don’t see what the big deal is. We had another one of those not that long ago.”
“That was the Harvest Moon,” Mercedes explained, “It only dyed the moon for a couple of hours. The Blood Moon will stay red all through the night, and is supposed to have a connection with monsters and spirits.” She gasped and giggled with delight. “Perhaps we might see a ghost in the monastery tonight!”
“A g…ghost?” Ashe gasped, “That can’t be real, right?”
“No, it’s not,” Lysithea insisted. She shoved her tray away - to no one’s surprise only the hash browns and tomato slice had been left - and got to her feet. She huffed, puffing out her cheeks, adding, “Everyone knows there’s no such thing as a—”
She let out a small oof as she spun on her heel and walked directly into Hubert. She glanced up and let out a startled, “Ghost!” Her hands slapped over her mouth. Her cheeks became a bright shade of red as she quickly stormed away, trying to ignore Claude’s laughter.
“Oh, dear. I think you startled her, Hubert,” Edelgard commented as she watched the younger girl leave. She made a mental note to go check Lysithea’s usual haunts in a little bit, just to make sure the girl was ok.
“Perhaps next time she should watch where she’s going,” Hubert grumbled as they carried on. He glanced back to the group, noting how Ashe was growing paler and paler as Mercedes continued blissfully on. “The Blood Moon,” he scoffed, “How juvenile.”
They sat down together. Hubert went straight for his coffee while Edelgard picked at her eggs with her fork.
“It is an unusual phenomenon.”
She glanced up to realize they had taken a seat across from Linhardt. His nose was still buried in his book, but he continued with the same relaxed attitude he had with everything: “No one really knows why the moon turns red for the duration of an entire night, but there have been many reports that monster activity increases during it.”
“Monster activity seems to increase at the slightest of things,” Hubert replied with a roll of his eyes, “Every other weekend would be an unusual phenomenon were we to base things off of when Demonic Beasts are on the prowl.”
“We still haven’t gotten our assignment for the month,” Linhardt pointed out, “Perhaps something will pop up tonight.”
“The month only just started,” Edelgard reminded him, “If there were any cause for concern tonight, they would have warned us about it already.”
Linhardt’s eyes darted up to meet hers. “You’re not interested in the mystical properties the moon may or may not have?” he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Edelgard levelled him a tired glare, raising one eyebrow.
He shrugged and went back to his book. “Didn’t think so.”
She directed her attention back to her eggs. Despite the gnawing in her stomach, the food before her didn’t make her wish to eat. She instead attempted to nurse her tea. The taste and warmth were welcome, but sadly her appetite wasn’t encouraged.
“Was it not you who was on my case not that long ago about the importance of a balanced breakfast?” Linhardt commented. She glanced up to notice him staring at her again. “And, might I add as the team healer and sleep expert, you really should stop pulling all-nighters.”
“I wasn’t… I’m not very hungry right now,” she protested.
“It’s our day in the training arena. You’ll need the energy from the food to keep your strength up,” he told her with a frustrating amount of confidence.
“Last time I checked, it wasn’t any of your business,” she fired back.
It was his turn to raise an eyebrow at her. “It is my business if I have to revive you on the battlefield if you pass out due to malnourishment,” he returned.
She glared at him again, with less frustration and more actual anger. She clenched her fist around her fork, her thumb pressing down on the handle enough to easily fold the metal utensil. Linhardt visibly paled. “Oh, I just remembered,” he stammered, collecting his books and shooting to his feet, “I have to…think of an excuse. I’ll see you in class.”
Edelgard sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.
“He does have a point, my Lady,” Hubert stated, “I have noticed you have been taking fewer portions lately, and hardly finishing what you do. And, forgive me, but the bags under your eyes are starting to look as bad as mine.”
“Don’t start, Hubert,” Edelgard warned him with a roll of her eyes, “It’s nothing to concern yourself with.”
Hubert paused for a moment, swishing the coffee around in his cup before finishing it. “It’s the night terrors, isn’t it?” he asked quietly.
Edelgard huffed. “Again, it is nothing,” she insisted.
“I could fetch you a sleeping remedy,” he offered, “Something that will allow you to sleep without the dreams.”
Edelgard, frustrated, scooped up a forkful of egg and shoved it into her mouth. “It’s fine,” she said after swallowing with a grimace, “I’m fine, see? I’m eating now.”
He didn’t seem all that convinced, but he dropped the subject.
The eggs were cold and rubbery. She resisted the urge to gag as she finished her plate.
— — —
“And so then I said Rider? I hardly know her!”
Garreg Mach’s most enthusiastic gatekeeper heaved a heavy sigh and massaged his eyes. “Peter: can you please just focus!” he groaned.
His companion slapped him on the shoulder. “Oh come on, Alexander! I know you’ve got a sense of humour!” he laughed, “Don’t tell me they pushed it all out of ya when they shoved that stick up your ass!”
“This is serious!” Alexander argued, “It’s the night of the Blood Moon! We’ve got to be on our toes tonight!”
Peter scoffed. “Don’t tell me you believe that nonsense!” he teased, clapping both hands to his cheeks and putting on a falsely terrified facade. “Oh no! Tonight’s the night the world is swarmed by monsters! What ever shall we do?”
Alexander glanced warily into the growing shadows. “You can’t tell me you aren’t at least a little worried about tonight,” he stammered, tightening his grip on his spear.
Peter levelled him a tired glare. “No. And for two reasons,” he stated, holding up one finger at a time, “One: literally nothing ever happens directly to the monastery; Two: we have within these walls Fódlan’s strongest warriors and fighters, the smartest mages, highly trained students and professors, and enough weapons to supply an army. I’ve even heard rumours that the Archbishop herself could kick someone’s ass. I would love to see some stupid monster try to take on the monastery. I doubt it’d barely get past the main gate.”
“Hey genius: we’re the ones in charge of watching the main gate. The monster might not have a chance against the Archbishop but it might against us,” Alexander reminded him dryly, “Which is why we need to stay vigilant.”
Peter rolled his eyes. “You were so much more fun when we were on stable duty,” he grumbled. He then noticed something at the edge of the market.
It was sunset. The golden rays of the last remnants of sunlight cast long streaks across the ground. Red Wolf Moon was a colder Moon than most, leaving most of the trees bare. Twisted, tangled shadows from their branches stretched out across the ground away from the sun, reaching like little hands for the darkness of the coming night. The market had closed up for the night, leaving just the two guards to watch over the monastery's entrance. The cloth roofs of the carts billowed in the soft breeze, and the old wooden signs creaked. Something scurried out from underneath a cart into a pile of crates and barrels - likely a rat.
But that wasn’t what Peter noticed.
There was a person - definitely a person - just…standing there at the far end of the market, at the archway into the courtyard. He couldn’t remember when they had appeared, but he begrudgingly had to admit that Alexander was right about him not paying attention.
“Hey!” Alexander called out. He had spotted the figure, too. “Who goes there?”
The person did not respond. They barely even moved. “We asked you a question!” Peter shouted, “Answer, or face judgment!”
The person suddenly jerked their head up. They then stumbled forward, out of the shadows and into a remaining sunbeam, revealing a grotesque, writhing mutation and red, demonic eyes.
Alexander and Peter staggered back in alarm.
“Wh…what the hell?” Peter demanded in shock.
Fangs quickly found his throat.