Lysithea was never particularly physically fit, but there were times in which the symptoms of her twin crests would flare up and that her body would be in an even worse state than what it usually was. A coughing fit, a weakness in her limbs, and a high fever, these were times in which she was completely and utterly helpless.
She always made sure to hole up in her room once the coughing starting. She refused to let anyone see her like that, mostly due to pride and somewhat for convenience. If any of the other students saw her during one of her fits they would begin asking questions about her condition, questions that she was not willing or ready to answer.
It was actually quite fortunate for her then that Seteth of all people had learned of her condition. It made it much easier for her to skip lectures and hide in her room when she had his permission and notice to do so. Of course, that didn't come with drawbacks itself, mainly Hanneman who had been sent to her room to observe her condition.
And, of course with Hanneman came Lindhart who had skipped his own lectures to invite himself into her room. Those two with their love of crests were seen together a lot nowadays, having banded together to study a common subject. Her.
"How often does this happen?" Hanneman asked as Lindhart put a glowing hand to her back as she laid on her side. The ministrations of the green haired healer had somewhat a calming effect on her symptoms though there was nothing he or any healer could do about the root cause.
"Every four to five weeks," she informed them before coughing again. It wasn't too bad. It only lasted for a few seconds and she hadn't even spit out any blood that time. There was usually some blood she coughed out during these fits that she would later of have dispose of. Thankfully she more or less had a convenient excuse for such things, but even then there was a limit to how many washcloths she could stain red before the faculty got suspicious.
"So, a monthly occurrence," Lindhart observed.
"Yes, but there's not really much of set schedule for it."
"That means you are unable to predict it?"
Lysithea shook her head. "To some extent but there are times when it comes earlier than expected. I usually just stay in my room when I feel it coming."
"And when you are out on an assignment with your class?"
If she had the energy to get out of bed to shrug, she would've. "I'm lucky that hasn't happened yet."
"Lysithea, wouldn't the results of having one of your fits on the battlefield be completely disastrous?" Hanneman asked.
"I can still use my magic."
"Yet you can hardly stand up right now," Lindhart commented.
She tried to glare at the green haired noble. It was kind of hard to do that considering his position behind her. "What would you have me do then? Stay behind and abandon the rest of my class as they go off on missions with the Professor?"
"They should at least be aware of your condition so that they can manage it when it comes."
"No," she promptly answered. Apart from the professor she refused to consider telling anyone else. Not Claude, not Hilda, not Marianne, and especially not Lorenz.
"Well its decided then. I'm transferring to your class."
"What!?" Lysithea shouted and sat up. She immediately regretted doing so as she the strain on her lungs caused to cough again, this time more fiercely with some blood.
"It was something I was considering for quite some time and your Professor seemed quite willing when I suggested it to him."
"All because of my crests I'm assuming," she replied bitterly.
"I admit, your crests were what had me first considering it at first, but upon observation of you, your class, and your professor I have found that there is much more I could gain from learning under the Golden Deer. Even without your crests there is quite a lot there to hold my interest and you need someone who knows of your condition to be ready to help when you're out on an assignment."
Despite his previous deceptions, Lindhart had never actually outright lied to her. She could trust his words it an extent even if she didn't feel completely comfortable around him.
"The professor won't just let you sleep around in class," she replied. If he wanted to join the class though then she wasn't going to stop him.
"Do you think Edelgard, Ferdinand, or Hubert would let me sleep around in class? I have my methods."
"I doubt they'll work against the Professor."
"We shall see. It will all make for an interesting experiment."
Lysithea tried to process the assignment that had been given to her by the Professor. "Um Professor," she raised her hand, "I believe I was given the wrong form."
Byleth barely glanced at her sheet from where he stood at the front of the classroom. "It's correct," he replied quickly.
"But I'm being assigned sword training." For all of Lysithea's strength in magic and tactics, she wasn't quite suited for physical combat. Even she had to admit that she was practically useless on the battlefield with any weapon apart from a bow, and even that had been gathering dust in her room since she much prefer to use her magic to strike from a sufficient distance.
"Yes, you are being given sword practice."
"Professor I believe that my time would be better spent focused on my magical studies."
"I don't know Lysithea," Claude interjected before Byleth could answer. "Teach has been teaching me how to use an axe and that's been working pretty well for me."
Claude at least was actually adequate with an axe. He could reliably use one to strike down an enemy without worrying about falling on his own two feet. She did not have such skill or luxury with a sword. "I just don't believe that swords work for me."
"You used Thunderbrand pretty well. That's a sword right?" Rapheal commented.
Byleth knocked on his desk hard. It was his way of silencing the class when needed. "Lysithea you will be given sword training."
"Can I at least ask for your reasoning professor?"
"It is best that you are able to defend yourself in case your magic runs out or an enemy is simply too close. I also have a belief that you have potential with the sword."
"This is about me using Thunderbrand isn't it?" Lysithea replied bluntly.
The professor nodded. "It's part of the reason, though I've also made it a point that everyone in the class learn to use another weapon along with their preferred form of combat. You were simply the only one remaining that didn't do so."
Lysithea crossed her arms but otherwise accepted it. "I understand." It wasn't like she didn't see the reasoning behind the Professor's words and he had never given her any reason to doubt him. Still, she couldn't feel some apprehension as to the training she was going to go through tomorrow.
After a few hours the lecture would end and the class would prepare to leave the room. Before Lysithea could finish gathering her things though, Claude would walk up to her.
"So, I heard that you had tea with the Imperial Highness the other day."
Lysithea rolled her eyes. Of course, Claude would've learned about it. He really needed to learn to mind his own business. "Yes, Claude I did."
"What did you two talk about?"
"Even if I was at liberty to talk about what we've discussed why would I tell you?"
"Because we're classmates. Hasn't Teach been encouraging us all to communicate a bit more?"
"Then you can communicate with everyone else. I see no reason why you have to pester me over things that I talk about with Edelgard."
"I'm just saying. She's been meeting with you and Teach a lot. It's definitely enough to make a guy curious."
The Professor had been meeting quite a lot over tea recently despite being in different houses. It was enough that rumors had been popping up about the two.
"Are you afraid that she might take us away from your house?"
"Hardly. If anything she should be worried about losing her classmates considering we just got Lindhart. I'm just wondering why she's so interested in you two."
"Well if you must know I quite enjoy talking with her and the Professor has always been one for an interesting conversation." It was true, despite how monotone Byleth was he could be a surprisingly easy person to talk to. Though he didn't speak much, he listened well and carefully considered each word that he spoke. This meant that the few words he did speak would have that much more impact and meaning. "Perhaps Edelgard sees the two of us as engaging company."
"If she wants engaging company then I'll maybe I'll invite myself to one of your tea parties. Keep her on her toes."
"I'd like to see you try. Especially with Hubert around."
"You're clumsy, slow, and your stance is sloppy," Felix commented bluntly as Lysithea was knocked down for the umpteenth time.
"Or maybe you're expecting too much form someone who hasn't held a blade for more than a few hours!" she bit back as she struggled to pick herself up. She held her training sword as best she could with her sweaty and shaking hands.
Why did she have to take sword lessons? And why did Felix of all people suddenly volunteer to be her training partner? She'd be much better off with someone like Dorothea who at least combined magic and swordplay. The songstress would probably also have the common decency not to knock her around while was still trying to figure out how to hold a blade properly.
"Your stance was much better when you were using Thunderbrand."
"I'm still not entirely sure what came over me when I used Thunderbrand and it doesn't change that I've never held a sword before that."
"Then go grab that and then maybe you'll actually give me some sort of challenge."
"That's a Heroes Relic. I can't just walk to Catherine and ask if I could just use it for training."
"Why not?"
"Because she has more important things to do with it." Mainly serving the church or challenging her Professor to another duel.
"How do you know that if you never asked?"
"Because I don't need to ask Felix. And I refuse to use my crest, especially for a Heroes Relic."
"You use Gloucester quite often."
"Not by choice. I can't help when it activates through my magic."
"Why don't you want to use them? Don't they give you an advantage over your enemies?"
"I have no need for my Crests, my magic alone is sufficient enough."
"Magic is not the solution to everything. What would you do against a Pegasus knight? Or someone who has gotten too close for comfort?"
"I could ask the same with you and your obsession with swords."
Felix scoffed before holding his hand out. Lysithea didn't know what to expect until a flame suddenly appeared above it.
Her eyes went wide as Felix then pointed the flame at a nearby dummy and fired it. The spell was unstable and weak, barely leaving much a scorch mark on the dummy, but in the end he had actually used magic. "Your Professor brought that to my attention. Which is why I'm having Hanneman teach me magic. If I can learn to use a spell, then you can learn to properly hold a blade."
"Fine." Seeing Felix of all people practice magic had been enough motivation for her to take up a basic stance again. If he could use a spell or two then she could at least put in that same amount of effort in her swordsmanship.
Too bad motivation was hardly a replacement for skill and soon enough she ended up getting thrown to the ground once more.