Hello again, dear friends. I hope you are all doing well.

As promised, here is the extra chapter for this week. Expect a little more bonding between our agents, an immensely boring meeting, and the embrace of familiarity between two motherless girls.

With that, please enjoy the sixth chapter of Case Study: Fodlan.

"Their presence disturbs me."

They had only just turned around the corner before Seteth's narrowly stifled apprehension came out. Rhea shook her head exasperatedly.

"As it does with me as well. I feel like I am being toyed with by the goddess, having dear friends returned with such strange people."

Seteth grunted. "They are all strangers, Rhea. I can't believe you wish to appoint them to such esteemed positions, especially when one is merely a child!"

"I've made my decision and I expect you to respect it. Besides, Jeralt is no stranger, and the child is his flesh and blood."

"No stranger? He's been gone for twenty one years before suddenly reappearing at our doorstep! Does that not raise any suspicion in you?"

"I trust them, Seteth, let that be enough for you. Jeralt's new friends, on the other hand, do cause me concern."

"Do you think they are associated with that... abhorrent organization?"

Rhea paused. Her gut feeling was screaming that they were, but why would they, who are known for their extraordinary subterfuge, simply stroll into the monastery? Was that the plan, to be so obvious that she dismisses it? Only time would tell… and also thorough investigation by her subordinates.

"I have no right to say whether they are associated or not. However, I think it would be prudent to watch them closely."

Seteth nodded, satisfied with her answer. "Very well, I shall inform our most trusted to keep an eye out. As for Jeralt and his daughter, I will keep faith that you are placing your trust with utmost care. I pray nothing occurs to shake my confidence in you."

"Nothing will, Seteth. Now go and get some sleep, there is much to do with the new year."

Bottlecap blinked drowsily. Streams of sunlight were bending through the stained glass window, shining into the room and directly into her face. She rolled off the sheets and rubbed her eyes. Rook was on the opposite side, sleeping on the floor as surely as he said he would.

"Could've had the decency to prop against the wall, you big lug." Bottlecap said. There was no response. Bottlecap slipped a book from the shelf and chucked it at him. It bounced off his helmet harmlessly.

Rook's stern voice filled the room around her. "Stop throwing things at me."

"I tried to be diplomatic, but you didn't respond!"

"There are better things to try before throwing books." Rook growled. He scraped himself off the floor and stumbled over to the window. His fingers slipped up the sides, unlatching the pane, and he pushed it open. A gust of cold air immediately blasted through the room.

"Agh! Close the window, that's freezing!" Bottlecap exclaimed. Rook complied quickly.

"Sorry, forgot we're so high up." He looked over to Bottlecap and was shocked to see her with a pocket mirror and a small bag of cosmetics. "What in the great universe are you doing?"

"Not all of us have the privilege of wearing a helmet all day, dummy." Bottlecap scoffed. "I'm trying to look presentable."

Rook shook his head bemusedly as he watched Bottlecap carefully brush primer onto her eyelids. "What happened to just blinding your appearance in people's heads? You do that for me, don't you?"

"Mr. Oddman told me not to do any mind tricks until we know more about how it affects the peeps here."

Rook put a thumb to the chin of his helmet. "I guess that makes sense… I wasn't able to get many notes on their physiology."

"Exactly! Trust me, I went through all the notes you took and there was a definite lack of brain scans and neuron mapping."

"Makes sense. I think stealing someone's brain counts as killing and I'm on explicit orders to be on my best behavior." Rook deadpanned, earning a light giggle from Bottlecap. He pulled his tome out from a pocket in his coat and began planning for the day. Bottlecap was humming quietly to herself as a sudden realization entered his mind.

"Wait, so are you blinding me right now?"

"Nope."

Rook squinted at her. This was her true appearance? He was so busy with all the excitement of entering the monastery that he never got a good look at her. She looked older, for sure, but there was a distinct feature that he was sure strayed from his recollection.

"Weren't you brunette?"

Unlike his earlier question where she answered while continuing her ministrations, Bottlecap came to a full pause before responding, albeit shortly.

"Not naturally."

Silvery platinum locks brushed her shoulders, glimmering in the light of the morning sun. It looked silken and artificial, like it was an artistic rendering of hair rather than organic growth. There was not a single stray strand despite her unceremonious awakening mere moments ago.

"It looks weird, I know. Stop staring."

Rook snapped out of his thoughts to see Bottlecaps eyes peering at him through her mirror.

"Why do you say that?"

"Well, isn't that what you were thinking?" Bottlecap brought a hand up to her hair, fluffing it lightly. "All odd-looking and gray and stuff. Makes me look like I'm an old lady who dumped glitter on my head."

Rook placed down his tome. "I think it looks pretty."

There was a long pause where Bottlecap stared blankly through the mirror at Rook's helmet. A slight smile graced her face, dissimilar to her customarily wide grins.

"Thanks, Mr. Rook."

She turned back to her own reflection, grazing her cheeks with a fluffy brush. "Anyway, what's the plan for today?"

"They should be but another moment… ah, there they are."

The two professors of Garreg Mach, Manuela and Hanneman, entered the room. Seteth gestured for them to take a seat.

"Now that we're all here, we can get along with logistics." Seteh continued. "It is frustrating to make faculty changes right before the academic year begins, but it must be done."

"Frustrating to you, maybe!" Alois said happily, "Having the old captain back is a blessing by the goddess herself!"

"Does that make this young woman the newest professor?" Hanneman inquired.

"Yes. Your former colleague seemed to have absconded since the bandit fight and we have no intention of recovering such a craven asset." Seteth said with poorly veiled contempt.

"So young..." Manuela said, her gaze searching Byleth up and down. She turned her attention back to Seteth. "Are you sure she's qualified for a teaching position?"

"By the archbishop's appraisal, yes." Seteth said. "Even despite her serious lack of credentials."

Jeralt cleared his throat loudly, staring daggers at Seteth. "Move on."

"R-right. We need to cover our goals for this coming month, including the mock battle."

Seteth turned to Byleth. "I apologize for the slack you'll be picking up. Manuela and Hanneman have familiarity with most of the students here and are quite comfortable with their studies and abilities. You will be at quite the disadvantage for the battle."

"Don't scare the poor girl." Hanneman laughed. "We're here to be coworkers, not enemies. Besides, we just finished our last house rotation, so we'll all be getting a different house to work with."

"Right. I expect you three to discuss those matters at a later hour. Now, if you'll take a look at the budget spread I have here, you'll see that the tithes have been truly blessed this year."

The conversation rolled on.

And on.

And on.

Byleth could feel her brain melting. Seteth's voice droned on and her ears were filled with an amorphous mix of administrative gibberish. She looked around the table. Her father had surreptitiously dozed off, barely off to the side of Seteth to avoid his attention. Manuela looked to be on her last legs, just like Byleth. It was only Hanneman and Alois who had rapt attention, likely due to their respective professionalism and boundless energy.

After long last, Seteth closed his mouth and looked around.

"Is that all clear?"

"Crystal." Hanneman clapped his hands together. "Thank you for your scrutiny of these matters, Seteth. I can't imagine how long it must have taken."

"It is all within my duties… but it didn't take all that long." Seteth said proudly. "I must be off. Alois, please introduce our new captain to the rest of the knights. Professors, please decide on your house assignments by the end of the day."

With a sweep of his arm, the papers strewn across the table were in a neat stack in Seteth's grasp. The moment the door clicked close behind his departure, Jeralt awoke with a start.

"Wha-? Is he done?"

"Indeed, captain!" Alois said cheerily, standing up from his chair and walking over to him. "Have no fear, I will get you up to speed as we make our way to the barracks."

Jeralt nodded and stood up with a strained grunt. The two knights took their leave through the same door, leaving just Byleth with her fellow professors.

"Shall we discuss our house selections?"

Byleth paused. "Not yet. I'd like to know who I'm working with."

Hanneman blinked before his mustache bristled with a wide smile. "Oh goodness, I suppose we haven't been formally introduced, have we? I am Professor Hanneman, crest scholar and instructor at this very academy.

"And I'm Manuela. Professor, physician, songstress, and available if you know any particularly handsome gentlemen." Manuela said, ending the last in her list with a wink.

"You're a songstress?" Byleth said curiously.

"Oh yes, it is my true passion, but it will never dilute my talents as an instructor!" Manuela laughed. "Before I came here I belonged to a renowned opera company. Perhaps you heard of it? I was the Mittelfrank Opera Company's beautiful, peerless-"

"Spare our colleague the needless chatter, Manuela. Now, I suppose you have been briefed on the three houses?"

Byleth shook her head. "I was expecting Seteth to speak of it during the meeting."

"Hmm… that man is so well planned yet surprisingly forgetful…" Hanneman placed a hand to his temple. "No worries. We are more than capable of informing you."

"Of course we are, we've taught these students for quite a while now." Manuela pitched in. "Each house is composed of students affiliated with a certain region of Fodlan. The Black Eagles are from the Adrestian Empire with Edelgard, the Blue Lions from the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus with Dimitri, and the Golden Deer from the Leicester Alliance with Claude."

Hanneman scratched his chin. "To think that the next emperor, king, and sovereign duke are all here. It promises to be an interesting year."

"I'll say. I just hope none of these little treasures cause any trouble." Manuela said cheekily.

"Interesting." Byleth said, standing up from her chair. "If you don't mind, I'd like to familiarize myself with the students before I choose a house."

"Good idea." Hanneman nodded. "Today is their last free day before the academic year begins. I'm sure plenty of them will be out and about."

"Thank you for your help." Byleth said. She swung the door open before pausing when she heard Hanneman call out.

"Oh Miss Eisner! Please stop by my research laboratory when you have a moment later!"

"Jeez, old man." Manuela shook her head. "You couldn't wait a single day before turning another poor soul into your guinea pig?"

"It is not a crime to investigate the true abilities of our comrades!"

A slight smile graced Byleth's face as she closed the door on her new colleagues' bickering. Just as Hanneman said, she was sure this was going to be an interesting year.

Bottlecap whistled to herself as she absentmindedly wandered around the campus.

At least, that's what it looked like to an outsider. Under the guise of getting familiar with the monastery, Bottlecap was looking for a specific someone. That someone turned out to be sitting on a smooth wooden bench off to the side of the fishing pond.

Byleth was seated with her arms resting on her knees, deep in thought, as Bottlecap walked up to her.

"Hey, Byleth! Whatcha up to?"

If there was any stupor that the green haired girl snapped out of, it was not apparent.

"Hello Bo. I'm just thinking."

Bottlecap flopped onto the bench beside her, stretching her arms exaggeratedly. "Aw, you couldn't catch me half dead doing that."

Byleth nodded and the ambient sounds of the gently splashing pond filled the silence between them. A short while passed and, to her surprise, Bottlecap had not left. In fact, the other girl seemed to have settled in.

"Why are you still here?"

"Huh?"

"Do you need something?" Byleth asked plainly.

"Not really. Just hanging out."

Byleth blinked. "Oh."

"You don't ever just hang out? Shoot the breeze? Kick back?"

"No one talked to me unless they needed something." Byleth said. "The only exception was my father, but even then he was usually busy."

"Mhm, I feel that." Bottlecap touched a finger to her chin. "I guess I had people to talk to, but they were always super boring. I always really wanted to travel with my dad, but he never let me go with him."

"Did you not have your mother?"

"Naw, it's just me and the old man."

"I see." Byleth furrowed her eyebrows. Bottlecap sensed the opening and pried through.

"I suppose we're pretty similar!" She grinned widely. "But I don't wanna talk about depressing family stuff."

"What do you want to talk about then?"

"About what you were thinking about! I was walking by and you had this serious look on your face, like this!" Bottlecrap set her chin and stared intently at the pond, mimicking Byleth's posture.

Byleth tilted her head. "You look ridiculous."

"Hey! I'm not an actor, alright?" Bottlecap huffed. "But yeah, I saw you looking like that and thought to myself 'man, she must have something suuuuper big on her mind if she looks that upset!'"

"You thought I was upset?"

"Well, yeah!" Bottlecap said, before freezing. "Uh… are you?"

"No. I truly was just thinking." Byleth leaned back against the bench. "I have to decide on a house by the end of the day. I just finished meeting with their respective leaders."

Bottlecap fell silent, listening carefully as Byleth opened up.

"I thought that talking with them would give me a better perspective, but honestly I'm just more confused now." Byleth said.

"Tell me about them!"

"What?"

"It's what I do for dad! He gets too wrapped up in his brain, and so I get him to talk about it out loud and it all falls into place." Byleth said, tapping the side of her temples.

"Alright." Byleth took a breath. "I met with Edelgard first. She's the princess and heir apparent to the Adrestrian Empire."

"Sheesh. What is she doing here then?"

"You'll have to ask her." Byleth continued. "She was upset that I accepted a teaching position because she wanted to recruit me to the Empire's service… actually all three of them wanted me for their respective countries."

Bottlecap scratched her head. "That's kinda weird. Haven't you guys just met?"

"Yes."

"Guess you're just that awesome!" Bottlecap grinned, pumping her fist. Byleth stared blankly back at her.

Tough crowd, the silver haired girl thought to herself. Byleth continued talking as if she had never interjected.

"I asked her about the students in the Black Eagles and they seem… eccentric."

Bottlecap nodded. "Cool. You said you talked to the other house leaders too, right?"

"Yes. Dimitri is crown prince of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus. He seemed to accept my professorship the most readily."

"Well that's good. Obedience is nice for a teacher."

"Yes. He told me about the other students as well. I noticed that when Edelgard described her companions, she was very professional. She talked particularly about their skills, strengths, and weaknesses. Dimitri seemed much more… familial with how he described his house."

"Interesting! How does that leave the last house then? The green deer or something?"

"Golden Deer, led by Claude von Reigan, successor to the ruling house of the Leicester Alliance. I feel like I couldn't glean much. The descriptions of his classmates seemed more teasing than a proper evaluation, but he certainly made me curious."

"Wow. That sure is a lot!" Bottlecap scratched her cheek. "I'm not envious of the decision you gotta make."

Byleth nodded silently. A silence grew between them once again, although it was not uncomfortable. The two girls let the sounds of the monastery fill their ears, watching the fish flip and dive through the pond's sparkling waves. Eventually, Byleth saw the shadow of the bench stretch far to the other side of the water as the day turned well into dusk.

"I gotta go." Bottlecap said suddenly, standing up. "Thanks for hanging out with me, Byleth! No matter what, I know you're gonna make the right choice!"

She flashed her a thumbs up before spinning around on her heel and disappearing into the waning monastery crowd.

And with that, the last barrier between Byleth and the decision she must make was long gone. It was time to meet with Rhea.

Bottlecap quickened her pace considerably once out of Byleth's sight. She weaved through the many paths of the monastery, cursing that she didn't spend time learning them yet. She stretched her brain out, searching through the muddled mindspaces around her until she felt Rook's presence down the hall. Bottlecap all but sprinted around the corner, nearly running into the gigantic man.

"Bottlecap! There you are! Did you-"

"In your head, dummy!"

Rook froze. "Ah, right. Sorry. Did you just feel your anchors start warming up?"

"Yeah, that's why I was coming for you! It's one of the lowest levels but something is definitely happening."

"It's gotta be something that Byleth is doing. Have you seen her?"

"I was just with her, she's about to make her decision on which house she's gonna teach!"

"That means she's going to Rhea. C'mon."

The two sped through the empty, evening halls of Garreg Mach. They quickly ascended the flight of stairs to the second floor, just in time to see the green hair of Jeralt's daughter flash in the candlelight before entering the archbishop's audience chamber.

"Damn it!" Rook swore inwardly. "Can you blind the guards?"

"I already told you I'm not allowed!"

"Alright, then let's-"

Rook's plan would never come to voice as a loud beeping erupted in their ears.

The anchors were clocking to max. The world began to blur like it was swiped by the dull bristles of a brush.

They could faintly hear voices through the closing chamber doors.

"Have you decided, my child?"

Reviews are welcomed and encouraged. Tell me what you like and don't like; I will take it into account.

Thank you for the kind words so far, they are greatly encouraging and give me wonderful motivation to keep up my effort. As for the OCs, have no fear that you will learn about the extent of their character as the time comes.

And of course, thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed.

Go in peace,

Louproxy