A failed capture to try again!

Byleth caught up to Shez in the entrance hall just in time to see Tomas arrive and immediately get surrounded by Knights of Seiros, and weapons were drawn. "Tomas, you are charged with sedition, kidnapping, and consipiracy with violent criminals!" the lead Knight declared. "Come quietly."

Byleth looked down the steps to see that Tomas, while looking mildly surprised, wasn't at all concerned, even seeming amused. "...it seems this doddering persona will serve me no further use..." Without warning, he was enshrouded in dark, violent energy that threw the Knights back, and when it cleared, he had changed form into a more grotesque, pale figure with a massive head.

"What the!?" Shez demanded as the "man" looked around disdainfully, his gaze settling on them, before more dark energy swirled around him, and he was then gone. Teleported away via dark magic.

"No! He got away!" a Knight shouted as he got to his feet.

"...no," Byleth narrowed his eyes. "He did not." Shez, despite staring in shock at where "Tomas" had been, blinked, and looked at Byleth. Before she could ask what he meant, time froze, and then rewound. The setting reset, and Byleth watched as Tomas was once again read his charges, but this time, he wasn't idle, looking around for something.

Once again, Tomas was unconcerned, and returned to his true form. Just as he was about to teleport away however, Byleth picked up one of the large standing candle sticks, and flung it at him. It spun through the air, and struck its target, disrupting his spell, and knocking him down. "Argh!" "Tomas" shouted in shock and indignation, taken completely off guard by the unorthodox assualt, his cane and tome skidding across the floor.