Chapter 6: The Missing Maid

A couple of days later, Tlopfest had decided to join Louise during one of her classes, at the very least to try to get a better understanding of this world's magic system. This one in particular was being taught by none other than Professor Colbert.

"Now then class, who here can tell me about the different classes of magic?"

Guiche had decided to raise his hand and answer. "The classes of magic are Earth, Air, Fire, and Water sir, with any mage being a dot, line, triangle, or square depending on how much they master. Or in one mage's case, just a zero." Guiche smirked towards Louise at that statement, along with the rest of the class chuckling at that a bit. Louise herself just ignored that comment.

"Seems she really does have a problem with that nickname, huh?" Tlopfest thought to himself.

"Thank you Guiche, although you are not fully correct. Can anyone else tell me the rest of the answer?"

Louise answered this time. "Void, sir. Although it has been lost for quite some time."

"Correct. Thank you Louise."

Tlopfest perked up a bit at the mention of void. "So, they have the idea for a void element, huh? And their system is based on the primary elements in alchemy. Definitely interesting, that's for sure. Maybe I should dig a little more into how the spellcasting works here. Is it DNA, or just something that some pick up how to do? Well, that and I should still try to figure out if Thaumaturgy can be accomplished here or not…"

The rest of the class time went on without anything else of note, although Colbert seemed to look at Tlopfest an awful lot during the class.

After the class ended, Tlopfest went over to the kitchen to grab some lunch from the chefs. While there however, he suddenly remembered one of the maids that he had met when he first got here. "Hey, head chef. Have you seen Siesta around lately?"

"Hm? Didn't you hear? She got re-assigned to Count Mott. She left early this morning."

"Re-assigned? Yet…isn't she part of the school's servants?"

"She was, but her contract got paid out by Mott. It's unfortunate really. I haven't heard a lot of great things from Mott, and well…" The chef just trailed off at that. "Anyhow, enjoy your lunch Our-er, Tlopfest."

"..." This whole thing just didn't sit well with Tlop, especially that last part that the Chef didn't want to address.

"Count Mott? He's one of the messengers of the royal palace. Although I don't like him a whole lot." Louise was at her desk, brushing her hair while Tlopfest helped tidy up some of the room. "Why do you ask?"

"Apparently, one of the maids, Siesta, got her contract bought out by Mott from here. The head chef didn't seem too pleased with it."

"Well, that is unfortunately how things are here. Plebeians can't really do anything to go against the nobles."

Derflinger, who was leaning on the bed, opened up as well. "True. I've also heard that if a maid is called out by name, they usually end up being that noble's mistress."

Tlopfest was none too pleased at this. "Good grief, so do all of you nobles just bully and take what you want from everyone?"

Louise was (rightfully so) flustered at this. "W-well, not all of them. But Mott is definitely one of the worse ones from what I have heard."

Tlopfest just facepalmed at that. "Ugh, that sorry son of a wither…" He quickly finished cleaning, and started towards the door. "I'm gonna go walk to cool my head. Don't come looking for me anytime soon." With that, Tlopfest walked out of the room, his eye showing more red than usual.

"Oh, Montmorency, you look stunning as ever this evening."

"Sigh Guiche, do you really think something like that is going to let me forgive you for what you did just a little while ago?"

The two former love-birds (or really, the playboy and his favorite girl) were chatting at one of the academy's fountains. During their conversation however, Tlopfest comes across them, though he doesn't pay much attention to them at first. "First being dragged here and treated like a slave, and now they just take them wherever and whenever they please? Criminy, why are so many of those idjit nobles so-" "Tlopfest?"

Guiche and Montmorency couldn't help but notice Tlopfest's ranting, and Guiche approached him first. "What in Founder's name are you going on about?"

"Oh, Guiche. Are you wanting to have another duel or something? 'Cause I'm a little preoccupied."

"I can see that. But no, that's not what I'm asking about. You were saying something about us nobles?"

"Ah, yeah. Long and short of it, you all in general suck. One of the maids here even got 'bought out' according to one of the other servants by Count Mott."

Guiche scoffs a bit at the remark of the nobles. "Well, I'm sorry that we all 'suck' as you say. I'll leave you to it then." He then turned to go back to his original conversation.

"Wait. I'm sorry. That was uncalled for, although I do stand by that for most of what I've seen so far. In any case, I suppose you are one of the few I've met so far that have shown some change." Looks over at Montmorency. "...If only somewhat."

"Hmph. Apology accepted."

"Sigh Look, is there any chance that you could help me with this problem with Mott?"

Guiche looks at Tlopfest with a questioning look. "And what, pray tell, do you intend to do if I help?"

"Has anyone seen Tlopfest lately?" Lousie couldn't help but ask the students as they started to gather in the dining hall to have dinner.

Kirche came over to Louise with a cart full of food. "Now that you mention it, I haven't seen him all day. I was really hoping to get to feed him too."

"Seriously Kirche? He's my familiar. Don't just feed him like a typical animal!"

"I may have an inkling as to where he may have gone." Guiche stood from his spot in the hall. "He had come to me earlier and asked for directions for Count Mott's place."

"Mott?! Don't tell me…" Louise put her knuckle into her mouth both in frustration and worry. "Tlopfest, please don't do anything stupid…"

"Pant Dang it man, why does this idjit have to live over an hour away from the academy?! Next time tell me those kinds of details, Guiche!" Tlopfest couldn't help but grumble as he finally approached the Count's manor.

"Halt! Who goes there?!" A nearby guard quickly spotted and stopped Tlopfest from proceeding any further to the manor. Although, said guard was somewhat leery of Tlopfest due to his appearance.

"One sec…" Tlopfest held up a finger, catching his breath again before answering the guard. "I am here to talk with Count Mott about a recent acquisition of his. A maid to be precise. Could you please inform him of this? I'd really rather speak with the man sooner rather than later."

A few disgruntled looks and a relayed message later, Tlopfest was led inside to talk with Count Mott.

"So, this is the monster that wanted to talk to me?" Count Mott was a rather portly man. Shorter than Tlopfest, the only thing that really gave the man an edge was the fact that Tlopfest wanted to do things peacefully if possible. That, and he was a mage of course.

"Oi, I may not be human, but I'm not the one going about and just taking what I want from others."

The count just laughed at this some. "I am one of the imperial messengers of the royal court. I can easily take or buy whatever I please."

"Including the young maid from Tristan?"

"Including her. I presume that is what you are here to inquire about?"

"Yeah. Look, could you please just let her come back? It's not right just forcing people to move like that, especially against their will."

"After what I paid for her? No! If that is all you are gonna say, go ahead and leave. I have no reason to waste anymore time with you then."

"I don't suppose there is any way we can negotiate a trade?"

"Hmm..well, there is one thing that I would trade that maid for. The heirloom of the Zerbst family. I have heard that it is a wonderful thing to have."

"I see. So if I get you that item, you'll let Siesta come back to Tristan, and stay there, right?"

"Yes, yes, but only if you bring me that heirloom of theirs."

"Then I suppose we have a deal." Tlopfest put his hand out for Mott to shake. Somewhat begrudgingly, Mott did so, after which he quickly wiped his hand on the shoulder of a nearby guard.

An hour's walk later, Tlopfest tiredly stumbled to the academy's tower with the student's dorms inside. "Ugh, finally back. I'm definitely getting a horse or something next time I go there."

"Go where, exactly, familiar?" Standing near the entryway, Louise scowled at Tlopfest as he walked back in.

"Oh! Louise! Uh…what are you doing out here so late?" Tlopfest was a little nervous at seeing her like this.

"I've been worried about you for the past three hours you stupid pigman! Why in Founder's name did you go to Mott?!" At this point, Louise got her wand out and pointed it at Tlopfest in a threatening manner.

"Woah, hey, easy there Louise. You don't want to blow up the entrance or something, right?" She didn't seem to be listening. "...Right?"

"Fireball!"

The rest of the campus could hear that explosion ring about. Thankfully at least, the tower held firm from the blast. Tlopfest, however, did not, with only half a heart left of his health and knocked to the ground.

"Ow…and I was doing so well to not get blasted…" Tlopfest slowly sat back up. "Ugh, look, I just went to go talk with Mott, alright? We made a deal to get Siesta back here permanently."

"You didn't threaten him or anything?"

"Well, no. I may know how to fight Louise, but right now, especially in this unknown environment, I'd rather not fight if I can help it. Look, basically the man wants the heirloom of the Zerbsts for Siesta. We get that, she goes free."

"Why that of all things?"

"Heck if I know. Do you know where Kirche is?"

"She should be in her room. As much as I hate having to go to her for help, if that is what will calm you down and get that maid back here, so be it." With that, Louise helped Tlopfest up and the duo went to Kirche's room to ask for help. "By the way, have you been able to look into any more of that magic of yours yet?"

"No, honestly. I was planning on doing so today, but then…this whole thing happened. Look, once we get Siesta back here, I'll do my best to look into the possibility of Thaumaturgy working here."

Louise nodded at that. A moment later, they reached Kirche's room. Tlopfest went ahead and knocked on the door. "Oi, Kirche, you in there?"

The door opened to reveal Kirche in some, rather revealing night clothes. "Oh, Tlopfest! And Louise! What brings the two of you here?" Flame, her salamander, poked its head out of the door, curious as to what was going on.

Tlopfest answered first. "We need your help. More specifically, something that your family owns."

"And what exactly would you be needing?"

"Long and short of it, Siesta, the maid that Mott bought earlier today, can be brought back here if we trade him your family's heirloom. I'm sure it's precious though, so if we can make a deal or something for it…"

"Oh, you mean this old thing?" Kirche flicked her wand, which she pulled from…somewhere, and floated a small package towards herself. "My family gave this to me as a wedding gift kind of thing. However, I don't really have any use for it, so I haven't even unlocked it yet. I've heard it's supposed to make men feel great though."

"Huh. And why does your family have it?"

"My grandfather accidentally summed it a while ago. So, as for you taking it…why don't you, Tlopfest, go one a 'date' with me later?"

"W-what the hell zerbst?! Are you seriously asking him to do that" Louise screeched at her.

"Oi, Louise, calm down" Tlopfest put a hand on her shoulder. "But from me as well, what the heck are you going on about Kirche? You realize that I am both probably a good bit older than you and a completely different species, right?"

"Oh no, I got that." Kirche just waved her hand lazily in their direction. "I just want to get to know you better, you know? No one has ever seen something like you before, so I want to see what you're like."

"...but there's no 'attraction' to me, right?"

"No, not at all."

"Ok, good. Well, I can tell you about my story later down the line, how about that?"

"That can work. Tell Siesta I said hi for me, will you?" With that, Kirche gave the book to Tlopfest and Louise, who had calmed down a bit after that clarification.

"Will do." Tlopfest and Louise went back down while Kirche went back to her dorm. "Well, that went better than expected."

"And what exactly were you expecting to happen?"

"...Possibly having her refuse and then having to take drastic measures with Mott…"

Louise lightly facepalmed at this. "Founder above…"

A horseback ride and half an hour later, Tlopfest and Louise made it back to Mott's manor, after which they were swiftly taken in to see Mott.

"Well, that was certainly quick. Giving up so soon monster?"

"Oh good grief…no, we actually went ahead and got it. Wasn't that hard really." At this, Tlopfest pulls the book out from under his arm. "And as for our deal…?"

"Before we get to that, I need to verify that this is the true book." Mott quickly snatched the book from Tlopfest's hands before he could react. He unlocked it and started flipping through the pages. "Oh yes, how could I have never seen something like this before."

Tlopfest just sighed. "...Our deal, Mott?"

"Yes, yes, bring the girl back here, as well as her contract." Mott quickly dismissed the duo and went to his study, nose completely stuck within that book.

"..Wonder what it was that he really wanted that book for.."

"Who cares." Louise lost her composure for a moment there. "Let's just get that maid and get out of here."

A few minutes later, and said maid was quickly following the duo out of Mott's manor. "Oh, thank you for getting me out of that mess you two."

"Of course." Tlopfest sent right back at her. "There's no way I'm leaving a friend behind when they need help."

"A..friend?"

"Well hey, you helped me around the campus some, and well…" Tlopfest trailed off at that. "...I really don't think that this system that is here in this world should keep going like this."

With that, the three of them walked back to the campus, seeing as the horse they brought along couldn't handle all three at the same time.

So, the confrontation of Mott was pretty lax huh? But, hey, not all confrontations have to end up in a fight. Anyhow, hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. There's still plenty more to go for this story.

See any mistakes or characters not acting as they should? Leave a review or PM me so I can get those fixed!