A/N - Metal Vile made a valid point about Nene not really getting to do much, I intend to fix that with this quick chapter.

The spinning sensation faded, and Nene steadied her footing. A quick glance around, and she confirmed she was back at camp. "Ah, Nene." Nu Wa said, quickly walking in front of her. "Mission success!" Nene declared, all smiles in front of the mystic. "So Jia, and Magoichi both know how to return home?" Nu Wa asked, wanting to be absolutely sure she spoke the truth. A nervous chuckle told Nu Wa all she needed to know.

One quick explanation later.

"So Jia knows he needs to find a feather, but he doubts it will be easy? Well that is a start at least." Nu Wa repeated what she was told, and Nene simply nodded. "I suppose that is a victory, especially as you went unseen." Nu Wa decided, and Nene's refusal to look her in the eye spoke volumes. "What happened?" Nu Wa asked, her tone dictating she wanted no jokes.

Nene took a deep breath, and related the truth of her tale...

She was transported to the outskirts of Garreg Mach, making her journey short. Of course, she still needed to be stealthy. Fortunately; the large numbers of those flocking to the castle made it easy for her to infiltrate. Once inside, she stuck to shadowy places, very rarely having to stay in one spot for more than a few seconds.

Nene may have gotten away without being seen, had her motherly instinct not kicked in. She was just about to attempt to cross the bridge to the cathedral, when she overheard a boy wearing a yellow cloak scheming with an uninterested friend. "And if it works just right, she'll be itchy for the next few days." The boy said in hushed tones, barely containing a snigger.

"Now that's not nice!" Nene said with some authority, revealing herself to the golden-cloaked boy. To his credit, he simply turned around to look at her. "Um, who are you?" He asked innocently. A rather noble looking boy, with purple hair shakes his head in dismay. "It seems you've been rumbled, Claude." The noble announced with a smirk, causing Nene to grin smugly.

"Fine, sorry mystery lady." Claude said flippantly, and began to leave. "Hold it!" Nene shouted, and before anyone could do anything, her hand was on Claude's ear. "You need to apologize to whoever this was meant for." Nene demanded, and Claude winced, clearly not used to be handled in such a way. "Ow, seriously? I never succeeded even. Ouch! Alright!" Claude relented, and Nene let her grip on his ear fall. Claude beat a hasty retreat, while the noble allowed himself a chuckle.

"I say, it's not common for him to be bested. You have my thanks for that." The noble made a show of bowing to Nene. She rewarded him with a pat on the head, surprisingly gently enough not to mess up his hair. A light blush spreads upon his cheeks as he stood tall once more. "Ah, that was." The noble cleared his throat, seeming to compose himself "That is to say, if you even need assistance, Lorenz of House Gloucester will gladly provide it." Lorenz finished, finally introducing himself.

"Oh, do you know a Saika Magoichi? Or Guo Jia?" She chanced to ask, after all; she had already been seen. "Oh? Curious about our newest professors? I am somewhat acquainted with Professor Saika, though I believe he is presently indisposed." Lorenz explained, earning a pout from Nene. "Professors? What are those boys up to?" Nene questioned herself internally. "Miss?" Lorenz asked, Nene spacing out for a tad too long. "Sorry." Nene replied sweetly. "You've been a great help!" She quickly said with cheer. Lorenz did not have a chance to say his farewells, when Nene left his company.

"So, Jia and Mago' are teaching something here." Nene mused to herself in silence, easily blending with the shadows despite her bright outfit. Or rather she did, until she reached a cross-way in the halls. She absent-mindedly crossed through the centre of the hall, and unfortunately for her, she wasn't alone in those halls. She came to a sudden stop, as her chest pressed up against the back of a girl similar in height to herself. "Oh!" The girl exclaimed, clearly dropping something.

Nene made to retreat into the shadows, but stopped herself. Seeing the girl rush to pick-up her belongings, a few books in this case, held her in place. "Sorry." She squeaked out, helping the girl to her feet. "It is fine, my belongings are intact." The girls said, standing straight. Nene could not control herself, and she straightened out the handful of creases in the girls clothes. "There, good as new." She declared, beaming merrily at her handiwork.

"Most kind of you." She said in thanks, smiling in turn. "I'm sorry, have we met?" She asked, beginning to think of a name to place to the woman in front of her. "Nope, I'm Nene!" She introduced herself with pep, before tensing up. While nothing was explicitly stated, she probably shouldn't be known by the locals. "Nene? By your attire, I'm guessing you're part of the Golden Deer house, correct?" The girl asked, not seeming to notice Nene's sudden tenseness.

"M-maybe?" Nene answered, unsure of what the girl meant. "You don't know?" The girl asked, before a thought shone behind her eyes. "Ah, are you perhaps new here?" She asked. Nene paused for a moment, quickly deciding to roll with it. "I am, I was told to see a professor Jia?" Nene asked carefully, doing her best to act the naïve student.

The girl claps her hands together, seemingly delighted with the information. "Excellent, then perhaps you will be joining the Black Eagles? I joined them recently, it would be nice to have someone else as new as I." The girl rambled on, and Nene patiently sat through her words. "Ah, I'm getting ahead of myself aren't I?" She asked rhetorically, before shaking her head. "I am Flayn, and I would be glad to show you around. I will be your senior after all." Flayn introduced herself, excitement still radiating from her.

"What a good girl you are, but I really should see professor Jia as soon as possible." Nene responded, resisting the urge to pat the girl on the head. Flayn's expression did not falter in the slightest. "I quite understand, perhaps he is in his quarters? I can show you if you would like?" Flayn offered. "Please." Nene responded softly, and Flayn dutifully led her through several hallways as well as up a few stairways.

"... And this is it. Garreg Mach can be a little hard to navigate at first, but it all makes sense after a while." Flayn finished her explanation, still as cheerful as when she started. Nene for her part, was impressed by just how much the girl knew. Flayn knocked softly on the door that led to Jia's quarters, and the two waited patiently. After a minute, Flayn sighed. "It would seem I was incorrect." She said with some defeat.

"There there, if I wait, then Jia will appear eventually right?" Nene said encouragingly, gently rubbing Flayn's shoulder. She did seem to perk up at that. "That is true, would you like my company as you wait?" She asked. "I should probably speak to him alo-" Nene was cut off. "Flayn! There you are." A masculine voice called. Nene turned to look at the source, and a stern looking man, with similar hair to Flayn's was approaching them.

He stopped in front of the pair. "We've been over this, someone needs to know where you are at all times." The man explained, his gaze shifting to Nene. "And who is this?" He asked, looking expectedly. "This is Nene, she was told to speak to Jia." Flayn answered, and the man's eyes ran over Nene in scrutiny. "Who told you this?" He asked, and raised a hand to silence Flayn when she made to answer.

Nene was at a loss, not sure how to answer. The man seemed to notice her struggling, and sighed. "Head back to your class Flayn, I need to speak to her in private." The man instructed her, and she dutifully obeyed. Nene gave a light wave to the retreating form of Flayn, before focusing back on the man in front of her. He did not speak again until Flayn was well out of sight.

The man let out a sigh, placing a hand on his forehead. "Flayn is incredibly trusting." The man began, shaking his head. "While I do not appreciate the deception, I understand the necessity. You're from the same lands as Jia, and Magoichi correct?" The man asked. Nene could feel the crashing wave of relief wash over her. The man seemed to get impatient, and Nene quickly nodded.

"Are you here to take them home?" He asked, sounding hopeful. A beat passed, and Nene finally found her tongue. "Not exactly, but I have information that will help them achieve that." She explained, taking on a much more formal tone than when dealing with Flayn. The man nodded in understanding. "Very well, I suggest you stay out of sight until you leave." He did not mince his words, getting straight to the point. "I understand." Nene acknowledged his wishes, and made to enter Jia's room...

She decided then, and there not to share the truth of her own adventures in Fódlan with the strategist.

Nu Wa looked at Nene blankly. "I hope you've not made things more difficult for the two of them." She said in defeat. "Flayn's a good girl, she won't get in their way." Nene eased the mystic's worries, or at least she thought so. "The important thing is Jia now knows how to get home, mostly." She mumbled the last part, turning to look at a specific tent.

Nene followed Nu Wa's eyeline, and saw the neutral features of Cao Cao looking their way. "If you'll excuse me Nene, I need to discuss what we will do on our end with my lord." Nu Wa explained, making to join Cao Cao. Nene simply watched her walk away, and hoped the mystic did actually have a plan for the lord of Wei...