Byleth led them through the monastery quietly.
The cold of the stone prickled against the soles of her feet, why didn't she think to put her shoes on?
She could already imagine the lecture she would receive from Uncle Seteth or Grandmother from her being in such a state.
"Byleth?" Glenn whispered, "Where are we going?" he asked.
"By the sauna" Byleth replied quietly "There is an entrance nearby there" she added.
Her stomach was churning, perhaps this really is a bad idea...
"What do you think we'll see down there?" Sylvain asked quietly.
"I bet there are monsters down there," Glenn whispered excitedly.
Byleth frowned, was that even a possibility?
Sweet Sothis is she bringing them to their dooms?
"There is no way Lady Rhea would allow monsters in the monastery" Sylvain said
Ah, that was true. There was no way Grandmother would allow that.
Glenn frowned, "I was just kidding" he sighed while shaking his head.
They walked the rest of the way in silence till they finally reached the little path hidden by the sauna.
"Um, do you think we will get in trouble?" Sylvain asked.
"Obviously" Glenn said, "But only if we get caught" he added.
Sylvain was quiet for a moment, "What are the chances of us getting caught?" he asked.
Byleth opened her mouth to answer but was cut off by a loud voice, "Who goes there?!".
Glenn grabbed both Byleth and Sylvain's hands "Come on!" He whispered and began running into the tunnel dragging them along with him.
Byleth isn't sure exactly how long they have been running for, but eventually they stop to catch their breath.
And it hits Byleth.
They are in the Abyss.
"It smells funny in here," Sylvain said in a muffled voice.
"And it's dark," Glenn said.
"Perhaps we should go back?" Byleth suggested.
"No!" Glenn shouted "We just got here; we aren't cowards" he added.
"Are you sure Glenn?" Sylvain asked in a small voice.
Glenn laughed, "Of course" he said, "We are from Faerghus a dark tunnel is nothing to us" he added proudly, "Now come on, let's explore" he declared and continued dragging them along.
Glenn led them through many twists and turns in the Abyss, there were some parts that they could see in when they ran into the occasional torch. Other times they saw people lying on the floors, asleep and the ones who were awake asked for spare coins. With the exception of the one that chased them.
Byleth was certain that they were going to die here.
"Glenn, I think we should try to find our way back," Byleth said softly.
Glenn froze, "Um, I don't want to worry either of you" he began "But I have been trying to find the path back and..." he trailed off.
Goddess no, Byleth should have known better.
"So, we're lost?" Sylvain squeaked out.
Glenn nodded, "Yeah, pretty much" he said casually.
Byleth felt the blood drain from her face.
"Byleth?" Sylvain called out "Are you ok?" he asked, eyes wide.
Byleth nodded but remained silent.
"Don't worry, I'll get us out of here" Glenn said with confidence.
"Maybe we could ask someone to show us the way out?" Sylvain suggested.
"NO!!" Byleth and Glenn shouted together in union.
"The last thing we need is a deranged maniac leading us around here" Glenn added.
Sylvain's eyes grew wide, "Do you think that we might run into that guy who chased us?" he asked quietly.
Glenn shrugged, "I dunno" he said "Probably" he added.
Byleth frowned at him, "Glenn" she said sternly shooting him a look, then turned to Sylvain "We will be fine" she said calmly "We just need to find an adult who isn't going to harm us" she added.
Sylvain nodded, "Ok" he said.
Byleth clasped her hands together, "Alright, Glenn" she said "Lead the way" she added.
Glenn nodded and began guiding them, hopefully this time back to the monastery and not further into the Abyss.
They had been walking for quite some time now.
"Hey, I think I see light!" Sylvain said excitedly.
Sylvain was right.
Further in the distance there was the glow of light.
Relief flooded through Byleth.
Thank Sothis they were saved.
As they grew closer to the light Byleth realized that it was not indeed the light from outside, but light peeking through a door that was left partially open.
The three of them stood outside of the room for a moment, "Should we go in?" Sylvain asked.
"Maybe there is someone in there who can help us?" Byleth said.
Glenn nodded taking these factors into account, "You both wait here, and I will check" he concluded.
Byleth frowned, "We should probably stick together" she said.
Glenn shook his head, "Sorry Byleth but I promised to protect you both" he said "And in case a deranged person is in run like hell" he concluded.
Sylvain giggled at his use of hell.
And with that Glenn opened the room door Further and went inside, Byleth and Sylvain peaked from the door frame.
"Glenn?" Byleth called out.
The blue haired boy froze and was looking at something.
"Glenn?" Sylvain called out this time and entered the room slightly.
Glenn swiftly turned around his eyes were wide and face pale, "Stay right there" he shouted.
Sylvain frozen in place, "Glenn are you ok?" he asked quietly.
Glenn quickly regained his composure, "Of course come on" he said and began walking to the door.
Byleth felt a hand clasp onto her shoulder and turned her around, "What are you children doing in here?" the man asked.
Goddess they were going to die.
Byleth froze, and Glenn came running at the man.
He was kicking and screaming.
Byleth and Sylvain stood off to the side in shock, as Glenn was beating the man in the red robe.
"Glenn stop," Byleth shouted.
Glenn got one last kick in then stopped.
"Come on, let's run," Glenn said out of breath.
Byleth shook her head and went over to the cardinal who was lying on the floor, "Um, excuse me sir" Byleth said softly "You work for the church, correct?" she asked.
The man nodded, and sat up, "Yes" he said in a hoarse voice.
Byleth kneeled down beside the man and attempted to cast a heal spell. Her magic wasn't very proficient like Grandmother, but it should help a bit. "Sorry, I'm still learning magic" she murmured then scooted back from the man to give him space.
Silence fell over the four of them.
"I'm sorry" Glenn finally said "I thought that maybe you were a bad guy" he added.
The man chuckled slightly, "That is understandable" he said then stood up and turned to Byleth. "You are Jeralt Eisner's daughter correct?" he asked.
Byleth frowned slightly and stood up, she was used to people knowing who she was, but none have ever referred to her by her Father, since no one had known she had one.
"Who are you?" Byleth asked, eyeing the man suspiciously.
The man bowed slightly, "I am a monk for the church of Seiros" he said "I knew both of your parents, my name is Aelfric" he added.
Byleth paused for a moment, he knew both of her parents.
She would be lying if she said she wasn't curious about them but... Now was not the time.
Byleth sighed, "Can you help us get out of here?" she asked.
Aelfric nodded, "It would be my pleasure Lady Byleth" he said then began guiding them through the many twists and turns of the Abyss.
Byleth fell beside Glenn.
He kept his gaze to the floor, "Are you alright?" she whispered to him. Glenn looked up at her, there was something off in his expression "What was in that room?" she asked assuming whatever it was that he saw there caused his discomfort.
Glenn frowned and turned his gaze back to the floor, "It was nothing" he said sternly.
Byleth flinched a little at his tone.
"Are you sure?" Byleth asked hesitantly, Glenn ignored her.
Finally, they reached the entrance where they had entered from, "I take none of the adults know either of you were here do they Lady Byleth?" Aelfric asked while shaking his head.
Byleth hung her head in shame, "No, they don't" she confirmed.
Aelfric sighed, "Alright, my lips are sealed then" he said "But only this once, and I never want to see either of you three in here again" he added sternly.
Byleth felt relieved, she was certain that she would get scolded by Grandmother or Uncle Seteth for sure. "Thank you, Aelfric," Byleth said with a slight bow.
Aelfric smiled, "Good, now be off" he said then went back into the Abyss.
"He went back in there," Sylvain said in shock.
"Come on, let's get back to our rooms" Glenn said.
The three of them walked in silence as they reached the third floor of the monastery.
Glenn and Sylvain entered into their quarters, then Byleth went into hers and laid down.
Sleep evaded her.
Byleth really wanted to know.
Just what was it that Glenn saw in that room?