Been a while hasn't it. My apologies, I'm just kinda swamped with school and work. I'm not quitting, I just suck lol. I'm so dead ahhhhhggggg. I was finally able to complete this one. Sad that not too many Bernie stories have been popping up. Guess you'll have to make do with mine again.
A lone figure sat in a dimly lit room. A wicked smile crept on her face.
This is just wonderful, everything is falling into my plan.
She brandished a sharp object, gleaming with malice as it reflected candle light.
Mwahahahaha! I just love the way this tears through so easily.
She raised the tool, and quickly brought it down to puncture through her defenseless subject.
Perfect! Oh this is coming along great!
Bernadetta laughed as she held up a small handkerchief in front of her to admire the craftsmanship. The piece of fabric that was lent to her by the professor was simple in design, but it held a certain elegance. She felt bad that such a nice cloth was wasted on her. She figured she could at least use her skills to touch it up a bit before she returned it.
Excellent if I say so myself! Ah there really is nothing like relaxing alone and sewing. Using a needle is so much fun! Now for the final touches.
"Hmm hm-hm hm hm-hm."
The girl began to hum a soft tune to herself as she continued her needlework.
"Hm hm-hm hm-hm...hm?"
Her hairs stood on end and she stopped dead in her tracks. She felt a cold presence lurking right outside her door.
"H-huh?! Is someone there?"
An assassin?! Had somebody finally been sent to kill her for her crimes against… against… well there was surely something! Something she had done to make somebody mad! So mad that they decided to be rid of her. She quickly attempted to brandish her needle as a weapon of defense.
"Ah, my apologies. I didn't mean to cause alarm." A familiar voice soon came through her door.
Professor?!
She cleared her throat in embarrassment at the realization of who it was. He didn't hear her singing did he? "Hahaha… What do you want?"
"Nothing in particular. I just seem to have found myself outside your door. How strange."
A slight frown found itself upon Bernadetta's face.
Oh… that's all it is huh. Not that I should have expected any different.
He probably found himself here out of his subconscious desire to reprimand her. Her studies weren't going as well as she'd hoped, and the professor was likely tired of her failures.
"I see…" She sulked.
"Well, I should take my leave. I have lecture materials in need of preparation."
"Oh, right… goodbye..."
"Farewell."
Slowly, her professor's steps got further away until she could no longer hear them.
What just happened?
Her earlier conversation with Dorothea was brought to mind. The professor was strange, she couldn't tell what he was thinking at all. Then again, nobody really knew what kind of person he was behind that permanent blank stare. She couldn't help but wonder what the professor really thought about her. He had said he didn't mind her before, but that was likely just his way of being polite as a teacher. Well that wasn't important right now, she just needed to finish her sewing so she could pay him back for his kind gesture. She sighed and looked down.
Time to get back to work, I just need to… wait… why is there…
The handkerchief she held now had three noticeably large holes in it.
That's funny, those holes shouldn't be there. I was holding a perfectly fine handkerchief a moment ago. Oh I know! I'll just close my eyes and when I open them, they'll be gone.
She closed and reopened her eyes.
They're not gone...
"Gyaaaaaa! Oh merciful goddess?! What have I done?! I've ruined his handkerchief!" She screamed as she began banging her head against the wall.
During her earlier shock, she had accidentally ripped the handkerchief beyond repair.
"Ohhh why do you have to ruin everything Bernie! This is why nobody likes you!"
The young girl dropped to her knees.
"He let me use his beautiful handkerchief and I went and ruined it! Oh this is awful! I'm awful! Stupid, worthless, unmarriageable Bernie!"
She began fidgeting with the fabric in a last ditch attempt to salvage it.
Think, Bernie, think! There has to be something you can do! Anything!
A loud tearing noise came from the cloth, and it ripped completely into pieces.
"Ah...there's nothing I can do…"
"Classes."
Byleth slapped his palm on the chalkboard where four boxes where drawn making a loud thud.
"Specializations, in essence, and imperative to your education at this academy. Your class will determine the equipment you receive and the skills you learn, so it is wise to choose a class that suits your strengths and fighting style."
"All right! We finally get to start becoming real soldiers!" Caspar shouted enthusiastically.
"You do realize you have to pass a test first." Linhardt mumbled.
"Huh?"
Byleth nodded. "That is correct, this month will be the first set of certification exams. Since our next mission should not require live combat, I will focus primarily on preparing you for these exams."
"Ughhh why do I have to do some lousy old test…" Caspar sighed.
"I must ask you to take this seriously Caspar. It would not do to have you fail your certification exam, as nobles, we have an image to upkeep." Ferdinand responded.
"Careful Ferdie, you might be too blinded by your own ego to read the test questions." Dorothea chided.
"I would expect all of us to pass easily. This should be a trifle for students of the Black Eagles." Edelgard proclaimed.
"I will be doing my best!" Petra exclaimed.
Byleth cleared his throat. "Now, there are four basic classes that you are qualified to take an exam for…"
As the lesson continued, a violet haired girl sat wide eyed and spaced out in the back. Something else was on her mind entirely.
What am I supposed to say?! Oh, sorry professor I tore your beloved handkerchief to shreds?! I was trying to tidy it up for you but destroyed it instead?! Hahaha! Classic Bernie, right professor?!
Her crime occupied her thoughts, especially now that said professor was right in front of her.
As if I could just say that! He's just going to hate me!
"Bernadetta."
"EeEee! There's no rips in it, really! Please don't be mad!"
The Black Eagles stopped and stared at her in from the sudden outburst.
"Calm yourself Bernadetta, I was just asking what class you would like to specialize in."
"Class?"
"I presume the fighter class would suit you best so you can work on your skills with a bow."
"Oh, yes… "
"Unless you object to the idea?"
Bernadetta turned bright red as she realized what was happening.
"N-no! Not at all! Fighter sounds great, I do love the bow! Hahaa..."
"Very well." Byleth responded as he wrote her name down in the fighter column.
Bernadetta grabbed the nearest book and covered herself with it.
Gahhh! What are you doing! Stupid Bernie! Spacing out and screaming like that! Now everybody thinks you're a lunatic!
"That concludes the list. If anybody wishes to change their desired class, please inform me and I will consider it. I will now begin training you on the skills needed to pass your exams."
Wait... did he just say exams?
It was an absolute paradise. A rarely visited and well secluded area of the monastery which she often frequented. It was a place where she could feel right at home. She sure needed if after everything that happened.
Bernadetta closed her eyes and took in a large breath to take in the air.
"Ahhhh…. Sure is nice in here as usual. Flowers are so calming."
The Monastery greenhouse was Bernadetta's personal safe haven in an otherwise undesirable location. She loved to quietly observe all the plants in peace, the insectivorous ones were especially her favorite. How they simply had food fly into their mouths while they did nothing but sit in the same place all day, it was her dream life. She would often paint, write, or practice her singing here to relax and take her mind off the horrors of school life, or the horrors of life in general.
So now she was here, the current horror of her life being a simple question.
"What am I going to do?"
Bernadetta was at a complete loss. She had no idea how to even begin approaching the professor. It was originally supposed to be a simple "thanks for the handkerchief Professor" as she returned it more pristine than when she got it. The professor would be pleased and maybe even think better of her, and she could relax knowing she had finally gotten it out of the way. But that plan was now up in flames as the handkerchief was currently no more than bits of ruined fabric in the bottom of her trash can.
She thought talking to flowers may provide her some comfort, but that could only do so much. It was times like these where she wished she had somebody real to talk to about her problems. Being a shut in had its merits but having friends was certainly not one of them.
"If only people could be more like flowers, then maybe I could talk to them…"
Bernadetta continued voicing her thoughts, unaware of a new guest in the greenhouse.
"Nobles are so terrifying, all of them talking about bringing honor to their family name or having goals larger than my entire life, and commoners are something else entirely. They had nothing and yet they made something out of themselves and got into this academy, just look at Dorothea. Shes so pretty, popular, and dazzling. Compared to her I'm just a mess who can't do anything with her life. Someone like me could never get close to someone like that."
Plus, if shes a commoner then Father will...
"Bern, everything alright in here?"
Bernadetta jumped up in shock.
"Ah! Dorothea! You didn't hear anything did you?!"
A big mischeveous smile crept on Dorothea's lips.
"Oh ho ho my dear Bern! I heard everything!"
"What?!"
Dorothea walked in close to Bernadetta and started nudging the girl with her elbow.
"You want to get along with someone huh? So, who've you got a crush on?"
She was met with a black stare from the young noble.
"Seriously now, you have got to tell me. Who is it? Do I know them? Oh this is so exciting!" Dorothea continued.
Oh thank goodness she didn't hear me!
"Um, n-no that's not it." Bernadetta turned her face slightly away as she brought her hands up. "I was… actually thinking about… being friends with you."
"Huh… Me?"
"Gaaah! I'm sorry, I should never have even thought about that. You must be appalled at the idea of being friends with me."
"What, of course not! I thought we'd already been friends for a while now Bern."
"We are? But… no, I can't." Bernadetta said softly as she started slowly backing away.
Dorothea gave a concerned look. "Bern? Is something wrong? You can tell me you know, you have my support."
"Father would… he would just. Noooo! I'm sorry!"
Bernadetta bolted out of the greenhouse.
"Bern wait I… Father? What is that supposed to mean? I guess I should give her some space for now…"
Bernadetta reached the dorms and slammed her room door shut.
"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid Bernie! Dorothea was being so nice to you and you... ughhh! So much for relaxing in the greenhouse."
Bernadetta couldn't bring herself to get closer to the diva. Her past still haunted her, so she tried to avoid commoners as much as possible. While she enjoyed Dorothea's company and kindness, her father wouldn't have it. It would just be better for the both of them if they stayed classmates. No good could ever come from associating with a shut in after all.
She sat a while in silence dejected.
"I can't make friends. I can only make… I can make… wait."
If lightbulbs had been invented, one would have lit up above directly above Bernadettas head.
"That's it, I can just make a new one!"
While she didn't trust most of her skills, one thing she was confident in was her skill with a needle. As long as she wasn't caught by suprise like earlier, she could make a brand new handkerchief for the professor.
It might not be the same, but if I can at least have something to give to him.
Bernadetta was determined. After all of her failures recently, she had to at least to something right. She had to make this the best work she had ever created.
Oh I know! I'll embroider it! This will be the best handkerchief anyone has every laid their eyes upon! But what should I put on it?
Something that her professor would like was a must. But what did he like exactly? Thinking about it, the professor never really showed any interests. He would teach what needed to be taught, accomplish what needed to be accomplished, and that was pretty much it. There had to be something she could put on it though. Maybe an animal? Everybody had an animal they liked after all. Yet there was no animal she could imagine her professor liking. There was another thing he could try.
What kind of animal does he resemble?
That was an idea, she could put the animal he was most like on it. But what kind of animal would that be. He was calm and collected, yet fierce on the battlefield. He came from a modest background, yet still remained noble like. It was almost like he was a… yes that was it. That animal was perfect to put on the handkerchief.
Time to get to work.
*CREAK*
"Ughhh. Just… a bit… higher."
Bernadetta stood tip-toed, trying to grab a roll of gauze on the shelf above her head. She had finished the handkerchief and was so happy that she acicdentally stabbed her hand with the needle, so she came to the infirmary for supplies.
"Well hey there Bernadetta! What's going on?" Caspar asked enthusiastically as he entered the infirmary.
Bernadetta quickly squatted and covered her head. "Ah! Enemy! There's an Enemy here! We're under attack! Somebody please save me!"
She bumped into the cabinet, knocking the gauze she was reaching for to the floor.
"Help? I actually came here for help but if I can't get any I guess I'll just do it myself."
Caspar ignored the cowering girl and grabbed some supplies to clean his wound.
"Well, you did get the gauze down at least."
He plopped himself down on a cot and began dressing a large scrape on his leg.
"I can't believe I got hurt trying to break up some fight. It's ridiculous. I just step in to calm them down and then they're both at my throat."
He looked over to the girl still huddled on the floor.
"Hey, you even been in a fight?"
Bernadetta stood up and recoiled.
"You want to fight me?! No-no-no-no! Please! I've never fought anyone in my life! I surrender, just spare my life!"
"Yikes, calm down there. Not to be rude or anything, but did you think that maybe your attitude makes you kinda unapproachable? You really need to step outside and socialize. I'm sure you'd make friends right away if you didn't just waste all your time inside"
Bernadetta thought back to her run in with Dorothea, there was no way she could just do that. She stomped her foot angrily.
"Outside?! Right away?! Jeez, why didn't I think of that?! Maybe it's just not as easy for me as it is for you! Did you ever think about that, huh?!" she blurted.
Caspar tilted his head. "Why wouldn't it be? Making friends is super easy. In fact, I made friends with someone I's just been in a fight with. It was probably the gorgeous view that did it. We really shared a moment..."
Bernadetta frowned, clearly Caspar was unable to sympathize with her position.
"Oh I know! Lets go check it out!"
"Wait… wha…"
Bernadetta was quickly cut off as Caspar picked her up.
"H-hold on! Wh-what are you doing?! Don't touch me!" Bernadetta cried.
"I'm just gonna carry you outta here since your so stubborn. Easy does it!"
"Aaah! Put me down! Put me down!"
Bernadetta's screams echoed through the halls as Caspar carried her towards their destination.
"Caspar…"
"Hey there Professor!"
"What are you doing."
"Just going for a walk."
"A walk?"
"Yep!"
"With Bernadetta thrown over your shoulder?"
"That's right!"
"Presumably against her will?"
Caspar thought for a bit. "Well it's not my fault she doesn't want to come outside! She's being way too difficult!"
"And your first thought was to kidnap her and parade her through the monastery?"
"How else was I supposed to get her to come?"
Byleth sighed. Out of all his students, Caspar was by far the most troublesome. He never thought things through before acting, and so Byleth often found the boy in a mess of his own making.
"It is not acceptable to abduct your fellow classmates to do something, especially something they are uncomfortable with. I am certain Bernadetta has her reasons for wanting to stay indoors. I ask that you put her down."
"But professor!"
"Caspar."
"Ughh fine."
Caspar placed Bernadetta down onto the ground.
"But I won't regret what I did, she needs to get out sometimes."
Dejected, Caspar walked off back to the central part of the monastery.
Byleth then turned his attention to his other student.
"I apologize Bernadetta, I am sure that was not an enjoyable experience."
Bernadetta stood unnaturally still as she faced outwards from the monastery. Her gaze was blank, as if looking at something that wasn't really there.
"Bernadetta?"
"So this is what death is like. I didn't expect it to be so… sudden."
Bernadetta outstretched her arms as if inviting something.
"Come and claim me, sweet death. But first, let this evening sun wash clean my imperfect soul…"
Byleth frowned, the poor girl was traumatized.
"It is alright Bernadetta, you're not going to die."
The girl shook her head and snapped back to reality.
"Huh? Wh-what? Where am I?"
She stared out to the horizon in awe.
"Oh, it's so pretty. What a lovely view…"
"Well if you enjoy it then I suppose you have Caspar to thank." Byleth announced.
"P-professor?!"
Bernadetta quickly straightened out her clothes and cleared her throat.
"What are you doing here… what's going on." She questioned.
"I believe Caspar carried you all the way here. I spotted you two from upstairs and came to stop him."
"Oh, that's right! He did kidnap me!"
"I will have a longer chat about this with him later. I hope you are alright."
Bernadetta blushed. "Thank you for your concern! I'm alright now though. Still, I can't believe he actually did that... How embarrassing..."
"Well his heart is in the right place, even if his methods are… questionable."
Bernadetta let out a soft laugh. "I guess he did get me out to see this view, it really is nice."
"Indeed."
The two stood in silence for a while as they looked at the sunset. Suddenly, Bernadetta remembered her gift.
Oh, thank the goddess I brought it with me! I should give it to him now and be done with it. But how do I do that exactly?
"Ummm… Professor?"
Byleth looked over.
"Yes?" He responded.
H-here goes nothing.
"Uhh… well u-uhm.. Here!"
Bernadetta presented the handkerchief with both hands.
"Hmm? What's this?" Byleth said as he took the piece of cloth.
What do I say?! I guess I'll tell him the truth.
"I'm so sorry! I accidentally ripped the handkerchief you gave me! I wanted to fix it up for you but I ruined it instead!" she blurted quickly.
After a brief look of confusion, Byleth responded.
"That's quite alright Bernadetta, there is no need for an apology. But if the other one is ripped then what is this."
"I-I wanted to thank you for the cake you gave me that one time, and everything you've done for me. I never properly thanked you! You are always so nice to me even though I'm useless girl. I don't know if you'll like it but please accept it!"
Byleth opened up the handkerchief. It was a plain white one, but in the middle was a large embroidery of a gray wolf standing atop the world.
"A wolf?"
"Heh heh... well I just kinda thought you were like a wolf you know? I don't mean that in a bad way of course! I just..."
"You made this yourself? It is amazing, I like it very much. Thank you Bernadetta."
A huge smile plastered itself on Bernadetta's face.
"Oh I'm so glad!" She said as she pumped a fist in the air.
It was then that Byleth noticed blood on Bernadetta's hand.
"You're wounded?"
Bernadetta raised her hand to look at it.
"Oh yeah, I accidentally poked myself earlier. Caspar dragged me out before I could bandage it."
"We can't have it getting infected. I'll take you to the infirmary."
"No, it's alright professor, I don't want to bother you anymore than I already have. I'm fine, really!"
"I must insist."
"O-OK then…"
As the two walked towards the infirmary, Bernadetta couldn't help but hum a small tune in her head. Maybe life wasn't always so bad.
Yeah, man I'm tired. What did you think of this one, hope it turned out alright. Can't wait for the next DLC to give me some more ideas. If any of you guys have some ideas shoot em by and I'll see if I can implement them. I love to hear what anyone has to say even if it's a brief sentence. Those keep me going. So our story continues, where will our violet haired heroine find herself in the coming chapter?
Until Next Time
-Arcale
