Disclaimer: I do not own Familiar of Zero/Zero no Tsukaima

Chapter VIII - A Brief Rest

"So Fouquet is still alive," said the headmaster, propping his elbows up on his desk and resting his chin on his joined hands.

"Yes," Professor Colbert confirmed, from his seat in front of the headmaster's desk. "But we have no idea where he is now."

He had returned to the castle barely an hour ago, but the headmaster had summoned him immediately, in order to hear his report.

"Yes," Osmund sighed, looking weary. "Still, you managed to recover the staff, and young Lady Valliére. And it is not true to say we have no leads. I do not know if you have noticed, but the desk outside my office is woefully empty."

"I had noticed," Professor Colbert responded. "You believe Miss Longueville to be involved?"

"If not, then the timing of her disappearance is entirely too coincidental," Osmund answered.

"I see," Colbert said, with a sigh.

Personally he agreed. It was both galling and unnerving to admit that a spy had been able to operate under their noses this whole time, without any of them noticing. What if she had belong to someone other than a thief, such as the self-proclaimed revolutionaries currently plaguing Albion? They would need to be more alert from now on.

"Now, onto other matters," the headmaster said. "About Miss Valliére and her familiar, you reported that Siesta had already defeated Fouquet by the time you arrived?"

"According to her and her master," Colbert replied. "She was able to force the thief to flee."

"Quiet the step up from defeating an academy student," the old man mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Even with his attention divided, defeating a mage capable of creating such a powerful golem is no mean feat. It certainly lends further credence to the discovery you made in the wake of the summoning ceremony."

"Are you suggesting we tell them now?" Colbert asked.

The headmaster merely shrugged, and smiled.

"I think it would be better, perhaps, to give them the clues, and see if they can not figure it out for themselves."

"Another test?"

"I was thinking it would something more along the lines of a lesson. I am a teacher after all."


Siesta walked briskly through the halls of the Tristain Academy of Magic, feeling far lighter than she had at any point during the last two weeks. In fact, it might very well be the best she had felt since before the night she had served Miss Louise that fateful glass of wine.

She was dressed in a borrowed academy uniform, as the clothes Miss Louise had bought her had been damaged in Fouquet's attack on the academy, and were irreparable. At her side hung her sword, which earned curious but guarded looks from both students and servants alike; the teachers made a point of not looking.

Under normal circumstances no-one would be allowed to walk through the school armed, especially not a commoner. However, the headmaster had made an exception for her, as it was part of her duties to protect Miss Louise, and most of the other familiars could do lethal damage to a person without much warning (although she doubted she'd much use against Miss Tabitha's dragon, sword or no). It helped that Professor Colbert had made sure that she was properly credit for her role against Fouquet, something that had caught her quite off guard.

She passed a couple of the younger serving girls, they nodded respectfully at her, and she nodded back uncertainly. That was one of the effects of her victory over an infamous outlaw. If she was being honest she would admit that the attention had been flattering and exciting at first, but it was beginning to wear thin, as people were asking her to repeat the same story days later, and distracting her from her duties.

She was on her way back to her mistress' chambers, carrying the serving tray securely in both hands. There were three letters resting next to one of the plates, they had arrived by private courier during the night. A small leather pouch had arrived with the mail, it had rattled as she'd picked it up, and it had been easy enough to guess what was inside. This she had placed in her pocket for safekeeping.

It was the routine she had been following since their return to the castle about a week ago. At first it had been because, whilst not confined to her bed precisely, Miss Louise had been instructed to exert herself as little as possible. Thus Siesta had taken to going straight down to the kitchens of a morning, and bringing breakfast directly to Miss Louise in her bedchamber.

It had been surprisingly easy to get her mistress to agree with idea. Siesta suspected that it was partly because the healer's instructions meant that she could not practice no matter how early she woke anyway … and partly because of the new rumours that had sprung up around her.

She would have thought the fact that Fouquet had managed to avoid capture by the chevaliers for so long, and that she had overcome magical barriers that were second to none, would mark "him" as more than a "mere thief". As such, there should be little shame in the fact that Miss Louise had not been able to overcome Fouquet by herself. In fact, they should be congratulating her for risking her own life in defence of the princess!

Siesta sighed, then there was the resurgence in the rumours of the supposed affair between the two of them. Apparently the fact that she had ridden to her mistress' rescue was proof enough of a romance to most of the student body.

As she turned the corner towards Miss Louise's chambers, she spotted the last person she wanted to see walking towards her, Miss Montmorency, with a gaggle of her friends in tow. As they drew close to each other the young noble spotted her and whispered something to her friends, they all broke out in laughter, which they feebly attempted to hide behind their hands.

Siesta felt her blood begin to boil, so she forced herself to ignore the airheaded girls and fixed her gaze straight ahead. It was so infuriating to know what she had done, but be unable to do anything about it. She could not even tell anybody that she knew.

As the group drew closer Montmorency looked her dead in the eye, and Siesta found herself taken aback by what she saw there. She could not quite identify what that look meant, but she was sure she did not like it. They passed each other, and Siesta continued on her way, determinedly resisting the urge to glance back over her shoulder.

She arrived Miss Louise's room minutes later, and entered to find her mistress already seated at the small table, fully dressed. A walking cane rested against the arm of the chair. Miss Louise may well make a fully recovery according to the healer, but it would take longer due to the time between incurring the injury and receiving treatment.

Most of the students seemed to consider that piece of wood as another sign of weakness, and another thing to make fun of her for. She had seen Miss Louise glaring at it when she thought no-one was looking.

Siesta set the tray down on the table in front of Louise, and set the letters to one side.

"Thank you, Siesta," she said.

A comfortable silence fell between the two of them, and the only noise that could be heard was clacking of Louise's cutlery.

"So Miss," Siesta began. "Will you be returning to classes today?"

"…yes," Louise responded, her voice devoid of enthusiasm.

Siesta frowned.

"Are you okay, miss?" she asked.

"Yes," Louise answered, distractedly, before she blinked, and her eyes refocused on Siesta. "Oh, yes Siesta, I'm fine."

"If you're sure, miss."

Siesta did not believe for a moment that her mistress was as okay as she made out, but there was not much she could do about it if she was determined to return to class. Instead she reached over for the letters, and handed them too Miss Louise. She also produced the small, leather pouch from her pocket and placed it on top of the letters.

"These came for you today, miss," she said.

Her mistress mumbled her thanks again as she reached over for one of the letters, using a single finger to break the wax seal. She read the letter in silence for several minutes before finally speaking.

"It is from my mother," she said.

Siesta felt her pace quicken at the mere mention of the woman, even as a memory she found Lady Valliére to incredibly intimidating. In her mind she could still clearly picture the woman's piercing gaze.

"It is no different from usual," Louise continued, oblivious to the maid's thoughts. "She asks how my schoolwork is going, and says that she sends my allowance for the next month. She does not mention my … my kidnapping, at all."

Siesta could not help the frown that pulled at her lips, surely any mother would be concerned if a notorious thief had kidnapped her daughter? Yet, it may be true that this was the first letter from Lady Valliére since the incident. As far as Siesta knew, no other mail had come for her mistress in the last week.

"Perhaps it is for the best," Louise said, bracingly. "After all, it would only make things more difficult if my family were to organise a manhunt for her."

She gently lay her mother's letter back down on the table and reached for the next one, grimacing as saw her name written on the front in an elegant, yet severe, script.

"My eldest sister Eleanor," she grumbled, as she pried it open. Her eyes briefly scanned over the page before she scowled, screwed up the parchment, and threw it into the unlit fireplace.

"Nothing important," she said.

Siesta frowned, wondering just how bad Miss Louise's relationship with her family was. As annoying as she found her brothers, she could not imagine herself discarding their letters so easily.

Louise picked up the third letter, and this time the sight of her own name on the front brought a huge smile to her face. The handwriting was elegant like Lady Elaenor's, but also softer, and more rounded. The envelope was thicker than the other two, and when she opened them several sheets fell out. When Louise began to read it looked to Siesta that she did so eagerly, obviously taking her time with this one.

Whilst Miss Louise was reading, Siesta took the opportunity to make the two of them some tea. She returned to the table and placed the drink down, just as Miss Louise raised her head from the letter.

"My second sister, Cattleya," she explains. "She writes that she is glad that I am safe, asks after my health, and mentions some new pets she has acquired."

"Oh, does your sister like animals, miss?" Siesta asked.

"She has a fondness for them, yes," Louise replied, with a giggle.

Siesta's brow furrowed, she wondered just what her master found so funny, but pushed that question to the side, it was not important. It was just nice to see that there was at least one member of her family that Miss Louise had a nice relationship with.

Once again the two of them drifted into a comfortable silence, and as Miss Louise finished her breakfast, Siesta listened to the singing of the birds outside the window. After a short while however, she turned back to her mistress to find that the smile and enthusiasm brought on by her sister's letter were gone. Instead she was chewing at her food with a grim determination.

"Are you not enjoying your meal, miss?" she asked, despite already knowing that was not the problem at all.

"Hm?" Louise responded. "No, no, it's quite delicious."

Siesta wondered if she should press harder, to get her mistress to talk about what was bothering her, when there came a light rapping from the chamber door. With a nod from Louise she walked over to answer it, and her eyes widened when she saw who was on the other side. She cast a quick glance over at her mistress, who glaring at the figure in the doorway with narrowed eyes.

"Zerbst," she muttered.

"Hello Zero!" Zerbst replied, with a smile, as she sauntered into the room. "I am glad to see you looking like yourself again.

"And what do you want?" Louise demanded.

"Why, I came to check up on you, of course," she replied, sweetly. "I wanted to see if you were well. I have been keeping an eye out for you all week, but you've been moping up here."

"Fine, you've seen me. Now you can leave," Louise growled.

"Oh Valliére, you wound me. And after I took a wound for you too," Miss Kirche replied, tapping her left cheek, and Siesta could see that there was a faint scar beneath her eye.

The maid also noticed her master grimace at the girl's words.

"I never asked you to come for me," she grumbled. "And I am surprised you would risk your pretty face for my sake, it is the only thing you have going for you."

"Oh!" Miss Kirche exclaimed. "You really think I am pretty? I'm flattered. But should you really be saying such things to another woman in front of your lover?"

Louise face immediately turned bright red, and Siesta felt her own cheeks grow warm too. She was used to the innuendo flying around about her and Miss Louise, but it was still embarrassing to hear.

"Or is it that the two of you have that kind of relationship?" Miss Kirche continued, her lips splitting into a grin. "Perhaps you're looking for additional partners to spice things up? My, I did not know that the two of you were so adventurous, you both look so very … Tristanian."

Against her will the image of herself, Miss Louise, and Miss Kirche forced its way into her head. The three of them beneath the covers, their limbs intertwined. She shook her head violently. Her face had grown so hot she feared it might catch fire, and Miss Louise had turned a magnificent shade of scarlet.

"I keep telling you, we are not –," Louise began, only for Miss Kirche to cut her off and keep talking.

"Although I must say, Siesta cut quite the dashing figure as she rushed to save her lovely lady from the dastardly bandit, don't you think? And to defeat a powerful mage in single combat, armed only with a length of steel? Why, the bards might write songs about it … if they were not all so repressed."

There was a moment of silence, save for a low growl emanating from the back of Miss Louise's throat. Siesta herself was starting to feel quite light-headed, if this kept up she might very well faint.

"Ah, now that I think about it," Miss Kirche continued, roguish grin still firmly in place. "To wield a sword with such skill would require strong and dexterous fingers, no wonder you are so attached to the girl."

A long stream of words burst from Miss Louise's mouth, and Siesta was sure they would have been quite unladylike, if they had not been so unintelligible. Still, Miss Kirche seemed to understand what was being said, for she responded:

"You flatter me, Valliére. Now, time is getting on, and as much as I enjoy discussing your sexual awakening, we have lessons to attend. Shall we?"

"Yes!" Siesta exclaimed, perhaps a little too loudly, as she latched on to the chance to end this conversation. "If we don't leave now Miss, you'll be late for your lessons."

"Fine!" Louise barked.

Grabbing her cane, she lay the letters from her mother and her sister on the table next to her bed, then hobbled as fast as she could out of the room. Miss Kirche followed behind her, chuckling softly to herself, although Siesta thought there was a strangely sad look in her eyes. The maid herself went last, making sure to close the door securely behind her as she left.


Later, during the evening, Kirche returned to her own chambers for a fresh blouse, the one she was wearing had gotten dirty during one of Valliére's regular accidents.

Instead of just quickly exchanging her clothing as she had intended, she found herself standing in front of her mirror, examining her left forearm. There was a nasty-looking scar stretching almost the entire distance between her elbow and wrist; it was jagged and darker than the skin around it.

Professor Colbert had treated it as best he could in the field and the doctor had taken a look at it when they had reached the village. However, by the time a healer had actually been able to look at it, it had been too late to prevent scarring. She would not be able to show off her arms anymore. Still, she supposed it was a small price to pay for having Valliére returned safely.

She grinned as she recalled the meeting between them that morning, that girl was just too easy. She was not quite sure why, but she was becoming fond of the young blonde, perhaps because she had a fire in her, unlike so many of her countrymen?

Her eyes fell on the pieces of parchment laying on her desk. It was something she had taken from one of the boys this morning, shortly before calling on Valliére. The boy, it seemed, had quite the way with words; unfortunately he had used this talent to write an incredibly lewd it of prose.

Normally she would not have a problem with that, but this author seemed to have drawn inspiration from the rumours currently flying around the castle about Valliére and her maid. He had changed the names, certainly, but it was still entirely too easy to tell who the characters were supposed to be. She did not think the two of them needed to deal with this right now, there were limits to this sort of thing.

She opened her window, touched her wand to the paper and cast the now burning sheaves into the warm spring air. As she watched the pages reduced to ash as they fell, she briefly mused on how the nobles of Tristain preached about honour, but never seemed to miss the chance to kick someone while they were down.

Someone knocked on her door, it was rhythmic in a way that was instantly recognisable.

"Coming, Tabitha!" she called, as she quickly grabbed a new blouse and pulled it on, before heading for the door.


At the same time as Kirche was examining herself in her mirror, Louise, with Siesta by her side, was returning to her chambers for supper. Louise's cane impacted against the stone floor perhaps a little more heavily than was entirely necessary, every strike echoing her displeasure.

Louise's mood was as dark as the sky before a thunderstorm, and she was determined to have her lunch apart from the rest of the student body. As far away as possible from the idiots who thought she did not know what they were whispering about. It had been a month, why wouldn't those stupid rumours die already!?

However, when she opened her chamber door, she froze in shock. All thoughts of how badly the morning had gone fled from her mind, as she saw two hooded figures standing by the window. Both of them turned to face her, having heard the door creak open. She felt ice form in the pit of her stomach, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Siesta reach uncertainly for the hilt of her sword.

"Who are you?" she demanded, barely managing to keep her tone firm.

One of the figures slowly reached up and began to remove their hood.


Author's Note: Yay, new chapter! I also went back and edited earlier chapters, nothing major, the story's still the same. I just made some small changes to (hopefully) make them a nicer read and so they would fit in better with what I have planned for the future.

Until next time!