FAMILIAR OF ZERO
The room was nothing like Tiffania was expecting it to be. There were no boisterous figures or extravagant religious symbols. No loud colors to show off the Inquisitor's presence, the only noticeable difference was a simple banner that sat behind the tallest chair, a white and gold symbol that was an exact replica of the symbol on the High Inquisitor's staff.
Whom was sitting right beneath the banner.
Up close, he was more ominous and threatening than when viewed from afar, which should have been a given. There was something different about being so close to him, she could feel his presence, the overpowering force of his entire entity, the feeling that she was in the presence of someone very powerful.
Her ears twitched. There was something wrong. Someone else was in the room. Not Osmond, who was standing next to him, but someone else. It almost felt like…like…
'No…that's not it…' she told herself, and politely waited to be seated.
"Tiffania Westwood…" the High Inquisitor commented, "You sure are brazen for demanding an audience with me so quickly."
Her voice hiccupped in her throat, never had she been at such a loss of words. She tried her hardest, "My deepest apologies your Holiness…there was some…issues that came up amongst the opinions of people closest to me...and I, personally, felt it was better for me to take the place of Louise Valliere and her familiar for the time being." She bowed deeply, "My actions are selfish and disrespectful of a man so close to God; please punish me as you see fit."
The Inquisitor waved off her apology, "There is no need. It actually works in my favor; I do not have to play such silly games with the hearts and minds of the children of God. Please have a seat."
Tiffania noticed Osmond shift nervously; her appearance was something he had not expected, nor what he wanted. He was waiting for something, and it did not seem like it would get here soon enough.
She took her seat, and stared into the Inquisitor's cold eyes.
"You are a top student, from what I have heard from, near Tabitha Orlean's level."
"Yes, thank you your Holiness…but…"
The Inquisitor raised an eyebrow, "But?"
Tiffania had to choose her words carefully, what would happen in the next few moments would be critical to the type of treatment she would get. But before she chose her words…
She pulled the robe off of her head, her ears jutting straight out from her head, Osmond gripped his staff tightly.
"Please…your Holiness…words cannot tell you how appreciative you are of thinking of my feelings…but…we both know why you are here."
The Inquisitor's smiled widened, though this was no smile she ever wanted to see. Sadistic, perverse in nature, the stalling had all been for show, this was the true act he was waiting for. Without even looking at Osmond, he waved him away.
"Osmond-sensei, I wish to speak to the elf…alone…"
"With all due respect, I wish to be there for my student-"
"With all due respect!" the High Inquisitor mocked, "This does not concern a headmaster! At this very moment, she has ceased to be your student, and now, she is an elf. How she plays this out will be solely based on her own decisions," he glared at the headmaster, "Not yours. You do not leave, and my guards will remove you themselves, and they have been itching to…remove someone."
Osmond's glare met the High Inquisitor's, but his was stronger. With a gracious and resentful bow, he turned around and strode out the door, calling for his familiar to follow him. Leaving him behind would only make the situation worse. But he felt he had one final thing to do before he left.
"Tiffania-san," he called to her. Her ears perked at the sound of her name, and he slowly opened up the door, barely showing Colbert and Chevreuse waiting on the other side, just out of the guards reach, "There is another water ritual that needs to be performed soon. We could get by with another water mage, but really, to complete the ritual we need the help of someone familiar with nature magic. Oh, and of course you have to wear the ritual garments as well, I am sorry to say, however, that these are just barely big enough for you. The ritual is very soon," he winked at her, his beard conforming to his smile, "Please don't forget about it."
"I won't!" She said in a hurried voice, "I…I promise I won't…" If ever she needed the strength to hold back a tidal wave of tears, now was the time, the few stragglers had to be picked off by her hands.
Osmond closed his eyes in acceptance, "Good. Very good, now if you'll excuse me. Your Holiness." The Inquisitor's glare never left Osmond, and no motion was given for his approval, and Osmond quietly closed the door behind him. Both of the residents in the room could hear Colbert and Chevreuse's disapproving voices, though they could not understand what he said.
Then, the Inquisitor turned his attention towards Tiffania. All anger, all fury that was in his expressions, had disappeared completely. And that same, sadistic smile had returned.
"Now then my dear elf…let us continue…"
"Yes…lets…" she had to continue to wipe away the tears from her cheeks, and the Inquisitor could not help himself.
"All the tears…my my, child, are you fearful of me?"
"No…Your Holiness," her tears had stopped, and this time she had to control the raging fear that boiled in her stomach, "Rather…I am to an extent…"
The Inquisitor chuckled, "You really shouldn't be."
"But these tears…these tears are not for you…Your Holiness. These are for the people I love…and who love me. The ones who were ready to do anything to make sure I was safe…the ones I am terrified, who still would."
The smile faded from the old man, a stern looking overcoming his face, "I did not know you had become close to the students of the school. Tell me elf…did you find a lover?"
"Heavens no!" The question was unexpected and much too personal, even for a man of his position.
"Ah ah, of course…my apologies. I was just curious as to…the thoughts that may go through the mind of someone who you may have captivated…or seduced." Tiffania gulped, this was not heading in a good direction, "But my dear elf…I apologize…Tiffania…this is not about such things. This…is about God."
Tiffania nodded, "Yes, Your Holiness."
"You…mentioned God earlier in our meeting. Tell me Tiffania, are you a true believer of God…a true child of the one and only God, despite your birthright."
This was the moment of truth, this had to be just right. Too much of a lie and he would sense it, and be punished all the harsher for it, too much truth, and he would become enraged at the thought of her presence.
"Your Holiness…" she said, "I…I am not what you would call…a true follower, of God." The Inquisitor raised an eyebrow, "I am not fully accustomed with the traditions, and symbolic services of God, though I am aware of them. My time at home," 'Easy Tiffania…do not work from his sympathetic side, he will only resent you for it', "My time at home was spent celebrating life…and the love of a family. An untraditional family mind you, but my family nonetheless. Ah, I am sorry Your Holiness, I have not been addressing you-"
"I can overlook such trite things, please continue."
"As you wish. As I was saying Your Holiness, I would be lying to you, if I said I have been devout my entire life, and worthy of your forgiveness. However, I do wish to become a true believer, a true follower of God! I do wish to embrace God, and beg his forgiveness and love, even though it is entirely possible that I may be undeserving of it, and if that is the case, I am fully willing to offer my life up to that cause."
Strong words, so powerful that she herself had to rise out of her seat to say them. Just truthful enough to let her by easy, but just enough of a lie to make it believable. Only one thing could ruin it, this plan was not foolproof, and the next thing that came out of his mouth would determine whether this would end in tragedy or not.
She seated herself, pretending to be ashamed of her outburst, and thinking that she was doing a really good job too. All the while the High Inquisitor stared at her, silent, motionless, a torture within itself. She forced the urge to shut her eyes, to fight back the tears that were coming to surface, she tried to think of her friends, of Saito, she tried to do everything elfinly possible to not give away any and all leverage the man might have used against her, she had to hold out until his judgment was finalized.
"Tell me Tiffania…why…" he paused, as did her heart.
'Please…don't ask me why I would embrace God…anything but that…' that would be her undoing. She would only choose God if it meant a peaceful life with her closest and dearest friends, free from any more persecution and prying eyes simply because she was an elf. She would not be embracing God because she felt he was the true God, but, because it would free her from the bonds of her heritage. There would be no way she could lie and not be found.
"Why…Tiffania-san…do you care for your friends so much?"
'Yokata!' This was a question she could answer freely and without any hesitation of lying. It was almost too easy to answer.
"Because your Holiness, no one since my parents have ever loved, and cared for me as much as they do. And…there has been no one whom I have felt as close to. Why, just two of my dearest friends fighting tears me up, and I do not want to be responsible for anything to break the bond they have…my one true wish is to have everyone I love live a long, and carefree life, free from the troughs of war, loving others as much as I love them…"
Once again, she felt the tears rise in her eyes, yet this time she felt it was alright, nay, necessary for her to release them, for if she did not, she would have probably broke down. Using the sleeve of the robe, she wiped the tears away, and continued talking.
"My apologies Your Holiness, such an outburst is shameful-"
"Save it."
His voice was quick and harsh, and she felt her heart leap into her throat. Had he not believed a word she said? Had he been toying with her emotions the entire time? Terror slowly begun to set in, and this emotional state, it was near impossible to hold it together.
"My dear elf," he raised himself from his seat, and slowly walked the course of the table they had sat at, "One of my jobs is to measure the sincerity of those who are under interrogation-yes make no mistake about it, you are being interrogated at this moment-though a lot of my judgment is through my own personal opinion," his eyes met hers and she could see the cold, emotionless depth inside of them, "God…is also judging you."
"God…Your Holiness?" She had almost forgotten to add his title to her sentence.
"Yes my child, God. He is here, with us now, listening to every word you say. His power, His love runs through me and allows me the insight to see the truth behind lies, the clarity around the fog. His will is my will, He has allowed me to see through his eyes and because of this, He has shown me how your people deceive, and trick others into clouding what is righteous and holy in this world. How your people will allow anything to spill through their mouths just to save their own filthy hide!"
Tiffania felt her body about to let loose, the defamation of her people, the cruel and twisted insults. Nothing in the world could be worse than this, to be forced to sit while he verbally abuses her and be allowed to do nothing. And worse than that, knowing full well that he intends to put her to the cross, only drawing out the inevitable to satisfy his own twisted pleasure.
"And then God sent me to you. Tiffania Westwood. He sent me here to test you, to test another one of your lying kind in the expectation of finding another rotten heretic! And now you stand before me, your testimony and life on the line, and you tell me that! Well elf," he strode furiously towards her, and finally after holding back the fear for the last twenty minutes, she shut her eyes tight, refusing to let any light inside, "I, nay, God has made his judgment on you!"
She heard his cane slam into the table in front of her, and she nearly lost control of her bladder. Awaiting the worst, the absolute final sentence she would ever receive in her life, she waited patiently for the words she had expected, and her only prayer was that he would fulfill one, last request.
"And you have passed."
"Nani?" She said almost immediately, opening her eyes to see the old man, whose face was naught but a frozen nightmare moments before, having thawed into a warm, glowing fire of an elderly man looking at a grandchild. It was then; she felt everything was going to be alright.
"My child…God's love takes many different forms. For me and His Holiness, the Pope, it comes from our devoutness to His will, to His love. For you and your friends, it comes from the love you have for those you care about the most. It comes from the reciprocating feelings that they share for you," he sat in the chair next to Tiffania, the tears running down her face ever apparent on her cheeks, as she held her hands up to her face to hide her quivering mouth and nose. "I heard the conversation you had outside with the group that waits even as we speak, you were willing to sacrifice the memories of your loved ones to prevent them from doing something foolish, the one thing you cherished most with them. Why…even Beatrice, who has always been a follower and never defied our words, spoke extremely highly of you, even going so far to take sentences out of context just to shine yourself in a brilliant light. Granted, it only confirmed my suspicions, but with so many loyal and trustworthy people," he smiled, "You are, one of God's blessed children."
No force in the world could stop the tears that poured from Tiffania's eyes, nothing had ever made her happier than to have received the blessing of such an important individual in the human world, not even her own cousin. She bowed down many times, thanking him with each individual bow. With a serene smile, he simply patted her head.
"But…" Tiffania stopped, there was always a 'but'. "But…my dear, I know how the temptation to stray from God's path can be powerful, for I am merely human. For someone born of elfin lineage, I cannot help but wonder what you may go through in the future. It is…" he grunted as he lifted himself onto his feet, "my deepest regrets that I force you through this, but without it, I could not be completely sure of your love."
"What is it, Your Holiness?" The tears had stopped, though their cousins remnants remained on her cheeks and face, "Please Your Holiness, what must I do to prove myself in yours…and God's eyes."
"You need not do anything child…except…" he reached into the cusp on his robe, and pulled out a brilliant, steel dagger, whose blade was finer than any she had ever seen, "Just sit there."
Tiffania gulped.
---------------
Saito waited impatiently outside the door, with everyone milling behind him. No one knew what to expect when she appeared out the door next, they had heard shouting but could not make out what was said, and it feared everyone. Their teachers did not speak when they had met up with them, both Colbert and Chevreuse looking quite worried and distraught, nearly matching Saito's and Beatrice's expression. The others aside from Tabitha and Osmond, whom remained calm, all had concerned looks on their faces. They all nearly jumped in excitement when the door opened, and a tiny head poked out.
"Ano…" Tiffania whispered.
"Tiffa!" Everyone yelled and took a step forward, but Tiffania stopped them.
"I'm fine! I promise I am, the High Inquisitor has graciously accepted me…but…" she looked away, "There is something else. He has allowed one person to be here to witness it, I, um…have chosen Saito." Her face blushed, embarrassed by the thought of it.
Nine heads turned to look at Saito, stunned as he was. There was a mixed feeling in his stomach, she had said she was fine and he believed her, but what could she want from him now?
"Please Tiffania-san, as your headmaster it should be my duty-" Osmond began to speak.
"Ie! He…His Holiness has allowed only Saito! Gomen…but he refuses to let anyone else in…"
He looked to his left, then he looked to his right. The general response from everyone was to go, and to go immediately. He looked at Louise, who refused to look at either him or Tiffania. She waved him off with a silent hand, her way of "allowing" him to leave her side. He nodded to her, smiling.
"Thank you, Louise-chan."
"Whatever…"
A few steps forward and he would be inside the room, he could finally feel useful again.
"Your sword!" The guard bellowed, crossing a halberd merely a meter away from his face. A few steps had become more problematic than what he had imagined. Hesitating, not sure of how to make of it, he heard a voice behind him.
"It's alright partner, nothing should happen that you would need me in there." Derflinger assured him.
"Yeah…but…"
"Please Saito…" Tiffania whispered, "His Holiness is becoming impatient, and…I would feel better if you were here beside me for it."
Saito closed his eyes, he hated having to be separated from Derflinger, but it was for the benefit of another. With one hand he slid the scabbard off of his shoulder and held it to the guard. With one swift motion the giant of a man grasped the strap and set it to the wall next to him.
"Oi! Be careful with me!" Derflinger groaned.
This lightened the mood for Saito a bit, and when the guard raised his halberd and bellowed, "You may continue," Saito felt his mind go to ease. Tiffania's smile made him light on his feet, knowing that she would be safe, knowing that this entire ordeal was almost over. He would sleep like a log tonight. He politely closed the door behind him.
Everything stopped when he saw the High Inquisitor. The old man glared up at him, obviously very peeved by Saito's appearance. His presence was powerful, but that's not what stopped Saito. The dagger the Inquisitor shined worried Saito, but even that was not what he felt.
There was someone else in the room.
Someone was watching them…watching them with beastly, hungry eyes.
And…
That someone was behind Saito.
He could feel that person breathing heavily, he could feel the warm breath on the back of his neck, the hand that caressed his skin so gently it might have been mistaken for the wind. At first he thought this was all in his imagination, that the fear of Tiffania's persecution had gotten the better of him. He believed that.
Until he heard his voice.
"So long…it's been so long…" The next feeling was unmistakable, the wet, slimy feeling of something crawling along the side of his cheek. He was being tasted, "Long…Gandalfr…"
Saito whirled around and threw out his right arm, but no one was there. Just empty space and air, he would have sworn on his life that someone had snuck up behind him, that someone was talking to him…touching him. But no one was there, what was it he felt?
"Is everything alright lad?" A creaky voice called out to him. With another sudden whirl he found himself facing Tiffania, and the man who could only be the High Inquisitor, both of whom stared at Saito as if he were possessed.
"I…I'm sorry…um…your uh, Holiness…" he bowed frantically, he was not sure of the proper customs without Louise to follow in suit, "There was…a bee…"
For such a simple lie he did a very good job of making it unbelievable, though his insane luck allowed the Inquisitor to wave it off as such, and he continued to polish the dagger.
"Saito-sama…" Tiffania cooed, she trotted over the nearest seat opposite of the Inquisitor and pulled it next to her own seat, "Please sit down."
He obliged, his eyes never leaving the dagger the old man caressed, Saito's feelings of worry and doubt began to resurface.
"Ano…Your Holiness…why do you have a dagger?" He asked.
The High Inquisitor's head twisted viciously towards Saito, he had obviously done something terribly wrong in addressing him, though he was not sure what. Luckily, he had Tiffania there, who, seated beside him, straightened up and blocked the Inquisitor's line of sight with her body.
"Saito-sama!" She stated loudly, "His Holiness has agreed to allow my stay in this country and in this school, with a physical pledge to The Lord and His Holiness, the Pope."
"A physical pledge? What do you mean by that?"
Tiffania opened her mouth to begin to speak, frantically trying to cut off Saito from saying anything that could upset the High Inquisitor, but she had started too late.
"She means an inquisition, familiar." His words left no room for arguing, and the way he addressed Saito let him know that he recognized him as no more than such.
Yet, Saito's stubbornness refused to let him leave things be, "What do you mean a-"
"Saito please!" Tiffania interjected. The calming face had quickly vanished, replaced with a fearful and worrisome expression. It only got worse when she heard the Inquisitor stop caressing his dagger, "His Holiness has been so generous to allow you to accompany me for this Inquisition, this is more than any elf has ever received in the past."
"But-"
"Please…I'm asking you to fulfill your promise…this…"she wiped a tear from her eye, "This is nothing compared to what I would go through should I have to leave you…and the others."
Oh how he hated this world, this overpowering feeling of authority and status, something he had never, nor would ever get used to. If something was wrong, he was taught to fight for it, to stand up for those being wronged. Any punishment Tiffania had to receive was wrong, and he had wanted nothing to happen to her.
Yet, he held his tongue, keener to her feelings than to his own personal morals and beliefs; he had hoped this would not be worse than being forced to walk through boiling oil.
She mouthed a "Thank you," her smile matching the feeling in her heart. Her right hand latched onto his left, and she turned to face the High Inquisitor.
"Are you finished?" He muttered. She nodded, and the impatient Inquisitor began to relax, "Now then, if there are no more interruptions, I would like to begin."
The blade of his dagger shined in the light of the room, and Saito felt Tiffania's hand squeezing his a little tighter. Her fingers were rubbing tiny circles into the back of his hand, she was somewhere between scared and happy for getting to hold his hand.
"In order to signify the bond you now share with our Lord, I am going to prove your Love by carving the symbol of His Body into your hand. If you would." Tiffania reached out her hand nervously, her fingers twitching every so often, "This will prove to me, and to God, that you mean to carry out his wishes, and accept Him as the One. True. God."
He placed the blade against her palm, and with one final whisper of, "Do not struggle," cut the skin of her palm.
Saito's grip matched Tiffania's as she squeaked a painful cry. There was no hesitation in her face to hide the pain, her eyes shut tightly as her teeth bit down on her lower lip. The High Inquisitor traced a line across the outside of her palm, and Tiffania turned her head away, crying one single, painful sob. With every cut of the blade, Saito felt his own body be split open, every twist was new wound in his own body, Tiffania was going to last longer than he was.
Her legs twisted and contorted around themselves, around the chair, around even Saito's legs as the Inquisitor continued, who only whispered an unrecognizable chant. Tiffania's whole body shook and trembled, failing to hide the pain she was feeling, only her left hand refused to move; she successfully managed to keep that much of her in check.
Through the sobs and cries of pain, Saito noticed something. The blood that had been spilling out of her palm was being directed by the Inquisitor into a small vile that he held to the side of her hand. But it was of little concern to him, he was bearing through the pain that Tiffania was suffering as well, though he did not physically feel the blade against his skin. He was at his breaking point.
Tiffania let out one final, desperate cry, louder than she had over the last few seconds. It caused her body to arch upwards, though she kept her arm in place. She did not ask for him to stop, she just sobbed and gave Saito a tearful, pitiful stare. The woman who tried so hard to act like a strong, independent rock was breaking quickly, crumbling under the blade against her palm, yet it had only been a few passing moments in real life. Torn between his promise to her and the look of desperation on her face, his right hand clawed at the armrest of the chair until Tiffania finally broke.
It was small, barely noticeable, but Saito had recognized if right off the bat. The once shut eyes were now looking deep into his, though he was certain she could not see a thing with the tears that welled around them. Her teeth slowly let go of her lip, and in a quiet whisper that only Saito could have heard, she called out to him.
"Help me…"
It was then that Saito realized how right his feelings had been before. Tiffania may have put up a tough front, but he knew in his gut how physically sensitive she was, he had remembered it from the time she had asked him to fondle her, how the slightest indication of touch caused her to jump, and when she told Louise about her ears just last night. For someone who was so sensitive to pleasurable sensation, pain must have been a nightmare for her.
He quickly stood up, fury raging in his blood, in his stomach. Holy man or not, this had gone on long enough. The entirety of his lungs was going to go into this demand, and he prepared himself for it.
"THAT'S-"
"There my child…" the Inquisitor stated as he pulled the blade away from her hand, "We are finished."
Saito stood alone, looking foolish as the Inquisitor began to run the remainder of the blood from the knife and her palm into the small vial, Tiffania finally able to breathe after the very long minute. What remained in her hand was a still bleeding imprint of the religion of the area, a symbol to her testament to God.
She was still a mess, hair had matted to her wet cheeks and she continued to sob an occasional sob, still able to feel the blade that had been to her hand moments ago. Having let go of Saito's hand, she covered her mouth with her right hand in an attempt to not sound as pitiful as she looked. Her eyes looked up at Saito, who just recently turned his attention to her. Though she could not speak, he knew she was thanking him with her whole heart for sticking up for her at the right moment.
"Is…Is it over…?" Saito asked. Though he forgot to annotate whom he was speaking to, the High Inquisitor spoke.
"Nearly…" he reached into a small pouch that he carried at his belt line. He emptied the contents of it into the palm of his hand, simple dirt and earth, and grasped onto the large stave he proudly showed off when he walked into the school ground. "You did well my child," he gripped the dirt and held it over her outstretched, bleeding hand, "I did not expect you to be in such pain, and for that I apologize deeply towards you." The earth poured out of his hand like fine sand, and it sparkled into white flakes as it neared her wound, "I hope…this will make up for what I had to put you through."
The white flakes gently fell onto her palm, and a glow began to emanate from the folds of the tissue that had been split open. A shining light in this dimmed room, it illuminated everything in the entire area, casting a shadow over nothing. Saito covered his eyes to prevent himself from being blinded.
When the light faded, the blood had disappeared from Tiffania's wound, and all that remained was a scar that encircled the entirety of her palm, what would be an everlasting symbol of her devoutness.
After twenty long and terrible hours, Saito was actually able to rest, as was the rest of the school. He flopped into his chair and exhaled a deep, long breath. It was then he realized that Tiffania had grabbed a hold of his hand yet again, but this time it was more for pleasure than actual comfort.
"Thank you…" she whispered. Her face was able to smile again, and she was so glad that Saito was able to be there for her. "I…still have my promise to keep…" her face turned a bright, bright red, despite the recent loss of blood. His face began to match hers, though he found himself babbling incoherently.
The High Inquisitor's withered hand gently held onto her recently healed hand, and with his other hand he held up the vial that he had been drawing the blood into the entire inquisition, "This too, is a symbol of your love." Tiffania's eyes widened and her smile faded, "It will be proof of your bond to the church, it will be set alongside the other bonds and promises many before you have made in the past."
"Oh…" she whispered, the tone of her voice told him she wanted to believe him…but could not.
"I hear the apprehension in your voice Tiffania-san, but please…rest your weary soul. You are closer to God now…" he smiled again, but it was different this time. This smile had almost reverted back to the same vindictive, evil smile he had shown before to Osmond and Tiffania when he first met them respectively, "…Closer than you realize…my dear…dear elf…"
--------------
"Tiffania!" Beatrice yelled as she stepped outside the door, nearly tackling her in a giant flying glomp.
Having nearly had the wind knocked out of her, Tiffania grasped onto her head with her arms, "Hello Beatrice…" she cooed, "I'm so...so glad to see you all again."
With that having been said and done, it was everyone's turn to huddle around her and lather her with praise and words of relief. Even Tabitha walked next to her and bowed, proud of her for doing what she did. Kirche snuck up behind her and wrapped her arms around her neck, making silly jokes about old men and perverseness. Guiche had attempted to get dangerously close to her, but Montmorency had given him one tiny push that sent him careening into the wall behind them. Only Tiffania stared in confusion for a moment, until the force of three women forced her to pay closer to attention to keep her balance. The rest of the group, Louise, Saito, and the remainder of the teachers, watched from afar, the only person not smiling being Saito.
"I guess…we had gotten worried over nothing…" Osmond stated, he too able to breathe deep again.
"I wouldn't call it 'nothing'," Saito commented. Louise turned to him, a smile spread across her face.
"What are you doing still worrying about cow boobs?" She motioned to the gaggle of women who giggled and cried in unison, "As far as inquisitions go, she got off very easy, this sure does beat a vat of boiling oil, doesn't it?"
"You weren't there Louise…you didn't see the look on her face when she was forced through that…you didn't feel her hand gripping tightly onto…" he paused and placed his head between his hands. After a minute, and for the first time in a day, he smiled, "I'm sorry…Louise-chan…" her eyes widened, "I'm getting upset even though this is finally over…I don't mean to make you worry…"
Immediately after he said that, the High Inquisitor stepped out of the doorway, and the entire group stopped. The elderly man observed his surroundings, his eyes resting upon Osmond, and he gave him a nod, "If you would Headmaster…I am needed elsewhere, and I believe I have overstayed my welcome. Let us be off men."
Stave in one hand, walking stick in the other, the guards followed the High Inquisitor step-by-step away from the group, who were very glad to be rid of him and after they were certain he was away from earshot, did not hesitate to bad-mouth him behind his back, a smile spread over the girls' faces, only Tiffania tried to subvert their insults.
Also, since he was gone, Saito once again felt comfortable to speak, "Something's just been bother me is all. I…heh, could have sworn that someone else was in the room and…well, it was kinda scary."
"Saito-sama…" Tiffania mentioned, her voice silencing those around her, "You felt that too?"
"Yeah…but I thought I was just imagining things, it felt like someone was breathing in my ear and…I think their tongue ran across my cheek."
"What?!" Louise yelled, the jealous little girl rising from within.
"D-D-Don't hit me!" He reacted, "I just said I had felt something, there was nothing there when I turned around. No person, no ghost, no-"
"Ghost…" Tabitha whispered, and she swayed slightly. Kirche ran quickly to catch her from falling backwards, but in one slick motion, Tabitha careened forward, straight into the unexpecting arms of Saito, who fell backwards. Nine of the ten people still "conscious" began to sweat nervously.
"This is getting kind of silly, Tabitha-chan…" Kirche muttered under her breath.
Louise, the only person who did not form any beads of sweat, gripped the base of her wand and began to hiss under the breath, "Sai~to~…"
"Now wait! How can you blame me for this?!"
"BA~KA~ INU~!" Her wand began to glow with a bright light as her power reached the tip of the wand, villainous tendrils of her hair began to sway against an unknown wind. She was now perfectly comfortable in blowing up Tabitha along with Saito.
"Not while I'm around Louise-chan…" Osmond said as he snatched the wand from her hand moments before she was about to cast her spell. Even being her superior, she had no qualms about glaring daggers at his directions for diverting his anger. Sighing, he reached into his robe and pulled out a riding crop, "Use this instead."
She gladly snatched it from his hand and waved it over her head.
"WAIT A SECOND! WHY DO YOU EVEN CARRY AROUND-"
Whipping sounds echoed throughout the corridor as everyone watched Louise beat her poor familiar into a near-coma. Even Tabitha narrowly escaped the grasp of Louise, standing next to Kirche as if nothing had happened.
Beatrice chuckled nervously, turning to Tiffania to avoid the scene in front of her, "Tiffa-sama! I hope you are not in too much pain."
Tiffania grasped the hand the knife had been carved into, "Ie…His Holiness healed my wounds, see…" she held out her hand to the rest, the symbol of God's religion embedded in her scar tissue. The others made disapproving noises, and attempted to reassure the elf, practically babying her. "I'm fine! I really am, thank you all so much for your concern," she wiped away a tear, "My only qualm about this whole situation is that he had to seal and take my blood…it's just, blood is sacred amongst elves, and-what's wrong?"
Everyone stopped, even Louise stopped in mid-swing. Mouths agape, eyes widened to the point of shock, they all looked as if they had seen a ghost.
"What's wrong?" Tiffania asked again, blinking curiously.
"Is this true…Saito-san…?" Osmond asked, his eyes never leaving Tiffania.
Saito, the collar of his shirt held tightly by Louise, nodded, "Yeah…Is that bad? I thought it was a little odd, something vampirish about it almost, blech."
The silence continued, the breath from their lungs holding fast.
The next person to speak was Tiffania, whose calm demeanor and comforting smile faded quickly, "It…is sacred here too…isn't it?"
"Tiffania-san…" Osmond stepped forward, "Though you were raised in a human orphanage, you are probably not very familiar with the ways of our world. And Saito, not being from this world, was also brought into a forced ignorance on his part," he gripped his staff tightly, the anger ever apparent in his being, "There…are three things blood is ever, EVER, taken and kept for…hospitals…as ridiculous as this sounds, vampires as well…but worst of all…forbidden spells."
Those very words sent the spines of everyone around him shivering. The old headmaster's calm stature was gone, and the protector within him had awakened, "No one…takes another person's blood. Not the High Inquisitor, not the Pope, not even God would take another person's blood. That man…is a fraud."
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END
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