Chapter 3: A day in training.
A/N: I got nothing much to say to be honest, other than thank you for reading. As for this chapter, you can say that it takes place in a different timeline than the first two chapters, or if you want, it can even be before.
Disclaimer: I don't own fire emblem or the characters. Any sort of reference to real people or places or purely coincidental.
A pinked hair girl sat on her bed making one of her signature bracelets. It was the end of another day at Garreg Mach Officers academy nothing could be better than hanging out in her dorm room and relax. The only thing that bothered her was the professor. Normally, she would be able to persuade her instructors to skip out on training or manipulate her peers to do tasks for her. But no, this professor is stubborn, he refuses to let her sit out of any type of training.
"*Sigh…* I wonder if I can sit out on tomorrows weapons training." She sat on her chair. Tomorrow, the professor and Shamir are teaching weapon tactics, they are supposed to meet in the training grounds right after the classroom portion.
"Nothing I can do now, I just hope I don't get too sweaty." Finishing placing the final red bead in the bracelet and tied it. "Not too bad, it looks really cute." She placed it on the top of her desk and called it a day. "I hope tomorrow is not a hot day," she laid on her bed and fell asleep.
The following day
This wasn't like her, not only did she wake up late, today was a specially hot day. She barely got enough time to get ready and start heading to class. "Hilda… the first bell rang already" a blue haired girl called out softly.
"Marianne! You're late too?" Hilda rushed to her side. Marianne shook her head.
"Not exactly... the professor asked if I could come get you… he was worried." Marianne said slowly.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I did mean to cause any trouble" She said innocently. They picked up the paste and entered the classroom. Waiting inside was everyone else. Claude sitting with his feet on his desk, Lorenz arguing with him saying how a noble should conduct proper etiquette. Ignatz, Raphael, and Leonie talked amongst each other, and Lysithea sat by herself, reading a book on advance magic.
"Sorry for being late everyone" Hilda apologized.
"Welcome, please take your seat" Byleth suddenly came behind her. He was standing behind the opened door which caught her and Marianne of guard
"*eek* Oh- Professor! That's not very nice you know" Hilda caught her breath.
"Hahaha, I told you that would get her teach." Claude, as carefree as ever.
"Are you a child Claude, this is not proper behavior for the house leader you know" Lorenz retorted.
"It was all done in good fun, no one got hurt right teach?" Byleth looked at Claude and nodded.
"You too professor? I didn't expect that sort of behavior from you, can you let me sit out of today's training then?" Hilda casually asks.
"Nice try but the answer is no, the lesson is about to begin" Byleth walked to the front and began lecture.
"*Hmmp*" she pouted before taking her seat.
Marianne and Hilda sat around the back of the classroom, the professor talked about the importance of weapon maintenance, technique, and practice. Today is going to be a long day.
A few hours later they headed to the training grounds, the sun is at its highest, and the temperature was beyond what she expected. Byleth and Shamir talked in private, Hilda, Marianne, Lysithea, and Leonie found themselves taking cover behind some shade.
"Wow its hot today" Lysithea protested as she used her tome to wave air on herself.
"You got that right, but if a mercenary works in any condition, then I have no choice then to embrace it" Leonie said diligently. She started stretching much to the concern of Hilda.
"What's wrong, its just a little heat." Leonie told the pinked hair student.
"That's not the problem Leonie" she whined, "not only is it hot, but I'm going to all sweaty and sticky, you agree with me right Marianne?" turning to face her blue haired friend.
"Uhm… yes I agree" Hilda sighed, she said that but her lack in confidence makes it sound like she's being force to agree.
"C'mon guys, its only going to get hotter, as soon as we start training that is." The house leader stepped in. Lorenz, Ignatz, and Raphael follow suit.
"Nothing like working out in the heat right guys" Raphael got pumped, he is the one guy that never says no to a workout.
"Speak for yourself, I say that it is unjust to be out in this heat without any sort of compensation" the white-haired mage argued.
"Does the child need some sweets to calm down" Claude teased.
"Shut it Claude, I'm no child and you know that" Lysithea hissed. Claude simply laughed.
Waiting a little bit longer, Shamir and Byleth finally showed up.
"Sorry for the wait, we had to talk about something that came up" Byleth started. Shamir, not wanting to waste any more time got straight to business.
"let's make this quick, todays training is one on one duels, you can use any wooden weapon you are more comfortable with" the assassin instructed.
"If you are comfortable with your style, feel free to challenge us. For now, please choose a sparring partner and begin" Byleth told the group.
"Hey, Marianne, want to spar with me?" Hilda turned to her classmate.
"Sorry Hilda… but Lysithea already asked me to be her partner." She apologized
"Oh- that's too bad" She sighed, she looked around, but it looks like everyone has a partner already.
"Does the delicate flower need a partner" the house leader asked.
"Oh, Claude! Lorenz doesn't want to spar with you?"
"As it may seem, he felt that he needed someone that actually takes things seriously for a change, so he went on to face Shamir" As soon as he finished, they could hear Lorenz getting thrown to wall.
"Your skills are lacking, you can't just attack and expect to hit" Shamir criticize the purple haired student.
"Well shall we start my fair maiden" he readied his bow.
"Just as long as I don't get to sweaty right" she hesitantly raised her axe and charged at Claude. Just because he had a range weapon did not make it any easier for her. She swung the wooden axe across his abdomen, but he just hoped back, readied an arrow and fired, managing to hit her.
"Ouch!" she staggered back but shook it off. She rushed him again, but Claude is just too agile for her swings. He readied another arrow, this time she was ready for it. As soon as he fired, she side stepped and closed the distance and swung across. Knowing that conventional means won't work on her, he opted to use some of his schemes to get the upper hand.
"Hey Hilda, you have a crush on the professor don't you, c'mon admit it already" he teased with a wink.
This caught her off guard making her miss her attack. "What! NO! you got it all wrong!" she panicked, but felt an arrow hit her
"Ouch! Ouh, That was pretty cheap you know." Not only is the sun in her way, but Claude is using his schemes again.
"You have to do everything to get the advantage you know"
"It's only funny when we do it to someone else"
"No need to get so flush you know" noticing the redness on the girl's cheeks. "Hey? Are you okay? You look a little unwell"
"It's the heat" She noticed her vision getting blurry, not only that, her head felt like it was spinning. "Umm Claude? I'm not… feeling so good" she collapsed on the floor. He rushed to her side.
"HEY, HILDA! damm, HEY TEACH, WE NEED YOU HERE!" the last thing she saw before blacking out was everyone rushing to her side.
"So… hot…"
"Gah!" she woke up. It took her a second to adjust her eyes to her surroundings. "Is this the infirmary?" She suddenly felt a really cold chill across her entire body causing her to sit up.
"Now now, no need to panic, lay back down" an older woman announced.
"It's really cold, you think you can tune it down a little" she asked the nurse.
"Sorry, no can do dear, you see these?" she showed her an ice-covered jar. "This jar has been enchanted by an ice magic that are used for these sort of medical procedures" she placed the jar on the night stand an opened it. A gust of cold wind filled her side of the room.
"*brrr* how long was I asleep for and how did I get here anyways?" she asked.
"You were out for a couple of hours, as soon as you collapsed, the professor picked you up a carried you to my infirmary, oh how gallant. My assistants took care of you while I was gone."
"Where is he now?" she tried to warm herself a little by hugging her body with her arms.
"He is out taking care of his duties; don't worry he'll be back soon." She closed the jar and held it with a fur cloth.
"Thank you professor Manuela," She thanked the older woman. As soon as he gets here, she is going to give him a piece of her mind
"Try not to get some rest, your body is still recovering okay, there is water in that cup on your right, please make sure you drink up." Manuela told the student.
"No worries, I can relax all day." With that said she open the curtain and left her area. By the looks of it, she's the only one in the infirmary. She looked out the window and saw that it was already getting dark. "Seems like I will be here all night too." Still recovering from the ice magics effect, she buttoned up her uniform and tried to relax. A few minutes passed when she heard the door open and the sound of footsteps approached her bed, the curtain opened to reveal the professor.
"How are you feeling?" He asked while taking a seat on her bedside.
"You know, splendid to say the least" she turned on her side to face him.
"You had as all worried, I'm sorry for putting you through it." He lowered his head in apology.
"This wouldn't have happened if you let me skip out on training" she giggled. Byleth raised his head and gave her a look of confusion.
"Don't give me that look professor, you know I was only kidding right?" she looked at the two objects Byleth was holding. "Say, what do you have there?"
"Oh this? It's a gift for you actually." He handed over a bouquet of flowers and what appears to be a stuffed animal.
"Oh how lovely, thank you professor" she took the flowers and the stuffed bear. "Wow, you got me my favorite flowers, how thoughtful." She exclaimed, she then placed them on the nightstand along with the stuffed bear.
"Yeah, I had an idea on what you like."
"Oh? And how is that?"
"I saw you looking at these types of flowers a lot and overheard how you found this bear cute with the merchants." He admitted.
"I see, you've been stalking me is that it" she teased him. Just the reaction she was hopping for. It wasn't much but she saw how he got a little nervous, but he recovered quickly.
"Ahem, no, that's not it" he started, "I just notice the little details that's all."
"Well, I still happily accept your gifts" she grabbed the stuffed bear a gave it a big hug.
"Well I am happy that you are recovering, Manuela informed me that you need to take it easy for some time."
"Does that mean I can sit out of training till then" she hopped he would say yes.
"You never give up do you, but the answer is still no" he shot down her hopes.
"C'mon, not even after today?" she pouted.
"The battle of the Eagle and Lion is in a couple of months; we need to train if we hope to beat the other two houses, like Professor Manuela informed me, you can take it easy," he informed her much to her dismay.
"Well can you at least do me a favor?" she asked.
"Sure, just name it and I'll see what I can do."
"Can you accompany into town this Sunday." She asked with a slight grin. Byleth did not seem all that trilled.
"I'll see, but I don't know how the others will take it seeing a professor and student walking into town together" he raised his hand and to rest his chin with.
"Don't worry professor, to be perfectly honest I don't really mind" she winked.
"I-I see if that is how you see it, then I accept your invitation" Byleth is not usually caught off guard, but this seems to be the exception. "It's getting late, make sure you get some rest okay" he got up and started to head out.
"Wait professor!" Hilda called out to Byleth.
"Hmm what is it?"
"I want you to have this" she pulled out the bracelet she was working on the night before.
"Why are you giving me this?" He questioned.
"You can say as thanks for the gifts, it might not be much, but I made it myself." She admitted. Sure, it was homemade, but it still looks like a valuable item any merchant would die to get.
"I see, I accept your gift, thank you Hilda" He gave a genuine smile, she has never seen him smile like that before, it is somewhat captivating if she says so herself. "Now, make sure you get some rest"
With that done he left the room. She hugged the bear again and looked at the flowers he gave her.
"My heart is beating pretty fast, I guess I have to admit what Claude said is not entirely a false… Oh goddess what am I supposed to do now?" She grabbed the cup of water and took a sip.
"GAH, what is this?" A bitter taste filled her mouth. She looked over to see a note next to where the cup use to be, she unfolded it and read its contents.
'Don't mind the taste, it's just water mixed with a medicine used to speed up the recovery process, not only is it helpful but it will keep you hydrated as well. Get well soon! Sincerely, Professor Manuela.'
"Man, what did I do to deserve this!"
A/N: Another one done, I hope most of you enjoy this story, I originally started writing because I grew bored of all the Byleth x insert house leader here fics, so if you don't receive you create. Like someone said before, sometimes you have to make your own fun. Thank you for reading.