Update! Thanks for the reviews you guys! Anyway, with this chapter we get to the first of Louise's many adventure's in the forest of magic! In any case, yes, I will be alternating between her time in present Halkegenia and her time in Gensokyo! As always, leave reviews and constructive criticism if you can!
Getting into the academy was more difficult than Louise had expected. Granted, she was rather suspicious looking with the hood and cloak, which were staples for thieves and rogues everywhere, not to mention that if she explained that she was Louise Valliere, the same girl who had been missing for three years, it would be fairly hard to believe, but even then Louise was confident that she could enter the academy, mostly on the grounds that she could use magic.
She didn't quite believe that magic made nobility anymore, but she wouldn't hesitate to use that mentality to her advantage. Louise figured that if she said she was a noble and then demonstrated a few flashy magic tricks, they would let her in no matter what. Unfortunately, Louise failed to take into account the current state of the country.
"I'm sorry miss, but without written acknowledgment from the headmaster, I simply cannot let you inside, nobility or no," A nervous gate guard fidgeted in place as he warily eyed Louise. His partner beside him was similarly nervous, and both of them held a firm grip on their weapons.
The two guards themselves were mages and thus considered nobility, however they were only minor ones, and moreover they were only dot class mages - that was lower even than some of the students at the school. Compared to the woman standing in front of them, who was obviously a high-class noble, they were nothing. In their minds, the guards had to take care not to offend her, for her displeasure could mean much more than just the end of their career.
Louise frowned. "I don't recall it being this difficult just to gain entry before."
She was talking to herself mostly, however the guard answered her anyway.
"All important institutions are on red alert due to the war, you ladyship, in case of saboteurs from Albion or Germania, not to mention the incident with Foquet from three years ago."
"Foquet?"
"Yes, your ladyship. A powerful earth mage who works as a high profile thief. He very nearly broke into the academy vault three years ago, and as such, we've been cautious of any mages that approach the academy without prior notice. Of course, that doesn't mean we suspect you of being a thief, your ladyship!" added the guard quickly. "Just that we are cautious. It is our duty after all!"
"I see. How admirable, however, I still need to get in. Would it be possible to discuss this with the headmaster or perhaps a professor?"
"I'm afraid the Headmaster is out to the capital for two days, lady, however, I could call Professor Colbert, if that is fine with you."
Colbert - that was a name she hadn't heard for a while. He was one of the nicer professors, she recalled, one the professors who didn't subtly belittle her lack of talent for magic.
Louise nodded, satisfied. "Yes, I'm fine with him, if he's available. In fact, I would prefer if it was him."
Nodding, one of the guards bowed and left his partner, looking relieved that they could get someone else to deal with Louise. Time passed by quickly and the second guard returned with the professor.
Looking at him now, Louis realized that he had aged a lot in three years. His hair had receded even more, to the point where he was almost completely bald, not to mention the hair that did remain was white with age or stress. Judging from how worn he looked, Louise guessed it was probably the latter.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Colbert was glowering at Louise, and his voice was cold and unfamiliar. Louise recoiled in shock and disbelief at his tone. In her memories she'd never heard him speak this way to anyone, not to mention herself!
For a moment, Louise didn't speak. Only when Colbert looked like he was losing his patience did she find her words.
"It's me professor Colbert, I've returned!" Louise blurted out her next words quickly, hoping that she could avoid unnecessary conflict.
Colbert creased a brow. "Are you one of my students? Remove that hood from your head so I can identify you."
Louise did so, and Colbert's reaction was expected.
Shock, shock and disbelief. The professor took a step back and with wide eyes, pointed at Louise.
"It can't be . . . Miss Valliere, is that . . . you?"
"In the flesh, Professor Colbert. It's good to be home."
"But, but you're so different now, and your hair; your eye."
Unconsciously, Louise' hand hovered over her left eye. Indeed, Louise had changed much. Her hair, she was less conscious of, but her eye was something that even she found awkward to discuss.
"Uh . . . anyway, why don't we discuss this inside?"
Louise walked with the professor into the academy. The two of them remained silent for a long while, to the point where it was awkward. They both knew that Colbert was teeming with questions, only he didn't know where to begin.
Louise, unable to handle the silence anymore, spoke up. "The school is rather empty. Is it spring break?"
"Hardly, Miss Valliere. Most of the students, including most all of your old classmates, have gone and enlisted, or at least gone to assist the war effort. I daresay that the school will remain empty until the war ends, so if you've come here in the hopes of reuniting with your friends, I'm afraid to say that you've wasted your time."
"It's nothing like that," said Louise with a shake of her head. "I just . . .felt the need to return to my roots, that's all. Besides, I didn't have any friends in the entire span of my stay in the academy."
"Come now, I know that you were unpopular, but surely you must have made at least one friend?"
"As it turns out, not having talent in magic wasn't a very good way to make friends in the academy, so no, I didn't have any friends," deadpanned Louise. There was no resentment in her voice, however, neither was forgiveness. Louise herself was unsure of what she would do should she meet her old classmates, and their absence was proved to be relieving for her.
After that, the awkward silence once again descended on the two of them. Louise noticed that every so often he would discreetly shoot a look at her. Louise fought the urge to frown disapprovingly at him. She knew of course that her appearance - not to mention her reappearance - was unusual, so some curiosity was warranted. Still, she was feeling uncomfortable with the attention.
Louise noticed that Professor Colbert began slowing down, and eventually, he came to a complete halt in front of the school's main courtyard.
"So, miss Louise," Colbert turned towards Louise, looking apprehensive as he did so, "tell me, that day, exactly what happened to you?"
Louise gave a small smile, her face a mix of expressions, though most prominently, she looked wistful. "It's a really long story, Professor Colbert, but I think I ought to tell you anyway. Why don't we have a seat?"
The two of them took seats on nearby chairs, and as Louise contemplated on how to begin her story, Colbert ordered a maid to bring them tea.
"What is it?" said Colbert, seeing Louise's amused look.
"Heh, nothing really, only that you'll find tea is going to be mentioned almost excessively in my story. Maids as well, and maids serving tea. Oh, and occasionally time itself being halted by maids serving tea."
"I . . . see?"
Louise grinned. "And that professor, is why I am now thinking that this will actually be an enjoyable story to tell, despite its dark bits."
Indeed, the lack of common sense of Gensokyo and its denizens was truly something one had to see in order to believe.
The maid returned with a set of tea and cakes, and Louise took a sip before beginning her tale.
"I'll gloss over the part that you already know - where you saw with your own eyes as I was dragged through my own summoning portal, and skip straight to where I ended up. I had just woken up and I found myself lying on the ground of an unfamiliar forest . . ."
Louise had been walking for what seemed like an hour now. She was never the most physically fit, and already the pain of her feet was unbearable. Still, the physical pain was nothing in comparison to the state her mind was in.
Where am I? What is this place? Why is this happening to me?
Her mind was going in a terrible circle, constantly asking the same questions over and over again. Her legs moved automatically and without a sense of purpose. Seeing no answers for the questions she asked in sight, Louise slowly began losing her will to live.
She was stuck in the middle of an unfamiliar forest, dragged here by the hand -
No, don't think about the hand, anything but that hand! If you think about the hand, you'll remember the eyes! Those horrible eyes, staring at me in the darkness! Seeing through me, as if they were staring into my soul! Seeing me for the failure I am! No! STOP!
Louise felt her stomach churl as her lunch made its way up to her throat. She collapsed on the ground and hurled all over the forest floor, kneeling down on all fours.
Silence reigned on and the only sound that could be heard was Louise's ragged gasps for air.
Ha ha, what am I even doing anymore? What reason do I have to live?
Her whole life up until now was centered around her nobility, or else, her lack of it. Struggled as she might, there was no leeway for a noble without magic in her world. The Summoning Ritual truly was her last and only chance, and Louise did more than fail it - she completely screwed up the spell to the point to where it did the opposite of what it was supposed to.
No, that's not right. It was that ha - stop, don't think about that thing," she thought. "But wouldn't that . . . still count as my failure? Ha ha ha, I got dragged here by my own familiar-to-be. How typical of the 'Zero'.
I want to die. Ha ha, yes, better death than living this pointless life.
Steep into her misery, Louise hardly noticed the figure approaching her from the front. She was a thin woman, with long, tattered hair and hungry eyes. She looked at Louise with mild interest.
"Hello, girl."
Louise stared at the sound. Upon seeing the woman in front of her, Louise's first thought was 'commoner' until she was sharply reminded that she was of similar status as they were, now.
Perhaps I'm even lower, after all, at least commoners have things they excel in. At least they can contribute to society. The most I can do is cause explosions.
As a second wave of depression hit her, the woman inched closer to Louise.
"I said 'Hello girl' now why won't you respond?"
Only now did Louis actually pay attention to what the woman was saying.
"Excuse me? I can't understand a word you're saying . . ."
The woman frowned. Evidently, neither could she.
"A foreigner, hm? I haven't seen one of your kind for centuries! I take it you must be an outsider."
If Louise was in a better state of mind, she would have been frustrated with her inability to communicate with her. As it was, it was just mildly interesting to her.
"Oh well, one human is as good as any I suppose."
Suddenly the woman's long hair shot forward with shocking speed and grabbed Louise by the limbs, causing her to cry out in surprise. Despite how thin and tattered looking her hair was, it was surprisingly strong an rigid. Louise began struggling on instinct, but it did little.
"I haven't had a meal in so long~! You're a bit thin, but you'll have to do, human."
The thin woman turned around to reveal a huge, gaping mouth on the back of her head. The mouth stretched from ear to ear, and took up almost all the space of the back of her head. It had bone white sharp teeth, and a monstrously huge tongue that constantly flopped around uselessly. The woman's hair began dragging a limp Louise into the demonic mouth.
Despite her impending doom, Louise's face remained impassive, almost relieved, even. She was going to die. Yes, it was a grizzly death, but at least it would mean an end to her suffering.
Ha ha ha, yeah, this is what I wanted, right? Death? So it can finally all end. I just wish it could come sooner.
Her thoughts flashed backwards. She thought of how her whole life, she tried her best to prove she was something, but in the end, she achieved nothing.
Why did I even try so hard in the first place?
Her mother's face appeared in her thoughts.
Yes, that must be it. I didn't want to disappoint mother. Mother, who was always so bright to me. Ha ha, Karin the Heavy Wind is my mother. The greatest Knight in the history of Tristain is the mother of Louise the Zero. What kind of sick joke is that?
When mother finds out about my failure, she would have disowned me for sure. Yes, as I thought, I'm better off dead.
Such were Louise's thoughts. However, the moment her head was close enough to the Futakuchi-Onna's* mouth for her to feel it's breath, her whole body trembled and a surge of violent strength shot through her.
Tears that had been held back until now began pouring down. Faced with her own mortality, Louise had come to a realization. Yes, she was useless, she had no worth to speak of, and even should she survive, she would not have a place in this world.
Sixteen years. I've lived for sixteen years doing nothing! I have no talent in magic, I'm a failure in domestic matters, and I should be better off dead! And yet, and yet -!
A hand managed to slip free from the hairs grasp, and reached towards the wand holstered at her side.
The youkai jumped in surprise as her formerly limp victim suddenly sprung up with renewed vigor. Before she could process what was happening, Louise brought down her arm and pointed her wand at the demon.
"FIREBALL!"
No matter how inaccurate Louise's spell casting was, there was no way it would miss at point-blank range. Magic ripped through the Futakuchi-Onna's body until it coalesced into a single point, before expanding in a burst of white. The youkai's erupted in a magnificent splatter of red as its body was torn apart in a grand explosion.
Louise herself was thrown back by the force of her own spell, before landing on the ground with a thud. The pinkette got to her feet shakily, unwilling to pass out.
"I'm useless, and I'm small, and I'm a disappointment! But I want to live!" Sobbing, Louise gripped her wand like a lifeline. Her body trembled and she stumbled forward in an effort to simply move.
Tears continued to flood down her cheeks, and the hot liquid refreshed Louise, mixing with the blood of the now dead youkai. To Louise, it was something of a baptism. It was proof that above all things, she was alive.
With her predator gone, the adrenalin in her body washed out, leaving the short girl exhausted. She staggered for a few steps before collapsing on the ground, unable to move anymore. As her consciousness slipped away, Louise saw a flash of blue and yellow.
Darkness finally claimed her, and the last thing Louise heard was:
" . . . thought it was Marisa . . ."