The students of Tristain Academy of Magic are a lot of things. Arrogant, rich, 'noble' and lazy to the point many would call it an art. But one thing they had in common with commoners, in Saito's world or in Volibear's, was that teenage gossip spread at a speed comparable to interstellar travel.
But what of the subject? The latest news from the grape-vine? Vas Fleur's attempts to romance a lady of higher station? How Louise the Zero, contrary to her title is still batting a thousand in failed attempts to cast a spell properly? It might even be about how her familiar was already seen sneaking off with a maid. Oh that Louise, can't even control her own familiar.
No, the juiciest bit of gossip was something far more interesting that the pink-haired midget's inevitable failings. Instead people were talking about the familiar of a certain blue-haired girl. Many were surprised with what she had summoned. Many expected a dragon, a gryphon, something befitting the fact the petite girl could take on any student in the academy and cast circles around the idiot.
Instead, she got a fuzzball. A tiny, little, bear cub with a weird set of bracelets. The rumor that it could apparently talk just added to the mystery. So when Tabitha walked into the dining hall the next morning, she noticed the stares directed at her.
Troublesome.. Was the only thought that went through her head as she took her seat, flipping open another book as the remainder of the student's piled in for the first meal of the day. After all, Ferdinan Von's examination on various flora and fauna found in northern Germanian region was far more interesting, and productive than pretending to care what other people thought of her.
"Tabitha! There you are!"
Speaking of troublesome. Tabitha cracked a tiny smile as she saw Kirche take her place in the seat next to the bluenette.
"Morning."
"Good morning to you as well. Now are you going to tell me, or am I going to have to interrogate you?" Kirche teased as she leaned on her smaller friend. Personally the fiery-red head was having a great start to her day. Loiuse wasn't expelled, and had even summoned a cute little familiar to play with.
"About?" This must be the reason for the odd looks..Tabitha put her book down, knowing it was better to just give up now, instead of try and ignore Kirche.
"Why your adorable familiar of course! You and Louise have been the talk of the school. There were bets going around that you'd summon a dragon, at least. And well... the less said about the Zero's.. unique.. familiar, the better." Kirche smiled deviously. Oh she was going to enjoy the next few weeks.
Louise was a good girl after all. She just had a stick up her butt, with a little white flag saying 'I'm a Valliere'. Hopefully one day she'll learn to lighten up and take a joke. But going by her usual sour reaction this morning, it was unlikely. Very, very unlikely.
"Problem?" Tabitha slightly raised an eyebrow at her friends statement. She saw no reason her familiar was weird... He was a bear, a needlessly adorable one, who could speak, but a bear none the less. A dragon would be nice though... she could have named it Sylphid and they could have gone flying together.. but Volibear was nice.. and fluffy. So in a way, it was a reasonable trade-off.
"No problem, it's just that people have said it could talk." Kirche defended herself and the vast horde of other gossips from Tabitha's improbable wrath.
"Volibear." Tabitha corrected with a small nod.
"Ooh, so that's his name. Cute."
Another nod from Tabitha. Curious.. wonder what his reaction to all this attention would be..
"So, can he speak?"
A third nod, and Kirche squealed in delight. "What does he sound like? From his size, he must be a cub. Oh, we should go into town today, get him and Flame some accessories, like matching colors. I just can't wait to meet the little cutey. We can go after lunch."
Odds of accepting a collar? Highly unlikely..Getting him into clothes?... Far more likely.. Hehe.. tutu... very unlikely but an attempt would be necessary..Tabitha struggled for a moment before failing to wipe the tiny smirk off her face.
Kirche beamed at her smaller friend. Guess the shopping trip is a go.
With those thoughts in mind, Tabitha picked up her book to continue reading as the last of the students piled in, leaving Kirche to trade gossip with some of her fellow second years. Tabitha picked up something about Guiche possibly two-timing, but left that alone.
Not my problem. Was the shared thought of the girls. If Guiche was stupid enough to get caught, good. If Montmorency couldn't control her own boyfriend, that was her fault. Terribly selfish opinions in all honesty, but they were nobles. Infidelity wasn't so much a question of 'if', it was a question of 'when'.
Tabitha only looked up once Louise entered, her familiar in tow. Really should find out his name.. calling him 'familiar' is just rude.
Kirche just smiled as she listened to the whispers increase at the presence of the unknown boy. Well this shall be interesting.
The fire mage wasn't disappointed as she watched Louise try, and fail to command her familiar. Eventually the boy in blue sat down on the floor, stuck with only a loaf of bread for breakfast. Poor guy..
Tabitha pushed her plate forward, having eaten everything she'd been given without complaint. Even the carrots, the cursed work of the devil.
Talk to the chef later.. thank him again for feeding Volibear. She thought before pushing herself away from the table, now intent on going to find and cuddl- talk. She was going to go and spend time with her familiar, like she was supposed to before the trip into town.
Before she left, Tabitha noticed Louise's familiar. Still sitting on the floor. Still having only eaten a single loaf of bread. Probably still having no idea what's going on.
'Got to feel sorry for the kid...He's obviously a civilian, lost, and he's been dumped into something like this...' Volibear's words came back to her... Oh she hoped she would regret this. Tabitha's relationship with Louise could be summed up in one word, just the way the smaller mage liked it. Neutral.
The very rarely talked to each other, much less held a conversation, and if it wasn't for Kirche's attempts to break through the iron hard shell Louise built around herself, they'd probably wouldn't have gotten that far.
With that in mind, Tabitha walked down the table to where the poor boy sat, poking him in the shoulder with her staff to get his attention.
"Oh.. um... Hello?" Great.. another midget with weird hair, probably come to hit me as well..At this point, Saito's opinion of mage's ranged from 'bunch of jerks' to 'bunch of inept perverts'.
"Food, kitchen." With her mission complete, Tabitha turned and walked away, praying to the founder that Louise wouldn't over react to her actions. It was something rather innocent, but with her temper, the pinkette might view it as an insult. Especially with Kirche taunting her.
Volibear was having a good morning until about thirty seconds ago. Tabitha was kind enough to share her bed, which frankly was more than big enough for the pair of them. Breakfast was decent. He wasn't one to complain about free food.
He'd have preferred to hunt, and earn his meal, but seeing as he was now tiny, he didn't really have a choice. Especially when his current size was something he'd consider a light snack back in the Freljord. The fact the maid held herself back cuddling him was another blessing.
What is it with women and trying to hug me?... The champion thought as he brought himself back to reality. Specifically the reality where he was being smothered by a girl's chest. It was a struggle, but eventually he got his paws in place and managed to push himself free of the devil women.
I'm an Ursine, dammit! I am not some stuffed animal to be played with at the drop of a hat! Volibear thought with a small growl, which seemed to have the opposite effect on the tanned, red-head than he intended.
"Aww, don't worry little guy. I won't hurt you. I just want to give you a hug." Kirche said as she got down on her knees, holding her arms out to invite Volibear closer.
Not buying it. I know a trap when I see one. "Not going to happen women. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me..." Volibear grumbled back, casting a glance at his summoner, seeing the hint of amusement in her eyes as she continued to read her book, gently petting Flame with her left hand.
"Pwease. I'm sorry. I got a little excited. I promise not to do it again..."
She's lying through her teeth... "Women.. I've fought mages who could be considered gods, veteran warriors whose body count is among the thousands, and countless terrors from beyond the void.. so just let me warn you... try and kill me again, and I'll show you exactly why I'm the Thunder's Roaaaah-"
"Aww you are so cute~ Tabitha~ We are so sharing him from now on~" Kirche cut Volibear's speech short by tackling him to the ground, shoving his fuzzy head into her chest again, giggling quietly as the tiny cub struggled against her thin arms for air.
How is this damn women so strong?! Volibear would have roared for everyone to hear, but that'd have been wasting precious oxygen that was being restricted by the evil mounds of flesh being shoved in his face. Sadly the truth of the matter wasn't that Kirche was unusually strong, he was just very weak. Weak and tiny. Weak, tiny and absolutely adorable. And he hated it.
Tabitha just shrugged, knowing it was mostly a joke. Hopefully. Cause he is first and foremost, -my- cuddle toy. The ice mage usually went along with her friends antics cause very little was suicidal or brave enough to get in the fire mage's way, but with first hand experience of how fluffy her familiar was, it'd take Brimnir himself to give Volibear up.
Tabitha closed her book, deciding it was time to save her familiar from getting choked out by Kirche's skin ship. Go shopping now, be back for dinner...
"Hey Kirche! You hear? Louise's familiar insulted Guichi. They are dueling in the Vestri court. You better hurry to get a spot to watch!" A random third year shouted at Kirche before running off, obviously wanting to watch the show. Volibear took this opportunity to escape from Kirche's clutches, landing on the soft ground with a dull thud and a loud gasp for sweet, sweet, oxygen.
He didn't give Kirche time to refocus her attention back at himself, instead making a hasty, I'm not a coward, I'm a survivalist, retreat to his summoner's side, hoping to any god, spirit or element that'd listen that he'd be safe from the red-headed she-witches clutches for at least five minutes.
"My, my. How brave of him..." Kirche mused before standing up, temporarily forgetting her newest little cutey. "Want to go watch, Tabitha?"
Tabitha just shrugged, giving Volibear a small scratch behind the ear before standing up herself to follow behind her taller friend. Just to make sure Guiche doesn't accidentally kill him.
"Poor kid... taking on a mage with no prior combat training..must got a death wish.." Volibear growled quietly to himself as he padded along beside Tabitha on all four legs. He found it easier to walk on all four in this smaller form... he just hoped that he figured out a way to get back to normal soon... all this cuddling was starting to drive him mad. Wonder if I can get a few punches in on this Guiche kid... would be a good way to get rid of stress.
AN: Well this was fun. I probably should just mention this, but if you are looking for a serious, plot driven story. You may wish to find it somewhere else, cause this is going to be nothing but me making terrible jokes with literally tons of fluff. But I'm glad everyone seems to like this story~ Now for me to get working on Someone to Protect (Shameless self plug). Also, did a one-shot called The Mist Rises, which I really could use some feedback on, so if you got 5 minutes to read it and tell me how terrible it is, please do. Regardless~ I'll see you all next time~ Hope you enjoyed the chapter~ Have fun
Ps: Yes, I feel ashamed for my terrible pun of a title, but I regret nothing.