Zero's Dog Chapter 18
Following the non-standard summoning, Tiffania did contract servant to the unconscious Saito, "My name is Tiffania Westwood. Pentagon of the Five Elemental Powers; bless this humble being, and make him my familiar." She tapped his brow lightly with her wand and, with great hesitation and blush, leaned in. As her lips neared his, she paused, glancing at his eyes, which remained closed. Her lips met his for the briefest moments before she jerked back as if burned. See looked quickly between Saito and Kotaro.
"Kotaro, what's going on," Natsumi whispered, "Chizuru told me yesterday that she'd had a word with your roommate. Today, I went to your room to get what he knows about you and suddenly we're jerked through darkness and here we are. And why are you here?"
"Well," Kotaro scratched the back of his head, "Long story short, I was summoned here too. I'll explain more when he wakes up."
When they looked back at Saito, a brilliant light shown across his sternum, through the parka that Kotaro had never seen his roommate without. The glow slowly dimmed, showing the runes of the contract. The runes continued to glow for a few moments, during which the Onmyou spell tag dissipated into pink flower petals that were drawn into the runes, before dimming completely.
Almost immediately, Saito opened his eyes and saw everyone around him, "This isn't a dream is it?"
Kotaro approached him, offering to help the boy to his feet, "Why don't you click your heels three times and say 'There's no place like home'? Come along, there's a lot to explain, especially to you. But first introductions are probably a good idea."
After introducing Saito and Natsumi properly to the corps and vice versa, Kotaro led them back to the room with the diorama sphere. Walking back to the academy, he noticed several dragons had taken residence just outside the Academy's walls, making a mental note to ask Osmond about them later.
Turning the door handle, Kotaro was struck with a heavy familiar presence. Reflexively, he cowered behind Natsumi, "Have mercy, Chizuru," he begged.
"Chizuru, here?"
"It took you long enough to show up dogboy," a haughty voice called from in the room, "We couldn't find Louise or anyone else of your little corps all day. And this pitiful creature was no help." Eleanor la Valliere was holding a tightly bound Chamo.
"Bro," the ermine called, "Save me. She's worse than Asuna."
"Sister," Cattleya cooed softly, "Let him go."
"Eleanor? Cattleya? Why are you still here?" Louise asked, shocked, "You were going to leave this morning."
"Talking ferrets? Dogboy? What's going on? It sounds like something from a manga where magic actually exists. Probably exciting too," Saito expressed, causing everyone in earshot to fall quiet.
"Kotaro," Natsumi said in a low voice, "You didn't tell him? You've been roommates for two years at Mahora and he still doesn't know?"
"Like you're one to talk," Kotaro shot back, "Your class had a ghost, a robot, a timetraveller, a yokai-human hybrid, a demon-human hybrid, girls from three different royal families with ties to magic, and Eva. Then, you get a ten-year old welsh boy as a teacher and you didn't still didn't have even an inkling until you and Chizuru brought an injured puppy back to your room while returning from the market. A puppy that turned into a boy while your back was turned. It's all just visual effects folks, move along."
"S-Shut up!" Natsumi smacked him half-heartedly.
"Ahem," Eleanor coughed, reminding the bickering couple that they weren't alone, "Your lover's spat can wait. Louise…"
It was after the eldest two Valliere stated that they'd be staying at the academy indefinitely to keep an eye on Louise, that the corps entered the sphere.
"Where to begin," Kotaro mused with a sigh.
"Question," Saito's hand shot up.
"Ask it."
"So, I get magic exists and all," a couple sniggers followed as disbelief was replaced by amusement, "But what I really, really want to know: is Hiruma a demon, or even half-demon?"
"Our classmate? Nah, he's just weird like that. He does know about magic though. Anyway…"
When talking to Osmond, Kotaro asked about the dragons that had suddenly taken residence outside the academy's walls.
"Ah," the aged man said, "Those belong to the dragon knights Luftpanzer Ritter. Besides Miss Westwood, we are receiving another student, a Miss Beatrice Yvonne von Guldenhorf. They are her bodyguards. Today was her first day."
At the mention of Guldenhorf, Guiche and Montmorency stood a little straighter.
Katie slowly descended the stairs into the girl's bathroom. Surprisingly, there was somebody already bathing in the vast tub despite the late hour but she understood when she saw the occupant. After all, both she and Tiffania had things to hide from undesired attention.
"Tiffania, I'm entering," Katie warned before stepping into the room, naked with a towel.
There was a brief shriek and some frantic splashing as the blonde tried to conceal her ears. The half elf calmed though when she recognized Katie. "You're with the group Mr. Kotaro brought. K-K-Ka…"
"Katherine de Trastemara," Katie stated as she slipped into the warm pool, "But I'd like it if you called me Katie." She gave Tiffania a once over before her eyes settled on the ample bosom the elven girl sported. How are her breasts that big? If her body shape was like Malicorne or even Kirche, it'd be reasonable but everything else about her is elegantly petite. Her hands rose to her own chest, which she guessed was a similar size to Montmorency, as she continued to stare.
Tiffania fidgeted under the gaze, "Am I doing something weird? I thought the girls' bath wouldn't have anyone else this late at night."
"Oh, erm, no. It's nothing," Katie stammered, "This is the time I usually bathe. I like rather bathe alone normally…"
"Then I'll leave," Tiffania said hastily as she stood from where she sat against the bathtub wall andtried to get out.
"No, it's alright. You can stay. I wanted to talk sooner but not in front of everyone else. I'm like you, sort of. And Sir Kotaro," her voice changed at the end, resembling Tiffania's for a moment. She grabbed at her throat in surprise.
"Like me? And Mr. Kotaro?" Tiffania stopped to look back at Katie. Her eyes quickly moved over the brunette's body, briefly pausing at the ears which looked no different from a normal human's. "How?"
Katie looked down then to the side, avoiding meeting eyes with Tiffania. One arm reached across her body to grip the other that hung limply at her side. Then slowly, she began to extend her wings. When she wanted to, Katie could shrink her wings to the size of crow wings and fold them against her back. At full size, the wings spanned nearly fifteen feet from wingtip to wingtip.
Tiffania gaped at the display, giant wings of dark feathers dripping with water.
It was a couple of days later that something happened
Saito sprinted through the corridors towards the room Kotaro had been sharing with Natsumi. 'Surely he can fix this situation,' the boy had prayed as he remembered his first days in Halkeginia. The entire time, excepting certain situations, Saito had been in Tiffania's presence, 'as her retainer' the coverstory was.
The first day of class for Tiffania and Saito was…exhausting. After introducing herself, Tiffania had been nearly swarmed by every boy in class, as the girls glared daggers from their seats. The coldest and sharpest glare came from a short, twin-tailed blonde seated near the front of the classroom, not that Saito had noticed through the mob of males. By the end of the day, tales of Tiffania's beauty had spread throughout the Academy.
Day 2, yesterday, Saito had learned the blonde girl's name. In fact she had proclaimed it like it was something she expected everyone to know and respect: Beatrice Yvonne von Guldenhorf. Based on her condescending tone and that she'd brought 'backup' girls when confronting Tiffania and himself outside of class, Saito decided "Brat" as an apt description for her.
She had talked down to the two of them, treating them as ignorant hicks when neither had given desired responses to her presence. Finally, she had demanded Tiffania remove the wide-brimmed hat that concealed her heritage, at which Saito had snapped at her.
"Listen, Brat," Saito had said, "I don't care if it's true you are a princess in a different country, you are here now, at an Academy in… Tristain. Social status doesn't mean shit, so drop the 'high and mighty' act. Miss Westwood doesn't have to do anything she doesn't want to!"
Beatrice's expression hardened, "Your retainer lacks etiquette around his betters. A reflection of the master perhaps? I'll warn you now, because I'm such a nice person, you don't want to cross me, Westwood. You can either get along with me, or you can leave. Otherwise…" she left it ambiguous as she left.
That night, Saito heard his charge's muffled sobs from his makeshift futon on the floor, despite his attempts to comfort her with words.
Leading to today. Tiffania hadn't arrived to class on time, Cheverus and Cattleya co-teaching about Earth-magic. Partway through, Tiffania entered in a strange cloak. Cheveruse irately questioned the hooded girl and paled slightly when Tiffania had claimed the cloak to be from her mother.
"Elf?" the teacher whispered, fearful of something.
Tiffania then removed the hood, revealing her ears and sending all the students into pandemonium for some reason.
The heightened emotions in the room sent Cattleya to the floor, further increasing the panic. Only Beatrice had remained collected as she called out "Luftpanzer" and armored knights smashed in through the windows, before advancing on the half-elf.
So Saito ran. As much as he wanted to stay and defend her, he knew that without fighting skills, a decent weapon, or magic he was less than useless to Tiffania. But he did know someone who fit the bill.
Reaching the room, he threw the door open. Empty, except for the talking sword and a note. Groaning at his foul luck, he glanced at the note, partially written in familiar Japanese characters.
'Gone to Tristania for the day with Natsumi. Back this evening. If anyone asks, it's not a date.'
Saito glanced at the sword, "Screw it."
"Hey you," Saito pushed himself out of the crowd, carrying Derflinger, "Leave Tiffania alone," he shot at Beatrice amid her knights. The blonde girl was smiling smugly.
"Hey, Partner's Friend," the sword whispered, "You're not a wielder like Partner, the Heart can't fight like the Left Hand."
"I don't care, Talking Sword," the plain boy answered, his eyes on his distressed summoner being restrained near the boiling cauldron, "Kotaro is on a date and no one is helping her."
"Ah, the elf's retainer," Beatrice called out, smiling mischievously, "Because I'm feeling generous today, I'll make you an offer, join the elf in this trial of heresy, or deny her, right here in front of everyone."
"Go to Hell," Saito yelled as he began to draw Derflinger.
"Too slow," the sword shouted in warning.
The moment Saito had gone for the sword, several of Luftpanzer Ritter reflexively cast magic at the potential threat. Saito watched as half of a dozen shards of ice flew towards him in stint of hyperawareness. Too slow to dodge, the boy cast his arms out in a poor attempt to shield himself. Just as the projectiles reached him, though, he felt a burning in his chest and the icicles disintegrated into flower petals on contact with his skin.
The crowd gasped as the boy wasn't pierced through, or even harmed. The triumphant expression on Beatrice's face faded to confusion and anger, "You dare stand against me…"
"No," Tiffania interrupted, "Don't hurt Saito, it's my fault he's here. I'll leave, I'll leave and never come back, just please don't hurt him!"
"Quiet, Elf," the short blonde growled, "Your retainer needs to learn his place. Luftpanzer," she ordered, "Fireballs."
The knights obeyed immediately and more than a dozen flaming orbs were launched at the boy who stood gaping at his hands. As the fiery spheres closed within ten feet of the boy, a wall of fire, nine feet tall, sprang into existence, blocking the attacks. When the wall vanished, Styx was standing before Saito, wand clenched in his teeth as he held both hands in front of himself.
"Great plan," the green-haired boy stated earnestly, "Rushing in to save the girl, I like it. I would've but the Capt'n said we needed a strategy." He turned to face the girl surrounded by a thirteen fully armored knights, "But I say, screw the plan. Let's fight!"
"You would fight to protect this… this… half-breed? This mongrel, born of the unholy union of a human and elf? Why?"
"Well, I don't dislike her," Styx said, "Vice-Cap'n said she was one of us too and we Undine Knights protect our own, and as far as half human goes," the flames boiling the cauldron slowly shrank as it formed a stream of fire to the green haired boy, igniting his clothes. Ignoring the growing flames, Styx continued watching Beatrice with a smirk as his green hair leeched all color to white and his skin darkened to a bronze color. A wave of intense heat collided with Saito. Standing nude, completely wreathed in flames, he finished, "Tiffania isn't the only one here. I am Styx the Brand, soon to be Styx the Furnace, born of a human and Fire Elemental. Release Tiffania, or face the flames of Hades."
Styx whispered back to Saito, "So how was that? I've always wanted to use that threat. Was it awesome? Think Kirche heard it?"
Before Saito could answer, a crash drew his attention elsewhere. The cauldron holding the boiling water had been overturned by a metallic figure. The crowd behind Saito and Styx parted to reveal Guiche in his Silver Jacket leading the other members, minus Kotaro, Louise and Julio, forward.
"Beatrice Guldenhorf, by order of the Knights of Undine, release…" Guiche paused as he saw the body covered in flames, "Styx?" Guiche asked incredulously.
"Hey, Cap'n, it's me. Just so ya know, I'm kinda like Vice-Cap'n, but with fire instead of, ya' know, dogs."
"Guiche," Beatrice accused, "Is this abomination your subordinate? It keeps referring to you as 'Captain.'"
"I am Captain of the Knights of Undine, Miss Guldenhorf," Guiche stated with authority, "And I am commanding you to release Miss Westwood and to withdraw your body guards. Who my subordinates are is not a concern of yours."
"You can't command anything of me Gramont in this heresy trial, you haven't the authority. I thought you'd remember your place but it seems I must remind you. Luftpanzer, capture them. They shall follow the elf, especially the second abomination." Ten of the knights charged. As Guiche and company prepared, with Montmorency and Reynald falling back to support, a figure appeared in front of the Captain via Shundo, facing the charging enemy.
"Wow, Sir Kotaro was right, hanyo do find that skill fairly easy," the brunette said, awed, "Lord Guiche, dear friends, please cover your ears," she politely suggested before inhaling. A moment later, the air was filled with shrill screaming. The pitch and intensity felt like nails being driven into Saito's ears. He also noted how the air in front of Katie appeared to have a slight distortion to it.
The effect was impressive. The advancing Luftpanzer stopped, attempting to cover their ears though their steel helms. Several developed cracks within the armor. One knight's armor even shattered. Within a few seconds, the scream descended into a coughing fit.
"Sorry," Katie croaked, holding her throat, "I'm still getting used to mimicking the calls of birds. All Sir Kotaro said was 'Bird Tribe' so I'm not sure what type of bird he meant." Her dark wings ripped through the back of her clothes.
Malicorne fainted. Tabitha remained impassive. Guiche's expression couldn't be read through the Silver Jacket. Reynald focused intently between the two demi-humans.
Styx looked at the winged female, "You're special too? Great, between the two of us, these 'elite knights' should be easy to beat."
"Well, I can't be of any more help, the hawk scream, is exhaust…"
A white orb appeared between the two factions and expanded to five feet before it exploded with a collosal force. When the dust cleared, Louise was standing in the epicenter, scowling with her Code floating behind her, "I was this close to completing the royal edict and someone distracted me with an earsplitting shriek. Now, why did this happen? Guiche!?" She looked accusingly at the jacketed captain.
"Ah-ah-ah," Guiche stammered, "We were just coming to rescue Miss Westwood from a terrible fate," he pointed to where one Luftpanzer restrained Tiffania, who was awestruck at the turn of events.
Beatrice managed to find her voice, "Who are you, interrupting this heresy inquiry? After the elf we must try the demon and the harpy."
"I am Louise Francouis Le Blanc de la Valliere. And you're lying, you have no authority to hold a heresy inquiry, let alone three."
La Valliere. The only opponents in Tristain save for the Royal family and Cardinal Mazarin whom Beatrice was specifically told to avoid messing with. And this girl of same height as Beatrice and calling herself a Valliere had called the bluff.
"I do too, I have the written approval of a bishop…at home."
"Lying," Louise declared, swinging the Code of the Lifemaker first at Tiffania, then at Beatrice. Tiffania disappeared and reappeared next to Saito, raising her hands to protect her face from the heat Styx continued to emit. Beatrice appeared in front of Louise. "To perform a heresy inquiry you also need an approval form from the church of Romalia. You have neither, thus, cannot perform a heresy inquiry. Good day!" Louise walked away. As she passed Styx, she struck the ground with the key, and the flames were extinguished, his hair green again, and skin its natural color. With another wave of the Code, clothes appeared on the boy's body.
As Louise disappeared, the jeers and taunts started. The word 'heresy inquiry' had caused them to blank out but with the truth revealed by Louise, Beatrice's actions became more than a little suspect.
"Oi! Beatrice! Using the Founder's name to torment a girl you don't like, is that how nobles do things!?"
"I hope you burn for impersonating a bishop of Tristain."
With her prided knights incapacitated and out of reach, Beatrice found herself in a dire situation. She dropped to her knees, the anxiety building up. She was alone, again. Her family, at home. Her knights, unconscious or too injured to move. Her friends, if they could even be called friends, gone. And from the feel of the atmosphere, she was about to be cast to the wolves.
As her despair began to consume her, she felt a hand brush her shoulder. She looked up at who would be the first to pass judgment. It was Tiffania.
One of the students called out to Tiffania.
"Miss Westwood. You have the right to judge this girl. Deal with her as you see fit."
Hearing those words filled Beatrice with even further dread. In such a situation, with what she'd put the half elf through, death was not unexpected. She turned away, expecting the worst. Sitting down, she buried her eyes in her knees as she awaited her fate. Tears began to flow silently.
Everyone present was waiting for Tiffania's judgment. That would be the price Beatrice would have to pay.
Expectations of everyone present were blown by Tiffania's actions.
The elven girl knelt next to her accuser, "B-Beatrice?" She tugged gently on the girl's sleeve, "Can we be friends?"
A deep silence fell over the courtyard. Then someone from the crowd spoke up. "Miss Tiffania, are you sure about that? She just threated you with harm. You should have her punished justly."
"I didn't come here to make enemies," Tiffania asserted, standing as she turned to the crowd, "I came to make friends. This is a place to learn, not a place to judge others."
"But…"
"This is MY decision, is it not?"
Further attempts to argue ceased. The silence was broken again, this time by soft sobs made by Beatrice.
The half-elf knelt down again next to the crying girl and embraced her warmly. "There, there," she spoke comfortingly as she pat Beatrice's back, "Don't be afraid, everything is alright now."
"Is it over?"
Squeezing through the wall of students, the headmaster, Old Osmond, appeared. Old Osmond rubbed his beard as he grinned.
Then, in front of just about all the students, he placed a hand on Tiffania's shoulder and informed everyone.
"Ah. Just now this girl said that she would stake her life to learn here. There is a lot to learn from these words. Do you understand, everyone? Originally, the will to learn is not a matter of life or death. Sometimes though, sticking to one's own beliefs will turn the world into your enemy…don't forget that."
The students had a look on their faces wondering just why Old Osmond chose this time to come out, but they just nodded for now. Content with the nods, Old Osmond continued,
"However, taking matters to the extreme every time is stifling. While a fight here or there is expected, when someone dies, it's too late. Furthermore, it becomes very bothersome, so I would like for this bickering to end now. This girl is under my guardianship, understand? In addition to that, Miss Tiffania is a guest entrusted to me by her Majesty the Queen. From now on, if there are students that wish to insult this girl's lineage, be prepared to make enemies with the monarchy, understand?"
Entrusted to him by her Majesty the Queen?
The students all became nervous at once. This transfer student who had elf blood was a person connected to her Majesty the Queen.
From these words, they came to the realization that even though it was rather peculiar, instead of being something feared, they felt that her elf blood could even be something most admirable.
On top of that, the students, for the most part, had never seen a descendant of an elf. Because of Old Osmond's statement, they became more curious than afraid. Soon, they were favoring her dazzling appearance, disregarding the ill-feelings for man's supposed mortal enemy.
Kotaro and Natsumi rode back into the academy gates near dusk. After the day in Tristania, the two had ridden almost in silence all the way back.
"So, about that play…"
"I know you fell asleep halfway through, Kotaro," Natsumi responded, "The acting was lousy and forced, so I'm surprised you made it that long. The plot was decent enough, though."
"I'm used to the plays you're in. Those plays were so much better than that one…"
"I can tell when you're trying to flatter me."
"But is it working?" the hanyo asked hopefully.
Natsumi pondered it for a moment before turning and snuggling her face into the body behind her on the saddle, "Yes."
The moment was ruined as they passed into the Academy grounds
"Vice-Cap'n," Styx ran out of the bushes and to the horse, startling the beast, "Ya gotta help me, girls keep trying to catch me."
'Catch' brought a familiar thought to his memory, "Girls can't catch you if you're on fire. Ninjas either."
"That's the problem Vice-Cap'n, that's why they're trying to catch me."
"What."
Author's notes
Well, there's chapter 18 after almost three months since chapter 17. I was distracted by my other stories and because I'm worried about the quality of this story dropping. Thank Trace Carter for convincing me to update. Now for the chapter.
First off, Tiffania's secret being only such for less than a chapter, I wanted to get to the false heresy trial quickly. I had a different plan originally than Saito coming with Deflinger but Kotaro has had too many curbstomps under his belt for the moment so the 'not-date' was set up to keep him from the academy. I have a specific idea for the Lifdrasil runes and hinted at the powers briefly. Let me know any theories you may have.
Next, Styx. Yeah another hybrid human might be a little much but I wanted to at least give him some screen time. The idea came when I thought about making Katie a hybrid, have a fire elemental. Kirche was the initial idea but Styx got chosen simply because there's less about him to require double checking, like Katie (background character). Tell me whatcha think, though there are no further plans for hybrid humans among the students (currently).
Thanks for reading. Please review.