TheFallenHer0: I have to say I love coming up with those smaller details that make lots of sense for a story. They're my favorite thing to do for stories, right along with putting together character guides/bios. And the way of describing the tower was, in fact, some subtle foreshadowing. I'll let you wonder as to how. ;) I'm glad I correctly conveyed the panic Elias was feeling, the absolute terror of losing the person he loved and feeling helpless to stop it. And I agree, I love the moment where Elias realizes that he doesn't always need magic to be able to do something. I'll give you a hint at how it's changed: Luca has nothing to do with it. In fact, at this point in time, he's probably with Marelda doing something or another. I haven't actually gotten to that point in his story. And to answer your question, yes. All the current character's are technically in Vincent's story (which is another one I have to start soon crap I just remembered that!), eventually. A large chunk of the beginning of his story takes place before he goes undercover with Miwa at the academy, though. But they'll be there eventually.
Chapter 11 Part 3—Carbuncle's Secret
"The door!" Katalina exclaimed, "It opened?!"
As the dust cleared, something was visible in the room. "This place…" It was a large room, filled with tall, floor-to-ceiling windows—no, those were open holes that lead straight outside—that allowed bright beams of moonlight to illuminate it. In the center of the room stood a large stone statue. The moon beams caused something in the face of the dragon to glitter red.
"So this, it's the Dragon of Time, I guess?" Katalina said in awe.
"Looks like it…" I was as awestruck as she was. We both moved towards the room, as if by some large, unseen force.
"This is incredible…" Katalina whispered. I had to agree. With the way the light was, the statue looked like it could move at any second.
"It still makes such a powerful impression that I'm having trouble believing it's just stone."
"Yeah." she agreed, "It's like it could move, even now." We both just gazed at it, still and silent, for a while.
"They said the country's greatest treasures could be found here." I said, softly, because it would feel disrespectful to be loud. "But they're not. Were they just rumors?"
"I don't…know…" Katalina said absently. I started. When did she get to be in front of me like that? She looked almost…hypnotized. She was walking towards the Dragon, her hand outstretched.
"Katalina?!"
Right before her hand touched the Dragon, a powerful gust of wind so strong it knocked me back ripped through the room. Katalina shrieked and fell, the wind pushing her backwards. I heard her wand clatter against the floor. When she stopped, she was perched at the edge of the window hole. Carbuncle landed on her trying to pull her towards the center of the room. "KYAAAA!"
"KATALINA!" I yelled as she fell backwards out of the window. I started running at a speed that put my fastness earlier to shame.
"No! Elias! Don't!"
I dove out of the window without a second thought. I accidentally dropped my wand as I reached for her hand. "Katalina!" I grabbed her and pulled her to me, as if I could save her from this by giving up myself.
"Elias, why did you?!" I heard her gasp.
"We're buddies, aren't we?" Because I love you.
"Neither of us have our wands! We can't stop falling!"
"I know…" And I was an idiot for letting go of mine.
"What are we going to do?!"
We had fallen to half way at this point. I felt her grip onto my shirt, burying her face in my chest. I tightened my arms around her.
Then the carbuncle squealed loudly. Then there was a pop sound. Followed by another.
"Huh?" Katalina looked up. There were white carbuncles popping up all over the place, surrounding us. Our falling slowed.
"W-what the crap?!" I couldn't believe what I was seeing…
"The carbuncles! They're saving us!"
We slowly floated down towards the ground. Then, when we were a good two feet from it, the pink carbuncle cried out and all the white ones simultaneously disappeared. Katalina and I hit the ground with a yelp.
"Owowow…" Katalina whimpered.
I grunted, rubbing my tail bone. "Ngh! Couldn't they have let us down more gently?" I stood up, pulling her up with me.
"Anyway," she said, "Did you hear it? The whispering? I could hear a woman crying…and a man's voice."
I shook my head as I helped her up, "I heard nothing but the wind.
"It seems we made a little late."
Katalia gasped, "That...!"
"Professor Schuyler?!" I exclaimed as we both turned in his direction. He was followed by a pretty woman with very bright red—red, not orange-red—hair. She was wearing what seemed to be a version of the female battle-mage uniform.
"Ah! It's you!" Katalina gasped again. That's who now? Wait…
"No way…is she that ghost?"
"My, how rude." She chuckled, "I'm no ghost."
"W-what on earth are y-you doing h-here?" Katalina stuttered. I'd like to know, too.
"This is top secret." Professor Schuyler said seriously, "We usually wouldn't tell anyone, but you two are already very much involved. You must not speak of what I'm going to tell you to anyone."
"Y-yes sir…" Katalina said, now frighten. Oh so the freakin' chimera doesn't scare her, but he does?! How messed up is that?!
"Of course." I'm half lying. I'm probably going to be made to tell Klaus at some point. He still is able to force answers out of me.
"Of course, Elias, your older brother does, in fact, know this." The woman giggled, "So don't worry about that."
I gulped. How did she…?
"We are two of the Three Mages guarding the Tower of Sorrow." Professor Schuyler announced.
"What?!" I'd like a further explanation, too, Katalina.
"I am the successor of the First Mage." the professor continued, ignoring Katalina's cry.
"I'm the Third Mage." The woman added.
I was still having trouble believing what I was hearing. Heck, I'm still having trouble believing anything that happened tonight is real! What is reality, anyway? "You guys are part of the Three Mages?"
"We've kept watch over the Tower of Sorrow to protect on of the royal families hidden treasures, the gem called the Dragon-Eye." the professor explained, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to go put the Tower back in order and put the perpetrator under arrest."
He left. The suddenly, carbuncle squee'd and hopped over to the woman.
She smiled, "Welcome back." It nuzzled her face as she looked at us, "Has he been useful?" she saw our confused faces and laughed a bit. "Carbuncles are my familiars." She held out her hand, palm up, and a few popping sounds made as carbuncles, white ones, started to jump from her hand onto the ground.
"Wow! That's amazing!" Katalina said.
"Most people believe that carbuncles are magical creatures, solely so. This is not true. They are half-fae, meaning they are smarter than they seem. They are the ones who create the fae-song that is the key to the Tower. When you went to the headmaster's office to collect the mirror, this carbuncle was inside, wasn't it? This carbuncle"—she gestured to the pink one—"has a special power different to the others. He's particularly clever. I've told him to come back many times, but it seems he's taken a liking to you. You seem to have a natural disposition for being loved by animals and magical creatures, don't you?"
"I-I guess so…"
The woman smiled again, "But I'm glad that it seems he's been of use to you, in the end." She winked at Katalina.
Katalina nodded, "Yes, he's helped us so much." I had to fight back a laugh when the carbuncle squee'd and puffed out his chest, looking mighty pleased with himself.
"But," the woman added, "it would appear the case is closed. Professor Merkulova, hmm? Poor man. He was so lost in his lust for power that he didn't realize how lucky he was."
Katalina nodded, as did I. Then I sighed, "And I'm probably going to have to be the one to tell Selene when she gets back. She'll throw a dramatic fit, like she does for most everything." The woman laughed as I continued. "But, at least I'll have a wonderful buddy to distract her. She's going to coo over you like there's no tomorrow, Katalina. I'm seriously warning you." I elbowed her gently and she wrinkled her nose, sticking out her tongue. Then we both smiled.
"Ah yes, that's right. Katalina?" My buddy looked over at the woman, who had addressed her. "Do you remember what I said the last time we met? I told you that should you still not know who I am the next time we meet, I would eat you head first, don't you remember?" Was it just me, or were the woman's eyes sparkling as she teased Katalina?
"O-oh yeah…"
"I'll ask you one more time. Do you know who I am?"
"Um…" she looked like she was thinking, then her eyes widened, "That's right!" She took of her bag and dug through it. How that thing was still intact and on her back at this point was astounding. She pulled out the pouch that contained the Persona Mirror, removing it.
Huh. "Good idea. You used your head this time." I smiled at her, and she returned it.
She pointed the mirror in the direction of the woman, "Show me her true form!"
I watched at the mirror rippled and showed… "No...it can't be…"
"No way!" Katalina said.
"Headmaster Randolph?!" We gasped simultaneously. At that moment, the first rays of dawn began to creep over the horizon—wait. It was already that late? Or, well, early?!
A ray of light hit the woman, and in a dull flash of light, the woman transformed into the headmaster. He smiled at us, "Using the Person Mirror was pretty clever of you, Katalina."
"H-headmaster R-randolf! W-was that re-really you just n-now?!"
He nodded, still smiling, "This is my daytime form. I have lived most of my long life with both a daytime and nighttime form."
A few things clicked. "I see." I mused, "That's why it wasn't a serious matter for you when she took the Mirror."
"Yes, indeed. It was me who lent it to her."
"And that's why the chest that the Mirror was in wasn't locked." Katalina said.
"It was all part of the package." He winked at her. "The successor of the First Mage is Conrad Schuyler. He's been in that position for just under two decades. The third mage is my nighttime self. My daytime self is the Second Mage. The role of the First Mage of the Three Mages had been passed down for generations amongst the great mages in accordance with the First King's orders. We are the Three Mages who continue to guard the Tower of Sorrow."
"I see." I nod.
"We should've known from the beginning what was transpiring and dealt with it much earlier." Katalina and I jump as Professor Schuyler speaks. He's back.
"We let you both fall into grave danger. We are extremely sorry." The headmaster said.
"N-not at all! We're perfectly fine!" Katalina insisted.
"Yes. We were the ones who decided to get involved without consulting anybody." I agreed with her.
"It was certainly rash." the professor sighed, "If it were only Katalina, but you, too, Elias…"
"But even so, you two protected the Dragon-Eye very well." the headmaster said. "And you even risked your lives to do so. A secret treasure of Gedonelune's royal family is now again safe."
"I'm so glad…" Katalina sounded relieved.
"Ah, that's right. We can't forget to thank you both now, can we?" The headmaster said.
"Huh?"
"As it does seem that somehow or other you, Katalina, are of a disposition that makes you naturally adored by animals and magical creatures. Come hear, carbuncle." The pink fluffball hopped over into the headmaster's palm. "I shall give you this familiar."
Her eyes widened, "R-really? Is that really okay?"
"Yes, yes." the headmaster chuckled, "He seems to have taken a liking to you. Also, feel free to give him a name." The carbuncle gave an excited cry, confirming what the headmaster had said, and jumped onto Katalina's shoulder, snuggling happily into her neck.
She giggled, "Welcome back!" It squee'd.
"Listen. There is an added bonus with this carbuncle. With him as your familiar, you can make as many carbuncles appear whenever and wherever you like. The incantation is…"
But he was cut off by a voice—there's Grim—from Katalina's bag, "The Familiar's Incantation. It is the familiar's name plus…"
"Grim!" Katalina jumped.
The headmaster laughed, "Oh, now I see! You've been using that grimoire!"
Grim popped out of Katalina's bag, "It's been a long time, Randolph."
"You two know each other?!" Katalina exclaimed.
"Do we know each other? Why, he created me!" Grim said, sounding as please as a magical book could be.
"I thought he was going to stay on the shelf gathering dust. I've pleased to hear that he's with you, Katalina."
"Yes. Grim's helped me a lot with my studying."
The headmaster smiled upon heading her nickname for him, "In that case, you may also have Grim, too. I'd much rather have him been of use than sit about whining because he's crammed in a library shelf."
"Really?!"
"Yes. It doesn't seem like anyone's going to borrow him anyway."
"Hey!" Grim protested, "I cannot dismiss such comments!" He paused. "But, well, if it means I don't have to go back to that dusty old library...then perhaps I shall let it pass."
Katalina giggled, "Grim, Bubbles, I look forward to many more adventures together!" The carbuncle seemed to like it's new name,.but I had to bite my lip in an attempt not to laugh. She was too cute.
"Good for you, Katalina." I told her.
"Thanks!" She grinned at me.
Grim made a sound, "Well then aren't you going to try out the spell to summon the carbuncles?"
"Ah! That's right!"
"Good! The first part is 'I command thee under our oath!' and then…"
"You say 'Invocare' followed by the familiar's name." The headmaster cut in.
"Hey!" Grim pouted, "Don't do my job for me!"
"Incidentally," the headmaster continued, ignoring Grim, "you should have an idea of how many familiars you'd like to summon, then focus hard, or else the spell may fail. How about we start off with just one?" Are you sure, headmaster? Are you really sure about this?
"Sure!" She rolled up her sleeves and pulled out her wand. Or tried to. "Ah! My wand! That's right!"
"I found it in the Tower's innermost room." Professor Schuyler said, handing it to her. He then looked at the headmaster, "Loran is currently unconscious, Randolph, and poses no threat."
"Ah! Thank you so much!" Katalina accepted her wand and readied herself again. She looked so cute like that, all determined. "All right! I command thee under our oath! Carbuncle Invocare!" Then, a giant ball of light appeared on the end of her wand. "Huh?!" Oh no. I had a bad feeling about this. The light ball burst, sending out tons of white carbuncles into the air. "N-no way?!"
As the carbuncles continued to appear, I rubbed my temples. I had a feeling that it would be me who'd have to do most of the cleanup. "Really, why do you always, always…"
"Goodness. You've managed to mess up again, haven't you?" Grim sighed.
The headmaster burst into laughter, "Why, today's forecast is sunny with the occasional carbuncles, it seems."
"Randolph! How can you be so easy going?!" Professor Schuyler snapped before turning to Katalina to snap at her, "Katalina! What on earth do you intend to do about this state of affairs?"
"I-I'm very, very sorry!" she yelped.
Eventually the carbuncles stopped appearing, and both her and I breathed a sigh of relief.
"You know, I feel like we're forgetting someone."
"What's wrong, Elias?" Katalina asked me.
"No...it's nothing." But I feel like I'm going to have to explain all this to Selene, as well. That'll be interesting...
Fun Fact 14: If you haven't noticed, I've pretty much cut out a lot of the original chapter. The battle between Luca and Elias takes up most of the original. But we can't have that—I've got plans for Luca. I can't just have him be a bad guy, you know? I still need him for later plot. But that's the nice thing about fanfiction—I get to decide. XD
