Chapter 16: A Shift in Appearance and Approach
"It occurs to me… we don't really know how these buttons are supposed to work," Sothis said as Byleth fiddled with two buttons near his collar, the white shirt just too short to fit comfortably. "Or that shirt might not fit… but why would Hilda purchase something so tight for you to wear?"
"… What if I wear it like Sylvain?" Byleth suggested after another minute of fumbling. "The outer layer does not reach far up the chest."
"Letting it hang open as he does…? Yes, I suppose that could work," Sothis said. "Try it!"
Undoing a few buttons freed Byleth's form slightly, letting him breathe more easily as he ruffled the area around the front of his collar in an effort to imitate the slightly crumpled look Sylvain's inner shirt had, including the folded sleeves. Once he was satisfied with that, he slipped on the outer layer which was surprisingly just loose enough to wrap around him without issue, and the far lesser amount of buttons present allowed him to don it with ease. Taking another look at himself in the mirror, he felt the outfit was as good as it could be, the dark green 'shirt vest' as Hilda called it holding his shirt in with large black buttons.
"We're finally onto more familiar pieces of clothing. Surely pants are nothing to fear," Sothis said. Byleth was relieved that her prediction was right, and though the pants themselves were once again a little tighter than he preferred, he found himself able to move around in them rather easily. While they were relatively simple black pants, they had a light pink lining near the waist and pockets, which matched the pink and white ribbon braid Byleth wore to his right.
Once they were on, the heavy black iron boots he had purchased in spite of Hilda's protest he wear normal boots or shoes were akin to the usual plated boots he wore with his armor. While they weren't explicitly plated in metal, they were padded with an outer layer of shaped metal at the front, giving him some level of armor. He supplemented that with blackened leather gauntlets that held tiny bits of studded metal around the back of the hand and forearm area, which, while nowhere near as good as the usual plated gauntlets he wore, were serviceable enough to prevent the loss of a limb if necessary.
"Well, that's… certainly a different appearance than your usual," Sothis said, looking Byleth over once more as he armed himself, strapping his dagger to a thin belt around his waist while a single sheathed sword hung crooked and behind his lower back, a shortened but thick belt wrapped around him and crisscrossing the thinner one holding his dagger. "Oh, but before you go… how do you plan to sit with that sword hanging behind you?"
Byleth paused, the thought never occurring to him as he had placed his weapons with a focus on functionality with his new armor. The dagger placement remained the same due to the front of the waist simply being an ideal location to quickly draw and throw it if needed, but he had chosen his sword's resting place based on the idea of being able to swing at everything in front of him in one draw while backing away, something he felt he'd need to do more without armor to absorb any stray hits or scratches he could take in combat. Without saying anything, Byleth walked over to his chair and tried to sit in it. The sword was jostled as he sat down but pushing down on the hilt allowed it to rest horizontally once he was seated. He moved around a little bit, looking all around while seated to see if there were any issues, and found nothing that seemed terrible. Confident he could make it work, Byleth stood up.
"That will catch on those chair handles," Sothis said. Byleth glanced at her. "You will make a fool of yourself, banging that weapon around while simply taking a seat or standing up. Shift it."
As much as Byleth didn't like having to redo the sword strap, Sothis was right. He re-adjusted it and shifted it so the sword rested against his side in a fashion similar to how Felix and Dimitri kept their swords fastened. While he acknowledged the side-strap limited the scope of his draw, he supposed any combat in this outfit would have clearly defined intent to begin with, so the need for a wide angle of attack on the first strike was slightly diminished.
"Now that we're finally done and you're already tired," Sothis teased, "perhaps you can enjoy your meal with the other Professors that much more."
"Wouldn't more preparation make me enjoy it less?" Byleth asked as he approached his door.
"I wouldn't know. I seldom have to prepare anything," Sothis said with a shrug. Byleth nodded as he left his room, making his way over to the tea tables where Hanneman and Manuela were going to be waiting.
He joined them as they were setting up, taking his seat by Hanneman as Manuela was busy deciding what tea they'd be having. "Byleth, its good to see you. You seem to be getting comfortable at the Monastery," Hanneman greeted. He himself had changed his usual attire, leaving his heavy coat behind in favor of an outfit reminiscent of the student's usual attire without the jacket, a deep purple vest covering an inside shirt. He had swapped to darker and baggier pants as well, the typical gray slacks he wore now replaced by loose fitting pants that reminded Byleth of Linhardt and Hubert's pants more than anyone else.
"I'm taking some advice about my usual attire," Byleth said.
"Whoever gave you that advice has a good eye," Manuela said, taking her seat once everything was set. "But hold on… let me guess. The armored bits are your own choice?"
"Yes," Byleth said. Manuela chuckled.
"Can't shrug off being a mercenary so easily, can you?" she asked.
"Perhaps you two ought to consider better armor. Neither of you have the defensive skill Byleth does, yet you leave yourselves so exposed," Sothis said.
"It's a habit," Byleth said.
"And it's far from the worst of them," Hanneman said.
"True enough," Manuela said. "So, Byleth… I know we'd usually start by talking about how our sessions went, but I'm sure you know what I'm more curious about this week."
"Petra will fit in well with the Blue Lions," Byleth said. "Dimitri and Dedue helped ensure she felt welcome, and she seems to have made quick friends with the other girls. Felix's one-sided rivalry with her seems healthy as well."
"That's good to hear… but I do hope she didn't join at a terrible time," Manuela said. "With the news of Lord Lonato raising that army in the Kingdom and your class having to deal with the aftermath, I hope her first mission isn't anything scarring," she continued before pausing for a quick drink. She sighed. "The Kingdom, the Empire, the Alliance… they do love a good war, don't they? Spilling the blood of young men and women… and for what? Just to enjoy the horror of it?"
"Doubtful. There's usually money, gold, possessions, and the like at stake," Byleth said.
"That may be true, but it's rarely, if ever, justification for going through with it," Hanneman said, speaking before Manuela could snap at Byleth. "I know this particular line of thinking may seem alien to you given your previous occupation, but such bloodshed is not to be taken lightly."
"Of course," Byleth said.
"Do not start talking about battle tactics for larger forces before the woman throws her drink at you," Sothis warned.
"Hanneman is right in that I… view that as business rather than what it really is," Byleth said.
"… Well, if you were a mercenary for ten years, I suppose you'd have to adapt that kind of view," Manuela said. "Philosophy aside, this particular mission you've been sent on does worry me. You're aware that Petra is from the Brigid royal family, correct?"
"Yes," Byleth said, recalling the note Hubert gave him. "She is a political hostage to the Adrestian Empire, taken as a child after her father, the previous King of Brigid, was killed during the Dagda and Brigid War where both countries attempted to claim lands from the Adrestian Empire. Her presence here is to ensure Brigid's loyalty to Adrestia."
"That's… correct, callous as it may be," Manuela said. "Still, surely you see the issue I have with her going on this mission to kill another student's father."
Sothis spoke before Byleth could respond. "Perhaps you should steer away from this topic. Let's try… redirection. Like Jeralt when he doesn't want to explain!" she suggested.
"… I was under the impression these missions were supposed to be uncomfortable," Byleth said as he took a sip of his tea. "Guess I've gotten the short end of things. Or perhaps Seteth has been making sure of it. He seems to dislike me."
"While you have been given the most troubling of the assignments so far, I doubt Seteth is forcing them on you," Hanneman said. "As stern and imposing as he can be, he genuinely cares about the safety of our students. If he were influencing things, I imagine your class would not have entered combat yet."
"True enough… still, what makes you think he dislikes you?" Manuela asked.
"I was concerned about my monthly income, and he might have gotten the wrong impression of me," Byleth said. "He also seems to dislike Lady Rhea's interest in me."
"That might… wait, excuse me?" Manuela asked. "You're saying Lady Rhea has an interest in you?"
"And like Jeralt, you've gone and put your foot in your mouth," Sothis said. She sighed. "You're definitely his son... But at least we avoided talking about the other thing."
"We talk… occasionally," Byleth said.
"As in, you converse officially and greet each other in passing?" Hanneman asked, the older gentleman seemingly just as interested as Manuela.
"Or are you referring to something more?" Manuela asked.
"I'm not sure. How do you two deliver reports and receive your missions?" Byleth asked.
"Well, I receive my mission after a summons to the Audience Chamber with Edelgard, where Lady Rhea and Seteth give us a little rundown of what to expect. Then the mission report is handled by Edelgard and Hubert. Once they've written it up, Edelgard submits it," Manuela said.
"It's a very similar circumstance for me," Hanneman said. "Claude and I speak to the Archbishop and Seteth, with the occasional discussion between Claude and Seteth regarding anything interesting he heard about our assignment. The mission report is usually handled by Ignatz, though Claude is the one to submit it as per the Academy's rules."
"Neither of you speak to her after the mission report has been submitted?" Byleth asked.
"If there's anything interesting about the report, we might be called in to discuss it," Manuela said. "Have you been called in for both of your monthly assignments?"
"I believe this is the time for another of Jeralt's evasive maneuvers… omission!" Sothis said.
"Yes," Byleth said, deciding not to mention anything regarding the setting of certain meetings or the late-night discussion they had.
"Hmm… if it was for a discussion, you may want to speak to Dimitri about his reports," Hanneman said. "While you can simply report the results of each mission in terms of pure statistics, the Officer's Academy is focused on the personal growth of students just as much as their professional growth. For instance, Ignatz' most recent report noted Hilda and Raphael combining their immense strength for the first time."
"Of course, she may just be trying to welcome you into the Academy and use those discussions to check in on how you're doing," Manuela said. "But… something tells me there's more to this than what you're letting on. You know, I think-"
"There you are," Felix said, the boy approaching Byleth's table with the usual serious scowl on his face. "I've-"
"Now!" Sothis yelled.
"Of course, our training session," Byleth said, cutting Felix off. He chugged his tea before hurriedly getting up. "Sorry. I must have mistaken the time," he continued with a quick nod to Manuela and Hanneman. Before Felix could say anything, he took the boy by his shoulder and spun him around, striding towards the Training Grounds.
"Tch, what are you doing?" Felix asked, shaking off Byleth as they rounded the corner.
"Using you as a convenient excuse," Byleth said. "I hear Sylvain's done it a few times."
"Running away from a conversation… well, I don't really care. This works for me," Felix said.
"So, what did you need?" Byleth asked.
"A worthy adversary," Felix said. "I'm tired of crossing blades with worthless opponents, and with the Brigid girl in our class, I can't afford to slack off."
"Huh. You were right," Sothis chimed.
"There are a number of worthy adversaries you could have chosen," Byleth said. "Why me?"
"I can think of a few people who might make a good challenge for me, but I know you're all that and more," Felix said. "In the Red Canyon, you carved your way through a dozen men like you were slicing bread. Not only that, but every time I've seen you fight, you adjust your techniques to counter your opponents without a second thought."
"The latter is difficult to learn without years of experience," Byleth said, opening the door to the Training Grounds.
"Maybe so," Felix said. "You learned from the former Captain of the Knights of Seiros and traveled Fodlan fighting as a mercenary. Good sparring partners like you don't grow on trees. But know that I will beat you, and surpass your strength," he continued, snagging two training swords and hurriedly tossing one to Byleth. As it was a day of rest, few people were training, allowing the duo to quickly find a good spot to begin their bout.
As Felix prepared himself for the bout, Byleth wondered about the boy's motivation. "Why are you so focused on becoming stronger?" he asked.
"Why?" Felix asked. He paused for a moment. "Hmm… I never really thought about that. I learned to thrust a sword before I learned to write my name. Of course, my upbringing wasn't unique. That's how it is for all children in my country. You're of no use if you can't swing a sword, however mighty your Crest may be. It was the perfect environment for me. I could live free of stodgy values and virtues. Grow strong so you may live and live to grow stronger. That's what I was taught."
"How… oddly familiar," Sothis said, recalling Byleth's younger years of being left with nothing to do or sent off to some stranger's residence until Jeralt returned.
"You remind me of myself," Byleth said, an odd thought creeping into his mind as he readied his sword.
"Now I'm intrigued by your fighting style, and by who you really are…" Felix said. He readied his sword. "But that's enough idle chatter. C'mon and fight me already!"
"… Very well. I'll show you how I learned to fight," Byleth said.
"Excellent. Whenever-" Felix began, only to suddenly backpedal as Byleth rushed in with a wide sweeping strike. Felix grit his teeth, almost getting annoyed at the surprise attack before his senses screamed for him to raise his sword in defense. Blocking as quickly as he could, Felix barely held his ground against Byleth's follow-up. With a flick of the wrist, Byleth forced both of their weapons into the air, seemingly prepared to strike again. Felix tried to pull down his sword, only to take a sudden boot to the stomach that knocked him flat on his back.
Groaning in pain, Felix's mind immediately tried to jump for some retort laced with a bit of respect for the brutish approach Byleth used. His instincts once again cut that off, the boy's eyes popping open as Byleth's blade was raised in the air above him. Stifling a gasp, Felix rolled to the side, the crack of wood against stone loud enough to tell him the attack would have left a mark. Trying to right himself, he glanced up and saw Byleth already upon him again, his teacher almost within striking distance.
Trying to make space, Felix kicked at Byleth while still on the ground. The desperate attack would have caught most by surprise, but Byleth caught his student's boot with ease, tucking the boy's leg under his arm. Felix's own surprise cost him dearly as Byleth yanked him closer, the boy's back dragging along the ground as Byleth raised his foot for a stomp. Flailing in defense, Felix attempted to strike Byleth with his sword, only for the boot to go down on his hand and force the weapon from his grasp. Byleth's wooden sword thrust towards Felix's face, the boy's breath faltering for a moment before the weapon struck the ground next to his cheek.
"In the first assignment I gave the class, most of your responses assumed you could defeat any opponent you ran into," Byleth said as he backed away from Felix, recalling the gist of a speech his father gave him when he first tried to join the mercenary company. "It's a nice thought, but the truth is that you won't be able to win every fight. If you want to be a truly strong fighter, then learn how to handle opponents that outclass you."
"… I see. You got this strong because you truly faced your father for training," Felix said, picking his sword up and slowly rising back to his feet. Oddly enough, the boy smirked as he dusted himself off. "No formal tutelage, no need for some special lesson… just honed combat experience against the strongest of opponents."
In the next moment, Felix lunged at Byleth, both hands driving the blade forwards. His sword was parried downwards, and the boy threw his bodyweight against the Professor to try and throw him off balance. It was far from any normal sword technique and barely budged Byleth, but it did allow Felix to try and elbow his Professor in the chest.
"Now you're getting the idea," Byleth said as he caught Felix's elbow with his free hand. Letting out a grunt, Felix hopped back while twisting his upper body, slashing at Byleth as he tried to create distance. Byleth stepped back as well, the attack aimed at his midsection and thus difficult to duck beneath. "This will continue until you yield, or I have other business. Is that agreeable?"
"That's perfect," Felix said as he licked his lips, quickly entering a defensive stance.
"You really are a softie, you know?" Sothis said as Byleth rushed forwards. "If you were really training him like Jeralt trained you, you'd have smacked your sword across his face when he was down," she continued. Byleth reminded her that he was technically responsible for the safety of the students, so settling on the fear of painful or crippling strikes would probably be safer for his position than delivering painful or crippling strikes. The early warning from Manuela and Seteth still rang out in his mind, though he was certain he could take some liberties with Felix given his enthusiasm.
"Ah, I had almost forgotten… Wait. They've taken lives already. Are we really still pampering them?" Sothis asked. Byleth didn't recall any notification that training could be intensified, so he believed the rules had not changed. "Hmph. Coddling killers. What a strange practice," she said with a huff. Byleth agreed, potentially a little too much as he almost punted Felix along the Training Ground. Regardless, it was a good reminder that trying to roll around your opponent had its limits.
After an hour of training, Felix retired, the boy claiming it was because they were beginning to create a crowd. Byleth and Sothis both saw it was because he had taken so many hits to his arms that he was beginning to have difficulty grasping his sword, and played along with his rationale despite knowing he was likely somewhat frightened more hits could cause permanent damage. In Byleth's experience, even broken bones weren't a permanent set-back, but that likely wouldn't be how the Officers Academy saw it.
With nothing else on his plate, Byleth considered what he could do for the day. He considered gardening but recalled that he had some obligation to the choir practice group despite being told he wasn't required to attend. "It would look rather odd to say we're involved with a group and never attend any meetings," Sothis said as the two made their way to the bridge leading to the Cathedral. They passed by Dimitri and Dedue, though the duo seemed two engrossed in a conversation of their own to notice Byleth.
On the bridge leading to the Cathedral, Sothis and Byleth immediately noticed Ingrid with her back to one of the open edges, wind blowing past her as she seemed to be thinking of something. "She seems troubled… perhaps we should see what's bothering her," Sothis said.
"Are you alright, Ingrid?" Byleth asked, noticing that the blonde girl was scowling as he approached.
"Professor," Ingrid greeted, dropping the scowl as she turned to face him. Her glare was stern, though Byleth had the feeling that sternness was meant for herself rather than him. "You've spoken with His Highness many times, haven't you?"
"I have," Byleth said. "Did he say something to you?"
"No, nothing like that. It's just…" Ingrid began. She took a deep breath, trying to organize her thoughts before speaking. "Why does His Highness take the side of the people of Duscur? I just don't understand it. Only four years ago, they murdered our king and slaughtered the soldiers and knights who were with him, all of whom were innocent. Even if he can forgive them, I can't-not ever. What they've done is against all codes of honor and ethics."
"That's… quite a question to pose so suddenly," Sothis said, floating down into a meditative pose next to Byleth. "Let's think about this for a moment…"
"… I don't know," Byleth said. He paused for a few moments before Ingrid let out a deep sigh.
"… I'm sorry. It was unreasonable of me to ask something like," Ingrid said. "But… it did help to let the thoughts out. I appreciate you for hearing me out, Professor."
"I wasn't finished," Byleth said. "I don't know much about the Tragedy of Duscur, and I have very little feelings about the place or its people. You say the people of Duscur murdered the King of Faerghus and slaughtered the knights and soldiers accompanying him."
"They did! Both the Kingdom and the Church confirmed it!" Ingrid said. Byleth nodded.
"Yet even with that confirmation, Dimitri, who was there during the Tragedy, takes the side of the people of Duscur," Byleth said, recalling some of the notes from Dimitri's file.
"That's…" Ingrid tried to retort but found herself unable to answer.
"I don't know enough about Dimitri to tell you what could have made him think like that," Byleth said. "If the people of Duscur were hunted as punishment, perhaps he feels responsible for that outcome. Or maybe he knows something about the Tragedy others do not."
"… I hadn't thought of that," Ingrid said. "But His Highness never hinted at anything of the sort. And I've known him for years…"
"Regardless of his thoughts, I have some advice for you," Byleth said. "Avoid thinking too hard about who or what your enemies are. Anger against them invites mistakes, as does pity."
"Why would I pity… wait. Are you talking about this month's assignment?" Ingrid asked.
"Lord Lonato has enlisted commoners into a militia to help him in his battle. His knights also remain loyal to him," Byleth said. "Treat them as you would any enemy."
"I… I see," Ingrid said, the grim realization dawning on her.
"I apologize if this caused you more distress," Byleth said.
"No, it's fine. I… Better to come to terms with it now than on the battlefield," Ingrid said with a nod. Byleth nodded. "… Thank you. I can't be hung up on my feelings about… anyone. If I'm to be a knight, my duty is to my Lord. Their reason is the only reason I should worry about."
"She is certainly focused… while I disagree with the idea behind that, I'll say it works for what we wanted," Sothis said. Byleth agreed.
"If that is your goal, then this will help," Byleth said as he began walking away. "Have a good day."
Leaving Ingrid to her own devices, Byleth continued into the Cathedral and quickly found the quick congregation of students awaiting Choir Practice. The cheery nun who usually led them seemed to be busy, so he approached Mercedes and Annette, who stood a slight distance away from the rest of the students. "Mercedes, Annette," he greeted.
"Professor… So you're here today," Annette greeted, the girl markedly quiet compared to her usual excitable self.
"Hello, Professor…" Mercedes said, her eyes drifting towards the pews near the back. Byleth followed her gaze and saw a few people praying on their own in the back, though there was one somewhat recognizable figure near the back who almost seemed fervent in their prayer.
"I suppose the boy has nowhere else to turn," Sothis said as she and Byleth recognized Ashe near the back of the Church. "Although, you are supposed to be his mentor now…"
"Have either of you spoken with Ashe recently?" Byleth asked, his eyes remaining on the troubled boy.
"I… didn't know what to say," Mercedes admitted.
"Our mission might make him go up against his own father… or worse," Annette said with a slight shudder. "I don't know what I'd do if something like that ever happened…"
"Tell the director I'll be watching from the back," Byleth said. Before Annette and Mercedes could say anything, he began making his way over to where Ashe was seated.
The silver-haired boy barely noticed Byleth's approach and didn't bother to react when Byleth took a seat next to him. Waiting for a moment when the boy's hushed mumbling came to a stop, Byleth spoke. "Are you alright?" he asked.
"… No. No, I'm not," Ashe said, his forehead resting against his clasped hands. "Please, Professor. There must be some sort of mistake. Lonato would never raise arms against the Church… At least, he never said anything to me about it."
"Perhaps his quarrel doesn't involve you," Byleth said. Ashe flinched at that. "Or he doesn't want it to involve you."
"I know. I've heard enough people tell me this is for my own good… that Lord Lonato didn't involve me so I'd have protection," Ashe said. "But that's not what I'm worried about. This entire battle, the talk of Lord Lonato rallying people to fight till their deaths for him like some warlord… Everything I hear tells me this is how it is, but that can't be right! Lord Lonato would never do that!"
"He's rather distraught over what his father is doing," Sothis noted, the girl having floated down and taken a seat on the other side of Ashe. "I doubt simply agreeing that there is some sort of mistake will soothe his worries… though we have yet to hear anything from the men we've sent hunting for information. How shall you handle this?"
Byleth sat in thought for a moment, considering his options. He saw the director speaking to Annette and Mercedes, the woman giving a somewhat somber look in his direction when she realized who he was seated with. Turning his attention back to Ashe, he spoke. "How much have you heard about my past?" Byleth asked.
"… Nothing more than your fame as a mercenary," Ashe said. "They say you've been fighting since you were a child… is that true?"
"I think I was young enough to be called a child still when I began," Byleth said. "But that's not important. You know the tales of my father, both as a knight and as a mercenary, correct?"
"I'm not really familiar with any tales about Jeralt the Blade Breaker as a mercenary, but… I'm sorry, but where are we going with this, Professor?" Ashe asked.
"When I was very young, I didn't have a formal education," Byleth said. "But my father made sure I learned how to read and write. When he would leave me with some relatives or friends while he went off to work, I spent a lot of time reading about the things he did. I learned all about the exploits of Jeralt the Blade Breaker, the strongest knight to have ever lived. By the time I began training, I was convinced all the missions my father went on were going to be like the tales I read. But that wasn't the case."
"… What do you mean?" Ashe asked.
"I didn't kill anyone on my first mission," Byleth said. "All I did was sneak up on some horses in the woods and scare them. Then my father and his men descended on a camp at night and killed all but our target. They dragged him to the edge of a forest, met with our client, and hung him for her. I was supposed to kick the chair, but she insisted she do it herself."
"There… must have been a good reason for that," Ashe said.
"Perhaps. Mercenaries never ask more than they need," Byleth said. "It was on my second mission I killed someone for the first time. There was a group of farmers trying to make demands of the minor Lord they worked under. He wanted to discreetly send a message, so he used mercenaries. The farmers had managed to enlist some elderly knights to aid them, but they were no match for my father. While he dealt with them, I dealt with the farmers who thought they could put up a fight. Whoever raised a hand to me was cut down."
"Whoever…?" Ashe asked, his eyes widening.
"We were given orders to kill anyone who resisted," Byleth said. He turned to Ashe. "Based on what I had read as a child, I was certain my father never did such work. Yet the first jobs we worked together were nothing like what I had read. And as it happened, most of the work I've done has been nothing like what's been written of my father. But my father did that work because he had to, and I could not change that."
Ashe said nothing, grimacing at some thought that seemed to have crept into his mind. Seeing that, Byleth continued. "I don't know enough about Lord Lonato to understand his motives or know if his actions are unlike anything he has done before. Regardless, he is doing this because he has to."
"If that's the case… then what am I supposed to do, Professor?" Ashe asked.
"Wait," Byleth said, turning his attention back to the students in choir practice as they began warming up. "If Lord Lonato has excluded you from this, that's all you can do."
"My, listen to you! I think that's the first time you've sounded like that new title fits!" Sothis said, giving Byleth some light applause.
"… Maybe you're right," Ashe said, leaning back somewhat as he slowly relaxed. "There really is nothing I can do now that it's like this. I can just… wait." Byleth said nothing, allowing Ashe to collect his thoughts. After a few moments, Ashe spoke again. "… I don't know if that's really true, Professor, but I think I need some time alone. If you'll excuse me."
Byleth simply nodded, letting the boy stand up and make his way out of the Cathedral's main entrance. He thought the boy was likely returning to his room but wanted to try and keep an eye on him. Thus, Byleth stood up and made his way to the Cathedral's west entrance that stood facing the building he heard was called the Goddess Tower, which seemed to be a large tower either constructed around some sort of tree or a tower that a tree itself had grown through.
The moment Byleth rounded the corner to make his way around the outskirts of the Cathedral, he nearly bumped into Petra. She flinched somewhat, piquing Byleth's curiosity. "Were you hiding from me?" he asked.
"Yes, but… that is not the full truth," Petra said. "I was in the listening to your conversation with Ashe."
"Eavesdropping? How strange… I never expected her to be the type," Sothis said.
"Why?" Byleth asked.
"I saw Ashe spend much time in the Cathedral… when I asked the other Blue Lions, his behavior was worrying, but I had little explanation," Petra said. "Prince Dimitri and Sylvain were the only ones who shared Ashe's trouble. This mission we have… he will face his own people. Perhaps face his father."
"That troubles you," Byleth said.
"Yes. Fighting my own people and family… I have had many thoughts of them before," Petra said. She took a moment to breathe before speaking again. "I am worried for Ashe. The thought of doing what he might have to has… haunted me in the past. I fear for his mind."
Byleth wasn't sure how to respond to her concerns, simply nodding at first to buy time for what he could say. After a few more moments of thought and recalling something his father told to one of their newer recruits years ago, he spoke. "I will guide Ashe," he said. "But I am only a Professor. You and the other students will have to help him as well, but I am certain you all will."
"That is very relaxing… relieving to hear," Petra said, though her expression remained as worried as ever. "I would also like to help, but I do not know what to do. I do not feel… I am not so friendly with Ashe to speak to him about this."
Byleth was about to question what she meant before Sothis spoke up. "I know you aren't much for etiquette or the like, but we've overheard people complain about speaking where they have no place. We've beaten our clients' enemies for that very reason, though I don't blame you for not remembering much of it," she said. "Although, given the position this well-meaning girl is in…"
"Perhaps you should start speaking with him?" Byleth suggested.
"That… is better than worrying idly," Petra said, giving a slight nod as she considered the option. "Yes, you have the idea. I will do just that… when he does not wish to be alone."
"She heard that?" Sothis asked, impressed that the girl remained outside of the Cathedral and caught that detail from their conversation.
"You have excellent hearing," Byleth said.
"Of course! Hearing is essential to being a good hunter," Petra said. "In the forests of Brigid, you will quickly lose your prey if you cannot hear them, and there can be many sounds in the forest."
"I see. Then you heard our full conversation," Byleth said. Petra winced.
"I… hope you are not angry," Petra said.
"I'm not," Byleth said. "But I want to confirm your ability. Who did I kill on my first mission?"
Petra seemed taken aback by Byleth's sudden test, but quickly composed herself. "You… did not kill on your first mission. You were… supposed to finish hanging a man, but the woman paying you did it herself."
"That is excellent hearing and quick recollection," Sothis said, taking a moment to study Petra more closely. "Hmm… you must be thinking what I'm thinking. But how do we plan on acquiring her aide?"
Noting this moment in his mind, Byleth spoke. "Are you good friends with Edelgard and Hubert?" he asked.
"I am friendly with them, yes," Petra said. "Why do you ask?"
"The discomfort with this month's assignment is a common concern among all of the Blue Lions," Byleth said. "I've begun looking into this situation with Lord Lonato and the Church of Seiros. I have some suspicions regarding Lord Arundel, Edelgard's uncle, but have no way of learning more about him."
"Professor… surely you are not asking me to spy on Edelgard for you?" Petra asked.
"I am," Byleth said. "They've already spied on you," he continued, reaching into his bag and retrieving the paper Hubert had given him. He presented it to her, allowing the girl to take it and look over the contents for a while. She quickly realized what the paper was, surprise crossing her face before she looked back to Byleth.
"Why do you have this?" she asked.
"It was Hubert's bribery for not providing information on Lord Arundel," Byleth said.
"You… I was given away to protect Lord Arundel?" Petra asked. Byleth was going to answer, but Petra spoke again. "And you accepted me in place of what you needed. Now, you want me to get what you could not?"
"… Yes," Byleth said with a nod. Petra scowled, looking over the paper once more.
"… Thinking back, all the things you said… were they from this paper?" Petra asked.
"Not all. I want you to flourish," Byleth said. "I've learned you also have great potential for espionage. The best way to learn about those is to perform them, and this is your first assignment."
"Professor, you… you cannot be serious!" Petra snapped. "I am not some… some tool to be bought and used!"
"I know," Byleth said.
"Yet you let Hubert buy silent with me, then want me to take what he kept from you?!" Petra asked.
"Yes," Byleth said.
"How am I not your tool, then?!" Petra asked. "All you said to me… your interest in me was only for my ability, then? How could I, the girl from Brigid, help your goal? You read this paper and told me everything I wanted to hear?"
"It would be foolish to let it go to waste, and I wanted to convince Hubert I was satisfied," Byleth said.
"Then your speech was an act, then? You cared to show Hubert deception?" Petra asked.
"Somewhat. I am interested in you and your abilities," Byleth said.
"… I see, then," Petra said. She balled up the paper Byleth handed her and chucked it off the edge of the Monastery. "I had thought you different, Professor. But you are just like the people of the Empire, no, like the people of Fodlan. A girl from Brigid is only there to do bidding, to act in convenience and serve."
"That was not my intention," Byleth said. "But now that I know you possess these skills, I am asking for your assistance and giving you an opportunity to practice them. If you do not wish to, you do not have to."
"Of course. All you are doing is for my betterment, because I am better serving you than being my own person," Petra said. She scoffed. "I congratulate you. You have bought me without my knowledge. You-" she continued before color drained from the world.
"There is a limit to how open and truthful you should be with your approach," Sothis said, floating around near Petra. "She is quite prideful, and honestly, I doubt you will get much from asking her to listen in on her friends. Perhaps you should save this for a later time, when she has more reasons to trust us. Or when she owes us a debt."
"It seems so. Let's go back," Byleth said. With that, events quickly played in reverse.
"You… did not kill on your first mission. You were… supposed to finish hanging a man, but the woman paying you did it herself," Petra said.
"You have excellent hearing and recollection," Byleth said, crossing his arms and putting a hand to his chin as he appeared to begin analyzing Petra's abilities. "With your speed and preferred weapons, you'd make an excellent scout… you could also specialize in less visible roles on the battlefield with how quickly and quietly you can more."
"I have actually performed as a scout on the Black Eagles' first mission," Petra said with a grin. "Professor Manuela was surprised with my results… though I feel as if I was a bit slow working with Bernadetta. Oh, but I am not speaking her bad. I only think she is not swift enough for scouting."
"I see," Byleth said. "In that case, you should work very well with Ashe. He is suited to scouting as well. I'll try to have you two work together."
"I did not know that," Petra said. "I look forwards to it… although I am still concerned about this mission and how it affects him."
"Then you'll have the perfect opportunity to keep an eye on him," Byleth said. "If this mission is what he fears, you can be there for him."
"… I will try my hardest, Professor," Petra said, strangely resolute in her affirmation. Byleth realized she probably resonated with Ashe's plight due to her fear of facing her own people and empathized with him far more than any of his classmates.
"I suppose there are some commonalities geography has nothing to do with," Sothis said. She snickered. "And those three House Leaders put so much stock in where one was born or where their allegiances lie. To think they are to be future leaders…"
"That is all I can ask of you," Byleth said. "There are many disturbing rumors and concerns about this mission aside from Ashe's personal conflict. Do not only have concern for Ashe's well-being."
"Of course. It is as you said in class, Professor. Death is failure," Petra said.
"Correct. There are things you must accomplish," Byleth said.
"I will be counting on your assistance," Petra said. Byleth nodded. "Thank you. Then, I must hurry and train while I can if I am to attend Professor Hanneman's seminar tonight."
"Then I will see you there later," Byleth said.
"Yes," Petra said. The two of them paused for a moment, seemingly waiting for the other to say some kind of parting message. They quickly realized neither of them had a good idea of what to say as both of them eliminated the usual 'have a good day' or 'enjoy your day' messages as they would meet again.
Noticing Byleth was having just as difficult a time as she was, Petra giggled. "We both have some trouble speaking still," she said.
"It appears so," Byleth admitted. "How would you part here?"
"Hmm… ah, we can say what Caspar says," Petra said. "See yah later… is that right?"
"See… yah… later?" Byleth asked. It didn't sound like anything he was used to hearing, though he didn't particularly listen to partings often before he began working at the Monastery.
"For the love of… see you soon," Sothis said as she smacked her palm against her forehead.
"See you soon," Byleth blurted.
"Oh, yes! I have heard that as well," Petra said with a nod. "See you soon."
At that, the two turned around and went their opposite ways. Byleth returned to the inside of the Cathedral as choir practice was nearing its end, and watched the students sing a few hymns before dispersing. Mercedes and Annette were going to approach him once the session ended, but the cheerful director quickly pulled him aside into a secluded office space for some official paperwork he had never gotten around to signing, giving him a slight peak into Jeralt's dull desk affairs.
Once the director was satisfied, Byleth judged that he likely had little time to do anything other than eat before attending Hanneman's seminar and beginning the most active part of his day. As he re-entered the main area of the Cathedral, it was strangely unattended with very few monks or nuns walking around and even fewer people praying. The only person that immediately caught his eye was Marianne, who stood alone near the front of the Cathedral in prayer.
Recalling he did have something to discuss with her when he got the chance, Byleth approached her. As he got near, the slight mumbling from Marianne stopped. "She's rather aware," Sothis noted. "I wonder if it's also good hearing, or another sense of some sort?"
"Marianne," Byleth greeted.
"Professor… I suppose you came to pray too?" Marianne asked.
"No. I was going to leave after choir practice, but then I noticed you," Byleth said.
"Oh, um… ok," Marianne said, a bit taken aback by that answer. When Byleth simply nodded in response, Marianne spoke again. "I-is there anything I can do for you…?"
"I wanted to speak with you," Byleth said.
"Ok," Marianne said. She took a deep breath, seemingly waiting on Byleth to say something. "… Well… H-hilda told me you asked her to help you pick new clothes. They umm… look good."
"Thank you," Byleth said. "She has very good fashion advice. She mentioned you while we were shopping."
"Did she? I… I don't think I'm very stylish, but Hilda says I can be," Marianne said.
"I think you look good," Byleth said.
"Uhh… th-thank you, Professor?" Marianne said, now looking clearly uncertain of the entire conversation. Byleth seemed to wait for her to say something else, and Marianne blanked. After a few moments, she forced herself to speak. "… I'm sorry. I don't really know what to say. I'm not very good at talking to people. The truth is, I didn't interact with people too often before I came here… b-but you already knew that, didn't you?"
"I understand. You also know I have similar circumstances," Byleth said.
"Th-that's true, I guess…" Marianne said. "Still, you seem… just better at it than me."
"Why is that?" Byleth asked.
"Oh, uhm, no particular reason," Marianne said. "I'm simply not very good at it. I stutter, or run out of things to say all the time… that's just how I am."
"I don't see an issue," Byleth said. "You communicate what you have to effectively. Isn't that enough?"
"Ah… I hadn't thought about it like that," Marianne said. "I suppose I do manage that much…"
"It worked for me until I became a Professor," Byleth said. "You will be fine."
"That's reassuring to hear," Marianne said. Once again, silence fell over the duo, forcing Marianne to speak once more. "… So, did you want to speak with me about something…?"
"Yes. Your sword technique," Byleth said.
"My sword technique?" Marianne asked. Byleth nodded.
"I've thought about your abilities, and I think you should change your stance," Byleth said. "The forwards guard with an emphasis on thrusting doesn't suit you. You lack the strength to shoulder heavy impacts and can't take full advantage of short bursts of movement with your sword raised. Additionally, you change your grasp on your sword to use magic, slowing you down if you want to use it. Your footwork is also based on the movement of fighters in heavier armor. I have heard it is also used to accommodate dresses and the like and is commonly taught to women, but you are not fighting in a dress at all times. Consider widening your stance and practice quickly changing the distance between you and your opponent. Also consider adding more circling into your approach, especially in tandem with your magic. You are in the unique position of being able to strike from two areas on your opponent from different places in quick succession and should take full advantage of your ability. Is that clear?"
Marianne blinked. "… I'm sorry. I don't think I got all of that…" she said.
"… Perhaps simply trying the change will be easier to understand," Byleth said. "Mimic me."
"You?" Marianne asked. Byleth nodded, then shifted his stance so he kept his right arm hanging near his waist as if he were keeping a blade low to the ground while his left arm remained slightly in front of his abdomen, knuckles showing forwards. He parted his feet as well, making sure he was at the point where he needed to slightly bend his knees to ensure he wasn't limiting his movement. "P-Professor, are you…?"
"Would a weapon make it easier to practice?" Byleth asked.
"No, that's not…" Marianne said, her eyes suddenly darting around to the other areas of the Cathedral. Luckily, nobody else seemed to be paying much mind to them, or even remotely close to their position. "… I-it's a little strange to practice in the Cathedral, isn't it?"
"This is just getting you acquainted with the stance," Byleth said. "We won't do any sparring if you don't want to."
Deciding not to see what Byleth might do if she didn't follow his example, Marianne mimicked his pose to the best of her ability. Luckily, the positioning of his arms was simple enough for her to follow without issue. Her footwork was somewhat clumsy, but she was able to imitate Byleth after a little readjustment. "L-like this?" she asked.
"Lean forwards somewhat. Having a straightened back will throw off your balance," Byleth said. Marianne nodded and did her best to hunch slightly, something that clearly went against most of what she had learned throughout her life.
After taking a few moments to examine her posture, Byleth nodded and dropped the stance, prompting Marianne to do the same. "Practice that when you can. In our next session, I'll show you how to fight like that."
"… I'll try, but…" Marianne began. She sighed, seemingly contemplating something before she began to speak again. "You shouldn't waste your time worrying about me, Professor. Please, just ignore me and help the others. I, um… have to be going now. Good-bye, Professor!"
At that, Marianne left before Byleth could speak again, hurriedly making her way to the lower parts of the Cathedral area through the eastern entrance. "That girl… she seems constantly troubled," Sothis said. Byleth agreed, wondering what could have made her so. Regardless, he thought while making his way to the Dining Hall, intent on eating so he'd be in time for Hanneman's seminar.
Attending the formal lecture after a quick meal, Byleth found Hanneman greeting people at the entrance of the Golden Deer classroom, now once again in his more formal teaching attire. "Byleth, I'm glad to see you've decided to attend," Hanneman said. "I take it you're still interested in the extent of your magical abilities?"
"I am. After this, I'll receive some instruction from Manuela," Byleth said.
"Pursuing both avenues of advancement of your own accord. With your level of diligence, I must admit I'm a little disappointed you aren't formally a student," Hanneman said. "You're advancing just as quickly as any student here while working as a teacher yourself!"
"Any student could learn quickly if they applied themselves," Lysithea said as she passed behind Byleth.
"Of course, you are not just any student Lysithea! Your incredible talent for magic combined with your keen mind means you'll likely surpass me in no time," Hanneman said. Lysithea gave a little 'hmph', though the pep in her step indicated her clear joy at the praise.
"I hope you train more than her strengths," Byleth said. "She's easily surprised and reacts slowly in those situations."
"Hmm? I… don't think I've ever noticed that, though I suppose she is often caught unawares by Claude's antics," Hanneman said.
"I suggest you let those antics continue," Byleth said. "The more she has to react to them, the more aware she'll become."
"Teach, I knew you'd get it," Claude said, sauntering over to join Byleth and Hanneman's conversation. "As the leader of the Golden Deer, I've got to make sure people are working on things they might not like if its for their own good. All those little pranks I pull on Lysithea are in her best interests."
"Very clever, Claude, but I think I'll remain the judge of which of your pranks are practical and which are juvenile," Hanneman said.
"Can't they be both?" Claude asked, glancing over to Byleth.
Byleth, who wasn't entirely sure what juvenile meant, decided neutrality was the best option. "It depends," he said.
"Hence, why my judgment is necessary," Hanneman said. "Popping up as a ghost is clearly juvenile, but it does test someone's awareness."
"Phew, so the ol' favorite is still in the running," Claude said, fake wiping some sweat from his brow.
"Are you interested in learning magic, Claude?" Byleth asked.
"Me, magic? Not really," Claude said. "I mean, I dabble a little in everything, so of course I've tried some magic and turns out I can do a little if I really wanted to, but I'm a bigger fan of archery. You know that's the second topic we're covering in this seminar, right?"
"I did. It explains why you are here to begin with," Byleth said. Claude chuckled at that.
"Yeah, I suppose coming here for half the information must seem pretty inefficient to someone like you," Claude said. "Still, I think it's best if us normal folk don't compare ourselves to you, with your extra tutoring after this seminar and all."
"Another one with good hearing. Some of these children are quite observant," Sothis noted.
"But speaking of, is that tutoring going to be of the private variety, with you and Professor Manuela?" Claude asked with a smirk.
"I believe so," Byleth said. Claude broke out laughing as Hanneman sighed.
"Claude, you know that's not how your question was interpreted," Hanneman said. "Don't mind him, Byleth. This is a juvenile prank."
"But it was true. My session with Manuela is private," Byleth said. Claude laughed again, prompting Hanneman to simply shake his head and usher them inside so he could begin his seminar.
As some of the last to join, Claude and Byleth ended up finding seats near the back of the class as Hanneman began preparing a few chalk boards with diagrams and notes, flanked only by the even later arrivals of Ignatz and Bernadetta, who took their own tables each. They sat behind Petra and Dorothea, who seemed to be busy discussing how the Black Eagles were doing without Petra and only gave them each a quick greeting before returning to their conversation. Across the central path from them sat Felix and Sylvain, who were seated behind Marianne and Lorenz. While Sylvain was making pleasant conversation with Marianne and Lorenz, Felix remained mostly quiet, apparently quite serious about the seminar despite Byleth not knowing much of the boy's interest in magic and only slight interest in archery. The front rows housed Mercedes and Annette, the two talking about a variety of subjects as they always did, which seemed to slightly annoy Lysithea, who sat across from them next to Hubert. Interestingly, Byleth noticed, Hubert and Lysithea have a brief discussion before Hubert swapped seats with Lysithea, placing her farther from Mercedes and Annette.
"What do you think that was about, Teach?" Claude asked, having noticed the same thing.
"Hubert noticed Lysithea's annoyance and wanted to distance her from the source or hide it from them," Byleth said.
"Not bad… I'm thinking it was the latter," Claude said. "Lysithea can get real nasty if you push her buttons too much, and she doesn't mind giving people a piece of her mind. I'm surprised Hubert cared enough to do that. I thought his efforts were all focused on Her Highness."
"Perhaps he's trying to recruit her," Byleth said. "The Black Eagles would benefit greatly from having someone of Lysithea's skill."
"And they did just lose one, didn't they?" Claude whispered. Byleth nodded, but knew Claude had something more to say with the odd sideways glance he shot him. "Funny thing about that… I heard something interesting. You were seen having tea with Hubert the same day you got a new student. Said student just so happened to be a Black Eagle, too."
"Strange it wasn't Hubert, then," Byleth said. Claude chuckled.
"Strange indeed… almost like you two discussed something," Claude said.
"Shall I have tea with you next?" Byleth asked.
"I don't know what reason Hubert could have helped you enlist a student for," Claude said. "But I'm not trying to push anyone in or out of their House. If one of my classmates decides they're better off in the Blue Lions or Black Eagles is their business. But I'd love to share an afternoon cup so we could talk more. After all, the way you said it makes me think you have your eyes on someone already."
"I do," Byleth said. "But since you are leaving this to their decision, then I won't ask for your help."
"Honestly, I doubt you need it," Claude said. "You're a pretty interesting guy, Teach. Heck, if I wasn't a House Leader, I'd probably have asked to join your class already."
"Think we can get around that?" Byleth asked.
"We can look into it, at least," Claude said. Before Byleth could say anything, Hanneman tapped repeatedly on the closest board, signaling the start of his seminar.
As far as teaching went, Hanneman took an interesting dual-purpose approach to explaining the fundamentals of archery and reason magic. Two of the first diagrams actually displayed the similarities between the two surprisingly well, noting not only the optimal engagement distances against the average target but also the similarity between how an average magic user would go about preparing and unleashing a spell to the standard practice of readying and firing an arrow. The shared concepts between the two were studied, including judging distances for arcing shots, the effects of wind at certain ranges, and the difference between firing uphill and downhill. The more theoretical practice of magic was finally related back to the simpler but just as demanding practice of steadying one's breath as an archer, showing a strange synthesis of form and focus that permeated both fields.
After the seminar and a quick thank you to Hanneman, Byleth made his way over to the Knights' Quarters where Manuela had said she would meet him. The sun had nearly set, casting a dim red light over the Monastery as Byleth approached the gates. He was quickly greeted by Manuela, who he noted smelled a bit more highly of perfume than usual. "Byleth, there you are! For a moment I thought you had forgotten about our engagement," Manuela said. She took his arm and began dragging him towards the large building that served as the Knight's Quarters, not bothering to wait on his response. "You aren't planning to run-off like you did this morning, are you?"
"No," Byleth said, following along without any real show of resistance. He was intent on learning what he could from Manuela, given that Hanneman's seminar had already given a few ideas on how to properly shape magic.
"Good! Remember, this is just the start. We have a long night ahead of us," she continued. Byleth noticed quite a few people were giving the two odd looks as they passed by, likely due to how loud Manuela was being. He said nothing of it, however, and simply followed as closely as he could to prevent any unnecessary dragging from Manuela.
Once inside the large building, he noticed the entrance area seemed to serve as a lounge of some sort, with a few knights on break either discussing their routines for the day or playing cards. Interestingly, there was a private bar area at the back, which Byleth assumed was placed here to prevent students from accessing it or likely knowing it existed. While he didn't catch anything of interest as Manuela dragged him around the outskirts towards the stairs, he did notice Jeritza descend the opposite flight of stairs and head towards a back hallway, likely towards some less crowded area or alternative entrance.
"Why aren't we taking a similar path? Is she trying to display you?" Sothis asked. Byleth didn't know the answer, instead focused on intaking as much of his surroundings as he could.
Going up the stairs, Manuela and Byleth ascended to the third floor and made their way over to a corner room. When Manuela opened the door, it appeared much more spacious inside than he expected. "I know you don't mind a little mess," Manuela said, ushering Byleth over to the disorganized desk that obviously had space recently cleared on it given the books and papers stacked near the bottom of the bed at the back. He took one of the seats there as Manuela took the other, placing them right next to one another. "Now then, where did I put that book…?" she muttered to herself, trying to dig through the various texts she had on her desk before shifting her attention to a few scattered over the edge.
"This room seems larger than it should be," Byleth said.
"Isn't it convenient? The corner rooms built into the four spires supporting this hall are all a little larger than usual," Manuela said. "Normally, you'd have a room like this one, but that room's been reserved for a special guest the Church is housing."
"You mean Flayn?" Byleth asked.
"Yes. She's a nice girl and all, but giving her a room dedicated to ranking Knights and Professors just screams of noble nepotism, don't you think?" Manuela said.
"What's nepotism?" Byleth asked.
"Hmm? Oh, it's when you give preferential treatment to someone because you have some family ties to them," Manuela said.
"Isn't that normal?" Byleth asked. Manuela snorted at that.
"It is, but that doesn't mean it's good," she said, still fumbling around for the book. "A-ha, here we are," she said as she picked up a rather large tome and slammed it down onto her desk. "If you want to heal with Faith, you'll do much better having some basic medical knowledge to direct your magic. So, let's… oh, the candles. Light them, would you?"
Byleth nodded, raising one hand over the nearest set and focusing. He didn't want to try using the full extent of his magic and burning the room but had a feeling he could start fires with ease now. Manuela glanced at his hand and saw it glow a dim gold for a moment before a wide disc of flames appeared at his palm, threatening to grow large for a moment before quickly sputtering out. "Well, you seem to have picked up a few new tricks already," Manuela said. "A bit wild with the scope, but that's to be expected of a novice."
"I may have destroyed excess wax," Byleth noted, the candles appearing a bit smaller than they were moments ago. Manuela giggled.
"They're just candles, dear," she said, reaching down once more and opening a drawer from her desk. She opened a bottom drawer, revealing numerous bottles that appeared to be various kinds of wine. She chose two randomly, handing one to Byleth and keeping another for herself. "There. Light, refreshment, and a book. Now we can start."
"Are we not going out afterwards?" Byleth asked.
"What? Of course we are," Manuela said.
"Should we not drink then instead?" Byleth asked.
"Is there any reason we shouldn't start now?" Manuela asked.
Byleth thought for a few moments but couldn't really think of any reason not to. "… Not really," he said.
"See? Don't worry about this much. It takes much more before I start to forget how teaching works," Manuela said, popping her bottle open. "Now then, let's start off with something simple… how does magic work when closing a wound?"
With that, Byleth found himself surprised by how limited his medical knowledge was. Outside of flesh wounds and manually correcting broken bones, he had very little idea of the types of damage he likely dealt thousands of times over or the fact that healing magic inherently worked with the target's own regenerative capabilities rather than the user's magical prowess, which limited the scope of what it could address. Granted, he had unconsciously realized no amount of magic undid a severed head, but he now had an actual idea of why that was the case. Later, Manuela switched gears to the practice of magic itself, working with Byleth until he understood the basics of both 'giving' and 'taking' energy, which he was shown first hand when Manuela used a spell called Nosferatu on him and then healed him before allowing him to do the same to her.
At the end of a little over two hours work, Manuela closed the book and finished her second bottle. "Alright, I think that's enough for today," she said, standing up quickly enough to almost knock her chair over. "It's time you and I did something other than worry about students and our jobs, don't you think?"
Byleth wasn't sure what else he was supposed to do, aside from potentially train himself, though he had a feeling that wasn't what Manuela had in mind. "Let's go," Byleth said, getting up with a bit more control and pushing his chair back in. Manuela let out some kind of laugh before once again throwing herself onto his arm and dragging him out of the room, taking the same path in reverse through the Knight's Quarters and once again garnering the two a bunch of strange looks.
"Anyways, that's the situation so far. I doubt this'll be a difficult fight, but our enemies have got a lot of places to hide and know the terrain better," Jeralt said, the reinstated Captain of the Knights taking up one side of a large bench on the small walkway leading to the Knights' Quarters. Seated on the other side was Catherine, who was busy polishing out a small scratch across one of her knee guards with a small whetstone wrapped in cloth.
"Guess I wouldn't be making much of a difference out there," Catherine said, her focus primarily on the armor she held. "Is Shamir the one leading the searches?"
"She was, yeah," Jeralt said. "Alois runs the main patrols, but most of the open opposition has already been defeated. The Knights are moving slowly to make sure nobody gets the drop on them. As for Lord Lonato himself, he was last seen…"
"… What about him?" Catherine asked, glancing back at Jeralt. When she realized he was staring at something in the distance, she looked over and was just as dumbstruck as he was. Manuela seemed to be leading Byleth around, the woman having practically thrown herself onto him while saying something or the other. Byleth appeared as unaffected as ever, apparently giving short responses and marching forwards as if nothing was out of the ordinary. "… This something new?"
"Uhh… yeah, kind of," Jeralt sputtered, the shock of what he was seeing finally wearing off. "Anyways, yeah, Lord Lonato was last-"
"Hey, c'mon! How new is this kind of thing?" Catherine asked, clearly more interested in what they were seeing than battlefield updates. "What, has the great Ashen Demon never been on a date before?"
"I… wait a minute. What's it to you?" Jeralt asked. "You interested in my kid or something?"
"I mean, we're both good looking and know how to fight like hell," Catherine said with a shrug. "Plus we both have kickass titles. I think we're a pretty good match. How bout' you, 'father'?"
"First, that's weird," Jeralt said, suppressing a shudder to the best of his ability. "Second, I don't think Byleth really knows what a 'relationship' even is. For all I know, he thinks whatever… that is," Jeralt continued, gesturing towards the duo as they were about to head for the Monastery's exit, "Is no different from getting to know everyone in your company. Technically, there are only three Professors, so he probably thinks he only has two other people in his teacher, professor company or whatever he's internalized his job as."
"That so… and you aren't worried he's being taken advantage of?" Catherine asked. Jeralt scoffed at that.
"Anyone fool enough to take advantage of Byleth is as good as dead," Jeralt said.
"Fair enough, I suppose," Catherine said. "Although… if you had to choose between drunken love over there and Thunder Catherine as your daughter-in-law, who'd you pick?"
"Drunken love over there so I could get piss drunk too and forget this conversation ever happened," Jeralt said as he rolled his eyes. Catherine broke out laughing at that, not noticing the small smile on Jeralt's face as he watched Byleth and Manuela leave.
Byleth didn't know what he expected when Manuela asked to spend time with him, but he was surprised that it was as dull and repetitive as it turned out to be. Insistent on the consumption of more alcohol, Manuela took Byleth tavern hopping. As it happened, tavern debauchery was something Byleth had grown so accustomed to over the years he found the outing to be rather plain. The two drank, ate, gambled, occasionally got drawn into some kind of dance, and then swapped bars. Byleth found himself serving as something of a rest point for Manuela more than anything, the woman making advances on other men seemingly on random whims only to flaunt that she was with Byleth soon after. A few of the foolhardier ones attempted to 'fight' Byleth, only to be knocked unconscious or be misdirected without much effort on his part. He made sure not to inflict permanent damage to anyone in town due to his position and to avoid causing excessive trouble.
After a few hours, Byleth was certain the day had changed. Manuela seemed to have gotten herself into something of a stupor, though at least recognized she had to return to the Monastery. "Aww, c'mon, Byleth… carry me?" she asked, feigning weakness outside of the last tavern they were in.
"We will move faster carrying her," Sothis said. "If you're still insistent on doing some work at the library, you'd best take her up on her offer. I recommend against running or jogging, however… she's already thrown-up once."
"Alright," Byleth said. Manuela let out a little squeal of delight, putting her arms out and seemingly expecting him to sweep her off her feet. When nothing happened, she walked forwards a little before almost tripping, finding herself strewn across Byleth's back. "You should hold on," Byleth continued as he rose to his feet, essentially giving Manuela a piggyback ride.
"This… was not what I had in mind," Manuela said as her cheek rested on the back of Byleth's head. She let out a large yawn as Byleth began walking back towards the Monastery. "But it'll do, I guess…"
The town surrounding Garreg Mach was mostly empty at this hour of night, allowing a quick and quiet walk towards the Monastery. Making his way towards the Knight's Quarters, Byleth carried Manuela all the way back to her room with no issue aside from her sporadic mumbling, the majority of Knights already asleep or on specific night patrol duty. When he reached her door, however, he found it locked. "… Manuela, your key?" Byleth asked. When he got no response, he realized she had fallen asleep.
"Oh dear. I suppose you could search her, but… I don't think her outfit has very many obvious pockets," Sothis said. "Whatever shall we do now?"
Contemplating his options, Byleth made his decision.
