Fire Emblem Three Houses Thoughts - Part 7: The Characters of Black Eagles

 

Hello and welcome to the 7th part in my series of writes up detailing my many thoughts on the incredible game that is Fire Emblem: Three Houses. In this, I finish sharing my feelings on the characters of the three main houses by discussing the Black Eagles students. I have a lot to say, so let’s get to it.

WARNING, THE FOLLOWING POST CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE SUPPORTS AND CHARACTERS OF BLACK EAGLES AND VARIOUS FACULTY CHARACTERS

Let’s start with the first of the two characters whose supports are fully locked to the Black Eagles path: Hubert. Hubert is a character that on the outside seems simple. He is Edelgard’s right hand man, heavily devoted to her, and not afraid of doing illegal or immoral deeds to assist his leader. He seems to enjoy it even, but beneath all that are signs of a more complex and even emotional character.

While this sounds simple, the journey of getting to understand Hubert intimately, learn about his inner most secrets and beliefs, while also finding ways to enjoy him and his antics, resulted in a character I became much more invested in then I was expecting. For example, you learn that his preference for using dark measures to achieve Edelgard’s goals comes from a desire for Edelgard to have a popular image of being just and clean. Hubert views himself as a necessary darkness to prevent Edelgard from taking such a path and being corrupted by it in the process. This makes sense, as Edelgard has to take incredibly drastic measures to achieve her goals, and Hubert hopes to help her shoulder the burden by embracing the darkness so that she doesn’t have to, a surprisingly sweet reason for his dark actions.

 

There are other interesting factors contributing to his mannerisms, such as a dark and difficult backstory, a hateful father, and repeated failures to protect Edelgard which have weighed heavily on him. 

However, what I really came to love about Hubert was that despite his dark backstory and twisted beliefs, there is a person under all this with his own quirks and charms, who struggles with the same daily struggles that anyone has at one point or another. For every support conversation about how he devotes himself to Edelgard, you see moments of him trying to manage in everyday life. His supports with Bernadetta for example showcase him attempting to show restraint, trying to withhold his sinister mannerisms (such as the way he laughs) in order to engage with Bernadetta. I appreciated seeing Hubert struggle to act in a way he’s unfamiliar with and genuinely try to be a better person, someone who’s more then just Edelgard’s sidekick, and I found their conclusion satisfying. 

Ferdinand’s supports were also great, in which Hubert tries to get along with someone who is fiercely competitive with Edelgard. They butt heads frequently, but not only over Edelgard. They have discussions over big ideas such as how to properly advise a ruler, but also less consequential subjects, such as what their favorite drinks are. It led to a fun dynamic that saw Hubert learning to find common ground and respect those with differing views and tastes from his own, not always having to take the dark path.

Then of course there is Byleth, who he begins very skeptical of, but over the course of the game grows to appreciate and open up with, treating them as an equal and someone to trust even. In general I really enjoyed the dichotomy of having this dark and sinister character say such sweet and innocent things, such as when he wonders if he might devote his life to Byleth had he been born differently, or his S support with Byleth which has the cheesiest line I’ve seen in the game. It was fascinating to see a character who appears so dark on the outside learn to be such a nice and kind person on the inside, to learn to open up with his new friends. In that way, his arc mirrored Edelgard’s in being able to open up to others, not stick so closely to his dark persona, but being able to lighten up and learn to laugh and have fun. It was satisfying to see him come around and change so much, and by the end I was very happy I got to know him.

Next let me get to a character I got more invested in then I was expected, similar to Ingrid in my Blue Lions playthrough: Dorothea. Dorothea, like Hubert, was a character I initially viewed as simple on the outside. She was a flirt who was looking for a good suitor, and she hated nobles, likely due to her being a commoner. That was who she was. Yet the more I got to know her, the more of her supports I unlocked, the more I began to see the layers to her character and suddenly I found her incredibly interesting. The big moment for me was when it hit me that all of the elements about her character that I saw as separate are actually interconnected. She is a flirt because she is poor, a commoner. Because she does not have a noble title or crest to rely on, nor the wealth to live a good life, she needs a good noble and rich husband if she wishes to live a prosperous life. By sheer luck she was blessed with an attractive body and a beautiful singing voice, and she has honed and mastered these traits because they are all she has. Without them she is nothing, and if she cannot find a good partner, she will be doomed to live the poor lonely life she endured as a child.

At the same time, Dorothea hates nobles because of the way they treated her. When she was young and poor, they regarded her as if she were nothing, and had to fend for herself because of them. When she joined the opera and was able to use her talents to gain fame and fans, nobles still treated her as if she were nothing, using her for their own selfish fame and pleasures. They still looked upon her as if she were a tool for their own gain, and from all this she despised them.

But then, when you combine the two you get the truly tragic trait. Dorothea hates nobles for being superficial, wasteful, and self-centered. Yet, that is exactly what she is doing now, and what she is appealing to. Even though she hates them so much, Dorothea needs their wealth and status if she wants to live a good life, so she must act in a way that benefits them. She must appeal to their superficial tastes and selfish desires, learn to woo them despite how shallow it is. For her own selfish reasons she is pursuing life as a noble to have the wealth she desires. 

However, in doing so, she is becoming exactly what she hates (the nobility) and this is why at her very core, Dorothea hates herself. She hates that she has succumb to the systems that keep the nobility in power hoarding the wealth. She hates that she could not fight the systems and must now work within them, be like a noble to find a successful life. She hates what she is doing but sees no other way, and this has created an internal sadness and self loathing that just broke my heart. It was tragic, yet I could see no other way for her to find a good comfortable life, and it all felt so real. Like Ingrid, it felt like women I’ve known or common sentiments I’ve read online, about the difficulties and struggles of being unable to break out of a system that hurts many and sees them becoming what they hate. It got me extremely invested in Dorothea’s character and curious to see where she would end up.

Some disconnected thoughts:

Her character fits perfectly in being one of Edelgard’s followers and fighters. Of course Dorothea would want to destroy the systems of Fodlan to try and create something new, she is a direct result of it, her suffering comes from the broken systems of Fodlan. 

I particularly liked Dorothea’s voice changes as a show of her development. Her lines of dialogue when you teach her in the learning lessons (in Japanese at least) saw her saying the same lines, but after the timeskip she sounds quieter, more calm, yet more confident. She’s looking less for attention and requiring the approval of others, having grown to appreciate who she is as a person, no longer having to show off such an outgoing and friendly personality to gain the admiration of nobles

It is interesting that during the war, she grows sad of the fighting and seems more perceptive of the tragedy of it all. In this way she represents the cultural aspect of the Black Eagles, talking of dramas and stories that could be told, emphasizing the lack of fun dramas and operas during this difficult time. I greatly enjoyed her character and getting to know her, and she had many supports I adored, particularly those with Manuela.

Speaking of nobles, let me get to Ferdinand, the noble I was not expecting to love so much. Ferdinand starts off as a character who reminded me of Lorenz and Sylvain, characters I was not fond of. He comes from a royal house, feels destined for greatness, is full of himself, and won’t let you butt in on his problematic behavior. 

However, the more I got to know Ferdinand, the more I noticed something that I had not seen in the two other nobles: development. Ferdinand develops so much throughout the game, and in a way I found believable. Throughout his supports, all the characters help him to change and have a more open mind. Bernadetta shows him how hurtful and intimidating his mannerisms can be and unintentionally encourages him to be vulnerable, apologize, and accept his own faults. Petra helped him to see how foreign means of combat and war can be just as effective as local techniques, despite being different and often viewed as inferior by the local culture. Dorothea helped him to see the faults of nobility and the hurt it can cause others, showing much needs to change if the nobility wishes to truly be virtuous.

But Edelgard and Byleth especially, showed Ferdinand how powerless and weak he really is, and how wrong his beliefs about his greatness her. They humbled him in a way that turned me around on him, humiliating him almost, and suddenly I found myself greatly enjoying his character. He represented the nobility, showing that it needed to change, but also that it could. He became a likable and generally good character who was able to live up to his ideals of being a good noble. He had to confront many problems, but he did just that, changing as he learned more and more outside of his bubble, and it made his journey one I greatly enjoyed.

Next let me get to a character I heard much about: Bernadetta. Bernadetta is one of the more tragic characters of Three Houses (though I think almost every character in this game is tragic) in how broken she is at the start of the game. Having a tough, arrogant, and overall cruel father has scarred her beyond belief. She does not feel safe outside, so stays in her room, she fears any sign of affection may be a trap, she puts far too many expectations on herself, and she hates herself so much. Unlike Dorothea however, she does not hide it, but wears and even shouts it to all. She is a sad character who made my heart sink the more I got to know her. There were moments when I chuckled or you could see she might be slowly learning to come out of her shell and trust others more, but in general her character made me feel heartbroken, and all I wanted was to see her happy.

I liked her development throughout the game, how after the time skip she is able to leave her room comfortably for example. In general she is able to come out of her shell bit by bit as the game progresses, such that by her A supports you see her able to hold conversations with the other students. However, her anxiety and paranoia were played for laughs a little too much for my liking. I was especially put off during her A support with Byleth, in which the character she seems the most comfortable with, teases her as she is finally moving on from her trauma. I did not like this, and I wish the game portrayed her in a more respectable manner that did not play her for laughs so much. Still, I enjoyed her overall, and she had a lot of nice moments with the Black Eagles cast. Her supports with Hubert, Caspar, Dorothea, and Petra were my favorites.

Next, let’s talk about Petra. Petra was a character I had recruited and gotten to know in my Golden Deer playthrough, so I already had some idea of her. I enjoyed getting to know her more, getting to see her struggle but succeed at communicating with the Black Eagles students, and ensuring that her homeland of Brigid would be treated well in the new empire to come.

Despite this, I had one issue with Petra. Namely, I was surprised that throughout all of her supports, you never see Petra really struggling, breaking down under the pressure of being a hostage to the Adrestrian Empire, etc. For almost all of her supports with the Black Eagle students she is a good, obedient, and overall exceptional addition to the team who seems able to handle any difficulties that come her way. Her supports with Caspar are the only ones that show her holding any sort of grudge or dislike towards the Adrestrian Empire, and in none of them do you see her act vulnerable and sad at all the weight she has on her.

This surprised me, as the more I got to know her, the more she struck me as incredibly tragic, like the other students. She is a hostage in a foreign land unknown to her, and yet must be on her best behavior so that her homeland is not treated poorly. I cannot imagine the pressure that must have put on her to have to maintain such a strong persona despite being in a foreign and perhaps hostile land. I wanted to see her talk about this, how she initially handled being in a new land, struggles she has faced, and if the pressure has ever gotten to her, and I was sad that you never see this. I felt like a character arc might be here of Petra learning to appreciate and enjoy this once hostile land, but I never got that impression from her supports. Still, I greatly enjoyed her character and was happy to see her again.

Speaking of, let’s get to the other Black Eagles character I had recruited in a previous playthrough: Caspar. I don’t have a whole lot to say here, Caspar was a fun character and I enjoyed seeing his happy go lucky personality bounce off of the more serious characters of Black Eagles, and I liked his moral dilemma of doing the right thing at all costs. I did find him to be rather simple compared to other characters, but I can’t think of anything I disliked about him. He was fun.

Caspar’s friend Linhardt however, I struggled to get into. I feel conflicted about him, because throughout his supports there were moments in which I felt a connection with him. He is quiet and likes keeping to himself and his studies after all, he dislikes the sight of blood and the war in general, and he can step back and take a more objective look at things, as seen in his supports with Dorothea.

Despite this, he can be rather rude and insensitive to the problems of others, which rubbed me the wrong way. The one that sticks out in my mind was his supports with Annette, in which she is struggling and needs help and he is right there but refuses to help because he’d rather sleep. I did not like this, especially since I’m not sure if he learned to change, rather to go along with it while complaining. Another example was his supports with Petra, in which he is stubbornly reluctant to show her some helpful tricks when it would assist her, and by the end he kind of changes but again complains about it, so I wasn't invested. Due to these moments, I struggled to really like Linhardt. I would not say I disliked him, and he had some moments that made me smile and chuckle, but by the end he was the Black Eagles student I was the least invested in.

Next, let me move on to the faculty of the Adrestrian Empire, starting with Hannenman. Hannenman was a character I had recruited on previous playthroughs, but like with Catherine and Blue Lions, I was surprised at how much you learn about him in the Black Eagles path. He has fascinating conversations with Edelgard, Linhardt, and Dorothea about his own feelings towards crests and the world, but what really caught me off guard was his A support with Edelgard, in which you learn the truth about him. I could not believe that hidden away in this support you can only get on the Black Eagles route, you learn why he really left the Empire to join the monastery, and why Edelgard’s war carries a significant weight for him. He like others has suffered immensely under the broken system of crests, but also under the patriarchy of Fodlan and its treatment of women. It gave me a new appreciation for his character, and I was very glad I chose to use him so much on this playthrough.

Similar to Hannenman, Manuela surprised me in how much you learn about her. In her supports with Edelgard you learn more of her complex feelings towards the Church of Seiros and get to see her religious side. With Dorothea and Ferdinand, you learn more of her backstory and get a better idea of how she found a connection with the opera, but also why she left it. I especially liked her supports with Dorothea, and how the two found common ground in their shared struggles. It elevated my liking of her overall.

Next is Jeritza: The Death Knight. I did not know what to expect from Jeritza, but given he only has supports with three characters I was not expecting much. Luckily, those three supports more then make up for his lack of others. I enjoyed seeing him interact with Byleth, his supports with Bernadetta were surprisingly sweet with some nice moments, but what really won me over was his supports with Mercedes. 

As someone who already loved Mercedes to death, was very invested in her and thought I knew everything about her, these supports completely caught me off guard. I was not expecting them to go so in depth in their shared history, but also to learn that similar to Hubert, under this dark sinister Death Knight is a sweet lonely boy who just wanted to protect his mother and sister. The love they shared for each other hit me so hard, and it was so sweet to see these two lost souls find each other and be able to admit all that they did for each other, and how much love they have for each other. It was such a touching reunion that it made me love Mercedes even more then I already had, and fall in love with Jeritza’s character, despite his simplicity. It was great to see this cold dead knight start to learn to feel again, and his ending pairing with Mercedes made me so happy.

With all of that out of the way, let me get to the most polarizing character amongst the Three Houses fandom, and I would argue the most important character in the game: Edelgard. I entered this playthrough unsure of her, throughout the entire first half of the game I was skeptical I would like her much. Despite this, by the time the second half of the game came and went, I fell in love with her in a way I was not expecting. By the end she was easily my choice of marriage. But why? What happened, and what changed in the second half of the game?

To understand that we need to understand Edelgard. For Edelgard, despite being the villain of the game, despite starting the war and causing so much death and pain, has something underneath her cold, arrogant, and calculating self, something soft and lonely. You only see this side of her, her true self, come out if you choose to side with her in the war, because only then does she open up to you. It was the little moments she has with Byleth that won me over: she hugs you upon your return, Caspar tells you she was lost without you, she tries painting a picture of you, she opens up to you about her food preferences and love of sweets, etc. She clearly loves Byleth in a way no other character does, and these signs of affections, signs that she is happier with your presence, meant the world to me, because of what they say about her.

Source: https://twitter.com/yurifucker/status/1165119004572172289?s=19

It would be easy to write these moments off as meaningless, I have seen many do exactly that and calling them "waifu pandering," but to write these off is to miss the point, to do a disservice to the complex character intelligent systems has written. These moments say something about Edelgard: she is lonely, unbelievably lonely.

I would argue that of the three house lords, heck four if you want to include Rhea, that Edelgard is the loneliest of them, and the one most desperate for Byleth's companionship. Look at the other lords. Claude has Nader and other friends and family in Almyra, he has some in the Alliance that are open and respectful with him such as Hilda and Raphael. He has many bonds to rely on. Dimitri has his old friends since childhood, and while he doesn’t always get along well with them, they are still loyal and will be there for him should he need them. He has Dedue, who is fiercely loyal, and again, while their relationship isn’t perfect, it clearly has something special. He has many knights such as Gilbert in the kingdom who are heavily obedient to him as the future King, as such is the way of the administration in the Kingdom. Rhea has the Knights of Seiros who follow her every command, some of which would do anything for her, such as Catherine. She has Seteth and Flayn, who understand her on an intimate level and who she can confide in. While these characters are lonely in their own way and certainly don’t have perfect relationships, they at least have some.

But Edelgard…looking at Edelgard’s backstory tells you that she is scarred and has never known what it’s like to have anything even resembling a normal healthy relationship. Key to understanding this is Lord Arundel, her uncle. While little is known about him before Thales took over and used him as a vessel for Those Who Slither in the Dark, we can conclude that he was likely not a bad uncle, maybe even someone she confided in. But then overnight he transformed into a wicked monster, kidnapped Edelgard and took her to a foreign land (The Kingdom) where she was all alone. Upon their return, her father had been humiliated as the nobles took power for themselves, and then Edelgard was subjugated to a dark trauma that would scar her for life. Her siblings were ripped from her and murdered before her, and she was tortured and treated as some toy and experiment for Those Who Slither in the Dark, all with the approval of the prime minister, who was supposed to be her trusted advisor.

Source: https://twitter.com/mjisdrawing/status/1244891645222453248

While Claude had family and friends, and Dimitri could at least rely on some of the nobles, Edelgard had none of that, and this upbringing scarred Edelgard beyond belief. Her family had transformed into monsters, and they with the nobility destroyed her father and put her through a hell few should see. She has never had anyone to rely on like the others.

However, there is another part to Edelgard’s loneliness, one that makes it even more tragic: it is partly self inflicted. True, Edelgard has Hubert who she seems fine with (though they have relationship troubles similar to Dimitri and Dedue), and she gets along with others in the Black Eagles house. However, she is never able to open up to any of them. Why? Because she knows what is happening, she knows what she must do. Because she is cursed with a short life and power beyond measure, because she has her uncle whispering in her ear, because she has the weight of the empire and its ambitious history on her shoulders, she feels that she must do something drastic. She must start a war and destroy the systems that have led to her own suffering and the suffering of so so many. However, she also knows how dark this path is. This path will be soaked in blood, no matter how hard Hubert tries to protect her from it, and she will have to do horrible things to achieve this, essentially becoming a monster.

This knowledge then is why, after her traumatizing upbringing, after she finally has a change to forge real relationships, she refuses to, pushing people away. Because she knows the path she is now set on. She has the Crest of Flames, she is the Adrestrian Emperor to be, she cannot stop this war that is coming. Yet she does not want to hurt others, she knows that they would be disgusted at what she is about to do, she knows that she would be labeled a villain and shown no mercy. She knows that what she is about to do is horrible, and from this sees herself as a monster. How could she not? She had horrific experiments take place on her, likely giving her an unknown amount of scars all over her body that she can never be free of. She has an uncle who works with the most sinister and cruel of peoples. How could she not see herself as a wicked creature?

Source: https://twitter.com/some_co/status/1249700905601007617

This is where the tragedy gets even worse, because I believe Edelgard pushes others away, refuses to open up to anyone because of the dark path she goes on, but also because…like Dorothea, she hates herself. She hates that she has to do this, hates the path that she been forced on, and hates that she must do these horrible deeds. I imagine it motivates her to try and destroy the systems that control people so much, it motivates her to become as powerful as she can so that she may finally be able to defeat her uncle and his unimaginable power. More then anything, she wants to be free.

One of the great tragedies of her character however, is that because Edelgard refuses to open up to others, refuses to discuss her inner most feelings with others, she ultimately loses the war. I fully believe Claude for example would have been willing to side with Edelgard had she opened up to him, but she couldn’t, she doesn’t deserve that, at least in her eyes. She feels that she must do this alone, however…she cannot. In three of the Fire Emblem Three Houses paths she is alone, and because of this she fails.

I adore Byleth and Edelgard's expressions here

Source: https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/79862697

But in one path, in one timeline, she succeeds, and all because one person, one teacher, chose to believe in her, and view her for the first time not as someone below her like Arundel, or above her like Hubert, but as an equal, one that they can be as open with her and she is with them.

This is why Byleth’s choice to side with Edelgard means so much to her, changes her and begins her shift in the second half of Black Eagles. Because Edelgard had never expected this to happen, she told herself that she was a monster that had to do this alone, that no one would ever choose to side with her, she never believed that Byleth would side with her. This is why right after Byleth chooses to side with her, and once again before the final mission, Edelgard admits that she was not expecting Byleth to side with her. She convinced herself that she would be a lonely monster hated by all for eternity, and that no one would ever side with her if she were to open up with anyone, so best not to do it.

Source: https://twitter.com/angerykacchan/status/1240648574519496706

But she was wrong, so very wrong. There is truth to her words and desires, Fodlan’s systems are broken beyond repair, and her suffering and pain that have haunted her for so long, they can be healed, and she can receive the love she’s told herself she does not deserve. Byleth’s choice triggers a change in Edelgard that results in her slowly opening up throughout the second half of Black Eagles, and I believe this is why she is so outwardly affectionate towards Byleth. Because she has never had a meaningful relationship with someone as an equal, she has never known what it’s like to be truly honest and vulnerable with someone, she begins to slowly open up not just to them, but everyone.

I loved the group dynamic of the Black Eagles characters, I thought they all brought the best out of each other, but the one that really did this was Edelgard, and in reverse, they brought the best our of her. I loved how many of Edelgard’s supports brought her into confrontation with her own ideals and had her question if things were not as simple as she saw them. 

To start, in her supports with Casper, Edelgard projects herself onto him, seeing him as a victim of the evil systems of Fodlan, because he was the second son he has nothing to live for unlike his older brother. But Caspar is content with this, and has not let his unfortunate upbringing bring him down. He still fights and lives happily, sure he will have a good life if he works hard enough. Their conversations helped for Edelgard to reconsider and have a more open mind towards individuals and systems, and conversely led to Caspar feeling better about Edelgard, being willing to fight for her even.

Manuela and Hannenman both show Edelgard about the complexities of her ideals. The former forces her to consider the good the church might have brought to Fodlan along with the bad, in addition to the many innocent followers of the church who must suffer by her hand. The latter gives her a new perspective on crests, forcing her to consider if she can really eradicate all crests, what good they might serve, and most importantly, creates a strong between the two when Hannenman reveals that his love and research of crests actually comes from a goal exactly like Edelgards: to free the world from the tyranny of crests.

Dorothea helps to remind Edelgard that there is more to the world then politics, bringing an important perspective that focuses on the arts and culture to Edelgard, helping her to see its importance.

Perhaps my favorite of Edelgard’s support conversations however comes from Ferdinand. In those we see Ferdinand confronted by his own lack of strength, however by the end of their supprts he has been humbled enough to become, I would argue, the most important advisor for Edelgard, pointing out the problems in her ideology, while being willing to compromise and always following her word regardless of his feelings. It is his advice that helps Edelgard to see that chasing her ideals desperately will lead to a dark ending, and through this and her many other supports, she learns to open up more, cling less to her ideologies, and instead cling to her people, her friends, and the bonds she forms with all the wonderful and colorful students of the Black Eagles house.

This is why, in a way I found believable, we see Edelgard, the villain of the other paths, in some wild and strange way, rise up and become a great and just leader by the end of the Black Eagles path. She brings out the best in all the students of Black Eagles, and they with her, to the point that I found that of the three houses, I enjoyed the overall Black Eagles group the most, largely thanks to Edelgard’s supports with them.

But topping it all off is Byleth. Byleth’s supports with Edelgard say it all, about how she feels better around them, she can be open with them, and that she can finally be herself around them. There’s a line in their S support that hit me, as it confirmed all the theories I had regarding her character. Edelgard says that once the war is over and a new more fair Fodlan is established, she wants to stop, abandon all these politics and live a nice quiet life for the rest of her days. This is who Edelgard is. She isn't some evil tyrant clinging to power, she never wanted to do this, the moment she feels her task is complete, the dark deed no one else will do is done, the moment Fodlan is improved for all, she wants to leave it. Leave the role she was forced into, and for the first time live freely, the way she wants to.

Source: https://www.zerochan.net/full/2765426

In that line I see Edelgard’s greatest strength, and why I ultimately admire her. She is the only one who can do what no one else can. There are many who see the problems of Fodlan, see that rather then individuals it is the structure of Fodlan itself that needs changing, Claude is the best example of this. But they lack the courage, the strength, and the determination to do what needs to be done, to do unbelievably cruel things for the sake of everyone’s futures. Only Edelgard has this, her trauma and suffering and the harsh cruel lands of the Adrestrian Empire have molded her into someone that somehow, in some strange way, can save everyone. 

That is why, in the strangest weirdest thing that I next expected, I think Fire Emblem Three Houses villain might be my favorite character in the game, and the one I admire the most. Here’s to Edelgard, the...in my eyes, hero of Fire Emblem: Three Houses.

One quick personal thing. I had a moment when I felt a deep connection to Edelgard, and it came in her Paralogue, in which she protects Fodlan from Almyra, showing that she will be a good leader for the Alliance that is willing to take the time to understand its issues. Despite Almyrans causing trouble for her twice now (first in their alliance with Claude, and again here) she avoids using any irrational and hateful language towards Almyra, saying she would pursue good relations with them and be willing to forgive any troubles they've caused her. This surprised me, because it seemed so out of character for her.

But then the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Edelgard is actually wise and a great leader, it's just that she hates the Church with such fierce passion that she cannot handle it objectively, she is too disillusioned with the Church and its followers to see them as anything other then beyond saving. However, this is not how she sees any other place, Almyra, Brigid, Dagda, she treats them more rationally. This...hit me, because I have noticed that this is exactly how I am with my country of birth. When I discuss and think of countries in the world, I can generally do a good job at looking at them rationally, and despite the bad things countries do I ultimately have hope for them.

But when it comes to my home country, I have become so disillusioned with it that I see no hope for it, it and its people cannot be saved, and the systems are too broken and corrupt to be fixed from within. In that way, I saw myself in Edelgard, in her general good nature towards peoples despite the irrational hatred and loss of hope for what raised and scarred her. I am exactly the same, I blame my country of birth for my own scars, and her feelings towards the Church mirrored my own. It was...very interesting, gave me a lot to think about, and further elevated my love of Edelgard.

End of Playthrough Statistics:

Marriages: Byleth/Edelgard, Hubert/Ferdinand, Caspar/Bernadetta, Dorothea/Petra, Linhardt/Lysithea, Mercedes/Jeritza

See above for Edelgard marriage, Bernadetta I paired with Caspar because in one explore section she remarks that she’d love to go on an adventure, leave Fodlan, and put her troubles behind her. This as a possible ending is only discussed in her A support with Caspar, and I also liked their dynamic by the end, so I put them together, hoping Bernadetta would have a good life. Jeritza with Mercedes was an obvious choice. Linhardt I was not sure who to pair with, so went with Lysithea as I figured it would give her a happy ending in which Linhardt found a way to remove her second crest. I was very conflicted on the other four, and debated marrying them multiple ways. I liked all of them with Petra, but ultimately went with Dorothea, as it felt like a fitting end for her, and I liked Hubert/Ferdinand the most as a remaining pair, due to their great relationship.

Core Team: Byleth, Edelgard, Hubert, Ferdinand, Linhardt, Caspar, Bernadetta, Dorothea, Petra, Lysithea, Jeritza, Mercedes

Final levels and classes:

Edelgard – 37: Emperor (Axe)

Dorothea – 36: Dancer, Gremory (Reason, Faith)

Petra – 35: Wyvern Lord, Assassin (Sword, Bow)

Hubert – 35: Dark Bishop, Dark Knight (Reason, Faith)

Bernadetta – 35: Bow Knight (Bow)

Caspar – 35: War Master (Brawl, Axe)

Jeritza – 35: Death Knight (Lance)

Ferdinand – 34: Great Knight (Lance)

Byleth – 34: Enlightened One (Faith, Bow, Sword)

Lysithea – 34: Gremory (Reason, Faith)

Linhardt – 33: Bishop (Faith, Reason)

Mercedes – 32: Bishop (Faith, Reason)

Shamir – 29: Sniper (Bow)

Hannenman – 27: Mage (Reason)

Ignatz – 25: Archer (Bow)

Marianne – 24: Monk (Faith, Reason)

Leonie – 24: Cavalier (Lance, Bow)

Annette – 24: Mage (Reason, Faith)

Alois – 23: Warrior (Axe)

Manuela – 23: Priest (Faith)

Finally, my ranking of the characters, updated after my initial finish of this route. I am not completely done yet, as I’d like to place more characters on it after I finish my Church playthrough (Sothis and Rhea at the very least). Until then~