Byleth and the Black Eagles went to the dining hall after they finished their training. Edelgard insisted that they go together, and so that meant waiting for Ferdinand who kept insisting on more time to spar with Jeritza, and Linhardt who'd fallen asleep and who'd taken a while to stir. When they walked, Byleth had to walk at the back of the group, so that Bernadetta could always walk some ten feet in front of him. All these things meant that they were once again late to the dining hall, and that meant there weren't seats for them to sit together. Bernadetta (who wouldn't have sat near Byleth anyway), ate with Petra and Dorothea. Edelgard found another opening for three people. Ferdinand took the first seat. Edelgard sat down beside him, inviting Byleth to join her, only for Hubert (as he'd done the week before) to quickly claim the final seat. Byleth eventually sat with Linhardt, who quickly wolfed down a sandwich and then left, saying that he was exhausted. The other Black Eagles left soon after and soon Byleth was on his own. Shortly before he left himself, however, Hanneman went to his table. The older man spoke in a low voice.

'Just to let you know, I have yet to determine what crest you have. It is proving to be a tough one, but once I find out more I will let you know.'

Byleth supposed it was a big thing that he had a rare crest, yet in that moment he found himself not caring in the slightest. He finished his food and then left himself.

He trudged alone along the bank of the pond. It was dark, and the moon's illumination cast long shadows over him. He then turned right along the cobbled street that his room was on. He yawned and rubbed his eyes. He needed to plan how he was going to spend his final day with his students before the mock battle, yet he knew he needed to slee-

'Eek!'

Byleth jumped. He looked up. In the darkness, he saw someone some ten feet ahead of him clawing at a door, as if trying to flee from him. He squinted his eyes, and then recognised who it was.

'D-don't come any closer,' Bernadetta mewled. 'I c-can't o-open m-my d-d-door.'

Her voice was choked, and he could her breath in short, strangled gasps. He raised a hand. 'I won't, I prom'-

'Got it,' she said, jerking the door open and throwing herself inside. She slammed the door behind her. A few other doors opened briefly as other students poked their heads out to see what'd happened. Most closed them again the moment they saw him. Byleth rubbed his eyes again and continued up the path. After a few moments, Bernadetta's door opened behind him.

'C-can I please, please not take part in the mock battle? I-I don't feel great and I don't want to be near you until I-I know you're better.'

Her voice was desperate and it reminded him of the girl he'd helped as a boy in Enbarr, the one who'd fallen and had bloodied her nose, a far cry from the woman he'd seen firing arrows earlier in the training ground.

'I promise you I'm better. You have nothing to fear in me.'

Bernadetta shook her head. 'Tell me m-more about your illness.'

Byleth paused. 'I… I had a bad reaction to healing magi'-

Bernadetta's head thrashed from side to side. 'There's n-no such thing! You're lying! You have s-something bad and you w-won't say what it is! P-Please, please, please can I skip the'-

Her voice broke off in a whine and she continued to breathe in short, disjointed gasps.

'Please, you'-

'I-I d-don't want to fight!'

'Berna'-

The girl darted into her room and slammed the door behind her.