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The following is a fan-based
FICTION
TwoKinds is a production written, drawn and owned by Tom Fischbach.
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Chapter 4: Explosions 'n' Roses
I had expected for other issues to rise up after the first troublesome situations with Euchre right by the first day. I wasn't utterly certain of it, but I had nurtured back then the thought that the Incognito Keidran would have manifested even more strange habits that could've drawn suspects over his identity.
Much to my surprise and immense luck, two weeks went by without any major hassle happening to the two of us. There were plenty of bumps along these days, but nothing that genuinely poised a problematic circumstance to deal over, despite the young man's eagerness to learn proving to get overbearing more than once.
He was making progress in adapting to the human customs while studying from the lectures and from my own advices over the crucial subject. Calm and confidence were there to push him in the right direction when someone like me was around to keep an eye on him.
While Euchre wasn't as naive as I first painted him to be, I did see some childish or overtly simplistic undertones in his actions and thinking. Careful but also curious, I had to deal with quite the complicated character while continuing to face the daily annoyance presented by the homework.
The workload wasn't meant to be cumbersome. In a normal circumstance. But I was supposed to find a balance to the 'mixed burden' and the 'furred one' represented by the Wolf Keidran. The silver-haired young man was quick on his feet with most of magical-related subjects, theory seemingly becoming easy for him to stomach without much of a minor whine.
The real issue manifested with the management/non-magical subjects that Euchre was supposed to deal with like any other student at the College. Mathematics was a basic subject that was easy to learn about, but difficult to apply with the advanced economics-related exercises within the standard textbook.
If enduring the boredom of listening a theory-only lesson had driven the young man to boredom, these other topics seemed to push the Keidran to actually display an emotion I had long thought him to be devoid of. Euchre could actually hate, I discovered, and its main enemy were the complex formulas that were quick to give him headaches.
Considering the overall situation of the fellow student, I could see why he was having this much of a struggle before Mathematics of all subjects. Not only it was an essential part of the College because of how largely important it was to society's inner-workings, but it was rather unforgiving with how the subject had been compressed in heavy lessons to go through each time. And while I couldn't relate to the full extent of his plight, I did share some of his hatred over the irking lectures I had been suffering from the very beginning of my stay here.
But while this entire description of the last fourteen or so days might seem to clearly highlight the lack of serious problems, there were still some lingering issues that developed right as a certain individual took notice of Euchre.
Mary took the news that the new student was my current roommate with mixed emotions. She looked to be happy that I finally had 'someone to talk to', but soon her politeness strained when she got a taste of the silver-haired young man's giddy nature.
I was wary of having these two meet, especially with the young woman's known hatred for Keidrans of all kinds. In fact, I was quite surprised when she actually ended up creating a strange relationship with the mostly-clueless newcomer.
While Euchre failed to notice that the brunette had taken extra notice to 'compete against him' during the various classes focusing on Practical Magic, I had swiftly realized that he had become a target of curiosity for Mary.
It wasn't anything malicious, nor anything even remotely close to the bully-like mentality that some students had. It was… rivalry. An attempt to emulate one at least, and I slowly came to understand why the girl wanted this situation to be like it was.
Up until Euchre started to show his impressive grasp over practical magic compared to many other 'prodigious' students, Mary had been the 'first' of the class. She was polite, she was respectful and respected, but – most of all – she was also someone that had no serious opponent to this title.
Which was a good thing for her... up until boredom started to pile up within the girl. I could technically be considered someone that could come close to her displayed potential if I had put some more efforts, but I really didn't want to be subjected to the spotlight and the risks that came from that kind of predicament.
And then someone that was worthy enough to hold a candle to her. The silver-haired young man was absurdly clueless that his earnest attitude in showing his natural grasp over magic was actually bringing was more issues than good things.
I had warned him from being this quick to 'show-off' his abilities. It was all for the sake of getting singled out by some nasty fellows in the classrooms. Some had noticed him already, but had restrained themselves all because Mary was the one that got the most interest on him.
And the interactions between the two were… pure comedy gold. In the few occasion that I wasn't actually forced to intervene or stay close to Euchre to avoid his cover to be blown up by some silly mistakes, I would be the only spectator of the curious exchanges between the two strange students.
Sure, Mary was a model student… but her approach to try to intimidate, or at least garner Euchre's interest, proved to be hilarious to say the least. I was absolutely stomped by how genuinely adorable a rule-abiding, stern fifteen years old girl could turn so suddenly.
The brunette was delving in uncharted territory, and she was completely unprepared to deal with the wall of dense that was the Incognito Keidran. The mere attempt to establish some 'stable ground' from where the girl could make some proclamations was easily shattered by the genuine confusion visible on his face.
Unbalanced by the lack of proper return to her remarks was enough to push her to beat some hasty retreats before messing her own situation by failing to 'understand her enemy'.
It was amusing up until she started to knock at the door of our room early in the morning. Which was today.
Imagine my surprise when some loud noises got me waking up despite my plans to enjoy more hours of sleep considering that it was Sunday.
I jumped off the bed when I started hearing the knocking, the sound being twisted by my sleep-dominated brain into something much louder and worrying. My eyes snapped open and I sported an alarmed look as I quickly took a look over the entire situation within the dormroom.
Euchre was still sleeping. I could see that he had morphed back in his Keidran form and that he was snoring lightly over his pillow. He seemed to have failed to have woken up at the noise, yet his wolf-like ears were twitching actively and attentively at it.
With my mind calmly assessing the fact that there didn't seem to be any issue within the room, I turned my attention to look at the door as the umpteenth knocking streak reached my ears.
I stood up from the floor and quietly paced to the door, slowly going to open it and… frown when I found myself staring at Mary patiently waiting outside.
"Samuel. I need to talk with Euchre about-" The brunette 'greeted' as she tried to push the door open and enter inside the room, prompting me to keep it close much to her surprise.
"We're both underdressed right now. Euchre is sleeping right now and… good morning to you too Mary." I dryly remarked, gaining a petite scowl on her face. "Why are you here?"
"I wish to challenge Euchre in a magical spar."
Terrible idea. I wasn't sure how the young man's morphing skill worked, and I was unsure if magical attacks somehow hindered the effects of his current transformation.
I blinked at that blunt comment. "I don't think challenge and spar can coexist with whatever you wish to do with him."
"As if that would matter. I just want him to come at the Eastward Section once he's awake and properly dressed," The girl rebuked calmly. "I seek to know more about my-"
"Rival?"
"F-Fellow prodigious student," She almost tripped at my sudden conclusion, a little blush spreading on her cheeks.
"You made that one up, didn't you?" I inquired with a hint of teasing. She returned it with a huff.
"Just make sure he's decent and prepared for the spar," The brunette deflected with an irritated tone. "And I will not take 'No' as an answer."
She didn't offer me a chance to press for more details as she quickly marched away from the living quarters, perhaps unwilling to be subjected to any more ridicule from my part.
It wasn't my fault that she was literally being so 'fragile' and 'normal' after having seen her being an individual way too mature and 'political' for someone our age. Yet, I still complied by getting Euchre to wake up from his 'happy dreams'.
He was confused over the fact I had promised him to wake him up way later than now, and yet he seemed to change tune the moment I mentioned what had caused this little diversion of plans.
"But… I can't fight," The young man blurted out as we were in the middle of putting on our uniforms. I stopped in the process of putting on the pants to stare up in shock at that.
"What?"
"I mean, I… I do know the basics of using lances- but magically-wise, I'm not well-versed in offensive spells," He explained with some hesitation. "I never saw a purpose to learn anything that could hurt people."
I saw the logic, which prompted me to nod along his lines. But I still felt like we had been put in quite the worst situation. Actually, the one that was going to be taking the brunt was the Wolf Keidran since he was the one supposed to be fighting the brunette.
But that couldn't just be allowed. At least not with the unpleasant ramifications that the event would have if that happened.
Thus I found myself forced to find a reason for Euchre to not challenge Mary in a spar. The process quietly persisted up until the two of us were slowly making our way towards where the girl had been waiting, her stare fixed on Euchre as we entered inside the sparring area.
An idea slowly gained consensus within my mind, and yet I was unsure of how well it would perform against someone like the brunette. Still… I had to give it a try, or lest things were going to be dreadful for the following few hours.
"Finally you're both here and-"
"Mary," I quietly interrupted her, yet something 'off' was purposely left within my tone. It was enough to draw both Euchre's and Mary's attention on me, with the latter frowning at my interjection. "I think you should give an apology."
The frown turned into a confused look. "What are you talking about?"
"You didn't bother to apologize for literally waking the two of us so early in the morning," I answered with a tense voice. "It's Sunday, and there is no school in session. You could've at least shown some courtesy over the fact that people are still sleeping right now- heck, I think we're the only students awake."
She seemed hesitant at my lengthy reply, yet she tried to muster up a brave face about it.
"I'm sorry, Samuel, but there is a need to-"
"I will be the one sparring you."
…
"W-What- why?"
Even Euchre looked shocked at this development. He seemed trying to keep up with the loose logic I was trying to apply to this tight predicament, failing as much as the brunette was.
Hopefully, I used the proper tones with these words… or else hell waited for me from this point onward.
"I've been staying up awake up until midnight to get Monday's homework done, so that I could've enjoyed a pleasant Sunday," I muttered with a 'sweet smile'. "Do you understand how much I was literally wishing to get more hours of sleep? How much I was literally asking from the mighty Gods for some mercy over the burdens we students have?"
…
"I-" She tried to rebuke, her voice faltering at the uneasiness created by my current mood. While I had thought it to be a distraction, I wasn't completely off from the truth over the terrible wave of sleep I was suffering.
I can hear my bed calling~.
"So, we are doing a spar," I confirmed, offering no space for protests as I took the lead towards the small arena. "And I hope you will not hold back for any reasons."
Mary seemed to recover at that very comment. "You wouldn't be ready for dealing me without restrictions-"
"I think you're in for some surprise," I interrupted one last time as we both stared at each other, a couple of meters apart as we prepared for the brawl to start. Euchre took one of the empty seats by the closest row in the spectators' section.
There was no referee, there was no teacher to keep a watch over some 'friendly spar' between two young students. There wasn't anything 'wrong' that would've come out of this little bonding session.
And while Mary looked sure of her own abilities, she had quite the uncertain look as I stretched a little bit in preparation for a 'completely fine' match between two youthful students.
Yes, my mind had finally driven out the last bits of sleepiness hindering my irritation to properly shine out of my thoughts and in my current behavior. Was I angry? No, of course I wasn't pissed because I had been forced out of bed for some silly, but amusing attempts from the brunette.
And I certainly wasn't mere moments away from screech up at the fact I was missing the comfy bed that was in my room.
So when the girl prepared her first incantation, I went along with my own spells. It was going to be still a tough fight and-
In the present.
I paused in my narration, noticing that Saria had her hand up as if to ask a question.
It was early in the morning, the ordeals of the previous day having pushed me to delay the continuation of these tales to the next day. Dinner proved to be quite the interesting sight to be part of.
The owner of the house couldn't restrain herself from pestering me for details over my connection with Lady Nora, just like she used to do back during the last years of her stay at the Templar College.
The brunette was incredibly curious over why the strongest of all Dragons would accept the degree of informality that existed in our exchanges and… the answers were painfully simple.
It just is. She is like that with people that gain her interest. And… I guess that she likes it best when people she trust talk to her in a non-formal manner.
I restrained myself from giving out anything else about it, leaving the Duchess to pout for a large part of the dinner as the meal went on for about twenty or so minutes.
Rose was mostly quiet during the occasion. I was quick to realize that the red-haired Keidran had zoned out from the conversation and retreated in her thoughts as she digested what had happened in the last few hours.
Confusion, surprise, interest- but also pain, shock and fear. That wasn't the kind of emotions one wanted to deal all at once, especially if they were recovering from the degrading circumstances of imprisonment.
I decided to let her be for the rest of the night, and Saria seemed to share the same thoughts about it as we continued with the talk for the remainder of the dinner.
The room that I was given was one of the various ones that were assigned to important guests, and I didn't bother too much the servants left to my service as I knew that I wasn't meant to exaggerate with the hospitality allowed by my student.
The only reason I was there was… to give answers to doubt. Doubts that a certain Wolf Keidran had yet to make sense of, but needed to get some solutions to.
It was odd how a frightened young woman was getting more out of my past than the rest of the people that had tried to get close to the truth. Maybe it was the circumstances behind her 'being here' that got me talking, or maybe it was the fact that I really needed to come out clean with those that really deserved some truth from the world.
Roselyn had suffered for something beyond her control, and she had been betrayed by someone I had trusted so dearly to consider a brother in all but blood.
I was miffed, but not in the normal meaning of the world. The fury was dampened by the very memories I was retelling to the two ladies, enough to make me doubt over how I was supposed to be dealing with Euchre.
I knew that Mary was going to alert my former friend about this situation and I knew he was going to be marching in to the mansion before the end of the week, possibly with the Master Templar on tow, but I was also fairly sure that he wouldn't have risked a direct confrontation this soon and without a solid plan to avoid any unpleasant aftermaths.
After fifteen years of helping him around to build up a refined mind with his natural strategic and tactical thoughts to be shaped into a decent mastermind, I was quite aware of how his brain worked and what kind of steps he will end up taking about this delicate situation.
...Goddammit, I should've expected that I was actually aiding the formation of someone quite difficult to face on a battle of minds. To think I would've ended up creating a monster that even I was unable to face without some support on the side.
I missed Euchre's early naivety… and I missed his puppy-eyed stares! Now I got the smug and teasing one to deal with. Why is the world so cruel?!
Still, with these thoughts keeping me awake for some time, I wounded up getting a few hours worth proper rest. Dreamless, undisturbed rest.
Nora had left before I had hit the bed, whining about the fact she still had to deal with her own issues back home about some complaints directed at her rule. It was… quite normal considering how frequently she was harassing normal people and bringing even more issues to the dragonkind with her naughty trips.
Her pranks were legendary and known to the rest of the world… except nobody knew the true name of the 'devious mind' behind those.
Truly a childish and perverted dragon. Yet she managed to greedily get a few more belly-rubs in her kitten form before leaving the mansion for good.
Clever girl.
Once I was awake, I noticed that breakfast had a completely different note compared to the previous day's dinner. It was In this occasion that I took notice of a slightly-happier Rose and a partly zombified Saria.
The brunette was never a morning person even back when she was in Templar College. Something that sadly I had shared too as a daily plight back in a couple of years ago… then I discovered a spell that helped relax muscles and I solved the drowsiness that would keep me drained and confused in the first few hours of the morning.
With breakfast flying away as I quietly stared at Roselyn as she eagerly enjoying her share of the food present in the table, we soon found ourselves reaching back to the living room where the girls took their previous seats as I prepared to resume my own tale-telling.
It was about before I had the chance of actually going through with the details of the battle that happened between Mary and I that I found myself stopping to sigh at Saria's sudden interest at asking a question over the story.
"Yes, Saria?"
The young woman retracted her arm with a curious look. "From the way you described that section, I can't help but think back when you mentioned back during one of the past lectures about the 'Arrogance example'. The one about the prodigious student getting defeated swiftly and with some humiliation by the lazier student."
"And?" I pressed on with some amusement building up, knowing well enough where she was going with this logical thought.
"Is… Is Master Silverlock the prodigious student?"
My smile twitched. "Yes."
"And you were 'lazy'?"
I frowned at the way she phrased the follow-up question. "It was either lazy or laidback, the latter being the closest to the truth, but I saw it fit to lessen the overall correlation to the real story."
"But didn't you say that you weren't prepared to-"
"In terms of magical power, I was slightly inferior to Mary," I interrupted quickly, pondering back at that fond memory of my time as a student. "I didn't have the magical reserves she had back then… but I had a few things that made the difference."
… "And those were?" The brunette pressed on, her attention spurned by the giddy smile on my face.
"Irritation, creativity, and a spell capable of creating the effects of a medium-sized explosion."
"You- You used an explosive spell in a school?" Roselyn inquired quickly, her green eyes widening at this development. "I thought it was just a spar."
"Oh, but it wasn't an explosive spell. Rather it was an illusion spell that replicated the sound and the imagery of explosions," I corrected and assured both women. "It didn't literally explode. But… Mary didn't know back then."
…
Saria snorted, a giggle being held back by a twitchy smile painting her face.
"Prof, you pranked the Master Templar- and all because she woke you up too early in the morning?" She almost collapsed in a laugh while bringing this up. "I… I mean, it's a legitimate reason but the entire situation is just-"
"Hilarious," I interrupted with a happy sigh. "That was what I felt when I saw her panic. She thought I was trying to actually hurt her, despite the fact that nothing was getting in the process."
Still, I shook my head at the aftermath. "Mary was so pissed when I told her what had happened when she forfeited. She was furious, but also impressed by the spell that I used," I stopped for a moment to think back at the other side of the situation. "But I had to spend a lot of time apologizing with Euchre over the matter. He was utterly frightened by the situation and he literally had to sleep with-"
I stopped, my face paling as I remembered perfectly how it ended and how awkward it would be to explain to the two women how I ended up dealing with a certain silver-haired Wolf Keidran having trouble sleeping alone.
"Sleep with what? A pillow or-" Saria asked with some interest, curiosity swelling in her features at this abrupt interruption.
"A pillow. Something similar," I curtly nodded as I avoided for her to keep on with that trail of thoughts. "Still, that entire situation changed things… immensely for all of us. I thought that Mary would've lessened her efforts after this experience- that her loss would've dampened her need to challenge Euchre around."
"But she didn't," Rose piped in quietly, staring at me with rapt attention. "What happened from there?"
"Mary stopped asking about spars and challenges, but she still kept her interest on Euchre," I answered calmly. "The thing that truly brought a massive change was that she started to hang out with the two of us. What was once an acquaintance slowly became a-"
"Friend?" Saria suggested.
"I would say that it would happen later… but sure. There were the basis there already… it's just that Mary was a little more on the 'pest' side after that 'spar'."
…
"Samuel?" Rose asked quietly, breaking the little veil of silent created after my last words.
"Hmm?"
"I remember Euchre being like this," The Keidran muttered quietly. "Kind, silly and… loyal."
I didn't need her to continue through with this little derail from the previous topics as I had a couple of hints with these words what she was alluding to, so I sighed and nodded at her.
"You want to know what made him change so much?" I inquired with a frown.
"Yes."
I sighed again. "I would say that there are two things that are responsible for his current self, with the first one being life itself. There had been experiences that just pushed Euchre to grow out of his older self."
"What about… the other one?" The red-haired young woman asked with curiosity.
I blinked. "You're talking to him."
…
"What?"
"By being close to Euchre, I was the one that he interacted the most during our years spent at the College and as colleagues in the Templar Council," I explained with a sad tone. "I tried to help him cope with some of his worries. Offer him advices to deal with some issues that had came from his relationship with Mary and- things just got to a point where I thought he really didn't need my close watch."
"Considering how it all ended up like… I think you were wrong, Prof."
Saria's comment got me leaning a little on my couch, my stare lifting up to look at the ceiling. I silently stared away from my interlocutors as I wandered off to my memories.
Once again, a clear proof of failure on my part to make sure Euchre turned into the best of persons.
It had been worry that had driven my first steps in that tentative friendship, but after mere months from interacting with the silver-haired Keidran… I knew that it was just goodwill pushing me through the worst cases that came so close to unveil the truth over his identity.
"I think so myself," I muttered back, still deciding against returning my glance to the two.
But despite my best efforts to conclude this conversation and try to resume with my stories, I noticed Roselyn shifting in her seat.
"It's not your fault."
I blinked. "It kind of is."
"It's not," She pressed on with some conviction in her tone. "Euchre is a smart man, he is an adult and… he should've been the one to do the right thing."
"Rose-" I heard Saria muttering, perhaps as an effort to make the redhead back away from this subject.
"I'm fine but- but I think it's hypocritical to let you think that you're at fault for something you had no hand into," Rose continued, ignoring the brunette's plea. "Am I at fault for getting sent to prison, Samuel?"
I frowned, finally lowering my stare at her. "No. Of course you aren't-"
"Then-" She interrupted, standing up from her seat and walking quietly right by the couch I had taken, sitting right beside me as her bright green eyes and wide smile greeted me. "Then we are both innocent about this."
…
Now, wasn't that a pretty surprise?
Actually… it was a beautiful one. Like a flower.
Now, now I can see what you meant that she looked like a pretty rose, Euchre.
"I suppose… that this logic makes some serious sense," I admitted with a nod. "I guess I was just being silly back then."
She sighed, her brave mask never faltering once in that exchange. "Only a little bit. You had all reasons to think that you might have made a mistake- but I can assure you that it wasn't your fault."
I smiled at that, finding it relieving that this wasn't a momentary instance of courage. Rose did look to have recovered enough from the recent situations and she seemed a little less frightened by the current circumstances.
"And-" The Keidran muttered with some nervousness. "Can I ask you a favor, Samuel?"
Blinking, I stared back at her with a curious look. "Is it a big one?"
"Not… truly. It's just something that I think it's necessary and… I should've asked to do before than now."
Another blink, yet I conceded her the opportunity with a nod and I expected this favor to be something that she had to said.
I certainly hadn't expected her to shift closer and wrap her arms around my waist. The sudden action surprised me for a while, but I slowly had my own arms go around her and complete the hug.
"Thank you."
It was muffled by the fact she had her muzzle pressed on my chest, her face hidden by her red hair as she kept the embrace going for some time.
The surprise finally dwindled away as I enjoyed the hug a little more. But just as I expected for it to be a simple moment of warmth, I noticed that Saria had her hands keeping her lips shut from releasing some giggles.
I followed her stare right to the lower back of the Keidran, where her fluffy tail was… wagging a little bit.
My smile widened at the amusing sight.
Truly a lovely little Rose.
AN
Remember kids! If you want to defeat a cheeky girl, you just need to go-
(-Megumin and show them the power of explosions… Wait, who is Megumin?)
Did you just read that from my mind?
(Duh. By the way, why wasn't I around in this chapter?)
Can't keep you here eternally. You will make a return soon-
(You better hope for that. Or I might start playing around with my magic.)
Duly noted. Then I pray for Future me about this matter.