Bernadetta waited with bated breath as they peeked out from beneath the covers, watching the towering professor glide their hand across the books and snacks that she had accumulated. While it was difficult to discern much from her stoic teacher, Bernadetta could spot a hint of concern on their face as their brow furrowed slightly.
"Hm...?" Byleth's hand brushed past Bernie's hiding spot (eliciting a barely-audible squeak from the mouse-like student) as the professor spotted an empty vial amidst the objects. The cap was loose and there was still some of the liquid housed within. Byleth picked it up to examine it closer, reading the label for its effects.
"...Oh," was the only response from Byleth. Whether they believed that this 'shrinking potion' could be the genuine article or not, it was irrelevant - either their most anxious and fearful student was now in a far larger and far more intimidating world without her aid, or they had been swindled for their gold to guzzle down what could be poison for all they knew.
Bernie whimpered, watching from their hiding spot as the professor pocketed the bottle as evidence. The jig was up, but the shrunken girl had no intention of giving herself up now - the professor would be absolutely furious with her! They'd have her kicked out of the monastery and exiled from Fodlan forever, no doubt about it!
Firstly, Byleth lifted a leg to examine the sole of their shoe, and then did the same with the other. To their relief, they were unblemished. Next, Byleth knelt down to examine the floor, sweeping their hand around the strewn-about items and beneath the furniture. They pressed their head against the ground, their eyeball swiveling around to try and spot any tiny cowering purple-haired creatures in the darkness below the dresser and the wardrobe, but they spotted nothing but dust bunnies and crumbs.
After that, they reexamined the door, trying to ascertain if Bernadetta could have already left the room. While it was unlikely that she would leave, Byleth couldn't rule out the possibility - if she had, then the longer Byleth spent looking for nothing in here, then the longer Bernadetta was in danger of being trodden underfoot by a passing student or plucked up as a meal by that damn owl that keep roosting outside the dorms. There was a slight gap beneath the door, but Byleth couldn't tell if Bernadetta was small enough to crawl through or not without a frame of reference for how potent this potion was.
The concerned teacher stood back up to their feet, eyeing the seemingly empty room once more.
"Bernie," Byleth said, trying to sound as gentle and patient as they could. "Please come out now. I won't be angry with you. Don't worry, it'll be okay."
A moment of silence followed.
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