Each student filed into the classroom and found a seat. They whispered back and forth to each other, guessing as to who their teacher would be this year. Only Claude had was told which Professor they were assigned, and he hadn't revealed anything yet. Claude walked to the front of the class and addressed the room, and everyone quieted down quickly.

"Alright, everyone. We are all the Golden Deer class of 1180. All of you here come from different walks of life; some nobles, some affluential merchants, and some of you are simple commoners. Rest assured that no matter who you are or where you come from, this is a place where all are equal. By the end of our time together, I daresay this class will be like a second family to you. This year will be monumental; I truly believe that. I know some of you are worried that all we're going to do is study. Well, think again! I will do my best as House Leader to ensure that we supplement each bit of academics with an equal share of light-hearted fun. So, without further delay, I proudly present to you our Professor for the Golden Deer class!"

And with that, he burst out into a big grin and gestured towards the door, which opened slowly. Leonie got a look at Claude's face before she also turned to the door. He smiled, but he wasn't pleased. And when Professor Manuela marched through the classroom doors, she knew why.

"Good morning, students! I will be your Professor for our time together. Some of you may already know me as the School Nurse, and still, others may recognize me from my time with the Mittlefrank Opera Company in the Imperial Capital. I'm honoured to be here with all of you, and I want you to know I will be doing my very best to help all of you adorable young men and ladies become the best you can be! And lastly, don't forget, I plan to make myself very accessible. If any of you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask." she winked at the students, mostly directed to the row of male students, who seemed to be sheepishly blushing.

Leonie had a feeling it was going to be a long year.

Byleth stood in front of her students. Her students. She would have to get used to that. Her lesson plan for today was to go over and assess each student's personal goals. It would help her get to know each student better and would make her lessons easier to structure for the future.
Her class was silent, and all eyes fixed on her as she raised her voice and spoke:

"Hello, Black Eagle house. I'm Professor Eisner, and I-"

A boy from the back called out, abruptly cutting Byleth off.

"We already know who you are, can we maybe just get on with the class?"

Edelgard snapped at the one who had spoken.

"Linhardt! Allow the Professor to finish her introductory speech without further interruption if you can manage such a task."

The dark green-haired boy shrugged in response, and Edelgard's retainer, Hubert, shot him the foulest look Byleth had seen. Shakily, she resumed speaking.

"Good point actually, Linhardt. I suppose many of you already know who I am, but I cannot say the same of you. I want to take this opportunity to learn all of your names, interests, and what you expect to learn this year. And I'll try my best to keep things as painless as possible; we've all got better things to do, I'm sure."

Her audience chuckled at her last remark, and Byleth breathed a sigh of relief. She was out of her element, but she figured if she could find a way to lighten the mood, things would go smoothly.

One by one, she instructed each student to introduce themselves. It took Petra some time to properly word her introduction, as she was still learning the language of Fodlan. Byleth noted down a reminder to keep an eye on Linhardt, who was already nodding off. She had to warn Caspar, several times no less, to use his inside voice when in the classroom. Then she made a note to teach Caspar what an inside voice was, seeing as how confused he was when she brought it up. Bernadetta had quite the opposite problem. It took her what seemed like forever to finally stutter out her name, and she sat down immediately after uttering it. Byleth sensed that she was extremely anxious did not appreciate being called on in class, a sentiment that Byleth understood. She didn't have that problem with Ferdinand, however. She could barely get him to sit down and shut up once he finished introducing himself. He seemed polite and gentlemanly enough, but he appeared to be more than a little oblivious. Then there was Dorothea. She instantly reminded Byleth of Professor Manuela, and later she would learn that Dorothea had once been the understudy of the flirtatious former songstress. Hubert used as few words to introduce himself as possible. His glares spoke much better for him than he did anyway. And finally, she had come to Edelgard von Hresvelg.

It didn't take long before Byleth appreciated Edelgard. For the heir-inherent of the Imperial Throne, she was refreshingly down-to-earth, and a great help in keeping the other students in line. She gave off an aura of dignified authority, something that everyone around her seemed to pick up on. Especially Byleth.

"My teacher, I haven't told you my goals for this school year yet," Edelgard said, rising from her seat near the front of the classroom.

"As you know, I am to one day become the Emperor of Adrestia. This is no small burden. Many things weigh heavily on my mind, but foremost I want to see people treat each other fairly and as equals. To do that, I will require your guidance. To lead, I must learn what it is that makes a strong leader capable of changing the world for the better. That is the sort of thing I have in mind for my schooling goals."

Byleth didn't immediately have a reply, so she nodded in acknowledgement. Was she qualified to be teaching a future emperor? The thought made her shudder. Her teachings over this current school year would influence some of the most influential people in the Adrestian Empire, a place she had never even known about before her arrival here at Garreg Mach. "If there really is a Goddess," Byleth thought to herself, "I hope she finds the time to give me the wisdom I'm sure to need."

After the class was dismissed for lunch, Leonie walked with the rest of the Golden Deer students to the dining hall. She saw Jeralt talking with one of the knights, who appeared to be laughing at some joke he'd told. Jeralt glanced her way and smiled at her. Her day had suddenly gotten just a bit brighter. She was about to pass through the thick wooden doors, someone pulled her aside and out from the lineup. It was Claude.

"What did you say to the new Professor? Seriously. She was all kinds of weird when she finally came to talk with me. I asked around, and you were the last person with which she talked. I need to know what you said that made her so indifferent to our House."

Leonie felt accused, and she angrily pushed him aside.

"I don't know what you mean. I never said anything to give the wrong impression. Besides, Professor Manuela is...ok. Why were you so set on the newbie anyway? There isn't anything special about her."

Claude tilted his head and looked at her searchingly.

"I'm just really good at reading people. Take you, for example. I can tell that you're lying. But it's not the typical kind of lie. You legitimately don't recall giving the new teacher a bad impression. But for whatever reason, she wanted nothing to do with us after her time with you. Now, I may be jumping to assumptions, but I read that as you sabotaging my schemes, er, plans. And I want to make it very clear that you do not want to continue that pattern of behaviour."

Leonie leaned closer to him, but he didn't flinch.

"I'm not sure if you meant to threaten me just now, but listen, mister fancy pants noble. I am not interested in whatever plans you're concocting. I am just here to get a good education and hone my skills, so I don't have to take crap from people like you. I didn't deliberately put off the new teacher, but I may have gotten a little hot-headed with her. I'm sorry if that hurts your feelings. Now leave me alone, I'm done with this conversation."

She joined the lineup of hungry students in the cafeteria, leaving him behind.

The last to join the line for lunch was Claude, and all he was thinking about was that regardless of her attitude, Leonie was precisely the type of person he had taken her as being. He would need to keep a close eye on her in the coming days, to confirm his suspicions. She would either be a significant asset to his cause, or an obstacle to be removed.

Time would tell.