"How was I to know that he would have joined straight away had you asked?"

"It was pretty obvious. Felix likes swords, I like swords. He came to every one of my seminars even after how horribly the first one went."

"You're only saying that because of hindsight! From how I remember it, you were just as oblivious as I was."

"Well, he should be joining the class for the first time today regardless."

"Hmph. At least your training with Edelgard went well, even with the stir she caused, everything is still on schedule.

"Felix only approached us because Edelgard doesn't back down from a challenge."

"I accounted for that possibility."

"Mhmm."

"But we cannot stop there!"

"What's next?"

"Well, didn't the archbishop's aide assign your students to clean the training arena after what happened yesterday?

"Yes. And?"

"You still haven't made plans for who to pair up with each other! You simply must put them in optimal pairs."

"Wouldn't it be beneficial to give them opportunities to work with others to overcome differences?"

"And miss out on an opportunity for them to grow slightly more than they would otherwise? As amusing as it is to watch, no, I simply cannot allow for wasted time."

"Alright, if you insist."

Edelgard stifled a yawn behind her hand and rubbed her eyes. Her initial search through the monastery's library hadn't immediately borne much fruit. Even though that was expected, sifting through tomes late through the night had taken its toll. Perhaps she had been somewhat overzealous to find something quickly.

"Had a long night Eddie?"

"Dorothea." Looking up from her tome, Edelgard welcomed the distraction of conversation from her fellow classmate. Setting the thick book aside, she stretched. "Yes, I've been doing some light reading."

"A tome that thick is light reading?" she teased. "I'm almost impressed."

"Well, I've just been skimming, mostly." Not that it had really helped her find anything on knowledge stones. More than likely, this book, like many others, was a dud. But of course as Professor Hanneman had reminded them in his most recent seminar:

"Research rarely takes off in leaps and bounds. It requires patience, persistence and practice. Just like improving your tactical prowess and physical capabilities, so too must you put in the time to plumb the depths of a subject."

Which was why Edelgard's marked improvement after her excursion with Byleth both unnerved and intrigued her, and had her frantically trying to find out how it was possible. It was too bad she had slept most of the way back to the monastery and her professor had been tied up with the archbishop.

Dorothea set a hand on her hip, giving her an appraising look. "It seems like you've been at it far too long by how tired you look this morning. I guess it doesn't surprise me at this point with how driven you are, but Adrestian Heir or not, you're still human like the rest of us."

"Thank you for the reminder." Edelgard mused. "Of course, you're no slouch either."

"I have to be. Just don't overdo it, okay?"

"Thank you."

Dorothea smiled and sauntered away, settling into her normal spot beside Petra and began chatting away. Edelgard leaned back in her chair, pondering as the Black Eagles' classroom slowly rolled to life as students meandered in closer and closer to the start time.

It was easy to tell when Sylvain arrived and she was glad to see him mingling more earnestly with the other Black Eagles. She'd been initially skeptical after hearing of his philandering reputation, but after their outing to Conand Tower, and his and Byleth's defiance in not giving up the retrieved Lance of Ruin to the archbishop, Edelgard was far more willing to trust him.

And as Hubert reminded her yesterday, she needed as many advantages as she could get. Trustworthy allies included. Sylvain seemed to notice her attention, smiled and after leaving a nervous - albeit smiling - Bernadetta, he made his way over to her.

"Hey there, Edelgard."

"Sylvain," she acknowledged. "It seems as though even after being thoroughly chastised by Seteth that your spirits are still high."

He winked at her. "How could they not be after how much of a curb stomp you gave Felix yesterday?"

"Aren't you two close friends? I would have figured you would hold a grudge."

"Are you kidding? We might have grown up together, but he got what he deserved. And even though you dipped out before the storm came, it was totally worth it. Scrubbing the entire wing of the training grounds is a small price to pay."

"It seems I'll be joining you, then."

"Oh?" He raised his eyebrows almost mockingly. "So the heir to the empire deigns to come scrub with us? How magnanimous of you."

Edelgard huffed. "With how many dozens of witnesses were there, there was no way to fully escape Seteth's reach."

"How bad was it?"

"A stern reminder and an admonishment to show better qualities of leadership, especially as house leader." She glanced about, then cleared her throat, deepening it in an facsimile of Seteth. "'As the heir to the Adrestian Throne and especially as house leader, I expect more. I'm more disappointed in your conduct than angry.'"

Sylvain busted out laughing. "Wow, wasn't expecting something like that from you. Not too bad, but sorry for your luck facing off against Seteth's ultimate dad energy."

Edelgard raised an eyebrow. "'Ultimate dad energy?'"

He laced his hands behind his head. "Doesn't he give off that kind of vibe? He just oozes 'I'm not mad, just disappointed.' You know, kind of like how some of the legends describe Saint Cichol. Or, at least some of the less religious ones."

Edelgard remained silent at the comment.

"Anyways." Sylvain glanced around, and his expression shifted to something more serious. He dropped the volume of his voice to a quiet murmur. "So, not to sound rude, but where in Ailell fires did you learn to wield an axe like that?"

She schooled her face into something neutral. "What do you mean?"

"He might be hyper focused, but Felix was right. Even when I've fought in battle with you, I've never seen you look so comfortable with an axe." He then held up his hand in a placating manner. "I mean, you're good. Really good. Good enough to easily smash my head in if you wanted. But what I saw yesterday was…something else."

"And if you were paying attention, I already answered that."

"You mean your…" he waggled his eyebrows suggestively, "intensive training with the professor?"

"Say it like that again and your head will be the least of your concerns."

He had the audacity to laugh. "Alright, sure thing, princess. Sheesh. You're spending too much time with Hubert."

"I suggest," a new, colder voice entered the conversation, "that if you value your life, that you say not another word to Lady Edelgard and leave in peace."

Seemingly unfazed by Hubert's sudden appearance, Sylvain grinned, but did begin edging away. "Alright, backing away from the Edelgard. We'll chat later."

To his credit, he did leave, and that was likely why it didn't escalate further beyond Hubert glowering as Sylvain retreated, sliding into the conversation between Dorothea and Petra.

"At your command, I can make his night a very…unpleasant one," Hubert murmured.

Edelgard shook her head. "No, there's no need. Besides, it's only natural that his suspicions were raised given the circumstances." If the whole of the monastery didn't know of her training by week's end, she would be surprised. "Any word?"

Hubert shook his head. "I suspect even if our mutual 'friends' know anything, they would not be forthcoming with the information. I will continue to do some more digging, but I do not expect much."

She nodded, expecting as much.

The door busted open, more forcefully than the past times it had, letting the cool morning autumn air of the Horsebow Moon into the room. She turned her head, to look and found not only Professor Byleth accompanied by-

"Felix!" Sylvain stood. "Glad to see you saw the light. I heard you and professor Byleth had some words."

"We talked with our blades," Byleth stated simply.

Caspar let out a whoop. "Aw, yeah! That's the best kind of talk!"

Edelgard put a smile on her face and nodded at Felix when he looked her way. As happy as Edelgard was to have another classmate, she wondered how Felix's family would feel about that decision. Even so, she smiled and joined in with the others in welcoming him.

Eventually, Byleth strode towards her customary place up front, and at the unspoken signal, everyone began finding their seats. She noted that Felix took a place next to Bernadetta.

As Byleth passed her, her eyes met Edelgard's. A simple subtle smile wormed its way on her face.

Strange. The Professor rarely smiled like that. What was she so happy about?

Byleth stood in front of her desk. "As an announcement, in case you weren't present at the incident, our house and the Blue Lions have been asked to clean the entirety of the training wing later this afternoon."

There was a collective groan from the class, loudly concentrated around Caspar and Lindhart, though likely for differing reasons.

"We'll be dividing into pairs to help make the work as efficient as possible." She pulled a sheet of paper from…somewhere. "Listen carefully for your partner."

"Well, well your highness, fancy seeing you here not one, but two nights in a row."

Edelgard looked up from her latest book to see nothing. Then she looked up further to see Claude hanging by his legs, draped over the second floor of the library's banister, looking down at her.

Upside down.

She sighed, rolling her eyes, ignoring his clear attempt to get a reaction out of her. "Everyone needs a change of pace sometimes."

He spread his arms, sending him rocking dangerously back and forth. "C'mon Not even a little smile? And I tried so hard." He shrugged. "Well, guess I'll die."

"Don't be so dramatic-"

She let her mouth hang open as Claude let go of the banister with his legs, flipped once mid air and landed, stepping back with a little hop. She closed her mouth, narrowing her eyes.

He gave a little bow, then tousled his hair into a semblance of what it normally looked like. "See, you do care!"

She scoffed. "You're intolerable. That was reckless."

He winked. "I've fallen from higher."

"What do you want, Claude?"

"I can't visit a fellow house leader without some reason?" He meandered closer to her table, shaking his head. "How cold of you."

"You know that's not what I meant, and besides - hey!"

He'd snatched up her book from the table, and started flipping through, before glancing at the title "'Fódlan's Geological Guide: A Study in Rocks?' Didn't think you were one for geology. I'd had you pegged down for more of a tactics, logistics and history kind of girl. Guess I was wrong?"

"And I would have figured you had more tact than to antagonize someone while they're studying."

"You know me, I can't help but bend everyone's ear a little, especially when they're trying to pull two all-nighters in a row. Usually I just have Lindhart for company at this late of an hour. And occasionally Bernadetta."

There was a high pitched 'Eep!' followed by some panicked muttering and then the scurrying of footsteps. A moment later, Lindhart peeked out from behind his tower of books and notes and lazily waved at them. Claude waved back before he disappeared again behind the stack.

Claude's ever present smile turned back to her. "So, does this have anything to do with your..." he waggled his eyebrows "private excursion with Teach last weekend? 'Cause if you're looking for good stones for a gift, you're looking in the wrong place."

"Why does everyone insist on saying it like that? It was a simple training exercise, nothing more."

"A training exercise maybe, but from what I hear, it was anything but simple. You and Teach have set the whole of the monastery in a buzz."

"And I suppose you're responsible for that?"

He laughed. "Not this time! But I'm pretty close to some of the people who are."

"If you came here to gossip about my relationship status, you'll find yourself speaking to empty air."

"Oh that's too bad, your highness. I was kind of excited to spend some quality time together discussing gems with mysterious properties, but I guess if gossip isn't your style…" he shrugged and began walking away.

Edelgard's eyes narrowed as she grit her teeth. She hated this. He was clearly tantalizing her with information, baiting her to do something outside of her control. Even so…

"Wait," she called.

Claude stopped, barely turning his head. She could see how calculating his eyes were. "Oh? Something I say catch your interest? But no, couldn't possibly be. I'm just an idle gossiper after all, and you made it clear that you weren't interested in that."

"What do you know?"

"Lots of things. Enough that to know that here isn't the best place for details. You'll have to come with me if you want more."

"And what do you get out of it?"

"Satisfaction."

Obviously, there was more to this. There always was with Claude. But it was a better lead than seemingly aimlessly perusing through books. She stood, packing away her things into a satchel.

"Alright. I'll bite."

His smile grew wider as she joined him walking out of the library. "Maybe we'll make a gossip out of you yet."

A/N: A less shenanigan heavy chapter, but worry not. We'll poke more fun at game mechanics soon.

Secretly, the whole story is just an excuse for me to write interactions between 3 Houses characters. They just happen to be interconnected with humorous undertones.