Okay here is part four. I don't own of zero belones to respective rights holders. And any computer games I allude to are owned by their rights holders.
Saito woke to the sound of light snoring. Ignoring it he lay in the bed and just tried to go back to sleep. Trying to make himself comfortable and convince himself that it was all a dream. A strange horrible dream brought on by all the teasing his otaku friends gave him.
As he got more relaxed and tried to settle into a delusion that all was right with the world and that he was going to be doing his routine of school, exercise and cram school he was broken from his attempts by the sound of light taping sounds interspersed with the snoring.
He sat up and moved the curtain that surrounded the bed in the infirmary. He could see Louise, pink hair dishevelled and sleeping on a bed opposite his as she held a black tactical helmet tight in her arms.
And in the bed beside him. In a black T-shirt sat a young man with white hair and blank white eyes who was typing away at a laptop computer of a make he didn't recognise.
"Did I wake you kid, sorry about that. You probably need the sleep with what you have been through. Not every day someone get dragged into a de fictionalised world. And then gets knocked out twice in the space of a few hours" said the man as he typed away and mumbled as he worked.
"Ah no, Louise woke me. I could hear her snoring before I could hear the typing. So she snores as well. That detail the anime didn't have" Saito spoke quietly hoping to to not wake the girl.
"You would snore and sniffle like that too if you spent most of the night crying" said the man as he worked at the computer.
"She was crying?" Saito asked and then looked felt the weight of the silver pendant around his neck. "I was talking to her and then I am can't remember anything" Saito looked at the pendant and looked to the man.
"You had a seizure of a sort. You might have been able to convince her that we are from another world, but you managed to get the runes to kick into high gear. I wouldn't take that off if I was you. Unless you want the runes to start messing with your head again" Said the man as Saito fiddled with the amulet.
"How is this stopping the runes" asked the teen as the young silver haired man ignored him and worked at his computer.
"And where did you get the computer from. Your suit might have had a loot of pockets action movie guy but none of them were big enough to hold that" Saito asked trying to keep his voice down while also trying to sound annoyed enough to get a response.
"Enchanted with magic resistance and a mental stat boost. In short keeps the mind from being played with. As for this. Standard equipment that I keep in my inventory space" Said the man annoyed while he worked at the computer.
"Enchanted, okay. That's good" Saito sat lay back on the bed trying to accept the answer and held the pendant close before tucking it under his T-shirt. Before he snapped back up.
"Inventory space? What does that mean" Saito said loudly.
Louise snorted a little, muttering stupid dog in her sleep and curled her arms around the helmet more tightly.
"Exactly what it means. I have an inventory where I can store things. One of the useful side effects of the worlds I travelled too. And just so you know my name is Drake Hunter, please don't forget it" said the man as he tried to get back to work on the computer.
"So you are like a computer game character. That's insane" Saito said looking at the man in disbelief.
"Saito Hiraga" Drake looking annoyed pointed at the teen. Then pointed to the window where the two moons could be made out in the early morning sky. Then pointed at Louise. And then flipped the boy off with both hands.
"Ah Sorry. But it is so hard to believe. I still don't believe this. The rumours say that Meta-guard fight monsters and things but this and you being like a game character. It's a bit much" He gave a look of disbelief.
Drake turned away from his computer and looked at the teen.
"Fiction and reality are blurring, that is where the monsters are coming from. Stories slipping in. As for what I am. I had a bad habit of naming all my player characters after myself, you can guess what happened to me can't you. I was lucky. Whatever did it made some mistakes. Unlike some of the other poor bastards".
"It happened to other people. Other people went through what is happening to me" Saito clutched the pendant through his shirt looking downcast, until Louise gave a snort in her sleep which broke his introspection.
"Don't worry kid. I am enacting the rabbit hole protocols. See this laptop. It has some features that would blow your mind. One of them being a quantum entanglement communication system. I am writing a report and uploading everything from my helmet camera to this. And when the system connects we have a line back to earth and help" Drake said as he worked at his computer.
"And if it doesn't connect?" Saito asked.
"We know this story, and we know there are ways out. We might have to play along with events. Or we could push things our way" He said as he worked.
"And her. She seems so real what will happen to her." the teen gestured to the snoring pink haired girl.
"She is real, everyone here is real. Don't forget that and don't let me forget either. When we get back we will send through a replacement Saito. One who can live here and make sure everything goes right".
Saito looked at the girl and then nodded in agreement to Drake.
"I am putting my trust in you. Please help me escape from this".
"I will do everything in my power kid. Even if everything goes to hell, I will get you out of this. I promise you." said the silver haired man.
A knock came at the door waking Louise with a start. She looked around the room in the confused state of unfamiliar surroundings. Looking at the two men blurry eyed before recognising them as people she had summoned.
"Miss Valliere, it is Madame Maria. I thought I would wake you and check on how the gentlemen are doing" the Cheerful middle aged woman with blue grey hair then busied herself and once giving everyone a clean bill of health sent them on their way to prepare for the day.
Louise quietly lead them back to her room. Head held high for any student who would see her in the early hours. Once they got back to her room. She held a finger up before walking dignified and head held high. Before throwing herself onto her bed covering her face with a pillow and letting loose a muffled scream.
"Feeling better now" Saito questioned as Louise looked up at the two. Before she shook her head and produced a muffled scream once again this time kicking and hitting her bed with all the considerable force her tiny body could muster.
"For the sake of my reputation as a noble. Please don't mention my undignified behaviour to anyone. It is just that I took you both from another world and and nothing goes right for me and I don't know what to do" the noble stifled a sob as she spoke.
"Louise. I am working out what to do right now. With this" the youthful silver haired man said as he sat down and opened up his laptop.
"Is that a bigger smart thone" she asked.
"It can do more then a smart phone. Let me show you kid" the white eyed soldier, turned the machine to face Louise and Saito.
A hour passed. Louise's eyes were opened even further to a world vastly different to the one she has known her entire life. About a world without magic and everything that had been accomplished without it. Only for the flow of information to be interrupted for the call to breakfast.
"Follow me. You can continue telling me about your world. As we have breakfast" Louise proclaimed and ushered the men out while she got changed into a new uniform and brushed her hair.
"We get to have breakfast, I thought, it would be moldy bread and sitting on the floor" Saito whispered.
"Butterfly effect, she has been shown enough proof that we are from another world. Things are already changing. She knows we are from a world without magic. But also knows we have devices she probably equates as equivalent to it".
"So we don't have to deal with this commoner treatment from her then. We get to be treated like human beings" Saito scratched at the back of his head as they waited in the hallway.
"Well, we have convinced one person of the most important so far. Because if this world follows one path closer then the other. Louise has the potential to open a gate home for you" Drake said with a knowing smile.
"Do we tell her about not being" Saito began to say but was interrupted by Drake hand clamping onto his face.
"We do not tell her or anyone. Okay. If they ask directly about how we know so much about this world. We tell them that we have seers or psychics who can see into other worlds. We do not tell them under any circumstances. Got it" Drake released Saito.
"All right let's head to the dinning hall. Can you two make sure your smart thon and computer are visible to the others at the table. I really want to show off that you two are uncommon as can be" Louise said with a smile.
Drake laughed, having an idea of what the girl was thinking, "I don't see why not Louise".
"My smart phone might run out of charge though. It might only have an hour or two at best" Saito spoke as Louise frowned a little.
"Don't worry I have some cables and solar chargers on me" Drake said as they followed Louise down the steps of the tower and walked across the campus.
The three arrived at the dinning hall, Drake pulled a chair out for Louise before he and Saito sat opposite her. Ignoring all the chatter from the other students present. Louise said that when a maid came to ask what meal she wanted that she would ensure food was brought for both the men.
Louise sat quiet. Unsure of how to talk to the people from another world in front of her peers. The chatter and occasional mention of zero getting under her skin as she tried to maintain her composure. Saito sat looking at his phone trying to hide how intimidated he was by being in a unreal world.
Drake looked from side to side and behind him before becoming still. He sat with his eyes staring slightly ahead and face unnaturally still catching Louise's attention.
'What is Drake doing, please don't be doing something strange that could embarrass me' Louise thought as raised his right hand out in front of him. In an instant his empty hand held a silver plate and a bundle of white cords. Louise's eyes bulged and she started to cough.
"Here you go Saito, solar charger and some cables. Are you alright Miss" Drake said with a smile as the girl started to cough and splutter and turn red.
The girl stood rapidly almost toppling the chair behind her. When she heard her classmates hush and mutter zero she composed herself and leaned across the table and tried to look into Drake's blank eyes.
"What was that, you just did. Where did those things come from", Louise tried to keep her voice down as Drake just smile at her from across the table.
"He has an inventory space. He can store things. That is where he had his computer" Saito said to Louise as he went through the cables trying to find the one that would fit his phone.
"You both said that people on your world don't have magic. Just science devices. Can you do that too" Louise spluttered out trying to keep her voice down.
"No only he can" Saito answered getting annoyed at Drake's odd behavior.
"How?" Louise growled as she turned crimson.
"I have been to other worlds. And it changed me. That is why my eyes are like this" Drake said casually.
Louise nodded thinking the words reasonable enough. Remembering tales of people taken in stories and coming back different.
"What other things do you have in the space" she asked intrigued, as Saito looked to Drake his attention caught.
"I can show you both later when we don't have an audience" he said while opening up his computer on the table trying to ignore the gawking students.
Things quieted down as maids started to enter the hall. Bringing food on carts and asking students what they would like from the selection of breakfast foods.
A maid with a dark hair and a bright smile. Walked over to the table occupied by the lone trio as other staff avoided them or served other students.
"What would you and your company like for breakfast today Miss Valliere" Said the young maid with a smile.
"I would like some roast pork and eggs. Some baked apple. And, it would be alright for my company to choose what they would like to eat" Louise said as the maid gathered her order and placed it arranging the knives and forks.
"I would like a small amount eggs and some bread" Saito said with a smile to the pretty maid.
"Would you happen to have a apple or two Siesta" Drake said as he caught himself and internally cursed.
"I have a few Sir" said the slightly confused maid as she loaded three apples onto a plate. "If you don't mind my impudence Sir I don't think we have ever met and yet you know my.." Siesta trailed off as she saw Drake's white eyes. "Oh my you're blind".
A snort of laughter could be heard from a group of young men who at a nearby table.
"Hahahaha oh this is too rich. The Zero summoned a commoner and a blind man. Malicorne I told you there had to be something wrong with them. And she has the nerve to have them at the table with her" Said a blond fop of a boy got up to take a closer look.
Siesta looked looked distressed at seeing the anger on Louise's face. Saito just sat there in a stupor. And as the blonde fop approached Drake stood and took the Apples from the maid and tossed the three into the air. Before catching them and started to juggle two of them one handed as he ate the other.
The fop froze seeing the white eyed man juggling while eating and clearly staring him down with blank white eyes.
"But you are blind, how are you" the blonde boy stalled as the blank white globes met his own eyes.
"I see blonde hair, blue eyes. And confusion. I would advise not taking appearances as they seem young man" Drake took another bite of his apple. "I see fine, Guiche De Gramont".
As Drake, sat down again as Gramont walked back to his seat. Siesta, worriedly looked to the three at the table.
"Don't worry Miss. You have done nothing wrong" Drake said while Saito just ate his food ignoring everyone.
"But I, Miss Valliere. I must apol.." Siesta stopped as Louise held up a hand.
"I thought he was blind as well at first sight of those eyes, but he is not. So I do not fault you for your shock Miss. But can I ask you to assist me and my companions to move our meal out to the tea area. I have grown weary of my peers antics" Louise Valliere said as she stood and looked to her companions while Saito clearly was enjoying his food too much to care about anything around him.
Drake nudged Saito and the boys helped the maid as they removed themselves from the dinning hall. To the courtyard set up for the second year students.
Only two other students sat in the tea area already. A blue haired girl with glasses a book and a large blue dragon behind her and a tanned red head who looked almost excited to see the trio and the maid set their breakfast at the table.
"Thank you for assisting me kind Sirs" Siesta curtsied.
"It was no problem. I was always taught to help where I can" Saito bowed to the girl.
"And no need for formality I am Drake Hunter".
"And I am Saito Hiraga" said the teen bowing.
Siesta walked away with a little spring in her step after leave a second serving of breakfast to Saito and empting a fruit bowl out for Drake.
"Why were you both so polite to her. She is just a maid, a commoner" Louise asked with a bit of venom to her voice.
Saito hesitated and looked away. Not knowing what to say about what role Siesta will play in this world.
"Because she is a person. Saito, my report is done and I have locked some files. You can show Louise whatever videos she wants to see, show her some of our worlds history, it is filed under 'trunk timeline'. I am going to take a nap in the sun. Just don't touch the game files okay." Drake growled as he set up the laptop on the table.
"Did I upset him, Saito?" Louise asked as she sat down in front of the computer with her breakfast.
"Probably" Saito said as he ate and looked through the video files on the computer.
Drake lay down on the grass and tried to rest and ignore the world.
"What's this".
"It is a device from the world where Saito and Drake come from".
"Is that real".
"Everyone come look at this".
"Moving pictures of another world".
"I never would have thought such a thing possible".
"Incredible, what sort of magic is this".
"It isn't magic. It comes from science. There world is very different from ours"
"What is that one. Can you show us that one".
"Oh look it is the academy. Why does the image shake so much".
"It must footage from his helmet camera from when me and Drake were knocked out".
"Oh look Montmorency, it's Guiche".
"Why is he kissing that girl, Guiche".
"You why were you kissing my betrothed".
"I didn't know. He lied to me".
"What you have done is unforgivable. You have made two girls cry. I challenge you to a duel you cad".
"I refuse".
"You cannot refuse I am nobility and you are nothing but a lying little commoner who needs to be taught a lesson".
"Son of a bitch" Drake yelled as he opened his eyes and stood up. "Stupid mother fucking arse-hole, are we not allowed to avoid this stupidity. You little dumb-ass fop. Listen to me. You screwed up. You actions upset those girls. And you can't shift blame and take out being caught on other people. You are not getting a duel. You are going to act like a man and apologise to those girls or so help me I will knock some sense into you".
"Well I never. To be spoken to like that by a common nobody. I demand satisfaction and will fight you both of the zero's commoner familiars meet me at Vestri court in half an hour" Guiche De Gramont declared to the crowd, some of whom were shaking their heads. While Louise just looked angry in general at having the pride of showing off the computer taken from her.
"No, no, no, no, no, and no again. No more you will make me angry" Drake replied as Saito stood beside him gripping his fists tightly.
"If I cannot have my satisfaction in a duel then I shall remove the source of the lies that hurt those two flowers of womanly beauty" Gramont flourished his want while chanting quickly.
Saito turned to the table as time seemed to slow down in his panicked state. Drake right beside him moving fast towards the table. Neither making it in time as the computer was smashed by a female looking bronze statue.
Saito turned to Gramont his fists gripped in fury. Taking a stance he launched himself at the blonde fool as the runes on his left hand began to glow.
The only thing that stopped Gramont from having his head caved in by perfectly executed roundhouse kick was that Saito had been caught in mid air by Drake.
"You, you have no idea what you have done. I am going to make you eat your teeth. I am going to take that wand and shove it right up your..." Saito's screams of rage were muffled by Drake's hand going over his mouth as the teen struggled to break free.
"That duel you wanted, You will have it. Half an hour in Vestry court" Drake coldly said as he held Saito back.
Shaken Gramont answered after a few seconds with "Very well I look forward to teaching you cads a lesson".
"We'll see who learns what you ass" Saito yelled as he struggled in Drake's arms.
Drake picked up the pieces of the shattered computer as Saito paced back and forth. Occasionally taking a stance and performing part of a kata or just grunting in rage.
Louise looked on in shock. Other students behind her or already moving to take a position in Vestry court to watch the show. As Siesta moved to her side having heard the commotion.
"Drake what is Saito doing. You both can't be serious about duelling him. He is mage. He could hurt you both. You are from a world without magic. You can't know what he could do to you." the pink haired girl looked on confused. And remembered what Drake did his restraints the night before. "Oh founder, I have no idea what you could do to him".
"Don't worry, I won't hurt him too badly. Hey Saito get over here" Drake yelled.
"I cannot promise that I won't break his jaw" Saito said a dark look on his still enraged face.
"But you can't fight a mage, a commoner could never beat a mage" Siesta said to the pair, fear on her face.
"Don't worry I have a plan, Saito. Are you up for it" Drake asked.
"Depends on what the plan is. I really want to hit him" Saito stomped as he psyched himself up.
"You can't both be serious. Please act like civilized people" Louise face palmed.
"Alright, what have you got in mind" said the teen.
"I congratulate you on your..." Gramont started to say as the crowd shushed when Saito and Drake entered the courtyard. Saito had a murderous look on his face and wore Drake's combat vest over his tshirt. Drake walked in carrying some pieces of firewood and two black sticks with handles while eating an apple.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Had to adjust the body armour for Saito" Drake declared sounding a little bored.
"Alright, Let's begin I am Guiche De Gramont Also known as Guiche the bronze and your opponent will be my bronze Valkyries" with a flourish of his rose styled wand petal fell and two golems armed with maces and shields formed from the earth.
"I am Saito Hiraga, of planet earth. Am I am going to beat you with these tonfa" Saito said as he the grabbed the black sticks from Drake. The runes on his hand glowing faintly as he stood ready to move.
"I am Drake Hunter, and I can't take this seriously. I have things to do." the white haired man snarled.
"Then let this be a lesson to you both" Guiche the bronze proclaimed as his golems rushed forward.
Only to have Saito dart quickly and crush the first golems chest with a quick strike with the tonfa. That knocked the construct over.
As Guiche looked on dumbstruck, Drake took action. The next instant a piece of firewood struck Guiche's wrist causing him to yelp in pain and drop his wand. A instant latter a apple struck him in the face, exploding on impact.
The crowd watched in silence as Guiche fell to the ground either knocked out or fainting. Saito panted and looked around before moving to the remaining golem and kicking it's head off with a roundhouse kick and then senselessly battering the lifeless construct to the ground with the tonfa.
"Well that worked. I didn't even have to hit him" Saito said as he relaxed his body and walked over to Louise and Siesta who had watched with mouths open.
Drake walked over to the unconscious blonde fop. Checked his vitals and looked at the bruise forming on his wrist. He looked at the mob of stunned students.
"Alright since Mr Gramont is out cold and can't teach anyone a lesson. Class is now in session. What were the mistakes he made in this duel" Drake asked the stunned group. A turn of events that the mages had little idea to make of as he turned his white eyes on the crowd.
"He picked a fight with you two" called out a male student from the back of the pack which caused part of the crowd to laugh breaking some of the tension.
"Yes mistake number one was trying to fight two opponents at once. Anyone else have an idea of what else he did wrong" Drake adressed the group As louise charged over to him leapt and dragged him down to her eye level, "Yes Louise".
The pink haired girl standing on her toes stared into the white yes, "What do you think you are doing?".
Drake ignored Louise and turned to the crowd. "Alright, the young Miss with blue hair and your hand raised, what are your thoughts".
"No plan" said Tabitha.
"Yes, no plan of attack. Saito and I had come to the duel prepared. If what we had planned did not work we had other plans. Didn't we Saito" Drake gestured towards the dark haired and still angry teen.
"Yes if you missed with the wood or apple, I was going to throw one of the tonfa at him" Saito declared with a nasty grin.
"Anyone else have an idea on what Gramont did wrong?" Drake called to the crowd as Louise scowled.
"He picked a fight with fearless people from another world" shouted a tanned red headed girl as the blue haired girl elbowed her in the ribs.
"Well yes. You all know nothing about me or Saito. What we know, what we can do, where we came from. Our strengths or how we would fight" Drake pointed to the mangled golem, "Would any of you think Saito capable of destroying something like that when you first saw him" Drake said as Saito struck a pose and puffed out his chest as the red headed girl giggled.
"What happened. Why am I on the ground" Gramont asked to the sky as he groggily woke.
"You got taught a lesson Guiche" a female voice called from the crowd.
"Come on kid, let's get you cleaned up and have a chat" Drake offered a hand down to Gramont.
"Get your hand away from me you cheating commoner filth, do you know who you have dishonoured. My father and his men could have you executed" Gramont slapped away Drake's hand.
"Really" Drake growled as he bent down and got uncomfortably close to Guiches face "Listen here, you brought this on yourself. Saito over there. He wanted to beat you senseless for destroying the only means the two of us have of contacting our world. You destroyed something priceless, that your peers found fascinating. And we showed mercy, don't look like that we did, imagine if Saito had gotten close to you, or if I had hit thrown something else. Now if you want to save face, accept my hand and take a walk with me. Otherwise you will just be known as a spiteful boy who cheats on girls" he said in hushed tone to Gramont.
Gramont took Drake's hand and they walked away from the courtyard.
Louise sat in her room waiting while Saito slept on a mattress on the floor that had been brought in for him.
"You really did pass out just like he said you would. I know you are not meant to be my familiar but I want you to know that you were amazing today Saito" Louise watched over the sleeping teen. A light knock at the door and Drake entered with Siesta behind him with some food and other items on a tray.
"How is Saito doing Louise. No signs of the runes attacking his mind" Asked the white haired man as he towered over the maid and the mage.
"He is just sleeping. Exhausted as you said he would be" Louise looked at Drake and saw matted red in his hair. "Are you bleeding Drake, what happened".
"Oh this is nothing, when we got out sight of the crowd Gramont tried to have some more Golems have a go at me. Rest assured he is very sorry and wishes to make reparations for destroying the computer" He said with a smile.
"What? That coward, what a disgrace. I will have to deal with this" Louise shot up off the floor grabbing her wand.
"Don't worry it was nothing Louise" Drake said as he moved to block the impending rampage, while Siesta shook at his side.
"You maid, were you there was it really nothing?" Louise demanded from the girl.
"It was terrible, I thought Sir Drake was going to die when that golem struck him from behind. And when the two others started to strike him I thought he was done for" Siesta almost cried remembering the sight.
"And then what happened" Louise scowled up at Drake.
"Sir Drake just ignored the golems strikes and and looked at Master Gramont until he released his magic. And then Sir Drake had me get some tea from the kitchen while the two spoke" the raven haired maid wobbled slightly as she held the tray.
"Thank you, Siesta you have been of great service to me. I will be sure to call on your assistance again in the future" Miss Valliere said with a smile and nod as the maid took it as her cue to leave the room.
Drake scratched at his ear, looking at the ceiling. "It really was nothing, He gave up and listened to me when he worked out he couldn't hurt me".
"Are you even human" Louise looked into the white eyes.
"I would like to think that I am mostly human to be honest. Anyway Gramont, has agreed to provide us with copper and iron ore as reparations for breaking the computer" Said the man as he placed the salvaged pieces of the machine out of his inventory onto Louises desk.
"Iron and copper? Can you use it to repair the device".
"The copper would be useful to make some wire and other things probably with Colbert assistance. But transmuting the iron into silver or gold would be easier as I could use it to purchase items I need" Said the white haired man not really thinking about what he was saying.
"Yes, Professor Colbert would be very interested in helping he dables in devices. And transmuting silver and gold make it easier...transmuting?" Louise caught herself.
Saito began to wake during the exchange between Drake and Louise. The smell of food rousing him in his exhausted state. And he let out a yelp.
"Oh be quiet, Saito. Drake do you have a device that can transmute iron to gold" Louise trembled with anticipation but as Drake shook his head she went pale. Louise jumped across the room and gripped Drakes arm.
"Something is very wrong with me. Drake what did you do to me" Saito yelled as he gripped Drake's other arm.
"Saito please be quiet. How are you going to transmute iron into silver and gold if you don't have a device" Louise pleaded.
"I kinda have a few powers I learnt in the other worlds I went to" Drake admitted.
"Drake what have you done to me" Saito yelled as he kicked Drake in the leg.
"That sounds like magic, does that mean you can do magic Drake" Louise shook the man.
"I guess you could call it magic though it is very different to what this world has" Drake knowing he had blown it, rolled his eyes not that Louise could tell.
"You have magic, you have magic from other worlds" Louise screamed.
Saito punched Drake. "What have you done to me? fix it" he screamed as he punched Drake again.
"Saito what could be more important then Drake having magic" Louise snapped.
"I leveled up" Saito said panicking.
"What?" Both Louise and Drake said staring at the boy.
Well that is that then. Things are starting to move. I hope who so ever read this and enjoys it.
My stupid little brain is starting to move things.
Have fun.
