This choice: Edelgard gets out through the window • Go Back...Chapter #18Rooftop rumble by: Arnsley   (Spoilers for Black Eagles Chapter 11)
Remembering how the door nearly blew shut yesterday, Edelgard hurried towards the window. As enjoyable as the cool breeze was, it could spell doom for her escape attempt. Now a seasoned book-climber, she made short work of the small climb to the window. Without wasting a single moment, she slipped her tiny body through the open window.
Edelgard fell further than expected, landing painfully on the outside windowsill. In her haste to escape, she had not planned her last little leap.
Still, I am outside now. She reasoned. It is very unlikely that Linhardt would think to look for me here.
Out in fresh air once again, she felt an immense sense of release. She had slipped out of the hands of her captor, and finally regained her freedom. For the first time since she was found by Ferdinand, she had complete control of her destiny. Her reduced height hardly mattered to her in the face of such a fact.
I don’t think I can make it to the Holy Tomb from here. Edelgard thought. The monastery grounds will be occupied by many people today. Perhaps I should lie low and wait for nightfall. In that case, it would be best if I looked for Hubert. Still, I wonder why he didn't find me last night...
Deciding that Hubert’s room would be the best place to start, Edelgard turned in that direction. There was some distance to the flat wooden roof below, too far for her to fall recklessly. However, if she could get down there, it promised safe passage. She could also remain at the level of the windows, and shuffle between them on the brickwork, but that seemed to be a more precarious path.
Edelgard decided to climb down to the wooden roof over the first floor. The rugged bricks provided many footholds for the centimeters-tall girl, allowing her an easy passage downward. Though her arms and legs ached from escaping Linhardt’s room, she did not slow down.
Minutes later, Edelgard stood atop the wooden roof. This roof sheltered the entrances to the commoner rooms on the first floor. The other girls of the Black Eagles called this floor their home. It was strange to think that she now stood on the very roof that was over their heads whenever they left their rooms. She stared up into the distance, at the countless windows adorning the wall high above.
One of these is Hubert’s window. She thought, counting along the wall. She hoped her memory of the corridor was accurate. She didn’t find herself venturing down to the boy’s end of the hallway often.
There was plenty of room on the roof, another wide expanse to the tiny Edelgard. There were only gigantic wooden pillars to be seen, and of course the roof overhead. As she walked, she found the ground to be oddly slippery.
Not the best craftsmanship. Edelgard thought to herself as she noticed many gaps between the planks of wood. Some were even large enough for her to fall into.
It was clear to her that few ever walked atop the roof. It didn’t seem too likely that it would even support the weight of a full-sized person.
She did not dare venture close to the edge of roof. The drop to the ground would be the height of an entire floor, a greater distance downward than any she had ever seen before. She couldn’t trust herself to maintain her composure in the face of the sheer size of the descent. It was also significantly safer; at her size, even a gentle breeze could potentially blow her over the edge.
Edelgard did not dwell on the potential dangers she faced, nor pay much mind to her surroundings. Her mind was focused on the windows, trying to count her way along to Hubert’s room.
Was he two doors down from Linhardt? Maybe three? She wondered, frustrated by her own uncertainty.
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a large brown object hidden in the shadows. She looked to the strange mass, which appeared to be composed of sticks and twigs. It dwarfed her tiny body, easily several times her height.
What is this thing? It took Edelgard a moment to recognize it. Is this… A bird’s nest?
Preoccupied with counting windows, she had inadvertently wondered close to the bundle of sticks.
I’d better keep my distance. She moved away, heading towards the edge of the roof.
There was suddenly an ear-piercing shriek, a noise that could only have been made by a demon. Edelgard crouched down and covered her ears, immobilized by the sheer volume of the sound. Yet there was something familiar about the infernal tone.
Her tiny body was beaten by a gust of wind. Wincing against the breeze, she looked up to see the black, flapping wings of an immense bird. At her current scale, it looked more like a demonic beast than a simple bird.
This must be its nest! Edelgard realized. Did I get too close? Or perhaps… It’s just hungry?!
The bird landed, its beady black eyes studying the strange little woman. Edelgard ran to the side. The bird hopped in front of her path, forcing her to stop. Staring up at the huge creature, her eyes were drawn to its immense beak, easily sharp enough to tear her to pieces.
A mere bird will not stop me! Edelgard vowed to herself. I must prevail!
But without a weapon, she could only flee. She ran towards the edge of the roof, away from the wall. She thought only of escape in these desperate moments. The bird did not block her, just watching her run for a moment, still unsure of what to make of her.
Perhaps I can hide behind one of the pillars? She wondered. I could stay out of sight until it loses interest.
Her plan was foiled when the bird moved again. It fluttered behind her, deciding to chase her after all. Her hair and cape blown around by the strong wind, Edelgard became disoriented and stumbled. Unknowingly, she stepped past the pillar towards the edge. The bird hopped closer, causing her to instinctively pull away. Losing her balance, she fell over the edge.
“No!” She cried out as she lost her footing. The roof moved upward, obscuring the form of the dreaded bird.
Is this my end? She faced upwards as she fell, her arms reaching in vain for the edge. There was nothing she could do to save herself…
“Ugh!” Edelgard squeaked as her back made impact with something.
What’s happening? Am I on the ground? She wondered as she lay stunned.
That was painful, but I don’t think that landing could be life threatening. It was somehow much softer than I expected…
Curious and confused, she sat up. It was immediately obvious that it was not the ground where she had landed. She was somehow still high up, the ground far below. She grasped one of the strange fibers covering the ground.
This is… Hair? And this colour, it’s just like…
Splayed fingers suddenly blotted out the sun. Edelgard kicked at the ground with her legs, moving her body just enough to evade as the hand descended. The fingers flexed, scratching for a moment, before moving towards her again. She backed away, but when she glanced over her shoulder, she saw she was out of space. She decided to give in, offering no resistance as the gloved fingers wrapped around her. For she already knew who’s head she was sat on top of.
The hand moved, with the tiny Edelgard gripped in its fingers. She could feel herself move downward, brought once again before an immense face.
I suppose this was inevitable. She thought. Or perhaps it was fate?
“Edelgard?!”
She smiled to herself. “Hello, professor.” She squeaked back to her teacher. He just stared back, mouth agape. His tiny student enjoyed seeing such an expression on his face. It was rare for her teacher to show much emotion.
He tilted his hand and released his grip on Edelgard, allowing her to sit upright in his palm. Staring at her huge teacher, she didn’t feel afraid. She did not know why, having been terrified by the sight of her giant classmates.
There’s always been something different about the professor. Maybe that is why I feel no fear. She thought.
“Is it really you?” He gasped.
“Yes, it’s me.” She answered. “I thought that would be obvious.”
“But… You’re tiny!” He prodded her with a finger, as if to check she were real.
“I noticed.” She smirked, pushing his finger away. This feels familiar…
“What happened to you?” Byleth asked. “How did you become so small?”
I should have expected that question. Edelgard hesitated, unsure how to answer. Part of her wanted to trust in her teacher and tell him everything. But she had no idea how he would react to hearing about her plan to sneak into the Holy Tomb. Would he help her, or would he be annoyed? Worse, he could even tell the knights about her. They would certainly be suspicious of a suddenly tiny student.
Though he was her teacher, being discovered yet again was another major setback. At this rate, her shrunken size would soon be no secret. Perhaps it would be best for her to tell him the same story she had told her classmates, in case they compared notes.
However, her tale had already gotten her in more than enough trouble. Maybe now was the time to keep silent and refuse to tell her teacher anything. He was affiliated with the church, after all. Anything she told him would likely reach them at some point.
“Edelgard?”
It seemed her time was up.
I should tell him…  | Members who added to this interactive story also contributed to these: |
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