halcyon days

[crypddyd]

[So, things were going fine- they were planning to counter this strange contest Esme had dropped in their laps. Kingslayer was willing, at least little, to talk to him again. He had recently been cleaned up by Ruin so no longer looked (or smelled) quite so feral. Lion was doing okay.

Lion is no longer doing okay. And can be found pacing the Executor House like his namesake. Occasionally stopping to write frantically on a piece of paper on the dining room table but never sitting down for long.

If anyone pauses to read it he won't stop them: it's three lists of names, each under an animal-based title: Blue Lions, Black Eagels, Golden Deer. Next to the Lions list, he has an arrow- Source of my name???? and more arrows pointed to the House Leader slot of both the Lions (`me`) and the Eagles ('other House Leader, can't remember them. Why? I can remember Claude but not them...`) and at the end of the Lions list (`4 others here, but can't remember them??? One was a retainer to me I think? And the other three are in a lot of memories- we were close???`)

And above all the lists, underlined and circled: Professor Byleth Eisner

He's having a bad time]

Comments

[crypddyd]

There's no harm in hoping for it.

[He thinks of Rei, Clocks, the others... yeah, he doesn't like it]

It would be nice if there were a few more adults though.

[schardynfreude]

In the meantime, we'll just have to be the ones helping to look after them. [He nods at the paper Lion's been adding names to.] Head of a house, hm? Seems you're fit for the job.

[crypddyd]

[He laughs a little shyly]

It was only because of my status, honestly. It is... a tradition for the royal family to take up house head if they are enrolled. My memories were of my time in school.

[schardynfreude]

In school, how marvelous. [He's genuine about it!] And, the students, were they all royalty, nobility? [He takes a seat and is just shy of chinhandsing.] I've no memories yet of my own youth, so I'll simply have to live vicariously through yours. Go on, tell me all about it.

[crypddyd]

It's a bit embarrassing... but I guess it doesn't hurt to talk a little.

[He sits as well]

And no, Garreg Mach no longer only teaches nobility, though that used to be the case. Sadly it DOES require tuition though, so few commoners actually study there.

[schardynfreude]

And are these regular studies--arts and language and maths? Or is it more specialized than that?

[crypddyd]

Most of those studies are handled by one's family where I'm from- though there are some advanced math and quite a bit of required reading. Most of our studies are combat-focused. Both martial and magical. As well as tactics and religious studies.

I suppose you would consider it more a secondary school?

[He seems a little unsure on that front- being in Limbo he knows a bit about how more modern life works- but in Fodlan basic education wasn't an assumed thing]

[schardynfreude]

Ah - how intriguing! Was there much need for fighting, then? I suppose you might not necessarily know the answer, but given your inherent, hm, abilities and skills, and a school wherein battle training was a core principle, then it seems sad to say...

And yet, eclectic. Magic and religion. Goodness, was it a church-run school? [what's a catholic]

[crypddyd]

I can't remember all the details of the political state of my homeland, I do remember that my class ended up on many missions that required live battle. All the nations of Fodlan are currently at peace, I believe. But from context I think there are enemies from outside. As well as enemies of the Church.

...and yes, of course it is Church run. Who else would have the means?

[Lion...]

[schardynfreude]

Perhaps not so in your world, but I find it likely that there are societies with schools, secondary or otherwise, that would not be run by a church. Privately funded, perhaps, or paid for by the state for the betterment of all.

Why, I could not tell you all there is to know about the pervading religion in my world, though I find the idea of churches...less likely than one might think.

...It does seem sad to me that such young people would have gone to battle while still in school.

[crypddyd]

Paid for by the state...

[He likes that idea- if he wasn't dead maybe... well, no point thinking about the fate of Faerghus now, right? Still, a strange grief bubbles in his chest]

As those chosen by the Goddess, it is a noble's responsibility to take up arms in Fodlan's defense.... that is what we are taught, at least. A king must also be a knight, or how else can he be tasked to lead them?

[schardynfreude]

[Chiron shakes his head. Like, yes, it makes a certain degree of sense, but- ] Children still should not have to fight.

But...we have wandered away from the topic. Tell me of the school. Of the students! Your friends, hm? Rivals? Crushes, perhaps?

[crypddyd]

Ah, yes. I suppose we have.

[The conversation was making him feel uncomfortable anyway- somewhere between defensive and be-grieved, and he's happy to drop it]

I hope you're not hoping for any, hm what word did they use here... tea? Because I was in fact a very well behaved student.

[schardynfreude]

[Oh. Oh goodness, if ever there was a smile that could be construed as cat-like.] It's a delightful little phrase, even if I've no idea what spilling some piping hot tea has to do with juicy gossip.

But I can assure you, none here would be surprised to learn that you were a model student. Royalty, after all. Leading by example.

[crypddyd]

[he looks a little insulted]

Are you saying you can't picture me misbehaving?

[schardynfreude]

Correct.

[fight him, very well-behaved student]

[crypddyd]

[He's turning bright pink]

I did a few things I shouldn't have done! Such as being out after cerfew- but you are correct... as a prince I couldn't really risk any, hm, hijinks.

[His tone darkens slightly, and he looks away]

And I had other business on my mind. School for me was not the same as it was for others my age.

[schardynfreude]

[He's shocked. Shocked pikachu I tell you.] Oh my, breaking curfew, how downright naughty of you!

[Business, however, seems like a less pleasant topic. Don't mind if Chiron just...yoinks the paper away to read some names.] Hm hm hm, was there really only one teacher for three class houses?

[crypddyd]

Hm-?

[Oh now he's turning MORE pink]

O-oh, no of course not. The Professor was my class's teacher specifically. Manuela and Hanneman were the teachers of the Eagels and Deer specifically.

[schardynfreude]

...Oh. Oh Lion, you dear heart.

[crypddyd]

What exactly is that supposed to mean?

[schardynfreude]

Did you also happen to remember something about your professor that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?

[crypddyd]

[for a moment his eye narrows and his chin tilts up in defiance. A flash of the king he may have once been.]

Do not speak to me like I'm a child, Chiron. Even as a jest.

[he ruins it by looking away sheepishly though]

In hindsight though... my feelings for the Professor were probably not completely innocent. But I wasn't the only one: they were VERY popular.

[schardynfreude]

[He doesn't pish-posh the concern aloud. He'll keep it in mind for the future, in fact. But honestly, a touch of ribbing, and he gets all prickly? Terrible shame, that.

Chiron hands the list back over with a nod.] Not, I think, a most uncommon thing. They must have been quite special.

[crypddyd]

[Teasing he can usually handle, but something about that specifically bothers him- maybe because he just remembered being a moody teenager again?]

They really were. Not only a skilled fighter, but kind, wise, and a master tactician.

... and I suppose very nice to look at.