Louise sipped the tea then looked at it again. "Is this a different blend?"

"Yes," Siesta replied. "Ruukoto let me take some. Apparently they cure the leaves differently in Gensoukyo."

"It's good." Another benefit. Being lectured by Satori had been annoying, but the rest of the trip had been nice. Utsuho seemed happy, and Orin and Ruukoto seemed like fine people.

Unlike her classmates. Stories of her 'degeneracy' had spread like wildfire. She was expecting a note from home about it any day. Or worse, maybe Eleanor would show up. She unconsciously shivered at the idea of her older sister barging in.

Strangely the only person who wasn't taunting her about that was Kirche. Well and Tabitha. The redhead had been peering at her oddly, but nothing like the accusations she'd leveled at her two days before. Well one day here and two days for her. Time travel was confusing!

Unfortunately she didn't have time to stay confused. She needed to keep attending classes. And to keep training in void. She desperately wanted to learn a true spell from the void, but there weren't any easy grimoires to look into. And she was also a full year and a half behind her classmates who had normal elements.

Sighing she finished the tea and set down the cup. "Thank you. I suppose I should go to afternoon classes." She stood up and gave Utsuho a light headpat before letting the raven hop on her shoulder. At least this class would be with Professor Colbert. He was either the best or worst teacher depending on how you looked at it.

The strange contraption sitting on his desk when she walked in showed this trend was going to continue. She had no idea how this related to fire magic, but she was sure it was going to be very convoluted.

Louise sat at her own desk and was suddenly surprised by a rush of feathers. "Wha-!" She looked up to see a crowd of ravens descending towards her.

The room erupted into chaos of course. "What are you doing Lucky?" "Robert get back here!" Louise found herself staring as every raven familiar in the class sat on her desk. They then proceeded to bow. Several of them dropped small shiny objects.

Louise stared as Utsuho hopped off her shoulder and preened before cawing to the group. She walked through and picked up each object presented before her, giving the supplicant a croak or two before moving on.

"Ms Valliere." She looked up to see Professor Colbert had entered. "What exactly is your familiar doing?"

"Um... holding court I think?" It was either that or accepting worship, but she wasn't going to admit that out loud.

Utsuho finished picking up her offerings and beat her wings before giving a dismissive caw. The rest of the ravens all returned to their respective owners, while Colbert peered in curiosity. "Hm, you must let me study your familiar in more detail at some point Ms Valliere. However, we have class right now."

He began with a quick run over of fire magic. It was one of the more aggressive styles. However instead of moving on to combat magic the man turned to the strange device. "I feel fire magic can be used for a number of better causes. For example when using a flame here, we can superheat the metal inside." He lit a burner below a stone tank. "Allowing experimentation with metalworking!"

"Can't you do the same thing with earth magic professor?" Montmorcy asked. Louise kept herself from snorting, but it seemed like a meaningless question from a water mage.

"True," Colbert said. "But this makes it easier to understand the metals and techniques used. With this knowledge it's much easier to replicate the metallurgy involved."

Kirche blinked. "Can't an earth mage do all that by instinct?"

Louise grimaced. "If you do something by instinct it's really hard to explain it to other people." Something she'd learned working with Utsuho.

"Exactly Ms Valliere." Professor Colbert smiled brightly. "Who knows, perhaps we can one day replicate them without magic!"

The class muttered in disbelief. Honestly Louise didn't think it likely either. But the idea behind the experiment was interesting.

Later she was trying her own experimentation, to little success. "Ugh, why can't I remove the sound without removing the air? I want to mute people, not choke them!"

Utsuho shrugged. "They still won't talk if they're being choked."

"It's supposed to be a insult, not an attack," Louise replied. "People need air to live."

"Ah, that's true." Utsuno nodded in understanding. "Maybe it's because you're having trouble targeting the sound."

"How can you target the sound without targeting the air?" Louise muttered. "The sound is in the air."

Utsuho frowned. "Unyuu... but you can hear sound underwater too, so isn't it a thing?"

Louise considered that. "I guess." She concentrated again and cast the spell. The chattering squirrel that was her target seemed to fall silent, but then Louise noticed it was just moving very slowly. "Oops."

"Too much stillness I guess," Utsuho said.

With a sigh Louise canceled her spell. "Let's take a break." She sat on a stump. Her forays into magic were proving to be very difficult. It was frustrating. She'd thought that getting her element would be enough, but having a little bit of magic was almost as bad as having none at all.

Utsuho stretched. "Well it's a failure as a 'silence' spell, but you might be able to use it as a 'slow' spell."

"That's true!" Louise perked up a little. "Still it'd be nice to know what I'm doing wrong."

"I've never really used a spell like that so I'm not sure. If I figure it out I'll tell you!" Utsuho said.

Louise looked at her familiar. "What kind of spells do you know?" she asked. Maybe she could figure out how best to use the void that way.

The raven started listing them out with her fingers. "Well I've got my shapeshifting. Uh that's innate to being a youkai though. Let's see, starting fires. Controlling fusion reactions. Finding lost objects. Flying, that's important. And of course bullets."

That was hardly an inspiring list. "Oh." She sighed. "Well maybe I can practice flying more." She'd gotten decently good at that, even if she was slow.

"Of course. Everyone should be able to fly," Utsuho said. "Now let's get you used to high altitude maneuvers."

"Right." They were far enough away from the castle to keep themselves safe from prying eyes. Louise summoned the power of flight, letting herself soar up through the treetops then out into the clear blue sky. Utsuho followed along.

Flight was something Louise still found exhilarating. Sure she wanted more, but this was a power few other mages could even dream of! And it was fun soaring among the clouds, feeling the winds change.

Her enjoyment was cut off by Utsuho's startled yelp. She turned to see her familiar pointing at someone flying towards them on a dragon.

"Crap! Quickly- transform!" Louise ordered.

Utsuho was already in raven form and heading towards Louise. They both dived for the ground. Hopefully the person hadn't seen anything. But who would be flying around here?

She flinched as she saw Tabitha and her dragon Sylphid flying down. Of course. Tabitha had a dragon of her own. This would make things more difficult.

Tabitha landed and hopped off. She still seemed expressionless but her eyes were locked on Utsuho instead of her book. "I see."

"You see what?" Louise asked. Hopefully Tabitha wouldn't press the issue.

Her hopes once again fell through. "Your Utsuho. She can transform." Tabitha said quietly. "We saw her."

Louise panicked. "Um, well, that is-!"

Then Utsuho hopped off her shoulder and shifted. Louise ran in front of her familiar. I mean sure the raven woman was twice her size but maybe-.

Utsuho's hand fell on her shoulder. "It's okay. It should be fine if they know." The hell raven smiled at both Tabitha and Sylphid and puffed out her wings. "Isn't that right?"

Sylphid gasped. Louise looked at her. Wait, gasped?

The dragon began talking. "Big sister, look at her! She has super pretty wings in her form! I should be able to do that too right?"

A glow surrounded Sylphid, and seconds later a human woman with blue dragon wings was standing there. She looked like Tabitha, only older. And stark naked.

Louise shook her head. "What-! How? That's-!" There were just too many questions in her head.

"Clothes," Tabitha muttered, having drawn her book in front of her face.

"Oh right!" There was another glow and the blue haired dragon woman was wearing a school uniform.

Utsuho nodded. "I thought so. She was a more powerful dragon then the rest of them."

Louise looked over at her familiar. "You knew?"

"I didn't know," Utsuho corrected. "I just guessed!" She smiled. "Anyway, we both have a secret, so there's no need to worry, right?"

That was true. Tabitha didn't know she was a void mage, and Utsuho hadn't gone off on a tangent about being a god or anything dangerous. "That's true." She looked over. "You'll keep this quiet from the others right?"

Tabitha nodded. "Same."

To their side the two familiars were busy showing off. Or at least Utsuho was. Sylphid was looking at the raven woman's gem. "It's so pretty! How did you make it? Irukuwu can only make cloth."

"Irukuwu?" Louise asked Tabitha.

"Her real name," the blue haired girl returned.

"It's part of me!" Utsuho proclaimed proudly. "It's my third eye, proof that I possess the power of the Yatagarasu. It's super cool right?"

Louise nodded and turned back to where Utsuho was showing off her starry cape. Irukuwu was poking the stars trying to make them move. "I take it she's just as much of an airhead as my Utsuho."

"Maybe more," Tabitha replied.

Louise watched as Utsuho snatched up the crumbs from evening tea. She wanted to make sure the raven didn't grab anything bigger. There were still three cookies left, which Siesta would undoubtedly eat herself when Louise finished. Her father always insisted on ordering more than they could eat for that reason. Her mother had prefered to eat everything on her plate, but that was a military thing and she'd told Louise to follow her father's example.

Besides she owed the maid for letting her lounge around like this. She hadn't had this much luxury since coming to the academy.

She blinked as there was a knock on the door. Who would be coming this late in the evening? "Siesta could you get that?" she asked as she stood. Utsuho hopped to her shoulder peering curiously as well.

The maid nodded then went and opened the door. Louise cursed her height as she tried to see past the taller woman.

That soon became moot as Siesta gasped then sank to one knee. Louise's jaw dropped as she saw the purple haired woman standing there. The cloak disguised some of her features, but in the light it was obvious. "Your Majesty." She started to kneel as well.

Princess Henrietta smiled and shook her head. "No need Louise Francoise. Can I come in?"

"Of course!" Louise rushed forwards and bumped straight into Siesta as the maid rose. As she staggered she heard Henrietta giggling. A great impression she thought.

Fortunately Siesta recovered quickly enough to close the door. Henrietta helped herself to a chair before someone could offer it to her. "Please sit down. I'm here as a friend today." Louise relaxed a little and took a seat, Utsuho heading back to the table to pick at the crumbs, though the bird kept an eye on the princess.

Siesta moved to return to the background like a proper servant, but Henrietta waved her over. "Please sit down as well Ms. Siesta. I'd like to hear from you as well."

Louise froze. Had Henrietta heard those damn rumors? Oh great founder she didn't need her friend's head filled with those lies. It was bad enough that the girl she'd fought with over dolls when they were kids was the ruler of her country. She didn't need more awkwardness.

"Count Mott delivered a report that you had something that you would only impart to the royal family," Henrietta said. "I think he was just annoyed he didn't get what he wanted out of a trip. But since I was curious I came anyway."

"That's true." Louise took a deep breath. "Well we might as well tell you now. You can take your human form Utsuho."

Henrietta's eyes widened at Utsuho appeared in her regalia. The raven waved before sitting. "Hi! I'm Utsuho Reiuji, Louise's familiar. Nice to meet you!"

"A pleasure," Henrietta replied. Her eyes flickered to Siesta and Louise could see her friend putting all the pieces together. "I see. That explains why you needed a trustworthy maid." She smiled at Utsuho. "I hope you take care of my dear friend well."

Utsuho nodded. "Of course! I'll do my best."

"And I'll keep her from causing any huge diplomatic incidents," Louise muttered.

"Please," Henrietta sighed. "I have enough political problems." She turned to Siesta. "If you could keep Louise Francoise from causing any diplomatic disasters on her own I would appreciate it as well. Especially if someone takes her favorite dress." Louise's ears burned as she remembered that incident.

Siesta blinked. "I shall do my best, Your Majesty." Utsuho just chuckled.

Louise sipped her tea to keep from spitting back some questionable retorts. When she recovered she looked Henrietta in the eyes. "There's another secret I want to tell you. I discovered my element is Void."

"What?!" Henrietta leaned forwards. "Are you certain?!"

"Yep," Utsuho said. "Void is my element too after all. She's picked up a few of my spells. Though I'm looking for a better tutor."

"Great founder," Henrietta muttered. "A void user." She looked at Louise and smiled. "That's amazing! I'm glad you finally discovered your element!"

Her heart soared at the praise. This is what she'd wanted for so long. Recognition. "Thank you." She grimaced as the joy faded. "I'm still learning though. I haven't even discovered a dot spell."

"Not surprising given the lack of knowledge," Henrietta said. "The other elements have had a thousand years of research to develop their spells." The princess reached over and patted Louise's hand. "I'll look in the royal archives to see if we know anything."

"Thank you," Louise said. The royal families had been around since the founding. Maybe they knew something modern mages didn't.

"Still," Henrietta sighed. "I'd almost hoped the rumors were true." Louise choked on her tea and Siesta's jaw dropped. What was she saying?

Henrietta smiled wistfully. "I know it would be a scandal, but it would be nice to see you with someone you love Louise. So many of us royals can't achieve that."

"Unyuu?" Utsuho looked at the princess' sad expression. "Is this one of those human things?" The raven frowned. "You humans make things so difficult. You should just beat up everyone who questions your love."

"It's not that easy," Louise said. She winced as a memory hit her. "Besides I'm affianced too. I'm pretty sure that'd be a problem." It had been a while since she'd thought about that.

Henrietta waved her hand. "I can get that broken whenever you want. It's not like your family needs the connection badly." She frowned. "In fact with what you've told me, I think Viscount Wardes might not be a good match for you, even if he is the Captain of the Griffon Knights."

Louise felt really conflicted at that. She wasn't sure what she felt about Wardes, but she was certain she didn't want to just cut off her engagement! "Just delay the wedding until we know more."

"You humans are weird." Utsuho sighed. "Almost as bad as cats."

Siesta blinked. "Wait, that means... you and Orin are lovers?"

Utsuho's wings twitched. "We should be, but she keeps making things complicated." Louise looked over her familiar at that. No wonder Utsuho had been so blase about pretending to be a woman's lover.

Wait, a familiar was a reflection of their master. Did that mean...? Louise shook her head to clear it.

Henrietta smiled sadly. "Sometimes love is complicated. Especially if you need heirs."

"Eh, there's spells for that," Utsuho said.

Louise was relieved she wasn't the only one left choking from that revelation. Gensoukyo was a strange strange place.

A bit of foundation building on Louise's side. Obviously certain interactions will play out differently above and beyond just missing a duel.

Next chapter will be the contractual magibabble, with a special guest from Gensoukyo. And after that? Well plot will hit like a ton of bricks. Or perhaps a ton of Crumbling Dirt.