Author's Note:

Hello and welcome to another chapter. This one reveals a couple of things about Raphael's situation. Thank you for your continued support and I hope you enjoy the chapter.

I own nothing.

Hot Leaf Juice and 'Issues'

The mock battle was something of an easy ride for the Golden Deer.

While the other two houses were much better in terms of formal combat training (as well as having a little more in terms of unity when compared to the scrappy group that was the Golden Deer), they couldn't hold a candle to the sheer speed and strength that Raphael naturally had in beast form.

Byleth had made him the spearhead of their strategy, having him move directly up the centre of the field while supported by Leonie and Ignatz. This immediately attracted the attention of the other two classes, drawing in their front row units who tried to stop him. Unfortunately for them, he could move fast enough to stop them mobbing him, and one good blow was enough for him to knock them out of the match. Anyone who was left ended up being flanked by the group lead by Claude who manoeuvred around the edge of battle and came in from the side, resulting in a resounding victory for the Golden Deer.

All in all, the other classes were impressed by Byleth's strategies, but some seemed even more unnerved by Raphael's power.

Not all of them were completely suspicious of him (he thinks Caspar now regarded him with something akin to hero worship), but many definitely eyed him warily long after the mock battle was over, even when he'd shifted back to his human form and was now putting his uniform back on. It seemed that no matter what he said or did, they continued to believe that he was some sort of dangerous beast who'd attack them at a moments notice. He needed to know what they'd been told to think that.

"You battled very well."

Raphael briefly paused in his attempt to get his shirt back on (he really needed to ask about getting a bigger one) and glanced up at Dedue.

He knew of the other boy, and that he was Dimitri's retainer (still wasn't sure on titles, but he'd worked out that meant he served the prince in some form), but had only really seen him from a distance, often by Dimitri's side. He seemed to largely keep to himself and Raphael hadn't really seen him interact with anyone besides the prince.

He nodded and answered, attempting to learn Dedue's scent as he did so.

"Thanks." He briefly frowned at something odd in the scent, but managed to keep speaking, "You're Dedue, right?"

"Indeed."

Raphael opened his mouth to say more, then halted, completely thrown by the other boy's scent.

It was human, but it was also…werewolf? He knew the scents of his people far too well to be mistaken, there was definitely werewolf in the scent, but he'd never met Dedue before, and there was a lot of human as well. He was also sure that he recognised the bloodline of the werewolf scent, it smelled like Kerbero, but he hadn't seen that member of his pack in years…

Dedue sighed, "You've already noticed my scent, haven't you?"

Raphael was pulled from his confused thoughts, realising he'd probably been staring at the other boy in confusion for a while.

"Oh…um…yes…?"

The other boy glanced around, as if checking no one else could hear him, "I should've realised, my father said that werewolves would notice it right away." He looked around again, then lowered his voice a little, "Since you've smelt it already…" He paused briefly, "I'm actually, half-werewolf."

"Wait, what!"

Raphael just stopped himself from shouting his response out, realising just in time that Dedue was trying to be quiet about it. He checked the scent again, and knew that there was definitely werewolf in there, so Dedue wasn't lying, but how was that possible?

He then remembered his Pa explaining to him once that werewolves could actually mate with humans, and realised that his Pa had told him that because Kerbero had been on a long journey and had visited the pack to tell them that he'd started a family elsewhere and would not be returning. The pack had been more than happy for him, telling him he could visit any time he wished, but Raphael, young as he was, had been confused at how he'd started a family without the Mother Tree. His Pa told him that Kerbero had found a female human mate, not a werewolf mate, which is why their child could be born without the Mother Tree, this was the first time that Raphael had been told that their all-male race was unusual when compared to the rest of the world.

He grinned, "Oh, so you're Kerbero's cub!"

Dedue smiled, "Yes, I am." His face fell a fair bit, "Though, he's no longer with us."

Raphael's own grin rapidly disappeared, "Oh." He put his hand on his heart and gave a small bow, "May the Mother Tree bless his memory in your heart."

The other boy blinked then gave a small smile of gratitude, "Thank you."

His smile grew broader, "Anyway, I just wanted to offer my help if you need it. Thanks to my father, I know a lot more about werewolf culture than others, in case you need a break from maintaining Fόdlan's expectations of you." He paused then looked uneasy, "Though, could I ask that you keep my werewolf heritage secret." He briefly glanced back at the other students, "Being from Duscur already causes problems, it would only make things worse if people knew I was half-werewolf on top of that." He sighed sadly, "Those in Fόdlan are particularly ill-informed about werewolves."

Raphael nodded, he was quickly seeing that for himself, and he'd noticed the shifty looks people threw at Dedue occasionally, even now while they were talking.

"Of course, you have my word."

Dedue smiled then noticed Dimitri calling him, making him leave with a nod of farewell.

"Ah, Raphael, thank you for joining us."

The young werewolf gave Lorenz a polite smile, wanting to be anywhere but where he currently was.

The night before had ended with a rowdy celebration from the Golden Deer at their win (though 'rowdy' mostly amounted to loud chatter at the dinner table, due to the Academy's rules). However, he'd found himself accosted by the 'Disapproving Two' (as he'd dubbed Lorenz and Ferdinand) who asked (commanded) him to join them for tea the following afternoon. Getting the distinct impression that he had no choice but to say yes, he agreed and resigned himself to dealing with, no doubt, more disapproving looks and conversations.

At least he could find out what 'tea' actually was.

Sitting on the remaining chair, he appraised the two nobles, hoping this would be over quickly, as Lorenz poured the tea out of a weirdly shaped pot.

"This is a particularly good blend that I brought from home, I'm sure you'll approve of it."

Ferdinand nodded, "Certainly, this indeed seems to be tea of very high quality. I must return the favour next time and introduce you to one of the blends my family uses."

"That is most kind of you, I look forward to discovering new blends."

While the two of them exchanged long-winded compliments and tea related words, Raphael eyed his own, dainty (how was he supposed to hold it by that tiny handle?) cup, filled with what looked like muddy coloured hot water. He looked at the small sieve-like item Lorenz had poured the tea through and noticed the soggy pile of black mulch sat inside it and raised an eyebrow.

"That stuff was in the tea?"

Lorenz looked confused for a moment then noticed where he was looking and gave a small sigh, "But of course, tea is made by adding tea leaves to hot water, you cannot make tea without them."

He stared at the other boy and frowned, "So tea is basically hot leaf juice?"

The two of them looked positively scandalised, and Ferdinand responded while Lorenz was spluttering incoherently, "I assure you, tea is a refined and delicate art. There is a lot of skill required in making a suitable blend and you have to take multiple aspects into account. It is more than just 'hot leaf juice'."

Raphael shrugged, "I didn't mean that that would make it bad, but it does seem weird to treat it like some sort of 'special' drink."

Lorenz had finally recovered himself, and he spoke in a composed manner, "Shall we have a taste, it wouldn't do to let it get cold now."

Ferdinand nodded in agreement, and they all lifted their cups, Raphael just about getting a grip on the tiny little cup handle. He was about to have a taste when Lorenz coughed lightly.

"Raphael, you are supposed to lift the saucer as well."

"Huh?"

He was stared at impatiently, "The saucer, you are supposed to hold that while you drink."

The young werewolf glanced down at the small dish his cup had been sat on and noticed both the other boys holding theirs up at about chest height, perching their cups on it when they weren't drinking from them. He copied their movements (wondering why he had to hold the saucer to place his cup on when there was a perfectly good table right in front them) and awkwardly sipped from his cup, getting the feeling that gulping it would be frowned upon.

He smiled a little, "Hey, that's actually pretty good."

Lorenz preened a little, "Of course, I would hate it if I were to serve a sub-par cup of tea. It is not befitting of a noble to make such a mistake in their hospitality."

He cleared his throat, "However, perhaps we should move onto the main reason I invited you here." He gave Raphael a pointed look, "Raphael, I believe we are overdue a discussion about your conduct, and your obligations with regards to your position."

Raphael just stopped himself from rolling his eyes. This was why he didn't want to come in the first place, he knew it would involve Lorenz and Ferdinand once again trying to lecture him about 'proper conduct'. He had no issues with making compromises with the understanding that human society was very different from werewolf society, such as wearing what he considered unnecessary clothing, being more reserved with physical contact and realising that there were certain titles that required different levels of respect. However, most of what Lorenz and Ferdinand considered 'proper conduct' actually seemed to be extra rules and rituals they abided by, not found in human society as a whole, so he didn't see why he had to abide by them himself, when not doing so didn't actually bother anyone else.

Ferdinand took up the lecture, "Indeed, I understand that there are some differences between our cultures, but you must be aware of your position and the responsibilities you have as Alpha Fenrir's son."

Raphael sighed, "I still don't understand what me being Da's son has to do with 'proper conduct'."

Lorenz frowned, "Surely you must realise that how people view you now, will affect your dealings with them when you are Alpha?"

The young werewolf stared for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Seriously!"

He kept laughing, eventually regaining control of himself and seeing their shocked expressions. He stared at them in disbelief, "Wait, you actually think I'm going to be Alpha after my Da?"

Ferdinand seemed throw by the question, "But of course, you are his only son and heir after all."

Raphael shook his head, "Being Alpha doesn't get passed down through bloodlines." He stared at them, "Is that seriously how things work for you guys?"

Lorenz answered, still a little baffled, "Yes, one is born into being a noble. I will take over from my father in the future."

Raphael stared for a few moments, so positions were passed down through bloodlines, that actually explained a lot of things he'd noticed, including the difference between 'commoners' and 'nobles'. It was also very different from how his pack worked, positions were earned there, and people were placed in those positions once their skills and experience had been taken into account. His Pa was really strong, but there was no point making him a top warrior when he had a really gentle nature and didn't even want to be a warrior. It was the Alpha and the council who discussed and decided on lead positions in the pack, bloodline had nothing to do with it.

The werewolf raised an eyebrow, "Well, that's not how things work for us. I'm not going to become Alpha just because Da is."

"But how do you decide on a new Alpha then?" Ferdinand seemed somehow shocked that there were ways beyond bloodlines to decide such things.

"It's a bit of a long process but is usually decided between the current Alpha and the council." Raphael explained further, "Basically, when an Alpha knows they're going to step down in a few years, they'll choose a young werewolf, usually one in their adolescence, as a potential replacement. He brings his suggestion to the council and they'll watch the candidate's growth, seeing if they really have the potential for the role. If they do, they'll then be informed and begin their formal training under the current Alpha, usually causing them to spilt Alpha duties between them for a while as part of that training. Eventually, the old Alpha will step down and pass all their duties on to their successor but will usually remain on the council and act as an advisor and Beta if required. In time, the new Alpha will be fully adapted into their role and will likely get a new Beta from their own age group, whereupon the last Alpha fully retires."

He shrugged his shoulders, "Its very rare for the role of Alpha to pass down a bloodline, partly because werewolves have cubs quite early, so by the time an Alpha is ready to step down, their cubs are fully grown and have their own mates and cubs. In the rare cases the role has travelled down a bloodline, its actually gone to a grandson, not a son, because they choose an Alpha candidate from the adolescences so they can serve as Alpha for a long time."

Raphael grinned, "Since my Da has a lot of years as Alpha still left in him, it's very unlikely that he's considering stepping down. Even if something unexpected were to happen to him, they'd probably look to other werewolves before me since I don't think I'm prime Alpha material."

He looked between the two of them, "So all this time, you were just assuming I was like a werewolf prince or something?"

Lorenz gave an awkward cough, "Well, I suppose we did rather…make assumptions…"

The werewolf grinned some more, "Sorry, but in terms of level of 'importance', I'm not any more important than any other cub in my pack." He shrugged, "Though harming any cub will certainly cause every member of the pack to turn against you, no matter who their fathers are."

There was an awkward silence following this, where Lorenz and Ferdinand sipped their tea, seemingly digesting this revelation about werewolves. Eventually, Lorenz spoke.

"That as it may be, it is my duty to assist you with learning the proper conduct of the Alliance, which I am sure will greatly aid in teaching your pack…"

"Teaching them what!?" Raphael's eyes narrowed, feeling pretty sure that he knew the gist of where Lorenz was heading.

As he'd lived at the Academy, he'd often heard the term 'civilised', usually whispered among those around him and with the insinuation that he wasn't. He'd heard plenty of statements such as 'how can he be so uncivilised' and 'hopefully the Alliance will civilise those werewolves' and frankly, he hated it. He hated how his pack's different way of life was so unacceptable and wrong to the humans, they weren't hurting anyone, nor forcing it upon those around them, so why did they have to now bend over backwards and undo their entire culture.

He glowered at Lorenz as the noble nervously sipped his tea.

"You were about to say how I need to teach my pack to be 'civilised' weren't you?"

Ferdinand tried to appease him, "I do not think those were going to be his exact words…"

"But it was his exact thinking." Raphael countered.

Lorenz puffed himself up, "We agreed to allow your pack to become a greater part of the Alliance, the least you can do is accept our ways. My father asked me to help you learn what those were, and while you are here, I will do my best to teach you."

"Except we don't want to learn your 'ways'." Raphael growled, "So stop lecturing me about 'proper conduct' and acting like you're somehow doing me some great service!"

He stood and walked off angrily, leaving the pompous nobles behind.

Raphael avoided Lorenz and Ferdinand as much as he possibly could over the next few days, blatantly ignoring any attempts of his fellow house member to try and speak to him. Fortunately, several people, including Claude, seemed to be on his side, and they helpfully distracted the nobles when needed, though it left a nagging question in his mind.

Why was his pack suddenly expected to be part of the Alliance?

Seteth had mentioned 'issues' between his pack and the Alliance, but he'd not asked what those were. Until now, his pack had been left alone quite happily, trading with humans when needed, but mostly keeping to themselves. That hadn't bothered anyone before, so what had changed to make it bother people now, what were the 'issues'?

He knocked on Seteth's door, intending to find out.

"Enter."

The man's voice echoed through the door, and Raphael sidled in, seeing him look up and smile.

"Ah, Raphael, is there something you want to discuss with me?"

The werewolf sat in the seat across the desk.

"Yes, I was wondering what caused me to be brought here. You said there were 'issues' between my pack and the Alliance, what were they?"

The man's smile slipped at the question and was followed by a sigh, "I suppose its best if you do know."

He clasped his hands in front of him, and carefully explained, "Several weeks before you arrived here, a few minor nobles of the Alliance were found murdered. The perpetrators were discovered to be werewolves."

"What!"

That didn't make sense, no one in his pack had been anywhere near any nobles, they didn't often leave their forest if they could help it.

Seteth continued, "I understand your surprise, in truth, your pack had nothing to do with it. It was a small group who'd left your pack many years ago, they had been initially thought dead until the murders happened and were acting entirely independently."

He frowned, "However, that wasn't enough for many nobles." He gave Raphael a meaningful look, "You've seen for yourself how unknowledgeable people are about your people, the nobles believed your pack should be held fully responsible and that you'd all start killing people unless you were…" Seteth's lip clearly curled in disgust at the word that Raphael had already learned to hate, "…civilised." His face softened, "In the end, the decision was made to make your pack a bigger part of the Alliance, and that you, as the Alpha's son, would be sent to the Officers Academy."

Seteth shook his head, "It took a lot of effort for your father to achieve only that, the lords were initially going to march in and try to subjugate your pack. They think that if you are taught and then forced to abide by their customs, then you'll pass those onto your pack, slowly changing them to be more like the Alliance."

"Is that why Lorenz keeps trying to teach me 'proper conduct'?"

The man nodded, "Most likely, if he's getting too much then I can certainly intervene, he is after all a student here at the moment."

Seteth bit his lip a moment then spoke again, "There is also another reason the lords sent you here."

Raphael glanced up, curious at this other reason, though feeling like he wasn't going to like it much as the man continued.

"It was the Church that offered you a place here, initially, you were going to be sent to Count Gloucester, not just to be taught by him, but as a political hostage, to maintain your father's submission." He smiled reassuringly, "Fortunately, we managed to dissuade them, and have you sent here instead where that will be considerably more difficult."

Raphael stared downwards, understanding his actual situation.

He was basically expected to become completely changed by Fόdlan's culture, and then change his pack as well, at least people's constant attempts to 'civilise' him made sense, they genuinely thought he needed it. Not that it made things any better, what if he kept refusing to do certain things? Would the lords remove him from the Academy, and send him Lorenz's father instead? Then what, how would he be forced into being what they wanted?

"Raphael."

He looked up at Seteth's voice, and saw the man looking at him encouragingly, "While you are here, you are under my protection. There is no reason for you to completely abandon your pack's culture, there's nothing wrong with it. In fact, I think it'll do everyone a lot of good to see exactly how wrong they are about werewolves, so keep showing them that."

Raphael smiled back, "Thanks Seteth."

PS-So, Raphael is kind of a political hostage, and Dedue is half-werewolf. Please let me know what you thought and I'll hopefully update soon.