(See the end of the chapter for notes .)

An assault on the Holy Mausoleum has begun! The Blue Lions are fighting it out as their professor unleashes a new power...

Chapter Text

< Third-Person POV >

Insert Song: Fódlan Winds

Felix slashes at an enemy archer protecting Annette and Junko, “Stand back if you can’t fight well, you’ll just get in the way.”, he tells them as he goes after an axe wielder.

“Ooooh, I’ll show him. Maybe if I perform better than him, then he’ll have no choice but to forget!” Annie pouts.

“Forget what?” Junko asks, tilting her head in confusion.

Annette blushes a little, “Uh… nothing! Let’s catch up with the Professor!”.

The two scurry on, meanwhile on the opposite side of the Mausoleum Sakura spots a creepy looking knight on a horse, a metal skull-shaped mask covering his face with glowing red eyes.

“Eep!” a startled Sakura says as she catches up to Dimitri.

“That knight looks like he has experience. It would be foolish to challenge him recklessly.” He says while taking down his opponent.

“You don’t have to tell me twice…” Sakura replies knocking down hers with her lance.

“Ahh help!” Bernadetta cries out as she misses her shot on a swordsman, who was now approaching her quickly.

“I’ll save you! Fire!” Lily shoots a Fire spell and roasts the swordsman as Bernie gives a sigh of relief.

Marianne heals up Saki and Leonie, thanking her before they both charge back into the fray.

“Oh dear…” she says to herself, witnessing bodies of their foes collapsing as the battle against the intruders continues.

Suddenly reinforcements emerge from behind and charge towards her, since she was the closest to the entrance.

“Marianne!” Dimitri cries out as he runs quickly to her side and guards the oncoming attacks.

Tae and Dedue then arrive to assist with the protection of their second healer, with the former biting them before the latter knocks them down with his axe. Marianne is safe as Dimitri helps her off the ground.

“Are you alright, ack...” He asks her, clutching his right arm.

“I am, thank you…” She responds, as she heals him up.

A mysterious mage is then spotted by the casket of Saint Seiros.

“You’re too late! The seal will be broken any minute now…” He tells the Blue Lions as he prepares to open the casket.

Byleth, along with Ai and Ashe finish up with the opponents they’re dealing with, “I’ll go after him.” the professor states.

“We’ll provide some assistance by firing at him.” Ai responds to his statement.

“Very well, cover me while I charge straight on.”

The two archers nod as they follow him to where the mysterious mage is still opening the casket.

“No hesitation!” Byleth yells out as he slashes away at the other mages around him.

“I’ve got you!” Ashe does the same as he fires an arrow into an enemy soldier.

“Adieu!” Ai decides to join in in the crit quote parade as she switches to her sword to deal a heavy blow to another mage.

(Insert Song ends)

“It’s no use! The seal is broken. You can’t–Huh? A sword?” the mysterious mage pulls out an old sword from the casket of Saint Seiros as Byleth runs at him, disarming and catching the sword from the mage’s hands.

The mage then casts a fireball that Byleth slashes away with the old sword, “What?”, the latter shouts in response. Byleth tosses away his iron sword and continues slashing the fire spells thrown at him with the old sword, now glowing.

“Whoa…” Ashe lets out as the other students look on.

Ai realizes that the sword is just like Catherine’s Thunderbrand Hero’s Relic & the strange staff that sent them all there and gasps at the display of power as their professor slices through a barrier the mage used to protect himself. Byleth cuts down the mage, who collapses from the attack and then stares at the sword, noticing the large hole in the middle of it.

“That sword is… I see. What a pleasant surprise.” the scary knight says before warping away.

The other students all catch up to Byleth as they observe the sword.

“He got away… We have no choice but to let them go for now.” Dimitri disappointedly states before looking at the weapon himself, “Professor...The way that sword is glowing. I wonder…”.

Catherine and the Knights of Seiros arrive to capture any remaining intruders as the mission is complete.

STAGE COMPLETE!

MVP: Byleth

Thanks to the efforts of Byleth, all of your allies’ motivation increased!

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The students and their professor meet up in the classroom where Dimitri gives his report on what happened after the attack on the Holy Mausoleum. Those behind the attack and assasination attempt were the Western Church, while the masked knight who led them has yet to be found. After explaining how the Church is split up into different branches across Fódlan another topic is brought up.

“So… those people from the Western Church were… Um, Lady Rhea had them killed, didn’t she?” Ashe asks.

“W-what?!” Sakura gasps at what she just heard.

“Well, of course she did. Going against the teachings of Seiros like that. Quite unforgivable!” Mercedes frowns.

“They did try to raid a sacred place during the Rite of Rebirth…” Junko sighs as she looks down.

“Those who stray must be punished, I suppose. That said… Professor, I–” Ingrid is interrupted as Seteth walks in and requests that Byleth join him and Lady Rhea to have a discussion.

After the rest of them leave the classroom, presumably to get some rest, Sakura taking a walk, still feeling shaky after what she heard.

“Is something on your mind?”

“Huh? Who said that?” She looks around to see the person the voice came out of.

“Oh, my apologies. It’s been a while since we’ve met, since you weren’t one of the combatants during the mock battle a few months ago.” Edelgard approaches the egghead as she gives out a sigh of relief.

“Oh, it’s um… sorry I don’t know how to say it.”

“Edelgard. Now then, what is troubling you, Sakura was it?

“Yeah ha ha… well it’s complicated. I understand that the Western Church people had done something terrible, but having them killed? It feels…”

“Wrong? I understand how you are feeling. Yet it is what it is for now, unless the status quo is changed, the Central Church will continue functioning the way it is.”

“That’s true… but it makes me wonder what caused them to hate the Central Church enough to do this. Oh, I’m sorry for troubling you with these thoughts, Edelgard! But I’m glad to have someone to talk to about this. I’m sure everyone else in my class feels the same way, but not to the same extent as I do.”

“Well then, if you have any other problems and need someone to listen, feel free to converse with me any time. Though, I’m sure you’d enjoy those times better without Hubert standing there behind you.”

Sakura lets out a scream as Hubert shares an evil smile, “Well well, aren’t you just adorable. It looks like Lady Edelgard has a new companion, it’s a pity that you aren’t in the Black Eagles…”

“That’s enough Hubert. Let us turn in for the night.” Edelgard tells him as she bids Sakura farewell for now.

“I think I need to sleep too… though I doubt I can without one eye open.” Sakura sighs as she walks to the dormitory.

EDELGARD AND SAKURA HAVE ATTAINED SUPPORT LEVEL C

END OF CHAPTER 16

“I am Ferdinand von Aegir” count x2 (no change)