Chapter Twenty-Eight
1.
Bleachers, old with groaning wood, have been setup on the clear outcrop overlooking the field of the mock battle. Once upon a time, the Houses may have sat in their designated areas. Now, there aren't even enough Golden Deer to fill up one row. Whether by irony or lack of wear from time, the only reserved seats belong to the nicest yellow bleacher. While the other students get to deal with paint chips rubbing off on them, the main classes get the best location for the show.
Bernadetta sits in the middle of the stands with Leonie, practically glued to her side. The teen's fingers wring as she explains the gift she gave Ferdinand for his birthday, "The teas are inside the box. I embroidered the tea names on the cloth inside, as thanks for all the help. He said he liked it, but what if he really didn't?"
Leonie puts a hand on the gaunt ones. Bernadetta stills, looking up at her with big eyes. The woman reassures, "When has Ferdinand ever said something he doesn't mean? If he says he likes it, then he must like it!"
"See, Detta?" Dorothea settles on Bernadetta's other side. Lays her hands on theirs, "Even Leonie agrees. You do not need to fret about it any longer. Why, I do believe Ferdinand even gave you the most stunning smile in return for your gift. Not even Edie's gift was so much appreciated."
"Really?"
"Absolutely."
Lysithea, sitting in front of Leonie, falls back until she's reclining and balanced on the woman's legs. They lock eyes, Leonie grinning and staring until Lysithea manages a huffing grin at the silliness of it all. Sitting back up, the youngest moves over, "Bernadetta, can you braid my hair?"
"M-me?!"
"I'm not going to ask Leonie," Lysithea says. "She'll mess up because she'll be focused on the mock battle. You did Dorothea's braid the other day, right? Can you do that for mine?"
"I- ah- are you sure you want me?"
Lysithea turns her back with a dramatic hair swish, "I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want you."
Bernadetta wiggles her hands out from the others, carefully peeling from Leonie's side and taking a strand of white in her hand. "O-okay. I'll do my best!"
"Hey, Petra!" Leonie turns to look back where the girl is deep in conversation with Raphael and Marianne. "Ask Raphael if you want your hair braided! He's really good at it!"
Dorothea tuts, quiet and whispered behind Bernadetta, "Is this going to become a competition?"
"Why not?" Leonie shrugs. "It's not like we have anything better to do. Field's too far away to see anything good." An odd expression crosses Dorothea's face, but Leonie's already twisted around to call out to the Blue Lions. "Hey! Hairstyle competition! Which one of you can braid the best?"
"Oh!" Annette perks up. "I've braided Mercedes' hair a ton!"
"Er-" Ingrid chokes a bit; panicked glances being thrown at her childhood friends.
Sylvain is smiling too much, anyone would have thought he was the redhead with a birthday, "Annette can do Ingrid's and I can do Felix's. It's perfect!"
Said gloomy swordsman glares, "I did not agree to this."
"Caspar," Dorothea says while looking dead straight at Sylvain and Felix, "you have permission to do my hair. I'll help you if you get stuck."
The poor guy jumps, putting down an odd device he was fiddling with, "Uh, sure! Whatever you say Dorothea."
Leonie squints, trying to make out Caspar's object while the male Lions bicker in the background. Her memories say it resembles old-timey binoculars. She leans around to see the other bleachers and recognizes a few, higher-in-the-pecking-order nobles with the same instrument. She hums and leans back on the yellow seats, wondering out loud, "Just how is everyone supposed to watch the mock battle when we're so far away?"
"Oh," Dorothea says, sitting perfectly still as Caspar combs through her waves and curls, "well, there is a device called a megaseer used by influential nobles and those with great benefactors." Here she whips out her own binoculars-on-a-stick. "There is some magic used such that, if you turn this dial here, you can zoom in and out great distances."
"Huh, that's handy," and here Leonie thought that everyone besides herself would be stuck squinting. She must recast Eagle Eye to adjust for extreme distance changes, and it doesn't give a broad enough view for this area. Still, it's better then sitting here with no idea what happens on the battlefield. The Monastery should really invest in some projection magic. "Any chance you know where I could get one later?"
"You can use mine today if you want," Caspar offers.
"Thanks!" After getting instructions and doing a bit of testing, Leonie zooms in on where the Golden Deer tributes are setting up. Manuela's hogging the healing tile, but at least Claude seems happy with the traps and support material they laid out. "Wow! This is amazing!"
"Isn't it just?" Dorothea gives a loving sigh, holding up her megaseer to give Caspar another break and rearrange some strands herself. Bernadetta pulls out a megaseer, sharing it with Lysithea.
"The start looks to be happening soon," Petra speaks up. Leonie turns to see her passing a megaseer to Felix with a nod of thanks. Marianne has let her hair down, a megaseer in her hands as she waits for a turn from Raphael. He's almost finished making Petra's hair into a beautiful, double French braid crown… not that it's called that here.
Leonie needs to ask the names of these things for if she ever teaches other people how to style hair. Having short hair doesn't mean she has an excuse to ignore these things. The memories are vague of what the kids in Sauin ended up calling the hairstyles she has managed to pass on. It's been a few years since everyone chopped off their hair because of magical fantasy lice, but this stuff never bothered Leonie. She's always liked her hair short, always keeping it just long enough that people on this continent won't balk too much if there's a case of mistaken gender.
Leonie pulls a strand and feels it spring up from her shoulder. Might need a haircut soon.
"What do you think, Petra?" Leonie motions to the battlefield. The political prisoner hadn't even been there to see her House off, but whether that was by choice or by force is not Leonie's problem. "Will your House take the victory? Or is Professor Byleth strong enough to handle it himself?"
"The Professor is very strong," she agrees. "He may need backup against the other Professors."
"We should get a good showing out of all the Houses then," Leonie fist pumps. "Here's hoping the fighting doesn't go too quickly."
"You've gone against Dimitri before," Sylvain leans forward to poke Leonie's head. She snickers at the cry for attention, swatting him away. "Do you honestly think anyone can take him down, even in a mock battle?"
Edelgard can, she doesn't say because there is a chance that Byleth has already taken away the princess' weapon triangle advantage. Instead, Jeralt walks up to the outcrop just in time for Leonie to say, "I think that anyone raised by the Blade Breaker is going to win against tutor-learned students any day."
Especially since Byleth cannot lose.
No one gets to reply to that as Jeralt – the judge of this mock battle – begins shouting his spiel into the air. There must be magic in effect as Leonie can hear him clear as crystal, "I'm sure you already understand, but the House that defeats the other two is declared the winner."
Leonie leans forward in her seat, the megaseer in front of her eyes. Here we go.
2.
The mock battle starts familiar, yet in an unfamiliar way. Part of Leonie – nostalgic and half-there memories barely holding on after all these years without videogames – is expecting the battlefield below to suddenly break into a grid. Enough magic and creativity could alight this area, but their world isn't a game of chess or numbers. Not yet.
This is a schoolyard brawl taken to the next level. A test for a teacher who has not had the chance to shove experience down the throats of the students. Since Byleth has had a chance to glimpse the profiles and initial scores of his charges, it will all come down to strategy and Sothis.
Tutorial battle round two: succeed without Jeralt's ability to tank and hit back harder.
Failure is not an option.
The Eagles run up the path until they hit the edge of their opponent's attack range, Linhardt falling behind as his terrible stamina puts him in a good position for support. Meanwhile, Lorenz veers away from a pincer move on Ashe. Instead of what may have been a good double team, the Deer noble drags Ignatz into going for the obvious Eagle bait.
Leonie glances over to see Claude's face. He doesn't look pleased. The woman tsks and makes a mental note to talk with Lorenz about what constitutes as insubordination and when it should be done. It's not like I could say anything if Gloucester was my backer. Shifting the view, Leonie can just make out Hilda relaxing against a tree. Whatever the pinkette says convinces Claude back into hiding with her.
All the spectators turn to watch as the Eagles begin their assault on the scouts of the other Houses. Ignatz and Ashe have each other's back for the moment, getting in a few good shots at the Black Eagles. Lorenz holds his own against Ferdinand. For a moment, it looks like one of the Eagles might go down.
Then Byleth appears in Lorenz's blind spot, knocking him out. Overwhelmed, Ignatz and Ashe don't get another chance to fire before Edelgard and Ferdinand are upon them. When all is over, Linhardt heals everyone. The group splits, Byleth and Ferdinand to the left while the rest aim for the Lion's territory. As they leave, the Church healers drag the down-and-out students off the field.
On automatic, Leonie turns her megaseer back to her House's side. Bow in hand, tapping his fingers on the makeshift wall, Claude's lips move as he calls something to the oncoming forces. In her mind, the woman can hear the words, 'Are you really gonna fight two Houses at once?'
Her fingers tighten on the megaseer, don't be a hero.
On-field Claude winks, 'Heh, an impressive display of confidence.'
Byleth doesn't hesitate. The Professor drives his sword into the wooden wall, splinters flying. He receives an arrow to the face for his troubles, but in no time the wall is destroyed. Ferdinand leaps into the opening, only to be blocked by Hilda. With the axe vs. lance advantage, and enough strength to crush a rock in her bare hands, Hilda comes close to defeating the Empire noble.
Unfortunately for Team Golden Deer, Byleth has more tactical advantage and health points. He dodges three more arrows before his hits topple the leader of the Golden Deer. Splayed on the ground, sword at his throat, Claude yields. Byleth then whirls and throws his sword, smacking Hilda across an arm so one hand falls away from her axe. Ferdinand takes the advantage, knocking her off her feet and attacking until she yields.
Leonie breathes out a shaky sigh against the adrenaline pounding in her ears, at least they're both conscious. Turns until she can see the Eagles vs. Lions. Dedue is down and out, while Edelgard is winning against Dimitri. Hubert seems to be toying with Mercedes, dodging her arrows and forcing her back towards the Lion's Professor. Whenever there is a decent opening, Linhardt comes up and heals his housemates.
Dimitri goes down, and Leonie switches to see what's happening with Manuela. She's being carted off the field. Turns back in time to see Mercedes on the ground giving the yield signal. Hanneman gives it a good try, but Byleth bursting from the treeline is the final straw and he yields before any more attacks can be inflicted.
Black Eagles win, Byleth gets to stay on as a professor. The House he gets to teach stands up on the bleachers, their cries practically a roar. Even Bernadetta gets up to cheer. Everyone else politely claps, their noise barely undertones to the victory music belting out from a few of Jeralt's mercenaries.
Lysithea pokes Leonie, the unimpressed woman startling out of her empty thoughts. The white-haired teen pulls the hand back to feel the fishtail braid trailing down her back, "We're going to go check on them."
Leonie relaxes because, yah, these celebrations aren't for them. She's not the hero of this show, no matter the half-there memories of a screen playing the outcome below. With a nod at the not-question, once she's made sure Dorothea and Caspar have Bernadetta looked after, Leonie walks up the bleachers to tell Marianne and Raphael the plan. Marianne quickly excuses herself to ghost over to Lysithea. Like the nice guy he is, Raphael promises to spend time with Petra in the future before leaving with his housemates.
"What do you think?" Leonie wonders with one more glance to the field below, mind still a bit far away and seeing grid lines that don't exist. "Will we take the win in the Battle of the Eagle and Lion?"
Lysithea, Marianne, and Raphael give her odd looks, the shortest of the group flicking Leonie's arm, "Don't start having doubts now. We're months off from that."
"Yah!" Raphael pats her shoulder. The burst of magic to increase her weight, keeping her from toppling at his reassurance, snaps her out of trying to force a recall. "Now that we know what they can do, we can work together and overcome it!"
A very hesitant hand touches, and then takes hold of Leonie's. Marianne mummers, "Though the defeat looked overwhelming… I know we can do better as a team."
Leonie chuckles, a little sheepish that they're all deciding to comfort her. She was just a bit lost trying to remember the chapter that played out today. It's… nice of them. A strange almost-comfort that they all think they can win against Byleth's chosen House. Leonie won't dare let that belief die, already knowing long ago that she'll try her best even in the moments she can't win. "Thanks. You are right! We have all the time in the world to get ready for it! The other Houses won't know what hit them when we face them head-on!"
She doesn't let herself wonder how many people will join the Black Eagles. No matter who will be against them, Leonie isn't going to have Claude end this school year as the sole, original, main class Golden Deer. Not even if he wants her to leave. Not even if she has to. She may not want any one of these people in her main class to suffer – is a bit startled to realize she cannot remember the last time she imagined attacking some of them – but Claude has made himself a priority outside of being a major side-character.
It still doesn't feel like friendship; none of these relationships are what she remembers friendships feeling like. Instead, it is much like the high level of instincts she feels with Lysithea; Claude and heir Ordelia provoke protectiveness and a want to see them thriving in five years. Very few Golden Deer allow Leonie to experience something close to easygoingness, no need to act as or conform to a major pillar of support like with Bernadetta or the kids back in Sauin. No need to lay down an alliance, as with Dorothea or Mercedes. Lysithea, at least, spends a lot of time with Leonie because they're working together to find a cure. Claude… checks in with Leonie. Defends her. Isn't constantly pressing his Crest against her shields or only talking with her because he gets something out of it.
Leonie knows she could kill anyone if she needed to. With her year mates, ending them would be because they are on extreme opposing sides. Leonie refuses to focus on what will happen if Lysithea turns Eagle or Church follower. Claude, thankfully, won't stick around if she gives him the option of escape- something Leonie hates allowing.
Coming up to the meeting point, walking hand-in-hand with Marianne as Raphael and Lysithea fall into a discussion on who won the hair braiding contest, Leonie will not mourn any broken relationships until the war begins. Afterall, there's no telling what the future will hold once Jeralt gets saved.
At least she'll have Hilda when the Battle of the Eagle and Lion arrives. Leonie likes the Deer's chances of holding out past the Blue Lions for only as long as the pinkette on their side. Leonie may not have the utmost respect for the noble teen, but she can appreciate and admire the pure strength and talent hidden in the Deer's second in command.
3.
Not being allowed down to the medic tents makes some of the Deer antsy. Lysithea is bouncing on her feet, Marianne has taken her hand back to tap out a silent hymn on her dress, and Raphael looks moments away from climbing a tree to try and see any better. Meanwhile, Leonie watches all of this with a grin as she chats with the guards. The Church soldiers have been tasked with keeping students away but are more a deterrent then anything else. Only the main class students are brave enough to hover.
Besides keeping up with the latest gossip, Leonie purposefully stays position closest to the invisible border. While she may not want to ever experience a time rewind again, there is a part of Leonie ready to decimate the current timeline if any of her housemates are more than a bit roughed up. Sothis likely cannot send Byleth back too far yet, so the faster Leonie has a reason to snap, the faster they can redo the battle if necessary.
Sure, it may be revealing more than Leonie ever wants another person to know about her capabilities. Yes, it will give the main character even more reason not to like her. But… crippling someone now would cause more problems then either of them can afford. The political nightmare alone for if a student gets seriously hurt should have Byleth keeping back some of his strength. If more incentive is needed, Leonie can provide.
Relief doesn't exactly come when the Deer and Lion tributes appear at the bottom of the hill. Leonie's stance doesn't change except to wave, her smile not widening or dropping as an almost pleasant buzz settles in her chest. None of them are limping, a quick Eagle Eye reveals no bruising. There is an air of defeat around the incoming students, but that is to be expected. The fact that not a single Eagle is walking with them probably hurts; no one wants to be the House that couldn't manage to knock out one other person. Even Ignatz and Ashe teaming up did nothing to stop the one-sided victory.
Mercedes waves back, and Leonie hears Sylvain teasing Ingrid as the other Lions finally come down to see their other half. With the main classes meeting up, the guards let the invisible border drop and make for wherever they're next stationed. Leonie plasters on her best smile and jogs down to meet the losers.
"Congrats on holding on so long against Byleth," she says when she's in range. Maybe it's a bit of salt in the wound, but she can be proud of them for it. "How's everyone doing."
"Leonie!" Hilda whines, arms out and pretending to swoon. Beside her, Claude makes a face. "I cannot go any further."
Instead of offering a piggyback, Leonie swoops in to get her bridal-style. Off to the side, the tired Lions pause when Dimitri does to watch the display. Claude steps up to block the prince's face, patting the arm Hilda tucks around Leonie's neck, "I did say you'd regret whining to her."
"This is so uncute," Hilda mutters. She doesn't ask to be put down, though. "Marianne! What did you think of the battle?"
Everyone does seem to be alright. The Lions drift off towards their own, Sylvain and Annette practically carrying the welcoming committee while Ingrid hovers back and Felix sneers. Meanwhile, the Deer are quick to fall into conversation. Lysithea pokes holes in Lorenz's battlefield decisions, quick glances darting at Leonie every now and then as if to gauge how much point she needs to make. Leonie finds it almost touching. The woman gives a small shake of her head when Lorenz begins looking upset, and Lysithea switches to complaining about how fast their professors were taken down. Hilda exaggerates her own battle in a way that has Marianne smiling instead of fretting, Raphael is pulling all of the details bit by bit from a slightly shaky Ignatz, and Claude keeps smiling, standing between all of them and the Lions.
Leonie goes from trying to catch her House Leader's gaze to blatant staring. She almost doesn't catch the small moment of his Crest prodding her through the Crest fog Hilda exudes. He finally looks at her after the strand retracts, eyes crinkling and head tilting as if to ask, what?
Leonie slowly, carefully, mouths around her own fake smile. Are. You. Okay?
He looks at something beyond her, possibly another Deer, and then his smile turns a little more real when he nods and steps close enough to brush her elbow as they walk. So quiet it's barely a whisper, he wonders, "Did you enjoy the show?"
She leans over to lie, "I was on the edge of my seat." Does not ask what weapon he'll choose for short-range combat like she's wanted to since Byleth laid him out. Satisfying the flecks of curiosity is not worth pulling out the information in front of their rival class.
Speaking of schemers, Mercedes drifts over with Annette. The shorter orangette manages to snag Claude's attention quickly with a few rapid questions. Mercedes tugs on Leonie's Academy jacket until they've fallen behind without the House Leader noticing. Leonie would almost be offended at how quick he is to forget about her, except Annette is a rare type of person that can hold all of your attention once you've given her a little. Claude won't be able to escape until something snaps him out of it or Annette's cute, energetic self stops unintentionally charming him.
Mercedes wonders, slightly quieter than normal but still in her dream-like tone, "How mad is Dorothea?"
"Since her House won without any loses," Leonie gives an exaggerated eye roll, "what right does she have to be mad?"
"I did keep it from you both."
"You know I'm more impressed than mad," true. Maybe there was a hint of annoyance when it was revealed that Mercedes was participating but, after so many tea times and organizing with the other two young women, Leonie is a baseline happy to be working alongside someone who can outsmart her if needs must. It means Leonie will have to get better at learning tells from the people she has bits of trust with. "We'll sit down and chat at our normal time this week. If Dorothea's mad, we'll talk it out. Don't fret about it, and congratulations on holding on so long against Hubert."
Mercedes turns her blissful gaze to her housemates, "Ashe landed a hit on him."
"I saw! It was awesome!"
The other woman hums, "Do you think he would teach me if I asked for assistance?"
"Of course," Leonie rearranges Hilda as the teen squirms to sit up higher. "You are friends, aren't you?"
Mercedes' breaks into a grin that shines like a diamond, "Yes, you are correct. At least, I hope we are."
Honestly, Leonie barely manages to hold back a huff as she looks around at her own housemates, same.
4.
The start of classes comes with more leaflets and instruction. Manuela addresses her main class, "As some of you may know, each House is assigned a mission every month by the Church of Seiros. The mission must be completed before the next Moon commences– and you should refer to them as Moons instead of months while at the Officer's Academy. Anything you hand in will have marks deducted if you write out 'months'.
"Back to the matter at hand, our mission for this month is to escort part of the Monastery's agriculture department to Gronder's fields. We will all be able to return with teleportation crystals. We are needed to defend the convoy of seeds and supplies to the location, because transporting seeds through magical means has a high probability of killing them. Faith magic at even the lowest strength can protect us from teleportation's Reason magic, but it cannot protect young living things or those that we spent only a short time with. Therefore, late-expecting mothers, children under the age of five, and young animals or plants should never interact with teleportation magics. It is estimated that a year spent with someone is enough time to form a magical connection which can use your Faith shield to protect them, but if you want to know the finer details to that you will need to ask Professor Hanneman.
"This leads me to my next topic, if you would turn to the last page on your handouts. Each House-leading professor in the academy has an overarching project that will last the year and will require the main class students to complete if they want to graduate. Professor Byleth has graciously agreed to continue doing Operations for his class. Professor Hanneman will continue to do magical studies for his class. You, my students, will be required to create something for your community. It can be something as simple as a game for children to play, to as complicated as recreating infrastructure for betterment of a city. The end product must be implemented before the Battle of the Eagle and Lion. On the page you will find a timeline of what I expect from you- all of your ideas will be passed to the higher authorities of the Church of Seiros and either accepted or denied before you put anything into practice. Do make sure you've laid out cost, outlines, and the benefits of your idea. Diagrams and instructions will only benefit your final grade. Are there any questions?"
Everyone shoots a hand into the air.
Manuela sighs, "No, you cannot work in teams. Everyone must have their own idea to put in practice. No, you will not be receiving any royalties for what you produce, and any recognition should be redirected to the Church of Seiros. Yes, you can ask for outside help and funding. Yes, you can assist each other but those giving help will not receive extra marks. No, it cannot be a magical study; as I said, Professor Hanneman has that covered. Any other questions?"
Everyone turns to look at the only student with a hand still up.
Manuela sighs, like this bothering her, "Yes, Leonie?"
"How are you marking us? I see a timeline but no rubric."
"If whatever you create is in place before the last month of the year, you don't fail."
Lysithea snaps a fragile hand around Leonie's arm, and that's the only reason the woman doesn't begin a speech on how absolutely horrid that is as a grading system. It doesn't stop Leonie from thinking about tossing Manuela through a window, but it does help her focus enough to grit out a smile and, "I understand."
Leonie's mood doesn't get better as the Crest blanket rattles halfway through lessons. The air presses against her shield and diverter wards like a wave made of honey; too sweet, sticky, and hard to move against. The only consolation is that Claude and Lysithea seem to be effected negatively as well. Meanwhile, Manuela quits sneaking drinks from her flask and practically vibrates under the influence of the Crest blanket.
Ugh, the eldest Golden Deer quietly curses out Sothis, Rhea, and then the Church for good measure. Whoever thought it was a good idea to wrap the populace in a bundle of Crest powers has clearly never been on the receiving end of it.
5.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Lysithea mutters, stopping Leonie from entering the sparring ring.
The woman gives her an odd look, not quite understanding where the hesitance is coming from, "Of course. It's just Dimitri."
"Yes, but…" Lysithea's hand tightens on Leonie's white shirt. "He won't hold back anything here."
"I'm anticipating that. It'll be fine, promise! You can go back to magicking targets with Cyril. Maybe if you're interesting enough, he'll agree to spar with you."
Lysithea makes a face at the suggestion but lets go. Holds two fingers to her eyes, and then points them towards Leonie's face. The young woman pretends to swoon as the 'I'm watching you' movement is used against her. Lysithea is such a quick learner.
"Hey," now it's Leonie stopping the teen. "If Jeritza does anything to you guys, scream. Or blast him."
Lysithea knocks the hand off her shoulder, eyebrows furrowed, "I thought you liked him."
"I don't hate him," don't care enough for that, "however, the way he's been watching us isn't giving me any good vibes." Lysithea isn't strong enough to one-shot him yet. They need to not anger the prone-to-violence combat instructor. "Be careful, okay?"
"I should be telling you that," Lysithea scoffs. Nods and stomps off to go destroy more targets with her dark magic.
Best I'm going to get, Leonie huffs and twirls her lance. Waves at Dimitri, the other man finishing his conversation with Dedue as they waited for her. Leonie and the Prince get into the sparring area, each giving the proper bow before making it into their set positions. The seconds tick by, and Leonie thinks a rhetorical why not. Leaps forward to begin the spar on the attack.
She doesn't stay attacking for very long. Dimitri is strong, the Crest of Blaiddyd increasing his attack like a constant buff. Even inactive, his block and pushback could have easily thrown a normal student out of the ring. Back in the class placement tournament, he did throw Leonie and a few others out of the ring by accidently getting too excited in battle. As their first lance-only spar since she beat him in the lance tournament, he isn't holding back at all.
Leonie stepped into the ring debating between matching his force or going for skill. Pushed off her feet from him merely blocking, she begins swapping buffs. Makes herself heavier, redirecting gravity's effect on her to counteract the force. Her feet skid on the ground, wicked smile blooming as some need for violence leaks through. Then she switches to be light on her feet, twisting and flowing against the strikes Dimitri throws down.
With how fast Leonie can go, added on are the very few strikes she got in, the Prince gets tired before she does. However, Leonie knew she wasn't going into this winning, and there's a feral grin on both their faces as he finally corners and forces her to choose: yield, or be forced out of the ring?
"Fine, fine," Leonie sighs like psychic damage isn't hitting because she's giving up. For as calm and accepting as she looks, it takes more energy to reign in the let loose impulse now that she's cornered. Carefully, Leonie places her lance down, his pointed at her throat the whole way, before raising her hands in surrender. If this was a real fight, she would have gone down fighting. No need to let everyone in the Monastery know that, though. "I yield. Thanks for the spar."
"Of course," Dimitri's winning smile will break the hearts of the other students; Dedue's looking awestruck and he should be the most immune. "Thank you for inviting us to train here. It has been exceedingly difficult to book the hall."
"I know what you mean. None of the Deer have anything booked until Garland Moon." Leonie kicks her lance up. Thanks Dedue when he brings over water for them. "Oh, hey, have you guys received your class job from Hanneman yet?"
"Yes," Dedue replies, finally taking his eyes off of His Majesty. "We are to deliver Garreg Mach Monastery's blessings to Macuil's temple in the Kingdom."
"Is it for Saint Macuil Day?"
"Yes."
"Does that mean you'll be forced into the festivities or do you get to luck out and avoid the whole day?"
"Ah, Leonie," Dimitri is strained as he tries to be nice while telling her off, "the days celebrating our Saints are the most worthy of days to participate with the Church. We will be as much a part of the Kingdom's activities for it as I expect you will be here at the Monastry."
"Of course, my mistake," Leonie's fake grin is at least pleasant to look at. She's made sure of it. The woman hasn't participated in a Saint's day since before she could hold a bow and there are good reasons not to break that record now. Reasons such as nobody will be guarding any secrets if they're all in the cathedral. "Dedue, your turn to choose a sparring partner. Who do you want?"
He turns to Dimitri, bowing a perfect ninety-degrees, "It would be an honor, Your Highness."
"The honor would be mine, Dedue."
Cute, it's more a scoffing thought then delightful. Tired as he is, Dimitri and Dedues' chances of winning this are equal. Leonie gets into referee position. In the distance, Lysithea turns to lecture Cyril after his training dummy turns to dust. If Leonie hadn't lived a life before, she'd have thought this scene to be very domestic. Too bad it's missing some people, and that this isn't what she remembers wholesome fondness to feel like.
6.
There are some memories that can stick around, vivid, haunting a person for years and lifetimes. Some are good, some bad. Of her past life, Leonie can remember moments that don't mean anything in this world. An intense high school game of dodgeball that probably saved her Gym grade. A kid at the front of the class throwing up because he was so nervous presenting. The name of her favourite teacher, and the name of the worst.
Some memories are more abstract. Why a teacher was favoured more highly than others. What makes a good learning environment vs. the implosion of a class.
With the in-fighting between the Lion and Eagle classes, the Deer are lucky there's no bullying going on between themselves anymore. The biggest issue they face is the other classes targeting them. The Professors and Church Officials have made it clear that it is Not Their Problem unless someone winds up physically injured. Name calling, asserting dominance, and hierarchy creation is just a part of the student body's training, apparently.
So… Leonie has tried, okay? Tried to fit into this type of schooling, tried to change what she could during the stint as Phantom of the Monastery, and tried to learn the way Professors expect them too.
It has now been over a week since classes were official with Manuela guiding the Golden Deer House. All of the previous review and practical was to get them ready for the mock battle. Now, with the escort mission in a week, their teacher refuses to book them into the training grounds on the theory that they need to memorize Harpstring Moon's doctrine. It's something even Leonie – the most uninformed of the Deer – knows all about. They must read and practice hymns, their homework is to pray for and hope that the Saint Macuil will bless them with a better connection to the Goddess, and write over and over about how humans wept at the sight of bountiful fields, gifted as thanks for the kindness they showed to all who strayed from the Goddess' words.
It takes every ounce of self control to not stab the loaned doctrine and proclaim, Sothis gifted f**k all to the humans. The long day ends with more promise of this learning experience tomorrow. The moment the door closes behind Manuela, Leonie slams her hands on the desk with all dramatic flair she can muster. It gets the attention of the class, all freezing to stare as her chair goes toppling back.
Standing tall, doing her best not to come across as murderous, Leonie looks at the people before her. If Manuela keeps refusing to teach them anything useful, there will be no questions about why the Golden Deer would leave for the Black Eagles. If they stay, none of them will have any skills to survive a war. At least in Sauin Village – in moments where Leonie struggles with feeling nothing for ditching the kids she more-or-less-raised – the woman knows every child is prepared with lessons she taught about hunting, stalking, and surviving an invasion.
With the Golden Deer, Claude is the only person trustworthy enough to get things done. His pranks are proof enough.
The people before her are going to die if the year continues this way.
Show a little bit of trust, is the only decision that kept Leonie sane throughout the lesson. If they can keep a secret, then she won't move to the Abyss to avoid classes with Manuela. If her classmates can't keep quiet… well, not like Leonie could have suffered through hymns for a full year. Sorry Claude, Lysithea, saving Jeralt and keeping sane has higher priority then keeping them happy. If Leonie must do schooling again, under a teacher that certainly does not mesh with the way the class learns, then her classmates must be the reason she stays.
"All of you, stop by here tomorrow before breakfast," Leonie demands. "I have something to hand you that can only be given that early in the morning."
Some of them look interested. Hilda groans, "But I want to sleep Leonie."
"I can promise you that this isn't something you want to miss out on," Leonie grins, all smiley even as it feels like nail being hammered into her body. She has hesitated on this idea long enough that following through isn't leaving her excited. "Lysithea, do you want to see it now and help me hand them out tomorrow?"
The youngest in the room relaxes her narrowed eyes, "Alright."
Claude waves a hand, "Can I come as well?"
"No. You'll see it tomorrow."
"But I'm your House Leader."
"Then show up first to approve it."
There's a hard glint in his eyes, but he teases back, "Fine. Only this once."
7.
Lysithea drops a strand of hair in the white-covered book. Then follows step two and spits in it. Even after reading the instructions and hearing how it works from the creator, she's obviously doubtful as she writes her name on the first free page.
Leonie holds up her orange-covered book with a smirk, "See? What did I tell you?"
The teen gapes, recovering quickly to shoo Leonie over to the desk, "Explain. Everything."
8.
They only have dinner because Leonie drags them out, and the only interruption afterwards is Claude trying to wheedle out what they're doing. Lysithea crashes sometime around two in the morning, and then wakes up a few hours later in a flurry. Leonie – having stayed up all night trying to come up with ideas for Manuela's year-long project – has to physically pick up Lysithea before dawn breaks, and even then the teen does not stop writing on loose papers. The white-haired noble is scribbling frantically, grumbling about matrices as Leonie easily nudges open the door of the Golden Deer classroom.
Not like Manuela ever remembers to lock it. The only thing that woman locks are the cabinets, because that's where she hides the booze from Seteth behind what Leonie thinks might be testing papers .The student hasn't bothered picking the lock yet to check.
Lysithea is in the middle of waving a smudged array at a slightly vibrating, twenty-four-hours-plus awake Leonie when Claude arrives, "-the amount of magic to power everything would be drastically reduced!"
"You would lose the colour though," Leonie wiggles some fingers in a wave towards their House Leader. "The redirect will keep the ink from spilling, if the cover goes then it's a good sign that nothing you write will carry over."
"The covers are idiotic," Lysithea pulls no punches. "You would have been better off weaving a locking mechanism then overlaying the entire thing with a colour ward."
"Well, you two look terrible," Claude apparently isn't holding back today either. It gets the tiny-bit-manic teenager to strangle a scream and break off to glare at him. "Did you sleep at all last night?"
"Lysithea got two hours," Leonie decides, why not, and throws everything under the metaphorical bus. Very unaware of how too many teeth are showing in her smile. "I didn't get any. Too excited with this. Now, Claude! This is yours."
He takes the yellow covered book, doing a wonderful job of going with the moment, "Thank you, Leonie." Eyes the stack of books on the desk beside her. "Is this the item you promised we would be sorry for not coming here oh-so early in the morning to receive?"
In answer, Lysithea cackles. Leonie winks, "Read the first page."
An almost sickly warmth spreads to her face as Leonie watches Claude's expression. The standard smile turns confused, and then drops away to something like disbelief the further he reads. He doesn't follow instructions, instead looking between the two with an unusual seriousness, "Does this work? Really and truly work?"
"Follow the instructions."
He does, first dropping a hair and then spitting. Leonie flips out her own book, holding it open as he signs his name under Lysithea's.
Claude stares at her book for a long time. Finally meets her eyes with a blast of his Crest that makes Lysithea's tired gaze clear up, "Leonie. What the f**k?"
Jazz hands at him, "Surprise."
He has to sit down, "Did you both make this?"
"Oh no," Lysithea is bitter, tapping her smudged paper. "This was all Leonie."
Leonie gasps, all fake and with a hand to cover her heart, "You came up with the name."
"Because texting is a terrible thing to call this. Scribing is so much better."
The woman scoffs, turning to her House Leader and trying to lighten the mood, "What do you think, Claude? Texting or scribing?"
"Scribing," he replies automatically, and then blinks as if shocked with his own answer. "Wait, hold on, how did you make this?"
"Lysithea has the notes. Years of theory work, that's why the books are so cheap. I didn't think I could get it working so soon."
"There are so many things," Lysithea whines, "that could be added. Security, privacy, diversion from others looking at it. I could make it bite people if you let me. I know I can."
"That can be a different version."
"Leonie," Claude draws their attention again. "Is this your project for Manuela?"
Lysithea scowls, arm lashing out to vice-grip Leonie's. The woman doesn't do more than raise eyebrows at the teen's action, still unsure if she's successfully convinced the girl that she doesn't want the Church to know about this unless it's life-or-death. To answer Claude, Leonie shakes her head, "No way. This is something just for us Deer. Or at least, I don't want anyone else-"
"I understand," he cuts her off. Gets up and walks until he's close enough to brace both hands on her shoulders. "This won't get out of our main class. That's how many books there are, yes?"
"…Yes. You seem… surprisingly okay about this?"
His returning grin is boyish, rueful. There's something she's missing, but Leonie has no idea why he's okay with her not wanting anyone else to know about this new, magical marvel. All he explains, "It is a lot to take in. I won't lie about that. Don't worry though, Leonie. This isn't getting to anyone beyond our class."
Minor social ques in this world may not be her forte, but Leonie knows when she's being left out of something. Her eyes narrow as she looks between the two people still holding on to her, "Am I missing something?"
Claude's smile does not inspire trust in his words, "Not at all."
Before she can try getting an answer from Lysithea, the door flies open to reveal a grumpy Hilda being trailed by Marianne. The pinkette whines, "This had better be worth it!"
Claude and Lysithea finally let go, snickering and leaving Leonie to her fate.
9.
Lysithea: Lysithea
Claude: Claude
Hilda: Hilda
Marianne: Marianne
Lorenz: Lorenz
Ignatz: Ignatz
Raphael: Raphael
Leonie: Leonie!
Hilda: Why does the ink from the others fade?
Leonie: It only shows up as long as you are touching it.
Lysithea: Such a design flaw. You should have made it so that only we could see it.
Leonie: I certainly tried! Sacrifices had to be made to have the ink show up at all!
Lysithea: Our next set will be better.
Leonie: You're going to work on it with me? 😀
Lysithea: Of course. Why are you looking at me like that?
Claude: Why are you writing everything down when you're eating across from each other? Just talk to each other.
Leonie: (^_^)
Lorenz: What does that mean?
Lysithea: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Hilda: Oh Dear Goddess you have a list don't you? Write it down Leonie! I need to send these expressions to my brother!
10.
The knock on her door is more a pounding but, whatever the intent, doesn't trigger Danger Sense at all. Leonie straightens her school jacket – she must wear it properly, lest Manuela threaten detention again – and hurries over, "I'm coming!"
Opening the door reveals Claude, disheveled uniform and hair ruffled like it has been pulled at. He doesn't blink, eyes wide and expression delicate. Before she can ask what's wrong, Claude blurts out, "Are you L?"
At that, Leonie isn't unimpressed. Not quite surprised either, only vaguely concerned about why he's bringing it up now. Especially looking like he ran here. "Yah, and you're C-"
Leonie squeaks, off balance as he hits her with a tackle hug.
A/N: New-Leonie experiences a week of true high school life for the first time since she died and gets vivid reminders on why she never wanted to do it again. Her solution: texting in class, Fódlan-style.
Thank you so much for reading! A really big thank you to xenocanaan, Sukaleska, guisniperman, NihthKuro, Shadowclonier, DestructionDragon360, Guest, Guest, Math725e, OnHoldIndefinitely, Hong-Meirin, Faranon423, AryaZEvans, SchattenSoldat08, Baz, Guest, Guesst, Kingtaso, Reader, Guest, Guest, Guest, Guest, KingdomDone, and The-Anti-Akuma for reviewing! The support truly means a lot!
If things don't get too busy in real life, then the next chapter should be posted on or around the anniversary of the story's published date.
I hope everyone is well and has a great day! Please take care