Byleth watched as more spectators filled around the training ground. He spotted some of the Knights of Serios among them, the two women who'd introduced themselves as Catherine and Shamir.

The sun shone in the sky, brightening up the cobbled ground. A duelling ring was marked by black lines at the centre, and he and the "main" students sat around it, mostly sitting close to those in the same house. He himself was sat beside Linhardt and Edelgard.

'Is this really necessary?' Linhardt muttered. 'Even taking away my selfish reasoning, could this not lead to injury?'

'Nah, it's fine,' Caspar said.

'Of course you'd say that.'

'But all you're doing is just trying to knock your opponent out of the ring, it's not much. Besides, the mages will heal any injuries picked up. Just be glad you're not taking part.'

'Good point.'

'I do see it as a waste of time,' Hubert said.

'Agreed,' Edelgard said, 'though it will be fascinating to see just how skilled some of our opponents next week will be.'

'I'm looking forward to it,' Dorothea said, who held Bernadetta's trembling hand. Her voice lowered. 'Who wouldn't love the opportunity to watch Ferdinand get knocked over.'

'What?'

'I just said that I'm looking forward to lunch after as well!'

On the other side of the ring, Byleth saw Manuela smile at Hilda whilst pointing to the centre of the ring. The girl scowled, rolled her eyes and then rose and moved to the centre of the ring, muttering "a lot of effort" under her breath.

'Okay everyone are we ready to begin the battles?' she shouted.

Everyone in the ground (bar Byleth, Linhardt and Jeritza) gave a cheer.

'Okay,' Hilda said. 'The first battle is Sylvain vs Lorenz!'

The crowd applauded and Lorenz and Sylvain entered the ring with training lances, bowing. Lorenz then lunged to one side and back as if attempting to intimidate his opponent. Sylvain raised his lance, flexing his arms in the direction of the girls watching.

'Don't get injured Sylvain, I mean it,' Dimitri said. Sylvain winked at him.

'Please do get injured Sylvain,' Claude said. In the background more spectators cheered.

'Let's go Lorenz!' Raphael shouted.

'They set this all up to impress the girls they were talking to,' Ingrid said, deflated. 'Idiots.'

'Come forth Sylvain if you dare!' Lorenz said. The girls giggled nearby.

'You're all talk my man,' Sylvain said.

'Are we ready?' Hilda said, taking a step to the side. There was a loud cheer from the crowd.

'Begin!'

Sylvain and Lorenz lunged, swinging their lances. Their weapons came together repeatedly in ear-splitting cracking sounds that vibrated across the ground. The crowd cheered and Byleth heard chants of "Sylvain, Sylvain!" and "Go Blue Lions!" and "Lorenz!" and "No king, no emperor, no surrender!" Sylvain barged Lorenz and the man stumbled backward towards the black line. Sylvain went for the knockout blow but Lorenz grabbed his lance and yanked. They both crashed into each other and fell to the ground outside the circle. The spectators fell silent.

'And the winner is... who is the winner?' Hilda asked.

'Me!' Sylvain and Lorenz said in unison. They looked at each other wide-eyed. 'What? What do you mean you won?'

They stood up.

'I pushed you out Lorenz, I clearly won that.'

'I think you will find that you are mistaken. I pulled you out and you touched the ground first, so I win.'

'No I didn't! Y'-

'Ok we'll call that a draw,' Hilda said. The crowd clapped, drowning out Sylvain and Lorenz's continued bickering.

'They are incredible,' Dorothea said, clapping.

Byleth agreed. Watching them had let Hanneman and Manuela's words sink in. They were young, yet he was sure they would have held their own in the battle in Remire.

'Next up is Felix and Caspar!'

Caspar jumped to his feet. 'Booyah! Bring it on Felix!'

Felix rose and glared at Caspar. 'Chump.'

'Good luck!' Petra said.

'Be careful Caspar,' Edelgard said.

'Don't worry I'll be fine!'

'Good luck Felix!' Mercedes called.

Felix spat, raising his sword. 'I don't need luck, especially against this joker.'

'Oh now he's done it,' Linhardt muttered.

'Hey, what do you mean joker?' Caspar said, his face reddening. 'I'm gonna kick your ass!'

'On my mark! Hilda said. 'Three, tw'-

Caspar catapulted forward. Felix grinned. Caspar brought his axe down. Felix dodged. This time Byleth heard 'For his highness!' from the crowd. Caspar continued to press, shrieking with every swipe. Felix danced around each one. He was like a blur. He rolled behind Caspar and jabbed the wooden pommel into his back. The boy gasped and staggered forward. Before he could recover, Felix lashed out with a kick, sending his opponent sprawling out of bounds.

'And the winner is... Felix of the Blue Lion House!'

'That was too easy,' Felix said, re-joining the Blue Lions.

'Ooh, that looked sore,' Dorothea said.

'The least he deserves for screaming like a buffoon before every strike he made,' Hubert said. 'He's an embarrassment.'

'As poor as Caspar was, Professor, Felix is one of the academy's best sword fighters,' Edelgard said. 'We'll need to be wary of him in the mock battle.'

'Looks like I need to do some training before I can take him,' Capsar said, rubbing his back and sitting down.

'A little bit,' Linhardt said.

'Next! We have the final battle' Hilda said in her best presenter's voice. 'We have Lightning-fast Leonie against Ferocious Ferdinand!'

There was a collective groan amongst the students.

'Sorry, I was trying to shake it up a bit,' she said giggling.

'That is quite the name to live up to,' Ferdinand said, rising to his feet. His chest puffed out. 'I sure hope I can live up to it!'

'Fat-headed Ferdinand would have been a better term,' Hubert said. Dorothea snorted, but Ferdinand was already walking into the circle where Leonie stood stretching.

'I don't believe we have palavered before. It's nice to meet you Leonie. I am looking forward to sparring with you,' Ferdinand said.

'Same to you,' Leonie said, bowing.

'You are a commoner, correct? You've done incredibly well just to be in this academy. You must possess a high level of skill to be here. I look forward to rising to the challenge you offer!'

Leonie's brow furrowed. 'Really? You just had to bring up that, didn't you? You know what, I'm gonna kick your ass.'

Ferdinand's eyes widened. 'I did not mean it in such a way, all I meant was'-

'Three, two, one, go!' Hilda shouted.

Leonie charged forward.

Was Ferdinand put off by Hilda's sudden announcement? Or by Leonie's reaction? Or perhaps Leonie was simply a better fighter than him? Either way, the battle didn't last long. Leonie swarmed him with a relentless onslaught of jabs and swipes. Ferdinand parried a few, but soon he tumbled back and crashed to the ground outside the circle.

'Bravo Ferdinand,' Hubert said. Edelgard slapped a hand to her face.

'Lightning-fast Leonie strikes Ferdinand out with thundering pace!' Hilda cheered, her voice drowned out by the cheers and claps of the crowd.

Ferdinand tried to call for Leonie, but the red-haired woman was already back over at her area high-fiving Rapael, Ignatz and Claude. He turned and trudged over to the Black Eagles.

'Oh my Ferdie, how did a commoner like Leonie manage to make a noble like you fall so easily?' Dorothea asked.

'I did not mean to cause her such distress,' Ferdinand said scratching his head. 'I meant what I said in a good way, and then her and Hilda caught me by surprise.'

'I'm sure you will be doing better next time,' Petra said, smiling.

'Well, not to worry,' Edelgard said. 'It's next week that's important.'

'Alright everyone, the bells will ring for lunch soon,' Manuela said. 'So go and'-

'Wait!' Caspar shouted.

The students and the spectators, all of whom had begun to move, stopped. Caspar strode back into the ring.

'I wish for one more fight!'

There was a pause.

'Sheesh Caspar, you're really craving one aren't ya?' Claude said. 'How about you let your back recover first and then you can maybe talk about another fight.'

Caspar didn't move. 'Trust me, I think you'll like this idea. The person I would like to face is'-

He pointed.

Everyone followed the direction of his finger, their eyes eventually resting on one particular man.

They looked at Byleth.

'My professor!' Caspar said.