Louise walked, perplexed as she made her way to their training ground. Her mind focusing not on the lecture at hand, but instead the pains of her Familiar, strangely, the dreams of Izaneus' past life had stopped as well, she'd no clue why or how they even began. But they offered invaluable insight into his mind.
She as the master had a duty to care for her Familiar, and provide the appropriate accommodations, especially since that familiar held strange and powerful arcane knowledge at his fingertips.
Especially since he'd been kind enough to allow her entry into that world.
She exhaled a sigh of frustration, Why wouldn't he simply tell her what was going on? If she knew she could help, or did he think she was not yet experienced or powerful enough to aid him? Whatever the case, his silent brooding and dramatic isolation was beginning to wear on her patience. Louise Françoise Le Blanc De La Vallière was not one to be ignored.
Not anymore, and not by him
Shaking her head, she did her best to turn her mind to more pleasant thoughts.
Now was the time for the fun class. Which was, of course, her independent studies involving sources with Siesta and the Zerbst. Something she'd grown fond of, even without their impromptu mentor. It was like their own little world. She briefly entertained the thought that it was this privacy and want to keep this beauty to herself that made her so upset when someone new deigned to enter their group.
But of course that was simply impossible, Louise was not so petty as to act that selfishly.
…
A faint shiver across her shoulders seemed to make her incredibly wary for some strange reason.
With a shrug and a few more strides forward she reached their meeting place, a small patch with a great oak, offering gentle shade and peaceful respite.
Not entirely where they performed their magical training or perfected spells. But where they concocted theories and ideas as to how to conjure a specific effect, how to understand the runic languages that seemingly washed through them as smoothly as a fish heading downstream.
Somehow, Kirche was always the first to arrive, and Siesta the last. Louise wasn't quite sure how she managed that. Yet, manage it she did.. If nothing else, the Zerbst was punctual. Which Louise supposed she had to at least have one positive trait about her.
Well.. two if she was being honest. Kirche had certainly picked up quickly on this magic, and questioned most of it, asking for answers that Izaneus appeared to struggle to find.
Louise herself couldn't help but smirk at thinking of that time, even if things were rather desperate now. Seeing casual memories of their debates on sorcery made for a pleasant memory.
Turning her gaze to the ground, Louise exhaled heftily. " I wonder if we'll get to do anything like that again, or is this the end of our escapades?" She thought to herself, wistfully thinking about the end of Iza's tenure here.
Whenever he discovered his way home, he would no doubt leave. Especially since something had earned his Ire. Half a month had flashed by since he first arrived. His presence felt natural now. Unlike how it used to be.
"All things come to an end… perhaps it's enough to enjoy the memories we made.." She thought this, but silently questioned whether or not this was how she truly felt. When Izaneus left, would she be alright?
The fear that accompanied that process of her mind was like a plague to her soul. A deep seated fret of loneliness She had no hope to quell. "I suppose when the time comes I simply need to trust in my readiness…"
Louise inhaled to sigh again, only to have the silence broken by Kirche, who'd been watching Louise stand idly in front of the tree. "Ahem, Lost in the clouds again Valliere? We promised to practice practical applications today, do you need me to resign you to the earth once more?" She teased, flicking her wand to and fro the blades of grass below her.
Though a plain faced tease, Louise began to feel a touch of annoyance be borne within her once more. Before she spoke, as cool as the breeze that brushed against her cheek.
"If you truly wish to be beaten that badly, I'm not one to refuse you."
Standing, and having a full head over her competitor, Kirche smiled sweetly, hiding the faint concern within her eyes.
Siesta, however, had just arrived, and in doing so was to bear witness to the duel. "A stroke of luck" Louise thought. Though no commoner would actively bring a Noble's judgment upon them, especially when concerning a Noble's ability to cast, Louise was nonetheless glad someone were to bear witness to this. Even if it was never to reach the light of day.
"Hm? Did I miss anything?" The maid asked, raising an eyebrow as the two stood.
"Oh! My! We haven't ended, have we?" She questioned once more. Eliciting a sigh as well as a shake of the head from Louise, and silence from Kirche's part.
"No, indeed we're just beginning, our first duel will be between Kirche and I." Louise informed quickly, to dispel any worries within Siesta. Which caused her to sigh as relief washed over her heart gently. " Delightful! I look forward to seeing what we'll be doing!"
Louise smiled gently, they'd begun these efforts not long ago. Looking to practice in case anything of that caliber had happened again. Better to be caught prepared than otherwise right?
Her eyes drifted to the landscape before them. Since learning this magic. Everything felt so much more alive It was so very strange.
But.. It was relaxing in a way. To know she wasn't ever truly alone. Especially since connecting with that spirit of wind. Which gently and carefully guided her through the source of breeze. It was so wondrous! It was amazing the things she could learn! It made her feel like a little kid receiving their first birthday gifts.
"Vertia?" She questioned, feeling the whisper of breeze as her pact spirit whispered to her in her ethereal voice. "I am here" Hearing this, Louise smiled softly, wading her hand through the breeze that slowly followed her.
"Thank you.." Louise whispered, inhaling deeply to prepare herself for this duel.
They walked a fair deal more before they decided they were far enough away from Campus.
Siesta stayed a fair distance back, remembering Louise's tendency to explode things, whether or not this was intentional now the Maid couldn't particularly tell, but she definitely had some form of affinity for explosions.
The two competitors stood ten paces away from each other, both watching the other intently.
Kirche made the first move, empowering her spell by performing a very quick gesture of her hands, which caused the fire she conjured to whip and wail violently, being flung toward Louise in a flash. Whom had milliseconds to react. Thrusting her hand upward, a ward of pure energy erected itself in front of her, defending her from the whip of fire.
With a breath, she readied herself once more, wanting to attack before Kirche could ready another. With a huff of exertion and her hands forming the gestures required of her. Before she extended her arms to their full length, and bade the arcane to form within her palms.
Two dark violet orbs of power situated themselves within her grasp, before they were thrown forward with all the force she could muster with her petite form. One to the right of the conjured wall, and one to the left, both homing in on Kirche with harmful intent.
Raising her hand, she turned to the right, and slammed her weapon of flame down on the first projectile, which dissipated from the strike. Before turning to the other, only to realize she'd been too slow in her defense, with the second blast striking her square in her back.
An unexpected and inevitable cry of pain from how badly it burned into her skin, Kirche cackled quietly. This *was* what she was expecting. "Come now Louise! Surely you can do better!" she taunted playfully, flexing her hand muscles and throwing her hand to the right of her.
The stone Louise stood upon so carelessly immediately responded, thrusting a blunted spear into her stomach, throwing her back through the air, and into Kirche's sights. Who raised her other hand high in the air once more, her blazing weapon raised high in the air.
Louise, who was struggling to breathe with the wind knocked out of her, looked upward, and slowly raised her hand to defend herself, to then feel the air around her surround her body and gently lift her aside as the strike landed. Granting her breath, and setting her down just as gently.
Taking a few deep breaths, as Kirche waited patiently for her to be ready to continue. Louise stood straighter, and made her readiness known by casting a ready formulaic spell. Which caused the winds around her to whip violently, with much more power than Louise herself expected.
With a soft and amused chuckle from Vertia, Louise smiled in understanding.
Slicing her hand through the air, Louise shot forth a torrent which kicked up the dirt below it creating a miniscule dust devil that obscured Kirche's vision briefly, thus she opted to expend herself just a touch more than she otherwise would have.
Stomping her foot to the earth below, a large detonation of raging flames echoed outward from her, and with a cry of surprise from Louise's voice She smirked and sent a final bolt of power outward into the dust, She heard the impact, and then silence. " Well! That was rather refreshing, don't you think?" She asked, approaching the silhouetted figure.
Only to come across a stone reconstruction of Louise herself, jagged and roughly crafted. A scorch mark indented into its stomach.
"Ah. Fuck." Was all she managed before she felt a small hand pressed against her back. Pulsing with power. " I win." Louise stated smugly, in her eyes a mixture of pride and victory.
Removing her hand from her Rival, Louise dismissed the energy she channeled and sat down, taking a large deep breath to mitigate the fatigue she would inevitably feel from this all. Kirche stood, and scoffed playfully.
" Only because I let you Valliere" She spoke, a plain smile on her face. She nodded, Louise nodded back, and then silence, for a good few minutes, before Siesta joined them. " That was incredible! You've grown incredibly Louise!" She spoke excitedly.
"Indeed, I'm glad my teachings have granted you more proficiency in blasting each other to pieces." A familiar voice spoke out from behind the maid, who turned to look towards the source.
There Izaneus stood, arms crossed, face blank. He unfurled his hands from their place as he strode over to Louise. " How willing are you to aid me." He spoke plainly, his voice lacking any form of enthusiasm, as his eyes pierced her heart. She stared through them, hoping to pierce his back.
"You are my Familiar, it is my duty to provide for you as such, and care for your well-being." Louise responded without missing a beat.
The words seemingly fell upon deaf ears, as he simply stared at her, no facial tic or changed look in his eyes. Yet all the same he spoke once more in kind. " Then pack some essentials. We've a ways we need to travel."
With that he turned around once more and strode off. Leaving Kirche, Siesta, and Louise on their makeshift training ground. All of them confused. All of them would not go long without learning the meaning in his words.