This is my first attempt at a actual fanfiction instead of my other bunch of one shots. It will be a bit AU with the most major change being that Tabitha is a voidmage alongside other minor details. Of course her summon will be Myoznitnirn (I think that's how you spell it.) which will be Daud (Cause he was a more interesting character to me than Corvo.). I do intend for some ways for him to use Myoznitnirns powers later depending on whether I still have the steam to go past my planned ending of this. Only other notes would be that updates would probably be at random since I write at a strange pace and that you forgive me for any bad English (or Engrish) since it isn't my native language. Ah! Also I hope that the characters aren't OOC. (If they are... well then this is fanfic for a reason :P)
The on-duty guards didn't see him. At best; they might have caught a glance of his shadow as he bypassed the security to the secure garden. With the rat plague still going strong and the number of weepers walking around; few trained men could be spared for guarding a graveyard, no matter how important those buried within. That suited him just fine.
The void black eyes of the man returned to normal when he ascertained that he was alone, alone in the resting place of his greatest regret. He stepped up the grave, decorated with exotic flowers and beautiful wreaths; gifts to the Empress from all her mourners. He didn't have a gift like that.
The setting sun cast a long shadow behind him as he solemnly stood over the silent grave. He was silent as he slowly knelt over the grave and bowed his tired head in penance for crimes that could not be forgiven nor repented for.
The tranquil garden was empty of all life but him, the Watch guardsmen at the gate kept any average visitor out, nobility or otherwise and the only other Royal family member was now an Empress; busy with managing the dying city of Dunwall.
Slowly; Daud unsheathed his blade and gently placed it upon the decorated stone grave. The same vile blade he had bathed in the living blood of his many targets. The same dirty blade that he used to coldly murder the sole person that mattered to him… in front of her own little girl. The bloody blade he used to murder the Empress of the Empire of the Isles; the one hit that made him feel regret.
There were no words he could say here that would lighten the weight of his crimes, heinous as they were. For he knew that nothing he said could change the past; it was his choice to kill her for coin. It didn't matter how much he now regretted it now for nothing could change the past.
His regret and guilt would mean nothing to all those that suffered as a consequence of his actions. Those that died under the brutal dictatorship of the Lord Regent and the uncountable thousands of other plague victims that suddenly lost the civil aid that the Empress had generously granted them. All those deaths… loomed over his head.
He made his choices, terrible ones in retrospect, and he would have to live with the consequences of them; whether he liked it or not. For better or for worse.
Daud remained stooped low over the Empress's grave for a while longer, eyes closed in penance. When he was finally done with wallowing in his hollow self-worth; he finally reopened his eyes. They were locked onto the assassin's blade; his blade, still lying on top of the cold stone as a reminder of his actions.
He wouldn't leave his blade her for long. It would be insulting to offer the same blade he used to kill the Empress to her grave. Besides; while his life as an assassin was now over, he might have use for this sword for some time yet. With Dunwall as it was now, he would be a colossal idiot to walk around unarmed in a city filled to brim with mad weepers, violent gangs and rabid rats.
With a depressed sigh, he got back up, his blade being sheathed back to its place on his hip. He supposed that he should see to getting himself out of Dunwall now, before Corvo decides to change his mind on whether he should get revenge for the former Empress. Perhaps he should take Lurk's advice and find somewhere on the edge of the Empire to disappear to. With his talents and connections; it wouldn't be all that hard.
And then what? His money wouldn't last forever and he would need a sustainable income. He didn't know any useful trades outside of killing and perhaps making tools of murder like poisons and hidden weapons. And he did not want to walk down that bloody soaked again; to become an assassin drenched in the blood of his victims. He's had enough of killing for coin.
Maybe he could find something simple to do, he needn't an illustrious job to live the rest of his life in peace and without pointless death. Perhaps he should take a page from Corvo's story and become a bodyguard for some noble or something alike. He certainly had the skills for it.
A harrowing feeling from behind him made his skin tingle. Reacting instantly; he used a transversal to get away from his spot, ensuring that whatever it was wouldn't be directly behind him. Reappearing a few meters ahead but facing the other way now, he raised an eye at what he saw. A deep frown was now building up on his face, he didn't like what he saw.
There was now a shimmering mirror, that was definitely now there before, occupying the space in front of him, noticeably floating above the grassy floor. The unusual mirror just stank of witchcraft and the fogginess of the glass only made him all the more suspicious. It was almost as if it was inviting him; daring him to touch it and discover what lurked behind the fog.
He wasn't sure if this was the work of the Outsider, he was an observer of events, one that would create utter chaos for amusement. But he was consistent; it wouldn't be amusing if he manipulated every event to his liking. To him; it was much more entertaining to watch those he marked fight each other. Him against Delilah. Corvo against him.
So in all likeliness; this was someone that was marked by the Outsider. But he didn't know of one that used mirrors. Corvo's abilities were much like his own. His former subordinates wouldn't try something like this and Delilah was stuck in the void. Her witches? Perhaps; but he hadn't seen any of them do something with mirrors before; just plants, screaming and shadow darts.
Stepping up to meet the challenge, he used drew the blade he offered to the Empress as he faced the mirror with the naked blade, narrowed eyes searching for anything that might clue him in onto its origin. The mirror was plain with no borders whatsoever; made entirely of what might be glass. Thick misty fog was what he would call it; he couldn't see a thing through it.
Crouching down slowly; he picked up a small pebble which he then tossed at the mirror. Somehow; it wasn't even surprising when the pebble went through the mirror; causing a small ripple effect like it was made of water. The mirror apparently couldn't decide if it was water or air apparently.
Common sense would say not to touch it and just go on his way. The mirror wasn't following him or anything and he didn't see any reason as to why he couldn't just simply leave and forget all about this mysterious mirror…
Maybe it was the Outsider after all. The bastard knew that he couldn't abide a mystery; just like that affair with Delilah he would seek out the truth. And who ever conjured the mirror would likely try again anyway. He didn't want any loose ends in this city; if someone was after him then he would face them now. Rather than try to escape; he would confront it here and now.
With gritted teeth; he stepped forward to stand before the mirror. His blade held out towards it as he prepared just in case something came out from the other end. In his experience with magic; anything was possible, especially what should be impossible and defied logic. So he was ready for whatever horror lay beyond.
Cautiously; he slowly moved his hand towards the mirror. Knowing full well, that with his luck, he would probably be sucked in or something; Daud stroked the mirror with his fingers. He really didn't want to do this; but it was better to face whoever it was on the other hand directly than play another game of cat and mice. An ugly frown on his face when the rest of his hand was tugged into the mirror.
Immediately, there was a shock that ran through his body as his arm went in next. He gritted his teeth as his entire body felt like it was being electrocuted. His feet made long track marks as he stubbornly tried to hold his ground as the mirror sucked him in.
It was when the 'glass' of the mirror had drawn up to his shoulder that he gave up fighting the irresistible pull on his body. Readying his blade with his still free hand; he willingly charged the rest of the way through. Hopefully he could take the enemy by surprise and get the first strike.
By the Five Elements of the great Pentagon…
Heed my call O' being who shall follow my fate…
As Charlotte Helene de Orleans…
And summon my familiar!
Those were the quiet words whispered to him in a murky black moment. He had no idea what this Pentagon was or who this Charlotte was. But he was familiar with the concept of familiar; those hounds at Brigmore Manor were familiar to the witches. And from the wording; it seemed he was being summoned as a familiar. But he had no more time to contemplate the words as he was deposited into the air a meter or so above the ground in a loud explosion.
Daud landed heavily on a grassy floor, his ears ringing from the explosion. Of all things to notice; it was the grass that caught his attention. A completely different shade that looked far more lively and healthy than the grass of the Empress's grave. So that mirror took him somewhere else; not surprising. Tightening his grip on his blade, he briskly got up on his own two feet. He would see where he was now.
There was a large plume of dust was centred on him, blocking all view out. That was fine with him; no one could see in either and he had dark visi-
Daud blinked when the familiar dark shades that accompanied dark vision did not appear. This time, watching his left hand, the one that bore the Outsider's mark, he was surprised when his mark did not glow with unholy light when he willed his ability to activate. Not even the fading light that showed when he lacked the mana to cast it; this was more troublesome.
Still, he had other talents and even without his powers; he was skilled with the assortment of weapons that he had on him. His sword was in the right hand while he drew a pistol with the left. He didn't explicitly want to kill anyone but he wasn't above it even now, especially if it was in self-defence.
He had killed Edgar Wakefield knowing that a swift death from his blade was merciful compared to what Lizzy had planned for him and many of the Overseers that attacked his men and his base died by his hand. It wasn't the act of killing that repulsed him now. He supposed that it was killing for coin that seemed… worthless to him and degraded him as a person.
But he shouldn't be having a sentimental moment now either. He shouldn't distract himself right now. The gun was trained on the humanoid shapes that were starting to form as the dust settled. It was… a sight he was really expecting.
A rabble of children and one older man dressed in a stereotypical outfit which fit all too well with the Overseer's image of a practitioner of foul magic. The rest was… odd. The males in the group were dressed like nobility; that was fine. The females were dressed with short skirts which made even the whores of the Golden Cat seem modest in comparison.
At least they didn't threatening; he would even venture to say that they were just as surprised as him. And aside from unreal hair pigment that defied what he believed what was possible for hair; most of them weren't didn't look interesting or dangerous with two exceptions.
The old man, who he assumed was the leader of the group, looked more wary than surprised and he somehow doubted, from the stance he was holding it, that his staff was merely ornamental. But he was some distance away so he could probably manage to fire a shot off before he could close the distance. And if that failed; a follow-up dart from his wristbow then.
The second was one of those girls with an unnatural shade of hair: light blue of all things. She was a head shorted than all the others and was far closer to him than anyone else, standing just outside of arms reach. And her expression was one of cold calculations, as if she had predicted this would happen and was following along a prearranged plan. This was likely the one that knew the most of what was going on.
There were hushed words being passed around the surprised children as the blue haired girl marched up to him despite the weapons he held aloft in his gloved hands. Her eyes scanning his attire and making special note of all the pouches and pockets his crimson coat had.
"Name?" she said in a tiny voice. He considered the one worded question. The girl didn't know his name. So perhaps; he wasn't specifically targeted. Yet that expectant look from earlier suggest she knew more of this than those others here.
"Daud." He replied simply in a crispy voice. That was all he was known by now. The real name that his parents gave him so long ago was forgotten and left behind in Serkonos. He was just Daud now, the former Knife of Dunwall. "And you?"
"Tabitha." Was the soft reply. No last name at all was forthcoming; just Tabitha. Odd; he would have thought that she was this Charlotte Helene de Orleans. That was the name he had heard in the split second before arriving with a bang.
There was a brief silence between them as neither said anything, the constant whispers of the other children the only words he could pick up. He was waiting for her to continue talking. What she was waiting for? How was he supposed to know? "So… where am I?"
"Magic Academy of Tristain." The girl replied to him. Her words brief and straight to the point.
"Ah…" Daud said with a breath of air. He had no idea where the Magic Academy of Tristain was. It certainly wasn't in Gristol or perhaps even the Empire; he couldn't really see the Abbey of the Everyman allowing an academy to teach the 'foul arts of dark magic'. "Where's that?"
There was another pause as the girl considered something in her head. With only a polite bow and a brief "Excuse me." She turned her back to him and hurriedly walked back to the older man, asking for some time alone with her summon. That suited him just fine; he too would like to know what was going on.
He had expected something… more malevolent to come from the mirror. One of Delilah's old 'sister's out for revenge, another marked out for the substantial bounty on his head… Now, it seems that he was summoned to be a 'familiar'.
The word rolled out uneasily through his mouth. His opinion on Witchcraft wasn't as extreme as the Overseers, his powers were essentially witchcraft themselves. It was tool; a weapon to be utilised by the user. Did that mean that he was summoned to be a tool then, a tool for killing as usual?
"Please follow." Tabitha softly said, gesturing towards a few outside tables only a short distance away. Shrugging, he followed after her. There wasn't much else for him to do as of yet. And if there was an explanation forthcoming; then who was he to decline.
Tabitha seated herself on side of the table while he sat opposite her, on the edge seat so his legs wouldn't be caught by the table if he had to run. It was a habit of his, a by-product of living in a den of assassins; you never know when someone would decide to take a shot at you, though he doubted any of his old men would do so back then. They were either too loyal to even think of killing him or knew they were not skilled enough to pull it off without dying.
"So... What's all this about?" he started off with the most important question: the one that would explain what this situation was.
"Familiar summoning. I summoned you for Springtime Familiar Festival." Tabitha curtly replied, pointing at him with her staff. Daud nodded at that, he already had a feeling that was the case. So he was somehow summoned to be her familiar.
"And what's a familiar?" Daud inquired of her. He also already had a small inkling of what a familiar was, courtesy of those demon hounds at Brigmore manor; but he doubted that these people had the same idea as him. He was many things but an actual demon was not one of them.
"Servant and protector of summoner. Expected to aid summoner in all things. Necessary for advancement as mage." Tabitha said. She then went silent again and there was yet another silence before Daud realized there wasn't any more information forthcoming. Tabitha appeared to be a quiet girl then.
"Essentially a bodyguard and a servant at the same time then." Daud surmised it together. That's what it sounded like to him. A bodyguard or servant… that sounded far too close to what he was hoping to start a new life with.
"Yes. I will provide for accommodation and basic needs." Tabitha confirmed for him. So a bodyguard/servant that would get provided a place to sleep and have all their basic needs taken care of; any number ordinary people would kill to have such a job in Dunwall without a second thought. He wasn't such a normal person.
When he was in need of a new life style and thinking on becoming a bodyguard; he is, quite literally, dropped into a situation where he would conveniently get what he was thinking. That was just too lucky and convenient for his liking. And lucky was never a word that he would describe himself with. In fact; he still didn't even know where he was. "Where are we?"
"Tristain Academy of Magic." Tabitha replied for him, repeating the same answer from before. Her eyes then narrowed in thought at his question.
Tristain Academy of Magic… he had never heard of such an academy. The Abbey would never allow such an establishment to exist within the Empire, it would go against every tenet it stood for.
"Ever heard of Gristol? Or the Empire of the Isles?" Daud questioned her. This was a far fetched question but if he theory was correct…
"No. Not from Halkegenia?" It took Daud a moment before he realized the second part was actually a question for him. Halkegenia… was it part of the unexplored Pandyssian continent? "No. I'm from Dunwall of Gristol. Never heard of this Halkegenia. Is it part of Pandyssia?"
"No." Tabitha replied in thought. "From faraway place?"
"Seems like it." Daud sighed to himself. So he was right. This Tristain Academy of Magic was nowhere near Dunwall or even the Empire anymore. "Well then, anything else I should know about being a familiar."
"Not much else." Tabitha replied.
"This sounds far too nice. What's the catch to being a familiar? Why aren't more people being familiars?" Daud asked with mild scepticism. Servitude with provided lodgings and food, unless there were no poor people here in Halkegenia, which he doubted, why weren't there more people taking up offers like this.
"Never heard of human familiar until now. Binding is lifelong." Tabitha freely gave out, answering each question with its own sentence. And here he thought she predicted him being summoned. "Or until either of us dies."
"Binding?" Daud asked about the word. He doubted that it was there were simply just physical binds to keep him in his place. Tabitha was a witch, or mage as she called it, and he expected something more magical to bind him.
"Contract. Will scribe runes on you." Tabitha said without blinking. So the binding was a contract of some sort. One that involved putting runes on him. Now where has he heard that before?
"And those runes lets you bend me to your will?" Daud surmised for her. There would other reason for it.
There was a brief pause instead of the predicated automated answer. It was only after some thought that Tabitha answered. "No."
Daud snorted at the answer. "Then what would stop me from leaving when I want?"
"Conscience." Tabitha softly replied.
A sour look broke across Daud's face at the answer. Before killing the Empress, he would have said that he didn't have a conscience. But now... With all that regret and angst in him; he was more certain of his conscience than ever before. It was a good change for him, or at least it was in his opinion.
"Then what if I refuse to be your familiar from the beginning?" he asked after a minute of thought, varying his earlier question slightly.
"Free to leave." Tabitha answered blandly.
"Really? Didn't you say a familiar was necessary to advance?" Daud questioned her, quoting her earlier words. That would mean she would fail to advance as a mage; however they advanced.
"Acceptable consequence." Tabitha replied, a slight hint of uncertainty in her voice. As if she wasn't sure of whether her answer was true or not.
Stooping down slightly, he pondered his limited options. The first and most obvious was becoming this girl's familiar/bodyguard. He might need more information first before accepting but it seemed like a decent even if it was lifelong He could probably cancel the last part by murdering Tabitha but he doubted he would have the heart to murder a child, one expecting him to protect her no less.
The other would be to refuse and go...
"Can you send me back where I came from?" Daud suddenly asked. He was in no particular rush to return to Dunwall but it would be nice to keep as many options possible.
"No. Sorry." Tabitha shook her head with the answer before apologetically giving him a short bow of the head. "Will be stuck in Tristain."
Daud reassuringly waved away her apology. Not being able to return to Dunwall and by extension: the entire Empire as a whole didn't really bother him too much. He certainly wouldn't be missing it all that much. There certainly wasn't all that much to miss with the possible exception of the camaraderie he shared with some of his old men.
Bah, he didn't need to worry about them. He trained and disciplined them all well enough for them to survive most of what Dunwall could throw at them. They would be more than a match for most other groups within Dunwall as long as they co-ordinated with each other. It would take a Corvo to flush them all out and he suspected that he would be too busy with his reinstated position as Lord Protector to properly wipe out his Whalers.
But it did further limit his options. He doubted that all the coin he had on him would be worth a damn here. Back in Gristol, he had contacts all over the place and knew how things ran: the laws, and how to avoid it, where the Overseers had a presence at, which crime lords ruled where. Here? He had nothing and knew nothing. For all he knew, it could be a land where it was ruled by wealthy merchants or something else as peculiar.
With no coin and nothing to his name but his clothes and all the poisons, ammunition and hidden weapons he kept in his coat. With that in mind, he might end up repeating his youth again; being a hired blade for nobles. Something he swore off not too long ago.
So if he went with the better of the choices that would mean... Well, he supposed that he was going to take a page from Corvo after all. He was already fairly old and had maybe a decade, at best, left in him anyway. He may as well spend them doing something worthwhile that actually meant something positive to someone.
"Do you want me as your familiar then?" Daud asked of her. Whether he wanted to or not meant very little. It was what she thought that mattered most; though he already had a good idea that she did want him as a familiar.
Again there was a pause from the girl, even a quick blink too. But then her face reset itself to its impassive mode as she thought over her answer first. "Yes." she said with a strong nod.
"Do you mind sharing why?" Daud asked her. This was a pointless question since he already what was to come, but knowing this would give him more insight into his... new master.
Tabitha drew her head closer, her cheeks slightly flushed in what might be shyness or embarrassment. Then she whispered quietly something, more to herself than actually him, with her eyes held down. Glancing back up and seeing that Daud didn't hear her words; she repeated it a bit louder this time. "I... want a friend."
Daud blinked in surprise. She wanted him as a familiar so they could be friends. That was... unexpected. Him as a friend? He… didn't think he would be a good friend to be around.
"Sorry." Daud said with a frown after. Tabitha dejectedly nodded in understanding as her discipline took back control and her face became void of emotion once again. Daud sighed at the sight; him, a master assassin and her, a little witch... "I'd probably be a terrible friend."
"Fine." Tabitha said, nodding anyway. There was a slight tone of relief in her voice as she replied. "It's fine."
Daud could only nod his head. Sighing, he felt the released stress in his tense shoulders, allowing them to slump. "Then I guess you got me as your familiar."
Tabitha only nodded though there was a slight glint of positive emotion in the eyes of her outwardly passive face. It was then a similar thought crossed her mind and she stopped to ask something of him. "Why do you want to be my familiar?"
"Why?" Daud repeated to himself. It was the best course of action available to him? He would struggle to find other occupation other than an assassin in a completely foreign world? He wanted to protect her? "You've given me a chance to become something better than what I was before."
A chance to be a protector of life instead of a taker.
Tabitha nodded, satisfied with his answer. "Will begin binding then." She said in a quieter than her already quiet voice.
"Go ahead." Daud allowed. She mentioned scribing runes on him and he assumed that it meant using witchcraft to carve that rune into his skin. It was likely going to be painful but he was sure that he could deal with it; it couldn't be much worse than being: stabbed, shot at, bitten into, electrocuted, drowning, poisoned... "How is it done?"
"By kiss." Tabitha said blandly. Her teal eyes intently staring into his own from behind her reading glasses.
"Kiss..." Daud repeated aloud. It sounded like something out of a fantasy. This was how he she was going to bind him... He had wrong with the intimate touch of a woman, it was one of the greatest pleasures in life; but... Tabitha was likely not even a third his age and she looked like a small defenceless child too. Though he certainly knew some people that had… unwholesome tastes in little children, he preferred grown woman who knew what they were doing. "Is there no other way?"
"No." Tabitha stated matter of fact like. This time, she showed no embarrassment, or really anything that could be described as emotive, over kissing an old scruffy man like him; making him wonder if that earlier show of emotion was a one off occurrence or just good acting.
"Then let's get it over with." Daud said with a disgusted look. He wouldn't relish this moment in the least but it was something that had to be done, he supposed.
Nodding her agreement, Tabitha got off her seat and walked around the table to stand in front of Daud; clearly noticing that she wasn't tall enough to reach across the table. Closing her eyes, Tabitha started chanting the same incantation several times over in a voice barely even heard by him despite there being almost no distance between them. "My name is Charlotte Helene de Orleans. By the Pentagon of the Five Great Powers, bless this humble being and make him my familiar."
There was that name again, Charlotte Helene de Orleans. Was that her real name? Or was Tabitha? That was all he could think in the short time before Tabitha finished her chant as Tabitha leaned over and gave a small peck on the lip; of which he restrained his hand from wiping off. He wasn't going to smear all the dirt and grime from his gloves over his mouth.
He then let out a restrained grunt as fiery pain burned across his forehead. His vision went pitch black as his were jammed shut. Once again, his resisted the burning itch to feel what was burning onto his head. He knew what it was; it was just like when the Outsider did with his hand… though… admittedly it hadn't hurt this much.
Still… he repressed the urge to scream out loud. This… was painful, but compared to getting stabbed through, burnt alive, thrown into buildings, grappled by plants, bit by demon dogs, and fighting witches in general was more painful and generally more dangerous than this. Though; if he ever met the one who invented such a stupid method he would smash his face in.
Then it was gone, as suddenly as it had started, it disappeared just as quick. Opening his eyes, he saw the world as in a blue twilight shade. Tabitha was now a golden silhouette, her vision alternating between staring at his face and staring his left hand. This was… Void Gaze? But he didn't recall using it just now.
Earlier… he had tried to use it and failed due to his mysterious lack of mana. So… his mana was back again? It certainly wasn't a moment ago, yet once Tabitha marked him; his mana had returned. It clearly had something to do with this and he was certain there was some intricately detailed explanation for this phenomena; he just didn't have the inclination to look into it right now, perhaps never really.
Learning how exactly his powers, derived from the Outsider, worked was never a priority. When he first got them; he focused on its mechanics and how to best maximise their effects. Learning the limits of transversals, controlling shadow kills, and selecting who to summon among all those he had an arcane bond with. Those had always had a higher priority than learning the exact attributes of mana and the true nature of the void; though he suspected that his mana was derived from the void.
"Fine?" he heard the golden silhouette of Tabitha ask him. Daud tracked a finger over his forehead, feeling the grooves on his skin. Despite the obvious pain it had caused him before; there was only an odd tingling feeling as he stroked it.
"I'm fine." Daud said after a moment. His vision was returning to normal now and gleaming rays of sunlight were entering his view. "You're name is really Charlotte isn't it?"
"Yes." Tabitha quietly confirmed for him. There was a quick cautious look at the rest of her class before she finally spoke on. "Please keep quiet. Will explain later."
"Later then." Daud replied. There would be a long discussion later over a list of various things that was only getting longer. He then pointed to the where the thought runes would be on his head. "Is this the runes?"
"Yes." Tabitha said whilst her eyes were staring at what he supposed was the rune carved into the skin of his head. Once again there was a calculative look in her eyes as she seemed to think deeply on something. "Hide it with hood, please."
"The runes?" Daud asked her suspiciously. He suspected that it was the runes on his head that she wanted to hide, but for what reason; he didn't know at all. Yet another thing to add to the ever growing list of things to ask later.
"Yes. Keep it secret, please." Tabitha requested of him. Shrugging, Daud fumbled with the hood of his coat for a bit before pulling it over his head, he hasn't worn it in a very long time. Most people in Dunwall could recognise by the colour of his coat or by face, making the hood redundant and his own assassins sometimes had trouble telling the difference between him and Lurk by sight alone if they wore the same outfit.
It wouldn't be the same here, of course. Though it'll look suspicious for him to be wearing a hood all the time, especially indoors, but there really didn't seem to be any other way of hiding his forehead. "Is it covered?"
"Yes." Tabitha nodded before switching her sharp gaze to his right hand: where his Outsider's mark lay. So she had noticed it then? "What's that symbol?"
"How about I tell you later? I can't really explain it without giving an example of its powers." Daud suggested to her. That was not really a lie but not exactly true either. He could explain it without showing her his powers but it would be far easier and more convenient to simply show her later.
Tabitha looked like she was about to give her affirmative before suddenly casting a cautious look back at the rabble of other students and the sole teacher. It was when she was certain that they were still occupied that she did answer. "Okay."
There was silence once again as they both waited for the other to speak first. Tabitha's silent eyes looking at him while he started straight back. He sucked at staring contests. "So what now?"
"We return to class." Tabitha pointed to the rest of the students were situated. A number of odd creatures now spread out among them. Other familiars he supposed.
Tabitha was about to lead the way back to the rest of the class before a thought came to her. Professor Colbert had to record the runes of all the familiars and she couldn't refuse to let Colbert see the ones on Daud without arousing suspicion. And if he saw them then he would almost certainly identify the runes on Daud's head as Myoznitnirn eventually and ascertain her as a mage of the void. She needed to prevent that information leakage. "Pretend symbol on hand is runes, please."
Daud looked at her with an odd look before back down to the strange symbols on his hand. There was clear understanding in his eyes. "Misinformation is it?"
"Yes." Tabitha nodded her confirmation. If Daud was what she thought he was then it was no surprise that she wouldn't need to explain some of her more obvious requests. With that she walked her way back to the rest of the group, noting the various new familiars that now complemented the students.
Guiche de Gramont, Dot class Earth: Earth Mole.
Montmorency de Montmorency-, Dot class Water: Frog.
Malicorne de Grandpre, Dot class Wind: Owl
Kirche von Anhalt-Zerbst, Triangle class Fire, Person of interest: Fire Dragon.
Reynald de Chatillion, Dot class Wind: Eagle.
Gimli de Maiaxe, Dot class Wind: …
"Welcome back Miss Tabitha. Did you sort it out with your familiar?" Professor Colbert said while cutting into her thoughts. A warm smile on his face as he indicated for her and Daud to come closer. But she had to remind herself that he was Square Class Fire Mage; one does not reach that high without intense training and prior experience.
"Yes." She replied before moving to the back of the group. Again the whispers from her classmates started as she walked around them, though none would try to ridicule her like they did with Louise de Valliere or at least not to the same extent. She wasn't a complete failure.
Even if her practical abilities were terrible by exam standards; they were still present in the form of small air bursts. Or at least that was what it looked like to the teachers and all the other students. Her control over explosions was simply just a bit more controlled and restrained than Louises'.
"Now, I just need to see your runes, Mr… um…" Colbert started towards Daud before he could move along with Tabitha, before realizing he didn't know his name as of yet. It was her hope that he wouldn't be able to identify the mark just like how she failed to.
"Daud." Daud bluntly told him. He then took off his left glove and held out the strange symbol for her teacher to see. The professor had a startled look on his face as he examined the mark which was then replaced with a much more inquisitive one as he leaned in to get a better look, his finger pushing up his glasses as he did so. "Are we done?"
"Ah! Yes! My apologies, I've just never seen a rune like yours before…" the professor trailed on as he excused himself away from Daud. Clearing his throat; he looked around to look at Tabitha. "Well, congratulations on completing both Summon Familiar and Contract Familiar spells, Miss Tabitha."
Tabitha gave a small nod of acknowledgment while there was a short and brief awkward applause from the rest of the students; as if they were unsure if they should really be clapping. Not out of ordinary; she had made little attempt to integrate too much into the student body. She did not need to create possible weaknesses for Joseph to take advantage of.
"Now that we're done, we sho-""Louise hasn't gone yet!" Professor Colbert started to say before being cut off by Kirche's haughty shout. The eyes of everyone was then drawn to the small pink haired girl who had hid herself in the thickest throng of students; desperate for the professor to not call her up.
"Ah, Miss Louise, my apologies for forgetting you." Professor Colbert stated apologetically as he singled her out from the class. He then motioned for Louise to come forward, expectantly staring straight at her. Under such scrutiny, Louise reluctantly stepped forward to summon her familiar.
Tabitha took a further step back, giving a slight tug on Daud's coat as she did so. Her observations of Louise de Valliere had led her to conclude that she was a mage of the void just as she was, though she lacked the same level of knowledge and control she had over her magic. That was the only real benefit she felt from all those missions she was coerced into taking under the Knights of the Northern Parterre; going through all those life or death missions ensured that one either learned quickly or die.
With Louise's lack of control; she expected an explosion of a great magnitude. Hence she made sure that she placed the majority of her class in front of her and Daud. She had no defensive spells, or any spells outside explosions really, and relied more on speed and stealth to get her objectives complete; in other words: she was a glass cannon.
There was sneering this time as Louise moved into the clearing. Tabitha ignored them and focused more on Louise, interested in seeing what familiar she would summon. Perhaps another human one like Daud?
"Is there any reason for us to be so far back?" Daud asked her, suspicion clear in his tone. Tabitha made sure that the rest of the class was busy focusing on Louise's chant, looking for an error to mock her with, before whispering the answer to her familiar. "Spell will end in explosion."
Daud cast a wary glare at Louise before roughly putting a scruff hand on her shoulder. Out of instinct more than anything else, Tabitha snatched herself out of his grip. Snapping a grip onto her staff, she spun around to smack it into Daud. Her staff stopping only just short of hitting Daud in the stomach in retaliation when she realized the situation she was in before sheepishly apologizing. "Sorry."
"Accepted. I should have warned you." Daud said, unconcerned about her near strike. While he didn't hesitate, this time he placed his hand on her at a much slower pace.
Again, Tabitha quivered at the awkward touch but didn't stop it. She didn't like being touched by others. It meant that they were within stabbing distance and within the attack range of her staff. And why would he place his hand on her shoulder anyhow? "Why?"
"In case we need a quick escape." Daud replied to her, his eyes returning to glare at Louise. It was him taking the initiative then; that was fine with her. A mindless servant that always needed orders to accomplish anything was not all that useful. Though Daud might be overestimating the size of the explosion. It could not be much larger than the explosion she caused with her own summoning.
"… summon a familiar!" Louise shouted out the last words of her spell. The expected explosion occurred then, kicking up yet another plume of dust even larger than hers.
It was the sound of the same indiscernible word that Daud whispered earlier that brought her attention away from Louise back to him. Her surprise was much less this time when she spotted the abnormal void black eyes that Daud was now sporting. It was some sort of magic, she was certain, but its properties and its use was unknown to her.
Further inquiries would have to be arranged. The class would be let off class the whole of tomorrow to allow the students to familiarize themselves with their familiars. That time would be best used for her and Daud to discuss themselves further. She was most interested in what 'magic' he could perform.
But before then; she would have to arrange some sort of accommodations for him. The hay that she had prepared in her room was inadequate and something else would have to be fixed together for him. She would have the go by the servant's quarters and request a bedroll for him until she could afford a proper bed.
There was the possibility of him staying in the servant's quarters but she didn't want to keep him too far from her. A familiar was expected to stay by its master side at all times. Though she wouldn't stop him if he chose not to sleep in the same room as her.
"He's a human as well?" Daud commented in surprise, returning her attention back to Louise's familiar whose hand was now being thoroughly examined by Professor Colbert. He had short black hair, a blue attire of sort with a white stripe across the centre, was about her age, looked in pain and in shock with his new surroundings… and in general looked far less impressive than her Daud.
In all honesty; she had thought that Louise would also summon someone similar to Daud. Not exactly like the roguish type of person that Daud was; but someone that appeared capable and skilled. But she was judging far too quickly; she missed his initial summoning whilst busy with her own thoughts and he was already contracted with Louise when she did finally look up.
"Couldn't you have done that as well?" Daud asked her as Louise started asking for help lifting her familiar away to her room. It appeared that professor Colbert must have called for everyone to return to class since everyone else was already levitating towards the stone caste.
"What?" Tabitha asked him. She assumed it was related to something that Louise had done but she hadn't seen it. She was getting too complacent in the relative safety of the Academy; she would have to rectify it at a later date.
"Just kiss me from the get go. It would have bound me right away." Daud elaborated for her. Indicating towards Louise and her familiar with his hand.
Tabitha thought on that. The answer was obvious. Yes, it was entirely possible for her to have done that as well in theory, since practically she wasn't tall enough to reach his lips unless he was kneeling or sitting as he was before. And she didn't want to risk him trying to attack her for trying. But… "Willing followers is better than forced ones."
Forced followers only invited along a multitude of problems further ahead. By explaining the situation to Daud and giving him the option to leave and even honestly answering his questions; she hoped to build up their relation as master and familiar on mutual respect and trust. It would be essential for both of them to be able to trust the each other to watch their backs when she would inevitably be sent on missions again for Gallia.
"True enough." Daud accepted with a nod. Relying on fear and brute force would mean his followers would be more susceptible to betray him when faced with someone who could induce more fear. So he held his men together with respect and discipline… and when he started slipping after the murder of the Empress; they also started losing faith in him and his ability. That was why Lurk thought she could take him…
Shaking off old memories, he stared at where the door was, committing the location to his head. A transversal would get them get them there much faster. "Master…" the word rolled out of him awkwardly, he had been called that many times but this was the first time in a long time that he actually used it himself.
"Tabitha." She interjected first whilst still continuing her rapid walk back to what he assumed was class. He… supposed this was permission to use her fake name then. That was more convenient.
"Tabitha, I could get us there much faster unless you also intend for me to hide my powers." Daud offered her, this time using her name. A transversal would get them there in an instant, but he suspected that Tabitha didn't want him to show off his powers. Unusual given that this was an academy for magic and witchcraft; he would have thought there would be no need to conceal magic.
The teal haired girl considered it for a moment, measuring the distance between them and the castle. "Walk. Show powers later."
Daud gave a slight nod before resigning himself to the walk. He was not adverse to walking but it was simply more time efficient and convenient to transverse the distance.
"Wait! Stop!" Daud heard someone wildly shout from behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw that the other human familiar was running up to catch up with him. His irate pink haired master screaming at him; commanding, demanding really, that he return to her side.
Tabitha stopped herself as well, looked at the boy and gave a weak nudge in his direction. Grunting his understanding, he turned around and waited for the boy to catch up. He wondered what he wanted from him.
The boy stopped right in front of him, lightly puffing from exertion. He then lifted his head, looking up at him in the face. "You... you're not from here either, are you?"
"No." Daud distractedly answered, his attention drawn to the boy's master who was closing in on him fast. Her face was burning red with anger and she was holding some stick that was dangerously aimed at him. And while he didn't know what the significance of the stick was; he could safely assume that it was a tool for magic.
"Then... Then do you know what Japan is? What Earth is?" the boy desperately pleaded to him for answers. Ja-Pan? He couldn't say he'd ever heard of such a place and earth?
"Do you mean the dirt and rocks?" Daud directed his own question back at him. The hopeful expression on the boy's face fell from his reply but Daud paid no attention to that. Instead he was now backing away to re-join Tabitha as the pink haired girl was now standing over the boy, casting her shadow over him like a tower of doom. There was a look of disgust over his face as he left him to whatever the girl was planning; typical nobles with their punishments.
"What did he ask?" Tabitha questioned him when he started walking with her back to class again. Short manly wails could be heard from behind them and Daud didn't even look back to know what they were. He supposed that his suspicious luck granted him a more sensible master as well. He wasn't sure how he would have taken 'punishments' though it certainly wouldn't be with passivity.
"If I knew this Ja-Pan and some place named after dirt." Daud told her. That the boy didn't seem to know anything about this place as well implied that he also wasn't of this world. But he cited places that were also unknown to him… was it possible he was also from another world?
"Interesting." Was the only response he heard from Tabitha.
A sad thing is that I really want to write Daud fighting Guiche but I don't plan for it in this story. So I'll probably just add it in as an after thought next chapter but won't be associated with the story. It'll probably be real quick anyway.
Another note is that I didn't use too many lineb reaks to separate the change in POV since I feel it gets in the way of the flow of the story. Though if people find it otherwise then I'll just add them in on the next chapters which will be... sometime in the near future hopefully.