The Strays
'Thinking'
"Speaking"
SPELL/ABILITY
(********) = Scene/Location/Time Change
Chapter 4: Burn.
Saito collapsed to the ground breathing heavily. The sun beat down on him as he lay there for a moment.
"Back up." Agnes commanded the young swordsman.
"I'm exhausted." Saito explained.
"We need to build your endurance or you'll never be able to go into a real fight." Agnes said as she helped him get to his feet.
Siesta sat in the corner holding Derflinger as Saito continued his training. He was given a wooden sword in order to sharpen his actual abilities with a sword. His natural abilities weren't too shabby the maid thought as she watched Saito train. In just a few hours Saito had picked up the basics of parrying, side-strikes, and jabs.
"He sure is admirable isn't he?" Derf said to his partner's friend.
"He has the hope of the people with him." Siesta responded.
"Ah yes," Derf recalled, "He's known as the sword of people isn't he?"
"Yeah…" Siesta said dreamily as she watched the young man keep pace with his professional teacher.
(********)
Leon strolled through town casually. He walked around hoping for any traces of Saito. After several hours of searching to no result he decided to call it a day. As the young man headed back in the direction of the pub he realized he still had some time left before his shift.
'My shift… with Jessica… I really put her in an awkward spot this morning.' Leon thought to himself about the girl. Ever since he had caught her that morning he couldn't seem to get her off his mind.
"What am I thinking…? I can't be doing this." Leon said to himself.
"Doing what?" said a girl from behind.
Leon turned around himself face to face with Jessica. "Umm… nothing…" Leon said sheepishly.
Jessica looked at the boy and thought to herself, 'Perfect! I caught him off guard. It's time to give him a taste of his own medicine.'
The girl pressed up against Leon and stood on her tip-toes to get up in his face.
"Were you thinking about me?" she teased him.
"W-what?" Leon stuttered blushing furiously.
The beautiful girl leaned closer and whispered into the young boy's ear, "That would be really cute if you were."
With that the young girl took a step back and waved to the flustered boy and walked away. Leon walked backwards and slid his back down a wall until he was sitting. He regained his sanity after the encounter with his beautiful co-worker and relaxed himself.
'I'm in love with someone else… why does she get to me so much?' Leon wondered to himself.
The dark haired boy looked to the sky and noticed it had started to get dark. He decided he should head back and get ready for work. He stood and walked in the general direction of the pub.
'I'd better find Saito fast. I don't know how long I can last with that girl.' Leon thought as he strolled back down the street from which he'd come.
(********)
Sienna calmed herself and remembered back to the colder nights staying in the abandoned mansion. The fox spirit had used a fire spell in order to light their fireplace. The girl focused her mind and recalled the incantation. Sienna raised her hands to start but was interrupted.
"I know you're a new wizard and everything, but you do know you need a wand don't you?" questioned a snobby blonde student.
Sienna looked at her familiar who had rolled her eyes and motioned her to continue. Sienna raised her hands once more and closed her eyes.
FLAME SPURT! Sienna shouted.
Suddenly, two blue orbs of fire formed in her hands. This caused the blonde girl and a redhead moca-skinned girl to stand up at their desk. Even the teacher seemed shocked at the girl's affinity for magic.
Sienna crushed the flames, receiving a pat on the back from Aria, and questioned the teacher, "Did I do something wrong?"
"No, that's not it at all." The teacher said.
"Colbert-Sensei is that even possible." A male student asked the teacher.
"Well, as we just saw, it's not IMpossible." Colbert replied still astounded.
All the students looked at the young girl with awe. Eager to hide herself she hurried to a seat in the back of the class by a short pink haired girl. She didn't look up to see all of the gazes follow her.
The girl next to her huffed and said, "Don't think you're anything special."
"Oh shut up Zero Louise. Just because you lost the one thing special about you doesn't mean you have to take it out on the new kid." A blonde haired boy with the top of his shirt undone told her.
"Saito wasn't the only thing special about me!" Louise shouted.
"Saito?" Sienna said curious.
"He WAS her familiar, but now because her dad threw a tantrum we can't find him." The boy explained.
Sienna stood abruptly at the mention of her friend. "So you all knew him?"
"Yes, we all enjoyed darling very much." said the moca-skinned girl, "How do you know him?"
Sienna's face turned red and she sat back down, "You could say we knew each other." the girl mumbled.
The other members of the class were confused, but before questioning could proceed Colbert slammed a book on his desk. This drew the attention, and silence, of the class causing everyone to take a seat.
"All questions shall be saved until the end of class," The man said, "But before we begin class would you please introduce yourself?"
"Introduce myself?" the fiery haired girl questioned.
"What's your name, your familiar, and from what noble family are you from?" The teacher specified.
Sienna stood took a deep breath and began, "My name is Sienna, my familiar is the fox spirit Aria, and I'm a commoner."
The silence that followed those last words was enough to tell the girl she had said something wrong. She quickly sat down and Mr. Colbert began class.
(********)
The sun had begun to set as Saito finally made his way back to his room. Saito had been training all day and was utterly exhausted. Upon returning to his room Siesta had informed him of where he could bathe. Being too exhausted for words he had thanked her a million times mentally. Saito had just returned from the bath when he heard a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" Saito called.
"It's me." The princess said through the door.
"One minute!" Saito responded. When he had appropriately dressed he told the girl she could enter.
"How was your first day of training?" The purple haired girl asked Saito.
"Exhausting." The dark haired boy replied simply.
"I apologize; Agnes can be a little rough during training." Henrietta replied.
"It's ok, and about this morning." Saito began, "Thanks for everything."
The beautiful princess blushed at the memory of the encounter with Saito that morning and replied, "It's nothing."
"Is there anything I can do to thank you?" Saito asked the young girl.
"Would you mind helping me sneak out of the castle?" Henrietta said anxiously.
"What?" Saito said confused.
"I don't get to leave the castle very often." Henrietta explained, "I was hoping maybe you'd accompany me on a walk through town.
"Oh," Saito replied beginning to understand, "ok I'll come with you."
Henrietta beamed with excitement and hurried towards the door. "We leave in an hour." The girl added on her way out.
The princess shut the door behind her and Saito fell back onto his bed.
"I didn't think you'd move on so fast." Derf said to his partner.
"What are you talking about?" The dark haired swordsman questioned his friend.
"You're going on a date with her highness in an hour." The legendary blade said flatly.
"I am not," Saito argued, "besides even if it is a date, which it's not, there's nothing to move on from."
"That's the spirit partner!" the blade laughed, "Forget all about the Whip Witch!"
Saito couldn't help but smirk at his friend.
'Is this a date?' Saito thought to himself. 'I can't deny that I find Henrietta attractive… I wonder how she feels…'
(********)
Since their shift had started Leon and Jessica had done their best to avoid each other. The two occasionally glanced at each other and then looked away.
'What was I thinking?!' Jessica screamed at herself, 'I can't believe I did that… he probably hates me now… wait why would he do that…? WAIT WHY DO I CARE… ugh… stupid Leon…'
'Why am I trying so hard to not look at her…? Why isn't it working…?' Leon thought forcing himself not look her way.
Their thoughts were interrupted when a large man with several guards barged into the bar. He dressed like royalty and gave off an air of arrogance that made Leon want to vomit. Just the sight of the guy angered something deep inside him.
"It looks like the place is packed tonight." The snobbish slug said to his men. With a hand motion the guards threw out all of their customers.
"Who's the stiff?" Leon whispered to Jessica as most of their workers fled to the back room.
"A tax collector… If we don't do as they say they will tax us heavily." Jessica explained.
"The service here is terrible, no wonder it's empty." The fat noble said.
"Crap…" Jessica said as she headed out to greet the noble.
"Ah, finally, some service." The tax collector said.
"How my I help you today, Sir." Jessica said doing her best to put on a smile.
"Sit with me." The noble commanded grabbing her arm and pulling her into his lap.
Leon grabbed his sword as the girl who had helped him was forced into the lap of the pig noble. Jessica eyed him telling him to not do anything stupid, but as the noble leaned in closer Leon lost his cool. Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, Leon had appeared behind the man, sword drawn and at his neck.
"Sir, if you could not harass our workers I'd greatly appreciate it." Leon said mockingly his face as cold as stone.
The guards jumped into position pointing their swords towards the boy.
"Leon! Stop!" Jessica commanded knowing that Leon probably wouldn't survive this fight.
"Listen to the girl, boy." The noble warned.
"Let her go." Leon said unwavering.
The man obliged and released his hold on Jessica allowing her to escape to a safer location. In response, Leon lengthened the distance between the man and his sword. The fat man took this opportunity.
DISARM the man shouted as the sword flew from Leon's hands and shattered against a wall.
FIREBALL the man shouted as Leon was blasted, against the same wall his sword had broken against, with enough force to crack the wall sending a thud that could be heard out in the street.
"Send for an extra squad." The man said to one of his guards, "Let us teach this boy a lesson."
A guard held Jessica back as they dragged Leon out to the street to make an example of him.
(********)
"Why'd you need to bring the sword?" Henrietta said as she pouted.
"What was that your highness?" Saito asked having not heard her.
"Why'd you have to bring Derflinger with you?" Henrietta repeated.
"I didn't want to accidentally run into trouble and not have a weapon." Saito answered confused.
"Now it's not just us two." Henrietta mumbled.
"Hmm?" Saito questioned her.
"Nothing." The purple haired beauty said with a huff.
'I know he's just supposed to be a friend, but did he really not see this as a date?' the young girl thought to herself.
"Besides…," Saito started, "He's really the closest thing to me in this world."
'Seriously?! Placed behind a sword…? Whatever… Stupid Saito… Stupid sword…' Henrietta thought. Ever since that morning she hadn't been able to stop thinking about Saito. Even during work she occasionally dozed off and dreamt of the boy. She couldn't deny she found him attractive, but this inability to take a hint was getting on her nerves.
"What were you two talking about earlier?" Henrietta said eager to change the subject.
"Derf here was just telling me about the various abilities he has." Saito responded.
"Such as?" The girl inquired as they continued to walk down the empty night streets.
"He has the ability to absorb magic for one thing." Saito said, "I really want to try that one out."
Before he could continue, their conversation was interrupted by a large explosion. Instinctively, Saito jumped to protect the girl, but he accidentally knocked them both over causing them to topple to them ground.
"Sorry." Saito said as he began to get off the princess only to notice how tightly she was hanging on to him.
Henrietta noticed as well and loosened her grip. "We should probably go see what happened…" she said blushing.
"Yeah…" Saito said as he grabbed her hand and the two ran towards the direction of the sound.
(********)
Leon snapped out of his daze as his he was thrown against the stone street. He wasn't going to let these guys get the best of him. He had seen the power of magic in this world before. Despite that he wasn't afraid, and he definitely wasn't going to let this pig push him around.
"That all you got?" Leon said arrogantly. He was kicked in the gut.
"Stop this Leon!" Jessica shouted at the boy with tears in her eyes.
The dark haired boy was picked up and thrown against a building. A pendant in the shape of a wolf charm fell out of his pocket. Leon picked up the pendant and stood up. He was in too much pain to notice the expression of Jessica's face change, when she saw the pendant, from one of fear to one of shock. Suddenly the pendant in Leon's left hand began to feel hot. Leon looked down towards his hand to see light escaping through the cracks in his hand. The guards paused confused at what was happening.
Leon opened his hand and a burst of light followed. When the light died Leon felt anew. In his hand was a large blade. The sword appeared to be made of steel and engraved on the blade surface was the head of a wolf. Leon's hand glowed as he felt letters engrave themselves onto his hand. W-O-L-F. The letter spelled wolf. Leon took the pause in the guards' advancement as an opportunity to examine the blade. It was no ordinary blade. It was a special form of sword found mostly in video games. It was a gun-blade.
"This must be some bad joke!" Leon exclaimed laughing.
The boy regained his composure. He held the sword in perfect stance. The guards charged at him. In one swing Leon had taken out the first wave.
"Now let's get started." Leon said with a smirk.
(…)
Heyo! I just wanted to tell you guys now that my uploading may slow down a bit due to my shortened writing time. I promise I will try to upload at least every two days or so. I also would love to hear how you guys are enjoying the story (or if you aren't). If you have any suggestions or questions I'll start doing a foreword section. Stay tuned for more of this story.
-Lion
P.S.: I apologize for any spelling or grammar errors. I'm usually a grammar nazi but recently I've been really tired because I've been working in the heat all day. So please bear with me. Thanks!