So here is another chapter, length is around 2500 words. I was a bit slow with it unfortunately. Next chapter would probably be the same length if not longer.
I also appreciate the reviews I've received.
Chapter 4: Questions and Answers
"Jean. What am I seeing?" asked Old Osmond, eyes fixated on a crystal ball.
"I… I'm not sure headmaster. It seems that the maid is winning, as unlikely as that would be."
"Do you know who that maid is? I don't recall hiring someone so proficient in combat to do menial jobs."
"She… her name is Siesta if I recall correctly, a farm girl from a village called Tarbes."
"A farm girl? Colbert. What farm girl has such mastery of weapons and footwork-"
They watched in shock as the maid threw her sword towards the noble, impaling him.
"OH NO!" shouted Colbert with wide eyes.
"She threw that sword like a javelin…" muttered Osmond.
"This is not the time headmaster! We need to make sure the boy isn't dead!" hastily replied the professor as he made way for the door. Only to be stopped by Osmond.
"Jean! Wait! I understand your concerns but, what good would there be to if you went to the boy? You are not proficient in healing magic, and look! The healers are already taking him away."
Somewhat, Colbert calmed down as he watched how the poor boy was being carried away, sword still sticking out of him.
"You maybe are right Osmond. But I feel it is my responsibility as his teacher to worry about my student wellbeing."
The headmaster was quiet for a few seconds as he watched how the professor opened the door. But before he could take another step, Osmond asked.
"What about the Vallière girl?"
Colbert paused, his head turned towards the headmaster with a questionable look.
"What about her?"
"Isn't her wellbeing important? I am aware of the treatment she receives from her colleagues… regarding her control of magic." He paused, but before he could continue, Jean cut him short.
"Don't do this to me Osmond, you know I can't show favoritism."
They both remained quiet for a few moments before their attention shifted to the other students present.
They both remained quiet for a few moments, sorting their thoughts as their eyes slowly drifted towards the crystal ball and towards the other students left on the court.
"That is the Vallière girl, right?" asked the headmaster.
"Yes, and her summon."
"Speaking of the Vallière girl," Osmond sighed slightly before saying, "as unpleasant and boring as it may be, we should call them here and discuss her status."
"I hope you have more options in case that… man decided it is not to his liking…" muttered Colbert.
"I see, yes, we should deal with it now than later… I hope you have more options available than one or two thought. In case that… man decides it is not to his liking…" He muttered the last sentence.
"I see you are still warry of the man."
"How could I not?! Headmaster Osmond. That man is not normal."
Before Osmond could reply, they both turned towards the crystal ball and watched the said man's gaze turn towards the sky, giving the impression he was looking at the two.
"That's unsettling…" muttered Old Osmond.
They watched with curiosity the man pinching his right eye rim before his face morphed into a big smile. And before Colbert or Osmond could react, the crystal ball exploded in pieces!
"Brimir's balls!" shouted Osmond before coughing from the residual smoke.
"Headmaster!"
Matilda, infamously known as Fouquet the Crumbling Dirt or, as of lately, Miss Longuevuille, was watching with mild curiosity a duel between a maid and a dot mage brat from a window on the second floor of the Academy.
The longer she watched the duel unfold, seeing how the maid was making short work of the mage's Valkyries, the more it piqued her fascination, amusement and concern…
And when the duel ended, with the brat being impaled by his own sword, she would usually smirk at that… but now? Only a frown appeared on her face as she simply muttered.
"This… might complicate things…"
She then saw how the students rushed towards the impaled brat, others going elsewhere, probably asking for help… and only a few still remained, the pinkette whose magic always ends up in explosions, the mysterious man she summoned, the winner of the duel who was now mortified… and others.
Longuevuille watched with avid interest and curiosity how the summoned man turned towards the sky, pinched his right eye rim and smiled.
"Brimir's Balls!" she was not prepared for explosion or the shout of the headmaster and as such, she nearly stumbled.
'What in damnation happened?! Sigh, and why does it feel like I will end up dealing with it the most…' she could only lament in her mind before turning her sight back on Amon.
And for some reason she could not place, when she saw his smile, Longuevuille felt unusually unsettled… Then he turned towards her, his smile growing bigger as she gulped in surprise.
Slowly she backed away and left the window and hallway, deciding she was probably needed elsewhere and… leaving his sight felt… safer.
Siesta. Siesta could not even comprehend what happened.
She expected Amon to be challenged to a duel seeing how the noble boy was angrier with him rather than her and yet… the unexpected happened… and she was terrified!
Until her fear was replaced with extreme confusion when the noble's friends came and talked to her as if they knew each other for a long time, as if she was the de Gramont noble… the opposite was true for the noble as well.
And before she could really process what was going on, having her fear to rise again, everything returned to normal. But she didn't have time to think as she was urged to move to the Vestri court, together with the majority of students.
For a few minutes, she was composed… mostly, but, when the noble took out his wand, her fake front collapsed and was shaking with fear… until the fear simply… vanished… and, something she always hid inside her deepest reaches rushed forward.
Siesta felt anger. Anger and courage when the bronze, brass, whatever the metal woman was made off rushed towards her.
She felt powerful, relaxed and even, happy as she fought against the constructs, moving like a master of weapons and combat, as if she was always one, knowing when to move, how to move and what action to take depending on the weapon used.
The nobles were starting to get worried, startled and concerned. And she enjoyed it. Watching how their world came tumbling down on them.
And, after finishing off all the Valkyries, she wanted to hurt the damned brat, the one who started all of this in the first place, humiliating her, berating her and fighting her. And she threw the sword at him, flying through the air for a second before plunging through the noble's abdomen, his eyes wide and startled as he fell to the ground.
Her elation however, ended, short after she finally realized what she has done and could only watch in shock and horror as the bloody body of the noble boy was being dragged towards the healers' quarter…
"What… what have I done…" she muttered on the verge of crying, thinking the punishment she will receive from his parents when word gets out… a commoner killi-… almost killing a noble's son…
But before her tears could start, a few servants rushed Siesta, hugging her as hard as they could, crying in her uniform while thanking her, congratulating her and… declaring how much of an inspiration for them she was.
She was at a loss.
Louise was… confused to put it plainly as she walked besides her master towards the headmaster office, after being called for. For what reason? She did not know.
'Is this about the duel? But there is nothing we did… that people would be aware off. Maybe they finally decided to do something about this master-familiar contract?' she mussed to herself as she climbed the numerous stairs, feeling rather calm.
'He probably did something to me… after we met the headmaster secretary… ' She tucked slightly at her pink hair, 'I know I was reacting… badly at the duel's aftermath… but I calmed down rather fast… too fast.' She thought as she arrived in front of the office's door.
When Louise entered the headmaster's office, she expected many things, walking on broken glass was not one of them… and the headmaster seemed unconcerned while Professor Colbert was the exact opposite… or so she assumed.
"Welcome Miss Vallière, Sir Amon. I am glad you came on such a short notice as we have much to discuss." The headmaster paused, a thinking expression on his face, "Perhaps, you know why you are here?"
"I believe it has to do with my… situation… headmaster." She responded, if uncertain as she turned towards her master then back to the headmaster.
"Indeed. And you can call me Old Osmond if you prefer as many others do." He said.
"Alright…" she muttered.
"As the headmaster said, you are here regarding your status. But first," said Colbert before turning towards the summoned man, "we've come to the realization that we failed to greet you proper or offer any forms of explanation Sir Amon… However, I've yet to hear your complain and if possible... help mitigate the damage and avoid any bad blood relationship."
"Oh. I have no reason to complain. Quite the contrary. I find this situation exiting and interesting."
"But… aren't you even a bit concerned? You were… brought to this place, away from your home."
He laughed, "Don't ask me why, Professor. Life often requires some excitement, joy, and anticipation. And this new place, Tristain, is perfect for such."
Louise was watching the conversation between the two and could only let out a small sigh escape at Amon's answer, which she expected if being exposed to his… interesting personality.
'I would have held some pity for the confused state my master put Professor Colbert in but… I feel like his words are a bit… hollow? Probing?' she thought.
"I see… well, Sir Amon, where are you from exactly?" asked the professor.
"Backlund." He simply answered.
"Backlund… I'm afraid I don't know such a place…" this time the headmaster replied.
Colbert nodded alongside the headmaster, "Neither do I. Mind describing this Backlund Sir?" he added.
"Well. It is no surprise that is not that well known. Especially here, heh. Backlund is not that impressive and the only notable event that happened with the city was a plague that killed most of the serfs and beggars. And with the current situation Albion is in, less likely for the royalties to pay any attention."
She could see the surprised looks on the headmaster and professor's face at the news of a plague, even she felt mild concern.
'But… Albion… Backlund… something's amiss… he probably…' her train of thoughts was cut by the voice of Colbert.
"A plague?! Founder, we need to notice the Palace, lest the plague reaches Tristain."
"Calm down." Said Amon, "Everything has already been resolved. The plague was easily being dealt with."
The headmaster and the professor both seemingly relaxed which made Louise realize something.
'He did it again… like in the dream…' she thought.
"Is that so? Well I am glad…" muttered the headmaster, "Now, if there is nothing else to say on this matter, let's focus on the familiar-master contract and Miss Valliere's status."
At that, Colbert came in with his proposal.
"I suggest for Miss Valliere to continue to study at the Academy, treated like everyone else…" he slowly said as he watched both the girl's reaction and Amon's. "Her status though… that is dependent on you Sir Amon… as a familiar is considered the image of the master… and has to serve till the death of either one of them."
Amon mildly scoffed "If I wanted a servant I could have made one myself. I find little interest in someone who follows everything without question. That is why free will and freedom are so fascinating." The corner of his mouth curled up into a smile before continuing.
"Also, the contract between me and the girl is more akin to a companionship than a master-servant one. I also plan to take her under my wing so to speak, heh heh, it would be more interesting this way."
Louise, Colbert and Osmond looked at each other for a few seconds before turning their gazes back to Amon…
Old Osmond sighed as the two left his office, noticing how the girl looked more relieved as if a weight has been lifted from her shoulders.
"Well." He said, "It went rather well…"
"Yes headmaster, yes it did. Glad Sir Amon was willingly on his part… even if he is…" he paused, trying to find the specific word but Osmond beat him to it.
"Not right in the head."
"I was going to say odd…" muttered Colbert, "either way, my suspicions are true."
"Colbert, are certain?"
"Yes Osmond. I've examined the girl's brand for enough time to realize the runes fit."
A silence descended upon the office, lasting for a long while before the headmaster broke it.
"A void mage… during my time…" he muttered.
"Indeed… But what should we do? I can send the news to the Palace-"
"We will do nothing." Osmond cut him short.
"What?! Why?"
"Safety… for the girl… and for us, politically speaking that is. You know what would happen if the Church gets a hold on this information don't you? Colbert?" Old Osmond's eyes turned narrow, cold and calculating as he stared into Jean's.
"They… would not like it. And even if the Pope would protect her… there would still be the more, rash to violence part of the Church to look after."
"Yes. I am afraid." He replied, pausing as if a stray thought entered his mind, "We will keep this to ourselves… at least before the Princess departs from the Academy in a few days… might be a good idea for the Valliere's childhood friend to know and… maybe protect her if we can't."
The two man nodded not noticing the watchful gazes of the insects, rodents, birds and bacteria…
Louise was relieved that her status was mostly the same. The discussion went better than she expected, only downside being bound to Amon… meaning her marriage with Wardes turned null.
'Sigh, I wonder… has twenty four hours already passed since the beginning of this craziness? I think I understand how mother feels… somewhat. I should probably inform my family… my marriage will be cancelled. Not like I couldn't live without that human… damn, not an Elf Louise! Not an Elf!'
Louise was contemplating on everything that happened so far that she failed to notice she ended up back in her room, together with Amon… who was looking through the window, admiring the nature outside.
"Heh. I wonder what would happen if I were to steal the Romalian Cathedral in front of the Pope?"
And another chapter done. Not much is happening in this one sadly. Lots of talking and introspection I guess. Mostly because of Amon's personality and setting the plots.
So we have some form of assessment of the situation, answers to Louise's status which will have some consequences and if I am correct in my estimations and stuff, next chapter will actually move the plot. Small spoiler, when the familiar exhibition happens, chaos will erupt for everyone except Amon, duh...