I have officially decided on some key elements of Zero no Itan-sha. Instead of the Staff of Destruction Ramza will be getting a more permanent addition to his arsenal and the Zero fighter will be replaced by a different manner of artillery entirely, also, Siesta will not have a Japanese great-grandfather, she will have an Ivalician grandmother, further details will be explained in-story.
Chapter 3: Exposed pt2
Mister Colbert, a teacher who had dedicated twenty years to Tristain Magic Academy, was by now a mainstay figure.
His Runic name was "Colbert the Flame Snake," and, naturally, he was a mage specializing in fire magic.
Since the Springtime Familiar Summoning a few days ago, he'd been concerned about the commoner boy that Louise had summoned. Or more precisely, he'd been concerned with nothing but the runes that had appeared on that boy's left hand. They were rare runes indeed, so for the last few nights, he'd confined himself to the library and had been researching various texts.
Tristain Magic Academy's library was located in the same tower as the dining hall. The bookshelves were unbelievably tall, about thirty mails in height, and the way they were lined up against the walls was a spectacle to behold, and rightly so, since this place was crammed with the history of everything following the creation of the new world in Halkeginia by the Founder Brimir.
Colbert was now in a section called "Fenrir's Library" that only teachers were allowed entry to.
The ordinary bookshelves, to which students had free access, didn't hold any answers that could satisfy him.
He Levitated up to an out-of-reach shelf and scanned it intently for a particular book. His efforts were rewarded as his gaze fell upon the title of the book. It was a very old text which held descriptions of the familiars that had been used by the Founder Brimir.
His attention was focused on one particular paragraph written in it, and as he read on in fascination, his eyes grew wide. He compared the book with the sketch he'd made of the runes on the boy's left hand.
"Ah!" he gasped in surprise. At that moment, he lost the concentration necessary for maintaining his Levitation and almost fell to the floor.
Holding the book in his arms, he hurriedly descended to the floor and ran out of the library.
His destination was the Headmaster's Office.
Scene break
The Headmaster's Office was located on the topmost floor of the tower. Sir Osmond, the current Headmaster of Tristain Magic Academy, was sitting with his elbows propped on his elegantly built sequoia desk, looking unbearably bored as he shook his white beard and hair.
Idly plucking out nose hairs, he slowly murmured "hrm" and pulled open a desk drawer. From inside he procured a smoking pipe. Miss Longueville, the secretary who had been writing something at the other desk placed to the side of the room, waved her feather quill.
The pipe floated into the air and landed in Miss Longueville's palm. Sir Osmond muttered dejectedly, "Is it fun taking away an old man's little pleasures? Miss, um..."
"Managing your health is also part of my job, Old Osmond."
Sir Osmond stood up from his chair and walked up to the cool and collected Miss Longueville. Stopping behind the seated lady, he closed his eyes, his expression grave.
"If the days keep passing by so peacefully, figuring out how to spend time is going to become a rather big problem."
The wrinkles etched deeply on Osmond's face were only hints to the history of his life. People guessed him to be a hundred years old, even three hundred. But his true age no one really knew. It's possible he himself didn't remember anymore either.
"Old Osmond," Miss Longueville spoke up without taking her eyes off the feather quill that was scribbling away on the parchment.
"What is it? Miss..."
"Please stop saying you have nothing to do as an excuse to touch my bottom."
Sir Osmond opened his mouth slightly and began walking around in tottering steps.
"Please also refrain from pretending to be senile whenever a situation goes bad," Longueville added calmly. Sir Osmond sighed deeply. It was the sigh of a man bearing the weight of many troubles.
"Where do you think the ultimate truth may be? Haven't you ever wondered that? Miss..."
"Wherever it is, I assure you, it's not underneath my skirt, so please stop sneaking your mouse under the desk."
Sir Osmond's face fell, and he murmured sadly, "Mótsognir."
From under Miss Longueville's desk scurried out a little mouse. It dashed up Osmond's leg and perched on his shoulder, twitching its tiny head. He fished out some nuts from a pocket and held one out to the mouse.
"Chuchu," the mouse chittered, apparently pleased.
"You're my only truly trustworthy friend, Mótsognir."
The mouse began nibbling on the nut. It disappeared quickly, and the mouse chittered "chuchu" once more.
"Ah, yes, yes. You want more? Very well, I shall give you more. But first, I would ask that you report back, Mótsognir."
"Chuchu"
"I see. White and plain white too, hrm. But Miss Longueville should really stick to black. Wouldn't you agree, my cute Mótsognir?"
Miss Longueville's eyebrows twitched.
"Old Osmond."
"What is it?"
"The next time you do that, I'm reporting it to the palace."
"Kah! Do you think I could be Headmaster of this Academy if I was scared of the palace all the time?!"
Sir Osmond flashed his eyes wide and yelled angrily. It was an impressive display, completely unexpected of a frail-looking old man.
"Don't get all prissy just because I peeked at your underwear! At this rate, you'll never get married! Haa~~ To be young again~~ Miss..."
Old Osmond began stroking Miss Longueville's bottom without hesitation.
Miss Longueville stood up and wordlessly kicked her boss around.
"Sorry. Stop. Ow. I won't do it anymore. Really."
Old Osmond covered his head and cowered. Miss Longueville breathed heavily as she continued kicking Osmond.
"Ack! How can you! Treat a senior! In this way! Hey! Ouch!"
This "peaceful" moment was interrupted by a sudden intrusion.
The door was thrown open with a slam, and Colbert rushed inside.
"Old Osmond!"
"What is it?"
Miss Longueville was back at her desk, sitting there as if nothing had happened. Sir Osmond had his arms behind him, and turned to face the visitor with a serious expression. That was certainly a quick recovery.
"I-I-I have some big news!"
"There is no such thing as big news. Everything is but a collection of small events."
"P-P-Please take a look at this!"
Colbert handed Osmond the book he had been reading just before.
"This is "The Familiars of the Founder Brimir," is it not? Are you still going around digging up old literature like this? If you have time to do that, why don't you think up some better ways of collecting school fees from those slack nobles? Mister, err... What was it again?"
Sir Osmond cocked his head.
"It's Colbert! You forgot?!"
"Right, right. Now I remember. It's just that you talked so fast I never really caught it. So, Colby, what is it about this book?"
"Please take a look at this also!"
Colbert then handed him the sketch of the runes on Ramza's left hand.
The moment he saw that, Osmond's expression changed. His eyes took on a solemn light.
"Miss Longueville, would you please excuse us?"
Miss Longueville stood up and left the room. Osmond spoke only after he confirmed she was properly outside.
"Explain this to me with every detail, Mister Colbert…"
Scene break
It was just before lunchtime when they finally finished tidying up the classroom that Louise had made a mess of. As punishment, using magic to clean up had been forbidden, so it had taken considerable time to finish. But then again, Louise couldn't really use most spells anyway, so it hadn't affected her much. Mrs. Chevreuse had regained consciousness two hours after she'd been caught in the explosion, and while she did return to class, she didn't give any more lectures on Transmutation for that entire day. It would seem she had been rather traumatized.
Having finished tidying up, Louise and Ramza headed to the dining hall for lunch. Along the way Ramza smiled brightly and tried to cheer Louise up with a few stories he had heard as a mercenary. Another in his position might have tormented and teased the poor girl but Ramza was nothing if not a good brother, and Louise was so adorable that he couldn't help but think of her as a little sister, even if she had made him do all of the work, and Flame had been pestering him the entire time for a treat, apparently having fallen in love with the taste of Ramza's Will-o'-Wisp.
Scene break
When they arrived at the dining hall, Ramza pulled out a chair for Louise.
"Just remember, Milady. Don't cast any spells on the food. Just imagine the mess if it exploded." He teased gently, putting in the one jab before he turned to leave. "If Milady does not mind, I will be outside in the hall." Ramza finished, walking away before Louise could reply to him.
Approximately five feet out the door of the dining hall Ramza's stomach grumbled loudly, spooking him as he looked to see where the angry lioness' growl had come from before he blushed at the realization that it was his own stomach.
I should have eaten something after all, Ramza thought to himself.
Clutching his stomach, he leaned one hand on a wall.
"Is something the matter?"
He turned around to see a normal-looking girl in a maid's outfit carrying a big silver tray, looking concernedly at him. Her black hair was neatly adorned with a headband, and her freckles were cute.
"It is nothing..." Ramza waved his left hand.
"Are you by any chance the one who became Miss Vallière's familiar...?"
It seemed she noticed the runes inscribed on Ramza's left hand.
"You know me?"
"A little. It's become quite a rumor, you know, that a handsome person was called by the summoning magic."
The girl smiled sweetly. It was the first carefree smile Ramza had seen since he came to this world.
"Are you a mage as well?" Ramza asked.
"Oh no, not me, I'm just a commoner. I serve the nobility here by doing domestic duties."
I'm actually from Gallione in Ivalice, but it's probably useless to try explain. Ramza decided to just introduce himself.
"I see... Well, I'm Ramza Beoulve, and magick has nothing to do with station."
"What do you mean? Everyone knows that commoners cannot perform magic." The maid explained, confusing Ramza as much as he had confused her before she decided to ignore what he said for the moment. "Either way, I am Siesta, it is nice to meet you."
At that point, Ramza's stomach grumbled.
"You must be hungry."
"Just a little..."
"Please follow me this way."
Siesta walked off.
Scene break
Ramza was led to the kitchen located at the rear of the dining hall. Lots of large pots and ovens were lined up inside. Cooks and other maids like Siesta were busily preparing food.
"Please wait one moment, okay?"
Siesta had Ramza sit on a chair placed in the corner of the kitchen and disappeared hastily into the back.
She soon returned with a bowl full of warm stew in her hands.
"This is some stew made from the leftovers of the nobles' meals. If you don't mind, please eat this."
"You do not mind?"
"Yes. It's only the staff meal though..."
Her kindness was touching, and so he gracefully scooped up a spoonful and brought it to his mouth, his eyes widening in shock at the taste.
Amazing… Ramza thought, the taste momentarily overwhelming him.
"This tastes delicious!"
"That's great. There's plenty if you want seconds, so take your time."
Ramza ate the stew slowly, as though to savor it. Siesta stood watching him, smiling sweetly all the while.
"Weren't you given anything to eat?"
"I walked out of there before anyone could offer me anything." Ramza admitted sheepishly.
"Oh no! You need to take care of yourself!" Siesta scolded him softly.
"It really doesn't matter; I've had to survive on less as a mercenary." Ramza confessed.
Siesta looked at Ramza with an expression of surprise.
Ramza gave Siesta back the empty bowl.
"That truly was delicious, thank you."
"I'm glad you liked it. Feel free to visit whenever you're hungry. If you don't mind having whatever we're having, I'd be happy to share."
Ramza smiled brightly at the girl's kind offer.
"Um, if there's anything I can do for you, just tell me. I will lend a hand."
He wasn't particularly interested in something like washing Louise's underwear, and would much rather help this girl instead.
"In that case, please help me serve the desserts."
Siesta said with a smile.
"Alright," Ramza nodded enthusiastically.
Scene break
Lots of dessert cakes were arranged on a big silver tray. Ramza carried the tray, while Siesta picked up the cakes with tongs and served them one by one to the nobles.
One mage in particular stood out. He had curly blonde hair, wore a frill-trimmed shirt, and looked rather self-important. There was a rose stuck in his shirt pocket too. His friends around him were poking all kinds of fun at him.
"So, Guiche! Who're you going out with now?"
"Who's your lover, Guiche?"
So it seemed the prideful mage was called Guiche. He gently raised a finger to his lips.
"'Go out?' I hold no one woman in such special regard. After all, a rose blooms for the pleasure of many."
What a narcissist... Ramza thought coldly, he was the kind of narcissist that made onlookers more embarrassed than himself. Totally unbecoming behavior of nobility, Ramza concluded, reminded all too painfully of Argath and Fort Ziekden.
At that moment, a purple bottle of perfume fell out of Guiche's pocket.
"Ser, you dropped something." Ramza called out, trying to warn him.
But Guiche didn't turn around. Is he ignoring me?
Ramza passed the tray to Siesta and bent down to pick up the bottle.
"Ser, you dropped this." He placed it on the table. Guiche shot Ramza a dirty look, and pushed the bottle away.
"This is not mine. What are you talking about?"
Guiche's friends then realized where the bottle came from and raised a loud commotion.
"Ooh? That perfume, isn't that Montmorency's?"
"Yeah! That vivid purple color is the perfume that Montmorency only mixes for herself!"
"So to have something like that fall out of your pocket, Guiche, means that you're going out with Montmorency now, right?"
"No wait, listen to me. I'm saying this for the sake of her reputation, but..."
As Guiche was about to say more, a girl, who wore a brown cloak and had been sitting at the table behind them, stood up and walked over to Guiche's seat.
She was a cute girl sporting chestnut-colored hair. According to the color of the cloak she wore, she was a first year student.
"Guiche-sama..."
And with that, she started crying uncontrollably.
"I knew it, you and Miss Montmorency are..."
"They're misunderstanding. Katie, listen. The only person I hold in my heart is you..."
But the girl called Katie slapped Guiche's face as hard as she could.
"That perfume you dropped from your pocket is more than enough proof! Goodbye!"
Guiche rubbed his cheek.
At this point, a girl with tightly rolled hair stood up from a seat further down the table. Wearing a severe expression, she approached Guiche with quick clipped steps.
"Montmorency. This is a misunderstanding. All I did was accompany her on a long trip to the forests of La Rochelle..." Guiche said, shaking his head. While he was pretending to remain composed, a drop of cold sweat ran down his forehead.
"Just as I thought! You've been making moves on that first year, haven't you?!"
"Please, Montmorency the Fragrance. Don't twist your rose-like face in anger like that. It saddens me to see it!"
Montmorency grabbed a bottle of wine that was on the table and poured its contents out audibly on Guiche's head.
And then...
"You liar!"
She yelled and stormed off.
Silence fell upon the hall.
Guiche pulled out a handkerchief and slowly wiped his face. Shaking his head, he spoke dramatically.
"It would seem those ladies do not understand the meaning of a rose's existence."
Ramza gave the boy points for attempting a recovery at least…
He felt a migraine coming on with a sigh as he took the tray back from Siesta and began walking off.
Guiche called him to a stop.
"Stop right there."
"What now?"
Guiche spun his body about on the chair and crossed his legs with a flourish. It gave Ramza a headache to see such arrogance exude from every action.
"Thanks to you thoughtlessly picking up some bottle of perfume, the reputation of two ladies has been damaged. How will you take responsibility?"
Ramza replied in an exasperated tone.
"Perhaps if you had not cheated on them Ser, but instead had been honest and only dated one this whole incident could have been avoided?"
Guiche's friends burst out laughing.
"Exactly, Guiche! It's your fault!"
Guiche's face flushed crimson.
"Listen, server. When you put the bottle of perfume on the table, I pretended not to know anything, didn't I? Would it have hurt to be a little bit tactful and just go along with it?"
"Whatever. Either way, your two-timing would've been blown anyway. And also, I'm not a server."
"Hmph... Ah, you are..."
Guiche snorted, as if looking down on Ramza.
"You must be the commoner summoned by that "Louise the Zero." To have expected a noble's wits from a commoner was completely my mistake. You may leave."
Ramza snapped then. Pretty boy or not, there was no way Ramza was just going to stand there quietly taking all this from such a conceited narcissist. He couldn't help what he did next.
He struck Guiche with his right hand, his gauntlet removed for the blow to be officially sanctioned as a challenge.
"I hereby challenge you to a duel Guiche, as the challenged, you have choice of weapons and location." Ramza said coldly, his anger flaring brightly.
Guiche's eyes narrowed.
"It would seem that you at least know the proper etiquette for addressing a challenge."
"It is not my first time dealing with your lot."
"Very well, then I shall teach you a lesson about respect, a perfect way to relieve some stress."
Guiche stood up.
"How amusing."
Ramza bared his teeth and growled. Just keep talking you lowborn trash.
Guiche turned in the other direction.
"Are you running away?"
"Don't be stupid. I can't taint the dining table of nobles with the blood of a commoner, can I? I'll be waiting at Vestri Court. Come once you're finished delivering those cakes."
Looking excited, Guiche's friends stood up and followed him off.
One person remained though, as if to make sure Ramza didn't run away himself.
Siesta gazed at Ramza, her entire body quivering. Ramza spoke with a grin.
"It's all right. There's no way I'll lose to that weakling."
"You... You're going to get killed."
"What?"
"If you truly anger a noble..."
Siesta dashed off in a hurry.
But he's just a mage isn't he? Ramza thought to himself in confusion.
Louise ran up to him from behind.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?! I saw all that!"
"Hello milady."
"This is no time to be subservient! How can you just go challenging people to duels like it's no big deal?!"
"I just wanted to teach him a lesson Louise..."
Ramza said indignantly.
Louise sighed and shrugged disappointedly.
"Apologize to him."
"Why?"
"If you don't want to be hurt, go and apologize. If you do it now, he might forgive you."
"I have no reason to apologize to a fop that cheats on a woman."
"Just do it."
Louise fixed Ramza with a firm look.
"No way."
"So stubborn... But you know what? You can't win. You'll be badly injured. Actually, you'll be lucky to come back alive with just injuries."
"I won't know that unless I try, right?"
"How do you plan to beat a mage?!"
"So where's this Vestri Court?"
Ramza walked off. The friend of Guiche's that had been watching Louise and Ramza's exchange pointed with his chin.
"This way, commoner."
"Aaah, jeez! Really! Why does this familiar keep going off and doing stuff on its own?!"
With that, Louise chased after Ramza.
Scene break
Vestri Court was the central garden situated between the Wind and Fire elemental towers. Being located to the west, the Court didn't receive much sunshine, even in the middle of the day, but it was the perfect place for a duel.
Right now... the place was packed with people who had heard the rumors.
"Gentlemen! It's a duel!"
Guiche lifted his artificial rose high, eliciting a loud cheer from the crowd.
"Guiche is going to duel! His opponent is Louise's familiar!"
Maybe I should start making sure people actually get my name… Ramza thought to himself.
Waving his arms about, Guiche acknowledged the cheering.
And then, as if finally noticing Ramza's presence there, he turned to face him.
Ramza and Guiche stood in the middle of the Court, glaring intently at each other.
"First of all, I commend you for coming here instead of running away!" Guiche remarked in a sing-song voice, as he twirled his rose.
"Like anyone would run away!"
"Right then, let us begin," said Guiche.
Just keep talking greenhorn. Ramza though darkly, crouching for a leap.
It's roughly ten paces to where Guiche is, I don't care what type of magick he uses, I can get there first with an aurablast if I need to.
Guiche watched Ramza with a leisurely smile and flicked his rose.
A petal floated down as if dancing in the air...
And became the armor-clad shape of a female warrior.
Its height was about the same as a person's, but it appeared to be constructed from some hard metal. Under the pale sunlight, its skin... its armor gleamed.
It stood stoically in Ramza's way.
"Never seen one of those before…"
"I am a mage, therefore I fight using magic. Surely you have no complaints?"
"No, I have none."
"I guess I forgot to mention earlier. My Runic name is "the Bronze." Guiche the Bronze. Accordingly, my bronze golem "Valkyrie" shall be your real opponent."
"Whatever."
The warrior-shaped golem charged towards Ramza.
Its right fist impacted heavily with Ramza's stomach.
"Ow?"
Ramza smiled a bit darkly as the blow activated Dragonheart, causing several reptilian familiars to stare at him as though affected by a charm technique.
"Weak." Was all Ramza said as he punched the Valkyrie in the chest, its entire body rupturing as he used Rend Armor, however as a consequence his left fist completely shattered.
This is why that move requires a sword you idiot! Ramza chided himself as he winced, blood dripping from his hand.
From the mass of people, Louise burst out and saw what happened.
"Eh?"
Scene break
Let us change locations for a moment and return to the Headmaster's Office.
Mister Colbert was fervently explaining everything to Sir Osmond about the commoner boy that was summoned by Louise at the Springtime Familiar Summoning... About how he was concerned about the runes that had appeared on the boy's hand as proof of the contract between him and Louise... And that when he had gone to find out more...
"You reached the Founder Brimir's familiar Gandálfr?"
Osmond intently examined Colbert's sketch of the runes on Ramza's left hand.
"Yes! The runes that appeared on that boy's left hand are exactly the same as the runes that were inscribed on the legendary familiar Gandálfr!"
"So, your conclusion?"
"That boy is Gandálfr! If this isn't big news, then what is, Old Osmond?"
Colbert stood up as he wiped his balding head with a handkerchief.
"Hrm... Certainly, the runes are the same. But for a foreign boy of unknown origins to become Gandálfr just by having the same runes... I wonder how that could've happened."
"What shall we do?"
"However, it is probably too early to be making definite claims."
"That's true."
Sir Osmond drummed his fingers on the desk.
There was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?"
From behind the door came Miss Longueville's voice.
"It's me, Old Osmond."
"What is it?"
"It seems there are some students dueling at Vestri Courts. It's causing quite a commotion. A few teachers have gone there to try and stop it, but their attempts are being impeded by the sheer number of students."
"For heaven's sake, there's nothing worse than nobles with too much free time in their hands. So, who's involved?"
"One of them is Guiche de Gramont."
"Ah, that idiot son of Gramont. Skirt-chasing must run in the family, considering his father's even more of a womanizer. I wouldn't be surprised if the boy knows every girl in school. And his opponent is?"
"...Well, it's not a mage. I've been told it's Miss Vallière's familiar."
Osmond and Colbert exchanged a look.
"The teachers are requesting to use the "Bell of Sleep" to stop the duel."
Osmond's eyes glinted like a hawk's.
"Ridiculous. There's no need to use such an important artifact just to stop a children's fight. Leave them be."
"Understood."
Miss Longueville's footsteps disappeared down the hallway.
Colbert swallowed audibly and verbally pressed Osmond.
"Old Osmond."
"Hrm."
Sir Osmond waved his staff and a big mirror set in the wall began scrying the situation at Vestri Courts.
Scene break
Guiche began to panic and waved his rose wand wildly. Petals danced, and six new golems appeared.
Altogether, seven golems were Guiche's full arsenal. Never had he thought that a mere commoner could be a match for even one.
The golems surrounded Ramza and sprang at him all at once.
And just when it looked like they had him, and then one became trapped in vines as Ramza backpedalled away from the other five while chanting…
"Smoldering flames far below, punish the wicked! Firaja!"
The effect was instantaneous, before anyone could blink a sphere of fire surrounded the five Valkyries, when it cleared all that was left was scrap metal. Taking advantage of the momentary pause Ramza dashed forward, his right fist bared for a blow to Guiche's face as the young mage panicked and conjured up a sword, only for Ramza to strike first, punching him solidly in the face and sending him flying several yards.
"Do you yield?" Ramza asked after Guiche hit the ground.
"I yield! I yield!" Guiche screamed frantically.
Ramza smiled and chuckled, walking away and towards Louise, still surrounded by the halo of Dragonheart.
Louise looked thoroughly relieved as she let out a sigh.
Guiche stood up and shook his head in amazement.
"Louise, just what is this guy? All of my Valkyries were so easily defeated..."
"I said it the day I was summoned; I am Ramza Beoulve, third son of Gallione's noble Beoulve household." Ramza answered over his shoulder, his off-hand reply and the import of what it meant causing everyone present to stop and stare at him as he confirmed one of the biggest questions about himself.
"EEEHHHHHH?!"
Okay, I'm sorry, I couldn't resist that ending. Anyways, please leave reviews and let me know what you all thought. On another note, this is without a doubt the longest document I have ever written in my entire life, ignoring the fact that it's already four chapters long, whch is a personal record since I usually only make one-shots at best.