Chapter 18: Traitor
It was another day of drills. The girls had been doing what they had done since day one. Michelle and the Musketeer Knights were supervising the training of the female students, calling out commands like 'En garde! and Strike!'
The girls continued their practice, feeling tired and ready to give up. "Put your backs into it, come on!" Agnès watched from the side. These few days of combat training had left these girls barely able to stand. Living such a sheltered life had made them all weak.
Agnès whispered in her vice captain's ear and ordered the girls to cease their training.
"Alright, that's enough." Michelle said
Agnès stepped up "Per your request, we will now practice magical training. And to supervise your training, we have someone from the national academy of magic to see that your training is well scheduled." Agnès said
While the girls were all relieved and happy to finally get to work on magic again, they all were curious about who this instructor was and from the national academy of magic, they must be a really good teacher if they are coming here.
Agnès called out from behind her "Do you have any words you would like to say?" The light captain said as the instructor was standing right next to her.
"No need." Her voice sounded female. Everyone looked at her with a blank stare while Louise was completely off guard with who this magic instructor was.
"Are you kidding me!?"
She gave a confident introduction. "It's a pleasure to meet you all; I know it'll be for a short while, but I will be teaching you advanced forms of magic. My name is Eléonore de la Vallière. I look forward to working with you all."
All of the girls began to whisper while Louise remained speechless; her big sister was going to train her and everyone else. However, Elèanor's smile dropped as she then shot a fierce glare at the students, but they didn't realize that the glare was directed at Louise. It was obvious that her sister had some words for her.
"Oh no!" Louise realized she would receive an earful after what had transpired at home.
Sora and Julio were busy working on their sword skills. They decided to work together brushing up on their swordplay; there were even times when Agnès went and joined them. However, both blondes wanted a test of Sora's Keyblade. The sword wielders wanted to see how well that weapon would compare to ordinary swords.
Sora had no problem with it, honestly; keeping up with both his Keyblade training and his usual training with Gandálfr's abilities would be good. So, for the last couple of days, they had been working on improving their swordsmanship. Sometimes Sora would also ask them to fight Agnès and Julio together, to help him brush up on his dual-wielding skills.
That was even more impressive to Julio, the fact that he was also a dual-wielding swordsman. However, he didn't always do it; he would sometimes switch it up.
Back to the duel Sora was wielding the Kingdom key keyblade and Julio had his sword in lock with each other. They both had fierce stares but were also flash confident grins. They pushed back and started their match again. Julio rushed in, slashing his sword at Sora's keyblade with but the young brunette blocking his strikes and backing away.
Sora waited for his opportunity to counterattack. He found his moment; the blue-eyed teen held his Keyblade in a defensive stance as the platinum-blond lunged at him. Sora matched Julio's move, flattening his Keyblade against the other's. Sparkles flew off both blades as they collided.
Julio began to pant and stumbled backwards, while Sora felt tired as well.
"Alright. I think that will suffice," Julio said, sheathing his sword.
"Yeah," said Sora as his Keyblade disappeared. "If we going; this is gonna turn into a real fight."
The boys walked over to each other and gave a friendly handshake. They had become good friends, although Sora did still have a problem with his consent flirting with Louise, come to think of it he started to ask himself why he felt this way. Actually when he was still on his Island when he and Riku did that race to decide the name of their raft. His silver haired friend also made a joke about him sharing the paopu fruit with Kairi.
That got Sora annoyed and the way Julio acted towards Louise brought about that same feeling from back then…was the young keyblade wielder…jealous?
No way! He couldn't be jealous of that. Louise was his friend and also he is her familiar, plus he already likes Kairi so what reason would he have to be jealous of Julio in the first place.
"I must say Sora, your keyblade is a really interesting weapon." Julio commented. "I wonder where I should go to acquire a weapon like that?"
"Well…They don't just go to anyone. And it's not so easy to get " Sora replied to the platinum blonde.
"Really, they're that difficult to obtain. Now I want one even more." Julio replied, actually from his tone, he sounded pretty serious.
"Do you mind if I see it?" Julio asked once again and Sora proceeded to summon his keyblade once again and Julio proceeded to grab the handle of the weapon as Sora continued to hold into the shaft. But just then, the kingdom key had a faint glow to it. Both boys noticed as Juilo slowly brought his keyblade towards him to get a good feel. Seconds later, it returned to its original master.
"See, told ya." Sora said as his keyblade vanished.
The platinum blonde was fascinated by this. "So this type of weapon is bound to you. I have to ask, does it glow like that when two people hold it?"
The brown haired teen shook his head "No, that's the first I've ever seen that happened before."
Sora wasn't sure what that meant at all but it probably wasn't anything important.
Just then they heard the voice of Agnès, the boys turned to the right and saw her coming over with Michelle by her side. Sora greeted the women that were together, Agnès returned that greeting, Michelle, not so much. Sora didn't understand why she didn't like him so much. Was her pride as a knight really that wounded after she lost to him.
"Are you both training?" Agnès asked.
Sora nodded and Julio answered her question "We just ended and decided to take a break."
"What he said. You should join us again?"
Agnès smiled at him, "I keep that in mind. Actually we just ended our training and are now having the girls working on their magic."
"Really?" Asked Sora.
"So, you went ahead and found an Instructor for the students." Julio assumed.
"Yes. Actually she just arrived today from the national magic academy. From what I heard, Eléonore is quite the knowledgeable institution and a strong mage as well. She'll do fine in helping the students prepare for war."
Sora thought about that name 'Eléonore' hit him, he asked if she had long blonde hair and glasses. Agnès was surprised for a moment wondering how he knew that.
Sora could guess that she was talking about Louise's sister. She was the instructor that they brought over her.
"So you know this woman?" Julio asked.
"Yeah, she's one of Louise's sisters."
"So you're already acquainted with her?" Asked the blonde haired knight.
Sora wouldn't say that, he had met her briefly when she came to visit the academy for the first time. Although it was just to take Louise back home and have her get married. That being said there was a good chance that she hadn't forgotten what happened at the lake at Louise's home.
Louise is probably getting scolded right now.
Sora ended their conversation and asked where Eléonore was sleeping. Agnès said that she's taking residence in the tower that Louise is staying in. Sora made a dash for the tower leaving all of them alone.
Agnès wondered what that was about and Julio was pleased with the thought of meeting Louise's sister.
Michelle growled and turned her head towards the frustration and anger started to flare inside of her. Why is it that this boy is suddenly so close to Agnès? She worked harder than anyone else to make it to the rank of vice-captain as well to earn the trust of Agnès, their captain. But, this boy who she met only a few times has earned her respect like it was nothing.
"Captain. Tell me, are you sure that you can trust that boy?" Michelle asked her captain.
Agnès responded "To be honest Michelle, I am not sure. But he doesn't seem like a threat."
"But what if it's just all an act?" Said the blue haired knight. "We know nothing about him let alone where he comes from, for all we know he could really be a spy from a neighboring country."
"Really. Do you have proof?" Julio stepped forward.
"Just listen to me! I don't trust him, and neither should the queen. You agree with me, don't you, captain?"
Agnès looked off in the direction where Sora left before looking back to her lieutenant. "I won't lie, Michelle. You are right about that. His identity, his homeland, and his powers are all something that are a mystery. But I don't believe he's our enemy."
"But why!?" She asked.
"He went out his way to save Tarbes and the queen from Wales. I admit he's not an ordinary person. But I don't think he's bad."
"I agree." Julio said "I find him rather intriguing than a threat."
"But shouldn't we be cautious, there's something about him that's abnormal!" Michelle yelled.
"Abnormal, no." Julio turned his back while smiling "I would say more that his abilities are more 'otherworldly' if anything else." The platinum blonde emphasized that word, otherworldly.
"I guess that's one way of putting it." Said Agnès, not thinking about it. But Michelle on the other hand, was focused on that word, but dismissed it.
(Tower)
Sora and Louise were inside Eléonore's room standing next to each other.
Earlier they two had bumped into Sora in the hallway. Louise looked exhausted, and it wasn't because of training her sister Elèanor had been giving Louise a long lecture about what she did back home. Sora was giving her emotional support but Elèanor didn't like the young man standing before her.
It was bad enough for Louise to fall in love with someone of lower status but of all the people it has to be this plebeian. Just how much more can her sister embarrass herself and her family.
"Anyway… Like I was saying. Queen Henrietta asked for my assistance and directly sent me to this academy."
"The queen?" Louise didn't believe it.
"Not only that, but someone told her majesty that the duke of La Vallière tried to have their youngest child locked up." Elèanor said to her sister as she began tugging on her cheek.
"...I wonder who could have said something like that to her…?"
"I swear it wasn't me!" Louise cried in hope for her sister to let her go.
Elèanor turned her gaze to the spiky haired boy next to her sister. Sora shook his head. The long blonde haired woman let go of her sister's face and turned her back. That glare scared him a bit.
'Yowzers. I thought Riku knew how to glare like that.' Sora thought as Elèanor let go of Louise's cheek.
The pink haired girl was rubbing her now sore face.
"The queen herself asked me to come here in person. From what I can guess is that you've been getting involved in something dangerous."
Louise looked at the floor "Well that's…"
"So I'm right. You say you can use the element of fire but I know you were lying weren't you." Elèanor said to Louise as she turned her head to the left. So she knew she was lying "I knew it. You still don't have a real affinity so how can someone like you help the queen?" She asked.
"I…" Louise choked on her words.
'I can't tell her the truth.' There was no way for Louise to explain that she inherited the power of void magic from her family, they wouldn't understand nor believe her.
"Forget it. I'm sure it's not special." Louise was shaking in frustration when her sister was still thinking so little of her. But then again she was an outcast to her whole family, she's not going to listen to what she has to say.
Sora spoke up to the blonde haired Vallière "...I wouldn't be so quick to judge."
Louise and Elèanor glanced at Sora "What's that supposed to mean?" Elèanor replied not liking how he was talking to her.
"I've seen her magic up close and first hand. And it's really impressive." Sora said, defending Louise.
"And what makes you sure that her magic is worth anything?" Elèanor said harshly.
"You got to trust me, she's not the same Louise you know, she's grown and matured, her abilities helped us and the queen big-time. Nobody stays the same so I can say that I'm grateful to have her as my master and I know she's proud to call me her familiar so believe me when I tell you, you will be surprised at how much stronger she's gotten."
Sora said as he was standing up to Eléonore. Louise blushed a bit as she smiled at him she was rather happy that he did that for her.
Elèanor quickly caught that look on her sister's face. She really did fall in love with this commoner. But that also had something on her mind, like that sphere that appeared and how all the weapons suddenly went flying towards it. She watched this boy suspiciously, not trusting him at all.
Suddenly Louise felt something on her legs. She looked down and saw a small dog barking and holding onto her legs. She had questions as to why there was a dog here and where'd it come from.
"A dog…" she said as they all heard the sound of footsteps. The next person to appear was the second sister of the Vallière family. Cattleya.
Louise was joyous to see her sister again, Sora on the other hand, while he was also happy to see her avert his eyes towards her. While he knows that she is a kind lady and a gentle soul. The keyblade wielder remembered when they were at Louise house and she said to him how he was 'not from Halkeginia', there was no way that she knew that he was from another world, not just because he healed that bird's wing.
That was something that he's been meaning to talk to Louise about. But with everything currently happening he just never had the time.
"Cattleya, what are you doing here?" The youngest sister said.
"She decided to tag along with me, something about how I want to stay by Louise's side."
Elèanor said turning her attention to her younger sister "I still doubt it was a good idea for her to come with me, we both know your health is an issue. Someone with a weak body should be at home." Elèanor lightly scolded her sister.
Cattleya giggled. "I told you, I want to stay by Louise, no matter the circumstances."
Louise clapped her hands overjoyed to have Cattleya staying with her.
"Fine, it's better for us both to keep an eye on you. I mean you are in heat, so who knows what you might do." Elèanor said talking to Louise.
Louise's face flashed bright red. "I-I'm not in heat!"
Elèanor pinched both of her cheeks "Oh really…Then mother, father, and I were just imagining things. You're going to tell us that we didn't see you kissing this boy on the lake?" The blonde haired sister narrowed her eyes at Sora again, he turned his head whistling.
"I can explain..." Louise cried having both of cheeks being pulled.
Sora laughed a little as well as Cattleya she turned to him and said that Elèanor may seem strict towards Louise but she really does love her. Sora remembered how Louise said that her family did treat her like she didn't belong because of her lack of control with her magic. Sure that was harsh, and they all seemed strict with her minus Cattleya but Elèanor and the rest of her family might really worry about her and they just wanted her to do better.
The middle Vallière sister gave Sora a light smile as he still needed to tell Louise about that.
"Uh, Elèanor?" Sora got the attention of the oldest.
"Do you care if I borrow Louise for a second?" Sora said as Elèanor let go of her sister, now having her hands on her glaring at Sora.
"What do you want from her?" She asked.
"Just-uh, S-Something that's just between a familiar and his master. Come on!" He immediately began shoving Louise out of the room leaving the two older Vallière sisters behind.
"He's a rather intriguing individual." Cattleya said.
"Intriguing. I find him rather suspicious." Elèanor replied.
"Come now sister. He doesn't seem like a bad person. I think he's rather a compassionate and caring soul."
Elèanor huffed "I doubt it."
"Would you believe it if I told you he healed that thrush I picked up."
"Really?" That boy can use healing magic, he must be a water class mage then.
"So what. Healing a bird means nothing. And it certainly is not enough for me to believe in him. Still of all the people that girl could have chosen… why did she have to fall in love with a commer?" Elèanor said disappointedly
"Sometimes who you fall in love with is beyond control."
While Cattleya had a point, Elèanor was still against it. Why on earth would Louise care for someone like him. So what if he healed a bird, that wasn't going to change how she feels about that 'Sora' character; he's just mysterious and supposed to be Louise's familiar. She didn't buy it. There's something about that kid that didn't sit with her at all.
(Louise room)
After Sora kept shoving Louise to her room he closed the door breathing out. Louise asked him what was the matter, as he was still facing the door.
"...She knows, I think she knows."
"What? Who?"
Louise asked as Sora was facing her. "Cattleya. I think she knows my secret."
Louise was shocked "Wait, wait. What? You think she knows that you're from another world?" Louise asked.
Sora nodded but he also told her that it might have something to do with him healing that bird when they were at her home. But could she really guess that just from his magic. Louise thought about it as well. She just said that Sora wasn't a noble but he could use magic, she assumed that she thought that maybe Cattleya believed he was a child of a noble or something but to know his secret.
(Elèanor room- Night)
"So she knows your secret?" Siesta asked, folding clothes.
"I guess she does?" Sora also said folding.
Louise earlier was discussing Cattleya as she probably knows her secret about her being from another world. Cattleya has always had an eye for seeing through people like she did with Louise, so she might have seen through Sora's air of unfamiliarity.
Sora found it scary to see how sharp she was, but to know to this extent. Louise explained how she could never hide anything from her; she just knew if something was bothering her, and she knew about her feelings towards Sora – were those that obvious?
Getting back to the topic about what he should do, the explosion mage told the brown haired keyblade wielder that he shouldn't worry about it. Even if she does know the truth about him, she won't go around telling anyone so his secret should be safe.
After that Elèanor came up to her room with Siesta next to her. And the two were ordered to handle her clothes while she and Louise had more to talk about.
"Well, what will you do?" Asked the black haired maid.
Sora let out a single sigh "I don't know. Louise said not to worry about it."
"But you can't help but worry about it?"
"That obviously huh?" The keyblade wielder scratched the back of his head. Sora knows that Cattleya is a good person. It's more of a problem that she does know less than her deciding to say something.
"If Miss Vallière trusts her sister then I don't see it to be a problem."
"Yeah you're right." Sora agreed with Siesta.
"But what are you going to do about those guys?" Siesta asked.
After the whole mess with the queen Henrietta. Sora explained to Siesta that his sworn enemies Organization XIII were back and working with someone in the shadows.
"You shouldn't have to worry about them, we've beaten them more than once. We'll make sure we send them with their tails between their legs."
"I know but I also want to help. I don't want to just be a bystander."
Siesta stopped folding clothes and stood up from the bed. "My grandfather was the same as you, a warrior who fought against evil, right?"
"Yeah." Sora didn't know where she was coming from.
"Well then I want to do more! I want to honor my grandfather's legacy and take up the same responsibility he had. Sora, would you be willing to teach me more?"
Teach her more…"Wait a minute, you want to be a keyblade wielder?"
Sora was speechless at what she was asking. She wanted to learn how to use a keyblade. Where did this come from?
The keyblade wielder asked why she would even want to learn how to use one. Siesta responded saying that she never got to know her great-grandfather, only that stories she heard from her grandfather and her father. She and Jessica thought of those tales as nothing more than just children's stories.
But after she met Sora and he told her and everyone the truth about where he originally came from, as well as the adventures he's had in the past. She never thought that worlds beyond this one really existed. So she wants to do the same thing that he and Sora were doing, a chance to see what's lying beyond the stars. But more, she also wanted to help him deal with the threat that is organization XIII.
This isn't just his responsibility, it's everyone else and hers too.
Sora was touched by the fact that she wanted to help. And he's sure that she will make a good keyblade wielder someday. Plus having a new keyblade wielder in the team would be nice, he was sure Xion and the other girls would be happy having another female among them. But…
'I'm glad she wants to help. But wanting to fight with the organization…' Siesta doesn't really know how dangerous they really are or how slimy they can be. Then again they probably know about her and the rest of her family. Sora thought maybe he could train her in what he knows just to be on the safe side.
"Okay…If you're okay with it I guess I can teach you a few things." Sora said, which made her jump for joy.
"I promise to follow your directions Sora!" She said eagerly as Sora smiled.
"Well then, let's get back to the clothes." Sora opened up the last suitcase before immediately shutting it close with a blush on his face.
"Uh, Y-You can handle this." He began walking to the window. Siesta walked over to the suitcase and opened it.
"It's just underwear." She said with a small laugh.
"Yeah, I-I know. But having a guy touch a girl's belongings… it's pretty, um…" He said as her never touched a girl's stuff. Even when he was stuck dealing with Louise she was made to dress herself not.
Siesta giggled some more, he battled monsters, powerful villains, saved the universe more than once and even defined faith itself. But he was too weak to see women's undergarments. It was funny.
"Alright, alright. I'll handle this." She said, stopping her laugh as she picked up a pair of panties, which she admired. Do all noble daughters wear this.
"Wow, they're pretty. I wish I could wear something like this. But I don't think it would look good on me, don't you think?" Siesta asked Sora who's back was still turned.
"I wouldn't know." He replied. She grinded thinking of a way to tease him. But first she needs to distract him. She said to keep his back turned and not looking.
Sora asked why but the black haired maid had no reason.
Siesta asked what his life became like since he became a keyblade wielder. Sora said that it has been wondrous and eventful. She's seen so many different things and met so many different kinds of people. Seeing many forms of landscape and cities have been interesting as well but at the same time having to deal with heartless and other off world threats also make it even more adventurous.
"You must really like this life." She said,
"Well, it's certainly a life I never thought I would have."
"Okay, turn around." She said to him as he did. He didn't know what to expect as she suddenly lifted up the skirt of her outfit Sora madly blushed as this as she was wearing Elèanor underwear.
"Well, what do you think? Do they look good?" She said with a teasing voice.
"Why are you wearing her underwear!?" Sora shouted.
"He-He! I just wanted to see the look on your face." She replied to him
Sora groans "Alright quit teasing, just put your skirt down." Sora replied walking over to her, grabbing Siesta's skirt and trying to get her to let go but without meaning to rip the whole thing off exposing her bottom.
Siesta was startled while Sora was apologizing. "Sora…You're more aggressive than I thought." She began laughing silly.
Suddenly he and Siesta heard a voice down the hallway. "Sora are you two done yet?" Louise showed in front of them with the door wide open she was shocked at what she saw. That maid was half naked and Sora holding her skirt.
Sora and Siesta saw her. "Wait a minute Louise, I can explain."
"Yes, Sora is just about to take advantage of me."
Louise gasped at what she just said. He was…what!?
"Now hold up! I wasn't doing anything of the sort." Sora responded
"Come on Sora, you are a
"Sora…" she gripped her wand tightly.
Sora slapped himself 'Why me?' Sora thought.
The sound of an explosion was heard and the. Sora looked at Louise thinking that she caused it. She shook her head denying that she was the cause. Sora ran out of the room with Louise following him. When they made their way to the principal's office when they among other students saw a big hole in the wall. They all gathered wondering what had happened.
"What happened?" Louise said.
"Oh Sora, miss Louise." The two looked to see Mr.Colbert with some of the students
"Mr.Colbert!" The two of them said in unison. Sora asked what happened to the wall. The teacher however wasn't too sure about the events that happened. Osmond along with Agnès and Michelle were all observing the whole.
"Don't worry, it was just a small misunderstanding."
"No need to be alarmed. Everyone can return to their rooms." The students all mumbled together a big hole in the wall and they say it's nothing to worry about. But not wanting to get yelled at by Agnès again the students did as they were told and returned to their rooms. Louise and Sora were about to do the same, not to mention she deserves an explanation for what happened, Sora pleaded his case saying that it was an accident and nothing really happened.
"Hold on." Agnès stopped the brown and pink haired teens. "Miss Vallière, I need Sora for a moment."
"But why?" Louise asked.
"It's related to our mission. So I wish to borrow his powers for a while." Ah replied
"Then if it's related to our assignments then I should stay." Louise stood her ground.
"Trust me, your time will come but for right now. But right now I need your familiar for a moment."
Louise was annoyed by the fact that she was being a bystander. That's when Sora spoke to her. He said that it might not be anything specific and might not also be related to their mission either.
"You say that, but what if it's related to Wardes and everyone else."
"Then let me deal with them. I promise, so just go to the room, and I'll see you later." With no reason to argue. Louise did as she was told and went back to her room. As soon as she left they all stepped in the head master's office as they did Sora was surprised to see Julio was already inside the room as well.
"So, what's this all about?" Sora asked.
Agnès didn't want to alarm anything but someone had broke in the academy. Sora was stunned, who was it?
Old Osmond explained that it was someone unknown but the blonde haired knight said that it didn't match the description to the organization. But from what Osmond told Agnès that person was definitely female. She blasted through the safe in the wall and ran off.
Sora asked what was in the safe and apparently the queen's ring: the ruby of water. Though unknown to the thief, the ring is only a fake. The real one was mailed to an old acquaintance of his. Michelle asked why he would send it to somebody they never met.
He was a trustworthy ally so it was better than having it here. Sora wondered as to why Henrietta would just leave her ring here, but after what happened to Wales, now that he was an enemy to her and her country she probably couldn't look at it anymore, that ring was also a symbol of the connection she had with Wales. Sora started to pity her.
But getting back to the topic about this intruder. There weren't any signs of a break in and no one reported a suspicious character that was out on the field…so that would mean…
"We have a ruffian among us…" Julio said
"Yes we do. Chesarè, Sora, I would like you two to help in our investigation."
Agnès asked the boy's assistance for the investigation.
"Sure thing."
"You got it." They agreed "But wait, shouldn't we have Louise in on this."
"The person who did this was a mage, we can't dismiss anyone, Louise included." Julio responded.
"But this is Louise! She and Henrietta have been friends for years, there's no way she would do something like this to her." Sora replied knowing Louise we'll enough that she wouldn't do this.
"We don't suspect, Louise." Agnès calmed him down.
"However, there are two new arrivals that are a different story." Michelle said
"By 'new arrivals' you mean Elèanor and Cattleya?" Sora guessed.
"We can't rule out anybody." Agnès said.
"I've heard that Duke Vallière opposes the doctrine of the queen. So he could likely use the water ruby as leverage to plan for a coup d'etat." Michelle responded.
"That stupid!" Sora shouted. "You really think Louise's family would do something like that?"
"Sora, were suspecting all mages here. Don't let your feelings get the better of you." Agnès replied.
"Listen, I know her family can be strict with Louise, but I know they wouldn't do something like overthrow the queen."
"You don't know the mind of nobility! How could you defend a potential criminal!" Michelle argued but was ignored by Sora
"You think that they're spies or something, then let me prove that they're not. Agnès I know them even if it's just for a few times, please let me prove their innocence."
"Captain, you can't seriously consider that, he's just believing in them because of his master!"
"Please Agnès." Sora begged her to listen.
They two sword wielders looked at the captain. The blonde haired knight looked back and forth from Sora and Michelle. Both are in the right, Michelle did believe there was a chance of that being true. The duke of La Vallière doesn't really support the queens doctrine so yes there was a chance that he sent his two older daughters to aid in his plot.
On the other hand, Sora has more direct involvement with the La Vallière family, even though he is a familiar. But that involvement could also mean trouble if this is handled poorly. She gave one last glance between them.
"Alright. Here's what we'll do. Julio and I will investigate the female students. Michelle, you'll handle the teachers. And Sora, I'll leave the Vallière sisters to you."
Michelle gasped "Captain!?"
"Thank you." Sora thanked the knight captain.
"Alright everyone you have your assignment, go!" Agnès said to everyone.
"But wait, how will we know who's the one that stole the ring?" Sora brought up a good question.
"You can thank my quick wit for that one." Osmond said, picking up a stamp in the ground. "This seal is a tool that is made for me to use. No one, not even a triangle level mage can remove it."
"The seal is pressed onto their body, find the seal, we find the culprit." Agnès said, pointing at her chest.
Sora nodded understanding the situation.
Michelle and Sora were walking together to Elèanor's room, she couldn't believe that Agnès would just take his side and let him search the Vallière sisters all because of what, a gut feeling, he said that he had but a brief encounter with them but he also says they're innocent.
If anything he's the most suspicious person in the building. With secrets he's not sharing with her captain nor the queen herself yet they both trust him? This doesn't make any sense why, why would they trust him.
"Here we are." Michelle quickly said she started to walk away.
Sora stopped her "Hey hold on." Sora said to her as she turned around "I've been wondering just why do you not like me?"
Sora wondered, did she think that he wouldn't notice it.
"... I just don't trust you." The blue haired knight simply replied "Yes, you have saved the queen from her kidnapper and defended the village of Tarbes from Albion. But there is still much that is unknown to us. Like the fact that none of us have ever heard about a keyblade or a plebeian who wields magic."
"Uh…Well…"
Michelle huffed "There it is. I'm not sure what secrets you're withholding. But I know it has to do with your origin, those men in the black coats, and those monsters." The blue haired knight began walking away
"While everyone else may trust you, I don't."
Sora looked at the ground, she did have a point. She'll never trust him and her reasons were sound, all because of his duties as a keyblade wielder he has to keep the order, but eventually he will tell Henrietta and Agnès the truth of where he comes from and everything else. The young keyblade wielder shook his head and proceeded to knock on the door to Eléonore room.
There was no response at the door. Sora quietly walked in. "Elèanor." He said but there was no response again.
He walked over to her and she was sleeping soundly. He shook her and called her name a few more times. Elèanor's eyes slowly began to open and she gazed at Sora. She screamed a little before demanding an answer.
"What are you doing in my room!?" The blonde haired woman asked.
"Wait! I…!" She got out of her bed and held a riding crop in her hand glaring harshly at the boy Sora slowly back away as she began swinging the whip at him. This was no different than when Louise did this in the past. Sora caught her wrist first and flipped her to the floor, next Sora pinned her arms down, holding her in place. She tried to get up but his strength was keeping her in place.
"Calm down, it's not what you think!" Sora replied.
Elèanor wasn't listening "Not what I think, this is exactly what I think you little pervert!"
"Per-no!" Sora argued "Just give me five minutes and I'll explain, please!" Sora begged her to listen to his words as she still struggled to get him off. Feeling exhausted, she agreed to hear his words. But it better be worth hearing or he will wish he had never been born.
(5 minutes later)
Sora got done explaining to Elèanor that someone had broken into the safe and stole the queen ring and that she and Cattleya were also considered suspects in the case.
The duke's eldest daughter was sitting on the bed and Sora was kneeling on the floor. Did he really think that he was going to take his word that someone broke into the academy and she was under suspicion of being a thief.
"You mean to tell me that they think me and my sister are collaborating to overthrow the queen?" Elèanor basically understood what he was talking about.
"Yeah."
Elèanor had a disapproved look on her face "Of all the… To suspect us of being ruffians. And you came here to do what, see if I am one, well I hate to break it to you but I've been here the whole time. I don't have anything on me."
"I never suspected you guys in the first place anyway." Sora said to Eléonore who was surprised by that.
" You don't suspect me." Elèanor repeated. Sora shook his head.
"Of course I didn't, you guys don't seem the type to do this."
Elèanor was again surprised, this is only their second or third interaction with each other and he's taking her words seriously. That's when her sister's words echoed in her mind.
'He doesn't seem like a bad person.'
Is this what she was talking about, no that didn't explain the feeling of awareness she had to him, not to mention how her sister was completely head of heels in love with him.
Elèanor gave a sigh "Very well. Is there anything else that you need to prove to you that I'm not a criminal?"
"Well they said that she has a stamp pressed on her body." The keyblade wielder pointed to the left side of his chest.
"So…Um, I…"
Elèanor realized what he was trying to say: "Oh, I get it."
"But if you say you don't have it, I'll take your word for it!" He replied.
Elèanor said nothing as she pulled down her nightdress slightly. "Here." Sora covered his eyes.
"Just look." The blonde haired Vallière barked at him as he peeked through his fingers and looked at Elèanor's chest, his feelings of flusteredness began to slowly fade as he took his hand off his face. She didn't have that mark on her body.
She pulled her sleepwear up feeling ashamed that she showed herself to a man. "So as you can see I don't have it. Does that mean your investigation is over?"
"Almost, I just need to check with Cattleya."
Elèanor was confused "Why her, she is sick. She couldn't have stolen the fake ring from the headmaster."
"Just following orders. I promise I'm not gonna do anything strange, I swear." He said to her in hope she would let him go.
Elèanor gave another flat sigh "Fine. But if you're lying and trying to do something to her I swear you pray for mercy." She said in a threatening tone. Sora crossed his heart and promised not to as he exited the room breathing a major sigh of relief.
After Elèanor, Sora made his way to Cattleya's room. He quietly opened the door and she was also sound asleep. He slowly began tiptoeing to her when Sora heard the sound of barking. He looked down and saw puppies up against his legs. He quickly put his finger near his mouth and shushed them but they continued to bark.
Meanwhile the noise started to wake Cattleya up. "What's going on?" She said now fully awake.
"Sora?" Cattleya said "What are you doing here?"
Sora put his hands behind his head and had a playful smile on his face "I was just um…"
Sora tried to make up an excuse as to why he was here. But nothing came to the top of his head. All he could do was laugh awkwardly.
The door suddenly opened and now standing before them was Louise wearing a furious look on her face.
"Louise?" Cattleya spoke
"Louise? Why are you-?" Sora asked.
"I've been looking everywhere for you, you've been gone for a long time. But that aside, why are you in Cattleya's room?" She demanded an answer.
"I can understand what you're thinking but I promise it's not what you think."
"Oh really." She sneered and started pulling on his ear. "I'm sorry sister, if you'll excuse us." She pulled Sora out of the room with her.
Sora was dragging to Louise's room as he was sitting in front of her kneeling. This was the second time tonight that he had to explain himself.
"A ruffian?" Louise said after Sora explained why he was in Cattleya's room.
"Yes."
"I can't believe this. And you guys were also suspecting my sisters would assault the principal and commit to thievery!?" Louise said.
"Of course not, I was defending your sisters! I know that they aren't the type, I was never suspecting them in the first place." Sora replied.
"But why keep this from me, you're my familiar are you not. I can't believe that you would go behind my back like this!" Louise was disappointed that Sora was doing this without even confiding in her about this.
Sora dropped his head, he was just following orders…
"They can check all they want, there not going to find any-."
BOOM*
They heard the sound of something exploding. They immediately got up and ran to the sound of where it happened.
(Cattleya's room)
Cattleya was coughing up dust as a person suddenly blasted a large hole in the wall. The middle sister stopped and looked outside at what happened, who was that person. Louise barged through the door and immediately hugged her sister out of her worry and safety. As the middle Vallière child said to her younger sister that she's fine.
Sora came running in as he was focused on the big hole in that wall.
It wasn't long until after the others came to Cattleya's room, the explosion was loud enough that it even woke up some of the girls. Agnès quickly calmed them down as she went to examine Cattleya, she seemed okay but she also noticed a small burn on her chest.
"It's burned but not really serious. Can someone heal this?"
Montmorency, who was among the group of female students, raised her hand. "I can do it."
"Then you stay. Michelle, send the rest of them back to their rooms."
"Yes Ma'am!"
Montmorency held her wand and pointed at Cattleya's left breast. After a quick incantation the burn vanished.
After she was healed Agnès began questioning the middle sister. "So this person suddenly broke in here and left."
"That's right. My animals were making a ruckus, so I asked who it was. They blasted through the wall and left." Cattleya explained pointing to the hole that's near the door.
"How did you get that burn?"
"She melted a candle strand and threw it at me."
Louise thought "If she can melt metal…she's probably an earth type mage, right?"
Agnès nodded "I have similar suspicions as well. Miss Cattleya, are you also an earth magic user?"
"That's right."
"So this could have been precalculated." Julio said.
"How so?" Asked Louise.
The platinum blonde began to theorize that everything that Cattleya said had been a lie. But Louise questioned him saying why he would think that. She already knows that someone is on the campus but how could they be certain that Cattleya is the suspected party. Agnès then said to her that the culprit had a seal pressed on their body and that was the only clue they had to go with.
Agnès then asked Sora if she had the same mark that the seal had. But he didn't have time to check and see.
"In other words she knew that she was short on time… I bet she staged the whole thing knowing she likely had a small window, she purposely melted the candle to remove the seal, and she created the hole herself to make us think there was an escape.
"This is ridiculous! My sister is not a thief!" Louise said defending her older sister.
Sora turned to Julio "Come on Julio, we can just point fingers at her. What about the others?"
"I went and checked all the females that can use earth magic." Julio said.
"And how'd it go?" Sora asked.
Julio smiled "We asked them to show us their chest and not one of them had it. But it is strange that she is the only one to have a burn."
"Captain. In the hay." Michelle said, holding the false ring in her hand.
Sora gasped. The imitation ruby of water…
"What…" Sora questions whisper. "Agnès come on, that has to have been planned here."
"Quiet!" Michelle barked. "Captain, who do you believe…"
Michelle question. Agnès held the ring in her hand and stayed silent, she glanced over to Sora first then to Michelle… Agnès shifted her attention to Cattleya.
"Miss Cattleya, do you admit to the charges." Agnès said to Cattleya
"There must be some mistakes. I don't know how that got in here." Cattleya replied.
"The proof is right here!" Michelle yelled.
"There must be a mistake!" Louise said, defending her sister.
"Defending a criminal?" Michelle said.
Louise stood up from the bed "This is my sister, she'd never do something like this!"
"If you keep this up-." Michelle reached out to Louise but her hand was swatted away by Sora as he had his left hand stretch outward in a protective manner.
"Don't you touch her!" He growled.
Michelle grinned "So you decide to protect a potential criminal and her sister, captain let's arrest all three of them!"
All of their attention stopped when Elèanor began to clap her hands. "Alright, that's enough. Everyone calm down."
"But Elèanor, Cattleya…"
"Louise shut up for a second and look at the clues." She said bending down and picking up something on the ground. "You said that the mage that came in here was an earth user. You're right, my sister is indeed an earth user but it most definitely wasn't her."
"This is the candle that melted right?" She pulled something off of the ball of metal.
"Is that hair?" Sora asked.
"That's right. Hair that belongs to the ruffian that came in here."
Michelle hissed "Bullshit! How can you be certain!?"
"It's too short to be Cattleya's, not to mention it doesn't match her color." Elèanor gave her reasons as she pulled out a small bottle.
"Also I have a potion that a friend of mine made. Just one drop." Elèanor dropped but a single drop in the hair and it started to glow. "And it will return to its owner."
The hair slowly flew up from her hand and immediately flew to the person it belonged to. It wasn't Cattleya, Louise, nor Sora. No, it flew into Michelle's hair. They all gasped.
"Michelle, you?" Sora said not believing it.
Michelle growled "Y-You dare try and use magic to pin her crimes on me! Captain, they're all a part of this, help me arrest them all!"
Michelle began for her assistant. "You could be right but just to be sure...Vice-captain Michelle, show us your chest."
Michelle gasped "You can be serious? You think that I'm the ruffian!"
"Of course not but say you were: then you should also know that the principal told a lie in order to fool the true culprit."
"A lie?" Michelle repeated "What lie…"
"About her majesty's water ruby. It's not a fake, this is the genuine one that she carries."
"Wha…!" The blue haired knight gasped. The ring…is real.
"Why do you look so surprised?" Julio said with a confident smile.
"I…"
"You lied to us and tried to falsely accuse Miss Cattleya, however if you show us that you don't have the seal on your chest then we'll believe you."
Michelle looked to the side "You can't be serious…"
"Michelle, this is an order." Agnès said with a stern face and a calm tone of voice.
Michelle grit her teeth. "Michelle!" Agnès said one more time.
"Fine, you want proof…Here!" The blue haired knight right off the top of her uniform and there it was the same symbol that was on the stamp. At that moment Michelle quickly drew her sword and was ready to strike her captain. However Sora quickly intervened, summoning his Ever after keyblade in his hand and the two were in a deadlock.
"Sora!" Louise cried.
"Don't even try it!" He said.
"You little bastard!" She swore and neither of them were budging an inch. "Captain, have you suspected me this entire time!?"
"There are things about you that are shrouded in mystery." Agnès replied. "But the reason I trust you was because of how hard working you are. I had nothing but respect for you as a fellow swordswoman. However if the incidents within the castle and the ones were to overlap somehow, Then it has to have been some close."
"You mean, you were trying to sniff out a traitor in the castle?" Louise assumed.
"If that's true then what about him?" Michelle was talking about Sora. "He has just as much of a mysterious life as I do?"
"I've got a reason!" Sora started. "My situation is a complicated one!"
She leaned forward trying to get an inch on Sora but Sora's strength was still too much for her. Sora made the move knocking her sword out of Michelle's hand and sending the blade up in the air, it was stuck in the ceiling.
Louise cheered. "He got it!"
Suddenly the window broke, distracting everyone. Michelle held a wand in her hand and quickly jumped out and ran. She smiled in confidence as she was making her escape. Just then, Cattleya got out of her bed and summoned a golem blocking her path. Michelle was about to counter when Agnès held her gun out and shot her hand, breaking her wand. Sora aimed his keyblade at her feet and used his blizzard spell, freezing her in place. She desperately tried to free herself but with no wand or sword it was pointless.
Everyone took a breath.
"Well, case closed." Sora said, slinging the edge of the sword on his shoulder.
"That's right." Juilo replied
"I'll go and get a fire mage to thaw her out. I assume you have questions for her?" The platform blonde said to Agnès.
She simply nodded and the two of them exited the room. That left the Vallière sisters and the keyblade wielder alone. Almost immediately Cattleya and Elèanor's eyes were directed at Sora's odd weapon.
"Oh my, your weapon is quite fascinating." Cattleya beamed.
Elèanor looked at it in speculation "I don't know what to make of it. What is it supposed to be?"
"It's called a keyblade. You can also call it the 'key' to everything." He joked but no one really laughed, except Cattleya.
But her laugh soon turned into a horrible cough as she fell to her knees holding her chest.
"Cattleya!" Louise and Elèanor rushed to their sister as she continued coughing violently.
"Don't…*cough*... worry you two…*cough cough*... I *cough*... I just need a minute." He soon began wheezing. After a few more coughs she started to slowly breathe normally.
Sora watched her sisters giving her comfort 'I knew she was sick, but I didn't think it was that bad.' Sora thought.
Cattleya breathing started to stabilize "Are you okay?" The brown haired boy asked.
"I'm fine…" She replied, still feeling the aches in her chest. "I know, my health is pretty bad isn't it."
"Yeah." Sora agreed "Haven't you gone to see a doctor or something?" He asked.
Elèanor explained that they had doctors come all over Tristan but they couldn't diagnose her illness, she's even tried all kinds of healing potions but none had an effect. So at this point they've practically given up on any hopes for a cure for her.
Sora caught the worried expression on Louise's face as she was really scared for her sister.
When something Elèanor said came to him, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the elixir that he had been saving for a while.
"Anyway, Louise. Help me get her my room. You can sleep there Cattleya." The blonde Vallière sister said as she and Louise slowly helped Cattleya up from the bed.
"Elèanor, wait!" Sora said, stopping them.
"What is it?" She asked.
Sora handed her the potion "Here." He held a glass bottle that contained a golden liquid.
"What's this?" Elèanor asked again.
"An elixir." He responded.
Elèanor let out an exasperated sigh "Didn't I just tell you that none of the potions we tried worked."
"Yes, but try this one. Trust me." He looked at her pink eyes as she looked into his blue colored ones. They were telling her to try this potion. Once again she let out another sign and took the potion from him, not like it'll work anyway so what's she got to lose.
(Louise room)
After Elèanor and Louise brought Cattleya to Elèanor's room, they walked back together to Louise's room, where Sora immediately fell into his bed, completely exhausted. Louise slowly walked over to him and bent down to try to talk with him but he was already sleeping peacefully.
Knowing how easy it is for him to fall asleep and also knowing how she just decided to leave him alone.
(Elèanor's room)
Elèanor got the bed ready for her and Cattleya, as she was the blonde haired woman grabbed the elixir that the boy had given her and adjusted her glasses and examined the potion. She never saw anything like this before and he gave it to her to use on Cattleya, how would she know that it might work and not fail miserably like all the others.
Cattleya walked over to her sister and asked. If she trusted the potion that Sora gave her.
She rebutted saying that she didn't and just because of what he and Louise were doing. For all she knows that he could be trying to use this potion as a kind of leverage to take her sister's hand.
"You really do worry about Louise, don't you?" Cattleya said.
"That's irrelevant."
"But you don't deny it."
Elèanor huffed as Cattleya grabbed the bottle and opened the top. "Are you really going to drink that? We don't even know if it's work? or where he got it?"
"Well if it doesn't, then it was a nice thought for Sora to do." Cattleya began drinking the elixir. After a few more sips the small glass bottle became empty and so far nothing has happened yet.
Elèanor shook her head in disappointment "I knew it was no good."
"Well it's the thought that counts." Cattleya replied as Elèanor told her to get some sleep. Cattleya pulled the covers over her and drifted off to sleep so did Elèanor.
As they slept, Cattleya's entire body began to shine in a light golden color that lasted for just one minute before the brilliant color started to fade away.
Meanwhile Michelle was sitting in an empty room with a single chair. The second she was thawed out from the ice she was immediately interrogated for her reason for doing all of this.
"My father was a member of the legal affairs committee. He was accused of and had his title of a nobleman taken away." Michelle explained "My father and I were betrayed and sent to live in the country. It wasn't long before he took his own life and my mother followed him."
Agnès listens to her story in grief. Michelle continued "I spent some time wandering the country by myself with nowhere to call home."
"So you and I are the same."
"Me and you? How could you understand?" Michelle asked her captain only to tell her that her home village was destroyed and that she alone survived.
"Is that true?"
"Yes…but despite that, I don't hold resentment towards the queen!"
Michelle slammed her fist on the table "How could you not!?" She said raising her voice "This country is a mess, and the royal family is all but useless, what good have they ever done for us! Until the day this land sees retribution, corruption will fester!"
"...Even if it means using power from the enemy." Agnès snap "The ones who are supposed to fight are the people who tricked the queen and controlled the country from the shadows.
Agnès grabbed her by her clothes "Now tell me! Who are you working for!"
"... He's someone who took me in. A good friend to my father, he believed he was innocent…"
"That man…Was it Lishman from legal affairs?"
Michelle gasped "Wait how-?"
Agnès let go of her "So I was right…" The blonde haired knight then abruptly exited the room.
Michelle didn't understand what that was about. The sound of laughter was heard in the room, Michelle jumped from her seat and examined the room.
"Who's there!" Michelle called out.
A dark corridor opened up near the window. And who appeared was one of the black coated fingers from the reports that came in after the queen was abducted. "You didn't see it in her eyes. The look of pure hate and vengeance." The figure pulled off his hood and revealed to be Xemnas.
"Vengeance? What vengeance?" Michelle asked, keeping her guard high.
"That captain that you hold such high standards for. While she lives to repay her queen, her sole reason to live was to avenge her people that burned along with her village." The silver haired man answered, slowly dragging his finger across the table.
Michelle was shocked, her village was burned
"That man… to whom you own…also had a hand in the destruction of her homeland."
Michelle was speechless. "But that is not all. But he is the reason for your father's betrayal." She walked over to him.
"You lie!" The blue haired knight said.
"I don't." The silver haired nobody said "He's the one who betrayed you father all to save his own skin."
Michelle fell to her knees…the man that took her in, was the one who cornered her father to die…was Lishman?
"S-Stop lying!" Michelle said angrily
"I'm not, even your captain had suspicions about that man as well. You're free to ask her if you don't believe it." She couldn't believe it, Lishman was the reason for what happened to her father. And her captain, no, Agnès has suspicions about him. Not only that but Lishman was also responsible for Agnès home.
Just how could she have been so blind "Frustrated. The person that took care of you has your father's blood on his hands. And your captain likely suspected you from the beginning. That's why connections are a pain so easy to forge yet so easy to sever."
She looked up at him "You have strong beliefs and you are right. This country, no, this whole world is full of hypocrites and lies. Only those who have the most power make all the rules, those who don't, are just pawns to be discarded."
"What are you trying to say?" A corridor of darkness opened near the wall.
"If you want to change this useless world. And rebuild it anew. Then come with me." He offered her a smile as she glanced over to the portal as she slowly walked to it. Just as Agnès opened the door and saw the two.
"What the hell!?" Agnès said. "What is this!?"
Michelle grit her teeth and jumped in the dark portal as it closes behind her. "Michelle!"
Xemnas smirked. Agnès pointed her gun.
"You again." She said not at all pleased.
"I see you still remember me."
The blonde haired knight glared harshly "How could I not, tell me what do you want with Michelle?"
Xemnas answered "Nothing you can think of, she knows how weak this nation is and so we believe that her talents would be put to better use."
Agnès was ready to shoot the man in front of her "I have something to say."
"What!?" Agnès was losing patience.
"Is that you are closer to the truth than you believe? Lishman may not have any direct destination of D'Angleterre he is responsible…. But the one who set you home ablaze is actually closer than you think."
She slowly lowered her hand and her eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
"It's someone you met earlier, actually you had previously encountered him."
'I…I've already met him…?'
"That who burned your village with his own hands has been standing next to you this whole time, someone that you can call an ally is your foe. That is why I should say something important to you."
"Do not trust him. Keep holding on to it…hold on that hatred, hold on to that rage… it will be your greatest power."
Xemnas smile was dark and Agnès soon composed herself as she held her gun "You bastard!" she shouted and fired the bullet but Xemnas immediately disappeared into a corridor of darkness
She called out to her knight, she ordered them that Michelle escaped and that they should search the school group for anyone that was the most suspicious. She once again let her anger she looked at the wall and slammed her fist. As she did a small black mist came off of her body. But she didn't notice at all
'Just…Just what does he want from me!?'
End.
Note: First I would like to say thank you for the support, and to let you know that I'm going to be taking a break, I'll be busy with work for a while.
If you have comments or ways to improve on this story feel free to say so.