Here I am! Uni was kicking my butt. I had to focus on my dissertation and essays consisting of 3000+ words. Please accept this rather short chapter, knowing I am still continuing on with this story. Thank you
"Ok Professor, please step up to the device,"
Robin baulked. It was the start of the new day and she had received word that Hanneman wanted to see her urgently.
"Is this why you wanted to see me so early in the morning?" She rubbed her eyes.
"Why yes, I did not think you wanted to discuss crests during yesterday's conversation, so I cut it short." He motioned to the device. "If I could take a blood sample, we will see which crest you have."
"I-I don't have one." She panicked. What was his obsession with crests?
"You'd be surprised how many people do not realise they have crests, why Professor Byleth did not know, and he has a most interesting crest! I am still researching it, of course, I have not seen anything like it."
Robin unconsciously rubbed her right hand. "Professor Hanneman, would you elaborate on what a crest is?"
"Of course, Professor," he took off his monocle to clean it before proceeding, "crests are believed to be blessings bestowed by the Goddess. Bearers are granted enhanced abilities such as strength, or a high aptitude for magic. Crests are typically inherited by blood from an ancestor who has a crest, though there is still the possibility for a child not to inherit a crest." He stalled, briefly coughing he continued, "bearing a crest leaves no visible mark, hence why I have developed this device," he motioned to it again and Robin just stared at it.
A crest sounds completely different to a brand. Brands are definitely visible, the only part that sounded similar was receiving it as a gift from the Goddess. Does he mean Naga? She never heard of Naga giving out crests. So far, all this has done is help her theory that she is in a different land nowhere close to Ylisse and it always leaves a pit in her stomach.
"The Goddess?" She tried to get him to elaborate.
"Yes, Sothis, of course."
Ah.
Nope, never heard of a Sothis before. Perhaps she had a similar power to Naga and could give out crests as opposed to brands.
Robin looked at the device and took a deep breath. Curiosity had bested her.
"Ok, what do I have to do?" She asked.
Hanneman looked delighted. "Just prick your finger on this to draw a small amount of blood, and the device will do the rest."
She did as she was asked and waited with baited breath for the machine to finish its analysis. Hanneman was on the opposite side and he looked practically ecstatic. After a minute of waiting, Hanneman began to scowl.
"Most unusual, by now we would have seen something, but it is acting like it's still deciding what your crest is."
Robin looked at him then back to the device. "Maybe it's broken?" After a second of deliberating what was wrong with it, the device went back to normal.
"Well," Hanneman huffed, "it does that when a person does not have a crest, though why it took so long to decide I do not know."
"Nevermind, professor," Robin found she was relieved, "We should go, we both have classes to teach."
"Ah, yes of course, that almost slipped my mind, how silly of me. Allow me to escort you, we're both heading that way anyway."
Robin nodded and they both fell into comfortable conversation on their way.
"Mind you, I have slowly been coaxing Bernadetta out of her shell, she has been coming to more lessons, though not so much the physical activity ones. Perhaps you could talk to her one day, professor?" Hanneman asked Robin.
"Of course, I know my way around shy people." Robin nodded as she scribbled in her journal as they walked.
"I want to see her at her best in time for the upcoming mock battle. Tell me, Robin, do you have a plan?"
"I have been coming up with ideas, but I need to see my pupils strengths and weaknesses first hand before I come up with anything solid."
Hanneman gave a friendly laugh, "since you are new and the battle is such a short time away, do not think there is immense pressure on you to do well." He gave her a friendly pat on the back.
"I have experience, professor. I want to give it my all and show everyone what the Golden Deer can do." She returned the gesture as they turned the corner to where the classrooms were.
Most of the pupils were hanging outside and heard the professors coming.
"Mornin' professors," Claude smirked as he walked over to them, closely followed by Hilda, her bright pink pigtails swishing as she walked.
"Good morning to both of you," Robin smiled. She noticed it wasn't just the Golden Deer hanging outside before class started, and that some pupils from the other houses were giving her curious glances. She gathered she had become a thing of gossip among them.
She bid Hanneman a farewell and turned back to Claude, "would you mind helping me round up the rest of the class? We're not inside for most of today."
"Of course professor," Claude did his trademark grin but before she could do anything he yelled at the top of his lungs to announce for all to hear that Robin wants to Golden Deer here.
"Uh, thanks, Claude." She tucked a ponytail behind her ear, suddenly becoming even more self conscious. Thankfully, Claude's method worked and her class walked their way towards her.
She cleared her throat, "let's be moving, everyone. Follow me." She found she was uncomfortable under the glare of so many people, especially Byleth, who seemed to be unable to take his eyes off her.
"What's this about, professor?" Leonie asked.
"Oh, we're working outside today. I would like to see how the Golden Deer fairs in combat." She noticed that she got some mixed reactions. Leonie seemed to walk faster, while she heard some soft groans just on the edge of her hearing. She would have time to figure out which ones did that. She was glad she memorised the map Seteth had given her, so she knew the way to the training grounds, even if Leonie was practically leading the way by now.
The class fell into discussing things with one another when she noticed her stomach grumbling. She didn't have time to grab breakfast this morning so she took an apple out of her pocket to chew on. As she munched she looked to the side and noticed Marianne watching her.
"Good morning, Marianne, looking forward to today's practice?"
Marianne just nodded and quickly looked away down at her feet as they continued to walk. Something told Robin that Marianne was not looking forward to it. That was something else to chew on besides the apple. Perhaps she needed motivation, remembering her notes on the pupils, she remembered Marianne was proficient in magic. Well, that was something she had in common, so she could start there.
"Here we are guys," Robin opened the door to the training grounds and let them all in first. "Please shed down to something that won't overheat you and we'll begin warmups."
It suddenly hit her that she was completely alone with her students. Rhea knew barely anything about her and yet she is trusting this stranger with them? She completely understands how Seteth feels, yet he has no authority over Rhea. Thinking about her gives Robin an uneasy feeling.
"What should we do first, professor?" Leonie's voice brought her back to reality.
"Start by doing simple stretches and when I'm satisfied, everyone can grab their weapon of choice."
When the warmups were finished, the students had gone to get their weapons while Robin waited. She noticed Hilda coming towards her.
"Hey, professor, can I have a word?"
"Sure Hilda, what's up?"
"Well the thing is, I don't think I should be in the mock battle, I think I would drag everyone down. I'd prefer to cheer everyone on from the sidelines, you know?"
Robin wasn't born yesterday, she could tell Hilda was trying to get out of training. However, she decided to play along.
"You don't think you're cut out for battles?" She asked.
Hilda did her best to look sad and shook her head, "no professor. I'm sure you understand?"
"Oh, I do Hilda, I do. Say, what weapon would you use otherwise?"
"Well, when professor Manuela was still teaching us, she taught me the basics with an axe."
"Ok, do me a favour and get one. I want to see your techniques before I decide if I continue your training."
Hilda looked like she wanted to say something before sighing through her nose and turning to pick up a training axe. Robin then led her to a spot a safe distance from the other students.
She noticed Hilda's panic when she brought out a training sword, "don't worry Hilda, I'll be going easy." She noticed the other students had started paying attention to them, even Marianne was watching with wide eyes.
"Ok Hilda, just do what you've learnt so far and come attack me."
"A-are you sure, professor?" Hilda's voice went up an octave.
Robin nodded and fell into a defence stance. She waited patiently for Hilda to deliver a strike, only to find Hilda was still unsure. She couldn't blame her, but she needed to be able to prepare Hilda for battle in the real world, where there were no end to surprises. So instead of waiting, she launched herself instead at Hilda.
Bringing her sword down on Hilda's left, she was quickly parried. She could feel the brunt force of the impact go through her hand, the steel on steel actually sparking when Hilda brought up the axe and pushed Robin off. Robin stepped back a bit and danced around Hilda, looking for an opening. It was quickly becoming obvious Hilda was excellent at keeping up her defense. She went to strike Hilda on her dominant arm but was quickly repelled again, and then much to her shock had to dodge an attack. She brought up her sword close to her side and almost grunted at the strength with which Hilda brought the axe.
Pushing back hard, Robin struck Hilda close to her chest to get her to back off. Hilda was starting to breathe heavily which was an indicator to Robin she was out of shape and not used to such exercise. So Robin signalled to stop.
"That was excellent, Hilda." She patted her on her back. "With some practice I can shape you into a great fighter."
Hilda panted but she looked annoyed with herself. Robin told her to take five minutes on the sidelines with water.
"Hey, Teach?" Claude waved to grab her attention.
"Yes, Claude?" She walked over.
"Those were some skilled moves, and we both know Hilda's no slouch, as much as she tries to tell us otherwise. You're stronger than you look." He eyed her while pretending to look at Ignatz practicing archery.
Robin crossed her arms, "why all the questions? I am qualified in many techniques."
Claude hummed to himself and threw his arms over the back of his head.
"Claude, you should be practising rather than thinking." Robin prodded him in the side. He looked down at her with eyes that hinted he knew something.
"I'm just glad is all. I mean a teacher that appears out of nowhere who we know nothing about? You gotta admit it's strange."
Robin fidgeted with her glove, "no one in the Golden Deer believed I could do this, did they?"
His eyes changed for a split second before he changed back to a neutral stance, but that was all it took for Robin to guess.
She could put herself in their shoes, their situation was rather strange. For her and her students.