White Clouds

The Golden Eagle

Part 1

I decided to split this chapter into two parts due to the pacing and theme. The second part is still being written but I hope to finish it this week if not next week!

Enjoy!

Blue Sea Moon of the Imperial Year 1180

Lysithea exhaled out a deep sigh from her chest as she walked out of the dining hall, it was the morning of the first Sunday of the month. She hasn't been having a pleasant morning despite receiving news that there was no obligatory mass for the month as the Church was more concerned on the security of the monastery for the upcoming Rite of Rebirth in honor of the Goddess.

She hasn't had a good start due to the dream she awakened from earlier. She barely ate anything for breakfast as her mind wondered more in her thoughts of the dream.

Lysithea has been receiving such dreams ever since she reached her current age of fifteen. It always starts with nightmares: nightmares of the past of what she and the Ordelia children went through. Then, sometimes there was fighting instead, she couldn't see who was fighting but she knew she was always in the middle of the battlefield with people dying around her.

Then finally… at the end of her nightmares is her dreams of the cliff overlooking the sea. Often, she would find a girl standing on the slopes, she couldn't see what she exactly looks like because when she tries to take a glimpse of her head, the wind blows so hard that it obscures her vision.

Earlier was different… completely different… Instead of the girl, the dream involved three graves on the same cliff. The first time that she had such a dream and it ended so abruptly when someone from behind stepped on a twig and snapped it.

At first, Lysithea discarded such dreams as merely meaningless ones as all dreams are yet the frequency of them occurring and how consistent they mostly are has been disturbing her greatly.

"What do they mean? Just why does it end in that same place?" Lysithea asked herself, frowning at her inability to decipher her own dreams. Giving up on figuring out the dreams, she wanted to make use of her time on something fruitful.

'Maybe the assignments Professor Byleth gave me would jumpstart my day.' She thought and agreed at the same time to go to her room and finish her extra credit homework.

The homework that serves as extra credit, it was quite a challenge even for Lysithea to solve. Byleth gave her a very complex situation in battle involving being flanked by enemy reinforcements while receiving news that their own reinforcements has been delayed by an ambush meant to slow them down. Lysithea didn't know how to solve this one… yet. The goal for a high grade that Byleth set was also intimidating as she has to make sure half of her current forces wouldn't fall as casualties while buying time.

Despite the difficulty, she appreciated how thought provoking the assignments given to her are. The professor, despite being busy in his duties as a professor and to Rhea was still thoughtful enough to keep Lysithea challenged after she requested to learn more. She found herself smiling but it soon faded as she remembered the previous night that she berated the professor for not knowing she was the youngest student.

She felt stupid for even telling him of her age which could mean the professor might actually begin to treat her different than he used to or she felt like she was ungrateful for the professor's equal treatment on her by scolding him of his 'poor form' despite his willingness to aid her in mending her own mistake of leaving her things behind.

Nonetheless, she felt terrible… not to mention how he saved her from possible punishment when she was accosted by the patrolling knights of being in the building during curfew.

Lysithea shook her head, she made up her mind. She will bake him some of her signature crumbly treats as an apology and as thanks for what he has done for her so far. But first, she had homework to finish and promptly made her way to her room.

On her way, she caught sight of the greenhouse that was situated near her room. A common sight for her everyday but that wasn't what particularly caught her attention.

It was Professor Byleth, kneeling down on one knee, his left hand on a basket but what was most curious is that he seems to be petting something.

Lysithea was aware that a lot of students have had their pets brought in upon learning it was allowed by Seteth, she surmised that Byleth was interacting with one of them until she heard a familiar meow.

"Ordelian?!" Lysithea gasped out, recognizing the sound her beloved and picky cat makes. Her gasp caught Byleth's attention and he tilted to his side to reveal his gloved hand tenderly petting Ordelian's head who seemed to be enjoying the display of affection.

"Lysithea." Byleth spoke her name before greeting her. "Good morning."

The Ordelia heiress didn't return the courtesy as she was too surprised to see Ordelian allowing someone else other than her to touch him. Not even her parents can get close to Ordelian without him running off or worse for some people, gets hissed at aggressively.

Ordelian is one such cat who is picky to the company of the people around him.

"How did you manage to pet him, professor?!" Lysithea asked out in shock.

Byleth raised a questioning eyebrow while Ordelian snuggled his head on to Byleth's gloved hand.

"What do you mean? I simply approached him. He was cautious at first and studied me then…"

"He let you touch him." Lysithea finished for him to which Byleth nodded.

"So he is your pet cat." Byleth let out a small dry chuckle, guessing right. "Fitting, he does remind me of your white hair."

Lysithea nodded and watched as Byleth returned his attention to her pet cat.

"You take care of him well… his coat is soft and smooth to touch unlike the other animals I see here. Although… there's always that black cat that has the same feel in her coat." Byleth murmured, still unable to know who owned the said cat he kept seeing around the dorms.

"Professor… I didn't know you were fond of cats." Lysithea remarked, seeing as how Byleth tenderly touches Ordelian as if the cat was his own.

Byleth sighed. "I always wanted to have a pet but due to the nature of my lifestyle with my father, we cannot afford to do so." Byleth lamented, remembering his old life as a wandering mercenary with nothing to truly consider home.

"Being in the monastery has introduced me to caring for the other pets as well." Byleth continued before fully standing up and carrying his basket. Ordelian needingly meowed at him as if wanting more of the stoic professor's touch.

Lysithea glanced at the basket he was holding and noticed various greeneries within it as well as some fruits. All of which have begun to exude a sweet aroma that tickled her nose.

"I didn't know you could tend to plants as well, professor." Lysithea remarked, noticing some traces of dirt on his sleeves as well as his pants. Not letting the fragrant aroma distract her for too long to no avail.

Byleth checked his basket as well as his dirtied sleeves.

"Dedue from the Blue Lions taught me during the first few months here." Byleth responded before something hit his head, figuratively.

"Lysithea." He called her out after noticing her sniffing the fragrance.

Lysithea blinked. "Yes?"

"This may be abrupt but would you like to have some tea? There's something I need your opinion of." Byleth asked with his usual straight face.

The snow-white haired girl first wondered why but then again, she felt the sudden desire to ask him on some pointers on the assignment he gave her. She does have some questions regarding the extra credit but more importantly, she was curious that Byleth needs her opinion of over a cup of tea.

There is also the matter of her wanting to make up for what the professor has done for her despite not being his student in the Black Eagles.

This was perhaps the first time the professor has asked her a favor and she would be ungrateful for not accepting it, she was indebted to his efforts and aid to after all. She just lamented that she didn't have the baked treats ready to give to him.

"Now?" She asked.

Byleth nodded. "Yes, I'll just clean up and get everything ready… I'll meet you in the courtyard."

Lysithea nodded and watched as the professor went back to his own quarters. Ordelian approached her and meowed at her, prompting her to pick him up before going to her room.

Tea time with the professor… she never had once accepted an invitation from anyone ever since she enrolled. Lorenz tried but was sharply rejected by Lysithea after she berated him for his stupidity at the mock battle.

There was Edelgard who suggested they have a proper conversation over a cup of tea yet no such invitation from her has escaped her lips so far. Lysithea surmised that it could probably be of recent events as well as her duties as house leader that prevented her from having some time for herself.

'I really wanted to taste those sweets she mentioned.' Lysithea thought of the sweets that Edelgard has in store for her, she immediately shook her head at the thought. She still wasn't sure what to truly think of the Imperial Princess.

'I still don't know what to think of Edelgard despite how well she has treated me recently.'

Lysithea wondered if she was being unreasonable in thinking that Edelgard is culpable of what she went through years ago. Edelgard was the Imperial Princess after all, she might have known yet-

"No… it's not right. She was no more than just a child like me when it happened." Lysithea shook her head in refusal to the growing negative thoughts to someone who is otherwise, blameless to what she went through. It's almost as if she was making everyone within the Empire responsible for what House Ordelia went through with such a logic.

"I can't continue thinking of her that way. It's not fair." She told her own reflection in the mirror in her room. She gussied up by brushing any loose strands of her silky hair and applying her lip balm.

It's not as if she was trying to attract the professor, that would be foolish for her considering her disdain for any kind of 'frivolous romance' during her time in the academy and with a teacher nonetheless would prove scandalous! What would her parents think of her? The other noble houses would think that her parents spawned an immoral child like her.

She was simply trying to look presentable for what is most likely just a formal social call on a weekend. Professor Byleth just wanted to ask her a favor, nothing else.

"Yes. Nothing else." Lysithea repeated. "I just accepted because I owe him so much. It's the least I can do." She told herself in the mirror once again, seeking validation for no reason at all.

Ordelian curiously watched his master as he sat on the bed near the small vanity table that Lysithea is standing in front of.

Lysithea gave her own reflection a nod before taking her leave, she took her notebook as well as her writing set and the paper that contained the extra credit work with her.

Her destination was the courtyard of Garreg Mach, it's time for her to hear what the professor has to say.

Unknown to her, Ordelian followed her out. Uttering not a single sound.

Lysithea took some time to find the right courtyard where the professor is, Garreg Mach has so much ground to cover that it was nearly exhausting to go on one side to another.

Her eyes lit up immediately upon seeing the professor setting up one of the tables in the gazebo, laying a small basket containing round biscuits of different variety such as having fruit jams on the middle, cream in between or just infused with chocolate.

Then there was the teapot made of ceramic white material along with tea cups and saucers underneath made of the same material. It was a fairly simple organization yet the sight of the sweets and the enticing aroma of the tea was wetting her appetite that she lacked earlier.

"Professor." She called out after Byleth had not noticed her presence, being engrossed in properly setting the utensils on the table. A wholly unnecessary thing to do in Lysithea's opinion but appreciated nonetheless.

Byleth raised his head while he finished placing a fork and teaspoon on a clean white napkin.

"You're just in time." Byleth said. "I apologize if the setting is too simple."

Lysithea shook her head. "Professor, it's quite alright. I-I appreciate the gesture." She gave him a reassuring smile, a smile that wasn't returned but Lysithea didn't care. She was used to his stone cold expression by now.

The professor of the Black Eagles gestured his right hand towards one of the chairs.

"Please, have a seat." While it was worded as a request, his tone devoid of any emotion made it sound like a command.

Lysithea obliged and pulled back one of the chairs made out of varnished oak and sat herself down, an act that Byleth mirrored.

"Tea?" He asked her. Lysithea cocked an eyebrow up, why is the professor being so formal today?

"Of course." Lysthea stated the obvious, why would she accept an invitation to tea in the first place if she wouldn't drink a cup?

"Thank you." She expressed, watching the professor hold the smoking ceramic teapot by its handle and tilting it down with the support of his other free hand on the lid above the pot.

When the piping hot fluid flowed from spout, the wonderfully sweet aroma attacked Lysithea's nostrils, gripping her instantly with the desire to just drink the tea cup while it was being filled.

Lysithea stared at the yellowish liquid on her teacup as the hot aroma invaded her nose, the smell reminded her of sweet honey mixed with a variety of fruits, a swirling variety of peach, orange and berries.

She couldn't resist anymore and took a sip, liking the taste but finding that it lacks something else.

"Do you have… umm…" Lysithea began, glancing at Byleth who was also taking a sip of the tea he preferred.

"Sugar? Lots please…" Lysithea finished, blushing a little when Byleth eyed her before wordlessly pushing the ceramic containing sugar cubes.

Lysithea's eyes lit up at the preparedness of the professor and promptly took unreasonable spoonfuls of the sugar cubes into her tea before stirring it with her teaspoon.

If only the Ordelia heiress could see Byleth's baffled look at her after witnessing the ungodly amount of sugar she put, she would be embarrassed at her display.

"Mmmm… this tea is deliciously sweet, professor." Lysithea remarked, placing her palm on the side of her face as she enjoyed the sweetness.

A sweat dripped from Byleth's brow, it seemed obvious he wanted to say something but was restraining himself from doing so.

'That's because you filled it with sugar.' Byleth thought, he couldn't fathom the idea of drinking the tea Lysithea was currently enjoying, he might probably feel lightheaded and shiver uncontrollably in drinking it.

Instead, Byleth placed his cup on the saucer and gestured Lysithea to the basket of biscuits with a variety of cream and jam.

"I didn't know you could bake, professor." Lysithea said, taking one of the biscuits and bit the crumbly delight with some of the blueberry jam in the middle.

"Mmmm!" Lysithea hummed at the sweet sensation of the baked delight.

Byleth shook his head. "I don't. Edelgard gave me those days before. I just had them warmed up to the oven while heating up the tea in the kitchen."

The Ordelia heiress froze and looked at the half-eaten biscuit she was enjoying. This came from Edelgard? They looked so simple yet they were tasty, could this be the kind of sweets that she plans on bringing along when she invites Lysithea to tea?

"You seemed surprised." Byleth observed, noticing the abrupt pause of Lysithea in her feast.

Lysithea opened her mouth until she realized what she was about to utter out that the professor doesn't need to know, instead she thought of something convenient.

"I… just thought you knew how to bake…" Lysithea lied, she tugged at the hem of her skirt using the free hand that rested on her lap. She felt bad lying to the professor but she had no choice, the professor probably wouldn't want to hear her suspicions on the leader of the house he is teaching.

"I know nothing in that field of cooking." Byleth bluntly told her. "But I know how to brew tea. Ferdinand taught me a couple of months ago."

Lysithea cocked an eyebrow.

'He can teach, he can fight, he can fish, he definitely knows his way around plants and now he can brew tea?'

"Is there anything else you can't do professor? Besides baking that is." Lysithea asked jokingly, trying to get a reaction from him to lighten up the mood.

Byleth paused for a while and placed a hand on his chin while his other held the teacup. Lysithea felt regret when she saw how deep in thought the professor was to her question.

"Uh wait, that was a joke professor-" Lysithea tried to call off the question until the professor shocked her with an answer she didn't expect.

"I can't smile."

And with that, an uncomfortable silence dawned on them. Byleth stayed quiet while staring at the appalled look on the star pupil of the Golden Deer. Lysithea didn't know how to react to his answer but she knew she had to get rid of this silence between them. She didn't want to make the professor feel like he made her uncomfortable with his answer.

"S-Surely… that was a joke right? You're unexpectedly funny, professor… Hahaha..." She tried her hardest to laugh yet it made her all the more unconvincing.

The look on Byleth's face when she opened her eyes after her fake laughter said it all.

He was serious. But there was within that seriousness that masked something, she just didn't know what it was.

"Professor?"

Byleth looked down on his half-filled teacup.

"I dampened things didn't I?" He asked rhetorically, already knowing the answer but Lysithea didn't give him the satisfaction that he was right.

Because Ordelian suddenly jumped on the table, surprising both his master and Byleth at his sudden appearance.

"Ordelian?!" Lysithea exclaimed, completely unaware that her beloved cat followed her out. The pure white cat meowed in response before nuzzling his head on Byleth's hand when the latter reached out for him.

Byleth wordlessly patted the cat with his hand, an act that Ordelian appreciated before he shifted his attention to his master and nuzzled his head to hers.

"Ordelian… you sly little cat, you sneaked out didn't you?"

Ordelian purred.

'Thank you though…' Lysithea mentally thanked the cat for his timely arrival in dispelling the silence that befell them, relaying the message by affectionately combing her fingers on his soft fur.

Byleth then realized something as if he had forgotten something, he reached down below his chair for the basket he used to gather his produce from the greenhouse while Lysithea interacted with her pet cat.

"I was meaning to give this to you earlier but our conversation about Ordelian took precedence." Byleth stretched out his right hand towards Lysithea, revealing a flower that was still in pristine condition.

Lysithea's eyes widened at the sight of the white lily, its color contrasting the black sleeves of its holder. Even while the aroma of the tea was in close proximity to her, she could smell the floral fragrance from the flower.

"Professor… its a-"

"A lily." Byleth said as Lysithea slowly took the flower off of his hand and held it with both hands.

"How did you know I like this flower?" She blurted out without thinking, revealing her fondness of the flower as she brushed the petals of the lily gently with her fingers.

Byleth stared at her surprised expression.

"I didn't. Looking at it reminded me of you all of a sudden while I was growing it." The way Byleth said those words to her made Lysithea's heart skip a beat.

She blushed heavily at the indication of what the professor said, was she so significant in his mind that the first thing that popped out of his head when looking at the lily was her? The fact that he grew it on his own didn't help.

"P-Professor, y-you should be c-careful saying such t-things…" Lysithea mumbled to herself though only Ordelian heard her, curiously peering into his master's face.

This was bad, she was feeling lightheaded due to the heat on her cheeks or more likely her head. She didn't know if the professor meant anything else when he gave her the flower or it was simply just a gift. It doesn't matter, what matters for her is this strange sudden feeling she just felt… it was scaring her!

"Are you alright?"

Lysithea snapped out of her own thoughts, her hand on the lily and another on her chest.

"Y-YES!" She shouted out all of a sudden.

"I see." Byleth said, surprised at her sudden outburst. Lysithea realized what she just did and drank her tea straight, finishing it all in seconds to calm herself down. Collecting her thoughts before she remembered something.

She hung her head low, still blushing red.

"I'm sorry professor."

"Why?"

Lysithea looked at him, Byleth saw shame in her eyes as well as guilt. He knew this look, she wanted to apologize to him on something but what for? Byleth couldn't remember how the girl wronged him in any way yet he allowed her to continue.

"I-" Lysithea couldn't continue when an unexpected visitor arrived to interrupt their tea time.

"There ya are, professor."

Lysithea and Byleth turned to their side to see Cyril holding a white envelope sealed with a wax seal. Both could tell that the letter within the envelope was important.

"Lady Rhea was looking for ya and Edelgard. Seteth wanted me to give this to ya."

Byleth nodded and took the sealed envelope from Cyril's hands, breaking the wax seal and taking out the letter from within.

For a short moment, Cyril and Lysithea watched as Byleth's eyes skimmed the contents of the letter.

"Have you found Edelgard?" Byleth asked the Almyran boy, folding the letter once again and placing it back in the envelope before hiding it within his belt.

Cyril nodded. "I have, she's awaiting ya in the reception hall."

Byleth nodded and stood up but not before looking at Lysithea.

"I apologize for ending this abruptly." Byleth gave the snow-white haired girl an apologetic bow, Lysithea shook her head.

"No, its alright professor-" Lysithea then remembered something crucial, the entire reason why Byleth invited her to tea in the first place.

Byleth was about to leave to heed Rhea's call until Lysithea asked him on the nature of his invitation to her.

"Umm… before you go…" Lysithea started and stood up from her seat, prompting Byleth to delay his departure briefly.

"What was the favor you wanted to ask, professor?" Lysithea asked curiously.

Byleth immediately answered.

"I wanted to ask you if you can help assist my house for this month's mission." Byleth answered, Lysithea's eyes widened for a bit.

She has heard of the concept of a student from a different house assisting another in their missions, its aim was to foster good relations between the assisting student and the members of the different house as well as generally aiding them with whatever set of skills the student possesses.

None has ever been asked for the past three months, most probably because each house was capable of fulfilling their respective tasks or probably out of pride not to show any vulnerabilities to the other houses. Lysithea was surprised that the Black Eagles required help despite showing how capable they have been since the most challenging tasks has been delegated to them recently.

"I already asked Professor Hanneman about it and he told me it is your decision." Byleth told her. "You don't have to give me a reply today, just come and talk to me if you have time."

"And don't worry about leaving the tea set and utensils there. I'll ask the staff to clean it up for me."

Lysithea wanted to immediately answer to no avail as Byleth swiftly left to join with Edelgard in meeting Rhea in whatever he was required for.

The Ordelia heiress sighed, sitting back down and taking another piece of the biscuit, biting on it as Ordelian meowed towards the direction to where the professor left.

"So that's your pet cat?" Cyril suddenly asked, Lysithea looked at him, wondering why he hasn't left yet.

"Uh yes… he decided to tag along with me when the professor invited me for tea." Lysithea replied, brushing her delicate fingers into Ordelian's fur.

Cyril frowned a little. "The professor invited you to tea?"

"Quite obvious don't you think?" Lysithea asked with a hint of sarcasm until she realized what Cyril could have meant, "Is it… wrong…?" she asked, a professor having tea alone with a student of the opposite sex might be… suspicious to look at, she thought.

The Almyran boy shook his head. "It's just that… it's weird to see the professor inviting anyone else to tea except Edelgard and Ferdinand from what I've seen."

Lysithea felt something different within her the moment she learned of the professor frequent time together with the Imperial Princess. She couldn't put her finger in what it was but she felt something and it disturbed her.

She sighed once more, taking the cup of tea to take a sip until a bunch of papers caught her attention on the table.

"Oh darn… I forgot to ask the professor about the assignment." Lysithea grumbled on how scrambled her priorities were today, she meant to ask him soon about the assignment Byleth gave her but she was too mesmerized by the lily he gave her.

The lily… Lysithea found herself taking the flower once more into her hands after she took a sip, Cyril watched her curiously as she brushed the petals gently.

"Say, that flower reminds me of ya, your white hair in particular." Cyril commented but Lysithea wasn't listening as she had her thoughts on what the professor told her after giving the flower.

"Looking at it reminded me of you all of a sudden while I was growing it."

Lysithea felt a blush creep on her cheeks, something that caught Cyril's attention besides it was the smile that graced the girl's lips.

"Professor…" She murmured.

Ordelian curiously looked up at his master, meowing at her.

"Oh, sorry Ordelian… I didn't mean to ignore you." Lysithea apologized to her pet but Ordelian merely snuggled his head on hers.

Cyril smiled at the pure white cat showing affections to Lysithea.

"He seems nice." Cyril said and stretched out his arm to touch the cat's fur behind his head.

Cyril's hand was inches away from the cat's head, Ordelian felt the presence of a foreign hand approaching him, his feline instincts compelled him to cease his display of affections towards Lysithea and promptly turned around to see Cyril trying to touch him.

"ORDELIAN!" Lysithea exclaimed in surprise when Ordelian viciously hissed at Cyril's hand.

The cat wasn't satisfied with just hissing and growling angrily at the audacity of the Almyran boy's attempt to touch him, before Cyril can pull his hand away out of instinct to avoid getting hurt, Ordelian managed to swat his hand further away, claws retracting from whence they were hidden with the paws, scratching Cyril's hand.

Lysithea stood up from her seat to check on Cyril's hand, Cyril held his right hand to see slight scratches on it. Despite the minor damage, Ordelian's scratch still managed to draw blood.

"I'm sorry for what Ordelian did to you! Are you okay?" Lysithea asked out in concern after seeing blood ooze from the scratch Ordelian inflicted upon him, the said cat was still hissing and growling angrily at Cyril, completely unapologetic to what he did.

Cyril nodded. "It's alright, it doesn't sting." He said before wiping the small amount of blood on his hand onto his shorts.

"Your cat is sure fierce."

Lysithea frowned, glancing at Ordelian with a disapproving frown.

"It's strange, I thought he would be more receptive to other people by now. He just allowed the professor to touch… even pet him to the point that Ordelian craved for it…" Lysithea murmured, thinking of Ordelian's prior positive reception to Byleth earlier.

Cyril looked at the cat who was still glaring at him.

"Maybe the cat just doesn't like me." Cyril simply said. "Anyhow, I still have some errands to do." Cyril then took out a paper, reading it, Lysithea noticed him knitting his eyebrows together as if having difficulty.

"Can't make sense of this." Cyril murmured to himself, Lysithea heard him as Ordelian calmed down and sat on the table but still maintained a wary glare towards Cyril.

Lysithea wordlessly took the paper from Cyril and read it.

It was a shopping list…

She would later find out that day that Cyril couldn't even read, as compensation for what Ordelian did to him, she helped him figure out what he was tasked with to buy as well as agree to keep his illiteracy a secret… something Cyril appreciated, warmly looking at Lysithea as she helped him.

Ordelian however kept glaring at Cyril as if he meant trouble to his master. Lysithea never truly understood why her cat was so uneasy around the Almyran, treating him like a bad omen.

After finishing tea and bidding Cyril farewell, who went on to buy the things she translated for him in the shopping list. Lysithea left the courtyard with Ordelian in tow, hugging her notebook and the lily she received from Byleth to her chest.

Lysithea found herself encountering the professor once again, she saw him descending down the stairs from the second floor while accompanied with Edelgard. Both of which seemed to be talking about something important as they both stopped at the base of the stairs, discussing something.

"Here, take a hold of this and gather your classmates in the classroom. I'll meet all of you there." Byleth instructed Edelgard, giving her the letter that he received from Seteth.

Edelgard nodded in affirmation. "Very well, my teacher. Please don't be late." With that, Edelgard left the professor to gather the Black Eagles for a meeting within their classroom despite it being a Sunday.

Byleth briefly watched Edelgard depart before heading down the reception hall, only to lock eyes with Lysithea when he shifted his gaze to the horizon.

"Professor…" Lysithea softly called out.

Ordelian meowed past her and jumped straight into the professor's arms. Byleth barely had time to react and position his arms in order to receive Ordelian properly to avoid letting go of him.

'Ordelian's so fond of him…'

Lysithea noted as Ordelian climbed down and reunited with her.

"Lysithea." Byleth called out. "Forgive me for leaving earlier."

"It's quite alright professor, I know you're a busy man… and yet you still give time for someone who isn't really a member of your house…"

"Regardless if you are in my house or not, you are still a student of mine." Byleth corrected her. "But I have to go. There is something I must discuss with the Black Eagles…" With that, Byleth moved past her and Ordelian to go to his current agenda, the sleeves of his coat billowing as he passed by her.

Lysithea couldn't afford to watch the professor leave again, she wanted to talk to him about his request earlier hence her reason in going to the direction of Rhea's audience chamber. She wanted to tell him now and not a day sooner.

"Professor!"

Byleth paused and turned to look at her, he didn't say anything and instead gave her a look to speak her mind.

Lysithea collected herself first, she knew what will entail when she finally tells him her answer.

"Professor, about what you asked me earlier… I-"

The Black Eagles all awaited the arrival of their professor, having all recently arrived at their classroom after Edelgard had them summoned for a meeting. Prompting even Caspar and Petra to kick Bernadetta's door open and drag her out despite her protests.

Ferdinand and Linhardt asked what is the nature of such a meeting only to be denied by Edelgard, telling them to be patient and await the professor's arrival.

Only Hubert and Dorothea stayed quiet as time went by.

Surely enough, the twin doors to the classroom opened to reveal their beloved professor, wearing his usual stoic look that doesn't seem to intimidate them as much as it used to, they collectively knew that despite his appearances… The professor was a good and genuine man.

Well… except for Bernadetta who was still afraid to look at how sharp and serious the professor is as he went into the classroom.

"Ah professor, we have been awaiting your return." Ferdinand began.

Edelgard looked at each and every one of her classmates with Hubert and Dorothea standing behind her.

"Everyone's here and accounted for, professor. We may start now." The ashen-haired girl gave Byleth a nod to proceed.

Linhardt yawned. "While I may want to proceed and get this over with to get back to napping… I feel like we should address something else."

His classmates looked at him with Petra asking him more or less what was in their mind.

"Why? What is to be addressing soon?"

Byleth looked down on the floor, making Edelgard raise an eyebrow in question that he has something else in mind before they talk about their purpose here.

"Like… Why is there someone in this room that isn't a part of us?" Linhardt pointed out his finger to the professor's direction.

Linhardt's action prompted everyone of his classmates towards Byleth, most of them were either confused or were eyeing him with questioning looks.

"I was meaning to tell everyone, Linhardt." Byleth sighed at the green-haired noble for going over his head, the professor then tilted to his side to reveal the person behind him all the time when he entered the classroom.

Everyone besides Linhardt was surprised, especially Edelgard to see the star pupil of the Golden Deer, Lysithea of all people within the Black Eagles classroom.

"Professor, what is the meaning of this? Are we perhaps allowing students from other houses to meddle into our affairs?" Hubert coldly but calmly asked Byleth.

Edelgard glanced back at Hubert and gave him a glare, making Hubert bow in apology for his words and tone to the professor.

"I have invited Lysithea to assist us in this month's mission after careful consideration." Byleth announced to his students.

"The professor and I had discussed the plan for Goddess's Rite of Rebirth, we were lacking in manpower to conduct our own plan should our suspicion come true that the assassination plot to the archbishop is just a ruse to distract the Knights on delegating their forces in protecting Lady Rhea." Edelgard explained, coming to the professor and Lysithea's side.

Lysithea was still a little confused on what plan they were talking about, Byleth has just briefly explained it to her on their way to the classroom. She only knows that the Black Eagles would break away from the guard duty that all students were assigned to during the Rite of Rebirth and instead conduct their own investigation on potential targets from hostile forces.

"And that is why I asked for Lysithea's assistance for this matter. She has shown herself to be capable due to her magic, she has progressed beyond any other students here has achieved in their studies in magic." Byleth said, vouching for Lysithea and praising her progression as a student. "She will be assisting us until the new moon sets in."

Caspar shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know much about magic mumbo jumbo but if you say she's capable then I won't doubt your words!" He casually said, completely at ease in his faith towards the professor's judgment.

"U-Umm… I heard she snaps at p-people… I-I just h-hope s-she won't d-do it here…" Bernadetta squirmed from behind Petra. Lysithea frowned at how Bernadetta described her, earning a yelp from the Varley noblewoman when she noticed Lysithea frowning at her.

"This… will be… interesting." Linhardt sheepishly said, scanning Lysithea from head to toe. Lysithea was visibly irked as if Linhardt's gaze was violating her.

"I do hope we get along with her, brief as our time will be." Dorothea expressed her hope to form a bond, something Hubert scoffed at.

"I will be taking great pleasure working with her." Petra affirmed with optimism, Ferdinand also nodded in approval.

Edelgard then turned to Lysithea with a smile gracing her lips.

"Lysithea, I do hope you'll feel at ease around us during your time assisting the Black Eagles. Thank you." Edelgard gave her a bow of thanks, Lysithea merely nodded before Edelgard looked at Byleth.

"Professor, if you may-"

"Oh my gosh, is that your cat?" Dorothea chimed in when she spotted Ordelian hanging around Lysithea's boots, hiding below the shade provided by Lysithea's skirt. Even the other Black Eagles particularly Bernadetta peered closer out of curiosity.

Edelgard sighed at how easily distracted her classmates are until her eyes softened when she saw Ordelian regarding her warily. It was a sight Lysithea didn't expect to see from the future emperor.

After Byleth explained the plan in full detail as well as the map and security detail he received from Seteth on the Rite of Rebirth. Byleth had their meeting adjourned and was the first to leave the classroom.

Lysithea, having sat with Petra and Dorothea, tried to follow the professor to ask about her assignment until…

"Lysithea."

The Ordelia heiress turned around to meet Edelgard's warm lavender eyes upon her.

"I really appreciate you accepting the professor's request for aid." Edelgard said with a small smile.

Lysithea glanced at the departing professor and back at Edelgard.

"I… owe so much to the professor. This is the least I can do for all that he's done for me." Lysithea replied, gripping her books tightly.

Edelgard nodded. "Regardless, I thank you. With you at our side, I don't think we should worry that much. You are after all, the best magic user among the students here."

Lysithea cocked an eyebrow up. "Says who?"

"The professor." Edelgard responded rather quickly. "You seem to have made quite an impression on him, he rarely says such things."

The snow-white haired girl found herself smiling after hearing of such a thing that Byleth holds her in such high regards, while flattery doesn't really affect her… it does when it came from people who do not throw such compliments away so frequently.

The professor was one such person who spoke little but his words meant a lot to others when uttered.

"I hate to be rude but I have to go, Edelgard." Lysithea said after sneaking another glance at the professor and saw he was about to get out of her sight.

Edelgard noticed her sneak glances at the professor as well as the notebook and papers she had been bringing along. She correctly deduced Lysithea had questions of an academic nature to the professor.

"Very well then, farewell." Edelgard bid her goodbye, a courtesy Lysithea returned before she swiftly left.

Edelgard watched Lysithea follow the professor's trail with a smile before it faltered as she looked at her side, Hubert arrived.

"Is there something the matter, Lady Edelgard?"

Edelgard nodded, her gaze returning towards Lysithea who was steadily leaving her sight.

"I want you to look into the Hrym Rebellion and House Ordelia's involvement. Get every amount of details you can get and find out anything pertaining to Lysithea. There's something I need to know… badly."

Hubert bowed in obedience to Edelgard's orders, leaving her side to begin his investigation.

Edelgard simply stood there at the doorway of the Black Eagles classroom, lifting her head up to look at the afternoon skies of Fodlan.

"She might prove to be a potential ally on what is to come." Edelgard mused ominuously, unknown to her, Ordelian sat beside her legs apparently at ease with her.

I think I have overused Ordelian in this chapter, he's mostly involved in every scene. Ironic that he was included in this story as a last-minute addition because by the time I was writing the first few chapters, the DLC that allows you to feed pets in the game wasn't released yet and as such the cats and dogs are unnamed XD

Part 2 will be arriving soon but before that, I'll make some announcements...

I am planning on writing a one-shot fic about Byleth and Lysithea set on a post-Verdant Wind setting for Lysithea's birthday at 28th of Pegasus Moon aka February 28. It's going to be titled "Broken Hourglass".

Also, I hang out a lot in the Church of Lysithea discord channel with fellow Bysithea writers Hazeel and SuperbOwl! Come find us there if you guys would like to!

Kudos, reviews and comments are appreciated! Thank you!