Chapter Eight
1.
Leonie is…
…tired.
Unlike her Crested classmates – bar Lysithea – she is at the peak years where waking up at dawn and getting four to six hours of sleep a night just doesn't cut it. It doesn't bring back memories, but she swears she's done this before. Done this for school. Crests might not make morning people, but over the years of observing the few Crest bearing people who interact with villages she frequents, Leonie's noticed they don't need the full amount of shuteye.
She doesn't even want to guess how long Marianne's was without sleep before she crashed.
Leonie holds it together, though. The bits of mania may have her smiling more, finding humor where she shouldn't, but through grit and determination, constantly fighting against the pull to rest, eating lots of snacks to make up for the lost sleep, Leonie hasn't fallen into quick-paced, instinct raring, crazy.
The moment they pass the barrier around the mountain, she almost does.
There are bountiful amounts of Crest strands moving around, but that isn't important because they are so far away from the cause. Leonie doesn't need to switch visions to notice how some of her classmates are picked up. It was always going to happen. Hilda takes a deep breath, shoulders rolling back to loosen. Lorenz cocks his head, absently linking his fingers. Marianne hangs her head with a smile, mouthing a small prayer. Ignatz and Raphael don't stop their conversation, though both take a moment to turn and look at the Monastery.
Lysithea grits her teeth, pain creasing her face. She takes Leonie's quickly offered rag, turning away to hide the coughing up blood.
Claude tenses, stiff as a board. His eyes dart around, dominant hand giving one deep gouge in his other before he realizes he's scratching. Quickly grips a bow and begins maintenance.
All the adults appear fine, having been here before.
No, the Crests aren't what is bothering Leonie as they slip around her. It's all the ambient magic in the air. She sucked in a sharp breath as suddenly, very wide awake, Leonie was no longer powering her wards. There is so much magic in the air, trapped in this bubble around the mountain, around the Monastery, that it requires none of her own energy to direct or feed all the layers on her. Crest threads slide off her like she's nothing. She presses nails into her skin, and yet no marks are left behind as the traces from years of Durability crank up to eleven.
The nerves are crawling in her, Leonie doesn't even want to think of a spell lest it happen with the magic so abundant and willing.
Marianne doesn't have such luck. She begins glowing as faith magic kicks up and Heals Leonie, Lorenz, and Hilda because they're all adjacent.
This is going to be a fun year, thinks Leonie with some of her mania as she no longer has to use that to fight sleepiness. Lorenz compliments Marianne, who in turn becomes a stuttering mess of apologies.
Lysithea creates a toxic stench in the wagon as she Miasma's the rag out of existence. Leonie makes a noise of protest at her belonging – and it was hers no matter how awful and old it was – being destroyed. The white-haired young teen looks her dead in the eye, "I will get you a new one."
Leonie doesn't whine, but I wanted that one. She has no respect that Lysithea is going to come through on that promise, and the nineteen years old had memories attached to the old thing. She's tired and ready to make bad decisions, but… practice has her taking a deep breath before she speaks. Leonie. Keeps. Smiling. "Okay."
She strives not to be brash, after all.
2.
Has Leonie thought about all the ways to kill everyone around her? Yes. More than once. She has an unfortunately keen eye when it comes to spotting weaknesses. Exit strategies are also her thing, though she's learned to spend more time thinking about quiet exits than noticeable ones. It's more useful to stay unseen.
The marketplace attached to Garreg Mach Monastery's inner wall is a lot larger than Leonie was expecting. Everything is a lot bigger than she was expecting. They're guided through the market, the people milling about giving them no more than a curtesy glance. They have arrived very early, end-of-mid-February – Pegasus Moon – early. Leonie had planned to leave home about now.
Instead she's being taken to the spare rooms between the half-time students and knights' dormitories. Of all the changes to her plans, she does appreciate Godfrey being an adult and taking charge here. She'd have been lost searching for proper instruction, but it wouldn't have been her first time out in the cold if no one could help.
"This is…" Leonie blinks at the sight around the several crates in her arms, "interesting."
Bunkbeds. Foundation made of stone, creating a tome-like resting place feel. The orange haired young woman tries to breathe through the fear settling in, terrified that-
"I want the top," Hilda and Lysithea burst in sync.
Marianne whimpers.
-someone's going to fall. Leonie shrugs her agreement and places their stuff on their beds. She gets the one under Lysithea, so at least if it breaks it won't be the teen's fault for smothering her.
Leonie blinks down at her hands, unseeing for a moment. I'll have to set up an invisible barrier, won't I?
For her continuing health, most likely.
Lysithea's head appears from above. "Can I have Gee Dee?"
"Oh, sure," Leonie pulls out the stuffed golden deer.
"Oh Goddess!" Hilda squeals, loudly. "That is so cute!"
Lysithea stutters and flushes, but it's nowhere near the level of hate she gathers when Claude sticks his head in at the noise, grinning at the sight and telling her, "That's cute, kid."
"I AM NOT A KID!"
3.
It takes Godfrey calling them to stop the argument – more bugging on Claude's half – between the future house leader and the youngest future Golden Deer. Leonie's made sure everyone is out before she locks and mutters, "Warning System." Without DNA matches she can't tell the intruder, but at least she'll know whenever someone comes and goes through the door. The window and room will need to be worked on later.
Hurrying down to the yard reveals there's a line of her potential classmates. Two knights are on either side of a desk that wasn't there before. Leonie sees a flash of dark green from the person talking with Claude and Godfrey at the front, but doesn't want to jump to conclusions.
It's Seteth. It has to be.
No, not jumping to conclusions at all.
"What are we doing?" Leonie whispers to Marianne.
"R-registering for school," she's hunched over, looking for her father.
"Oh, alright. Do you… need me to grab something while we wait?"
"No," Marianne shakes a bit. Pulls out a book. "I have something."
"Alright."
Everyone talks with Godfrey next to them. He only leaves once to gather more money for Raphael's tuition, laughing it off when the teen promise to repay him. When they're done, they're allowed to roam the courtyard.
With only three of them in line, Leonie notices it is Seteth filling out papers. Lysithea drops her money, and Marianne's father appears just in time to answer questions for his adoptive daughter. Godfrey moves back with Leonie, asking, "Nervous?"
"Of course," she rolls her shoulders with a smile. "It's my last year to be accepted."
"Technically," he drawls, "you could try again next year. The Church-year begins and ends in April."
Leonie makes a choked noise, actually surprised, "You know, I completely forgot about that."
"Most of us do," he sighs. "Makes for a nightmare dating documents and letters."
Lord Edmund – Leonie has to remind herself to call him Margrave Edmund, since he's above her commoner status – hands an envelope to Seteth. She has an inkling to what that is about, but the Edmunds leave before anything can be said.
Last but not least.
"Leonie Pinelli," the nineteen years old introduces herself. Doesn't reach out a hand to shake because that's not how it's done in Fódlan. Handshakes are only for deals.
"Ah, yes," Seteth looks straight through the diverter ward, right into her eyes, and smiles. "I am glad you came to the Monastery early. We have much to discuss."
That sounds ominous.
He turns to Godfrey, "This is the one you were talking about in your letter, correct, Sir Riegan?"
"Sure is, Seteth," he grins sheepishly.
"Well then," Leonie carefully turns back to the paper shuffling Seteth does. "This will be your final tuition, Ms. Pinelli. With the Duke's recommendation-"
"What?!" Leonie pauses at that noise. The noise she made. The reason everyone's stopped to stare at her. No idea my voice could go so h- focus. She whirls on Godfrey, "What did you do?!"
"Well," he nervously holds his hands behind his back, chest puffing a bit, "you wouldn't let me get you any gifts for saving my life, so I thought this would suffice."
"You-" she squeaks, anger and disbelief warring. Turns to the green haired man. "He-?"
Seteth raises an eyebrow.
Leonie sucks in a whistled scream. Takes the offered paper and just about cries at the amount. "Remind me again what the cost is without the noble recommendation."
Seteth does, sounding vaguely amused.
Leonie sucks in another scream, free fist clenching. She gathers all her energy-burning emotions forefront and sharply turns, jerking her head to meet warm green eyes.
She can't refuse.
Gold coins tinkling.
She… won't be rich but will be able to spend more than frugally throughout the year.
Silver catching light.
She won't have to hunt for side jobs.
Bronze twisting over fingers.
"I hope you know," Leonie pretends she isn't shaking, emotions on every sense, "this doesn't mean I'll join your guard."
Godfrey breaks into a grin. "Wouldn't have expected anything less."
The young woman nods, wipes the tears from her eyes, and gets back to business. Tells Seteth, "I'll need a moment to recount the tuition."
He is definitely entertained. Confused, but the tension is gone from his face. "Go ahead."
4.
"You will receive your final schedule once the full-time selection has been decided," Seteth explains while Leonie signs the waivers. I understand that, by agreeing to learn under Garreg Mach Monastery, my actions can result in death if my skills are inefficient. "That normally happens mid-April. Your house's assigned teacher will be the one to give you your schedule. Ah, yes, thank you." He hands over another piece of paper, doing a quick read over all she wrote for the biography and skill grading, making sure her signature is in all the right places. "That paper has the list of electives you can take while studying at the Monastery. Professors Hanneman and Manuela are offering free classes in Crestology and Choir respectively."
Orange eyes zero in.
"Everyone goes with choir," Godfrey rolls his eyes. "Free and easy."
"Yes, well," Seteth glares at the man, "We are also offering Band this year."
Leonie's circling it as he speaks. She can afford it!
"Oh my," Seteth grins as he sees her option. Clears his throat. "Well, band practice will take place Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings. As you can see, the cost is quite steep compared to the other electives, though it comes with the… benefit that any detentions you are to serve are… to be extra practice…"
"Who'd you manage to teach that?" Godfrey obviously picks up on Seteth's darkening aura. "Band hasn't been offered in decades."
The green haired man takes a deep breath. "My younger sister Flayn has come to the Monastery to teach it." Old green eyes try staring into Leonie's soul. "I trust you will be on your best behaviour for her, Ms. Pinelli."
I wondered what she did during the day. Leonie salutes, "You've got it, sir!"
Seteth drawls an unimpressed, "Indeed."
Leonie signs the last paper and steps away from the table.
"Before you go, there are a few things you should know since I don't believe anyone would have told you," Seteth sends another glare towards Godfrey. The green haired not-human does look a bit happier when he turns away from his silent scolding to the newest student, "Full-time students are required to assist with kitchen duty, whether it be hunting, cooking, or cleaning. As you are currently too early for the free student meals, you will either have to pay or give food to the chefs for them to make. If there is any problem, come by my office so we can make arrangements.
"Secondly, as you are not yet a student, you are prohibited from attending classes and using the library. Everywhere else is open if you want to look around, though please only use the training halls if no one has previously booked it. Current students are given priority over future and past students.
"Lastly, you are required to have a physical done before the school can accept you as a student, future or otherwise. Our Professor Manuela will have someone fetch you and your fellows later today. She will be performing the examination, and you have nothing to worry about."
That sounds even more ominous. "Okay, sir."
Seteth huffs a small breath. "Please, call me Seteth."
"Then call me Leonie. Fair's fair."
He smiles. "Indeed."
5.
After the knights have picked up the desk, after everyone has gone back to their rooms or to explore, Leonie puts her hands on her hips and doesn't say, I'm mad at you, "Thank you for recommending me."
"Always," Godfrey replies without thought. He winces. "I think you're the only one who really wants to be here."
"Well… I'll make sure they do well in class."
"That's not what I'm worried about," he puts his hands on her shoulders. "Don't let yourself become cannon fodder."
Taking it seriously, Leonie gets up on her toes and puts her hand on his biceps. "I won't."
"I mean it. From someone who's been sent to the front of the attack pattern more than he'd like, don't fall into the trap of thinking that's what you're good at. The school is supposed to train you to be all-around great."
Leonie thinks he misses the difference between cannon fodder and tank. Still, it's the thought that counts. "I'll write you letters still; let you know how it goes."
The man sighs. "Claude will kill me if you die before he realizes who L is."
"Then to save you again, I won't die."
Always sounds easier than it is.
6.
The Monastery has real toilets.
Indoor. F**king. Plumbing.
To say Leonie is over the moon about it is an understatement. The toilet paper is disgusting but at least there is some. The water closets may be located on the other side of the Monastery, but it's just another incentive to get into the full-time student dorms.
In the privacy of a thick stone enclosure, where no one can look at her, Leonie switches the diverter ward into the blocker wall.
It is intense, at first.
Like moving through a blanket, trying to wrap around her with promises, promises. Tries to mute down her already muted negative emotions. Tells the young woman, your anger is invalid here.
Leonie sweats a bit as she adjusts to the feedback. The great thing about all the magic in the air, it powers the block for her. She catches her breath within seconds, uncurling from the unconscious hunch.
When she goes to look in Crest vision, she's blinded by the silver coating everything. Leonie squeezes her eyes shut, seeing burnt shapes where there was the Crest blanket.
Blinks.
Focus.
It is much, much worse to realize not all the strands fighting for space in the blanket are spectral colours.
Her forebrain registers green while her midbrain sees not green.
The hindbrain screams, no.
Leonie finds herself afraid to return to Crest vision. She leaves the empty bathroom quickly, returning to her light jog around Monastery as though nothing's wrong.
As though something here isn't trying to smother human nature.
7.
"Thank you," Leonie smiles and nods at the knight who escorted her. This place is a lot more maze-like than she remembers.
Reality is always more detailed, after all.
"Come in," says the melodic voice at the knock.
Leonie ignores the itching over her skin and enters, "Hi there! My name's Leonie."
"Oh good," Manuela – current professor of the Blue Lions – coos from a seat at the round table. "You'll be one of the Golden Deer students next year. I hope you're not as… rowdy as others from the Alliance."
Leonie's hand tightens on the door, "I do what I can, ma'am."
"Please, none of that ma'am stuff," Manuela shivers. "I'm not that old. Now, shut the door and we can get on with this." Drains her tea and stands.
Leonie does as told, hesitant steps into the room. She can't remember why.
"My name is Manuela Casagranda, the Divine Songstress. Call me Professor Manuela. I am one of three house professors and the resident healer of Garreg Mach."
Leonie narrows in. Not doctor.
"Now," Professor Manuela pulls out a thin folder, spreading the papers on the table as she searches for an inkwell, "it says here you are Crestless?"
"… Yes professor."
"Then you won't need to see Hanneman after this. Let's see… Eyes, hair, yes, yes… Hmm… commoner, so an scars I can help with?"
Leonie is stiff as a board, "No, professor?"
"Are you sure?" the professor gives her a look. "I know several recipes to help fade scar tissue, and a method to hide them while it takes effect."
Leonie knows where this is going.
"It wouldn't do for any surprises when your future spouse sees your body, after all."
Yep, just like the village. "Thank you for the offer," is said through a kind smile and small gap between teeth. Hands clenched together behind her back. "But I am perfectly fine."
"Well then, I'll just see during the physical. We'll have to start on your dietary plan. Why, you're so thin that I don't think anyone would go for it. All those muscles, no curves. Have you ever even made it to an A Cup?"
Leonie takes a deep breath because – body dysmorphia is a terrible likelihood with rebirth – she hasn't even seen herself in a mirror. Ripples on a pond, the metal on swords, only show so much. "I haven't used a bra before."
"Oh no! That won't do at all! It says here you have no allergies; I'll have everything I recommend you eat written by the end of the week. Now, strip down and go over to one of the beds. I'll be over in a moment."
Hesitantly – so, so wary – Leonie goes down to what she's comfortable with. There is no shame in exposing herself – her new parents had to take care of her from rebirth, after all – but old habits die hard. Especially with clothing never tearing from the magic in the air. The only way someone will see her naked is over her cold, dead corpse.
Professor Manuela tuts, "All off, dear."
Maybe it's the pet name. Maybe it's the exposure and awful pondering if all students must go through this. Maybe it's because, deep down where the prejudice from lingering memories that can't tell her why, Leonie doesn't trust Manuela.
Orange eyes of steel, smile turned into the awful blank line, a nineteen years old young woman stares at an accomplished songstress and tells her, "No."
Suffice to say, everything devolves from there.
8.
Seteth sighs from across his desk, muttering something along the lines of, "just one day."
Leonie raises her eyebrows but otherwise doesn't move, seated and arms crossed. She's not smiling.
"Fine," he snaps, papers dropping and stern glare thrown her way, "if you won't do the physical, then you must complete an obstacle course tomorrow."
"Deal."
He blinks. Leans back slowly, waiting for a punchline.
"The other students get the offer too, right? So that it's fair?"
He lets out a long, slow breath. Glares at her in a way that one would when they wish to smite mortals. "I will inform Manuela to give them the option."
Leonie doesn't believe that woman will follow through. This is why she plans to spend the rest of the afternoon in the hall between instructor rooms. Lysithea is the first one to come, wondering, "Have you gone yet?"
Leonie answers a short, "yes," with a smile that's cool to the eye. Tells her about the offer Seteth has available, and ends with, "I'll be right outside. If you feel uncomfortable or need help getting out of there, just scream."
Lysithea comes out not long after, expression stormy as she moves to the room across the hall. "You'll help me through the obstacle course, right?"
"Of course."
A sharp nod. Professor Hanneman welcomes the white-haired girl in.
Marianne is escorted by soon after, hears Leonie's spiel, and leaves Manuela's room in the same amount of time as Lysithea did. Another one for the obstacle course.
Claude and Godfrey arrive, the older man obviously surprised she's here still, "I thought Claude was the last one to go?"
"I've already gone," her eyes latch onto the wonderful, unsmiling green of her future classmate. "Seteth's giving the option of doing an obstacle course instead of a physical exam. If you need an out, I'll burst in at screaming."
A bit of curiosity comes and goes. Easy smile thrown her way, "Hey, thanks Leonie. Kind of creepy knowing you're lurking, but my uncle hasn't stopped since we arrived."
"Then you're used to it," she drawls, watching him knock.
"Better you guys than Oswald, that's for sure."
When he goes into the room, she's got a frayed focus enough to ask, "Who's Oswald?"
"Duke Riegan," Godfrey leans against the wall with her, "my father. You know, you don't have to stay. Claude's not a kid."
Doesn't matter. "I'm here anyways. Besides, someone has to tell Seteth which of us are doing the course."
Godfrey hums, "Is there something I need to know?"
Leonie hears scuffling. "I'll tell you later."
She really hopes he sees this as wrong, too, otherwise she may have kicked the hornets' nest. How much does the librarian know?
Claude exits much faster than his peers had, tense and arms crossed, nails biting into his skin. Godfrey scolds him for that, and the teens laughs it off, showing a row of teeth to Leonie, "I'll be doing the course too."
"I'll let Seteth know."
Behind him, Manuela is pulling out a wine bottle from her medicine cabinet.
9.
"See, Lorenz!" Raphael booms as Leonie slides down across from them. "Now that's a healthy meal!"
Heir Gloucester is aghast, "Can you truly eat all of that?"
Leonie thinks this is rather light, considering that she now has money to pay for extra helpings as a non-student. She needs to work up to eating larger portions; her stomach is used to whatever she could find in the foliage. Getting used to spices will be a pain, "I have a high metabolism. I need all the energy I can get."
With all the magic in the air, maybe she will get some fat stores.
Claude whistles and slides next to her, Hilda taking his free side. Heir Riegan elbows her and winks, "Don't eat them out of house and home before we move in."
A string of anger has Leonie snorting, "I'll just hunt it all back. Speaking of, any plans while we wait for the student trials?"
Lorenz blatantly swallows the infuriation he has at Claude's lacking noble prestige. He looks every bit the hoity-toity noble reflected in more than half the student population in the cafeteria around them. "I plan to begin song practice and pray at the chapel, as is expected of a noble's duty to the Goddess."
Claude laughs off the shade, "I'm going exploring, after we win our health checks, of course."
"Well I," Lysithea is a dear who cuts in before anyone can ask, "am going to be reading. Professor Hanneman had some good topics I wish to discuss more with him at a later point, and I need to be prepared."
"Studying already?" Ignatz asks quietly. "I was going to look for the art room, if anyone wants to come."
"Aw, yah!" Raphael cheers, "I'm in! Marianne?"
"M-maybe after…" she twirls her spoon,
"We didn't get around to our physicals, so Seteth has us running an obstacle course to show we're fit enough for school," Leonie bluntly tells them, careful eye on the four who did them. Ignatz goes red, Raphael winces, and Lorenz looks like it didn't phase him. Hilda is staring at another table. In fact… "Hey, Hilda, what are your plans for tomorrow?"
Hilda doesn't appear to have heard them. Claude has to about push her over to get her attention, "Oh, sorry. What was it?"
"What are you doing tomorrow?" Lysithea asks, narrowed eyes as she tries to see what was so interesting.
"Oh," Hilda repeats again. Gaze turns over to a table where she proceeds to make heart eyes again, "I met a few students today. They've promised to show me around and help carry my shopping. Isn't that nice?"
Leonie follows the gaze.
Feels her gut sink as a red-haired girl waves from the table of Red Eagles.
"You mean you don't want to go exploring with me?" Claude's ribbing sounds distant as Leonie focuses on eating.
Hilda waves back, "Exploring a dusty old monastery? No thanks. You've seen one, you've seen them all."
Leonie keeps eating, heart not in the conversation anymore. Things to do, and problems abound. In the Church calendar, the year ends on the last day of March.
Never did she think she'd encounter pre-slither Monica.
10.
Godfrey and Leonie are sharing a pot of tea before bed. Chamomile tea, not her favourite, but good for relaxing. She likes stronger things, scents and tastes that remind her tea isn't just flavoured water.
The man pours some of the wine in his, tense lines all over his face. He's careful not to crush the thin cup as he drains the liquid. "No," Godfrey answers tightly, "that wasn't how our physical exams went when I was at the Monastery."
For starters, they had a real doctor. Real physicians.
Why the cutback?
"I'll have a talk with Seteth in the morning," Godfrey grinds his teeth, but Leonie feels they're from different backgrounds. What he sees as wrong and what she sees as wrong may overlap, but they are not perfectly aligned.
It's something, at least. A little faith that this version of humanity can still grow past the medieval setting.
"Can you do me a favour?"
Leonie pauses, cup to her mouth and ready to sip. Meets his look, eyebrows raised. "What is it?"
"Make sure this obstacle course isn't a one-time thing."
Her grin is a little too toothy to be nice, "You read my mind."
Cheers to meeting her year mates early.
A/N: The day started out so well…
Thanks for reading! A really big thank you to xenocanaan, ShadowWolf223, Genin, ChickenPotPie, IReadNoNonsense, MiserableSOUL660, HersheyBby, PsychedAnon, mothedman, JoshuaFangurl, BlueBunnyims, and TheGiantRock for reviewing! The support truly means a lot!
It didn't feel right to post this chapter without having the next one ready to go. So, double update.
Thanks again for reading. I hope everyone has a fantastic day