Chapter 10: Back to School
"Which is when I came up with the brilliant idea to have Goetia here-" Claude pat him on the back "-sit in on our lessons, let him live like we do, you know? Great idea, right?" he asked the assembled Golden Deer.
He got blank looks from most of them and a complete look of bewilderment from Lysithea.
"Claude!" She hissed at him, grabbing his arm and dragging him into the corner of the classroom. The two began to speak in hushed tones as the tanned man stared at them before turning to the rest of the assembled students.
"I am Goetia, the librarian assistant." He introduced himself "I have also noticed I recognise...none of you." he frowned "I shall assume there is a reason you avoid the library for the moment."
"Well…" The tall, well built boy, scratched the back of his head "I don't do so well with books and stuff, I just like training!" he grinned "Oh! And eating!"
"...Indeed." Goetia nodded his head, an orange haired girl slapped his arm and frowned at him.
"What kind of introduction is that, Raf?" She turned to Goetia and grinned "I'm Leonie Pinelli, Captain Jeralt's best apprentice!"
"I was unaware he had any others." Goetia raised an eyebrow "Would that also not imply you would outperform his own child?"
Leonie seemed to wince slightly before her face changed into a determined one "Well...I'll just prove to everyone just how good I am!"
"...I see." He replied, he looked along the gathered students, stopping on the blue haired girl who seemed to be avoiding looking at him "Hmm…" he hummed in thought, how strange...her crest seemed to have more in common with some manner of phantasmal beast than with the divinity of the Goddess "You are?"
"I'm Marianne Von Edmund." She spoke, her face still off to the side, her's was more social anxiety than the obvious fear that Bernadetta exhibited.
"I'm Ignatz Victor." A pale green haired boy with glasses spoke up, a welcoming smile on his face "Nice to meet you...and I'm sorry for not stopping by the Library as of late, I was trying my best in training…" he stumbled when the tall boy, Raf, pat him on the back.
"Yep!" Raf grinned "I got Ignatz to try training, wanted to get him big and strong for the mock battle!" he looked thoughtful "I mean...yeah, we lost but that just means we need more training! Also I'm Raphael Kirsten!"
"Y-yeah." Ignatz agreed, although he seemed somewhat uncomfortable being around the taller boy.
Goetia turned to the next in line, a lanky boy with purple hair and a rather arrogant air about him "What an uncivilised greeting you are all giving." the boy scoffed and shook his head, before turning to Goetia and putting on a prideful smile and posture "I am Lorenz Hellman Gloucester. Heir to the Gloucester House, a name you may want to remember."
Everything about this boy oozed pride, and Goetia suspected than it was drawn from his bloodline rather than any notable achievements of his own. That…
That irritated him. A rather new emotion, but one he quickly found he was experiencing rather frequently as of late. Pride born of station rather than deeds was something that he found irked him.
Perhaps it was his defeat at the hands of ordinary humans but he held far more respect for what would be considered commoners than those of Noble Birth. He inwardly scoffed, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash Kyrielight had ruined his expectations of humans. So completely irrational and yet...so completely human.
Their pride came from their beliefs, their desire to survive or in Mash's case, to protect the boy who simply treated her as a person…
Either way...He immediately disliked Lorenz.
"Wow!" A pink haired girl was in his face, hands running through his hair "How do you get your hair so luxurious? You know how much effort I have to go through to get my hair to look this good?" she gestured to the twin tails she had before pouting "And you just get it naturally! I'm jealous and a little annoyed! You just let it fall down like that? Get some braids." she then grinned "I normally don't like doing stuff like that, but for hair like this I'd be happy to make an exception and do it for you!"
Goetia was having Deja Vu.
"You are?" He asked, the pink haired girl seemed to realise what she was doing and retracted her hand, grinning the whole time.
"Of course." She pat herself down and assumed a more composed posture "I am Hilda Goneril."
"I see." Goetia nodded, then raised an eyebrow "Your family oversees Fodlan's locket, does it not?"
"Yep." Hilda grinned "My brother and father are quite proud of the work they put into keeping it fortified. I don't really like all that violence and stuff but I guess they like it so."
"Are you not concerned I am some Almyran?"
"Are you?" Hilda asked, genuinely curious "I heard you were a foreigner, but I've never really met an Almyran before, except Cyril but he's only a kid so he doesn't really know all that much about Almyra."
"...I'm not Almyran." Goetia denied, the girl looked slightly dejected "I'm from West of Fodlan."
"Oh!" She grinned "Do they all have hair like yours?"
"...No...I do not believe they do."
Hilda looked slightly relieved "That's good. I'd be way more jealous if there was a whole country of people who could have hair like that without doing anything to it."
"Hilda!" Lorenz interjected, looking rather irritated "You are supposed to be representing the Nobility of the Leicester alliance not acting like a child!"
Hilda stuck her tongue out and made a bizarre noise at Lorenz "You are way too stiff when it comes to that, you should loosen up." she grinned "Besides, he doesn't really care." she turned to Goetia "Do you?"
"I do not." Goetia replied "You are free to act as you wish in my presence."
"Are Claude and Lysithea still talking?" Raphael asked "Cos they've been doing that for a while now, I've never seen her look so red."
"Yeah." Leonie agreed "Last time I saw her look this emotive was when they brought out a new cake in the dining hall."
"She is partial to confectionery?" Goetia asked, Leonie looked at him oddly then released a cackle.
"I'll say!" She exclaimed, still laughing "You'll never see her run so fast in order to be first in line to get a cake."
"I see." Goetia looked over "She is aware that such a habit contradicts her efforts to be seen as more mature, is she not?"
"I don't think she cares all that much." Ignatz said with a small shrug "Besides, it makes her happy, so I don't really see all that much of an issue."
"I suppose." Goetia grunted "Still, I suspect she is irritated at my being here, she likely views it as Von Riegan attempting to intervene in her study periods with myself."
"Study periods?" Leonie parroted "You're teaching her?"
"You were not aware?" Goetia asked, slightly puzzled "I made no effort to hide my tutoring of the girl."
"Huh…" Leonie eyes were wide with surprise "She never told us…"
"What are you teaching her?" Hilda asked with a slightly confused face.
"Magic." Goetia replied "She asked for my tutoring in the magic studies which are not native to Fodlan, I accepted."
"What is he doing here?" Lysithea hissed at Claude "I thought I told you I was going to put more work into my training, you didn't need to bring him here!"
"Hey, hey!" Claude held up his hands, a sly grin on his face "What's the issue? Did you want to keep your tutor hidden away or something?"
"Nothing like that you oaf!" She countered immediately her scowl growing "Teacher is obviously very busy with assisting Tomas and teaching me, what he doesn't need is you dragging him into your schemes!"
"Schemes?" Claude put on a look of faux hurt "You wound me Lysithea, you think I would do something as low as scheme?"
He got a deadpan look in return. He chuckled and waved her off "I wouldn't call it a scheme of sorts. The guy doesn't have any hobbies, so I'm going out of my way to help him."
"And what does that have to do with him being here?" Lysithea exclaimed in a hushed whisper "The Academy is not a hobby!"
"I know that." Claude agreed, still smiling "But I get the feeling he never got that school camaraderie when he was younger, so we're gonna help him experience youth...and probably find him a hobby later."
"You interrupted his precious time for this!?"
"You need not be too concerned about my timetable, Lysithea." Goetia called out from across the room, the two students blinked in surprise before looking across at him "I have already made arrangements with Tomas to spend the day with the Golden Deer house."
"You could hear us from over there?" Claude raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"What made you assume I couldn't?"
Neither of them had an answer for that. Evidently, Goetia was far more alert than they suspected and their private conversation wasn't as private as either of them wished it to be.
"But, Teacher." Lysithea began "Would you not be uncomfortable around my classmates?"
"I suspect I will manage." Goetia replied "However, your concern is acknowledged. Given our interactions, it is reasonable to assume your peers would disturb me. I have dealt with far more...distressing situations than a classroom however."
Claude sent Lysithea a smirk, the albino haired girl just scowled at him before marching over to where Goetia was.
"Very well, I will...adhere to your judgement Teacher." She relented, Goetia nodded in affirmative to her before looking over the classroom.
"Where is your professor?"
"Professor Manuela?" Lorenz raised an eyebrow "She is usually here by now...perhaps she has encountered-"
"I'm here, I'm here." The class turned to the interruption to see a rather haggard looking Manuela stroll in "Apologies students I was...distracted by late night business."
No one made a comment about the underlying smell of alcohol which seemed to permeate from the woman. While evidently not hungover, she had at the very least been drinking in excess the night before.
From Goetia's perspective, it was hardly the most promising of starts to a learning environment. Something Lysithea mirrored if her wince and glance in his direction was any indication.
"Now then…" Manuela walked past the group, completely ignoring the one armed man in the room, as she strut to the front of the classroom before spinning around "If you could all take your seats, I shall begin a register."
Before Lysithea could drag Goetia next to her, Claude stepped towards him "Come on, we'll see how long it takes her to notice you're here." with that, the pair walked over to Claude's table.
Consisting of himself and Leonie.
"Lets see." Manuela looked down the register "Claude Von Riegan?"
"Hey, Mrs."
"Hilda Valentine Goneril?"
"Here!"
"Ignatz Victor?"
"Yes, Miss."
"Leonie Pinelli?
"Present."
"Lorenz Gloucester?"
"I am accounted for, Professor."
"Lysithea Von Ordelia?"
"Present, Miss."
"Marianne Von Edmund?"
"...Yes…"
"Raphael Kirsten?"
"Yes, Miss! I'm here!"
"...I've noticed. Hm? Good Morning, Goetia."
"To you as well."
"...Goetia?"
"Yes?"
"Why are you in my classroom?"
"I was invited by Von Riegan. He believes it would serve me to be more accustomed to the students in the academy."
"...I see." Manuela nodded and sighed "Claude...please refrain from inviting the staff to sit in on lessons in the future."
"Sure, Miss." Claude nodded, although he still kept a smile on his face.
"Mr Goetia?" Manuela turned to the tanned man "I assume you have been given leave by Tomas?"
"I have." Goetia nodded.
"In that case, feel free to sit in for the rest of the day, or until you are called away." She sighed "With that out of that way, we'll move onto our schedule for today. In light of our recent mock battle, and in preparation for this Months assigned mission, we'll be looking into training in our weapon combat for those who pursue such things, for Lysithea, you'll be continuing training in offensive magic and Marianne will be continuing her light magic studies into healing."
"What is our mission for this Month anyway, Professor?" A Ignatz raised his hand and asked.
"The village of Riverside just Kingdom Territory has issued a notice of help to the Church of Seiros. It seems as though wild Demonic Beasts have been encroaching on the town for the last few days. They've requested assistance to see them off."
"Y-you're sending us against demonic beasts?" The boy paled as Manuela nodded.
"Yes, I believe the Black Eagles are dealing with a supply escort and the Blue Lions are chasing down bandits. So that should provide you some comfort that this mission is no more or less dangerous than theirs."
It did nothing to sate the boys nerves, or any of the others. Except Leonie, who looked oddly determined.
Goetia himself was more curious, he'd heard passing stories of the 'Demonic Beasts' yet he had never seen or encountered one. Their descriptions changed from a large wolf, a giant vulture and a huge reptile. Goetia assumed this was more of a vague classification. He also doubted they were actual demons.
But he would need to encounter one.
This provided an opportunity. He raised his lone arm, Manuela turned to him with a curious expression "Yes, Mr Goetia?"
"Would I be able to accompany you on this voyage?"
Claude's head snapped to him in surprise, as did Lysithea's and everyone else's in the room.
"You...want to accompany us on a Demonic Beast hunt?" Manuela asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes."
"May I ask why?"
"I have never encountered one before, I was simply curious as to their appearance." He answered like it was obvious.
"You've never seen one before...so you want to go see one?"
"Yes."
"Are you...capable of defending yourself?"
"I am sufficient, the young Von Riegan can attest to this."
Manuela turned to him with a questioning gaze, Claude smiled and nodded his head "Its true professor, handled the bandits quite handily, saved my life and all."
"Hmmm…" Manuela hummed "You would need to clear it with Seteth and Tomas, should they agree...I suppose I would have no complaints about allowing you to accompany us."
"I shall go about gaining their permission." Goetia nodded, lowering his hand.
"As I was saying." Manuela cleared her throat "We'll be training for the next week in preparation for the mission." she gestured to the door "If you will accompany me."
"You are with the Golden Deer."
"I am."
Byleth and Goetia stared at eachother while the other students practised on the training ground, evidently the Golden Deer and Blue lions had similar ideas when it came to what times would be training.
Both Byleth and Manuela had agreed it would be a good opportunity for the students to train with eachother.
In theory.
The reality was that Dimitri and Felix had been dominating their respective fields.
Although Goetia would admit he was surprised to see how equally matched Dedue and Raphael were in combat, both forgoing weapons and throwing punches at eachother.
Marianne and Mercedes at the side of the training area, healing the bruises of the injured students.
"They are not as ineffective as I had feared." Goetia commented "One or two would qualify as soldiers, the rest are…"
"They need work." Byleth finished "Why are you here?"
"Von Riegan brought me along." Goetia commented "He felt it necessary for me to be more...included in the events of the Monastery."
"I'll say." Sothis commented as she floated around his head "You've been cooped up with those books for nearly two weeks. If it weren't for the fact that we visited, you'd never talk to anyone."
"I believe it was only Byleth who visited, you seemed content to avoid conversation with me entirely."
"I was asleep." Sothis huffed "Besides, I did not consider you trustworthy."
"You still do not."
"No, but hiding from you would be pointless now." She sighed "You are already aware of my presence."
"True." Goetia nodded, then looked back at the students, he raised an eyebrow at the red haired boy sparing with Hilda.
Evidently he said something strange, as the blonde haired girl who had come in with the Blue lions abandoned her own duel with Ignatz to strike him in the back with her training spear.
"Effective." Byleth and Goetia commented at the same time.
"I think the words you are looking for are 'cheap shot'." Sothis smirked "Hardly a sporting move."
"It worked, what does it matter." Goetia shrugged, then looked over to Marianne and Mercedes healing the minor injuries of Claude. Dimitri having challenged him to a spar...and soundly defeating the boy.
"What mission are the Golden Deers completing?" Byleth asked, Goetia spared her a sideways glance before he turned back to the group.
"Demonic Beasts have been sighted at a small village. They are being dispatched to either kill them or chase them away."
"They are sending children to fight monsters?" Sothis interjected, looking very disturbed "I was hesitant when I heard that the Blue lions would be facing bandits, but to send children against such creatures."
"Whether or not the beasts are superior to the children is irrelevant. I shall be accompanying them." Goetia stated, much to the surprise of Sothis and Byleth.
"You are?" The green haired Goddess blinked in surprise "Whatever for?"
"I have not seen a 'Demonic Beast' and was curious."
"Not for the safety of the children then." Sothis narrowed her eyes, Goetia turned to her with a raised eyebrow.
"I am confident that Professor Manuela can ensure the safety of the students and I am confident in Lysithea's abilities." He turned back to the training "Regardless, I doubt the Church would risk the safety of the students if it were of any significant danger."
"Have you read up on Demonic Beasts?" Byleth asked, Goetia shook his head.
"I have heard stories of them in passing, however I have yet to have the opportunity to educate myself on their nature. One can only learn so much from books before a more direct approach is required."
"Teacher!"
"Hm?" Goetia turned to see Lysithea waving at him, he looked back to Byleth and Sothis "Excuse me." then walked over to his pupil, the girl holding up a piece of paper as he approached "You called for me?"
"Yes!" Lysithea said, grinning the whole time "I did it!"
"Did what?" Lysithea thrust the paper towards him, he looked down and recognised the Ansuz rune. Having been inscribed at a near perfect replication.
"I see." Goetia nodded "You have done so from memory?"
"Yes." She beamed, the tanned man handed the paper back to her.
"Activate the Rune. Command it to be a rapid burn but not explosive."
"Right." She closed her eyes as she held the paper, Goetia watched as she scrunched her face up in concentration for a few moments "Ansuz!"
Then slapped her arm upwards, the paper being launched into the air as it exploded.
Rather violently.
The entire training hall ground to halt. Lysithea grimaced and looked down as the eyes of over thirty students and two teachers fell on her. Goetia remained blank faced as he looked down from the cloud of ash in the sky, leftover from the explosion, to the albino girl.
"Perhaps...we shall continue to work on your activation…" Lysithea said nothing, still burning with embarrassment. Goetia looked her over "You are uninjured?"
She nodded her head "In that case, we are fortunate you attempted this now, rather than in private. In the mean time...perhaps you should continue with more...traditional...craft."
"Yes, Teacher." She turned away, Goetia watched as she walked to the far end of the training ground and began to cast a Miasma spell. Quite well.
"That was...explosive." Manuela commented as she walked up next to him.
"It was unexpected." Goetia commented "The fact she had even managed to cast the Rune is an achievement in itself."
"Oh? I suppose then she has cause to be happy then." Manuela smiled, Goetia sent her a strange look.
"Her hand almost exploded." He stated "In the grand scheme of things...this was a success…" he frowned "However her progress is rapid...Hmm…" he hummed in thought and shook his head "I will look into this further."
"Oh?" Manuela raise an eyebrow "Are you upset she is learning quickly? Afraid you'll run out of things to teach her?" she teased, Goetia turned to her with a raised eyebrow.
"It will take years for her to become adequate in runecraft." He replied "While her progress is more expedient than I was expecting, she will not attain mastery, even at her current pace, for many years to come."
"...Huh." Manuela shrugged "I guess you'll have a student for a while then…" she then looked around "I don't suppose I could convince you to train, could I?"
"For what purpose?"
"Well...If you are to come along on our little mission. I would like to make sure you can at least cast a few spells to protect yourself and the students."
"I see." Goetia nodded "You wish to understand my capabilities and ensure I meet a basic level of satisfaction."
"...I just want to see if you can make a big fire ball." She sighed "Please don't start talking to me in dictionary, Hanneman does than enough as it is."
"I will attempt to lower my vocabulary capacity to better suit our future conversations." Goetia replied in a monotone voice, Manuela narrowed her eyes at him in an accusatory manner.
"Are you making fun of me?"
"I am merely taking your wish under advisement." He replied as he looked on at the practising students "Any offence you perceive is merely your own imagination." a complete lie that they both saw through, he didn't want to lower himself to using simpler words because the woman was less intelligent, her apparent partiality to alcohol had already soured his opinion of her.
"Cast your fancy magic then, Mr Bookworm." Manuela muttered under her breath, Goetia withheld a sigh and looked on at the nearest training dummy, currently being struck by blonde haired girl.
"Girl with the blonde hair." Goetia called out, the room briefly silenced itself at his shout and the girl turned around and blinked in surprise at being called out, her eyes fell on Goetia and she pointed at herself to confirm. He nodded once.
"My name is Ingrid." She called back.
"Young Ingrid. Please stand at least five metres away from the practice target within the next twenty seconds."
"...Alright." She frowned but stepped away from the dummy, when she was far enough away Goetia raised his left arm towards the dummy.
He opened up his palm then swiftly turned his wrist and snapped his hand into a fist, within several seconds the target was engulfed in a bright light before it burst into flames.
The students stared at the display with mild interest before most just shrugged their shoulders and went back to training, save Ingrid who stared at the burning target with mild annoyance at being forced to find another one to practice on.
Satisfied, Goetia turned back to Manuela "Does that satiated your curiosity?"
"...Fine." Manuela sighed "At least you won't be defenceless." she looked over the burning dummy and then back to Goetia with a slightly amused expression "You are aware you will have to pay the Church for the damages, right?"
"Hardly a concern." Goetia brushed her off and turned back around, with a wave of his hands, the fire extinguished itself and the practice target seemed to repair itself to pristine condition. He turned back to Manuela to see her now staring at the target with a slightly more shocked expression.
"...Well then…" She mumbled under her breath before looking Goetia up and down "Don't suppose you could teach me to do that? It would make tidying my room easier."
"Are you capable of spending the next several years working under my tutelage?"
"...On second thought I prefer my organised mess."
The unsurprised look she received from Goetia in response confirmed in her mind that he was expecting her to say that, which did slightly irritate her.
Omake: Potions...They're...versatile.
"You have little faith in this, Assistant Seteth." Goetia spoke as he continued to work on his alchemic potions "They will work perfectly well."
"Please do not refer to me as your assistant." Seteth grumbled "You barged into my office in the early hours of the morning, told me you needed aid in a project and then dragged me down to your quarters where I now find…" he gestured around the room with disapproval at the cups and bowls full of multicoloured liquids "What I can only assume to be some form of alchemy."
"You are correct in basic terms." Goetia replied "And you are best suited and most available to this task. I doubt the Archbishop would be as amenable in being a research assistant and you would likely disapprove of Flayn being used in such a manner."
"I would." Seteth replied immediately then narrowed his eyes "Is there a reason you have only chosen to list myself, Rhea and Flayn."
"You are more durable in case of accidental combustion." Goetia replied immediately, which caused Seteth's eyes to widen in alarm.
"What do you mean 'Accidental combustion'!?"
"I believe it was self explanatory." Goetia looked at him in confusion "I am working which possibly volatile components." he turned back to his work "Although the chances of that occurring are slim."
Seteth scowled before he looked over the potions and allowed his curiosity to win him over "What are you even creating anyway?"
"I am working on a more potent version of a vulunerary" Goetia replied "If my efforts prove successful, this will heal wounds with greater efficiency." Seteth blinked in surprise as he looked over the small bottle.
"Truly?" Seteth now looked far more intrigued "But it is much smaller than a standard vulunerary."
"Improving upon the basic potion was simple." Goetia scoffed "It will be more impressive when it can heal broken bones correctly in an instant."
"I will admit I am...Impressed." Seteth nodded his head as he looked over the finished works, then another bottle caught his eye "What was this one?"
"Hmm?" Goetia looked over to what Seteth was holding and cringed slightly "That was...was a product of my inebriation."
"You made this when you were drunk?" Seteth looked back at Goetia "Why?"
"I was in a state of...morbid fascination and decided to take reference from a mage I had heard of in the past."
"Oh?" Seteth raised an eyebrow "What does it do? I can't read the label."
"It is in Hebrew." Goetia replied "It means opposite. I created in after one of the Wizards more...famous...potions." he scowled "An act of drunken stupidity and nothing more."
"What was the Wizards name?"
"Merlin." Goetia sighed.
"Why is it empty?"
"What?" Goetia turned around and sure enough, the bottle was empty. The tanned man frowned and walked forwards, then looked at a similar bottle, that was still full, on the shelf where Seteth had picked it up "I see...That would explain why Professor Manuela's hangover remedy is still full. It appears when I told her to retrieve it she mixed up the bottles."
Seteth frowned "It's not harmful is it?"
"Not physically." Goetia replied, then frowned "Although...She will likely be in a state of panic when she awakens."
"...Why?"
"The potion was designed to swap the genitalia for the recipient." Goetia elaborated "Hence the translation of 'opposite.'"
Seteth and Goetia fell into a silence as they digested the news before the green haired man spoke up again "How quickly can you create a cure?"
"I'll work on it immediately."
AN: Yo!
Got another Chapter...
Also, next chapter will have a Question and answer.
So...Ask your questions...I'll answer them.
Also...Dick Wizard Goetia!