The Mock Battle
"Good morning class." Byleth greeted as everyone took their seats.
"Professor, have you decided who is going to the mock battle !" Caspar yelled exited.
"Yes Caspar. The ones joining me and Edelgard on the mock battle will be Hubert, Petra, and Bernadetta."
"ME !" Bernadetta yelled from her desk. Almost falling from her chair. "But...why me ! I did horrible !"
"Bernadetta you had the second best marks, after Edelgard."
"I....I´m sorry what. I even beat Hubert ?"
"It would seem so." Hubert mumbled. Making Bernadetta shriek in fear.
"Well that is expected. Bernadetta is the daughter of Madam Varley. The greatest tactician in the Empire. Still...I can not believe that I, Ferdinand von Aegir did not make it in. Are you sure there is not a mistake Professor ?"
Bernadetta wimpered more and hid behind Petra, who sent a glare at Ferdinand's way. When did the two of them become friends ?
Though yes, Ferdinand should have thought more of his words, it should not be easy for Bernadetta to be compared to her mother. Though Edelgard is sure he did not mean anything bad about it.
"There are no mistakes Ferdinand. You have skilled, but you are overconfident, we must work on that."
At that, Hubert let out a chuckle. "I agree Professor. About time someone told him as much."
Ferdinand growled at hearing that.
"Ah man, I wanted to go to the fight..." Caspar said disappointed.
"Well the Professor chose them, which means they are the best ones here." Linhardt said.
"Shut up. You didn't even try !"
"...."
"With that say, I want you four to stay for a while after class, so we can review before the fight."
With that, Byleth took her seat.
"Wait, aren't we going to the training grounds Professor !" Caspar said shocked.
Byleth shook her head. "Manuela has them reserved for the Golden Deer all day. and tomorrow is for Hanneman and the Blue Lions. We will be back there on Friday."
"Ah man."
"Today we will review tactics." Byleth said, handling everyone pamphlets. "Everyone, here you have a scenario, you must tell me what the mistake is, and what you would do instead to attain victory."
Edelgard grabbed the pamphlet and started working on it.
She was actually exited for this classes....for more than one reason.
The day of the mock battle had finally come.
Byleth, Edelgard, Hubert, Bernadetta, and Petra left to the field with the other contenders, while the rest of the Eagles were given a free day.
Jeralt would be the overseer of this fight. He had given all of the classes time to get ready.
"Do we know who the other classes have ?"
"Yes Professor. The Blue Lions have Dimitri, Dedue, Mercedes, and Ashe. I overheard he wanted this to be a chance for those that don't have much battle experience. As for the Golden Deer, I think that its Claude, Hilda, Lorenz, and Ingatz."
"I heard the Golden Deer had to change members suddenly, after one of Claude`s tricks backfired. Poor Raphael, he ate the poisoned stake meant for Petra."
"Claude wanted me poisoned ! Why, I thought he had much kindness ?"
"He appears kind, but he is a trickster." Edelgard said. "We should be ready for any plan he makes."
"Bernadetta, stay behind the group, and take cover as soon as you can. Edelgard and Petra, ahead with me, Hubert, you behind us."
"Allright." Jeralt called. "The mock battle is officially on, fight !"
The Black Eagles charged ahead, only to be met with Lorenz.
"Haha, none of Claude´s clever little schemes will be needed. I, Lorenz Helman Gloucester, can defeat our enemies by my cheer might. Ignatz, cover me !"
"Bu...but Lorenz, aren't we supposed to follow Claude's plan ?"
"There is no need for that. Now watch as I, the true future leader of the Alliance, take down the enemy, hah !"
Lorenz charged wildly at Byleth, who simply stepped to the left, leading Lorenz slide.
Instead of swinging her sword from top to bottom, Byleth did the opposite, breaking Lorenz´s lance.
"Huh !"
"You are very sloppy."
With another swing, she sent Lorenz fly to the trees.
"Gloucester boy." Jeralt called. "You are out !"
"WHAT ! ME ! Lorenz Helman Gloucester, was the first one to be eliminated, gah !" The man yelled as he stomped out of the field.
"Goodness." Hubert mumbled. "He is Ferdinand times 10."
"Makes you miss him."
Ignatz watched this and started shooting arrows at them, being cornered and defenseless.
Just then, Ashe appeared from his spot, and started shooting at them as well.
"Petra, take Ignatz !"
"Yes Professor !" Petra yelled, using her, frankly incredible, speed, to dodge the arrows Ignatz threw at her.
She jumped, and with a swing of her sword, took Ignatz down.
"Ignatz, you are out !"
Petra placed the sword down, and helped Ignatz up. "Are you ok Ignatz ? I hope I didn't give you the hurt ?"
"Hehe, no its fine Petra. I hope I did not hurt you either."
Ashe kept trying to shoot at Byleth, Edelgard, and Hubert, when suddenly.
"AH !" Ashe yelled as an arrow hit him. Soon after, other three arrows hit the boy. Jeralt soon called him out.
"Hey....I got him !" Bernadetta yelled from her spot.
Soon after Ashe got eliminated, Dimitri showed up with Dedue and Mercedes.
"I see Ashe got eliminated. Good work Edelgard."
"Thank you Dimitri, but I hope you aren't expecting some complements will make me go easier on you."
"I would never dream of that. Dedue, with me, Mercedes, cover us."
"Dimitri, is time to finally see who is stronger." She said as her axe clashed with his lance.
"Very well. With you as my opponent, I will hold nothing back. Take your best shot !"
"I wouldn't expect nothing less."
He axe clashed with his spear. Both making moves to try to hit the other once.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Petra finally reach and take down Mercedes. Petra helped the girl up as she gave her a bow.
"That was fun ! Good luck Dimitri." She called.
Then, she saw Manuela walk away, an training arrow mark on her forehead. Byleth already engaged Claude.
She had to concentrate though. Dimitri is a tough opponent. He's strikes are fast and she has to focus on dodging and get a hit.
Wait.....that's what Byleth said was her weakness. She can play it on Dimitri. Focus on dodging until he gets tired and leaves an opening, and then strike.
She focused all of her energy on countering. Waiting for the perfect opening.
She heard a massive figure fall to the floor. Sure enough, Jeralt called Dedue out.
"I am sorry your majesty."
"It's Ok Dedue, we can still win !"
Dimitri tried to strike her again.
"You are resistant, I didn't know that."
"Well thank the professor for that."
Sure enough, Dimitri's movements got slower, and finally, she got her opening.
She striked his back with her axe, sending him down.
"Prince Dimitri, you are out !"
Edelgard helped the Prince up.
"That was a good fight Edelgard. Thank you for showing me I still have a lot to learn."
"You are not a bad fighter Dimitri. I hope to fight again in the Battle of the Eagle and Lion."
"Yes, and on that, I will win."
He bowed and left, Edelgard ran towards the forest. Only Claude, Hilda, and the Professors left."
Edelgard looked and saw Byleth locked in battle with Hilda. Overwhelming her as she had on their training.
"Now Bernadetta !"
Byleth ducked as soon as an arrow came, knocking Hilda to the floor.
"OW ! Was that really necessary ?" She groaned.
"Hilda, come over here !"
"Oh, it's over. Yes !" She leaped away. Not caring that she lost.
Just then, an arrow just passed by Edelgard.
"Man, I had this perfect plan ready, but of course, Lorenz had to do his own thing." Claude mumbled.
"I take this is something that happens a lot."
"Oh you have no idea. Tactics lessons always take long because every time I plan something, Lorenz has to counter it. But we can talk about it later."
"Well Claude, lets...."
"Nah settle back Edelgard. I am alone, and you Eagles have all of your members."
"Wait...what about Professor Manuela."
Claude just pointed to the north, where Professors Manuela and Hanneman were panting, their clothes turned.
"I....I am not done Hanneman !"
"Bring it....on Manuela !"
The two Professors went as if they were gonna throw spells at each other....but both collapsed on the floor.
"Yeah....I know when a fight is a loosing one, and with a mock one....the price of victory is not enough. I give up. My only request is that if the Black Eagles do a victory feast, invite the Golden Deer to drink our sorrow away....except Lorenz."
Edelgard rolled her eyes. "If there is a feast, I promise I'll call you."
Claude smirked, and signaled that he was out.
"That's it for the mock battle ! with a clear victory, the winners are the Black Eagles !" Jeralt called.
"We have the victory !" Petra yelled.
"We won......We won !" Bernadetta called.
"Hmph. The other houses were pathetic." Hubert said.
"Good work everyone. We have clearly earned this victory."
Edelgard watched her teacher.
"It's all thanks to you. Thank you My Teacher."
"No. This is a team effort. Good job you 4."
Edelgard saw her smile softly for the second time.
That's a smile, that she is growing to secretly treasure.
The other Eagles were really happy to know that they won.
Caspar interrogated Petra about the fight, and talked about what he would have done if he was there. Ferdinand just cursed Lorenz about his nobility. Dorothea congratulated Bernadetta for being there and brave, and Hubert just watched.
"This is a good start." Byleth told her.
"Yes. We have established ourselfs as the superior house."
"I was told that there is another mock battle that involves everyone right ?"
"Yes, the Battle of the Eagle and Lion. It's some Moons away."
"Then we will win that one too. Good job Edelgard."
"It's all thanks to you, My Teacher."
Byleth nodded at her and called the class.
"Alright, listen. Tomorrow, as a gift for our victory, you all have the day free. But we reassume class the next day, as we have our monthly task to complete."
"Actually Professor. We were planning on a victory celebration, surely you will join us."
Byleth seems to think about it. "Sure, I'll be there."
The Black Eagles headed to the dining role, and yes, Edelgard did keep her word and told Claude, and she told Dimitri for good measure as well.
All of the students were there, celebrating the first mock battle of the term.
All except for Lorenz that is, as he was in the infirmary, having mysteriously gotten food poisoning.
Claude's schemes could be fun sometimes, even Edelgard had to admit.