Here I present You the fifth chapter. This is the first fight scene I write so I would like feedback so that the true Fights can be really what they should be.
Guest 9/16/13 : Poor Halkeginia indeed but you should have known it earlier, remember Louise is one with NachtWal
Yuri-Hime-Chan and other's: yes I know I need a Beta, But I can't find one, that's why I repeat if anyone reading this can do it I will really be grateful.
Poliamida : The reasons the Valiere don't like the "Church" will be expanded on later that I can tell. And Josette doesn't exist. ( Except when she does)
Yeza Nairomof, edboy4926, Tama Saga and the others : Thank you for your review . I am doing my best. By the way Yeza what do you mean about the blurb? The resume of the title in itself? Because I don't think I can change the resume, not without spoiler.
Now on with the chapter.
A disclaimer : I do not own ZnT/Foz .Neither do I own Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha.
The Book of Void
Chapter 5
Once dinner ended, Henrietta bid Louise farewell. Unlike her, Henrietta was a third year which meant that she had to attend her regular classes today even though she'd received some leniency due to her rather exceptional talents and status as Louise's main bodyguard.
As for Louise, today was the last day the second years had to get to know their familiars. From tomorrow on, she had to resume classes. Well, officially at least. That being said, it didn't mean she did not have any work to do today. For her, getting to know your familiar meant training with your familiars.
She already had a rundown of the theoretical during her meal and now that she had time, Shamal and Signum had decided to let her show them what she knew. Usually Louise would have taken offense to be almost ordered to come to the grounds Shamal had found earlier but it was a special case because for one, her Shamal and Signum were far more skilled than herself and will be able to help her improve and for two, they really did remind her of her own parents, ones she didn't get to see as often as she'd like.
So, once they were sure no one had followed them, they left the Academy grounds. To most people, entering without being noticed by the Academy was virtually impossible but for her, it was merely child's play. Let's just say that a lone spell from the Book did have a lot of use.
She and the now human Signum made their way to the clearing telepathically guided by Shamal. But dear Founder's, that clearing was far. They had been walking - read running - as Signum had insisting it was a good warm-up, for 30 minutes and they had just barely entered the forest.
"Signum... I really wish you were bigger in your bird-form..." Louise complained while following the Pink-haired knight. Unlike Shamal's armor, Signum's looked heavier made of thick plates and other metallic pieces but, even so they were running at a respectable speed, she didn't seem the least bit tired. NachtWal said they weren't human, but now she had her proof. As for her, she was about to collapse sweating rivers down her face, back, and everywhere else.
"Hum... Now that you mention it, I think I may have one. I can't say with absolute certainty because I've never tried. Zafira had a bigger form for when he needed to evacuate our previous masters." Signum answered as she effortlessly sidestepped a tree.
"Why didn't you use it? At least, until we got to the forest." Louise couldn't believe what she had heard.
"As I said, it's better to exercise and, while I can see some use in flying on me, for now you need to get back in shape. While your stamina is commendable for a youngling such as yourself, you'll need expand it so you don't end up dead tired in a real combat situation." Signum said knowingly. Glancing back, Signum saw her master's face red with exertion and generally wading through the forest like some type of injured animal. Feeling irritation gather on her brow, she gently rubbed her finger against her throbbing face and took deep calming breaths.
"Master, why in the world didn't you tell me to stop?"
"I didn't think it would be that... far..." Louise wheezed out. "I…I didn't want…to lose you either."
"You should have asked me to slow down. Remember, you are the master which means you set the pace. That fact still remains even though you are my student. You have to push yourself to become better, but you must also listen to your body. Remember that from now on." Signum said as she walked toward her. She had apparently wished to give her a lesson before they had even begun. Placing a hand on her head, she gave it a small rub and promptly ignored the scathing look Louise shot at her. "According to Shamal," Signum said as she walked away from Louise's fuming form, "we're just 500 meters from her and the clearing."
The small pinkette, not really wanting to get lost in the forest - a feat even some of Academy's most experienced and longtime guards haven't managed to break -, briskly walked towards her demonic familiar, angry scowl still in place.
Catching up, she let out a relieved sigh to see they had finally reached their training ground. Something was…off with this place. "So, this is it...it's as good of a place as any other." Louise said, recognizing the clearing.
She hadn't noticed when Shamal had sent her the image but now that she got a firsthand look, it turned out that she knew the damn clearing after all. To the right was a small river where one could bath if they didn't venture far from the shore for in the middle it turned rather deep. To the left, everywhere you could find rocks and stumps of trees that had visibly met unnatural assault. One could guess it was caused by some blast thank to craters which over time had gotten filled up here and there. Another perfectly reasonable assumption would be that a battle between mages had taken place and the land was still bearing the stigma.
"Is there a problem with this place?" Signum asked as she walked toward the blond sitting on a rock.
"None. If anything, this place makes me want to learn even more." Louise declared, clenching her fist as emphasis. This was the place where her fate had changed once before, here once again by her own choosing, it will change anew with her grabbing it confidently by the reigns.
Shamal and Signum watched as their master was engulfed in flames of passion. Deciding better than to ask Signum looked at her fellow pink-hair and said simply, "Remember that we are here for you." After what seemed like an eternity, Signum finally broke eye contact and said with light blush powdering her cheeks, "Shamal is better with the whole, eh,emotional thing."
Yep, Louise had already guessed that much. Nevertheless, she was glad of Signum's show of support. Shamal, who'd been busy doing something on the boulder she'd been sitting on, got up and walked to them. "So, Master. How do you find this clearing? You'd seem to be on fire a couple of seconds ago." There was slight worry coloring the blonde's voice.
Was she that transparent?
"Great...but next time I won't try to follow Signum pace. I think I died a little on the way here." Louise slumped down against a tree. Now that they'd reached their destination, she noticed that she truly had done too much.
"Well I guess that means Signum already taught you some restraint." Shamal smiled teasingly at her. Louise nodded slowly. It wasn't the first time someone taught her by example, and, like last time, she did not like it at all. "Now, you really must remember that it applies to magic as well. Overstraining yourself can lead to you being unable to use magic anymore. While I don't think there are many spells out of your reach, you shouldn't use too many spells at a time too often either. I already told you about the link between your body and the magic right?" Shamal said with a tilt of her head.
"Yes that you did." Louise said. "And seeing how tired I am right now I think I will follow your instructions from now on." It had taken some time to get her breathing regular and she could feel her heartbeat slowing down but if Signum had not slowed down earlier when she did, she might have collapsed out of exhaustion. "So, what are you going to teach me now?" She said while bringing her knee up and resting her chin on it.
"Well..." Shamal said sitting crisscross on the ground in front Louise. "While I was waiting you, I read a little more about your system of magic. I think we should start with basics, mathematics."
"What?" Louise said confused. "I can understand they might be useful for some specialties, but how are they the base?" She was waiting for an esoteric theory about how to use her power, not another lecture.
"It's not used as heavy as in some magical styles like Mid-childan but Belkans still use it a lot. You have to calculate your magic's trajectories even before you cast it as well as the power you put into it then you have to adjust them during their use. In fact, that's why Devices are necessary for high level magics." Shamal explained but, to Louise, it didn't make much sense.
"We help managing the output and trajectory trough the time and space. The mage handle the rough parts and Devices do the fine managements." NachtWal intervened, giving her interpretation.
"I still don't get it." Louise said plainly. Shamal's face fell a bit. "But," she continued, "if you say that's necessary, I will believe you. Besides, I am not up for any training for now anyway. Maybe if you explain it some more I'll get it."
And like that, the course of the morning was decided. Louise proved herself to be a wonderful student to the pleasure of her Familiars, quick to absorb information presented in terms she understood and attentive. When midday came around, she even got to try making a magical sphere under Shamal instructions.
At first, she insisted to try just with her wand, trying to handle the calculations herself but it quickly became apparent that while the theory was easy - far easier that she had thought at first at least - the practice was radically different. Still before midday, she had managed to at least make a little sphere in front of her wand... before it promptly exploded along with the wand.
"Master, are you alright?" Shamal shouted as she scrambled to Louise's side. The poor girl had been blown back several meters from the shock wave.
"Yes... I think." The pinkette tried to move her limbs and in doing so noticed the lump of exploded wood in her hand. "But I think my wand is done for. Looks like I will have to use you for the rest of the day, NachtWal."
"That's what I am here for master. I cannot comprehend why you insisted on using that wand." Was it jealousy she was hearing?
"One, I have to be able to cast magic with a wand if I want to pass it off as normal magic. Two, I need to be able to defend myself without you. Three, the clothes are far too flashy." Louise retorted, taking the hand Shamal offered.
"Flashy as it may be, this is the one you chose. You will be able to modify it later, once you learn more about magic. As for being able to cast without me, while I comprehend the intent, must I remind you that I am you?" NachtWal said, tone making it clear she was displeased Louise had forgotten that fact.
'She' didn't seem like the type to get mad about that kind of thing but, then again, how could someone know what goes on in the mind of a symbiotic magical abomination. Even so, Louise made a mental note; just to be sure NachtWal doesn't decide she wanted to be remembered by taking control of her once more. "Still looks like explosion will always follow me in whatever I do." She said with a huff.
"You are still growing master. Your magical core must still be unstable." Shamal said sympathetically before her entire body seemed to light up with excitement. "Then again, I've never seen someone manage to cast a shooter with just a lump of wood as foci." Shamal said her, But there was something strange about it.
"Single lump of wood?" Louise said incredulously. "It was made by the best wand maker in all Tristain and is custom made to resist my usual... volatility." Louise was ashamed to admit it but she was pretty sure she had exhausted at least one full forest in exploded or "lost" wands since she was young. In fact, that one didn't even last three months.
"It was finely sculpted and there were enchantments to make it sturdier and able to resist decay, burning or physical damages, yes but it was still just a finely chosen lump of wood." Louise was ready to argue but Shamal looked pretty sure of her assessment plus she really didn't have a counterargument.
"You are sure?" She asked hesitantly.
"Positive. Other than being the healer of our group, I am the specialist in magic items as the one who make these magic rechargers." In Shamal's hand there was a bunch of small metallic cylinders. Louise took two of them, one of them open, but didn't see anything inside.
"Those are magical rechargers? What do you need there for? Will you make some for me?" Louise said curiously. From the name, Louise could assume that those things could make up for a lack of willpower, or mana as Shamal called it but she couldn't see how such a small thing could contain the power given to them by god.
"We use them to give a boost to our powers, in order to use more powerful spells. I doubt I will have to make some for you but I know I will need them for using Laevatein. I am not as strong as Signum, nor am I much of a fighter so I need to prepare more than normal to make up for the difference until I finish training with it." Shamal said while fondling with the sword on her pendant.
"Uh…Shamal? Your runes are glowing."
"I see..."
"Those runes give you artifact's understanding if I recall. Doesn't it would help with Laevatein?" Louise had read about that in the Book and she was pretty sure Shamal sword qualified as an artifact.
"It helps me yes. I understand how to use it to cast spells more efficiently in each of its forms but it doesn't help me to fight with it. The knowledge is in my brain, ways to fight with it that even Signum might not know but my muscles just aren't accustomed to the physical requirements to properly wield it." Shamal visibly deflated when she said that. "I need to learn the basics first, just like you." She said with a light smile.
"I see. I suppose it means we'll learn together." Louise already imagined she'd have to fight against the master that was Signum, fighting against Shamal would probably be a walk in the park compared to that.
"You will once I have test out your skill level." Signum said. She turned to see her pink haired familiar coming through the bush. Now that she thought about it, she hadn't seen her for a while.
"Where were you, Signum?" Louise asked.
"I was back at the academy bringing your lunches. You won't be able to fight on an empty stomach." Signum said presenting them with two earthenware plates. "It's not poisoned."
"Ah, so it's already this late. Thank you." Louise shot Signum a smile and took her plate. Shamal did the same. "Also, did you really check the food for poison?"
Signum gave Louise a disappointed look. "Oh master…you're killing me."
Shamal let out a small laugh. "Don't worry Signum. She'll learn sooner or later." Turning to Louise, she said, "Enjoy your lunch, master. Signum is not the type to slack off even in training." Seeing her master apprehension she added "I can go in first if you wish. That way you will see what it'll be like."
"Thank you, but I have to go in first." Louise replied. She was truly grateful for her blonde knight's offer but she wanted see what she had to improve on her physical skills so she could finally begin to use her magic. She then turned to Signum. "Will it be a magic fight or just sword training?"
"We will do both. I want to see how you fight with magic first then I'll instruct you on how to use it more effectively in battle so you do not tire as quickly or easily."
"I thought so...my mother said the exact same thing to me when I was younger." Louise said. As time went on, she'd begun to notice the similarities between the two women. It probably was why, even thought she had summoned her only one day ago, she already had gained a deep respect for her.
"Your mother is wise. I hope I can meet with the one who trained you too." Signum said. Her pink knight was a fighter first and foremost so sentiments didn't surprise her at all. Although, thinking about the combination of her and her mother's eagerness on the battlefield was probably the scariest thing she could think about right now. Well, apart from seeing what NachtWal was really capable of once unleashed.
"You will, believe me. The first thing she will want to do once I explain everything will be to test you. She has personally trained every high-class fighter in Tristain at least once during their tenures and she will want to test the talents of her two new Knights." The pinkette assured the woman. Her mother was the former captain of the Manticore knights and the main proponent of bolstering Tristain's defense ever since taking the throne.
"Need I remain you that we are your Knight, not hers." Signim said with a hint of exasperation. "Nevertheless, her actions are commendable."
That show of allegiance truly solaced Louise's heart. After what had happened to her before, she valued fidelity of people above all else. As NachtWal had said, the knights were the most faithful guardians she could wish for...along with Henrietta of course.
...
Once Louise finished her meal, she got up and turned to her knight. "I am ready." She said confidently.
Signum didn't move. "Aren't you forgetting something?" She asked expectantly. The two stood there unmoving, the wind passing over the field. Seeing Louise's lost expression, she sighed. "I said we're starting off with a magic fight right? See? I am already in my armor. Why aren't you in yours?"
"Do I really have to?" Louise whined. "I was hoping I'd have some time to get used to it first."
"That's what training is for, Master." Signum said in her teacher voice. "To get a feeling of your full capacities as well as your limitations." Louise couldn't help but dislike the feelings she felt when merging with NacthWal. It made her far too aware that 'she' was right. Although… she did like the feeling of power that came with it.
'Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after she got used to it.' she thought to herself reassuringly. "NachtWal, Set-Up." Louise said. Not a second later, she felt the strange entity wrapping around her body and in her core.
"Good." Sigum said approvingly. Turning to the blonde, she said, "Shamal, could…" She didn't even get the time to finish her sentence before Shamal placed multiple barriers around them. "Thanks. Our Master is strong and we both know how inexperienced mage - especially strong ones - tend to manifest their powers in unusual ways."
"You're right. She easily understood the principles we taught her earlier but the actual application of the magic didn't seem to stabilize. Her powers seem to be…volatile." Shamal said from the other side of the clearing under a strange green light. The word [Panzerschild] came to Louise's mind. Like the first time the link between her and her familiars had gotten so strong in this state that she got involuntary information from it.
If it was simply knowledge, she wouldn't complain but, since the knowledge came from 'her' mind, it probably meant that their minds were fusing and that was really unsettling to her.
Deciding not to think about it for now, Louise asked Signum if they could start. "Can we go at it now? I want to see what I can do." She said as she experimentally spun her left spear and flexed her two arms, establishing her range of motion. She knew how to fight with a sword but not with two handed and certainly not when they were attached to her wrists. She couldn't do anything about it now.
"We will remain earthbound for now. You can start when you're ready." Louise took note that Shamal had gone flying when Signum said the fight would be confined to the ground which most likely meant that Signum planned to use all the ground. If her Rune name was any indication, she was glad to know no permanent damage would be done to the forest around.
A wild-fire would not be a good thing.
Louise reviewed the list of spells she had mastered. Along with her miscasts Teleport and Shooter were the only spells she really knew with an acceptable degree of proficiency. She could've found some easy-to-learn spells in the book but she didn't have any more time for that.
The first thing she did was to use body reinforcement charms her mother had taught her, reducing the impact of the blasts and blows. Then she used a basic speed enhancing spell her mother used constantly and made sure was drilled into her head stating sometimes speed is better than power, a lesson she had taken to heart. Power was instead redirected into smaller more concentrated blows causing substantially more damage while avoiding receiving them. At least that was the theory.
Once it was done, she readied herself and, using one of her arm blades as Focus, cast a failed fireball with as much power as she could.
'BOOM'
She idly noticed that the explosion had been much hotter than usual. Only dirt should have been kicked up, creating a screen she could've use to launch a surprise attack but the second she jumped into the cloud, she began to sweat bullets. Considering Signum was a Fire mage, Louise had to assume that it was her doing.
Sweeping her arm-sword in a downward arc, she found that Signum was not where she had been a second ago. Noticing minute movement in the corner of her eye, Louise dissipated the dirt screen with a Gale miscast which, of course, ended with an explosion but with an added burst of wind.
The actual explosion missed but the stronger-than-usual shock wave took Signum in the side, throwing her aim off and embedded her blade in the ground.
Signum quickly yanked her sword free and immediately aimed for Louise's stomach. Louise's eyes widened. Acting on reflex, she brought her blade up and the two weapons locked. Since Signum was both larger and stronger the fact that Louise wasn't sent to the ground with the powerful blow was more than enough proof the Knight was holding back.
She had asked Louise to do her best but had not said she would, a thing she greatly appreciated.
Still, she wondered where Signum had found that blade. But she did not have the time to ponder it. Signum was already getting ready for another assault.
The fire haired woman leaped back and launched herself bringing her sword over her head before thrusting it down. Louise ducked to the side as fast as she could. The assault didn't stop there. Signum forced the petite woman to use the other blade, blocking a swing from the right which sent her sliding.
"Your reflexes are good master but don't forget I have more strength." Louise knew that Signum was giving her advice but she just couldn't see it. It was obvious that she was stronger. She really did not want to take one of those- "Ugh." Once more Louise was forced to block an incoming swipe to her elbow thus forcing her to kneel.
Signum was upping the strength of her hits Louise realized. If she kept adding more force to the blows, soon enough, Louise wouldn't be able to parry anymore.
Nevertheless, Louise still tried to land a hit on the knight using her fixed weapons, her height, and her speed but Signum's strength was too much for her to overcome. Louise was sent back flying whereas the knight took hits and seemed to shrug it off.
"Master, this is also magic training." Shamal's bell-like voice resounded throughout the field. Louise glanced at the blonde hair's smiling face. Seeing a flash of light, she realized her mistake - taking her eyes off her opponent was something fighters were never supposed to do.
Louise reminded of the fact she was a mage first and foremost, as Signum was coming toward her, cast her favorite spell. "Teleport."
Louise had already seen she was faster than her knight. If she could keep her at a sufficient distance, she may have more of a chance to survive their little bout.
"Gale! Gale! Gale!" Louise yelled. She chained the failed wind spell and while they were supposed to hinder Signum's progression, the knight evaded them quite handily.
Louise didn't let that stop her. She took advantage of Signum's slightly diverted attention and started a longer, more powerful spell. She knew it would be risky but the only aspect where she could prevail in magic was in its strength.
"Fireball." Louise said. When Signum had finally caught up to her, Louise unleash her strongest miscast. The explosion resounded in her ears and she felt an oppressive heat hitting her face. This time she was sure she'd hit her target. Louise made sure she didn't lose sight of her opponent this time.
The problem was that her miscast could not do much but create a concussive force. That was why she needed to be at point-blank. At this distance, the shock had been enough to break Signum's blade and disorient her long enough for Louise to prepare the Shooter Shamal had taught her.
"Shoot." Louise said without hesitation. Louise directed the perfectly stable white orb of magic to Signum's head attempting to knock her.
"[PANZERSCHILD]" Louise heard Signum shout her first spell of the match which was followed by a succession of detonations.
The presence of the shield meant that her strategy had failed. Not one to allow one failure to stop her Louise still chained up on the next spell. "Shoot." This time, she willingly directed the two dozen magical spheres to descend from the sky in direction of the knight.
"That's the spirit, Master." Shamal yelled. Signum in all her unrelenting glory was already coming at her this time with fire coiling around what remained of the blade. "[Siden Issen]"
"Wah..." Louise barely managed to evade the first blow, jumping to the right and prepared to cast a new spell. Signum, anticipating her next move, was ready and rushed the pinkette with an underhanded swing. Louise was sent flying all the way to the river when she turned to block the strike. The metal on her upper body vibrated at the jarring impact. Her ringing ears just barely registered her knight's incantation for another spell. "[Karyuu Iseen]"
"That hurt." Louise complained to herself. Knowing the fight wouldn't end there; she quickly dragged herself from the water and looked at the other side of the clearing while chanting a quick teleport. As she materialized, she heard an explosion coming from where she had been.
Shaking her head clear, she saw a pink flash already coming in her direction. "Shoot!" Louise cried out, summoning a dozen of the spheres where the flash had been. Scanning the clearing, she searched to see if her opponent changed her location and, like an experienced soldier, she had.
Only the handle remained of Signum's sword. In the place of the blade was a thin, three-centimeter wide purple flame but it was enough to send Louise stumble back on her ass and make the blades on her wrists retract.
Wincing at the pain, she ignored it in favor of gaining as much distance between her and her opponent. Making use of her shield-like glove, she intercepted what could have been the final blow with her left hand. Seeing an opportunity, Louise immediately unfolded the red blade on her right wrist and swung it, melding it with another trick her mother had made her learn. "Wind Blade."
Usually, the Wind blade was just that, a blade made a pressurized air but in her case, it was something else entirely. Each of her spells exploded the second it was cast with more or less the equivalent amount power of the original spell. In this case, however, the energy of the wind had already been gathered before the spell failed, directing a focused, high-powered explosion at the tip of her foci, her blade.
Just managing to pass under Signum's guard, the blast sent the knight flying on the river's shore. Louise heard the sound of woman connecting to the ground. Internally, she celebrated. She had finally succeeded in getting a real blow on her.
Signum, another stubborn individual, was up on her feet in a flash and Louise could see different scenarios running through her mind.
Uneasy at what the older woman had planned for her, Louise took stock of herself. She could feel her magic was alright but she was starting to feel all the small cuts Signum had managed to give her when she was eluding her slashes.
Unlike her Knight, she didn't have any barriers around her, only the jacket. That was great and all but it wasn't enough against something that could cut a rock as if it was butter.
"I can help you with that you know." NachtWal told her and like the rest of this state she found it far too near. She had not noticed it yesterday as NachtWal had only talked at loud but, now that she paid attention, NachtWal's words felt like she was thinking them herself. "That's because they are but that is a completely different issue."
"NachtWal…I've completely forgot about you."
"Yes. You did so completely after you summoned your barrier jacket." 'She' said almost resigned.
Louise felt kind of bad. No matter how creepy NachtWal was, she was pretty sure that she still had feelings. "Sorry…"
"I'll get used to it…"
Louise chuckled nervously and decided to turn her attention at a more pressing issue. "Signum, can we take a break for now? NachtWal is explaining something to me." Louise called out, her right arm-blade still drawn incase her knight didn't hear or chose not allow her her break.
"... I'll let you this time; you already did well by managing to land blows strong enough to break off my swords' entire blade. Keep this in mind, although I'll allow you to take a breather, in a real fight, you'll have to listen to NachtWal while fighting back. Understood?" Signum replied, purple fire disappearing.
"Yes, yes." Louise said dismissively. She glanced at Signum with a smile playing on her lips. Signum chuckled slightly. "I know that but then again that's what training is for, right?" Signum nodded in acceptance. "Beside, I'm not used to the whole telepathy thing enough to fight with it. For now, I would just hurt myself trying." She continued, retracting the blade into its' rightful place.
"Well, you can do it just fine under normal circumstances but it's true that we don't want you hurt more than necessary." If it hadn't been said with real concern, Louise might have thought that she wanted her hurt. "I'll talk with Shamal about training you to use it while you sort out what 'she' wants but don't take too long. If you do, your body will loosen up and then you'll lose your rhythm."
"Ok." Louise cut the link. "So what were we talking about?"
"How I could help you with your defense problem, Master." 'She' answered as the fact came back to Louise's mind. She also remembered that 'she' had just implied they had the same thought.
"And, what did you meant...? Ah yes. So what can...? Ok. This is really starting to creep me out." The moment she thought to ask a question, the answer came from that part of her that was NachtWal. Still, going beyond the freak factor, what she'd learned almost made up for it. "You're sure your right?" She still had to ask.
"We can't read the Void's part of the Book yet and we are not one enough for the other spells to enter your mind without learning and practice manually. A human mind alone doesn't have the powerful enough mental capacity for that but we can speed up that process." That was the idea she ... 'she'… they… whatever had.
Using the unique link to NachtWal to 'read' her the spells she needed in the book was starting to look like the best and simplest choice.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. 'She' had already proven that, with her help, Louise could juggle the magic Shamal had labeled as volatile.
"I wonder if it's a Void's thing." Louise remarked aloud.
"What are you talking about, Master? Is there a problem or can we go at it again?" Signum asked another fireproof blade already in hand. The first had withstood the knight's casting, but it had not taken Louise miscast at all.
"It's alright, I think. But where did those blades come from?" Louise asked, tilting her head to one side. Of course she knew of blades enchanted to handle more heat than they'd normaly - most soldiers were equipped with one - but not many were used as foci.
"Those? I got them from your friend when I got our meal." Signum said as she pointed to the pack where she had withdrawn the lame in her hand. "I asked her if she had training blades that wouldn't melt under a lot of heat and she gave me these."
Louise looked at the pack. There must have enough in it to arm her whole class and then some. "..."
Signum probably saw she was still perplexed because she followed with, "At first I thought that one would suffice but she insisted I took the pack. Now I know why." The knight said pointing at the remains of the first sword.
"So they're training blades? You really meant it when you said you can cast without anything…" Louise was curious about that. Earlier Shamal had said her wand was just a lump of wood. Did anything could be a focus or were her familiars' ability due to the fact they weren't humans?
"Yes, But you already witnessed Shamal do the same right?" Now that she thought about it, she was almost sure she hadn't. Although she couldn't be sure for the flight because she was looking elsewhere, she hadn't seen her use anything to call up the barriers
"Is anyone able to that? Use magic without any foci? Shamal said that my wand was just a lump of wood but she did say it was a focus." Louise was curious. She knew her mother was able to cast without her wand but she always believed it was due to her being that she was.
"Well... Not everyone. Anyone with enough latent power and dedication can but it comes with time and affinity. For example, I can only use around 10 spells without one and I can't use them at full power if I'm not in my war form." Signum explained to her charge. "But enough with that for now, if you are ready, let's see what you come up with."
"Yah, yah." Louise said while listening to background lecture from her 'inner voice'.
"And this time," Signum said with a stern voice, "I won't hold back as much." Signum unsheathed her sword, instantly entrapped in purple fire. She pointed the blade in Louise's direction. "[Yaketsuku yō..." The knight called out. Louise was already ready to dodge as she couldn't see any trace of Signum spell.
Believing it was yet another boost to her flames, Louise chose to continue her move to move back, gathering power for her own offense.
Suddenly the knight seemed to blindly throw her blade, pointing to the ground, "...Hari]" Louise hadn't noticed the small glowing triangle which had appeared in front of the knight until one of them appeared right in front of her.
"[Star Shield]" Louise said frantically. It was th only barrier spell NachtWal had time to read her up on during their little break . She was still iffy with it, what with it being her first try and all, but those doubts were expelled in an instant. As the kicked up dirt began to settle, the clearing air revealed that the barrier managed to hold off most of the assault. There were not one but dozens of flaming swords coming from the ground and embedded into the barrier, stopping them mere centimeters from her face.
Louise looked wide-eyed at the burning tips before turning to Signum's smirking face. She had a hell of a way to make a point.
...
'Star Shield? Why did it have to be that one?' Signum thought as she continued to bea- uh, test her masters' capacity. The first bout had been interesting but Signum had quickly seen that while Louise was great with offence, she really needed to bolter her defense. It surprised her that Shamal had not made the teenager learn that first.
The healer would later answer that she had assumed the master had at least a decent one given the constant threats to her life.
Wanting to test her defensive capabilities was one of the reasons she even started with that particular spell.
The star shield was a rare one and for good reason. Although, she mused, it was perfect as long as she fought this world's magic but she, as a warrior, had to show her it wouldn't always work when encountering other types of magic.
As she saw Louise was starting to come back to her senses, Signum leaped in to action. Leaving the magically charged blade in the ground, she grabbed a naked sword from the ground nearby and leapt above her opponent, drew the sword behind her head and casted another spell. "[Karyuu Issen]"
The blade, one of lesser quality, couldn't maintain a significant amount of magic and as such the needles quickly ran out, giving Louise enough time to turn around and drop to the ground.
Signum tried to follow through with a kick but retreated, seeing the star-shaped magical diagram forming in front of Louise's own weapon soon followed by another shout. "[Destiny shooters]"
The white orbs were no less numerous than the first time. She quickly evaded them by leaping to the side then, once the orbs could no longer hit her, she jumped at Louise, who was coming at her with a small smile on her lips.
As in the first bout, they found themselves fighting one blade against another with an added twist of some throwing of either fire or balls of concentrated energy when they separated.
Whoever had trained Louise was a good teacher as she moved gracefully even when she was clearly outmatched. Nevertheless, she projected her moves, wasted her energy on unnecessary movements and left herself open to attack. Contrary to Louise, Signum's whole being was created to fight with a sword. The only reason her Master was still standing was because Signum was still holding back, even if not that much. Well, that and her master wasn't pulling any punches when it came to magic. Her aim was awful but each time she did land a hit, Signum could feel it even through both Panzerchild and Panzergeist. Even so Louise did not show the faintest sign of magical deprivation.
If what NachtWal had said was true, her master's linker core could hold a full month at this rhythm without the slightest problem.
That was not the case for her body. Even if she was trained, Louise remained a noble and signs of physical strain were beginning to show. She was getting slower and only used her right arm to fight, the other having been struck hard earlier in their fight.
Seeing that, Signum didn't dodge when Louise came at her. Instead, she went on the offensive and, Louise being as light as she was, the hit was sufficient enough for her to fly three meters back.
"It's the end, master..." Signum said as she walked toward her fallen master.
"No..." Louise answered struggling to her feet. At first Signum thought it was just Louise's stubborn pride but suddenly, she found herself encircled by countless white, star shaped sigils.
Instinctively, she knew even if they managed to hit her they wouldn't cause too much damage but she still wanted to minimize the impact by flying up. Big red wing grew out of her back without warning. "What the..." Half a second after taking flight, each sigils released there shooters and they soared after her so fast she didn't have enough time to raise her shields.
She managed to dodge most of them but a dozen or so made contact knocking her down next her master.
"... Now... it's the end." Signum heard her Louise saying weakly. As Signum turned her head to the side, she saw that her protégé was too exhausted to even lift her head. "So ... How was I?"
Right. Signum had almost forgotten she was supposed to appraise her masters' skills.
She took some second to find her words. Sitting up, she said plainly, "You're no warrior master."
"I know, right" The girl answered downcast.
"You shouldn't be this exhausted; not even with the blows I gave you..."
Louise remained silent, staring at the sky.
"And you will need practice your aim." At that her Master winced. She had most likely noticed it herself.
"But this was your first time against a true knight like me. Under the circumstances, you did well. I am truly honored to be your knight and your instructor." Signum finished, giving out a hand for her master to get up.
"It's a pleasure. I know you'll serve me right." Louise said taking the hand that was given out for her. Shamal was already down and immediately started healing her.
"We should go back now. I can already see the Moons." The healer said while she looked over Louise's leg.
"Ugh... I'm starting to fall asleep I'm so tired." Louise complained, leaning heavily on Signum. Glancing at the taller pinkette, she said, "You did not forget your promise right?"
"I did say I would fly you back." Signum answered as she delicately took her master in her arms.
Shamal sighed "... I guess it'll be easier to treat you back in the room. I will see you there."
"You're not coming with us?" Signum was surprised. They should always move together when they could.
"I'll be right behind you. I just have to clean up our mess." Shamal replied, pointing toward the dishes and the pack of sword.
"Ok." Signum said. "I'll be waiting for you."
Shamal gave her a smile. "I know you will."
Giving the blond one last look, Signum took flight, wings hooting out of her back and flapped them hard, easily lifting the pair from the ground. She too had to train; she probably could have dodged earlier if she had known how to use her wings. And she was almost sure Shamal had also noticed her claws.
...
Later in the night, when the Moons were alone in the sky, a lone blue dragon landed in the court, letting its rider down.
The rider, a diminutive girl with blue hair, had a rather long day. Her target had started to move early in the morning and, once she'd hit the forest, she had lost their trace.
She had caught a glance of pink haired woman around noon but had been unable to follow her.
And then, as she was going out to feed her dragon, she had seen her yet again along with her target. The woman was flying… with wings. Red wings, the same color as her target's "familiar".
This one was nowhere to be seen just as the first one because, yes, she had concluded that the hydra she had seen yesterday and the Falcon weren't the same. She would have had Sylphid follow her around but the princess's guard was too paranoid to allow the dragon trailing behind their beloved princess for so long and she didn't want to risk blowing her cover.
Oh she certainly knew she was a knight but that too was a cover when you thought about it.
Still she didn't know what to do. On one hand she had to report to her superior, and had already done so in a way, but on the other hand... there was something going in the higher sphere and she could just maybe use it to her advantage. After all there was no way "SHE" wouldn't get interested in magical power that the blue knight couldn't recognize. It was her main reason for working with her Superior after all.
But whatever happened, time was of the essence if she wanted to do something for the fumes of war was at the horizon, and her target would get involved in it.
Thank you for reading. Please review.
The Chapter was Beta By Alphawolf45.
Fragment of Ring