Chapter Nine
1.
Under the cover of Silence, Leonie leaves as dawn arrives, not a sound waking her roommates.
In the courtyard she stretches, quietly greeting the knights who pass by with eyes on her. She's too hyper aware of the strange, new place. Falling asleep was a test of will.
Three laps, Leonie decides, reaching up and rolling onto her toes. One lap to get a feel for the route, one to determine stamina, and one slow one to cool down and estimate time before breakfast. The real challenge will be to stop from cheating, the magic around her begging to be used. She needs her strength for the obstacle course. Needs to know her baseline can deal running around like a human-Goddess-vessel can with their infinite stamina.
Match, and surpass.
She goes up instead of down, past the barracks and eyeing the graveyard for only a moment.
Wouldn't do well to leave flowers on the grave when who knows where Jeralt's wife is officially buried. Count the graves and leave prayers at them all if needs must.
Around and through the chapel, making enemies by being cheerful towards the not-morning-people praying.
Statues of the four saints made of gold. So this isn't the first time.
Over the bridge and towards the training grounds.
So few knights on the ground. The air knights are the real threats, doing all those patrols.
Past the working sauna and bathrooms, down the rows of full-time student dorms.
The current Golden Deer teacher – Professor Maence – is retiring. Jeritza gets that room, leaving the room closest to the training grounds free for the next professor.
Leap down the stairs to the greenhouse. Sharp turn to go past the pond.
They're both so large. Fish for days, and possible rumors of students getting lost in the forestry.
By the-
"Hello there!"
"Good morning!" Leonie slows to a jog in front of the gatekeeper. Introduces herself proper when he asks.
Can't see under his helmet, but he feels trustworthy. Small chat and continue on to the stables.
Seems like a nice guy. Hold out on liking him, though. This place doesn't seem to attract responsible adults.
Stables, to barracks, and begin again. It's a long run, but good practice. A good pattern to make herself noticeable, because after this she'll be running with the diverter ward on.
What better way to be annoying, than to hide in plan sight?
2.
"Morning Claude," Leonie slides across from him, pointedly ignoring how he chokes.
"Good morning, Leonie," he gives the award-winning smile, eyes tired. "Morning person?"
"Early training person," she corrects, slipping a couple fruits into her bag for later. Claude watches but says nothing. "New day, new energy."
"Enough to go exploring with me later?"
"Can't," she makes a face, showcasing displeasure. Lies. "I've got to go shopping for things, get everything settled with Seteth, excreta. Would have loved to explore."
It is what she's going to do after the obstacle course. Just the more… unconventional exploring.
"There's always next time," his smile looks real. Claude is good at this.
"Absolutely," she finally stares eating. "Anywhere you're looking in particular?"
"Well, since we can't see the library yet…" he props a hand under his chin, "I was thinking I'd look around. Learn a culture the old-fashioned way."
"Architecture," she nods, vaguely impressed.
"Exactly," he shows off some teeth in surprise. "You know, not many people get that."
"It's the number one thing I notice." Where are the exits, where are the handholds? How do I blend in? "I'm a small-town girl, though. Everything is different from where I grew up."
"Oh yah?" there's a sudden light to his eyes. "I bet this has all been a big change. Rather shocking, right?"
She grins, neither confirming nor denying. "I still have my appetite, so it's all good. From what I've seen the students eat, that's going to be the shock to my system. Real food? With seasoning? Perish the thought."
Claude snorts, the light dying away as he goes back to eating as well, "I've never heard that expression before."
"Small village commoner," Leonie uses as an excuse. "I probably have a lot of weird mannerisms."
"You eat like a noble. I think you'll fit in just fine."
Leonie coughs to hide her snort. "Like a Deer noble, or an Eagle noble?"
Claude does laugh, "Not a Lion?"
"I've seen a book on their table mannerisms. It's not worth the extra practice."
Claude smiles, that light back in his eyes. "Here, here."
3.
The obstacle course before them is a mess of broken cart wheels, precariously hammered together boards, and a climbing frame that just one glance screams get the tetanus shot ready. With all the magic in the air, this would have been child's play for Leonie after all these years surviving in her backyard woods.
Marianne looks ready to cry. Lysithea isn't doing much better
Don't show off, laughs a voice in her head. It sounds like Jeralt. You need to make it look like they have things to teach you.
"So," Leonie sidles up beside Claude, keeping an eye on where Godfrey is stalling Seteth for her, "How are we going about this?"
"What do you mean?"
"I can carry Lysithea or Marianne over all the obstacles," she could probably do both, but isn't sure how that would effect her balance, "except for the bars. They'd have to hold on to me while I swing across."
Claude rubs the back of his neck, thoughtful. "The goal is to show off our physical strengths, right? Make sure we're up to date on health checks?"
"We can build up stamina before the year begins if we need to. All Seteth required is that we pass the finish line after crossing all of the obstacles in place."
A real grin splits, green eyes meeting orange, "And you think I can make fine?"
"I'd carry you if I thought you couldn't."
He laughs and nods over to the metal bars. "What about going over?"
Leonie feels a real smile brighten her face. Didn't even think of that. "I'll get on top and help you three up."
"What, you think I'm slow?"
"It's my job to be faster."
He blinks, taken aback. "I want to hear that story later. You take Lysithea, then."
"Are you sure?" Leonie hums, frown coming back as she looks at the long dress Marianne's wearing. The younger teen is shaking while her father tries to calm her.
"She's probably the lighter of the two, even with all the tomes she's hiding. I won't trip, if that's what you're worried about."
"Okay then," she nods. "Are you good getting over the ramps?"
"Wouldn't hurt if you waited for me…"
Leonie grins again, a little less real for her but exactly the same as her usual. "I'll let the girls know. Make sure Godfrey hasn't driven Seteth to drink yet, yah?"
Claude chuckles. Winks. "Who's to say I don't join in?"
Leonie waves over her shoulder, "Be my guest."
Not like she cares about them.
4.
Seteth repeats the requirements. Around the course stand knights, part-time students, and the four who went before Leonie's meeting with Manuela.
It's meant to shame us.
She knows the tactic. Ignatz and Raphael may cheer them on, but the others have come to stare at social-norm breakers. Hilda awkwardly stands back, avoiding looking at them as she talks with the part-time students from yesterday. Lorenz has already made his displeasure of their choice clear, Leonie's in turn given him a ten-minute dressing down on who sees what parts of my body is my choice. He is quiet now, visibly disagreeing but no longer saying it.
The knights are here to watch them fail their training course.
The part-time students, to laugh at their mistakes.
Seteth is the only church official. He eyes them, "This is your last chance to back out."
Marianne swallows. Lysithea bares her teeth in a grin.
"We'll be fine," Claude assures them all. "It's not like this is hard." Taunting them.
Leonie sets her feet apart, bends the knees, "Just tell us when to go already!"
Seteth lets out a disappointed breath. Steps to the side, "On your marks?
"Go!"
Marianne and Lysithea step forward first. Lysithea jumps, Leonie seemingly appearing from nowhere to loop an arm around her waist. While Lysithea settles on her shoulder, Claude scoops up Marianne in a bridal carry.
"There! Left!" Lysithea shouts, directing them to the unseen obstacles. Marianne throws out a hand, muttering prayers, lighting up the sections they shouldn't touch with a strong Heal.
"Good job," Claude pants, lifting knees high over buried cart wheels.
Marianne whimpers and hurries to keep up with Lysithea's instructions.
Meanwhile, Leonie's practically bounding over every foot coordination obstacle. She's not getting too far ahead, is too focused on the track and teammates to hear what's going on around them. The important thing it is to, Not.
Miss.
A.
Beat.
"How do you have the breath to hum?" Lysithea grumbles, sliding from the shoulder at the bars.
Leonie doesn't answer, pulling herself up the bars and using magic to keep a solid force between her skin and the rust. They have to wait for Claude and Marianne. He's puffing worse, cupping his hands to get Lysithea the extra boost. Leonie pulls her up, they repeat with Marianne. Then, she boosts Strength to heave him on top, "Tired?"
"Just need to catch my breath," he denies, wobbling as he finds a footing.
Leonie is the only thing holding the three steady. She purses her lips, looks between the teammates, "Claude, Marianne, can you two get across the bars?"
"Y-yes."
"Yes?"
"I'll take Lysithea to the end and come back for you," she says this directly for Marianne. "Claude, start running as soon as you're on the ground."
"Hey now-"
"We don't have to pass together," Leonie glares, "and you won't be able to make it over the ramps with extra weight. I can handle this."
"Well…" he's frowning. Leonie feels a moment of his Crest trying to hit her directly. "If you're sure…"
"Do we get a say in this?" Lysithea grumbles.
Marianne is smart and already moving across the bars.
"Nope," Leonie slings her on her back and begins hopping from one side bar to another. Can't let a foot fall through the middle.
Lysithea grumbles quietly, only doing something a few minutes later when faced with a brick wall that's intended to be scaled. The young teen throws out an arm and summons a dark, toxic Miasma. It leaves a person-sized hole in the bottom middle, along with a bit of brick dust.
"Thanks," Leonie chirps.
"See?" Lysithea grumbles, not having heard her. "I'm not useless."
Leonie drops her mere feet away from the finish line and starts the run back without seeing if she crosses. She hits the top of a ramp after the brick wall, watching Claude jog through. She holds out a hand, which he gratefully takes. Once he's over, she's running for Marianne.
The teen is panting but has made it through two obstacles on her own. Leonie squats, a smile thrown over her shoulder, "Ready to go?"
"Thank you," Marianne whispers on a harsh breath, arms hanging loosely around Leonie's neck. The blue haired teen buries her head in her ride's shoulder, hiding the tears.
Claude and Lysithea are waiting for them at the finish line, bickering about the hole in the wall. Leonie feels her grin fall into something smaller, sweeter. She's used to competitive, not teamwork. The kill and move along, not for someone to want to wait for her.
Marianne climbs down and they jog the rest of the way. Leonie makes sure to be last, even if Claude seems to have the same thought. This is her punishment to bear, and she'll fight tooth and nail to make sure they all end up enrolled. That every student who refuses the physical gets enrolled.
Seteth marches over, looking very displeased at how that went down. Leonie squares her shoulders, holds her head high, and goes to speak.
Only for Claude to step forward and take charge, "Well, how did we do?"
He even goes partly in front of her, taking most of the crowd's attention.
Leonie…
…isn't she how she feels about that.
5.
Conclusion: they all pass.
Wow, did that ever get stressful, Leonie thinks as she walks away from their victory lunch. Godfrey and co. moved their departure to the next day because of all the extra problems that have appeared since his chat with Seteth. Something about how they're still hunting for a teacher to replace Professor Maence.
It gives her time to slip out and begin exploring. Lets her test if anyone notices the magic she surrounds in with Invisibility. When no one is around, Leonie springs up every anti-detection ward she has, the diverter ward coming back and letting her breathe a little easier.
With Sticky Fingers, she begins the long climb to the rafters. Least intruding tests first, and then in a few weeks begin the more expel-worthy ones.
What she really needs to do, is find the place where Jeralt is supposed to die.
And then, where is the perfect place to stop it?
6.
By accident, she hears the keys of a piano. Leonie crawls down the wall in the abandoned-looking wing of the monastery. Knocks at the door when there's a break.
"Hello?" comes the sweet-voiced response.
"Hello," Leonie pushes open the slight crack to see a girl-like woman at the seat. Her hands are raised – remember, curve your fingers like you're holding eggs – above the pristine white keys of a grand piano. Leonie hasn't been sure those existed here – don't slam the keys; honestly, it's like I haven't been teaching you for years – it certainly hadn't been on the list of instruments. "Sorry to interrupt, I was wondering if this was going to be the band room."
"It is!" cheers the woman-girl. She quickly stands, straightening out her skirt. Mint green hair puffs around her head like a well-maintained hedge. "My name is Flayn! I am the new band instructor."
"Leonie," she introduces with a wave, coming in and returning the door to how she found it. Easier to focus on this, shoving the old memories of lessons to the recedes of her mind.
Flayn brightens at the name, "My- brother told me you are my newest student! It is an honor to meet you!"
"It is an honor to meet you," Leonie chuckles, feeling cold inside. She doesn't appreciate how, even with the Crest blocker and not having the diverter on, these Crest Stone people can see by trying to latch on. Seteth was at least subtle about it, Flayn's steel threads are poking like a curious child. "I can't tell you how excited I was to hear singing wasn't the only instrument they offered lessons for."
Flayn giggles, "Most people think singing is the highest form of music here. I hope to teach others the importance of instrumental melodies, however…" her smile falls, "you are currently the only student assigned to my class."
No one wants to dish out the extra to something they'll never use again. Leonie spreads out her hands and says, "Their loss. More students will join, we are a month and a half away from the new year. But if it's just the two of us," she makes a fist and flexes, "we'll show them all the power of music with our spirit and determination."
Flayn laughs again, a lovely harmonic sound.
Leonie doesn't appreciate the thought of getting to know her. Appears like she'll have to do some recruiting to the band class.
"I will look forward to it," Flayn says with earnest. "Oh, would you like to learn how to tune a piano? It is what I was doing just now."
In the back of her head, Leonie starts cursing. "Sure."
There goes a day of exploring.
7.
"Where do you keep getting those books?" Hilda bemoans as she returns to the dorm room only to find Leonie and Lysithea read books that are at least a palm's length in width.
"I brought them with me," Lysithea doesn't look up.
"Lysithea's lending me hers," Leonie has lowered her book to smile – eye – the female students carrying in Hilda's shopping. "Who are your friends?"
"Leonie, Lysithea, these are Arial von Fontaine, Krista Weber, and Monica von Ochs. Ladies, on the top bunk in Lysithea von Ordelia and on the bottom is Leonie."
Leonie ignores the insult of being introduced without her last name to wave, "Nice to meet you all."
Takes attentive note to Monica's red hair. Something niggles in her brain, wondering how many people here have some red in their hair?
The only females she's seen are all in this room. Herself, Hilda, and Monica. There were a few males with burgundy, Lorenz has purple, but no straight orange or red.
This will need further investigating.
"Oh, it's so great to meet new people!" Monica squeals. "You're all Golden Deer students, right? Or, well, I guess future students. I'm a Red Eagle, but I can still give you tons of great advice! If you want. There's lots to do, oh! And maybe you'll want to transfer into the Red Eagle class! We're a lot of fun, I promise!"
Hilda sneaks glances at her crush as she arranges clothing and bags with the other girls.
Leonie keeps smiling, pretending she isn't imagining all the ways she could kill this teenager. "Are you a full-time student?"
"Yes! It was really hard to get in, but it was worth every effort! Hey, do you girls want to hear about the entrance tests?"
Lysithea finally puts her book down, legs hanging over her bed, "That sounds wonderful."
I could kill every single one of you right now, Leonie thinks, listening with a keen ear. Derail everything.
She doesn't.
It isn't worth the extra effort.
8.
"Come on," Claude whines at dinner, but Leonie can see his heart isn't in it. "Doesn't anyone want to explore with me. Lysithea?"
A blunt, "Reading."
Hilda reinstates her plans when he turns eyes on her. She's dragged Marianne into them, somehow.
"S-sorry, Claude," Ignatz blushes, as he looks away, "I'm meeting with the art club president tomorrow. I don't know how long it will take."
"Sorry Claude," Raphael says after swallowing. "I've got to get back on my workout routine. A couple of the students offered to show me the training sites."
"There are better things to do with our time than explore," Lorenz says hauntingly, a disdainful look thrown Claude's way.
Because she has her blocking ward on, Claude turns his pleading – fake – eyes on Leonie. She undoes her thinking pose, "I can join you after lunch. The band teacher is showing me how to tune some instruments in the morning."
"I'll take it!" he cheers, though his eyes are taken aback. Like he thought no one would go with him. Strange. "Speaking of, did everyone get their meal recommendations."
Leonie full-body snorts, getting more than her future classmate's gazes. It's completely useless. Either Manuela doesn't have nutrition training, or she's taking out her anger on Leonie. Neither would surprise the orangette. "Oh, I got mine alright."
Throws the scrap of paper on the table.
Everyone takes a turn looking at it. Ignatz is the first to say, "I don't see anything wrong with it…?"
"Not only are several of those top foods high in cholesterol, I'm only recommended leafy green vegetables, which means-"
Hilda slams her hands on the table, "I thought it was just me!"
"Wait," Lysithea looks between them, "what am I missing?" Marianne leans over and whispers into the younger teen's ear. Lysithea looks horrified, "Did any of you guys get that all-greens recommendation?"
"No?" Claude flicks the paper back to Leonie. "Why?"
They all let out a varying stressed and angered, "No reason."
"But wait," Leonie jumps in before someone can ask again, "did no one else get the high cholesterol recommendation?"
Lorenz steeples his fingers, "What does cholesterol mean?"
Leonie pauses a moment before rubbing her temples, eyes closed. Another slip-up to explain.
9.
In the dead of night, Leonie inks a spot onto the wall. Carefully pulls all the magic in the air into it, and grossly puts a licked finger on top.
Currently, their room is now one of the safest places in the whole of Garreg Mach Monastery.
Leonie stumbles into bed and passes out, finally able to drop into a deeper sleep.
(Lysithea wakes up and, for the first time since gaining two Crests, the burning in her veins is gone.)
10.
"So, this is it huh?" Leonie grin wryly up at the noble. "You good if I still write?"
"I'm looking forward to it," he grins, green eyes so lovely and a familiar sight. She's going to miss that. "Keep me updated on how everyone is, and I'll let you know about job offers that come up."
Leonie rolls her eyes, same old tricks. "Sure."
"And, hey," he steps forward and wraps her in a hug.
Leonie freezes long enough for instinct to take over. She tries not to squeeze too hard as a bout of separation anxiety takes hold.
"Don't feel like you have to stay here. My door's always open."
Her voice sounds strangely choked, "Even if I get expelled?"
"Especially then."
"T-" she has to swallow, "Thanks."
He's grinning when he steps back, hand ruffling her hair. "You're a good kid, Leonie. Good luck handling the rest of them."
She glances over with him, to where Lorenz is berating Claude, who's staring at them with an almost real smirk. To Ignatz and Raphael, who say goodbye to knights they've grown up with. Hilda talks with a few of her brother's friends, Lysithea awkwardly standing beside her. Marianne crying against her father's chest.
"It will be interesting, that's for sure."
Alone in a dragon's den with a bunch of baby predators. What could possibly go wrong?