Testing New Waters

It was a few days later that word of Count Mott's actions and misdeeds were brought to light in the Royal Courts. While by right of nobility the Count was in his right to do whatever he wished to his workers, the same could not be said for his crimes of selling said human beings, nor the sale of Tristanian information. From what Kamvex had heard through the grapevine, while the traitorous actions had been the headline, the human trafficking was what displeased the princess much more.

But with the actions of the Count came the testimonies of his former servants and slaves. His former guardsmen talked of a Germainian Devil that ripped through the manor defenses. The servants speaking of the tiny noblewoman that destroyed all of the main hall to take down the Count. While not many outside the courts knew who it was, everyone at the Academy knew the talking points were Louise and her familiar. It wasn't even the hearsay from other channels that caused that conclusion either.

Midday after the incident, nearly every servants went out of their way to bow and show respect to the pair, either together or on their own. For Kamvex, this became bothersome rather quickly. He was used to attention, both positive and negative, from his time as a Holo-Caster, but this level of adoration was new. All they had done was the right thing. To him, how right it was by technical terms was irrelevant. He'd helped a friend in need. That he stopped a smuggling ring of several kinds was a bonus. With a sigh the adventurer turned his gaze to his master.

Louise had taken the praise with a great amount of pride. Though she was hesitant at first, soon she carried herself with an air of confidence befitting her usual attitude. It was strange, she thought, this praise and thanks. Growing up as the daughter of a Duke and Duchess, she'd been around a fair share of servants. She'd seen respect from everyone of them, but really feeling it now... everything felt fake. Forced. Sure, the people were grateful for either their jobs or their lands, but this didn't compare.

Everywhere they went, the maids stopped and bowed they're heads with serene smiles on their face. The servants working the heavy lifting jobs wiped the sweat from their brow to offer a grin and a thanks. Even the first night, the head chef strode his way with a special meal straight to her room. A thank you for saving the young maid before something terrible befell her. It had all tapered off after a bit, but the genuine respect was still there. Kamvex was at least happy for that.

There was a different reaction from the students at large. Louise sighed as she remembered the next day in class as rumors swirled about. The ridicule was still there from a majority of the students, but now it was in hushed tones and whispers instead of loud proclamations of her failings.

You don't just defeat someone leagues above you and pretend nothing happened, her familiar had said. And it seemed true to this point. She'd been called upon again to do magic in class, and although Louise had begun to understand her magic a bit better, she still couldn't do anything other than explosions. Granted they were smaller and not room destroying, but it still wasn't transmutation or elemental in any way. No barriers or glyphs... just explosions.

Progress, but still disheartening for the pinkette. Much as she was used to the loud ridicule, the near silent treatment was that much more deafening. She looked at her classmates and their eyes seemed sharper and darker.

They couldn't understand the change that the servants went through. The stories they were hearing through rumor. It was confusing and strange. It made them angry. At first she couldn't understand. By way of her classes and self study, she still couldn't really do magic. She improved to not destroying property, but still. It wasn't until she talked with Kamvex later the second day that she started to understand.

"People are afraid of things they don't understand, " he said. "Don't be mad, but it's a basic reason why humans here hate elves. You don't understand them. You've never tried. Likewise, everyone is hearing about the Zero, walking into the Royal Messenger's manor, and besting him in a magical duel. Not me, who's a proven combatant, but you."

She looked him questioningly before he made his final point. "If I had told you a week ago that you would defeat a Triangle Class mage, would you believe me? Or think me crazy?" Damn it, that was a good point. But it brought up another point. Two really, but the second one made her blush.

Siesta had become quite close to the two of them recently. She was all but officially their personal maid at this point. And more than once she'd been found closer than Louise would like to Kamvex. At the same time though, the busty maid had thrown uncertain longing glances her way as well. It was confusing and she didn't know how to feel about all the familiarity she'd been receiving. From her new "friendship" with Kriche, to Siesta and Kamvex... and the one thing those last two shared with her...

Eyes bugged out as she shook her head. She didn't need to be thinking of things like this. They were both commoners, yet both have placed they're lips upon her. Sure, she initiated with Kamvex, but that was for the Servant Sealing! But the more she thought about the suprise kiss that the maid gave her, the more she thought about the kiss with Kamvex... and about...

*NO!* she thought. *Moving on! Problem for later, please!*

Kamvex chuckled as he caught his master turning red. She was thinking about it again. *I wonder who she's thinking about this time?* "Come now, Louise. Any more and Marteau could cook an egg on your face."

That snapped her out of it. "Quite you! I was just... thinking."

"About...?" He started. "I'm currently five to three over Siesta right now."

《EXPLOSION! 》

"Six to three."

"Uggh, you are insufferable, Kamvex!" She shouted indignantly. She huffed before continuing, "yes there's that. Yes, I know you won't stop on that. But I would like to move on to the... other... thing." She finished, averting her eyes.

"Ahh, I see," her familiar said, snapping his finger and cleaning the localized mess. "You mean that, yes?"

Wandless magic. The OTHER thing she had yet to address from their time at Mott's. Thinking on things she didn't understand brought her to these topics, but the one she could control was magic. ... Kinda.

"Yes. I don't understand how it's possible that I could do... whatever that was."

"Magic Missile," Kamvex answered simply. "As far as our spells go, it's one of the most basic offensive spells you can learn." He locked eyes with her. "Three guiding bolts of force spring from your hand to blast your targets, and never miss. And depending on the level of spell power you put into it, there will be another bolt."

Louise nearly went wide eyed, but schooled her features. She was a student of magic, and she'd act like it. "You said that these never miss? How is that possible?"

He smirked. The girl was intelligent, something he found very attractive as he watched her. "Yes, unless you have very specific magic items, the spell trades power for unmatched accuracy." He put his hand to his chin, thinking. "Hmmm... an example of its damage is that if you had hit me now, it wouldn't tickle, but I'd be able to shake it off no problem."

She cast her eyes down. "I see..."

"Don't take that badly, Louise. Against any of your peers, you'd beat them in six seconds." She looked up in confusion. "This world's magic is slow, but powerful. Three guided bolts like that would hit anyone before they could put up a suitable defense. And the only thing anyone might have is an earthen dome."

The girl mulled over what he was saying before nodding. "And the... telepathy?"

"A Cantrip, or Zero Level spell. Telepathic Message." He looked into the air, a hint of confusion on his face. "That or it's a power between Mage and Familiar." She tilted her head in confusion. She had never heard that. Perhaps mages from his world could do that?

Regardless, "how should we start then?" She asked. "With that, Magic Missle?"

The familiar shook his head. "Nah," he answered, moving to the other side of the room. He then picked up a basket she was familiar with. "We start with something simple." He then dumped out the contents on her bed. He smirked at her horrified look. "Laundry."

Siesta hummed as as she moved through the fields of the Academy, basket of new sheets in her arms. The past few days were hectic to say the least. After being granted a day of reprieve by the headmaster, the young woman was beset upon by her fellow maids and servants. All of them checking to see if she was alright and what had happened.

It was only thanks to Marteau that everyone settled down. After the getting everyone situated she told her story. While everyone had readily accepted that Their Star, Kamvex, had gone to war for her, the fact that the youngest Vallière had fought so hard was... harder to accept. Marteau had given her a hard look at that, but after a passionate rebuttal, he relented. Apparently she didn't have deceiving eye.

It was quietly decided by the head chef and the rest of the staff that the little noble be given the title Our Lady. While it hadn't been used publicly, she was happy for Louise.

She tilted the laundry basket to hide her blush. She couldn't get either of her saviors out of her head since that night. Kamvex was kind of obvious. The man was handsome, he was brave, he'd already defended her once, and she was sure he was the reason the two had gone to rescue her. She had already been feeling something for him, but kept herself professional.

Louise, however, was new. For one, she was a noble, so there was no reason to feel anything romantic. The second, and more pressing issue, Louise was a girl! But, by Brimir, the way she stood up to her captor! She was regal and cool. So elegant and beautiful. And she demonstrated something that she shared with the human familiar.

They were powerful. It made her shudder. It made her feel safe. And she liked both feelings. She buried her head in the sheets as she made her way to the room. *By the Founder, I cannot be thinking of those two that way!* She thought. Perhaps if it was just Kamvex, the commoner from another world, then maybe she could pursue with better intentions. But to persue his master as well was... unheard of in a way. If she was male, maybe but...

Siesta sighed as she climbed the steps to her destination. "Perhaps I should go into town and speak with Uncle Scarron and Jessica... They might be able to help with this." She shook her head lightly as she came to Louise's door, hearing what sounded like an argument. *Well this should be interesting.* With that she knocked before entering.

"Miss Vallière, I have new... sheets for... Oh FOUNDER!" Siesta dropped the basket to cover her nose as a stench wafted through the room.

Kamvex, ever smug, was grinning while standing next to the closed window with Louise desperately trying to get past to open it. She was failing horribly. "Ah! Siesta! Good timing. Catch and slap!" He tosses a small disk to her that she fumbled with a moment before doing as the adventurer said.

Near instantly the smell was gone, and looked over herself, seeing a near skintight bubble around her. She looked up to see the man holding the small girl in a vice grip now. "What is-?"

"Quick Environmental Exploration Pack, or QEEP for short. Includes a lovely air filtration system."

"YOU BASTARD! GIVE ONE OF THOSE TO ME! I COMMAND YOU!"

"Language Miss," he reprimanded. "Besides, you won't be motivated if you COULDN'T smell this." He looked to Siesta. "Could you close the door please? Don't want the neighbors to complain."

The maid blinked before doing as asked, which deflated Louise further. "What is going on, might I ask?"

"Magic lessons." Kamvex said, letting Louise go. "Teaching her the Prestidigitation spell." Seeing the questioning eye given to him, he elaborated, "the same spell I used to fix the wall of that scratching I gave it before. Same with doing her laundry. "

Ah. That... made sense. Somewhat. She looked to the pile of clothes laying on the bed. "I assume that's where the... smell... is coming from?"

Louise grumbled as she tried to plug her nose, but gave up when her rebellious familiar kept fighting her hands away. "Yes," she sighed. "Apparently I may not leave the room or freshen it up in anyway until I make this go away." She then stamped her feet as she turned to face her tormentor. "But all you've said is 'Make it smell nice,' and then proceeded to make things worse for the past HOUR! How am I supposed to do anything with just that and nothing else but distractions!?"

Kamvex released a snort and leveled a look at the young mage. "Honestly, I'm giving you the hardest task here to teach you something." Pink eyes widened at that. This was the hardest part of the spell? "This minor spell changes and warps reality. In a small way, but the case stands." He turned his gaze to their guest. "Siesta. If pressed to describe, could you tell me what the average noble's dirty clothes smell like?"

The maid hummed as she thought. "I'd have to say... perhaps the lightest amount of sweat, mixed with their personal perfumes or colognes."

"And what you walked into, here?"

"As if my father were working the fields all day, then fell into manure." Came the intant response. But then she thought, moving her hand to the disk and removing it for a moment to sniff before latching it back on. "And was that... moldy cheese?" She asked, repulsed.

"Yup." He answered as Louise paled, nearly gagging. It was taking her all to be composed. Kamvex turned his attention to her again. "So now that you know how they smell now, what can you use to try to make it smell better?"

Louise looked at him questioningly, then to the room. He'd given her something to work with, now she had to find it. She needed to make the smell... not go away, but change. They changed from light sweat and perfume to... terrible... So she needed not clean but...

Her eyes snapped to the basket at Siesta's feet. FRESH! Almost depravedly, she leaped for the basket, burying her face into the linens there. She inhaled the fresh scent she took for granted, and kept herself there for a good thirty seconds. Then, blush on her face having realized how barbaric she must have looked, she pulled herself up as dignified as she could. Then strode to the bed, laser focused. She didn't even register the proud smirk on Kamvex's face.

*Not clean... Fresh...* she thought, outstreching her arms. She closed her eyes, feeling in the back of her head the nod of approval from her familiar, and concentrated. Clean required time. Smell, and the riddance of that smell took moments. Slowly but surely, the smell began to dissipate. She grimaced, the power felt strange. It wasn't like her explosions, it was wholly different. But it felt good. Right. Just as right as purposely casting her explosions did, but in a different way.

The smell was gone, replaced with the fresh linen smell she had in her mind, but she dare not stop. She feared that her familiar had taken pity and done it for her with her eyes closed. That the maid had taken them away or covered them up to save the trouble. That all that she felt was in her mind. Her brows knitted together in worry, but she couldn't help it. She-

"Miss Vallière..."

"Louise... open your eyes..."

Slowly, she cracked her eyes open.

Pink. A soft glowing pink came to the forefront. It was familiar, but from where? Her eyes opened further to see small glyphs hovering by her outstretched hands. They were simple, the prominent features being the Brimiric Star with the Vallière sigil in the center. Again, there was something else she was missing, but she couldn't see what. Then she looked across the room with wide eyes. Her clothes, various other items, as well as the hair of the three occupants were floating, bathed in the pink glow she exuded.

Louise gasped for air she didn't know she needed and everything came tumbling down. She shivered as she was nearly hyperventilating, Siesta coming to hold her steady. Kamvex crossed the room, setting her in a chair to calm down, his face neutral. She looked to him desperately. "Did... did I..?"

He smiled, "That you did Louise." She wasn't even mad with the hug from the maid she got or the kiss to her forehead from her trainer. The familiarity felt... nice.

Besides. She could reprimand them later.

[Outside the Tower of Void - Night]

She couldn't believe her luck. Finally that damn familiar wasn't wandering around the Academy ground and for once was staying put in the Vallière's room like he should be. If only it was this easy every night.

Fourquet tossed back her long green hair as she eyed the walls keeping her from her prize. The door to the building was a no go, a fact she'd checked with the unwitting Colbert. Far too many teachers had put their charms on the door, and without the headmaster's key, it wouldn't open easily. So she decided to check the walls. Unfortunately, this was the first night since the Mott Raid. And after hearing his crimes, she'd decided to take everything she could while the guards were away.

The thief known as The Crumbling Dirt pressed her foot to the wall and tsked. Not only was the wall too thick, the hardening spell that was placed on it was extremely potent. She couldn't go under it, nor through the front door, and now her best route had hit a tough spot. *My golem won't be able to get through this wall and spell together. Damn it!* she cursed. *I'm not leaving without my prize. Perhaps...* she thought a moment before her eyes turned to the girl's tower. *Vallière... she might be able to get through this...* the question now, was how...? Then it clicked. The girl's vanity and desire to be useful would prove a great boon to her.

She just had to hold out for two weeks...

The rest of the week had passed by without much issue. And very quietly, much to Kirche's displeasure. Her favorite duo had been missing all week. Everyday after classes, Louise would scurry off back to the dorm rooms with Kamvex waiting on her and they wouldn't come out for any reason.

At first the seductress had thought something scandalous was happening just down the hall. But she couldn't get in to see! And there was the lack of sound indicating such fevered passion. It sounded like Louise was getting further instruction by Kamvex. In what, she didn't know, but the secrecy was driving her mad.

Further, there was the maid they had saved from the corrupt Count. Every day at dinner time, she could be seen with a tray of food, heading for the girl's tower and straight to the Vallière room. No one dared to stop her either, as it was proven twice in less than a week that doing anything to her would be... hazardous.

Kirche had stayed behind one day to see if she could get a peek into the room. Though she was stopped by suprise. She had expected, upon the knock at the door, that Kamvex or even Louise would answer the door. But to her shock, a pink astral hand was on the door handle. It then took the tray from the maid and floated back inside, where the maid followed and shut the door, re locking it.

The Germainian immediately sought out Tabitha. If anyone in this school outside a teacher would know something, it was the petite blue haired girl. Unfortunately, she too had no answers, and while her interest was slightly peaked, it wasn't enough to drag her away like the last time.

So Kirche thought up a different plan. Either it would get Louise to spill, or she'd become flustered again and begin freaking out. Either way, it was a win for the redhead.

Louise sighed as she packed up her things and quickly made her way to the door. Her afternoon classes were starting to drag. She blamed Kamvex and the amazing magic she'd been learning with him. Well, maybe not all of it was amazing, but still!

He classified her as a Mystic once she got ahold of her magic. Then after asking her to channel her magic at him in the most natural way she could. For clarification, he said. So she thought, and almost as in a trance, raised her arm as a glyph appeared by the outstretched hand. And three familiar pink/white bolts launched themselves at Kamvex, who took them head on and kept his lesson going.

*~[Last Day of Void - Louise's room]~

"Wow, that stings!" Kamvex exclaimed as he shook of the blows Louise dealt him.

"Kamvex!" The mage shouted in worry, making her way to the other side of the room. "Are you okay?"

"Oh yeah, I'm good." He said giving his chest a quick pat. "Ya hit me center mast on my scar, so it stings a bit more than normal."

"Do you need to see a healer, or one of your pouches?"

The bronze man shook his head. "Nope. This is another teaching moment." Louise blinked owlishly in confusion before he continued. "All Mystics have the ability to heal, no matter their connection."

*Connection?* she thought, before dismissing it. She had something else to learn it seems. "What do I need to do?"

He smiled and sat down. "Place your hands over the damage, and allow that power to fill you. Use your desire to heal change that power, and then let it flow into me."

She nodded, willing the magic into her being and reaching out for her familiar. Her hands glowed the soft pink as before, and she didn't want to hurt him. It was instinctive that she knew touching him now was incorrect. Louise closed her eyes, brows knit together. She needed a base to think on. A why. A purpose to heal instead of lash out.

*He's my Familiar. My... friend. He protects me, and like any good Master, like any good friend...* She opened her eyes now, the glyphs disappearing, and a warm glow eminated from her palms. *I must protect him and lift him up as well...*

It took a good ten minutes of work, but she'd done what she could. But somehow, Louise knew it wasn't quite enough. "Not yet..."

"Louise?"

"I need to make sure..."*I can protect him... help me...* she cried out in her mind.

"Louise, I'm fine, I promise," Kamvex pleaded. He could hear the desperation in the voice of his mistress, and didn't like it.

Louise however didn't hear him. She felt a warm embrace she didn't quite understand, and once again her form glowed with power.

"HEAL." She spoke as golden light powered from her. She pressed her head to his chest, willing more power to flow into her familiar. Then, she felt it. He was healed, fully and completely from her attack. With that her arms fell, as did she nearly, before the tired Louise found herself in the strong arms of her familiar.

Her tired eyes couldn't make out the the smile on his face, or the pride in his eyes. The only thing she'd remember was what he said.

"Good job, Louise."

~[Present - Courtyards]~*

Louise smiled with a light blush adorning her cheeks. She wasn't praised often, but the fact that she had been getting the hang of this new magic so quickly... it was gratifying. She felt accomplished. That she was gaining acknowledgement while doing so was a bonus she didn't know she craved. Perhaps she should talk to him about these things?

She shook her head. No, it wasn't that important. Learning these new magics however was a top priority. With that in mind, the pinkette lifted her head and strode confidently into the dorm tower for her evening lesson...

Only to run straight into the largest amount of cleavage on campus.

"Oh my, Louise," her Germainian headache said. "I had no idea you felt that way!" She teased.

Louise's eyes bugged out as she backed away to the nearest wall. "K-k-k-Kirche! What are you talking about?!"

Seeing her flustered like this was something Kirche adored, but perhaps she could dig a bit deeper. She clasped her hands and sighed. "Ahh, you came forward with such confidence into my bosom, and it's not like you left immediately. Did it perhaps get you..." she leaned in a bit and whispered, "...hot?"

"That's not at all the case, you succubus!" Louise challenged. "I was just eager to get back to my room for some... self study," she finished after a moment.

"Hmmm..." the redhead hummed in thought. "That's an awful amount of self study you've placed on yourself, Louise. You've barely left your room in that time. Perhaps..."

"Whatever is going on in that mind of yours Kirche, I assure you, is not the case."

*hook, line and sinker.* "So you're not having a passionate affair with you ever handsome familiar?" A good blush appeared. Good, but there could be more. "Or is it that maid whose been going to your room every night to show 'appreciation?'" Redder, but not angry. Confusion? "Oh honey, is it both?" Oh, there it was.

"Enough from you, you cow!" Louise exploded. All she wanted was to go up and practice her new Mystic talents, not have... *THOSE* thoughts dancing around her head all night. She wouldn't be able to look at Kamvex or Siesta tonight...

*NOT THAT I WAS DOING SUCH THINGS IN THE FIRST PLACE!*

Kirche laughed at how flustered her rival was getting, so decided to end things here. "Well I've had my fun here Louise, but I did have an actual reason for finding you." Louise's still twitching eye and red face turned up to her.

"While you were in your self imposed exile doing... whatever that pink hand thing was..." she started, waving her hand flippantly, "everyone else has been getting ready for the Familiar Exhibition. In fact, I do believe that all the servants are being pulled into getting things ready for it."

Louise's eyes bugged out slightly at the mention of her Mage Hand spell. She took a moment to calm down, then cocked her eyebrow. "Okay, but why such a big deal? We're just showing our familiars talents to the teaching staff, correct?"

The Germainian shook her head. "You are so very out of the loop, little Louise." Kirche bent over to the smaller girl's eye level. "It seems that your princess, Henrietta, is going to be a guest of honor." She straightened up, hugging slightly. "I need to go practice with Flame myself, but I thought I would give you a heads up. After all," she started to saunter off outside, "what are friends for?"

Louise was ramrod still. Henrietta was coming? And she hadn't even known!? Founder help her, this was terrible! The rest of her class must have been practicing since a week ago, and she had just found out now?! She stopped herself before she got further carried away. *Calm yourself Louise... Kamvex has proven a capable warrior. He can just show off those skills. He'll be fine.* with a sigh of satisfaction, she went upstairs to inform her familiar about the goings on, confident things would be fine.

A/N: Bit of a cooldown chapter here. Hope you all like it!