It was currently half past midnight for the residents of the academy and sleep was expected for almost everyone who lived there. This was, however, not the case for Louise, nor was this the case for almost all the academy teachers.

The sword that Louise had summoned as her familiar had received odd glances from the staff of course, and a slight examination as well, anything more would have to wait for later.

No, the true issue of the matter was the un-chaperoned summoning that the young Vallière had taken upon herself to perform. Summoning was a dangerous and risky endeavor, for Louise to do it alone and risk the academy's prestige in the highly possible event of her death was unacceptable.

The Headmaster, Osmond Damas La Dampierre, was the 26th mage to grace the halls of Tristain's academy of magic. It was his responsibility to watch over the students, the staff, and prevent political incidents between them. Obviously somewhere in his old age he had failed, but this particular failure was rather hefty. The death of Duke Vallière's youngest daughter would have ended the 500 year history of his academy rather painfully. Thus it fell upon him to issue a punishment to the girl.

"Ms. Vallière" the headmaster sighed in disappointment, "You, of course, know why you're here yes?"

The girl was about to answer when he abruptly held up his hand to silence her, "Don't answer that, I think it's time that you and I had a little heart to heart. Staff, please exit the room, Ms. Vallière and I will have to keep this as private as possible; Vice-Headmaster Colbert, please stay."

The headmaster took out his pipe as all the teaching staff, including Ms. Longueville, exited the room. He only paused slightly as he allowed the Vice-Headmaster to light his pipe before taking a drag of it to calm his nerves.

"I would like to ask you, Ms. Vallière, just what it was you were thinking when you performed an un-chaperoned summoning this night? Do you have any idea what could possibly have happened if you had failed?"

Osmond again interrupted the young Vallière's before she could say a word, "No, of course you don't. In the five hundred years of this academy there have been over 100 deaths, teacher and student, thankfully all from minor noble families. But then there are those like you, who come from the higher echelons of standing. What were you thinking?!"

For a moment, the headmaster paused, attempting to calm himself while Louise stood there, practically shaking with surprise as he continued, "Do you know why it's the 'Springtime Ritual' Ms. Vallière? It's because the best summons happen in spring, the least hostile summons, the least likely to kill you, but that doesn't mean death doesn't happen. I am particularly surprised, and outright thankful that your stupidity in summoning a familiar at night of all things didn't end with you smeared upon a wall!

"Did you know that you are scores more likely to fail a binding at night? Scores more likely to summon something that will decide to kill you at night?! Not to mention the blood we found on your hands after the ritual. What were you trying to summon dear, a demon?! gods almighty, save me from the stupidity of this girl!

"You, Ms. Vallière, are damn lucky that you didn't summon something that decided to kill you and half the late-night students gathered around to watch!" He finished as he pointed a firm and accusing finger in Louise's direction.

Osmond suddenly looked away from the shaking and shivering girl to rub the bridge of his nose and take another drag from his pipe, "I didn't think I would need to inform you of this Ms. Vallière, but you are the daughter of a duke, only second to our sovereign, the Queen. Your death would have likely meant the closing of this school and a swift trial for the staff here. As it stands, I should write a letter to your family demanding repercussions, expel you, and then never allow your family to step foot on this establishment again."

Louise was in tears at this point, openly crying in front of the headmaster and vice-headmaster, only adding more filth to the dirty and soot covered uniform she was wearing, but the headmaster wasn't finished.

"Anyone else, Anyone. Else. Would not be having this meeting with me, and would be halfway to their family estate by now with all their belongings shipped and not that far behind them. Alas, you're not anyone else.

"As it stands, founder help me, I will not message your family about what happened this night because no matter how much I dislike it you're the daughter of the duke, and he provides this school with much needed funding in order to keep it running, but if this happens again I will not hesitate to have you out of here faster than you can say 'Springtime Ritual'. Do I make myself clear?!"

A quiet and muffled 'yes' could be heard from Louise before Osmond continued, "Thankfully for you, because you are a Vallière and because of your…determination to obtain a familiar, you will not have to leave this school through 'lack of magic' as it were. However, shame on me if I don't make you earn it." The old headmaster ends with a firm tone, pulling his pipe out of his mouth as he sighs out a large puff of smoke.

"You won't be attending any school activities, classes or festivals for two weeks, consider this a two-week suspension." Osmond continues, tapping his wooden pipe against his desk as he continued, "No one will be allowed near your tower door for this entire period of time except a maid of my choosing and the professor here. During suspension, I fully expect you to keep up with your studies; furthermore, I desperately urge you to think long and hard about your place in the upper echelons of noble society and about your future. You're dismissed; Professor Colbert here will escort you to your room." The ancient mage finished with a wave of his hand towards the door, and an obvious dismissal to all present.

As a slowly recovering Louise left the room in tow with her professor, Osmond stopped her yet again with his voice, "You lost my trust today Ms. Vallière, let me assure you that I fully intend it to be earned back."

Louise hesitantly nodded, silently shut the headmaster's office door, and proceeded to follow a balding and stern faced Colbert to her dorms.