A meeting with Hanneman.

Byleth was now more mindful than ever of the effects she was undergoing. She could feel them as she shifted back once again: The conflicting storm of her fulfilled lust, the mark, and what self-respect she had left all instantly changing as she flashed back to her room. Now, her unfulfilled desire - her… *unused* body - mixed with her memories.

Part of her was disgusted with herself, her pleading and begging playing back in her mind. At the same time, that deep need resounded within her still. It was as though a drunken fog had been lifted from her mind… if only to suffer the inevitable hangover. Regardless, she was on a set path now, and needed to push through whatever influence this bandit had… as well as this other, yearning side of herself…

Byleth reached Hanneman’s office without incident this time, taking the path she knew she should have. I was in too much of a hurry… is what she told herself. She’d have to be wary of making the same hasty decisions going forward, at least until the month had passed.

Her discussion with Hanneman started out as a very dry affair: the professor telling her everything - absolutely everything - about crests. At first, she leaned forward, keenly listening…

“Crests are power incarnate. They are said to have been bestowed by the goddess countless ages ago… They exist within the flesh and are passed down through bloodlines...”

But as he went on, Byleth realized all of what he was saying she had heard before. She continued to listen, waiting, hoping for some grand revelation or secret insight that might help her counter Kostas’ power.

“Those who carry crests may excel at magic, display exceptional strength, or any number of boons. Each crest…”

If this were true, then Kostas carried quite the boon, indeed… Crests were markers of great men and women, nobles and leaders, emperors and generals. Kostas may be a bandit, but his bloodline was at one point blessed by the Goddess herself...

“May I?”

Byleth blinked.

“I’m sorry, I was- what were you asking?”

“I was curious if I may test whether or not you possess a crest yourself?”

Her father had never mentioned anything about crests in their family, but then again, he never mentioned anything about their family. Still, it could be a possibility…

• Do what you can to find out.
• There’s no need to look into it.

“Yes, of course. I’ll get to the bottom of it straight away.” Hanneman responded enthusiastically.

He then lead Byleth over to the center of the room.

“Now then, please go ahead and hold out your arm over this device here.”

The “device” Hanneman referred to seemed to be a purple circle set into the floor of his chamber. Thin lines and curves all met in the center, drawing one’s sight. Byleth did as he asked and slowly stuck out her hand. A bold shadow of her arm appeared on its surface, but as she glanced up towards the ceiling, Byleth noticed no source of light, the circle seemingly drawing her shadow down onto its surface. She looked back to the scholar, waiting for the next bit of instruction, but was caught off guard as her shadow shifted, rearranging itself into a series of strange curves, weaving and crossing one another.

“What is this?!” Hanneman asked, curiously scanning the design. “A pattern I’ve never seen before… Is it possible an as-yet undiscovered Crest has been detected?”

Byleth was about ready to match Hanneman’s enthusiasm, excited to learn what additional edge she could use in her plight, but became discouraged as she realized what he meant...

“Undiscovered? As in, you aren’t aware of its power? Of what it could do?”

“Yes, it is thrilling is it not? To think… there are still crests out there than even I am unaware of!” he exclaimed, running over to his desk, hands flipping through the pages of a rather large tome.

Byleth let her arm down, defeated by Hanneman’s false hope. Still, she tried to remind herself that it wasn’t completely hopeless: A crest was a sign of great power and the fact that she had one was a great advantage, even by itself. It may, in fact, be connected to this Divine Pulse she had… Hopefully it will reveal its true effects sooner rather than later.

Hanneman cleared his throat without looking back up.

“Pardon my unrestrained jubilation. I have much to consider and much to research in regard to this crest, but for now, your work here is done.”

Byleth had expected a bit longer of a meeting, but she bid him farewell, not wanting to pressure him in such a frenzy.

“Oh, and if you see that brute who arrived with you, do let him know I wish to study his crest; running around the monastery to find him is not something I have the time for."

“I- I will let him know if I see him...” she responded, hoping the chance never occurred.

Byleth places a hand on the door, gathering enough will to run the gauntlet, as it were. She only had this power for a little over a week, but without it… she felt blind. She would need a plan come tomorrow…