Here for another chapter and I'm going to mix two into one with yet another twist of my own.
Acquaintance With Swords
It was the evening time, Louis had eventually recovered and Sylvia explained to him what had happened so he could understand clearly.
"So explain to me, once more." Louis said. "You wielded that sword and your body just moved on it's own?"
"Yeah, that's right, I didn't have any control or any focus on what was going on." Sylvia replied.
"Hmm...sometimes familiars can develop special powers once they have been contracted." He pondered. "For instance, a black cat can learn how to speak once it becomes a familiar."
"Yeah, well I ain't a black cat...and besides, I can't even be a sword person without a sword!"
"You're right...and tomorrow happens to be Hollow's day?"
"Hollow's day?"
"Just hurry up and get to bed, we'll be getting up early tomorrow morning."
Sylvia picked up a few piles of hay and was about to leave.
"Hey, where are you going?"
She looked at him. "Out to the hallway."
"It's alright, sleep in here. You can be in trouble if someone finds you outside of my room."
"I don't get you sometimes...you were incredibly insensitive when I first met you, now you're being nice?"
Louis sighed. "I'm trying to make an effort of changing myself...those kinds of comments are not helping."
"Oh...well either way, I'm standing by my choice."
"Even though you're supposed to be my familiar and have no say in the matter."
Sylvia sighed. "And there you go, again...goodnight..." She left his room.
"Sylvia wait!" Louis exclaimed before he got into his bed.
Sylvia sighed placing the hay down on the floor beside the door and she laid down on the hay. The feel of the hay did not make it comfortable for her and the coldness of the floor wasn't helping, she began to feel upset when someone walked up to her and a hand was offered out to her.
"Allow me to help." The voice said.
Sylvia looked up. "...Kirche?"
"Shhh, just come with me to my room."
Sylvia nodded and they walked into her room with the salamander standing guard which turned to be next door to Louis's room.
"Uhhh, I don't get it." Sylvia said. "Why are you helping me?"
"Because after the way you fought Guiche with skill, I just had to talk to you." Kirche replied. "From one girl to another, I wanna help you out."
"Help me out? Is this your idea?"
"Well, I had some help from Tabitha. But I want to let you know that if Louis gives you any grief, just come and talk to me and I'll see if I can plan a ladies night."
"A ladies night?"
"Yeah, with you, me, Tabitha and Montmorency...oh by the way, she didn't get a chance to say but she told to let you know that she wanted to say thank you for doing the right thing and sticking up for her and her feelings."
"Oh it was nothing, it's woman's intuition and all that."
"Well, I can agree to that. Listen, I think you and I could be good friends, so don't be afraid to come to me if you're tired of hearing everything Louis says."
Sylvia nodded. "Sure, I'll keep it in mine. Thanks, Kirche."
Suddenly the bedroom windows opened. "Kirche!" A voice called.
"Sticks...you startled me." Kirche replied.
"I came by here because you didn't show up at the prearranged time we set."
"Sorry, but I'll be out shortly. I'm just helping a new friend around."
"Well don't take too long about it." He flew away as Kirche shut the window.
Kirche felt a little awkward. "Sorry about that...a lot of guys tend to go after me, because of who I am."
"It's okay...I better be going anyways." Sylvia replied.
"Oh alright, remember what I said."
"I will." Sylvia left her room as Kirche got her ready for her evening arrangement.
Far, far away in an unknown location...
"So come on, why have you brought us all here today?" A low male voice spoke.
"Yes, thank you all for coming." Longueville replied. "I have witnessed the birth of a strong magical power at the Tristain academy."
"Strong magical power, eh?" A voice with a sly tone responded. "What kind was it?"
"I can not say for sure, but during a duel between a student and a familiar, I witnessed a mark on the girl's hand glow with light as she wielded a sword to win the duel."
"Huh?! A girl wielding a sword and winning?" A grouchy male voice asked. "Ha! Don't be ridiculous."
"But it is true, the mark on her hand is similar to the one that the legend tells."
"Wait, you mean one of the five pentagon?" The sly-toned voice asked.
"If it really is that, this could be a problem." The low male voice added. "I am aware of that legend..."
"Alright enough prattling, what's the plan?" The grouchy voice asked.
"Why don't we make it simple for all of us?" A clear bold voice intervened. "Why don't we just crush her in honour of our dreams?"
"That would be far too easy for us." The sly-toned voice replied. "Besides, we are members of the Sixth Sense and we always operate from the shadows."
"Why not leave this to me for now?" Longueville asked. "I shall return to the academy and report back here with more information, then we'll discuss further."
"Do you have a plan in mind?" The low male voice asked.
"Of course, at this moment we may be unable to act without any support, but I will keep watch over the girl."
"Speaking of that girl, did you get her name?" The sly-toned voice asked.
"She is called Sylvia Hiraga."
"Grrrr!" The low male voice snarled.
"Settle down! What's got you fired up?" The grouchy voice asked.
"I don't know that girl, but hearing her name makes my blood boil."
"Maybe she reminds you of someone." The sly-toned voice said.
"In that case, that will be all for now." The bold voice spoke. "We'll meet again if any of us have more information, this meeting is over."
Far across a small village away from the academy, Louis and Sylvia were walking around, looking for a weapon store.
"Could you walk a little slower?" Sylvia asked. "My back isn't exactly rested...and I need a makeover."
"Well it is your fault for sleeping on the cold floor outside my room last night." Louis replied. "I offered to do something nice and you turned it down, that's your problem."
Sylvia moaned. "Ugh...you're such a stuck up noble! When you said we had to go shopping, this isn't what I had in mind!"
"Look, you need a weapon, I cannot let you go out there and get yourself killed! Now a sword shop should be here somewhere...ah there it is."
They walked into a sword store and the store owner greeted them. "Welcome to my sword store, what can I do for you?"
"Yes greetings." Louis replied. "We are looking for a thick sword, one that's strong and sturdy to use."
"Ah, will that be for you?"
"No, it's for my...peasant here."
Sylvia groaned.
"Well we've been selling wielded swords for many years, but we have never had a girl visit our store and buy one...thinking about it, I may have the ideal sword for her, one moment and I'll be back." The store owner walked to a back room.
"So you bought me all the way here just to buy a sword?" Sylvia asked.
"Well I have to make sure you have a chance to defend yourself." Louis replied.
"Well if so, could you take me to a fashion store as well?"
"Forget it! If I start spoiling you, you'll become accustomed to it!" Louis sighed. "I will only provide things that are necessary."
The store owner came back. "Sorry to keep you waiting, here you are." He brought out a sturdy copper sword on the counter.
Sylvia frowned. "Seriously...this old hunk of junk?"
"Well I suppose it is a bit old, but if you clean it up a bit, I'm sure you can get some use out of it."
"I suppose that's fine." Louis said. "We'll take it."
"Huh?!" Sylvia exclaimed.
Louis made the payment and he and Sylvia left the store with the sword now in it's sheathe with a strap that Sylvia put on her shoulder.
"Is it me or was that weirdo been trying to sell this for a long time?" Sylvia asked.
"I am a noble, but that does not mean I should go out and overspend on something that's all about you!" Louis replied. "Besides, you are nowhere near the stage where you can answer back on something a master has given you. You got that?"
Yeah, I got it alright. Sylvia thought to herself. I'll get it when I shove this sword up your ass!
By evening time, they were back at the academy where Kirche and Tabitha were waiting outside Louis's room.
"Huh?" Louis asked. "What are you two doing outside my room?"
"Relax, we just wanted to give Sylvia something, mind if we come in?" Kirche asked.
Louis wasn't pleased. "I don't mind Tabitha, but you are something else!"
"I am here to make sure things remain calm." Tabitha said with huge conviction.
Louis sighed. "Fine, fine! Come on in."
They walked into his room where Tabitha sat on his bed with her book. Kirche then brought out a huge golden sword and gave it to Sylvia.
"Huh? Where did you get this?" Sylvia asked as she put the copper sword down by the hay pile.
"From the weapon store...do you like it?" Kirche asked.
"Do I...it's amazing!" She held the golden sword and smiled. "So shiny and pretty...far much better than that dinky copper one."
Louis growled angrily. "Alright, what is the deal here? Why are you being generous to my familiar?"
"Oh Louis, don't you know?" Kirche smirked. "Since you're being heartless towards Sylvia, I decided to step in and show her what a good friend I can be."
"So you were following us?
Kirche sighed. "You are so pathetic, you couldn't even arrange to buy her that cheap sword."
Tabitha on the other hand remained silent, thinking back to how Kirche really got the golden sword from the store owner.
"Anyways, I heard this sword was a masterpiece from Germania, the best swords and women come from there." She continued. "There's no way that someone from Tristain, especially a guy like you, could ever compete."
Louis grinned back. "Hmph! Well I'm sure you just flirted with so many men in Germania that nobody would bother to deal with you anymore. And that's why you came here to study as a broad in a neighbouring country!"
Kirche aimed her wand at him. "That was a quite a mouthful."
Louis did the same. "It's the truth and I guess you're used to that, right?"
"OH SNAP!" Sylvia exclaimed.
Suddenly, both their wands were taken off them by Tabitha's air spell. "Indoors." She said with a firm tone.
"Then we should let Sylvia decide." Kirche said.
"Wait, why should I have to decide?" Sylvia asked. "I mean...I really love the golden sword but this copper sword was given to me first...I can't decide!"
"Sylvia has a point." Tabitha agreed. "Let her keep both."
Louis and Kirche looked back at each other.
"Alright then, this is as good a chance as any." Kirche said. "I finally see how Guiche feels...I hate you and everything about you."
"Well, we finally have something in common then." Louis replied. "Because like Guiche, I also detest you and the way you wrap guys around your bust!"
"Heartless jerk!"
"Fever whore!"
Suddenly, another voice intervened. "Hey shut up, stupid people!"
"Huh?" Sylvia exclaimed. "Where did that come from?"
"The sword." Tabitha replied. "It spoke."
Sylvia looked at the copper sword and picked it up. "I was taking a nice nap and you woke me up." The sword moaned.
"Wait...I am going crazy...or is this...sword...talking?" Sylvia asked. "Oh...my...god!"
"Why are you surprised, anyways you've got quite a pretty cute face for someone who's a user."
Sylvia blinked. "Huh...this sword thinks I'm cute?"
"Yeah and the racket left me no choice but to wake up."
"Wait, I'm a user?"
"Isn't that an intelligent sword, a sword that contains it's own wisdom?" Kirche asked. "Well Louis, you sure know how to pick strange stuff to buy."
"I didn't know a thing about it." Louis replied. "I'm gonna return this creepy sword as soon as I can."
"What year is it right now and where the hell are we?" The sword asked. "Dammit I want answers."
Sylvia suddenly smiled and giggled. "Okay this seems so not like me, but I think this sword speaks my mind."
Louis frowned. "You can't be serious..."
"I am...I'll take this one, but I'll keep the other one too."
Louis and Kirche was shocked before feeling disappointed at her answer.
"So my name is Sylvia and who are you?"
"I'm Delflinger, nice to meet you, sister." The sword replied.
Louis sighed to himself. "Why is it that all the strange stuff has to happen to me..."
The next morning arrived and the Principle was going over a signed letter.
"What impossible task did the palace ask for this time?" Longueville asked as she stacked a few books on a shelf.
"Oh, his excellency, Count Mott just came by to warn us to be careful of thieves." The principle replied.
"We have thieves?"
"Lately, a fellow named Fouquet Claude has been causing a stir using magic to steal treasures, concentrating on those on nobility."
"Well I never heard of Fouquet the Claude."
"In our institute, there is a sacred treasure that we have borrowed from the palace, the Staff of Destruction."
Longueville was curious. "The Staff of Destruction? That certainly is a troubling name."
"I don't know how adaptive a mage this Fouquet is, but the treasure vault here is a special one." The principle put down the letter. "Many square class mages have layered countless spells and enchantments upon it, they'd be overly anxious about it if you ask me."
Louis and Sylvia who had Delflinger on her shoulder, were outside one of the classrooms as the other students were walking in.
"From today on, you can wait outside with all the other familiars." Louis said.
"Huh? But why?" Sylvia asked.
"Let's see...you accepted Kirche's pointless shiny sword even though you said you were fine with the one I bought you, you have no respect towards my orders and god knows what other peasant action you commit." Louis replied. "I'm not going to allow you to make me a disgrace anymore, so you stay put till my class is over, you got that?!"
Sylvia was starting to get frustrated by him, but she replied. "Yes...I've got it in my head."
"Good!"
Louis joined with the other students as they walked into the classroom.
Sylvia sighed, she was feeling so bored as she took note of the other familiars.
"Well at least those strange animals have it easy...I mean why did my life have to change for the worst?!" She exclaimed to herself. "Huh?"
She noticed someone familiar getting into a carriage, leaving the academy. Sylvia got curious, she looked back at the building and she made a choice.
"Well you know what? Screw that heartless jerk as Kirche put it, I'm gonna follow wherever that carriage is going, maybe I'll find somewhere better to live."
"Sylvia, what are you thinking?" Del asked from her back. "You know that Louis will flip if he doesn't see you."
"I don't care! In fact...I don't think I can even stand him any longer! I'm getting out of here and you're coming with me."
"Well I can't argue you with that, sister, since I can't move myself."
She ran from the building and outside the academy walls, there was a horse straddled and she got an idea. She climbed onto one and thought back to her days of when she rode on one in her younger days back from her own world.
"Follow that carriage, horsey, yah!" She exclaimed as she began pursuing the carriage.
It was the early evening by the time Sylvia spotted a huge mansion, she got off the horse a walk away from the entrance. She walked onwards until two guards spotted her.
"Halt! Who goes there?!" A guard called.
"DAH!" Sylvia exclaimed.
A second guard took a closer look. "A peasant girl...come with us, we're taking you straight to Count Mott!"
Inside the mansion, the guards brought Sylvia to Count Mott where the explanation was made clear on both sides.
"I see." Sylvia said. "So Siesta works here now because of you?"
"Yes and I believe she is enjoying herself and I find her quite, 'admirable'." Count Mott replied.
Sylvia wasn't buying it. "Yeah right, I bet that just because she's a peasant, you won't hesitate to do whatever you want to her, right?"
Count was displeased. "I see that your behaviour is on par with a peasant and I find you meaningless, go home! You should be thankful that I went out of my way just to waste time with a ridiculous peasant."
"No wait! If you let Siesta come back to the institute...I'll do anything."
The count looked at her. "Oh and what kind of relationship do you have with Siesta?"
She looked away sadly. "She's just a friend...my first true friend in this land."
"Hmph! Such an above standard reason, but I cannot allow it. Siesta is an official part of the Mott household now and the master is free to do whatever he wishes to his servants."
"Then it's just as I thought!"
"I really don't know why you're getting upset about." Mott paused as he looked all over Sylvia. "Hmmm, a nameless peasant like you providing valuable services to noblemen like me...I have reconsidered, how would you like to join me and offer me your services as well?"
Sylvia gasped. "Go to hell you monster!"
Count gasped. "You, a mere peasant girl, dare to insult a nobleman?"
Suddenly the door opened and a maid rushed in and stood in Sylvia's way.
"Stop it!" She exclaimed.
"Siesta!" Sylvia replied.
She kneeled down at him. "Count, please forgive this friend of mine's rudeness, she doesn't mean it."
"I will not have it." Count replied. "If I were to leave such a peasant's rudeness unanswered, it would sully my honour and tarnish the name of the Mott family, stand aside."
"No, I'll accept any punishment on her behalf! Please...just don't hurt her."
"Hmm...you say you'll do anything, right?"
"Yeah..." Sylvia replied.
"Then how about we have a duel...my magic against your sword."
"That's a pretty good deal, sister, you better accept it." Del intervened.
Sylvia nodded. "Okay...I accept!"
Count Mott smirked. "Good...then let us duel outside in the mansion grounds."
They were out in the castle grounds and the two moons had begun to rise.
"Let us begin!" Mott declared as he held his wand in the air.
Sylvia drew her sword ready to defend herself, when...
Suddenly a blue wind dragon arrived and on board were three familiar faces.
"No way...Louis, Kirche and Tabitha?" Sylvia asked herself.
"Oh...well so much for the upcoming duel." Del commented. "That's disappointing."
They were all back inside with Count Mott sitting down, looking at the four of them.
"The level of conduct at the institute's pupils has fallen." Mott said. "I will demand that Principle Osmond be severely reprimanded for this."
"We apologise for entering the grounds without permission." Louis replied. "As the master of my familiar, I am willing to accept any punishment you see fit."
"Even so, be prepared to have your entire family face the consequences."
Kirche then had an idea. "Pardon me, Count Mott. How about we make a little deal?" She then grabbed something from underneath her uniform. "I hear you have a tremendous desire to process this."
The count was surprised. "Huh?"
"Pardon the belated introduction, but I am Kirche Von Zerbst."
The Count got up. "You're a Zerbst? Then that is..."
"Our family air-loom, our treasured summon book." She handed the locked book and key over to him.
"Hold on, what are we getting out of this?" Sylvia asked.
Kirche smirked. "Simple, we get Siesta back."
"Hand Siesta over to them." Count said to one of the guards and the guard left.
Sylvia, Louis, Kriche and Tabitha were back at the academy, along with Siesta who they brought back.
"Thank you so much, Sylvia!" Siesta exclaimed as she quickly hugged her.
"Oh it was nothing, it's what friends are for." Sylvia replied. "Although in the end, it was thanks to Kirche."
"That is true, but I have to commend you for being very brave to try and rescue me."
"Think nothing of it, any friend of Sylvia's is a friend of ours." Kirche said.
"Well, goodnight, everyone." Siesta rushed to the bottom floor of the building with her bags.
"We better go too, goodnight." Tabitha said as she and Kirche went inside.
Sylvia and Louis were now left. "Sooo, about earlier?"
"You be quiet!" Louis exclaimed. "I'm thinking about how heavy a punishment I'm going to be giving you considering after what you've done today!"
Sylvia glared at him. "Oh yeah! Well at least I tried to save someone today, unlike you!"
"But you still disobeyed my order to wait outside my classroom today, once again you are failing to follow the orders of your master! Maybe it's time I started treating you like a dog after all! Now come on!"
Sylvia sighed angrily. "One of these days...
And there we have the third chapter done, I hope you guys liked some of the twists I put in there too.
The next one will be up soon...and it'll be where it gets really interesting.