[Byleth's dismissal was understandable, as Lorenz did not yet know how the path of the war he was fighting would end. In his heart of hearts, all he knew for certain was that Claude intended to disappear-- likely to Almyra, given the evidence from his own investigations and coroborating evidence from his conversations with Edelgard. If the trajectory of the war held true, Lorenz suspected that the Byleth he knew would likely be left to safeguard the Alliance, if it wasn't Lorenz himself.

But the war was still too young. There were too many variables in play to know anything for certain.

Lorenz paused a step behind Byleth, looking at the strong set of her wearied shoulders with confusion and concern. There was something about those words that felt off to him.]

...What by that do you mean? [He asked quietly, his lack of understanding evident in his voice.] Doubtless Claude would understand that better than I, considering how tightly he winds up his schemes... but this is the first I've heard anyone newly in this world from their own path make reference to 'timelines gone awry.'