Chapter Text
Edelgard… She knew it was foolish. All that lay down this path was heartbreak. All that had ever lain down this path was heartbreak.
But... Those eyes. Even centuries later... those eyes looked so much like... his had.
She shook her head. This had truly been a foolish choice. But it was the one she had made, and she would simply have to deal with that.
"Lady Edelgard... and Professor Rhea, I presume?" a young man with sunken featured asked, bowing politely to the two of them as he approached. "I suppose I must thank you for protecting my Lady in that forest- I am Hubert Von Vestra, shadow of the Imperial Princess."
"Thanks are unneeded- I simply did what one must." Rhea waved off the praise. Even if Edelgard weren't Wilhelm's descendant... "And, besides- it fortuitously reunited me with Jeralt..."
"...Yes, truly a stroke of fate, that the Archbishop's beloved had a sister none knew of in the perfect place at the perfect moment..." Hubert said, perfectly neutral in tone and inflection, and yet... "Regardless- I have finished locating the... troublesome ones..."
"Ah, grand." Edelgard nodded, "Come- I suppose I shall have to show you the rest of the Monastery another time, our class has been gathered."
"...That's fine."
By good fortune, Hubert had found them near the classrooms, making it a short walk. Three, placed beside each other, each with a banner outside the door... Golden Deer, Blue Lion and...
That Black Eagle. Still Wilhelm's standard, so far down his line...
The Eagle and the Dragon, coiled and protective...
"Welcome, my teacher, to the Black Eagle House." Edelgard smiled softly, as Hubert opened the door with a bow.
The students gathered within all turned, some sliding off of desks or scraping chairs against the floor...
And two, one hiding beneath a desk and the other fast asleep, not reacting at all.
"Ah, hey there Edie!" a brunette waved, still seated, "Is this our new professor?"
"Indeed." Edelgard nodded, taking a seat at the front of the room and nodding to the front desk, "...I see asking Linhardt to be awake was a step too far to hope for..."
"Uh... Duh." a blue haired boy scoffed, "That's like asking our dad's not to fight... It just ain't happening..."
...At the growl Edelgard released, Rhea couldn't help but wonder if more of her blood flowed through her descendants than she realised...
"Well. I'm sure you've already thoroughly perused our files, but I suppose introductions are in order." Hubert sighed. "For politeness' sake, if nothing else..."
"Indeed!" a ginger boy nodded, seemingly missing Hubert's scathing tone. "I am Ferdie Arnault! This is my dear elder sister, Doroth-"
"Dorothea Arnault. Perfectly capable of introducing myself, Thorn." the brunette who'd greeted her as she entered scoffed, elbowing her brother in the side. "I hear you're the one who saved our Edie?"
"...In a sense." Rhea had no doubt Edelgard had a plan in her mind, as they fled those bandits... And if not her, then Riegan certainly did. And those both discounted the very real possibility Blaidydd's descendant could've taken all of them by himself...
"Ah, and humble too!" Dorothea chuckled, leaning forwards, "Yet another wonderful... Teaching quality."
"...I'm Caspar!" the blue haired boy yelled, punching the air, "This sleepyhead's Linhardt-don't worry, he reads ahead, he isn't missing much!"
"That... does not seem an adequate substitute for the professors instruction." muttered the only girl present with no trace of Nabtean blood.
"It isn't!" Caspar cheerfully confirmed.
"...I am Petra Macneary, Princess of Brigid." the same girl giggled, shaking her head, "Apologies in advance, if my Fodlani is incorrect."
"And cowering beneath the desk is Bernadetta Von Varley," Edelgard finished, after a pause just shy of awkward while the girl in question muttered frantically as she realised it was her turn. "We may not be the most... Coherent of classes, but I assure you, everyone will be attending... If I have to carry Linhardt myself..."
"It's sweet you think that's a threat," Linhardt yawned, sitting up with a stretch, "Truthfully, it sounds rather nice... Not having to walk from class to class..."
"I assure you I will make the experiance... Less than enjoyable..." Hubert growled darkly, flickers of Dark Magic around his hands.
"...Well, now I simply want to call your bluff..." Linhardt mused, eyebrow raised. "What, are you going to torture me while I'm snugly poised in Edelgard's arms? That'd be some impressive aiming..."
"...Well. On that note, I suppose we should get into a lesson." Rhea laughed, gently. There was something charming, behind the threats... "Before this becomes an active demonstration, one way or another..."
...Rhea... Didn't actually have a lesson plan. And, contrary to Hubert's accusations, she hadn't so much as skimmed most students files, thoroughly distracted with Edelgard's.
"Given that this is our first meeting, I decided it was prudent to have this 'lesson' be rather more... casual, than you can come to expect." Rhea lied as easily as she breathed. "Morale is, in many senses, more important than all else, in battle, after all- and I certainly intend for our first bout together to be victorious."
"Ooh, are we doing icebreakers again?" Dorothea asked, leaning forwards, "I think I thought up better answers than the first set..."
"...Are they still all from Opera scripts?" Ferdie chuckled fondly, "Because I don't think that trick is going to work more than once..."
"Shut up Ferdie, it might if you don't remind everyone..."
"As amusing as that sounds..." Rhea lightly chuckled, "No, that isn't what I had in mi-"
"Oh, oh, are we gonna like. Fight you?!" Caspar leapt onto his seat, "That's always the best way to get to know someone!"
"No it isn't." Linhardt deadpanned.
"Caspar sit down." Edelgard hissed.
"Oh- please tell me he's wrong..." Bernadetta whimpered.
"Maybe, if I continue to be interrupted..." Rhea sighed. She couldn't say she disagreed with Caspar's sentiment... perhaps she'd keep that in mind, if this proved futile... "But no. That's not what I was going to say."
Instead of elaborating further, Rhea grabbed a map at random, from the many littering the shelves surrounding her. She lay it out on the central table, carefully pinning the corners- good. It was a map of the surrounding area.
"We." Rhea gestured over the map, "Are going to plan a... Victory trip, as it were."
"...confident, are we?" Hubert muttered, leaning forwards, "To plan our celebrations before we even compete..."
"To an extent." Rhea admitted, "But more than that... Actually, I'll pose the question to you. What strategic benefits does this pose?"
"Morale, is the most obvious." Edelgard smirked, "And the one you've already mentioned- offering a prize will certainly motivate even the idlest slacker..."
"And a great many factors go into planning such a thing!" Ferdie added, grinning, "It's a rather elegant way to familiarise yourself with all of our strengths, in such things- and by presenting it as a group discussion, you also have chance to evaluate who naturally falls into leadership roles, and who may need more coaxing..."
"...gauging our suggestions, when given no limits, will give you a solid basis to plan such things independently, for future such bribes..." Hubert chuckled, maintaining eye contact as though daring her to disagree.
Edelgard gently cuffed his shoulder, rolling her eyes.
"All good points, yes- a few still missing, however." Rhea chuckled, lightly. "Any other suggestions...?"
"...Oh, it's a forest!" Bernadetta gasped. That gasp turned into a whimper, as her classmates eyes turned to her. "I-I mean. Isn't the Mock Battle happening in a forest? That's what I heard at least! It might be wrong... A-and... If we know how to pick out, uh, good camping spots? In a forest? That would, uh..."
"Very good, Bernadetta." Rhea nodded, smiling gently, "That is my main objective- we'll be handed a map of the area shortly, before the battle begins. Being able to evaluate terrain and create a plan in such a short window is a rather specific skill to hone..."
"...How efficient..." Linhardt snorted, pointing to a particular spot on the map with a ruler. "Well- allow me to make a suggestion that concisely serves all your goals. We should set our tents in the depths of this thicket. Even at noon, the shade should be plentiful for a good nap..."
His piece said, he dropped his head on the table for just that.
"...That area looks as though it may be good hunting- although, possibly too close to the Monastery, many prey animals will know to avoid it." Petra noted, eyes glinting. "That will make it more challenging..."
"I... Um. Q-question!?" Bernadetta raised a hand, only continuing at Rhea's gentle nod. "I-is this going to be mandatory...?"
"...It wouldn't be much of a prize, if it were forced upon you..." Rhea shook her head, "That being said... I hope it will prove possible to make this an experiance all will enjoy..."
"Hm... I presume this will be a weekend trip, if it is non-mandatory?" Edelgard asked, continuing at Rhea's nod, "The itinerary should be kept light, then, if the aim is for all to have an equally enjoyable time... Hunting has already been put forwards, and I'm sure Petra is not the only one who would consider that of interest..."
"Is that a stream?" Dorothea asked, pointing to a small marking, "That could be fun to check out!"
"Wait... If we're already out camping and hunting, how about a barbeque!" Caspar added, eagerly pointing to a small clearing, "If we set up near that bit of the trees, Lins still got his nap spot, but we're less likely to, uh... Start a forest fire..."
The class continued to iron out details, only needing an occasional gentle pointer in the right direction. Even timid Bernadetta and aloof Linhardt seemed to slowly but surely gain interest...
Rhea leaned back on her desk, as Hubert and Linhardt heatedly bickered about proper sleeping hours...
...She'd step in before any spells started flying.
For now...
She smiled softly.
She... could get used to this.