Ok sorry for the long wait but there were a few reasons some being due to other stories I have to make sure pay attention and frustration with myself since I'm not achieving the result I promised you all when I decided to rewrite but in the end it only turned out like this because of lack of actual effort on my part so after a bit of a vacation I decided this story`s been on hold long enough and to actually put the required effort into it to make it a good fanfic.

Disclaimer: I don't ZNT

"Catherine while I appreciate what you've done for me I don't want you to take on unnecessary burdens for my sake." The snow haired teen said to Catherine while Saito simply stood in silence as the three teens stood in one of the halls of the academy, the bluenette faced the hidden void mage with a sincere smile before replying. "Aileen I do this because you're my precious friend"

"I know but I still don't want to force burdens on those around me."

"You needn't worry I am happy to perform at the exhibition in your place."

A few minute ago Aileen had been summoned to the headmaster's office where she was informed of the decision to have Catherine perform in the familiar. Upon finding this out Aileen was to say the least shocked, while the decision was convenient since it meant Aileen and Saito could avoid any unnecessary attention it also meant aa task that Catherine should not have to perform was now weighed on her shoulders. "Still I'm sorry you have to do this."

"Don't be, if it's for you then I'm glad to be of assistance."

"Ok but I'd at least like the opportunity to repay you in the near future."

"If you insist." For the first since the exchange in Osmond's office had taken place Saito finally spoke. "For what it's worth thank you." Catherine simply maintained her calm smile before responding. "You're welcome." With that the fire mage turned to leave.

"Man Catherine really is a life savior." Saito said as Catherine was had turned the corner and was out of sight.

"Of course as long as the two of us have been together she's always been around to lend me a helping hand whenever I was in need."

"So you and are kind of like adoptive siblings?"

"That may be one way to describe our bond, a part of me has always thought of Catherine as an older sister."

"I've noticed it's been like that with me and Hayate back in my world."

"Really?"

"Yeah can tell you a bit more about it if you're willing to listen."

Aileen contemplated the option a bit, while the familiar exhibition was about to take place she had been exempt from being required to perform thanks to Catherine she essentially had a large portion of free time to do what she wanted and the idea of getting to know her familiar better was by no means a bad, now that she thought about it a bit more she found herself becoming somewhat curious about the background surrounding Saito. "Very well I'd love to hear more about your past."

XXXXX

In front of the academy a large wooded stage set up for all the second year students with the exception of three to perform. In front of the stage of around one hundred seats occupied by students, staff, as well as visiting Nobility including the princess of the country. Another special guest was Hayate who the some of the staff tried to keep from attending until Catherine stepped in and informed them that Hayate was personally invited by her.

The exhibition itself was fairly entertaining, seeing the various familiars was interesting in Hayate's eyes during the event he head students speaking amongst themselves, most of the statements were merely questions pertaining why Guiche, Tabitha and Aileen were not performing.

Guiche was still in a well-deserved coma from the duel he stared with Saito.

Aileen, according to what Catherine told him after she showed up to the exhibition wasn't going to take part due to a talk Catherine herself had with the headmaster.

Tabitha was the one person Hayate didn't know about, in fact there have been rumors of her absence from class for the last few days but oddly enough not even the staff knew her the girl had went. Hayate didn't think of the disappearance initially but increased gossip amongst the students now had him wondering if something was going on with the student in question.

His attention was snapped away from all that when Catherine's name was called. Upon her appearance in front of the all of the spectators new forms of gossip started almost immediately. Apparently quite a few people were expecting a spectacular performance from her in particular. Hayate simply wished the girl luck in his mind as she mounted her red fire dragon. Soon the dragon took to the air at speeds which were abnormal considering the initial element it was associated with.

In the following moments it was performing a series of barrel rolls whilst releasing a stream of fire which split into four lines which twisted around the dragon and rider forming a spiral like appearance. Hayate had to admit he was nothing short of impressed, he had already seen some of the other familiars perform moderately entertaining tricks but none of them were as much of a spectacle as the stunt Catherine was pulling with her familiar.

He couldn't help but smirk, assuming whoever the judge was possessed a single ounce of common sense it would be obvious who the winner was.

XXXXX

"You mean claim you were put in a foster home from the time you were six years of age?"

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's fine, besides I had Hayate for a good friend so things were better than what you're probably imagining."

"That's a relief."

"So how did you and Catherine get to know each other?"

"My father was her father's longtime friend and because of that we were introduced when we were children and became fast friends."

Saito laughed a bit before replying. "It seems to me like we've got something in common."

"You mean in the fact we both possess friends who are as close to us as siblings?" Aileen while slightly giggling.

"Yeah it's in of funny in a way."

"Maybe so but I'm honestly happy about the fact since it means we'll be understand each other."

"Yeah but even if it wasn't for that I think we'd be able to understand each other eventually if we tried."

"You really believe that?" Aileen asked caught off guard by her familiar's comment.

"Well yeah all it requires is for both of us to be willing to listen to one another. Still I'm like the fact we have what we do in common."

Aileen was more than a little astounded by Saito's positive outlook on their potential to form any kind of bond even with the familiar contract in place the two of them still came from completely different worlds, though the Albino mage had never even told Catherine she was worried that the different origins between herself and Saito would act as a barrier between the two of them. The reason for particular the line of thinking strived from certain racial conflicts throughout the continent.

Most other countries resented germanians and regarded them as barbaric for the fact they didn't draw an absolute discriminative line between mages and commoners like every other country and then there were the elves, the entire continent was still at odds with them after six thousand years. Regardless Aileen was glad that a difference in origin wouldn't keep her and Saito from understanding each other.

Opening her mouth Aileen was ready to reply before the sound of a hard impact was heard caused the hall she and Saito were in to suddenly rumble.

"What in the world was that?" Saito asked. The enchanted sword Derflinger who had stayed silent up until now partially came out of its' sheath and spoke. "Something must have hit the Academy from the outside.

"Mine as well go see what it was." Saito said dashing off to the nearest entrance."

"Don't do anything reckless." Aileen exclaimed as she follow Saito outside.

XXXXX

On the outside of the academy a massive Golem stood next to the school's main tower repeatedly ramming both its fist into the side. "Dammit is this barrier really as powerful of Colbert said it was?" asked the voice of a figure who stood atop the golem's shoulder.

As pointless as her efforts seemed the figure could do nothing but continue hammering away at the wall which seemed to refuse to cave in even an inch, if the figure didn't manage to break down the wall soon she would be noticed by the staff and other Nobles who were attending the exhibition and after that she'd be left with no choice but to retreat.

With this in mind the figure had her Golem increase the force of its punch to its' absolute limit but to her dismay the result was the same as before. Gritting her teeth in frustration the figure began to start believing that it'd be best to leave before anyone had the chance to see, however that idea was thrown out the window when a another voice yield out. "What the hell is that thing?!"

"A Golem. There must be an earth mage nearby."

The figure turned to see two people headed in her general direction. One held a rusted sword in hand and the other a wand. The figure smirked underneath her hood.

XXXXX

"Does that mean we got to take down the mage to stop this that thing?" Inquired Saito after receiving an explanation from Aileen as to what the earth giant in front of him was.

"That would be the best way, but that is only if the mage hasn't hidden there self from sight." Answered Aileen.

"Got it." With that Saito ran after the towering giant which swung its fist at him. Saito jumped to side dodging the attack before counter via cutting its arm off. Unfortunately in the seconds Saito took to slice through the one of the Golems's the giant swung its other arm at him with the intention of ending him right then and there. Aileen reacted by quickly creating a barrier of wind around Saito's body which blocked the attack.

The Golem retracted its arm and turned its attention to Aileen and began advancing on her before Saito cut through one of its legs stopping it in its tracks. The golem used its remaining arm to try an swat away Saito who was forced to jumped backwards to avoid being crushed.

Unfortunately this combined with the fact Aileen had not yet had a chance to ready another spell gave the Golem a chance to regrow its lost limbs. In turned to face Saito and threw a punch at him.

The teen boy dodged it and preceded to run up thee still grounded arm think to severe the giant's arm off at the shoulder this time. Much to his surprise however when he was almost to his intended destination he saw a hooded figure who stood atop the shoulder of the golem across from the side that Saito himself was on. This proved to be unfavorable since sight of the figure caused Saito enough of a distraction to allow the Golem the opening it needed to swat Saito off of it with its other arm.

The teen was sent skidding across the grassy ground. Aileen who had been preparing enough mana to use at least spells looked on in worry. Why Saito was most likely still taking a direct hit from a Golem the way he did most likely rendered him unconscious and even if not he probably was no longer in any condition to move.

Much to Aileen's relief though the teen familiar got back to his feet with sword in hand however he was not uninjured. A stream of blood now ran down the side of his head and he looked to be wobbling, odds were it was now a struggle for him to stand up.

Aileen thought of any of all the options she had at her disposal and it became obvious the only way to ensure Saito's safety would be to land a fatal blow to the enemy mage themselves . Bearing the said knowledge in her mind Aileen quickly created ice shards and sent them directly at the figure who controlled the Golem.

The result was moderate one, one of the tore a gash in the figure's arm causing them cry out and anther shard tore through the hood causing long green hair to fall out. Upon realization of the identity who she was fighting Aileen's eyes displayed clear shock.

"Miss Loungeville? Why?" the snow haired Mage asked

"Because I'm the infamous criminal Fouquet of the crumbling dirt. I hoped to steal an artifact from the vault but to no success now die." With the Golem which had already turned to face Aileen by this time had thrown its massive fist at the shocked girl who raised a barrier to block the attack. Upon impacted the barrier and shattered but Golem's arm also recoiled.

Aileen acting on adrenalin pointed her wand at Fouquet and created a massive shard of ice which she sent at the her opponent who responded by having her Golem try to block the attack with its arm but much to the earth mages surprise the shard cut through the Golem's arm severing it though to her own fortune the attempt at blocking the projectile diverted its path from its intended target.

Fouquet was soon confused when she saw Aileen smirking, whatever the reason behind the smug expression was one Loungeville would never know, it was as if the girl had believed herself the victor of the fight but that couldn't be possible. Aileen from the looks of had eshausted the spells she had praparped during Fouquet scuffle with….

Realization hit her like a thousand bricks but it was too late, in the following moments the Golem's leg were cut from under it and it finally succumbed to the damage it had received and crumbled to the ground.

Loungeville slowly picked herself from the ground now covered in bruises but before she could do anything further the pummel of a rusted sword hit her in the back of her knocking out. As soon as she fell to the ground Saito was revealed standing behind her.

Aileen's facial features softened upon seeing her familiar.

"Thank you for helping me when I needed."

"Anytime." The Japanese replied sticking his sword in the ground.

Coincidentally it was only now that people who were attending the exhibition were finally showing up. Saito managed to laugh weakly before speaking. "Where the hell was everyone when we were fighting for our lives?"

"I honestly wish I could answer." Aileen Said as she caught Saito's form which no longer had the strength."

OK that's the end of this chapter. Originally I was going to have this arc more or less follow cannon but decided I wanted to speed things up a bit to get to the next arc which will be that is not in cannon at all.

I also decided to use this chapter to establish more of a relationship between Aileen and Saito which I hope I did a good enough job of with that personal dialogue scene between the two that happened after Catherine left them. I figured it may be needed since the two are suppose to be the main pairing of the story though romance isn't happening to WAY later on and I mean longer than it did in cannon.

Also to anyone who's worried about Saito being overshadowed by Aileen I'll tell you now Aileen abilities will be nerfed somewhat so she's not completely OP like she was in the original but mind you I am NOT GOING TO LOWER HER TO THE LEVEL OF NORMAL STUDENTS.

By the way did you enjoy the fight scene I decided to make it more difficult to make up for lack of the second half of the arc.