The captain's quarters, also known as Jeralt's office by some, was what many would call professional. The room had only one window, and the meager light it provided was not enough to fill the office. To offset this discrepancy, several candles were lit amongst the office giving off a paltry amount of light. The remainder of the darkness was banished by the chandelier that shimmered above. One wall was filled with bookcases, holding books on most of the shelves. The top shelf proudly presented ornate swords and shields, sparkling in the flickering light of the candles. Beside the solitary window sat a simple desk, paperwork and maps strewn across the surface. It was here Jeralt and Byleth sat across from one another.

"I suppose I should congratulate you on your first victory. Lady Rhea was very pleased, and Alois wouldn't stop gushing his praises. I think that even Seteth was speechless." Jeralt was the first to speak, a wry smile on his lips.

"I'm glad I could meet their expectations." In sharp contrast, Byleth face stayed passive. His arms remained crossed as he looked at his father with unflinching eyes.

"And I heard several of students complimenting your skills and tactics, you've really outdone yourself."

"The students deserve the praise; they were the center of the plan, I only helped bring it into fruition."

"Humble too," Jeralt laughed. "Perhaps Lady Rhea was right, you are a teacher in the making. Though I suppose I could see her reasoning. I have to admit-"

"Why did you call me here?" Byleth's question cut through the air like a knife, stopping Jeralt midsentence. "It wasn't to shower me with admiration, right?" Although the words remained sharp, Byleth eyes took on a more questioning tone. His father was never one for praise, giving or receiving. So why was he stalling? Jeralt let out a sigh, pouring himself a small glass of alcohol before speaking.

"Why do you think they held this practice skirmish?" The question was unexpected to say the least, but Byleth answered after a moment.

"This is a military academy, is it not?" Byleth responded. "Studying theory and training with a weapon can only prepare a person so much. To ensure that a soldier is truly ready for battle, practices and simulations will help meet that goal.

"True, true." Jeralt nodded conceding the point. "however, many battles are one side verses another. Very rarely do you have a three-way clash. Why wouldn't the school hold a series of one on one battles instead?"

"To save time I assume," Byleth replied. "The amount of time used to set up the field and gather the proper equipment along with the actual fight took several hours. Having to do that two more times would be a waste of time. Furthermore, while it rarely happens, three-way battles still occur and having experience in those situations is beneficial."

"I see, so nothing about the situation seems odd to you?" Byleth frowned, trying to follow his father's line of though. The practice battle at it's simplest pitted the three houses against one another in a simulated battle. It was to help nurture the students and prepare them for future battle whether those be against bandits or foreign threats. Was there some deeper meaning? Or perhaps something Byleth was overlooking?

"How does your lesson plans for the first day of class look? It's tomorrow isn't it?" Byleth was so deep in thought that Jeralt's question blindsided him. He took a moment to recover before responding.

"Everything seems to be in order." Byleth began. "I will be going over the founding of the Adrestian Empire, as well as the hardships they faced during the first few years."

"That's sure to fascinate your class." Jeralt gave a gruff chuckle. "I'll bet half of them had it memorized while they were still in the womb." Byleth narrowed his eyes but couldn't argue the point. He was sure that most of his student had heard and been taught of the empire's founding. He had the sinking feeling that Edelgard would be more knowledgeable in the subject than him.

"You make a valid point," Byleth agreed. "But I don't really have a lot of options. I can't do physical training with my students every single day and the sparring grounds can only be reserved once a week for classes." Byleth gave a small sigh. "So, I need to fill the week with other lessons. History and magic theory were the easiest for me to create lessons on with such short notice."

"Your job as a teacher is to teach your students, not regurgitate old knowledge that everyone knows." Jeralt argued. "There is nothing wrong with learning history, but if the lesson holds no value to your students then it's nothing more than a waste of time."

"Well, I am open for suggestions." Byleth admitted. "because as it stands I have less than a day to research a new subject and create a new lesson plan."

"Teach them how to be a mercenary." Byleth leveled a glare at Jeralt, half expecting him to burst out laughing. He was trying to be serious, and his father was cracking jokes. However, his father's lips did not so much as twitch.

"You're actually serious," Byleth realized in half disbelief.

"Of course, I am." At Byleth's withering glare he continued. "We both know that being a mercenary is more than stabbing someone and getting paid." Jeralt elaborated. "We need to know how to read the weather, navigate rough terrain, and how to track our target. We need to know where and when to resupply, as well as where to camp once the day is over. Teach them how to be a mercenary, and I can guarantee you that you'll never have trouble filling out your planner."

"I doubt that the other teachers or Lady Rhea would approve of that method." Byleth pointed out. "A few of the student might have a few hang ups as well." Jeralt waved his son's concerns away.

"I agree that you can't jump right in. If you do that there will be some backlash," Jeralt nodded. "You will first need to teach your students to open their minds. Broaden their horizons, show them what you know beyond what they have been taught in their kingdoms. Once they realize that your skills as a mercenary can provide them with more than simple knight training they won't argue." Outwardly, Byleth's expression remained unchanged, but Jeralt could see the thoughts swirling behind his eyes.

"I think something just came to mind." Byleth said coming out of his internal musings. "Thank you for the help." With that the teacher stood and departed, allowing Jeralt a small chuckle. If he knew his son as well as he thought he did, those kids were in for a surprise.

-Ω-

Edelgard carefully laid out her class materials before her. Parchment for any notes she felt that she would need later on. A fresh bottle of ink and lastly a quill for the aforementioned note taking. She spared a glance behind her to see if any of her classmates were following suit.

Ferdinand and Hubert had, as expected, laid out their own materials and were patently waiting for class to begin. Caspar was attempting to stay awake, if the yawning and him constantly rubbing his eyes was any indication. Linhardt, on the other hand, made no such effort and was already laying on his desk snoring softly. Bernadetta was practically vibrating in her seat, eyes shifting nervously trying to detect any danger. Dorothea was idling humming a tune to herself, and finally Petra was reading a novel.

"Good morning everyone." Attention immediately shifted to the entrance as Byleth walked in. He calmly walked to the front desk and, without pausing, opened one of the windows on the far end of the room. Edelgard frowned at the action. The room was not hot by any means, so why would their teacher open the window?

"Good morning professor, what will you be taught- I mean teaching us today?" Petra asked, quickly closing her novel.

"I had originally planned on teaching you about the founding of the empire today." Byleth's reply caused Caspar to groan. Edelgard shot him a look but internally she felt the same. She knew the empire's history thoroughly, especially its founding. She had taken numerous lessons on the subject in the empire in her childhood. It was to prepare her to be the next ruler after all. She was shaken from her thoughts as Byleth continued.

"However, I am aware that the majority of you already know how the Empire was founded. So, I will be changing the lesson plan." This drew a few curious murmurs from the class. Edelgard was surprised but not wholly disappointed. If it saved her from hearing about how the Empire was created, she was willing for the change of pace.

"If you are ignoring your planned lesson, what will be teaching us?" Hubert asked coldly, a sharp edge to his voice. Clearly Hubert was not a fan of the blatant dismissal of the plan. Byleth spared a glance at the irritated student before continuing.

"Can anyone tell me what animals make up the majority of the Empire's army?" Edelgard blinked, the question causing her pause. She could hear hushed mutters behind her as her classmates discussed. Why would he ask such an obvious question? How could this pertain to a lesson?

"Wyverns, pegasi and horses." Edelgard answered. Byleth nodded quickly jotting the three answers on the blackboard behind him.

"That is correct, now which is the most versatile when in comes to war?" Again the class was filled with muffled murmurs. All three were mounts used in battle to augment a soldier's abilities on the battlefield. Pegasi and Wyverns could fly over most obstacles but had to be cautious of arrows which were practically staples in any army. Horses on the other hand had excellent mobility on flat terrain, but forests and sand hampered their movement greatly. Horseslayers were also a problem for them, dropping it in one or two hits. Each had their advantages and disadvantages, and Edelgard quickly tried to sort her thoughts. Before she could do so however, another student answered.

"Pegasi!" Caspar called from the back. "At least that what Linhardt told me!" The class turned their attention to the student in question, who was groggily getting up from his impromptu snooze. Upon seeing himself the center of attention Linhardt decided to explain his decision.

"A pegasus' advantage of easily moving across any type of terrain is superior to the horse who can only move quickly when it is unimpeded. A staple defense in most armies are barricades and walls which slow such movement. In terms of weakness, while it is true that a pegasus and wyverns can be dropped by a barrage of arrows, a well-prepared team of riders can easily navigate around such obstacles." At the doubtful looks he received, Linhardt continued. "I'm not claiming that there are superior in every way, I am just pointing out that in most battle scenarios, they had the advantage."

"Mr. Hevring makes a valid point," Byleth's voice drew the attention of the class back to himself. "No one animal is perfect. The reason the army uses each type is because they each have their benefits and shortcomings. However, I would disagree that a pegasus is the most versatile. In battle the pegasus has many advantages, but the horse in far more superior in war." At Byleth's declaration, Ferdinand's hand quickly shot up.

"But Professor, isn't a pegasus just a horse with wings?"

"Not even remotely." Came the calm response. "Unlike pegasus and wyvern, horses are just as useful on the battlefield as they are off the battlefield. Their main use is the transportation of goods. They are constantly used to pull carts which contain extra supplies, weapons or wounded soldiers. To do the same task, a pegasus would need a special harness to not damage its fragile wings, where as a wyvern would simply be unable to reproduce the task. Furthermore, unlike horses, a pegasus' first instinct when in trouble is to fly. This either results in a cart dumping all its contents if the load is light enough or a panicking pegasus that cannot fly if the load is too heavy. While some kingdoms in the past have experimented with tying cargo to wyverns and pegasus, they had all ended with less than useful results. The only advantage was that the load could be moved vertically more quickly. However, the loads must be kept relatively light and the flights short. Unstrained, a mature pegasus can only fly for just under one hour before needing to recover. In contrast a horse can move under burden for more than three hours without major issue."

"Professor, pegasus can be use- are used for scouting." Petra interrupted. "Is this not a use off the battlefield?"

"True Miss Macneary," Byleth conceded. "I would agree, due to their ability to fly pegasus are an exceptional tool for scouting. However, their ability to scout is limited by the rider. Without any magnification, humans are very limited in their range of sight. To acquire accurate information a scout must get close to their target. This is usually done stealthily to not draw attention. However, in a flier's case, there is little place to hide which opens themselves up to potential counterattacks by archers. This doesn't even include environmental factors. A pegasus knight's vision can be severely hampered by snow and sand when windy and in almost completely negated in a wooded area or during the night." It was then that Dorothea rose her hand.

"While this is all very interesting Professor, what are you trying to teach us?" Edelgard half expected their teacher to scowl at being questioned. To her surprise, Byleth responded with a nod.

"An excellent question Miss Arnault. Allow me to respond with another. With the points we discussed, what would the optimal scout be?" Dorothea blinked, mouth open but unable to find the words to respond. Edelgard was intrigued, quickly glancing to the notes that she had been taking. An optimal scout would need be able to accurately gather information regardless of the situation. Thus, they would need better eyesight that a human, with the ability to see farther and clearer. They would need night vision as well. But what about if the enemy was hidden in a forest or a castle? Flight would be necessary, but as Byleth pointed out, it would leave them open to attack. So perhaps invisibility? Edelgard gave a small huff of annoyance at the idea. She was getting ahead of herself.

"Professor, if I be so bold, what do you think the optimal scout would be?" Ferdinand asked. In lieu of a response, Byleth brought his fingers to his lips and let out a whistle. A moment later a hawk flew through the open window making Bernadetta shriek. It made a lazy arc around the room before landing on the stand usually used by the school's owl.

"As I am sure to you are all aware that this is my goshawk, Subaru." At Byleth's introduction the hawk gave a small cry, little more than a chirp. "To answer your question Mr. Aegir, I would say this is the optimal scout. Hawk eyes are four to eight times better than human eyes. Furthermore, while they have the ability of flight, hawks also retain the ability to scout forests and other densely packed area with little to no trouble. While they are limited in speech, they can easily give answers to simply question such as the direction of an enemy or the approximate number of opponents. However ,their most notable trait is that it is not an animal used in the armies of Fódlan." The last point raised a few eyebrows, Edelgard's included.

"Professor can you elaborate on that last point?" Hubert said, "I think you lost a few of us."

"Of course." Byleth nodded. "As stated at the beginning of the class the three animals used in the armies across Fódlan are wyverns, pegasi and horses. While there are still wild packs of these animals, seeing one will bring suspicion and alert anyone that a potential threat is near. However, hawks are native to all of Fódlan. Wild hawks are commonplace and seeing one won't alarm anyone. Thus, in the eyes of the three kingdoms, a hawk is basically invisible." There was silence in the class as all the eyes of the students widened. He could see the gears beginning to spin at his declaration. If hawks were effective, then what other animals had the same potential?

"Your first assignment is to pick an animal that you believe would be effective on the battlefield." Byleth continued, writing on the board as he did so. "List its traits and how you would utilize it. Make sure to note any negatives the creature would incur, such as feeding and giving the animal shelter. That being said, if you think that one of the currently used animals is superior, write a report defending your choice. I will give you all till the end of the week to research and write a one-page report on your findings. Make sure to use historical references on where your choice could have been used to turn the tide of battle." As Byleth finished the bells across the campus chimed, announcing the end of class. Aside from Edelgard, the students quickly left, several talking about their newest assignment. Once the pair were alone, Edelgard spoke.

"I certainly didn't expect our first lesson to be weaponizing an animal to further bloodshed." It was said as a half jest. While the lesson had certainly been eye opening, the assignment had been a bit jarring. While she could see the practicality in the assignment, she would rather not put it into action. Byleth studied her for a moment before tilting his head.

"The purpose of my assignment is not to further the loss of human or animal life on the battlefield." Byleth responded easily, his gaze unblinking. "If you think that was my aim, you have missed the point of my lesson entirely." Edelgard blinked, taken a back at the comment. She spared a glance at her notes to see if they would shed some light on her confusion, but even the neat penmanship gave no new answers. For all her knowledge, the lesson had apparently eluded her.

"Then, what was the purpose?" Edelgard asked unable to keep the shock out of her voice. Byleth's eyes flicked and, for an instance, Edelgard swore they held laughter. But the moment passed and Byleth's eyes returned to their imposing stare.

"The purpose of my lesson was to get the class to look past the established and think about the possibilities beyond. In my years as a mercenary, I have seen countless deaths. Many could have been spared if the victim had thought beyond the basics. My goal as your professor is not to teach you how to fight, but how to survive." Materials collected, Byleth walked past the stunned princess only stopping at the door to the room. "If you remember nothing else from my lessons Ms. Hresvelg, remember this. The human mind in the greatest weapon a person can hold… and unlike conventional weaponry, it only grows sharper the more you use it." With that final statement Byleth left, the doors closing behind him.

-Ω-

The school library was always a quiet place, a sanctuary for those who sought knowledge or a reprieve from the bustle of daily life. The sanctity was enforced by the head librarian Tomas who, despite his age, could easily quiet even the rowdiest of students. It was here that Dimitri found himself, in the dead of night, with the two other leaders of the three houses. Technically the trio were breaking curfew and though the prince loathed to ignore rules and regulations, there was a more important matter at hand. Namely the essay on the founding of the Adrestian Empire that Professor Hanneman had assigned the Blue Lions. Claude, having received a similar assignment, had decided to team up with the blue prince and the pair had decided to ask for Edelgard's assistance on the subject. What better resource could they have asked for? Still their little study session took an odd turn when Edelgard had explained her own homework.

"That... is not what I expected." Dimitri admitted upon Edelgard finishing her tale of her first class with the newest professor. His conversations with the man, though brief, had helped Dimitri develop a sense of where Byleth stood. To put it plainly, their newest teacher was very much like his father. Quiet, modest to a fault and very attentive to his surroundings. He would have expected the man to be very by the books. For him to change the lesson plan seem preposterous. Still perhaps that was his own preferences influencing his thoughts.

"Well I think your assignment is infinitely more interesting than ours." The end came out as a hiss of disdain as Claude shot a look at his half-written essay. "I would have had my assignment done already if Byleth had been my teacher."

"Oh really?" Edelgard asked sparing a glance from her own parchment. "And what animal pray tell would you have chosen?" A familiar smile snuck its way onto the young merchant's lips.

"The bear."

"A bear!?" Dimitri exclaimed looking at Claude in disbelief. "You expect me to believe the animal you would choice to bring into battle would be a bear?"

"And what's wrong with that?" Claude laughed. "What squad of soldiers is going to stand their ground when they see an entire squadron of bears charging at them? Certainly no one from the Leicester Alliance, that's for sure."

"True, I doubt many armies would." Edelgard admitted her lips forming a thin line. "But would you like to explain to me how in the world are you going to shelter and feed and entire squadron of murderous, blood-thirsty animals?"

"Ok so maybe an entire squadron isn't realistic but that doesn't mean you have to put a damper on your creativity," Claude argued. "The professor said it himself, right? The purpose of the assignment was to think past what has been established. I say the crazier the idea the better!"

"And I say that your idea is completely ridiculous," Dimitri broke in. "Regardless of what the professor said, you need to take other factors into consideration. What would your family or your allies think if they found out that your preferred animal choice was the bear?" Dimitri gave an involuntary shiver. He was certain that he be getting more than a few stares from his subjects.

"All right then Dimitri," Claude countered. "What animal would you choose?" The prince hesitated for a moment before regaining his footing.

"Well, the horse has always been-"

"No, wrong, absolutely not." Claude cut in before Dimitri could speak further, shaking his head in disappointment. "Clearly you have learned nothing from our conversation."

"The horse is a staple in all the armies across Fódlan and has been a long and honored tradition-" Dimitri's attempt to retaliate was once again cut short.

"There are literally hundred of thousands of animals to choose from and you go with one that has already been done." Claude threw up his hands in mock defeat. "You could have chosen grasshoppers that communicate enemy coordinates or spiders that would sneak in and poison your opponents. You could have chosen a goddess-damned Kraken that would devour entire fleets of ships and you chose the horse." Dimitri chose not to respond, silently sulking. Claude laughed slightly before relenting his assault on the future king. "Well at least you didn't choose your house animal, there would have been no creativity in it. That would have just been embarrassing, right Edelgard?" After a few moments of silence the duo looked to the white-haired girl. Edelgard had suddenly found the bookshelves very fascinating, her head turned away from them. However even with the angle and dim lighting, it was impossible for them to miss the light dusting of pink on her cheeks.

"You chose Eagles?" Dmitri asked in disbelief. His statement caused the princess to send him a look.

"So, what if I did?" Edelgard's attempt to defend her choice would have been better if it hadn't come out as a little more than a mutter. At their continued silence, Edelgard spoke again. "It's a legitimate choice and I thought I would honor our class by choosing eagles. Besides our teacher has a hawk, so it thought it was practically the same." Edelgard face only grew redder when both of her classmates struggled to contain their laughter. "If you two keep this up, I won't help with your assignments." That was sufficient enough to quiet them.

"I believe we have gotten completely off track," Dimitri announced clearing his throat. "Shall we return to the task at hand?" Edelgard gave a curt nod while Claude gave a thumbs up. The trio returned to their work, and Dimitri's mind quickly shifted from animals to empires. Still he couldn't stop the single thought that echoed in the back of his mind. What would it be like to have Byleth as a teacher?

-Ω-

Byleth stared at the papers on his desk with distaste. Rationally, he knew that because he assigned the paper, he was also in charge of grading it, but it didn't mean he particularly enjoyed the activity. Still he had made the commitment to be a teacher and grumbling would get him nowhere. He picked up another paper and began to grade. Byleth had decided that he would not grade on the animal his student had picked, as that would be contrary to the reason he assigned the paper in the first place. However, he was free to critic his students on how well that had thought through their choices. Not only on their potential benefits but also on their disadvantages.

Still he had not expected such… diversity among his student's choices. Some had been very tactical, like Hubert, who had chosen canines for their excellent sense of smell as well as their hearing. Their tracking ability would be leagues above humans and their speed allowed them to quick pursue and eliminate a target. On the other hand, some students had gone for raw destructive power. Casper, in particular, had written his report on an entire herd of buffalo. He had even written that they were perfect because they were like a battalion of knights that didn't need riders.

Of course, there were some reports that seemingly came out of nowhere. Dorothea had chosen frogs that would 'lull the enemy to sleep,' which was unique but still a bit farfetched. The most oddball report was Bernadetta's who hadn't even chosen an animal. She stated that she would be too nervous to handle one and that carnivorous plants would suit her better. He had needed to massage his temples for a few minutes before he had graded that one. Ever enjoying his frustrations, Sothis had been beside him the entire time, laughed manically.

"I cannot fathom why you are acting like such a child. You are simply reaping the seeds of which you sowed." She declared. "Really, I don't see why you have any reason to complain. You left the assignment wide open so it is only natural some students would bend the parameters of their assignment."

"I realize that Sothis but limiting them would have only harmed their growth. Besides, this is as much as a lesson for them as it is for me." The report held so much more information than animals and their uses in battle, the report held information about the students themselves. As observant as Byleth was he still missed details. Furthermore, many students hid away their own quirks, trying to put up a front when they spoke with him. However, these became apparent in their writing. Some he already knew, like Bernadetta's fear of interacting, or Dorothea love of song and music. Others he could piece together like Petra incredible love for her homeland or Linhardt's sharp mind under his lazy exterior. Ferdinand's yearning for the crown, Caspar's brashness on the battlefield and Hubert's cautiousness, while hidden, bled through the words and into Byleth's mind.

It was an enlightening experience and Byleth committed all he could to memory, so he could teach his students the best he could. However, the last report gave him pause. Edelgard's essay was carefully blank of emotion. She was one of the few students that he could not pick up anything from. It was like a barrier had been put in place, one that allowed nothing to pass. Her paper was much the same, detailing the advantages of using eagles on the battlefield. It was a perfect report, detailing the expected costs of raising and keeping the animal. Still it held little in way of her true self and did little to teach Byleth more than he already knew. It was only at the final sentence did Byleth find that the barrier had cracked, if only a little. It was there that the future empress had written:

'If nothing else, eagles would be excellent at eliminating rats.'

-Ω-

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