Hi all just to let you know I changed this fanfiction rating to M because of the content in this chapter.
I also wanted to clarify why Tabitha is so attached to Mikoto a question asked by xbox432.
Tabitha's uncle is a void mage. In my story he summoned an ordinary human (Sheffield), and a level 5 esper. Tabitha has encountered said esper and knows how overwhelmingly powerful they are. The reason Tabitha so attached to Mikoto is because she holds onto the hope that Mikoto is as powerful as said esper. Enabling her to save her mother. If anything were to happen to Mikoto that hope is gone.
Tabitha often visited Mikoto in the infirmary and the window was usually left open for Sylphid. During one such visit Mikoto awoke to Kirche begging Tabitha for assistance in following Saito and Louise. She quickly went back to sleep. The next morning Mikoto stared curiously at the light blue scarf folded upon her bedside table. When Tabitha visited she said it was a get well soon present.
After spending a week cooped up in the infirmary, Mikoto was finally allowed to walk around by herself. Provided she used crutches. And didn't walk for more than 1 hour at a time. Mikoto grumbled slightly at that but Jane threatened to extend her stay an extra week provided she refused the conditions. Mikoto couldn't shut her mouth fast enough.
Mikoto quickly went to find Sylphid as Tabitha had class. Her dark attire now sporting the light blue scarf hanging loosely around her neck. Sylphid raised her head cooed happily as Mikoto approached.
"Sorry I worried you."
Sylphid simply licked her face. Mikoto smiled softly until her stomach growled. Sylphid gestured for Mikoto to mount her, which she did. The young dragon walking off towards the kitchens.
Once outside the kitchens, Sylphid lowered herself enabling Mikoto to dismount. Thanking Sylphid, Mikoto hobbled to the kitchen door and knocked. Marteau quickly answered and beamed quickly ushering inside.
"Good to see you're up and about our fist." he proclaimed and the kitchen staff cheered.
Mikoto sat next to Saito and leaned her crutches against the table.
"Our fist?"
"Of course, our sword" he gestured to Saito, "defeated a noble with a sword, whilst you defeated another with your fist".
"I see."
Mikoto stomach growled and Marteau laughed and vanished with a promise of food.
"Hey, I don't believe we've been formally introduced." said Saito.
"I'm Hiraga Saito, please call me Saito."
"Misaka Mikoto, Mikoto's fine."
"Sounds familiar, are you also from Japan?"
"Originally."
Marteau returned and placed the plate of food in front of Mikoto.
"Itadakimasu" she whispered, quickly digging in.
"Oh, Marteau where's Siesta?" asked Saito looking around.
"Oh right, she doesn't work in the kitchens so she's not always around."
"You mean you haven't heard?"
"Heard what?" asked Mikoto.
He explained Siesta no longer worked at the school and was instead sent to work for a noble named Count Mott. In fact she'd left earlier that morning.
"Why so suddenly?" demanded Saito.
Mikoto agreed the timing of it was rather suspicious.
"Does it matter? In the end the only thing peasants can do is obey the whims of the nobility."
It sounded as though people unable to cast magic were slaves to those who could. It made her sick.
"Siesta, why didn't you tell me?" mumbled Saito.
Mikoto mentally went over Marteau's information.
"I don't like this." said Mikoto gaining Saito's attention.
"I know, I don't like it either." sighed Saito.
"No, I don't believe Count Mott wants her purely as a servant." said Mikoto falling into her soldier mentality.
"What do you mean? Isn't that what she's being hired for?"
"Maybe, but usually potential new employees are interviewed and assessed then employed. That didn't happen, leading me to believe an alternate motif."
"What kind of motif?" asked Saito.
"My current knowledge of Magical Society does not provide answers. I shall research and report back."
Mikoto quickly finished her bread before hobbling out the kitchen. Sylphid was sleeping nearby and raised her head upon seeing Mikoto.
"You are not obligated to wait for me." said Mikoto petting Sylphid's nose. Sylphid merely licked Mikoto's face nuzzled into her chest.
"Yeah, I like you too" whispered Mikoto.
"Sylphid, do you know where the library is?" asked Mikoto.
Sylphid nodded.
"Could you take me there?"
Sylphid lowered herself allowing Mikoto to mount her, before taking off towards the main building and hovering in front of a window.
Grinning slightly, Mikoto thanked Sylphid and quickly unlocked the window and dragged herself and her crutches through. Hobbling towards the nearest shelf Mikoto skimmed systematically through the books until she grabbed Noble Etiquette and Nobles and Servants and sat down at a nearby table.
Halfway through Nobles and Servants Louise stomped into the library followed by a depressed Saito. Mikoto returned to her book, praying Louise would ignore her. It wasn't to be as Louise sauntered over, slammed her hands on the table and demanded information on her element.
"This is a library, please be quiet." muttered Mikoto not looking up from her book. Discreetly watching Louise's reaction she tensed when she pulled out her wand and pointed it at her. Closing the book she slammed the spine on Louise's wrist resulting in her dropping her wand which Mikoto confiscated. Reopening her book Mikoto ignored her whilst Saito just stood uncomfortably to the side. It took a moment for Louise to understand what happened.
"GIVE ME BACK MY WAND THIS INSTANCE YOU LOWLY PEASANT! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE JUST DONE, ASSAULTING A NOBLE. I WILL HAVE YOU SEVERELY DISCIPLINED FOR THIS, NO MEALS FOR 2 MONTHS AND YOU'RE SLEEPING OUTSIDE! I ALSO WANT MY CLOTHES WASHED AND ROOM CLEANED. I WILL NOT LET AN UNGRATEFUL PEASANT TALK DOWN TO A NOBLE LIKE ME!"
Saito retreated behind a bookshelf when Louise exploded. Mikoto didn't blame him, the whole school probably heard her.
"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?" roared a plump elderly woman, stomping towards them. Saito retreated closer to the door, whilst Louise clammed up. Mikoto calmly answered the librarian who sighed.
"Miss ... er."
"Misaka, Mikoto Misaka."
"Miss Misaka could you please return Miss Vallière's wand."
Mikoto's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I'm afraid not." she replied frowning at their surprise. Mikoto noticed that Saito had slipped out during her refusal.
Louise appeared shocked whilst the librarian's glare intensified.
"May I ask why you refuse to give Miss Valière her wand back." growled the librarian with forced politeness.
Mikoto snorted.
"Perhaps you could explain why I should return Vallière's weapon after an attempted assault on my person."
The librarian was unable to come up with reply. Louise however looked furious.
"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK THAT WAY TO A NOBLE I DEMAND YOU RETURN MY WAND THIS INSTANCE!"
She held out her hand expectantly and Mikoto glanced at it before returning to her book.
She wasn't stupid, these mages were arrogant and pig headed individuals with a superiority complex. In other words they all acted like spoiled brats, as such they were fairly predictable.
The second the woman's was was pointed at her, Mikoto flipped over the back of her chair and jumped away from the two mages. Her body protested but she ignored it. The librarian quickly shot a blast of water at Mikoto. In the same moment Colbert rushed in just in time to see Mikoto dodge the blast.
"What is the meaning of this!"
Both mages flinched whilst Mikoto shifted to keep all mages present in her line of sight.
The librarian straightened up.
"Professor Colbert." she pointed her wand at Mikoto who tensed in anticipation.
"This commoner." she spat.
"Has insulted us nobles and stolen Miss Vallière's wand."
Colbert's attention shifted to Mikoto.
"Is this true?"
"Vallière attempted to assault me."
Everyone flinched at her tone. Colbert's eyes narrowed at Louise who was glaring intensively at Mikoto.
"All of you Headmaster Osmond's office now."
Mikoto stayed put, her crutches still resting against the table. Both the librarian and Louise stormed out of the room after sending her dirty looks.
"You alright?" asked Saito.
"Yeah" replied Mikoto grabbing her crutches and placing the book onto the table.
"Lets go" sighed Mikoto placing Louise's wand in her pocket.
Saito nodded and followed behind her.
Mikoto found the headmasters office fairly average. Descent size. Cabinets off to the side. The headmaster sitting behind a desk in the center of the room.
"Mr Colbert, Miss Dubois, Miss Valière, Mr Saito and Miss Mikoto to what do I owe the pleasure?" asked Osmond.
Colbert stood off to the side with Saito glaring slightly at the people involved.
"Yes Headmaster." started Miss Dubois.
"I heard Miss Vallière shouting in the library and went over to investigate. I discovered this commoner had stolen Miss Vallière's wand and insulted nobility within my presence."
"I see" contemplated Osmond before turning to Louise.
"Miss Valière if I may ask, why were you shouting in the library?"
"Well Sir, my familiar refused to answer my question. Then it insulted and attacked me stealing my wand."
"Ok." said Osmond stroking his beard
"Miss Mikoto, may I hear your side."
Mikoto nodded "I researching when Vallière and Saito entered. Vallière slammed her hands on my table and demanded I inform her of her element. Upon my refusal and request for silence she pointed her wand at me, an action I took as attempted assault, and immediately disarmed and confiscated her weapon. This resulted in her loss of temper. When Dubois arrived she requested that I return Vallière's wand. In response I asked why I should return it given the attempted assault on my person. Vallière once again lost her temper whilst I returned to my research, resulting in Dubois pointing her wand at me. In response I flipped over the back of my chair and put some distance between us. I dodged the water blast just as Colbert entered."
Both Colbert and Osmond watched Mikoto intently during her account, searching for any sigh of falsehood. They found none, and her account matched up with Miss Dubois and Miss Vallière's only more detailed.
Osmond sat there contemplating. He liked to believe he was a fair man but whilst he knew Mikoto was morally right, he did not want the Dubois and the Vallière family as enemies. Also if Mikoto was anything as powerful as the records Brimir's second familiar implied then he couldn't afford for her to leave. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
After a minute he stood, having come to a decision.
"Miss Dubois you will fix or replace anything you damaged without magic. The necessary funds will come out of your salary."
Dubois looked appalled but bowed her head.
"Miss Vallière, shouting in the library is strictly prohibited. Your punishment shall be aiding Miss Dubois clean on the next day of the Void."
"But my familiar." Louise started.
"Is your familiar and your responsibility. As such you will have to take issue with your wand up with her."
He sat down, indicating the end of the matter.
Louise stared at him slack jawed. If anything Mikoto made it very clear she wasn't returning it anytime soon.
Mikoto was staring at him with newfound respect. Not only did he get her out of trouble, he also got himself out of political trouble. Punishing both at fault without even mentioning her. When brought into the matter he deemed her Louise's problem.
"Alright familiar, return my wand now."
"Learn some respect, mage." Mikoto quickly left.
Leaving Louise, now oblivious to her surrounding, shouting obscenities at the closed door.
Mikoto cursed upon finishing Noble Etiquette. Nothing explained why Mott took Siesta so quickly. Replacing the books she headed outside thinking who might know when she caught Saito rushing towards her.
He skidded to a halt.
"Mikoto...Siesta...must...help."
"Take a deep breath and try again." requested Mikoto.
"Count Mott wants Siesta to be his mistress. We have to save her!"
Mikoto knew it wouldn't be easy. Osmond was both fair and insightful. He must have known of Count Mott's intentions yet Siesta was taken legally. She suspected political pressure indicating his social status was higher than Osmonds. If they were rash both Osmond and the Vallière family could end up in a lot of political trouble.
Whilst Saito rushed over to Guiche for directions, Mikoto leaned her crutches against the wall and pulled her jumper on. Walking with a slight limp to the front gate where Saito waited.
"Lets go."
Mikoto nodded and they departed.
They arrived 4 hours later much their relief.
"Man that Guiche. Could've mentioned it was 4 hours away." complained Saito.
Mikoto hummed in agreement.
"Who goes there."
"H-Hello there." said Saito spinning round. He glanced towards Mikoto for help. Only to find she'd disappeared. Steeling himself he requested to see Count Mott and insisted it was of the utmost importance. After begging and pleading, the guard relented and led Saito into the premises. Unknown to him, Mikoto followed them onto the premises but split from him upon passing the gate.
Whilst Saito met with Count Mott, Mikoto searched for blackmail material. Unlocking and entering another locked room Mikoto paused. She stood at the top of a stairway. The scent of death and rotting flesh coming from below. Steeling herself she stepped down into the basement, using her radar to see in the dark abyss. At the bottom were lit torches and rows of cells. She walked forward checking each cell.
Mikoto soon came to a cell containing a dead woman chained to a makeshift bed. Opening it she edged towards her. The woman was naked. Covered head to toe in god knows what but there was a small smile on her face. Mikoto quickly undid the chains and knelt.
"Mott way pay for what he's done. That I guarantee you. Then I'll ensure you return home, to your family."
She stood and continued her search. A few cells along was another naked woman only she was alive. Walking into the cell caused the woman to whimper. Mikoto quickly undid her chains and stepped back.
"I'm not going to hurt you."
The woman's eyes snapped open and quickly focused on Mikoto, who'd created an electrical sphere for extra light. They seemed to light up upon realised Mikoto wasn't a guard or servant. She tried to speak but felt into a coughing fit. Mikoto gently reached out and rubbed her back. Her eyes softened when the woman flinched.
"H-How?" she rasped.
"A friend of mine was taken by Count Mott but I became suspicious. Therefore myself and another friend started digging and he discovered Mott wanted our friend as his mistress. We rushed here and whilst my friend bargained with Mott, I was searching the mansion for blackmail."
The woman suddenly grabbed Mikoto's wrist in an attempted death grip.
"The others?"
"No one will be left behind." promised Mikoto.
The mentally and physically drained woman relaxed and tears started falling down her face. Mikoto couldn't begin to imagine what she was feeling.
"I'm going to release everyone else, alright." said Mikoto standing up.
"I'm glad there are nobles like you." she smiled but Mikoto frowned.
"You are mistaken I am not a mage, much less a noble."
At the academy Tabitha, Kirche, Louise were preparing to head after Mikoto and Saito. When Colbert appeared demanding where they were heading. After a quick explanation him joined them. They landed at the manor entrance just as Saito rushed out.
"What the hell did you think you were doing?!" demanded Louise.
"Ah, Louise I can explain."
"Never mind that. Where's Mikoto? Stupid idiot still hasn't returned my wand."
Count Mott flying out the front door interrupted their conversation. Then Mikoto walked out, surrounded by electrical arcs. Guards quickly surrounded her but were defeated instantly. Mott raised his wand but his arm was sliced off courtesy of iron sand.
The mage's and familiars could only stare in shock at Mikoto's power and brutality. Then Saito remembered. She was one of the remaining espers being hunted by the government. Railgun, Mikoto Misaka. He took a step back.
"Railgun."
Colbert raised his staff and open fired on Mikoto. The giant blue fireball was intercepted by a lightning blast. The groups eyes widened. Colbert fired another spell that was once again blocked. Mikoto wasn't even paying attention to them. Instead she'd sliced off Mott's other arm. The group were at a loss. Magic appeared useless and talking wasn't an option. Not when they couldn't draw her attention.
Mikoto burned the stubs shut. He screamed just as they surely screamed. Begged just as they surely begged. He took away their virginity. Now she was taking away his manhood. The iron sand was in position.
"N-No, p-please." he sobbed.
She vibrated the sand. It lasted seconds but Mott still passed out. It was done. He'd received retribution. Her attention soon turned to her 'friends'. Their faces told her everything she needed to know. They were terrified of her. Unable to face them she reentered the mansion. Walking into a lounge 6 pairs of eyes faced her.
"Mott has faced retribution."
The women, wrapped in towels and blankets, burst into tears as the mages and Saito hovered around the door.
"Thank you." they cried.
Mikoto nodded and knelt in front of the three deceased. A blanket covering their bodies and a towel their faces.
"I am not a nice person. Most see my methods as extreme but I believe I am fair. Mott took your freedom, virginity and your lives. I took his magic and manhood. He shall live the rest of his life suffering. Just as you did. Maybe you wouldn't have wanted this but I believe he deserved it."
She stood and felt Tabitha's hand on her back. Her heart warmed. Seems she still had a friend after all.
"Colbert, please inform the relevant authorities of the situation."
"O-Of course."
"Kirche, Vallière retrieve provisions from the kitchen."
Kirche quickly dragged Louise away.
"Saito."
He flinched.
"Find Siesta."
Saito quickly vanished.
Mikoto sighed, collapsing into a chair. Now everything was mostly over she was exhausted. Tabitha's hand on her shoulder was comforting. Mikoto was extremely grateful for her presence. Relieved she wasn't alone.
"Once the authorities arrive, you shall be relocated somewhere safe to recover as best you can. Then you will probably be interviewed but any request for family and friends should be granted."
They all smiled albeit weakly but it was genuine and full of gratitude.
"Thank you."
Mikoto glanced at the knights and doctors as they entered the room. They must have ordered Colbert to wait outside. Smart chose. Who knows how these women would react to a male. She turned towards the approaching blond knight. Whilst Tabitha tensed.
"Are you Mikoto?"
"Speaking?"
"My name is Agnès, Commander of the Firearm Squadron. Protocol dictates I interview everyone on scene."
Mikoto nodded and stood. Reassuring Tabitha with a gentle head pat, she led Agnès through the hallway and into the basement/prison.
"I was unaware you were a noble." said Agnès when Mikoto created an electrical sphere.
"I'm not. My ability is purely scientific."
Mikoto walked Agnès through everything that happened. Why she was there. Who was in which cell. Their condition. Their reaction to her. Etc. Nothing was left out and every word she said written down. Until they were back outside the lounge.
"Final question. Are you a soldier?"
"Former soldier."
Agnès nodded and thanked Mikoto for her cooperation before walking off to interview someone else.
It was around 3am when the Firearm squadron escorted the girls away and Mott was taken to prison.
Kirche, Louise, and Saito all shared horror stricken expressions. Mikoto knew espers that returned from battle with that same expression. No doubt they'd be having nightmares. Saito had kept Siesta away from everything so she would be fine. Tabitha and Colbert's expressions on the other hand were very telling. Clearly they were no strangers to violence, and they knew about societies dark side. From her experience to know one needed to be involved. Either way Mikoto didn't care, and had no right to judge them. Not after what she'd done.
"I think it's time to return to the academy." said Colbert.
Everyone other than Mikoto and Tabitha nodded and slowly shuffled over to Sylphid.
"They will need psychological treatment." informed Mikoto.
"Yes." sighed Colbert.
Mikoto and Tabitha made eye contact for a split second. Tabitha understood and walked after her classmates.
"Mikoto. I'm sorry for attacking you. I didn't know the situation, and whilst I won't condemn you actions I don't support them either."
Mikoto nodded.
"I followed my beliefs. An eye for an eye, if you will. Don't worry about attacking me. You are not the first, nor will you be the last. I won't hold it against you. As for the students back at the academy. I shall treat them as treat me. If they ignore me, I shall ignore them. If they attack me, I shall retaliate. However I don't believe they will go that far."
Mikoto walked away and informed Tabitha and Sylphid she'd walk back. Tabitha didn't look happy but nodded. Slowly Mikoto walked away from them and out the gate.
She needed time to clear her head.
Time to let her emotions settle.
Time to let her hatred subside.
Time to mourn the deceased women.
Time to mourn the one's still alive.
Time to think of the past.
Time to reminisce of old times.
Time to curse Touma Kamijou for his hero complex.
Time to mourn his death.
Time to curse the world.
Time to curse mages.
Time to curse herself.
Time to let some wounds heal.
Time to numb the others.
Time to try and piece her shattered soul back together.
Because despite how broken she was. Despite her pain. Time kept moving forwards and all she could do was move forwards with it.
I admit I cried when writing this.
Review and let me know what you think, I promise I don't bite.
Till next time.