Author's Notes: Took me long to upload this chapter because of some serious work at school. Anyway, here's chapter 10. This chapter covers the Familiar Exhibition and there will be some tricks that Cherub will pull off. Regarding the tricks, thanks for the reviewers because I got a clear picture of what tricks Cherub will pull off here will by mixing your suggestions into one. Bear in mind that I will twist some canonical events or I may not use them at all depending on my liking but the plot will still be sensible.

Also, the next turn of "A Commander's Path: Road To Freedom" will be coming a few days from now.

Without further ado, on with the chapter.

==========Chapter 10: Firepower Exhibition==========

Cherub and Siesta were able to get back at the Academy before Louise's class session ended. The entire trip didn't take long because of the speed Cherub is cruising at. The entire field all around the academy is almost empty since all students are in the classrooms for their sessions. This gave Cherub the chance to unload Siesta without any disturbance.

"I'll be returning now and I'll inform the others", Siesta said as she hurried back to the servants' dormitory after placing Derflinger next to Cherub. Cherub can't take hold of Derflinger at the moment due to its/his size

Cherub looked on as Siesta retreats back into the horizon.

When Siesta is completely out of sight, Cherub shifted to its/his human form, grabbed Derflinger and began walking towards the direction of the building where Louise's classroom is situated. It's time to fetch up its/his master.

Within a few days after being summoned to this world, Cherub managed to quickly adapt to the new world it/he is in. Its/his memory map capability allowed it/him to easily maneuver around the Academy while its/his bio-sensor function allowed it/him to detect humans within reach of its/his radar especially those that have a registered heat signature like Louise.

Furthermore, this world is much better than the one in Layered due to a number of reasons. One, this world is much cleaner than Layered considering that no sort of gaseous chemicals are being emitted up in the air. Air pollution is completely non-existent. Second, since there is no chemical pollution of any sort, biological life is very healthy and capable of sustaining on its own especially the local wildlife and fauna. Humans don't have any diseases induced by radiation poisoning and other man-made errors which keep the death rate at a too low of a level compared to Layered.

While this world has good sides, it also has bad ones. One of the most prominent is the lack of any technological advancement anywhere it/he look at. This world resembles the European medieval-era style of human life as far as Cherub knows based on the information stored in its/his databanks. However, the good point of this bad side is that factions in this world don't have any access to weapons of mass destruction or WMDs and, as such, this keeps the death rate from any wars interrupting to deal heavy losses on human life and other catastrophic consequences. Based on its/his calculation and what little information it/he can deduce, the average casualty rate of wars fought in this world number from a hundred to about ten thousand deaths and five hundred to twelve thousand wounded. These numbers are still big but these are nothing compared to the wars in its/his world where the estimated average casualty rate rolls from a hundred thousand to one millions dead with an additional three hundred thousand to two million wounded per war. The part about magic can become a real factor here due to its potency in battle although Cherub deemed it to be inefficient due to the amount of time needed to actually cast even just one spell and the fact that these humans capable of casting magic identified as nobles or mages lack the sufficient numbers to cement their effectiveness on the battlefield in the long term. Overall, mages can be treated like a very fragile piece of artillery: Packs a powerful punch but very fragile and weak when caught in melee. This, however, is what it/he assumed based on the two previous encounters he has with the nobles.

Cherub continued on its/his walk until it/he detected that Louise's heat signature is just a couple of clicks away from it/him at which it/he hurried its/his pace. It didn't take Cherub to find Louise due to its/his master's unique physical features like pink hair and a short stature aside from her unique heat signature. When it/he reached Louise, she is having an argument with Kirche as always and Tabitha just ignores the two as usual. It looks like some sort of routine in Louise's life as Cherub will put it.

"So Louise where did your familiar go?", Kirche asked.

"I don't need to answer your question Zerbst", Louise replied.

Before Kirche can even say anything, she spotted Cherub approaching them due to the stares of the other students also in the area which she noticed.

"Oh look! It's Cherub!", Kirche exclaimed.

Cherub continued walking towards Louise and stopped when it/he is right next to Louise.

"Where have you been?", Louise asked.

"I've just retrieved your personal maid from an unwarranted noble without your permission", Cherub stated.

"What do you mean?", Louise asked again.

"A noble by the name of Count Mott have taken ms. Siesta without your consent which I believe was possible through the Headmaster", Cherub answered.

"T-Those perverted lechers!", Louise whispered with a pissed-off voice.

Suddenly, Kirche interrupted.

"Well Louise", Kirche said, "Instead of getting angry with those two old men, why don't you just think of what to do regarding the upcoming Familiar Exhibition? I believe it's slated to happen around tomorrow and Princess Henrietta will be arriving today to watch the exhibition tomorrow."

Louise suddenly yelped at Kirche's statement especially the last one.

"W-Wh-What?!", Louise shrieked, "The princess is coming t-today?!"

Kirche instantly noticed the predicament that Louise is in which made her amused and decided to make it more interesting.

"Yes it is", Kirche said simply.

With that, Louise's face expression just got more fascinating… well in Kirche's perspective.

Suddenly, Louise looked at Cherub.

"Cherub what sort of tricks can you pull off?", Louise asked.

Cherub looked at Louise for a moment before replying.

"I can do the matter conversion if you want master", Cherub stated, "Although I will do it in a larger scale if this Familiar Exhibition is some sort of a capability demonstration event."

"L-Larger scale?!", Kirche said in an amazed tone, "You mean you can turn a large boulder into a big chunk of gold?!"

"Partner you serious?!", Derflinger stated.

"Actually, I can also turn boulders of rock into diamonds if needed", Cherub stated.

Louise, of course, is surprised to hear it. Now she has something to show off real big at the Familiar Exhibition.

"Wow", Kirche exclaimed, "You're very impressive darling."

"Having you as a partner isn't bad at all, partner", Derflinger stated.

"Alright Zerbst", Louise said confidently, "Me and my familiar will have something to do for now so goodbye."

With that, Louise left with Cherub in tow. Kirche, as well as the crowd in the corridors who also heard the conversation, we're just standing there in silence. They were all amazed by the fact that they are just a day away from seeing the full capability of the impressive golem that is Louise's familiar.

At Louise and Cherub…

The two are currently in Louise's room after a few minutes of walking in the corridors. Louise opened the door to allow her and Cherub to get in. After the two are inside the room, Louise shut the door close and spoke with Cherub.

"Cherub", Louise began, "Do you need to practice your talents to ensure that they are working properly?"

"Negative", Cherub replied, "As soon as I learned a particular skill, I can use that skill with maximum proficiency and efficiency even if I had not used said skill for a long period of time."

"T-Then can you turn this into a lump of diamond", Louise said as she handed over to Cherub several pebbles which she got at the class session earlier.

Cherub got the pebbles in its/his and, within seconds, the pebbles started glowing. After a few minutes, the once coal-black pebbles turned into gleaming white shards of diamonds.

Cherub handed over the now shards of diamonds back to Louise who is currently wide-eyed at the moment.

After a few minutes, Louise regained her composure and smiled.

"Alright Cherub", Louise said, "We're going to get it tomorrow."

Suddenly, the smile in Louise's face was replaced with that of a red one.

"Oh I forgot!", Louise said, "The princess is coming today! I must hurry up!"

"Does this princess really an important person in any case?", Cherub asked.

"Of course!", Louise yelled, "She is the ruler of Tristain. Cherub come with me. We need to be at the grounds to greet the Princess."

Cherub immediately followed suit.

Louise and Cherub didn't take long to get at the Academy grounds. When they got there, almost every single student in the Academy is lined up along the way where the Princess' entourage will arrive. From the crowd, Louise saw several figures like Kirche, Tabitha and even Guiche and Montmorency. The Academy's teachers are all present and are ready to greet the princess when she arrives.

Fortunately, the Princess' entourage hasn't arrived yet giving Louise time to prepare. Louise pushed her way into the crowd of students to get a clear view of the scene. Cherub followed her closely.

Several minutes later, knights mounted in armored horses became visible on the horizon followed by a splendid-looking carriage being pulled by horses with a single horn on top of their heads which Cherub easily identified as unicorns and more knights behind the carriage similar to the ones at the front. This is the princess' entourage and it has finally arrived in the Academy.

The entourage went inside the Academy grounds and the students cheered as the princess' carriage passed them. The carriage and its knight escorts stopped just a distance away from the Academy teachers who are simply waiting for the princess to get out of her carriage.

The carriage door opened a few moments later and out came a middle-aged man in priest-like clothing. The man is Cardinal Mazarin. The students, of course, were disappointed by this.

"Geez, it's just the cardinal", a male student said, "I hoped we can get to see the princess. This is just a waste of time."

The teachers then ordered the students to keep quiet to show some respect to the princess. Cardinal Mazarin, on the other hand, heard the ranting of the students but he ignored it. He then turned at the carriage's door extending his hand.

"Princess please come out", cardinal Mazarin said.

Just then, a female's hand suddenly grabbed the cardinal's hand and out came a girl about 18 years of age, dressed in an elegant purple dress fit for a monarch and holding a scepter on her other hand.

When the girl came out of the carriage, the ranting of the students was replaced with that of a joyous cheering. Cherub noticed that even Louise seems to have her entire attention affixed on the princess.

"It's princess Henrietta!", a female student said.

"She's definitely the flower of Tristain!", Guiche exclaimed.

Suddenly, Guiche felt somebody pricked him real hard.

"O-Owww!", Guiche yelled in pain.

"Be quiet you perverted idiot!", Montmorency said.

"So she's the princess of Tristain?", Kirche said, "I'm more beautiful that her right darling?"

Kirche was referring to Cherub who was not immediately able to reply as Guiche immediately interjected.

"How dare you say that?!", Guiche shot back only to be pricked by Montmorency harder.

The students cheered in unison as the princess along with the cardinal and several knights approached the Academy teachers who proceeded to bow when the princess was just in front of them.

"It is an honor to us for you to be here Your Highness", Headmaster Osmond said while he and the other teachers including Professor Colbert and Ms. Longueville remained kneeling.

"I should apologize Headmaster", Princess Henrietta spoke, "Because I announced that I will be visiting here so suddenly. Besides, I have my own reasons for visiting here. I believe we should talk about it inside."

Princess Henrietta, along with Cardinal Mazarin and some of her guards, went with Headmaster Osmond inside the building and proceeded to the Headmaster's office.

Once the event is finished, the teachers who haven't accompanied Headmaster Osmond proceeded to disperse the students who started to go away when the princess is completely out of sight.

Louise did go away as well with Cherub in tow followed while Kirche, Tabitha, Guiche and Montmorency go their own ways.

"Is the purple-haired human being escorted earlier the princess?", Cherub asked to clarify.

Louise turned around and replied.

"Yes", Louise said, "And I want you to impress her as much as you can with your abilities. You got that?"

"Understood", Cherub answered.

"Good, I want to see you changing large boulders of rocks into precious gems like diamonds", Louise said.

Cherub nodded as it/he and Louise walk away.

Meanwhile at the Headmaster's room, Headmaster Osmond along with Princess Henrietta and some of her escort guards along with Cardinal Mazarin are inside with the headmaster and the princess having a conversation. Two of the princess escort guards are outside and currently guarding the door implying that somebody important is in.

"What brings you here to watch an event like the second years' Familiar Exhibition Your Highness?", Old Osmond asked.

"I wanted to see a close friend of mine", Henrietta replied, "And I believe that she summoned a rather powerful and interesting familiar."

Old Osmond touched his long white moustache before replying.

"I see", Old Osmond said, "Ms. Valliere's Familiar is truly an interesting one. It shows abilities far beyond anyone's imagination. I wonder how Ms. Valliere summoned such a being of great might."

Henrietta smiled before replying.

"That will be revealed in time", Henrietta said, "About another important matter, I believe it has something to do with Albion."

Headmaster Osmond's face now turned slightly serious.

"I believe it has something to do with the brewing unrest there by a group known as Reconquista", Old Osmond said.

"Yes it is", Henrietta confirmed.

"Very well then, let us get to the more important matters for now", Old Osmond replied.

The guards accompanying Princess Henrietta left and only the Headmaster, the Princess, and the Cardinal are left inside. Once the door is shut close, the three started conversing on a very important matter.

Meanwhile at the outside of the room of the Academy's laboratory, Cherub is walking towards it after it/he managed to secure Louise's approval. When Cherub left, Louise is extremely happy and confident as her familiar now has a trick ready to pull off tomorrow. Currently, it/he is carrying two thick mid-sized slabs of steel with it/him which is impossible to carry for its/his size as a human. Considering that Cherub is not a human, weight restrictions is not a problem for it him. Derflinger is also with it/him who is also asking what they are going to do. As it/he is walking towards the laboratory's door, it/he spotted Professor Colbert and called out his attention.

"Professor Colbert", Cherub said.

Colbert then turned to Cherub's direction and saw Cherub holding two thick sheets of steel: one is black-colored steel while the other is gleaming gray.

"What can I do for you?", Colbert asked.

"May I use some of the laboratory's apparatus in preparation for the Familiar Exhibition tomorrow?", Cherub asked.

Colbert thought for a moment before replying.

"No one is currently using the laboratory at the moment so I'll let you use it", Colbert answered.

"Understood", Cherub replied.

"But can I see what are you going to do?", Colbert asked.

"I will create a useful tool from the world I came from for the exhibition tomorrow", Cherub answered.

"A tool from your world?!", Colbert exclaimed, "Very well, I'm more than eager to help."

Colbert and Cherub then went into the laboratory to start working on Cherub's 'useful tool'.

Inside the laboratory, Cherub is busy melting the black-colored metal and melding it to a rather familiar figure. Colbert, on the other hand, is somewhat amazed that a golem can do such a task with a high-degree of efficiency. What's more is that Cherub is holding the lump of partially molten metal while it is still hot and burning. However, this intense heat is not a problem for Cherub as it/he is constructed by the Controller to be completely indestructible. As how to put it, it/he is the Controller's masterpiece.

Cherub finished melding the first lump of metal that appears to be a part of something. It/he then started to meld another lump of metal and another then another until all the melded pieces has been created. After the pieces have been made, Cherub started melding the other slab of metal, the yellow-looking one, into small cylinders and it/he managed to make a total of an estimated 400 of the cylinders all in all.

After all the pieces have been made, Cherub pieced all the parts together except the small cylinders until it finally became something that Colbert knew but, at the same time, strange. The thing is colored in black and has the basic proportions of a hand musket but his instincts tell him that this is superior to even the ones being possessed by the Royal Guards.

"Cherub is that a hand musket?", Colbert asked.

"No", Cherub replied, "This is a weapon called a Handgun and is geared towards personal self-defense."

"A weapon for personal self-defense?", Colbert asked, "What is that?"

"This is a weapon focused more on ensuring the survival of its wielder that in an assault role", Cherub stated, "Its short-barrel allows its wielder to fight in close quarters more efficiently as opposed to bulky weaponry like spears and long swords."

"I see", Colbert stated, "Can you create another one for me so I can study it?",

"Understood", Cherub replied.

Shortly after finishing its/his first handgun, Cherub the made another one for Colbert. The entire process took three hours but Colbert never noticed the time having gone too fast. The sun is already setting down when the entire crafting process is finished. Cherub and Colbert then head down the courtyard which is fairly empty at the moment. Only a small number of students are left in the area.

From Cherub's suggestion, Colbert ordered a servant who happened to be in the area to gather used up cans which they will use in a test for the handguns. When the servant gave the empty cans, Colbert ordered the servant to arrange it about forty yards away from them. As soon as the servant is done, Colbert dismissed the servant.

The small number of students in the area got curious on what the two are doing so they all opted to watch whatever is about to happen.

"Professor Colbert", Cherubs said as he aimed its/his gun at one of the empty tin cans, "This is how this weapon works."

Within a second, Cherub clicked the trigger and a BANG rang out of the entire court. The BANG is just loud enough for everyone to hear within the court but not for the entire Academy. Due to Cherub's advanced targeting system that guarantees a 100% target hit most of the time, the bullet hit the spot and the tin can was blasted away with a large hole on it. Cherub repeated the process until 7 cans have been blasted away including the first one while spent casings litter around it/him. It/he then unloaded its/his hand gun to which a rectangular tube slid out and it/he loaded a new one.

"Professor Colbert that is how this weapon works", Cherub stated.

Colbert stared at Cherub for a few moments then at the handgun that Cherub gave him and back at Cherub. It was quite unbelievable. A musket that's just roughly the same size as a hand musket packs a stopping power that can rival a canon shot if the bullet just happened to be larger. The interesting part, however, is that it's just a weapon focusing more on the wielder's defense than on the attack which means that weapons from Cherub's world geared towards attacking are much more deadlier. He has been a well-known soldier in the past known as the "Flame Snake" and he knows how potent this new weapon is which is far greater than what he encountered and used in the past. Though he shuns war and killing due to a certain tragedy in the past which is the result of what he considers his own mistake, this is hard to ignore as this is definitely a sign of advancement which he is a pioneer of. This could even surpass magic on the field of battle if enhanced thoroughly… and this is not in any ways magic.

"I-Incredible", this was just all the Colbert stated.

"Professor Colbert", Cherub said, "I must take my leave now. Master Louise is likely waiting for me back at her room."

"I understand", Colbert replied.

Cherub holstered the handgun beside him much to Derflinger's chagrin as he is no longer the sole weapon of Cherub although he's still happy as the handgun isn't a sentient one like him and left the area leaving behind an amazed Colbert and a small group of students digesting what has just happened. It/he managed to reach the building that Louise's room is in. However, just as it/he was about to approach the door of Louise's room, it/he detected a figure wearing a cloak that conceals every part of the body. The unidentified figure in question is not registered within its/his databanks and the person's heat signature doesn't match with anyone within the Academy. However, scans do reveal that the person in question is a girl. The scans also did not show that the unidentified person is armed with any weaponry. In light with this consideration and the fact that the Academy is a civilian area, Cherub approached the unidentified figure from behind carefully although it/he is prepared to grab the person by the neck and twist it should she do anything hostile.

"Who are you?", Cherub asked as it/he grabbed the figure's left shoulder from behind.

The cloaked figure was startled but she can't turn around as Cherub got her in a solid grip on her left shoulder.

Just as the cloaked figure is about to answer, the door of Louise's room suddenly opened revealing Louise. When she saw Cherub holding the cloaked figure from behind, she was taken by surprise and immediately asked Cherub who is the cloaked figure.

"Cherub who is that?", Louise asked.

"I do not know", Cherub replied, "I found her heading straight towards your room. She is not armed with any sort of weapon except that she also carries a wand with her like other mages in the Academy including you Master."

The cloaked figure has her attention on Louise although she was shocked with what Cherub said. She immediately spoke.

"H-How did you know about that?", the cloaked figure said in a tone that Louise knows all too well.

"Wait…", Louise said as she looked around, "Cherub, get her inside my room now!"

Cherub immediately complied taking the cloaked figure with it/him inside Louise room and Louise closed the door when the three of them are all inside.

"It's been a long time Louise", the cloaked figure said as she toppled down the hood of her cloak revealing herself to be Princess Henrietta.

"P-Princess, what are you doing here?!", Louise said in a shocked tone.

"I have come here to watch the Familiar Exhibition", Henrietta said, "I heard that you summoned a really interesting familiar so I came to see your familiar in action for myself. By the way, where is your familiar? I heard your familiar is an impressive golem made out of fine metal but I haven't spotted one all around the Academy earlier.

"Princess…", Louise said in an embarrassed tone, "My familiar is with us at the moment. He's the one that grabbed you just recently."

Henrietta turned to the young man that apprehended her recently and noticed that something is different about him due to his glowing gold-colored eyes. Of course, she is puzzled as she knew for certain that Louise's familiar is a golem not a human… though she feels something odd about the young man in front of her.

"Actually, your Highness", Louise said, "My familiar has the ability to turn into its human form. He's actually an eight-meter tall golem and you will see him in action tomorrow."

"I see", Henrietta said, "By the way, I heard that a golem attacked Guiche de Gramont in a duel a few days ago. Is that golem your familiar?"

"Yes Your Highness", Louise said, "My familiar is capable of acting on its own when I'm not around which makes it capable of holding its own."

Louise said it proudly to which Henrietta was surprised to hear.

"I never expected a familiar to go like that", Henrietta said.

Cherub then interrupted and asked the Louise.

"Master, what is your relationship with the Princess", Cherub asked.

"Princess Henrietta is my childhood friend when we were still kids", Louise said happily, "And we have known each other for a lifetime."

"Understood", Cherub replied.

Henrietta then noticed another odd feature about Cherub which is its/his robotic voice. True, it/he looks human yet its/his voice isn't. It was really quite puzzling yet interesting at the same time. Suddenly, she remembered about going back as her visit to Louise is just a secret.

"Louise, I'll need to go now", Henrietta said, "My escort guards do not know that I came here in secret so I need to get back before they knew that I'm gone."

"I understand Your Highness", Louise said.

Suddenly, Cherub interrupted.

"Master, I am currently detecting heat signatures around us within an 80 meter radius", Cherub replied, "Based on their movement patterns, it is safe to assume that they are the Princess' Royal Guards and their likely objective is to find the Princess."

Henrietta was shocked to hear it and proceeded to ask.

"How do you know that?", Henrietta asked in surprise.

"I can detect various life forms ad objects within a maximum of twenty kilometer radius around me", Cherub stated.

This surprised Henrietta greatly though the next few words that Cherub spoke really got her interested fully.

"In order to get around the Princess' escort guards without being detected, I can volunteer to sneak her back towards her quarters by using my invisibility function" Cherub said.

"Y-You can turn invisible?!", Henrietta said in surprise, "Are you a mage?"

Louise, knowing full well of Cherub's abilities along with a few others, sighed before she spoke.

"Yes Your Highness", Louise said, "My familiar possess many abilities that even a square-class mage golem doesn't have. He is not a mage but a rather special golem. I'm also surprised to hear his abilities."

"I see", Henrietta said, "I look forward to seeing you familiar in action tomorrow."

Henrietta left with Cherub as her escort and just as the door closes Louise saw clearly Cherub and Henrietta disappeared right out of thin air. However, due to this, Cherub was able to return Henrietta to her quarters in short order and proceeded to get back towards Louise's room after a several minutes.

The next day, the entire Academy has been prepared for the Familiar Exhibition and it looks like a celebration of sorts as well. The Familiar Exhibition can be also said as an opportunity for many students as most of the Princess entourage is also watching, Cardinal Mazarin among them, and they would be in the road to fame and success if they managed to impress either the Princess or the Cardinal. They might even earn a Chevalier status if they managed to succeed in their endeavor. The prospect of having a high position in the Royal Palace once they reached age is also a great one.

Students have their familiars perform various tricks though those that have 'regular' familiars like dogs, cats, mice, and eagles are just doing what can be considered 'menial ones' due to the simplicity of those tasks. Those that have impressive familiars like dragons, salamanders, bug bears and other large creatures are getting attention.

Tabitha with her dragon Sylphid is doing some fancy air maneuvers all the while Sylphid is shattering shards of ice which were created by Tabitha. Kirche, on the other hand, is having Flame dance while breathing out a stream of flame out of its mouth. Guiche and his mole familiar Verdandi are doing a rather funny scene at the Exhibition. Verdandi is currently balancing Guiche in a rather unusual fashion: Guiche is in a lay-low position while Verdandi is balancing Guiche with just its nose and head alone. Some of the princess' entourage is amused by what Guiche pulled off.

On the sidelines, Cardinal Mazarin sighed as another student finished performing a trick. He had seen many Familiar Exhibitions in the past and they were just all the same being less entertaining with each succeeding one despite those Familiar Exhibitions containing impressive creatures like dragons, manticores, and griffins. However, he noticed that Princess Henrietta seems very excited and she seems to be waiting for somebody to perform.

"Your Highness, are you waiting for somebody to perform?", Mazarin asked.

"Yes Cardinal", Henrietta replied, "And I believe this visit will be worth it once we see it for ourselves."

As the last student finish making an talent exhibit with his familiar, the speaker announced the next student loud and clear.

"The next student… Ms. Francoise Le Blanc de La Valliere!", the speaker announced.

"Very well Cardinal, the show is about to begin", Henrietta said to which Mazarin was puzzled about.

Just as Louise entered the scene, an eight-meter golem made of steel with what looks like wings on its back entered the scene which caught everyone's attention including Mazarin. Mazarin was quite surprised to see the steel golem in front of him. Never in his life did he saw such a golem. The golem in question is of an unusual high quality that will make the golems of many square-class mages to look like just lumps of mud in comparison with this. Even Headmaster Osmond and Professor Colbert are impressed. Professor Chevreuse, being an Earth mage, is completely interested in the steel golem in front of them.

Louise ordered Cherub to turn the large boulders of rock that were placed earlier by servants ordered by Louise for Cherub's trick. Anyone didn't know what the boulders are for but Louise just said that it will be used for her familiar's tricks.

Once Cherub was on scene, it/he then extended its/his hand until it is fully stretched out. Suddenly, all of the boulders of rock started glowing for a few minutes and after that… the once black and grey boulders of rock now became crystals in an assorted color. The crystals are in various colors like white, red, and green and they are all sparkling. The crowd was taken by the event but the next thing that Cherub really surprised them.

Cherub grabbed several of the gems and tossed them into the air… with an unbelievable force. As the gems speed up towards the sky, Cherub boosted upwards that let it/him fly. Of course, this shocked everyone as they never expected to see a golem to fly. Henrietta along with everyone including her own entourage escort where some of them are mage knights looked up and saw Cherub stop mid-air. Once up in the sky, Cherub's 'wings' suddenly pointed upwards and… out of those wings came out rays of green light.

At Cherub, it/he reduced the intensity of its/his two MWC-LQ/25-14s and modified the beams' property to prevent them from bouncing off the gems as they are rays of light to pierce the gems and give out the necessary result.

Back on the ground, everyone watched as Cherub fired eight salvos of green lights upwards and in the next couple of minutes, specks of sparkling dust suddenly rained down from the sky. It was quite a strange yet fascinating sight. First, they saw a metal golem came out of the exhibition and said golem turned the once-large boulders of rocks into gems as large as the rock boulders. Then the same golem flew up and fired what seems to be beams of light upwards where the gems are tossed at and specks of dust which where the once gems started to fall down from the sky like snow.

A member of the Princess' entourage went towards a red colored gem which was lying next to other brightly colored gems that were not thrown up by Cherub and took off his gloves to see if the gem is really a ruby. After a few moments of touching, the royal guard then wore his gloves back and spoke.

"This is a real ruby!", the Royal Guard said.

The crowd heard the guard's words and was surprised by what they heard. If the red colored gem is a real ruby, then the other brightly colored gems are also real. The green gems are emerald, the white gems are diamonds, and others being authentic valuable gems which can be sold at a ridiculously high price given their size a piece.

A bunch of students then started to run towards a gem and tried to cast a levitation spell on it. However, given the gem's weight which is equal to the large rock boulder they were turned from, the students got easily tired as the willpower needed to lift up even one boulder-sized gem is really high for them.

Meanwhile, Cherub is starting to descend slowly as the crowd watched on with a complete sign of amazement and shock in their faces. What the steel golem in front of them was way out of character for a golem. When Cherub touched down on the ground, it/he just stood there awaiting further orders from Louise who is just grinning in satisfaction. The crowd just kept themselves quite. The Princess was completely amazed by what she saw. Mazarin, on the other hand, was completely taken by the scene. This is the first Familiar Exhibition that caught his attention. What he is currently seeing right now is not a golem but, as how he will put it, an angel made of steel. The golem is gleaming like polished sword and its majestic appearance further adds to its appeal. Was this golem some sort of divine being? Mazarin thought.

Just as everyone is thinking about what Cherub just pulled off, a loud crash rang out within the Academy. What everyone saw in the area was a towering golem and is currently bashing the walls where the Academy's treasure vault is located.

"It's Fouquet of the Crumbling Dirt!", a servant yelled as he started to run in panic.

The entire crowd watching the Familiar Exhibition then started to flee in panic. Pandemonium soon broke down and everyone started to run in any direction. The guards being led by Mazarin evacuated Princess Henrietta away from the area. As they were fleeing, they saw the metal golem suddenly sped past them at a high speed which made the wide-eyed. First the golem can fly now it can move this fast. They also saw Louise hurriedly running while yelling at her familiar for running at danger's way.

"Cherub wait for me!", Louise yelled as she struggled to run.

At Cherub, it/he is currently boosting towards where the intruder is located at. It/he materialized its/his MWG-KARASAWA/REVILE and MWG-MGE/1000 on its/his left and right hands respectively with the intent of eliminating the hostile intruder given its actions. It didn't take Cherub too long to reach the area where the intruder is.

When it/he reached the area, it/he immediately saw the intruder: a large towering golem made of earth currently pounding at the Academy's walls where the treasure vault is located. Cherub zeroed on its/his target and approached on high speeds with both guns read to fire at the target.

The attacking earth golem heard a noise behind it and turned around only to be greeted by bolts of an MWG-KARASAWA/REVILE laser rifle and MWG-MGE/1000 machine gun both of which exploded on impact. The earth golem was completely shaken with lots of earth falling off it indicating that the attack was very effective.

As Cherub analyzed the result of its/his initial attack, it/he can detect a human heat signature on the golem's shoulder. It/he then zoomed its/his view only to see a human cloaked in dark green cloak with a hood. Scans showed that the figure is a female and that she is currently armed with a wand as well as being in control of the golem as well. Cherub analyzed the situation. From the looks of it, the figure controlling the golem seems to be trying to steal something as the part of the wall that the golem is smashing is situated right next to the treasure vault. Clearly, this is a robbery and should be stopped.

Cherub then boosted upwards and started to rain down energy bolts of death with its/his weapons right at the attacking golem though he ensured not to hit the structure the golem is attacking to prevent collateral damage. The crowd who happened to be in the area stared in awe at the feat that Cherub is doing, clearly, Cherub is going full force against the golem yet it/he is doing it with perfect accuracy preventing damage on the walls. Louise arrived and she only stared in awe like the others who also saw what is currently happening. Even Guiche was here together with Montmorency. Guiche paled at the sight. If Cherub had used full force on him on their duel a few days ago, then… he didn't like to hear it. Tabitha and Kirche also arrived on the scene and have the same reaction as the others. Clearly, Cherub is pawning the attacking golem with complete impunity and they simply waited for the golem to get completely destroyed.

"Looks like Fouquet will be the one crumbling this time huh?", Kirche commented.

Tabitha just gazed the scene with complete interest as the rays of death slammed into the attacking golem.

Meanwhile, the cloaked figure atop the golem's shoulder is now completely angry due to the intense barrage of death rays her golem is currently receiving. If this keeps up, her golem will fall down. As she has no means of retaliating due to the fact that the steel golem is up in the air several feet up, she opted to use every ounce of willpower she had to breach the walls which succeeded, perhaps out of good luck.

The cloaked figure then immediately ran inside, grabbed a rectangular box and returned to her golem. As soon as she is on top of her golem, she made it immediately crumble releasing dust as it crumbled down. Everyone in the area started to flee to evade the dust. Cherub, on the other hand, immediately aimed both of its/his MWC-LQ/25-14s at the crumbling golem whose master is obviously using the diversion to escape and fired it all at full capacity. Twenty eight rays of death then pierced the ground and a resounding explosion erupted. This resulted in some of the dust being cleared out in the process. After the death ray barrage, the only things left in the area is a blasted open wall, a large lump of earth that happened to be the golem of the thief Fouquet, several blots on the ground due to Cherub's multi-laser cannons and a crowd of people.

Several teachers arrived soon after and learned what happened. Hey are quite relieved due to the fact that Cherub was able to prevent heavy casualties and minimizing collateral damage from happening by quickly destroying the thief's golem although they are still distressed that one of the artifacts within the treasure vault got stolen.

At Louise, she is currently staring Cherub after what happened. Considering what happened earlier and now, Cherub really cemented its/his status as an impressive familiar. Louise now didn't care if she was not able to join her familiar in fighting Fouquet and said thief succeeded in stealing something. The only thing she now thinks of is to become worthy of being a master to a powerful familiar.

"I will truly become your master Cherub, just wait for me", Louise thought to herself.

-CHAPTER 10 END-

PS: The handgun that Cherub made is a Desert Eagle with a modification that allows it to be chambered for the .500 S&W Magnum. This Desert Eagle can be loaded with 7 bullets at a time before reloading. Considering that Armored Core 3 happens in the near/distant future coupled by the fact that the Desert Eagle is designed somewhere during the 1970s (in RL), this gun will be easy to create for Cherub especially given its/his advanced AI. This certain handgun will prove its use later on.

Also next chapter, the hunt for Fouquet begins… stay tuned.