Wow that took uh, longer than I expected. I think I just kept accidentally pushing it back because classes are a thing. Anyways, Dies Irae started airing, so that's nice. Figured I'd celebrate by actually putting this chapter up! I had a lot of fun working on this one, especially with the obligatory scene, if you catch my drift.
Anyways, let me know what you guys think of it.
Chapter 2: The Word of Action
"Hey, you."
The girl doesn't respond as we keep walking through the courtyard.
"Hey, girl over there."
No response again.
I sigh, reach out with my left hand, and tap her on the shoulder. "Oi, girl—"
I flinch as she whips around and slaps my hand away, giving me a fierce glare that no girl as young as her should have. If she's twelve, anyways. She looks like she's twelve.
"Do not dare touch me. You will address me as Master."
What the hell is this, slavery? Ugh.
"I don't take anyone as my master." I argue back.
"You will address me as Master." she says definitively, giving it more like a decree than anything else.
We walk into the massive castle that surrounds the entire area and go through some hallways and up three flights of stairs. At the end of the hallway we come out of, she stops.
"Something wrong? I ask.
"Open this door."
"'Scuse me?"
"I said, you will open this door for me, Familiar! If you are a human familiar, let alone a commoner, you will open this door for me!"
Pain in the ass, aren't you… no sense arguing with her for now. I need some answers and also making her pissed isn't going to help me out later.
I give the door a bit of a heave, but hear it hitting something. Maybe a deadbolt.
"Oi, girly—"
"—Master—"
I continue on as if she didn't interrupt me. "—You made sure to unlock the door, right?"
All of her high and mightiness fades away that instant, a thick luminescent blush painting her cheeks. She shoves me aside with a surprising amount of force, unlocks the door, and throws it open. I catch the door as it swings back in and give it a light shove with my foot. Not that heavy.
I then step inside and let it close behind me. Looks like a pretty austere design for this girl that acts like a spoiled princess. A single dresser, a bed, a desk, and a few trunks to hold stuff. Room's fairly well lit, too. Nice view from the window as well.
She plops down on the bed as I lean back against the wall.
"I will now educate you on the duties of a familiar. Seeing as you are a human familiar, you will be in charge of my laundry and of fetching anything I should need, but those duties are subject to change as I see fit."
I give her a blank look. You've got to be joking. But let's at least scout this out a bit.
"And what do I get in return?"
"Why are you even asking? You are a familiar. You are to simply serve me, nothing more."
At that last sentence of hers, I can feel my breath stolen away from me. My right hand lights up in pain, extending to my entire body. I suddenly feel heavy, as if a hundred chains were dropped on me, weighing me down. Ahga…. Ha… it's like they responded to those words…!
"That's a little one-sided, don'tcha think?" I offer back, trying to regulate my breathing. "Look, let me just explain a few things—"
"Nothing else matters. You are a familiar. You are to serve me."
Gah, there it is again!
"Am I understood?"
"Yeah." I force out, regaining my composure. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to do it."
"Excuse me?" she says, as if completely disbelieving.
"You heard me right. I want some fair terms."
If I'm going to do this whole song and dance of a 'familiar', it's going to be on my terms. Maybe I'll finally get some answers to everything mom kept hidden from me. To what the hell happened that night and just why they came for my family. I'm willing to do this, but it won't be so horrifically one sided.
"Nonsense."
"It's not nonsense." I seeth out. "I'm only going to ask for a few things. Food, water, shelter, and for you to stop treating me like a goddamn animal. I can think like you, I'm human too."
She snorts. "What mage would not even be able to grant their familiar those first three?"
"Just checking."
"I am not treating you like an animal either. You are a familiar, there is a difference. An animal I would shoo out of this room. Thus, I have fulfilled all of your requirements."
"What I meant with that last one is you treat me like an actual equal. Unlike the rest of those familiars, I ain't some moronic creature that acts on instinct. I can think, you know, and right now I have half a mind just to walk out on you."
She looks offended by this prospect.
"You? You, an equal? A commoner, you wish for me to treat you as an equal?" she scoffs. "Why, I had no idea I summoned a jester! An unfunny one, at that."
I know she's just hiding behind all that high and mighty talk. You've already showed me several of your facets. "It's simple, really. If that offends you so much, then I'll simplify it. Use my name. Say please and thank you. No orders, just requests."
She gives me a look of both surprise and offense before having some kind of broken laughter.
"You're serious?"
"Does it look like I'm joking?"
I only shake my head as she laughs again.
"Whatever. I'm out."
"Eh?"
"You heard me. I don't want to do this, not if you're going to treat me like this."
Her eyes suddenly give me a fierce glare, one that doesn't belong on a girl like her. That… is a riding crop now in her hands. Are you… what the hell? Are you kidding me?
"Ah, geez." I mutter as she slowly advances towards me. Before she can close the distance, I step forward without fear, never losing my face. I take all of her power away from her, but she still swings the crop. I easily catch her wrist and twist it slightly, causing her to cry out in pain as I she drops the weapon. "Hey, girly. Look, I told you, I'm willing to do this for you. Just do what I ask, it's not that much."
"You…!"
"Do you wanna be known as the girl who had her familiar walk out on her?" When I ask that question, all of the tension in her arm vanishes.
My voice wavers for not even a single second. I say it in such a way that she truly, truly does know that I will walk out on her ass without a second thought. There is no emotion in it, only the statement of a fact.
"Because I could do that right now. If you hit me one more time? I'll walk out. Won't look back."
"You… you wouldn't…!" her suddenly meek voice whispers.
It must be hard for you. I guess you summoned me here to do whatever you wanted, but it seems I can resist.
Watching the destruction of everything you know, what you call 'normal' being completely and utterly laid to waste. It happened to me. I know what it does to you. But you have it a lot easier compared to me. If I can rebuild myself, so can you. You're walking a dangerous path, girl. But I will make sure you do not walk it.
"I would. But look, I don't wanna have to do it. You're making it hard to see staying here as a good option though. What kinda guy would stick around only to get mistreated and then hit with a goddamn riding crop? So I'm going to offer you a choice. If you want to hit me again, that's up to you, but you know what's going to happen." I let go of her wrist before kneeling down to take a look at it. "Ah, sorry for that. But I just needed to get that weapon out of your hand. Look girly, you shouldn't use a weapon unless you're ready to have one drawn on you."
Before she can respond, I open my jacket up, showing the knife that was hidden in it. It'd be pretty hard to mistake it for anything else. I see her face go pale for a brief second, realizing that I was within striking range.
"You see? I could've drawn that too. Alright, you willing to talk now?"
She remains silent.
"Ha…" I sigh, shaking my head. "Hey, you got a name?"
"Louise Francoise de la Vallerie."
"Vallerie it is." I say with a shrug. "Ahn. You can call me that."
She nods.
"Look, I'm not going to leave you, okay? You made a mistake but you quickly learned from it. Learned a little too well, if you ask me. Anyways, gir—Vallerie, I'm not asking for much. All I ask is you treat me like a human being. I don't need to have the glitz and glamor you treat these other kids with, but I don't want to be treated like dirt either. I'm not telling you that you gotta be like that to everyone. Just me will do. After all, it's me you want to stick around."
"Yes…"
"Alright, so let's start over." I turn to her. "My name is Ahn Raimond Dietrich. Pleasure to meet you, Vallerie. I guess we'll be working together for a bit."
"...Louise Francoise de la Vallerie." she says, regaining her composure. "You will be my familiar from now on."
"Yeah, I guess so."
I feel like I'm adapting to this a little quickly, but I guess it's just what I have to do for now. Besides, even if I did run away, where the hell would I go? I had no contacts, no money, no maps, no knowledge. It was an empty threat based purely on the fact she needed me to stay.
I wouldn't call myself a bad person, but I did what I needed to do. I'm not above threatening people if it means getting what I want or need. It's how I lived before getting my shit together.
"Anyways, I'm going to go take a walk. Familiarize myself with this place. I dunno, maybe go find a change of clothes or something, too." I say with a shrug. "I know we just made an agreement, but look, I don't want to make you feel like I forced you into it. I'll come back sometime soon."
"...you really will come back, right?"
I take out my combat knife, holding it by the case, and put it on her desk. "This was my father's. I would never leave it behind. So I will return. While I'm gone, you're free to reconsider. If you think you don't actually want to go with my way, just tell me when I get back."
With that, I exit the room without another word.
The place is pretty fancy. Looks like someone decided to bring the fucking Harry Potter movies to life or something. Sheffield probably would've swiped the carpets here and then try to pawn them off.
I hear voices as I come down the stairs and decide to just walk away from there. Yeah, sounds like two kids getting it on. I'm not about to walk into that. I'll go find another way out…
It takes me fifteen minutes to find another way out of the place. I spend a while just walking around, getting to know the place. How many courtyards, hallways, the like. Eventually, I reach the courtyard that I reached before, which I figure from the engravings in the ground.
"O-oh, h-hello!"
I turn around, seeing a younger girl with black hair dressed in what is only described as a maid outfit. "Hello?"
"Oh, I ah, I apologize for interrupting your stroll!" she yells out, bowing her head while her grip on the shovel in her hands visibly tightens.
"Ah, it's fine."
"Please accept my apology for not knowing your name! I am not yet familiar with all of the stu—"
"I'm not a student here." I say, interrupting her. "I'm actually a summoned familiar, apparently. Decided to take a walk while the girl who summoned me thinks things over. You're here to clean up the grounds, right?"
"Mhm!"
"Hand me the shovel. You'll get your dress dirty if you do that." I say, walking towards her and extending my hand. "Oh, my bad. Ahn Raimond Dietrich."
She takes a step back. "Y-you must be joking, that you are a familiar with a name like that!"
"Eh?"
"Only the nobility have names like that. P-please Sir Dietrich, if you truly are a noble, I beg of you: do not toy with me like this!"
"I'm not a goddamned noble, get it through your head. Look, I just come from really far away, let's just say that. From where I am, everyone's got a name like that." I say, quickly trying to console the girl. "It's fine, just call me Ahn. What's your name?"
"S… Siesta, sir."
Siesta? Like the Spanish word?
"First, drop the 'sir'."
"Y-yes!"
"Alright Siesta, hand me the shoveeeeeeeeee—." I say with a yawn. Oh shit, right, I've been up for like… almost a full twenty four hours now.
"You, you should get to bed! Your master will be furious with you if you don't return if you fall asleep here!" she begins trying to push me, but I eventually stop her and push her away.
"I got it. Don't worry. Thanks for the concern."
Geez… she seems hella scared of these kids. I guess I'll find out what that's all about later.
I drag my ass back to Louise's room, where I lock the door before relegating myself to a corner of the room and promptly let exhaustion take hold of me.
The Star of Hegemony
Louise, after waiting two minutes, peeked out from under her covers, finding Ahn asleep in the corner.
He came back. She thought, finding the knife still on her desk. Did he fall asleep before getting it back?
What kind of person did she summon? That question repeated itself in her mind, over and over again. He crashed into her life and suddenly started making all of these completely unreasonable demands. He claimed he wasn't asking for much, but the task he wanted was monumentous!
Imagine her—a proud daughter of the Vallerie family—treating a familiar, let alone a familiar that was commoner, like he was some sort of…
...what was she supposed to treat him as? He didn't want to be treated like a commoner, but he didn't want to be treated like a noble either.
Why couldn't I summon an easier familiar… she thought, cursing out the difficulties in her life. But I need him to stay. I'll be a failure of a mage otherwise.
Her heart sank when she realized she would have to write home about having summoned a commoner. Oh, the humiliation! How would she ever face up to her family now?
Worst case, I'll be removed by my family. Louise thought bitterly. She would become the daughter that her mother never had. Never talked about again. Never heard of again. Worst of the worst would be literal removal.
Haha. She bitterly laughed. Not being a Vallerie anymore. Wouldn't that be a joyous thing?
She'd probably have to go find a job like a commoner, if she were so removed. Not even her closest friend would be able to help her lest she trigger a conflict between the crown and the Vallerie family.
She could fade away into the depths, along with her familiar. If she wasn't a mage, he could freely leave her. He wouldn't be held back by her at all.
Unfortunately for her, Ahn was not one to give up so easily.
The Star of Hegemony
The morning comes all too soon, my sleep interrupted by someone kicking me in the arm.
"You sleep too much, familiar."
I don't respond.
"...get up, Ahn." she mutters, looking away. "It's morning. I have classes today. You are to come with me."
I slowly get up. Looks like she's learned what she needs to do to keep me from going.
"...you will stay, right?"
"Yeah." I say, trying to sound as convincing as I can before going over and retrieving my knife. This time, I give it a bit of a twirl, when I'm assaulting by memories. No, not memories. Lessons…?
The first thing that crosses my mind is that I really didn't know how to use this thing. Didn't. But now I do. Like it was just planted into my head. What the hell…
I look at my right hand, the source of some irritation, and find the runes glowing. I turn my head slightly to look at Louise, finding her eyes shining like a six year old at Christmas.
"You…" she whispers.
I put my knife back into the case in my jacket, the glow fading away.
"Do that again!"
"Vallerie."
"Do that again, please!"
Like a freaking lost puppy...
"Vallerie, I don't even know what that does." I say with a shrug. "Besides, you're going to be late at this rate."
She decides to keep quiet about it for now, but I can sense that she's got a little more pep in her step now. I don't know what just happened or how much she knows, but at least that girl's not so gloomy.
After she gets changed (with me asking to just have a tiny spritz of her perfume because I haven't changed my clothes at all for a day, what a riot that was), we march out the door on the way to breakfast. I decide to quietly follow her at a roughly thirty degree angle from directly behind her, two feet of distance between us.
My eyes dart around, seeing all of the kids talking. As Louise passes by them, their attention turns to her and they begin to point and whisper. That invincible feeling I was getting from her falters and becomes something a little more subdued.
"Make way for the Great Commoner and her Master!" one kid jeers from the crowd. It ends up being a catalyst as numerous other kids begin their 'whispers', making it painfully obvious they want Louise to hear their venomous words. But not once do I see Louise flinch or falter in her step. She just keeps marching past all of her hecklers as if they weren't even there.
...you've got spine, kid. I'll give you that much. I know that kids can be cruel, but this is a whole new level. It's like everyone in your class has turned on you. Is there really no one on your side?
As if to answer my question, a girl that I recognize from yesterday reaches an intersection the same time as us. She's short, both in hair length and in stature. Her hair is light blue and she also has glasses on. She and Louise exchange a brief nod before the mystery girl moves first, crossing the intersection alone.
...another lone soul, huh...
Without a single word after that, she walks us to the hall. Before she enters, she stops.
"The other familiars are outside, it should be easy to find them."
"I don't get to eat with you, I take it?"
"...no. Familiars should be with the other familiars."
Without another word, she pushes herself through the doors and leaves me behind. Well, I guess I can see where that's coming from. This is probably hurting her more than it hurts me. While I sort this whole mess out, I can put up with this for a bit.
I decide to ignore the points and whispers directed at me as I find my way outside. I see the blue dragon and the red lizard from the other day eating their dishes. Yeah, screw that crap. I guess I better just see if I can't pilfer some food.
"Oh, Sir Dietrich!"
"My name is—" I turn around, finding Siesta running up to me, carrying a bucket full of what I think are fishes. "—Ahn, don't call me sir."
"A servant such as myself couldn't do that! Even if you are a familiar, I must address you with respect."
"Oh, so you know I'm a familiar now?"
"There were many students talking about a familiar of a student and their description matched you." she says, putting the bucket down near some other familiars who quickly begin squabbling over the food. She then turns to me and gives a deep bow. "Please forgive me for not believing you last night!"
"It's fine. I didn't give you much proof, anyways. Did you finish your work last night, too?"
"Mhm." she gives a brief smile. "A-ah, do you have any food?"
"Uh, not really. I was planning on swiping something later."
"Then, please follow me!"
She leads me into the kitchens where she explains my situation to the guy who's clearly the head honcho around here. I simply look around and observe what's going on. Seems like they're real busy making breakfast.
A tap on my shoulder returns me to my senses. Siesta holds out a small loaf of bread.
"I'm sorry it isn't much, but it's all I can get you for now."
"Anything's better than starving. Thanks, Siesta." I give her a pat on the shoulder, trying to convey my thanks. "You guys look busy around here. Anything I can do to help? I don't really feel like frolicking in the mud with the other animals."
I end up spending the morning lifting sacks of flour and other assorted things around. By the time breakfast is over, my arms are pretty sore.
"Shit," I mutter, using my hands to cover my eyes from the sun. "Is it that late in the morning already?"
"Time certainly does fly when you are working."
I roll over and find Siesta approaching with a cup. She offers it to me and I drink it without a single questioning words. Judging by the lack of taste, it's water. Refreshingly cold, too. Damn, cold water in a place that doesn't even have electricity. Magic is a crazy thing.
"Thanks, Siesta."
"It's my pleasure to serve you, Sir Dietrich." she says with a small curtsey.
"Ahn."
"But—"
"I don't give a damn, Siesta. I don't like being called 'Sir'. Makes me feel a lot more important than I actually am. Ahn will do just fine."
"I… I see. You are not toying with me, are you?"
"I don't like lying to people either." I say, sitting up. "It'll get unraveled eventually. I guess breakfast is over?"
"Mhm, we're just cleaning up now. You don't need to help with that, you've already done enough." she suddenly looks terrified. "Y-you don't think your master will be upset, do you?"
"She won't." I say, getting off the table and grabbing my jacket, hanging it over my shoulder. "I guess I better go see to her, then. See you around, Siesta."
She tries her best to give me a smile, but I can still see she's a bit afraid of what might happen if it got out I was helping. "Yes! Goodbye, Si—um, Ahn."
Ugh, I gotta find a way to take a bath later though. I probably smell like ass.
I spy out Louise walking through the courtyard (that pink hair really stands out), probably looking for me. It's strange though, I don't see any of her classmates.
"Vallerie."
She slightly jumps at my sudden calling, taking three steps away from me. "D-do not surprise me like that!"
I blink, realizing she's pointing… bread at me.
Her face quickly goes red as she tucks it underneath her cape again, then gestures me closer with her free hand. I walk over to her, where she pokes the bread out slightly.
"...take it."
"Hm?"
"I don't know if you had anything to eat, so I snuck some food out for you. You aren't leaving, right? So you don't need to die of starvation if you're going to stay."
Clever use of a guilt trip there.
I subtly take the bread and nod. "Thanks. One of the workers came by and got something for me, but the gesture is appreciated."
I then give her a pat on the shoulder with my free hand.
"W-we-well fine, see if I—"
I lightly club her on the head with an open hand so the impact is soft. She seizes up almost immediately, but that fighting spirit in her gives her that defiant glare at me.
"I did not criticize what you did. Besides, if you thought it was something special, would it have hurt more when you inevitably found out it wasn't unique or now?"
She doesn't have a reply to that. I might not be the brightest kid on the block, but I've learned a few things with experience.
"...fine."
"Anyways," I say, taking a bite out of the bread. "Anything else for today?"
"You won't need to come along."
"I see. So I'm free to just walk around, right?"
"If you want."
"Sounds good to me."
With that, I begin my quest to find a tub. It's a bright and sunny day, so drying them off should be easy.
It takes me a whole two goddamn hours to find a tub big enough for me to put my jacket, shirt, and underwear in. I also manage to find a tool shed outside that I got changed in.
I didn't really know about finding any soap, but I knew I could at least wash the smell and dirt out from these things. I need to get myself another pair or something. The pants I was less concerned with, seeing as they could dirty without much consequence.
And with the fact I was washing my shirt, it meant I was currently foregoing it. I wouldn't say I'm chiseled, but I at least look fit. I had my crew to thank for that during those old days.
Regardless, it means attracting eyes. I've counted at least seven different girls who have stopped by to ogle before I scare them off.
"Ah… um…"
"Look, if you're here to—" I say, turning around and finding it's Siesta. "Oh, Siesta. What do you need?"
"Ahgha, um," she says, turning slightly red in the face before holding out her arms, where there's what looks like a commoner's uniform. "Here."
"Oh, wow. Um, thanks Siesta." I quickly take the shirt from her and slip it on, covering myself. "Ah, lot less chilly now."
She relaxes and then bows. "Marteau was able to ask for a spare one under the pretense of assisting Lady Vallerie."
"Well, I'm glad you got it for me. I didn't even ask." I give her another pat on the shoulder. "Thanks. Anyways, I guess I was just wrapping up, just gotta hang them up to dry now."
"I can help you with that." she says, flashing a small smile.
"Alright, but I'll help you back with whatever you have next. I don't like being indebted."
"Then, let's carry these clothes!" she says, giving another bright smile. Really easy-going when you're not under pressure, are you...
She's a treat, I'll say that much. Honestly, if I met her back home, I'd be tempted to say she came from the countryside. Everything about her screams that.
These past few days have been really nice, actually, with Siesta making things a lot better.
"You should stop seeing that maid."
I nearly flinch, caught off guard as Louise suddenly talks while she does her homework while we're both in her room.
"What for?"
Louise takes a breath, probably considering what to say next.
"Not a word."
"Wasn't planning on spilling."
"Give me your word, famil—Ahn."
"Alright. I swear I won't tell a soul."
Louise nods. "I… I know that a lot of the students don't like me. You see it all the time too. But I've grown to it. So they're going to look for someone else. They won't come after you, you've shown yourself to be… kind of scary. But that maid…"
"I get it." I say so she doesn't have to keep going. "...I'll talk to her first, though."
"Don't you care for her?!" she shouts, turning to face me. "Y-you seem like you've gotten close and you'll—"
I look at her eyes and see she's crying. I guess you're feeling guilty about this.
"Yeah, look, but whether or not we keep talking isn't up to me. I'll let her know and then let her make a decision. But the concern is good for you."
Goddammit, though. I still haven't figured out how to fix this situation. I know I wanted to give her a chance, help her get on her feet, but I can't figure it out.
The question bugs me even until the next morning, since I wake up late (again), much to Vallerie's annoyance. The normal morning routine happens and we begin our March of Heckles.
"Anyways, see you later—"
"No, follow me."
"Into the hall?"
"Yes."
"This has to deal with last night, doesn't it?"
"I will do what I need."
I can see the look on her face for a brief second. This isn't about me. This is about her and the fact that she doesn't want to see herself as the cause for dragging others down.
"...right."
"You will simply stand behind me and do nothing more. Respond to nothing unless I tell you to. Am I clear?"
I take a breath.
"...please."
I exhale, shaking my head. "Alright, fine. I'll play along."
We attract plenty of looks. I get plenty of questions, such as "What are you doing here?" I follow Louise's command don't say a word. When Louise herself is questioned, she simply says "I will do what I want" before brushing them off. She sits down and begins to eat, a little more quickly than the others around her. I guess I'm not eating, huh?
"Ahn."
"Oooooh she calls it by name!"
I exhale deeply, calming myself. "Vallerie."
"You will get your food later. That is acceptable, yes?"
"As you wish." I say with a shrug. She nods and returns to eating.
I keep a careful eye around the room, spotting Siesta in the distance. Looks like it's begun, though. A little too late, huh, Vallerie?
When I look down, I see Louise also watching Siesta. That black hair of hers is a really easy identifier. Seems like the harassment has already started. Students keep bumping into her, trying to cause her tray to tip over, and the like.
It's fucking horrific. What the fuck is with these kids? Just because Vallerie's magic doesn't fit like theirs? Geez, what the hell?
"T… thank you very much for helping me keep cool during this warm morning." Siesta says when she's helping the table across from us, trying to avoid eye contact with me when one of the other noble girls 'accidentally' spills her wine on her.
"Ahaha, it is of no concern, commoner. It really is a warm morning. Perhaps you could use a bit more cooling?"
"Oh no, I couldn't possible trouble you!"
"Think of it as returning the favor for taking care of us all the time."
"...Vallerie." I seethe out.
"I know, Ahn." she mutters. I can hear the resent and guilt in her voice, along with a twinge of guilt. She knows why this is happening. And she's powerless to do anything. Defending Siesta means they will only attack her more.
I exhale again as Siesta endures two more glasses before she stoops down.
"Ah! Master Gramont," she says, never breaking character. "It seems you have dropped this."
With that, she stands back up and present 'Gramont', a blonde boy who I would assume many women would call 'handsome', with a tiny crystal vial.
"I do not know what you are talking about!" he says in a far too tense tone for anyone to believe he really means it.
"Ooooh!" several of the boys call out. One of them talks further. "Hey Guiche, isn't that Montmorency's perfume? It's got that shade of purple she's known for!"
"I-I assure you, that is but a coincidence!"
"So she's your lover now?"
"Now, now, let us not get hasty with these assumptions!"
I watch the scene play out, but note there's a girl from the side coming up. Brown hair. Cloak marks her as a first year.
She quietly comes up to Gramont. He turns to her, most likely to make an excuse, but is slapped before he can even open his mouth. He doesn't say anything further before the girl runs away crying. A second girl approaches him: blonde hair in what can only be described as twin drills, with a cape colored like Louise's, so I assume they're the same year or at least similar age wise from what I've gathered over the past few days.
"M-montmorency, I can assure you this is all—"
"I knew it! I was hoping the rumors weren't true, but you really were flirting with that first year!"
"I-I can explain everything, so please don't make such an expression with that fair face of—"
Slapped.
Quickly followed by her grabbing a glass from the table and pouring it on him, staining his white shirt red with wine. The Montmorency girl then storms off, with no one getting in her way.
Gramont pulls out a napkin or handkerchief and begins wiping his face in such a slow, dramatic fashion I could have sworn I walked into an opera house.
"Oh," he says, almost sing-song in tone (to the point Vallerie is rolling her eyes), "It would seem those two simply did not understand the beauty of a rose."
I tense up when he looks at Siesta.
"Ahn." Vallerie mutters as I can feel my right hand automatically clench into a fist. Don't do anything drastic, don't do anything drastic…
"—servant girl, you should have just played along when I said I did not know what that bottle was."
My blood is boiling. Several days of enduring this shit. I know what it felt like back home now, back when Sheffield and I ruled the streets with an iron fist before cleaning ourselves up. No matter what, no one felt like they could fight back. Because we were just too damn good and too damn monstrous at fighting, having nothing to lose and everything to gain. In the end, resistance was just a symbolic gesture. But at least those guys knew what it meant to fight.
They only held back because they knew that even with all of their experience, no matter how much pain they could inflict, we could take it. These kids here just lord over everything like someone gave them the fucking keys to the kingdom. They hadn't clawed their way to the top. They were given it. Sheffield and I started from nothing. As fucking street thugs, eventually starting to become respectable citizens. I knew what it was like to fall from grace and knew even more what it felt like to claw your way back up from the pits, resisting the lure of the old fighting days!
But even if I was trash, even if my old crew was a bunch of hooligans, at least we knew what it meant to prove your damn worth!
"Ahn!" Louise shouts as I vault across the table, scattering plates, glasses, and other utensils along with plenty of food all over the place. As Gramont's hand comes down to strike Siesta with a full on slap, he ends up meeting a boot to the face, sending him stumbling back into the arms of his posse who help catch him. I recover on my feet, getting into a fighting stance. Left foot lead, right foot ready to push off. My right and left hands come up to guard, open and ready to catch a punch.
"Ugh…" Gramont groans, regaining his balance. He takes a look at me, standing between him and Siesta. "Oh, it's you. That crass familiar of that failure. I suppose you commoners would stick by each other."
His posse comes up to stand between him and me.
"Hey Guiche, we'll put him down if you want!"
"Yeah, it's only because he got the jump on you! Here, let me—"
I push off with my right foot, bringing it high and kicking him right in the head, sending him spiraling into a table where he yells on impact. Sounded nasty. I get back into my guard position.
"Any else of you bastards wanna try me?" I say, my voice turning into a growl.
Another one steps forward, but a hand on his shoulder stops him.
"Now, now. We mustn't fight here. After all, it would be a disgrace for us to stain the floor and tables where nobles dine with the blood of commoners." Gramont says with an arrogant smile. "You there, foolish commoner. I shall await you in the Vestri Court, where we shall have our duel. Unless you prostrate yourself before me here and apologize."
I look behind me and see Siesta move down to fall to her knees, but I catch her by the arm.
"You are not at fault here. Stay on your feet." I say with a little more force than usual as Louise comes crawling underneath the table to me. "Go to your court. I will see you there."
With that, Gramont goes off, laughing with his friends.
"You fool, apologize to him now!" Louise shouts as I dust myself off, walking away, Siesta in tow. "Familiar!"
"Ahn."
"Ahn!" Louise shouts, uncaring of the attention of everyone directed at us while we walk through the aisle in the other direction of Gramont. "You will go to the Vestri Court and apologize to Guiche immediately!"
I turn around and give her a stern look, causing her to stop in her tracks. "Stay here for a second."
"W-why?!"
"Siesta, go into the kitchen and explain to Marteau the situation and get changed." I say, pushing the girl forward. "I will be done with him before long."
"But…"
"But?"
"You're just a commoner… there's no way a commoner can beat a mage!"
That phrase makes me sick. Because it reminds me of home. No one would fight the King. Because no one could beat the King. But Sheffield was willing to reject that. She didn't give a shit.
I remember hanging out in the alley, chewing on some meat on a stick I got from some food cart. It was evening, wintertime. Christmas lights everywhere since it no one had cleaned them up for New Years. Three hours to the new year, this girl comes walking up to me, light coat, seeming unminding of the bitching cold.
"Hey, you. You're the unbeatable 'King' right? Word is around these parts, no one can beat you and the cops can't get you either. Well, who cares about shit like that? Let's ring in the new year with a new king!"
Sheffield, I don't know where the hell you are, but let me borrow your balls-deep insane charisma for a bit. Let me be the one who destabilizes this so called 'rule' of the world.
"Siesta."
"Ahn…?"
"I will win."
When I say this, I look at her dead in the eyes. I hope to convey my sincerity. I only hope that my mini-prayer to Sheffield was heard. Let her believe me.
She remains silent and looks away, withdrawing into the kitchen.
"Vallerie, lead me to the Vestri Court."
"You can't be serious!" she shouts, grabbing my arm, trying to stop me. "Please just apologize to Guiche!"
"I can't." I say, much more forcefully. "I just can't. I've committed to this, Vallerie. I won't just walk away."
"Is it because of that maid girl?!"
"Partially. But also…"
I let the silence hang in the air for just a bit.
"...you'll get to see what I'm really capable of."
"Ladies and gentlemen, it's a duel!" Gramont shouts, pumping up the crowd of boys and girls who are gathered all around to watch what they assume will be a simple beatdown. Where the hell are the teachers? Bah, they'd probably just let this slide, anyways.
"I really can't stop you…" Vallerie mutters as she follows behind me.
"Sorry for being so hard to control." I say with a shrug. "Now just watch."
I stride forward without any hesitation, moving my combat knife from my sweater and tucking it into one of my belt loops. I cast away my sweater and stand in front of Guiche. There's roughly twenty five feet between us.
"Any last words, commoner?"
"I would say 'if you had any respect for me, use my name', but I guess you've got none for me."
"What kind of coward simply blindsides his target? You call yourself worthy of respect?" he says with a dramatic scoff.
"What kind of scumbag adulterer would ever cheat on his woman? I'm sure they felt blindsided by your filthy cheating heart. I'd be surprised if anyone would even look at your as a marriage partner again, after all, you seem to like them young. Disgusting, isn't it?" I reply without missing a beat, getting into a combat stance. "What's this to?"
I see his eyebrow furrow with annoyance at my implied barbs. "Hmhm, let us say 'Until one of us says 'I yield'' or is further unable to fight."
"Fine with me. I'll knock your pretty boy ass out."
He glares at me before taking out… a rose. I guess that's the wand he uses.
"My runic name is 'The Bronze', and so my bronze Valkyrie will be your opponent!"
As I rush forward, he waves his wand. When there's about twenty feet between us, a figure rises up. I slow myself down and analyze my opponent. A female figure, roughly my height, if not a little taller. Made of metal.
...and now there's three of them, wonderful.
"Cowardice, huh," I grumble, getting into a defensive stance. A metallic opponent… I've never managed to low kick my way through a baseball bat. Should've done more hits at the gym. I don't think my shin can break through it.
But… what the hell, I know I should've run faster than that. It feels like something… slowed me down?
I've got to find a way to slip past. I assume he's the leader. If I take him down, these things should go down too.
Damn though, these feelings in my chest and hand won't go the hell away. Not to mention this slowing feeling, and something keeps making noise that I can't get rid of in my head. I hope these feelings aren't a pain in the ass. Making it hard as hell to think, too.
Alright, let's do this.
They're in a fairly good formation. There's no good openings. I'll just have to make one.
I move forward, aiming for the area between the one on my right and the center one. When I get into place, the one on the left comes to surround me. I pivot out of the way as it launches a punch at me and slide between the gap. I rush towards Guiche, but when there's ten feet between us another two more come up.
"You've gotta be fucking kidding me," I grumble, realizing I'm surrounded.
"How's that, commoner?!"
"I don't know, you come in here and tell me."
"Hmph. I'll at least end it quickly."
And that's another four.
Nine of these guys… and I can't even hit them without staggering myself.
I guess I've gotta get serious. Alright dad, help me out here.
I reach for my knife and pull it out. I can feel those memories surging into my head once again, but more importantly I can feel a surge of strength and speed. Whenever they move, it all feels a lot slower. That entire feeling of clouding, of legarthy, completely fades away.
One of them steps forward and launches a right straight. I bring my left arm up and put my hand on my temple, grabbing it as I parry the blow. My right arm moves, almost on its own, and slices at the arm of the Valkyrie, apparently giving it a deep gnash. Whoa, I know I wasn't strong enough to do that.
I take a moment to regain my focus and step forward to match the retreating Valkyrie, twisting and doing a headki—gahgh! Fuck!
Gah, fhag, fucking shit! That hurt! Fucking muscle memory! Ugh, say what you will about strength, I still felt that shit! Alright, use weapons, not my fists, okay! I mean, it doesn't hurt as much as I thought it would, but fuck, that still stings!
I grunt, reeling from the pain before taking a look around me. Either way, even though it hurt like shit, I still managed to actually send that thing flying back. Another one comes for me, but I manage to grit my teeth and slip past it, pivoting and bending down a bit before shoulder checking it, shoving it back. When it staggers away, I switch grips with my knife and try to impale it. The knife does do some damage, but I don't get a clean hit.
Not to mention I don't think this knife was made for this shit.
Which I am confirmed of when three attacks later, my knife breaks. Sorry dad…!
"Gah…"
I can feel my strength and agility, plus that pain tolerance, suddenly take a dip. Geez, I didn't know that the difference between having a weapon and not having one was this great… Even though I knew I had some decent fighting skill, I really feel a difference. Not to mention this pain is fucking killer. Now I gotta dodge rather than block seeing as I can't take that much pain.
I manage to evade the first strike, a kick right to my ribs, by stepping away. The second left hook to my face I duck under before I nearly come down on an uppercut and I manage to move my hands in time to sit down on it, preventing the blow from hitting my face. But my instincts get the better of me and I uppercut, sending my fist into a chin of metal.
I hear what is hopefully not my wrist breaking, but I let out a grunt of pain as I stagger back. I know to put my hands in front of my face which I do immediately, preventing a straight from getting a square hit. I know there's more behind me, but I can't make them out.
"Gyuh!" Fucking muscle memory!
I let out a grunt of pain again when one manages to strike me in the ribs, as I turned to avoid a nasty hit to my back. It felt like taking a fucking metal bat to the ribs. I crumple to the ground almost instantly. But I won't stop here…!
I try to kick another one that tries to get on top of me, but all I succeed in doing it jamming up my leg since it fucking hurts like a bitch to kick the metallic thing away. All nine of them swoop down on me and even with my blocks, it was only a matter of time before they grappled me and began hitting me.
I feel the wind get knocked out of me. Before I can even inhale, one punches me square in the face. I think I broke my nose with that one. Another hit to the cheek. Pretty sure one stomps on my leg, but my shins have been hardened from doing low kicks against a bag for so long I feel nothing. Eventually it gets to the point they don't even have to hold me down and all start beating on me.
It's a merciless beatdown.
Summoning out the last reserves of my strength, I manage to break out. My entire body feels like it's on fire. I'm pretty sure I'm barely standing right now. The things don't even come after me as I stumble about, looking like a puppet that had half its strings cut. I'm probably bleeding out too, or at least I can see a lot red and black on my exposed skin. Going to need a lot of ice for all those bruises.
Fuck, seeing double…
My steps falter and I almost step into the crowd of students, but they immediately shove me back in, right towards the Valkyrie. It slaps me in the face, sending me to spiraling to the ground.
"Ahn! Guiche, stop this!"
"But Louise, he hasn't said he surrenders. Valkyries, a little more."
Louise lets out another cry as I get three more kicks, sending me along the ground like a ball.
"Guh!" I grunt, landing on my stomach, face in the mud. The bitter taste of grass and mud fills my mouth. I look up and see Louise running towards me… but she's immediately restrained by several jeering boys and girls.
"Let him say it!" they yell.
"Ahn, please! Stop this, stop this now!" she cries out, trying to take another step forward, but can't. She tries to shake off her captors, but it's of no use. "Please, please let me go!"
I try to push myself up, catching Siesta in the corner of my vision. She looks deathly pale, probably thinking this is all her fault. Don't think that. If I had just learned to keep calm, this wouldn't be happening right now. I just had to be a goddamn hero.
Dammit though! This isn't as far as I can go! It's just so damn unfair! It's so ridiculously one-sided! As if that 'rule' that commoners can't fight mages was actually a law of this world! I don't know how else to describe it. It's like… I was slowed down or something. I know I'm better than how I fought, I can blame muscle memory all I want but I know I normally wouldn't let myself do that! That fucking noise in my head, the feeling of being slowed down, gah…!
Either way, if only I had something to defy that!
I… I want it so badly. I said I would help Vallerie and try to lead her somewhere better, but how can I do that when I'm nothing but a worm on the ground?! I crave it… I crave something that will let me carry on the pride of my mother's legacy! I desire nothing more than to be a force that uplifts, a shining star for Vallerie to follow that will never touch the mud below! Give me the power to break through, if anyone can hear me!
—The cooling feeling in my chest spreads throughout my entire body, overtaking even my right hand. A sensation of metal runs through my bones. A stench of blood—no, more than that. The scent of death invades my very being. The sensation of being cut on every square inch of skin runs through me, but my skin is completely unharmed save for my prior injuries.
But soon all of that feeling condenses into my right hand, overpowering the heat emanating from it. Something solidifies. As if it were a brand new star.
Several words suddenly echo through my head. A calm, powerful, female voice. One who had seen much suffering, one who had endured even more, and one who overcame it all.
"For even the one who called himself a god fell before my iron will; let the heavens come for me, I shall embrace their challenge."
"Well, familiar of that failure, do you have any last words? Make your surrender now."
You've think you've won, huh…
"Yeah, just one."
"Then speak it."
The next word comes out of my mouth before I can even register it.
"Assiah!"
An unknown word. I don't know what it means, but I can feel the power coming from it as I roll over onto my stomach and swing my right hand, which despite this feeling, doesn't glow at all, out to attack. As if there was an invisible force in the air…
...the head of the Valkyrie about to come down on me falls off. A clean, perfect cut.
"Guoh!" Gramont cries out as I force myself up, gritting my teeth to get through the pain.
I can't see it. Nothing's in my hands. But memories that aren't my own are helping to guide me. No, not only memories. Feelings. Gut emotions. Instinct.
For the briefest moment, I see the shining image of my mother standing against that thing. I know this isn't anything so glorious like that, but… mom, give me your blessing.
I can feel a small wetness going down my cheek. Still watching...
Forcing myself to focus, I get into a stance. I've never been trained in the sword before, so it feels really alien to me. But yet, it feels right. Something tells me that I've got an invisible sword in my hand. No weight, no form. It can cut. It can stab. All of these weird, fleeting memories in my head keep giving me just bare frames of knowledge.
But the most important thing they tell me…
I guide my hand as if swinging a knife, but from a further distance, now free of the weights that I felt before, free of the mental noise. It cuts right into another Valkyrie's arm, with Gramont coughing and clutching his matching arm in the distance for a second.
...it looks like I can harm him with this thing.
I've only got so long. I'm sore as hell and I might black out soon from all the beating, I've got to cross the distance and end the fight. Maybe. I haven't been in a scuffle like this for so long that I've forgotten what the exact limitations of my body are. But one thing's for sure. If I'm going to go down, it's going to be fighting.
I keep my breath steady for a bit before walking—or more like limping—forward. When his Valkyries come at me again, I swing my arm in a wide arc, cutting through all of them easily. After a shout of pain that brings him to his knees, his Valkyries get into a guard position. Looks like he can't just gang up on me anymore.
"Where… the hell is all that… gah, bravado you had earlier, huh?" I taunt, continuing to move forward. With every step I take, he takes two back. He sends two Valkyries to do a pincer attack, but I swing wide again and get them both, causing him more pain. Twenty seven feet…
The crowd parts so he can make an escape. But they don't dare get in my way as I've got death in my eyes and I guess they think I'll cut them down too. The most they can do now is… watch.
Another few attacks. More sliced Valkyries. More pain from him. Another few steps forward. Rinse and repeat.
Eventually he backs his way into a corner. He doesn't seem injured, but I can see the red forming on his shirt. That's definitely not wine.
"Come on, say those words already!" I say, goading him. "We both know how this is going to end!"
Fifteen feet.
I keep my pace. I won't show weakness, no matter how much it hurts.
Ten feet.
His legs are shaking. Mine are too. Him out of fear. Me because my body is about to give out.
Five feet.
I swing my right hand, clumsily stepping forward as the pain overtakes me for a second. He immediately ducks to the ground, fearful of getting hit with whatever sliced through his constructs.
He's immediately met with a kick to the face.
"Surrender!" I command. "Do it now!"
He laughs despite being down on the ground. "You're… haha, you're on your last legs, aren't you?! You'll never hear them from me!"
I don't grace his last attempt at looking prideful with any words.
I simply come down on him like his own Valkyries did me and begin beating the shit out of him. Punch after punch. I don't know how to dispel this thing in my hand, so I'm careful not to accidentally cut him up.
Regardless, he's pretty soaked in red.
"You said they couldn't understand a rose, couldn't you?" I say with a distinct glee to my voice. I can feel myself falling back into those darker days. "You'll look as blood red as one when I'm done with you!"
He screams with pain every time I hit. No one dares stop me out of fear of being next. It's a brutal show. It was all fun and games until it was one of theirs.
"Surrender!" I yell, nearly strangling him now. He's gasping for whatever bits of breath he can get.
"I… sur…"
"What was that…?!"
"I surreehehnder…" he says, barely able to make it through. As soon as I hear those words, I drop him. He crumples to the ground, a bruised, cut, and bleeding sack of injuries. Not that I'm faring any better.
With every further step, my vision gets a little hazier.
The last thing I see is a flash of pink rushing forward before everything goes dark.
The Star of Hegemony
"Good evening, Matilda."
The young woman who was in the middle of undoing her hood nearly jumped out of her boots at the sudden call. While she knew who that voice belonged to, it was still a surprise.
"G… good evening to you as well, Lifdr—Yuuka." Matilda said back, brushing her hair that had a slight tinge of blue-green to it out of her eyes.
The other young woman she greeted was currently bent in a strange position bearing her bare chest, her back towards a mirror, neck strained to have her head look into another mirror, possibly looking at her back. She certainly could not have been over twenty and Matilda had assumed she was of exotic origins, for her facial structure was certainly not like those of Halkeginia and the only other head of black hair she had seen was that maid back at the Academy, although compared to the maid, the woman here had her hair down halfway down her back. She was not exactly short, but definitely shorter than average. While these were all small quirks that meant nothing in the big picture, there was one thing that irked Matilda about her.
"Did you get another job today?" Yuuka asked, with Matilda swearing that despite her face looking into the mirror, the woman's blue eyes were watching her walk around the room.
The question offered no hints to what she might have been implying, for her tone was so cold and flat, so devoid of any emotion that Matilda had once questioned if she was even speaking to a human or simply a beast in human form.
Regardless, Matilda hesitated to respond.
"I believe that is a 'yes'. I believe you are also due to…" The young woman paused, squinting as she seemed to scribble something down on a piece of paper. "...return to the Academy soon, yes? Do stay a while if you can. Tiffania does miss you."
"I see you are no longer in pain when you call her as such." Matilda said back with a bit of a small grin.
"Yes, well, as soon as she said very clearly that she was to be called by name rather than 'Master', these runes of my back have stopped bugging me."
"Are you recording them?"
"No, I simply allowing my skin to breathe. It is such a liberating feeling."
"I can hardly tell if you are joking."
"Then please ask the paper in my hands."
"Your sense of humor is horrible." Matilda fired back before taking the paper from her. "I will do it for you, then. It would be shameful of you if one of the children were to walk into you showcasing your chest. Have you no shame?"
"I possess hardly anything to be ashamed of. In addition, all of them are asleep."
Matilda could only roll her eyes as she took the quill as well, beginning to copy down the set of runes on her back. "Why not ask Tiffania?"
"She has enough on her plate as it is, helping out all of those children. Bothering her with such a task would be in poor taste. Ah, you can start on the lower half, I have already finished the upper portion."
Matilda snorted as she started recording on the lower half, picking up where Yuuka had left off, waiting for her to finish clipping together her bra. "You should have put that on as soon as you could have."
"Yes, but it would have broken my concentration."
What a crazy woman, Matilda thought as she got to work, scribbling the runes. "To answer your question, yes, I was offered a job."
"I see. Will it be dangerous?"
"If nothing drastic has happened, no."
"Would you like for me to offer my services?"
Matilda paused, biting her lip. She had yet to verify the breadth of the information network the girl in front of her had built in such short a time, but it might help.
"...what are you asking for?"
"I only want the client and the item requested."
"Fairly generous of you." was the first thought that went through Matilda's head, but she also gave consideration that if she did give those pieces of information, she'd have everything she needed. "What are you going to give me in return?"
"It should take about four days for you to return to the Academy if we assume the Academy hasn't paid for the fastest method possible, yes? When you arrive there, I will have had a messenger in advance give you all the information I have gathered. This way, you may operate there knowing things that others do not believe you should have known."
"I know that much." Matilda replied, still cautious about how she could promise such speed with a messenger, although on the other hand she felt she didn't want to know. "That seems like a gamble, though. What if nothing major has happened?"
There was no need to question if the girl would go back on her deal or give her anything less than what she asked for. It would be bad for business, especially considering that Matilda knew where she was, even if she was virtually untouchable by being Tiffania's familiar. Explaining any action towards her would be… difficult.
"Then I will have given you peace of mind that you missed nothing of note."
Matilda thought about it for a bit. It's not like giving this information to her would be a necessarily bad thing, nor was it the first time she gave information to her. Her deals were always good, or at least, she had never seen them as bad.
"Give me until the morning."
"There's no rush."
The two silently continued their work, with Matilda laying the transcription on the table as Yuuka put on a grey undershirt before putting on a matching blouse. She then rose to her feet, stretching before kicking her legs which put her crimson skirt up to dangerous heights.
"Thank you, Matilda. I'll wait for your decision in the morning."
"Ah, yes…"
With that, Yuuka ran her hands through her hair before walking away, most likely to the bedroom.
"Ha… well, I guess I have to make a decision. I just hope nothing has gone wrong while I'm away…"
Alright, how was that? I really don't like but also kind of like these beginning portions, since I don't have too much room to wriggle around too much (especially with the scale of power characters are currently at), but oh well. I tried to make it interesting. I wanted to add a little more friction into Ahn and Louise's relationship, but show Ahn is gaining dominance over her by nature of her needing him.
I also wanted Louise to be a little more isolated and more honest to herself, so I hope I succeeded there. Writing Siesta was a little more fun, I wanted to make her more innocent this time too, along with showing the ways that mages dominate. When Guiche demanded they prostrate themselves, Siesta was ready to go right then and there, but Ahn wouldn't let her.
The fight scene was probably my favorite part. I wanted to write it to be a little more brutal, so Ahn gets pretty trashed up, but then when the tables turn it's just as brutal right back. I also gave him Assiah level, which the effects have been shown on screen so far to be seemingly affecting Guiche despite not hitting him, along with dismissing whatever mental noise was affecting him, hehe. There's enough hints to get a start in the right direction, I think, on what exactly is going on.
Also, early cameo by Lifdrasir! Should spell out that things are pretty different early on, it was mainly just for some set up and also for some more character dynamics.
Anyways, let me know what you think. Still trying to break a bit out of my comfort zone with this kind of character, so any advice is good. Seeya guys next time!