Chapter 3: The explanation and the Familiar Exhibition Match
I was in the office with Louise, Kirche and Tabitha. In front of us was headmaster Osmond possibly around his late 40's to early 50's with a serious yet questioning gaze
I felt pretty tense about having a serious discussion of what was unleashed in this school. Then I decided to speak getting this tension out...
"Is there something you need me to answer?" I asked
"Why yes, you see what happened earlier with almost losing a life in this school… I want an explanation of seeing such unusual magic" Osmond spoke
Just when I could give an explanation, Kirche jumped in and pulled my arm pressing it against her soft mounds and she made her brief explanation...
"You should've seen it!" She exclaimed "darling is so heroic! And when he finished the monster he went boom!"
Everyone blinked at Kirche's er… simple explanation but that wasn't the topic... the headmaster coughed getting his thoughts back
"That's very of nice you to point out Ms. Zerbst but I would need more details" Osmond said
"What else do you need?" Kirche pouted
"Like what was that creature? and why was Louise's familiar the only one who could stop it...?"
I sighed knowing what needs to be answered I pulled myself out of Kirche's grasp and moved to the headmaster
"The creature you saw encountered today was a Dopant"
"And what pray tell is a Dopant...?" he pressed
"A Dopant is a monster feeling nothing but its natural instinct to fight and has full control of what element or ability it carries" I answered
"My word...!" Osmond gasped
"That can't be possible!" Ms. Longueville said with wide eyes
"Fascinating!" Colbert almost jumped at the new discovery he heard
I placed the Accel and the Ice age memories on the desk with Osmond, Colbert and Ms. Longueville looking at them before their gaze went to me
"These are called Gaia memories, they are the artifacts that contain the magic of the world, and as you saw what happened before being frozen anyone can use them to transform into a Dopant"
Osmond nodded "if that's the case, how come you didn't become one?"
I placed the acceldriver on the desk "this is what controlled the power of my Gaia memory in exchange of transforming into a monster, it creates armor and let's me use it's power"
"Amazing!" Colbert wrote down what he is hearing
"But who created these… these THINGS!?" Ms. Longueville shouted her question
"The Gaia memories were created by group called Museum" I answered
'Museum...?" everyone in the room blinked
"They are a group of people who theorized that the human body was… fragile to endure the world, so they created the Gaia memories in hopes to make the people more powerful..."
Everyone was lack for a better word… shocked, for people who tried to create something impossible and possibly ascend from the founder's knowledge of magic...
"You're probably wondering how strong these creatures are?" I guessed
"Please!" Colbert took out another sheet of paper as he prepared on learning more "and don't hold back!"
"A single Dopant can easily defeat a handful of mages" everyone was stunned "while a group of them can no doubt invade an entire kingdom…"
That statement almost had everyone hit the floor. They couldn't even imagine that such a creature can be so powerful!
"Is that all?"
Osmond went back to his chair and nodded "yes, that is all I needed to hear" he sighed "thank you so much for your cooperation"
Peter nodded quietly as he and the girls left while the headmaster and teachers discuss about the topic Louise's familiar gave them
"Darling… is what you say earlier true?" Kirche asked still not believing on what she heard earlier
"You all saw what happened earlier right...?" They nodded
"Then that answers your question Kirche" I said "the Dopants are beings of destruction and will not let anything stand in their way..."
The girls went quiet at my declaration, heck even Tabitha was not reading her book during my explanation on the Gaia memories.
The time passed by as we walked with an eerie silence, which kinda creeped me out until we separated to our own bedrooms and try to get some sleep from the Ica age Dopant's surprise attack
I woke up on my hay bed to see Louise was already gone. I figured she still has classes to do and since I have time to myself now, I might as well have breakfast in the kitchen again
After a nice meal and some compliments from the head chef, I walked down the halls to see most of the nobles preparing their familiars for something and possibly something spectacular for them to work so hard
Just then Siesta came by holding up a basket of clothes
"Hey Siesta" I waved to the maid
"Oh Peter" she blinked "is there something you need?"
"Yes I do" I nodded "why is everyone so competitive right now?"
"Well there will be a familiar exhibition match" that gave me questions "also princess Henrietta will be coming today"
That sent me falling to the floor, Siesta gasped at my reaction but I got my bearings back with a lot of curiosity inside. Siesta told me that every year an exhibition match was held for the familiars that have been summoned by their masters and not only that but Princess Henrietta will be one of the judges of said exhibition!
"That explains everything..." I muttered 'no doubt that everyone will want to see her royal grace in front of them, but one think strikes me… why is the princess coming here, shouldn't it be the queen...?'
My thoughts were cut off when I felt her hands grab onto mine, I looked at the girl as she smiled at me "I hope that you win that match Peter"
'Thanks for the vote of confidence'
Siesta let go of my hands and she went back to her chores leaving me to think about this.
'Let's see... if I join then Louise won't be insulted by her fellows and I'll have those stuck up nobles see that they are wrong about me' he smiled 'I'm pretty sure Louise would want me to do this anyway...'
During the afternoon I saw everyone at the gates with a white carriage entering the academy, when it stopped the staff kneeled down at the end of a red carpet
The door opened revealing a beautiful girl with short violet hair slightly pale skin and greenish-blue eyes; she wore a white royal gown, a mantle that reached her feet, she also wore a tiara on her head holding a scepter signifying her status as a royalty
'She's really something for to be a symbol of Tristain' the princess gave a gentle smile with a small wave making the crowd sigh at her gentleness 'the nobles are really weak at the knees at seeing her...'
Henrietta was greeted by the staff and they went off to show the princess to her private quarters for a nice rest from her travel today
It was in the middle of the night and I was lying down on my hay bed while Louise was in her sleepwear looking at me very which is starting to get in my nerves...
"Is there something you want me to do...?" I finally asked
"ARE YOU NOT EVEN THINKING ABOUT THE EXHIBITION MATCH?" she shouted so loud that it made my ears ring
"Of course I am" I said trying to get the ringing out "but since you didn't tell me about it earlier, how am I suppose to say yes I'll do it Louise"
She started to get angry at me and when she was about to get her whip, the door opened revealing a person wearing a dark green cloak entering the room
"Who are you?" Louise asked at the mysterious intruder
"At last we meet" the cloaked person sounded female. Just then Louise was trapped in a warm hug which I must say is surprising
"It's been so long since we were together" the girl tightened her hug a bit before letting go, she then took off her hood to reveal Princess Henrietta herself...!
"Ah your highness!" Louise quickly kneeled down showing her respects to royalty "please do not present yourself to a lowly person like me"
"Oh Louise..." Henrietta giggled "you don't need to be formal, we're friends" she smiled gently
"Thank you, you are the only one that is kind to a person like me" Louise smiled
This scene is very touching and I can guess that they are close and I'd like to know how they became like that
"Excuse me" the two girls looked at me "how did you and the princess know each other?"
"Right" Louise stood up "I had the honor of being selected to be Henrietta's playmate when we were younger"
"Can you not say that we are childhood friends?" Henrietta then gazed longingly at Louise "I…I missed you so much!" Henrietta's eyes started shed her tears
"Princess!" Louise stepped closer trying her best to give comfort her childhood friend
"I'm sorry..." Henrietta wiped her eyes "It's just that since father passed away, I did not have someone to talk openly with"
I just watched the two of them, after hearing that they were only together at a young age. The long period of separation really makes one feel lonely. Henrietta noticed me and blushed a bit before she turned back to Louise
"Please forgive my intrusion, I seem to have interrupted a moment between you and your lover"
"LOVER!?" Louise and I shouted at the same time. Even though Derflinger was in the scabbard, I'm pretty sure that it's snickering right now
"You got it wrong princess...!" Louise waved her arms frantically, while I tried to register Henrietta's words "he's my familiar! Familiar...!"
"Your familiar and not your lover?" Henrietta asked "you two seem close though"
"As if I would lower myself to love a commoner..." Louise huffed
Ouch… I feel slightly hurt that Louise won't really care for me, but then again... it's just her noble pride talking, too bad that I'll have to end this conversation
"Sorry for interrupting, but it's getting late your highness" I spoke to the princess "you should be back in your room"
"That's right" the princess realized and pulled her hood up "it's really nice meeting you again Louise" she bowed "and you too mister…?"
"Lionheart" I replied "Peter Lionheart your grace"
"I hope that you two will compete in the match" with those final words she walked out of the room
Louise and I were just stared at the door
"Now that I know you are friends with her highness, there will be no excuses for me to not participate in the exhibition match huh?" I guessed
The girl looked at me and she smiled "that's right" was all she said before climbing on her bed and went to sleep
'Let's see…' I thought while sitting on the pile of hay 'if I'm going to impress the audience the princess... I'll need some targets' I then smiled 'lucky for me that I know a certain someone who could do that'
The preparations for the exhibition was already underway. The stage was set up, the chairs were aligned and a red carpet was displayed for the special event!
Louise and I walked in the courtyard looking for Guiche
"Why are we looking for him again?" she asked
"I told you before, he's the only one that I know who can create golems" I answered
We saw Guiche having a moment with his giant mole familiar as he was praising it with his passion... too bad that he will jump when I will have a talk with him.
"Guiche" the blond earth mage went stiff at hearing my voice… he slowly turned to see me and he started to panic!
"Relax, I'm not here to fight" I said making him calm a bit
"Okay, then what is that you have need of me?" he asked
"My familiar needs a few golems for his performance" Louise responded
"Why certainly!" Giuche spoke "how many do you need?"
"About six" I answered
"That won't be a problem!" he smiled
I nodded at that and I also noticed he's slightly sweating and shivering, no doubt that the duel against me frightens him still...
Louise and I were waiting in a tent and we watched the others perform; first up was a large boy with his owl holding a ribbon and it flew in the air giving a fancy aerodynamic show
Montmorency was playing the violin and her frog was singing to the music melody trying to entertain the audience
Guiche was making poses with his familiar using a lot of roses in the background, good for getting a lot of girls but bad for him as Montmorency was furious at seeing him flaunt again
Finally it was our turn… Professor Colbert announced our names and we walked out of the tent and into the stage.
The audience was giving silent whispers to each other, and I know they were giving bad comments to Louise and of course continuing to call her a zero with me as the proof for being her familiar…
How wrong they will be when I show them my magic
Although one person in the crowd made fun of her and everyone else followed, my blood boiled that their arrogance is common. I did calm down that a majority of Louise's class stayed quiet
I looked to Louise and she was about to use her magic to create an explosion, I quickly stopped her and told her to go. Louise composed herself before leaving the stage, she gave me a look that said prove them wrong... and I plan fulfilling that request
"Ladies and gentlemen, nobles and royalty" I spoke loudly "I am here before you to show my abilities as a thank you to my master' hospitality and to show you to not mock others"
I placed the acceldriver on my waist and I took out my accel memory
Accel
"Hen…SHIN!"
I placed the memory in my driver and made a couple of twists on the throttle
Accel
My armor came in a red flash the audience was speechless, even though that they saw it before it will take a few more times to watch the transformation needs some time to get used to. I took out my engine blade from my back and prepared myself.
I heard Louise shout signaling Guiche to summon his golems and in no time patches of light surrounded me and the Valkyrie golems appeared. I quickly opened my weapon and placed the Engine memory inside.
Engine
I closed my blade and pressed the trigger
Steam
I swung my sword down creating heavy steam covering the entire stage from everyone's eyes.
The audience was confused by what Peter did until they heard something
Pang!
Crack!
Pow!
Clang!
The fog lifted and everyone felt awed and slight fear, for they saw was Peter distant from the Valkyries with three of them destroyed and the remaining ones have dents lost arms from his attacks.
"Time to finish this" I pressed the trigger again
Engine Maximum Drive
I felt the power of the Engine memory course the blade and right up to my arm, I gripped the weapon tightly and made 3 slashes at my targets showing a letter A on each Valkyrie
BOOM
I changed back to my normal self and faced the crowd while internally smiling seeing the I'm wrong looks plastered from the crowd.
Kirche stood on her feet happily cheering for me making myself feel happy with Tabitha, Guiche and the princess feeling impressed
Louise and I were now walking together far away from the exhibition match with Louise feeling very happy which was nice for once since I always see her upset and angry. "You were great!" She exclaimed "I have no doubt that the princess will choose you"
"Don't get your hopes up yet Louise" I interjected "there is still Tabitha and her dragon Sylphid"
"Don't talk like that!" Louise shouted "I'm sure that her highness will choose you"
Before I could give words of thanks, Louise and I heard a loud noise
Bam!
"What was that?!" Louise shouted
"It came from over there!" I pointed to one of the towers
"Let's go!"
Louise dashed to the tower while I followed behind her
To be continued…