Foreword: Hello everyone. I hope you enjoyed the holidays. I apologize for not updating for two months. Those two months had been filled with errands and stress which just didn't give me time to relax and get some writing done.
But as befitting with this new year, we have entered the next phase of the story. Things are about to escalate from this point on. New surprises will be coming next chapter.
Without further ado, enjoy!
Zeroes of Two Worlds
Chapter 14
His office felt quite cramped with entire faculty and administrative staff present for the final meeting. They are seated around a new table placed at the center of his office while he remained seated behind his own desk.
"The last deliveries have been shipped in yesterday and its contents have been checked for quality control. We now have ample stocks of food and wine for the festivities and the banquets, and we already began preparing the meals to be made on the day of the Exhibition." Chef Marteau reported.
There were nods of approval from faculty and the administration, through some didn't seem to approve his presence such as one professor who spoke up.
"Are you sure that the menu would up to the taste for our guests?" Professor Guiteau asked the chef as he read the parchment, likely the menu for the festivities, with a disapproving frown. "We would be entertaining guests from the Palace after all." He remarked with a hint of disdain in his tone.
Chef Marteau looked at the professor but didn't show any reaction at the professor's veiled insult. The good chef is respected among the lowborn members of the academy staff not just for his cooking but also for his management of the academy servants, along being their mediator with the institute's administration.
Of course, this rankled some members of the faculty like Professor Guiteau who strongly believed in the superiority of the highborn, whose bloodlines are blessed with magic and their lineage to the Founder. He's also believed in the hierarchy of the elements and thus their power, with Wind being the superior of course. His prominent example is the prowess of the Heavy Wind who routed an invading Germanian army after singularly defeating their mages and decimating their force.
Guiteau should consider himself blessed for he hasn't met the Heavy Wind for the renowned mage has other opinions about such matter.
"I have reviewed the menu for the banquet, and I find them more than satisfactory, Mr. Guiteau." He calmly spoke up as eyes turned to him. "I'm confident in the good chef's skills that these cuisines would match the works of the palace chefs."
"I'm humbled by your kind words, headmaster." Chef Marteau replied graciously with a small nod.
Guiteau huffed under his breath. "I'm merely making sure that what would be presented to our royal guests are up to standards, headmaster." He reasoned but acquiesced to Osmond's decision. He then discretely glared at the chef before calming himself.
"If there are no further objections, let's proceed." Osmond turned to another man on the table. "How goes our security, Captain Terrail?"
"We have hired militia men from the nearby towns for provisional duties while our regulars will be transferred to critical locations for increased security." The guard captain started as Osmond listened to the rest of his report.
Things had been hectic the past few days since they had been informed about the Royal visitation for the Familiar Exhibition. While it is not uncommon for royalty to visit for the Exhibition, the small timeframe for such a preparation created headaches for the academy. Classes had been suspended in order to give the Second Years time to prepare for the exhibition. This also freed up the faculty for other duties such as bolstering the defense and security of the academy.
Speaking of which, Osmond turned to the plump professor after the guard captain finished his report. "How are our wards, Mrs. Cherveuse?"
The lady earth mage straightened up in her seat and made her report. "The wards remains strong and untampered based on my examination yesterday. The spell matrices are still holding and their flow remains nominal. I have also taken the liberty of checking the reinforcements of our walls, and found no issues as well."
"That's good to hear." Osmond nodded approvingly, and relieved that the academy's structural strength is still strong despite its age. This meant that the wards are functioning as intended and preventing any degradations. He then turned to the balding professor and his close confidant, Colbert, and inquired for his report. "How are the lacrima blaze and cordite supplies, Mr. Colbert?"
"The blaze is running within operational range and its output. The accumulators are filled to capacity, and their switches are found to be responsive after testing. If trouble does occur during the Exhibition, the academy's defenses will be capable of withstanding it and empowering our wards to greater strengths." Colbert first reported as continued. "Our current stores of cordite will allow us to continue operations for a month before we need to re-stock without needing to touch our critical stores."
Osmond nodded again, and happy with his report. "Good work, Mr. Colbert. But I would like you to check their security again later once you're done with your other duties." He advised to him, and Colbert nodded in confirmation.
The headmaster turned his attention to the others to continue with the rest of the meeting. They discussed the reports and findings from other members of the administration, and made some last minute decisions to rectify some changes and issues that arose.
A glowing crescent of bluish-white energy flew across the air before it struck a thick piece of timber. It cut deep into the timber before it rapidly lost cohesion and detonated, sending large pieces of wood flying around.
Jaune raised his arm to shield his face from the debris, and then sighed as he shook his head. He looked towards Louise, standing a little further away, and called out to her. "This is not going to work, Louise."
"I can see that." Louise said dryly as she examined the results of his latest attempt. "You at least managed to cut halfway through before it exploded."
"At least it's doing more damage rather than being wasted by fizzing out." He reasoned, referring to some of his earlier attempts.
"It's still not good enough. We can't present this kind of performance to the princess." Louise remarked strongly as she shook her head at the results. "Get another stand set up, and do it again. We have to make this right."
He shook his head at her and her insistence. She wanted him to do something like clay-shooting back in Remnant but with his sword. But they didn't have enough time for him to practice and hone that particular skill.
"Louise... The Exhibition is in two days, we can't spare time to practice for this." He reminded her, not to mention he's getting tired from his training. His aura had given him greater stamina but he had been expending aura which negated the benefits.
"I know that!" She shouted as she pulled at her hair and gritted her teeth in frustration. "But we need this to be perfect! I can't be embarrassed in front of the princess!"
She got interrupted from her rant with a start when Jaune suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders and held her steady. His grip on her arms were strong but not tight. She squirmed in his grasp, trying to free herself, but Jaune's strength kept her in his grasp.
"Deep breaths, Louise. Deep breaths." He told her as he too took deep breaths for her to emulate. Louise glared at him for a moment before she slowly took a deep breath. She then released it with a heavy sigh, her shoulders started to relax, and repeated it a few more times.
"Have you calmed down?" She nodded, feeling a little relived from the stress that had built up. "We'll have to settle with our original plan. It's already flashy and cool looking. So I have no doubt it will be entertaining for everyone to watch, even the Princess."
"I suppose so." Louise sighed once again, still skeptical about the original act they have previously agreed to do. She wanted something better after seeing what Zerbst and her familiar were practicing. The spiraling flame was spectacular to behold. Not wanting to be usurped, she demanded to change Jaune's act but he was right that they simply didn't have enough time.
"I just don't want to be embarrassed before the princess." She bemoaned.
"Don't worry about it." Jaune gently patted her on the shoulder. "I don't think we'll do bad even if we don't win." He reassured her before letting her go. "We'll be fine."
Louise nodded reluctantly, still uncertain about their original plan but nothing can be done to rectify it.
"I believe that Zero doesn't have anything to worry about." They heard someone spoke, and turned their heads to see Guiche walking towards them.
Louise frowned at his presence and asked. "And what do you mean by that?"
"I'm merely saying that you have to worry about not embarrassing yourself. It will be an embarrassment regardless." Guiche answered haughtily.
"Says the guy who was lounging in the courtyard with a giant mole." Jaune remarked as he interjected before Louise could respond. Louise glanced at him questioningly but didn't comment before she looked back at Guiche.
"I'm not merely lounging, We were perfecting display for the upcoming Exhibition." Guiche corrected him. He shook his head and tipped his rose wand to Jaune. "And Verdandi is no mere creature. He's an elegant and intelligent beast whose beauty is impeccable as mine." He proudly stated with a flick of lush blonde hair.
Jaune scrunched his eyebrows, and confused by what he meant. He turned to Louise for clarification but she just shrugged as she too is confused.
"You're plan to just sit on the stage as your talent?" Jaune inquired, not seeing by what he really planned to do.
Guiche looked offended when he said that before huffing. "I see that you're skills merely fell on your sword, and don't have an eye for the arts." He said condescendingly. "I plan to awe the princess and the school with a dazzling display of our glamour on the stage!" He stated confidently.
"Uh huh..." Jaune still couldn't quite get by what he meant. Beside him, Louise gently pinched her nose and mumbled something about a foppish poseur. "Do you need anything else, Guiche?" He asked, wanting to be done with this.
"Only to tell you that it I who will triumph over your barbaric talents. Good day." With that, Guiche turned around and quickly walked away, leaving the two perplexed by the exchange.
Jaune turned to look at his summoner and asked. "So... Any idea what was that all about?"
Louise huffed irritably. "Are you being daft?"
"Eh? Why are you asking me that?" Jaune blinked.
"He raised a challenge against you for the upcoming Exhibition, and he plans to win it." She plainly informed him as she looked at him strangely. "How did you not notice that?"
Jaune groused sulkily. "Don't tell me that was an invitation to a duel that I was not aware about?"
"No it isn't. Thankfully." She told him. "I doubt Guiche would allow himself to be humiliated like that once again. He knew what you are capable of, and would steer away from such confrontation."
That made sense to him. He defeated the earth mage and his bronze golems, and he remembered how scared Guiche was when he had him in his mercy. He thought that would be the end of it, but it seemed that Guiche had recovered enough to face him again. Though he suspected one good reason as two why that is.
"Do you think he's trying to win back Montmorency using the Exhibition?" He inquired to Louise and aired out his suspicions. After listening to his explanation, Louise thought about it for a few moments before she nodded.
"That makes sense. He would try to new avenues to win her back, especially with Montmorency making overtures to you."
"I still don't understand why she picked me out of everyone." He wondered.
"It's because you're a safe person to do so." Louise frankly stated to him.
"Huh? Safe how?"
She explained it to him as she elaborated about the situation. "You have no political connections in Tristain, aside from myself and my family. Your status as my familiar at least makes you as a respected retinue of my family, but nothing else. Your own foreign lineage and deference to chivalry showed that you're respectable and she won't lose face amongst her peers, regardless of the outcome of the courtship."
Jaune looked at her with a soft scowl and bluntly stated. "So I'm her rebound." When Louise was confused by the term, he explained it to her in turn. "It's a person who became boyfriend or girlfriend to someone who had recently left their previous relationship. My sisters talked about it while I was still in middle school."
"I see." Louise slowly nodded. She could see by what he meant by it despite the strange words he had used. His apparent apprehension with Montmorency made sense, and she could sympathize. She would be scandalized by such a relationship if she received such a proposal.
"Let's get back on finalizing your act for the Exhibition. While I'm uncertain of Guiche's stage act, I am certain that Zerbst will do much better than him." She told him as she thought of ways to improve their performance. "We still need something to get over Zerbst and her familiar."
Jaune sighed internally as they've returned to trying to make some last minute changes to the act. The princess must have meant alot to her if she's this insistent, aside being adamant of getting a score over Kirche.
"What about using the gold sword Kirche gave to me? It's flashy and I can use its glow to-" Jaune suggested before Louise cut him off.
"No!" She vehemently replied and glared at him. "We won't use that sword for this, and I won't give that Germanian any reason to claim any part of it."
"Alright. Alright." Jaune responded in a placating manner, realizing that it is still a sore item to her. "I only brought it up because I thought it could help."
Louise scoffed softly before saying. "I know you mean well." She acknowledged. "But I would prefer if you let that thing be forgotten." She sternly told him, making herself clear to him.
"I understand." Jaune gave a curt nod to her, which she accepted. He thought of other things he could use to add more flare to his swordplay. Something with more flash of color. He then remembered something during their first trip.
"What about ether crystals that you mentioned back in the city?" He suggested to her. "I noticed that many devices in this academy are powered by it, but I never got to see one. Do you think we could borrow or buy a few from the academy?"
Louise shook her head. "I doubt the academy would even lend us one of their crystals especially if they'll only be used for something like the Exhibition. We won't even be allowed to handle them until we're next year."
"That sucks." Jaune huffed sadly.
"Why did you ask for those crystals? Were you planning to use them for the Exhibition?" Louise asked.
"Yes. I thought that since Dust seemed similar to elemental stones, I could use those crystals like Dust to give my aura a little more... oomph." He explained.
"Wait... Don't you have any of those Dust among your items?" Louise looked intrigued.
"No.. I don't have any on me besides what's inside my scroll and batteries." He regretfully informed her, much to her disappointment.
"Let's get back to my room and rest there. Let's also see what you could wear for Exhibition." Louise said as she started walking towards the tower where her dorm is. He quickly followed after her since he had nothing else to do, and he could use the time to see what he could use from his new clothes.
The two moons hung in the night sky above, and shone down its light upon the Academy of Magic. Apart from the few guards, the rest are already in their quarters as they prepared to rest for the night.
Deep inside the main tower, a lone figure softly walked along the hallway while being completely covered under a black cloak. The figure soon stopped before a large double door within a stone arch. The doors are secured with a large lock located in between. There didn't seem to be any other locking mechanisms on or around the doors, but the thief won't be fooled.
The thief checked the surroundings for any onlookers before getting to work. A wand is pointed at the door as a spell is quietly chanted. No detections spells were found but discovered a potent hardening spell and interweaved with a repairing spell. The diagnostic spell also uncovered different nodes whose existence the thief is aware of, and how they interacted with the spells that protected the vault.
The thief frowned as the discovery but needed to get a closer look. With eyes closed, a hand is placed over the door and started examining the power of the spell matrix.
"The hardening spell is far more potent that I anticipated. There's also a warding spell beneath the interweave that is linked to a surge node. That would definitely stop my attempts out cold. My alchemy won't even be able to break through the hardening intervweave. However if I use a Yord..."
With a smirk, the thief took out a orange crystal and uttered a spell while keeping a hand on the door. With careful precision, the empowered spell began its work to dismantle the intervweave.
The spell was working as it should by diverting the hardening spell while weakening the door's structural integrity. But the repairing spell prevented any breaks to fully form. This forced her to divert that spell but this only allowed the hardening spell to quickly strengthen the door. The interweave also started to overpower the thief's spell and is soon forced back to the beginning.
"Damn it. The security is too strong for me to handle. I have expected the Academy to have such defenses but not at this level. Even the national bank wasn't this secure when I broke into their vaults." The frustrated thief mused. "I wonder what else is in there that warranted this kind of security. I need to think of another plan now that I know what to expect. I won't leave until I have the Armature."
The thief swiftly left the vicinity of the Academy vault without its objective, and retreated for the night like a phantom.
Today is a bright and exciting day for the Tristain Academy of Magic as they prepared for the arrival of the royal entourage. The academy is filled with frenzied energy with final arrangements and cleaning to tidy up the venues and quarters. The same can be said for the students as they filed out of their dorms to muster at the main courtyard.
"Come on! We can't be late for her arrival." Louise shouted at him urgingly as soon as they left the tower.
"Wait for me!" Jaune called back and staggered after her as he adjusted the straps of one of his pauldrons. He also had his vambraces on his forearms but had left his breastplate back in their room, leaving his new gambeson in plain sight.
The gambeson is a long trimmed padded jacket that extended down below his waist with white torso, long black sleeves, and gray collar. It would serve as his secondary armor below his plates, and it's resistant to punctures and slashes which will serve him well. Not to mention it didn't feel as hot as he would have thought, something about a small enchantment on it.
They headed towards the northern courtyard along with the rest of the students. The students assembled on both sides of the stone path that ran from the gate house towards the central tower, while the faculty and administrative staff assembled before the steps of the main staircase along with some of the guards. Jaune and Louise managed to secure a spot just behind the first line, and are joined by the others from their class.
"Looks like everyone here." Jaune noted.
"Of course, it is. This is the first time that the princess would be visiting the academy. This is a rare privilege to see the princess up close." Louise informed him as she looked on expectantly.
"Eh? Wouldn't the princess have been in the academy before to study magic?" He asked. He had thought that someone like the princess would have been given special admission into the academy.
Louise shook her and and corrected him. "The princess had never been into the academy since she is tutored back in the palace through royal patronage and tutors."
"I see." Jaune replied with a nod. That made some sense since the princess would be given the best education compared to her peers amongst the mage nobility in this kingdom. "Is that normal for children of royalty to have tutors instead of attending the academy?"
"That's how it is normally done." She confirmed. "But it is not forbidden for members of royalty to attend the academy or other institutions in Tristain, and there had been records of royalty attending as students."
"That's good to know."
"Hmmm... You seem very curious about the princess, little prince." He heard the voice of Kirche beside him. He turned towards her and saw Kirche standing near him. There's also Tabitha beside her, currently reading a book despite the occasion.
"It's my first time to ever see royalty this close actually. I always wanted to meet a princess back home, but I won't get the chance with things back home." He told her. And it's true, he dreamed of meeting a princess and him being her gallant knight. This would be the closest he would experience such an encounter.
"Don't you have royalties back in your homeland?" Kirche inquired to him.
"We haven't had any royals for a long time since the councils were formed. But the families still likely run for seats on the council." He answered with a shrug.
His answer seemed to just confuse Kirche and was about to respond when they heard a loud cry from the academy gatehouse which echoed across the courtyard.
"Her Royal Highness approaches!"
There was a rush of hushed movement as everyone assembled themselves in parade formation, and the academy guards quickly took positions on both sides of the path near the gatehouse. He and Louise got into formation with the rest of the students, and stood beside each other as excitement filled the everyone in the courtyard. He did notice that Louise is very excited about the visit compared to the other students.
Atop the gatehouse, Jaune could see some of the guards standing by the crenelations with long trumpets with banners of white and deep blue attached near the front. Headmaster Osmond, standing at the center of the faculty, stood straighter as did the rest of the people beside him.
They soon heard the clopping of hooves over the stone path along with the turning of wheels. Hushed murmurs were excitedly exchange between the students as they waited for the princess' arrival. Soon the royal procession finally entered the academy and are greeted with a fanfare of trumpets from atop the gatehouse.
Jaune blinked. And blinked again, unsure if his eyes were deceiving him.
Four great white stallions, clad with golden helmets, led the carriage through the gate. But what really stood out to Jaune is that protruding from their heads, and through their helmets, were long spiraling horns.
"Oh dust, those are unicorns." He knew his sisters would be green with envy especially Amber and Megan. Those two loved unicorns.
He wanted to take pictures with scroll right then and there, but he didn't want to alarm the guards that came with the convoy. So he wisely stayed his hand and observed the entourage.
The carriage that the unicorns pulled is elaborately decorated and adorned with sculpted sigils made with gold, silver and even platinum. One symbol that caught his eye is the head of the unicorn that is crossed with a crystal staff. Considering who is visiting, he guessed that would be the royal standard for the princess of Tristain.
There are other carriages that were following behind the princess' carriage, with one also elaborately decorated, but these are pulled by normal horses. The royal guards flanked the entire entourage on each side while they rode atop their horses that are clad in armor and heraldry.
The royal procession soon halted as the princess' carriage stopped before the entourage of academy guard who served as today's honor guards. He heard a soft click and boards folded out from under the carriage and formed a small padded staircase below the door. A palace maid left the carriage first before she held out a hand to someone inside.
"Announcing the arrival of Her Royal Highness of the Kingdom of Tristain, Princess Henrietta!" The captain of the academy's honor guard announced.
A hand accepted the maid's hand and the princess stepped out from the carriage. The students applauded as they are finally graced with the Princess' presence. She wore a beautiful flowery smile on her face as she elegantly waved to the crowd of students who cheered louder.
She had a short purple hair that framed her youthful face, and she wore a small crown on her head. She also wore a white silk dress that fit her figure closely with long sleeves that reaches up to her hands. She had a purple cloak over her dress which gave her a more regal look.
"Oh such beauty!" He turned towards Guiche as he heard that. "There's no doubt why she's called the Flower of Tristain!" Guiche swooned with an iconic rose in hand.
Beside him, he could see Montmorency looking at him sharply. She noticed him looking at her, and waved at him with a small smile. He nodded in return before turning back to the procession.
"That's the Princess of Tristain? Hmmm... I'm better looking than that." Kirche softly remarked near him. She then leaned closer to him and asked. "Oh little prince, who do you think is prettier?"
Princess Henrietta held herself with grace as she walked towards the headmaster and his assembled staff. She is accompanied by knights of the Palace Guards who followed just a step behind her. She waved towards the gathered students which is met with cheers which elated her heart.
The headmaster and the others kneeled before her as soon as she approached them. The headmaster then spoke up in humble greeting.
"We are honored by your presence, Your Royal Highness."
"It is I who is honored, Headmaster Osmond. Thank you for accepting my selfish request to join the festivities." She graciously replied.
"It's not trouble at all, Your Grace. The students and I have been eagerly awaiting your arrival." The headmaster responded in turn while keeping his head bowed, staff flat on the ground.
"I wanted to bare witness to this year's Exhibition with my own eyes, and I eagerly await tomorrow's presentation."
The headmaster raised his head with a curious look on his aged face. "Oh? Is there a -"
"That is more of a personal matter." She gently interrupted as she graced him with a smile.
"Of course." The headmaster bowed his head in understanding.
Jaune observed the happenings around him as he sat beside Louise by the dining table with the Second Years for lunch. The atmosphere is filled with excitement as the music is played over the hushed conversations between the students. Even Louise looked very happy and was having small talks with another student beside her.
The banquet is held in the Alviss Hall which is located one floor above the Great Hall where students usually dined. It's very different from the Great Hall with the crystal chandeliers that hang from vaulted ceilings, and the walls are painted yellow similar to gold with large wooden window frames and doorways. It gave the room more ambience which is perfect for the occasion.
The dining tables were set up in the same way as in the dining hall, so the students didn't have trouble finding seats. A long ornate dining table is situated by the far wall where faculty are dining with the princess.
The princess is seated on a large throne-like seat at the center of the head table, and he could see that she is having conversation with the headmaster who is seated by her right. He also saw Professor Colbert trying to have a conversation with the tan-haired secretary of the headmaster.
But what really caught his attention is how strange Louise had been acting as she kept glancing at the princess with a longing look on her face despite the small smile she had. He suspected that Louise and the princess has history but he won't pry until they got back to the dorms.
Food are already served on the tables on large platters filled with different kinds of meats, pastries, fruits and greens. But lunch hasn't started yet as they await the call from the headmaster.
The headmaster finally made the call when he raised his staff and tapped its bottom at the stone floor, its sound reverberating across the room. He suspected that magic was used to create that effect.
Regardless, the trick worked when the students turned their attention to the head table as the headmaster stood up before speaking.
"As our honored guest, it is only right to give the princess the honor lead today's blessing."
He turned the princess and bowed his head to her, and Princess Henrietta nodded back to him. She slowly stood up while the headmaster returned to his seat. She then smiled at the crowd of students before speaking.
"May we all stand for today's grace."
Everyone stood up at her prompting. They closed their eyes as they clasped their hands and bowed their heads. With a clear and gentle voice, the princess lead the prayer.
"Oh Great Founder Brimir, sheperd of our people and savior of the magi, we give thanks for this feast that is laid before us. Blessed are those whose hands have prepared the bounty which we are about to receive. May you grace us with your blessings, always, now and ever."
"Praised be the Founder." Everyone else said in response.
"You all may take your seat for I wish to share words with you all." The princess asked them and everyone complied as they returned to their seats.
"I thank you all for accepting me into your abode, and it is my pleasure to share today's banquet with you all today. I long wished to visit this humble academy to be among my peers." She gestured to all the students which earned her alot of appreciation from them. "And by the grace of the Founder, I have been granted this gift for which I am thankful."
She paused to catch her breath before she continued.
"To show my appreciation for this wondrous occasion, I have an announcement." This caught everyone's intrigue and listened closely. "The winner for tomorrow's Exhibition will receive a royal boon from the Palace as a gift. If it is within our power and reason to grant, the palace shall grant it. So I wish you all good luck for performances tomorrow."
Cheers erupted from the entire hall, most especially the second years who would be the only participants of the Familiar Exhibition tomorrow. The princess smiled and seemed very happy at the clamor she received. The faculty looked perplexed by her announcement, while the headmaster looked intrigued instead.
Jaune could only watch with a grin on his face as he watched Louise cheering along with the rest of her classmate, all excited about the unexpected prize. He had no doubt that things would be tense and tight tomorrow.
"Well... That was a thing..."
Jaune sat by the round table, watching the nervous but giddy Louise, as he carefully wiped oil over Derflinger's blade to give it more luster. She would pace around her room, then sat back on her bed with her pillow in hand. She also looked worried but it didn't seem to be about their performance tomorrow.
They already discussed their plan for the tomorrow and finalized their act, though Louise seemed... out of it. Though he couldn't blame her since the announcement of the royal boon, all of her classmates acted the same once the excitement died down.
Most of all, he wasn't sure how to broach his suspicion to Louise yet. So here he was, implementing some final touches on his equipment while watching over Louise.
"Are you alright there, Louise?"
She didn't answer but nodded instead as she sat on her bed.
"Do you have any idea on what you would wish as your royal boon?"
Louise didn't answer for while as she hugged her pillow before mumbling something into it.
It looked like he wouldn't be getting anything out of Louise with this, so he decided to bring the up the subject that had been intriguing him since the princess arrived.
"Were you friends with the princess, Louise?"
That got a reaction out of her when she jolted in surprise and jerked her head towards him with eyes wide open. "H-h-how did you know that!? I n-never told you about that!" Her voice continued to tremble. "D-did s-someone told you?" Her eyes then narrowed, looking angry and suspicious. "Was it Kirche? Is she spying on me again?"
"Slow down, Louise." He cried out to her as he raised his hands. "No one told me. And no one is involved." He reasoned which calmed Louise, if remaining a little tense.
"Then how did you know that I was friends with the princess?" Louise questioned insistently.
"Well I noticed that you kept looking at the princess." He said.
Louise made a small huff at that. "That doesn't prove anything. Everyone was looking at the princess, since this is the first time anyone had seen her in public."
"That's true." He allowed before adding. "But compared to everyone, you're the only one who looked happy but melancholic every time you looked at her. Longing even." He calmly told her. "Like seeing a friend you haven't seen in a long time."
Louise was silent at that but she was scrutinizing him, likely trying to think if she could trust him. He most likely had hit the mark a little too close for her to be comfortable with.
The tension in the room is disturbed when the was a knocking on the door. There were two long ones and followed by three short ones. Jaune blinked as he looked at the door before turning back to Louise.
"Were you expecting someone?"
Louise is just as surprised as him, and wondered who could it be. "No I don't remember inviting anyone."
The person on the other side must be getting impatient when the was another knocking on the door, repeating the same pattern but a little louder this time.
"I'll get it." Jaune quickly said as he set Derflinger on the table before standing up.
"Who could be visiting this late at night?" Louise remarked.
Jaune had a short list of suspects but he doubted any one of those would be. Well maybe except one.
"Coming." He called out to the door and unlocked the door.
As soon as he opened the door partway, he is caught by surprise when felt the person on the other side pushed through, forcing him to back away. A veiled figure, wearing a black hooded cloak that covered their entire body, pushed through the door before quickly leaning back on the door to close it.
Jaune, unsure of the intruder's intention, placed himself between the Louise and the intruder and raised his fists in a boxing stance. Behind him, Louise held her wand out and is poised to cast.
"I don't know who you are. But it is rude to enter someone's room without permission." He called out to the veiled intruder.
"I mean you no harm." A girl's voice softly replied.
Jaune wasn't quite expecting that, and frowned as the voice sounded familiar. "If you come in peace, then may we know your name."
"I will. But there may be ears and eyes around us." She replied in a hushed tone.
Louise was alarmed by that and quickly looked around her, trying to find possible spies. For his part, Jaune subtly used his aura to check his surroundings. He didn't find anyone else aside for their unexpected guest but he can't be really sure.
He gave a nod to the intruder who then took familiar looking staff, held by a hand with long white silk sleeves that extended from her fingers and down her arm. He watched her softly chant a short spell before waving it, scattering glowing powder into the air. The powder filled the room and covered the walls and windows before disappearing.
"Was that a silencing spell?" Louise asked, and the veiled girl nodded.
After checking making sure her spell had done its work, the veiled girl slowly removed her hood.
Jaune and Louise's eyes widened in recognition as it was Princess Henrietta that has entered their room. She looked as beautiful as she had been when she first arrived into the academy.
Louise frantically went down to her knees and bowed deeply. Jaune calmly knelt down on one knee and bowed his head as he had been taught by his grandfather.
Henrietta quietly watched them, noticing the contrast between the two. Finally, she spoke with a sweet and gentle voice.
"It has been a while, Louise."
A/N: Hear ye! Hear ye! Her Royal Hime has arrived! Princess Henrietta!
I hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter, the Princess has arrived and the Fouquet is on the scene. I've decided to take the anime route for this one since it makes for a better story.
The Academy has some upgrades and Fouquet got new tools at their disposal. And as you have read, it didn't work as the academy's defenses have been upgraded. But the thief still has a few avenues to get the prize.
I hope you starting to recognize some things crossing over aside from Jaune here. More will be coming with one coming very soon.
Next chapter would be the Exhibition, and the one after is the fight with Fouquet.