This chapter is a Black eagles house beach senario (Starring Dorothea) requested by "TerraxAqua"
Set just after Byleth becomes a professor. In this chapter, Byleth is female.
"It's so exciting how we get to go to the beach!" Caspar said as he flexed his biceps. "Even better how I can flex all my muscles!"
"Don't get too excited." Byleth said as she walked beside Caspar and Hilda. "We are only here for the day, so use your time wisely."
Caspar looked at Hilda and sniggered.
Meanwhile, Edelgard and Dorothea were lying down on a blanket at the starting point of the sand. Dorothea was at home, and Edelgard seemed rigid and unable to relax.
"What's wrong Edie?" Dorothea asked teasingly. "You wish you were back at the monastery learning how to use your axe?" The last sentence was asked with a wink, Dorothea trying to use her charm to pry answers from the Empress.
"I don't like sand." The white-haired royal answered. "It has no sense or order, it's rough, and it gets everywhere." Edelgard grabbed a handful of sand and grimaced as it fell through the gaps in her fingers, the grains falling on her lap.
"Still, wearing your student uniform here isn't gonna change how much you dislike sand." Dorothea was clad in a light tank-top and tights, the articles of clothing that fit in the rules by a hair. On the other hand, Edelgard was in her student uniform, but the cape was removed, to Edelgard's displeasure. She had expected the professor to stay back to chat, but the teacher seemed to take interest in sleeping on the sand just above the watermark.
It must be a way she relaxes. Edelgard thought.
"Well," Dorothea said as she slowly stood up. "I'm not sure about you, but I am totally joining the others."
Dorothea walked down to the water and dipped her toes in it. It was luke-warm, so it would be easy for her to swim in. She had never been much of a swimmer, having grown up in nobility her whole life. A close family-friend of hers owned a pond, but it was always filled with algae. This ocean was much, much better.
Almost by reflex, Dorothea looked back, sending somebody staring at her. Edelgard had a very unknown look in her eyes. Almost one of….nervousness?
Noticing that Dorothea was looking at her, Edelgard cleared her throat. "Um….Dorothea?" She asked, her voice filled with unusual nervousness. "May you please….help me?"
Dorothea turned toward her friend, and walked toward her. "What's wrong?"
"It's just that...I've never swam before, and the one time I tried I almost died."
Dorothea frowned in surprise. (A rare reaction I know) "You've never swam before?"
Edelgard shook her head, her white hair flying around her face. "Not without almost drowning."
Dorothea grinned sympathetically. "I'm pretty sure I can save you if you start drowning."
Edelgard twisted her mouth thoughtfully. "I guess I might as well try. It will be a good example to my people if I am brave and if I face my fears."
That's one way to look at it… Dorothea thought. "Well," She said "You might as well get changed first before you go in the water."
Edelgard nodded and stood up. "Give me a few minutes."
After a few minutes, Edelgard walked out from the out house in her swimsuit. It was a standard one for nobles, with only the legs and arms exposed. It was red with small black dots scattered around the stomach and chest area.
"Wow Edie!" Dorothea exclaimed. "I never knew you had such a sense for fashion!"
"I guess," The to-be empress said weakly.
Dorothea took Edelgard by her arm and started to drag her toward the water, ignoring her protests.
When they reached the edge of the water, Caspar walked up to the two girls. He flexed his biceps and smiled, trying to hit on the girls.
"Hey girls!" He said as he walked up with as much flexing possible. "You two look at home here on the beach, I wouldn't mind staying here forever...with you!"
Dorothea blushed and Edelgard curled her fingers into a fist. "If I had a tree branch right now you wouldn't be-leave what would happen to you!"
Dorothea giggled at the pun and decided to knock Caspar's ego down a notch or two….or three. "Caspar, don't flex your muscles when they are barely noticeable."
Caspar's face fell and he turned away, faking tears. He was used to Edelgard doing that, and he knew Dorothea admired his muscles. He made a gamble to try to get attention, and he got some, but in the wrong way.
After Caspar had left, Dorothea walked Edelgard down to the water, the two slowly walking in until they were about waist height in the water.
"So what do you think?" Dorothea asked happily. "Refreshing right?"
Edelgard shuddered as a small fish swam up and rubbed against her foot. "It's cold. And the wildlife here is undesirable."
"Don't be such a wuss." Byleth said firmly from the shore. She was still dressed in her professor uniform, and the expression on her face, paired with the uniform, inspired courage in Edelgard's heart.
The to-be empress grimanced and walked further into the water, Dorothea ready to help her in case of an accident.
Edelgard stopped, neck-deep in the water. Dorothea didn't stop, and, with her hand still warped around Edelgard's, led her into deeper water.
"Dorothea! I demand you stop-" Edelgard was cut off by a larger-than-average wave slapping her in the face.
Dorothea smiled and sank back into the water, her legs and arms moving about in the water to keep her afloat. Edelgard was now jumping as soon as her feet hit the wet sand at the bottom of the lake. She knew she would have to perform the same action that Dorothea was, but, for the first time in her life she showed her fear. She took a deep breath and dived under the water, using her limbs to propel herself through the water. After a minute or so was up, Edelgard reappeared by the shore, out of breath.
"That was...exciting." She said calmly.
"Edie!" Dorothea exclaimed. 'You did great! You didn't drown or have any trouble at all!""
Edelgard's face flushed with embarrassment and nodded slowly. "I think I will talk to the professor for a bit."
Must be seeking guidance. Dorothea through as she walked out of the water. She dried herself off with a towel and changed back into her normal clothes in the shack suited for washroom purposes.
After Dorothea was in a new outfit (her old one was wet from swimming, she didn't change before going in the water with Edelgard.) She spread a blanket out on the grass and layed down.
Her mind drifted back to her old memories at the monastery. When it was her first year, she often did her homework and assignments on the grass. Even when she was a child, she would find comfort in the green blades that shot out of the earth. Just the way it moved in the wind mesmerized her and provided comfort.
She looked up and saw Bernadetta standing nearby. Slowly getting up, Dorothea gestured for Bernadetta to say what was on her mind.
"I was just wondering if I could draw with you." The purple-haired girl said nervously. "This place is really far from the beach and it's a bit more private."
Dorothea smiled and moved over on the blanket, making space for Bernadetta to sit.
After a few minutes of silence, Bernadetta spoke up. "It doesn't seem like you to be away from everybody else. You always seem to be so outgoing. No offense."
Dorothea smiled. "None taken." She turned and grabbed a handful of grass, ripping the blades out and letting them rest in her hand. "I guess being alone with nature is just a comfort for me. Even when I was young I would often go out with boys and just...lie down at a park while we ate."
Dorothea looked at her friend and smiled. Bernadetta nervously smiled back. "That seems nice." She said.
It was later in the day, and all of the students (along with Byleth) were eating supper together. They were seated at four different blankets, two on the sand and two on the grass.
Dorothea, Bernadetta, Edelgard, Caspar, Hubert and Byleth were around one blanket, and the other students were around the others.
Each of the students had packed their own food, so there were no excuses for 'not having enough food'.
Hubert, being the loyal man he was, had packed the 'best sandwich for Lady Edelgard'. Caspar had brought raw meat that he cooked over the fire, and the others brought an assortment of food they had cooked.
As they ate, Dorothea kept noticing Caspar glancing at her, then embarrassingly looking away. Dorothea hid a smile behind her hand. It was always so funny to her when boys tried to hide their feelings. Being the stunning girl she is, she knew how to politely turn boys down. And she knew how to do it in the worst way possible.
After everybody had finished eating, Caspar approached Dorothea with as much confidence he could muster.
"Hey Dorothea," Caspar said as he put his hand on her arm. "I was wondering if we would like to go for a walk together through the woods or something?"
Dorothea smiled. "I would, but I'm already going for a walk with Byleth and Edelgard."
Caspar's face fell and he hastily hid his disappointment. "Oh...um...well, I guess that's ok. Have a good walk."
Dorothea laughed to herself and walked toward Byleth and Edelgard.
And that is the end of this chapter! I hope you all enjoyed it! If you have any requests or questions, feel free to contact me via PM.
See you all next time!