Chapter Ten

1.

Cats.

The ones with too-intelligent gleams watch her run. Not a single animal follows Leonie, but they see through her diverter ward with ease. The implication of that is rather frightening.

So is the fact the gatekeeper greets her before she greets him, however that could be attributed to hearing her running. No, he's not as suspicious as the cats.

Leonie thinks she might have liked cats, once upon a time. It's rather hard now, when they watch her with their keen gazes. Eyes following her. Everywhere.

Trees. Windowsills. Benches, stairs, out-of-the-way pockets of sun or shade. She wants to turn into Crest vision, if only for a moment. The itch to confirm her theory remains, overshadowed by the worry of who they could report to if she's right.

Leonie slows to a light jog as more people begin to take to the pathways.

Still, the intelligent cats watch only her.

2.

No one could pay her to put her mouth on a wind instrument, so today Flayn has them tuning string instruments. Leonie is specifically on a cello, humming as she plucks a tune of Deep Purple's: Smoke on the Water.

Colours, colours, everywhere, Leonie think, smirking as Flayn giggles and joins in with her viola. They've spent a few hours already going over the violins, the Crest threads from the stone of Flayn's heart lighting-up the air with music. Unfortunately, the girl-woman knows no restraint, letting it freely touch and linger a claim on all it can with soft zaps. Even against the diverter ward, she wraps and tries to hold, to bind.

"Oh," Flayn breathes, eyes alight, "we simply must have an improvisation class one day. Maybe I can find some unused sheet music and we can write our own songs for homework. That would be delightful!"

If Leonie never has to sing another Church of Seiros hymn, it will still be too soon. "That could be fun! We could even try different types of music. Do you have a favourite, professor?"

Flayn smiles that second of bright eagerness every time Leonie calls her professor. It always fades into something thoughtful, but at least she is excited to teach. "Well… do not let my brother know, but I have come to enjoy more of the screaming music than the steady peacefulness of the music here."

Leonie feels her eyes go as wide as her smile.

"Not to say the Church music is bad," Flayn quickly defends, "I only have preference for more of the loud and scratchy singing voices. The music here reminds me of many lullabies and comforting times of when I was younger. It is familiar, peaceful, but I do enjoy the shock and heart pounding of a loud and sharp ballad."

Heavy metal and – officially – rock n' roll have yet to be invented in Fódlan, so the fact Flayn has heard anything like it is extraordinary. "That sounds amazing! Do you think we could do anything like that here?"

"Oh no, no," she is quick to deny. "Lady Rhea and my brother have refused that as part of the curriculum. We are to prepare songs for Church celebrations, and the dance, of course."

Of course, Leonie think angrily, smile not faltering, "Oh well, maybe next year then."

"It would be nice," Flayn agrees before catching sight of someone in the doorway behind Leonie. The becoming, unfortunately, familiar feeling grass and dirt gives him away. "Good morning, brother."

Leonie leans back, unknowingly showing off her core muscles as she balances on the stool with the closest thing to a headmaster upside down in her view, "Hi Seteth."

"Flayn. Leonie," the human's name is spoken like a true life stressor. Obviously, his daughter is his favourite. Leonie's still curious who the mother- focus. "I do hope I am not interrupting."

"No," Flayn sighs, dejectedly plucking the viola's string. "We should be cleaning up soon. I will join you for lunch in an hour."

"Of course, but that was not what I was here to talk about."

Both women pause to stare unnervingly at him.

"Leonie," his distaste is palatable after the silence, "I have received some complaints about you running through the chapel in the early morning. Please stop."

Flayn makes a noise that could be a horrified gasp but could also be the start to a laugh. Leonie doesn't look away from the older Crest Stone, "Of course. I didn't realize it was bothering anyone."

Byleth got to do it all the time. Main Characters get away with so much.

Seteth deadpans like he doesn't believe her, "Yes, well, sprinting through the middle of a priest's sermon has that effect."

Leonie doesn't frown, I wasn't sprinting. She nods, "Okay. I won't do it again."

His eyes are like laser beams, "Good." He nods to his daughter. "Flayn."

When he's gone, Flayn chokes on her words before huffing out a breathy, "Y-you ran through the chapel?"

"I was doing laps around the Monastery, and it's a perfect loop if I do!"

"Oh my," and with that, Flayn breaks into peals of giggles.

Leonie doesn't like how Flayn doesn't stand up for herself or her likes, but at least she gets the humor of the situation. Hopefully she can train the woman to stop being so underhanded in her wins by the time the plot comes around. Maybe that way she can actually join a class instead of relying on the Main Character to shelter her in order to further her education and friendships.

Hopefully there will be a substitute when she eventually goes missing.

Stop. Focus.

It doesn't matter.

3.

"What are you still doing here?" Leonie asks, shutting the door.

"Reading," Lysithea snipes back.

"Obviously, but why in here? There's plenty of shade or seats outside, a lot healthier to be reading out there then in here."

Pink eyes glare from the top bunk, eventually turning back as Leonie begins to change, "I can read wherever I want to."

"Yah, but some fresh air won't hurt," Leonie buttons up the white shirt, more presentable than her patchwork things if anyone watches. "Come on, I'm going for lunch and then exploring with Claude. At least come get some food with me."

At the mention, the girl's stomach rumbles. A light splash of red heats up the pale girl's cheeks, "Fine!"

"That's the spirit! And, hey, if you're tired or something, I can just carry you around."

"I'm not helpless!"

4.

"Hey Leon- Lysithea?" Claude pauses.

"Hope you don't mind," Leonie grins unabashed, arms keeping the smaller female on her back. Lysithea waves with one hand, reading with another. "She needed some air."

"She is right here," Lysithea barbs, snapping the book shut. Nods, "Claude."

"The more the merrier," he's quick to bounce back. "I was thinking about walking through the lower village today. How about it?"

Leonie does the mental calculations in her head, "Sounds good!" A lot of walking. Lysithea doesn't have the stamina for it yet. In fact, Raphael might be the only obviously fit enough to do the hike.

"Why would you want to walk through the village?" Lysithea almost sounds like she's complaining as she leans further on her mount when they begin moving.

"Why not walk through the village," Leonie counters. "It's a beautiful day, it's good to get a lay of the land, and there's nothing really better to do. We've got ages before we have to start school."

Claude breaks in, smile twitching, "And won't it be nice to meet some more people? Maybe get a few hints on how the year looks for the students, or learn the history of the Monastery?"

"We could just as easily get those here," Lysithea mutters.

Leonie snorts, "But where's the adventure?"

"In fantasy novels," the girl grumbles, flipping on the hood of Leonie's warming cloak the moment they step outside.

"Good afternoon, Leonie!"

"Good afternoon, Sir Gatekeeper!"

"You're already getting on with the Knights?" Claude asks, sounding impressed yet gaze critical.

"Only the few I see on my morning run. I hear that the Captain is returning from a mission soon. I really want to pick his brain if I ever get a moment."

Both the teens look at her odd, Lysithea asking, "Pick his brain?"

"It means to get his thoughts on a matter. Though, according to the people I asked, he's more likely to tell bad jokes at a new audience."

Claude perks up, "Sounds like a fun guy."

Lysithea groans over Leonie's clicked teeth. "Well, I'm perfectly happy to stay away from the knights. Some of them radiate killing intent."

"Wait," Leonie cranes her neck to see both her passenger and the future house leader, "is that a thing? Can people actually radiate killing intent?"

They both look at her like she's an idiot.

"Do you…" Lysithea tries to find the words, "not feel a sense of impending doom when Marianne gets all sad and quiet?"

"No? Should I?"

"…I don't know whether to be jealous or not," Lysithea digs her elbows into Leonie's shoulders. "Claude, you understand what I'm saying, right?"

"Yes," he blinks, that fake smile coming back. "Hilda's is the worst. You're pretty good at it, too, kid."

"Thank- I am not a child! Yours is terrible, by the way! No one is going to take you seriously!"

"I take Claude seriously?" Leonie mutters.

He flashes teeth, "Why, thank you, Leonie. I'm sure they'll teach you how to use it, though I know Raphael and Ignatz can only do it a little. I think it has something to do with Crests."

Lysithea turns her rage into productive thinking, still glaring at Claude though. "That would make sense… I mean, I don't know many commoners, but the few people I know who don't wield Crests have never intimidated me before."

"I will definitely be looking forward to learning that, then," Leonie nods. "That would be a perfect talent to have if a client ever tried to screw me over."

Claude asks, almost quietly, "Are you still planning on becoming a mercenary?"

"Of course. Mainly, I want to see the world."

He hums, seems to rethink what he says next, "Where would your first stop be?"

"Making sure you all get home safely," Leonie laughs, a happy sound, as though she isn't thinking about the Monastery evacuation. There is a memory – a cutscene – that comes unbidden, "but only if I think you need the extra help at the end of the year. I'm sure we'll all be capable fighters, eventually."

Do or die.

5.

When they get to what Leonie is doing the next day, she puts down the dinner fork with a swallowed hum. "I was thinking about going hunting. Maybe shopping, but I really want to see the different plants and animals around the Monastery's forests and old ruins."

"Ugh," Lysithea makes a face, "I am not going with you."

Lorenz politely warns, "Make sure to check which areas we are allowed in. It wouldn't do to get caught out of bounds."

But where's the fun in that? "I'll ask Sir Gatekeeper tomorrow. Hey, is the art room open between classes?"

Ignatz jerks back at the sudden attention, "Um, yes. I believe so."

"Awesome! I want to take a look around some time. Oh, and Raphael, can I join you for training sometime?"

"Absolutely!"

"You still need to go shopping," Hilda sniffs in thought, gaze between her roommates, "all of you."

"We'll have to make a day of it!" Leonie agrees over Lysithea's moaning and Marianne's whimper.

"May I come?" Lorenz interjects. "I find myself in need of a new kettle."

"We should all go," Claude grins. "I am positive there's something we all need."

"Then it's settled," Hilda sniffs. "We'll do it sometime in the week of Pegasus Moon."

"Hey, Lysithea," Claude drawls out. Leonie isn't sure, but she thinks there's something odd about how he says, "isn't your birthday coming up?"

Everyone turns to the girl, who's face turns a stunning red as she demands, "How did you know that?"

He wiggles his fingers, "Magic."

Leonie cracks up, choking on her dinner. Everyone else stares when she chugs down her water. She slams the glass, pained smile towards the youngest, "What do you want to do for you birthday?"

"I don't want to do anything," Lysithea lies.

Adorable.

Leonie leans back while the others take lead in organizing something, the white-haired girl's protests dying as she fights a smile with annoyance. Claude shares a grin with the eldest before needling on what to get as a present.

The least I can do, Leonie thinks, is let them enjoy surviving another year.

It's not like she likes any of them, after all.

6.

"I don't understand why Lady Rhea lets the Abyss stand," complains one of the holy women walking beneath Leonie's spot on the ceiling of the ruins. "They're nothing but uncouth hooligans."

"The Ashen Wolves are the worst," grumbles the walking partner. "A fourth house? Pah, that should never stand. If word got out that…"

Leonie doesn't follow them, choosing to scurry on after they've passed. The bats and owls are a pain to get around – what with being Invisible and Silent – but it's not the grossest stealth mission she's undergone. It's not the first time she's heard people complain about the so-called Abyss, but it's only ever the higher ranking, older members of the Church. By the name, she's guessing it's underground, and now's not the time to go looking there.

Around and then down. There are plenty of old structures and hidden alcoves to search. Already, Leonie's found several small bags of coins and weapon cashes. After dispelling the enchantments on each, she stores them away for better – cooing – viewing pleasure when she finds the alone time. The dust layering them is disturbed by her appearance anyway; why not take it all?

Still can't bring herself to attack a deer when it comes time to cover her mission with an obvious scavenge. Looks like it's wild boar tonight.

7.

"What are the final exams?" Leonie wonders, watching with her fork dangling as an Eagle student and Lion student stand on a table. Their faces are going red from trying to shout their view of an answer, fists are raised and knives are brandished, but ten feet apart as to not instigate conflict with the other house.

Not to be outdone, a Golden Deer slams their foot on their table and begins serenading their own answer.

"A written and a practical," Lysithea answers when it appears their own future housemates are too enamoured with the scene to listen. "The written is made by the leader of another house, while the practical is done by the fighting instructor. Professor Jeritzahas a tournament, from what I've been told. The Black Eagles won last year, so the other houses have booked all the spare time leading up to the exam to try and-"

The teen only stops because Leonie is full-on choking, not that anyone else notices. They're too busy with the moderate chaos of housemates trying to calm down their table-standers before the knights arrive to escort them to Seteth. Leonie, meanwhile, is having her worldview shattered as her brain processes BlackEaglesBlackEaglesBlackEagles-

Lysithea leans away, hesitant, "Are you okay?!"

"Peachy," Leonie croaks, swallowing her own regurgitated spit. "Are they actually called Black Eagles?"

"…"

"…"

"-but the magic of the world was blessed by the Goddess, and Merrik only studied heretics-"

"What did you think they were called?!"

"Red Eagles," Leonie stresses, pointing to the red and black individual screaming their logic. "Blue Lions," points to the blue and black individual shouting their religion. "Golden Deer," the person who let their friends drag them back into their seat. "I thought they were all primary colours!"

"Gold isn't-" Lysithea cuts off, disgusted. "Commoner. Right." Yes, Leonie feels very offended by that observation, not that she lets it show. "There's a petition that circulates every few decades. Lady Rhea and the other past archbishops have always turned it down, but the students try to fight for… I guess colour equality? The point is that legally there are Black Eagles, Blue Lions, and Golden Deer. People call the Eagle house Red Eagle in hopes it will stick and that Lady Rhea will be forced to change it."

M*****f*-

Leonie has been getting it wrong for years. She can't remember when she forgot the real name and started associating the houses with three colours.

If she's hyperfixated with this, changed this narrative in her mind, what else-

"Okay," Leonie keeps her breathing shallow, forces the smile in place. "So, why not Yellow Deer?"

"Because gold is still a shade of yellow, and it's a little hard to disprove when there's so many golden deer being spotted in Leicester. Not as many people call it Yellow Deer. Would you?"

No, Leonie thinks, a certain deer in her mind. Shakes her head. I wouldn't disrespect him like that.

"Exactly," Lysithea crosses her arms smugly. They both turn at the shrieks of the table-students being torn off by the Knights of Seiros. "Well… now you know."

"Now I know," Leonie mutters, going back to eating her dinner now that the show's over. She knew her memory couldn't be trusted, but this is a whole other level.

What else is she getting wrong?

What else is going to go wrong?

…Worry about it later. Food first. With enough energy, any problem can be magicked or punched into submission if the need arises.

8.

If any person had bothered to look, they would have seen a blur.

Now, that's not fair. It isn't the fault of the Crested and Crestless that Leonie tests Notice-Me-Not charms like friendship bracelets. Add another charm here and there and here and there until no one turns a head. Under Silence and No Pressure, nothing her actions do affect the world around her in noticeable ways.

Leonie does not even realize what she is doing as she thinks, do not notice me.

A test that is maybe too effective.

Magic, jumping around and eager. Threads, tearing and producing it.

Just as no one sees her, no one notices the Crestless knight bump into the ladder and continue on. Leonie sees as the person on top wobbles, eyes darting past her in effort to steady.

It is the first time in the hour that someone looks her way. Even if they don't see her, she feels the eyes.

Leonie goes from walking to sprinting. If any person could look, if any of her wards or charms dipped, they would have seen her blur as Speed, Heal, Strength activate with barely a thought. No Pressure means no wind, the cast-off forces pressing back on her. Keeping her together as the magic attempts to seep past feelings and into her thoughts.

Into her blood and skin and-

Stop.

The boy in her arms blinks, "W-what?"

"Are you okay?" Leonie still smiles, carefully easing him onto the ground. He holds onto her arm until the shock begins to recede. "That was a nasty fall."

"I'm fine," the boy replies stiffly. He has some of the darkest skin she's seen in the Monastery yet. Eyes an orange with a wider ring in them then she's seen in most people.

She's memorized the face of the guard like she did the bad parents in her village. No need to jump to conclusions, but better safe than sorry, "Do you want me to hold the ladder for you?"

"No," he turns away and begins gathering his fallen towels and bucket.

"You'd be doing me a favour," Leonie treats him like the prideful children of her village. "I was just wandering around looking for something to do. Please?"

He stares at her, deadpan, nearly rolling his eyes. At her smiling face, he scoffs, "Well… I guess…"

"Thanks!" She waits until he starts climbing back up to hold the rickety wooden thing in place. Leonie thinks it's distasteful to have him – a shorty so young – climb so high just to polish the Monastery's wall. "My name is Leonie, by the way."

"Cyril," he bites back. "If you're so bored, I have lots of chores to do."

"Can I join sometime?" she asks honestly.

He gives her another disbelieving stare, this time asking, "Why?!"

"Well, I'm going to join the Officer's Academy in a few months. There's not too much to do in the meantime, and if I help out then I get to know this place better. And Seteth won't have any reason to yell at me."

That cracks a snort from him, "Why would Seteth yell at you?"

"I've butted heads with him a few times. There was an obstacle course, and then running through the chapel. He doesn't-"

"You ran through the chapel?!"

A few people turn to face them. Leonie shrugs best she can, nonchalantly saying, "I thought we could run through the open doors, to complete the perfect loop around the chapel area. Obviously I know better now, but it didn't win me any points."

"Did you live under a rock? No one is supposed to run through holy places."

"…That is a wonderful piece of information to know. Kind of feels like I did live under a rock, with how much I've been learning recently."

9.

Focus.

Don't think about it.

Ma҉g͘i̵c ̡́i͏̸s̶͘ ̵a̕҉̢ f̴̕͟o͡r̵̕͡m ̷̕o̕f̧̛ ̷̸͞e̵n͘҉e͟r̡g̶̡͡y̨. I͟t͘ i̡s̢ ̧̡i̢n͏ t́h̶́e̕͡ ̵̛a̢̨͡i͝͏ŗ̴ ̛th̕e̢͟y ͡͝br̷e̡a̢̛͠t̷́͠h̵́́e,̛̕ ͏̛b̡oųn̨̛c̵i̴͜͞n̢̧g ̸a̛͠r̡͢҉ound͞ ͏̡a̡n̢̧d҉̵͢ ͢a̛͜l̀͘w̵̕ay͜s̸̨ ̨̡t̴͝he̴͘r̶̢é̀̕, ̵͢n̛͢o̴͠ ̴m͜ąt͠͏̸tè̕r̸͢҉ ̛̕h͘o͢͏ẃ̧ ͠s̵͟m̨̕͠ą҉l̶̨l͏.̵͘ ̕͞҉T̴o̶̢ b̢rè͏̸a̡̨th͠e͜ ̴͝į҉t ͟͟i͏s̷͟͞ ̛́t͞ó̵ ̷̧̀ábs̸̢o͢͢r̛͟҉b̢͏ ̸̕͝ì͞t̸,̡ év͞en̛͟ ͝͏t̵̵h̴r̴͟͟o̶u͟g̡͜͡h͘͏ ̨à͡ filter so͜m̛e͝th̨ing͟ wil͞l ̡d̸ri̕ft̵ i͞n. Èv͡en to ͏n͜oţ a̧b̷sorb it͜ ͡now dóe̷ś ͞n͝ot҉ m̢èan i̕t ̵is ͟gǫne̛.͠ Do͏es ̵ǹo̡t̡ ͡m͠e̸aņ t҉h̨e b͏ơdy ҉d͢i̴d̶n̡'t ̛gro̧w̴ ùṕ ͡bréat̸hi͞n҉g ̵i҉t, ͝livin̡g̶ ̸wíth ͜it̡,̶ ev͜ol̨v̸i̢ng͞ ̸from i̸t̴.̧ I͝t͘ i̕s th̡ére ̀in͟ f̴at ́s̵t̀ores,̵ ̶i̢n͡ ́h̷air ͝part̀i҉c̢l̢e̢s̸ a̕n̨d̵ ͜brain̷ t͢is҉sųe. I̵t҉ fl̷o͡ws ͏ţh̛roug̶h-

Stop.

Breathe.

Focus.

Don't think about it.

Ę͢͝n͜ér̛͜g̕͜͡y̸͟ ̡ć̵̛a͡n͟͠n̸ot͏̴ ͘be͘͜͝ c̷r̀͞e҉̀at͜e͟҉d̕̕ ҉͠ǫ̵r ̀͘͜d̶͝e͝͏͘s̀t̴̨ŕo̸y҉̛e̛d͞.̧

En̢erg̵y p̧às͢s̨es͜ ͟thr͢ough͟.
̴I͠t ̢c̵an-

No.

Mag̛i҉c̕ ͟ín̕ c̢ǫnçęn͠trat͠éd s̸p̸a̕ce͠s̡ ̷can͢-

No.

Hįt ̀so͠m̷e̴thing̷ ͘ha͢r̨d ͜en̡ough-́
Hea̷t͠ somethi͡ng͞ ̨u̶p̀ ̨e҉n̵ou͠gh-͏
H͜ea̶l͘ ̶s͘om͝e͠t̀hin̵g̨ ̡fa̴s̛t̵ ͏e̕n̕o͘ug͏h҉-͟

Stop.

Don't think about it.

Focus.

10.

"Happy birthday!" echoes in a small room of a quiet corridor.

Lysithea gapes from Leonie's back, where she was being 'used as a weight' for 'training purposes'. The eldest gets a light smack on the head for the deception, but the small grin on the whitette's face means she isn't upset about it.

"How did you get a cake?!" Lysithea does not squeal at the sight of the treat – no, of course not – as she visibly stops herself from rushing to it.

"Raphael and Ignatz made it," Claude gives credit where it's due. "I managed to wheedle Seteth into letting them have the kitchen last night, and we get this room for the whole day."

"Hilda, Marianne, and I tried to make this place up to the noble standard," Lorenz sniffs, giving a side-eye to the pinkette resting her head on top of a chair's back. "Some of us more than others. I do so hope it is acceptable."

"It is great," Lysithea nervously looks around the fabric and furnished room, her house's signature red amongst the dark colours. "You guys didn't need to go to the trouble."

"Sure we did!" Raphael booms. "Fifteen may not be as important as sixteen for nobles, but we should always celebrate the day we were born!"

"Exactly," Ignatz adjusts his glasses with a smile. "And, I, um, hope you enjoy the cake. Leonie and Hilda bought plenty of food if you don't."

"But it's all healthy," Hilda complains, sliding out of her seat. "Come on, Lysithea! Birthday girl gets the first slice! They even added a sugarcane sweetener!"

Lysithea darts over faster than a blink. Marianne joins them when Lysithea calls over to her, the ladies each cutting a large piece.

"Are you not joining them?" Lorenz wonders, sliding up to Leonie.

"I'll wait until everyone else goes," she smiles and bites her cheek, drawing blood for a moment. "I'm not too used to sugar. Don't, uh… really want to start hopping off the walls if it gets me really excited."

"Moderation is good," he nods, not actually getting the problem Leonie's facing since she doesn't say it.

She is terrified the sugar won't taste the same in this body.

"I, myself, have to limit how much tea I have each day," Lorenz hums. "Once my new kettle arrives, I shall invite you for tea. You are one of the few around here who actually have the proper table manners for it."

"Oh, how is the etiquette club? I've been meaning to stop by and see if they'll lend me a book before the new students arrive."

He sighs, like learning hardcore etiquette isn't what he expected. "Everyone is busy with exam preparation. I am learning some, however they have no real time for me."

"Well then, maybe we can practice sometime. Or, I can try to not offend you with my poor table setting skills."

"I am positive you can be nowhere near as horrid as Claude is."

"Heard me name," he pops up with a grin, cake in hand and fork in the other. Purposefully takes a bite and asks with a full mouth, "What's up?"

Lorenz makes a noise, lips pulling down, "Disgusting."

While Lorenz flaunts away, Claude swallows and raises an eyebrow at Leonie.

"I learned to gut a fish by myself," she raises hers back. "Very little disgusts me."

He laughs, almost surprised at himself, and nudges her towards the table, "Get some before Lysithea eats it all."

"I head that, Claude!"

-.

"Lady Edelgard," Hubert is bowing before she even turns from the window, "the carriage is ready. Your uncle," he sneers the word, dripping with distaste, "is insisting you sit with him. I have been informed, however, that if we wait an hour longer there will be several noble children who would be grateful to have your ear if even for an hour."

"Thank you, Hubert," her lips do not twitch, but her voice is soft. "I really should visit father before I depart. We might even have some tea, if the Prime Minister allows it."

Her vassal's smile isn't kind, but it relieves her, nonetheless. "I will inform the drivers of the delay." He bows.

Leaves before she mutters her repeated, "Thank you, Hubert."

The princess and heir to the Adrestian Empire turns to the window a moment longer, gaze tightening as this time she doesn't see the people oppressed by the nobility and the slithering darkness. This time, she sees a doll, dressed in one of the many grand outfits suited for a puppet figurehead. The makeup hides the scars, the blemishes, adds a bit of life to the cold, pale skin of someone who has forgotten what true warmth feels like.

Edelgard von Hresvelg swears it will be the last day of this. Today is the beginning of the tipping point.

No one can force her into dresses and makeup at Garreg Mach Monastery. It will be only decent thing the Church has ever done for her.

Edelgard swallows back every drip of distaste, hate, and fear. With a swirl she is off to see her father, for possibly the final time.

The last of her blood and bone family.

I'm sorry, my dear one. I'm so sorry-

Not even he deserves her tears.

-.

"Your Highness," Dedue bows the moment he is in sight of the crown prince. "The carriage is ready. The others are waiting for you outside."

"Ah, many thanks, Dedue," Dimitri takes one last glance at his kingdom from his balcony. "How are you feeling?"

"Your Highness?"

"About going to Garreg Mach Monastery. I must admit, I am quite anxious now that the day is here. It has always seemed like such long way to go, and now we have nearly a month until the new year begins. How do you feel about it all?"

"I am… happy, to be given the opportunity to learn alongside you, your Highness."

Prince Dimitri smiles best he can-

"-Dimitri!"

"Diimiiitriiii!"

"Kill them! Kill them all!"

"Avenge us! Find them and kill every-"

- and clasps his friend on the shoulder, "I am happy to learn with you as well."

The voices of the dead have yet to give him a single day of rest. It is nothing new. What is, will be following along to their demands. They tell him the information he needs is at Garreg Mach.

("-find the book. The proof is there. Lord Arundel has cut the donations. Find it, Dimitri. Find it. The proof-")

Just this once, he will do their bidding. Maybe if he finds it, they will finally quiet and leave him.

…Dimitri still isn't sure he wants that, though.

-.

Lady Rhea stands on her balcony and watches the tiny humans play below.

So tiny. So small.

So breakable. Such short lifespans.

"Are you even listening to me?" her brother complains.

"Of course," she can multitask. Not like the weak creatures around her. "Messengers delivering approximate arrival times for the new year's students. Manuela gave her report. Exams being finalized. A few rumors about the Western Church. Did I miss anything?"

"No," Seteth grumbles, shuffling his papers back into order. "I do wish you would take these more seriously."

"What is there to worry about?" Rhea smiles thinly, Seteth stiffening as her eyes flash a beady, pupil-less white. "No students could ever surpass us, Manuela was doing her job, and we cannot act until some concrete evidence comes from the Western Church. If there really is any dissent, we can end it where it begins, with the Church or with the students."

Seteth's mouth presses into a line. He always did like humans more than she did, though he does not complain about sending children to fight their battles anymore. See? Rhea blinks back to her normal, bright minty green eyes. Humans are all humans, no matter the age, brother.

"What about the change in the air?" He breaks into her viewing pleasure once more with his silly worries. "You cannot tell me you are not concerned-"

"It is simply a forewarning of change," Rhea raises a hand, as if to wave away the thought. "While it may feel different than the usual, it is not unheard of. It is small, like the beat of an insect's wing. Nothing that will cause waves. We have nothing to fear, Seteth."

"…If you say so."

"I do."

"…Then I shall leave you. Have a pleasant evening, Rhea."

She hums, dissmisive. He has been acting different these past few weeks, trying to foster more paperwork towards her. Rhea loathes paperwork, has not touched the stuff since recruiting her brother and assigning a leader to each position of the Church and Academy businesses. It will be just like the last year, Seteth will be back to normal come the class assigning.

Maybe it's because Flayn is here? But no, she's been here for years. It must be since she is now awake. Rhea does not understand why he bothers having a parental bond with his daughter. He has more important things to control.

So does Flayn, not that the girl will accept her duty.

Rhea is careful not to let her human-looking face twist where people can see it. She's learned throughout the years that the inhuman beauty can cause nightmares if there is a break in the mask. Still, the tips of her fingers dig into the stone balcony as she looks to the sky, where guards and mounts fly freely.

She misses the freedom. Misses her kingdom being solely hers and her mother's to control.

It is lonely, being the only one left who can turn into a dragon.

The only one to truly understand the sky.

A/N: In which there's a lot of build up and very little payoff.

Thanks for reading! A really big thank you to ShadowWolf223, xenocanaan, MiserableSOUL660, guisniperman, Genin, JoshuaFangurl, IReadNoNonsense, Eclipse130, HersheyBby, and TheGiantRock for reviewing! The support truly means a lot!

Ten chapters in and a few other points of view. No Claude's POV yet because he's likely to get a whole interlude and he's currently around more often. He also doesn't know who his pen pal is, and every time he thinks it's narrowed down the other candidates show they're just as likely, which is unfortunate for him.

Was getting a little ahead of myself on the Black/Red Eagle side plot so last chapter has been tweaked a bit (like, three to six words, so nothing major).

Some people show up next chapter. If you're interested, feel free to guess who.

Thanks again for reading. I hope everyone is well. Please take care