Three Houses Saga: White Clouds

Cindered Shadows (Part 2)

< Third-Person POV >

"Well now, it's that screaming girl from earlier, been exploring Abyss have you?"

Yuri waves at Sakura who just walked into the Ashen Wolves's classroom.

"Uh, yeah! You're Yuri, right? I'm Sakura!" She holds out her hand and he shakes it with his.

"You're correct, you're with the Blue Lions, right? Seeing as you were conversing with Dimitri in battle, you look to know him quite well. I was a part of that class years ago."

"Really? What a coincidence! Must be weird having this many new visitors down here."

"No kidding, but the more the merrier with what we're dealing with."

"Dealing with what, exactly?" Ai walked in with awfully chatty Saki & Balthus.

"You really did a number on me, but next time you won't see it coming! I'm not giving up my title as King of Grappling so easily!" The large man guffawed.

"I'll be gunning for your title big guy, ha ha! You'll be an even better training partner than that ass Felix!" The biker chick laughed with him.

"Well, to answer your question Ms., mercenaries have been attacking Abyss for quite a while, so we would appreciate your help in taking care of those intruders."

"Really? We'll help as best as we can, this is home to a lot of people, right?" Sakura gripped her fists, ready to help.

"Ha ha, indeed it is. And the Abyssians would definitely appreciate being rid of them." Yuri gave her a smile.

"I'm sure me and Balthus here can take 'em all out, right!"

"Right!" The two warriors pumped their fists in the air.

Ai sighed as she turned to Yuri, "I'll assist the people living here, but I just know that I don't trust you. You might be hiding something, just like how this city has been hidden."

"You're definitely not alone in thinking that way. And yes, I have a lot of secrets locked up inside, why don't you try to pick it open?"

Ai's eyebrows (Ai-brows?) lowered at his remark before going off to explore the rest of the town.

"I'll... go talk to my classmates about this. Ha ha..." Sakura awkwardly followed her out the classroom door.

Dimitri happened to be taking a stroll, but unfortunately ran into Sakura's path.

"Ah, my apologies. I should have warned you before you ran into me."

"No no, it's fine, Your Highness, I mean Dimitri!"

"Still I must apologize for my mistake. Though I did want to ask you about something regarding you and Edelgard."

"Really, what about me and her?" She looked at him curiously.

"I was just a bit worried that you might have been unhappy with the Blue Lions. I thought there was a possibility that you would have transferred out to the Black Eagles. You have been talking with Edelgard quite a lot recently."

"What? Of course not, I'm still quite happy with you guys! It's just been me and her becoming good friends, nothing like that Dimitri." Sakura waved her hands in front of her in assurance.

"Oof, that's a relief. I do enjoy your company, along with your friends as well. If you and the Professor weren't in our class, I don't think it would ever be the same."

"Aww, thanks. You're embarrassing me, I gotta get going, you're the best Dimitri!" She smiled before running off.

SAKURA AND DIMITRI HAVE ATTAINED SUPPORT LEVEL B

Byleth had finished walking around and gathering enough weapons for everyone and was handing them out to the students there.

"Hilda, are you sure you don't want to join the Blue Lions?"
"Well, you could convince me later on, but I still need to keep an eye on Claude. I have heard Marianne has been eager to join ever since Dimitri helped her out in your battle!"

"Is this true? I'll be sure to ask her if she is interested once we are done here."

Byleth now has another task once Abyss is protected.

"Professor, I was told you had some weapons I could use in the next battle?" Ai walked up to him as he handed her a steel bow, arrows, and a steel sword.

"You have my thanks for picking these. You do a lot of shopping on your own, let me know if you need help sometime, okay?" She sees Byleth nod as she prepares to go off on her own.

"And by the way, keep an eye on Yuri. The people here may trust him, but he seems like a sneaky type. Kind of like Claude."

"Hey, you're talking about me? Heh, I guess it is true, but you know how good of a guy I am, don't you?" Claude was right behind her as she said that.

"Ah yes, you and your strategic retreats, and putting things in people's food make me trust you a lot!" Ai looked to be in a bit of a bad mood, maybe she needed more sleep.

"Come on, it's not like I'll do it to you... unless I feel the need to."

"Uh-huh..." The two of them walked off as Claude continued to try and convince Ai.

Byleth just stood there in silence like he usually did before going back to what he was doing. A while later Yuri called everyone together in order to start their defense against the mercenaries. He decided an old arena should be the best location, but warned everyone to not do too much damage, or else Abyss would crumble along with it.

"Professor, for the next Certification Exam I take, I was thinking of being a Pegasus Knight like Ingrid wants to!" Sakura asks Byleth who agrees to let her take it as they fight on.

"In that case, Archer for me!" Ai tells him as she fires an arrow.

"Brawler!" Saki says as she punches a merc.

"It suits you! Maybe go for War Master once you're strong enough!" Balthus tells her as he sends a guy flying.

"That sounds awesome! I'll work for that one!" Saki grins as she takes out her axe.

"Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha, what a chance to demonstrate my magical might!" Constance says as she soars upon her pegasus.

Linhardt yawned as Ai tapped him so he could stay awake, "Don't do this right now, we're in the middle of something."

"I know, I know. Actually this is perfect timing."

"For what? Ack!" She dodges incoming fire from the enemy.

"The staff that sent you girls here. There was some information on it in the library down here."

"What?!" Ai gets surprised by this before noticing something coming, "Hold that thought, hah!", she shoots an arrow at the figure before it bounces off his armor.

The figure walks into the light, revealing that the Death Knight had arrived.

"What is he doing here?!" Edelgard asked as Sakura turned to her, worried.

Dimitri gripped his lance before confronting the skull masked horseman."It doesn't matter, we have to protect the town!"

END OF CHAPTER 20
"I am Ferdinand von Aegir" count x3 (no change)
Constance von Nuvelle laugh count x2

WE'VE MADE IT TO 20 CHAPTERS! I really appreciate everyone who bothers reading this thing. It was a dumb concept, yet the story has managed to get so much attention. I couldn't be more proud of my first fanfiction. Thank you all! And remember that I always appreciate feedback in the forms of comments/reviews. Hope you look forward to the rest of the Cindered Shadows arc!