I'm wondering if anyone figures out who this shadow person is before I reveal more clues about them in the story?
Robin stared at the content pages of her book. It was a long history of Crests, she saw a similar title once that wasn't in the restricted section but apparently that one had been heavily edited compared to this bulkier version. She could tell from some of the titles that a lot of the history concerning Crests were taken out. Why would the church deem it necessary to remove parts of history? Snapping it shut she placed it back on the shelf, Crests were not of particular interest to her yet. What she knew so far from the books she had skimmed were enough to go on.
"Claude, take it out of your pocket." She picked up another interesting title without looking in his direction.
"You saw that?" He huffed as he placed the book where he found it.
"When you've been in the game as long as I have, you notice the small things."
He studied her for a moment before nodding in agreement, "same here."
She looked at him pointedly, waiting for him to elaborate. He snorted before continuing.
"I've had to look out for danger most of my life, is all. People wanted me dead."
Robin's eyes widened. This was a lot of personal information, coming from him. And on such a sensitive topic, too.
"I'm so sorry to hear that."
"It's ok. I adapted ways to cope."
"Like your poisons?" She pieced information together.
"Like my poisons." He nodded and picked up another book.
This was a small puzzle piece that helped provide a larger picture of him, she thought. Seeing the sour look on his face, she thought it best not to pry just yet. Perhaps he could open himself up fully in his own time, this was just him doing it in his own way.
"I won't press, Claude. But thank you for sharing." Looking back to the books she picked up a new one. The dust it kicked up made her sneeze. Claude laughed while she wiped her nose aggressively.
"It's ok, Teach. We all have our secrets right?"
Still holding onto her nose, she made eye contact with Claude. His smile was gone now but there was something in his eyes that seemed to pierce through her.
"Uh… yes, I suppose we do." She opened the pages of the dusty book and buried her head in it. Before she could take in any of the words, two fingers pushed the book down forcing her to look up back at Claude.
"I'm not the only one who avoids talking about their past, am I Teach?"
She mentally shrieked. There was no way she could explain to one of her students her backstory just yet. She had yet to find the Halidom of Ylisse in one of the library's geography books. And now that she knows she still holds the power to an incredibly powerful and ancient defiled being makes her a threat to this place. Grima already tried to tussle with the divine Naga, he probably has an ego big enough to try to do the same with this land's goddess too. There's no way she's saying this to anyone.
On the other hand, the bonds created and shared by the Shepherds were powerful. She held immense respect for them, even when they disclosed something in their past they were not proud of. It strengthened their bond and she knew something similar needs to happen during her stay at Garreg Mach, should Sothis want her dead again. Having allies is always advantageous.
"What are you getting at?" Pulling the book out of his grip. "Have you always been so nosy in other people's affairs?"
He gave a genuine smile when she said that and rubbed the back of his neck.
"I see what you did there," she continued, "you revealed a small part of yourself in hopes I do the same. Smart." He was quick witted, that's for sure. Though she wasn't sure if that was good or not yet.
"Since I enrolled here, plenty of strange things have happened. Things I'd love to get to the bottom of. And just when I thought things couldn't get any stranger, you appear out of nowhere. So colour me intrigued is all." He folded his arms.
Sometimes she really couldn't get a dial on Claude. Though as a strategist and tactician, it made sense. It all boils down to keeping you and others safe by doing what you can to identify friend from foe.
"I came from Nuvelle, that's all there is to it."
"Came from or grew up there?"
"Claude, I-" but she got cut off by Tomas' mumbling a few bookshelves down. She placed the dusty book in her pocket and pushed Claude in the direction of the staircase. He grabbed what books he could before Robin could knock them out of his hands.
"Once you've read those, give them back to me immediately and I'll return them before anyone realises they're gone. I'm not helping you get back in the restricted section." Before he could say anything she stormed off.
She wasn't sure what it was that irked her. Claude had a right to know, but it wasn't something she could divulge over a nice cup of tea. Probably everyone here had the right to know who she was and her past. It's just the sooner she finds how to get home, the better. Then there'd be no need to spill anything. However, she was stuck with the students under the watchful eyes of Rhea. This was probably what got under her skin and why she snapped at Claude, his constant bugging was what sent her over.
Stepping out into the fresh air she breathed in deeply. Judging by the sun it was getting rather late and by now dinner would be almost ready. She breathed back out and continued her breathing techniques. She continued until she heard footsteps behind her.
"Teach, listen, I'm-"
"No, I'm the one who is sorry. Of course you are curious, I think that's a wonderful thing. I have not had the stress of being a professor before. Please accept my apologies." She bowed.
Claude smiled but still looked somewhat awkward. "It's fine. I shouldn't have pestered. I of all people should know better."
She looked up at him intently for a few seconds. Claude seems like the type of guy who can hold a secret after all. This was a huge risk and like with most of her strategies, it's worth chewing on first.
He shifted a little under the weight of her glare.
"We strengthen our bonds with those we trust. I have learnt that over the past couple of years. Given my predicament, I intend to create new ones. If I find I can trust you enough, I will share a part of my past, if you are willing to do the same." She held out her hand, as if to make a deal.
He stared at her and then her hand. She could practically see the gears turning in his mind. After all, it's a way to get the information he was after, right?
"Deal." He shook her hand.
"Excellent." She smiled. "Let's go grab dinner."
"I don't need you here, either."
"Ah, but I think you do." The shadow smiled at the old man. "Following her when you have your hands full already may blow your cover. Or distract you from your objective."
"I know you are new here, but there is no need to tell me what to do!" He pinched his nose and sighed out of his mouth. "Besides, we already have an insider who already came into contact with the girl."
"From what I understand, Kronya mainly accompanies this Flame Emperor. Her priorities are not with this girl."
"Too many people from the same organisation in one place would be an error on our part."
"I do not intend to infiltrate the same way you and Kronya have." The shadow seethed, "I have other methods, I just need to keep my distance to avoid her detection."
The old man considered the shadow for a moment. They had almost immediately proved themselves capable and used some powers even he couldn't recognise. To him, that made them somewhat dangerous, but they had already proved to be loyal to the cause.
"I have already followed her to Remire Village, and questioned some bandits whom she came into contact with. I need to figure out why her and her powers are so similar."
"I understand." He looked empathetic but the shadow knew better, they knew he was so used to playing the part he forgot when to drop the act.
"If I manage to lure her out of the academy grounds, you may do as we planned," he paused, "when you have what you need, turn her over to us."
The shadow smirked and nodded. Dark magic rolled off them and he almost shuddered. But working with this entity would prove useful, and this girl who called herself Robin seemed even more powerful than even this shadow, if the reports from the shadow were true. He and the rest of those who Slither in the Dark could make good use of that power.
"As it happens, there is a certain event that could make her capture all the more easier for us."
"Oh?"
"The Battle of the Eagle and Lion."
"Any questions?" Robin asked the students.
It was the sixth day of the Wyvern Moon. While she hadn't gotten used to the role of lecturer she was growing more confident in her teaching abilities. She had even gotten information on the lay of the land where the battle will take place, so she saw a good opportunity to go over some basic tactics with the class.
"Yes, Leonie?"
"Uh, professor? You said this was an easy guide to tactics on the battlefield?" Leonie's voice was confused, and so were the faces of every other student.
"Have I made it more complicated than it should be?" Robin wondered aloud.
"Teach, perhaps you could put it in more layman's terms for us?" Claude scratched the side of his face while looking at the scribbles on the blackboard. The rest of the class nodded.
"Forgive me," Robin sighed, "I've never had to describe my tactics or strategies in such detail."
Rubbing the board clean she tapped the chalk on her chin to think. This had been so much easier back home. This is my plan, do this and it'll work. But because these were students, they had to learn from her in more detail. And they were her students, so by Naga they're going to be the best at it too.
Suddenly an idea came to her and she tore off the board from its place in the wall and slammed it on a table.
"Gather around here, everyone."
Confused, they all followed her instructions until they encircled the table with the blackboard on. As they were muttering amongst themselves, Robin drew some symbols and rudimentary drawings.
"These are the other houses' locations!" Ignatz exclaimed.
"Correct," Robin finished drawing, "these are roughly where we know they'll be. I've included our defense point and the forestry with other terrain locations. Now."
She threw the chalk at Ignatz. "Point me where we should go."
He fumbled with the chalk for a second before stuttering.
"P-professor, I'm not sure-"
"There are no right or wrong answers here, not just yet. Everyone here will be included." Robin looked into the eyes of her students and bent down over the board.
"To our east is the Blue Lion House, do we attack them first?"
"That's a bad idea." Raphael half laughed. Everyone looked at him in surprise. "What? Everyone knows how strong professor Byleth has built up his house."
"You're right, Raphael." Robin smiled. "Let's face it, do the other two houses think we're a threat?"
Downcast looks and averted eyes was the answer she needed.
"Not with me here, I've pulled some amazing tricks out of my sleeve last minute before coming here. We just need to let them think the Black Eagles and the Blue Lions are the only power houses for a little while longer… it's time to tip the scales."
They spent the next few hours taking turns with the chalk, they might not have realised it but they were all discussing tactics in a way they could all understand. In the end even the least confident of her students left that lesson with a small smile on her face.
The next morning, Robin was burying her head in her notebook while the Golden Deer discussed amongst themselves.
"Me, Marianne and Raphael would be best to attack them from the left, like we said yesterday." Leonie said as she polished her weapon.
"Agreed," Lorenz pointed to a smaller version of last night's blackboard on paper, "while me and Ignatz take out anyone who thinks to come from the woods.
Who'd have thought? They're discussing rather than arguing, Robin smiled into her book.
"So, me, Claude and Lysithea, right?" Hilda played with her ponytail while looking over Leonie's shoulder.
"Right, I've learnt some more healing magic, so we don't have to wear Marianne out." Lysithea chimed in.
"We shouldn't wear ourselves too thin." Robin reminded them. "I'll be the one wearing myself out by helping where I can."
"That's rather illogical, don't you think?" Lysithea fully turned to her teacher.
"I'm well aware, Lysithea, but please don't worry. While on the battlefield, I can 'see' what is about to happen. Plus, this is our first big battle together, I want to make sure you are all ok."
She saw Claude cough into his hand.
"Not that I don't trust any of you. I'll just be where I'm most needed."
"It's Professor Byleth I worry about." Lorenz said thoughtfully.
Robin nodded. "No doubt he'll come out only when there's the threat of his house losing. When that happens, leave him to me."
Everyone stared at her then.
"Y-you think you can take him on, professor?" Ignatz spoke nervously.
"I'm not worried about him, but if you're worried, we'll station Marianne on hand, ok?" She winked at her blue-haired student who blushed slightly and turned to look at the floor.
Robin clapped her gloved hands together to grab everyone's attention.
"Ok, before we do today's outdoor exercise, any questions?"
She looked directly at Marianne who still had not looked up.
"Marianne."
"Y-yes, professor?" Marianne suddenly looked embarrassed to be called out.
"Any qualms?"
"No, professor I-"
"Let me stop you there." Robin raised a hand. Marianne looked like she wanted to sink into the ground.
"You are like a dear friend of mine, not completely alike, but I had to help push her in the right direction. And by Naga, did it work."
Marianne looked up in confusion.
"What I'm saying is," Robin coughed into her fist, "I want you to tell me when something is bothering you."
"I-it's just that… I don't want to be a burden in battle." Robin couldn't help feeling sorry for her. Hilda placed a caring hand on Marianne's shoulders.
"Marianne, you and I do spell work. Back when I was in this little band called the Shepherds, I did my best work covering for someone."
"The Shepherds?" Claude raised his eyebrow.
"Yes," Robin closed her eyes for a second. "One of my closest friends was a sword fighter, he was amazing." Fondness flooded her voice and memories. She sighed.
"Do you m-miss them?" Marianne asked.
"Aye," Robin said again. "He was incredibly powerful, but also reckless. I had to keep an eye on him from the back so he'd make it back safe and sound, you see? Marianne, I'm asking you to do the same, for your friends here."
Marianne's eyes widened as she briefly looked at her fellow classmates.
"Like bow users, we have to focus on being in the back. No way am I asking you to be on the front lines just yet." Robin smiled. "Your classmates will shield you from the worst, you're our main healer, after all."
"I-I think I can do that, professor." Marianne smiled.
"That's the spirit, Marianne!" Hilda shouted, scooping Marianne into a tight hug.
"It's all about teamwork," Robin said to the rest of the class, "we'll never win this battle if we don't look out for each other, which is why we're outside today."
Grabbing her journal and notebook, she led the Golden Deer to the training grounds for some team building exercises.
While her class recovered from an intense training exercise, Robin sat to the side and read a new book she'd picked up from the library. It was the dusty one from the restricted section she forgot to put back. It was hard to read, but the illustrations looked cool. They looked like strange beasts, nothing like she saw back in Ylisse. Sighing, she put it away and brought out the notebook. The ones she saw there were her friends, the shapeshifters. One of the illustrations in the dusty book could almost be a dragon, she thought. Does Fòdlan have beasts and dragons? She was always amazed to watch them transform from their human forms into something fantastical. Mindlessly, she drew Nah's dragon form, or maybe it was Nowi's, not that you could tell since she wasn't known for her artistry. Panne's form might be easier, since it was just a giant rabbit. As messy as they were, looking at them she could clearly see her friends' faces.
Panic struck her when she wondered if she'd ever see them again. What if she forgot what they looked like? What if-
"Hey, professor! Those are some neat drawings you have there!"
Startled, she looked up to see Ignatz looking over her shoulder.
"Ah, Ignatz, I- uh, these are nothing." She snapped the book shut.
"Oh, I'm sorry to pry." Ignatz nervously laughed, "they just looked so interesting! Was one of them a rabbit?"
"W-well," Robin sighed through her nose, "yes, it sort of is a rabbit."
"Sort of?" Raphael appeared out of nowhere.
"Raphael!" Robin shrieked.
"Sorry, I just heard the word 'rabbit' and thought we were talking about dinner."
"Pfft, your mind is always on dinner." Hilda poked him in the arm.
"What can I say? A growing man's gotta eat." He laughed.
"Ok, calm down." Robin hushed them. "What you all demonstrated in the training exercise was perfect teamwork. I'd score that performance highly, in fact if it was on the battlefield I'd say we'd at least make the other two houses sweat."
"But I thought we did great!" Leonie stepped forward, "you're saying even after all that, we still don't have a chance of winning?"
"No, I do not mean that at all," Robin stood up straighter and pulled out her bolganone. Most students' faces were confused.
"What I'm saying is you all have a long way to go before you're a real threat to them. What you have shown me just now is the ability to work as a team, it's not perfect but I can work with it."
"What's that red book, Teach?" Claude nodded towards it.
"Bolganone." As soon as she spoke the words, huge, bright flames burst out of her palm and stayed there.
"T-that's not a spell that is easy to master." Lysithea sounded awestruck.
Robin nodded.
"It's also one that you're going to need to avoid." Raising her hood, she took a step towards her students.
"P-professor?" Ignatz quivered under her glare.
"Demonstrate to me that you can all work as a team while under pressure, and as individuals!" She shouted.
At this point, most of the class were looking at her as if she was crazy.
"Now, look here professor-" Lorenz started but Robin had already fired off a fireball. Not intending to hit dead on but enough to make them all scatter.
Feeling the white hot fire brush by his face, Lorenz yelped and grabbed Claude, who with a determined yet annoyed look on his face pushed Lorenz by the shoulders and the two of them ran away in the opposite direction.
Hilda grabbed Marianne, who in turn out of shock grabbed Lysithea and let Hilda lead them away in the other direction. Leonie, started to charge towards Robin, intending to prove her strength, but was yanked away by Raphael, urged on by Ignatz that running away was best for now.
Was this it? Had she finally become the threat Rhea should have seen coming?
So this ones a bit late because reasons. So I'm sorry but I hope you still enjoy. I wanted to put emphasis on the Golden Deer being a team, because Robin's turned up in the academic year quite late.
And yes, Grima DID do battle with the hero-king, Alm. Look it up. I was more than happy to have Grima's gender be ambiguous because I didn't think they had one. But then I researched it and found that it's male.
I wonder what will happen at the Battle of the Eagle and Lion :)