Here's chapter two. I hope you enjoy it. I think the most difficult part of this chapter was thinking how to go about the fight against Guiche. But other than that the rest was pretty easy. Also I will be making any new chapter from now on about 4 thousand to 5 thousand words long. And one last thing. If anyone wishes to beta read this story please PM me. Thank you and enjoy.
Louise walked back to her dorm room in silence. By the time she arrived it was well into the night and the two moons were high in the sky. She looked out her window and sighed. She did it. She summoned a familiar. Though she had to admit that it was very strange. She summoned a commoner then the commoner transformed into a weapon? Since when does that happen?
Turning her attention away from the beautiful night she looked at her naginata still held in her hands. She turned it over a few times. Taking in every detail. The shaft was 1.7 meters long and made from oak. Wasn't too impressive there but the 30 cm long blade really caught her attention. It not only increased the overall length of the entire naginata to two meters in total but it was curved! She knew her mother described it as being curved but she didn't believe it. Nothing could make a curved blade like this. Not even scimitars were curved! It was strange.
Deciding to test it out, she began to twirl it around for a bit. Spinning it in a circle, practising slashes and stabs against imaginary Kirche's. She actually smiled. She was having so much fun!
But the fun immediately came to an end when she accidently hit a flower vase destroying it. Now, being a noble she knew that it could hurt her reputation- and be made fun of- if it was found out that she destroyed it. But at the same time she didn't want to pin the blame on a commoner for something that was clearly her fault. For she was a Valliere! An example for all nobles to follow! It only took a moment to decide her best course action.
Heading to the bells hanging by her king sized, four poster bed, she rang for a maid. And the maid didn't disappoint. She was there in record time and a knock at the door alerted Lousie that she was there.
Opening the door the maid immediately bowed, showing respect that a proper noble deserved. "Hello Miss Louise. My name is Siesta and I'm on duty tonight." Raising from her bow she looked directly at Louise. "Is there any way I can be of assistance?"
"Yes, is seems that the table the vase was placed on was not very stable." Louise gestured to the table and the broken vase that lay beneath it. "I wish for it to be cleaned up, and after that you can take my clothes to be cleaned. That is all."
"Very well Miss Louise." Siesta bowed again before entering the room. As she made her way to the broken vase, her eyes wondered to the naginata that was leaning against the wall. "Is that yours Miss Louise?"
Louise didn't even turn to look at her instead making her way to the dresser and changing from, her uniform to her nightgown. "Yes, that's my familiar."
"So you were the one that summoned a weapon… It was the main topic of discussion for the staff." After picking up all the broken pieces she went to grab Louise's uniform. "It's so strange… Not even some of the older members of the staff ever heard of such a thing. I must say it's very-"
"Not to be rude but can you please do your job silently." Louise shut the door of her dresser and gave a sideways glance to Siesta. She was very tired after her "practise" and wanted to sleep as soon as possible.
"Very well Miss Louise." Grabbing the uniform, she made her way to the door. Opening it, she turned and gave one final bow to Louise. "I bid you good night."
With the door shut Louise crawled into bed and decided to sleep off all her concerns and worries. For she finally proved to be a competent mage. For she summoned a familiar. Now she was going to sleep soundly without a worry or care.
Shutting her eyes, she began to dream of what her life is going to be like for now on.
(end scene)
Louise woke up but something seemed wrong. Instead lying on her bed she was… lying on a cloud! Panicking she got up and stepped off the cloud but instead of falling she hung there. Like she was levitating. Looking up she noticed that there was a city above her. All around the city was a huge castle wall.
This was one strange dream. So Louise decided to explore. She began to walk around, searching for nothing in particular, just taking it all in. It was when she was looking at the central market place that she heard something call to her.
"Hello."
She turned around to see who spoke to her, and was completely surprised to see it was the middle aged woman with purple hair, wearing the black cloak that covered her face. But upon closer inspection she saw the bottom of the cloak that covered her legs was slightly torn and the cuffs of the sleeves were in the same state. Also her purple hair came out of the opening of her hood at the back and was just as long as her sister Cattleya's hair and just as thick and luscious.
"Who are you?" Louise was confused as to why this woman was in this strange dream. She never dreamt of a person before, let alone a woman who could pass off as her mother!
"My name is… and this is your…" Louise could see her mouth moving but for someone reason she couldn't hear or understand what she was saying.
"I'm sorry but can you speak up commoner. I'm having a hard time hearing you." Louise was trying to be respectful but she also wanted to hear what she was saying.
"I see… So you're not ready yet." The middle aged woman looked sad. Turning her gaze up, she looked at the city above them. "This is going to be harder than I thought."
"What are you talking about commoner!?" Louise was getting frustrated. What did this lowly commoner mean she wasn't ready yet?
"First off, I'm not a commoner. I am what's known as a Zanpakuto." The middle aged woman looked a little angry that Louise, was mistaking her as a commoner. What was she thinking?
"Zanpakuto?" Now it was Louise's turn to be confused. She never heard of a Zanpakuto before. What was it? "What exactly is a Zanpakuto?"
"Since you are unable to fully understand me yet, just think of me as a "soul sword" for now." The middle aged woman told Louise. There is no point in going into the long and complicated version if she was incapable of hearing her.
"Soul Sword?... That doesn't make any sense!" Louise was angry. What was a "soul sword"? "You better start making sense right now!"
"Fine then Louise. Maybe this will make more sense to you." Raising her right hand in, she made a gesture one would make when grabbing hold of a staff. And in a burst of light the naginata that was Louise's familiar materialized.
"Hey that's my familiar! Where did you get that!" Louise was equal parts angry and bewildered. The commoner summoned her familiar! That was impossible! Commoner's can't use magic!
"Correction, this is your zanpakuto in its physical form. Not your familiar." She explained calmly. "And I'm going to teach you how to wield me, both effectively and efficiently."
Tossing the naginata to Lousie and materializing another one. She charged at Louise who didn't even know how what to do.
Stopping herself from impaling Louise in the heart, she looked down at the cowering girl before holding the naginata vertical again and setting the pummel on a cloud. "You need to learn how to wield us if you wish to become stronger."
Turning around and walking a healthy distance away, she faced Louise yet again. "I'm going to teach you the basics techniques one would use when wielding this type of weapon. So pay attention."
(end scene)
Louise woke up to the first rays of light coming in through her window. She felt sore all over but for some reason she could only remember bits and pieces of a strange dream she had. She dreamt that her familiar was used by the middle aged woman she met yesterday and they fought and trained for who knows how long. And her familiar was something called a zan… zanpak-whatever. And that it was a "soul sword", or something crazy like that.
Louise decided to dismiss it. It would not help matters if her parents found out she was dreaming of middle aged women who claimed such notions. Getting up from her bed she stretched her arms out and rub whatever sleep out of her eyes. Looking at her dresser she saw that the uniform the maid was sent to clean to was back. Maybe she should thank her properly today?
Walking over to her dresser she spotted her familiar leaning against the wall. Walking over to it she picked it up and stared intently at the blade. Turning the weapon this way and that, just trying to find something off about it. But the only thing that felt off about it was that it felt so right to hold it.
"What are you?" Louise asked no one in particular. Setting the weapon down, she quickly got changes. It was time for breakfast and she did not want to be late.
Grabbing her familiar and exiting her room, Louise began to make her way down the stairs but a certain Germanian decided to stop her.
"Hey Zero~, how it going?" Kirche asked Louise with a sarcastic undertone that nobody could miss.
Louise just ignored her and walked on. She didn't want to waste her time by talking to that Germanian whore. She had better things to do. Like getting to breakfast, where she could eat in relative peace.
"Come on Louise, your no fun." Kirche pouted and gave the puppy dog whimper. "You didn't even get a chance to look at my amazing familiar, Flame."
As if on cue, the fire salamander known as flame, walked out of Kirche's dorm room and began to nuzzle Kirche's leg. It gave a slight purr and Kirche knelt down to pet its head.
"So you summoned a fire salamander. It's not that big of a deal." Louise was hiding her jealousy under the mask otherwise known as the "Rule of Steel", but still it was pretty impressive, that Kirche summoned such a creature.
"No big deal!" Kirche was flabbergasted. "Collectors can't even put a price on this fine specimen and you're saying it's no big deal!" She was practically shouting at Louise by this point.
Kirche and Louise were known to have a little rivalry between them. Like fire and ice, but Kirche did it all in good fun. Louise was just so easy to get a reaction from that it was hilarious to her. But Louise on the other hand, took it very seriously. She disliked Kirche with a passion of a thousand burning suns… And, no it's not because she has breasts the size of watermelons. Nope, that's not it all.
The real reasons were because over three centuries earlier or roughly twelve generations ago. A Germanian family known as the Zerbst, stole the husband that was supposed to marry her ancestor. And the second reason is because she wants to prove herself better then Kirche in magic. She could not lose to Kirche!
"That's right, it's no big deal." Louise began to sound annoyed. She was jealous but she was mostly hungry. She wanted to eat breakfast and began to continue down the stairs away from Kirche.
"This isn't over, Louise the Zero!"
(end scene)
Breakfast passed as one would expect. It was quiet, aside from the obvious sounds of silverware hitting plates and the occasional maid walking around refilling up drinks or setting more food out.
All in all it was nice. But everybody kept giving Louise stares and not the usual stares that she was oh so fond of. No, these stares were directed at her familiar. Every now and again Louise would hear people saying, that "she paid a commoner to make it then drop it off", or "she should be expelled. A weapon is not a familiar."
Louise was starting to get fed up but before she could give her fellow peers a piece of her mind, a maid came by and refilled her goblet. So she continued to eat.
Ten minutes later, breakfast was over and all the second year students had the day off to bond with their familiar. The only problem is, since Louise's familiar was a weapon she decided to go off to a secluded part of the academy and practise.
Walking to the west side of the school, she began going through some of the basic techniques that the strange women taught her. Slashing, stabbing and blocking until some sweat began to form on her brow. Deciding to take a break she walked over to where a few trees were planted along the perimeter of the wall and sat down and began to relax.
Unfortunately her relaxation session was cut short as something big came and plopped down right beside her. Opening her eyes she saw that it was the wind dragon that Tabitha summoned. This made Louise a little annoyed because Tabitha was friends with Kirche. And that meant that…
"Oh there she is! I found her Tabitha!"
…Kirche was not far behind her. Sighing to herself she stood up and picked up her familiar and tried to walk away but something caught hold of her shirt. Giving a shriek of surprise she turned to face her would be assailant and saw that Tabitha's dragon picked her up!
"Put me down, this instant!" Louise began to flail around hoping that it would put her down. She tried swatting the head on the dragon with her familiar's pummel but that did nothing to deter the dragon. Instead she began to toss her up into the air, like it was some sort of game.
Louise began to scream! She was being tossed around like a ragdoll and nothing she did would make the dragon put her down. She was actually starting to get angry at this point. She was a noble! Not a play thing!
"Sylphid, down." Came the quiet and monotone voice of Tabitha.
Sylphid caught Louise one last time before setting her down on the ground unceremoniously with a soft thud as she hit the ground with her backside.
Louise rubbed her backside and glared daggers at the dragon. Sylphid looked down at Louise and moved her face until it was an inch from hers and then began to lick it.
"Pfft- Hey, pft- stop it!" But Sylhpid licked Louise mercilessly and stopped when Tabitha's stff hit it on the top of the head.
"Enough." Was all Tabitha had to say before Sylphid turned to face her master. Looking at the size difference between the dragon and Tabitha, one would think that they were a bad match up but for some reason they seemed to understand each other.
"Well Louise, looks like you made a new friend." Kirche was covering her mouth with her hand in trying to stop the laughter from escaping.
Tabitha just turned her attention back to her book and flipped a page in response. In truth she didn't really much care if Sylphid made friends with the other students. She did care if said students got hurt, eaten or wound up losing their familiar. And since Louise was neither hurt nor eaten, and still had her strange familiar she decided to read her book.
"Tabitha, why did your familiar come here to bother me?" Louise was a little angry that Tabitha's dragon to do that to her but she was also curious as to what possessed the dragon to do such.
"Concerned."
"About me or your dragon?" Louise was trying to press for more information but it was like squeezing rock from a stone.
"You."
"And why were you concerned about me?"
"Afternoon tea."
During her little practise session she completely that during the day, they would be served tea and various pastries. It took all of Louise's strength and willpower to not face palm right then and there.
Instead she turned her attention to Sylphid and began to pet the dragon's long neck. "Thank you for reminding me of this Tabitha, and thank you Sylphid."
"Kyuuu!" Sylphid gave a happy trill and began to nuzzle Louise with its gigantic head.
"Don't mention it." Tabitha flipped the page and continued to read.
Kirche watched the scene in front of her with mild amusement. Kirche thought it was so cute that Tabitha was being nice to Lousie. In fact, she pointed it out to Tabitha when they were heading to where afternoon tea was being served.
This caused Tabitha to raise the book in front of her face but not before Kirche caught sight of the tinniest blush she has ever seen.
Smiling to herself she began to wonder how this would turn out.
(end scene)
When they finally got to where afternoon tea was being served, it was in full swing. Students and familiars were conversing, maids were bringing out assorted treats for said familiars and pastries for the students. All in all it was very relaxing.
Except, Kirche decided that it would be more fun to join her for afternoon tea instead of going off with Tabitha, who also happened to seated at her table. Now this isn't the only problem. For whatever reason, Sylphid and Kirche's familiar Flame would not leave her alone. They kept nuzzling her or nudging her with their snouts just begging for attention.
Louise attributed this to when she was living at home with Cattleya. For reasons she could not explain all the animals seemed to prefer her over their true owner. It just made no sense to her. Why did she have this weird effect of animals? It just made no sense!
When the maid finally made a pass by her table she saw the state Louise was in. Her hair was matted in places because of the dragon slobber, her clothes fared no better, and some of it was singed because of the fire salamander's tail. However, this maid worked for the academy for years and she was used to seeing students covered in their familiars drool or sometimes… other waste. But this was first time she's ever seen someone who was absolutely covered, in head to toe in slobber, from not one but two familiars.
Experienced as she was, even she had time choking down the laugh that was threatening to escape from her throat. But she managed to do it, but just barely. "Here is your tea Miss Louise. Is there anything else I can get you… Perhaps a towel?" However, the cracking in her voice was quite obvious to everyone within hearing range.
"Yes, a towel would be nice." Louise was seething. Not only was Kirche laughing but a commoner was also laughing at her current predicament. It made her a little angry. The only person who was not laughing was Tabitha and she just continued to read that book of hers occasionally giving her glances and then turning back to her book. "Also one more thing, do you know where I could find the maid that helped me last night?"
"Oh, you mean Siesta?" Now she was confused why a noble want to talk to a commoner? But seeing as it was none of her business, she gave a quick look around until she spotted her serving Guiche de Gramont and Montmorency Margarita la Fere de Montmorency. "She's over there serving Mr. Gramont and Miss Montmorency."
"Thank you. You may go." Louise closed her eyes in trying to reign in her emotions. And it was sort of working.
After bowing to Louise, she turned off to fetch the towel that she asked for. Kirche was silent during the whole interaction and now her curiosity was piqued. Tabitha even lowered her book.
"So Louise, just what do you want to talk to that maid about?" Kirche was smiling this was a very good opportunity to tease her ad she was not going to pass it up for anything in the world. "I got it! You're secret lovers and by inviting her over here, you're hoping to pass along a secret message in code so you two can meet up later!"
Lousie turned bright red at hearing such a statement. And so did Tabitha. She could not believe that Kirche would say such a thing. Love between women… It was… Unnatural!
"No, I'm not romantically involved with the help Kirche!" Louise practically shouted and that statement got everyone's attention.
Kirche just smirked, having accomplished her goal. Louise was beyond pissed off. She was downright furious! But her anger quickly turned into embarrassment as the past five seconds finally caught up with her and she just slumped down back into her chair.
Louise didn't need to look around to realise that everyone in the courtyard was staring right at her. Louise knew she lost to Kirche… Again. But adding insult to injury, she gave implications that she had an interest in women. Tabitha just raised her book to cover her face in response to this. She didn't want anyone to see her blush.
However the silence of the courtyard was interrupted by the sound of three simultaneous slaps. Everyone turned their attention to where Guiche was towering over a trembling maid who was clutching her right cheek.
"You sullied the reputations of two young maidens! What do you have to say for yourself?!" Guiche was yelling so loud that everyone lost interest in what Louise said and turned their attention to Guiche.
"…"
"Speak up, you commoner!" Slapping her again and clenching his fist as he waited to see what the lowly peasant had to say.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Gramont! I didn't mean to hurt the reputations of the young ladies!" Lousie instantly recognized the voice as Siesta.
Most nobles just turned away, looks of disgust on their faces. Other's continued to watch wondering where this was going. If looks could kill then all the daggers that Kirche was giving Guiche would have killed him tens time over.
But Louise felt something stir within her. She didn't know why but she picked up her familiar, and began to walk over to where Guiche was standing, with anger and determination on her face.
Guiche seemed satisfied with this answer but he was not going to let her off the hook so easily.
"Now, I want you to beg for my forgiveness, get down on all fours and beg." Guiche had the biggest smile in the world, but it was one of cruelty, not joy.
Siesta was about to do just that until a fifth slap rang through the courtyard. Lousie just hit Guiche just hard enough to knock him off balance and he landed on the ground, grunting from the pain.
Louise turned to Siesta and offered her hand to help her up. "Are you alright?"
Siesta was confused. She couldn't believe it, Miss Louise came to her rescue like one of those knights from the stories she used to read to her brothers. She blushed with embarrassment but turned to look away from her to hide her red face. "I'm fine."
"Louise the Zero! You dare strike me! A proper noble and mage!" Now Guiche was furious! Louise the Zero dared to raise a hand against him. He couldn't understand why? But he was not going to let this insult go unanswered.
"Siesta cleaned up a broken vase in my room. I was hoping to thank her properly today but I guess this works too." Louise stated in a bland voice devoid of any real emotion. It would not help if she got Guiche more riled up then he already was.
But the strange thing was, she had no idea why she was doing this! It felt like something was making her body move all on its own and she was just watching the events unfold unfold like one was reading a book.
"Well, I for one will not allow you to insult the house of Gramont." Raising his rose wand dramatically and then pointing it straight at Louise he continued. "I hereby challenge you to a duel!"
Louise was going to refuse but if she did then she would appear weak. And she could not embarrass the family name. So it only took a second to decide her course of action.
"I accept. Where and when?" But she still had a hard time believing the words that were coming out of her mouth.
"We shall meet in the Vestrie court in ten minutes. If you're not in the appointed time, then you forfeit."
"I will see you there." Was her only reply. The nobles began to migrate towards the Vestri court in hopes of seeing a fight. Louise on the other hand just stood there. Trying to comprehend what just happened. But just as she was about to walk towards the Vestri court. A redhead, a bluenette, a dragon and a fire salamander all surrounded her.
Kirche was frantic. She couldn't believe that Louise would do such a thing. Tabitha just closed her book and looked at Louise. Siesta- though grateful for what she did- didn't want Louise to get hurt. But Louise just stood there like a statue.
Then when the time came to fight, she began walking towards the Vestri court. All the while, her grip on her familiar tightened. But she held her head up high. And she began to walk to the Vestri court, all the while Siesta and Kirche were trying to convince her to back down but to no avail.
Tabitha walked just a few paces behind them and her mind wondered... To what exactly would happen next.
(Omake)
The Book of Mages, chapter 1
"Hello my name is Kirche Augusta Frederica Von Anhalt Zerbst!" Kircha levitated a piece of chalk that was near a chalk board and wrote her name. "And this is my friend Tabitha!"
Tabitha just turned a page in response. She didn't even glance up to where Kirche was looking, if she was looking at anything in particular.
"Today we're going to talk to you about the "Summon Servant" spell." Kirche then drew a magic circle that looked like the pentagram on the chalk board. "Now for those of you don't know the "Summon Servant" spell is used to call forth a familiar that is most suited to the mage, and it often reflects their element."
Drawing a picture of herself and flame she continued. "As you can see, I got a fire salamander because my element is fire and it fits with my runic name "Kiche the Ardent." But the more powerful the mage, the more powerful the familiar. Which brings me up to my next point."
Looking down at Tabitha she asked a very serious question. "How exactly did you summon a dragon?"
Tabitha, closed her book, looked directly into Kirche's eyes and motioned for her to lean in close. Kirche complied and Tabitha whispered into her ear in her usual monotone and very quiet voice "Magic."
This caused Kirche to jump back completely Shocked about what Tabitha just said. Her mouth was hanging open and surprise was very evident on her face.
"Magic! How'd you accomplish that!"
A/N: Well that just happened. I don't know whether to make this story M rated or keep it teen. Because there is sexual innuendo but I think it's just going to stay like that for a while.
I've finally came up with what Louise's shikai is going to be, and it's an elemental zanpakuto but I'm still trying to figure what it does. Like whether it will turn into ash or launch energy beams of sorts. I don't really know yet.
As always, please, review, favorite and follow.
Until next time!