To open this chapter, I'll now announce the results of the last chapters poll. With eight votes against three, it'd been decided that the Averrunci will each have a different rune. For those out there that worry that they might become too over powered, I assure you, you have no need to worry. My plans may have been altered a little, but I have a good idea of where this story should go and when.
Now, since it's pretty obvious that I own nothing, let's move on to the story. Onwards!
Chapter III: Burning sky. Crushing earth
"I challenge you, to a DUEL!"
Eyes all around Guiche's table widened at the dot mage's announcement, followed by the animated chattering that one could easily come to expect from high school students. Quartum, however, noticed none of this. Like the rest, he too, had been surprised by Guiche's challenge. The small flicker of surprise, however, was quickly replaced a thrilling sensation, as a shark like grin spread across the Averruncus of fire's face.
"A duel huh?" the silver haired fire user muttered, as if testing the idea in his head. "Feh… alright. When and where!" he demanded, a flow of mana running through his hands.
"The Vestri court. We start as soon as you arrive," Guiche answered, a cocky smirk imprinted on his face at the imprudence of Louise's familiar. "A foolish peasant for a plebeian in noble's clothing fooling herself with the prospect of being able to use magic. Truly, the familiar is a reflection of the mage." He walked off soon after, his smirk never leaving as a trail of his friends followed along behind him.
"Quartum what were you thinking!" the maid, Siesta, shouted from behind him, causing the flame user to look over his shoulder. Her voice was shrill and her body was trembling, an act that Quartum found simply ridiculous. Who could ever be afraid of someone like that?
"Familiar!" a second voice yelled from behind the maid, prompting the Averruncus of fire to crane his head to find the source. Siesta turned around as well, and both were greeted to the sight of a very irritated Louise, practically stomping towards them, with Quintum and Sextum flanking her sides.
"What do you think you're doing!" she demanded, her tone equally worried as it was angry. The pinkette grabbed Quartum's hand forcefully and began to drag him in the same direction that Guiche had left. "Come on! If we apologize fast enough, then maybe he'll just drop this whole issue."
Upon hearing her order, the flame users eyes widened in undignified surprise, shortly before yanking his arm out of the young mage's grasp. "Apologize!" he shouted indignantly, "like hell I'm apologizing to some moronic pretty boy like that bas-!"
A firm grip on his shoulder, followed by a surge of electricity through his system stopped Quartum's vehement protest cold. Looking over his shoulder once more, the fire mage's eyes locked with his wind using counterpart's stern gaze.
No words were needed to convey what it was that the wind user wanted him to do, and if I weren't for the fact that Fate would have agreed, Quartum probably would have just ignored it. If it was just one of them, he'd stand a chance if they decided to stop him by force. With two, he'd be beaten, and he knew. That wasn't even taking into account how Sextum would respond, but it would likely not be in his favour.
Begrudgingly, Quartum relented, and allowed himself to be led to the appointed duelling ground.
-X-
The whole of Vestri court was nearly filled to the brim by students of various seniority, though most were second years, evident that black capes were the most common among the audience. The only space left free was a large circle in the middle of the field upon which Guiche was standing alone.
Alone, that is, until Louise and her familiars entered the clearing.
"I commend you for not attempting to flee, familiar. But do not think that that is enough to pardon you for your crimes," taunted the earth mage, shooting the small group a condescending smirk.
Before Quartum could even make a response, his mistress had already pushed him back (or at least, tried to), cutting him off. "Stop this right now Guiche! You know duels are forbidden on school grounds!" she ordered, arms crossed while glaring at the boy opposite her.
The earth mage responded to this with a shake of his head, doing the best he could to make it look as disappointed as possible. "That would be true… had both participants been nobles. There is no rule saying that a noble cannot duel a familiar," he pointed out haughtily. "What's more, he made two very lovely ladies cry and had baselessly accused me of numerous atrocious acts. In all truth, he should have been punished there and then, yet I, Guiche de Gramont, was merciful enough to give him a chance to defend himself with this duel."
If Guiche was aiming to pacify Louise with his statement, it definitely fell short. In fact, the pinkette looked even more incensed than ever. "Mercy? Defend himself? Guiche, you know just as much as I do that this was going to be one sided fight!"
"That would hardly be my fault," the blonde replied dismissively, shrugging. "If you truly wish for this not to continue, then get down on your knees and beg for forgiveness!" he ordered, pointing his ever present rose towards the group.
"Go fuck yourself!"
Quartum's response was immediate, causing the two previously conversing mages to jump, along with a majority of the crowd. Guiche recovered quickly enough though, and shot the red clad familiar his best intimidating glare… which had absolutely no effect at all.
Louise had a very similar reaction. "Would you be quiet already! He's already given you a way out! Just take it! Stupid familiar!"
"I'm not kneeling down to-"
"Just do it, Quartum!" Quintum's order cut through the argument like a hot knife through butter. All conversation ended as everyone focused on the white clad male as his glare practically pierced through his hot-headed counterpart. "As much as I hate it, I agree with Fate's decision. Trouble such as this would only besmirch our mistress. If avoiding it means that you must kneel down and beg, then you will do so. Otherwise, I will force you to do so."
Quartum's glare intensified at the wind mage's threat, and a growl escaped his throat. He wanted to protest. This wasn't just a fight any more. The bastard womanizer actually had the gall to demand that he, the Averruncus of fire, beg for forgiveness! It was inexcusable!
"Did your core break or something? You actually expect me to beg that guy for forgiveness!"
Clearly, this was not what Quintum wanted, and it showed; more so to Quartum than to anyone else, as mana began to collect throughout the wind Averruncus' body…
"Oh don't worry. You won't be the only one."
And instantly, the flow magic ended as the two Averrunci, plus their master turned to stare curiously at an arrogantly smirking Guiche. He wasted no time in elaborating his statement.
"The familiar is something that reflects the master. Therefore, all faults of the familiar is the fault of the master," he explained, his smirk growing. A sudden twitch from the hand still on his shoulders was enough to confirm Quartum's own immediate deduction of where this was line was heading for.
"Louise, as their mistress, you must also take responsibility for your familiars' actions. Therefore, you too, must get down on your knees and ask me to forgive you; both for your familiar's insults, as well as your own."
And with that, Louise trembled, torn between her pride and the safety of her familiar. She looked behind her to see both Quartum and Quintum glaring daggers at Guiche. Hell, even Sextum looked as though there was a more threatening glint in her impassive eyes as she stared at the blonde.
The pinkette gulped, then turned back to her classmate. She suppressed all her lessons of keeping her families pride and began crouch down-
"Quartum, I take it back. This thrash has no right to live. I don't think any of us would mind if he were to die. Just make sure you burn him slowly."
The level of contempt in what she recognized as Quintum's voice made Louise pause. Like Fate, Quintum was never one to show much anger when talking. Even when he was clearly annoyed, like the time the three brothers argued when she first summoned them, he had kept his tone under control. Now though…
"Mistress Louise, I apologize," said the white clad Averruncus as he bowed to her, holding out his hand. A little confused, but inwardly glad that she didn't have to stain her family name, Louise grabbed the offered appendage, and Quintum slowly helped her to her feet. "I'm afraid that, as things currently stand, to comply with your request would sully your name even more than any amount of violence we cause here would. As such, I must implore that you allow Quartum to fight."
It took a moment for the request to register in her head, but once it did, Louise couldn't help but look at her spiky haired familiar in disbelief. "Quintum, you can't be serious? You can't just let Quartum fight! Guiche is a noble! This match is too one-sided for him to win!" she exclaimed, only to be further baffled by the diabolical smirk that spread on the boy's face.
"Precisely," was his only answer.
"Enough talk already! Let's get this over with!" Quartum demanded. He too, had a wide smirk on his face.
Louise's gaze flew from one of her familiars over to the next, and then back again, trying to determine what was it that caused Quartum's obvious insanity to be transferred to his usually calm brother, even as she was led aside by Quintum.
Finally, it was just the two combatants left in the impromptu battle field.
-X-
Meanwhile…
The double doors that led to the headmaster, Old Osmond's office burst open as Colbert rushed in, calling out the square mage's name as Fate walked sedately behind him. Both were rather awkwardly surprised at the sight that welcomed them: an old man in a brown robe, –the headmaster, Fate deduced– lying front down on the floor as a green haired young woman stomped on his back.
Colbert stopped almost immediately upon laying eyes on what was quite possibly the oddest sight he'd seen since his teaching career. "Miss Longueville… what are you doing… exactly?"
"Ah!" the woman, –Miss Longueville, apparently– looked up in surprise, eyes wide, before her expression turned into a deep smile. "I'm simply giving the headmaster's back a massage," she replied, continuing to grind her shoes onto the clearly suffering man's back.
Despite himself, Fate couldn't help but sweatdrop at the sight.
"Uhh… right," Colbert muttered, apparently also lacking a proper reaction for the situation. He cleared his throat. "About why I'm here…"
"Yes, yes," Osmond cut in, finally getting up. He returned back to his chair before facing the pair with a speculative glance. More so towards Fate than the teacher. "So, what is it you came to report professor… uhh… who are you again?"
The bald fire mage face faulted at the question, and Fate was almost certain that he had the urge to follow suit. The reaction was short-lived though, as Colbert got back up to his feet, re-introduced himself, and then proceeded to get down to business.
"Sir, I'd recently become interested in the different runes that were grafted upon the familiars summoned by one Louise Vallière yesterday," he started, producing a familiar tome from his robes and placing it on the table. "One of her familiars, Mr. Fate Averruncus-" he pointed behind him towards the silver haired boy, "and myself searched for any possible references in the library that would tell us their meaning. This, is what we found."
He opened the book then, showing the old man four different marked pages, and with each one, Osmond's eyes widened even further. His gaze flew from the book, to his employee, and then towards the lone familiar, before going back to the book.
"Are you two sure about this?" he asked, his voice trembling.
"The runes are perfect match. Each and every single one." It was Fate who answered this time, gaining the headmaster's full attention.
For a moment, there was nothing but tension filled silence, and then, Old Osmond turned towards his secretary. "Miss Longueville, would you be so kind as to give us some privacy for a moment?"
"Of course, headmaster," the young woman replied, giving a curt bow before exiting the room.
All of the old mages attention returned back to the man before him. "Mr. Colbert, you know what this could possibly mean, yes?"
The balding man's enthusiastic nod was all the answer he needed. "Of course sir! The fact that Louise Vallière was not only able to summon four different familiars, but that each would also have the four familiar runes associated with the Founder! She must be a void mage. Any other conclusion is impossible."
Osmond nodded gravely. "We must not let this reach outside ears, Mr. Colbert. Louise could very well be put into great danger if such information were to get out." His tone left no room for arguments, a sentiment that the teacher clearly caught on to, as his visage became completely serious, giving a nod of his own.
Both men then turned towards the last person in the room, and he stared back at them. "Mr. Averruncus. If possible, could you keep all this under wraps? You can tell your siblings, and your summoner, but it would be best if none of this were to get out."
Fate's only response was a nod, which was then returned by the principal.
Then it happened. A familiar surge of mana in the air was Fate's first warning. The second, came in the form of Osmond's secretary barging into the room.
"Sir! A student, Guiche de Gramont has challenged one of the familiars that Louise Vallière had summoned!"
Before anyone else could react, Fate had already cleared the door.
-X-
"So, you choose to fight, do you?" Guiche sneered before waving the rose in his hand. A single petal detached from the flower and slowly floated to the ground. A green-grey metal rose from the ground, shaped into a distinctively feminine appearance, with most of its body shaped to resemble armour.
"My name is Guiche de Gramont! Runic name: Guiche the Bronze! As such, your opponent shall be the bronze valkyrie!" he announce proudly, smiling as though he'd already won. Quartum was far less amused and just stared at the piece of magical metal work. It looked good, he had to admit, but was it any good for a fight?
Figuring he'd find out once it attacked, the flame user just decided. He didn't even have to wait long for the metallic construct to attack. The golem rushed him pretty much as soon as it's summoner stopped talking, approaching him at a speed that should have otherwise been impossible for something made completely of bronze, but for someone like Quartum, who was created for combat against the likes of Ala Rubra, it may as well have been moving in slow motion.
It shot out a punch aimed at his head, intended to knock him out one strike. The Averruncus of fire merely raised his hand at the last moment, stopping the bronze fist dead in its tracks, just inches away from his nose.
A single brow raised on Quartum's features as he craned his neck over the golem so that he could look at his stunned opponent; a feeling that nearly every other person audience was currently experiencing, apparently. "That's it?" he asked incredulously. "This is the best you can do? This is pathetic!"
The loud insult seemed enough to break Guiche out of his stupor, –along with most of the crowd– eliciting a growl from the blonde. "You were just lucky, familiar!" he shouted in response, waving his wand in what Quartum assumed was a command to his creation.
Sure enough, the golem's other hand shot up as well, this time aimed at his chest. This too, however, was stopped almost immediately before it hit its mark as the red clad Averruncus smirked. "If this is the best you people can do, then I don't think Fate'd mind if I broke this stupid masquerade he made," he said, earning confused looks all around.
Almost immediately, all of their stares turned into that of wide-eyed shock as Guiche's golem began to glow as smoke rose from it, starting from where Quartum held the construct and spreading fast. "Since you so kindly introduced yourself, allow me to do the same," the flame user announced. The bronze construct he held now beginning to melt.
Releasing his grip, the red-clad familiar kicked the semi-molten golem towards its creator, who barely managed to duck. When Guiche looked back up, he was treated to the sight of Quartum with a malicious, predatory grin on his face, looking down at him with a level certainty in his victory that Guiche had never before witnessed.
"Visju Tal Li Sjutal Vangèit!"
The third son of the general de Gramont wasn't sure what those words meant, but it filled him with fear nonetheless. The words were no spell, for in truth, they were not words that he, nor anyone else in the academy recognized. Yet even then, something screamed inside of him that he would die if he didn't do anything soon.
In his panic, Guiche waved his wand once more, this time letting drop all the remaining petals, creating a total of eight golems to defend him. They charged, just as his opponent started chanting, too late to accomplish anything.
"Novem Clostellum, Laxo. Ab Lægjarn Acerva, Agite! Gladius Divinus Flammae Arden!"(1)
Without warning save for a burst of power, a gigantic sword of solid flames, four times as tall as Quartum himself, –not counting the hilt, which was also as long as he was tall– appeared in the Averruncus's hand. The students of the academy, and whoever among the faculty and staff that stood witness to it all felt their jaws drop at the sight.
Not even the strongest of square class fire mages could truly solidify fire. It was like trying to tame the shadows themselves, impossible, even amongst elves. Yet, despite that, none could claim that he blade in Quartum's hand was fake. The sheer heat it radiated ensured that.
"For future reference," The flame mage's sudden statement turned all eyes to him. The sight of him gripping a small section of the handle with his comparatively tiny hands would have looked amusing if it weren't so imposing as well. "My name is Quartum! The fourth Averruncus, and the Averruncus of fire!"
Then he swung the giant blade in a horizontal cut, frightening those in the circle nearest to his sword arm the sword neared them; all but Louise, who continued to stare in awe, and her two other present familiars, who looked on impassively. The attack cut right through the mass of golems, slicing all of them from what would have been their abdomen, the searing heat of the colossal weapon not helping them in the least, leaving nothing but piles of half-molten metal on the grassy court.
Smirking at the results of his work, Quartum let his gaze flow towards his challenger who was now openly shaking in fear. Guiche had stumble back onto his butt, it seemed, during the whole demonstration, visibly shaking as he tried to back away, leaving a very telling trail of liquid in his wake.
"Trying to escape huh?" Quartum muttered under his breath, his smirk turning into a manic and sadistic grin. "That just won't do!" he shouted, extending his hand in his opponent's direction. "Evocatio Spiritualis: De Tredecim Salamandris Lanciferis!"
Another wave of magic, this time formed from numerous waves melding into one followed the Averruncus of fire's second spell. Thirteen wisps of flame, looking very much like group of armed humanoid salamanders ignited from behind their summoner's retreating opponent, blocking his escape path.
Guiche nearly fainted there and then, upon laying eyes on the fire constructs, only kept awake by his self preservation. "Heh… you really are a coward aren't you?" the blonde's opponent taunted, prompting the dot mage to shakily turn back towards his opponent.
The fact that the tip of the sword that Louise's familiar had employed earlier was currently floating far above where it used to be was his only hint to look higher up.
The moment his eyes locked onto the fire spirit –for no other being could command flames in such a manner– was the moment that Quartum decided to end the one-sided slaughter.
"Here's a little something I got from a memory," said the familiar, raising his titanic sword so that the tip pointed straight into Guiche's trapped body. "Warship Breaker!" he shouted, throwing his sword like a burning javelin from heaven above.
Loud gasps were heard from the crowd as all the spectators realized just how this 'duel' was going to end, looking fearfully at the sight. Guiche, in his terror, closed his eyes and awaited the end.
"Ho Monolithos Kion Tou Haidou!"
It never came. Instead, tremor after tremor shook the earth as air and dust were displaced. The sound of numerous large objects landing on the ground right I front of him filled the air, followed by that of metal breaking through stone.
More gasps filled the air, prompting the blonde to open his eyes. The sight before him made gape. What protected him from the colossal blade of flame was a barricade of humungous grey, stone pillars that had planted themselves into the earth.
"I warned you not do such foolish things, Quartum," a voice, sounded from behind Quartum, an underlying threat in its calm tone. It was almost whisper like, yet the stunned silence in the field allowed it to be heard by all.
The Averruncus of fire barely had a chance to look over his shoulder before a powerful punch struck him from behind, sending him straight towards the giant stone barricade, crashing right through the first layer.
If at all possible, the students were more shocked now than ever. Not only had they seen someone, –and not just any someone at that, but one of 'The Zero' Louise's familiars– use a fire spell that was obviously above square class level, they also bore witness to another person –another one of Louise's familiars, no less– stop with a blockade of stone pillars from out of the air. Then, following that, he appeared behind his own brother and punched him. punched him! An attack that no true noble would ever lower themselves to in duel.
For the umpteenth time that day, everyone gasped, all of them paying rapt attention to what had just occurred. Even Tabitha was waiting in anticipation, having dropped her reading material sometime during Guiche's beat down. None of them could believe what they'd just seen. All of them were sure that Quartum had already died, but like a morbid accident, they couldn't help but stare… and then the buzzing began.
Like out of a dusty hive, giant fiery wasps shot out from the rock pillars, numbering by the thousands and zooming in fast towards Fate, his eyes narrowing at the attempted attack. "Senjin Kokuyouken!" he commanded, calling forth an array of black and grey blades. With a mental order, the blades flew, striking wasp after wasp amidst the explosion caused by their collision.
The aerial battlefield was shrouded completely in smoke once it was all over, with both the visible combatant and the whole audience watching in anticipation for what was to come next. The students and staff of the academy had, by now, given up on trying to make sense of anything in the ensuing conflict, deciding instead to jut watch and be entertained by the awe inspiring battle. Even Guiche, who had retreated to the sidelines was just watching and waiting.
They didn't have to wait long either as javelins of fire blasted out of the smoke, searing the air as they flew at speeds that rendered them to appear as nothing but blades for a majority of the spectators.
Fate was another story. With eyes like a hawk, he –to the utter bafflement of the audience– batted each spear aside with his bare hands, knocking them all away with the barest of effort, not even feeling the sensation of heat they emitted as he let power flow into his upper limbs.
His arms swung in numerous angles, so fast that it almost looked like he'd grown five extra pairs. A gout of fire followed the last spear, blanketing Quartum's form behind it just as he'd come in to view.
Not missing a beat, Fate extended his hand as he focused his magic, creating a large ball of light. "Doru Petras!" at his command, the orb burst, blasting out a large stone spear that pierced right through the flames; the air it displaced creating a large gap in the middle through which the oldest Averruncus shot flew through.
But Quartum was ready for him, already swinging another gigantic sword in a vertical cut, only so many inches away from him. Only Fate's vast experience saved him from being severed at that moment, forming a stone sword in his right hand and supporting with his left to defend against the mightier weapon. It was crude, yet effective, but despite his superior physical power, the momentum of the sword of conflagration was enough to drive him downwards.
Flipping in mid air the grey clad familiar landed feet first, glaring up towards his opponent who was, even now, channelling his mana for a next attack. The wide smirk on Quartum's face told Fate all he needed to know about just which spell his hot-headed counterpart was planning on using, and he retaliated in kind by preparing his own.
"Visju Tal Li Sjutal Vangèit!" they shouted at once, earning some confusion from the crowd. A small part of the audience, Fate noted, had started talking now. He didn't know when they started, but they were endless now; most of them wondering if he –a square class earth mage, as they apparently identified him– was going to attempt to create his own sword of fire that Quartum was making.
Whether it was his battle mania, or simply because some part of him thought it funny, even he himself didn't know, but he smirked at the prospect of being able to show them just how different they were to all of them. Surely, that would make anyone think twice about harming their mistress, which was probably the only good thing that could come out of this situation.
"To Sumbolaion Diakonētō Moi!"
The magic energy in the air grew thick quickly as they chorused another part of their chant, alerting all to the impending danger that was to come.
"O Turanne Phlogos!/ O Basileu Haidou!"
The first part of the spell, the calling of the contract was done, and now their mana grew even more dangerous. Tremors formed on the soil and the temperature heated up. The audience were being disorientated as the ground below them shook, many of them falling over, their eyes filled with fear at being caught up in a clash that could probably end with most of them dead. And then…
"Argh!"
All eyes turned towards the source of the agonized scream. Louise was on the ground, clutching at her chest. She was panting heavily, and sweating from head to toe. Her face had turned pale and her body was shaking.
All the students backed away from the girl, their usual jeers absent as they looked on in worry and shock. The two familiars by her side both crouched down to check on her, with Fate and even Quartum –both of whom had already forgotten their fight, apparently– not far behind.
Those among the students who were water mages were among the first to get over their surprise at Louise sudden pain, those closer to her position moving over to check on the girl.
"Step aside!" the shout of a familiar voice rang from beyond the crowd. The students parted way quickly, making a small path from the building towards the downed Vallière.
The Averrunci looked up as Colbert, Old Osmond and miss Longueville rushed towards their mistress; the bald teacher crouching down himself to check over the girl as soon as he was close enough.
The four around her let the older man through as he got to his spell work. It was unfamiliar to them, but from the circumstances, they all came to the conclusion that it was diagnostic in nature.
"There's nothing physically wrong with her. However, her willpower's been depleted to an extremely low level," the balding man reported, eliciting a surprised and curious expression from his superior.
"Willpower depletion?" he asked sceptically, "how can that be? She hasn't used any spells at all. Moreover, this sort of reaction is far too violent just for a depletion of willpower."
Unknown to everyone else, Fate's eyes had widened at the bearded mage's comment, the implications of his statement, combined with the memories he'd garnered from the Premium Averruncus bringing him onto a single conclusion.
Inwardly, he cursed at himself for not thinking up such a possibility as his eyes wandered towards his weakened summoner. Louise had collapsed half way through the inspection, but she was still breathing heavily.
He let his attention turn back towards Colbert and Osmond. "She'll be fine. The mistress simply needs rest. We will take her back to her room," Fate announced, carrying the Louise's unconscious body. "The strain that was put on her today was too much for her. However, the damage done shouldn't be too extensive. After a day's rest, mistress Louise should be back on her feet again."
He started walking after that, the other three Averrunci following quickly. This time, though, they were just as confused as everyone else.
"Do you know what's wrong with her, Tertium?" the wind Averruncus demanded, all while keeping his tone completely even.
Unlike most other times, Fate didn't even bother taking notice of Quintum using his original name, his mind too preoccupied with worry for his mistress for it to register the small detail. "Yes," he answered grimly, before speeding up his pace, not even bothering to give a proper explanation as the eyes of both students, faculty and staff trailed after them, wondering what to do, but kept from helping by fear of a possible bad reaction.
-X-
And that's it for this chapter. A little shorter than I was planning but good enough. I feel that it's a little shabby though, but I can't seem to think of a better way to do this, so if any of you have any suggestions, you're more than free to give them.
Can anybody try and guess what happened to Louise in this chapter?
(1)- I'm pretty sure a lot of Negima fans recognize this spell, even if it was just used once. However, since the scans I read only had the English words, I had to make up my own Latin translation. I think I got it about right. There's a list of spells, complete with incantations on the Negima wiki for this if you want it.
A final question I'd like to ask all my fellow anime fans out there. It may not have anything to do with this story, but it does make me rather curious. Tell me, what do you think would happen if Louise ended up summoning Lina Inverse as her familiar?
