Chapter Eighteen

1.

"Get up," Felix snaps. Lysithea growls from flat on the earth, glaring at him with fire in her eyes, but complies. Bernadetta hovers off to the side, fearful for her turn to come. "Again."

Swords clash, but it is obvious who is the stronger and more skilled between them. Lysithea holds her own, a bit longer every time. The only reason she holds her tongue is because Felix can be a good teacher when he wants to be, going over what went wrong and showcasing the weak points.

Leonie glances over at the two new arrivals, "Hey there! Didn't think you'd make it!"

Dimitri smiles, rueful, while Dedue nods his greeting. The prince glances over to the active combatants, "We were held up at a meeting. Is it… alright if we patriciate?"

"Of course." Leonie ignores the sounds of Lysithea's defeat as Felix realizes who's arrived. There's a chill sweeping over them, whether from Felix's dislike or his Crest trying to shield them from the newcomers is hard to tell. "We're focusing on swords today, but I can use a lance or gauntlets if you want someone to practice with. Bernadetta might too while she waits."

"Ah, thank you," Dimitri grins a bit more roguish, causing Leonie to raise her eyebrows. "I will go ask Bernadetta if she would like to light spar with me."

Before Leonie can give a hard control your strength or you deal with me speech, Dedue calls her name, "Annette and I will be working in the greenhouse tomorrow, if you would care to join us."

"Sure!" Leonie grins, strongly ignoring how Felix tells Lysithea they're done and it's Bernadetta's turn. "That sounds like fun! Should I meet you at the greenhouses, or at breakfast?"

"If you would not mind waiting for us at breakfast, that will work."

"I don't mind. I can save you both some food, if you want. The final tests for lance classes are tomorrow so there's probably going to be a worse rush than last week."

Dedue hesitates, "I think it would be better for Annette and myself to get our own meals. We both have strict limits on how much we are allowed to spend."

"Gotcha." Finally, Leonie turns around. Bernadetta's screaming and flailing is drawing a lot of attention, but the chaos of it is gaining the upper hand against Felix. Meanwhile, Dimitri and Lysithea are going over the previously taught disarming techniques for sword-lance combinations. "Do you want to partner up, warm up, or just watch for now."

Dedue smiles, stoic face softening a bit, "Would you mind if we began with swords?"

"Not at all! How much practice do you have with them?"

"About the same as His Highness."

Which Leonie quickly learns is a lie. At least Dimitri can get a grip on a sword, and both are not hopeless, but it's very obvious why Felix dislikes sword competitions with them.

2.

Coming back from washing her hands – Leonie gives thanks every day for the bathrooms having separate pipes from the sauna – after a successful morning in the gardens, she jogs to hurry over for a mix-group lunch, wondering if Dorothea and Mercedes had as much luck of inviting everyone as she did. Leonie had to bribe Hilda with being a pack mule for her latest market purchases, but at least her meeting with Shamir gives her a time limit on how long to be gone.

There's someone familiar coming from the opposite direction. Leonie slows and smiles, unable to help the stare.

"Hello," comes the cool tones of call-me-Yuri. "Can I help you?"

"I was going to ask you that," Leonie nods. "Are you a new student? All the others are in the exams and I haven't seen you around before."

"And you know every student."

He doesn't say it as a question, but as a dry, judging joke. Leonie shrugs, "I know there isn't a student who's completed all lance required exams. So, new or hiding?"

A startled grin escapes him, "Neither. I never finished my schooling, so I was meeting with the faculty about myself and a few friends returning this year to finish."

"Well," Leonie grins extra wide, "I hope you all decide to come. And that you'll join the Golden Deer. We're currently the smallest of the future classes, but we're crafty."

"Are you the future house leader?"

"Nah, that's Claude's job. Unofficially, of course. But I'm not even in the running."

"Oh?" Yuri tilts his head a bit, pinning her with crystalized purple eyes as his bangs part, "How so?"

"Commoner," she does little jazz hands. There's a trickle of amusement at how aback he's taken by that. "I also have no plans on running any groups anytime soon. The less paperwork, the better."

He lets out a soft breath, like a laugh. "Good luck on written assignments."

"Thanks," Leonie raises a hand in an almost wave and begins moving again. "I hope you'll join the classes!"

Yuri watches her for a bit, not knowing she catches the wistful, "Me too."

And as they part, Leonie lets the bitterness take over the fake pleasantries. Nothing in his gaze said he knew who she was. Not once did his Crest try to spike at her like when they had talked before. Not even as strangers had he asked for her name.

If she chose to care about their odd partnership, then maybe she'd let the bitterness and disappointment spread. Leonie shakes it off as something to leave behind and keep moving forward. Now, no one should know of her involvement with the magical-not-magical cup. He likely doesn't even remember making the deal.

It's only a vague curiosity, but Leonie wonders just who he tried to tell about her.

3.

At the sound of voices, Leonie rolls her head a bit against the wall, pushing off it to cross her arms and cock her hip. Unimpressed.

That fades quickly as the young woman straightens, arms falling and best awed expression she can pull off while facing one of Rhea's most trusted Knights.

"Hey kid," Catherine, wielder of the Hero's Relic Thunderbrand, greets with a beaming smile. "This the one you're taken with, Shamir?"

A rare, small, darkly pleased smile comes and goes from the shadows around the once-mercenary, "She is. Leonie, Catherine is my partner instructor of the Officer's Academy and Knights of Seiros. Whenever I can't teach, she fills in."

Leonie pumps a fist, trying to be discreet about cutting through the thick, hungry threads forcing their way around her. On her skin it almost feels of electricity, her mouth barely able to repel the static, "Nice to meet you! I look forward to learning under you both!"

There are words being said that she can't understand. Not completely. The tone around her is something that tries to say, I like you, want to assist you.

"Yah," Catherine sends Shamir an odd, almost disbelieving, glance,"I look forward to seeing what you're made of. Not everyday Shamir gives a glowing endorsement." The blonde gets a scowl from her partner for that. "I'm just saying! Ah well, I'll leave you two to it. See you around, Leonie, Shamir!"

Shamir tsks, but nods her goodbyes. Opens the door next to her neighbor's and jerks her chin. Leonie follows and takes the offered seat, shoulders loosening now that the air isn't trying to shock her.

Shamir snorts and settles next to a desk, "Anti-Crest wards will be our first lesson. Hand out." Leonie complies and Shamir grabs it, "Hmm… Nothing. Have you ever been around old Church relics before?"

"No, sir."

"Then maybe you already figured it out…" Shamir lets go, switching for a quill. "Be careful around Catherine. You shouldn't draw attention because you don't have a Crest, but if she catches wind of what you can do then she'll sell you out to Rhea. It's the only reason the both of us are alive. Catherine can see Crest bonds, I can feel them. How about you?"

Leonie keeps smiling, but it's cautious. A slow look around the room with raised eyebrows.

"All the private quarters are built with privacy seals," Shamir drawls. "We can hear out, no one can hear in unless I deactivate it."

"Mind if I place my own?"

Shamir sighs, face neutral, and gestures her to do it. Leonie meanders around the room, placing eight stones, layering the one-way Silence just inside the magic of the other spells.

"I can see them if I change my eyesight," Leonie admits, sitting backdown, unblinking, "and partially feel them. Since coming here, I have begun to taste and smell them." And when they are stones, I can start to hear them.

Shamir takes time to process this. A long minute of quiet stretches, broken when the woman leans back to stare at the ceiling. Finally, "The most I have heard is a person gaining two senses towards Crests. I can only hope this evolution is because you aren't connected to anything yet, however it is unlikely. What do you mean you can change eyesight?"

Blink.

There is one strand wrapped around Shamir's ankles, wrists and neck. Shackles and a noose, or strings to hold her up?

Blink.

"Alright," Shamir is as deadpan as she's known for. "Never do that where people can see you. How did you learn to do that?"

"Captain Jeralt," Leonie throws him under the metaphorical bus. "I always wondered where he learned it from. It makes sense now. He used to be the captain of the Knights of Seiros."

Shamir slow blinks. "Okay. So he would have taught you a few things. That also explains your fighting style. A lot of your move set mirrors the Knights of Seiros. Where did you learn unarmed combat?"

"Fighting the bears in the forest around my village."

A slow intake, "Who taught you buffs?"

"Oh, I learned those myself. Lots of trial and error-"

"Stop," Shamir commands, slightly lost in thought. Leonie quiets and watches. The woman puts a quill down on paper, sliding both over. "Write down all of your buffs. I need to know what I'm working with."

Leonie doesn't write them all down, but does list her common use. Diverter, Blocker, Speed, Strength, Silence. Lightweight, Heavyweight, Durability, Accuracy, and Eagle Eye. She hesitates, and then changes the starting line for Invisibility into Heal. She slides it back, and after barely a moment of reading Shamir demands to know the specifics of each one. After Leonie describes, Shamir names the Dagda equivalent.

Speed is Quickstep, Strength is Forceful Contact, because no one would dare use them longer than a step, move, or two because of the toll on the body. Silence is equivalent to a Dagda spell meaning quiet in Fódlan's language.

Shamir says nothing for the Lightweight, Heavyweight, and Durability buffs after their explanation. Appears very impassive, in fact. Explains that Accuracy and Eagle Eye are normally one buff for projectile users: Sharpshooter.

The self-heal is something apparently anyone with a bare minimum of Faith can accomplish, with varying results.

Finally, Shamir asks – demands of – Leonie, "Have you ever used these on other people?"

And Leonie responds, "Only Heal."

Besides Alistair, she's only ever used it on others for small injuries.

Because magical healing is frightening and dangerous.

Shamir nods, "There are normally two different fields the people of Dagda use to classify magic wielders. Personal and Ranged. Every buff, spell, and ward can be used in the categories; however, a magic user excels in using it on themselves or on others. From what you've described and how you used these, you would be classified as a Personal magic user. From everything you have here," she taps the paper, "it makes more sense how you've gone this long without a Crest bonding to you. Or re-bonding.

"I am a Personal magic user, which will help as we adjust your magic use. It will be promising if you hold a healthy weight by the end of the week, but I won't get my hopes up. I need to get a better sense on your ranged magic; our goal will be to have you master Nosferatu before the end of the month. That way, if you ever find yourself overexerting magic, you can steal some from your opponents. We start tomorrow. You and Cyril will be learning it together.

"For now, we're going back for a small history lesson. You have ways to stop Crest bonds from forming to you, but I can tell from touching you that you have broken bonds. Someone you knew must have died, and it shattered something in you, correct?"

…Don't think about it, "Yes sir."

"Is there anyone here you haven't thought about killing?"

"…"

"The broken bonds are not the only reason why you feel this way. A lot of people keep moving until they can't, husks of their former selves. The fact you are functioning without something to tether you to society means you are of a rare few who are biologically made to withstand the power of Crests."

Except, Leonie knows she is very much not.

"In Dagda," Shamir's lips press together for a moment, a flash of pain crossing, "before the war, it was tradition for children to be born in rooms that forbid Crested people from entering. They would stay in this room or under protections like it until they could roll, where a charm would be placed on them, allowing them to be removed without the risk of tying themselves to someone with a Crest."

Shamir taps her necklace, "I have only ever bonded twice. Once with my best friend and partner, and once with Rhea. As a Personal magic user, I was hired constantly as protection against the Empire's forces. When my partner was killed, I became a husk of the person I was until Rhea pulled me back from the brink."

The woman sighs and leans away from her captive audience, "It is now illegal to bar a Crested person anywhere in Dagda. The Archbishop encourages those trained and blessed by the Church to be in the delivery room. And the Empire…"

Shamir sucks in a hash breath, shaking her head, "I am getting off topic. The point is, someone from Fódlan's with no bonds should be an impossibility. Within the next century, it will be unlikely anyone from Brigid or Dagda will be free of bonds. All knowledge of it was outlawed by the Church lifetimes ago, and the Empire burned anything they found on it. If anyone finds out what you are on top of your skills, it is a toss up if you'll be made to swear to the Church or be killed on the spot. I'll be killed for teaching you, so I would appreciate discretion on all of this."

Leonie nods slowly, having to ask, "Do you know anything about the Almyrans?"

Shamir's grin is a bare of teeth, "Only that they are incapable of accepting Crest bonds. Cyril is one of the very, very few who have ever done so. If that information gets out, I will kill you myself."

4.

"Before you go," Shamir twirls her quill, "would you happen to know anything about the Phantom of the Monastery?"

"No sir."

"Probably for the best," cold, purple eyes watch the younger woman. "With how quiet it's been, Seteth has ordered the search off. If whoever they were, were to come back, then the Archbishop will likely get involved."

Leonie feigns innocence, wondering if Shamir knows she's thinking about stabbing her, "Really? Did they do something serious?"

"Apparently they damaged an old relic. I wasn't privy to the details, but with the prison escape coinciding with their disappearance, I think there is more then grounds for the extra force."

"Oh my," Leonie feels her smile twitch. She's working hard not to let it stretch too far. "Well, hopefully they can get caught. Damaging the Church's relics is paramount to treason, isn't it? That's what it says in-"

"It's in the scripture," Shamir cuts off. "A little too wordy for my taste, but yes. If they do come back, be careful not to draw attention to yourself. The last thing we need is Rhea getting close to you."

Leonie feels the edges of apprehension, "Is she a sensor, too?"

"Worse, she has a Major Crest and knows how to use it. That will be our next lesson. Now get out."

5.

"Why do you look so down?" Leonie nudges Ignatz, pulling his attention from the blank canvas. She points over to where her practice designs are being torn apart by their fellow students and the art club's seamstresses and tailors. "We got Lysithea and Marianne in here. Hey, I even got Dorothea and Mercedes to agree to come when I finally design something acceptable. It's not because Hilda isn't here, right? She refused to come-"

"No, no," he assures her. "It isn't that. I'm just…"

Then he visibly steels himself, reigning in all nerves and forcing his shoulder back. Leonie keeps frozen in her seat, unsure if he wants her to move back or lean closer. His is a look of pulling teeth, trying to get the words out. When they do, they're softer, quiet. But as Leonie processes them, it doesn't make the icy feeling go away.

"I heard- I heard what… Lauza and the others were saying," while the words take a herculean effort for him to say, it takes the same strength to keep her smile in place against the spikes of betrayal. "When you were all in the storage room. I- does- does that happen… I mean, I guess I'm lucky to have a room with Claude and Lorenz. I don't… are you okay?"

Leonie clasps her hands in her lap, nails leaving marks in her skin as she breathes. "Where were you hiding?"

He flinches, as if struck. "I- a statue just to the right of the door."

"I can understand why you didn't speak up," as she speaks, the air feels hollow in her chest for all it sounds considerate. "Is everything alright with you and Raphael in regards to Gregory and-"

"Yes!" he blurts. "Everything is fine! They've been great, really. Even… even for a second son like me."

Leonie rolls her eyes, "You're not just a second son. You're apart of one of the most well-connected merchant chains in Fódlan. You're a great artist, and you have the makings of a great knight. Don't let people put you down. Are they putting you down?"

"No," he hangs his head. "Most people don't talk to me."

"That can always change," she reminds him. "Sit next to someone different when you come into the art room. That's a good start."

"…You're right. Thank you, Leonie."

"Anytime."

And with the topic successfully diverted, Ignatz picks up his paint brush and begins to draw the room. Leonie turns to her own rough sketches, feeling another spike of bitterness at how he didn't press. It is her own fault, switching the focus to him so she doesn't have to lie and say it's fine or it's been taken care of.

He's still young, she forcefully reminds herself. He'll learn.

Ignatz will have to if he wants to make any success in the world off of others.

6.

"So, uh," and just like that, the laxed attitude of two people watching the beginner's axe tournament breaks into something awkward, on Raphael's end at least, "Ignatz said he talked to you about Lauza yesterday."

Leonie can't help the sigh, a thunk sounding as her head hits the pillar, "He said he overheard our 'conversation'. Wait," because Ignatz isn't confident in himself yet, "did you tell him to talk to me?"

"Well, yah," Raphael laughs awkwardly. "When he told me what was wrong, I said we needed to make sure you were okay. Now that we know the problem, we'll look out for you!" He beams, unaware of the bit of relief creeping through Leonie's naturally muted emotions. "He said he forgot to ask if you wanted us to all have a talk. Maybe get Claude or Lorenz or Hilda to speak with her. And we know other people in the other Houses. Ingrid or Caspar or, hey, even Dimitri! And Bernadetta might say something if you ask. If you want some support going to them, we're here for you!"

Leonie has to pinch her skin to draw away from the clinical thoughts threatening to ruin the moment. Has to push down, thanks, but I can deal with it, because Raphael is one of those good people who doesn't need the brush off. Her smile grows a little as she meets his gaze, "Thank you. It will be fine, they haven't done anything to me since they confronted me," expect spread a few rumors, but commoner hate has not gained momentum with everyone stressing about their futures right now, "but I will let you know if something happens again. Has anyone done anything to you?"

"Maybe?" he laughs uncertainly. "I've had a few people say some odd things to me, but I haven't given it much thought. I'll try to pay more attention to what they mean, but I don't always get this noble-speak, you know?"

"I know," Leonie groans. "Why can't they just say what they mean?"

"Right?!"

There is a very faint scent of fish before their future house leader appears, "Hey guys, what'd I miss?"

"Morning, Claude," Leonie drawls, eyeing the elbows he's resting on their shoulders, peering between them. She gives an obvious sniff. "Don't tell me you worked at the docks in your uniform."

"Yes, why?"

Raphael laughs while Leonie rolls her eyes, "Just, talk to Hilda about getting some perfume. Whatever you washed with did not get the smell out."

7.

"Morning Edelgard, Hubert!"

"Good morning again, Leonie," the princess smiles coyly. "How was your run?"

"Pretty good," if one ignores the cats beginning to run alongside her on the walls. "I've really felt the results of it, but I'm trying not to get too complacent. When I feel confident, I may try running to the lower village and back."

The future Emperor's eyebrows shoot up, "That is quite the goal. Are you going to try it before the class training begins?"

"Oh right, that is coming soon," Leonie settles against the pillar, watching the tournament students warm up. "Thanks for reminding me! It's hard to believe the month is almost over."

"Hmm, yes," Hubert drawls with a mixture of malice and disdain. "Soon we will begin learning from the accomplished professors so gratefully employed by Church of Seiros."

Edelgard looks exasperated, "Hubert…"

"I do believe Ms. Pinelli will understand my disposition," he doesn't blink, almost ready to strike like a snake. Waiting for her move. "After all, she does have a rather tumultuous history with Manuela. Why, I would guess Hanneman has paid her even less attention than myself."

"'She' is right here, and yes, Hubert, I get your point to an extent," Leonie doesn't falter, doesn't cross her arms or drop a smile. She is as relaxed as possible in the face of a poisonous predator. "They are not the only professors, just the ones qualified to reside over the classes. I've had a great talk with Professor Maence, and even got a few words with half the faculty. I'm looking forward to learning from them. You can never know too much."

"Well said," Edelgard is still glaring at her retainer. "I, for one, am looking forward to the upcoming year. I would not mind for either magic expert to be our class's overseer." She turns back to Leonie, forcing a smile. "Do you know who the third professor will be?"

Leonie's already shaking her head before the teen finishes, "I don't think the Church has chosen. They only need to find someone to fill in for authority and hand-to-hand specific training, so probably someone noble? You and the other house leaders will probably know before I do."

Her head itches for a moment, trying to pull up a memory buried deep. Leonie's distracted by the overwhelming feeling of hot and cold before she can even try to remember. Claude throws an arm over her should, "Hey Edelgard, Hubert. I didn't think you'd be here until tomorrow."

"Claude," Edelgard greets cordially. "I thought it best to observe the levels of one of my natural skills. We all must go through the steps in order to become masters, after all."

His arm drops, but Claude doesn't move away, "You're going to love this then. Apparently, there hasn't been a permanent axe teacher in decades. Everyone is supposed to go to Seteth or the Captain of the Knights for questions, but since they're so busy no one has been correcting them properly."

"We figured out the difference between Alliance, Empire, and Kingdom axe bearings yesterday," Leonie throws in while he takes a breath. "If you want a real teacher, you'll have to ask around the knights. Gilbert is the best, but he only teaches those from the Kingdom, the-" she swears.

Hubert looks ready to tear her apart, while Edelgard is taken aback. Claude laughs, "Between you and Hilda, I'm sure someone will look after the Golden Deer."

Leonie's 'Excuse me?!' goes unheard by Edelgard's frown and, "Thank you for alerting me to this. We will begin looking for a suitable tutor for our peers."

"Of course, princess," he winks. "We wouldn't want to have an advantage over you in the mock battle, after all."

Leonie covers the hole Claude's digging himself by interrupting Edelgard before she can retort, "Oh look! They're starting. Let's see if you two can pick up the differences in styles."

8.

"This is so uncute," Hilda grumbles, carried in Leonie's arms with an adorable pout. "You two owe me so much for this."

"Why?" Leonie laughs, cutting it off before the sharpness bleeds through. "Half of the academy think's I'm a guy, and it wouldn't be the first time you had to be carried because of a 'sore' ankle."

"But you're so scrawny," Hilda complains. "I can't compliment you on your muscles and get you to do this again just because you feel like showing off. You always want me to do something for your help."

"That is just good business sense," Claude comments. He hasn't stopped grinning since Leonie swept the teen off her feet. "You should really practice with us more. You'll never know when faking an injury won't work."

"Oh, I will know just fine," Hilda huffs. "You two are just too hard to read. I will find the thing that gets you to help me for free."

Leonie smiles around clenched teeth, "That's called blackmail."

"You call it blackmail, I call it secret weapon."

Claude holds the door for them, "You would have to stop procrastinating to look for something."

"Oh, please," Hilda pouts some more as she's placed on her feet. "Just because I don't run around like everyone else doesn't mean I don't do work."

"Hilda's gossip connections are amazing," Leonie reluctantly admits.

"Excuse you, I-" Hilda cuts off and makes a face. "Ugh. I was hoping they would not be here."

They follow her gaze to Edelgard and Hubert, Claude wondering, "Do you really not like them?"

"I am not fond of them," Hilda admits, "though it is not like I dislike them. Our social circles do not intermingle often. That, and they have done nothing to search for Monica."

Leonie bites her tongue, elbowing Claude before he can say anything to piss the pinkette off. They already sold their afternoon to practice tea times and play makeup artist with her. While he wheezes, the young woman politely asks, "Will you be alright keeping peace for a few hours in their presence?"

"Actually," Hilda hums, "I see Penelope and Win. I will come back to you guys during the finals. Bye."

Claude finishes coughing, glaring at Leonie, "What was that for?"

"I think she had a crush on Monica and I don't want to set her off."

He startles, "A- a crush? As in, Hilda was falling in love with…?"

Leonie doesn't understand the look on her face, but nods, "Well, yah. I mean, I'm not certain. But a lot of times Hilda looked to Monica like she hung the moon and stars. Or whatever the saying is."

"Oh," Claude is grinning, but everything about him feels cold. "Okay. Guess I just never noticed."

"I mean…" Leonie eyes him, "I could be wrong?"

"No, no, it makes sense now."

"Claude," she stops him before they make their way over to the others. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he replies, and she snags his wrist.

"Try again."

He watches her hand for a moment before nodding slowly, meeting her eyes while his Crest slowly begins poking. "Alright, not fine fine. Maybe a bit shocked. I did not see that coming. How desperate she'd been? It makes sense. If it was h- if it was someone I loved, I'd be worried if they disappeared like that too."

"Okay," Leonie releases. He flexes his wrist. "If you need some time alone or-"

"No, I've got this." His smile looks more real, but his eyes are a cold, distant green. "Let's go watch the tournament." When she stares a bit longer, he adds, "Please."

Leonie sighs, "Let me know if you need an out."

For a second, his grin really does look real.

9.

In the area between the makeshift dorms for future students, archery targets line up and down the grassy field, while in the training hall the gauntlet tournament is going full force.

"This seems unfair," Ignatz mutters from beside Leonie. The whole future Golden Deer class is out watching the students shoot. "What if you only have an ability in archery?"

"That is why it is extra credit, Ignatz," Lorenz replies, but he too is frowning. For all the targets, only a handful are being used. Most of the students are taking their final exams for anything with an axe skill needed or studying for the last round of tests. Tomorrow will be for the gauntlet and bow classes.

Leonie risks a glance over to their next house leader. Claude looking more serious than she's ever seen, a few feet of distance between him and the others. An arrow thunks, drawing her back to the scene. The Leicester Alliance is known for producing competent archers. Over two thirds of the participants are from the Golden Deer class.

The system is rigged against them, and every single student here knows it.

To lighten the mood a bit, Leonie asks, "Can anyone shoot upside-down?"

"What?" Hilda asks.

In the corner of her eye, Claude's turned to them. Leonie continues, "Upside-down? I used to practice hanging from tree branches by my knees and shooting targets. I tried flipping off a tree once to see if I could do it in the air, but that was a terrible idea."

"Why would you do that?" Lorenz asks, interested.

"You never know when you might need it, right?" she grin brightly, meeting everyone's gaze. "And it's a really good party trick if you ever want to impress someone."

That gets some laughs and groans. The bad mood breaks, future students turning to each other and explaining some interesting things they've done or practiced over the years. Claude stays out of it, but he's smiling when he turns back to the field.

For all the nobles' fancy tutors and training, it's Ignatz and Raphael who have the best stories to tell.

10.

"Get up," Felix demands. Lysithea grits her teeth and complies. They're both smiling, her lasting longer and longer each round. "Again."

"Wait," Lysithea demands. Felix pauses. "Leonie, I want the sword!"

Leonie pauses from taking Bernadetta's lance blows, "What was that?"

"The sword! I want to use the one I was using before!"

Both ladies look at her like she's crazy, "The kaboom one?!"

"Yes!"

"Why?!"

"Trust me."

And with a crazed a grin as that, Leonie reluctantly does. She does a quick run inside to make it look like she got it from their room. Holds it out to the teen, "Don't. Break. It."

Lysithea huffs and makes give me motions. Leonie carefully hands it over, scooting back to where Bernadetta is watching wide eyes.

"Okay," Lysithea demands her sparring partner's attention, "Now I'm ready."

Felix nods and leaps forward, making the first blow. Lysithea blocks and sweets, shifting her grip after the miss.

The wood of the training sword begins to go an intertwining black and white.

Felix doesn't let it startle him, instead pressing hard. Lysithea gasps and nearly a minute later has the sword ripped from her grip. The colours fade, part of the grass only flattened by sword. A brilliant smile breaks on the loser's face.

"What was that?" Felix demands.

"An idea," Lysithea grins, rolling over to grabs the sword and hand to back to Leonie. She takes the plain training sword back, going to Felix, "What if we could combine our magic with weapons."

He isn't impressed, "There are already-"

"I know there are magical weapons out there," Lysithea cuts him off, brave and coming off a research bend. "But combining our own magic to our weapons. Making them magical as long as we use them. I don't know enough about other weapons to do it to them, but Leonie's got the workings of one on a sword. I've been looking at the design and I think I know how to do it. Let me practice while we train. Please."

Felix's cool gaze only leaves Lysithea's once, glaring at her for disrupting whatever training plan he made with her idea, "I don't know any spells, or enough Reason and Faith magic to make sure you are not harming yourself. If you do wish to try and channel your magic through a sword, then that piece of training will be all on you. I will not have it interfere with my teachings."

"Agreed," Lysithea says, holding out her free hand.

Felix scoffs but shakes, "Go practice your idea. We will not spar until you are sure it will not harm either us or the swords. Bernadetta, your turn!"

Leonie's so proud that the teen doesn't run when she's shouted at. Now, to make sure Lysithea isn't doing something dumb.

A/N: School hasn't started but people are learning.

Thanks for reading! A really big thank you to xenocanaan, HersheyBby (JoshuaFangurl), Eclipse130, AdamasintheRough, Real HersheyBby (HersheyBby), BlueBunnyims, DestructionDragon360, shyguy, Guest, TheGiantRock, Luiz Faidou, Guest number 720, and Wailorde for reviewing! The support truly means a lot!

Random question: Who's the old man character in Three Houses? Jeralt isn't recruitable, Gilbert isn't completely recruitable, Alois has a family, and while Hanneman is grey in his 50s, Seteth is older than all of them. Maybe I'm just over thinking it.

Like Chapters 8 & 9, it didn't feel right to post the next chapter by itself. I know not everyone likes interludes, so if you want to skip the next chapter it's not a problem. Anything related to the plot will eventually be brought up in the main story. Which leads me to… even with all of my editing, cuts, and changes, the next chapter is sitting at +40,000 words. Please remember to eat, sleep, and take breaks if you decide to read it. It's probably closer to a recap, but I still hope people enjoy reading it.

Thanks again for reading. I hope everyone is well and has a great day! Please take care