Chapter 4: Realization & Compassion
"I hate you."
"Well okay then."
"You are a stupid dog!"
"That's nice girl."
"Ugh! Why must you be so mischievous? Ever since I summoned you, you have been nothing but trouble! And why the hell did you yank that pipe anyway! Can't you do anything right, idiotic dog?"
"I would be obedient if you were not such a bitch."
"WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME?" hollered Louise at her familiar, Ivan. It was the next day and the two were walking to her class. They were outside passing the long row of pillars.
After what happened yesterday, Louise was very angry with her familiar, and she avoided him for the rest of the day until now.
Ivan rocked his feet back and forth. "Hmm, starts with a 'b' and ends with a 'h.' You know it's true."
"SHUT UP!" Louise kicks Ivan in the shin.
Ivan dropped his pipe and fell, hitting his head onto a pillar, grunting in pain. "OW!"
"YOU DARE INSULT YOUR MASTER? WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE! AND NO! IT'S YOU! YOU'RE THE REASON WHY I'M LIKE THIS!" yelled Louise. "IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT! DID YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU JUST DID? YOU YANKED THAT DAMN PIPE OUT AND GOT ME IN TROUBLE!"
. . .
"Well Louise, because your familiar caused this mess, you will have to pay off the damages for school property," scolded Colbert to Louise.
"WHAT!" Louise cried. "Why me?"
"Because he is your familiar, correct? You are supposed to show him respect to this academy and any of its properties. From its architecture to the students and staff. As punishment you are to pay for the damage. Either you use your magic to fix it, do it manually, or we will send a bill to your family."
"NO! NO! NO! Please!" begged Louise. "I can not use my magic! Colbert, you know I'm not good at magic and I sure do not know how to fix this leakage! Also, if you send a bill to my family, they will rain death upon me!"
She pointed at Ivan. "IT'S HIS FAULT! NOT MINE! NOT MINE! MAKE HIM DO IT!"
"Either use magic, fix it manually, or the bill," said Colbert sternly. "Which will you choose? Sorry, but you are to bear the burden of responsibility here."
"I suggest you choose the third option Louise," sneered Kirche.
Louise banged her head near the wall. "OH WHY ME? Fine! Send the bill!"
"Alright then, done, let this be lesson to you," lectured Colbert.
He glared at Ivan. "And you, keep your hands to yourself. Respect this academy, commoner."
Ivan simply nodded. "I apologize."
. . .
"You also allowed yourself to be taken to that stupid ardent's room, threatened me for you to sleep on my bed, and fought a battle with out my consent, ugh! Just why, why did I have to summon you!" complained Louise. "I could have summoned a beautiful, strong, scared familiar that would outrun the rest of the familiars of others, and show that I am not a 'Zero,' but no! I summoned a stupid, troublemaking commoner from Russia-or whatever! Can't you at least try to compromise here with me? Obey your master?"
She went down on her knees and continuously slammed the floor with her fist. "Damn it!"
Water dropped from her eyes onto the hard floor.
"I hate you! Hate, hate, hate you dog!" she yelled.
There were a few moments of silence and Ivan finally recovered from the pain he endured by Louise's kick. He sat up and looked at Louise, who seemed to be sobbing.
He made a glare. What a spoiled brat. Look at her, crying because she didn't get the familiar she wanted, ungrateful bitch.
He clenched his fists. That is it, I can't take it anymore. She has treated me like shit so far, that it's driving me insane. No more Mister Nice Guy. I'm just going to kill her right now and get it over with, and I want this dream to end and it will, NOW.
"Yes, kill her, kill her, Ivan," echoed the voice of General Winter into his mind.
"Of course General," replied Ivan. "I'm sick of playing slave for this girl, she is not worthy as having as a master. She has to be eliminated, I will first torture her and then kill her brutally with this pipe, she is also not worthy of becoming one with Russia."
Ivan got picked up his pipe from the floor and walked toward Louise.
Louise felt a shadow cast onto her and looked up, a couple of tears still streamed down her face. "What do you want!"
A shady smile was placed on Ivan's face. "Girl, lets play a game."
Louise felt chills down her spine when she immediately heard her familiar say that sentence. She looked into his fake happy expression and sent out vibes of fear.
"G-g-game?" she asked nervously.
"Mm-hm, it's a very special type of game, Girl. You are going to like it, or at least I will."
"W-what are…you trying to pull here?" Louise moved a few inches back.
"Don't worry, it will be so much fun," Ivan cooed, walking closer to Louise.
"S-stay back!" warned Louise. "Don't you dare-!"
Her sentence stopped as her familiar pinned her to the floor. "Ow! Hey let me go!"
"NO," growled Ivan.
"Why? Why not!" argued Louise.
"We are going to play a game of torture," answered Ivan coldly. "I'm going to use this pipe to batter all over your body, starting with your face, this might get a little messy, since my pipe will be painted red by you. Also, you will scream in pain and beg for mercy, okay?"
Is he serious! cried Louise in her thoughts.
"No-no! I don't want to play that game!" she protested. Her heart began to pound fast.
"Heh, sorry but you will," hissed Ivan. "You deserve to play it anyway, ever since I have became your familiar, you have treated me like shit. You have made me do your laundry, dress you up, gave me bread that tasted like ass, and you have acted like a big bitch, calling me names and crap. You have given me little respect, while I have been nice to you the whole time, but now it's my turn. You ungrateful spoiled bitch, I'll make you regret ever treating me like this, because no one and I mean NO ONE, disrespects Russia."
He leans his face towards Louise's ear and whispers: "Da?"
"I-I'm sorry!" yelled Louise in fear, she began to cry. "I'll treat you better! Honest! Please, don't do this!"
"Too late for that," declared Ivan as he pulled his face away from her ear. "You know, I thought you would have been a nice addition of becoming one with me, but you aren't. You're worthless. Not worthy of serving or even protecting. You are a 'Zero'. Just like you hate me girl, I hate you. So, enjoy this little game and perhaps your last moments."
"NO! PLEASE! IVAN, DON'T DO THIS!" Louise begged.
Ivan laughed. He lifted his pipe and prepared to swing it and hit Louise's face.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
. . .
"It doesn't matter! I forbid this!"
"What's this? My, my Louise are you trying to protect your familiar? Has he been put in a special place in your heart? How precious."
"I just don't want him hurt!"
. . .
Just as the pipe was inches apart from hitting Louise's face, it stopped. Louise, with her eyes shut, opened them, and looked at Ivan who had a blank expression on his face. He pulled himself away from her and dropped the pipe.
His covered his face with his black gloved hands. "I can't do it."
Louise arose from the ground, feeling flustered.
"WHAT! What do you mean you can't do it!" The General yelled at the giant nation. "Go and torture her! Make her cry and bleed! Suffer! Kill her!"
"I know General," spoke Ivan who was puzzled. "But something inside me prevented me from doing so."
"Such as?" General Winter demanded.
"I felt a strange force inside me, as if telling me to not harm my master, and I remember when the girl defended me before my battle with the blonde over what I did to Kirche. I felt if I were to harm the girl, I would be breaking a promise. I did sign a contract after all."
Ivan slumped near the pillar. "I'm sorry General, but I couldn't do it."
Winter was outraged. How could this have happened? Ivan Braginski, the personification of the great European nation of Russia, was unable to kill the weakling girl, Louise?
"I can't believe you," said the General in an aggressive tone. "Ivan, what are you?"
"A nation," answered Ivan weakly.
"Correct. Of what nation?"
"R-Russia."
"THAT'S RIGHT!" roared General Winter. "YOU ARE A NATION OF GREAT POWER! RUSSIA! YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KILL THAT GIRL EASILY!"
"But General, like I said before I-"
"SHUT UP!" yelled Winter. "You were been able to push off the Mongols out of your home after many years of rule, preventing the French to being able invade Russia, was then able to free your people from the absolutism of the Czars, but you can NOT wipe out this weak, feeble, girl? This is a disgrace!"
"I know," spoke Ivan sadly.
"Ivan, it seems that this girl has weakened you, she must have placed some sort of spell on you or something, the Ivan I know would have wiped her out, with no mercy. You would be pounding her to dust now, blood would be staining the pipe and the floor. And, why haven't you run away yet? Why aren't you taking action in leaving this place? Do you still think that this is a dream and will wake up? From the looks of it here, this is not a dream, but reality."
Louise narrowed her eyes at her familiar, who seemed to be sitting still with his hands cupping his face. She was still flustered of what just happened. Why didn't he do what he wanted to do to her? She wanted an answer. "H-hey," she stammered. "Why did you-"
Ivan let out a small gasp. He hasn't even tried to escape or anything, he just stayed here, listening to Louise's orders.
"What's wrong?" Louise asked. She couldn't see what was going on in his mind, his conversation with the General.
He shook his head. "No, General this is just a dream, which is why I haven't really do anything, I'll wake up. . .soon."
He was beginning to lose hope, perhaps what the General said was true. It is the reality.
However, part of him denied it.
"This is just a dream, just a dream." He kept saying to himself. "I will wake up, soon, please me, wake up!"
Winter face palmed. "Oh god, you are delusional! Let us leave now! Away from here! From that girl! If you continue to stay here, you will eventually be weakened by her so much that you will easily be crushed! If you don't do anything soon, then I will do it for you. I will bring this place a harsh, cold, winter and destroy this place, and force the people to tell us the way out! And then when we return home, you and your people will suffer one of the most coldest, harshest, winters ever, you will pay for not doing anything before! Do you want that?"
Ivan shook his head again. "No! Absolutely not!"
"Then lets leave! Now!"
"Okay, okay, alright! You're right, maybe this is all real, maybe we should leave, I don't want to stay here anymore!"
Winter began to fade away. "Hurry!"
Ivan got up and picked up his pipe. He jolted out.
"Ivan! Where are you going?" yelled Louise. "Hey! Ivan! Get back here! I order you! IVAN!"
Ivan ran out of the academy, he was going to find a way out of Tristain. Otherwise he would have to face General Winter's wrath, which he did not want to.
. . .
Louise on the other hand, went to class, she didn't even bother looking for her familiar after her yells, because she had the belief that he would return. He probably went out to cool his head out, which she didn't really mind. A little space between the two wouldn't hurt. The past few days were exhausting and complicated.
However, when he returns he would have to explain what happened during the incident between the two that broke out.
He was scary the way he pinned her to the ground and the way he spoke, Louise developed a small fear of him now. Her familiar is not to be messed with.
She sat in her seat trying to forget what just happened, trying store it away in the back of her mind for now until Malicorne, one of her classmates, approached her and asked her a question.
"Hey Louise, where is your familiar? That tall light blonde, purple eyed dude, with the pipe, who beat up Guiche yesterday?"
"He, uh, had some errands to do for me," lied Louise.
"Oh, that's a shame," Malicorne said with disappointment. "I wanted to talk to him. He is so cool. Oh and you should have seen Guiche when he was sent to the infirmary yesterday! It was hilarious! He was yelling how he was bitter of losing to your familiar that he even shit in his pants, he couldn't even change his underwear because he was paralyzed! Hahahaha!"
Louise looked at him with disgust. "Uh, okay?"
"He's supposed to be back today," added Malicorne. "I also hoped your familiar was here to see him and get into another fight, would have been awesome."
"Malicorne!" yelled Guiche as he entered the classroom with Montmorency. "What did you tell Louise?"
"That you shit in your pants while you were at the infirmary, and saying how much you hate my familiar after he beat you up," replied Louise with amusement.
"Oh you're back!" laughed Malicorne after Louise's statement.
"What! Malicorne! Why you-!"
"Hey look it's the boy who shit in his pants after losing to Louise's familiar!" cried a student pointing at Guiche.
A couple of students laughed at him including, Louise and Malicorne.
Guiche's face turned red. "Hey! Shut up!"
"Why course the loser would shit in his pants after losing to my darling Ivan!" declared Kirche as she entered the classroom with Tabitha.
"Darling Ivan?" Guiche exclaimed. "He's an asshole!"
"It doesn't change the fact that you pooped in your pants!" laughed Malicorne.
"SHUT IT YOU FAT TARD!" hollered Guiche. He turned to Montmorency who was also laughing. "Not you too Monte!"
"I'm sorry!" laughed Montmorency. "It was funny!"
"No! It's not!"
"Students! In your seats! Class will be in session in a few moments! Now!" yelled the teacher, Mrs. Chevreuse.
"Oh teacher!" Malicorne stated. "Welcome!"
"Hello Malicorne, now in your seat please!"
. . .
"Everyone knows the main four elements correct? Can anyone name them?" asked Chevreuse as she was teaching the class a lesson.
Louise, however, paid little attention to what Chevreuse was saying. She wondered where Ivan was, and when he would return.
And not only that, but she was beginning to understand why he tried to kill her in the first place.
"You have treated me like shit. You have made me do your laundry, dress you up, gave me bread that tasted like ass, and you have acted like a big bitch, calling me names and crap. You have given me little respect, while I have been nice to you the whole time, but now it's my turn. You ungrateful spoiled bitch, I'll make you regret ever treating me like this. . ."
Perhaps, she was hard of him, ever since she summoned him, maybe she was disappointed by not getting the familiar she wanted.
I should've been nicer, Louise thought. I need to change a bit, I want to get along with my familiar. Maybe he had the right to go against me like that. I'm a fool.
"As you can see the four elements, fire, earth, water, and air can be combined to create stronger effects," continued Chevreuse.
I'm harsh to people aren't I? continued Louise in her thoughts. Maybe I am a 'Zero.' I guess I should apologize to Ivan we he comes back.
Louise then shook her head. What am I saying!
"A mage's level can be determined by how many elements he or she can combine," Chevreuse went on.
He tried to KILL me! He deserves no apology! Lashing at a noble like that! Louise protested in her head. He should apologize first!
"Louise, can you tell the class the levels?"
Louise stepped out of her train of thoughts. "Hmm?"
"I ask of you to tell the class the levels."
"What levels?"
The class laughed, and Chevreuse face palmed. "Louise, have you been paying attention?"
"Uh, um,"
"Then the answer is no. Louise, stand."
Louise rose up from her chair.
"Come up here please," requested Chevreuse.
Louise approached the teacher. "Yes?"
Chevreuse handed her a piece of chalk and said, "Go to the blackboard and write 'I will pay attention in class,' fifty times."
"Huh? Fifty?" Louise exclaimed.
"Hey teacher," Montmorency stated. "I have suggestion, make her write, 'Zero will pay attention in class' a hundred times!"
Everyone the room laughed. "Good one Montmorency!" Kirche laughed.
"H-hey! Shut up!" Louise yelled in embrassment.
"Sounds reasonable," agreed Chevreuse. "Louise, do it."
"B-but-!"
"Now."
Louise sighed in anger. She started to write on the board, while she heard the voices of giggling.
She groaned. She wished that Ivan was here so that he can pound and scare everyone in the class with his pipe.
He should do what he almost did to me to the students! she thought.
"Mrs. Chevreuse, I will say what the levels are," Guiche said with confidence. He felt glad to see Louise being tormented, after all she was the owner of the familiar who beat him in a duel.
"Alright, then."
"Two combined make a line, three makes a triangle, and four of course makes a square! Which I believe that all those levels are something that Zero will never reach! Don't you agree, Mrs. Chevreuse?"
A couple of students nodded and giggled.
"Oh, well, thank you for that Guiche, but about Louise not being able to combine the elements is something I can not foretell. . ."
"I can't help but agree with Guiche," Kirche said, "After all we can all perform one level, but Louise can't do squat! And has zero percent chance of ever being able to perform one!"
"And she blew up the class room a few days back," added Malicorne. "Of course she will never succeed!"
Louise spun around at the class, furious. "Hey! Shut up!"
The students laughed again. "Zero can't do squat! Zero can't do squat!" they sang.
"UGH SHUT UP!" she hollered.
"Silence everyone!" cried Mrs. Chevreuse. "Please settle down, and Louise return back to your writing."
Meanwhile, Ivan was in the village, asking villagers for any escape routes or some sort of secret passage out of Tristain. He looked around for hours, by sunset he was starting to lose hope. He finally asked a person who was selling fruits.
"Well depends on which place you are heading," he said. "Where are you heading to specifically? Germania? Gallia?"
"Neither, I need to get out of this world," Ivan responded.
"Uh, I don't know the answer to that sorry," he stated.
Ivan smacked his head. "No one is a damn help here!" He ran off, but knocked into crates of fruits. "Wah!"
"Sir you alright?" the man went to help him.
"I'm fine," Ivan picked himself up, a couple of apples, bananas, and oranges were all over the floor.
"Oh, no look at this mess!" The old man said. "Can you help me pick this up young man?"
"No can do," Ivan answered quickly. "Goodbye." He ran off again.
"No wait, Sir!" yelled the old man. "Come back!"
"I can't take this anymore!" Ivan cried. "I want to go home! Back to Russia!"
"Then the only way left to get back is to ask superiors at the academy," Winter stated as he reappeared. "It's the only way."
"Aw! We have to go back there?"
"Yes, Ivan, don't be a baby! Lets go! And if they refuse to tell us, we will punish them."
. . .
By nightfall, Ivan and the General returned to the academy. "Guess, we are going in. Look for the headmaster, da?"
"Correct."
"Alright then. We should go inside that middle tower."
"Mr. Ivan? Is that you?"
"Eh?" Ivan turned to see Siesta with a laundry basket. "Siesta."
"Mr. Ivan, I haven't seen you since yesterday! Where have you been?"
"Um, oh well just wandering around."
"I can see that, Ms. Louise stated that you were off doing errands for her earlier on during dinner today."
Ivan raised a brow. "I wasn't doing any errands for that ungrateful girl," he spat.
"Well that is what she said. She was also in a bad mood today."
"Pff, typical of her."
"And she also seemed pretty worried," added Siesta. "As if she was waiting for someone to return. Perhaps she was worried about you?"
Ivan laughed. "Oh please!"
His stomach growled. "Oh my god, I'm so hungry."
"You are hungry? Then come to the kitchen and we will give you something to eat!" Siesta announced happily.
Ivan's face lit up. "Really?"
"Yes, it is my treat!"
"Yay!" Ivan hugged Siesta tight, which made her drop the basket of laundry. "Thank you!"
"You. . .are welcome!"
. . .
"Enjoying the meal, Mr. Ivan?" Siesta asked as Ivan was he was gulping down his giant bowl of soup. Ivan nodded.
"Hahahaha, you must be really hungry Leader!" stated the chef, Marteau.
Ivan put his bowl down and wiped his mouth a napkin. "Hmm, 'Leader?"
"Of course, leader of us the plebeians! We were never really fond of the nobles, and no one tried to dare step up to them, until you showed up. You fought off that pompous noble with no mercy! A magnificent moment, if I say so myself! You have made us proud. This can be the beginning of a glorious revolution!"
Ivan sweat dropped. "But I'm actually a nation. Not a commoner."
"Wha!" Marteau exclaimed. "You? A nation? Crazy talk!"
He ran up to Ivan and placed his arm around him. "This man here is a symbol of greatness, praise him fellow cooks and maids! Learn a thing or two from Mr. Ivan!"
The cooks and maids applauded him.
"And now as a token of appreciation I bestow a kiss on you!" Marteau puckered his lips.
Ivan knocked him out with his fist. "Excuse me? How dare you try to do something like that on me!"
Marteau rose up from the ground laughed. "Playing hard to get eh? Well okay, hahaha, maybe next time! And boy, do you sure pack a punch!"
Siesta sweat dropped. "Don't mind him, Mr. Ivan."
Ivan rose up out of his chair. "Now, will you excuse me I better get going. Thank you for the food." He bowed to other cooks and maids.
"No problem!" Marteau said joyfully. "Anything you need please tell us!"
"Oh you're leaving already?" inquired Siesta.
The nation nodded. "Yes, I need to go."
"Back to Ms. Louise hmm?"
"Not really."
Siesta raised a brow. "What?"
"Excuse me," said a voice as she stepped into the kitchen. "Here, Siesta I have come to return to tea cup and plate. . .!"
Siesta turned around. "Oh Ms. Louise!"
Louise was startled to see Ivan in the kitchen with Siesta in the others. "I-Ivan! Why are you-!"
"Girl," muttered Ivan. "Nice to see you."
"Oh Ms. Louise," Siesta began to explain. "I hope that you excuse Mr. Ivan for having a meal here."
"Did he try to do anything to you or anyone here? Like threaten you guys?" asked Louise cautiously.
"No, absolutely not," Siesta answered. "Why do you ask?"
Ivan narrowed his eyes at Louise, he knew why she asked that.
"I see," Louise replied. "Well, um, Ivan!"
"What is it?"
"Now that you are back, come, lets go, there's something I would like to tell you. You also owe me an explanation for what happened earlier."
"No."
"Huh?"
"I'm not going with you."
"Why not?" barked Louise.
"Because I'm getting the hell out of this place," hissed Ivan. "I don't want to serve for you anymore."
"Woah! What?" questioned Marteau.
"Excuse me?" Louise asked surprisingly.
"That's right, I'm heading back to Russia."
His eyes narrowed at Siesta. "But, I'm not leaving here empty handed."
He picked up Siesta and ran out of the kitchen.
"Siesta!" cried Marteau.
"What!" Louise cried. She ran out following him. "Ivan!"
"M-Mr. Ivan?"cried Siesta.
"Siesta," Ivan spoke softly. "Come with me to Russia, to the Soviet Union. My people will treat you well, despite the fact that we are currently at war. I have taken interest in you Siesta; and you would make a nice addition to becoming a personal maid of mine, or perhaps help out The Red Army as a nurse to treat the wounded."
Siesta blushed. "What! Me come with you, back to your home?"
"It's a bit cold there, but you'll like it, come join me," urged Ivan. "I wanted to take both you and the girl, but she is, oh how can put it, bitchy. You're much more nicer. You better say yes, because I will not take 'No' for an answer, because, all will become one with Russia, da?"
"B-but this is all so sudden!" Siesta protested. "I can't just leave here like this!"
Ivan laughed. "Don't worry, everything will be fi-"
"IVAN!" called out Louise, who was chasing after him. "Release Siesta!"
Augh! It's that girl! Ivan muttered in his thoughts. Damn her!
Ivan stopped in his tracks and released Siesta. "Stay back," he said to her.
"What are you going to do!" Siesta cried.
Louise finally caugh up to her familiar. "Ivan! What are you thinking? Why are you doing this?"
"Because I can."
This made Louise's blood boil. She lifted her hand to slap him but Ivan grabbed her hand and threw her.
"Ahhhh!"
"Ms. Louise!" Siesta yelled.
"Back off girl," growled Ivan. "I'm taking Siesta with me back to my home, and you can't do anything about it."
Louise got up, grunting. "No-no! I won't allow it! Leave Siesta alone!"
"Pff, and if I say 'no'?"
Louise pulled out her wand and began to tremble. "Then! You will have to face me!"
Ivan chuckled. "Wow, really? Girl, I heard that you are terrible at magic. You can't do shit. This going to be a piece of cake like with Guiche."
"You can't do shit. . ."
"Zero can't do squat! Zero can't do squat!"
"I believe that all those levels are something that Zero will never reach!"
"And has zero percent chance of ever being able to perform one!"
"Of course she will never succeed!"
That was it, as all those statements entered Louise's mind, she could not take it. She was tired of being put down by others for inabilities at magic, being called "Louise The Zero," always being oppressed, even her own familiar agreed with the others, just when she wanted to apologize to him and have a mature conversation as master & familiar.
Always being ignored, and hated. She wasn't going to allow this happen anymore, she was going to stop the hate, starting with her familiar.
"NO!" she yelled. "Do not underestimate me! I'll show you that I am not horrible! I can fight! I will beat you, Ivan Bragniski! "
"So you want to duel with me, Louise?" Ivan remarked. "Tsk, tsk. Okay then. You asked for it."
Louise gulped. "Shit! What I have done!"
"Change of plans General," Ivan said. "I have decided to release you now and destroy this place, and head back home with Siesta. You don't mind that, don't you?"
"What? Ugh fine! Go ahead! About time!"
"Prepare for the worse, girl," Ivan warned. He began to chant in Russian, and glowing white light luminated him. The clouds began to cover the moons, the sky grew dark, the wind was picking up. "What's happening?" Siesta asked.
"No! Siesta! Get out of there!" Louise cried.
"Oh General," sang Ivan. "Come on out."
"General!" Louise yelled. "General who?"
A black opening appeared in the sky. Ivan reached his hand up. "Come, come out General-!"
He suddenly lost his train of thought and froze. I can't say anything.
No, the force it's coming back! It's telling me to not do this! I must fight!
He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. The words! They won't come out. . .wah!
Ivan was lifted up. "Wah! What's happening?"
He saw the opening closing. "NO!"
Louise turned and looked to see the cause of this. "Tabitha!"
Tabitha, with her staff was lifting Ivan, she was also accompanied by Colbert.
"Alright, Tabitha, release him, but not gently! Make him hit the ground!" ordered Colbert.
Tabitha nodded, she shook her staff and Ivan fell into the ground, face pressing the dirt.
"Louise!" cried Colbert as he ran to her, "Take this!" He threw Louise a gray collar. "Quickly, place it around his neck!"
Louise did what she was told, she ran to Ivan, who was still pressed firmly onto the ground and placed the collar around his neck, then used his scarf to cover it.
The clouds in the sky began to drift away. Colbert & Tabitha ran to Louise & Siesta.
"Thank goodness you guys came!" Louise said in relief.
"Ordered by Master Osmond," Colbert replied. "We heard about the incident by Marteau who ran to us in panic."
Ivan picked himself up. "Why you-!"
"Say a command Louise!" ordered Colbert.
"Eh? What kind of command?"
"Any!"
Louise thought for a few seconds. "Uh, sit!"
Ivan collapsed into the floor. "What!"
"It works!" exclaimed Colbert. He approached Ivan. "Young man, you have caused trouble today, and you wanted to add unrestricted power to this academy! You should be ashamed of yourself!"
He began to walk away. "Follow me Louise and you too Mr. Ivan. Tabitha, you may go back to your dorm and Siesta, go back in the kitchen. I'll handle it from here."
Tabitha & Siesta nodded. The two left off.
. . .
After having a long talk with Colbert & Osmond about what happened today, Louise with her familiar Ivan approached to her dorm, both were bitter of what happened.
Both of them had perhaps one of the most miserable days of their lives.
For Louise, she was almost killed earlier by her familiar, was teased heavily by the students today, and almost had to engage in a huge battle against her familiar. Luckly, Ivan now has a collar around her neck thanks to Osmond saying that he is indeed out of control and needs to be put under restriction, which gives Louise the power to have certain control over him, just until he can he control himself.
As for Ivan, he was told the can't leave the place and is stuck there, perhaps forever serving the familiar of the girl he despises. He has also been restricted by using his powers to reach to dangerous levels, and if he does get out of control, he would have to face the collar and Louise's command. If he some how over comes the collar, he would have face severe punishment by the superiors of the academy. He can't even get rid of the collar because it would shock him if he does.
All that work he tried all day to escape was for nothing. However, he knew that eventually he would have to leave this place, but for now he had no choice but to stay put.
However, there is one thing that they both may will have to consider, to get along. It seemed impossible at the moment at their current situation, but it would have to happen.
. . .
"And finally, I would like you two to get along," Osmond spoke to both Ivan & Louise. "Please try to compromise. I sense that your bond as master and familiar is very weak. It needs to be strengthened."
"But Headmaster!" Louise exclaimed. "This familiar is-!"
"Look Louise," interrupted Osmond. "You need to stop being so harsh and give him some respect, go easy on him. He is still new and unfamiliar to this place. Give him some time. Just because you didn't get the familiar you wanted, doesn't mean you have to treat him poorly."
He looked at Ivan. "And you, obey and respect your master. She has been providing you everything, from food to shelter. I understand that you have been pulled out of your nation during a time of war to here, and is desperate to return home with whoever accompanied you but it was fate. Please understand, our country is also in a difficult situation."
"But I don't spend my time here for the rest of my life serving this brat!" Ivan protested. "My people need me!"
"I understand but please don't try to do anything drastic again, such as killing your own master and trying to run away, or kidnapping a plebeian from here and trying to escape. Please just compromise and get used to living here. Maybe in the future you may be free, you never know, but for now stay put and tell your General to also compromise. That is all."
Ivan groaned. He wanted to strangle the old man with his bear hands, but he couldn't as he was restricted to do anything that could cause damage. Louise bowed at Osmond.
"I'm very sorry for we have caused you so much trouble today."
"It is fine Louise, now go back to your dorm. And Mr. Braginski, don't you dare try to anything that could cause Louise harm when you return back. Louise, you know the drill if he does."
Louise nodded. "Yes, Headmaster."
. . .
"You are to sleep outside tonight," Louise ordered. "You have caused so much trouble today, what were you thinking?"
Ivan sighed. "Fine, I really don't care. I don't want to sleep near the likes of you anyway."
"Why? Because you have been put under restrictions? That you couldn't escape? That you forever are to be this bitchy girl's familiar? Little Ivan didn't get what he wanted? Aww you poor thing," sneered Louise.
"Fuck off," hissed Ivan.
"Now you are cursing out on me? Ooh, I'm so scared, shut up."
"Hmph, I see why you are a loner and has no friends. Truly is a 'Zero.'"
"So? I don't need friends!" exclaimed Louise. "I'm content with just myself! No one likes me anyway! And you are one of them!"
"Only because of your personality," Ivan pointed out. "You are mean, cold, violent, I hate people like that."
"Look who is talking," argued Louise. "Atleast I don't try to kill someone."
"Because you are NOT worthy of serving," Ivan snorted out. "I rather serve someone kind, sweet, like Siesta. Now, why can't you be more like her?"
"Then go and serve her!" yelled Louise. "I don't need you!"
Out of anger Louise threw a random book at the wall. "If you hate me so much, then leave!"
"I would but I can't," Ivan muttered.
"Nah, you can leave, I don't care! Then once you do, whenever you see me, you'll be insulting and making fun of me! You would probably be telling Siesta, how horrible I am and . . And. . ."
Louise went down on her knees. "And then. . . Just like the others, you'll make fun of me, saying how much I am a 'Zero'. Just like the others!" She began to sob.
"Why does everyone hate on me?" she sobbed. "Even you, you hate me also. Everyone. . .always makes fun of me! Saying how I have zero percent accuracy, how I'll never been able to perform spells, so much that I have deserved the title 'Louise The Zero'! I've always been oppressed in this damn school, treated like an outsider who doesn't belong! That everything is my fault! I always get the blame! Yet, I always try my best, to perform spells and it never works out great! And so that is because I'm rude, cold, mean, because no one even bothers to talk or even go near me! Now do you understand, stupid dog!"
Ivan was speechless. He didn't know how to reply to this. Then a memory returned to him.
1905, Russia.
"Where is the czar!" yelled a Russian commoner. "Can't he see that the people of Russia are suffering!"
"We want freedom!" yelled another.
"Higher wages!"
"Our nation must prosper!"
At the Winter Palace, Ivan with his fellow Lithuanian friend, Toris were watching the revolt from the windows.
"The czar is not here," said Toris.
"Hmm, I see."
"Oh Ivan, look at what is happening outside. This is very serious."
"Why are they doing this?" Ivan asked. "Why do they end up hating on me? Look how much I did for this country. I have made it more prosperous and prestige. Why doesn't anything I do ever turn right?"
"I'm sure everything will be alright by tomorrow," Toris assured.
"Why? Why can't we all get along well?" Ivan began to weep. "Everyone places the blame on me. For centuries."
He pulled out a rifle.
"Ivan?" asked Toris. "What are you going to do?"
"Toris," Ivan stated, wiping his tears away. "We don't want children, who can't play nice, da?"
. . .
He gasped and narrowed his eyes at Louise's and her tears. He noticed something, that the two had that were similar.
Both were oppressed, hated, pushed around, always blamed for, whenever they try to do something right, it would cause chaos instead.
Ivan couldn't feel but sympathize for the girl.
"H-hey," he began to say. "Please don't cry. I understand, what it is like to be hated on."
"What would you know?" Louise spat as the tears streamed down her face.
"Because, I too was hated on, oppressed, being put the blame, my country has a history of bloodshed, which is why I almost tried to kill you. I have caused pain to many, and even you. I don't mean to, I just want to be accepted, but no one tries to ever come near me either. We're alike in that aspect, you know."
He shrugged. "Look, I'm sorry, maybe what I did was wrong but I hate to be pushed around like that like you did to me. Now do you understand girl?"
Louise stood up and nodded.
"I'm glad, so um, stop crying," Ivan said softly. "You look horrible when upset, I prefer if you were angry, hahaha. We should try to get along I suppose. I am your familiar after a-!"
Louise ran to Ivan and hugged him. She started to cry harder. "I'm sorry!" she sobbed. "I don't mean to be mean also! It's just that I've always been oppressed! I feel so alone! Truth is, I want to get along with you! I just. . .don't know how!"
Ivan returned the embrace. "There, there. It's okay." He sighed. "Cry all you want to Russia."
And she did, as much as she needed to, Ivan wasn't really used to allowing people to cry in his presence, in fact, he would be laughing. However for Louise since he was her familiar, he allowed her to cry on him, for he felt compassion for the girl, and Louise saw that Ivan wasn't as horrible as he seemed, he understood her pain, which someone has never really done before, and so on that night, their bond as master and familiar was perhaps changed forever.
Message From The Author 4: OH MY GOD.
SO MUCH TYPING, FINALLY I AM FREAKING DONE WITH THIS LONG ASS CHAPTER. Well, I hoped you enjoy the long treat.
I personally think Ivan & Louise are a very interesting duo, don't you think? Despite that Ivan is a yandere and Louise is a tsundere, but still they have certain similarites and this chapter pointed it out.
Also, if you know your history, the flash back with Ivan & Toris (AKA Lithuania from Hetalia) should be a peace of cake, or if you read that strip created by Himaruya based on that piece of Russian history.
ALSO, YES GUICHE SHIT IN HIS PANTS.
To be continued in the next chapter! Later! (That is if the internet is well still alive, yes reference to the SOPA & PIPA bills. To those who live in the USA probably know this, and perhaps the rest of the world.) I heard they were dropped by congress but hey you never know, I'm keeping my guard up. After what happened to megaupload, it has caused quite the uproar.
Oh Internet. . .
EDIT 1/22/12: Changed the summary for this fic. I personally found the old one a bit well, cliche? So I changed it.