The Enemy Within

Byleth, accompanied by Gilbert and her students, arrive in the territories of the Kingdom of Fhirdiad to fulfill the mission commissioned by Rhea.

Before breaking into the bandit lair led by Miklan, Ernest approaches Byleth to confess his feelings for her. The confusion within her increases, but it does not take her away from her mission, which they must complete as soon as possible.

Byleth was still restless. But she had to put those feelings in a corner far away from her mind, from her heart. And it is that now she could recognize that had something like a "heart". If coming to the academy had helped her open as a person and not just as a warrior, that month since she met Ernest made Byleth not only melt the ice, but something blossom in her. But she had to appease him, there was nothing else to do.

"Are you listening to me, Byleth?" someone asked Byleth, who was lost in her thoughts.

"Uh... Yes, of course, Gilbert. Excuse me."

"Is something wrong with you?" the veteran asked. "As I was saying, we must take the route to Ernmas, in the south of the Kingdom. Then, we can continue to Connal, in the Duchy of Fraldarius. Over there is the tower that Miklan and his subordinates have taken."

"Perfect," replied the teacher, with a serious expression. "I had also analyzed such a route. It is good to confirm this with you, ince you know the Kingdom well."

"When you say, we will leave, Byleth. It seems that the preparations are finished."

Of course, it was ready. Ernest rushed things. Something had him restless. He wanted to ascertain immediately what made him feel so strange. Byleth saw the scene, and without allowing himself to be shaken by her student, she ordered everyone to get into their corresponding floats.

She got on the float with Gilbert and other more experienced officers and guards. Suddenly, Claude also got on, just before the entire procession left.

"Hello, dear professor," he said, with his usual playful smile. "It seemed important to me to go with you at least one stretch. We need to discuss various details of the mission."

"Perfect, Claude," Byleth replied calmly. "You are more than welcome to come with us if you wish." 

Claude was there to see his teacher's reaction to this intimate encounter with Ernest. Although he also wanted to see mission matters to channel them with his companions, he considered that the situation with his new student could threaten the completion of the mission to a certain degree. Or at least he wanted to do something to prevent it.

"It seems that you and Ernest were able to carry most of the supplies alone," the heir to Archduke said, hiding as much as possible. "Do you think both have similar strength?"

"I don't know, Claude," she answered." I don't think it's important now to talk about it."

"Of course, it's not everything," Gilbert added, joining the conversation. "Physical strength is only part of what it takes to be a good warrior. The experience takes a majority fraction on the scene."

"Uhm... Well," Claude said, feeling like he couldn't go any further.

"What I've seen in training, at least, tells me that he has strength and knows how to use it to his advantage," the teacher said, looking at the ground. "I guess that's enough for a student of his age and level of experience."

Claude stared at Byleth. Surely, she knew a lot about that guy's strength. They had clashed over something. He didn't see the duel itself, but at least he saw how the two talked the day after that episode.

Meanwhile, Ernest was in the same chariot as Hilda and Marianne. The pink-haired girl was chatting animatedly with her friend while looking sideways at the boy. She wanted him to talk to her, but the new student seemed lost in thought.

"Hey, Ernest," Hilda said, to get the boy's attention. "Marianne wants to talk to you."

"Huh? B-but... when?" Marianne could not finish speaking, as she covered her face with both hands.

"Oh... Sorry for not being chattier with you today," Ernest said, giving Marianne a friendly look. "I hope this is an opportunity to get to know each other more, Marianne, and Hilda."

"That's what I wanted to hear," Hilda said with a flirtatious giggle. "What were you thinking? What to prepare for our afternoon tea and coffee?"

"Oh... We couldn't set a date for that... How about the next day off after we get back from the mission, "we do it?"

"Perfect... I think it's incredible," Hilda said, flashing an interested look at Ernest.

Ernest couldn't help but be disturbed when he saw that woman's attitude. Hilda longed for him to woo her. She was beautiful, and charming, and suggested that she was very sensual underneath all her flirtatious attitude. But she couldn't match what Ernest felt for Byleth. That feeling was already too powerful to make the attraction he might feel for Hilda take over. 

"Although, in the meantime... No, drop those ideas. Here you can't go around attacking the first woman who makes an advance on you", thought Ernest, while looking at the ground.

"Well, then... We'll agree by then," Ernest said, then tried to change the issue. "Had they ever been to the Kingdom?"

"Um... Y-yes, several times," Marianne replied, embarrassed.

"Also... Did you want to give us a tour of these territories?"

"I was just curious..." Ernest answered with a slight laugh. "There isn't... So much appeal in this place. It's cold, barren, and somewhat... Hostile. The Alliance is much more beautiful, in comparison."

"Perhaps the company is more important than the place, Ernest," Hilda said, smiling.

Ernest just smiled. He wanted a break from all this less and less subtle flirtation. He remembered Byleth. It wasn't just the obvious difficulty and challenge in approaching her that drew her attention. He was also maddened by the fact that this woman was so... Hard to understand; so dichotomous, so cold... But so honest with her true reactions and feelings.

It took about two days of travel until the entourage established itself a few kilometers from the tower that Miklan and his group of bandits had occupied. Gilbert and Claude were ironing out the details, Byleth having laid out his siege strategy and the ensuing skirmish inside the tower.

She took to walking around a bit to clear her mind. She moved far enough away that he could ramble a bit with Sothis.

"I see you're confused... But now it's because of the coming battle," Sothis said, beginning the conversation.

"Definitely," Byleth replied, head down. "I have a bad feeling about the development of this mission. I think it's a trap."

"You always have to consider that kind of thing, I guess," the green-haired girl commented, as she floated around the Professor. What disturbs you is knowing how this mission relates to what Ernest told you about; how the development of these events can be a prelude to a war between the three nations of Fódlan.

"You were right..." The woman made a fist with her right hand. "I want to know where all this is going... If not, I'm afraid I won't find a purpose to fight."

"Uncertainty always disturbs. But trust that your good judgment and the support of your allies and students will lead you to clarify those doubts you have."

Byleth sensed that someone was close. She could tell it was Ernest. He wouldn't be able to see or hear Sothis, but he would be interested to know what she was talking about alone. She was greatly annoyed at feeling observed. She went to where he was to speak to him.

"Hello, Ernest," Byleth began before letting the boy speak. "I guess you came to make yourself available for today's mission. However, I will not tell you anything different from the strategy that we already established a while ago."

"Byleth... Enough," he said morosely. "Don't keep doing this. May I know what has happened to you? Maybe I'm confusing things. Maybe you don't take so much importance to the promise I made you..."

"There's nothing to confuse, Ernest," she replied, keeping her old cold expression. "Your promise was a commitment to struggles like the one we will have today. You can trust me to advise you, and I am interested in you opening with me for your personal development. But I don't think... The events that have occurred should be repeated."

"Perfect, Byleth," the boy replied, returning to his cold face as well. "I will be at your disposal now and always, but I will not look for you again. You will use my abilities as you see fit. Now if you will allow me."

Ernest turned and left. Byleth waited upright for the boy to walk away. He lowered his head suddenly. She didn't understand the conflict he felt. An enemy inside her was challenging her and tempting her to do something irresponsible, inappropriate, and unethical... But too intense to remain indifferent.

Because she was looking down at the ground and no longer considering her surroundings, Byleth couldn't notice that Ernest had turned back to face her.

"Did you know?" Ernest asked, looking Byleth square in the eye. "It's obvious how I feel about you. But I know that nothing can happen. I think it is better to make that transparent before we continue with this strange remoteness. If you don't want me to even venture beyond the limits of our teacher-student relationship, then so be it. But I want you to be clear about what I feel, and that it will probably be there for a long time."

"Ernest," Byleth replied, letting himself be carried away by her student's encouragement. "Of course, nothing can and cannot happen. I wouldn't have contemplated that, either."

"This is out of the question, woman," Ernest replied. "How could I...? Well, it doesn't matter. I won't talk about more. I won't touch this anymore unless you ask me to."

"Now, precisely, is not the time, Ernest," replied the teacher. "Now please go and get yourself in position for the mission. I will join shortly."

"Aye, Professor," Ernest replied, only to withdraw instantly.

Ernest hurried off to grab his sword, armor, and shield for the coming battle. There was something like thirty minutes left to consider the attack started. All the students, soldiers, and higher-ranking officers were already ready and willing. All that was left was for Byleth to arrive.

The woman was left alone for just one more minute in that sector of the forest. Before leaving, however, she used her sword to cut down a tree. She did not understand her behavior. 

Byleth didn't understand the jumble of emotions that was welling up in her. She didn't understand why didn't say anything back to Ernest when he confronted her and openly told her about his feelings. "What feelings? Why? What do you see in me, damn it?" Byleth thought, before leaving and starting the mission. The only thing the Prfessor could think of was that the enemy she carried inside her would be more insidious than Miklan himself.