Fallen Familiar chapter 2 - The Duel
I do not own Zero no Tsukaima or Highschool DxD
Third Person PoV.
It was a short and uneventful flight back to the academy. When they finally touched down in the courtyard, Louise barely stood on shaky legs.
The angel was fast. Fast enough to outrun her classmate even with their head start. Even Tabitha's dragon fell the flight, Louise was holding on to Azazel , her head buried in his neck, refusing to look at anything.
When Louise finally steadied herself, she turned to her familiar.
"Azazel *pant* never do that*pant* again" the pink haired noble said, still not completely recovered.
"Whatever you say" replied the (fallen) angel.
Just as he said that, his wings disappeared, seemingly, into his back.
"Wha-what did you do?" she asked, pointing a shaky finger at where his wings were not a minute earlier.
"What? Did you think I would stay around with my wings out all day. It is inconvenient, not to mention it makes walking harder." Stated the ebony-haired male, with a smile on his face. Did that man ever stop smiling?
Louise, realizing how stupid her question was, turned away with a blush on her face.
Azazel, seeing her crestfallen state, quickly changed the subject.
"Shall we go inside, Louise-chan? It is going to be dark soon." He said, putting an arm on her shoulder, gently urging her to go inside, the smile never leaving his face.
Louise, nodding her head at his statement, began walking towards one of the corner towers. While one of the tower floors was a classroom, the rest were all living compartments. When the pair finally walked into what appeared to be Louise's room, a problem quickly became apparent.
Sleeping arrangements.
The room had one small bed, two wardrobes, a desk with two chairs, and what appeared to be a stack of hay in one of the corners. Azazel raised an eyebrow at Louise at that, at which she only mumbled.
"I was not expecting something so…big" The angel's booming laughter followed.
"Perhaps we can share the bed?" he asked" you take the side next to the window"
Louise turned scarlet red and began stuttering. When she saw no way around this, she accepted it, still uncertain.
"V-v-very we-well.. But you better not try anything funny!" she said, nearly shouting the last part.
"No need to worry about it" laughed Azazel "I prefer women with a more… curvaceous figures " he responded, making circling gestures with his hands.
"Youuu….. PERVERTED ANGEL!" seeing the smile still present on his face, not been fazed at all by her anger, she turned the other way and began undressing for bed.
"You call me a perverted angel and yet, here you are, undressing, with a male in the room. How lewd." Came a voice from behind her, the amusement clear in it.
Before she can respond, the ebony-winged angel cut her off.
"Well, you can go to bed if you would like. I am going to take a walk around the academy." without waiting for a response, Azazel walked out of the room.
By the time he exited the tower, night has fallen over the academy. The first thing that caught the attention of the fallen angel were the two moons in the night sky. A smaller red one and a larger white one. 'So, I really am on a different world.' Still, it was an interesting world. Back on Earth, magic, especially in the time period in which this land seems to be in, was considered diabolical. Witch hunts and whatnot happened in the so called Dark Ages. And yet here, people are practicing it freely, as a daily part of their lives. Furthermore the people themselves were interesting.
Just on his way out of the tower, he caught sight of two pairs students. The first pair was a girl, with brown hair talking about a….soufle? with the blond that was present during his summoning. He barely contained his laughter at the words that were coming out from the boy's mouth. The girl must have been really desperate to believe such nonsense. As they saw him, they quickly gave him a wide space to pass, with the boy looking at him in slight jealousy while the girl's eyes were looking at him in adoration.
'So rumors spread easily' was the though that passed through the angel's mind. ' Let's have a bit of fun then'
He met her eyes and flashed her a smile, at which she blushed and he was sure she would have melted to the ground, had she not been leaning on a wall. Without breaking his pace, he continued down the hall, leaving a blushing Katie and a fuming Guiche.
He met the second pair-a brown-haired boy wearing a purple cape and a red-headed girl, which was, once again, present at his summoning. And what a girl she was. Exotic dark skin with a curvaceous body and a gentle seductive smile. 'She will make a fine fallen angel'
Still, he went out for a walk, not to flirt with schoolgirls. Ignoring the "Isn't that Louise's familiar?" and " The angel?" he finally exited the tower.
Extending his wings and flying to the top of the tower, he touched down before laying on the roof, his wings acting as a makeshift mat. Still looking at the two moons, he began to ponder his recent events. 'Why did I agree to become her familiar? It was not like I was forced or anything. Even if it is only till the end of her life, a human lifespan is a long time.'
He stood like that, lying on his back, looking at the moons for some time before moving to a sitting position on the very edge of the tower. From there he could see the school courtyard and what caught his attention were two things.
The first was a rather busty female in maid outfit, walking on a path with what appeared to be laundry in hand.
The second was the blue-haired girl which was present at his summoning. She was feeding her dragon whelp with what appeared to be meat.
Deciding for once to have a friendly chat instead of pursuing his perversions, he extended his wings and within seconds was standing next to the sapphire-haired girl and her dragon. Her only show of surprise at his sudden appearance was the slightly widening of her eyes. The dragon, on the other hand, became defensive, as if knowing he was a fallen angel. Somehow, he felt he understood it, even though not a single word was uttered.
"What is a cute girl doing out at such an hour?" asked the black-haired male, flashing her a grin.
A slight tingle of red on her cheeks, followed by "Feeding" was her answer.
" You know, you should give him some fruits. Dragons actually like them, don't you?" asked the grinning angel, turning to look from the girl to the dragon. " I know you can talk, even though you are a whelp" he added.
The petite girl's eyes widened and she uttered a single word.
"How?"
"What? Know he can talk? All dragons do, even if they are whelps."
"Sylphid is a 'teenager'* " was the short response.
"Is that so?Interesting. Well, I best get going before my summoner starts thinking I ran away. Have a good night, miss..?"
" Tabitha" another short response. What surprised the angel was the short name. Just Tabitha. From what he gathered, most people here introduced themselves with three to four names and here was this girl, successfully having summoned a dragon, introducing herself with a single name.
" Have a good night, Tabitha-chan" said the purple-eyed male with a smile before flying back to the tower's entrance, no response to his use of an unknown honorific.
As he flew, the fallen angel could not help but remember her piercing sapphire eyes. Although the mask she put on was good, he saw right through it. There was deep sadness in that girl. She was hurting. 'The eyes of a girl this cute should not be sad at all' He had the sudden urge to help her, but in the end, it was her own problem and he was in no position to interfere.
He finally entered the tower and walked to Louise's room. The pairs from before were gone now, most likely to continue their flirt behind closed doors.
As he finally entered his master's room he saw her asleep, curled up in a ball on the far side of the bed. Smiling, he slowly slid beneath the covers on the other end and let sleep overtake him.
Louise PoV
I woke up slowly, feeling the sun on my exposed back.
What was strange however was that I was lying on something hard, yet warm and not uncomfortable. What was even strange was the rhythmic rise and fall of it. Wait…rise and fall. I slowly, almost unwillingly opened my eyes. They instantly locked with a pair of purple eyes filled with amusement.
It took some time before yesterday's events came back to me and I instantly blushed. I was using my angel familiar's naked chest as a pillow. He even had some of his wings act as makeshift blankets for my lower half, leaving my back exposed to the sun. I was pretty sure my blushing face was hot enough to heat up a whole hall in winter.
"Moooooooooorning, Louise-chan" he greeted in sing-song voice, his eyes twinkling.
"M-m-morning" I barely stuttered out. How embarrassing, yet somehow I felt safe, as if I was back in my father's embrace.
As if reading my though he put a hand on my head, saying:
" We should probably get up, you do have school today." And with that , the warmth of his black wings disappeared from my lower back. All I could do was dumbly nod and stop myself from whining at the loss of the embrace. As he got up, I look on, stunned as his clothes more on less materialized back on him.
"I'll wait for you outside while you dress" and with that he left the room.
I began dressing myself as fast as possible. I actually summon a familiar! An angel! It was not a dream! I did it! I can barely contain my excitement. Now my classmate can no longer say that I was a Zero.
But what element was mine. That much was still uncertain. My hands slowed down buttoning up my shirt before completely stopping. I had this feeling that even though I successfully summoned Azazel, I would still be unable to cast any more spells. Deciding that in the end I cannot know for sure, I finished dressing and walked out to see him with his usual smirking face in place, leaning on the law opposite to my room.
"Shall we?" he offered me his hand, as a true gentleman. With a nod from my head, I placed my hand into his and we began walking to the dining hall.
The hall was bustling with activity, breakfast been in full swing. As soon as we entered all activity stopped and everyone turned to stare at us. I was rooted to my spot, unable to move. People normally stared at me, whispered behind my back or made fun of me straight to my face, but this was something different. I've never had that much attention, even after blowing up another classroom. Even the teachers had stopped their chatter and were looking our way.
I felt a light squeeze on my arm and we began moving. As soon as we did whisperings broke out and yet my familiar kept on walking to two empty chairs in the middle of the hall as if nothing was happening around him, his eyes closed and that smile still on his face.
As we finally reached our targeted chairs, he pulled mine for me, before taking a seat in the one next to me. Normally would not be allowed in the hall let alone sit on the table even if he was human, but my familiar was something else. He was a servant of Brimir and we cannot deny him.
People were still wary of us, or rather, him. No one dared approach. Not long after that the prayer started and we all began eating.
As soon as we finished eating we hurried to make our way out of the hall, or rather I hurried.
When we were outside, we saw that there were quite a lot of tables with second year students occupying them.
" Ara, what is this?" asked Azazel, his voice genuinely curious.
" Second year students have the day off so that may become more acquainted with their familiars."
"Oh, Louise. You left the dining hall rather quickly" came a voice from behind us. We both turned to see Kirche, kneeling next to a salamander, which was looking rather fearfully at my angel. My angel…still sounds weird and unbelievable.
" What do you want, Zerbst?" I asked, the edge clear in my voice.
" Oh, nothing with you. Just to have a look at your handsome familiar" she said, turning her lust-filled eyes towards Azazel. " My names is Kirche von Zerbst, master angel. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
" A pleasure, miss Zerbst. My name is Azazel, just Azazel and I must say, you look even more beautiful than last night. The day makes you shine." Was the response of my familiar. He then proceeded to kiss her hand.
What insolence! A familiar of a la Valliere been courteous with a Zerbst, even kissing her hand. I hope mother doesn't catch wind of this.
" Tell me Louise, did you actually summon handsome here or you accidentally shot him down with your explosions as he was flying over the academy?" the nerve of that woman!
" I did everything right and he was what appeared. It would seem Brimir himself deemed me for greatness. "
Before our argument can continue, a slap resounded through the courtyard and everyone turned to look at Guiche's table, where he along with a teary-eyes Montomercy and equality teary-eyes first year girl were looking at a kneeling maid, holding her reddening cheek.
"How dare you make these ladies cry, you peasant. I should have you wiped !" He proceeded to take a second swing at her cheek before a hand enclose around his.
" That would be enough, boy. It is because of you that these ladies cry." It was Azazel. When did he get there, let alone it time to stop the hit.
" You may be an angel, but now you are just a lowly familiar. How dare you lay a hand on a noble!" Guiche continued his rant, not realizing what he was actually saying.
" You question my honor as a noble! I hereby challenge you to a duel!" if my familiar's smirk was laid back before it turned downright predatory now.
" I accept." Was the short response before he turned and helped the maid up.
" Be at the Vesti court in 10 minutes, or I will considered you forfeited!" were Guiche's final words, before storming off.
Oh this is bad. Angels are indeed holy creatures. The messengers of God himself, but they were no warriors. No, they were healers.
" Are you alright, miss?" I heard him ask the maid.
"Yes, thank you sir, but that was not necessary. I simply got you into trouble. I am sorry" she said, while bowing to him.
He waved off her concerns with a smile, before turning to a boy in the circle of spectators that has gathered.
" Excuse me, where is this Vesti court?" the boy quickly pointed it's general direction and as Azazel began moving towards it, the whole crowd followed.
I tried reaching him, make him stop and forfeit, but the crowd prevented me. Even my shouts were drowned by the chatter of the mass of students around me.
When we finally reached there, the crowed formed a semi-circle around Guiche and my familiar.
"I commend you for not running away, knowing your weak combat abilities" the angel gave a nod before asking:
"Whatever you say, boy. So what will it be? First blood or death?"
" First blood or forfeit would be enough. Now then shall we begin?" at Azazel's nod the blond waves his wand around saying:
"My name is Guiche the Bronze, and here is your opponent, the bronze golem- the Valkyrie" with that a single petal dropped from his rose-wand and formed into a female golem.
Not a second later the golem charged at Azazel, he just standing there, not moving an inch, still smiling.
When the golem was inches away from him, he moved his hand through the air, slashing at the Valkyrie as if he was holding a sword. Suddenly , the golem fell apart, cleanly bisected. The real surprise was what the angel was holding in his hand.
A sword, made seemingly from molten gold. Pure golden light flickered across the surface of the blade, casting a slight glow.
"A Valkyrie, you say. What a mockery of the real ones..."
Guiche was stunned for a moment before recovering and summoning a dozen of Valkyries.
" Even if you angels learned how to fight, that won't help you!"
Azazel simply spread all twelve of his wings and took off, standing about fifteen meters above the battlefield.
"You think you can run away?" Yelled Guiche, before creating a dozen more Valkyrie, this time armed with bows and arrows.
Before they can even aim however, Azazel was into action and what he did was simply…amazing.
He lifted his right hand in front of his body, pointing it at Guiche and his little army, before a magical circles appeared in front of the hand. From it, hundreds of lights began flying, as if spears were raining from it. They struck every Valkyrie multiple times with a few of them pinning the blond idiot to the ground by his clothes, his wand flying out of his grasp.
With the bronze golems destroyed and Guiche disarmed, Azazel landed before him, spreading his wings even more if possible, before summoning a golden spear in his hand and pointing it at the blonds neck.
"Do you yield, boy?" this time he was not smiling, his voice cold. I involuntary trembled, having began to get used to his smiling personality.
"I-I y-yield!" was the shaky response. Suddenly the swords and spears pinning him to the ground disappeared and and the crowd erupted into cheers.
When I was finally able to reach him, I could not hold it anymore.
"Y-you f-fool! Worrying your master like that! What if you have d-died?!" I shouted at him, tears running down my cheeks. Then I felt it.
His hand gently falling on my head and ruffling my hair. When I looked up at him, he had his eyes closed and was smiling at me. It was not his usual cocky smile, but a more gentle, peaceful one.
"No need to worry, Lu-chan , I will not die that easily." Before I knew it, I was already hugging him, crying into his chest.
"Idiot! Idiot! Idiot!"
He seemed stunned for a moment before embracing me back, his wings covering both of us, black feathers gently floating in the air around us, as if a magical barrier separating us and the rest of the students.
Third Person PoV
Unknown to the people below, the duel was witnessed by a female with pale-green hair. Longuevillehas heard the commotion going outside before the duel even started. She saw the whole thing, the way the angel utterly crushed the noble brat.
"The Vindalfr, huh. And an angel at that. Interesting…."
She saw the content of the book that Colbert brought to the headmaster's office, even though they made her leave, and she was truly impressed. The legendary power of one of the founder's familiars, inside a servant of a seemingly powerless mage. If going by normal assumption course, the Valliere girl's affinity would be that, which would explain her problems with magic.
"Truly interesting…."
On another window in another room both Osmond and Colbert were stunned by the display of power. While the balding professor stood unmoving, gaping at the scene, old Osmond's though were running wild. 'Angels should be healers only, as Brimir himself said so long ago…but this… This was not simply a combat capability, but utterly crushing power.'
"Mister Colbert, I would like to speak with Miss Valliere's familiar. If you would be so kind as to arrange it." He said, turning to the professor.
"Y-yes, of course. Right away." And with that, Colbert rushed out of the headmaster's office.
Osmond returned his gaze to the Angel, with little Valliere still in his arms.
He needed answers and he knew just where to get them.
*- I simply did not know which word to use. What word do you use for a dragon that is not a whelp, but is neither fully grown as well.
I am torn between doing a normal relationship and the usual Highschool DxD harem. There is also the question of which female(s) are to be in the relationship and which characters are to be converted to fallen angels when I finally decide on what to base the ressurection system upon (in the end I just might go with chess)
For the Pairing, I am leaning towards Eleonore, Louise's eldest sister, or Louise herself. While a lot of you actually suggested paternal relationship for Azazel-Louise, technically everyone would a child to him. The guy is easily 1000+ years. In the end i just might end with a harem of all three Valliere sisters. ( If you point someone, be it as either harem or monogamy relationship candidate, please point out a reason for it)
You can even suggest which person for which position in a possible future peerage for Azazel (example Louise-Queen, Tabitha- Knight etc)
Any constructive, grammar, canon or plot criticism is always welcomed.
Thank you for reading.
