Chapter Thirty-Two
1.
Dust has built up and everything is still in its place. While she was gone, no one entered her room.
Leonie is suspicious.
I'm not boring, am I? She walks circles around the small space, checking every nook and cranny. Byleth at least should have taken a peek by now, right?
It's not a bad thing. With Those Who Slither in the Dark watching their last mission, Leonie expected more. If no one wants to keep an eye on her, that gives a lot more freedom to move. They may not even think the orange haired commoner is the one decimating their followers. Loads of people overlook commoners, and those without a Crest are practically invisible. Just another number in the fodder of war.
Dealing with any more actual emotion manipulators will be both a curiosity and a pain. The one time was interesting, but so annoying. That person didn't sway with words or Crest bonds. He made her feel something, and Leonie's attributing all her worries on support ranks to any lingering effects of having been literally emotionally manipulated. She is curious – vaguely, but it's there – about the sludge travelling through his veins before she killed him. Until this mission, Leonie never used her Crest vision against Those Who Slither in the Dark. She didn't dare use it again while in the forest, not with the risk of another time travel moment if she didn't get them all.
And she did get them all. Which makes it even more curious that they didn't do their reset again.
Byleth only has a limited number. Would be nice if the creeps did too.
"Nothing to do about it now," Leonie grumbles and starts unpacking. No way will she test her sight on the librarian. There are distant memories that his real form is terrifying, but she's more hesitant to go against his scientific nature. Tomas always knows when he's being observed.
Besides, there are plenty of other things to burn the last extreme emotion magics on. Marianne's animal selection. Manuela's assignments. Finding examples of slavery in library books to help Hilda give references in her letters on why her 'servants' aren't actually servants. Feel out Edelgard and Dimitri's stances on it. Plan for several future birthdays. And do some weapon maintenance.
Ugh. That last one reminds her just how agonizing next week will be. Leonie has been very careful about how she spends money and has not reinforced her room; can't make it clear this is her territory because this is Rhea's space, not hers. So far, urges have been sated with tending to her own weapons. No stealing from others only because they need it more then her. However, the moment the chore schedule changes, Leonie will face the biggest risk to her reputation.
Like putting a treasure hunter in a gem mine.
"Too much to do," Leonie grumbles and takes a seat at her desk. Thinks about who could help her determine if there's any lingering emotional manipulation spell on her. Not Manuela. And if Leonie went to any of the Deer, she'd have to admit what happened in the forest. That's Not Their Problem yet. Doesn't trust Linhardt or Mercedes not to tell someone about her request. Without being sure of what Jeralt is capable of, that leaves one person. I hope Shamir is ready for another solo session. "So little time."
She still hasn't found a good place to try and stop Jeralt's murder.
"One mission down," Leonie mutters, pulling out some paper and a pen. "Another six or seven to go."
There's still time. She only needs to keep reminding herself that studies are not the priority. Old habits continue dying hard.
For now, she takes the emotion whirls and writes a letter to her village.
Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well!
2.
"Our group will meet in the hall after practice," Leonie waits outside the door to give her groupmates the warning. "If you do not show up, I will hunt you down and drag you to an empty room where we will talk about teamwork and cooperation."
Whatever Avinna and Kaveran see in her face, they don't argue. Kaveran at least looks apologetic as he rushes inside. The threat sticks and all three wait in the hallway after class.
When everyone has left, Avinna grows a spine and crosses her arms, "Well? What are we here for, commoner?"
Kaveran looks a bit horrified at his Housemate, breathing out a plea filled, "Goddess."
"When are we going to practice together?" Leonie isn't bothered. She's scared people for saying worse when she was going around as the Phantom of the Monastery. "I don't particularly care about messing up at the end of the year dance, but this is really important to Flayn. Therefore, if we screw up, it will be Seteth after our heads. Do you want Seteth to destroy any future you have in Fódlan? Do you?"
While startled by the realization of who's really in charge of pass-failing this class, Avinna continues to think she's in the right, "Then Kaveran and I shall practice, and you can sit there during the dance doing nothing."
"No," Kaveran interjects, which is surprising. The Deer wasn't expecting help, "I'm with Leonie on this one." The emphasis appears to be in case Avinna doesn't remember her name, not because he cares what the Deer is addressed as. His Housemate turns to him, appalled that he's siding with the commoner. "What? It's not like you could shove her in a closet during the dance. And have you ever listened to her cello playing in class? She's leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of us. How often do you practice, Leonie?"
"I try for an hour, three to five times a week."
"I come here to practice every day. I'm the worst wind instrument player in the class."
"That's because you aren't breathing in through your nose at all," Leonie assures him. "It's a hard skill. Especially when your lung capacity isn't as big as the others. There are ways to work around it, and I'm sure Professor Flayn could help if you asked her."
"See?" he waves his arms towards the woman. "Leonie can help us. We can be amazing as a group, or we fail because you're trying to make us play around you. I am terrible at improve, Avinna. And I struggle to match the tempo. We need to practice together."
Avinna huffs and glares over at Leonie, "Anything else you want to say?"
"Kaveran covered most of it," Leonie shrugs. Definitely not how she would have phrased it. Maybe that's for the best. Still, the woman puts hands on her hips and leans forward. "But since you're not convinced, now would be a good time to reflect on how you want to be perceived by the populace. This is me trying to care about how you need to save face for social norms. You don't want to see what will happen when I. Stop. Trying."
They take a step back at her smile. Avinna gulps and manages to hold her head high, "We will practice from three bells until six bells tomorrow afternoon. Do not be late."
They watch as Avinna tries to sashay away. She doesn't shorten her stride enough to make it work. Kaveran looks to Leonie, and then thinks better of whatever he was going to chide, "See you tomorrow."
Leonie mock salutes, "See you then."
3.
"That's the story you're telling others," Shamir sits across from Leonie, hands lanced on her crossed knee as she watches the younger woman. "What actually happened on your mission?"
Leonie glances around Shamir's room. It's unprotected, but at least the walls are thick, "Claude sent me out alone to look for dinner. Turns out a bunch of creeps had been following us for a while. I dealt with them, but the first one I encountered had an ability to manipulate emotions. I was wondering if you can check to make sure nothing is lingering."
Shamir holds out a hand. Leonie doesn't hesitate to clasp it. After a few minutes of staring, Shamir blinks out of a trance and shakes her head, "You're good. If you think any physical changes persist, you should see Manuela."
"I'll ask a few classmates to mention if they see me being erratic or something," Leonie pulls her hand back, crossing her legs. "Thank you for looking."
"It's no problem. I'll make sure some extra spies are assigned to the other class missions. If the people creeping around you show up again, I'll let you know. Are there any identifiers I should look for?"
"Dark hoods and robes, masks with a beak. Usually, a long and curved beak." Shamir frowns at the information. "What?"
"It may be nothing," the ravenette shakes the thoughts from her head. "I'll see if the Church has any reference to that. For now, keep an eye out."
"I always do."
"Cheeky," Shamir flicks the other's forehead. "What did their Crests feel like, since you had me check."
"I took a deep look at the first one before I killed him. Don't flick me again; no one else was around! In his veins were a lot of earthly colours, but dark and thick. Like sludge. It moved too."
Shamir hums, "Would you say it was like a Crest bond's center point?"
"Yes and no. I don't think it reached out for me, and it wasn't shining or… thinner like people with Crests usually look like. But the places it existed were the exact same places that those with Crests have their power."
"Did it smell or taste like anything?"
Leonie thinks back for a long while, "No. If I hadn't looked, I don't think I would have known about whatever Crest the man had."
"Hopefully that is because seeing Crests is your strongest sense," Shamir uncrosses her legs and leans forward. "If not, then there may be a new type of Crest going unnoticed because it doesn't bond like usual. Hanneman would be the best person to go to, but without proof he won't bother spending his time searching."
"So… leave it for now?"
Shamir glares, "I will try to find some proof. As much as it pains me to say it, all you can do now is wait and see. If you try to give any proof, the Church will want to know how you figured it out."
"And if a third party dropped it on the door… like, hypothetically the Phantom-"
"Don't finish that sentence. Stay out of this, Leonie. Don't give the Church anything that can be traced back to you."
If only you knew what I got up to without you. Leonie slowly nods for show, "Okay. I'll stay out of it."
Only for now. The moment anyone goes for Jeralt, it's fair game.
4.
"That's the story that is in the report," Jeralt nods, swirling his spiked tea in the early hours of the morning. "Now, what was left out?"
Leonie rolls her eyes as she sips her tea, taking the time to admire his office. It hasn't been long, but he's got this place warded against everything except a nuclear bomb. She isn't supposed to know that, so she can't ask what all these wards mean. Instead, the woman relays the information she told Shamir.
"I'm sure I've seen a few like that in my mercenary days," he stares out the window in thought. "The empire sells something like those masks. They usually belong to any potioneers or those working with contagious diseases. It is supposed to filter the air. I'll have the Knights keep an eye out for suspicious activity, but there isn't much we can."
"I didn't expect anything," Leonie shrugs. "If they had attacked the camp, something could have been done. With me attacking first…"
"It's better you didn't say anything. How many of your classmates know?"
"Just Claude. Shamir knows if you need to collaborate with anyone."
"Oh? How come you told her?"
"I wanted to make sure there were no aftereffects, and I didn't trust going to Manuela for a checkup."
"Yah… any chance I can convince you to act nicer to her?"
"I'm acting as nice as I can."
"Just had to ask. Seteth noticed you coming to say hello and thinks I can talk some sense into you."
They both smirk, Jeralt unaware just how close Seteth is to the truth. Leonie would absolutely jump off a cliff for this guy. Mostly because she knows she'll survive. Jeralt has her trust that he won't demand anything more than her best and will never ask for her worst.
Eventually, the bells chimes and their talking peters off. Everything gets set aside for the staff, and they head out for a walk. Jeralt lays flowers on his wife's grave. Leonie stands away, watching the people cross the bridge for service. Together, they wander towards the main class dorms and criticize the Knights slacking on duty.
"When do you get to learn Pegasus riding?" he wonders.
"When Manuela lets us take exams," Leonie scoffs. "Even then, I don't think the pegasus like me much. Feeling's mutual, I'd rather ride a wyvern."
"Don't let them hear you say that," Jeralt laughs, a booming noise that crinkles his scars when he smiles. "Those beasts never forget when you insult them."
"Have you ever ridden one?"
"In case you haven't noticed, I am a man, Leonie."
"So?" she spins so she's walking backwards, arms crossed. "If the pegasus are sexist, then no way am I going to get along with them. Besides, you're old enough to have met one male-rider, aren't you?"
"Not even I'm that old."
"Then how old are you? Rhea's inauguration? The founding of the Empire?"
He's not laughing now, but his scowl is playful, "I may have forgotten my age, but I am not ancient."
"You've forgotten your age," Leonie mock gasps. A movement in the corner of her eyes, and she realizes they're at their split-up point already. "Professor Byleth! Do you know how old Captain Jeralt is?"
A large fist drops on her head for a noogie, "That's enough, Leonie. If I don't know, how could my child know?"
"If you're going to treat me like a kid," she dodges away and holds up a fist in mock offense, "then I'm going to call you ancient. Besides, he might know! You might have let it spill and forgotten! Is your memory going too, Captain?"
"My memory is just fine." He huffs and rolls his eyes. Byleth eyes them like they're prey. "By the time you're forgetting your own age, you're past the point of caring."
"The only way you wouldn't know your age is if they didn't have calendars when you were born."
"I'll stop treating you like a kid when you stop being a cheeky brat," he threatens good-naturedly.
"Alright, alright, I'll drop it. It was nice to see you, Professor Byleth! Have a great day you two!"
Jeralt calls after her, "Don't overwork yourself. I won't teach you anything else until you get some weight back on you!"
"I'm fine!" she waves back. "But if you're buying food, I won't say no!"
5.
More sixth sense then Danger Sense, Leonie waits until the last moment to sidestep. Her follower stumbles but recovers with a smirk.
She gives him a droll look, "Did you really just try to tackle me?"
Claude winks, "It got your attention, didn't it? How was lunch with your friends?"
"It was lovely," Leonie answers, doing her best proper lady impression. "Dorothea and Mercedes are wonderful to be around."
"That's nice," the last word is hissed a bit. Her eyebrows shoot up at the stress lines on his face. "I didn't see you around this morning."
"I went to let some people in town know I survived my first mission," Leonie keeps watching him. Claude's eyes are a hard green and hair not as floofy, but he doesn't seem tired. "Are you okay?"
A sharp laugh, and then he visibly hides the irritation behind a sheepish mask. Hand runs through his hair, "Nothing gets past you. Yes, I am fine. The Church will not look into our official bandit attack, and there was some discourse this morning on how they are going to classify it. Then I had a discussion with Edelgard and Dimitri. We weren't seeing each other's realities today."
"That's a neat way of putting it," Leonie makes no mention of how he inches closer. "Mind if I steal that phrase? Sounds better than not seeing eye-to-eye."
He laughs again, "Go ahead. So, what are you doing now?"
"Well… I was going to the library, but I have enough work to do that I could go back to my room if you want to take over the bed."
Claude startles, the hard edge falling from his smile, "What do you mean?"
"You look like you could use a nap."
He seemingly doesn't notice his hand brush against her wrist, nor how he pulls away. Leonie's vaguely getting worried when he finally shakes his head, "Not today. Let's meet at the library. I need to finish Manuela's homework."
"Do you know what you're doing for the project?"
"Not yet. Do you?"
"I have a few ideas. Can you look at my sketches and let me know if they're feasible?"
An hour later, Claude is in a much better mood. He has quietly slipped away copies of her bicycle design to mail to his uncle and has talked Leonie down into making the scooter her project for the kids. Only issue the woman's still trying to iron out, is what to make the wheels out of.
6.
Their playing is…
Well…
It's obvious how new to the instruments these teens are.
"That was horrible!" Avinna snarls. Glares at the other two from her seat.
"It was our first time," Leonie counters. "We will get better with practice. What do you guys think for next time-"
Avinna jerks into standing, "You will address us as nobles!"
Kaveran looks between the two of them in the following silence. No help from him this time.
"What would you two nobles," Leonie says each word slowly. Avinna's face gets more and more heated, "think if we took turns doing bars one at a time? That way we can try to get a feel for the pace we are all going at."
Kaveran beams, "That sounds-"
"-like a terrible idea," Avinna cuts in. It's becoming very clear who isn't a team player. Even more clearly, Leonie can feel the self sabotage coming on. "We're better off doing it again so you two can learn to keep pace with me."
"You aren't keeping a pace though," Leonie rests her cello and grabs the music sheet. "I'm supposed to go slow throughout this song, but your four-four time isn't sticking. You go too fast or too slow, and I don't know how to keep up."
"I have heard this music before-"
"I haven't-"
"-don't you dare interrupt me!"
Leonie blinks at the heavily breathing teen, no sympathy for the anger thrown around, "As you interrupted Kaveran, I thought it was allowed."
"Kaveran and I are of equal status. We are allowed to interrupt as required. You need to learn your place, Leonie."
The commoner shakes her head, not daring to blink, "Do you even know why you hate me so much?"
"You are nothing," Avinna seethes. Puts her violin in her chair. "It would be for the best of all of us if you stopped trying to pretend you are worth something. This session is over."
The teen stomps out of the room, leaving the groupmates to clean up. Kaveran sighs, "She's not having an easy time in the Academy."
The woman knows the unspoken you should have some compassion when she hears it. Even if she could feel like a standard person in this world, it wouldn't be understanding that endears her to the teen. In Leonie's mouth, the cruel, with a personality like that she certainly wouldn't have a good time, gets stilled and traded for a dead smile towards the Eagle noble, "Neither am I."
Kaveran looks away.
7.
"Are you okay?" Lysithea mutters, trying to nudge Leonie into motion. "You've been staring at the chalkboard for a while…"
Honestly? No, Leonie is not okay. She knew this would come, but of course she's partnered with the very last person she wants to see her inevitable breakdown. The only saving grace is that weapon maintenance is the only chore that doesn't require the Golden Deer doubling up. For only one time a month, Leonie will be faced with the ultimate temptation and not be allowed to take.
It's an unhealthy mindset. The woman's been doing mental gymnastics to try and plan how she can handle the chore. Except, the excited obsession is rearing its head at the promise of more. She's been staring at the chalkboard so long because thoughts get derailed by the hyperfixation of what's to come. Leonie so badly wants a new weapon.
After all, the Church doesn't need all of theirs.
Right?!
She doesn't answer Lysithea, hurrying after their teacher when class ends, "Professor! Would it be alright if I swapped chore days-"
"No, Leonie," Manuela doesn't even look back. Swings open the door to the classroom. "Whatever it is you have planned can be changed to a later date. Your Academy duties always take precedence."
Still doesn't look back as the door swings shut. Leonie's head hangs. The young woman doesn't have it in her to feel murderous or stab-happy. Her horrible fixation – only a few more hours, just think of how many there are for the taking – doesn't leave her room to plot around the day's chore. Leonie hasn't felt this narrowminded in months.
It's not like the Church needs all of their weapons. And replenishing a supply would do them good. Returns some of their mounds of gold back into the pockets of commoners.
Exactly!
The woman's barely holding back with the knowledge that if she's caught stealing, they could try and execute her.
Because 'try' is the key word. Really, the only thing staying her hand is Jeralt's disappointment if she gets kicked out of the Officer's Academy.
"Leonie?" Lysithea calls again. The whole class is watching as the teen takes her hand, "Are you okay?"
"I will be," she lies. Raises her head with a smile that looks real even as she feels oh so empty inside. "What were you saying? I zoned out for a moment."
Sink or swim time, and it's been a long time since she's tried to override this life's whims with her last life's sensibilities.
8.
There are two locations Leonie has refused to enter inside the Monastery grounds. The first is the third floor in the main building of the Church's operations. The entire area is the archbishop's quarters. Legend has it that it's not just a third floor, but an entire house-like structure. With the size of the building, Leonie believes it. That, or Rhea stretches out as a dragon from time to time. Its spire is the highest point on the Monastery, and Leonie will only trespass through the dense blanket of the Crest of Seiros if she cannot find another vantage point the day Jeralt is supposed to die. Some days she can feel the smog of territory claimed reaching down through the third-floor staircase. She'd never planned on risking Rhea's wrath prematurely, but that sixth sense of don't do it cemented her will to stay away.
The second place is the armoury.
"My goodness," Lorenz purses his lips, unaware that his partner has stopped mere feet inside the door. "There certainly is a lot here. Thankfully, Manuela has designated the area we are to work in. According to her list, we are to appraise, oil – oh, well, you can do that one – and sort the weapons into those that need repair and those that do not."
Silence as Leonie wars with herself. Unseeing, and yet unable to stop seeing.
"Leonie?"
I could have a new weapon every day for the rest of my life.
"Leonie?"
The village could arm everyone a hundred times over.
"Are you alright?"
"I don't think so," her voice breaks the war, but only for a moment. Leonie is viscerally aware of every sharp, dull, and weapon-able object in the area. In the break, she looks without seeing Lorenz. "How can there be so many…?"
How can there be such a hoard?
That's when she realizes-
-hoard.
Dragon's hoard.
The Monastery might be a lair, but the lands have Rhea's hoard.
This was not meant for you.
"Leonie," she snaps into awareness, obsession slowing into something patient. Dangerous. Not against her will but waiting. Lorenz looks incredibly concerned as he waves a hand in front of her face, "Leonie."
"I'm here," her smile instinctively comes back. He leans away, obviously not falling for it. "Sorry for spacing out. I guess I was just taken aback."
The laugh out of her doesn't have a forced edge, she's too good for that. Lorenz keeps an eye on her, keeps close, and even allows her to teach him how to properly oil weapons. If her hands linger on metal or trail edges a bit too long, he says nothing. He's a good person at heart, she remembers. Still too boastful about higher rank, but it isn't mean right now.
He cuts off his ramble about the latest gossip and watches as she wraps a sword handle, "Would you mind teaching me how to do that?"
"Of course," Leonie slides her chair next to his as her partner takes another sword from the pile. "Here's how you do it."
Grounding, Leonie realizes they walk through the steps and reasons why together. He's keeping me grounded. I underestimated him.
She vaguely appreciates how he isn't pushing her to snap. Keeps most of her attention throughout the whole chore. When they finish, Lorenz keeps an arm linked through hers. Stops her from wandering too close to the racks and walls and cases full of untouched weapons.
It doesn't stop her eyes from lingering on jeweled hilts or rune-carved shafts. The wanting is still there, and only her hands near her Housemate keep Leonie from snatching a souvenir. There's an act to put on, and Lorenz has made an attempt to keep the woman from losing her mind. Even if Leonie doesn't feel grateful, it would be rude to stab him and ignore the kindness.
Leonie feels the hypocrisy as they near the door. Every weapon in her storage space has a memory attached to it. It's easier to hand off the ones she's resigned to feel less about, experiments rather than gifts or time spent in use. Yet, no matter what justification she tries, it is still her hoard. It may be smaller than Rhea's, but it is still something she has no real wish to share.
The difference? Leonie will only lose everything when she's dead.
Rhea will flee to the Kingdom or be imprisoned, there's a small skip to the woman's step. All of this will be left behind, ripe for the taking. I just need to wait.
"Thank you for all of the help, Lorenz."
He preens, "Of course! I was just doing my duty, no thanks necessary."
"You know it was more then that. And don't worry, I won't freeze up again."
If there is one positive about growing up again, Leonie knows how to be patient.
"It was just surprising, seeing all that stuff in one place."
Bide her time.
"Makes sense, though. A place with this many guards certainly needs the armoury to match."
Then strike.
A year's time is nothing to how long I waited to meet all of you.
9.
Leonie should have known she wasn't in the clear, but to be fair no one was acting out of the ordinary at dinner. Claude hugs her the moment she opens her door, and Leonie sighs as she hugs back, "Lorenz told on me, didn't he?"
"It's not every day you look like you're having a panic attack," he keeps his hands on her shoulders when he leans back. "So, what happened?"
She waves him in. By the time she's got the door closed and wards up, he's sitting comfortably on her bed. Pats the space beside him, but Leonie just pulls up her chair and kicks socked feet on her bed cover.
"Does this have to do with you chasing down Manuela?" he wonders, exaggerating her action of the moment in the classroom.
Leonie considers him. Young, but already had his life flipped around a few times. While Claude might understand, this isn't the kind of world where he can recommend her a therapist. Closest thing here would be Manuela, and that's a can of worms Leonie isn't going to risk, "If I tell you what's wrong, you have to understand that you cannot change me. This is a me problem, something I'll struggle with for probably the rest of my life."
His gaze sharpens, shoulders bracing, "Are you a danger to yourself?"
"No," but kind of him to ask. Leonie doesn't know why that's his first thought, most would wonder if she's a danger to others. "I'm what some would call a weapon's enthusiast. Except change enthusiast with obsessed. I could spend the rest of my life taking care of, collecting, and using weapons, and I'd be perfectly happy. I've spent my whole life managing the need to keep any pointy, pretty thing I've found, and today really tested me. There are a lot of weapons in the armoury, Claude. A. Lot."
"I know," he reaches out a hand and draws patterns on her foot. "I've seen it before. The metal alone could feed the Alliance for a year if sold at the right price. Did you take anything?"
"No. Lorenz kept me from losing my mind."
"Good."
The teen looks a bit lost, so Leonie reaches over to tap his knee, "I've managed to justify it to myself such that I won't be that tempted next time I go in. I promise, you don't need to worry."
He grabs her ankle for a light shake, "I am going to worry regardless. Is there any way I can help? Give you justifications on why stealing from the Church would be a bad idea?"
She laughs, "Just the Church?"
"Hey, if you think you can handle a Hero's Relic, then just make sure you don't get caught."
Leonie curses her denial in between giggles, "Everyone knows better then to touch one of those without the right Crest. Don't worry, I won't take your bow away from you."
"Are you sure? It's pretty ugly."
Her snorting laughter feels ugly. Both grins are real when they meet eyes, "I'll take your word on it. Hey, if there's one good thing out of this, just know that any weapon you give me for keep-sies will be treasured forever."
"Makes shopping for your birthday easy, I guess."
"Oh, absolutely."
"How are you with loaning weapons?"
"Depends on the weapon. With some it's easy to trick myself into believing it's a loan. For others, it's like pulling teeth just to let them go. I try not to hound after people I lend things to, but goddess is it hard sometimes."
He nods, "Do you think it has anything to do with growing up in a village that was taken off any maps for a time?"
"I'm sure that's part of it," it's so nice to talk with someone who remembers small bits of information and can theorize accordingly. Leonie's forgotten so much that it feels like she's constantly reading up on all her notes. "If it was just my background then I would probably hold onto my money more. Likely, it's just me being born a bit odd."
"Everyone has something odd about them," he mocks. "It's good that you have a way to work around it. If you do ever nab something from the Church, let me know. I'll give you some protection."
"Thank you." No way is Leonie dragging him into whatever mess happens if she finally snaps. "Same goes to you. Though I'm pretty sure money could solve whatever your odd trait is. You know, since everyone has one."
Claude bares his teeth in a smile, "I'm a schemer, remember?"
No, she forgot. "That's just another name for tactician. The other Houses are just jealous of your brilliance. It's not like you've been sneaky about anything recently."
He stares. Sighs and splays his free hand over his face. Shoulders shake in silent laugher.
"What?"
"You wouldn't call sending you out into the forest alone to fight off our stalkers as being sneaky?"
"That's just using me to your advantage."
He pats her ankle, "Never change, Leonie."
10.
"So," Lysithea glares at the inactive Crest Stones on the desk, "we have tiger, zebra, and possibly dolphin. And no clue what the last two are."
Leonie shrugs, "That sums it up."
Hilda makes a face, "What even is a dolphin?"
"Aquatic creature, so no testing it out on land."
Marianne nods.
Lysithea makes a disgusted noise, "I hate to say this, but we may be at a dead end. The only other avenues are testing the stones, and even if Marianne is willing-"
"I am."
"Thank you. Right, so, even though Marianne is willing, we have no idea the size and biology that the other stones will shape her into. We can't go outside and test because we're trying to keep this private."
"There has to be something!" Hilda explodes into pacing the length of Leonie's room. "We can't stop now! There has to be somewhere we can go to test the transformations."
"Where though? The lake is in full view of the mountain, and the fishing spots are constantly used. We don't even know if the animals are incredibly tall or small enough that we may accidentally step on!"
Marianne squeaks.
"We won't step on you," Leonie assures.
"Of course we won't," Hilda nods. Then droops. "So, we need a private area that no one will come by. It has to be large enough to fit tall animals and spacious enough for small ones. And needs freshwater and saltwater areas. That… has to be impossible, right? Even in nature, something like that can't exist."
"…Actually," Leonie stares unseeing into her wall. "There might be a place nearby."
"Really?!"
"No way, that's not possible Leonie."
"Nearby?"
"The uh, thing is," the woman bites her lip and debates pros and cons of her idea. Decides, I'm stuck with these gals, and explains, "you have to promise not to tell anyone about it."
A/N: That time when a C-rank support conversation got turned into a new long-term side-quest to rob the Church blind.
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