OK sorry for this been a week late but have been busy with summer school but anyways here is chapter seven. Please note that this hasn't been beta read as promised last time so I'm very sorry for that and if the mistakes and errors piss you off so you decide to stop reading than do so after all this is a free country and in the case that you don't live in one than always remember that life is what you made of it.
That said, now i give you chapter seven and as i said last chapter this end the intro for this story so the next arc is what follows in the manga. Also there will not be any new chapter for the next month or two as i have summer school and will also been using that time to plan the next arc for this failure of a story.
As always if you see any mistake please let me know in the reviews and in the case where you hate it than you're more than welcome to express your feelings via reviews. thank for your time and i hope you like it.
Zero War – The Long War Version 1.0
Zero War – The Long War Version 1.1 – hey this version is just to correct mistakes that I missed. In other words, this is my attempt at beta reading my own work. I hope that it worked out. If not please let me know. Thank you.
Zero War - The Long War Version 1.2 - hey is version 1.2 and this mostly just streamlining of the chapter and fixing some of the problems with it. U.N.S points out there is a problem with the daemon personality so that will stay as it is for now as I rewrite it. So please ignore it for now. If you see anything wrong let me know :D
Zero War - The Long War Version 1.3 - ok there was no spell checks or anything like that this time around. The only change is in the daemon POV at the end of the chapter and after carefully thinking about it I've decide to go with a daemon that doesn't belong to any of the four chaos gods. Thank you for reading my story and please enjoy :D
Chapter 7
The headmaster office was silence like a grave, as everyone studied the familiar before them. There hadn't been a single word spoken since the door was fixed and placed back in it rightful place.
The man before her had just injuried one of her civilians. She didn't know what to think about it. One side of her was screaming for blood while another part of her was aware that it would not get her anywhere nor answer any of her questions which she come here for. But there was a more important worrying concern for her, a familiar was a reflection of it master so what does the man recent action say about her childhood friend?
She held her breath as fear crept through her at the thought that Louise was just like her familiar but it didn't last long as she regained control of herself and forcefully pushed the thought to the back of her mind so she could focus on the problem at hand. The familiar stood at the opposite side of the office, in fact, quite close to the door however if he tried to escape he wasn't going anyway as there were Griffin Knight outside. There orders were to stop anyone from going in and out until they were done.
She sigh. The crowd surrounding the familiar had taken a bit of work to break up but with help from the Griffin Knight and teachers they were able to get both the students and commoners back into their rooms while the site of the fight was cleaned up. Right now, the academy was in lock down. Once again it had been Wardes suggestion, it also was his suggestion to have the teachers and a few Griggin Knights to patrol the academy grounds to ensure that everyone stayed in there rooms and nothing unexpected happened. She'd agreed after careful consideration.
And now here she was setting with Osmond, Wardes, Ms. Longuville, Colbert, Louise, and her familiar in the headmaster office waiting to discuss matters.
Of course, before doing so she ordered that new cloths be brought fore for the familiar unfortunately there was little she could do about his short-sword as he refused part with it.
"Who are you to be harming one of my civilians?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at the familiar, her voice barely hiding her anger.
"Who are you to be talking like that to me, child." the familiar replied calmly.
"And who are you to be talking like that to her?" Louise said calmly.
"And who are you little girl." the familiar said, looking at her friend.
"Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere of the house of Valliere and your master." Lousie declared.
"Master?" the familiar said confused.
"Yes master, it was me who summoned you." Louise said, calmly. For a moment she saw the familiar face display confusion at her friend statement but it was soon changed as the familiar seem to finally realize what Louise meant.
"Than I am in your debt." the familiar said to her friend, bowing slightly at her before turning back to face her.
"Good. Than from this moment on you will be my familiar." Louise declared. The familiar turned to face Louise and acknowledge her words with another bow before turning back to face her. It irritated her.
"You didn't answer me, why did you attack one of my civilians and not only that but a noble too." she demanded. The familiar remained calm until she reached the word 'noble' which caused him to scowl.
"A noble." the familiar said, slurring the word. "That man was no noble."
"He was a noble and you have no right to be harming him within my own domain." she said her voice barely hiding her anger.
The familiar howled with laughter in reply before finally answering. She reached for her ward that she kept hidden from sight.
"You confer the title of noble on a man who beats up the weak? And you willing to protect him. Foolish little princess nobles are people who endeavor to protect the weak while holding themselves to a higher standards than commoners. The fact that you're willing to protect a coward who's beats up a maid illustrate that you clearly don't care for the well being of your own commoners." the familiar said.
It left her speechless. He was right. She tired to reply but every time that she opened her mouth, she would close it again unable to find a meaningful reply. It was broken when she noticed Louise walk up to her familiar fearlessly until they were standing opposite each other and staring at each other.
She was surprised at Louise strength and courage which allowed her to do so without showing any fear in front of her familiar. The sight was broken as she saw the familiar draw his blade, time seem to slow down as she watched the blade closing in Louise neck. She could feel words begin to make there way to her lips but they never left them as the blade come to a rest inches from Louise neck.
"Admirable display of control little girl." Lin said, withdrawing his blade and returning to it place, without moving his eyes from Louise own.
"I order you to answer the princess questions." Louise said, before moving to stand beside her familiar rather than returning to the safely of there side of the office.
The familiar frown at her friend, his face showing that he was considering her word carefully.
"Within reason." Lin said, with a slight smile at seeing Louise reactions. The exchange between the master and her familiar gave her enough time for her to recover.
"You do have a point colonel but it doesn't change the fact that he was one of my subjects and you had no right to harm him." she stated, calmly.
"And I little princess don't care, I will not by stand and watch fools whether they be nobles or otherwise pick on the weak and helpless." the familiar stated with a hint of displeasure in his voice. The frown on his face lasted for a seconds before it was replaced with a slight grin.
"The name is Colonel Marcus Lin of the 240th Iron Wolf regiment. Imperium of Man," Lin said.
"So colonel if you don't mind me asking but what was the weapon that you used?" Colbert asked, unable to hide his own curiously anymore. She tuned to look at the professor, irritated, and saw the man clearly wasn't playing attention to his surroundings at all again. Still she couldn't help but admit that she too was interested in the familiar sword. It was unlike any that she'd seem.
"The sword is nothing special." Lin said, pulling out the blade and holding it horizontally allowing everyone in the office to see it, including Louise who turned slightly to get a better look at it.
"The blade is facing the wrong way." Louise said, surprised.
"No, its facing the right way." Lin said. "The blade is on the rear side so that it's protected against been damaged during a fight."
"I see." said Colbert, thoughtfully.
"I've never heard of this Imperium of Man." she said, before Colbert asked another question.
"Do you mind enlightening us a little about your Imperium of Man?" Colbert asked, curios. The familiar looked at Colbert before answering.
"The Imperium of Man is an empire ruled by the God-Emperor and the High Lords of Terra. They rule from Mankind birth place, Holy Terra or as it use to be known in the past as Earth." Lin told them.
"Interesting." Colbert said.
"Why were you covered in blood, when you were summoned?" she asked, slightly annoyed, at Colbert inability to wait until she was done before satisfying his own curiously. A somber look momentarily appeared in the familiar eyes before it disappeared.
"My regiment, the 240th, was one of many selected to to reclaim an important agriculture world." Lin explained.
"World?" said Longueville, confused. She wasn't the only one.
"Yes, a world devolved to the growing of food." Lin said pauseing for a bit before going on, he was in complete ignores of the looks of amazement, shock, and to some extent disbelieve on their faces. Louise face was the exception. It strayed expressionless.
"World" Longueville repeated shocked before going on. "You can't be serious, there is no way that that is possible."
The familiar said nothing in reply.
"Who were you fighting?" Osmond asked.
"Classified." Lin said, dead pined, his eyes cold.
"So than I take it that the vile present we felt were one of your enemies." she said, seeing the connection.
The familiar didn't answer her but she didn't need him too. It was enough for now.
"Now if you don't mind answering two question for me. What world am I on." the familiar asked.
"Halkeginia." the headmaster answered.
"What do you think you're doing teaching students magic?" the familiar said, his tone threating. She The moment the familiar said the word magic his lips didn't match the movement of his lips, it could only mean one thing but she put it aside for later.
"Teaching magic?" she said, confused.
"Yes magic, what do you think you're doing teaching it to children don't you know the dangerous of magic?" the familiar said, his tone enraged and his right hands resting tensesly on the hint of his sword while his other hung loosely by his side. She had no doubt that the familiar was willing to use it on her should the answer be less than he desired.
"Magic dangerous?" she said confused.
"Yes dangerous what insanity inspired you and your ancestors to follow such madness." Lin said, his voice filled with rage.
"What madness would imply that magic is dangerous?" Longueville shot back her voice equally filled with rage.
"The fact that they were insane enough to build an academy to that teaches magic." Lin said.
Longueville was about to answer when she was stopped by the headmaster.
"I should tell you Colonel that we're never had a outbreak before, in the course of this academy long history." Osmond stated, firmly and calmly.
"Really." Lin replied, his voice skeptic.
"Yes, really but if it makes you feel any better. I will allow you to stay armed at all times, just in case." Osmond said.
She almost protested the point but was silence by Osmond glaring at her. She held her tongue and watched.
"Now just one more question on my part, if you don't mind Colonel. Do you happen to know the coat of arms of your Imperium?" Osmond asked.
"It's a two-headed eagle." Lin replied, dryly.
"Sorry colonel but if you don't mind answering another question, your reaction implies that magic is banned in the Imperium of Man?" Colbert asked, fascinated and once to her annoyances completely unaware of his surroundings. The familiar glared at the professor before answering his question.
"The Imperium of Man doesn't ban magic but regulates those able to use it." Lin replied.
"I see..." Colbert said in reply. She glared at Colbert, allowing her annoyances to show, but the man didn't even noticed it one bit. Sometime, she thought, she felt as if the man wasn't even the same legendarily flame snake that she heard about as a child.
"Now Louise if you don't mind, taking your familiar to your room." Osmond said, looking at Louise.
"Yes, headmaster." Louise said, with a bow before leaving the room. The colonel glared at her and for a moment in that moment she thought she saw a somber smile on his face, as he turned to follow her childhood friend. The sight disturbed her but she dismissed it out of hand, just in time to notice the familiar hand resting on his short sword. That sight did not make her feel anymore less distrubed.
The remaining individual in the office waited until they could no longer hear the footsteps of the departing master and familiar.
"What do you think, Osmond?" she asked.
"The man was speaking the truth." Osmond stated.
"Than have you ever heard of this Imperium. Osmond." she asked.
"No but I have seen it coat of arms before." Osmond said..
"Where?" she asked surprised.
"On the stuff of destruction." Osmond said softly.
"Than it means that he's the only one likely to understand how to use it. Osmond make sure that he doesn't find out about it." she ordered, without hesitation.
"Of course." Osmond answered, with a nod.
"Also Osmond did you noticed the way every time he said the word magic his lips..."
"Yes I did princess." Osmond replied turning to face Colbert.
"Colbert did you make any mistake with the translation spell?" Osmond asked.
"No princess I didn't." Colbert said, breaking out of his own musing.
She filed this away for further consideration in the future.
"Wardes what do you think of this information?" she asked her most faithful guard.
"The man did not lie. I've seen these eyes before. He was telling us the truth." Wardes stated.
"Than it leave us with one question. Why?" she said, her tone thoughtful.
"Why?" Longueville asked, confused.
"Yes, why. Why did Louise summon a human familiar and not an animal like everyone else?" she asked.
"mm.." Osmond said, thoughtfully.
"But there is something you haven't explained Osmond. Why did you stop Longueville from responding to the colonel statement about magic?" she demand.
She saw the headmaster sigh before answering her question.
"I've travel far and wide during my younger days. So I've heard a few stories here and there which have not been heard by people here in the in the west. Of course, you would only hear these stories out in the far east near the borders with the elves." Osmond said, looking at her before going on.
"The far east is control by five families, who have held the eastern most borders of the human lands against the elves. It's thanks to them that we're here in the west are safe from the elves, it is thanks to there actions that we are safe princess. But that is beside the point. The five families also have the oldest records available in human hand but I've never been able to get any access to them."
"Is this going somewhere?" she said, amused. The headmaster chuckled before going on.
"Sorry princess. I'm just remembering old memories. Although I was never able to get access to these records. I was still able to get access to some books written by others who have seen them. One of such book talks of a time when magi were controlled by commoners, for fear that dark gods will use them as a gate way to the physical world where they can bring suffering to everyone." Osmond told them.
"I've never heard of these stories?" she asked, shocked.
"Do you remember your history princess?"
"Yes." she answered.
"Than you're aware of the endless wars at the beginning of the founding of the five nations." Osmond asked.
"Of course but no one knows the reason for these war anymore." she answered, remembering her history lessons.
"You wouldn't not after the church destroyed all knowledge of per-founders society, in order to stop the wars." he said.
"Wait, what?" Longueville asked, shocked.
"Are you saying that these wars were caused by us? Do you have any proof?" she asked, also shocked.
"No everything I just told you princess is based on information that I've pieced together over the years." Osmond said, seriously.
"Than these wars were fought over us nobles because that these commoners were afraid that we could be used as gate ways by these dark gods." she said, disbelieving.
"Do you understand now, princess. The church decision to destroy all per-founders knowledge wasn't only to stop the wars but also likely a calculated political move to take control of society." Osmond said.
"What about the founder and his successes?" Colbert asked.
"Do you honestly think Colbert that the founder and his successes agreed with the church cause of action?" Osmond asked.
She noticed Wardes gripe tighten and his eyes harden at this bit of news.
"But that impossible, how can commoners rule." said Longueville.
"Why was I never told of this?" she asked, in a whisper.
"Because it was long time ago and it bare little relatives to the present." Osmond said.
It took a while before she could speak again.
"But is it true?" she asked, doubtful.
Osmond did not answer.
"Than this Imperium of Man still believes these myths, what fools." Longueville said.
"I wouldn't say call them fools Longueville. The fact that this Imperium of Man still fears them at least tells us that they are real enough." Osmond said. The silences that followed was like a graveyard at night, as everyone present considered the information that just been shared.
"But we need more information first, Colbert I want you to comb the academy library for any information on daemons and this Imperium of Man, see also if you can find any books from the founder days if not let me know. If you find anything else let me know as soon as possible. Also made sure to check the familiar rune and find out why Louise summon a noble as a familiar." she ordered, turning to face Osmond the Wise.
"Duel with the mass here at the academy, Osmond and get in contract with your friends in the east see if you can get them to sent you some of these books and make sure that the Church does not find out about it." she ordered.
"Huh." was Osmond only reply along with a playful grin on his face.
"Now, I believe we're all in need of some rest." she said, before nodding goodbye to the three of them and begun walking towards the door. Wardess followed close behind.
"Goodbye, princess." Osmond said, softly and with a heavy sigh.
She wasn't alone in her own room Kirche was there with her, along with Flame. She'd said her that she felt bored sitting in her own room by herself with nothing to do but thesomething's told her that her friend was likely planning something.
The unexpected fight between Louise familiar and Mr. Ventues was unfortunately but informing. It give her the chance to study her familiar. The man was clearly Valliere familiar, as was evidence the moment he led his arms on his weapon, the runes shined brightly.
The fight clearly showed that the familiar was dangerous, especially in close quarters. That aside, the man was clearly a skilled swordsman, no doubt about that, as for the runes shining it was an interesting development that she would have to find out about later.
However another interesting characteristic that caught her attention was the nature of his sword, it was an odd sword design. The blade was curved, unlike any sword that she'd seen, while the blade itself faced the wrong way. The side that faced the enemy was blunt while the rear of the was sharp. The way the handle was designed was also unlike any sword which she'd seen in her life and this observance was confirmed, when the Griffin Knight showed up.
It was an odd design for a blade however it told her enought, wherever Louise had summon her familiar from it was clearly from lands that she'd never heard from. This left her with some answers but as usual more question.
She brought her mind back to the present, so that she could see how her friend was doing. She saw that she was still laying down on her bed while Flame was sitting by the door.
The shock written across Henrietta face, when she arrived at the scene, along with the reaction of the Griffin Knights pretty must told her everything that she needed. They didn't know anything about the familiar but of course they, the knights, reaction like any other train soldiers when their one they were guarding was in danger. They ordered the familiar to stand down before talking him away with Louise following behind.
The last few hours had given her a great deal of information to report to her uncle but it also give her more information to determine the reason her uncle sent her here in the first place. She was aware that her uncle dislike, to put it lightly, of her and mother was due to her father. That was the reason he'd sent her on all of these dangerous mission in the first place but sending her to the academy with orders to watch Louise Valliere had left her confused.
Why did he do so? This one question had been persisting and repeating itself over the last two years and yet she was unable to find an answer. However after the events of the last few days and seeing the rune on Louise familiar it had finally given her a part of the answer. It was clear to her that there was something unique about Louise which made her difference from other magi that was why she'd been ordered to watch Louise.
The sudden raising of Flame head and nodding at her master broke her musing. Kirche just smiled back at her familiar and before laying back on her bed. The silence was finally broken with the sound of approaching footsteps and from the sound of it more than one person; it sounded like at least three maybe four people were approaching.
It didn't take long for her to work out who it was, considering she was fully aware whom room was located between theirs. It was Louise and her familiar returning to their rooms and judging from the extra footsteps they were been escorted by someone, most likely by a member of the Griffin Knights.
She returned to her book and waited for Kirche to made her move.
Louise entered her room, with familiar following behind her heels, and the door was closed behind them by the Griffin Knight. She pointed to the bed of hay that she'd readyed for her familiar and said.
"That is where you will be sleeping, familiar." she said, pointing at the bed of hay.
The familiar urged not a single word in protest to her command. It annoyed her. So she turned around and headed over to her bed, took her shoes off, and seat down on her bed, facing her familiar.
She watched her familiar make himself comfortable on his hay bed without a problem or even bothering to look at her, his master. The familiar than placed within easy reach his short-sword before leaning back until he rested against the wall before closing his eyes. It annoyed her but she waited. And waited. But her familiar said nothing.
"What do you think you're doing?" she demanded, irritated.
"Sleeping." her familiar answered, his eyes still closed.
"Sleeping?" she repeated the words, almost spiting the words out.
"Sleeping." the familiar repeated. He was annoying her.
"Who gave you permission?" she said, her words filled with pure venom.
The familiar said nothing in reply so she waited for an answer but none was forth coming. This familiar was pushing her.
"Who do you think think you're are to refuse to answer me commoner?" she demand loudly.
"A man with little to say and only wishes to repay his debt.." her familiar replied. The man lips bend upwards a bit, into a smile. She was about to share some of her thoughts when her familiar beat her.
"Get some rest, I'm sure you tired from seeing the princess." her familiar replied.
"Don't call her princess." she shot back the moment he finished, her voice no longer hiding her feelings.
"Princess." the familiar said.
"And what do you, a commoner, think you're doing disobeying your betters?" she said, making sure she used the best imitation of her mother voice.
"Getting some rest, you do noticed that I'm still injured." the familiar said, his voice sounding as he was speaking to a child.
She could feel her facial muscle twitching, her anger increasing, and finally she throw the nearest pillow at her familiar. However seeing the familiar unaffected by the pillow hitting him, who simply took it and used it make himself more comfortable, pushed her temper to the breaking point and so she reached for the nearest solid object, which was a thick book, and throw it at her familiar.
The reaction to say the least was nothing new in history.
"What the hell is your problem, you brat?" her familiar shouted at her while holding on to his aching head.
"Nothing, its your fault for not listing, familiar." she said, politely looking at her familiar, as if nothing was wrong.
"Flak you. You brainsick, demented, mad, unbalanced, oversex..." she didn't allow him to get any further, as she throw another book in the general direction of her familiar.
"Flak you. You little rat." her familiar said, one hand covering his head and the other covering his balls.
"See if you only listed this wouldn't have happened." she said, her voice polite.
"If you had sex you're wouldn't be having these problems in the first place." her familiar counted. She throw another book at her him and once again it was followed by another cry of pain.
"It's unladylike to be thinking of these topic only the most foul, filthy, and disgraceful noble would think of something like that at my age." she stated.
"Really." Kirche said, her tone sinister.
She did a doubt take. How did she get in without her noticing? Answer she didn't know. Kirche stood with her head held high and as usual her body, especially her nature assets on full display with her familiar Flame behind her to the left staring out her window, and finally Tabitha standing by her side on the right who nodded at her in greeting before returning to her book.
She checked the door and noticed that it was closed, her tone darken dangerously.
"What do you think you doing in my room?" she said.
"To see your familiar." she said, her eyes slowly making there way to her familiar and a despicable smile of delight at what she saw, begin to make its way across her face.
"Not bad." Kirche said, her smile was match by her eyes lighting up in delight as they studied every detail of her familiar. The next words out of Kirche mouth were 'I like."
"Get out of my room!" she shouted.
"Oh come on, Louise. You can't kick us out until you introduce us." said Kirche, devilishly.
"Get out!" she shouted, again.
No one listed. Kirche face was painted with that stupid smile of hers, Tabitha was standing at the same place, and Flame was sun bathing next to her window and as for her familiar. That stupid familiar was no longer rolling around the ground like a baby.
"Fine." she said, forcing her anger down and admitting that the faster she got the introduces out of the way the faster she could get them out of her room.
"Sooo what's your name, handsome?" Kirche asked, her tone crawling with passion.
"Colonel Marcus Lin 240th Iron Wolf Regiment, my lady. Imperium of Man." her familiar said.
"Imperium of Man." Kirche paused for a moment. "Haven't heard of such an nation."
She saw her familiar smile at that comment just before he answered.
"Of course, you wouldn't my lady. The Imperium of Man isn't of this world. We control of all the stars in the night sky." her familiar said. Kirche only reaction was to laugh hearty which was soon joined by her familiar. It was getting to loud here, she thought.
"Shut up." she shouted. The laugher died off and everyone present stared at her as if she did something wrong.
"Party pooper." Kirche said, directing the words at her.
She pretended to have not heard that comment.
"Now if everyone just seat down than we can talk like nobles." she stated.
"Fine." Kirche said, her playful eyes and griping her familiar arm. The witch followed her familiar to his hay bed and seat down next to him while whispering words to his ear, she expected Flame to protest such action but he did not. He stayed where he was, sun bathing while Tabitha seat down on the only chair in the room, still reading her book.
The two of them were whispering to each like lovers and giggling now and than, it was a disgrace for a member of the Valliere household to be flirting with the enemy.
"Familiar." she said, her voice as calm she could get it.
"Yes big cheese." her familiar answered. She felt a facial muscle twitch at his answer, it didn't help that Kirche smiled at her before whispering into her familiar ear. It was followed by the sight of the two of them giggling. She forced her anger down again and considered her next question carefully before asking it.
"Where your regiment?" she asked, the moment the question left her month she felt like a fool. It was shortly confirmed when Kirche giggled like a child. She expected her familiar to follow in her rival footstep but he didn't instead. The man looked seriously at her rival before answering.
"They were killed in combat."
The minute he said, Kirche stop giggling and she looked at her familiar face, to see if he was still fooling around but he wasn't.
"The campaign was a failure. You saved my life when you opened that portal. Thank you." her familiar acknowledged nodding at her.
She didn't know what to say at all. She tired to find the right word to say but the only words that did come to mind was "Thanks" she said, with a whisper.
"Why?" Tabitha asked. She looked over at Tabitha and noticed that she was no longer reading her book at all. She was staring at her familiar, her head turned to the side.
"We were deployed to reclaim the world of Lorem III from an enemy raiding party but by the time we arrived there was no trace of the enemy. The only thing we found were the remains of civilians." her familiar said, his tone somber.
"So unable to find anything command ordered all regiments to search every single square inch of their ZOR for traces of the enemy. In case that they were hiding."
"ZOR?" she asked, confused at the term he'd used.
"Zone of Responsibility." her familiar explained before going on with his story.
"The 240th Iron Wolf Regiment, my regiment, ZOR was the city of 'Novum Eboracensis V.' We found no trace of the enemy in the city nor did any of the other regiments find any. So command ordered us to stand down and clean up the mass our enemy left behind." her familiar said, she noticed her familiar paused for a moment before going on.
"But that was a mistake, a few weeks later our enemies hit my regiment from below ground. It was a massacre." her familiar said softly his eyes down cast.
"But surely could have done something?" said Kirche, her tone serious while her hand rested comfortingly and supportively across her familiar arm.
"No,it was my fault. I underestimate the enemy. I failed to consider my environment and I failed my man.." her familiar said no more, his face betrayed none of his emotion but she saw a single tear ran down his face. It didn't last long as her familiar wiped it off before continuing with his story.
"Imperium cities tend to be old, as they are often built on the corpses of older cities. My failure was failing to consider this simple fact of life." her familiar stated bitterly.
"It can't be that bad, so you forgot to check the sewers." said Kirche, as she moved closer to 'comfort' her familiar only to stop when bitter laugh escaped his lips.
"Unfortunate you don't understand when I say old. Imperium cities can often date their founding to as far as back to the founding of the Imperium of Man and in rare cases before it. As such, the 'sewers' of an Imperium is nothing close to anything that you would be familiar with. Imperium cities that have been inhabited for millenniums usually have miles of section of the city built over and forgotten by people." her familiar said, his tone still somber.
The image that formed in her mind was mind-blogging impossible, she told herself, but looking at her familiar face. She felt that it wasn't so, that her familiar was telling her the truth but the rational side of her mind told her that it was impossible. There was no way that such a city could existence at all. It was impossible, the rational side of her mind screamed.
"What was the mistake."
"Assuming that an agriculture world would be difference." her familiar paused for a breath before continuing "I assumed that it been an agriculture world, that there wouldn't be an undercity. The only problem was this undercity was from before the Imperium was founded. So it wasn't in any of the briefing material we were given."
"It was a stupid mistake that got my man killed and one that I will always blame myself for." her familiar said, softly. Kirche moved closer to her familiar but she raised no protest nor did she feel any anger at the sight but a question made it way to her lips.
"How long has the Imperium stood for?" she asked.
"The Imperium has stood for over 10,000 years." Lin said.
"Thats long." she said, shocked at the length of time that the Imperium has stood for. Wait that was even longer than the history of Halkeginia and her own country, she thought.
"Who were you fighting?" asked Tabitha.
"I'm sorry but that's classified." her familiar answered.
Tabitha nodded in reply to her familiar answer before returning to her book.
"So lovely lady. What is your name?" her familiar asked, suddenly changing the tone of his voice.
"My name is Kirche Augusta Frederica Von Anhalt Zerbst but you can call me Kirche."
"What a pretty name, it certainly suits you." he answered as his eyes danced across that tart body.
"Thank you." Kirche said, before giggling for a bit before continuing "let me introduce to you to my friend Tabitha." her rival said pointing at Tabitha who nodded in acknowledgment.
"She loves reading." Kirche stated, with a smile.
"I see." her familiar said, laughing. "So do I." Kirche joined in for a bit before pointing at her familiar.
"And finally this here is my familiar Flame, he's a Salamander." Kirche said, her voice dipping with pride.
"Interesting." her familiar said in reply.
As for Flame he didn't move from an inch from his spot at all.
"Familiar.." she said, before she was cut off.
"Colonel or Lin will do." her familiar stated firmly. She felt her muscles twitching again.
"Lin, you said magic users were regulated in the Imperium, why?" she asked.
The colonel looked at her as if she was a fool.
"Magic is regulated in the Imperium because it is too dangerous to be left alone. So they either trained or killed."
"Dangerous?" Tabitha said.
"Why?" she demand, seriously.
"Classified." her familiar said.
"Are you saying that I'm don't have enough status to to know this information. I'm your master and I have the right to command you to do as I say." she said, using the best imitation of her mother voice. Lin said nothing for while and she though that something was wrong so she looked over at her familiar and saw that his hands were shaking. When her familiar finally replied, his voice was filled with barely controlled anger.
"Listen here, master. Titles and names mean nothing when death is but a step away." Lin said.
"Is that a threat?" she said, reaching for her ward. In reply her familiar let lose a deep and bitter laugh before answering.
"No master but if you were in my shoes you would understand these words well and know that names and titles mean nothing for simply labels. And labels mean nothing on the battlefield." Lin replied coldly.
She didn't understand a single word of what her familiar was trying to tell her and it showed in her face but she understood that tone well.
"Don't worry about it, master. In time, you will understand." Lin said.
"Sooo does that mean that you're a commoner?" Kirche asked, hoping to move the conversation to less hazardous topics.
"Commoner?" Lin asked, confused.
"She means if you can't do magic." She said, annoyed.
"Of course bloody hell I can't. I'm not suicidal." Lin declared.
"So you're a commoner." Kirche said, her figiners dancing across his arm.
"So I take it that your society is broken into these can use magic and these who can't." Lin asked.
"Yes it is and that means you're a commoner but you're still my familiar." she declared.
"So you're not only handsome but also quite skilled. Does that also carry into the..." Kirche asked, playfully.
"Kirche what do you think you're doing talking about something inappropriate like that in the present of others." she said, blushing.
"Oh looks who going red and seating on a bed." Kirche said, giggling like a child before turning back to her familiar. "So what do you say Colonel. A little fun before dinner?"
She could feel her blush getting worst the longer her familiar took to answer. She saw a smile on his face, one that was making her very afraid of the answer. It felt like forever, waiting for it.
"No that would be inappropriate for one such as high standing as her." Lin said, laughing the moment he finished, he was followed by Kirche. The two laughed long and hard at her. She couldn't understand what was so funny until Kirche said.
"Valliere you should see your face, its so red that you look like a tomato."
That was it. She considered using her ward but decide against it as it well make a mass of her room so she made the choice to find the nearest books, which was in her bag, and throw it at them. One for each of them. Than she wrapped herself in her bed, closed her eyes while ignoring Kirche and her familiar cries of pain.
Unfortunately for her, she forgot about Flame. Who heard his master cries of pain and decide to see who was responsibly, Flame recognized her as a friend of her master. So he couldn't harm her but a little playing wouldn't hurt right, he thought, right before the bed turned into a fur ball.
That was when Professor Colbert choose to enter, his ward out and in the open ready for action, all because of the nose that he could hear from the hall way. The sight he found himself was intriguing to say the least.
Kirche and the colonel were holding there heads, in pain, with text books laying close to them. Than there was the fact that Kirche familiar Flame had Louise pinned on her own bed but looking closely he could see that Louise had one arm free barely holding her ward pointed at Flame head from the side.
The only normal sight in the whole room, he saw, was Tabitha who was busy reading a book. It made for an odd sight compared to the state of the rest of the room.
"What do you think you're all doing?" he said. No one said anything as they all stared at each other, as if hoping that one of them would have an acceptable answer to his question. It took a while but finally his question was answered.
"Getting to know each other." Tabitha said, without her eyes leaving her book.
"OK." he said, a little uncertain at the answer, as he watched Flame jump off Louise and head over to a place by the window, Louise set up straight on her bed, and Kirche and the colonel also did likewise.
"How can we help you today, sir?" Louise said, her voice falling to hide the fact that she was out of breath.
"I was here to see your familiar runes, Ms. Louise. Do you mind?" Colbert said.
"No problems, professor." Louise said.
"Colonel if you don't mind." he asked. The colonel looked at him, confusion showing clearly in his face, before he stood up and walked the short distance to him.
He didn't wait nor ask the colonel to raise him to his hand, maybe he should have considering the events of the day, but his fascinated with new knowledge got the better of him. He reached for the colonel hands and took hold of it and brought it in for a closer inspection. He made sure to memorize each detail of the rune, taking note of its differences from the normal familiar runes.
Huh interesting, he thought. It was most definitely unlike any familiar rune that he'd ever seen in his life. Well now he head to go back to the library and check for any runes which could match this one. It could take a while but still it should be an interesting search.
He let go off the familiar hand and noticed that the hand stayed where it was, odd, he thought. Looking up he saw that the colonel eyes were glued to the runes and he saw traces of fear within the man eyes. It was admirable display of control from the man, he thought.
"Is there a problem?" he asked.
"What is this thing on me?" Lin asked, he thought he heard a touch of fear in his voice but he wasn't sure.
"Its the familiar runes that marks you as Ms. Valliere familiar." he answered.
"So that all?" Lin asked, dubiously.
"Yes."
"Does it do anything beside been a mark of ownership?" Lin asked, his tone threating. That was not a good sign considering what the man had told him of the Imperium attitude towards magic. A little lie wouldn't hurt right beside telling him the truth very well mean the end of one of there lives at worst.
"No."
The familiar lowered his hand and turned his back on him. He made a choose.
He called all three girls outside, telling them that he wanted to talk to them about a school related issue, but before leaving the room he made sure that the familiar was on his hay bed. It wouldn't do to have the man overhear them through the door so he made sure to close the door and than moved down a little further down the hall way before finally talking to them. Flame followed them his tail held high and his eyes locked on Louise.
"Tabitha, Kirche, and especially you Louise make sure that the familiar doesn't find out the benefits of the rune markings." he told them, seriously.
"But why professor he's my familiar." Louise stated, annoyed.
"Do you remember what he said in the headmaster office, Louise. The man comes from a society that fears magic and you forgot Louise that the familiar runes while they do provide 'benefits' they're also designed to ensure that the familiar can't harm its master. If he finds out that the runes on his hand are doing anything to control his action. He could very well try to harm you." he said, gravely.
He saw that Louise was about to protest but he silenced her and than turned to the other two individuals in the group.
"I want the two of you to also help make sure that the colonel doesn't find out." he told them.
"We will." Kirche answered and Tabitha just nodded at him in reply.
"OK than, I think its time that you all should return to your chambers and get some rest before dinnertime." he said, looking at them. None of them answered but broke off and headed back to there individual rooms. He waited until they all back inside and waited for a good duel more before leaving, just to make sure.
He headed back to the library to finish his research.
Dinner was quite, student spent their time whispering to each other about the day unexpected turn of events, trying to understand what happened and unwittingly spreading rumors while there teachers barely said a word to each other.
The only interesting sight during the course of dinner were Louise, Kirche, and the girl with blue hair reading a book. The ends of Louise pink hair was seared black; the rest of it looked like it hasn't seen the light of a comb, as for Kirche her hair she could see some hay sticking out of it, and she also spotted a red bump on her forehead. The only normal looking person, of the group, was the blue haired girl. She wasn't overly surprised at the sight considering the history between the two families.
Beside this odd sight, there was nothing else worth noticing. Dinner opened and closed with a few words from Osmond before the teachers and members from the Griffin Knight begin escorting students to there rooms. Of course this meant that it took longer but she was fine with that. It give her some time to consider everything that she'd learnt.
The injuries suffered by Mr. Ventue at the hands of Louise familiar irritated her greatly, to say the least. She was the future queen of her country and Mr. Ventue was her subject. It was her responsibility to protect him from harm and yet she failed him but she be honest she was thankful that the colonel had spared his life.
That aside, there was the problem of the fight itself and dueling with the aftermath. True she'd ordered Osmond to duel with the problem but that was only as far as the academy went, her problem was ensuring that her opponent didn't find out about the fight and if they did it would be to her advantage. In this case, the fact that the familiar held the rank of colonel meant that he was a minor noble at best so it wasn't likely cause any major problems.
The information that the colonel had shared with them of the other hand was priceless information for any of her opponents to get there hands on.
She'd made the decision to marry the emperor for the simply reason that with the revolt in Albion, the hostile attitude of the Gallia King to the south, and Romalia isolated to the south. It left her with little choice but to marry the emperor to coagulated the alliances between there two countries and to ensure her country future.
Unfortunately an side affect of the marriage was the strengthening of her current opponents who were pushing for a crusade to the holy land. They were getting annoying and dangerous political wise so she was resisting them by pointing out that with the current issues with Albion it was unfeasible. However if they were to learn of the existences of the Imperium of Man it would likely swipe enough nobles to force her hand to outright supporting a crusade, never mind the possibility of the Imperium been on another world, all they would have to calm was that the Imperium was on the other side of the holy land and it would be enough for both nobles and commoners to fall behind and support.
Of course, there was also the problem of her reforms and these nobles who opponented it. She sigh, it was almost like she had enemies all over the place and no friends, she told herself.
And now this problem with Louise familiar. The fact alone that she summoned a human being as her familiar meant that she was difference from other magi but how? She didn't have an answer to that question and so the only thing that she could do was hope that Colbert will be able to find the answer.
The man was definitely a commoner there was no doubt about that but he was nothing more than a skilled swordsman, no more no less. A skilled magi could kill him with ease as long as they stayed at range.
The real headache was the revelation that there was the possiblility of Dark Gods and daemon. If what the familiar was saying is true than these dark gods are real but there was no proof at all. She agreed with the church past actions of destorying all evidence of perfounder days in order ti stop the endless wars but it left her wondering what happened to the founders successors. It was a will known fact amidst the members of the royal family that the founders of each family were void users. So what happened to them and why did none of them have void as an element? She tried to find an answer but she found nothing.
Of course, she remind herself there was one more problem.
She took a deep breath, bring her mind to the present. She was standing by the window in her room staring out into the moon painted landscape. They were stained purple for the most part but here and there she could see the natural color of the moons. Red and Blue.
She looked up at the twin moons. They had not changed since her childhood but she had. She felt a tear ran down her cheeks and she quickly wipe it away and reminded herself that she was a princess and future queen. She had to show no emotions, she remind herself, thinking of her father advise as he put it 'emotions only lead to mistakes when you're a ruler.'
He was right. He was right emotions were a weakness for a ruler and her mother was a perfect example of her father words.
She heard someone knock on her door,
"Who is it?"
"It's me Wardes princess there is a message for you from the palace." Wardes said.
"Please bring it in." she commanded.
"Yes, princess."
She heard the door open and close, followed by footsteps.
"What does it say." she asked, without looking away from the window.
"It's about Albion, the royal family has been forced back to the royal palace." Wardes said, after reading the letter.
She felt a tear run down her cheeks.
"Princess is something wrong." Wardes asked.
"No, Wardes. Please remain me tomorrow to see Louise before we leave. I would like to ask her to carry out a task. I would also like you to escort her. I want a detailed report on the familiar and make sure that you learn as much as you can about him." she commanded, trying to keep her voice from breaking.
"Yes, princess." Wardes answered.
"Wardes make sure to enjoy your time with your fiancée." she said, softly.
"I will, princess." Wardes answered before leaving the room. She waited until she heard the door close before turning to the only table in the room, which was right next her. It was awash with light intermixed with the red flame from a single burning candle.
On the table was a single letter written and sealed. She'd written it a few days ago but had not been able to bring herself to trust it to anyone. She couldn't. It was personal and in the wrong hands it could be used against her. When she thought about it was funny that their were only two people in her country that she trusted and they were loyal guard Wardes and her childhood friend Louise. The only person outside her kingdom that she trusted personally was Wales. Here, she thought, she was a ruler who wanted the best for her people but didn't and couldn't trusted them.
It was best to go to sleep, she told herself. It was going to be another long day tomorrow. She turned and headed over to her bed and get in. The bed was soft and warm, almost like..she forced her thoughts to a stop and tired to force her mind to move onto another topic but she failed.
She could taste the salt from her tears, as they ran down her cheeks like a river, interrupted now and than by barely hidden quite coughs of sorrow. She tired to stop the tears but they would not stop, so she surrended and cried of pain and sorrows to esacpe her lips until sleep took her for the night.
Father was right was her last thought of the night, emotions in a ruler was a weakness.
It was night and the two of them were back in her room. She was sleeping on her bed while he lay on his bed of hay; he didn't mind at all since he'd slept on worst over the years.
Louise that was her name of the individual who'd saved his life, hadn't taken well to his playful conduct towards her fellow student well which she expressed clearly when she returned to her room after talking to there professor by telling him that he would not be having dinner. When he asked why her answer was become the student in question he'd been flirting with was a moral enemy of her family, too use her own words 'that witch with the overblown milk cartons.' It didn't matter to him at as he wasn't in the mood to eat.
So he'd slept the hours away waiting for Louise to return from dinner but thinking about it right now. It was a mistake, as he couldn't sleep now. It was late, Louise was sleeping, and the moons was out and lighting the night sky up including there room. It was a beautiful sight.
According to Kirche he was a familiar of Louise household and expected to service her until the day she'd dead. He had no intention of sticking around that long. The only reason he was still here was become his honor code required that he repay his debt to her.
He didn't have any plans for where or what he wanted to go nor did he have any plans currently. There was little choice available for him to choice from as it was clear from his chat to some of the locals that he was on some backwater planet in the ass-end of the galaxy that has never heard of the Imperium of Man.
He'd tried over and over again to sleep but he failed each time so in the end. He allowed his mind to wander in the hope that it would allow him to finally sleep.
A academy that teaches 'magic' users and a society where these magic users lorded over commoners or none-magical people. It was madness but he'd taken notes on the so call 'noble' he'd defeat today and it confirmed one thing for him whatever this 'magic' it wasn't anything like psyker abilities, his observation was more or less confirmed with when he talked with Kirche.
According to her enlightening explanation of society, here on Halkeginia. Nobles were anyone who can use 'magic' while everyone else was a commoner. There were also five human nations, Gallia to the south, Romalia further south, Germania to the east and north, the largest of the human nations, and finally Albion. He was surprised to learn that Albion was a floating island which lead to him wandering if this 'magic' was some kind of lost tech from the Dark Age of Technology.
Kirche explanation of the difference elements of magic was easy enough to understand but her explanation of 'Willpower' left him confused and doubting his thought that this 'magic' was some kind of lost tech. Anyways, as far as he understood 'Willpower' was like the power parks of a lasgun. Once it was empty you had to recharge it.
She'd also explained that a familiars was a reflection of a magi, Kirche used herself as an explain, her element was fire and so her familiar Flame was also of a fire element just like her. So taking that explanation, what part of him was similar to Louise besides the fact that they were both nobles. He had no special abilities beside his combat experience. So it left him confused.
Well it didn't matter, he was still a harmless man in an universe that didn't care about him at all, he thought, closing his eyes for the twentieth time and hoping that this time it would work. He was right. He did sleep peacefully.
Later that night after midnight, Fouguet of the Crumbling Earth stood waiting for her guest to return from his patrol of the academy ground. She was here for one reason only, she and her guest worked for the same employer. One of her conditions for this job was that it be done by her alone rather than a team of stumbling fools.
It was this single point that she'd fought for despite the fact that she was been blackmailed into doing this job but she'd accepted because with this job done, she will finally have the money needed to bring her sister out of Albion and ensure that she had a place to stay, where no one will bother her ever again.
This course of action had originally never been seriously considered by her but it had become necessary since that asshole Cromwell found out about her sister. So the appearances of her guest here was either due to chances or meant to be a reminder by Cromwell that his sister life was in his hands.
It was this action that lead to her been disillusioned with her employer cause. She'd been kicked out of the noblest become of the envy of a fool, one her parents had died. She'd stolen from the nobles and given to the poor, while keeping a small amount for herself, so that she could to get revenge on these asshole. In this time, she'd learnt one very important lesson never trust anyone unless you're were a fool or lucky. She wasn't a fool nor was she lucky so she made up for it with talent and brains alone.
So here she was waiting for her guest.
She heard footsteps approaching the room. The door opened and her guest thanked the man before entering his room without even looking back, her guest identity was confirmed, when the door opener mentioned her guest name as he said goodnight.
She waited until her guest had disarmed himself before revealing her present to him. She made sure to keep her ward pointed at the man and the spell she intended to use on the tips of her lips ready to be used.
"What the hell are you doing here?" she demanded.
"How are you doing, my dear Fouguet." the Viscount said, diplomatical.
The Viscount turned around and smiled at her, delightful, before turning back to the task he was busy with.
"I'm here only for the princess and to see my future wife." Wardes said, his voice tired.
She'd never really trusted nor liked the man. She couldn't pin it down a specific reason but she didn't need one when it was her gut that was telling her to that there was something off about the man and since her gut feeling had saved her more often that she had fingers.
"Don't bullshit me, Wardes. This is my last job. What the hell are you doing here? Did that asshole sent you to remind me about the terms of our agreement." she demand, threateningly.
"No." She didn't believe his answer.
"Do you mind doing me a favor?" Wardes said, calmly turning around to face her.
"No," she said.
"It nothing complex my dear Fouguet just don't rob the academy treasury." Wardes said, as if he'd never heard her answer.
"What are you mad? This is my last job." she almost shouted at the Viscount but she managed to keep her voice calm.
"Are you sure or is it because you're been blackmailed?" Wardes said, his voice devoured of emotions before continuing. "I'm aware that you're been blackmailed by our mutual employer but unfortunately due to the events today. The relics which reside in the academy treasury can't be touched by the hands of traitors."
"So you're a double agent for the royal family." she said, smiling sightly but that knowledge changed nothing.
The Viscount looked at her, his face as controlled and unreadable as ever, his posture relaxed, and his arms folded.
The man before her was well know for been a skilled and deadly swordsman not to mention that he was also a noble which made him more dangerous. The fact that he revealed himself as a double agent for the Albion royal family showed that she was right about him, the first time she saw him. It also onces again proved that she couldn't trust anyone.
Cromwell was aware of her sister cottage location and had stationed troops within easy reach of it should she tried to get her out. These men didn't know anything about her sister expect that they were there to ensure her 'well being' as one of these man put it before she ran a knife through his heart.
Maybe the Viscount could help after all he was a double agent.
"You stretch my back and I'll stretch yours." she said. The Viscount smiled at her pleasely before replying.
"What's the favor?"
"I have a sister in Albion. I want you to protect her until I come for her." she told him. He just stared back at her as if she'd said nothing.
"And in return I will not rob the treasury." she said.
"Agreed. Where can I find her?"
She gave him a describe of the location, the cottage, and her sister name before leaving the Viscount room via the window.
The daemon tongues slowly played it way across it lips, imitating the movements of a starving man own lips. It howl with amusement as the man struggled pointless within it crawls and in answer, it laugh before it licked the man with all it's tongues. Than it was replaced with a smile that slowly crept it way across it lips, as the thought, it meal was almost ready, echoed within it mind.
The man on seeing this smile redoubled it's affect, attempting desperately to escape it hold however it was pointless nor did it help that the man could smell death. As for it, it could taste the countless emotions emitting from the man, the fear, the pain, the suffering, it was all there for him to feel and touch.
The soul within it hands was no psyker, that was sure but it found it odd that it possessed the ability to command the wind. This was odd it had never heard of such an ability, it also found it's the man memories useless the only exception was it knowledge of his own unique ability and these of others.
It seem that it's was there were other more gifted individuals than this fool, mm...so it seem that it has gotten lucky and without another thought, it come to a decision. It will find theses void user and it will consume their soil and take over their body, such power will become his to command and with it, it will come to control this world. Yes this world will be his to do with as it pleases.
But before that, it was going to have itself a little meal.
It refocus all of it eyes on it meal. The man had little to no mental defenses that it didn't even need to try at all, in fact it had been childs play. It was even easier than it's current host, whom mind at least had some training and the will to stop it from outright consuming his soul.
The daemon growl in annoyances at this fact, however that was no longer mattered. What mattered was that these psyker lacked the mental defenses or training at all to resist. The simile on it lips widen at that so it can eat all it can good, it thought, it could live in such a realm. The fact that it couldn't feel the presents of the warp at all, did not matter.
A realm such as this, with psyker with little to know mental defenses against daemons, it meant only one thing for it. It was only to enjoy itself, it will consume their souls to empower itself and this world will become his to command, it thought, with an inhuman howl that caused it meal to stop struggling and look at it, with little of it will left as one of it eyes saw liquid dripping onto the ground.
Yes it's meal was almost ready.
"pleases let me go, founders I didn't do anything wrong." the man desperately asked, fear written as plan as day light in his voice.
"than answer me this, you do not follow the corpse god?" it asked.
"no..I don't. I mean...we...don't." the man answered stuttering with each word. "I will do anything, anything." the finished beging desperately. Yes the meal was almost ready.
"Good." it answered.
The man sigh in relief which lasted for a second before it consumed him and enjoyed the flavor that the man despair and suffering added to the taste of it meal. It had been a long time since it taste such a grand meal.
So with the taste of it meal still fresh in it mouth, it looked out towards the battlefield that repersented the chess game between it and it current host. The battlefield was splattered with the machine of war of the Imperium, disfigure man lay on the mud dying in no man land, and in the far distance it could see the fortified trench lines of it host.
It will not move anything soon, it needed information first before it can act. There was also that other little problem, it could feel that someone else had laid claim to it host recently and it couldn't allow another daemon to take what was rightful. It will crush this other present and than it will consume this man soul and gain control his body.
It howled long and hard directing at the battle lines in front of it. After all, while it had decided that it would wait for now and bid it time, it wouldn't do for it host to forget it right would it? it thought, laughing inhumanely.