Lysithea set down the book she had been reading and let out a frustrated sigh. Another book on Crests, another one with no information about how to treat her condition. There were plenty of theories on perhaps implanting Crests, most of which would end up with the death of the subject go figure, but none about how to remove Crests. Just that it was impossible to do so since it was absolutely ingrained in the blood.
Though the Professor's promise to her had inspired her to try and find a cure for her condition it was still discouraging to be met with failure. She didn't want to die, and she was still holding onto that small hope that there was a cure out there, but it would probably be best if she prepared a contingency if her and the Professor's efforts failed.
It was while she was musing over writing a will that Seteth walked into the library. It was clear that he noticed her too, but he took a few minutes to browse the bookshelves before he spoke to her.
"I heard that you were carried out of the Mess Hall by your classmates," Seteth as he took out a book, looked at the title, and then put it away.
"I can assure you that the Mess Hall has been cleaned sufficiently."
"That's not what I worry about. Raphael and Lorenz both said that you had tripped and that they were merely finding a healer to treat the sprain, but I do believe that the truth is quite different."
The fact that Raphael and Lorenz had kept what she said in confidence had relieved her greatly. She didn't know what she would do if she was confronted by the rest of her class over her shortened lifespan. Break down and cry some more maybe? That seemed to the be default option for her nowadays.
"They were able to bring me to Lindhart."
"That's good."
"I don't want to be left behind on missions," she begged.
"Is your Professor aware of your condition."
"Yes"
"Then that is his decision to make," Seteth replied as he sat down across from her with a book in his hand. "All I can do for you is give you advice."
"Is that why you came here?"
"No. I actually came in looking for something to read myself. Flayn has suggested that I take up a hobby."
"What about fishing? I'm sure she'd be excited about that."
"Though I do enjoy the activity, it has been a long time since I partook in it," he admitted. "I believe that my skills would not be up to par."
"You could have Leonie teach you a few things." Normally Lysithea would suggest the Professor but Seteth still seemed somewhat tense around him.
"I'll keep that in mind," Seteth replied as he opened his book.
There was a time in which Lysithea would've been intimidated by his presence. Now though she felt calm being around him. They spent an hour or so reading in silence before Seteth spoke up again.
"In the past you've spoken much about how you desire to hunt down the mages that implanted your Crests."
"I have."
"What will you do if they aren't found?"
"I will find them. One way or another I will."
"Have you ever considered doing something else? Are there not any other goals in your life you'd wish to achieve?"
"Yes. House Ordelia will end with me. I will tie up all loose ends in our lands, give up our titles, and make it so that my parents can finally live in peace."
"You wish to give away your noble titles?"
"Our noble title has given us nothing but pain. Besides they'll no longer need it once I am gone."
Seteth paused and glanced at her carefully. "And what about you personally? What do you wish to have?"
"I don't have the time to think about those things," Lysithea replied plainly. "I'm not sure I have enough to get things I need to get done now."
"Yes. I am aware of your shortened lifespan. But might I give you some advice?"
"What is it?"
"I have noticed that you keep your classmates at a certain distance. Perhaps it would be good to let your guard around them one in a while."
"I don't think that's a good idea… for any of us."
"And why is that?"
"If we become close… if I become close with someone, then I will just have to leave them in another decade or less. It would just be too much pain for all of us."
Seteth closed his eyes for a moment to think. "I understand the pain of separation. I thought I had all the time in the world with my wife before she passed."
"You were married?"
"I was and I miss her to this day, but I do not ever regret loving her. Even should the pain of parting be sooner then we'd like there will always be the memories that we have created. You are still young. Try to create some memories with your friends and loved ones rather than live with the regret of having never open up to them in the first place."
"I'll keep that in mind Seteth… and could I ask a favor?"
"What is it?"
"Just… make sure my parents are happy. When I'm gone. Make sure that the people I've left behind will be able to move on."
"I will do as you ask."
Despite all the things Lysithea had been through, the Professor would someone always find a way to surprise her. The reason this time was him hiding behind a bush in front of the dorms. Now normally that would be fine enough, but next to the Professor was Jeralt who also hid with him in said bush with.
It was a very peculiar sight but one that piqued her interest, so she walked up to the bush. "What are you two doing?" she asked them.
The Professor quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her down with her into the bush. He then put a finger to his mouth to tell her to stay silent before pointing at the sight they were staring at.
It was Bernadetta and Alois. A strange combination in of itself but the strangest thing of all was Bernadetta. She was outside of her room and having a conversation with someone. An actual conversation. There was panic, no nervousness, no jitteriness to her movements, she acted like a regular person having a regular conversation.
The shock of seeing that made even Lysithea wide eyed as she continued to watch the spectacle before her. "Professor… how is this possible?" she whispered to him.
"I have no idea," he whispered back.
"Bernadetta looks… comfortable with Alois. Do they have any history with each other?"
"They don't. This would be the first time I've ever seen them together."
"That isn't the worst thing kid," Jeralt suddenly commented.
"Really what else should we be looking at?" Lysithea gestured toward the Knight of Seiros and the incredibly calm purple haired student.
"Listen carefully to Alois. He's telling his jokes."
Lysithea listened carefully and grimaced as yet another bad pun was let loose from Alois's mouth. "I'd prefer not to hear it. Why is that so important?"
"Look at the girl's face."
"She's smiling and… giggling!?" Lysithea put both her hands to her mouth in horror.
"Yes," Jeralt grimaced. "There's someone out there that actually likes his jokes."
"Oh dear Sothis." What was happening? Had Lysithea woken up in some strange and alternate reality where Alois's jokes were actually funny? Or had Bernadetta been replaced by some look alike imposter like that one-story Mercedes had told her and Ashe in the middle of the night. The same one that had given her nightmares for weeks. Was she going to be replaced by a monster in the middle of the night?
The professor suddenly turned his head to an empty spot behind him. "No, she isn't talking about you."
"Professor?"
He shook his head. "It's nothing." He then turned to Jeralt. "Father it might be strange request, but do you think I could have Alois spend more time with Bernadetta? This is the first time I've seen her be at ease."
"Go for it kid. I honestly have no idea what's happening at this point."
Byleth prepared to stand only to have Lysithea stop by pulling him on his sleeve. "Professor are you sure that this isn't some sort of trap? It's too dangerous to go out there until we know what's going on."
"That is a risk I'm willing to take," he replied stoically before promptly standing up.
Panic etched Bernadetta's face as she was the first to notice him pop out of the bush. She bid a quick farewell to Alois before rushing back into her room and closing the door.
Well there went the imposter theory.
"Alois," the professor greeted the Knight.
"Byleth! How have you been?" Alois was one of the few to address the Professor by name.
"I was just wondering why Bernadetta seems so comfortable around you."
"Honestly, I only just realized that recently. She's normally skittish around other people."
That was an understatement.
"Might I have request of you something?"
"Sure. Anything for Captain Jeralt's son. I was his point man," Alois gestured toward his large spiked shoulders, "when I was serving under him after all."
Jeralt, who was still hiding in the bush with Lysithea, groaned. "I swear he's gotten even worse while I was gone."
"I've heard you've been gone for a decade. Has he been like this ever since he was student?" Lysithea asked.
"Yes, unfortunately. He's a good man… but never easy for me to deal with."
"I can imagine." Those jokes were painful to listen on a physical and mental level.
Byleth, in all his stoicism, showed no reaction to the pun. "Would you mind working with Bernadetta on assignments and weekly tasks?"
Lysithea admiration for the Professor grew even further. Bernadetta wasn't even part of their class yet he had gone this far out of his way for her. He cared a lot about the students, perhaps too much even. It honestly seemed like he was overworking himself, though he hardly ever showed it.
"That sounds like a grand idea. She and I have quite a lot of things to talk about after all. Though with the rain we've been having I can't help but fear that things might go 'pourly'."
Lysithea put her hand across her face as did Jeralt. Unknowingly for both of them the person inside Byleth's head would also do the same.
"Are you two playing hide and seek?"
Lysithea nearly jumped as Jeralt pulled a knife on the person that snuck up behind them. They calmed immediately once they saw the familiar bed of long green hair that somehow camouflaged itself in the bush.
"Flayn what are you doing here?" Lysithea asked as Jeralt scrambled to put his knife away.
"My brother told me to keep an eye on you."
"I thought I was supposed to keep watch of you?"
"Since when did the man with the stick up his ass start trusting you with his sister?" Jeralt asked.
"Jeralt!" Lysithea gasped. "Language!" Normally she wouldn't care but he said that around Flayn of all people. Who would curse near Flayn? And what would happen if Seteth ever found the person that ever taught her those words?
Flayn tilted her head. "Is there something wrong with his language?"
"He's… cursing."
"Do not worry. I am quite aware of numerous curses including," Flayn would then proceed to speak a small list of expletives with her cheery and good-natured voice. Some were words Lysithea hadn't even heard of before and many were just bad if not outright horrifying, especially out of her mouth. It was enough to make Lysithea's face to go crimson as she began to cover her face in shame.
Even Jeralt looked incredibly uncomfortable. "Kid I think you've made your point. Please stop," he begged.
"Oh I apologize if I have made the two of you uncomfortable. I rarely have a chance to use most of the language I know around Seteth and I wasn't sure which words would be currently suitable around the Monastery."
"None of them," Lysithea whispered. "None of those words should ever be spoken ever again."
"But do not people use curses to express great displays of emotion? Would I not connect with them better if I use them?"
"Kid… just no," Jeralt replied wearily. "And don't ever say any of those words around your brother or my son." The mercenary captain then got up to rejoin his son once he had finished talking to Alois.
"Father? Why do you look so uncomfortable?"
"You have some interesting students."
"Did Lysithea do something?"
"No, the green haired one."
"Flayn? What could she have possibly done?"
Lysithea whimpered in the bush. If only she still had the Professor's innocence. One that she and Jeralt had lost just recently.