Fire Emblem: Chapter 3
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Disclaimer: I do not own any franchises mentioned in this story. This is fan-based work of fiction.
Beta: Gerald_Of_Revea
-Claude-
Humanity can be cruel.
He doesn’t just know that; he experienced that every day in life growing up in Almyra. It wasn’t much better when he moved to the Leicester Alliance.
For one reason or another, humanity finds a reason to hate. It’s why he despised the fact that he was an optimist.
Humanity can be better. People aren’t born evil; they are misguided. He didn’t have to look further than the church’s teachings to see that’s the case.
  1. Dare not doubt or deny the power or existence of the goddess.
  2. Dare not speak the goddess’s name in vain.
  3. Dare not disrespect your father, mother, or any who serve the goddess.
  4. Dare not abuse the power gifted to you by the goddess.
  5. Dare not kill, harm, lie, or steal, unless such acts are committed by the will of the goddess.
The goddess cares for and protects all that is beautiful in this world. The goddess will never deny the splendors of love, affection, joy, peace, faith, kindness, temperance, modesty, or patience. Follow her example and, in doing so, abide her laws.
The Five Eternal Commandments. It’s the first thing the reader sees when they open up the Book of Seiros. Anyone who doesn’t follow these rules is punished by death.
It was a masterstroke in propaganda. The first rule equates doubt with sin. So when a foreigner hears about the goddess and starts asking questions, it draws a clear divide.
Foreigners are put on the same level as heretics. Thus, they must be killed.
However, Archbishop Rhea is much more lenient than what the good book instructs. Otherwise, Cyril would have been killed long ago, and there was Soma, the true prize.
He was clearly a foreigner. Not in how he looked, but in how he acted. He doesn’t pray, at least not openly. Magic must be a rarity where he’s from, because he often just stops and stares at those training, fascination clear on his face.
He doesn’t have a crest to claim any noble lineage, but can easily read and write.
Perhaps the biggest giveaway was his food. Someone doesn’t just come up with so many recipes on their own. That and the obscure methods to make them.
He turned around, searching the pack before his eyes landed on the man in question. They hadn’t been walking for long, three hours at most, but it was clear he was struggling.
He thought for a cook he would be better on his feet, but apparently not.
He hummed, looking at the branches of each of the trees, trying to find one that suited his purpose.
His smile widened when he came across one that was almost broken, hanging on by a thread, and almost the perfect shape.
He rushed over to it, breaking the piece off and waited for Soma to walk by.
“Catch!” he threw the branch to Soma, who narrowly dodged it. Soma just returned a glare at him.
“Come on! It’s a walking stick! It looks like you need it!”
“Fuck you,” Soma grumbled, which just made him laugh harder.
The first time he cursed at him, it genuinely stunned him. He was used to threats, glares, and backhanded insults. Soma didn’t treat him like the heir to House Reigan.
It took him a while to admit it, even to himself. But Soma is the closest thing he has to a friend.
Which made it all the more depressing that he couldn’t trust him. Not without knowing how deep his relationship with Archbishop Rhea actually is.
“Come on, Soma, you need to keep up! You’re falling behind, lurking all the way there. The way things are going, we’re going to have to carry you the rest of the way.”
“On it!” Raphael said, making him blink. Raphael wasted no time, grabbing Soma by the waist before slinging him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
Soma started to glare at him.
Claude started to howl with laughter.

-LINE BREAK-
He was hoping Raph would carry Soma the rest of the way. Sadly, Soma didn’t allow himself to be carried for more than a minute before demanding to be let down.
Another hour or so passed, and they had their first break.
“I thought you would be used to being on your feet, working in the kitchen, and all.”
“The difference between the kitchen and the ‘great outdoors’ is that a kitchen has a flat surface,” Soma corrected. “Look, don’t worry about me, I’ll get used to it.”
He hoped so, but they were far from where they needed to be. And he didn’t want to leave the guy behind.
Soma made best of the food they had, for the time they had. He made small meals for the Golden Deer and Blue Lions, with the promise of a more filling meal later.
He gave a little wave to the Black Eagles group, biting down a grin as Casper reached his hand out longingly, falling to his knees.
Both Ferdinand and Dorothea were on snack duty, and while apparently decent cooks in their own regard, the two got along like oil and water, and that translated into the kitchen as well.
They’d probably have been done if it were only one of them working on it at a time. 
“So, Soma, what did you do before you came to the monastery? You got a family? Girlfriend?”
“I’ve been a chef all my life,” he admitted, not surprising him. Cooks like Soma usually came from a line of chefs, especially if they were working in kitchens to feed nobility. “As for family? Pretty sure I have a dad. Not sure where he is; my head's a bit blurry on that.”
Way to say something and nothing at the same time. “And the girlfriend?” he asked again, making Soma raise an amused eyebrow.
“You think I’d be working in Garreg Mach if I had a girlfriend?”
From the corner of his eye, he saw Hilda do a small fist pump.
“Fair enough, fair enough,” he chuckled. “Can you blame a guy for being curious? You look like the type of guy that has two waiting for him back home. Where did you say you were from again?”
Finally, he got to the question he had wanted to ask from the start of this conversation. Honestly, since the day he met Soma. He was a walking, talking box of anomalies that he couldn’t ignore.
“I didn’t,” Soma said, pointing a spoon at him. “Don’t ya know? The ladies like a man of mystery.”
“Boy!” the professor shouted from behind him, making him turn, noticing the man’s gaze was set behind him. “Stop fraternizing with your betters. Don’t make me ask twice.”
For a second, he was taken aback. Usually, someone’s ire was directed at his way; he didn’t expect it to be about Soma.
But before he could protest, Soma gave him a look. It was enough to tell him he didn’t want an argument.
“Good. The dog knows when to be quiet,” the professor said, and his dislike for the man shot up tenfold. “We leave in five.” 

Claude watched the man walk away, his easygoing smile completely vanishing as his mind quietly added the professor to his shitlist.
He just knew this trip was going to feel much longer than it actually was.
-Edelgard-
”Mages, ready!”
The students specializing in magic opened their tomes, awaiting their next command.
”Aim at the targets!”
They outstretched their hands, using the tip of their finger as an indicator of where to aim.
”Fire!”
The mages listened as both fire and lightning were shot towards a distant target, all attacks hitting directly.
“Good. That ends the afternoon lesson; we’ll resume in the evening when the knights arrive.”
There was a collective sigh from a few of the students, glad that the lesson was finally over. It had gotten on longer than expected, and for the students who weren’t tired from training, they were bored out of their minds.
“I’m not on food duty,” Dorothea said immediately. “I did it yesterday; I shouldn’t have to do it again.”
“It was a joint effort,” Ferdinand interrupted smoothly. “And I think, if you listen to my instructions, this time, it will go a lot better.”
“Can’t we just get the chef guy to make the food?” Casper asked pleadingly. “Look, the other houses already have their meals cooked! Can’t we just ask?”
“No, we cannot,” Hubert interrupted. “You won’t have access to a chef at your beck and call at all times. We need to learn how to cook for ourselves.”
Hubert was swift in coming up with a logical excuse. It deflected attention from Soma to instead focus on self-improvement.
She watched the man from a distance, delivering a second serving to Raphael, who had quickly finished his first meal. Morale between the Golden Deer and Blue Lions was clearly much higher than that of the Black Eagles.
Some of the food had gone to waste the night before; most of what the two had cooked up was hardly edible. The second attempt was better, but it meant there was less food than there should be for the trip.
For once, she was glad both Bernadetta and Linhardt had skipped this assignment. The food had been proportioned with them in mind. So while they may have to make smaller meals, it could be worse.
Even though this assignment was optional, there was an expectation that all would attend. The reason why it is optional is so the students can better acclimate to their new surroundings. 
Her nose brought her attention back to Soma’s cooking. And Soma himself. The man saw this, giving her a small wave, which made her immediately dart her eyes away, her cheeks lighting up in embarrassment.
She tended to look past the extrinsic traits of people. She would be a hypocrite otherwise with her snow-white hair. But she couldn’t help but notice how dashing Soma looked in that moment. The strip of cloth, usually wrapped around his arm, was tied around his head into a bandana. His yellow eyes were filled with warmth and pride as he looked at those eating his food.
It was exactly that type of thinking that made her suspicious of him. The thoughts were so unlike herself that it made her question their previous interactions. Whatever he was doing, it was dangerous.
She did a quick head count of the group, stilling once she noticed she was one short.
“Where’s Petra?” she asked, and Hubert started to massage his temples.
“Taking part in betrayal.” Hubert nodded, and she had to stop herself from sighing.
Petra was being welcomed by the Golden Deer, Claude wrapping an arm around the girl's shoulder while she happily accepted the plate of food offered by Soma.
“Can we get some too?” Casper asked pleadingly, though he already knew the answer.
At least now it meant they were cooking for five, and not six.
-Hubert-
Lady Edelgard was right to be suspicious of Soma Yukihira, especially when his story had more holes in it than a common household sponge.
His birthland is unknown, arrived in Garreg Mach less than a month ago, but his own story was all the tales of what he truly was.
No family to speak of, no reason to leave Garreg Mach, but able to read and write, an uncommon skill for anyone who did not come from wealth.
It didn’t take long for him to figure out what he truly was.
A plant.
Already, he was trying to ingratiate himself with the other houses. The Golden Deer was a lost cause, having almost adopted the spy into their ranks. There was more distance with the Blue Lions, though Soma seemed eager to mingle with them as well.
The issue was that he didn’t know which group to suspect. The church, them, or another party entirely. 
In the end, it doesn’t matter who he works for, just when he reveals his secrets.
When that happens?
His mouth tugged into a smirk.
They will be ready.
-Soma-
Triple XP.
Soma Yukihira
Lv: 6
Exp: 02
HP: 24 +1
Str: 7 +1
Mag: 7
Dex: 10
Spd: 11
Lck: 11 +1
Def: 5
Res: 6 
Cha: 16 +1.
Every meal I made so far has given me triple the return rates, 3XP per meal, no matter if it was breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I assumed cooking outside was another factor, outside of kitchen comforts.
[Ability Unlocked - Feast & Fervor: Meals made by you now can give temporary buffs based on which dish you prepared]
‘Abilities?’ I raised my eyebrows in surprise. ‘I have those?’
The ability seemed good on the surface. It’s something I’ll have to try out for myself later to see how strong it actually is.
“Boy, where is my meal?”
I paused, looking at the professor with a raised eyebrow.
I didn’t recognize him from any of the games. Not that it mattered. He was a decent enough teacher, with a shitty personality. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve come across someone with the same circumstances in my life.
“There’s soup ready. If you want dinner, give me a few minutes; I’ll have something ready for you,” I replied, mainly so I could be closer to the next level more than anything else.
“What do you mean, you don’t have it ready?” he sniffed. “You’ve had all day to do your job, and it’s still not ready?”
This motherfucker, “Well, maybe if you didn’t wait until I was packing everything away, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
He glared at me before a small, sadistic smile came onto his face. “Students!” He called out, “Listen up. I’m going to teach you one more valuable and important lesson.”
“Oh, for fuck sake,” I muttered, but it went unheard by everyone else as everyone started to gather around the professor.
“There are two types of people in this world. Those of importance, and those that will never make a mark on the world. Every single one of you is my student. All of you will go on to do great things. This boy?” he said, gesturing a hand to me. “Is not. Does anyone know what that means?”
“It means you can make your own fucking meal.” I snapped, getting a choked laugh from a few of the students. 
The professor stood there stunned as a few of the students giggled, Claude opening laughing like a hyena before the professor snarled.
“It means,” he said through gritted teeth. “It is up to us to teach vermin like him his place,” he said, stiffly grabbing my arm, fire dancing in the other.
I grabbed the frying pan, intent on swinging it into his face, but I was interrupted by a sharp whizzing sound.
I felt the man let go. Turning to him, I watched as he coughed up blood before he fell to the floor, an arrow having gone through his eye.
I stilled before sharply turning, as men armed with bows, swords, and axes started to come out of the trees.
Their leader came out first, a wicked smile on his face as he drew his axe. “Look what we have here," he sneered, his voice a low, gravelly rumble. "A pack of wealthy little brats just begging to be gutted.”
I recognized him immediately. Kostas, the leader of the Iron King’s Bandits, the same group that appears at the start of Three Houses.
And now had his axe raised at me.
‘Shit,’ I thought, diving for cover as another arrow whizzed by me. “It’s an ambush!”
er as another arrow whizzed by me. “It’s an ambush!”