Alright in this chapter we explore just what is actually going to go wrong and bring in our second villain.
"Speech"
/thoughts/
Ethereal stuff
Wolf Tongue (Saito doesn't use it often because in human form it's hard on the throat. You try growling at different tones for a few minutes.)
Supernatural Stuff
The Story!
Saito was whistling slightly to himself despite the disheartening information in front of him. He had roughly five history books open to various area's detailing when new Noble families or Scientific or magical discoveries were made and taking notes in kanji so no one else could read his thoughts. He entertained the thought of a journal but dropped the idea.
"Partner you've been diving through the books and writing in that weird chicken scratch for the last five hours, what the hell is so important?" Derflinger asked curiously from his position propped up against the side of the table.
"There are more of my people here Der, at least three other Therians. I'm trying to find some way to peacefully integrate them into this world so that they can use their powers in the open without fear of retribution or ostracization." Saito explained quickly going through his notes.
"Hunh?" the sword asked and he rolled his eyes good naturedly.
"Without people attacking them like monsters or out casting them, problem is that this world like my own doesn't handle change well. Numerous families that developed magic were put through the ringer before being accepted by other mages, whenever a new culture is discovered war is almost certain especially if the languages are different. The current state of peace is such a rarity that it is almost unprecedented in this world and war threatens to boil up again at any moment. Any major discovery with magic or science in any way shape or form is instantly challenged and practically slaughtered by traditionalists and money grubbers. Frankly I can't see Therians peacefully integrating into this world." Saito explained going through his notes again and sighing while slumping down into a nearby armchair absently turning his bracers around a little so they'd stop itching.
"How was it done on your world then? Just do the same deal." Derflinger offered and was confused when Saito chuckled.
"Der what happened on my world was nothing short of a freaking miracle. A kid with some high end political connections befriended a Therian in hawk form and over a couple months taught him the tongue of humans which allowed the Therian then the kid in turn to plead the case to the child's friend or father or whichever. History didn't record it all too well unfortunately, heck we're not even totally sure on the child's name or gender because the time right after was really, really confusing so much was done that nothing was kept track of." Saito explained and Der laughed a bit at that.
"Oh hah, hah. Yuck it up rusty." Saito snapped getting an indignant 'Hey!' from the sword.
"So what would you need?" Derflinger asked a few minutes later.
"Pardon?" Saito asked a little out of it. He was hoping to drift off to a nap before continuing.
"You know to get your kind accepted into this world." The sword elaborated.
"Well let's see, I'd need a friend in very high places to place legislation favourable to my people and properly introduce the concept of my species. I'd need a figurehead for the race to present the best possible front, I'd have to show extreme power and nobility as well as control for the people around here but even if I had all that it can all still easily go downhill. There is just so much that can and in all likelihood will go wrong that will get the few Therians that are here lynched." Saito said in a bit of a panic.
"Whoa! Slow down partner! Remember miracles do happen! Maybe one will happen for you." He said and Saito snorted.
"I'd rather have events in my favour over relying of a miracle or some nonsense such as that. I want the end result to be inevitable not incredible." Saito said calmly.
"Well how would you pull that off?" Derflinger asked.
"The way I see it there are two ways, one we have the Therian's lie low for a few generations slowly but surely making it so that one of our kind is a novelty over a rarity, this could easily be derailed though and Therians could become hunted and haunted refugees in their own homelands very, very easily. Two is that we go public ASAP and play up the benefits as much as possible to make ourselves into some sort of hero figure. I don't know there just doesn't seem to be any real way to get this done. We'd need some sort of high end disaster that could only be foiled by something with the unique power of a Therian." Saito groaned to himself shaking his head a little.
"Why not start rumours and stuff? You know make your kind something of legend or the like." Derflinger offered but Saito shook his head.
"No that could turn against me way, way too easily. It would probably take all of twelve seconds for any story involving my kind to become a horror story with the Therian being some sort of bloodthirsty monster." Saito said with a sigh to which Derflinger gave the damndest impression of shrugging.
"Well I don't really know what to suggest then. Besides all I really know is a smattering of history and the arts of war myself." Derflinger said and Saito nodded at this.
"Still, despite everything in my way which includes human nature. There are a couple of wild cards. We have Louise on our side and Void Mages are the ultimate wild card commanding both great respect and great fear. She is a noble whom also has certain political connotations and connections which could allow us more liberty. Furthermore, everyone is mistaking a Therian for a unique type of magic user. Officially I have become a noble myself however I do not possess any lands, parliamentary powers or duties nor any connections. This can also used to advantage in which we disguise Spiritual power as some type of 'Lunar Magic' where instead of summoning a familiar you become your own familiar. This however leaves a bitter taste in my mouth despite it being the most likely and least dangerous route." Saito said offhandedly.
"Why the bitter taste?" Derflinger asked curiously.
"Pride mostly. I come from a proud, honourable, and ancient species that through song and story has preserved our history for nearly eight thousand years. I can tell you historical names and events from before when the humans of my world truly came into any sort of stride culture wise. It's a raw primal power that courses through me and simply calling it magic… just saying it's the exact same as what the human's do but with one or two changes… it doesn't feel right. It's so different from magic I don't know where to start. If anything magic has been mimicking spiritual power." Saito said with a small sneer but he swallowed it quickly remembering what mages were or rather would be capable of.
"Is it the same?" Derflinger asked and Saito shook his head.
"No, it is very different. Magic is about changing the world around you with pure energy of will. Words, wands and gestures just help focus the will the way you want it to be. Spiritual power is the ultimate expression of the self. It's all about knowing what you are at the most basic core level, finding out all its tiny components and then expanding and bending those components which will bend the world around you outside. In other words, Magic focuses outwards and Spiritual Power focuses inwards." Saito said running a hand through his hair.
"So how's your spirit stuff used?" Der asked.
"You know about meditation right?" Saito asked getting a 'yup' from Derflinger. "Spiritual power is used like that. Once you can really find it you can grab onto it and form and mould it like clay. This gives it shape, you then have to change it usually though a visualization with that you visualize what it's going to do, grab the energy and hurl it causing it to act in the way you wanted it too. Sunlight amplifies it a little and moonlight amplifies it by a lot so small effects will feed off that energy and get stronger after you have thrown them. Since I've worked on control most of my life I get the added perk of being able to control it after it's left my body, but it's like guiding a boat with a rope. You can only do so much it's mostly up to the currents." Saito explained.
"So that's how your powers are used?"Louise asked and Saito jumped in shock.
"GYA! I didn't even hear you coming, how did you sneak up on me!" Saito demanded wide eyed, Louise giggled. Yes, giggled.
"Mr. Colbert found an old book on Void Magic. It's small, and only has a few spells in it." She said a little dejectedly pulling out a small leather bound book the size of a paperback novel. "But it has some good stuff in here! And one of the easiest to use is an invisibility spell for stealth. It blocks sound too." Louise boasted with no small amount of pride in her voice. Saito smirked at this, as she grew in magical power her arrogance actually went down as her self esteem went up. It was rather interesting in fact.
"Remind me to keep my nose open then." He said grinning and she stuck her tongue out at him before turning to glance at what he was working on.
"Why all the political history? I never took you as the politician type." Louise asked and Saito sighed.
"There are more Therians here, wolf types like me. Siesta is one of them and her uncle and cousin in the capital are the other two. The problem is that with the lunar power so prominent in this world nothing short of mass murder will stop a sizable Therian population from growing from just us four." Saito explained and Louise stared at him as if trying to figure out if he was lying or not.
"What? But don't the moons force energy into you? I mean a dangerous amount?" Louise asked and Saito nodded.
"That's the part that really has me confused. It tells me that this isn't natural meaning they had to have come from my world or at least one like it. From what I can get it started with Siesta's Grandfather who was called Wolf. Apparently he would disappear at nights for hours on end. They suspected infidelity, but to me it points to moonlight hunts for meat. No matter what I act like there is still an animal in me and the thrill of the hunt is a heady experience. The poor old devil must have been going crazy with worry before he died worried his wife would leave him if she found out what he was." Saito said a little sadly.
"Are you sure he's dead?" Louise asked and Saito nodded.
"I've looked and Siesta, Scarron and Jessica are the only other beings with spiritual energy on this world. If there was even a shred of life in Wolf's body he'd have at least a glimmer of spiritual power to go with it. He was probably killed by a hunter at night for his pelt. His family mostly believes or believed that he ran away to be with some younger woman." Saito said sadly. "There are ways to hide it but he'd have to be in a silver cage and have almost nothing in spiritual power due to constant draining on top of being in near total darkness as well."
"That's terrible." Louise said knowing how important it is for many people to be remembered in a good light.
"It is. Fortunately, regardless of what he is remembered as he has left an incredible legacy. Therians with tattooed power dumps. They don't need the bracers like I do. From day one they're perfectly safe from power overload. It's actually a brilliant but simple piece of work. It's easy to make, easier to use and very, very effective, practically art in itself." Saito explained and Louise nodded it mostly made sense to her.
"That's a lot to go through, and here I thought my life was hard with just an arranged marriage to an older man. Makes you feel good to see someone else in a worse position." Louise noted.
"Arranged Marriage to an older man?" Saito asked blindsided by this.
"Yes, Ward. He's actually coming to visit later today." Louise said remembering how he had been so encouraging when she was younger.
"Well thanks for the heads up." Saito said his tone drenched in sarcasm.
"You're welcome." Louise replied missing it completely.
"So when is he showing up." He asked raising an eyebrow as he noticed he was growling.
"In a little bit. I actually came to get you so you could meet him." Louise said and Saito inwardly groaned.
Oh great, I can feel my own hormones peaking. We're a month away from mating season and this happens! he snarled to himself.
"Uhm Partner? What was that about?" Derlinger asked as Louise looked at him strangely.
"Nothing, just clearing my throat." Saito responded and stretched a little. "Think I can take out all these books at the same time?" he asked knowing the answer from the look the head librarian shot at him all the way from the front desk and through three asymmetrical gaps in the bookcase by way of reflective bindings and still managing to be intimidating. "Nevermind." He said sweat dropping nervously as both Louise and Derflinger noticed the glare just before it ended.
"Damn that woman's a piece of work…" The sword noted getting a nod from Saito and Louise.
"She certainly is… I don't think she let's anyone take anything out." Louise said.
"Then how does she keep her job?" Saito asked.
"She maintains and catalogues the books very, very well." Louise supplied.
"Ah. That would do it. It would also explain why she's hissing down my neck most days I'm in here." Saito noted as he stacked the books back up having memorized their contents for the most part. "So just when is your fiancé going to show up? And just who is he anyways?"
"Well his name is Ward, a very skilled mage and swordsman on top of being the captain of the Griffon Knights." Louise says in a bit of a daze.
"Just how old is he?" Saito questions getting a very creepy picture of Louise marrying an older man, he knew it happened around this timeframe but it didn't make it any less creepy.
"Thirty four." Louise said simply and Saito shuddered.
"Okay, just… eww." Saito said his face a picture of disgust.
"What was that!" Louise demanded.
"A fourteen year old girl with a thirty four year old man doesn't send off any alarm bells in your mind?" Saito asked seriously.
"Now listen here!" Louise started but Saito put a hand over her mouth.
"I've been looking through the history of many families and the formation of this country and I can assure you the pairing between yourself and Ward could only have been legal in any way shape or form if you were selected at such a young age that you could barely understand what marriage was at the time. This means that it can't be beneficial towards yourself in any way shape or form, doubly so due to you being a void mage, doubled again by your massive mana reserves, and doubled at least once more since he is in such a position of power. When the circumstances of things such as this are this incredible then it has been contrived. Meaning someone is planning something, and with you being a void mage, it's something big." Saito lectured then sighed when he saw the look in her eyes that basically told him it was all bouncing off. -/Oh brother…/-
"You'll see! He's amazing, he supported me whenever I was down." Louise said dreamily.
"Oh you mean that he supported you when you were teased and helped you puzzle out how to use magic in your own unique way?" Saito asked.
"Exactly!"
"That was me Louise." Saito replied with a bit of a sigh.
"Oh uh… oops." Louise muttered getting Saito to grin.
"So when's he arriving?" He asked casually.
"It should be sometime soon actually…" Louise said tapering off as Saito glanced out the window.
"So that man with the floppy hat, cloak and riding a four course meal through the sky could be him?" Saito asked and Louise rushed to the window then rushed out.
"Yep that's him." Saito noted as he took out a piece of parchment and using a quill and inkwell noted down which books he hadn't finished and put to memory and where he was in them. He trusted his memory but liked to have a bit of insurance. He quickly closed them up and stacked them neatly before grabbing Der and slinging the silver blade onto his back. Over the hilt he threw a student's cloak on which was a part of his disguise as a maverick mage.
He casually opened the window and jumped down eight stories using his spiritual energy to reinforce his body so that he took no damage. Louise brushed by him and he blinked. "What the? Someone's excited." He noted as she rushed off to meet him. -/Keep calm, keep your instincts down boy for all you know he's a saint and has done everything to deserve her… then why go to the Lolita with the world's worst track record?/-
"Louise, it is good to see you again." The man said revealing himself to be a greyed slightly wrinkled man he had a robust voice and from the way he filled out his clothing it was obvious he was very strong. But he wasn't aging well. Saito immediately noticed that his sword also doubled as a wand. A fairly smart tactic, draw both weapons at once as it were. The wind shifted slightly and his mount became agitated at the scent of a predator.
"Airazor! Down girl! Down! It's alright there, nothing will hurt you." He said soothing the normally fierce and proud animal.
"That remains to be seen." Saito said calmly.
"And what would harming my steed give you?" Ward asked coldly.
"A feast." Saito replied calmly using a little bit of spiritual energy to cause his eyes to glow and canines to lengthen.
"Ah so you're the wolf magician everyone's been talking about? I hear you single handily took out Fouquet of the Crumbling Dirt. A fair accomplishment." Ward said with hostility barely hidden. Louise thought it was because of Saito's remarks about Airazor but Saito had other suspicions.
"Not really, she like many people think bigger means better. All her golems are is clumps of dirt that a child could tear apart. Not exactly a grand accomplishment to defeat that now is it?" Saito asked and Ward's eyes narrowed. -/Yep, he's familiar with Fouquet. I'd say that proves my suspicions, but it won't prove it to anyone else./- he thought.
"Indeed. Now if you'll excuse me." Ward said with a slight snarl before walking away for some kind of business. Saito grabbed Louise's arm before she could leave.
"What?" she asked genuinely confused.
"I think he's a collaborator with Fouquet, did you notice how angry he got when I mocked her?" he asked then the wind shifted causing him to subconsciously growl. "And he reeks of her as well, and not in the interrogation way."
"What are you saying?" She hissed at him.
"He &%^$ed Fouquet and not metaphorically, literally." Saito said and was slapped. Louise glared at him with a hurt look before walking off. -/Hormones. I see I'm not the only poor fool affected by them./- he thought while heaving a sigh.
"This day just got infinitely more complicated." He noted to himself with resignation. -/And yet… infinitely more fun./- "This provides more options. If I can reveal traitors and perhaps prevent war I can easily swing public opinion in favour of Therians." Saito mused to himself.
"You!" A voice half shouted from behind him and Siesta marched up to him looking absolutely pissed.
"Partner. It's been nice knowing ya." Derflinger said and Saito chuckled.
"Can I help you pup?" he asked and she glared at him.
"What did you do to me? I've never been like this before and now I can't help but do weird things! How do I undo them?" Siesta demanded and Saito raised an eyebrow.
"You have to focus. Concentrate on what it feels like and guide it in the way you want it to move. It is just another part of your body after all." He said calmly and she fixed him with a glare before closing her eyes and focusing. A small bulge he had barely noticed before vanished and he chuckled. "You think a tail's bad with a dress? Try it with a pair of pants."
"Look I'm sorry it's just… I can't accept this! I've lived my whole life thinking that what I'm doing now with good food and a comfy bed would be about as high as I can get and now I. Now I'm… I'm...!" she started looking like she was about to scream.
"Look, I didn't do anything to you. I can't have done this. It's in your blood and it was in there before I came, and if something were to happen to me that would end my life it would be there when I'm gone as well. It's going to be in your children too and their children as well." He explained and she glared at him before walking off saying she had to help prepare dinner. "Why do I always say the wrong thing around her?"
"Bad karma?" Derflinger suggested and Saito heaved a sigh.
"Bleh. Probably some self destructive instinct. Her scent just gets my hackles up; don't know why, she's a nice girl and taking this fairly well considering." He said waving a hand as if stirring around his thoughts with it.
"Let's stay focused. Ward is up to something, and if she wasn't blinded by her adoration Louise would see it too." Der said and Saito nodded soberly then raised an eyebrow and huffed.
"You know I should be feeling intimidated or something but all I got is excitement. This is gonna be big and you know what? I'm getting goose bumps." He said with a fanged grin and Derflinger started to laugh. "Hey when opportunity knocks answer the door right?" he protested and the sword laughed even harder.
Authors Notes... none you've read my excuses and I've pumped enough foreshadowing in here to the point of bursting. I am trying to figure out if Fouquet will have the guts to face him again and I'm flipping coins and rolling dice about other plot points but I have a general idea about what to do and it's starting to come together.
By the way you guys can review if you want I didn't mean to scare people off from doing so sorry.