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Caspar may be living for training and fighting, but this he could definitely get used to. It’s a Saturday afternoon and both Linhardt and he just finished their last class for the week, or rather a test on lances. It may be neither’s field of expertise, but the military possibilities and possibility to stay distant from the enemy respectively allowed enough interest in the topic for the boys to have an easy enough time.
So, the pair decided to relax now that all tasks for the weeks are done. This is probably the most peaceful period of time the boys have experienced since the beginning of their time at Garreg March Monastery. Caspar passed his Brawler exam two months ago while Linhardt passed his Priest exam, they still have about two months before their Grappler and Bishop examen are due, and their next mission is still a few weeks away, so they decided to relax together.
Obviously, it was up to Linhardt to find a nice place to do just that, and he certainly didn’t disappoint. It’s a rather secluded place, hidden away in a nice mixture of a grassy hill and some beautiful trees. While romance isn’t his strong suit, even Caspar has to admit that this place would be the perfect spot for a date, not like either of them has someone to go on a date with – but still! Then again, while he can’t speak for the sleepy boy with absolute certainty, he definitely can say for himself that he doesn’t need anything else than what he has.
Being with his best friend is just so easy. Why should he bother trying to find someone to do this stuff with when he already has a best friend who does this tuff with him? He couldn’t imagine being any happier than he is right now. All he is doing is sitting comfortably in the shade of the big tree on top of the small hill, polishing his favourite axe while his best friend has fallen asleep on his shoulder. This isn’t the first time that has happened, though it’s definitely less restricting than when he falls asleep on his chest or lap, so the energetic boy will gladly sacrifice his shoulder as a place for his best friend to take a nap, so he can do things on the side. That being said, keeping his best friend asleep, especially when he looks so peaceful and content is his number one priority in these situations. So, he’ll take a head on his lap or on his chest if it means hearing Linhardt’s content sighs.
It's kind of weird just how special Linhardt is to Caspar. The sleepy boy is the only one Caspar can willingly calm down and sit still for, at least for a longer period of time. That being said, the sentiment seems to be mutual since the blue-haired boy appears to be the only one who can convince Linhardt to train and put effort into things that do not interest him. They balance each other out, ground each other, and help each other be the best version of themselves. How could things possibly be better?
“Cas? You’re about the last person I expected to see here.” Caspar had to admit that the sudden voice startled him a little bit, but since only one person besides Lin calls him that, he knew immediately who it belonged to.
“Hey, Thea. What do you mean?”
“Just what I said. This place is like a super-secret tip for couples and confessions, so why and how are you here? Not to be rude, but you aren’t exactly the romantic type.”
“Huh. Really? Didn’t know that. Lin picked it.” While she obviously saw said boy when climbing up the hill, she didn’t notice just how close the two boys were sitting together, especially with Caspar’s shoulder serving as Linhardt’s pillow. The songstress can feel her cheeks heat up at the realization that she just walked in on a date and didn’t even realize it like some duntz.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize that you two were on a date.” The immediate shock on the brawler’s face was almost comical.
“WHAT?!” The moment his loud exclamation caused the other boy to stir, Caspar immediately quiets down, not wanting to wake his best friend up. “We’re not dating! How did you get that idea?!” At this point the boy in front of her was completely and utterly flustered and couldn’t be any redder in the face. Seems like she hit a nerve.
“Do I really need to spell it out, Cas, or would you agree when I say that one look is enough?”
“…I-I guess.” Now that he thinks about this, considering this place, their position, and their closeness he can understand why Thea might mistake them for a couple on a date… weird. The thought that it is not a date actually makes Caspar a little sad. Is that why friendship – even best friend’s – doesn’t fully encapsulate how he feels about Lin anymore - or rather that it always feels like it’s an incomplete description?
“If you do, then fine. Are you sure that you two aren’t on a date though? It’s none of my business, but… you know…”
“I actually don’t.” Huh. The brunette can’t deny that she is intrigued by the exact nature of her two friends’ relationship, or rather feels pretty certain that she has discovered something about their relationship that makes her want to congratulate them and plan romantic dates with them… uh! She could even get them to go on double dates with her, so she won’t die of boredom whenever she has to talk to nobles with the personality of a piece of bread.
Lin and Cas are probably the most fun to be around for the Songstress, not that the other Black Eagles and Ingrid aren’t great, but it’s never boring with these two opposites that perfectly complement each other. It definitely helps that neither care much for nobility and the high- and mightiness that typically comes with that, nor do they run away screaming when she tries to talk to them. It’s just always fun. Cas is so genuine and silly while Lin typically has insightful points of view and whenever the two bicker, it’s clear that it’s never serious, so it’s pure entertainment for the brunette.
“Well, it’s just that I always see you two together, and I’ve never heard either of you talk about finding someone to spend your lives with. Things like that.”
“Ever considered that we just don’t care about that stuff as much as you do?”
“Harsh, but I suppose that’s fair. As I said, its none of my business, but just for the record: I think you two would make a great couple. Anyway, I don’t want to keep you from taking care of your axe, let alone wake up Lin by accident, so I will see you later, okay? Care to eat dinner together?”
“S-sure. I’ll drag him over later. See you.” She seems to have struck another nerve, at least judging by the scarlet hue decorating the Brawler’s face.
“Until later.”
With that, the former songstress makes her way back to her room. The strong wind throughout the day has messed up her hair a bit, so she wants to quickly fix it up. She has to look her best in case a tolerable man with money shows up. Plus, she just feels better about herself when she can say that she looks as good as possible.
Before she turns to her right to make her way to her own dorm room, a certain girl with pink hair leaves the upper floor, probably having been in her own room before, and it is simply impossible to not chat at least a little bit with Hilda, especially since she also spends a bit of time with the two boys Dorothea just saw.
“Hello, Hilda.”
“Oh, hi Dorothea. How are you doing?”
“I’m doing quite good so far. I’m off to my room to fix my hair.”
“Urgh, I feel that. That wind was way to harsh on my hair too, so I fixed it up just now.”
“Well, it looks as lovely as ever. That being said, there is something else I wanted to ask you about.”
“I’m listening.”
“It’s about Caspar and Linhardt.” At that, something akin to a slightly excited smile spread across the petite girl’s face. Could she have a similar feeling about their relationship?
“Uh! What about them?”
“I know that the two sometimes spend time with Marianne and you, so I was just wondering what you think about them.” The former songstress decided to keep it a bit more casual before diving into more specific territory.
“Huh. Is that all? Well, I like them a lot – obviously. I admire how free Caspar lives his life and he is a lot of fun to be around. He even managed to make Marianne laugh a few times, which is a rare treasure. As for Linhardt, we really get each other, you know? Hapi, him, and I sometimes hang out – just the three of us, because we’re very similar when it comes to not doing thing we don’t want to. I know he isn’t always the best with words, but he seems to have figured out something about Marianne that neither will tell me, but whatever he knows and has said to her seems to have eased her mind a lot, especially when the four of us spend time together.” So, it seems Hilda’s impression of the two doesn’t differ all that much from her own.
“How lovely to hear. I’m happy that the four of you get along so nicely.”
“Now, what is it that you actually want to know?”
“You know, you have to be careful about being so perceptive, Hilda. If other people notice, they will begin to expect that of you.”
“True, but I’m not worried about you. So, what do you want to know?”
“Okay, okay. What do you think about their friendship?”
“Now that makes more sense. To be honest, before the four of us really started to hang out, Marianne and I both thought that they were dating, though in all fairness, the two thought the same about Marianne and I. Similar to her and me, it might not be something official, but it definitely still doesn’t feel wrong to stick with that impression.” Dorothea certainly didn’t expect that tidbid of information, so the surprise on her face was apparent as can be.
“Woah, you okay there?”
“Y-yes, I was just surprised by what you said. That’s all.”
“I have a strong feeling that you are about to share something interesting, so I thought I might as well repay you in advance.”
“I… Thank you for trusting me with that, but isn’t it a bit dangerous to just go around and tell people that?”
“Maybe with some people, but definitely not with the girl who I’ve seen flirt with both Edelgard and Petra a lot.” Well, it’s not like she can argue against that, though it certainly does make her cheeks darken.
“I-I see. I suppose that makes sense.”
“Not to be rude, but what is with your house, by the way?”
“Excuse me?” What could she possibly mean by that?
“You constantly flirt with Edelgard and Petra, Ferdinand and Hubert have the weirdest love-hate flirty dynamic I have ever seen, you told me about the time where Bernadetta was excessively gushing about you to herself, and as I said Caspar and Linhardt are very much dating without knowing it.” Dorothea couldn’t help herself but to break out in genuine laughter at that observation. How has she never noticed what an utter mess her own house is? Or, well… at least the bigger names and more prominent people out of that house.
“I can’t believe I never noticed just how bad it is.”
“Bad seems like an understatement. You are all messes, even if it is kind of adorable.”
“I can’t disagree with you. Now, there isn’t much more I can gain from sharing this, but I think you’ve more than earned to know what I saw earlier.”
“Come on, don’t leave a delicate girl like me waiting until I turn all grey!”
“Okay, you didn’t hear this from me, but I may have stumbled across the two of them sitting beneath one of the trees in that beautiful and really romantic hidden place near the Monastery. I mean, sure, Caspar was cleaning an axe of his, but Lin was napping on his shoulder.”
“Aw, that’s cute. So, I take it you interrupted their ‘date’ but Caspar denied it was one?”
“How did you know?”
“I maaaaay have seen something similar about two months ago, just with Linhardt sleeping on his lap while Caspar played with his hair. The two of them are hopeless.”
She couldn’t help herself but chuckle at the image. “I can definitely see that. They are rather cute together.”
“I know, right?”
So, the two girls continued to talk a bit about their mutual friends before Dorothea had to continue on her way to her room. After all, she wants to meet up with her two friends later, but she still has a bit more to do.
Once she fixed her hair and thus, feels better about her appearance again, Dorothea first wants to visit her favourite professor and former colleague at the Mittelfrank Opera, Manuela. After giving the Green House a quick glance since professor Manuela sometimes spends her free time in there, the brunette continues on her way to the Infirmary, feeling confident that her former co-worker should be there.
As she expected, Manuela is currently in the Infirmary. She seems to not be all too busy, simply refilling some of the Vulneraries and Concoctions while humming one of her signature songs of her opera days.
“Excuse me, professor Manuela.”
“Ah, Dorothea, my dear. I’ve said it before, you can just call me Manuela when it’s only the two of us.”
“Right, of course. Manuela, I don’t want to bother you, but I have a few questions about white magic.”
“You never bother me. I’ll gladly help you out. After all, it hasn’t been all that long since you began to pick up on white magic. It’s only natural to have questions, especially since you used to struggle with it quite a bit if I remember correctly.”
“Yes, it’s only thanks to professor Byleth that I discovered my potential in that area. I was wondering a bit about the difficulty to hit with a Nosferatu, and if I should try to learn Physic or if a different kind of white magic like Ward or Restore might be better suited for me.”
“Ah, well, I will try my best to help you out with your questions, but it might be smart to consult with professor Byleth about the tactical advantages since she knows your potential in that regard better than I could.”
“Okay, I will do that.”
“Now, I have used white magic for quite some time now, so what I can tell you is that any form of white magic that is of offensive nature tends to be quite a bit slower and less accurate since the essence of white magic itself is to heal and support rather than to damage. A Nosferatu can be quite useful from time to time, but you should be careful not to overestimate its use in comparison to your Thunder and Thoron. While you certainly have potential in white magic, I think over all it might still be smarter for you to focus on black magic more, because I think that you would do better in a more offensive position, I believe that Physic might be a smarter move rather than something like Ward, which would require you to stay really close to your allies, similar to how you have to in order to cast Heal. That being said, you should really ask professor Byleth for a second opinion, especially since she also recently discovered a talent for white magic herself. You could also ask Linhardt.”
“Linhardt? He isn’t really one to talk about battle.”
“Yes, the poor dear can’t stand the sight of blood, but he has a good heart. Whenever his little friend… Caspar, right… whenever Caspar gets injured, Linhardt insists on accompanying him to the Infirmary. One time he even dragged him all the way here. I didn’t know the boy had that much strength considering his physique.”
“Lin always accompanies Cas here?”
“Yes, the boy has a real knack for white magic, or magic in general. The only thing besides crests that he truly pays attention to are my and Hanneman’s magic seminars. He is quite the proficient healer; his crest even amplifies his ability to heal from time to time as Hannemann told me. So, if you are wondering about supportive white magic, he would certainly be somebody I would turn to too, in your case.”
“Thank you for the suggestion. I’ll be eating dinner with Caspar and him, so maybe I’ll just ask him then and there.”
“Oh, how lovely. I think it’s absolutely adorable that the two are able to spend so much time together, despite being so different. Hanneman and I barely manage to stay composed for five minutes.”
“I agree. I even saw the two of them earlier. Do you know that really romantic place near the Monastery?”
“How could I not? It is the perfect place for a lovely date… Oh my, are you telling me…”
“Not quite actually. They weren’t on a date – according to Cas – but they were sitting beneath a tree on one of the hills. Cas was cleaning one of his axes, but Lin was asleep on his shoulder. It was rather cute, I must admit.”
“Oh, young love. Being with somebody and not even realizing it; I have seen it quite a few times throughout my life. It certainly explains the motivation Linhardt seems to have for taking care of his friend.”
“You think so too? I wish the two would just realize it already.”
“Patience, Dorothea. You can’t push and force feelings, even if they are already there. It takes time and is up to them to decide what to do about their feelings once they realize them. Though I can certainly understand your frustrations, especially since you are rather close with the two of them.”
“That’s the thing. If I had nothing or barely anything to do with the two, well it’d be weird and frustrating, but much less than how it is right now. I care about them, and I want them to be happy, but it feels like they are standing in the way of their own happiness, and that unnecessarily so.”
“Stay strong, dear. I’m sure they will find their way sooner or later.”
“I hope so. Anyway, thank you again for your help. If you’ll excuse me, I will look for professor Byleth now.”
“Best of luck. You might want to check the fishing pond and the training grounds first.”
“Thank you for the tip. Goodbye, Manuela.”
“Goodbye, Dorothea.”
It’s always so pleasant to talk to Manuela. So many snobby and arrogant nobles fill the halls of the Monastery, so to have a commoner as amazing as Manuela as a professor and a few nobles who are actually good people, like Lin, Cas, and Edie, at her side makes all of this endurable for the Songstress.
Since Mauela suggested to look for the professor at the training grounds, that is where Dorothea is headed to first. Once she approaches, she can clearly hear the sound of her professor sparring with somebody. If her ears aren’t deceiving her, it sounds like she’s sparring with… Caspar? But shouldn’t he still be trapped by Lin’s body?
Once she arrives at the Training Grounds, her suspicions are actually confirmed. There he is, wooden axe in hand while his freshly polished one is leaning against the wall. Shortly after Dorothea arrived, the pair’s sparring match comes to an end.
“That is enough for now. I know I’ve said it before, but you need to work on your defence. That being said, your strength and agility are increasing. Good work, Caspar.”
“Thanks, Professor. I have to go now, anyway. Hilda needs some help moving her furniture… again.” Professor Byleth simply nodded in affirmation before turning to a training dummie to practice further with her wooden sword.
In the meantime, Caspar quickly grabbed his axe and made his way out of the Training Grounds, when he suddenly jumped in surprise at the sight of the brunette standing in front of him out of nowhere.
“T-Thea?! You can’t scare me like that!”
“Sorry. I was actually here to speak to the Professor. By the way, how did you escape Lin’s embrace?” Okay, maybe she is laying it on thick simply to tease the boy in front of her. Obviously, she had to add a wink for good measure. Since a dark red has spread across the Brawler’s cheeks, she considers her mission a success.
“He woke up and needed to look at a book in the library… So, I decided to get some training done. I wanted some more feedback from our professor.”
“Don’t worry, I’m just teasing. Don’t forget to meet me for dinner though!”
“I won’t, I won’t.”
“You mean unless Lin falls asleep on you again?”
“Come on! That happened like three times. Will you ever let that go?”
“Nope.” A defeated groan left the blue-haired boy. “Sorry, maybe I got a bit mean there.”
“It’s fine. I’ll see you later, right?”
“Of course. Tell Hilda I said hi.”
“Sure. See you.”
“Until later.”
With the goodbyes out of the way, Cas quickly made his way to Hilda’s room, still visibly flustered thanks to his friend’s recent comments.
“You have a question for me?” As per usual, the Professor simply began the conversation, even if her students weren’t aware of it at the moment.
“Oh, Professor! Uh- yes I do. I just spoke with professor Manuela and she said I should ask you too.”
“Okay.”
“Right, so, as you know, I am currently focusing on improving my abilities with white magic.”
“Correct, I recommended you do so once you realized your true potential for it.”
“Exactly. I am struggling with the accuracy and speed of my Nosferatu spells, although professor Manuela explained to me that that is just the downside of offensive white magic.”
“She’s right.”
“I know, but what I was also wondering about is what type of magic I want to learn next. I definitely would prefer to learn more supportive white magic spells, but I wasn’t sure whether I should try to master Physic to have a better alternative to my Heal spell, or if I should try to go for something different like Ward or maybe even Warp.” At that, professor Byleth’s face showed slight concern and almost something akin to guilt.”
“You want my complete honest opinion, correct?”
“Yes, please. I can take it.”
“Alright. To answer your main question, I believe Physic makes the most sense. Despite your potential for white magic, your talent for black magic is far greater, so you will find yourself attacking enemies quite often, meaning a healing spell, or any sort of spell really, that can be cast from a distance is definitely what you want.”
“I see. Professor Manuela recommended Physic too, so I will try to master that spell. Thank you for your insight, though I was expecting a much harsher reply.”
“The thing is, you can certainly try to learn Ward or Warp, but despite your newly discovered potential for white magic, it is still rather weak in comparison to Professor Manuela or Linhardt. Unlike you, I struggle with spells that allow for a greater distance, so I try to master Recover instead for example, but I think it is far wiser for you to focus on black magic, authority, and your sword skills.” Okay… that was a bit disheartening for Dorothea, but she did ask for complete honesty.
“I… see.”
“Please, don’t take it personally. I believe your skill for black magic is really impressive. You might even be able to master a spell like Meteor and that is a rare feast.”
“So, I should invest time in white magic, but it makes little sense to overdo it because I have more potential in other areas?”
“Correct. Your white magic will be really useful, but your black magic is where you truly shine in my opinion.”
“Thanks.” Surprisingly enough, the songstress actually feels comforted by her teacher’s words. It is a tough pill to swallow that she seems to be limited in what she can achieve in certain areas, but knowing how much her potential in others seems to matter to her professor makes it feel a lot less depressing.
“So, you are eating dinner with Caspar?” Thrown for a loop at the sudden change in conversation, Dorothea needed a moment to process the question.
“Oh, yes. I try to eat dinner with Cas and Lin at least once a week.”
“I see. So, Linhardt accompanies the two of you.” Professor Byleth mumbled the words to herself apparently, because the former Diva had to really strain her ears to catch what was said.
“Yes, he does.”
“Are you helping the two out as well?” Surprised by the forwardness of her teacher’s question, Dorothea nonetheless immediately nodded.
“Yes, so you are as well?” How nice. With the Professor’s help, this should be done in no time.
“Yes, though I must admit I am currently at an impasse. I don’t know how to proceed.”
“I know just how you feel. I saw the two of them earlier at a really romantic, secluded spot near the Monastery in what I can only describe as a date in every way except for officially, so I really don’t know how I can help them realize their feelings for each other.” The woman in front of her simply stared in her typical blank manner. Did she say something weird?
“I was talking about their eating habits.” Oh
“Oh.” …oh. Well, this is awkward. “I didn’t…”
“I can tell.”
“Wait, what about their eating habits?”
“I worry that Linhardt isn’t eating enough, which is a sentiment Caspar seems to share.”
“I... didn’t even notice…”
“Simultaneously, Linhardt and I worry about the speed with which Caspar eats his own food. It always looks like he is a second away from choking on it.”
“Some friend I am. How did I never notice either?”
“It certainly helped me to notice when both came to me respectively to express their worries about the other’s eating habits.” This conversation has taken a weird turn, but now that the Songstress is aware of both issues, she can’t bring herself to ignore them in favour of her silly little problem.
“I suppose. What have you done so far?”
“I’ve often joined them for lunch and sometimes dinner. I have made some progress with both, but I just don’t know what I need to do to solve the problem rather than just improve it a bit.”
“You’re dedication to helping your students outside of the classroom and the battlefield is truly admirable.”
“Thank you, but this isn’t what you wanted to talk about, is it?”
“No, but I don’t know if I should…”
“Based on what you said, it sounds like you think the two have feelings for each other.”
“That was rather blunt, but yes. I know I should give them the time and space they need, but I just want them to be happy.”
“I see. As you said, you can’t force it, but if it’s supposed to happen, then it will happen. From what I can tell, it shouldn’t take them much longer.”
“You mean you…”
“Sitting quietly near others allows you to notice a lot of things you otherwise wouldn’t.”
“Huh.”
“I must admit, there are certain dynamics within the Black Eagles House that seem intriguing to me. I suppose this could be the reason.”
“I really wish I wouldn’t know exactly what you mean.” Wow, she managed to draw out one of the Professor’s rare smiles. Even though they are small, it’s always an adorable sight to behold.
“Anyway, the sun is beginning to set. Shouldn’t you be heading to the Dining Hall?”
“Y-yeah, I suppose you are correct. I still have some time, but I wouldn’t want to bother you in case you’re busy.”
“You are not a bother, but I am a bit busy. I still have to take care of the Greenhouse, fish for more rations, and the statues in the cathedral need some care as well.”
“Busy as always.”
“Yes, though at least Sundays are off. I probably won’t see you until tomorrow, so enjoy your meal with Caspar and Linhardt, and have a good night.”
“Thanks. Please, make sure to rest enough tomorrow.”
“I plan to do so. Goodbye.”
“Bye, Professor. See you tomorrow.”
And with that, Professor Byleth runs off towards the Greenhouse. How does that woman have the stamina to keep on running around the Monastery all day like it isn’t a problem at all? Then again, this is the same woman who is busy 24/6 with only her Sundays off and somehow, she is still standing - or... well, running as of right now.
Good that the Professor seemed to have already known because otherwise, this could have caused some problems for Cas and Lin. She should be more careful about what she says to whom. She never intended to tell Manuela either, but she just got carried away in their conversation. Again, good that she too reacted the way that she did.
How should she spend her time until the other two are ready for dinner? Dorothea knows that even with Caspar’s strength, it will take him at least half an hour to move all of Hilda's furniture, after all he has done so often enough for the Songstress whenever she wanted to clean her room properly.
As Dorothea wandered around aimlessly in hopes of finding something to do, she stopped in front of a bench with a nice view of the current sunset. Maybe she should just sit down and watch? It’s rare that she takes the time to enjoy these little moments after all, so she might as well take some time to enjoy it now.
Without even noticing somebody approaching, Dorothea couldn’t help herself but jump a little in surprise when somebody suddenly sat down next to her.
“Nice view, right?”
“Oh, hi, Hapi. Yes, it is rather beautiful.”
“How are you, Doro?”
“I’m doing fine today. How about you?”
“Exhausted. If I didn’t care about my friends, I’d rather do nothing but sigh a lot after today.”
“Oh, what happened?” The concern was apparent in the Songstress’ voice, much to the amusement of the former Ashen Wolf member.
“Nothing in particular. Linny just explained to me some things about white magic for my next exam because I asked him to, and it was… a lot to take in.”
“Funny, I might need to ask him about white magic too.”
“Just know you’re in for some information dumping. Of course, that would have been exhausting enough, but by then I had already helped out Coco with one of her magic experiments and Kitten Paws needed to vent about some stuff. Plus, I needed to make a progress report reagrding a mission to Chatterbox.”
“Wait, who’s Kitten Paws again? I swear I try my best, but your nickname-game is definitely stronger than mine.”
“Thanks. Kitten Paws’ Caspar. The first time I saw him, he was playing with a few cats in a secret corner of the Monastery, and if I know a nickname will bother someone, then I can’t miss the opportunity, like with Linny.”
“Right, he does hate that.” The two girls laughed at their friends’ overexaggerated misery. After all, if it truly bothered them, they wouldn’t genuinely laugh along half the time.
“While I enjoy talking to you, I’m surprised that you approached me. It’s typically the other way around.”
“Well, you are really good friends with Linny and Kitten Paws, so I want to get to know you better too.”
“Aw, that’s sweet. Say, I don’t believe I ever asked how you befriended the two.”
“Yeah, I don’t think I ever told you. Well, Linny and I didn’t really hit it off at first. He approached me to question me about my ability to summon demonic beasts via sighing, but I blew him off. However, he kept talking to me and when I asked him why, he just said that he respects me for not doing what I don’t want to. We actually hit it off right away after that.”
“Somehow, I’m not surprised that that is what you two bonded over.”
“Similar with the Lazy Beauty.”
“Hilda?”
“Yup. It’s nice to know there are others who just get me when it comes to that.”
“While I can’t say that it’s the best possible behaviour, I can at least respect your lifestyles. Anyway, what about Cas?”
“Linny told me about him, and I just needed to see how he could possibly be friends with someone so different. I was wondering if it was something similar to Coco and I. What do you know? Kitten Paws’ pretty funny actually. Linny always says that Kitten Paws and I share one braincell and that we use it to bring forth his demise.” Of course, Dorothea could easily imagine the dry sarcastic tone with which Lin would say that, so she had to chuckle at that.
“I can definitely see him say that.”
“Say, Doro; There is another reason why I approached you. I want to ask you about something.”
“Oh, sure. I’ll gladly help you to the best of my abilities.”
“If two of your friends seem to clearly like each other, but neither seems to know, what would you do? You can’t force them, but you know that they would be happier together. What could I do to help them?” A clear frown spread across Dorothea’s face since she knows exactly how the red-haired girl in front of her feels.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know. I have the exact same problem right now.” Now that piqued Hapi’s intrigue.
“Oh, so you have noticed too?”
“I just had a misunderstanding about that with professor Byleth. Please, be more specific. Who are we talking about?”
“Linny and Kitten Paws?”
“Good. I couldn’t handle another embarrassing misunderstanding.”
“So, even you don’t know what to do about the two?”
“Nope. Everyone I talked to told me that I just need to wait.”
“Same here. How did you notice?”
“I stumbled upon a date between them, which definitely wasn’t a date, only that it very much was.”
“For me it was Kitten Paws turning red every time Linny gets close to explain something to him when we study together.”
“Anybody who gets Lin to do anything really must mean a big deal to him.”
“Exactly.”
“Who did you talk to about it?”
“Just Yuri-bird and Coco… Oh, and Freckles since he often spends time with Kitten Paws too.”
“Hm, I told Hilda, professor Manuela, and professor Byleth. That’s quite a few people who know now.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it too much. They’re all trustworthy.”
“True, but still. I hope we didn’t start anything…”
“Maybe if we did, they would get their act together.”
“Hapi!”
“I’m just saying that even if that happened, something good might come from it.”
“…I suppose that is the best way to look at it.”
“Anyway, I need to head back to Abyss. B said he will ask some people for money, so I need to make sure he stays alive.”
“Fair enough. In that case, good luck with that. I should head to the Dining Hall anyway. I have a dinner date with our two lovebrids.”
“Tell them I said hi… and tell Linny that I meant it when I said I owe him.”
“Will do. Have a good evening, Hapi.”
“You too, Doro.”
With that, the carefree girl got up and went her own way. The Songstress really should get on her way too. She wouldn’t want to keep her friends waiting, after all. So, the brunette girl got up and approached the Dinning Hall, wondering if there really isn’t anything she could do for her friends… maybe she could try and talk to them individually about it? Well… that hasn’t really done anything with Cas so far, but she hasn’t tried to talk to Lin about it yet. Now that she thinks about it, she hasn’t even so much as teased the sleepy boy about his close relationship with Cas, mostly because his reactions are a lot less fun, and he tends to be able to counter Dorothea whenever she tries to tease him. Maybe he isn’t as oblivious to their relationship as Cas… Tomorrow. She’ll talk to Lin about it tomorrow. Hopefully, this will yield some results.
Just as the Songstress was about to make a final turn and enter the Dining Hall – probably still arriving before either of her friends… yeah, right; like they won’t enter the Dining Hall together, just how they do every single day – she gets startled by a sudden voice behind her.
“There you are. Lady Edelgard whishes to speak with you.” Of course, who else but the sunshine incarnate of the Black Eagles House could appear out of nowhere and nonchalantly speak despite almost causing a heart attack every single time to those he is speaking to.
“Ah, Hubie. I take it Edie cannot wait?”
“I don’t see the point in letting Lady Edelgard wait when you can visit the Dining Hall at a later point in time.”
“But I’m supposed to meet Cas and Lin!” A chuckle as cold as the air during the winter months leaves the tall man’s mouth, causing a cold shiver to run down Dorothea’s spine.
“Why you would want to spend time with the two of them is beyond me, but this hardly qualifies as anything but an excuse. Even if we ignore that both will most certainly be late as they always are. Such wasted potential.” His cold and calculating tone did nothing to make the brunette girl feel any more at ease, but she knows that there isn’t much point in arguing with Hubie about anything involving Edie.
“Fine, where is she?”
“She is currently in the garden area. I recommended that she take a seat until I manage to find and inform you of the upcoming meeting.”
“Okay. Thank you for informing me, Hubie. I will be on my way now.”
“Good.”
Dorothea’s not stupid. She may have parted ways with the dark mage for now, but he is never far away from his precious Lady Edelgard, so there is no doubt in her mind that he will be following her at a semi-unsuspicious distance once she gets on her way. Nothing she can do about, so the Songstress just rolls with it and begins walking.
Thankfully, the garden her house leader supposedly is in isn’t far away, so it only takes her a minute or two to see some beautiful, straight, white hair, clearly belonging to a particularly beautiful girl.
“Dorothe, I’m pleased to see that you could make it. I hope Hubert was nice to you… that is, as nice as he can be, I suppose.”
“Don’t worry about it Edie. For Hubie's standards, he was an absolute delight.” Her house leader couldn’t stop the small chuckle from escaping her, though her reddened cheeks gave her lack of intention immediately away. Happiness and pride only cover part of what Dorothea feels whenever she notices how much more the girl in front of her is coming into her own and opening up. Sure, she may always have a calculating side with a certain distance to it, but she is much more receptible to jokes and any sort of fun as long as nobody’s main focus shifts from doing well in classes and on the battlefield. She has certainly heard some stories from Lin which back that up.
“I’m happy to hear that. Please, take a seat.”
“My, as polite as ever. You and your charm, Edie.”
“I wouldn’t call it charming, just appropriate, but I digress. I have summoned you because I need your help.” Oh? Now, that is rare. While Edie has asked her in the past for a few favours, it was typically always in the constellation of groups.
“I will gladly help you with whatever you need, although I hope it won’t take too long, because I am supposed to meet Cas and Lin for dinner.”
“Well, it should go rather quickly now. As a matter of fact, Linhardt and Caspar are exactly what this favour is about… well, technically Bernadetta has a similar problem but I know why that is and it’s not like I can do anything about it.”
“Bernie too? What is it?”
“Well, all three seem to pay little to no attention in class and not enough on the battlefield either. It is not as bad with Bernadetta, and from my understanding it is simply about being in public among people, but with the other two…” Huh, is this going in the direction she thinks it is?”
“What about the two?”
“That is just the problem. I feel like Linhardt has become a lot less careful on the battlefield, despite vehemently hating blood. Yes, he has learned more spells to use, but it still feels like there is more to it. As for Caspar, he can be reckless during a fight, but I feel like he has become even more so over the last few weeks. Don't even get me started on their class attandance and attention span during class.” While she didn’t actively notice it, her house leader’s observations certainly rang true when thinking about recent battles… wait, could it be?
“I suppose you’re not wrong…”
“Yes, but the issue is that I am not close to either and let’s just say that interpersonal relationships are not my field of expertise. So, I was hoping somebody with a much better understanding of social interactions like you would be perfectly suited for this task. It certainly helps that you are friends with both of them.”
“I don’t believe that it would be okay for me to snoop for you, Edie.”
“I am aware that you have much stronger reservations about such things than Hubert does, which is why I’m not asking you to snoop around and tell me, but rather to see if you can find anything out and, if possible, talk to them about it. They have so much potential, but if something unnecessary is getting in the way of realizing said potential, then that would be a travesty.” While she could certainly do that, the Songstress can’t find it in her to agree with Edie’s sentiment.
“I don’t think that feelings count as an unnecessary hindrance.” She mumbled the words under her breath, but it was stupid of her to open her mouth in the first place. She didn’t mean to say it out loud, but she clearly did, and loud enough for the girl sitting across from her to understand the words at that.
“Feelings you say? Do you mean to say you know what is going on?”
“It depends. I don’t want to go into detail-” after all, she has done so way too much today already “- but I do have a question about your observation.”
“Alright, ask away.”
“Do you have specific examples for their noticeable behaviour on the battlefield?”
“Why would that… You know what? It doesn’t matter. Knowing you, this will probably make sense later. Now, let me think for a moment.” It didn’t even take a full minute for the short girl in front of her to come up with two examples.
“Well, there was a battle where Caspar and Ferdinand were trying to take down a couple of enemies while Linhardt was supposed to remain at a distant, though close enough to cast Physic if need be. However, after a particularly strong hit against Caspar – I believe – there were Cutting Gales and Bolganones hitting especially hard and minimizing the enemy to lifeless corpses pretty much immediately. However, recklessly moving closer without instruction and against the Professor’s orders allowed an enemy – a brawler of all – to quickly reach him and almost knock him unconscious when Caspar – again, against the Professor’s orders – practically teleported in harm’s way with that speed of his and took the hit meant for Linhardt. Once more, a rather strong Cutting Gale followed that incident.” Wow, this must have been a fight where she was staying in the back in case of need for backup, because the Songstress had no idea anything like that has ever happened. While certainly reckless and concerning, Dorothea can’t help but be a bit in awe at the clear care each feels for the other.
“Thank you for telling me. I believe I do in fact know what is going on.” This seems to have surprised Edelgard, her mouth hanging slightly ajar.
“Do you now?”
“I think it’s pretty obvious by what you said, but I should get going. Don’t worry. I will talk to them about it, though I cannot promise that this is something that will be easy to ‘fix’, because I don’t think it’s something any of us can ‘fix’.” With that, she got up from her chair and exchanged her goodbyes with her house leader, leaving her behind with a mixture of confusion and slight concern written all over her face. She has told enough people by accident anyway.
Hopefully, Edie’s self-diagnosed lack of social competence prevents her from putting two and two together, but if not… well, at this point it’s more so a question of who doesn’t know; especially with Hilda, Manuela, and Yuri all knowing about this too. Now that she thinks about it, with Hilda and Manuela knowing about it, so will most of the faculty and Golden Deer. Any rumour spreads through Abyss like the plague, and she wouldn’t be surprised if a good part of the Blue Lions might know since Ashe hangs out with Dedue, Anette, and Mercedes a lot. At least from what she knows about the boy. Goddess, she really started something, didn’t she? Hopefully, if this escalates as badly as she worries it might, her two friends can find it in themselves to forgive her…
Finally, with no further interruptions or random encounters, the former diva arrives at the Dining Hall. It is as she feared. For once, she is the one who is late, not the two boys. Even worse, by the looks of it – more precisely the boy practically vibrating from having to stand still instead of getting his food – the two have been waiting for quite some time. So, Dorothea immediately makes her way to the two of them, already carrying an apologetic smile on her face.
“Hey, you two. I’m sorry for being late. It’s just been a busy day.”
“No need to worry. We have merely waited half an hour, though it was rather exhausting keeping Cas from running off to get some food.”
“Hey! It’s not my fault that Hilda made me move all of her furniture right after I finished sparring with professor Byleth! I need food to keep up my training!”
“Yes, I already got that the last three times you told me since we arrived.” His words may carry his typical dry, sarcastic tone, but there was an obvious, fond smile on the sleepy boy’s face. How. Are they. So. Oblivious?!
“Shall we get some food before Cas starves?”
The three of them continued with their small talk while getting their meals. It seems to be their lucky day, because today’s special is Garreg Mach Meat Pie, which happens to be a favourite of all three students.
“Oh yeah! Nothing over some good food after a long day of work.”
“I keep telling you, Caspar: You will choke if you keep inhaling your food like that.”
“At least I’m clearing my plate. Nothing wrong with a healthy appetite.”
“No, but there certainly is something wrong with choking on your food in the process.”
“What’s wrong is that you keep worrying about my plate when yours is still half full.”
“I’ve asked you to drop that subject, but that hasn’t stop you, has it? So, I will continue complaining about the choking hazard that is your way of eating your food.”
It was at that moment that Dorothea noticed an unusual amount of looks cast in their direction. Typically, most students stopped paying attention to the booming voice of the energetic boy after a minute or two… wait, why is everyone exchanging looks and snickering amongst themselves? …Oh no
It doesn’t take long for the sleepy boy to notice the stares and whispers. Even though he is not one who lets such things disrupt his day, he certainly seems confused as to why so many people seem to be taking an interest in an argument that has been heard in the Dining Hall countless times.
“Anything wrong, Lin?”
“Nothing in particular. I was just wondering why so many people are staring at us?” That caused Caspar to take a look around himself, only to confirm what both of his friends already have noticed.
“Huh, what do you know? Any idea why that may be?”
“It’s beyond me. There is nothing out of the ordinary with our argument or our appearances. Do you have any idea as to what’s going on, Thea? You certainly are the most skilled when it comes to social situations.” This is awkward. She supposes there is no point in hiding what she did.
“I… think I know what is going on, and it is – in a way – kind of my… fault.” Confusion and suspicion find their respective way onto her friends’ faces. Hopefully, this won’t end too poorly…
“Okay, so you might not know this, Lin, but I stumbled upon you two earlier today.”
“Nono, I know. I was told as much by Caspar.”
“Yeah… I told some others too…” While Lin simply spotted a confused look, Cas’ face took over a scarlet hue once more.
“You WHAT?!” She cleared her throat before continuing; this awkward conversation is really getting to her.
“I saw Hilda on my way to my room and I told her. Then, I sort of slipped up near Ma- professor Manuela and professor Byleth… and Hapi talked to me and I ended up telling her too…”
“Oh, that’s why Hilda winked at me when I mentioned Lin earier… wait, why did you tell all of them?”
“I’m sorry. I just couldn’t believe my ears when you told me that what you two were doing wasn’t a date, so I asked Hilda… and Hapi wanted to talk about that with me too.”
“I must say, the people you chose to talk to make sense on a surface level, but you must have been aware that these people include some of the worst secret keepers in the entire academy.”
“Yeah, what he said!” She couldn’t muster up the courage to look either in the eyes, instead finding the food in front of her far less intimidating.
“I-I know. Well, I noticed when I spoke to Hapi that this was a terrible idea of me. I should have just kept quiet or talked to you…”
“It’s not that I’m mad or anything, Thea. It's just weird. We aren’t even dating but now, everybody thinks we are.” The guilt she felt was only amplified by the torn look on Cas' face. She did take away any chance for the two to see how things work out before making anything official, if they ever even intended to do so…
“I know. I’m really sorry about that. I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive… at some point, at least.”
“Well, if you have learned your lesson, then I suppose this is fine.” After saying that, Lin turned to Cas. “As for your concerns, Cas. While I do not understand how what others think is any sort of problem, if it does bother you, we could just date and then the problem would be solved, no?”
Silence
Neither Cas nor Dorothea was expecting this reaction. That being said, while both are quite shocked at the sudden suggestion, the energetic boy seems to be struggling quite a bit more with the suggestion. Can somebody die of a heatstroke when its due to embarrassment?
“What? Just like that?”
“Just like that. To be honest, you’re about the only one I could even imagine dating. Relationships are a bother and they require so much work, but things tend to be rather easy with you.” Caspar’s expression suddenly fell from hopeful to defeated-looking. Lin’s words seem to have struck a chord.
“You mean because I’m not that smart?” Linhardt’s eyes widened in surprise at that reply.
“What? No, you misunderstood. Let me put it this way: Things are easy with you because you make me want to put in the work. I don’t think anyone but you and the professor have ever managed to get me to train, so I believe getting me to do what’s necessary for a relationship to work should be child’s play for you.” Dorothea had to supress making any noise as she had to admit that the scene playing out in front of her was rather endearing and would certainly make for a heart-warming opera. It’s rare to see much emotion on Lin’s face – unless he is talking about crests or Cas – so the slight peachy tint on his skin is one the songstress hasn’t seen before.
“Wait, really?”
“Of course. Why else would I be so happy to spend most of my time with you?” Dorothea can't help but think that it's rather impressive how red a face can get in a situation like this. It’s a rather adorable contrast to the Brawler’s blue hair.
“I-I guess that makes sense. So that’s it? We’re dating now?” Cas appears to be clearly overwhelmed by everything that is happening right now.
“Well, as long as you are okay with it.”
“Are you kidding me? Of course I’m okay with his. I’m more thank okay. This is awesome!” A small chuckle leaves Lin before he leans in and places a small peck on his best friend turned boyfriend’s cheek. Any triumphant bravado that has built up over the last five seconds immediately leaves Caspar’s body and he is left a blushing, stuttering mess.
“While I can’t say that I approve of your methods, I do feel inclined to thank you, Thea.”
“Oh, please don’t. I shouldn’t be thanked for doing this. I’m just glad that things didn’t end terribly, and… I’m really happy for you two.”
“Thanks. Maybe we should return the favour?”
“Whatever do you mean, Cas?” Genuine surprise was all Dorothea could feel at that weird remark.
“We’ll try and help you with Edelgard!” Her surprise quickly transformed into pure horror and a rather red face.
“We could certainly help you with her, or would you rather have us help you with Petra?” Maybe it will be she who dies of an embarrassment induced heat stroke.
“I- W-what?” Even if she had any words to utter her protests, her two friends were already busy explaining to her what she should do to get herself a partner. Is this karmic retribution? She certainly deserves the utter embarrassment. At least nobody’s feelings got hurt, and something good did come from this mess, just like Hapi said. Dorothea doesn’t see any alternative but to resign herself to her fate and endure this punishment.