summary – after putting herself up for auction after giving up on life, Haru finds herself purchased by Baron, who makes her his apprentice mage at the Bureau. Fantasy, family, potential romance if this becomes a multichapter fic.
Business: I own nothing. Except the Voice, who is being borrowed from Heirverse.
Wordcount: 4320
A/n: this was inspired by episode 1 of The Ancient Magus' Bride. Which had me clutching my heart because of the wholesomeness and poof: this. Two days of writing and I produce this.
Oneshot for the moment but I may continue this one if I get a) good response for this and b) more ideas for 'episodes' (if episodes is the right word). So who knows this may become a new series of self contained stories.
So as with all my work: if you like this, please drop me a comment and let me know. So I know what to post more of :) otherwise I will just leave this as a throwaway oneshot.
The Baron's Apprentice
"You aren't going to regret this down the line, are you Miss Yoshioka?"
She sat on the chair and quietly scribbled her name on the dotted line. Haru Yoshioka. She'd already read the contract, watched all the ethics presentations they sad were mandatory before one embarked upon this decision. They'd been dull and she'd doodled her way through most of them. But jumping through all their little hoops had gotten her here, and she was signing on the dotted line to put herself up for auction like all the other magical and unusual commodities. Because why the hell not? She'd already given up on her life. And like the man in the suit said, why not give it to someone else so they could make better use of it?
"No."
She put the dot at the end of her signature. "There. Done." she said, handing the paperwork back to the man sitting opposite. The same man who'd given her the idea of putting herself up for auction.
"Excellent," he beamed. Though Haru could tell it was one of those fake smiles businessmen usually gave. "We shall proceed with the auction process, then."
Haru put the lid back onto the pen and set it down on the table. She stood, knowing what came next. They'd already explained it to her. She obediently held out her hands to be cuffed and stood with her neck straight so they could put a shackle around it. Making sure that she could still breathe easily. Wouldn't want to sell off any damaged goods, after all.
The suit led her down into the Holding Room, where she saw all manner of creatures. Mermaids in saltwater tanks – but like no mermaid she'd ever seen. With webbed fingers and fangs and alien like bodies. Chimera – animals made up of parts of different species. Centaurs. Fae. Pixies in cages. There was even a large, ugly mountain troll.
She couldn't help but shiver a little at such a menagerie. Even though now technically she was a part of it.
I really shouldn't be so surprised by them, considering the unusual things I've seen in my life. She mused. I wonder who would be interested in me...
She was led to the auction stage and left to stand in the spotlight as the auctioneer announced her.
"And here, ladies and gentlemen, we have lot 359. Shall we open up the bidding at 10,000?"
Haru couldn't help but wince. Am I worth so little?
But after some murmuring and whispering among the crowd, each member of it masked to preserve their identities, the numbers started to go up as people shouted.
"Twenty thousand!"
"Forty thousand!
"Sixty thousand!"
There was a collective gasp from the crowd. That was a lot of money. More than Haru could ever afford anyway. Haru wondered who it was that could afford to throw that much money away at an auction.
That's when the door opened and in strode a man in a grey suit and top hat. He wore a cloak that covered most of his body and as he walked he tapped his cane on the marble floor of the auction house. There were lots of gasps from the attendees in their chairs as he walked by them, and Haru could hear the tap tap tapping of his cane as he walked, eventually climbing up the steps and standing in front of her on the stage. She looked up t him and could see why the crowd had been murmuring amongst themselves. In front of her stood a man's body – yet with the head of a cat.
He was certainly most peculiar. Especially the way those green eyes seemed to stare right into her soul.
Then just as quickly, he turned on his heels to face the audience. "One hundred thousand!" he called out. Placing his own bid for her. Haru gasped quietly behind him. One hundred thousand?! That was more money than she could ever earn in her life!
That was 'I had to sell my entire set of internal organs to get this much money' kind of money. Just who was this cat man, who could afford to throw away that much money like this.
Even the crowd was shocked.
"Anyone else want to bid?" the cat asked them all, a lightness in his voice that Haru could only describe as smugness. "No? Very well then, it seems that I am the now owner of this charming young lady here."
The auctioneer banged his gavel and declared the lot sold, and then both Haru and the cat man were led off into another room to complete the payment proceedings.
. . .
Once the cheque was handed over and the payment completed, the cat bid her to follow him, which she did. He led her out not through the menagerie, but the front door of the establishment. Where the rich clientele walked through. It was truly an opulent building, Haru was quite in awe. Grand arches, ornately carved statues. And everywhere, gold.
"Um, ex-excuse me," Haru asked softly as she trailed after her new owner. "But... what are you going to do with me now you've bought me?"
He stopped walking and turned to face her. "Why, my dear," he smiled warmly at her. "I am going to make you my apprentice."
"Apprentice of what?"
He chuckled. "Why, can you not tell?" he said, waving his hand and conjuring a very pretty ball of light in his hand. Very soon there were several balls and specks of light dancing and glowing all around him, creating quite the spectacle. "An apprentice mage, of course."
Haru blinked, awed by the pretty light show. "Oh."
It was all she could say.
"Now I do believe we haven't been formally introduced," he said, clicking his fingers to make the light show vanish so he could remove his hat and give her a most gracious bow. "I am Baron Humbert Von Gikkingen. But you may call me Baron."
Haru felt like she had to curtsy back at him, just to match his formality. But she refrained. "I'm Haru," she said. "Haru Yoshioka."
Baron smiled at her again, those green eyes twinkling. "Then it is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Haru. Come, we should get back to the Bureau. I believe it is almost time for tea, and I would so like to get back before Muta eats all the angel cake I had prepared for your arrival."
Haru blinked again. "The... Bureau?"
"Yes," Baron answered. "Come along. I shall explain on the way."
. . .
When they arrived at the Sanctuary, Haru had the basic gist of things. Baron was a part of a small, highly select group that helped people with their problems, whether they were big or small. A place known to many by the name of the Cat Bureau. It was a group of Creations – beings infused with magic when an artisan made them with all of their heart – or mages, as they were more commonly known. And now Haru was one of them, as Baron's apprentice. She'd be taught magic, help them on cases and investigations, and be a general asset to the team.
But nothing could have prepared her for actually seeing the Sanctuary.
It was a quaint little house, with the lights on inside, and it had this homey, cozy feeling that Haru had only ever been able to dream of having. She stopped outside the door, just staring at it.
"Welcome to your new home, Miss Haru," Baron said, standing beside here. "You will be staying here for as long as you are my apprentice."
"Home..." Haru echoed quietly. I've never had one of those before.
"Yes," Baron nodded, opening the door with a quick, smooth motion. "Your Sanctuary and Rfuge from the troubles of the outside world. And inside it, your new family. Shall we go inside?"
She swallowed the large lump that'd formed in her throat and nodded. "Yes," she said. It was all she could manage.
"Excellent," he smiled. "Ah, but first, let me get these things off of you,"
Haru barely had any time to ask him what he was talking about when he raised his cane up and in a burst of white light, he brought it down to bang the end on the ground and made her neck shackle and handcuffs vanish. The wind from the spell gushing past her as she stood, spellbound, by the display of his skill.
"Now, shall we, Miss Haru?" he asked, offering her his arm. She took it, and they went inside.
. . .
They walked into the little house to find a very fat white cat and a regal looking crow bickering amongst themselves while playing some kind of card game. From what Haru could see it was a game where the cards were four different colours, red, blue, yellow and green.
"Draw four?!" the large cat exclaimed. "You dirty cheater!"
The crow chuckled. "I'm simply playing the game, lardball."
"Fight me, birdbrain."
Baron stepped up beside Haru and smiled. "Ah, I seen they are playing Uno."
"Uno?" she asked.
"We shall have to teach you to play sometime. Come, I'll introduce you to the others."
He walked further into the living room over to the fire where the other two were bickering over the card game, and called to them. "Toto, Muta!"
Immediately they ceased their bickering and looked up. "Hey, Baron. This the new apprentice?"
"Yes," Baron smiled proudly, placing his hand on Haru's shoulder. "This is Miss Haru Yoshioka. Miss Haru, the crow here is Toto, and the white cat there is Muta."
"Nice to meet you," Toto greeted her, giving a small yet graceful bow. Muta however was a lot less refined.
"Hey, Chicky," he drawled. "Good to meet ya. Did Baron give ya the cheesy light show?"
Baron winced at that. "It is not cheesy."
Haru had to stifle a giggle.
"Hey, Chicky, it's okay. Yer allowed ta laugh here. Especially if it's at Baron Von Cheesy Lightshow there. It's a key part of being in the family."
"Muta..." Baron sighed, covering his face with his hand. Groaning. Haru let herself giggle this time.
"Yes, we laugh at each other all the time," Toto agreed, nodding his head. "Though when things get tough, we're all there for each other. And now that includes you now you're one of us."
Haru smiled softly. Part of the family. Not just an apprentice. "Thankyou."
Baron clapped his hands together. "Right. Now that everyone is here, I think it is time for Miss Haru to take her bath, and then we can all have a nice spot of tea and cake. And then we can all play Uno."
. . .
Even the bathroom was nice. There was a bath already drawn up for her, and Baron handed her a set of fresh towels and told her to take as long as she liked. And to submerge herself fully so she didn't catch a chill. The water was warm and inviting, and Haru could smell the lavender that had been infused in it. She sank into the hot water gratefully, letting it leech the aches and pains from her body and relax all of her muscles. She didn't realise just how much tension she'd been carrying around until it all melted away. She was grateful, too, for the chance to scrub herself clean and wash the stink of the auction house and the menagerie off her. To wash this day away and start fresh with the Bureau.
She let her head rest back against the tub, and let her eyes rest for a few minutes. Just decompressing from the day.
And that's when she heard it.
"Hey," the voice called to her. Soft and girlish. "Hey, wake up, sweetheart. It's us, your new neighbours!"
Haru opened her eyes to find a little fairy hovering over her face, with brown skin and wings made from what appeared to be little leaves. And the biggest eyes Haru had ever seen.
"Huh? Neighbours?"
"That's right!" the little fairy chirped. Her head nodding as she flapped her leaf-wings. "We live in the forest just outside. We wanted to come in and meet The Baron's new apprentice."
You... knew I was coming here?" Haru asked the fairy.
"Oh yes," the fairy sang. "Word travels fast around the Refuge. So welcome. I just wanted to let you know that if you're going to study to be a mage under The Baron, we'll do all we can to help you!"
"That's great... thankyou, I guess." Haru answered. Not at all sure how to feel about talking to a fairy while she was in the bath. "It's nice of you fairies to offer to help me."
The fairy tittered. "Oh, that's such an adorable human word. 'Fairy'. Just call us your good friends or neighbours," she smiled.
"Oh, okay." Haru nodded. Because there really wasn't much else to do but nod.
"Alrighty, I have to go now, but you just call me if you need anything, okay sweetness?"
"Sure." Haru nodded, still trying to process the fact that she'd just spoken to an actual fairy. Just as the creature flew back out the little window where she came in. leaving Haru in peace to finish her bath.
. . .
When she got out of the bath and changed into her new clean clothes Baron had left out for her, she walked back into the living room and settled on the sofa by the fire. Baron handed her a plate of chocolate cake and a cup of tea delicately balanced on a saucer. She took both gratefully and sank down into the sofa to relax.
"You didn't tell me there were fairies living close by," Haru said, putting her plate of cake on her lap and taking a sip of her tea.
"Oh, so you can see them," Baron nodded, "Excellent. It is fortunate that you have the Sight. It will make it easier for you to learn Creation magic." he walked around behind her and continued, tying something around her neck. A necklace with a smooth piece of jade attached to it. "Speaking of that, here, I have made you an amulet. Wear it always, and it shall protect you."
"Oh," Haru said softly, face heating from a soft little blush. "Thankyou, Baron. It's beautiful."
"I am glas you approve, Miss Haru. I have one just like it." He moved to sit beside her and lifted his own amulet from under his shirt. One that looked like hers, except his was made of lapis lazuli. "Every mage is supposed to have an amulet crafted for them especially. My Master carved mine for me when I was an apprentice, and now I've carved one for you. Wear it with pride, Miss Haru."
Haru clutched her new amulet, knowing she would treasure it forever. "Thankyou. I will. I hope I can make you proud, Baron."
"I'm sure you will, Miss Haru," he said gently. His eyes warm and soft. "Now then," he clapped his gloved hands together. "I do believe we need to teach Miss Haru about the playing of Uno."
. . .
By the time Haru was shown to her room to retire for the night, she'd grasped the rules of Uno, won a few games, and truly felt like she could settle down and make a life here. She thought as much when she changed into her clean new pyjamas and snuggled down into her new bed. She couldn't believe it. A new home. A new family. And a room all of her own. And now she was going to learn magic.
How did she ever get so lucky?
She closed her eyes and slowly let herself drift off to sleep, wondering what tomorrow would bring her. But the moment she felt herself nodding off, she heard the light banging on the window, and someone calling her name.
"Haru! Hey, Haru! It's me, open up!"
Haru groaned and rolled over, opening her eyes at the sound. "Ugh. Now I'll never get back to sleep."
She trudged reluctantly over to the window and opened it, finding her new little fairy friend waiting for her. She flew into Haru's bedroom and settled on Haru's hands that were ready to catch her.
"Oh, you're that fairy... oh, uh... I mean neighbour."
"Haru! Good to see you!" the fairy chirped. "Glad you're settling in well. Would you care to go for a midnight stroll? I can show you my home, the forest just over there. It's so lovely this time of year."
Haru hesitated. "I don't know... I should probably get back to sleep. Baron said we have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow."
The fairy pouted. "Aw, come on. We'll only be gonna a little while. Just a short walk I promise. And then when you come back, you'll be well rested and you'll sleep just that much better! What do you say?"
Haru thought for a moment. Sighing. Well, I won't be getting back to sleep anytime soon. "Okay. Sure. Why not?"
The little fairy cheered, and followed Haru as she put on her coat and boots and stepped out towards the forest with her new fairy friend. Unaware that a pair of green eyes were watching them. Their owner sighing at her foolishness. Thinking that it would at least be a good lesson for her.
. . .
She walked through the forest, taking in all the eerie beauty. Letting the sea of trees swallow her up so the Sanctuary seemed far away. Like it were a dream. Above her the moon shone bright, the light of it filtering down through the canopy above her.
"It's beautiful here," Haru remarked gently. Looking above and around her. Here, too, were what appeared to be sparkles.
"It is, isn't it?" the fairy nodded. "The sparkles you can see are the trails we leave when we fly around. Isn't it just magical?"
"Yes," Haru sighed. "Magical."
"So tell me about your life, Haru," the fairy spoke, fluttering close beside her. "Who were you before Baron took you in? Did you have any family?"
Haru shook her head in answer. Feeling very serene in this lovely forest. "I was nobody. I had no family."
"Aw," the fairy frowned. "No relatives at all?"
"None." Haru told her. "At least, none that wanted to keep me."
The fairy's expression fell. "Aww. That's sad. So sad."
"Yeah," Haru said, trying not to let the sadness show in her voice. Because she had Baron now. She had Baron and Toto and Muta. And a home at the Bureau and...
"Hey," Haru said, suddenly pulling herself out of her own thoughts to look around her. Realising she'd come much further into the forest than she'd intended. "We're some way away from the Bureau... I should go back before Baron and the others worry about me."
The fairy just chuckled. "Oh, don't you worry your pretty little head about that." she said. Smiling. "Besides, it isn't like you're going to go back to him anyway."
Haru stopped mid-stride. Eyes wide. "What?"
The fairy laughed again. Dark and sinister this time. Such a contrast to her earlier, light and playful laughs. "I'm taking you back to the Fairy Kingdom!" she announced. Her arms around Haru's upper arm, as if in an embrace and not a trap. "I'm taking you back with me. My superiors will be most cross with me if I don't. And you'll be better off in the fairy world anyway. You'll have fun and be carefree and you won't have to worry about your sad little life anymore."
"Excuse me?" Haru demanded. "Who said I'm going with you?"
The fairy laughed again. Dark and twisted. "Oh please," she said, completely dismissing Haru's protests. "What do you have to stay here for? It's not like you have a home or a family or anything!" And you'd be much happier in the fairy world. Look the portals already open. It's easy! Just walk through it!"
Haru hesitated. "I... I can't."
But the fairy was insistent, and Haru could hear her laughter echoing, multiplying, until there were so many fairies surrounding her. All trying to pull her towards the open portal to the fairy world.
"No!" she cried, but she could feel dark vines curling about her, and she swore she could see a dark figure in the woods up ahead, it's head a white bear skull with glowing red eyes. A voice echoing inside her head the more she looked at it.
Just go through, it – he – said. You don't have anyone here anyway. Nobody likes you. Nobody wants you. You may as well just leave.
Haru deflated at the sound of the voice. He's right. I'm all alone. I don't have anybody here. I may as well just...
All of the fight drained out of her body, making her body act of it's own accord. It was right. They were right. She had nobody. Nothing. No reason to stay...
But that was wrong.
She thought of Baron then. Of Toto and Muta. How they'd welcomed her into their Bureau. Given her a home and a family and said they'd always look out for her. She thought of them all, her new family, and she returned to her senses. The dark Voice in her head receded, and she found her hand reaching for the fairy closest to the portal.
No!
She clamped her hand down on the arm that was automatically reaching for the fairy, for the portal, and dragged it down and away. Digging her nails in so hard it made her bleed. But that didn't matter. What mattered was stopping herself from walking into the portal. Away from her home and her family.
"What?" the fairy gasped, the one that had led her here.
"I can't go with you." Haru told her firmly. "I won't."
"Why?" the fairy snarled.
"Because I do have a home," Haru told her. "And I do have a family. Baron and the others said as much. They gave me a home and opened their hearts to me, and that means more than anything in the world."
The fairy snarled, about to swipe at her face, when Haru felt a familiar warm hand land on her shoulders. And a familiar voice speak on her behalf.
"I couldn't agree more," Baron said, appearing beside Haru, cloak on and cane in hand, ready to brandish it in her defence if it came to that. "Now, begone, fae. I think the lady has made her choice."
"Baron!" Haru gasped. "You came for me!"
Baron never once took his eyes off the fae, but his voice was full of warmth when he addressed her. "Of course. Did I not say we would always protect you?"
"You!" The fairy snarled at Baron. "How did you find us?"
Baron chuckled. "It wasn't difficult. Not when she's linked to the Bureau."
The fairy went to retort with some snappy comeback, but Baron summoned a ball of fre in his hands and glared at her. "Leave!" he said firmly. "Don't make me tell you again."
The fairy who's led her into the forest summoned the rest of the fae back into the portal, snarling over her shoulder.
"You cant protect her forever baron!"
Baron just snorted. "Believe me I certainly will."
And with that, the fae vanished and the portal closed up behind them. Only then did Baron put his fire out.
"That was quite the adventure," he smiled, turning back to Haru. "Are you quite alright?"
Haru nodded. "Yes. I think so. I'm sorry I messed up, Baron. I should never have left the Bureau."
Baron shook his head. "Fae tend to seduce humans to devour their magic. It is my fault. I should have warned you. I shall be more careful next time. But at least you have learned a good lesson today."
Haru nodded sheepishly. "Not to trust fairies?"
"Indeed." Baron agreed. "Now come, we should head back. The others will be worried."
And with that, Baron lifted her up into his arms in one swift motion. Making her blush furiously. "Wait, no! I can... I can walk by myself."
"It is easy to get lost in these woods," Baron told her. "And with your arm like that, it is prudent we make it back quickly so we can treat it."
There was absolutely nothing Haru could say to that, so she just nodded and let Baron carry her back to the Bureau. Back home.
"Hey, Baron," she asked after a while of walking. "Before, you said you located me because of my link to the Bureau. How is that possible?"
Baron looked down at her as they walked, never once breaking stride. "Your amulet," he said. "It sent out a distress call and we picked it up."
"Oh," she said. "I didn't think it would..." she began, but her words trailed off. She wasn't entirely sure how that sentence was going to finish.
"I told you, Miss Haru." he explained. "The Bureau is your home now. And you will always have a connection to your home."
Those words caused a little smile to blossom on her lips. "I think I like that, Baron." she said quietly. "Thankyou."
Baron smiled very warmly down at her. Affection plain in his eyes. "You are most welcome, dear Haru."
END CH.