For most of her entire free life Lysithea had lived with the looming threat of a quick death before her, but it was never quite so present until now.
She wasn't going to make it. Today would be the day the day she perished. She knew that she wouldn't live long but she never thought that this would be what finished her.
A fish pie, a disgusting amalgamation of vegetables, pastry, and fish. It had no right to be a pie. Pie was supposed to buttery, flaky, sweet, and served with most brilliant side of peach currant sorbet. But this "pie" was but a monstrosity that should have no right to exist.
She set her down her fork and tried her best not to gag as the poison went down her throat. Even now she could feel it overwhelming each and every one of her senses.
Why in the Church's name was Flayn able to eat not one but two of the accursed abominations? There was something wrong with her. In fact, there was something wrong with anyone that liked fish. It was just slimy, smelly, and disgusting. There was no redeeming factor to eating it whatsoever.
"You look like you're really pushing yourself," Hilda commented from Lysithea's right.
"It isn't good to be picky with your food. You never know when you're getting your next bite to eat," Leonie commented from her left.
"Do you not enjoy it?' Flayn asked across from her.
"I'm full. You can have the rest of this," Lysithea said as she pushed her half-finished plate toward Flayn. She had gotten somewhat irritable around the green haired girl after she and Edelgard had to serve as her guide for most of that morning. At this point she was tired of Flayn, fish, and Flayn's obsession with fish.
"I would but my brother has requested that I inform him about whether or not you finish your food," Flayn replied way too cheerfully. "He also asked me to inform you that every plate you leave unfinished is another day you won't see a slice of cake."
Lysithea grimaced. Of course, Seteth would keep the divine essence hostage. A life without cake was no life worth living and he knew it.
"You can do this Lysithea," Hilda cheered her on.
Lysithea tried to pretend she didn't notice the pink haired girl and Claude make a wager on her, and instead focused on the plate in front of her. There was still so much of it left and by then it had turned into an indiscernible mush. Soggy and cold with the one redeeming factor of flaky pastry no longer being there. If it was hard for her to eat then, it would be impossible to eat now.
"Cmon," Leonie began patting Lysithea's shoulder. "You don't want the Professor's fish to be wasted, do you?"
"The professor caught this?"
"That's right he caught it from the pond and had the chefs serve it personally to you." That was technically true though Lysithea would later find out that the Professor pretty much provided all the fish that had been served in the mess hall.
For now, though it was enough motivation for her to actually finish the dish. She couldn't let the Professor's hard work go to waste after all.
Lysithea began to shove whatever she could into her mouth, chewed quickly, and drank down the chunks with water in order to taste as little of it as possible. She repeated this and suppressed the urge to gag each time, until she finally emptied the plate much to Flayn's glee and applause.
Claude would then reluctantly hand over a small satchel of gold to Hilda who would then go to Leonie and give her half of that.
"Pleasure doing business with you," Hilda said to Leonie.
"Feel free to hire me for my services again," Leonie replied.
"I can't believe you two conspired against me," Claude commented to the two in disbelief.
"Could someone get me some juice please?" Lysithea groaned as she struggled not to empty her stomach all over the table and floor of the mess hall.
"Lysithea?"
Lysithea was not much of a religious person. She was fine with using the Goddess's and the Church's name in vain, but she really wasn't as faithful as she let on despite her skill in offensive Faith magic. However, it felt like divine intervention that day when Lysithea looked up to find Marianne with cup of juice in one hand and a piece of candy in the other offered to her.
"Thank you. Thank you so much Marianne," Lysithea said as she lunged forward and grabbed the treats of her hand. She threw the candy in her mouth and let its sweet flavor fill her mouth before she drank the juice to wash the rest of it down. "You really came through for me," Lysithea said as she finished.
"Oh it was nothing much."
Lysithea had learned from past arguments with the girl not to force her praise on her. It was a bit sad, Marrianne could stand be more assertive in general, but at least there was a bit of a smile of the girl's lips. No matter how small it was.
"I see the gang's all here," Rapheal's voice called out. Behind the muscle fanatic was Ignatz, Lorenz, the Professor, and Lindhart who had officially transferred to their class. They joined them at their table and with that the Golden Deer had officially gathered.
With the addition of Flayn of course who seemed happy to be along for the ride.
Claude was the first to speak. "The Rite of Rebirth is happening today. Are we all prepared to see if our hunch was right?"
The entirety of the Golden Deer, apart from Lindhart who was busy sleeping again, agreed. It was clear that the blatant threat of assignation was but a ruse to distract the knights from other areas. The issue was figuring out where their enemies would strike.
"Teach and I have found a hidden spot where we can monitor the stairs that lead to the Holy Mausoleum. If there's anyone down there, they'll be trapped like the rats they are."
"All we'll have to do there is wait there?" Hilda asked.
"Indeed," Byleth replied.
"Including Flayn?" Raphael asked.
"Sadly no. My brother and I will be in the Goddess Tower during the ceremony, though I am fully confident that all of you will be successful in your endeavor."
"Back to the subject at hand," Claude continued. "I've also found a sealed coffin in the Holy Mausoleum last night and after some research I've learned that the only time you can easily get in and out of that place is during the Rite of Rebirth."
"And because of the alleged assassination plot, the defenses are even thinner than usual," Leonie commented.
Claude winked. "Exactly. Now all we have to do is follow the plan and hopefully no one tattles on us before we can catch them." He looked pointedly at Flayn.
"Do not worry. My brother only has me reporting on Lysithea's eating habits. I have no obligation or desire to have him interfere with your work."
"Scheming against family members," Claude smiled mischievously. "We can make a Golden Deer out of you yet"
"I do believe your observation was correct Claude," Lindhart commented as they entered the Holy Mausoleum.
Lysithea rolled her eyes. "What an acute sense of observation you have there." It was kind of hard to miss the small army that had invaded the tombs in order to break into the very conspicuous sealed coffin at the very end of it. There was already a mage there with his back turned working to unseal it, though she couldn't get a good view of him from their current position.
"Leonie you're with Rapheal to the left," their professor immediately began shouting orders. "Hilda, Ignatz, and Lorenz will cover our right. Marianne and Lindhart will stay back and provide support as needed. While Claude and I take the center."
"Professor are you sure?" Hilda cautioned. "There's a pretty scary looking knight at in the middle there."
The mounted knight in the center did look different than the rest of the shoulders. As if the skull mask wasn't enough, the scythe he held in his hands radiated a faint dark energy that Lysithea could see. He would likely know some form of magic which in conjunction with his heavy armor would make him a more significant threat compared to everyone else in the room.
She had learned a spell recently meant to deal with mounted units, so hopefully that along with the Professor's blade would be enough to topple the knight.
"Which is why I'm at the center." He then turned to Lysithea. "And finally, Lysithea will keep watch over the state of battle and inform me of any changes. You'll also assist anyone that is under threat of being overwhelmed."
Though Lysithea had been studying tactics and battalions extensively under the Professor it was still a pleasant surprise for her to be given a leadership role. Normally Claude or the Professor himself would be the one to oversee the battlefield as everyone fought.
Once the plans were made everyone quickly took their position and waited for the Professor's signal to charge. Their enemy, having noticed their presence at this point, also took formation in preparation for the ensuing conflict.
"Are you ready?" Byleth asked her.
Lysithea she put a hand on the hilt of the steel sword she carried. Though she would still serve magical role, the blade was something that would be used in an emergency. Hopefully the situation wouldn't get to the point where she'd be forced to used it. "About as ready as I'll ever be Professor."
Byleth would nod to her before turning to face the enemy. With a wave of his hand the operation would begin.