Disclaimer: I do not own Zero no Tsukaima, Kekkaishi, Fate Stay Night, Flame of Recca or any of the ideas I base from them and other anime, books and other literature that seem familiar, and I am borrowing them purely for entertainment purpose only.
Chapter 2: Denial of Capture
One day seven years ago, the boy named Hiraga Saito was in the middle of the woods practicing what his younger sister had just taught him.
On that same day, a man wearing a monk's outfit approached him. The man, it seemed had seen him practising 'magic.' At the time, all Saito had ever been able to do was make a small pebble float in the air, but it was enough to catch the man's eye.
The man said he had seen potential in him, and thus showed Saito how to use his form of magic. For three days Saito would go into that part of the woods, where the man would teach him. On the fourth day, however, the man was no longer there, and instead Saito found a book containing the secrets of his arts, along with a farewell note, wherein the man revealed why he chose to teach Saito.
And it was not because Saito had potential. In fact, to Saito's chagrin, the man mentioned how pathetic he was, calling him a slowpoke, doorknob and other petty insults unbefitting of one wearing a monk's attire. However, just as Saito was about to tear up the note in frustration, he glanced upon a sentence in the note, praising Saito for his determination and resolve.
Saito finally understood the reason why the man taught him.
It was not because Saito had potential, but because he heard the promise that Saito made, a promise which had the man convinced that Saito was worthy.
For Saito had made a vow, a vow that he would protect his family and keep them safe no matter what, even at the cost of his own life.
And that, along with Saito's meagre abilities, was enough to convince the man that he should be taught, and was certain that Saito, despite his shortcomings, would become adept in the arts, and would use his abilities to do what is right.
The man did not make a mistake. As the years passed, Saito had indeed become strong in the branch of magic he was taught. To the man's pride and joy, the boy had become proficient in its usage, even better than when he was at Saito's age.
What pleased the man even more than the boy's vast improvement in the arts, however, is how he used the gift that he had been given. Unlike countless many the man knew who became corrupt and abused the power they had, be it magic, money, or influence, Saito was different.
Despite his abilities, he had never truly abused it, and while he used it for a few quirks and pranks now and then, Saito had never used it for any evil purpose, generally using it to protect his sister and family and nothing else.
It may not be exactly what the man wanted to see, but overall, he was pleased.
Beating up thugs and discreetly helping keep his school and neighbourhood safe. The man approved of the Saito's actions and how he made use of his abilities.
Of course the boy did not know that, since the man never showed his face to him again, only observing him from the distance when he passed by the city where the boy lived.
Neither, however, did the man know what the boy was experiencing at the moment.
Hiraga Saito, as of present, was undergoing a trial.
Or rather, his first true trial, against people with a similar ability to the one he possessed.
Magic.
Crap.
And things were not going well.
Just a few minutes prior, Saito had woken up to find himself and his sister surrounded by a bunch of mages, in a place he was not familiar with. While at first he thought the situation they were in was orchestrated by old enemies, Saito realized it was not the case, and it was all just a coincidence.
Whether it was coincidence or not however was a moot point. The fact still remains that Saito and Aoi had been sucked up in some sort of portal, forcibly whisked away from their world with the purpose of making them, the unintentional yet unfortunate victims, to become familiars, slaves and pets of some sort, to the brat who summoned them.
Despite the anger Saito felt, for Aoi's sake, had been willing to play along, but before the contract could be made, his sister woke up and snapped, which lead to their current predicament.
Though Saito felt relief that he did not end up a slave and lose his free will to the pinkette, that did not exactly made their situation any better.
The only peaceful means, negotiation, was no longer an option.
So far the battle that Saito and Aoi were currently fighting was at a near- stalemate. By some stroke of good fortune, the other mages in the area had not sought to assault them and instead fled for their lives. Out of the fifty or so magic users, only two had remained to face them.
At least, that was what Saito thought a little while ago. As his fight with the flame magic user continued Saito was beginning to grow more and more worried.
This bald teacher guy... he's strong.
Saito's kekkai technique is indeed very useful. The barrier is strong, and there are very few things that can penetrate through it. Nothing physical has ever been able to damage his kekkai, and during his spars with Aoi it would take one of her stronger spells to even manage to penetrate it.
Defence, however, is not its only use, as it could also be used for offense. While it can be used to protect the user or one of his allies, it could also be used to trap an enemy... as well as hurt them.
The kekkai has originally been created to fight against demons and evil spirits, and thus it is quite effective against apparitions. With the exception of most living things including humans, it can delete, reduce to dust, or at least severely damage most targets once collapsed, like an eraser used to erase chalk from the chalk board.
Unfortunately, there are certain conditions for it to succeed. One of them is that the kekkai must be completely intact for it to be collapsible.
"Ketsu!"
Moving his hands quickly, Saito trapped another serpent of fire heading their way... only for it to break through the barrier.
?!
"Ketsu!"
Despite his shock, Saito maintained his composure. This time, instead of just one, he entrapped the serpent in two layers of kekkai.
The fire serpent broke through the first layer, but before it could reach the second.
"Metsu!"
It was destroyed.
Damn it!
The fire his opponent was using had become stronger, and was now able to break through Saito's kekkai. Speed was a key factor. If Saito cannot collapse the kekkai in time, the fiery serpent would break free.
And aside from that, creatures of fire was not the only spell Saito's opponent was capable of using. Now the fire mage was using variations. This time, instead of flame serpents, it was a barrage of fire balls that was heading straight for the Japanese teenager at incredible speeds.
Saito barely managed to keep them at bay.
Crap. What should I do?
Saito actually considered aiming for the caster himself. The kekkai may not be able to directly harm the target, but the force of the impact the barrier's collapse would cause should be enough to knock out the living target or at the very least, distract him.
Unfortunately, not only were the flames fast, the rate at which the fire spells were being cast was also unreal that Saito did not have any moment to spare for a counter attack.
Saito, not only was he forced to remain on the defensive, he was also barely keeping it up. He was already exhausted, yet the fire magic user did not even seem to be winded.
Stamina-wise, Saito knew he should be at least able to match the fire mage.
"Haa...haa... damn that wench."
Unfortunately, throwing off the binding spell that was cast on him earlier was much more tiring than he thought.
And to make matters even worse, he was not the only one having trouble dealing with the situation.
xxxXXXxxx
While he was dealing with the fire mage, Aoi, who was standing back to back with Saito, was having problems of her own.
Although she did not have any time to spare to scrutinize every person who was in the vicinity, Aoi already noticed it. Judging by their uniform, most of the wand wielders were either students or apprentices, probably novices at using magic.
Still, though they were novices, Aoi knew that facing them all at once would be a pain, especially since she has no idea of what they were capable of.
And yet, though they left, Aoi's instinct was telling her that facing them was preferable compared to battling the lone mage who arrived at the scene and started supporting the bald fire user.
Inspired by watching a number of anime, Aoi, who for some reason she herself did not understand, have the ability and knowledge to use magic, developed her skills based from her favourite characters. Of course by doing so she was being a copycat.
Unlike the anime characters and their abilities however, Aoi's magic was real. With her free-spirited nature despite her inner coldness, she knew exactly the types of magic she wanted to master.
As a person who dreams of travelling around the world with her brother, it is only natural one of the two types of magic Aoi chose is wind magic.
Yet now she was facing an opponent who was more adept than her at using it.
In a fight between two individuals, there were always a lot of factors to consider, like speed, power, endurance, weapons used, range of said weapons, magical energy, knowledge, etc, etc.
When both combatants were using something similar to do battle, it is only natural that the one who was generally more proficient at the method had the higher chance of victory.
In terms of casting speed, she and the middle-aged woman she was fighting were evenly matched. In terms of spell power and experience, Aoi unfortunately was at a disadvantage.
Aoi and Saito were currently inside of a four layered kekkai. To make their defense stronger, she had also cast a Kazamori around them. Unlike the one which was easily breached by the fire snake, the wind shield she was using was not hastily cast and much stronger.
And yet, despite her efforts, the wind barrier Aoi created was slowly being pushed back. When she had cast the spell, Aoi took control of the air approximately ten meters radius outward.
At first Aoi's opponent had been creating wind blades to try and breach the barrier but after only three strikes she stopped.
Apparently she had only been gauging the strength of the shield. The moment she did, she started advancing, and slowly reducing the distance with a type of wind barrier of her own.
Aoi's barrier with a ten meter radius, had been reduced to five meters, and was continuously decreasing as the enemy pushed forward.
Aoi's opponent was better at controlling the air than she was.
xxxXXXxxx
Though Saito was busy handling the bald man and his fiery offense, he was not oblivious to Aoi's troubles. Though both of them had their fair share of fights, this was their first non-sparring, life and death magical battle.
And the lack of experience in this aspect was costing them.
Saito knew there was no chance of victory here. No matter how he looked at it, the two mages they were facing were above their level. Neither he nor Aoi were ready for a confrontation like this.
That aside, even if by some miracle they manage to defeat their opponents, that did not mean they were safe in the slightest. Saito knew reinforcements were coming. Though the other mages were cowards, just like the grunts of gangs he had fought, those who escaped him would tattle to their superiors.
There was only one way for them to survive something like this.
We need to escape! Thought Saito as he continued countering his opponent's fiery onslaught. But how?
Think Saito! Think!
The enemy has the upper hand. He and Aoi were barely keeping up with them with the current skill set they have.
To win is impossible. To escape is almost impossible.
Almost, however, is the key word.
Though Saito's grades in class were merely slightly above average, when it comes to things that really matters, like for example, his sister's safety, his analytical abilities go up to an extremely high level. What others may see as useless information Saito is able to find otherwise.
I got it!
When the smoke first cleared, though Saito was focusing mostly on the mages, he did not fail to notice the presence of creatures that were only supposed to exist in fairy tales and anime, as well as unfamiliar creatures that did not even exist in fiction material.
Yes, they were familiars, poor beings that were taken forcibly from their homes and their lives , yet Saito could not help but feel grateful that they were around
When panic arose among the mages because of his girlfriend going berserk, the familiars, who were startled, all did the same. Had it not been for the seriousness of the situation, Saito would have laughed at the fact that her anger managed to frighten a manticore and even a dragon.
Right now though, as Saito recalled it, his attention was not on the flight of the fantastic beasts, but rather, on one of the more mundane ones: an oversized mole.
"Hey Aoi." Saito said to his sister.
From the corner of his eyes, Saito saw her lower her head slightly, an action which he recognized to be synonymous to her asking the question What is it, onii-chan?
Saito knew this was a gamble on their part. However if they succeed, then they would be able to get out of her.
"I've got an idea," Saito stated. He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I know it's risky, but do you think you can use that?"
"..."
Saito felt a slight shift in Aoi's aura, a response which is the same as shouting the words: Are you crazy?
Though he could not see her face, the raven-haired young man was certain that his normally pokerfaced girlfriend had a brow twitching.
But then...
It's not like we have any other choice...
xxxXXXxxx
"I know it's risky, but do you think you can use that?"
Saito is a rather accomplished tactician, that much Aoi knew. Despite their supposedly high difference in I.Q, she knew this much to be true of her older brother.
Yet the plan he had in mind, whatever it was, since it involved using that, it was something which Aoi could only consider as stupidity.
Wind magic has always been what Aoi preferred to use. However, it is not her strongest magic.
Her main element is actually something else yet unfortunately she could not control it yet. The stronger one's affinity is, the greater the output yet the harder it is to manipulate.
Once in the past while Aoi was practicing magic she tried to cast that particular spell at its full power.
It almost resulted in a tragedy.
Had it not been for her brother's kekkai abilities to contain it, as well as the fact that she had cast it at a non-populated area, she could have caused a lot of collateral damage.
And now Saito wants her to use that?
Aoi loves her brother but even she had to admit this was insane.
Yet now that she thought about it, her brother's seemingly insane ideas seem to work out in the end... mostly.
Sighing to herself, Aoi decided to go with her brother's plan.
After all, despite being the top ranking student in their school, it's not like she had any better ideas.
Although it probably had more to do with the fact that she trusts her brother completely...
Though if you add the times when he made these types of decisions, the word almost can be added...
Aoi closed her eyes and started to focus her magical energy at a certain point.
Immediately, the air barrier she was maintaining weakened.
Now that she was no longer supporting it, their wind mage enemy was able to quicken her advance. Two seconds was all it took for her to take down Aoi's Kazamori.
Had Aoi been on her own, it would have already been certain defeat.
Fortunately she was not alone. Her boyfriend Saito, while continuing to deflect the onslaught of the fire mage, increased the number of kekkai layers around them.
Since Saito was used to sparring with Aoi, despite the flames and the wind spells being on the same level of power, the barrier was more resistant to the wind than it was to fire spells.
Though they still managed to do some damage.
Ten seconds. Since Aoi rarely used it, it took her ten seconds to complete this particular spell.
Thankfully she made it.
Aoi had always been fond of copying spells from the anime she watched.
This one, however, was one of her originals.
"Fire blizzard," the blue-haired female intoned quietly.
Immediately the world turned brilliant into a swirl of brilliant orange. Contrary to the tranquil voice and invocation, the spell cast was unstable and turbulent, as an F-3 scale twister formed around Aoi and Saito.
Unlike the tornadoes that usually plow through Tornado Alley in America however, this one was much more sinister, as aside from the wind possibly tearing anyone caught up in it to shreds, they would also be roasted alive.
Now, it's up to you onii-chan, thought Aoi, as she fell to the ground unconscious, exhausted from the strain of casting the particular spell.
xxxXXXxxx
The whirlwind of fire was working as an effective barrier. No matter what the enemy mages did, their spells could not penetrate.
However, as it was destroying the enemy's spells as they made contact with the turbulent fiery wind, it was also destroying the kekkais that Saito created with much more ease than even the bald mage's fiery serpents.
Even if she was still awake, Aoi would not have been able to control it. Because it was still unstable and not yet mastered by its caster, it was a double edged sword.
For Saito, however, this was not a problem. After all, this was not the first time that he had to deal with this. Compared to having to fully concentrate on an opponent and predict what he would do next, dealing with a twister of flames is much easier.
At this point in time he wanted nothing more than to check on his sister's condition. However, he knew that doing so would be foolish.
Now's our chance! Thought Saito. Now that their enemies could not see them, hidden by the fiery tornado, Saito could now focus on his plan with little fear of them having a countermeasure. Aoi, just hang in there!
Saito knew that escaping would be a difficult task. No matter which direction they decide to use, in an open space like the grassland they were in, it was easy to spot them. They may have camouflaging spells, but they only work if they stay still, and getting found was still a high chance.
Front. Back. Left. Right. Neither of these were an option.
And neither was the sky. Although Saito and Aoi both knew how to fly, their enemies are likely able to do the same thing. The fact that some of the apprentices mages who fled the area did so by flying meant that more experienced magi like the ones Saito and Aoi were facing likely knew how to as well.
And more likely than not, they were bound to be faster and more experienced at it than him or his sister.
So there was only one path they could use.
Going down! Thought the raven-haired boy before he shouted his signature spell and aimed it at the ground beneath them.
"Ketsu!"
xxxXXXxxx
Caves are cavities in rocks created by natural causes. Overall they vary in size, yet there are those which are really large and hollow that the vacant space is about the size of a mansion. Such caves, which are also called caverns, can be used as protection by animals, as well as human beings against rain and the elements.
And in one such cavern, two persons in particular were currently taking shelter. However, this particular cavern was unique in that it not only provides shelter against the elements... it was also a viable source of other necessities.
For inside of this particular cavern, an underground river flowed, from which living creatures can get their drinking water... as well as food.
An underground river which coincidentally, was flowing right underneath the grassland where the two were an hour before.
"Whoa- look Aoi, I got a big one!" A male voice shouted cheerfully, smiling, as he got out of the water and brought back the struggling fish which he caught using only one hand.
His smile faltered, however, when he dropped the fish beside another and compared the two.
"But not as big as the one you caught, though," he sighed in disappointment. "Right, I better go see if I can catch another."
Watching her older brother go back to the river, the girl whose face was half-hidden by a book yet was actually just pretending to read it, shook her head slightly, a small smile appearing on her lips, knowing exactly why her brother was sulking. Saito was trying to impress Aoi but he thought he was failing miserably at it.
What he did not know was that his sister, who is also his girlfriend, was actually impressed by the display. Without his shirt on, even though she had seen him countless times without it already, seeing him in action with his lean yet muscular body still left her somewhat mesmerized.
After a while large skewered fish were roasting beside a merrily crackling fire.
"Hey, look! I think it's done now."
Removing the skewered fish away from the fire, Saito handed the largest one over to Aoi, as he sat beside her, and the two of them began to eat. If one were to see them, it would look as if the two of them were simply happy campers going camping.
Neither of the two, however, were happy campers.
In fact, it was quite the opposite. Due to circumstances beyond their control, Saito and Aoi had somehow ended up in another world, and just a while ago, they almost lost their lives.
It had been a close call for the both of them. Had it not been for Saito's quick thinking, both of them would probably be dead, enslaved, or something along the lines of either ceasing to exist or becoming a miserable existence.
It had not been an easy task, escaping powerful enemies, but somehow they managed to do so. Using the fire storm as a distraction, Saito's intention was to dig a tunnel underground with his kekkai and escape unnoticed with his sister, something which they successfully managed to do.
By a stroke of luck, it turned out that there was an underground river flowing right underneath the grasslands, which they managed to utilize. To minimize the chance of being followed, Saito had created several underground tunnels as a form of misdirection while closing the hole that led to the river itself. It was exhausting on Saito's part, but it was necessary. All he could do now is hope it would work.
And yet, even if though they were no longer in immediate danger, it hardly made things any better.
Lost. That is their current situation. Saito and Aoi, thanks to some magic using creeps, no matter their appearance, had been taken away from their home.
Much as Saito hated to think about things, after having thought about things a lot in the past little while, he knew that the chances of them ever getting back home was slim.
And to make matters worse...
I still haven't proposed to her...
Now that things had somehow become calm, Saito recalled exactly what he was planning to do before the damn green portal appeared and ruined everything.
In truth, Saito was truly feeling tired and weary about everything, and a part of him was telling him to just give up and accept his fate.
However, that part of him, no matter the situation, had always done that. And no matter the situation, it has never succeeded.
And it never will, because he has someone worth living for.
He has someone worth fighting for.
That someone was sitting right beside him.
He has a reason to continue moving forward.
"Onii-chan?"
Beside Saito, his younger sister was looking up at him, her face having the expression of someone who was slightly worried... meaning she was very, very worried.
Realizing that he probably had that same look on his face, Saito quickly changed it to his carefree one.
"Don't worry Aoi-chan. We'll find a way home, I promise." Saito whispered in an assuring tone, as he placed his free hand around her waist and pulled her closer to him.
Saito knew that things are going to be difficult for the two of them from this point on. Many dangers and obstacles are bound to await them in this new world. Though he did not like it, the raven-haired boy knew that what they had been through was probably just the tip of the iceberg.
They needed to be ready, they need to be prepared for the worst.
We must become stronger... I have to become stronger so that I can protect Aoi... I'm feeling sleepy though, so I think I'll take a nap first... thought Saito with a yawn.
For now, though, Saito decided it would be best for him and his sister to rest and enjoy the temporal peace while it lasts, and the two of them, tired from their encounter, fell asleep in each other's arms.
After all, keeping the body in good in condition is one way of preparing for the worst.
xxxXXXxxx
It is said that times of hardship and trial tend to bring out either the best or the worst in people, a saying which Jean Colbert, cold-hearted soldier turned peace-loving teacher of Tristain Academy of Magic, knew to be very true by experience.
On a bloody battlefield that could be considered as hell on earth where all hope seems lost, for example, there were two typical ways someone would react. One, give up on life all together. Two, do anything and everything to survive, betraying friends and comrades if need be, applying the 'every man for himself' 'principle.'
There are a few, however, who respond differently, and instead of giving up or letting their animal survival instincts take over, they would grind their teeth and hold on, never giving up on the principles and ideals that they believe in.
And there are also those who, instead of caring for their own safety, would go out and try to help their comrades, even if they themselves were in grave danger.
Just as he expected, most of the students, although it is upon Colbert's own urging, immediately fled back to the Castle, although even if he did not do so, he guessed that is probably what they would still have done.
However, there were a few who remained.
Louise Valliere, who had the unfortunate combination of pride and lack of magical talent, had always been taunted by her classmates. Perhaps if she did not have such a short temper she would not have been teased so much as some of the others who have magical troubles, but her loudmouth and over-impulsiveness made her a favourite target.
And yet, when Colbert's pink-haired student was in grave danger, the ones to respond to her aid were those who were the harshest at ridiculing her.
Kirche von Zerbst, a member of a noble Germanian family that had been at odds with the Valliere for decades, as well as one of the most enthusiastic of her tormentors, was the first one to come to the pinkette's aid, followed closely from behind by her best friend Charlotte de Orleans, Guiche de Gramont and Margarita Montmorency, the group of four consisting three of Louise Valliere's worst daily tormentors. Out of all things that could occur, this was not one of those which the bald wizard could have predicted.
From the corner of his eye, Colbert had been watching as the wind mage of the trio dispelled what he assumed was a variation of the Air Canonball spell that was continuously crushing the pinkette, carefully extricating her from the tree, while Montmorency brought out a bottle from her pocket and made the Valliere girl drink its contents, before they started to lift her gently with levitation and headed in the direction of the castle, likely towards the infirmary.
Thus, while he was disappointed with most of his students for running away (even if he wanted them to be safe), he was proud of how some of them reacted to the situation.
Sadly, upon looking at his own reflection in a mirror as he washed his face, Colbert knew he could not say the same for himself, which meant that any pride he held for his students was meaningless, since he himself was a shameful person.
Before he became a teacher, Jean Colbert was a soldier, a formidable square class fire mage who held the runic name Flame Snake, and was greatly feared by his enemies, due to his notoriety at incinerating his foes, leaving behind nothing but ashes. During his time in service, the number who fell by his hands amounted to thousands.
Still, despite being a merciless warrior, he still held on to his principles, and thus he had never slain innocents, unless there was a truly critical reason for it. He had been sent to missions when he had no other option but to do just that, but, much as it got his conscience, like the loyal soldier that he is, he hardened his heart, and still went through with them.
He was not above slaughtering anyone, even women, children, and the elderly, if there was a valid reason for it. He truly believed that what he was doing was actually helping maintain peace, and that his actions were all justified.
However, in one of these missions, he realized just how wrong he was. With reports that an epidemic was plaguing a certain town, he and his men were sent to destroy it, to prevent the disease from spreading to other places, and thus saving more people by slaughtering the infected... only for Colbert to find out too late that the report was false, that the men and women who he burned to death were actually in good health.
Colbert knew that he was being used from the start, as all soldiers are. To him, killing guiltless individuals who could cause the spread of disease was barely acceptable, but acceptable nonetheless. Sending him to butcher innocent people for a selfish reason, however, was not.
And it was the last straw for the powerful fire mage. His conscience unable to take anymore, the Flame Snake left the field of battle, and became a school teacher and researcher, determined to devote the rest of his rest life to atonement, teaching and guiding the younger generation so that they would not make the same mistakes that he made, as well as discovering new and inventive ideas that would help build, not destroy as he had used his fire magic to do countless times.
Sadly, just like any man and any system, there are flaws which are present. It is true that since his time in the Academy, he did make sure, to the best of his ability, that the students, who were members of the nobility, did not abuse the school workers, especially the maids, who were commoners, both to protect them, as well as teach the students valuable lessons in life.
When it comes to certain aspects of religion, however, Colbert would normally still follow through to the letter, especially if it involved magic directly. Rituals, after all, are sacred, and as such, are best not trifled with... like the Springtime Familiar Summoning Ritual for example.
Right now though, he wished he just listened to what his heart was telling him rather than simply follow protocol.
Having served years as a soldier in the battlefield, he had a lot of control over his emotions, and thus, on the surface, he seemed calm and composed. In truth, however, he was actually emotionally distraught.
This is all my fault. Thought Colbert bitterly to himself.
From behind a door he was hiding, watching with genuine concern as two medics tended to Louise Valliere, using anything and everything available to ensure she recovers. Having heard their conversation, Colbert knew that they were only doing their best because they were afraid of the wrath of the girl's mother.
To Colbert, such a way of thinking was disgraceful for healers, but then who was he to judge?
After all, he had just treated a human being as if he was an animal, all because he had been summoned by a familiar summoning ritual. Once he thought the human summoned did not have magic when the Detect Magic Spell showed negative, which meant said summoned human was a commoner, Colbert completely disregarded his own principles and treated the person like trash.
He was no better than when he was still a soldier.
No, perhaps he had become even worse, as now being a hypocrite is added to his list of crimes.
Colbert has made a grave mistake... a grave mistake that nearly cost the life of his ward.
He failed his duty as a teacher. He failed his duty as the students' second parent.
But worst of all, he failed to remain true to himself. He failed to remain true and stand up for what he believed was right. Though he knew it was not their fault, instead of trying to settle thing peacefully, he tried to murder the summoned human and who Colbert assumed as the other human that was summoned who he did not notice before.
Of course he reacted in such a manner because the two were being hostile, but whose fault was it that they were hostile in the first place but Colbert's, as he allowed his student to attempt to bind the person, an action which could be considered as the first strike?
No matter how Colbert tried to look at it, he was the one responsible.
But now it was too late for him to regret. Now all he could do was pray, hope and pray, that his student recovers, and while he would do what he can to help in their capture, Colbert was hoping deep down, that the two mages he fought were smart enough to stay hidden and undetected.
Even though he should be angry at them for hurting his students, Colbert could not find it in his heart to blame them.
Still, as he started walking towards the Headmaster's office to attend the emergency meeting, Colbert, his curious side getting the better of him, could not help but wonder.
The two opponents he and Professor Kana fought were not using wands to cast their spells. Still, from what Colbert could tell, it does not seem to be Elven magic.
But still, for the boy to be able to cancel his flames, meant he was square class at least, using a mixture of what seemed to be air and earth or air and water Colbert had never seen before... maybe even stronger.
The fact that the strongest Square level flame serpent Colbert cast could be destroyed by the spells his opponent was using meant that he too may be at the pinnacle of square level.
The boy seemed to lack experience, but given time, he had the potential to become a monster on the battlefield.
Just like me, thought Colbert bitterly.
And as for the other one, the one who cast the whirlwind of fire that rendered wind and fire spells against it useless.
Colbert knew she was quite powerful, but his curiosity of her was less focused on her ability than it was on something else.
That girl... why are they so similar? Why does she look so much like her?
Two storms, both chillingly cold.
Yet one was a storm of fire...
The other... a storm of snow.
xxxXXXxxx
To be continued...
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Alright, another chapter out. Now I don't think I need to say this but whenever I post a chapter it's always raw so I might do some edits here and there but overall the plot will remain the same.
Truth be told, I think I indirectly implied that I might reveal Aoi's identity in this chapter. Well, I did not, but I did leave some clues. When it comes out some chapters from now though, you might be surprised... or not. Just to tell you though the obvious guesses may or may not be the correct guess, or maybe partially correct... or not... Sorry, I'm being evil but you'll have to wait.
Now, onto other matters. This story will mostly be written from the perspective of the two main characters or the narrator's which itself focuses on the two main characters as well. From time to time there will be segments showing things from others' perspective but mostly it will focus on Saito and Aoi.
Yes, things are going to take a hit now. Louise, though she is supposedly a worthless magician, is a Valliere, so I think you know how hard it's going to make things for the protagonists of this story if ever they are caught or discovered. Then there is that 'other person' and her 'best friend' who will undoubtedly get involved. If you want to know what would happen next then tune in for the next epis- I mean chapter.
That's enough for now though, can't give out too many spoilers.
I'm thinking about canon events but depending on how I go with the plot, the war may or may not occur, honestly aside from certain things, I'm not sure with how to go about this yet. If you have any ideas to share I would gladly listen- I mean read.
And like always, I hope you enjoy reading this chapter...
Later then, people...