Alright, now we get into the exhibition proper. I like having the first part really move now, it's exciting! First though, Louise and Neb get some bonding time! Well, as much bonding as this pair can have at this point.

Onwards!

A Magical Exhibition

The sun rose on the Academy to find Louise passed out in her bed, enjoying the late sleep for all it was worth. Suffering early rises and late nights the past two days had taken their toll on her and she was beyond glad for the rest.

But, her own clock wouldn't let her sleep long past her regular wake-up time. With a great yawn, Louise sat up in her bed and stretched, crusty eyes taking in her room. Light streamed through the curtains, the table and chairs sat silently, one of Neb's heads was regarding the desk, her wardrobe was…"

…Wait a minute.

"What in the blue moon are you doing in here!?" Louise yelped as Neb's presence registered, instinctively throwing the covers over herself. "How'd you even open the window?!"

Neb's head jolted and smacked into the ceiling, the hydra hissing at the new bump before turning to regard her. "…You actually woke up, I'm surprised. Considering the racket I made trying to wake you earlier, I thought you dead."

Louise was more concerned with why he'd forced entry. "Why are you in my room?!"

Neb chuffed and nodded to her. "As I said, I was attempting to wake you. I excused Siesta to other duties today, but it appears I underestimated how tired you were."

Then he nodded to her desk, a sour scowl settling over his maw. "As well as your proclivity towards collection. Tell me, why did you never mention taking those tomes from me?"

Louise clammed up, the tomes long since gone from her mind. "I… I didn't know what was going on with you when I found them! I thought… I thought they'd give me something to work with, but I forgot about them with everything going on!"

Neb regarded her with clear suspicion before snaking his head over and grabbing the tomes with his tongue. Once in a pile, he regarded her again. "Outside, twenty minutes. Have your wand ready."

He grabbed the pile between his jaws and pulled out of the room, Louise steaming. "Founder, may as well be back to square one with this. It's not my fault everything's been so damned busy."

She continued to grumble and grouse as she threw off her covers and got dressed, wand secured and an emergency snack she'd taken to keeping in her room eaten. Before she left, she stared at her still wrapped hand and slowly undid the bindings.

The mark had healed into a dark scar, greatly at odds with the pale skin around it. Neb had carved out a lot of skin to make it, though she'd thankfully lost no movement or strength from the process. The mark itself looked like a serpent eating its tail contained in a hexagram, the whole design contained further by a perfect circle.

What it meant, she had no clue, but Neb clearly knew what he was doing.

Louise shook her head and threw on her cloak, taking slight comfort in the pentagram holding it together. Today, she'd at last show she could cast basic spells in all elements, just like every other mage. Maybe she'd even be able to find out what her primary element was now that her magic was under control.

Louise silently hoped and dreaded it would be wind. That gust she'd summoned bare days ago was amazing, but it also meant she possibly had her mother's element. And strongly at that…

She shook her head again and left her room. Classes weren't until the afternoon today, so she could at least get this done before heading to class. Maybe, if things went well, she could broach the exhibition with Neb.

With a deep breath, Louise forged ahead. No one was up besides the servants, per usual, so nothing stopped her until she left the tower and beheld Neb pouring over the tomes he'd taken. He looked… relieved. "Neb?"

The hydra looked up, central head turning to look at her. "Oh, Louise. Eager to start, are we?"

Louise blinked at his reserved tone. "Neb, are you ok? I expected you to be… cross when I came out."

"I am." Neb sighed, left head gathering the tomes. "But… not as much as I once was. The tomes you took were the most important to me, as they hold many of the fundamentals I wish to teach. Well, two of them are like that. The last is… personal."

Louise had enough tact to hold back her curiosity. "I see… well, so long as it doesn't distract you from the task at hand."

"You are eager." Neb chuffed, standing with a groan. "No point standing here, let's head for the meadow. I'll need to dig up a ditch just in case, but it shouldn't be too much prep-work."

Louise frowned, silently hoping a brushfire wouldn't start. That'd be a great way to start the day, explaining to Professor Colbert why the meadow was aflame.

Neb set off without prompt, Louise following in his wake. Again, the servants greeted them as they passed, Louise returning the pleasantries this time. It was an automatic response, no real thought given, but unknown to her Neb was pleased.

He always preferred seeing kindness meted out.

It didn't take them long to arrive at the meadow, Neb's tail gouging a ditch in front of Louise's designated spot. Once he was satisfied, he strode up next to her and set down the tomes. "Now then, to make sure our initial foray into this was no fluke, let's start with a gust."

Louise nodded and pulled out her wand. Calling on her magic, she pointed at the meadow and cast the spell. "Gust!"

Much to her surprise, one of the hexagram's points blazed silver right before wind roared out of her wand, flattening the meadow once again. Louise stumbled back from the force, but she was stopped by Neb's leg. "What was that?!"

One of Neb's heads stooped down to exam her mark. "It appears to be working quite well. Ylath at least speaks to you. Now we'll see if the others do."

Louise glared at him. "Who in the Founder's name is Ylath? And what's this about others?"

Neb stared at her before gesturing for her to sit. "I suppose it bears explaining. In my home, the world is ruled by eight dragon-gods, each representing something about the world. Don't speak of your Founder right now or try to interject, my world is very different from yours."

Louise bit her tongue and silently ordered him to continue.

Neb rolled his eyes and lifted his paw to point at different parts of the mark. "The circle around the hexagram is Asha, after whom my home is named. She is the Primordial Dragon of Order and gave rise to all life and form by assigning meaning to potential."

A vision of a grand dragon of silver scale and black wing with stars burning around her flashed in front of Louise's eyes.

Neb moved to the point that had flashed silver. "Ylath, the Elemental Dragon of Air, is represented here. The humans of my world originally had him as a patron, but he is the youngest and most tempestuous of his siblings. Always off gathering secrets and knowledge, rarely bothering with his followers outside of rare occasions."

Louise stared at the mark and silently noted that the mark had a slight silver shimmer in that part now. "I… see. And what of the other parts?"

Neb hooked his claw under her hand and gently pulled her to her feet. "Cast the spells I tell you and I will explain the part it represents. Should all go as I believe it will, then you may ask all the questions you want."

Louise glared at him suspiciously, but turned to face the meadow. "What next?"

"Next is the simplest fire spell." Neb answered, nodding to the ditch. "The incantation is merely its name, as with gust. Fire bolt."

Louise took a deep breath and pointed her wand at the grass before the ditch, magic rising again. "Fire Bolt!"

Another part of her mark flashed a burning orange red, a bolt of flame the size of a small ball flying from her wand and striking the dirt before the ditch. A puff of dirt and flame leapt into the air before it extinguished, a patch of singed earth all that remained.

"Need to work on that, Arkath's ambivalent." Neb muttered before pointing to the newly lit section. "Arkath is the Elemental Dragon of Fire, and he's driven by impulse and passions. The dwarves are his followers, mostly, and he's constantly stirring about in the depths as his whimsy takes him."

Louise blinked a few times, silently marveling she'd conjured any appreciable flame before moving on. "Alright, next, let's go!"

Neb chuckled at her eager turn. "Next will be water. Odd as this may sound, I want you to imagine water rising up and covering the spot you just burned, then say flow."

Louise didn't even give him a look, wand pointing to the singed grass. "Flow!"

Much to her growing glee, water rose from the soil and covered the singed grass, following her wand's motions as she played with it. It lasted only a moment, but Louise was beyond excited now, even as a new part of her mark shone aquamarine.

"Shalassa likes you." Neb muttered, slowly slipping into teacher mode as Louise whirled to face him, desire for knowledge shining in her eyes. "She is the Elemental Dragon of Water, and the wisest of all save Ashan herself. Patience and diplomacy are her preferred methods, but decisiveness and surety of purpose speak to her as well. The Naga and their empire venerate her."

He settled onto the ground and pointed to another spot in the meadow. "Now we do earth. Call your magic and say entangle, focus on that twig."

Louise pointed her wand at the small twig in the grass and focused, a new part of her mark flashing a dark green. "Entangle!"

The grass rustled and wrapped around the twig laying atop it, but only for a moment before it fell back to normal. Louise was almost squealing in joy as Neb explained the new color. "Sylanna isn't your biggest fan, but that's no surprise. The Dragon of Earth quite prefers to move only after a great deal of study, not one for your chase of knowledge."

Neb took a deep breath as he regarded her mark. All but two opposing parts of the hexagram now gleamed with color, the center symbol and outer circle equally inert. Now it was time to move into dangerous territory.

"Louise." Neb intoned, the serious tenor making her pause in her joy. "As you can see, four elements answer to you. These are the four your people regard as magic, with only the lost Void beyond their grasp. However… I wish to see if the remaining magic I know can be used with that mark upon your hand."

Louise regarded him nervously, earlier joy swiftly gone. "…What do you mean? This isn't about the Void again, is it?"

Neb sighed, heads drooping. "No, it's not, drop that already. I speak of Light and Darkness, the last elements of my home. In many ways the most powerful, but also the most divisive. Will you at least try?"

Louise stared at him, chewing on her lip nervously before giving the slightest nod. "I… promise nothing, such magic is unknown here. If you're disappointed, it's not my fault."

Neb nodded to the singed patch of meadow. "All I ask is to try, there is nothing more I can ask of a pupil. Now, we'll start with light. Concentrate on that patch, call your magic, and say heal."

Louise narrowed her eyes in suspicion but pointed at the patch, not believing anything would happen but putting her will behind it nonetheless. "Heal!"

Much to her shock, the daylight concentrated on the burnt grass as her mark flashed gold. In direct defiance of what she knew, the grass turned from black to green and sprang up anew, like it'd never been burned. "…What?"

"Elrath likes you." Neb muttered, not quite as shocked. "The Dragon of Light is considered noblest of his siblings and shines as the Sun upon my home. Honor and Truth are his bywords, though his desire for it can blind him to reality. He matches quite well with your sensibilities."

Louise was still in shock at the sight, unknowing of the miracle she'd wrought so casually. Not even the most powerful water mage could change death to life, but she calmed herself with lies that the princess and those of her strength could.

Neb cared not for this; eyes narrowed at the last part of the hexagram. "Alright… time for one I know all too well. Louise, point at that patch you just healed. Call your magic and say shadow."

Louise gulped and pointed at the grass, on edge at Neb's careful gaze. "S-Shadow!"

Her stutter did nothing to stop the flow of pure darkness from her wand, the fog of purple-tinged blackness swallowing the patch of grass. Her mark flashed a bright purple as the shadow persisted for several seconds before dissipating, the grass unharmed.

"Urgash's Blood." Neb spat as he glared at the mark. "Malassa favors you greatly. The Dragon of Darkness is twin to Elrath, and she is the most dangerous of her siblings. A keeper of secrets even Ylath dare not hoard, she values knowledge and its pursuit above all else. A ringing endorsement."

Louise shuddered, swearing a whisper passed her ear as Neb described the dragon. "I… uh, don't know if I want that endorsement."

"For someone so eager to learn, it's a boon." Neb scoffed. "It means the most knowledgeable of the dragon-gods favors you and your desire. Well, if they were here, that's what all of this would mean."

He sighed and flopped to the ground, heads shifting in consideration. "…The only other magics I know are Prime and Chaos. Prime is the domain of Asha herself, that circle on your hand, while Chaos is Urgash. He is the Primordial Dragon of Chaos and ascribes potential to nothingness. To be frank, you're nowhere near powerful enough to even come close to the basics of Prime, let alone Chaos."

Louise shuddered as he said those words, mark itching as the circle flashed silver and the center bloody red. "I… can agree with that, yes. It's… a lot to take in as is."

"But this is why I desire to teach you." Neb said, grabbing her full attention. "In my home, mana is at the dispense of all, but few know how to truly manipulate it. Even then, magic comes at the leisure of the gods. At least one of them is bound to find someone wanting, but you are, art worst, ambivalent. And that can change."

He nodded to her mark, paw gesturing her to hold it out. "Malassa favors you the highest, thus the brightness of her section in the mark. Following is Elrath, Ylath, Shalassa, Arkath, and Sylanna. According to my home, this would make you adept at Darkness spells with your aptitude decreasing in the same order."

He took hold of her hand and traced it with his claw, the massive dagger tracing her skin carefully. "Yet here, that is not the case. You performed the spells at the level of a gifted initiate, as if you held favor with all of them. The mark's colors are meaningless here, but they show what I already knew."

"You can learn everything I have to teach. You have the will to learn all I have to teach."

Louise gulped as he stooped to look her in the eye. "That's… still crazy, I hope you know that."

Neb smirked at her, an amused glint in his eyes. "My last student said the same before he left my tutelage. Last I saw of him, he was High-King of Grimheim. Think you can do better?"

Louise gave him a flat look. "Yeah… I don't want to be a royal, thank you very much. I'd prefer to serve my country to the best of my abilities rather than rule it."

Neb's gaze went to her mark, a thrill of alarm running through him as he watched the darker colors brighten and the lighter ones shine. As if… in agreement.

Neb shuddered internally, desperately hoping that didn't mean what he thought. "Then you'll be the realm's greatest defender if that's what you so desire. You need merely keep up with my lessons and I will take you to the top."

"You swore as much." Louise mumbled, still not sure. "I mean… I'll take your lessons and do all I can, but you make is sound so… grand."

Neb chuckled and tapped her forehead with the back of his claw. "You have a young mind, one ripe with ambition and the desire to learn. Not only that, your magic is a deep well and accepting of all kinds. The word potential practically defines you."

Louise puffed in pride, enjoying the ego stroking.

"You're also immature, vain, and terribly impulsive." Neb rattled off in short order, puncturing her ego. "The first will be fixed in time, as will the second. Impulse though is something you have to tame on your own, others can only advise."

Louise blushed and scowled, smacking his paw petulantly. "You need to work on your persuasion, you big lummox! Couldn't charm a harlot out of her shift with talk like that!"

Neb snorted, not expecting the vulgarity. "And what do you know of charming harlots?"

Louise's blush nearly glowed. "T-T-This and that are two separate things! Get the idea out of your head right now!"

"Gone." Neb chuckled, gesturing to his other heads. "Though the others have already saved it for posterity."

Louise cried out in anger and stormed back to the Academy gates, swearing loud and angry vengeance the whole way. Neb watched her go with a chuckle, ignoring the graze an errant silence spell put in his hide. It was barely enough to draw blood, who was he to worry?

The bang that followed was well expected.

Blood continuing to flow was not.

Neb blinked and every head went to exam the graze. As he'd thought, it was barely enough to knock off a few scales and skin him a bit, blood bubbling from the wound and dribbling down the intact hide. By all rights, it should have healed within moments.

With a force of will, the wound was sealed and new scales took its place, a shade lighter than the others. Dreading what this meant, Neb looked to where the blast had come from.

"Sprite tits."

Neb's dumbfounded oath did the scene little justice. Where once meadow had stood, a crater as large as the one he'd been summoned into now lay. There was only one logical spell that could do that kind of damage and stop his natural regeneration.

"Implosion." Neb muttered, eyes shooting to the walls. "…I'll need to be careful if I fluster her too much, she doesn't know the force she commands."

He chuffed and gathered his tomes, set on reading the day away.

The girls weren't the only ones getting a rest today.

-Louise, Afternoon-

"Look, I just need some support!"

Tabitha waved off Louise's plea, focused on her book. "…Not my talk."

"But I can't just broach it out of the blue!" Louise whined, the pair walking out of their last class. "He's too full of himself to ever deign to something like the exhibition! I'll need back up to get past his ego."

Pot meet kettle. Tabitha snarked to herself. Outside schoolwork and improving herself, Louise was just as vain as the hydra. "…Just talk."

"Look at him!" Louise groaned, gesturing to the courtyard where Neb was polishing his scales. "Do you really think I could convince that pile of scale and flesh to do a little dance for others amusement?!"

Tabitha held back a smile at the image that conjured. "…Just ask."

Louise growled and stomped her feet, desperate to have someone help her in the argument she knew was coming. Kirche was a no-go simply because asking was bound to get her teased. Siesta would be no help since she'd just differ to Louise.

And it appeared Tabitha was leaving her to the wolves on this one too.

"…Better than surprise." Tabitha advised as she wandered off, Sylphid hunting. "…Get over with."

Louise slumped and looked to Neb. He'd been laying there in the courtyard all day, reading through the tomes he'd taken back from her room. How he hadn't finished them with three pairs of eyes, she didn't know.

Taking a deep breath, Louise smacked her cheeks a few times. "Come on Louise, remember what Cattleya said, ten seconds of courage. Just go up there and get it over with, you owe him that much."

Resolve steeled, she marched up to the shining hydra and got his attention. "Neb, I need to talk to you!"

"Good timing, I wish to speak with you as well." Neb rumbled, his final inspection coming up clean. "Tell me, why were you making notes in these tomes, especially this one?"

He pushed forward the collection of folk songs, Louise blushing. "I, uh… just wanted to translate, so there! I had to make notes so I didn't lose my place or thoughts!"

Neb frowned. "Truly? I knew that some of my writings were like what Sir Colbert showed me, but you actually translated the tomes?"

Louise fidgeted, not sure if he was mad. "I… I did, to the best of my ability. I was curious… since it was the same writing I used in the summoning ritual."

Neb hummed, curious as well. "How odd that a language of my home should be used here. And you seemed to pay special attention to the song collection, why is that?"

Louise's blush deepened. "I… uh… that's very private, Neb, you don't have the right to dig into that."

The hydra, though, was nothing if not clever. "You sing, don't you? And here I was, worried you were so focused on magic that you forgot the mundane pleasures."

Louise grit her teeth, bitter memories surfacing. "Forgive me for focusing on that which defines me as a member of this country! Now are you finished or is there more?"

Neb's central head snaked down and pushed the tome of songs towards her. "I want you to do something for me right quick is all, then I'll hear what you have to say. Look through there and find a song."

Louise blinked, a stink eye going to the tome. "What? How does that have any baring on what you just asked?"

"It's more important than you realize." Neb answered softly, eyes clouded with nostalgia. "Now please, pick one. I know all of them; you need only say the title."

Louise took the tome carefully and opened it, uneasy at Neb's soft voice. Slowly, she flipped through the tome until she picked one at random. "This one, In Spiritus or what have you."

Neb smiled, the cloud of nostalgia in his eyes deepening. "Ah, yes… a favorite of the Sentinel Order before entering battle. I can hear the bells…"

Louise watched, confounded as Neb began to hum, the sound vibrating in her bones. Then, as if to drive home what she was seeing, Neb started to chant. His voice was smooth and rich as he sang the chords of the chant, Louise hearing what sounded like bells accompanying him.

Unknown to both, Neb's brand glowed softly as he sang, not light enough to be very noticeable, but enough to remind anyone who looked it existed.

Neither master nor familiar noticed, the former lost in memories while the latter marveled at the hydra. "…Wow, Neb. I never thought you could sing."

"Nor should you have." The hydra chuckled, snapping from his nostalgia. "My kind were not… musically inclined. We communicated in what you would think were hisses and screeches, not exactly melodious."

Louise shook her head. "Not at all from the sounds of it, I'm just… well, shocked. You sounded so good too."

"Why thank you." Neb accepted humbly, though he was clearly preening at the praise. "You… were bobbing your head as I sang, catching the rhythm. Are you sure you don't sing?"

Louise blushed again and hid behind the tome. "N-No, and stop asking about it! As I said, it's private and you've not the right to ask!"

Neb, oddly, back off. "Very well, then on to your business. What did you wish to speak with me about?"

Louise took a deep breath and glanced over the tome, nerves apparent despite her brace face. "I… need to tell you about an event being held here at the end of next week. There's a… exhibition for the familiars my class summoned, and the princess herself will be attending."

Neb noted the emphasis she placed on the princess, but otherwise reacted as expected. "You wish me to take part in a pageant? For the amusement of visitors? What am I, a common jester?"

"It is expected of all students!" Louise exclaimed, hoping she'd be able to get through the rest of her explanation before he interrupted. "Time slots have already opened and its one of our best chances to make an impression while still in school! Especially with the princess coming!"

Neb understood that much, but he was still against it. "A networking event, while good for you, is infinitely demeaning to me. I refuse to perform before those who've not earned my trust or respect, not again!"

He barked the last part, anger suffusing his voice and making Louise shuffle back.

She took a few deep breaths before facing him again. "I… I know this is supremely demeaning for you, but I can't pull out. This is a very important time for me, and much as it disgusts me, I must ask you to participate. Just standing there is enough with your stature alone!"

Neb still bristled at the idea. "I will be viewed as property. Property that cannot be sold, but an item nonetheless. I've had enough of that for a lifetime, I don't need more."

Louise cringed, not expecting to hear that. "I… I'm sorry, Neb, I didn't know…"

Neb growled and looked away. "…It's not something you should have to know, but there it is. I refuse to be brought so low again."

Louise sighed and hugged the tome, silence dragging between them before she offered a compromise. "Then… I won't have you up there alone. I'm rusty, out of practice, and sound like a strangled mallard…"

She held out the tome, a stern look in her eye. "But… I'll perform with you. That way we're both under equal scrutiny, or at least as equal as I can make it."

Neb regarded her for a moment before shaking his head, a slight smile on his maw. "You care for the princess, don't you? It's why you're wanting me to agree over just ordering it."

Louise sputtered and blubbered indignantly, face matching her hair. Neb had a good chuckle at her expense before flicking her forehead. "Calm down, I jest. I still find the whole idea of this abhorrent, but as you say, this is an opportunity. If the princess of the kingdom is coming to view, then who am I to deny you a meeting with her?"

Louise stopped sputtering and actually bowed to him. "Thank-you-thank-you-thank-you! You have no idea how much this means to me!"

Neb jolted at the sudden praise. If him agreeing to this meant that much, perhaps this exhibition had more going on behind the scenes than he thought. In that case, he'd have to bring out something good for the impression.

Allies or enemies would be made at the end of next week, and it was always better to have more of the former than the latter.

Louise… was far simpler in her reasoning. Yes, now we can really shut the doubters up! Neb and I will stun the crowd, win the whole shebang, and I'll be worthy enough to swear my loyalty to Princess Henrietta in person!

With goals aligned, if not in sync, the pair spent the rest of the afternoon going through the tome of songs in search of one that could work for their performance. They were so engrossed in their work, that Siesta dropping off a meal went unnoticed despite munching on it.

Eventually, they settled on two. One would be Neb alone, assuming Louise wasn't allowed to assist, and the other was for both.

With that agreed, the pair separated. Night had long fallen, but now they had a plan moving forward. Louise, the poor girl, just didn't know that the practice sessions she agreed to would be held in addition to Neb's regular lessons.

The hydra considered it fair trade for dragging him into it.

-One Week Later, Night Before Exhibition-

Louise was tired.

The past week had been grueling for the girl, physically and mentally. After Neb experimented with the light spell he'd taught her, they found it was able to not only heal wounds but also obliterate fatigue. Their morning trainings became far more… intense to compensate.

The mental tax of casting the spell four times every hour in addition to regular classes put Louise on a very strict schedule. Wake up, exercise with the group, get breakfast, go to class, eat lunch, class again, vocal coaching with Neb, dinner, homework, bathe, sleep.

If nothing else, the use of the heal spell greatly accelerated their progress physically. In a week's time, Louise had gone from barely one lap before exhaustion to three. The others improved similarly, but Neb warned that even with the extra work healing afforded, it would still be months before they got anywhere near his satisfaction.

In that time, they'd also started weapon training. Neb added the practice implements after all the girls were able to run two laps, noting to them that each was much heavier than actual weapons. The point was muscle training and form, as working with even blunt steel fostered impatience.

Louise was quite impatient to learn how to use a blade, but that was until Neb pointed out she was liable to cut her hand off if she rushed into it without learning. She settled down after that, as did Kirche.

Regardless, the week had been hectic enough that the night before the exhibition was freed up to both let her rest and get in one last practice with Neb, a 'dress rehearsal'. Considering it had mostly been coaching up till now, Louise was at least glad to get somewhere.

It kept the nerves down.

"Alright, we're all warmed up." Neb said, the stars twinkling overhead with only torches to light the grass of the courtyard. "Now, remember, this song is carried by you, I provide harmony and call-backs. Unless there's a change tomorrow, this is what we're going with."

Louise nodded. Colbert hadn't contradicted the idea when asked, so everything looked ready to go.

"Alright, on my mark." Neb called before tapping the beat with his claws. Louise bobbed her head along for a few measures before starting the song, the words practiced and dancing through the air. Neb joined in as they came to the chorus, the energetic and upbeat tune making them smile unconsciously.

Neb could almost hear the drums and strings that went with the song as they sang, the night he learned it playing before his eyes. Louise could even envision the same, having learned the way Neb's musical notation worked over the week.

Again, his brand glowed and again neither noticed, the song coming to an end with applause soon following. Siesta, who'd sat off to the side to watch while Tabitha and Kirche went to finish their own preparations, smiled at them. "Wonderfully done, both of you! That was no language I know, but it was sung so well!"

"It's closest to Germanian, much as my tongue burns with it." Louise answered, a proud lilt in her voice. "Neb, what say you? Think that's public worthy?"

The hydra drummed the ground for several moments before nodding. "For the timeframe given, yes. You're quite the singer for your age, I'm surprised you never considered theatre or opera. Such a voice as yours would have the masters scrambling."

Louise blushed and played with her hair. "It's… uh, not something I was ever encouraged in beyond my first lessons. Theatre isn't proper for one of noble standing, especially a duke's daughter. Opera, maybe, but magic came first as you well know."

Neb snorted at the reminder. "Right, of course. Anyway, we're all set for tomorrow. Siesta, see to it that our dear lady is presentable for royalty tomorrow. I'll make sure I'm nice and shined come morning."

"Vain lizard." Louise muttered, aware of her hypocrisy. "Just remember to stay out of sight until the princess can have all the familiars explained to her. That way we don't cause a panic on stage, especially with all the other visitors coming."

Neb shooed them off. "Yes-yes, I know. Be on your way and get any last-minute jitters out, I'll meet you out here before we go to the performance stage. We'll make quite the impression."

The girls bid him goodnight and took off for the tower, Neb extinguishing the torches before striding off into the shadows.

"It's still creepy he can do that." Louise muttered once they were in the foyer. "I mean, something that size should not be able to melt into shadows like that. His belly's white for Founder's sake!"

Siesta giggled before gasping. "Oh, silly me! Lady Louise, a letter came for you about an hour ago. The messenger didn't say it was urgent, but I apologize for not informing you sooner."

Louise felt nerves stir in her gut, but she kept them off her face. "Oh, that's alright Siesta. I've been beyond busy like you, things are bound to be lost in the shuffle. I'll give it a read before I take my bath."

Siesta nodded and excused herself when Louise had no further instructions. Now alone, Louise climbed the stairs and entered her room, the letter Siesta mentioned sitting on her desk. The moment she saw it, her gut rolled.

The family seal was clear on it.

Gulping, Louise took several shaky steps to make the desk, nausea sickening her throat. It took her a few attempts to grab and open the letter, eyes fearfully taking in what was written.

…Only to collapse in sick relief. Cattleya had become sick with fever again and the family would not be attending the exhibition. The letter beyond that basically said not to shame the family before ordering her to return home for the summer.

She didn't have to deal with Mother and Eleanor so soon.

Louise scowled and looked to her mark, a spark going off in her mind. "Wait… the spell, that healing power! Maybe… maybe I can heal Cattleya!"

Something burned on her hand and she yelped. Louise grabbed her wrist and stared at the mark, the gold portion glowing angrily. "What the hell?!"

The glow faded a moment later alongside the pain, Louise gritting her teeth. "Whatever that was… I don't like it."

She took a deep breath and stalked off to take a long bath. If anyone tried to talk to her, she wouldn't answer, and if pressed merely say she was concentrating on tomorrow. It was all she could do with the possibilities running through her head.

Especially when they kept her up.

In the end, Louise was a stumbling, yawning mess when she left the tower the next morning. Siesta had gone above and beyond the call getting her mistress up to snuff. Make-up was on, clothes were freshly cleaned, hair was brushed and washed, not a blemish could be found on the skin, and jewelry was in place.

Neb had also gussied up as only he could. Scales shined like gems and his crests sparkled in the sunlight, teeth and claws polished to a mirror finish. As if to mock the entire idea of the exhibition, he'd even gotten bowties pinned to the base of his necks.

Even worse, they were stylish!

"Someone's not up for performing." Neb groused the moment he saw Louise, Siesta opening her mouth to explain. "No need to defend her, Siesta, I can tell nerves are to blame. Kirche and Tabitha are already at the performance area, said something about a procession coming close."

Energy seemed to bloom from Louise as she yelled at him. "The procession's almost here?! Brimir's Blood, Siesta we need to get in line! Neb, go hide behind the guardhouse, you can do that much!"

She took off running, Siesta picking up her skirt and giving chase. Neb watched them go, slightly confused, before making for the guardhouse. It was large enough to hide his bulk, and he was curious to see the princess that inspired such energy in his pupil.

Even Tabitha had perked up when the procession had been sighted.

Slinking into place, Neb took his spot and observed the path. Students and faculty lined the stone, each dressed in clean robes or uniform as needed. At the end of the corridor of people stood Osmond, his secretary (who Neb never got the name of) and Colbert.

Not too far from that trio were his students, Kirche teasing Louise per usual while Tabitha kept her instinct under control and wasn't reading. Siesta looked dreadfully nervous amongst all the students, especially since the guards and servants were lined up near the gates.

Didn't let it show too much though, which got Neb's silent applause.

He could think no more as a trumpet sounded over the gate and the doors parted with great groans, the guards saluting while the servants bowed. A dozen horses cantered through the gate, each baring women clad in steel and with wooden staffs over their backs that had a metal part sticking out.

Next came Asha damned griffins, a pair strolling through the gates with equally heavily armed knights astride them. That was certainly a change to Neb, the griffins back home took years of training to even wear armor at all. Let alone riders.

Then came the grand entrance of a snow-white carriage, gilded edges sparkling in the sun and drawn by thrice-forsaken unicorns, a whole team of four! The gilding depicted a grand symbol of flowing water, the royal sigil of Tristain, over the carriage doors.

"There's the princess." Neb muttered as cheers greeted the carriage. "Wonder who else she brought along?"

The carriage kept a respectful pace as another pair of griffins strode through the gates. Neb couldn't see into the carriage, they had at least that much of an idea about security, but one of his heads carefully looked over the wall to a crowd of other carriages waiting outside.

"A lot apparently." Neb sighed, head returning to focus on the procession. "Now, what's this princess like?"

He had to wait a few minutes for the carriage to pull to a stop before Osmond and his group, everyone kneeling in reverence. The coachmen leapt from their seat and hurried to the carriage door, opening it to the world.

First stepped out an old man in resplendent robes of gold and white with a familiar hat.

Clergy of all worlds seem to favor that. Neb thought with a mental chuckle before his eyes sharpened, a delicate and very feminine hand reaching out to the priest as he kneeled before the carriage.

Out stepped a beautiful young woman with magenta hair and a silver tiara studded with blue gems, a gleaming white dress making her glow. Neb couldn't see too much of her face, but her youth was clear and pinpricks of blue told him her eyes matched the jewels she wore.

The princess was met with rapturous cheers, the royal waving to the crowd of students and faculty before turning to Osmond. They appeared to share words before the headmaster and princess entered the central tower with their retinues.

The crowd broke once they entered and those outside began to pour in. Neb slinked away, hugging the walls until he circled around to the performance stage. He wanted to surprise the people who'd come to see this farce, but it made it hard to talk with Louise.

"Neb."

The hydra blinked and looked down to find Kirche. "Oh, hello."

"Hello to you." Kirche greeted, hands on her hips and smirk in place. "Just letting you know that Louise got a bit excited and worried herself out of commission. Tabby and Siesta are trying to revive her right now, but the exhibition starts soon, and we have to get ready."

Neb sighed and shook his heads. "Lovely, that's just what I needed to hear. Go and get ready, Kirche, as I recall I'm the last on the lineup."

Kirche chuckled and waved as she left. "I'll do just that. Don't be surprised when I make everyone swoon."

"Assuming anyone's awake after the bore-fest of the first half." Neb muttered, crawling back to the walls to hide. He could still see the performance stage, but it appeared no one besides Kirche had seen him. Which meant the wonders of a grand entrance were his to take.

Neb chuckled under his breath and settled in to wait. Chairs were brought out, visitors were seated, and before long the exhibition was underway. It appeared that Osmond, the priest, and the princess held the front row, seated at a table with a white cloth covering.

Judges. Neb sighed, silently adjusting his bowties. Perhaps I should've gone for the hats, really driven Louise up the wall. Then again, I'm already pushing propriety as is, who knows how the priest and princess would take those things?

Regardless, Neb did his best not to sleep as the ordinary familiars went through their rounds. Only a strange creature that reminded him of a shadow lurker getting anything more than polite applause. Then came the more interesting acts, such as Guiche's foppery on full display with Verdandi.

That was his mole's name, Neb had befriended the creature a few days ago after he helped sort its finds. Furry beast had a nose for gems, and quality ones at that.

After that came Montmorency, demonstrating her familiar's fantastic ability to create spheres of water many times its size and navigate them with great skill. Kirche showed off Flame's control of his fire breath, spelling complex words in the air.

Neb had to applaud his reptilian friend for that feat, if quietly.

Then came Tabitha on Sylphid, the pair pulling off frankly stunning aerial maneuvers with unerring precision. Neb felt himself swell a bit as they flew, the last few nights of Sylhid asking for feedback after her mistress went to sleep fresh in his mind.

It was worth the lack of sleep, even if it made him more lenient on the girls in the morning.

As Tabitha and Sylphid returned to earth amidst a standing ovation, Neb noted Louise was nowhere to be seen. That meant it was time for him to make a grand entrance.

His maws stretched with wicked grins. Time to have some fun.

"Presenting, Louise Francoise le Blanc de la Valliere and her familiar, Neboqyu!"

Neb waited a moment for the applause to die down before melting out of the shadows and gliding over the grass until he was by the back row. Then he began to stomp, the sudden thud of his footsteps drawing startled yelps from the crowd.

Then the outside visitors gasped and shouted as Neb strode for the stage, muscle rippling with each movement under glittering obsidian scales. His crests shone like pink beacons in the field of black, his belly equally splendorous as he made the stage.

He put a foot on the stage as the crowd awed and muttered at his appearance, testing its strength before hauling himself up with an exaggerated huff. Once sure he wouldn't fall through the boards, his heads turned to regard the crowd.

Shock was the most prevalent emotion alongside awe, many wondering why he had three heads. Several were muttering 'hydra' to others, no doubt informed of what he was by family amongst the academy's student body or faculty. Neb was most concerned about the priest and the princess.

The former regarded him with suspicion, despite keeping an otherwise neutral mask. Neb could respect that of someone when his very existence ran counter to the man's faith. The princess though appeared greatly relieved, as if seeing him lifted a weight from her mind.

Curious. Neb thought before clearing his throats. "Your attention please?"

If anything, that got the opposite. The crowd roared in amazement at his speech, chatter and speculation swiftly devouring them. Neb felt himself twitch in annoyance, but Osmond standing and turning to the crowd with an evil look took care of the problem. "Silence, lest I cast you all from the grounds!"

Silence was instantly given.

"If only I could engender such respect." Neb muttered wistfully as Osmond sat down. "Now then, I'm afraid my poor master is indisposed. She worked very hard to see this exhibit done well and I fear she's exhausted herself. Thankfully, there's a backup."

He bowed his head to the judges. "With Her Majesty's approval, I will present in my master's stead."

The princess stood and smiled at him. "I give my approval, good hydra. Show us that which your master worked so hard for."

Neb felt respect bloom for her, the princess a picture of royal decorum. "As you wish, Your Majesty."

He straightened and his heads started to sway, the song they'd chosen for him coming to mind. This time, his brand glowed far more prominently, but only Osmond was able to recognize what it meant as powerful magic settled over the area.

He barely had enough time to create a counter-spell, detached music greeting the ears of the crowd and swiftly enthralling them. It was the sound of flutes, drums, and strings, all tied together to make a song of melancholy and hope. A song of homecoming.

As Neb sang the song, he too grew enthralled, the magic of his brand sending the sound of the music straight to his brains. His voice carried the melody and words, foreign to all save him, with all the intent they held.

Osmond noticed, but the magic was so strong he could do not but listen to the song and keep himself free of its influence.

The song entered its center and all of Neb's heads were singing, the music and voice growing louder until it was a clarion call to the sky itself, those under its thrall following the bobbing of his heads and rhythm of his feet.

Osmond could not hear the music, but he noted several in the crowd fall unconscious as Neb reached the peak of the song, repeating the refrain over and over again.

Unknown to both, a select few were affected differently.

Kirche fell to the ground as heat exploded from her skin, eyes pinned open as the vision of an immense dragon of molten rock stared down at her, maw glowing with brimstone and flame as it loomed closer, until its eye took up all her vision.

Tabitha collapsed as well, visions of raging storms and a dragon of clouds roaring amongst them flashing through her mind, the great beast swooping down on her with a calamitous roar. Lighting danced in her hair a moment later

Siesta fainted dead away, a serpent of earth rising before her to stare into her eyes with ageless patience and unending strength, the very sight of the life flowing from its emerald skin enough to render her unconscious. Where she lay, grass grew to embrace her.

Guiche found himself burning from the inside, a vision of sheer golden majesty greeting his eyes. The dragon of gold regarded him with burning eyes of light, the light from within its scales brightening until Guiche could see not but white. He fell too.

Montmorency and the princess shared a vision, a great pool of water stretching from beneath their feet with a massive whirlpool at its center. From it erupted an azure dragon whose every feature spoke of elegance, despite ice and steam alike rising from it. The implacable gaze locked onto each, the vastness of the presence crushing them to the ground like the tide.

Finally, Louise woke from her panic induced nap to find an unearthly void staring at her, eyes of amethyst glaring down at her unblinkingly as a draconic head leaking black miasma reared out of the void, the eyes its wings. She tried to scream, but nothing came, the head leering down at her before twisting into a manic smile.

Osmond alone saw the change wrought with Neb, the hydra's central head lowered and staring the princess in the eye. The head had changed to resemble a strange dragon, whiskers of flesh rising from the snout and flowing behind the aqua scales as if in a current.

The left head had morphed into a strange dragon's head of wood and earth, emerald eyes gazing from the skull with what looked like antlers curling from the skull base. The right had turned into a blazing crag of liquid fire, flame leaking from the neck as scales of brimstone and teeth of burning steel gazed out.

Then there were the phantom heads, three more appearing to separate from the others before solidifying. The one behind the center was a raging cloud, lightning blazing in its maw and eyes as it screeched to the sky. The one behind the left was of solid, blazing gold, white light shining from its eyes and hanging about it like a mand.

The last of the phantoms breathed black miasma, purple light forming crags in hide of shifting darkness, eyes of violet balefire fixed on an area behind the stage.

In fact, all the heads had their gazes locked somewhere.

Then the song closed and the magic vanished, the crowd cheering as if they hadn't been knocked into a powerful stupor by the hydra's voice. Neb didn't seem to notice either, his heads back to normal and bowing to the crowd.

Osmond looked to the princess, the royal staring at the hydra in open shock. Then, she looked to him.

"Headmaster… what was that?"

Osmond opened his mouth to answer.

And the central tower exploded.

Ch. End

Methinks that's a good place to call it a chapter.

Hope you all enjoy this look into the merging of the world I'm going with. Neb kept his brand from last time so you all know, though this time he's a bit more… literal in the meaning XD

Anyway, review time!

Pacer287: Here you go, and before the month's over!

Z.L.C genesmith: Nope, still assassin for her XD. She's not stealthy just good at making herself unassuming. Otherwise she's easy to spot. I don't know about the whole jealousy thing; I still like the idea but I executed it terribly in the first version. We'll have to see where it goes.

Hellfire45: They're Louise-sexual, don't worry.

Tiger: Glad you enjoy, this is where things get weird so I'll need notes on inconsistencies. As for the romance plot, again, need to see. I still like it, but execution needs a LOT of work.

SameGuest: Glad you're enjoying so far and I hope to keep doing them justice!

Wanderngihawk1: We'll see what happens! I don't plan on any OCs beyond our dear hydra, so anyone else from his world is from the games themselves. I'll see about other world-building aspects when we get deeper in training, Fouquet first!

ApproximationOfhumanity: Thanks for the reminder and glad you enjoy! A lot of people seemed to miss that this was the rewrite, so the added announcement was a big help!

DschingisKhan: Remembering that is an issue of my own sometimes, and glad to see you again after so long! Shortbow's kinda up in the air, I'm not too sure considering Neb never really dealt with them in his world. As for formatting, that's one I always struggle with. I prefer to be safe than sorry, so bear with me XD.

Celestia's Paladin: I always wanted Osmond to be cooler than he was. He's known as the Sandstorm for crud's sake! Glad you're enjoying so far!

That's all for me folks, hope you all enjoy and have a good day! Until next time,

Ciao!