Dedue sighed as he put out yet another fire in the kitchen, courtesy of Annette. Thankfully the Mess Hall was mostly empty this time, so he didn't have to also quell a panic. He was what many would call a patient man, but even he had his limits.

Especially when it came to the food. If he wasn't stopping his Highness from eating the damn weeds, then he was supervising his classmates in the kitchens.

"Please follow the recipe," Dedue said as he stopped Flayn from sneaking in a ghost pepper into the curry.

It wasn't as if he had much choice about whether or not he'd give them lessons at this point. If he didn't then he'd risk the entire Monastery and its inhabitants burned to the ground in a fiery inferno.

"But it would give it another layer of flavor!" Flayn argued.

"Follow the recipe," Dedue said more firmly this time.

Flavor was useless if the dish would end up igniting the mouths, and rears soon after, of anyone that tried to eat it.

The green haired girl gave Dedue her signature pout, but fortunately he had long since become immune to it. From an outsider's perspective it might seem rather cold hearted for him to refuse her but it had become necessary for the Monastery's survival.

Flayn wasn't a bad person by any means. She was kind, sometimes obliviously so, but she had a naivety that tended to cause trouble for those around her. It also didn't help that she could be surprisingly and unintentionally manipulative with the people that interacted with her.

Even Hubert had fallen victim if the stories of the Pegasus incident were to be believed.

It took some time, but eventually Flayn put the ghost pepper aside and began to chop up the onions as he had instructed. Once he was certain that she was occupied with this task and doing nothing else, Dedue went to Annette to make sure she didn't start yet another fire in the kitchen.

Unlike Flayn, who could be kept occupied by giving her simple yet repetitive tasks, Annette was more of a wild card. There were times when she would cook surprisingly well and there were times when she would force an evacuation of the entire building. There was no in between with her and that made being around her frightening.

Dedue glanced over Annette's back, not that that was particularly hard for him due to the difference in their height and looked at the ingredients laid out before her. Salt, pepper, chili powder, nothing too crazy, and the smell coming out of the shimmering pot was pleasant enough.

"Have you been tasting the curry?" he asked

"Yea," Annette took out a spoon, dipped it in the pot, and offered it to him. "I think it needs a little more salt though."

Dedue took the spoon and tasted the curry before nodding in agreement.

"Just add a few small pinches at most."

"Don't worry about making mistakes. Just focus on what's in front of you Annie," Mercedes commented from across the counter.

Dedue welcomed the kind woman's presence if only because it seemed to keep Annette in line.

"I got this Mercie," Annette replied, having been cheered up by her friend. "Ooh I can't wait for you to try it!"

"We're still a ways off from being done," Dedue cautioned as he grabbed the carrots and onions that Flayn had cut before adding them to the pot. "We'll need to adjust the seasoning as the ingredients cook."

"Why we can't just do the seasoning at the end when we've added everything?" Flayn asked

"It's best to season throughout each step of the cooking process, even if it's just only a bit. This ensures a deeper flavor," he explained.

"Seems a bit complicated for a simple curry," Lysithea commented from her seat next to Mercedes. Her head rested sideways on her arm as she laid on the table.

"No more complicated than what's required to cast a spell," Dedue said as he moved to help Flayn with the rest of the cutting. "Besides we need to be careful to adjust for the different tastes across the students and faculty."

"I still think you're putting in a lot of needless work. They should be thankful enough not to be picky when you're the one on cooking duty," Lysithea argued.

"Then perhaps I'll have to abandon my plans to make a portion of a sweet fruit infused curry."

"Never mind."

Dedue began chopping the onions that Flayn peeled. The stench of the bulbs was enough to get Flayn and Lysithea to start wiping the tears out of their eyes.

"I don't know how you can stand cutting those wretched things," Lysithea commented.

"You get used to it, though it does help to cook them a little beforehand," Dedue replied with nary a tear in his eyes. "And they have a good sweet flavor once caramelized and softened."

"I'm well aware of that. I just hate them when they're raw."

"Noted."

Dedue continued to supervise the two girls in the kitchen as the others watched. It was thankfully uneventful for the most part as they began to finish up cutting the rest of the meat.

"I really have to thank you for taking the time to teach Annie," Mercedes said with a smile on her face.

"I'm just doing as my Highness commanded," Dedue replied.

It was certainly unnerving to be separated from Dimitri for so long, but he wouldn't let that get in the way of his duty.

"It's still very thoughtful of you," Mercedes replied.

Dedue smirked. He couldn't really help it. It was hard not to be comforted by Mercedes's presence. Even the notably high strung white haired girl next to her seemed to relax near her.

Unlike Flayn, Mercedes was most certainly not naïve and yet she somehow remained kind. It was an unconditional kindness that was tempered by her experiences yet not completely lost by them, something that was so rare to find in these times and yet completely recognizable to the people around her.

"Perhaps you and I could try baking a cake sometime," Mercedes then offered, causing Lysithea to immediately perk up.

"Maybe," was Dedue's response.

"If you do two do happen to make a cake then I wouldn't find helping out," Lysithea said in a clear yet failed attempt to act casual. "It's a lot of work after all that I wouldn't want to force on the two of you."

Mercedes looked at the white haired girl with a knowing smile. "Of course. You can join us anytime."

"I thought I smelled curry," a gruff voice suddenly called out.

Everyone in the Mess Hall turned to find Jeralt. The Captain promptly passed the doorway and took a separate seat at the far corner of the counter a significant distance away from everyone else.

"It won't be ready for another hour," Dedue replied.

"Its fine I can wait," Jeralt waved them off and began drinking from a familiar flask.

"A bit early to drink, isn't it?" Lysithea commented with an eye raised.

"This isn't enough to get me drunk. Just helps me bide the time."

"I didn't know you liked curry that much," Mercedes said.

"Not so much me, but my kid."

"Really?" Annette, Flayn, and Lysithea asked simultaneously.

"He loves the stuff. Was always the first one to show up for a bowl whenever we had someone make it back at camp."

"I never thought he had a favorite food," Lysithea commented.

Jeralt scratched the back of his head. "He doesn't show it well, but I picked up a few things from raising him. Spicy and savory things are going to be your best bet at getting a reaction out of him."

"What about sweets?"

"Sweets are fine with tea. Nothing sour though. He'll take one bite and never touch it again."

Dedue, Mercedes, and Lysithea promptly filed this information away. No lemon cakes for the Professor then.

"So a savory and spicy curry for the Professor then," Dedue said out loud for Flayn and Annette to hear. "Any particular vegetables or meats he favors?"

"You know he isn't here right now?" Jeralt asked.

"I'm well aware," Dedue replied.

"Where is he anyway?" Annette asked.

"Edelgard! Lindhart! Hurry up the gate's about to close!"

"Why are the two of you so slow!?"

"Huff- I told you all- Huff- I'm not suited for running!"

"They aren't going to make it we need to do something now!"

"I've got this Professor!"

"Dimitri? What are you doing!?"

"My apologies El"

"PUT ME DOWN. AS THE HEIR TO THE EMPIRE I DEMAND THAT YOU-"

"Balthus catch!"

"DIMITRI!"

"Wait wha- YAAAH!"

"Ok before we do anything rash- Oh not me too!"

Jeralt shrugged. "Who knows. He's always off doing his own thing. He'll come back though, always does. Curry might go bad by then though."

"We can store it in a cooler or perhaps put it in stasis with magic if necessary. Besides it gets better if you let it sit for a day or two," Dedue replied.

"He likes onions and bear meat then…" Jeralt replied. "Probably don't have bear here so you could replace it with pork or chicken."

Dedue nodded.

"Understood"

"A shame. It's been a long time since I've partaken of a bear."

Another unexpected guest came in, though this voice was far more notable than the last.

Dedue remained stoic as Lady Rhea stepped into the Mess Hall and took a brief moment to give her a customary and polite bow. "

Welcome Archbishop."

Everyone else wasn't nearly as composed as he was. Jeralt's expression became stern, Annette dropped her spoon, Mercedes let out a surprised gasp, Lysithea stared with wide eyes, and Flayn smiled while waving a hand with a knife still in her grip. That last one was a safety hazard and one Dedue would have to chastise the green haired girl about later.

"Lady Rhea is fine," the Archbishop replied serenely as she too took a seat next to the counter. Hers though was about as far as Jeralt as she could get. There was a notable tension between the two and unfortunately both Lysithea and Mercedes were caught in the center of it.

"Why Lady Rhea. It's a pleasant surprise to see you here," Mercedes commented in an attempt to lighten the mood. "You grace us with your presence."

"I am merely a wanderer that happened to catch the smell of curry. In the end it is the Goddess that graces us all," Rhea replied as she crossed her hands on her lap. Even on a stool in the Mess Hall she sat in a regal and authoritarian way.

"You like curry?" Annette asked as she kneeled down to pick up her dropped spoon.

"It is a favorite of mine. I quite enjoy it." Rhea glanced at Jeralt. "It's been a long time since we've eaten curry together."

"There were… others, but it has been a long time," Jeralt replied with clear caution in his voice.

"Indeed. Perhaps we should do that again, and with your son when he returns."

"I'll keep that in mind," Jeralt replied noncommittedly. "You seem to be spending a lot of time with him anyway."

"He has led a very interesting life. His exploits of his times as a mercenary were quite enjoyable to listen to."

Dedue could agree, but the same could be said of the Captain in front of them. There was something else about the Professor that had caught the Archbishop's interest, something that even Dimitri had been wondering about.

"So uh… how do you like your curry?" Annette asked before an awkward silence could fill the room.

"I'll just take a portion of whatever you're making for the Professor," Rhea replied.

Jeralt grunted. "Make some extra for me too then."

Dedue nodded as he returned to helping Flayn and Annette finish the curry. It would be best to stay out of the way of whatever was going on between Jeralt and the Archbishop.

Unfortunately, Lysithea did not have much option but to stay seated between the Jeralt and Rhea. If she got up now it would likely be seen as rude.

Normally she wouldn't care about something like this, but well even she couldn't afford to do something to receive the ire of the Archbishop.

"So… how did the Professor learn magic in your company?" Lysithea decided to ask Jeralt in an attempt to bring up some sort of conversation. She wasn't sure what was happening in the Mess Hall, but the tension was thick enough that you could cut it with a knife. "He's quite self-sufficient for a mercenary if you also consider his skills with a blade."

Besides she was curious. Though the Professor preferred to use a sword she had seen a few instances where he had casted magic with a surprising efficiency.

Jeralt eyed Rhea carefully before answering.

"There were a few mages in the camp. He learned a few reason spells, simple but practical ones, in case he had to fight enemies in armor."

"What about faith magic? He seems quite capable in that," Lysithea commented.

"That… was something he picked up recently to be honest. Never seen him use a heal until he came here."

That piqued Lysithea's curiosity. Faith magic required a certain amount of piety in something… well anything really in order to be used. Faith in a deity, faith in oneself, or even faith in an ideal, this belief was what was necessary to delve into this school of magic. Granted it wasn't the only requirement, or else Hubert would've been a true savant in the art considering his worship of Edelgard, but it was certainly important to have.

"Perhaps he came upon his newfound gift once he had accepted the Goddess's faith," Rhea proposed.

The Professor never really seemed like the religious type, but then again that might explain why he would talk to himself all the time.

"Couldn't say. He's changed though since he came here…" Jeralt replied

"How so?" Mercedes asked.

"He's… happier I think. Actually tries to smile now at least," Jeralt admitted.

"I enjoy having the Professor at the Monastery," Flayn chirped as she joined them at the counter. "He always finds a way to make things interesting."

"That's not always a good thing kid," Jeralt told the green haired girl. "If things are boring then that usually means things are peaceful."

That captain shook his head.

"And things haven't been boring for a long time now," he muttered to himself.

"That is true," Rhea admitted. "But the Monastery has become brighter with his presence. I hope to have his and yours continued service."

"We'll see. It depends on what my kid wants," Jeralt replied.

The Archbishop nodded having apparently accepted his anwer before turning to Lysithea. "Have you yourself considered working with the Church once you graduate?"

Flayn immediately lit up upon hearing those words while Jeralt squinted his eyes.

Lysithea froze and stared at the Archbishop cautiously.

"Are you offering me a position in the Church?"

Rhea nodded.

"Why?"

"Seteth and Flayn have said much in your praise," the archbishop replied.

"We have!" Flayn said and leaned closer to Lysithea. "There's so much we could do if you were to start working here and we'll certainly treat you well for what you've done for us."

Lysithea gulped despite how dry her mouth had become. It was a surprise to receive this offer and not a pleasant one at that.

"I appreciate the offer," she said while cautiously picking her words. "But I have to decline."

Rhea seemed nonplussed by the rejection. "Might I ask why?"

"I have my family to consider on top of my responsibilities to House Ordelia. There's a lot I must do and I believe those obligations will keep me too busy to be of much use to you."

"The church can assist you with those responsibilities. Whether you choose to continue ruling those lands or give them up."

Lysithea paused for a brief second.

"And how would the Church help with the latter?" she asked.

"If you were to give up your position then the Church would ensure a smooth transition of your lands and people to another noble of the Alliance. We would also ensure that your family remains comfortable and that you would be well financed in your pursuits," Rhea replied.

"And I'd imagine Seteth would've told you what those pursuits are."

Lysithea was no fool. Though she had grown to learn about the kinder and wiser side of Seteth, she also knew how infallibly loyal he was to Rhea. Anything she had told him would've gone straight to the Archbishop.

"He has," Rhea admitted.

"And you would also be aware of my… condition."

"We have many people researching into your particular situation. Though I can't guarantee how quickly we will reach any conclusive results, but your contribution would certainly help it progress."

Lysithea clasped her hands.

"In conclusion if I were to work with the Church you would help me in dissolving House Ordelia, put further resources into researching my condition, and allow me to pursue my other… goals."

Rhea nodded.

"Indeed."

"And why would you be so generous to someone like me?"

Rhea smiled, though this one wasn't the serene one she usually gave to others. The smile the Archbishop gave now was tinged with malice in both the lips and eyes.

"Because I believe we have a common enemy, and wouldn't you say they deserve the same fate as anyone who goes against the Goddess?" The archbishop asked.

"I think they deserve a fate worse than that," Lysithea replied.

Death and execution, that was too easy. Best that they suffer to the point that they would be begging for Goddess's embrace.

And it seemed that Rhea agreed with that too judging by the satisfied expression on her face.

"The Goddess forgives all, but you are correct that we do not have to be so merciful."

The archbishop relaxed herself in order to appear more welcoming.

"So, what do you think about my offer now?" Rhea asked.

"I think…" Lysithea replied thoughtfully. "That you've given me much to consider. Might I take some time to think about it?"

"Of course. This offer will remain open all the way until your graduation."