Byleth drifted into wakefulness as the lunchtime bell tolled from the Monastery tower.

'About time too.' Sothis grouched from her current position, floating just above the floor in the furthest corner of the room.

'Why are you up?' Byleth asked curiously as she sat up and stretched her muscles, immediately flinching at their soreness. 'It's not like you to be awake before me.'

'I was keeping an eye on Blondie...' Sothis grunted, nodding towards the hearth.

'Jeritza?' Byleth looked to where Sothis indicated. Her bloodsoaked clothing had been cleaned and set out to dry in front of a newly laid fire.

'Yeah, him.' Sothis agreed. 'You were so deeply asleep that you missed him coming and going a few times.' Her voice was disapproving. 'He took your clothes the first time, then brought them back and laid them out there and left again. Next, he returned with that...' Sothis pointed to a cold breakfast on Byleth's table. 'Then he just sat and stared at you for a while. Which was creepy...'

'Oh...' Byleth couldn't help feeling disturbed that she had crashed out so solidly that she had been unaware of someone else's presence. Jeralt would have kicked her arse...

'Anyway... he left you a note with your breakfast. I couldn't read it, because I couldn't open it, of course...' Sothis looked eager.

'And a flower...' Byleth smiled at the single yellow rose laid out at the side of her plate.' She got out of bed and picked up the piece of folded paper that sat underneath the bloom.

'Make sure you rest today, you look like shit. Oh, and take a bath too...

Jeritza.'

'How very romantic...' Sothis smirked. 'You're a mess, and you smell... heh. He obviously thinks very highly of you!'

'He did my laundry...' Byleth pointed out smugly as she set her kettle on the hearth.

'Including your underwear...' Sothis cackled, then bounced in glee when Byleth realised she was right and blushed almost purple.

'Professor, are you awake?' Seteth's voice drifted quietly through her closed door.

'Come in!' Byleth called out, grabbing a second cup from her stash and adding another spoon of tea to her pot.

'Ahh, sorry to bother you...' Seteth was standing in the door awkwardly, taking in the fact that Byleth was still in her nightclothes. 'I can catch up with you later.'

Byleth waved him in, then did an urgent dive to hide her drying smalls. 'It's fine, Seteth.' She insisted.

'I brought you some lunch. I see someone else beat me to it.' Seteth murmured his eyes fixed on the food on her table rather than risk looking anywhere else.

'That's really kind of you. I think this was supposed to be breakfast, and I'm pretty sure I can manage lunch as well!' Byleth cleared off a chair and invited him to sit. 'I'm making tea.' She added invitingly.

'Right.' Seteth slid into the chair and put down the tray he'd been carrying. 'Flowers too...' He murmured, glancing at the rose.

'And a really polite note!' Byleth handed him the folded paper to see for himself.

'This is from Jeritza?' Seteth's eyes had widened as he'd read the line that the weaponsmaster had written. 'You know, Jeritza has been with us for more than a year now, and I don't think I have ever witnessed him have a full conversation with any other member of staff...' He finally looked up at Byleth appraisingly. 'I guess this makes a lot more sense of him grilling me quite fiercely as to where you had gone and what you were doing yesterday. You are friends?'

Byleth nodded shyly. 'He was concerned when the Eagles missed their training session. He's been observing and helping out with my practical classes whenever he's free.' She explained. 'Oh, and he's been teaching me to play chess!' She added with a small smile.

'Reminding me how to play chess more like...'Sothis commented sourly. She was floating close to Seteth now and regarded him with interest when he stiffened slightly at her words. 'You know, I am absolutely positive Seteth is aware of me on some level!' Sothis put out an insubstantial finger like she was trying to poke him.

'Are you okay?' Byleth asked Seteth as a puzzled look drifted over his features.

'What? Oh... sorry, Byleth, I was momentarily distracted.' He cleared his throat awkwardly.

'Hmm. He can definitely sense me when I'm manifest... fascinating!' Sothis murmured. She leaned toward his ear. 'Seteth...' She cooed into it.

Seteth's puzzlement turned into a frown.

Byleth stood and purposefully clattered her chair as she went to fill the teapot with water from her boiling kettle. Seteth focused on her again.

'I think my late night might be getting to me...' He apologised quietly.

'Do you have any news?' She asked, coming back with the pot and starting to pick at the food laid out before her.

'Not that much.' He admitted. 'I've spoken with Jeralt and Rhea. Jeralt's taken the Knights out to try and locate any signs of a camp that the people who attacked you yesterday may have come from. We haven't had any report from the Abyss as yet about the captive they took.' Seteth noted Byleth's confused glance. 'Jeralt allowed them to keep their prisoner. Rhea wasn't too happy about that, but Jeralt seemed to have some kind of respect for the young man in charge of the group down there.'

'Huh!' That genuinely surprised Byleth. She made a mental note to ask Jeralt about it later.

'What are your thoughts about it all?' Seteth asked curiously. 'If I'm honest, I know very little about any of the situation below ground. I was aware that it existed, obviously since the funding comes through church donations... but I have never been down myself. Perhaps that is an oversight by me.'

Byleth waved a hand dismissively at him. 'It's not like you don't already have the work of two people to manage!' She pointed out firmly. '... As well as being forced to ensure that your new and chaotically underqualified teacher doesn't screw up too badly!'

He nodded at her with a teasing smile. 'That is an immensely challenging task!' He agreed.

'You know, he is an exceptionally handsome man behind all of his disapproving and serious expressions!' Sothis commented warmly, really close to Seteth now, her face pushed up next to his. 'He is oddly familiar in some kind of way as well...' She added thoughtfully. 'Oh! My word Byleth!... Did I just feel your thought correctly then? You think he is handsome too?' Sothis sniggered in delight. 'Well, isn't that quite the revelation...'

'Sothis!' Byleth groaned without thinking.

'Pardon?' Seteth's brow had risen.

'Sothis... save me from your teasing!' Byleth muttered quickly.

Seteth smiled back at her, kindly. 'I'm sure she would have much better things to do than that.' He chuckled.

'No, not really.' Sothis hummed. 'Although I wouldn't save you anyway. It's too much fun watching you squirm.'

'Ah, so... um... I found the Abyss rather impressive.' Byleth tried to ignore Sothis's knowing grin. 'The residents there have certainly made a home for themselves in the darkness.'

'Jeralt was impressed with the people you fought with.' Seteth poured the tea for them both while Byleth continued to eat. 'He said they had a rather interesting array of skills but lacked a bit of discipline.'

'A fair assessment.' Byleth agreed. 'Unsurprising given their situation. I considered that once the issues around the potential assassination are resolved, I might be able to offer them a little tuition. If it is allowed.'

'You genuinely work yourself even harder than I...' Seteth observed softly. 'In my own case, it's all necessity. In yours...' He shrugged.

'I don't like to be idle.' Byleth agreed. 'Except when I'm fishing!' She amended.

'I will speak to Rhea about your suggestion.' Seteth promised. 'I imagine she will insist that Aelfric, the Cleric who liaises with the Abyssians, has a say as well.'

'Of course.' Byleth agreed. 'In the meantime, though, I believe keeping an eye open down there would be wise. The threat to Rhea may still be linked to their attackers, and I am charged with safeguarding the grounds on the day of the Rite.'

'I concur that it warrants closer observation for now, but will you promise me you won't venture down there alone?' Seteth asked intensely. 'At least let someone know if you are going and when you intend to return.' He amended when she looked incredulously at him.

'I'm really not used to people worrying about my wellbeing.' Byleth blushed suddenly and looked down at her plate. 'I mean obviously, my father does...'

'I'm sorry!' Seteth flushed too. 'I know that Flayn quite correctly accuses me of being far too overprotective... I honestly don't mean to suggest you are not capable. You are one of the most capable people I have ever met...'

'Adorable...' Sothis sighed.

Seteth's eyes shot up with a sharp intake of breath. 'A... a...adorable?' He stuttered.

Sothis started to chuckle. 'Get out of that one!' She whispered evilly.

Byleth was beginning to wish that she was the invisible person in the room. 'Err, yes.' She murmured. 'It's adorable how much you care you take of Flayn. She would certainly miss it if it were no longer there!'

'Oh...' Seteth smiled. 'You are very kind, but I know I can be overbearing. I'm working on it...'

'Clever...' Sothis noted appreciatively.

Seteth drained his cup. 'I'm afraid that I need to get back.' He apologised as he started to gather up the plates and cutlery. 'I can't actually believe you managed to eat all that food. I guess your reputation for being able to eat Raphael under the table is spot on!'

'Hardly!' Byleth pouted. 'That lad's muscles have muscles of their own... keeping in that shape... oh...' She sighed when he grinned at her. 'You were teasing me again!'

'I was.' Seteth laughed as he stood. 'By the way, Hanneman is with the Eagles this afternoon, and Jeritza is taking the Lions through training in your place, so I will be up in my office if you want to join us when Jeralt returns.'

Byleth nodded. 'I'll get Myles to let me know when he gets back.'

'Also, I happen to find myself agreeing with Jeritza – he definitely had the right idea with his advice, Byleth.' Seteth added. 'Please try to take it easy today, the bruising you sustained is pretty nasty.' Seteth moved to the door. 'You don't smell that bad though...' He added wickedly as he left.

'Thanks...' Byleth muttered.

'Heh, he's quite the charmer that one!' Sothis beamed.

'What is wrong with you at the moment?' Byleth turned on Sothis as soon as the door was safely locked. 'You were completely shameless in your admiration of Yuri, and just then, you were practically draping yourself all over Seteth...'

'Jealous?' Sothis smirked.

'No, Sothis. Shocked by your behaviour!' Byleth grumbled.

'Hey, you're a fine one to talk - simpering like a total fool for Jeritza!' Sothis accused. 'I am probably being force-fed your soppy vibes, and it's causing me to act like a fool too! You have been pretty emotional and touch-crazy recently.'

'Hmm... You could very well be feeding off something...' Byleth said thoughtfully. 'And if you are, then you could be passing it off to me as well. Have you considered it working that way round at all?'

'What do you mean?' Sothis pouted.

'Well...' Byleth spoke carefully as she tried to get her idea straight in her head. 'You realise that Saturday marked a Saint's day where there was more than double the usual amount of devoted offering up prayers at the special service. Do you think that you may have become a bit kinda drunk off of all the extra worship?'

Sothis's jaw dropped open, and her perfect brow creased. 'That's... quite some thinking, Byleth.' She said finally. 'I suppose I have been feeling a little different since the service and Flayn's party. All of that love and sentimentality flying around everywhere...The extra power flooding over us. Look at me right now!' Sothis suddenly gasped. 'I have been fully manifested for a few hours with no issues, and Seteth even heard an actual word that I said!'

'This is all a bit worrying...' Byleth fretted.

'There is no harm in it surely.' Sothis appeared excited and energised rather than alarmed. 'I know that you will likely tease me forever for my less than ... appropriate comments about certain people - but aside from that...'

'Do you forget that another Rite is coming up in less than two weeks' time?' Byleth asked quietly. 'The Rite of Rebirth... I think it might be a good idea to find out exactly what it consists of and what it represents. The congregation is going to be even larger on that day too.'

'Oh...' Sothis deflated. 'Oh, dear!'

'If Saint Cethleann's day has marked this kind of level of response in you... and your response can potentially affect me too...'

'Anything could happen... we have literally no frame of reference to go by.' Sothis murmured.

'I can't be compromised, Sothis. With the threat to Rhea and my responsibility for the students.' Byleth looked scared.

'I'm sure it won't make that much difference. I mean, I hadn't noticed anything particularly untoward – not until you brought it up just now.' Sothis consoled.

'But we don't actually know that.'

'No.' Sothis admitted.

'Well, that's just wonderful...' Byleth groaned miserably.