There was something strange about that other mercenary…Shez. Byleth couldn't place it and no one she knew could give any explanation. Was it just a matter of strength? Or something deeper, concerning Shez's power? In all honesty, Byleth wasn't sure—the woman just seemed particularly odd.

Then again, Byleth herself was in possession of unnatural power—and had the voice of Fódlan's goddess in her head. She couldn't say much about others being odd when she was a spectacle all on her own.

She had time to kill and noticed Shez did as well, so Byleth opted to train with the other mercenary—test her skills, see how far one could push the other. Byleth and Shez were just wrapping up that match, with Alois as a referee just to make sure they didn't completely annihilate each other. They had control of their powers, but some of the higher-ups seemed worried.

"Aaaand that's that!" Alois announced. Both mercenaries stopped and lowered their swords in response.

"Not my best," Shez mused, "But not my worst, either." She held out her hand and smiled. "You're good at keeping me on my toes, I'll tell you that."

Byleth hesitated for a second before shaking her hand firmly. "You're not too bad yourself." She put her hand back to her side, then carried on, "Mind if I give a few suggestions?"

Shez chuckled. "Advice from the Ashen Demon? Sure, I'll take it."

"Very well," Byleth replied, nodding. "First, try something more like this…"

…

"Oh, wow! Yeah, that does seem better."

Shez did a few more swings with her sword after hearing Byleth's instruction. "I guess when you're so used to fighting certain ways, it drags you down."

"There's nothing wrong with preferred attacks," Byleth noted, "But it's a problem when you fight the same enemy multiple times. It makes it easier for people like me to defeat you if you never change."

"Yeah, I can see that," Shez said, nodding. "And thanks, by the way. If I plan on seeing the end of this war, I need to keep improving."

"It's not a problem," Byleth replied.

Both mercenaries started to put away their weapons, and Alois spoke up.

"Can I say, Byleth, you were doing excellently!"

Byleth paused to glance at Alois. "I'm not doing anything special."

"It might not seem grand to you," Alois said cheerfully, "But I certainly see some talent! Your instruction was more thorough than what I could give, at any rate."

"I just pointed out flaws and mistakes," Byleth noted. She didn't see a point for the praise; she was just helping an ally stay alive.

"You've never listened to one of the old professors' lectures, have you?" Alois asked. By now, Shez had put away her sword and stayed close so she could say something if she wanted to.

Byleth shook her head in response to Alois's question. The former knight chuckled. "Yes, well, there was something some of the bishops liked to say when they overheard the professors and guests giving lectures: 'You can't teach people how to teach. It's a talent given by the goddess! Instructors like them are truly blessed.'"

For a second, she was confused. "You're trying to tell me I'm a…'good teacher,' then?"

"I'm trying to say," Alois pressed on, undeterred, "That you seem to have that talent. This isn't the first time you've given such good advice, either."

That's when Shez chimed in again, smiling at Byleth. "He's right, you know. I've seen you help Petra, Caspar, Ferdinand… Heck, I think you gave Edelgard advice once! You're pretty spot-on with knowing where our weaknesses are and helping us get through them."

"I have an idea," Alois said firmly.

Byleth frowned at him, already guessing what he would likely say. "Don't—"

He wasn't going to listen, of course. The man couldn't stop talking for a second, it felt like. "I think you should try to host a lecture—right here in camp! It would be more efficient than talking to everyone separately."

"I'm not a teacher," Byleth insisted. "I'm a mercenary, and mercenaries don't…give lectures."

Alois clearly didn't want to take that as an answer, to Byleth's mild annoyance. "What if I asked Jeralt to make you?"

On one hand, Jeralt was her captain and father. On the other hand… "Jeralt would understand my reasoning. I already have my hands full."

"It might make the coming battles easier," Shez mused.

Byleth frowned at her, next. She had a feeling both of them were just teasing her at this point. "You, too?"

"Hey, the idea has some firm basis," Shez maintained. "You're good with helping the people that ask for it. Why not try to instruct them on a larger scale? Then the whole army can improve by leaps and bounds."

"I'm not getting paid to be an instructor," Byleth pointed out. "Until you convince Edelgard to put that in writing, I'm not doing anything more than I have to."

Alois laughed, while Shez at least pretended to hide it.

"We're just poking fun!" Alois said.

"Somehow, I have trouble believing that," Byleth said dully.

That got another chuckle out of Alois. "Still, could you consider it for after the war? If the Officers Academy reopens, I imagine Hanneman and Manuela would appreciate your contribution."

"Still no," Byleth replied. She sighed and shook her head. "I think you'd have to drag me and Jeralt to Garreg Mach before I'll be any kind of professor there."

Alois was still smiling as he shrugged. "Well, worth a try. I'm not sure if the Officers Academy would even reopen with the way things are going now."

The conversation finally came to a close, with Byleth leaving to see if Jeralt had any tasks for her. Still, Alois's attempt at teasing her did have her thinking.

She wasn't a big 'people person'—emotions were tough and people were tougher. That aside, though… There was something odd about the thought of her being a teacher. Maybe in another life.