TAoM: Readers point of view
Louise and Raskreia are making their way toward the dining hall through the mazelike structure of the academy with Louise in the lead.
On the was there they are walking in silence, other students are either ignoring them or sending jabs toward Louise, who seems to be ignoring them to the best of her ability.
Raskreia on the other hand is spending her time taking in the school for what it is during daytime. She honestly thinks that this would be more fitting as a palace, or a very pretty maze, rather than a school, but hey, to each its own She did hear things like "How much is she paying you?" or some catcalls but Raskreia has long gotten used to such things, and getting aggravated over them brings nothing.
After a good five minute walk they reached what looks to be a grand hall. Taking a look around Raskreia spots a big group of animals of to the left side of the hall on a small field, and maids laying out different kinds of food for different familiars, presumably to see what kind of food each of them wants to eat for future reference.
There was also that blue dragon a again, but judging that she hasn't eaten or electrocuted anyone yet Raskreia wrote her down as potentially not evil, now would a great time for the ability to detect evil, but that's Thorgal's thing.
Then Louise pulled Raskreia out of her musing "This is Alvis dining hall, it was made by square class mages ages ago upon the founding of the school, it is named after the Alvis statues that come to life at night to dance."
That last part caught Raskreia's attention "Do they do anything else other than dance?"
"No, should they?" was Louise's simple answer.
Then Louise pushed open the doors to the dining hall. "You should be grateful normally commoners are not allowed into the dining hall, only nobles are allowed in here. I had to pull some strings to allow you to enter." Raskreia then promptly ignored all the servants in the hall as they clearly did not exist.
Raskreia upon taking a look around noted the decadence that filled this place. Amounts of food that could easily feed a group of four people if not more is laid out in front of single children, and unless they have some kind of extradimensional storage method in their stomachs she doubted they could eat even half of it. Servants are being treated as if they were air, not a single ounce of respect or acknowledgement of even their existence is being shown, and she doubted that would stay that way if the servants so much as even thought of making a mistake.
The hall itself was quite big, bigger than would really be necessary, even if the purpose is to show off. There were three very long tables arranged along the length of the hall. Which judging by the fact that each table had a differently coloured cape wearing group of children sitting on at it probably were used to divide students by something. Probably what year they are in.
The top floor housed the teachers happily chatting among each other. Which Raskreia deducted by spotting the same teacher that was present during the summoning.
"So what do you think about this? I'm sure you must be amazed, havent seen anything like this have you?" Louise stated looking up at Raskreia in anticipation of a reaction
"It is impressive, I give you that." Raskreia said making Louise puff her rather unimpressive chest in what seemed like pride. "Tough I have seen places like these before already, doesn't make it less impressive however."
Louise stopped walking next to a seat at the middle table and waited expectantly for something, which Raskreia simply ignored and sat down in the seat next to her and started eating a nearby piece of bread 'Heh, the cooks in this place are nothing to scoff at if this bread is anything to go by' thought Raskreia as she heard her little 'master' clear her throat next to her.
Raskreia quickly swallowed what was left in her mouth to ask the girl what she wanted and why she was still standing "Yes? Something wrong, the food is right here."
Louse got an angry tick as she grit out "You were supposed to pull out my seat for me to sit down. An also only nobles are allowed to eat at the table, your food is down there." She stated pointing at a plate with some form of gray liquid and a small piece of bread.
Raskreia then noted the looks of distaste she was earning and hear comments like "Why is that commoner eating at the table?" or "Can't The Zero control her familiar?" Promptly tuning those voices out she turned to Louise.
"No on both accounts, I will not eat on the floor, and neither will I eat," She pointed at the plate on the floor "whatever that is. I wouldn't even feed that to an Othyug, and no I'm not going to tell you what that is, as that is not something to discuss in a dining hall, and quite frankly I don't think you want to know either." Raskreia stated while standing up "But I can tell that I am not wanted here, and I would just hate to ruin breakfast for you oh so glorious nobles, I will be outside if you need me." She stated leaving before Louise could reply.
TAoM: readers point of view
Raskreia did not like being treated like a pet, in fact she was just about to break the "contract" and leave via "gate". The only reason why she did not do so is because she wanted to have a bit more fun in this new world she was pulled into.
Back home things were somewhat boring lately. Even with the ability to warp reality to ones whim via the medium of magic, and being somewhat good at it if she may say so herself, Golarion really is not a place which is safe to be travelled alone. Tough sadly all of her friends are busy with… things. Well except Zarhon, but she will be damned if she were to travel alone with him again, as the last time ended with a massive alcohol induced headache and her (unofficially) married to a goldfish named Jonathan.
Besides, nobles were usually like this even back home, treating others, that are "lesser" than them, like shit.
Provided of course they did not currently need some adventurers to clear out a cave full of primordial horrors from another plane of existence. Or if the knew that said "lesser" person is absolutely filthy rich, has considerable sway in the country, and is the daughter of a dragon dragon.
She has dealt with enough stuck up nobles to get over their act for the most part.
"Well that was a thing." Raskreia mused. Thinking about what to do she looked around and saw the place where the familiar's were playing, eating or sleeping. Seeing how it was a very nice day outside she decided to sit down leaning against a tree overlooking the field with the familiars. Raskreia sat there for a moment then pulled out a small pouch from around her neck and whispered "Nif" open then proceeded to stick her arm into the entirely to small pouch when she pulled it back out she was holding strips of meat in her hands.
"Heh, gotta love having everything you could ever need on hand, extradimensional storage is probably the best thing ever." She said taking a bite out of the dried meat and laying down completely to fully bask in the sun.
She lay there a good few minutes tuning out completely and enjoying the warm sun when she felt the presence of someone, or rather several someones approaching her.
Sitting up and turning towards the ones moving towards her she spots a duo of children coming her way. The first being a chubby kid with blonde hair and blue eyes, who wore the standard uniform for students. And the second a much slimmer blond haired boy with also blue eyes. He is wearing a white frilly shirt with the first few buttons undone giving him a very flamboyant look. After a moment Raskreia Recognized the second of the pair as the boy she saw while walking around school last night.
"You there commoner," Says the Zarhon imitation pointing the rose he has been holding down at her, well, down being relative as even sitting down Raskreia is still up to the boys chest "Your behaviour in the hall earlier was very inappropriate. And since I doubt The Zero has the ability to put you straight it falls upon the rest of us nobles to put you, as a commoner, back into your place and teach you some manners."
It took Raskreia a fair bit of willpower to not either roll her eyes or laugh at the fop of a noble trying to be intimidating to her, which quite obviously had no effect whatsoever on her. But she managed to keep a straight face to reply "What kind of punishment awaits me for the sins I have committed?" The fop either not caring or ignoring the sarcasm in her words struck a pose to continue with his speech, by now there are a few students gathering around to watch what they might have hoped to be an uppity commoner being put back into her place. "You shall kiss my shoes as an apology, as well as that of every student that was in the dining hall during your outburst." Raskreia's face grew completely blank in what the fop probably must have thought was fear or shame, or some similar emotion, yet it was anything but.
Raskreia took a moment to calm herself as to not accidentally breathe out any fire, before speaking again. This time however there was no warmth in her voice at all, gone was the usual cheer in her voice, and all who heard her speak at this moment felt a chill go down their spine. "Okay, now listen here kid. Hell would have to freeze over before I kiss any of your peoples shoes, I have my pride and it would cost you more than you would like to know for me to simply throw it away. Furthermore I will tell you now, and you best remember, I hold absolutely no respect for people like you, who think themselves above common folk, and treat people who are "beneath" them worse than the dirt under their shoes. Now, unless you have anything else to say to me that is not downright insulting or aggravating to hear I would suggest you take your leave." Somewhere during her speech Raskreia stood up so that she could look down on the noble while she stared directly into his eyes.
To his credit the noble did not seem to be all that fazed by the 5'10'' woman staring him down, or by her cold in her voice, he stood his ground instead and inwardly Raskreia had to give this kid some credit for staying so calm under her eyes. Inwardly Guiche was scared of this woman. She seemed to radiate some kind of power and he could only now feel it after looking into her eyes. Yet he was a noble he could not show any weakness, not when he was being watched by so many, what sort of noble would he be if he backed away from a mere commoner, so he did the only thing he could think to do. "Such insolence from a mere commoner, it seems my earlier punishment will not suffice, I believe I will have to teach you a lesson personally. I hereby challenge you to a duel, by my name of Guiche de Gramont!"
"Done!" Said Raskreia without missing a beat. It again took allot of willpower to not let loose a grin, it has been too long since she could use any of her magic, and teaching some stuck up kids that not all is like it seems is just a added bonus on top of being able to use some of that pent up magic. "When and where?" "We will meet at the Vestri court in 10 minutes, do not be late commoner." The fop, now identified as Guiche turned around with a swish of his cloak and the crowd dispersed, likely to inform their friends of the duel about to happen and go watch.
Raskreia turned around to come face first with Siesta who had a very worried expression on her face. "What are you doing Raskreia? You just got into a fight with a noble! What will you do if you get hurt or worse, get killed?" Raskreia on the other hand could only smile "Him? Kill me? He is a good hundred years too early for that. Don't you worry about my well being. That aside could you show me the way to the Vestri court?"
10 minutes later at the Vestri court
On the field of the Vestri court was a gathering of many students here to most likely see a noble show off in front of a commoner. "I commend you commoner for showing up, I thought you would run away with your tail tucked between your legs." Guiche said doing one of his poses holding his rose. Raskreia was going to say something but got interrupted before she could even utter a single word by a familiar pink haired girl.
"Familiar!" Louise came pushing her way through the crowd of students to stop in front of Raskreia between her and Guiche. "Familiar, apologize to Guiche right now you cant fight him!" "If she were to apologize to me now, and admit that she is a lowly commoner and go through with her earlier punishment I might consider it. Provided that you, Louise, also admit to being a failure as a mage and to hiring some commoner to act as your familiar."
With those words out of Guiche's mouth Louises face went from a worried expression to one of cold fury. "Alright, I'm sorry for interrupting. Familiar you may proceed, just don't kill him." Raskreia gave her a grin now understanding why Louise did not want her to fight against Guiche, she was worried she might kill him. "Don't worry, I don't kill kids. Teaching them manners is another thing entirely."
Guiche still had his cocky smile on his face when he said "You don't seem to be worried about your familiar. Do you honestly believe a commoner could defeat a mage like me?" Louise only half turned to reply. "A commoner? No. Her? Most likely. We will see."
"The Zero thinks you have a chance to defeat me commoner. Let me show you why that trust is misplaced." "Ye, ye, but can we add a condition to this duel in addition to me having to apologize if I lose? That the looser has to do any one thing the winner says?" Guiche pondered this for a moment, but considering that he had as good as already won against a commoner he really didn't have to loose with this condition. "Very well commoner." I swished his rose and a single petal fell off which upon hitting the ground started glowing bright white and turned into a female shaped figure made of bronze and also holding a bronze two-handed sword. "My name is Guiche, and my runic name is the bronze, as such this bronze valkyrie shall be your opponent."
Raskreia seemed nonplussed much to the surprise of the audience and Guiche. "You could have told me this was a duel of summons. *sigh* Oh well." Guiche's confidence only grew at what he assumed to be confusion or fear "Getting scared already commoner? I expected at least some token resistance from the way you behaved till now." Rask now actually looked a little confused "No, not at all. I just don't particularly like battling with summons I just don't get anything to do." Now it was Guiche's turn to look confused.
But confusion was soon joined by shock when the familiar in front of him started to do a short chant, in a language he has never heard before, but it sounded ancient, for the lack of a better word, and move her hands around making flames appear on her finger tips and a set of runes he has never before seen beneath her feet.
"Ixen nymuer sia relgr vur tyrtrol. Spol sia katima ekess korinth duulo acht wer mablik treskri." Fire hear my call and obey. Send my servant to rage freely upon the mortal world.
Raskreia loved casting spells, especially when they had something to do with fire. It just felt so natural to her, like its what she is supposed to be doing. As soon as her spell was finished she pointed her finger, and with it the small flame maybe the size of an acorn, toward the ground in front of her. When she did that the small flame flew towards the indicated spot on the ground between Raskreia and her opponent, and when it touched the ground it stayed there like that for just a moment.
In that moment the audience and Guiche wondered two things, how the commoner did magic, and how that tiny flame was going to help her. Those wonders were however short lived as the acorn sized flame rapidly expanded into a raging inferno toward the sky, before forming back into a more compact shape of a about 40ft tall flame, which then promptly sprouted a set of two arms and formed something that looked like a head. After another few seconds there "stood" a vaguely humanoid looking 40ft tall solid flame with two arms and what looked like magma forming at the top of its shoulders and on its fingers. This magma also formed on its head to make it look like it had a face. And lastly It also formed its parts of its legs from the same molten rock.
It stood there for a short moment being the centre point of all the shocked looks of the students, the still very shocked but also proud look of Louise, the awed look of Siesta and the intrigued looks of both Kirche and Tabitha. Guiche on the other hand was shaking in fear, he was hiding quite well however. The being then turned towards Raskreia and kneeled before her. This perplexed everyone but that got again replaced by shock when the being spoke in a voice that sounded like a fire that had gone out of control. "What need do you have to summon me mistress? I can seen no danger anywhere." Guiche felt like he was struck by an arrow for not even being considered a threat. Raskreia spoke next "Greetings Ignus. We are here for a duel. Our opponent is that kid over there, your opponent is what ever summons." The being nodded before standing up and turning towards the now very scared Guiche and the much less threatening looking Valkyrie. The being looked down onto its opponents and shrunk down its size to roughly 16ft before it spoke again "This form should be much more appropriate for this fight."
"Now that we both have summoned our combatants can we finally begin?" In an impressive bravery or most probably foolish pride nodded and ordered his valkyrie to attack. The Valkyrie charged forth blade first at the combat ready looking giant, just to completely melt upon first coming into contact with the being made of fire. Ignus looked back at Raskreia in what seemed to be… disappointment? Raskreia just shrugged "If you wanted to have an actual fight maybe you shouldn't have made your flames that hot. Now is that the end of the duel then? Or do you want to drag this out any further?"
"As if I would lose this simply." Guiche yelled frantically swinging his rose around summoning a dozen Valkyries probably hoping to overcome the superior opponent with sheer numbers. In response the being started clawing and smashing at each and every one of the metal figurines, sending chunks of molten bronze flying all over the place and with each felling at least a single one. Those actually succeeding in hitting the giant did no visible damage whatsoever in exchange for having their weapons melted. Guiche tried casting a spell at the giant and threw a small boulder at it when he only hade about five of his golems left. This seemed to do little more than aggravate it. He then heard Raskreia's voice from behind his golems and the giant, surprisingly clearly actually
"Wait. So we can help our summons with further spells? You should have seriously elaborated on these rules a bit more. Alright then 'Chain fire'" after the last words had left her mouth a thick rope of fire shot from her finger racing towards the closest golem. The rope hit the golem square in the chest and burst right through it and seeking out the next golem. This repeated with all five golems that were left before ending its path within Ignus, repairing the minor indentation left by the boulder Guiche left in its chest with the newly added flame. The giant then looked back at his summoner with a look of indignation, well what could pass as one at least. "You really needed not help me mistress. This combat is not worth your time, and quite frankly neither is it worth mine, may I end it now?"
"I yield! You have won just don't burn me." Guiche, who was by now backing up quite a bit, stammered out." Raskreia smiled at him triumphantly. "I accept your surrender". She then turned to Ignus "You may go home Ignus, I am grateful for your troubles." "It is no trouble at all to serve you. And you may call me or my brothers whenever you have need of us. I only hope next time it will be a bigger challenge than this one." And with that the being lost form and the flames spread in all directions before disappearing into nothingness.
Raskreia then turned to the scared witless Guiche who backed away as a response to her approach before stumbling and falling on his behind. She looked down on him still smiling.
"Now for the fulfilment of our agreement. You have to do any one thing I tell you too." Guiche gulped in anticipation of the cruelty this woman might put him under. "You are to stop belittling Louise, and never to call her by any derogatory names. Furthermore, and this is just a tip, accept the fact that just because you born as a noble doesn't mean you should look down on any who are not. You will find that 'commoners' which especially includes your servants are the last people you want to have against you." She then leaned in to whisper in his ear "Trust me on this, assassination by servants is the number one cause of death of unfair rulers where I come from."
Raskreia then hauled Guiche back to his feet, before turning around and leaving back to the place she was sunbathing in earlier. She found it quite easy to get through the crowd as the gob smacked students readily made room for her to pass through. Leaving behind a very happy Louise and Siesta, a intrigued Tabitha, a infatuated Kirche who found someone with a equal or perhaps greater passion than her, and a struck silent crowd of students.