Ch. 8 Girls Will be Girls

The Monastery's dormitory. The living quarters for the students', both nobility and commoner, who attend the Garreg Mach. Each room has been decorated accordingly by their respectful tenants, showing their interest and everyday activities in each furniture. Some rooms are clean and tidy while others are just the definition of a shipwreck.

Three consistent knocks on the door sprung the busybody that is Lysithea from her books to her feet. She's not one to be bothered when she is all but absorbed into her academic endeavors.

"Ooohhh… who can it be, don't they know that I have to catch up on next week's lessons?" Lysithea sprung open the door with crossed arms and without looking, voiced her complaint, "I'm sorry but I don't have time right now, if you can please leave me alone then I'll be very happy!"

"I see, forgive me for the intrusion then."

The answering voice sent a jolt onto Lysithea's spine. She didn't realize who she was speaking so harshly to. In a fit of panic she jumped backward and fumbled on her words, "o-oh! Professor! I'm so sorry, I didn't realize it was you a-and I was so busy studying, ohhhh can you forgive me Professor! I didn't mean to yell at you!"

Beresu only tilted her head in confusion at the panicked little Lysithea. For reasons unknown the girl reminded Beresu of an angry chihuahua.

"It is fine, I will come back later when you have free time."

"Oh no-no-no-no-no! it's okay it's okay! Come one in Professor," Lysithea dragged the Professor into her room in an attempt to decrease the damage that she had done even though Beresu didn't see any harm being done.

"Is there anything that I can help you with today Professor?"

"There is, I would like to apologize for last week's accident concerning my brother."

"O-oh it's that, don't remind me," Lysithea cringed at the memory that was ingrained deep into her mind. She only wanted to forget that scarring memory but to this day it was to no avail.

"Okay. I would like to apologize and as proof that you accept my apology I was tasked to get your signature in this paper," Beresu pulled a folded piece of paper. It was the punishment set forth by Seteth towards the twins. They were to apologize to the students in that classroom and receive their signature as proof that they had apologized.

"Oh okay then, what about your brother Professor? Don't tell me he's going to come here next," Lysithea shudder at the thought of meeting Bereto again. Her fragile little heart was not ready to be scarred for the second time this month.

"Seteth has banned Bereto from coming into contact with any Golden Deer female students, and as I was also at fault I was tasked to gain back the female students' trust," Beresu said, handing over the piece of paper to Lysithea.

The white-haired mage took the paper and moved to her desk. Every student's room were equipped with a set of pen and inkwell. This was to facilitate the students in their self-study.

While waiting for the document to be signed, Beresu looked around her student's room. Lysithea's room was quite simple. There were more books than accessories present. She had a standing mirror, courtesy of her noble parents. Piles of study material on her desk, both read and unread were present, even books that Beresu had never heard of were there. It was all ordinary for someone like Lysithea, but one thing caught Beresu's eyes. On the neatly tucked bed of Lysithea sat a couple of animal plush all garbed in armor with the Alliance's coat of arms. There was a bunny, a bear, a cat, and a lion. Beresu couldn't help but take one of them. The touch of the fur was so soft that Beresu thought she was holding an actual bunny. The tingling sensation of her fingers digging through the fur was immensely relaxing.

"Alright Professor, the ink's all dried up! Here you go," Lysithea handed the paper back to the Professor only to be shocked at what she was doing, "H-hey! Put Lieutenant Hops down! Um… they're from my parents! Y-yeah, I asked them to stop sending me things like that but they just won't stop! I-I don't think that they're cute and that they help me sleep because they keep me company, no-no-no of course not!"

Lysithea grabbed the plushies on her bed and stuffed them under her desk. All but one plush that was still in her Professor's arms. Beresu had her faced dug onto the fluff that was Lieutenant Hops. The blissful texture of the soft fur was like nothing that Beresu had ever felt. The bunny smelled like strawberries and made her want to take a bite out of it to reveal the cream that was inside.

"Uh.. Professor, are you okay? Do you like it?" Lysithea asked the joyful Professor.

Beresu didn't utter a word and only nodded as she was still high up in the heavens from the feel.

"I'm glad that you like him and even though I don't like him he's still mine, my parents gave him to me."

Beresu slowly put the bunny down and gave it back to Lysithea and she in response slowly took it back and hid it under her desk along with her other soldiers. Lysithea could feel that she had made a mistake even though Beresu didn't move a single face muscle to indicate that she was displeased with the abduction of Lieutenant Hops from her face.

"Hey Professor, have you ever had a plush toy before?" Lysithea asked out of guilt.

"No. Living with a mercenary band, we used to bring whatever was necessary so we can save space and decrease the burden of our horses."

Lysithea put both her hands behind her back and rocked back and forth, "Then what did you do to have fun when you were little?"

Beresu rubbed her chin to remember how her childhood went, "I usually play swords with Bereto, we fished too and train with Dad," she mentioned and traced off back into her mind.

Lysithea couldn't fathom the lack of entertainment that her Professor had in her childhood. She thought to herself that she must help her dear Professor to get back what was her right as a girl and as a child.

"Y'know Professor, I guess I can ask my parents to send me another plush toy for you. I bet they don't mind."

Beresu's eyes lit up and she almost jumped forward, though from Lysithea's perspective it was more of a twitch, "thank you, I would like that," Beresu smiled.

It was the first time that Lysithea saw the Professor smiled. For some reason it brought a warm fuzzy feeling in her heart knowing that she had made that smile happen.

"Alright then! Oh right, what kind of animal would you like as your first plush toy?"

Without a second thought Beresu answered with confident, "a Teutates Pike."

"H-huh?" Lysithea was caught offguard by her choice of animal.