Talking

Thinking

See how many Doctor Who references you can spot. There are plenty. Some subtle, some not so much. Please excuse them. I've watched a lot of it lately. Besides, Galahad is a bit based off the Doctor himself anyways. I dunno if anyone's recognized that or not. Then again, I've no clue how many people watch Doctor Who and Familiar of Zero. I'm probably a very small minority. Oh and if I didn't thank you in a pm for reviewing, thanks.

I don't own Familiar of Zero.

Chapter XIV: A Wizard Uses His Brain

"So the entire academy is gone completely?" I stroked my chin thoughtfully, "Not just simply destroyed with the occasional ruined building?"

"That's what the new eyewitnesses in my musket brigade are reporting," Agnes replied, "We had thought before that it had only been ransacked and somewhat torn down. The students were all too traumatized to tell us any different."

"Any bodies?"

"None at all." Agnes nodded, before slamming her hand down on the table, "Just how powerful of a mage are we dealing with here?"

"What, you think he vaporized the entire academy?" Agnes nodded in response, so I quickly refuted her, "No, there's something else going on here. No one blasts an entire magic academy off the map and doesn't leave a single trace. Too much work and time."

"So what then?" Agnes gave me an exasperated look, clearly at her wit's end.

"Moved, transported, vanished, whatever verb you want to use." I shrugged, "Point is the academy is likely just in another place, most likely with all the students still alive inside it. The REAL question is, what does Astrious need a bunch of stone buildings and mages for."

"Well-"

"He probably only needs the mages," I began pacing back and forth, now fully in my detective mode. It had been a long time since the last time I really got to do that, "But for what. What does he need such a large source of magic for? He's got plenty just inside his own body. Unless..."

"Unless?" Saito raised an eyebrow. He, Julio, Louise, Agnes, and Henrietta were all in the room with me. Henrietta had called us (calling us her most trusted people or something along those lines) to discuss what Tristain was going to do next.

"He needs magic from THIS world." I slammed my fist into my open palm, "That has to be it!"

"So you know what his plan is?" Julio grinned.

"Nooooope." I leaned back against the wall, arms swinging back and forth.

Everyone face-faulted.

"Have you grown more deranged the longer we've know you!?" Agnes asked with an angry look on her face. I could almost see the steam coming out of her ears.

"You think I'm deranged?" I feigned mock hurt, "You wound me so!"

Henrietta giggled a bit, but quickly stopped herself with a cough, "Please Galahad. We need to try to be serious about this situation. Countless of my people are in danger."

"I AM being serious." I sighed and took a seat at one of the wooden chairs scattered about the room, "Cracking jokes actually helps me think."

"..." Agnes let out a frustrated sigh and leaned up against a wall with her eyes closed. I could clearly see one of her eyebrows twitching in fury.

"No really. I have a plan now." I gave a thumbs up, "I need to know if there are any other known Void users in Halkegenia."

"Hmm..." Julio stroked his chin. I looked up at him hopefully. After a few brief moments he finally responded, "The Pope might know. It wouldn't hurt to ask him. Why do you need to know?"

"Well." I raised a finger, "Let's examine the facts shall we? Fact number one, Astrious and his crew are impersonating someone, likely someone very important. Fact number two, Henrietta could do normal magic before becoming a void mage. Obviously somehow someone else's power got passed onto her. This leads me into my third and final fact. Well more of a theory, but still. A void mage must have died, so the power had to find a new host. For one reason or another it decided to pick our dear Queen. Thus putting all this together, I figure that whoever Astrious is impersonating has to be a past void user. So we figure out who it is, find out where he lives, and then go and stop Astrious. And hopefully... everyone lives!"

Everyone blinked at me. I bounced up and down on either feet with a slight grin on my face. The grin was slowly fading though, because no one was responding to my brilliant deductions. At least I THOUGHT they were brilliant. No one appreciated good detective work around here apparently.

"Right." Julio coughed, bringing everyone back down to earth. Or Halkegenia rather, "If you'll give me permission Queen Henrietta, I will leave at once for Romalia."

"You have my blessing." Henrietta nodded, "Agnes please show Julio out."

"At once your highness." Agnes bowed and beckoned for Julio to follow her out of the room. Once they were gone I could hold it in no longer, and grinned broadly

"Fantastic!" I exclaimed, drawing a few weird looks. I was in my element and completely ignored them. I hadn't solved a case in weeks, much less even really had one, and it felt good to get back into the business.

"Any more ideas in that head of yours?" Saito came up to me and tapped me on the side of the head, "Or do we just wait for Julio?"

"Well as sad as it is, we just have to wait. I don't have any other information to form any other theories. Julio's basically holding my entire plan together. If the Pope doesn't know of any other void mages we're out of luck."

"Right."

"So anything fun to do around here?" I stretched, "I know our dear Queen could use something to cheer up her day."

"Galahad that's no-" I placed my hand over Henrietta's mouth and shook my finger

"Now now master." I said jokingly, "You and I both know you need a break. So I'm gonna ask again, since I know Louise and Saito would probably like some alone time. What do you want to do?"

I ducked under an infuriated Louise's fist and patiently waited for Henrietta's reply. I didn't have to wait long, which was lucky, because Louise's angry blows were getting harder and harder to dodge.

"A-actually..." the girl mumbled, tapping her fingers together shyly, "I'd like to go into town and eat at a few street-stands and maybe visit some of the sights. I'd like to just act as a commoner for a day or two...is that weird?"

"Nah. We can do that." I grinned, "I've been meaning to go there myself...but well I haven't had much free time. Too busy fighting evil mages and getting stuck in hell dimensions. Tomorrow then?"

"Yes." Henrietta nodded enthusiastically.

'Wonder if I can call this a date?' I pondered as I followed the trio out of the room, 'Nah...'

Henrietta met me just outside the castle in a very simple dress. Over her head and shoulders was her usual brown hood to obscure her face from anyone recognizing her. I guess it worked or she would've stopped using it.

"We're walking then?" I raised an eyebrow, noticing the distinct lack of a carriage or horses

"Yes. I thought it would be nice to walk through the country-side. Tristain is very nice this time of year."

This really sounded like a date now. I shook my head, ridding it of any such thoughts. I was to treat Henrietta as a friend. None of that other business my unconscious wanted to do.

'Oh dammit now my mind IS thinking about that kind of stuff.' I facepalmed and tried my best to shove all the things that I did not want to associate with the girl. Things like kissing, hugging, well you know the rest.

"I think I prefer when people are constantly trying to kill me..." I mumbled to myself, "My mind has something else to focus on then."

"That's awfully depressing," Henrietta was suddenly in front of me, peering up at my face. Apparently I had mumbled a tad loudly, "Where's your usual smile? It's a beautiful day."

As if to prove her point, Henrietta began twirling happily through the grass field next to the dirt road. She was giggling in happiness the whole while. I wondered if she knew this was making my mood worse. To see her so happy made me want to just take her in my arms and never let go.

'Hopeless romanticizing again Galahad?' I sighed deeply and tried to look as happy as possible, 'Whatever. Gotta let Henrietta enjoy herself as much as possible. She needs it more than I do.,'

I put my best mask on and followed after the joyful girl, determined to do everything I could to make her happy, even if it tore my heart to pieces.

"An inn?" I scratched my chin and continued to look at the sign, "You sure this is where you want to eat?"

"Yup." Henrietta replied, vigorously nodding her head up and down. Her mood had not dimmed since we left, "The owner, Louise, Saito, and I are actually good friends. I actually arranged for the two of them to meet us here."

"Well alright." Truth be told I was going to be glad to have Saito to talk to. He and I had become fast friends the last few weeks, and I just felt awkward around Henrietta that day. The entire day had felt far too much like a date, and I was just ready to be around someone else.

I pushed open the door and let Henrietta go in first. I followed right behind her and was immediately greeted by mouth-watering smells and waitresses clad in very revealing and skin tight maid outfits.

'I take back anything I said before.' I whistled softly to myself, 'This place seems nice. Not entirely sure why Louise would bring Saito here since she hates him looking at other women. I'm sure the girl has her reasons though.'

Henrietta and I both approached the table where Saito and Louise were sitting, the latter grinning widely for some reason. Saito must have done something today. I wasn't entirely sure if I wanted to know what he did to make her so happy.

'Oh what the hell I'll ask anyways," I grabbed Saito's shoulder while the two girls were happily wrapped up in their own conversation. I then whispered into his ear

"What's the deal with Louise? I've never seen the girl this happy. I mean granted, I haven't had much time to get to know her...but still."

Saito immediately froze up and turned a bright, bright red. He then mumbled something I couldn't quite make out. I mentally sweat-dropped and turned away with a wry grin on my face. It probably was something along those lines. Well good for them I guess.

'Of course Saito could be blushing over something as simple as a kiss I suppose,' I took a long, satisfying drink of the ale I had ordered, 'Ahhh... they just don't make alcohol like this back home. Plus I don't have to trick the staff into thinking I'm twenty-one here. The perks of living in a medieval dimension. Which reminds me. I REALLY need to get back in contact with Saito's father. My job's been slipping my mind the last few weeks. Too bad my communication device got stolen during that whole arrest debacle. I've gotta start working on a new penguin, and some potions. And maybe a new bag of holding. It sucks being so ill equipped.'

"-alahad?"

"Yeah?" I cracked an eye open, my drink halfway to my mouth. All three of my Tristain friends were staring at me.

"We've sort of been trying to talk to for a minute or two." Saito shook his head with a small grin playing on his lips, "They're ready to take our order."

"Er right." I looked up and too my left to see a pretty young woman with a notepad. Weirdly enough she wasn't in the same revealing outfit as the rest of the waitresses. Not to say she wasn't still showing quite a bit of her breasts though.

'Now that I think of it, she doesn't exactly need to wear the same outfit as the other waitresses. She's already far more attractive.' I raised an eyebrow at the irritated look I was receiving, "I'll just have whatever's best. I'm not picky."

"Right." the girl frowned at me even deeper and left with a huff. I swore at the time that I could see an evil glint in her eye.

"Should I be worried?" I turned to my friends, "I feel worried."

"You should." Saito took a sip of water, "Jessica's devious. You'd like her if you got to know her. The first time we were here she figured out who Louise was in the first few hours we were here."

"She's a clever girl then huh?" I stroked my chin thoughtfully, "Wonder if she'd play chess with me if I asked."

"I-I'd play chess with you!" Henrietta suddenly burst out, and then immediately turned red upon doing so. I stared at her for a few moments, blinking. I wondered what her deal was to suddenly burst out with that.

"R-right. Does she really like chess or something?" I took another sip of my ale, "Maybe when we get back."

Henrietta mumbled something in response, but seemed to want to hide her face deeply in her hood for some reason. I shrugged and moved back to studying the place. It certainly had nice atmosphere. Warm, clean, and nice smelling went a long way to make a place nice feeling. I felt right at home.

Well up till that strange man appeared. No not strange as in mysterious. Well maybe a tad mysterious. It was a mystery to me how he had Jessica as his child. I was pretty sure it was a mystery to my companions as well.

"Hello dears~" I felt a slight chill run up my spine as a muscular man in an absurdly tight pink leotard approached. He was half dancing, half walking, and had an absurd amount of chest hair that did not go with the pink leotard at all.

"Who's that?" I whispered urgently to Saito as the man got closer, "Is this normal!?"

"That's Scarron. Believe it or not he's Jessica's father and the owner of this inn." Saito replied back, obviously amused at my reaction.

"You've got to be kidding." I replied stonily, "There is no way in hell that girl's father looks like this."

"It's the truth."

"Ah you must be the one my daughter told me about~" Scarron wrapped his arm around me and pulled me far too close to his chest hair. I could almost feel it tickling me.

"Whatever she told you it isn't true!" I struggled in his grip. Scarron was ridiculously strong, "I can promise you that!"

"You mean you don't want to work for me?" Scarron held up one of the maid uniforms, this particular one was a dark blue. I shuddered.

"Absolutely not. For one, if I did I'd have to ditch my trench coat, which under no circumstances will EVER happen of my free will." I finally managed to slip out of the man's grip with a sigh of relief.

"That's what you're most worried about?" Louise raised one regal eyebrow, "Losing that stupid coat?"

"Excuse me?" I gasped, "I will have you know that this coat is NOT in fact stupid. Trench. Coats. Are. Cool."

"Right." Louise went back to sipping her tea and began ignoring me.

"Also, GET OFF ME!" I struggled in the man's hold until he finally let go with a feminine pout. I just tried to wipe my mind clean of that particular image and move on in life. It didn't work. I cursed my mind for being able to retain certain things so well. Mostly traumatizing things and my own failures now that I thought about it.

'Wonder if that's a common thing among people. I should ask sometime.'

I shrugged to myself and put myself on full alert. I DID not need that strange man hugging me again.

The table enjoyed a strange awkward silence after Scarron slowly walked away from us with that feminine pout on his face. He was one weird man. Luckily Jessica soon arrived with the food, ending the silence.

"Here you go." She said cheerfully and set down all the food. Mine was...interesting. It was a steamed fish head by the looks of it.

"Tell me." I cleared my throat and looked down at the fish head with apprehension, "What exactly did I do to make you so upset? I apologize for whatever it was. Oh and one last thing. Sending your father after me? Well played."

"First." She poked me in the forehead, "You ignored me for a full minute. Next you checked me out immediately after opening your eyes, and didn't even order. Instead you gave me so lame ass 'I'll have whatever's best'"

"Are you normally this rude to customers?" I pushed her soft hand out of the way, and tried my best to scowl. It didn't really work out though. The quirk of her lip in amusement and the light shining in her eyes basically melted my anger.

"Only to ones that are friends of friends." She shrugged, "I figured you'd take it all right."

"Does that mean I get something to eat that doesn't look at me?" I asked hopefully.

"Nope."

With that, the girl walked away with a smirk. I swore that I could see her hips not so subtly swaying from side to side. I shook my head and turned my face back to look at the fish head. It didn't look any more appetizing than it had at my first look.

'Troublesome girl.'

"A-ah..." Henrietta started hesitantly, "You can have some of mine if you want."

I looked over to Henrietta's spot, and my mouth immediately began to water. It looked like chicken and dumplings with maybe a side of green beans. I hadn't had a good mouthful of green beans in what felt like forever. It was my favorite vegetable if cooked correctly. Oh well. I was taught to sleep in the bed you make.

"Thanks, but this is what I've got so I'm fine with it." I grinned half-heartedly, "I've eaten a lot grosser things before. I think I'll spare everyone those stories though."

"A-alright."

'Henrietta sure is acting weird today.' I joined in with Saito in telling a story from back home. That night was some of the most fun I had had in a long time.

Well it took a bit, but the words finally started flowing. There's going to be one-two downtime chapters while the gang waits for Julio to return. Glorious time for me to write whatever the hell I want. Why didn't I do this sooner? Oh and make what you will of this chapter. I ain't spilling anything.

-Forscythe