Fire Emblem Three Houses: Wanderer

Eagels Charge

The attack is lead by Petra and the Death Knight, who stand outside the gates of the estate, ready to charge. The Golden Deer and Byleth charge out into the battlefield, ready for combat.

"By order of the Empress Edelgard you are to be giving us the surrender!" Petra exclaimed, "Byleth is to be the coming with me to Garreg Mach!"

"OK teach now or never," Claude explained

"We can do this," Ignatz added.

"I've got your back," Ashe reminded, "My orders are to protect you after all."

The battle began, and Hilda charged at two archers and a sword master on the left, her heavy armor clanking with every step as Ignatz follows her to assist. Ashe, Claude, and Byleth charge the center, Byleth leading the way in front of the other two to draw fire from the mages up ahead as the others offer cover and support to the main front, picking off other threats as the trio charged, Claude offered cover fire from atop his wyvern as the mages attacked Byleth with dark magic who countered with the Creator Sword, as he avoided the unholy energy.

The battle raged on as the Golden Deer slowly picked apart the enemy forces with cover fire from archers and Hilda blocking the attack of the melee based troops until...

The Death Knight suddenly charged Byleth as he approached, forcing Byleth to block with his blade as Petra attacked from behind, stabbing Byleth in a non lethal spot, causing panic in the Golden Deer who were then disorganized and overwhelmed by the Death Knight...

A Devine Pulse returned Byleth to that moment and he called out, "Watch my back!"

He charged the Death Knight, striking with a Ruptured Heaven that clashed  with the Death Knight's scythe, which pushed Byleth back a step but he stood his grounds and curved the whip like blade towards the severely wounded the knight who retreated as Ashe and Claude shot Petra in the chest, causing a lethal wound.

In fear Edelgard's forces retreated.

Byleth felt for a moment. He felt despair as Petra lay dying. "Move aside!" He cried out as he rushed to her.

"Petra?" He asked.

"I am having the death," Petra replied as she coughed up blood, dying now in Byleth's arms. "Edelgard is having the heartbreak Byleth. Edelgard has the love for you."

"You're going somewhere better," Byleth wept, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry..."

"Where I am the going," Petra pleaded with a smile, "You are not to do the following yet. Those Who Slither in the Dark are dangerous. Do not join me where I go yet. They have to be stopped before they revive..."

Petra coughed and smiled, "I am seeing a light Byleth. I hope someday when you are having the old and happy, you see it too, but I hope you will not have the seeing it to soon..."

Petra was gone. Byleth wept, his dead friend in his arm.

"Teach?" Claude asked placing a hand on Byleth's shoulder.

Byleth felt nothing again. He wanted to continue feeling nothing. He believed that feeling nothing was better.

These lies were from the very depression that caused such numbness. Numbness could never and will never be better than emotion. Numbness could never and will never be better than healing and happiness.

But...

Petra's words of a light...

Her words of Edelgard...

Her last smile of an old friend...

No.

Of a sister to Byleth...

Broke something in him.

"We keep moving," Byleth ordered, cold and emtionless.

"Professor are you OK?" Ashe asked, sensing something was wrong.

"Prepare," Byleth ordered, "For at this month's end we retake Garreg Mach..."

Dimitri received another letter that read, "Byleth... has snapped. He shows no emotion of any form anymore. Petra died in his arms and... I know... This war is important but it's doing something to him. Doing something to his mind... He can't take much more if this. There is a hospital for the mentally ill in the Alliance. The doctors are gentle, kind, and can help him. Many think mental health institutes are scary or evil but... sure there are bad apples but they can and often do help those who need serious help. What I'm trying to say is... when we retake Garreg Mach, we need to send Byleth there. I thank you for your assistance. Your brother of love not blood- Claude."

Thus Seteth and Dimitri prepared the troops for an attack as Edelgard wept for the death of one she loved as a sister. For the death of Petra.

"Fear not Edelgard" Hubert assured her, "It is only rational to assume their next move is Garreg Mach. Those Who Slither in the Dark are almost done with their... plans to assist us and in the meantime offer powerful weapons. Great golems of steel..."

Edelgard collected herself, "And Byleth?"

"We will capture him," Hubert smirked, "I swear it..."

However there was one last faction in this mess of a war. One last group who would throw a wrench in the battle at Garreg Mach..

"Lady Rhea," Cyril explained as Lady Rhea looked into the distance form the balcony of the church, a storm pouring from the sky as lighting flashed, her mind now half broken by rage and hatred. "We have received word, rumors that Byleth is in Alliance territory, and they appear to be mobilizing troops to attack."

"Attack what?" Lady Rhea asked.

"Garreg Mach," Cyril replied.

Rhea laughed under the storm, drenched by the the downpour as she yelled, "Then you will take our golems and in the name of the Goddess you will kill every single one of them!"

"But Claude and I were friends," Cyril pleaded, "I... He was the big brother I never had."

"Are you challenging me?" Rhea demanded.

"... No." Cyril lied, but he had felt something he never felt before seeing the bloodlust in Rhea's eyed. He began to walk away and muttered to himself, "But I am doubting you lady Rhea. I am having doubts..."