(See the end of the chapter for notes .)

Sakura gets some guidance from Byleth and Sylvain is faced with Miklan.

Chapter Text

< Third-Person POV >

“Sylvain!”

“Oh, Ai, Junko, how’re you two ladies doing this fine morning?”

The two idols walk up to the young noble, surprised that they approached him with such serious looks on their faces.

Junko was the first to speak up, “The next mission has us going out to reclaim a stolen relic from your noble house, right?”.

“Yeah, I never thought Miklan would really steal that thing, but it looks like we’re gonna have to take it back.” The redhead responded.

Ai then stepped forward, “Are you really okay with fighting your own brother though? Ashe had to face Lonato and battle and he’s been feeling down ever since.”

“My brother’s always been a sick dastard who hates me, so I’m actually looking forward to taking him down with everyone. You don’t need to worry about anything, I can handle myself just fine.” he smiles as he walks over to the fireplace area.

“Sylvain…” Ai sighed as she and Junko left the Knight’s Hall.

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“I am Ferdinand von Aegir after all, why wouldn’t I know the perfect type of tea for you and Bernadetta?” the orange-haired noble exclaimed as he handed Byleth some Albinean Berry blend.

“I knew I could count on you for something like this. I thank you.” the professor calmly states as he walks towards the dormitory.

He knocks on the door of a certain recluse and asks her if she’d like to have a tea party, and Bernadetta, while still reluctant, agrees. They meet outside in the garden area and sit at their table, enjoying each other’s company through conversation and cake.

“I still find it weird how I’m not very frightened around you, though I was surprised when you walked into the Black Eagles classroom for the first time. Yet I am happy to have joined the Blue Lions, since I don’t think Professor Manuela would have been as thoughtful as you. I mean, you went out of your way to get my favorite tea!” Bernie finishes and decides to take a sip of the tea, but it’s still too hot.

Byleth gave her a small smile as he praised how well she was improving with her archery and how she could build upon her skills even more. The two continued their tea party until they ran out of sweets and they bid each other farewell until the next one. Byleth however decided to go check on a student who hasn’t really been optimistic as of late.

Sakura sighed as she picked at her Peach Sorbet, still thinking of the Church executing people.

“Is something the matter?”

“Oh! Byle–I-I mean Professor! H-hi!”

“You’ve been feeling down ever since we’ve met up after the assault on the Holy Mausoleum, you can tell me.” he explains as he sits down next to her

Sakura struggled to get the words out, “Well… it’s complicated and I don’t want to get in trouble with Lady Rhea or Seteth…”

“I promise not to tell anyone else about what is troubling you.”

“Thank you, I appreciate it. So… I know that those guys from the Western Church attacked, yet it rubs me the wrong way that they were executed for their actions…”

“It is what it is, they did go against the Goddess’s will after all.”

“I know that, but still, I’m stuck wondering if The Church of Seiros are even the good guys. Sorry to bring up such a bad thought Professor.”

“It’s alright.”

“I’ll try to take my mind off of it so we can go on this next mission without much struggle. See you in class!”

Sakura walks away, leaving Byleth pondering on what to say on this topic next time.

SAKURA & BYLETH HAVE ATTAINED SUPPORT LEVEL C

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“We’ve been looking through these books for ages, I really need to have some sleep…”

“We need to find SOMETHING on that staff or me and the girls will be stuck here, and we still need to save Saga!”

“You go on and on about saving it, but saving it from what exactly? You know what, I don’t care, you’d probably start shouting again and I’m going to need some quiet…”

“Hm?” Tatsumi turns around and sees Linhardt already taking a nap.

The manager sighs as he wonders if there is a place to find books that aren’t in this library…

At Conand Tower, the Blue Lions, plus Gilbert, are now taking action against the band of thieves led by Miklan. Linhardt was dragged to the mission so he wouldn’t miss it.

"Don't hold back for my sake. My brother is going to pay for everything he's done." Sylvain says as he leads the charge up the tower.

The class pushes through each enemy quite easily, their growth is really showing. Though the students have gotten used to fighting thugs by now, so this isn’t anything new for them.

“Here we go! Attack them from both sides!” A rogue tells his comrades as they surround the students.

“It’s an ambush!” Gilbert says before going after multiple thieves.

Junko & Mercedes both use Nosferatu to take out a few, while Lily & Annette use Cutting Gale to tear through the rest. The four magic ladies high fived each other as the ambush had failed to make a dent in the team. They proceed and eventually reach Miklan, clutching the Lance of Ruin angrily and staring down Sylvain.

“Why have you come, you Crest-bearing fool?”

Sylvain, undeterred, speaks up against his brother, “I'm here for the Lance of Ruin, Miklan. Hand it over. I don't want to humiliate you, but I will.”

“Hmph! Hurry up and die already. If not for you... If it hadn't been for you…”

“Shut up! I'm so tired of hearing that. You've always blamed me for something that isn't my fault.” Sylvain shows some anger for the time, causing Ai to look over in concern.

“So you think you can take the lance from me, huh? I'll kill you... I'll kill every last one of you!”

Sylvain ducks under Miklan’s swing of the lance and jabs his own lance into him. Ai decides to join in swinging her rarely-used blade into Miklan’s side as the rest of the class show up to watch the battle.

“Not bad for your kind… A bunch of spoiled rotten children.” the leader of the thieves states before he begins feeling some immense pain.

The Lance of Ruin begins glowing, with black and sticky energy spreading all around Miklan.

“What the hell?” he lets out as he tries and tries tearing it off of him, but is ultimately consumed by the mass as he screams in agony.

His fellow thieves begin to run, yet one falls down and looks up to see a hideous Black Beast grabbing him and throwing him against a wall, crumbling it down.

“Wh-what?!” Sakura reacts to the monster in front of her.

“What the– Miklan?! Is that you?!” Sylvain watches in shock.

“What a transformation…” Yugiri states with a hand over her mouth.

“So this is the power of a Hero’s Relic. To create such a sinister beast… It has gone too far. I fear all we can do now is put an end to it.” Dimitri tells his classmates.

A frightened Sakura questions her house leader “But how? Look at that thing? Are we really going to fight it?!”.

“Looks like we have no choice. Let’s bring this big guy down!” Saki charges in with Tae, Dedue, & Felix following her.

END OF CHAPTER 17

“I am Ferdinand von Aegir” count x3