Not This Time

The Carnage

Jeralt knelt down to Byleth, a concerned look on his face as she remained despondent. He hauled her upward, a stern look on his face.

"Sorry, kid, but this is no time to slow down."

"Professor, is that truly you?" Byleth froze; she knew exactly who that timid voice belonged to. It was Ignatz, and upon turning to him, he looked much more grown up now. He no longer looked like a child! "Wow. I heard Claude himself say it, but I doubted him..."

"Ignatz..."

"I'm sorry that our reunion has to be so bitter," Ignatz frowned sadly, arming his bow with an arrow. "I have my orders, though. The Empire attacked first, we have no choice but to protect ourselves..."

"We don't have to fight!" Byleth frantically tried to explain, but the boy just shook his head. His next words seemed to echo Claude's sentiment in sadness.

"But we do. If I let you go, who knows? You might just end up hurting Claude, or someone else I care about."

Jeralt ducked, bringing Byleth downward as Ignatz shot an arrow at them. Jeralt cursed, brandishing a javelin in his hand.

Byleth couldn't stop him, only letting out a pitiful whimper as the javelin flew from his hands, into Ignatz's chest. The blood sputtered from the wound as he glanced downward in pain, falling without another word.

No..!

Time stopped.

.drow rehtona tuohtiw gnillaf ,niap ni drawnwod decnalg eh sa dnuow eht morf derettups doolb ehT .tsehc s'ztangI otni ,sdnah sih morg wlef nilevaj eht sa repmihw lufitip tuo gnittel ylno,mih pots t'ndluoc htelyB-

Jeralt ducked, bringing Byleth downward with as Ignatz shot an arrow at them. Byleth quickly halted his hand from throwing the javelin.

"Please, Ignatz. You don't understand," Byleth pleaded desperately. "I'm sure many lives have been taken. You don't need to add to that!"

She could see his lip tremble, but Ignatz wouldn't give in. He just shook his head sadly.

"Sorry, Professor."

Byleth couldn't stop her father any longer, only letting out a pitiful whimper as the javelin flew from Jeralt's hands. The blood sputtered from Ignatz's chest as he glanced downward in pain, falling without another word.

"There was no use, kid," Jeralt said grimly as they departed, glancing away from his daughter's desperate and sad expression. "I'm sorry. I did what had to be done."

They rode back to the Empire in silence. There were so many injuries, and Linhardt could only heal so many people. Dorothea and him were working together to treat the injured, but even still, the Empire had suffered quite a lot. Bodies were laid all over the ground, with incredibly loud cries of pain from those who hadn't expired yet.

This is so wrong.

"P-Professor!" The timid Bernadetta approached with a panicked expression. While she was usually easily freaked out, she looked more crazed than usual. "Edelgard was hurt!"

"What?" Byleth exclaimed, flabbergasted. Edelgard was hurt? Just the thought of the stubborn emperor being injured seemed surreal. "Take me to her, now!"

Bernadetta quickly led Byleth through the people laying on the ground, moaning and groaning in constant pain. After awhile, they finally came across Edelgard, who was seated on the grass with a despondent look. Byleth gasped; her crimson armor was shattered, with her white hair unraveled from it's two large buns. Blood was splattered all over her, and a series of bandages were wrapped around her waist. Byleth quickly knelt down, worried.

"Edelgard!"

"Do not fear. I will recover," Edelgard said distantly, pressing her lips together. She seemed unfazed by her heavy wound, and the attendees around her worked diligently to heal the Emperor. "I suppose we won, since we stopped the Kingdom and Alliance from aligning together..."

"Enough about that," Byleth shook her head, placing her hand upon Edelgard's wound. "That doesn't matter right now. Are you sure you're alright?"

"I...I am fine. Thank you for your concern," Edelgard put her hand atop of Byleth's. "...I was worried for you. I saw you run into Alliance territory.."

"Ah, yes..."

"...You went in there for Claude, didn't you?" Edelgard called her out, a frustrated look on her face. "...I see why you were so adamant on coming along...He is against us. There is no reasoning with him."

"...Isn't that the same as you and Rhea?" Byleth couldn't help but echo Claude's words, a frown on her face. All of them were going to fight based off of their beliefs, and refuse to back down... "Claude is different than that. I know he is. I know he'll listen to me."

"Do you?" Edelgard countered with an annoyed glare. "Did he listen to you, then? Where is he? Is he willing to fight alongside us?"

Well, Byleth couldn't argue that. She pressed her lips together in irritation, and Edelgard sighed heavily as Byleth removed her hand from Edelgard's bandaged waist.

"Don't you think I have tried to reason with the Alliance and the Kingdom?" Edelgard crossed her arms. "They do not wish to hear me."

"Edelgard, I know it might seem strange...but you and Claude are practically both fighting for the same thing," Byleth replied, not noticing how her claim made Edelgard tense up. "He just despises your aggression."

"Change can only be brought with violence. Rhea would not have listened to any pretty words I had to say."

"But what if you had just talked to the other leaders before declaring war?" Byleth frowned. "What if you had just told them what you told the Empire? Instead, you left them in the dark...With the Emperor, leader of the Alliance, and the King of Faerghus, Rhea would have had to listen. Now...Now you've plunged Fòdlan into chaos..."

"I did not want to hurt anyone. But they wouldn't understand anyway, so I just decided not to waste time futilely speaking to those who don't wish to listen."

"But maybe they would have listened-"

"We'll be heading back to the monastery now!" Ah attendant approached them urgently. "Your Majesty, we'll help to escort you, don't worry about it!"

"That would be delightful," Edelgard said steely, her gaze never leaving her professor as she was helped up. "We can talk about this another time, my teacher."

Byleth frowned, but she had no choice as Edelgard was helped away. Was that it, then? Edelgard had contradicted herself by saying that she had tried to reason with the others, but then felt it was futile so she hadn't bothered. So what was it? What was the truth?

Well, did it even matter? Byleth had to stay with Edelgard. She had already declared her path, and she did owe Edelgard for saving her father. Besides, their goals lined up! Why wouldn't she stay here? All because of one boy?

No. No matter how much Byleth wanted him to join, she simply couldn't leave her cause. She just knew that Edelgard's path was right; she needed to destroy Rhea. But Byleth was at an impasse...what could she do...?

Just...just what can I do besides fight him..?