Episode 2 (Rewrite!)
Duel in Vestri court.
It's morning as the sun rise up from the hills and it's rays shine throught the window as the sleeping louise bolted from her bed and thought it was a dream.
"Uff...I thought it was real" as she looked around and saw a man in a blue adrian trenchcoat drinking a cup of tea, Then she yelped and jump off from her bed.
"w-w-who are you?" She asked trembling.
"Saito...Saito H. Hiragato, the one you summoned me yesterday."
Then she began to tremble and she put her both palms on her head, faced straight to the window and then blabbled her self. "By the founder...itwasn'tadreamitwasn'tadream..." Then she faced to Saito "so it's true..."
Saito stood up from his chair and faced to the young pinkette and asked her.
"so...you're louise...Am I right?"
"Y-yes but how do you know me?"
"Since yesterday I've talked to your headmaster Osmond and prof. Colbert that you summond me yesterday in this academy in a country so-called Tristian, as a familiar...But you fainted since you're making a contract between me and you."
And louise heard those word as she remembered something that what happened yesterday, She looked on her right hand a small pentagon, Carved in flesh and blood.
"N-No way..w-why d-did this p- pentagon carved into me?...Wait that means..." Then she faces to Saito "No...nononononono! Y-y-y-you can't I-I-I mean I coudn't be your familiar!"
"Hmm...Either is there a way to fix it" He thought himself.
A Few minutes later, Saito was outside the dormroom waiting for louise to dress herself and...He meet someone a busty redhaired Kirche and her familiar Flame a giant salamander with a fire enlighten at the end of it's tail.
"Oh...good morning! wait you are the familiar that louise summon or I say her master." Louise heard that word what kirche said to her familiar and she ramp throught the door and slammed Saito.
"Zerbst!" She growled at kirche.
"oh! good morning there miss familiar vallerie why did you knocked off you're master?*Chuckles*" The she faced away from her and her familiar flame followed her "Come flame breakfast is ready...See you later vallerie!" Then she walked away waving her hand to the angry pinkette.
Louise faced the door and pulls of Saito but luckily he protected his face with his hand aginst the door that squeezing him, Then she grabbed his collar dragging him throught the halls.
"Come familiar breakfast is ready." She snarled.
Alviss dinning hall
The Academy of Magic's dining hall was the tallest and centermost building on the premises. Inside, three extremely long tables were arranged parallel to each other. Each one looked like it could easily seat a hundred people. The table at which Louise and all the second years sat was the middle table.
It appeared that students could be identified by the color of their cloaks. Viewed from the entrance, everyone sitting on the left-hand table looked a little older and wore purple cloaks — third years.
The students sitting on the right-hand table wore brown cloaks — first years. So they're like year-level jerseys, Saito thought.
Every single mage on the school grounds, students and teachers alike, gathered here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
On an upper level, he could see teachers enjoying pleasant chatter.
All the tables were magnificently decorated.
Numerous candles, bunch of flowers, baskets full of fruit...
Saito's mouth was agape with amazement at the sheer grandeur of the dining hall. Louise raised her head imperiously and began to explain. Her hazel eyes twinkled with mischief.
"Tristain's Academy of Magic doesn't teach just magic, you know."
"Riiight..." He spoke. "They doesn't teach just magic?...But this is a mage school!"
"Almost all mages are nobles. The saying 'nobles achieve nobility through the use of magic' is a foundation for the education we receive as nobles. Thus, our dining halls must also be fitting of a noble's status."
"Okaayy..." He nodded. "Nobility? Back in my world magic could be used only for equality, liberation and Freedom."
"Understand? Normally, a commoner like you would never set foot inside the Alviss Dining Hall. Be grateful."
"Right... Hey, what's an 'Alvíss'?"
"It's the name for the little people. See all those statues over there?"
Where she pointed, lined along the walls were elaborate sculptures of small people.
"They're well-made. Err, those things don't... like... come alive during the night or anything, do they?"
"Oh, you knew that?"
"So they do?"
"Well, they dance. Enough of this, pull out my chair, will you? You're not a very competent familiar," Louise remarked, crossing her arms and tilting her head, which made her strawberry-blonde hair ripple. Oh well, ladies first. Saito pulled Louise's chair out for her.
Louise didn't even thank him as she sat down. Saito also brought over a chair to sit on.
"This reminds me of harry potter in the light novels" Saito tought for himself. It was far too grand for a breakfast. A huge roasted chicken taunted Saito. Other than that, there was also wine and a pie baked in the shape of a trout.
"I can't eat all this! I'll die if I do! Hey, Miss!" He prodded Louise's shoulder, only to find her glaring at him. "What?" Saito asked dubiously. Louise kept her gaze fixed. "Right, I'm getting ahead of myself. Even though I'm not a noble."
Louise pointed to the floor, where a bowl had been placed.
"It's a bowl."
"Yes. It is."
"There's something suspicious in it."
Louise propped her chin on her hands and spoke.
"You know, familiars are supposed to stay outside. You're only in here because I especially requested it."
But Saito got another idea. "maybe should I stay outside?"
"As you want? Go, But don't leave the academy you got it?"
As Saito salute. "Got it!" And he walked away wistling.
Later...
The classrooms in the Academy of Magic were similar to university lecture halls. And like everything else, they were constructed from stone. The lecturing teacher stood at the lowest level, and the seats were arranged upward like stairs. When Saito and Louise entered, every student in the room simultaneously turned their heads towards them.
And then the laughter began. Kirche was there as well, surrounded by a group of boys.
'I see, so she really does have them wrapped around her little finger. She's being treated like a queen by all of those guys. because of her generous breasts.'
The familiars that everyone had brought along were a varied bunch.
Kirche's salamander was curled asleep under her chair. There were students with owls resting on their shoulders. From a window, a gigantic snake peered into the class. One boy whistled, and the snake withdrew its head. Other than those, there were also ravens and cats.
But what drew Saito's attention the most were the creatures that would've been considered fantastic monsters back in his world. He was suddenly excited. All sorts of amazing beasts were milling around him.
He spotted a lizard with six legs. That's gotta be... Saito tried to recall what little fantasy lore he knew. A basilisk! I've seen one in a game. There was also a huge eyeball floating gently in midair. What could that be? He decided to ask Louise.
"What's that freaky eye monster?"
"A bugbear."
"Then what about that octopus thing?"
"A Skua," Louise answered him in a sullen voice and sat down. Saito sat down beside her. She glared at him.
"What?"
"That's a mage's seat. Familiars aren't permitted to use it."
Begrudgingly, he lowered himself to the floor.
'I wasn't allowed to eat breakfast at the table either. And this desk is really getting in the way. I'm not sitting here,' he resolved, and sat back on the chair.
Louise glanced at him, but didn't say anything this time.
The door opened, and the teacher entered.
She was a middle-aged woman dressed in a voluminous purple robe and wearing a hat. She had a plump, round face with a friendly expression on it.
"Is that lady a magician too?" Saito whispered to Louise.
"Isn't it obvious?" Louise hissed back.
The woman gazed around the classroom and spoke with a satisfied smile.
"Well, everyone, it seems that the Springtime Familiar Summoning was a great success. I, Chevreuse, always enjoy seeing the new familiars that are summoned each spring."
Louise cast her eyes downward.
"My, my. You've summoned quite a... peculiar familiar, Miss Vallière," she remarked as she looked at Saito. The comment was fairly innocent, but the classroom exploded with laughter.
"That famailiar was her master!" One of the crowd said with a boy with a blue hair
"Louise the Zero! Don't go around grabbing random commoners off the street just because you can't summon anything!"
Louise's long blonde hair billowed as she stood up. She raised her cute voice in anger.
"No! I did everything properly! He was all that appeared!"
"Don't lie! I bet you couldn't even cast 'Summon Servant' properly, right?"
The other students chuckled.
"Mrs. Chevreuse! I've been insulted! Malicorne the 'Common Cold' just insulted me!"
Louise banged her fist against the tabletop in protest.
"Common cold? I'm Malicorne the Windward! I haven't caught any cold!"
"Well, your hoarse voice sounds exactly like you've caught one!"
The boy called Malicorne stood up and glared at Louise. Chevreuse pointed at them with the wand in her hand. The two suddenly jerked about like puppets on a string and rigidly sat back down.
"Miss Vallière, Mister Malicorne. Please stop this unnecessary argument."
Louise looked visibly dejected. All the vivacity that she'd shown just earlier seemed to have evaporated.
"Calling friends 'Zero' or 'Common Cold' is not acceptable. Do you understand?"
"Mrs. Chevreuse, I'm only called that as a joke, but for Louise, it's the truth."
A few giggles broke out from somewhere.
Chevreuse looked around the classroom with a severe expression. She pointed her wand again, and, as if from nowhere, the mouths of the students who'd giggled were suddenly filled with lumps of red clay.
"You people shall continue the lesson in that state."
This put a firm stopper on any further outbursts.
"Now then, let's begin the lesson."
Chevreuse coughed heavily and waved her wand. A few pebbles materialized on her desktop.
"My Runic name is 'Red Clay.' Chevreuse the Red Clay. This year, I will be teaching you all the magic of the Earth element. Do you know the four great elements of magic, Mister Malicorne?"
"Y-Yes, Mrs. Chevreuse. They are Fire, Water, Earth and Wind."
Chevreuse nodded.
"And combined with the now-lost element of 'Void,' there are five elements in total - as everyone should already know. Of the five elements, I believe Earth holds an extremely important position. This isn't just because my affinity is Earth, nor is it simply a personal preference."
Once again, Chevreuse coughed heavily.
"The magic of Earth is very important magic that governs the creation of all matter. If it wasn't for Earth magic, we wouldn't be able to produce or process necessary metals. Raising buildings from large boulders and harvesting crops would also involve much more work. In this manner, the magic of the Earth element is intimately related to everyone's life."
'Aha,' thought Saito. 'So in this world, "Magic" over here is the equivalent of science and advanced technology in my world. I think I understand now the reason Louise is so proud to call herself a noble.'
"Now, everyone, please recall that the basic magic of the Earth element is 'transmutation'. While there will be people here who have already learned this in their first year, basics build foundations, so let's review it once more."
Chevreuse turned her attention to the pebbles and twirled her wand over them.
She then whispered a spell, and they began to glow brightly.
When the light dimmed away, the pebbles had been changed into sparkling lumps of metal.
"Is that g-g-gold, Mrs. Chevreuse!"
Kirche leaned forward over her desk.
"No, it isn't. It's plain brass. Only Square-class mages are able to transmute to gold. I'm just..." Chevreuse gave a self-important cough. "A Triangle mage..."
"Louise." Saito poked her.
"What? We're in the middle of a lesson here!"
"What's all this about squares and triangles supposed to mean?"
"It's the number of elements that they can add to a spell, which also determines the level of a mage."
"Huh?"
"See, for example, you can use an Earth spell on its own. But if you add Fire magic to it, the overall power of the spell increases greatly," Louise explained to Saito quietly.
"Oh, I see."
"Those who can stack two elements like Fire and Earth together are called Line mages. Mrs. Chevreuse, being able to combine three elements, Earth-Earth-Fire, is a Triangle mage."
"What happens when you add an element to itself?"
"It reinforces that element and makes it stronger."
"I see. So in other words, you could say that the teacher over there is a fairly powerful mage, because she's a Triangle?"
"Exactly."
"How many can you add, Louise?"
She didn't answer.
The teacher noticed them talking.
"Miss Vallière!"
"Y-Yes?"
"Please refrain from private chatter during lessons."
"I'm sorry..."
"Since you have the time to chatter, perhaps I should have you demonstrate for me?"
"Eh? Me?"
"Yes. Try changing these pebbles here into a metal of your choice."
Louise didn't stand up. She simply sat there looking troubled and fidgety.
"Hey, come on! She's pointing at you!" Saito nudged her.
"Miss Vallière! Is something the matter?"
Mrs. Chevreuse called for her again, but Kirche raised her voice in concern.
"Umm..."
"Yes?"
"I think it would be better if you didn't let her..."
"And why is that?"
"It's dangerous," Kirche answered plainly. The majority of the class nodded in agreement.
"Dangerous? How so?"
"This is your first time teaching Louise, right?"
"It is, but I hear she's a hard worker. Now, Miss Vallière. Don't you worry, just try it. You won't be able to do anything if you dread making mistakes."
"Don't, Louise!" Kirche cried, her face pale.
But Louise stood up.
"I'll do it."
With a nervous expression, she walked briskly up to the front of the room.
Chevreuse stood next to Louise and smiled.
"Miss Vallière, you have to visualize vividly the metal that you wish to transmute them into."
Giving a cute little nod, Louise waved her wand. She had never looked as adorable as in that instant when she pursed her lips to begin chanting the incantation - it was almost otherworldly.
Even knowing her true personality, Saito was momentarily enamoured.
In the morning sunshine streaming in from the window, Louise's strawberry-blonde hair sparkled enchantingly. Her hazel eyes shown like jewels, and her skin was a flawless white. Her sculpted nose was befitting of nobility.
'If it is almost too good. But no matter how cute she is, that personality of hers is a real pitfall,' Saito lamented.
But as he sat there pondering, the students sitting in front of him had for some reason hidden under their chairs.
'Don't they see how cute Louise is? Still, she doesn't seem to be very popular. Rather, she gets called 'the Zero' and made fun of. Just looking around here, there aren't any girls nearly as cute. Only Kirche rivals her in looks.'
Closing her eyes, Louise uttered a short rune and flourished her wand.
"Wait...is that void?" Saito thought.
The pebbles on the desk promptly exploded.
Louise and Chevreuse caught the blast full-on and were thrown against the blackboard, as people screamed. Frightened familiars added to the chaos. Kirche's salamander suddenly woke from its sleep and stood up on its hind legs, breathing a jet of flame. A manticore burst into flight and smashed through a window to escape. Through the hole, the giant snake that had been peeking in earlier slithered in and swallowed someone's raven.
The classroom was in pandemonium.
Kirche stood up and pointed a finger at Louise.
"That's why I told you not to let her do it!"
"Jeez, Vallière! Save us some grief and just quit school already!"
"My Lucky got eaten by a snake! Lucky!"
Saito stared in shock.
Mrs. Chevreuse lay on the floor; judging by her occasional twitching, she wasn't dead.
A soot-blackened Louise rose slowly. She was a miserable sight to behold. Her torn blouse revealed a slender shoulder, and her panties could be seen beneath her ripped skirt.
Still, what an amazing girl. She didn't seem at all fazed by the discord in the room. She pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the soot off her face.
"Looks like I messed up a little..." she said, in a weak voice.
Of course, that elicited a vehement response from the other students.
"That wasn't 'a little!', Louise the Zero!"
"Your success rate is always ZERO!"
Saito finally understood why Louise was called "the Zero."
In Elsewhere..
Mister Colbert, a teacher who had dedicated twenty years to Tristain Magic Academy, was by now a mainstay figure.
His Runic name was "Colbert the Flame Snake," and, naturally, he was a mage specializing in fire magic.
Since the Springtime Familiar Summoning a few days ago, he'd been concerned about the commoner boy that Louise had summoned. Or more precisely, he'd been concerned with nothing but the runes that had appeared on that boy's left hand. They were rare runes indeed, so for the last few nights, he'd confined himself to the library and had been researching various texts.
Tristain Magic Academy's library was located in the same tower as the dining hall. The bookshelves were unbelievably tall, about thirty mails in height, and the way they were lined up against the walls was a spectacle to behold. And rightly so, since this place was crammed with the history of everything following the creation of the new world in Halkeginia by the Founder Brimir.
Colbert was now in a section called "Fenrir's Library" that only teachers were allowed entry to.
The ordinary bookshelves, to which students had free access, didn't hold any answers that could satisfy him.
He Levitated up to an out-of-reach shelf and scanned it intently for a particular book. His efforts were rewarded as his gaze fell upon the title of the book. It was a very old text which held descriptions of the familiars that had been used by the Founder Brimir.
His attention was focused on one particular paragraph written in it, But nothing and one book left it waws very old as he took it and contiued searching.
And finally he found out that strange pentagon that carved in Louise's right hand, He held a book and quickly left the library.
His destination was the Headmaster's Office.
Meanwhile...
The Headmaster's Office was located on the topmost floor of the tower. Sir Osmond, the current Headmaster of Tristain Magic Academy, was sitting with his elbows propped on his elegantly built sequoia desk, looking unbearably bored as he shook his white beard and hair.
Idly plucking out nose hairs, he slowly murmured "hrm" and pulled open a desk drawer. From inside he procured a smoking pipe. Miss Longueville, the secretary who had been writing something at the other desk placed to the side of the room, waved her feather quill.
The pipe floated into the air and landed in Miss Longueville's palm. Sir Osmond muttered dejectedly, "Is it fun taking away an old man's little pleasures? Miss, um..."
"Managing your health is also part of my job, Old Osmond."
Sir Osmond stood up from his chair and walked up to the cool and collected Miss Longueville. Stopping behind the seated lady, he closed his eyes, his expression grave.
"If the days keep passing by so peacefully, figuring out how to spend time is going to become a rather big problem."
The wrinkles etched deeply on Osmond's face were only hints to the history of his life. People guessed him to be a hundred years old, even three hundred. But his true age no one really knew. It's possible he himself didn't remember anymore either.
"Old Osmond," Miss Longueville spoke up without taking her eyes off the feather quill that was scribbling away on the parchment.
"What is it? Miss..."
"Please stop saying you have nothing to do as an excuse to touch my bottom."
Sir Osmond opened his mouth slightly and began walking around in tottering steps.
"Please also refrain from pretending to be senile whenever a situation goes bad," Longueville added calmly. Sir Osmond sighed deeply. It was the sigh of a man bearing the weight of many troubles.
"Where do you think the ultimate truth may be? Haven't you ever wondered that? Miss..."
"Wherever it is, I assure you, it's not underneath my skirt, so please stop sneaking your mouse under the desk."
Sir Osmond's face fell, and he murmured sadly, "Mótsognir."
From under Miss Longueville's desk scurried out a little mouse. It dashed up Osmond's leg and perched on his shoulder, twitching its tiny head. He fished out some nuts from a pocket and held one out to the mouse.
"Chuchu," the mouse chittered, apparently pleased.
"You're my only truly trustworthy friend, Mótsognir."
The mouse began nibbling on the nut. It disappeared quickly, and the mouse chittered "chuchu" once more.
"Ah, yes, yes. You want more? Very well, I shall give you more. But first, I would ask that you report back, Mótsognir."
"Chuchu"
"I see. White and plain white too, hrm. But Miss Longueville should really stick to black. Wouldn't you agree, my cute Mótsognir?"
Miss Longueville's eyebrows twitched.
"Old Osmond."
"What is it?"
"The next time you do that, I'm reporting it to the palace."
"Kah! Do you think I could be Headmaster of this Academy if I was scared of the palace all the time?"
Sir Osmond flashed his eyes wide and yelled angrily. It was an impressive display, completely unexpected of a frail-looking old man.
"Don't get all prissy just because I peeked at your underwear! At this rate, you'll never get married! Haa~~ To be young again~~ Miss..."
Old Osmond began stroking Miss Longueville's bottom without hesitation.
Miss Longueville stood up and wordlessly kicked her boss around.
"Sorry. Stop. Ow. I won't do it anymore. Really."
Old Osmond covered his head and cowered. Miss Longueville breathed heavily as she continued kicking Osmond.
"Ack! How can you! Treat a senior! In this way! Hey! Ouch!"
This "peaceful" moment was interrupted by a sudden intrusion.
The door was thrown open with a slam, and Colbert rushed inside.
"Old Osmond!"
"What is it?"
Miss Longueville was back at her desk, sitting there as if nothing had happened. Sir Osmond had his arms behind him, and turned to face the visitor with a serious expression. That was certainly a quick recovery.
"I-I-I have some big news!"
"There is no such thing as big news. Everything is but a collection of small events."
"P-P-Please take a look at this!"
Colbert handed Osmond the book he had been reading just before.
"This is "The Guardian pentagon of the Founder Brimir," is it not? Are you still going around digging up old literature like this? If you have time to do that, why don't you think up some better ways of collecting school fees from those slack nobles? Mister, err... What was it again?"
Sir Osmond cocked his head.
"It's Colbert! You forgot?"
"Right, right. Now I remember. It's just that you talked so fast I never really caught it. So, Colby , what is it about this book?"
"Please take a look at this also!"
Colbert then handed him the sketch of the Pentagon on Louise's right hand.
The moment he saw that, Osmond's expression changed. His eyes took on a solemn light.
"Miss Longueville, would you please excuse us?"
Miss Longueville stood up and left the room. Osmond spoke only after he confirmed she was properly outside.
"Explain this to me with every detail, Mister Colbert..."
"Of course headmaster, But here is a problem there must be another person who had another pentagon..."
Then the two couples arrived at the dining hall, Saito pulled out a chair for Louise.
"Just remember, my lady. Don't cast any spells on the food. Just imagine the mess if it exploded."
Louise took the seat wordlessly. Saito was feeling thoroughly satisfied, having got one back on the rude and arrogant Louise with his putdowns. Even the usual excuse for a meal didn't bother him as much.
While the meager soup and bread he got served was still painful to behold, it was a pretty even trade-off for getting to laugh so much earlier.
"Right then, Founder someone-or-another. Your Highness the Queen. And oh yeah pretty much that this name louise the zero fits you and, Thanks for a bunch of crappy food. Itadakimasu."
As he went to eat, then the plate was snatched away.
"Hey! What are you doing!"
"Th-th-th..."
"'Th-th-th'?"
Louise's shoulders shook angrily, as did her voice. Somehow, she'd managed to reign in her overflowing fury until they'd arrived at the dining table. Probably so that she could bestow an appropriate punishment.
"Th-th-th-this familiar, how dare it say s-s-s-such things to its m-m-m-master?"
Saito realized he'd gone too far.
"Alright, alright, sorry, so give me back my food!"
"No! Absolu~~tely not!"
Louise screamed, twisting her cute face in rage.
"What? why?"
"One meal cut for every time you've said 'Zero!' And that's final! No exceptions!"
In the end, Saito left the dining hall without having eaten anything.
"Hrmpf that damn aristocratic girl..." But it was too late to regret.
"Haa, I'm starving... Damn..."
Clutching his stomach, he leaned one hand on a wall.
"Is something the matter?"
He turned around to see a normal-looking girl in a maid's outfit carrying a big silver tray, looking concernedly at him. Her black hair was neatly adorned with a headband, and her freckles were cute.
"It's nothing..." Saito waved his left hand.
"Are you by any chance the one who became Miss Vallière's familiar...?"
It seemed she noticed the runes inscribed on Saito's left hand.
"You know me?"
"A little. It's become quite a rumor, you know, that a commoner was called by the summoning magic."
The girl smiled sweetly. It was the first carefree smile Saito had seen since he came to this world.
"Are you a mage too?" Saito asked.
"Oh no, not me. I'm a commoner, just like you. I serve the nobility here by doing domestic duties."
'I'm actually from Fellenrir and not a commoner, but it's probably useless to try explain. Saito decided to just introduce himself.
"I see... Well, I'm Saito Hiragato. Nice to meet you."
"That's quite a strange name... I'm Siesta."
At that point, Saito's stomach grumbled.
"You must be hungry."
"Yeah..."
"Please follow me this way."
Siesta walked off.
Saito was led to the kitchen located at the rear of the dining hall. Lots of large pots and ovens were lined up inside. Cooks and other maids like Siesta were busily preparing food.
"Please wait one moment, okay?"
Siesta had Saito sit on a chair placed in the corner of the kitchen and disappeared hastily into the back.
She soon returned with a bowl full of warm stew in her hands.
"This is some stew made from the leftovers of the nobles' meals. If you don't mind, please eat this."
"Can I?"
"Yes. It's only the staff meal though..."
Her kindness was touching. This was completely different from the soup that Louise had given him. He scooped up a spoonful and brought it to his mouth. Delicious. I'm going to cry.
"This is so good~!"
"That's great. There's plenty if you want seconds, so take your time."
Saito ate the stew as if in a dream. Siesta stood watching him, smiling sweetly all the while.
"Weren't you given anything to eat?"
"That girl went and took my plate away when I called her 'Louise the Zero.'"
"Oh no! You shouldn't say things like that to nobles!"
"Noble schnoble. Getting all high-horsed just because they can use magic."
"You must have a lot of courage..."
Siesta looked at Saito with an expression of amazement.
Saito gave Siesta back the empty bowl.
"That was really tasty. Thanks."
"I'm glad you liked it. Feel free to visit whenever you're hungry. If you don't mind having whatever we're having, I'd be happy to share."
Such a kind offer. Saito was even more touched.
"Thanks..."
Saito suddenly broke out in tears, surprising Siesta.
"Wh-what's the matter?"
"No... It's just that it's the first time anyone's been so nice to me since I came here... I got a bit emotional..."
"Th-that's an exaggeration."
"It's not. If there's anything I can do for you, just tell me. I'll lend a hand."
"In that case, please help me serve the desserts."
Siesta said with a smile.
"Okay," Saito nodded enthusiastically.
Lots of dessert cakes were arranged on a big silver tray. Saito carried the tray, while Siesta picked up the cakes with tongs and served them one by one to the nobles.
One mage in particular stood out. He had curly blonde hair, wore a frill-trimmed shirt, and looked rather self-important. There was a rose stuck in his shirt pocket too. His friends around him were poking all kinds of fun at him.
"So, Guiche! Who're you going out with now?"
"Who's your lover, Guiche?"
So it seemed the prideful mage was called Guiche. He gently raised a finger to his lips.
"'Go out?' I hold no one woman in such special regard. After all, a rose blooms for the pleasure of many."
'This guy's likening himself to a rose. An egotist like this is far beyond help.'
He was the kind of narcissist that made onlookers more embarrassed than himself. Saito glared at him, hoping he'd just die.
At that moment, something fell out of Guiche's pocket. It was a small glass bottle with a purple liquid swirling inside it.
'I don't really like this guy, but I should still tell him he dropped something.'
Saito called out to Guiche.
"Hey dude, you dropped this bottle from your pocket."
But Guiche didn't turn around. 'This guy's ignoring me!'
Saito passed the tray to Siesta and bent down to pick up the bottle.
"I said, you dropped something, playboy!"
He placed it on the table. Guiche shot Saito a dirty look, and pushed the bottle away.
"This is not mine. What are you talking about?"
Guiche's friends then realized where the bottle came from and raised a loud commotion.
"Ooh? That perfume, isn't that Montmorency's?"
"Yeah! That vivid purple color is the perfume that Montmorency only mixes for herself!"
"So to have something like that fall out of your pocket, Guiche, means that you're going out with Montmorency now, right?"
"No wait, listen to me. I'm saying this for the sake of her reputation, but..."
As Guiche was about to say more, a girl, who wore a brown cloak and had been sitting at the table behind them, stood up and walked over to Guiche's seat.
She was a cute girl sporting chestnut-colored hair. According to the color of the cloak she wore, she was a first year student.
"Guiche-sama..."
And with that, she started crying uncontrollably.
"I knew it, you and Miss Montmorency are..."
"They're misunderstanding. Katie, listen. The only person I hold in my heart is you..."
But the girl called Katie slapped Guiche's face as hard as she could.
"That perfume you dropped from your pocket is more than enough proof! Goodbye!"
Guiche rubbed his cheek.
At this point, a girl with tightly rolled hair stood up from a seat further down the table. Saito recognized her when he was first summoned to this world.
Wearing a severe expression, she approached Guiche with quick clipped steps.
"Montmorency. This is a misunderstanding. All I did was accompany her on a long trip to the forests of La Rochelle..." Guiche said, shaking his head. While he was pretending to remain composed, a drop of cold sweat ran down his forehead.
"Just as I thought! You've been making moves on that first year, haven't you?"
"Please, Montmorency the Fragrance. Don't twist your rose-like face in anger like that. It saddens me to see it!"
Montmorency Clenched her hand and punch directly on Guiche's head.
And then...
"You liar!"
She yelled and stormed off.
Silence fell upon the hall.
Guiche stood up. Shaking his head, he spoke dramatically.
"It would seem those ladies do not understand the meaning of a rose's existence."
'Hehehe! Nice going douchebag,' Saito thought, as he took the tray back from Siesta and began walking off.
Guiche called him to a stop.
"Stop right there."
"...What now?"
Guiche spun his body about on the chair and crossed his legs with a flourish. It gave Saito a headache to see such arrogance exude from every action.
"Thanks to you thoughtlessly picking up some bottle of perfume, the reputation of two ladies has been damaged. How will you take responsibility?"
Saito replied in an exasperated tone.
"Hey dude, it's your fault for two-timing."
Guiche's friends burst out laughing.
"Exactly, Guiche! It's your fault!"
Guiche's face flushed crimson.
"Listen, you Commoner. When you put the bottle of perfume on the table, I pretended not to know anything, didn't I? Would it have hurt to be a little bit tactful and just go along with it?"
"Sorry I can't do that dude, And by the way I wasn't raised where aristocracy exist." he countered.
"Well commoner, How about that I've challenge you into a duel!"
"A duel, huh?"
"Precisley, Meet me on Vestri court and moreover to make my lovely two ladies cry."
"Alright, I'll meet you there."
"Very well...I'll be waiting for you there commoner!"
Looking excited, Guiche's friends stood up and followed him off.
One person remained though, as if to make sure Saito didn't run away himself.
Siesta gazed at Saito, her entire body quivering. Saito spoke with a grin.
"It's all right-huh?"
"You... You're going to get killed."
"What?"
"If you truly anger a noble..."
Siesta dashed off in a hurry.
'What was that about?' Saito muttered. 'Is that guy really that strong?'
Louise ran up to him from behind.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing? I saw all that!"
"Yo, Louise."
"This is no time to be "yo"-ing me! How can you just go promising duels like it's no big deal?"
"But that guy was a douchebag..." Saito said indignantly.
Louise sighed and shrugged disappointedly.
"Apologize to him."
"Why?"
"If you don't want to be hurt, go and apologize. If you do it now, he might forgive you."
"Are you kidding! Why do I have to apologize? He insulted me first! And besides, I was only being helpful..."
"Just do it."
Louise fixed Saito with a firm look.
"No way."
"So stubborn... But you know what? You can't win. You'll be badly injured. Actually, you'll be lucky to come back alive with just injuries."
"Don't worry just relax and there's nothing to be worrying about."
"Listen, a commoner can never beat a mage!"
"Back in my world there are some peoples are stronger than mages." He talked back.
Then now Louise was left speechless.
"So where's this Vestri Court?"
Saito walked off. The friend of Guiche's that had been watching Louise and Saito's exchange pointed with his chin.
"This way, commoner."
With that, Louise chased after Saito.
Vestri Court..
A crowd encircle the Vestri court and they were cheering for guiche after paying attention.
Guiche: "Glad you've came commoner!"
"Well at least you're ready about this."
"Very well." Then Guiche summons a bronze valkyre at the front of Saito, he was...Bored?
"This would be your opponent my Bronze Valkyre as for my name I was called Guiche the Bronze."
"Yea yea yea just let us begin."
"As you wish, Charge my beutiful Valkyre!"
Guiche cried to his valkyre to punch his gut, But Saito yawned "I've seen much scarier than this shit"
In a slow moment, saito sidestepped avoiding the valkyre's punch, now it was his turn. "GOLEMS KICK!" Then he kicked the valkyre away from him and smashed throught the wall and the crowd felt silent and they all faced again to Saito while crossong his arms with a disapointed face.
"That's it?" He asked.
"I-I-Impossible he...just beaten my valkyre with only one kick?"
"I think the duel was over" Then he walked off.
"Do you think this is over!" Guiche cried as he waved his wand and summons 6 more Valkyre's holding thier lances to defend themselves and they all charged themselves.
"Saito!" Louise cried to warn her familiar.
Then the lance-holding goem lunged against him, until Saito jumped and backflipped, The golem turned around and Saito grab the valkyre's lance and kick him away with a strong kick to the wall, And now he used a lance as his weapon.
Then five other Valkyre's charged at him, however, Saito, but not attacking he jumped and stepped on one of the Valkyre's head and make a huge atheletic jump through a group of valkyre's.
As he land the Pentagon glows in his fingerless glove on a left hand, Then a blue pentagon appears beneath him as his eyes flashed in blue, But only once, the tip of his lance that he holds on his hands began to glow in blue, Finally he lauched a final attack. "ICE SLASH!" The Valkyre's turned into half. The whole crowd. schocked. Surprised and paled. And Louise gaped her mouth and her body turned white as a sheet. And also tabitha as she was watching throught the window she has no words to describe.
And Saito turned around and faced to the scared noble and walked towards him.
"G-Get away from me!" But it's no use.
Saito pointed his lance to his neck.
"Do you give up?"
"I-I yield!"
Then Guiche got a hand and stood up.
"Next time douchebag don't ever insulted like that do you understand!" he shouted at him.
"Y-yes!" he said as he bowed to him and ran away, As Saito began to walk off and grabbed louse's collar as she was still frozen in schocked and all over her was still white as a sheet. And the crowd...still frozen in schock and all of them are still white as louise.
Headmasters Office.
The Headmaster was quite interested as he watched the duel.
Ottman: Impressive...Louise summoned something that it cannot exist's and this boy wasn't just a commoner after all and also not a mage...but what is he?
And miss Longueville also watched the duel, And quite frozen in schock in surprise with the familiar's strenght, power and abilities.
Later in the evenning...
Louise lies on her bed and very exhausted and tired for today.
And for Saito was also very tired and sleep on his bed on a pile of hay.
Until the next will arrive.
Louise: what is he?...I might talked to him tomorrow morning.
End of the rewrite chapter 2