Byleth never liked their monthly meeting with Rhea.
So, when they were called in, they couldn't help but feel a weight on their shoulders. Being around Rhea was, quite frankly, exhausting. At least this meeting the house leader was invited along with them.
Luckily, when Byleth stepped in the Archbishop's room, only Seteth was there to greet them. Seteth still deeply distrusted them at this point in time, but at least he was straightforward. It was more refreshing than a lot of other people at Garreg Mach.
Oh. Would Seteth still dislike them, if Flayn never gets kidnapped?
Byleth would cross that bridge when they got to it.
"There's been a bandit problem in the Red Canyon. This area is protected by the church, so we are tasked with clearing it out." Seteth says. "For this month, your house will clear out the bandits. Any questions?"
Seteth's gaze passes over Edelgard, before landing on Byleth. The two of them stare at each other for a moment.
"Good." he says. "Then please plan accordingly. This is no mock battle." He gives a curt nod, before heading out of the room.
Edelgard looks over at Byleth. "Bandits, again." she says, looking thoughtful.
"Yes," Byleth agrees. That was another missing piece, wasn't it? "Isn't a little suspicious that a bandit knew to target the three leaders of Fódlan?" they say, putting a hand to their chin. "I wonder if there was an information leak."
Edelgard blinks. "You think it wasn't a coincidence?"
"No." Byleth says. "Nothing is."
She looks at them for a moment. "You seem so certain."
"Yes." Byleth says. "I don't believe in coincidence." Not after what they've seen. Byleth pauses. "Doesn't it seem too simple? To assassinate the three future leaders of Fódlan? Do we know anyone who would want that?" Byleth muses.
Edelgard folds her arms. "You bring up an interesting point, but Fódlan has many enemies. Perhaps it was foreign?"
"Perhaps." Byleth says, glancing at Edelgard. No doubt she was hiding something, which was why Byleth said all of this in front of her. "I suppose, if we ever see that bandit again, we'll have to capture and question him." they say, pausing for a moment to look over at Edelgard.
"I suppose so." she says neutrally.
Damn. Byleth couldn't tell what she was thinking.
For the first time, Byleth would be teaching. At least, the first time in this timeline. Byleth spreads out their notes they made on each student. What their current strengths and weaknesses were, what their end goal should be, and what they should be working towards. Byleth had quickly learned that there were certain combinations that worked much better than others.
The first students start filtering into class. The first was Ferdinand, and he sits up close to the front. "Good morning, Professor!" he greets with a smile. "I look forward to our lessons."
Next was Bernadetta, who took a spot at the back corner, and put her books and bags on the seat next to her. She sits stiffly for a moment. "Um… m-morning!" she squeaks, before sliding down in her chair and trying to pretend that she wasn't there. She starts mumbling something to herself, but Byleth can't make it out.
Petra comes in next, sitting down next to Ferdinand. "Good morning, Professor. Good morning, Ferdinand."
Ferdinand beams. "Good morning!" he says in return.
Goddess. Those two were too chipper for how early it was. The best thing about Garreg Mach pre-war was the accessibility of coffee. Ever since the last time loop, Byleth had become rather attached to the disgusting drink, and now they couldn't imagine a morning of teaching without a mug of coffee.
Edelgard, followed by Hubert, enters at exactly five minutes before class starts. Byleth knows-they watch the clock. They wonder if Edelgard planned that, or if it was just her way of being punctual. Edelgard sits near the front, while Hubert sits in the back-but gives Bernadetta a wide berth.
"Good morning, Professor," Edelgard greets.
"Yes. Good morning." Hubert echoes, although when he said it, it sounded none too good.
Dorothea enters right before class starts. "Mooorning!" she says, practically singing.
Byleth glances at the clock. And… they're late. They stand up.
"I know I'm preaching to the choir," they say, gesturing to the filled seats. "But I will start class right on the hour. We have too much to cover."
Caspar bursts into the room. "Sorry we're late!" he says, one hand full of books, and the other full of Linhardt.
"Sorry, Professor." Linhardt adds, not sounding sorry in the slightest.
"Sit down already." Byleth says. "I'm starting."
The general lecture went well. Byleth could tell Edelgard was surprised that they seemed so at ease teaching. So much that she wasn't able to hide it, apparently.
Then, it was time for independent study, while Byleth pulled students away for a little one-on-one. "Ferdinand? Come over here."
Ferdinand perks up. "Ah, so you have seen my potential!" he says, standing up.
Byleth pulls him aside. "You like horses, right?"
Ferdinand nods. "I do. I am quite proficient at riding."
"Okay," Byleth says. "How about riding a wyvern?"
Ferdinand pauses. Byleth can tell they took him off guard. "Oh, I…" he begins. "That… I am not sure it is as dignified…"
Byleth shakes their head. "Seeing things from high up? Gliding across the skies? What's undignified about that?"
Ferdinand shifts. "I…"
"Anyway. I need you to learn how to fly." Byleth says. "Trust me. It'll be very beneficial to the team."
Ferdinand stands up straight. "I won't let you down, professor." he says.
"Thanks. Petra!" Byleth says, calling her over.
Petra steps over. "Yes?" she says.
Byleth nods. "How do you feel about learning the lance?"
She blinks. "That is… good with me, Professor." she says.
She was such a good girl. Byleth feels a bit of relief. At least there were a few good eggs in this class. "Great. Do you know how to fly a wyvern?"
Petra perks up. "Yes! That is traditional for Brigid." she says.
"How about a pegasus."
"I have not flown… flown with one, but I am good with learning." she says, full of determination.
"They're similar to wyverns." Byleth says with a nod. "I think you would make an amazing pegasus knight. Let's work towards that." They pause. "In fact, you and Ferdinand will be on sky watch for this month-it'll be good practice for the both of you."
Petra nods obediently. "I will do my best." she says.
"Catch him if he falls off."
"I will." Petra replies seriously. Well, it's not like Byleth had been joking. It wasn't impossible.
"Good," Byleth says. "Dorothea!"
Byleth steps outside of the classroom, starting to stretch. Ugh. And that was only the first day of the week. They stand at the grassy end of the Officer's Academy, watching all the students leave their classrooms. None of the students looked their way, probably all too busy with the thought of dinner.
Oh. Dinner. That actually sounded really good.
"Hello, Professor."
Byleth looks over at the white-haired girl standing next to them. Ah. Lysithea. "Hello." they reply.
"I want to ask you-I didn't realize you knew anything about magic. I guess I assumed you were more of a brute. Oh-no offense." She pauses. "Being in Manuela's class is interesting, but I want to learn from someone who can teach both Reason and Faith." she says, before pausing. "Do you know much about Faith, Professor?"
Well, she certainly didn't hold anything back. Was she that interested in them? It looks like their stunt at the mock battle paid off. They knew a flashy show of magic would catch her attention.
"Yes." Byleth says.
Lysithea nods. "Can you show me? Not that I don't believe you."
Byleth blinks. "After dinner." they say. Then, as if on cue, their stomach growls.
Lysithea frowns, and taps her foot impatiently. "Fine." she says. "I'll come with you, of course."
Oh, good. Byleth would've insisted, if she hadn't. Sometimes they worried that she wasn't eating enough.
The two walk to the dining hall.
"What was the name of that magic you used? If I had to guess, it was… Bolganone, right?
Byleth nods. "Yes, it was."
Lysithea asks further questions as they walk , and Byleth answers them as well as they can. This continues even as they get plates and sit down.
"Ooh cobbler and cream!" Lysithea coos over her dinner. "Mm, my favorite!" she says, before digging in.
Byleth had to admit-she was right. With the cream spilling over the pastry that was swimming in a sweet peach wine, to the fresh berries that decorated the top-it really was a masterpiece of food. They take a bite, enjoying the burst of juice in their mouth as they chomped down on a berry.
"Wow, you two look happy," Claude says, setting his plate down and sliding in next to Lysithea. "Hey, what'd you get?" he asks, before swiping a scoop off of Lysithea's plate. "Mm," he says.
"Hey!" Lysithea says, looking incredibly offended. Not that Byleth couldn't understand.
"You have a sweet tooth too, Teach?" he asks, ignoring Lysithea's protests, and looking over at Byleth.
Byleth shrugs. "I like everything." Call them a glutton, but they loved all flavors of food. The fact that Garreg Mach had such diverse flavors-from the bitterest of cheeses to the sweetest fruits-the food was truly fit for a king. Or, at least, an Archbishop.
"I see," Claude says, before taking a bite of his own food. He chews on it thoughtfully, looking at Byleth as if he wanted to say something. He quickly swallows. "Hey, Teach… can I ask you a question?"
Byleth raises their eyebrows. In front of Lysithea?
"Why did you choose the Black Eagles?" Claude says, tilting his head. "Was it ambition? Thought you'd get close to the powerful nobles of the Empire?"
"Claude!" Lysithea scolds.
Claude shrugs. "Hey, I wouldn't blame you if it was." he says. "But as I said before-you don't really fit in there, do you?"
Did they? Actually, he was right. The knightly students of the Kingdom had similar upbringings and training to Byleth, and there were more commoner students from the Alliance.
"Maybe it was ambition." Byleth says, before taking another large bite of their food. They hope that would send the message that they wouldn't reply immediately.
"Yeah?" Claude says. "I wonder… what kind of ambition do you have?"
Byleth doesn't say anything.
"Claude, you're being really nosy right now." Lysithea says with a sigh.
Claude gives a grin. "Oh, am I? Sorry about that, Professor.." he says. He's so full of it.
"Claude, eat." Byleth says, before returning to their meal.
Claude looks at Lysithea. "Is it me, or does Teach get really serious about meals?"
Lysithea nods. "I've noticed that, too."
They finish up their meal, and Lysithea stands up. "Professor. Please show me now." she insists.
Claude looks between the two of them. "Show you?"
Lysithea nods. "The professor was going to show me their ability in Faith magic."
"Okay." Byleth says, before picking up a table knife.
Claude furrows his brow. "You're not going to-"
They slide the blade down on their arm.
"Professor!" Lysithea protests. Byleth's wounds glow, and close up.
"How was that?" Byleth asks Lysithea.
Lysithea folds her arms. "Professor, you really should value your life more." she says, before pausing. "It was okay. I guess it's hard to show off in this kind of setting." Lysithea frowns, looking unsatisfied.
"You could come along to our mission this month and watch me in action," Byleth offers.
She folds her arms. "Sorry, Professor. I'm too busy to just follow behind and watch."
Claude looks between the two of them. "You aren't thinking of changing classes, are you?" he teases.
"I haven't made my decision," Lysithea, standing up from the table. "I'll see you later, Professor. I have things to do." She heads out of the dining hall.
Claude looks back at Byleth. "Stealing my best student?"
Byleth rolls their eyes. "You're not the professor." they say, standing up themselves. "See you around, Claude."
Claude nods, leaning on the table. "Yeah, you definitely will."