After a month, I come back. Sorry-college is difficult as is, but here's the chapter! Hope you like it.
Great Tree Moon, Day 30
Hayama Hayato inhaled as much air as he could, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand that still held the training lance. The mock battle was over, and the Black Eagle house won the little skirmish, as he predicted. He didn't drop onto the ground of the grassy hill, but he nearly did as he heard Lindhart give a cough behind him, startling him enough as his hand crushed the training lance in his hand. Looking at the green-haired student, Lindhart simply gave him a Vulnerary before he rolled his eyes at the broken lance pieces.
"Next time, when we're in battle, please don't be the hero and show off. It was stupid of you to try and go through your injuries and fight, especially against Hilda and Dimitri." Lindhart gave a lazy glare at him before Hayato smiled. It wasn't Hayato's fault that he had a fun time against them-it reminded him of a lot of various soccer practices he and his friends...did. Looking at Lindhart, Hayato gave him a stilted smile.
"Thanks, I'll try to not get injured next time. Don't want you to use up your magic on me too much of course." With an easy going attitude, Hayato walked away from his fellow peer, leaving Lindhart to go and do backup healing for everyone. Looking around the field, filled with other students, Hayato wanted to be upset. As fun as this mock battle was, he knew he was using it as an excuse to not think about his situation. Stolen from his home and sent here to do battle in a knight school, anyone would have anguished at his situation. The loss of family, friends, even the girls who kept eyeing him in school, it was all gone. Had it not been for Hikigaya and his friend arriving in this new world with him, Hayato would have gone...
He shook his head at those thoughts. No. Now wasn't the time to be depressed or think of what-ifs. Looking at the ceramic container of the Vulnerary, Hayato uncorked it before taking a sip. With a look of disgust, he practically inhaled through the entire bottle while trying not to dry heave the medicine. It was slimy, and tasted like a weeks old curdled energy drink left inside a locker. Yet the magical drink had its effect, and his body soon felt light. His bruises and injuries, previously annoyances that made his body sore, all shifted to a slight numbness.
Exhaling, he gave a stretch. With the battle done, he could finish some homework and get some rest. Perhaps he could even do some old soccer drills, for old times sake. He didn't want to get rusty when he got back home. With fond memories of his group of friends and Soubu in mind, Hayama walked past several Blue Lion students to meet with the Professor before a hand met his shoulder.
Turning his head, Hayato hid a small frown at the sight of Dimitri Blaiddyd-the soon to be king of Faerghus. Though the man was young, Hayato never did like the look of his eyes. As someone who had a mission to be friends with everyone, he'd like to think he can guess a person's personality with their eyes. For example, he knew Miura liked him, and was far more tame than what she let on. Tobe's eyes showed a sense of sincerity and trust in the world that was tempered in realism, with a hint of naivety. Hikigaya's eyes too were easy to deduce-he was someone who was hurt (that double date gave it away at the very least), but held a kindness to them. Dimitri's eyes however always startled him.
There was a bone deep exhaustion to them, with a hint of bloodlust he felt. The look of someone who is calculating how much effort it would take to kill you, as if he was a cornered animal ready to strike back. Out of everyone in the monastery, Hayato was more afraid of the prince himself than any other knight, or even Rhea for that matter. From Rhea he saw nothing-emotions he couldn't deduce from her piercing gaze. Yet her eyes paled in comparison to Dimitri's.
"You've done well out there. I want to thank you for the duel, and I also want to apologize for your injuries." Dimitri's hand scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. Hayato nodded, slightly agreeing at least. He felt that he was holding back, but it was a fun duel for the both of them. Hayato could barely attack the prince as the two tried to not break their lances against the other's.
"Think nothing of it. You did well yourself-I didn't expect you to be so strong." Dimitri gave a chuckle, as if laughing at an inside joke. Fun as it was, Hayato's pride was slightly wounded, that bout leaving him wary of Dimitri overall. Ignoring the praise, Hayato simply shook his head.
Dimitri gave another empty chuckle, and the two fell into an awkward silence.
Hayato sized up Dimitri, unintentionally, in his mind. Questions formed in his head about how faithful Dimitri was to the church-Would he stand in the way of he and his two peers? Would he try to kill them if he knew about the sort of magic his group was looking into, as Tomas had implied? The thoughts circulated in his head before another horn blew-the signal that all students and faculty were to return to Gareg Mach. Gazing up at the hill, his eyes fell on the beautiful form of Rhea. Hayato grimaced as an image of Haruno fell into his mind. Rhea wasn't like Haruno, but her beauty made him remember. Another cold reminder of where he was, and how returning to Earth seemed like an impossible dream.
"Ah! Looks to me that we'll be going soon! I'll see you around, Hayama was it?" Dimitri gave out his right hand, and Hayato took it and shook.
Even his grip is strong… How scary indeed. A small interaction it was, but Hayato was good at them. Waving at Dimitri, Hayato jogged towards the chattering group of Black Eagles house.
If anything, the group was just as lively as his own back home. It did bring a small smile to his face as he saw Hikigaya get dragged around by their professor, and how Caspar was egging them on. He eyed Hubert, who had a grin of his own that he tried to hide. Perhaps he was happy seeing Hikigaya finally get his comeuppance after his harsh treatment against Edelgard? Though everyone was in good spirits, Hayato kept to himself for now and just observed.
As much as he'd like to be the glue for this group, the effort seemed...wasted here.
"Um, excuse me!" A small voice echoed beside Hayato, and he chuckled.
Being busy with research, huh Hikigaya? He thought glumly.
"What can I do for you Bernadetta?" Conversing with his fellow student, he saw her shyness and glances away.
"Well, can you tell Hikigaya that I saw Sylvain talking with Yoshiteru and them shaking hands? He seems busy, but this information is vital!" With a determined look in her eyes, Hayato was a bit surprised to see this from his normally shy classmate.
"You can bet on it. He'll know, just as soon sen-Professor Byleth is finished with him." Tilting his head towards the general direction of the two (who were now having an argument that somehow involved Ferdinand of all people trying to placate), Hayato nodded.
She gave a nod as she mumbled, slinking away while tense. Hayato did wonder about her-she was skilled with the bow, but so afraid of something. If only Yuigahama was here to help the poor girl.
Looking at his other compatriot from Soubu, Hayato found the sight of the the white haired teen taking notes while the amber haired student covered in mud (This is Sylvain?) was talking. He looked over Zaimokuza's notebook and was pointing at something, the two seemingly in a deep conversation. What made Bernadetta worked up about that?
"Alright everyone! Let's go!" With a yell, Professor Byleth waved them all towards her and a few carriages. Well, he'll tell Hikigaya on their way back to the monastery.
It was the brink of dusk when they arrived at the monastery, the sun dipping low enough to illuminate the courtyard in an orange glow. It was here that Hayato saw a familiar figure.
"Greetings Professor! Nothing to report! How was the mock battle?" The gatekeeper politely stiffened his body as a sign of respect, with Professor Byeth giving him a bright smile.
"We did great. Managed to win with only a couple casualties, but it was a good learning experience for all. At least, I hope." Hayato saw Byleth glance at Hikigaya, who was silently sulking next to her. Perhaps he shouldn't have told him of Bernadetta's message-that made him even more upset.
"Well Professor, I hope you stay safe! I'll be here to guard this entrance until dinner, so I'll see you then? Ah, I mean I shall be posted on guard here, but if you saw someone look like me at the dining hall, give him a call. Have a good day Professor!" The Gatekeeper put a fist to his chest and bowed. Byleth did the same before they began their tired trek to the classroom.
Unfortunately, this gave Edelgard the chance to step next to him. Her smile was genuine, but her eyes showed something that Hayato couldn't put into words. Was that a strange sense of pride?
"Hayama, I would like to thank you for your efforts in the mock battle. Had it not been for your charge against Dimitri, I was afraid we would have lost more casualties besides you and Petra." Edelgard gave him a nod of respect before she came closer and whispered.
"I don't suppose you'd reconsider being a knight for the Adrestian empire?"
Ah yes, this request again. Hayato withheld a sigh as he shook his head. Taking a moment to think, he carefully chose his words. He didn't need to offend her, even if these requests were getting annoying. "I apologize, but I have other goals in mind while being in the academy that could extend after our graduation. That's why I'm working alongside Hikigaya and Zaimokuza- they too have goals that align with mine, so I'll do my best to support them."
Edelgard gave his words some thought before she nodded. "Then I will support this goal of yours, if you would have me." Hayato strained his facial features to not break the poker face. He was extremely sure he was a part of a group trying to do heretical magic, and having an empress part of it would surely land all of them in prison. Or worse.
"It's fine! No need to do so-I don't want to trouble you with it." Hayato tried to be convincing as he withheld his panic, but it seemed Edelgard's mind was set.
"I insist Hayama. Please, share with me what you're trying to achieve at the Officer's Academy." Edelgard began to pester before Hayato metaphorically put his foot down.
"I insist that you don't. It's personal, and involves something that I'm sure the church would be disdain towards. I don't want you in the crossfire, so please don't look too deep into this. Ah, look at the time. I need to get ready for lessons the next day, so I'll bid you a good day Edelgard." With an ending to that conversation, Hayato briskly walked away. It was a bit too early to head back to his dorm, but he couldn't have anyone look into this. Not when they had something of a lead going. Sighing to clear his head, Hayato's stomach grumbled. Maybe he should head to the dining hall-dinner shouldn't be too far off, and he was apparently famished.
"Hachiman, do you know why I invited you to my office?" My so called professor had her arms beneath her chest and her legs crossed, a stare that would have pierced any bullshit I could have made.
I made sure to not stare too much at the emphasis of her chest-they were a kind of protection from battle and prevented anyone from easily reaching her heart. Such things had to be lauded, for genetics made her the most useful unit to solo any army with nary a fatal injury.
….Who am I kidding, her chest was larger than Yuigahama's Yuigahamas.
I kept quiet to her question, but the stick-up-his-ass noble sitting right next to me had to answer. If I had to hear him say his name one more time, I'd throw up, preferably in his and the professor's direction. Professor, I know I'm antisocial, but this only reinforces such behaviour! Damn it, maybe I should be like Benadetta and live in my room for an eternity.
Ignoring my silence, Byleth started to ask Ferdinand about the battle and my running away from my position. Ferdinand spoke, his voice filled with frustration from the noble.
"I do not know, Professor. I respect Hachiman a great deal, but his attitude today has to be changed. It's not fit for a student who aims to be a knight. Him running away is only one of the various problems he has." Ferdinand paused, before he looked at me in a face that screamed 'Why'.
"In addition, it always seems as though he wants to avoid me!"
I...What could you even say to that? How do you reject or confirm such awareness?
"That's because I have been." Casually, of course. It was the best way to settle things, honestly.
"Hachiman!" Byleth frowned at the two of them before sighing. "Alright, while your attitude during the mock battle was less than acceptable," I got shot with arrows, ran to Edelgard, and used her as a meat shield. She's a big girl who can tank those hits, especially with that big axe. I had no shame admitting that. Wait no, I do. No way in hell am I going to let that be known across campus. "I want to discuss more about your social skills. With Ferdinand here as an example, you push your classmates away."
My face must have shown some kind of emotion, because she grabbed onto that. Please don't. My fragile state of being can't hold too many revelations.
"I've seen you be antisocial, which, while a problem, isn't the main issue. I've seen a deep division between the house, and I want you and Ferdinand to fix it."
"Professor?!" Ferdinand stood up in protest. Save us both you vain, orange-haired asshole! I don't know but I feel a sense of foreboding.
Byleth however was steadfast. "You wish to be noticed by him, and since this is relevant to you, you'll help Hachiman. Hachiman, we'll first start off with Dorothea. I want you to befriend her. You can't use Ferdinand to do all the work. I'll know otherwise."
"Why her...?" I had to ask, and winced at her next sentence.
"Manuela told me that you made her cry." That was not my fault. I simply asked her a question that came out wrong!
Ferdinand's accusing eyes met mine, and that look meant that he would explain the history of his family and their code of conduct with women, again. Just kill me.
Byleth then grabbed a few sheets of paper from her desk before skimming them.
"After Dorothea, you'll begin with Hubert next."
…
"He wants me to die in a fire."
"He wants everyone to die in a fire, but he just wants you to die first. What's wrong with a little masculine competition between two peers anyways?" Byleth smiled before pointing a finger at me. Another revelation to Ferdinand about my standing within the house? "Now, since it's late and I need to start grading, I will politely ask you Ferdinand to leave. Hachiman, leave or I'll forcibly kick you out."
Looking around her 'office,' I looked up to the ceiling and wondered about what truly made my professor this invested in my social life. These thoughts were interrupted however, as Byleth pushed us.
With a slight shove, we were outside. With a sudden slam of her door and the 'thump' of her lock, she made sure we knew we couldn't barge back into her room/office.
Glancing at my new friend-maker, one who sadly wasn't sharp and pointy, I sighed at the incoming questions.
"Hachiman. Did you really make Dorothea cry?" A frown etched upon Ferdinand's face, looking at me like I had offended his entire dynasty. I knew I needed some way to escape, else he would start rambling.
"Hey Ferdinand, I'll start with befriending Dorothea tomorrow. Why don't you go and do your own thing? I can do most of the work while you can do nothing." When in doubt, deflect a question with a question.
"Hachiman, are you trying to avoid me again?!" Yes, that's right. Was I too obvious? I went to plan b.
"Look, we can discuss more at dinner," Which I will be missing of course. "And we can make a plan. Sound fair?" My social-fu was not as good as, say, Hayato's, but I knew of Ferdinand's character from many novels. Manipulating him was hardly a difficult affair.
Said man-who-spoke-his-name-too-many-damn-times hesitated at my compromise, before he reluctantly agreed.
"I suppose we can. I will see you at dinner then Hachiman." At that, Ferdinand walked away to do Ferdinand things. Success! My social-fu granted me a level up, and I stashed those points into the 'Avoid Ferdinand' skill. May I be successful for the next time we (never) meet.
Now, with everything out of the way, I have to go see Bernadetta. The stake of all of Fodlan's literary future depended on me and her! I can't, in good conscience, let trashy and plagiarized light novels plague this new land, no matter how much I hated it. No matter what, Zaimokuza can not be enabled.
Yoshiteru Zaimokuza was in heaven. As he sat on a desk in the library, he focused all his efforts onto the paper before him. His muse strung his hand across the paper, and he felt happy that he had a fan who was currently crying at the outrage of his rough draft.
"What?! No! You can't just kill off Hinata like that! Where did this Angel guy come from? Yoshiteru, you can't kill her off like that!" Sylvain threw the manuscript onto the table, tears about to pour from his eyes. On his side of the desk laid many spell books and several manuscripts of novels Zaimokuza wrote.
Zaimokuza merely shook his head at the sight of such ignorance. This poor soul never knew of the tropes found in his home. How ignorant he must be, but this author will educate him!
"It's simple. No one would expect it, and it makes the villain even more hateful. He can't be redeemable, and thus has to be destroyed by the main character. It's quite simple my dear Sylvain!"
Sylvain collapsed onto his chair, feeling like he understood what his new friend meant. To show the stakes, sacrifices had to be made. He understood that greatly. But Hinata was Nimbus's love interest! That was like the biggest taboo in literature!
"Now that you read my current draft, can you start on the note taking?"
Zaimokuza commented as he continued to write, making Sylvain grumble before he opened a spell book. Sylvain will admit, his and Yoshiteru's friendship was strange, as it all started with Yoshiteru's novels. They were refreshing, exotic, and so easy to read! Sylvain couldn't get enough of them. Especially Bernadetta's novels too! He had a great time reading the exploits of several characters, especially the Blademaster General. However, in exchange for reading his friend's unpublished manuscripts, he helped him with some magic theory by taking notes of various interesting ideas Yoshiteru listed. He didn't like magic, but if it let him continue reading the written works, he'll do whatever. It wasn't too difficult anyways.
Soon enough, the third member of their group arrived. Lysithea sat down next to Zaimokuza and placed several old tomes next to a small pile of papers, her face a bit red from the exertion.
"Here's some magic on banishing and warping. Don't know how useful they can be, but I think they can provide a lead." Lysithea commented as she took one of the books and began reading.
Zaimokuza nodded as he took a book of his own and opened it up to a random page and skimmed. Though his reading habits would make one gape in horror, any magical theory books in his hands were easy to understand. His eyes traveled across the words on the page in moments, nodding at some implications. Zaimokuza made a thinking noise before he reached into his pocket to write inside a small and weathered notebook.
"Thank you Lysithea! Your help is greatly appreciated. I'll ask Hachiman to make more Pocky when he's on kitchen duty in thanks."
Sylvain chuckled as Lysithea's face grew even more red in embarrassment and excitement. Those sweets must be really good if Lysithea would keep up with some of Zaimokuza's eccentricities.
"Oh? Studying hard are we?" The librarian, Tomas, asked as he walked by. Lysithea gave a shrug, her focus on her book as Sylvain gave a wave while Zaimokuza nodded seriously.
"Dear record holder, would you perchance have tomes of teleportation and space distortion?" Zaimokuza's question made Tomas pause, before he thought about it. He smiled as a thought appeared in mind, and chuckled deeply.
"We may, but I will have to ask an old friend for such tomes. Why are you curious about such things? Warping is dangerous, moreso with space manipulation." Tomas's question made Zaimokuza hesitate. Sylvain looked at his friend in curiosity-why did Zaimokuza want to know such things, now that Sylvain thought about it.
"To create a pocket space to hold all weapons, and launch them with impunity against my enemies!"
Sylvain bursted out laughing. Yeah, never mind. It was Yoshiteru after all. That would be cool to see though.
Tomas chuckled in amusement, and nodded. "I see. Then I'll request them for you. Keep an eye out for me within the next week." With that Tomas left towards a back room, possibly writing up a letter right now.
"Huh, that use of magic is odd, theoretically. I'm, pretty sure you can't artificially create a pocket space. It's in one of Nnudi's Laws of Magical Space somewhere…" Lysithea pondered in thought before standing up.
"I'll be back with the book. You better give me more sweets for this Yoshiteru." In response he made a gesture with his hand on his forehead and waved it away. How weird. Sylvain shrugged as he snuck a hand towards his friend's new manuscript. Unfortunately, his hand was slapped aside. Damn it, he was so close this time.
Looking at the window through the library entrance, it was already night. Damn, another all nighter. He didn't even do his homework. Sylvain sighed as he picked up another book, thinking of a way to sweet talk Professor Manuela to give him a bye from it.
Rhea settled into her bed chambers with the grace of a drunken gazelle, aiming for her bed. Landing atop it, she gripped her pillow at the thought of her three charges. It was a success, she had to remind herself. There was no need to be afraid, yet Rhea couldn't help but feel as though something terrible will arise from her meddling. No. Fodlan will be safe under her power. Under the progenitor god's power. Yet the guilt of her meddling weighed heavily in her heart, made her want to strangle the pillow in her grasp to appease the feeling.
"I wish…" Oh how she longed for her warmth. To back in her mother's arms. Humming a lullaby from her mother, Rhea felt herself fall asleep. Once more, dreams of bloodshed and the Red Canyon entered her mind, the cries of the victims screaming in outrage and in pain.