IT'S OVER 9000! (again)
I just broke my record last week, now I'm doing it again by 321 words (not including A/N) for a total of 9450 words on this chapter. YIKES! No wonder I'm getting this done past midnight instead of past noon like I usually do.
Anyways, enjoy the chapter! IMPORTANT INFORMATION IN BOTTOM A/N!
Professor Colbert was tired.
There are several types of tired. There was the traditional sleepy tired, which could be solved by a good rest. There was also the stressful tired, which would not fade unless the source of said stress was dealt with. The weary tired was when the mind was overtaxed to the point that the body was negatively affected. Finally, there was the discouraged tired, when things were going poorly to the point that one longed to lie on the floor and wish for death to claim them so that the eternal spiral of dreary misery would finally come to a blissfully peaceful end.
Actually, that last one was despaired tired, a more advanced version of discouraged tired.
Regardless, Colbert was suffering from all forms of tiredness. His massive workload was preventing him from getting the sleep he so desperately needed. The abilities of Louise's familiar were a puzzle he still could not solve. The security measures of the Academy were being double and triple-checked due to the Princess's decision to attend this year's celebration. And he still hadn't figured out how to approach a conversation with Miss Longueville.
One of these issues was objectively less important than the others, but tiredness is subjective, so Colbert had no reprieve. He had to prepare for a meeting with a local count to ensure that the roads to and from the Academy would remain clear during the Princess's stay. While would assume that such an action would be a matter of common sense done out of obligation, the uneasy political state of the country meant that Colbert had to confirm the arrangements in person to ensure that affairs were in order.
The count was the slimy sort of noble. He couldn't be trusted with anything except his own possessions. Osmond had suggested that Colbert take Longueville with him for insurance, as the count had a well-known weakness for women. However, Colbert felt like exposing a vulnerable woman to such a character would put a stain on his morals. Mrs. Longueville wouldn't be in any true danger, but Colbert's conscience was pained by the thought of bringing the woman anywhere near that lecher.
"Mr. Colbert?" a voice inquired.
"Yes?" Colbert replied distractedly. Turning around, he saw the subject of his thoughts gazing at him with concern. "Mrs. Longueville!" he exclaimed, nearly tripping over his heel in surprise as he came to an abrupt stop. "Fancy seeing you here."
Longueville gave him a mysterious look as she tilted her head ever so slightly to the side. "We're in front of the headmaster's office," Longueville pointed out, nodding her head towards the office door.
"Ah, yes. I didn't realize." Colbert definitely needed a break. He didn't even remember why he had gone to the headmaster's office in the first place.
"Is something worrying you, Mr. Colbert?" Longueville asked with concern.
"Please, call me Jean," Colbert insisted.
"But you're my senior."
"No, I insist. Please."
A small smile crossed Longueville's face as she gave him a nod. "Jean, then. Please, tell me what trouble you."
The balding man sighed. He pulled a handkerchief from his robe and began wiping his spectacles as he talked. "There are far too many things to mention," Colbert lamented. And too many confidential matters as well, he mentally added. "Every Void Day celebration was already a headache, but with the princess visiting as well? Suffice to say, this year's celebration is leaving a lot of the faculty run ragged to make sure everything goes smoothly." He replaced his spectacles on his nose, sighing once again.
Longueville nodded understandingly. "I take it security is also an issue?"
"As much as would be expected," Colbert replied.
"I wish there was something I could do to help," said Longueville, a pitied expression on her face.
Colbert hesitated, remembering his meeting with the noble. "I'm not sure I can request your assistance," he said slowly.
"Is it confidential?" Longueville asked in abject disappointment.
"Well, no," Colbert admitted. "But I wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable."
Longueville covered her mouth her hand as she let out a small giggle. "I assure you, I won't be scared off so easily. It takes strong will to keep up with Old Osmond, after all."
"True, most of his previous secretaries left pretty swiftly," Colbert said contemplatively. "Very well. I am meeting with a local noble later today. I would appreciate your company. However…"
"However?" Longueville pressed curiously.
Colbert sighed. "Are familiar with the name Count Mott?"
The secretary wrinkled her nose. "In passing, yes. His reputation far precedes him."
"He's of a troublesome sort, but I need his cooperation to arrange the guards that will be watching the roads," Colbert said with obvious reluctance. "Your company would make my task easier. However, I want you to know that you are under no obligation to accept."
"Gladly."
Colbert blinked. Thinking he couldn't have possibly heard her correctly, he asked, "Come again?"
"Count Mott might be an infamous lecher, but I can trust you to protect me, can't I?" Longueville gave Colbert an innocent smile as she said this.
The man flushed red at the secretary's charm. "Of course," Colbert vowed, narrowly avoid stammering like a schoolboy. "I promise to protect you."
"Thank you," Longueille said with an obvious sigh of relief. "It comforts me to hear that. Speaking of security, what is in place right now?" At Colbert's questioning look, she explained. "Is there anything lower faculty such as myself need to prepare for?"
"Don't hold yourself as lower," Colbert lightly admonished her. "Do not worry, you'll be quite safe. Between the princess's own guards and the teachers here, no one will able to cause a ruckus."
The green haired woman still looked concerned. "But what if an assassin of some sort sneaks in?"
"The wards will make it difficult for anyone to go over the walls without being noticed," Colbert assured her. "Going through or under the walls will be even harder. Even an earth mage would struggle to break through."
"And there are no obvious weaknesses?" Longueville asked worriedly. "After all, the Academy vault, which I've heard has some very valuable items, is only guarded by a simple padlock."
"Oh, by the Founder, no," said Colbert with a hearty chuckle. "That padlock was crafted by the royal family themselves. Even a square class mage wouldn't be able to get in without the key. Additionally, the wards would repel enemy attempts of entry by magic."
As Longueville looked on with innocent curiosity, Colbert thought harder about the school's magic defenses. "Well," he finally said. "Even though the castle walls are designed to take a lot of magical damage without being destroyed—extremely necessary in a school of youths practicing magic—there is still a limit. Alternatively, I suppose the only other weakness would be sheer force, like siege weapon or a large golem." Colbert missed how Longueville's eyes lit up. "But the amount of time it would take and the noise it would make would give us plenty of time to catch any criminal trying to force their way in."
"That puts me at ease," said Longueville with a relieved smile. "Thank you, Jean. This may sound sudden but, would you care to join me for lunch?"
Colbert's face lit up. "I'd be delighted, Mrs. Longueville."
"Oh, please, there's no need for formalities between us. Is there, Jean?"
"Longueville, then," Jean Colbert conceded with a smile. "I hear that Chef Hugo was preparing steaks."
"That sounds perfect."
"Doesn't it?"
The two strolled down the hallways side by side, cheery smiles on both of their faces.
Colbert's blue eyes were bright like a boy in his youth.
Longueville's golden eyes were cold, crafty, and calculating.
Ash had expected a trip to the city to be on foot, as he usually traveled. After all, there were no cars in this era. However, Louise had surprised him by having a pair of horses prepared by the school's front gate.
"Are they yours?" Ash asked Louise as he took stock of the two steeds. One was a chestnut and the other was a dappled grey. Both were saddled and bridled, ready to be ridden. He reached out his hands to rub their noses, and they nuzzled him back affectionately.
Louise shook her head. "I rented them for the occasion," she informed him.
She marveled at how easily Ash approached the creatures. Rented horses were trained to be easily handled by any noble, but they seemed extraordinarily affectionate towards her familiar. "Are you familiar with horseback riding?"
Ash turned from his new animal friends to look at her confusion. "I don't think that translated well," he said. "What's a horse?"
Louise gave him a deadpan look. "You are currently petting two of them," she said. Huffing, she added, "I'm guessing you don't know how to ride then?"
"Hey, I may not know all the creatures around here, but that doesn't mean I don't know how to ride them," Ash replied. Choosing the grey horse, he put a foot in the stirrups and hoisted himself up with ease. "Woah, this one's a little higher than what I'm used to. So cool!"
"At least riding won't be a problem," said Louise with a relieved sigh. She looked at her mount, the chestnut mare. She examined the distance between the ground, the stirrup, and the saddle.
"Ash."
"Yes?"
"Get down and help me up."
"Wow…" Ash said in awe as he was pulled through the busy city streets. "This place is amazing!"
The scenery really drove home that he was in a different era. The roads were much narrower than the ones he was used to. Everywhere Ash could see people were rushing through the flow of traffic. There was no order, only chaotic frenzy. And yet, everyone still managed to worm their way to their destination.
Almost every building they passed was a store of some kind. Jewelry, clothes, shoes, dresses, decoration, stores of every kind were lined up in no particular order. The only consistent trend Ash noticed was that everything here was higher end. It wasn't as if everything was encrusted with jewels, but the bright colors made it clear that this area was meant for people with money to spend.
Further up ahead, Ash could see several towers and a large stone castle cresting above the tops of the nearby buildings. "Who lives there?" he asked pointing a finger at the distant castle.
Louise briefly glanced in the direction he was pointing. "It's the royal castle, who do you think would be living there?" she snapped.
"The king, queen, and princess?" Ash guessed. "Maybe a prince too?"
Louise sighed. "The king passed away a few years ago," she said mournfully. "The crown princess has no siblings, only her mother, the queen."
"Oh," Ash said softly. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."
Louise sighed. "Sometimes I forget how much of a clueless foreigner you are," she said. "Just don't bring it up with the princess when she visits. You'll pay if you make her cry." She glared at Ash, making him understand that this threat was not to be taken lightly.
"Understood!"
"Good," said Louise with a slightly sadistic smile. "Now, here's what we have to get while we're here. I need to get you some commoner clothes, a set of formal wear, and replace my garments you destroyed. Oh, and you need a proper weapon too."
"A weapon?" Ash asked.
"Yes," Louise affirmed. "As my familiar, you also serve as my personal protector, a bodyguard of sorts. And a guard cannot defend without a weapon in hand."
"True, I do need a solid weapon that won't break in one hit," Ash said thoughtfully. "If that's the case, I could always ask Guiche to make me something."
Louise made a sour face. "I will not rely on Gramont and become in his debt," she said firmly. "Besides, despite Guiche's talent, he's only a dot class mage. He might be better than a common blacksmith, but he can't replicate the craftsmanship of a proper weapon."
"So, there are some things nobles can't do," Ash suggested cheekily.
"Hmph! A talented earth mage could easily craft a blade of peerless quality," Louise insisted. "Guiche, however, cannot. So, we will need to find a worthy blade for you. But first, clothes."
Ash looked at Louise in resignation as the girl spied their first stop. The mannequins at the front of the shop were decorated in frilly summer dresses. "I hate shopping," he said dejectedly.
"Did I ever tell you that I really hate shopping?" Ash grunted as he struggled to balance his load. Louise hadn't bought a lot, but she had insisted that he couldn't curl up their purchases into a ball and tuck it under his arm, so he was stuck holding multiple bags in his hands with dress bags draped across his forearms. The baggage wasn't heavy, but it was cumbersome.
"Shopping isn't as bad as you make it sound," said Louise.
"You're not the one carrying someone else's new wardrobe," Ash deadpanned.
"Some of those clothes are yours," Louise pointed out.
"Yeah, about one hand's worth." Ash shook the hand that carried his bags for emphasis. The load was noticeably smaller than the one in his other hand. "The rest is all yours."
"And as my familiar, you should carry your burden without complaint," Louise said primly.
Ash sighed. As much as he'd like to argue, he really couldn't see Louise being able to carry all of her clothes and still being able to move. No offense to the girl, but she was quite a bit frailer than the girls he was used to. Probably because he was a noble, he supposed. And while Ash didn't like being a packhorse, it wouldn't be his first time serving as one for a female companion on a shopping spree. "Are we finally done?" he asked wearily.
"Almost," Louise replied. "With our outfits taken care of, we still have to find you a sword."
"Where would we get that?" Ash asked. There were surrounded by clothing and jewelry stores. He doubted they would find a proper weapon in this part of the city.
"Simple," Louise said confidently. "We head to the commoner areas. That's where we're likely to find a weaponsmith."
"Huh, that makes sense," Ash replied. "Normal people are more likely to need a weapon since mages just use their wands for everything."
"Don't act like all mages rely on their magic!" Louise said insistently.
"They don't?"
"Of course not! Why would you even assume such a thing?"
Ash looked at her incredulously. "Louise," he deadpanned. "I haven't seen you or any of your classmates do any form of intense physical exercise since you summoned me. No one even runs unless their trying to get to class on time!"
"That doesn't mean anything."
"Also, I've seen your classmates flick their wands and levitate their books around so they didn't have to carry them."
"It's practical."
"Guiche is the most fit of your classmates and even he admits he only exercises enough to make himself look good!"
At this point, Louise was blushing furiously. "We're all students, so that's not an accurate representation of proper mages!" she protested. "After all, the Griffon Knights and Manticore Knights are the greatest military divisions in Tristan, and all of their reputable members are of higher-class nobility."
Ash looked intrigued. "I don't know what those are, but it sounds cool!" he said excitedly. "Hopefully, I'll get to see them in person."
"They are a part of the Royal Guard, so some of them may come with the princess," said Louise. "Which is why we need to get you presentable as fast as possible." She stopped, looking around. "Where are we?" she asked.
The two were still on the busy main road, but the crowd of people had changed. No longer was the normal person on the street dressed in a sundress or mage robes. Instead, simple, slightly worn outfits were the norm. People did not give the polite courtesy of avoiding contact, instead, they brushed past one another with hardly a mutter of acknowledgement. There were no more upscale boutiques and accessory stores lining the sides of the street. The nearby shops were mundane, selling plain, practical clothes, simple trinkets, and decorative items that would stand out for the worse in any noble's house.
"I think we're in the normal part of town," Ash concluded.
"Excellent," said Louise, her voice filling with pride. "We are exactly where we need to be."
"Sure," Ash said, rolling his eyes. He had gotten himself and his friends lost enough times to recognize Louise's bluff. "Then where's the weaponsmith?"
The mage looked around, expression falling. "I'm not entirely certain," Louise admitted. "I've only ever been to the noble's district."
"Maybe we could ask someone?" Ash suggested with a shrug.
Looking around at the faces of those who rather avoided the two like the plaque or cast a nasty sneer in the direction, Louise scoffed. "You can't just walk up to someone and ask for directions," the noble girl said.
"Why not?" Ash asked. "Someone who lives here would know exactly where we need to go."
Louise shook her head violently. "You must be cautious when you're in the city," she warned him. "If you ask questions that make you seem vulnerable, cretins will pick up on it. That is why diligence is—oomph!"
Louise was cut off as a small figure shoved past her and dashed away, knocking the petite mage to the ground.
"Are you okay?" Ash asked Louise. He would have reached out a hand to her, if his arms weren't already full.
"I'm fine," Louise said, discreetly rubbing her bottom. "This is why I don't like going out in the city too often. Too many rude people wandering about. Let's keep walking and then maybe we'll find a…" Louise's voice trailed off as she began looking around and pat her sides frantically. "Oh no! Where is it?"
"Where is what?" Ash asked.
"My coin purse!"
Sure enough, the small coin pouch that had been attached to Louise's waist was now gone. Ash narrowed his eyes as he looked in the direction of the person who had knocked down Louise. "Was that a pickpocket?" he asked.
"Of course, it was a pickpocket!" Louise shouted angrily. "Great. Now I don't have any money left to buy a sword. That was the last of my allowance too."
"Want me to catch him?" Ash asked suddenly.
Louise actually snorted at that. "If you can catch him," she said sarcastically. "He's probably long gone by now."
To her surprise, Ash dumped the load of clothes in her arms and took off. "What are you doing?" she called out after him.
"I'll be right back!" Ash shouted in response.
The thief had a head start, but the thickness of the crowd made the distance meager. Ash jumped up and grabbed a ledge jutting out from a nearby building. Straining his arm muscles, he swung one leg onto the ledge, and then the other. A quick roll brought the rest of his body on to the elevated ground. He then stood and took a look at where he had seen the thief run off. He didn't see the kid, so he ran to where he had seen the kid last, jumping from building to building in his pursuit. A few people shouted from below, some in surprise, and some in anger.
"Sorry!" Ash threw an apology over his shoulder as he continued the chase.
Stopping at the corner he had seen the kid, Ash looked around. It was hard to make out individual features from all the people, but not too many of the crowd were wearing cloaks. Among them, there were very few who were sprinting. And as far as Ash could see, there was only one person who was cloaked, running, and smaller than even Louise.
"Found you," said Ash triumphantly.
The trainer continued his run, jumping the distance between buildings with ease. He had gone through much harsher terrain while traveling around the world. While he couldn't run at his top speed while keeping his balance, the thief was also hindered by the crowd. Ash found himself slowly catching up just as the thief rounded a corner into an alley. Once Ash spied a clear spot on the ground to land on, he jumped down to street level to continue the pursuit. He found the thief with one hand rested on against the wall. The cloaked kid's breaths were high and raspy as he clutched his ill-gotten good s with his free hand.
"I'll be taking that back," Ash declared, stepping into the alley.
The thief whirled around with a yelp and a jump. Ash caught sight of a few purple strands from under the thief's hood as he turned to face Ash. "Who are you?" the thief asked in a squeaky voice. "Wait, you're the brat's guard? How did you find me? You managed to follow me? How did you do that?"
Ash waited.
"What? Am I too low for you to give me a response? You think that just because I'm a common pickpocket you don't have to answer my questions? You think you're that much of a big shot just because your mistress can prance around in a prissy dress?"
"Oh, it isn't that," Ash assured the thief once the kid had finally stopped talking. "It's just that you were answering your own questions, so I was waiting until you were done. I didn't mean to be rude."
The hood only revealed the lower part of the thief's face, so Ash was having trouble making out the kid's facial expressions. But the way the kid froze for several seconds seemed to be out of surprise. "Are you serious?" the kid finally asked.
"Yes," Ash replied with a hint of a wry smile. "And I was also serious about getting back the money you stole. You shouldn't take what doesn't belong to you."
"Tell that to the nobles who tax people who struggling to survive so they can fill their coffers and stuff their fat faces!"
"Most nobles aren't fat," Ash corrected. "I'm not sure why, but no matter how much they eat at meals very few of them seem to gain weight. I'm thinking there's some kind of magic involved."
Ash could feel the kid's stare from underneath the hood. "That's all you got to say?" he said with an angry hiss.
"No," Ash said with a sigh. "I haven't seen it for myself, but it wouldn't surprise me if nobles would take money away from people who need it for their own greedy reasons." He had heard that such a thing wasn't an uncommon occurrence during this time period.
"Still," the trainer continued. "That doesn't make it right to steal from random people off the street, nobles or not. I'm going to need that coin pouch back." He held out his hand towards the smaller kid.
The kid's head looked down at Ash's extended hand, then rose back up. "You are an idiot," the kid concluded.
"I am not!" Ash protested.
"If you say so," the kid said with a shrug. He threw the purse on the ground and kicked it about a yard away from Ash's feet. "Here, if you want it so badly, you can take it back."
Ash was confused by the surprisingly easy surrender, but he took it in stride. "Thanks, kid," he said as he reached for it. "This makes my job a lot easier."
"That's my line."
Ash looked up, only to get a fistful of dirt, grime, and who-knows-what-else in his eyes. He sputtered, instinctively moving his hands to wipe the brown grit from his face. With a devious grin, the thief dashed forward, scooped up the purse, and darted past the blinded Ash. The thief was home free… until a hand reached out with supernatural speed and snagged the back of his cloak.
Instinctively, the thief shed his cloak, revealing that the young boy was actually a young girl. Cold blue eyes were framed by messy amethyst hair that fell slightly past the girl's shoulders. The ends of her hair were frayed and uneven, as if it had been hacked off by a none-too-sharp knife. The torn brown shirt and shorts the girl wore almost matched the color of her skin, which was splotchy from dirt. Only her face revealed that she was actually fair skinned underneath the muck. She was also skinny, unhealthily so. Her face was gaunt, and her limbs were so thin that she looked like literal skin and bones.
Of course, Ash—currently suffering a temporary case of vision impairment—noticed none of this.
Feeling the slack material in his hand, Ash realized he was no longer holding on to his captive. Tapping into his Aura sight, he dashed forward and seized an arm of the fleeing thief, who gave a girlish squeal.
"How are you doing that?" she asked, kicking him frantically to no effect. "There's no way you could track me by my footsteps. Can you see me while blind? Is that how you tracked me earlier? Is it magic? Does that mean you're a mage knight?"
"Why do you keep answering your questions before I can answer them?" Ash asked, keeping an iron grip on her arm. His captive was small, but she knew where to aim. Face, stomach, shin, between the legs; she was striking at all of his vital areas. Unfortunately for her, she was too slow to get past his blocks and dodges, and too weak to hurt him when she landed a hit on his less guarded areas.
After several seconds of ineffective retaliation, the girl stopped struggling and glared into Ash's closed eyes. "Let me go or I'll scream," she threatened.
"You're a thief," Ash pointed out, cocking his head to the side.
"Who will notice that when they see you assaulting a little girl in an alley?" she challenged.
"You're a girl?"
"Of course!" she said indignantly. "Just because I'm small doesn't mean I'm a boy!"
"Huh," said Ash as his face scrunched up in thought. "How many girls like you have I run into? I think that makes you the third?"
Now on the verge of panicking, the girl warned, "I'll scream!"
"Then I'll explain you're a thief that I was catching," said Ash reasonably. "You're carrying a purse that clearly isn't yours, so it's pretty obvious."
In response, the thief chunked the purse into a nearby pile of… well, it was mostly brown and smelled worse than Ash's most disastrous attempt at cooking. The coin pouch landed with a loud splat and fell on its side, sinking partway into the heap.
"Now who will believe you?" the girl asked. "You have no proof!"
Instead of responding verbally, Ash dragged her along as he walked to where the purse had fallen.
"So now what? You're going to make me dig it out for you?" she asked, digging in her heels to no effect. "Well, I won't! No matter how much you force me, I won't do a single thing for those greedy nobles. If you want to get it out of that stinkin heap you're going to have to do it yourself!"
"Would you stop shouting in my ear for just one second?" Ash grumbled. He was just managing to regain his sight, blinking away the last bits of grime from his eyes, but now he was in danger of going deaf.
To the girl's surprise, instead of forcing her into the muck to get the money, Ash reached out with his free hand and opened up the purse as it lay in the smell heap. He struggled to hold his breath from the stench as h pried it open with his thumb and scooped up the few remaining coins with his other four fingers. He straightened up quickly, leaving the purse itself in the rotting manure pile, and took a deep breath of relatively cleaner air.
"I really hope Louise only wanted the money and not the purse itself," Ash mused as he slipped the coins into his pocket.
The girl looked at Ash in surprise as he turned and walked to the alley exit, still keeping a gentle but unbreakable grip on her arm. "Where are you taking me?" she asked. "Are you going to take me to the guards to be arrested? Are you looking to humiliate me in public?"
Ash stopped, sighed, and turned around so he was facing her. He made a double take when he noticed her actually appearance. "Are you okay?" he asked instinctively.
The girl glared at him with cold eyes. "What do you think, stupid?"
Ash winced. He had walked right into that one. "Look," he said gently. "I can see that you needed Louise's money, but stealing is still wrong."
"Tell that to me when you're starving and people in a mansion next door are growing fat!"
"I've never experienced it, so I can't say," Ash said honestly. "What I can say, is that you're not a bad kid, just a hungry one. So…" He knelt down, bring him slightly below the child's level. "I have a deal for you."
She gave him a sidelong glance. "Does it involve offering you my services?" she asked suspiciously.
"…no?" Ash asked with a raised eyebrow. "You're what, ten? I don't think there's anything you can do that I would need."
The girl looked into Ash's eyes, seeing honest confusion. "I thought you were just a short, fresh-faced bodyguard, but it turns out you're just a kid," she said. "How embarrassing."
An angry tic mark popped up on Ash's forehead. "Why do girls younger than me keep calling me a kid?" he muttered to the sky. He sighed again. "Look, I don't know how much any of these coins are worth, and I shouldn't give away Louise's money, so here's my deal: You come back with me, apologize to Louise, and I ask her to give you some money. How does that sound?"
To his surprise, girl only glared at him. "Do you think I'm stupid?" the girl deadpanned. "No prissy noble is just going to just hand over their stolen money."
"I think you'll find Louise to be a bit different from a typical noble," said Ash. The girl still looked suspicious, but her expression changed to confusion when the boy released his grip on her arm. "I'm not going to force you. It's been a long day and I want to go back to the academy and take a nap. Come along if you want, or don't. Your choice."
Ash turned and slowly walked out of the alley. As he turned onto the street, hearing that the girl's footsteps weren't behind him, he sighed. He wanted to help her, and he'd give her his own money if he could, but Louise's money wasn't his to give. If the girl wished to go her own way, there was little he could do.
Before he had gone far, Ash's ears caught the quick patter of feet. He came to gradual stop. Turning around, he saw the girl, once again wearing her ragged brown cloak, creeping up behind him. Ash couldn't help breaking into a grin.
"You should have given me more time to grab my cloak," the girl huffed as she slunk up to his back.
"Sorry," Ash said sheepishly. "Didn't think about it."
The girl lifted her head so she could meet his eyes. "You're weird," she said frankly. "But the good kind of weird. Are you sure your mistress will give me something?"
"Don't worry," said Ash. "Louise acts cold, but she's a good person. She wouldn't turn down someone in need."
"Are you kidding me? You expect me to give a commoner, a thief no less, my money? The very money she was trying to steal? Absolutely not!"
The grimy girl glared at Louise, as if attempting to burn holes in the noble with her eyes alone.
Ash facepalmed. "Come on, Louise," he pleaded. "Look at her! She was only stealing because she needed it. And she apologized too. You should be able to give her something!"
Louise's expression softened on seeing the dirty girl's tattered clothes and dirtied body. But her eyes hardened as she turned back to her familiar. "Do you know how much a weapon costs?" Louise asked Ash.
"No…?"
"And neither do I," she declared. "Therefore, we can't afford to waste one gold on a peasant. Don't you know what happens when you give money to one of them? Several more crawl out of nowhere, also asking for alms. Next thing you know, you're getting robbed, all because you wanted to help one person."
"I can handle a few thieves," said Ash confidently. "I have a lot of experience dealing with criminals."
"You might, but it's not worth the risk," said Louise with finality.
"Trust me, shortstack," the smallest of the three piped up. "You wouldn't last a second against one of the real ruffians on these streets. They'd skin you and your little lady alive."
"Who are you making short jokes to?" Louise hissed, glaring down at the hooded girl.
"Trust me, I'm stronger than I look," said Ash, putting an arm in front of Louise to settle her. "I can handle a few bad guys."
"Trust you?" The girl snorted. "Just like I trusted you that your mistress would be generous enough to spare me a coin?"
Ash's face fell.
"Yeah, that's what I thought," the thief jeered. "I should have known it was too be good to be true. I've been around enough to see that no one is that generous."
Ash's face perked up. "Have you been around, literally?"
"Humph! I know this entire side of town like the back of my hand," the girl said proudly.
Ash and Louise raised their eyebrows as they looked at the girl's extremely dirty hands.
"Well, excuse me for not having a dozen maids to bathe me every night," the petite pickpocket snapped defensively.
"Who would need a dozen maids to bathe?" Louise asked incredulously. She shook her head. "Never mind that. Would you happen to know where we could find a reputable blacksmith? Specifically, a weaponsmith?"
The girl gave Louise the stink eye. "And what's in it for me? Not getting hauled off to the guards? Or maybe you'll let me off with a warning instead of breaking my hand? Or will you—"
Quick as lightning, Ash clamped a hand over the girl's mouth. "Maybe you'd find some more answers if you gave people a chance to speak," he advised.
The girl pulled away with a huff, but kept silent. Instead, she looked at Louise judgingly.
"Giving to beggars begets beggars forming a line for handouts," Louise began. Ash could see the hooded girl shaking as she struggled to control her tongue. "But paying a commoner for a rendered service is perfectly acceptable," Louise continued. "If you provide a suitable weaponsmith, then we will pay you a finder's fee."
"Oh!" Ash exclaimed, slamming the heel of his fist into his open palm. "Is that what you meant by services when we were in the alley?" he asked the hooded girl.
The pickpocket gave Ash a deadpan look. "I feel embarrassed being caught by someone as stupid as you," she stated, causing Ash to pout. To Louise she asked, "How do I know you'll keep your promise this time?"
"I didn't promise you anything in the first place," Louise grumbled. "But if you want assurance, my familiar is currently holding onto our finances. Ash, put a small silver coin into one of your other pockets."
Ash pulled some coins out of his pocket and sifted through them until he pulled out a small silver one. He slipped it into the pocket on the other side of his pants.
"There," said Louise. "The soft-hearted idiot is now holding onto your payment. If he manages to find a weapon that suits his fancy, then he is free to give the money to you as a reward."
"How do you know you won't spend it on the weapon and leave me with nothing?" the girl asked.
"In the purchase of a proper weapon, that single piece of silver is inconsequential," Louise replied.
"What?"
"She means that a silver coin is pocket change," Ash translated. "Though we still don't know how much one costs…" he added under his breath.
The girl glanced at the purchases sitting by Louise's feet. "I wish I had enough that a silver piece was worth nothing," she said bitterly. "Fine. I'll trust you on this. Follow me." Despondent, she tightened her hood over her head and began walking.
"Wait," Louise commanded.
"What?" the girl snapped, stopping but not turning around.
"What is your name?" Louise asked. "I'm getting tired of mentally calling you 'girl' or 'thief' all the time."
There was a moment of silence from the hooded girl. After several seconds, she turned around. "Maybe if I get paid, I'll feel inclined to answer that question," she retorted before stomping away.
Louise looked indignant, but Ash put an arm out in front of her and shook his head. Louise didn't look mollified, but she followed Ash's lead and quietly followed their guide.
(line break)
"This is the place?" Louise asked skeptically.
The three were in a narrow, dingy alley. Muck lined the walls of each building. Every step they took left footprints in the filthy street. Shop signs hung still in the stale air. Directly in front of them was a shop. The bronze sign that hung above the door had a sword on it.
"The shop owner's been in a slump of bad luck, but he's been the best weapon dealer in the city for years," the hooded girl confirmed. "He's got some pricey bits, but some good stuff too. Just make sure he doesn't overcharge you and make me lose my cut."
"If you know so much about him, why don't you come with us and help?" Ash suggested.
The hood sharply turned as the little girl winced. "I may be on bad terms with the owner," she admitted.
"You stole from him?" Louise assumed.
The other girl nodded sheepishly.
"I guess we'll just have to hope for the best and buy something that doesn't cost an arm and a leg," Ash said he stepped toward the shop door. He paused, then turned to their hooded guide. "Um… would you mind watching our stuff while we're in there?"
"You want to leave our bags outside?" Louise asked incredulously.
"Do you want to bring new clothes in a weapon shop?" Ash questioned.
Louise grumbled, but turned to their hooded guide expectantly.
"I'm going to need payment up front," the girl demanded, holding out an open hand.
Louise nodded to Ash, who dug through his pocket to fish out a small silver coin and place it the hooded girl's palm.
The coin was immediately tucked into the girl's hair. "I'll ward anyone away from your bags as I wait for the rest of my payment," she said with a satisfied grin.
"You better not try to run off," Louise warned.
"I won't."
The girl looked sincere, but Louise was still cautious. "Ash, use your weird sensing thing to keep track of her," she whispered to her familiar. "If you sense her step away from her post, make sure we don't lose anything."
Ash nodded, but he believed their still unnamed guide would keep her word. After all, trusting someone with no identification that they had only just met under bad circumstances wasn't a bad thing, right?
A gentle ringing of a door chime announced the two's entrance into the weapon shop, which was just as unimpressive on the inside as it was on the outside. Weapons covered in a thin layer of soot and dust hung from the walls or were bundled together in barrels that were spaced randomly throughout the store. Seated behind the shop's long front desk was a portly, round-faced man in his fifties. His face was scowling as he watched the door open, but his expression curled into a greedy smile when he saw the two youths enter his store.
"And what can I do for you today, young lady?" he asked.
The shop owner immediately deferred to Louise who was dressed in the robes and clasp of a mage noble. Ash was dressed oddly, but he wasn't wearing a recognizable outfit that showed his class. And he looked rather lost, turning his head to and fro as if searching for a ghost. The arms dealer assumed him to be a young attendant to the young lady, which meant that she was wandering without a minder. That meant she was rather incredibly dangerous, or a sheltered, naïve fool.
"I am looking for a sword for my fa—bodyguard," Louise quickly amended. "One suited for a noble, if you have anything like that in your…" her words trailed of as she reexamined the dinky store. "…fine establishment. I am unfamiliar with weapons, so just bring out your best."
The owner rubbed his hands greedily. Naïve fool it was. This was his chance to turn his luck around and make a fortune off the little lady. "I have just the thing," he said. Taking a key from a chain that hung around his neck, he ducked under the counter and opened a hidden compartment. He pulled out a gleaming rapier with a very ornately carved guard and handle and placed it on the counter.
"It looks good," said Louise appreciatively. "But it looks too frail. Bring me something larger and stronger."
The shop owner gave her a confused look. "The sword is for the boy, is it not?" he asked, nodding his head towards Ash, who was engaged in a staring contest with a barrel of weapons that was sitting in the filthiest corner of the store.
"It is," Louise said proudly. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Well, Miss, different swords are suited for different people, you see?" the shop owner said sagely. "In my eternally humble opinion, a rapier like this is a perfect fit for your… escort's physique. If you catch my drift?"
"Don't presume to know better than I do," Louise snapped. "I said to get a larger and stronger sword for my guard!"
"Everything okay over there?" Ash called out, looking back at the two.
"Everything is fine," Louise assured him. "I'm just making sure this old man knows exactly what kind of sword you need."
"Cool!" Ash said, abandoning his wanderings and running up to the counter like a child in a candy store. "What are we getting?"
The store owner sighed and ducked under his counter once again. "Stupid nobles never listen to the experts," he grunted under his breath as he put away the rapier and drew out an even more ornate broadsword. At least now he was justified in fleecing the brat for all she was worth. The dealer gently laid the sword on the counter and drew it from its sheathe so the two could observe its naked brilliance.
"It looks magnificent," Louise said in awe.
"This blade was forged with a silver infusion to give it the most brilliant shine," the shop owner said with pride. "That cross guard is made of solid gold. All of those jewels you see are genuine. A famous Germanian blacksmith crafted this sword as his life's work, and I have been holding onto it for many years waiting for the right person to sell it to." The lies flowed from his mouth like water from a fountain, and the two children ate it up.
"I've never seen a sword so amazing," said Ash breathlessly. "Can I try it?"
"Be my guest," the shop owner said with a dark chuckle. He watched as Ash lifted the sword off the counter, expecting him to drop it due to the weight of the blade. To his surprise, Ash picked it up with ease and gave it a few test swings.
"It feels a bit light," Ash commented as he made practiced slashes in the air. "Blade length feels weird too. It looks really cool, but I don't think it's the right blade for me."
"But it fits your image perfectly," said Louise.
"And it only costs two thousand ecu," the shop owner added.
"Two thousand!" Louise exclaimed.
"What's an ecu?" Ash asked.
The chop owner gave him a funny look. "You don't know what money is, boy?" he asked.
"He's new," Louise explained.
"Ah, that explains the funny looking black hair."
"My hair looks funny?"
"Not important," Louise interrupted. "Ash, it looks like we'll have to take a different weapon after all. I'll have to wait for my next allowance before we can afford this sword."
"I don't mind," said Ash honestly. "This doesn't even feel like a real weapon anyway."
The shop fell quiet enough to hear a pin drop. "Come again?" Louise asked.
"I don't think this sword is a real weapon," Ash repeated. "See my runes?" He pointed at his left hand which was wielding the sword. The runes were mostly covered by his fingerless gloves, but a few of the marks were visibly inert. "They always glow when I'm holding a weapon, and glow brighter when I swing it. But they aren't reacting at all, so I don't think this sword is a real weapon."
Louise slowly turned her head to the shop owner, her eyes narrowed in rage. "Were you trying to sell me a fake?" she hissed.
'The boy doesn't know what he's talking about!" the man protested. "Those types of swords are the ones all the nobles are giving to their servants right now. They're expensive, yes, but everyone wants one! Take a look around the capital. You'll see plenty of nobles whose servants are armed with swords just like that one!"
Louise's eyes narrowed further. "I thought you said this sword was the life's work of a Germanian blacksmith," she said suspiciously. "If that's the case, how would so many swords of its kind exist all the way in Tristan?"
"I, well—" The shop owner pulled on his collar as he started to sweat.
Louise's glare forced the store owner to turn away. "Ash," the girl called.
"Yes?"
"We're leaving." With that, Louise turned on her heel and stormed towards the door.
"Hold on," said Ash. "I need to check something first."
"What is it?" Louise asked, turning back towards him.
Ash wandered to the forlorn corner of the store that had attracted his attention the minute they had stepped inside. "I know there's something here," he said. "Or someone."
"Like a store attendant?" Louise asked with a sniff.
"Who you callin' an attendant, girlie?" a gruff voice asked.
Louise whirled around to the shop owner, who raised his hands in surrender and shook his head vigorously. Turning her head back to the corner of the store the voice had come from, she saw no one. "Who said that?" she called out.
"Use your eyes instead of your big mouth and maybe you'll find out!" the voice cackled.
"Ha!" Ash cried triumphantly. "I knew I wasn't going crazy!" He stepped forward and stuck his hand inside a barrel of weapons, pulling out a rust-covered longsword. The runes on his hand glowed brightly as he pointed the blade up. "You're a taking sword, aren't you?"
"Whatever gave you that idea, partner?" the sword shot back, a rusty latch on its hilt opening and closing like a mouth.
"Partner?" Ash echoed.
"You're the Gandalfr, aren'tcha?" the sword responded. "I'm Derflinger, which makes me your partner."
"Is that how it works?" Ash asked.
Louise suddenly grabbed Ash by the ear. "Why are you so calm?" she hissed in his ear. "It's a talking sword. Swords don't talk! Unless you're going to tell me that this is normal for you?"
"I've never seen a talking sword before either," Ash admitted. "But I have seen living swords before. Well, kind of living. They were ghost-types. Some say that the swords were possessed by the souls of dead soldiers and floated around looking for people to grab their handles so they could drain the life from them." He looked down at Derflinger, suddenly looking nervous. "You aren't a soul eating sword ghost creature, are you?"
"HAHA!" the sword cackled. "That's the most ridiculous story I've ever heard! No, partner, I'm not going to eat your soul. I may not have one of my own, but I don't need it!"
Ash let out a sigh of relief. "That's good to hear," he said. "That would have been awkward."
"Awkward!" Louise exploded. "You took a chance that this sword could have eaten your soul and you're this casual about it!"
"I kinda forgot about the stories until after I picked him up," Ash explained sheepishly.
"YOU ARE AN IDIOT!"
Derf chuckled as Ash halfheartedly defend himself from Louise's fist bashing against his skull. "This makes me feel really nostalgic," the sword said heartily. "And I don't even remember why!"
"Shut up, you pesky sword," the shop owner grumbled. "Thanks to you, my business has plummeted."
"Ha! Maybe if you stopped trying to swindle people, you'd actually make a profit. How's that for solid advice?"
"Speaking of swindling," said Louise with a deceptively sweet smile as she turned to the shop owner. "How much for the sword?"
"Well," the man said thoughtfully as he rubbed his chin. "The sword is a one of a kind and claims to be six thousand years old. I could probably sell him for…" A look into Louise's eyes made the man reconsider his tune. "One hundred ecu," he said promptly.
"Is that so?"
The old man started to sweat. "Please, miss, I need to earn a living here," he begged.
"You could start by emptying out the trash you have lyin' around the place," Derflinger piped up. "This place hasn't seen a good sweeping in months. And trust me, I've been here the entire time—"
"Free! Take him for free!" the man shouted desperately. "That sword is cursed with misfortune! Just get it out of my store! In fact, you'd be doing me a favor if you did so! I'll owe you a favor! Please, just get rid of it!"
"Hmm…" Louise looked suspicious, but taking a sword for free was suitable compensation for trying to deceive and belittle her. The favor was a nice bonus, though she doubted she would have need of it. "We accept. A pleasure doing business with you." She turned to Ash, who was staring at the shop door. "What?" she asked.
"Trouble outside, I think," he said as he headed towards the door, his new sword still in hand. He pushed open the door to see four guys dressed in ratty clothing making a semi-circle around Louise's new purchases. Barely visible behind the larger figures was the ratty cloak of their pickpocket/guide, who was shouting at the four thugs.
"—you better be gone by the time they come out, otherwise they'll chop ya to pieces and roast the skin from your flesh!"
"Oh, don't worry," said the biggest one, a ruffian with a scar over his right eyebrow. "We'll be gone long before they're out. You'd best be gone too, unless you want trouble." The jingle of the door chime caused his head to snap towards the door, where he saw Ash stepping out with a rusted sword. "I thought you said it was a noble girl and her bodyguard!" he said with a laugh. "Who's this pipsqueak with a beat-up sword?"
"I don't know who you are, but you're picking on my new friend," Ash said with a glare. "Leave."
The band of four started laughing. "Really?" the biggest one asked with a sneer. "And who's going to make us?"
"Ash, what is going on over here?" Louise asked as she stepped out of the store. The men's laughter abruptly stopped when they noticed the pentagram clasp on the girl's cloak.
"It's a mage!"
"Run for it!"
"She's going to burn our skin off!"
The biggest goon's three companions took off immediately, but he still stood defiantly. "A child mage isn't a threat," he said, half to himself as he drew a shabby knife from his belt. "I doubt a little girl like you even knows how to cast a spell." He took a menacing step towards Louise, who instinctively reached for her wand. She forced herself to keep a steady hand, even as her legs threatened to wobble. The ignorant ruffian was wrong about her being a child, but he was right about her not being able to cast a spell.
Ash, as fearless as ever, drew his blade and pointed it in the face of the man. "Leave," Ash growled as the runes on his hand grew in intensity.
The ruffian took pause when he saw the boy's brown eyes shift to icy blue. The trash littering the alleyway began to shift as waves of energy began emanating from Ash's body. He noticed the marks beneath Ash's glove gradually increasing in brightness. "You're both mages!" he screeched, running off after his friends.
Ash blinked, letting his eyes return to normal and his aura die down. "That was easier than I expected," he said as he pulled Derflinger back into his sheathe. "I expected them to at least try to put up a fight."
"I'm glad they didn't," said Louise shakily.
The hooded girl looked between the two of them in confusion. "You're both mages?" the hooded girl asked cautiously.
"Yes."
"No."
Louise and Ash exchanged a glance.
"It's complicated," Ash said. "I can do a few tricks, but I'm more of a magical beast trainer than a spell caster or a fighter."
"Then where's your beasts?"
Ash's face fell. "I was summoned to Louise without my partner or any of my other companions," he said dejectedly.
"Don't worry, partner! Now you have me!"
The hooded girl jumped back, startled. "You bought the cursed sword?" she asked hysterically. "I told you to be careful! He's been trying to get rid of that thing forever! How much did he swindle you for it? Any amount you payed was too much!"
"Actually, he gave it to us for free," said Louise triumphantly. "He deserved as much for trying to trick us with a fake sword."
The girl let out a sigh. "But you still got that sword?" she asked.
"I'll have you know that I'm a one of a kind, ancient, legendary sword!" Derflinger declared. "I'll bet you've never laid eyes on a weapon quite like me, isn't that right?"
The girl shied away from the blade, shivering worse than when she had been surrounded by thieves.
"Stop scaring her," Ash scolded the talking weapon. He turned to the girl. "And yes, I picked Derflinger because he reminds me of a creature from my region. You did good." Ash pulled a silver coin from his pocket and flicked it to the girl, who snagged it from the air like frog's tongue to a fly.
"I'm surprised you actually stayed and guarded our possessions," Louise admitted.
"You think I'm a coward or something?" the girl challenged.
"Yes," Louise replied honestly. "You look someone who would run at the first sign of trouble."
"Louise," Ash said chidingly.
"She isn't wrong," the little girl said with a shrug. "Living in the streets means picking your battles. But a chance to make good coin was worth it."
"You'd risk your life for a single coin?" Louise asked incredulously.
"That sounds reckless," Ash added.
"I wasn't sticking my neck out," the girl retorted, sticking out her tongue. "Those guys looked nervous the moment I mentioned a noble being in the shop. They only stuck around to see if I was bluffing. I knew that once the little miss came swinging her spells around, they'd go packing. Though, I didn't expect your little guard to have a trick like that too."
"Stop with the short jokes," Louise said through gritted teeth. "I'm taller than you are!"
"At least I still have room to grow," the girl replied impishly, sticking out her tongue and darting away before Louise could grab. She laughed as she watched Ash bar Louise from chasing her further. "Name's Plum! Next time you're in town, drop by the old church if you're in need of a guide." With her farewells said, she scampered away.
"Stay safe!" Ash called out as he waved her off.
Louise settled down, but only gave a huff instead of saying any form of goodbye.
Ash made a content sigh as he picked up the load of bags. "You know, the best part about traveling is making new friends," he said with a satisfied smile. Hearing no response, he turned to Louise, who was glaring at him suspiciously. "What?" he asked.
"Do you have a thing for little girls?"
"…What?"
My goal is to give Ash a harem of Lolis and Dragons.
Just kidding, this isn't a harem story, or even a romance.
Or is it?
Back on track, poll results are closed! And a new poll is up! Here are the results from the previous poll:
Danny Fenton (Danny Phantom) - 32
Toph Beifong (Avatar: the Last Airbender) - 30
Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia) - 29
Jake Long (Jake Long: American Dragon) - 28
Ben Tennyson (Ben 10) - 27
Yagi Toshinori/All Might (My Hero Academia) - 27
Zuko (Avatar: the Last Airbender) - 27
Samurai Jack (Samurai Jack) - 23
Beast Boy (Teen Titans) - 19
Natsuki Subaru (Re:Zero) - 14
Jaune Arc (RWBY) - 14
Korra (Legend of Korra) - 12
Brock (Pokemon) - 12
Sokka (Avatar: the Last Airbender) - 12
Toma Kamijo (A Certain Magical Index) - 11
Nagisa Shiota (Assassination Classroom) - 11
Mikoto Misaka (A Certain Scientific Railgun) - 10
Damian Wayne (Batman) - 10
Dick Grayson (Batman) - 8
Yuuki Yuuna (Yuuki Yuuna is a Hero) - 7
Other/Extra - 7
OP OC - 4
Write something besides this series - 3
Jun Sakurada (Rozen Maiden) - 0
First of all, thank you to everyone who voted! Some people also made their own suggestions, which I have saved in a doc in case I want to use them in another poll!
Second of all, why did Jun-kun fall below my literal joke suggestions? Don't go breakin my heart.
Third of all, Sokka was added almost a quarter of the way into the voting, so I'm assuming he'd be at least 4 votes higher. (cause math)
Fourth of all, votes fluctuated a lot. I took screenshots on my phone to keep track of voting, and the changes have been crazy. The top six has mostly been the same, but Samurai Jack and Zuko fell out to make room for Jake and Toph. Toph was originally fighting with Beast Boy, and then suddenly jumped all the way to the top of the charts. But then again, it happened right after I announced the poll on my Aang story, so I should have seen that coming. Still, seeing Toph kick Zuko to the wayside was something I didn't expect. Ben used to be dominating the poll, then Izuku and All Might were holding the top two spots for a long while. Now, as you can see, Danny and Toph have gone Plus Ultra above them.
Keeping up with the results this week has been crazy!
So, now there is a new poll. I am posting 4 people who I have the best chance of getting first chapters ready for by the end of the month. The four finalists are:
Toph Beifong (2nd place)
Jake Long (4th place)
Ben Tennyson (5th place)
Uncle Iroh (? place)
Um... so, I know Zuko and All Might were popular at one point, and I had a crazy idea to fuse them together and write Iroh. Zuko is rather too angsty or too busy to be Lousie's pet, and All Might would rather muscle through all foes or be a half competent teacher. So... Iroh both has the time and ability to teach, so he ended up taking their place.
For Danny and Deku I was struggling to make a plot work, and I still need to squeeze in time to watch enough Samurai Jack... so yeah, nothing for them yet.
Whoever wins the poll will have their first chapter uploaded on the last day of the month. That's a Tuesday, unlike my normal Sunday uploads, because I'll need as much time as possible between closing the poll on the 27th and finishing whatever story in time. I can't guarantee that the story will become a regular. It may end up being like the Kirito story where I just write an extensive second chapter to finish the story. Or like my Tobias story where I update sporadically. IDK. Inspiration isn't a fixed resource.
What did you think of the chapter? What do you think of the poll? Think you can predict what will happen next? (Some of you are scary good at that. You know who you are.) Leave a review! Remember, reviews are food for a writer's soul!
