5/4

"Um... So what are we doing again, Professor?" "Punishing you in any manner Rhea would allow would likely be a mere inconvenience for you at best, Kirsten. So instead, you're going to be helping me out with my own projects for a little while."

Raphael had a feeling that the verbal lashing he got upon his return from Fodlan's Locket wasn't going to be the only repercussion he received. Some of the students shunned him, rumors started spreading he ditched the mock battle on purpose, and Ignatz was getting harassed by some of the meaner students for his involvement with him. He didn't do it maliciously; he just forgot about the battle because his priority was making that necklace for his sister!

"Now, I'm a researcher like Hanneman, but my field of study is much more... volatile in the hands of those who don't know how to use it. No students are allowed to enter my room without express permission, and you'd best believe I'll search your person before letting you leave." The door to his office had a large, sturdy lock latching the door shut. Orpheus pulled out a key and opened it, with a room much like Hanneman's laying behind the door. Light poured in through the windows, even more so through the stained glass portrait in the center-back of the room, but an odd amount of stone bricks, buckets of cement and other materials strewn about the ground. There were cauldrons, glass bottles, and many odd jars filled with things Raphael couldn't even begin to name.

"You'll be helping me set up my office. Early this morning, I saw what I believe to be a student climbing into Manuela's office. I reported it, but I don't believe anything has come of it. And there are doubtless other students who adore scheming. Vestra is a schemer. Macneary may act irrationally due to her assignment. Wetsworth appears to be an insurgent by nature. Gautier is just Gautier, and he'd probably drag most of the other Blue Lions with him. Ubert used to live as a thief, so if he was tricked or provoked, a lock won't stop him. Nuvelle won't stop asking me to teach her, so she might get desperate and break in. Claude is... you already know, I suppose. Pinelli seems to have a connection to the Eisners somehow, and the Phlegethons just aren't trustworthy after what Seir pulled at the mock trial."

"I said I'm sorry."

"I know, I'm not holding the act itself against you. As an uncle with a niece, I understand where your motivations lied. This isn't about missing the mock battle, this is about the 3 missed curfews, 2 missed classes, leaving the premises without permission, and failure to appear for Wednesday masse."

Although it was just a quick mass prayer and only two songs, the only acceptable reason not to show up to one of the masse services was if you were sick, bedridden, or off the premises, given permission by an administrator. Obsid, the choir instructor, wasn't very happy to find out he had, even if non-maliciously, skipped service. Keyair was nearby when he heard Obsid screaming at him. So much for "Spreading the love of the Goddess."

The professor picked up a spreader and the bucket of cement, handing it over to Raphael.

"I'll be setting up the lanterns. Just make sure none of the cement gets on the carpet, and your punishment will be considered carried out. And don't tell anybody about this. Understood, Kirsten?"

"Alright. Whatever you say, Professor."


"Dammit... Where is it? This is what I get for letting Caspar anywhere near my satchel..."

Most of the students found the latter half of breakfast interrupted by Magnus searching around the entire mess hall to no avail. It wasn't underneath the chairs, it wasn't on top of the seats or tables, it wasn't at the counter, it wasn't lying on the floor. Whatever he was searching for had either been taken or hidden so well, he'd never find it.

A few students walked up to him and asked him what it was he lost, but his answers were too vague to be all that helpful. "A square thing." It could have been a blank sheet of paper for all they knew. By the time they were finished looking around, he had already left, searching around the fishing pond and greenhouse. Still nothing. He even stuck his head in the fishing pond to see if it was in there, but the crystal-clear waters showed no signs of his prize. Drying off his hair with a handkerchief to little avail, he sat down on the stairs to the noble dormitories.

Nobody could find anything like it. And without seeming like some kind of freak, he couldn't describe it in more detail. His mission wouldn't be impossible without it, but it would be vastly more difficult. It wasn't like he could just up and ask administration for detailed information on every other student in the monastery.

"Excuse me. Is something the matter?"

Magnus turned his head and lifted his gaze to see Mercedes walking down the stairs, moving to sit next to him. He could see some orange and yellow hair peeking out from behind the wall, though; obviously, she was being watched.

"...I dropped a... a painting. A small one. I can't find it anywhere." "Do you mean this one?"

Mercedes lifted her hand. In it was a crudely-drawn painting on a small piece of paper, depicting two young girls. One of them had platinum blonde hair, the other yellow hair with an odd color-shift to violet on the underside.

"Oh, uh... Yeah. That's mine. Uh... where did you find it?"

"Annie picked it up while we were cooking in the dining hall. After we finished breakfast, she showed it to me. And... on that note, I have some questions. This painting... it's of Constance and I, is it not?"

Magnus flinched. This was not the way he wanted this to go. But if he was going to tell the truth, it'd be best to do it now

"Um... Yes. I copied it from the Castle Bartels so I could find you." "...Find me?"

"You see, Mercedes, I'm... I think I'm your cousin."


5/5

"Bernadetta, are you still in your room? You need to get to class. The lecture starts in five minutes."

"Nonononononono! I can't leave! I know she's out there with you! The moment I leave this room, I know she's gonna murder meeeeeeee!"

When he dragged Bernadetta to dinner Saturday evening, he expected it was a one-time thing. But if he was going to have to do this every single day, then it was going to be a bit of a pain in his posterior.

"Are you referring to Miss Eisner? Bernadetta, she is not teaching the class anymore. Professor Eisner has recovered quicker than expected, and he is the one teaching us today."

"Today...? That means she's still here! I-I'm not leaving! No way, no how!"

The heir to house Aegir shook his head with a sigh. Bernadetta's behavior was completely unbecoming of a noble, whether her reasons be irrational paranoia, a genuine fear of the Ashen Demon, childish defiance, or anything else. Ferdinand was terrified of Byleth too, unable to imagine what might await him if he crossed her, but he put his reservations aside and performed his duty as a student and as the heir to house Aegir. He was Ferdinand Von Aegir, after all; all nobles had such a duty in some way or another. So seeing the nearly-adult girl doing the equivalent of digging her feet into the ground when she didn't want to go somewhere vexed the future Prime Minister.

But would Ferdinand Von Aegir fail in this simple task? Not a chance. If Edelgard could manage to coax out Bernadetta in a good mood, it was Ferdinand's duty to bring her to class, on time, while she was being uncooperative. So he composed himself, walked to the door, and placed his hand on the handle. To his surprise, it was unlocked, so he begun to push.

"WHAT?! NONONONONONONONONONONONONO! DON'T! DON'TLETTHEDEMONIN!"

Ferdinand and the door were pushed back a bit, Bernadetta on the other side throwing her full weight against the door. But with her being much smaller than him, Ferdinand managed to breach into Bernadetta's dorm... before tripping on a stuffed bear and falling into a stack of plushies.

Hardly his proudest moment, being taken off-guard by an inanimate toy. But he managed to get further into Bernadetta's room than Edelgard ever did, so that was still an accomplishment. Picking himself up and dusting himself off, he turned around to face the shut-in directly, who was now sitting on her bed, doing her best to use a book as some sort of shield.

"Come now, Bernadetta. It's time for class. If you refuse to come to the lecture, I will have to pick you up and carry you there, and neither of us wants that."

"Mercy... Mercy...! MERCY!"

Ferdinand walked into class 4 minutes late, out of breath, carrying Bernadetta on his back. When they were near the classroom, she stopped fighting, but tightened her grip and started whimpering, and her arms were wrapped around Ferdinand's neck. The hold she had only lightened when he set her down on her seat. But as he promised, Forneus was the one at the teacher's desk that morning. And Ferdinand could walk to his desk, give a cocky smirk to Edelgard, and do so knowing he earned it. Even if she snickered a little due to him not noticing the button on one of Bernadetta's plushies on his forehead.


"...And so by updating the original equation to reflect the timeline, by 1195, the total population of Fodlan would be approximately 48000000. If you wish to shorten it, I would also accept 4.8 X 10^7. Any questions?"

"What's our month's assignment?!"

"I will have the answer for you soon, Mister Bergliez. Are there any questions regarding the coursework?"

Not one person raised their hand. Forneus closed his notebook and wiped the chalk off of his board. "If there are no other questions, you are dismissed. Edelgard, Petra, could you two please remain here for a few minutes?" Bernadetta darted out of the room before Forneus could even finish dismissing the class. Linhardt, on the other hand, barely moved, asleep on his desk as Petra and Edelgard walked over to their professor and everyone else got up to go lunch. Linhardt quickly left once Forneus' eraser made contact with his forehead.

"Professor, what is the troubling? Is my performance not in rising to your expecting... No, not in rising to your expectations?"

"Is this about the rumors spreading around, my teacher? The ones regarding Petra potentially being from Almyra or Sreng or the like?"

"No, that's not what this is about. And both of you are performing very well; both of you are in the top five as far as grades go. This is about our class assignment this month. Byleth and I haven't been entirely honest with you. We have received our class assignments. However, I fear it's... not one you'll be happy about."

"Surely, nothing could be quite as bad as delivering justice to the bandits terrorizing Fodlan this month?"

Forneus sat at his desk and clasped his hands over his mouth. He didn't want to tell them. Especially not Petra. But he already went too far to turn them away now.

"...Petra. I... A rebellion has taken place. Brigid insurgents are currently assailing Hevring territory." Immediately, the expression of mild worry on the Brigid princess' face turned to one of shock and dread, and Edelgard, as if on reflex to comfort her, placed her hand on Petra's shoulder. "And it's my... great displeasure to inform you that our group assignment this month is to..."

Petra slammed the desk with both her hands and leaned close to Forneus' face, a lamentable desperation and disbelief in her eyes.

"This must be mistaken! We will be dissuaded them, yes?! We won't be slaying them, yes?!"

Forneus couldn't bear to give an answer. His normally stone-cold face couldn't stay set any longer, as he gave his student all he could manage: an empathetic grimace, and a heavy-hearted sigh as he averted his eyes.

There was no blade to be found, but Petra's heart had been pierced by something just as damaging, and the wound was even more excruciating. Even if they were insurgents, the thought of cutting down her own people was too much to bear. She dropped backwards, covering her face with her hands, wailing in her mother tongue. No Fodlan words could be used to describe how she was feeling, and the attempts at consolation from Edelgard and the professor did nothing to lessen the blow of the truth.

The Monastery had pointed her sword the people of Brigid. And no matter how much she wanted to avoid it, she'd be forced to thrust it into their hearts.