After Sensei finished her meeting with Seteth, Lysithea had been more than ready to give the Witch a tour of the Monastery. However Marisa decided to take the lead and have them eat lunch first. Not a normal lunch of course. Marisa was a force of nature and a bit of a social bug, so it was no surprise that she found and introduced Alice and Sensei to pretty much everyone they both knew. That included everyone they knew from the Main Classes of all Three Houses. That was how they found themselves in the Mess Hall for lunch joined by a good number of their classmates.

Even Bernadetta oddly enough. How did Marisa get her to come here and not hide under the table?

"You better get me that hidey amulet soon," Bernedetta hissed nervously at Marisa.

Ah that explained it.

"Did you really have to make such a big deal about us Marisa?" Alice asked, though her voice was resigned rather than annoyed. "Patchy and I aren't planning to be here long."

"Well I wanted you guys to meet Lys and my classmates," Marisa explained. "Also I tried inviting the Black Eagles because I thought it'd be funny."

"At least she admits it," Lindhart, who had been followed by Caspar, commented.

"I don't mind," Claude, who had been followed by Hilda, who then dragged Marianne with her, who then picked up Lorenz along the way, said. "It's a great idea to get all Three Houses involved. Improve inter-house relations and greet our new guests from afar."

"That is actually quite worrying coming from you," Lysithea commented.

Alice sighed before standing up in front of them and doing a proper curtsy for them, her dolls copying her action. "I am Alice Margatoid. The Seven-Colored Puppeteer. Pleasure to meet you and I apologize for Marisa for any previous and future trouble she'll create."

"Ah c'mon Alice I'm not that bad," Marisa said.

"Are you not banned from the kitchens?" Lorenz asked.

"Semantics."

Annette raised her hand. She and Mercedes of course came as a pair. "Seven-Colored? What does that mean?"

"Many things," Alice explained politely. "A mastery of all the elements unlike a certain human playing Magician for one."

"Hey I can use all the elements," Marisa replied. "I just choose not to."

"Why the distinction?" Edelgard, who was at the table next to them, asked. "We're all human."

Sensei, who hadn't deemed it necessary to stand up and introduce herself to the crowd, turned to Lysithea and then Marisa. "You two never told them what a Magician or Witch was?"

"… I honestly thought Lys already did," Marisa admitted. "I mean she does talk about you a lot."

Everyone nearby who could hear and was curious about that topic immediately turned toward Lysithea.

"Well Witches aren't really a thing in Fodlan and might not be as accepted here unlike Gensokyo," Lysithea explained. "So I thought it wasn't really necessary-"

"I didn't teach you to make excuses," Sensei interrupted her, her face stern. "What's the real reason?"

Lysithea went silent.

"Fine. I'll explain things for you then." Sensei remained seated as she addressed everyone there. "True Magicians or Witches are beings of magic themselves. Unlike a human that relies only on the mana and life energy of their own bodies, Magicians harness the ambient mana of the land itself to sustain themselves. That is what Alice and I are."

"And how does that make you different from humans?" Lindhart was now wide awake and even taking notes.

"We're ageless. Our magic sustains us. We don't need to eat or sleep unless we are low on mana in an emergency." Sensei glanced at Alice. "Though some still do it for pleasure, it's simply no longer a necessity for us. Because of that we can focus on our passions. Even our physical bodies are malleable, allowing us to change appearance, age, and even gender if we had a use for it and wanted to put in the effort."

"So that explains why you look so young even though you're supposedly like a century old," Hilda commented. "I mean you got the eye bags and your skin is kinda dry and pallid but you look good for an oldie."

"So wait, you girls can become dudes?" Caspar asked.

"It's an option. But I was born, raised, and accept my identity as a woman. I'm not sure about Alice," Sensei replied.

"I was born a human girl, so I prefer to stay a girl even as a Witch," Alice admitted.

"So you were born a human but became a Witch?" Lindhart was the first to latch onto what Alice had said.

"Yes," Alice confirmed.

"A Magician or Witch is either naturally born from other Magicians or became one through the correct rituals and a high mastery of magic," Sensei explained. "The latter though is a long and arduous process for most humans that seek it, very few ever reach the potential to do so in their lifetimes and those that do often achieve well into their lifespan. Every human that did achieve it though had to and continues to devote their lives in the pursuit of magic. I find those Witches… admirable."

"So people can become Magicians if they're like super good and really devoted to magic. That kinda sounds like Lysith…e…a," Annette looked at Lysithea with wide eyes. "When you said you were her student, did you also mean you were going to become like her?"

Well, time to shoot the bullet. "Yes," Lysithea admitted. "My goal is to focus entirely on my studies after I graduate and become a Witch."

The reactions she got were varied. Some nearby students gave her wide eyes, others began to gossip among themselves, and there was Edelgard who was… giving her a strange look. Not disapproving… but conflicted.

There was a period of brief silence that was then interrupted by Claude.

"Are you just doing this so you can make yourself taller?"

Lysithea threw a fireball at him that he quickly dodged, not that he really had to. She didn't really put much effort into that spell. "There are many reasons why becoming a Witch is desirable to me."

"Would the whole never growing old be one of them?" Hilda asked. "Cause granted I don't know what I'd do living so long, but I'd definitely like to stay pretty my entire life."

"Those that aim to become Witches primarily for aesthetic reasons are doomed to failure," Sensei began lecturing. "As I said it is a path taken by those who fully devote their lives to magic."

"So does that mean you're also going to become a Witch, Marisa?" Annette asked.

"Nah," Marisa replied casually. "Team human for the win. If it does happen it'll be on my deathbed or a freak accident."

Sensei glared at her. "That's the excuse you've been giving us for years ever since you fulfilled all the necessary requirements. All you need to do is perform the rituals at this point. Why don't you take that final step?"

Marisa glanced at Lysithea before giving Sensei her answer. "I can always become a Witch. I can only be human once."

Now there was a glint of something… approving in Edelgard's eyes, only now it was directed at Marisa.

That wasn't enough for Sensei though. "You're either going to die in a less than a century or kill yourself in a higher level experiment because your fragile human body couldn't handle it. All that knowledge and effort will be-"

Alice put a hand on Sensei's shoulder and interrupted the Elder Witch. "Don't. Marisa and I have had this argument before. It's not worth fighting over."

Sensei growled before breaking out into another coughing fit. It didn't take long for Koakuma to immediately hand her a cup of herbal tea to drink. After she quenched her throat, the Witch spit into a napkin, a good portion of it coming out red.

"Oh crap!" Caspar shouted as he jumped out and made his way to Sensei. "We need to get you to the infirm-" he stopped once he found his way stopped by a cute floating doll.

"I'm *Cough* fine," Sensei waved the boy off. "The trip here was rough on me. I just need some time to rest."

"Is a Witch's constitution normally this weak?" Lindhart asked bluntly as his eyes zeroed in on Lysithea.

"Witches can often be physically frail," Alice admitted. "Not because of their natural constitution but rather their long periods of study often include a lack of exercise. That along with the years if not decades spent on experiments working with dangerous materials in often inhospitable environments has its toll, no matter how many precautions one can take."

"Basically imagine the experiments Lys and I do, but being done in a cramped room," Marisa explained. "No need for food or sleep stopping you, just endless experiments with dangerous reagents for months if not years. That's what Patchy was like before she got a couple of minders to stop her from overexerting herself."

Sensei coughed and covered her mouth, a light blush of her cheeks. "Yes. The follies of my youth. I will admit to the mistakes that led my body to this condition."

Alice shook her head. "Needless to say the rest of us are doing our best to not end up like Patchy. Or at least Lys and I are. Still quite certain Marisa will blow herself up one day."

Like that the conversation continued, or rather the four magic users carried it as was the norm when you put the four of them together. There was simply too much discuss and never enough time.

"Are you sure you want to observe my class?" Lysithea asked her Sensei as the Golden Deer made their way to their classroom. "You can always spend time in the library."

Sensei coughed. "Later. I wish to observe your lessons."

"Okay… then," Lysithea replied as she stepped into the classroom. She quickly greeted and introduced Sensei to the Professor. "Professor, this is Sensei. She wishes to observe the class."

The Professor looked at Sensei with his normal stony expression, though there was something in his eyes that looked… calculating. "You taught Lysithea magic?"

"Yes," Sensei replied curtly.

"Could you teach me a few spells?"

"No. I'm only willing to teach those willing to devote their entire lives to magic."

"What if I gave you something in exchange?"

"I don't imagine you'll have anything I want."

The Professor nodded. "For now. We'll see." He gestured to a chair at the front of the classroom that had set off to the side. "You can take a seat over there to observe. Any observations or comments you are willing to give the class would be appreciated."

"We'll see," Sensei replied as she took a seat.

Lysithea did the same and class would begin. She did her best to listen… but well she was a bit distracted by how Sensei was just staring at all of them.

"Lysithea. Please recite the next verse."

Lysithea immediately jumped up in her seat. "Sorry. Professor, say that again?"

"Please read for us."

"Oh um…" Lysithea looked down at her textbook. "Where were we again?"

"Page 294, paragraph two, line 6," Sensei recited. The woman looked at Lysithea sternly. "Why are you letting yourself get distracted? Shouldn't you respect your… Professor enough to pay attention?"

"Eep. Yes. Sorry Sensei," Lysithea bowed her head to her Sensei and began reading through the text. She was able to do so without stuttering despite the crimson blush on her face.

"… Patchouli. Do you wish to assist or hold a seminar at a later date?" The Professor asked.

Sensei raised an eye. "Isn't it your responsibility to teach this class… Professor Eisner?"

Professor nodded. "It is my responsibility. A seminar led by someone with different experiences, knowledge, and perspectives will be useful to my students."

Sensei glanced at Lysithea. "I'll consider it."

The Professor continued the lecture and thankfully the rest of that class remained uneventful. Sadly everyone in the Golden Deer wanted to stick around even when classes ended.

"So Miss Knowledge… What do you like to do for fun?" Hilda asked Sensei.

"I read and research," Sensei replied. "Speaking of. Lysithea."

"Yes Sensei?" Lysithea replied quickly.

"There's a library that you wished to show me?"

Lysithea nodded. "There is."

"So Miss Library is about to bring Miss Knowledge to her den," Claude teased.

Lysithea was ready to throttle the house leader when Sensei turned to address him.

"Miss Library?" Sensei asked.

"Just a little nickname Lys got from the students here. The library is practically hers with how much she reads and takes care of it," Claude explained.

"Hmm." Sensei turned to Lysithea. "That's good. I expect as much from my student, but good. All literature should be treasured."

"Um thanks," Lysithea muttered as she looked at the ground with a lighter blush on her face. It was one thing to be praised by her Sensei in private but in front of all her classmates?

"It's not like you to be so nervous," Sensei commented.

"It's just weird to have you here with everyone," Lysithea admitted. "I'm still adjusting."

Sensei's face softened and she patted Lysithea on the shoulder. "Just be yourself." She smirked. "It'd be a bit pointless for me to observe if you being nervous messes with the results."

"She's right Lys," Claude teased. "Need to loosen up a little. The stress will stunt your growth."

"Oh screw off Claude," Lysithea groaned.

"Excuse me," Ignatz finally decided to speak to Sensei. "Your clothing and that hat… how did you decide on that color palette."

"Yea. I've been meaning to ask," Hilda commented. "Your fashion is different… not bad but definitely not something you'd ever get in Fodlan."

"I don't pay much attention to fashion," Sensei admitted. "It's practical, comfortable, and says what needs to be said about my magical prowess. It also just happened to match the aesthetic of Gensokyo so I never had a need to change it."

"Does that include the headwear? Cause I noticed all four of you girls-"

"Yes Hilda. Hats, ribbons, headbands, and other headwear are highly in fashion in Gensokyo," Lysithea confirmed. "It's rarer to find someone without anything on their head there,"

"Well that explains your ribbon. And your pajamas, but yea. Miss Patchouli, since you're here, maybe we could dress you up."

"No."

"But you just said you haven't changed your style in decades. Wouldn't it be good to mix it up a little?"

"No."

"You're a rather curt individual, when you aren't lecturing on your interests," Lorenz commented.

"My time is valuable, it is not to be wasted. That especially applies to my student," Sensei replied as she stood up. "Please take me to the library now, Lysithea."

"Of course Sensei."

Alice stood next to the local pond that she used as a backdrop for her performance. Her dolls moved, some on invisible strings and others with preset commands, as they performed a rendition of one of Fodlan's stories. That she had gotten from one of many Lysithea had brought back to Gensokyo over the years for her fellow Magicians to read.

An interesting girl. Headstrong, impatient, and quick to anger but respectful to those who treated her with respect. It was easy to figure her out and get into a comfortable and predictable relationship with. Much different from Marisa who might as well be chaos incarnate.

Alice continued performing to a gradually growing audience. Some were students that attended the faculty, others the faculty, and a few people who happened to be visiting the Monastery at the time. Each of these people were easily discernible by their posture and the clothes she wore. If there was one thing that Alice had, then it was her eye for finer details.

She finished her performance and bowed to a cheering crowd. Eventually they departed though one man still stayed.

"What a wonderful show!" the ostentatiously dressed man praised Alice. "Have you ever thought of performing at a Theater?"

"Not a professional performance, no," Alice admitted. "This is a hobby of mine. Something relaxing that helps me to maintain and develop my fine motor skills."

"You would certainly do well on the stage though. Especially with your appearance, you are like a doll yourself."

It was not the first time Alice had been described, so she didn't see anything strange about that complement. "I'm sure I would but I have no desire to do so. Thank you for watching your performance and have a nice day."

"Ah wait. Perhaps I could hire you then. To perform at my manor?"

"I do not seek employment. I don't need money."

"What do you need then? I'm sure I could provide it." The man reached forward aiming for Alice's arm.

He would've never touched her, one of her dolls or her strings would've stopped him, but her input was not necessary. Rather it was the interference of a tall long haired girl with a hat that stopped him.

"Miss Margatroid!" the girl gasped as she ran in between them, barring the man's path. "There's an emergency involving one of your friends!"

Alice, ever the performer, put on a face of someone who was truly concerned for their companions. "What happened? Is Marisa hurt?"

"We don't know! I was just told to get you!"

"Then let us depart." Alice bowed lightly to the man. "I'm sorry but we must talk at another time."

Hopefully never.

They quickly left the scene and made some distance until they were far away from the man's presence. It was only then that Alice dropped her act. "Thank you for that. Certainly much less trouble than chopping his hand off."

"Oh. I'm sure I barely helped. I know you could handle yourself but I saw that noble try to take advantage of you and I just…" the woman adjusted the hat on her head. "I'm Dorothea. I didn't quite have the chance to introduce myself in the Mess Hall."

"It's nice to meet you Dorothea," Alice replied as Shanghai floated up to the woman.

"Oh aren't you the cutest thing," Dorothea said as used her fingers to gently shake the hand the puppet offered her.

"Her name is Shanghai."

"Well it's nice to meet you Shanghai." Dorothea began to gently brush the doll's hair with a finger. "Are you controlling or is she-"

"All my dolls are controlled by me. Whether manually or with preset commands," Alice commented. "Still they are my beloved creations and… maybe one day I'll create a truly sentient doll."

"To create life from a doll with magic? You certainly don't think small Miss Margatroid."

"Alice please."

"Of course Alice. You know, you are not quite what I expected."

Alice raised an eye. "What did you expect from me?"

"Oh nothing that needs to be said," Dorothea waved it off. "What I should be talking about was your performance back there. The choreography was excellent and the way you moved the dolls was absolutely magical."

"Thank you. Your performance back there was impeccable too."

"Ah well. Skills I learned from the trade." Dorothea straightened out her outfit. "I was a Songstress you see and a bit of an actor on the side."

"Perhaps one day I could hear you sing then."

Dorothea smirked. "Perhaps you will. Tell me, do you enjoy tea?"

"I do."

Flayn followed Marisa as the younger, much younger despite appearances, girl led her to a quiet place where they could have a peaceful picnic. It had actually been a request of Flayn's to go on a picnic with a friend away from her fa- brother's gaze and Marisa had been more than happy to oblige.

It was almost strange how quickly Marisa inserted herself into Flayn's life. It hadn't taken long until she had become someone dear to her. Not in a romantic sense of course, Flayn simply wasn't interested in women in that way. And she knew that for certain because she had experimented a little back in her youth, something Ci- Seteth would never be allowed to know of.

So no. Not romantic. But rather a platonic love of close friends. Or perhaps sisters? Marisa would have certainly made for a wonderful sister.

"Well here we are!" Marisa exclaimed as they arrived at a nice, secluded clearing. There were lots of spots of shade but also circles of sunlight for whichever you needed. "Found this place while I was flying around."

"Why didn't you fly us here?" Flayn asked.

"When you go on a picnic you gotta hike! Make yourself work for it so that the reward is even sweeter!"

"Oh what a peculiar way of thinking. I'm certainly willing to try," Flayn replied as she moved to help prepare their picnic. Together they would lay out a large towel for them to sit, an umbrella for additional shade and decoration, and most importantly of all a basket filled with sweet treats.

While they sat and ate they had a pleasant stream of conversation. Marisa regaled her with stories of Gensokyo, while Flayn provided what stories she could. Despite her age, there were surprisingly few Flayn could speak of; many of them had to be partially obscured. As much as she found herself stifled under her father's gaze, Flayn wasn't going to go that far to disobey him… yet.

He did out of a genuine worry for their safety after all.

"Ah perhaps one day I could go to Gensokyo too," Flayn said after an amusing story from Marisa about a war among fairies. If it could be called a war. Flayn had experienced the horrors of true war after all, and those quant events in Gensokyo sounded like anything but a way.

"Maybe after Lys and I graduate we can take you with us," Marisa suggested. "If we can get your brother to agree."

"That… would be difficult," Flayn admitted.

"What's the deal with you and him?"

"… We've lost family in the past," Flayn admitted as she carefully considered her words. "He cares about that few of us that remain, as do I. But that can lead him to be-"

"Crazy obsessive and overprotective?" Marisa replied.

Flayn nodded.

"Yea figured," Marisa ate another cookie. "Like he's a bit strict and all… but he's surprisingly flexible and reasonable with the students including me. Only gets real crazy when it involves you."

"I just wish he wouldn't," Flayn sighed. "I'm a young woman now. Just as he and mother left their nest to meet each other, so to must I someday."

Marisa nodded as she took a sip of tea to wash down her cookie. Flayn copied the action in turn, enjoying the cookies that Marisa had made for them. She of course didn't question the ingredients that the young girl used to make these. Ignorance was bliss and these cookies tasted good no matter what they were made with.

"Seteth sounds like a decent dude," Marisa commented as she wiped her mouth clean. "You got a better dad than mine at least."

"Do you not get along with you fa-…." Flayn's eyes grew into saucers before she quickly covered her mouth with her hands.

Ooooooh nooooo.

"Figured it was something like that," Marisa replied as she offered Flayn another cookie. "I won't tell anyone."

"Please don't," Flayn squeaked before she grabbed and quickly munched on the cookie. "Father and I have kept our true relation obscured for a reason."

"Alright I won't force anything out of you. Just feel free to talk to me about anything," Marisa said before digging through her hat. "On another topic, wanna see something cool Patchy got me as a gift?"

"I would," Flayn replied, very grateful for the reprieve.

"Well look at this stone!" Marisa exclaimed as she presented an absolutely gorgeous cream-colored and bright stone that shone in the sunlight. It was almost like looking at the sun itself.

"It's beautiful!" Flayn squealed as she gently reached for the stone. Marisa let her hold it and… oh my it was even better to feel in her hands. There was something almost mesmerizing about this stone that she now held in her hand. She knew that she was going to be very reluctant when she would have to return it to its owner.

Marisa smirked. "Yea not too sure what it is and honestly kinda surprised that Patchy got me anything. Still pretty cool though."

"It is," Flayn whispered and shivered a little.

"You're looking a bit tense there," Marisa commented.

Flayn sighed as she put the stone on her lap. "Perhaps I am."

"Then why don't you let it out. Sometimes I just go off elsewhere to scream my lungs out. No one else here except the two of us."

"Raphael was teaching me battle cries!"

"Really?" Marisa asked. "Let's go then. Let all your frustration and anger out!"

Flayn did just that, allowing her voice to express everything she had kept pent up while in the Monastery.

"Wraagh! Urraaaaaah!"

"Cmon you can do better than that!" Marisa shouted in encouragement.

"WhooUUUuugh! HurrghAAAaaah!"

"Yes like that!"

"UrhaaaaaaROAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!"

"Woah!? What the!?"

"ROOOOOOOOAAAAWWWRR"

"Holy fu-"

Flayn looked down and finally realized how tiny Marisa was all of a sudden. She had thought that Marisa had shrunk only to realize that everything else around her had also gotten smaller. Flayn was… much taller now. And her hands were claws covered with a layer of white feathers that spread throughout her entire body. This was actually kind of familiar, in fact it had been decades since…

Oh... Uh oh.

She finally noticed the bright glow of the gemstone that Marisa had given her, the same stone that had apparently ignited her latent power once more. Which would've been fine and all except she transformed in front of-

"You know, I had a hunch you weren't human," Marisa commented.

"Um…" Flayn's voice came out much the same despite the form she had taken. "I can explain."

A/N

Was kinda disappointed by the lack of Manakete units despite the prevalence of dragons in Three Houses… so here ya go. Imagine Flayn as a very fluffy white dragon that's a tad bit more chunky than lithe.