It was strange to get used to the sensation of waking up in a bed, and even stranger not to open her eyes to the sight of Byleth dozing away. The blue-haired girl yawned behind her hand, throwing her feet over the edge of the bed and adjusting her shift.

She'd never slept in anything so light and silky to the touch. Being that the band of mercenaries camped outside more than sleeping in inns, it would have been impractical anyhow. Then there was the simple fact of the matter that her father and brother would have raised no shortage of hell.

'Speaking of, I wonder how they fared the night.' The entire band had stayed within the monastery for several nights already, but now their accommodations were better, and their roles at Garreg Mach were cemented.

"Finally you awaken!" By now, the young, impassioned voice of Sothis was very familiar. Floating quietly in the corner of the room, her long green hair almost touching the floor, the entity regarded her in boredom. "I have been waiting an eternity!"

Bylara moved past her to the attached room holding the bath. She had never been one to seek special privileges. Jeralt had raised his children to live modestly, be adaptable, and take care of as many of their own needs as they could.

But goddess, she wasn't going to turn her nose up at a private bath. It certainly beat traveling far enough downstream to bathe without being spotted by men in camp, all the while weapon at the ready in case bandits interrupted.

"Do not pretend as though you cannot hear me! It is too late for that!" Sothis continued.

"I can hear you just fine," the girl grumbled, slipping her shift down her shoulders. "But you exaggerate a great deal. If you truly want to wait an eternity, try waking Byleth."

Sothis crossed her arms with a frown. "Hmph!" Bylara paid her no mind, continuing to examine the vials.

Even as she imagined her brother sleeping in without her to wake him up at dawn, Bylara marveled over the intricacy of the knobs in the bath. She experimentally turned one, and a rune glowed before water came trickling out into her tub. Astounding. What powered them was surely magic, and the monastery had an ingenious way of making use of it. As she waited for it to fill, her hands drifted the assortment of bath salts sitting in vials at the ready.

A fresh cake of soap that smelled of mint and rosemary sat unused beside them. It seemed that there was no need to ration a whittled and chipped cake of soap as she had on the road. A small perk of the new position she found herself in was the nice things included in her accommodations. Bylara sank into the pleasant heat of the bath, steam carrying the fresh smell of mint and the bath salts making her skin tingle. Sothis continued to float above her and fuss.

"Remember, you are one of only two who is able to see and hear me. You would do well to think of that before addressing me in front of others." An amused smile lifted her face. "Otherwise you might be labeled mad."

Bylara lifted her head, one hand massaging a type of foaming soap into her hair. "Considering the archbishop's advisor already considers us unfit to be here, I'm sure that would give him plenty of credence." Not that Bylara wasn't aware of the peculiarity inherit in the situation. The appointments to staff members had been out of the blue and within hardly a day of meeting Lady Rhea. And they were teenage mercenaries, young enough to be peers to many of their students but teaching them all the same.

She dunked her head under the water quickly.

"Yes," Sothis rubbed at her chin. "His name was Seteth, was it not? He is the wary sort that does not take kindly to surprises. I can tell."

The young woman finished cleaning herself, then pulled the stopper and watched the water drain out. Fleetingly she wondered where it went.

"You should do your best not to cause a stir with people like him watching."

"Judging by the reactions of the other staff," Bylara sighed. "That may be out of our control already. It's understandable."

"Huh. I do not sense even a little panic from you…I thought you may just be good at hiding your feelings, but…you truly are a peculiar human, aren't you?"

"I'm not the only unusual case here,"

Without even looking directly at the green-haired girl, Bylara knew her round cheeks would be an indignant hue of red.

"Again with your cheek!"

WNB

Bylara emerged from the path clad in a towel and patting her hair dry, to find a parcel waiting on her bed. She ventured closer, wondering how it had gotten there when she clearly remembered her room door barred when she entered the bathing chamber. An old habit from her mercenary life she doubted would be leaving anytime soon.

Regardless, it didn't change the fact that a neatly wrapped package waited, a note addressed to her attached. She removed and examined the paper first, finding a careful scrawl. "Given the nature of your appointment, along with your obvious youth, it is important that you be identifiable as a professor and not a student. Normally, you would be permitted to wear your own clothing. But we have decided to provide suitable attire especially for you. Enclosed is an outfit for you to wear. Good luck!" Curiously, the last line of encouragement was in a different hand, as if someone had wanted to add on some good will the first writer couldn't be bothered to show.

"Well, do you not plan to open it?" Sothis asked, popping up beside her. "Surely you cannot mean to greet your students in that less than suitable state."

Bylara scoffed quietly. And she was accused of being the cheeky one between them? Tugging at the string, it gave with minimal effort, allowing her to unwrap the brown paper and pull out the outfit waiting inside. She examined the folded white blouse, blinking.

It was standard, not what she normally wore in the field, but nothing horrible. At least, she considered, the short sleeves would make it comfortable in the warm weather. The next item inside filled her with some hesitation—a short black skirt with a silver pattern zigzagging from the waistline and ending in a triangular point.

"This…is what I need to teach in?" Bylara could feel her brows drawing down in skepticism. She couldn't recall the last time she'd worn a skirt. Hardly practical for a mercenary.

On the same note for the last two years her father periodically remarked about the impracticality of her fashion sense and urged her to wear something more protective. But she had been adamant that if she had to fight with men and live with men, she would at the least express her femininity in some way.

"Hm…I do not think I see the harm in it." Sothis remarked casually.

Bylara rolled her eyes and said nothing. Of course her commentator wouldn't. She wasn't the one wearing it. A fancy black coat with two rows of large buttons on silver down the chest and to the hem. Much to her surprise and amusement, she found a matching black cape with silver trimming at the shoulders.

She would admit it could be a lot worse. Giving the outfit a final once over, she began dressing. Fastening her cape with a flourish and looking down at her polished, sensible shoes, Bylara surveyed herself. Peeking over her shoulder, she groaned over the length of the skirt, smoothing it down uselessly.

"Are you not going to wear that?" Sothis mumbled, pointing to the headband that had also been included with the ensemble. "It is nearly time for you to go, isn't it?"

"Yes, but…" It was too trivial to say out loud, lest Sothis mock her for it. Studying the headband, she placed it on the crown of her head with an inward grimace.

As expected, her ears were now exposed. She touched her hand to one lobe. One day she had hoped to outgrow the thinking that her ears were too big, but she hadn't.

"You'll be late." Sothis so helpfully reminded.

Putting a spring in her step, Bylara headed out the door with the spectral girl gliding behind her, only to run headlong into a uniformed chest.

"Rare to see you in a rush," Byleth greeted, dressed in a near identical outfit, save for his pants and hat.

Seeing him was a much needed sight of familiarity, and she found herself thankful that their rooms were in such close proximity. "I see you managed to stumble out of bed. Maybe there's hope for you yet," she teased, leaning up to straighten his collar. "Now," Bylara said, moving back, "Remember these aren't mercenaries."

"I'm aware. The note tacked to my clothes said as much. Emphatically." It said a lot about Byleth, that even the church officials felt the need to remind him he couldn't go traumatizing students on the first day.

"We should go then," She made to brush past him, but he snagged her arm and spun her around with a thoughtful expression.

"We don't have ti—"

"Your hair…" His gloved hand attempted to sweep it over her ear, but the headband did its job well. "Hm…"

"Is it that noticeable?" she asked, exasperated already. It could be that Byleth had only focused on it because he knew her old fear. But what if students found them distracting too?

With one deft motion, her brother plucked the headband from her head. What she hadn't expected was for him to remove his hat and replace it with the hair accessory.

The officer's cap he put on her, and Bylara felt her hair shift into place. "You need it more than me," he explained calmly. She had to admit, he wore the headband much better than she had. It kept his unruly bangs out of his eyes, but just barely. "And this way you have the illusion of height." A light jab, but she didn't miss the subtle encouragement either.

Adjusting the hat and tipping it at him, she made her way to the classroom where her new students were waiting. The blue banner above the door was that of the Blue Lions. The heavy wood swung open to reveal most if not the entire class had already congregated, standing around or sitting in their seats.

The one face she immediately recognized was Dimitri, standing beside a mountain of a dark-skinned man with a stoic face. She could only surmise that he was Dedue, Dimitri's Duscan retainer. Before she could even make a proper introduction, the students swarmed. Falling in behind their House leader, they all looked at her with expectant gazes.

"Well," Sylvain grinned. "Just couldn't stay away after all, eh?"

Bylara quirked a brow, amused that Byleth's initial warning hadn't been enough to deter him. Then again, he already struck her as the persistent type. With any luck under her direction she could put that persistence to better use.

"Sylvain, please." Dimitri scolded. "This is to be our new professor. Show some respect!"

"Whoa, professor?!" asked a small orange-haired girl. "But…but! I thought you were our age. Oh um, no offense. It's not that I'm questioning how well you can do your job…" The babbling ended in a nervous gulp. "I'm so sorry, professor!"

Bylara gave the rest of the mostly awed students a small smile. "You may treat me as a friend more than a professor if that's what you'd like."

Friends weren't something she'd made a great deal of in the past. She'd always had Byleth by her side, both brother and best friend. That had sufficed all their lives. But here, among students who were by and large her own age, it made sense that some would be more comfortable regarding her as a friend.

"You say that, but I'm not so sure it's going to be that simple for me." The girl muttered.

"Yes, I agree with Annette. I'll admit it doesn't sit well with me either." Dimitri added, "We wish to show you due respect."

"Sure, respect," Sylvain's smile was broad and his eyes were trailing down to her exposed legs. "But the professor says it's alright if we're all a little familiar. Isn't that enough?" The redhead cleared his throat and turned to Dimitri. "If His Highness can consent to such a thing."

"I don't think I can manage either," A blonde girl with her hair in a braid spoke up.

"You don't have to force yourself if it's too difficult," a young woman with a gentle aura placed a hand on the blonde's arm. "I'm sure the professor's fine with that too, right?"

Bylara shifted her weight, still unused to her skirt and starting to wish she could just sit down. "Whatever's fine with you is fine with me,"

There were several sighs of relief and a concerning shine to Sylvain's eyes. "Such benevolence!" he chirped, sidling up to her. "Say professor, you wouldn't care to join me for tea, would you?" He settled an arm around her shoulders, leaning in with a purr, "We can keep getting to know each other, and talk about anything from education…to marriage."

Clasping the wrist dangling from her left shoulder, Bylara twisted herself away with a stern expression. "Obviously we're going to need to maintain professional boundaries."

"She's right," Her eyes landed on an intense boy with dark hair spilling from a messy bun. Given Dimitri's earlier descriptions, it would be surprising if he was anyone but Felix. "Control yourself, Sylvain. I have more important matters to discuss with our new professor."

Even before he stepped forward, challenge glowed in his brown eyes. "Word is you're one hell of a mercenary. Enough to pull His Highness's ass out of danger." Dimitri hardly batted an eye over the insult, evidently used to Felix's brusque manner. "Come to the training ground later. There, you will prove your strength to me."

Unable to control herself, Bylara huffed. She had just assured the students they could choose to treat her as a professor or a classmate. And it didn't seem like Felix needed any further invitation to drop all pretense of formality. Though maybe it was a little rude, a part of her found it oddly refreshing.

"You're on," she agreed.

"You aren't wasting any time, are you Felix?" Dimitri said. "As it were, count me in for any such battle."

Bylara didn't know Dimitri well enough to say it was surprising, but, it was intriguing. 'So the mild-mannered prince has a competitive streak too?'

"Hmph." Felix grunted.

"Pardon me!" This time it was a boy with short silver hair, wide green eyes and a face full of freckles. "I would also love to observe you in battle for future reference, if that's okay with you. I just…don't want to waste the opportunity to learn," he finished, noticing all eyes on him and ducking his head shyly.

"Ashe," Dimitri chided. "I won't have you speak of merely watching. You're welcome to join us as well."

Normally Bylara would second the notion, but Ashe looked a little pale at the prospect, his eyes darting between the three of them.

"If you get injured simply say the word and I'll have you patched up in no time!" cheered the girl with ash blonde hair in a ponytail that hung over one shoulder. "Oh professor, I'm Mercedes," she giggled. "It's really a pleasure!"

"Your Highness," Dedue interjected, speaking up at last, "Do take care not to go overboard."

The prince shook his head fondly. "You worry too much, Dedue. I'll be fine."

"Isn't there something a little…off…about crossing blades as a way to bond?" Sylvain voiced.

"Does that mean you'll be sitting the next spar out?" The blonde girl beside him smirked.

Pouting, Sylvain's shoulders slumped. "Ingrid, you really are too harsh toward me,"

Bylara absorbed the dynamics as everyone chattered excitedly about spars and lessons.

"What do you think, professor?" Dimitri asked eagerly.

"You're not really what I was expecting," she admitted. She withheld the fact that she had imagined stuffy young aristocrats that might not have known the pointy end of the sword. "But that's not a bad thing. I think this is going to be a better experience than I was hoping for." She turned to the lecture podium, making her way towards it. The students took the hint and meandered their way to their tables.

'I just hope Byleth is doing alright.' If his class was in anyway as animated as this one…

Claude greeted him with a charming grin, holding his arms open wide in welcome. "Couldn't resist then." he nodded. "Welcome to the Golden Deer House, Prof."

The nickname got the attention of the other students who had been gathered in clusters and watching. Suddenly, they were drawing closer, until they'd formed something of a half-ring in front of Byleth.

"Claude," a pink-haired girl in pigtails gasped. "Are you telling me this person is our new professor?" She placed a hand daintily to her mouth. "But he can't be any older than a student!"

"Age has nothing to do with competence, you know!" a short girl with wide pink eyes and white hair down her back huffed.

"Lysithea's right, Hilda," the House leader winked. "Don't worry, I've seen him in action. He's plenty capable."

Byleth quietly assessed the lot he'd chosen to work with. Young and eager eyed for the most part. Promising but inexperienced. By the end of the year he'd be sure to change all that.

"I…I'm sort of excited," A boy in glasses with neatly cut hair grinned sheepishly. "I'm Ignatz." he introduced. "I haven't had much practice in battle yet, but I'll do my best."

Humility, a thin physique, and soft-spoken. Claude had briefly told him Ignatz was the son of Leicester Alliance merchants, so as far as Byleth was concerned, he'd be starting him on basics.

"I'm getting pretty pumped up too!" The girl staring him down had a fire in her eyes, auburn hair in a shag cut and an orange jacket tied around her waist. Everything about her screamed tomboy, and the gloves on her hands suggested her expertise was the bow. "After all, you're one of Captain Jeralt's kids, right?"

Byleth assumed the whispers had spread to the student body. It was no surprise. His father apparently lived something of another life before raising them.

"You know my father?"

"Not just know him, I was his first and best apprentice!" she crowed. "I'm Leonie Pinelli. I'm sure he's mentioned me?"

Byleth blinked. "He didn't. Not once."

Leonie deflated, "O-Oh…"

"He doesn't speak much about his past though." Byleth admitted. "I didn't realize he had old affiliations to the church before we came here."

"Ah, while Captain Jeralt's reputation is rather impressive, I'm a bit concerned about this…arrangement." Byleth sized up the tall purple-haired boy. He had sharp features and narrow amethyst eyes brimming with suspicion. There was a large red rose pinned to the front of his uniform and not a hair out of place.

Yes, he was very familiar with this type. The posh noble who needed the help of the mercenary scum when they couldn't control things in their own territory, but otherwise were content never to associate with the "dregs of society" known as commoners and sellswords.

If he kept this attitude, then this haughty noble would be in for a rude awakening. Wealth and status wasn't going to save him from the grueling regimen Byleth had in store for them.

Continuing on oblivious of the tension, the boy continued, "You see not much is known about you outside your timely rescue of Claude and the other House leaders, and your former mercenary status. With all due respect, just how qualified are you as an instructor?"

"Depends," Byleth replied evenly. "My upbringing is probably what someone like you would consider unconventional. So my teaching methods may strike you as difficult to grasp."

The boy gasped indignantly. "Are you suggesting I—"

The former mercenary went on, ignoring the noble's look of outrage, "There's one thing I know about though, and that's survival." Byleth's dark blue eyes swept over the assembly. "With any luck, by the end of your time here you'll know about it too."

Silence filled in the space left by his words, the students glancing at each other uneasily. Had he messed up already? Bylara always had more of a calming effect than he did. A firm way of commanding that didn't come across so ominous.

"Look at that," Claude crossed his arms, one corner of his mouth raised in a smirk. "Lorenz is speechless. He didn't even run you the whole spiel about his name." An amused snicker punctuated his words. "Ya know, Prof, I think you might be the best suited for our House after all."

"Yeah!" A hulking man—though his innocent smile would certainly be described more as boyish—cheered. "That stuff you said about survival? Well, I'm all for it. Any training you can give me to get my muscles bigger is alright with me!"

To be sure his girth was already impressive with a wide chest and shoulders. His uniform strained to contain his mass, the buttons doing their level best to keep his shirt closed. His short, messy hair was blonde and his eyes were kind and energetic. "And afterwards, we can sit down and fill up at the dining hall! Oh man, just thinkin' about all that meat has my stomach growling!"

A deep, beastly growl did follow, proving his point.

"Raphael! You must learn to control that insatiable appetite of yours." Lorenz scolded. At least he was speaking again. Which meant Byleth couldn't be blamed for breaking a student (at least not on day one).

"Feasting can wait." Byleth announced. "The first lesson of the day should begin, now that we're all acquainted."

"Actually professor, you forgot someone." Hilda called. Byleth spun around, halfway to the podium. His brow furrowed as he surveyed the room. Sighing, Hilda tugged a blue-haired girl that was hunching in on herself forward.

"Sorry, it's easy to miss her when she doesn't have much to say with new people…" Hilda explained. "But this is…"

Her head suddenly shooting up, the timid student stared forward with wide eyes. "Marianne von Edmund!" she squeaked. "Um, sorry...I should've introduced myself sooner, but I…didn't want to be a bother so I…" The rest of her sentence devolved to a volume to quiet to hear. Byleth waited for her to continue, but she avoided his gaze and fidgeted with her fingers, so he assumed she was done.

Continuing to the board with his cape billowing behind him, he took up a piece of chalk and then turned to his class. "Where are the others?" he asked. "I was told this was a class of twelve."

"It's not uncommon for some people to miss the first day, I guess." Claude leaned back in his seat, hands behind his head. "First day jitters maybe."

By the time he paid them a visit Byleth doubted they'd ever want to skip a lesson again.

"Then let's get started…the first lesson you'll be learning about field combat is as straightforward as they come."

Positioning the chalk, Byleth began writing as neatly as he could. When he was finished, he glanced over his shoulder to see several shocked faces and Ignatz with his hand timidly raised.

"Yes?"

"Uh, p-professor…that just says 'don't die'."

Byleth stared him down. What was his point? Not dying was somewhat crucial to becoming any sort of decent fighter. There was nothing left to learn beyond the grave. "Take it to heart."

Back to writing. "The next step to being a formidable merce—formidable fighter, does anyone have any ideas?"

Byleth waited patiently. The reactions so far were mixed. Several were thinking, others had pinched faces of disbelief with Lorenz's being the most prominent, while the rest of the class simply appeared intimidated.

Realizing he might as well just go ahead and say it, Byleth moved his chalk again. "The next step is to find a strength."

"Oh, now we're talking," Leonie exclaimed. "I'm already learning how to use a lance and the bow."

"Duel specialties aren't a bad idea at all." Byleth conceded. "Anyone else have a known strength?"

"Lots of us in this House have started training on the bow, Prof." Claude shrugged. "The second most common weapon in this House is the lance. Lysithea and Marianne are our resident magic users."

"Hey, don't forget me!" Raphael shouted. "I use a sword, but I'm all for some good ol' fashioned knuckle brawls if I get into a tight scrape without one." He punched one meaty fist into his open hand.

Lysithea raised her hand, sitting primly in her chair like the ever attentive student.

"What is it?"

"Professor, would you mind sharing your specialties with us? I think we're all rightfully curious."

He didn't expect to divulge much about his own weapon preferences, but it was a harmless inquiry. Thinking about everything he'd used over the years, and what had worked best. Even by his own requirements of at least being adequate in the weapon before claiming he could use it, Byleth had quite a number to list off.

"I most commonly use swords," he cleared his throat. "And Reason magic."

Lysithea and Marianne noticeably perked up.

"I also consider myself capable in the use of lances, axes, brass knuckles, bows and hand to hand combat."

By the time he had finished, more than just his magic-using students looked impressed. Some, however, looked more cowed than ever. Apparently he was back to square one in being unapproachable. Byleth could have sworn a voice in his head that sounded suspiciously like a tittering Sothis declared he could use a lesson of his own in relatability.

Edelgard gave the cook a polite smile as she gathered her plate and made her way to an available table, Hubert at her side. Classes had ended for the day, and while Professor Hanneman was an incredibly knowledgeable and tenured member of the staff (a Crest scholar to boot), the Imperial princess wouldn't deny she'd been hoping to see either of the mysterious Eisners choose the Black Eagles. Claude and Dimitri should consider themselves lucky, as it happened. She fully expected to hear at least the former's bragging when she saw them later.

She moved her fork around, playing with her food in a manner both uncharacteristic and unbecoming for her station. Hubert's keen eyes were heavy as he watched, likely already assessing exactly what weighed on her mind. "If I may, Lady Edelgard," he said.

The princess silently lifted her head, granting him permission to continue.

"I understand your disappointment. But all is not lost. They may not have chosen the Black Eagles, but we'll still likely have lessons from both of them. If the tradition of topics being split among all members of the staff continues this year."

She nodded slowly, finally taking a bite of her rice and steak. "Yes, I'm certainly aware. And I didn't mean to sulk. It's just…something about them both…it's possible I'm irrational in my thinking but it feels like they could be—"

"Man!" A plate clattered noisily onto the table as the boisterous Caspar sat a few seats down from them. Lindhart smoothly glided into an adjacent seat from his friend with far more grace and much less noise. "I am beat! Professor Hanneman's lecture was kinda draining, don't you think?"

The food in front of him was piled nearly to his chin, but if Edelgard knew Caspar, she knew he'd find somewhere for all of it to go. The blue-haired boy didn't bother waiting for a response as he dug into his dinner with excitement— pheasant and mashed potatoes and liver pudding in a race to his mouth.

Linhardt ate a spoonful of potatoes and then cringed, scooting away just in time to avoid some stray pudding that made its way across the table. "Caspar, please…" he grumbled.

Hubert took a much firmer approach, standing up and making his way over to the duo. Edelgard watched her retainer give Caspar a dressing down over his table manners, which only seemed to have grown worse since the last time she had been a guest for dinner with her family at Count Bergliez's home.

"Caspar, your etiquette is disgraceful," Hubert sneered. "Can you not see you're ruining Lady Edelgard's meal with your unsightly slurping and gulping?"

"But how can I not go a little crazy?" Caspar asked, wiping a smudge of pudding off his face with a sleeve. "The food in here is delicious and it's all you can eat!"

"You test the limits of that generosity," Linhardt stated.

"Okay, okay!" Caspar swallowed down the last of the meat on his plate. "I'll eat like a real noble or whatever, geez."

Satisfied, Hubert crossed his arms and waited.

"Uh, I'm out of meat. Be right back," Jumping from his seat, the shorter boy scurried back in line for more roasted bird.

Hubert rejoined her in his spot, looking pleased with himself.

"Thank you." There was no point in saying much else. He saw it as his duty to ensure her comfort in any way possible, big or small.

"My pleasure, Your Highness." As he was picking up a mug of black coffee, by the smell of it, her eyes drifted over to more students entering the cafeteria for the evening meal. Two figures stood out among them, dressed in sharp black and silver uniforms.

The twin professors talked quietly amongst themselves, unbothered by the curious stares and whispers aimed their way. They looked so engrossed in each other's company, not for the first time Edelgard was somewhat envious. Their clear bond was something she had never had as deeply with any of her own siblings.

"Those two really have been the center of gossip everywhere lately," Hubert remarked. "Not that I care for such things. I find myself perfectly capable of learning their intentions."

"I have told you," she said quietly, "They went out of their way to rescue myself and the others. I owe them a great debt. So please, remain civil."

"Of course," Hubert's innocent tone was at odds with the vigilance in his golden eyes. It would just take time for her loyal vassal to accept Byleth and Bylara.

As they moved to the cafeteria line, they were flocked by several members of nobility she recognized from the Leicester Alliance and Holy Kingdom. Already, they were growing popular. She would have to move fast in befriending them.

Now that the Houses the twins have chosen are revealed, the dynamics can begin to be laid out, which is always nice. Especially because the more powerful the bond is between them and their students before stuff goes south for everyone, the better. I'm glad everyone is enjoying the tight sibling bond too. I'm a sucker for strong familial bonds in fiction, so expect lots of Bylara and Byleth being siblings, rivals and best friends.

I couldn't help but remember that when looking at the designs for the avatars I initially thought Bylara's ears are a little on the big side. Especially in certain cut scenes. It's sort of cute, but since she's already displaying more emotion in this fic I thought I'd have that be something she's self-conscious about. Byleth decides to be considerate of her and give her his hat while he wears her headband, and no, they won't be switching back.

As for the romance, I will say one more time for the record: this story contains eventual polygamy. If you're against that then there's not much point reading further. But if you're open to a story that contains it, you'll hopefully enjoy what you read. I don't plan for it to be sloppily done at all. And no one is going to be running around with ten partners each or anything like that. But throughout history relationships like this have existed in various cultures, and I think considering that the students (as well as Byleth and Bylara) are unusual people facing unusual circumstances, it wouldn't be too hard to imagine. So there's not going to be anyone getting cast aside per se once feelings have been established. But that's still further down the road, obviously. Also, expect background pairings that do not include Byleth nor Bylara. Hope that clears it up for anyone who was still confused. I doubt I'll keep addressing it much after this so I don't get too tedious about it.

I was pleased with the way the introductions went for the most part, and glad I got to sneak in some Black Eagles characters. Then again there was never any plan to exclude them. The rest of the members of that House will probably pop up next chapter. In fact I want to phase in even more bonding between all three Houses as a whole than was originally shown in the games.

Hope everyone enjoys their holidays if you celebrate them, and reviews are very appreciated.