Chapter Twenty-Six

1.

Sitting down for breakfast, Leonie asks - with total curiosity - the question that's been eating her all night, "Are you angry?"

Claude coughs, trying to get up the oatmeal he inhaled by surprise. When he finishes chugging down his water and can speak again, Leonie is halfway through a bowl of grapes as he asks, "What?"

"I forgot to ask you last night," she responds. "Are you mad? Or upset?"

Claude blinks a few times before finding an emotion that causes a wryly smile, "No. I'm fine. Promise."

"If you say so," Leonie smiles back, ignoring how he tries to kick her foot under the table. "If I do anything to piss you off, feel free to let me know." His smile shows more teeth at her crude language. "If anyone else gets you riled up, well, also feel free to let me know or just give me a good reason to let loose on them. This week especially, I can just feel I am going to be antsy."

"Try not to make Manuela snap too soon. We need her for at least the mock battle."

"I'll be on my best behaviour if she is."

2.

On the chalkboard is today's lesson.

Wilderness and Survival Review.

Leonie doesn't want to sound cocky… but this isn't a lesson for her. It's for the nobles who only hunt like it's a sport. People who have never gone camping or have never found themselves lost in the woods. When starving, and nothing obvious around to eat, what plants are edible, and which should never be touched?

The eldest Deer has grown up living these lessons. It is less review and more survival skills. At least the others seem to be learning. Their reactions make it very telling who has had to scrape things off the ground to live another day.

The itchy restlessness growing in Leonie only cultivates as she watches Manuela pace up and down the aisle, the professor's riding crop slapping her empty hand every now and then. Solely once does she try to have Leonie to sit straight and face forward.

Leonie's smile is not a kind one as she promises to do it for tests. For now, she can write sideways. Claims it's easier.

Keeps her back as much to the wall as she can, habitually eyeing the whole room. Feels sparks of relief that Lysithea chose the side where Leonie can write and watch with her dominant hand scribbling on the table, her left-handed writing still a tad messy even with the forced ambidextrousness.

Manuela leaves nearly the moment the noon bell rings, throwing out that their homework is to gather one of the editable plants reviewed today. Claude is the one to gather them together at the end and pair them off in groups for more adventurous work with the assignment.

"You'll be fine," Leonie tells the youngest of the Deer, dropping her tray on the unofficial Deer table as the main class stays together for lunch. "Between you and Claude, the three of you are going to find the things no problem. And hey, if you get tired, just get one of them to carry you."

Lysithea's eyes shift to Lorenz, expression dubious as she scans his thin arms, "No thanks. I don't want to give Claude any more reason to treat me like I'm helpless."

"He knows you aren't. If you keep reacting, he's going to continue teasing you."

"Like a child."

Leonie pauses. Swallows. Points with her utensil, "You know, if it does bother you, I can get him to stop."

Lysithea pauses in return. Sets her food back down and thanks about it. Sighs, "No, it's- well, not fine but… I don't hate it. He's… It's fine coming from Claude. He knows when to stop. If anyone else tries it then I will shove a magic bolt down their throat." With that declaration made, the teen gets to eating.

Leonie smiles and holds back a height joke. If Lysithea really does get offended, she fully believes the teen can make good on her promise while being the smallest student in their year.

Lunch is interrupted mid-way by Edelgard standing and calling the room to attention. In the middle of the hall, Hubert flanking her and blocking the doorway, the princess announces, "The petition and all comments about making my House into the Red Eagles is to stop. We are the Black Eagles, students of the proud animal who delivered messages for Seiros throughout the War of Heroes. This is to be the only warning: anyone caught saying Red Eagles will be challenged to a spar-"

"Red Eagles!"

There is a near-silent pause in the room after the two, perfect-sync shouts. Leonie's standing, waving an arm in a pick me motion as Claude does a terrible job stifling a laugh down the bench. Ingrid and Sylvain are practically dog-piling Felix so that he couldn't go marching up after his shout.

Edelgard looks a mix between biting a lemon and an exhausted chaperone. She nods over a shoulder at Hubert.

"Well," the young man practically hisses, smile unkind, "since you are both so eager, I shall destroy you in the training hall in five minutes."

"If you do not appear," Edelgard says, long-suffering because she knows not even their House Leaders could stop the desperate fighters from a free spar, "then you will face detention with your House professor."

Leonie drops back down to shovel as much food as she can in the next minute. Claude snickers, throwing a look she doesn't have time to decipher, "Did you have to do that, Leonie?"

"They made it too easy," she finger guns, hurrying across the room. "Meet you there, Felix!"

3.

Since Hubert was probably born to a necromancer, he tells them it's going to be a magic-only spar as he pulls out a tome practically oozing in dark and poisonous magic. It would explain the deathly complexation, Leonie thinks. Any necromantic practitioner she's come across all have that sunken, gaunt look to their faces, and whatever Hubert's pulled out from this spar cannot be healthy for him.

"How consistent are you?" she wonders to her partner.

Felix take a moment to switch his glare from the Thunder tome to her, "If he leaves me alone, I can manage one shot. Where it goes on release is the problem."

"Friendly fire on then," Leonie nods. Decides she's going to need to dial it way back if they're going to put up a good show. This isn't something they should win. The Eagles need to put on a good front in order to make a point. "Good enough reason to stick to the Fire spell. I'll keep him distracted. You may want to keep an eye on the ground. Lysithea's magic is something like that tome, and she's fond of spikes."

"Understood."

They separate, Leonie forwards with empty hands while Felix stands at the field boundary, thumbing his tome. She catches yellow eyes and wiggles her fingers.

Hubert's gaze sours further, "If you are ready…"

Leonie and Felix send their okays to the referee, Edelgard. The crowd watching, tense and excited, as the princess declares the match on. Leonie's bounding forward on the balls of her feet, palms warming under fingerless gloves even if the fire will never touch them. Hubert jerks his free hand back, fingers splayed, eyes on Leonie, "Miasma Δ!"

Delta, her mind translates as the tome in his hand disintegrates. It turns into a magic circle at his feet, ball of purple magic forming in the retracted hand between one blink and the next. Leonie's eyes widen. Faster than the spell, the woman increases her weight and braces her feet. Hands out and covered in orange fire she cannot see through.

Grunts as Hubert's ball hits and neutralizes the magic, leaving behind the scent of sulphur. Just as she's shifting weight forward, Leonie yelps and does another thrust of fire. And another. Hubert is starting to sweat as the magic circle under him turns faster, powering up for a larger throw. Leonie's nose is starting to burn, "Felix!"

"Get down!" is the sharp retort. Leonie drops, the sound of her increased weight hitting stone almost eclipses the noise of the giant icicle exploding above her. Leonie rolls, shielding her face from the sharp debris. She springs up in time to see Felix grab a broken piece, holding it like a sword as he rushes Hubert.

Leonie will give him points for creativity, but winces as Edelgard calls the match after the first swing. Disqualified, though technically still within the rules because the ice-sword was made from magic. Leonie has to hook an arm around Felix, pulling his seething form back.

"That was awesome," the commoner says, completely ignoring how self-preservation is screaming it would have killed her if Danger Sense hadn't pinged in time. "How did you even manage to pull out an ice spell from a Thunder tome? Has this happened before?"

Felix draws a long breath through his nose. Finally breaks his staring contest with Hubert to nod, eyes laser-focused on the orange eyes in front of him.

"Wow. That is definitely something to look into. I would have thought wayward Thunder would turn into fire-"

"That is a possibility," Linhardt materializes from Leonie's blind spot, grabbing her hand and pulling so she's away from the Lion. Holds both her hands up for examination. "Thunder is one of the most difficult beginner spells to master because of initial magic reactions. Those who start with healing magics tend to learn fire-based spells, while those with less stamina for magic tend to the colder winds or blizzards. Thunder is a decent middle area between them- how are your gloves not burned?"

"Oh," Leonie jolts, hands moving back for an examination. "Yay. The fireproofing held."

"The what?"

That, and she doesn't actually let the fire touch her. No need for burns or losing another shirt to magical flames. "I fireproof everything I can. I mean, obviously it won't hold up against lava, but I've lost too many gloves to stray fires. No need to lose any more."

An arm slings around her shoulder, Sylvain teasing, "You have got to tell me how you did that, Leonie."

She snickers while Ingrid fusses over Felix, "Not before the mock battle I'm not." She catches the eyes of her Housemates, "Got to go! There's still time for lunch! Was great working with you, Felix!"

Leonie waves and jogs over, telling Raphael he's the best as he hands her a plate of food.

"How did you do that?!" Lysithea demands before anyone else can voice their thoughts.

Leonie swallows and winks, "Made myself an immovable object."

The teen shrieks through her teeth, Marianne patting her shoulder as the youngest Deer complains, "That isn't how magic works!"

"You didn't have a tome," Lorenz add, marching up to her, one hand in his hair. "There were no glyphs or circles. How did you manage to cast anything?"

Leonie chokes out an uneasy laugh, "Well, tomes aren't a luxury when you're three-days in of being lost in a forest. You've got to keep warm and cook things somehow, and magicking up a fire is much easier than rubbing two sticks together."

Lorenz gapes at her for a moment. Then turns on his heels and walks away, muttering under his breath.

"Couldn't you have drawn it on a bit longer?" Hilda complains from her place beside Claude. "It feels like we came all the way out here for nothing."

"I'll be sure to make it go longer next time I say Red-"

Claude snickers, hand quickly over her mouth, "Let's not antagonize them too much today."

She pokes at him with the back of her fork until he steps away, "Fine. Hey, Ignatz, we still good for that walk later?"

"Ah, yes," he grins, pushing up his glasses in a nervous twitch. "Can I meet you outside of my room after class?"

"Sounds good!"

4.

"So," Leonie has a hand shielding her eyes from the sun's glare while Ignatz heaves breaths beside her, "this is the place."

When he doesn't catch enough air to speak a minute later, she thrusts a glass bottle over to him. He takes it, managing a questioning wheeze while bent over.

"It's water."

He wheezes thankfully and pops the cork. Chugs the thing in one go. Only after, when he goes to hand the empty object back, does the teen hesitate and ask, "Where did you get it from?"

Leonie plucks it and tucks it in the side pouch, "I always carry clean bottled water around with me. You never know when you're going to find a decent source to drink from, after all."

"I guess that is fair," he frowns in thought. "My parents always take a crate of water when they travel, metal on the inside of course. They say not to trust water sources you have not grown up with, but I have found the water at the Monastery to be fine… if a little more tasteless than that of my village."

"I know what you mean. Whatever they use to clean the water here makes it taste blander than what they use for a base oatmeal."

Ignatz nods in sympathy. Glances around the field below where they'll supposedly be having the mock battle. "Um, do you see that?"

She squints to where he points, a little bit of Eagle Eye coming into effect, "Oh, ew, there are healing tiles."

"This far from the Monastery? Do you think they may have setup this field already?"

"Maybe," Leonie hums and looks around at the clearing-like space below. "It isn't perfect, but I think there are a few tracks. Er, the start of paths. Like someone's come up and down it a few times."

"I understand. It is possible they have it trapped, then."

"Depends on how confident they are that the students will scout this place. Claude getting the information could have been part of a large scheme, or it could be luck. We should let the others know to bring some kind of spyglass when they come out here."

Ignatz goes deep in thought for a moment. Jolts and whirls to his Housemate, "Do you have paper and something to write with?"

"Yah, sure," she has to dig a bit to pull out a decent sized scrap at his insistence. Then reassures him that the metal, refillable pen is full. Ignatz gets down on his knees and begins a light sketch, "What are you thinking?"

"If we get the others to describe what they see, we can determine if there really are people coming and going by the paths." The teen gets into it, head moving in faster glances between the scenery and filling page. "Maybe we can map out a few traps if anyone scouts at the same time as the setup."

"Great thinking," Leonie praises, eyebrows high. "And great sketching. You're really talented in landscapes."

"Oh, no," the greening-blond haired teen's mumbles. Cheeks turning a bit rosy. "This is just a hobby."

"There are probably masters out there with barely a scrap of your talent. These are just sketches; I've seen your paintings. Given the right scene and you would make someone cry with its beauty."

"I don't want that," he yelps, breaking out of his focus just enough to throw her a panicked look. It softens when he realizes she's sitting next him, her smile lopsided and friendly. "Art may be my hobby, but I have always wanted it to make others smile."

"You already do that," Leonie teases a bit, watching with interest as he goes back to work. His touch on the page is light, but grip sturdy yet flexible. "I smile every time I see one of your works. I'm sure the art club will be bragging about you by the end of the month. You're trying to get better at portraits, right?"

"Yes," Ignatz smiles. "I am glad to have the opportunity to practice them. Portraits have always been a weaker point in my skill."

"I'm sure once you get the hang of them, people will be lining up to have you paint them."

The quiet drifts between them, only broken by the scratch of pen on paper.

5.

It is while they are sneaking around the shadows at the base of the Monastery - and all its crumbling outskirts - that Ignatz and Leonie spot the lone figure curled up in the fetal position on a cluster of rocks. Ignatz stops her, pointing with an expression asking, should we?

Leonie shakes her head, no, because the whole point of sneaking around is so no one catches them. They've had to dodge three Pegasus patrols already. Keep going.

But Ignatz looks back at the figure and mimes again. We should go over.

The woman gives him a horrified facial expression, but the no way seems to go untranslated. Ignatz squares his shoulders, gathers his courage, and marches out from behind a crumbling wall.

Leonie rolls her eyes, why do I even bother, and follows silently behind. Sure, the still figure with hunched shoulders could be sad, but could also be looking for some alone time. This is not their business and if they get caught it could lead to increased security around here. Then what will their Housemates do to get a lay of the battlefield? Ruining your plan in one fell swoop, Ignatz.

"H-hello," the teen mutters. The person on the rock – blonde, pale, and in an expensive dress that has seen much wear under a faith shield – barely turns. "I apologize for intruding. Are you alright?"

"Yes," rasps the lady. Looks young enough to take classes at the Officer's Academy, but the shadows around her face also give off a much older feel. "I am sorry for inconveniencing you. My worthless existence does not deserve to be in the presence of such kindness."

The two Golden Deer share incredulous looks. Leonie would have almost believed they were being sassed if not for the self-deprecating tone of the young lady. Please have a support system so we don't have to take you back, "Your existence is fine. Are you lost or something? We can escort you if you are going for the Monastery."

"Alas, I am forbidden from rising above the Abyss. With my family dead and house disgraced, there is nothing I can do to afford life above ground once more… Oh. I apologize. My tale is burdensome, my presence a shackle I shall relieve you of."

"Whoa," alright, Debbie Downer. Leonie holds up her hands, stopping the woman from trying to shuffle past them. Though the same height as Ignatz, this lady feels smaller and Leonie has to resist the urge to reach out and mess up the perfect curls. "Guess you haven't heard that a burden shared is a burden halved. Your presence isn't a shackle. You are a person with thoughts and feelings like everyone else and I will respect that until I get to know you better. Now, would you like us to escort you somewhere? Or we can continue on our way if you feel uncomfortable."

"No, no… I would not feel uncomfortable walking with you both… but walking with me would be a worthless endeavor."

"How so?"

A shaky hand points past them, "I must reach the cliff face, and that is all. Hardly an activity worthy of your companionship."

"How about you let us decide. Ig? Are you alright with it?"

"Of course!" he jolts at the attention. "It is as Leon- er, Leo says. This is no hardship for us."

"…Very well," the lady mummers. "I will do my best not to burden you further."

Since alliteration doesn't work with a lot of the Fódlan translations – and because the lady has a purple and greying colour scheme going on – Leonie decides to refer to their current charge as Eeyore, "So, why do you want to reach the cliff face?"

"There is a way from there to the place which tolerates me," Eeyore drones. "I must unfortunately inflict my presence on others after you. It pains me so to continue this cycle, though I can see no way out."

Leonie is positive that her fellow Deer is just as alarmed by the words. However, before they can ask are you okay, are you safe, or explain we can help, they step into the shade of the cliff face and Eeyore does a complete one-eighty. Back straight, shadows gone, and a haughty laugh that more than a few nobles have aimed at the commoners of the Academy.

"While not required, your assistance has been noted," Eeyore tells them, nose up and a fan cracking open to hide the lip curl. "Farewell plebians."

Then she's gone, sliding into a crack in the wall that's only barely noticeable in the fading light. Ignatz is too busy gaping, so Leonie let's loose, "What the f**k?"

That startles him from his stupor, "Leonie!"

"What?"

He glares.

Leonie won't apologize for the language. He had to have been thinking it too, "Come on, let's get back already."

"W-we can't just leave her!"

"Sure we can. The lady seemed to know what she was doing. Now, come on! We've got to run if we want to make it for dinner. Less suspicious that way!"

"Leonie- hold on! You don't need to drag me; I can move fine on my own!"

6.

"Hey, Leonie!" Sylvain drops next to her, glass of water in his hand. "What are you doing here?"

She glances away from Dimitri and Ingrid's spar to show him the half-written page in her lap, "Homework."

"In the training hall?"

"I didn't say I was being productive."

He laughs. Leans against her to catch more shade under the pillar, "Do you know what I think?"

"Feel free to tell me."

"I think you're here to spy on us."

It's her turn to laugh. Nods over to the secondary and extra Black Eagles, "Oh no, that's their job." And what a terrible job they're doing. What ladies and few gentlemen aren't glaring in Leonie's direction are instead swooning as the very fit - and slightly sweaty - Lions go at one another.

The red-orange haired teen beside her hums between gulps, "If you aren't here because Claude needs a scout, you must be here to fawn over us." Leonie turns her head best she can with him on her shoulder. His smile widens under her glare, "Not that I can blame you. A little Deer such as yourself needs someone to look up to, and Claude has a difficult reputation to admire. Unlike u- oof."

Leonie withdraws her elbow from his side, "I can handle the height jokes, but if I hear you talking smack about my class then I'll be sure to bring you down a level."

"Feisty," he mutters, no heat and nothing even remotely flirty. "Fine, I'll layoff. At least until we win the mock battle."

"Then when we win," Leonie jots a note on her paper. Trick shots, "you get to apologize to the entire Deer House for ever doubting us."

Sylvain giggles before he can swallow it. Covers up his embarrassment and whatever makes him tense by asking, "What will happen in the unlikelihood the Eagles win?"

It's more probable then you think, "You don't say anything bad about my House, and I don't force you to have a better opinion of us."

Whatever he's about to whine is cut-off by Dimitri and Ingrid coming over, "Good afternoon, Leonie."

"Hi Dimitri, hi Ingrid." The non-royal of the two twitches at the commoner's address but cannot complain since the prince has been trying to get them all to use his first name. "You two had a great spar."

Dimitri perks up, casting a glance between his childhood friends, "I did enjoy it. Truly, it is always more fun training with friends than running alone through the mountains."

"I completely understand," Leonie commiserates. Meanwhile, Ingrid and Sylvain are sharing dubious expressions. "There's no one in my village around my age, they're either too old or too inexperienced to fight against me. I'm looking forward to sparring tomorrow. Ah, and speaking of, if you or anyone else wants, Lysithea and I have the hall booked for an hour on the first of Harpstring."

"That would be wonderful!"

"I take it," Ingrid jumps in, "that you and Lysithea are not participating in the mock battle then?"

"I'm not. Lysithea may change her mind. How about you? Are either of you going to be in the battle next week?"

"Nice try," Sylvain mocks, half-heartedly rocking her as he gets up. "Don't give her any secrets, you two. Now, who's turn is it to fight me?"

"Ah, mine," Dimitri runs a hand through his bang-like strands. "Goodbye, Leonie."

"Good luck!" she waves and doesn't specify who the luck is for. Gets her materials positioned against her legs so that she can see and write better. Strongly ignores how Jeritza ghosts around the training hall, his eyes drawing back to Mercedes over and over. Now is for finishing Manuela's talents in your strengths homework assignment and finishing what was supposed to be Hilda's job of gathering information about their opponents.

Next time something comes up that Leonie can pass off, she's doing the sudden tea time excuse and throwing out the disappointed card at Hilda for good measure.

7.

Manuela stops flirting with Jeritza and sashays over to do her job after Claude finishes leading stretches. "Well students, today we are doing a fast teambuilding activity. Claude, Hilda, Ignatz, and Lorenz on this side of the fields. Everyone else on the other side with Jeritza."

The students follow the order, uncertain or annoyed glances tossed between them.

"As you can probably guess," Manuela waves at her four students, "this is the lineup for the mock battle. The privacy wards will come down when the hour bell rings, and Professor Jeritza has been sworn to secrecy." Leonie highly doubts that will stop him from slipping information to the other classes. "Until the wards come down, we will be practicing formations and battleplans. After the wards drop, you will pair up with a classmate not on your current team and to spar with. First battle will be anything goes. The one minute to discuss your plans starts now."

Leonie immediately drags them into a huddle, staring their 'adult' down and resisting the urge to tear off the view-limiting mask on his face, "How involved are you going to be?"

He stares back, either unimpressed or finding them all beneath him, "I will only attack those who attack me."

"Will Manuela do the same?"

"Yes."

"Sounds good. Marianne, can you stay back and attack anyone who makes it past us? Or move to heal us?"

The teen straightens, "Y-yes!"

"Thanks. Raphael, Lysithea, who do you want to focus on? One each if you can."

"I hate to say it," Raphael frowns, rubbing the back of his head, "but I could probably take Ignatz out the easiest."

Leonie glances over her shoulder, seeing Claude and Ignatz hurry to grab bows while Lorenz goes for a lance. Hilda takes an axe and the woman winces, "You'll have to get close to do it. What weapons does everyone want? I'll grab them while you two decide."

Even Jeritza tells her what weapon he desires. Lysithea halts her with a, "Hold on! Who has the lowest magic resistance?"

Without realizing the implications, Leonie says, "That would be Claude," and hurries to grab her things. Even Leonie isn't quite sure why she is so certain, but shrugs it off as a biology thing they'll work around later. She doesn't quite like the grins pulling at everyone's faces when she returns with the load, "What'd you decide?"

"We'll handle the archers," Lysithea motions between herself and Raphael, "and then help with the others."

"If you can stall Hilda," Raphael adds, "then that leaves Lorenz, and no way is he getting past Marianne."

Leonie blinks a few times, extremely curious about what that means. Has to offer though, "I can keep them both occupied if it's easier."

Lysithea frowns, "How?"

The woman mimes pushing something. Before they can settle, Manuela calls time and has them go into a semi-circle around their team's professor. On the other side of the training hall, Claude and Ignaz are on the flanks. It will make it much easier to go after the more mobile units and gives Leonie a moment to confirm with Marianne about an attack vs. healing strategy as they wait for the battle to begin.

The orange haired woman wonders if anyone else can see the imbalance of the teams. Separated like this, Manuela is the only on Claude's team using magic, and she cannot apply it except for counter attacks. Meanwhile, Leonie's team is limiting themselves to three attackers and Lysithea probably doesn't have the defense to keep standing if a physical attack lands. Apart like this, the gaps in their skillsets are noticeable and detrimental to their chances of winning.

Together, they fill in each others' gaps. They could become an incredible team.

Wouldn't that be amazing to see.

8.

Returning from a late afternoon in the village, Leonie greets the gatekeepers on duty on her path to the dining hall. It's her turn for dish duty and she'd like to get a start before dinner gets in full swing. It doesn't help that Marianne is her partner tonight. Their class has learned very fast that the blue haired teen has a habit of arriving a bit early and doing more work than her partner.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Hilda always arrives late and always after the work is done. Leonie is not looking forward to her first chore partnership with the second in command.

Unfortunately, Leonie's plans are scrapped when Danger Sense pings a very potent threat aimed her way. She pretends to trip up the stairs, but cannot see anything shot at her. Passing by the dining hall entrance, she listens to footsteps. Only one set, quiet and trying to be unheard, follow her past the entrance way. Leonie lifts her arms up for a stretch, internally mapping where a quiet throughfare exists during this time of the day. She tries to catch a glimpse of whoever is following her at turns, but the person is too good to be in her line of sight at any time.

Not too good to know where all the reflective objects in the Monastery are, however.

Leonie turns a corner, and then tucks into the shadows as no one else is down this corridor. Ramps up a Notice-Me-Not just until her tail has passed and noted she's missing, "What did I do to deserve the stalking?"

Hubert whirls, glare fixed in a way she's surprised it isn't his default expression, "How did you know I was following you?"

"You're good, but I've been pursed by things a lot meaner then you. Also, there's a mirror in the ceiling corner by the supply rooms. I think it's to help stop thieves and collisions. Why are you following me?"

"You have secrets," his teeth gnash at her reaction but Leonie thinks the eye roll is deserved, "and I intend to make sure they are not a threat to Lady Edelgard since she has taken an… interest in you."

"Well, that's not ominous." Leonie kicks off the wall to stand in the connector so if anyone passes by, they can see if he attacks. Or see if she goes for the kill first. A forward-thinking restriction applied to them both. For all he's supposed to be older than her, Leonie forgets because of how he acts. "The only time I'm going to be a threat to you guys is in the Battle of the Eagle and Lions, so you better prepare! Other than that, everyone has secrets. I'm not going to spill my life story for some person who followed me to an empty corridor."

"While sensible," he looms, "I disagree."

And I don't care, "Hey, Hubert." Her grin is as amused as she can force while reminding herself that she cannot deal with him like an annoying flea. Leonie has killed plenty of people for less of a challenge her fellow student is trying to be. No matter how many ways her mind loops through on how to end him, this school is going to teach her patience or make her enemy number one. If she's going to make a traceable, high profile kill, then it's not going to be with someone playing bodyguard. "There's a saying – well, more of a game – back in my village." If she were really mean, Leonie would lean towards him and lower her voice for dramatics. "It's called, I know what you did last summer."

The expressions he makes is almost worth the effort in not trying to kill him.

"It's a game I play with the kids," she explains before he can compose himself. "You tell someone you know what they did. Like, I know what you did yesterday, or, I know what you did on Saint Macuil Day. It's usually a lie or a guess. The accuser tries to guess what the person did by determining if the accused is lying or telling the truth. Maybe they already know what the other person did and is trying to get a confession out of them.

"The reason I'm explaining this to you, is to let you know that you need to work on your interrogation technique. You followed me into a quiet hallway, not realizing I'd figured out you were trailing me. You tried to threaten me without having anything over me. Everyone has secrets, Hubert. And I don't give two coins about whatever your nobility thinks of me. Seriously, dude, learn some new material. This whole I am the darkness, I am the night, theme you have going on isn't going to work if you can't back it up. Don't think I don't know why Edelgard really stopped our spar."

While looking offended at the 'dude' comment, it has nothing on the look of horror she gets with leaving her sentence there. Leonie's understanding that Hubert has nearly as terrible a constitution as Lysithea is then replaced with the knowledge that, whatever is the true reason Edelgard stopped Felix from attacking with an ice sword, it is a much worse thing Leonie doesn't know about.

In the pause, Leonie decides, not my problem, and tells him, "I hope your professor helps you gain the skills you need, because Goddess only knows if Manuela or Hanneman is going to teach anything useful."

Leonie turns and leaves. Jumps out a window and hides in a bush before Hubert makes it around the corner. Hears his angry expletives and then waits a long time after he is gone before she makes her way to the dining hall. As soon as Hubert sees her enter, he won't even look towards her. Doesn't even glance at the Golden Deer table.

Meanwhile, Leonie is sweating a bit because, ugh, she'll need to talk to Dorothea about this. What goes on in Hubert's life may not be Leonie's problem, but it's very quickly going to become an Eagle problem if he starts cornering any person Edelgard takes an interest in.

9.

"Tuesday's practice will be cancelled," Flayn informs them as they clean and pack up for the day, "on account of the mock battle. Instruments will be finalized by the end of our next class. If there are any more that you wish to attempt, please stop by this room sometime throughout the week. And remember! Only a maximum of two instruments per person!"

"Thanks, Flayn!" Leonie waves as she and Vernan head out. Turns to the Black Eagle, "So, have you decided on an instrument?"

"…Base," he grunts, eyes shifting away.

"Aw yah! I managed to convert you! Next you'll realize how incredible the Deer are."

He guffaws, "You still have a ways to go. The rumors mill is for once very correct in that we have the best professor."

"Well, no duh there. Does Professor Byleth even know the church's scripture? Manuela has us recite it between subject changes. She says it will help us with Faith magic; I think she gets paid extra every time the class is heard by the clergy."

"Professor Byleth has made it clear he is here to teach us how to survive. He said that the only teachings of the Goddess he will deliver is how the hierarchy of the Church of Seiros operates so we know who to schmooze if ever required to."

Leonie bursts into giggles because that is definitely a Captain Jeralt lesson right there.

10.

"Why does everyone keep coming to me about them?" Dorothea pouts into her teacup.

"Ferdinand has his weird rivalry with Hubert." Leonie points out, "Bernadetta runs away. Linhardt doesn't care. Petra's the youngest Eagle, may accidentally misinterpret problems, and cannot complain to Edelgard without risk of causing a war. Hubert is part of the problem. Edelgard could one day going to have the power to execute people she doesn't like, and I wouldn't trust Caspar to raise fish."

"And Professor Byleth is new and unknown," Mercedes adds.

"Right. And Professor Byleth is new and unknown. You are the only approachable and responsible Eagle with an in to your House Leader, and because you were fostered by a noble you have just enough status that no one disregards the power you hold even though you're listed as a commoner."

Dorothea sighs, deep and weary. "It was rhetorical, but now I am curious. How much thought do you put into everyone's political situation, Leonie?"

Leonie swipes a cookie off the tea table's tray. She hopes these Saturday tea times become a thing even if she has to keep supplying the treats. Mercedes doesn't get any kind of allowance for being a student, and Leonie isn't cruel enough to force the woman to spend the meagre amount Annette splits with her best friend on snacks. "A lot of thought, and a lot of notes. I've memorized what I can about the main class students because that's bound to be useful eventually. I may not be the best at spitting out information, but I'd like to think I'm a decent tactical thinker. I may not get politics, but I can puzzle out things if I have enough pieces."

"That is a nice metaphor," Mercedes piles some treats on her plate while Dorothea pours them all tea. "A lot of people have difficulty understanding the finesses of politics even after years of work with them. There are some who force their way through with power and rank, like a few of my classes, though I have found it rarely makes them any friends."

"In your opinion," Dorothea leans over, smile sly, "who is going to be the weaker leader between Felix and Sylvain?"

"Felix," Mercedes answers with no hesitation. "Sylvain may break some hearts, but he understands how to control his environment. Felix has either never been taught proper ally management or he does not care."

"That sounds about right," Leonie winces in sympathy as the other woman has to take classes with the mess of politics that is the upper Kingdom nobility. Childhood friends or not, there is a lot of power between the prince and heirs Fraldarius and Gautier. At least Dorothea's powerhouse classmates know how to invest in allies or – in the case of Bernadetta and Hubert – keep the political offences private and consistent. "Good luck on getting Hanneman to teach anything about that."

"Oh," Dorothea straightens impeccably, "speaking of people who have renounced their Houses, has anyone seen Professor Catherine? I do not believe I have seen her since the class placements."

Leonie makes a so-so gesture, "You guys know how I've been helping Cyril with some chores and magic practice while Shamir's gone? Well, he said Catherine is on a mission for Rhea. I don't know what it's about, but apparently there's some investigation going on west of the Monastery."

"Oh my," Mercedes gasps, "I do hope it is nothing serious."

Dorothea grabs the last of the sweets off the tray, "Do you know how far west?"

"No idea. Could be the Church, could be the Empire. Honestly, would not surprise me if suddenly the Church decided to throw up more, well, churches while the next Emperor is stuck here. But it could be something more personal, like go fetch an artifact or something. Nobody tells Cyril anything important and the kid isn't curious about diving into the why things happen. At this point, I'd say Shamir needs to take him on an adventure if it wouldn't also put him in danger."

The bell rings to signal the hour. The ladies sigh or groan and begin packing away their things.

"One more class to go," Leonie grumbles.

Dorothea titters, "Professor Byleth is allowing us a free period today."

"Lucky you."

Mercedes smooths out her uniform, "It is hard to believe we have almost been in class for a week, is it not?"

"You are correct. It feels like we've been doing this for a lot longer."

A/N: Next chapter includes the first free day, so Byleth should actually show up for longer than a few lines… and maybe realize something's not quite right.

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