Disclaimer: I don't own Negima!, so don't sue. Wow, short and sassy but also straight to point.
Legacy
2008 AD: Mahora Academy grounds, Japan
Chapter one
"Tell ma Amoris!"
The young blonde growled in frustration. Even though such an act would normally be considered cute on her childlike visage, Evangeline was hardly normal - or a child for that matter. "For the last time no!" spat the seeming eleven year old.
"But…"
"That's it!" The red-faced blonde turned to her partner. "Chachamaru!"
Nearby on a floor mat was a young women dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono with strange protruding rectangle ears. At the sound of her name she turned to the irritated girl. "Yes, Master?" Karakuri Chachamaru answered in an emotionless voice.
"Start cleaning up, we are done for today." The obedient partner nodded while Evangeline turned back to her unwanted pupil. "Leave now! This whole lesson has given me a headache."
"But…"
"What now!?"
The girl with chocolate colored hair pushed an errant strand out of her eyes before she replied, albeit timidly. "Could you at least tell me what I did wrong?"
Evangeline let out a defeated sigh. To think she ever agreed to teach these amateurs how to use magic - like that would have ever happen. Actually she never agreed to teach anyone; so much as she was being forced to teach.
Damn that Negi, damn that old man, but damn the Thousand Master most of all!
Her mages in training weren't even the ardent apprentices someone of her level would normally instruct. No, it was these prattling school girls who failed to grasp the difference between conjuration and incantation. "I told you for the hundredth time you must use your words of power to invoke the spell."
"I did." answered the pupil as she fidgeted with her uniformed skirt. It was nerve racking being under Evangeline's scrutiny for long periods of time.
"You said some words of powers, that 'boy's' to be exact, but that's not what I asked for. I wanted 'your' words of power." The blonde stared hard at her classmate turned student. She was hopping a divine miracle would somehow make her words get through to the other girl's head. Asking for heaven's grace was never something she did often - Evangeline wasn't the suicidal type - but she was willing to risk it if there was a small, tiny, miniscule chance it would work.
"I don't understand, Eva-chan."
So much for praying. Guess I'm not too popular with the big guy. Figures!
Evangeline rubbed her temple after taking a sip of her chamomile tea. "You didn't do your homework like I asked, did you?"
"I uh…of course I did." answered the brunette unconvincingly. Evangeline had assigned so many books for her to read it was difficult to know which one the tutor was referring to. That and it was nearly impossible to study while Asuna was in their room - the frustrated sounds of the other girl doing homework could easily scare away ferocious wildlife. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing; life with Asuna was never dull for a moment. The problem was maintaining the concentration needed for studding, magical text or otherwise. "I read the spell like it told me to."
"Arggg! Read the details for once!" Evangeline put down her cup of tea. She was much too angry to drink at the moment. "It specifically said your 'own' words of power. Really now! My homework for last time was simple. All you had to do was have your words of power ready for today's lesson. That's it!"
"Oh…" The chocolate-haired girl tried to smile disarmingly. "Sorry, Eva-chan."
"Sorry isn't an excuse. It wasn't the last time you failed to improve, and it isn't this time."
"You're right." the scolded pupil agreed in acceptance. A beat later her eyes brightened. "You wouldn't happen to know my words of power, would you?"
The vampire closed her eyes and tried to keep her cool. She had to remember that this girl had no prior knowledge of the inner-world and its arts. But even then… "Your words of power are something you must discover for yourself. If you had only read the beginner's book under attuning your element, this wouldn't be a problem!" Without preamble, Evangeline stood up and headed for the back room with Chachamaru fast on her heels.
"I guess I have more homework to do." the pupil said cheerfully, seemingly unaffected by the blonde's irritation and hasty exit.
Evangeline stopped in her tracks to smirk at the other girl. "It's amazes me that it takes so long for the fabled Konoe princess to grasp a simple children's spell." she said sarcastically. "That big forehead girl…"
"Yue-san." interjected Chachamaru helpfully.
The blonde immortal glared at her partner in irritation for being interrupted. "Yes…that Yue girl. She already surpasses your level and doesn't have a fraction of raw innate abilities you do."
The pupil looked down sadly. "I'm trying, Eva-chan. I really am." whispered the brunette sullenly. It was the first time she appeared downtrodden during the entire lesson - even after the brow beating she receive the whole session.
Evangeline gave her a shrug of indifference. "Then try harder. When it comes to magic, being unprepared will only get you killed." The young looking master shook her head, real sympathy actually showing on her face for once. "Just be sure to get your head in the game for tomorrow's group lesson." She walked out of the room leaving the brunette to her thoughts. She might come off too strict, but sometimes a hard taskmaster was a better teacher.
Evangeline entered the backroom where she stored her magical retreat - a completely self-contained world that she conjured through great effort - and let out a resounding sigh.
"Something bothering you, Master?" Chachamaru asked in an emotionless voice. The tone may have sounded devoid of emotion, but it was clear she was concerned.
"Nothing, Chachamaru. Just wondering if I'm doing the right thing teaching those girls magic." Doing the right thing was never high on her list of concerns, but she had a nagging feeling this whole thing would come back to bite her on the rear.
"Your students seem very grateful for your teachings, Master."
Evangeline wondered about that. Since the start of the new year the core of Negi's little group became more adamant about advancing their magical studies. Most of them said it was to help the little magi as partners - god knows the boy needed it with the trouble he always gets into - but Evangeline knew they had other reasons as well. She didn't live as long as she had being blind to other people's ambitions. "I wonder what really drives them."
"I don't know, Master." Chachamaru said to the rhetorical question.
"Power aside, true magic is something that scares most sane people away. Sticking with it just shows how strange they are." By 'they', Evangeline was referring to the only girls who showed a smidgen of innate power. The timid Nodoka, the book smart Yue, the nosy Haruna, and last but not least the prodigal child Konoka. The last had them all beat on magical predisposition with the exception of one other.
That one has old blood in her. I'll have to ask her about that someday.
It was strange how the class president didn't express the desire to learn the arts like the rest of them, especially when she such a perfect candidate.
"He is back, Master." said Chachamaru effectively breaking Evangeline's train of thought.
The blonde shook her head and turned to ask 'who?' when a faint glow from the globe on the holding counter interrupted her. To the naked eye the globe appeared a miniature version of her dream tower - a must have for any accomplished mage - but on the inside was a real life version. It was convenient to say the least. Not only did it possess a temporal enchantment that let time move at half the speed of the outside world, it was also equipped with all the modern venues that made any spa seem like a joke. It was truly one of Evangeline's pride and joys.
"He seems finished with training, Master." Chachamaru said unnecessarily.
The blonde nodded. She already sensed the power coalescing in front of her dream tower.
My precious creation. thought Evangeline with a sigh.
Her tower was originally designed for mediation and relaxation; however, class 3-A changed all that with one visit. Now the place was a choice vocation spot for those prattling school girls.
"When did he go in there?"
Chachamaru remotely accessed the villa's entry records. "Two hours, thirty-seven minutes, and forty one point three seconds before you began your training session with…"
"That long…" interrupted the blonde. "He's training longer these days. Doesn't he know that will burn himself out before he ever…"
Her comment was drowned out by a loud humming that quickly filled the air. Following the sound, the faint glow of the globe became a bright light that flashed out into the form of two humanoid shapes. Only a few seconds past before the light faded away revealing two people around her own age - in appearance at least.
"Welcome back, Boy." Evangeline greeted in a less than friendly way.
Negi Springfield looked up tiredly at the blonde and managed to smile despite the fatigue he felt in every bone of his body. The last few hours took a lot of him and he had trouble even standing. His training regimen these days were getting more grueling with every session - probably made more so by his current sparing partner.
"Greetings to you too, Fido." said Evangeline with a smirk.
The Japanese boy standing next to the bespectacled Englishman issued an very animal-like growl. It would have come out more fiercely had the boy not been so near collapsing on the floor from exhaustion. "Watch what you say, Witch! The names Kotaro, or is that too hard for a Westerner to pronounce." The dark-haired boy sneered at the woman revealing longer than normal canines. The teeth might of looked abnormal for most people, but they fit the boy perfectly; especially since he had a matching tail and ears.
Evangeline would have sneered back at the boy, but a smile found its way onto her mouth instead. "I just don't know why I put up with it. To think I keep letting this stray into my tower. Now I'm going to have to spray for fleas again."
Kotaro's response - a very uncivil one - was cut off with a restraining hand on his shoulder. "Don't let her goad you, Kotaro-san. It not worth it."
"Says you." grunted the young wolf demon. Looking over at the blonde that irritated him more than even Negi, he gave a smirk of his own. "I was just going to let Evangeline sharpen my claws for me."
The air suddenly got colder in the room and Evangeline held up her right hand. "Lac lac Spiritus." At the call of her words of power, Evangeline's red colored nails transformed to blue as frost spread over the tips of her fingers - fingers that became tipped with sharp and deadly looking talons made of ice. "I was hoping I could do the same the thing, Fido."
Negi shook his head the two disappointingly. This happened every time Kotaro joined him for sparring. It was inevitable unless he went out of his way to make sure the two avoided each other.
Seriously, they act like such children sometimes.
Negi realized his thoughts were ironic given the fact he was only eleven, but sometimes he felt his years far surpassed his appearance. Especially after dealing with two people who were supposed to be his teachers. "Would you two just calm down. I would rather end this day without conflict." The bruises and cuts all over his body suddenly reminded him of his recent combat training. "Anymore than necessary that is."
The blonde and the wolf demon made eye contact and came to a silent agreement; this was postponed for a later date. It wasn't that they didn't hate each other - they did - it was just an understanding that the young Negi couldn't understand. This was a dance among demons so to speak. A constant game that pitched two evils till one was dominant over the other. Even though both established they were on the side of good - in a way - it was still a force that constantly spurred the two on. Truth be told it was something they secretly enjoyed immensely.
"Another time." spat Evangeline.
"You better believe it, Witch." the boy retorted.
Negi blinked. He must of missed something. "Very well then, I think it's time I take my leave."
"Rest up, Negi. You'll need it after the beating I gave you." Kotaro smirked, playfully smacking the young mage on the back.
Negi bit back a groan. The wolf boy unknowingly hit a very tender spot that already sported a bruise. "Yes…it was quite a match." A flare in his pride couldn't let him leave it at that. "But as I remember, Kotaro-san, it was my victory in the end."
A low growl came from Kotaro's throat. He normally didn't let his animal nature get the better of him, but he was too tired to control himself properly. That and it was just too infuriating to lose to Negi time and time again. The other boy was an irritatingly fast learner. "You just got lucky. A second later and I would have had you."
"Very true, Kotaro-san." agreed the child teacher diplomatically.
"Ya, whatever." The wolf boy motioned at the doorway. "I'm calling it a day. Rest up because if you think I'll go easy on you next time because your too tired or something, you've got another thing coming."
Negi nodded while following the other boy out of the room. However, before he could leave Evangeline stopped him with a gesture to stay behind. Taking the hint, Negi waited till Kotaro was gone before addressing the blonde vampire. "Something the matter, Master?"
Evangeline looked over at the ever present Chachamaru. "Could you please go get me some jasmine tea?"
The android nodded and bowed. "Yes, master." With that said she left the two alone.
Negi waited quietly for Evangeline to began like she always did; private talks like this were commonplace over the last year. Despite their antagonistic beginnings, their common interests developed them into an unspoken friendship. So much so that Negi became a trusted confidant for Evangeline and visa versa. It was understandable since they had no one else to discuss the goings-on of magic to.
"So about your partners, Boy."
"Yes?"
Evangeline figured she should get right to the point. "How long are you going to keep this up?"
The Englishman looked at her in confusion. "I don't think I know what you mean, Evangeline-san."
"Come now. How long are you going to keep your pactio with those girls?"
"I figured till I finished my assignment at Mahora." Negi didn't grasp what Evangeline was getting at. So what if he still had pactios with basically everyone in class. It didn't hurt them, and in the end it provided a way to protect not just him but each other should something happen.
"I don't mean the whole class, idiot. I was referring to the girls you placed under my tutelage."
"What about them?" Before the blonde could answer, it suddenly dawned on Negi what she was referring to. "Oh…I see." This was also something that occupied his thoughts for the last month or two. While it was no problem to form pactios with the other girls in class, especially the ones without magical talent, the girls beginning their own mage training were consequently held back because of it. He was the Magister Magi - core mage and holder of the pactio. That being the case, their magical powers were being suppressed in favor of his own. "Your talking about cutting them lose so they can develop without my aid?"
"In part." agreed Evangeline. She stopped to make sure Chachamaru was not coming back to intrude on their conversation anytime soon. Asking for the tea was her way of saying she wanted to have a private discussion with Negi, and she was glad her partner took the hint. "I don't think they will be safe without your pactio, what with the trouble you always get them into, but I don't think they should be your partners any longer either. If they continue to do so they wont grow any stronger than they currently are."
Negi looked down in thought. The current arrangement he had with those girls was becoming a problem. If they wanted to continue being his partner they would eventually have to give up their mage training - he didn't see that happening though. The sheer look of determination in their eyes told him they were ready to move on.
I just wish there was an ideal solution for this situation.
Being a mage tended to attract a lot of danger; being the son of the Thousand Master made it even worse. As it stands, the girl's were in no position to fend for themselves without the pactios - aspiring mages or not. "Any ideas, Master?"
The blonde sighed. She didn't have a perfect solution, but she had an idea that might work. "Maybe if…" she paused. Evangeline was unsure she should suggest this.
"Evangeline-san?"
The vampire sighed again and just decided to voice her foolish idea. "We could try forming them with their own pactios."
Negi blinked while standing there in thought.
Surely the solution can't be that simple?
The blonde's idea quickly worked its way through Negi's mind. "So if we form them with appropriate pactios, their own powers will be drawn out to support their partners. That's what your thinking, right?"
"Yes, something along those lines."
"Do you think it will work?"
Evangeline paused to consider the logistics of such a plan. "I believe it could if the girls are willing."
"I'm sure they will. As Magister Magi their studies would improve for sure." The young mage's fatigue disappeared over the excitement of these new possibilities - though deep down he was ashamed he overlooked that option himself. Maybe it was because he continued thinking of a solution based on the idea that they would remain his partners. Sadly, those plans would be doomed to fail before they began. Evangeline's plan on the other hand might just work. "A brilliant idea, Master!"
Evangeline rolled her eyes at the ecstatic expression radiating from Negi's face.
The boy is such a simpleton sometimes. Really now, already getting excited over something that might not work at all? How childish.
"Wipe that smirk off of your face, Boy. Its was a stupid idea, and I'm not even sure they have enough tapped power to form a single pactio."
"But…" Negi attempted to argue, but Evangeline didn't let him finish.
"Konoka couldn't even figure out her words of power for the love of…" The blonde stopped herself before she could lose her cool. Her temper flared every time she remembered one of her tutoring sessions with the magically dense girl.
Why does this have to be my problem?
"Its not as easy as it sounds." she started again more calmly this time. "There is a major flaw in the plan."
"Such as?" wondered Negi. He knew enough about the girls to know each possessed enough power to form at least one pactio as a Magister Magi. If not, he at least had faith that Evangeline would see they eventually got there.
"Having them form pactios wont solve the problem for all of them."
Negi had a sinking suspicion he knew where this was heading. It was actually a conversation he always hoped to avoid, but with those particular girls trying to become mages, he was going to have face it sooner rather than later. "Could you be more specific?"
"Well, finding Ministra Magi for Konoka and Haruna isn't a problem. The trouble is dealing with Nodoka and Yue." the blonde said knowingly. "Haruna's strong earth affinity make just about anyone an acceptable partner - an advantage of the earth element. On a similar note, finding Konoka a partner is just as simple since she possesses an affinity with all four core elements." - An affinity of that caliber literally made everyone a possible candidate - "Yue and Nodoka is a different story all together."
"I take it you already sensed their affinities, Eva-san." Negi said soberly.
"Of course I did! What self-respecting mage would miss it?" The blonde groaned. "Of all the pupils I could have got stuck with, I had to get two of those types…in the same class no less."
"Light and shadow." whispered the Englishman. He was already fully aware of Yue and Nodoka's elements. It was a shock he experienced a year and a half ago when he first formed a pactio with the two girls. The first one, Nodoka, possessed the powerful light affinity. As it was, light was the rarest of all affinities with the exception of its counterpart, shadow - an equally uncommon affinity that was potentially more dangerous. That's why it was shocking to discover Yue was in possession of it.
Appearances can be very misleading sometimes.
Nodoka's light affinity was easy to accept - it fit the girl somehow. The petite Yue, on the hand, was a less likely candidate to have the shadow affinity. Negi wouldn't have believed it had he not formed a pactio to prove it beyond a doubt.
"You see the problem don't you?" Evangeline asked.
Negi nodded. He did see a problem - a big problem. Both of those girl's affinities were compatible with no one; if they weren't compatible with anyone, then they couldn't be Magister Magi.
"I don't see how we can help them. Our only choice is leave their training as it is." Evangeline said with disappointment laced in her voice.
"If we do that they wont progress much further, will they?"
"No they wont." answered the more experienced of the two. It was a shame, but there was nothing that could be done about it. That was just how the life worked. In history, light mages and shadow mages could never form a pactio as Magister Magi. Their incompatibility limited them to support Ministra Magi for other mages with core affinities: such as earth, fire, Negi's wind, or her own affinity with water.
"It can't be helped then." Negi let out a sigh. "Maybe it's better we keep them as Ministra Magi."
The blonde raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Negi, who had been staring at his feet, looked up to give Evangeline a nod. "It's better to have Konoka as a support mage. With my wind affinity as a base, her light power can enhance it considerably. Plus if we broke the pactio I'd miss her artifact when we got into tough situations."
"You may have a point. Her skills as a mage are even more laughable than Konoka's. Plus as a light mage she can't cast destruction magic. That leaves her combat ability near zero."
The child teacher gave his master a slight smile. "Actually, I kind of like Nodoka as my Ministra Magi, so breaking the pactio was kind of a sour idea."
The vampire rolled her eyes. "Ya, whatever, but what of Yue?"
"Yue-san," Negi whispered the girl's name. He turned away from Evangeline sadly. "She is better off not growing any stronger than she is."
Evangeline McDowell didn't show it on her face, but Negi's response shocked her. "It surprises me to hear you say that. I thought you of all people would have some touching remark about believing in your friends no matter what."
The boy grimaced; he deserved that, but it didn't change the way he felt - most mages instinctually felt the way he did. "Don't get me wrong, Eva-san. Yue is a kind and sweet girl with enough intelligence to do the right thing…"
"I sense a 'but' coming."
Negi nodded. "But" he said with enfaces. "Temptation is sometimes too much for anyone to resist, and of all the magic in the world, shadow magic is the most temptuous of the lot."
"So what your saying is that you trust how Yue will use the magic, but you don't trust how the magic will use Yue."
The Englishman looked up in surprise. Just like that, Evangeline nailed exactly what he was trying to say.
"Wipe that look off your face, Boy, for once I agree with you." The seeming ten year old girl narrowed her eyes in memory. "I've done many bad things in my life - most of them considered evil by society's standards - but of all the bad things I've done, I've know shadow mage's that would make me look like a saint."
"I believe you, Evangeline-san." Negi said as he trailed off. After that, both fell into a lengthy silence. The wind mage and ice mage stood there in contemplation before the young Englishman decided to break the quietness. "What do you plan to do then?"
"Hmm." The blond thought it over carefully. "During tomorrow's lesson I'll bring up my plan to find them their own partners."
"And Nodoka and Yue-san?"
Evangeline shrugged. "You'll just have to break the bad news to them."
"What!?" sputtered Negi. "Why me?"
"You're their teacher and friend, who else would it be?"
The boy wanted to argue, but Evangeline had a point. "Fine then. I'll be here for tomorrow's lesson."
"Good."
"One last thing though," Negi said looking back towards the blonde. "What if Yue or Nodoka refuses and decides to break my pactio to train solo."
Evangeline wanted to laugh. "That would take years at their age. There is a reason why mages start their training around the time of preschool. Besides, I think the dean would have something to say about it if we let them go on their own."
Negi hadn't thought of that. The spread of western magic was commonplace in the west - as it should be. But here in the east it wasn't so easy. It was a very sore subject among the traditionalist who saw that kind of thing as threatening to their culture. In fact, that was the cause of the war fought not too long ago by his father, Takamichi, the dean, and even Konoka's dad. The western mages might have won in the end, but it was settled by a truce over any real victory. As a result, western magic - while allowed - was very regulated. The pactios he formed with the class should have caused a serious commotion, but the dean used his position in the Kanto Association to cover for him. The logic was that after he left for England, all the girls would go back to their normal selves. That would have been true, but other things resulted despite his best efforts; namely inspiring the girls into becoming real western mages. "I guess your right, Eva-san. The dean was already worried over training them in the basics, and that was with them still having pactios with me. Letting them go on their own will be a very bad idea."
"True. Not that I care about the old fart, but he's the one that's going to get all the heat over it."
Something slipped the young mage's mind. "But how is it any different from breaking my pactio with the other girls."
Evangeline sighed. "Because they would still be part of a pactio with new partners."
"I see." said Negi even though he still didn't get the difference.
Evangeline stared at the boy and wasn't fooled for a second. "The truce idiot. The one signed by the eastern schools."
"Oh!" Negi called out, finally understanding. The truce that ended the war stipulated that any mage with a pactio was granted immunity for both them and their partner while inhabiting eastern territory. The treaty never specified an eastern mage or western mage, so as soon as the girl's form a new pactio they would be recognized as 'legal' mages - probably why Evangeline suggested it. That way the dean would be off the hook, and girls could advance their studies with a handicap befitting their late schooling. "It's a shame about Nodoka and Yue though. If only they were born in the west they might have been admitted to schools early on without the need of a pactio."
"True." agreed Evangeline. What Negi said was half true. Nodoka would easily be admitted to a magic school, but Yue definitely wouldn't. People with shadow affinities were barred from learning magic all together.
Shame. Out of all the girls she had the most talent.
Funny how Yue's current makeshift schooling was the best she could get anywhere in the whole world - east or west.
"I guess that leaves only Konoka and Haruna with the best chance to become true mages." Negi said.
"About that." Evangeline mused. "I was wondering what you thought of Ayaka."
"Iincho-san?" The Englishman raised an eyebrow. "What about her?"
The curious expression from Negi made Evangeline realize her confidant was in the dark. "You don't know?"
"No, what?"
Evangeline would have to slap her forehead when she was in private. She almost forgot that her blood sorcery was something that most normal mages didn't possess - at least not human ones. One of the benefits of being a vampire was the ability to sense a great deal about a person from the taste of their blood. On one of her feedings before Negi arrived on campus, Evangeline had the pleasure of sampling some of the class president's crimson liquid. It was a very unique taste to say the least; the girl had old blood in her veins. Each generation of mage passes down a piece of their power to their children, and from what Evangeline tasted, Ayaka was a descendant from a very long line of powerful magi. "Nothing, I was just thinking that Iincho might be interested in becoming a mage."
"Oh?" Negi said as he thought it over. "I could ask her if you want, but I'm a little surprised, Evangeline-san."
"About what?"
"Taking an interest in expanding your teachings." The boy let out a laugh. "I must admit that with all your complaining I was starting to think you hated teaching, but now…" Negi shrugged. "I guess your really starting to take it seriously. This is wonderful…"
"Oh shut up!" Evangeline fumed nearby with an eye twitching. "Forget I said anything."
Negi abruptly stopped laughing, but it had nothing to do with the blonde's retort. A sudden flare of pain from an injury on his ribs did the job.
The sight sparked a very rare moment of compassion in Evangeline's immortal heart. "Hey, boy. I think we've talked enough for one day."
Negi was grateful for the girl's concern. "Your right, Eva-san. I'm a little beat from today's training. Perhaps we should talk more after class tomorrow."
"I'll see what happens." answered Evangeline, making no definite plans as she always did.
"First things first though. I need to talk to the dean about this."
"Good idea. It wont be easy talking him into the whole thing, especially when it concerns his granddaughter."
"You don't think he'll have a problem with it, do you?"
Evangeline shrugged. "Hard to say. Konoka is a Kensai princess, living in the Kanto region, training to be a western mage. How Konoemon got away with it thus far is beyond me."
"It shouldn't be too bad. Konoka already has a pactio with me and nothing bad has happened yet."
"Don't jinx it." admonished Evangeline. "Just because Konoka's father is understanding enough to cover your butt so far, don't think he can excuse being insulted any further. Even if he was the Thousand Master's friend, Konoka's importance goes beyond his friendships."
"I'll keep that in mind." Negi answered tiredly. He was just anxious to get the day over with and have some much needed rest.
Evangeline read his mind - not literally. "Come on. Let's go see Konoemon before it gets too late."
The boy nodded. "I would greatly appreciate your company, Eva-san."
A slight pinkish tinge covered the girl's pale alabaster cheeks. "Whatever." The vampire raised her voice just a little. "We are leaving, Chachamaru."
Like magic, the android walked through the door almost instantly causing Negi - who was standing nearby - to let out a yelp. "Yes, Master."
The blonde rolled her eyes at Negi. "Oh please, and you call yourself a man."
"She surprised me," The mage said in his defense. "And I'm still a boy."
"Apparently." said Evangeline as she walked out of the backroom, her partner following closely behind.
