[ she shakes her head. if she thinks anything of what might be running through his head right now, it's not apparent. ]

Once I awoke and we broke the stalemate, the war was over in four moons. We were precise. [ they had a really cool easy time of it, actually, claude! even if the end was real bad. ] But there's... more to be done. True enemies that Fódlan can only challenge now. [ anyway... ]

We shattered the King of Delusion's forces on the Tailtean Plains, even as his soldiers became demonic beasts. We tried to get him to see reason, that the war was over. Continuing to fight would only bring more suffering... but he didn't listen. Seiros's forces abandoned them before the battle ended, and made for Fhirdiad.

[ byleth takes a breath. ]

Dimitri and Dedue both died there. Even defeated, he screamed for Edelgard's head. He was never going to stop. He believed she was the cause of all of his misfortune, believed every word that an immortal monster whispered in his ear.

[ something ugly twists in her chest, venom edging into her voice. ]

Then, Seiros burned his capital rather than surrender.