Your owl is running off again.

Byleth had hardly registered Lysithea running off until Sothis had informed him. It was only then he had noticed the disturbed looks on Hilda, Marianne, and Leonie faces as they rejoined the group.

Oh… I need to get to her now.

I know it wasn't easy seeing her torn in half in that… thing's mouth.

The sight of the student being snatched up in that beast's mouth. The sounds of her screams as it carried her into the air and bit down. Her legs falling off, her waist a bloody stump. Then it swallowed and the screams would stop.

The memory of all that was still fresh in his mind. Another failure of his to protect his student and it was only through some Goddess given power that he had been able to save her.

It's just that even after all this time... it still is hard to see.

I would be frightened if it did get easy for you. They're your students, of course their deaths should trouble you, but you need to be strong for her right now.

I know… I'll go to her

Byleth turned to Claude. "Get the rest of the class together and gather what you can. We'll meet you at the entrance."

"Got it Teach… do you know why Lysithea is acting like that?"

"That's for her to tell you," Byleth replied before making his way toward where Lysithea had run off. She was hardly much of a runner and it didn't take long for him to catch up to her despite the head start that she had.

He didn't stop her though. He made sure to follow within eyesight all the way to their entrance where she stood outside and would eventually collapse.

She's also gone through a lot. No child should ever have to go through what she has.

She isn't a child.

But she is young. And she needs help. She needs you.

I still have no idea why she needs me.

Because you listen. You do not lie and you do not judge. Sometimes all we need is one person to listen to our words to. To remind us that we are important… to someone at least.

Sothis

Oh, don't be sappy with me now. Just go to her already!

Byleth nodded to himself and made his way toward his student. He kneeled down and put a hand on her shoulder.

Lysithea jerked and turned her head around. "Professor!?" She began to use her sleeves to wipe away the snot coming from her nose and the tears coming from her eyes. "I- Why are-… Shouldn't you be with the rest of the class?"

"Claude's dealing with it."

I'd say that hardly inspires much confidence, but we do have more pressing matters to deal with.

"Why are you here then?"

Byleth was unsure of many things. He had no idea why she relied on him, he had no idea how he helped her, and he had no idea why he seemed so comfortable in her presence. It was much the same as he felt with Edelgard and the rest of his students.

There was one thing that he did know though. "Because you're my student."

Lysithea stared at him for a brief moment as if to process his words before turning away in silence. They stared like that for a few minutes before she finally decided to speak.s

"Even if this student constantly causes trouble for you and her class? Even if she just lashes out at others, screams at the slightest provocation, and doesn't care about who she hurts with her actions?"

"Even I'll be there for you when you need me." No matter what, he would always help them, he would always come to them when they needed him. Even if he had no idea what he was doing he would still do everything he could for them. Much as his father did for him.

You really are suited to be a Professor.

"I've been... hurting a lot of people."

"You have plenty of pain to deal with yourself."

"I know… but it isn't an excuse to act so selfishly all the time."

"A selfish person wouldn't worry about their parents future and they wouldn't care as much about this as you do."

"What should I do then?"

"Be better. I've seen you improve yourself countless times. You can be the person that you wish you were."

"What I have no idea what I want to be? What if I don't have the time to figure it out?"

"You do have the time. I'll make sure of that." Byleth reached his hand out and hesitantly hovered it over her head.

Just do it already. You've done it before.

With Sothis's… encouragement he brought it down and patted her on the head. It was such a simple gesture that his father had done for him before and yet it always conveyed so much to him. He hoped it would be the same for her.

I know it can be hard being a Professor, but I believe that its moments like these that make it worth it.

I think so too

Good… and just know that you'll always have someone who understands your pain. If it becomes too much than you can rely on me.

Thank you

Lysithea marched at the very back of the group, making sure to stay far away from the other girls of the Golden Deer. Her emotions… were just to fresh to deal with them right now. She needed to get back to the Monastery so that she could bathe, change, and sleep in the privacy of her own room. Once she got some rest and her emotions had calmed, then she would talk to three of them.

"Are you alright Sis?" Raphael suddenly asked her.

"I'm fine…"

"What about your arms? They look pretty bad."

The healed wounds on her arms did look bad. "I'm healed. They just might leave a mark or two."

"Are you sure?" Lindhart asked. "There might be something I can do for you. A bit of an experiment I admit."

"It's fine." After everything that had been done to her body a few extra scars were hardly anything for her to care about.

"Lysithea maybe it wouldn't hurt to have him-"

"I'm fine Ignatz," she bit back. She was starting to get frustrated.

"Hey Lysithea." Sylvain suddenly came up behind her.

"What!?" she shouted. She just wished they'd leave her alone.

"Thanks for the help with my brother back there," he replied with a weary smile and a Lance of Ruin in his hands.

Lysithea's face softened. Despite what Sylvain had said before, what happened to his brother had clearly affected him. How it could it not with his own sibling turned into a monster that they had to slaughter. "You're welcome Sylvain, but shouldn't you be thanking the Professor?"

"Already did, along with the rest of you class. I'm not delusional enough to think that I should've been the one to finish him or something like that, but you all clearly risked yourselves for something that was my family's responsibility."

"We might be in different classes… but we're still fellow students," Lysithea replied. It was a sentiment of the Professor that she happened to pick up. "And I guess we should help each other after all."

"Are you starting to like me?" Sylvain's trademark smile returned to his face and her annoyance returned.

"I'm tolerating your presence."

"Well that is an improvement. Didn't you say to me that you had absolutely no interest in spending time with me? Several times in fact?"

And here she thought talking with him would be different this time. "Because you lack self-awareness and you treated me like a child when we first met. I have no time for false flattery."

"That wasn't my intent, though honestly I get why you told me off back there. I genuinely think that you're a genius."

"And there you go with the false flattery again. Do you really have to pull your antics on me in front of everyone here? Aren't there any other girls you could go after?" Lysithea glanced at the rest of the Golden Deer that were watching as they spoke. She had almost forgotten how exhausting it was to deal with him.

"It's the truth though. How about we get a cup of tea together and I can show you how sincere I can be?"

"That sounds absolutely horrifying."

"I won't do anything I just want to chat."

She sighed and began to rub her forehead. He truly was insufferable but perhaps she could give him the benefit of the doubt after what had just happened. "Fine we can chat back in the monastery."

"Over a cup of tea?"

"In the Mess Hall. As friends, nothing else," she replied firmly. "And if you try anything, then I'm sure you'll be fine with volunteering as target practice."

"Alright I know when to respect a girl's boundaries," Sylvain held his hands out in surrender. "And Lysithea."

"Yes Sylvain?"

"I'm glad you're feeling better again."

Lysithea paused as she watched Sylvain walk away. Had he seriously let her vent on him? If that was the case, then perhaps he was a bit more considerate then she had thought. She actually did feel a bit better.

"Glad to see you two are getting along," Claude suddenly walked over and put a hand on her shoulder. "You must be happy that he's showing interest in a kiddo like you."

"Claude."

"Yes Lysithea?"

"You have approximately five minutes before I have regain enough of my magic to cast a spell and it isn't just Sylvain I'm willing to use for target practice."

"Plenty of time to talk then. So, what are you two lovebirds planning on doing? A little boat ride on the Monastery pond?"

Lysithea took out her blade and looked at what remained of it. Just a few inches of jagged steel of it remained. A few inches of sharp steel still perfectly capable of stabbing someone. She then looked at Claude. "Actually, I don't even need five minutes."

"Oh…"

Claude high tailed it and ran as she chased him with her broken sword in her hands.