Author's Notes


The battle has begun! FIGHT!

Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo

Fire Emblem is owned by Nintendo

Me? I only own the story you're reading right now.


3rd Person POV

White Clouds

Great Tree Moon

Bambietta was seen with Claude. "Time for a mock battle, eh? Hmm, how should we go about this... Well, you'll be our commander, that much is for sure. Just don't screw it up and everything'll be great. Got it, Teach?" Claude asked her.

"Heh. Leave it to me." Bambietta replied confidently.

"Right. I'll do whatever I can to help too. I mean, I'm kind of obligated to. For example! If I add a little something to their food to upset their stomachs..."

"Don't even think about it." Bambietta scolded.

"Yeah, yeah, wink, wink. I read you. You can't officially condone that sort of thing, right? But say, hypothetically speaking, students from the other houses started racing to the infirmary... As far as anyone knows, it could just be a harmless little stomach bug making the rounds." Claude declared.

"Well, well. What a fascinating conversation you two are having. May we join?" Edelgard raised her question as she and Dimitri appeared.

"Claude, I can't believe you would stoop to such crooked schemes to gain the advantage. Have you no honor?" Dimitri shamed Claude.

"If that was really my scheme, I wouldn't be talking about it out in the open. I'm afraid you'll have to wait until our battle to see what's really in store."

"It's irrelevant anyhow. Whatever you have planned won't save you from a crushing defeat." Edelgard boasted.

"She has a point. Still, I'm rather eager to see what sort of schemes that mind of yours conjures up." Dimitri declared.

"You heard 'em, Teach. We can't let these fine folks down." Claude told Bambietta.

"Heh. If they insist." Bambietta grinned.

"Are you serious, Teach? Well, if a crooked scheme is really what you're after, I've got more than a few of those up my sleeve." Claude said.

"Aw, how precious. Looks like you and the students have become fast friends." Manuela swooned as she and Hanneman appeared.

"While I am pleased that you are taking the initiative to acquaint yourself with the students, I'm afraid it's about time for the faculty strategy meeting." Hanneman said.

"I'm sorry, Professors. It's about time I returned to my training anyway. Claude. Edelgard. Until we meet again on the battlefield, farewell." Dimitri replied.

"I look forward to assessing your abilities. I hope you don't disappoint." Edelgard warned as she and Dimitri leave.


Later, Outside...

Bambietta POV

"So, you guys know how magic works?" I asked.

"Magic can provide new means of attack and defense to a unit that has the skill and is of an appropriate class. You must equip attack magic in place of a weapon, but you can use assist magic regardless of other equipment. All magic has limited uses, but these will replenish at the end of a battle. The magic your units gain access to is determined by their skills. Study reason to learn black or dark magic. Develop faith to learn white magic." Lysithea answered and taught.

"Okay. Got it." I replied with a thumbs up. "How many people can we bring in?"

"You and I are important in this fight, Teach, so I'm guessing we can only bring in three more with us." Claude told. I think about who to bring with me and Claude.

"Okay. First of all, who's good at healing magic?"

"I-I am, Professor." Marianne raised her hand, meekly.

"Okay, Mari. You're with me and Claude. We could use your healing magic for this." I declared. "Okay then. Besides Claude, who's good with a bow?"

"That'd be me, Professor. Ignatz." Ignatz raised his hand.

"Okay, Ignatz. You're with us." I said. "Finally... Lysithea."

"Yes?" Lysithea hummed.

"You're with us too. Let's head to battle, everyone. Together." I ordered.

"Right!" Claude and the three I brought with me exclaimed.

"So, this is the stage for the mock battle... The command's all yours, Teach!" Claude told me. I nod at him.

"I'm sure you already understand, but the house that defeats the other two is declared the winner. Incidentally, I'll be overseeing this mock battle. So listen well if you want to win." Jeralt advised.

"Yes sir!" I exclaimed as I head to the bushes. I went ahead and equipped my Iron Lance. Something tells me I'll need some practice with it. I do a few practice swings and thrusts until I think I get the gist of how it works. I wait for an attack. The rest of my allies go and do their own things.

"I will fight on the front lines! I can stop the enemy's advance with grace." I heard the orange haired noble, Ferdinand, boast.

"Do you have Lady Edelgard's permission to-hmph. I suppose I've no choice but to provide cover." I heard the black haired noble, Hubert, grumble.

"Thank you, Hubert. We are off to a terrible start." I heard Edelgard sigh.

"Ashe, can you move to the front lines? I want to lure the enemy this way." I heard Dimitri order the gray hair commoner, Ashe.

"Got it, Your Highness! Leave it to me!"

"Once you've finished preparing, make your move. Dedue. Mercedes. Keep our enemy occupied until then."

"I'm on it." I heard Dedue acknowledge.

"Oh my! We'll try our best!" I heard a blonde haired female noble, Mercedes, exclaim.

...Wait, how am I hearing them?

Before I knew it, Ferdinand caught me by surprise and hit me. Dammit! I attack back, but he dodged my attack. Crap.

"Ignatz!" I called.

"I'm on it!" Ignatz declared as he fires a shot at Ferdinand and hits him.

If I attack now, I'll be able to land a hit on Ferdinand this time for sure! I do so, but he attacks back and hits me as well. Damn. That's fine. I just need him to go down!

"Marianne!"

"Who, me?" Marianne called back.

"Yeah! Hit him with your white magic!" I ordered her.

"Certainly! Nosferatu!" She shouted as she summoned a burst of light energy from below Ferdinand, defeating him.

"I am the son of House Aegir! How did I fail? I must need to train harder..." Ferdinand grumbled. Good. One down.

"Was that helpful?" Marianne asked me.

"Hell yeah, girl~!" I answered her as I gave her a playful noogie.

Meanwhile, Claude was shooting at Ashe and he hits him. Ashe tries to fire back, but Claude dodges the shot. Nice one! All that's left was Lysithea, who attacked Ashe with a dark ball of energy. The attack hit home, but it wasn't enough to defeat him.

"Hm, you are performing as expected, Professor. We will have to face you with our full might!" Edelgard declared.

Hubert attacks Lysithea who took massive damage from the attack. I inhale sharply from the amount of damage she took. I think she might feel that tomorrow...

Either way, I've gotta help her. Now. I charge at Hubert and defeat him with my Iron Lance. "Hmm. The new professor's rather strong. Suppose I'll have to call it a day." Hubert grumbled as he retreated. I grew stronger in dexterity and speed. ...Now I know what Claude felt like with his disappointing growth.

Ignatz shoots at Ashe and hits him, but Ashe fires back and hits him too.

Lysithea repays Ashe with a bow shot of her own and defeats him. "Ah-so strong! Have to do better next time..." He grunted as he leaves the battlefield.

Claude moves further in the forest.

"Are you planning on fighting two houses at once? I will admit, that is favorable for us." Edelgard declared.

"This is a good opportunity for us. Let's forge ahead!" Dimitri ordered. After that, everyone in the opposing Houses, except Hanneman, advanced.

"Marianne, go ahead and heal Lysithea." I ordered Marianne who complies and heals Lysithea while I went ahead and healed Ignatz. "Claude, you stay put. Ignatz and Lysithea, advance, but stay outside the enemy's ranges of attack." I commanded. They comply.

Dedue attacked Claude, but he dodges. Mercedes attacks, but Claude dodges and counterattacks.

This isn't good. All three of them are aiming for Lysithea. I'll have to make sure neither of them get her. But how do I do that? Claude shoots Mercedes down with a Curved Shot. "Oh no... This is as far as I can go..." Mercedes gasped as she retreats. Claude then grows in luck, defense, resistance, and charm.

Ignatz shoots at Dedue and hits him. Marianne hits Dedue with Nosferatu. "Professor! Use your Wrath Strike on him!" Marianne suggested.

Good idea. I can stop him from counterattacking!

"Wrath Strike!" I shouted as I hit Dedue with a mighty swing of my sword, defeating him.

"Ngh. Apologies, Your Highness. I can go no further." Dedue groaned as he retreats, with a notable gash on his shoulder.

"Oof. Should I have held back...?" I asked myself. Either way, I obtained a new ability. I'll have to see what it does later.

Lysithea, brave girl she is, used Miasma Delta on Dimitri. She grew in strength and magic. She looked a bit mad at hardly growing at all. Jeez. Don't have a cow, woman. I still feel bad for her...

Especially since Dimitri is going to attack her. That was a bit misplaced, however, when she dodged the attack and countered. Just before her counter, some symbol appeared behind her, powering up her magic attack, defeating Dimitri. She then grew in what seemed to be maximum life energy, strength, magic, and dexterity. Attagirl! Looks like she also learned the same ability I did.

"My training was insufficient... I am so sorry, Hanneman. The rest is up to you." Dimitri told Hanneman as he retreats.

"That's my little Golden Deer for ya~!" I cheered as I gave Lysithea a noogie too. I saw Edelgard in sight. "Okay. Let's keep this going!" I ordered.

"Right!" The four of them acknowledged. I go after Edelgard.

"There can be no victory unless I defeat you. So be it!" Edelgard exclaimed in determination. I manage to beat her, but I'm quite a bit hurt, I'll admit that much. Good thing I grew in maximum life energy, dexterity, luck, and defense, though... "Forced to retreat... Well, things will only get tougher from here on out." Edelgard pointed out as she retreats.

Marianne can't reach me, so I'm on my own for now. She heals Lysithea and grows in maximum life energy, strength, and speed.

Ignatz used the Curved Shot Combat Art to attack Dorothea and hits her.

The rest of my allies advanced. I couldn't avoid Dorothea's lightning attack, so after I took the brunt of it, I retreated.

The battle wasn't over yet, so Manuela attacked Lysithea who countered.

Claude finishes Manuela off. "Well done. I nearly wound up a patient in my own infirmary." Manuela complimented as she retreats. Claude receives a Vulnerary. Probably should've used one myself... Oh well.

"So, you've made it past Manuela, eh? I see now I must focus, and then make my move." Hanneman pointed out. Ignatz uses another Curved Shot and hits Dorothea again.

Looks like Lysithea is out of magic, so she'll have to fight using her Training Bow. Marianne, however, saves her magic and hits Dorothea with her Training Sword. You got this, Lysithea! I believe in you! With my silent belief in her, Lysithea managed to hit Dorothea! Way to go!

"My, my... The new professor seems very capable." Dorothea pointed out as she retreats.

"You underestimated me." Lysithea declared. GOD, I'm so proud of her!

The Golden Deer make it to Hanneman without me.

Hanneman attacks Lysithea with Sagittae, inflicting massive damage to her. She counters with a shot from her Training Bow.

Marianne heals Lysithea, Claude attacks Hanneman with Curved Shot, Lysithea attacks Hanneman who counters, and Ignatz finishes him off. "My goodness. The leadership of someone with actual battle experience is... Well! I was as good as useless." Hanneman grumbled. Ignatz grew in maximum life energy, luck, and charm.

I've never been prouder of a bunch of kids defeating an enemy without me. Oh! And Ignatz received an Intermediate Seal.

"All right, that's that! The winner of this mock battle is... the Golden Deer House!" Jeralt declared. With all the cuts and bruises I received from the mock battle, I got the quartet in a bear-hug.

"Great work, everyone! Even if it's just a mock battle, the taste of victory is sugary sweet!" Claude declared.

"I dunno who to give MVP to, you know? Oh! Wait! I do! Lysithea!" I exclaimed.

"Me?" Lysithea gasped.

"Yeah, you! You sure showed that King-to-be what for better than I could! Oh, and don't even get me started on how you hit Dorothea when she was in those bushes!" I told her as I got her in a playful clinch.

"Professor, stahp..." Lysithea groaned, gasping for air. I could feel like Lysithea's motivation was at its best.


Reception Hall

"Great work, Teach! That was a brilliant win." Claude said.

"Everyone did great! Especially Lysithea!" I exclaimed happily.

"Huh. Playing ignorant as to the quality of your command and deflecting the praise to your students. You really are a model professor, Teach." Claude declared. "To be honest, I had a bunch of other schemes planned as well, just in case the situation called for it. But I didn't have to resort to any of them. I suppose our opponents lucked out."

"Well met, Professor! The breadth of your skill was on full display today. I must admit that your tactics were masterful." Lorenz pointed out as the other members of the Golden Deer appeared. "I shudder to think what may have transpired had it been Claude leading us into battle."

"I noticed that too! We just did what you told us, and we won! I love it!" Raphael cheered.

"As expected from a child of the former captain of the knights. Thank you for today, Professor. I have much to consider." Lysithea thanked.

"I never doubted that our professor would be amazing! It was way too obvious. Don't you agree, Marianne?" Hilda asked Marianne.

"Huh? Me? Oh, um, yes. Of course. Well done, Professor." Marianne said.

"Captain Jeralt taught his child well. It would have been more of a surprise had our professor proved lacking." Leonie pointed out.

"Don't you think it's a bit harsh to give Jeralt all of the credit, Leonie? In any case, it's clear that we only won because of our new mentor's guidance." Ignatz declared.

"A mercenary's wisdom and techniques are forged in battle. Those are the sorts of things you can only learn through experience. Right, Teach?" Claude asked. "But more importantly, it's time to celebrate our victory! Teach here has yet to try my well renowned home cooking. I really do hope you'll join us. After all, I swiped some finely aged cheese from the dining hall for just this occasion." He offered. I accepted.


Audience Chamber

I went to talk to Rhea and Seteth. "Your work with the students was remarkable. I can see Jeralt trained you well." Rhea said. "I do hope you were able to use the occasion to bond with the students."

"I did. We even had a celebration~" I nodded.

"I am so happy to hear it. Nothing would please me more than if you used this coming year to grow closer still." Rhea said.

"Of course, the mock battle was mere practice. The real fight is the Battle of the Eagle and Lion, which will take place during the Wyvern Moon." Seteth warned. The Wyvern Moon? That's the moon of my birthday! "You are expected to properly train your students so as not to humiliate the academy during the long-held tradition that is the coming battle." He told me.

"Not a problem, sir." I nodded.

"As for today, I have called you here to tell you of your mission for the month ahead. Your class is to dispose of some bandits causing trouble nearby." Rhea told.

"My mission? Bandits?" I repeated what I understood.

"Those affiliated with Garreg Mach Monastery have a moral obligation to those in need, regardless of social standing. Students are no exception. Each month, before the newly birthed moon departs, each house of students must complete their assigned mission. You shall work to complete the task at hand alongside your students and report back to the archbishop before the deadline. Understood?" Seteth asked. I nod. "I will soon provide you with the necessary details for your first mission. If I told you now, I expect you would only forget, and I despise repeating myself." He told me. ...Dick.

"I can sense something special within your heart... I have high hopes for you." Rhea declared as she and Seteth leave.

"Bandits they say..."

"GAH! SOTHIS!?" I shouted.

"Do you recall when we first met? You shall not fall so shamelessly again, correct?" Sothis asked. I couldn't answer. "Have you no words for me? Do not tell me that you are shocked to hear from me!" She laughed. "You ought to know that I am always with you now. To hear my voice should not come as a shock."

"R-Right..." I nodded. Still creepy, though...


Day 1 of the Harpstring Moon

There are new places to explore in the monastery. I received 2,000 G from the Church of Seiros as funding for this month's activities.

Advisory Room

Claude and I were talking to Seteth. "As you have already been notified, your mission is to subdue some bandits. Our students have been learning about combat through study, but this is a precious opportunity to provide them with practical experience. The knights will support your mission and are prepared to offer their assistance if necessary." Seteth told the two of us. "In short, this is no mock battle. You must be prepared for anything. You will receive a message from the knights when it is time to depart. Until then, use your time wisely." He warned as he leaves.

"More bandits? Not very original, Teach." Claude pointed out.

"What, not interested?" I teased.

"Well, as long as you're with us, at least things won't be boring. In fact... it may take a turn for the interesting. And with that, I take my leave to make my final preparations." Claude said.

Captain's Quarters

"You seem well. Are you adjusting to life at the monastery?" Jeralt asked me as I appeared to talk to him.

"Eh, not quite." I answered with a so-so motion.

"Well, I didn't expect it would be easy on you. When we were mercenaries, I handled everything. Outside of battle, you didn't have much contact with people, did you?" Jeralt raised another question.

...That... hit a little close to home... My home being in another world...

"I thought being thrown into a swarm of noble brats to teach would be a bit much for you. It seems I was right to worry. By the way, I heard about those bandits. Your first assignment is to take them out, right? That's fairly routine for you by now, but don't forget it's the first real taste of battle for those brats." Jeralt told me. "It'll be tougher to sleep at night if you let one of your little pupils die, so stay vigilant and lead them well. I wish I could offer you my support, but Lady Rhea won't allow it. For now, I'll try to figure out what she wants from you. I don't mind you settling into your life here, but don't let your guard down. Ever."

"Got it." I nodded.


Day 9 of the Harpstring Moon

That was depressing... Maybe Annette's birthday will cheer me up when I buy her some flowers. She seemed to love them.


Day 11 of the Harpstring Moon

I sigh as I look at the note Seteth gave me. I hear a knock on my door. I turn my head to see Seteth again. "Professor. It seems you are able to take a beginner exam."

"Beginner exam?" I repeated with a raised eyebrow. Seteth put down five of these bronze round objects.

"These are called Beginner Seals. Should you wish, you can use these to take a beginner exam. You must have obtained one of a higher caliber from Hanneman, yes?" Seteth asked.

"Technically? Ignatz did." I answered.

"Right." Seteth nodded. "However, if you wish, you can place the Intermediate Seal he obtained, that silver object, into the convoy so anyone, so long as they fulfill the requirement to a degree, to take an intermediate exam. In any case, the monastery holds events with various effects, such as those which increase the benefits when sharing a meal for certain students. Those events will appear on the calendar. You will need to explore for today. That is all." Seteth told me as he leaves.

Before that, I guess I should probably give one of the "beginner exams" a try...

Let's see... Myrmidon, Fighter, or Monk... Hmm... I'm going for Monk.

The exam began and I managed to pass. First try! Oh! And I grew in magic! Sweet. I already mastered my initial class, so I might as well change to Monk. The color of the robes were white and gold. Not bad. They certainly know my taste~

All right. Best get this month started.

END OF EPISODE