VI. The Left Hand of God
Rip Van Winkle had calmed down from the exhilaration of battle the duel with Guiche de Gramont had provided her. The experience had been quite enjoyable, as it gave her the chance to actually test out the new improvements to her abilities that Louise's familiar runes had given her. She had discovered not only enhanced senses, but an improvement in her overall vampiric powers as well.
Unfortunately, it seemed that going all out had not been such a great idea. This was evidenced in the fact that she, Louise, and her playmate for the afternoon, Guiche, had all been summoned to the Headmaster's office some minutes after the impromptu duel had taken place. Rip wondered if perhaps she should have held back even a little bit on her abilities; if the authorities discovered her secret, then she would most likely be killed. Being a vampire, regardless of whether it was by artificial means or not, meant that most humans regarded you as a monster, and with good reason. She had already killed once since she had arrived on this world, so their fear was not without reason. Still, Rip did not wish to die. With her newfound abilities she may be able to take on one or two of the more powerful mages in the school, but she didn't know the full capabilities of these wizards. If they attacked her in numbers, she knew there was no way she could escape.
As the three waited in the Headmaster's office, Louise was surprised to note that her familiar was unusually morose. True, she herself was a bit nervous since she had never been called to see the old mage before, but Rip looked downright terrified. The dark haired woman was pale (well, paler than usual) and she kept fidgeting in her chair. She looked so much different than she had in the vestry field when she was dueling Guiche; there she was brimming with so much confidence that it bordered on arrogance.
Frankly, Guiche himself didn't look too good either. His normally flamboyant nature was nowhere to be found; in fact, he looked downright depressed. His head hung low, his face covered by the strands of his blond hair, and there was a palpable air of sullenness to him. Louise really didn't know why the blond fop was so downcast; sure, he lost a fight, but it wasn't like he had died or was even injured. And everyone saw how powerful Rip was. Nobody was going to hold it against Guiche that he lost.
That was another thing that bothered her. Rip's abilities were incredibly impressive; she showed feats that no commoner could possibly be capable of. Did that mean that her familiar was actually a secret noble? With the way she moved, the strength she showed, and the fact that she took out seven golems with one bullet... well, that could only mean that Rip was actually a wind mage. What else could she be? Certainly not the common mercenary she was pretending to be.
Louise's musings were interrupted when the door to the office slammed open. She noticed Rip looking even more nervous as the Headmaster strolled in, and Guiche's mood didn't change at all.
"Well, you three certainly caused quite the ruckus this morning, didn't you?" said the old mage as he walked up to the large oak desk at the back of his office. He took a seat behind it, and moaned in discomfort as his ancient body sank into the chair. As he was getting comfortable, Ms. Longueville, his green-haired secretary, came into the office and sat at a nearby desk.
"So?" Osmond spoke up after a moment of silence, one hand stroking his long beard. "What have you to say for yourselves?"
None of them said a word. Guiche was still morosely staring at his feet, Rip was nervously avoiding the old man's gaze, and, as for Louise herself, well... she had no idea what to say. She really wasn't quite sure how the hell she'd gotten into this predicament in the first place.
"I was at fault," Guiche spoke up. "I take full responsibility."
Both Rip and Louise looked at the boy in shock.
Old Osmond raised an eyebrow as he turned his gaze towards the sulking blond. "Is that right?"
"Yes," Guiche continued, his voice sounding barren and so unlike his usual self. "I goaded Miss Valliere's familiar into a fight. It was I who instigated the incident, so it should be me who gets punished for it."
"Hmmm." Osmond looked over towards Louise and Rip. "Is this true?"
Louise opened her mouth to say she was partly at fault, too, when her familiar suddenly spoke up. "Ja! It vas him! It vas all him!"
Louise sputtered and Guiche seemed to sink even further into himself.
"I... see." The Headmaster turned his eyes back to the blond boy. "Very well, Guiche. I shall take your honesty into consideration while I decide on a proper punishment. You may leave."
The melancholy student nodded and slowly shuffled off. Once the door closed, Osmond turned his attention to Rip.
"Now then, Miss van Winkle was it?"he asked.
Rip flinched, then nodded. "Yes, sir."
"I must say, that was a very interesting show you put on," the old man told her.
The dark haired woman's face flushed and she looked away in embarrassment. "Y-you saw zhat?"
"I did." He then snorted. "I'm pretty sure the entire Academy did." Osmond then sighed and leaned back into his chair causing a loud, uncomfortable creak to echo around his large office. "You were most impressive, and those magic bullets of yours were definitely something I have not seen before."
Rip began to curse herself for her stupidity. Because of her carelessness, the most powerful wizard in the Academy had seen her abilities in action. If he suspects that she's anything but human, then she's doomed! She had to think of something and fast!
"Sorry, sir? Did you say magic bullets?" she asked.
"Yes. You only fired one shot, yet you managed to hit Mr. Gramont's golems numerous times." Osmond fluffed his beard. "I would definitely call that magic."
Rip broke out into what she hoped sounded like an embarrassed laugh. "Oh, zhat is ridiculous! I have no magic bullets. In fact, I have no magic at all."
Louise frowned in confusion. "Then how...?"
She was interrupted when Osmond spoke as well. "Are you saying that you are not a Wind mage?" At the familiar's shake of the head, he continued. "Then how did you accomplish such feats, if not without magic?"
"Vell, the bullet thing is easy to explain," Rip stated. "I merely made my shots ricochet."
"Ricochet?" Osmond asked.
"Ja, ricochet." The dark haired woman grinned and gave a shrug. "I am a top marksman, ze best in Millennium. It is easy for me to fire off a musket ball and have it bounce off one solid object und hit another. Quite easy to make it happen several times. To ze untrained eye, it may seem that my bullet is flying about, villy-nilly, but I assure you it is all very down to earth und mundane."
"Hmn," the old man stroked his beard. "What about your speed and strength. You dodged that golem's blows without even trying. Are you about to tell me that that is the work of a mere commoner as well?"
"Oh no," Rip replied. "Zat part is magic."
Louise sputtered. "W-what? But you said you weren't a mage!"
Her familiar smiled and turned towards her. "I may not be a mage, little master, but you are." She lifted her left hand and took off the glove to show both the Headmaster and Louise her runes. She then reached down to floor where her musket was laying and picked it up. To both Osmond and Louise's amazement, the runes began to glow. Ms. Longueville stopped whatever work she was doing at her desk to stare at the glowing runes as well.
"My word," the old man leaned across his desk to get a closer look at the intricate glowing patters. "Are you saying that your familiar runes were responsible for your impressive physical feats?"
Rip nodded. Inside, she smiled. Gotcha. The best lies were always the ones based on a modicum of truth. And the best part about this lie was that it was mostly true. She had gotten increased strength, speed, and senses from the runes. She just left out the part about her strength, speed, and senses being super human to begin with.
"Yes, sir. Every time I hold my musket, ze runes glow. Zhen I feel stronger, faster, my marksmanship is twenty times better. I feel superb." Rip placed her weapon back at her feet, and the runes stopped glowing.
Osmond had gotten a pensive look on his face. He leaned back once more in his chair, beginning to stroke his beard once more. His wrinkled face became scrunched up in deep thought. Finally, after two minutes of terse silence, the old man opened one of his desk's drawers and removed a dagger. The Headmster then placed the weapon atop the desk and slid it towards Rip.
"I have a theory," the old man stated. "If you would be so kind, could you please pick up the knife?"
The dark haired woman looked confused. "Sir?"
"Humor me, please."
Rip shrugged, then reached over and picked up the dagger. As soon as it was in her grip, the runes on her left hand flared to life.
"Vhat?" the familiar gasped, almost dropping the dagger in surprise. She thought only her beloved jezail could trigger the runes. How could this knife have done the same? Rip looked back at the blade in her hands and instinctively knew that she could wield it like a master. She knew how to grip it, how to strike and stab with it, how to best wear it for quick, easy drawing, and even how to toss it at a target. She began to twirl the knife in her hand, her fingers easily maneuvering it about like she had done it all her life. "Zhis... this is amazing!"
"As I thought..." Osmond mumbled to himself.
"Sir Osmond, what does it mean?" Louise asked, very much confused as to what exactly was going on. How could a simple set of familiar runes give super powers to a commoner?
"Um... I'll get back to you on that." The old man nervously twiddled with his beard. "Anyway, you two have had quite a long day, and it isn't even over yet! You should get some rest. I'll call you if I figure anything out. Bye!" He made a shoo-ing motion with his hand.
"Uh... right." Louise sighed and stood up. She knew when she was being gotten rid of.
Rip placed the dagger carefully back onto the desk, then slipped her glove back on. "It vas very nice to meet you, Herr Osmond." She bowed. "I vish you a good day." The familiar quickly grabbed her things and followed the Valliere girl out the door.
Old Osmond sat at his desk, stroking his beard in deep thought. When he began muttering to himself, Ms. Longueville stood up, feeling slightly worried.
"Sir Osmond?" the green haired woman asked. "Are you alright?" Her eyes then narrowed as she peered at the old man through her glasses. "Do you know why that girl's familiar runes are acting so strangely?"
"Hmm?" Osmond looked up at his secretary, looking very much distracted. "Oh. Uh, yes. Well, no. Well...maybe. Hmm. Could you be a dear and go summon Professor Colbert for me? I may need his expertise on this."
"Yes, sir." Longueville quickly left, leaving the old man to his thoughts.
0
"What was that all about?" Louise asked once they were well away from Osmond's office.
Rip just shrugged. "I am in ze dark as vell."
The two remained quiet until they reached the pink haired girl's dorm room. Upon entering, she quickly shut the door and turned on her familiar. "Okay, Rip. I know you're lying about something, so spill it!"
The vampire flinched at the accusation. "L-Louise! How could you say such a thing, I am hurt!"
Her master merely rolled her eyes. "Come on! I saw what you did to Guiche's golems. There was no way that was just you ricocheting bullets!"
"You're right, it vasn't just that. Remember my runes?" She held her left hand up.
"That doesn't make any sense either!" Louise complained, crossing her arms. She began to pace, feeling very irritated with the explanations so far. "How could simple familiar runes give you such strange abilities? They're merely magic sigils that bind familiars to their master's service. There's no reason for them to be acting in such a manner."
Rip sat down at the windowsill and turned her attention to the view outside. "Don't ask me. You are the vone who put these damn sings on me. If you don't know zen how could I?"
"Aargh! This is so annoying!" Louise shouted. She began pulling at her hair in frustration. "I hate not knowing! There has to be an explanation for this!" The young girl stopped pacing and headed for the door.
"Vere are you going?" Rip asked.
"The library," Louise answered. "There must be answers somewhere. I just need to find them!"
0
The entire campus was abuzz with gossip concerning the duel between Guiche and Louise's strange familiar. Both the student body as well as the castle's serving staff were eagerly talking about the events that had occurred in the vestry courtyard. The news had even started to spread through the faculty, with many of the professors speculating as to the nature of the Valliere girl's strange commoner.
"There is no way that young woman is a commoner," whispered on of the instructors to the other. "I mean, a commoner defeating a noble? Preposterous."
"Indeed," replied the other. "Only magic is capable of allowing such feats."
The commoners in the serving staff, though, were of a different opinion.
"She was amazing," a valet said to one of the maids during their break. "Speed and reflexes, plus her marksmanship with a firearm. She must be a highly skilled knight from one of the human kingdoms beyond the elven lands. That has to be the only explanation. She can't be a mage, she had no wand, plus she didn't cast any spells."
"Oh!" The maid gasped. "Maybe she's a practitioner of one of those esoteric eastern fighting styles. She probably channeled her inner spirit to power herself up!"
And, of course, the male teenage student body had their own opinions.
"Man, Zero's familiar is soooo hot!" stated one bookish looking boy to another. "That hair, those eyes, that accent! And you can tell she's got a great body under those garments!"
"Yeah," his friend wiped away some drool. "Why can't girls our age be as awesome?"
And so it went. At the Alviss Dining Hall, two people were having their own discussion about the events of the duel.
"Well, that was quite unexpected," Kirche von Zerbst said as she ate a late lunch. Next to her sat her friend, Tabitha, who as usual had her nose stuck in a book while she chomped down on a large sandwich. "It serves Guiche right to be so humiliated. I mean, challenging a commoner of all things, to a duel. Hah. Such is the earth mage's folly." A sour look suddenly fell upon her face. "I have to admit, I'm a bit surprised. It seems that Louise did summon a capable familiar. Who knew that bizarre woman would turn out to be a powerful wind mage? Though, it is quite shameless of Valliere to have bound a fellow noble to herself. Sometimes I wonder about that girl."
"No," Tabitha spoke up, her face still hidden behind her book.
Kirche raised an eyebrow. "No? What do you mean no?"
The blue haired girl waited a moment, chewing on her sandwich and swallowing before she answered. "Not a wind mage."
The Germanian frowned at her friend. Come to think of it, during the fight, Tabitha had been remarkably focused on the events; she had even put her book down to watch! "That can't be. What else could this van Winkle girl be if not a wind mage? She's definitely not a fire mage, I can tell you that. And no earth mage could move that fast."
"Not mage," Tabitha continued. She ate a few more bites of her sandwich before continuing. "No focus. No casting."
Huh. Now Kirche was truly puzzled. Tabitha was one of the most observant people she knew, and if the girl said that Louise's familiar wasn't a mage, then she was probably right. "Well, what is she then?"
The blue haired girl paused for a moment. Her eyes peeked over the edge of the book she was reading, and they met Kirche's. The redhead could see both determination and worry within them.
"Dangerous."
0
"Gandalfr, you say?" Professor Colbert's eyes lit up upon hearing what the Headmaster had to say. He had been summoned from his chambers by Ms. Longueville just a few minutes ago, and due to the fact that he had been asleep his state was rather haggard. He didn't have time to fix his appearance as the secretary was insistent that he come quickly, so his hair was a mess as were his robes. "Are you sure?"
The old man nodded solemnly. "Yes, I saw the runes myself. Although I'm not familiar with the exact nature of the sigil, they behaved as the Gandalfr runes of legend. Whenever Miss van Winkle took hold of a weapon, the runes glowed brightly. This, coupled with what she told me about their effects, combined with the fact that she is a human summons, makes it quite conclusive. The Founder's legendary familiar, the Gandalfr, the Left Hand of God, has been called forth once more." Osmond sighed, not quite sure what to make of his ominous news.
"Remarkable," Colbert muttered.
"Jean, you told me before that you had sketched down Miss van Winkle's runes and were looking into them," Osmond said. "What have you found?"
The balding instructor suddenly looked very much embarrassed. "Ah... well," he sighed. "Nothing, actually. I'm afraid I was so busy with tracking down Miss Siesta's killer that I completely forgot about checking up on it."
"I see," old Osmond nodded. "If you get the chance, could you please check on them? Though I am convinced that the Valliere familiar is the Left Hand of God, I would still feel more at ease with confirmation."
"Of course," Colbert nodded. He then suddenly had a remarkable thought. "Since Miss Valliere summoned the Gandalfr... does this mean that she is...?"
The Headmaster nodded. "A Void mage. Yes, I am most certain. Only one with the same abilities as our great Founder could have summoned his familiar."
"This... this is a-amazing!" Colbert stuttered. "The implications of this are mind boggling! We must tell the palace at once!"
"Jean, I'm afraid that that is the last thing we could possibly wish to do," the old wizard stated.
"What? But why?" The professor seemed utterly confused. "This news is monumental! A void mage has been born among us! This news could change the world!"
"That is exactly why we must take care, Jean," Osmond said. "This news could rock the entire continent. Shake the very foundations of our faith. Can you imagine what Romalia would do if Tristain began to proclaim that a Void user had been born into one of its most powerful noble families?" The old man snorted. "They would declare us all heretics and send in the Inquisition. As for the country itself! Ha! Can you imagine what those fools in the Court would do if they got their hands on a void mage? It would be utter chaos! They would be fighting against each other to claim her as a weapon. No, for the best interest of the nation as well as Ms. Valliere herself, we must keep this news secret."
Colbert nodded, seeing the old wizard's wisdom. "What of Miss Valliere? Should we tell her? She has the right to know."
Old Osmond rubbed his beard. "I'm not sure if now is the right time. The young Miss Valliere is going through a lot at the moment. I doubt that telling her that she is a legend would truly help."
The professor sighed, but nodded. Poor Louise. So eager to prove herself, yet unable to do so. Well, the least he could do was prod her in the right direction. Now that he knew the reason for her magic being so eccentric, maybe he could help her become the mage she had always wanted to be.
"One more thing, before you go, Jean." The Headmaster asked.
"Yes?"
Osmond looked up at his colleague with a serious expression on his bearded face. "I just have one final question to ask."
Wow, the old man's face looked really grim. "What is it, sir?"
The Headmaster suddenly clasped his hands under his chin and looked up at the professor with watery eyes. "Tell me! Why does that van Winkle girl wear such unflattering clothes?!"
"G-gerk," Colbert flinched. Dammit, he hated when the old man behaved like this!
"She is so cute and delicate, yet she wears such masculine garb," the old man complained. "I demand that she wear something more feminine! Something with ruffles, and pink! And maybe with a short hem and plunging neckline! Heh heh heh... Did you see her kick that golem? Amazing! A girl who can kick like that will have a shapely pair of legs, I can tell you! She should show them off more! Why, in my day..."
As Osmond began to rant on and on about creepier and more perverted things, Colbert merely stood there wondering (not for the first time) how such a skeezy old coot could have been assigned to be the headmaster of such a prestigious school.
Unnoticed by the two, there was a third pair of ears listening by the door. Unlike Colbert, she soon left once the headmaster began his diatribe.
"Void mage... Gandalfr," she muttered to herself as she walked through the halls. "This is valuable news... expensive even." Ms. Longueville smiled. "I believe it is my sacred duty as both a loyal citizen of Tristain as well as a devout follower of Brimir to share this news with the proper people."
The secretary laughed silently to herself as she headed towards her room.