A/N: All content to it's rightful owners.
So. This is awkward. I'm really sorry for taking so long to update. I had an original idea for how I wanted this chapter to go but then I realized that it sucked and I had to start over. I lost my spark for a few weeks (damn you writers block!) but I'm back on track with some fun future ideas. So without further ado...
...
"Awaken sweet Knight" Came a soft sensual voice in his ear. Jean stirred. "Class has ended".
Jean awoke to find Enchanting had ended and the class was heading outside for physical magic education. Groggily Jean came to his feet and shuffled out to the courtyard, stretching lazily.
...
Once outside a tall man greeted the students. Brown curled locks falling around his stoic and defined face. "Greetings class, you may call me Marqes" The man said blandly. "I am new to this institution and don't yet know all of your names, but I will learn them all soon enough as I am also overseeing you're familiar summoning" No emotion escaped the gruff professor.
A boy spoke up "Monsieur Marqes-" Marqes interrupted the young mage "Just Marqes, boy".
"Um Marqes, when will the summoning take place?" He asked, obviously uncomfortable with the informality.
"Tomorrow." The class was shocked into silence, Marqes noticed their reaction.
"On account of the recent revolts you entered school later in the term, did you not?" Asked Marqes.
The class nodded, confused.
"We hold the Summoning Ceremony at the same time each year, regardless of circumstances. It is a tradition as well a religious occasion, to muddle the schedule would be blasphemy." Students nodded in understanding, excited at the fast approaching ceremony.
Two strawberry blonde heads nodded in apprehension, Louis and Gaston. "What do you think you'll summon Gaston?" Louis asked his brother excitedly. "I don't know, perhaps a dragon or maybe even a Griffon!" Gaston replied with equal vigor.
"What? No way! I have dibs on dragon!" Louis proclaimed.
"Pfft! You couldn't summon a mouse!" Gaston shot back.
Jean was amused by their idiotic banter. "Maybe you'll follow in you're mothers footsteps and summon a commoner." he mused. The class erupted in fits of laughter and the twins glared at the common-blood noble. Marqes noticed his class' short attention span.
"All of you be quiet!" Marqes commanded, the class snapped to attention. "We are here to learn! Now get into groups of four and practice your offensive and defensive magic." Commanded the rigid professor.
The class looked at one another uneasily. They had no idea what to do. Sure, the class had practiced simple offensive and defensive magic- two people team up and cast dot level spells at their defending counterparts. Every few minutes or so the teacher would call "Switch!", the teams would change offensive to defensive and vise versa.
But this was the first day and the teams would be different from last year. This meant finding new teammates that matched their element, gauging how much to hold back and so on.
A nervous hand shot up "Mons- uh I mean Marqes, this is our first day, what groupings should we use? After all, we do not know each others elements. It could be dangerous." squeaked a mousy raven haired
girl.
The rest of the class nodded in agreement.
Marqes stone face flashed a hint of annoyance.
"I suggest you talk amongst yourselves and sort it out. You are not sheep that require constant shepherding, you are this country's future!" Marqes spoke loudly to the entire class as if giving a war-time speech
"What if danger threatened our beloved Tristain and you were called to war? The draft calls for nobles sixteen and above." The ex-general turned teacher looked out over his brigade of weaklings. Most looking scarred or inspired- or both. But one set of golden eyes pierced his gaze. The eyes reading of boredom and rebellion (an odd combination, he thought). He decided to keep an eye on the tall redhead, Jean was it?
"Most if not all of you meet that requirement, so if you cannot perform a simple exercise how can you hope to stand against Tristan's enemies? Now, get to those exercises!" Shouted Marqes.
"Yes sir!" the class resounded proudly. The students empowered, his work finished, Marqes stood back to watch.
…
Gaston and Louis marched purposefully up to the disrespectful defiler of their Father's name. He was idly listening to the chatter of cousin Francesca, the bastard.
Reaching him, the pink headed boys- nay pink headed men stood tall and looked him in the eyes- or as much as they could. He was a good foot taller than the twins.
No matter! He had insulted their name and frankly their culture as well. The twins were proud of their Fathers rise from poverty. He was the only commoner to gain a noble title. This red headed oaf had no idea what their Father went through, what he had done! He had SAVED THE WORLD FROM AN ANCIENT DRAGON! But alas, no one would ever know. Queen Henrietta swore all participants in the escapade to secrecy. If anyone found out how large the threat really was all hell would break loose. Not to mention the uproar from all noble countries if it were found that a commoner defeated the apocalypse dragon. Why, it would almost be blasphemy!
So if the world wouldn't respect their Father, Louis and Gaston would at least defend his honor.
"Bonjour, bastard." Sneered Gaston.
"Where do you find the gall to insult our Father? Saito Hiraga is a better man than you could ever hope to be!" Louis almost shouted.
Some of the class began to look their way. Jean rolled his head to face at them, holding a disinterested look.
"Show me then, if your father is so magnificent, then surely his seed must be able to match a common-blood like myself." The boys were surprised while Francesca became worried.
"Dueling isn't permitted between nobl-" Louis was interrupted by Jean "Did I say a duel?" Jean asked menacingly.
"I propose that we make ourselves a practice team. The rosy tuft Valliere's against myself and my Valliere."
Francesca would be more worried but the blood had rushed to her head when he called her his Valliere.
"Of course Francesca is just a formality to make us a team of four. You both would be firing spells at me. Come now, do we have an accord?"
Jean was smirking ever so slightly, as if this was all just a joke.
The boys thought about it hesitantly. They were both already line class wind mages, together a force to be reckoned with. But what was his element? Was this morally right? Could they humiliate and possibly injure a peer only because of an arrogant remark?
"Hell yes!" The twins cheered in unison.
Francesca and the onlookers gasped in surprise. Francesca bit her nails (an old habit her mother had forced her to quit some time ago). Was he trying to get himself killed? Her cousins were well known battle-mages to be. They were expected to be knighted by eighteen for Founders sake!
"What are you doing? You could get injured!" Francesca pleaded to Jean.
"Worried for your play toy, milady?" Jean joked playfully while stretching.
Jean pushed Francesca gently toward the crowd "Stay here. Do. Not. Move" Jean said, for once being serious.
"Alright your five minutes are up, I better see you with a group!" Shouted Marqes from across the courtyard. The rest of the class got together with their partners and prepared for practice."En garde. Prêt. Allez!" Marqes signaled the beginning of practice.
Gaston and Louis nodded to one another. They would use only dot spells as they wouldn't need anything else to take care of the weak commoner. Grinning, the boys unsheathed their wands and shouted their spell.
"Wind!" A great gust of wind came from the tips of Gaston and Louis's wands.
The two winds merged and formed a monstrous wall of air, strong enough to knock over a horse. Grass stirred up along with fallen leaves creating a shroud between the twins and Jean. The boys smirked triumphantly, watching as the air surged forward.
Suddenly flashes of orange light caught their attention. A burst of wind exploded outwards followed by a dispersing line of flame. Everyone in a twelve foot radius of the pseudo duel was blown backwards. Francesca shielded her eyes from the flying debris while others yelled. Gaston and Louis searched angrily for Jean, trying to spot their target through the falling grass, leaves and dirt.
Marqes pretended not to see anything, interested in the boy and what he would do next. Remembering his duties, Marqes lips curled into a devilish grin.
"Switch!" Yelled Marqes. No more than one second after the words hit Jean's ears was he raising his wand in front of him in preparation.
Under his breath Jean began his spell "Adustum ignis, Paries a tergo..." Jean's voice rose as he commanded his words to become life
"Burn Wall!" Bellowed Jean.
As he finished the spell a ravenous wall of flame erupted mere feet from the boys. They were unprepared and began to back away, but found themselves against a tree. Cursing under their breath the twins started to chant a spell and defend themselves when a heat was felt on their backs. Turning around Gaston and Louis realized their mantles were on fire.
The twins yelled and tore their mantles off. As soon as the capes touched the ground they burned up like flash paper. All that was left were the melted remains of their golden collarpeices which desplayed their noble insignias.
"Oh no!" Drawled Jean "Now no one will be able to differentiate you from peasants!" Jean's words were dripping with sarcasm as his smirk broadened.
Jean put his hand over his heart in a vainglorious display of mock sympathy "Well at least now you and your father have something in common" Jean chuckled "In common get it?"
He erupted into fits of laughter and the flame wall died down. The threat over, the entire class began laughing uproariously.
"They're so funny! No wonder their fathers code name is the bloody Jester!"
"Look! They're turning flush with anger!" "Well now their faces match their hair!" Joked the students.
Francesca was a mix of sad, angry and aroused at Jean's unruly behavior. Unable to decide on an appropriate action she huffed madly and continued to watch the scene before her.
Louis stared miserably at his misshapen mantle- if he could even call it that anymore. Gaston on the other hand was fuming. He sprinted towards the current bane of his existence, Jean.
Swinging his right fist madly Gaston shouted "Fucking bastard!"
Jean ducked out of the way, his face never differing from it's bored mask, save for a few chuckles. Gaston swung again and again, never landing one punch. They continued their angry waltz of cursing and laughing, punching and dodging until...
"Ungrateful cretin!" Gaston half shouted half panted "My Father has done more for you and this country than you could ever know!"
The crowd was too busy laughing and jeering to hear Gaston. But Louis heard him, and so did Jean.
As Louis tore himself from his self pitying he shot a glare toward Gaston's turned back for breaking the vow of silence.
Jean imperceptibly smirked in triumph. He stood still and let himself be clocked by the oncoming sloppy punch from Gaston. The crowd cheered and Marqes finally stepped in, deciding the fun was over.
And as Jean fell towards the warm grass below him, one thought echoed continuously through his mind... One step closer...
…
A/N: Well there you have it! Jean's spell is in Latin in case you were wondering. And no, Latin spells are not Jean's 'special power' or whatever. In the Zero no Tsukaima light novels and some of the series as well the characters chant in a different language before casting an intricate spell. I think the language is some weird take on ancient Northern German mixed with Latin. I'll be doing the same with my spells, loosely basing them on those languages and adding my own touch. Anyway, see you soon... Hopefully.
Avec amour
-DF