Chapter 5

Beyond The Tress

Paul groaned. There was darkness, and he felt a great weight pressed against him. He slowly opened his eyes, wincing all the while. There was a big piece of rock on the top of him, and he was nearly buried in rubble. His vision had a reddish tinge, and he saw that rock monstrosity towering over the forest.

"…partner?" For the corner of his eye, he saw the light of the runes. He had not lost Derflinger.

"I am fine." His hand tightened on its handle, and he used the other hand to push the rock aside, grunting. He turned around and crawled, careful not to cut himself with its edge, pushing rumble out of his way while explosions made the ground shake. Once, he had to put the sword down to push a rock with both hands, but he managed to crawl out to the field in time. He stood up, trying to ignore the dull ache of his body and turned around.

He saw Tabitha crouched, pointing her wooden staff am that monstrosity, while gusts of wind lashed out against the golem. Behind her, there was Kirche, unconscious, her forehead bleeding. In front of her, Karin brandished her wand and twirled around, avoiding the strikes of the golem and slamming them away alternatively, that black box in her left hand.

Paul´s hand tightened on the handle.

"What are you waiting for, partner?"

"Just…look at that. I am just me. How I supposed to get in the middle of this shit?"

"Take a step forward, another and another and eventually you will be in the middle."

"Is not that easy…"

"So fucking what if it's not easy?" Paul flinched. "What are you going to do if these people die when you could have prevented it?"

Karin turned her head around, noticed him and nodded.

"Catch it!" She screamed, and threw the box up in the air. Paul took a step forward, flubbed around and somehow managed to grab the box with one hand. It was heavy. "Longueville has disappeared, so run, don´t look back! Don´t let Fouquet get his hands on the staff!"

Paul turned back, and ran for the tress.

The wind picked up. Paul turned his head in the direction of the noise, as the branches and leaves fluttered in the wind. The ground shook so hard its knees trembled, and there was the sound cracking wood all around him. In a moment, the pressure ended and he could breathe again.

"W-what the hell was that?"

"Very, very powerful magic." Derflinger whistled, somehow. "That woman is a real heavyweight… Anyway, keep on running, partner. Don´t waste time."

"Right." He nodded shakily, and took off again. Something on his knee, and he fell down on the ground. He groaned, and tried to stand up, but he fell down on the ground again and heard footsteps approaching. Paul looked up, and saw a hooded person with a cape and a wand him is hand. Fouquet, shit.

"You are the Gandálfr? You?" He took a step forward, and stepped on his wrist. Paul bit back a scream. The thief picked him up for the scruff of the neck, and started waving his wand around, muttering something unintelligible. Paul head-butted him; the thief staggered back and he stepped forward, holding Derflinger with both hands and swung it at the thief. The blade ripped through its shoulder, leaving a red neat, lean line. Fouquet hand went to his shoulder, and he pointed his wand at him.

"Partner! Down!" Paul jumping aside without thinking about it, and something went past him. There was a dull sound of impact, and has he got up again he saw a big, pointy rock stuck on a tree. He ran towards the thief. Fouquet started muttering something again, and pointed the wand am him like a gun. He saw another pointy rock, identical to the first one, blur past as him as he lowered his head. Before Fouquet could do anything else, Paul stabbed Derflinger through his stomach. The thief gasped, and his hands went to the sword. Then, he raised his wand.

"Partne…" Too late. Paul got caught on the blast, and fell to the ground. His ears rigged, and his vision was blackening.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck… how could I be this stupid?" Fouquet muttered, while he got closer to him. He saw the thief´s boots, and dark patches of blood on the ground. Then, Paul passed up.

Paul stirred awake, on his knees, with something holding him by the scruff of his shirt. He was sore all over, and he felt a great weight on his wrists which was solid sand, wrapped around them like handcuffs. He saw Fouquet´s wand pressed against his forehead for the corner of his eye, and he could not even felt Derflinger´s sheath on his back. He had fucked it all up.

"One more step, Karin and he dies." Fouquet said, as Paul looked up. Karin was standing firmly, feet parted, her wand pointing towards Fouquet. And her side, Tabitha held her staff in front of her, Kirche behind her, clutching her forehead with one hand and a wand in the other, all of them among rocks that were surely what remained of the golem. "Now, Gandálfr, look."

Paul looked, and saw that black box on her hand as the thief sent it down on the ground and opened it. It took him a moment to really realize what it was, but when he did, his breath caught him is throat. He was not a military gun or anything like that, far for it, but even he could tell than that was not staff, but a rocket launcher. That mean he was in his world, or at least that both worlds had some kind of connection. He could get back. He did not know how, but he could get back.

"Touch the staff, Gandálfr and tell me how it works. If you don´t, I blow your head off." Paul reached down towards the rocket launcher, touching its surface and the light of the runes burned brightly again. Information entered its head, like he was a trained soldier. Much of it was superfluous, but there was one crucial detail. Paul forced itself not to smile.

"This is staff it's really simple. See thing over there?" He pointed to the trigger. "Just press it and the staff will release an explosion that can even blow apart mountains, for that hole in the front."

Fouquet set the M-72 LAW on her shoulder with only her right hand and pointed it and the rest. Karin gritted her teeth, but did not move. It was almost funny, really. Fouquet pressed the trigger, the rocket launcher clicked and nothing more. Paul stood up fast, despite the pain in his knee, taking advantage of the shock and confusion of the thief and slid the solid sand handcuffs around his neck. Fouquet gurgled, his went to his neck, trying to tear off the handcuffs or at least lessen the pressure, but Paul just put more force into it. Soon enough, he felt the thief go limp on his arms so he stopped and slid the handcuffs out, letting Fouquet fall to the floor. He took a step back, a deep breath and he fell to his knees. The sand of the handcuffs decomposed, and he saw it fall slowly to the floor. Then, he heard footsteps approaching and looked up.

Karin went past him to Fouquet, knelling at his side with her wand draw. Tabitha grabbed the rocket launcher and put it back on the box, and Kirche simply stood off to the side.

"I knew it." Karin clucked her tongue. "Is Longueville."

Paul looked, unwilling to believe her yet knowing she was telling the truth all the same. And she was. Karin has casted the hood aside, revealing the purplish face of the secretary and letting long, green hair fall down. The truth of that sight left a bitter taste on his mouth. It was not like he knew her; hell, she barely gazed at him once and that was that, but he still fell dirty, stained. Betrayed. He shakily stood up, and as the other two went to Karin he walked closer. Derflinger was in his sheath, wrapped around her waist. Karin took off Longueville´s wand, and broke it in two with her bare hands.

"This will have to do." She said. "Let´s go."

They went back to the carriage-Paul with Derflinger back on his back, Karin dragging the unconscious Longueville with her. She put the thief on the backseat with the rest of them and took the reins of the carriage. Longueville had be better, a far less jumpy ride, but Karin was not bad at all. He wanted to catch some shut eye, but he did not fell comfortable with the very thought of sleeping beside a murderous thief, so he just put a hand of Derflinger´s handle and spend the whole ride watching her every move.

Longueville stirred awake when they reached the entrance gates of the academy, but looked to her sides and did not try to pull anything. Tabitha, Kirche and Paul disembarked, the blue haired little girl carrying the black box of the staff. Karin dragged Longueville by the arm, her wand pressed against the small of her back. They followed behind her, up a spiral staircase the headmaster´s office. She did even knock, just opened the door with her other hand. Osmond and Colber were there, and they looked when they heard.

"Miss Longueville…?" Osmond said, then looked down. "What are you doing, Karin?"

She just looked at him.

"Oh, oh, oh. She is…"

"Yes, headmaster. She is Fouquet the Crumbling Dirt."

"And a burning hot mage." Derflinger butted him. "If you know what I mean."

"Shut up, Derf." Paul muttered.

"Hey!"

"How could I not see this before?"

"Don´t blame yourself, headmaster. Age hurts everybody."

"That's no excuse. I am supposed to protect my students, but this whole time Fouquet herself was right under my nose. I…Just don´t…" Osmond signed. "We get to that later. First of all, what about the staff?"

"She didn´t know of to use it." Karin said. "The reason she leaded us to that localization was for my daughter's familiar to use the staff so she could learn how it worked."

Osmond flinched.

"But it was recovered safely." Tabitha stepped forward, and put the box down on the headmaster´s desk.

"Oh, well. At least it was not for nothing." Osmond looked towards Longueville, sadly. That grandfatherly twitle had gone out of his eyes. "Why? I thougth…"

"Does it matter?" She cut him. "Is it going change anything? I am notorious criminal, and the palace will demand my head, even if I tell you the why. This is already over."

"I suppose, but… I just can´t understand this, Longueville."

"Matilda." She snapped. "My name is Matilda."

"So even that was a lie; I should have known." Osmond turned to Karin. "Her Highness is still here. Take Fouquet to her guards. You will get a part of Fouquet´s bounty. Tabitha, you will be grated the Elven medallion. Kirche, you will be made a chevalier. As for you, young man, I can´t give you anything. Since you are a commoner at all... well, you know."

"I don't need anything, headmaster. I just want to talk with you."

"Fine, young man." Karin walked out, taking Fouquet with her and Tabitha and Kirche left soon after. "Colbert, leave us."

Colbert gave him a stiff nood, but got out of the room anyway. When Paul heard the door close again, Osmond turned towards him, arms crossed.

"You have something to ask me?"

"Too many things, headmaster."

"Them do so. I can promise you I will answer the questions as best as I can. But first, take a seat." And Paul sat down on one the chairs.

"That thing Fouquet stole…"

"The Staff of Destruction? What do you want to know about it?"

"Are there any similar weapons?"

"Oh, goodness, no. The staff is one of a kind. If such power was common… I don´t even what to think about it. Why could you ask something like that?"

"Headmaster, this staff…is not a staff." Osmond looked at him, gravely. "Is a rocket launcher, an M-72 LAW. There is no magic involved."

"Maybe the runes messed up…"

"No. This is not because of the runes; at least, mostly. This rocket launcher is not for this world, but for my world."

"You are crazy." He laughed nervously. "This world, you say? There is only one world."

"I am not crazy, headmaster. But believe me or not… just tell how the rocket launcher was found, where. Tell me everything you know about it."

"I found it myself…"

"Just…" His voice dropped. "Just how long ago?"

"Thirty years ago." Paul suddenly felt like he was filled with lead; of course, its only clue ended up being nothing. But, wait, maybe even if there was nothing concrete, the headmaster could give him something to go on, a little nudge, at least. There had to be something; technology for another world just doesn´t drop for the sky. "During one of my travels, I was attacked by a two headed dragon. I fought it as best as I could, but even my best was not enough. I was ragged, bloodied and near death, and then a man came out of the woods, carrying the staffs…eh, rocket launchers on his shoulders, and explosion that came for one of them tore the dragon to pieces in front of my very eyes. It was horrible, but wonderful all the same. Such power…it seemed impossible. I stumbled towards the man, noticing that he bleeding but no just how serious is injuries were. I have no talent I water mage, never have, really. In any case, he passed out as soon as I got there. I transported him to the academy, and the water mages treated his wounds, but… he died. It was just too much."

"Fuck. I should have known. What happened then?"

"I buried him in the forest, on an unmarked grave, and the rocket launcher he used to save me. That´s all. I never knew who he was, where he came for. Just that."

"Fuck, fuck, fuck. How I supposed to get back now?" He bit his lip. "Did he have anything with him, in his pockets or something? Anything at all?"

"Nothing." Osmond shook his head. "I am sorry."

Paul breathed heavily, once. Then:

"What are these runes?"

"W-what?"

"The runes. What are they?"

"Oh, that´s easy." Derflinger butted him. "These are the runes of Gandálfr, the Left Hand of God, and my partner."

"Derflinger…"

"What? Did you think I was going to ask you first? Like hell, old man. The kid deserves to know."

"Tell me more, Derf."

"Of course. First of all, you are the second holder of the Gandálfr runes, and thus my second partner. Also, your master is a Void Mage."

"Uh…Why is that important?"

Derflinger laughed.

"Y-you are really not for this world, eh?"

"Just explain. Please."

"Oh, well, magic is divided into five elements. They are Water, Fire, Wind, Earth and Void. Void is a 'lost element', as well as the cornerstone of magic itself, since the first Void Mage created the elemental system that as ensured the reign of the nobles." Paul eyes widened. "Yes, it's that important."

"But… I am just me. How can I be a legendary familiar?"

"Well, the runes appeared on you. That´s enough for me, really. You have to decide was good enough for you."

"I…I don´t understand."

"You will. And I will help you. I am here for that."

"Listen to him, young man." Osmond said. "That´s the reason I gave Derflinger to you in the first place, so you could learn."

"I listen." Paul snapped. "That´s all I have doing since I got here, listen. You don´t have to tell me twice."

There was a sudden, awkward silence. Paul fidgeted on his seat, while the headmaster looked at him, kind of shocked.

"I am sorry." He squeaked out. "I didn´t mean to, really, I was just…"

"No, no, don´t worry. I understand, that just rubbed you the wrong way." Osmond coughed. "Do you have any more questions?"

"Uh…" He was about to say if he when of a way to travel between worlds, but considering his reaction, he just cut himself off. "Is there anyway to return the familiar to where it was summoned?"

The headmaster shook his head.

"I afraid not. The summoning ritual is a one way only."

"Okay." Why did he even get his hopes out? He should have known better by now. "I have nothing else, then."

Paul sat up.

"Thank you for your time, headmaster."

"Anytime, young man. Anytime."

It didn´t take him long to get to Louise´s room. He fell uncomfortable during the whole trip, with the students giving him a wide berth and weird looks like always, but it didn´t take too long. He knocked on Louise´s door, and waited.

"Come in." Paul opened the door, and saw her curled up in the bed.

"Master, what´s wrong?"

"Eh, funny. What´s wrong, you say. Really funny. Have you ever thought about being a court jester, familiar?" Paul did not answer. Sometimes, there just was not a right answer. He waited. Louise sat up on the bed. "Was wrong is that my mother left me behind, that when I finally had a chance to prove my worth to her she just pushed me aside. Don't you get it? I sure I must have looked pathetic in the headmaster´s office; nearly crying even thought I am the daughter of a Duchess, of Karin the Heavy Wind herself. Pathetic, like the zero I am."

"Master…"

"Shut up. Just shut up and listen." Louise let out a deep breath. "I did not want to go to search for Fouquet, to be honest. He scared me. Of course he did. I can´t even cast anything more than an explosion, and he was a triangle mage powerful and cunning enough to be known all across Halkagenia. Fouquet the Crumbling Dirt; even is name is ominous. But I needed to do it. It was not just because my mother was there, thought is part of it; it was mostly because it was my responsibility. Mother taught me that since I was young. A noble is like steel he bends but never breaks. A noble has to take responsibility for his actions, and take care of his own mistakes. That´s what I lived for, and now… It hurts. Even that Zerbst whore got more approval for mother that I ever did in my life, in a single day. And she took you, my own familiar, instead of me. Do you understand? Could you ever understand? No, of course."

"I…" Louise was so small, really. Like a child. It was hard to think badly of her, to blame her for any of this, even when he knew she was responsible for it all, when Derflinger and Osmond at told it that. She was just a hurt child, seeking the attention of her mother and that twisted am him. Anybody deserves better than that, even her. "I understand."

Louise turned her head towards him, sharply.

"What?!"

"When you are born with such expectations on your shoulders, and can´t fulfil them, when you can´t even get praise for your own mother… It hurts. You believe you should just give up, and you could do it if that could not just make it worse. You just what to stop hurting, right? You want your mother to praise you, or at least acknowledge your efforts."

Louise hid her face between her hands, breathing heavily in silence for a long while. Then, she leaned down on the bed, and covered herself.

"None of this happened. You heard me? I did not cry."

"Yes, master." Paul replied, and went to his hay pile to sleep.

Author's Notes

I am sorry for the wait. Is not like I just suddenly lost inspiration for this history, or something like that. Not at all. Is just that I don´t have as much time to write because of IRL reasons. You can expect this history to be updated once a week for now on.