"She's at your left!" Sothis cried out.
"Noted," Byleth said dully as she parried the incoming strike with her training blade.
"Reflexes check out," Catherine said with a grin. "Now let's see your speed!"
The blonde cut loose in a flurry of slashes that Byleth narrowly dodged and parried, letting her blade do most of the work as the strikes grazed off of the metal.
"Not too fast comparatively, but you've got good form," Catherine noted, stepping back. "But to put up with what you have, that's unsurprising." Her smile didn't fade. "We could use someone like you in the knights. That said, I'm not sure why Lady Rhea decided to have you teach…" the Holy Knight mused.
Byleth shrugged, lowering her blade but keeping it ready. "Part of it might have to do with protecting Mith all that time, but that makes more sense for being a knight. Maybe she wanted a person with practical experience to teach a class."
Catherine chuckled. "That's not a bad idea, especially since we send the kids into live fire situations once they're ready." She sighed. "I, uh, heard about your brother's plans for Gaspard."
Byleth raised an eyebrow as Catherine sheathed her sword and wiped sweat from her forehead.
"It's sound. If there is a nefarious force maneuvering the Western Church, then playing up their role in Christophe's death will realign Lonato's anger towards them. That said, we don't know how deep their hooks are, or if physical evidence would do anything to sway Lonato." Catherine grimaced. "He's still grieving. If you guys want to do diplomacy, I can't go. But you still need firepower if it all goes wrong," she said firmly.
"Mith can't operate with Thunderbrand, and Alois is too imposing, even if we know he has a good heart," Byleth pointed out. "Do you have any recommendations?"
Catherine hummed. "Most of my thinking takes place on the battlefield, but if I look at it tactically… yeah, she'd do."
Byleth tilted her head. "She?"
The knight grinned. "My partner. She's quiet, to the point, and a consummate professional. She won't strike until she has to if those are her orders, and then she'll be able to do nonlethal tactics if there's a chance for de-escalation."
Byleth nodded. "She sounds perfect."
Sothis hummed. "How mysterious. And a 'partner', hm?" she said in amusement.
"So how long have you two been together?" Byleth asked.
"Oh, we've worked together for years," Catherine said cheerfully. "I trust her to watch my back, and… well, I watch hers. Shamir might or might not trust a whole lot of people," she said with a laugh.
"And dating?" Byleth said bluntly.
Sothis planted her face in her hands.
Catherine started laughing long and loud. "Ahaha! Nah, no. I mean…" she trailed off. "Well, men are great, but Shamir…" Catherine made a thoughtful sound.
"I swear, if you just started some sort of romantic shenanigans…" Sothis said in a low tone.
"Anyways, we're pretty different and work great as partners. Don't think that would pan out," Catherine said with a wave of her hand. She pulled her training sword out. "I'm ready for another round. You?"
Byleth saluted with her blade, then extended it down and to her side.
Catherine grinned. "Atta girl! Now let's dance!"
____________________________________________________________________________
I'd managed to escape the training with Felix bearing only minor bruises. I was still tired from recovery, even if I had my full range of motion.
That was a few days ago.
I let out a yawn as I wandered around, fiddling with my satchel.
What to do my next seminar on…
Faith working would be a good idea, but for that I'd need to track down Dedue and Petra. That presented two problems.
For Dedue, he and the majority of the Lions were out with Dimitri on dispatch to handle a bandit problem. Edelgard, Hubert, and Caspar volunteered to fill the rest of the ranks for some reason, so Annette, Mercedes, and Sylvain stayed behind. Manuela tagged along as well to ensure there was at least one skilled medic.
Petra was around, but incredibly busy. I spied her working with some wyverns and doing a sky watch, so that would take a while yet.
I grunted as I bumped into someone while I was lost in thought, and I blinked to see I was near the greenhouse.
I looked down and saw a dark-skinned boy carrying a huge bag, almost as large as him. He swayed dangerously from overbalance, so I grabbed both him and the bag.
"Sorry! I've got you," I said.
"I've got it," he said in a firm tone.
"You good to stand?" I asked.
"I said I've got it," he repeated, a little more testy.
I let go. "Apologies. I'll try to watch where I'm going," I said sheepishly.
"Alright," he said as he kept going.
Hm. Not a lot of kids like him in Fodlan. Most people are pretty pale, with rare exceptions.
...maybe I could work on my seminar a little later.
I followed along and watched as he put down the bag with a grunt. "So uh, my name's Mith," I offered. There weren't any ghosts around, so maybe his parents were too?
He gave me a brief look. "Cyril. Lady Rhea's real worried about you," he said in a disapproving tone.
"I mean, we were separated for a while and then a few weeks after we reunite I get shot," I offered. "That's normal."
Cyril gave me a long look. "How do you know Lady Rhea, anyways?" he asked after a moment.
"We're related," I said with a smile. "She's been like an older sister to me for a long time. It was pretty terrible when we got split up, so we've been trying to make up for lost time when we can. But, you know how busy she is with running a religion and all."
Cyril gave a serious nod. "She's out there trying to help a lot of people. She even gave someone like me a place to stay," he said as he puffed out his chest. He turned back to the bag. "Now I've gotta fertilize these plants, so… yeah."
"Hm. Would you like help?" I offered.
"Nah, I got it," he said distractedly as he cut the bag open.
I spied a trowel and picked it up as he gazed around.
"Looking for this?" I asked, offering it to him handle-first.
He took it. "Yeah, thanks," he said as he got to work.
I watched him for a moment. "So… a place to stay, huh?" I said off-handedly.
Cyril kept scooping dirt.
"Did something happen to your family?" I asked. I made sure my tone wasn't too gentle. Too much and people think you pity them, not enough and you come off heartless. It can be a hard balance to strike.
"My parents died in a border skirmish. I was born in Almyra, and then I worked in House Goneril for a little while. Then Lady Rhea found me and a bunch of other kids, and we're here. I need to do work to pay her back," Cyril said after a moment.
I blinked. "She said that?" I asked incredulously. Rhea could be a little off, but child labor didn't really sound like something she'd enforce.
"Of course not! I do it because I wanna," Cyril said fiercely.
"Okay, yeah, that makes more sense," I said with a shake of my head. "Rhea's never really asked for returns when she decided to help someone who she knew couldn't pay her back."
"Yeah, Lady Rhea's great," Cyril said.
"So you decided to help around yourself?" I asked. "That's pretty mature of you. What do you do for fun?"
Cyril paused and stared at me for a moment. "I chop wood, tend greenhouses, tend stables, do sky watch sometimes, train with Shamir, clean the monastery-"
I squinted. "Do you… read books? Play games? Stuff most people your age do to unwind from all those tasks?" I paused. "And that's a lot."
"I'm from Almyra. Gotta earn my keep," he said firmly.
I frowned. "Fascinating. Is this something you decided, or something you were told?"
Cyril stared at me. "What're you mad for?" he said in disbelief.
"I'm concerned that people are mistreating you, and that Rhea likely doesn't know about it. If she took you in, she likely wanted to get you an education and equip you with tools to live your own life. At least, that's what the Rhea I remember would do," I finished in a mutter.
Cyril shuffled. "Nobody gives me much trouble anymore."
I relaxed.
"I've gotten pretty good at avoiding the knights from Leicester since I started training with Shamir," Cyril continued.
Fuck.
I rubbed my forehead. "Right. Okay. So, you shouldn't have to do that."
"Doesn't mean I don't," Cyril replied. "And even Lady Rhea can't just stare people down and make them like me."
"But she can tell them to leave you alone," I said pointedly. "And even if she can't change their minds, she can restrict their behavior so they don't cause you - or people like you - harm."
"Why do you care?" Cyril said, finally planting the trowel in the bag of fertilizer.
"Why wouldn't I?" I asked in confusion. "Does anyone need a reason to care about other people?"
Cyril crossed his arms. "I'm from Almyra," he stressed. "It doesn't have much to do with me, but a lot of people just see that and that's it. I'm not out to form a war party, go kill or be killed, and go home to feast and dance after a fight while the orphans run around looking for scraps. But I'm not from here either, and the only place I got is with Lady Rhea."
I rubbed my face. "I see."
Claude sure had his work cut out for him.
"I don't expect someone like you to understand all that, though…" Cyril said quietly.
"A little more than you expect," I said gently. "I haven't had a lot of friends before, thanks to being able to talk to the dead. It freaks people out, and even with Rhea saying it's holy or whatever, it still makes people uncomfortable. So maybe not because of where I'm from, but there's plenty about me people find unsettling."
Cyril looked up at me, blinking a little.
"So no, I don't know what it is to be a stranger in a strange land. But I do know how it feels to have only one or two people to count on, and the rest of the world seems to distrust you on principle," I finished.
Cyril opened his mouth-
"Hey! Who goes there!?" a loud voice yelled.
"Crud!" Cyril hissed. His eyes were wide. "I got distracted!"
I whirled and saw a man in full plate armor march into the greenhouse.
"What's an Almyran doing at Garreg Mach!?" he asked, removing his helmet. He had short brown hair and a patchy beard, with squinting blue eyes.
"Fertilizing the plants in the greenhouse, last I checked," I said dryly.
"Watch it, freak. I don't care what Lady Rhea says, only the mad speak to the air like you do," he growled.
I exhaled through my nose. Right. One of those guys.
Cyril stood behind me a little ways, and I glanced back.
He was definitely eyeing the door as an escape route.
"This can't stand," the knight growled. "A brat not of Fodlan, on holy ground?"
I felt my eyes narrow. "And what do you intend to do?" I asked tonelessly.
He glared at me and opened his mouth.
"What do you think you're doing."
The voice was terse, and sounded like it belonged to a woman. I didn't see anyone immediately, but then caught sight of a pale mercenary with dark eyes and short, dark hair.
She stopped right behind the knight.
"Shamir," the man growled. "I ought to have figured you'd be harboring an Almyran."
I felt my pulse spike. Fuck this.
"Actually, that would be my sister. You see, Byleth was kind enough to reunite me with her after many years of separation. It was tragic, really. But sis is doing a lot of good work here and I'm proud of her," I said in a too-sweet tone.
Shamir shot me an unimpressed look.
"I don't care who your tart of a sister is-" the knight growled.
"But you work for her, don't you?" I offered in polite confusion.
I heard Cyril's breath hitch. "Wait, you mean that-" he said in quiet awe.
The knight's eyes narrowed. "What?"
"He's talking about the Archbishop, you moron," Shamir said bluntly.
I gave a malicious snicker. "And you just called her a tart!" I said cheerfully. I leaned forward as the man slowly paled, baring my teeth in a grin. "So, what's your name? So I can pass on the message."
I decided to wrap things up with a few images of a greatly disapproving Rhea mirrored over his eyes.
The knight let out a wheeze and collapsed.
Shamir raised an eyebrow.
"Used Glamour to make him see Rhea where she wasn't," I said with a shrug. I offered my hand. "Name's Mith, nice to meet you."
"Wait, wait, wait," Cyril said with wide eyes, darting next to me. "You mean you're Lady Rhea's brother? For real!?"
Shamir glanced at Cyril. "He's related to her and Seteth. Seteth's a cousin, as is Flayn. Rhea openly claimed Mith, Apen, and Indy as her brothers, and spread the information among the top brass of the knights. The professors are next to be informed, then we're going to spread the word from there." She looked to me. "She figured that after the attempt on your life, her reputation would prove more of a shield than a target. I just came from her since I missed the earlier debriefing."
I shrugged. "I mean, if it keeps me from getting shot I guess."
Cyril stared at me accusingly. "You said she was like a sister!" he said in a squeaky voice.
"I was under the impression she wanted it kept a secret," I said with a shrug.
"And you told that grunt?" Shamir said with a single raised brow.
"He's an asshole. I was going to put him through enough illusions that I could just say that he hallucinated it and everyone else would believe me. Of course, that would depend on you guys backing my word over his." I shrugged. "You don't seem to care enough to gainsay me, and Cyril…" I trailed off. "I've got a good feeling about him."
Cyril scowled. "Good feeling, my foot! If you're really Lady Rhea's brother, of course I'd stick up for you," he said accusingly.
I laughed a little. "That's kind of you, Cyril."
Shamir shook her head. "Anyways. Catherine asked me to accompany you to Gaspard if the mission gets off the ground. I wanted to meet you first."
I tilted my head. "And?"
She lashed out with a quick jab that I narrowly ducked, and juked back when I lashed out at her ribs.
Her eyes narrowed. "Not bad," she said in a tone of faint approval. "You need work, but I can make something out of that."
I grunted. "A little warning next time?"
A small smirk crossed her face. "Now what would the point of that be?"
Cyril gave a groan. "And now I'm behind…" he grumbled.
I turned. "How about I help you with this until you're back on schedule, and then we can discuss if there's anything you'd like me to teach you?" I offered.
Cyril shuffled a little.
"It is my fault you lost time," I reminded him, leaning out of the way of another jab from Shamir.
He nodded slowly. "Okay." Cyril turned to Shamir. "Can I borrow him for a little bit?"
The knight paused. "Sure," she said flatly. She looked to me. "I'll be seeing you."
As she turned to walk off, I cleared my throat.
She paused.
"Please use padded arrows if you're going to use the bow on your back," I said clearly. "I'd rather not risk them getting deflected into someone and causing real harm."
Shamir turned her head and smirked. "I can cut you that much slack," she said with some amusement. Then she kept walking.
Cyril clapped his hands. "Alright, let's get to fertilizing these plants," he said firmly.
I turned back to him and smiled. "And you can tell me more about your life here while we work," I said cheerfully.
He shrugged, but didn't frown. "It's nothing special, but if you insist," he said easily.
____________________________________________________________________________
"So you just… left the guy on the ground?" Annette said with a giggle.
I nodded as I set the teacups out. It was the ninth of Harpstring, and Sylvain had told me it was her birthday. Good man.
"Word spreads fast," I said wryly.
"I mean, it serves him right. I heard that Hilda wrote her brother, and he's going to recall that jerk and put him through basic training all over again. He'll be doing squire duties for months," Annette said in a merry tone. She picked her cup up and smelled the tea. "Oooh! Sweet-Apple!"
I grinned. "It's one of my favorites too, so it seemed like a good idea."
Annette took a sip, then set the cup down and clapped her hands. "This is already great," she said happily. She sighed a little. "It's too bad Mercie couldn't make it."
"Any reason why?" I asked as I picked up a pastry.
"She said she was doing something for a surprise," Annette replied. She smiled. "I'm glad Professor Hanneman gave us the mission off. And that Edelgard and Hubert were nice enough to volunteer as substitutes!"
Hm. "Edelgard… has she been spending much time with Dimitri lately?" I pondered aloud.
Annette nodded. "Some, yes. I've seen them sparring, talking - they seem to be getting on well." Her eyes lowered. "Some of the other nobles… they're worried."
I frowned. "About?"
"Marriage, I guess. They see Edelgard wooing His Highness as a soft power move to bring Faerghus back under the Empire's control." Annette frowned. "I think it's dumb! Whatever their connection, it's obvious Edelgard means a lot to His Highness! He was rarely happy, but since she started talking to him again, his smiles are more genuine and…" she trailed off.
I took a sip of tea. "Interesting. Let me guess, these are the same nobles that give Dedue a hard time?"
Annette blinked at me. "Um?"
"I haven't been given the 'man of Duscur' speech, but Byleth has. More than once." I gave a cold smile. "It's interesting. I've spoken to him once outside of class, and he was nothing but polite, helpful, and courteous. A true gentleman."
"Right? He's so nice, and looks out for everyone. He's devoted to His Highness, and…" Annette sighed. "It's not fair."
I nodded. "I agree."
"But His Highness has seemed a little happier lately, and part of that's to do with Edelgard. But he's also started opening up with us, too." Annette took a drink of tea. "I didn't know he was holding so much back," she mused.
"Mm. So how are you doing?"
Annette perked up. "Well, I'm doing pretty well! I'm looking forward to your Faith seminar, whenever that is."
I coughed. "It's probably going to be another presence concealment one this week. I need Dedue and Petra's help, and they're both busy. I'll see if I can get them to clear a week in their schedule by Blue Sea Moon at the latest," I said with an awkward smile.
"I guess that's for the best. After all, this is all theory-based and you need to know concrete facts about their religions to build the theory," Annette said thoughtfully. "Still, maybe you could do some spellcrafting work?"
I scratched the back of my neck. "Maybe. Honestly, I didn't think I'd get this far," I admitted. "I'm really winging this adjunct thing."
"Maybe you should have been a student then," Annette said with a smile. "Then you could be in the Eagles with Dorothea~!"
I flushed. "Really!?"
Annette giggled. "Sorry, sorry! You two are really cute, though. Have you picked a new place to go for a date?"
"Maybe? I don't know much about the places in town…"
"Sylvain goes on dates all the time, I bet he'd tell you," Annette said encouragingly. "And he's even here! Though I couldn't say why…" she trailed off.
I shook my head. "I'll think about that. Anyways, what sort of spellcraft do you think I should cover? Reason? Faith? Crossing between?" I tapped the table. "Since it's your birthday and I need to update the bulletin board tonight, I'll let you pick."
Annette clapped her hands. "Yay! Okay, so I'm good at Reason… so that?"
I nodded. "Alright. Honestly, it's probably necessary before the Faith seminar, given some of the material I need to cover."
"How so?" Annette picked up a pastry.
"Well, it's a unified theory of magic that I've had for a while. You know how the glyphs are a little less hard-and-fast for Faith than Reason? That's because in Reason magic, the matrices and formulae take the place of the god, self, or ideal that fuels most Faith magic. It's sort of believing in there being some sort of order in the world, and reinforcing that with a set of strictures that we can interpret. It takes what we know, and converts it into the language of magic to tinker with the fabric of the universe," I said conversationally.
Annette's eyes widened as I sipped my tea.
"It's a theory, but one I'd like to test - either myself or to pass off to someone." And it's not like Macuil didn't drill it into my head in his spellcrafting lessons from over a thousand years ago, no sir. Or that he picked it back up almost immediately when I found him in Sreng.
Emyth'solan? You're alive? Yes, here's a hug, but compose a-
Ahem.
"That makes so much sense…" Annette whispered.
"Yeah, Reason and Faith are two sides of the same coin. Faith is great for people who can put their faith in something outside of 'logic', while Reason is for people who are more scientific-minded. Though that does leave a fair few people out in the cold for magic, I'll admit…" I trailed off.
Annette hummed. "And it opens a lot of doors for people who are proficient in both, like Mercie or Lysithea."
"Don't you practice Faith magic?" I asked.
Annette blushed. "I'm good at it, but I really shine at wind sorcery for combat. I've managed to cobble together Nosferatu, but I'm having trouble getting past that."
"Sounds like something Mercedes could help with," I offered.
"Oh, she has! She and I study together often enough," Annette said cheerfully. She settled down. "Still though, that's… revolutionary," she said with a thoughtful gaze.
Yep. And according to Macuil, it was a cornerstone of Agarthan tech that Mum shared with them, but here we are because big weapons and my family getting genocided by a pack of bandit patsies. So all of that was lost!
Faaaaaaantastic.
At least Garreg Mach had indoor plumbing. Somehow.
"Are you okay?" Annette asked, quickly derailing my train of thought.
I shook my head. "Just… ruminating. Apen was the one who came up with the theory," I confessed. "Apparently he was on the verge of some major breakthroughs, but then what happened to our family… happened… and he decided to hermit up out in Sreng."
Annette made a small sound. "I heard about that," she said softly. "I guess that's something you never really move past. I mean, my father is still alive, somewhere, and I…" she trailed off. "Sorry, I shouldn't compare that," she said quickly.
I shook my head. "It's fine. Playing one-up on misery is both exhausting and fruitless. Everyone gets hurt, and life is hard enough without trying to… well, you get the idea," I said with a humorless chuckle.
Annette nodded. "Yeah. Still…"
"So… your father was absent?" I asked. "That's. I mean, you're a noble, so…?"
Annette straightened up. "Yes. He's a knight named Gustave. I don't know what he's going by now, but he has the same hair as me, but older, obviously." Her eyes gleamed. "He was a knight of Faerghus for many years, but the last I heard he left to join the Church after the Tragedy."
I sighed. "So much comes back to that. Ashe's foster brother, Dimitri's family, Felix's brother who Ingrid was to marry, Dedue's country… honestly, the only two of you guys who weren't touched by that are Sylvain and Mercedes. Even then, they had to live in the environment that resulted from that."
"Yeah. I'm hoping that I'll find my father here, and get some answers," Annette said softly.
I smiled. "I'll keep an eye out. Actually…" My smile turned into a pointed grin.
"What are you thinking?" Annette asked, tone gaining an edge of amusement. "That looks like one of Sylvain's smiles when he's planning something that Dimitri would scold him for."
"So the information is being spread gradually, but… the reason Rhea has been so accommodating to Byleth, Jeralt, and myself? She's my sister," I said, still grinning.
Annette's eyes widened. "What!?" she squeaked.
"Yeah. With the black hats after me, she figured her reputation couldn't paint a larger target on my back than my own problems already have," I said with a shrug. "But that's not the important part. The important part is this: if your father is a knight…"
Her mouth formed an 'o'.
"My sister's your father's boss. And that means if I give her the big round eyes long enough, she'll call him in for a station at the monastery. After that…" I trailed off with a snicker.
"Mith, that's… oh my gosh, that's such an abuse of power-" Annette stammered.
I blinked at her. "I mean, it's definitely a form of nepotism, I guess. But unless he's actively on a mission, I fail to see how it'd hurt anyone?"
Annette stared at me. "You're going to do this," she said faintly.
"Yeah?"
"You're really… this is…" she shook her head. "Wow. After all these years… I'm going to see my father again?" She let out an incredulous laugh. "I. I don't know what to say."
I grinned. "Happy birthday!"
Annette broke down in helpless giggles. "Thank you so much!"
"You're welco- wait, wait, wait!"
Somehow I managed to keep her from landing in the pastries when she flung herself at me in a tackle-hug.
The teapot was a lost cause as soon as it hit the cobblestones, though.
"Oh no! I'm sorryyyy!"
____________________________________________________________________________
Byleth crossed her legs as she sat in on the seminar. Fortunately, the Lions had returned in time for their temporary members to attend - Hubert in particular wouldn't have wanted to miss it, from what she knew of him.
Ultimately, it seemed that primarily mages were attending the Reason seminar - even Professor Hanneman had decided to sit in with her, and he had a sheaf of paper and quill ready to take notes.
"How exciting," he said with a glint in his eye. "I'm curious as to what his topic will be."
Byleth cast an eye over the students in attendance.
Lysithea sat with Annette, and the two of them were engaged in lively discussion. Marianne was next to Mercedes, and the quieter girl seemed to be responding well to the Blue Lions' resident healer. Linhardt had taken a seat at the front, to her surprise, and was pointedly ignoring Hubert's curious glares.
Two tables caught her by surprise, though.
One was Lorenz sitting with Claude. The two had an… acrimonious relationship, to put it mildly. However, Lorenz had a positive view of Mith, and Claude had latched onto him as effectively a ninth Deer, so the two of them seemed to have set aside their bickering for the moment. Claude had made a point that with all of Mith's 'esoteric knowledge' (his words, not hers), missing a seminar would be a waste regardless of how well he could apply it.
The last table was the clincher: Dorothea and Sylvain. From what Byleth recalled, Sylvain was aspiring to be a cavalry specialist, and learning Reason magic was only viable for a particular type of knight. Dorothea she wasn't surprised to see, but sitting near Sylvain willingly wasn't expected.
"Quite a few students from all three houses," Byleth said aloud.
"Indeed. In the case of the Eagles, I'm unsurprised by who turned up for this. For your House, Lorenz went to the College of Sorcery in Fhirdiad if I recall? And Lysithea has always shown aptitude with magic. Claude is an outlier, but he may be hoping to find the keys to replicating the power of illusion," Hanneman mused.
"I would not be surprised," Byleth said wryly. "I expected Mercedes and Annette, but Sylvain? Isn't he training with the lance and as a cavalry combatant?"
Hanneman gave Byleth a brief glance as Mith wandered towards the front of the room. "I believe Sylvain Gautier has more facets than most account for. Now, he hasn't confided them in me, but I've noticed he has a talent for unravelling formulae and at Reason magic in general. He does not act on this talent, but it is there." The scholar's tone was faintly disapproving.
"Hm. If he doesn't use it, then why is he here?" Byleth mused.
Sothis leaned forward, unseen by the rest of the room, scrutinizing the students. "How interesting," she commented.
"Okay! So, this is going to lay the groundwork for the Faith seminar, which I'll… work on later," Mith said with a nervous chuckle. "The theories I'm sharing with you today were pioneered by my older brother Apen. If you've had the misfortune to meet him, you've likely been told to 'get out of his way' or been glared at. If you've had the greater misfortune to attract his attention, then I cannot promise your organs will be returned," he said in a joking tone.
Hanneman chuckled. "An amusing jape," he said to Byleth.
Byleth wisely did not mention the time he got ahold of some Agarthans who tried to kidnap Mith for experiments. Apen was a terrifying individual, even to his allies at times.
"Right. So to begin, I need to outline the primary tenet of Reason magic: it is learned by study, namely by combining pre-established formulae to elicit results. By combining different matrices and equations, it is possible to enact glyphs to cause changes in the physical world," Mith said, waving a hand around. "These components have been researched for centuries, creating the spread of spells available today - though most practicioners focus on the combat suite, limited as it is."
"Well, of course. This is a military academy, what sort of spells would he have them learn? Housekeeping spells? Dust bunnies beware, for the mighty general shall unleash a dirt-gathering charm!" Sothis said in amusement.
Byleth watched as Mith's eyes flicked to Sothis for a moment before returning to the students.
"All of that said, I'm going to fill you in on a little secret: Faith and Reason magic are, at their core, the same. Today I'm going to explain Apen's Theory of Unified Magic." Mith's eyes glinted in the light.
The students immediately began to mutter amongst themselves, with a few exceptions.
Byleth noticed that Annette seemed wholly unsurprised, and Hubert merely narrowed his eyes in interest.
"Not to be a killjoy Little Teach, but how does that work? You just said that Reason spells are based in mathematics and science, rather than belief - and what you said when you were planning these seminars said that belief is what powers Faith spells," Claude said after the muttering died down.
"That's true. However, there are things to note. The most important is that Faith is an older form of magic, and that Reason was compiled later. Second, the idea for formulae to explain magic is what gave rise to the branch in question. Mathematics and science quantify the world around us, using common observations to form a solid, unmoving picture. They bring order from chaos, and grant a measure of control over the world." Mith crossed his arms and smirked at Claude. "Now, stop me if you've heard this before, but the most important part of Faith magic…"
"Is something to believe in," Sylvain said quietly, his eyes wide. "Like facts and figures. The sciences and mathematics are so widely accepted as ways to interpret the world that…"
Lysithea slammed her hands on the table in front of her as she leapt up. "Of course! The formulae form an interpretation of the natural world and changes the caster wishes to see, and the belief in them is what facilitates the spells! Therefore, they are one and the same! The only difference is what the source of belief is!" Her eyes shone in excitement.
"And yet, that does not explain how Faith is the same," Hubert demurred. "Using the established standards as a belief catalyst holds, but they are concrete. Such things as the Goddess are not, and the power of Faith is commonly accepted to be bestowed, rather than intrinsic."
Mith looked to Linhardt, whose eyes were widening. "Want to take a crack at it?" he offered.
Byleth leaned forward, curious.
"Reason magic taxes the caster, as does Faith. Magic is personal, but we lack the ability to channel it without an external focus because believing ourselves capable of such wonders goes against common sense. To that end, belief in a formula, spirit, or higher being is all academic." Linhardt's eyes narrowed. "Magic comes from us, doesn't it?"
"Magic as a whole comes from the world," Mith explained. "When casting, the first reservoir tapped is the self, regardless of focus. However, there are mystically active materials and places that make casting easier, and can shoulder the burden of energy."
"Like how magic weapons are made of Arcane Crystals and other materials?" Annette asked.
"Yes. Levin Swords and the like are clearly magic, and their strength varies with the wielder - but using them is not as immediately draining as casting a spell. However, this wears on the material and creates a demand for maintenance," Mith said with a nod to Annette.
"And then there are rods and staves that enhance casting," Lorenz said with an intent gaze. "Is it an intrinsic property that permits them to levy some of the burden, or the faith of the caster?"
"Both," Mith replied. "The materials used to craft rods are active, and when combined with the caster's intent, they increase the power of the spells without inflicting additional drain on the person using them."
"So… what sorts of things could be used for magic besides the usual?" Dorothea asked, piping up. "Could… singing be used?"
"I believe so, depending on the desired effect. There are records of those who use dance to refresh their allies and bolster their abilities, and records of those who do the same with song. Some songs have been components in healing magic abroad," Mith said with a gesture to Dorothea. "It depends on the type of song used and the effect desired. You're more likely to bolster spirits with operatic singing than a quiet hymn, and the inverse is true for healing and rest."
The diva assumed a look of contemplation. "I see…"
Byleth was familiar with all this, of course, but seeing the ideas take root among the mages in the student body was interesting to watch.
Hanneman had already begun his third page of notes, etching diagrams in the margins. "This is fascinating! I must consult Apen on this theory. While Mith clearly has a grasp of it, Apen is a true researcher, and must have insights well beyond what we're learning today, "he said excitedly.
Marianne fidgeted. "If… if all magic is the same… what does that mean about the Goddess?" she asked quietly.
Mith turned to her. "Well, it means that you believe in her so strongly that your magic emulates your vision of her," he said. "I can confirm the Goddess did, at one point, walk the world. In the distant past, Fodlan was consumed by a war that was so severe the land was destroyed and most of humankind in the country was wiped out. It took her many centuries to set things right with the power of her magic, so great was the damage," Mith explained.
Mercedes nodded her head. "So what did she use?" she asked quietly.
"Nothing. The Goddess isn't human, and neither she nor her children needed a focus for magics that were intrinsic to them. Ones outside their wheelhouse? Sure, they had to use some sort of foci to ease the burden. But things pertaining to them were as natural as breathing," Mith explained.
"I see. So with her power over time, did she simply revert the damage?" Annette asked.
Byleth noticed Sothis twitch, her gaze growing distant. Others in the class took notice of Annette's comment and their own attention sharpened.
"No, the weapons used were catastrophic. Fighting time's flow over that area would have been a fool's errand. Therefore, she accelerated it, and let the land heal its wounds in a tenth of the time it would have taken otherwise," Mith said firmly.
Byleth looked to Sothis, who was now lost in thought. The girlish-looking spirit gazed downward, brow furrowed.
"So back to the seminar," Claude said, eyes glinting. "Assuming we connect to the proper symbolism, we can make our own spells?"
Mith held up a hand and tilted it back and forth. "Somewhat. Spellcraft includes a great amount of trial and error, and many layers of safeguards to minimize risk. If you want to do so, please find a sufficiently experienced mage to help you with the preparations and design."
Byleth had a feeling that Mith would be in great demand, given the glances the students were giving him.
Thankfully, she had made her own spells years ago, and they still held up.
She scanned the room, and narrowed her eyes as she caught sight of Marianne.
Mac stood to the quiet girl's side, tilting his head inquisitively at her soft words. He tolerated her gentle scratching to the back of his head, gazing directly at her.
Byleth noted it and decided to warn Mith later that Macuil seemed to have taken a shine to her shiest Deer. It could go any number of ways, but she privately doubted the acerbic academic would approach her outside of his bird-form.
Judging by the volume of notes Hanneman was taking, Apen might find his lab invaded and staked out, thus making the Crest Scholar the recipient of that dubious honor.
Byleth tuned out the rest of the seminar, keeping an eye on the lecturer, students, and Sothis.
Though she had to admit, the padded arrows that Mith kept casually avoiding were a minor cause for concern.
____________________________________________________________________________
Edelgard sat across from me as Hubert poured the tea for us. "So Hubert said you mentioned that the weapons used in the Agarthan conflict were what caused the devastation?" she asked in a casual tone.
I nodded.
"Interesting. What did Seiros use that caused such destruction, I wonder?" Edelgard mused.
I shook my head. "Though Seiros eradicated all of their culture she could reach, she didn't do that damage. Dragonfire was her primary weapon, and it managed to destroy them all - or so everyone thought. Their enclaves defended them from the fallout of their own weapons, but Seiros had enough power then to put an end to them regardless. It didn't help that they used most of what they had manufactured in the initial barrage, and their construction sites were among the first targets."
"Then the primary reason Fodlan needed the Goddess to rejuvenate it was the acts of the Agarthans," Hubert mused. "An interesting theory. Unfortunately, without proof…" he trailed off.
I shrugged. "Ailell exists. Once, all of Fodlan looked like that."
"But how can we know for sure? And if the Agarthans had such weaponry then…" Edelgard trailed off.
I sighed. "Right. Let's address the behemoth in the room, shall we?"
She gazed politely at me. "It would seem that speaking in circles is doing us little good. Speak as plainly as you like."
Hubert's visible eye sharpened.
"The remnants of Agartha have been chasing me for the past eight or so years of my life. The weapons will destroy what they hit, but they are precise to a fault - the trajectory has to be coordinated well ahead of time, by a few hours at least. That said, their factories are gone, as is the knowledge that let them create the weapons in the first place." I finished my tea. "They will only use their stock sparingly, and likely for a target like Rhea. I don't know why they focus on me so much, aside from my vulnerability in comparison, but they're not going to launch the javelins unless Rhea leaves Garreg Mach or a suitably important target presents itself. A chance to crush their enemy entirely with a few shots. So you won't see the damage they can do firsthand unless someone does something drastic enough to warrant that level of response."
Edelgard's eyes lowered. "I see. So we cannot ascertain the existence of these weapons because they will not use them outside of the most dire emergency or dearest target. Further, they will only deploy when they are certain to hit." She exhaled. "How vexing."
I shrugged helplessly. "I wish I had proof that would satisfy you, but…"
"I believe that you think you speak truth," Hubert said after a moment. "Nothing in your bearing shows a lie, and I cannot sense you using magic. However, as you said - let us dispense with pleasantries. We all know what these people are capable of in terms of Crest experimentation, so I am inclined to at least accept your tale of the Heroes' Relics."
Edelgard nodded. "As am I. Tell me, what other capabilities of theirs can you divulge?"
I sighed and leaned back. "I know that Tomas is long dead, and Solon replaced him," I said flatly.
Both of the others went still.
"If you are aware, why have you not reported him? Or dealt with him yourself?" Hubert asked silkily.
"Because Tomas watches him and tells me what he plots. He's eyeing Remire for something, and is collecting information on Flayn. Nothing too concrete, but there are plans."
Edelgard exchanged a glance with Hubert. "We were aware of the latter," she admitted. "Do you know why?"
I sighed. "Yes. She and I are… we're full-blooded Nabateans. Our Crests can be extracted and reproduced." I met Edelgard's gaze. "They intend to torture my cousin. The instant he makes a move…" I said warningly.
Edelgard leaned back. "I see. Tell me, do you believe us behind your ambush during the Mock Battle?" she asked after a few moments.
I shook my head. "No."
"How quick to answer," Hubert murmured. "How can you be sure?"
"Because to you I'm still useful, and I haven't directly interfered with your plans," I said simply. "Also, at least in Edelgard's case, you bear enough affectionate sentiment towards me that you won't move against me unless it's needed."
Edelgard's polite mask cracked into a wry smile. "Astute. And correct. I was… displeased with the incursion and made my position clear." Her eyes narrowed as her smile faded. "Thales was quite insistent that you die and your body be turned over to him for study. I told him I would consider it."
"Which means no, for now," Hubert said with dark amusement.
"Though it begs the question… why did you conceal your relation to Rhea from me?" Edelgard said quietly.
I didn't say anything for a moment.
The silence was heavy.
"If I had told you that I was related to her, would you have agreed to meet me in the first place?" I said finally.
"Perhaps. It would have lent credence to your theory that the Church need not be a casualty in what must happen to save Fodlan," Edelgard replied.
"I'm not part of the Church. I wasn't raised in it, and most of my knowledge contradicts its scriptures. Rhea and I were separated a long time ago, and while I love my sister I can't agree with all of her decisions. For all of her strengths, she was never meant to lead. That role should have fallen to Seteth. Or more ideally, one of my other sisters - who are now dead." I stared the heir to the Adrestian Empire in the eye. "Rhea is one woman. She's flawed. That said, she has the best of intentions. If I can arrange things just so, I can convince her that the Crest system does more harm than good."
Edelgard leaned forward, placing her chin in her hand. "You truly believe this. What is it you seek here? What do you stand to gain?"
Hubert sipped his coffee, watching me closely.
"It's like I said before. You aren't the villains of this piece. Neither is Rhea." I crossed my arms. "None of us have to die at the others' hand if we can just talk and understand what's going on."
"Except Those Who Slither in the Dark?" Hubert queried with dry amusement.
I smirked. "Exactly."
Edelgard's eyes lowered. "I've spoken with Dimitri. He remembers my time in Faerghus."
I turned my attention back to her.
"He remembers giving me the dagger, remembers…" She trailed off. "He's lost enough. I want him away from this, but. If it comes to it…"
I sighed. "Again, I gave you the solution. Deepen your bond with him, and he will stand against the dark with you."
"And if I do so, and I must stand against the church? Tear his heart from his chest? Sever that bond?" Edelgard asked.
"Then our paths diverge," I said sadly. "I don't want that."
"Nor do I." Edelgard broke our gaze.
"If I may interject," Hubert said smoothly, "we may be considering the worst outcome prematurely."
Edelgard and I stared at him.
"Do not be so shocked. The Church has ample pull. Claude's position is tentative in Leicester, but if you believe his path would align with Lady Edelgard's, soft power moves could ensure the houses closer to our border would follow his line. Dimitri will one day have ultimate authority in Faerghus. You yourself have Claude's friendship. Dimitri cares deeply for both of you." Hubert smiled humorlessly. "This alliance has gone from the realm of theory to possibility." He turned to me. "This all rests on you, however. You will need to nurture the idea that the Church's doctrines must change and bend the Archbishop's ear."
"That would take time we do not have," Edelgard said, closing her eyes.
"What is the factor limiting the time available?" I asked. "Lysithea is experiencing a reduced lifespan, but-"
"I do not suffer that side effect. At least, not to that extent. Assuming care is taken for my health, I have forty years remaining. Possibly even more," Edelgard said simply. "It is difficult to gauge, but that is the current estimate. No, I speak of the suffering of those under the Crest system and the corruption of the Adrestian nobility - as well as nobility in general."
I hummed. "Would the deadline be pushed back further if more problems were to be removed?" I asked.
Hubert chuckled darkly. "And your first instinct is to assassinate major players. Sadly, while that is of aid, that does not account for numerous minor houses that visit indignities upon their children and commoners alike."
"It could help, though," Edelgard admitted. "But ultimately…"
I rubbed my face. "Right. I have stuff to talk to Claude about, I guess. And I'll see what support I can get from my family."
Edelgard inclined her head. "I wish you luck. In the meantime, I will continue my own investigations."
I stood, pushing the chair in behind me, and left the room.
Hubert followed.
After we reached the outside of the building, I stepped to the side.
He came to a halt beside me.
"Your thoughts?" I asked.
"I believe your idea has merit. It would prevent unnecessary bloodshed and pain, which certainly appeal to Lady Edelgard. However, she counsels action, and so it will take more to dissuade her from her course. That said, I believe that she is more swayed by your words than she let on. If you can convince at least Claude…" Hubert's gaze grew distant. "She is also intrigued by your approach to the Gaspard situation."
I gave Hubert a curious look.
"Do not misunderstand. I will always follow Lady Edelgard, and defer to her will. I will be her hand in the dark to do what must be done. However, you are a valuable enough asset to incorporate into our goals." He looked me in the eye. "If your intent is to create a new path to forge alongside us, you have made progress - or so she believes. To that end, do not despair."
I let out a long exhale as Hubert walked back inside. "I appreciate that. Not sure why you decided to let me know, but thanks."
Hubert smirked. "You have proven to be a wealth of information at the very least, and despise our common enemy as much as we. I see no reason not to cultivate this association. At worst, we will simply aim each other at the slithering blackguards before killing each other, and that would suffice." He stopped walking. "Though it would be a pleasant surprise if we managed to ally. I believe we could do much for the Empire, you and I. To say nothing of the rest of Fodlan."
I grinned. "Well, I can agree on that at least. Here's hoping I can make a good enough case to Edelgard that she'll think I'm prettier than Thales."
Hubert gave a low, malevolent chuckle as he continued to wander inside.
____________________________________________________________________________
"Evening Sir! Nothing to report!" the gatekeeper said cheerfully. "Things are pretty quiet. I heard that the Lions cleared out a Bandit camp in Zanado, remnants of the ones that attacked the House Leaders. They had no leadership, so it was quick and simple."
I smiled at him a little. "Thank you," I said.
He saluted with a wide smile in return, and I gave him a nod as I walked further into the monastery. I'd gotten hold of some ingredients at market and had every intention of fixing dinner for myself and one or two others.
I wandered in a daze until I made my way into the kitchen and began setting up to prepare the food.
The lull of cooking distracted me for a good while, but as I plated the food, it too came to an end.
I needed a distraction. Someone to talk to, something to fix…
I stepped into the dining hall, two plates in hand, and scanned the room.
Dorothea walked in, brushing a lock of hair out of her face, and caught my eye.
I lifted a plate, and she smiled.
A few minutes later, after telling the cook to give what was left out, I seated myself across from Dorothea.
"Well that was an interesting lecture," she said with a smile. "I talked a little about it with Manuela, and she seemed intrigued by it. Professor Hanneman apparently got caught by Apen's wards, but he's fine."
I huffed out a laugh. "Good. Hopefully Apen takes it easy on him."
Dorothea raised an eyebrow. "Will he?"
"Maybe?" I offered.
She cut a piece of the pheasant and ate it. "Hm. Not bad," she said. "It's not my favorite dish, but I like it."
"Guess that means I made it well," I said.
"You did," she said with a smile.
"Hel-lo there," a cheery voice commented. I rocked a little to the side as they dropped themselves in the chair next to me with a heavy thump.
Sylvain slung his arm around my shoulder. "Bud, you've gotta tell me when you cook! This is amazing," he said with a wide grin.
Dorothea giggled. "Decided to join us? What about your legion of adoring ladies?" she said teasingly.
Sylvain held his free hand palm-up. "Alas, but they will have to do without my presence," he said dramatically.
"Oh? Got bored of leading them on?" she asked.
"Well, I hate seeing girls cry, and someone let me know I was doing more harm than good," Sylvain replied. "What about you? Still hunting for the man of your dreams?"
I felt my eyes widen as they traded barbs. "...are you both okay?" I asked.
Dorothea smiled. "I'm fine."
"Hey, I'm always good," Sylvain said with a cocky grin.
I sighed. "...did you guys fight or something? Because that didn't sound like any banter I've taken part in." I frowned. "And Byleth and I would go at it. I know banter."
"You mean you'd say something you thought was witty, and I'd stare?" Byleth said from behind me.
"Exactly!" I chirped.
I felt my eyes widen as her hand landed on my head and ruffled my hair.
Byleth walked around and sat next to Dorothea, face expressionless.
"Why Professor, that was almost playful," Dorothea said teasingly.
"I almost had a whole emotion right there," Byleth said dryly.
Sylvain coughed. "So… to explain," he said, tone slightly guilty. "Well…"
"He asked if I was intending to take advantage of you," Dorothea said sweetly.
I blinked. "Why?"
"Why what? Why would she take advantage of you, why would he ask…?" Byleth asked.
"The former. Sylvain… anyways," I said, shaking my head. Didn't need that kind of confusion right now.
Especially when he gave great hugs and had nice cologne.
...I might have a small weakness for people who wore scents.
"Heh! I guess your impression of me really turned around if you're not asking why I'd come to your defense," Sylvain teased.
"And he knows well enough to know he doesn't need defending from me," Dorothea replied in her too-sweet tone.
"And what about your little rebuttal? Hm, Dorothea?" Sylvain asked pleasantly.
I stared at Byleth.
She stared back.
"Well, it's a valid question," Dorothea said primly. "It's not like you don't have a record."
"With women," Sylvain stressed. "Okay, I'll admit that my relationships don't often work out well, but I'm good to my friends." The arm on my shoulder turned into a one-armed hug that landed my head on his collarbone. "Right? You and I get along fine now," he said, voice reverberating in my ear.
I felt my cheeks go pink. "We're good," I said, somehow managing to keep my voice even.
Dorothea gave me a pitying look. Then she turned her gaze on Sylvain. "I suppose," she said, smiling again.
A thought ran across my mind, and in true tired-me fashion, it leapt out of my mouth without warning.
"Hey Sylvain. Why didn't you go to Zanado with the Lions?" I asked.
To his credit, he didn't shove me away.
Byleth blinked slowly. "To be honest, I was also curious. Annette and Mercedes I understood, given it was Annette's birthday during the mission and Mercedes is her dearest friend. Last I checked however, you weren't the type to shirk missions."
"I had my reasons," Sylvain said easily. His smile was carefully blank.
"Sorry," I said softly, sitting up.
Sylvain gave me a worried look.
"Didn't mean to upset you," I elaborated.
His gaze softened. "Hey, you did no such thing," he said with a squeeze to my shoulder. He dropped his arm and gave a wink. "That said, I probably ought to eat this delicious food you made before it gets cold."
The table was quiet for a few minutes as we ate.
Dorothea sighed. "Well… I'll go first then. Sylvain, I apologize for insulting you. Your reputation made me think that your interest in Mith's well-being was for… less than pure reasons. The ladies mentioned something to the effect of you being-"
"Insatiable?" Sylvain said dryly.
Byleth blinked at him.
"In all honesty, I've been very careful with every girl I've brought back here. It rarely gets beyond kissing, and even then I don't go below the belt. One bastard, and then I never hear the end of it. That said, dating's fun and I fully intend to keep doing it - while letting them know it's not long-term," he said with a glance at me.
I shrugged. "That's fine. I was going to date around until I figured out 'oh hey, flirting in your head is easy, flirting in real life turns you into a nervous wreck'. So… yeah," I said, rubbing the back of my head.
"It's adorable," Dorothea said with a small smile. "And for the record, yours was still the best date I've been on in weeks. We should do it again sometime," she offered with a wink.
"Hey, if you want tips, I'll help you practice," Sylvain offered with a hand on my shoulder.
Dorothea immediately dissolved into giggles as Byleth's eyes zeroed in on Sylvain.
"Uh…?" he said hesitantly.
"I think," Byleth said, tension entering her voice, "that should be taken under advisement." She turned to me. "No."
I opened my mouth.
"You're bad enough as is," she said firmly.
Sylvain made a disappointed noise, then leaned over.
"My room, after lights out," he whispered.
My face felt like it was on fire.
"I heard that," Byleth intoned ominously.
"Besides, he'd much rather visit me," Dorothea said, rubbing her ankle against mine.
I made a noise like a dying cat in the back of my throat.
Sylvain laughed. "Hey! Well, I can't compete with that," he said ruefully, smile reaching his eyes.
"Wanna bet?" Sothis muttered as she hung over Byleth's shoulder.
She gave me an innocent look as I glared daggers at her.
"Ghost commentary?" Dorothea asked, following my stare.
"Yes," I said tartly.
Sylvain gave a wary glance in Sothis' direction. "You okay?" he asked.
I nodded. "I'll be fine." I laughed a little. "I'm glad you guys sat with me," I admitted. "I needed a distraction tonight."
Dorothea sighed. "I did as well. And… the company wasn't as bad as I feared for a moment," she said with a look at Sylvain.
"Uh-oh," Sylvain teased. "Careful Mith, I might have my hooks in her," he said with a wave of his hands.
Dorothea laughed. "Why Sylvain, that's the funniest joke you've had all night," she said.
"Ice cold," he groaned. The noble grinned. "I love it." He turned to me. "Joking aside, I'm not going after your girl," he said as he looped his arm around my ribs from behind.
Dorothea gave me a small, secret smile. "Well, clearly the best way to make him feel better is to pay him attention," she teased.
Sylvain shook his head. "Anyways," he said ruefully.
Byleth looked at me. "I'll want to speak to you soon about a few things," she said firmly.
I nodded.
"Oh! Seteth talked to Manuela, and she said she'd work with you on learning Silence for your personal project," Dorothea offered.
I perked up. "Really? Awesome!" I cheered.
The rest of the table laughed at my enthusiasm while Byleth and Sothis watched quietly.
I had a sinking feeling that my lecture earlier might have knocked something loose, and there'd be hell to pay.
But with Dorothea holding my hand and smiling affectionately, and Sylvain trying to feed me lines in my ear, I couldn't find it in myself to worry too much right then.
____________________________________________________________________________
Sylvain kicked himself for not going to spend time with Mith earlier. Now that the first blush of awkwardness was past, the adjunct was open with him and…
If he was honest, he wanted Mith to rely on him. The way he let his guard down made Sylvain feel happy and protective at the same time.
...he wasn't a replacement for Felix. Felix hadn't been like that - their friendship hadn't resembled that for years, if it ever had. Felix always had a strain of fierce independence, even when he was small and cute.
Even before Glenn passed away.
Of course, trying to mend that bridge backfired. Whatever language Mith had found to speak to Felix in, Sylvain couldn't speak a word of it.
An offer to go grab food, hang out, meet some girls - it utterly backfired. Maybe he should have couched it in training first or something, Sylvain didn't know.
'Insatiable'. Like Felix had managed to forget everything else about him. He wasn't mad at Felix, he knew it was how the other man protected himself, but it hurt.
...maybe he could talk to Felix again later, with a little backup.
Mith, please explain where I'm going wrong here.
Comparatively speaking, Mith was simple. A touch here, an honest smile there, and then the words started coming. He hadn't taken him up on his offer, but Sylvain knew it was a matter of time.
Then there was Dorothea. That… aggravated the situation. It wasn't like he had designs on Mith. There was no future of that kind for him there.
Sylvain was destined for a loveless marriage with some random noblewoman, not some girl who he managed to fall for - or guy.
Mith might have weird magic, but somehow Sylvain didn't see him bearing Crest children for the Gautier line (which was naturally the most important, thanks Father).
And he had to remind himself of that, that Mith would be better off with him watching his back as a friend and not…
Yeah.
This was fine. More than he deserved, probably.
As he got ready for bed, Sylvain sighed.
At least he had one friend who didn't ask him to change completely. Though…
Maybe if he worked a little harder, put some effort in, he'd be happier?
Mith.
Maybe he needed to step his game up.
He's shot? He's shot, fuck fuck fuck I don't know any kind of healing magic-
Maybe.
____________________________________________________________________________
Dorothea admired herself in her pocket mirror. Everything still as it was the day before, not a hair out of place.
Though she did wonder if Mith would even be concerned by the passing of years.
He certainly wasn't like the nobles back in Enbarr, and he was… sweet. Inexperienced.
Honestly, even without the plan he'd offered her she might have stuck with him for a while. Boys like that didn't last. They became bitter, jaded men. Like Sylvain.
Oh, he was handsome, charming, suave - and dangerous. He despised the women who fell for his charms, certain they were after him for his status. Dorothea recognized it because she felt the same about people who fell for her exterior alone.
She wouldn't let that happen to Mith. That said…
Sylvain's eyes when he looked at Mith held genuine affection, and if he didn't notice how he affected the younger man Dorothea would eat her hat.
Of course, she affected Mith the same way. Hopefully, he'd get a bit more comfortable with flirting.
She had time. Thanks to him, she had time. Even if she returned to the Mittelfrank Company, she would have been up against age, fame, and the requirements of the stage. Here at Garreg Mach, she could take her time. Even if she didn't find someone, she wouldn't…
She wouldn't go hungry. Wouldn't be out in the cold, searching for the thickest rag to wrap herself in. Wouldn't fear who might find her in the dark.
And the thing was, Mith didn't think she owed him. Though, he didn't know her situation, not really.
...maybe she could tell him. Somehow, Dorothea knew he wouldn't judge. Maybe then she could help him with his own hurts.
For a moment, she wondered.
"I think I'll ask him on another date," she decided. "Open up a little more, see if I can get to know him better."
After all, it wouldn't do to fall behind Sylvain of all people.
Though the two were rather cute together.
It'd be simpler if they could all...
Dorothea dismissed the thought. Mostly. Partially.
Well. There were always options.
She smiled at nothing in particular and set to get ready for bed. After all, she had another day of classes and training tomorrow.
For her future…
And that of someone she cared about.
