Anamnesis: Chapter 3 – So I am confusion

AN: The next time I have to classically prove the Rydberg formula using the Bohr hydrogen model and then completely refute it on the grounds that modern quantum-mechanical atomic structure is the only way we can numerically depict the probability positioning of electrons in an atom for any other atom that isn't hydrogen or hydrogen-like, I am going to lose my shit.

Furthermore, the next time I have to experimentally determine the fundamental unit of charge with a required chi-squared distribution of acceptable and non-acceptable average values for the fundamental unit of charge, I will also lose my shit, but not as much as the last example.

And sorry for the long delay on this chapter. College is hard as a physics B.S.

Review responses:

PervyPanda: All good things must come to an end. For Robin, I think at this point, if we use the scaling Awakening goes off of and my own personal run of the game, Robin was a monster who could, going back to the beginning of the game, solo the first map without taking any damage. Now, that is practically true for anyone of the units, but my Robin was maxed out in stats and abilities. I would suspect that a group of bandits would be, at this point for him, the simplest thing to handle, especially given the number of them in the beginning level. He is cocky to a T right now, but it will not last, of that, I can assure you. I would say that he is not a god or anything, but that's kinda pushing it.

Cyberior: Ooo, but that would be telling, dear reader! I suppose you and all others will simply have to wait and see! But a good question! I have something special for that.

Masquer Q: She does not have a crest. That is more of a Fódlan-specific thing to me. Regarding love interests, I have a superbly rough idea of what I may want to do with it, but it is a bit early into the story for me to be focusing on romance just yet. It is a difficult topic that will be broached at a later date when it becomes more relevant to the plot.

Like everyone else that responded: :)

Storytime! (By the way, if all y'all haven't figured it out yet, there will be spoilers throughout the story, as in, information that is revealed in later chapters will be made obvious now for certain characters who would reasonably have prior knowledge of said information. Be warned, ye who enter here.)

Flayn was a curious little individual.

Now, many would say she was a curious little girl, but she quickly let everyone know that she was actually…roughly around their age and was not little be any means, barring her height, that is. It was not her fault that she simply did not grow as fast as everyone else, but her father, as overprotective as the man is, told her that it meant the goddess would bless her even more later in life, since one must wait for all good things, and she believed him wholeheartedly.

And thinking of the man, I have not seen him anywhere! That is a most curious condition, as it is usually he who always endeavors to find me, rather than the other way around. What an interesting development. Perhaps I shall check his personal quarters…

"Oh, brother, are you in there? I have been searching for you everywhere. I have heard rumor of an interesting individual making rounds in the monastery, and was wondering who it may b-"

"Flayn!"

The door flung open, and the sight that Flayn took in was not one she would have ever thought to be remotely possible. In fact, it was such a jarring sight that overtook her eyes that Flayn made to pinch herself, for she certainly must have been dreaming. Upon confirming that she was, indeed, awake, Flayn attempted to collect the mountain of thoughts running through her head into a cohesive string of sentences, but could only muster asking one question.

"Brother, what happened to your hair?"

"There is no time for that, Cethleann." A small gasp came from Flayn. Her father almost never called her by her given name. "No time at all. I need you to listen to what I am about to tell you and regard it as nearly equal to the teachings of Seiros herself, for it will mean your life. Do you understand?" Dragging her into his room, Seteth started to pace wildly back and forth across his floor, the mental anguish written clearly across his face.

"Brother, what are you talk-"

"Do you understand?!" Seteth had only raised his voice a few times towards Flayn, but when he did, it must have meant only the direst of situations.

"I, I do, father. What is it?"

"My sweet Cethleann, that man which you speak of is undoubtedly a monster hidden in human form. A demon, no, a god of death and destruction whose very breath brings ruin across the lands. He may seem a normal individual at face value, but hidden behind that visage of his is a soul darker than the heart of Nemesis himself."

"Oh, how terrifying! Brother, why would the church let him onto the grounds?"

"It seems that the power of this demon is so great that it can even fool Lady Rhea herself, but I was able to divine his true form in only what certainly must have been an intentional slip of his power directed towards me. That thing wanted me to know its power, so that I would not try to take direct action against it, for it would certainly kill us all were I to have done so. You must promise me that you will never go near this being, for I fear that he would take only the greatest of joys in destroying your very soul with his fell power."

"Oh father, I truly am frightened. Tell me, what his name is so that I may avoid him at all costs!"

"That thing takes the title of…Robin."

"…wait, do you mean like the robin, the bird?"

"Father!"

"Morgan!"

"Bernadetta!"

"Bernadetta?"

"Morgan?"

"Father?"

"Robin?"

"Caspar!"

The classroom had now devolved into a series of random shouts and questions being launched at the duo still piled onto the ground. Linhardt outwardly did not seem to show much interest at all in the entangled duo, and frankly was quite peeved that his peaceful slumber would now have to be put on hold until this whole mess would be properly sorted out, and given Caspar's boisterous nature, Petra's probable slew of questions, and Ferdinand's…Ferdinand-ness, that would take a while.

But the scene before him raised questions. As a matter of fact, it raised many jarring questions and problems. I know for a fact, as does everyone else in this room, that Professor Robin is not Count Varley, the physical makeup is much too different than the most recent painting on the man, which is kept on file within the library concerning the political figures of the Empire. But Bernadetta has quite possibly done the most out of character thing imaginable. She would not just randomly glomp any person that walked through the classroom doors. But not only has she done that, she has taken to calling him father as well. Even further, Professor Robin has called her Morgan, and she has not taken to correcting him either, or reacting in any noticeable way. More and more questions…and it seems that Edelgard has started to think on this as well. What a situation. This requires some investigating.

A harsh slap rang throughout the classroom, silencing everyone in an instant. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? I have searched the entirety of this continent looking for you, and after all of my searching, over two years of searching, you just now decide to come to Garreg Mach? I mean, seriously father, what were you thinking?!"

"Two years? What do you mean, Morgan? It's only been five days since the battle. I may be older than you, but I most certainly am not that old, or old at all for that matter. I mean, twenty-three or twenty-four is practically the prime of my early adulthood."

Bernadetta seemed to stumble on her words for about thirty seconds, sputtering this way and that, before she looked down at the Professor, a forming glint of some realization in her eyes that would likely remain known only to her.

"Five days, but…no, Naga and Anna said that…wait, but…no, no they didn't. Naga damn it, you didn't tell me when! They sent me out here for two years of useless scavenging for someone who wasn't even here yet?! I swear, I'm going to do to them what we did to Grima but, like, ten times worse when we get back."

"Well, you do look a tad bit older, dear. Is this some kind of new Outrealm? The League of Anna's must be working pretty hard on that expansion project Anna was telling me about, or was it Anna? It's quite hard to keep track of them all, honestly. Especially when they dress in other clothing, it's like looking at a herd of money-hungry sheep, but the sheep have swords and demand ridiculous prices for all of their goods."

"Bernadetta, explain yourself at once! Why have you pounced upon our new Professor as such? And whatever are you speaking of? You must have given our new Professor a concussion when he landed on the ground, for he seems to be speaking of strange things as well, referring to you as some Morgan girl and other nonsense." Ferdinand, Linhardt noted, seemed tired of simply watching and wanted in on having some answers.

"Bernie dear, are you…alright? This is the strangest I have ever seen you act." Dorothea jumped in as well.

Morgan could feel the color drain from her face.

Oh sweet Naga, I really messed it up this time. They've heard too much. It really is regrettable, but I suppose I will have to kill them all.

…

Wait, Morgan, what are you thinking! I'm not going to kill them all, that's insane! No, there is only one solution, I have to lie my way out of this.

Rising slowly to her feet, Morgan started to speak. "I, uh, that is to say, uh…this is, uh..."

"Really, Bernadetta," Ferdinand now strode to stand directly in front of her, "such behavior is absolutely unacceptable to commit in front of and on our professor! For shame, Miss von Varley! Do you have no respect for the customs and proper etiquette to follow when addressing and acting in front of your professor?" Turning his head to her father, Ferdinand lowered himself to the ground. "Professor Robin, my most sincere and deepest of apologies are to be given for Bernadetta's behavior within these past moments. I can speak for the rest of the class when I say that not a single soul knows why she has acted as such. You must have hit your head when she barreled into you like that to be referring to her so casually. Please, allow me to escort you to the infirmary."

"Now now," father started, "I'm quite alright. If anything, it is all of you who are confused. Why are you calling Morgan some other name? Bernadetta, was it? And while the fall was not exactly pleasant, I am fairly certain that I did not hit my head."

"My goodness, the Professor is worse off than I thought. Really, Bernadetta, look at what you have done! Lady Rhea and Seteth will be livid with our class. Caspar, help me and grab Professor Robin's legs, would you? We simply cannot have him walking in this state. And Professor, know that I, Ferdinand von Aegir, NOT Edelgard von Hresvelg, was the one who helped in your time of need today."

"Really, Ferdinand, must everything be a competition between us?" Edelgard sighed, exasperation overcoming her features.

Perhaps I can back my way out of this while everyone is distracted, Morgan thought to herself, edging toward the entrance.

"It is only a competition if I am winning, Edelgard, and know that I am most certainly winning. Hubert has been keeping score, right, Hubert?"

"Hm? Did you say something, Ferdinand? I simply could not discern between your incessant prattling and the background noise running through my head."

"Ack! My word, Hubert, do you mean to tell me that you have not been keeping count of Edelgard and I's most daring of duels for the title of most superior person?"

"Why would I need to keep track if I already know that Lady Edelgard has you beat ten times over already, Ferdinand? Do you mean to humor me with the notion that you, in any capacity, could measure up to Lady Edelgard? Why, that is the second most humorous thing I have borne witness to all day."

"And what would be the most humorous, if I may ask."

"Why, it is yourself, Ferdinand."

Reaching the door, Morgan rushed to open the handle and dashed from the room.

"Wait, so I am confusion. Why is Professor Robin being the lifted like the dead animal carcass into the air? He is not the dead, nor has he been the skinned either. And why was he calling Bernadetta, who has run from the room like scared prey, the Morgan?"

"Sweet Sothis. Petra, we really need to work on your comparisons. And…wait, where did Bernadetta go?" Dorothea started to walk toward the door, alongside the now-moving trio of Ferdinand and Caspar holding their newly-made Professor in the air.

"Wait, I'm being serious. I'm fine, you guys. You can put me down, honest."

"Absolutely not, Professor, this is for your own safety. I, Ferdinand von Aegir, shall be sure to rectify all of the mistakes that were just made."

"Yeah, Professor! We can't let you go around hitting your head again, that would be really bad, I would know." Caspar added, eager to help in the situation. "It's just the right thing to do, so don't worry about it!"

As Robin struggled to free himself from the combined grip of Caspar and Ferdinand, back in the classroom, Edelgard stood and watched the scene quietly.

…

What has happened to this class?

"I have no idea."

Jumping slightly, Edelgard quickly turned to face the owner of the voice, none other than Linhardt.

"How did you-"

"...and given these unique circumstances, instead of each house being taught by only one professor for the entirety of the year, barring the seminars, of course, we shall instead have a rotating schedule between each of the professors. That is, the professors shall teach each of the classes over the course of the week, helping to develop each of your specific strengths in their own manner, so that you will not only have one perspective, but three in total! It really is quite the plan." Hanneman lectured on to the Blue Lion house, a perfectly organized and dutiful group, just the way I prefer it. "Now, on to my general course administrivia, I shall be instructing…"

On the outside, Dimitri looked ever the part of a calm and collected noble, fully attent and aware of each word coming from Professor Hanneman's mouth, but internally he could have cared less for what Hanneman was rambling on about, likely something to do with crestology and crest research.

"…my field of crestology and crest research, which have amazing implications on both the social and power dynamic of our current day and age politics, as well as…"

So it seems that the professors shall be rotating amongst one another. Good, then Sir, well, now Professor, Robin shall be leading us as well. While Hanneman does bring a lot of information to the table, some of which can be vitally useful to understanding my own crest, his teachings would better suit the likes of our more studious students, such as Annette, Ashe, and Ingrid. Sylvain will undoubtedly despise these lectures but show nothing of it, Felix may hold some interest in it, as long as he can practically use it alongside a sword, Mercedes will like them as long as she can use it to help heal, and Dedue…well, I am not entirely sure how Dedue will take to this.

Everyone looks so…disinterested, though. A small smile spread across Dimitri's face. It seems as though they were looking forward to meeting our newest professor on the first day, but he must be cooped up in his classroom as well, whichever one he has been tasked to lead for now.

"Everyone, please step aside. I, Ferdinand von Aegir, am helping carry Professor Robin to the infirmary for he is most certainly concussed!"

...wait, what?

Looking amongst the other students, Dimitri realized that he was not the only person to have heard what was just said, and turned to look out the window as Hanneman started towards the door.

"My word, did I just hear that properly? Whatever could have happened?"

More shouting quickly followed Hanneman's self-muttering. "Yes, you heard that correctly, my fellow student colleagues. Professor Robin has suffered a serious blow to the head after being tackled by…someone, unexpectedly while teaching our class! Caspar and I must make haste to the infirmary so that he may receive medical attention promptly."

"What! No, I did not tackle him!" A voice shouted, most likely belonging to Caspar. "Just because I fight a lot doesn't mean that I'd tackle my Professor on the first day of class! Unless he was a real jerk or murder or something like that…"

"Good heavens, I simply cannot believe this." Hanneman shook his head. "Students, please keep calm while I go and fetch Manuela. Really, on the first day, how absurd…"

As Hanneman left the Blue Lion classroom, each of the students turned to face one another.

"Oh my," Mercedes started, "whoever could have attacked the Professor? And why? He seemed like such a nice individual. Perhaps I should go and help with his healing…"

"To think that there may be assassins attempting to take the life of the new Professor already, he must be significantly more important than I granted him credit for." Sylvain started.

"Goodness, Sylvain!" Ashe rose, "Do you really think that there are assassins after the professor? Why…it's just like the beginning of The Sword of Kyphon! Except the teacher actually died protecting Kyphon and Loog from their would-be assassin…"

"Huh, you know what Ashe, you are exactly right," Ingrid added. "However, it may be more likely that someone was running through the halls and the professor made an accidental collision with them. Then again, that would only work out if he was in the hallway, not in a classroom…"

"Perhaps someone rushed him from the doorway and tackled him to the ground!" Annette rose from her seat, momentum building in her frame as she paced across the room. "I mean, I think anyone of us would be quite shocked to see someone bull rush towards us from the entrance of the classroom. Perhaps the professor's back was turned and he was caught unawares before the attacker could be restrained. If that's the case, we need to go and help!"

"Your highness?" Dedue differed to Dimitri.

A moment passed as Dimitri watched the others turn to him, a small amount of pride budding in his heart as he saw how readily the others, even Felix, would trust his judgement.

"…we must make haste and hurry to find the attacker. Be prepared for anything. We must not allow them to escape."

"Ah, father? Is that the man down there?"

Cichol's back was turned to Cethleann, resting upright on his bed with his head turned into his hands. "Is he wearing a dark cloak? Does he have pale white hair, like Edelgard's?"

"Yes, father. The students seem to be…well, they seem to be praising him. Lifting him into the air and carrying him inside the monastery. All shouting about…something. It looks quite fun!"

Silence overtook the room.

"…Father? Are you alright?"

"…so it has begun. He has already twisted their minds and tainted their souls, Cethleann. There is no hope for those students, they are beyond redemption, beyond saving. Death is the most merciful thing we can grant them, but I cannot act now. I must bide my time and gather my strength, learn my enemy." Cichol slowly rose from his bed, back still turned to his daughter. "Commit those faces to memory, Cethleann. They are now the enemy. Harden your heart and prepare your body, they are your allies no longer. We will have to put them down for their own good."

"I…are you certain that we have to kill them, father? Is there truly no other way?" Cethleann asked, her voice but a mere whisper.

"I know it pains you so, but if we do not have the heart to stop him, all of Fódlan will be in jeopardy. We must act in favor of the common good now, and we do not have much time to study this demon before his army becomes too great. Now, tell me, who have we lost already?"

Lysithea von Ordelia was bored out of her mind.

To be stuck with Manuela as a professor, I might begin praying to the goddess for Hanneman at this point. While he may know too much for his own good and is much too nosey, it must certainly be a better alternative than having a professor tending to a hangover on the first day of classes. And to think our class just missed out on the new professor, who is supposed to be a true magical prodigy. What rotten luck!

"Ugh, heavens everyone, would you please quite down? I have a murderous headache…"

"But, Professor Manuela, no one was talking?" Ignatz responded and questioned.

"Ughhh. Listen, I'll make this short so I don't have to talk for long, because if I do I am almost certain that I will vomit. The professors are going to be on a rotating schedule for each class, so at some point, that jerk Hanneman and the new professor will be teaching you, independently, of course. For now, just, I don't know, read a book and be quiet, please. Actual class will be tomorrow."

How irresponsible of her, to go out drinking the night before she has to work! I simply cannot believe this. Oh well, best not to waste my time. I suppose I can keep reading the new publication on Magical Manipulation: Cheese and Dreams. Their theory is quite astounding…

"Hey, does anyone else hear that?"

A low murmur of voices outside the classroom grew steadily in noise level until, suddenly, the door was opened and Hanneman walked in, exasperation already spread across his face as the voices outside the class grew severely in intensity.

Manuela turned her head to the door, then pushed her head onto the podium. "Oh, it's you. How could this day get any worse? What do you want Hanneman? I have a lot to deal with right now."

"Manuela, it's always a pleasure to speak with you in the early morning. Right now, however, I need to ask that you accompany me to the infirmary. It seems that our newest professor has been attacked and has suffered a head injury."

Within a moment Manuela seemed to collect herself and straightened her posture, a serious look crossing her face. "I see. Then let us go, we should not keep him waiting."

Nodding his head, Hanneman swiftly walked alongside Manuela out of the Golden Deer classrooms.

Lorenz was the first to break the silence. "Oh my, how unfortunate that the professor should be attacked on the first day! To think that even the monastery would have its fair share of evil-doers. I will go and collect something for the professor to help speed up his recovery, it is what a proper noble would do in this situation."

Claude rose from his chair, a gait in his step as he surveyed the classroom. "Attempting to curry favor with the new professor already, Lorenz? I think that you will find he is not someone who would fall victim to your high-brow sophistication so readily. Not at all. As a matter of fact, I think that everyone else here has instead fallen for HIS trap!"

"What do you mean by that, Claude? Seems to me like the Professor wouldn't exactly plan and get someone to attack him on the first day of class just because." Raphael asked, holding his hand in the air.

Leonie, who sat next to the large man, raised her hand. "Yeah, Claude. Captain Jeralt was the one who found the newest professor, and if Captain Jeralt is alright with him, then everyone should be, especially I."

"Hold, hold, my fellow comrades, your words are too quick to bite!" Claude, raising his hand high into the air, dramatically layed it upon his forehead. "You misinterpret my words. What I am trying to say is that everyone has become so interested in who the Professor is as a person, too interested. Now, I am not saying that is a bad thing necessarily, but that is only for the right people under more natural circumstances. Here, however, forces are at play to cover our eyes and divert our attention away from something. Does anyone know what that is?"

Lysithea, a dull expression on her face, raised her hand. "That is rather simple, Claude. Barring basic questions about his being and simple upcoming that will become this week's gossip within the hour, we don't know why it is that he was so readily accepted into the church."

"Correct, Lysithea! Everyone knows that you just don't walk into Garreg Mach and say Oh look at me, I can do magic and spin a sword really pretty. Let me have direct access to and the ability to mold the minds of Fódlan's next generation of political leaders. It does not make any sense. Why would Rhea and, most importantly, Seteth, allow some stranger complete access to all of these resources? Robin seems to be a swell gentleman at face value, but without any information on our end of who he is, there is no good basis for letting him enter the Officer's Academy as a professor! Does the church actually know who he is? If that is the case, though, then why did he say that he didn't know what the church was? Or, for that matter, what Fódlan was?"

Curioser and curioser. Who are you really, professor? Why did you show up now?

"Ferdinand, I'm being serious. I demand that you put me down!"

"Unfortunately, I cannot do that, Sir Robin. Your concussion must be exacerbating something and you are becoming delirious. You are an intelligent man, so under normal circumstances, if you were actually of right mind, then you would not complain as Caspar and I took you to the infirmary. However, since you are becoming increasingly frustrated, that only proves that you are actually in more pain than you let on. We must hurry, Caspar!"

"Even faster? Gotcha! Lemme just grab the Professor and I'll have him there in less than a minute!"

"Wait, Caspar, proper body carrying procedure dictates that at least two people must be working in tandem to carry an injured person, lest they –"

"Bah, don't worry about it! I'll be careful."

He's going to do what to me?

Robin felt himself get hefted onto the shoulder of Caspar, and slowly begin sliding down his back. Under normal circumstances, Robin's agility would have allowed him to have stopped his fall with a well-placed hand onto the ground, but the sudden shift in momentum set Robin off-kilter, and he fell forward at a sudden rate as Caspar jolted up once. The quickly approaching floor was the last thing Robin saw before everything went black.

"…"

"Uh, whoops?"

Dimitri had seen enough. It became so clear so quickly. Everything made too much sense.

Ferdinand and Caspar were attempting to make off with the body of the Professor after the person who had attacked him, someone that they undoubtedly hired with coin, failed in their ambush. Running off in the guise of helping Professor Robin, it was the perfect getaway. No one would believe that the perpetrators were the ones actively trying to fix the problem. And they more than likely would have got away with it in their little act, but Dimitri knew better, so he followed them alone as everyone else made off in pursuit of the attacker.

And watching as Caspar lifted the new professor into the air and drive his face into the stone ground, undoubtedly to render him unconscious so that they could make for a much more stealthy escape, Dimitri had seen enough. He had his evidence collected. But he could not, no, he would not wait for their deeds to be punished. Feeling his sins crawl along his back, faint feelings of something crawling through his mind, he came to his conclusion. He would carry out justice now.

"Halt! Ferdinand and Caspar, cease your actions at once!"

"Ah, Dimitri, just the prince I wished to see. Would you mind terribly in assisting Caspar and I as we-"

"Attempt to make off with Sir Robin's body, undoubtedly to sell him to slavers or bandits for a hefty ransom?! I would think not! Such despicable, deplorable actions that you would commit to a man that you just met, I cannot construct the words to properly convey my utter disgust at your actions. Has he done anything to wrong either of you?"

Caspar spoke first. "Well, no, but –"

"So not only are you committing such villainy on a man you just met, you are doing it onto an innocent man? Dastards! I'll have the both of you brought down before I let you do anything to that man!" At that, Dimitri felt his blood rush, the feeling twisting inside of him forming something more tangible, something he has grasped before. Anger. Fury. Rage. He rushed at the duo.

"Uh, Ferdinand, what's Dimitri doing?"

Solon was making his rounds around the monastery. The start of the school year would have many students beckoning for books from his alternate persona Tomas, but that came later into the day. This early, however, there was peace, and in the peace, Solon could watch, observe, make note of the things he found worthy making note of, and forming plans to crush out all life for the eventual rise of the Agarthans. That day would be the true day of reckoning when the earth's mother fell and the gods from the sky crashed and burned on a ruined Earth. That day would be the most splendid one indeed.

But that would come with time. Patience. Planning. Rounding the corner to the flight of stairs that led down from the second floor, Solon felt a presence so unlike any other, so tainted by fell power that it even eclipsed what his people had felt on that day so many years ago. This was no fell star, no…

It was a fell god.

More planning indeed, thought Solon, as he looked upon the unconscious frame of the white-haired individual resting on the stair steps.