Harpstring Moon, Day 6
Taking notes on the intricacies of siege tactics in a hypothetical war, Edelgard let her mind relax from the lesson as the professor began to assign mandatory reading on war tactics of a long dead Adrestian general alongside a book report required within two days.
"Caspar, if I find your paper somehow muddy again, we're going to have a long discussion about giving in clean paperwork. Lindhart, please stop sleeping, class is over."
Caspar gave a nervous laugh as Lindhart awoke in a stupor, causing Edelgard to smile at her peers. She gave an exhale of her breath, her hand to her heart as a smile blossomed on her face. It was moments like these that made her appreciate those within her house, even when she was doing what had to be done. Looking nearby, Edelgard saw Dorothea give a small stretch as she picked up a few books. Adjusting her cap, she gave a wave goodbye to the professor before exiting the class. Having her eyes travel, Edelgard watched amusingly at Hachiman, who was now discreetly observing Dorothea in one of the worst methods of stalking she had seen.
"I thought you said you were going to the bathroom afterwards." Edelgard tried to contain a giggle as Hachiman's eyes met hers, an image that grew increasingly funny with him trying to hide behind a wooden pillar. Behind his form Edelgard saw Ferdinand tailing Dorothea to the dining hall through the open doorway.
"Edelgard, now is not the time. I'm on this stupid assignment for the professor." Hachiman's grumbling made her interested. An assignment? What would the Professor want with Hachiman? Or Dorothea for the matter?
"She's making you keep tabs on her? Or are you using an excuse to stalk our poor Dorothea in hopes of swooning her?' Edelgard did let a small chuckle escape her lips as Hachiman growled in annoyance. Oh, she couldn't help it sometimes. Not only did he make it easy, but his reactions were quite a sight for her. He was like if Hubert made a funny face every time he saw a classmate do something stupid rather than just glare. The sight of it always made Edelgard want to see how far she could mess with Hachiman.
"No, I'm trying to find out what her schedule is like so I can talk to her when she's not as mad at the world." Leaving his little pillar, Hachiman made a move outside. Edelgard, meanwhile, shook her head at his actions. Dorothea was only mad at the world when Hachiman was around, but she dared not say that aloud. She didn't know how poor Hachiman's feelings would be after that small revelation, but she suspected that he knew and was denying it. Having learned about this being an assignment from their Professor, Edelgard's curiosity had peaked, wondering what this was about. A plan to amass a small army? A simple student curiosity? Or, dare forbid, was the Professor trying to set up her students like Professor Manuela did?!
Shaking herself from her thoughts, Edelgard followed Hachiman outside to a cloudy sky, his movements faster than she thought. While she did like to tease her fellow peer, she was curious about why he and Ferdinand were doing such a task. While in her thoughts, Edelgard saw that she and Hachiman had reached the dining hall already,even if it was just a small walk away from the classrooms.
"Ah, Dorothea. H-How are you?" Hachiman slightly stuttered out a greeting at the retreating songstress, who's face showed a smile that dared anyone to slight her. Her gaze met Edelgard's, of which she warmed up.
"Greetings Edelgard. It is such a nice day today, but I'm sorry. I'm afraid I have to talk with Petra on another assignment for our dear professor. I'll see you later. Hachiman, please don't talk to me, and don't have Ferdie try to 'soften' me up. It won't work. Maybe next time." With a wink she dashed away, leaving Hachiman to look depressed.
"Hachiman! I have to ask-how would a 'bee' describe me?" Immediately after, Ferdinand came running out of the dining hall, mystified at the apparent conversation he and Dorothea had. Upon looking at who was at his accomplice's side, he straightened up.
"Edelgard! How does it go with you?" Edelgard smiled. How smooth Ferdinand.
"I am doing well. My company here is hardly a conversationalist, but he's been quite the rude gentleman." Edelgard made a 'what can you do' gesture as Ferdinand nodded in understanding.
"I completely understand. Why, he-"
"I'm right here, don't act like you can just cut away to a conversation after that, Ferdie." Hachiman's smile was that of a man who found his sibling's killer and was about to relish in his vengeance upon said fellow. Ferdinand however looked deathly ill at the little tidbit Dorothea said.
He was a bit pale while Hachiman darkly chuckled. "No no, no need to call me that Hachiman. My name is-" At the introduction of his name again, Hachiman groaned. Edelgard shook her head at the two-excluding Hachiman's social awkwardness with Ferdinand, the two looked like they were friends. Quite shocking indeed.
"I know. Just, whatever. Edelgard, oh wise and benevolent empress. May I seek your knowledge on how to make Dorothea happy with the both of us? I'll owe you one." Hachiman didn't look happy at the prospect, and she couldn't blame him.
Leave it to him to throw his pride away and leave himself indebted to her. But this was an opportunity that she could not let slip away. She would heavily abuse his 'kindness' here.
"I'll give you a hint-she admires hard work. You can solve the rest." At her words Ferdinand nodded.
"That's it? Of course her character type would be like that." Once more his mumblings were confusing, but nonetheless she had Hachiman indebted to her, small as it may be.
"I'll discuss what I want with you later, but I hope you two can reconcile with Dorothea." Edelgard nodded at the two before she turned her heel to the library. Hubert was in there, observing a message based on a correspondent from afar. Hopefully, she needn't be used later.
I sighed as Edelgard disappeared to who knows where, leaving me to my own devices. Speaking of devices, being in a non-modern world was such a pain. Can I have a smartphone with me, or at least something resembling a Nintendo? Within a world of magic and fantasy, there was only work to be had, and it made me wish I could actually go back to high school. I felt like a wage slave without the added salary-maybe I can kidnap a cat from the fishing pond and take it back to my room and make it have some semblance of home.
"Well, that was a disaster." Ferdinand looked put off, which made me put off too. Damn you white knight, your words should have soothed Dorothea. Instead it somehow made it worse! As much as I should be annoyed, I knew there were better things to be done.
Not even God could save me from my new study habits.
"We'll deal with Dorothea tomorrow. Right now I just want to relax, and hopefully take this stupid uniform off." I grumbled some more. Grumbling was good-it didn't make me want to kill all the NPC's out of sheer boredom. For such a high fantasy high school, it was Sobu all over again. This time however I can lord over my white mage status. Grovel for my heals you meat shields, you live only to protect me. Ah, I said that already-I need another few levels into charisma to expand my dialogue tree it seems.
"Perhaps we can relax in the training grounds-I hear the Blue Lions are having an unofficial house competition. Should we join in observing the spectacle?" Ferdinand suggested, looking somewhat excited at that prospect. A tournament already? Interesting-a tournament required the usage of gambling, and with gambling came a pay off. No, not of gold and coin, but of promises. I made a quick decision based on several factors, most of which involved making a wager with Ferdinand so I could be left alone to relax, and not have a knight follow so loyally. I gave a nod to his idea, and spoke my thoughts.
"How about a bet associated with it. We gamble on who would be the winner of a bout, with winner getting to tell the loser what to afterwards, one time only." I tilted my head to make myself as friendly as possible, though my smile probably ruined that alongside my eyes. What should have been a suspicious as hell deal, the white knight in front me gave a sound of agreement to it.
"I will accept this wager of yours, if my name is not Ferdinand von Aegir." Ferdinand loudly proclaimed. Yeah, I needed to stay away from that. Why were we together again?
"Whatever. Let's go then." Already turning my heel towards the training grounds, I walked briskly enough to try and avoid talking. Once more, Ferdinand took this as a challenge to talk, as always.
"So Hachiman, where are you from?" Ferdinand was straight to the point, and his bluntness caught me a little off guard. Oi, weren't you supposed to ask these questions in some roundabout way? Ferdinand seemed to have read my expression well, or he knew how to mind read, and clarified his answer.
"I'm curious to know how you came about to Gareg Mach, and to Fodlan in general. You're not from around here from what I can see." I raised an eyebrow at that and shrugged
"I'm from the far east, the same as Hayato and Zaimokuza. You wouldn't know where it is, even if you check a map. Just a large island surrounded by a bunch of hurricanes and is difficult to traverse through." I supplied the barest of information that wouldn't leave any evidence of my isekai status. Knowing these people, or the evil old skeleton in a bathrobe at least, the knowledge of other worlds would cause mass hysteria and my body becoming a dissection sample to create a gate or something. For now, giving him just the barest essentials is necessary.
Ferdinand nodded at my words, his face unreadable. For someone who was a white knight in the making, his facial expressions were hard to read when he was deep in thought. As we trekked towards the training grounds, I gave an eye around my surroundings. A few cats, some other students milling around, and some of the classrooms opened for extra curriculars.
"I apologize. It must be hard being so far from home. I can understand what you mean." I glared at him. Oh does he? Being ripped away from family
Ferdinand saw my eyes and shook his head.
"Let me clarify Hachiman, as to dissuade any untoward thoughts you may have. Loathe I will admit, although I am proud of my name and legacy, being at home is, difficult, for me. To be taught to act a certain way, yet seeing those who have taught you abuse those lower than them. I know the feeling of isolation all too well. So, while you may dislike me Hachiman, I understand what you're going through." Ferdinand gave me a melancholic smile, and I eyed the ground as we took a left. AH! Why did you have to lay out your backstory like that, at random? I felt a form of second hand embarrassment from his words, but I knew what Ferdinand was doing. The atmosphere already made me more relaxed. I sighed, and let whatever trope god out there to whisk me away.
"I'm away from a lot of family and, some acquaintances that I know. It's difficult enough to know that I can't go back unless I deal with some insane circumstances, but at least I have others who have been isekai'd." I shut my mouth. That was too much! I used a modern word here, especially to someone that I can't stand to be with! Take it back! Rewind! Bites the Dust!
And suddenly I was reminded that anime was unknown to this land, and that Zaimokuza would revolutionize the entertainment industry solely to recreate anime. That bastard. How did I know of such a prediction? Foresight was 20-20 when it came to him.
"Ah, so that's how it is." Ferdinand nodded in understanding before he and I stopped in front of the training grounds gate. Turning to me he smiled at me that looked similar to Yuigahama whenever she came to the club room. An ache in my chest appeared once more as Ferdinand spoke.
"When I win, you will be at my side Hachiman, as a friend." He extended a hand towards me, and I grimaced. What do I even do against this? This was a completely new experience!
"If I win Ferdinand, I'll...think of something." I weakly took his hand and we shook. I take it back, this was most likely a terrible idea.
We entered the training grounds to find a blond female student getting disarmed by someone who looked like he could be my equal for possessing terrible eyes.
This was definitely a mistake.
"Dimitri, would you do us a favor by having my friend and I participate in this little tournament?" Ferdinand confidently called out to the Blue Lion's leader, who gave a look of surprise at us.
Participate?! This was a complete mistake!
The blond guy looked way too happy to see us. Was he the Hayama of this world? Or just really happy to find moving training dummies?
"No no. Go ahead! We would be glad to have you, but you're a bit too late. Felix has had several consecutive wins thus far, and I'm afraid he won't be stopping any time soon." Dimitri explained, but I was too focused on his blue cape. Practically, wearing something like that is a detriment to battle when someone could grab onto it and skewer you, but it would allow you to be noticed as a comrade in a sea of bodies and steel. Meaning, I should ask Edelgard for that red cape of hers. Her white hair was so noticeable that I might as well take the cape to help her be less targetable in battle. It was the more friendly thing to do, as her classmate.
A sudden push on my shoulder was felt, and I stumbled forward. I looked backwards at Ferdinand as he pushed a blunt iron sword into my hands.
"You can go first. Let me see how you fare Hachiman." My eyes widened at that. This bastard! Was he expecting me to lose? I gripped at the sword and gave it an experimental chop to the air. Heh. It wasn't heavy at all. I could take this fellow dead fish eye guy.
Taking myself onto the dirt arena, my opponent, Felix, gave me a look like he saw a ghost.
"Go get him Felix! Good luck to you too newbie!" An amber haired male, who I assumed to be Sylvain from Bernadetta's message, called out to us both. This caused us both to roll our eyes.
"I bet you will win Hachiman! Show him what for!" Ferdinand cheered, making me want to slink into a corner and sob. Damn it, that sheer enthusiasm is going to kill me from the embarrassment alone.
My opponent shrugged before giving me a slight bow, giving me an introduction.
"My name is Felix, and you look far too inexperienced with the sword. You're years too early to try and duel someone above your calibur, so I suggest you leave now."
And an insult.
I hid a wince at his words. So what-using a sword relies on the first move, and you hitting the other person. Anyways, he may be right, but I have to win this stupid bet I made. Meaning, I had to lose.
"Let's just do this already. I want it to be over as much as you." I gave a drawl to my words, indicating that this was something I was forced to do. I came here to watch, not to participate.
Felix made a complicated face at me, before he settled onto a stance.
"There's nothing to be gained from fighting someone like you, but I'll make an exception. Pick up your sword and fight then." Felix pointed the tip of his blade at me as I held my own sword up with two hands. I circled around him, but Felix only moved to fix himself whenever I stepped away from his eyes. I did this for a minute, before someone made a complaint. Shut it, I'm trying! I would have gone into action at that, if I were an idiot. I saw plenty of anime and read too many damned novels that followed this trope. The 'go in guns blazing and cry out' act before getting completely slaughtered by the enemy was basically fate if I did the exact same thing.
I said no words as I kept shifting about. Holding the sword across my body, I held the grip tightly as I scuttled towards Felix, his look casual and disinterested. Hoping to surprise him with an overhead slash, I aimed to kick him in the balls while he would be distracted by my attack. Just enough effort to say I tried, and not seem like I threw the match (even if I absolutely did). While this was a duel for a favor against Ferdinand, damn any of this honor these nobles speak of. Was I just using this attack to take out my frustrations upon the world in a completely legal manner? Maybe.
Felix himself didn't move, except for shifting his left foot forward just a bit as he lowered his sword to an angle, with the tip slightly above his head. As my slash was completely deflected, I raised my foot in alarm. That became acmistake as my eyes only saw a blur.
In what felt like a second, I felt my body come off the ground and my sword fall from my grip, my face ready to eat the floor. Before my face could truly fall onto the dirt like my pride did, I felt the collar of my uniform get caught by a hand.
"That, was the most terrible swordplay I have seen, and I've fought squires." Felix's voice rang in my ears before he let go of my collar. Falling onto the ground, I groaned. Good to know that my loss seemed good enough, even if my pride was completely shattered. I picked myself up, glaring at my fellow student all the while.
"You could have gone easy you ass." I gave a harsher glare at Felix, but he didn't react. He instead suddenly pointed his sword tip at my throat, his eyes a cold fury.
"As if. A brigand would not take the time to mitigate his strength to accommodate yours. A soldier, likewise, would strike you down before your corpse would ever touch the ground. An assassin too would not even warn you of his attack before his knife slashed your throat. No, I do, and will, not go easy." Felix sheathed his sword and turned away from me as his amber-haired 'fan' came forward.
I took a deep breath as Ferdinand came to my side.
"I apologize, I did not know you were that inexperienced. I had complete faith in you, and believed your lack of arms usage was of modesty as a cleric." Piss off Ferdinand. I'm a healer through and through, I don't do swords.
I sighed before I looked at my classmate. I had to know though...
"If you were to fight him, right now, how would you do?" I asked, hoping he would at least lie for my sake.
"I would last a lot longer than you, but I too would have fallen. Do you want me to try anyhow?" Ferdinand asked, giving me a small chance to recover myself. Hey, if he was gonna be beaten, my failure was assuredly fate then. Before I could say anything else, the bell rang once more, indicating that the free time for students had ended.
Just what I needed.
"Well, looks like I won the bet. You voted for me to win and I lost.." I smirked, ignoring the fact that I never really chose a candidate to represent me in the wager-technicalities were the best.
"So you have." Ferdinand smiled at me, waiting. Expecting me to call off my bluff of a bet, expecting me to cower away from telling someone of his standing to do something stupid.
He was right, and I did my best to deflect the responsibility.
"Ah...we'll hold onto that favor for something else." I waved away in a nonchalant manner. Hopefully he'll just forget it later and I can spring it on him in surprise.
"You." The familiar voice of Felix caught my attention as he stepped in front of me, his eyes judging me.
"Me."
What does he want? A rematch? Next time I'll throw my sword and tackle you, screw the formalities. I'll throw some mud in your eyes for good measure too.
Felix's shoulders shifted a bit as the corners of his mouth turned upwards.
"You need help in your swordsmanship. Yours is quite lacking."
I rolled my eyes at that.
"I'm a healer, I don't use swords. I use magic."
"Yet if a knight were to ever get close to you, you will die. Simple as that. Having just an ounce of some sword skills can keep you alive in battle." A fair point, but I had more important things to do than just train all day.
Felix, the ass, probably read my mind with whatever sword eye skill he had, because he gave me a slip of paper. Hesitantly taking it, I saw a quick scrawl of numbers and names that looked eerily like a page of a planner.
No…..
"Is this your schedule?" Ferdinand asked as he looked over my shoulder. I shifted away from him as Felix merely nodded.
"I didn't quite catch your name, but you need dire help in your swordsmanship. During those times I will be available to train you, and I expect you to come at least thrice a week." I looked at the guy in confusion. The hell is he aiming for….?
"My name is Hachiman Hikigaya, but I implore you to call me Hikigaya." I gave my name to him, and he nodded. Will he actually use my last name like manners dictated by my culture?
"I see, it was a, pleasure, to meet you Hachiman." Yeah, that never works in this world, does it? "We can meet tomorrow, after lunch or before supper. I will wait here for you then." Felix made to leave before I stopped him. This guy, who I just met not a few minutes ago, decided to spend his time training me. I asked him, 'Why' because this was seriously just creepy, and something I am not prepared for.
Felix looked me in the eyes, and his features seemed to soften as he recalled something.
"You just remind me of someone I knew. Nothing else." At that he walked back to the dirt arena, leaving me dumbfounded. His fan, the Sylvain guy, just chuckled as he glanced my way before following. The rest of the Blue House congratulated Felix at another win, leaving me wondering what the hell today was.
What did he even mean?!
"Looks as if you made another new friend Hachiman." Ferdinand himself chuckled too. My life was a comedy, laugh it up. I was too tired to do anything right now.
"So what if I get attacked, I can heal myself. Or use one of those vulneray things."
"It is called a Vulnerary, but Felix is correct. Someone who wishes to be a knight of Fodlan, a knight of Seiros no less, has to be adequate in several areas of the trade. You can not very well call yourself a knight if you can not use a sword correctly." While Ferdinand's words rang true, using a sword is as simple as putting the sharp end into the fleshy bit of someone. I shivered at the thought. The act of taking someone else's life-call me a coward but I'll gladly have someone else do it. I lived in a modern age, where I didn't have to worry about killing for self-defense or for one's country. That was the military's job! I'm here because I was coerced! I never signed up to kill anyone. While I call these people NPC's, they sure bled like a real person.
"Sorry to say Ferdinand, but I'll keep to my magic." I replied adamantly. I turned my heel away from the white knight noble and exited the training grounds, aiming to go back to class for mandatory makeup work. For being a medieval fantasy world that theoretically should have the easiest content for someone with my knowledge, what came out of Byleth's mouth was pure jargon. I had to spend several hours of useless studying to coast by in the class and banked off any magical theory on my instincts. The tests and assignments were just too scary. What kind of monster had math on an archery exam?
"Hachiman! Wait!" I ignored Ferdinand's yells-he was too far away for me to hear after all. The wind today sure was strong, ya know?
But, I did wait for him, since it'd be awkward for both of us when we were going to the same place.
"I apologize, Hachiman. I did not mean to offend you, since I was only trying to help you. You get it right?" Ferdinand's explanation made me wave away his concerns before I told him it was fine. It would have been awkward between us otherwise. With a relieved smile, Ferdinand took the lead to our classroom. Fortunately, I wasn't late for it this time, so I didn't have to have another scolding on punctuality.
I sighed as I took a sip of the terrible coffee that Bernadetta provided to me from the dining hall. We were inside her room, facing each other on opposite sides of her room. She on her bed and I was facing her against a wall on the ground. Her room was a simple place-more so than I expected. She had a few plush pillows on her bed, and a weird shaped thing that had ears under her desk, but her room was overall pretty homely. Now, why am I sitting inside a girl's room, with just her and I alone? Quite easy to explain in less than twenty words; I was reading over her manuscript.
"..." Setting my cup down on the floor next to my leg, I finished the last paragraph before rubbing my eyes.
"It's good, but you need to work on the dialogue-its too monotone between the knights. Be more inspiring, or showcase some more emotion to them." Came my bland criticism. There wasn't anything wrong with the manuscript-it was excellent so far. However, Bernadetta didn't need to know that, else she'd grow prideful and start churning out terrible sequels and ruin her writing ability forever for profit.
Bernadetta nodded to my critiques with an embarrassed but determined look in her eyes, before she covered herself once more in a blanket.
"T-Thank you. How is Yoshiteru's manuscript? Did you take a look at it?" She asked me, of which my displeasure showed on my face. Zaimokuza wasn't just taking source material and creating a baseless story now-he was now free to take several stories and create a whole new narrative, bastardizing so many plotlines until it was even more confusing than a certain heart of kingdoms game.
"I can tell you right now that your books will sell and be lauded as gold, while his would be bought like one would buy fast food." I said with a yawn, wondering what time it was if Bernadetta was still wide awake.
"What? What's fast food?" Ah no, I let out a term of the real world.
"It's nothing. Yours is better than his, and his literature won't plague this land and ruin the standards for everyone." I mumbled before I rubbed my eyes again. Damn it, it was so late.
"Okay! So, um, is there anything else?" Bernadetta stuttered as she hid her face in her blanket. I looked on in confusion but shrugged.
"Nothing else. Come up with the ending and I'll review it as a whole. Don't-"
"'Half-ass the ending.' Just as you said, I promise I won't." She shuffled about on her bed, before looking at me in some form of concern.
"I guess you have to go to sleep. You look really tired." Her concern is...nice, but unnecessary.
"I'm fine. Going to sleep and I can finish my homework in the morning." It was partially true-I finished the work to finish it, not to actually have the right answers.
"Hachiman, you can't! You'll get expelled! Your grades are bad enough!" Her exclamation made me jump, but before I could say anything she was already muttering to herself.
"AH! No no! Bernie, why are you so-Ah!" Now Bernadetta completely hid herself within the confines of her bed, and I just shook my head.
"Good night." I gave a wave to the now sushi-Bernie before leaving her room, ignoring what sounded like a muffled yell. Just keep walking. Don't question why so many weirdos revolve around your 'friend' group.
Walking a few doors away from Bernadetta's, I saw that my paper trap had not fallen. Good.
Opening the door, I saw the familiar mess of old papers with magic circles, stacks of worn books, and several broken staves in the corner that I never bothered to throw away. How does one throw things away when there are no trash cans?
Falling onto my extremely worn bed, I felt warmth encapsulate me. It was during these quiet moments, where I got under the covers without removing my loosened uniform, that made me feel like I was home if I closed my eyes. Perhaps Komachi would wake me up tomorrow, and the nightmares would disappear and all this isekai business was just a long, long dream.
Like every night, I did not fall asleep back in my home, awaiting a little sister that would never barge into my room. Like every night, the indecipherable whispers of several children rang in my head, crying for help. For revenge. All in a language I didn't know.
And like every night, I felt my body boil, and my heart ached in pain from the dreams of my body being ripped apart and being molded.