Chapter 7: Love potion incident and the weather dopant
I was just walking down the halls after a nice breakfast from the kitchen, thankfully Louise allowed me to walk out own since she needed time to relax after Maria came for a visit. I was on my way to Colbert's research lab. I've been hearing from the students that the professor spends his extra time there.
Boom
I ran to the sound and saw a small wooden house with smoke coming from the window, I walked to the door and knocked
"Professor Colbert?"
"Just a moment!" the man called
I heard a few noises inside and the professor opened the door
"Ah… Peter" he smiled "please come in"
I entered the lab to see sketches, chemicals and other scientific stuff inside
"Excuse the mess" Colbert spoke "I wasn't expecting company today"
"Oh that's not a bother" I smiled "I'm actually quite surprised that a teacher like yourself is interested in stuff like this" I said while looking at some of the sketches on the table
"I may be a teacher about magic but I came to discover things that magic could not comprehend" Colbert replied
He explained that during his time as a teacher he used his pare time to learn the history of magic and after that he came to discover things that had no use of magic
I start to realize that Professor Colbert was devoted his work and tried to learn things that caught his interest, but then I realized what I came here for. I looked at the runes of my hand and back at Colbert
"Professor, there's something I need to ask you" I muttered
When Colbert opened his ears to me, I explained to him about my progress after I became Accel. When I use that power or whenever I use Derflinger my left hand felt warm and the runes started to glow. The professor was putting his thought into it and came up with an answer
"I had suspected things when I saw those runes earlier, but I didn't have much thought about it since that Dopant attacked our academy" he hummed "during my studies I came to a page that showed the same mark on your hand. It turns out that you bear the mark of Gandalf"
I flinched at that name, I remember Foquet saying that and by Colbert's reaction to my ability... Gandalf was someone to be feared
"Gandalf was the familiar of Brimir. The founder of magic" Colbert explained "he was the first mage to use the rare void element"
During Colbert's explanation my mind focused on something else 'Void' I heard from Kirche that the void element was rare and Colbert's explanation testified the mages who carry that type of magic make them one to a million, the void possessed more power than the four elements...!
I shook my thoughts away and asked "if I'm supposed to be Gandalf, then wouldn't that make Louise a void mage?"
"It is possible..." Colbert nodded "but without further proof, there isn't much more to know"
I nodded and smiled "thank you for answering my question professor, I must be going now and leave you to your research."
But when I reached for the door I saw a bag sitting on the floor, it looked familiar to me; it was small with two pockets at the bottom and it is used for travelling, the color beige made it look like it was made from animal skin and a thread tied at the top part of the bag.
"Um… professor" I called
"What is it Peter?" the professor asked
"Where did you get that?" I pointed to the bag
"Oh that, I picked it up during the familiar summoning ritual I kept with me since no one took-" he stopped when he realized it "I'm sorry Peter, I didn't realize that it was yours"
"Did you look inside?" I asked
"No" Colbert answered "I had to make sure that it was yours or not… so is it yours?"
"It looks like mine, mind if I take a look?"
"Please do" he gestured
When I opened the bag, it was filled with some spare clothes, two books and a random item. Feeling curious, I pulled out the item and to my surprise it was my old harmonica… Memories of my family came back but I shook them off
"Is something wrong Peter?" Colbert asked
"Oh nothing's wrong professor" I answered "I was just remembering something"
I took my bag and walked out of the lab leaving the professor to his work and hope that he doesn't make an accident anytime soon...
Louise was walking down the courtyard still feeling dizzy and scared since Maria the blazing flame came here
'Why did that Zerbst have to bring her here?" she shivered at seeing Kiche's mother 'I need to lie down...'
Louise walked back to her dorms but then she saw two students having a romantic dinner under the night sky with candle light and wine. Louise needed a drink and decided that wine could help her feel better...
She walked over to the two mages and took Guiche's glass "mind if I take this, I need a drink" and drank the wine before walking away
I was at the halls thinking about the memories me and Louise collected from Daido. It just popped into my head…is there a reason why he's giving out the T2 memories? I opened the door to see no Louise and Derflinger on my makeshift bed.
"Hey Derf, did Louise come in yet?"
Derf rattled from his scabbard and spoke "Partner…I think you need to look behind-"
"Oof!"
"…you"
I rubbed my head trying to get the pain out. I turned to see Louise squeezing me tightly
"Uh… Louise?"
But before I could make another word Louise did the one thing I would never expect…
She kissed me!
I was in shock, for a girl like Louise to do this…there has to be something that made her like this!
When I tried to get Louise to sit, she struggled keeping her grip on me feeling my warmth. Just then I heard the door open
Oh no…
Siesta was worried about Peter, she didn't see him all day so she went to Louise's room trying to ask the mage where he is. It would make her happy to spend time with him again but when the maid opened the door. She saw Louise holding Peter tightly
All was quiet...
Siesta felt her heart shatter when she saw the two together "sorryaboutinterruptingyourtime!I'llbegoingnow!"
"SIESTA WAIT!-!" I shouted "THIS ISN'T WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!-!"
After sometime trying to explain the situation with Louise sitting on my lap feeling comfy, Siesta was able to understand my situation
"So…you two aren't really together?" she asked
"Yes" Louise sighed in comfort
"No" I answered bluntly "Louise never showed her affections toward me since I came here"
Derflinger decided to help while trying to hold it's laughter
"H-hey partner" it spoke "I think that the girl here is a victim from the love potion"
"A love potion!-?" Sieta gasped "that kind has been made illegal!"
"Oh that doesn't sound good" I looked down at Louise "Louise?"
"Yes?" she looked up at me
"Did you drink anything while I was away?" I asked
Louise thought back and answered "well I did take some wine from Guiche when he had dinner with Montmorency"
'Montmorency' I remembered that she was a water mage since Kirche dragged me to her and with Guiche being unfaithful... it didn't surprise me that she would make him drink a love potion
"Okay we got a suspect, a good reason for why she made it" I hummed "all I need now is for her to make an antidote"
"But how will you do that?" Siesta questioned "with her being a noble, she will try to deny that she made the potion"
"Oh I have ways on… convincing her to make one" I spoke smugly
Montmorency was pacing back and forth in panic "this is bad, this is very bad" she murmured, Louise had drunk the love potion. Even though that girl was a zero, she is still a Valliere. They were one of many powerful families in Tristain! She will be in deep trouble if they find out. She just hoped that no one will notice
Thanks to Siesta's help I was able to find Montmorency's door, Louise refused to let go and she clung onto me like a stuffed animal. I saw Guiche smiling at the hallways, obviously having another endeavor with a female student.
I knocked on the door "Montmorency" I called, but no answer
Guiche heard my words and came to my side "Uh, Sir Peter… I think Montmorency is-"
I have no time to talk, so I did the next thing help me enter
Bam!
I kicked the door open and walked in to see my target who's a bit upset
"Now see here commoner, I hate having interruptions at this time" Montmorency would've continued her ranting if didn't stop her
"No time for formalities Montmorency" I spoke "my master drank a love potion and you have something to do with it"
Guiche seemed curious about what I said while Montmorency tried to hide her shame
"I-I don't know what you're talking about" she quivered
"Oh don't give me that" I growled "I know that you're the one that could do such a deed, now… fix the mess you caused"
Montmorency felt scared but her pride stood in the way "look it will wear off okay!" she shouted
"How long?" I asked sternly
"Weeks, months, a year…maybe?" she gulped
Guiche felt himself stiff at the time it will wear off. I can finally understand why this potion is illegal
"That's too long" my voice groveled "make a cure…NOW!"
"I can't!" she retorted "I don't have the ingredients to make them"
"Then get them!" my patience were on their last strings
"It's not that easy!" Montmorency shouted, she was close to losing her temper at being pushed around
That was the last straw…my anger rose so high that I could feel something inside me grow
Montmorency felt herself shiver and then something surrounded Peter… Just then a beast appeared scaring Montmorency out of her wits. Guiche would've jumped in if it wasn't for his fear stopping him!
"If you won't help me get the cure to this mess, then I'll just convince you to help"
I grabbed Montmorency's shirt and lifted her off the floor, the girl never felt this scared in her entire life…! she couldn't even speak a word at my own fury
"So Montmorency, are you going to help me now...?" I asked in a menacing tone
The water mage couldn't find her voice… all she could do was nod in anticipation for if she refused then she will be hurt
"Good" I placed the girl back on the floor and turned to Guiche "and you're coming too" I spoke before going back to Louise's room for some sleep
The four of us were on our way to Lagdorian Lake. Montmorency said that to make the antidote a special ingredient was needed and she said it was a tear from a water spirit… I know that great entities like them aren't to be trifled with but this is an emergency.
During the trip Louise made me a sweater that was done halfway, even though that she was is under control of the love potion. I get to experience what it was like if Louise wasn't so harsh
When we arrived at the lake it wasn't what I was expecting, the water flooded the town nearby only a few of the buildings weren't covered in water
"Something's not right" Montmorency got of her horse "the water spirit must be angry to make this happen"
I sighed at that, just when I was about to get the cure, someone had the nerve to anger the water spirit… this is just not my day
We stayed at the edge of the lake until nighttime Guiche and Montmorency were away for a while. I placed Derflinger beside me while Louise took a nap on my lap. I looked down at my master to see her so peaceful, feeling a warm spot I slowly patted Louise making her feel comfortable while she slept
"You know partner" Derflinger spoke "any man would kill to get this kind of attention"
"I know" I continued patting Louise "but I prefer Louise the way she is"
"Why?" My sword asked
"Louise may be a bit harsh when I'm with her, but she doesn't chase me around like Kirche"
Just then Guiche came back with his head low and sighed
"Another argument with your girlfriend...?"
The boy just nodded with another sigh escaping his mouth
I looked at the sunset, at the lake Montmorency gave her familiar a command and it jumped into the like. I gently placed Louise against the tree and walked to Montmorency
"If Robin can find the water spirit, she'll bring it here" Montmorency explained "once the water spirit arrives… we request a tear"
"Are you sure you can do this?" I asked "for you to know this Great Spirit. I'm not sure that the spirit is willing to"
Just then the lake erupted like a geyser sending Robin back into Montmorency's arms. The two of us looked on as the fluid continued to rise.
"It seems that the water spirit came" I spoke
But then Derflinger spoke from my back "Well, well, it sure has been a while"
I watched Montmorency walk to the shoreline with her arms spread open "Oh great water spirit, I am Montmorency Margarita le Ferde. I am a water mage from a family of who made a contract with, if you recognize my blood… please answer me in a manner we can understand
To my surprise and curiosity the geyser started to take form and when it finished, it took the form of Montmorency
"I remember you little thing" the water spirit spoke "I remember the water that flows inside you"
"Oh great water spirit" Montmorency continued "I have a favor to ask you"
"Favor?" the spirit asked
"I ask you, please give me a tear from you" Montmorency requested
"I refuse you little thing" the water spirit denied
Uh-oh, things are not going well… I just hope that Montmorency has a backup plan
"No? Well I guess we tried, no shame in that" Montmorency smiled while she walked away
Oh for crying out loud
"I guess you nobles being so cowardly are true after all" I sighed ignoring Montmorency's outburst
I walked to the water letting the great entity know my presence. It looked down on me with a bit of curiosity
"Great Water Spirit" I spoke "is there no task that we can accomplish to get the tear?"
The spirit was silent at my request and then it answered
"Very well… as I raised my waters I have been assaulted by your kind"
"If we stop them, then you will give us the tear?" I asked hopefully
"I will" the spirit complied
"Then it will be done" I nodded
Feeling satisfied, the water spirit returned to the lake with me smiling since all I have to do is complete this task… unfortunately someone had to ruin the good mood.
"Why would you agree so suddenly?-!" Montmorency shouted angrily "I HATE FIGHTING...!"
I couldn't bear her words any longer, so did the thing that Guiche will never do
Slap!
Montmorency and Guiche were both shocked and speechless when I slapped the water mage
"Look Montmorency" I sighed "you're not doing this, I am. You can just hide somewhere until this task is done"
Montmorency touched the place where she was struck. The girl was quiet at what happened, no one has ever struck her…
Yet somehow, she was finally starting to learn something...something important...
The three of us were hiding in the bushes with Louise still asleep thanks to me. If that girl is awake then trouble will quickly follow
"Okay… this is the plan, Guiche will stay here to protect you and Louise" I spoke "I'll go take care of the enemy attacking the water spirit"
The blond duo nodded and without argument at that, I guess these two are not even feeling ready. Unfortunately I don't blame them… after all they live in luxury and don't know a thing about fighting.
I quietly walked up the edge of the lake and hid behind a tree, all I have to do is wait for the enemy to come.
Minutes passed… I was about to doze off until I heard footsteps, I looked ahead to see two cloaked figures walking towards the lake. Then one of them used wind magic at the lake.
Moving quickly I surprised my targets by giving the drop on them and I made sure to make them still by using Derf
"All right you two, what is the mean-" I couldn't finish when I saw two familiar colors of red and blue
"Kirche… Tabitha?"
The two girls who I pinned were equally surprised when they saw me
"Darling…?" Kirche gasped
"Peter" Tabitha stated in slight surprise
I called the others to come out and with Louise under the love potion Kirche and Louise childishly fought for my personal space. Guiche sighed dreamily at my predicament before Montmorency hit him again. Tabitha on the other hand didn't show anything since she was busy making a plan...
Kirche explained about why she and Tabitha are here. It turns out Tabitha was tasked to take care of the flooding in this area. I nodded at the answer…but before we get to finish the mission, a voice came out
"It seems that I just got myself a nice group"
All six of us turned back to see a figure come out; the person was an adult female wearing a black cloak; she has shoulder-length white-tinted black hair that covered the left side of her face, fair skin, emerald green eyes and a smirk that will make you shiver in fright, she also carried a wand ready for use
I can tell that this woman is a person to be feared.
"Who are you?" I asked
"Lidia" the lady answered "and I'm here to have fun" and with a single move she casted her magic
I rolled away from the spell sadly though my friends aren't fast… now they're trapped in stone
"Are you all okay there...?" I asked in concern
"We're fine darling" Kirche replied "just stop that woman!"
I looked at Lidia who just continued smirking at me
"Okay lady, what your deal?" I almost growled at her since she was just there doing nothing
"I already said that I'm here to have fun" Lidia answered "and what better fun than facing you"
She reached inside her cloak and revealed to my horror she a Gaia memory. By this woman's thinking, I can already tell which one she'll use...
Weather
Lidia threw the memory away before it placed itself on her right cheek, a small tornado covered her signaling the transformation. When the wind was gone she already turned into the weather Dopant, it's exactly the same feeling from Dr. Isaka, the first Weather Dopant.
Pale bulky armor, strong power radiating from the body and an uneasy feeling like you're facing a monster.
I steeled my nerves and placed the acceldriver on my waist with the accel memory in hand
Accel
"Hen…shin!"
Accel
I changed into Accel and started the attack, I tried to do the frontal assault but Lidia waved her arm calling lightning down on me. I took out my engine blade blocking the bolts, I continued my pace and delivered a slash tom y target.
Pak!
To my horror, my enemy stopped me with little effort by using only one hand
"You have to do better than that" Lidia placed her other hand on me and zapped me!
BZZZT!
I was thrown back several feet feeling a bit of shock thanks to the lightning surge
"DARLING/PETER!"
I turned to see the others continue to struggle out of their bindings with worry filling them to the brim. I struggled onto my feet, I can still feel my body in pain but I am not going to let that Dopant stop me.
"Oh..." Lidia mused "you have some fight after all"
"Even though I'm hurt badly thanks to you" I grunted feeling more pain as I stood up "but that doesn't mean I'm done yet"
I removed my accel memory and took out my trial memory
Trial
I placed the memory in belt and made a quick twist one the throttle
Trial
I can feel the change in my body but sadly the pain stayed with me in my Trial form, but there was no turning back now… I have to stop her here and now!
I ran to Lidia who used her lightning attack but I was too fast to be caught and delivered a quick punch at her
Pow!
The Dopant skidded backwards at my attack feeling some pain
"I'm impressed that you made me feel that" she kicked me back to where I started "but can you handle this?" she summoned a cloud around me and with a flick of her wrist, lightning was unleashed
I dodged the red bolts around me with quick agility and I dashed out of the trap with ease
"Impossible!" Lidia shouted in shock
"It's about time that the game is over for you" I took out my memory and placed it back in stopwatch mode before pressing the button
Click
I threw the memory forward and dashed toward my target
Lidia was slightly overwhelmed at her opponent's speed but she wasn't going to lose yet! In a last attempt to fight back, she released flames at Peter. The familiar just dodged the fiery heat and delivered a few strikes to stop her and he started to deliver his signature attack!
While that happened, the audience was awestruck at the battle, from their perspective each had their own thoughts about Peter;
Kirche and Louise were thinking about how heroic Peter was when they saw him fight against the monster
Tabitha never had a close view of Peter's power before, but seeing it now just made her respect for him grow...
Montmorency never made any views on Peter… after all he was Louise's familiar so she thought he was beneath her, but seeing him fight that monster and risking his life just to save her gave her second thoughts
Finally Guiche held both admiration and envy towards Peter, admiration because he would save a person no matter what happened and envy because he never boasted his skill while only using that to help others in battle
Trial Maximum Drive
Boom!
Lidia flew back from my attack with the Weather memory right next to her and she was partially conscious
"It seems that you really are worthy to use the power of Accel" that was her last line before going quiet likely dead from my attack earlier
I looked at Lidia and before I could check on her body something happened
Bang!
I jumped back when I heard the shot I looked ahead to see another figure; the person was male, he had fair skin, a calm personality and experience that he was in battle. To my surprise he was wearing a zipped-up NEVER jacket and another one when I saw his weapon was the Trigger Magnum.
"I take it you are one of Daido's soldiers?" I suggested
"That's right" the man nodded "and I'll be taking Lidia" he took the weather memory and picked up the corpse
"Wait!" I shouted but the man but he stopped me
"If you're smart, you should be helping them first" he said before disappearing into the woods
I turned to see everyone was still in their stone prison… thankfully I took out the violence memory and placed it on my belt
Violence Maximum Drive
I held the earth and tore the rock away like it was paper, freeing them without problem
"Everyone okay...?" I asked
They all nodded and with the mission complete, Montmorency told robin to get which came quickly. The Great Spirit was now out I went to the shore letting the great entity know my presence.
"Oh great Water spirit" I spoke "I have stopped my kind from harming you, but I have heard from them that by raising your waters people were forced to leave their homes… will you please be kind enough to lower your waters"
"I refuse" the spirit answered "a treasure was stolen from me so I raised my waters to find it"
Okay now that I know why the place was covered in water but I need to help Tabitha succeed in her task. Since the story from Fouqet, the nobles will do anything to keep their status and pride safe
"Then if this treasure was returned to you, would you lower your waters...?"
"Yes" the Water Spirit answered
I know that I'm making my life harder but making this contract isn't just for Tabitha but for people who lived here too
"Then I accept this task"
The others were shocked to hear my words but if that made speechless then the Water Spirit completely stunned them
"Granted" the spirit answered "since you bear the power of Gandalf, the kind that made a promise to me before, then I am confident that you will succeed"
The water bellow started to float before taking the shape of jeweled ring
"The treasure that was stolen from me was called the ring of Andvari, it has the ability to give life to those who have fallen"
Okay, I just got an idea what on kind of person who would use that power; obviously this one would be power hungry to get that ring. Just then a small bottle filled with water floated out of the lake and into Montmorency's hands
"I wish you luck on your journey and I'll be waiting for your return with the ring"
The water spirit then gave me a name on who took the ring saying Cromwell before it dissolved back into the lake lowering the flood back into where it was usually found
After riding to the academy Montmorency made quick haste to make the cure after seeing the error of her decision. I can't wait to be with the normal Louise
"YOU DOG!"
Whap!
"OW!"
Yep, everything was back to normal... after curing Louise from the love potion, she went into heavy embarrassment and vented some of her anger at me
"I-I-I can't believe I did that!" Louise cried "oh the shame!"
"Louise calm down" I spoke "the love potion made you do that, people won't even know that it was really you"
"Still! I did that!" he girl ranted "ME…!"
Before he could go on a voice interrupted her
"Still rowdy as ever Louise?"
The two of us turned to see Princess Henrietta at the door
"Your highness!" Louise bowed down before her graceful friend
In another place the man who carried Lidia was now in a small room with another man. He had light brown hair, lightly tanned skin and he wore an open NEVER jacket with a white shirt underneath, army pants with a knife attached to his belt
"I take it Lidia had fun with Accel...?" he spoke
"Yes master Daido" the shooter bowed "and she has shown more potential with the Weather memory than expected"
The man known called Daido smiled "good… when Lidia wakes up, tell her she is one of us now"
"As you wish, master" he gave one final bow before leaving the office
Daido stood from his chair and looked out the window with the smile not leaving his face
"You have grown powerful Accel or should I say… Peter Lionheart?"
Author's Notes:
Sorry about the long wait on this chapter fellow readers… I had a hard time figuring out the fight scene thanks to my slow creativity
Anyway hoped that you enjoyed this chapter and having the first glimpse of the NEVER group