Chapter 4

Death by Water

There was a crack and a bang. Paul turned around, and saw Louise entering the room, fuming. She sat down on the edge of the bed, and crossed her arms.

"Master?"

"What!" Paul flinched.

"Uh, what happened, master?"

"What happen? What happen is…" She breathed heavily. "No, no, anger is unbecoming of a noble. Is just…the headmaster has prohibited me to participate in the Familiar Exhibition."

"What is that, master?"

"Is it not obvious? Is a contest between familiars. I have dreamed of this chance since I was a kid, of getting a magnificent familiar and winning. I even bought a sword for you. I mean is still useful, of course, but it was thinking of impressing even the Princess. And now, I cannot even try. It all seems like a bad joke."

"Why…" He wanted to ask what did she say about a Princess, and why could one come to a talent show in a academy, but didn´t. "Why could the headmaster prohibit you…?"

"The Gramont´s, of course." She said, kicking her legs. "Like the majority of the student's families, they are going to be there for the exhibition. And the headmaster doesn´t want them to see you. He said it could be like rubbing Guiche´s death on their faces."

"I-I am sorry, mas…"

"Don't." She signed. "Just… don´t. Is not like is going to change anything, anyway. I just have to deal with it, like everything else… Ah, whatever. Is not like I had much of chance anyway. Just help me change. I need a good rest."

Paul sat up.

"Yes, master."

Louise had left in her room, so he had opened the window. It gave a good view of the courtyard, and of the entrance gates, so the appearance of the Princess should be hard to miss. He waited, listening to what he could pick up of the students chatter. Sometime later, he saw it. There was a bright pink carriage with gold streaks between the tress. For this high it was all a blur, but he thought there were men two men on horses on either side of the carriage. It all made is desperate hope that he was still his is world pretty unlikely.

The carriage came to a stop at the entrance doors for a little bit, until somebody opened, probably with more magic. It stopped again in the middle of the courtyard, and four avian creatures dropped down at its sides, with men on the top of them. Suddenly, the whole place was in silence. The door of the carriage was opened.

"Presenting her highness, Princess Henrietta de Tristain!" The soldiers on the creatures shouted, in a perfect chorus. A beautiful woman in a white dress with a long violet mantle stepped down, and behind her followed an old man with blue air. The two walked over the red carpet, and came to a stop in front of Headmaster Osmond.

"We are honored and humbled to have you here, your highness."

"The pleasure is mine, Headmaster." She said, and smiled warmly.

The stage of the Familiar Exhibition was conveniently near, so he had gotten a quite good view of it all. For the most part, it had been like some pet contest, really. Mostly normal animals like cats and dogs doing things that could make the crowd go aww, instead of those outrageous animals he saw in the field when he was summoned. In fact, it was so normal that it was boring. The highlight on the day so far had be that redhead-Kirche or whatever her name was-making her salamander spit out rings of fire, and a dancing cat. He ended up looking more at the Princess that at the familiars, honestly.

"So is it here?"

"Yes, mother." Before Paul could wonder whose mother it was, there was a crack. He turned around. Louise was on the doorway, with a strange expression, looking at him. It seemed like worry.

"What happened…?" He cut himself off. Behind Louise, a woman with pink hair, pink dress and a severe expression entered the room. "What's going on, Master?"

"My name is Karin Désirée, Duchess de la Valliere, Louise´s mother, familiar." She said, stoically. "Louise, leave us."

"W-what, mother, but…" She was being so meek now, that it almost seemed unlikely that this girl and the girl who bossed it around and treated him like a slave were the same.

"What did I say, Louise?"

"F-fine. I will go now, mother." She turned around, and walked away, closing the door behind her, locks at all, leaving then alone. Karin looked at him for a while, in silence. Then:

"How did it happen?"

"W-what?"

"The duel." Paul flinched. "How did it happen?"

"You see, I saw Guiche hitting a maid…" Karin eyes narrowed. "…And am first I thought I could let it past, that somebody could do something before it went too far, but nobody did so I ran and I pushed him. He fell against the table, it broke it half and… well, he got mad."

"Continue."

"Ah, this thing in bronze armor appeared suddenly, and it hit me. And then master was at my side and she tried to make Guiche stop, but he didn´t. He insulted her, told her she had no right to interfere, and even threatened her…" Karin scowled. "And I said… I said this is on you, not me, at that bronze thing stabbed me through the chest with a lance. I-I tore if for my chest, destroyed that thing at two more and I-I killed him."

"Why did you kill him?"

"A-ah, it was kill or be…"

"You could have let it go, but you didn´t. You chose to kill him. At that point, he surely was in no condition to fight-mentally or physically. And yet you kill him. Why? Did you enjoy it? Did you enjoy stabbing the spear thought his chest?" Paul gulped. "Did you smile when he was trashing around, at your mercy? Did you? Tell me, did you? Did it felt good to kill him?"

"No, no, I a-am nothing like that."

"Yo better not be lying to me." Paul took a step back.

"I am no lying, I swear." Karin stared at him. Then, she nodded.

"My daughter told she had bought you a sword." He didn´t know why she changed the subject, but he didn´t care either. Thank god. "Where is it?"

"Is here, Duchess."

"Take it."

"W-what? Why?"

"I wish to test your skills. Take it."

Paul didn´t want to do it. The mess with Guiche had already been terrifying enough for him, at he had be barely conscious thought the whole fight, but it was not like he had a choice. He could not refuse her-not only because she scared him but because she was his master´s mother. So he opened the wardrobe, grabbed the case, opened it and took the sword it his sheath.

"Good. Follow me, fa…" She cut himself off. Paul wanted to ask her what happened, but didn´t dare. A minute later, or two, he heard repeated loud noises, almost like footsteps, and fell the floor shake beneath him. Karin nodded, picked him up it one arm, broke into a run and jumped through the window. Paul screamed.
He heard Karin mutter something as they grew closer to the ground, and then the fall slowed. Karin landed lightly on her feet, like she had not just jumped for six or seven meters and gently set him down. Paul breathed heavily, once, and then his knees gave up on him. That had been horrible. Then, he looked up.

There was a giant monstrosity, made of rock, behind one of the academy's tower´s. On one of its shoulders, there was a hooded person, cape blowing in the wind. The thing drew is fist back, and hit the tower so hard the ground shook.

"Run away." Karin said. "You are just going to get in my way."

Paul stood up, turned around and ran. Right when he was about to make it, he saw Louise turning the corner, arms crossed, head held down. She heard it come, and looked up.

"Familiar, what are you doing?" Then, there was a deafening sound, like an explosion. Paul turned around. There was rumble in the field, with Karin uncaringly in the middle of it. He looked up at that thing, and saw it had no right arm. That rumble was want remained of it. "Mother…"

"-protect the princess!"

"Master, we have to go!"

"W-what, but…"

"Don´t worry, your mother is going to be fine. She is handling that thing perfectly. But we have to go, master."

"Shut up, shut up, just shut up! T-this is my chance. Mother will see…" She breathed heavily, and drew her wand for the pocked of her skirt, holding in with two hands like a sword. Then, she started muttering something unintelligible.

"Master, please, is want your mother wanted. Don´t do anything stupid." She stopped muttering, and aimed her wand over his head. A second later, there was another explosion. Paul turned around, its heart beating painfully against his chest. Karin was unfazed, like always, looking back towards them, but that tower now had a gaping hole in it, just as big as that monster's head.

"What did you do?" While she stood, shocked, the person on the thing´s shoulder jumped through the hole. Karin seemed to curse under her breath, and turned towards the golem again, just as it raised its other arm and slammed it down towards her. She brandished her wand, and the arm of the thing was slammed aside, burying it against a wall, while she took the chance to move away. "Run already!"

"B-but…" Paul grabbed Louise hand and ran for it, dragging her away.

"So you are the ones that witnessed the thief." Osmond said, behind his desk, Colbert am his side. In the other side, Karin, Louise, Kirche, the blue haired girl and Paul were lined up in the other side. "Please, Karin, tell us about the even in deep."

She stepped forward.

"I heard the noises the golem make while I was talking to my daughter's familiar, picked it up, jumped through the window and landed in the field. I fought it as best as I could, and it was barely holding together when the thief escaped carrying a black case. I tried to go after him, but I only found a big pile of dirt, and there were no traces to pursue."

"So… that is what happened…" Osman said while stroking his beard. "Ah, Jean, where is Miss Longueville?"

"I… I am not sure. I only saw her once, this morning."

"Ah, were…?" There was a crack, and a bag. Paul turned around. A woman with green hair rushed into the room, papers held under one arm.

"I am sorry, headmaster. I was doing some investigations…"

"Investigations?"

"Y-yes. I hear about the robbery so… In any case, according to the commoners around the area, they saw a person with a black hooded cloak entering an abandoned house in nearby forest." Longueville flinched. "I know is not much, but considering that we don´t have anything else…"

"Is worth checking it out, at least, right?"

"Yes."

"How far is it from here?"

"By foot it takes half a day, by horse it should only take four hours."

"Ah, I will organize a rescue party right away, then."

"No need, headmaster." Karin butted in. "We can dealt with it."

"We... Surely you are not thinking…?"

"Yes, that´s just what I am thinking."

"But…"

"These two here, can handle themselves just fine. I saw it personally. They won´t be a liability. Besides, I am more than enough for the thief. You know that, headmaster."

"Of course I know. How can I forget? But still, Karin…" Osmond signed. "Ah, it's true. Tabitha is a chevalier already, and Kirche is accomplished fire mage. I just wish you could have more… doubts. Anyway, take the familiar too."

"Are you sure?"

"Just trust me, Karin."

"Fine, then."

"Wait, what about me?" Louise said. Paul looked at her; it seemed like she was almost in tears.

"Silence."

"B-but...Yes, mother."

"Now, before you all go, step forward, young man." Osmond said, and suddenly every head in the room turned towards him.

"Yes, sir." He said, and walked to him. Osmond reached behind the desk, and put on a black box on the top. He opened, revealing a sword with a dirty sheath.

"Uh, I already have a sword."

"Oh, trust me, this one is special. Just for you, really." He took the seat and its runes glowed green again.

"Headmaster." Karin said. "I saw this earlier. Just want does it mean?"

"Well, Karin, that is the reason why you should take him with you." She looked at Osmond in for a moment, and then nodded.

"A user?" Paul looked around, searching for the voice. "Hey! Are your eyes just for decoration or what?"

He looked down.

"Did you just talk?"

"Yes, genius." The pommel of the sword moved up and down, like some kind of mouth. "I am a sentient, magical, intelligent sword. You may call me Lord Derflinger!"

"Headmaster, are you just going to give such a sword to a kid?"

"Hey! He is my wielder. You have no say in this matter…. Even if you are hot."

"What…" Karin´s eyes twitched. "What exactly do you mean by that?"

"That he is the Gand…"

Osmond broke into an exaggeratedly loud, jarring laugh.

"He is just talking no sense. Ancient swords are like that, you know."

"Yes." Karin said. "Of course."

"Well, then." Osmond coughed. "Miss Longueville, could you ready the carriage and set the off right away, please?"

"Yes, headmaster."

When Osmond had said carriage, Paul had expected an actual carriage-no as big or elegant as the one the Princess had come in, but somewhat close. But it was just cart with wooden planks as seats. He had ended up nearly against the wall, Kirche and the other side and Tabitha and Karin in the other. Longueville rode the carriage. Kirche spend the whole ride trying to make conversation with Longueville, for some reason, but nobody else talked even now, so it was rather awkward. Then, the carriage stopped.

"We are here." Longueville said.

It was a clearing about as big as the academy´s courtyard, with a wooden, rundown house in the middle of it. He didn´t not hear anything but the rustle of the forest. Longueville remained on the carriage, and the rest disembarked and hid behind some bushes. Karin looked and Tabitha, and gave her some strange hand signals he did not understand. Tabitha simple nodded, and turned to Kirche.

"With me." She said.

Then, Karin moved out, and the rest followed. Paul hand twitched for the handle of Derflinger, but didn´t grab it just yet. If he was really Fouquet, and he was still there, the light of the runes could be too obvious. She stopped in front of the house, put at hear am the door for a moment, shook her head, and somehow opened the crusty old door without making a noise. More magic, obviously.

They searched the house. It looked normal, nothing out or out of place, but the inside was cared for. This had to be the thief´s hideout.

"Found it!" Kirche screamed. Paul turned around, and saw her waving a black box around. The rest all stopped and gathered around her.

"Loud." Tabitha said.

"Ah, come on."

"Too easy."

"Do you think…?" She yelped, and fell down on her knees to the floor. When he looked down, he saw that the earth beneath her feet had turned into sand, and wrapped itself around her legs. Tabitha knelled in front of her, and started muttering, waving her staff around.

"Le…Hurry!" Karin said, looking frantically to all sides. "This entire house…We can´t stay here any longer!"

Tabitha nodded.

"Partner, draw me!" He didn´t brother to ask why, he just did it. The runes burned brightly. "Listen, just hit the sand! I can drain the magic away!"

"Got it!" Paul stepped forward, and slashed low at the sand. The sword went clean through it, and Kirche stood up.

"Let´s…" The ground shook, and then they were all sent flying amid the rumble.