"You won't be teaching this year?" Dimitri inquired, surprise and worry laced in his voice. He feared that the twins backed out of the teaching offer, instead opting to become knights.
"No, no," Beleth laughed softly. "We merely decided to hold off on instructing a house for now, tis all. We don't wish to impact your instruction after all."
She smiled brilliantly, and continued, "Most likely, Professor Jeritza will take over the Black Eagles. We'll be something akin to his old role, a supplementary mentor that instructs on a specific topic. My brother and I will be floating around your homerooms, learning from the more experienced professors."
"Sounds like you just didn't want to choose between the three houses," Dimitri jested. Although, as soon as the words came out of his mouth, he immediately regretted it. Would the professor take offense?
Beleth looked downwards guiltily. "Perhaps that is true," she replied in a breathy voice. "But at least I get to interact with the three I first met. You did make quite an impressive impression after all."
Dimitri perked up at the praise. Even if it wasn't exclusive to him, the information that he made a lasting impact gave Dimitri hope that he could eventually sway the twins to join the Kingdom. "Thank you," he nodded. "I hope I continue to meet your expectations."
"You know Professor," Sylvain sighed, "I think I'm going to like it at the Officers Academy. There are beautiful girls as far as the eye can see..."
All Beleth gave back was a bemused smile. "You might not want to admit that to my brother," she began. "He can be a touch overprotective at times."
Sylvain chuckled nervously. The near-constant scowl that her male twin adorned certainly didn't help his imposing stature.
All part of the fun, he supposed.
"You're worth the risk, baby," Sylvain winked. "Say, if I have to eat in that filthy dining hall, I prefer to invite a cute girl to dine with me. Would you do me the honor?"
It wasn't quite the optimal time, since he didn't know the Professor's favorite meal. However, he doubted anyone knew the professor's favored foods.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?
"Sure," she nodded. "While it would be a pleasure to dine with you alone, I'll have to ask you to invite someone else along. I have to do my duty as a professor and familiarize myself with the student body."
Eh, he'll take it. "I'll be awaiting you at lunch then, milady."
"Felix!" Sylvain exclaimed.
"Go away, Sylvain."
Yowch. He didn't even look up.
Sylvain sighed. He'd be merciful, just this once. Besides, he thinks another person would enjoy the Professor's company more.
"Sylvain, please!" Dimitri protested. "I have work left to complete."
"Don't be so uptight," Sylvain replied. "Besides, don't you want to spend a little time with your favorite professor?"
"Well, yes," Dimitri faltered. "But my work must come first!"
"Ah come on, I'm sure it can wait." Sylvain dragged Dimitri over to a table. "Don't make a scene now."
"You are the one making a scene," Dimitri hissed.
"Sylvain," Beleth nodded cordially, walking over to their table. She balanced three bowls of Cheesy Verona Stew in her arms. "So glad you could make it." She glanced to the side, noting his companion. "Dimitri? A pleasure as well."
"Hello Professor," Dimitri replied weakly, all but giving up his struggle.
Oh look, she even brought their favorite.
"Yeah, you just get it, Professor! This is my favorite!" Sylvain laughed.
"Ah, this takes me back…" Dimitri sighed. "I used to love this when I was a child."
"Glad I chose right," Beleth replied, a hint of relief in her voice.
On second thought, this dish wasn't even supposed to be served today. Guess the professor must have gone out of her way to custom order it for them.
"So," Beleth began, sitting down. Her spoon delicately swirled her own soup, her eyes peering softly into her student's eyes.
Yep, risking life and limb for a "date" with the professor was totally worth it.
"Would you do me the honor of telling me a little bit about yourselves?"
"Oh, what is this?" Ferdinand's foot touched something soft as soon as he exited his room. A bouquet of flowers lay at his doorstep, a small roll of parchment tied to its base.
"Happy Birthday! -Eisners," the card wrote.
"How thoughtful of them," Ferdinand smiled. He picked up the bouquet gently, and set it in his room.
"Oh? And what do we have here?" Beleth chuckled.
The twins strode into the vicinity of the three lords. "A strategy meeting, is it?" Byleth queried with a cocky grin. "I hope that you don't intend to try to team upon us. It would make your reason for losing all but gone after all."
"You are participating professors?" Dimitri asked.
"Indeed," Beleth affirmed. "Lady Rhea was kind enough to let us be our own faction, just for a bit of fun."
Even though it wasn't entirely necessary to get permission to participate, it was always nice to show off their skills. Besides, it is not like they could take over a tactician role from two professors. Substituting for Jeriza was already pushing it. Therefore, it became a tradition for joint runs that they would request to become their own team.
As Byleth put it, "Our participation will allow the students to gain knowledge about the skill sets we can teach as professors."
"Facing former mercenaries or no, the Black Eagles won't need the assistance of the other houses to win the battle," Edelgard smirked. "You will be another stepping stone on our path."
"Woah there! Let's give the Teaches some credit where it's due." Claude laughed. Turning to the twins, Claude continued, "Still, glad you could make it! You'll have front row seats to a Golden Deer victory."
"We'll see who's schemes end up on top," Beleth winked.
"Now there's two of them," Dimitri lamented. "I hope your plans are a little tamer than Claude's."
"Scheming? Me? I have no idea what you're talking about! I plan to fight fair and square, as ever."
"For some reason, I doubt the validity of that statement," Dimitri winced. "Hearing the words 'fair and square' from Claude can only be a bad omen."
Beleth smiled wistfully. She only now realized how much she missed Claude's jabs and Dimitri's honest words.
"Aw, how precious," Manuela cooed. "Looks like you and the students have become fast friends." Following close behind Manuela was Professor Hanneman, Jeriza sulking off to the side.
"While I am pleased that you are taking the initiative to acquaint yourself with the students, I'm afraid it's about time for the house strategy meeting." Hanneman nodded towards Dimitri.
"Ah, how time flies!" Claude sighed. "In that case, I'll see you later."
"Professors," Dimitri nodded. "Be careful out there."
Edelgard's stare bore into the twins with a calculating look. "I look forward to assessing your abilities. I hope you don't disappoint."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Byleth smiled back.
"You kids are crazy," Jeralt sighed, shaking his head. "Fighting with no weapons? I know you have years of battle experience, but don't you think this is a little extreme?"
"What's life without a little fun!" Beleth replied cheerily.
Jeralt hummed in a doubtful manner, and continued, "I'm sure you already understand, but the house that defeats the others is declared the winner. Incidentally, I'll be overseeing this mock battle. So listen well if you want to win."
"Affirmative," Byleth confirmed. With that statement, they moved to their corner of the field.
"See those groups of forests to the East?" Beleth whispered. "They're closer to each other than if we go north. More cover and all."
"I have no idea why you are whispering," Byleth deadpanned, "but sure."
"Ah, where is the fun in that?"
"Ah, but where is the fun in that?" Beleth laughed with a hint of sadness. "Gotta be dramatic after all..." She trailed off with a wistful tone.
The twins moved quickly between the forest groups, not wanting to assume that the other houses would leave them alone. "Keep your spells to Wind, Fire, Thunder, or Nosferatu," Byleth whispered. Might as well get in on the fun. "We don't want to show our hand yet."
Beleth quickly stopped casting Bolting. "Sorry," she said, slightly sheepish.
This girl and her urge to zap everyone at once.
The twins edged East across the field, towards the Black Eagles.
Theoretically, they could wait out the battle here, letting a broken "winner" come to them. But that wouldn't be showy.
"Looks like Lorenz is at it again," Beleth sighed, motioning briefly to the Golden Deer corner. Indeed, Lorenz was rushing ahead of the front line, Ignatz in tow.
"At least we have some cover provided to us," Byleth replied. He gestured to Ferdinand to let his sister know that they were in range. "Milady?" Byleth asked dryly.
"How sweet," Beleth cooed with a mix of sarcasm and playfulness. "Letting me take the first kill." She edged towards the fringe of the forest, hands alight. "Thunder!"
Only a beat behind, Byleth called sharply, "Wind!"
"Ack!" Ferdinand stumbled at the Thunder spell, then was knocked clean off his feet at Byleth's attack. "I am the son of House Aegir," he cried indignantly. "How did I fail? I must need to train harder..."
At his signal, a warp spell took him away from the battlefield.
"Hm, you are performing as expected, Professor," Edelgard called out. "We will have to face you with our full might!" With that statement, Edelgard, Petra, and Jeriza advanced upon the Eisners.
"You know," Beleth mumbled. "I just realized, we had to choose the group with three melee fighters."
Byleth reached towards his empty sword sheath. "Right, no weapons," he sighed. How inconvenient. "Run for the thicket?"
"Do you really want to fight Jeritza without cover?"
"Fair. Prepare to bolt for it anyway."
Byleth moved towards the eastern fringe of the forest, Beleth moving towards the northeast. "Fire!"
The spell caused Petra to stumble backward, completely removing her momentum.
Ah Petra, we'll make a dodge tank out of you yet.
Byleth advanced. Another spell and the girl was out.
In the corner of his eye, Byleth saw his sister firing at some other students in the center of the field.
In the corner of his eye, Byleth saw his sister firing at some other students in the center of the field.
"!" Byleth ducked under a rapier strike, the wind from the swift thrust ruffling his hair.
"Looks like Petra managed to provide cover for Jeritza to advance…"
"No way Sherlock," Byleth thought, weaving around another blow. He caught the next strike with blades of Wind, staggering backward.
He needed space. "Wind!"
Unlike Petra, Jeritza weaved around it, using his blade to redirect most of the force. He came at Byleth with a series of quick thrusts, forcing Byleth to dance further backward.
He eyed the edge of the forest. He'd rather not fight Jeritza where he could have some cover, especially without a weapon (why did he do this to himself?).
He let his eyes flicker briefly to his sister. Beleth was engaging Edelgard in the open, slowly retreating towards the thicket.
Too far away for help.
"Do my thing!" Starloon cheered.
Byleth didn't really have an alternative, did he?
"Allow me to demonstrate!" Byleth cried, fire erupting from his hands. Once again, Jeritza shifted his blade to block the spell.
Checkmate.
Exploding forwards, he delivered a max-range jab followed by a strong shovel hook. "Buster Wolf!" he called out. A wind spell sent the fencer flying.
Fun. Now if only he knew where that phrase came from.
"Ask me when I come back in 5 years."
We can only hope.
Byleth approached Jeritza, fire spell ready. "You fought well."
Jeritza gave Byleth a strange look, before signaling to be warped out of the battlefield.
Hoo boy, he was going to get a few sparring requests when he got back, wasn't he?
"Thunder!" Beleth caught Edelgard in the air with her spell, wincing as she saw her form slam painfully into the ground. Checking to make sure she wasn't in immediate danger, Beleth walked up to Edelgard, Heal spell ready.
Beleth hopes she didn't traumatize the poor girl.
"Forced to retreat..." Edelgard coughed out. "Well, things will only get tougher from here on out." She relaxed slightly as Beleth's magic ran over her. "Thank you, professor," she sighed. "Still, to take on an entire house with only your brother at your side?" She shook her head. "I was sure that the situation would be favorable for us."
Beleth merely nodded in return, watching Edelgard be warped away.
"Looks like you're done here," Byleth noted lightly. He looked noticeably more worn than Beleth felt, even if he hid it well.
"Jeritza give you trouble?" Beleth chuckled. They began moving to the thicket.
"You have no idea," Byleth grumbled.
"Just punch him really hard," Beleth shrugged. "It's what I did to Hubert."
"The poor soul," Byleth winced.
Beleth narrowed her eyes. What's that supposed to mean!
"This is a good opportunity for us. Let's forge ahead!" Beleth turned towards Dimitri's call.
Dimitri, don't do it.
The Blue Lions still at base advanced on the Eisners.
"Thunder!"
"Thunder."
Liven up, brother dearest.
Dedue stumbled, then fell. "Ngh. Apologies, Your Highness. I can go no further." Only waiting a moment as Byleth healed him (Physic OP, pls don't nerf), he then retreated from the field.
"You know," Beleth sighed. "You think we made enough of a statement?"
"Probably," Byleth responded with a shrug. "We can sweep the winner anyway."
"Argh, I hate losing! I guess I'll just have to settle for cheering the others on." Claude looked around. "If there were others to cheer on. Damn Teach, you really don't go easy on us." Claude groaned from his position on the floor.
Beleth got up from her position, unpinning Claude. "You can thank your schemes for keeping you alive so long," she commended. "Still, your tactics can use some improvement. We'll go over it in class I'm sure."
"All right, that's that!" Jeralt sighed. "The winner of this mock battle is..." He paused for a moment, shaking his head. "My two trigger happy children in the long coats," he muttered. He turned back towards the medical tent, where many were still recovering from hard punches and spell burns.
"Maybe we went overboard," Byleth winced from his position in the trees.
"Nonsense," she replied, finishing her healing spell. She pulled Claude up, and continued, "You agree with me, right Claude?"
"I don't know about that Teach," he wheezed slightly. "You practically took out all three houses by yourselves."
Two. We left the Blue Lions to you.
"Claude!" Beleth faux-whined. "This is betrayal!"
Author's Notes:
I don't know how I feel about this fight scene. I probably could have developed the Jeritza fight a little more, but I didn't want it to drag on. Thoughts?
