Byleth's Sorrow

Avoidance

Byleth strode through the corridors of Garreg Mach, keeping to the shadows, although trying to remain unseen while holding a fire was quite a bit more difficult than he expected. He kept getting strange glances from the students and staff, and the Knights of Serios usually tried to intercept him to identify him. 

It was too bad they kept failing. It was quite funny, actually, watching as the supposed most capable force in Fódlan kept trying to discreetly corner him, only for him to slip away at the last second. 

Byleth was having far too much fun teasing them on his way up to his room. Until he saw his father.

Captain Jeralt turned the corner as Byleth came up a flight of stairs. They stared at each other for a moment, Jeralt's mouth gaping.

Byleth, on the other hand, was anything but excited to see him. No no no, he thought, as images of Jeralt dying on the ground filled his head. Not now!

He first encountered the flashback problem sometime near the beginning of his third life. He had spent most of his time avoiding Jeralt since then, so he could be considered an expert at staying away from him.

He used this experience to sprint back down the way he came as Jeralt quickly recovered and giving chase. Byleth quickly hid in the secret passageway to the third floor, one he knew Jeralt had never seen. He climbed the passageway, finding a small alcove in the wall to rest in. He sat down heavily, panting. Not my father not my father not him not him not him, his mind went on a loop, until Byleth forcibly pushed his mind into a new line of thinking.

After a couple of minutes spent recuperating, he stood up and began to continue his walk. He started off towards the classroom by sheer force of habit, before changing directions and heading to his room. He idly wondering who the new professor was, since he was not there to teach. It couldn't be Jeritza, he thought. He's far too antisocial. Then who? He continued to wonder until he reached the Audience Chamber. Rhea had wanted him to speak with him after he had 'settled in'. Unfortunately, the only belongings Byleth had were his equipment and his fire, both of which he carried with him at all times. He figured it wouldn't hurt to be a few minutes early.  So he walked into the Audience Chamber.

And immediately regretted it as he saw Jeralt standing in the room, arguing with Rhea.

Byleth tried to back out of the room quietly, but Jeralt immediately sensed someone else in the room and turned around. When he saw who it was, his eyes widened in surprise. Byleth cleared his throat. "Uh... hey."

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Meanwhile, the lords were quietly conversing among themselves. The topic, of course, was about the Ashen Demon.

"Did any of you find out anything about him?" Edelgard asked.

Dimitri sighed. "No. Not even the Knights of Serios know anything."

Edelgard's eyes narrowed. "Unless they're simply not telling you."

Dimitri started to retort, but Claude cut in before it could become violent. "Hold on, ladies, I've got something."

Edelgard and Dimitri turned their glares to him. 

Claude continued. "I overheard some of the knights talking. They said that when they mentioned the Ashen Demon, Captain Jeralt went berserk. They said they had to restrain him to stop him from marching down to Abyss himself."

Dimitri's brows furrowed in confusion. "Hm. What could the Ashen Demon be to him for him to react so violently?"

Claude smirked. "That's just it. According to Alois, there's only one other person that Jeralt cares about enough to disobey an order from the Knights of Serios. His missing son."

Edelgard, confused, asked, "I never knew that the Captain had any children."

Claude replied, "Nobody knew until Jeralt rejoined the Knights of Serios. Apparently, his son disappeared the day we arrived at their encampment." Claude shook his head. "That's too much of a coincidence. He disappears the day the Knights of Serios arrive, and then someone who has a strong relationship with the Captain shows up in Garreg Mach? It can't be mere happenstance."

Edelgard nodded. "I agree, but we do not have proof. Only theories and rumors. We need to know more about him."

The other lords nodded in agreement.