ZnT belongs to Noboru Yamaguchi and J.C. Staff. I own Cronoz.

Chapter 4: Not Designed For That Purpose

Outside the Academy, light glinted off of the non-rusted parts of Cronoz's armor. He watched right next to the gates of the school as his master rode off down the dirt road on her stallion. As her pink-haired figure vanished out of view, the mech brought up his arm and looked at the tiny slip of paper he clutched in his metal palm. He remembered the distinct conversation prior to his acquirement of said slip of paper that morning.

"I am leaving the academy for a day or two to run some errands on my own. I have prepared a list of jobs I would like you to accomplish for me before I return, familiar."

"Query."

"Yes?"

"Wouldn't it be more beneficial for me to come with you? After all, isn't the job of being a 'familiar' standing by their master's side?"

"I am going into the town nearest here. It's full of people. And I'm pretty sure bringing a… a… whatever you are into town would cause quite the commotion."

"Haven't I told you already? I'm an autonomous machine of the steam punk variation."

"Yeah, uh-huh. And I'm an elf."

"Of course you're not. That should be obvious, even for your standards of logic."

"Ugh… just take the list, familiar."

"Fine, but can I at least escort you to your destination? I'm much faster than any horse, and I actually would like to see a place outside the - wait, where'd you go? Louise? Louise!"

And that's where Cronoz found himself, staring out into the uncharted territory he would rather not explore alone, despite his intelligence and power. He was in a new world, so he had no idea how things worked around here. Sighing, he stomped away from the gate, holding the list of chores tightly in his grasp.

After reading the extensive list… twice, Cronoz rubbed his optics. Of course, his master held nothing back, even after his extravagant display the day before. He looked up at the main tower, hoping to find his handiwork still flailing around. Unfortunately, there was no Guiche to be found. Cronoz sighed again. The one ounce of joy taken away from him, like a baby stripped of his favorite blanket. Except for being with Louise…

Cronoz shook his head. There was no time for such distracting thoughts. He had a duty to fulfill, even if it would be as remedial as washing clothes or cleaning a room.

Huh… I'm really buying into this whole 'familiar' business, aren't I? Maybe I'm malfunctioning. Cronoz flicked his head with his finger, a TING the obvious result. A group of students passed by him, to which he ignored their stares. He entered the open hallway that led to the dorms and preceded to find Louise's room. At least in this place - for as large as it was - he was able to get around. Thankfully, when he found the room, it was unlocked for him to crouch into. However, that wasn't what surprised Cronoz most. It was the figure that stood in the middle of the room. Luckily for him, it was the only other person that knew him. Well… knew him well.

"Siesta!" The mech said aloud, scaring the maid into falling over.

"Oh! Cronoz! You scared me. I thought it might have been Ms. Valliere," The maid giggled as she stood up and dusted herself off. "This is her room, right?"

Cronoz nodded. "Yes, this is Louise's room. She left just a little while ago to run some errands on her own."

"And she didn't bring you along? How odd."

"That's exactly what I said."

"I wonder what she's up to…" Siesta folded her arms and sighed. It was then Cronoz realized a difference between her and his master. A… physical difference, but a difference nonetheless. He shook his head. Bad Cronoz. Bad.

"By the way, what exactly are you doing in here anyway?" The mech asked in monotone.

"Oh well… I wanted to check and see if you were alright from your fight the other day. And the door was unlocked, so I just kinda… came in…" Siesta defended, blushing as she did so.

The mech chuckled. "Your concern is welcome, Siesta. And actually, I'm glad you're here."

"Huh?"

Odd. I feel like I've been in this position before.

Cronoz thought to himself as he carried both a garbage can and a basket full of laundry. He didn't see why Louise wanted her room cleaned to begin with. It was pretty much spotless from what he had seen. He did not question it though. Of course the top of her list was Do laundry, that at least didn't surprise him.

He rounded the corner, finding Siesta by the well, cleaning her own basket of clothes. The mech plodded over to her, and set the basket on the ground next to her. The maid gave him a warm smile. Did she really… naw, that can't be right.

"Um…" Cronoz looked around. "Is there a place for garbage disposal anywhere?"

"Hmm. I think its past the court yard," Siesta shrugged. "I might not be positive. I'm the cleaning type of maid, not the pick-up-the-trash-and-throw-it-away type."

"But isn't that what maids - forget it. I'll find it." Cronoz turned around, carrying the garbage can along with him. For how clean her room was, he was able to find some things to pick up. He cleaned out her work dresser in the hopes of finding something sustainable, resulting in the finding of a few intriguing things. Of course, he knew he had been invading not only a girl's privacy, but also his master's.

Turning a corner, and finally out of sight of his friend washing clothes, Cronoz sat the aluminum can down. He pressed a button on his arm and a compartment opened from his chest, revealing a purple book tucked away. Carefully, he picked it up, closed his chest up, and flipped through the pages of the book. Luckily for him, when searching through Louise's room, there was a book for the language of this world for him to use. It took him a while, but Cronoz eventually was able to understand it, and saved it to a file in his memory.

The title of said book read 'Diary,' that he was assure of. The mech did not feel good about himself right now. However, since he had no connection with the school's library, or any place outside the Academy's grounds, he would have to stoop very low to gain knowledge, even if was solely the life of pink-haired teenage mage.

Sitting down, Cronoz began reading an excerpt from the private book.

Dear Diary, while my new familiar is out completing the simple task of washing my clothes, I have decided to write about my first meeting with him.

"Yeah… 'simple.'" Cronoz muttered. He kept reading.

It seemed so odd. That wretched Zerbst summoned a fire-breathing salamander, and Tabitha, quiet calm Tabitha, summoned a magnificent blue dragon. How does that even happen?

"Actually, I would love to know too…"

After I did my own version of the summoning rights, this huge… thing, appeared before me. This… metal beast covered in rust, with a four-eyed head. Four eyes! What kind of monster is this!

"Monster? Really…"

After I finished the last summoning rights, the thing became my familiar. Upon entering my room, I figured out that it could not understand me, so I preformed a spell so it could do so. Surprisingly, it worked well, if I do say so myself.

"Yeah, almost tore me apart in the process."

My new familiar told me his name, something weird, like Cronaz or Kranoz. Something otherworldly, I think. I've never heard a stranger name. I will ignore it though, for if he is truly going to be my servant for the rest of my life, I might as well get used to it.

"Uh-huh… wait, what?" Cronoz's optics almost burst out of his head, as he re-read the last sentence again. And again. And again. And again.

"What does she mean, 'for the rest of my life?'" Cronoz disdainfully muttered aloud. He sat up from his seat on the ground and turned the corner, only to be met with a surprise. He bumped into something, something larger, larger than him. He looked up, finding a green eyed, horned blue head staring right back. Cronoz stepped back, clumsily tripping over his own feet and falling. For the first time in his life, the mech had never felt so flustered. He had seen the dragon before in the courtyard, but that was from much further away. Now it was right there, in reach, touching distance.

Cronoz held his arms up in defense, expecting the worse. Then he heard a voice come from behind the creature. "No eating. You'd get a tummy ache."

He heard the creature make a strange purring sound, and lowered his arms. Emerging from behind the dragon was a blue haired girl, dressed in the same fashion as Louise. Unlike his master, she wore glasses and carried a staff, probably replacing the wands most other students used. Cronoz thought he had seen her before, once when he first arrived, and again during his duel with Guiche. The two stared at each other for a moment before the girl noticed the book in the mech's hand.

"What are you reading?" She asked in a quiet voice.

"What?" Cronoz looked at his hand. "Oh… uh…" Quickly, but clumsily, he forced the book back into his compartment, as a means not to be found creepy for reading his master's diary. "N-nothing. I was finished."

The blue haired girl stared at him for a second before sitting down right next to him and began reading her own book, not fazed by the machine's presence. Cronoz gathered his own composure and sat up right, still eyeing the girl.

"I've seen you before. Who are you?" Cronoz blatantly asked.

"Tabitha." The girl responded without looking up from her text.

She's an odd one. The mech cocked his head. "And that creature there? It's your familiar?"

"Sylphid."

"Right…" Cronoz looked at the sapphire dragon, who had laid down right next to its master, its head resting on the soft green grass. It looked at the rusty machine with lazy eyes, looking like it would fall asleep in seconds.

"Louise's familiar." A jolt shot through Cronoz's body. The girl was so quiet he had never thought she was going to say anything to him.

"Yes?"

"Come." As quickly as she had sat down, this girl, Tabitha, stood up and motioned him with her staff. Feeling a bit hot under the collar, - he'd never been asked for a girl to follow him as sternly as Tabitha - Cronoz waved a hand.

"Actually, Louise had a list of chores for me to accomplish, and I think Siesta is waiting-"

"Then why were you reading her diary?"

Damn… "Uh… um…"

"Come."

"Right…"

The mech stood up, his head lowered in shame. As he walked behind Tabitha, Sylphid - still lying on the ground - opens an eye and makes a noise akin to a chuckle. Cronoz narrowed his optics. "Shut up."

Cronoz was indeed pleased now. He had no idea where Tabitha would have taken him. Now he stood in a large library, filled up with enough books to last him more than a lifetime. Maybe two or three. Of course, the people in the library were surprised watching a second year student bring in a massive bipedal machine, but hey, what were they going to do about it? They knew his power, so in either respect or fear, they said nothing. Huh. The mech felt like an evil villain for a second. He looked down at Tabitha, who looked right back at him.

"How did you know?" Cronoz asked.

"Easy. You looked the type," Tabitha retorted, not really answering the question. "Also, Louise told me."

"When?"

"Before you fought Guiche."

"Ah." He stared up at the open room, and was genuinely impressed. Even the city he had come from did not have a library this wonderful. Or large. Giddy as any of the school girls at the Academy, Cronoz quickly went from bookshelf to bookshelf, grabbing multiple books in his large mechanical arms. Tabitha walked over to the staring librarian, who stood behind the counter in awe.

"Let him check out any books he wants." Tabitha quietly states.

"R-right…" The librarian answered, ignoring the fact that familiars shouldn't be able to check out books. But he heard about the machine's duel. Whatever that rotating thing the creature kept in his arm was, he surly didn't want it aimed at him.

Meanwhile, Cronoz continued to peer and search all over the library, finding as much information as he possibly could. Among the stories he had found, the mech was interested one that talked of airships, and another on how to create explosives out of powders. Well… just in case. Cronoz thought to himself about the second piece of literature. Eventually, he had accumulated about nineteen books, all clutched around his rusted metal arms. He decided to pick out one other, just to make it even. With his bright white eyes, he scanned the titles of the last bookshelf, finding nothing of interest. Except one book, tucked away at the top.

He plucked the rather dusty textbook and wiped it with his hand. It must have been old, its original orange demeanor worn out to a light brown. Cronoz read the title of the book to himself.

"Machines: The Way of the Future…?"

The mech immediately clambered over to the main desk of the room, and carefully sat his final book down. The others he just plopped down, forgetting entirely about them for the time being. His focus was intently toward the new book, and the secrets it held. Cronoz was so excited he didn't notice the repetitive taping on his leg. He looked down to find his blue haired host.

"Done?" She stared back.

"Y-yes. I'm done now."

"Good. Let's go."

Tabitha left the library in the same fashion as she entered: quietly and calmly, with Cronoz not far behind. Except now he lugged a large bundle of books, resulting in one of the most odd images. Period. The two returned to the courtyard, or at least Cronoz thought it was the courtyard. The books covered his vision, only able to see slightly above it. And that wasn't very helpful: The sky isn't exactly a great compass when it has a bunch of clouds in it.

"Uh… Tabitha?" Cronoz tried to find his shorter companion.

"Hm." Was the answer.

OK, at least I know she's in front of me. "I… can't exactly see. So can you be my eyes for-"

Before he could get anymore words out, Cronoz felt him tripping over something, causing the mech to wobble about. Books began to fall out of his grasp, one even opening and falling onto his face, blinding him entirely. Unable to keep his balance, he fell collapsed unto the soft grass below, making a large CRASH due to his mechanical build. He could feel the hard covers of the… well… hard cover books all under his large frame, but he didn't care. Cronoz was to preoccupied fumbling his fingers about, trying to get them to achieve the goal of getting rid of the book obscuring his vision.

Wow… that was loud. Cronoz thought to himself as he removed the book from his face. Blinking his optics, he found a welcome sight: Tabitha, standing right next to him. She leaned over and picked up a book - the last one he picked out - and placed it on his chest.

"Uh… Thanks." Cronoz complimented. He continued to lay down, pressing the button on his arm to open the compartment in his upper torso, letting the book fall right next to the diary, which earned a stare from Tabitha. Cronoz was about to explain himself, but then heard a voice from behind him.

"Cronoz!" He turned his head right in time to watch Siesta wrap her arms around his head. "Where have you been? I was looking everywhere for you! Did you get hurt? I heard a crash!"

"Uh… I was…" Cronoz stuttered, trying to process all the confusion going around him, even though there wasn't a lot of it.

"He was with me." Tabitha spoke almost in a whisper, making Siesta cock her head to the left.

"What?" Siesta looked into Cronoz's confused eyes. "What were you doing with her? I thought you were going to help me finish Ms. Valliere chores? I even finished her laundry for you!" Cronoz now recognized his master's clothes, which were placed onto his mechanical stomach by the black haired maid.

"Uh… well…"

"And what's that purple thing in your chest?"

"N-nothing!"

"Louise's diary."

"T-Tabitha!"

"My what!"

"Not now Louise…"

Cronoz paused for a second. Louise? To the mech's displeasure, as he turned his head around from Siesta and Tabitha, there stood his pink-haired master, her eyes set on him. And she was not happy. Not. One. Bit.

"L-L-Louise! W-w-what are you doing here? I th-th-thought you went-"

Louise stuck out her hand for silence. "I came back because I finished my jobs more faster than I thought. But, here I found you," She motioned to the area around the sitting robot. "Sitting on your lazy butt, surrounded by not only books, but Tabitha and the maid too! And you took my diary from my room, without any permission at all!"

"You wouldn't have let me anyway…" Cronoz mumbled to himself.

"What was that! Don't whisper to yourself when your master is talking to you!" Louise sighed. "At least you were able to get my laundry done… you've at least finished the rest of my list haven't you?"

"Um-"

"Actually, I finished your laundry while Cronoz was out with Ms. Tabitha." Siesta wagged a finger triumphantly.

"S-Siesta!" Cronoz tried to hush her, but failed miserably.

"What!" You couldn't even finish the jobs I assigned you!" Louise was on the verge of a cataclysmic meltdown.

"In hindsight, I truly thought you were going to be gone longer." Cronoz whimpered in monotone.

Before he could even adjust his misspoken speech, both Tabitha and Siesta had left to avoid the blast range of the spell from the wand that was directly pointed at the rusted mech by Louise. "WHAT?"

Only one thought raced threw Cronoz's mind:

Idiot.

A/N: Do you want a BOOM with that side order of 'oops?'

Yay! Chapter Four, completed. I honestly am glad I'm done with this one, because it mostly turned into filler unfortunately, leading up for the next chapters to come. If anything, it establishes (kinda?) Cronoz and Tabitha's relationship as characters. Next will be better, now that I'm going to go into the Fouquet arc. That's how you spell her name, right?

Reviews are appreciated, and thanks for reading!