Hey guys, I'm not dead yet! Just had to deal with an exam last week...anyhow, new chapter! The aftermath of the battle with Fouquet, and some more info about Tlop's staff. Enjoy!

Chapter 9: A Pigman and his Staff

After getting over their initial shock, and promising to explain more of the staff's details when they got back, the group got back on Sylphid to head back to the academy. Fouquet was also brought, with a weary eye from the group on her at all times in case she woke up. Once back, they handed Fouquet over to the faculty on site, who quickly detained her properly and sent her off to the castle for imprisonment. In the meantime, the group went back to Osmond to report their efforts.

"Thanks to you, the thief was captured and the staff returned to us!" Osmond was delighted to see his students bring down such a threat. By his side, Professor Colbert also beamed with pride, seeing as it was some of the students he currently taught as well. "Now, if you could just hand the staff back over, we can return it to the vault and keep it safe."

"I'm afraid that's not happening." Tlopfest responded, shocking the principal. "This staff does not actually belong to you."

"W-what in Founder's name do you mean Tlopfest?"

"I mean," Tlopfest said, pulling the staff out and pointing to the symbol on the crystal, "this staff is actually mine. It is a hellfire staff with the spell I call 'nuke' applied to it." Putting the staff back in his inventory, Tlopfest continued. "I made this just a few months ago."

"I…I see." Osmond was unsure of how to take this news. "So…you created the Staff of Destruction?"

"For my own benefit, and because I could, yes." Tlopfest said nonchalantly.

"B-but how?" This time it was Colbert who asked. "Many mages have tried to study it for years, and no one could come close to figuring it out, much less how to actually activate it!"

"I can explain later. But, is there anything else that you guys need us for, or can we go ahead and go? I'm sure just about all of us are tired after having to deal with Fouquet today."

"Ah, of course." Osmond said. "Well, still, for capturing Fouquet, you three will be honored guests at the ball tonight to celebrate this occasion. You will also be receiving rewards from the royal family in recognition of your efforts."

For a moment, the students couldn't help but glow at the praise they were given. That is, until Louise realized what Osmond had said. "Wait, sir, you said three, not four. Does that mean that Tlopfest does not get anything?"

"I'm afraid so, Miss Valiere. Since Tlopfest is but a familiar, and not an aristocrat."

"I see.." Lousie trailed off at that.

"That's fine," Tlopfest said. "I'm just happy that it's over. However," Tlopfest leaned forward a little more towards Colbert and Osmond, "I've got a few questions for you two, if you do not mind."

"Of course." Osmond said. "Girls, you are free to go."

The rest of the group headed out, wondering what they would wear at the ball that night. Louise, before heading down the stairs, looked back towards Osmond's door, wondering what Tlopfest would be talking about.

Back in the office, Tlopfest started asking his questions. "So, first things first, where the devil did you find my staff, and how did it end up in that treasure vault to begin with?"

Osmond closed his eyes for a second, deep in thought. "Well, it actually happened almost thirty years ago…"

Back then, I was on a mission to investigate a disturbance near one of the towns around the Academy. Before I knew it, a great beast had attacked me, apparently being the source of the disturbances. It overpowered me, and it would have killed me if it was not for a strange man. Cloaked in what I can only describe as the blackest robes I have ever seen, he had taken this staff out and used it on the beast, creating an explosion that took it out easily.

"Here, let me help you up." The man had said, helping the younger Osmond to his feet.

"I-Th-thank you for saving me. I had feared that I was a goner," the young Osmond said. "Who are you, and how did you defeat that beast?"

"It is a long story, one that you will probably never figure out." The cloaked man started to turn away from Osmond.

Before I could ask him anything else, I blinked, and he was gone, leaving only the staff behind.

"After that, I had collected the staff and secured it within the vault, both to keep it out of evil's hands, and as a memento to the savior I never got to truly thank." Osmond ended his backstory.

"So, that is how the Staff came to be," Colbert added.

"Indeed."

"Hmm…" Tlopfest was somewhat concerned with this information. "So that means that someone was able to nab my stuff and bring it here…" After thinking for a moment, Tlopfest glanced down at his hand and remembered the other thing he needed to ask. "Oh, right. Also," Tlop pulled his left glove off, revealing the runes on his hand, "Fouquet had said something about 'Gandalfr,' and when I had drawn Derf here, my hand had apparently started to glow and I got 'Spirit of Gandalfr' as an effect on me. Do you guys have any idea about that?"

"Ah, well…" Colbert started, looking towards Osmond, who nodded in agreement. "Essentially, you are a very special familiar, Tlopfest. You have the brand of Gandalfr - the Left Hand of God. Only a select few people are able to summon a familiar such as yourself."

"I see…" Tlopfest trailed off, putting his glove back on his hand. "Seems things are really getting interesting now…"

After answering some of Colbert and Osmond's questions about the makings of the staff (which Tlopfest avoided somewhat, both due to fatigue and not wanting a recreation of this to fall into enemy hands again), Tlopfest wandered outside and sat down by one of the trees to get some rest.

"Seeing as Louise and the rest will probably be getting ready right now, I may as well stay out of their way. At the very least, I can get some rest and not be so dang tired from today." With that, Tlopfest closed his eyes to get some rest. "So not only do I have to figure out a way home, but now I gotta worry about all my stuff being with someone else? And then there's the whole ordeal with me being the 'Gandalfr' familiar. 'Only a select few are able to summon familiars such as yourself' huh? Wonder what makes Louise so special, besides having everything blow up that she casts, heh… Ugh, may as well not worry about things for now, seeing as I can't really do anything about it. Hopefully at least whoever's got my stuff is not just causing chaos or anything with it, assuming they've got it all…" With that thought, Tlopfest drifted off to sleep.

Later that evening, a ball was held within the Academy, celebrating both the capture of Fouquet and the "return of the staff" to its rightful place (Osmond kept it quiet that Tlopfest had it instead of the vault). While many people chatted about with one another, all in fancy dresses or suits, Tlopfest hung out on the balcony nearby, looking up towards the night sky.

"Huh…wonder how I didn't notice the twin moons until now…" Yet, Tlopfest's tone suggested that he still had other things on his mind.

Derflinger, somewhat sensing this, popped out of his scabbard. "Is something else up, partner?"

"A bit. Just…thinking about home." Tlopfest sighed, turning more towards the party that was going on. "Not only did the story Osmond tell me give nothing about how to get home, he also seems to have suggested that someone else has gotten ahold of all of my stuff."

"Is it really that bad?"

"Very. The armor, weaponry, everything…when I was equipped with all of that, I was nigh invulnerable to just about everything. You'd practically have to send a nuke onto me to even begin to damage me."

"I see…but, on the flip side, you can't really do much about it right now, right?"

"Yeah, that is true. Though it still bothers me."

"Then stop letting it bother you. There's a party going on, partner! Liven up!"

Just after Derflinger said that, the announcer spoke up. "Entering is Duke Vallière's daughter, Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Vallière." At the end of that, Louise stepped up to the ballroom, wearing a light pink dress, golden necklace and golden hair tie.

Tlopfest couldn't help but look at her as she stepped up. "..I gotta admit. She may be bossy and sometimes a pain to work with, but she can definitely pull off looking great in this kind of situation." Passing through the room, many of her classmates offered to dance, of which she declined time and time again. That is, until she reached Tlopfest. "Dang Louise, you look great."

"Thank you, Tlopfest. However, what are you doing standing over here?"

"Well…I just got lost in thought really. I tend to do that when I have nothing better to do honestly. Besides, and no offense to anyone here, I kinda doubt anyone would want to dance with someone like me." Soon after, the orchestra started to play a waltz, prompting the rest of the partygoers to begin to dance with one another. "You know, this party is partly about you, so why don't you go and enjoy it with your classmates as well?"

Louise didn't say anything for a second, until she put her hand out towards Tlopfest. "I could dance with you if you want. Just leave the sword outside."

"You sure? I can't really guarantee that I know how to dance." Tlopfest leaned Derflinger against the railing of the balcony.

"Just for today, alright? Come on." She grabbed Tlopfest's hand, pulling him towards the dance floor. "Just follow my lead, and you'll be alright."

And that, he did. Mimicking Louise's steps, Tlopfest was able to, mostly, pull off the dance without trouble. Although he did run into Louise once or twice.

"Still, it truly is hard to believe all of that."

"All of what?"

"Another world, how you have been able to create those magic devices, and yet, here you are."

Tlopfest chuckled. "There certainly are a lot of things that are different between our worlds."

"Say…are you wanting to go back? To your world?"

"Well…yes and no. At the very least, having a bridge between our worlds would be great, or some way that I can travel back and forth."

"I see…"

"Hey, you still doing alright? I mean, you almost got crushed by a golem twice now in the span of a few days."

"I-I'm fine. Just, grateful that you were able to save me from those situations. Thank you."

"Hey now, what have I told you Louise? As long as I'm here, I'm gonna help out to the best of my ability."

"Heh, say that to the festival the other day.."

"Oi, I…well…uh…" Tlopfest got flustered at the mention of the festival, causing Louise to chuckle a bit. At that, the duo continued their dance, enjoying the moment as much as possible.

Hope you guys enjoyed this one. Sorry it's a bit on the shorter side, but I figured this was a good spot to stop before the next chapter. Hopefully things go well and everything keeps going on schedule for this. Catch you guys in the next one!