Mako's Message: If you've played the game you know this pain.

#3 – Damn Kids

Edelgard walked across the grass outside of the dormitories, with Hubert following her two steps behind, like an overly menacing shadow.

Ahead of them, she saw her Professor talking with Linhardt, who was shaking his head at something. Byleth nodded then started walking towards them, and Edelgard noticed the large canvas bag they were carrying. She considered going over and speaking with them...but she did have something she needed to check on in the library. Plus Hubert was already abnormally prickly for some reason and she didn't want to start him on another lecture about trusting people too much…

But then Byleth spotted them and approached, taking the choice of whether to converse with them out of her hands.

"Greetings Professor," she said cheerfully. She could hear Hubert let out a sigh that was more of a growl though.

"Edelgard," Byleth said shortly, as they fished around in the bag. They removed a whetstone fitted into an ornate grip and held it up, "Is this yours?"

"Oh, no that's not mine."

Instantly the whetstone went back into the bag and they pulled out a map of the Empire, which had some odd markings on it. She wanted to take a look at it, but before she could take it she made the mistake of saying, "No," and it went back in the bag before she could blink.

"What about this?" They asked, retrieving a small box that, from the scent, contained a tea of some sort.

"Oh, no, that's not-"

"Hubert?" they asked, holding it out towards them.

"Mine? Of course not."

Byleth glowered into the bag, then after I a moment, "I don't suppose this eagle quill pen is either of yours, then?"

"Oh, no, that's-

"I didn't think so." They sighed then said, "Well, I know this dagger isn't either of yours, it has a crest from one of the families of Faerghus on it, I just don't know which one," taking the dagger out to show them.

Edelgard's eyes lit up in shock and a slight tinge of red touched her cheeks, "That IS mine, actually, I hadn't realized I dropped it," she said holding out her hand.

Hubert seemed to be trying his best to not sneer as Byleth handed the dagger back. "Well, I'm glad I was able to get one of these back to their-" they stopped abruptly and strode over to a nearby bush, crouched down and stood up with a book clenched in their hand. Their face a perfectly expressionless mask, "Did either of you see who left this?"

Both Edelgard and Hubert shook their heads.

"Right then. Have a good day," and walked off.

"Hmm..." Edelgard tilted her head into her hand, "The Professor seems rather annoyed..."

"Yes..." Hubert said, "Though they've only been here a short while. Whose to say they aren't prone to wild changes of temperament?"

Edelgard pursed her lips as she considered that, "No, I don't think that could be the case. Even if Rhea didn't know, if Jeralt's reputation is to be believed he wouldn't have allowed them to be a Professor here if that was the case." She shook her head as if to physically purge the distraction from her brain, "In any case, we have business to attend to in the library."

The next day, however, a hint at what may be boiling under the surface of their new professor's nearly expressionless face greeted them when they walked into the dinning hall for breakfast.

As soon as they entered, their eyes were drawn to an argument Byleth was having with Seteth. Presumedly about the table set up beside them, that was covered in various items, including, at a glace, the book they'd found as well as the writing quill. Or more specifically the sign that was hung up behind the table reading, "COME GET YOUR SHIT".

Hubert made a noise of disgust, while Edelgard shook her head, hand covering her face to hide her smile.