Louise shifted uneasily. She'd made some bold claims yesterday. Or was it last night? Time differences were weird. But either way right now she was stuck in a meeting with the entire school, going over the theft of the Staff of Destruction.

It was a farce. The entire staff was there, and they'd spent most of the time blaming each other for screwing up. Which they kinda had, but still it wasn't helpful. The only interesting things she'd learned were that the Staff of Destruction was a strange artifact even by normal standards, and Fouquette was apparently famous for her thefts across the continent.

When Ms Chartreuse pledged to act as Osmund's familiar in exchange for not getting punished she rolled her eyes in frustration. This wasn't accomplishing anything except lowering her opinions of the teachers. She really hoped Satori didn't notice her thought's there.

Fortunately Ms Longville burst in before the Headmaster could degrade his office further by feeling up a follow teacher in public. "I've found where Fouquette is hiding."

"Yes!" Louise hissed quietly to herself. Things were looking up.

"I bet they don't let us go after her," Utsuho thought at her. Louise's enthusiasm dipped. That was true. There were dozens of triangle class mages among the teachers. Colbert was square class even. One of them would be sent.

Sure enough Osmund stood up straight and proclaimed. "So, who's willing to go catch this thief and reclaim the Staff of Destruction?"

Louise looked over the teachers as silence fell. A long silence. Wait was no one going to step forwards? Nobody?

Well she'd worry about their incompetence later. If they wouldn't step up she could do as she pleased. "I'll go." She raised her hand to make sure they couldn't just look over her. Literally. Being short sucked.

She forced herself not to shrink as everyone turned towards her. "Louise, are you crazy?" "Do you want to die?" "What are you going to do? Bleed on her golem until it gives up out of pity?"

"I'll go with her."

Louise blinked and looked over to see Kirche raising her hand as well. The redhead smirked at her. "We'll see who can destroy that old woman's rockpile first."

A hot fire lit up in Louise's chest. Now that was a challenge she could get behind. "You're on Zerbst."

Tabitha quietly raised her staff, never looking away from her book. "You two worry me."

Kirche shrugged and smiled. "Very well."

Louise nodded in agreement. Tabitha would be a helpful ally.

"Ah, we'll have Sylphid too," Utsuho thought. "Now everyone can fly."

She turned to the Headmaster. "That should be enough. We made her run off last time after all."

"I have to protest," Colbert said stepping forwards. "We shouldn't be putting students into that kind of danger. If no one else is willing then I shall go myself.."

"Your protest is noted Mr Colbert, but we need you here to defend the campus if Fouquette returns," Osmund said. "Besides, young Tabitha is a chevalier, already. She should be able to handle a simple thief, especially with the help of Ms Zerbst who's already an exceptional fire mage and Ms Valliere who..." Louise ground her teeth as Osmund trailed off. The man finally finished "-who comes from a powerful family and has a strong familiar."

"I am pretty awesome," Utsuho said preening. Louise grumbled but let the bird have her due. It was all true.

Still Tabitha was a chevalier already? Louise hadn't known that. You couldn't just be granted that title. You had to earn it via service to a crown. Usually in battle. What had Tabitha done to get such a prestigious position? And before she'd even graduated?!

Well maybe she could ask on the way to find Fouquette. She turned to Ms Longville who looked similarly uncertain about guiding a group of students into danger. "Can we leave immediately, or do you need to gather supplies?"

"I'll need a wagon and fresh horses," Longville said. "Meet me at the gate in half an hour."


Louise headed to her room to grab supplies for the trip. She didn't expect to need much but Utsuho could be pretty insistent on snacking. She didn't want the raven flying away to eat some dead animal right before they encountered Fouquette. For that matter she didn't really like the idea of Utsuho eating dead animals to start. Sure Utsuho was a raven but...

She walked in and started as Siesta gasped in surprise. The maid shut the book quickly and hid it behind her before bowing. "Ms Valliere." The woman's cheeks were bright red.

"I said you can call me Louise," she replied. "And you don't need to be so embarrassed because you're reading."

Utsuho fluttered over and pecked at the bag of pork rinds, so Louise grabbed that. "Just don't eat so much you can't fly."

"Don't worry! I can shift the weight around as I please!" Utsuho preened on her shoulder. Louise pursed her lips and forced down jealous thoughts about her familiar. She was just a late bloomer. That was all. She wasn't going to be jealous of a bird.

Siesta placed her book down, leaving a marker on the page. "So they are actually letting you chase after Foquette? Surely the teachers-"

"The teachers are apparently cowards." Louise grimaced. "Except maybe Colbert, but Osmund forced him to stay and guard here. Kirche and Tabitha are going with me though. I'd like to do it myself, but that's probably for the best."

"That's something." Siesta folded her hands. "Unfortunately I don't think I can help you myself. So I'll stay here, if you're willing."

Louise nodded. "Of course." She wasn't going to drag Siesta into a magical battle. "Though what about the potion you made?"

"The explosive?" Siesta pulled out a bottle. "I don't think it can damage an earth golem. And I'd have to be present to trigger it, unlike the healing potion. Carrying around a live bomb flask seemed unwise."

That was fair. Louise sighed. "We'll just have to be more careful then." Then she grinned. "This time we know her tricks though!"

"Good luck," Siesta said. "Please be careful too." She picked up her book again, the blush returning to her features.

Louise was curious. What could the book be? It was probably a romance from how Siesta was blushing, but she didn't recognize the author. She quietly moved and peeked over Siesta's shoulder, her eyes flickering across the text.

'Akane's gasp was silenced by Sakura's hungering lips. Their bosoms pressed together and she reveled in the soft pleasure-'

Louise looked away, cheeks burning like molten steel. That was a romance all right, but where had Siesta found it?

Utsuho cawed, making Siesta jump in surprise again. "Hey that looks like one of Ms Satori's books."

"Sorry," Louise said to her maid, before turning to her familiar. "You're saying Satori wrote that?"

"Yeah she writes a lot," Utsuho thought.

"Um, I did get it from her library," Siesta said. "I knew it was a romance of course but well, I wasn't expecting... what it was." She somehow turned an even darker shade of red. "It's very good though."

Louise turned away to hide her own blush. "Well I won't interrupt you again." She headed for the door, then paused. It was a stupid idea, but she was really curious. "If it stays good, perhaps I could borrow it later."

"Oh!" Siesta shuffled behind her. "Of course."

With that Louise escaped out the door. She had a thief to catch!


Louise's bubbling enthusiasm had died off a lot waiting for Ms Longville to hook up the wagon. It got even more dull as she waited for the green haired woman to finish the rest of her preparations. When they finally started moving it was a relief... one that turned quickly into more boredom as they headed slowly out into the castle grounds.

"How far is the cabin anyway?" Louise asked.

"About five hours on the wagon," Ms Longville said. "Faster by flying I'd imagine, but I don't know the path that way."

Kirche frowned. "Will she even still be there when we arrive? You'd think she'd run further from the scene of the crime." It was a good question Louise had to admit.

"Looking for a buyer?" Tabitha suggested.

Ms Longville shook her head. "I have no idea. But it's possible she'll still be there. We have to try."

"That's right." Louise said. "And if not we can track her."

Utsuho nuzzled her cheek. "I'm okay at that. Not as good as Orin, but I can follow people."

"Thanks." She suspected they'd have to rely on Slyphid for tracking, but another option was good.

"I guess we'll be here for a while." Kirche crossed her legs and leaned back against the wagon wall. "So we can figure out a plan of attack that doesn't require me to save little Louise here."

"Hey!" Louise's eyebrows twitched. "I made one mistake. That's it! It won't happen again. This time Utsuho will blast that golem to bits until she runs out of willpower."

Tabitha looked up from her book. "She'll know this time."

Kirche and Louise both looked at the blue haired woman in confusion. Fortunately Utsuho translated. "Fouquette's gonna know I'm dangerous. She'll try to avoid my attacks." Utsuho ruffled her wings. "Probably by hiding underground. A golem that big can't dodge."

"So she'll hide her golem underground?" Louise muttered. That would make things harder.

Miss Longville started. "Eh? Why would you think the thief would hide their golem underground?"

Kirche seemed impressed. "You're right. Since we beat her golem last time she won't dare fight us head on. But underground... that'll make things harder. Tabitha can we all fit on Slyphid?"

"Yes," Tabitha replied. "But then we can't find her. Too many trees."

"I can look around on the ground until the golem shows up," Louise offered. "When she attacks I'll fly away. Then we can blast that golem to bits."

"Fly away?" Kirche snorted. "What is your bird going to carry you? You haven't managed levitation yet."

Louise grinned in triumph as she hovered off the seat, following the wagon along. "Is that so Kirche?"

The wide eyed shock on her rival's face was wonderful. It only got better when Tabitha nodded in agreement. "She can fly. But I'll go too." Tabitha's expression was neutral, but her eyes were hard. "You don't know how to spot an ambush."

That... was unfortunately true. Louise didn't have any combat experience. And she didn't want to rely on Utsuho alone. But there was a problem. "How will you escape? Levitation won't cut it."

"Jump," Tabitha replied.

Louise nodded. The woman could get Slyphid to catch her mid air. "Alright. Thanks."

Kirche was frowning. "I don't like this. You'll be out there on your own without my help. Are you sure I shouldn't be with you?"

"It's fine." Tabitha patted her arm. "I'm careful."

"Tch." Kirche didn't seem very comforted, but she settled for folding her arms and nodded. "You two better be. If I have to save either of you I promise you'll never hear the end of it."

Ms Longville shook her head. "Well if you're done flirting with each other-"

Louise twitched. "Why is everyone accusing me of being a sex crazed maniac now? I'm not sleeping with Siesta, and I'm definitely not sleeping with Kirche!"

"Busibodies in every flock." Utsuho clacked her beak. "You should have heard some of the stuff my cousin Hagure was going on about back when I was a kid."

The rest of the wagon was sadly less supportive. Ms Longville looked like she didn't believe a word. Tabitha was reading. And Kirche was toying with her blouse buttons. The redhead grinned. "I know you aren't sleeping with me little Louise. The question is, do you want to?"

"In your dreams Zerbst!" Louise snapped.

A button slipped free revealing the lower part of Kirche's cleavage. "And what about your dreams?"

Louise was sure she was crimson, but she forced herself to look out the wagon. "Can't you get her under control Tabitha?"

"This is more fun." Tabitha flipped a page.

Ms Longville shook her head and turned back to the road. "Just remember you're here for the Staff of Destruction. Not a noble's tea party." She shook the reins forcefully and pressed on.

Utsuho shifted her footing to stay on Louise's shoulder. "Hrm, I think she really might be interested you in a nestmate. Maybe you should consider it?"

"Don't you start!" The humans were bad enough. She didn't need romantic nonsense from her familiar too!


Louise's heart was beating furiously as she approached the cabin Ms Longville had pointed them to. It was quiet. Far too quiet. The animals here were on edge. She didn't need Utsuho to tell her that.

Tabitha seemed to feel the same. She was holding her staff ready to cast at a moment's notice. Slyphid and Kirche were circling above, ready to help them with an escape. Hopefully that would be enough.

Still there was no sign of the thief or her golem. Louise's eyes scanned the ground, but nothing seemed out of place. There wasn't a boulder or dirt patch to be seen in the trees.

Finally she reached the cabin. Tabitha whispered a quick spell and wind pushed the door open with a painfully loud creak. Utsuho ruffled her wings. "We aren't going to surprise Fouquette now."

"I'm more worried about her surprising us," Louise thought back.

Louise carefully stepped inside the cabin with Tabitha ghosting in behind her. There was nothing inside. Not even furniture. Except for a strange long tube with a box on the end in the middle of the floor. "Is that the Staff of Destruction?"

"It looks like a kappa rocket launcher," Utsuho thought.

"Maybe." Tabitha looked around. "Trap."

That was fairly obvious. There was no way Fouquette would just leave the item sitting here. "Magical?" she asked Tabitha. She didn't want to get blown up as soon as she touched it.

The blue haired woman shook her head. Alright so touching it was safe. So where was the trap?

Utsuho looked around. "Obviously the boss will spawn if you touch it."

"What does that even mean?" Louise glared at the bird.

"You don't know? Marisa and Alice say stuff like that. I figured it's a human saying." Utsuho flapped her wings. "When you pick it up the golem will appear. I'll blow a hole in the wall so you can get outside and fly away."

That was a plan. Staying inside was a death sentence. She looked at Tabitha. "Do you know a spell for lifting heavy objects?"

Tabitha nodded. "Grab and go." Good. Louise might be able to carry it, but something that bulky would slow her down.

The blue haired witch held up a hand with five fingers, then lowered them one by one. She was down to two when Louise realized that was supposed to be a countdown and prepared herself to fly.

With a hop Tabitha fetched the Staff of Destruction. Louise flew after her, while Utsuho spat a firebolt that shattered a window. They all turned to escape.

The floor exploded with a crackling roar as massive hands tore through it. Louise backpedaled away from the splinters, too shocked to even scream. The pillars of dirt began to close on her.

"Back!" Utsuho's voice resounded as the bird blasted a bigger hole in the wall. Louise took the advice, flying through the burning rubble as the cabin collapsed.

Tabitha passed her as they escaped, first landing outside, then leaping high into the air. Slyphid's trill and the flap of massive wings above told Louise that the others had made their escape.

Louise began flying upwards as fast as she could. As soon as she was past the treetops she'd be free right? While she climbed she turned to make sure the earth golem was far enough she could get away.

To her surprise the golem wasn't following them at all. Instead it was gathering the shattered cabin's remains into its hands. Why would it need to do that? It was just a bunch of wood splinters. Big wood splinters but...

The answer became clear as the massive earth creature looked up to where Slyphid was hovering and pulled its arm back. She'd read enough of her mother's books on war to know what it was doing. The mass of splinters would be the same as a cannonade of canister. It might not kill the dragon and her friends, but it would hurt them so badly they wouldn't be able to fly.

She could feel Utsuho drawing in power to blast the golem to bits. Would her familiar be fast enough? If the golem finished throwing the projectiles would still hit. She needed to buy more time.

Her wand was in her hand before she realized it. But what would she cast? No attack would work. How could you defend with the void? An element that wasn't there? Her mind flickered through what little she knew.

"Void is absence." "Void is change."

"Void can be the absence of change."

She raised her wand and channeled the magic into it. It started with a rush, like it always did. As the power climbed she changed the words, letting her thoughts follow the void. The 'Slow' spell had failed because she'd only stopped the air. Limiting the void like that was hard. She needed to stop everything.

The runes on Utsuho's chest flashed a beautiful blue, and everything twisted into place. It was nothing. It was everything. And it was all hers.

A beam of light flashed out from her familiar, just as the golem threw its payload. As the earth exploded into lifeless chunks, Louise pointed at the splinters flying at her friends. "Stasis!"

The ruins of the cabin just stopped in the air, frozen in place. Louise laughed in triumph at her victory. She'd touched the void! It was everything she'd hoped for!

And then she fell to the ground. Stars burst in her eyes as she hit the rough tree roots below her. "Ow..."

Utsuho came to her in a fluttering of wings. "Are you okay? What happened?"

"I dunno. I cast the spell but now I'm tired." She tried to tap into her willpower to fly again and failed. "Did I burn all my energy?"

There was a rush of wind and then Kirche jumped next to her. Slyphid must have landed. The red haired woman pulled Louise to her feet. "Don't just lie there Louise! That golem will be back-"

"Now," Tabitha said, pointing.

Louise looked over and sure enough the golem was reforming. Annoying. "Utsuho blast it." She wasn't going to let it pull that projectile trick again.

Utsuho cawed in agreement and flapped her wings before unleashing another searing lance of flame. The golem was carved literally in half, collapsing into rubble.

Both her friends stared at the raven. "How often can she do that?" Kirche asked quietly.

"All day," Louise replied happily.

"I'd probably get tired after two hours, but you don't need to tell them that," Utsuho said while preening. "Anyway we should leave."

"Leave?" Louise blinked at her familiar, before realizing she'd said that out loud. Oops.

Fortunately, Kirche seemed to think that was a suggestion instead of a question. "I suppose we should. Fouquette will have fled already. And we have the Staff of Destruction back. Let's get back to the wagon and return it before the thief rests up enough to send another golem."

"But we should catch her," Louise replied.

She nearly toppled over as Tabitha gave her a poke. "You're weak. She's not going to fight fair."

Louise wanted to retort, but she did feel weak. And there were no clues as to where the thief was hiding. She didn't like the idea, but fighting someone who they couldn't see was a waste. "Fine."

She let Tabitha help her onto Slyphid's back. Utsuho landed on her shoulder and nuzzled her, while Kirche hopped up behind her and made sure she was seated properly. She should probably have complained about being fussed over, but the other women were too soft and warm to whine about in her current state.

A quick flight later Slyphid landed back at the wagon. Louise looked over then frowned. "Where's Ms. Longville?"

Tabitha shook her head and hopped off. Kiche followed suit, helping Louise down before calling out, "Hey old lady! We've got the staff so let's go!"

Louise stretched her tired body and looked around. Nothing she could see. "Take a look Utsuho?" she asked her familiar.

The raven bobbed its head and croaked, "Yes." With a flutter of feathers Utsuho moved over to look around the wagon with the other familiars.

As the others searched Louise took a few deep breaths. Why had a single spell drained her so much? It had been a good spell, but not that impressive. She should be able to cast more right? Especially since she was supposedly a very strong mage, or however Marisa put it.

The crunch of gravel tore through her musing. She spun, then relaxed as she saw Ms Longville walking out of the trees. "Oh there you are. We-"

The flash of steel was all she saw before she found herself trapped in Ms Longville's grip, a knife to her neck. "Don't move!" the woman snapped at her friends. "Especially those familiars. If I see that red gem on the bird's chest I'll slit this girl's throat."

Louise was forced to watch as her friend and familiar all froze. Why? What was going on?

"Foquette," Tabitha said, her voice trembling a little. Louise's eyes widened. Old Osmund's secretary had been the thief? That was impossible. How could that have happened? The faculty was supposed to be carefully investigated.

"Indeed," Foquette replied. "Or at least that's how I'm known here. It's a good thing your headmaster will let anyone with a pretty face join the staff."

Oh. That was how. Louise was starting to wonder if Satori's suggestion to kill the headmaster might have more merit then she'd thought.

Cold steel tapping her neck cut off that musing. "You three are more dangerous than I expected. Much more. However I fear you've lost. So let's make a deal. You tell me how to use the Staff of Destruction there, and I don't do anything to you that can't be healed."

Louise tried to figure out what her friends were thinking. Kirche was obviously fuming, and Slyphid was drooping. But Tabitha and Utsuho were harder to read. She reached out to her familiar. "You have a plan?"

"Maybe." The worry in her familiar's voice chilled her as much as the cold of the knife. "Try to stall her first."

Stall her? How? Louise was the one stuck here with a knife to her neck! Her heart was pounding so hard she could swear she could feel the knife digging in with each beat. And her thoughts were too muddled to form even a bad spell!

"You expect students to know how the Staff of Destruction works?" Kirche said. "Shouldn't you know?"

"The headmaster doesn't know. And I like living too much to experiment with an unknown magic item," Fouquette replied. "I was hoping you'd be forced to use it on my golem, but that stupid bird of yours let you survive my test."

"You were going to kill students?" Tabitha muttered.

Fouquette sniffed. "I was going to kill worthless nobles. And I'll kill you all if you don't start figuring out how to use the staff quickly. But not too quickly. After all you wouldn't want me to get startled and hurt your friend."

Kirche's hand were balled up into fists, but the red head slowly stepped towards the Staff of Destruction. "Fine. But Louise is the one who knows how to use it. She's a Valliere after all. And this is an artifact of Tristain."

A clever ruse, but Louise didn't have a clue how to use the artifact! As soon as that got revealed she'd be killed!

The grip around Louise's neck shifted. "Possible. You'll just have to get her instructions from a distance. I'm not giving up my best hostage."

Utsuho flapped her wings and hopped towards the staff. "Okay I have a better idea. Just repeat what I tell you."

Louise really hoped her familiar's plan worked. She did her best to get her pounding heart under control.

Utsuho carefully looked over the item. "Good thing this is in Japanese. Tell Kirche to aim the tube with the arrow on the side pointing towards whatever she wants to shoot."

"Okay Kirche. Listen carefully." Louise repeated the instructions from Utsuho.

"What?" Kirche froze. "You actually-!" She shook her head. "Okay. Can you repeat it?"

Louise carefully told Kirche how to aim the Staff. Then how to hold it. All following Utsuho's orders. Fouquette leaned over her, looking carefully at the steps.

There was a flash of light and then the knife was gone and Fouquette was cursing in pain. "I don't have to shoot from my third eye," Utsuho smugly said.

"I have the best familiar!" Louise thought in triumph as she spun around. Fouquette was there, bruised cheek darkening already. With a forwards step Louise slammed her fist into the woman's jaw.

Pain exploded in her hand. "Ow!" They both staggered back. Had she broken a finger on that woman's face?!

Ice flashed through the air, and slammed into a wall of dirt summoned by Fouquette. The earth mage turned to run, but Tabitha's second barrage arced over the wall, and slashed the woman's leg.

And then Flame dropped out of a tree and knocked Fouquette of the Crumbling Dirt face first onto a rock.

"Kill stealer!" Utsuho angrily cawed from the wagon. "That's my catch! I demand the eyes!"

"She's not dead," Louise muttered holding her aching hand and walking towards the woman. From what she could see however, Fouquette was unconscious. She stood there blinking.

Then it hit her. "We won. We won!" She laughed in triumph again. She'd touched the void, reclaimed the lost artifact, and captured a wanted criminal. "That will show them!" She pumped her fist in the air, then cried out in pain as her finger complained again.

"A stunning victory," Kirche said with a grin as she moved up to tie Fouquette's hands. "And I must admit, you did your fair share Louise."

"Fair share!? I did almost everything," Louise sputtered. "Well me and Utsuho." She tried to jab a finger at Kirche, then doubled over in pain again.

Tabitha moved up and patted her on the shoulder. "Next time, punch them in something softer."


My editor is alive again so have another chapter.

Things are going normally right now, but there'll be a little divergence next chapter. You can be assured of that.