Gilded Dawn {FE:3H} [HIATUS]

CHAPTER TWO: The Monastery

Chapter Two: The Monastery

"It's the Ashen Demon!" Claude exclaimed, once they were out of his earshot. "The Ashen! Demon! Please tell me you guys have heard of him?"

Dimitri shook his head, but Edelgard put her hand to her chin. "I think I remember hearing something about him. Wait – does that mean, his father – that'd be the Blade Breaker?"

"That's a name I know. He's been famous since before we were even born!" Dimitri said. "He helped the Gautiers out one time, and I was there."

"I was there, too. I just now recognized you." Byleth said, appearing from the trees next to them. "I apologize for intruding on your conversation, by the way. There's someone here who wanted to speak with you three."

"Probably the Knights finally located us," Edelgard muttered.

"Yeah, he did say he was a knight. But he didn't look like someone to keep waiting."

"Right, we're on our way," Dimitri said. Byleth turned and departed through the trees.

"The Ashen Demon." Claude breathed

"You're going to be regaling us with legends this whole trip back, aren't you?" Edelgard asked.

"If you're lucky," Claude said, chuckling. The three made their way through the trees, to where Byleth, Jeralt, and a white-armored man was standing. Thick golden spikes adorned one shoulder of his heavy white armor, the crest of Serios engraved on his shield.

"Ah, there's the kiddos! You aren't hurt, are you?" Alois said.

"We're fine, thanks to these mercenaries," Dimitri said.

"And just our luck at that, to finally be reunited with the famous Captain Jeralt! I thought you died in that fire all that time ago!"

"I'm not your captain anymore. Just a humble mercenary, and one with work to do. Farewell."

"Hang on, hang on, that's not how this ends! I insist you return to the monastery with me!"

Jeralt rolled his eyes. "Well, Byleth, sounds like we aren't going to the Kingdom now."

"Oh, yeah! I almost forgot to thank you for saving our students! Are you the captain's child?" Alois said, turning his focus to Byleth.

"I'm a bandit." the mercenary said drily.

"Ha! I love the sense of humor on this one. Obviously cut from the same cloth as the captain! Byleth, would you do us the honor of returning to the monastery with us?"

"It doesn't appear that I have a choice, now does it?" he muttered, walking off.

The three students exchanged glances.

"He doesn't seem to happy to be going to the monastery with us," Claude observed.

"Interesting. I wonder why." Edelgard said.

"We should go talk to him." Claude continued.

"I agree. Whatever he's out of sorts about, perhaps we can make it better."

With the decision finalized, the two left Jeralt and Alois to catch up and followed Byleth through the trees. He was leaning against a tree, examining the blade of his sword. He barely spared the three a glance as they made their way through the trees.

"Heya, Byleth. Will you be accompanying us to the monastery? Of course, you are. Well, I'd love to bend your ear as we travel!" Claude said, giving the stranger an impish grin.

"Sounds good to me. I look forward to getting to know all three of you better." Byleth said, sheathing his sword with practiced grace.

"What are you doing after the monastery?" Edelgard asked.