Waves rolled and tumbled across a sandy shoreline in a land seemingly removed from the world itself. The rushing waters gushed and withdrew with little other than the sun and moon to dictate their path over the course of time. In between those tides, two crabs fought over a shell washed up on the edge of the beach line. Both crustaceans taunted each other as they menacingly took turns lunging forward with claws snapping in their haste.

Then, quickly as their attacks started, they would hurriedly retreat out of harms way. Much like the waters, the skirmish was an ebb and flow amongst the two prideful creatures with neither taking the risk of fully exposing themselves. A longer claw or quicker reaction time would be the only thing to settle matters against the two evenly conceited foes who sized up where they could strike next.

"Ah, Rhodos Coast. What a lovely sight. With this view I'd say the tides of chance are finally swimming in our favor. Hahaha!"

"…"

"Get it?" Alois elaborately swiped the air in front of him with an unabashed grin. "We are at the beach so tides would usually refer to the expanse of the sea. Swimming in this case is another tantalizing play on words."

"You don't have to explain it. I understood the first time."

"Really?" He cried shocked. "Usually others will wince or give an odd stare if they do not find merit behind my joke. With your fixed expression it is always difficult to tell."

"That is because my concentration is focused on tracking our targets." The detached mercenary said paying him little attention.

"Yes, yes. Her majesty and Byleth have entrusted us with the utmost supreme task! We should cast a wide net and fish up any clues we can find. With any luck, I'm sure things will go really whale."

"Tch." She looked away finding that last one hard to tolerate. "I would hope you'd spend more time looking for clues than coming up with terrible puns."

Alois raised his shoulders and cried, "Worry not! This mission has my wholehearted attention. I would never dream of disgracing my solemn oath to the Captain's son. You'll find I am more perceptive and committed than my appearance gives off."

"That would at least explain how you managed to live this long." She muttered while bending down to study two sets of footsteps imprinted into the sand.

Brushing that aside, he fiercely shouted, "Undeniably. I owe my life to Captain Jeralt. He has taught me much in the time I was under his stead. Including to appreciate the beautiful glimpses of the land in between the harrowing tasks assigned to us. Those brief moments allow me to open my mind and see things with clarity."

Shamir turned to him skeptical and said, "So have your outbursts allowed you to discover anything of use?"

"What? You mean you don't see it?" The knight asked mystified. "The footprints in front of us are as revealing as the ocean itself. You might even say it is easy to sea."

"Remind me. Why did I get assigned to this mission with you?"

"I don't know what you are going on about. You are the one that came to me." He rebutted believing his last pun to be clever.

"Only to avoid the incessant bickering between those two." Shamir said referring to the two professors heatedly discussing the necessity of hygiene in the background. The merits of the three-second rule and the importance of preparing one's bed before starting the day were the central topics that had been mercilessly debated at length over their trip from Enbarr to Rhodos Coast.

Placing his hands at his sides and with the sun gleaming off his brilliant armor, Alois said, "So my puns are more appealing to you than the company of our two professors. That is perhaps the nicest thing you have ever said to me!"

She glared back at him and said in a monotone voice, "That is a low threshold to cross for a compliment."

"I'll take whatever I can get!" He exclaimed back cheerfully. "Although, as I was saying earlier, the tracks in the sand are a clear misdirection. They point towards the water but leave us with little indication of someone eventually returning to shore. There is also something unnatural about the weight of these steps. Almost as if someone was trying to mask the size of who they were."

"Huh. Surprising." Shamir muttered agreeing with assessment. "You are at least half paying attention."

"I told you, I would never risk breaking my oath." Alois cried passionately. "Especially with the news of the royal engagement! It seems like yesterday that boy was teasing me about being one of the bandits attacking Remire. Just like his father he always relished to entertain with a good joke. Now, he is set to marry the woman he presided over. My goodness, how fast kids grow up these days!"

"You speak as if you knew him from birth."

"Strange as it may seem, knowing his father for so long makes me feel like I have. Plus, I may be a knight, but at the wedding ceremony I know I'm going to be distraught and balling my eyes out. Marrying my wife and having a daughter are the proudest accomplishments of my life. I know for Byleth it will be the same. Just thinking about him having a family of his own has me a bit misty eyed. Oh! If only the Captain were here to see his son now."

"That might not play out how you imagine it." Shamir warned while grazing her hand against the sand to feel out the hidden notes in the terrain. "She was his enemy when she masqueraded as the Flame Emperor."

"Yes, yes. There is no question that Edelgard has a checkered past. I was hesitant to join her cause myself, but I trust the boy's judgement. I know the Captain would too. Indisputably, he saw an extraordinary spark behind the mask she wore. He confided in me as much before he asked for her hand!" Alois exclaimed with a boyish pride at being the first to know even ahead of the bride-to-be.

"I retract my earlier remark. Your blind faith is something that should have gotten you killed by now."

"Hmm? Were you not also swayed by his words? You are here supporting us without the incentive of coin or duty. You've even listened to my punny jokes. I'd say I am not the only letting my faith in Jeralt's son guide my actions."

"Outlandish. I know." She shook her head having no comeback to dispute his claim. "Fighting for a cause I have no personal stake in. Maybe I've grown irrational after spending so much time in Fódlan. Whatever the case, we are here now."

"That we are!" He grinned back while raising a fist in front of him. "Speaking of which, have you noticed how odd it is that a beach as magnificent as this barely has any signs of visitors. If not for the alters and these tracks, one would think we were the first people ever to step foot on this sacred ground."

"Considering the significance of this place, I'd say it is an impossibility." Shamir said having fought against the Western Church alongside the two they were searching for. "The tides could not have washed away every foot or shoe that traveled here. Rather, I suspect the strong gust of a wyvern's wings would have smoothed over such a large surface."

"Ah Hah! And if someone is trying to cover their trail by using such a tactic, then one might suspect they are still nearby."

"A likely conclusion, yes."

"Hmm." Alois tiled his head and placed an open palm on his cheek. "If I was Seteth and I suspected I was being followed, where would I think to hide?"

Having already familiarized herself with their surroundings, Shamir said routinely, "His options are not ideal. It would be easy to spot a Wyvern in the air. Similarly, there are not many opportunities to hide near a beach. That they chose to come here was unwise in the first place."

"Perhaps strategically speaking, you have a point." Alois said understanding how she could jump to that line of logic. "Practically, there is nothing unwise about wishing to remember loved ones. It is their memory that keeps us going when all seems lost. After all they've been through, it would be a necessary reprieve. There is only so much madness one can take before succumbing to it."

She raised an eyebrow and turned to him to say, "Are you speaking of soldiers you knew, or from your own experience?"

Alois winced and said, "It was a long time ago. I- "

"Alois, Shamir!" Manuela came running up to the two of them with her cloak impeding her movement as it flapped wildly in the wind.

"Report." The archer said quickly.

"Hanneman and I have found a cave in the cliff side. Well, perhaps found is the wrong word. You see, there was this bird that was trying to use my hair as a nest. I tried to shoo it away several times before Hanneman resorted to using a fire spell to scare it off. Long story short, I tripped him by accident and there was a thicket we set fire to which revealed an opening in rock face."

"Were Seteth or Flayn inside?"

She shook her head while adjusting her clothing. "It is too deep to tell without exploring further. That is why Hanneman is guarding the entrance."

"Troubling." Shamir said finding hundreds of things that could go wrong in that scenario. "A narrow and obscure area like that would make an easy opening to ambush from."

Manuela raised her hands and said, "Assuming anyone is in there. It could be abandoned or the dwelling of an animal for all we know."

She thought it over and said, "Only one way to know for sure. We should set up a fire to smoke out anyone that may be inside."

"Absolutely not." Alois protested adamantly. "If Flayn or Seteth are in there, we would be putting them in danger. I won't stand for that."

"Do you have any other ideas?" Manuela asked finding the sniper's solution to be a bit too crude for her liking. "I imagine they won't come out willingly. It also won't due for us to get killed from being a part of this little search committee."

"The risks are high with other alternatives. Ideally, we should force them out by using something so unsettling or ghastly that even they couldn't risk staying there." Shamir's eyes widened with an epiphany before she turned to Manuela and said, "Wait, that gives me a second idea. You said the cave was near the cliff base, yes?"

"Mhm. Just go west and it is a few paces down."

"Got it. Alois, come with me. You will like what I have in mind."

The knight cheerfully obliged and said, "As long as it does not involve ghosts or suffocation I am fully on board!"

…

"Ahem. Did you hear about the cucumber who was dealing with a family crisis? It turned out to be quite the pickle!"

…

"Maybe you've already heard that one. How about this. What was Jeralt's favorite type of tea? You'll have to reach for this answer because it is Spear-mint!"

Met with silence at the entrance of the cave, Alois cleared his throat and said undeterred, "You know, I finally figured out why Marianne is so quiet except when speaking with animals. Her voice must be a little horse."

"That is not to mention that Ignatz is so shy and afraid of confrontation. I'm sure in an archery competition he would prefer to draw."

The howls of the wind seemingly disapproved in response while the knight reached deep in his bag of jokes for something that would get even get Seteth to laugh. "Okay then, did you hear about the blacksmith who works with his hands? It can be a real nail bitter to watch and there are many wrists involved. Fortunately, he knuckles through the grueling work and palms a creation of his own making. Personally, I give him a thumbs up for leaving a fingerprint on his work. Such creativity and daring can come in real handy."

…

"Hmm. Nary a peep. In that case I must put my foot down and change the ankle of my approach. I cannot tip toe around the subject when it requires I speak from the sole. I came to the beach ready for anything. As it sands, I will not trip up or fall flatfooted in my efforts even if it requires me to be a bit of a heel!"

…

"... …Pfft! Hahahahaha! Hmph- " The sounds of girlish laughter were quickly silenced by a hand covering her mouth.

"Strange. Laughter was not the response I was expecting." Shamir said easily recognizing the voice belonging to Flayn. "The jig is up, Seteth. We've found you."

Another bout of silence occurred before a large sigh could be heard inside the cavern. "So you have. That does not change that I will cut you down if you try to enter this cave."

"Come now, Seteth. We have no intention to fight you." Alois said feeling a sting at his old friend approaching him so harshly. "We have come at the request of Byleth and Edelgard. They wish to speak with you."

"You mean they wish to end us like they did to Lady Rhea." He yelled back in anguish.

"Father." Flayn interjected as that was a word that caught the search party by surprise. "If they wanted us dead, they could have killed us many times before. I do not believe that is the reason they have come seeking us. We should at least hear them out."

"No. That is unacceptable. I cannot risk putting your life in the hands of those who would destroy everything we ever loved. That they would pursue us here of all places shows how little regard they have for us."

Hanneman frowned and said, "This is the burial-place of Flayn's mother, correct? I take it that makes her your wife."

"Something I foolishly told Byleth in confidence." Seteth regretfully said in despair. "Yes. Flayn insisted we visit this place one last time before we fled from the continent. We have no place here anymore. Edelgard and Byleth have said as much with their actions. They have thrown the continent into a bloody war and disrupted what little order the world had for their personal gain."

"You are mistaken, father." Flayn spoke up believing that was not something her professor was capable of. "He would never do that. Alois, you say the professor wished to speak with us. What about?"

The shining knight cleared his throat and said, "He instructed me to ask if you knew anything about pillars of light that rained from the sky. More importantly, how Garreg Mach defends itself from such a threat."

"Pillars of light?" Seteth said alarmed before quickly guarding his expression. "So, the rumors were true of what happened at Arianrhod. Did the emperor not blame the church for those actions? Why seek help from its former members."

"The details are a little murky." Shamir added expecting his response. "That is why we wish for you to speak with Byleth. It revolves around those who slither in the dark."

He closed his eyes and said tight-fisted, "I've heard the name. They are the cutthroats that Edelgard sided with. I'm sorry. What you have told me is all the more reason I cannot allow an audience with them to take place. I may not have been able to protect Lady Rhea or the church, but I will protect my daughter from those demons."

"Father." She implored knowing his heart had grown callous over the events that ravaged everything they knew and held dear. "If it is true that they are using pillars of light again, there is no place we could go where we would be safe."

"I understand that, but I cannot- "

"We must hear what Byleth has to say." Flayn interrupted having made up her mind. "I owe him as much for twice saving my life. He has saved your life too, father."

"I cannot claim to know why he spared us or what his motives are. But you Flayn. You are all I have left. If something were to happen- "

"Nothing will happen, father. My hope is the professor is still the man I once knew him to be." She insisted passionately having little else to believe in at this point. "We are both using borrowed time given to us by the professor. That he sent members of the church to look for us also shows his sincere desire to speak with us. A day would not pass where Alois would use puns to lure out a foe he intended to kill."

"Very true!" He added earnestly. "My puns are strictly for amusement and bringing smiles to the faces of the downtrodden. The only killing I intend to do is by having my audience die of laugher!"

"Or by ear infection." Shamir added with a smirk.

…

Meanwhile, as Alois underlined his goals, grave news had reached the depths of the underground city of Shambala. Inside, three war generals Chilon, Bias, and Pittacus could be heard arguing amongst themselves underneath the surface of the cavern city that housed those who slither in the dark.

"Myson is dead. We can confirm he passed away in Remire." Chilon, a man dressed in heavy armor from head to toe said filled with contempt and disgust. In his company were two women that no longer resembled the faces that they had been given at birth. Instead, they occupied the husks of those that they had killed. The three of them made up the most experienced or capable veterans left under command of Thales.

"Great. Just great! Adding the corpse of Cornelia to that list, how many more must we lose before we see that the approach we are taking is not working."

"Calm down, Bias."

"I am sorry. Am I shouting too loudly for you, Pittacus?" Bias said swiping her hand. More precisely, she used the lifeless feminine hand of the body she was still adjusting to. It could take up to a month to fully master the mannerism of the physique and voice they puppeteered. "I'd hate to disturb your ears. I should just forget that Myson was like a son to me."

"Enough. We are all tired of these losses." The armored knight said annoyed. "Unless you have something useful to say to save our people, then shut up."

Definitely, she cried back. "I have kept my tongue removed for hundreds of years as I've watched our people die and our power diminish. We are back to isolated cells like before. And for what? The head of one Nabatean? Is that lone accomplishment supposed to regain my faith in Thales?"

"If you no longer care for our cause then you are free to end your life where it stands."

"How dare you speak to me that way! I have given everything for our reprisal. My husband and children were the first to die when the Nabateans showed their fangs. A newborn like you has no right to speak to me like I am some wavering coward."

Behind her fake face, Pittacus said, "I do not have to live a thousand years to know you were obsessed with your clan. In case you forgot, more than your people died that day. Do not self-righteously act like your loss is a fragment of those that were slaughtered by Seiros and her judgement."

"Agarthans." A plea came from behind the three as the voice belonged to their leader. Tensions were high across the underground city and Thales knew he had to restore order before he lost control. "Now is not the time to bicker. The church is dead much like the bodies you control. Whatever remnant remains will be undone in time. Sothis, the scornful goddess who "chose" us remains deep in slumber inside of a host we will soon kill. That leaves only the saints to be made into weapons before our vengeance has truly been fulfilled.

"What of Nemesis?" Chilon asked behind his faceguard.

"The blood of Cethleann did not take. We will need to collect another sample." Thales explained believing that the death of Seiros had chilled the ravenous desire for the thief to retake the surface. It was a setback as the ghosts of the ten elites would only follow his command.

"Without the army of Nemesis, retaking Fódlan will end up in more needless deaths of our people." Bias hissed back openly. "We do not have much left to throw away at your disastrous plans."

"It has been my plans that have gotten us this far. Do not confuse my patience or sacrifice of useless pawns for complacency. I will see Sothis regret ever walking among us." He retorted while tossing a rolled-up letter to Bias. "Now, unless you seek to challenge my lead, then deliver this to Edelgard. She is another thorn that needs to be cut off from the glorious flower we will bloom."

"What's this?" She asked catching the scroll in her hands.

"Read it for yourself if you are curious. Once delivered to Edelgard kill as many as you can. I do not care how." Thales said before turning away to attend to other matters.

Doing just that, Bias unraveled the parchment to see it was written in the language of those who dwelled above ground. Her knowledge of the language was rusty, but it read as followed.

…

Greetings My Dear Niece,

Despite the torn reputation between us, allow me to express my ardent and personal congratulations on finding a groom that will suitably match your compatibility with the Crest of Flames. It is exceedingly rare for two mates to possess the same major crest, especially one as important as yours. As such, perhaps crest implantation will not be needed on your children. It is such a tiresome and arduous task, after all. I'd hate to undergo the lengthy process when you will naturally have better luck than your father. Misfortune befell to him in so many ways during his reign, I'm afraid.

However, as your caretaker and uncle for so many years, I believe I have the right to assess if Byleth will make a satisfactory aid to you. If he were alive, I'm sure Ionius would ask the same to see if you've met a proper match. He always did care for you greatly. Especially when you were gravely hurt. Consider it a paternal and heartfelt request of me to take his place. It is my solemn duty to see if Byleth is worthy of stepping into the role of your subservient. We can't let just any commoner ascend to the imperial monarchy without proper cause, of course.

I'm sure my sister would also wish to meet him. It would be an understatement to say how deeply Patricia loves you and wants to see you happy. Even now she expresses her extreme desire to be with her daughter again. It is such a shame that the hands of fate have kept a mother from her child for so long. Believe me when I say she would do anything to see you again.

Precisely why I propose we hold a joyous reunion. Me, Byleth, you, and Patricia all together in the charming fields of Gronder. It is such an uplifting occasion that it would be foolish to decline. To do so might have abhorrent consequences.

It would not surprise me if fate itself struck a blinding light on a city or two should such injustices of a mother being withheld from the embrace of daughter remain intact. You must wish the same. It has been so long, but I doubt you could forget her face. Even someone as ruthless as you must have a soft spot for family if the welfare of your subjects is not enough to convince you.

Whatever we can do to mend our strained relationship would do wonders for us all, no? In any case, I'll be eagerly waiting for a response. Do try not to test my gracious hospitality while we still have the chance to repair relations. I'd hate to see our family ties burn to ash.

Sincerely,

Your Beloved Uncle

Volkhard von Arundel