Fodlan's Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad.

Chapter 25: Tartarus

"W-What is it?" Bernadetta asked as she hid the arm band behind her back nervously, looking at Felix. He had startled her by entering the room like that. He had a serious look on his face. He wanted something, she could tell.

"Do you see the sky turn dark green at night?" he asked. She blinked. So he was asking about the Dark Hour then? That means he remembers. Did he experience it more than once? But that wasn't good, right? If he found out, he'd definitely be demanding Sylvain for answers, or worse! Maybe he could tell the others! Sure, the chance of them not believing him is real, but they couldn't risk it!

"Dark... green? What are you talking about?" she asked, feigning confusion. Sylvain didn't want anyone from Garreg Mach involved in this, and while this has already failed because Byleth awoke a Persona that happens to have also been talking to her for a while, a fact that Bernadetta is morbidly curious about, she wasn't going to go back on her word. She promised she would do her best to not let anyone else know about the Dark Hour.

"Don't fake not knowing! You know, don't you?!" Felix demanded, pointing a finger at her. Bernadetta felt her stomach churn. She didn't like the shouting.

"Keep your voice down." she told him. He only looked annoyed at this.

"Varley. You know something. Your face tells me that. You had to have seen that weird creature with that many arms. Sylvain saw it. Your friends saw it. How could you not see it?!" he accused. She frowned.

"I really don't know what you're talking about." she shot back. Felix gritted his teeth.

"Varley..!"

"Please, leave." Bernadetta asked "You might have just imagined it. The sky is not dark green at night." she told him. Felix let out a groan before leaving the room, slamming the door shut when he did. Once he was gone, Bernadetta deflated and laid on her bed, feeling like her soul had just come out of her body.

"What. The fuck..." she breathed out. They definitely needed to be careful. If they slip up too much, the whole Monastery could end up finding out.

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"Tonight, we'll be heading to Tartarus." Makoto spoke up once everyone, including Bernadetta with a bit of persistence from Sylvain, had gathered around in the common room, geared up and ready. The two nobles shared a look, clearly both out of the loop. Besides, the two weren't as geared up as they all were. Bernadetta had her Garreg Mach uniform on and her bow and arrows, while Sylvain was the same, just with a spear and a holster on his belt with the Evoker thing Mitsuru gave him.

"Tartarus? That sounds like a weird sauce." Sylvain commented.

"I said the same thing!" the boy with the hat, Junpei, exclaimed. He fingergunned Sylvain for a second before turning back to Makoto. Sylvain stared at him in confusion, not understanding the gesture.

"Tartarus is where they found us, Sylvain." Bernadetta whispered to him. The redhead let out a small 'oh!' sound, understanding.

"But Gautier-san doesn't have a weapon though. Will he be okay?" Fuuka asked.

"Don't worry about that. We got him a spear for self defense." Akihiko answered. Sylvain nodded, grabbing the spear from behind. There was a red ribbon tied around the part that connected the blade and the wooden pole. He liked it.

"Alright then. Is everyone ready?" Mitsuru asked. They all nodded. The group left the dorms, Bernadetta and Sylvain followed them. They knew where they were going. Bernadetta stayed close to Sylvain, hugging his arm like the time before they arrived here. He raised a brow.