Note: I changed the alias that Madara will receive, from 'Sage of the six elements' to 'Crimson God'.
Answer to my 'Chinese Guest' chapter 4: I wrote 'great-grandfather', he was the shinobi. Anyway, thanks for your feedback. I will try to improve my grammar soon!
Chapter 6: Shinobis in the shadows
-Part 1: Academy Hallways-
Professor Jean Colbert felt sick because of the dangerous situation in the magic academy. Even being known as the 'Fire Serpent', whose magical level was square, he couldn't remove the insecurity after what old Osmond told him:
"The shinobis are beings whose power escapes the rules of both Elven and human magicians in Halkeginia. The few wise men who studied them had as a theory they were the improved version of the nobility. We call them 'High Nobles'."
"High Nobles?"
"Hrm. It's because their powers exceed the magicians." The old man replied.
"Why?"
"Maybe by the means they used to carry out their spells. Three years ago, I was saved by a shinobi who used an object that today we keep as 'The Staff of Destruction'."
"Do you talk about the object that can defeat a dragon with a single blow?!"
"Hrm. However, according to our research, it's unnecessary a wand to use their techniques. They execute hand movements which give them access to their spells."
A different medium means that there were different magics, which opened a new universe of spells and forms of combat. A revolution that hasn't been made since the time of the Founder Brimir.
"...Fascinating. Shouldn't we try to do the same? It would be a big advance for the magical system! No, it would be a completely different one!"
"It's useless. We tried to imitate such movements, but no matter who, none executed even the most insignificant 'jutsu'."
"Jutsu?"
"That is the name that their techniques receive."
The bald man was thoughtful.
"What happened to the shinobi who used the staff of destruction?"
"He was wounded and fell unconscious. He never woke up. Even though I healed his wounds, at the end he died. The objects he brought were those that told me their origin."
The Fire Serpent received this news with disappointment.
"Why cannot we perform jutsus?"
"Their bodies differ from ours. Just as commoners cannot do magic, nobles cannot do jutsus like the Shinobis, though ... " The old man's look changed. It reflected a clear pain as if he remembered something unpleasant.
There was a pause.
"..."
"Headmaster?"
"Ah ... no, it's nothing. In any case, this went from something serious to alarming."
Colbert understood what the old man meant. A new kind of magic could only bring one thing ...
"Inquisition ... cannot you intervene for them?" The professor asked.
"I don't think they'll listen to me. In the worst case, both and their families will end up being burned to death..." He declared with bitterness.
Colbert felt a lump in his throat after that last statement. Remembering his past, he had done so many things wrong ... so many lives taken for nothing ...
"Haaa-So troublesome. If only I knew what kind of man he is, I could help him without delay. The problem is that he doesn't seem to be a good person, does he?" Ask Osmond.
"...I-I think so."
"Hrm. Proceed as we had agreed, I will also tell other teachers to pay special attention to that familiar. We will observe him until we confirm our theories. That's it."
"Wait. Where can I find out more about shinobis?"
"... you can start at the library."
...
Left alone, there would be a few minutes when Osmond wouldn't move a finger. The position with his hands clasped and his elbows resting on the desk denoted the level of seriousness in his mental work.
Once his concentration broke, the Oldman wrote a letter:
Dear J:
This letter is to ask for your advice, but above all, your immediate presence.
I apologize for not writing to you in better circumstances after 3 years, but another one of your 'type' has just appeared in this world. Usually, that wouldn't be a big problem, but this man has become the familiar of a noblewoman from the Vallières. In addition, quite possibly, he acquired a forgotten power that would shake the surrounding kingdoms from its foundations. I will wait for your arrival to act due to my little knowledge about this man. I hope this message doesn't arrive too late in your hands, or the next time we see each other it will be in the middle of a meaningless war.
Your eternal friend: Malbis Rulen Ozmandia, the old Osmond.
...
Meanwhile, Colbert was moving impatiently towards the library. It wouldn't be long before he found the source of his concerns.
"!"
Just around a hallway, Colbert meets the familiar with black hair.
"Oh. Good aft-"
Quickly, Madara's eyes turn crimson with the pupil surrounded by three black swirling dots.
"[Sharingan: Genjutsu]"
The teacher's world becomes dark and loses the notion of reality.
...
-Part 2: Academy Hallways-
The aura between Madara and Louise wasn't the best. Both seemed to be separated by a thick wall while they toured the rest of the academy.
The shinobi lacked social skills, but he wasn't stupid. He noted that prolonging this situation would only lead to an unproductive relationship.
"Louise, I need a few days to be on my own."
The little girl trembled slightly at hearing his words.
"W-what do you mean?"
"I want to investigate this land, from history to magical theories."
It was the most logical decision, but the pinkette didn't understand why he needed her permission.
"... Therefore, I will be in the library for some time. Three days at the most."
(O-oh, so that's what it was about ...) "Are you sure? Before you seemed very interested in taking lessons."
"I am, but now isn't the time. Especially when the 'brand' of my presence is so present in the minds of your classmates."
The little girl understood the message of the ninja. If tomorrow they attended classes together, there would be an uncomfortable environment. She didn't need to be a genius to deduce that everyone would be afraid of him.
Madara noticed a discouraging face in Louise.
"I'm not going anywhere." He attracted the attention of the little one. "I will not hurt people without being provoked. I can be calm, especially when a bunch of children doesn't look at me like a piece of garbage. I 'fought' with that blond kid to make sure they stopped with their foolish assumptions of superiority."
(Well ... it's true that everyone will avoid bothering him. Even if all the students weren't present, the rumors in this academy disperse quickly.) The pinkette thought tiredly. "Okay, but please, restrain yourself. Just a little. It wouldn't be funny if the rumors of 'Nobody can enter the library because they're a bully' spreads."
"As I said, I'm calm. In the next three days, I will not fight under any circumstances. You have my word." (If an insect tries to do something, I will send it to sleep with a genjutsu).
Sighing with relief, little Vallière nods. "Then I'll see you in three days." (I also need time to think ...)
In that way, the shinobi said goodbye to Louise. Just as he was about to enter the library, Madara remembered his main problem ...
(I forgot that I cannot read ...)
It was too late to ask for help from his partner, and it would be a shameful act after saying goodbye so confidently.
He debated for a few minutes until he could only find a solution: He must find someone to teach him the basic letters, although it was easier said than done ...
There were obstacles that intervened with that need: First, he must find the right person. Second, even if he found that person, would his pride allow someone to teach him to read as if he were a 5-year-child?
(Disgraceful...) It was the only thing that resonated in his mind at that thought. The shinobi had just shown that there was no one above him and he had no intention of withdrawing that fact.
The problem is that he couldn't allow his pride to play against him. He cannot evade the situation; Madara must learn to read if he wants to get information.
(I made the mistake to believe that I knew everything twice ... there will not be a third.)
With resignation, he decided this time to swallow his pride to avoid a fatal outcome.
Inside the library, Madara could feel several presences. One of them surely was the librarian who was closest to the door.
(I will use a genjutsu to be taught with no one knowing about my embarrassment, but if I do others might suspect.)
The library was a place where people attended. If someone saw the newly convened familiar being 'friendly' with a person, it would end up attracting attention.
(I need someone to become my instructor without people seeing it as something 'suspicious', maybe a teacher of the academy?)
It shouldn't be weird seeing a teacher acting as within his role. It solved his situation.
(Mmh, I'll use a genjutsu in some teacher I find in passing.) With his actions already decided, the Uchiha wandered the corridors of the academy. It didn't take him long to run into a bald guy who the ninja vaguely recognized as a teacher.
"Oh. Good aft-"
"[Sharingan: Genjutsu]"
The fire mage fell into a deep trance. His eyes were empty, like those of a being without a will.
"Follow me." Madara ordered dryly.
...
-Part 3: Classroom-
The next day, Louise woke up suddenly with the dawn sun hitting her face.
Although it hadn't been a busy day for her, she felt tired as she said goodbye to her partner. It had been a day of mental overload, not physical.
After reading for a few hours to clear her mind, Louise went to bed early.
With enthusiasm, she went to the classroom.
It was no longer like the other occasions in which she had to enter with her eyes crouched down and in the most unnoticed way possible. Now the pinkette could be proud to attend since she was a magician in everyone's eyes.
She quickly took her position and took out the books corresponding to the class.
While she was busy writing, during the class, Louise noticed whispers. It wasn't the usual classroom environment where people exchanged a conversation. She noticed how everyone spoke with the lowest voice they had.
*Sigh. (It's inevitable, although disrespectful on their part.)
It wasn't pleasant for Louise to notice how they whispered as if she had committed a crime.
At the end of the first class, a well-known redhead approached her.
"Heyy~ Louise. What happened to that man?"
She didn't even need to turn around to know who she was.
"If you talk about Madara, he's busy doing some research."
"Research what?"
The little girl turns to Kirche. "I will not tell you. Zerbst, I would appreciate it if you didn't approach him. As you may have noticed, Madara is not patient with annoying people ... " There was a serious tone.
The pink hair was using fear as a weapon to scare away her annoying rival. An intelligent movement that would have worked with any other ...
"Jojojo. I would love to feel his violence ... in all its forms~" Answered coquettishly.
"Tsk!"
It would be a few moments before the conversation resumed.
"Anyway~, Is he always that bad-tempered?" Kirche asks.
"I'm not sure, but I guess that's normal after what happened to him."
After reading the day before, Louise could think deeply.
Madara was royalty. Louise summoned him to an unknown place and instead of being treated according to his lineage, he received contempt and teasing. Who wouldn't be angry in such a situation? In addition, he was the elite of his land, one of the strongest magicians. Madara must have a lot of combat experience and killed a lot of enemies. That strength and thirst for blood were the proofs of his supremacy over others.
"Joo~? What do you mean by that?"
"Enough. Zerbst, I'll not keep answering your questions. And I already told you: Stay away from him ... or you will 'burn yourself '." Louise made a mockery of Kirche's Runic Name, The Ardent.
"Sometimes you have to take risks to get the best prize, right~?" She responds with no sign of surrender in her crusade.
"TSK!"
Little Louise wasn't going to continue with this woman's games, and from what she could see, less Madara would do it. He didn't look like the lustful type, although it wouldn't be strange for a man of his status to have one or two concubines.
The minutes passed until a new class started.
...
-Part 4: Academy's roofs-
One hour before Louise woke up:
Madara lay sitting on the roof of the Void Tower.
Thanks to his prodigious mind and the teacher who 'persuaded' to help him, Madara learned to read in less than one day.
In the lotus's position and with a book in hand, for the ninja, there was nothing in this world more important than the reading before him. The reason is that it wasn't any book; It was the text 'The familiars of the Founder Brimir'. A text that took 'borrowed' from a certain person ...
Last night:
While the Uchiha was learning the basic letters of Halkeginia in the library, he thought of taking advantage to clear up other doubts.
Sitting on a wide wooden table, they were facing each other: The professor and the ninja.
"Do you know what is it?" Madara asked as he showed him the runes on his left hand.
"Yes." Colbert answered in an empty tone.
"Keep going..."
"Those are the runes of the Founder Brimir's familiar. More specifically, Gandalfr."
(Brimir? According to Louise, he was the most powerful magician and the one who brought the magical system to this world. I have the same runes as his ... familiar ... which means ...)
The shinobi gestured with his hand for the professor to keep going his explanation. Colbert explained that a Gandálfr can use any weapon as if it were an extension of his body.
(That explains my sudden skill with the spear in my 'game' with that blonde child. How interesting ...) "Besides the power that these runes carry, what does it mean to be a 'Gandálfr'?"
"It means having the burden of being the familiar of a candidate to be the next Founder. Only those who dominate the void can summon one of the four legendary familiars, and these magicians had been extinguished over 6000 years ago."
(So Louise is a void mage. For her amount of magic, I knew that she wasn't an ordinary kid.)
Madara was, at least concerning in power, a ninja god. If Louise were a failure like the other 'insects' he met, the Uchiha would have dismissed her as a burden. He has an eye for recognizing talent in people ... even if they were no longer shinobis.
(If that girl is the successor of Brimir, she will call attention not only on this kingdom ... although I would be disappointed that someone unworthy could summon me.)
Madara stared reflectively at the ceiling for a few moments until he resumed the conversation.
"Who knows about this? Is there anyone who could have problems for the appearance of a new Gandálfr?"
"At the moment, only the headmaster and I have found out. Many nobles would like to lay hands on a familiar like Gandálfr to use it to their benefit. The nobility would take advantage to increase their profits by carrying out wars for absurd reasons. "
Madara almost spits on the floor of disgust. He, a former ninja god, being used by insects to bathe with the blood of thousands? Disgusting. Death was a better destiny than that.
"The Headmaster will report to the palace?" He asked with a frown.
"No, that would be the beginning of a war and therefore a stupid act. Unfortunately, we believe it will not go unnoticed forever."
(Should I eliminate both? No, even if I pretend to have none power, eventually Louise will be recognized as a void mage. With or without a familiar, that's inminent.)
Madara had to give up keeping his cover for too long.
(Now I think about it, only two people know about this? The magic of the void is special. Any difference with the other four elements can give a clue to its existence. Although I haven't seen that girl execute spells ... yet.)
"Do you have any material, either books or objects, which can give me information about Gandálfr?"
The professor nods.
Present:
(Interesting ... there are four 'familiars of the void' which have different powers. If I had to decide which is the most dangerous of all ...) The Uchiha thought as he read the skills of the void familiar, Windálfr.
In minutes, the sun illuminated the book which made it annoyingly bright. His stomach gave him the last push to abandon his reading with a slight grunt.
It isn't wise to neglect his diet.
Without further delay, Madara goes to the dining room.
On his way, the Uchiha ran into a tall man with a muscular build. He was in his 40's. The man had blue eyes, brown hair, and beard as well as thick eyebrows with the same color. He wore a white full chef uniform with a red scarf around his neck. Madara identified him as a commoner, so he passed by without paying more attention.
"Wait!"
"?" Madara turns around.
"You go to the dining room?"
"Yes. Is there a problem with that?" He asked dryly with a look that said 'Are you going to give me orders?'.
"None, but we don't serve breakfast yet." The chef responds politely.
(Well, back to read ...)
"If you're looking for food, we can give you a little in the kitchen. One or two fewer dishes will not make a difference for the nobles." The commoner offered kindly.
That made the ninja stay thoughtful. What is this man looking for? By gestures and voice tone, he seemed to know him. Did he suspect anything? Did he want to use him for some 'favor'? There is only one way to find out ...
"Lead the way ..." Madara replied almost like an order.
"No problem. My name is Marteau, head chef of the academy. You are...?"
"Madara, independent warrior."
"Hahahaa, a man of action and few words, huh? I like your style."
Both arrive in the kitchen where they meet the other servants.
"Good morning everyone! I brought our spear with me!" Marteau greeted.
"Good morning chief!" The chefs and maids responded in unison.
"Mr. Madara, please wait here while we prepare your food." The head chef told him as he showed a seat with a kitchen table nearby.
Without hesitation, the Uchiha takes the seat.
(They have no surprise that a stranger enters, so they premeditated this ...) The ninja noticed the peculiar situation, but when no one could face him, he felt confident to sweep all the room in case they tried to attack him.
Although he d idn't understand why the chef called him 'Our Spear'. Did that man think he was his property? Madara just kept his guard up.
It would be a few minutes while he looked out the window before his food arrived. It was a hot stew dish with soft white bread. Before looking at the food served, Madara noticed that the one who took it hesitantly was the maid who had saved the day before, Siesta.
As a sign of 'thank you,' the Uchiha nodded as he prepared to eat.
The first time he was in the dining room with Louise, Madara was confused at not finding 'chopsticks', but with his [Sharingan] he could copy the eating habits of the other students. In the process, he learned basic manners, since he didn't have the habit of eating in public.
Sophistically, Madara consumed his food. This action made more than one maid blush when they saw him.
When he finished, the ninja felt a strange sensation of energy. It was something that Madara had already experienced when he had lunch with Louise.
"How was it?" Asked Marteau.
"... It wasn't bad." The Uchiha answered neutrally.
"Only that?"
Madara had concentrated on finding the taste of poison among the taste of food. They could also use mixtures with unknown flavors since he was in another world. But if he felt poisoned, it would take him 5 seconds to cut the academy with his [Susano'o], escape and recover.
"... Mmh, to tell you the truth, it's the second time I've had anything that good." Madara said remembering how little he tasted his stew. He was struggling to express his gratitude for the food, something rare in him.
"Hahahaa, that's what I want to hear. Although it isn't surprising either. That stew is what we serve to the noble children."
"I see."
The shinobi stood watching the black-haired maid in front of his table, right next to the chief chef.
(Let's see what they hide ...) "Then, why do you give me such a warm reception? As far as I remember, we haven't met until today." He asks Marteau.
"I can answer that!" A maid of brown hair and brows answered with a ponytail.
"And you are...?"
"Celine, a maid of the academy! Nice to meet you, Mr. Madara!"
"Mmh. Then?"
"Yes! We want to express our gratitude! Not only did you save our companion from injustice, but you imposed yourself before a noble! You became an inspiration for us who come from a peasant descent!"
Leaving aside the maid's exceedingly high voice, it surprised Madara. It had been decades since someone had said 'thank you' to him.
"... So, what is that about 'our spear'?"
"Oh. That's a term for you. We saw how you defeated the blond noble with a spear, so it seemed good to call you that way." Marteau replied instead of Celine.
Now he understood. These people believe that he is a peasant, and seeing him triumph over a nobleman, Madara won their hearts. If the abuse was common practice, most of these people would hate those kids with airs of greatness. Obviously, the shinobi resented being compared to insects, but he knew that in those words there was nothing but admiration.
"Hmph, there's no need to thank me or give me a nickname. I only did a little 'retribution' against that child who dared to challenge me as if I were a weakling. Although ..." Madara paused as he realized that the surrounding people had stopped working.
"... it was also a gesture of gratitude to Siesta. She gave me important information and treated me with due respect."
"A real gentleman! And also proud! Every time I like you more!" The head chef laughed.
"Exactly, like a knight in shining armor!" Celine added with stars in her eyes.
Both invaded dangerously Madara's personal space.
"Our spear! Let me shake hands!" Said the muscular chef.
"Oh, yes, me too!"
"NO. Moreover, both of you, get away from me."
As if they were doing a tug-of-war game, Madara put his hands on their faces to push them away. Although the ninja avoided their approaches, he couldn't make them stop trying. Their faces were deforming, but they didn't seem to feel any pain.
The devotion they had for Madara is creepy. If Hashirama saw this ... he wouldn't stop laughing.
"S-s-stop!" Siesta raised the voice without first denoting her stutter. "You two are making him feel uncomfortable!" The maid argued while waving her hands in a 'stop' sign.
In Siesta's eyes, the Uchiha was a merciless being who would treat his problems violently if he didn't resolve them with words. And she wasn't wrong in that ...
"Oh, I'm sorry. Everyone, back to work!" Marteau caught the attention, so the other chefs went back to work. Although the chefs didn't stop paying attention to the conversation.
Just when Siesta was relieved, Celine grabs her by the shoulders, pulls a chair next to Madara and sits the maid in less than 3 seconds.
(Eh?) Siesta thought. The head chef and Celine gave him a gesture with the hand of 'good luck'.
"Since you seem a little shy, at least tell us where you learned to brandish a weapon that way. It never hurts to learn to defend yourself." Marteau continued with the conversation.
(Hmph ... I see ... you want information ...) Though he didn't understand why the maid was seated next to him. "...When you are between life and death throughout your life, the human can become strong by himself. I learned to fight with anything was within my reach. I have no teacher or secret. It was defending myself or dying." He answered coldly.
"Heee, sounds like you've had a hard life ..." Celine added while peeling some potatoes.
"A 'hard life' ..." Madara mumbled. He remembered his life and how harmful his actions were. Followed by that, the ninja showed a sore smile.
"Hmphehehe ... maybe ... I have all this strength on my side, so what? All my brothers died, I am homeless, and now suddenly I must 'help' a girl I know nothing about. I wonder if that means going through a hard life ... "
From the sight of anyone, that seemed the speech of someone hurt and honest, but that wasn't the case at all. He didn't lie, but the ulterior motives of Madara are to manipulate the hearts of the servants to work for him. This way he could find out about any important event thanks to these walking information sources.
Besides, didn't hurt to have a place to eat quietly ...
(We talk too much ...) They thought Marteau and Celine with concern.
Meanwhile, Siesta's opinion about Madara went up.
(Maybe ... Sir Madara isn't a bloodthirsty monster ... just maybe.)
...
-Part 5: Tristania, capital of Tristain-
Night.
Inside a bar, there is a peculiar meeting.
Two men with alcohol served in elegant glasses exchange information at a table far from the others.
The first had a magician's cloak with his face hidden by a white mask. Under his clothes, someone could notice his wand, implying that he is a mage.
The second is a hooded man in an elegant magician's suit who didn't let the light touch his face. Like the first, you could see his wand under the front of his clothes.
Both looked extremely suspicious, but none of the other people dared to say anything. It's clearly a meeting between nobles. Disturbing them is the same as suicide.
"...changing the subject. We found another shinobi. We need you to take care of this." Said the man in the white mask.
"Are you sure? Oh well, your sources are always reliable." Says the hooded man who stroked his own face repeatedly.
"We are not 100% sure, but the probability is high. We will not risk Halkeginia falling to heretics."
"Is he of high rank? Because if so, I don't think I can help you from my position ... "
"No. But given our research, it could become a serious problem."
"Jooo?"
The hooded man took a moment to drink his wine. "Where is he?"
"In the Magic Academy of Tristain." The masked man replied.
...
Author's Notes:
The name 'Malbis Rulen Ozmandia' I took it from a novel of 'ZNT' called 'Strawberry And Knight'. It was a novel I liked very much, but it only reached the third chapter. So I made a 'tribute'.
Thank you very much for the 196 follows, 163 favorites and 37 reviews!
Chapter seven in progress...
English isn't my mother tongue. If you notice an error, please show it to me!
