It had been a week since the engagement fight between Raiser and Issei and a few things had changed in the Tsunagi household, but mainly was the number of people living there. The house had gained an extra two floors above ground as well as taking up the empty house next door and Asuna and Yukihana had moved in to rooms that were on the third floor. There was also a large sauna on one of the underground floors although that was more for the females of the house rather then Merlin and his father. The other was a large hall area with could be used mostly for training and sparring.
The devil mage was currently lying in his larger room, still trying to adjust to the extra space he had albeit with Reina hugging onto his right side but he was mostly use to the blonde she-devil's presence for the most part, although he wished she'd at least wear something like Sona did when she stopped over.
'I wish I didn't have this itchy nose' Merlin thought to himself annoyed as he twitched his nose in an effort to relieve it as he pondered over why Yukihana was sleeping on his left side, her arms secure around his. The Rook was dressed in a loosely tied kimono as she pressed her body into his side.
'Why's Yukihana here as well…although she seems quite comfortable holding onto me' He thought as he silently sighed attempting to get some more sleep, missing the sly smile on the Rook's lips as she closed a half open eye.
…
"I can't believe the nerve of some of Raiser's servants…wanting Raiser to trade Merlin from me" Reina spoke as the group sat around the table, Merlin shuddering slightly before he spoke
"…I don't think I'd be able to survive being around them" Reina smiled at Merlin's comment; internally she was glad he was worried to be around Raiser's servants. Asuna and Yukihana glad that he wasn't too keen on Raiser's servants as well as the former asked him with a slight blush
"Merlin-san, do you want some more soup?" Merlin looked over to her, having just finished his soup as he answered
"No, thank you…Asuna-san, I think I've eaten enough for this morning" She seemed slightly sad at his comment, managing to hide it as Yukihana nibbled on some of her own food seductively as he looked at him. Merlin blushing slightly as he turned his gaze to the table.
"Oh yeah…Tonight we're going to get you a familiar" Reina spoke up, drawing Yukio's attention as she added
"Sona and I have decided to go together so that Saji can get his own one as well as you and Saeko"
"Oh…that'll be good for you, Merlin-kun…someone to help you in case of trouble" His mother spoke with a smile, Merlin reading between the lines as her meaning that he wouldn't have to fight any mages that came after him alone like he had done previously.
…
The glow of the magical circle faded to show both groups lying on the floor in the familiar forest, each of them picking themselves up before looking around at where they were till Saeko spoke up "Where's Merlin-kun?"
Reina looked around along with Sona to find that the black haired mage was nowhere in sight as Sona spoke "So that's why something interfered with the transport…looks like they were after Merlin-kun"
"Let's try and find him once Satooji shows up" Reina spoke, looking around anxiously as they waited for there guide. The girl's from Reina's peerage started to spread out in the hopes of finding him nearby only to be disappointed at no sign of him at all.
…
Merlin groaned as he pulled himself up into a seated position, his one hand going to rub his head as an old and wise voice spoke up "I am sorry to have dragged you from your friends…but I wished to avoid the dilly dally that searching would have caused…I am Archimedes"
Merlin looked to see a pair of owls was sat on one of the trees. The brown feathered owl looked at him friendly, making him think that was Archimedes, while the pink feathered owl seemed to be annoyed at him over something, as its orange eyes appraised him before a young female voice spoke up
"Do I have to go with him? He doesn't look like the descendant of a great warlock"
"Well sorry for not dressing up…I didn't think I'd have to impress whatever I chose to be my familiar" Merlin retorted as he stood up, brushing down his school uniform with his hands as the brown owl spoke
"Of course he is…and yes unless you want me to continue talking your ears off, Saya-chan…It's a great honour to help the descendant of the great wizard, Merlin"
"Fine…" Saya spoke with a sigh, flying over to land onto Merlin's shoulder as she looked at him
"Don't try anything perverted with me in my human form otherwise I'll peck your eyes out"
"Wouldn't think of it" Merlin replied, rolling his eyes as he missed Saya's eyes turn sad for a moment which faded as Archimedes spoke up
"Take good care of him Saya-chan…And if you follow that path you should find your friends" Archimedes pointed a wing behind Merlin, who turned to look at the dirt path for a moment.
"Of course…So long you old coot" Saya spoke up before Merlin added
"It was nice to meet you Archimedes-san…I'll look after Saya-san as well" With that Merlin started to walk on the path, Saya perched on his shoulder as she looked over at his face.
"So…" Saya started trying to figure a way to break the silence as Merlin continued walking for a few minutes before he decided to ask
"…What can you do Saya-san…?"
"Hmph…I'm capable of magic as well as sensing auras and like all familiars can I can take human appearance" Saya explained as Merlin looked surprised at her as he spoke
"Wow…that's impressive…"
"…Would you like to see…my human form?" Saya asked, trying to hide her embarrassment as she turned her head away from him, Merlin trying to work out where the others were as he continued down the path as he replied
"Erm…alright then" Saya smiled as she flew off his shoulder, landing before him before glowing a bright pink as her animal form shifted and grew to that of a well endowed girl about his age with pink hair what was held in twin tails, held by white ribbon, that reached down to her waist. Yellow eyes looked at him from behind a pair of slim oval glasses, the barest hint of worry noticeable in them as she wore a white and green school uniform with a green skirt which stopped halfway down her thigh, white socks stopping just shy of her knees and pink and white trainers on her feet.
"…You look great" Merlin spoke, Saya blushing for a moment before her eyes widened as both heard a collective scream from girls as Merlin spoke
"Looks like they're in trouble" Summoning his staff to his hand, Saya nodded to him as they started to run towards the noise.
After a few minutes of running the familiar and mage found Saji red faced along with another guy as they watched the girls from both clubs struggle to fight off the tentacles and slime that was over them. Merlin's cheeks darkening as Saya spoke up
"These disgusting things…I'll soon take care of them" Lifting her hands above her head she was about to use fire magic to burn them off the girls before Merlin grabbed her arm as he spoke
"You could take out the whole forest if it starts a wild fire…"
Saya stepping forward, breaking out of Merlin's grip as she spoke annoyed at being underestimated "I have more control then you think"
She took a deep breathe as she pointed her right hand out to them as he focused. A small magic circle forming before her hand which soon unleashed, several small bolts of flames being launched out as Merlin watched impressed as the bolts torched the smile and tentacles without even injuring the girls, Saya quick to use her magic to fix there clothes.
"Who's this…?" Reina asked, looking over Saya for a few moments, the pink haired familiar glaring at the ogling that Saji was giving her, causing him to jump as she spoke annoyed
"Only Merlin-sama can do that…" Merlin looked confused as he noticed the others' gazes turn onto him as he looked at Saya, who blushed as she realised what she'd just said as Merlin explained about Archimedes and what had happened before.
"So you have an owl familiar…interesting" Sona spoke as she looked over Saya with a critical eye
"Kinda fitting if you think about Merlin-kun's roots" Reina added as Saya kept herself near Merlin.
The rest of the search for familiars turned out to be unsuccessful, Saya saying that those around were either unsuitable or too weak given what she could pick up from the auras. Saji agreed with her once he caught a glimpse at the Undine fighting in the lake.
…
A red headed girl looked around the town trying to pick up on a lead for what she was trying to find. She wore a sleeveless white blouse, a short blue skirt which stopped just above her knees while she wore black boots which reached just short of her knees. Her red hair reached down to her waist at the back while the two bangs which framed her face came down to just reach her chest.
She sighed annoyed at not finding anything yet as she looked around at the streets, having trouble understanding the signs before turning to spot Merlin, Saji, Reina, Asuna and Yukihana walking to school. Her eyes widening as she sensed the magic from Merlin.
…
Merlin, Yura, Yukihana and Saji was chatting to a few other students from there year about there homework as they left the school grounds, the hair on the back of the mage's neck standing up as he looked behind him to see a trio of normal looking black cats. Merlin's eyes narrowed slightly at the familiar feeling magic coming from them as he spoke up to the group.
"I'll catch up with you lot tomorrow…I best take these three back to there owner cause they've been worried sick" Saji felt something odd from looking at the cats as the others decided to head off as he spoke
"I'll help you…"
"As will I" Yukihana agreed, keeping a cautious eye on them as Yura waited with them
"They're not normal are they...?" Yura asked, slipping into a fighting stance as Merlin silently sighed before speaking
"I can handle these on my own you know" Once there was no one else around the trio of black cats started to grow till they were standing at eight feet tall, looking more humanoid then before as they stood on there hind legs. Sharp claws coming out from both of there large front paws as well as there teeth growing to the point they looked to be like a sabre-toothed tiger.
Merlin summoned his Chaos Cannon while Saji called his Absorption Line to his arm, Yukihana creating a pair of ice shaped kunai which she held in each hand as Saji spoke up "Yeah but this'll be quicker if we work together."
The lead giant cat jumped towards the quartet only to find several ice rounds and kunai stuck into its chest forcing it back as it landed on its back, Yura having charged forward to throw a punch into one of the other were-cats to force it back as Saji shot a line from his Sacred gear at the other which Yukihana froze it's hind legs to the ground.
…
The red haired girl was running as hard as she could as she dodged the bolts of magic flying towards her, a long sword in her gauntlet covered hand, a steel chest piece covering her torso which had a golden cross over her heart.
A spire of rock shot up before her, a magic circle forming over her free hand as she drew an identical blue hilted long sword from it, using both to cut through the obstacle as she found herself heading towards the school she'd passed that morning.
"Curses…she's going to meet up with the traitor" One of the mages shouted from behind, causing her to wonder who they meant as she turned a corner to see Merlin blasting lightning down onto the were-cat that he was facing, Yura dodging a swipe from her opponent before Saji launched a ball of demonic magic into its chest, the were-cat being launched back into a nearby wall. Yukihana threw another barrage of ice kunai into her own opponent, several sticking into its body causing it to stagger back in pain.
The swordswoman noticed Merlin's eyes lock onto her own before looking at the mages that pursued her, pointing his open palm at them as she decided to get out of the way by throwing a sword into the ground between them before using it as a stepping stone to get airborne. She looked down to see a blast of flames roar down the street before hitting three large magic shields.
'Wow…he must be strong to force all three to block it' She thought her eyes narrowing at seeing the were-cat behind him rise up to strike him. She quickly summoned a spear to her hand throwing it at the giant cat and piercing it through the chest, Merlin giving her a nod of thanks as he pointed his hand towards the were-cat Yukihana was dealing with as he called
"Move, Yukihana!" Yukihana jumped back as Merlin unleashed a bolt of lightning, striking the monster in the chest and throwing it back.
"Thank you, Merlin-kun" Yukihana called, the red haired swordswoman looking at Merlin who turned to see Yura and Saji had defeated the were-cat they were facing before looking at the trio of mages, his eyes narrowing as he started to walk towards them.
"Noah…You always did excel at animal magic" Merlin spoke, clicking his fingers to change into his battle clothes as the green haired skinny mage looked at him in disgust
"Tch…! Emrys, I was hoping not to fight you till after we'd took the fragments…let us have the redhead and we'll let you off for now" She glared at Noah, tightening her grip on her sword as she stepped up to assist Merlin, not wanting to let him fight her battle.
"Over confident aren't we…and I'm not going to let you…and neither will she" Merlin asked, summoning his Chaos Cannon to his hand as he waited for the three mages' next move. The redhead slightly surprised at Merlin's comment as she moved to hold her sword before her just in case, finding the wait testing her patience before Noah summoned a magic circle under his feet, teleporting the three away as the group of devils relaxed.
"So miss, care to explain what the magic council wants with you…?" Merlin asked, turning to the redhead who changed back to her normal clothes along with dismissing her sword.
…
Merlin had got the others to head off, Yukihana going to report what had happened to Reina while Yura and Saji went to explain things to Sona. Through what the redhead, who was called Erza, and Saya who was now dressed in a pair of denim shorts and a tight brown blouse, had told him about Excalibur it surprised him that such a legendary sword had been broken at some point.
"So…You want to destroy the Excalibur Fragments…?" Merlin asked, keeping himself on alert in case anybody heard them, Erza nodded as she set down her cup of tea, a serious look in her eyes as she answered
"Yes…They stole my childhood by the church wrongly believing that I was able to wield one of them"
"What leads have you got so far?" Merlin asked, the Excaliburs were Holy swords so by just being around they were dangerous to the devils in town.
"I only know that the magic council want to take them from the Fallen, for some sort of experiment along with them being after my equipment magic" Erza spoke as Merlin glanced to see Saya calmly sipping her tea as he spoke
"I'll help you considering the magic council's after me as well plus they and the Fallen are dangerous to take care of on your own" Taking out a pen he started to write down his phone number onto a napkin for Erza, sliding it over to her as she spoke
"Fine… It you find anything out let me know right away" She quickly scribbled down her own number passing it Merlin who accepted it before finishing her tea and leaving the devil mage and Saya to sit there.
"She could've at least been a little more appreciative for your help Merlin-sama" Saya spoke up, Merlin silently sighing before replying
"Either of us has still to find them let alone work out a plan to destroy them…let alone what the fallen want with the swords but given there strength I can guess the latter"
…
Author's Notes
Its took a while to finish this seeing that I've had less time to work on it. Hopefully I got Saya and Erza right personality wise and figured the former would be fun to see as a familiar to Merlin.
As for Scared Gears for the three swordswomen, Saeko I'm tempted to have her go around with a version of Blade Blacksmith, Katase and Murayama I might give special magical swords once I come up with the effects.
As for Pablo2942's question I'm thinking of having Akeno and Merlin fight during the Gremory vs. Sitri Rating Games later on.
Code-Emperor07 I think Merlin learning Magia Ereba would be badass although not sure when I'd have him start learning it at the moment.
Will try and update soon but given my current busy patch it might take longer then I normally do.