Chapter Twenty-Seven

1.

After several minutes of listening to scratching on wood, Leonie groans and rolls out of bed. Jerks open the door and blearily glares towards the ground, "What do you want?"

The calico cat gives a large meow, dropping the object in its mouth. It purrs around her legs while the woman rubs away sleep with one hand and grabs the item with her other. Staring, a few moments go by to process what she sees. A silver chain, and inside the pendant-

"Is that a diamond?" Leonie hisses, free hand unconsciously dropping to pet the animal. "Who even brings something this expensive to a holy place?"

"Merow."

Right, Leonie glances down at the smug creature. Guess I'll need to find Seteth. Again. "Thank you for the gift." She picks up the animal, kicking the door shut. Drops it on the bed. The cat begins kneading while the human digs out some Academy-acceptable training clothes to change into. The thing purrs while curling into a ball, watching as Leonie strips off her nightshirt, "I'm going to have to call you a name if you're going to stick around."

The creature with a Crest shard perks its ears up.

"It's going to be something simple. Like Cali. Or Cocoa."

Leonie pauses, one leg through the Academy shorts, and ignores the cat's grumpy yowl. Nods to herself, "Cocoa it is!"

"Ree!"

"Well, do you have another name you want me to call you?"

The cat goes silent, the tiny Crest powers retreating from its ineffective poking. It jumps off the bed and waits for her by the door.

Leonie narrow-eyes it, "So, male, female, other, or indetermined?"

Male and unafraid to try scratching her up for that question.

2.

Unsure if the vague emotions identify more like excitement or nerves, Leonie walks beside Jeralt along the stretch of dorms. They chat about her classmates, the potential she sees in them, and about whether or not he can make the time to supervise a few training sessions. They stop in front of the last room, a cool breeze ruffling the nearby hedge as the bell tower chimes of ten notes.

The buzz in her midriff area, climbing like a choking vine to her throat, increases ever so slightly. After the first glance, Leonie pointedly ignores the closed door. The young woman is still unsure about the definitive feeling in her body, but-

Well-

-Byleth did not choose the Golden Deer.

The outcome of choice is hitting her harder than expected. At least the second protagonist-based choice makes no difference, she lies knowingly to herself. Claude is going to be stuck with her, at least until the school year ends. For some reason, Leonie finds the idea of going off and exploring the continent less appealing than it was a few months ago.

The door slides open a few minutes after the tenth bell; at the same time, Seteth turns the corner from the courtyard. Leonie smiles and waves at him, then turns to the blue haired man who's frozen on the stairs, "Good morning Professor Byleth!"

The narrow eyes do not ease up, even as the teacher walks towards them, "…Morning."

"Ah, Professor," Seteth deadpans, barely managing to withhold a frown at the reinstated Captain of the Knights of Seiros. He dismisses the Captain and student altogether. "If you have settled into your room, then allow me to explain that these are the students' quarters. Those in the main classes are within the same row as yourself, while the others share rooms in the rows behind. Your room is here, on the end, to better help you supervise them."

"Oof," Leonie fakes a blow, getting everyone's attention as she clutches her chest. "Then what does that make me," a wink thrown at the younger Eisner, "since I'm on the other end of the building?"

Seteth doesn't hide the frown this time, but before he can get out more than a stern, "Leonie," the young woman is pulling out her silver-diamond loot.

"Actually, great timing, Seteth. I found this earlier in the morning and have no idea who it could belong to. I was going to drop it off and ask when you next have a moment free to talk about something."

He takes the necklace, expression easing only slightly, "I will return it to its owner. Come by my office after the fourth evening bell. If that is all, I have other duties to attended to. Professor, I expect you to set a good example for your students."

Byleth nods with a quiet, "I understand." The slightly-less-blank glare then turns back to his father and tagalong. "…Why are you here?"

"Leonie wanted to do tours," Jeralt sighs.

"It gets you out of your stuffy office," she snaps a finger and points. "You'd think the windows didn't open or something for how little airflow he allows. So! Professor! Are you ready for the mock battle-"

"In three days," he nods sharply. Leonie isn't even irritated at being cut off, instead sharing a concerned glance with Jeralt. "What is it?"

"Kid," Jeralt drops his voice, "the mock battle is on Tuesday."

Byleth does one slow blink, "No it's not."

"Yes," Leonie even reaches into her pocket to pull out a hand drawn calendar, "it is."

Byleth blinks at the torn paper, dirt-stained paper. His switching train of thought is only visible because Leonie's looking very closely at his face. "I guess it is."

"The Golden Deer won't be going easy on you!" she tries to nudge the conversation away from the gaffe. "But I guess since you're Captain Jeralt's kid, good luck." She withholds making requests on who should be hit harder, because it would be bad form to request a Professor target another Professor. "If you want, I can probably find out who the Blue Lions are going to send in for the battle."

"No, thank you," Byleth doesn't twitch. Not even a Crest strand comes out to feel the air. Playing poker against him would be fun. "I can find out myself."

Jeralt makes something of a choking noise, but neither really pays attention. Leonie shrugs, smile getting a tad wider, "Suit yourself. Hey, have you had a chance to explore the Monastery, Professor?"

"Some of it. I will view the others when I must. For now, I must be going. Father. Ms. Pinelli."

"You can call me Leonie!" she shouts at the retreating back. The strangling nerves prune themselves back with each step away. Restraining an eyeroll and the wisps of uncertainty, the woman grins up at Jeralt. "You okay to keep going?"

"I'm not that old," he sighs, once more clearing his throat. "'S Good to watch the kid open up a bit. Never thought I'd see the day Byleth would turn down information."

"Maybe it's a test or something; wouldn't be the strangest secret in this place."

"Right, right, we're going. Best entrance is a bit further out, but at least this way you won't need to sneak to the outskirts. Just… don't let any of the, er- other Knights catch you. Only a certain kind of person is supposed to be able to even see the entrance."

"You can count on me, sir!" Listing the entrance to the underground as an emergency exit, then. No need to risk anything when the long way works just fine. Not like the traps have ever stopped Leonie before.

3.

"Leonie!"

"Hi Leonie!"

"Hey, everyone, look who's back!"

"Leonie!" a few children call. The more mobile ones run up to her, launching at her for a hug when she kneels down for them. They're grime covered and more world weary than any noble, but the fact that the children of the Abyss seem to genuinely enjoy her visits is the sole reason Leonie cares that this place doesn't get wiped out. This is a den of murders and thieves, of addicted and disabled with no money, and – of course – of people the Church must always have eyes on. The children are the only ones down here who'd dare trust someone like Leonie.

Trust, Leonie's beginning to wonder, may be the only kind reason I'd ever turn back.

She can count on one hand the personal reasons why'd she'd stop the Monastery from burning to the ground, but at least one of those reasons would have to be in the area to motivate her. It's not like this, where the Abyss is home to a few people who – for some motive she cannot place – enjoy her presence without needing her. It is not like Sauin, where she practically raised half the little ones. Not like the Monastery's orphanage, where she's the reason the kids are finally eating well enough to hit growth spirts. It's not like a fixed point she needs to be around to break.

"Hi little dudes!" Leonie makes sure to hug everyone receptive to it. Let those thirteen and up seem to think they're too old for hugs, they'll crack eventually. "Sorry I haven't been by lately. Things up top have been crazy."

Jeralt wanders off to talk with the drinkers while the curious and just-looking-for-a-conversation come up to the Golden Deer student. It takes nearly thirty minutes – at one point sicking the children on the Blade Breaker because Leonie's told plenty of stories to them – before she finally joins the Captain at his table. Jeralt sends an appraising look behind his mug, "How did you even find this place?"

"Fell through the ground on one of my runs. I got out and then came back to explore later, eventually making it here."

The man takes a swig, grimacing at the awful taste, "Well, at least you sound believable. I don't think you made one mistruth… but how'd you really find it?"

Leonie's smile has a tad too many teeth visible, "Rumors, mostly. I kept a look out for cracks in the architecture when I was training outside the walls. Thought I'd might as well explore the secret society under the Church. Not much else to do when you're waiting for classes to start."

He chuckles, clapping her on the shoulder hard enough that anyone else would stagger, "Way to go, kid. You should have let me know you were famous down here!"

"I didn't know this was where we were going! Besides, you're more famous than I am down here. Though- wait a second. Have you ever met the kids from the Ashen Wolves House?"

"The what?"

Leonie explains what she's heard. Waves over some people over to their table to get more first-hand accounts. Once upon a time, four individuals - some past Officer's Academy students and some not – called themselves the unknown fourth House whose duty it was to protect the people of the Abyss. They're still here now, even though their House is disbanded following the betrayal of their "House Professor", Cardinal Dahlman.

The woman finds herself learning that the cardinal is, in fact, still alive. She'd assumed him dead since he never reappeared from the chalice adventure. Apparently, the Archbishop – who is very well known for calling the execution of any she deems against the Church – decided the man could pay the slight back because he was still devoted to her. Aelfric Dahlman now wanders between the catacombs and highest floor of the Monastery, kept under the eye of the Church as he searches for a way to restore whatever power had belonged to The Chalice of Beginnings.

After gaining that tidbit, Leonie isn't feeling the, oops, at least he's alive, that she probably should be. It's more a, ugh, another thing to avoid while exploring.

"Have you met the kids?" Jeralt asks the student.

Leonie shakes her head, "Nope! I've been told they're usually patrolling or off on a mission when I come by. If you meet them before me, tell me what they're like!"

"You will have a better chance of meeting them then me," Jeralt chuckles, sheepish but not worried. "I cannot be seen coming down to this place often. Not anymore. I'll have to see if I can hunt down Aelfric, so let me know if you see him. He was friends with Sitri back in the day… Never would have thought he'd go against the Church for anything."

"Well," her face twists in what should be sympathy, even if she doesn't feel it, "it's been how long since you had contact? Time changes people whether we like it or not. If… you need some help figuring out what pushed him past the edge…"

"It's fine," he shakes his head, shutting down a bit. "Whatever his motives, he does not have to tell me."

To stop him from spiraling, Leonie tries for a joke, "I guess we can't all turn out like Alois."

There's a shudder, but also a laugh deep enough to snap away the visible hurt from his face. Soft, like she isn't meant to hear, he mutters, "The kid has really turned into something, huh?"

Leaning back in her seat, a small part of Leonie wonders if he'd be proud of her too. Likely not by the end of the year, especially if she's supposed to make herself proud first. Pride for others and their growth? That's one of the few emotions she can scrounge up semi-regularly. Taking pride for her own work? A lot harder to feel that, especially with a personal achievement bar set so high. Depending on how she goes about saving him, Leonie wouldn't blame Jeralt for wanting to cut all ties with her in the new year.

Besides, he has his own kid to feel proud of.

They pause as faint chimes can be heard, the hour bell ringing out far above the surface. Jeralt sighs and runs a hand over his face, chugging the last of his beer, "I need to get back to work."

"I'll escort you," she laughs at the glare he throws. "I do have to go that way. There's some homework I need to finish before visiting Seteth."

He harrumphs, "It only gets worse when you get an administration job."

"Good thing I have no plans on joining a structured workforce."

"That's what I used to say and look where I ended up. There is no escape from paperwork."

4.

Seteth blinks, setting down his pen, "A…. lost and found?"

"Yah!" Leonie gives a little fist pump, as though she's excited for the idea and not at all annoyed that it seems to be a never-been-done-before thing. "Like, having a box or bin where people or administration place lost items. That way if people lose things, they can try finding it there before asking someone if they've seen it. Or write a description for the lost thing and have the descriptor around the box so others can keep an eye out for it."

He hums, "That is an interesting idea… Have you ever seen it in practice before?"

"Sure!" Leonie doesn't exactly lie, however it is not something done in her little corner of Fódlan. Trust is rather hard to come by when it seems everyone plays finders keepers with things on the ground. "There was this town – ah, I can't remember the name – but they had a lost-and-found area in their town hall. There was a woman who ran it who explained it all to me. I think they even had this ward setup? So that only the true owner could claim lost items? Something about energy signatures, I didn't really get it."

That has Seteth stiffening in place, better a reaction than she could have hoped for. A very good clue that the magic protecting his room and several areas throughout the grounds are, in fact, things that should not be possible to replicate without the carefully guarded knowhow. That, or it's a clue Seteth's looking for as he tries to not-demand, "Are you sure you cannot remember the name of the town with this lost-and-found?"

Leonie pretends to give it a go. Shakes her head, "No, sorry. Why?"

"I would be interested in what technique they are using to engineer such magic," responds the possible-liar.

"If I remember, I'll let you know," says the natural liar.

Seteth smiles beatifically, "Thank you, Leonie. Was there anything else?"

She stands, taking the hint, "No. Thank you for your time, Seteth."

"I will be sure to give your idea some thought. In the meantime, all lost items will be sent to me as usual. Please remind your classmates of that."

"Sure!" another lie with a smile, meanwhile Leonie prepares her own idea of how to create a lost-and-found if this falls through. With how little progress the Church seems to approve, the woman has little hope this one will be passed and implemented.

5.

Contrasting the hard thump onto the bench, Leonie's plate of stacked food slides gently onto the table. She barely restrains making it through the 'hello's and 'what did you do today's before digging into the meat cuts and ripe fruits and vegetables. The Church likes to pull out their best on free days, usually to entertain guests. Who's she to not take advantage?

Lorenz doubletakes, seeing her plate as filled as Raphael's, "Can you really eat all of that?"

No matter how much she wants to respond with o ye of little faith, that would be doubly offensive to the noble with a magic heritage who does not, in fact, appear to enjoy using magic. The answer she gives after a swallow and thumbs up is, "And still have room for dessert."

"Right?!" Raphael returns her positive signal. "I can't understand how no one's hungry after a normal meal."

There's a bit of a pause around the Golden Deer. A heavy, nearly wary air coming from most of the occupants around them. Before anyone can ask the obvious have you been leaving the table hungry, Leonie plasters on an excited smile, "Let me know any time you want to raid the kitchen! Or go hunting. Have you ever had smoked bear?"

"Oh yah! My mother can eat a whole one by herself."

"Awesome!" Leonie keeps the conversation between them going, lively and exciting as they discuss meals they've made while travelling. The concerned or confused gazes peter off as everyone goes back to their conversations or meals. Leonie pretends not to notice as Lysithea slips extra meat onto the woman's plate, nor how Ignatz flicks his potatoes onto Raphael's. Raphael manages to slide them back to their owner without notice or acknowledgement, while Leonie drops cooked asparagus on Lysithea's plate when no one is looking.

"Everyone in my House," Claude waves at the Deer from his position stuck between Hilda and an Eagle student ignoring them all. "Remember, meal gathering starts tomorrow."

He gazes particularly at Leonie's end of the table. The woman rolls a wrist in time with her head, meeting Raphael's gaze as she points and exclaims just loud enough, "Right! Still good to go hunting after class?"

Manuela's paired them together for day one of it all. Likely hoping they catch extra so Lysithea and Marianne won't have to do much extra work for day two. The unfortunate thing about having fourteen kids in one House, everyone gets at least a day a week of work. They have to make up their lack of numbers by being better at the jobs, and it only being the first month of school means the results are not showing.

"I am still good for it," Raphael has a glint in his eyes. "Are you taking the gear to class?"

"Sure am," she gives a small wink, then catches Claude's still-staring gaze to nod. Their leader grins and goes back to the last of his meal. "You won't have to worry about bringing a thing!"

In other words, he can keep his arms free for the real heavy lifting once they slip away after class. Leonie has enough foraging results stored up to make it look good if they do not have an opportunity to scavenge after, but if all goes to plan then they'll have time. The Golden Deer are as ready as they can be for the mock battle in a few days, though only now has Claude finally talked the main class around to if you can get away with it, then there's never enough defence.

Seeing all the hard work the teens have put into this, Leonie's almost disappointed that Byleth is going to win the battle. He is going to win it. Years as a mercenary, the most magically inclined House, and Sothis are on his side. A bunch of newbies and professors who aren't giving it their all will be no match for the Ashen Demon.

6.

"No, no," Hilda denies, moving the black King chess piece to deeper in the map's forest. "I heard that the Princess hasn't been feeling well lately and Hubert's pushing for her to stay in the back."

Lorenz makes a disgusted noise, "Heir Hresvelg cannot be in the back, especially if they are to choose a more physical-based strategy. Those I have spoken with have admitted that Heir Aegir and Mr. Bergliez have had many discussions with Professor Byleth about this upcoming battle."

"Do you know what those discussions were about?"

"Well, not all, but-"

It goes on, Manuela smiling like she has a secret and is enjoying this too much. She gave the main class a map, chess pieces, and told them where they'll be positioned in the upcoming mock battle. Since then, the woman hasn't left her position from a seated crossed-leg on the edge of the teacher's desk.

Leonie isn't one to hammer people about their clothing choices, but she gave a massive eyeroll when their professor flashed a whole leg and refused to answer any questions. The fact Seteth hasn't come bursting in screaming about indecency is a mystery; Leonie got a lecture not ten minutes after leaving her room the one time she wore a tank top. Anyone who so much as mentions a sport's bra or jockstrap in the man's hearing gets a stern talking to. Rumor has it, people who refuse to put on a Church-mandated outwear when they have nothing else to cover up in will be barred from the Monastery. Leonie's yet to see that one, but better safe than sorry means always having backup clothing on hand.

Really, Leonie's thought more than once, if the Nabateans were all Sothis' children, then they shouldn't have that much modesty. Though, if the formed-from-her-blooddrops thing written in the scripture actually happened, what is Flayn's whole deal?

With a sigh, Leonie folds into the thinker pose to watch as Ignatz tries to get a word in between the verbal battle of Hilda vs. Lorenz. Lysithea, who has seen the effect of Hilda's network more than once, is fully backing that information compared to whatever lies Lorenz was probably fed during the few teas he held yesterday. Poor guy still needs a new pot and to recognize why formally uninterested ladies are now choosing to talk with him. Once the orange haired woman is settled, Raphael leans over the bit of the bench to pat her back. Unprepared for it, she barely manages from being knocked into the table.

"At least we do not need to be involved with this," Marianne mutters, unheard over Claude's attempt to stop this from devolving into a power measuring context. "I do not think I could have contributed to the level they are."

"-just sitting around basking in the attention while some of us need to work-"

"-hypocritical? Besides, I am a noble heir, and therefore must do my part to-"

Raphael makes an awkward, weak laugh, "I think you are fine the way you are. This… uh, doesn't seem like a great strategy meeting anyways."

"You take that back!"

"What? The truth? Your House barely contributes to the Roundtable."

"More like an air of grievances," Raphael continues. "We have those sometimes, with new traders or old ones trying to accomplish something they are not certified for."

Lysithea and Ignatz appear to agree on giving up, leaving the screaming nobles to Claude and moving tables to sit with the rest of the class. The newcomers look a bit shellshocked.

"-cannot believe you-"

"-disgrace to the nobility-"

Leonie groans, straightening just enough to catch Manuela's eye, "Are you going to stop this?"

"No," their esteemed professor smiles wider. "It will be better if they get it out now, rather than in the middle of a battle."

While Leonie cannot deny it, if something doesn't stop this train wreck, then the aftermath is going to be worse in the long run. People taking sides, feuds beginning, maybe even the collapse of the Roundtable if Hilda convinces her family the insults cannot be abided by. As for the mostly-unaffiliated commoner's priority, these two could possibly get someone in the class killed if their anger keeps up.

Just as the woman is about to write them off and watch the argument to completion, Claude steps up on the table and between them. The room falls pin drop silent, the disappointment on his face and carried along his unfurling Crest is enough that even Manuela's expression crumbles into something ashamed. If he wasn't in the middle of giving a three-in-one 'I'm disappointed', 'we're supposed to be a team', and 'all in this together' speech, Leonie would have applauded his perseverance and commitment to making this House work.

She applauds after. The other commoner students join in.

7.

"Aaannd, there!" with one last tap of the hammer, Raphael stands up to admire his work. "It isn't much, but it will at least offer some defence."

"That's all we can ask for," Leonie glances back from her lookout position. The row of pike-like fencing matches Claude's request of spaces for arrows and height-over-sturdiness. It spans across the only worn path to the Golden Deer's mock battle section. "It looks great!"

"Thank you!" he cheers, packing away his tools. "I actually do some carving for fun. And this was a lot easier than putting a wagon back together."

"Sounds like a good story," Leonie turns back to watching the plains, waiting for his signal. "I've done a lot more running than travelling by wagon. One of the kids back home wants to apprentice under a carpenter, and I know it's not the same thing, but if you're ever in the area I'm sure there would be a few who would love to learn from you."

"Yes! That sounds like fun! Do you think other villages might be interested?"

"I'm sure they would, we'd just have to find the people who want to do it."

There's a small pause before Raphael laughs, coming up from behind to give a friendly pat, "Thanks, Leonie! Hey, you would stay in contact after graduation, right?"

"Yah, if you wanted to."

"Good, I would like that," he nods, and they start the walk back to the more animal-infested forest. Raphael is very silent when he wants to be; Leonie's half convinced he makes himself walk loudly so he doesn't accidently scare anyone. "I- uh. I just wanted to bring it up. I mean, class today was kind of rough."

"I'd say. I didn't think Hilda could get that worked up."

"I think it is a noble thing. Not to say commoners don't get angry like that. I've just… well, the few times my parents took me to meet with nobles, it always seemed like they plan ten steps ahead. And if the plans fell through in any way, then they would try to be the biggest person in the room. Does that make sense?"

"Absolutely," Leonie huffs, thinking of the few times she's watched lesser nobles tour streets in more popular villages. Most of the nobles in the Monastery are at a point where they will do anything to stay or keep afloat in the political atmosphere. Meanwhile, a lot of noble main class students stand as outliers to the system. Or maybe that's because she knows some of their backstories. "I have a bias view though, not having interacted with any of the bigwigs until you guys came. Lorenz likes to talk about how a noble's job is to care for their land and people, but unfortunately a lot of them just want to get richer or nicer things. I spent most of my childhood out in the woods so my village could eat."

"I can sort of understand that feeling," Raphael agrees. "Until my sister was born, I travelled with my parents all of the time. It was how we survived. Ignatz mostly stayed in one place, and I am not sure how much the others experienced outside of their territory."

"I think Claude has some idea, but who knows where he really popped out from," because no one's outed him as part Almyran even if it's a common theory.

The teen hums, "He's really good at this leader stuff. When Hilda and Lorenz started at each other, I had no idea how to even start breaking them up! And I don't mean anything against them! They've been great so far helping me settle into the Officer's Academy! It was… weird though. How unlike themselves they got when they were angry… kind of scary when I think about it."

"Hey," Leonie pats his shoulder in support, "I get it. They were getting scary. I was convinced one of them was going to throw a punch before Claude intervened. I guess, if you're up for it, we'll learn how to keep the Golden Deer from getting like that at each other again. I would like us all to be friends by the end of the year, but I'll settle for not enemies if that's too much."

Raphael beams, so delighted Leonie can practically feel the happiness even as the shadows cast his face in a bad light, "Yah, let's work for friends! All of us, because-"

He breaks off, suddenly bashful. Leonie hints, "All fourteen Deer?"

"Yes!"

"Because…?"

He laughs a bit uneasy, "Mum always said your House could be your family, because we're all in it together! I think she was talking about the class levels, though."

"Well, there's only fourteen of us, and not all families get along all the time," Leonie smirks and winks, trying for reassuring. "I think we'll get to that point eventually. We are here for a year, after all."

"Alright! Let's do it! I have to go tell Ignatz, he'll be sure to have a plan on how to help!"

Leonie laughs before having to shush and listen harder. Both students take off before the Knight patrol circles by overhead. The entire Golden Deer House as a family may feel like a lie to her, but she knows how to act and make it look good for the rest. Functional and dysfunctional, memories on how both types of families and friendships can work. These are easy things to pull on for the ember of hope. Hope, that maybe Leonie can come away from the Officer's Academy with people she can fully and completely trust.

8.

"Hi Professor!"

"…Hm? Hello Leonie." The dazed looking professor looks back to the people milling about in the area above the dormitories. "Do you know what they are doing up there?"

She stops her morning jog at the foot of the stairs to glance with him, "Huh? Oh! It looks like they're finally putting the sauna back together!" Byleth's head jerks, swivelling to stare her down in a way that couldn't be normal. Though, to be fair to herself, Leonie has no baseline yet for what is normal with this guy. "I guess you weren't here for it, huh professor? I only used it a few times before it blew up. It The sauna was really great. You'd have to get on a signup sheet, everyone taking their turns, but it was absolutely worth it."

"Do you know why it… blew up?"

"No," she huffs, jumping a bit to keep muscles warm and the professor's insistent Crest wires from tightening around her diverter. "I was with Claude on the other side of the Monastery when it happened, but we all heard it. The plumbing was apparently so old that no one has any idea of what caused it or how to fix it. If they get it back up and running, I'd be happy to show you how it works!"

"…I," he squints, and Leonie almost feels self-conscious. It's as though Byleth is trying to find something within her through locked eyes alone, "appreciate the offer, Leonie. Now, if you will excuse me, I must get ready for class."

"Sure thing," she starts jogging backwards with a wave, slapping the reaching Crest bonds away. Byleth doesn't even twitch no matter how hard Leonie feels the power recoil away from her. "Good luck on the mock battle, I guess!"

9.

"Ferdinand!"

"Hm? Oh, hello Leonie- oh my, what is that?"

The few Black-not-Red Eagles around his breakfast table fall silent, eyes glued to the small basket the Golden Deer holds out. Leonie flashes him a bright grin, "I heard it was your birthday! So, happy birthday, and I guess good luck in the mock battle."

Within moments of the surprise appearing on his face, Leonie's reminded of Dorothea's few mentions of Ferdinand being like a puppy. The heir even does a confused head tilt as he takes the basket, "Thank you for the gift and well wi-"

Leonie grins wider as the present registers.

"Is- is that a plum? And a pear- Leonie, how did you get these? Most are out of season!"

She finger guns and hops back with a wink, "I have my ways. And please, feel free to brag to Hubert. He only got apples from me for his birthday."

The young man – and he is young for an adult, today finally reaching eighteen years – gives a real, startled laugh. Flashes a charming smile that takes away the breath from several teens around him, "Shall I also tell him you like me more?"

"Absolutely," Leonie feels her spirit lift at him playing along. She gives him a thumbs up and a wink, "Redhead solidarity."

His smile gets tinged with confusion again, gloved hand unconsciously making a move for his hair, "But… ours is orange?"

She laughs, "I'll explain it some other time. Happy birthday!"

Plenty of eyes follow her back to the unofficial Golden Deer table. The whispers are about Leonie, the commoner with enough brass neck to go over and present a gift to a noble heir- the Prime Minister's kid. Ferdinand even took it with ease, as though they are good acquaintances or something. Like being in the main class gives her the right to talk with someone who'd never normally look twice at her.

The gossip at least makes it easer for Leonie to decide who's not getting a gift this year.

When Leonie drops back to where the Golden Deer House has conglomerated for breakfast, Claude smiles directly across the table from her. His foot traps one of hers as Leonie goes back to eating, "What was that?"

"A thank you for looking after Bernadetta," the reply includes a shrug. Lifts her glass for a drink.

"Does he know that?"

Water shoots up her noise as Leonie coughs intermittently between laugher. On one side of the woman, Marianne is making a faint 'are you serious' look at Claude while Lysithea is looking at Leonie with horror on the other side.

"Okay," Leonie chokes and can't stop smiling at the hilarity of the thought a noble kid would take notice of her as a wife. Also, really ew since Leonie is an adult in an adult body, meanwhile a majority of the other students are in fact teenagers. No matter how much battle and time are going to change them, there's no one here who would travel with her and no way she'd settle down any time soon. "First off, if – and that's a really strong if – Ferdinand broadened his dating criteria, he avoids blatant redheads. No idea what that's all about, but I am firmly friend zoned."

"Friend zoned?" comes the questioning tone of Hilda.

"Secondly, and probably most important, yes, he does know. I've had a talk with most of the Black Eagles about how no, I am not trying to marry up and no, I am not looking to sign on to a household or army after graduation. I am single and not looking to mingle."

That gets a few laughs from the Deer. Claude's lips twitch as he tries to hide a smile, "Aw, and here Godfrey is still waiting with an offer. He's going to be so disappointed."

"Try to let him down easy for me."

"You shouldn't close all your options now," Lorenz frowns, a faint crease of worry in his eyebrows. "We have an entire year at the Officer's Academy and your feelings may change over time."

"Maybe," she winks, not letting it show how much her faint emotions are leeching away after that comment. "Then I'll let Godfrey be the first to know."

10.

There's a bit of murmuring going around when the Houses arrive at the designated field, but none of the administration try to confront Leonie so not her problem. Besides, Claude does the innocent look very well as he lies through his wonderfully straight teeth. The main classes break off from the rest, trying to keep who's been picked a secret until the last moments. At the edge of the field, the House Leaders and House Professors stop to address their underlings.

"I don't know what you kids did," Manuela drawls, smirking as one hand toys with the lid of her flask, "and I don't want to know. Good luck. If we lose, you all have extra homework."

"No pressure," Claude throws out, meeting everyone's eyes. "Alright team, you know who you are. Let's get out there and kick some predator animal butt! Show them that they need to fear the Deer!"

Leonie feels a zap of utter joy, throwing her hands up once the words register. Thumbs against her head, fingers splayed like antlers, "Fear the Deer!" No concern for the mix of horror and delight from the faces of her classmates, Leonie's insides ache for the memories of nostalgia she can scrape up.

Lysithea turns to Claude's smirking facing, points her finger at Leonie, and spits out, "I am not doing that."

Marianne hunches her shoulders but copies Leonie just as the woman hesitates to take down her hands, "Fear the Deer."

Raphael copies, Ignatz following next with a wary smile. Hilda elbows Lorenz hard and sticks up her hand, glaring until the other noble makes deer antlers despite his grumbling.

Claude grins wider, raising his hands, "Come on, Lysithea."

"Ugh! All of you are so immature," the teen hisses but presents the sign.

"Fear the Deer," Claude chants, and the rest of the class follows. "Fear the Deer!"

They break into laugher as Manuela cuts in, "Alright, enough. It's time to go setup."

The Golden Deer ignore how the other Houses watch them. Classmates exchange 'good lucks' and Leonie emphasises that they work as a team.

"Clause is in charge," she reminds Lorenz for the nth time that day.

And to Claude, "Do your best, boss."

He reaches over, clasping her hand in a shake. His eyes shining and Crest like static, "Always."

Then Leonie is left behind with the others, counting heads just as Bernadetta tries to piledrive into her. Leonie runs fingers through the vibrating teen's hair, "Hello to you too. Oh, Mercedes, that sneak. She never let on that she got chosen."

"I know," Dorothea sighs, linking arms with Leonie's free one. Caspar, Lysithea, and Raphael fall into step behind them. "I thought they would have had you in there, Annette."

"No way," the teen skips next to them, everyone slowly migrating to the viewing cliff. "Mercedes is the better healer, and Professor Hanneman refused to have her sit out."

"Ladies," Sylvain appears on Bernadetta's free side, and to the lady's credit she doesn't squeak at him. Only stares with wide, alert eyes. "Would it be alright if we joined you?"

"I suppose," Dorothea purses her lips at the childhood-friends trio. "But I don't want to hear a word about sloppy performance aimed towards our classmates, Felix."

The dark-haired heir scrunches his face.

"He will be on his best behaviour," Ingrid replies. Stomps on Felix's foot when it looks like he's going to snark. "May I ask, besides each own's House, which other do you believe likely to win?"

"Eagles," Leonie replies automatically. "If Professor Byleth does not singlehandedly mow down the competition after his students get ousted, then I'll express my eternal disappointment to Captain Jeralt."

"You have that much faith in our House?" Dorothea wonders.

"Faith? No. I believe in Professor Byleth's abilities, even if I haven't seen him in action yet. After all, you don't get the title Ashen Demon by staring people into submission."

A/N: I find it funny that this chapter mentions Ferdinand's birthday when it is posted on Leonie's.

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