The Last Scion of House Ordelia

by kenji1104

Lysithea was said to be bound for greatness when she was born. Join her in her life story as it began in Garreg Mach, forge bonds with various people and eventually find love and a reason to fight on for her life and happiness. A detailed story of Lysithea's journey in the Black Eagles/Crimson Flower route with its own unique take on the route's story.

12. White Clouds: The Tower of Vows Part B

White Clouds

The Tower of Vows

Part B

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This took longer than expected to write. Apologies for that, I was busy writing Fermented Flower with Superb0wl before I focused on this story.

If you haven't read that story yet, I suggest you do so with a little warning, it's a smut story featuring our OTP with some plot in between.

---

19th day of the Ethereal Moon of the Imperial Year 1180

"You remember the steps, right?"

"Yes, it's quite simple."

"Okay, now as we practiced… one… two… three…" Annette counted as she led the dance with Lysithea, their respective left and right hand clasping each other.

Annette was acting as the male in the dance while Lysithea was the female as such, Annette's right hand was placed on Lysithea's back to support her while Lysithea had her left hand on Annette's shoulder.

The two friends followed a specific sequence of moves, waltzing around the greenhouse they solely occupied, seeing it as the only place they could practice unhindered according to Annette.

Lysithea remembered how Annette initially refused her requests until she was word-by-word reminded of her own promise to Lysithea that she would help her if she ever needed it. Annette, finding no choice and feeling guilty, acquiesced.

Unknown to Lysithea, Annette wanted to keep the fact that she knows how to dance because of an embarrassing experience she had with a certain classmate of hers, not a lot of people knew she was even capable of moving about in a dance and the way she was found out was humiliating as it was.

When Annette first demonstrated the steps, Lysithea found it simple and repetitive, thinking back then why was there a need for extensive dance lessons that her parents tried to get her into only for the proposition to be rejected by her, deciding that learning how to formally dance as a member of the nobility is a waste considering her plans for the future.

Now, Lysithea seems to regret rejecting her parents' offer to teach her the dance as she found it much harder to do in real time compared to just observing Annette.

The amount of physical activity needed to move one's body, the coordination needed to move well alongside your partner's and not to mention the grace needed to move well, it was more taxing than she'd ever thought!

As Annette led the dance on, Lysithea was trying to remember the steps in her mind which resulted with her body movement lagging behind Annette's. When Lysithea realized her mistake, she tried to compensate by hastening her movements which served to doom her more as she tripped and fell on the ground, dragging Annette with her by the arm.

"KYAAAAH!" Both the two short girls yelped out as they fell on the floor.

Lysithea hit her back first while Annette's face planted on the greenhouse's floor, both groaned in pain at the failed practice session due to Lysithea's blunder.

"O-Ouch…" Lysithea moaned from the pain on her lower back as well as the back of her head, she tried to sit up only to lie down back again due to the stinging pain in her body.

"Are you alright, Annette?" Lysithea asked, looking at her side only for her eyes to widen in horror as she saw Annette holding her head, what caused Lysithea a high degree of concern was the red mark on Annette's forehead which was most likely caused by falling face first on the stone ground.

Ignoring the pain on her back, Lysithea sat up to help Annette, carefully and gently sitting the Dominic girl up. Lysithea began to regret her recent fumble already seeing as how Annette might have suffered a concussion from her fall.

"I'm fine." Annette smiled through the pain and the swollen bump on her forehead.

"No you're not! Look at your head! That's got to be painful if the swelling is that big!" Lysithea chided Annette's attempt to brush off her injury, her voice riddled with worry and guilt as well, guilt for dragging Annette down with her request to teach her how to dance despite Annette's initial refusal to do so.

"I just need some ice and maybe some-"

Without a word, Lysithea readied her healing spell in her hands and positioned them on Annette's forehead, Lysithea's hand radiated with soothing green colored magic that quickly served to lessen the pain in Annette's head and made the bump on her head fade until only dirt makes remained to remind them where the swollen bump used to be.

"Since when did you learn Faith magic?" Annette asked with a perplexed look, unaware of Lysithea's ongoing study of that particular magic considering she was used to seeing the Ordelia girl practicing and honing her Dark magic which was a difficult and complex school of magic to learn in the first place.

"Just recently," Lysithea admitted as she neared the end of her incantation. "The professor asked me to learn something before the school year ends."

There was silence from Annette while Lysithea put on the finishing touches on her healing spell, the green aura around her hands dissipated and with it, a proud smirk beamed across Lysithea's face.

"There, it looks almost as if nothing happened." She chimed in only to be met by a look of concern from Annette.

Lysithea was perturbed at the way Annette was staring at her. "Is there… something wrong?" she asked with uncertainty, thinking she may have made a mistake using her healing spell.

"I know this is too much of me to ask but… how are you and the professor?" Annette asked with concern. The subsequent look on Lysithea's face mostly answered Annette's inquiry.

There was a moment of hesitation for Lysithea, she didn't know what to tell Annette but she knew where she stood regarding the professor but there was a certainty in her mind, what she was resolved to do. What Edelgard told her the other day, she thought long and hard about it at the cost of a restless night which resulted in her cutting her homeroom class the next day.

"Think of your own happiness for once." Edelgard's words echoed in her head.

"This sudden request to teach you how to dance, are you planning on asking-"

Annette stopped when Lysithea gave her a small smile. The snow haired girl stood up, dusting her skirt off of any dirt before offering a hand for Annette to reach out, the orange haired girl accepted the kind offer and she stood up rather easily thanks to the offered assistance.

"So, shall we continue?" Annette asked.

Lysithea nodded, eagerly wanting to learn more from Annette's guidance.

As for Annette, her motivation to teach her friend how to dance was further invigorated. She was one of the people who had been extremely concerned for Byleth and Lysithea ever since the scandal about them perpetuated. She, like all the Black Eagles, were quick to defend the two and she hated the way Lysithea was being treated like a pariah who had committed the worst kind of crime known to the people of Fodlan.

If she was right to guess what Lysithea was planning to do for the ball, then she will wholeheartedly give her support despite her earlier reservations in teaching her.

If it was in her capacity to help Lysithea then by the Goddess, she will make sure to offer whatever she can.

But… there was an issue that needs to be addressed… She needed to find someone taller for Lysithea to practice with.

---

"I must admit, I'm surprised you invited me out for tea."

Edelgard passed the ceramic pot of tea to her guest, none other than Claude, that she had invited to have tea with in the gazebo she frequents mostly with her friends and professor.

Claude's smile never left as he poured his cup with the tea Edelgard had readied for the both of them, he caught a whiff of the tea from the steam coming out of the spout and immediately recognized it as his favorite.

"Chamomile… Hmm… you really went out your way to get this for me eh?" Claude's smile grew, taking a sip of the tea and letting its taste and aroma soothe his soul.

Edelgard drank from her own cup before setting it down on the saucer in a formal manner, something Claude noted in his mind that was being too stiffly proper. It was surprising for the Riegan heir to be invited by the house leader of a rival house for tea. Normally, Edelgard would rather spend time with people close to her or she has dealings but to ask him of all people? He could smell something was up and it wasn't the aromatic and calming scent of chamomile..

"It wasn't hard to find out when Hilda was forthcoming with that information." Edelgard replied, clasping her gloved hands together on top of her lap as she crossed her ankles together.

"I should have known," Claude chuckled, thinking briefly of the pink haired girl from House Goneril, one of the few people he could feel comfortable with despite his ever privy nature about himself. "You know how to exploit a weak spot as always."

Edelgard closed her eyes. "You make it sound like simply asking someone else of another's simple preference of tea is a sinister thing." Edelgard solemnly said before continuing on.

"You have no retainer yet I often see you around with her and that is why I believed she was the right person to ask."

Claude casually shrugged his shoulders up before taking another sip of tea until he realized something.

"Hubert didn't poison this… did he?"

This time, Edelgard frowned at Claude's insinuation towards her most loyal subordinate.

"That is quite uncalled for and quite as ironic coming from you." Edelgard responded with mild annoyance. "I seem to recall you poisoned Lorenz' tea to prevent him from participating in the White Heron Cup for Hilda to represent your house."

Edelgard briefly recalled the White Heron Cup that was held in the ballroom days ago, an event where in a representative from each house, chosen either by their professor or classmates, would dance with grace for the prestige of their house as well as to be a precursor of the mostly anticipated ball on the 25th day of the Ethereal Moon.

It was an event that Dorothea won for her house due to her experience as a former member of the Mittelfrank Opera Company and Manuela's former protege. Dorothea seemed fated to nab the win effortlessly but Hilda's performance rivaled that of hers which led the judges to make a split decision.

Claude mockingly gestured to her to keep quiet about such matters by lifting his finger up his lips.

"I am wondering how you found out about that."

"So, am I correct then?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Claude shrugged with a playful smirk before clearing his throat.

"On to important matters then, what prompted this meeting?" Claude asked, deciding to get a bit serious for once yet Edelgard wasn't convinced he was being serious due to the ever present smirk he wore over his lips.

Edelgard sighed, ignoring Claude's smirk. "I have come to discuss certain members of your house."

A bit of Claude's smirk faltered away, he knew what Edelgard wanted to address with him and truth to be told, he had planned to address it with her as well.

"Does that concern a certain former member of my house that you and Teach had snatched from us?" Claude asked, still maintaining his jests while talking yet Edelgard can tell by his emerald green eyes that he is going to take the topic seriously.

It briefly reminded Edelgard of what Byleth told her when she asked him about his opinion regarding Claude in one of their conversations to one another some time ago.

"The smile he constantly wears can easily give the impression to someone that he is a man of no problems yet his eyes deceive such a smile."

"I'm pretty sure you are aware of what she is going through, right?" Edelgard rhetorically asked Claude.

Both house leaders had Lysithea in their mind, both of which had thought highly of the girl due to what she could do as well as their attraction to her strong character. Edelgard, most of all, was deeply fascinated with her which Claude had taken notice of ever since Lysithea began helping her house at the request of Professor Byleth before she formally joined them.

Claude knew she had caught the eye of both the new professor and Edelgard yet he could do nothing but watched as Lysithea voluntarily joined them in hopes of learning more under Byleth… there was also her increasing bond with Edelgard to consider.

"I am. I never thought her fondness for Teach would end up like this." Claude said. "To be honest, the news about it caught me and my friends in surprise."

"Friends? You mean the fools in your house who had been constantly gossiping and harassing Lysithea ever since these false rumors propagated around the monastery?" Edelgard questioned with a frown, questioning Claude's choice of 'friends'.

"If you meant those people whose names I barely recall who are hanging in the sidelines most of the time then no, those aren't mine and Lysithea's friends in the Golden Deer," Claude corrected Edelgard. "I'm referring to those who stand out the most… count it like an inner circle if you may."

"Whatever the case, the people who are constantly harassing Lysithea nearly every day are students from your house, Claude." Edelgard pointed out, despite her attempts to sound calm, she was uncharacteristically agitated on the topic regarding the recent woes Lysithea has been experiencing. In Claude's eyes, she seemed so…

"Ah yes, I've heard of what happened. I got to say, you have one hell of a slap to cause such a bruise to that poor guy." Claude remarked, remembering the bruise on the man's face as well as the blood on the corners of his lips after he reported that the house leader of the Black Eagles physically attacked him without provocation. Claude never believed it of course.

"And what does your Highest of Highnesses want me to do then?" He inquired.

Edelgard wasn't amused by the way Claude addresses her but ignored it in order to get her point across.

"I wish for you to at least lend a hand in the prevention of such further incidents," Edelgard said. "At the very least, use your authority as the house leader to lessen if not eradicate such unfair treatment towards Lysithea."

The house leader of the Golden Deer took a sip of his tea as he carefully regarded Edelgard with his eyes. Never has he seen Edelgard to be so fiercely protective of a member of her house and of someone who wasn't an original member and not one of her future subjects no less.

Claude knew he holds the advantage in this conversation, he can do something to secure something from Edelgard's request in return but it would be too underhanded for him to do so. He also had been receiving more and more reports from his friends in his house of the constant bullying Lysithea had been experiencing, he also witnessed the end of such an event at one point but was too late to intervene as the people responsible left Lysithea on her own afterwards.

Despite Lysithea's clear annoyance at him during her time with him and the Golden Deer, he had come to view her as a friend and valuable member due to her superior intellect and the raw potential that she carries. He thought Hilda and the others won't ever forgive him if he didn't do anything to help their former classmate and friend, even he felt that he won't forgive himself for doing nothing.

"I won't lie to you, Edelgard." Claude sighed after setting down his tea cup. "The people under my house, the ones who you slapped nearly to the edge of oblivion approached me earlier demanding me to seek some kind of holy retribution I can bring down on you for what you did."

Edelgard simply regarded him with raised eyebrows. "And let me guess, they didn't tell you the whole story?"

"More or less." Claude shrugged. "But I knew them, Lysithea wasn't the first one they treated as such in the past and it so happens that Ignatz witnessed the entire affair and so I had threatened them to report their actions to Seteth for what they did."

He remembered how he had warned the trio and threatened to recommend them for expulsion for what they have done as well as their past actions, despite them being under his house, he will never tolerate such behavior.

"That's surprisingly… assertive of you…"

Claude smirked. "I'll take that as a compliment." He then looked down on the chocolate eclair in the dessert stand in the middle of the table, taking one and taking a bite of it to enjoy the chocolate frosting and the sweet cream within.

"So, can I expect such treatment of Lysithea to lessen following this discussion?" Edelgard inquired, her lavender eyes desiring the answer she seeks from Claude.

Claude nodded. "You have my word but…"

'There goes the but…'

Edelgard thought, almost forgetting the possibility that Claude would ask something in return for such a favor from her.

"I need to know… Why are you so protective of someone who will have nothing to do with you once you become emperor?" Claude asked, this time, unlike before as Byleth deduced, what his face and eyes tell were in sync to one another. "Why go so far for someone like her who isn't originally from your house?"

The question caught Edelgard off-guard, she had expected Claude to ask something in a joking manner or request a favor from her but she never anticipated such a question.
"I've never seen you so fiercely protective over someone in the months knowing you, you seem to hold everyone within arm's reach but with Teach and especially, Lysithea… you..."

"Why do you ask…?"

Just before Claude could finish or before Edelgard could ever answer, the sudden arrival of the only missing house leader interrupted such events to pass.

"Oh? It is quite rare to see both of you talking together, alone if I might add." Dimitri noted as he approached them, having spotted his fellow house leaders conversing with one another.

"Aaannddd his Highness interrupts." Claude frowned.

Dimitri raised an eyebrow before he realized that he may have interrupted something delicate between the two, he felt he had offended both judging from the frown on Claude's face and Edelgard's surprised look.

"Please accept my apologies for the rude interruption…" Dimitri bowed apologetically. The sinister smirk on Claude's face alarmed Edelgard when it began to surface.

"Yeah, you better! You ruined my exclusive date with the Imperial Princess here!" Claude exclaimed with a teasing smirk aimed to get a rise from both his rival house leaders, both gave him varying looks of indignation and embarrassment.

"Claude, stop feeding lies to Dimitri-"

"I apologize once more for interrupting-"

"And don't believe him so easily, Dimitri." Edelgard sighed in exasperation before offering Dimitri to sit with them to discuss other matters, serving tea to the Faerghus prince.

Although, Claude's question stuck in her mind. How far would she go for someone like Lysithea? She herself knew the answer why...

---

21st day of the Ethereal Moon of the Imperial Year 1180

"Why are we practicing here? In one of the empty storerooms?" Lysithea asked just as she and Annette arrived in one of Garreg Mach's storerooms that contained nothing but broken carriage wheels and wooden furniture that had collected dust and cobwebs in the years of being unused.

"Well… it's more secluded plus we have bigger space to practice in." Annette explained as she walked ahead in the middle of the storehouse. "Besides, people can walk in on us in the greenhouse."

"Or maybe you just want to prevent another incident where in we fell into the flowerbed and ruined those delicate flowers Dedue had been growing." Lysithea gave Annette a mocking smirk, knowing that she was responsible for such a blunder when Felix suddenly opened the door to the greenhouse to proceed with his role to water the plants.

"Ugh, can you please stop mentioning that! I already feel bad ruining Dedue's hard work on those plants! They were so pretty!" Annette lamented, feeling guilty all over again when she saw the crushed look in the mostly stoic Duscur man's face when she told him the tragic news of her accidental destruction of his flowers. Annette felt bad for her former classmate but nonetheless could do nothing else but to blame herself due to the sight of Felix evoking some memories in the greenhouse between him and her.

Annette could nearly die from embarrassment at the memory she desperately wanted to forget.

"Or perhaps there has been someone who has walked in on you dancing in the greenhouse?" Lysithea asked that nearly made Annette jump on how spot on her guess was.

Annette's lips pushed forward to form a pout in reaction to Lysithea's guesses, unable to find a proper comeback towards her friend.

"Not that it matters much, can we start now?" Lysithea asked rather impatiently and it was in her eyes that told Annette that she was very eager to continue learning the art of dancing.

"Not yet."

"Why not? What else are we waiting for?"

"Them." Annette pointed out behind Lysithea.

Right on cue, the large twin doors of the storeroom opened, Lysithea whisked around to see who the newcomers were, only for her pinkish red eyes to widen beyond recognition.

Before her stood her female classmates in the Black Eagles (with the exception of Bernadetta) and of her former female classmates from the Golden Deer (with the exception of Marianne), all of which were all smiles as they were led by Edelgard.

Immediately, Lysithea turned to Annette with a look of someone who had her trust betrayed.

"I thought I told you this arrangement should be a secret! Why did you tell and invite others to join in on us?" Lysithea questioned with clear indignation to the Dominic girl.

"They wanted to help and I figured you needed a taller partner to practice with." Annette replied as she formed a smile. "Edelgard and the others were more than happy to help you with it and besides, wouldn't it be fun to learn with friends?"

Lysithea could only sigh in resignation, there was truth in Annette's reply, she needed a taller partner and despite her mostly antisocial tendencies… she does find the company of her friends fun when they do something collectively, it made her feel warm and happy.

Yet there was a feeling of reservation for her that she wanted this matter to be kept between her and Annette.

"If I'll be honest, I can only teach you the basics but if you want to refine your dance… it might be better for someone with more experience to teach you." Annette added as she looked at Dorothea.

"Don't worry, Lysie. You won't be alone in learning, I have to teach Petra and Bern the steps-"

"Dorothea, Bernie is hiding somewhere." Petra interjected as she looked around her surroundings to see that the infamous recluse was nowhere to be found which led Dorothea to sigh.

"I should have expected that."

As Dorothea left with Petra to track down where Bernadetta went, Edelgard approached Lysithea to talk to her.

"If you don't mind, I'll be teaching you the finer points of the dance." Edelgard offered with a rare full smile, her lavender eyes softening at Lysithea.

Before Lysithea could respond, Hilda hugged Lysithea from behind, embracing her as if they had long been separated.

"Oh, it's been a looooong time since I did something with you together, Lysithea! I'm so excited!" Hilda moaned out in excitement.

"H-Hilda!"

True to what Hilda said, it has been long since she did something together with their former classmate. The fact that Lysithea avoided everyone especially her former classmates in the Golden Deer out of shame for the scandal that had hounded her constantly, Lysithea isn't lying when she felt that she didn't want her former classmates to be involved into her own affairs after she had 'exchanged' them for the Black Eagles, thinking that her departure as well as the onset of the scandal would have also ruined what Hilda and the others thought of her.

Which appears to be not the case.

"A-Aren't you guys angry at me?"

Hilda frowned. "For what reason?" She asked.

"Because most people from the Golden Deer thinks I'm a slu-"

"We never believed you and the professor are capable of doing such a thing." Leonie replied, her hands on both sides of her waist. Despite her own reservations against Byleth, Leonie knew the kind of person the professor is.

"Yeah! Did you really think us to be that shallow minded?" Hilda asked, looking offended that Lysithea assumed they were as stupid as the rest of their other peers who thought of Lysithea so lowly after that certain rumor started propagating around the monastery.

"I-I suppose not…" Lysithea stuttered, she herself was feeling stupid for even thinking of them that way.

"Just leave some of the dance lessons to your big sister Hilda!" The Goneril noblewoman grinned. "Now, when can we begin?"

"Halt now, Hilda. I think I should be teaching Lysithea the finer points first, you can practice with her later once I'm done." Edelgard giggled at the eagerness of Lysithea's former classmate.

"Fiiiiineee, I'll be teaching clumsy toes here how to not trip on her partner in a dance first." Hilda said while eyeing Leonie. "She nearly smothered poor delicate me when I tried to teach her first."

Leonie looked flustered at Hilda's nickname for her. "I told you I suffered a foot sprain from training! Stop bringing that up!"

"Hah! Foot sprain you say? You were running laps around Garreg Mach the next day so early in the morning!" Hilda sneered at Leonie, hitting her with the truth of the matter as Leonie became silent with an embarrassed blush.

"AAAHHH! LET ME GO LET ME GO!" Bernadetta whined as she was carried by both Dorothea and Petra like a heavy sack of grain, both girls carrying her by her arms and legs respectively.

Lysithea and Edelgard sighed as their classmate was carried and prevented from escaping the clutches of the two. The Imperial Princess could only place a hand on half of her face at how the other members of her house were still acting even after all these months.

"They're still as ridiculous as always." Edelgard sighed and when she turned to Lysithea, the latter regarded her with accusing eyes.

"Is there something wrong?" Edelgard asked, feeling a sense of unease whenever Lysithea would look at her with such eyes.

Lysithea shrugged. "I don't know, you call others as such when you're no different." She pointed out.

Edelgard frowned, thinking of what Lysithea was referring to about her being as ridiculous as her peers. "I don't… what's that suppose to me-"

"Oh you know what I am referring to." Lysithea scoffed before her lips curled into that of a sinister teasing smirk that made Edelgard shiver, it was such a rare sight for the Ordelia girl to form such a smirk in her time knowing her.

Edelgard was about to form a reply when Lysithea decided to bring back some memories for the Imperial Princess to be alarmed about.

"You and your metaphors especially that "Reach for my hand and soar away." thing you said to me during my induction." Lysithea giggled at the memory of how Edelgard said it with so much passion and the subsequent reactions the other members of the Black Eagles had much to Edelgard's mortification.

A blush crept on Edelgard's cheeks with the same shade of red as her cape at the mention of that particular memory.

"You're never going to live that one down, aren't you?" Edelgard asked with a pout.

"No."

Lysithea's giggles turned to small laughter as Edelgard's pout turned into a small smile for finally seeing Lysithea in high spirits for the first time since the Ethereal Moon began, she had worried greatly about Lysithea and her well-being ever since. Even when she eats her favorite sweets or cares for Ordelian, she never once allowed herself a great deal of mirth, allowing guilt and self-pity to overwhelm her, and seeing her laugh was a welcome sight and sound for Edelgard at that moment.

If only it wasn't to her personal expense.

Edelgard shook her head and took Lysithea's left hand as she dragged her towards the middle of the storehouse, getting into position to teach Lysithea how to properly dance.

She won't stop until she ingrained the fine steps into Lysithea's very being and she won't hold back in teaching her, she'll be strict.

That was the only way Edelgard could ever get back at Lysithea for the crime of recalling such an embarrassing memory.

Besides, she can use the excuse it is for her own good if Lysithea ever complains.

---

Lysithea panted for air as she let go of Edelgard's hand, slumping over a dusty wooden crate, not caring if her uniform was dirtied as sweat dripped down from her head and into the crate or floor below.

"Y-You're merciless! Even Annette knew how to take it easy!" Lysithea whined as she quickly took the waterskin offered by Edelgard and drank most of its contents to rejuvenate her body, only being permitted by Edelgard to do so after she allowed her to take a break.

Edelgard masked the amusement she felt for getting back at Lysithea with a frown.

"I did warn you during practice that I'd be strict." Edelgard reasoned. Unlike Lysithea, she didn't show any signs of losing even the slightest of stamina, Lysithea wondered if Edelgard was just used to it or had so many reserves of stamina compacted within her body.

"And weren't you the one who likes to take on a challenge to better yourself? Where is that enthusiasm now?" Edelgard questioned but Lysithea had no energy to spare for a proper response.

"That was pretty brutal, if I may say so myself…" Dorothea commented with a nervous chuckle after witnessing how much of an authoritarian Edelgard was when directing someone.

"Makes me thankful I don't live under the banner of the Empire once Edelgard ascends to the throne." Hilda joked yet she too felt sorry for what Lysithea went through as she was taught by Edelgard to better her form in dancing in court.

Scratch that, she wasn't even teaching Lysithea to get better… she was COMMANDING her to get better with the way she was teaching the poor girl.

Catching up on her breath and drinking more water, Lysithea managed to cease her desperate pants for air as she finally sat on the crate and dusted off any dirt besmirching her uniform. Despite her stamina training lately, nothing prepared her for what she just experienced from Edelgard's way of teaching.

Yet such teaching bore fruit in such a short time, Edelgard explained and taught her well to the point that she can almost move just by instinct alone as she danced.

"Who taught you to dance like that?" Lysithea asked Edelgard as the latter sat beside her, the two white haired girls watched their friends and classmates do their own practice with poor Bernadetta tripping over as she panicked in her steps.

Edelgard softly sighed and looked up towards the ceiling of the storehouse.

"My mother, Anselma." She replied.

Lysithea looked at Edelgard with widened eyes, this was the first time that Edelgard had mentioned anything about her mother due to how public knowledge about her was so limited. The way Edelgard spoke her name, it was so full of longing as if desiring something that was out of her reach.

It reminded Lysithea of how Jeralt sounded like when he mentioned his late wife in their encounter to one another.

"She taught me everything I needed to know about the dance." Edelgard reminisced as they observed Dorothea clapping her hands together as a means to accompany her counting of the steps for Bernadetta and Petra.

"You sound like you miss her."

"Everyday." Edelgard replied solemnly. "How about yours?"

Lysithea nodded. "I get letters from her and my father from time to time but yes, I do miss seeing them."

The Imperial Princess flashed a sad smile, the look of longing returning to grace her face as Lysithea looked on.

"Edelgard? Are you alright?" Lysithea asked with a look of concern.

"I am. Just thinking of a few things." Edelgard replied. "Sometimes, we don't realize something precious until it's gone and out of our reach."

Her pinkish red eyes widened at what she had just heard as well as the context of their conversation, is Edelgard's mother perhaps... Gone from this world as well or did she just badly miss her? Whatever the case, it was rare to see Edelgard bare her feelings as such, Lysithea was used to the fact that Edelgard was even more guarded with her emotions than anyone else she knew.

"You weren't the first one I taught how to dance, there was someone else from a distant past."

By the moment Edelgard blinked her lavender eyes, the guarded and composed front reformed once more.

"Lysitheaaaaa, you're finished resting up?" Both girls turned to see Hilda approaching the younger one among the two with a grin, seeing that Lysithea had managed to catch her breath after her short break.

"Yes, you and Leonie?" Lysithea inquired and then saw Leonie crudely imitating the steps she had just practiced earlier with Hilda, it reminded Lysithea of herself when Annette first taught her.

"She'll get it in no time, now come on! I need to see if what Edelgard taught you bore fruit!"

"W-Wait-"

To no avail, Lysithea was dragged before she could protest further by Hilda, the latter testing Lysithea's newfound skills in dancing as Edelgard watched on, a smile forming across her lips.

"Thank you for accepting the invitation." Annette approached the Imperial Princess from behind as the latter sat on the crate, never looking back at the girl.

"I should be thanking you." Edelgard replied as she observed Lysithea retaining the lessons she taught her. "It is thanks to you that I… we can finally see her smile again."

"I just wanted to help out a friend." Annette humbly responded.

"And I thank you for that." Edelgard glanced at her with a smile.

Annette slightly bowed, the two dance teachers of Lysithea, watching their student dancing around with a smile etched on her face.

"I think you have yourself to thank as well."

Edelgard gave her a puzzled look. "Why would you say so?"

"You were the one to truly reach out to her, she told me herself one time. It was your words that moved her to take action in what she's planning." Annette gave her an apologetic bow. "Correct me if I am wrong but you are perhaps her closest friend among all of us." Annette continued as her optimistic eyes continued to watch Lysithea with a smile of the same degree.

Edelgard's eyes slightly widened before looking back towards Lysithea, she suddenly recalled Claude's question to her the other day that she wasn't able to give a proper response to.

"Why go so far for someone like her who isn't originally from your house?"

Edelgard knew what her answer was already.

---

25th day of the Ethereal Moon of the Imperial Year 1180

Lysithea did not expect to be dragged into a large room in Garreg Mach, mere hours before the highly anticipated ball, she was taken in by Hilda as she was making her way to the dorms to ready herself.

She was now in one of the large dressing rooms of the women's bathhouse. As she arrived, she was met by the sight of her friends from either the Black Eagles and Golden Deer with Mercedes from the Blue Lions joining in.

Hilda quickly made her sit on a stool and faced the mirror as she started to brush her snow white hair, feeling the silky white strands of her former classmate's hair while the others helped or fixed themselves for the ball.

"You're making my work easier with how smooth and silky your hair is already, Lysithea! Someone's been taking care of her hair this morning." Hilda smirked, placing the hair brush back to the counter below one of the vanity mirrors of the dressing room.

"I always take care of my hair! This is nothing new!" Lysithea responded. "I don't need help in fixing myself for the ball, Hilda!"

Hilda didn't seem affected by the rather irritated response from Lysithea, in fact she was used to her demeanor at this point. Hilda knew that despite Lysithea's mostly sharp and strong appearance, the girl can be undeniably cute when she allows herself too.

"Wait… what's that box you're holding? Uh… Hilda?" Lysithea asked as Hilda took a small black box out from her bag and opened it to reveal a plethora of different colors and a small brush that obviously didn't look like it was for painting like Ignatz owned.

Hilda giggled rather mischievously. "Big sister Hilda here is going to make you look all-grown up for tonight!" She then flashed a smirk on the mirror for Lysithea to see her sinister intentions.

"I, uh, don't recall ever asking you to—"

Hilda shrugged, taking out the brush and brushing it on one of the colors inside the box.

"That's right, I knew exactly what you needed! You didn't have to ask. Now, stay there on your seat!"

Lysithea looked around here to see everyone else was preoccupied with fixing themselves or the others with less experience in makeup or fixing their appearance for formal events.

She even noticed Edelgard fixing her own hair, focusing most of her hair to the right side of her head, meticulously placing every single strand into one ponytail on the side. Lysithea could have sworn she saw Edelgard smirking at her by the mirror's reflection, her lavender eyes looking at her.

Lysithea quickly found her gaze to the mirror once again when Hilda made her turn her head forward and started carefully brushing her face with the makeup.

"With makeup, you can't just pick your favorite colors. You must choose colors that suit you and the occasion. If you'll be up close and personal, if you're going to a ball, for example: you want to keep it subtle. On the other hand, if you're going to be onstage, the colors should be overt.

Hilda babbled on yet Lysithea could only listen at the unneeded new information she was learning regarding such things, as someone who never cared much for her outward appearance besides keeping her hair maintained, Lysithea never gave too much stock on aesthetics.

"Uh... I've never used makeup before. It sounds...complicated…"

Not to mention, spending too much tending to her own superficial appearance is a waste of time, time that she could instead use to learn many useful things such as magic and how to better help her parents.

"Ah! Let me go! You're ripping out my hair! Aaaaaahhh!" Everyone stopped what they were doing when Bernadetta screamed in agony from getting her rowdy hair brushed by Dorothea while being restrained by Petra to prevent her escape.

"Be strong Bernie! You shall be readying soon!" Petra encouraged on but fell on deaf ears.

Dorothea looked like she was struggling in brushing Bernadetta's messy hair, trying to straighten the strands out.

"Bern, you really should learn to brush your hair more often especially since you spend most of your time in your room anyway." Dorothea sighed as Bernadetta's hair tangled on the hair brush making Bernadetta yelped when Dorothea forcefully brushed it, ripping some strands off.

Edelgard sighed and shook her head towards her fellow house members, applying the finishing touches to her own hair.

Hilda giggled and went back to continue her work on Lysithea but not before she noticed something she missed.

Lysithea thought Hilda was finished with what little makeup she applied and that she could finally leave until Hilda went behind her, her hands touching Lysithea's hair once again.

"Let's put up your hair to show off your neck." Hilda said as she lifted up the bulk of Lysithea's hair before tying it up to an upward ponytail. "But we'll leave a few strands hanging, to make you look more vulnerable."

The Ordelia girl looked perturbed. "Why would I want to appear vulnerable? I don't want to be attacked!" She protested.

"Oh shush you! This is for wooing, not warring." Hilda lightly chided, finding humor at Lysithea's inexperience in such matters. "When you're older, you might understand the importance of looking a little vulnerable."

Lysithea groaned, still not getting how exposing her neck and looking vulnerable would ever 'woo' anyone, wouldn't people think she's weak if she showed such vulnerabilities?

"Besides, exposing your neck would do you wonders! Unleash those feminine pheromones!" Hilda said with glee as she purposely took bits of Lysithea's hair to make them look a little unkempt, making Lysithea's ponytail into a messy yet strangely attractive hair style.

"My what?!" Lysithea exclaimed, while she knew little of what Hilda has been talking about appearances, she was aware of the context of her statement regarding pheromones, as far as she knew, she doesn't intend to attract anyone in SUCH a way.

Hilda merely giggled and went back to her makeup kit to work on Lysithea's face.

By now, Edelgard substituted for Dorothea in helping out Bernadetta as Dorothea was direly needed by Annette and Mercedes in fixing Ingrid who still stubbornly refused to be worked on. She was adamant in not participating in the dance but Annette and Dorothea were more adamant in making her do so.

"Dorothea, is this really unnecessary?" Ingrid asked as her hair was being fixed up into a messy bun by the former songstress while Annette was applying the makeup on Ingrid's face as Mercedes watched on.

"Hush now Ingrid, with romantic intent or not, the ball is to be enjoyed and you cannot enjoy it if you don't dance with a man or woman if you swing that way." Dorothea said with a teasing hint.

"Who would even want to dance with me anyway— OWW!" Ingrid yelped out when Dorothea pulled some of her hair a bit too much.

Dorothea faked a shrug. "Sylvain, perhaps?"

Ingrid's green eyes widened but kept quiet.

"Deplorable as he is, you two seem to be close."

"H-He's just a childhood friend." Ingrid mentioned.

"Really? You two seem to act like a married couple already. You're constantly nagging him like he's your husband or something." Dorothea giggled much to Ingrid's chagrin, the latter unable to formulate a proper response.

While Dorothea fixed Ingrid's hair while at the same time teasing her, Annette was happily offering her assistance by freely applying makeup to Ingrid's face just as Hilda is doing to Lysithea at the moment.

"How about you, Annie? Anyone you're thinking of to dance with?" Mercedes innocently asked with her ever so present kind smile.

Annette nearly fumbled in applying her makeup, the brush dangerously close to Ingrid's eye when she was asked the question.

"O-Of course not! I doubt someone would even ask me out there!" Annette nervously laughed yet her face was red as she thought of someone.

Somewhere, Edelgard had finished straightening out Bernadetta's hair, she looked on with pride at how the formerly rowdy hair had been straightened out completely.

"There you go, your hair is looking like new." Edelgard said with a small smile, her hands on her waist.

"How about you, Petra?" Edelgard turned to the Brigid Princess who was applying on Bernadetta's face.

"I am finishing!" Petra chimed in and also looked proud of her handiwork.

When Bernadetta turned to face Edelgard, the Imperial Princess was met by a face riddled with red warpaint all over which contrasted the finely straightened hair Bernadetta has.

"D-Do I look hideous?" Bernadetta nervously asked when she saw Edelgard's appalled look.

"You are looking amazing, Bernie!" Petra cheerfully said, unaware of the mistake she had committed.

Edelgard could only sigh. "Petra, we're not grooming for war." She pointed out.

Petra looked puzzled. "I am not understanding. In Brigid, when we are dancing with tradition, we are wearing paints in our face."

"But this isn't Brigid, in Fodlan, we- just get a towel and clean up Bernadetta's face please." Edelgard deeply sighed much to Petra's confusion.

At this point, Hilda was finished applying the entirety of the makeup for Lysithea. She distanced herself from her and squealed at her handiwork.

"You look so gosh darn cute! I knew you had potential! You'll go far, my darling. A couple of years to develop your charms, and no girl will outmatch you!" Hilda squealed in delight while marveling at Lysithea's appearance, she looked like she came out of a storybook regarding a delicate princess.

"Uhh… I'm not so su-" Lysithea stopped herself when she recalled a particular memory when she first received the Armored Bear Stuffy she has that is decorating her room currently.

She recalled how she constantly hugged it when she received the gift from the professor and the succeeding comment of the latter while he observed her.

"Cute…"

"H-H-Huh?!"

Hilda shook her head, insisting in her assessment of Lysithea.

"Oh, believe me, you are. With a little help from me, you'll have men falling at your feet!" Hilda confidently declared. "Looking at you now… Oh Goddess, I cannot WAIT to see you smile while looking at that! Your smile is something to die for you know!"

Lysithea only blushed at the compliment, averting her eyes away from Hilda's starstruck look upon her appearance. She was never one for appearances but whenever she thinks about that sudden comment from the professor back then and Hilda pointing it out, she couldn't help but feel her face burning up from the thought.

"Now, don't ruin my work alright? I still have to fix Marianne and Leonie up!" Hilda said with a cheery smile before leaving Lysithea to work on a reluctant and sleep deprived Marianne.

"I have something to hide those nasty bags under your eyes, Marianne!"

Lysithea gave herself the opportunity to marvel at her own appearance via the mirror, checking up on what Hilda had done. For the most part, her face remained the same yet it looked more… cleaner and smoother, then there was the eyeliner around her eyes but what Lysithea truly admired was the upward ponytail she has… it was messy with a few loose strands yet it was strangely attractive to look at.

Then she thought how would the others react especially the boys, would they flock around her despite the ongoing rumors about her? Even if they did, she wouldn't give them the pleasure for a dance. The sole opinion of one particular man was all what mattered to her and it made her feel nervous.

"You look beautiful."

Lysithea looked up at the mirror to see Edelgard behind her, her hands on her shoulders.

"Not as beautiful as you are." Lysithea retorted as she marveled at Edelgard's own handiwork with her own hair and makeup. Edelgard already had the appearance that befits her station as Imperial Princess but this current appearance of her certainly gives it more justice.

Edelgard shook her head. "For one thing, Hilda is right. You are filled with potential in your appearance." Edelgard tenderly touched the loose strands of Lysithea's hair, admiring Hilda's handiwork as well as the silky hair of Lysithea.

"I-I don't know, Edelgard… it's just I never really planned to do all of this makeup and styling… I thought that he wouldn't care much…" Lysithea lamented as she thought of the professor's thoughts and opinions, so far besides his rather careless remark of her when she got the Armored Bear Stuffy, the professor wasn't really the type of man to swoon from someone's physical appearance.

"You're right, he isn't the type to care much about that," Edelgard replied. "but he will when he sees you." Edelgard continued with a confident smile.

"Do you think this could work? Whatever I'm planning to do?" Lysithea asked, assuming that Edelgard knew what was on her mind. There was a brief silent communication between their eyes in the mirror, it was as if Lysithea knew that Edelgard knew what she was talking about despite never having fully told her about her intent in the ball.

Edelgard chuckled in response. "It all depends on how you execute it." She said. "Everything rests on you."

With those words, Edelgard left Lysithea after giving her a soft squeeze on the shoulders.

A confident smile upon her lips.

---

Byleth surveyed his surroundings, his eyes looked wary of any impending danger. But who could blame the stoic professor of the Black Eagles? The continual dangers Garreg Mach has faced, the many trials and life and death situations he and his students faced… It is making him paranoid as of late.

Especially with the successful infiltration of the man who used to be known as Tomas, Solon. The fact that anyone they know or claim to know could be an infiltrator to whatever force they were up against made Byleth stressed out for the safety of his students and people he had acknowledged as friends.

That's why he doesn't know why Rhea allowed such an event, the ball, to happen when the students should be getting ready for whatever may come. The recent reports of mysterious people at the abandoned chapels certainly did not help to stymie down his wariness of anything around him.

It took even Seteth, perhaps the most skeptical and cautious man he has ever met besides Jeralt, to tell him to relax for a night regarding his worries and just enjoy what the celebratory ball has to offer. Hell, he doesn't even know what event in the past they were supposed to celebrate about.

Rhea or Seteth may have told him… perhaps Edelgard but he might have forgotten such details ever since the Ethereal Moon began.

"You look like you need a break."

Byleth's weary eyes looked to the right to see Hanneman, he was surprisingly not wearing his long coat, instead he had it slung over his right arm as the Golden Deer professor also looked at what his colleague was surveying.

The grand ballroom was already getting filled up with students, all of which were marveling at the setting of the most anticipated event, the lavish food and drinks presented at the long tables indicated that the Church of Seiros did not spare any expense for this day.

"I am." Byleth affirmed, not bothering to hide it.

"We all need a break, professor." Manuela arrived, already having a glass of fine white wine in her hands as she joined her fellow professors from each rival house.

Hanneman sighed at his other colleague "Manuela, the event itself has not started yet here you are indulging with alcohol before everyone else." he chided his fellow longtime professor in Garreg Mach.

"You need to relax as well! With all that's been happening recently, we need a break from time to time."

"And I need a break from both of your incessant arguments every time you two meet."

Byleth heard Sothis sighed as she materialized behind him with him being the only one to see and hear her.

He would be lying to himself if he didn't agree on Sothis' comments about his two colleagues. He can hardly take a break or relax just like what they suggested to him when they argue with him in between them.

"Let's just go somewhere a bit more quiet."

Byleth agreed with Sothis' suggestion, going off near some tables and continued to survey the entirety of the ballroom with some students, some of which were students he recognized.

A number of the students seemed to have gone through the effort of fixing their appearances with some of the female students having new hairstyles and generally better looking faces due to makeup while the male students have clearer appearances and well groomed hair.

"You seem too tense, Teach."

Byleth's solitude was interrupted again when Claude approached him, his appearance unchanged compared to his peers.

"You're not the only one who said that." Byleth replied. "You're not participating in the initial dance?"

Claude shrugged. "I'm not just one to start on the dance floor, besides… my date didn't want the extra work." He casually said.

Byleth gave the house leader of the Golden Deer a perplexed look.

"You? A date?"

"Hey now, I may be a house leader but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy life's pleasures from time to time." Claude smirked, his hands behind his neck. "But what about you? You have no date?"

"I didn't care if I had one or not." Byleth bluntly replied as he looked at the large chandeliers hanging above the ballroom, brightly illuminating the ballroom. Byleth found it too bright for his liking but nonetheless didn't let it bother him as much.

Claude took note of the professor's rather unpleasant disposition towards the event, he speculated it could have been from the stress he accumulated from recent events but he can sense that there's someone else that was causing his rather stern glare recently.

"Edelgard and Dimitri can take charge of the opening dance meanwhile temporarily lonely me will enjoy some of the refreshments over there." Claude pointed at the table hosting all the types of beverage being offered.

"Don't be too rigid now, Teach. You won't enjoy the night." Claude said as he waved Byleth farewell.

Byleth shook his head and continued his surveillance of the area, walking around and passing through various students, some students outside of the Black Eagles gave him looks of suspicion, something he has grown used to ever since the rumors began to circulate about him.

He ignored the stares and continued on with Sothis trailing him from behind as she floated while yawning. His plans were put into a halt when the musicians that had long been ready in one corner began playing their instruments which signified one thing for everyone in the ballroom.

All eyes went towards a number of people grouped in pairs of the the opposite sex, holding each other's hand as they all went into the spacious center area that was designated as the dance area.

Even from his position behind some students that have gathered around the center, he could see Edelgard's unmistakable red cape but what surprised him was her different hairstyle which consisted of a ponytail focused on one side. Byleth cannot help but be amazed at how beautiful she looks as she danced with her partner, someone he recognized from his house as well.

Behind the pair was Dimitri, dancing rather elegantly as the girl he was dancing with looked completely enamored by him, his blue eyes tenderly looking at her as the pair danced back to back with Edelgard and her partner.

Byleth recalled a recent memory he had yesterday when he had a homeroom meeting with the Black Eagles after dinner, he was engrossed in his own thoughts regarding the mysterious activity in one of the unused chapels that he forgot to mention the specifics of the much anticipated ball.

What was supposed to be just a simple meeting regarding the various rules and limitations the students are subjected to during the ball turned to become something of extreme sentimentality.

---

"I have a proposition. Let's all agree to meet back at the monastery exactly five years from today." Edelgard suddenly suggested after the Black Eagles all said their piece regarding the ball the next day, except for Lysithea who kept quiet all by herself on the back, Byleth knew she was avoiding him.

Caspar looked excited but then again, Byleth wondered when was the last time he's ever lost his loud spirit?

"Like a class reunion? That's a great idea!" He chimed in his support almost immediately and was supported by Annette's own excited words of support on the idea.

"Ooh, a reunion? That sounds fun! I wouldn't miss it for the world!" Annette exclaimed out in elation.

"Five years from today will be the millennium festival for Garreg Mach Monastery." Hubert spoke. "I've heard the magnitude of the festivities will exceed all prior years."

Byleth could have been wrong with what he saw but was Hubert… smiling at the prospect of a reunion? Not his usual sinister smile but a genuine one?

The professor's thoughts were banished when Dorothea expressed her own excitement at Edelgard's proposition.

"Ooh, how exciting! Sounds like a great excuse to come visit our dear professor." She giggled while eyeing the professor with a wink.

Petra was all smiles when she turned to the professor. "You will be seeing how much growing I have done. You will be pleased, Professor. This idea is good!" She expressed with clear optimism.

Edelgard smiled at the seemingly warm reception her classmates have at the idea. "Who knows where each of us will be in five years' time...or who we will become…" she briefly trailed off, her eyes had a brief forlorn look within them that Byleth couldn't explain.

"Still, I have faith that all of us will gather and celebrate our reunion." She said as she looked at each and everyone of her classmates be it the original members of the Black Eagles or those who transfered.

Linhardt however decided to put in a dampener to the optimistic atmosphere hanging above the class.

"That's assuming the professor is still here in five years...and not enjoying a cozy early retirement." Linhardt looked at the professor with sheepish eyes telling anyone that he simply wishes to retire to his room and sleep.

Edelgard led out a small laugh at the thought, unfazed by the possibility that Byleth wouldn't be around come the millenium festival after five years.

"Even if that's the case, you will come, won't you? Whether or not you're still teaching here…"

Byleth looked at each and every of his students, he took notice that even by now, Lysithea was giving him a hopeful look like her classmates have. He couldn't help but feel touched by their desire to see him despite the impending reality that he must part with them after their graduation in a span of a few months.

For the first time since the Ethereal Moon began, Byleth flashed them a warm smile much to his students' relief, fearing he would never show the smile that they believed was exclusive for them to see.

"Of course. I will be here." He declared with a nod much to the joy of his students, even Lysithea smiled at his response but went unnoticed by the professor.

Edelgard's smile grew at the response. "Don't forget, my teacher. Even if the millennium festival should be canceled, I promise to return here…"

With the smiles his students were giving him as Edelgard declared her vow to him and her classmates, Byleth looked hopeful.

Unknown to all of them, Lysithea looked down on the floor with a longing look upon her face.

"Five years…" She murmured to herself.

---

By the time Byleth finished reminiscing the fresh memory, he found himself surrounded by girls from mostly his house as well as from other houses, probably those who believed in his innocence regarding the false rumors about him.

All of which were asking him to take her as his partner for the dance, a scenario that the professor did not quite expect to occur.

He didn't know what to do as various pleas or requests came from different directions around him.

"Professor, dance with me please!"

"Can I be your partner?"

"It would be great if you can dance with me!"

Byleth wished he could get away from the growing mob of girls around him as their voices began to drown out his hearing yet he could swear he could hear Sothis giggling at his dilemma. The professor had a mind to use the Divine Pulse but Sothis is most certainly not going to allow him this time.

Unaware that a pair of eyes were watching him.

---

As the opening dance neared its end, Lysithea and her friends arrived at the ball, quickly catching the eye of those who had noticed their arrival, all were dazzled by how enchanting they are with their makeup and hairstyles.

Lysithea could feel herself being stared at by many of the boys, most were wondering who she was until they realized it was her. She wasn't the only one who could feel the many eyes staring at them, Bernadetta was hiding behind Dorothea and Petra as the other students wondered who she was, unaware of Bernadetta's identity due to how well groomed her hair was contrasting the rowdy hair she used to sport.

Marianne, after extensive makeup by Hilda, looked like she was a new person, the ever present sullen look she has and the bags under her eyes were nowhere to be seen.

Ingrid and Mercedes had their hair loosened and brushed to wavy locks, Mercedes' ever present nurturing smile contrasted the bashful look on Ingrid's face.

Annette had gotten rid of the pretzel-shaped pigtails she had, allowing her hair to flow down to shoulder length, her cheerful visage remained the same as ever.

With the small amount of hair she had, Leonie was mostly the same except for the makeup and the circlet that Hilda lent to her, she wore around her head.

Hilda had tied her hair a single ponytail similar to Lysithea but without the messy strands that she did to her, instead she decorated herself with various accessories ranging from golden hoop earrings and golden choker around her neck.

Dorothea had gotten rid of her cap, styled her hair into wavy locks and wore nearly the same kinds of accessories Hilda had except for the choker, she wore a pearl amulet instead.

Petra had remained the same except for wearing a traditional Brigid hair ornament in the form of a rope headband around her head with feathers and other jewelry and beads decorating it.

"Oh my, the opening dance already began." Dorothea giggled as she caught sight of Edelgard leading the dance with her partner.

"First, let's get someplace to sit… I don't think Bernadetta can- and she ran." Annette said as Petra went on her way to capture the Varley heir once again and make her attend the event.

Finding two tables near each other, the group of girls from different houses went on to take their seats as they watched the opening dance.

Lysithea, however, had her eyes looking somewhere after she initially marveled at Edelgard's elegance in her appearance and the way she carried herself as she danced. It was nothing compared to when Edelgard taught her to dance, this one was put in with so much effort than before yet Edelgard made it seem so simple.

"Looks like some boys want to dance with you after the opening dance, Lysie." Dorothea giggled beside her.

Lysithea glanced at Dorothea, noticing where Dorothea was looking, she turned to the direction to see a group of boys talking to each other and looking at her, some even waved at her as if knowing her. Lysithea didn't share the sentiments and just continued looking around, breaking the hearts of the boys without a care.

In her surveillance, she caught sight of the long tables that contained the various foods being served for them, she could feel her mouth water at the sight of some delectable sweets but she managed to shake off the dastardly distracting feeling to focus on what she plans to do tonight.

She wouldn't lie if she said she was feeling nervous regarding it, she could feel the pressure she put in herself and it was nothing compared to the pressure she had subjected herself from before.

Tonight was meant to make things right and she just needed to find the person she has been looking for.

"Oh my, someone's already popular." Hilda giggled, Lysithea went to look where Hilda's eyes were to see a bunch of girls she doesn't know flocking around the professor, pleading him to dance with one of them.

Lysithea glared at the girls surrounding Byleth, while she doesn't know any of their names, she can tell by appearance who some of them were… they were some of the girls who were gossiping in her presence and gave her disgusted looks when she passed by.

Her blood boiled at the audacity of the girls to call her out for her 'inappropriate relationship' with the professor over mere rumors yet here they are, trying to take him all to themselves and what does the professor do?

Just stand there looking like a confused idiot without having the courage to reject them, his confused blue eyes looking at each of them.

Annette looked over towards Lysithea with worry, while she couldn't tell what her expression was, she could tell by how her hands were clenched and shaking.

"Hey Lysie…"

Lysithea's pinkish red eyes widened when she bore witness to one of the girls hooking her arms around the professor's left arm, a blush gracing her cheeks as she gave the professor a smile.

Something inside her snapped at that moment, clenching her balled fists even tighter and gritting her teeth together near to the point of damaging them.

"Lysie, one of the boys is asking you to dance-"

Lysithea ignored Dorothea as she stood up from her seat, ignoring the boy who had gathered up all his courage to ask her out for a dance, the boy looked crushed and despondently left the table where the girls were as the latter ones curiously watched Lysithea's every movement.

"Wait… is she…" Annette murmured.

Dorothea and Hilda covered their mouths in shock while the others looked on with their eyes as wide as saucers, they watched as Lysithea went towards the flock of girls taller than her, wriggling her way within and disappeared from their sight.

Lysithea emerged from the flock of girls, her hand holding someone else, the girls surrounding the professor dispersed and gave room to Byleth breaking through, his left hand being firmly held by Lysithea, her face was as red as Sylvain who was also asking Ingrid out to dance with him at the same time.

"S-She actually did it…" Annette murmured out, her mouth opened but no other words came out.

By now, everyone's eyes were on Lysithea and the professor, the sight of the young girl dragging the esteemed professor by the hand, the two subjects of the rumors that circulated around Garreg Mach.

Whispers began to spread around them as everyone who were dancing in the central area briefly stopped to watch Lysithea stopping right in the middle, her right hand still on the professor's left hand.

Her face was red the entire time, she could feel the sweat dripping down from her brow, with one final squeeze she turned around to face Byleth who still bore a look of incomprehensible shock.

Recalling Annette's initial lesson to her, Lysithea gave Byleth the customary bow, an action that Byleth took a second to awkwardly emulate with rigid movement, having only witnessed such movements when he offhandedly passed by several of the other students practicing especially in the White Heron Cup that Dorothea won.

Due to their height difference, Byleth didn't hold her right hand up too high with his left hand, Lysithea placed her left hand on the biceps of his right arm while Byleth placed his opposing hand on her back.

Lysithea was readying herself to move until she noticed that Byleth's azure blue eyes were frozen on her. Was he perhaps marveling at her appearance? Or was he just too gobsmacked to what Lysithea suddenly did.

"S-Stop staring and s-start moving." Lysithea growled as her face reddened more and more not because of the many stares fixated on them, she couldn't care less what the others thought, but on the frozen stare Byleth's eyes were doing to her.

"Sorry…" Byleth softly apologized as they started to move, Lysithea led the steps due to the merciless lessons she had received from Edelgard while Byleth awkwardly followed her movements.

"Now slowly spin." Lysithea said, Byleth nodded.

Lysithea gasped when she felt Byleth's right hand tighten its hold on her back as they spun around.

As they spun around in their dance, Lysithea could see the looks her friends and classmates had ranging from clear joy from Annette to total shock by Leonie.

She could have sworn she saw Claude spitting out whatever he was drinking back to his glass when he caught sight of what everyone was preoccupied with, coughing involuntarily due to the scratching feeling in his throat.

Then, her eyes widened when she saw Edelgard's proud but warm smile upon her.

It was only a glimpse but she saw the Imperial Princess giving her a nod as she watched from the side alongside her partner.

"Lysithea…"

"Please don't say anything else and just dance." Lysithea interrupted him as they danced around, her blush intensified many folds when she now saw Byleth's warm blue eyes looking at her and for the first time, bore witness to the smile she felt like she was the only one with the privilege to see.

"But…"

"Please… I need to focus on the steps…" Lysithea insisted he keeps quiet. "I'm already embarrassed as it is."

"... you look beautiful…"

Lysithea gasped after the professor had just complimented her with such a warm smile upon his normally stoic face. His eyes were clearly engrossed at her by this point, Byleth couldn't help but marvel at her appearance… her makeup complimenting her already attractive appearance and her hair… her silky smooth and sweet smelling hair fixed in such a way…

Then it dawned on him… what in the world was he thinking?!

He could feel an unnatural amount of heat generating around his chest which soon rose up to his cheeks the more he stared at her.

Meanwhile, his partner was having her own mental battle at what she had just heard from him. Lysithea's mind was scrambled all over when she kept recalling what Byleth just told her… the words, the way he sounded and the way he looked at her when he did.

She remembered when he murmured how cute she was but her heartbeat spiked up higher than it ever did when he called her beautiful out of nowhere.

Then she recalled her conversation with Edelgard the other day when she expressed her uncertainty in what she planned to do.

"You're right, he isn't the type to care much about that," Edelgard words rang across Lysithea's mind. "but he will when he sees you." Edelgard continued with a confident smile.

Could this be what Edelgard meant?

---

Edelgard warmly watched her friend and dearest teacher dancing at the center, her arms folded under her chest and an amused smile gracing her lips. She couldn't help but feel happy for Lysithea, who had endured many weeks wallowing in self-pity and being subjected to many forms of bullying in the entire month of the Ethereal Moon.

Despite seeing the embarrassed blush Lysithea had all over her face, she could see the genuine sweet smile Lysithea was wearing as she moved and led the professor in the dance.

Shortly after, she noticed the other students taking part in the dance after they were frozen in place due to the spectacle Lysithea and Byleth were doing in the center.

She saw Sylvain dancing with Ingrid, she noticed Ashe bashfully approaching Marianne to the table she was sharing with her friends. Her eyes slightly widened when she bore witness from afar, Felix pushing a male student away from Annette who he was trying to invite to the dance.

Then not to her surprise, she saw Claude and Hilda holding hands as they joined in the dance with eager confident smiles towards each other.

"Things are getting lively."

Edelgard looked to her side to see Dimitri standing beside her, a gentle smile etched over his face as he watched the other students filling in the dance floor, hindering their sight on the focus towards the professor and Lysithea.

"It is." Edelgard commented, her eyes never leaving Byleth and Lysithea.

"Are you not going to dance anymore?" Dimitri asked, glancing over her.

"My dance partner went off somewhere to eat." Edelgard replied and glanced back at Dimitri. "And you? Your partner earlier seemed so… smitten with you."

Dimitri led out a small laugh. "Believe it or not, she nearly passed out after our dance. She's sitting over there now." Dimitri pointed at a table.

Edelgard looked towards the table Dimitri was pointing at to see his previous dance partner being fanned by her friends, apparently dizzy from being lovestruck towards the prince and the fact that Dimitri chose her to be his partner.

There was silence between the two house leaders as their eyes shifted back towards their friends and classmates who were participating in the dance.

Dimitri then noticed a longing look on Edelgard's face as she observed Byleth and Lysithea continue their dance without a care in the world, both of which bore warm smiles at each other.

Without a word, the Crown Prince offered his left hand in front of the Imperial Princess, Edelgard was taken by surprise at his offer and glanced at him once again.

Their eyes met, blue to lavender as both smiled.

"Will you do me the honor to dance with you, Princess Edelgard?" Dimitri formally asked, his right hand on his chest.

Edelgard giggled at his gesture. "Always so formal." She shook her head.

"Yes, I accept. Prince Dimitri." Edelgard responded in kind and took his left hand with her right hand as Dimitri led her to the dance floor. Their presence went unnoticed due to how engrossed the other participants were at their respective partners.

Doing the customary bow, they went on to hold each other's hand, shoulder and back as they danced around in tempo with the others.

"I wonder…" Edelgard muttered as their eyes locked on to each other. "Since when did you become so good at dancing?"

Dimitri chuckled softly. "I had a good teacher when I was a child." He warmly replied.

Somewhere as the two heirs of different nations danced, Bernadetta's scream could be heard as Caspar led her to dance with him.

---

After some time had passed, Byleth departed the ballroom after he and Lysithea ended their dance in a satisfying note.

Yet before the two could talk, Byleth could see the incoming students who wanted to dance with him earlier until Lysithea stole such a chance, he immediately left the vicinity to avoid being dragged into the dance floor once again.

Exiting the building, Byleth felt the cool breeze of the night. It felt refreshing for him to feel the cool air.

Tonight, he felt… joy he never thought he could ever feel.

He was initially wary of the ball and the safety of the students but everything changed when Lysithea suddenly appeared and invited- dragged him to dance with her after so many days of her avoiding him.

He could feel a sense of utter joy within him when he finally saw her bright smile once again, a sight he didn't think he would ever see again.

His thoughts were interrupted when he could hear the voices of the other students calling out for him, he needed to run from them. Not wanting to bother with the dancing anymore and from the looks of it, girls were practically in line trying to get a chance from him.

"Running away?" Sothis asked. "I understand. You hardly had the time to breathe in there."

Then Sothis' tone took on one of teasing. "It must be hard to be the favourite teacher at the ball! Poor, poor Professor!" She giggled within his mind.

Byleth sighed and looked down on the grass.

"I am not everyone's favorite…"

"Was that a joke? I find it hard to tell with you. Just think of all the students begging you to dance!" Sothis insisted to make her host turn back and enjoy the festivities more but to no avail.

Byleth refused once more, shaking his head and Sothis could only sigh, she knew it was futile. She could tell, she is living (or whatever her state is) within him after all.

"But where is there to run? This place is filled with joyful students looking for a dance."

It was there that Byleth recalled a seemingly random conversation he had with the ever so eager Gatekeeper that Byleth had grown to be fond of due to his daily enthusiastic greetings and tidbits of information he provided him with.

He recalled how he mentioned a special place in the monastery that used to be a popular place to be visited on during the night of the ball but has since been forbidden by the Church to trespass in.

Sothis recalled the name of the place as well as reading the thoughts of her host.

"Ah... I see. The Goddess Tower waits for you…"

---

Byleth arrived at the seemingly forbidden area that is the Goddess Tower.

For a location that was supposed to be forbidden to visit, there sure is a shortage of guards patrolling around the vicinity.

He entered the tower without trouble and ascended the stairs leading up to a floor with an open balcony, he immediately felt the cool breeze of the night sky gently sweeping through him, he looked over to the open balcony to see the vast mountain ranges around Garreg Mach that stretches as far as the eye can see.

He could see lights from several areas, guessing such lights were either towns, villages or camps made by travelers around Fodlan.

The place felt so serene… it felt so calming from him, isolated from the others yet giving him a sense of peace as if the place holds such a deep connection with him.

The Goddess Tower, now that he recalled the Gatekeeper's words earlier, he did mention something besides mentioning the place in one of his greetings.

"Have you heard the students talking about it? On the last night of the Ethereal Moon, on the same night as the ball... If a man and a woman go to the Goddess Tower and make a wish, it's sure to come true!"

Byleth dismissed such a legend as merely just a legend of no authenticity, he surmised that such legend was made by those people with high hopes for romance, a field he has no experience in.

But then again, the closest thing he could think of as romantic is whenever Jeralt and he talks about Sitri. Ever since their arrival to Garreg Mach, Jeralt has been more open in discussing Sitri and whenever he talks about her, Byleth could see sides of Jeralt he hasn't seen throughout his life.

He looks so happy when recalling fond memories of her yet there was also that longing and forlorn look after Jeralt recounts a memory he shared with Sitri.

Byleth found it to be so complex, the memories of Jeralt remembering the love of his life makes him smile yet it also saddens him, there was joy and there was also sorrow. The way the other students discuss romance and their dreams of such, it felt like such an endeavor was full of hope and happiness.

"Professor?"

Byleth was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear the footsteps until its source called out for him. He turned around to look at the person behind him, fully knowing who it was due to her unmistakable voice.

"Yes?" He asked, masking his surprise at his student's sudden appearance.

He was surprised to see Lysithea in the Goddess Tower of all places, he thought she had joined in with her friends and classmates after they parted ways from their dance that was still fresh in his mind.

Byleth caught sight of her appearance once again, there were more loose strands of her hair yet it never did anything to lessen the beauty she exuded back in the ball, in fact, she looked even better with the breeze gently tossing her hair.

Lysithea swallowed something in her throat, clearing it.

"I saw you wandering off to this tower. I thought you might be lost or something, so I followed you inside."

That was a lie, Lysithea knew it and she cursed herself for sounding so unconvincing with it. In truth, she really wanted to follow the professor after he made himself vanish from the ball after their dance, she tailed him afterwards.

The look on Byleth's face, he had his eyebrows raised in question. Him? Lost? He already knew the monastery like it was the back of his hand, why would he be lost?

Lysithea shrunk on the unconvinced look in the professor's azure blue eyes and decided to steer the topic elsewhere.

"Everyone seems to be looking for you…" She began. " You're surprisingly popular." she pointed out of nowhere.

Again, Byleth wanted to deny his popularity with the students, especially the girls but he knew Sothis would grill his mind for such a lie.

"That surprises you, does it?" He asked her, wanting to find out her opinion regarding such matters.

Lysithea nodded, she in fact felt jealous in some way regarding the professor's popularity, she hated how the other girls looked at him and even tried to flirt with him, it doesn't help that some of those are the same people who would accost her for the rumors that Cyril caused, even going as far as calling her a slut or a whore.

"I do find it surprising, yes. Particularly your popularity with the ladies." She hated pointing that part out. "It isn't like you're very sociable, after all. Not to be rude, mind you."

Byleth could feel a chuckle nearly escaped him, she was indeed right on that matter. He wasn't really the most sociable person out there, some people were even afraid of him due to his prior reputation as a mercenary as well as his emotionless stare.

He gave Lysithea a reassuring look that he wasn't anywhere offended.

Then, a thought crossed his mind. He suddenly became curious on Lysithea's side regarding the matter.

"How do you fare in such matters?" He asked, finding himself suddenly curious at his student's potential number of suitors especially since she is the heir of a noble house in the Alliance and the sole child.

Lysithea looked surprised at the sudden question, she didn't seem to recall anyone showing any particular interest with her… there was Sylvain who tried to flatter her only for her to blast him away with sharp words.

Then… there was the professor and her feelings for him. She knew by now she feels something for the professor but she wasn't sure if it was truly something they call true love… after all, it seems fairly common for students to develop a crush on their teachers especially with what she has seen and heard from the other girls who tried to invite Byleth to dance.

"Er, I wouldn't know, to be honest. I have no interest in such things." Lysithea said with a pout she tried hard to maintain. "The academy is for honing one's skills." She asserted.

Lysithea clenched her fists, she could already feel very hypocritical in what she was about to say next as the professor listened on with an unreadable look.

"Not for frivolous romances, despite what the other students may think!" She added and in that moment, she wanted to slap herself for her own hypocrisy. She remembered her first day in Garreg Mach, what she thought when Seteth talked to the entire student body about the rules, one particular rule was about illicit relationships between a staff member and a student.

She remembered her own words regarding it.

"Only a fool would seek to even pursue such a shameless relationship with a teacher. The academy isn't a site for frivolous romances."

Lysithea frowned at herself and coupled with the professor's unreadable look, she was beginning to feel awkward around him once more. She didn't want to ruin this moment between him and her, she wanted to talk to him to apologize and all for what she had been doing to him.

She knew she hurt him for avoiding him like a disgusting plague, she knew she was responsible for his lack of focus at certain times and she wanted to make it right by him.

"Lysithea." Byleth suddenly said, gaining her full attention in the material world once again.

"Y-Yes?"

"Are you aware of the legend of this place?"

Lysithea's eyes widened once again before she meekly nodded, her cheeks flushed red as she realized that both of them were alone… in the Goddess Tower of all places! In the same time and day as the legends she kept hearing about which eventually led her to research about it.

"It is said this is a place where a man and a woman can make a vow, and it is certain it will come to pass. It's like folklore that the people, mostly students, enjoy to believe." Lysithea described.

Byleth chuckled lightly. "You never fail to cease amazing me with how extensive your knowledge is in most matters."

Her cheeks flushed even deeper red. "P-Professor… umm… why do you ask?"

"Nothing in particular." This time, Byleth lied as his thoughts drifted to the possibility that his parents might have come to this very place to make a vow to each other, a thought he mostly disregarded as he remembered that Jeralt isn't really a man of superstition.

"Oh…" Lysithea felt disappointed all of a sudden. "B-But wouldn't it be bad if someone else sees us and gets the wrong i-idea?"

Byleth gave her a look. "People already think and have the wrong idea about us regardless of how we deny it, nothing would change if we were seen here."

"Professor! Surely you joke!" Lysithea exclaimed, astonished by how dismissive Byleth was of the possible danger to his already stained reputation to some of the students.

"I don't mind if it's you. There's no need to panic."

Lysithea's blush intensified ten fold at this. "P-Professor! A-Are you saying you don't mind if someone sees us and thinks- ugh!" Lysithea exclaimed out, trying to crack what Byleth just told her.

Is it perhaps Byleth thought he doesn't mind because he thinks of her as just a small girl, like a child? Or is it because he is so comfortable being around her that he doesn't really care if others think wrongly about them and perhaps hinting at…

"I-I have to go…" Lysithea said, unable to process properly what was going on. She needed to get out, her brain was getting fried from overthinking such things. She turned around to leave until she felt Byleth's hand on her arm.

"Wait."

Lysithea stopped and looked back at the professor, his eyes looking like he was pleading her to stay with him. After seeing Lysithea silently acquiesce with his request, he let go of her arm.

As for Byleth, this was his chance to make things right with his student, he wanted to let her know he does not bear any ill will against her and that he understands her distance. It was just that he had hoped it wouldn't be the end of their fruitful relationship as a teacher and a student, a relationship that treasures quite a lot besides with Edelgard.

"Lysithea, about the recent events… I want to-"

"Stop." The Ordelia girl suddenly said, gesturing to him to cease in what she was guessing Byleth was about to do.

"I should be the one apologizing to you." Lysithea began, gathering the courage to finally speak up about the tension between them.

"You weren't at fault for what happened… the rumors… the accusations… everything was my fault! I dragged you down!" Lysithea admitted, trying to stop herself from being a sobbing mess once again in front of the professor.

She hated feeling emotional, it made her feel so weak and vulnerable yet with the professor… she felt so reassured relaying such feelings to him.

"Lysithea, that isn't true-"

"It's true!" Lysithea insisted. "I've only caused you trouble despite all what you have done for me so I decided that I should start distancing myself from you… you had such a good reputation among the people here and I ruined it because of a stupid fear and decision I made that night!"

She could feel her tears prick the corners of her eyes.

"I wanted to keep going through with it for your sake but I ended up hurting you-"

"Enough."

It was a simple word yet it made Lysithea cease her continuous self blaming for what had happened between them.

"Stop blaming yourself." Byleth told her with a firm look.

"But it's true, I've caused you so much trouble… I treated you like someone I should be avoiding despite your best efforts to communicate with me…"

"And I don't have anything against you for that. I get why you decided to do so." Byleth said. "I admit, it did hurt me."

Lysithea felt her heart sting at the mention and confirmation that the professor was truly hurt from what she did due to the rumors.

"But nothing can be gained for blaming yourself over it." Byleth told her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I am just happy that we are talking now." He said with a warm smile which melted through Lysithea.

"Professor… why are you always so kind to me?"

"Because you're important to me."

If there was anything that could make Lysithea's heart skip a beat more than being called beautiful by Byleth earlier, it was the recent thing he just said.

"P-Professor!" Lysithea stuttered. "Y-You can't just say something like that!"

"Like what?" Byleth asked, puzzled at her apprehension.

"Like what you just said!"

"What's wrong with it?"

"It's just… ugh! Just be careful in saying things like those, okay?"

Hearing the apprehension in Lysithea's voice as well as her expression that he assumed she was feeling uncomfortable, Byleth nodded.

"Okay. I'll be careful."

Lysithea took a deep sigh at how particularly oblivious her teacher was in his choice of words, it's things like those that can potentially cause more trouble for him if he wasn't careful.

"I'm really sorry." Lysithea apologized with a bow, her eyes looking on the floor.

She then felt a weight over her head, it wasn't long until Lysithea realized Byleth was patting her head, she looked up at him to see him warmly smiling at her, his azure blue eyes softening at his gaze towards her.

Lysithea's cheeks flushed red once again, she still couldn't figure out why despite getting hurt by her, the professor forgave her or is acting she never wronged him in the first place by avoiding him.

"Then, can I expect you to be the same as you were back in class?" Byleth asked with a slight hint of teasing. "Your grades… Annette and Edelgard caught up with them, you know."

Lysithea frowned as Byleth took his hand off her head after she raised her head back.

"Is that a challenge? It won't be long until I get my marks back to what they were supposed to be, you know." Lysithea said with a determined glare, despite the glare, she felt a relieving sense of normalcy in her that has long been absent in the Ethereal Moon.

She wasn't sure of what the future days will hold for her and the professor, the rumors may die down or get worse but at this point, she didn't care.

Edelgard was right, she needs to be selfish from time to time. It may sound self-serving but seeing the professor smile and hear his warm voice towards her made it all worth it, rumors and other false gossips be damned.

"T-Then... I have to go now…" Lysithea said, much as hated leaving the professor tonight, she felt it was appropriate to go back to the ball.

Byleth gave her a nod, an assurance that he would be fine being alone in the tower for a bit as Lysithea slowly backed away from him, each step backwards filled with hesitance to leave him behind, she wanted this moment to last longer.

"Don't you stay too long here either! You'll catch your death of cold out here." Lysithea told him, waving the professor goodbye with a sweet smile and left the tower afterwards, leaving Byleth all by his lonesome with a smile on his face as he stared up at the night sky hanging above Garreg Mach.

Maybe he wasn't by his lonesome after all as Edelgard was leaning her back on the wall near the open doorway leading to where Byleth is, her presence being hidden by the dark as Lysithea passed by her with a huge smile across her face.

Edelgard didn't mean to eavesdrop on their conversation nor was she aware of the professor or Lysithea going to the Goddess Tower, she had her own reasons for visiting the popular place in the monastery as it was the place where her mother met her father.

Her visit to the Goddess Tower was purely for sentimental reasons on her part yet she felt lucky and happy to witness what appears to be the full reconciliation between her friend and her teacher, both being dear to her.

She wished she could see the professor's face right now but instead she decided to make herself scarce, satisfied at what she had heard.

As for Byleth, little did he know that the coming days will probably be the worst moment in his entire life...

---

And that ends the Ethereal Moon chapter! I honestly wanted to write all of this into one chapter but the pacing didn't feel right so I split the chapter into two parts to cover each half of the month's event.

But DAMN, this chapter IS SO FULL OF FLUFF and ship moments (alongside other ships) and I am not used to it! I mean, I am no stranger to writing fluff but I get embarrassed when I write such things. This must be the side effect of writing stories or chapters that were filled with angst XD

Also, I really wanted to emphasize too on Lysithea and Edelgard's growing relationship here and how far they've gotten. Makes my heart warm writing them having moments like this.

As usual, reviews are very much appreciated! Thank you!