Chapter Text
Year 1180, 20th day of the Lone Moon.
Seated in her usual place, Archbishop Rhea observed the new students gathered in the great hall of Garreg Mach. As every year, most of them came from noble families, though a few commoners stood out in the crowd.
Three students, in particular, caught her attention. Edelgard von Hresvelg, leader of the Black Eagles, was also the crown princess of the Adrestian Empire. Beside her, Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd, head of the Blue Lions, represented the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus. Lastly, Claude von Riegan, leading the Golden Deer, bore the name of the preeminent house of the Leicester Alliance.
Each house had eight students, all destined for an important future. But at this moment, none of them could imagine how much this year would change their fate.
As Rhea finished her speech, Ingrid stood as straight as a rod. She was finally here. Garreg Mach. The place where she could hone her martial skills while securing a more stable future for her family. Determined, she clenched her fists. She would give it her all to prove herself worthy of the Officers Academy.
Behind her, Sylvain seemed far less concerned with the solemnity of the moment.
— Wow… I’d heard that the Academy gathered the elite, but I didn’t know they were talking about the beauty of the students too…
Ingrid briefly closed her eyes, exasperated. He really couldn’t help himself.
— Look at that one, Sylvain continued in a hushed voice, discreetly gesturing with his chin toward a student a few rows ahead, wrapped in an elegant shawl. She’s in our house, right? I hope she’s as kind as she looks…
— For the love of the goddess, shut up, Ingrid muttered through clenched teeth.
— What? I’m just celebrating our arrival in my own way. A little joy wouldn’t hurt, would it?
Ingrid spun toward him sharply, eyebrows furrowed.
— You idiot! You could at least pretend to listen!
As she shot him her deadliest glare, a heavy silence settled around them. A shiver ran down her spine. Seteth was staring at them. His piercing, stern gaze silenced them instantly.
Flushing red with embarrassment, Ingrid straightened up at once, avoiding the eyes of the archbishop’s advisor.
— Don’t panic, Sylvain whispered with a smirk. It’s not the first time he’s looked at me like that. He probably just likes me in secret.
Ingrid clenched her fists. This was going to be a long year…
Once the speech was over, Hanneman and Manuela led the students to the courtyard, near the classrooms. They gave them a moment to get to know each other.
— We'll come get you shortly to take you to your rooms, Manuela announced with a smile.
— Oh, and just so you know, the dorms for nobles and commoners will be separated, added Hanneman in a slightly dry tone.
A few murmurs of protest could be heard, but nothing too serious. Ingrid, however, paid little attention. Sure, some commoners were wealthier than she was, but she remained, first and foremost, a noble—a Galatea.
Sylvain, always true to himself, seemed completely detached from the situation. He stretched with a mischievous grin.
— Even our professors are hot, it's crazy!
— You're talking about Hanneman? Dimitri asked, having just appeared behind them, an amused smile on his face.
Sylvain burst into laughter but quickly composed himself.
— No, no, I was talking about Manuela, of course. She's got... assets that are hard to ignore.
Ingrid, annoyed, shot him a sharp glare.
— You’d better shut up now, she warned coldly. I don’t feel like apologizing again on your behalf to the ladies you hit on like an idiot.
Sylvain laughed but said nothing more, already heading toward other students… female students, of course.
Ingrid found herself alone with Dimitri, who gave her a reassuring smile.
— And you, Ingrid? Are you happy to be here?
She smiled back, feeling a bit more at ease.
— Of course. It's a great opportunity to improve. And I'm glad to be here with you three… you, Sylvain, Félix…
Dimitri nodded, a sincere smile on his lips.
— Me too. It’s reassuring to have you guys here with me.
Without thinking, Ingrid began to look around for Félix. She quickly spotted him, standing alone, leaning against a wall. Always apart, as usual.
She sighed.
They had known each other for years, the four of them. But over time, Félix had become more withdrawn, and his difficult personality had become more apparent. Yet, despite everything, Ingrid couldn’t bring herself to completely push him away. She still worried about him.
Dimitri smiled at Ingrid, a light expression on his face.
— Well, I think I’ll go introduce myself to the other delegates, he said with a slight shrug. They’re probably waiting for me.
Ingrid nodded, a peaceful smile on her lips.
— Yes, of course. That’s a good idea. Good luck.
Dimitri returned her smile, a glint of friendship in his eyes.
— Thanks. See you later, Ingrid.
He gave her one last glance before turning and heading toward the group of other delegates. Ingrid watched him walk away for a moment, then, now alone again, she looked up at the sky, her heart feeling light.
Finally, she was here. She wasn’t sure if she truly deserved this place, but now that she had arrived, she was determined to do everything she could to save House Galatea. She wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip by.
When her thoughts returned to the present moment, Ingrid turned her gaze to the other students. She spotted Sylvain attempting to approach a young woman with blue hair. She had no doubt that the woman was clearly not interested in his company. Ingrid sighed. When was he going to learn to take a hint? Sylvain wasn’t a bad guy, he was just a little too... persistent sometimes.
As she wondered if she should intervene to spare Sylvain from yet another ignored attempt, she felt a hand gently rest on her shoulder. Surprised, she turned around to find two young girls standing behind her.
The taller one wore a shawl, the same girl Sylvain had noticed earlier. She still wore her warm, friendly smile, her gaze kind and welcoming. The shorter one, more reserved, looked curious and friendly as well. Ingrid watched them for a moment, intrigued.
Ingrid smiled warmly at the two girls standing in front of her.
— Hello, can I help you? she asked politely.
The taller of the two, the one wearing the shawl, returned her smile.
— My name is Mercedes von Martlitz, she said softly, with a touch of nobility in her tone.
The other girl, shorter and clearly more energetic, immediately reacted, her face lighting up with a radiant smile.
— And I’m Annette Fantine Dominique! she said with enthusiasm, as if she had just made a grand announcement.
Ingrid observed them for a moment, a little surprised by their enthusiasm, unsure of what to say. But Mercedes, with a sincere smile, spoke again.
— Well, it seems we’ll be in the same house, the Blue Lions, she added. It would be nice if we could become friends.
Annette nodded vigorously, determination gleaming in her eyes.
— Yes, exactly! Especially since there are only three girls in the house. So we’ll really have to stick together, don’t you think? It’s a bit fewer than the other houses, right?
Ingrid, a little taken aback by Annette’s frankness, still smiled, touched by their kindness. She took a deep breath and introduced herself in turn, feeling more at ease.
— Well… I’m Ingrid Brandl Galatea, she replied with a shy smile. I’m really glad to meet you, Mercedes, Annette.
The two girls returned her smile, and the atmosphere between them seemed to relax even more. Mercedes gave a slight nod.
— It’s a pleasure, Ingrid, she said softly. I have a feeling we’ll get along well.
Annette added, still full of energy:
— Yes, we’re going to have an awesome year, I’m sure of it!
Thirty minutes had passed, and Ingrid had the chance to talk with a few members of her house: Ashe, a reserved but kind boy; a girl from the Golden Deer named Leonie; and another boy from the same house, Raphael, who seemed to be a ball of energy. She had also exchanged a few words with Petra and Caspar, two members of the Black Eagles. Overall, everyone seemed quite friendly, and Ingrid felt well surrounded. She figured she had socialized enough for the day.
She then started looking for Sylvain, wondering where he had wandered off to. After a few moments, she finally spotted him, leaning against a column, deep in conversation with a young woman. Ingrid stopped for a moment, discreetly observing them. The girl had her back to her, but Ingrid immediately noticed her silhouette—exactly the type Sylvain was drawn to. Confident in her appearance, likely more interested in looks than chivalric values… Just his type.
Then, something happened that made Ingrid jump. Sylvain took the young woman's hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it with total ease. Ingrid’s eyes widened, shocked by his boldness. *Who does he think he is?* she thought. They had barely met, and he was already allowing himself such an intimate gesture?!
The young woman swiftly pulled her hand back, clearly displeased. She stared at Sylvain for a moment, her face showing a mix of disdain and discomfort, before turning on her heels and walking away briskly. Ingrid, furious, watched the scene in disbelief. *Sylvain, you idiot…* she thought, glaring at him. He had barely arrived, and he was already ruining his reputation.
She couldn’t just let this slide—not only for Sylvain’s sake but also for the atmosphere at Garreg Mach. Turning her attention to the girl who had just walked off, Ingrid made a quick decision. She stepped forward, moving at a brisk pace to catch up.
She reached her swiftly, calling out gently:
— Excuse me, miss?
As Ingrid called out to her, the young woman turned around, and for a moment, Ingrid froze. She was struck by her beauty. There was a certain charm about her, a natural elegance that immediately drew the eye. Her delicate features, her poised posture, her smile—both gentle and mischievous… Ingrid had the impression that the girl was observing her just as intently, a silence hanging between them, almost suspended in time.
Then, the young woman broke the moment with a charming smile—the kind of smile that seemed capable of melting away any tension.
— Oh? Yes? she asked in a soft, melodic voice, tilting her head slightly to the side.
The mere sound of her voice brought Ingrid back to reality. Regaining her composure, she gave a slight bow, more out of reflex than necessity.
— I… I wanted to apologize for Sylvain’s behavior, she said formally. He shouldn’t have acted that way. I hope it didn’t make you too uncomfortable.
The young woman observed her for a moment, then, to Ingrid’s surprise, burst into laughter.
— Oh, it’s nothing! I’m used to men like that, she replied with amusement.
Her lighthearted tone reassured Ingrid, who relaxed her shoulders slightly.
— It’s still inexcusable, she insisted. Sylvain never thinks before he acts… and I wouldn’t want his reputation to cause him trouble so soon after arriving.
— Oh? So you’re Sylvain’s noble protector? the stranger asked, her lips curling into a teasing smile.
Ingrid quickly shook her head.
— Not at all! I just… have too much experience with his nonsense, she sighed.
The young woman laughed again before stepping closer to Ingrid, subtly narrowing the space between them.
— And what is the name of this noble soul who bears such a burden?
— Ingrid. Ingrid Brandl Galatea, she replied confidently.
The stranger repeated her name softly, as if tasting it on her lips, before her smile widened.
— Ingrid… That’s a beautiful name, she murmured. It sounds strong, noble… yet gentle, just like you. It suits you perfectly.
Ingrid immediately felt warmth rising to her cheeks. She was caught off guard by the compliment—especially by the way it was delivered—and averted her gaze briefly, trying to hide her embarrassment.
— Uh… thank you, she replied, feeling uncharacteristically flustered.
The other girl seemed amused by her reaction and placed a hand on her hip.
— I’m Dorothea Arnault. I’m with the Black Eagles.
Ingrid immediately took note of the name.
— Arnault… she murmured, thoughtful.
— Oh? Are you trying to figure out who I am? Dorothea asked, a playful glint in her eyes.
Ingrid hesitated for a second before deciding to be honest.
— Your name… It carries no title, so I assume you’re not of noble birth?
— That’s correct, Dorothea said without the slightest hesitation. I’m a commoner… and a singer, she added with a knowing smile.
— A singer…?
— Yes, I was with the Opera of the Empire before enrolling at the Academy.
Ingrid couldn’t help but look at her with renewed interest. An opera singer… That explained her graceful bearing and natural confidence.
— Well… I hope I get the chance to hear you sing one day, Ingrid said sincerely.
Dorothea gave her a radiant smile.
— Who knows? If you behave, I might even grant you a private performance.
Ingrid felt her cheeks warm again, and Dorothea, clearly pleased by the effect she had, let out a soft laugh before gracefully walking away. Ingrid watched her go, feeling unexpectedly flustered.
As Dorothea walked away, Ingrid kept staring at her for a moment, unsettled by what had just happened. The exchange had been far stranger and more intense than she had expected. She had felt something unexpected—a look… a smile. She shook herself mentally, trying to push away the warmth rising to her cheeks. That’s when a familiar voice rang out behind her.
— Well, well…
Ingrid quickly turned her head and saw Sylvain, arms crossed, an amused smile playing on his lips. He was looking at her as if he had been watching the scene from a distance.
— What? Ingrid replied, a bit annoyed, her eyebrows furrowing.
Sylvain took a step closer, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He kept smiling as he scrutinized her.
— Oh, nothing… but you know, I saw what happened between you and Dorothea.
— So what? Nothing happened, Ingrid responded defensively.
Sylvain looked her up and down before saying:
— There was definitely something going on between you two, though.
Ingrid raised an eyebrow, her heart beating faster, though she tried not to show it.
— What are you talking about? There was nothing at all, she retorted, trying to sound calmer than she felt.
Sylvain made a small gesture with his hand, as if to brush off her words.
— Honestly, Ingrid, you’re not very subtle, you know. Dorothea was practically devouring you with her eyes! It was like she had found a treasure—kind of like you when you see good food.
Ingrid froze, shocked by the comparison. She immediately felt her cheeks heat up.
— No, but… are you serious? That’s not at all what was happening! Why are you saying that?
Sylvain burst out laughing, clearly enjoying himself. He had no intention of holding back.
— Oh, come on! You know it wasn’t hard to see! She was looking at you so intensely, it was like you were her prey!
Even more flustered, Ingrid blushed to the tips of her ears and slightly averted her gaze, searching for a way out of this situation.
— You’re such an idiot, Sylvain. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t include me in your weird fantasies, she muttered, feeling more off balance than she wanted to admit.
Sylvain shrugged, still giving her that annoyingly confident smile.
— You say that, but honestly, I think you were even worse than her! Seriously, you were about two seconds away from drooling while looking at her. It was… how should I put it… obvious! You couldn’t even hide your interest.
Ingrid glared at him, clenching her teeth.
— No, seriously, stop talking nonsense! There’s nothing between Dorothea and me. That’s not at all what you think!
Sylvain laughed even harder, shaking his head in amusement.
— Oh sure, play innocent! But you’re the only one who doesn’t see it. And honestly, you were straight-up staring at her. It was like you were ready to devour her whole!
Ingrid felt her fists clench. She had lost control of her emotions.
— I… I wasn’t staring! And I don’t have… those kinds of thoughts!
Sylvain crossed his arms, giving Ingrid a piercing look.
— Hahaha, yeah, sure… Anyway, let me tell you a little secret… You see, Dorothea? Well, she’s insanely gorgeous, so it makes total sense that you’d be interested. Not judging you at all—I do the same thing, honestly.
Ingrid blushed violently, her anger flaring up. She could no longer hold back.
— What?! That’s… That’s ridiculous, Sylvain! I don’t like girls! So stop with your stupid insinuations! I… I didn’t do anything like that, and I have nothing to do with whatever you’re imagining!
Sylvain burst out laughing, his mocking laughter echoing around them.
— Oh, but of course! Of course, Ingrid! You’re the only one who doesn’t know, huh? But seriously, only a blind person wouldn’t get it! You’re probably the only one who doesn’t realize that you’re… how should I put this… a little… hmm, how can I say this without offending you… you know, gay?
Ingrid felt her heart pound wildly, rage boiling inside her. She threw her arms up, ready to explode.
— No, stop spouting nonsense, Sylvain! I don’t have that kind of… that kind of attraction to girls! So shut up already! I don’t even want to talk to you anymore!
Sylvain, still wearing his victorious smirk, simply shrugged like it was no big deal.
— Well, if you say so… but I think you’re just lying to yourself.
Ingrid, eyes burning with anger, spun on her heels and stormed off, fleeing the conversation that was driving her crazy. Behind her, Sylvain only laughed louder as she left.