OK this is the next chapter so good news this chapter is done and ready but it hasn't been beta read yet and am posting it now become i am pretty sure that i have gotten all the errors in it but if there are indeed any mistake on it do let me know in the reviews and i will get around to it as time allow.
Also am in need of a new beta reader as Anger Santo, my current beta reader, has just messaged me that due to school, projects, and other stuff he can no longer be my beta reader anymore so if anyone want to be my beta reader than please let me know.
That said, chapter 7 is done and ready to go but will be posted later this week or next week at best as i will be doing my best to beta read it and make sure that there as little mistakes as possible in it before posting it online here. Also chapter 7 will finish the intro section/story arch for this story i will be taking some time to proof read the other chapters and improve them now while planning the next arch of this story which shouldn't take me long to do.
Again I am sorry for any mistake that pisses you off to the point that you wish to hunt me down and kick my face in but i will do my best to fix them sometime in the future and also improve my writing. Thank you for reading this fanfiction.
Please enjoy.
The Long War Chapter 6 Version 1.1 - Only sorry for the sad state of the chapter but haven't been feeling well the last few days. Anyways the changes in this version 1.1 are mostly just streamlining of the chapter events as it seem that i missed it while proof reading it which only proves my failure at proof reading once again. So please read now and hopeful this time around i've fixed everything.
The Long War – Chapter 6
The familiar woke from his slumber, with a headache, nothing major just annoying. It remind of the once after a night of drinking only without the hangover.
He tired seating up however his body protested, in the form of pain that sweep through his body from head to toe. It was enough to force him back down to laying on the bed. It left him with nothing to do, he realized, as the pain faded. This was a first in a long time. So what to do he asked himself, as his eyes stared at the stone roof.
He closed his eyes and thought for a moment. He'd rest for a moment than try again, he decide, before opening them again and turned his head sightly to the right so that he could look out at the window.
It showed nothing more than a clear normal day, sunshine rained on down the land outside but the sight brought no comfort to him.
He reached down to his side, for his sword but found nothing, for a moment he panicked before he turned his head and found it resting there on top of a small table right next to his bed.
The sight of the batted sheath made him hesitate, for a moment, as a part of his heart hoped that it all was a dream. That his men were still alive but it was pointless his mind was already aware that it wasn't. So he closed his eyes, forcing these thoughts back to dept of his soul, and took a deep breath before reaching for his blade taking hold of it, the soft smooth sheath, rubbing against his skin.
He pulled the blade from it sheath, for the second time in its history and stared at it.
He'd been forced to use it in combat for the first time, in years, since it's partner broke during the V Run campaign five years ago. He remembered vaguely that he'd lost most of his weapons during the ensuring mass, when it become clear that they had failed to stop the summoning and he'd tried to get his man back to the drop ships. He tired to remember the details but they remind vague and unclear.
There was no point trying to force the memory to the forefront of his mind, he told himself, they will come in time. He brought his mind back to the blade before him.
The blade was nothing compared to the raw power of a power weapon especially a power sword but they were always in short supply. These blades were shaper, stronger, and better than some of the non-powered weapons he'd seen during his services with the Imperial Guard but they were also required care to remain sharp.
The short sword was a gift from his wife before his deployment and created by her own hands, the words "bella detesta matribus" engraved along the blade length and barely readable anymore. The blade was a master piece of creation and testament to her skill and her family commitment to the future of Domum and the Imperial.
It was a reverse-bladed short-sword, one that her family had been mass producing for two millennium for the armies of his home system, Domum. The cutting edge was sharp but delicate, so for this reason it was a reverse-blade design however the blade had one weakness it was useless against armored foes. Of course this wasn't a problem when the man behind the blade was trained to use it effectively.
The blades themselves had only gotten stronger with the arrival of the Imperial of Man, five centuries ago.
Huh, he thought, the arrival of the Imperial had saved them from total collapse. He was home home schooled on Domum history along with the actions of his family in ensuring that Domum had a human present by the time that the warp storms died down.
Domum was founded when his ancestors 50th fleet was caught in a wrap storm while in transit to Outpost Bravo which throw the fleet out into a random star system which they named Domum which meant 'Home' in some forgotten language.
The fleet barely survived the trip, out of eighty ships less than twenty made it through, the crews suffered massive losses, and the ships themselves were in no shape to leave the system. It seem that lucky was on there side, while they lost many of the warship many of the ships that survived were the fleet support ships which had enough supplies and equipment to enabled the survivors to build a settlement on the nearest habitable planet which they named Domum III.
They were lucky that the system which they found themselves had two habitable planet which give them room to recover and rebuild but it wasn't the end of their problems, he thought sadly, before placing the short-sword in its sheath and putting it on the side table again, next to his bad, and brought his mind back to the present.
First the legs, slowly he raised his leg, successfully and without another thought, he moved both sets until they were hanging from the side of the bed, he was upright, and the bottom of his feet was touching the cold stone floor. OK, now on to the hard par...wait. What happened to my uniform? He asked himself, confused, staring at the unfamiliar cloths covering him.
Wait of course, he felt like a fool, the locals must have taken it off him since it was covered in blood and given him these primitive once to wear, a scowl appeared at his face. Irritating, he thought, before he brought his mind back to the problem at hand.
OK one, two, three! He forced himself onto his feet and throw his hands forward so that they supported him by resting it, on the bed next next to his. OK pain not as painful but manageable good, he thought, slowly he removed his hands from the bed until he stood with no support.
He felt his body complain but he ignored it and reached for his sword, gripping it tightly in his hands before he turned to look out the window to his right. What he saw was nothing more than a stone wall, a single road, and endless forests. That was not good news for him.
That meant this world was a backwater with either the imperial governor of this planet likely up in orbit lording over everyone or this planet had yet to be claimed by the Imperil of Man. The frown on his face deepen, as he made his way to the double doors at the far end of the room.
He paused, to gather his breath and strength before pulling out the door. He heard the sounds of chatting voices and the laugher of teens, they did not pay attention to him at all nor did he care to pay attention to them. He closed the door behind him and entered the mass of students where no one paid attention to him at all.
Henrietta was getting tired but hide it behind an dignified face, as befitting a princess, beside they almost done with the Fire Tower and than finally launch. Despite her weary state, she was excited, to be here at academy after all these years. It brought back memories of her visits with her mother and father when she was a child.
It was especially nice to have breakfast in the main hall again, it reminded her of a better time with her parents when her father was still alive and his mother wasn't stricken with sorrow at his passing.
Breakfast prove to be an interesting experience, with the commoners lining the wall standing proud, the students seated waiting, and most of the teachers their on time, she remembered with a smile. It seem that a few of the commoners got a little too excited by her arrival that they forgotten to woke a few teachers. The group of late comers were clearly embarrassed but there were a few who cast furious glares at the general direction of the commoners lining both walls.
She offered them a kind smile while barely holding back her amusement at the sight. It seem that the state of these few angry teachers, wasn't helped by the fact that a dozen students across the room found it equivocally amusing. The only difference between them and her were they were clearly doing a rather poor job at hiding their amusement.
Onces the last of her amusement faded and the last of the teachers were seated, the introduction and welcome speech by both Osmond and her started which was than followed by breakfast.
It during this that she was finally able to get find the time to examine Louise unsurprisingly, it didn't take long to find her childhood thanks to her unique pink colored hair. The sight of her childhood friend brought a smile to her face which she concealed.
Louise physically looked fine, in fact, she didn't find anything wrong with her but she wasn't bind the behavior of the students around her childhood friend. She could tell that the students seating closes to her were uneasy and the few time that she got a chance to look at her face, it was blank of any expressions or emotions. That was not the face that she remembered. The sight did not bring any comfort to her but there was nothing that she could do about it for now.
After breakfast, she asked Osmond about the planned events for the day. It left her with a hunch that this 'grand tour of the academy' was Osmond way of getting revenge back at her, considering that it included a detailed tour of every room from top to bottom of every tower of the academy. She shot a probing look at the old man, along with a knowing smile on her face, but the old man said nothing his only reaction was to raise his eyebrows innocently at her before looking away.
The droning voice of Colbert brough her mind back to the present where she was been given a tour of the tour the Fire Tower by Colbert.
The next stop was the Earth Tower followed by the Water Tower but before that was lunch, she thought, as Colbert continued with his tour of the Fire Tower. Her mind filtering Colbert words for useful information while discarding the unnecessary information while maintaining an facial express of interest on her face, just as she learnt from mother.
Mr Ventus was a man with a short temper and one who built his life around his pride as a noble. A man who found commoners irritating on a good day and repulsive to the point of beating them down, on bad days. Today was such a bad day. It didn't help that these last few days were also bad days as far as he was concerned.
He took a sip of his tea, taking care to ensure that his face did not betray his mood, before returning to his musing.
The past few days have been annoying him greatly, especially that slumbering fool Colbert. As far as he could tell from his contrasts, the man was worthless. He had no formal education of any kind, his lineage was worthless, and yet the man managed to get a job here at the most well known academy in Halkeginia.
It was this question that pissed him of the most. How did a worthless, no good, magi become the right hand man of Osmond the Wise. Colbert must done something to gain the trust of the man, with statuses, like the Headmaster but what? What could he possible have done?
It was this question that had been driving him nuts ever since, he'd gotten here. After all, their was only one reason he'd come to this academy and it was to gain statuses within the nobility, besides with him as the right hand man of the increasingly senile Osmond the Wise. He would be in position to begin laying out his plans for the future but this was no longer the case. All thanks to Colbert. A worthless no name magi, he thought furores.
He took another sip of his tea, hoping that it would wash his ill mood away before casting his eyes to the group of students before him. The only boy of interest to him was the youngest son of a pagan and one of the more competent general in the Tristania military. The man was also rumored to have be on good terms with the princess. As for the rest the boy friends they were children of no name nobles who he didn't care about but they may still prove useful in the future.
For the last two years, he'd been slowly working on 'befriending' the boy and his small group of friends so that in time they will trust him and therefore be willing to help repay there debt to him in the form of favorers and minor tasks.
This course of action was enacted by him, as it become clear to him that he could never be able to be Osmond right hand man because of Colbert. The simple thought of the man, annoyed him greatly and which was the reason he'd come down here the moment classes ended. He needed some tea and a chance to think about something else but fate seem not to care.
The present of that piece of garage commoner, who was raped, servicing food to them as if nothing happened sicken and infuriate him but that was nothing compared to the worst shock of the day for him. That worthless, meaningless, superfluous, despicable, wretched man knew the princess was the final straw, he thought, tightening his grip on his cup handle.
What was it that made the fool so important? he asked himself, as he took another sip of his tea, in an attempt to calm his temper, yet failing woefully, and discovering that he was out of tea.
He cursed, softly..
Siesta was feeling a lot better, now, after spending all morning resting in a corner with Chief Marteau, right next to her force feeding her, as he barked orders at the kitchen helpers, whenever they made a mistake. It remained her of her childhood but her treatment was nothing special in and of itself as their was a reason that all the commoners who worked here at the academy, respected and listed to him.
The man took care of his fellow commoners, no matter, the reason. Thus his treatment of her, was nothing new, to the kitchen helpers nor the rest of the academy commoners, as he would have done the same for them too. Their was also another reason for the lack of complaints, from the kitchen helpers, the lack of the chief experience hands, of course, meant making their lives harder. Yet it also meant that as long as they didn't maker any major mistake or give the chief reason to shout at them, they had a free hand to learn and gain experience for themselves and to apply their touch to the dishes.
So she'd spent the morning hours seating inside the kitchen, uselessly, watching the kitchen at work while breathing in air heavy with the smell of cooking food and sweating every single moment yet she was thankful for the rest and glad that she'd listen to her friend, Marteau.
Yet it did not change the fact, that she was impatience to get back to work, watching the kitchen commoners at work wasn't helping, at all. But in the end, she'd been able to endure the wait until she was feeling better and finally managed to talk Marteau into letting her work.
So here, she was outside in the gardens, standing just outside to the entrance to the garden where the nobles could easily see her and call her over yet so far not one of them had called her over to order anything. She didn't mind at all. It just meant more time for her to enjoy herself.
She watched students clearly still excited by the princess present and understandably sharing their experiences, however brief, with the princess with each other. She also noticed a few guarded glares been thrown her way but she ignored it as it was mostly likely nothing more than the newest rumors about her boss. She'd gotten use to it by now, that seeing students whispering to each other had become a normal sight for her. In fact, she didn't really find that odd or offense.
Yet unlike the students and nobles, she did not consider the princess to be anything special, especially considering that she'd grown up with stories, of the deeds of the God-emperor as he saw to reunite man scatted worlds across the galaxy. While she loved the stories themselves and believed in the God-emperor, the one aspect that she'd loved above all was the part concerning the ability of the Imperial to travel between worlds. It was become of this that she would sometime watch the night sky.
She only had one problem with the stories themselves, it was the cause of many of her nightmares and sleepless nights since her childhood. The Imperial to her symbolize the proof that nobles were wrong in there argument that commoners were nothing without them. The Imperial was proof that there argument was wrong and she know that she was right however deep within her heart.
She wished secretly that the Imperial of Man could never find Halkeginia. She knew within her heart that it was against her faith to do so but she did not wish for war. She wanted peace, true that it wasn't really peace, as wars broke out here and there but they were nothing to the Imperial war machine which her great-great-great-grandfather described in his writing. The Imperial could crush Halkeginia within days if not weeks and if they couldn't take the world or one of there other enemies did, there was the possibility that they would destroy Halkeginia.
She did not want this come to past at all, she thought, clenching the holy relic in her pocket tightly before offering a quick pray to the emperor to protect Halkeginia from the enemies of mankind and to look after her family. When she was done, she pulled out her arm and placed it beside her out in plain sight.
Her thoughts come to a stop as she noticed a hand waving in the air, aimed at her direction. She looked over and saw it was, Ms. Zerbst and Ms. Tabitha, she smiled at the sight of the odd pair before making her way over to them.
He fought the urge to curse, at the fact, that once again another irritating event just happened. He was out of tea. There was none left in the pot on the table for him, despite the fact that he'd been the only one drinking while Guiche and his friends were busy chatting away.
Dam it, what else could go possible wrong today? He thought, angrily. He cursed, he can't lose control now not when the princess is here so he forced his anger down again.
"Sir, is everything all right?" he heard Guiche ask.
"I'm fine." he answered and finally noting that he was starring at his empty tea cup. "Just tired from the day events." he lied.
"Than I'll order some more." Guiche said, and without waiting for a answer, jumping out of his chair and heading towards the whore without another thought by than it was too late to stop the boy. Dam it, he cursed, feeling his anger rise but once again, it was forced back under.
At least, he thought with some relief, that he didn't have to ask that whore of a commoner in person. Nevertheless, it didn't change the fact that his temper was barely hidden under the surface a hair trigger from exploding.
Tabitha watched as her friend, Kirche, waved to get the maid Siesta attention and continued to watched as the maid finally noted and started walking toward them. She'd wasn't reading a book right now, as the two of had just finished class & were both famished, although she did not allow it to show on her face.
That said, the last few days and nights hadn't been the most productive. She found little information that would be useful to her at all. She could have taken more clandestine actions to get a closer look at the familiar belongings but the princess visit together with the so called recent 'rape case' had placed all the teachers and students on high alert.
It would be smart not to do anything suspicions, right now.
However, it also placed her in a risky situation, as last night letter from her uncle demonstrated. The man was directly threating her to get meaningful information on this vile present or face the consequences. It hush uncaring tone evidence in the letter confirmed her suspension that the madman was afraid of this present or he wanted to use it as a weapon.
Anymore thoughts was stopped, as Louise maid arrived at their table.
"Hello, Ladies how can I help you this afternoon?" Siesta said.
"Hello. Siesta how's my little fire-breather." Kirche said, with a touch of mischief in her voice.
"I'm sorry my lady but I haven't seen her today." said Siesta, matter of factually.
"Oh Siesta, we're been though this before." Kirche replied, mischief still evidence in her voice but now an innocent smile made it way across her face. It was returned by Siesta.
Kirche, and in turn her, know Siesta within a month of Louise enrolling the academy. It was to be expected considering the history between both their families and it was no surprise that Siesta had always refused to share any details concerning her master with Kirche beside the basic which wasn't much beyond 'she doing good.'
However despite the rivalry between their two families, she was aware that Kirche did care about Louise and the commoners of her household such as her handmaid. The only problem was pride. Pride that would not allow her to acknowledge her concern to Louise face so her friend tired to get information through her handmaid.
This odd attitude on her friend part could be considered a sign of changing time and also a sign of how far both families had come along in there relationship over the years. The two families were more friendly rivals than enemies these days but of course, neither families would never admit it in front of the other.
"Tea & cake." she said.
"OK" Siesta answered, with a smile on her face.
"Make that a few dozens of the best." said Kirche, throwing a knowing smile at her. She tipped her head a little, as thank you.
"OK than I'll be..." Siesta never got to finish as Guiche interrupted her before she could finish.
"If you don't mind me interrupting ladies, I would also like to ask the commoner for some tea." he asked, courtly with a rose in his hand.
"Certainly, sir.." Siesta said, with a small bow before turning around to leave them. She watched Siesta leave before her attention returned to the scene before her.
"Well, what could possible bring you here?" Kirche asked, playfully.
"Nothing but the beauty of your face" he answered, magisterial tone, one hand holding the rose out and the other behind his back, followed by a another bow.
"Oh, really." Kirche answered, her voice playful but with a hint of suspicion.
"Yes, the texture of your skin, your very craves, and your face, unite together to create the very image of a goddess from the founder days." Guiche said, the rose now held to his face, Kirche eyes followed it while she lost interest. She was famish and the best way to pass time that she knew was to read.
It proved to be a good decision, as she bent down to get a book from her bag, she noticed something at the corner of her eye. It was shiny, see through, and look like glass, falling to the ground. She turned her head sightly to get a better look it.
It was a glass perfume bottle, engraved with a emblem which she recognized.
She cast a minor wind spell, to push it away from their table and out of her sight before raising above the table, with book in hand.
She open it and started reading while keeping her ears open and Guiche and her friend in sight.
"Yes, Kirche my dear." Guiche said, in the same tone he''d been using.
"Really, now" Kirche said, mischief returning to her voice while her eyes settled on someone in the background.
"Yes, indeed." Guiche uncertainty and concern making it's way into his voice and eyes. He was after all a man with lots of experience with been Kirche victim from past interactions.
A soft, innocent, chuckle escaped Kriche lips. It was followed by a wide grin smile and her leaning forward far enough for Guiche to have a look down into her lovely assets. Guiche tired to resist the temptation but he couldn't as his eyes moved down until they were staring at them.
It was enough for Guiche to lose track of time but for Kirche it was enough for her days entertainment to start as she waited for the approaching trigger, right behind Guiche, to maker her present felt while Guiche was no longer entrapped by her assets.
Kirche made sure to give a wide grin smile on her face the moment the trigger approached their table and come to a stop right behind Guiche.
The girl said nothing unit she was standing right behind Guiche, whom now eyes darted between looking at her friend assets and the rose before his eyes trying to figure out her friend intentions. It didn't matter as it was too late and it was crystal clear that he had no idea who was standing behind him at all.
"So my dear, how are you today?" said Montmorency, her voice dipping with venom.
"Ahh..nothing." Guiche said, suddenly, ripping his eyes from Kirche assets and turning around without losing another heartbeat, the rose still held to his face.
"Really?" Montomorency said, her eyes looking threateningly at Kirche before they slowly return to lock on her sweating boyfriend face.
"Yes." Guiche said, uncertainty.
"Really?" Montmorency said the single word dipping with malice.
"Yes, really I was talking with Kirche and..."
"Tabitha." she said, without her eyes leaving the book that she was reading.
"Yes, Tabitha about how it's been a great day so far. You know with the princess here and all that." Guiche said, trying desperately to sound confidence. "Right, Kirche?" he finished, his tone pleading and turning to face Kirche.
"Yes, we were just talking about the day event." Kirche said, bring her arms to rest before her and right next to her own assets pushing them closer together. The movement didn't get past Montmorency, who simply shot her a cold-murdering pair of eyes. Kirche wasn't worried at all by this, her smile simply widen.
"Their nothing to worry about, Montmorency. It weren't like their was anything between me and your dear beside he's not my type. I don't like vain man." Kirche said, playfully with a touch of honesty.
"Good." Montmorency said, spitting the words out, before taking hold of Guiche.
"Tea." She said, looking momentarily over the top of her book at the approaching maid.
"Here are your orders." said Siesta, placing the tray on the table and giving them their orders before picking up the tray again.
"Thank you, Siesta." said Kirche.
"No problem, ma'am." Siesta answered.
"Where sir, would you like your tea." Siesta asked.
"Right, follow me commoner." said Guiche, with Montmorency still holding onto him, with Siesta following with the tray of tea.
She noticed the familiar just enter the gardens. She made sure that her stuff was close by just in case and returned to her reading making sure to keep an eye on the man.
Lin wandered the length of this institution busy hall ways confused and lost but it had provide him with a chances to get his bearings in his new environment. However his body complained with each step yet he did not stop. He couldn't stop.
So he did not stop to examine, where his feet was leading him to, at all, his only concern was to make it down to ground floor where he could get the hell out of this academy but weary from his wounds forced him to stop every now and than so that his body could rest. It was the reason why he wasn't moving right now.
The currently floor he was in wasn't high to give him a chance to check out the surrounding land in detail but it was a secondly concern for him. He could tell from his surrounding that whatever planet he'd ended up on, it was an primitive one and most likely had never recovered from the 'Age of strife' or whatever they called it on this particulate planet.
That said, it brought little comfort to him that this academy had the word 'magic' in its title.
This institution was known as the Tristain Academy of Magic according to the chatter of the students passing him in the hall ways. The name Tristain meant nothing to him, the only words with any meaning to him was 'academy' and 'magic.' Magic as far as he was concerned was another word for 'psykers', the present of the word 'academy' meant this was a school for psykers which meant only one thing for him, he had to get the flak out of here before something want wrong.
And here he thought that he was safe as he turned and continued his journey down toward the ground floor and to find a way out of this mad house before a daemon decide to stop over for a visit and a meal.
Louise wardered the academy looking for her familiar yet she hadn't found him. He wasn't in the infirmary, where he was meant to be. All that she found was an empty bed, discarded bed sheets, and a closed door to the infirmary.
She'd headed up to check out on her familiar, at lunch, as soon as class ended but he weren't there. Not that she was surprised, if she'd been stick in bed for days on end, the first thing she would do was go out for a walk but that was inappropriate behavior for a commoner. He should know better than to make a noble wait.
She felt no anger at her familiar actions. That was odd, she thought to herself, maybe it had to do with that vague dream that she could barely remember from last night?
Anyways it didn't matter, right now, she told herself. She was happy that to see the princess again after all this time but she wasn't sure that she would remember her at all after all she was a princess and she her subject. And if she did the relationship would could no longer be the same as time had changed and their lives had taken difference paths.
She still hadn't found her familiar and once again she found it odd that she didn't feel anything, not even anger or annoyances at her familiar action. She dismissed it out of her mind.
She wanted to find her familiar so that they could get to know each other better, after all, it wouldn't do to have a familiar without knowing anything about him. Of course, this would have been easier if he'd been a animal as all she would have done was to look it up and there she was done. But that was not the case here. She'd some how managed to summon a commoner as her familiar and although she didn't want a commoner as her familiar. There was nothing she could do about it now as the commoner has clearly been marked with runes as hers.
And as such, she would made sure that he know it. It wouldn't do to leave a noble like her waiting, no she would have to teach him a lesson, once that he will never forgot and good thing that she had prepared herself, she thought, by buying everything that a familiar would ever need, including a whip.
So after the failing to find her familiar in the infirmary, she made the decision to return to her room to get it. She may not be feeling any anger at the moment but it didn't mean that her familiar didn't deserve to be punished for making her wait. He deserved to be punished for making her a noble look for him when it should be the other way round.
Where was she going to find him? She asked herself, as she descent one of many stairs localed throughout the academy grounds, but she found no answer. That was when, she remembered that she hadn't eaten lunch yet.
What difference does it matter, she thought, it wasn't like a commoner could get far on his own, right? After all, this was a academy for nobles, there's no way that he would be able to escape. She'll find him soon, she thought, right now she was going to the gardens to get some food and rest for herself.
The familiar entered the garden, silently and without fanfare. It was an odd experience for him, he thought, to be here on a planet, where he wasn't greeted like returning hero or villain. Where the local population didn't glare threateningly or fearfully or drown him in flowers.
He cast his eyes about the garden and it's occupant, looking for an exist but he could not see one, at all. All he could see was a wall in the distance and right in front of him the court yard or was it a garden? He asked himself, as he checked it out in more detail. It looked like a garden so...
He never got to finish as someone ran into him, spilling hot water all over him. He granted in pain and annoyances before looking down to look at the person responsible. It was a maid, who didn't waste any time before she was on her knees and pleading for his forgiveness.
"Don't worry about it young lady." he said, taking hold of the maid shoulders. It was than that Siesta finally noticed that the man in question wasn't reacting at all, to the hot tea covering him.
"I'm sorry, my lord." the maid said, her tone soft while her eyes were down cast, looking at his feet..
He didn't paying attention to this at all as he raised her until she was standing yet her eyes still remain down cast. The sight, of her down cast eyes, was nothing new for him considering his family role back home.
Where the poor girl saw an image of her wronging an noble, he saw nothing but a man, who now had a chance to escape this madhouse before a daemon decide to pop in for a visit.
"Don't worry. It's nothing. I was wondering if you could help me find the nearest exist." he asked.
Time seem to slow down, as he saw the maid look up at him, concern, disbelieve, and hope written across her face at his course of action.
"Do you know, where the exist is young lady?" he asked, again.
"It's..." Siesta never got the chance to finish as the only teacher present, made his present felt by ripping the maid from his hands.
"Damn, commoner." said Mr. Ventus, his tone mix with venom and anger shaking the poor maid violently.
The man didn't even bother looking at him. He had only eyes on the maid, beside him and no one else. He noticed two students, a boy and a girl, close by staring at the since shock written on their face. He also noticed that many students were now watching the mass and more were filing into the court yard/garden or whatever it was meant to be.
The reaction was nothing new, it was one wholly human, and one that he'd seen many times but the sight of them whispering, pointing, a few were even laughing, and none of them showing any signs of concern for the maid ire him badly. It was only when he noticed the first workers join the growing crowd, that he finally saw faces painted with concern and worry.
"How dare you unclean whore make a mass when the princess is here." Mr. Ventus said, his comment was followed with a slap and tears flowing down the Siesta face.
"You should learn your place, foolish commoner." the man, said slurring each word followed by another slap to the mail face.
These words were nothing new and the sight he found before him was nothing new in his experience in the course of his services to the emperor. There was a reason why he was never invited by nobles to there self-deluded parties where they pretend that everything in the galaxy was fine, that there future was safe, and there lives were worth more than the people they ruled over. It disgraced him that scum like this called themselves 'nobles' when they didn't even know what the word meant.
This was the reason why he stop using his proper title. He didn't want to it or the name of his house to be slandered and runied by the actions of fools who didn't care about there duty to the emperor or to the people they ruled.
"Let the young lady go." he said, calmly.
The man stared at him, his eyes painted with anger and indifferences to the suffering of the girl before him.'
"I said, let the young lady go." he repeated.
"Why should I listen to a commoner?" the man said, this time with amusement in his voice. The man didn't even bother turning around to face him instant he continued beating the girl.
"I said, let the young lady go." he said, again, this time allowing a little malices into his voice.
"What would do you do about it, fool?" the man replied, only this with a condescending laugh at the end of his words before dropping the maid to the ground, where she slammed into the remains of the tray of tea before kicking her once before turning to face him. The girl cry of pain was not lose to his ears. The man than took a single step towards him before pulling out a little stick and pointing it at his chest.
"So what are you going to do commoner?" the man said, with an overconfidence smile on his lips.
It was the wrong move. He was no fool. In his experience some psyker liked to use sticks, polos, whatever even when they clearly didn't need it. Thus when the fool pulled his little stick out it clear to him that the fool was threating him.
Which lead to his next problem fighting the psyker. He could feel that his body was in no mood for a fight, hell it was still complaining, as he stared at the fool in front of him. He knew that there was only one real opinion left to and that was to strike before the psyker had the chance to attack.
The sword was still by his side. Looking at the man eyes, he could see that the man didn't even consider him standing there with a short-sword to be a threat to him. It was a mistake that he was going to be regret pretty soon.
He struck using the sheath to knock the man aim away before striking with a solid blow to the man chest which sent him slumbering backwards and past the two individual still frozen to the spot. He tired pushing his body to follow up the attack only to crushing down onto his feet coughing up blood.
He tried forcing his body to stand but only succeeded in part as he stood up still coughing up blood while he watched the man slowly recover and turn to face him raising his stick at him. He waited for the end but it did not come.
He felt his a rush of air slammed into his body lifting him off his feet and throw him backwards where he come down crushing down into the stone floor hard. He cough up more blood which he wipe off his cloth before forcing his weary body back onto it feet. He finally draw the short-sword from it resting place.
"Do you want some more commoner?" the man said, as students got further away from the two of them and unconsciously forming a rough circle around them.
He didn't bother answering the man question instant he got ready for combat. He held the short-sword to his rear slightly making sure that his opponent couldn't see it while holding the sheath in the other hand in front of him. He didn't have a real sword as his had broken years ago. He took a moment to relax his body and often a quick prayer to his wife asking for forgiveness for having to use her blade against a fool.
"Who do you think you are commoner? Not answering your betters questions." the man demand of him.
He didn't wait for an answer as he rushed the psyker, pushing his body to it limit, so that he could get into reach and end this fight before the man had the chance to attacks him. He took a deep breath while keeping his eyes locked on the psyker.
The short-sword made contrast with the arm holding the stick knocking it out of his hand and forcing the psyker to the ground where he cried out in pain. Looking down to check on the man, it was clear that his lump wasn't broken before turning to face the crowd to check that they didn't decide to join in.
It was a mistake on his part, as he felt a fist connect with his chest, his head sapped back to the psyker and he saw that the man face was inches from his own, a murderous smile on his face. The psyker got nothing but a face full of blood for his brief period of joy at his suffering.
The blow wasn't strong but considering his body state, it didn't matter if it was strong or not it wasn't in the state to be taking punishment. The psyker draw back trying to wipe the blood of his face with his hands. The pain he felt was intense but he forcefully pushed it out of his mind as best as possible and ready himself to strike the psyker again.
The psyker reached desperately for the little stick he was holding when he brought the sheath down on the hand reaching for it. The sound of broken bone echoed across the garden. The psyker draw back in pain clutching his broken hand, his attention fixed on it. He failed to see his blade until it was resting against the skin of his noise, his eye focused on the blade staring at them, disbelieve, shock, but above all fear in them. .
It stayed that way for what felt like to many watching it felt like forever but it wasn't the psyker lost consciouses within seconds. The man whispering only one word before losing consciouses 'impossible.'
The moment that the fool was out, he walked over to the stick the psyker was using and cut it in half, just to be on the safe side. Than slowly he walked over to the nearest chair and seat down. The man was still breathing but he had no intention of soiling his wife gift with the blood of a fool, even if it meant his death.
It was going against everything he know but he didn't care, the short-sword was an essential part of him and a reminder of his family and home.
He closed his eyes and finally allowed himself to feel the pain. It was agonizing and tiring at the same time yet he endured it like so many other battlefield injuries over the years. He should be moving his body was in no mood to be moving.
The colonel never noticed the total silence of the crowd around him at the sight of a commoner beating a noble with nothing but a sword. It was a sight that they were not use too, a sight that want against there upbring where nobles were better and stronger than the commoners that they lorded over.
However it was also a sight that they wasn't meant for these of there age, at least not yet. The scene was bloody, Ms. Ventue face lay unconsciouses with blood smirched on his face, hands and with a broken hand. The familiar shirt (I don't know the proper name for a shirt during this time period so sorry.) and to a lesser extent his trousers were both covered in blood. The familiar had also left a itinerary of blood to his current location. It was not a pretty sight for students who were still in the progress of becoming adults.
So it was unsurprisingly when the silences was broken by a single ear-shattering scream of the girl closest to the actions, who was standing next to her shocked frozen boyfriend as for the rest of the crowd stood unmoving, even as everyone else in the academy come running to see the cause of the gril scream.