Disclamer: I do not own Negima or its characters. Only the OC's contained within are mine.

--

Seldom was Negi Springfield concerned about a summons to Dean Konoe's office. His morning started out normal enough, a teachers meeting that seemed to serve no purpose except to exchange stories about what everyone did over the weekend. His concern started as he was leaving for his homeroom class. Toko Kuzunoha informed him that the dean wished to speak with him and that Shizuna Minamoto would be filling in for him till he arrived. His brown eyes stared at the blond swordswoman for a moment before acknowledging the summons. With a brief shake of his red hair and a mental shrug, he set off to meet with the dean.

Upon reaching the doors of the office, Negi knocked and asked permission to enter, which was quickly granted. A quick look at who was in the room was enough to reinforce his nervous premonition.

Focusing his attention on the room's owner, he said "you wanted to see me sir?"

Aged eyes from an impossibly elongated head regarded him for a minute. "It has been nearly two months since your return from the Magic World. How are you and your students holding up?"

That was not what Negi was expecting, so he hesitated a moment before answering. "We are dealing with everything that happened sir. As a class I would say they are doing fine." The last word seemed to die on his lips as he saw those ancient eyes bore into him. Negi sighed, and finally said, "The entire class is keeping their promise to hold the secret of magic. However, some of the students are still experiencing problems. Ako still seems stuck in her depression, Asuna is trying to make sense of the holes in her past and trying to forgive herself, Yuna is giving everything she has to her training though the rift between her and her father still causes her trouble, and Ayaka still has nightmares over what Fate did to her and the power that awakened. Doesn't stop her from trying to pact with me though, or help her deal with my reasons for not accepting her."

"Ayaka has shown a power that we really know nothing about. Its unknown how that will react with a pactio, and thus it could place her in a lot of danger. I don't believe she is a mage, yet we can find no records of anything even close to her power. You still haven't finished answering my question though. How are you and Ayaka handling Fate's death?"

Images flashed through the boys mind. He remembered climbing that shattered tower in Ostia's palace with Asuna, defeating the magic traps placed within the room, and claiming an ancient blade radiating power. He could see again Fate Averruncus standing in the broken arena, demanding that Asuna be given to him, offering in exchange a battered, bloody, and chained Ayaka Yukihiro. Asuna was ready to give herself to free the captive girl, when they both saw Ayaka look up, her eyes glowing an intense azure blue. Negi still was unsure of what happened next. He swore that a faint azure mist began to surround Ayaka's arms, infusing her with the strength to break the chains binding her. Impossibly fast, she whipped the chain around catching Fate off guard, binding around his waist, and flinging him into the wall with terrific force. His next clear memory was enabling his dark magics in his left hand while his right carried his liberated sword. Using every shred of power that he possessed he tore though Fate's barrier and landed a crushing blow to his midsection, following it up by piercing his enemy through the heart, pinning him to what was left of the structure. He could still remember the feel of hot blood pouring over his hands, the smell of it, and the look in Fate's eyes as they emptied of light. His next memory was looking over at Ayaka and seeing a mix of satisfaction and horror in her gaze. Finally she lapsed into a blessed unconscious state for two days.

"We are as well as can be expected sir. We don't talk about it, at least not with each other, so I don't know how she is handling it. I just move on day to day and do what I can." 'And try not to dwell on the loss of something precious to me.'

Konoemon looked at Negi, and while he seemed unsatisfied with that answer, he still nodded his acceptance of it. "Very well Negi, I will accept that for now. However, this was not why I called you into this meeting. I'm sure that you noticed the teachers that are in here at the moment."

Negi nodded and looked at each of them in turn. Toko was a gifted swordswoman of the Shinmei School. Takamichi Takahata was probably the most powerful person on the campus, following the dean and his master. Seruhiko was a mage noted for his ability to dispel demons, though Negi had never seen him do this as Mana had taken him out as a priority target during the festival back in June. Finally Evangeline A.K. McDowell, centuries old vampire and sorceress, creator of the dark magic techniques that Negi had begun to study in the Magic World and master to the boy, far more dangerous now that the curse limiting her power had been circumvented. It had taken a while to convince the Dean that using the other artifact he had brought from the Magic World would not end in disaster.

"There is a lot of power gathered in this room sir. What can I do to help?"

"Actually it's both you and your class whose help I want. That is why I wanted to know how you all are doing. I'm sure you noticed a huge distortion in the magical energy surrounding the school two weeks ago. We investigated and found evidence of a rift being torn open. We're not sure how many beings came through, but we did find a girl who appears to be about 15. She was wearing clothing similar to what is found on the outlying portions of the Magic World, though there are differences. She was also carrying a sword shaped close enough to a rapier though a bit longer that had a glossy black material that seemed to ripple occasionally like water. We detected a demonic aura surrounding her, powerful enough that we held her for a while until we could determine who she was. Unfortunately we are not sure what she is, as her memories appear to be gone, possibly a side effect of the rift. We do not believe that this is a magical condition, as no trace of memory altering magic can be detected. The only thing that we really got out of her was that the sword she was holding is extremely important to her. When found she was holding it with a grip tight enough to insure that her hands would have to be broken to take it. Toko tried after she had woken up to get her to hand over the weapon; however she seemed to go into a fit and lashed out at her with it, nearly killing her. The speed which she struck with and the brief glimpse of something dark in her eyes were both terrifying. However, that was the only incident, and she seemed to revert back almost immediately to her current state. We have discovered that she has a knack for languages, as she has picked up both English and Japanese well enough to sound like an educated foreigner. And hidden within her mind is an understanding of mathematics and an intelligence suited for quick learning."

Negi felt a growing panic as Konoe continued to speak. He knew without asking what the dean wanted, and yet asked the obvious question. "What do you require of my class sir?"

"I want you to place her within your class, and have you and your students keep an eye on her. I have informed both Mana Tatsumiya and Setsuna Sakurazaki of the circumstances, and have asked them to help watch this girl, and unfortunately if necessary, help deal with her. However, the only room open is Ayaka Yukihiro's. I won't ask Natsumi to move back in there, so I am stuck placing her there. Kotaro-kun will be able to help watch her."

Negi felt as if a dragon had struck him. "Sir, not all my students are fighters, even though most have pacted with me. Many have little or no experience with real fighting and you are asking me to put a girl who could potentially lash out with lethal consequences! Most of them resist any form of training whatsoever, and none of us have any reason to force them into it." He struggled to get himself under control, though his mind was shrieking several things he could never bring himself to say to the headmaster.

One of Konoe's eyebrows shot up, almost as if it could read the imprecations raging through the boys mind. "Negi, I understand the potential danger of this, however, I cannot keep her confined. And your class was specially constructed for this sort of task. Most of them have chosen to become your Ministra. I think that says volumes for their willingness to do what is necessary. Besides, no other class has the amount of raw ability that yours does. If she were to go anywhere else, then it would be a true disaster if she snaps. Mana, Evangeline, and Setsuna will ensure that your students remain safe. Now I want you to meet her. Takamichi, would you please escort her in."

Negi wasn't sure what he had been expecting to come out of that door, but he was completely unprepared for the flowing beauty that appeared before him. Standing easily at six foot in height with pale skin framed by blond hair so light it appeared to be shining, was the new student he would have to watch out for and protect his class from. He took note of the rapier that she carried close to her, 'gonna have to get her a case for that', noting the unearthly chill that emanated from the blade. The hilt was adorned with a pair of faces, glaring demonic visages that he really didn't want to think about. Wire that seemed to resemble a pair of tentacled appendages were woven into a protective hand guard over the hilt. While no master of the rapier or of fencing, the sword hilt looked off to the boy. 'Of course, the hilt is far too long. This blade can be used with both hands.'

The tall girl smiled at him, a sad smile reflected in her lustrous grey eyes, and said in a hauntingly musical voice, "Hello Mr. Springfield. I am Sylvia Pine and I will be in your class starting today."

--
After the meeting, Negi escorted the new girl back to his class, half-hearted giving her the rundown on how things operated and where things were. In truth, his mind was on other concerns. He was having some trouble reconciling Konoemon's warnings with the girl walking next to him, eyes downcast, responding with her soft spoken voice. Not that he doubted the Dean, as his own intuition screamed at him to watch her. And of course, anyone who could place Toko so completely on the defensive was extremely dangerous. There was just nothing outward about her that warranted such caution. Except the missing memories, and the rapier she kept wrapped up a silk bag that she now carried. He had tried to view it mystically, yet the power that it held seemed utterly alien? to his frame of reference and emanated such a chill that he felt as if his soul had been frozen.
Reaching the door to his class he repeated a final admonition. "Ms. Pine, under no circumstances are you to remove that blade from its case. Is that understood?"

Those sad grey eyes regarded him for a moment. "It is understood, Sensei," she stated in that musical voice. As a graduate of the Meldina, he had come into contact with people from many different countries, and during his adventures in Mundus Magica he had met many more, yet he could not identify her accent or her possible origins.

'You are a mystery Sylvia Pine. And according to Konoemon a potentially deadly one. We shall take it a day at a time and see what happens.' Nodding in response to her affirmation of his instruction he grabbed the door and said, "Very well Sylvia-san, let's go meet your new classmates."

--

Author's Note: Rating may go up in later chapters. As a side note, I am still working on my other fic, Web of Prophecy, what takes place here will have bearing in the other story.

Anyways, reviews are always accepted and appreciated.

Lord Magius