This choice: Professor Byleth, preparing to start today's lecture. • Go Back...Chapter #5In Which Byleth Looks at Homework. by: Giantessvg   "Teach…" Claude gaped, absolutely awestruck.
Professor Byleth rounded the corner swiftly as she entered the miniature house leader's view. The classroom floor quaked with every clack of his instructor's obsidian leather boots. At first Claude was just shocked to see his teacher, he knew of course that she would be far larger than him- but it wasn't until Byleth was barreling down the aisle towards him that the difference in scale truly set in. Where once he stood a notch taller than her, now here he was craning his neck just to see the incoming shin of his obscenely humongous tutor as she rushed to the front of the class.
A bit later than he should have, Claude snapped back to reality. "Gotta move!" He cried with a leap to his side.
Just barely did he dodge the oncoming treads of Byleth's sole as Claude skid against the hard stone flooring, scuffing his pant leg in the process. Black completely enveloped his vision of where he just stood not even a moment ago- had he continued to gawk at his enormous teacher for even a second longer: Claude would have been a smear on the underside of her foot. His life, his ambition, and his smug attitude gone forever.
Now how do I get her attention? Claude thought to himself whilst he stood up and dusted off his uniform. It's preeeetty obvious how dangerous this is gonna be if I can't get her to see me.
The sly tactician surveyed his surroundings scrupulously, praying to the Goddess he didn't really believe in that there would be something he could use to his advantage. The student tables and chairs were a no go: way too steep a climb, especially without any footholds or equipment for it. Byleth's own desk and chair in the distance shared the same issue. As far as the Golden Deer classroom was concerned- his options for gaining altitude were sparse; so much so that he could only see two real choices.
While perusing his options, Claude's eyes drifted haplessly over a set of Golden Deer flags which were draped over a table nearby. They had seemingly either fallen or been ripped off the wall by someone. Now this could get him onto one of the student desks. But that wouldn't really help him in getting his teachers attention, now would it? That left the heir to House Riegen with one remaining way- he'd have to climb Ms. Byleth herself! More specifically he'd have to climb up her legs at least until he reached her desk.
Now at first, the prospect of clambering up his professor from toe to torso seemed a ludicrous one to even Claude. However there was a detail which had caught his eye, which brought the concept into the realm of feasibility! His teacher's unique pair of leggings made for an excellent climbing material, or at least they looked as though they would. Sure the trek up her ebon boots would pose a bit of an issue, but if he could just get past those…
"I just had to leave my bow and quiver in my room." Claude sighed discontentedly.
It would certainly have been simpler to merely prick her with a miniature arrow and garner attention that way. But there was no point in complaining over would haves and could haves. The little fawn was stuck with "will do's".
And so he began his arduous journey to attain Byleth's attention!
------
Byleth had begun to really enjoy these classes, it had been about half a year since she'd started teaching here at Rhea's insistence. And, while at first they served as little more than a distraction from the mercenary work she'd done with her father up till then. Now the prospect of filling her students heads with knowledge of battle and tactics was something fulfilling. Every one of her students were so full of personality that she'd even begun giving them specialized curriculum!
Before coming to Garreg Mach, the only "personalities" she'd encountered were on the receiving end of her sword. That or they were paying to put someone else on that end of her blade. But these kids were so full of life! So full of hope, that it had started to rub off on her. She could only hope her lessons were something they'd remember for a long time to come.
The professor sorted through the papers scattered on her desk effortlessly, organizing individual assignments by student and goals she wanted to see them improve upon by next week.
Raphael was being given mostly physical education as he already excelled in such fields, but she made sure to include some practical wartime decision essays as well. The brain was a muscle too after all, and if there was one thing that boy needed to work on growing- it was his knowledge in things unrelated to food and bodybuilding.
Ignatz was on the opposite end of that spectrum. Not to say he was weak, actually Byleth had been stunned by just how much a penchant for murder he could have when it came down to protecting his fellow classmates. No, Ignatz's issue was simply that he lacked the confidence to follow through on his own. It was obvious how much he wanted to be an artist, but had resigned himself to knighthood without any real fight. His teacher hoped to increase his sense of authority with his homework.
Hilda… Hilda was a lost cause.
Then Byleth got to Claude's stack of work for the week. She put her thumb to her chin pensively. See, the thing was, Claude was an enigma. Sure she knew what he was good at, and even had picked up on some of his flaws- but she just couldn't for the life of her pinpoint where "Claude" ended and lies began. He had a penchant for schemes, victory by any means necessary. He was seemingly the most open minded noble in the world. He would tease just about anyone (including her), and yet she had yet to find a learning method for him that just clicked.
"Maybe he's the type who only learns from his own mistakes?" She pondered aloud. "Hmmmm…"
------
Claude wondered what it was that his gargantuan professor was mumbling under her breath, but was too exhausted from the jog to the base of her desk to pay much attention. He paused, catching his labored breaths as quickly as he humanly could before turning to face his next obstacle. Two black towers reached up from the earth before him, tearing open the skies above. He merely had to choose which would be the one he was destined to rise above.
"Eeny, Meeny, Miney- that one!" Claude pointed to Byleth's right boot. In truth it was the only one he'd intended to scale from the beginning. Due in part (or entirely because) her left one had a metal guard near the top. And he may have been tricky, but he doubted he'd be getting around that silver clasp too easily.
He would soon find that no part of this would be 'easy'.  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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