Chapter 33: Pressing Concerns
The tea had long since gone cold, the steam which had risen from the decorative ceramic cup after being placed in front of her was no longer present. If she was being honest, she knew it wouldn't taste all that nice now either.
Right now, however. She was less concerned about that and more with another issue plaguing her mind.
Edelgard waited, continually tapping away at the table she was sat at with a slightly tense look about her. Occasionally she looked over her shoulder as if searching for someone. However she knew he would arrive within due course.
He would first want to ensure they wouldn't be disturbed, but that was why she had chosen this particular spot. Hiding in plain sight was quickly becoming quite the useful tactic for them and it had worked so well thus far. No reason as to why it wouldn't continue to work. That didn't mean she enjoyed waiting at the table of a small cafe wasn't exactly the kind of place where she would want to hold this type of discussion.
But it was the only type of place she was aware of where she could.
"Lady Edelgard." The almost sinister voice sounded out behind her with almost no warning. Anyone else would have been cowed by the sudden arrival. Not her though, she had long since grown used to the owner of the voices habits and actually found them to be very useful for her.
"Hubert." She replied back as the boy moved around the table to the front of her, pulling out the wooden chair and sitting down at the table. "Everything is secure?"
"Indeed." The grim faced boy nodded, his expression never changing "The owner will be away for a few minutes, that should be more than enough time for our conversation to take place." there was silence for a few moments "I assume we are here because of the Knights."
"The increased patrols around the Monastery would make it difficult to hold our usual location, yes." She nodded before an ugly grimace came to her face "And if I were to hold discussions with our associates, I would inevitably have to speak with him."
Hubert had known Edelgard long enough to recognise her tells. Despite the look of disgust she held on her face for Lord Arundel's benefactor – a disgust he too shared – there was another emotion which just managed to peak its way through her eyes. Fear.
"However, that is a discussion for another time." Edelgard dismissed, burying the look and resuming a stern expression "What have you managed to learn of Goetia?"
"He is much like Linhardt." Hubert replied "Unless he has the motivation to achieve anything, he will remain entirely apathetic to whatever situation he finds himself in." the boy paused before he continued on "His encounters with the Monastery staff have been brief and seemingly one sided. He makes no effort to seek them out or acclimatise himself with the Church of Seiros." an unusually amused expression worked its way onto his face "If I were to hypothesis his opinion of the Church...I would say it holds no interest to him."
"Hmmmm." Edelgard hummed in response as she pushed the cold tea aside "Yes...I believe that much is correct as well. Given the discussion I held with him, he holds no true interest in the Church of Seiros because…" biting her lip, a conflicted expression came to her "Because apparently the Church of Seiros is nothing new to him."
Hubert stared at Edelgard with a blank expression "Is that so surprising? The people of Duscur had their own branches of Worship before the Kingdom annexed the region."
"I suppose…" She murmured "However...the idea that another Church of Seiros...another Rhea might be out there is…" she wet her lips and frowned "Deeply troubling to me."
"I see." He didn't truly, but they both knew that. Hubert's experience was so far removed from Edelgard it was like night and day, however his support was what truly mattered to her. Hubert could understand her goals and he was fully committed towards seeing them through and his Lady's emotions were likely in turmoil had the idea that there was more than one Church of Seiros in the world. Although it was best that he nipped this in the bud before it blossomed into a sense of despair "However, if I might suggest we focus out efforts on the more local issue."
Edelgard gave him a tired look as she reached up and rubbed the bridge of her nose "I know I should worry about Fodlan first and foremost Hubert...but I think I have come to realise the world is a big place."
"The world had always been a big place." He replied with a stoic expression "However, we are not looking to better the world."
"No...no I suppose we are not." She nodded along "Apologies, I became distracted."
"You are free to become as distracted as you wish...I will remain at your side to ensure you do not become lost."
"I know and I am grateful for that." She earnestly replied, and she meant every word. Finding loyalty as true as Hubert's was a rare thing and something to be valued closely. However she sometimes felt he went too far but that was neither here nor there for the issues at hand. "I have strayed from the topic at hand." shaking her head, she refocused with pensive look crossing her face "...Goetia is far more powerful than I realised."
"Indeed." Hubert nodded his head with a disturbed look "His massacre of Lord Lonato's army was a rather public display of force. There were rumours circulating around the Monastery prior to that which detailed a training exercise with the Blue Lions ending in a rather one sided victory."
She let out a mirthless huff. She knew about that already, mainly due to the black eye Dimitri had been sporting as he made for the healers along with the other injuries present. Claude had also seen fit to make repeated jests about it although she had no doubt he realised the importance of what had been done. Teenagers they might still be but the Blue Lions came from a Kingdom famed for its Knights and a majority of the students were well known to be some of the best in the year. Beating them at close range said something quite concerning about Goetia.
Although she had dismissed it as Claude simply exaggerating the story to poke fun at Dimitri – the immature jokester that he was – and had readily dismissed it. Up until the point she watched him pulped a man's head into paste with one arm and that was after cutting down his men with rather powerful spells.
Goetia had made it clear that he was neutral towards the Church, however Edelgard had already noticed him forming an attachment to Lysithea from the Golden Deer. An attachment she knew Claude would exploit to bring him over to their side. She could perhaps rely on Goetia remaining neutral on her stance with the Church.
She couldn't rely on him remaining neutral with what came after.
"...For now we do not know enough about him." She spoke in a quiet tone as she tapped on the table "We need better information and from someone he would not suspect." sending an apologetic look towards the retainer "He has long since been aware of your stance in spying on him."
"I understand." Hubert nodded then paused as he realised something "There is another we could volunteer. He has taken on two from the Blue Lions and two from the Golden Deer."
"You suggest we put forward two students as well?" Edelgard asked with a raised eyebrow before she slowly nodded her head "It would be logical to establish a connection with him so that we might better understand his motives as well as the new Professor."
"Indeed. Thus far there has been nothing to indicate why the Archbishop would appoint her to the role of Professor, given her well known ignorance of the Church and complete lack of training in the role of tutor." Hubert nodded along, raising his left hand and cupping his chin with narrowed eyes "Her relationship with the former Captain Jeralt does not answer everything."
"No. That woman has some vested interest in her." There could be no other explanation. It was a certainty that Rhea had appointed Professor Eisner to her role for some – as of yet undetermined – purpose. "However we have had few opportunities to broker upon the subject."
"Indeed, however those we would wish to place within his class would need to be those of Academic insight." He paused as he realised something "...Or at least magical affinity."
"Yes…" Edelgard nodded "And there is one I could recommend."
"As could I...at least so far as he is a cover." He scowled "Truthfully, I do not expect much to come of his placement other than filler. However, he might learn something useful or attempt to better himself in some meaningful way."
"And I know that she would think nothing of what I ask her to do." Edelgard crossed her arms, leaning back into her chair with a mischievous smile "Likely dismissing it as 'Gossip' that and she is better at reading people than me."
"I see." Hubert already knew who she was talking about "...If you believe she is the best candidate…" and he wasn't particularly pleased about it but he was confident enough in Edelgards judgement. He had to be otherwise he would drive himself mad.
"I am." She nodded her head "In the mean time...if we cannot determine where his true motivations lie in regards to the Church it would be best we prepare for an inevitable confrontation with him." raising her hand she stopped Hubert from speaking "Not for the moment. We know that all they would do is just have him killed and even if they attempted that there is no certainty they would succeed."
"And if they did, it might rob us of a potentially useful ally." Hubert surmised "Or a rather dangerous obstacle."
Edelgard bit her lip in response as she mulled over her answer for a few moments "For now I would rather not chance such a thing. I will grant him some leeway for now but only until we can better understand him. Once we do...then I will discuss how best to deal with him."
"Which is why I would very much appreciate it if you would join us for the short festivities!" Flayn finished with a winning smile which very few could have said no to.
"No."
Goetia was – unfortunately for her – one of those few. The sudden and rather sharp rejection had the smile immediately vanish and replaced with an impatient frown, the girl losing all semblance of youth and crossing her arms across her chest and tapping her foot on the ground while staring at him as if he were an unruly child. "I assume you have a reason you wish to give as to why you would reject the offer?"
"Aside from the physical limitations?" Goetia replied with almost a scoff, turning his body around fully so as to give Flayn a perfect view of his missing limb "I have no interest in fishing."
"But it is a challenge which will only last the day." Flayn responded in an almost whine "You cannot mean to hide away on such an auspicious day, surely?"
"Your affection for Fish is yours alone." His tone continued to remain patient in the face of her insistence "I have no true interest participating in an attempt to collect your lunch."
"It would not just be 'my lunch'." She attempted to assuage his concerns "It would also be yours as well."
"It is a challenge based on skill." He presented his second argument just as quickly, not looking at her.
"Magic is a skill."
"You would only ask that I levitate the fish out of the water for you which would not only defeat the purpose of the exercise but also likely end in disqualification." He paused before adding on "Even if I held any interest in such a thing to begin with."
"Fine." Flayn pouted "But you can at least show up, I believe the Professor will be attending as well."
"And?" He got an utterly flat look in response to his question, Flayn seemingly searched him for some manner of answer for a few more moments before a sigh escaped her and she cradled her head in one hand.
"Sometimes I wonder if I truly am the child here?" She probably was. "Would you not wish to provide encouragement?"
"My encouragement will not change the outcome or her ability to catch fish." Goetia stoically replied which only caused Flayn's expression to turn more and more strained as he failed to grasp – to her at least – what was a basic concept of providing moral support.
"It isn't about her ability…" She explained patiently and slowly as if she were speaking to a child "It is about the act itself."
"You mean provide her with motivation?"
"Yes!" Flayn almost cheered as he answered before his next words almost had her face fault.
"If she has not the motivation to catch for the sake of eating then I fail to see what my advice that she simply 'catch fish' will have on her willingness." Goetia answered and completely missed the point – in her view – that she was making. A frown soon came to his face as he turned his attention fully to the girl "Furthermore, with the looming threat-" he spoke the word as if it were some hidden joke, Flayn would be less than pleased at the lack of concern he showed for Rhea if she didn't already know that Goetia was a literal type of person. If she was being honest, she wasn't entirely sure how the Archbishop could be assassinated either "-to the Archbishop's life. Is now really the best time to be distracting yourselves with trivial activities?"
"I think it is during times of crisis that the best time for distractions is found." Flayn replied with an encouraging smile "It shows that you will not let the harshness of the situation burden you and might actually relieve a great deal of stress."
"...What is it with all of you?" He frowned, his face a myriad of bewilderment and resignation "Whenever faced with a crisis which affects your very way of life you seem to jump at any instance to ignore it. Should the Archbishop die the entire Monastery will be thrown into chaos and yet instead of ensuring there is no feasible way that she can be harmed you leap at the first opportunity to completely distance yourself from the entire problem."
Flayn blinked and then shrugged "If you thought about every potential threat and problem all the time, you'd never have free time to yourself."
Goetia stared at her with a hard look for a few moments, his eyes piercing through her as if to see if she would buckle and change her answer. When she didn't his expression returned to one of honest puzzlement as he turned away "So...being perpetually concerned about problems...robs you of your freedom?"
"I would not phrase it quite like that." Flayn replied before she slowly nodded her head "But I find that it can very quickly occupy all of your thoughts and drive you up the wall." a sad smile came to her as her eyes turned down and away from Goetia's face "I fear my older brother is the same. He frets so often over myself or the Monastery that I feel he rarely gets the chance to be himself."
When she looked up she nearly froze. For a split second Goetia's eyes were crinkled with his mouth slightly agape in a slightly strained expression before it reverted back to its neutral one. It happened so fast that she could scarcely say the look ever existed in the first place were it not for the fact she had barely caught a glimpse of it. Goetia had crushed any visible reaction to her words, but that did not mean her words had no reaction.
Goetia saw how her eyes bled concern.
How that look disgusted him. He didn't want to be pitied. He was supposed to be the apex of life, he was supposed to…
But he wasn't.
Time and time again he was having to remind himself that he wasn't the same as he had been. Trapped in this pitiful mortal coil that he was with barely an ounce of the power he had once wielded. He kept his face blank despite the hurricane of emotions boiling inside of him.
The reaction to her words had been crushed but not fast enough, he found it difficult to mask his expression when faced with such statements. Purely because of how important they were to him. Why didn't anything make sense? Why couldn't he just-
"Goetia?" Flayn's voice broke him out of his thoughts and towards her "Are you alright? You seem…" she hesitated "Stressed?"
Stressed? Was that what this was? It felt like the right word to apply to his current situation. The state of uncertainty within him was slowly building and no matter how often he ignored it, the same ugly emotions would return and settle in his gut. This nauseous feeling of weakness as he couldn't even contemplate his own existence anymore.
It disgusted him.
A distraction. He needed a distraction. He needed to escape these thoughts, occupy his time with something else. The library was something he could often use, focus his mind on filing the books but that wouldn't work. Not now, it would serve as a reminder of Flayn's questions and if she left now he would be alone with that growing feeling in his gut.
Teaching his students?
It wouldn't work. They were all away with that ridiculous fishing event or busy with their own personal issues. This...this fishing event in the middle of this plot. What an absolute illogical waste of time which was now serving to rob him of his own distraction. If it weren't for their incomprehensible penchant for busying themselves with pointless endeavours he would have found some escape from himself.
They couldn't even do that right could they?
Why couldn't they just-!
...He was getting angry again. A shaky breath escaped his lips as he attempted to steady himself. Getting angry would do him no good and would only serve to further nurture that feeling in his gut.
He just wanted that feeling gone.
He just needed to avoid it.
"...How long will this fishing event last?"
Flayn still looked at him with trace amounts of concern, however her enthusiasm soon won out as a smile now decorated her face "It will last a few hours! Come on!" she grabbed his arm and led him towards the door of the Library "You can apologise to Tomas later, for now the fish await!"
He didn't care about the fish.
He just didn't want to think about himself right now.
"You seem calm now knowing one of your peers isn't human." Sothis mused as Byleth lowered the bait into the pond, her expression betraying nothing as she stilled her form and stared at the surface of the water. Gathered around the body of water were others all with their own fishing rods attempting to make the largest catch within the few hours.
She was slightly surprised to see Ashe sat next to the Black Eagle girl with the reddish violet hair. She wondered when she missed that although perhaps she wasn't as involved in her students lives as she was supposed to be.
Was she supposed to be involved with their lives outside of class? It seemed like the kind of thing she was supposed to be involved with. Although perhaps that was why Ashe seemed to be doing better in recent days following the death of his father.
"Don't downplay it." Sothis chided her before she sighed "I know you do not think of it so casually, but he has lost someone very dear to him. Even if he seems to be recovering, that is a wound that even time might not heal entirely."
"You seem to be good at this." Byleth replied in her head "But you are probably older than me with more experience."
"That almost sounded like a compliment." Sothis crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at her "Although I sincerely hope it was not a jab at my suspected age...Although I am older than you, that much I do know."
"I am thankful. I don't understand their feelings all that well." Byleth admitted "I didn't have to deal with this sort of stuff around father."
"I can tell." Sothis grumbled "But you didn't answer my question."
"You aren't human either." Byleth pointed out before she pursed her lips "Apparently very few of my students are completely human as well."
"When he describes it like that it distracts from the issue, doesn't it?" The girl chuckled "Quite clever for one who seems to be as capable of emotions as you are...I didn't realise he had completely avoided the subject until he had left."
"I thought you said that was all we were going to get out of him for now?"
"I said that after he dropped the rather explosive reveal." Sothis replied with a frown, although it wasn't directed at anyone in particular "He never told you what race he was did he?"
"...No, he didn't." Byleth slowly nodded her head "Does it matter?"
"I don't know." The floating girl shrugged "It might, it might not. But as Goetia is so keen on knowing things just to decide if they are worth knowing at all, I find myself wanting to approach him with a similar stance."
"Didn't you make fun of him for that?"
"Yes, but you're not going to tell him." Sothis responded flatly "Could you imagine him if he found out? I suspect he would lord it over me."
Byleth furrowed her brows slightly, she didn't think Goetia would make fun of Sothis for it but she couldn't be sure. He did seem to criticise her for the limitations she had in regards to reversing time so it was entirely possible he would ridicule her for hypocrisy.
"He isn't one to speak to me of being a hypocrite." Sothis indignantly remarked before her eyes softened and a troubled look came to her face "...He seems shaken by what I said to him."
"He is?"
Sothis sighed, rubbing her forehead in exasperation "He is and while it might not be entirely obvious to you, that is through no fault of your own. He appears to have encountered a somewhat unusual situation…" lowering her hand, she trailed off as her eyes seemingly caught sight of something of interest, considering her eyes lit up and a coy smile spread across her face "Well...that is quite unexpected."
Byleth followed the Goddess line of sight to see Flayn coming down the stairs to the pond, while that wasn't so unusual given her fixation on fish – which even Byleth thought was a bit odd – it was who she was dragging along by his single arm which surprised her.
Goetia had an utterly blank look about him as Flayn continued to drag him towards the side of the pond along with the other spectators. The fact he seemingly put up no resistance to being virtually manhandled earned a few surprised looks from those who knew him.
Except Ashe.
The boy froze on the spot when Goetia passed behind him, daring a look over his shoulder to see the back of the tanned man before he bit his lip and turned his attention back to the water, now hunched over and looking far more shaken than he had done previously. The Black Eagle girl he was with, Petra, watched the sudden shift in his person and sent a brief glance towards Goetia before a frown came to her face. It lasted scarcely a moment before she refocused her attention on Ashe and continued to attempt to teach him how to fish.
"I was not expecting him to come to a gathering like this." Sothis admitted with a curious expression "I imagined he would say something along the lines of 'I have no interest in this thing you call fun'" she put on a mockingly deep voice as she attempted to emulate Goetia's manner of speaking "He can be quite stubborn. Much like an unruly child."
"...Didn't you just do an impression of him though?"
Sothis released a mirthful huff "Yes but when I speak of others childish temperaments I am allowed to gift myself some leeway when it comes to maturity." waving her hand dismissively towards Byleth "Do not believe it evidence that I am childish." Sothis paused and narrowed her eyes at Byleth "You were about to say that is what a child would say."
"No I wasn't."
"You were thinking it."
"But I didn't say it."
"I live inside your head, the two are not mutually exclusive." A sigh escaped the small ghost "Regardless, I wonder what the young one said that would be able to drag him here?"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"...Isn't this fun?"
Red eyes stared blankly at her in response, the utterly uninterested face Goetia was wearing made it perfectly obvious that this entire affair was of little interest to him. Flayn's smile faltered in response to his complete lack of enthusiasm. "You were the one who wanted to come." she pointed out which earned her a slight twitch of his lip.
That much was at least true, although to state that he wanted to come would have been an understatement-
"Well, well, well." He turned to the feminine voice "This is quite the surprise, normally one wouldn't find you far from the library, Gotie." Dorothea gave an amused smile as she approached and came to a stop next to the pair, looking down towards Flayn "And with Seteth's little sister? I certainly hope you have his permission."
"I do not require Brothers permission to speak with people." Flayn crossed her arms and huffed "I can speak to whoever I want."
Dorothea gave her a slight tilt of the head in response, however Goetia spoke before she had the opportunity to dissect that sentence.
"Your Siblings reputation control over who you speak to is known even to me." And he went at it with all the subtly of a battering ram. Flayn pouted and looked away while Dorothea withheld a chuckle. "Is there something you needed?"
"Well, I find that needing to talk and wanting to talk are two different things." Dorothea replied as she turned about to face the ongoing competition "I realised we hadn't spoken since you first came to the Monastery and I've heard of all sorts of interesting things happening since then."
"You wanted to discuss rumours?"
"I actually wanted to discuss if you think the Professor is going to win?" She replied, Flayn suddenly perked up and did her best to not look enraptured by the conversation. She wasn't doing a very good job by the way her head had turned slightly so now she could casually stare up at the two.
"It is a simple calculus over what quality of bait is being used in relation to distance with the surface." He pointed out "The larger fish will keep to the deeper waters further into the pond." nodding over to where Alois was sat "He will have little luck in catching anything of significant size, he is too close to the bank...He is also too loud."
Flayn slowly turned her head to completely stare at him "...Why do you know so much about fishing?"
"Knowledge about fishing is entirely dependent on knowledge about the fish themselves." He explained as if it were the most obvious answer in the world "Understanding their biological habits something which increases your success at hunting them."
Dorothea leaned forwards and raised an eyebrow "That didn't answer my question of how well you think the Professor will do?"
A barely audible breath of annoyance crept past his lips "I am confident that her skills are proficient."
"Willing to make a bet on that?" Goetia's eye twitched slightly as Claude came in on his other side, sporting a wide smile "And Dorothea, lovely to see you. Looking as radiant as ever."
"Claude." Dorothea nodded back "Still wagging that tongue of yours, although I think its rather endearing. Like a child who speaks before he can think properly."
"Ouch!" Claude recoiled, placing a hand over his heart and wearing an expression of faux hurt "That really gets me right where it hurts." his smile returned as he relaxed himself "Although I can't say that sharp tongue of yours isn't a pleasant surprise, you're a little bit like Leonie."
"In that we're both commoners?" She remarked, raising a single eyebrow and placing one of her hands on her hip.
"Well, that and you're not that afraid of speaking your mind." He smiled "I prefer that."
"The master of secrets prefers honesty?" Dorothea released a gasp and held her hand over her mouth with comically wide eyes "This is unprecedented!"
"And they call me childish." Claude grinned at her before turning his attention back to Goetia "So? Care for a bet?"
"I have no interest in gambling-" Goetia didn't even get to finish his sentence before Claude interrupted him.
"I bet that Shamir will catch a bigger fish than Teach." Claude crossed his arms in front of his chest and gave Goetia a challenging smirk. The other three turned their heads over to see the indigo haired woman take a spot near the edge of the pond and throw out her line towards the centre, not too far from Byleths.
"...Shamir is the mercenary, yes?"
"She is." Claude nodded "Well, she's a knight now but I think its because they pay her to be here." he shrugged.
"Some people need to earn a living, Claude." Dorothea pointed out with a roll of her eyes "We can't all expect wealth to just drop into our laps." she paused before sending him a knowing look "Or a sudden heir-ship to Kingdom."
"Technically we're an Alliance." Claude replied with a raised finger "But your point still stands, I guess." he turned to Goetia "So? Willing to make that bet?"
"I have no interest in-"
"I bet Seteth will catch a larger fish than both of them." Flayn asserted, crossing her arms and nodding "He has been doing so for years and I have yet to see someone better."
"How many have you seen?"
"...My point still stands."
"Hmph." The grunt from the tanned man earned snickers of amusement from both Claude and Dorothea.
"Well, that's one for Seteth from the family." Claude counted, raising a single finger "I'm betting on Shamir." another finger "...You gonna bet on anyone Dorothea?"
"And what exactly are we betting?" She asked with an inquisitive look "I do not exactly have anything of interest to wager."
"We'll say that the losers have to pay for the winners lunch." He replied.
"Claude...we get free meals."
"Down in the town." He added on "We all go out and get lunch and the losers all have to pitch in for the winners meal." he offered with a slight smile "Its equal and not that expensive."
"...I bet on Petra." Dorothea smirked, flicking her hair behind her head "She's quite the hunter as well."
"Oooh~" Claude nodded approvingly "Another good contender. Even if she's a Princess I hear that the people from Brigid are quite the hunters."
Three sets of eyes turned to Goetia "Well?" Claude quizzed "You got a certain someone you want to bet on?"
"I do this only because you will not leave me alone." He huffed "Fine. I will wager that Byleth will capture the largest fish."
"And now, ladies, gentlemen and children-"
"Hey!" Flayn squawked indignantly "I am not a child!"
"Are you older than me?" Claude asked with a curious face, Flayn froze like a deer in hunters sights before she slowly closed her mouth. Not trusting herself to respond while she was slightly emotional "Fine. Ladies and Gentlemen."
"Really?" Dorothea blinked "I can only see Goetia here. Where is the other one?" she exaggeratedly looked around before peering behind Claude "Are you hiding him in your shadow?"
Claude rolled his eyes in amusement. Despite the barbs, he couldn't say that either of them were mean spirited. He did like the fact that Dorothea was honest with him even if he wasn't a Noble. That and she didn't demand he act in a certain way and place pressure upon him to conform to an ideal.
Dorothea just thought he was a marked improvement over the common sort of Noble. He didn't lord himself over anyone. Neither did Edelgard but she wasn't exactly as approachable as Claude and she hadn't really spoken to Dimitri at all so she couldn't say about him. He seemed nice but there was something to him which sometimes put her on edge. That and the Fraldarius heir frequently made comments about his personality being a complete fabrication.
"Yes." Claude admitted with a perfectly serious expression "That is actually what I have done. You have discovered my secret ability to hide away Nobles in shadows...whatever will come of my insidious scheme now?"
Goetia just stared at them as they continued to chatter away. Children. He was surrounded by immature children. Although they did provide him with the distraction he craved. If only for this brief moment, he could ignore everything else and just observe the chaos unfolding before him. It was illogical, incomprehensible and irrational.
But he couldn't say he despised it. It was baffling in a way, that they could maintain such a calm state in their current situation.
Regardless. He was confident in Byleth's ability to secure the largest fish. She had the aid of a Divine Spirit, that was a greater boon to her abilities if nothing else.
"...I have no words." Claude replied in an utterly bewildered tone of voice "I can't even...how?"
"It is certainly unexpected." Flayn nodded her head, although she was also sporting a look of incomprehension as well "It does not fit within his past experience."
"It didn't help that he kept shouting whenever he got a bite." Dorothea continued on "...But that doesn't explain how his only bite could do this."
Alois stood up near at the pier in front of the crow, holding up the large silver fish which was easily twice the size of the next biggest one. Having somehow managed to secure only a single bite on his lure but that was apparently enough for him to reel in the largest catch of the day and win the competition.
Byleth stood next to him, holding up an impressive trout but compared to Alois giant fish, it might as well have been a minnow.
Flayn turned back to Goetia with both her hands on her hips and a slightly raised eyebrow "What was that you said about his position being terrible?"
Goetia remained stone face before a breath escaped him, soon followed by another one. Flayn gradually widened her eyes as her arms fell limply by her side. Claude looked around and also paused at the sight, Dorothea merely tilted her head at him before a slight smile came to her as well.
The rapid breaths soon changed into a quiet chuckle, his lip curled into the smallest of smiles.
"It's incomprehensible." Goetia said amidst it "He had every disadvantage in himself, his position and his equipment...and yet he managed to pull a win not through skill...but luck." he cradled his head with his single hand "He shouldn't have been able to succeed and yet he did...through the sheer unpredictable variable of luck!" the laugh died down but the faint smile remained on him "It is unthinkable...once again I find myself completely baffled by the power of pure chance."
Flayn shared a look with Claude, the girl was virtually vibrating as she turned her attention back to the man. The smile remained on his face for a few more moments before it vanished. While Flayn and Claude normally would have been a little let down, they couldn't say it wasn't worth it.
If only because it somehow made Goetia laugh.
He couldn't help it though. It was so unthinkable. Alois was a blundering fool who wouldn't have been able to keep quiet at anything if his life depended on it and yet through this single act of chance he had been granted, the slimmest of possibilities he had seized had granted him the victory.
There should have been no logical reason why Alois could have won.
But he did.
He laughed because he couldn't think of any other reaction to give. The burden of his mind forgotten, all he was left with was the rather bizarre reminder of the power of pure luck and circumstance. Perhaps it truly was a human feature to overcome logic with luck.
AN: Goetia laughing. Well done Flayn, you have inadvertently succeeded in your mission. Although its probably a bitter laugh as much as it is one of amusement but its baby steps.
Also a little insight into Edelgard, because I feel as though I have been ignoring her in recent Chapters. Which is quite bad considering how important she actually is to the story of the game.
And we get another look at Goetia's mental health. He's just actively ignoring it.
Which isn't very healthy.
But you're all here for the Omake's as much as the story now.
Omake: Visitors from Home III
"So I'm Claude." The man introduced himself to the trio immediately, sporting a carefree smile but Ritsuka had been around Sherlock and Moriarty enough to notice the discerning gleam in his eyes. Credit to him, the boy was better than Ritsuka would expect at hiding his interest but he was just beat in the department by actual legends. "And you must be…" he paused and chuckled "Well...Lysithea's been in a real huff about you all for a while now."
Da Vinci gave a cringing smile "Yes...that was a little embarrassing for all of us." sending a pointed look towards Mash, the girl's expression was downcast as she stared at her feet. "But I'm sure it'll all work itself out."
"Well, I for one am quite happy to meet other people from Goetia's home." Claude waved his hand "Whatever your odd relationship with him might be."
"We...disagreed about something." Ritsuka spoke with a slight strained smile "...Really disagreed about it."
"I'll bet." Claude blew out a puff of air as he sat himself down on the bench just opposite them "Don't worry about Lysithea though." he spoke to Mash, earning him the attention of the girl "She's surprisingly quick to jump to conclusions but she isn't malicious…" a mirthful grin came to his face "She just hasn't realised that Teach has already laid her claim."
Ritsuka opened and closed his mouth several times before the strangled words escaped him "Laid her claim?"
"Oh yeah." Claude nodded "Its actually a running bet." he turned around and pointed over his shoulder to another table "See over there? That's the Blue Lions tables."
The Chaldean's looked over to see the collection of youths all gathered around a collection of tables.
"The blonde guy is Dimitri." Claude explained "I'm saying that she makes the first move within a the next three months. Dimitri is saying that he'll make the first move within the next five months."
"You're…" Da Vinci blinked then shook her head "You're saying Goetia has a romantic interest?" she asked in complete disbelief.
"Well...two but Professor Manuela is desperate." He shrugged, then winced "Don't tell her I said that."
"Claude-san." Mash asked slightly hesitantly "What is Goetia like?"
"What is he like?" Claude blinked at the question before he cupped his chin and hummed "He's...he's serious. Doesn't like to talk if it doesn't matter to him...but he is helpful. Currently training Lysithea and Leonie in Magic or Magecraft as he calls it." he waved his hand "Tomatoe-Tomato."
"Ehhhh…" Ritsuka cringed "More like grape to melon."
"Really?" Claude raised an eyebrow before his smirk grew "Well, doesn't matter. Unless Teach plans on seducing the guy-" Ritsuka coughed into his hand to contain his laughter "-he'll be in the Golden Deer soon enough."
"R-right...but he doesn't seem…" Ritsuka trailed off as he searched for the right words "...Off to you?"
"Off?" Claude hummed "Well. He's got golden hair and red eyes. That's already a little off but when you have people with green hair and green eyes running around you tend not to be so surprised when it comes to physical appearances."
"Then...Goetia is…"
"He's got his quirks." Claude admitted "But don't we all?" he pointed to Da Vinci "Like the little miss who speaks big words."
"Oh?" Da Vinci smirked "Impressed by my vast lexicon of words are you?"
"I would say I am but now you just look funny." Da Vinci pouted causing Claude to raise his hands in surrender "You aren't doing yourself any favours."
Ritsuka chuckled at the way Da Vinci looked before Claude turned his attention to Mash "So what was it that set Lysithea off? I garnered that you and Goetia knew each other."
Mash flinched causing Claude to frown "If its something personal I won't pry."
"No, its not that…" Mash shook her head "Its just that Goetia was not a…" she scrunched her face up causing Claude to nod.
"Lysithea jumping to conclusions then." He sighed "So I guess you were friends?"
"Friends…" Mash tasted the word, frowning soon afterwards "No...he was the...son of someone very dear to me."
Claude blinked and leaned forwards "You knew Solomon?"
That wasn't what they were expecting to hear, they all stared at him with equal looks of surprise.
"Goetia...talks about Solomon?" Ritsuka asked, Claude teetered his head from side to side.
"Talk is a strong word." He replied "He's spoken about him sometimes but he always goes quiet afterwards, gets this really annoyed look on his face. But I know about Solomon, yeah."
"I'm just...surprised is all." Ritsuka admitted before he looked away "Goetia didn't really like Ro-Solomon all that much." if Claude noticed the near slip he didn't mention it. Instead he nodded his head slowly.
"Getting anything about Solomon from him was tough enough." He replied "I think Teach is better at it though. If you really want to know about Goetia...you'll have to ask her."
"Which one is 'Teach'?" Mash asked, looking around the room with a curious look on her face.
"Blue hair." Claude replied "She wears a kind of black uniform...has fishnet tights."
Ritsuka gave a slow blink "You said she was a teacher?" while he was far too used to scantily clad women, he wouldn't exactly say that he would have expected something like that in a school. Although perhaps it was a difference in culture.
"Yes but you haven't seen Professor Manuela." Claude chortled "Teach can't do much compared to that." placing his hands on the table, he slowly stood up "I gotta run to class." then paused and turned to Mash "Word of warning, you're an admittedly nice looking girl." Mash blinked at the sudden praise "So I'd say watch out for Slyvain. He's the red haired guy."
"Womaniser?" Ritsuka asked rhetorically, Claude sent him a smirk and a nod. "Always one."
"I don't think you're in much a position to complain about Womanisers, Fujimaru-kun." Da Vinci snickered, which only caused Claude to blink before he rolled his eyes at Ritsuka.
"See, with that new knowledge now I can believe you knew Solomon."
Ritsuka gaped at him, Goetia had told them about Solomon's many, many wives?
At this point he was wondering what Goetia hadn't told people about aside from the obvious.