So they weren't phantoms, that even he couldn't deny anymore. So why were they here? Byleth, the other former students. They'd just killed bandits alongside him... but they were here to torment him, weren't they?

Dimitri stares at the group, and lets out a maniacal laugh, his one visible eye widening as he glances across them.

"Come to laugh at the broken man? Or are you here to bring me to Edelgard?" He barks out, snarling like a rabid beast.

Of course not, we all promised to reunite here after five years. They were my friends, my classmates, they're here for–

He grunts in anger at that small voice in his head, shutting it down quickly. Because kindness is weakness.