I do not own Familiar of Zero/Zero No Tsukaima or any of the other pieces of work mentioned in the story.

The End of the World Spell

Tantrum Spiral

"GAH! My wine!"

Louise only had the barest impression of hair before the little man in front of her glared at everyone and everything his short stature enabled him to see. Louise was no giant herself, but even she was taller than this man-boy-thing.

"I swear to Armok, if I don't get another mug of wine in the next couple of seconds… unless you have something else to drink?"

What in the Founder's name? A midget with a drinking problem? What did she do to deserve this?

Thankfully, Professor Colbert spoke up. "We might have something in the cellar?"

The look the little man gave him was nothing short of terrifying. No living creature should ever look quite that hungry... or thirsty, if you wanted to argue the point.

"Watch where you're going!"

Tosid Idam, the legendary miner, stared at his broken mug.

...

It seemed like Armok had just granted him inspiration. But where was he going to find a kitchen, a body and 50 liters of rock nut oil in this strange place?

… ah well. He'd make due.

When Royal representatives finally paid a visit to the suddenly quiet Academy, they were met by a scene out of a nightmare.

Every single person within the walls were dead, their bodies mangled beyond recognition. In many cases they were only identifiable thanks to their signet rings or other customary attire. On later inspection, one particularly vicious murder seemed to stand out as the first.

One Guiche de Gramont. His dismembered corpse, missing substantial amounts of flesh and bone, was found in one of the old kitchens the servants had abandoned when the newer one was built 24 years ago. The only reason why they could identify him was because there was only one unaccounted-for blonde student remaining. Making the connection wasn't that difficult.

Strangely enough, whatever creature had raged at the academy had eventually tunneled away. When a expeditionary force of Royal Knights finally arrived to explore the tunnel-system, they were met with kilometers of twisting warrens, cutting through all manner of rock with contemptuous ease.

The system quickly became disorientating and many strange creatures lurked within this earthen maze, but eventually the Knights followed the tunnels to the surface. Even if they did lose most of their number in the blasted tunnels.

Looking around, they could see nothing of import and left to return to the capital.

Unbeknown to them, another group of their supposed lost comrades had also found an exit.

When the two groups met and discussed their escapes, it was clear that the tunnels stretched far beyond even the most paranoid of predictions.

Many a life would be lost attempting to map this ever expanding Maze.

AN: So yeah… Dwarf Fortress. Don't own it.

This dorf is actually based of one of my own. Tosid Idam was my primary miner in one of my forts. Seeing that I embarked in a region with an aquifer, he had limited use. To combat this, I also used him as a butcher and bone-worker.

Anyway, long story short, he was eventually gripped by a fell-mood, grabbed one of my Growers, made a pick-axe from his bones (sadly, I've since deleted the fortress, otherwise the description would have been top-side) and went on his merry way.

Until someone broke his favorite table during a brawl…

Let me put it like this – he is described as being very quick to anger and that he doesn't handle stress well… so yeah. Welcome back, Tantrum Spiral, my old friend.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Dwarf Fortress… it's kinda hard to explain. Imagine, if you would ,a mix between Dungeon Keeper and SimCity with psychopathic, alcoholic dwarfs as both citizens and minions. Again, I suck at explanations. Google it.

Don't try it though. To quote Hydral from TVTropes' quote page (Redundant, I know):

Hydrall: DF's got a big learning curve, no, learning cliff, no, a MASSIVE, SHEER EXPANSE OF STONE RISING UP INTO THE HEAVENS, COVERED IN !*Adamantine Barbed Wire*! AND LAVA DROPS, ALL WHILE ARMOK STANDS ATOP AND LAUGHS AT YOUR PITIFUL ATTEMPT TO SURVIIIIIIIVE.

If anything, he's understating it.

Anyway… I had a review stating that Death isn't evil, more like True Neutral. I wholeheartedly agree. But Grim, in the previous chapter, is but one aspect of Death and it's one that loves his job a bit too much. Besides, a lifetime (for them) of servitude under Billy and Mandy and just about anyone would crack.

Also note this list of suggestions I cannot implement (since I don't know who/what they are or haven't watched their movie/show of origin):

Weeping Angels (Doctor Who isn't really a staple-show in South Africa). Sorry dude.

Legend of the Five Rings's Fu Leng and Dark Kami of Jigoku (I've never even heard of these before that review)

Read, enjoy and review.

~GrinGrin

Written: 14/01/2014

Posted: 14/01/2014