A Little Competition
Edelgard And Lysithea entered the Dining Hall, to find the Black Eagles already there.
“Oh hey Edie, about time you showed up. And I see you have a guest.”
Both students sat down, with Edelgard sitting Besides Byleth.
“Lysithea is joining us for the next mission. I think it’s wise for her to join us.”
Most of the Eagles nodded and continued on.
“So what are we talking about.”
“Ferdinand has been talking about a pamphlet of his accomplishments.” Petra said. “And how he is gonna give you the loosing Edelgard.”
“Not this again.”
“I’m following our agreement and not publishing it !” Ferdinand said. “But I have to show how superior I am to you Edelgard.”
“Ferdinand.” Lysithea said. “I’m gonna say it, your are a toned down version of Lorenz. Which is not as bad, but still not good.”
Hubert snorted at hearing that, while Dorothea chucked.
“That’s to true my little lady. Though no one can be as bad as Lorenz.
Claude appeared with his food, and sat down, Hilda right at his side.
“Hey Princess.”
“Hello Claude. How’s it been ?”
“It’s been good. Glad we didn’t get the whole Lonato thing. I heard the Blue Lion house is extremely tensed right now.”
“Yeah. I heard that they were all sent to bed early because they must leave tomorrow morning.” Hilda said.
“But hey, maybe this is time to create an alliance of Golden Deer and Black Eagles. After all, I do prefer you Princess over his Royal Highness.”
“I, flattered Claude.”
“So what’s this about Ferdinand wanting to beat Princess ?”
Ferdinand went on talking about his big rilbary with Edelgard and how he is superior.
“Have you bitten someone else ?”
They all turned to Byleth, who had just spoken.
“Excuse me ?”
“I mean, Edelgard does have the best marks in the class. And you are not in second place. That means before challenging her, you need to defeat them first.”
Hubert chuckled this time. “Oh Professor. Everytime you bring his ego down, and fully enjoy it.”
Ferdinand gasped at that. “Professor....you are right ! I can’t be Edelgard’s rival, if I can not beat the one that is closest to her. Now who is the second best at class ?!”
“Pretty sure I saw Bernadetta getting the second highest test scores.” Linhardt yawned.
“Oh come on....did you have to put me on the spot !”
“Ah, of course it’s you Bernadetta. Our face off will be grand ! The daughter of Madam Varley, against the son of the great Duke Aegir, both heroes of the Empire !”
Edelgard growled silently. Only one of those was an actual good person.
“Wait....yo...you want to fight me....NOOOOO. I AM DONT WANT TO FIGHT, I SURRENDER !”
“If Ferdinand will be fighting Bernie, he is gonna have to fight me first !” Petra said protectively.
Claude whistled, getting everyone’ a attention.
“Now let’s calm down. There are other ways that we can compete without fighting. I have an idea. Something that comes from home. A battle of the stoves !”
“You mean a cooking competition.” Lysithea deadpanned. “As if any of your ideas would actually work.”
“Hm...maybe you might be up to the challenge Lysithea. I was thinking, that Ferdinand and Bernadetta should get partners, and those partners are of the Golden Deer house. If my competitors are like that though, I don’t expect you to join. They are grown up stuff after all...”
“WHY YOU.....You know what. FINE ! I’ll participate. I’m teaming up with Bernadetta and show you something you will be unable to have enough off !”
Bernie let out a yelp. Remembering their first encounter.....
“That’s the spirit ! Now I need to find Ferdinand a partner. And to make it fair. Teach, Princess, Hilda, and I will judge. Two of each house.”
“This will be great. After this, there will be nothing to stop me from challenging Edelgard !” Ferdinand cried.
“Well....since this competion is about bringing the anti social out of their shells....I think I have the perfect partner for you Ferdinand.” Hilda said. “Though you better treat her well or it won’t end well for you.”
“Don’t worry my dear Hilda. Whoever you have in mind, will be treated with the biggest respect.”
Edelgard sighted. Seeing she had no out of this. “So be it, tomorrow is Saturday, so we can get this over.”
“Wonderful ! This will be fun....for me at least !”
Bernadetta von Varley was known as the hermit of the Monastery for a reason.
If she wasn’t on class or eating, she always stayed on her room.
But now she was supposed to leave...all because she got good grades and Linhardt had to open his mouth.
Just as she was started pacing, she hears her door being banged.
“GAAAAH !”
“Bernadetta ! It’s Lysithea, we need to head to the dining hall so we can win this !’
Oh no. She’s here....
Her first encounter with Lysithea had not been pleasant. It had been before classes started. She had been rushing to her room, when she collided with her.
She was so sure Lysithea was pissed, with the way she glared at her, Bernie knew she was dead if she didn’t run away.
And now she has to cook with her to defeat Ferdinand !
“Ah....sorry. I am not feeling well today.”
“Stop lying, we got no time to waste, I know those coughs are fake !”
“Dam it...”
“Bernadetta open this door or I’ll be forced to knock it down !”
NOOO, NOT HER DOOR !
“WAIT,STOP, IM OPENING THE DOOR.”
She quickly leaped and opened the door.
Unfortunately Lysithea was leaning n the door and fell forward.
“Gah !”
“Ah !”
Lysithea fell in top of Bernadetta, making them both hit the floor.
Their position was deeply uncomfortable and to make matters worst.
“Hey I heard yelling, are you ok Lysi....Oh !” Leonie stumbled. Having coming to see what happened, and seeing this uncomfortable scene. “Oh. I understand...you should probably close the door though...”
“No Leonie Wait, you got this wrong !” Lysithea yelled, but Leonie was already off. “Dam it. If she tells Claude, he’s not gonna let this go.”
“Uh....sorry.”
“It’s...fine. My fault for leaning over. Come on, they are waiting for us !”
Bernie sighted, gave her room one last look, and followed Lysithea.
Both girls trying their best to ignore what just happened.
“Alright, let’s start the first Golden Deer and Black Eagle competition !” Claude yelled, from what he had appointed as the judge table.
Hilda giggles at his side, while Byleth nods and Edelgard rolls her eyes at his theatrics.
From the other side of the cafeteria. Most of the other members of the Houses were there, as well as Manuela. The only ones missing were Hubert and Lorenz. Both men stating they had other things to do. Hubert was telling the truth, but everyone knew Lorenz just saw this bellow his noble status.
“So Hilda. You said you had the perfect partner for me.”
“Oh...oh yes ! Marianne, come here !”
A blue haired girl appears, her eyes looking down.
“Ferdinand, this is Marianne von Edmund. She’s awesome, and she’s gonna help you win this !”
“I...I’m sorry Ferdinand, I am not that talented...”
“Hey don’t worry about it. With us working together, we will win this. Even Edelgard won’t be able to deny how good our dish is.”
“I do,hope so Ferdinand.”
“Allrighty then.” Claude said. “Here is how this will work, we will give you....three hours. To prepare a full meal. Meat, some companion to the meat, and dessert. Now we won’t know who cooked each meal, so it’s gonna be a suprise to see who won, and it will help avoid any kind of bias. Looking at you Hilda. Now, are there any questions ?”
“Yes.” Byleth said. “What happens if we tie, we are four judges.”
Claude shut up his mouth after that.
“Didn’t think about that one Claude....I propose Petra. Yes there will be more of my class, but she’s not from Fodlan. Of she gets impressed, that will mean more,”
“I mean it’s one member from each class...so sure. I like the idea.”
“I,promise I will be giving the judging clearly.”
“Well then, let the competition begin !” Claude yelled.
Ferdinand and Lysithea rushes to the kitchen. Bernadetta And Marianne following their partners more reluctantly.
“So Claude, what do we do while they cook ?” Hilda asked.
“...”
“You did not think about that part, didn’t you Claude ?” Edelgard deadpanned.
“Anyone fancy a game of chess ?”
"How are you with cooking ?" Lysithea asked as they got in the kitchen room, separated from everyone.
How is Bernie at cooking ? Well Bernie had always been friends with the chefs in Varley castle. And they helped her find her hidden cooking talent. Hell, cooking her father's meals was the only time he ever showed a bit of gratitude for her. It's what she did to make up for her failed "training" so he would not be mad.
"I am very good a cooking actually. Not to brag."
"Oh, well I am good at cooking too. It's easy if you know the variables."
"Wha ? No. Every time you cook is different. Every plate requires a different level of spice, sometimes things have to be sweet, other times bitter. Every single food is different just like every person is. If we are gonna win, we need to take into account the tastes of the Professor, Edelgard, Petra, Claude, And Hilda. Make something specific for them."
"Well, I guess we will see about that." Lysithea challenged.
"Yes, yes we will."
Ok, so challenging a person the moment you meet them for the second time, it's not Lysithea's brightest idea.
It soon became a competiton on who knew more about what to do. Which was not helpful since they are supposed to be working together !
She should have known better. That it would end in disaster.
"Let's not use that vegetable. Technically it's eatable but it's not highly favored."
“But if we use it, we will give the salmon better taste. Besides I think Claude And Petra will he fond of having some bitterness on their food.”
“Who would be like to have bitter, food, everyone knows sweets are the best !”
"Even still. We must place it." Bernie took a chopping knife.
"No we won't !" Lysithea tried to take it from her.
"Yes we will !"
"No we won't !"
"Yes we will !"
"No we won't !"
"Yes we...GAH !"
Bernie suddenly let go of the knife and fell to her knees. Holding her finger.
Lysithea wondered what happened. Then she looked at the knife.
There was blood in it. And they were cutting vegetable so...
Oh Goddess. She....that's Bernadetta's blood.
She did that.
"Bernadetta I..."
"STAY AWAY !" She yelled.
"I...I'm so...."
"NO YOU AREN'T. YOU JUST WANTED TO HURT ME DIDN'T YOU. YOU WANTED TO CUT MY FINGER OR WHAT ? JUST...STAY AWAY FROM ME OK ? I'VE BEEN HURT ENOUGH ON MY LIFE."
She then put her hood on and ran to the storage room. Leaving Lysithea alone, alone with her great feeling of guilt.
Lysithea took a chair and sat on it.
"Hmph. Great job Lysithea, you behaved just like a child would. For a vegetable you don't like." She mumbled.
Seeing Bernadetta's panic face. How she begged not to be hurt.
It reminded her of her siblings when the experiments happened. Only this time. Lysithea caused the pain, not suffered it.
"I've been hurt enough on my life. She said that. What could that mean ?" Of course she has no idea of Bernadetta's past. But that...told her that people had not been kind to her.
Lysithea didn't want to hurt her. She didn't want to hurt anyone that didn't deserve it. Specially her.... someone that she could...in a way relate to.
Both were in a way anti social. Both were fighting their demons...
She had to fix it. Somehow. That was much more important than winning Claude’s game.
Knowing the last dishes could wait. She quickly stold some ingredients for a cup of tea. The same sweet tea that her mother made her when she got hurt.
When it was over, she slowly opened the door, to find the sobbing Bernadetta on a corner.
"Bernadetta ?"
"EH !" She gasped as she saw her come in.
"I...I made this for you. To show you that I am....really really sorry for what happened."
"How do I know....you didn't poison it ?"
She's not being serious, how could she....no. No Lysithea. You already made a mess, and hurt her. There is no time for that.
"I'll take a sip of it." She took a small one. Knowing she could drink the sweet drink if she wasn't careful.
Bernie looked at her. Nothing happened.
"See...it's sweet and good. My mother made it for me every time I got hurt. So I...thought it would be a good peace offering ?"
Bernadetta looked at her for a minute, before finally taking the cup and drinking it.
"It's really good." She said after a zip.
"See." She sat besides her. "I am really sorry ok ? I didn't want to hurt you at all."
"It's ok. I know you didn't mean it."
"No it's not ok. I fought with you for a stupid vegetable that I didn't want to cut because I didn't like it ! I behaved like a child."
"I think it's good to still have an inner child. My got taken away a long ago."
Both remained sitting together for a while.
"Do you...want to continue working. I'll follow your lead from now on. We can still beat Ferdinand and Marianne."
"Re...really ?"
"Yeah. You are the superior cook from both of us. I guess I can learn somethings from you."
"Well....let's get started then."
Without competing and actually working together. Things were nice.
Of course, Bernadetta started being quiet with her. But Lysithea knew that she had only herself to blame for that.
She also has to admit, she is totally impressed with Bernie's cooking skills. It's clear she has talent.
“So um...I know the Professor and Edelgard are more into sweet. While Petra is more on the biter side.”
“Hilda is also a lot into sweets, Claude does prefer things bitter.”
“So we need to make this salmon a little less....hah, I got it !”
Why did she feel that way with Bernie, what is it about her that has her so...enchanted.
"Hey, what are you doing with that dish ?"
"It's Bernie's secret spice ! ......no looking !"
"I wasn't !" She quickly defended herself. "I was just curious. You actually have a secret spice !"
"Well....it's not really my secret spice...it's my Uncle's."
"Ah, I see." Lysithea didn't comment more. She hears how Bernie's tone significally lowered when she mentioned her uncle. Lysithea didn't want to mess up again.
There was something enchanting about seeing her work.
The time was up, and the dishes were presented.
“Hmm....go on Hilda, you choose first.”
“Hmm....I’ll go with the stake. It had that fine touch that I love. And those mushrooms looked like they just came out of Goneril.”
“Petra ?”
“The salmon is having my best taste. Briefly reminded me of Brigid.”
“Teach ?”
“Both were good....I’ll have to go with the salmon. Mostly that I prefer the salmon than the stake.”
“Hmmmm....I’m backwards, I like the stake a bit best, though this salmon was great. Sorry for leaving you last Princess but, we need to have this drama.”
“So I’m the deciding vote......both were really good, and you should all be proud....but there can only be one winner and.....the salmon wins.”
“YES !” Lysithea yelled. “WE WON !”
“We won.....HEY, WE ACTUALLY WON !” Bernie cried.
Both girls celebrated and hugged.
It took a whistle from Dorothea and Hilda to make them realize what happened.
Both of them quickly separated.
“M....we did good.”
“Yeah....”
Luckily, Petra interrupted the awkward moment with a friéndly hug, with Dorothea soon joining and dragging Lysithea into it.
Meanwhile Marianne turned to Ferdinand.
“I’m sorry Ferdinand, it’s my fault we lost,”
“Hey none of that Marianne. You were great in there. Without you, I would have been swept. Thanks for the assist.”
“Oh....you’re welcome I guess...I think I should..”
“Wait, please don’t....are you gonna head to the stables ?”
“Uh....yes. I like the stables.”
“Well please. Allow me to accompany you. I love horses as well, magnificent creatures, maybe you can show me how to properly understand them.”
“You....want to be around horses with me ?....I guess that’s fine.”
The two left the room without anyone noticing.
“Hey Edelgard.”
“Hm...yes my teacher ?”
“Please remind me to pair Lysithea and Bernadetta in the misión. Something tells me they are gonna be a very efficient team.”
Edelgard looked at the mage and archer. Seeing how so much in common those two actually are. The things they have gone threw.
How they might find what they are looking in each other.....just like Edelgard is finding in Byleth.
“I think you are right.”