Chapter 2: The Legendary Familiar

Before Guiche, an armored person stood in Krystoff's place. A green-chestplate was over a black bodysuit with a long muffler that is also green around his neck, which is adorned with green lines, and he has arm guards, shin guards, and metal boots in the same color. However, his left arm has more armor than the right, with his runes are etched on each piece by each letter, from his shoulder guard to his hand guard. His green helmet has horns akin to a deer's out from his forehead and upwards, below it, there are large green bug eyes the glowed, and below that there is a sliver mouth plate.

"W-w-what the heck is that!?" Louise exclaimed at the sight.

The armored Krystoff felt a rush of power as the runes on his armor glowed brightly. "So this is... " He looked at his hands. "I've never felt such power!" He clenched his fists.

Guiche stammered. "E-even with that armor, you still have no chance at beating me!" Krystoff knew he was bluffing, he knows he felt afraid. Guiche his golems at him, attempting to swing their fist at Krystoff's torso. But as they landed hits, he just stood there, unmoving. "Huh?" He looked up to the Valkyries. "What was that?" He reached forward to grab their faces. "I didn't feel a thing." Krystoff drove them to the ground, crushing their heads.

Guiche jumped back, afraid, and in retaliation, he swept his rose-wand and seven petals flew outward, creating seven new Valkyries, with a different weapon in their hands. "H-how's that!?" Guiche smirked nervously. "Can you take them all at once?" He shot his forward, commanding his golems, "Charge!" The golems rushed straight for Krystoff.

As one raised a morning star over his head, Kystoff grabbed the mace with his hand, then pulled his fist back and send it into the Valkyrie's chest as it left a huge dent into its metal body and collapses. Another charged up to Krystoff as he sweep-kicked to knock it off its feet, raising his fist in the air, driving it into the golem's head to slam it into the ground. As Krystoff stood up, the rest of the golems tried to flank him from all sides, but he quickly picked a bronze sword from the golem he just destroyed and in a circular swing, he cut them down like they were wet paper.

Guiche backed off slowly, shakingly swung his rose again to summon more golems, but they are crummier looking seen as if they were hastily made, even the weapons they carry look shoddy despite their numbers of five. They clumsily run up to Krystoff he stood there, with his back turned towards his opponents, as if he was bored.

Now, pull the handle three times to unleash your final attack. Said the voice.

Krystoff did so and pulled the handle three times as the circle on his buckle spun faster and faster.

-RUNE OVERDRIVE-

The runes on his left arm glowed brilliantly as green light swirled around his right foot.

-THURISAZ: DESTROY!-

With a turn of his heel he crescent-kicked all of them at once, sending them flying outwards, and in midair, they became an array of explosions as dust spreads across the court. Guiche coughed while shielding his eyes, then looking up to the out of the dust clouds, the green-armored warrior approached him and grabbed by the collar to lift him off his feet. Krystoff raised his hand and pulled it back with slowly curling into a fist, before he has a chance to send right it into Guiche's face again, he yells out the word he thought it would save him.

"I YEILD!"

Krystoff's fist was inches away from Guiche's face as he replied in a confused and an angered tone. "What."

"You-you've proven your worth!" Guiche stuttered. "I won't bother you again! I swear!"

"You have the intention to beat me to pulp and mock me while I was down with everyone in this court follows." He replied coldly. "You thought this is game." He pulled Guiche's face closer to his masked face. "Some sort of stress relief for you. You think I'm just another commoner to crush and humiliate, and you can just laugh it off afterwards. After all, he's just a commoner. Who cares if gets beat up? Who care if he dies? His life is insignificant compared to you nobles. Because you all are so, so, important." He glares through the mask that makes Guiche quiver in fear. "Right?"

"N-no!" Stammered Guiche. "I would never plan to do that! Please... don't hit me again..." He whimpered.

Krystoff sends another fist that send Guiche rolling on the ground.

"GUICHE!" Yelled the two girls as they run up to him.

"Katie..." Guiche groaned with his nose bleeding. "Mon-Mon..."

"Guiche…" the girl named Katie looked him with tears.

"What is wrong with you!?" Yelled Montmorency turning her head towards the armored assailant. "He said he yields! Do you have no sense of honor!?"

"Honor?" Krystoff scoffed as he changes back. "Is oppressing the lower class, honor? Is shifting the blame to a passerby for your fuck-ups, honor? Is beating someone for entertainment, honor?!" He shot a cold glare at Montmorency. "If so, then you nobles make me sick."

He turned his back away from injured blonde, the angry blonde, and the scared chestnut-haired first year.

Krystoff sees Louise running up to him, but he ignores her and kept on walking. "Hmph." He came up to the maid, smiling. "Hey."

"I don't believe it." Said Siesta stunned. "You won. You beat a noble."

"What did I tell ya?" Replied Krystoff. "I'm going to teach that punk a lesson and I did."

"I-" Siesta said nervously. "I'm sorry that I didn't believe in you."

"It's alright." Krystoff grinned. "Now, can you point me towards the servant's quarters again?" He starts to feel dizzy and fell forward. "I'm... feeling... a bit..."

"Krystoff!"

"He actually did it." Said Colbert stunned.

"Hmm." Osmand continued to stare in the mirror.

"Guiche is a Dot-Level mage, and yet a commoner beat him." Added Colbert. "With that lost artifact no less. Such strength and skill, there's absolutely no doubt about it, he is Gandalfr!"

Osmond stroked his beard as he nodded. "It seems so."

"Should we notify the palace?" Asked Colbert. "This is a discovery of the century! The Gandalfr, reborn in the modern world!"

"It is indeed a grand discovery." Said Osmond as he looks at Colbert beside him. "But do you think The Church of the Founder will be eager to hear about this?"

"Ah... No." Colbert replied sadly. "If he was Gandalfr, without proper evidence the Church will burn him and Ms. Valliere as heretics."

"Exactly." Nodded Osmond. "So, for now, we keep this to ourselves."

...

Krystoff woke up in blank world of white. He takes a look around confused. "Oh crap, am I dead? Not even one day, and I'm already dead!?"

"Calm down." Said a familiar voice.

"Who's there!?" Krystoff shot up and looked around to find the source of the voice.

"Behind you." He quickly turns around to see a blonde woman, her hair is medium shoulder length, and her eyes are green and droopy. Her clothing is a one-piece leaf-green shirt with no sleeves or straps, and her bottoms are short shorts for some reason. What is the most stange to him that her ears are long and sharp. Like an elf.

"Oh, looks like I'm in Heimlich's weird fantasies." Krystoff puts his hand on his forehead. "I'm seeing an elf stripper."

"I am not a stripper." Said the elf. "And I don't know who this Heimlich is, but he sounds depraved."

"Tell me about it." He looks at the elf. "So, who are you?"

"I'm am your inner conscience." She replies.

"Oh, ha, ha." Krystoff rolled his eyes. "There's no way that my inner conscience looks like something that came out of depraved weeaboo's head."

"I'm only joking." Chuckled the elf. "What I actually am is that I'm that voice you've been hearing all this time. Ever since you were branded with those runes." She pointed at Krystoff's left hand.

"Let me get this straight." Replied Krystoff. "You're the voice that is trying to convince me to stay with that pink-haired Rottweiler that came with my brand runes?" He stares at her. "Why?"

"To be fair, the runes are supposed to keep you docile." Explained the elf. "The more you resist, the more they will affect your mind and make you into the ideal servant for your master. I'm only trying to convince you to obey to protect your memories."

"Oh! GREAAAT!" Krystoff groaned out loud. "Guess I'm stuck here! With these mind altering runes that make me a dumb dog that only obeys for belly rubs! Can this get any better!?"

"Well, there is one thing." Said the elf. "The artifact you just used in that battle, has prevented the runes from affecting your mind, thus keeping your memories from being surpressed."

"Well that's..." Krystoff looked at the elf stunned. "That's actually, great news. So, I can do whatever I want?"

"Yes... but you are still bound to your master." She replied. "Just less limitations."

"Ok then, that's good to know." He sat down. "So..." He looks around. "Where are we?"

"You are in your dreamscape." Replied the elf. "It's blank right now, but I'll find some way to spruce it up. With your help of course."

"Well, anyway thanks..." Krystoff stops for a moment. "You know, I've never caught your name."

"It's Sasha," She smiled. "But you're welcome." Sasha looks up to the side. "Oh, looks like you're waking up."

"Oh, thank god, finally." Sighed Krystoff.

Krystoff opened his eyes and took a look around, he was in Louise's room, in fact he was sleeping on a bed that was in that straw pile's spot. "Argh." He grunted as struggled to sit up to look at himself. He was shirtless with bandages that is wrapped around his stomach and his right hand, despite that, he felt a bit sore all over, not only that, he felt fatigue.

He gazes over to see Louise herself, with her resting with her head on her desk. He heard the door open to see the maid carrying a tray. "Oh! Krystoff! You're awake."

"Hey." He groaned. "So, how long was I out?"

"About a day and two nights." Replied Siesta. "The nurses said it would take about three days with those injures. Although they said that you only suffered from exhaustion, other than that, a bruise on your right knuckles and your damaged inner organs."

"I see." Krys looks at the distance. "Sorry for making you worry."

"Actually, I'm not the only one." Smiled Siesta as she gazes at Louise. "She was the one who tended to your wounds. She really cares about you."

Krystoff frowns. "I doubt that. She only cares because she doesn't want to get expelled from the lack of a 'familiar'. She cares about no one but herself."

"How could you say that!?" Yelled Siesta. "She even paid for the regent to heal you! And you said that she only cares about herself! Does a self-centered person ever do that!?"

"Only if they get something out of it." Replied Krystoff he glares at Louise. "She thinks I proved useful to her. In her eyes, I'm nothing more than a tool to get her to rise to glory."

"But..." Siesta was at lost for words.

"That how she sees me." Growled Krystoff. "That how she sees commoners, nothing more than tools to do things that nobles can't do, no, won't do for themselves."

"That's why you beat Guiche, right?" Asked Siesta. "To show that even commoners are just as important as them, even if we can't use magic, right?"

"Heh." He chuckled. "Well, that's not untrue... he said that I should do as he says because he's a noble. That is not being a noble, that's being an asshole."

"You really inspired me out there." There were stars in her eyes. "You've proven that commoners are people too by beating him! I was so scared before, but not anymore now! Thank you!"

"You're welcome I guess." Smiled Krys while nodding, he attempts to get up, but Siesta kept him down.

"Ah! You shouldn't move!" Protested Siesta. "You still need rest!"

"I'm not that hurt though." Said Krys.

"Fuwaaah~" Louise yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. The looks to side to see Krystoff sitting up. "Ah, you're awake."

"Yeah." Replied Krys.

"Good." Louise pulled her chair and set it in front of Krystoff's bed with the artifact he used to beat Guiche in her hand. She sat down and held it up while staring into his eyes. "Now you can explain to what just happened!" Krystoff stares at it. "What is this!? Where did you get it!? How do you know how to use it? How did you manage to beat Guiche with this!?"

"Not even a minute, and you just started yelling." Grumble Krystoff. "Look, I found it while I was in my world, it was part of an exhibit for old artifacts for the local museum due to it being a mysterious object fossilized in stone."

"That thing right here was in display?" Louise asked confused. "And how did get in your hands? Are you some kind of thief?"

"No." Defended Krystoff. "I was working there, dusting it off before your summoning spell took me here. It was still in my hands when that happened."

"Ok, if you have no idea what it was until recently..." Louise asks again. "How do you know how to use it?"

"Because a voice in my head told me to." Krys replied flatly as the two girls looked at him as if he was crazy. "Look, I'm from another world, being sent here by a magical spell, where magic not only exists there are two moons! A voice in my head just makes as much sense as that! Cut me some slack here!"

Louise sighs. "Fine, let's just say the voice in your head helped you know how to use this thing. But I've haven't seen I before." She turned the artifact around to face her. "And it has given you some sort of armor. Is it magic or something?"

"I don't know!" Said Krys. "Maybe? Although it does remind me of something though."

"Really?" Louise raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

"There's a... theater, show, " Krys explained. 'I can't really say T.V. or else I have to explain that for another hour.' He continues. "...called Kamen Rider. You see, there are people who use 'magical' belts to give them a suit of armor to help them fight off monsters, that armor they have boosts their fighting ability, their physical ability, and even give them... magic. And they are considered heroes."

"So, this." She held up the artifact. "Gave you powers? That explains some things. After all, magical garments are common..."

"So, these... Kamen Riders, are heroes?" Asked Siesta.

"Yeah." Nodded Krystoff. "They protect the people, because they believed it was the right thing to do."

"It sounds like you." Smiled Siesta. "You protected the commoners because you believed it was right."

"To be honest," Replied Krystoff. "Most of it was personal. I'm not letting the blonde asshole walk all over me. As well as pinky over here."

"What?" Louise's head shot back to glare at Krystoff.

"You heard me." Said Krystoff. "You healed me because I'm still considered a tool to you to make you look good compared to everyone else, right?"

"That's not it!" Yelled Louise as she looked down. "… I just have something to say regarding what we talked about a while ago. About me giving up."

"Well?" Asked Krystoff. "What do you want to say?"

"I..." Louise hesitantly replied. "I want to try again. I want to find out my problem so I can become a proper mage. But I want to ask, will you help me?"

"How can I?" Shrugged Krys. "I'm not a mage."

"Regardless." Louise looked down. "I'm not trying again because I don't want to be called a Zero again, I want to be considered normal. Besides, I can't do this alone. Even if you're not a mage, I'll need your help."

"Because I'm your familiar, right?" Krystoff raised an eyebrow.

"No." Louise looked up at him. "It's part of our agreement for me to treat you like a human being, right? I need your help because I want to consider you as a friend."

Krys grinned. "Alright then." He sees a pile of dirty clothes and decides to get off the bed. "You need help with those?"

"I- You don't have to-" Protested Louise. "I'm not forcing you! I can just-"

"You're too busy tending to my wounds to a point you forgot." Replied Krys. "Besides, I owe you for the bed, I have to pay you back in some way."

"Really?" Louise raised an eyebrow.

"My mother always believes in this," Krystoff repeats his mother's words. "'Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours'. 'Do me a solid and I'll do you a solid'. You did me a solid on tending my wounds and getting me a bed, so I'll do you one by washing your clothes. "

"Oh, so like a favor." Replied Louise. 'Maybe I should do this more often.'

"Exactly." Krystoff gets up and looks at the maid. "So, where can I wash clothes?"

Krystoff scrubbed the clothing against a washboard in a tub filled with water.

"Fireball!" Louise shouted followed by an explosion the shockwave the blew at his side.

"What have I been doing wrong?" Grumbled Louise. "I have done the chant with correct pronunciation. Why isn't this working? I can't give up, but- I don't understand!"

Krystoff look over to see Louise's predicament, and watched her chant the words, cast a spell, and watched it explode. "Maybe it is the amount of... what you call it? Mana? You put into that spell."

"It's called willpower." Corrected Louise. "And I have gave my all into that spell!"

"...Maybe you shouldn't?" Thought Krystoff.

"What did you mean?" Louise looks his way.

"Maybe you're using too much willpower into your spells?" Asks Krystoff, "Like I said earlier, I'm no mage, but based on my observations, I think you overloaded it."

"Over-what?" Louise replied confused.

"Let me give an example." Krystoff puts his hand into the washtub and pulled it out in an okay sign. "Take the air I'm blowing as willpower. A bubble as a spell." He blew onto his hand with the veil of soap as it became a bubble and let it out in the air. "From what I see from you, mages. Putting willpower to a spell creates it. Now, look how you cast a spell." He blew a bubble, but let it grow larger and it popped in his face.

"So, the reason why my spells blew up because I used too much willpower?" Asked Louise.

"That's my theory." Replied Krys. "But maybe try your spell again, but only use half of your willpower."

"Alright." She turned around and raised her wand. "Here goes nothing." She chants and said out the spell she wants to cast. "Fireball!"

-POP-

She made a small explosion as if it were a firecracker.

"Well," Said Krys stunned. "The explosion is smaller this time."

"Then maybe I'll half that in the next spell." Louise raised her wand again, only a quarter what she normally uses. "Fireball!"

A burst of flame came out of her wand, much to Louise's and Krys' shock.

"Holy shit, that worked." Krystoff looked at it agape. "And it was just a theory."

"By the Founder, it worked!" Louise exclaimed. "How come I've never knew about this before!?"

"You mean nobody found out while I just so happen to stumble across a solution?" Said Krys confused. "Either that's a fluke or theses gave me more brainpower or some shit because how I make that work?"

"It doesn't matter! I did it!" Louise leapt for joy, "I'm a mage!"

After the pinkette's discovery, Krystoff dropped off Louise's clothes in her room and head off to the dining hall since Siesta asked him to come. Now knowing why but went along with it.

As he entered the kitchens, he was greeted with a warm reception from the chef and staff. "Look everyone! Our Green Knight is here!"

"Green Knight?" Krystoff raised an eyebrow.

The well-rounded man who appears to be the head chef came up to him. "That's the nickname we gave you after you beat that noble with green armor!" He gave a Krys pat on the back. "We heard from Siesta that you hate the fact that the nobles walk over the commoners, so that makes you our Knight!"

'I didn't say anything like that... but they are not wrong about me however...' Krys thought. "So, Siesta brought me here..."

"To congratulate ya and tell you that you're free to come here anytime!" The head chef grinned widely. "Let us treat you to something you would really enjoy!" He turned towards the maid. "Siesta?"

"Got it, Chef Marteau." Replied the maid smiling as she headed to grab a pot and poured the stew into a wooden bowl.

The chef gestured him to the bowl as Krystoff walked over to taste the stew. "Ah- This is really good."

Marteau puts his hands on Krys' shoulder. "We made it extra special! Anything for Our Green Knight!"

"… You don't have to do that." Krystoff chucked nervously. "And you don't have call me that either, it's fine enough if you call me Krystoff."

"But you fought the mage's golems like they were nothing!" Said the chef.

"To be fair, I used a suit of armor." Replied Krys.

"Then where you learn how to fight like that?" Asked Marteau. "I've never seen it before!"

"I don't really know." Shrugged Krystoff. "I went along with my instincts."

"That's what you call a true master!" He pats Krys on the back again. "Never boasts about his skills!" He turned towards his apprentices. "You hear that boys!?"

"We hear ya, boss!"

"I'm starting you like ya, Our Green Knight!" Marteau laughed out loud. "How about I treat ya to Albion's finest?"

"Finest what?" Said Krys confused.

A glass was set next to him and Siesta poured wine into it.

"Um..." Krys looked up at the head chef. "What's the legal drinking age here?"

"Usually sixteen." He replied.

Krystoff looked down to stare at the glass of wine for a while. "Screw it." He grabs the glass.

After the lunch he had from the kitchens, he headed back to Louise's room until he was stopped by something in his way down the hall.

"Wait." Said Krystoff as he stares into the fire lizard's eye. "Are you backpain's salamander?"

Flame, with glint in his eyes, rushed towards him. With a sweep of his tail, he knock Krystoff off his feet. As he was on the ground, Flame grabbed Krys with his tail so he can drag him off to his master.

Or so the salamander plans to.

In reality, Flame rushed forward to Krystoff, and in retaliation, the Mainer kicked the lizard below its chin that flipped him back.

As Flame was on the ground Krystoff grabbed him by the tail and dragged him off to salamander's master.

"Come on." Said Krystoff. "Let's ask that backpain why she had you attack me like that."

As he opened Kirche's door, the room was dark. "Hello?" Krystoff tried to look through the darkness.

"Come in." Said Kirche. "And close the door behind you."

"Ok...?" Krys did so and went into the dark room, dragging the fire lizard behind. "Look, can you explain why your pet lizard attacked-"

With a snap of Kirche's fingers the lamps lit up in a mid-glow. Revealing an... interesting sight. The redhead was laying on her side on her bed, in her undergarments.

"Can you please let Flame go for just a moment?" She requested.

Krys sighed and get go of his grip as her lizard crawled away. "Ok, what do you want?"

"I've been thinking about you, Krystoff." Smiled Kirche in a seductive tone. "Ever since you beat Guiche in battle, I suddenly have a burning desire for you."

"Oh, is that so?" Krystoff raised an eyebrow.

"You must think me as a lowly despicable woman..." She shook her head sorrowfully.

"That's not untrue..." He commented quietly.

"But it was inevitable." Said Kirche. "For my runic name being the Ardent, for my passion burns like hay."

"So, you want me," Replied Krystoff, "Is that it?"

"Oh, yes." She grins. "That is exactly what I want!"

"And you will not dump me off like any other guy?" Krystoff presses on.

"No! Never with you." Kirche sat up on her knees on the bed.

"So that what's this is?" Krystoff leans closer. "So you can be with me?"

"More than anything. ~" She leans closer as well. "I can't wait anymore! Please, take me now!"

"Oh! I see." Krystoff's eyes widen from her, confession. As she leans closer to kiss him, Krys turns around. "'Kay, bye."

"W-wait!" Kirche reached out for him as he walks away. "You're leading me on, and at the last moment, you turn me away!? Y-you're- teasing me!"

"See you around! ~" He waved goodbye as he went out the door.

"Come back here!" Shouted the Ardent. "You can't escape my passion like this!"

Krystoff shuts the door behind him, "No shame, that girl." He sighed. "Doesn't know how stick with one person." He turns to see the pinkette walking up to him.

"Where have you been?" She asks.

"The creatively named lizard of the redhead tries to kidnap me." He flatly replies. "She tried to seduce me too."

"That Germanian cow!" Louise growls as she looks up at Krystoff. " And did you so happen to fall for her 'charms'?"

"Not interested in someone so easy." He glances at the side.

"Good " She nodded. "I would hate to see a dog wagging his tail to anyone." Then she mutters the words that she should not have said. "Especially after when I started seeing you as a person."

Silence filled the hall, only to be broken with a snap from a piece of string.

"Excuse me." Said Krystoff in a calm, yet irritated tone. "Can you please say that again?"

Louise regrets her choice of words and attempts to brush them off. "I-it's nothing! I'm just talking to myself!"

"No, no, no…" Stopped Krystoff. "I heard you said something about, 'starting to see me as a person'. Starting?"

Louise stammered, "It's because you helped me changed my mind about you!"

"But before now, you still don't recognize me as a human?" He asks coldly.

Louise can only stay silent, trying not to upset him further.

"I see what you're doing..." Krystoff's eyes slowly narrowed into a glare that is burning into the back of her skull. "You're trying to tame me. Like some kind of wild beast that need to be watched carefully to see what makes it tick, is that correct?"

Louise shot her head towards him. "That's not true! I just wanted to make sure that you hold up your end of our agreement!"

"And yet, may I ask," Replied Krystoff. "How would you react, if I did fall for Kirche?"

"I-I…" Louise was at lost for words to say correctly. "I would give you a punishment?"

"Like what?" He presses on. "No, wait. Let me guess, cut off my meals? Whip me into submission? Or chain me to a wall, like an animal?"

She stared at him, giving silence as a response.

"After what I did for you?" Said Krystoff. "Easing your burdens by washing your clothes, helping your with you magic problem? Did you want to know why?"

"B-because you're my familiar?" Oh, she fucked up.

"Because I was trying to be nice!" Krystoff yelled loudly as his voice echoed through the hallway. "To repay a favor you did for me! Even after you treated me! You know? I think I know why! Your reason for treating me like shit, is not because of your frustrations from you lack of magic, it is because of you. You lying, arrogant, manipulative, cunt!"

"Y-you-" Louise tried to yelled back, "You can't say that to me! I'm your master!"

"And you still didn't see me as human since day one!" He replied harshly. "Kirche, sees me as a human, hell, even GUICHE, sees me as a human! But you see me as nothing more as property! Property that you can use and abuse as you see fit! You abducted me from my actual life, and force me to live a new one here! And you've never bother to consider it, haven't you!? How would you react, if you were taken from your home, leaving your family who cares about you, to became someone's servant for the rest of your life, while your family is worried sick, and thinks that you're dead!?"

Some students, even Kirche, stepped out of their dorms to see the commotion.

"But!" Louise defended. "I didn't even know that familiars have fam-" And then she realizes she fucked up again.

"You didn't even know!" Krystoff gave a bitter laugh. "Oh, Valliere, you're some price of work. Just so you should know," His voice grew louder with rage. "Even if you berate me, whip me, starve me, beat me, none of that will change the fact that you are still a brat that causes nothing but pain and suffering to everyone around you, YOU ABSOLUTE GARBAGE-FIRE OF A HUMAN BEING!"

As Krystoff takes a deep breath from that rant, Louise's eyes start to tear up. She slowly slid down on her knees to start sobbing. He's right, she thought, not only she's a terrible mage, but a terrible person in general.

Kirche nearby can only stare at the scene shocked. "Holy shit."

Same goes for the other students, sure they mock and belittle her for the laughs, besidea all she did is get angry. But seeing her being given a verbal equivalent of a brutal beatdown, driving Louise to the point of tears, is too harsh ever for them.

Krystoff turned around, leaving behind the crying pinkette, ignoring her because he believes that she's trying to use tears to manipulate him again.

Finally not taking this anymore, Krystoff stood in front of the gates of the academy, "So this is it." He sighed. "I get to leave this hell, no more asshole students, and no more of that shrill voice-"

"Oi!" Said a voice from behind. As Krystoff turned around, he saw a new person, he has a black cloak of a second year, although his standard uniform has his shirt open, revealing an undershirt underneath. His hair is ice-white with split bangs and in a long rattail. "Are you the guy that beat Guiche?"

"What about it?" Krystoff raised an eyebrow.

The new person gave a wolfish grin. "Well, then." He pointed at Krystoff and shouted, "I, Lemin von Ross, challenge you to a duel!"

Krystoff sighed in annoyance. "You here to avenge your friend?"

"Friend?" Lemin gave a laugh. "You kidding!? He's no friend of mine! Nah, I heard that you're a commoner who beaten him. That means you're pretty strong." He grinned. "So, how about it? Let's show those pissy-pants how real men fight!"

Krystoff was stunned by his boisterous behavior. "...You're not like the other students, aren't you?"

"Born from the northern fringe of Germania!" Lemin cupped his hand. "Even since I got here, everyone's a pussy who can't fight for shit! And this is an academy how we can fight with our magic right!? And with that bullshit rule that nobles can't fight each other, it left me literally itching for a fight!"

"I... see what you mean." Krystoff replied towards the brutish 'noble'.

"And that rule doesn't apply to you, doesn't it?" Said Lemin. "So how about we fight?"

"Fine." Sighed Krystoff. "Maybe that will help me relive some stress before I leave."

"You and me both!" Laughed Lemin. "In fact, why not do it here? No preparations, just battle!"

"Sounds good to me." Krystoff faced him.

"Alright!" Grinned Lemin. "My runic name, is Lemin the Ice Wolf! And unlike the other nobles, who uses twigs as wands," He pulled out a war axe at the side. "My wand, is an axe!"

'Holy shit, he's like a Viking.' Thought Krystoff, 'Only without a beard.'

"Bring it!" Shouted the Ice Wolf. "Krystoff the Guy's-Who-Going-To-Shove-His-Foot-Up-Your-Ass!"

"That was meant as a joke!" Responded Krystoff as he pulled out the artifact buckle, "Fucking damn it." He places it upon his waist.

-ARM ON: AIGIZ-

'How does it go?' Kystoff thought. 'Wait, I think it was...'

"Henshin!" He pulled on the handle as the circle on his buckle spins like a wheel.

-RUNE ON, ARM UP!-

The runes that are etched midair, flew onto Krystoff's left arm as his body was engulfed in green light.

-THE LEFT HAND OF GOD: THE PROTECTOR!-

"As you should know," Said the Green Armored rider. "In this form, you can call me... Vertis. Kamen Rider Vertis. Just thought of this now actually."

Lemin swings his axe down to create a wave of ice stalagmites that shot up from the ground.

"OH SHIT-!" Cursed Vertis as he leapt to the side.

Lemin laughed loudly as he leapt towards Vertis with his axe overhead.

"Old Osmond!" Said Longueville to the Headmaster. "There's another duel!"

Osmond sighed. "Not after the last one, another started already? Alright, who is it this time?"

"It's Valliere's familiar again." Answered the secretary. "But another student named Lemin von Ross."

"Oh dear." Osmond replied with concern. "He's quite the troublemaker even since he's arrived. Rash and reckless, but he is a Line-Mage and no slouch at that either. Regarding to his behavior, I'm surprised he made a kinship with two other students... Who are they again?"

"Korves Koras, of the Koras Family of Albion," Replied Longueville. "And Logan Arlean from the Romanian Inquisition."

"Quite an odd trio." Commented Osmond. "Where are they right now?"

"Lemin, what the hell are you doing!?" Yelled the brown-haired individual as he looks at the fight with angered red eyes.

"He's quite going at it. Must have been the pent-up frustration." Said the boy with mid-length violet hair with black tips. "Don't you agree Logan?"

"Don't encourage him, Korves!" Shouted Logan.

"He's a line mage, he can handle himself." Sighed Korves.

"What about that commoner he's fighting!?" Retorted the inquisitor. "He might kill him! And killing someone is major crime, even if he's a commoner! Despite everyone else here thinks."

"Alright fine." Korves sighed again and shouted to Lemin. "Hey Ross! Don't kill him!"

"Hah! He knocked down Guiche, sure he can handle me!" Lemin laughed.

"Welp, I tried." Koves turned his head towards him.

"Founder, damn it!" Cursed Logan.

A crow flown down to land onto Korves' head. "Oh, Snuggly." He greeted to his familiar. "Want to rest on my head again." The crow caws. "Alright, but if you want to do your business, handle it elsewhere, alright?" The crow caws in response.

Vertis, without a weapon, can only dodge Lemin's attacks. "Son! Of! A! Bitch!"

The Ice Wolf kept swing his axe in with ice slashes are flown out of it. "Stop running and face me like a man!"

"How can I even fight without a weapon!?" Yelled Vertis.

"Your fists are your weapon!" Laughed Lemin. "Come on! Fight me!"

"Shit, shit, shit, SHIT!" Vertis jumped and ducked to avoid from getting hit.

You seem to be in a quite of a pickle there, Krystoff. Said Sasha in his head.

"Tell me something I don't know." Grumbled Vertis. "How can I fight back!? He keeps swing ice attacks at me, and I can't seem to get close to him! It's not like this belt has more powers to help me!"

...Uh...

"Oh, it does." Vertis mentally facepalmed. "Well, I feel fucking stupid." He ducked under another ice attack. "Care to help me with it, Sasha!?"

Pull the handle again.

"Alright..." Vertis gripped the handle. "Here's goes nothing!" He pulled on it and the circle on the buckle spun.

-ELEMENTAL ROULETTE!-

The circle stops as the red orb was pointing upwards.

-FEOH: FIRE!-

The white lines on the buckle sends red light into Vertis' suit as the green lines are shifted into red. As the ice attack finally hit him, steam fills the courtyard, as it dissipates, Vertis' body has fire coming out of his hands.

"Ho-holy shit!" Vertis exclaimed in surprise as he looks at his flaming hands.

"What the-!?" Exclaimed Logan and Korves nearby.

"HMM!?" Osmond's eyes widen as he watches the fight though his mirror. "It can't be, I found no magic within him during his fight with Gramont's son... Is it that artifact?"

"Heh." Vertis balled out his hands as flames burst out even more. "Hey, Lemin! Looks like we're on even playing field now!"

"Finally, you're getting serious!" Grinned Lemin. "Bring it on!" He brings his axe down to send another attack at Vertis as he runs forward, punching down the attack with his fiery fists. Lemin swings his axe again for it to be blocked by Vertis' right arm guard. As he pushed the axe away, Vertis struck his fist into Lemin's torso and he flew back.

The Ice Wolf skids back on his feet as he lands, then he swept his awe to cast a different spell. "Ice Armor!"

From his axe-wand, ice forms and crawled up his arm and covered his body as literal armor that is similar to a Nordic Viking Armor set with horns formed at the sides of his head, and only a visor for his eyes to see through. In his other hand, ice grew out to take shape of another axe. He raised both of them in a dual wielding stance.

The armored mage and the armored rider charged at each other and exchanged blows with Vertis' fists striking Lemin to attempt to melt his armor, but only for it to be repaired. However, Lemin slashes the rider with icy strikes that makes several parts of Vertis' body streaked in ice.

"Shit!" Cursed Vertis. "Even with my new ability, I can't get pass his armor!"

Then maybe you should pour everything you have in your next attack.

"My thoughts- (literally) exactly!" Vertis pulled the handle three times.

-RUNE OVERDRIVE-

The runes on Vertis' arm grow brightly as fire swirls into his fists. "HAAAAAHHHH!"

"GRAAAHHHH!" Lemin roared as he charges in with both axes raised.

-THURISAZ: DESTROY!-

As Lemin closed in, Vertis shot his palms outward towards the armored Ice Wolf.

"FIRE BLAST ATTACK!"

A huge burst of fire shot out the exploded outwards that engulfed Lemin which broke him out of his ice armor and send him flying, crashing into a wall that is far behind him.

"Hell yeah!" Vertis fist pumped as he turns back to Krystoff.

Really? Fire Blast Attack?

"Hey, it worked." Smirked Krystoff. "So, Sasha. Are there more elements on this thing besides fire?"

Isn't it obvious?

"Right, dumb question." Sighed Krys as he looked at the downed Lemin. "May I should check on him, I may have gone overboard." He ran up to Lemin that was being picked up by Korves and Logan. "Hey, are you ok?"

Lemin, despite being in pain, starts giving a hearty laugh. "You kidding!? That was the most fun I had in ages, although it has been the only I had in ages since Korves and Logan here."

"Come on, you reckless dumbass." Logan yanked his friend's arm upward. "To the infirmary with you."

"By the way." Korves said to Krystoff. "Thanks for giving our friend the entertainment he wanted. That will shut him up for a while."

"You two aren't fond of him, aren't you?" Asked Krystoff, pointing at Lemin.

Korves and Logan looked at each other and chuckled. "He's probably the worst of us." Smirked Logan. "He was insufferable when he first came here."

"He's a reckless ass that want to fight everyone, heck even the professors." Replied Korves. "Because of his, 'warrior pride'. Even one time he beat a noble who wanted to shut him up, and after that..."

-Flashback: One Year Ago-

"Ok, I got your letter." Lemin went into the room. "Where are you?"

"Right here~" Kirche lit the room as she laid on her side on her bed. "I heard about you being a warrior, then come, show me how much of a warrior you are.~"

"Oh! I see how it is." Grinned Lemin as Kirche slyly smiled along. "This is a challenge!"

"Indeed," Replied Kirche. "Now come to me, Ser Ross~"

Lemin pulled out his axe. "What are you doing?" Kirche's face slowly turned into fright.

"You invited me here for a fight, right?" Said Lemin. "NOW PREPARE YOUSELF! FOR THE ICE WOLF OF THE ROSS!"

"NO- WAITWAITWAIT!"

An explosion of ice burst out of Kirche's window.

"That Zerbst girl didn't fight back!" Grumbled Lemin. "And she's a Germanian for crying out loud."

"I don't think she invited you for a fight." Replied Krystoff.

"Yeah, I know!" Said Lemin. "She kept saying she just wanted to have a 'passionate night with me'."

"See?" Korves proves his point. "Reckless ass."

"So why are you friends with him?" Asked Krys.

"Apparently, engaging him in a 'friendly' battle is a way how you make friends with him." Sighed Logan.

"So you both beat him?" Krys raised an eyebrow as they nodded in response.

"At first, we couldn't shake him off." Said Korves. "But he kinda grew on us, as well as we are helping him improve himself."

"Really?" Asked Krys.

"We can't change him completely," Added Logan. "But we can at least nudge him into the right direction."

"I... see..." Replied Krys.

"Let's go, Lemin." Korves picked Lemin for him and Logan to carry the injured Ice Wolf on their shoulders.

"Hey!" Lemin turned his head towards Krystoff. "The fight has been a blast! Let's have another go sometime!"

As Krystoff watches them walk away, he has been thinking of something.

Now that I have been thinking of it, you were a bit too harsh on Louise.

'Maybe I have...' Thought Krystoff. 'Maybe I was just frustrated myself, being stuck in this world. With no way back.'

Yeah... calling her a brat the causes nothing but pain and a garbage-fire of a human being was a bit too far.

Krystoff stood silent.

I mean, I understand why you are so angry with her, but you left her crying.

He clenched his fists.

After all, you did say something about your mother giving a certain type of advice? Like, "Either you cry about it, or you do something about it." And you shouted at her, expecting her to change at the spot.

'I get it, Sasha.' Replied Krystoff mentally.

And you stood there, complaining about her actions and personality, if anything, you're acting no better than her.

'OK, I GET IT!' Krystoff shouted in his mind. 'I acted like a complete asshole to her. And did not bother to continue to help her change a bit after she make the remark of she starting to think I was a person to her. I gave up on her, probably like everyone in her life, believed she was a lost cause. Wow, I really am an asshole.'

So, what are you going to do?

'Isn't it obvious?' Thought Krystoff as he went into the Academy. "I'm going to make things right."

Louise was in her room, crying on her bed from the scathing words from her supposed familiar. Because she knows he was right, because his words resemble her of her family's.

"Louise, you are so useless!" The words of bitterness from her sister, Eleanore.

"There's no way to help you, Louise, I'm sorry." The words of pity from her sister, Cattleya.

But what can she do? She can't go after him, he's probably miles away from the academy by now. Then she heard knock on the door, "Go away! Leave me alone!" She yelled in response.

A sigh was heard and then the knob was turned as the door opened to reveal a familiar face.

"Krystoff!" Louise exclaimed. "Why are you here!? Have you come to yell at me again."

He stood still for a moment. "… I came to apologize."

"...H-huh?" Louise said stunned.

"Look, I was really frustrated that time and-" Krystoff cuts himself off and shook his head. "No, that doesn't excuse me for my actions. Look, Louise, I acted like an asshole to you. And after... some thinking, I want to say... I'm sorry. I'm sorry for going too far in my rant, no, my fucking outburst of rage. And, maybe staying here a little while longer, maybe you can accept that as my apology."

"R-really?" Said Louise. "You'll stay?"

"As long you accept my apology." Nodded Krystoff.

Louise sat up silent, and then leapt up at Krystoff to tackle him, but he didn't budge. "Fine! I'll forgive you, you- you idiot!" She cried loudly. "Just don't leave me, ok?"

"I won't." Krystoff puts his arms behind her head and pulled her close. "And I swear it, I will help you. And I won't give up on you. So, it's alright."

Louise gave another loud cry, but it's no longer tears of pain and sorrow, but tears of happiness and relief.

-Next Time: On A Familiar Rider-

Krystoff: Let's start by making you more tolerant to petty insults.

Louise: As your... friend, I suppose you need a sword, correct?

Kirche: Tabitha! I am in love!

Derf: I am the Legendary Blade, Derflinger! Remember that!

Kirche: I will not you let run away like you did before!

Tabitha: This is stupid.

Krystoff: You and me both.

-Chapter 3: Dirt Flinger?-