Chapter Text
In the evening, last before tomorrow’s opening ceremony, Archbishop Byleth was studying the upcoming students’ files and information.
This year certainly promises to be glorious for the history of Garreg Mach - as finally, her precious daughters, Cassandra and Norn will begin their studies at the house of Blue Lions.
“Everything must be perfect,” she thought, finally coming to the applications of the upcoming students of Black Eagles.
She remembered there being multiple petitions to either disband this house tied to the most controversial part of United Realm, or ban Adrestians from the Officers Academy altogether.
Luckily, the Archbishop managed to stop this nonsense from happening and since the day Garreg Mach reopened to welcome new students, the Black Eagles haven’t caused a disturbance inside the walls of the Academy.
So, she had no reasons to be worried, although this year, there were two very bright figures coming to study at the same time - the oldest and heir to the Aegir Dukedom Isabella von Aegir and the young (frankly unofficial) Duke Gerth, Nicholas von Gerth.
“Those two really require some special attention… It’s never known what to expect from them with how and where they were raised.”
Byleth had zero worries about the young generation of Blue Lions - all of them were prominent young nobility and respectful commoners, who would be ready to give it all in both studies and school politics, all to not disappoint that one class which was once run by Byleth herself.
Golden Deer, as always, also wouldn’t be that much of a problem, Byleth was sure of that - this leaves only those ones who walk under the color red.
But, she calmed herself down rather quickly and gulped from her beer mug - it surely would be all fine, like usual.
“It has to be. I’m just a bit nervous, like every time. Maybe it’s because the girls are coming…”
So, she, breathing out, put the remaining files away, thinking about what chaos will the tomorrow day be… Well, it was all up to the kids on how to behave themselves - they, the faculty, were just here to safely guide them, not to decide their paths.
***
The next day, the yard of Garreg Mach was the noisiest place in all of Fódlan. The carriages and endless load of baggage was carried around.
One of the carriages, with a marking of the lands of Leicester, showing the symbol of its military, opened the doors for one young lady with short red hair and whose face was filled with freckles, who refused to come out.
“Oh no, I will not be staying in this hole in the middle of nowhere! I’d rather be bombed all over than to stay here - bring me home this instant!”
This hysterical action was witnessed by a pair of siblings and future Golden Deer - Portia Aveline Gloucester and Declan von Edmund, who both shared a mother in a renowned orator, Lady Marianne.
“Wow. Oh bother,” Portia mumbled in a dreamlike voice, looking at her brother.
“Ignore it and let her calm down - this is not our situation to interfere.”
The brother and sister quickly joined the rest of their future Golden Deer and were respectfully greeted.
Almost everyone from the Golden Deer was together, only waiting for that one lady who was not letting go of her carriage’s seat, even when the guards attempted to drag her out of there, pleading “Lady Rebecca, please!!”
Definitely, everyone else in the “yellow” house was excited for their school year, the attention of the faculty and every other student was not on them.
As always, the main topic, an “elite” clique of the Academy was the Blue Lions house. They also started coming together, despite not talking or being as friendly to each other.
Despite Archbishop Byleth’s desire for everyone in the Officers Academy to be equal, it was simply the way it turned out after the school had reopened and been there for about a decade.
Now, most of the Golden Deer didn’t mind, as they knew that between Fraldarius, Dominic and of course the Blaiddyd princesses, there would always be a certain hierarchy.
Of course, it did help that there was no hostility between their parts of the Realm. In this exact case, they were in a much more favorable position than the Black Eagles house, which represented the legacy of "heretic Adrestia".
***
And, while the teens were awaiting instructions and getting familiar with one another, suddenly, their attention was attracted by two expensive-looking carriages that had a mark of House Blaiddyd on them.
The transportation stopped and one of the carriages opened so quickly, that the guards greeting them didn’t even have time to give the ladies inside a hand.
A young teen girl almost jumped out, in the meantime slightly damaging the door from merely touching it and excitedly looked at the Garreg Mach Monastery.
Everyone in the yard quickly noticed the similarity of this girl with their King Dimitri, as she had both his bright blue eyes and his striking golden hair - no doubt it was their crown Princess - Cassandra Estefania Blaiddyd.
The princess was quickly joined by the pair of dark hair colored twins, one of whom - the girl with a messy bun and round glasses that looked like they could fall down at any moment, also started gushing about the Academy, clapping her hands.
“Shhh, you are at Garreg Mach Monastery - people are watching, behave yourselves!” The excited girl’s twin, who was no other than Derek Elias Fraldarius with his sister Frances Diane Fraldarius were the young knights in training, acting like princess’s Cassandra respective retainers.
Still, soon after, Derek dropped his annoyed attitude and hugged both his sister and his best friend, celebrating the start of their school life, which they were looking towards their whole life.
While the seaters of the first carriage were enjoying themselves, another one also opened, with a young nobleman, dressed in an attire similar to a knight, carefully opened the door and extended his hand to his lady, bowing in the process.
“Lady Norn, allow me.”
This little-looking girl, who was only 15 years old and was shorter than everyone else in her school year was the second Princess of the Realm, Norn Catalina Blaiddyd, accompanied by her most trusted ally and protector, second son of the Duchy of Dominic, Lonato Roman Dominic.
The two princesses joined one another, although they struggled to express their excitement to one another, so they just exchanged polite smiles and went forward.
When the members of royalty started going towards the main gates, everyone in the yard almost immediately either curtsied or bowed in respect to them. And while Cassandra reacted to this with great fluster, Princess Norn didn’t even seem to pay any attention to them and just continued walking with her head high.
…Meanwhile, three people stood still, even when the princesses directly passed them. Two girls and one guy, who all arrived at this school together. One of the group, the fragile-looking Charlotte, a girl with pink hair, had lowered her head, while two of her other friends were drilling the royal’s head with intense glares of hatred.
Those three were to be students of the Black Eagles House, Charlotte Marley, Ernest Ferber and the heir to the lands of Aegir - the famous lady Isabella.
However, due to Charlotte's reaction, the other two decided to leave, and as they turned away from the Blaiddyd princesses, who, Ernest was sure, were going to be pampered by everyone to please the Archbishop, he saw the worst Adrestian sigil after the Hevrings, that of Gerth.
Trying to ignore the young Duke of Gerth, who was leaning on the tree and watching them from afar, the trio passed him without a second glance and the dashing Isabella “unknowingly” flipped her peach-like hair in his direction.
“We will be surrounded by morons this year. Prepare,” Ernest grit his teeth and Isabella nodded in agreement.
Nicholas von Gerth himself only rolled his eyes at this, looking at the duo with contempt.
“Looks like I have to share my study space with children. Amazing,” he thought as he quietly left to the welcoming hall inside the Monastery.
And really, after setting in, all of the students followed his example and hurried up to get there.
***
Just like Dimitri had informed her, this generation of students was the most important since before the war, the heirs of all the Great Houses -beside Dominic who had sent Lonato this year- and the crown prince of Brigid, making the next year the most important diplomatic situation to handle if peace wanted to be strengthened.
And all of it sucked.
In the last 10 years, the workload following the rebuilding of Garreg Mach and reopening of the academy had been taking a toll on her health, even as Seteth, Flayn and Mercedes helped.
"My Lady, the students have entered into the academy.” informed Cyril, serious as ever.
“Thank you Cyril,” she answered, amused by his tone, “do you have any new thoughts on my choice? You are a professor here after all.”
As she left her office, going to the hall to welcome the students, Cyril finally found his words.
“So, do you think your choice will cause problems with the Houses of Adrestia?”
This was both expected yet unwelcome.
“The Houses of Adrestia can shove it, as far as I'm concerned,” the Archbishop answered, “I would have loved to name Bernie and Lin's boy, but he's as interested and apt regarding leadership as them when I first met them, as for this Ferber…”
“He's from western Adrestia, how can we be sure he won't try to get them all to plot against the Crown?” Cyril went on, uncaring of who could listen, “We both know a charismatic leader can get even those who once were the most loyal to slit their loved ones' throat.”
“Cyril,” Byleth retorted firmly, drawing attention to her, "Mercedes will be their teacher, you know she's good at this, so why worry so much? Furthermore, it is not my wish to treat a mere boy, even if angry, as some mad dog to put down, a position of leadership in his House and a cooperation with the Blue Lions and Golden Deers may very well be the solution to his problems.”
At the younger professor's silence, she went on, smiling, “Beside, if that boy is the mad dog you fear him to be, only Gerth and Aegir are likely to be traitors as well, since Mercedes assure me the Hendrix heir is a shy lad, and he is fond of her.”
“Meanwhile, Bernadetta and Lindhart's sons are respectively a good kid and… Someone unlikely to rise up for the Eagle.”
Despite herself, Byleth shivered as she remembered Felix's tales, “Charlotte is a girl I have known since she was 5, who have lived at Gronder all her life, she's more likely to present to me a crown of flowers than to put a dagger to my throat, as for Maxwell-”
“Queen Petra know better than to let her son ever think of repeating her youthful madness, I know, ” Cyril interrupted her, “but I still worry, your daughters are here now, and if something were to happen-” “Well, we have arrived! Now be quiet Cyril, and go with Flayn and Mercie, the professors side by side make it all look so much better,” Byleth answered cheerfully, causing the Almyran to nod reluctantly and go join his colleagues.
“ Well, I'll better give a damn good speech ”
***
As Byleth looked at all those assembled here, she couldn't help but feel her heart swell with pride.
Regardless of how annoying the job was, it was good to see all these people be happy, healthy, safe, 'And I must do all I can to preserve that .'
“Welcome all, students, faculty members, soldiers and staff, to these sacred halls, and to this new year of learning in the safety of this place.”
“This year, as all will know, the heirs, not just of Fódlan's Great houses , but of Almyra and Brigid, are here as students, them as well as many students who, though they are not of high birth, have proven they didn't needed to be rich to be welcome.”
She then turned her face toward the students specifically.
“Thanks to information from your peers, teachers, families, I have studied all of your skills as well as your personalities , and from it, I've decided who will be fit to lead these honored Houses.”
“For the Blue Lion House, I name Cassandra Estefania Blaiddyd!”
This was answered by applause, though Byleth couldn't help but notice some sneers, especially from the Black Eagles, and when she looked at her daughters, while Cassandra blushed harder than at her first Ball, Norn looked like she just swallowed a whole lemon.
"For the Golden Deer House, I name Declan von Edmund!” she continued, doing her best to not think of her youngest's reaction.
She was glad to see the smiles at Declan's nomination, Portia, Sophia and Harriet were clapping the loudest, while the Allody girl was more shy and the rest were more simple in their reactions, though Leonie and Raphael's son was smiling warmly.
“For the Black Eagle House, I name Ernest Ferber!”
This was answered by clapping solely by the teachers, Cassandra, Declan, the boy Xavier and some of Ernest's housemates, the rest however were torn between surprise and disdain.
Byleth couldn't help but sigh as she looked at the reactions to the nomination, she hoped it wouldn't bite her in the ass.
The Black Eagles looked the most shocked - they had nobles and heirs of all three most prominent houses in all Adrestia, yet they are mocked like this?
Nicholas von Gerth was especially annoyed by this choice:
“Has the Archbishop lost her mind? Does she think that Adrestia is a joke that can be insulted with placing a mere nobody to be a chief of nobility?”
Ernest himself was astounded by such sudden news, but kept his stern face and simply tied up his long hair to get up, and join the other two chosen.
He calmly walked over the foot someone had set up to make him trip, hitting it in the process and took a place on the left side, looking the Archbishop in the eyes with a well-hidden disdain.
Byleth couldn’t hide her pure smile when putting the Blue Lions cape on her daughter’s shoulder, while she smiled brighter than a diamond.
When she did the same for the other two house leaders, all of them turned to face the rest of the public, who got up from their place to clap.
“With the House Leaders chosen, I ask you to give a warm welcome to your professors - the people who are going to guide you for this year!” Byleth welcomed Flayn, Cyril and Mercedes, who were smiling, while each having an element representing their houses.
More claps followed up and even the most quiet of the Black Eagles, the fragile Landon von Hendrix, whose branch was the descendants of Lamine itself, thus making him Mercedes’ distant relative, smiled for the first time and quietly waved to his “aunt”.
The professors themselves also gave very short welcome speeches, although most of it contained the words of “United Realm’s future” and a short asking for their students to study hard and stay focused for all of this year.
“So, since all of the formalities had been counted, I announce the start of the new year in the Officers Academy of Garreg Mach Monastery!” Now, every member of the faculty, even Byleth herself, were celebrating.
The Blue Lions happily greeted their princess, looking like their faces would crack from their huge smiles and laughter. While some of the Black Eagles on the other side glared at them, others gave very modest claps, with all not even looking at their leader twice, except for Ernest’s friends, Isabella and Charlotte. However, among the Black Eagles, many were not displaying any aggression towards the house of royalty.
When Declan von Edmund returned to his House, he looked at both his sister and another one of his acquaintances, Sophia von Riegan.
“I thought that any of you would be appointed. Portia’s older than me and Sophia’s father…” he started, before Sophia herself butted in, with an annoyed expression on her face:
“Well, Her Mightiness offered me this position, but I really don’t need that. Enjoy, Declan,” she slightly smiled at him and everyone of the Golden Deer laughed, while everyone who actually knew Sophia, thought about how they dodged a massive atrocity.
Each of the House Leaders were studying their classes and every one of them had different reactions.
Looking at her seemingly uplifted house, Cassandra was smiling, even if she had trouble with talking to anyone who was not a familiar face, which, luckily for her, were over half of the Blue Lions.
'Oh Goddess, sacred foremother, give me wisdom, guide me to victory, help me be worthy of this task.'
Golden Deer talked the most out of three and it’s not because they quickly became ‘best friends forever’, but because they all knew they had to stick together during all of the study time.
Declan knew he had to do his best so that, regardless of how they were seen, he and his Housemates would thrive.
Ernest however, saw a challenge, people to convince to join the cause, Blaiddyd dogs to deal with, and most importantly, a House he must lead to become unbeatable, even if they found themselves fighting the other two combined.
“Think of me whatever you like. But, if I was to become this house’s chief, I need to turn the Black Eagles into the worthy successors of Adrestia’s legacy.”
“Students of the three Houses,” Headmaster Seteth started, “go to your common rooms, there you will talk with your House teachers, and get to know each other for a week before a mock battle where we shall evaluate your skills in a simulation of hand to hand combat.”
“This is a relatively easy task, what is asked of all of you is to get used to the Officers Academy. And remember - at this institution, we strive for equality in treatment between nobility and the ones with less prestigious background. So here, your titles do not hold the same weight as your personal skill does.”
Ernest and Isabella, who were sitting next to each other, both rolled their eyes at the headmaster’s statement.
But, if it was actually even remotely true, it definitely meant that they had a real chance to make Black Eagles visible to others.
And with Ernest’s seemingly calm face slowly turning into a grin, Seteth finished his speech.
“I wish you all the best of success in your studies - be worthy of the United Realm’s legacy and strive for perfection!”
So, this is how a new year at the Officers Academy began.
With the first and only heir to the throne of all the United Realm as the head of Blue Lions, who were considered the hope of the Academy.
With a peaceful son of a renowned orator and politician as the head of Golden Deer.
And with a nobody commoner being appointed first in a couple of decades as the leader of the most controversial house of the Academy.
“I honestly get a brink of nostalgia when looking at this. It really reminds me of my year - then it’s certainly about to be interesting.” Byleth looked over the House Leaders and other students, unable to keep her smile.