2: Duel

I woke up a little earlier than normal that morning. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my list. I did this to confirm that last night wasn't a dream and to see if anything were to happen today. One of the events I wrote on it should be happening today, provided that nothing happened to alter the time stream to much. I went over to Louise's bed with the intent of waking her up to get ready.

I looked at the bed and saw that Louise was completely covered by her blanket. All I could see was a human shaped lump under the blanket.

"I'm awake," came Louise's tired voice from under the covers. "I couldn't sleep."

"In my experience, info bombs like last night tend to do that to people. But that's not what you were thinking about was it? Not entirely anyway."

She sat up and nodded her head in that cute way she does when she is still not entirely awake, but still too tired to think as well as when she is completely awake.

"Well, let's hear it. Do you know who my previous master? You get one guess."

Louise looked down like she was still trying to see whether or not to say it. She opened and closed her mouth several times, debating with herself on whether or not to say what she was thinking. She closed her hands into fists and a blush was visible on her face. It appears she figured it out, my inner monologue tells me.

"Your previous master, the one who you love and were loved by, that you swore to protect... It..." She paused right there as if she wasn't quite ready to believe it.

"It... was me. Wasn't it?" Her blush had spread from her cheeks to the rest of her face and even down her neck.

I smiled and nodded. "Yes. In my timeline, I was also your familiar. And yes. I did love her, or should I say you, very much. Strange isn't it? Even in alternate timelines I'm still your familiar." I said while almost chuckling at this fact.

I could swear she looked like she was going to faint from embarrassment. Her face was so red it looked like a tomato dipped in ketchup and red paint.

"Then she, I, loved you?"

I nodded. I swear even her hair was starting to blush a deep red by this point. Then she gasped as if a thought had just occurred to her, and her face paled. I admit, it was pretty amusing seeing her face go from pure red to completely white in an instant.

"Then, all those injuries and kicks, th-those were me also?"

I cringed at the memories. "You were always a little... enthusiastic in your discipline. Anyway, Good job. You figured it out, as I knew you would. This saves me a lot of hassle later down the line with all sorts of misunderstandings that happen. Wait, no. Those type of things are probably still going to happen." I shook my head and continued. "Anyway, I promised, you guessed correctly, so I will answer you questions as best I can."

Louise, who had finally managed to regain her composure at what could easily be considered being confessed too, asked her first question.

"Okay, You said that I become a great mage. How? I have zero magical skill." She looked like she needed a hug. I resisted the urge considering there was no way she would accept such a gesture at this point. Smart move, we don't want her going trigger happy again, right? I try to find a shut off switch for my inner monologue. I can already see him getting really annoying, really quickly. Fine, I'll keep quiet. I'll still be here just to let you know.

I chose my words carefully. "Well, first off, let me say one thing." She nodded showing that she was listening intently. "I know exactly what your problem is."

At that, she perked up and immediately grabbed my shoulders and started shaking me.

"What? What is it! How can I fix my magic!"

"S-s-stop shaking m-m-me!" She stopped and blushed.

"Sorry."

"It's okay. As I was saying, I know what your problem is. However, there is nothing I can do to help you- Wait don't cry!" That last part was because she looked close to tears at having her one hope of becoming a respected mage having been dangled in front of her then ripped away from her reach.

Congratulations, you made an underage girl cry. Have you no shame? 'I thought you said you were going to shut up inner monologue.' I'm your conscious, its my job to mock you when you do stupid things. Perfect, now I had a voice in my head that was going to mock me constantly. I never though I'd miss having a false motive.

"I-I'm not crying! A-a mage n-never cries in front of her f-familiar," Louise said unconvincingly.

"Sorry for leading you on like that but I wasn't finished yet. I said there was nothing I could do yet. Don't worry. It will be about a month or two before the necessary tools are assembled."

Louise looked at me with her eyes looking like they were holding back a flood. "Okay, then can you at least tell me what the problem is?"

I nodded "That I can do. Your problem is, you're using the wrong element."

"But I've tried all of them! Earth, wind, water, and fire-"

"Void." I interrupt.

"What? That's impossible! Void was lost long ago! Few people even acknowledge that its real!"

I chuckle to myself and notice that I've been doing that a lot lately. I wonder why?

"That's why I said the necessary materials aren't here yet. To allow you to unlock the void we need three things." I tell her. "We need a special type of ring. We also need the right book to help you get your spells. Third, and most importantly, we need you to be ready." I try to keep it as unspecific as I can, to avoid her actively seeking out the needed things or jumping in joy like a little school girl when she got one of the items.

As I said the third one Louise gave me a confused look.

"What do you mean ready?"

"The book only gives you your Void spells when you are ready to use them. If you are not ready to use the spell, You won't know the spell. Thus, Your magic will remain this way for another few months," I tell her bluntly. She looks slightly dejected but quickly regains her spirit.

"That's okay. I'm fine knowing I won't be a zero forever."

"No, you won't. Also, Keep it a secret, for obvious reasons. If people knew that I'm from the future, or that you are one of the most powerful mages alive, who knows what would happen."

She nods. "I understand. For now, I have to go to class. This time is currently taken for familiars to go into the courtyard and get to know each other. I just have one last question."

"Which is?"

"When you first introduced yourself, you had a noble's name. Why is that?"

"I've done some things of notable worth. Considering those things haven't happened yet, I'm really just Saito Hiraga at the moment." I tell her.

"What did you do? How could a commoner become a noble?"

I smile. "That would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it?"

She pouts a little, but seems to accept that I'm not telling her anything else. "Fine, now go and meet the other familiars. I'm heading to class."

I nod. I decide to go to the courtyard and meet with some of my old friends.

*Scene Break*

It's now time for the noon recess. It was nice to meet Slyphid and Belldandy again, even if they didn't remember me. Anyway, now was the time event number one happens.

I walk around the courtyard until I see a boy with a mop of blonde hair talking to another group of students. I bide my time until I see a purple bottle fall from his pocket and I make my move.

"Oi! Guiche! You dropped something!"

He ignores me, as I expect. I decide to take a more aggressive approach.

"Hey! Are you listening to me? I said you dropped something!" I pick up the bottle and show it to him.

"You are-" he begins

"Louise's familiar." I finish for him.

"Ah yes, The commoner she summoned. Anyway, I don't know what you're talking about. I had nothing in my pockets."

"Then why did I see this bottle fall from there?" I counter.

"Hey, isn't that some of the perfume Montmorency uses?" asks one of the people there.

"So you are dating Montmorency!" Says another. I smile to myself, all according to plan.

"But weren't you talking to that first year, Katie, last night?" Asks the third.

Guiche says exactly what I wanted him to say. "Ah, but a rose blooms for the joy of many, not for the satisfaction of one!"

"Do you want to say that to her face? After all, she's over there. And she seems rather upset."

"Guiche!" says the voice belonging to Montmorency.

"Ah! Montmorency!" Guiche tries desperately to save face. "I-I don't know what they're saying! After all I would never-"

"Hold that thought Guiche, Why don't we just ask Katie? After all, she's coming this way." I point behind him and he whirls around with the speed of a hurricane.

"Guiche!" Says Katie "I have the soufflé you asked about last night." Then she notices Montmorency looking rather upset.

"Guiche," You can almost see the hellish aura coming off of Montmorency, "why were you talking with this girl last night?"

"Ah, Katie, to let you know, Some of Montmorency's perfume fell out of Guiche's pocket." I add to help Katie get up to speed on the situation.

Katie gasps and starts giving off and aura almost as scary as Montmorency's.

Long story short, Guiche went through almost as much pain as I did on a daily basis back in the day. After Guiche recovered consciousness, He immediately gave me a death glare. He then pointed his rose/wand at me.

"You! Commoner! I can never forgive someone who makes two girls cry like that!"

"Really? Because it looks to me like they were upset that you were cheating on them. Also, it looks more like they were mercilessly beating the crap out of you, not crying. In all honesty, I kind of feel like crying when I look at what they did to you." I couldn't resist. Guiche got really mad after that, but I must give him credit, he calmed down almost as quickly.

"Because you are a commoner and don't know the proper way of addressing nobles such as me-"

I cut him off "Actually, I know just how to talk to nobles. I just don't think you're deserving of my respect."

His eyes narrowed at me.

"A duel. I challenge you to a duel at Vestri Court!"

"Accepted. When? Now's good for me." I say while resisting an urge to smile.

"Now will do. You will not run away even though you know you can't win?" He asks while raising an eyebrow.

"Don't make assumptions you have to proof of, Guiche. I'll be at the court in a few minutes. I look forward to it." I give in and smile while I say this. He notices and walks off in a huff. Not bad. Much better than last time. I'm going to enjoy watching you kick his ass again. For once, I'm glad to have an inner monologue. Its always nice to have someone who's always on your side at all times.

'Oh!' I think to myself. 'I forgot, Louise should be showing up right about...'

"What were you thinking!" I hear someone shout.

Right on cue, my inner monologue says.

Louise storms up to me her face red with what is most likely anger.

I shrugged. "He was angering me and he cheated on two girls. Frankly, I think he needs to be brought down a few pegs on the arrogance scale."

Louise just looks at with disbelief on her face. "There's no way you can win! He's a noble and you're a commoner!" She almost looks worried about me.

"Don't worry. I have a plan. If it succeeds, I make it out with no injuries and win the duel in a curb-stomp victory."

"And if it fails?" Louise asks, her voice filled with worry.

"I get horribly injured, nearly killed, but make it out alive and still win. I think."

Louise looks at me, clearly horrified at my worst case scenario.

"Don't worry," I turn to one of the students, whose name escapes me, "Vestri Court is the way right?"

He nods and I begin walking when I'm hit by a flying tackle and hit the floor.

"No Mr. Saito! You can't! You'll be killed!" I don't remember Siesta being this emotional before the duel last time.

"While I thank you for your concern, there is no need to worry."

"B-but..." she then starts crying and runs off.

I shrug and head towards Vestri Court. You just love making girls cry, don't you? 'Shut up inner monologue.'

*Scene Break*

"Ah, So you came." Remarks Guiche, clearly ready to try and beat me into a pulp to try and reclaim some honor.

"Yes I did." It was time to put my plan into action.

"Before we start Guiche, I have one simple request."

"Sorry, I will not go easy on you. I will give you all I got." He replies preemptively.

A grin appears on my face. "Don't worry, I want you to go all out."

He appears surprised. "What?"

"My request is simple. You, being a mage, are allowed to use your magic during this duel, correct?"

He nods, "But of course."

"So wouldn't it only be fair to give me a sword?"

His eyebrow rises up, and he appears very curious.

"I mean after all, I am only a commoner. I have no magical skills, so to make the fight at least somewhat fair, Shouldn't I have a sword to defend myself with?"

He ponders the idea before he nods in approval.

"In the interest of a fair fight, I see no problem with giving you a sword."

He whips his rose and a single petal flies off. The petal flies towards me and lands on the ground. Where the petal landed a flash of light erupts. After the light settles down, a large sword rests, implanted into the ground. A smile crosses my face as I recognize the sword. It's the same sword he offered me when we first fought. As I reach to grab it, Louise decides she doesn't want this to continue.

"Guiche! Stop this already!" Louise screams at.

"Sorry Louise, But this commoner has already accepted the duel. Therefore, it must continue," replies Guiche.

"So? Duels are forbidden!" Cries Louise.

"Duels between nobles are forbidden. Duels between commoners and nobles are fair game," corrects Guiche.

"You wouldn't happen to have feelings for him would you?" Asks Guiche.

Louise blushes even more, "W-what? H-how could I love him? He's-" I cut her off

"Um... Louise, no one ever said love." I say with a blush forming on my own face. I think she likes you Saito. 'Shut up, its too early for that. She probably just doesn't want to see her familiar fight what she thinks is an impossible battle.' If you say so. She looks rather upset though.

Louise realizes what she said and shuts up.

"Anyway," I begin, eager to change the subject, "Shall we start?"

I grab the sword, and the runes on my left hand light up in a way I know all too well.

"Very well," says Guiche, "Let the battle begin."

The crowd of student's who have formed around us begin cheering and getting rowdy due to the supposed beat down of the commoner that they all believe is coming.

He waves his rose and a single petal fall down. When It lands, a bronze Valkyrie appears in a flash of light. My right arm hurts from where this Valkyrie broke my arm when we first fought. Just as I begin reminiscing about the old times, the Valkyrie charges. I notice just in time and as the Valkyrie throws a punch towards my stomach, I sidestep, turn so I'm behind the Valkyrie, and slash horizontally, slicing the golem in half. The crowd falls silent almost in an instant.

"You might want to try again. Try sending all the Valkyries you have at me. Maybe even at the same time." I say tauntingly.

Guiche's face changes from surprise to pure rage. He swings his rose and six petal fall off. They all land in a line and six Valkyries emerge. I notice that two wield axes, three wield maces and one has a large shield. An instant after they are all summoned, they all charge at once. One tries to swing an axe at me. I jump back, dodging the blade, then I cut off it's arm and slash diagonally, reducing it to pieces. I see a mace approaching me so I jump upwards over the mace and watch as it collides into the helmet of the shield Valkyrie which promptly collapses into a pile of scrap. When I land, I rush the mace Valkyrie and it sees me running towards it and tries to punch me. I hit the ground and slide between its legs and pop up behind it. Before it can react, I stab it in the back and it collapses.

One of the mace Valkyries try to do an overhead slice at me but I parry the attack and slice, one more dead. The two left, one with and axe and one with a mace, both charge me at the same time, I simply run up to them and perform a spinning slash taking out both at once. I look over and see Guiche terrified. I run over and give him a swift punch in the gut.

"Anything else up your sleeve or are you about done?" I ask him.

Guiche falls to his knees and I swear it looks like he wet himself.

"I-I yield."

I nod and give my best try at an evil grin. "Even so, aren't these duels to the death? How could I simply let you go like that?" I say while raising my sword.

I swing the sword down a few inches and Guiche screams like a little girl. I can't take it anymore and burst out laughing. I stick the sword in the ground and use it as support to keep me from falling over with laughter. The people in attendance stare at the scene in front of them.

"Did you really think I was going to kill you?" I ask laughing, "I'm not evil or anything! Though I suppose my sense of humor is a little dark compared to most."

"S-so, I can leave?" Guiche asks me utterly terrified.

I nod, "Of course. I don't want to kill you!" I offer him my hand. He takes it and I pull him up.

I smile and turn to Louise. "Should we leave know?"

She stares at me dumbfounded and nods.

Nice job with the almost death threat. That should make sure no one messes with you for a while. 'Yeah, but maybe I overdid it.' I shake my head. My inner monologue was right, this should help people see me as a credible person, not just a commoner.

*Scene Break*

When back in the safety of her room, Louise turns to me.

"What was that? How could you defeat seven golems so easily?" She asks.

"There was one thing I might have forgotten to mention," I hold up my left hand "See these runes?"

"What about them? They show that you're my familiar."

"Correct," I say, "however these runes are special, These are the runes of Gandalfar. Actually, Maybe I shouldn't tell you that yet."

"Why not?" Louise asks. Then she looked at me with her eyes wide and begging for more information. I couldn't handle the cuteness and my will was shattered. I silently pray she doesn't figure out how to use that to her advantage.

You always were weak to Louise's advances. 'Seriously? Do you have to mock me for breaking down at seeing Louise like this?' Yes, yes I do.

"Fine, I'll tell you. Gandalfar was the left hand of God, he was the one who protected Brimir when he was casting his spells."

"What? You're the familiar of Founder Brimir?" I can tell that I just about broke her brain with the statement.

"Not exactly, I have the same capabilities as the previous Gandalfar, but I am not the same person. These runes give me the power to use any weapon I touch and know how to use it. I also become much faster and more resilient."

I look at her and see that she seems astonished that I have such a powerful ability.

"So your plan was to trick Guiche into giving you a sword so you could defeat him?"

I nod. "That is correct. I knew he was someone who liked to play to the crowd, so I used that to trick him into making it a 'fair' fight. If it didn't work and he simply attacked me, I most certainly would have been beaten within an inch of my life, trust me I speak from experience."

She seems horrified at the fact that I could have almost died in that fight. Maybe she's more worried about me than I thought. I dismiss this claim almost as immediately as I think of it.

"Don't worry, as long as I hold a weapon, I'm able to handle most situations."

She lets out a yawn.

"Don't worry Louis, Just go to sleep. I'm going to go take a walk around the castle to calm myself. You just go to sleep."

She opens her mouth like she wants to protest, but she instead nods and start to get ready for sleep. I open the door, walk out and shut the door behind me. I made my first destination the library. I had to talk to someone and clear some things up.

*Louise POV*

I couldn't believe it. How could my familiar be so powerful? The be able to effortlessly take down seven bronze golems with no trouble, what else could he do? I just didn't know how I, having no magical talent, could have summoned someone as powerful as he is. "He did say I was a void mage." I shake my head. "No, that's impossible. Void has been lost for hundreds of years." In my effort to forget about the subject, my mind wanders back to when Saito and Guiche fought. "Why didn't I want them to fight? He said he had a plan, so I shouldn't have been worried. Unless... NONONO, I don't care what he says, or where he gets his knowledge, I do not love him!" I pull the covers over my head and try to fall asleep and forget about the day so I can move on. "He did look pretty cool when he took out those golems."