*Author's corner*
I Own none of the work on whose I base my story.
Well, once again, it took time. But I hope it was worth it.
I plan to release simultaneously the first chapter of another story. Well, more like a few days later. (it will appear on my profile.)
I won't stop this one. But alternating between a few differents stories will help me avoid burning myself out. Writing is after all a pleasure, if it becomes busy work on top of my already existing pile of work it becomes hard to continue.
Oh yeah for those wondering. Isabella is a character from the Light novel. With an absurdly small role for the potential she brings to the story. I also reveal the name of the inquisitors, they all came from different licence altogether. But I needed more character. Try to guess where they come from. (PS. Don't be afraid, their role is secondary at best.)
Still no idea what to do with the coming season of Wakfu. Especially since Evangeline seems pregnant again. So one more child to the lot. I'll see what I do with it when I'll know more. For now, if the child is born, he'll make it to this fic.
PS: Adamai, please. Freezer is not a good inspiration. You look like a meme. That's why you shall not take charisma as a dump stat.
-Nasha Rei-Kun: A great thanks for this review. Indeed, things are slowly getting awry. As for your question, yes, English isn't my primary language. And I know grammar tend to be my weak point there. So excuse me for this. Though I try to get better with it.
-Slash17: Surprise.
-foxchick1: Well, here it is.
-Zapper3000380: I'm truly sorry about that. But as I said, English is not my first langage, and while I'll make effort to minimalize grammatical error, chance are quite a few will escape my not-so-watchfull eye.
I Still read and enjoy all of your reviews. Even the bad one so don't be afraid to make one.
*Author's corner end.*
Chapter 8: On her Princess's secret service.
*Dream on*
Louise was once again in the mage's house. Turned for the occasion into an improvised hospital room. They may only be one patient, it didn't change the seriousness of the situation.
"Nora! Keep watching over him! The worst may have passed, but he isn't out of this yet." The mage moved his stiffen neck. They had been at it for days. Each time they thought the man was out of danger, another injury relapsed and they would need to rush again.
It came to the point they needed to take turns watching over him. Sasha was sleeping right now and **i**i* would soon go to.
Louise as an observer could hardly get anything out of this. Healing magic was out of her area of expertise. Some Naysayer, would add that so was the case with nearly all magic, but it didn't matter now. While she was caught breathless when she saw the eyes of the broken man bearing upon her during the last dream. He had been fully asleep ever since.
The only thing she gained, was she started to hear the name of the white hair mage.
That is until the broken man stir. Both Nora and the mage were upon him in a matter of second. Even the elf was waking up to see what the ruckus was about.
"Hey, are you alright?" Asked Nora. Nearly bouncing on his bed.
"He won't be if you press on his wound." Deadpanned the mage.
Nora sheepishly took a step back.
"Thank you. Now good sir, we nearly lost you. Can you open your eyes. Good, how many fingers can you see." Said the mage holding three fingers.
"Am I alive?" moaned pitifully the man. Opening difficultly his eyes.
"Not the answer I was expecting, but I'll take it for now. Yes, you are alive. You can thank us for that." Said the mage with a bright smile...Was Nora blushing? Changing thought now.
The man looked around, trying as he could to observe the three. Before he stop on Nora. "You are...UUgh." He cutted his sentences holding his side.
"DAMN! The ribs are not fully healed. Nora! Sasha! Try to hold him down! I'll repair the damage."
"It hurts" whined the blue haired boy.
"Please, try to hold. You'll make it kid. I'll even help you when you're on your feet again, but don't give up."
"Don't give up Siesta!" Uhh?
*Dream off*
CRASH
Louise slowly raised from her bed. Looking at the windows.
"Are you alright Siesta?! This one was a little hard. Sorry." She heard the far too loud voice of his familiar outside.
"It's alright Yugo. I can take it! Let's continue." Siesta was so full of energy in the morning.
Louise dragged herself to the balcony. The moons were up in the Sky and the first ray of the sun were still quite far away. How early were those two getting up? It was inhuman. She nearly thought about shooting them with a Stasis shot for interrupting her sleep. But if there was one thing she learn with the Golem fiasco, it was how dangerous this shot could be if there were even a slight slip of controls.
And with her sisters arriving in a few weeks (the time to assure themselves Cattleya would be alright with the travel.) Out of question to show anymore slip of control.
She made with dropping a bucket of water on the both of them. Though she couldn't remember why there was a bucket here.
There was a note on it. "Use it on me like in The Maid and the Archon page 643 _Siesta"
Louise didn't know what to think about it. Neither about the growing infatuation of the girl on his familiar... Meh, they were (technically) adult already, they could take care of themselves.
"Oh No!" Exclaimed Siesta in a fake surprised tone. "I'm all wet now!"
Speaking of which she became increasingly bold recently. Something about her Mofette blood running wild. She didn't want to know, those Mofette sounds scary.
Louise palmed her head, a headache from to start the day, just great.
"SO SHAMEFUL." Screamed a blushing Montmorency on a near balcony.
"Why are you looking at them then?" Asked the not fully awake Louise.
She thought about going back to sleep, but she didn't feel like going back to this dream. She somehow ended up even more tired after. She took a chair and choose to watch Yugo and Siesta training below.
Today, Agnes will come with their order from the Queen. And the headmaster alerted the wakfu control curriculum would begin in two weeks. Not knowing how long the mission would take, Yugo wanted to be sure Siesta would be able to act in his stead when necessary.
So ever since they came back from the ball (another headache) Yugo had put Siesta through an intensive training and teaching session. And Siesta was doing good if Louise shall say. At first she couldn't even touch him. Now she could land a few good hits.
Sure, he was holding back, as he refused to use the rune against her. But even weaponless Yugo was skilled. Yet Siesta was not faltering, rising each time with as much determination.
Louise Sigh. She couldn't let a commoner beat her to it. She was a Valliere and Siesta may have become her friend. Was not coming the day were an ex-maid would shine more than a Valliere on the battlefield.
After all. There were still a few hours before the coming of the Musketeer Captain, and Siesta wasn't the only one with a harsh training session waiting for her.
*Scene Change*
A pillar of fire burst from the ground. Sending dirt and ash flying everywhere.
"Tabitha on the right!" She had no idea who screamed this order. It may have been herself.
A portal open, swallowing a fireball coming at them. Before sending it back.
"My turn!" Screamed Kirche unleashing fire blast after fire blast. Soon ray of stasis followed. Illuminating the morning sky. For the absolute terror of the bystander and onlooker of the training.
Yet their opponent remain unscathed. Sending a wakfu infused fireball at the trio. It exploded with the force of a small firestone. Louise was projected into the air. Her fall cushioned by a pillow of dirt. "Thanks for the save Guiche."
Guiche was building as many covers and valkyrie as he could. Which Explained the molten slag of metal on the ground. Kirche and Tabiha appeared out of a portal. The germanian threatening to release her breakfast.
"Sorry." Said the girl turned Eliatrope.
"It's no problem. Just not used to it yet." Said the germanian with a difficult smile.
Blue line formed on the walls around them. Before a perfectly controlled explosion cut it in two.
Rain of Wakfu fire fell again.
Kirche grined feraly. Tabitha refocused. Louise ran controlling her stasis all the while. Guiche formed line after line of Walkyrie their core protected and coated in magic alloy.
Colbert on his side smiled sheepishly. As he released the fire of hell itself upon his student. He was by no mean an evil man, and would never raise a hand against another human being once again for war. But they asked him to train them. And it was so long since he got the chance to experiment with new spells.
*Scene Change: PoV Yugo*
Yugo couldn't help but laugh as Louise and the rest of the little group described their session.
"I tell you Yugo. Colbert is a monster. A true Monster." Louise said still panting.
She was covered in dirt and soot. But he didn't miss the smile that would find its way on her lips. Her self-esteem was rising. She was training as a mage, a good mage at that. No fool could deny her ability anymore.
He gave a quick glance at the other. Guiche was speaking with Montmorency, trying to convince her to join them in their training with Colbert. A hard prospect when covered in bruises and burn.
Colbert himself was making himself as small as he could. "Sorry about that. I got carried away ."
"I didn't knew you were that strong professor Colbert. Why don't you speak about this in class. You could teach us some of those spells." Kirche was the better off. Being a fire mage herself, she was able to alleviate some of the damage.
Colbert grew somber. "Tell me miss Zerbst. When you think of fire, what is it that first come to your mind ?"
The red haired girl didn't think for long before answering. "Quite an easy question. Fire is passion, an encompassing desire, never quenched, unstoppable, the purest form of emotion."
Colbert looked surprised. Clearly not being ready for this answer. Then his surprise turn to a smile. "It is a good answer miss Zerbst. Sadly, this is not the consensus. To most, fire is nothing more than a weapon. Death and destruction manifested. After all, Water can heal, Wind can carry you away, earth nourished and gave life to the soil and the plant. In comparison what can fire do?"
Kirche was about to contest, but Colbert raised a hand. "Please let me fully explain. I know it's not true. Fire is not just burning everything to ash. But for all the other, that is all they see. That's why I try to show you something else in class. A proof of what fire can be, a tool of creation."
Kirche remain silent, thinking about it. Yugo guessed he could understand why Colbert became a professor. And he was expected to follow that example pretty soon. He sighed.
"Very well, everyone, as you know today Louise and I will be sent on a mission for the crown. And I don't know how long it will take us. As such, to not disturb your training I have let you a few consign." Yugo had gained back the attention of the group.
"Siesta, shall our mission take too much time, you'll be the one to make an introduction to Wakfu usage in front of the student. You really got the hang on this, and Tabitha will be able to help you if you wish." His servant acquiesced with determination.
"Speaking of this? Why isn't it Tabitha who teach the class?" Asked Montmorency.
Siesta raised to her feet. "I was entrusted this task by Yugo. I wont recede from it."
Montmorency jumped back surprised by Siesta's vehemence. Ever since Yugo spoke about letting Siesta teach how to use Wakfu, the young woman had been adamant on fully mastering the subject. Well, he would support her in this endeavour.
"This class will be open to all. To have someone not of noble descent teaching it will give an encouragement to the commoner. A proof that they can do it and to not give up." Yugo explained. Best end this issue now before it can worsen. He hoped Siesta would be alright.
"Tabitha, You already mastered the wakfu vision. So I would like you to help the other master it too. After that, train your portal, this is the very basis of the Eliatrope fighting style. Though be careful when shooting them. Launching a portal into another is how you shoot laser. You sould avoid doing that accidentally."
The blue haired girl looked at her hand. This revelation, turning into her head. She was smart, Yugo had no doubt she would probably be a prodigy with those soon enough. Probably better than him.
"Professor Colbert. I would like you to teach them this strange trick. Fusing Wakfu with other energy is common in the land of the twelves, but quite rare for the Elitatrope, we are connected too strongly with the energy of space and portal." Colbert nodded happily. Probably thousands of possibility passing through his head.
"Sylphid." The Blue Dragon left his bag. "I will need you to remain there with the others. I'll give you food." Sylphid salute, she liked his bag, but liked food more. Good.
"For the rest of you, continue learning aura vision. Especially you Guiche, it could greatly help you with your Golem."
Well, he could only hope the class would go as good as this group had.
*Scene Change*
The time for Louise to clean herself and grab a few cloths and Agnes had come with their mission.
Right now they were riding horses to the capital.
"Your target is Tax collector Turene." That was some way to begin a conversation. "We suspect him along a few other nobles to abuse their position against the commoners."
"When you speak of abuse? What do you mean?" Louise was disappointed to hear about another corrupted noble, but before that she remembered what she heard of Mott. What kind of thing some of her fellow did.
Agnes frown. "Turene can influence the amount of tax a person receives. As such he can force the commoner to act as he pleases under threat of being left in absolute misery. And that pig sure has no qualms about asking for the worst he can think. And with Reconquista now it only worsen, trying to actively cause pain and unrest." The musketeer was burning with so much hatred a shushu would tipped her his hat.
"WHAT!? How come nobody does anything? Isn't the Queen and the Princess able to condemn him." Louise of course didn't take the news well either.
"Saldy, that bastard is protected by someone powerful in the council, we haven't been able to identify him yet. Furthermore, it's impossible to act against a noble without proof and no commoner would risk it by fear of retribution. That's where you come in."
Yugo and Louise nodded.
"What are we to do?" He promised to protect the people. He wouldn't let that man get away with this.
"That will be up to you. I am to furnish you with commoner's cloth and a bag of money." She said as she took out two bundles out of a bag on her horse.
Yugo caught the both of them.
Louise for her part. "We have to go in disguise as...Commoners!?" For the ever prideful Louise it was quite the shock.
"Turene is not stupid enough to act out of way in the presence of another noble, or at least not one who isn't part of his ilk."
Yugo took a look at the cloth. The color was wrong, but it wasn't that different from the cloth he used to wear as a child. They even included a hat for his wing, how nice of them. "Not bad."
"How not bad? Those are rags. You're a King shouldn't you be a little more careful about your appearance?"
"I was raised in a small village by an ex-bounty hunter turned innkeeper. Fancy cloth never was that much of a thing." (And Armand, who became King of the Sadida had a profound aversion to shirt anyway. And clothing in general for that matter.)
Agnes snort. "If this is what it take, I shall ask The Princess to make the Inn treatment mandatory. If only to spare me the sight of horrible dress."
Did Agnes made a joke?
"And Louise. Think of how much the princess will be impressed with you if you are ready to go that far for her." Yugo tried to muster his most innocent smile while saying so.
"Give me those cloths! I'll show the princess what a good commoner I could be." Said the Pinkette while raising her fist in the air.
Yugo gave a thumb up to Agnes, who facepalmed. And for a moment the Eliatrope froze. It was but a second but in those small gestures the Captain reminded him of Evangeline each time he would trick Amalia or Tristepin into action...A more cynical and angry version of Evangeline.
She launched a bag of gold to Louise nearly dismounting her.
"The money will help you get your hand on anything you would need for your investigation. However, be careful with it, it was the maximum we could send you without raising suspicion from thecouncil."
Louise saluted. "You need not to worry, I'll take great care of the money the Princess gave us."
*Scene Change*
"We lost everything."
They both sighed heavily as they sat near a fountain in the middle of Tristain.
Louise had emitted the hypothesis that someone like Turene may find his way near a casino. Yugo not yet fully knowledgeable about the local Lord find it a good possibility. Casino were basically churches for Ecaflip and many came to pray. Especially the rich one who didn't know what to do with their money or the desperate. Thing weren't that different in this world.
And with a little luck they could find someone who knew something. Sadly, it look like Louise had a certain problem with gambling. One hour later and he was forced to tear her off from the place before she gamble her own cloth... like she had already gambled his shirt away.
Wich his part of the reason why he was attracting so much attention. How lucky nobody knows the face of the Angel, and those who did would never make the connection with a half naked guy near a fountain. He still had a hat at least.
"Damn that crazy Gallian princess!" Exclaimed Louise.
Indeed, Isabella had to be there. Look like she was a gambler herself. A good one at that. Louise had been rather victorious till she step in. Thanks the Goddess, she didn't out them, just sent an explicit glance at them. But well, she was now in possession of his shirt. He rather not think too much about that.
*Fast Change*
Isabella put the shirt in a little shrine to the Extradimensional God Ecaflip. An eternal proof of her first victory against an Eliatrope Lord and their ally in game of luck. She may not know that much about the Deity's history. But it must value for something. Right?
*Fast Return*
They both sighed as one.
"So what are we going to do now?" Asked Yugo. Trying to ignore the occasional young girl that would look at his bare chest. Or older people complaining about the young and their lack of respect.
"I don't know, but we can't abandon our mission." She was stopped by her belly calling for food. She sat back. Depressed.
They both sighed again.
Yugo looked around. He was thinking about their possible next move. Right now they would need to find a job and get back some gold pieces. But where should they go to find a job. Was there a guild system? Should they go directly to the one in charge and ask for work?
In his own world he would propose himself as a freelance gobbowl player if he ever needed money. He had gained a rather grand reputation on it. But he doubted this sport existed there.
Maybe he could export it here. He was sure he'd find a good number of potential players. But it was for later.
Maybe he could search for an Inn or a Bakery? He got some good experience in it. And being honest, had he not be chosen to be King he would have taken his father's Inn with pleasure.
Before he could speak about it with Louise, the choice was made for him as a large shadow covered the both of them.
*Scene Change*
Scarron was a massive and Bulky man. One that could give a run for his money to Alibert in his prime. A goliath of muscle.
That's why Yugo was somewhat amused of the extreme flamboyance he exuded. Complete Make up, overload of pink, a fake and forced soprano voice. It was like someone fused Renette and Canard with a bodybuilder. Which in itself was funny.
Louise for herself was frozen solid by the good samaritain who had helped them. Or was it the establishment in which they would have to work for the duration of their mission.
"Everyone. My faeries assemble."
A large number of girls in relatively skimpy outfit by Tristanian standard (From Louise word, the more she learns about the world of the twelwes. The more she believes the germanian weren't that barbaric in comparison. On the other side Kirche wanted to visit.) Formed a line in front of the manager.
"Yes Mi mademoiselle." exclaimed the girl in chorus.
"Très bien. My dearie, I want to present you two young one who were lost in our beautiful city." Said the exuberant man while presenting the both of them.
"Hello." greeted the whole bunch.
The charming Fairy Inn, that's the place where they were taken in by Scarron. It was more of a bar than an Inn. A place where men of all age came spend their money on beautiful young girls serving them wine. Scarron had promised that it never went further than that. And that it was a respectable place.
He wouldn't have accepted his offer otherwhile. Still, they were awaiting their presentation.
"Hello, I'm Yugo happy to meet you, and this is my sister Nora." He rather gave a fake name for Louise as the Vallière were apparently well known, and he had doubts on the number of Louise with pink hair. Rather not try his luck. On the other side, nobody knew the true name of the Angel.
Louise looked at him with shock. But Scarron spoke before she could react vocally.
"Nora and Hugo will be working for us for a while. Hugo will help Jessica in the kitchen with the core, while Nora will work amongst the Fairies." Explained Scarron.
It was Yugo not Hugo, thought the Eliatrope. But he could go with that.
"You can change yourself in your room. I'll gave you your working cloth. I'll give one to you too Hugo. I can't have you distracting the fairies." The Bulky man winked loudly.
Yugo let escape a small laugh. He may actually enjoy his time here. If he could get Louise not to explosed it.
*Scene Change: POV Louise*
Louise was in a curious state of mind. On one side, she really wanted to make everything in her sight explose.
For a noble like her to work in this kind of establishment. If her mother somehow got a word about this. As she probably will, since her damn familiar promise to make her a report of everything, she'll never hear the end of it. And that's not telling if Eleonor got hold of the news.
At least with the haversack she will have enough space to sleep. Especially now that Yugo and Sylphid (or is that Irukuku now?) got rid of the smell. Through again, she ignored what Yugo was building in there, to see all those mechanical being assembling some dark, demented castle of doom was freaking her out a bit.
She looked at all the unusable gold in the treasure room. All marked with this strange K. Sadly, money from an unknown land and strange piece of art would attract too much attention on them. So using them was a big no. Still, maybe she could have gambled some of it...Bad way of thought.
On the other side. Yugo had said something that could bring her closer to resolve a personal mystery.
That's why she was waiting for him to get changed before asking him more question.
Passing the time, she thought about what her family was doing.
*Scene Change: POV Karin Desire Vallière*
The Valliere matriarch sighed. It was becoming a popular trend these days.
She had hoped to have her two eldest daughter at the academy to supervise her youngest by the end of the week. Instead, she discovered how moving the two girls required a near militaristic level of logistic.
It was to be expected. Eleonor was a researcher at a great magic university. She couldn't just up and go without the proper justification and explanation. Though it was easily done, most of her fellow all too happy to have her away. With her temper regarding her last...marital event, it was not hard to guess why.
Cattleya was far more problematic. She had always suffered from a mysterious ailment that no healer could either identify nor healed. And each day she would fear a little more that she would learn by the morning that her daughter didn't pass the night. So they needed to be extra careful while transporting her. Thing who wasn't helped in anyway by the large group of animal following her everywhere. She was loved by all the creatures of nature, even without the help of her magic.
As for herself, she couldn't leave the domain right now. Even with the talk of alliance with the Germanian emperor, the Vallière were to remain careful in case of foul play. Those barbarians weren't above betrayal and dirty trick.
*Scene Change: POV Louise*
Louise could hardly stiffen a laugh.
Scarron was indeed the one to give Yugo a shirt. Between the flashy colour and the rather risque cut. It looked barely more dignified than the faerie's costume. Add to it Yugo relatively small stature, especially in comparison to whomever wore this thing first, and you had an eliatrope literally swimming in his shirt, while struggling not to loose it. The ensemble was comedy gold.
The all too serious hat given by Agnes was the cherry on the top.
To his merit Yugo seemed to be quite unphased by it. "I had to put worst." Was his only explanation.
Well, at least she felt better about her own ridiculous clothing.
Enough with this. They had only a few minutes before having to come back to Scarron.
"Yugo, by pure curiosity. Why did you call me Nora?" It may have been a coincidence, but in all honesty, she stoped believing in coincidence when it came to her familiar. The fact he would call her by the same name as the one in her dream, who in passing was an Eliatrope herself, must have some signification.
"Hmm?" Yugo looked at her surprised. "I thought giving your true name may reveal our presence? Will this be a problem ?"
"No. It's alright, we are on a secret mission. But why Nora? Why not an an other name?"
Yugo looked at her pensively. "Does that name pose you problem?"
"Again, No." Interrupted Louise. "Nora is fine. I was just curious about the name."
Yugo shruged. "You could be strange some time." Louise thought he was the last one who could say that.
"But if you really want to know...It's the name of one of my sisters." Louise mind stopped. His sister? Wait...He spoke about it once she remembered. He said he was created by a Goddess, along other Eliatrope and Primordial Dragon.
In a way, by this definition, he could indeed qualify as an angel, just not of the right Deity.
So Nora was a primordial Eliatrope herself. So that means... She remind herself of a very particular lesson she received.
*FlashBack*
It was early in the morning as usual when the whole group assembled. But this time something was amiss.
Tabitha and Kirche looked not completely there...And Montmorency was giving glare at both while muttering about shameful or something.
What? Did Kirche grew bored of the boys and decided to move on to Tabitha? It would explain much.
Yugo entered the circle with a serious face. Followed by a relatively serious Sylphid, which in itself was enough for everyone to focus themselves.
"Hello everyone. Before we start, what I'm going to tell you this morning is very serious and must not leave this group. At least not until I give the authorisation for so." Yugo's voice was unflinching.
"I already revealed this information to Tabitha and Kirche and as such in fairness, I will give them to you too."
Siesta became twitchy, while Kirche and Tabitha remained lost in thought. It was becoming a little scary.
She expected the worst. And wasn't disappointed.
The Dofus. Two sets of six objects of power. Whoever was able to assemble one of the set would become able to defy the Gods themselves.
She felt her breath come short, Colbert dropped his staff. Guiche and Montmorency were slack jaw. It sounded like one of those strange myths. Something who had no place in the actual world. And yet, the utter seriousness of the Eliatrope. And even the dragon.
"You understand why you must keep that information secret. If any people with ill intent are ever learning of it, there is no telling what they will do to acquire even one. " Reconquista came to mind. If any of those men acquired such power, there was no doubt they would use it for trouble.
"So we should find them first." Exclaimed Louise. "That way we can prevent Reconquista from putting their hand on it, and maybe use their power to stop this war."
Yugo let a heavy breath. "Louise, in the story of my world, there has only ever been two times when someone was able to assemble a whole set and used it...The first time, it was done by a child."
He took a pause. "2 357 154 121"
That was a big number...
"That's the estimated death toll caused by his ascension."
It was as if the world itself had stopped. A ball was forming in her stomach...was there even that many people in Halkeginia? It would be an extinction level cataclysm.
"How?" She couldn't tell who asked that question.
"He had been betrayed by the woman he loved, so he left for a lost moutain and cried. Boosted by the power of the Dofus, his tears drowned the world. Whole continent and all their people disappearing under the wave."
It was ludicrous. There was no way such a thing could happen.
"Are you sure it's not a legend. Many stories were greatly altered through time. Maybe there was a tsunami and your people reinterpreted it as the will of a dark monster." Colbert was trying to find an explanation for such deadly artifact. One could not accept so easily that such a thing could exist.
"I was the second person to assemble a set." Yugo's word fell like a death sentence.
"Remember how I told you I made a choice with terrible repercussion. The choice was either take the Dofus and confront the first user or let him continue to drown the world under a sea of tears. At the time I thought it was the best solution, a way to stop this tragedy. Add the fact the lives of my friends were on the line. But in the end, even thought I succeeded, even though I had used the power of the Dofus for less than an hour. The destruction was overwhelming." It was the first time Louise saw her familiar in this state of mind.
Louise would really have liked to comfort him. But she wasn't very good with this kind of thing.
The solution came unexpectedly from Colbert. He just put a hand on Yugo's shoulder and gave him an understanding look. "I can understand why you did this."
"You do isn't it ?" Yugo raised his head again. His apparent sadness seemingly forgotten.
"Still who could have created such weapon. Is this some machination of your pagan Gods?" All eyes turn to Montmorency. "What? No good brimirian noble in his right mind would ever attempt such a thing."
Siesta's face told more than any word what she thought of those good Brimirian noble. Even Louise knew very well that, would they be able to, any nobles given the occasion would do it.
Yugo turned to Tabitha. "Because they never were created as weapon to begin with. When everything is said and done... they are eggs."
…
…
…
"What?" it was a pretty universal answer at this point.
"Dragon's Eggs to be exact. When a Dragon reaches a sufficient level of power he can create a Dofus. Upon his death his soul will come back to the Dofus and be reborn as a child, once more."
So wait, Dragon were like phenixs?
"And so it is the case for the Eliatrope and their Draconic brother." Yugo finished his sentence.
"Wait wait wait wait wait." Began Louise her mind going awire. "Does that mean?"
"Yes, that's why I said I ignore my true age. An Eliatrope live a long time from the start, and I have no knowledge of how many time I was reborn. And it's a good thing, the sole Eliatrope to remember all his past lives became insane." Yugo had a thousand yard stares on the last part.
It was a lot to take in. But at least, she guessed nothing could go beyond that as far as revelation go.
The universe laugh at her.
"Ok, that was interesting. And Kind of scary." Began Guiche. "But why telling us that, especially if the knowledge is so dangerous."
Yugo gave a glance to Tabitha. Then to Sylphid. They both nodded. Yugo took a piece of cloth from his magic bag.
Before the other could ask why, in a flash of light and swirl of wind. Sylphid turn from a Dragon to a girl. Tabitha catching the cloth and putting it on her before anyone could see more than they should.
"Because Irukuku want to create a Dofus for Irukuku and big sister!" Exclaimed the happy Dragon-Girl.
Chaos erupted. Nobody realising the white mice leaving the setting.
Fingers claps in front of Louise.
*Flashback end*
"Uh?" Said Louise as she emerged from her reminiscences.
"Are you okay? You kinda froze there." Asked a concerned Yugo.
"Oh, Sorry I was having a flashback." Answered honestly Louise.
"Ah. Excuse me Louise. It's rude to interrupt one." Said the Eliatrope.
"It's nothing really. It was over anyway." Louise tried to remember what she thought before having a flashback. Yes, Nora. This means she may be reborn again. With a little luck, she could meet her. She would be a young child again, and wouldn't remember anything she'd done in this dream.
But she had a desired to meet her at least once. Even if she could hardly explain why. "Can you tell me more about her?" The question escaped her lips without her even realising.
"I didn't knew her very well. Only what Balthazar could tell me about her. She disappeared thousand of years ago and she has not yet been reborn. She looked like you though, small with pink hair. Guess that's why I choose this name like that. Why?"
Louise was on the spot there. "Well, You already met my sisters. So when I learn you had one I wanted to know her too. It's only fair after all." Good one there Louise. She thought to herself, mentally congratulating herself.
"I guess. But we should really go. Scarron won't wait forever." He gave her a smile and left in the common room.
Louise had a depressed sigh and followed him like a criminal walking to the gallows.
*Scene Change: POV Gandalfr*
The shield lets a faint groan as she laid on her Master's bed. By her side an annoying sword who couldn't stop harassing her with the most raunchiest and stupid jokes he could think.
She wouldn't mind it that much. Had any of this joke be actually funny. But it was like someone stole the very notion of humour from the sword, and a demon replaced it with some twisted caricature of it, to better torment the people.
"Do you never shut up?" Asked the irate Shield, after another double entendre on sword and sheath.
"Well, you heard the kid. Stay in the bag to not reveal his identity. And well, there isn't much to do in a bag."
On that the spell turned shield could only acquiesced in silence.
"Hey, the next time Yugo come visit us. Do you think he could let us use one of those metal puppets? If only to be able to move on our own when he doesn't use us."
She was about to reject the idea as stupid. But in insight it would not be that bad.
That's when an idea came to her mind. Those puppets worked with a mix of Stasis and Wakfu. She was made of wakfu. Just maybe...
She would bide her time. Now was not the moment to think about it. Or maybe it was the best moment. Ever since she gain sentience she was more and more interested by acting on her own. And having a body able to move by itself was one of the best options.
"You know what? It seems like a brilliant idea."
*Scene Change: POV Yugo*
Yugo gave a quick glance at the main room. Louise was shadowing one of the fairies, trying to emulate her action.
If by emulating you mean ignoring their advice and treating the patrons like dogs. It couldn't be avoided, some of the patrons had wandered hand and Louise had a short temper.
As much wine had ended up in their glass that on their face. And she had a mean right hook. Maybe he could train her in hand-to-hand combat?
Crash
She had launched a particularly annoying guy on the ground and was now stomping on his butt while hurling insults at him.
Yugo stiffened a laugh and turn back to the work in front of him. By any right she should have been in great trouble with Scarron. If the patrons didn't actually enjoy it.
It seems the mistreatment inflicted by Louise were highly sought. Or they were trying to inflate their own ego by "taming the pink beast", for those last, joke on them. She was hard headed enough that she could haggle with an Enutrof.
Speaking of the Gods of his world. He was pretty sure that should Osamoda ever reach this plane he would be swarmed with followers by the end of the week. And that was only in this town.
For all their rules and restrains, deep down Halkeginian weren't that different from the people of Ankama. Guess people truly never change he guessed, no matter the world.
In fact, this Inn wasn't that different from the countless others, he was able to see during his travel. Even the skimpy outfits weren't that unusual. Or at least, in comparison to the basic cloth of most of the common Amaknian it wasn't even that skimpy to begin with.
Still working at an Inn again. It brought so many memories.
"You seem happy." Ask the young woman by his side.
She was quite tall in comparison to him, long black hair and a normal robe in comparison of the others worker. She also had a familiar face. Did he see her before? Probably amongst the crowd during one of his apparitions as the Angel.
"I was raised in an Inn. When I work here it reminds me of how it was back then. Though it was in a smaller village in the middle of the forest. With a lot of apples and a gigantic tree in the middle of the Town." Yugo felt warm while talking about his home.
"Seem like you miss the place. What made you leave?" The woman was looking at him with a wondrous face. Launching eventual glance at Louise.
Yugo had to be careful not to blow his cover right now by giving detail Louise couldn't corroborate. "I learn I had family out there and decided to see it for myself. I found my little sister. She is quite a handful, but she is nice when you get passed the..." he just pointed at Louise as she was punching a large lumberjack into submission. A good hand-to-hand fighter indeed. Great potential there.
"So you just weren't raised together." She sighed with fake surprise. "We thought you were a Noble and her Angel." She said the last part with a knowing smile.
Yugo choked. How?
"Oh, we didn't present ourselves fully. I'm Jessica Mofette and this is my father, Scarron Mofette. I'm Siesta's cousin. And while she keeps many secret about you, she did reveal many things after her rescue from Mott."
Ooooh, that explain it. That's also why she looked so familiar. Indeed, one could see the similarity between the two...Wait.
"Your father !? I Though he was..." Exclaimed a surprised Yugo.
Her smile turned to a smirk. "He was what ?"
Yugo sighed. Better not dig himself a deeper grave. "Can I count on your discretion? We are hunting down a corrupt noble, we don't want him to doubt of our true identity."
Yugo wasn't annoyed in the slightest at Siesta for revealing her secret to her family. After all it was obvious they would be worried after the Mott event. And she would need to reassure them with what information she had.
Jessica smiled to him and gave a small curt. "It's been some time since I got news, but the few I get seems to say that you are treating her really well. And you are protecting us. It's all natural we would do what we can to help you. Us and all the fairies there."
So everybody knew. Yugo couldn't help but laugh.
"Thank you Jessica. Thanks to your father too. And all the fairies. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask, I'll be happy to help."
A century old Eliatrope and a Noble outsmarted by a group of Innkeepers and waitress. He'll had to tell it to Siesta if Jessica doesn't do it first.
Jessica seemed to wonder for a moment. "Actually, there is a few things you could do for us."
Yugo enticed her to continue. But still took back his work at the same time. It wouldn't do if Scarron passed and see them idly chatter instead of doing the chores.
This seems to amused the Innkeeper's daughter. "You are quite diligent I must admit. I didn't know angel could do housework."
"The part about me being raised in an Inn was true. Alibert was my father even if we weren't of the same species."
"Is that why you care so much for the commoners ?" This question was actually benign. And Yugo did wonder for a moment. Would he have been the same had Grougaloragran delivered him to someone like the Brakmarian dignitary instead of Alibert ?
Yugo smiled. "Alibert was a great dad. I guess it played a lot in that." Since Chibi and himself turned well he could only guess Alibert was truly awesome.
"Must have been quite the man for him to impress even an Angel."
Yugo stop, searching for the best way to describe his father. "Before finding me he was a bounty hunter, running through the wilderness to hunt down criminal and monsters. Then one day he caught a young man. The guy was a thief, and by the law of the land he should have delivered him to the authority. However, as they were travelling to town, he found out the thief had stolen nothing but a few apples, and did so to nourish his daughter. A daughter who had followed them to try to save his dad."
The Eliatrope let go on the stove for an instant. Eyes lost in remiscience of this story Alibert told him long ago. A day he was ill. "When he saw his daughter in tears looking upon his dad with manacles. He simply couldn't do it anymore. He broke the manacles with one mighty swing and let him go. That's when he found me, a baby left in the middle of the road by some inexplicable power with a message telling him to take care of me. A few days later him and the man he caught were building an Inn together."
He took a melancholic breath. "Guess the story of a bounty hunter and his once target building a Traveler's Inn in the middle of nowhere, caught the interest of the nearby town. Since with time, many people have come to the Inn, and liking It decided to build their house and work around it. Emelka was born."
He would have put a little more time in his tale, if he didn't smell a burnt odor. "Damn the stove. How dumb. Sorry Jessica." Yep, never keep your eyes out of the food.
The Young woman only laughed at his predicament. "For the son of an Innkeeper you sure can mess up a kitchen."
"You should have seen him making bread." Muttered the Eliatrope slightly ashamed.
"Dad is pretty similar to your father." Said Jessica. She looked fondly at the main room. Were Louise had somehow found a crop. And was enjoying far too much making a customer squeal. If they were squeal of delight or horror Yugo couldn't tell, but he was scared something dangerous awaken in the Pinkette.
"Many of the girls working there had no true home to call their own. And some were locked into pretty horrible situations. By building The Charming Fairy Inn, dad allowed them to have some matter of hope and forget their past. So they could gain enough money to start something of their own or to find someone that would bring them away. You can't imagine how many lost girl there is in this city."
Guess his respect for the man only grew there. Then the mood did a complete turn from the solenel to the scary (for Yugo). As Jessica suddenly looked at him with a predatory smirk. "So those services?"
Yugo was not so sure anymore if that had been a good idea to offer her those favors. She was after all a descendant of Frida Mofette. And if there was a mortal that could scare even shushu that was her.
"Don't be afraid. I won't ask anything too bad." Yugo eep. As Jessica channel her ancestor right now. She exploded in laughter. "You should have seen your face, I love doing that."
Yugo deadpanned.
"Sorry, too funny to pass. Still, It's just three simple requests. Nothing too hard for the Angel I presumed." So far she was the first person wich whome the simple mention of angel didn't seem to phase her. For that Yugo was thankful. In itself it was enough to not mind the teasing.
"The first thing is pretty simple. It happens that one of the fairies found a job at the academy. We wanted to know with dad if she was doing alright. Since she didn't send us any news recently."
"What is the name of the girl. I will try to search for you." So far it was a pretty easy task.
"Longueville." Yugo nearly chokes.
"That was unexpected. But she is alright. She is...working for the princess now." So she worked here before. Good to know. Though, Jessica shocked face was far more amusing. Payback comes in all forms.
"For...For the Princess. Damn, when the others will know it. She must have made quite an impression." She couldn't know how much she was right.
"Quite indeed."
"Good, for the second, it may seem a weird. Don't tell Louise we know about you, it may be petty, but we heard Siesta was hurt because of her. Even if Siesta did it willingly we want her to work as a commoner for a while in compensation." Yugo gave her a strange look, raising an eyebrow, before looking at Louise, whose fairy dress somehow turn black as she laugh evilly while pouring whine on the cranium of some applauding customer.
"Do you qualify this as normal?" Ask Yugo.
Jessica shruged "A little overdramatic, but yes. The dominating act is a know one, even if rarely pulled well. She's a natural at it."
Osamoda indeed.
"For the last request, it's more personal. While Siesta write us from time to time. Something is happening with her, and she has been particularly secretive about it. Can you tell us what she is up to?"
Yugo let escape a sigh of relief. It wasn't that hard to do. "She must just be a little stressed, she has been really serious with her training and must want to surprise you with it. And with her first class..."
"Training? Class?" Jessica was seemingly unaware of it all. So Yugo explained it to her.
It was not a class, just a quick rundown of what he was teaching to her, to what he was going to teach alongside Siesta to the musketeer and the commoner who would be present.
Yugo didn't realise the growing shock of the young woman, nor the fairies who passing by the kitchen stop to listen.
It was nearly nothing, yet the religious silence who formed around him should have given him a clue about the thing to come.
In the hour that followed it was decided a day would be marked as closed each week. To allow Jessica and all the fairies to assist to this class. Scarron approved this choice wholeheartedly, even if he didn't want to come itself. "Someone have to watch the house while you girls go see our little Siesta."
For Yugo, it means they would get one day to hit the street and gain more information on their target. He was sure Siesta could do great by herself.
*Scene Change*
The week passed in relative calm. Louise had gotten herself a good number of faithful patron. While Yugo was doing what he could to be useful. Often cooking or escorting a few "annoying" customer toward the exit.
A few whisper were made behind Louise's back, but she either didn't remark or didn't care. She had the hang of this whole commoner thing. She thought at least.
In the academy the things were slightly more active.
Siesta was currently organizing her class with Tabitha. The two had grown closer, as Siesta was often asking for advice to the smaller girl.
The bluette was all too happy (or at least Siesta guess she was happy, couldn't really tell with that poker face) to help.
On his side, Colbert was explaining how to infuse wakfu into spell to boost them to the rest of the group. He was half tempted to ask both old Osmond and Yugo if he could teach the other student about this trick. At least until an innocent remark of Guiche of all people.
"Wait? Doesn't adding Wakfu to a spell the same as adding another element? Then does that mean my dot spell became line?" It was a small bravado to impress Montmorency. But on a technical standpoint, he had open an unexpected subject.
Could wakfu be considered a sixth element? Could it stack on itself like Halkeginian magic does? Colbert knew pure wakfu spell existed, the Eliatrope skills didn't rely on their elements. Could they be strenghten that way?
Colbert studied Tabitha's training. She was trying to synchronise her portal with wakfu powered ice and wind strike. Effectively hitting targets from all possible angles.
It was the magic discovery of the century. Had he been a few years younger, he would make a thesis based on that. But right now there was something far more important.
It wasn't a mear temptation anymore, it was a need to research that avenue. Louise's sister Eleonor could probably help on that point. But he would need to speak about it to more people.
There were so many possibilities. He couldn't let such a potentially vital project down.
Old Osmond just watches it all through his magic mirror. He had spied the discussion on the dofus and asked for Colbert's report.
So basically as normal a week one could expect in a magical world currently holding alien and extraplanar entities.
And so came the date on which Siesta was to hold the role of a teacher for the first time.
*Scene Change: POV Yugo*
Scarron wave a napkin as Jessica and the other girls (in more casual clothing) left for the academy in a carriage. "Good luck girls! I'll cross my finger for you."
Yugo saw them left from the window of his room. He felt a sudden desire to follow them to watch how Siesta would do. Yet crush this idea immediately. Not only would that go against his mission here. But it would also disturb her more than necessary.
Yugo was not blind. He knew very well his servant wanted to be able to teach those abilities. And had probably a goal of her own with it. So he would do what any teacher would do in those cases, he would support and help her...If Chibi could hear him now. He'd be rolling in laughter.
Yugo the Eliatrope, King of a lost race, Hero of the Sadida Kingdom and Bonta, Vanquisher of Oghrest...doting teacher.
When he thought about it, it wasn't so bad.
"So where are we going first?" It was Louise. She had put back her normal commoner cloth.
"I've got a few leads. Turene tends to pass every two weeks, once for the official Tax, another for a supplementary sum of money of his own choosing. And when he takes that one he is of course surrounded by a larger escort, with a few fellow noble as "faithful witness" so if anyone as something to say, he has to prove himself in front of a whole group of nobles instead of just one." Yugo started to explain what he heard from Scarron after a few questions.
"And nobody found it strange the same noble are constantly implicated in the same crime. Even if he had help, the other noble should realize something was wrong." Louise argued.
"What I asked too, but from what Scarron said, it ain't so simple. Few are the commoner brave enough to oppose a noble. And even then those guys are smart. The nobles who follows him are never the same twice. And they make sure to not appear in suspicious number. Just enough to intimidate a commoner. After that, if someone still find the courage to bring the matter to the judge. Well, Turene as just to say the commoner tries to cheat the crown by wanting to steal back their taxes and the matter is dropped. Add the fact Turene then make examples out of them by crushing them under the tax next month, and you got a good idea of the situation."
Louise was fuming, then calmed herself and start to think. The Eliatrope smiled, when unclouded by anger, Louise was smarter than him.
"So there is a good chance those second "tax" serve to fund the local Reconquista group." Louise started to mutter. "In itself that could justify an arrest under the charge of high treason. But without proof our only choice would be to catch them red handed. By chance would their next passage come soon."
Yugo nodded "Next week."
Louise nodded in answer. "Good, but still, maybe there is a way to get the rest of them too. Do you know where they go with the money? Maybe they would bring it to some base..."
"I was only able to talk with Scarron and Jessica. So I can't tell more. Maybe we could search the town to see if someone saw him leave after his extortion. And you anything on your side?"
Louise shuddered. "Except that commoners men seems to have weird taste? Heard of a few other commerce victim to Turene. But nothing in much detail, they seem to usher his name when they think nobody is looking. Or just curse him when drunk enough. We should go see one of them just in case, maybe revealing to a few we are noble could open some lips...No bad idea, too many risk of one of them selling us out to Turene against lower tax or something."
Louise stopped her musing and gave order to Yugo. "Send our report to Agnes and let's go. We have only one day to find the most information we can get. Let's make it count."
Yugo smiled and took a blue feather from his bag, inscribing the whole message in Draconic in the air with wakfu. A trick taught to him by Balthazar, and greatly favored by Grougaloragran. He then retrieves two flying machines (creation of Chibi of course.) and sent them to Karin and Agnes.
They wouldn't be able to return to him, but he could always retrieve them later.
Louise watched all that with wide eye. "Okay, You have to teach me this thing with the feather."
She smiled. "Let's make the Princess proud."
Scene change
Yugo readjusted his hat, it wouldn't do to lose it in public. As expected getting anyone to talk about Turene was far more difficult than it should have been.
The Eliatrope was following the Pinkette, who was rumbling.
"I can't believe it. The guy is scamming the whole town and nobody says anything." It was indeed disheartening. While everybody would be quite pleased with his disparition (yet again tax collector. It was to be expected.) everybody would clam up as soon as a mention to act against him was done. Unless they were ready to reveal their true identity nobody would talk in fear of retribution.
Still, there was a good lead to someone who may know more.
"You forget about Monte Christo." Add Yugo.
Monte Christo was a fallen Noble. And one of the few who opposed Turene. The Tax collector made an example out of him, showing them that not even fallen noble were protected from his reach. And well, the guy may have developed a grudge.
If someone knew anything that could hurt Turene. It was probably him.
*Breath*
They found the place where his home should be. A dilapidated manor on the edge of town. Yugo half expected to be ambushed by a group of Shafer at this point.
"Is this really the place?" asked Louise.
Yugo pointed at a barely visible sign on the wall, reading "H**se Mon** Christo."
"Well, guess there is no other choice." Louise opens the door, creaking loudly. "Sir Monte Christo are you here?" A cold wind was their only answer.
The inside was as damaged as the outside. The spider had taken over the house. Broken mirror and shredded painting mare the wall. The only pristine part of the great hall was the picture of a family of three. A dashing young man, his beautiful wife and their daughter.
"He isn't here. Too bad." Said Louise loosing her bravery in front of the spider lair.
Before Yugo caught her again.
"He may be sleeping, or just didn't hear us. We should explore. Remember Louise, for the Princess."
Louise steeled herself and entered the building. The place was an utter mess. But a few elements here and there betrayed the presence of a living being.
"Sir Monte Christo?"
"IT'S COUNT Monte Christo." They both jumped at the voice.
A man entered the room. An empty wine bottle in hand. He had a great coat, ruined by the age and the lack of care. He was badly shaved, and smell as if he didn't take a bath in years. His eyes were bloodshot and presented heavy bags. He may have been handsome some long time ago, but now it looked like he had been raised as a zombie.
"What is it that you want damn rats? If it's looting the place, I'm afraid you came too late. Some overweight pig stole everything I had. Now if you don't want me to turn you into a newt, you better run." Threatened the drunken old man, it was a miracle in itself his speech was coherent with the smell of alcoholic beverage overpowering their nose.
Yugo whispered to Louise."Can a mage really do that?" From what he understood of the magic here, they were more the blast you away kind.
"There have been theorized, but transmutation of living being is still an unexplored area of research. The church frown on this kind of thing." Explain Louise to him.
"What are you waiting for! Ru..." Sblaf
The poor man trying to walk to them under is a state of inebriety lamentably face planted. Knocking himself out.
Louise and Yugo gave a look to each other. This wasn't going to be easy.
*Scene Change: POV Siesta*
Siesta took a deep breath. Just behind that door was the classroom. It wasn't the first time she entered into one of them. After all, when she was still a maid here, she had done it so many times.
When she thought about this, most of the time was because of Louise's explosions. But she digressed.
It was the first time she would enter not as a servant, but as a professor. How could she have even imagined someday that Siesta from Tarbes, born into a small commoner village nothing more than a bunch of farm, would one day be given class to commoner and Noble alike about otherworldly magic?
For that she would forever be thankful to Yugo (and she may have developed a small crush on him, but she was sure she was subtle enough about it.) This opportunity was unlike other. A miracle. And if she somewhat succeeds today. Then she could bring it to the next level.
She had plans, important plans. Things she would never have thought about back then, but now...Just thinking about it filled her with determination.
Tabitha put a hand on her back. It was a small gesture, but one worth of the bond growing between the two.
She opened the door and nearly reel back under the number. The classroom was full. Nobles intrigued by the Angel's magic seating on the bench. The staff of the academy, servant and professor alike were standing at the back.
And up front, seating on the ground or on small stool were the musketeer, Captain Agnes in the middle...And the Princess herself by her side.
Nobody told her the Princess would be there too. Yet again, with all her guards present it shouldn't be so surprising. That also explained the noise of gushing she was hearing from the students.
Keep focused, repeated Siesta in her mind. Think of your goal, think of Tarbes and its inhabitant...Wait! Was it Jessica and the girls amongst the staff? Stop, question later. Now, she needed to make a good impression, like practiced.
"Greeting everybody. My name is Siesta, servant of the Angel. And I'll be the one to assure this first class. With the assistance of the young lady Tabitha here." No matter how much she wanted to do the whole thing alone, the bigotry of some noble with the commoner and the sheer number of students made the help of the bluette necessary.
And as expected, there was a row of disdain from a good part of the nobility. Much to the annoyance of the musketeer and staff.
Their complaints were silenced by the powerful (and noise augmented) impact of the headmaster staff on the ground.
Siesta shot him a thankful smile, that he sent back in same. "Sorry for the derangement lady Siesta, you may proceed."
"Thank You, Headmaster. Now, as you may know I will teach you about wakfu, the energy used by the Angel, and one that could be used by anyone, regardless of nobility." If the first news had the impact of a bomb, this one was a meteor. Of course a few amongst them, who either witnessed their training or were explained about it by someone in the know were aware about that little fact.
But to the vast majority of them it came as a pure and utter shock. Some unwarranted rumor that revealed themselves to be true. Some of the commoners who had been just invited by someone else without being explained anything, had their eyes nearly bulging out of their head. And some of the nobles were barely holding their anger.
Yet they could say nothing. No accusation of heresy or violent outburst. The Church had officially recognized Yugo as an angel. Nobody in their right mind would speak against the church. By brimmir one of their representatives must surely be present amongst them right now.
"Now, in an unusual class we would first start by explaining the basic and theory. But due to the way Wakfu work it would first be necessary for me to explain to you how to feel it and tap into it. So that's why once I have finished explaining how, Miss Tabitha and myself will go amongst you to help you access it."
Then started her true explanation, she tried to teach them the same way Yugo had. To explain them how to feel the world and the energy coursing through it. Of course, exactly as she expected. The Noble would call for Tabitha, while the commoner would call upon her.
It was till a certain person call for her help.
"Excuse me, miss Siesta but I seem to have some difficulty feeling it. May you come help me a little?" It was the Princess. Calling a commoner for help in front of everyone else, and doing so with a large smile.
Siesta came and looked with her aura vision. She shuddered a little at what she saw. She had plenty of wakfu, as much as Tabitha in fact, but it was clogging itself in her body. Speaking of Tabitha, wasn't it what happen to her when Yugo first came? It was as she heard extremely painful and nearly cost her her life.
The King of Eliatrope had used the Eliacube back then, but the situation in front of her was far less advanced, as in the Princess was not dying in front of her. She may be able to resolve it by herself.
She sat on her knee, connecting hand with lady Henrietta and focused. A shocked face appeared on the princess as she gain control of her wakfu and the energy build up start to recede. And then looked at her hand.
A long silence installed itself. Before the princess smiled. And in a small voice, just loud enough for the others to hear. "I don't know how. But thank you."
After that, a few noble started to call on her as well, desirous to follow their future Queen example, and some commoner started calling upon Tabitha in response.
Siesta let a victorious smile grace her. She would need to ask a few questions to Yugo about what she saw with the princess but outside of that.
It was a success.
*Scene change: POV Yugo*
Yugo and Louise had put the sobering man on a couch. One not overrun by arachnid and other bugs. This place would give Gruffon nightmare for years. He would need to remember about it if the magical map ever gave him trouble again.
The man grumbled. "Who in the seven hells are you?" Gone was the bravado, replaced by a pitiful whine and a hang over.
Yugo asked a silent question to Louise, who nodded in return.
"I'm called Yugo, and this is Louise. We need your help." Told the Eliatrope.
"My help? You came to the wrong person kid. Unless it's with a research on spider web. There is enough here that it sometimes seems I am the invader in their little world."
"We have reason to believe that Turene may be guilty of high treason. And we think you can help us with it."
Monte Christo's eyes shone with a vigor who had been absent from a long time. "Explain!"
*Breath*
"Are you sure of this plan? We have a time limit and this seems quite risky." Asked Louise to the now less disgruntled noble.
He was still looking like an overglorified hobo, but it was at leats a step in the right direction. If only because he now walked relatively straight.
"Yes, those little rapscallion knows everything who comes and go in the dark. If you can catch one I'm sure they'll at least know where to point us"
The three of them were on the bad side of town. The poorest side too, where the street rats were hanging around. Monte Christo told them about a bunch of kids acting as thief around town. And well, they tend to see a lot of things pass around.
The plan was pretty cruel when Louise thought about it. But it would work and at least nobody would be hurt.
*Scene Change: POV Some poor thief kid*
He didn't have a name. Or rather, if he had one nobody knew about it. Some called him a rat, other scum or maggot. Mongrel for the arrogant one. But it couldn't really be called a name.
His parents were dead during some war. He couldn't care more about that, on the street one gotta do what one gotta do to survive. And right now some pink haired girl was wearing a heavy bag loosely closed in his street.
As the good guy he was, it was his duty to teach her why it was a bad idea. Truly a gentleman. Maybe he could have her following him for a while after that, she was quite cute and would probably be thankful for her lesson.
Of course, the universe realised this poor kid had as much chance of success than the usual two thugs in superhero comics. You know? The one who appears in the first few pages only to be beaten up by the hero. Proving he is both powerful and as heroic as a spandex wearing vigilante could be. Yet again, they don't have comic books in Halkeginia.
A Shame, the tale of captain Amakna are pretty good as far as any bontarian is concerned.
So when instead of his plan happening as expected. Two pair of hand shot out of the bag and dragged him inside. He could only scream in terror as he disappeared down the Haversac.
When he looked up, he saw the looming shadow of a dungeon in construction. And two smiling figures.
"Don't be afraid, we just need to ask you a few question."
*Scene Change: POV Yugo*
Yugo let go of the thief as he looked upon the building in front of him.
Monte Christo was giving a predatory smile. "I guess this is incriminating evidence at is finest."
The thief had followed Turene a few times. Never attempting anything because of the escort, but he still tried to see if he had something he could gain. And found by pure luck a building where the men would sometimes go with bags full of money and live without, soon followed by men in cloaks.
"We should burst this place now and catch this traitor...But the building is probably empty right now isn't it?" Said Louise.
"We'll get him soon. I'll send another report once back in the Inn, so we could prepare a raid." Told Yugo.
"Count me in. I have a score to settle with him. And be there for his arrestation will be the first step."
Yugo shruged. "As long as you don't rush in like a Iop."
*Scene Change: POV Agnes Chevalier de Milan.*
Agnes observed her charged dutifully as she, along the musketeer corps were making their way back to the capital after observing this class on Wakfu.
She would have passed far longer thinking about it, and what it would mean for the women under her orders if it wasn't for another fact. Something happened when the Angel's servant had touched the princess.
She seemed relatively pleased at the moment, if surprised, so she didn't say anything. But ever since she would seem entirely lost in her at her hand when she thought nobody's was looking. Sometime with a discreet smile.
Once again, there didn't seem to be a problem. But it was sure something was on her mind. And as one of the few she could trust she had to make sure everything was alright.
"Are you alright Majesty? You seem to have a lot on your mind?" Maybe too formal, but till they reached a more secured place, better respect a certain modicum of form.
Henrietta smiled "Indeed, captain. We assisted in something rather interesting. Aren't you thinking as much yourself ?"
Agnes sighed. The Princess sure knew how to dance around the issue. Came with the role she guessed. "I cannot deny the practicality of such knowledge. Especially if war is coming to our border. But it wasn't what I meant."
"I know captain, it just feels so incredible. It's gone." Said Henrietta.
Agnes was rather puzzled. "Gone?"
"The Pain, it's all gone. And it was replaced with this strange new power. I can feel it. Along my magic, waiting to be called upon." Agnes's eyes became as big as saucers. The best healer in Tristania weren't able to even explain the nature of this pain, and just like that it was gone?
Some foul play were at works. "You think it's connected to this wakfu thing?"
"Maybe, We'll need to question the Angel about that."
Before the Musketeer could answer a strange buzzing start getting close to them. Drawing her pistol she pointed it at a strange doll-like bug flying in their direction while holding a blue feather. Before dropping in their lap. One other of Yugo's strange messenger, with their creepy looking bug aspect, she had shot the first one thinking it to be a monster.
In an instant drawing formed in the air and flashed in front of the both of them. Alarming the other musketeer who came rushing toward them.
"Stay in position." Ordered Agnes. The message came directly flooding into her head. The next time it would be good if Yugo could alert before using this kind of message transport. But at least it was practical. And the news was making her blood boil.
Henrietta herself had lost all merriment in her voice. "Captain Agnes, Chevalier de Milan. I think it would be good If a few of our Musketeer were to get a small vacation. I just heard of an Interesting Inn, don't you think?"
The message couldn't be more clear.
*Scene change: POV Karin*
Karin let go of the blue feather. Having receive the report of the Eliatrope. It slowly fell near the bisected remain of the clock-bug. The next time it would be for the best if he could describe this bug like creature before he send them anywhere near her daughter or herself.
Still, she thought about the two report she got today. The one from the Eliatrope came to mind first. It concerned directly to her daughter. To think they would use such establishment as a front.
It was a good idea. She couldn't say the contrary. Inn and Tavern have always been the place to go if you wanted information. After all, drunken men had a tendency to not watch their tongue. But she would need to have a long talk with this kid like entity on what can and can't be done with a Lady of noble descent. Furthermore when she happened to be her daughter.
She couldn't help but grin. Doing mission for the princess, going undercover and hunting down traitors. Look like no matter how much she wished for the opposite, Louise still ended up like her in the end.
Now there was the second report coming from the academy. It countained a summary of the event and a request. Concerning both the same thing. This Wakfu class. As well as many observations made by Colbert.
The idea of Non-noble being able to use this power was for her a double edged sword. On one side it would be of great uses in the time to come, on the other she could hardly ignore the risk. Reconquista had already shown the commoners were all too ready to revolt themselves against nobles. And they were now teaching them about a new kind of weapon they could use against them, and many would be all too happy to use it.
It was a dangerous bet the princess had made. One who sounded more and more like a deal with the devil. She just hoped that when came the time to pay the price, the princess would know what to do.
As for the request. Colbert had informed her of the possibility to use this Wakfu for strengthening spells. And ask if Eleonor would be interested to researched about it. It would be her choice, but she already knew what would be her answer.
*Scene Change: POV Tax Collector Turene*
Night had fallen on Tristain. And it was time for him to start his rondo. He joined the rest of his escort on the main Plaza. Four nobles and six soldiers. Far enough to send the message to any idiot that would dare oppose him.
For the first few commerce it was quickly done. They were mainly seller of average goods. He had been careful to avoid the shop frequently visited by nobles. It was unlikely, but someone may question his presence and cause troubles. He may have a few friends in the high council, but they wouldn't risk their head for him if things start to go sour.
He would compensate the lack of profit on those ones by taking more from the other. That way he gains a good amount of money for himself and his cause, and on the other side disquiet start building up against the Queen and the current leadership. A win-win.
Thing were going smoothly. And now was the turn of the commerce of "service" notably the Charming Fairy INN, sure his men would need some relief after such an arduous night of work. Maybe he could take a girl with him this time. The other at the back house need their fun too. After they would get rid of her, just say she decided to leave their establishment, nobody would care. Or at least nobody important. Couldn't have some harlot reveal the emplacement of their base, right?
Brimmir would surely forgive him once they took back the holy land.
Yes, that was a good plan.
"My men, I think those left at the safe house would like some company. And the charming fairy INN as already so many girl. They surely won't notice if one went missing. Right?"
The men cheers. His plan made the unanimity. One could not say he was a bad boss.
They reached the Charming fairy Inn. This place had some good passage in it. A good cash cow. He entered the place.
The silence came with him. The other patron staring at him with eyes full of terror. His men entered the place. Scaring away the braver customer.
Turene looked around and liked what he saw. There have been plenty of new girls since the last time. He didn't recognize most of them and he came here often.
"Oh, Scarron. The affair must be doing good if you can hire new help. Guess I can augment your tax then." He laughed at his own joke, soon followed by his ilk. Scarron tried to laugh too.
"Get me the money and a table for me and my friends." Asked Turene.
The few remaining customers left the place. Fleeing like the rats they were. A heavy bag of money fell on his table.
"Please take it and leave us alone." Asked Scarron who appeared quite tired.
"Now, now Scarron, You know very well I have to count all that. It would be very bad if some of it was missing. I guess one half hour would be enough. Why don't you let your girl entertain my friends while I do that. Oh, and I would need some company to keep me warm, you wouldn't want me to catch a cold isn't it?"
Some girl advance themselves to serve his men, they finally understood it seems. Better give in to their demand fast if they didn't want to be punished. He saw two of the soldiers took a few of the new girls and drag them at the upper floor. Turene raised his drink at Scarron who was gritting his teeth.
Usually he was stealthy enough to hide his rage, but not today it seems. It was nearly comical how obvious he was in his action.
"You should calm down Scarron, my men just want to have a good time. Speaking of which, your daughter starts to develop quite well..."
The muscular men blanched. "Please, let my daughter out of this."
"Then I better heard from my men they have been treated well. I guess they will probably stay to enjoy the night." said Turene.
The Muscular man looked down. Taking back his usual personality, while still retaining some of the fear. "I promise you, I'll treat them as if the Princess herself was here."
Ugh, the princess, the mere thought of this whore made the wine feel sour. Maybe he could really use some company right now.
Just perfect a girl was getting near him. And she was looking like a child version of this Valliere bitch. She wasn't the duchess, it may not have been her. But having someone looking just like her acting submissive to him while he delivered her to his men at the safehouse would be delightful.
He caught her and force her to sit by his side. "I'll be taking this one with me, I hope you don't mind? Or I could ask your daughter to go with us if you prefer?"
The shocked expression on all the girl was priceless. "What are you waiting for? Bring me more wine, for me and the wench!"
*Scene change*
More than half an hour passed by. And his two men didn't come back. They must truly be enjoying some action. Well, it was time to go, they would be taken care of well if Scarron knew what was good for him. He took the girl with him and made signs for his men to leave.
The money was there, and there was even a little more than asked, a few foreign coins with a K on it. They were pure gold so he decided to keep them.
"Gilles! Raie! The both of you go complete the collect! And you better not serve yourself on the money. Take two men with you both. The other we go to the safe house, remember we don't want people to follow us, so everyone go there by a different road. Except for you three stay behind me at all time. And you pinkie, you better get your mouth shut till we reach our destination, or you won't survive the night."
He was planning to kill her anyway. But she didn't need to know that. Not yet at least.
He took the road to his safe house. Sticking to dark road and small pathways. Hiding himself with a cloak. It wouldn't be good to have annoying witnesses. Even more with all this talk about angel and stuff. No matter how stupid it was. Turene guess it must be some noble or actor they used to distract the uneducated masses. But better safe than sorry.
The girl was cooperative, keeping her mouth shut and fleeing their eyes. It was going to be fun, the other hated those Valliere as much as him.
Finally, he reached the safe house.
Only he, one other mage and two soldiers were present in front of the door. The others should have been there by now. He would have to wait for them. All the moneybag bearer were to enter at the same time.
He waited for them for a few more minutes, hearing his men asking the girl who should be the one to have the honor of the first "gig". They should be more stealthy about it, with the reigning silence near the safe house...
A shiver ran down his spine. The safe house was utterly quiet. Usually there should be at least three other nobles here. Waiting to retrieve the money for their glorious mission. Yet it looked like the place was abandoned.
He pointed the soldier. "Hey! You two! Go inside!"
The two soldiers grunted, but obey. Entering the building.
He waited for ten long minutes. But they never came back.
"We need to run. Now!" Screamed Turene.
The Noble was shocked. But followed, something was clearly amiss there and even that idiot had understood.
"We need to go to my mansion and hide there for a while."
The noble starting to breath heavily tried to speak. "Can't we go to another safe house?" It was true, the chance of them being able to run till they reach the manor were slim. Yet...
"We can't, chance are, we are being followed. We would only be revealing them another of our bases." When thinking about it, Turene could realize more and more the truth of the situation.
"Damn the new girl should have clued us in. I'm so dumb."
"Uh?" Damn was that noble an idiot.
"They were beautiful and healthy. Scarron always pick stray for his little shop, and no more than one or two at a time. And generally left them at the back till they adapt. Speaking of, where is the Girl?"
"I don't know sir...She must have run away when we left?" That idiot let the girl go? She could have been a great hostage...though again, she was quite healthy too for a stray little girl. And was strangely conciliant with BEING DRAGGED RIGHT TO THEIR BASE.
"DAMN IT. WE'VE BEEN PLAYED!" Turene was furious.
"So Scarron trapped us. That bastard, I'm going to use his daughter as my personal toy."
Turene was asking himself how easy it must be to live with a half working brain, and not having to be the one always in charges.
"Fool, those guys trapped our own safe house and were able to somehow take down the other without us realizing it. Do you seriously think a barman could have organized this kind of attack?!"
"Taken down? Are you sure they were not just late? We just waited ten minutes. Maybe there was just a blockade on the road. Gilles is a monstrous fighter, if he was attacked we would be hearing it from there."
"Gilles's familiar is a dove, and Raie have a rat. If there were just late, they would have sent it to us as messengers. In fact, if any trouble had arise they would have done so. The fact that they didn't must only mean they have been taken out without having the time to tell anything."
He sent the other nobles alone, with only commoners for their escort. It was his mistake.
They ran in relative silence, with only the noise of their foot hitting the road piercing the quietness of the night. Till they stopped in a dark alley to catch their breath.
"If it's not Scarron who tricked us. Who could that be?" Asked Dumbass 1.
"Try to think a little. Who could have the power and organization to do such a thing as trap at least ten nobles."
"The Watch ?"
Turene groaned.
"The...The Princess?"
"Likely the case, or one of her pawns."
The Noble started to panic. "No...But...we'll be hanged. I didn't sign up to die."
Just great, he needed that. The noble screamed and turn at the other side of the dark alley.
Turene sighed. And ran again in the opposite direction, this idiot was only slowing him down anyway.
"And then there were none." That voice! Monte Christo? That scum was there? So, this was the Princess way of doing thing. Sending dejection at him, like those monkey from beyond Rub'al Khali. He continued running. He wouldn't fall for this trick. Turen may be stronger, but this was if the Drunken noble was alone.
"I expected as much, all proud and mighty, but as soon as you lose control..." The voice came from a different place. Following him and calm no matter how much he run. That bastard must have some dragon or similar mount. Yet he could hear no such thing. Still, running was apparently useless now.
Turene took his wand pointing it in the direction of the voice and shoot a ball of fire to cover his escape.
The spell erased the shadows, and revealed nothing. The place was empty.
"...your just another arrogant coward." He was behind him. He turned back wand first. The only thing he saw was a short blue flash of light and nothing else. So the disgraced noble learned a few new tricks. He may have used it to take a surprise shot at his men.
"Show yourself Monte Christo. If it is a rematch you want, very well. I'm your man." Turene called.
"You're going to pay Turene." Turene shoot in the direction of the voice. Light turning on in the house around. People looking at what was the commotion.
"SHOW YOURSELF I SAID! I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN YOUR LIFE TOO." Turen was becoming hysterics now. He couldn't run, And his opponent wouldn't grace him with a fight.
"Sadly, I won't be the one to bring retribution."
People recognized Turene and start to hide, had it been someone else they may have searched for the watch but it was not to be. Yet some remained and just looked.
"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR! COME HELP ME OR I'LLMAKE YOU PAY! I'LL MAKE THE WHOLE OF YOU PAY!" Nobody moved, the number of people watching was growing, a whole crowd was forming all around him, but no one moved. Neither did they actually looked at him.
"The Retribution will come from a higher place. Figuratively and literally. You should really look up."
Turene full of rage did. And froze.
Skin white as the moon itself coursed with blue light. Wings sprouting out of his body and of his head. Wielding a shield of light. And a sword of the brightest steel.
An impossibility was facing him. No, he wouldn't be caught by some smoke and mirror. He sent everything he had. Every fire ball and ray, every thongues of flames and pillars of destruction.
The Angel raised a hand and each of his spells disappear through different blue gates. Fighting wasn't going to work, he needed an escape road.
He pointed his wand at the crowd, who stumbled in fear. But before he could fire, the Angel had appeared in front of him shield raised.
The fire lick his shield, forcing him back slightly. Before he opened blue gates around him and turn back the spell he had launch at him.
So it was how an angel fought. Send back the harm intended upon them against their aggressor. Cute, the princess must have thought a lot about it. But a few illusions and unusual magic wouldn't fool him.
"I shall admit, impressive. How much does the Princess pay you for this act. And what did she offered the church for it to follow in her madness. Are they so afraid the corruption of her reign would mark bad of them without some false idol showing themselves? Was it even the church present that day, or another accomplice masquerading as another angel?" Turene was grazing at straw, but he tried to calm himself and get his way through guile instead of violence.
There was a heavy crowd, even if he was to fall he could take the reputation of the princess with him.
"I made the oath to protect everyone, regardless of their statue. The princess loves her people so I decided to offer her my support. Unlike you who would shoot at innocents."
"I was defending myself. I was just doing my honest job, when without reason, YOU, so called angel attacked me out of Nowhere!" Turene saw anger starting to form on his face. If he could make the Angel loose foot here. He could turn this night into his victory.
"I only sent you back the attack you launch first. And I have numbers of witness for the ensemble of your crime. Notably, being seen red handed bringing back money stolen from the people to agent of Reconquista and trying to force yourself on a young girl you had forcefully taken away."
There were dangerous clamoring in the crowd. Obfuscation and anger.
"You have no proof." Turene.
The Angel smirked. "Oh, What about the witness of the very girl you tried to forcefully bed, the musketeer who followed you as you bring your loot to a reconquista base, or your accomplice."
Gates opened and musketeer dragging the nobles and soldier in chain came, followed by the young girl.
"Sorry boss, they caught us." Said one of the soldiers
'Shut up idiot!' thought Turene. You could as well have made a confession.
"I know none of those people. This is all a setup. The girl is just a commoner you paid to tell whatever you want, it would never stand against a jury." Turene was loosing his calm.
The girl spoke with a victorious and predatory smile. "A commoner you say. I am Louise Françoise Leblanc de la Vallière. I have disguised myself as a commoner to put your corruption bare for all to see. And your betrayal won't stand."
"SEE EVERYONE. IT WAS A SETUP. A TRAP. I WAS A TARGET FROM THE START."
The Angel was on the verge of fury, then suddenly his face turned calm and smiling. Like hit by a realisation. Turene didn't like it.
For sure Yugo had understood the situation. All the proof he got on Turene were clearly enough to proclaim him guilty. It was not for his innocence that he was arguing. But for his image in front of the population, to try to show him as a martyr and not a criminal. Well, they could be two playing at this game.
"Of course we would set you up. When the princess learn of your cruelty toward her beloved subject, and that you used your nobility to escape justice, she prayed me to reveal your crime to the world. And told me Turene. If you are innocent you could easily answer this question. When is the date of the collect of taxes?"
Turene felt his throat dry up. He didn't let go of the bag of money, he should have.
"Fourth week of each month."
"And which week are we?" The Angel was speaking with an innocent voice.
"Second." Turene was grasping his wand harder.
"Then please tell me, What is this money you are trying to hide under your cloak."
Turene was sweating heavily. "It's mine. I brought him with me just in case I would need it."
"In different bag?"
"For different need...you see...it's good to be prepared for all eventualities."
"Oooh, then would you mind showing it to us. Since, you see, I gave a certain number of pieces marked by a K to the of the Charming fairies INN. And no one else. I did this very day a few hours before your passage. So if it was really yours, no such piece should be present inside. Isn't it? Since he shall be the only possessor of such piece."
Turene was twitching, ready to draw his wand against the angel one last time.
"He...he...gave them to me. He had debts. So he decided to pay me tonight."
"Debt you say? I didn't hear anything about Scarron having debt while you threaten to take his daughter if he refused to let you harm the girls? Shall we ask Scarron himself? What would he say?"
"He would lie."
"And the people whose insignia or name are marked on the bags that you call yours. Would they lie too?"
"Yes."
"And the Church, the Princess? Both you already insulted?"
"Yes." He was alone, nobody would save him.
"The musketeers that saw you in person doing the crime you so hardly deny, even as you bear the very proof of it on yourself? Your own acomplices you abandoned?"
"Yes, yes. All liars."
"Any of the people around us, If I came to ask them what you did, would they Lie?"
"YES! Everybody would lie against me."
"People of Tristain are you liars? Is this man truly innocent?" This question wasn't directed at him. And he understood what he said in front of everyone.
The Angel sighed. Looking at him sadly. "Who were you trying to convince? Clearly no one here. Please just surrender."
Turene looked around. His plan had backfired it seems. The whole population was sreaming his name. Asking for his head. He was an injuried predator and the prey were now asking for revenge. The whole musketeer squad had come to prevent the crowd from throwing themselves at him."
He took a pistol from his cloak, aiming at himself. He wouldn't suffer this humiliation.
A ray of light pulverized his weapon. He screamed in pain as some of the fragments buried themselves in his skin.
The angel looked at him sadly. "You caused far too much suffering to disappear like that. It's over Turene. Just surrender."
"I'd rather take the whole of you with me." He raised his wand.
"Explosion!" Screamed the Vallière Girl.
He was sent flying, crashing in some unattended fruit cart. Put here for purely dramatic purpose. Before he could stand back again, many clicks could be heard. Muskets were poited at him.
"In the name of the Crown, You are under arrest for the charge of High Trahison, Corruption, Mistreatment of the commoner and property damage...probably some other stuff too." The captain of the musketeer was putting chains on his arm. He tried to struggle, and only received the blunt end of a musket in the face for his trouble.
He black out, and the days of terror of Turene were no more.
*Scene Change: POV Yugo*
Yugo sighed at Agnes proclamation of Turene charge. He was no guards, but "some other stuff too." Didn't sound very official. Remain the man had been caught red handed. The plan had worked, and he would need to thank the musketeer squad and the fairies for that one.
And Louise too, he felt his face fell when Louise had put herself in harms way.
But he had something to do first. Time for the dragon to put another mighty roar. He raised his sword to the sky. Flying slightly. "I promise you again, in front of the whole of you. No matter who you are, noble of commonesr. I won't stand idle while people suffer." He disappeared from the scene in a portal.
He reappeared standing at the top of the building looking over the scene. Hiding the bruise on his body. He had launched an assault on the enemy's base when he saw the conspirator gather inside of it. He may be strong, but only in books did anyone ever came out of a battle truly unscathed. Especially when magic entered the picture.
He was sleepy right now. Planning and putting into motion all this was tiresome, and he had to fly through the whole town to gain in speed since he doesn't know the topography of the place. This whole final gig with Turene only help in draining his stamina more.
An equally as tired Louise showed, taking advantage of the musketeer intervention to leave discretely. She was smiling at him, it had been worth it.
"So what shall we do now Louise?" There were still many things to do, debriefing with the princess, going back to the academy, et cetera. But it was technically the first successful quest for Louise. It was worth some celebration.
She shuddered, probably remembering when the convicted tax collector touched her. "I'd rather have a bath mind you."
"I'm sure the Princess will let you have access to the Palace bathroom." Told Yugo.
*Scene Change*
Yugo let the warm water soak him. He had no hat. To think it took him decades just to remove his hat in public. And even then only for a very short amount of time and when surrounded by friends. Now, he was showing his wings for all to see whenever the need arises.
Different world, different rule, he guessed.
Right now, he was enjoying the bath, he could think about all that later. Louise was bathing with the musketeer. She had impressed them with her bravery with Turene and they were treating her with respect.
The Princess was probably there too, thanking her for her help. He could verify it easily with a wakfu vision...buuuut...Looking with wakfu vision into the girl bath was not something very nice to do.
He realised he just taught that skill to Guiche...He would need to have a talk with him at some point. Add that to the growing list of things to do, behind bringing food to Irukuku when he come back to the Academy.
He looked around, the place was big. More like a communal bath rather than a private one. Yet here he was alone, for now at least as footstep could be heard closing in.
"Hey angel kid, mind if I enter for some time." It was Monte Christo. He looked better than when they found him for sure.
"Yes, come in, it's more fun when there's more people." To be honest, he was not enjoying this Angel thing too much. It was useful as it allowed him to defend the people. But it meant most were literally terrified of speaking with him. Looking at him more like an icon than like a person.
Yugo was not one of those brooding type who liked being alone. He enjoyed company, large group fighting side by side. For all his kingship, the charming fairies Inn was for him a far better place to be than some cold Throne Room. Except maybe the one being built in his bag, this one was awesome, all thanks to a communal thinking with a hyperactive, overexcited blue Dragon.
"I wanted to thank you, the Princess as given me the title of Tax collector. And restored my noble titles. The time to get the paper from Gallia and the Count of Monte Christo will be back."
"No need to thanks me, it was all natural, after all you helped us."
The two men passed some time talking to each other, before giving their salute and going their respective ways.
*Scene Change*
Louise and Yugo had been given two different rooms, though close enough. That allowed him to go back whenever he wanted without risking waking up Louise.
However, as he was going back he received a sign from none other than the Queen herself.
"Excuse me, Sir Yugo, but could I speak with you a moment?"
It was rather unexpected. But as an allied foreign King, not that much unprobable.
"No problem. And no need to call me sir, I am not that hung up on formality." Even slightly disregarding of it, but it is important to some.
"Then You'll need to call me Marianne. It wouldn't do if you were the only one suffering this mouthful, now if you would follow me? My daughter is still catching up with her friend, I'd rather not bother her with that right now."
Yugo followed the queen to an isolate room. Only two chairs and a small table standing there. The Queen took one of the chair and invited him to sit down.
"I won't dance around the issue. In all honesty, what do you think of my daughter?"
Yugo thought for a moment. "She loves her people, I can say that much. And wouldn't mind taking risk for them. In comparison to the other nobles I saw, it's an immense gap. She..."
The Queen interrupted him. "Not as a Princess, but as a person."
Okay, thing were going in a strange direction. And he was starting to expect where it would end up. It wouldn't be the first time.
"She is smart and beautiful. She may look harmless, but she is determined and more than a little cunning." The Eliatrope waited for what would obviously come next.
The Queen caught it. "I guess you wouldn't be interested in arranging a wedding with her?"
And there it was. While he wasn't against the idea of a wedding in itself, the idea of an arranged one was not sitting well with him.
Dragons were being of freedom after all, even humanoid one, the idea of being shackled into such an event against his will for the sake of politics, it was a no-no. And he already had a problem with such a thing back in the day.
"While I am honoured, this kind of thing is not for me. She should be the one to chose with whom she pass her life."
The Queen sighed. "It was worth a shot, but it wasn't the original request I called you for." She looked at the two moons outside. "I will abdicate my place as Queen in the following weeks."
It was quite a bomb to be dropped. "Are you sure I'm the one to whom you should say that ?"
She nodded. "My Daughter as what it takes to be a great Queen. However she suffers from a weakness. While she is loved by the population, she is a young woman."
Yugo raised an eyebrow. "She is charismatic and smart enough. I don't see why her age would be a problem. Especially with good counselor such as you."
The Queen laughed. "You flatter me, truly. But it was not the age who paused problem, it's the fact she is a woman."
Okay, Yugo was lost. Everybody was already taking orders from the current Queen and the Princess. Why would they suddenly have problems with said Princess now becoming Queen.
"It may sound stupid to you, but the royalty is generally a role left to men. The belief that a woman is not up for the task is quite common, even more when war is looming. No matter how good she is, the people just won't trust her to rule alone. That's why there was talk of an arranged marriage with Germania, or that I gave that proposition to you. This way, it would give her the credibility to act on behalf of a King."
"But you are leading the country by yourself! And people obey you and the princess even as women." Exclaimed Yugo.
She negate with her head. "Everyone is convinced that I locked myself in some tower to mourn my dead husband, I'm expected to release the power anytime soon. Some Nobles even pressed me for it. As for my daughter the council saw it just as a transitional stage, until she found a man to marry. They are humoring her, but few took her seriously."
Yugo took a deep breath. The situations were bad. It was something he expected out of Brackmar. If Amalia was here she would be hurling right now. "What is your proposition?"
"There is a way for my daughter to rule as she is. I don't know what you heard about other countries. But the news made by the Church have reached even the other side of Gallia and Germania. The reveal of the existence of Angel have added a whole new layer to this world politics."
The Queen bore her eyes into his. With an intensity unmatched by but a few. "Some people may doubt, but it remains that a recognition from one of those angels would be in itself something colossal. Especially for those whose rule can be contested. If you were to publicly claim Henrietta as a worthy Queen, then the people will follow her, and so will do most of the nobles. It may even make an alliance with Tristain worthwile for Germania, whose king is not of Brimmiric descent and seek recognition from the church."
Yugo caught the gist of it. She wanted him to involve himself even deeper in this world power game. He was already neck deep in it, and now it was needed to go even deeper. It may become a problem, while helping a friend was no trouble, he still had a goal to achieve.
"I know I ask much of you, and you are in no obligation to help us, especially since I can't find anything that I could grant you in return. Not without the council screaming foul play. But if you have any love for this land and its people. I know Henrietta can be the symbol this kingdom need to lead it."
So the Queen was basically asking him to throw himself into the middle of the maelstrom out of the goodness of his hearts. She was either a genius or insane. Considering the kind of person Yugo was. Probably the first.
He smiled. "For what it's worth, your daughter and you would have fit right in on Amakna. Now, I'm not really good at writing speech, especially on such short notice. So I'll have to improvise something on the spot."
The Queen became hopeful, or at least she appears as such. She was good, he could commend her on that.
"You knew from the very beginning I would accept, isn't it?"
The queen smiled. "You peg me as the chivalrous kind. We are in dire need of that. Thank you, I won't forget about it, if there is ever something that we could do, ask."
"I didn't do it for a reward."
Yugo left his chair and went for the door.
"Before you leave, have Charlotte presented herself to you, or not yet?"
"Charlotte?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
*Scene change*
The morning after came calmly. A carriage had been prepared for them. And the Princess and Musketeer captain were both present.
"Your highness, you didn't need to come down here." exclaimed Louise.
"Don't be silly my dear friend. Of course I would come to escort you out. However, there is another reason for my presence. It concerns this class on wakfu. I had the honour of assisting myself."
Okay, that was something he didn't expect. "You did?"
"Yes, it was truly interesting. Agnes was with me. Miss Siesta did a great job." It highly pleased Yugo to know that. "Speaking of it, something rather peculiar happens, could you explain it to me?"
Henrietta gave them a quick description of the event and of this strange pain. Louise was interrogating her on why didn't she ever revealed this fact. Even though they would have jumped on the call to help her.
Thanks to his discussion with the Queen, Yugo could understand why. She was already disregarded by most noble, showing any form of weakness could end up ruining her chance to hold the throne. But his mind was on something else.
"I will need to ask Siesta about this, depending of her answer I may have to present you to someone." If she was the same as Tabitha, then there was a chance this strange transformation happened again, he would have to meet Balthazar before.
"And who would that be?" Asked Agnes, properly paranoid.
"Balthazar, the oldest Dragon currently alive. And the one who takes care of the Eliatrope while I search for a land. He is as old as wise. He may have some information about your condition. He always was passionate about research and knowledge." And he had a precedent to base himself upon, but he wouldn't speak about Tabitha unless she gave her authorisation to do so.
Louise, however seemed to tilt. "How knowledgeable are we speaking about? And where is he? There was no dragon with you when you came in."
"Do you think I would be so calm about my presence here if I had no way to reach the other Eliatrope? I can use the cube to open a portal to their dimension. It's a little hard on me, but I can allow a few person with me when I go see them."
The future Queen seems interested. "I would like to see this Balthazar. When do you think it would be possible?"
"I need to take care of a few things first. When will be the next mission?" Asked Yugo.
"We have nearly finished organizing the rescue operation on Albion, as soon as we receive a signal from Mathilda you'll be alerted." Henrietta answered.
The carriage was full ready. Henrietta gave a bow to the both of them. Louise bowed back, Yugo merely nodded. Louise would have chastised him for his lack of etiquette.
But since Yugo was technically a king, he was not forced to bow down in front of a princess. Or it was the justification she gave to herself anyway, more likely he simply didn't care about rank and wouldn't have bowed anyway...
"Then, till next time."
*Fast Change*
"So the council finally took notice." Sasha sighed.
Bidachal was kneeling in front of her. "Yes, While they don't know about your involvment in the situation, they know about the emergece of the Void."
The Lady tsk, then looked upon her friend. "And what are their plans?"
"They are scared of what would happen if the humans used that power against us. Many ask for a preemptive strike."
"ARE THEY INSANE!? Our two geatest advantages upon them are the distrust between their nation and the few number of their mages able to rivalize with us. If we launch such an attack, they would unite once more to counter us...and with the news our spies are sending us, even the second point started to look less true by the second." She took a deep breath calming herself.
"And even if we won, it would be pyrrhic at best. We would be left weakened and deprived of a potential powerful ally against our true enemy. Are they any opponent to this madness?"
"Some of them proposed to send an observation team." Added Bidashal.
"Tell the council I support this idea. Bidashal, I know I ask a lot from you, but I need you and your niece on this team." it was not a request.
"It will be done." Bidashal bid is farewell and left the room.
He smirked. He had been the one to reveal this information to the council. It was acting behind his lady's back, but she had been too apathetic, he needed to push her a little.
*Slow Change*
Chibi bandaged his arm. There had been another attack today. They were able to deal with the shushu, but they had taken a few injuries.
Tiffania was healing them, but they rather do some first aid before. If only to lower the necessary energy input. The poor girl was getting a harder time after each fight.
Sooner or later, this place would be overrun. They would need to flee soon. And it would be hard, unless if he accepted to complete the ritual.
Chibi couldn't let those people get killed by some monsters. He was a hero too, damnit.
He had discussed of this all with Enely and Frelin who supported his opinion. Grougaloragran hadn't been too keen on that, preferring his own plan. Taking the kids, breach their ways through demonic rank and steel a flying boat to wherever they'll be safe.
But Grougal was a Dragon and always had lived surrounded by powerful people. Such travel would not be easy for them, so for the children? Some would survive, but most would die. And Chibi refused such outcome.
They needed to stack thing in their favor and formulate a plan.
He would complete the ritual first, and train the kid for the travel to come. Even if that means to kiss Tiffania.
He was blushing because of the heat, not because he was shy, or inexperienced.
Things were a little pressing, so he would need to do that...now. The fact she was cute had nothing to do with it.
"Chibi, are you alright? You are all red." Said Tiffania.
Chibi froze. He wasn't ready, but he needed to stay determined.
"I'm ready to complete the ritual." Said Chibi, managing not to stutter.
"Eh?" Said a blushing Half-Elves.
*Fast Change*
She did it, she reached the forest where her sister and the children should be. It hadn't been easy, but Mathilda was once again walking the road of her homeland. And she didn't like what she found.
People were scared. Monster stalking the road with no one to slay them. Whole villages disappearing overnight, written as casualties of war by the two sides. Rumours of dark cult and demons, that Mathilda could confirm as true. And last in date, fresh bodies taken from the graves by strange men in black armor.
It was good she came when she did, they needed everyone out of the country as soon as possible. Hopefully they would be able to ready themselves quickly enough for the operation of extraction.
The little meadow where the orphanage lay was near. She sped up, she hadn't seen her sister in person in a long time, and even with all this, she had missed her presence. She missed them all.
That's partly why, when she saw a boy, that she didn't know, on the verge of kissing her sister. She did what any older sibling would, if said older sibling was a square class mage.
"Get your hand off my sister!" Followed by some random, yet powerful spell.
*Speed of light change Change*
"I can't believe I'm doing this."
"Stop complaining Smiss. Or you'll wake up the guardians. Unless you want to fight the whole of them." Said Joris, pointing the many giant golem around the rusted train track.
"Remark it would be fun." said Goultard.
"Are you insane you Iop brain! ...Of course you are. We may resist better to the passing of time, but we still can be killed." Complain the rogue.
"Aren't you the one who was able to escape the shukrute by yourself?"
"I swear I'm going to shoot you for this." Remington was doing his best to not open fire.
"You should not fall to your Anger, it can only result in bad thing."
Remington grumbled. "I'm sure you'd know something about this, Dark Vlad."
"Touché." Exclaimed the barbarian.
Remington went first to scout the place, putting as much distance as he could between him and the barbarian. This place was bad mojo incarnate, and he was not going to make a beginner mistake because of some red haired brute.
Othomai and Ogrehst were not far behind. With a little luck, they could negotiate with the Elder Dragon Aguabrial. If not, thing were going to be quite...heated.
*Ridiculous Speed Change*
Yugo and Louise arrived at the academy during the afternoon. Class was in session. So Only Siesta and Irukuku were there to welcome them.
Thinking fast, Yugo took out all the food he borrowed from the palace for Irukuku. Who tackled him in thanks. Instead of tackling him in desperation.
The result for his spine was the same, but at least she was happy while doing so. Louise had wisely chosen to look afar. Siesta coming by her side.
"So, I heard you did well from the Princess." Said Louise.
Siesta puffed her chest with pride. Action who slightly annoyed the Pinkette. "Of course, though I shall really thanks Tabitha. She is very reliable for this kind of things."
Louise snort. "I guess she would be."
Crash
"Should we help him?" Asked the black haired woman.
"Nah, if he really wanted to leave, he'd do so. It must count as fooling around in his barbaric world."
BOOM
"See he is smiling." Said Louise, not impressed. Her explosions were better.
"...It looks like a rictus of pain from my side."
Louise shrugged and went to take a meal. They couldn't eat anything on the way, and she had passed far too many days eating nothing but commoner food.
Siesta continued watching for a while. Till a flying missile crashed by her side. Irukuku had somehow succeeded in missing a hug and had launched Yugo instead.
"Hi Siesta, Felicitation on your first class." Cheered a bruised and dazed Yugo.
Siesta laughed and sat by his side. The Dragon soon joining them. A little sheepish.
"Do you think I could continue teaching them? By your side, of course."
"We'll need to train a lot more then." Joked Yugo.
"I can take it." Siesta pumped her fist dramatically.
"You sure do."
*Ludicrous speed Change*
Rumours of the magic accessible to commoner went rampant in the days to follow. Only matched in popularity by the rumours concerning the one who taught it.
The noble tried to quench it, fearing a revolt. But when in the security of their home or around their friend, the talk about this mysterious young woman they heard so much about where on every lips.
Some said she was an elven witch masquerading as a human. And should be burned at the stake. Another said she was a saint who heard the voice of angels and brought guidance to protect them from the Albionese heretic of Reconquista.
In Tarbes a certain family was listening to all this, with both pride and worry. Knowledgeable of the truth.
By the end of the week, one thing was considered true by all. And repeated by the local public announcer. "The Commoner got their angel. Now they have their Prophet. The Maiden of tarbes."
*Space Change*
One could normally think such a heresy as a magic wielding commoner would be seen as unacceptable. And many did, however, she was under the protection of the angel. And as long as this remains the case, acting openly against her was out of the question.
However, there were two places where an entirely different reaction could be heard.
In a small now repaired church.
"Are you sure Alistair? This commoner was using magic."
The good natured man laughed at the black haired inquisitor. "You know pretty well what it was Viktor. Julio had been teaching us how to use wakfu for quite some time now. Though, I prefer her method of teaching."
The white haired girl sighed. "Enjoying the touch of little girl. How were you able to gain the church light? I wonder."
"Ever the same I see Karen."
So continue the life in this chapel.
On the other side of the continent, on a golden throne the Pope Vittorio was gracing the world with one of his rare genuine smile. "Make sure nobody impaired the transmission of this knowledge Julio, and use this occasion to propagate the word of a new holy figure by doing so. The promised time approach, I can feel it. And having more Icon can only favor us in the long term."
"What is the official reason I should tell the people?" Asked the Eliatrope priest.
"Humanity have shown themselves worthy in the eyes of the founder. And While they wont give them full magic, the angels have seen to bring them a boon for their loyalty to his teaching."
*Use the fast Change Luke.*
The messenger was shaking as he found himself in front of the mad King.
"So you say my daughter is now in Tristain. Why should I care?"
The messenger looked up, some form of hope he wouldn't be punish. Before taking a glass of wine in the face. Shattering and piercing his skin. He screamed in pain.
"Don't show such a pitiful face in front of me." He asked a servant for another glass. Only to break it on the messenger again.
"Sheffield!"
"Yes, my king?" She was here in a flash. Literally.
"Would you bring your now Angelic self to tristain and ask my dear daughter to take care of the dog. I can't be bothered with it right now. Pass by our friend in Albion too, if he made no advance in our plan, shake him up as much as you please."
"What about the other Eliatropes?"
The mad king shrugged. "It would be of no interest right now." A sword of stasis formed in his hand. Reality cringing at this paradox, a creation made of destruction. "And all the guest are not there yet for the party."
*Triggered Change*
Enely was laughing as Chibi explained them why he was covered in mud.
"Sorry about that, I didn't expect my sister would summoned an Eliatrope Too."
That cutted the laughters immediately.
"Too?" Asked Chibi, Tiffania helping him getting rid of the mud.
"It's a long story, and If I'm right it's..."
Lancaster came rushing. "Get the kid Inside now!"
Everybody turned to look at him.
"Chibi." Asked the man. "Bring us on the top of this tree, and look to the South."
Chibi was a little stressed by this demand and did as told. "What are you tal...By Eliatrope."
It was visible from there, the pillar of smoke and fire were visible. Tainting the whole horizon red.
"Impossible." Was all that Mathilda could say.
New castle was burning.
*Fast Change*
Squadrons of black knight throw themselves at the defenders, riding upon beast of nightmare and flame. Leaving in their wake dismembered and charred body.
Shot of purple illuminated the sky, as dust and melting armor fell from the wall, their possessor turn to ashes by the stasis strike.
Crowley walked amongst his personal guards of shushu knight. Surrounded by the clamor of his soldiers.
Some children and women were taken by his men toward their point of entry. They were nobles, servant of the failure they called king, the commoners in his army wouldn't complain about what was going to happen to them.
After all, their debauchery had caused demon to appear, and it was only thanks to his power of the void, that he was able to tame the beast and take control of them. Or at least it was the official version for the shushu.
He nearly felt pity for them. But crushed it immediately. He couldn't allow himself to feel pity if he wanted to bring the plan of his master to fruition. And what a plan it was.
The fort was in front of him. The last stand of the Loyalist.
He could send the spider kind shushu to climb up the wall and open the gate from the other side. Or he could spare his troop and just blast the whole thing away with Stasis Bomb. Both hold logistical problem, namely his dependence on both resources for his plan to work.
"I see you are taking your role seriously." The voice of Shefield appeared behind her. Draped in a huge cloak hiding her features. It wouldn't be good if the Angel of Gallia was seen in the presence of a revolutionnary. Especially if her existence was to be held secret for now.
"My Lady, as you see the town is ours. Once the fort has fallen, it will be the end of the Loyalist."
"So? What are you waiting to attack?" Asked the Eliatrope.
"Hesitating between storming the castle and simply blowing it up." answered the "holy" man honestly.
Blue eyes emitted light from under the cloak. "Interesting, retire your troop for now, there is another option."
"The enemy is on his knee. We could finish them now and move on to Tristania."
"Believe me Crowley. When you'll hear my plan, you'll be delighted. It will even help us in our conquest of Tristania."
*Dream on?*
Louise was in a dream again. Living as Nora through those visions.
It was night time apparently.
Both the Mage and the Elf were asleep and she was standing guard over the body. She was inspecting a blade Louise recognized as being Derflinger.
She was tired, but it was her turn to pull an all-nighter. It had been two weeks since they retrieved the broken Eliatrope.
The Eliatrope girl was doing her best not to doze off, but she couldn't resist closing her eyes for a few seconds. Fighting the fatigues she looked over her charge
Said charge was...no longer in his bed! Nora started looking around and found him standing near her. His eyes unmoving, unblinking, fixated on her. Brilliant rune shining on his head. Reading Myotzorin.
"Wait, how?" Fear made place to worry, as Nora remembered the state of the Eliatrope in front of her.
"You should be resting. You are in no state to stand right now."
The Eliatrope looked at his body and sat on the bed. His jaw moving, a sound too low to heard escaping from it.
"What?" Nora got closer.
"Your Name?" His voice was hoarse. "What is your name?"
"I'm Nora, but please don't overdo it. You are still far from a complete recovery."
He sat back and took some water that was put near him..
"Good, now who are you? And how did you end up here?"
The Eliatrope turned slowly. Louise felt a cold shiver run her spine. Something was wrong, image and vision that couldn't be hers, start to plague her vision. The raising sound of a far wave getting nearer.
"I"
It wasn't a wave, those were screams, the screams of thousands.
"am"
The screaming became unbearable, she was barely able to hear anything. A sharp pain was pressing against her heart, trying to crush her.
"N."
*Dream off*
Louise screamed, holding her head. The noised had stopped. She was covered in sweat. And feeling sick.
"What was that ?"
