p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongThe Transfer Student/strong/p
p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strong6th Day of the Blue Sea Moon/strong/p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongBlue Lion House Homeroom/strong/p
p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"It was a rest day but the Blue Lion House homeroom was anything but restful. The Blue Lion House students were gathered near Ashe who sat down mournfully. Felix, however, was off to the side of the room leaning against the wall listening in./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I'm terribly sorry, Ashe," Mercedes said sympathetically putting a hand on Ashe's shoulder. "If you like I can bake you some sweets if that would help you feel better."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Thank you, Mercedes, I would appreciate that," Ashe smiled sadly. "It's still so…shocking to me. It feels like a nightmare that I can't wake up from."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It doesn't make sense to me why Lord Lonato would involve innocent civilians in such a needless battle," Dimitri said with a grave expression. "Fathers and sons lost their lives in that battle. Mothers and daughters too even."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Your Highness, Professor Byleth and his class did what had to be done," Ingrid said regretfully. "If they hadn't intervened, then Lonato's army would've arrived at the Monastery putting everyone else at risk."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I know that, Ingrid. But something doesn't sit right with me," Dimitri said. "Those in power, no matter the era, always claim they fight for a just cause. That they take life to protect it." Dimitri paused. "But is it truly okay to take any life you please, all in service of some implacable 'just cause'?"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I would say so if it were justified," a voice answered. It was Edelgard standing in the doorway. Hubert was shadowing her, of course./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Oh, hey Edelgard. What brings you here?" Sylvain said surprised. "If you're looking for a good time, then I can show you-"span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Hold your tongue," Hubert said shooting Sylvain an icy glare as he spoke in a dangerous tone. Ingrid then yanked Sylvain by the collar and pulled him to her side as if he were a child./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Forgive him, your majesty, Sylvain's just a fool," Ingrid apologized to the empress-to-be./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Think nothing of it," Edelgard reassured. "At any rate, I could not help but overhear your discussion and wished to offer my perspective."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""By all means, Edelgard, you may have the floor," Dimitri obliged. Dedue surveyed Edelgard and Hubert warily. Edelgard cleared her throat before speaking./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""The commoners who allied themselves with Lord Lonato believed they were fighting for a just cause," she explained. "It would be disrespectful to consider them simply victims when they died for what they believed in."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""How do you know that for sure, Edelgard?" Dimitri challenged. "You cannot speak for all of them! The situation cannot possibly be that cut and dry. Who's to say that Lonato's cause was just? Maybe he didn't have to die. If I had thought to come instead, bloodshed could've been avoided." Edelgard was about to say something when Felix interrupted./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Don't you go around preaching about stopping bloodshed, boar prince," Felix accused harshly. "Just how many lives have you taken yourself?"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Felix," Ingrid spoke scowling only for Felix to ignore her. Dimitri stared at his friend taken aback by his vocal criticism./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I've seen how you all too eagerly killed bandits during our missions," Felix continued unrelentingly tearing into Dimitri. "I could see that savage look in your eyes. The look of a predator slaughtering his prey. You're no better than those whom you criticize!"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Felix!" Ingrid shouted angrily. Sylvain shot a look of shock and resentment at Felix. Dimitri stared back unblinking as Felix's words cut as deep as his sword. Mercedes, Annette, and Ashe were astonished at Felix's verbal tirade at his friend. Dedue, however, frowned at Felix for his insolence./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What's he talking about?" Edelgard asked Dimitri taken aback by Felix's hailstorm of class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Interesting," Hubert said intrigued by what he just learned. "What secret is the king-to-be hiding, I wonder?"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It's time for you to leave," Dedue said sternly as he glancing from Edelgard, to Hubert, and finally Felix. As they left, the classmates began talking amongst themselves./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What did Felix mean by that?" Annette asked Ingrid perplexed./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Don't mind Felix, Annette," Sylvain replied still irritated by Felix's behavior. "Felix wasn't always this much of an asshole."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Fools! That boar is going to lead them all to an early grave lest he stops going down this path!" Felix muttered to himself. He knew that the best place to blow off steam was his usual haunt; the training grounds./p
p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strong7th Day of the Blue Sea Moon/strong/p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongTraining Fields/strong/p
p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Today, the Black Eagles House met at the training fields near the horse paddock. Today's agenda was lessons in horseback riding. Regardless of whether or not a student was studying to become a cavalry unit, it was important for all to be aware what cavalry units were capable of. Jeritza, mounted a top of a steed as black as the night sky and rode out onto the track before a mounted sack dummy./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Watch and learn," he stated calmly. The horse reared back whinnying before charging at the target. Jeritza pulled his right arm back. He never took his eyes off of the dummy. Bernadetta covered her eyes imaging the dummy as a real person. Then, Jeritza thrusted his lance into the dummy's chest causing it to fall off its perch. Hay was strewn across ground. Bernadetta peeked and shivered imaging a bloody mess soaking the earth./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It's okay, Bern, It's just a dummy," Dorothea soothed. Bernadetta looked away from her friend, still ashamed of her behavior. Dorothea frowned and turned her attention back at the demonstration when Caspar shouted/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Woo, yeah! That was amazing!" Caspar cheered. Jeritza gestured for Caspar to sit back down and be silent, but Caspar could hardly contain himself. Linhardt grimaced at the sight of the skewered dummy also imagining the carnage, more disgusted than Bernadetta at the gruesome images it conjured up./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Are there any questions?" Jeritza asked as he and his steed came to a stop before the class. Bernadetta raised her hand. "No Bernadetta, you cannot leave early."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""No, it's not that," Bernadetta corrected. "I-I'm not sure that I can handle a horse. I mean, they're so big! How will I be able to control it?!"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""That is why you must practice, Bernadetta," Manuela interjected. "I think that you'll be well-suited as a bow knight. Ferdinand knows about the art of horsemanship. Why not ask him?"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I would be happy to help you, Bernadetta!" Ferdinand said earnestly, a bright smile dancing across his face. Bernadetta sighed./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Thank you…" she said dejected. Bernadetta felt rather awkward about being partnered with the young man whom her father intended for her to marry, but he was the only one she knew well enough as to learn from./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Oh don't let Ferdie bother you Bern. He's as harmless as a bee," Dorothea consoled lightheartedly. "About as annoying as one too if you ask me." Bernadetta said nothing which caused some concern for Dorothea. Then, a chime rang out from the bell tower./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Class is dismissed," Manuela stated. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a date with a rather handsome knight tonight." Manuela giggled to herself as she hurried off. Jeritza sighed and led his horse back to the stables./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Bernadetta immediately got up and scurried away. But Dorothea managed to catch up to her and stopped her with a gently touching her class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Bern, what's wrong?" she asked concerned. "I can sense this awkward feeling from you. Like you don't want to be around me."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I…" Bernadetta swallowed as a guilty feeling flooded her. "I'm sorry that I didn't help you in the fight with the bandits! Bernie was such an idiot! You could've died and it would've been Bernie's fault!" Bernadetta was practically shouting as she let loose this fire burning inside her. It felt like if she said nothing, she would be consumed. "It's okay if you hate Bernie and never want to see her again!"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What's wrong with Bernadetta?" Caspar asked walking up to the class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Some privacy, please," Dorothea hissed annoyed. Caspar backed off leaving the girls alone. "Bern, look at me." Dorothea handed Bernadetta a white handkerchief which she gratefully accepted. "I don't hate you. Not at all! Yes, I didn't appreciate being alone, but I know that fighting's scary. Just make an effort to study and come out of your shell a little, 'kay?"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I don't know if I can," Bernadetta whined. "Bernie's such a coward. Bernie's not the most intelligent either."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Bern, that's a load of nonsense." Bernadetta looked into Dorothea's emerald green eyes. She had a more serious expression on her face. "You don't know what you're capable of if you don't try. I believe in you, Bern." Dorothea's expression softened. "We could even be study buddies!Would you like that?"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Okay," Bernadetta said smiling. "We can do that." Dorothea smiled warmly and hugged her friend tightly./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It's a deal then, Bern." It seemed as though Dorothea knew just the right words to lift Bernadetta's spirits./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strong9th Day of the Blue Sea Moon/strong/p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongDining Hall/strong/p
p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"It was lunchtime and the dining hall was bustling with students and faculty. The smells of cooked meat filled the room and were carried on the wind outside. The Golden Deer students then settled into their seats and began enjoying their meals. Raphael in particular was satisfied with his haul; a thick cut of moose steak./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""This is emdelicious/em!" Raphael shouted happily through full cheeks. Some students nearby shot him dirty looks as they tried to eat in peace. He placed his tray down and looked around. "Plus the dining hall looks secure! Ain't no way some dirty thieves are going rob this place."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Lysithea grimaced at her friend insisting that the ludicrous idea that the dining hall would be in danger of being robbed. She put the thought out of her mind as she cut into a piece of chocolate class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Have any of you noticed any other places that could be an entrance for thieves?" Byleth asked his students./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I haven't seen anything out of place," Hilda shrugged. Marianne shook her head in agreement with the pink-haired lass./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You sure you haven't been dreaming that during one of your mid afternoon naps, Hilda?" Claude teased./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Hey, that isn't until a couple hours later, Claude!" Hilda huffed./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Anyway, I have not noticed an obvious means of entry myself," Lorenz said trying to keep the conversation class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Good, keep your eyes open, everyone," Byleth replied. As Byleth cut into his food, he saw Sothis looking over his shoulder at his food. She stared at the food class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What? You've no idea what it's like not being able to eat with me being a ghost," Sothis pouted. "Then again, I don't feel hunger either. How frustrating it is not being able to enjoy earthly pleasures…"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I'm sorry that I'm not able to share this with you," Byleth said sympathetically. "But it's a little hard to eat with you breathing down my neck."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I apologize," Sothis relented giving Byleth some space. She reclined in midair as if she were lying in a hammock. Her eyes drifted around the room. She then looked at the ground and noticed something peculiar. She drifted closer to investigate and noticed that one of the floor tiles seemed loose. "Byleth, come here!" Byleth followed his phantasmal friend's instructions./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What is it Teach?" Claude asked. The other students in the room looked at Byleth curiously, as well./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Do you see this?" Sothis asked pointing at the tile. Byleth curiously nudged the tile confirming her suspicions./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Interesting," he commented. The Golden Deer looked over Byleth's shoulder. Byleth turned to face them. "One of the tiles is loose. We should tell Lady Rhea and Seteth right away."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I knew it! I knew that thieves would try to break into the dining hall!" Raphael exclaimed ecstatically proud that he was onto something./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Shortly after being alerted to the suspicious entryway beneath the dining hall, Seteth and Rhea arrived./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""This is most concerning," Seteth said perturbed. "How could anyone or anything possibly have gotten underneath the dining hall? And there's no obvious sign of it being tampered with!"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It certainly isn't raccoons. They're clever, but not clever enough to do something like this," Leonie stated as she scratched her head./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What say you, Lady Rhea?" Byleth asked the archbishop./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I wonder…" she stated to herself studying the tile class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What is it?" Seteth asked surprised. Rhea raised her hand./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Have this passage way sealed at once," Rhea requested to Seteth. "This month is an important month and we must not allow any intrusions." span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Very well, Lady Rhea," Seteth responded. "I'll make sure that this does not interfere with this month's preparations." Seteth then turned to Byleth more seriously. "And as for you all, stay alert to anyone or anything remotely suspicious. Report to us as soon as humanly possible if you do see something of note. Just because we found one breach does not mean there are no others yet to be located."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Understood," Byleth simply said to Seteth's harshness. Seteth nodded in approval before departing, though Byleth thought her heard him mumble to himself annoyed./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Thank you, Professor Byleth," Lady Rhea said smiling. "The Rite of Rebirth is a most important occasion. Seteth merely wants all to go well, don't take his disposition personally."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Don't worry about it," Byleth said. "We'll do our part." Lady Rhea nodded approvingly before taking her leave./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Seteth could stand to show a little appreciation, at least," Hilda pouted once Lady Rhea was out of class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""And it would be nice if Lady Rhea would acknowledge the part we played in our missions," Lysithea class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Don't let them get to you," Byleth stated nonchalantly. His years of mercenary work helped him get used to dealing with difficult people"Lysithea, Marianne, you remember that you're going to teach me magic?"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Oh, yes," Marianne answered quietly. "Friday evening, yes?"span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Right, Marianne. I have it written down here!" Lysithea showed her list to Byleth./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You have quite a packed schedule, Lysithea," Byleth commented. "Don't push yourself too hard."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Your concern is appreciated, Professor Byleth, but I know my limits," Lysithea puffing out her chest./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Who are Mr. Bearikins and Duchess Cupcake?" Byleth asked nonplussed by the childish names. Lysithea's eyes widened in horror./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I didn't mean to write those down!" Lysithea shrieked flustered pulling the list away. Claude then snatched the list out of her hands and looked at class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""'Tea time with Mr. Bearikins and Duchess Cupcake'?!" Claudchortled heartily. "You have tea with dolls? Oh man, that is emrich/em!" Lysithea angrily yanked the list out of Claude's hand accidentally tearing it in half. Her pink eyes were burning with anger and awash with hot tears, Lysithea then bolted out of the dining hall./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I hate you so much Claude von Riegan!" Lysithea wailed as she disappeared down a hallway. span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Such uncouth behavior, Claude. You truly are an absolute reprobate," Lorenz said glowering with disgust./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Welp, in this stuffy academy you gotta make your own fun, y'know?" Claude said unconcerned for Lysithea's emotional state. "Besides, she'll be over it tomorrow."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I sure hope that Lysithea doesn't transfer to another class because of your behavior, Claude…" Leonie said shaking her head./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""…If you'll excuse me, there's something that I need to do," Byleth said dismissing class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Whatever you say, Teach! Catch you later!," Claude shouted. Byleth waved back to him as he rounded a class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I wonder how Bernadetta's doing?" He said to himself aloud./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongBernadetta's room/strong/p
p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Bernadetta plodded with her rather heavy book bag. It was full to bursting with supplies, and has clearly been through its paces. Once she reached her door, she was too fatigued to open her class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What am I going to do?" She moaned through gasps. "So many books to read, homework to do, and exams to prepare for…"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Bernadetta," Byleth's voice called out from her left. Bernadetta whirled around and saw Byleth walking towards her./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What is it? What did Bernie do this time?!" Bernadetta said recoiling like a turtle retracting into its class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Nothing," Byleth answered calmly. "I simply wanted to see how you were doing."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Bernadetta was not expecting this. It was rare that anyone in her life would want to see her just to talk to her./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Oh, um, okay," Bernadetta said bashfully. "I'm sorry."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You sound sad," Byleth observed as he invited her to sit on the steps. Bernadetta slowly approached and sat beside him./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It's because Bernie really blew it on the last mission," Bernadetta admitted. "Bernie was such a coward and didn't fight the bandits. Lady Edelgard, Seteth, and Professor Manuela were really disappointed in me." Bernadetta sniffled rehashing the memories. "And Dorothea, my friend, could've gotten hurt or worse! Maybe Bernie should just leave the Monastery and never return!"span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Byleth reached into his pocket and handed Bernadetta a small, white handkerchief. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Are you disappointed in me, Professor Byleth?" Bernadetta asked./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""No. I can see that you're afraid of combat," Byleth stated. "When I was young, I wasn't a great fighter myself." Bernadetta looked at the mercenary surprised. "I questioned why we had to kill people, but we lived as mercenaries so it was in my best interest to learn how to fight."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I can't imagine what it was like living such a life," Bernadetta said more calmly. "You didn't have a home?"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""We lived on the road. We would either set up a camp, ask for room and board at inns, or, rarely, a noble for whom we've completed a mission would allow us to spend the night and feed us," Byleth explained reminiscing. "We couldn't stay in one location for long. I'm not entirely sure why but I assumed it was for our safety." Byleth looked off into the distance contemplatively. He rarely ever looked back at his own life class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Professor Byleth?" Bernadetta asked snapping Byleth out of his class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Nothing," Byleth replied. "Come to think of it, there was this one mercenary in league with Captain Berling. We wiped out her entire squad. I almost killed this woman but she was enveloped by this strange power. Then, father called off the fight. I haven't seen her ever since." Byleth looked over at Bernadetta who was unnerved by his story of the bloodbath. "Sorry, I should know when to hold my tongue."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It sounds like you had quite a dangerous life," Bernadetta responded. "Although, if I could I'd like to go out and travel the world. But it's so dangerous out there, I don't think I'd survive a single day."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Byleth considered what the violet-haired girl said. Then, he spoke./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Bernadetta, why don't you join the Golden Deer class for the month?"span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Huh?!" Bernadetta cried out. "Is that even allowed? What will Lady Edelgard think?"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Let me worry about that," Byleth reassured. "I think that it's worth giving a try at least. If you end up not liking it, you're free to return to the Black Eagles."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Bernadetta felt a warmth spread through her chest. She never felt so glad that someone would think of what she wanted, and showing true concern for her own well-being. A smile grew on her face./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Th-Thank you, Professor Byleth! Bernie will do her best!" Bernadetta said with more enthusiasm than she ever felt in a long time. "Do you think that your class will like me?"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I'm sure you'll get along with them just fine," Byleth replied. "They have their quirks but they're all good kids at heart."/p
p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongBlack Eagle Homeroom/strong/p
p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You want to borrow Bernadetta for the month?" Edelgard asked class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Byleth, Bernadetta, Edelgard, Hubert, of course, and Professor Manuela were inside the Black Eagle Homeroom for this short-notice class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yes, I believe that her studying with another house temporarily will serve her well," Byleth answered. "I will make sure that she tends to her studies and that she's safe."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You know how Bernadetta can be a…challenging student to work with?" Manuela questioned./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yes, I'm well aware of that, Professor Manuela," Byleth said. "But she seems to be quite comfortable around me. I think that will make a difference."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Professor Byleth, you need not trouble yourself with Bernadetta," Edelgard said. "I can make sure that she improves her grades. She is not your responsibility."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Have you ever asked Bernadetta what she wants, Edelgard?" Byleth asked firmly. "It does not seem like the thought has ever crossed your mind." Edelgard was speechless at Byleth's brazenness. Hubert scowled at Byleth for daring to speak such a way to his leader./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Is this what you truly want, Bernadetta?" Manuela asked./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Y-Yes, ma'am," Bernadetta answered swallowing her fear for class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Very well. I do hope that you get some good experience out of this, Bernadetta," Manuela said. She pulled out a document, signed it with a quill pen, and handed it to Byleth. Both he and Bernadetta signed it, as well. "Good luck to you, Bernadetta."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Thank you, Professor Manuela!" Bernadetta said relived bowing. "And thank you, of course, Professor Byleth!"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You're welcome, Bernadetta," Byleth gently touching her shoulder. Bernadetta felt her heart skip a beat. She smiled bashfully and class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Well, I hope that you do well under Professor Byleth's tutelage," Edelgard relented. "Please make the most of Professor Byleth's time, Bernadetta."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I-I will!" Bernadetta said nervously./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Professor Byleth, may I speak with you?" Edelgard asked. Bernadetta looked at Edelgard paranoid as Byleth went with her and Hubert outside./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What is it?" Byleth asked somewhat wary./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I want to talk to you about Bernadetta," Edelgard said. "From what I can tell, she seems like a gentle soul. Kind, yet very timid. She seems to prefer indulging in her hobbies in her room."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What kinds of hobbies?" Byleth asked class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I do not know, Bernadetta refuses to talk about them," Edelgard replied. "She is quite hard to talk to."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""She doesn't seem to have a problem talking to me," Byleth class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Why are you so interested in Bernadetta's plight, Professor Byleth?" Hubert enquired. "What does it matter to you how well Bernadetta does in class?" Byleth paused. Byleth could not help but feel like he and Bernadetta had some common ground with one another. But he felt no need or point in telling the depths of his feelings to the Imperial students./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Do I need a good reason to want to help a struggling student?" Byleth replied bluntly. "It's clear to me that Bernadetta is struggling, and I will step up to help if no one else will."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You seem adamant in your resolve, Professor," Edelgard said. "Then, I wish you and Bernadetta the best in your little journey together. I hope that Bernadetta returns to the Black Eagle House more inspired to study and serve the Empire."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""What do you mean, Edelgard?" Byleth asked./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Bernadetta is a noble of House Varley," Edelgard explained. "House Varley is the Empire's Ministry of Religion which handles relations with the Church of Seiros. She will be expected to fulfill her duties to her house once she's inherited it. Usually, women such as her would be expected to marry someone and produce heirs for her house."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I see," Byleth replied. "So Bernadetta cannot choose what she wants."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I am afraid not," Edelgard said with a hint of sympathy. "So, I hope for her sake that she can improve her grades before graduation next year."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Lady Edelgard, it is getting late," Hubert interjected. "We must take our leave."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Ah, thank you, Hubert," Edelgard said. "Excuse us, Professor. We must be going. Good day."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Byleth returned to the Black Eagle Homeroom as Edelgard and Hubert left. Bernadetta was still inside sitting at a table looking down at the tabletop. She noticed Byleth and sat up./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Is…everything okay, Professor?" She asked nervously./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yes, everything's fine," Byleth class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Oh good," Bernadetta sighed relieved. "So, I guess I'm something of an honorary Golden Deer. I hope the others like me."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You'll be fine," Byleth said. "They're easy to get along with when you get to know them."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Hopefully Claude doesn't try to pull anything on her," Sothis joked amused. "And that Lysithea doesn't chew her up like a dog."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Hush," Byleth said unamused./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongThe next morning/strong/p
p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"The Golden Deer posse filed into the classroom ready for another day full of studies, training, and socializing. Lysithea yawned and rubbed her eyes exhaustedly. She pulled out a piece of chocolate from a drawstring pouch and nibbled on it which brightened her mood./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Where's Professor Byleth?" Lorenz asked noticing his absence. Normally, Byleth was there before anyone else getting the materials in order for class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Maybe he called out sick? Wouldn't that mean we'd get a substitute?" Ignatz asked curiously./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I heard that if the professor doesn't show up after ten minutes that we can leave class," Hilda said hopefully./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""That's…not how it works, Hilda," Leonie corrected. Then, they heard footsteps. Byleth came in through the door with someone hiding underneath the coat draped over his back. He stood at the head of the classroom with a commanding presence./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You can come out from behind me now, Bernadetta," Byleth said. Bernadetta peeked her head out from behind Byleth. She was like a fearful rabbit poking its head out of a burrow scanning for wolves. "Everyone, Bernadetta is going to be temporarily studying with us for the month."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""H-Hi…" Bernadetta squeaked as she waved slightly./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Hey, welcome to the Golden Deer," Claude said class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Please make her feel as comfortable as possible. And do not mess with her," Byleth looked towards Claude sharply. "That goes double for emyou/em, Claude."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Alright, alright, Teach. Point taken," Claude said holding his hands up. Byleth scanned the room. He noted an empty chair at Marianne and Hilda's table. For as little as he did know about Bernadetta, Byleth thought that Marianne would be the least intimidating presence for her to be around./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Claude was too unpredictable. Raphael was too large and imposing even though he's about as scary as a giant, friendly dog. Lorenz would probably be too off-putting in his disposition./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Bernadetta, would you like to sit next to Marianne?" Marianne perked up hearing class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Okay," Bernadetta said despite remembering how her last encounter with Marianne class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Is that all right with you, Marianne?" Byleth asked./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yes…" Marianne answered quietly. Byleth looked at Bernadetta expectantly./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Bernadetta shuffled over to Marianne and Hilda's table and sat down avoiding eye contact with either of the girls. Hilda was puzzled by Bernadetta's avoidant nature as she tried to greet her. Marianne glanced at Bernadetta who was burying her face in a textbook pretending to class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Now then, everyone. Today we present our reports on what interests us," Byleth announced. "Hilda, would you be so kind as to go first?" Hilda groaned in response./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Okay, Professor," Hilda sighed as she walked up to the front of the class. Claude chuckled reclining in his class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""This is gonna be good," he said class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Hilda, where's your report?" Byleth asked crossing his arms./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Sorry Professor, I forgot to write it," Hilda shrugged. "I asked everyone I know to help me write it. Claude, Lorenz, Dimitri, Ferdinand, everyone just wouldn't help sweet, little ol' me!" Byleth sighed exasperated./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Hilda, that's the second time we've had this problem," he said. "You wish to do well in class, do you not?"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yes, but I don't think anyone would listen to me anyway," Hilda deflected./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""See me after class then," Byleth replied sternly as he crossed his arms. "You and I have much to discuss." Hilda scowled and stomped back to her seat./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""He's making me emwork/em!" She muttered./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I heard that," Byleth warned. "Now then, who would like to go next?" Byleth scanned the room for volunteers. Bernadetta hid away behind her book still shy even though she wasn't on the docket to be picked. "If no one speaks up, I'm picking someone." Ignatz then raised his hand./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I guess I'll give it a shot," he said smiling a small, nervous smile. Ignatz walked quickly up to the front of the class, papers clutched tightly to his chest. He cleared his throat. "I'd like to present about a…hobby that I like very much-painting." After Ignatz straightened his papers, he began: "Painting means a lot to me as a hobby. This is because it helps me to capture the beauty of the world around me. I can see shapes in everything; trees, buildings, mountains, and other people. It's certainly a messy hobby sometimes. I painstakingly sketch until my fingers cramp, I get paint on my hands and clothes, and I find myself overthinking my choices for my pieces." Ignatz inhaled and sighed somberly. "I just…wish that others would appreciate my art." Ignatz then corrected himself. "Uh, sorry that wasn't apart of the report!"span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I didn't know that you painted, Ignatz," Byleth said class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It's…just a hobby, Professor," Ignatz said sheepishly. "I don't let it get in the way of my chores or studies, I assure you!"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It's fine, Ignatz. I don't mind if you paint," Byleth reassured the spectacled class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Do you have any hobbies, Professor?" Bernadetta asked curiously./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I…don't," Byleth admitted. "Even before coming to Garreg Mach I never explored my interests."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Huh, didn't think we'd be getting some more factoids about Teach today," Claude said raising an eyebrow. "Though, that's pretty unusual if you ask me, Teach. You mean to tell us that you don't read or write or anything fun?"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""We can discuss this another time," Byleth interrupted beginning to feel something like embarrassment. "Thank you, Ignatz. You can go sit down now." Ignatz gave a bow and small smile before doing as class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"strongLater that day/strong/p
p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 13px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Ignatz lugged a large canvas, a book bag full of art utensils bouncing against his hip. The canvas and stand made him look rather small by comparison. He placed the canvas down in a scenic spot overlooking the mountains in the distance. After wiping the sweat from his brow and exhaling sharply, Ignatz began to sketch./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Hmm, is this pencil type good for this line?" Ignatz said quietly to himself. Soon, Ignatz began losing himself in the process. Glancing back at the scenery occasionally, he fervently sketched the mountains in the distance./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"Then, Byleth walked up without Ignatz noticing./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Ignatz," he said simply. Ignatz gasped and jumped in response dropping his pencil. A large line had streaked across the canvas./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""O-Oh, Professor!" Ignatz stuttered. "I-I'm sorry, I was just doing some sketching-" Byleth held up his hand prompting the boy to stop. Byleth walked up to the canvas carefully studying the sketch of the landscape before him./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""This looks great," Byleth said, his nonplused expression betraying how impressed he was. "You did this by yourself?"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Oh, uh, yes, I did," Ignatz answered blushing deeply. "You…like it?"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Of course, why wouldn't I?" Byleth class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""It's just that…" Ignatz sighed. "Not everyone in my life is so supportive of this endeavor."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Who?" Byleth asked further./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""My parents," Ignatz continued sadly. "They want me to become a knight. I understand that it would be a safe occupation and it would pay better. But they don't see any value in my art and think I should stop entirely."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I see," Byleth said understanding. "Is that why you have a hard time in battle?" Ignatz nodded. "I think your art is worth pursuing,"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""R-Really?!" Ignatz said not expecting such a response./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""You have great potential as an artist if you keep practicing," Byleth said. "I do want for you to keep honing your craft as an archer. You have great potential there as well. If you can see so well when drawing, your eyes will be of great use on the battlefield."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I'll do my best, Professor Byleth," Ignatz responded. "It's just that…I have these terrible nightmares as of late."/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Can you elaborate?" Byleth requested gently./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Seeing dead bodies, mutilated, and burned," Ignatz explained. "And worst of all, this one that feels all too real-one where a knight on horseback stabbed me through my chest." The familiar description caused the blood in Byleth's veins to run cold./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Really?" Byleth said appearing calm despite his shock./p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""Yes, I feel this dull pain in my chest whenever I recall it," Ignatz said clutching said area tightly. "It's terrible."span class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""I'm sorry, Ignatz," Byleth said understanding his pupil's grief. "Would you like to speak to a counselor at the cathedral?"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""That would be helpful, yes," Ignatz smiled genuinely. Byleth helped Ignatz to collect his supplies, and escorted him back to the class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""emI had no idea that there'd be such consequences for my meddling with time/em," Byleth thought to class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""emNeither have I/em," Sothis admitted as she appeared floating to Byleth's left class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""emHow could you have not known?/em" Byleth snapped staring into Sothis' class="Apple-converted-space" /span/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""emHey, I cannot possibly recollect everything about my abilities/em," Sothis snapped back. "emIf I knew, I would've told you!/em"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""emI cannot allow the students to fall/em," Byleth said with firm resolve. "emI promise that they will not know death so young./em"/p
p class="p4" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';""emYou had best see to that they don't/em," Sothis reinforced. "emI cannot possibly imagine how horrible it must be to be plagued by nightmares."/em/p