Episode 9 - Rite of Rebirth

the episode starts with Lady Seiros as she stood on the edge the newly built Monastery

Soldier: Lady Seiros. are you alright?

S:...so many losses...so much chaos...just for power...I will never forget the cries of all those he had hurt...all the damage he had done... I want you to do something for me soldier.

Soldier: what do you need?

S: Soon I will be away from the world and be reborn as someone new. so when my coffin is ready. put this sword in. but be quick for you do not have a crest.

Soldier:...I will.

S: good. we have a lot of rebuilding to do now that the war has ended. I wonder what surprises will happen in the future.

we then cut to Rhea standing on the same edge as Seteth walked by her

S: the Rite of Rebirth will begin in just a few hours. we should get to the goddess tower.

R: right. Seteth...does the professor seem like she could have....nevermind. Let us go find Flayn. then we shall go to the goddess tower.

Seteth leaves as Rhea looks over the edge some more

R: Have you found another host...mother?

So after the opening we see it's night time as the civilians and students all start to gather around to pray that the goddess may one day return as Byleth and the others (including the new members Ingrid and Mercedes) are near the stairs that lead down to the mausoleum.

B: alright. there may be a small chance that they won't be here but just in case, everyone must be prepared for battle

everyone got ready

Sylvain: need a guide madam?

Ingrid: Just stop already.

Sylvain: I was just trying to be a gentleman.

Ferdinand: he has a point.

I: focus on another woman then!

Sylvain turns to Petra

Ashe: don't.

Sylvain then turns to Edelgard

H: do you want an early funeral?

E: everyone just focus!

they then slowly go down the stairs as it was getting dark so Mercedes made the area glow with her hands

Caspar: woah! teach me that!

E: what grade did you get on magic again Caspar?

C: let me dream!

H: shut up or there will be two early funerals.

Sylvain: you confirmed me!?

Byleth unsheathed half her sword as the group stayed quiet so she sheathed it as they then go down as they see a massive group of the flame emperor's and Lonato's army

B: (whispers) everyone stay quiet. they don't see us yet.

H: (slowly charging a blast)

Lindhart: (preparing to heal)

Bernie: (preparing to shoot)

Annette: (charges a blast as well)

Mercedes: (prepares a fire spell)

Caspar: LET'S GO!

everyone turns around.

H: sylvain if we survive this we'll only have one Early funeral.

the group charges at the black eagle house

Dark Bishop: keep them busy! I need to finish the lock spell!

B: defensive formation! Magic users and bow users, shoot from afar and protect Lindhart! everyone else, we're the offense!

Byleth and the others then begin their attack as Byleth dodged and blocked with quick speed as she killed a lot of men easily, Edelgard kept her shield in front while her and Caspar used strong axe attacks against taller attacks, Ferdinand, sylvain, and Ingrid used their lances to their advantage as Ingrid used her lance to flip over three guys before attacking them, Felix then joins Byleth's side as they both were quicker than normal human speed, Ashe and Bernie shot from afar as Bernie used her special skill deadeye to get attackers from really far, Hubert and Annette used their dark magic to slow down armored men while Dorothea shoots Thoron and Mercedes uses Bolganone and at the end was Lindhart as he used Physic.

Dark Bishop: Death Knight! take  care of them!

Death knight: I don't take orders from you. I will not kill unless I'm attacked

Byleth's class keeps moving foward

B: Mercedes! Use Bologane on the armored horsemen! He's guarding the Dark Bishop!

M: right!

Mercedes then attacks Death Knight with Bologane as Death Knight grunts in pain and destroys the fire with his scythe

Death Knight: RRRRAGE! RRRRAAAAAAGE!

Death Knight then charges pass the others as he goes for Mercedes but right when his sythe was near her, he stopped and got a closer look at her

Jeritza: Mercie?

Mercedes: H-How do you know my name?

J: C-can't...hurt...her!

Hubert then blasts Death Knight as it just angers him more

Death Knight: MUST KILL ALLLLLL!

Death Knight then almost attacks Hubert but Byleth stopped it with her blade

B: Not...my...students....

Death Knight hops off his horse as he prepares to fight Byleth as he then begins to swing his sythe with one hand like a mad man as Byleth dodged his attacks as most of them were close calls as he even stabs the ground which creates a bunch of cracks to form in the ground with him then summoning thunder upon Byleth as she dodged 6 strikes and slashed a weak point on Death Knights armor

D: ARRGGH! (breathes in anger) You are a good fighter...

jeritza:...Let's spar again one day...

the death Knight then disappears from teleportation

B: where'd he go?

E: Professor! the coffin!

Byleth then sees the dark bishop unlocked the lock spell

https://youtu.be/hI8xf0WnEVk

so anyways Edelgard ran over to Byleth

E: is that....

B: the sword of the creator.

H: h-how is it glowing? It needs a crest stone in order to power it up to it's full potential.

B: I...I don't know.

so then Catherine and some knights come down

C: HALT! THE KNIGHTS OF SEIROS ARE-huh? oh you already took care of them!? well done professor!

C: oh hey pip squeak! I honestly forgot your name! was it ashely!?

Petra: Ego vere non similis ei.

Ashe: Si quis proditor ego hodie nos vocamus pedes.

C: wait...is that the sword of creator!? how is it glowing!? it doesn't have a crest stone! knights! inform Rhea immediately!

Catherine gets close to byleth

C: so this is the sword Nemesis wielded. not as powerful looking but hey it rivals my sword in strength. wanna try sparring with me one day?

B: what about the warning?

C: that's why there's such thing as empty lands!

B: umm I'll pass.

so then we cut to the Flame Emperor as he waits for the partner Death Knight mentioned: Lord Arundel

Lord Arundel: it looks like the plan for Rhea's assassination didn't work out so well.

F: I have some bad news. The professor was able to wield the sword of creator and power it without a crest stone attached

A: then we should probably diengage for a while and wait for another time to strike.

F: no. I will. for now YOU will finish my goal. I'll even give you the death knight back. it seems him and the professor are evenly matched. now I must go. Do NOT fail me.

A: have faith in me Flame Emperor. I will get the job done soon.

F: I'm sure you will, but that is not what concerns me. now go, I do not want anyone to be suspicious of me. especially the professor

so then the flame emperor disappears as we cut to three members of Lonato's army captured and in front of Rhea, Seteth, and Shamir

Seteth: shamir, tell us all the crimes these men have done so we may have a clear understanding of their sentence.

Shamir: grave robbing, intending to kill the archbishop, violation of a sacred area, need I go on?

R: no. it's clear that the sentence will be death.

Bishop: We had our reasons! the central church has gone too far with their power! You don't treat people as equals Rhea! you only support the believers and kill anyone that disagrees with your perspective!

R: enough. Shamir, bring these poor souls back to the heavens.

Shamir leaves with the three members as we then fade to Byleth in the room with Seteth and Rhea

R: well done on succeeding the mission Professor. you have once again impressed me more than most.

Seteth: however we must discuss about you somehow gaining the power of the sword without the crest stone. anything you want to say about that Lady Rhea?

R: you may keep it.

S: what!?

Seteth: Lady Rhea with all do respect, you cannot simply give this kind of power to some stranger!

R: I have great faith in the Professor. It seems that after so long of not having a host, the sword has finally chosen it's new master.

S: how do you know she won't become like Nemesis!?

R: seteth! I demand you apologize for saying such vile things!

S:...Right...I'm sorry.

R: good. Are you comfortable with my decision professor?

B:...I guess. I don't yet know what this means. why do I have this power?

R: It isn't that clear, but I'm ensure you we will be looking into it.

B:...I understand

R: now we also have another mission for you Professor.

B: what mission?

R: A loyal knight has come here to the Monastery. I'm sure Annette will be happy to know it's her father Gilbert.

B: Her father is a Knight of Seiros?

R: yes. and a good friend. However...I suggest you see if Sylvain will be fine with this mission.

B: why?

R:...His brother Miklan has taken over one of Gilbert's bases and stole a Hero's relic, The Lance of Ruin.

B: what? why? does he work for Lonato?

R: no...you see rumors have recently spread about Miklan having suffered mistreatment by the heads of House Gautier due to him lacking of a crest. I'm guessing he may have some form of resentment because of these actions.

B: so why attack Gilbert's base?

R: he must want to create his own faction and land by stealing others. he must be stopped before it is too late.

B: too late for what?

R: there are terrible consequences for non crest bearers who wield a hero's relic. so please be quick.

B: alright! I'll get my class ready to leave immediately!

so then we cut to the class getting ready as they bring out the convoy carriage as Byleth was just about to join them before bumping into an old man.

B: oh I'm very sorry sir!

Tomas: oh that's quite alright. an old man like me should be more careful. (reaches for a handshake) I am Tomas, a priest at the Monastery.

B: oh. I'm Byleth (takes handshake) just please be careful next time.

T: I will. now run along. your friends need you

Byleth gets going as her and her group leave the Monastery as it started to rain

Gilbert: It's nice to meet you all. especially you Annette.

A:...right.

G: is something wrong?

A: nothings wrong. just wondering how long your gonna be gone after the mission THIS time.

G:....

Ferdinand:....You know I don't see my father a lot either but I still love hi- (Dorothea hits him) hey!

B: are you gonna be alright after this Sylvain?

S: yeah. Me and my brother never really bonded much...for good reason. I just hope I can convince him to stop.

B: Your brother should not have been treated like that.

E: It doesn't matter...that's how most non crest bearers are treated...those with crests are sometimes loved only because they have crests.

Mercedes:......

B: I'm guessing your not a fan of crests?

E:.....Crests was the goddess's worst mistake...

Gilbert: hey! I demand you apologize for insulting the goddess.

E:......sorry....it was foolish of me.

Byleth tried to comfort Edelgard by putting her arm on Edelgard's shoulder but Edelgard shrugged it off with anger

H: I suggest now is not a good time professor. she tends to have these moments.

H: has she ever told you she had siblings?

B: Dimitri is her step brother right?

H: no. I meant her 8 siblings. all related by blood. A long time ago, when Lady Edelgard was young, several nobles in the empire had banded together and stripped the emperor of his power and turned him into to a mere political puppet with Edelgard's mother, Anselma, then running away and marrying Prince Dimitri's father. Meanwhile Anselma's brother Arundel took in Edelgard and her siblings and cared for them...but then one day he changed...he had imprisoned Edelgard and her siblings to conduct crest experiments on them. All of her siblings were either driven mad or died from the experiments. However Edelgard was the only one to survive

B:...how did she survive?

H: the experiment was a success. she bears two crests. has Hanneman ever figured out what your crest was?

B: no...he's never studied it before.

H: I'm surprised you were born with it. it's called the crest of flames...Edelgard bears it as well.

B:...that's horrible...what happened to Arundel? was he executed like your father?

H: sadly no. Edelgard's father tried hard to get rid of him but with support from the nobles who stripped power from the emperor, nothing could be done.

B: I'm sorry to hear that.

H: trust me professor, it's more than just her. there are a few others who shared the pain of having a crest. It's almost like Rhea pays no attention...

Byleth contemplates what Hubert said for a bit as she ignores it for now before they got to the destination and got their weapons ready as Sylvain takes deep breathes before getting his spear ready

Gilbert: alright Annette. let's be safe.

A: oh you now you care instead of just abandoning me constantly

G: Annette I was very busy at the time and I needed to get work done.

A: oh so raising me isn't work?

G: I knew the kingdom would take care of you!

A: At least Hubert was raised by his dad!

H: Annette... I would really like if you don't use my dad for a model example

B: Annette, I understand that you're having family issues right now, some of us had plenty of family issues!

A: So why can't I deal with it now!?

Ashe: because I know that doesn't lead to good decisions

G:...Let's just go. We can't let Miklan keep the hero's relic.

A:...Right.

Mercedes touches Annette's shoulder to comfort her as they begin to enter the base but then they stop once they hear noise come out the convoy.

B: (whispers) Bernie, Ashe, aim at the convoy. I'll check it out.

Byleth slowly goes to the convoy and quickly opens it only to see Leonie sleeping

B:........

Bernie: I-Is she dead!?

B: Petra. I'm honestly not in the mood so can you please politely wake her up?

P: with pleasure.

Petra goes up to Leonie and takes a look at her

P: politeness won't work. I'll have to do things father do when he wakes me

Petra then punches Leonie in the gut as Leonie woke up and punched Petra because she was startled as Petra then instantly punches Leonie again and knocks her out

B:.....on second thought, Mercedes please wake her up.

Mercedes nervously walks up to Leonie and nudges her shoulder very gently

B:...Leonie, Jeralt is here!

Leonie instantly wakes up but it spooks Mercedes so she punches Leonie and knocks her out.

B: somebody wake her up or I will become absolutely livid...

Sylvain: (sigh) I'll try to wake her.

Ingrid: Don't even think about kissing her.

Sylvain: why would I kiss someone like her?

Leonie wakes up, walks over to Sylvain, and punches him into the ground as we then cut to Leonie looking down as a bruise was on her head because of Byleth

B: you could have simply asked to be mission assistance again instead of sneaking onto our convoy!

L: S-Sorry. I didn't mean to make you mad.

B: oh I'm not mad, just disappointed

Edelgard: to be fair Professor I should've checked the convoy twice, but I did put Dorothea in charge of checking it a second time.

D: You can't act like it's my fault!

E: but it is!

B: GIRLS! WHAT DID WE JUST DISCUSS!

Both: (sigh) we can't just go towards the blame game.

B: Now edelgard! what do you say!?

E: I'm sorry Dorothea...

B: now dorothea.

D:...I'm sorry Edelgard.

L:...so is everything good?

B: Don't think I'm done talking to you young lady!

L:...I'm not that young...

as they argued, Sylvain looked at the base and was worried about what was going to soon happen as a storm was about to happen.

End of Episode