Alright it's been long enough and I want at least one more chapter out before 3 Houses releases and I cease to be a functioning human for several days. As such, we have a truly delectable series of events about to fall on our heads, so let's get right to it!

Catching a Thief

Pandemonium rained as a great bang roared over the exhibition, guards immediately leaping atop the princess while Osmond summoned a great wall of earth. The sound of rumbling stone and crack of rock filled the air for several seconds before it quieted down, Osmond levitating himself over the wall to see what happened.

"Brimir's Beard!" The headmaster shouted, the sight before him a shock beyond anything he'd expected. The central tower's westward wall had been blown open, a great golem slowly rising from where it'd been thrown. The wards must've activated to repel the construct, but something had failed in the spell matrix.

Who else but Neb was running toward the golem, loping strides carrying the hydra straight for the scene?

"Headmaster Osmond!" Princess Henrietta called a moment later. "What's happened, are the students ok?! See to them immediately!"

Osmond desperately wished she hadn't said that. With a royal order over his head, there was no way to head over and investigate what was going on. Which meant leaving it up to a hydra, of all things. Thank heaven his master was the most patriotic young women he'd met in a long while.

Said young woman snapped out of wondering what the nightmarish vision she'd seen was and ran right after her familiar. She'd been in the back of the prep area, taken there by Tabitha to have her panic attack in peace. Kirche had been there, but she'd passed out right as the explosion rocked the Academy.

Louise followed Neb as best she could, arriving at the scene right as the humongous golem reared back its fist and sent it flying at her familiar. "Neb, watch out!"

The hydra leapt aside; the slow fist far too easy to dodge for him. His heads shot forward and sank into the rock, a swift pull tearing the golem's arm right off. Stone cracked as his jaws shattered the spots he'd bitten, a great heave sending the earthen limb flying.

"Hot damn." Louise declared, astounded. "You're… quite strong, aren't you?"

Neb snarled at the golem, no answer forthcoming. The taken arm swiftly regrew from the golem and its other fist came for the hydra. Neb leapt aside again and struck, this time crushing its leg to dust in his jaws. As the golem fell, Neb screeched and charged.

They collided with a great boom, Neb's mass and the golem's precarious loss of balance sending the construct to the ground. Louise proceeded to get a firsthand view of Neb's abilities, as his claws tore the golem's shell to pieces. His necks constricted the limbs and tightened until the rock shattered, maws seeking to crush anything they could grab.

His tail even got in on the action, acting as a great club that left massive cracks in otherwise sure stone.

Louise stared as Neb brutalized a square-class golem with unabashed amazement. Fear too shone in her eyes, for she now knew that Neb had strength to spare. Strength that, perhaps, could rival a dragon. Maybe even, Founder forbid, a manticore.

She was so enraptured she almost missed a figure standing in the ruins of the tower wall, noticing them right as the figure finished chanting. Her eyes went straight to Neb, a warning on her lips.

But one that died as lances of stone rose out of the golem and skewered her familiar, Neb screeching in pain and shock as he was pierced by several of the spikes. One even cruelly pushed through one of his heads, going and going until the skewered flesh tore apart.

Louise felt disgust and rage roll in her gut, the sight of her bloodied and in pain familiar driving her to point her wand at a fellow human for the first time in her life. "Gust!"

Wind roared from her wand, but the blast was barely enough to dislodge the figure, who landed daintily on their feet despite a drop of several stories. They were carrying an ornate case almost as long as Louise was tall, and clearly wanted it away from Louise.

The young mage asked not their name or what they were doing. Such propriety and chivalry meant nothing before her rage, for this wretched filth had dared harm her familiar! She barely noticed them open their mouth, likely to mock her, but Louise would have none of it.

"Silence!"

The spell flew from her wand, the wood shattering in her grip. The thief, for who else could the attacker be, barely rolled aside as a black ball formed in the air and raced for them. It barely missed, ripping a hole in the thief's cloak as it soared past.

Right for the golem that was regenerating and about to start pummeling the struggling Neb.

The spell met the golem and phased inside of it, all silent for a moment. Cracks swiftly filled the air and the golem's 'face' collapsed on itself, the stone and dirt forming it sucked into a writhing black pit. Neb's struggles grew more pronounced as he spotted the pit, freeing himself and throwing his body before Louise.

Not a moment too soon either, as a massive explosion rocked the Academy once more. Louise screamed as the pressure washed over her, blood leaking through her fingers as she covered her ears in a vain attempt at protection. Only Neb's bulk kept any fragments of earth from burying into her body.

When the shaking finally died down, Louise was barely able to hear. She could vaguely make out Neb talking to her, but that's all there was besides the ringing. Her vision was blurry, but she felt something cool roll over her head and it all stopped.

"Louise." Neb tried again, this time getting a look. "Sweet Elrath, child, you nearly blew out the base of the tower. I was in no danger, merely surprised, there was no need for you to put yourself in danger like that!"

Louise blinked at him. "But… that person hurt you. I couldn't just stand there and let them get away with it!"

"There was someone else here?" A kind voice asked, Louise looking over and gawking at the sight of Princess Henrietta. "Did you see any identifying marks or traits before the second blast?"

Louise blubbered and sputtered for several seconds before finding her voice. "Y-Yes, Y-Your M-Majesty! They were c-cloaked but had a slight b-build. N-Nothing else I could s-see."

The princess nodded and smiled at her. "Then it appears you came quite close to erasing Fouquet themselves from existence. I'd praise your attempt, Lady Valliere, but you also gave us all heart attacks. Have you ever considered the military?"

Louise was thereafter reduced to gibberish, leaving Neb to speak for her. "I ask that question to myself all the time, Your Majesty. Are the others safe at least? I didn't have time to see if another distraction appeared."

Henrietta stood and nodded. "Yes, many dozens of crude golems attacked us, made of little more than dirt. They were dispatched swiftly, but not swiftly enough for us to catch the thief. How audacious of them to break into the Academy's Vault."

"And to make off with our most dangerous relic." Osmond huffed as he walked up, visage set in a thunderous scowl. "Your Majesty, I cannot begin to beg your forgiveness. A brief investigation of the wards has shown me that several of my faculty were negligent in their duties. This tragedy falls upon me and my off-hand approach."

Henrietta gave him a smile. "There is nothing to apologize for, Headmaster. It is only the fault of the faculty who failed in their duties, not you who have served so graciously for so long."

Osmond bowed to her before regarding his nearly comatose student and Neb. "Sir Neb, thank you for so swiftly arriving at the scene. As the relic stolen was the lone piece of the vault lost, I can say with confidence that you kept them from taking anything else. For that you have my heartfelt gratitude."

Neb shook his heads, a fourth now amongst them. "No need for gratitude, the thief still got away with something dangerous and threatened my students with their burglary. I will not have thanks until their blood feeds the soil."

Osmond coughed and gave the princess a none-too-subtle glance. "Yes, well, we should leave the guard to their investigation of the site. Colbert and I will find what clues we can within the Vault proper. Your Majesty, you should return to the capital for your own safety."

"I think not." Henrietta answered, an undercurrent of steel in her voice. "Fouquet has brazenly put my subjects in danger, in my presence no less. My guard will assist you in this investigation, and I will do all I can as well."

Osmond looked to protest, but Henrietta held out a hand for silence. "Headmaster, I know you wish to keep this an Academy matter, but there has been an attack in my presence. No word of it shall leave these walls, so I swear, until this incident is resolved."

Osmond could not hope to refute such a decision and bowed. Henrietta dismissed him and Osmond strode off to start investigating. All knew heads would roll by the end of the day, but that was a matter for later.

"Sir Neb, yes?" Henrietta asked the hydra, Louise long worried into a despondent mess. "Thank you again for defending this Academy and its students, you have my deepest thanks. And… thank you for defending my old friend."

Neb blinked before looking down at Louise. "You… don't mean her, do you?"

Henrietta's smiled turned sad. "Yes… Louise and I were playmates once upon a time. Such an honest and kind girl, not afraid to speak her mind to me. I… I still miss those days, but such is our lot. Please, continue to watch over her."

Neb bowed his closest head. "I swore as much when she became my student, Your Majesty. I'm… surprised she would know royalty, even as a duke's daughter, but no matter. I should see her returned to her friends and assist in this endeavor."

Henrietta… deflated a bit. "I see… so she's been able to find friends, that's good. Um… I wish to speak with her later, when she's able to get her head on straight. And you as well, I have some questions to ask."

Neb knew better than to be snarky with royalty of any sort. "As you wish, Your Majesty. Please be safe, I have a feeling my master will be beyond devastated were anything to happen to you."

That seemed to perk the princess up and she bid Neb farewell. Barely a moment after she entered the main tower and was enveloped in guards, Siesta came sprinting up to the hydra. "Sweet heaven, Neb! What happened, is Lady Louise ok?!"

Neb looked back to where the golem once was, a crater all that remained. "…She's been seen too but is about as close to unconscious as she can be. Is everyone else ok?"

Siesta heaved a sigh of relief and went to inspect her mistress. "The blast and golems merely rattled most everyone, though I noticed Lady Kirche and Lady Tabitha looking quite dazed. Do you know what happened to cause all this?"

"Fouquet was the name given to the thief." Neb answered; a brow raised when Siesta turned ashen. "A great golem smashed the wall hard enough it activated the wards and blew the whole wall out. Opened a path into the vault and our thief was able to run off with a very dangerous item."

Siesta stuttered out an attempt at speech before taking a long breath. When she was settled, she gave Neb a scared look. "Sir Neb, Fouquet of the Crumbling Earth is a square class mage, one of the strongest in all the world! Even I know that! You went up against him and lived! Lady Louise did so and lived!"

Neb blinked a few times before stowing the thought for later. "Regardless, can you please see to our shared master? It'll be some time before she comes back to her senses I bet. In the meantime, I'll assist the guard and Headmaster Osmond with the investigation."

Siesta nodded and gathered Louise in her arms. The poor girl was too out of her wits to even attempt standing. With her mistress in hand, Siesta ran for Louise's room, silently doing Neb proud at how fast she went.

The pride soon left, and the hydra began his search. With four pairs of eyes, four noses, and a keen intuition forged in the pitch blackness of great caverns, it didn't take him long to spot a clue. A small divot of disturbed earth, in the vague shape of boots. Most importantly though, were the small drops of blood.

Louise injured them in the blast. Neb thought as he drank in the scent of iron. Not much, but enough it'd keep anyone from moving too far until it healed. Even if it did heal quickly, I need to know more about what was stolen before I can make any conclusions.

Neb sighed and reared up to look about. Neither Osmond nor Colbert were there, only a dozen members of the princess's guard. He'd have to seek them out before anything further could be done. It was frustrating, but he'd gotten far with patience.

He just needed a little more.

-Louise-

"Sweet Founder what happened?!"

Louise shouted the question as she finally came to her senses, registering first that she was in her room and second that she was in her bed, Siesta beside her. "Siesta, why am I in my room?"

"You took leave of your senses, milady." Siesta answered, worry clear in her voice. "There was a robbery in the Academy's Vault, the wards caused a great blast, stronger than any you've created. You and Sir Neb ran to confront the thief, but a second blast made you… insensate. By all accounts you tried to confront Fouquet."

Louise gawked at her handmaid. "…F-F-Fouquet!? That was Fouquet!? Founder in heaven, I tried to fight Fouquet! How am I alive?"

"A mercy, milady." Siesta said, worry fading a bit at Louise's energetic panic. "I was too worried to ask Sir Neb for details, but I believe you cast another explosion and it spooked the thief. It's the only thing I can think of."

Louise clasped her hands in front of her and took several breaths, chanting the names of her favorite sweets all the while. As the mantra calmed her down, she heard a snicker and cast a side-eye at Siesta. "Laugh it up, I'm too rattled to care."

Siesta smiled and, taking advantage of Louise's rattled stare, reached out to pat her shoulder. "I'm just glad you're alright, Lady Louise."

Louise returned the smile. "Yeah… me too. Alright, panic over, what're we doing?"

"The guard and faculty are investigating why this happened." Siesta reported as she removed her hand. "Sir Neb has joined the effort as well. I haven't heard much beyond that, but patrols are soon to enter the surrounding area in pursuit."

Louise nodded and flopped onto her pillows. "What did they even take? Anything in the vault would be worth a king's ransom, but all I saw was a case over their back. Who knows what they took?"

Siesta looked to answer before a knock on the door interrupted her. Siesta stood and went to the door, only to find a stern looking woman in armor on the other side. "Um… milady, can I be of assistance?"

The soldier regarded Siesta for a moment before answering. "I was told this is the room of Lady Louise de la Valliere. Her presence has been requested by Her Majesty and the Headmaster."

Siesta blinked several times before bowing. "Yes, this is the Lady's room. She's only recently awoken, but I can have her ready to meet with Her Majesty shortly."

The soldier nodded. "Good, make it so. My name is Agnes de Milam, Captain of Her Majesty's guard. She will refer to me as Captain or Ma'am from here out, I don't give a damn about her lineage. Tell her to report to the central tower in fifteen minutes, Her Majesty commands it."

Siesta was taken aback by the aggressive commands but bowed to the captain. "O-Of course, milady. Lady Valliere will be in the central tower before long, I assure you."

Agnes nodded sharply and turned on her heel before marching away. Siesta stared after her for a time before looking into Louise's room to trade wide-eyed looks with her mistress. "Um… that happened. Are you alright to go, milady? There's not enough time to get you into anything… appropriate."

Louise leapt out of her bed and ran to the vanity, swiftly brushing her hair as she answered. "I've been summoned by Her Majesty; this is my chance! If I can give anything that leads to Fouquet's arrest, I could get a commendation!"

Siesta squeaked as Louise ran up to her with brush in hand. "Quick, work your magic on my hair and let's get going! This is so exciting; I dare say my heart's going to beat out of my chest!"

She paused as Siesta took the brush and started on her hair. "Or maybe I'm still high off my near-death experience? Who cares, let's go!"

Louise took off with Siesta in hot pursuit, the handmaid calling for her overeager mistress to slow down. As they ran, the pair grew to a quartet as Kirche and Tabitha appeared with burning demands clear in their eyes. They joined Siesta in her chase of Louise, but she was practically bursting with an energy they'd never seen from her.

The chase went through the central tower's doors and all the way up the stairs. Louise wasn't so much as breathing heavy by the time they made the top, the others having to take a break on the landing. With their pursuit stalled, Louise strode up to the pair of guards flanking the entrance to Osmond's office. "Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Valliere, presenting at the behest of Her Majesty, Princess Henrietta."

The door opened and Agnes poked her head out. "That was fast, at least someone in this indolent hole has a sense of urgency. Enter, but do not speak unless spoken to."

Louise blinked at the rude greeting but nodded and entered when the door opened for her. Inside was the entire faculty of the Academy, shouting and yelling at each other in a gross display of impropriety. The princess herself was sitting there for Founder's sake!

Osmond's staff slamming into the floor brought the unruly mob to order. "Lady Valliere, thank you for coming! We have been informed that you spotted a case over the thief's back shortly before they escaped. Can you please describe this case to us?"

Louise stood proud as she strode through the crowd, eyes glued to Osmond and the princess. When she was before them, she kneeled, as was custom. "Yes, Headmaster. The case was made of black wood and very ornate, there were a great many golden ornaments decorating it. I observed an intricate lock on the case before the second blast."

Mutters bloomed amongst the faculty and Osmond looked to Henrietta. "Princess… our worst fears are confirmed; Fouquet has made off with the Staff of Destruction. Thankfully I kept the key to its case here in my office, but should any figure out the mechanism and get past the wards…"

All shuddered, though Louise was curious. "Forgive my impertinence, Headmaster, but what is this Staff of Destruction? I've never heard of it."

Osmond sighed and puffed on his pipe for several long moments. "…The Staff of Destruction is one of Tristain's most dangerous relics. When I was a young and strapping lad, one of my adventures brought me to Germania where I was escorting a merchant caravan."

The crowd went silent. Osmond was old even by the standards of the nobility, to hear a story of his youth was considered prime listening. Well, if you weren't one of his immediate colleagues who got regaled at every opportunity.

Even the Princess looked interested.

"I don't recall who I was escorting or the name of the forest we were crossing." Osmond continued. He did so enjoy a captive audience. "But I remember being with them barely four days when we were attacked. A truly hideous wyvern came screeching out of the trees, straight for me. I tried to draw my wand and combat the beast, but it's charge caught me off guard and I was sent flying into a tree."

He stroked his beard as the memories flowed through him. "The impact knocked me for a loop, and I got my wits back in time to see a fanged maw looming over me and my wand too far away. I'd resigned myself to death when the fell beast screeched in pain and retreated. Much to my astonishment, I witnessed bolts of purple energy strike it."

Osmond had the whole room's attention now. "The energy spread over the wyvern and I watched as it's flesh sloughed off in a putrid slurry. The beast screeched in agony with its flesh being eaten before another bolt slammed into its head and it died. Once I was able, I grabbed my wand and tracked the trajectory of the bolts."

He sighed and settled back into his chair. "And it was there in the brush I found the staff. It was covered in a writhing miasma of darkness, to the point I could barely tell it was a staff, and the vegetation around it was dead or dying. Right as I spotted it, the miasma disappeared, and I sealed it within a chest emptied during the wyvern attack."

He puffed on his pipe again and ended the story. "With that, I brought the staff here and swore to make sure evil hands would never hold it. Yet, today my oath has been broken, and I can only hope it will be found swiftly."

Henrietta stood and the room joined Louise in kneeling. "And found it shall be. My guard has already completed a preliminary investigation and I hereby command them to begin following whatever clues they've found. Agnes, please see to the investigation personally, I will remain here and await your return."

The captain saluted and started barking orders, disappearing from the room with her soldiers. Osmond, for his part, looked to a woman on the periphery. "Ms. Logueville, as I recall, you enjoy walking by the western wall yes? Did you happen to see anything over there?"

The woman, a pretty one with green hair, bowed to the headmaster. "I saw only the flicker of shadows to the west, milord. Before the blast, I saw nothing. Um… if I might make a minor conjecture?"

Osmond nodded, silent permission to continue.

"If the case was long enough to be slung over one's back, and with the second blast, it's possible the thief was injured or panicked." Logueville continued. "If so, there's several lodges in the forest that hunters use during the fall. It's possible the thief could've fled to any one of them in order to regroup."

Osmond smiled at her. "An astute observation. Your Majesty, it would be best if we informed your guard of this so that they may focus their attentions there."

Henrietta agreed and Osmond looked to the faculty. "Now, are there any here that would volunteer to assist our brave soldiers in their search? Glory and honor be yours if you assist, or even capture the thief."

Much to his chagrin, no hands were raised immediately. "I understand that this is Fouquet himself, but surely one mage, no matter their power, is enough before the whole of the Academy's prestigious faculty?"

Still no hands were raised.

Henrietta was about to assure the frustrated man when a hand did rise. It was just a hand both had been hoping would stay down.

"I volunteer." Louise said, lips set in a determined line. "I… I may not be much of a mage, but for once these explosions of mine can be useful. I will do all I can to assist."

The doors to the office slammed open and Kirche marched in. "Not alone you're not! If we're talking volunteers, I'll throw my hat in the ring!"

Behind her came Tabitha, who had her staff raised and usual bored expression in place. "…Same."

Siesta, in a fit of near suicidal bravery, followed. "I-I too volunteer! For whatever help I'd be…"

The room stood stunned as three students and a handmaid showed themselves more courageous than an entire faculty of experienced mages. Osmond let out a long, slow breath as he regarded the girls. "…I see, if that is your choice. Ms. Logueville, please guide them to one of the lodges. Colbert and I will be searching those nearby but be careful."

His secretary nodded and ushered the girls from the office, the doors shutting with an ominous boom. Silence reigned for several seconds before Osmond's visage twisted into a wrathful snarl. "Utter disgrace upon all of you! The combined expertise in this room amounts to not a drop of courage, an ounce of spine!"

His staff slammed into the floor and stone rippled, forcing the faculty to their hands and knees. "We, the Royal Academy of Tristain, must rely on students and a handmaid for our defense! Were we to come under attack, I now have little doubt all of you would throw the students to the wolves if it saved your own skin!"

None dared protest, for the Sandstorm spoke now. "The lot of you are to get out of my sight! I am docking any and all pay by 80% for this disgraceful display, and all of it will go to the servants who came forth of their own volition with information! I will broker no arguments and suffer no fools, now get out!"

All fled the room, even Henrietta barely able to catch herself from trying to escape Osmond's anger. Only when the last of the disgraced faculty were gone did the Headmaster relax, suddenly looking every one of his years. "…I apologize for that display, Your Highness. They shame the Academy with their cowardice."

Henrietta took a deep breath. "…While that is so, this is Fouquet. A square-class mage is terrifying to face, especially one as infamous as them. I can only hope my guard, or you are the ones to find him, not the students."

Osmond groaned and stood. "Agreed, and I will not be much help sitting here. Princess, please remain here and feel free to entertain yourself with my personal library in the meantime. I'm sure we'll return with good news."

Henrietta nodded and waited for Osmond to leave before slumping into her seat. "Oh Louise…"

"Please be safe."

-Neb-

"You realize this venture is utter madness, yes?"

Louise ignored Neb as she clambered into a wagon-bed. Ms. Logueville had been able to grab the wagon and draft-horse for their use, the secretary steering the beast. Kirche and Siesta would be riding alongside Louise while Tabitha took the skies on Sylphid.

"Someone, talk to me." Neb groaned, exasperated. "All I have is that you lot are going after this Fouquet and little else. Considering I saw Osmond himself thunder out of here with wrath in his eyes, you really shouldn't be."

Louise looked to him and huffed. "They need all the volunteers they can get, and it's not like we expect to take that thief down ourselves. We're merely to find him and signal the others."

Neb grunted and made sure all his heads were staring at her. "And how do you plan to do that if the thief catches you off guard? At the very least take a blade with you, all of you. It may not defeat a golem of any size, but it's better than nothing. Not to mention you don't have a wand."

"I do!" Louise countered, holding one up to him. "It's… merely Tabitha's back-up is all. Besides, you'll be with us alongside Flame, there's no need for us to have swords right now."

Neb shook his heads. "You always need something to defend yourself. You're all daughters of nobility, or at least important to them in some way. The thief could very well be counting on you not bringing anything besides wands. If you're captured, the situation becomes far worse."

Kirche chimed in. "He's right, it'd be best to have some protection. Sure, we can't do much beyond the most basic forms, but I'd prefer something solid in hand if needed."

Neb smiled as Tabitha nodded her support and Siesta gave her own silent assent. Outvoted, Louise groaned. "Fine but make it quick! We don't have long before the thief recuperates and runs for it."

Neb grunted and one of his head reached around to pull a bundle off his back. "Thankfully for your delusions of grandeur, I came prepared. That rusty sword you bought has been polished and sharpened, so that's yours Louise."

Louise took hold of the bundle with a scowl and unwrapped it, that sword she'd gotten for practically nothing in a recently oiled sheathe at the top. Underneath were two other long-swords and a short-sword, the former swiftly tossed to Kirche and Tabitha.

Siesta frowned as the weight of the short sword settled into her hands. "This… still feels strange, milady. I will do all I can to help, but… all I can do is protect you and your friends."

"That's all you need to do." Louise assured. "We're not going into this expecting anyone to take Fouquet down. We're there to find them and distract them, delay any escape."

Siesta accepted that answer and Tabitha took over. "…Follow from sky. Keep eye out."

"And I'll be there with Flame for ground level support." Neb groaned as he stretched himself. "Just remember, all of you, to be careful. We don't know what's waiting for us out there and I'd prefer we come back with life and limb intact."

He got agreements all around and Logueville cracked the reigns. The start of their mission was uneventful, simply passing through the gates and meadows silently, but Neb swiftly grew bored. He already knew Logueville as a commoner, and Osmond's long-suffering secretary, so talking to her would yield little.

Instead, he posed a question to Kirche. "Why do you speak of mages in terms of shapes?"

Kirche blinked and looked up. She'd started nodding off in the wagon bed from the silence. "Well, it's how we classify a mage's strength. There are four levels to it. Dot, line, triangle, and square. Each level is a great deal stronger than the one before it, with a single square being worth almost a dozen triangles."

She hummed as old lessons rose to the front. "It's basically determined by how many times you can stack an element into a spell. One stack makes you a dot, two a line, and so on. And even then, there's tiers within those ranks, from those barely able to fit two stacks to those on the cusp of four."

Neb hummed at the idea. "Is it possible to combine elements? And what tiers are you?"

Kirche nodded and pointed up to where Sylphid was gliding along. "It is, Tabby up there's a good example. She's a triangle mage, rare for our age, and can make ice by mixing water and wind. I'm just barely a triangle mage myself, but I specialize in fire. Louise… well, she's technically a dot now."

"Gee, thanks." Louise retorted with saccharine kindness. "Remind me all about that distinction why don't you?"

Kirche shrugged in surrender. "What? It's true. Besides, Neb was curious, and you've been too deep in your thoughts to be much for conversation."

"Forgive me for being focused on the mission!" Louise bit at her friend. "You could stand to be more like Ms. Logueville, she's been calm in the face of this!"

Kirche looked to their erstwhile guide and hummed. "True enough, but she's not going to be doing any fighting. If anything, Siesta over there is having a far more natural reaction."

Louise scowled but conceded the point. Ever since they'd left, Siesta had been incredibly on edge, jumping at shadows and slight sounds. Louise would've been in a similar state if she hadn't focused hard on the mission and what it meant.

"We're here." Logueville announced as the path they were riding on emptied into a clearing. All that stood within was a small shack and the foundations of former structures, whatever they were long lost to time. "This shack isn't used often with how small it is, but it's still a spot to search."

Louise nodded and waved for Tabitha to land. "Since we weren't attacked out the door, we can guess Fouquet is either waiting in ambush or not here. Neb, you and Flame are going to search the surrounding forest, be thorough. You've got enough noses between you to track any scents."

Neb nodded. "A wise choice, but what of you?"

"Kirche, Siesta, and Ms. Logueville are going to keep an eye out and search the clearing itself." Louise said, gesturing to the foundations. "Fouquet is an earth mage, it's quite possible they created underground chambers to hide himself or the staff."

Neb nodded again. "Then I assume you and Tabitha will search the shack?"

"You did say never to go anywhere alone." Louise shot with a smile, using an early lesson against him. "Now get on with it, Fouquet could very well be here and not know we found him."

Neb agreed and stomped into the forest, Flame waddling after him on Kirche's command. Sylphid landed shortly thereafter and Louise explained the plan to Tabitha. With everyone on the same page, Kirche and Siesta went to investigate the closest foundation while Logueville went to the other.

Louise took point on the shack, walking up to it carefully with her wand out. Tabitha covered her rear, staff at the ready. With all the deliberateness she could muster, Louise slowly pressed against the door, each creak a spike through her ears as it opened.

No trap sprang on them when the door opened fully, the single room within holding little more than a cot and a small storage box. Completely unremarkable except for the big honking black case beside the cot, golden ornaments shining on it.

And the lock undone.

"Shit!" Louise cursed, abandoning all caution to run up to the case despite Tabitha trying to hold her back. Before Tabitha could even give a warning or admonishment, Louise kneeled by the case and opened it.

A bright light shone from the case, only to fade a moment later. Louise slowly opened her eyes as the light faded, silently fearing she'd summoned some beast by trying to open the case. Yet, there was no beast or anything. The case was open to her curious eyes.

"Wow…" Louise breathed as she beheld the staff. It was only a little taller than her if she had to guess, the shaft made of pitch-black wood with a silver ornament at the base. The head of the staff, though, curled into a silver hydra's head, gold forming the details and eyes while the maw held a great purple gem.

It… honestly looked like Neb.

Louise was so enraptured by the staff, she never noticed her hands shakily go out and wrap around the smooth wood, her left finding a silken grip. The moment her fingers touched the staff, she heard something.

"The covenant is struck."

Louise blinked as the whisper passed by, the staff inert in her hands. "What… was that?"

Tabitha kneeled and inspected her friend. "…Alright?"

Louise nodded. "Yeah… I feel fine, just thought I heard something."

With a great crack the shack was flooded with light, a look up showing the golem that attacked the academy standing over the now open room and staring at them. Louise and Tabitha stared at the golem. The golem stared back.

Several moments of awkward silence passed.

Louise looked to Tabitha. "…Meep."

Tabitha sprung into action, a quick chant conjuring a wall of ice that intercepted the golem's fist. It wasn't enough to stop the blow, not by a long shot, but it slowed the strike down. Just enough for Tabitha to grab Louise and get them out of the shack before it was pulverized.

"Where the hell did that come from?!" Kirche shouted, head popping out of a small hole. "I take one little fall and a golem shows up?!"

Siesta beat a hasty retreat, knowing she'd be little more than a liability in this fight. "Lady Kirche, do all you can to assist, I'll look around! The thief has to be here somewhere!"

Kirche was too busy giving covering fire as Tabitha and Louise ran for her to acknowledge Siesta's words. All she could do was wreathe the golem in fire as it trundled after her friends, scorching away entire sections of its crumbling body.

Only to scowl as the damn thing regenerated.

Tabitha reached her first and whipped around to level her staff at the golem. Ice bloomed across the earth, the golem's feet punching straight through the frost. Tabitha scowled and conjured spikes of ice, sending them flying into its joints this time.

The golem slowed greatly as the ice slammed into it, frozen joints cracking and creaking. It was barely a momentary distraction for the construct, its frozen joints breaking to pieces and reforming as new.

"That's square class alright." Kirche muttered, a panicked spell from Louise blasting the golem's arm off. "That kind of regeneration on a golem that big can't be anything else."

Tabitha silently agreed, a surprisingly cute roar from the sky showing Sylphid charging the golem. Tabitha didn't get the chance to order her familiar away before she slammed into the construct. Rock cracked and the golem took a step back from the impact, but it reared back and slammed Sylphid to the ground with its intact fist.

The dragon cried in pain but was able to limp away before it tried to stomp her. Tabitha sent a wave of ice at the golem, a rare look of anger on her face, and froze its entire lower body in place. On cue, a stream of fire flew from the forest, coating the golem in a blaze as Flame waddled out of the brush.

Behind him came the thundering charge of Neb, every head screeching in anger. The golem tried to turn and face the hydra, but he slammed shoulder first into the construct. The torso took the brunt of the charge, frozen legs breaking off with a great snap. As it fell, Neb caught his weight and spun on his front legs, tail whipping around like a club.

The strike collided with the golem's side and broke massive cracks into the stone. The damage was swiftly regenerating though, and even as Neb's jaws took hold of the golem, it was repaired. Chunks torn out by Neb's jaws were filled in and gouges dug by his claws disappeared in moments.

No matter the attacks he leveled against it, the golem was able to stand and push the hydra off. Neb screeched in anger and reared up to slam his claws into it, but fists of stone met him, and he was forced into a contest of strength.

The girls watched this clash in awe, witnessing Neb's strength at full bore. He was matching a construct as big as the Academy's wall and who'd smashed through warded walls. As three of his heads tore into the golem again, the lone remainder turned to the girls. "A little assistance would be appreciated!"

That snapped them back to action, the girls fanning out around the shoving match. Kirche shot jets of flame and bolts of heat at the bulk of the golem, softening the rock and earth for Neb to tear out. The regeneration was slower around her flames, so she focused on burning torn edges in the golem's shell.

Tabitha did all she could to freeze the joints and altogether slow the construct, more than a few spikes drilling into its torso. She would have vengeance for Sylphid, even as her familiar exacted her own vengeance on the construct by ramming its back at every opportunity.

Louise swiftly found herself useless. The spells Neb had given her were less than effective, only the fire-bolt doing much of anything. She was panicked admittedly and forgot both her explosions and healing spell existed, but none could blame her with what was going on.

Especially when the golem's face exploded into spikes and again impaled Neb, her familiar screaming in pain and rage before tearing into the golem with even greater gusto, not caring for the damage such thrashing did to him.

Right as Louise was cursing her own inability to assist, a new voice greeted her ears. "Oi, girlie, down here! Get me out and stab that earthy bastard!"

Louise looked down at her waist and pulled out her sword, the silver blade shining against the black spine. "…Did you just talk?"

The guard rattled as the voice returned. "Yeah, that's me, but gawk later! Drop the staff and stab me into the bastard, I finally remembered why I'm so important. 'Sides the whole talking bit."

"And what's that?!" Louise questioned angrily as Neb shoved the golem back a step, the ground shaking. "We've bigger problems than a sword with an ego!"

The guard rattled again. "Call me Derf! I can eat the magic holding the golem together if you stab me into it, now hurry up! The big guy's a mess!"

Louise looked back to the fight as Neb screeched in rage again, warm liquid splattering over her. The hydra's maws were flooded with blood and his legs were coated in it, her familiar's torso a horrid mess of shredded flesh from the spikes he'd thrashed on.

"Neb!" Louise screamed, worry and fear overriding her incredulity at the sword's claims. On sheer, courageous instinct she charged the golem's back and dropped the staff, the construct not bothering to turn and face a small girl with a sword.

Louise got right up to the golem's leg and stabbed Derf into the earth, the sword laughing merrily as it started to glow. "Oh, yeah! That's the stuff, haven't gotten to eat something this strong in an age! Man, this is a real mage right here, that's a hell of a regeneration cycle for something this large. Needs more work on structure, this thing's all crumbly."

"I don't need you critiquing it!" Louise screamed as the golem somehow roared in pain. "How long is this going to take?"

Derf laughed as if discussing the weather. "Don't get yer knickers in a twist, I'm almost done. Been so long since I ate, can't help being a bit of a glutton."

As promised the golem began to crumble away, a final roar shaking the trees before it fell to a pile of earth and dirt. Louise pulled Derf from the pile, staring at him for a moment, before hearing Neb thud to the ground. "Neb!"

The hydra hocked a wad of blood as Louise ran up to him, his front a shredded mess. "Oh… Louise, how are you? That was… quite the shoving match no?"

"You look like a bear mauled you!" The poor girl cried as she inspected him, not sure where to even begin. "What were you thinking?! The damn thing skewered you, all that squirming only made it worse!"

Neb spat out another wad of blood, decidedly smaller this time. "I've suffered far worse, Louise, far worse. Before I answer any questions, what happened?"

"I happened." Derf chimed in. "Sorry I couldn't tell ya, but I eat magic. Anything magic runs into me, I eat it. Fire bolt, dispelled, ice field, gone. You name it, I eat it."

The sheer enormity and value of this flippant sword was not lost on anyone who heard that, least of all Louise. "I got you for three copper! How the hell did the blacksmith not know about this?!"

"I didn't tell him; he was an ass." Derf answered. "Also, anyone seen our friendly maid or the secretary recently?"

Everyone stowed their astonishment long enough to look around, Tabitha spotting someone leaning over the staff they'd come to retrieve. "Hey, get away from that!"

The clear sentence made everyone's gaze whip over to see Ms. Logueville stand up, a cloak over her shoulders and the staff in hand. "Oh no, see, I can't just abandon my prize. Really, I should be thanking you all, I had no idea how to get past the wards on that case."

Kirche snarled at the woman. "Founder in heaven, you're Fouquet! No one ever got a good look at the thief and assumed they were a man!"

Logueville gave a theatrical bow. "Indeed, the morons. Now with the Staff of Destruction, I can command a truly royal price. But… I'm going to be wanting that sword too."

She straightened and pointed the staff at them, Neb catching sight of it at last. "Where in Asha's name did you get that?! Drop it now if you value your life and sanity!"

Foquet gave Neb a patronizing smile. "Now why would I do that? This staff did in a wyvern in but moments, erasing you lot should be quite simple. Now then."

The staff began to glow, Louise taking her place before them with Derflinger bared.

"Goodbye."

The staff's glow brightened into a purple mist, congealing into a sludge at the head. Fouquet thrust the staff forward and the sludge shot out.

Only to immediately pull a full one-eighty and fly straight into her face.

The thief screamed in surprise and fear as the sludge oozed over her face, the magic creating rancid steam that wafted into the air. It vanished a moment later, as if spent, and Fouquet cast the staff away. "What was that?!"

Siesta charged the distraught thief, bursting out of the brush with sword drawn. Fouquet was too distracted by whatever she'd been subjected to, never noticing the maid until Siesta rammed into her back and pressed a blade to her throat. "Don't move."

Fouquet struggled against the hold, but Siesta's blade digging into her neck forced her to stop. Subdued, Louise ran up and pressed Derf to the thief. "Can you drain her to the point she can't use any magic?"

Derf laughed and glowed, the fight swiftly fading from Fouquet's body. "Yeah but pull me back when I say so. Don't want to kill her."

Louise nodded and pulled Derf away when he said so. With Fouquet no longer a threat, she ordered Siesta to tie the thief up. Tabitha ran up to assist, Louise about to ask Neb a question when she heard the thud of his steps.

"Neb?" She queried, only to blanch when she saw him. He was… still bloody, but otherwise healed. "What the hell?"

Kirche walked up to her, face ashen. "Yeah… not pretty what he just did. I watched his entire torso knit itself back together, so sorry for being too sick to do anything there."

Louise turned green at the very idea. "Yeah… don't blame you, that sounds awful. Are you ok? We'll need someone to carry Fouquet back to the Academy."

Kirche took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah, I'm ok. Used a lot of juice trying to keep the damn thing from regenerating, but I can ride with Tabby to keep that bitch under control. How about you? You were looking frustrated."

Louise groaned and massaged her head. "Honestly feeling a bit useless. None of those spells Neb taught me did much, even my explosion only did temporary damage. If it wasn't for Derf, we wouldn't have won that."

Kirche nodded, a wince making Louise frown. "Ok, you're hurt, where is it?"

Kirche bit her lip and moved her cloak aside, crimson staining her shirt. "I… took a bit of a hit when the golem broke out of Tabby's ice, one of the shards got me. It's not deep, just bleeding like a bitch."

Louise leaned in to inspect the wound. She couldn't see much with blood soaking the area, but her memory finally kicked in. "Hold on, I have something for this. Stand still."

Kirche hissed as Louise lightly pressed her wand to the wound. "What're you-"

"Heal."

Louise's command summoned light to the wand, instant relief flowing over the throbbing site. Louise pulled away when the light faded and Kirche beheld unblemished skin through the torn cloth. "…How?"

"Something Neb taught me." Louise answered with a cheeky grin. "Now, speaking of that lummox, what is he doing?"

They looked over to find Neb staring down at the Staff of Destruction in unabashed awe, still as stone. Worried, Louise jogged up to him after asking Kirche to help Siesta and Tabitha load Fouquet on Sylphid. "Hey, Neb, what's going on? You've been staring at that thing for a while."

Neb's heads shot up and one turned to regard her, the bulk of his body moving to stand over the staff. "Oh, Louise. I was merely investigating the staff we came to find for damage, nothing else. More to the point, what was that suicidal charge at the golem?"

Louise glared at him. "Derf said he could drain magic and I was worried! You looked… terrible! I wasn't going to sit there and fling little fire bolts at the thing while you were getting eviscerated!"

Neb grunted and the head came closer, his voice a whisper. "You need to worry about your own hide first, Louise. So long as I have either head or heart, I can regenerate any damage. I could be ground to shreds, but so long as my heart beats or head's attached, I'll pull myself together. You can't do that."

Louise huffed at him. "That doesn't mean I won't worry. We're stuck together, and begrudging as I am to admit it, you've done more for me in two weeks than some have done in my entire life. I don't take that kind of kindness for granted."

Neb regarded her for several moments before snorting. "Grand words, but I expect no less from you at this point. Very well, but as I said, your worry is misplaced. At the very least I've seen more of what you and your friends need to work on. Siesta spent far too long in the forest."

Louise blinked as Neb started to critique their performance in the fight, but she didn't miss his other heads grab the staff and try to hide it on his back. "Neb, put that down! It's property of the crown, we can't keep it!"

Neb snarled at her, instantly hostile. "This is not something the crown should own! If I'd known this was here, I'd have broken down the Vault myself!"

Louise recoiled at the treasonous words. "What?! That'd get both you and I executed! What the hell is that staff to you?!"

Their shouting was drawing the attention of the others, but Neb had every head snarl at them. "All of you, get on Sylphid and return to the Academy! Report our findings, I need to speak with Louise. Privately."

The way he growled the word got the rest of the girls in the air and on their way within minutes. Louise gaped at being abandoned before she found the staff stabbed into the ground before her and Neb loomed over her.

"This is the staff of the only elf I ever befriended." Neb began, noting Louise freeze at the word 'elf'. "He taught me much, even compared to the illustrious beings I'd studied and served under. He saw in me potential where others of his kind saw merely a beast. It was with him I spent many centuries and eventually took pupils of my own. It was to him I turned for advice, and at his side I fought many battles."

Louise gave him her immediate and undivided attention. "He… sounds quite wise to teach you of all people."

Neb chuckled morosely. "Wise? Foolish more likely. I was quite vengeful with him as my master before him had been, shall we say, cruel. I thought him another cruel elf until, of all things, he took me as a drinking buddy."

Louise's gaze went flat. "You're pulling my leg."

"If only." Neb laughed, fondness entering his voice. "I tried to kill him more than once, but he'd just cast a spell that stopped me and pass the time drunkenly regaling me of the day. I got used to him, he thought I was interesting, and the rest is history."

He reached out and tapped the staff. "This is his personal staff, a masterwork of magical craftsmanship and spell-work. When my friend was upon his deathbed, he freed all under his banner and bade them live their lives. I was there when he passed into Asha's embrace, and it was my pride to mentor others as he had me. This… this was long thought lost on his last journey, yet here stands the last earthly remnant of my old friend."

Louise worked her jaw. "…Neb, much as this pains me to say, the staff is still considered crown property. If we don't return it to the vault, we can be tried for treason. I… I'll do my best to see you keep it, beseech the princess, but I can't promise anything."

Neb took a deep breath and sighed. "…I know, but you must understand. The staff is powerful you saw as much. I'm one of the few who knows its intricacies, and even then, because I was there when Raelag forged it. He needed the blood of an old hydra to finish it, and I was all too happy to oblige."

Louise heaved a sigh of her own. "I understand… I swear to do all I can. For now, though, we must return to the Academy. The sooner we're back, the more likely we are to gain enough favor for this to happen."

Neb agreed and picked up the staff, gingerly placing it on his back before kneeling on one leg. When Louise didn't get the hint, he snapped at her: "Get on already!"

Louise balked at him. "I can't ride you like some common beast!"

"I'd long leave you behind otherwise, now get on before my good sense returns!" Neb snarled, Louise begrudgingly scaling his leg and settling down behind his necks. Neb pulled them together, forming a wall of flesh. "Hold on, we're going in a straight line."

Louise barely had a second to grab onto a spine at the base of his necks before Neb took off, trees nothing before him. Louise screamed and yelped as they crashed through the forest, the crack of splintering trees doing nothing to calm her nerves.

The only good part was they were out of the forest very quickly and loping across the meadow in short order. It was just a very bumpy ride. Something Louise was sure to let Neb know when the Academy came into sight and he slowed to a trot.

"If you don't like the service, get off." He retorted after her barely coherent tirade. "We're almost there anyway."

Louise gave a wordless noise of frustration and set to getting her hair straight. The run over had turned the whole thing into a mess, and with Fouquet captured, they'd be meeting the princess again. Showing up all disheveled was not what she wanted.

Neb cared little for that, instead focusing on Sylphid's distinct form waiting for them. "And what are you lot doing here?"

"Waiting for you!" Kirche informed with a smile. "I mean, the conquering heroes have to go in together, right? We're going to get a hero's welcome!"

Neb hummed and lowered himself, Louise clambering off. Siesta ran over and immediately started fussing over her, leaving Neb as her advocate. "Did one of you at least go up and inform the guards that we were coming? Not much of a greeting if we just show up."

"Lady Tabitha signaled your arrival." Answered the princess herself, Henrietta walking up to the group with several guards flanking her. "And before anyone says anything, I'm royalty, I go where I wish."

None would dare argue the point, Louise and friends striding forth and kneeling to the princess. Henrietta regarded them silently before a relieved smile broke out. "It gladdens me greatly to see you all return safely. Most of my guard have returned, but Headmaster Osmond and Sir Colbert have yet to arrive. Did you find anything?"

Louise raised her head slightly to report. "We did find something. Your Majesty, I present two things as proof of our deeds."

She looked to Sylphid, who shuffled so Henrietta could see their prisoner. "Fouquet herself, disguised as the secretary Logueville. She used her position to access the Academy and learn the Vault's secrets. She assaulted us, but we were able to subdue her."

Henrietta blinked several times before looking at Fouquet. "That's… the Crumbling Earth? I was under the impression our master thief was a man."

Tabitha answered this time. "…Useful cover."

Henrietta kept her eyes on the defeated thief for another moment before looking back to the captors. "I see… and the staff?"

Louise looked back and Neb glared at her. A glare of her own made him begrudgingly stomp forward and hold out the staff, Louise taking it to present for the princess. "Safe and inert, Your Majesty. We hereby pass them into royal custody."

Henrietta looked… proud. "So young and yet you've done something many of the great mages of this kingdom could not. I accept both prisoner and staff from you, brave students, and from your familiars and handmaid. Truly, this was a team effort, something sorely lacking in our country."

She reached out to take the staff, and Louise heard the whisper again.

"Hmph, close enough."

And everything around them vanished into a plane of mist.

"What in the world?!" Henrietta yelped, head whipping around. Equally startled cries came from the others, Kirche loud and profane.

"What are we doing here?" Asked another voice, Guiche and Montmorency walking out of the mist, only to kneel when they saw Henrietta. "Your Majesty!"

Neb… was panicking. "Everyone, gather up, now! Stay close to me and by all that is holy, do not look down!"

The urgency in his voice was enough for everyone to heed the command, a great hexagram springing to life with them at the center. Beneath them came the sound of crackling flames and evil laughter. The very sound of it enough for everyone to huddle together while Neb enveloped them with his body and necks.

A great thrum filled the air and the sounds of fire ceased. The hexagram glowed brightly and expanded out of sight, a great crack splitting the air and rendering them all deaf.

Slowly, the ringing died away and they were able to collect themselves. Once secure, or at least less fearful, Neb allowed himself to look around.

"All of you… bow, now."

Louise's ingrained sense of protocol chose a poor time to show itself. "You cannot tell the princess to bow before anyone!"

A deep, sinister chuckle answered that shout. "Truly? Well, then we are in the presence of Asha herself."

The deep thrum of the voice bespoke power beyond anything the mere mortals knew, and as Neb unwound himself into complete prostration, they understood why.

Before them stood an avatar of abject darkness, wings stretching out from an ever-shifting form of shadow. Eyes and stars stood stark upon the wings, the lights winking out and blooming forth at random while the eyes gazed at them unmoving. The draconic head was grinning at them, full of sardonic amusement as it drooled pure black miasma.

And it was not alone.

The princess, students, and maid looked about in awe as six draconic avatars stood before them, raised on platforms well above them. They were in the presence of divinity, that was clear for all to see.

The darkness chuckled again. "Welcome, humans of this world."

"We have much to discuss."

The humans stared at the assembled divinity before them and did the one thing appropriate for the situation.

They fainted.

All was silent for a moment before a cool sigh misted those still conscious. "The expected outcome. Whilst I agree with our swift action, it's quite clear only the hydra was ready for us."

"Then he shall be the one to hear our warning." The light boomed, truth ironclad. "Hear us well, Neboqyu of the First Brood."

The crackle of flame and sizzle of magma washed over the watchers, the rest of the familiars save Neb surrendering to unconsciousness. "Your summoning has broken the dimensional plane, opened a hole where previously none existed. An act of petty desire now threatens their home and yours!"

"Uncle seeks his freedom" The earth intoned, the grind of rock grating in Neb's ears. "The hole in the plane is barely enough for us to speak to you, but Uncle whispers through it already. Should he find agents, all is in peril."

Wind roared their part, voice a thunderclap. "You hold a staff with my sister's essence, and five other relics holding ours have been thrown into this world! It is merely a matter of time before Uncle finds agents to search for the relics. Should he find them…"

The darkness ended the warning. "Then uncle shall escape Sheogh and enter this world, drowning it in chaos. With him gone, the seal shall shatter, and Asha will be buried in a tide of demons. As such, we need agents of our own… unripe as they are."

Neb dared to raise a head. "You cannot mean…?"

Malassa and her siblings were unmoved by his disbelief. "Indeed. Where once I called you Collector, now you are Teacher. Those before you are the closest, we could see within this country as able to stand against Uncle's agents. We have made our grace clear on the pink-one, have we not?"

Neb growled inwardly. "I… did not think it was your personal grace, merely the mark showing her aptitude."

"As well you shouldn't." Elrath boomed. "Time yet remains on our side, time needed to see these hatchlings ripen. It will not last though, and to your soul-bound it is of the essence."

Shalassa soothed Neb's mind as she spoke. "When you were summoned and bound to the girl, the hole in the plane centered our attention on her. So too did Uncle focus on her, though she is too weak as it stands to draw more than a cursory glance. But… something else happened upon your summoning and soul binding."

Arkath crawled from his perch, fire trailing in his wake. The massive incarnation of fire loomed high over Neb, slowly lowering himself until eyes of magma burned into the hydra's gaze. "The moment two petty souls, barely worth noticing in the grand web, were bound together across time and space…"

"Mother stirred."

Ch. End

Alright, nice spot to end off there methinks. To head off the questions, Uncle=Urgash and Mother=Asha. The latter has been resting within a cocoon she wove after being gravely injured in the fight to seal her brother away, basically in a waking dream. So… a mother goddess is stirring from said dream.

Good times to come for sure!

Now then, review responses!

Pacer287: Glad I'm doing enough to keep it engaging! Hope you enjoy the ride!

Z.L.C genesmith: As mentioned here, the hole Louise created with her summoning is barely enough for the six dragon gods combined to even speak to them, Malassa by her lonesome can't do it. So Louise will not be receiving that level of instruction, but there's a fun idea I have you'll see next chapter.

Same Guest: Hope this answers that question! As for the performance, Neb enjoys an audience as much as Osmond does, he just found the reason greatly distasteful. And I enjoy writing him as a sarcastic curmudgeon when things aren't serious. XD

PikaMew1288: My only advice is to go write it yourself.

Ivanruzic3758: The harem includes the following: Siesta, Kirche, Tabitha, and Henrietta. That's it, no one else.

I believe I responded to all the reviews from last chapter, so I'll leave things off here. Hope you all enjoy!